However, I do not believe that to be the case. If there was no gospel of Christ, there would be no opportunity for growth or be a reason for the Spirit to "strive with man". That being said, during the Dark Ages, there were many men and women who, I believe, we inspired by God to create new things and bring about new ideas, aka the printing press, Leonardo da Vinci, etc.
In addition, since Christ appeared into the Old World, we have countless numbers of images, stories, and memories of Christ and His ministry. He made a powerful effect--so much so, that during the "Dark Ages" Christ still permeated the social norms of that time.
Why then, do we not see that same permeation of Christ in the Americas and their "dark ages"? I may not understand their hieroglyphs or concepts, but, if He did effect their lives as much as the Book of Mormon states--about 400 years--I think it would be safe to assume that His images, likeness, or types and shadows, would be everywhere in that culture...
I'm not trying to debunk the Book of Mormon...it's just one of those questions that I have.
Any thoughts?
It's a fair question. I would love to see any attempt at an answer too.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good point. One that I have never thought of even though I struggle with how literal to take the BoM.
ReplyDeleteA couple of things -- and I'm not a historian. First, the gospel was not "taken from the earth". The authority to administer the church at the apostle's level was lost as they died and were unable to pass it on. Therefore confusion ensued, as there were only local leaders left to administer their churches. If you look at the letters of Paul, they're all about direction and correction of error. The bishops didn't have the authority to make church-wide decisions on doctrine or administration of doctrine -- only the apostles did. However, the gospel teachings and their influence were available in various forms ever since Christ and the apostles taught them. The Holy Ghost has been present on the earth probably since the time of Adam (since one of his functions is to bear testimony of the Christ), but more so since the Day of Pentecost. The Atonement of Christ was valid through the Middle Ages, as well as after the Restoration.
ReplyDeleteChrist in the Americas. Start Googling "Great White God," "white god" or perhaps "Quetzelcoatl", and you'll find some things. I think a lot of South American as well as Native American tribes have legends about this. I remember a friend who went on a mission to a Native American reservation (sorry, don't remember which tribe) telling me it was hard to gain converts because, he said, the Native Americans had similar stories about a white god visiting them, and they felt that the Book of Mormon simply usurped those stories. It's my understanding (again, not a historian), that when Cortez arrived in the Americas, he was initially greeted with reverence, not because the Aztecs had never seen a white man, but because they assumed he was their legendary white God returning.
Why aren't there more Christian-type artifacts if Christ was in the Americas? Interesting question. I'd think that perhaps it had something to do with the unrighteous Lamanites overcoming the people of God. Remember Moroni saying that they were putting to death all who would not deny the Christ? Such people would have no reason or desire to preserve items from the losing culture's religious traditions. (Remember the Taliban destroying the Buddhist statues in Afghanistan because they were abominations created to false gods? Part of me wept at the destruction of such important artifacts, and part of me understood their action totally.)Moroni hid up his records, probably realizing that if he didn't they would be destroyed. Practically speaking, as well, the South and Central American climate is one of great hummidity. Stuff rots very quickly, and the forests quickly cover vacated land. Historical Indian sites in those countries are carefully maintained so that they aren't reclaimed by the vegetative growth.
Hope this helps.
Seriously....I told you about the tours that I went on in Mexico. He is everywhere in the Americas, you just have to know where to look. But as the Book of Mormon states....a lot of the understanding was lost and they started to misunderstand the symbols for things. Not to mention, when the Spanish came to America, they were horrified to see that they worshiped the "snake" which they associated with Satan and they destroyed many artifacts in an attempt to turn them into "people" instead of the savages that they were. What the didn't know was that the snake was a symbol for Christ.
ReplyDeleteYou might not see a Church that you recognize completely but...Jesus was definitely here in the Americas.
That's very interesting Katrina. The jews in the time of Moses would look to the symbol of the snake to heal them too. Perhaps that is related? The symbolism of the snake is also significant in that the snake, traveling on his belly, is descended below all the other animals, and as such, Christ too descended below all as part of the atonement.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that no non-Mormon archaeologist or other professional who studies such things without a pre-determined religious agenda believes there is any evidence whatsoever that the Book of Mormon is actual history. DNA testing in recent years is further hard evidence that contradicts LDS claims made for the Book of Mormon's historicity.
ReplyDeleteActive Mormons don't like these facts so they tend to ignore them or dismiss them as "incomplete" or anti-Mormon, and they continue to look for "proofs" or "patterns" that fit their own religious beliefs.
Comments such as those above are examples of this. They don't explain or address the actual evidence or implications, they just sidestep them and continue the conjectures about the Great White God being Jesus.
I am no expert but my understanding is that speculations about Native Americans being "lost Israelites" was popular in Joseph Smith's time and that stories of the Great White God were already well-known then. It is just as logical to speculate that Smith adopted these speculations as part of the Book of Mormon narrative. In other words, "Great White God" legend precedes Jesus Christ in the BoM, not the other way round.