What Proof Do We Have? Part I

Since the publication of the Book of Mormon in 1830, members and leaders of the Church have expressed numerous opinions about the specific locations of the events discussed in the scriptural record. Some believe that the history depicted in the Book of Mormon—with the exception of the events in the Near East—occurred in North America, while others believe that it occurred in Central America or South America. Although Church members continue to discuss such theories today, the Church’s only position is that the events the Book of Mormon describes took place in the ancient Americas.
    The Church does not take a position on the specific geographic locations of Book of Mormon events in the ancient Americas. M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, reminded members that “the Book of Mormon is not a textbook on topography. Speculation on the geography of the Book of Mormon may mislead instead of enlighten; such a study can be a distraction from its divine purpose.” Speaking of the book’s history and geography, President Russell M. Nelson taught: “Interesting as these matters may be, study of the Book of Mormon is most rewarding when one focuses on its primary purpose—to testify of Jesus Christ. By comparison, all other issues are incidental” (Russell M. Nelson, “A Testimony of the Book of Mormon,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 69).
    It should also be noted that although Church members continue to discuss such theories today, the Church’s only position is that the events the Book of Mormon describes took place in the ancient Americas.

Much of the debate over the physical location has surrounded the specific location of three areas: 
1) The Heartland or Great Lakes areas in North America; 
2) The area called Mesoamerica, covering southern Mexico, Yucatan, Guatemala, Belieze and part of Honduras; 
3) Andean South America, including Peru, Ecuador, western Bolivia and northern Chile.
    Now in making claims about any location, critics of the Church have expressed much criticism that no artifacts or “proof from excavations” in the New World, that shows evidence of the Book of Mormon. However, that is not true. In fact, there is so much evidence that one can only wonder why so many critics continue to harp on such a useless argument.
    Before discussing that, we should look at two simple, representative, questions:
1) In the Bible lands, we can point to the mount of Golgotha and say that is where Christ was crucified. Now, I’m not denying that this is true, however, what “proof” do we have? Sure, a hill outside Jerusalem exists, and it is called Golgotha, but there is no evidence whatsoever that Christ was crucified there;
2) In the story of Samson, we are told that in one fell swoop, he eliminated the entire Philistine leadership, bringing a major setback in their conflict with Israel that was a turning point, and from that time on, the Israelites started to gain the upper hand. But did it really happen? Could one man actually pull down an entire temple single handedly?
    The circumstances of the incident with Samson has long been debated, with many theologians and scientists claiming no such event would have been possible. Such proof is hard to find, and often not in evidence even after hundreds of years of looking and excavations.
    Archaeologists have found two temples, each with two stone pillar bases in the Philistine area at Tel Qasile, Israel. Could one strong man have toppled the entire temple by pulling down pillars that weighed several tons.
    In fact, although Samson’s Gaza temple of Dagon has yet to be excavated because a modern city sits on top of it, professionals suggest that the Gaza temple “must have been very similar to the one at Tell Qasile.”
    The Biblical text describes the Gaza temple as having two pillars supporting the roof (Judges 16:24), and Bryant G. Wood Director of Research at Associates for Biblical Research, concludes, “the Bible writer knew his facts. He knew that Philistine temples were supported by two pillars and that this was how Samson pulled the temple down.”

The two pillars within arms’ reach typical of Phillistine temples

Thus, we can conclude that the evidence of Samson’s temple has been found, and that the Bible “is the world's most accurate history textbook” (Author: John Roskoski PhD, The Shiloh Excavations, The United Monarchy 1049 - 932 BC, 2008).
    An example of this type of “evidence,” is found outside Cuzco, which we claim was the area of the city of Nephi (later called the city of Lehi-Nephi), there was a magnificent temple once built on the hill overlooking the valley. This temple had:
1) a tall, round tower next to it that was identified by the conquering Spanish when they arrived in the valley (Mosiah 11:12);
2) the Spanish said the tower stood about five stories tall, and had a top, level floor upon which guards could stand and look out over all the land (Mosiah 11:12);
3) the tower overlooked the entrances to the valley below and tall enough to see invading forces entering the valley or city from some distance away (Mosiah 19:6);
4) Where the Spanish said the tower was located, and which they tore down claiming it was built by the Devil, there remains a huge tound rock foundation base upon which the tower once stood.
    Now, these factors do not have a sign on them that says “Sacsyhuaman, the city of Nephi,” but the facts support one anotheer, from the scriptural record to the reality of the time.

The Tower foundation at Sacsayhuaman, next to the ruins of a temple that overlooks Cuzco Valley

This City of Nephi and valley is said to be 3000 years old, having been inhabited by the Marcavalle, Chapanata, Qotakalli, Sawasiras, Antasayas and Wallas cultures, dating it to at least 1000 B.C. Around 600 A.D., came the Wari, Killki, and the Lucro cultures, to finally be conquered by the Inca in 1400 A.D., who renamed the area Cuzco, meaning “navel or center of the world.” In 1533 the Spanish arrived and moved the capitol to Lima. In 1572, Tupac Amaru I, the last Inca dynasty and leader was defeated and executed.
    Because the Inca remained somewhat in control of Cuzco, with rebellions in 1780, 1814 and 1820, they retained that name. The following year Peru received its independence from Spain and the name has remained, being declared by law in 1983 as the "Tourist Capital of Peru" and "Cultural Heritage of the Nation."
    There can be no question that this tower once existed next to the temple that overlooked the valley and city of Cuzco, and dated to Nephite times. Had the name not been changed numerous times through various Lamanite culture conquests after the demise of the Nephites, it may have well remained its City of Nephi or City of Lehi-Nephi name. Yet no archaeologist considers this site a match of the Nephite site in the Book of Mormon as the hill outside Jerusalem is considered proof of the Bible.
(See the next post, “What Proof Do We Have? Part II,” for more examples of matches in the ground in Andean Peru with the work going on in the ground there)