Were the multiple races depicted in ancient Mayan murals descendants of the Nephites and Lamanites?

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I have always been under the impression (as far as I can remember) that the Book of Mormon in large part took place in Central America. When I was much younger, I thought they started in Central America and worked their way up to New York for the final battle toward the end of the book. I figured with all the running around and wars they would have been moving a lot. But I connected the Mayan cities with Book of Mormon cities. So, technically I had a hemispheric view, but only because I thought Cumorah was in New York. Of course, I knew nothing of Mormon scholarship or Mayan cities beyond their pictures. All I knew was that the Mayan pictures looked a lot like the cities in the Living Scriptures VHS. With this said I did pay attention to the ancient artwork that I was able to view as an artist myself. I recall wondering to myself what went through the minds of these ancient Mesoamerican artists when they were creating these stela carvings and murals. One point of interest that stuck out to me when observing these murals was the various races and nationalities depicted in them. I recently came across an article written by Milton R. Hunter entitled “Dark People of Ancient America”. That focuses on some of the ancient murals found in Bonampak, Chichen Itza, Teotihuacan and Uaxactun. I find it interesting that we have murals showing a white raced people coexisting (maybe not peacefully) with the bronze skinned Mayans and occasionally even a few representations of black people as well.



San Bartolo Murals

The Bonampak murals depict what the artist himself more than likely would have witnessed or observed in his day to day life. One can’t help but ask, then who are these white and dark people being depicted in these murals?

My conclusion follows the opinion of Milton R. Hunters that these white and bronze skinned people are descendents of both the Nephite and Lamanite races, which are described in the Book of Mormon. The book of Mormon speaks of light and dark skinned race having occupied the some portion of the Western Hemisphere from 600BC to 400AD which is actually within the 300-600AD range in which the Bonampak paintings were suggestively created.

The Bonampak Murals are just one portion of Mesoamerican murals that are known to exist. The walls of the Temple of Warriors in Chichen Itza Yucatan which according to archaeologists was painted approximately 1,000 AD also show murals of a white people in bondage to a darker skinned people. This could be the case for what was happening at the time the art took place since we know that at the conclusion of the Book of Mormon the group known as “the Nephites” were almost completely wiped out due to warfare. But when we take into consideration that after the Saviors visit to the America’s in 3rd Nephi the Nephites and Lamanites co-mingled with each other to the point there were no more Lamanites or Nephites and later the names Nephites and Lamanites were reborn based off of a belief rather than on an actual race or nationality. Furthermore Moroni stated that the Lamanites put to death any Nephites that will not deny the Lord Jesus Christ, so I feel it’s safe to assume there were those Nephites who were willing to deny the Savior and were then permitted to continue to exist in society. Either way the white raced group would have existed beyond the end of the Book of Mormon.



Teotihuacan Murals of mixed races

These types of murals are also found in Teotihuacan associated with another mural that closely depicts the tree of life found in Lehi’s dream (this will be another post for another day). Another is found at Uaxactun (Wash-ack-toon) Guatemala along with Mayan ceramics (a vase) showing white and dark people at Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. These murals supply valid evidence that white people persisted in ancient America throughout the decades following the close of the Book of Mormon period; otherwise the ancient artists would have had no valid reason for depicting such peoples in their paintings. Thus it is my opinion that the Nephites are at least partially accountable for the white peoples who inhabited the Americas between the dates of 421AD and 1492AD.

I also wanted to note that Milton R. Hunter eventually became one of the leading scholars to suggest a North American setting for the Book of Mormon as well up on learning of the ruins of the Mound Builders. Although I don't agree with his conclusion and I am adamant that he came to his conclusion to early and with too little information.  I wanted to post one more picture to this blog post that was suggested to me by Mark Cheney in the comment section.  It is from building 1 at Calakmul and it seems to show some sort of peaceful existence among people of different ethnic origins.  This is reminiscent of 4th Nephi when there were no more Nephites or Lamanites per se.  Just people with all things in common.

