1. the Book of Mormon contains a historic record of ancient civilizations of America and tells their origin.

2. Archaeological evidences discovered since the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the facts of history point toward the accuracy of many details of its historic account.

3. It is impossible taht man could have fancied a story with so many historic coinidences as this one.

4. The accuracy of this account points to the divinity of its coming forth, for it came at a time when little was known concerning these ancient civilizations.

5. The divinity of the Book of Mormon and its coming forth gives credence to the claims of the young prophet and the story of the Restoration.

6. Through the Restoration, Christ calls all men to work with him.

EM 1. Head of Christ.

Christ is the center of all, the very foundation of our church.

EM 2. The Church, Complete

The church is necessary in Christ’s plan for the salvation of man. Christ did build his church.

EM 3. Broken Down Church.

The church established by Christ departed from him and his teachings.

EM 4. We argue that all Christian sects...

Many reformers recognized that man’s eforts to bring the church back to Christ and his teachings had failed.

EM 5. Angel Flying in the Midst of Heaven.

The hope of the world is not in reformation but in restoration. The gospel and the church lost in the Dark Ages could only be brought back to earth by the power of God. His promise was that he would send and angel to do this.

EM 6. Church History, Vol. 1, page 12.

Joseph saw a vision of an angel.

EM 7. Church History, Vol. 1, page 13.

Thus far we have simply told the story of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon without material evidence to support it. However, there is much material evidence available, most of which came forth after the publication of the book. When it was first told, the story of the golden plates and record of former peoples of America was generally rejected as unscientific and without historical accuracy. In that day there was little evidence publicly known to support the story. However, much of the claim of Joseph Smith rests upon this book. If the book is the concoction of a man, Joseph Smith is an impostor. If the book is of divine origin, he stands as a prophet of God. We now proceed to compare evidences of history and science with some of the story told in the Book of Mormon.

EM 8. Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Chicken Itza is on the Yucatan Peninsula in south-eastern Mexico. One important part of the Book of Mormon is its history of the great Nephite civilization did exist. We now look further for evidence of this civilization.

EM 9. Map of Ruins

This map shows the location of some of the ancient ruins.

EM 10. Kingsborough.

While modern science brings us no written record of the ancient inhabitants of America, here is evidence that such a record had been kept.

EM 11. Bancroft.

EM 12. Bancroft, Continued.

Bancroft, another famous historian, agrees that such a record had been kept. He says it was a "divine book". The Book of Mormon contains the history of ancient civilizations and their rules on the American continents. It was written by many men and handed down from father to son in many instances. It claims to be a divine book and does have a portion dealing prophetically with future events. In these aspects at least, the Book of Mormon fulfills Bancrofts’ description of the record that had been kept. In the following slides, we will compare some of the statememnts in the Book of Mormon with these evidences.

EM 13. ll Nephi 4:21

EM 14. Baldwin

This historian makes especial note of their skills in working metals.

EM 15. Fine Gold Leaf on Display at State Museum at Oaxaca.

Taken from the ruins at Monte Alban. Here is evidence of the ability of these people had in working with fine gold leaf. Display of paper-thin gold sheets with inscription taken from the ancient ruins of Monte Alban near Oaxaca, Mexico. (Note: These gold sheets resemble pages described as Book of Mormon gold plates.)

EM 16. Helaman 2: 133.

EM 17. Kansas City Star.

Such scientific discoveries as these confirm the thruthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

EM 18. Peruvian Cloth.

This cloth was found in some of the ancient burial tombs of Peru, believed to have been used bewtween 400 BC and AD 400. Its weave is exceptionally fine and the colors are true. Could it be a mere coinidence that years after the coming forth of the Book of Mormon it has been proven that such cloth did exist?

EM 19. Mosiah 7:11-13.

One of the claims of the Book of Mormon has to do with the ability of its people to do fine work with stone construction.

EM 20. Wall of Mosaics.

In the ruins at Mitla, in southern Mexico, we find this great stone wall which is called by some archaeologists the Wall of Mosaics. It was made of inlaid stone and no mortar was used. View of interior room of the Palace of Mosaics, Mitla , Mexico. (Note: Very fine workmanship in interior decorations.) There are 14 different geometric designs in the Palace of Mosaics. Milta is about 30 miles southeast of Oaxaca, Mexico. This palace is estimated to be as much as 3000 years old.

EM 21. Banquet Hall.

