In the National Geographic around 2005 there was an article about an Indian tribe in Central America. My son and I read the article and found one thing that we thought was curious. This tribe refers to white men as "younger brothers" and refer to themselves as "elder brothers." After we read that we did a little search in The Book of Mormon and found-
2 Nephi 5:3 Yea, they did murmur against me, saying: Our younger brother thinks to rule over us; and we have had much trial because of him; wherefore, now let us slay him, that we may not be afflicted more because of his words. For behold, we will not have him to be our ruler; for it belongs unto us, who are the elder brethren, to rule over this people.
This was the brothers Laman and Lemuel speaking to their younger brother Nephi and it is also interesting to note that Laman and Lemuel's posterity were dark skinned while Nephi's posterity were light skinned further corresponding to the National Geographic story.
Recently I was reading a book published in 1906 about Hernando Cortez the Spanish conquistador who invaded Central America (all subsequent passages are taken from "Hernando Cortez" by John S. C. Abbott, 1906 The St. Hubert Guild, New York). Cortez was definitely not a good man, but his story is quite a tale... As the Spanish moved into the mainland there were many things which they observed which they thought were curious and had no explanation for them. They stuck out to me as I read the book and hinted of things that can be found in The Book of Mormon-
1) While Cortez was intent on tearing down all the idols of the natives to convert them to Christianity he was surprised to find in the courtyard of one of their temples a large stone cross.
"There were several spacious temples, with lofty towers, constructed of the same durable materials. The adventurers were also exceedingly surprised to find in the court-yard of one of the temples an idol in the form of a massive stone cross."
In The Book of Mormon Christ comes and visits the people in the Americas after his resurrection in the old world and tells them of His crucifixion-
3 Nephi 27:14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil--
2) Cortez and his priests noticed a curious thing that the natives were baptizing their little children-
"It is an extraordinary fact that the rite of infant baptism existed among them. This fact is attested by the Spanish historians, who witnessed it with their own eyes, and who have recorded the truly Christian prayers offered on the occasion. As the infants were sprinkled with water, God was implored to wash them from original sin and to create them anew. Many of their prayers dimly reflected those pure and ennobling sentiments which shine so brilliantly in the word of God.
They certainly performed the rite of baptism. The cross was one of their idols. They also believed in original sin, which was to be in some way removed by sprinkling an infant with water."
Towards the end of The Book of Mormon when violence is taking over all the people there was a change in the rite of baptism with which they had been taught and they had started baptizing infants-
Moroni 8:5 For, if I have learned the truth, there have been disputations among you concerning the baptism of your little children.
It goes on to make clear that little children have no need of baptism because they are innocent and have no need of repentance since baptism is unto repentance.
3) As the Spaniards progressed towards the interior of central America heading to Mexico city, king Montezuma tried to convince them to go back home. He was concerned about a prophecy of the overthrow of his people and was convinced that these Spaniards were going to be the fulfillment of that prophecy.
"Montezuma was informed of all these proceedings, and was greatly alarmed. He feared that a prophetic doom was about to descend upon him, and this apprehension wilted all his wonted energies."
"Perhaps to this fact is to be attributed the general and discouraging impression which then prevailed, that a fearful calamity which nothing could avert was impending over the nation; that it was the decree of destiny that a strange race, coming from the rising of the sun, should overwhelm and desolate their country."
After Cortez had made it to Mexico City-
"A long conference ensued, during which Montezuma betrayed his apprehension that the Spaniards were the conquerors indicated by tradition and prophecy as decreed to overthrow the Mexican power."
In an attempt to appease Cortez Montezuma essentially surrenders-
"I speak as the gods direct. Our prophets have told us that a new race is to come to supplant our own. The hour has arrived. The scepter passes from my hands by the decrees of fate which no one can resist. I now surrender to the King of the East my power and allegiance, and promise to pay to him an annual tribute."
In The Book of Mormon, the people were warned that if they fell into disbelief that the time would come when the people would be conquered by other nations-
2 Nephi 1
11 Yea, he will bring other nations unto them, and he will give unto them power, and he will take away from them the lands of their possessions, and he will cause them to be scattered and smitten.
12 Yea, as one generation passeth to another there shall be bloodsheds, and great visitations among them; wherefore, my sons, I would that ye would remember; yea, I would that ye would hearken unto my words.
4) One thing that horrified Cortez as he traveled through central America was the tradition of human sacrifice and cannibalism among the natives. The contradiction was that he was willing to kill as many people as needed to get them to stop the practice...
"They then entered the sanctuaries of the temple, where human hearts were smoking, and almost throbbing, upon the altars before the revolting images of their gods. On the summit of the temple there was an enormous drum or gong, which was struck when the miserable victim was shrieking beneath the knife of sacrifice...
...To these remarks Cortez added an indignant remonstrance against the abomination of human sacrifices, and of eating the flesh of the wretched victims."
Again towards the end of The Book of Mormon there was great destruction from war as the people had become very wicked and had devolved to torture, human sacrifice and cannibalism-
Moroni 9:10 And after they had done this thing, they did murder them in a most cruel manner, torturing their bodies even unto death; and after they have done this, they devour their flesh like unto wild beasts, because of the hardness of their hearts; and they do it for a token of bravery.
Mormon 4:14 And they did also march forward against the city Teancum, and did drive the inhabitants forth out of her, and did take many prisoners both women and children, and did offer them up as sacrifices unto their idol gods.
There were other things that stuck out to me as I read, but these will suffice for this blog. While I find these things interesting they don't really help a person find out the truth of The Book of Mormon. It takes an answer from the Lord as Moroni encourages people to do at the end of the book-
Moroni 10:4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you
that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these
things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real
intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by
the power of the Holy Ghost.