Calakmul Bldg. 1

 

Nephite Assembly under King Benjamin\ New World Feast of the Tabernacles (Sukkot)

While thumbing through recent notes I’ve scrolled all throughout the margins in my scriptures I stumbled across an informative parallel that seems to be a direct hit found in the comparison of King Benjamin’s speech to the assembled Nephite nation. I had originally come across this study that was put together on the Neal A. Maxwell Institute website in an article put together by John A. Tvedtnes entitled “ King Benjamin and the Feast of Tabernacles”. Without going into the exhaustive study that he did I will try to break this wonderful information down to apples and crayons for those of us simple minded people.

In the many Israelite observances that find parallels with King Benjamin’s speech none fit it better than Sukkot or the “Feast of Booths” or “The Feast of Ingathering” also known as the “Feast of Tabernacles”. This festival was to take place on the fifteenth to the twenty-second of the seventh month. At this time the Israelites were to construct rough temporary living quarters, called sukkot (singular sukkah), or “booths”, in order “that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 23:43).

According to the Jewish tradition, the first Sukkot was celebrated at the foot of Mount Sinai, six months after the Exodus from Egypt.

The biblical Sukkot celebration is closely paralleled by the account of King Benjamin’s assembly recorded in Mosiah 1:1-6:6. Upon first reading the text it appears that King Benjamin is assembling his numerous people together so that he can hand the thrown to his son Mosiah but at Tvedtnes points out it is evident from the actual text of Benjamin’s discourse that it was a speech of religious instruction even more so than a coronation ceremony. In fact only three versus are devoted to Mosiah becoming the new king.

There are numerous characteristics of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) that are also found in connection with King Benjamin’s Nephite assembly. These are as follows.

- the people assemble at the temple
- king or political leader reside on a raised platform
- people or families dwell in booths or tents
- special sacrifices are offered
- exhortations addressed to the adults specifically exclude the children
- the Law is read (especially the paragraph of the king)
- God’s mercy and salvation are mentioned
- recitations are made of God’s dealings with his people
- recitations are made of the commandments of God
- recitations are made of the cursings and blessings of the Law
- people are exhorted to love and serve God
- people are promised prosperity if they serve God
- the people in unison or chorus make a covenant of obedience
- the people prostate themselves to worship
- sometimes the coronation of a king is involved
- sometimes the names of the covenanters are recorded or announced
- king blesses the people

John W. Welch has done a comparative study relating certain sections of Benjamin’s speech to Leviticus 25-26, suggesting the possibility that the coronation of Mosiah occurred during a jubilee year. Jubilee was practiced as a year of rest to be observed by the Israelites every 50th year, during which slaves were to be set free, alienated property restored to former owners, and the lands left untilled it was usually known as a time of peace and prosperity in the land. The parallels between the passages in Leviticus and Mosiah are outlined as follows.

Return possessions - Leviticus 25:1 - Mosiah4:28
Not to injure one another - Leviticus 25:14, 17 - Mosiah 4:13
Render according to due - Leviticus 25:15-16, 50 - Mosiah 4:13, 28
Prosperity in the land follows obedience - Leviticus 25:18-19 - Mosiah 2:22
Aid the poor - Leviticus 25:35 - Mosiah 4:16, 26
Use of riches - Leviticus 25:35-37 - Mosiah 4:21
Peace in the land - Leviticus 26:6 - Mosiah 2:31
Covenant with God - Leviticus 26:9 - Mosiah 5:5-6
Lord’s dwelling - Leviticus 26:11 - Mosiah 2:37
Lord to be with his people - Leviticus 26:11-12 - Mosiah 2:36
Curses for disobedience, including burning - Leviticus 26:14-33 - Mosiah 2:38; 3:25-27

Although there is nothing completely conclusive from this study there are many open ended questions about where the influence for these practices started and to what extent the Nephites continued to observe Jewish rites. This does verify what Nephi stated in (2 Nephi 5:10) “And we did observe to keep the judgments, and statues, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the Law of Moses”

Could Moroni Travel from Central America to Upstate New York?

