Book of Mormon Evidences
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- This video goes through a wide potpourri of Book of Mormon evidences which have not been discussed on prior videos.
HERE IS A DIRECT LINK TO THE TRANSCRIPT OF THIS VIDEO FROM THE WEBSITE
latterdaysaint...
CUSTOM CAPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THIS VIDEO
Resources:
Books:
Tad Callister, A Case for the Book of Mormon
Michael Ash, Of Faith & Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting Joseph Smith
John Sorenson, Mormon’s Codex
Brant Gardner, Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon (6 volume set)
Clark Hinckley, Christopher Columbus: A Man Among the Gentiles
John Lund, Joseph Smith and the Geography of the Book of Mormon; also - Mesoamerica and the Book of Mormon, Is This The Place?
John & Greg Welch, Charting the Book of Mormon
Grant Hardy, Understanding the Book of Mormon
Warren Aston, Lehi and Sariah in Arabia: The Old World Setting of the Book of Mormon (Kindle only)
Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan - John Lloyd Stevens, 1841 (this was the 2 volume book Joseph Smith read (gifted to him by John Bernhisel via Wilford Woodruff)
RUclips Videos:
Mark Wright at 2013 Fairmormon Conference, Hinterland as Heartland (highlighted in the video as a key video to watch): www.fairmormon...
John Sorenson at 2012 Fairmormon Conference, Reading Mormon’s Codex: List of Evidence of the Book of Mormon: • Reading Mormon's Codex...
Matt Roper, 2019 Fairmormon Conference, Time Vindicates the Prophets: www.fairmormon...
Ugo Perego, 2015 Fairmormon Conference, Book of Mormon Genetics: A Reappraisal: • Book of Mormon Genetic...
Brant Gardner, Evidence & Insights to the Book of Mormon Fireside: • Evidence and Insights ...
John Sorenson, Book of Mormon Central Interview Part 1: • Interview with LDS Sch...
John Sorenson, Book of Mormon Central Interview Part 2: • Interview with John L ...
Websites:
Book of Mormon Central!!! bookofmormoncentral.com
Jeff Lindsay - Book of Mormon Evidences: www.jefflindsa...
Church Statement on Book of Mormon Geography: www.churchofje...
Church Gospel Topics Essay on DNA and the Book of Mormon: www.churchofje...
Deseret News Article on Pros, Cons of Book of Mormon Geography Theories, Michael De Groote: www.deseret.co...
Deseret News Article: Challenging Issues, Keeping the Faith: ‘Promised Land’ not limited to one area, Michael Ash: www.deseret.co...
Jaredite travel calculations shared in the video: www.achoiceland...
Ensign Article, Jan 2000, Daniel Peterson, Mounting Evidence for the Book of Mormon: www.churchofje...
The Book of Mormon and Mesoamerican Travels “Northward”, Tyler Livingston, bamf.org: www.bmaf.org/ar...
I just attended a semi annual Book of Mormon evidence conference in Utah and its insane how much Book of Mormon evidence is blatantly ignored by mainstream science and media. Keep up the great work
Do you believe both theories?
I like the theory I discussed in the video “Hinterland as Heartland” - Mesoamerica as best fit for the main Book of Mormon history, while the people who moved north, that weren’t heard of again, moved up into North America. This movement north also fits nicely with a lot of the scientific evidence (which I shared some of in summary fashion in the video).
Here is the detailed paper on the theory from the archeologist Mark Wright: “Heartland as Hinterland: The Mesoamerican Core and North American Periphery of Book of Mormon Geography”
archive.bookofmormoncentral.org/sites/default/files/archive-files/pdf/wright/2015-12-22/wright_heartland_as_hinterland_2015.pdf
@@latterdaysaintsqathank you..I just downloaded it.. 😅
@@NaeNae62my personal.opinion is we will.all know on the other side.
Excluding that context, if you just look at and observe this man, there is nothing but light, positivity, and pure pure joy, coming outside of this man face! His whole demeanor! What a world we would we would live in, if all or most men, were like unto this man, and his passion for and evolving around the Christ he Loves.
Thank you - see my response to your prior comment
All I can say is wow. There’s been times during my investigation where I’ve almost found myself not wanting to discover that the church is true because I know that my resulting conversion would have the potential to cause conflict within my family (I live in Northern Ireland, so because the church is quite small here anti views are common). However, I feel like I’m now at a point where I’ve realised that while it is easy to scoff at the church when you know little about it, as you honestly look into all of the evidence it becomes increasingly difficult to deny its truthfulness, and I no longer feel that it is something that I can deny. Thank you for helping to lead me to the truth!
Your comment is so inspiring - thank you for sharing!!!
We are called to be a peculiar people! Sometimes I take that as a personal challenge/goal! I'm sure the people where you live will see your light, and you may be the means of bringing many souls to Christ.
Go for it! You won’t regret it
Hi Rebecca
I too am from NI and a member.
Love your comments
Sister I was inactive many years ago, one day someone invited my to look for archeology and we did following a archeologist i was curious and I became even more curious and search and search archeology. I was stunned but somebody told me to read the Book of Mormon and get my testimony from there more than archeology, as I did ask God and read every day I felt special I felt the warm in my heart, no way to deny it. I knew, and I immediately wanted to be a missionary. I love it since
I walk with clarity of mind, of course we have challenges but as soon as I know we have this treasure of knowledge lifts my spirit and keep going. You are a light share with your people.
I've been binge watching your videos over the past few weeks. I've been struggling with my testimony after reading a bunch of garbage online. Your videos have been very uplifting, thanks bro! 👍
Your comment means the world to me!! Thanks for sharing!!
Jacob 4:14. Critics and enemies specialize in misleading and pointless trivia. "Facts" are only evidence, not "proof". And evidence can always be "spun". The witness of the Holy Spirit is Proof.
I'm glad you are doing something to help strengthen your testimony! Remember, the spirit is the best witness!!! Read your scriptures my friend. It will help you!! God bless!!❤❤❤
@@UtahKent AMEN!!!💙💙💙
The anti-Mormons are struggling with the reality of the egyptologists being debunked. Google ''Book of Abraham pt 1 (Why Egyptologists are wrong) youtube''.
The Book of Mormon was my bed time stories growing up, told to me by grandpa, who was a Chanter (medicine man) of our culture..The Dine' (Navajo). The stories were of animals/insects, only first man and first woman and all of the Holy Dine' were actual beings, all of the others were comprised of animals and insects.
These animals and insects were called the 'The Dine' (The People). In their wandering they experienced: the Flood, the building of the Tower, the Dine' having one language and living on one huge land, the giant's, staying of the sun, prophecy coming true of three days of being day brought the birth of a holy infant, another prophecy of three days of being night, when the holy man died. How the three days of being dark brought turmoil, destructions to the land, the surface of the land change.. low lands became mountains, etc. The earth groan n moved n shook, the big fearce winds, and fearce rains came. Many people died, homes were lost, people mourned and in the mist of this... a great calm was felt by the people and they heard something in the stillness. Four times it happened and each time the sound became louder, they looked up and saw a figure decended n came to earth, the Dine' were blessed n healed. This Holy Being lived among the Dine' and taught them and He traveled to other Tribes and taught them also. He returned to Dine' and ascend back to heaven.
At age 14, I was given a book to read and found my grandpa's story in written form. In those days I had often wondered how Joseph Smith knew of grandpa's stories. The BOM was/is my first book ever, I treasure it for it reminds me of grandpa.
I know this is a testament of Christ and felt n know the truthfulness of it.
Wow - thank you for sharing!
Thank you for sharing this ☺️☺️ This is beautiful! I spent a bit of my teen years amongst different American Indians and heard of these stories. I think they are absolutely beautiful!
@@Nightravenspeaks did you get a copy of the Book of Mormon?
Is there any written stories like this, before Joseph Smith was alive?
You should find this video on the channel helpful:
Book of Mormon Author Theories Debunked
ruclips.net/video/cSKJO8-o7Gg/видео.html
I’m not a member of the LDS church but I find this info to be fascinating.
Thank you for being here! If I can be of any direct assistance with questions please send me an email through my website latterdaysaintsqa.com under the contact me link
Your videos are next level! After following you for a few years now, I continue to refer to your videos often and forward them to family and friends with questions. They have helped me tremendously in being able to speak up on difficult talking points in our faith.
Thank you so so much for your very kind words and support of the channel!!
