In the Spirit of the Covenant - Give Thanks!

 Talking about President Nelson's 11/20th message in relation to current events and headlines. Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Prepare Against the Day of Tribulation!

I recently came across this section in a student manual that I think every church member needs to read! In this day that we live in where so many Church members are straying off the path and following on a whim whomever is teaching philosophies that satisfy their itching ears, it's important to understand and remember our doctrine on preparing for the Day of Tribulation. 

Every week, I continue to see people on facebook announce that they are leaving the Church or are pretty darn close. I also am aware of many people who are staying in the Church, but on the down low, they are attending other meetings and groups that teach "secret knowledge" or things contrary to our doctrine and are not even essential to our salvation. They are wasting hours upon hours learning philosophies and "theories" that are in no way benefiting their preparation for Lord's return. The knowledge and practices they are learning are causing many to divorce their spouses and remove their temple garments. Many are being taught that they have "graduated" from the Church and are moving on to a higher plane. Others are being told that they lived former lives on this earth or on other planets as important people from history and the scriptures, and that they have been married to other people. Some are told that they are special archangels who aren't here right now because they needed a body or needed to be tested but that they are here on a special mission from God. And the false teachings go on and on. 

This week in "Come Follow Me", we are learning about an anti-Christ names Korihor. He too, taught many false teachings that were contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ and the doctrine, which resulted in the apostasy of quite a few members of the Church. Today, we are seeing many, many modern-day Korihor's doing the same. And isn't it interesting in the case of so many of these well known members and groups who have been excommunicated in our day, that there is this common pattern or theme of breaking commandments in their apostasy process. Adultery, murder, bearing false witness; just to name a few. How are they falling so far from the path?

Let's take a look at this student manual of section 29 in the Doctrine and Covenants that shares some vital information that I believe so many have not learned or have forgotten. Here we go! 

Even As a Hen Gathereth Her Chickens

“Even as a hen gathereth her chickens",  this expression is used three times in the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C 10:65; 29:2 and 43:24) It evokes the vivid picture of a mother hen who, when danger appears to threaten her chicks, raises her wings and clucks excitedly. The chicks, although they may be scattered over the barnyard, instantly obey that call and scurry under the protection of her wings.

In this passage the Lord describes those who will come to him for protection as having three characteristics:

(1) they hearken to his voice
(2) they humble themselves, and
(3) they call upon him in mighty prayer. 

The Jewish nation and the Nephite people in America refused to heed that call and meet those conditions, and as a result they suffered great tragedy and destruction. 

Who Are the “Elect”?

“The elect of God comprise a very select group, an inner circle of faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are the portion of church members who are striving with all their hearts to keep the fulness of the gospel law in this life so that they can become inheritors of the fulness of gospel rewards in the life to come.” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 217.)

These are not former members of the Church, or members who have strayed and no longer keep their covenants nor have a current temple recommend. These are garment wearing, covenant keeping, temple attending, tithe paying, members who are holding tight to the iron rod. They look to the modern day prophet, President Nelson and follow his counsel. 

Elder George Q. Cannon explained: “Where people are pure and chaste in their thoughts and actions, the Spirit of God has such power with them that they readily perceive and comprehend the truth. It is by this means that the best among the children of God are being gathered out from the various nations. Truth cleaves to truth, light to light and purity to purity. The gospel gathers with its influence those who love its principles; and if any should be gathered in who cannot abide its requirements, they pass off and mingle with the elements that are congenial to the spirit they possess.” (“The Sin of Adultery and Its Consequences,” Millennial Star, 14 Mar. 1863, p. 169.)

They Shall Be Gathered into One Place

Elder Harold B. Lee explained:

“The spirit of gathering has been with the Church from the days of that restoration. Those who are of the blood of Israel, have a righteous desire after they are baptized, to gather together with the body of the Saints at the designated place. …

“… The Lord has placed the responsibility for directing the work of gathering in the hands of the leaders of the Church to whom he will reveal his will where and when such gatherings would take place in the future. It would be well—before the frightening events concerning the fulfillment of all God’s promises and predictions are upon us, that the Saints in every land prepare themselves and look forward to the instruction that shall come to them from the First Presidency of this Church as to where they shall be gathered and not be disturbed in their feelings until such instruction is given to them as it is revealed by the Lord to the proper authority.” (In Conference Report, Apr. 1948, p. 55.)