Having recently returned from my vacation to Arizona, I had the wonderful opportunity to finally see the Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant at the Mesa Temple. My first experience with these church pageants was two years ago in Manti Utah and the Manti Pageant. It was this pageant that really sparked my interest in the lives of Mormon and Moroni and also eventually lead to my finding of the book “The Lives and Travels of Mormon and Moroni” by Jerry Ainsworth. It was this book that sparked my interest in the Mayans and the Hopi and Book of Mormon lands although I had studied all of them very briefly in the past. I can say that from the point that I attended the Manti Pageant my life, studies and desire to have a better understanding of the Book of Mormon and the rest of the standard works has increased tenfold since that day.

The reason that this pageant sparked so much interest is because like many Latter- Day Saints I have heard the story of Brigham Young announcing that the Manti, St. George, Salt Lake City and Nauvoo Illinois Temple grounds had been previously dedicated by the ancient Prophet Moroni during his migrations to what is now days known as the Hill Cumorah in upstate New York to deposit the plates. Some have considered the idea that Moroni may have taken the plates to New York as a resurrected being and I add that this is a reasonable idea but it’s also possible that during the decades he was wondering and fleeing from the Lamanites (Moroni 1:1-3) that he simply carried the 50lb plates until he made it to upstate New York. It’s interesting to speculate who or what Moroni may have encountered during this migration.

Some people may think that it would be impossible to walk such a journey but history has offered a few examples to people who have done similar journeys. The first one a 16th century English sailor named David Ingram who was shipwrecked off of the coast of Tampico Mexico and apparently disappeared off of the map for 11 months and reappeared in modern day Nova Scotia. Ingram gave is full account that was recorded 13 years later and offered some interesting stories and encounters with North American settlements who helped him on his journey. They say his description on his journey may have been mixed up with things he had seen or heard while he had previously traveled in Africa or South America (he reported encountering elephants). Some scholars have questioned his entire story, stating that it would have been impossible to walk over 3000 miles through the wilderness in only 11 months, but in 1999 a British writer Richard Nathan retraced Ingram’s steps in reverse, walking from Nova Scotia to Tampico in just 9 months.

Next is Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca who left from Spain in 1527 in a party of over 600 men. After challenges with their equipment and the weather the group eventually dwindled down to 3 people who eventually ended somewhere near Tampa Bay Florida. Traveling in this small group, Cabeza de Vaca explored what is now the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the northeastern Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon and Coahuila, and possibly smaller portions of New Mexico and Arizona. He traveled on foot along the then-Spanish territories down the Gulf of California coast to what is now Sinaloa, Mexico over a period of roughly eight years. He lived in conditions of abject poverty and, occasionally, in slavery. He was naked the whole time, ever since sacrificing his clothes attempting to repair the boats. After finally reaching the colonized lands of New Spain he eventually made it to Mexico City and from there he returned to Europe in 1537.

The last example I would like to submit is Francis Martin Pomeroy. He was part of a whaling crew that got shipwrecked off of the coast of Peru. By swimming and treading water with a spar under his arm he was carried high up on the sand. By this time he was wrapped in seaweed and unconscious, the only survivor of the ship. The next morning he was picked up by a Castilian youth and carried to his home where he was nursed back to life and health. He remained with them about two years, paying them for his care through service. While there, he learned to speak the pure Castilian language.

Francis made his way by boat to Panama, crossed Isthmus on a burro and then sailed to New Orleans and then to Salem, Massachusetts which included much travel by foot. Francis later met his wife and heard the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and converted helping with many important positions in the migration of the Mormons from Nauvoo IL to Utah. He also held many leadership positions in the church helping establish towns in Utah, Idaho and Arizona and serving as the President of the Indian Mission, which position he filled until his death, which occurred on the 20th of October, 1882.

As can be seen by each of these four individuals David Ingram, Richard Nathan, Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and Francis Martin Pomeroy a journey similar in distance to what Moroni would have to have traveled from Mesoamerica to upstate New York is possible. Although some of these travelers were assisted here and there by burro or boat it doesn’t take away from the fact that it is possible. These examples do not prove that Moroni did travel similar long distance only that it was possible if he did.

Possible Mulekite City in Ancient Mesoamerica

A problem in dating ruins in Central America is that its ancient inhabitants built new structures over existing ones. In order to take a look at structure in the land of Zarahemla dating to 300 B.C, for example, one would have to demolish its superstructures that were built perhaps over the next thousand years. That is not an attractive proposition. When we visit these sites today, therefore, we may be looking at Muletkite sites that were built over several times by subsequent civilizations.

