Joseph Smith, in his 1842 letter to John Wentworth, said that Moroni informed him of “the aboriginal inhabitants of this country” and their connection with the Book of Mormon and was told that the Indians are the remnant of Book of Mormon people (“Church History” Times and Seasons 1 March 1842: 707-8). Some have recently argued that this must mean that Joseph Smith referred exclusively to the country of the United States. While the term country in early nineteenth American century usage could be used to refer to the the United States, it was also used to refer more broadly to refer to Americas generally as can be seen in the usage of early Latter-day Saint contemporaries of Joseph Smith.
1839
Parley Pratt introduces evidence from American antiquities
which includes reports of antiquities from Ohio and Central American ruins
We
might fill a volume with accounts of American Antiquities, all going to show
that this country has been peopled with a people, who possessed a knowledge of
the arts and sciences; who built cities, cultivated the earth, and who were in
possession of a written language. Parley
P. Pratt, A Voice of Warning, Second
edition revised (New York: J. W. Harrison, 1839, 134.
“This country” where antiquities are found in America, which
in this context includes Ohio and Central America.
1840
We consider the “Book
of Mormon” as a historical and religious record, written in ancient times by a
branch of the house of Israel, who peopled America, and from whom the Indians
are descended.—The Book of Mormon corroborates and confirms the truth of the
Scriptures, by showing that the same principles were revealed and enjoyed in a
country and among a people far remote from the scenes where the Jewish bible was
written. Parley P. Pratt and Elias
Higbee, “An Address,” Times and Seasons
1/5 March 1840: 69).
The “country” Pratt and Higbee refer to is distinguished
from that where the Jewish Bible was written. In other words, “America.”
“Again, on page 4th,
you say `Mr. Bennett affirms that any one who has the slightest acquaintance
with American antiquities or Indian traditions, will find abundant evidences to
establish the fact, i.e. of the genuineness of the Golden Plates, or Mormon Bible,
and says for confirmation of what he affirms, see Priest’s American
Antiquities, and A. Davis, on the discovery of America, by the Northmen.’ You
try to evade the force of the argument, and puff and blow much about establishing
revelation by the opinions of antiquarians; but it is only one of your
rectangulartwists, and if it does not amount to a falsehood, it is horribly screwing
the king’s english, (in which you profess to be so proficient,) to make Mr. B.,
say that which was foreign to his heart. Mr. B’s., reference to Antiquarians,
was not as you represent; but to establish the fact which youdenied, viz., the
knowledge of arts and sciences among the Aborigines of the country. The works above
referred to, unquestionably prove beyond the power of successful contradiction,
the existence of the arts, and sciences, in this country, prior to its discovery
by Europeans. But you still in your second pamphlet on page 5th, affirm that
`no remains of Antiquity which can be proved to be the work of the inhabitants
of this country previous to its discovery, will constitute even so much as the
shadow of proof, that the sciences of reading and writing were ever knownhere.’
Here is a specimen of your consummate ignorance of American Antiquities. Mr.
Priest relates accounts of writings being found in various parts, remote from
European settlements, upon stones, and other substances, inscriptions upon
walls, and dilapidated stone buildings; also, inscriptions upon gold plate
found in ancient Indian graves. He mentions the finding of writings on
parchments, deeply imbedded in the earth. Nearly all the principal papers of
this country have of late published the result of the researchers Of Messrs.
Stephens and Catherwood, in Central America. On the river Montigua, Monuments
and Statues in abundance were found, many of which are covered with writings,
and yet you say these are no proofs that the science of writing was ever known
here. The system of Logic by which you arrive at your conclusion must be peculiar
to yourself.” E. Snow’s Reply to the
Self-Styled Philanthropist of Chester County (1840), 2-3.
The country referred to is clearly America, whose
antiquities are discussed in the works of Josiah Priest and A Davis and
Stephens and Catherwood. Davis wrote about north American antiquities relating
to the Vikings and the Central American ruins of Palenque. Stephens and
Catherwood also wrote about Central American ruins. Clearly, country refers to
America, and includes North and Central America.