Yes, the Lord has prepared gathering places for his saints, upon every land. Direction will come from the First Presidency of the Church where every ward and stake is to gather. It will be revealed by the proper authority, not from your neighbor down the street who heard from his brother's co-worker who read a book and has a feeling that a certain small town is where everyone must go in order to be protected from the coming catastrophes. If you feel that where you are right now is where the Lord truly wants you to be, and you didn't make that decision based on fear (or again your neighbor down the street who heard from his brother's co-worker who read a book and has a feeling), or because you are aware of a group of people who are all making the move to a certain town or part of the country and you didn't want to be left behind; then you can have peace of mind. 

What Is the Purpose of the Gathering?

The Prophet Joseph Smith answered this question when he wrote:

“The main object [of gathering] was to build unto the Lord a house whereby He could reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and the glories of His kingdom, and teach the people the way of salvation; for there are certain ordinances and principles that, when they are taught and practiced, must be done in a place or house built for that purpose.

“It was the design of the councils of heaven before the world was, that the principles and laws of the priesthood should be predicated upon the gathering of the people in every age of the world. …

“It is for the same purpose that God gathers together His people in the last days, to build unto the Lord a house to prepare them for the ordinances and endowments, washings and anointings, etc.” (History of the Church, 5:423–24.)

I live in an area of Davis county Utah, where many who live by fear and have "read books" have asked me, "why have you not moved yet? According to the dreams and visions of others, you live in a very unsafe place that is a target for destruction. If you stay, you will die." To this I always respond, "I am exactly where the Lord wants me to be. Because of that I have peace." I have found it interesting that as time goes on, the Lord has begun to build temples in this "dangerous area" where I live. Clearly this a place, an area, where He has gathered Saints, to continue His work. Two new temples within 15 minutes of each other; about equal distance both ways from my house. 

The Wicked Shall Be Burned As Stubble

Christ is a glorified, celestial being, and the glory of such beings is comparable to that of the sun (see D&C 76:70). The presence of Christ when He comes in His glory will be as a consuming fire. The mountains will flow down at His presence, the elements will melt with fervent heat, and the waters will boil. Even the sun will hide its face in shame. (See Hebrews 12:29; D&C 133:40–44, 49.) The scriptures also talk about the time when “devouring fire” will be poured out upon the wicked.

The Hour is Nigh

“The world is rapidly coming to its end, that is, the end of the days of wickedness. When it is fully ripe in iniquity the Lord will come in the clouds of heaven to take vengeance on the ungodly, for his wrath is kindled against them. Do not think that he delayeth his coming. Many of the signs of his coming have been given, so we may, if we will, know that the day is even now at our doors.


“… The day of the coming of the Lord is near. I do not know when. … I sincerely believe it will come in the very day when some of us who are here today [5 April 1936] will be living upon the face of the earth. That day is close at hand. It behooves us as Latter-day Saints to set our houses in order, to keep the commandments of God, to turn from evil to righteousness, if it is necessary, and serve the Lord in humility and faith and prayer.” (Doctrines of Salvation, 3:2–3.)

I Will Take Vengeance upon the Wicked, for They Will Not Repent

Elder Bruce R. McConkie said: 

“Those with refined senses find it difficult to conceive of the desolation, destruction, and death that will prevail during the final great battles ushering in Christ’s reign of peace. So great shall be the slaughter and mass murder, the carnage and gore, the butchery and violent death of warring men, that their decaying bodies ‘shall stop the noses of the passengers,’ and it shall be a task of mammoth proportions merely to dispose of them. Then shall Ezekiel’s prophecy be fulfilled that every feathered fowl and every beast of the field shall assemble to ‘eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth.’ (Ezek. 39.) And then shall the cry go forth of which John wrote: ‘Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.’ (Rev. 19:17–18.) That all this is an actual, literal supper, an horrible but real event yet to be, has been specifically confirmed in latter-day revelation. (D. & C. 29:18–21.)” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 772.)

The figure of a cup full of indignation (see D&C 29:17) suggests that the Lord will no longer forbear taking vengeance on the wicked who will not repent. Just as there is a limit to the amount a cup can hold, so there is a limit to the amount of patience the Lord will show towards those who perform wicked acts. To restrain Himself longer would be a disservice to mankind for whom He has offered Himself as Savior. Since the blood of His Atonement will not cleanse those who do not repent, pestilence, famine, plague, and destruction are the tools He uses to reclaim those who are past feeling and will not hearken to the still, small voice (see 1 Nephi 17:45; D&C 43:20–27). These terrible judgments are the natural result of man’s wickedness. God’s plea is for people to turn from such wickedness and be spared these awful consequences of sin.

