a more promising land of promise

8/6/2019 A More Promising Land of Promise

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/a-more-promising-land-of-promise 1/72

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A MORE

PROMISINGLAND OF

PROMISE

The Malay Peninsula, a More Suitable Site

for Book of Mormon Geography

(even provides a match for DNA evidence)

Dr. Ralph Austin Olsen

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For questions or dialogue on related matters

you are welcome to join the forum on

www.mormonlocations.com

Copyright c2006 by Dr. Ralph Austin Olsen. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. No part of this book may be

reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the author or publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or by a reviewer.

Olsen, Ralph Austin. A more promising land of promise : the Malay Peninsula, a more

suitable site for Book of Mormon geography / Dr. Ralph Austin Olsen.Photos by Nicole DeBloois and Wyatt Rivas.144p., 22cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 134-140), maps (p. 120-133),and index (p. 141-144).

Note: A new setting for Book of Mormon geography. Mormon’s goldplates may be found in the Hill Maw (Ramah?). They could be the mostvaluable archaeological discovery in the history of the world. If the setting iscorrect, it would help authenticate the Book of Mormon as scripture, andprovide more evidence for the existence of our Savior and of HisResurrection.

Summary: The Malay Peninsula (in the Old World) provides a far better setting for the Book of Mormon accounts than does Mesoamerica (in theNew World). The hypothesis provides a narrow peninsula extending north-south. The geography and terrain are a much better match. The animals andplants mentioned in the Book of Mormon, are indigeneous to the Old World, notthe New World. There are many sites in reasonable locations and withreasonable names that match those of the Book of Mormon. Other importantevidences are provided.

ISBN 0-9786392-0-01. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -- Geography. 2.

Geography -- Book of Mormon. 3. Book of Mormon -- Evidences, authority,etc. 4. Book of Mormon -- Antiquities. 5. Southeast Asia -- Antiquities. 6. Antiquities, Prehistoric Asia, Southeastern. 7. Book of Mormon -- Geography.8. LDS -- Geography. 9. Mormons -- Geography.

Olsen, Ralph Austin. A more promising land of promise.I. Title.BX8627 c2006289.3/22

Published in 2006 by VViivv iidd VVoo lluu mm ee ss ,,

www.vividvolumes.comBinding: Square One, Logan, UT 84321

This is the condensed and updated version of “The Malay Peninsula as the Setting for the Book of Mormon,”

first published c1995.

L CONTENTS J

Dedication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Traditional Opinions . . . . . . . . . . 15

Revealed Geography . . . . . . . . . . 19The Mesoamerican

Hypothesis (Meso) . . . . . . . 23

The Malay Hypothesis (Mala) . . . . . 25

Opposition to New Ideas . . . . . . . . 29

Selected Arguments for

the Malay Hypothesis . . . . . . 30

Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

References Cited . . . . . . . . . . 134

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Pages and

sections are

indicated

appropriately.

For references,

refer to the

numbers in

parentheses.



L 6 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen

v

The author’s family, (back) Karen,Ravona, Beverly, (front) Vanona,Loren, Paulette, Miriam, Amy andRalph. (insert above) Gregory.

A More Promising Land of Promise 7 J

x

L DEDICATION J

Dedicated to Gregory, our precious

little angel in heaven and to other familymembers including: Ravona, Beverly,

Karen, Loren, Paulette, Miriam and Amy.

May this presentation help in authenticating

the Book of Mormon as scripture and Joseph

Smith as a Prophet. And may it help in

promoting beliefs and behavior which will

enhance faith and happiness in mortality

and in the awesome eternities yet to come.

Thanks to my good and faithful wife,

Vanona, for handling both me and the

computer at the same time. At times, it was

an impressive juggling act. I so appreciate

her support, ideas, and patience during the

many years devoted to this inquiry.

Sincere appreciation is extended to Dr.

Richard Keeler and Dr. Alton Oviatt for

guidance and for their open-minded

willingness to listen and to provide

constructive comments regarding this very

unusual hypothesis about Mormon history.




v

A special thanks to Ravona for making

the book presentable, published, and

promoted. The author may have been

blessed with a bit of inspiration regarding a

Land of Promise. But the artistic visions

came primarily to our daughter, Ravona.

With her artistic talents she made the

presentation much more appealing to

those who judge by means of intuition.

Thanks to her for making the Land of

Promise on the Malay Peninsula appear to

be far more promising.

The vision portrayed is thanks to Nicole

DeBloois (Southeast Asia) and Wyatt Rivas

(South America) for

their incredibly beautiful

photos!

Grandson Wyatt Rivastook photos in Guatemalaand Peru when he wasvolunteering to help the

medical establishment.

Nicole DeBloois(degree in anthro-pology/photogra-phy) took beautifulphotos to show thisland of promise.


x

L INTRODUCTION J

The Book of Mormon is scripture

entwined in a geographical setting. Threesmall groups of people reportedly migrated

from the Middle East to a Land of Promise.

Most events in the Book of Mormon occurred

in the Land of Promise. To date, in spite of

much dedicated searching, the land has not

been convincingly located.

Some Mormons assure us that the

geography and history of the Book of

Mormon are of little or no importance.

Possibly for them this is true. But for many

millions on the planet, the Book of Mormonwill remain a compilation of fairy tales from

a make-believe land unless the Land of

Promise is found.

Potential benefits to each of us extend

far beyond mere knowledge of history and

geography. The Prophet Mormon hid most

of the gold plates in the Hill Ramah (Morm

6:6). Only a few were turned over to Moroni.

To the best of our knowledge, Mormon’s

gold plates remain hidden in the Hill

Ramah.




v

LJ

In the last days God will

pour out His spirit upon all flesh.

Sons and daughters shall

prophecy. Old men shall dream

dreams. Young men shall see

visions. (Joel 2:28)

LJ

I often went to bed with an unresolved

problem relating to the Malay Hypothesis.While sleeping, a solution to the problem

would come to mind. Often I would wake

up and write notes about the solution.

For example, I worried about the

Lamanites turning black because of their

wickedness. I couldn’t imagine a loving

Father turning someone black because of

wickedness. In the middle of one night, it

occurred to me that they didn’t turn black

because of wickedness, they turned blackbecause they intermarried with black

people that lived on the southern end of

the Malay Peninsula. I was excited because

this helps the church resolve an unfortunate

faux pas that was made by the author of

second Nephi (2 Ne: 21-23).

Another time I was concerned about

actual places. I had found Manoron

(Moron?), and in the night I it came to me

that there was a hill near there that was

Hill Ramah. So the next day I found a


x

detailed map and sure enough, there was a

Hill Maw (Maw Taung)! The gold plates of

Mormon may still be in the Hill Ramah!

Was I inspired? You decide.

As an old retired scientist, I hope and

pray that I will be forgiven for clumsily

plodding through the hallowed ground of

the Land of Promise. In science there is little

or no remorse in having tried and failed.

Even in so doing, a contribution is made.The remorse comes in having never tried at

all.

LJ

We believe God will yet

reveal many great and

important things pertaining

to the Kingdom of God.

(Ninth Article of Faith)

LJ

The author(back center)

has beenquestioning

where Bookof Mormon

events tookplace ever

since he wasa young boy

in SundaySchool.

(back) Helen, Ralph (front) Rheta, Ida, Elliot.




v

LJ

We are to judge opinions of

leaders about geography or other

matters for ourselves. (John A.

Widtsoe. Discourses of Brigham

Young, Deseret Book Co. S.L.C.,

UT (1941) p. 135)

LJ

Brigham Young stated: “I

am more afraid that this peoplehave so much confidence in their

leaders that they will not inquire

for themselves of God whether

they are led by Him. I am fearful

they settle down in a state of blind

self-security, trusting their eternal

destiny in the hands of their

leaders with a reckless confidence

that in itself would thwart the

purposes of God in their salvation,

and weaken that influence they

could give to their leaders, did theyknow for themselves, by the

revelations of Jesus, that they are

led in the right way. Let every man

and woman know, by the

whispering of the Spirit of God to

themselves, whether their leaders

are walking in the path the Lord

dictates, or not. (J.A.Widtsoe (1941),

p. 135. Discourses of Brigham

Young).

LJ


x

LTRADITIONAL

OPINIONSJ

In the early days of the church, theLand of Promise was thought to extendthroughout the entire American continents.(Introduction to the Book of Mormon(BofM)). America has a Land Southwardwhich is nearlysurrounded bywater. It has anarrow neck of land(Panama area). Ithad ancient peoplesand impressive ruins.And gold plates werefound in a hill inupstate New York.So there were reasons for traditionalthought, but were they decisive?

Based partly upon recorded times towalk from place to place, Mormon scholarshave recently decided the Land of Promisewas much smaller than the Americancontinents (51, p. 8). This change in thinkingby devoted brethren provides convincingevidence that the site was not revealed to

early leaders by divine sources.

Do theimpressivstone rumatch thlessimpressivruins of tBook of Mormon?




v

Well informed individuals havecommented as indicated:

Coe, M.D.: No supporting evidence (for

the BofM site) has been found in any New

World evacuation (31, p. 69).*

Price, J.A. : There are no gaps for Near

Eastern societies in the New World (31, p. 69).

Matheny, R. : The Book of Mormon

has no place in the New World whatsoever.

It seems like the items are out of time andplace, in trying to put them into the New

World (34, p. 214).

Hutchinson, A.A. : (Mormons) should

abandon claims that it (the BofM) is a

historical record of the ancient peoples of

the Americas (35, p. 1).

Smithsonian Institution: (Our)

archaeologists see no direct connection

between archaeology of the New Worldand the subject matter of the book (BofM)

(54, p. 273).

Nibley, H. : Everything written so far

by anthropologists or archaeologists about

the Book of Mormon (geography) must be

discounted... not because it did not exist, but

because it has not yet been found (37, p.

244).

___________________________________________________________

* Information in parenthesis refers to the References at

the end of the book.


x

After a lifetime devoted to the quest,

Mormon apologist John Sorenson admits:

The Book of Mormon remains a sealed book

because we have failed to do the work

necessary to place it in its setting (51, p. xvii).

Coe, M.D. encourages the church to

continue the praiseworthy excavations in

Mexico, remembering that little or nothing

pertaining to the Book of Mormon will ever

result from them (31, p. 215).

It would beinteresting to know

the story behindthese Central

American carvings.There are impressive

stone ruins likethese, but there are

no references to rockstructures in the

Book of Mormon.




v

LJ

Through archaeological

discoveries alone, it is entirely

possible that the Book of

Mormon will be proven

historically true. It need not be

supposed that the Book of

Mormon is the only evidence

that will come forth out of the

earth. (Cheesman, P. R. (1974)

These Early Americans. Deseret

Book Co., SLC).

LJ

Joseph Smith encouraged

Saints to consider new ideas

and to gain knowledge. He

lamented that “(Some) will fly

to pieces like glass as soon asanything comes that is

contrary to their traditions”

(Smith, J., Jr., (1973) Teachings

of the Prophet. Deseret Book,

331.

LJ


x

LREVEALED

GEOGRAPHY?J

Sorenson reports that the Book of

Mormon geography was not revealed to

Joseph Smith . . . ‘nor did Joseph Smith

claim inspiration on the matter.’ Ideas he

later expressed about the location of events

reported in the book apparently reflected

his own best thinking (51, p. 1).

President Joseph F. Smith, Seventies

President Anthony W. Ivins, and Apostle John

A. Widtsoe were among later authorities

who affirmed that the Church took no

position on specific Book of Mormonlocations. Elder Ivins cautioned: “There has

never been anything yet set forth that

definitely settles the question (of Book of

Mormon geography)” (51, p. 4).

Sorenson adds: “... it becomes clear that

Church authorities from the time of Joseph

Smith to the present (1985) have come to

no consensus, made no authoritative

statement, and reported no definitive

solution to the question of Book of Mormon

geography” (51, p. 5).




v

Widtsoe hoped that “out of diligent,prayerful study, we may be led to a better

understanding of times and places in the

history of the people who move across the

pages of the

divinely given

Book of Mormon”

(51, p. 5).

S o r e n s e n

adds: “. . .the

Church authorities

have not settled

for us any of the

major issues

concerning the

setting of the Book of Mormon. We must

search elsewhere for answers” (51, p. 5).

In Mormonism, at least in theory, each

of us is encouraged to actively seek new

knowledge. For example, we emphasize

James 1:5. And we strive for the perfection

exemplified by Jesus, as our role model.Hopefully I will be forgiven by our kind and

loving Father in Heaven for doing my best

in the quest for the lost Land of Promise

and for Mormon’s gold plates.

Some think that the calamities which

occurred at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion

destroyed all evidence supporting Book of

Mormon accounts. But much of the Book

of Mormon was written after 34 A.D. (51, p.

45). Sorenson (Anthropologist, BYU) writes

that the record (BofM) gives no justification

Manybeautifulruins arefound in

Peru, butBofM

matcheshave not

been found.


x

for supposing that the form or nature of theland changed in any essentials despite the

destruction. Nor is there reliable evidence

from the earth sciences to lead us to suppose

major changes took place (in Central

America). Nothing we know prevents our

placing most of the ancient places on

today’s map (ibid.).

This thinking for explaining

the absence of Book of Mormon

evidence in Mesoamerica is without

merit. If Book of Mormon events

occurred in Mesoamerica, evidence

should still be there. None has been

found. The notion that all

supporting evidence in Meso was

destroyed is apparently wrong.

LJ

Truth will Isend forth out of the earth, to

bear testimonyof mine ONLYB e g o t t e n .(Moses 7:62).

LJ

Fear not, I (God) will cause theearth to testify of the truth of thesethings. (Callis, C.A., Conferencereport, Oct 1946, p. 125).

LJ

UnderwatpetroglypinSoutheasAsia...




v

LJ

The Land of Promise and

Mormon’s priceless Gold Plates(Morm 6:6) have not yet been

found!

LJ

Peru has manyincredibleengineering feats.But do they fitBook of Mormondescriptions?


x

L The MESOAMERICAN

HYPOTHESIS (Meso) J

Of the many small sites in America that

have been proposed, the most popular is

apparently the Mesoamerican site favored

by Sorenson (51). Meso has ruins dating to

Book of Mormon times (as do many other

places). It has a topography which can be

thought to match descriptions in the Book

of Mormon (as do other places). It has

impressive structures of stone (but the BofM

makes no reference to the use of stone for

construction). It has a form of writing

inscribed in stone (of no apparent

connection to Mideast writing). Nevertheless,Meso is a place dear to the hearts of many

devoted Mormon tourists and to the hearts

of many whose salaries depend upon

favoring a site for Book of Mormon events

in America. See Map F.

In science, if an accepted hypothesis

appears to be flawed, a better hypothesis is

actively sought. In presenting a new

hypothesis for consideration by others, a

comparison is usually made between it and

the accepted hypothesis.




v

Actually there is Mormon scripture

which encourages each of us to gain a

knowledge of history and of countries and

of kingdoms and all this for the salvation of

Zion (D&C 93:53; D&C 130:18-19).

Geography is not excluded from either. And

we are assured that many great and

important things are yet to be found (Ninth

Article of Faith). I have accordingly tried,

with the best of intentions, to try to locate

the Land of Promise of the Book of Mormon

people.

LJ

In the realm of religion,

few, if any, have differed more

than did Joseph Smith.

And the heavens are not

sealed!

LJ

I am offering a newhypothesis to try toenhance belief in theBook of Mormon asscripture. The MalayPeninsula offers anappropriate and a verybeautiful setting forBook of Mormonevents. It is a beautifulLand of Promise.


x

L The MALAY

HYPOTHESIS (Mala) J

According to Mala, three small groups

of people migrated from the Middle East

to the Malay Peninsula (in Southeast Asia).

The many events recorded in

the Book of Mormon occurred

there in their Malay Land of

Promise. But, owing to much

dissension and frightful

warfare, many small groups

‘hived off’ the peninsula and

migrated elsewhere. Some

went to isles of the Pacific Ocean (the

uninhabited ‘Quarter’)* and someeventually reached the western shores of the

Americas (40). Thus the Malay Hypothesis

proposes that there are many lands of

promise including some in the Americas.

Jews were to be established in ALL THEIR

LANDS OF PROMISE (2Ne 9:2). But the

principal setting for most Book of Mormon

events was on the Malay Peninsula.

