Book of Mormon External Evidences: Documentary Review: Lehi in Arabia

 Lehi in Arabia: In Search of Nephi's Bountiful, An Aston Production, 2015

Warren Aston, independent researcher

Written by Chad Aston, narrated by Scot Facer Proctor, 

The journey of Lehi and his family followed the Red Sea and the Incense Route.  zthere is a valley and river that would satisfy the description of the Valley of Laman and River of Lemuel.  It is about 20 days journey from Jerusalem.  

The Book of Mormon documents that Ishmael passed away and was buried at a place called Nahom.  The land of Nahom is where Nephi said it would be in his narrative.  However maps did not date back to 600 bc when Lehi traveled through the area.  In 1997 an altar was discovered with the letters NHM (Nahom) and was dated to 900 BC.  We have physical archeological evidence of the Book of Mormon.

From Nahom the group traveed nearly eastward in the wilderness to reach Bountiful.  Warren Ashton studied many different locations using the criteria he had taken from Nephi's text as to the criteria for Bountiful.  Khor Rori was given as the likely place for Bountiful.  However Warren Ashton, in his studies did not think it fit.  Khor Rori was habited at the time and it appeared Bountiful was uninhabited necessitating the help of Laman and Lemuel to build a boat.  Ashton stumbled onto another place in 1989 Khor Kharfot.  Over they years Ashton has concluded that this site meets all the scriptural criteria:

Nearly Eastward from Nahom

Interior Access, There is a goat trail whih could have been traveled by families with small children.  It is a canyon pass that starts about 24 miles form the ocean.

Wider fertility. five month monsoon period with much fruit and money

Coastal Location, The area is on the coast and initially accessed from the sea.  However it is generally hidden from the ocean due to a sand bar.

Much fruit and honey, tamarind, figs, dates, honey

Timber several types of trees could have been used in ship building, primarily tamarind which is a very hard and durable wood.  Other types are also available.  

Fresh water, a large permanent flow of water

Prominent Mount, There is available beech camping but also evidence of people having lived in the hills close by.  It is likely the group first lived in tents on the beech then moved to the mountains above the cliff,

Cliffs If they were living on the cliffs, Laman and Lemuel could have thrown Nephi off the cliffs into the sea.

Ore and flint A couple veins of ore have been discovered and flint with which to make fire.

No resident population. As mentioned there is only minor archeological evidence of habitation in the past.  With the land being fertile, and having plentiful water it seems people would have been living there; but for the most part it was hidden from the world.

Ocean Access and currents, the video indicates how a counter current with El Nino winds takes place every few years and could have carried them to the west coast of South America.  However the prevailing current goes the other way around Africa and then to the Mediterranean or North America.

There is a likely spot for Nephi's Bountiful.  There is evidence for the Book of Mormon.  This documentary concludes that more study is needed; but 30 years ago this part of the story was not documented

The Original Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Meeting House in Kingman

This Sunday in stake conference we were given a little bit of history about the church in Kingman.  Kingman originally was part of the Moapa Stake, and people had to travel to Henderson Nevada for church.  The traveled over the Hoover Dam to get to church.  

The original chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint in Kingman was on the corner of Spring and Stowell.  This is behind Lee Williams High School.  The building now houses Calvary Chapel.

from the front

from the back

There are now two church buildings, The Rutherford Building and the Eastern Building.  They were both designed to be stake centers; and with the creation of the new Kingman North Stake they both are stake centers now.  

Rutherford Building

Eastern Building

 

Strategic Air Command: A Cold War Plan

 Strategic Air Command in Nebraska grew up out of the idea that by having the command in the middle of the United States there would be more time to react to ay nuclear attack before they were hit.  This was part of the concept of mutually assured destruction.  Initially the plan was to fly all planes to Texas where they would be armed with nuclear weapons, then to England to refuel, and then to deliver their weapons.  Over time, with in-air refueling and larger planes, The went fron B-29s to B-47 Strato jets.  SAC also became the control point for other weapon systems, including rockets and Navy weapons.  After 1992, with the end of the cold war, it was no longer needed.