Will This Earth Be Destroyed and a New One Created?

President Joseph Fielding Smith explained that this passage “does not mean that this earth shall pass away and another take its place, and the heaven thereof shall pass away, and another heaven take its place, but that the earth and its heaven shall, after passing away through death, be renewed again in immortality. This earth is living and must die, but since it keeps the law it shall be restored through the resurrection by which it shall become celestialized and the abode of celestial beings. The next verse of this revelation explains this as follows: [D&C 29:24–25].


“So we see that the Lord intends to save, not only the earth and the heavens, not only man who dwells upon the earth, but all things which he has created. The animals, the fishes of the sea, the fowls of the air, as well as man, are to be re-created, or renewed, through the resurrection, for they too are living souls.” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1928, pp. 99–100; see also D&C 88:17–19, 25–26.)

Yes, every living creature that has a soul will be resurrected! 

All Things unto Me Are Spiritual

“Man makes a distinction between temporal and spiritual laws, and some are very much concerned about keeping the two separate. To the Lord everything is both spiritual and temporal, and the laws He gives are consequently spiritual, because they concern spiritual beings. When He commanded Adam to eat bread in the sweat of his brow, or Moses to strike the rock that the people might drink, or the Prophet Joseph to erect the Nauvoo House, or the Saints in Utah to build fences and roads, such laws were for their spiritual welfare, as well as physical. To obey such laws, when given, is a spiritual duty. One who performs his daily labor ‘as to the Lord, and not to men’ (Eph. 6:7) derives spiritual benefit from whatever his duties are.” (Smith and Sjodahl, Commentary, p. 156.)

Is Jesus Also Our Father? 

“Adam … Whom I Created” -  this revelation came from Christ (D&C 29:1), some may feel that this verse teaches that Adam was the offspring of Christ. In reality Adam and all the earth’s inhabitants are the offspring of God the Father. In this case Christ is speaking for the Father by a principle called “divine investiture of authority,” as Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained:

“Since he [Christ] is one with the Father in all of the attributes of perfection, and since he exercises the power and authority of the Father, it follows that everything he says or does is and would be exactly and precisely what the Father would say and do under the same circumstances.


“Accordingly, the Father puts his own name on the Son and authorizes him to speak in the first person as though he were the Father. … Thus it is that our Lord can begin a revelation by saying, ‘Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ,’ and shortly thereafter speak of ‘mine Only Begotten’ (D. & C. 29:1, 41–46), such latter expression being made by Christ, but under that divine investiture of authority which permits him to speak as though he were the Father. (D. & C. 93:3–5; Mosiah 15:1–5.)” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 130; also “The Father and the Son: A Doctrinal Exposition by the First Presidency,” in Talmage, Articles of Faith, pp. 465–73.)

So no. Jesus is not our father. He is our Father's son. He is our brother and our Savior. The Father speaks through him almost like an intercom or microphone. 

This lesson covers much more on this topic. I only shared bits and pieces. To read the entire manual lesson, click here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-29-prepare-against-the-day-of-tribulation?lang=eng&clang=ase

It's my prayer that many who have explored these other paths will feel a jolt of truth from what I've shared, and they will have a change of heart and turn back to the path. Yes, it's my prayer that any of us who have allowed ourselves to be distracted and follow the carrot away from the iron rod, that we will repent and commit ourselves 100% to the covenants we have made endure to the end. Time is so short, and every distraction is a thief to that precious time. May we do better, in Jesus' name amen. ❤️

Ancient Israelites in North America - A Look at DNA!

My friends and I often have conversations about very intriguing topics. This most recent one was too good not to share. 

We had been talking about our love for the "Hidden in the Heartland" series that you can now watch in Amazon prime. They are short episodes that show a great amount of evidence and archeological finds here in North America that seem to confirm that the Book of Mormon took place in the Heartland.

The question of a friend came up;

"I'm wondering if you have you heard where the natives from Mexico, south and Central America may be from? Wasn’t Lehi from Manasseh?  I had a close friend who was from Colombia and he was from the tribe of Manasseh. 

Do you think that are still part of Lehis people?"