However, I know of at least one exception to the rule. For some reason, an ancient site in northern Belize was not built over. New structures were built adjacent to it and the city grew in the southern direction. On visiting that ancient city today, one sees a structure that was actually built in Mulekite times. Adjacent structures were built by the Nephites and Lamanites and finally, by their descendants, all of which groups archaelogists call Maya. The city thus contains a temple dating to 300 B.C. On the outer temple wall appears the face of a man perhaps a Mulekite.

This same city is one of the few that the Spaniards never conquered. It was difficult to access during the Spanish conquest, and it is equally difficult to access today. Since the Spaniards didn't capture the city, they didn't kill the inhabitants. They also didn't rename the city, as they did other cities. Nor was its ancient name forgotten, as were other names. It has the same name today that it did before-Lamanai, which sounds like a variation of Book of Mormon name (Lamoni).

Update to Jordan Metal Plates

Well I was quite pleased to see that yahoo.com finally popped on a story that William Hamblin brought to my attention almost a month ago. Apparently the story was actually brought to the main stream media by bbc.co.uk reporter Robert Pigott. I am refering to my post on 3\8 that can be read at the following link: http://inthecavityofarock.blogspot.com/2011/03/metal-plates-found-in-jordan-but-are.html

Although they were three weeks late on the metal plates story they did add some very interesting insights and some great pictures. Its a total of over 70 codices and apparently there are portions that are actually "sealed", thats right I said "sealed"! Who in their right mind has ever heard of metal plates that had a portion of them sealed? (Go figure?)

Needless to say when I saw that I almost leaped out of my chair at work. I immediatly thought back to the book of Ether when Mormon is speaking about the vision that Ether saw. In Ether 4:4-7 Mormon states,

"4. Behold, I have written upon these plates the very things which the brother of Jared saw; and there never were greater things made manifest than those which were made manifest unto the brother of Jared.

5. Wherefore the Lord hath commanded me to write them; and I have written them. And he commnded me that I should seal them up; and he also hath commanded that I should seal up the interpretation thereof; whereore I have sealed up the interpreters, according to the commandment of the Lord.

6. For the Lord said unto me: They shall not go foth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord.

7. And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith th Lord even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are."

Now we don't know what are in the Jordan metal plates or their sealed portion and we don't even know if these are legitimate plates and not a fraudulent scam. Because we do know that there are images of a menorah that have been etched in various pages according to the bbc.co.uk article and the yahoo article they have been able to translate one line so far that states, "I shall walk uprightly"--a phrase that also appears in Revelation. "While it could be simply a sentiment common in Judaism," BBC writer Robert Pigott notes, "it could here be designed to refer to the resurrection."

It will more than likely be years before we know if these plates are what they claim to be. Experts claim that it would be impossible to artifically achieve the corrosion that has built up around and on the plates. Until then, I hope that we can take versus 6 and 7 of Ether 4 to heart and remember that their is a challenge made by the Lord for the sealed portion of the Golden Plates to be revealed to us in due time depending upon our faith and actions that would bring the fullness of the Lords mysteries and revelations to mankind. I've also included the link to the yahoo news\bbc.co.uk article below.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110330/ts_yblog_thelookout/could-lead-codices-prove-the-major-discovery-of-christian-history

Ancient traditions held during Easter Mass in Oaxaco Mexico testify of Book of Mormon and Christs visit to the Americas

I was reading an old newsletter I had received from Dr. Jerry Ainsworth in regards to his ongoing research for Book of Mormon lands and evidence in Mexico and Mesoamerica. I found this one particularly interesting because of its correlations with 3 Nephi and the visit of the Savior to the American continent. The following was related in regards to Dr. Ainsworth and his companion Estaban while in Mesoamerica.

After taveling in Mesoamerica for many years, I was in Oaxaca one Easter, and myself and Esteban were observing the public celebration in the town square of the city of Oaxaca. It is the same kind of celebration I have seen in the highlands of Mexico, San Cristobal de las Casas, and elsewhere. People by the thousands have wooden noise makers, called matracas, they use for this celebration. These are small noise makers that we would equate with New Year's celebration and consists of a small wood stick, that has another part at the top, so when it is whirled in a circle, a clacking sound is made.