______________________________________________________

* Jaredites were to go to a land where man had never

been (Eth 2:5). In BofM times many Pacific Isles were

uninhabited. The Pacific Region is still sometimes referredto as “The Pacific Quarter.”




v

LJ

The Nephites were to be led tothe Land of Promise and then wereto be scattered upon all the face of the earth (1 Ne 10:13). The Jarediteswere also to be scattered aroundthe earth (Eth 1:33).

LJ

Note that Mala does not rule out

America as a Land of Promise! America

may have had many Lands of Promise! As

did many exotic isles of Polynesia. A crucialfactor in creating a Land of Promise is the

attitude and behavior of the inhabitants.

Small and dry and desolate, Canaan was a

Land of Promise as was tiny Jackson County

M i s s o u r i

(D&C 57:2).

The Book of

M o r m o n

s i m i l a r l y

refers to

going fromo n e

P r o m i s e d

Land to

a n o t h e r

( A l m a

37:45).

After many years of study, I have

become convinced that the Land of Promise

described in the Book of Mormon was

located on the Malay Peninsula. In accord

with the scientific method, the Malay


x

Hypothesis (Mala) will be compared with thecurrently most popular Mesoamerican

Hypothesis (Meso). The objective is to find

out WHAT IS RIGHT, not WHO IS RIGHT.

Like other Mormons, I

am convinced that the Book

of Mormon is a genuine

account of events which

occurred in a Land of Promise.

Even one advantage of

one hypothesis over the other can be enough

to decide which is most likely to be correct.

To the best of my knowledge, with regard

to ALL available evidence Mala is as good

or better than Meso. Each reader is invited

to open-mindedly consider the evidence

provided and to ponder and pray and to

decide for himself.

LJ

Behold the turtle. He must

stick his neck out in order togo anywhere.

LJ

Know the truth and thetruth will SET YOU FREE!

LJ

“Those who never retracttheir opinions love themselvesmore than they love truth.”Joseph Joubert

LJ




v

LJ

With some I am not well

pleased for they will not open

their mouths, but they hide

the talent which I have given

unto them, because of the fear

of men. Wo unto such, for

mine anger is kindled against

them. (Doctrine and

Covenants 60:2).

LJ

“The man who makes no

mistakes does not usually make

anything.” Edward Phelps.

LJ

Givens, T. (in LDS ChurchNews, Dec. 17, 2005, p. 11) :

“Joseph Smith saw in his own

experience of receiving

revelations a prototype that

others could and should

emulate.”

LJ


x

L OPPOSITION

TO

NEW IDEAS J

At the time of Galileo, religious

authorities decreed that the earth was flat.

The earth was thought to be held up by a

giant tortoise and was the stationary center

of the universe. Rev 7:1 provided supporting

scripture by making reference to four

corners of the earth. How could it be

spherical if it had four corners?

One glimpse of spherical moonsorbiting a spherical planet drifting in an

endless sea helped Galileo formulate a far

better hypothesis regarding our fantastic

universe. Galileo was ridiculed, persecuted

and threatened with the Inquisition for

reporting what he considered to be the

truth. He was courageous enough to voice

his opposing opinion anyway.




v

L SELECTED

ARGUMENTS FOR THE

MALAY HYPOTHESIS J

The following glimpses of the Malay

Peninsula as the realm for Book of Mormon

events might be of

great importance with

regard to relevant

matters. Each section

provides evidence

which preferentially

supports the Malay

Hypothesis over the

currently popular

M e s o a m e r i c a n

Hypothesis.

1. DESTINATION. Lehi was wealthy

(1 Ne 3:24). If Mesoamerica had been his

destination, he could have purchased a ship

near Jerusalem and taken a far shorter and

more feasible voyage to America via the

Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

Instead, the Lehites walked south and east.

Lehi could either use his money or lose it.

A tropicalsite may

haveappeared

promising tofolks from

the aridMiddle East.


x

2. DESERT TREK. The Lehitestrudged laboriously through the deserts of

Arabia for eight years (1 Ne 17:4). The trek

was dangerous (e.g. from marauders),

stressful, exhausting and highly aggravating

to some, particularly Laman and Lemuel.

Wouldn’t an Atlantic voyage have been

stressful enough and far less divisive?

3. DIRECTIONS. Every step of the

tortuous way through Arabia took them

farther from America and closer to the

Malay Peninsula. The account specifically

states that they journeyed TOWARDS the

Land of Promise (1 Ne 5:22), i.e. AWAY from

America and TOWARD the Malay

Peninsula.

4. LOG BARGES. The Jaredites

walked to Nimrod at the source of the Tigris

River (Eth 2:1). They built heavy log barges

for floating the river. On the river they ‘did

cross many waters’ (Eth

2:6), including a large lake(Bible map of the Middle

East). They came to the

great sea which divided the

land (Persian Gulf?) (Eth

2:13). So they too traveled

south and east away from

America and toward the

Malay Peninsula.

Can you imaginetaking enough water in

these gourds to water

the livestock?




v

5. SOUTHERN OCEAN. South of

Asia there is an ocean which extends from

Arabia to the Malay Peninsula. Joseph Smith

is quoted as saying, “Lehi went down to the

Red Sea to the great southern ocean and

crossed over to this land,” (meaning the

Malay Peninsula?). (Smith, J.F. (1938)

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Deseret Book. S.L.C. pg. 267). Maps A and

B show this great southern ocean, south of

Asia.

6. GYRES. Coupled ocean currents

(gyres) extend along the southern coast of

Asia as far east as the Malay Peninsula (21,

Vol. 20, p. 180). The gyres are wind-driven

and change direction in accord with seasonal

winds. The Jaredite barges were sometimes

submerged (Eth 6:7) so they could have had

no sails. As their only means of propulsion,

other than rowing, they could have drifted

to the Malay Peninsula but not from there

eastward across the Pacific: there are nosuitable currents (See Map B).

7. COAST HUGGING. In order for

the eight Jaredite barges to avoid becoming

separated and lost, they would have had to

go ashore each night. Frequent landings

would also have been required to obtain

requisite food, feed, and potable water. A

continuous coast line extends from southern

Arabia to the Malay Peninsula but not to

America (See Map B).


x

An account by Coon provides

information about the abilities of

experienced sailors under the best of

conditions during Book of Mormon times

(Coon, C.S. (1984) The Story of Man. Alfred

A. Knopf, Inc., p. 258). Ships in the Aegean

Sea in about 700 B.C. sailed close to shore.

They navigated by landfalls (hence had very

limited navigational skills). They hugged the

coast and beached their boats each night.

To sail across the Aegean Sea (150 miles or

less) was considered to be a ‘great feat!’ It

was attempted only in the finest summer

weather. Steering was done with an oar.

For comparison, the Jaredite voyage

may have occurred as early as 3,000 B.C..

And the Lehite voyage about 600 B.C.. As

landlubbers, they probably had even less

navigational skill. With livestock and families

aboard they would have been required to

go ashore frequently for supplies.

LJ

Based upon DNA

evidence, Southerton reports

that a Lost Tribe may have

gone to the Bay of Bengal

area (i.e. Burma) (54, p. 118).

This evidence is preferentially

supportive of Mala over Meso.

LJ




v

8. TIME CONSTRAINTS. The gyres

of the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal are

wind-driven and average about one mile

per hour (21, p. 180). The distance from the

Persian Gulf to the Malay Peninsula is about

4,000 miles. Taking into account the time

lost in going ashore and back each night,

the Jaredites would have been very fortunate

(no delays, e.g.) to go as far as the Malay

Peninsula in their reported 344 day voyage

(Eth 6:11).

9. LEHITE VOYAGE. The Lehites

built a boat on the southern coast of Arabia.

They had no prior experience. They loaded

it with animals and with families. They sailed

to the land of promise in “many days” (not

weeks or months) (1Ne 18:23). They reported

having had no problems at all (other than

one storm). They had no navigational

expertise at all and yet did not get lost. The

accounts indicate a short voyage from

southern Arabia, along the southern coast

of Asia, to a promised land within a

reasonable distance (for example: the Malay

Peninsula).


x

For comparison, consider the voyageof Magellan across much of the Pacific. He

had three ships which had been built by

craftsmen. The crews were experienced

sailors. They had no animals or family

members on board to tend. They had

excellent navigational skills. They ran out of

food and potable water. They had fatal

sicknesses. Some, including Magellan, were

killed in fighting islanders. The voyage as far

as the Philippines took four months (many

weeks) (Encyclopedia Britannica (1995) Vol

18, p. 733). Only one of the ships was

seaworthy enough to continue the voyage

on past the Philippines.

The two accounts (of Lehi and of

Magellan) provide convincing evidence, in

my opinion, that Lehi did not cross the

Pacific Ocean. He apparently stopped at a

land much closer to southern Arabia (i.e. the

Malay Peninsula).

The oceanis beautiful

yet can alsobe deadly.

In BofMtimes ocean

voyageswere made

with land insight.




v

LJ

In Science,

experimentation is

used to check rival

h y p o t h e s e s .

Skeptics of the

Malay Hypotheses

are encouraged to

try to float from the Persian

Gulf to America on log barges

under conditions comparableto those experienced by the

Jaredites. Both intuition and

evidence have a crucial role to

play in the quest for truth.

LJ

10. UNINHABITED QUARTER.

The Jaredites were to go to a ‘quarter’ where

man had never been (Eth 2:5). At the time

(about 3,000 B.C.), both North and SouthAmerica had been inhabited for many

thousands of years. So America is ruled out

as the initial Land of Promise. The Malay

Peninsula is located on the periphery of the

Pacific ‘quarter’ and Mala proposes that

Book of Mormon people ‘hived off’ the

peninsula to go to some of the idyllic isles of

Polynesia. Many of the islands were

uninhabited during Book of Mormon times.

So Mala provides an appropriate setting for

the crucial account (See Map E).


x

11. AMERINDIAN ORIGINS. In

traditional American hypotheses, the

Amerindians are descendants of the Book

of Mormon Lamanites (Intro to BofM). This

is a devastating problem for advocates

because the evidence of science, including

DNA evidence, clearly indicates that most

Amerindians are descendants of people who

crossed the Bering Strait from northeast Asia

(54, p. 92). Mala is quite compatible with

the evidence because it proposes that only

a few Book of Mormon people migrated

from island to island and then finally to

America.

1 Nephi 13:10-20 refers to a

man (Columbus?) coming to the

seed of Nephi in a Promised Land.

Inasmuch as Promised Lands were

located in America, according to

the Malay Hypothesis, this account is not a

problem for the Malay Hypothesis.

12. ISOLATION. The Promised Land

was to be kept from the knowledge of other

nations (2 Ne 1:8). The great diversity of

languages in America provides assurance

that other ‘nations’ had been present for

thousands of years. By including Polynesia

in the concept of ‘Promised Land’, Mala can

accomodate the scripture. Many islands had

been unknown to others until after

European explorers arrived after 1500 A.D.




v

LJ

“So far, no evidence has

come to hand that would

identify a single New World

language with an Old World

stock.” Clark Wissler.

LJ

13. PENINSULAR SETTING. After

enough time to do a little exploring, the

Lehites realized that they had landed on a

peninsula (Alma 22:32). Their Land of

Promise was nearly surrounded by water

and was connected by a narrow neck of

land to a mainland. The Malay Peninsula

provides an excellent setting. Guatemala

fails. America has no suitable peninsula to

match the accounts. See Map G.

14. ORIENTATION. The peninsula

described in Alma 22:32 was clearly oriented

north-south with principal landsappropriately named Land Northward and

Land Southward. The Malay Peninsula

matches the account very well. In

Mesoamerica, the Isthmus of Tehuantepec

extends east-west. It couldn’t be oriented

worse.

15. DIRECTIONS. In order for Book

of Mormon lands to fit on the Isthmus of

Tehuantepec at all, Sorenson has to assume

that the term ‘north’ does not really mean

‘north’. He skews directions about 60


x

degrees counter-clockwise. This allows him

to propose that the Land of Promise

extended diagonally across Tehuantepec.

Yet the Lehites had a compass (1 Ne 18:12;

18:21; Alma 37:38; 37:43-45), and they knew

they were going precisely south-southeast

when they were travelling along the Red

Seacoast (1 Ne 16:13). The Malay Hypothesis

accommodates Book of Mormon directions

very well.

16. TRANSLATION. The gold plateswere inscribed with ‘reformed Egyptian’

(glyphs?) in order to conserve space (Morm

9:32). Under divine guidance, they were

translated into English for us. The Book of

Mormon is claimed to be the most correct

of all books (Intro. To BofM). An appealing

feature of Mala is that it allows us to read

the Book of Mormon literally. As indicated

in Section 15, advocates of Meso propose

changing the meanings of the terms (e.g.

‘north’) as a means for having their account

match their preconceived notions.

17. A NARROW STRIP OF

WILDERNESS. Across the mid-section of

the Land Southward there was a narrow

mountain range which extended from West

Sea to the East Sea (Alma 22:27). The Malay

Peninsula has the Cameron Highlands which

match the account very well. Guatemala

has no suitable strip. It’s one sea is located

much more south than west and it has no

east sea at all. (See Map C and D)




v

18. SIDON RIVER. This importantriver runs north from the narrow strip of

wilderness past Zarahemla. It empties into

a North Sea (See BofM index). There is no

indication in the Book of Mormon that it

changes direction. The Kelantan River in

Malaysia matches the account (See Map G).

The proposed Grijalva River in Meso doesn’t

originate in a narrow strip of wilderness. It

runs northwest and makes a sharp turn

eastward (See Map F).

19. LINE OF POSSESSIONS. In

Malaysia, the Pahang River runs south from

the narrow strip and then eastward for

about 75 miles to the East Sea. It may be

the ‘line of possessions’ between Nephite and

Lamanite lands (Alma 50:13). Clark suggests

that the ‘line’ was a river (13, p.31). I see no

river in Mesoamerica which matches the

account. See Maps D and G.

The Bridgeover the RiverKwai in KoTao, Thailand.There aremanybeautifulrivers on theMalaysian

peninsula.


x

LJ

And the land of Nephi

did run in a straight course

from the east sea to the west

(Alma 50:8) (See Map G).

LJ

20. LAMANITE LANDS.

Lamanite lands at the southern end of the

peninsula were densely forested and sparsely

populated. The land was flat with few

mountainous obstacles

other than one peak

(Antipas) (Alma 47:7).

Mala provides an

excellent setting. Meso

provides a very

mountainous terrain

with no peninsular

terminus and no east

sea at all (See Map C).

21. HERMOUNTS. West of

Zarahemla, the peninsula had one lofty

mountain range extending north-south

(Alma 2:34-37). The range (Hermounts)

also extended partway across the peninsula

north of Zarahemla. With only a few

penetrable passes, it protected the Nephites

from attack from the west (See Clark, Map

D). Malaysia provides an excellent setting.

Meso provides no West Sea and a multi-

mountainous terrain (Also See Map C).




v

22. POPULATED AREA. East of Zarahemla, there was a broad, well-

inhabited area extending north-south

parallel to an eastern shoreline (See Map

D). Sorenson’s map shows no well inhabited

area east of Zarahemla and no eastern

shoreline at all for any of his proposed Land

Southward. He proposes that the eight or

nine cities of relevance are located NORTH

of Zarahemla! (ibid.). And Allen’s map

shows there were NO cities located there

during Book of Mormon times! Mala

provides an excellent setting (See Maps F

and G).

23. YUCATAN. As shown on Map

F, many of the population sites in Central

America which date to Book of Mormon

times are located on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Meso provides no reasonable way to

accommodate the Yucatan sites. The Malay

Peninsula accommodates all Book of

Mormon lands very nicely with no

extraneous lands to create doubts.

24. DESOLATION. The Land

Northward clearly extended to the West Sea

(Alma 63:5-10). People and provisions were

taken to the Land Northward in ships in

the West Sea. Mala provides an appropriate

setting. Meso has a serious problem. In order

to have its Land Northward extend

somewhat northward, it must extend only

to its proposed ‘East’ Sea (the Gulf of

Mexico).


x

25. NARROW NECK OF LAND. Atthe Desolation-Bountiful border, the neck

of land was so narrow that a Nephite (a

representative person?) could cross it in 1.5

days (Alma 22:31-32). With its Isthmus of

Kra, only about 26 miles across, Mala

provides an excellent setting. In the dense

vegetation of tropical forests it is far more

likely that a Nephite would travel 26 miles

in 1.5 days (distance across Kra) than 130

miles in 1.5 days (distance across the Isthmus

of Tehuantepec).* The evidence supports

Mala.