Our friend Beth responded;

"Yes the DNA testing done shows the Mesoamerican tribes are linked more to Asian peoples. The North American tribes, mainly of the NE United States, carry a maternal haplogroup only found in a few other rare places in the world - one of those being Israel, and more specifically Nazareth. I just learned that about a month ago that specifically it's linked to Nazareth.

I have a fascinating book that explores the phenotypes (outer genetic characteristics) of the North American natives and Mesoamerica natives compared to different groups of people in the world. I’ll see if I can find it and send pictures. Seeing the pictures of side by side comparisons, it was very clear who the ancestors of both groups were, even without the DNA evidence to back it up.

Also, if you compare a Hindu temple from India with the Mesoamerica temples, they are the same.

Jewish temples did not have stairs. There’s a Mosaic law about it. One of the rabbi’s told that to either Rod or Wayne while on a tour of Jerusalem. He said staired temples were for the gentiles. The Hebrews had ramps so they could gradually ascend up to the temple without flashing people in the crowd from underneath. It was a way to keep modesty. 

The temples in Mesoamerica all have stairs. The Hopewell temples all had ramps! Wayne has a whole magazine dedicated to the parallels between the Hindus and the Aztecs. I’ll see if I can find that too.

So, we know some things that I think will help answer your question about Lehi’s seed:

1) there were already groups here when Lehi arrived. The Nephites went north, but the Lamanites joined with and mixed with some of the groups already here. We can pick this up from clues in the scriptures - their skin turned darker within a generation and they become way more numerous than the nephites very quickly too. 

2) The BOM ends with the restrictions of the Nephite people in 400 AD. It was another 1000 years before Columbus came and all the conquistadors of South America. A LOT of history happened in that time.

From what I’ve studied and come across, there were multiple times of groups conquering each other and the Lamanite bloodlines being mixed into the non-Lehi descendant bloodlines that were already in South America. 

For example, I’ve mentioned the period of 400 years when the “snake people” of Mexico (so either Mayans or Aztecs, can’t remember which) came up to the Georgia area, made the natives their slaves (so made the Lamanite descendants slaves), ruled over them, mixed with them, adopted some of their traditions and stories, and then eventually went back down to Mexico. During this time, they forced their slaves to recreate some of their temples they left behind. There wasn’t all the rock, so it was built of dirt. Let me see if I can find a picture of it for you. It’s still there today for tours and everything. 

The chief of that tribe that had been made slaves told this part of their history to Wayne May while he toured it. 

 

It’s called the Etowah Indian Mounds. It’s very different looking from the Hopewell mounds left behind. This clearly had a link to the ancient tribes of Mexico. So, right there you have one case of the Lamanite bloodlines mixing in with the people of Mexico. They would have taken back some of the traditions and stories the Lamanites had.

Another example is I believe the Inca or another Peruvian group. I wish I remembered that one better. Either they came north or northern people’s went south. But there was a lot of mixing in the 1,100 years after the Nephites were destroyed! 

So, yes, I really do believe the native peoples of South America are descendants of Lehi and probably why they join the church in higher numbers than other places. They are helping fulfill the promise made to Enos.

The other thing to remember is that Christ visited more than just the Book of Mormon people. He told them he had other sheep to visit as well. The book, "He Walked the Americas", explores the stories different native groups have passed down of the white bearded prophet that visited their people. I’ve read through most of those accounts and see a common theme of him teaching peace, loving one another, and higher farming technologies. For instance, it was the great white bearded prophet that taught Squanto’s people how to put a fish under their corn before planting. Squanto taught it to William Bradford, and it ended up saving the lives of the Pilgrims.

So yes, I do also believe he visited the Aztec and Mayan people of Mexico as well! I don’t believe it’s what our Book of Mormon account is, but there seems to be much of the doctrine he would have taught left behind and shown on their temple walls as well. They also have their traditions of him coming to visit.

Maternal haplogroup is what they call a special marker that is passed from mother to daughter. It’s almost like a fingerprint identification that gets passed on in our genes. So you each carry the one that came from your mother’s mother’s mother’s mother’s mother, etc, back through time. 

There is a book called “The 7 daughters of Eve” that traces the 7 ancient women who each had a genetic mutation or variant which created their own unique haplogroup. Those had branches and mutations as well until we have many maternal haplogroups today.

So above, they are showing the different groups of Maternal haplogroups that are found in the Americas among native women. 

If you read through it, it explains how haplogroup X is found in Israelite women and NE America’s, but not Mesoamerica women.

