a more promising land of promise
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A MORE A MORE A MORE A MORE A MORE
PROMISINGPROMISINGPROMISINGPROMISINGPROMISING
LAND OFLAND OFLAND OFLAND OFLAND OF
PROMISEPROMISEPROMISEPROMISEPROMISE
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
VViivv iidd VVoo lluu mm ee ss
LL oo gg aa nn ,, UU TT ~~ WW ee ss tt BBrr oo mm ww ii cc hh ,, UU KK
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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.
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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
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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.
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L 8 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 9 J
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.
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L 12 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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
A More Promising Land of Promise 13 J
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.
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L 14 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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
A More Promising Land of Promise 15 J
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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?
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L 16 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 17 J
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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.
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L 18 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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
A More Promising Land of Promise 19 J
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).
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L 20 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 21 J
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...
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L 22 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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?
A More Promising Land of Promise 23 J
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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.
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L 24 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 25 J
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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.”
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L 26 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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
A More Promising Land of Promise 27 J
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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
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L 28 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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
A More Promising Land of Promise 29 J
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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.
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L 30 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 31 J
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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?
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L 32 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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).
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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
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L 34 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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).
A More Promising Land of Promise 35 J
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.
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L 36 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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).
A More Promising Land of Promise 37 J
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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.
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L 38 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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
A More Promising Land of Promise 39 J
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)
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L 40 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 41 J
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).
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L 42 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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).
A More Promising Land of Promise 43 J
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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.
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L 44 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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).
A More Promising Land of Promise 45 J
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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
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L 46 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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(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
A More Promising Land of Promise 47 J
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.
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L 48 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 49 J
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.
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L 50 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 51 J
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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.
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 55 J
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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?
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L 56 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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)
A More Promising Land of Promise 57 J
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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.
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L 58 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
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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.
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L 60 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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
A More Promising Land of Promise 61 J
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
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L 64 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 65 J
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)
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L 66 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 67 J
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).
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L 68 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 69 J
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
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L 70 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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
A More Promising Land of Promise 71 J
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
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L 72 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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
A More Promising Land of Promise 73 J
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.
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L 74 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 75 J
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.
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L 76 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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...
A More Promising Land of Promise 77 J
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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.
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L 78 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
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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.
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L 80 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 81 J
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).
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L 82 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 83 J
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.
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L 84 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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).
A More Promising Land of Promise 85 J
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.
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L 86 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 87 J
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.
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L 88 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 89 J
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.
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L 90 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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?).
A More Promising Land of Promise 91 J
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.
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L 94 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 95 J
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).
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L 96 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 97 J
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.
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L 98 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 99 J
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
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L 100 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 101 J
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.
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L 102 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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.
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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).
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L 104 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 105 J
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(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.
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L 106 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 107 J
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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.
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L 108 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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
A More Promising Land of Promise 109 J
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(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!
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L 110 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 111 J
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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.
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L 112 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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
A More Promising Land of Promise 113 J
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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
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L 114 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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‘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
A More Promising Land of Promise 115 J
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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.
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L 116 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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
A More Promising Land of Promise 117 J
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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
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L 118 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 119 J
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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
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L 120 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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
A More Promising Land of Promise 121 J
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M A P A
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L 122 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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
A More Promising Land of Promise 123 J
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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
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L 124 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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
A More Promising Land of Promise 125 J
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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
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L 126 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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
A More Promising Land of Promise 127 J
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M A P D
Narrow Strip of Wilderness
Manti
Antiparah
SidonRiver
Moroni
Defensive Line
Nephi
Morianton
West Sea East Sea
Zarahemla
Mulek
Bountiful
Narrow Neck of Land
Land Northward
Cumorah
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L 128 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 129 J
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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
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L 132 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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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
A More Promising Land of Promise 133 J
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)
Narrow Strip of Wilderness
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L 134 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 135 J
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).
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L 138 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 139 J
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.
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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
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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.
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L 140 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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.
A More Promising Land of Promise 141 J
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
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L 142 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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
A More Promising Land of Promise 143 J
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
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L 144 Dr. Ralph A. Olsen
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
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