1841
Now that such nation
has once existed upon the land of America and been utterly destroyed, is
evident from the history of the antiquities of the country. An extract from
which I will now subjoin. Ruins of the city of Otolom, discovered in central
America . . . Charles B. Thompson, Evidences in Proof of the Book of Mormon
(Batavia, New York: D. D. Waite, 1841), 49-50.
To show that a nation once existed upon the “land of
America” Thompson cites evidence from “the antiquities of the country” which
include ruins of Otolom, a Central American city. The “country” refers to the
“land of America” which in this context includes Central America.
1842
“If men, in their researches into the history of this country, in
noticing the mounds, fortifications, statues, architecture, implements of war,
of husbandry, and ornaments of silver, brass, &c.—were to examine the Book
of Mormon, their conjectures would be removed, and their opinions altered;
uncertainty and doubt would be changed into certainty and facts; and they would
find that those things that they are anxiously
prying into were matters of history, unfolded in that book. They would
find their conjectures were more than realized—that a great and a mighty people
had inherited this continent—that the arts sciences and religion, had prevailed
to a very great extent, and that there was as great and mighty cities on this
continent as on the continent of Asia. Babylon, Ninevah, nor any of the ruins
of the Levant could boast of more perfect sculpture, better architectural
designs, and more imperishable ruins, than what are found on this
continent. Stephens and Catherwood's
researches in Central America abundantly testify of this thing. The stupendous ruins, the elegant sculpture,
and the magnificence of the ruins of Guatamala, and other cities, corroborate
this statement, and show that a great and mighty people--men of great minds,
clear intellect, bright genius, and comprehensive designs inhabited this
continent. Their ruins speak of their greatness;
the Book of Mormon unfolds their history.” Ed., “American Antiquities,” Times
and Seasons 3/18 (15 July, 1842): 860.
The writer speaks of those who are investigating “the
history of this country” and suggests that the Book of Mormon might shed light
on their queries. His speaks of this continent as distinguished from the
“continent of Asia.” “This continent” clearly refers here to the American
continent. His reference to the discoveries of Stephens and Catherwood shows
that in his view the country in question not only includes Tennessee, Canada, the
Mississippi, and Florida, but also Central America, the region of Stephens
travels and discoveries.
1848
“In the Book of Mormon are given the names and locations of numerous
cities of great magnitude, which once flourished among the ancient nations of
America. The northern portions of South America, and also Central America, were
the most densely populated. Splendid edifices, palaces, towers, forts, and
cities were reared in all directions. A careful reader of that interesting
book, can trace the relative bearings and distances of many of these cities
from each other; and, if acquainted with the present geographical features of
the country, he can, by the descriptions given in that book, determine, very
nearly, the precise spot of ground they once occupied. Now, since that
invaluable book made its appearance in print, it is a remarkable fact, that the
mouldering ruins of many splendid edifices and towers, and magnificent cities
of great extent, have been discovered by Catherwood and Stephens in the
interior wilds of Central America, in the very region where the ancient cities
described in the Book of Mormon were said to exist. Here then, is a certain and
indisputable evidence that this illiterate youth–the translator of the Book of
Mormon, was inspired of God. Mr. Smith’s translation describes the region of
country where great and populous cities anciently existed, together with their
relative bearings and approximate distances from each other. Years after,
Messrs. Catherwood and Stephens discover the ruins of forty-four of these very
cities, and in the very place described. What but the power of God, could have
revealed beforehand this unknown fact, demonstrated years after by actual discovery?”
Orson Pratt, “Was Joseph Smith Sent of
God?” Millennial Star 10/19 (1
October, 1848): 289.
For Orson Pratt, the “country” referred to is America, which
in this context includes Central and South America, and likely North America as
well.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.