The Haplogroups A, B, C, & D are all found in Mesoamerica, and they are all Asian. 

I think the pictures comparing faces of women from Asia compared to Mayan and Aztec women is fascinating. Same with a Galilean woman compared to North American Indian woman.

I also ended up copying that whole chapter above because they delve a bit into how Israelite genetics shows up in the British Isles!

In most of the rest of the book, he makes comparisons between Semitic vs Asiatic phenotypes...or in other words, the physical facial differences between Israeli & middle eastern groups and Asian groups. Asian groups tend to have flatter foreheads and noses whole semeric groups have rounder foreheads and prominent noses. I think there’s a difference with the jaw too, but can’t remember what. So with that in mind, he looks at the profiles of various figures...

The first group of pages I posted above also ended up going into Ephraim. This is the haplogroup and DNA evidence that shows the tribe of Ephraim ended up in the British isles. 

These three pictures are exploring how the modern descendants of these groups still match up with ancient carvings of their ancestors.

This compares a Mayan woman with an ancestral carving with a Filipino man.

Mayan statue with a Siberian man.

This shows links between Mayan statues and Chinese statues. Even the dress and necklaces.

Now Jewish compared with Mayan and Northern American profiles.

These three pictures show how even the custom of dress and jewelry was similar to Semitic peoples. Braided hair as well, meaning the dress, hair, hat and jewelry customs of North American Indians are similar to Semitic tribes in the Middle East.

And these compare ancient and modern Jews with northern American Indian people.

Then he goes through and compares famous leaders with Semitic peoples. This page above has a historical quote from someone that heard Lincoln say he supposed he was Hebrew in origin, even though his ancestral lines with British and Dutch.

And then here it compares Joseph Smith’s family with Jewish faces as well. It amazed me the comparison of his son to a Samaritan priest - they look like twins! Then Joseph’s uncle, nephew and his own death mask.

So yes - there is quite a bit of evidence out there linking the North American Indian tribes to Israel, while the complete opposite for linking MesoAmerican tribes to them.

The man that wrote this book above is not associated with the FIRM foundation. I know he likes Wayne May’s research, but this was his own. The book was mainly focused around exploring a mummy from Egypt he thought might be Joseph of Egypt based on phenotype profile and other clues. I’ve only seen him at a conference one time. He has done this research independently and reached the same conclusion Wayne is finding with the artifact evidence.

Another interesting thing that came to mind about this topic. The MicMac Indians of NE US and Canada area. Their script and customs match up with two things - the ancient script of an Irish people, and the script copied down from the gold plates to show the professor. They all match up. 

Meaning, the Micmac people (who have many Jewish customs, including the mosaic marriage laws for widows, hair, hats, etc), have links to the BOM peoples as well as a group in Ireland. Which is another evidence showing up that some Nephites ended up in Europe!

Book of Mormon above showed to the professor.

Compared with Micmac Indian script (of Nova Scotia).

And then someone not of our faith compared it to this Irish script and tried to use that to prove the BOM as made up. The Stoddards heard it in a presentation at a homeschool conference. They looked into it and saw the Ancient Irish script had not been published in a time that Joseph Smith would have seen it, and he could not have used it to “make up” the BOM script above.

In comparison - here is Mayan script. It’s not even close.

Lindsey, I remember you talking about finding a connection between the Chichen Itza work and it being with the Cherokee as well on your trip to Mexico. I have wondered if that connection and the many parallels you saw between the two came from the time when the Mayan came up and invaded Georgia for 400 years. The Cherokee were very close to that area being in western North Carolina and I’m sure the two cultures mixed quite a bit. Enough to have the similar words and stories you found between the two on your vacation.

There’s info out there on this topic as well if wanting to search it further.

My son brought this to me tonight and I thought it was pretty neat! Goes back to this Heartland model topic (and tornadoes! Another theme we’ve talked about! 😅) Note that this “shafts in the whirlwind” phenomenon is something that occurs here in the Heartland.

This goes on to explore that topic further. Note how Mesoamerica doesn’t even have the right conditions for whirlwinds! The hearland of America’s does."

The question came up as to why the European Christians of the Bible Belt (who were among the many groups that came to America seeking religious freedom), have had a strong stance against the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon. 