___________________________________________________

* It took Nephites about 323 years to walk about 200

miles from Nephi to Zarahemla (Omni 1:24 and readfootnote referred to in that verse). Overland walking wasnot a favorite endeavor. Under comparable denselyforested and hot and humid conditions, I doubt that aNephite could or would cross the Isthmus of Tehuantepec

(130 miles) in 1.5 days.

This canopy walk, high in therainforest in Malaysia, shows how thick

tropical jungles are. The right photoshows the view looking down. Havinghiked through comparable vegetation

and terrain in Guatemala, using amachete to hack his way through theundergrowth, Wyatt is skeptical about a Nephite

walking 130 miles in 1 1/2 days through a rainforest.




v

26. BOUNTIFUL. This land occupiedthe entire narrow neck of land extending

from the East Sea to the West Sea (Alma

22:33).

LJ

Washburns conclude; It

seems to be beyond question

that Bountiful was the

NARROW NECK OF LAND.

(57, p. 123).

I concur.

LJ

It was kept as a hunting preserve by the

Jaredites. It was large enough to keep the

Jaredites and Nephites separated through

much of their history. Mala provides an

excellent large Bountiful. Meso provides a

tiny oval Bountiful, arbitrarily located, which

extends to no sea at all.

27. LONG NECK OF LAND. Ingoing from the Land Southward into the

Land Northward (Bountiful was northward)

the Nephites traveled ‘an exceeding great

distance’ (Hela 3:3-4). A range of hills

extends through the Malay narrow neck of

land. There are many small rivers and several

lakes. The Helaman account indicates that

Bountiful occupies a neck of land which is

both long and narrow, as in Mala. The

proposed Bountiful in Meso does not match

Book of Mormon accounts at all (See Maps

F and G).


x

28. DEFENSE. By occupying Boun-tiful, the Nephite army ‘hemmed in’ the

Lamanite army south of them (Alma 22:33).

With its narrow neck of land extending from

sea to sea, Mala provides an excellent set-

ting. In Meso, with Nephite troops gath-

ered into the proposed tiny Bountiful lo-

cated in the midst of a broad land, the

northward movement of the Lamanite sol-

diers would have been FACILITATED and

even encouraged! They could have simply

walked around the tiny Bountiful contain-

ing the Nephite soldiers.

29. INLET OF THE SEA. At the

Bountiful--Desolation border, there is a place

where the sea divides the land (Eth 10:20).

The wording suggests an inlet of the sea.

Hagoth apparently built ships in this shel-

tered inlet and launched them into the West

Sea (Alma 63:5-7). Mala has an appropri-

ate inlet in precisely the correct location. In

Meso, neither Bountiful or Desolation extend

to the ‘West’ Sea and, to make mattersworse, there is no suitable inlet (Maps F and

G).

30. FOUR SEAS. On a map of the

Malay Peninsula note that the narrow neck

of land (Bountiful) was part of the Land

Northward for Nephites in Zarahemla. In

migrating north from Zarahemla, the

Nephites spread to all four seas. . . from the

sea south to the sea north and from the sea

west to the sea east (Hela 3:8). Owing to

an irregularity in the narrow neck of land




v

(See Map G), Mala intriguingly provides anappropriate setting. The proposed Bounti-

ful in Meso, conversely, has no seas at all (See

Map F).

31. NARROW PASS. In going from

Bountiful into the Land Northward,

Nephites went through a narrow pass (Alma

50:34). Both East and West Seas are speci-

fied, so the type of pass is clearly one that

extends between two nearby seas. The Isth-

mus of Kra provides an excellent setting for

Mala. The proposed Desolation--Bountiful

border in Meso extends to no seas at all (See

Maps C and D).

32. NARROWER PASS. The

Nephites formed a defense line (along a

river?) at the southern end of Bountiful; it

extended from the west sea ‘even unto the

east’ (Hela 4:6-7). Mala provides suitable

rivers extending from the west sea to

Hermounts. Meso has no suitable setting.

Bountiful does not extend to the west sea.Nor does it extend eastward to a suitable

barrier.

LJ

Two events described in the Book

of Mormon dealing with weather

conditions appear to be supportive

of Mala. Climatologists are encour-

aged to look for others.

LJ


x

33. TYPHOONS. Sinners are warnedto repent or face immediate destruction by

an east wind (Msh 7:31). Destructive east

winds must have been familiar; otherwise

they would not have been a threat. The

Malay Peninsula is exposed to typhoons from

the east (South China Sea) (19, p. 40; 42, p.

115). Conversely, Guatemala is protected

from Atlantic hurricanes by an extensive

land mass. Hurricanes are attenuated as

they pass over land surfaces.

34. VOLCANIC EXPLOSION.Cataclysmic events are reported in the Book

of Mormon at the time of the crucifixion (3

Ne: 8). The destruction and great loss of life

and days of darkness were probably caused

by a violent volcanic explosion, with accom-

panying earthquakes and fires and tsuna-

mis. Volcanoes in Central America extrude

lava but evidence of a suitable explosion is

lacking. Native writer, Ixtlilxochitl, reports

some trembling of the earth, some broken

rocks, a temporary darkening of the sun and

no loss of life at all (28, p. 190).

The Malay Peninsula is a reasonable

place to look for confirming evidence. The

very unstable Pacific fault line runs just off-shore from the peninsula. Within historicaltime, at least two extremely violent volca-nic explosions (Krakatoa and Tambora)have occurred along this fault line (40, p.226). The recent deadly quake and tsu-nami in 2004 also serve as reminders. Bothof these explosions were followed by severaldays of darkness from dust blown into theatmosphere.




v

LJ

Some Mormon scholars

have been courageous enough

to admit that American hy-

potheses have serious problems.

Dr. S.B. Sperry has noted that

domestic animals in the Book

of Mormon provide some of

these problems (31, p. 184).

35. ANIMALS FOR FOOD. The

Jaredites had all manner of cattle (beef?),

oxen, cows (milk?), sheep, swine, and goats

(Eth 9:18). These were all domesticated ani-

mals in the Old World during Book of Mor-

mon times and, to the best of my knowl-

edge, they were in Southeast Asia. Larson

reports that no evidence of these animals,

in any form, dating to BofM times has been

found in America (31, p. 246). This includes

ceramic representation, skeletal remains,

mural art, scultures or any other form.

In SoutheastAsia they hadwork animalsincluding cows,water buffalo,Zebu cattle,and elephants.


x

36. WORK ANIMALS. The Jarediteshad domesticated horses, asses, and el-

ephants (Eth 9:19). These animals were in-

digenous to the Old World and were widely

used as work animals. Conversely, Schele and

Freidel write: All they (the Mayans) accom-

plished was done by means of stone tools,

utilizing human beings as their beasts of bur-

den. No animals large enough to carry

cargo lived in Mesoamerica before the com-

ing of the Spanish (34, p. 310).

Southeast Asian farmers still till fields withwaterbuffalo. They have for thousands of years (since Book of Mormon times). DuringBook of Mormon times there were no beastsof burden in Mesoamerica. They did not havemetal for plows. They did not grow fields of grain.




v

37. CURELOMS AND CUMOMS.

Although these animals are not identified

in the Book of Mormon, they were work

animals which were especially useful, as were

elephants, to the Jaredites (Eth 9:19). In

Southeast Asia, water buffalo and other bo-

vines were especially useful, e.g., in the culti-

vation of flooded rice fields and as draft ani-

mals. They are still commonly used in rural

areas. Ancient Mesoamericans, during

Book of Mormon times, had no work ani-

mals at all (See Section 36).

El-ephants

still domuch of

theheavy

work inSouth-

eastAsia. .

Waterbuffalohave beenused forfarmingand otherwork sinceancienttimes.Mesoamericadid nothave anyworkanimals,metal fortools, anddid notuse the

wheel.


x

38. INSPIRED TRANSLATION. In

a valiant attempt to accomodate the seri-

ous animal problems in the Book of Mor-

mon, Sorenson (51, p. 299) has suggested

that the names were mis-translated by Jo-

seph Smith. e.g., maybe the term ‘horse’ re-

ally means ‘deer’ and maybe ‘swine’ really

means ‘peccaries,’ etc. (ibid.). Well, if farm

boy, Joseph Smith, had trouble translating

(with divine assistance) an Egyption symbol

representing an animal, then I shudder to

think of errors introduced when he tried totranslate esoteric religious terms from sym-

bols. Thank heaven, Mala allows us to in-

terpret most, if not all, terms literally. We

need to have confidence in a scripture

meaning what it says.

39. HONEY BEES. The Jaredites

took swarms of honey bees with them in

their travels (Eth 2:3). And later reference is

made to them in the Book of Mormon

(BofM Index). This creates a major prob-

lem for Meso. The four species of honey bees

are indigenous to the Old World (21, p. 6;

36); three of them are confined to Asia.

Prior to 1500 A.D., ‘there were no honey

bees in the New World’ (56, p. 387). Mason

(an early European explorer in S.E. Asia) in-

triguingly reports finding several species of

natural bees in the Burma area from which

a considerable amount of honey was pro-

duced (33, p. 379). Encyclopedia Britannica

2l, 6, 36.




v

44. DOGS. The dog was apparentlythe only domesticated animal in Book of

Mormon times in Mesoamerica (47, p. 98).

It was very valuable for transportation, hunt-

ing, guarding, companionship and for food

(ibid.). One would expect very favorable ref-

erence to dogs, therefore, in the Book of

Mormon. Instead we find only two deroga-

tory comments (3 Ne 7:8; 14:6) such as a

dog turning to his vomit and keeping holy

matters away from dogs. The comments

seem inappropriate for a Meso setting.

45. AMERICAN ANIMALS FOR

FOOD. To make matters worse for Meso,

many New World animals which WERE very

valuable food items in MesoAmerica ARE

NOT mentioned in the Book of Mormon.

They include: turkey, duck, quail, pheasant,

partridge, dove, hares, rabbits, rodents (paca

and agouti) and guinea pigs (51, p. 292).

The large American game animals are not

mentioned either. This serious lack of very

important evidence is supportive of hypoth-eses other than American (such as Mala).

46. ANIMAL MATTERS. Without

the domesticated animals listed above, re-

lated items in the Book of Mormon are out

of place in Mesoamerica. They include: milk

(2 Ne 9:50), flocks (2 Ne 5:11, Msh 2:3), herds

(Enos 1:21; Hela 6:12), firstlings of flocks for

sacrifice (Msh 2:3), and milk and honey (2

Ne 26:25). The Malay Peninsula provides a

far better setting than does Mesoamerica.


x

LJ

Reliable evidence is onhand for utilitarian wheels,carts, and chariots (includingchariots of wood and iron)from the ancient Middle East(31, p. 266). So the Book of Mormon people wereknowledgeable of them.

47. WHEELED VEHICLES. Book

of Mormon people had wheels (2 Ne 15:28),

carriages (2 Ne 20:28), carts (2 Ne 15:18) and

chariots (2 Ne 12:7; Alma 18:9-12; 3 Ne 3:22;

21:14). But no evidence for any of them, in

writing or drawings or inscriptions, has been

found in Mesoamerica (31, p. 265). Chang

reports good evidence of both horses and

wheeled vehicles dating from Book of

Mormon times in nearby

China (10, p. 256; 429).

LJ

Migrants to anunknown landwould have taken allvaluable seeds. Theyare small and easilytransported and yet could haveplayed crucial roles in their survival.The Jaredites took SEEDS OFEVERY KIND (Eth 2:3) as did theLehites (1 Ne 8:1; 16:11; 18:6).

48. LAND TILLAGE. Nephites tilled

the land as a prerequisite for successful

They tookseeds of every kinso why arthe plantsso differenin theAmericas?




v

growth of field crops (Enos 1:21) as had theJaredites earlier (Eth 10:25). With non-

metallic tools (wood or bone?) and with no

beasts of burden, this would have been very

unlikely in Mesoamerica. Solheim (50, p.

330), however, reports that men in

Southeast Asia had metal implements and

were cultivating fields for crop plants as early

as anywhere on earth.

LJ

Chang reports the following

items from prehistoric South China

(pages indicated): models of cattle,

horses, sheep, pigs, dogs, and

chickens (p. 456); evidence of

growth of rice (411, 412); bronze

and iron

metallurgy,

iron axes, hoe

blades of iron

( 4 2 2 ) ;

chariots andhorses (p.

429); silk

paintings and

silk fabrics (p.

433); loom

(p. 459); silk

and hemp weaving (p. 433);

systems of currency (p. 440);

metal plows, spades, saw, axes,

adzes, chisels, sickles (for harvesting

grain) and knives (p. 458)

(Reference 10)


x

49. SMALL GRAINS. EVERY KIND

of Middle East grain would have included:

wheat, rye, barley, oats, millet, sorghum, and

rice (28, p. 306). The lack of evidence of

any kind for any of these grains having been

cultivated in ancient Mesoamerica creates

a monumental problem for

Meso. In support of Mala, wheat,

barley, millet, rice, and other

grains have long been cultivated

in Southeast Asia (42, p. 177).

50. SHEUM. Nephites raised sheum

(Msh 9:9). Sorenson (51, p. 185) reports that

sheum was a small grain grown near

Nimrod where Jaredites collected seeds

about 3,000 B.C. Later the name would

have changed (ibid.). Finding the term in

Mosiah provides excellent support for the

authenticity of the Book of Mormon and

for Mala but not for Meso. Small grains were

not grown in Ancient Mesoamerica.

51. CORN. Nephites tilled the ground

and planted seeds (not kernels) of corn and

wheat and barley (Msh 7:22;9:9). In Biblical

and traditional European cultures, the term

‘corn’ referred to one or more of the small

grains (Bible Dictionary) (Deut 16:9).

Ancient Americans did not till fields and did

not raise small grains to the best of our

knowledge. Small grains indicate Old World

locations, e.g. the Malay Peninsula.




v

52. FRUITS. EVERY KIND of MiddleEast Fruit would have included: dates,

apples, pears, grapes, figs, quince, plums,

mulberries, melons, pomegranates,

pistachio, citrus and cherries (28, p. 306). To

the best of my knowledge, ancient

Americans had none of these fruits under

cultivation during Book of Mormon times.

Conversely, Mason (an early European

explorer) reported that the Karens in

southern Burma raised pineapples, grapes,

bananas, coconut, breadfruit, plums, apples,

oranges, limes, citron, andmany other fruits (33, p.

379). By their fruits ye shall

know them (Luke 6:44).

53. VEGETABLES.

EVERY KIND of Old World

vegetable would have

included: turnip, cabbage,

rutabaga, chard, mustard,

radish, beet, carrot, parsnip,

onion, leek, garlic, shallot,spinach, eggplant, lettuce,

endive, celery, asparagus,

pea, lentil, and others. There is no known

evidence of any of them having been grown

in pre-Columbian America. In fact, when

the Spaniards arrived in Mexico, they were

provided with diverse luscious vegetables,

‘none of which were known to them’ (43,

p. 293). A comparable argument might

be made with regard to Middle East plants

grown for spices. Southeast Asia became

renowned as a source of valued spices.

Manyfruits and

veg-etables

men-tioned inthe BofM

were inSE Asia

and notin

America.


x

54. NEW WORLD PLANTS. Someof the most choice plants on earth were

indigenous to the New World. They include:

potato, sweet potato, cassava, lima bean,

tomato, pepper, squash, pumpkin, peanut,

avocado, and cacao (28, p. 306). Tobacco

for all-important peace pipes could be

included. Lack of reference to any of them

in the Book of Mormon raises doubts about

American hypotheses. Appropriately, they

were not grown in ancient Southeast Asia.

55. VINEYARDS. MacGowan

includes no Old World fruits in his list of

cultivated plants in ancient America (32, p.

199). He states that there were a few wild

fruits and berries, including grapes. Yet King

Noah had vineyards and wine presses and

made wine in abundance (Msh 11:15). The

evidence preferentially supports Old World

over New World hypotheses.