Duing this celebration, I turned to Esteban and said, "I believe when I return to this place next year, I am going to bring some plastic matracas with me, and we can give them as gifts." He said, "Don't do it, as the people would only accept such a gift, or use it, if it was made of wood." I then asked why, and he told me the following story.

This celebration of the wooden matracas, is done in remembrance of the Catholic Easter mass in these parts of Mexico. As part of the Easter mass the priest walks down the isle with two sticks, beating them together, (making a wooden noise). When asked why he did this, the priest said, "I don't know. It was part of the Maya celebration that they had us incorporate into the mass - many many years ago. If you want to know why, you will have to ask one of the Maya Elders."

So Esteban then went to some of the older and influencial Maya Elders, and asked them why this was done, the beating of the wooden sticks during Easter mass, and what the significance was. The Maya then explained, that it was done in remembrance of a time period, which goes back before anyone can remember - when there were three days of darkness among the people - in which no fire would burn and there was no light. Since people still had to cook, eat, and conduct business, each person would carry two sticks with them, and strike them together, as they walked, making a sound, so as not to bump into other people.

If one considers that evidence, then there is evidence of the three days of darkness spoken of in 3rd Nephi previous to the coming of the Savior among people of the American continent. In 3rd Nephi 8:20-23 we can read of this same event,

20 And it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof who had not fallen could feel the vapor of darkness;

21 And there could be no light, because of the darkness, neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be fire kindled with their fine and exceedingly dry wood, so that there could not be any light at all;

22 And there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land.

23 And it came to pass that it did last for the space of three days that there was no light seen; and there was great mourning and howling and weeping among all the people continually; yea, great were the groanings of the people, because of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them.

The evidences are their to be found if we look for them and have a basic understanding of the Book of Mormon. As we find these evidences it will help in our understanding not only the ancient traditions but also the Book of Mormon.

Tedashii- Need It Daily Ft. PRo

I noticed I hadn't posted any of my favorite Christian hip-hop videos on here lately. This is the new one by Tedashii ft Pro called, "Need It Daily" off of the upcoming "Blacklight" album by Tedashii. The whole concept of that title blacklight is based on the way a black light can show deeper images not seen under regular light by the human eye, such as during a crime scene investigation. He is attempting to portray some of the deeper meanings and subjects of the gospel that at times seem to be avoided or not always touched on and hopes that he can convey that message in the upcoming album...I wish him the best of luck and look forward to checking it out. Until then we can all enjoy this!

The Hopi Wedding Ceremony adds validity to Everlasting Covenant

In July of 1843 the prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation while in Nauvoo in regards to what is now called the “New and Everlasting Covenant”. This can be found in the Doctrine and Covenants section 132. In this revelation the Lord sets straight the laws oaths and covenants associated with the marriage covenant in the Temple of the Lord as being sealed for time and all eternity. When compared to common marriage whose words specifically state “till death do you part” this latter ceremony has an ending upon the death of either covenant maker once they pass away. The new and everlasting covenant continues beyond the grave into the everlasting eternities. When comparing the Hopi wedding ceremony with that of the new and everlasting covenant we may be pleasantly surprised at all they have in common. First we should probably look at a brief description of the steps that a young Hopi woman takes not only in the ceremony itself but also in preparation for marriage.

When a girl starts menstruating, then her mother teaches her the Hopi moral code, which is that she is to keep herself a virgin until she is married – that before marriage it is wrong, but at the time of her marriage it is right and proper. After marriage, be true to your husband as long as you live. It will make a much better marriage if a girl keeps herself morally clean. It might break up your marriage if your man finds out that your past life has been bad. Even so, you would have to spend your life in the hereafter together. (Sekaquaptewa 117, Me and Mine)

These teachings sound awfully familiar when compared to the teachings of young women in the Church. Boyd Peterson (son in law of Hugh Nibley and intended biographer) spoke of learning from his father in law of the many similarities between the Mormons and the Hopi, he also spoke of how long time Nibley family friend Bob Bennion (BYU Professor) had served his mission among the Hopi and Navajo and told about how he had once witnessed the initiation ritual of a young woman in which the Hopi priest touched each of her sense organs with a feather dipped in corn meal and blessed them that they would function properly. And one can find parallels with the language of the Mormon temple ceremony in the Hopi myths or origin which are found in Frank Waters, “Book of the Hopi”.