Not religious, but these videos are fascinating, and I feel like I'm learning a lot.
Thanks for your comment and I am so grateful you are watching and feeling it valuable as well!
You are single handedly building peoples testimonies I can’t express how much I appreciate your efforts with this!!!
Thank you!
Thank you brother for all of your hard work into your research. I've been out of the Church for years and missionaries tracked me down 2 months ago and I'm currently active again.I stumbled across your videos and love them.Thank you!!!
So wonderful to hear this from you and so glad you are back!!
Haha these are so cool. I love watching these before I crash out and go to sleep. This is an example of why the internet and social media is good and a tool to use for our benefit. Thank you for the research and work you do well done 👍
Haha - love this comment! Thank you!
Thank you again for your inspired work for us.
I also would like to mention that for several years now since leaving the church and now coming back that I started studying the ancient paleo Hebrew. They have found especially along the west coast several discoveries of paleo writings with no real clear answers as to how they got there! Listening to this video helps explain possibilities of origin.
If you don't mind me asking, what got you to come back?
I have been going watching all your videos with my cousin who took a interest in the church recently. He has found your videos insightful.
Wonderful to hear they have been helpful - thank you for sharing!
I really struggled with the BOM for a while after being a strong believer in my youth and hearing that there was no evidence in the Americas that supported the events that took place but I know I have always felt the Holy Ghost when I've prayed for understanding. As I read the BOM recently in its entirety and watched videos such as yours there is honestly no room for doubt in my mind that Joseph Smith was a prophet of the Lord because I can't come to any conclusion as to how he would have known all of these things that we did not know or hadn't even been discovered yet at the time.
Thank you for sharing!
@@latterdaysaintsqa Thank you for your awesome videos! I've been learning a lot about Joseph Smith's life that wasn't really taught back in the day and it's been pretty eye opening for me.
@@gould3524 I honestly think we spend a lot of time in the church mystifying and fantasizing the things of the past. Joseph Smith was a prophet, but like all men, he struggled with some of the same issues that we all do, but in spite of his flaws, he was chosen by the Lord to restore His church. The Bible records many failings of other prophets, because we all experience the weakness of mortality. After all that I've seen and experienced, I know that this church is the only True and Living Church on the earth, and while there are many, many wonderful people and organizations around the world doing a lot of good, they are all still missing the fullness of the gospel, and they are only kept from the truth because of their ignorance in not knowing there is more (hence our job to share it!).
I agree. Thank you for your testimony! Recently iv been struggling to with my testimony! If you have any advice for me don't hesitate to share
@@sarahfisher9472 these finds are great to teach us and give us courage but we should always try to remember our testimony experience (if we have had one). When the Church was organized members didn't have access to all these finds thus their testimony was what kept them going. Keep reading the Scriptures, pray, and avoid negative media. Keep going. With time you'll overcome this.
I wanna say amazing information I’ve been learning on all your videos I’ve thus far seen. I was a full believer in the church, but I left when evidences seemed so strong to testify against it. Unfortunately I feel it strong to be in Faith with belief of it because of it’s evidence’s. It’s proved to me to in a spiritual way my undoing. Since finding your channel and confirming your found truth’s I decided I should go back, but this time with unwavering faith. I recently purchased a lds quad and have begun re-studying the Bom, pearl of price and D&C! Thank you!
Thank you so much for your comment! To know that the channel helped you in this way is such a blessing for me to hear! Glad you are acting on the promptings you have had with unwavering faith! Welcome back and feel free to reach me with any questions in the future. You can contact me directly through the website: latterdaysaintsqa.com (using the contact me link).
It's good that you are back in the fold.
Your enthusiasm is so contagious! Literally breaking out my scriptures right now in excitement. Haha
Thank you!
Happiest Man !!!!
That is a really wonderful video!!! I am brazilian and my baptism happened about three weeks ago. I am in the third reading of The Book of Mormon and I always could feel a real spiritual power in It. However, I partly thought TBM is some "symbolic" and not a hystorical Text. But last times I am learning so much about its divine origins and greatness. Your post is the final stone to the building of my rational search. My mind is so stupid...LOL. Sorry for my poor English and Thank you very much!
Thank you for your comment! Congratulations on your recent baptism and glad you are finding the channel helpful. In case you haven't seen - I paid to have Portuguese (as well as Spanish and English) captions for each of the videos, so hope that helps if needed. Btw, your English was just fine!
You're videos have been very helpful for me while trying to teach my friend and clear up misconceptions he had. Thank-you
Thank you for sharing - so glad the channel has been helpful!
I have a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon because the spirit revealed that to me and it’s just so amazing finding all these evidences of the Book of Mormon and I personally believe that it took place at both places in the heart land and as well in Latin America.
I share your testimony.
🙋
I don't need evidences because I know The Book of Mormon is true! However, I just love these videos & your enthusiasm!🙂 God bless!💙
I really enjoy watching your video. I have been reading a book called “La conquista de Mexico vista por los Aztecas’”. It recounts the story of the Aztecs, written by early Spanish priests. There is a short notation about their origin, which I thought goes along with the Book of Mormon, especially the story of the Jaredites. It’s in Spanish, old Spanish: Del origen de esta gente la relación que dan los viejos es que por la mar vinieron, de hazia el norte, y cierto es que vinieron en algunos vasos; de manera no se sabe cómo eran labrados, sino que se conjectura, que una fama que hay entre todos estos naturales, que salieron de siete cuevas, que estas siete cuevas son los siete navíos o galeras en que vinieron los primeros pobladores de esta tierra. They believed their people came in barges, seven barges and they described them like coming out of a cave, because of how they were made.
wow that is interesting - thanks for sharing!
If you listen to the Navajo Traditional Teachings channel they go into how our people migrated from the East and came from the East by boat.
Another channel called Navajo Grandma, talks about the stories of her grandfather and his knowledge of the old stories of Christ among our people.
Not only Alma 63, but Helaman 3 talks about people leaving the land of Bountiful going north to "an exceedingly great distance" to a land where the land had, not only an east and west sea, but also a north and south sea. Helaman 3 is the only place where 4 seas are mentioned and it is in reference to these particular people from Bountiful who traveled there and established themselves from the easr sea to west sea from the north sea to the south sea.
Thank you for sharing this as I do wish I had referenced that chapter also when quoting Alma 63 - it lends even more credence to the “heartland as hinterland” hypothesis I elaborated on in that part of the video (starting at 50:25). Thank you!
What an amazing service you are providing. This is a time where people's hearts are failing them and the very elect are being deceived. Light and truth will prevail!
Thank you!
Thank you so much for this. I know the BoM is true (far beyond faith), and I need no convincing, which is exactly why I seek to find these evidences. I served a mission in New Zealand and the Cook Islands. In the Cooks, we visited a special "marae" as they call it, and they consider it a sacred piece of land, but they really couldn't explain why they consider it sacred. To my companion and I, however, it was indeed obvious. There were anciently placed twelve stones about a foot tall, and three feet apart, all in a row. Above them were placed three larger stones, with the middle stone being the largest. We felt so clearly that certainly, it represented the Twelve Apostles and the god head, or I suppose the Twelve tribes of Israel. It was so amazing. The Polynesian islands are rich in Book of Mormon evidences, both physically and through their oral traditions.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks a lot for all your videos. All of them are great to support our beliefs and faith. I've studied many of the sources that you have shared with us by myself, in Spanish we don't have so much information and if we looking for a while on internet, regularly the browser guide us to a different websites of information against the Church which is very popular among the youth right now, so all the material that you provide us I've been looking to read it and I can testify that my faith is just bigger every day. Even I've helped to my students on Institute with many of your videos. Thank you so much.
Your comment means so much to me - thank you for sharing! I am working on getting Spanish captions for all the videos and should be done within a few months; hearing your comment reminds me of the importance of doing this translation work. Thanks!!
@@latterdaysaintsqa Thank you for your time and help. I'm grateful for the subtitles in Spanish, I just discovered recently. Even with the subtitles in English is a great help. Thank you a lot for this.
Interesting information, I have read some from FARMS, When we read the Book of Mormon we always read that the migration was always northward. We also have to remember that when Christ died the geography of some parts of “America “ changed completely.
Recently moved to Gilbert AZ and have begun to read the BOM due to large LDS population in my area. I just finished 1 Nephi and your nugget about the steel and wood bow makes sense. I was thinking why would he need new arrows if the bow broke? Makes perfect sense now! Awesome stuff.