I had replied;

"I’ve pondered this before about the Bible Belt. I remember when we visited Tennessee a few years ago and we learned from a Dolly Parton show, all about her ancestors from the Smokey Mountains. They all came from Scotland. I had no idea at the time and it intrigued me. I remember several years ago a German family came to America seeking refuge because they were about to be arrested because the parents were trying to homeschool and that’s against the law in Germany. They were a Christian family with 7 kids (I think). So they felt led to Tennessee. They came for refuge in the Smokey Mountains. I can’t remember what happened to them but I think I heard the German government summoned them back and they were forced out of the U.S. anyways it had me again pondering about the settlers of that area. So interesting about why one group was so resistant?"

Later Beth said;

"A distant cousin sent me this book in the mail today. It’s quite thick, about 900 pages, and was more than I wanted to pay on Amazon. She saw me talking in a group about groups of people that came to America and thought I would enjoy this book. She had the thought to send it to me, and so gifted it! It’s been so interesting so far!

It details the 4 different British groups that came to America and the differences between them.  Which parts of England and explores the differences in dialect, religious views and practices, child naming and reading approaches, and general views on law and morals. It’s pretty fascinating! But neat she thought to even send it to me as this has been a topic of interest for a while and she had no idea. This is not even what I was talking about in the post she read.

These are the four groups it explores. What really gets me is she wrote and said she had the thought to send this to me on the day we were all wondering why there was such a difference between New England descendants that joined the church and other groups that ended up in the south and didn’t join the church. This book basically traces those groups histories and early time in America!

The first group discussed in this book is the New Englanders, the second group is the Jamestown group, third is the Quakers of Pennsylvania, and 4th is the Scotts to the Appalachia and south! Exact groups we had been talking about!"

I replied;

"I have always been fascinated with facial genetics and the study of where certain facial features originate. I once spent an entire day (several years ago) reading about it. I’ve not been able to find that website since but it was old research and photos from the 40’s-50’s of people all over the world. I remember I found an image of a woman who I felt looked just like me! I love history and I love learning about people and their origins."

Some other parts of our long conversation:

Beth said,

"Lehi landed in the Florida panhandle area. There’s a ton of evidence for it I can go into more detail with if you want. But the Lamanites stayed there and Nephi and his people went North until they got to northern Georgia and a Tennessee area. about the Chattanooga area of Tennessee is where they think the temple was built at a big flat overlook that is still considered sacred by native Americans. Basically that area was the land of Nephi. Lots of copper mines in that area. 

Then later they went west and found the land of Zarahemla. Wayne May found evidence of the temple being right across from Nauvoo. Nauvoo was a Hopewell Indian burial ground. Those are believed to be Nephites. So basically, Joseph, Hyrum and Emma are buried literally in a Nephite Burial ground. Which is amazing. 

The area that Wayne found the ancient temple evidence is in the place the Lord told JOseph Smith to name Zarahemla.

But it all goes with the theme we’ve talked about with the British lands - the Lord uses patterns of bringing his people to sacred areas over and over. Cumorah and the sacred grove, Kirtland and Bountiful, Nauvoo and Zarahemla, Jackson county and the Garden of Eden, Adam Ondi Ahman and the early saints, and Far West and what I think was a place that had to do with Noah. 

The Mulekites and Jaradites entered in by way of the northern areas - st Lawrence canal and Great Lakes. They settled that Canada and northern Michigan area and then eventually came down to the Nauvoo area. 

Wayne Maye does a whole lecture on how he has a theory that anytime you get an antichrist or trouble maker in the Nephites, it’s usually a Mulekite. They are usually noted to be very large in stature (Jaradites were the Adena - giants 9 feet tall), and they usually had some wicked Jaradite practices or philosophies. It was really interesting theory and now that he’s pointed it out, I see the pattern all the time when reading the BOM.

Real quick, from what I’ve studied, the Nephites and Lamanites did spread out a bit. I remember reading in Ether and there is a part where a king and his sons had to go East and hide for a while because someone had taken over the kingdom. Knowing the artifacts show the Adena (that’s the name of the native people that match up with the Jaradite timeline) - knowing where Adena settlements and burial sites are concentrated (Michigan and Ohio), I was looking at the map for which part of the coast they would have gone to. And then Wayne maye shared about some houses in the ground that are kind of like caves they found some where, that date to the Adena people. Anyway, always made me wonder if that’s where they hid out for a number of years.

They believe the Cherokees are the Lamanites that made an oath with Moroni to no longer fight with the Nephites and went eastward. And the Lamanite converts of Ammon were given land around St Louis area. Anyway, it is really fun to study up on.

