Archaeology, Mormonism, and the Claims of History
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17192/mjr.2008.13.3596Abstract
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “Mormonism”) is one of the fastest growing religions in the world today (Stark 1998a, b), including India, where membership (especially in the South) has increased dramatically over the last decade. With notable exceptions (e.g., Leone 1979; Murphy 1999; Olsen 2000; Rodseth and Olsen 2000), however, Mormonism has been neglected in the anthropology of religion. The purpose of this paper is to act as a corrective to this imbalance by addressing changes in Mormonism’s conception of itself as a world religion that makes certain claims about its own history. Specifically, I examine Mormonism’s claim – possibly unique among the major world religions -- that a large part of its scriptural tradition took place in ancient America. My purpose is not to explore the history of this claim, nor to take any position on its validity. Instead, I explore the claim itself as it unfolds with reference to a particular domain, Mesoamerican archaeology, and a particular object – the so-called “Tree of Life” stone (also known as Izapa Stela Five) that some Mormons occasionally cite as archaeological evidence for the ancient American origins of the Book of Mormon.
References
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● Habu, J. & Fawcett, C. "Jomon archaeology and the representation of Japanese origins". Antiquity 73 (1999): 587-593.
● Haywood, J. Natural and Aboriginal History of Tennessee. Nashville, 1823
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● Jakeman, M. Wells “An unusual Tree-of-Life Sculpture from Ancient Central America,” University Archaeological Society Newsletter 4 (1953): 26-49.
● Jakeman, M. Wells, "The Book-of-Mormon Civilizations in Space and Time," U.A.S. Newsletter, No. 22 (Provo, Utah, August 23, 1954; rev. and enlarged ed. in Ross T.
Christensen, ea., Progress in Archaeology; an Anthology, 1963, listed above).
● Jakeman, M. "Progress of Archaeology in Book-of-Mormon Lands," ibid. (rev. and enlarged ed. in Ross T. Christensen, ea., op. Cit.).
● Juarros, J. Statistical and Commercial History of the Kingdom of Guatemala. London, 1823.
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geography and archaeology).
● Jakeman, M. “The complex tree of life carving Izapa St. 5,: BYU Archaeology and Ethnohistory 4 (1958). Note: this publication did not appear until 1959.
● Jakeman, M “Izapa St. 5 and the Book of Mormon,” In Book of Mormon Institute, ed. Dee F. Green. Provo: Extensions Publications, 1959: 47-53.
● Jakeman, M. "The Main Challenge of the Book of Mormon to Archaeology; and a Summary of Archaeological Research to Date Giving a Preliminary Test of Book-of-Mormon Claims."
In Progress in Archaeology, An Anthology, ed. R. Christensen, pp. 99-103. Provo, Utah, 1963.
● Jakeman, M. Wells. "Stela 5, Izapa, as `The Lehi Tree-of-Life Stone."' In The Tree of Life in Ancient America, ed. R. Christensen. Provo, Utah, 1968.
● Kohl, P & Fawcett, C. Nationalism, Politics, and the Practice of Archaeology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
● Larson, Stan Quest for the Gold Plates: Thomas Stuart Ferguson’s Archaeological Search for
the Book of Mormon. Salt Lake City: Freethinker Press, 1996.
● Leone, Mark Roots of Modern Mormonism. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1979.
● Louden, A. Selection of Some of the Most Interesting Outrages Committed by the Indians in
Their Wars with the White People. New York: Kessinger Publishing2006/1811.
● Mauss, A. The Angel and the Beehive. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1994.
● McCullough, J. Researches on America. Baltimore, 1817.
● Miles, S. “Sculpture of the Guatemalan-Chiapas Highlands and Pacific slopes, and associated hieroglyphs,” Handbook of Middle American Indians, Vol. 2, Part 1 (1965):
253-275.
● Mills, N. History of Mexico. Kensigner Publications, 2007/ 1824.
● Murphy, T. “From Racist Stereotype to Ethnic Identity: Instrumental Uses of Mormon
Racial Doctrine,” Ethnohistory 46.3 (1999): 451-480.
● Museum of Peoples and Cultures Self Study Document, Provo: Brigham Young University, 2000.
● Nibley, Hugh “M. Wells Jakeman, Stela 5, Izapa (Provo, Utah, 1958,”) unpublished manuscript in the possession of John Clark.