Also your excitement and passion is contagious great work good sir
Thank you! So glad you are checking out the channel while you are researching the church! Please let me know if I can help answer any questions - you can contact me directly through my website latterdaysaintsqa.com, using the contact me link.
My father had a friend who severed a mission in Arizona. He was visiting one of the local tribes there preaching the gospel and just so happened to read the story to him about Christ visiting the Americas. He said the man paused after hearing it, and said "My grandfather told me a story passed down by a people of the a white god appearing here in the Americas." This native man was baptized shortly after.
Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely love your videos, the content and your passion for it
Thank you!
Just a matter of time before this Brother gets called the the 70, and then the 12.
I’m confident that it’s all men, relate into this man, Christ himself and walk the face of the earth as we speak.
Thank you for all you share the gospel with. You NEVER know who your mere presence affects. Thank you for your faithfulness!
Thank you for your kind words on sharing the gospel. I did this video library project in response to a prompting I received. One of my favorite quotes, which we have hanging in our kitchen, is from Pres Monson “The sweetest experience I know in life is to feel a prompting and act upon it and later find out that it was the fulfillment of someone’s prayer or someone’s need.” That has been my greatest joy as I have received feedback from individuals on the impact the videos have had to help them come closer to Christ!
Just a comment about Nephi, Laman and Lemuel's bows. Their bows would have been re-curve bows. 1 Nephi 16:21 states "...It , Nephi, having been afflicted with my brethren because of the loss of my bow, and their bows having lost their springs...". Anyone who has used a re-curve bow very much knows that the most important thing you can do to preserve the spring in your bow is to un-string it after use. If you do not your bow will lose it's spring. This may give us a little insight into how disciplined (or not) Nephi's brothers (and possibly brothers in law) were in their personal lives.
Interesting
I see you haven’t made any new video videos in a while. I hope you are well. This video was delightful to watch, even though my faith is already concrete I delight in the evidence you found. Thank you brother.
Thanks for reaching out and glad you have enjoyed the channel. I had originally set out to build a library of content that wasn't meant to be continuous, but a resource addressing a list of topics that I thought should be covered and then I put a bow on it (see my last video entitled "Personal Reflections"). I still stay involved on a daily basis though, through answering comments and emails.
@@latterdaysaintsqa Oh that’s awesome. I was inspired by brothers and sisters such as yourself and those on scripture central to post my little testimony on RUclips, just to add my voice to you and the other courageous voices.
I’ve been all over central America and they knew of all those buried ruins before lidar. Lidar just shows us that it’s there.
years ago, for a combined YM activity, we were talking about how genes can be bread out of a people (like you mention Lehi's family in this video). I brought a jar of rice, we took out a dozen pieces or so & painted them blue. We placed them back in the jar after they had dried and we had the boys predict as to whether the few blue grains would turn the rest of the jar blue, or would the blue ones lose their color? (obviously everyone said the blue one would lose their color). We shook the jar for about 5 minutes and dumped the rice on a plate ... not a single blue grain was found.
A great way to teach the concept! I used some of these types of visuals in the video I did called “DNA & Book of Mormon - Untestable”; here is the link if you haven’t seen that video: ruclips.net/video/ppq6q7xuw34/видео.html
LiDAR is amazing, I've worked on it during one of my internships but it was forest-oriented (stand volume estimates etc..). Problem with it is that it needs a LOT of pre and post processing work to be somewhat coherent, so we won't have a full LiDAR scan of the world right now.
Wow - what an amazing experience that must have been to be up close with that technology! If you haven’t watched it yet - check out the video I did exclusively on LIDAR and the Book of Mormon from the studies they did over the jungles in Guatemala. I called it LIDAR!! Revolutionizing Archeology and Rewriting History. Here is the direct link:
ruclips.net/video/lSV68oZ3e0o/видео.html
Is it necessary to believe the Tower of Babel story is literal in order to believe the Book of Mormon is a historical record?
I think you might find this video I did helpful on this topic - it is called “Old Testament Issues That Unnecessarily Challenge Faith”. I discuss the traditional, simplistic understanding of the Tower of Babel at 27:40 in the video. Tower - very possible, but very unlikely the source of all languages on the earth today (science clearly shows this to be virtually impossible) - so how do we understand the words - there are a number of possibilities I share in the video, and I also will list here several other links directly addressing the question that should also help:
ruclips.net/video/_VPB0o40HTY/видео.html
www.fairmormon.org/answers/Question:_What’s_the_best_way_to_understand_the_Tower_of_Babel_scientifically%3F
interpreterfoundation.org/knowhy-otl06c-what-was-all-the-confusion-about-at-the-tower-of-babel/
Latter-Day Saints’ Q&A: Thank you. I’ll look into these.
@@latterdaysaintsqa I love that you called the traditional understanding "simplistic." I totally agree. We see in construction all the time that people overcome language barriers to build skyscrapers in Dubai and houses in suburban America.
Towers often pop up as symbols of worldly power, which makes sense because they are perfect for collecting information and raining weapons down on others. "Becoming like God" is sometimes likened to obtaining knowledge of good and evil, which knowledge can be used to understand and blackmail others (about the secretive misdeeds they thought they were getting away with). Towers are also useful for getting messages out to a larger number of people, and so are useful for propaganda. But what good is gathered scandalous information when languages get confounded? How effective is propaganda when the listeners don't understand the propagandist?
Both theories of Book of Mormon geography could be discussed for years on end. I couldn't agree more with President Hinkley. Focus on the fact the the Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ. While volcanic eruptions, DNA, travel routes, etc, etc, etc...are interesting to discuss, they really don't matter. A spiritual witness of the Book of Mormon does.
Agree - that is why I really wanted to finish with that statement from President Hinckley!
I know a lot of people that don’t accept faith as a reason to believe or to give credit to. Evidences are very strong testimonies to the gospel, to the Book of Mormon, to Joseph and so on.
@@tatiginattosantana While it is true that evidences such as these can foster the secular plausibility of the historical record of the Book of Mormon, none of the spiritual aspects, which are the most important, can be verified by evidences. We can show through historical record that it is highly likely that Jesus Christ lived during the time purported by the Bible, but to say that Jesus Christ was divine and the Son of God cannot be based in evidences and only a spiritual witness is sufficient to the person. Likely the veracity of the Book of Mormon is based almost completely by the Spirit, because the Book of Mormon is not merely a history book, but a book of spiritual principles that lead one back to God.
What was meant when our prophet, seer and revelator said this?
“It is not a textbook of history, although some history is found within its pages. It is not a definitive work on ancient American agriculture or politics. It is not a record of all former inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere...” Prophet Russel M Nelson - 2016
I think the message was to not get caught up focusing on the history, but instead to focus on the religious messages of the book - that is what we are told it was written for right on the title page of the book. My favorite quote in this vain was given by Gordon B. Hinckley - and I quote it at the end of this video, but will share it here as well: “The evidence for its truth, for its validity in a world that is prone to demand evidence, lies not in archaeology or anthropology, though these may be helpful to some. It lies not in word research or historical analysis, though these may be confirmatory. The evidence for its truth and validity lies within the covers of the book itself. The test of its truth lies in reading it. It is a book of God. Reasonable individuals may sincerely question its origin, but those who read it prayerfully may come to know by a power beyond their natural senses that it is true, that it contains the word of God, that it outlines saving truths of the everlasting gospel, that it came forth by the gift and power of God.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Faith: The Essence of True Religion (1989), p10-11)
Moroni 10:3-5 also tells us that the key to getting a testimony of the divinity of the book is through spiritual means.
All that being said, the “evidences”, like those discussed in this video, can be a help in understanding the plausibility for the historical reality of the book, and they can be confirmatory additional blessings for those who already have exercised faith; however, they should never be seen as replacing the required witness from the Holy Ghost or replacing the subsequent faith derived from that witness. This is also why I wanted to start the video with one of my favorite quotes from Neal A. Maxwell: “It is the author’s opinion that all the scriptures, including the Book of Mormon, will remain in the realm of faith. Science will not be able to prove or disprove holy writ. However, enough plausible evidence will come forth to prevent scoffers from having a field day, but not enough to remove the requirement of faith. Believers must be patient during such unfolding.” (Neal A. Maxwell, Plain and Precious Things, (1983), p4).