This, too, is at Mitla, and is another excellant example. Notice the precision of workmanship with this intricate design of inlaid stone. This is a corner view of Palace of Mosaics in the Banquet Hall at Mitla, Mexico.

EM 22. House of the Governor at Uxmal.

This is one of a number of buildings at Uxmal and is another fine example of craftsmanship in stone construction. There are thousands of cubic feet of beautiful masonry in the face of this stone building alone. This is a medium view showing the entire face of the House of Governor at Uxmal, Mexico.

EM 22a. A view of Uxmal Showing the Observatory and Other Buildings.

EM 23. El Tajin, Eastern Mexico near Vera Cruz.

Not too much is known as to why this pyramid was built or what it was used for, but here again is evidence of ability as builders. This view shows shows seven stories. The ruins are located in the jungles about 15 miles from Papantla which is the northern part of the State of Vera Cruz, Mexico. There are several buildings excavated at this site and many more not yet uncovered.

EM 24. Pyramid of the Sun.

This ruin is at Teotihuacan near Mexico City. At its base it is 628 feet by 638 feet. It is 208 feet high. What this great pyramid was called by its builders is not known. Modern archaeologists call it the pyramid of the sun. Thus examples of the craftmanship of the ancient Americans can be found amid parts of Mexico and Central America. Stairway leading to summit is seen in the picture. Teotihuacan is the most famous archaelogical site in Mexico. There are several other buildings, including a temple of Quetzalcoatl.

EM 24a. The Avenue of the Dead.

At Teotihuacan where the pryamid of the sun is located.

EM 25. Jarom 1:19.

Notice that, in the Book of Mormon, chariots and machinery are mentioned and that these use the wheel and axle.

EM 26. Wheeled Toy, from mural in National Palace in Mexico City representing baked clay toys with free rolling wheels on display in the National Museum at Mexico City. The Book of Mormon was long ridiculed for its statement concerning machinery, for scientists stoutly maintained that the ancient Americans did not have the wheel and axle. But late discoveries in Peru and Mexico prove that these people had this knowledge which makes machinery possible.

EM 27. lll Nephi 3:8.

EM 28. Adelaide Express-Telegraph.

Once again scientists have verified one of the statements made in the Book of Mormon.

EM 29. Roadway near Cusco, Peru.

Ancient Inca roadway about 16 miles from Cuzco. It is not in use today.

EM 30. Helaman 2:7.

EM 31. Cement Wall at Tula, near Mexico City.

This wall at Tula shows that there was at one time a type of cement facing. Medium view of wall surrounding pyramid at Tula, Mexico. Walls contain sculptured designs, animals, letters "G" motif, etc. This is only one of several significant ruins at the extensive site at Tula. It lies northwest of Mexico City.

EM 31a. A View at Tula.

EM 32. Helaman 4:62.

EM 33. Herbert Spinden.

This man, along with others of the present day, recognized that these early people had such knowledge as claimed by the Book of Mormon.

EM 34. Observatory at Chichen Itza.

Here at Chicken Itza is a great observatory. Evidences such as this have helped scientists in their study of the knowledge of astronomy among these early people.

EM 34a. An Additional Scene at Chichen Itza.

EM 35. Trepanned Skull.

Trepanned skull taken from ancient ruins of Machu Piccu, Peru.

This is but one of the many such skulls which show evidence of a knowledge of brain surgery. Thus, it appears that these people were far advanced scientifically.

EM 36. Kingsborough.

Thus far we have established the truth of the Book of Mormon’s indications of a great ancient American civilization. The next slides show that legends and the few recently discovered records substantiate taht the ancient Americans had possession of part of the Old Testament as claimed in the Book of Mormon. This seemed preposterous at the time of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.

EM 37. Script.

Notice the similarity in wording of Peruvian creation legends with the story of creation found in the Bible.

EM 38. Temptation of Eve.

The temptation of Eve appears to be portrayed in this picture. It is from an old Mexican codex or book which reached the Vatican library in 1565-1579. One of this group represents, the Mexicans considered, the mother of the human race. In this portrayal of the woman and serpant we see Eve of the Semitic nations. Behind the serpent who appears to be speaking to the woman as two persons who seem to be contending with each other. One is lead to suppose that the two vases or altars at the botttom of the picture, one of which is overturned, are the cause of the contention. This picture clearly reminds one of Eve, of the serpent, and of Cain and Abel in Bible history.