Hopi marriages mostly take place between autumn and winter, as is customary among the Jews. When the bride-to-be-notifies her mother, the mother takes down the whorls in her hair and ties a knot in the loosened hair on each side of the bride’s head. Previously they would have been tied in what is known as the squash blossom hair dew showing that a young woman is of the age to be married and is currently untaken, although many of the younger girls (children) have this same hair style as well. She is now called a movi, or betrothed. Her mother escorts her to her future mother-in-laws house and presents gifts of meal made from white corn. The movi is kept in this house for four days before the wedding. There, she remains out of sight, prepares meals for the groom’s family, fasts and speaks very little throughout her betrothal. From sun up to sun down she works at grinding large quantities of corn for the wedding feast. A former custom of Jewish weddings was to prepare the marriage feast for each day of the week following the ceremony. It was called the “Seven Days of Feasting” during which the “Seven Benedictions” were repeated at the table. (Gen.29:27; Judg. 14:12, 17)

While the bride is preparing the corn meal, the groom and his clan uncles and male relations weave a knotted wedding sash and two white robes coated with wet kaolin (white clay) and sometimes embroidered with “a border of an hand breadth” (Ex25:25) Like the Egyptians, the men do the weaving. On her wedding day, shortly before sunrise, the bride is wrapped in one white robe while she carries in her arms the other robe, rolled up in a scroll made of reeds. This rolled-up robe is considered a grave bundle. It is to be cared for throughout the life of the bride and is to be wrapped around her upon her death. It is the vehicle that will transport her soul to the land of the afterlife. These robes and bridal belts are worn only on ceremonial occasions. This may sound familiar to the average LDS temple goers. The extra robe is worn by the young mother at the name giving ceremony of her firstborn.

The Hopi marriage is not for this life only but extends into life after death and cannot be put asunder. This is the same teaching as the new and everlasting covenant with the marriage being performed by one in authority in the house of the Lord. As can be seen the parallels between the Hopi and Mormon marriage ceremony and covenants are many. I’d like to end this post with an interesting quote I once heard of Hugh Nibley. In responding to someone who asked about similarities between the Mormon temple endowment and the Masonic ceremony, Nibley wrote that the parallels between the Mormon endowment and the rites of the Hopi “come closest of all as far as I have been able to discover- and where did they get theirs?”

Could King Benjamins angelic visitor have been none other than Abinadi?

In an article I recently read entitled, "Abinadi The Man and the Message" by Todd B. Parker that brought an interesting correlation between Abinadi, his message, and King Benjamin. He explained that if we compare the timelines and lives of Abinadi and King Benjamin you will notice that when King Benjamin was giving wonderful speech from the tower built at the temple, with the time when Abinadi was martyred for his preaching to the wicked King Noah and his priests, you will see that Abinadi's message to King Noah took place first. As a matter of fact, by the time that King Benjamin was giving is speech Abinadi had been dead for approximatly 36 years or so. Abinadi gave his message to King Noah in 160 BC while King Benjamin gave his speech to his people in 124 BC (approx. 36 years difference). This is commonly mistaken because we read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover we first read about King Benjamin starting in "Words of Mormon" and then with the beginning of the book of Mosiah. You don't even hear about Abinadi until you are 10 chapters into the Book of Mosiah. But upon comparison with the bottom timelines between these two Prophets you realize that Abinadi actually took place first.