These “evidences” can also be seen as fulfilling a promise to the witnesses to the Book of Mormon. One of my other favorite quotes in the video came from David Whitmer, who was concerned they would be mocked and ridiculed for their witness testimony, because the historical Native Americans were viewed at that time very differently than much of the Book of Mormon descriptions. Here is a copy and paste of the text from that slide of the video (which is taken from the book A Case for the Book of Mormon, by Tad Callister:
At the time of Joseph Smith, the ancient inhabitants of the Americas were believed to be a savage, barbaric, and uncivilized people - without trade, commerce, education, or metropolitan cities. In 1834, U.S. historian George Bancroft said of the Native Americans, “[They] were a few scattered tribes of feeble barbarians, destitute of commerce and of political connection.” He was referring not only to the existing Native Americans in his day and age but to their ancient ancestors as well, who presumably existed in similar societies, seemingly without change. This opinion of the ancient inhabitants of the Americas was almost universally held at the time of Joseph Smith.
In direct contrast to this view, the Book of Mormon speaks of a refined and civilized people who from time to time were ”very numerous” (Mosiah 27:6), who were “building large cities” (Mosiah 27:6) and ”many cities” (3 Nephi 6:7), who were constructing “many highways…and many roads…which led from city to city” (3 Nephi 6:8), who “trade[d] one with another” (Mosiah 24:7) and had “free intercourse one with another to buy and to sell” (Helaman 6:8)…who “did receive great learning (3 Nephi 6:12) and produced “many merchants…many lawyers, and many officers” (3 Nephi 6:11).
Due to this contrast between what the world believed and what the Book of Mormon taught, David Whitmer and others were worried that people would not believe the Book of Mormon. David then shared this comforting and prophetic statement given to him and others:
“When we were first told to publish our statement [that is, The Testimony of Three Witnesses], we felt sure the people would not believe it, for the Book [of Mormon] told of a people who were refined and dwelt in large cities; but the Lord told us that He would make it known to the people, and people should discover the ruins of the lost cities and abundant evidence of the truth of what is written in the Book.”
Tad Callister, A Case For the Book of Mormon, p43-44
I enjoyed your video and there were a few things I did not know about like the volcanic areas or the ring of fire which is interesting. I had an opportunity to backpack the Yucatan peninsula with 2 of my buddies for a month and a half. The whole trip, we decided to visit as many ruins as we could.... working all the way down to Tikal, Guatemala. It was one of the most fascinating trips I have ever had and helped me understand how true the Book of Mormon is. I know the God intended the book of mormon to be the word of God by faith in reading its contents but it was unbelievable how cool it was to witness it, while having a prior Testimony of it. We had a chance to talk to the archeologists down in tikal and it was eye opening to hear how much has not even been touched.
I have since heavily followed and researched the lidar when they first broke news of the discoveries, but I am surprised that you don't have "La Cuernavilla" in this video. "La Cuernavilla" -A heavily fortified fortress that included ** 20 FOOT WALLS**, moats, watchtowers, and caches of round stones that likely served as ammunition for warriors’ slings. It is the largest defensive system ever discovered in the region. I actually think Tikal is Zarahemla because of the newly discovered La Cuernavilla. It is uphill and matches the stories of the different cities that Moroni fortified. UNBELIEVABLE! What are you thoughts on this?
I don't have evidence of this but I actually think that America was connected differently than it is now to mexico and southern america. I think Florida was connected to southern america by land. There is very little information about this but there is evidence of a huge sunken city just south west of Cuba. (which I went to on a different educational trip) If I can find the info that I saw about it, I will post it on this thread.
With your comments on LIDAR, I know you will love the video that I did on LIDAR and the Book of Mormon in a MesoAmerica setting. I called it LIDAR! Revolutionizing Archeology & Rewriting History. Here is the direct link:
ruclips.net/video/lSV68oZ3e0o/видео.html
You have such a great energetic teaching style. Its very fun to watch. Keep up the great videos! Me and the family love them!
Thank you! So glad you found the channel and are sharing it with your family!
I just tuned in so haven't heard much yet, but I hope that the younger church members can grow in faith. I hope you will be blessed and that those who will hear and will share will follow the Holy Spirit and those who hear will hear according to their ability to understand. I hope that many will draw nearer to Jesus, and that we will be edified together.
I used an atalatl once! I can say that they are cast rather than shot. My spelling of that is from memory so I'm sorry if I have that wrong.) I get excited about this too though. The book of Mormon is so true.
Joseph smith must have secretly taken a trip to Saudi Arabia prior to writing all those stories. Haha! Or maybe it’s really a translation of a real record. Mmmm
well said 😁
I also like what you said about location. I’ve talked to members fanatically defending one or the other and never was able to draw a conclusion.
North or Central America I mean.
One of my favorite quotes in this video was from Harold B. Lee “Well, if the Lord wanted us to know where it was, or where Zarahemla was, he’d have given us latitude and longitude, don’t you think?” I also like how the church has come out recently clarifying the stance of geographical neutrality - other than somewhere in the Americas! I don’t think there will ever be a “smoking gun” evidence because that will take away the faith requirement. The Lord seems to have this fascinating formula of evidence for plausibility but not proof taking away all faith. If God is willing to do this even with the greatest event in human history - the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we shouldn’t be surprised that it would be the same with the Book of Mormon. My favorite quote on this I shared at the beginning of the video, from Elder Neal A. Maxwell (in his book Plain and Precious Things (pg 4): “It is the author’s opinion that all the scriptures, including the Book of Mormon, will remain in the realm of faith. Science will not be able to prove or disprove holy writ. However, enough plausible evidence will come forth to prevent scoffers from having a field day, but not enough to remove the requirement of faith. Believers must be patient during such unfolding.”
That was such a perfect way to end it. Great job!
Thanks!
This is a wonderful video! It is the best I've seen on recent Book of Mormon physical evidence and is in total agreement with my opinions on it. I really like how you very gently bridge the divide between the Mesoamerican and Heartland models. I am also partial to the Mesoamerican model for the very same reasons you are. I will share this with others. Thank you.. you are amazing :)
THANK YOU SO MUCH! Your comment means a lot to me! I especially appreciate the “gentle bridge” reference as it was something I struggled over how to present!
I am very strong in my belief in the heartland model. I agree that this was a great bridge for the two models and I didn't feel any spirit of contention. I personally believe that the mesoanerican model is another chosen people taken from the tower of babel like the Jaredites. Thank you for a wonderful presentation!!.
@@michaelwhipple347 I served my mission in the Yucatán Mérida Mexico Mission about two decades ago. We were able to stand on top of and go inside the pyramid at Chichen Itza, we also visited Ek’ Balam, Tulum, Edzná on my p-days. I felt that I was serving the remnants of the lamanites, but never truly felt that I was in Book of Mormon lands. I wanted it so bad to be so. I watched and heard some great parallel videos pointing to the Heartland theory as well much after my mission. I want that area to be Book of Mormon lands also. I’m now at a point where it could be anywhere in the S and N American continents, with the USA about to lose its freedoms and uniqueness and even its protection from outside attacks, I doubt the USA is where it took place and firmly believe it’s more likely the Meso American lands, and they are about to be redeemed maybe? Who knows is what I’m saying. It’s all so dang fascinating and incredible that the LDS church has known since the late 1820’s what so many are only now finding out about these regions. How did Joseph know? I know the Book of Mormon was divinely brought about - translated - by the calling of a prophet named Joseph Smith, and translated just as Joseph and several other witnesses say it was. The Church of Jesus Christ of LDS is only church teaching the restored Gospel, and I love it!
I love how you present information in a non-combative manner and have such passion for what you're teaching. While I agree the geography of the Book of Mormon is not necessary information currently and should never be the cause of contention, it can be quite interesting to hear theories and possibilities. I personally subscribe to neither of the popular contending theories today. I subscribe to the the Baja California model from the Rosenvalls. You shared some of their research right at the start of the video. Thank you for all your well presented videos.
Thank you for your kind comment. I do wish I had pointed out or acknowledged in the video the existence of a few other models like Baja and the Andes particularly. I was so fascinated by the Rosenvalls calculations on the Jaredite travels - was very excited to start the video off with that amazing analysis!
@@latterdaysaintsqa I also have been amazed by that ocean current finding and want to study it out more. I've shared your channel with my family hoping they watch all of the videos too!
Thank you!