Ruins inthemiddleof the

jungleon theway toMachuPicchu.




v

56. BLACK LAMANITES. Soonafter arriving in the Land Southward, the

rebellious and wicked Lamanites parted

from the Lehites; they turned black (2 Ne

5:21-22). According to Mala, by genetically

mingling with indigenous black people

(Semangs) (49) they turned black. The

blackness was inheritable (2 Ne 5:23). In the

Meso Land Southward there were no

indigenous black people. Advocates of Mala

have no need to attribute the blackening

of Lamanites to an intentional curse from

an unforgiving God. The Malay Hypothesis

enables all of us to continue believing in a

kind and

forgiving Father

in Heaven. The

b l a c k e n i n g

account gives

Mala a huge

advantage over

Meso. There is

no evidence of

black people ina n c i e n t

Guatemala.

57. WHITE JAREDITES. Although

the Jaredites became just as rebellious and

wicked as the Lamanites, they did not turn

black. Why not? Surely a considerate and

loving God would not show favoritism. Mala

provides a reasonable explanation. In

southern Burma (the Land Northward)

there were no indigenous black people. So

the Jaredites remained white! The black skin


x

was clearly not a curse. In Mormonism, eachprecious child is completely innocent at birth.

The Malay Hypothesis contributes greatly

by clarifying this very unfortunate mistake

made by the author of 2 Ne: 21-23. Color is

not a criterion for wickedness.

58. FLIMSY CONSTRUCTION.

Nibley writes: The Nephites lived in quickly-

built wooden cities (39, p. 366). A small

group of Nephite farmers, e.g., founded a

‘city’ of

H e l a m

( M s h

2 3 : 2 0 ) .

T h e y

t o o k

t h e i r

f l o c k s

and their

g r a i n

(both Old

W o r l d

items) (Msh 23:1) and began tilling landnearby (an Old World activity!) (Msh 23:25).

So the ‘city’ was a small country village. They

probably built thatched shacks on poles as

do many people in rural Southeast Asia

today. Nibley adds: One should not be

puzzled if the Nephites had left us no ruins

at all (ibid.). Within a few years thatched

houses on stilts fall down and deteriorate. It

might also be noted that the cities burned

very quickly in the catastrophes at the time

of the crucifixion; this also is indicative of

flimsy housing.

Shelter wquickly bu

leading oto thinkthey werethatchedhuts, notstone. Thburnedeasily atthe time oChrist’scrucifixion




v

63. NAMES TEND TO CHANGE.With passage of time, names tend to

change in pronunciation and in spelling,

particularly if writing is not a common

practice. But some sounds are usually

retained. The Bible dictionary provides

examples of changes which occurred in the

Middle East in ancient times. They include

the following:

Idumea became Edom.

Megiddo became Armageddon.

Edrei became Edra’al.Ephraim may have become Ophrah.

Gallia or Gaul became Falatia.

Gaulanitis became Golan.

Yavnah or Javneh was also known as

Jamnia.

Jebus or Salem became Jerusalem.

Japho became Joppa.

Kidron was also called Cedron.

Arba became Hebron.

Paran was also called El-paran.

Sidon was also called Zion.Thessalonica became Saloniki.

Ur became Mugheir.*

LJ

Green states “. . .No Book of Mormon location is known withreference to modern topography.”(31, p. 211)

LJ

__________________________________________________

* Similar changes have occurred in Poland for example.

Thus, Gdansk, Breslau, and Szczecin were formerly Danzig,Wroclaw, and Stettin, respectively.


x

Nephites lived in the Land of Promisefor about 1,000 years and Jaredites for

possibly 3,000 years. It seems highly unlikely

that they lived in Mesoamerica since not

even one identifying name has been found

there (compared to the many which have

been found in Southeast Asia).

Of interest is the fact that Nephites and

Mulekites had trouble communicating after

about 300 years being separated in the

Land of Promise. Hopefully the reader will

keep this name changing in mind in

considering the following sections. No name

has been found in Central America in a

There are

manynames,

likeMachuPicchu,

Peru,that

have norelationto BofM

names.

Machu Picchu contains some 150 houses, all ina remarkable state of preservation. Thesestructures, carved from the gray granite of

the mountain top are wonders of botharchitectural and aesthetic genius. Many of the building blocks weigh 50 tons or more yetare so precisely sculpted and fitted togetherwith such exactitude that the mortarless jointswill not permit the insertion of even a thinknife blade. (http://www.sacredsites.com/americas/peru/machu_picchu.html)




v

reasonable location which matches Book of Mormon places.

64. NAMES AND PLACES. Many

names in appropriate places have been

found in ancient Israel. Biblical names in

the proper locations help significantly in

authenticating Biblical accounts. In a

comparable situation, many should have

been found in the Land of Promise. Yet,

Larson reports that not even one has been

found in Central America (31, p. 211). Names

from the Malay area are provided for your

consideration. Please note that all are

located in reasonable locations! Refer to

Maps D and G and to Clark (13) on the

pages indicated in the following sections:

65. PILAH

(Nephi?). After

Landing near the

southwestern end of

the peninsula, the

Nephites walkedinland (along the

Muar River?) to an

upland valley (2 Ne

5:5-8) (13, p. 55).

Pilah is located there in an upland river

valley. (See also Section 64.)

66. MALIM (Mormon?). Within a

few days walking time from Pilah, there is a

Malim and a large lake (Waters of

Mormon?) (Msh 18:4; Alma 5:3) (13, p. 53).

Not onlyare there

names thatare close,but there

are rivers inappropri-ate placesflowing inthe right

directions.


x

67. MARAN (Moroni?). A garrisoncity of Moroni was built south of Zarahemla

land ‘by the line of the possessions of the

Lamanites’ (Alma 50:13). Clark suggests

that the ‘line’ could be a river (13, p. 31) and

that a ‘swampy lagoon estuary’ separated

Moroni from the east sea (13, p. 34). Mala

provides an excellent setting. The large

Pahang River runs east for about 75 miles

and through swampland as it nears the sea.

68. KUANTAN (Morianton?). A city

north and east of Maran on the eastern

seashore (Alma 50:25; 51:26). After

overcoming the fortified city of Moroni,

Amalickiah led the Lamanite forces

northward, taking other cities including

Morianton (Alma 51:26). The location

matches the Book of Mormon account.

69. MULEK (Puteh?). The forces of

Amalickiah continued northward, taking

possession of other cities including Mulek

(Alma 51:26). But he did not take the cityof Bountiful (13, p. 32) which lay farther

north. Note that the cities are aligned

correctly on the Malay Peninsula and are a

reasonable distance apart! See Alma 57:24-

25, for example.

70. BAHARU (Bountiful?). Bountiful

was located about 1.5 day’s travel time north

of Mulek (13, p. 33); a plain lay between the

two cities. It was the northernmost, and

most critical, fortification of the eastern

border of the Nephite territory (13, p. 28).




v

Being located at the southern end of thenarrow neck of land, it restricted Lamanite

access to the Land Northward. Being near

the mouth of the Sidon River, it played a

key role in preventing Nephites from getting

‘boxed in’ the inland valley (13, p. 28-29).

71. TANAH MERAH (Zarahemla?).

Upstream from the city of Bountiful and in

the capital part of the land, Zarahemla is

located on the west side of the Sidon River

(13, p. 44). Tanah Merah provides a good

match for Book of Mormon accounts.

72. KELANTAN RIVER (Sidon?). A

river orginating in the narrow strip of

mountain wilderness (the Cameron

Highlands?)

a n d

f l o w i n g

due north

into a

North Sea

(13, p. 44).T h e

Kelantan

provides a

b e t t e r

m a t c h

than the

alternative

G r i j a l v a

River of Mesoamerica which turns about 90

degrees clockwise as it nears the proposed

East (?) Sea.

CameroonHigh-

landsform an

excellentnarrowstrip of wilder-

ness forthe BofM.


x

73. MARANG (Moroni?). Nephitearmies went eastward from Zarahemla to

Moroni (13, p. 34) (Alma 62:18-24). The

Malay Peninsula provides a Marang east of

Zarahemla on the eastern seacoast. This

may be the Moroni which sank into the sea

(a tsunami?) at the time of the crucifixion

(3 Ne 8:9). With no

sea east of

Zarahemla and no

r e a s o n a b l e

candidate for

Moroni, Meso

provides no match

at all.

74. TAHAN

(Manti?). The city of

Manti was upstream

(south) from

Zarahemla and

located between

two principal

tributaries of theSidon River (13, p.

44). Manti was

located in the narrow strip of wilderness

which extended from the Sea West to the

Sea East. Tahan matches the Manti accounts

very well.

75. TAPAH (Antiparah?). A high

mountain range (Hermounts) paralleled

the West Coast of much of the Land

Southward (13, p. 44). West of Manti and

near the narrow strip of wilderness, a city of




v

Antiparah was located. It was appropriatelynear one of the few traversible passes (east-

west) through Hermounts. Check Map D.

76. RAMAN (Laman?). Lamanites

were usually in control of the narrow strip

of coast land west of Hermounts (13, p. 44,

49, 61). In making raids on Nephite

possessions in the land of Zarahemla, they

sometimes went around the north end of

this high mountain range (ibid.). Just north

of the proposed Hermounts in Malaysia

there is a city of Raman.

77. LENYA (Lemuel?). In the final

battles, Lamanites and Nephites fought in

the southern end of the Land Northward

(southern Burma in Mala). Lamanites were

victorious (Morm 6). A city of Lenya

(Lemuel?) is located there.

78. MARANG (Moroni?). Prior to

the final battles of annihilation, many

Nephites migrated to the Land Northward(Morm 6:2-5). At the southern border of

Burma near the inlet of the West Sea there

is a city of Marang (Moroni?). Cumorah was

in the southern end of the Land Northward

(See Map C).

79. MANORON (Moron?). Jaredites

had an important city of Moron near the

southern end of the Land Northward (Eth

7:6) (See Map C). In southern Burma today

there is a city of Manoron (Moron?). Finding

the city in the right location helps


x

authenticate Mala. It also provides strongevidence for the authenticity of the Book of

Mormon and for Joseph Smith being a

genuine Prophet. No rational New

Englander would concoct a name of Moron

in an account he was claiming to be genuine

history.

80. TENASSERIM (Teancum?). The

city of Tenasserim is well enough located in

southern Burma to be the Jaredite city of

Teancum (Morm 4:3-5). It is only a few miles

north of Manoron and near the westernseashore (See Map G).

81. HILL MAW (Hill Ramah?). A few

miles east of Manoron and near an eastern

seashore there is a 4,000 foot high hill

named Hill Maw! Nephites called it Hill

Cumorah (Morm 6:4). Mormon hid all

sacred records in the hill except for a few

which he gave to his son, Moroni (Morm 6:6).

If found, these records could be the

most important archaeological find in the

history of mankind.They could prove the Book of Mormon

is true.

They could prove that Joseph Smith was

a genuine prophet. I’ve done enough

translating to know that no matter how

hard you try, some of your own beliefs end

up in the translation.

Joseph clearly thought that the events

occurred in America. With his own bias in

mind, the fact that the Malay Peninsula

matches the Book of Mormon accounts so

perfectly, clearly indicates that the Book of




v

Mormon accounts are correct.They would help prove that Jesus is a

resurrected being.

They would help prove that God lives.

82. ASIAN TREK? Nibley was so

impressed by the Oriental behavior of the

Jaredites that he postulated that they spent

many years walking through the Orient

while enroute to the Promised Land (38, p.

190). I find very little in the relevant passages

(Eth 2:5-6) to support his postulate. Mala

proposes the acquisition of Oriental behavior

by LIVING IN the Orient (i.e. the Malay

Peninsula). Relevant matters follow:

83. LACK OF LAMANITE DNA. In

traditional Meso, all Amerindians were

thought to be Lamanites (Introduction to

BofM). This is a frightful problem for Meso

because little or no DNA support has been

found (54, p. 191). In Mala, the few

Lamanites mingled genetically with

indigenous black people. Their DNA waseffectively lost in the gene pool and may be

completely undetectible.

84. LAMANITE POPULATION. In

traditional Meso, Nephites and Lamanites

landed in an unpopulated Land of Promise.

Having become hunter-gatherers the

population growth of Lamanites should

have been slower than that of the Nephites.

The Nephites had a more advanced

civilization and would be expected to have

a more rapid population growth. Mala can


x

accomodate the larger Lamanitepopulation which was observed because

they joined the indigenous black population.

85. NEPHITE ARMIES.

Miscegenation is not permitted in Hebrew

tradition so, as indicated by Kunich (p. 231),

the large numbers of Nephite combatants

seem excessive. Meso proposes that Book

of Mormon people went to an uninhabited

Quarter (Refer to Mala, p. 25 and Section

10). But Malaysia was

already populated

prior to 600 B.C. As

emphasized by Nibley,

the Nephites (and

Jaredites) resorted to

typically Oriental

customs of actively

recruiting indigenous

others. By providing

an Oriental setting,

Mala resolves this

problem.

86. ORIENTAL

BEHAVIOR. As noted by Nibley, the

struggles for kingship and affluence and

control recorded in the Book of Mormon

indicate an Oriental influence (38, p. 190).

They involve intrigue, violence, treachery,

jailings of kings, putting prisoners to work,

riotous living with concubines, poisoning,

assassination, wars of extermination, etc. Mala

(In the Orient), provides a far better setting

than does Meso.

Orientalguards.




v

87. THE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL.Nibley calls this Old World ritual ‘the most

convincing evidence’ for the authenticity of

the Book of Mormon (39, p. 243). The Book

of Mormon accurately describes the rite in

Mosiah, starting in Chapter 2. It is known

to have been celebrated in many sites in the

Old World (including Persia and India). But

Nibley apparently errs in concluding that

the festival was celebrated in America;

participants took firstlings of their flocks to

offer sacrifice and burnt offerings (Msh 2:3).

In Meso they had no flocks! The account

favors Mala over Meso.

88. JESUS’ SERMON. Jesus spoke

to people in the Land of Promise in 34 A.D.

(3 Ne 9-27). As a Master Teacher, He would

have used terms familiar to listeners. The

following would have been unfamiliar Old

World terms to Book of Mormon people in

America (having left the Old World 634

years earlier according to Meso):

Hens and chicks (10:5,6); Swine (14:6);Synagogues (13:5; 18:32); Barns (13:26);

Sheep (15:17) 16:1; 18:31); Bread and Wine

(18:1; 20:5-8); Wheat (18:18); Wine (20:8);

Lions (20:16; 21:12); Sheaves of Grain (20:18);

Sword (20:20); Groves (Orchards?) (21:18);

Chariots (21:14); Horses (21:14); Refined and

purified Silver (24:3); Windows (glass?)

(24:10).

No evidence of any of these items has

been found in Mesoamerica. The evidence

clearly favors Mala over Meso.


x

89. MEDICINAL PLANTS. Somedied from fevers which, at some seasons of

the year, were very frequent (Alma 46:40).

A tropical monsoonal climate is suggested

such as is found on the Malay Peninsula. Also

Alma refers to the “excellent qualities of the

many plants and roots which God had

prepared to

remove the

cause of

diseases. . .”

M a s o n

interestingly

reports that

s o u t h e r n

Burma was

“rich in

m e d i c i n a l

plants, both

in number

and quality”

(33, p. 148).*

__________________________________________________

* The availability of medicinal plants may also explain the

lack of references in the Book of Mormon to casualties

from infected wounds after battles.

Many sorts of plants are availablestill in Malasia.Beautiful, useful,medicinal, andedible plantsabound.




v

90. DESOLATION. The soils of southern Burma are highly weathered and

low in essential nutrient ions. When cleared

of trees and other vegetation and farmed,

they can become very infertile within several

years; they are then ‘desolate’ (59, p. 3). In

Mala near the Hill Maw there is a land

subject to becoming desolate (Eth 7:6).

Conversely, the soils

near the proposed

Tuxtla Mountains in

Meso are

“exceedingly fertile

because of rich

volcanic soil” (51, p.

341). (Also see Hela

3:5,6) (See Map C).

91. CEMENT.

A soft sticky

substance that dries

hard or stone-like;

used especially for

making thingsadhere (Webster). The lateritic soils of

southern Burma contain weathered clays

and reddish brown oxides of iron and

aluminum which, when dried, become hard

and impermeable and brick-like (Buol, S.W.

et. al. (1989) Soil Genesis and Classification.

Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames, Iowa. p. 289).

So the Desolation of Mala would have

provided an abundance of ‘cement.’

Conversely, the volcanic soils near the Tuxtla

mountains (in Meso) remain granular and

permeable upon being dried and/or heated.

SoutheastAsian

templesare made

withbricks

(cement?)and

carvings...


x

92 CEMENT BUILDINGS. WhenNephites moved to Desolation, they found

but little timber so they made houses of

cement (Hela 3:7-9). In accord with Mala,

they were probably made of bricks! There

were STONE buildings in ancient

Mesoamerica in which the stones were held

together or

surfaced with

mortar; but these

are not CEMENT

buildings! In

Southeast Asia (at

Ayutthaya, e.g.)

ancient weathered

red brick structures

can still be seen (61,

p. 48).

93 .

SYNAGOGUES.

Israelites first built

and used

synagogues inBabylonia after

their exile in 597 B.C. (22; 15, p. 579). Yet

they are mentioned in 2 Ne 26:26 about

50 years later (BofM footnote). Having left

Palestine in 600 B.C., information about

synagogues must have been taken to them

in the Land of Promise. It would have been

virtually impossible for the delivery man to

have found them 16,000 miles away at an

unknown location in Meso. But there is

good evidence of exiles having travelled as

far as Southeast Asia (1).

The stonbuildings Mesoamerare notcementbuildings.




v

94. MATTHEW. Third Nephi has

many verbatim accounts from the Gospel

of St. Matthew. The following account

makes it much easier to accomodate these

accounts in Mala than in Meso: Eusebius

relates that a famous philosopher and

Christian named Pantaenus found in India,

among those who retained the knowledge

of Christ, the Gospel of St. Matthew written

out by St. Bartholomew, one of the twelve

apostles (44, p. 58). It could have easily gone

a bit farther to S.E. Asia. When faced withreformed Egyptian symbols pertaining to

Matthew’s writings, Joseph Smith can be

excused for using familiar Matthew script as

he dictated to his scribe.

95. DEUTERO-ISAIAH. Chapters

1-38 of the Book of Isaiah were written by

Isaiah in Palestine. Chapters 40-66 were

reportedly written by another Prophet

(Deutero-Isaiah) while in exile after 597 B.C.

(22, p. 44). Passages from Isaiah 48-51 can

be found in 1 Ne 20, 21 and 2 Ne 7, 8 so how

could Book of Mormon authors have

learned of the Deutero-Isaiah writings,

having left Palestine in 600 B.C.? If the Book

of Mormon people had been in America, it

would have been virtually impossible. But

the Encyclopedia Judaica reports that the

exiles were free to travel and became widely

scattered, even to Sinim (Isa 49:12) (22, p.

47). Sinim may have been China (Bible

Dictionary). So exiles could have reached

Mala with Deutero-Isaiah records.


x

96. SILK. Book of Mormon people

had an abundance of silk (Eth 9:17; 10:24;

Alma 1:29; 4:6). Silk arts were developed in

China in 2640 B.C. Silk was an extremely

valuable commodity but, it’s production

remained an Oriental secret until the time

of Justinian (527-565 A.D.) (16; 13, p. 201). I

have seen no convincing evidence for silk,

silkworms, mulberry plants or production

secrets from ancient America. As a site which

traded with China, the Malay Peninsula

provides a far more likely setting for anabundance of silk than does Mesoamerica.

See next Section 97.

97. ZHENLA. In ancient times, the

Chinese referred to two realms with which

they traded named Funan and Zhenla (14,

p. 376). White and Garrett suggest that the

realms may have reached into the Malay

Peninsula (60, p. 292). Could Zhenla have

been Zarahemla? The reference to ‘Land

Zhenla’ and ‘Water Zhenla’ by the Chinese

may correctly indicate that they could reach

Authorshave

written onrocks and

metalplates in

SoutheastAsia.

Metal wasnot used

in Meso inBofMtimes.




v

Zhenla by land or by sea. No known placenames in Mesoamerica match Book of

Mormon names as well.

98. GOLDEN CHERSONESE.

Harrison refers to Ptolemy’s map of the

southern Asian coast extending to the Malay

Peninsula (Golden Peninsula) (25, p. 11). The

map was published about 150 A.D. The

name serves to emphasize the abundance

of gold and other valuable gems and

minerals.T h e

inaccurate

map also

provides

evidence

that up

until 150

A.D. the

voyage

was too

difficultto have

become well known, even to experienced &

knowledgeable sailors (See Map A).

99. BARLEY AS MONEY. The

Ramayana of India (6th century B.C.)

makes reference to the Malay Peninsula as

the Suvarna-dvipa (golden peninsula) and

the Yava-dvipa (barley peninsula) (25, p. 10).

The reference to barley is of special interest.

Book of Mormon people had ample

Preciousmetals

wereabundant

in Asia,but not in

Meso-america.


x

amounts of barley and other grains undercultivation (Msh 9:9). They were plentiful

enough to have been used as a means for

exchange (Alma 11:7). Conversely, no

evidence of cultivation of barley or of other

small grains has been found in Mesoamerica.

100. SCRIPT ON GOLD SHEETS.

In 1758 a leader in Burma wrote a letter on

a sheet of gold to the King of England (25,

p. 149). In accord with Mala, this indicates

that leaders in Southeast Asia were familiar

with techniques used by Book of Mormon

leaders to inscribe gold plates. To the best

of my knowledge, no sheets of gold, with or

without script, have ever been found in

Mesoamerica. Chersonese (the golden

peninsula) appropriately had an abundance

of gold.

101. CHRONOLOGY. One of many

chronological problems for Meso is the lack

of any advanced civilization which dates

back to early Book of Mormon times (about3,000 B.C.). Soon after the Jaredites arrived

in the Promised Land, they became

engaged in agriculture and metal

production (Eth 10:23). Larson reports that

metallurgy did not appear in Mesoamerica

until the 9th century A.D. (31, p. 257). Mala

provides a much better setting. Bellwood

reports that the metal age may have

arrived in Thailand before 3,000 B.C. (6, p.

180).




v

102. MINING, METALLURGY ANDMETAL WORKING. Both the Jaredites

and the Nephites made all manner of

metallic tools and weapons (Jar 1:8; Eth

10:25-27). Supporting evidence in prehistoric

times for the Malay Hypothesis is provided

by Higham (27). It includes: crucibles,

casting, molds, implements (p. 102), copper

and tin ingots (p. 117); mining pits for copper

(p. 147); iron spear blade and knife (p. 156);

spears, axes (p. 168); bronze sickle (p. 181);

iron hoe, arrowheads, chisels, knives (p. 204).

Larson reports that no evidence of any of

t h e s e

i t e m s

h a s

b e e n

found

i n

M e s o

america

(24, p.

256).

LJ

“We are still left with virtually

the entire span of time covered by

Book of Mormon events with no

metallurgy in the area chosen by

Sorenson.” Deanne G. Matheny.

LJ

Noticehorses,swords

adshields in

thisMalawar

depic-tion.


x

LJ

Bayard reports cultivation of

legumes and other crops by

10,000 B.C.; rice by 3,500 B.C.;

bovines and possibly pigs at the

same date; iron tools have been

dated at about 1,340 B.C.; bronze

may have been in use by about

3,000 B.C. in Thailand (5, p. 151).

LJ

103. SPICY FOODS. At the time of

the Spanish invasion, natives in Mexico

relished chili peppers; nothing was eaten

without them (18, p. 172). Conversely, Book

of Mormon people referred to favorite bland

foods such as wine and milk (2 Ne 9:50)

and to milk and

honey (2 Ne 26:

25). There is no

reference to

spicy foods inthe Book of

Mormon. To

make matters

worse for Meso,

a n c i e n t

Americans had

access to very limited amounts of honey and

no domesticated animals for milk.




v

104. MAGUEY (AGAVE). This is alarge plant which was grown using hand

tools and requiring no work animals or

tillage equipment. It was an extremely

important crop in Central America which

was used for paper, the intoxicating beverage

‘pulque’, thatch for dwellings, thread, cord,

rope, needles (from spines), and food (from

roots). Engravings of the esteemed plant

have been found in stone at Teotihuacan

(23, p. 13). They attest to its importance.

Lack of mention of the plant or any of its

multiple uses in the Book of Mormon is one

more indication that Book of Mormon

events occurred elsewhere.

105. SEMANGS. According to Mala,

the Semangs of southern Malaysia are black

‘Lamanites’ (not genetically). During Book

of Mormon times the Lamanites had

become converted and knowledgeable

(Alma 17:4; 4 Ne 1:2). Many of their primitive

beliefs and customs are therefore of great

interest. Some indicating a Middle Eastbackground include these from W. W. Skeat

(in Reference 49) on the pages shown:

God provided life to Adam (p. 21) and

placed him in Paradise (p. 22). Restoration

of life is possible (p. 29). Royal blood was

thought to be white (Nephite?) (p. 37). Vows

are made at a Holy Place (p. 81-2). Rites

include prayer, sacrifice, purification, fasting,

divination, burning incense and sacrifices (p.

73). Anointing is practiced (p. 79).


x

Circumcision is practiced (p. 355, 360).Purification ceremonies using water wereperformed at birth, adolescense, marriage,sickness, death andother critical times (p.278). Mesoamericahad no group withclose ties to the Bookof Mormon or theMiddle East.

LJ

The Lehiteswere led to a Landof Promise thatthey should be“scattered uponall the face of theearth” (1 Ne10:13). He leadeth away therighteous into precious lands (1 Ne17:38). Every one to flee “into hisown land” (2 Ne 23:14).

LJ

106. LAMMEULA. During battles

with Nephites many Lamanites were slainand driven and scattered abroad (Alma25:3; 28:2-3; 50:7). Across the narrow Straitof Malacca from Lamanite lands at thesouthern end of the Malay Peninsula thereis an island of Sumatra. Near the northwestend of Sumatra, there is a city of Lammeula(Lemuel?) indicating that they may havefled there. The city and location providepreferential supporting evidence for Mala

over Meso.




v

107. AINU. Ancient Mesopotamianshad an Anu as head of the Pantheon (the

gods of the people). Followers may have

used the name Anu as do Christians who

follow Christ. Ainus migrated to northern

Japan in prehistoric times (20, p. 372). These

white people migrated as Ainoids (now

Ainus) from Malaysia to Japan (40, p. 264).

Specialists are encouraged to pursue this

lead. Their beliefs, appearance, behavior,

language, etc. suggest that they may have

been Book of Mormon people.

108. MORONI. In frightful battles

the Nephites were nearly annihilated about

400 A.D. (Morm 4:19). Moroni and other

survivors were fleeing for their lives (Morm

4:22; 5:7). Amazingly, scholars inform us

that about 400 A.D. Madagascar was

settled by people from Southeast Asia (8, p.

14). Of great interest is the existence of a

city of Morondava on Madagascar and a

city of Moroni on an off-shore island! The

accounts provide very convincing support forMala. Meso has no way to accomodate this

evidence.

109. GOLD PLATES. Moroni

presumably still had the gold plates given

him by Mormon (Morm 6:6). It would have

been a far easier task to sail with them from

Madagascar to New York than to carry

them on foot from Mesoamerica, several

thousand miles. They may have weighed

about 200 pounds.


x

LJ

The Karens of southern

Burma may be descendants of

Book of Mormon people who fled

north from the peninsula to

escape warfare. They call their

mountainous land a place of

refuge. Mason, an early explorer,

provides supporting evidence (33)

on pages indicated:

LJ

110. LINEN (p. 91). Karens had linen

as did Nephites (Msh 10:5) and Jaredites (Eth

10:24). There was neither flax nor linen in

Mesoamerica. They were found only in the

Old World.

111. GRAINS (p. 145). Karens had

wheat and barley, as did Book of Mormon

people (Msh 9:9; Alma 11:7, 15). In

Mesoamerica they had no cultivated wheat

or barley.

1 1 2 .

ANIMALS.

Karens had

pigs and

chickens (p.

240), cows

(p. 247),

sheep and

goats (p.

247) Zebu

cattle, oxen,

Chickens

were

indig-

enous to

SE Asia.

There

were

none in

ancient

Meso-

america.




v

and water buffalo* (p. 248), horses and asses(p. 241-244), elephants (p. 239). Book of

Mormon people had most, if not all, of them.

Mesoamerica had none of them.

113. METALS. The

Karens had gold in

abundance, silver and lead

(p. 36), copper, rich iron ores

(p. 38) and large tin deposits

(ziff?) (p. 40). Book of

Mormon people had them

but not Mesoamericans (see

Section 102). Matheny

reports that Mesoamerica

does not appear to have

had the great wealth of

metallic ores described in the Book of

Mormon (34, p. 287).

114. FRUITS. The Book of Mormon

people took all manner of seeds on their

voyages. This would surely have included

grains and fruits. The Karens had manyMiddle East fruits (See Section 52). There is

no evidence of Mideast fruits in ancient

Mesoamerica.

115. CEMENT. The Karens had

lateritic soil material for making bricks (p.

24). This could be the cement used in

construction (Section 92). The huge ______________________________________________________________________________________* These may be the cureloms and cumons mentioned in

the BofM. It says they were as useful as the horses and

elephants. The Meso area had no work animals at all.


x

ziggurats of Central America are stonestructures. Although mortar was used in

some structures, they were not cement

structures.

116. HEBREW. Mason drew an

extended parallelism between their

language and Hebrew; early missionaries

thought they belonged to the Jewish race

(p. 300). Ancient Mesoamerican languages

show no similarities to Hebrew.

117. NOAH. The Karens hadknowledge of Noah and the flood (p. 441).

So, like Book of Mormon people, they were

familiar with the Bible. I have found no

reference to Noah or to other Old

Testament literature in ancient American

records.

1 1 8 .

K A R E N

INSCRIPTION

PLATE. An

inscribed metalplate made of

copper and gold

is handed down

from father to

son. It has been

kept by the Karens. Some Hebrew letters

are inscribed on it and it serves as a talisman

by which the chief held power over the

people (9, Vol. 10, pp. 172-7) (See Alma 63:11-

13). No Hebrew lettering and no metal

plates have been found in Mesoamerica.

SomeHebrewlettersappear onthismetallicinscriptionplate.




v

119. MIDEAST WRITING. Ancientand modern writing in the Burma area was

derived from Aramaic and Phoenician

forms, taken ultimately from the Egyptian*(reformed Egyptian?); Semitic letters arefound on plates held together with rings (38,p. 120). Note similarity to those describedby Joseph Smith. No Mideast script has beenfound in Mesoamerica.

120. JEWISH AFFINITIES. The

Karens display such astonishing culturalaffinities with the Jews that somehave claimed them to be of Jewish origin (38, p. 121)! Nibleyhas noted that their history mayparallel Lehi’s in more ways thanone (ibid.). The observationsprovide strong preferentialsupport for Mala over Meso. Ihave found no Jewish culturalaffinities in ancient Mesoamericanreferences.

1 2 1 . K A R E N - - B o f M

CONNECTIONS. Cross (17)provides supporting evidence for Mala onthe pages indicated:

Karens had a city named Sami (afterNephite Sam?) (p. 305). A nearby provinceis called Canaines (Canaan?) (p. 308).

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________* Could this be ‘reformed Egyptian’ script used in

inscriptions on the gold plates? (Morm 9:32) (Lamanitesand Nephites?). They became enemies to each other. Theyounger brother (Nephi?) is called the white westerner; hebegs them to return (p. 305). (The Nephites came fromthe west (Palestine)).

God conveyed the white race (Moroni andsurvivors?) to a country to the West (Madagascar? See

Section 108) (And then to America?).


x

Another province is Sai-rai (after Lehi’swife, Sariah?) (p. 308). Farther north there

is a city of Leh (Lehi?) (p. 308). They did

not believe all the words of God (brass

plates?) so they separated.

122. KARENS AS ISRAELITES.

Richardson (46) provides intriguing support

for Karens as Israelites:

God was called Y’wa; He is perfect and

eternal (p. 76). Karens know of the Genesis

account of the Garden of Eden, the devil,

the temptation, eating of forbidden fruit

and becoming subject to death (p. 77). They

know of Moses striking a rock to get water

and many of their rules of conduct are similar

to Biblical

rules (p. 81).