EM 39. Bancroft.

Bancroft attributes leadership of an early civilization to one who led the people from the Tower of Babel.

Gen 11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

 

The Book of Mormon tells that the earliest of its people came under the leadership of the brother of Jared and that they were led from the Tower of Babel. Note that here as in other places the Book of Mormon finds itself in complete agreement with the possibility suggested in the Bible and the fact stated by Bancroft.

EM 40. Ezekiel 37:16.

People frequently ask whether the Bible mentions the Book of Mormon. It does, as this and the next two slides show. The word "stick" means book, since books were written on scrolls and carried around on sticks in the days of Ezekiel. Note that there was to be one stick of Judah and his descendants. There was also to be a second stick for Joseph and his descendants. This second record, then, would give a history of God’s dealings with the seed of Joseph whose branches (desendants) went over the wall (sea).

Gen 49:22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:

The Bible is the only book that fulfills his statement concerning the stick of Judah. We believe that the Book of Mormon is the only book that fulfills his statemnet concerning the stick of Joseph.

EM 41. Ezekiel 37:17.

Note that Ezekiel further propesied that they would become one forming a unified witness. This was made possible by the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.

EM 42. Jeremiah 49:30,31.

Remember the story of Jeremiah and his prophecies concerning the captivity of the Jews. This prophecy was given sometime between 700BC and 600BC. Jeremiah’s description of the place where they were to go is an excellant description of the Americas. No known portion of the world in his day could have fitted his description. It was during this time that after much prayer, Lehi, a descendant of Joseph, took his family and started the long journey that led him to this land.

Gen 49:22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:

 

 

 

EM 43. Brinton

At Copan, Honduras showing four figures on each side possibly representing the four brothers who led the forefathers of the Mayas across the sea to this land. The Book of Mormon tells us that Lehi had four sons who became the progebitors of the nations on this continent.

EM 44. Baldwin.

It is a strange thing that the youngest rather than the oldest should suceed his father. Yet, this is just what the Book of Mormon said happened. Nephi, the youngest of the four brothers followed in his father’s footsteps.

EM 45. Four Brothers Altar.

This is found at Copan in Honduras and apparently represents something of importance to those early people.

EM 46. Stele at Copan Honduras.

This is not an ordinary stele. Many people today believe that it is a memorial of a heavenly vision or celestrial event, something of extreme importance. On the round stone in front of the stele with date translated as August 6, 613 BC. The Book of Mormon says that Lehi left Jerusalem before its destruction (Babylonian captivity, 586 BC) (Note: This is believed the earliest date yet found in the New World.)

EM 47. Hebrews and Chiapanecs.

The Book of Mormon story of the origin of these people definitely connects them with the Hebrews of pre-Babylonian conquest days. A close study of many words of the two languages, Hebrew and Chiapanecs, shows that there are many similarities. Does this not suggest some ancient connection of the two peoples?

Transition:

Remember taht Ezekiel prophesied that there would be two sticks (books), one for Judah and one for Joseph. The stick of Judah (Bible) has been with us many centuries. Ezekiel spoke of the fact that the two books would one day be together as one. Our next logical question is, When was the stick of Joseph to come forth?

EM 48. Isdaiah 29: 17,18.

In speaking of the coming forth of a book such as the Book of Mormon, Isaiah said that it would be a little while afterward that Lebanon would become a fruitful field. This gives indication of an event by which we can set a general time.

EM 49. Encyclopedia Britannica.

EM 50. Encyclopedia Britannica.

It is a historical fact that Lebanon did become a fruitful field in the nineteenth century. Thus, if Isaiah was a true prophet, the book has come forth. The Book of Mormon came forth in the early part of the nineteenth century. No other book fulfills this prophecy, and none can now come foreth since the time set has passed.

EM 51. Manuscript of the Book of Mormon.

This is a picture of the original manuscript of the Book of Momrmon. now kept in the vault of the First National Bank of Kansas City, Missouri. We firmly believe this to be the book spoken of by both Ezekiel and Isaiah.

EM 52. Behold I Stand at the Door.

These slides have shown many indisputable evidences of the historical accuracy of the Book of Mormon. All of this helps to establish the divinity of the book, and makes reasonable the other claims made by Joseph Smith regarding the Restoration. Many people have their own testimonies to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Through this restored church Christ seeks to enter the life of each person.