Not only did they find the Valley of Lemuel and the river of water, which did anciently flow into the Red Sea, George Potter and the Nephi Project discovered the remains of a very large campsite in the valley. Pottery shards taken by the Department of Antiquities date the campsite at circa 600 B.C. Not only that, Nephi records that his father built an “altar of stones” in the valley. Now if you thought they found an altar of stones at the mouth of the altar, you'd be wrong. They actually found _two_ altars of stones, one at a higher elevation than the other. This would seem to indicate the presence of someone with the priesthood.
We've spent a number of years calling this valley the leading “candidate” for the Valley of Lemuel. I think we can confidently say now that this is it, and, like Nahom, we need to stop dancing around and calling them “candidates.” As long as we do so, our critics will focus their attention on the difference between candidates and discoveries. And if there are any other viable _candidates_ in the Arabian Peninsula, LDS scholars need to cough them up! If not, we need to treat the Valley of Lemuel as what it is. We found it, it fits, and our critics need to deal with it.
Your videos are superb. Keep up the good work!
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Thank you for the additional insights!
I served my mission at the base of the Popo volcano. They dig up the volcanic rock for construction and often find cities and towns buried in the lava rock. Everyone has little knick knacks and things they've found in their houses.
Wow - that is fascinating to hear! Thanks for sharing!!
Curious why you havent made any new videos in such a long time? Have enjoyed watching them as Im going through this journey, reading the BOM and praykng as to it's truthfulness. Hope to see more in the future 😊
Thanks for your comment and support! The video library of content I set out to build was completed - see the last video I posted titled "Personal Reflections". I may put out additional content if a topic I haven't covered in some fashion arises and I feel like I should cover it. Thanks!
I love your content! There’s so much to be learned from what you have in this video. It’s obvious you’ve put a lot of time and research into these videos. Would you consider breaking them up into smaller videos and possibly talking a little slower? I feel a little overwhelmed with the intense amount of information you have herr. I want to grasp it , but in order to really absorb all that is here, I personally need to break it up into smaller parts. Also for those who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, maybe quoting “Elder Maxwell” as “Elder Neal Maxwell” ,for example,and give sources so those people have a clear idea of whom you are quoting, giving them the opportunity to learn more still. Thanks again for an awesome video!
Thank you for the comment. With regards to the speed - one solution that works on RUclips is the ability to slow the pace of the video down by changing the playback settings. Here is how you do that on RUclips: click on the settings (the wheel icon in the bottom right corner of the video screen itself on a computer, or if on a phone its the top right corner 3 dots), you can select the playback speed and you slow things down in increments (the next step down from normal would be .75x or 25% slower). You can also choose the “custom” button and choose a precise speed desired rather than the pre-defined suggestions.
Thank you. I really REALLY enjoyed this, as well as your excitement about sharing what you "found" to share with us. I stop your videos a lot because I want to read the things you don't highlight, even on your other videos. I also like them as well. I got a lot on the true priesthood one and made me think of some things in my mind more openly. THANK YOU and keep up the nice interesting things you share .NA
Thanks for you comment! I am so glad you take the time to read the stuff I sometimes blast through (especially on this video!). I like to pack a lot in so you have it all there as a resource and I am hoping if people are interested they will do just as you described, so thanks again!
I believe in the Book of Mormon. I was born into the RLDS church and always wanted actual proof of the Book of Mormon's legitimacy. Thank you.
I don’t think there will ever be a “smoking gun” evidence because that will take away the faith requirement. The Lord seems to have this fascinating formula of evidence for plausibility but not proof taking away all faith. If God is willing to do this even with the greatest event in human history - the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we shouldn’t be surprised that it would be the same with the Book of Mormon. My favorite quote on this I shared at the beginning of the video, from Elder Neal A. Maxwell (in his book Plain and Precious Things (pg 4): “It is the author’s opinion that all the scriptures, including the Book of Mormon, will remain in the realm of faith. Science will not be able to prove or disprove holy writ. However, enough plausible evidence will come forth to prevent scoffers from having a field day, but not enough to remove the requirement of faith. Believers must be patient during such unfolding.”
My favorite evidence of the Book of Mormon is the miraculous way it came forth - I cover that in the video “Book of Mormon - Match It!”; here is the direct link to that video: ruclips.net/video/pnkrQOEhuHA/видео.html
Speaking of the Americas being one continent, North and South America are represented by one Olympic ring so that was definitely the thought at the time!
Great thought - thanks for sharing!
@@latterdaysaintsqa you are welcome! Sorry I am 4 years late! But I love your videos! Somehow I missed this one when it came out!!!
From what I've learned, there seems to be a lot pf evidence in both north and mesa America of book or Mormon people. I was closed off to it being in Mesa America for almost a decade now, but after hearing what yoh said about the immigration East evidence, that they were in both areas.
This video just appeared on my youtube channel today (9-10-21). Thanks for producing it. Are you familiar with Skousens book "Earth, In The Beginning"? Great book also!
Thank you and glad you found the channel! I am familiar with that book and have it on my bookshelf. I will share with you here a few other videos on the channel that you might find interesting on the topic of science and religion:
“Joseph Smith - The Science Seer!”:
ruclips.net/video/B6c1jqi4Rw4/видео.html
“Science & Religion - Seeing with Both Eyes”:
ruclips.net/video/A57SU8ZcAhc/видео.html
“Old Testament Issues that Unnecessarily Challenge Faith”:
ruclips.net/video/_VPB0o40HTY/видео.html
The book of mormon took place primarily in central america, but in helaman we learn that the people migrated northward and traveled great distances until they arrived at great "bodies of water" which we know them today as "the great lakes." So technically, it took place in both places, which is why we find evidence in both areas.
Thank you for the comment and I think it is an intriguing hypothesis. I speak of this for a bit in the video ("Heartland as Hinterland") for about 6 minutes starting just after the 50 min mark. I love how this fits well with the scriptural record - Alma 63 talks about a massive northward migration in the mid-first century BC (after which we aren’t told anything about these people). This also fits nicely with archeological and anthropological evidence showing the spread northward from Mesoameria into North America (as I show in the video briefly some of the categories: linguistics, DNA, trade routes, flora, corn, archeology & architecture). Here is the link to Tyler Livinston’s research on this topic:
The Book of Mormon and Mesoamerican Travels “Northward” by Tyler Livingston: www.bmaf.org/articles/mesoamer...
And here is the link to the “Heartland as Hinterland” original presentation by Mark Wright (a must watch if you are intrigued with this hypothesis!):
www.fairmormon.org/conference...
I have been doing research on book 9f mormon lands for about 6 yrs now, and I would love to be able to show you my model. I call it the peten model because i fulpy believe that peten was the land of zarahemla. In fact, many of the names still exist today if you know where to look. I have even found the name zarahemla, and you will be amazed to learn of its location, which makes perfect sense. Every city that i have mapped out can also be traced out by following the scriptures.
Thank you - that would be interesting to see. If you want to send it to me directly through my website - it is latterdaysaintsqa.com and then click on the contact me button to send an email.
Absolutely i will. I will get it off to you probably monday
Well done my friend, very diplomatic in your presentation. You lay it out clearly and give them a way out of their delusion. Keep up the good work.
Thank you
One of the few things that I don't seem to understand about choosing between the Hopewell civilization with Meso-America, as far as the book Mormon is concerned, is that we are trying to use today's geography versus the geography of pre-BC times. In 3rd Nephi chapter 8, it talks about the tumult that spread throughout the land and how the face of the land was changed. How can we compare the different geographies between these two time periods? We do not even know if there was a connection between the Yucatan Peninsula and The Florida Keys. Could they have been connected would that have been the small Peninsula of land?
Personally, I think that both sides had truth in them. The land of their first inheritance, where they first landed might be in Meso-America and the Nephite lands might be the Hopewell civilization. I personally don't think we should rule out either one since we don't have complete knowledge of all the facts. What is important is this spiritual confirmation. Just my 2 cents worth.
Amen
The gospel has been in my family for many generations... I have a testimony that the church is true, that Jesus loves me and that Joseph is a Prophet. This video has helped make that testimony feel even stronger.
Thanks for sharing
This is so amazing. Thank you for sharing this with us.❤
Thanks!
Alma as a male name is very interesting. I remember reading that awhile ago.