T h e i r

f o r e f a t h e r s

had lost a

book long

ago (Nephite

records?) and,since time

immemorial,

the Karens

had been

expecting a

white brother (Moroni?) to return with it (p.

74). When the Karen King arrives, there will

be neither rich nor poor (p. 80). The deliverer

was to be a white foreigner who was to come

across the western sea (p. 80). When the

first Christian missionaries came to the

Karens, many thousands were converted.




v

127. ANIMALS. Polynesian migrantstook dogs, pigs, and chickens on their Pacific

voyages (54, p. 103). Both pigs and chickens

were indigenous to Southeast Asia. There

were no pigs or chickens in Mesoamerica, so

the evidence preferentially supports Mala

o v e r

M e s o .

D o g s

w e r e

apparently

p re sent

in both

Old and

N e w

Worlds.

128. DNA EVIDENCE indicates a

“close link between Southeast Asia and

Oceanic populations”. Meso provides no wayto link the Book of Mormon people with

Southeast Asia. “A generally eastern

migration of small founding groups that

colonized the islands” is indicated (54, p. 108).

Malay proposes that people went from

Southeast Asia to the islands (and then on

to America). The Book of Mormon

migrants may have become genetically

blended with others or may have later been

annihilated.

Oxen,

cows,

sheep,

swine, and

goats were

domesti-cated in

Southeast

Asia, but

not in

America,

during

BofM

times.


x

129. MORTAL IMPERFECTIONS.Many church leaders have stated that

Polynesians are descendants of Nephites

who migrated westward from the Americas

into the Pacific (15, pp. 88-98). This creates

several problems because the evidence of

science clearly indicates that Polynesians

migrated eastward from Southeast Asia

across the Pacific. The Malay Hypothesis

allows us to resolve matters. Some would

have been descendants of Nephites but they

migrated eastward from Southeast Asia.

LJ

Like all new hypothesis,

Mala should be scrutinized for

errors by unbiased and

knowledgeable persons.

LJ

130. NEPHITE (?) ISLANDERS.

Available evidence indicates that prehistoricSemitic people migrated from Southeast

Asia to isles of the Pacific (26, p. 18). The

original settlers of Tonga, the Society Islands,

the Marquesas and Easter Island were white

(ibid). Early European explorers found many

Islanders who were bearded and had almost

white skins. Whole families had remarkably

pale white skins, hair varying from reddish

to blonde, blue-gray eyes and Semitic

hook-nosed faces. Their features indicate

no inter-racial mixing as practiced by

faithful Hebrews (ibid.) (Deut 7:3).




v

131. LAMANITE (?) ISLANDERS.In contrast to the appearance of the white

islanders, others had brown skins, raven hair,

and rather flat, pulpy noses (26, p. 18).

Lamanites engaged in interracial mixing so

in slowly migrating through the islands of

Micronesia and Melanesia their features may

have been further altered.

132. UR. Abraham originated in Ur

in Mesopotamia (Genesis 11:26-29). So all

Book of Mormon people probably revered

this “father of the faithful.”

Ancient white men in the Pacific region

had a white god named Tiki (Cole, W.A. &

E.W. Jensen (1961).

Israel in the Pacific.

Genealogical Soc.,

S.L.C. p. 173). Tiki

had twin sons

named Uru and

Uru-te-ngangana.

P o l y n e s i a n s

claimed descentfrom them (ibid.).

The names are

thought to have been derived from the

ancestral home of Ur! The Maori called

their ancient homeland ‘Uru.’ Hawaiians

called theirs ‘Uru-nui’ (ibid.). Red haired

islanders called themselves ‘Urukehu’ (26, p.

18). Having come from Southeast Asia, the

Polynesian accounts provide support for

Mala and for the Book of Mormon being

an authentic account of people from the

Middle East.


x

In traditional hypotheses, Jaredites andLehites made non-stop voyages from the

Middle East to America. The voyages took

344 days and ‘many’ days respectively. In

Mala, they made many stops in ‘coast

hugging’ voyages along the southern coast

of Asia. Many hundreds of years were then

spent on the Malay Peninsula. Occasionally

small groups slowly migrated eastward from

island to island across the Pacific. They

interacted with many before arriving in

America.

The following

examples of

interactions are

considered to be

p r e f e r e n t i a l l y

supportive of Mala:

133. URU. In Peru there was a people

called Uru (Cole and Jensen, p. 170). As

indicated in section 131, this indicates a

connection to Babylonia and Polynesia.

134. BOTTLE GOURD. The Bottle

Gourd is probably indigenous to Africa or

Southern Asia. Mason (33, p. 138) reports that

it was grown in the Tenasserim Region in

Burma. It was apparently taken from there

to Pacific Isles (where it was called ‘kimi’)

and to Central America and to Peru; in both

places it was called ‘kimi’ (40, p. 56). This

evidence clearly indicates a connection in

support of Mala over Meso.




v

135. COCONUT PALM. This plant

was taken from Oceania to Peru and to

Panama (26, p. 104). The evidence is

preferentially supportive of Mala over Meso.

136. BANANA. In southern Burma,

the ancient term for banana was ‘mauza’

whereas the Arabian name is ‘mauz’ (33, p.

115). This link between the Middle East and

Southeast Asia provides preferential support

for Mala over Meso.

137. PINEAPPLE. In the Tenasserim

area of southern Burma the pineapple was

called ‘Nanat’ and ancient Peruvians called

it ‘Nanas’ (33, p. 184). A migration in accord

with the Malay Hypothesis is indicated. It

might be noted that Meso makes no

provision for Book of Mormon people

stopping in the Tenasserim area and

proposes that they migrated to

Mesoamerica. . . not to Peru.

138. MAORIS OF NEW ZEALAND.

According to their traditions, the Maoris

came from the northwest (Cole, W.A. and

E.W. Jensen (1961) Israel in the Pacific.

Genealogical Soc., S.L.C., p. 179). Their

revered ancestor, Tiki, was made of red

earth or red clay (ibid.). The Malay

Peninsula provides an appropriate red earth

setting in the northwest direction.

Mesoamerica does not.


x

LJ

Sorenson and Raish have

summarized an impressive number

of articles and cultural traits

indicating Trans-Pacific migrations

(53). Since the evidence of science

indicates that virtually all

migrations went EASTWARD

across the Pacific, almost all items

went from the Old World across

the Pacific Ocean to the New

World. THE ITEMS THEREFOREPROVIDE SUPPORTING

EVIDENCE FOR THE MALAY

HYPOTHESIS. A few of many of

the items in the Sorenson/Raish

report are included below: Those

providing preferential support for

Mala over Meso are listed below

(Sorenson’s numbering system is

used). None of the American

Hypotheses propose that Book of

Mormon people migrated from

America to Southeast Asia and

there is no scientific evidence of

westward migrations.

NOTE: THERE IS SCIENTIFIC

EVIDENCE THAT THE

FOLLOWING ITEMS

ORIGINATED IN THE OLD

WORLD AND WERE TAKEN TO

THE NEW WORLD BY

MIGRANTS.

LJ




v

139. YAMS. Yams originated insouthern and Southeastern Asia. From

there they were taken to Oceania. The

ancient name was ‘ubi.’ In eastern Polynesia

it became ‘uhi.’ In Columbia and elsewhere

in South America it was also known as ‘uhi.’

The myth of the origin of the name in S.E.

Asia and in America is the same. Mala

provides an appropriate setting. Meso does

not (C-036). Yams were apparently not

taken to Mesoamerica.

140. CHRONOLOGY. Most

oceanic migrants reached America about

the time of Christ (not at the time of the

Jaredites (3,000 B.C.) or the Lehites (600

B.C.) (C-285 and S-315). The evidence favors

Mala because it proposes that small groups

‘hived off’ the Malay Peninsula and finally

reached the Americas after migrating from

island to island over a period of many

hundreds of years.

141. PLANTS. Yams, taro, sugar caneand bananas indicate contact between

coastal Asia, the Pacific Isles and America

(C-346). Unlike Mala, Meso proposes little

or no contact with coastal Asians or the

Pacific Isles. Mala provides the best match.

142. IKAT DYEING. This unique

dyeing process is found in Southwest Asia,

Madagascar and pre-Columbia America

(S-444). Meso proposes fast voyages and no

contact at all with Madagascar. Mala

provides the best match.


x

143. SIMILAR STONE AXES,ATLATL HOOKS, SHELL DISCS,

DECORATIONS on METAL, and EAR

PENDANTS in Indochina (Southeast Asia)

and Ecuador (C-231). Unlike Mala, Meso

proposes no contact between Book of

Mormon peoples and either Southeast Asia

or Eduador.

144. BATIK MAKING in America is

comparable to that of Southeast Asia (C-

417). So Mala is preferentially supported.

Mala proposes extended contact of Bookof Mormon people with Southeastern Asians

for learning Batik making and twilling. Meso

proposes no contact.

145. TWILLING. A unique

technique of plaiting baskets was used in

Southeast Asia, Indonesia and in the New

World (C-133).

146. LANGUAGE. The Polynesian

language extended from Madagascar,

Malaysia, Polynesia and to America (E-064).Language similarities extending from

Madagascar across the Pacific and to the

Americas provides excellent support for Mala

over Meso.

147. ENLARGED EAR LOBES.

Adding weights to ear lobes was practiced

in Southeast Asia, Polynesia, Easter Island,

Peru and Mexico (H-098). This bizarre and

painful practice is not likely to have been

initiated separately. A cultural connection,

as proposed in Mala is supported.




v

148. BARK CLOTH preparation and

use in America may have come from

Malaysia (B-441). Mala provides for transfer

of Malaysian cultural items to America.

Meso does not.

149. MACUAHUITL in Central

America was a wooden club with sharp

obsidian fragments as inserts. In Oceania

they had similar clubs with shark tooth

inserts (C-045). Ancient Americans had no

steel swords (cimeters, scimitars?). A woodenclub is not a steel sword nor even a wooden

sword. The Book of Mormon refers to swords

(Eth 7:9; 2Ne 5:14-15; Enos 1:20). Lack of

metal swords in Mesoamerica is a critical

limitation of Meso. They were made and

used in the Orient.

150. NAMES OF METALS,

CERAMICS, TEXTILES, COLOURS,

PLANTS and other things in Peru and

Chile are similar to those in S.E. Asia (C-

238). The Mala concept of many Lands of Promise is supported by finding similar

names of objects in Southeast Asia and in

various places in America.

151. WORDS in Peru have interesting

similarities to words in Polynesia and

Malaysia (C-240). Words are of special

interest because of the extreme unlikelihood

of the same name being chosen for an

object or idea in two widely separated

regions.


x

152. THE FEATHERED SERPENT

SYMBOL apparently originated in ancient

Egypt (J-013). Egyptians worshipped a rain

god depicted as a plumed serpent (C-375).

Those (Mormons) who propose that the

serpent represents Jesus are apparently in

error. In Genesis 3:1-13, the devil is called a

serpent.

153. THE UNUSUAL CHACMOOL

FIGURES have parallels in India, Southeast

Asia, Polynesia and Central America (F-065). The Chacmool figure is too unique to

have been created independently. A link

between these sites, as proposed in Mala, is

indicated.

154. PARASITE. There is a parasite

in the Orient and in the Americas that could

only be carried by humans and could not

have survived a Bering Strait crossing because

of the cold climate (Vestal, K.H. & A. Wallace

(1981) The Firm Foundation of Mormonism.

LL Co., L.A., CA) p. 113). The evidence

‘makes inescapable’ the conclusion that men

reached South America from Oceania or

Southeast Asia (F-120).

155. MOTIF connections between

America and Southeast Asia is ‘established

fact.’ They include: lotus, makara,

kirtmukha, cosmic tree, gods standing on

crouched human figures, Atlantean figures,

elephant headed gods, etc. (F-217).




v

156. CYLINDRICAL DRUMS withskin membranes, conch trumpets, musicalbows, pan pipes and wooden signal drums

link S.E. Asia, Oceania and Peru (H-074B).

157. THE BLOWGUN was inventedin Southeast Asia. It spread from there toMadagascar, Melanesia, South America andMiddle America (J-072). The blow gun is a

very unusual hunting device, not likely tohave been independently created. It’s spreadto the places indicated is supportive of Mala.

1 5 8 .S N A K EWORSHIP waspracticed bycults in thePacific, Peru,Ecuador, Bolivia,Columbia, Chileand elsewhere

Thissnake

wasperched

above

the dinersat a

restau-rant.


x

(L-271B). I am very reluctant to think of asnake as an object for worship by Israelitesor Christians. In the Bible, Satan is called as e r p e n t(Genesis 3:13).Even at thetime ofMoses,the Lord sentfiery serpentsamong theIsraelites andthey bit

people (Num21:6).

159. AN

E A G L E -

SEIZING-SERPENT MOTIF went from

the Middle East to Southeast Asia and then

into the Pacific and to America (W-219).

Interestingly, the serpent motif was taken

along the same route proposed in the Malay

Hypothesis and the motif depicts the serpent

as a frightful creature.

160. ARAUCANIANS of Chile had

unique chickens in an area called Arauco.

They came from Southeast Asia. Of special

interest is an area called Arracan in southern

Burma (L-069B). Chickens were indigenous

to the Old World. The unique chicken and

the unique name of the areas almost

certainly indicate a connection. Note that

the chicken was not taken to Mesoamerica.

Theywor-shipedtheserpentwithhugelikenessein Meso.




v

161. LANGUAGE spread fromSoutheast Asia to Japan (Ainu) and

elsewhere around the Pacific (R-117). Semitic

inscriptions have been found in Japan (T-

063).

162.OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE

indicates the derivation of early American

culture from Southeast Asia (S-319).

163. THE MALAY HYPOTHESIS

provides a reasonable way to account for

the cultural links between the Middle East,

Southern Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania and

the western shores of America. It proposes

that Book of Mormon peoples lived for

hundreds of years in Southeast Asia. Meso is

committed to

fast, non-stop

voyages to

America with

little or no

c u l t u r a l

i n t e r a c t i o n swhile enroute.

Note: Many

c u l t u r a l

i n n o v a t i o n s

could have been

introduced into the Americas by only a few

migrants. The DNA of the migrants may

not be readily detectible in America either

owing to their small numbers mixing with a

large indigenous population or to their near

annihilation as unwelcome migrants.

Elaborateofferings

are stillproffered.


x

LJ

Gordon F. Ekholm,

archaeologist, American Museum

of Natural History, has written: I

am inclined to believe that there

may have been some historical

connection between the peoples of

Middle America and those of

southern Asia and thus indirectly

with early peoples in the Near East

(31, p. 71).

LJ

164. PALENQUE. Joseph Smith

identified Palenque (Mexico) as a Nephite

city (Larson p. 21-22). The earliest Palenque

buildings were constructed about 600 A.D.

(ibid.). This creates a serious problem for Meso

because the Nephites had been annihilated

in 385 A.D. (Morm 6). Mala provides a

reasonable explanation: The annihilation

occurred on the Malay Peninsula but some

had ‘hived off’ and were reaching the easternPacific about 600 A.D.

165. POLYNESIAN LANGUAGE.

In good accord with Mala, Key has reported,

“The languages of Polynesia contain

elements also found in North and South

American languages that suggest distant

historical connections” (29, p. 1). Note that

they spread eastward and went to multiple

sites in America, not just to Mesoamerica.

The evidence is preferentially supportive of

Mala.




v

166. AZTEC HEBREW. The Aztecculture began near Mexico City in the 13th

century (long after BofM times) (34, p.282).

Stubbs has reported possible linguistic

connections between Hebrew and Uto-

Aztecan (55). The evidence is quite

compatible with Mala (a migrating Hebrew

group in the Pacific finally reaching the

American shores) but is not compatible at

all with Meso (with regard to origin, time of

arrival, or location). Mexico City is northwest

from Mesoamerica.

167. MORONI said the Book of

Mormon gives an account of former

inhabitants of America (not necessarily all!)

and the SOURCES FROM WHENCE THEY

SPRANG (History of the Church I, p. 12). This

creates a problem for Meso because

advocates propose that all Native Americans

sprang from the Middle East and there is

virtually no description of Mideast sources.