Atomic bomb

B47

B29

B-17 Gunnery Training at the Kigman Army Airfield Gunnery School

 While on a tour of the SACS museum outside Omaha, I noticed a B-17, which is the plane service men trained for in Kingman during the war.  I made it a point to take pictures of all the gunnery sots, frone, back, bottom, top and side.  Gunners would train on shotguns to get use to shotting at a moving target.  aThey also trained ground to ground with machine guns.  They would finally training on air to air targets as lanes were towed through the sky.  

B-17

front

side

back

top

After the war the air base was closed and it becae a disposal center.  Many B-17s came to Kingman to be scrapped.  The most useful part was any fuel left in the tanks.m. The were then sliced for the metal.

Book of Mormon External Evidences

 Too often people say there is no evidence to back up the book of Mormon, other than prayer and spiritual testimony.  That just is not the case.  A testimony of the Book of Mormon is generally derived from prayer, and a spiritual manifestation of its truthfulness.  I know the book is true based on personal study and prayer.  However this is a historical blog, so I am going to start a blogging about external witnesses to the Book of Mormon.  There are numerous resources to go to, You Tube, websites, books.  I will be sharing about these things.  As for spiritual testimony, those experiences you can find in my Billy Wardle Family Blog.  

Parley P Pratt Gravesite: Arkansas

 Parley P Pratt, apostle for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was murdered in Arkansas.  One of his plural wives, Eleanor McComb McLean, was the ex-wife of Hector McLean, his murderer.  He was alcoholic and abused his wife.  The McLeans had been introduced to the  church in San Francisco.  She accepted.  He did not and opposed, but did give permission for her to be baptized.  At one point he kicked her out of the house and locked her out for singing a Mormon hymn.  He took the children, without her knowledge, and sent them to New Orleans to stay with her parents, who were also against the church.  She followed but was unable to get the children.  She then went to Utah where she married Pratt.  

Important to point out that their marriage had dissolved before they met Parley P. Pratt.  Pratt had attempted to intervene in their marriage difficulties in San Francisco, but was not successful.  Pratt and Eleanor did did not marry until her husband was out of her life and she considered the marriage over.  However McLean blamed him for the dissolution of the marriage.  Pratt served a mission in the East, and McLean attempted to catch up to him to kill him.  At the same time Eleanor went to get her children and was successful doing so.  She and Pratt were to meet in Texas on their way to Utah.  McLean put out a warrant against Pratt and Eleanor on charges of stealing (the kids' clothing) and they were arrested.  They were taken to Van Buren Arkansas for trial.  The judge quickly saw through the ruse and dismissed the charges.  He offered to give Pratt a knife and a pistol, which he declined, saying he relied on the protection of the Lord.  McLean caught up with Pratt 12 miles from Van Buren.  Six shots were fired but all missed.  However Pratt was stabbed twice in the chest and left for dead.  McLean came back and fired a shot point blank into Pratt's neck.

As he lay dying Pratt asked that his valuables and his body be sent to his family in Utah.  He died bearing testimony of the restored gospel and the Prophet Joseph Smith.  He said he died as a martyr.  

The conditions were not such that his body could be sent to Utah.  He was buried near were he died in a family burial plot.  Local members kept the plot nice.  Only recently 2008, was his body exhumed and taken to Utah.  Most of the body by this point had decayed away.

These pictures are from the burial/memorial site.  It is in Arkansas off of interstate 40.

Parley P Pratt was a great contributor to the church.  He served as an apostle for 22 years having been called in 1835.  He served many missions, including to England where thousands were baptized.  He wrote many missionary tracts.  Most famously "Voice of Warning" which was highly used.  He wrote poetry, may which became hymns.  He wrote over 49 hymns, seven of which are in the current hymn book.  

Documentary Review: Sacagawea: Heroine of the Lewis and Clark Journey

 

This documentary is available through You Tube.  It presents the life of Sacagawea mostly in the first person.  The actress portraying her tells the story.  Sacagawea was born to the Shoshone people.  When she was a young woman, about twelve, her village at Three Forks on the Snake River (documentary says Snake River, but Three Forks is on the Missouri River headwaters.  )was attacked by a raiding party of the Hidatsu.  The Hidatsu had rifles so the Shoshone were overwhelmed and Sacagawea was taken captive.  She was moved from Western Montana to North Dakota and a new way of life where lodgings that were called earth lodges--logs with earth piled against them.  She was taken into the tribe as a full member.  When she was 16 she was sold to Toussaint Charbonneau, a French trader who took her for a plural wife.