I think we err greatly by separating the Mesoamerican and heartlands cultures. I believe the Mesoamerican peoples were those of the Book of Mormon, but I don't believe those in the heartlands were cut off from Mesoamerica. I believe the two were related and that there was both social and trade intercourse between them. Their may have even been a common language between them such as Greek in the Old World. This would explain why some Heartland advocates are finding similar clues in the Heartlands. The precious metals, volcanic activity, cement and populations are found mostly in Mesoamerica, but other similarities may reside in the Heartlands.
Thanks for your comment and I agree this is a solid theory! I speak about it quite a bit in the video, starting around the 51 min mark. I think the theory fits well with the text (Alma 63 particularly), as well as historical evidence in many different areas (see the summary of the work from Tyler Livingston around the 55 min mark of advancements from Mesoamerica northward of things such as linguistics, dna, trade routes, flora, corn, archaeology & architecture).
"the fact that the Lord took back the gold plates tells us a lot"....AMEN! The also, the fact that Jesus also appeared to relatively a few people after His Resurrection tells us a lot too. If God's voice can be heard from the heavens after the baptism of Jesus....God could easily speak to the world in OUR day from the heavens, telling us of His reality and divinity.....but that defeats the purposes of coming here to earth. We are still required to have faith, and the light of Christ and the light of the Holy Ghost is our guide, and our desires for goodness and righteousness will be rewarded, both hear on earth as well as in heaven.
love the way you phrased this - thank you!
I love your videos! On the subject of where the BOM took place, there is a passage in the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.267, where Joseph says that father Lehi crossed the great Western Ocean an landed a little north of the isthmus of Darien (Panama). I'm curious as to why no one brings this up when they talk about the location of BOM geography. Unless the theory starts with that landing, I have a hard time following it because Joseph clearly says it there. What do you think?
Thanks for the comment. Sorry for the length of this response but I have a number of things I wanted to share. In the video, I mention at around 35:35 about the Times and Seasons publications - which is what your reference to TPJS page 267 is quoting. Some have actually hypothesized that someone other than Joseph wrote these T&S articles (as I mention in the video), which is why I then point out in the video that Joseph would have changed something if he had disagreed with it (and that is only assuming he didn’t write it in the first place). More importantly, this is also why I wanted to focus on the letter that Joseph did write himself to John Bernhisel thanking him for the books on the Mexico/Central America explorations and how they validate the BofM (the letter is a slide in the video at about 36:10), along with quotes about these exploration books from those who would be our next 3 prophets (the next 3 slides in the video). But my favorite, and I think the one that should really get our attention, is what I show in the video starting at 47:10 showing the map of Christopher Columbus’ voyages and on the right of the map I show 1 Ne 13:12 that Columbus would “go unto the seed of his (Nephi’s) brethren WHO WERE IN THE PROMISED LAND” (this term “promised land” is used by the “Heartlanders” to show this had to be the land of the future United States). We know that Columbus never set foot in North America but did in Central America, Venezuela and the Caribbean Islands. One last thing, which I mentioned briefly in the video, but maybe didn’t emphasize enough, is the credentialed scholars in the Church would lean towards Mesoamerica over the Great Lakes area on a scale of probably 10 to 1; actually I think I need to add a 0 to that - make it 100 to 1. Now with these recent LIDAR studies being done over the Guatemalan jungles (see the separate video I did showing all the BofM correlations), these odds increase exponentially!
One last thought: We need to put early church leaders’ comments in context: Remember that we often use ’presentism’ in judging these comments. Until the 1950s, virtually everyone in the Church, including leaders, thought the Book of Mormon took place throughout all of North and South America with the ‘narrow neck of land’ being Central America/Mexico (this is known as the ‘hemispheric model’). Remember, also, that no revelation was ever given as to specific B ofM land locations. Once scholars analyzed the distances covered in The Book of Mormon more carefully, they determined the BofM lands were in a limited geographical setting. None of this changes the validity of the record, nor what it has claimed to be from the beginning, but our more matured and advanced understanding of setting needs too be contextualized against earlier theories. Lastly, remember there is the ‘heartland as hinterland’ hypothesis that I cover in the video in which migrations northward out of Mesoamerica could even explain some of the North American references potentially valid anyway (without requiring a hemispheric model).
Latter-day Saints’ Q&A You’re awesome to answer this question in such detail.
@@latterdaysaintsqa
I came to the same conclusion as the hiterland theory myself over the years. It is the most plausible theory, and fits the evidence well.
@@latterdaysaintsqa awesome explanation, Thanks for taking the time put those remarks in with the time marks from the video, much appreciated !
Migration. I think that there was a lot of migration that didn't get fully captured by the Book of Mormon.
Hi Latter-day Saints' Q&A, do you know how i can contact with Elder Tad R. Callister, the author of the book "A Case For Book Of Mormon"? My friend and I have a serious question about it, whether it is written as a scholar research book or faith building book?
The best route would probably be to address this question to the publisher, Deseret Book. They may be able to answer the question directly or may ask for a response from Tad Callister to you. You can go to Deseret Book website online and click on the contact us link.
You’ve clearly put a lot of time and effort into your studies. Thank you for sharing your work. Do you have the primary sources linked anywhere? It seems the majority of your sources are either the work of LDS authors or are delivered through LDS authors, which makes an objective examination somewhat difficult.
The sources are listed on the slides as well as in the resources section under the video description. The research is using Latter-day Saint credentialed scholarly work, using non-member professionals, as well as doing their own research. You can go to each of the sources to tie back to other original sources if applicable. I did try and do a lot of that in preparing for the video from a qualitative and scholarly perspective, as well as selecting what to use.
The Book of Mormon happened primarily in Central America. Had to of been down there. The big problem is there is no answer for the jaredites and the book of Ether’s description in any other area. I actually don’t think we should respect stupid opinions that mislead many that are not of the faith. It causes problems just so some can build big houses on others emotions.
Awesome video Brother!
Thank you!
I’m confused and frankly surprised with the disagreements between the Mesoamerica and Heartland theories. I’ve been a member my whole life. I don’t know how but I’ve ALWAYS known your theory about both places is true. Honestly, none of this affects my exaltation. Or anyone else’s. But it is definitely fun listening to you! Glad I found your channel!
Thank you and glad you found the channel!
I sometimes wonder if both the North and Central American proponents are correct. Perhaps the Book of Mormon took place in Central (or North America) BUT another group or tribe or fold was in North (or Central America). The "other" group was not the Book of Mormon peoples...BUT were people of God.
I think one of the most intriguing hypothesis is “Heartland as Hinterland”. I speak of this for a bit in the video for about 6 minutes starting just after the 50 min mark. I love how this fits well with the scriptural record - Alma 63 talks about a massive northward migration in the mid-first century BC (after which we aren’t told anything about these people). This also fits nicely with archeological and anthropological evidence showing the spread northward from Mesoameria into North America (as I show in the video briefly some of the categories: linguistics, DNA, trade routes, flora, corn, archeology & architecture). Here is the link to Tyler Livinston’s research on this topic:
The Book of Mormon and Mesoamerican Travels “Northward” by Tyler Livingston: www.bmaf.org/articles/mesoamer...
And here is the link to the “Heartland as Hinterland” original presentation by Mark Wright (a must watch if you are intrigued with this hypothesis!):
www.fairmormon.org/conference...
@@latterdaysaintsqa Awesome. I think the only thing I ever heard was the idea that those were the Polynesians (if I'm thinking of the right group) that left from the BofM lands. It is exciting what we learn as time passes and more is uncovered.
Last I read is they found over 278 languages in meso America, they had many nations, tribes, or groups. They almost all showed influence from the Olmec civilization and traditions that came from there. Interesting to me.
not sure if you are still active on this channel, but i have a question. i was reading through the book of mormon and in Alma 7:10 it says that jesus was born in Jerusalem when he was in fact born in Bethlehem. i am confused as to why the bible and book of mormon contradicted.
Ironically, for me, this is actually one of the evidences of the Book of Mormon, so much so that I included in this very video. Please watch the segment from 19:29 to 20:24.