Mala can accomodate the statement of

Moroni: a FEW Book of Mormon peoplemigrated to America and there is excellent

coverage of the sources from whence they

sprang on the Malay Peninsula.

168. KNOWLEDGE OF SAVIOR.

In Latter Days, knowledge of the Savior was

to come to the Nephites, the Jacobites, the

Josephites, and the Zoramites (D & C 3:16-

17). This scripture provides a serious problem

for Meso because nearly all of these peoples,

according to the Book of Mormon, were

killed in the final battles of annihilation


x

(Morm 8:2; 8:9). Mala can accomodate thescripture because small groups of these

people hived off the Malay Peninsula prior

to the final battles and went elsewhere,

including to Isles of the Pacific and to sites in

America.

169. DNA EVIDENCE. Mala is

apparently compatible with DNA evidence.

The Lamanite DNA was effectively lost when

the Laman and Lemuel families blended

with the large Semang population on the

Malay Peninsula. Nearly all Jaredites andNephites were killed in the final battles. Only

a few of each had migrated to the Pacific

and to America and they may have either

blended with others while enroute or been

killed after their arrival by indigenous

populations.

Meso is ruled out as a reasonable

hypothesis because it proposes that all

Amerindians are of Lamanite descent (Intro.

to BofM). DNA evidence clearly indicates

that very few, if any, are of Lamanite

descent. This is very decisive evidence!

170. CIMETERS (SCIMITARS).

Book of Mormon people made swords of

steel (Eth 7:9). Cimeters are mentioned

many times in the Book of Mormon (Enos

1:20; Msh 9:16; 10:8; Alma 2:12; 43:18, 20,

37; 60:2; Hela 1:14). Webster’s dictionary

states that scimitars are curved Oriental

swords. No evidence of metallic swords or

any other type of swords has been found in

America from Book of Mormon times.

Southeast Asia is in the Orient!




v

171. DIASPORA. DNA evidence

indicates that members of the Ten Tribes

from the Middle East travelled as far east as

Ceylon and the Bay of Bengal (adjoining

the Malay Peninsula) (54, p. 118). This

provides support for Mala. Some of those

who were thought to have gone on as far

as America may have been missionary

groups accompanying apostles. They could

have spread beliefs and artifacts and ideas

without leaving readily detectable progeny.

172. OLIVE CULTIVATION. The

Book of Jacob provides a lengthy discussion

of details for cultivation of olives (Jac 5, 6).

Olives were indigenous to the Old World.

There is no evidence of them having been

cultivated in the New World during Book

of Mormon times. The use of limited space

on the gold plates for this purpose would

have been appropriate in the Old World but

would have been meaningless and of limited

value in Mesoamerica.

173. PARCHESI. This was a game

played by Hindus of southeast Asia. It was

also played by ancient Aztecs in America

who called it Patolli. By proposing that Book

of Mormon peoples lived in Southeast Asia

for hundreds of years, Mala can

accomodate the evidence. In the non-stop

voyages proposed in Meso, there is no

reasonable way to account for transfer of

the game to America.


x

174. MANY WATERS. The HillCumorah was located in a land of many

waters (Morm 6:4). Yorgason reports that

the Semitic term “many waters” refers to

“oceans” (Yorgason, B.G. (1989) Little Known

Evidences of the Book of Mormon.

Covenant, Inc., p. 42). The two nearby oceans

and the many islands located in the oceans

of the Hill Maw area provides a more

suitable setting than does the proposed

Tuxtla area in Mesoamerica.

175. ZIFF. The Book of Mormon refers

to “Ziff,” possibly as a metal or ornament

(Msh 11:3, 8). Of great interest, therefore, is

the report by Yorgason that the term “Ziff”

in Arabic refers to a curved sword somewhat

like a scimitar (Old World sword!) (Yorgason,

B.G. (1989) Little Known Evidences of the

Book of Mormon. Covenant, Inc., p. 43). It

is used as a weapon and as an ornament.

As an untutored boy, Joseph Smith is not

likely to have known of Ziff. The account

provides excellent support for his translationabilities and for the genuineness of the Book

of Mormon and the Land of Promise being

in the Old World.

176. APPROPRIATE WORDING.

President Benson has stated: “The Book of

Mormon was written for us today. God is

the author of the book. It is a record of a

The BofM has manyreferences to swords. There

were swords in the OldWorld, but not in the New.




v

fallen people, compiled by inspired men forour blessings today. Those people never had

the book. . . .it was meant for us.”

(Conference Report, 1975. p. 94). Surely then,

the divinely inspired Book of Mormon would

not include incorrect terms for directions,

animals, plants, swords, herds, silk, linen, etc.

etc. which raise questions about the

authenticity of the book. Thank heaven the

Malay Peninsula provides a suitable setting

for the terms used.

177. MULEKITES. The Mulekites

walked from Jerusalem to Babylonia as

captives soon after 600 B.C. (Omni 1:15). They

were allowed to travel further and may have

walked as far eastward as Sinim (China?)

(See Section 171). Omni appropriately reports

that they journeyed in the wilderness (Omni

1:16) and then crossed great waters (the large

rivers of Burma or the Bay of Bengal?). The

Lord brought them into the land north

(Hela 6:10). They had become more

numerous than the Nephites as would beexpected if only a few Nephites had travelled

in a small ship. Evidence for Israelites having

gone as far as Southeast Asia is provided in

Reference 1. There is little or no evidence of

Mulekites travelling to America.

178. LAND OF MORON. Near the

Land of Desolation, in the Land Northward,

there was a Land of Moron (Eth 7:6). In

southern Burma there is a city of Manoron

and a Hill Manoron. In the final battles, the

Jaredite armies went eastward from


x

Manoron. There is a pass through the hillsnortheast of Manoron called Maw-daun

near the eastern seashore (Eth 14:26). After

fighting, the armies went southward along

the coast. Coriantumr’s troops camped by

the Hill Ramah that night (Eth 15:11). Modern

maps show a Hill Maw in a very appropriate

location near the east sea. Mesoamerica has

no setting which matches the accounts

nearly as well.

179. POISONOUS SERPENTS

CAME FORTH. They poisoned many

people and caused flocks to flee southward

(Eth 9:31-35). America had no flocks and

no suitable serpents during Book of

Mormon times. Venomous snakes in

America do not pursue people or animals.

The Mala Land Northward had both! The

“Dusky Hamadryad” of southern Burma is

a venomous serpent. It is “very fierce and is

always ready not only to attack, but to

pursue, when opposed.” (Mason, F. (1852)

Tenasserim. Am Mission Press, Maulmain, p.345). Skeptics are encouraged to read a

fascinating account of a Burman being

chased by one of the serpents. It provides

intriguing support for Mala over Meso and

for the authenticity of the Book of Mormon.

The odds of Joseph Smith knowing about

this serpent and concocting the account in

Ether are nil.

180. CUMORAH. A city of Moroni

is located in the Comoros Islands near

Madagascar (See Section 108). The name




v

‘Comoros’ could easily have evolved from‘Cumorah.’ There is good evidence for

migration of people from the Malay area

to Madagascar including plants, animals,

language, and musical instruments (8, p. 14)

about 400 A.D.. This was about the time of

the final battles of the Nephites when some

(including Moroni) were being scattered

(Morm 5:7). The odds of survivors reaching

the Comoros Islands from the Malay area

(according to Mala) are much greater than

the odds from Mesoamerica (according to

Meso). There is no known evidence of a

migration from America to Madagascar.

The names Moroni and Comoros also

provide evidence supporting the

authenticity of the Book of Mormon and

of Joseph Smith as a genuine translator.

Joseph is not likely to have had maps with

these names on them.

Blessed be he that shall bring this thing

(Moroni’s gold plates) to light; for it shall be

brought out of darkness unto light,according to the word of God; Yea, it shall

be brought out of the earth, and it shall

shine forth out of darkness, and come unto

the knowledge of the people; and it shall

be done by the power of God (Mormon

8:16).

181. GLADWIN. Based upon many

unique artifacts and capabilities and

practices, Gladwin proposed that some of

the early Americans migrated from the

Middle East to Central and South America


x

via Southeast Asia and the Islands of thePacific (24). He writes: “ . . . these things could

only have evolved after long ages of

experiment and experience; none of them

made their appearance in the New World

until about the time of Christ” (24, p. 257).

According to Mala that is about the time

the Book of Mormon peoples would be

reaching America. Gladwin’s book provides

excellent support for Mala over Meso,

particularly with regard to chronology (long

after 600 B.C.) and emphasis upon South

America as Lands of Promise in America.

LJ

“Truth never damages

a cause that is just.”

Mahatma Gandhi.

LJ

Malaysia is still a paradise, a beautiful Land of Promise.




v

Traditionally we Mormons have

assumed that complimentary comments

about the Land of Promise refer to the

U.SA.. They include: Most choice land (Eth

2:7, 10, 12; 2 Ne 1:5); they were to prosper (2

Ne 1:9); they were to be blessed (2 Ne 1:9);

there would be none to molest them (2 Ne

1:9); they were to dwell safely forever (2 Ne

1:9); it was to be a land of liberty (2 Ne 1:7;

Enos 1:10; Alma 36:1; Eth 2:12); there wouldbe no captivity (2 Ne 1:7); free from captivity

and bondage (Eth 2:12). In my opinion, the

Malay Peninsula matches the accounts

better than does Mesoamerica. ‘Thailand,’

e.g., means ‘Land of the Free;’ it has never

been ruled by a European country! (Note:

the U.S.A. is NOT IN Mesoamerica!)

Other Sheep Folds. The Gospel is to

roll forth to the ends of the earth (D&C

65:2). An account of one of Jesus’ visits is

provided in 3 Ne 10-29. He refers to both

Israelites and Gentiles (e.g. 3 Ne 12-13) and

we have traditionally thought of these

Israelites as being Book of Mormon people

in America. But Israelites were scattered

throughout the earth (1 Ne 10:15), including

to the Malay Peninsula. With regard to

many items which are mentioned (See

Section 88), Mala is a far better site than

Meso. I see nothing in 3 Ne Chapters 10-29

which convincingly shows that Jesus’ visit was

to Mesoamerica.

Additional Comments


x

Importance of History. Churchleaders and many Mormons believe that

historical authentication of the Book of

Mormon is what shores up Joseph Smith’s

prophetic calling and the divine authenticity

of the L.D.S. Church. Much depends upon

early visions and revelations of Joseph Smith.

Ross T. Christensen writes: If the Book’s

history is fallacious, its doctrine cannot be

genuine. On the other hand, if the historical

content proves to be correct, by inference,

it is impossible that the doctrine could be

incorrect (12, pp. 5-6).

Importance of Geography. Much

time, effort, and funding have been devoted

to the search for the Land of Promise, most

of it in Mesoamerica. The New World

Archaeological Foundation (NWAF), e.g.,

was founded in 1952 for this purpose. A

commitment of $200,000 for the first four

years of excavations in Mesoamerica was

provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints (31, p. 50). This and othersupport since that time provides evidence of

the importance of geography to LDS

Church Leaders.

Beliefs tend to become firmly

entrenched especially if frequently recited by

respected people, even if they are

unintentially incorrect. In Pasteur’s time,

diseases were thought to be caused by evil

spirits. Good behavior was encouraged by

threats of disease. Many erroneous notions

have been widely accepted. The location of




v

the Land of Promise MAY BE another belief about which devoted folks may have been

mistaken.

Suggesting that an entrenched religious

belief MAY BE wrong is not a recommended

way to win a popularity contest. Authorities

threatened to stretch Galileo on the rack

for reporting that he had seen a vast new

universe with spherical moons orbiting a

spherical planet. This one problem detected

by Galileo was enough to eventually cause

rejection of the flat earth hypothesis.

In this article I present not just one

problem with the accepted Mesoamerican

Hypothesis. . . but over 180! This, of course,

doesn’t guarantee that the alternative

Malay Hypothesis is correct. But surely it

indicates to any open-minded person that

the Malay Hypothesis is worthy of

consideration!

When I read the Book of Mormon with

the Malay Peninsula in mind, I feel far moreconfident in its authenticity than I did when

church leaders assured me that the Land of

Promise was somewhere on a land shaped

like an hour-glass and we shouldn’t be

concerned with its location. I hope and pray

that the Malay Hypothesis will be

thoughtfully considered by unbiased

individuals and that more tangible proofs

of the Book of Mormon will be found.

Eternal truths remain to be convincingly

found. Inquiries are encouraged from people

throughout the world.


x

As indicated in this presentation, the

Malay Peninsula appears to provide a far

more likely site for Book of Mormon events

than does Mesoamerica. But I invite

constructive criticism. Have I erred? Have I

overlooked crucial matters? Is there another

site which is even more promising? Please

respond to each of the 180+ arguments

presented and not to just one or two of

them. In science we try to openmindedly

consider new hypotheses and do our best to

help find the truth. Thank heaven some were

similarly willing to listen to Joseph Smith

when he presented very unusual hypotheses.

As a final plea to critics, please

remember that America is not ruled out as

a Land of Promise by the Malay Hypothesis.

America may have had many small Lands

of Promise as did isles of the Pacific; but the

Land of Promise described by the Book of

Mormon is proposed to be located on the

Malay Peninsula.

LJ

Truth shall spring out of

the earth. Psalms 85:11

(Mormon’s Gold Plates?)

LJ




v

L MAPS J

MAP A. Ptolemy’s map. Ptolemy

shows the seas and coastlines known to the

best sailors of the Middle East in 151 A.D.Many hundreds of years earlier it is very

doubtful if Book of Mormon migrants

(landlubbers unused to sailing), under far less

favorable conditions, could have gone on

from Southeast Asia and crossed the vast

Pacific Ocean. (4, fig. 11)

LJ

Early theorists correlated

the Polynesians with the

Babylonians, or with the lost

Tribes of Israel. A. Howard.

LJ


x

M A P A




v

MAP B. Map of southern Asian

area. This map shows the ideal location

of the Malay Peninsula (MP) as a site for

the Book of Mormon and as a Dispersal Site.

Arrows depict wind-blown and coupled

ocean currents flowing between the Horn

of Africa and the Malay Peninsula. In the

winter, the wind and the currents reverse di-

rection.

LJ

As a mere mortal, Oliver

Cowdery was told that he

had been blessed with a

sacred gift (Doctrine and

Covenants 6:10-11). If he wereto exercise his gift (implying

diligent effort) he would

learn of mysteries that he

might bring many to the

knowledge of the truth, yea,

that he might convince

many of the error of their

ways (ibid.).

LJ


x

M A P B

P a l e s t i n e

E g y p t

A f r i c a

R e d

S e a

A r a b i a

B a b y l o n

P e r s i a n G u l f

M a d a g a s c a r

A u s t r a l i a

P a c i f i c O c e a n

N e w Z e a l a n d

M P

P h i l i p p i n e s

J a p a n

I n d i a T

i b e t

B u r m a

C h i n a

S u m m e r M o n s o o n

W i n d




v

MAP C. Map adapted from

Washburns’ Map (52, p. 202). The

Washburn map is based upon internal evi-

dence in the Book of Mormon. Note the

many similarities between it and the pro-

posed ‘Land of Promise’ on the Malay Pen-

insula.

LJ

“No personal or

place names found in

the Book of Mormon

have been discovered or

deciphered (in ancient

American ruins).” Stan

Larson.

LJ


x

M A P C

Teancum

Desolation

Hill CumorahHill Shim

Bountiful

Mulek

ndrthward

Narrow Neck of LandBountiful)

Zarahemla

Morianton

MoroniManti

NephiMormon

Narrow Strip of Wilderness

Mount Antipas

Antiparah

nduthward

Lehite Landing site




v

MAP D. A composite map of

those provided by Clark (13). Clark cre-

ated his map based upon internal evidence

in the Book of Mormon, it shows the north-

ern part of the Land Southward. In virtu-

ally all respects, it matches the Malay Pen-

insula very well.

LJ

Palmer encourages us to

correct our errors. . . give

constructive criticism . . .

indicate how your knowledge

or analysis supports or

challenges (popular

hypotheses?). . . show how they

fail to satisfy the requirementsof the text (BofM). (Larsen, S.

(1990) The Odyssey of Thomas

Stuart Ferguson. Dialogue.

Vol 23, No. 1, p. 235). Norman

encourages unbiased scholarly

inquiry and Sorenson states,

“No correlation is acceptable

which exhibits major flaws

(ibid.).”