With this in mind when you compare there speeches you will realize that not only do they have a lot in common you will notice there are 25 distinct things that King Benjamin taught that Abinadi had already taught in basically the same form. They both teach that God will come down; he will do miracles; he will suffer temptation; he will be called Jesus; he is the Father of heaven and earth; he will bring salvation; he will be scouged and crucified; he will overcome death; he will do these things that men can be judged; his atonement redeems those who have ignorantly sinned; those who willfully rebel will not be redeemed; all prophets declare this same message; the prophets spoke as if these things had already happened; because Israel was stiff-necked, the law was given them (the law of Moses); the law included types, or shadows, or symbols, of things to come; the prophets spake concerning his coming; Israel hardened their hearts against the prophets; the law of Moses is ineffectual without the atonement; the atonement provides eternal life for little children; salvation is in Christ, and there is no other way under heaven whereby man can be saved; the natural man is an enemy to God; the knowledge of Christ is going to spread throughout the whole word; receiving this message makes a person accountable; everybody is going to be judged; and the prophets' words stand as a testimony.

Since each one taught basically the same thing we can't help but ask the question, is there any correlation between these two prophets? Since we already know that Abinadi came first and was already dead when King Benjamin gave his speech to his people. This brings us to our next step where did King Benjamin get his information from on his speech? Well if we read in Mosiah 3:3 we see that King Benjamin was visited by an angel who stated, "Awake, and hear the words which I shall tell thee; for behold, I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy". Perhaps this angel has an affiity for these words. It's an example of the Bibles phrase "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy". (Luke 2:10) Is it possible that this angel is none other than our friend Abinadi? They certainly teach the same things. Notice what Benjamin says, "The things which I shall tell you are made known unto me by an angel" ( Mosiah 3:2). In essence, he's saying, "I'm giving you what the angel gave me," and its almost scripted all the way through. Well, you can make your own decision there, but I think there's definitely a correlation between those two messages.

Metal Plates found in Jordan, but are they authentic?

Recently a set of about 20 books or plates surfaced, belonging to Hassan Saeda, a Bedouin farmer from Galilee who says they have been in his families possession since his great grandfather found them in a cave in Jordan a century ago.

The Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) has dismissed them saying they are of no value. They state that they are a mixture of incompatible periods and styles with out any connection or logic. Such motifs can be found in the thousands in the antiquities markets in Jordan and elsewhere in the Middle East.


Robert Feather a metallurgist with a passion for archeology, has been asked to authenticate what he believes could be one of the most exciting discoveries since the Dead Sea Scrolls. The West London Synagogue member has previously published on the Copper Scroll, the Dead Sea Scroll thought to hold the locations of the Temple treasures.


Now he is trying to establish the origins of this mysterious cache of metal books which could be linked to the Kabbalah. The Kabbalah is a set of scripture that exist outside fo the Jewish traditional scriptures. They are a set of esoteric teachings meant to explain the relationship between an eternal creator and his mortal universe. This collection consists of more than 20 early books made mostly of lead containing cryptic messages in Hebrew and Greek along with symbols such as the Menorah. In various places the Hebrew seem to be speaking of Bar Kochba the leader of the second century Judean revolt against the Romans as well as Shimon Bar Yochai who hid in a cave from the Romans for 13 years.


Undeterred Mr. Feather cites the findings of Dr. Peter Northover a metals analyst at Oxford University who has conducted tests on two samples of metals from one book and has concluded that their composition was consistant with a range of ancient lead, and that it was clear from the surface corrosion that the book was not a recent production.

Mr. Saeda's lawyer insisted that the IAA did not carry out extensive enough checks and research on the material. He also stated that after the time he has spent around them he believes them to be authentic as well. There was also a piece of leather found with the plates with the image of a crocodile that was sent for a first part of carbon dating tests that posted results dating it over 2000 years old. Feathers said that it still needs to be corraborated with other tests that are currently being conducted before he is confident with of its accuracy.

As exciting as this is the thing that sticks out the most to me is that if this is a legitimate ancient record engraved on metal plates it speaks volumes about how the ancients kept records in hopes of preserving their most important messages. It also acts as added proof along with the Copper Scroll (part of the Dead Sea Scrolls) that this was a somewhat common pratice used the same way that Nephi did when creating the plates that were used and eventually translated into the Book of Mormon. One the other hand if these do prove to be nothing more than another attempt of a Bedouin to get a fraud out on to the antiquities market in hopes for it to be sold, it does absolutley nothing as far as refuting the Book of Mormon.