Here are 2 quick reads that I think you will also find helpful in addressing the question:
www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Question:_Why_does_the_Book_of_Mormon_say_that_Jesus_would_be_born_%22at_Jerusalem_which_is_the_land_of_our_forefathers%22_when_the_Bible_states_that_he_was_born_in_Bethlehem%3F
abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1984/08/i-have-a-question/why-does-the-book-of-mormon-say-that-jesus-would-be-born-in-jerusalem?lang=eng
I do want to copy/paste the quote from Dan Peterson on the Fairlatterdaysaints piece, because it really highlights why I consider this one of the “evidences” of the BofM (Joseph couldn’t have written this himself!):
“To suggest that Joseph Smith knew the precise location of Jesus' baptism by John ("in Bethabara, beyond Jordan" (1 Ne. 10:9) but hadn't a clue about the famous town of Christ's birth is so improbable as to be ludicrous. Do the skeptics seriously mean to suggest that the Book of Mormon's Bible-drenched author (or authors) missed one of the most obvious facts about the most popular story in the Bible - something known to every child and Christmas caroler? Do they intend to say that a clever fraud who could write a book displaying so wide an array of subtly authentic Near Eastern and biblical cultural and literary traits as the Book of Mormon does was nonetheless so stupid as to claim, before a Bible-reading public, that Jesus was born in the city of Jerusalem? As one anti-Mormon author has pointed out, "Every schoolboy and schoolgirl knows Christ was born in Bethlehem." [Langfield, 53.] Exactly! It is virtually certain, therefore, that Alma 7:10 was foreign to Joseph Smith's preconceptions. "The land of Jerusalem" is not the sort of thing the Prophet would likely have invented, precisely for the same reason it bothers uninformed critics of the Book of Mormon.”
One last comment that I always think of personally on this question - I live in a suburb of Salt Lake City and I am only about 10 miles from the City Center. If I was on the other side of the world, and somebody asked me where I lived, I would definitely say Salt Lake City, not the name of my suburb, which would most likely be unrecognizable to my audience. Bethlehem is even closer - it is 5 miles outside of the (famous) city of Jerusalem. All this is before even taking into account the “at” vs “in” phrasing aspects discussed in the linked articles or the 1400 B.C. Amarna letters, discovered in 1887, which use the same phrasing as the BofM! (discussed in the video clip).
Do you still see the heartland vs central subject the same way?
Yes
I love to watch him share (with excitement and a big smile!) the evidences that the Book of Mormon is true! I love this channel so much!!!!! Thankkkkk youuuuuu ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Keepp posting moreee videos and inspiring other people to know the truth!!!
Thank you!!
I always enjoy your videos brother, I admire all the hard work you put in to them, I just wish you could be a Heartlander 😁 I'm sure with good research you could come to a good conclusion, thank you for the great videos!
May God bless you my friend!
Thank you!
Killer video! I agree that facts seem the change all the time in archeology, and science, and we can’t rely on those because we only have one life time! Accept you have a conscious spirit that NEEDS to be nourished just as our physical body does. And I testify that following the teachings of the Book of Mormon and the Bible teaches you how to nourish yourself in your day to day life. And in this you will find your testimony of God.
Thank you for the video. I enjoyed it.
Thanks!
Gracias por tú trabajo en estos videos
Gracias!
A thought of the history of the Book of Mormon, I would like to point out. In the end of the recorded times there was only about 4 generations after Christ's visit to the American continent. Knowing that there was a great tumultuous event before Jesus Christ came. And that there was no "ites" afterwards. That of those who were within the 4th and 5th generation after Christ came, it was of these that claimed the names of the "ites" once more.
So finding the previous to Christ's visit to the Isles of the sea to include the America's, it would be extremely unlikely to date anyting back beyond that date besides those things that were with those whom had survived that great geological event.
In 3 Nephi, Jesus himself stated that he needed to visit yet others. Nephi also stated that other Israelites had been led out of their homeland to the isles of the sea and to the promised land, so why not other isolated cultures all across the Americas? Even places in Eastern Europe have ancient traditions of Christ ministering personally. A much more expansive view of geography, ancient migrations, colonizations by Israelites, and even Christ's determination to minister to scattered Israel is needed in the discussion. Further, people were surprisingly mobile in ancient times with artifacts that could only have originated from thousands of miles distant having been found in many archaeological sites.
That was referring to the sum 500 other witnesses.
Paul Macfarlane. Great comment. My current understanding the Heartland Model. Jesus could have visited Mesoamerica and South America next.
Great video
Thank you!
Thanks!
It's much more likely that the Jaredites followed the Euphrates river from Iraq to the Mediterranean Sea, which would necessitate boats to journey across. Then the straight of Gibraltar is where they would have built ships again. The Rock of Gibraltar is a very large mountain that overlooks the harbor. Then they could have traveled across the Atlantic.
“It is not a textbook of history, although some history is found within its pages. It is not a definitive work on ancient American agriculture or politics. It is not a record of all former inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere...” Prophet Russel M Nelson - 2016
PART 1
My response was too long so the post didn’t go through - I broke it up into 2 parts. Here is part 1:
While that would have been a shorter and more efficient route, this would have been straight West, while the record in Ether indicates the beginnings were to the North (Ether 2:1 “…went down into the valley which was northward (valley of Nimrod), then from there Ether 2:5 “…the Lord commanded them that they should go forth into the wilderness, yea, into that quarter where there never had many been.” Then Ether 2:6 said they “…did travel in the wilderness, and did build barges, in which they did cross many waters, and then vs 7 says they shouldn’t stop beyond the sea in the wilderness next encountered, but continue on to the promised land. We are told in Ether 2:13 that the end of all this initial journeying was described as “the Lord did bring Jared and his brethren forth even to that great sea which divideth the lands”. We aren’t told how long that journey was on land once they crossed this large sea (“many waters”) but then after spending 4 years upon that final seashore (the “great sea which divideth the lands”) they were then commanded to build barges (again) for the resumption of the journey (Ether 2:16), which we are told then took 344 days (Ether 6:11) and was a very rough journey (Ether 6:6-10). Using these scriptures, the geography and history of the area, Lynn and David Rosenvall put together a best-fit hypothesized route (which I briefly mention in the video but don’t spend a lot of time developing due to time). I would suggest this 50 page pdf on their website: www.achoiceland.com/jaredites/Jaredites.pdf, which lays out their model and all the rest of the journey that I cover in the video.
I will copy and paste here some snippets from some of the most relevant key paragraphs relating to the beginnings of their journey, which do fit well with the text, geography and history (they have a number of visual maps in the pdf):
The Lord honored their request and agreed to lead them “into a land which is choice above all the lands of the earth” (Ether 1:42). All of this took place at the “great tower” which, although not stated, appears to be the tower of Babel, located along the Euphrates River south of Bagdad in present-day Iraq (See Gen. 11:1-9; and Bible Dictionary, “Babylon or Babel,” and Map 9, “The World of the Old Testament,” in the LDS Bible Appendix).
Jared and his brother were instructed to “gather together [their] flocks, both male and female, of every kind; and also of the seed of the earth of every kind; and [their] families,” and the Lord would meet them in the “valley which is northward” (Ether 1:41-42). The Lord promised to bless them and lead them to a choice land…(Ether 1:43).
The company of travelers “went down into the valley which was northward, (and the name of the valley was Nimrod, being called after the mighty hunter) with their flocks which they had gathered together, male and female, of every kind” (Ether 2:1). The valley appears to have been known because it carried a name-the name of Nimrod, the mighty hunter, a great-grandson of Noah (Gen. 10:1-9). The Jaredite group laid snares to “catch fowls of the air; and they did also prepare a vessel, in which they did carry with them the fish of the waters (Ether 2:2).
The group then traveled northward through the valley of Nimrod and went “forth into the wilderness, yea, into that quarter where there never had man been. And it came to pass that the Lord did go before them, and did talk with them as he stood in a cloud, and gave directions whither [to which place] they should travel” (Ether 2:5). The crucial question at this point is: Which direction did the Jaredites travel to place them in a “quarter” of the land. “where never had man been” Because they were traveling northward, the empty or unpopulated quarter would have been either to the northwest or the northeast of the tower of Babel. According to the Book of Genesis, the ark of Noah landed “upon the mountains of Ararat” (Gen. 8:4). These mountains are located in eastern Turkey to the northwest of Babel, so the quarter of the land to the northwest, where Noah’s ark landed, would not have been an area “where there never had man been.” This leaves the northeast quarter as the only possible direction for a Jaredite route into an unpopulated northern quarter of the land as they departed the valley of Nimrod north of Babel, located south of present day Bagdad (See Bible Dictionary, “Ararat,” and Map 9, “The World of the Old Testament,” in the LDS Bible Appendix).