LJ


x

M A P D


Manti

Antiparah

SidonRiver

Moroni

Defensive Line

Nephi

Morianton

West Sea East Sea

Zarahemla

Mulek

Bountiful

Narrow Neck of Land

Land Northward

Cumorah




v

MAP E. Colonization of the lands

of the Pacific (adapted from Bellwood

(6, p. 135). Of great interest is the fact that

several relevant matters are more consistent

with the Malay Hypothesis than with

Mesoamerican Hypotheses, viz.

1) Prior to the times indicated, many

of the islands were uninhabited (BofM

people were to go to uninhabited lands).

2) The origin of the migrants was

Southeast Asia (not America).

3) The general direction of the migra-

tions was eastward (not westward).

4) The migrations occurred stepwise

during a period of hundreds of years (not

less than one year).

5) The chronology doesn’t match theHagoth account (Alma 63:5) but does

match accounts of some of the more re-

cent cultures in Central America. Hagoth

travelled about 50 B.C. but people were

going to the easternmost islands about 800

A.D., so there is a huge discrepancy in the

chronology.


x

M A P E

1 0 0

0

B C

H a w a i i

8 0 0 A D

A m e r i c a

4 0 0 A D

7 0 0 A D

3 0 0 A D

N e w

Z e a l a n d

9 0 0 A D

A u s t r a l i a

2 5 0 0

B C




v

MAP G. Olsen’s Map of the Malay

Peninsula. Olsen’s map shows a few of the

proposed locations with current similar

names and also similarities in geography,

which provide support for the Malay Hy-

pothesis.

LJ

All things shall be made

known. There is nothing secret

save it shall be revealed. There

is nothing sealed upon the

earth save it shall be loosed (2

Ne 30:16-17).

LJ

“We owe almost all our

knowledge not to those who

have agreed, but to those who

have differed.” C.C. Colton.

LJ


x

MAPGTenasserim (Teancum)

Hill Maw (Hill Ramah)Manoron (Moron)Lenya (Lemuel)

)

Marang (Moroni)

Bountiful

26 miles (1.5 days)(Alma 22:32)

EAST SEA

ela 3:8)

N

E

S

Seas

EST SEA

Raman(Laman)

Sidon River (Kelantan)Baharu (Bountiful)

Puteh (Mulek)

Marang (Moroni)

Tahan(Manti)

Kuantan (Morianton

Maran(Moroni)

Tanah Merah (Zarahemla)

Hermounts

Tapah (Antiparah)

Malim (Mormon)

Pilah (Nephi)

Line of Possession(Alma 50:13)

Lamanite Land A Peninsular Setting

(Alma 22:32)





v

LREFERENCES CITEDJ

1. A & E Home Video (1999) Quest for

the Lost Tribes. Associated Producers, Inc.

2. Allen, J.L. (1989) Exploring the Lands

of the Book of Mormon. S.A. Publ., Inc.,

Orem, UT.

3. Ashment, E.H. (1993) A Recording

in the Language of my Father. Chapter

Paper in Metcalfe, B.L. New Approaches to

the Book of Mormon. Signature Books,

S.L.C., UT.

4. Azimov, I. (1975) The Ends of the

Earth. Weybright and Talley, NY.

5. Bayard, D.T. (1979) The Chronology

of Prehistoric Metallurgy in Northeast

Thailand. Chapter Paper in Smith R.B. &

W. Watson, Early Southeast Asia, Oxford

Press, NY.

6. Bellwood, P.S. (1979) Conquest of the

Pacific. Oxford Univ. Press, NY.


x

7. Bellwood, P.S. (1985) Pre-history of the IndoMalaysian Archipelago. Academic

Press, NY.

8. Brown, M. (2000) A History of

Madagascar. Markus Wiener, Princeton, NJ.

9. Bunker, A. (1972) On a Karen

Inscription Plate, Journal of the Am. Oriental

Soc. Vol 9, pp. 172-177.

10. Chang, K. (1977) The Archaeology

of Ancient China. Yale Univ. Press.

11. Cheesman, P.R. (1978) The World of

the Book of Mormon. Deseret Book Co.

12. Christensen, R.T. (1960) U.A.S.

Newsletter, #64, pp. 5-6.

13. Clark, J. (1989) A Key for Evaluating

Nephite Geography. FARMS., Provo, UT.

14. Claude, J. (1979) ‘Funan,’ ‘Zhenla.’The Reality Concealed by these Chinese

Views of Indochina. Chapter Paper in Smith,

R.B. & W. Watson, eds. Early Southeast Asia.

Oxford Univ. Press, NY.

15. Clement, R.T. (1980) Polynesian

Origins. More Word on the Mormon

Perspective. Dialogue, A Journal of Mormon

Thought. Vol. 13, #4, pp. 88-98.

16. Compton’s Encyclopedia (1966).




v

38. Nibley, H. (1980) Lehi in the Desertand the World of the Jaredites. Bookcraft,

S.L.C, UT.

39. Nibley, H. (1964) An Approach to

the Book of Mormon. Deseret Book Co.,

S.L.C., UT.

40. Olsen, R.A. (1997) The Malay

Peninsula as the Setting for the Book of

Mormon. Copies available in the libraries

at University of Utah, Utah State University.,

and Montana State University.

41. Peacock, B.A.V. (1979) The Later

Prehistory of the Malay Peninsula. In ‘Early

Southeast Asia.’ Smith, R.B. & W. Watson,

eds., Oxford Univ. Press, NY.

42. Pendleton, R.L. (1962) Thailand,

Aspects of Landscape and Life. Duell, Sloan,

and Pearce, NY.

43. Prescott, W.H. (1893) Conquest of Mexico. Vol I, David McKay Publ.

44. Prophet, E.C. (1993) The Lost Years

of Jesus. Summit Univ. Press.

45. Radin, P. (1934) The Story of the

American Indian. Garden City Publ., NY.

46. Richardson, D. (1981) Eternity in their

Hearts. Regal Books.


x

47. Roberts, B.H. (1992) Studies of theBook of Mormon. Signature Books, S.L.C.,

UT.

48. Schneider, H.K. (1977) Prehistoric

TransPacific Contact and the Theory of

Culture Change. Am. Anthrop 79:9-29.

49. Skeat, W.W. (1967) Malay Magic.

Dover Publ., Inc.

50. Solheim, W.G. (1971) Southeast Asia.

New Light on a Forgotten Past. Nat’l.

Geographic Vol. 139, #3.

51. Sorenson, J.L. (1985) An Ancient

American Setting for the Book of Mormon.

Deseret Book Co., S.L.C., UT.

52. Sorenson, J.L. (1992) The Geography

of Book of Mormon Events. A Source Book.

FARMS. Provo, UT.

53. Sorenson, J.L. & M.H. Raish (1990)PreColumbian Contact with the Americas

Across the Oceans. Research Press, Provo, UT.

54. Southerton, S.G. (2004) Losing a

Lost Tribe. Signature Books, S.L.C., UT.

55. Stubbs, B.D. (1992) Hebrew and

Uto-Aztecan Connections. In ‘Re-exploring

the Book of Mormon,’ J.W. Welch, ed.,

Deseret Book Co., S.L.C., UT.




v

56. Townsend, G.E. & E. Crane (1973)History of Apiculture. Chapter Paper in

‘History of Entomology’ R. Smith, ed., Ann.

Review, Inc.

57. Washburn, J.A. & J.N. Washburn

(1939) Book of Mormon Geography. New

Era Publ. Co.

58. Wheatley, P. (1979) Urban Genesis

in Mainland Southeast Asia, Chapter Paper

in ‘Early Southeast Asia.’ Smith, R.B. & W.

Watson, eds. Oxford Press, NY.

59. White, P.T. (1983) Nature’s

Dwindling Treasures. Rain Forests. Nat’l

Geographic, Vol. 163, No. 1, p. 3.

60. White, P.T. & W.E. Garrett (1971)

Southeast Asia. 1. Mosaic of Cultures. Nat’l

Geographic, Vol. 139, #3.

61. Winterton, B. (1989) The Insider’s

Guide to Thailand. Samhwa Printing Co.,Seoul, Korea.

62. Zhenla in Southeast Asia: A Past

Regained. Time-Life Books, p. 82-83.


x

A

AEGEAN SEA 33AINU 86, 106

AMERICAN ANIMALS FOR FOOD 54

AMERINDIAN ORIGINS 37

ANIMAL MATTERS 54

ANIMALS 87, 94

ANIMALS FOR FOOD 48

ANIMALS, WORK 49

ANTIPARAH 69

ANTIPAS 41

ARABIA 31

ARAUCANIANS 105

ASIAN TREK 72

ASSES 88

ATLATL HOOKS 101

AZTEC HEBREW 108

B

BAHARU 67

BANANA 93, 98

BARK CLOTH 102

BARGES, LOG 31BARLEY AS MONEY 80

BATIK MAKING 101

BIBLE 84, 89

BISON 52

BLOWGUN 104

BOOK OF MORMON LOCATIONS 64

BOTTLE GOURD 31, 97

BOUNTIFUL 44, 45

BRICKS 77, 88

BRONZE 83

C

CANNIBALISM 63

CASTING 82

CEMENT 76, 88

L INDEXJ

MALA VERSUS MESO

CEMENT BUILDINGS 77

CERAMICS 102

CHACMOOL FIGURES 103CHARIOTS 56

CHICKENS 87, 94, 105

CHRONOLOGY 81, 92, 100, 114

CIMETERS 111

CIRCUMCISION 85

COAST HUGGING 32

COCONUT PALM 98

COLORS 102

COLUMBUS 37

COMOROS 113

CONSTRUCTION, FLIMSY 61

CORN 57

COWS 87

CRUCIBLES 82

CUMORAH 71, 111, 113

CURELOMS AND CUMOMS 50

D

DECORATIONS ON METAL 101

DEFENSE 45

DESERT TREK 31DESOLATION 42, 76

DESTINATION 30

DEUTERO--ISAIAH 78

DIASPORA 110

DIRECTIONS 31, 38, 93, 95

DNA EVIDENCE 33, 37, 72, 94, 106, 109

DNA (Lamanite) 72

DOGS 54

DRAGONS 53

DRUMS, CYLINDRICAL 104

E

EAR PENDANTS 101

EGYPTIAN 90

ELEPHANTS 50, 88




v

ENLARGED EAR LOBES 101

EVIDENCE, OVERWHELMING 106

EXPERIMENT 36

F

FEATHERED SERPENT 103

FOUR SEAS 45

FRUITS 58, 88

G

GARDEN OF EDEN 91

GEOGRAPHY 117

GLADWIN 114

GOATS 87

GOLD PLATES 81, 86

GOLDEN CHERSONESE 80

GRAINS 57, 87

GYRES 32, 34, Map B

H

HEBREW 89, 95, 108

HERMOUNTS 41, 69

HILL RAMAH 71

HISTORY 117

HONEY 54, 83

HONEY BEES 51

HORSES 55, 56, 74

I

IKAT DYEING 100

INLET OF THE SEA 45

ISOLATION 37

ISRAELITES 91

ISTHMUS OF KRA 43

ISTHMUS OF TEHUANTEPEC 43

J

JAGUAR 52

JAPAN 86, 106

JAREDITES, WHITE 60

JESUS’ SERMON 74

JEWISH AFFINITIES 90

K

KAREN BofM CONNECTIONS 87, 90

KAREN INSCRIPTION PLATE 89

KARENS AS ISRAELITES 87, 91

KELANTAN RIVER 18, 68

KIMI 97

KNOWLEDGE OF SAVIOR 108

KUANTAN 67

L

LAMANITE DNA, LACK OF 72

LAMANITE ISLANDERS 96

LAMANITE LANDS 41

LAMANITE POPULATION 72

LAMANITES 37, 85

LAMANITES, BLACK 60

LAMMEULA 85

LAND OF PROMISE 38

LAND TILLAGE 56

LANGUAGE 38, 101, 106

LEGUMES 83LEHITE VOYAGE 30

LENYA 70

LINE OF POSSESSIONS 40, 67

LINEN 87

LIONS 53

LOG BARGES 31

LONG NECK OF LAND 44

M

MACUAHUITL 102

MADAGASCAR 86

MAGELLAN 35

MAGUEY 84

MALAY HYPOTHESIS 25, 106

MALIM 66

MANORON 70

MAORIS OF NEW ZEALAND 98

MAPS 120-133

MARAN 66

MARANG 68

MATTHEW 78

MAW, HILL 71

MEDICINAL PLANTS 75

METALS 56, 81, 88

MIDEAST CUSTOMS & BELIEFS 84

MIDEAST WRITING 90, 108

MILLET 57

MINING, METALLURGY AND METAL

WORKING 56, 81, 82

MORON, LAND OF 112

MORONI 86, 108, 114

MORTAL IMPERFECTIONS 95

MOTIF 103

MULEK 67

MULEKITES 112


xN

NAMES AND PLACES 66, 90, 91, 102

NAMES TEND TO CHANGE 64

NARROW NECK OF LAND 43, 44

NARROW PASS 46

NARROW STRIP OF WILDERNESS

39, MAPS C, D, G

NARROWER PASS 46

NEPHITE ARMIES 73

NEPHITE ISLANDERS 36, 95

NEW WORLD PLANTS 59

NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 74

NOAH 89

O

OCEAN, SOUTHERN 32

OLIVE CULTIVATION 110

ORIENTAL BEHAVIOR 72, 73

ORIENTATION 38

P

PAHANG RIVER 40, 67

PALENQUE 107

PARASITE 103

PARCHESI 110

PENINSULAR SETTING 38

PIGS 83, 94

PILAH 66

PINEAPPLE 98

PLANTS 57, 58, 93, 100

PLANTS, NEW WORLD 102

POLYNESIAN LANGUAGE 107

POLYNESIAN ORIGIN 36, 92, 95

POLYNESIANS 92, 93POPULATED AREA 42

R

RAMAH 71, 113

RAMAN 70

RICE 57

RUINS 61

S

SAVIOR, KNOWLEDGE OF 108

SCATTERING 85

SCIMITAR 111

SCRIPT ON GOLD SHEETS 81

SEEDS 55

SEMANGS 60, 84

SERPENT, EAGLE-SEIZING 105

SERPENTS 63, 103, 104

SERPENTS, FEATHERED 103

SERPENTS, POISONOUS 113

SHEEP 74

SHELL DISCS 101

SHEUM 57

SICKLES 56

SIDON RIVER 40

SILK 56, 79

SINIM 78, 112

STONE AXES 101

STONE CONSTRUCTION 62

SMALL GRAINS 57, 87

SNAKE WORSHIP 104

SOUTHEAST ASIA 92, 93, 94

SOUTHERN OCEAN 32SPICY FOODS 83

STONE CONSTRUCTION 62, 89

SWINE 74

SWORD 102

SYNAGOGUES 77

T

TAHAN 69

TANAH MERAH 68

TAPAH 69

TEMPLE ACTIVITIES 63

TEMPLES, MODEST 62

TENASSERIM 71

TEXTILES 102

TIKI 98

TILLAGE 56

TIME CONSTRAINTS 34

TIN 88TRANSLATION 39, 51

TRANSLATION, INSPIRED 51

TRANSPACIFIC MIGRATIONS 92

TUXTLA MOUNTAINS 111

TWILLING 101

TYPHOONS 47

U

UBI 100

UNINHABITED QUARTER 36, 73

UR 96

URU 96, 97




v

V

VEGETABLES 58

VILLAGE 61

VINEYARDS 59

VOLCANIC EXPLOSION 47

VOLCANIC SOILS 76

VOYAGE 34

W

WATERS, MANY 111

WHEELED VEHICLES 55

WILDERNESS 39

WINE 59, 83

WORDING 111

WORDS 102

WRITING, MIDEAST 90, 108

Y

Y’WA 91

YAMS 100

YUCATAN 42

Z

ZHENLA 79

ZIFF 88, 111

ZORAMITES 108

Ralph A. Olsen, PhD., Soil Chemistry,

Cornell University, 1953. Retired Chemis-

try Professor, M S U, Bozeman, MT.

If this condensed version has

captured your interest and you want to

know more, ask questions, or read the

full text of this book published in 1995,

see: www.mormonlocations.com

a more promising land of promise

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