The Corp of Discovery passed through their village headed west to explore.  They were looking for a northwest passage to the Pacific Ocean.  They were headed by Captain Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.  Clark was the first person with red hair Sacagawea had ever seen.  Lewis documented species and wrote extensively.  Clark was more into making maps of their journeys.  Clark is accompanied by his slave or servant, York, of African American descent.  They built a fort in which to winter.

Sacagawea's baby, Jean Baptiste or "Pomp" was born in February.  She and her husband had been moved to the fort as they were to become part of the group.  Sacagawea would leave with the Corp of Discovery as her husband had been hired as an interpreter.  Sacagawea would prove a valuable member of the group.  When they met Native American groups, having a woman and child with the group reassured the natives that they were peaceful.  At one point her husband allowed some important papers to escape the canoe.  Sacagawea was able to rescue most of them.  Also Sacagawea was valuable in helping them find the Shoshone; and it happened the chief was her brother.  They were able to trade for horses.   

With horses they were able to travel over mountain passes until the met the Nez Perce.  There they were able to leave their horses, and travel in dugout canoes down the Snake to the Columbia River and there to the ocean.  Here they must decide where to winter.  It is put to a vote.  The voting includes Sacagawea and York, the first time a woman and an African American are allowed to have an equal say.  The build Fort Clatsop south of the river where there is more game for food.

Upon the return trip they visit the Nez Perce and their horses are returned to them.  Sacagawea is useful on the return trip.  They split into two groups.  Sacagawea travels with Captain Clark.  She is able to remember a mountain pass from her youth, which they use to return to the Shoshone tribe.  Charbonneau and Sacajawea leae the company when they return to their village.

Sacagawea had another child, a daughter named Lizette.  Officially Sacagawea died young in 1812 and her children were adopted by Clark.  Sacagawea has been the subject of a many statues (more than any other woman in the U.S.) a coin, and a stamp.  Three mountains were named after her and two lakes.

Sacagawea is portrayed by Melisa King.  

Writer and director is Rolf Forsberg.  Production Company Encounter Video,   July 12, 2003. I watched this on Youtube.

IMD has a review saying there are numerous iaccuracies, especially with costumes.

I say officially she died in 1812.  However others say she returned to the Shoshone in Wyoming and died as an old woman and is buried there.  My father took us to see her grave when we were vacationing in Wyoming.

Biography: Louis Zamperini: Known for the movie "Unbroken"

 Louis Zamperini, the character in the movie "Unbroken" was a real person.  He was born in New York but his family relocated to California when he was two.  His brother got him involved in track and field to keep him out of trouble.  He was a fighter and learned to be tough to counteract persecution due to his being Italian.  He took to middle distance running and eventually could out run his brother.  He set a highschool record in the mile and earned a scholarship to USC.  

When he was 19 he qualified for the Olympics in the 5000 meter run.  He is the youngest American runner to ever qualify in this event.

At the Olympics, 1936 Berlin, he placed eighth.  However he had the fastest recorded lap time, his final lap time was 56 seconds.  This caught the attention of Adolf Hitler who insisted on meeting him.  "Ah, you're the boy with the fast finish."

Zamperini continued his college career and set a collegiate record in the mile, 4 minutes 8.3 seconds, which stood for 15 years.  He earned the nick name "Torrance Tornado" the name of his high school.

After college he enlisted in the United States Army Air Force.  He was a second lieutenant and served as a bombardier aboard the B-24 Liberator bomber Super-Man.  In April 1943 His plane was badly damaged by three Zeros.  The made it back to base landing on a flat tire.  One crew man died in the attack and five were wounded.  594 bullet and fragment holes were counted and the plae was scrapped.  