PART 2
The Lord then led the Jaredite group in a general eastward direction [?] toward the vast unknown and unpopulated “wilderness” of Asia[?] until they came to an inland “sea in the wilderness” called “many waters” (Ether 2:5-7). What is meant by the term “sea” and the phrase “many waters” when describing a body of water? A sea is defined as an expanse of salt water that covers most of the earth's surface and surrounds its land masses. The term “sea” is sometimes incorrectly used to describe a fresh water lake, for example, the Sea of Galillee... For this analysis, the term “sea” refers to bodies of salt water that are at least large enough so that one cannot readily see a land mass on the opposite side. This definition would apply to not only oceans but also large inland bodies of salt water like the Salton Sea in southern California ….The phrase “many waters” is used by Nephi elsewhere in the Book of Mormon to describe bodies of salt water….
…Within Asia the historic receding body of inland water is known as the Paratethys Sea. The size and exact location of this historic inland sea of western Asia cannot be mapped precisely because it has significantly shrunk in size over time. Today, the Aral, Caspian and Black seas are remnants of the Paratethys Sea; the first two seas, completely cut off from the ocean, have become more saline while the Black Sea, connected to the Mediterranean Sea by way of the Bosporus Strait, has developed into an uncommon body containing both fresh and salt water areas. Farther to the east is Lake Balkhash, another large saline body of water that could have been part of the ancient Paratethys Sea. The Caspian, Aral and Balkhash seas are closed bodies of salt water that have one or more inflows but no natural outflows.
…We might not know the size of the Paratethys Sea, the inland “sea in the wilderness,” at the time of the Jaredite encounter, but we know its historical existence. The Jaredite response to this travel impediment was to “build barges, in which they did cross many waters, being directed continually by the hand of the Lord” (Ether 2:6-7). This inland sea of western Asia must have been of such a size that it was better to cross by barges than to travel around. Also, there is no mention of building multiple sets of barges to cross a series of inland seas.
The brief account of their travels in the “wilderness,” in three verses of the Book of Ether, may raise more questions than it answers, but this we do know: The Jaredites crossed an inland “sea in the wilderness” of western Asia in some type of boats with the Lord’s direction (Ether 2:5-7). Also, these first boats were constructed somewhat differently than the eight vessels which were later built to cross the “great deep” of the Pacific Ocean (see Constructing Another Set of Barges (Boats), below).
The account next states that the “Lord would not suffer [allow] that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness,” but they should continue to go “forth even unto the land of promise” (Ether 2:7). This would imply that the terrain they encountered after crossing the “sea in the wilderness,” and continuing “forth,” was also wilderness, and this terrain would have been at a somewhat higher level than the inland sea to provide a basin or containment for the water. The distance across the wilderness on the eastern side of the inland sea in Asia to a distant seashore farther to the east is not indicated, nor is the nature and characteristics of the wilderness terrain.
The Lord directed the Jaredites to go “forth” until they arrived at “that great sea which divideth the lands” (Ether 2:13). We believe their journey took them across the breadth of Asia. The terminus of their land journey was the east coast of what is now China, and the “great sea which divideth the lands” was the Pacific Ocean which divides the Asian and North American continents. According to the record, at this seashore location there was a “mount, which they called the mount Shelem, because of its exceeding height” (Ether 3:1). On the top of this mount, the brother of Jared later importuned the Lord to touch 16 small stones to “shine forth in darkness” to illuminate the enclosed vessels they had been commanded to build (Ether 3:4). This “exceedingly” tall mountain was located where they “dwelt in tents upon the seashore for the space of four years” (Ether 2:13), and thus on the seashore where they built their eight vessels (Ether 2:16-18). Along the entire 9,000-mile coastline of present-day China there is only one mountain on the coast- Mount Laoshan. This remarkable mountain is of “exceeding” height, rising directly from the seacoast to an elevation of 3,717 feet and covering an area at its base of 172 square miles. The mountain has alternate Chinese names that translate into English as: Number one coastal mountain; Land for supernatural being; and Fascinating and blessing place. Through time Mount Laoshan has been considered sacred by followers of several Chinese religions and is still venerated today. The height, location and historical significance of Mount Laoshan is rather striking, especially its singular location on the east coast of Asia. All of this appears to match, in a remarkable way, the Jaredite account of an “exceeding” high mountain on the seashore of “that great sea which divideth the lands,”…
I just want to say thank you for taking the time to share your wealth of knowledge and above all your testimony
Thank you so much!
I really like Mark Wright's synthesis of the two most popular geographical models for the Book of Mormon.
Thanks for the comment - I agree with you on that big time and was glad I could highlight it in this video (and show some additional backup from the work of Tyler Livingston)
Lack of snow is huge. They had droughts, venomous snakes, cmon man.
Uto-aztecan originated in San Diego (not Mexico) by the way. Great video!
Thank you!
ThankYou For the Video! it Validates Jesus Christ, and God's peoples, and mighty works:) thankyou!
Mark Wright echoes what many have been saying for years, Alma 63 says much. But Helaman 3 says MUCH more in the first 16 verses, and Mormon knew it because of ALL the records he had. Read it Carefully!
When I was in High School in the 80's I determined for myself based on what little archaeology I had access to that the Book of Mormon took place in Meso-America more specifically that the Nephites and Lamanites were the Maya. You can guess how pleased I was that serious scholars agreed with me about a decade ago.
I loved it. Very compelling.
Thanks!
YOU ARE AMAZING... KEEP ON GOING! SHARE THIS VIDEOS GUYS... PEOPLE.NEED TO.KNOW!!
Guatemala is the real hub of the maya world, a title México use to play with.
Great video! 1 questions and a comment, How could Columbus say what he said but then lead to the demise of so many Native Americans? Also, I would like to tell you about Hagoth, do you have an email i can email you at? Thanks
Thanks for the comment. I am not going to defend Columbus and all the actions in the entirety of his complex life but that doesn’t alter my strong belief that he was directed by God to discover the Americas, just as Nephi saw in vision and I think it is remarkable that Columbus himself recognized that he was led by the Spirit in his ocean travels leading to the discovery. You may find the book I mentioned in the video to be quite helpful: “Christopher Columbus: A Man Among The Gentiles” by Clark Hinckley.
To reach out to me directly - please go to my website latterdaysaintsqa.com and then click on the contact me link. Thanks!
@@latterdaysaintsqa Be aware that some historians have noted that some (many/most?) of the bad things attributed to Columbus related to treatment of the natives were perpetrated by his underlings without his prior knowledge or consent.
This is a loose translation of the National anthem of Guatemala en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_anthem_of_Guatemala
This is just a snippet:
"...
Nor may slaves lick the yoke
Nor may tyrants spit upon your face
..."
When he shows the pictures of Bountiful, I took the top right one from my helicopter traveling into Yemen. Watch the RUclips video Journey of Faith, pretty amazing stuff that was done by FARMS. I also have pictures of Actual Steel Bows that I saw in antique stores in the middle east.
Very cool! Thank you for sharing!!
They also found Spears and other stuff from 15,000 years ago before the ice sheets across Alaska more likely crossed the Pacific ocean on a boat.
Solid evidences. I agree with Neil Maxwell about the certainty of evidence always leaving room for faith and doubt. To me this is evidence of the Father always providing a way for His children to choose without coercion
Thank you. That is one of my favorite quotes from Elder Maxwell and wanted to make sure I emphasized it at the start of this video!
@@latterdaysaintsqa great quote. Thanks for sharing
Preach brother, PREACH!
😁
The gospel is true. I know it, I am a witness of it. These are amazing facts that cannot be disputed.
Good video.
Thanks!
@@latterdaysaintsqa I was not expecting a reply. In fact I only commented because of a discussion I was having in the comment section of a Saints Unscripted video that I felt had strayed from the video topic and that your video answered some of the questions better than I could. I hope they come here and watch it. I was just leaving the comment as a place holder in case they wanted to continue the discussion here. I should express my appreciation for your restraint in your evidentiary expectations. I get frustrated when minor support of the BoM is reported as indisputable proof. Exaggerations of claims strength does a disservice to the honestly curious.
I truly appreciate your specific comment. You captured what was running through my mind as I took extra care in selecting what to include and what not to include in this video.
@@latterdaysaintsqa I believe that the truth and the Spirit is sufficient of themselves. Sometimes we might feel the need to steady the ark when presenting evidences. I try hard not to do that, as I think it invites the spirit of contention instead of inspiration. It is one of the reasons I like your channel. I find most often you present things in a rational manner that allows respect to flourish. Thank you.