From what I’ve seen, the pilgrims felt part of Israel. They felt they were modern day Israel. They followed the patterns of covenant keeping people’s....which means their ancestors probably were as well (Covenant Keepers). The Jamestown crew was more out for land, adventure, fortune, and business. It was a place for the children of wealthy nobleman to go and make their fortune, because they weren’t the oldest son inheriting their father’s fortune back in England. Also a lot of criminals or people who had debts were sent there. Their death rate was horrific - 2 of every 3 people died their first year in Jamestown during the first decade or so it was getting going. So 2/3 of the people died. For the pilgrims, 1/2 died the first winter. So...they actually survived better somehow. 

Anyway, people both coming out of England, but such different focuses! I remember reading that when the Jamestown church burned or was knocked down somehow, they just didn’t even rebuild it for years. They had other priorities.

I know that my ancestors that come from that area went across the bay and settled in the Delmarva peninsula. The state of Virginia said they had to be Church of England. So my ancestors left with many others, and crossed the state lines into Delaware. Freedom of religion was important to them. 

But the group you see join the early church in droves are the descendants of the pilgrims. I think they definitely had royal bloodlines. 

Maybe the Jamestown group did too, but it was like the Israelites that were a tad slower at being valiant centuries ago??? Who knows. But history does tend to point to there being a difference somehow.

Many of the tribes that are thought to be Nephite descendants are found in the NE region with the “Algonquin” tribes. Once you get toward the South, you run into tribes that have more Lamanite stories in their traditional stories. 

The Indians that helped both groups (pilgrims and Jamestown) were Algonquin. Which is interesting.

My ancestor at Jamestown was adopted by Chief Powhatan (Pocahontas’ dad) for a number of years so he could learn their language. He took a native girl to wife and had a child (also my ancestor). 

So because of that connection to the Algonquin tribes, when I come across their chiefs and kings in the record books, I actually get to submit them for temple work! I think that is the coolest thing. Many of their tribes are wiped out by now, so there are no other descendants doing it. I hope that it is somehow helping Nephite descendants on the other side. On my dad’s side is Choctaw Indian from the South...lamanite. Which again, is cool to see those family names be done as well. 

I have a book from a lecture I went to where a guy studied the different tribes and noticed a distinct pattern between tribes that were Nephite descendants and tribes that were Lamanite descendants. He also goes through and shows how all these customs the native Americans had parallel ancient Hebrew customs. 

The native people of Mesoamerica march up DNA wise to Asians, and their architecture mimics the Hindu temples of India. I do believe Christ visited them as well. But I don’t believe it was the visit we read about in 3 Nephi. 

Also, it was either the Mayan or Aztec that came up to the Georgia area and for about 400 years made the Lamanite people there slaves. They eventually went back to Mexico with many inter marriages. My personal thought is they would have taken many of the stories of Christ back down with them when that happened.

I could go on about all this for a while 😅 It really is exciting to think about it all happening here! There’s also the research showing evidence Nephites ended up in Europe. I remember the impression I had one day that when William Bradford met Squanto, it was the bringing back together of Nephite and Lamanite bloodlines. I was surprised to hear Lindsey say the same, and they also said the same in the Stoddard’s documentary of Nephites in Europe. 

So...that may very well tie in to the Pilgrim bloodlines as well, If they had Nephite ancestry!

I remember reading an article last year about this abandoned City in England they discovered. As I read how it was set up for defense, I was amazed at how much it paralleled Moroni’s own strategy for defending cities. It made me wonder if Nephites ended up back in England somehow. After wondering that, the Stoddard’s came out with their research showing that yes, there is tons of evidence for that! 

I feel like it gives a different perspective when you read the BOM and they talk about talking to their descendants and writing this book for their descendants...and you realize that literally means most of us as a people today in America! And other places throughout it the world. Prophets have confirmed Nephites ended up in Both Japan and New Zealand. The Stoddard’s found evidence for England, Netherlands, & Germany. It seems their bloodlines are mixed in throughout the world. The BOM really is for everyone."

I replied;

"I saw this article today and thought it was interesting." The article shows the map below of the native nations here in America. 

https://www.ancient-origins.net/history/why-isn-t-map-history-books-007401?utm_source=sumome&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=sumome_share

Beth said;

"Saw this map today of the 11 different groups of settlers in the US" She compared it side by side to the native nations map.