“(4) The area of the northern culture must contain evidence of many cities made out of cement. (Helaman 3:3-18)”
Helaman makes the following statements regarding this issue: “And there being but little timber upon the face of the land, nevertheless the people who went forth became exceeding expert in the working of cement; therefore they did build houses of cement in the which they did dwell” (Helaman 3:7); “And the people who were in the land northward did dwell in tents, and in houses of cement” (3:9),
Two important points should be made here: 1) Only residential houses are indicated that they were made of cement, and 2) it is not likely that a house would be made entirely of cement, since cement requires some type of framework. Today that framework is metal rebar within the cement, and metal frames for doorways and window openings. In the tiem of the Nephites, it is likely these areas were supported with rock, and that the cement was used as mortar to cement the rock together. According to the website “Mormon Mesoamerica,” the Ancient Mesoamericans “made a type of “cement” out of limestone. It was then used as a plaster overcoat on top of rubble and stonework.”
The same type of construction was used in places in South America, where a type of limestone cement was used as a covering over rock.
Also “(9) Engineers to Build Temples, Towers, and Highways, using Cement.”
However, the scriptures do not say that those in the Land Northward built temples out of cement. It says “they did suffer whatsoever tree should spring up upon the face of the land that it should grow up, that in time they might have timber to build their houses, yea, their cities, and their temples, and their synagogues, and their sanctuaries, and all manner of their buildings” (Helaman 3:9).
Thus, it should be noted that temples, synagogues and major structures and “all manner of buildings” were not built until the trees had grown so that “in time they could use timber” for such construction.
In addition, it should be noted historically that “The Maya constructed cities with complexes that could cover many football fields and pyramidal ones that rose to heights of 230 feet, yet they built their cities with Stone Age technology. No steel beams supported pyramids or vaults, no metal tools were available to quarry stone or to carve it. Instead, wooden beams, stone, and lime cement were the structural building blocks; rope-and-water abrasion and stone and obsidian tools provided the basic technology of Maya cities.The same can be said of all the temples and major construction found in ancient Peru, northern Chile and Ecuador, including western Bolivia. Referred to as the Quicha technique by the University of Peru, earth was utilized as a secondary filling element, to which straw, plaster and cement (limestone) are added. The foundations were made of plain concrete with considerably large stones, utilizing one part of cement, 4 of sand, 6 oof pebbles or stone, and ten of large stones, plus water. The thickness of these ancient foundations were at least twice the width of the wall built upon them. Mostly their major buildings were made of cement and carved stone in the north, and mudbrick, adobe, rock and wood in the south.
Lastly, Helaman says, “And thus they did enable the people in the land northward that they might build many cities, both of wood and of cement” (3:11).
While it is true that buildings and structures in the Great Lakes and Heartland areas of present day United States were not built of rock or cement, it would probably surprise most people to learn that the ancient Egyptians used concrete in the construction of buildings, and the Romans had refined the art of concrete making down to a precise technology, and such construction is found throughout the Andean area of South America as well as Mesoamerica. Thus, cement cannot be used to prove Mesoamerica is the Land of Promise any more than it can be used to prove the Andean area is the Land of Promise.
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