They were reassigned to the "Green Hornet" a plane known as a lemon.  While on a search mission, due to mechanical issues, the plane crashed into the ocean.  Eight crew members were killed.  The three survivors were the pilot, Zamperini and another crew member who would die as they were adrift for 47 days with little food and water.  They finally landed on Marshall Islands and were quickly captured by the Japanese.  This began a more than two year period of torture.  Zamperini was especially singled out because of his status as an Olympic athlete.

He was released in August 1945 at the end of the war.  He then dealt with PTSD and hatred towards his captors.  He married, but became an alcoholic.  His wife almost divorced him.  However after attending a Billy Graham meeting, she changed her mind and encouraged him to also attend.  This saved him from his demons and began a period of healing and evangelism.

He has been the subject of three movies, and passed away in 2014; his wife in 2001.  He fathered a daughter and a son.

Native American Review: Redbone

 Redbone is a Native American/Mexican American rock band.  Redbone means mixed blood.  Brothers Patrick and Candido "Lolly" are of Yaqui, Shoshone and Mexican heritage.  They were joined by Peter DePoe of mixed Native american and white heritage on drums.  The last member of the ban was Tony Bellamy of Yaqui and Mexican descent.  The brothers had been playing together in the L.A. area for about ten years but in 1970 released their first album with the Redbones.  The wore Native Mmerican costumes, and were influenced by Native American, rock, cajun and funky rhythms

Their most famous song is "Come and Get Your Love.  This use to be on the radio when I was younger and made an impression, although I never knew the group at that time.  One of their songs is entitled "Wovoka" where they sing of the prophet and the Ghost Dance.  "All people must dance.  Keep on dancing."  Some of their songs were more popular overseas.  "We were all Wounded at Wounded Knee" has a very catchy Native American drum line and a nice melody.  It is a protest song against manifest destiny.  

Come and Get Your Love

Truxton Canyon Indian Training School

 The Truxton Canyon Training School was completed in 1903.  It was built along the old Beale wagon trail (which later became Route 66).  It was part of a federal program to assimilate Native American children.  It had been operating a couple years in smaller buildings before the school house was completed.  Federal policy mandated attendance.  For the children half of the day would be involved in school work.  For the other half the boys were involved in learning trades and producing things which could be sold which supplemented the budget for the school.  The young women were involved in learning domestic chores.  The school is located 15 miles West of Peach Springs--Tribal headquarters of the Hualapai reservation.  Even though the school is somewhat close to the reservation, it was a boarding school and students were forced to leave their homes and reservations to attend.  Lessons were in English and students were not allowed to speak their native languages.  Students' hair was cut upon arrival and their clothes burned.  They were given American names.  Curriculum was of a militaristic style with marches to class, and falling in to stand at attention.  School life involved hard work and was traumatic for the kids.  Some of the young women would adopt younger children and thus they became a makeshift family.  Living in close quarters there was some spread of disease, including measles, influenza and tuberculosis.  Eventually children from other reservations were sent to the school.  This included Apache, Havasupai, Hopi, Pima, Papago Yavapai and Navajo.  At its peak the school accommodated 300 children,  It closed in 1937, shortly after a day school was opened in Peach Springs.  It is now owned by the Hualapai Tribal Nation.  It is currently closed to the public and plans are unclear for the future of the school.  The dormitory and the teacher-age were torn down and brick used for the construction of Mojave County Museum in Kingman.

old picture from internet

rest are pictures I took of the area.  There once were a dozen buildings, but now only the two-story school house remains.

This is BIA offices in the area.

Book Review: Indians of North America: The Iroquois

by Barbara Graymont, Chelsea House Publishers, New York, 1988.
The most significant thing about this book is its description of how the Iroquois confederacy came to be, from warring tribes, often warring with each other.  This of course includes the story of Hiawatha or Hayenwatha, who always pursued peace, but was not successful.  It was not until he combined with the efforts of the prophet Deganawidah, who came with a message of peace, that they actually made progress.  From the efforts of these two came a great peace.  Becasue of the peace, the tribes flourished.

Webb Blacksmith Shop and Wainwright in Nauvoo, Illinois

 

The blacksmith shop in Nauvoo is ery interesting.  The talk of the use of manure in the proces.  The also presnet information on the wheel wright and wainwright businesses--building of wagons which was done for the trek west.  missionary doscents tell the story.