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● Norman, G. “Izapa Sculpture, Part 2: Text, Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation, No. 30, Provo: NWAF, 1976.
● Norman, G. “I have a question: what is the current status of research concerning the ‘tree of life’ carving from Chiapas, Mexico? Ensign 15 (1985): 54-55.
● Norman, G. “New FARMS drawing creating temporary confusion,” Book of Mormon Archaeological Digest 2 (1999): 1-2.
● Olsen, S. “Theology as a cultural system,” paper delivered at the University of Alabama, Spring, 2000. (http://www.aliveonline.com/ldspapers/StevesTalk.html)
● Ostling, R. & Joan Ostling, J. Mormon America. New York: HarperSanFrancisco, 1999.
● Parrish, A. “Stela 5, Izapa: A layman’s consideration of the tree of life stone,” In M. Nyman
and C. Tate (eds.) The Book of Mormon: First Nephi, the Doctrinal Foundation. Provo: Religious Studies Center, BYU, 1986.
● Parrish, R. New System of Modern Geography. Newburyport, 1810.
● Roberts, B The Truth, the Way, the Life. San Francisco: Smith Research Associates, 1994.
● Roberts, B. H. Studies of the Book of Mormon, University of Ill Press, 1982.
● Rodseth, L. and Olsen, J. “Mystics against the market: American religions and the
autocritique of capitalism,” Critique of Anthropology 20 (2000):265-288.
● Smith, E. Key to the Figurative Language of the Prophecies. 1814.
● Smith, E. Dissertation on the Prophecies. Boston: Armstrong, 1814.
● Smith, E. View of the Hebrews. Poultney: Smith & Shute, 1823.
● Smith, Joseph Fielding Man: His Origin and Destiny. Salt Lake City: Deseret Publishing
Company, 1954.
● Stephens, J. Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan. New York:21
Marburg Journal of Religion: Volume 13, No. 1 (May 2008)
Harper & Brothers, 1841.
● Stirling, M. “Stone monuments of Southern Mexico,” Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 138 (1943).
● Stark, R. “The rise of a new world faith,” in J. Duke ed. Latter-Day Saint Social Life. Provo:
Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1998.
● Stark, Rodney “The basis of Mormon success: A Theoretical Application,” in J. Duke ed. Latter-Day Saint Social Life. Provo: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University,
1998.
● Thorowgood, T. Jewes in America or Probabilities that the Indians are Judaical. London, 1650/1640.
● Warren, B. and Ferguson, T. The Messiah in Ancient America. Provo: Book of Mormon Research Foundation, 1987
● Wirth, D. “A review by Diane E. Wirth,” Book of Mormon Archaeological Digest 2, 4 (1999): 5.
● Allen, Joseph L. “Editorial,” Book of Mormon Archaeological Digest 2, 4 (1999): 1.
● Bagley, Will Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2002.
● Book of Mormon, Salt Lake City: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2000.
● Boudinot, E. A Star in the West. Trenton: Fenton, 1815
● Brinton, Daniel Myths of the New World. New York: Leypoldt and Holt, 1868.
● Cheesman, P. The Early Americans. Salt Lake City: Deseret Books, 1974.
● Christensen, Ross T., "The Present Status of Book of Mormon Archaeology," The Millennial
Star, Vol. 114, Nos. 9-12 (London, September-December, 1952).
● Christensen, Ross T., "On the Study of Archaeology by Latter-day Saints," U.A.S.
Newsletter, No. 64 (Provo, Utah, January 30, 1960), pp. 1-6.
● Christensen, T. “Stela 5, Izapa: A Review of its Study as the ‘Lehi Tree-of-Life
● Stone,” Newsletter and Proceedings of the SEHA, March, 1984, vol. 146.
● Clark, John “A new artistic rendering of Izapa Stela 5: A step toward improved interpretation,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, 8, 1 (1999): 23-33.
● Cusick, D. Sketches of the Ancient History of the Six Nations. Lockport: Cooley and Lathrop, 1827.
● Encyclopedia of Mormonism. Ed. Daniel H. Ludlow. New York: Macmillan, 1992.
● Griffith, M. “The Lehi tree-of-life stone in the Book of Mormon still supported by Izapa Stela 5,” Newsletter and Proceedings of the SEHA, December, 1982, vol. 151.
● Habu, J. & Fawcett, C. "Jomon archaeology and the representation of Japanese origins". Antiquity 73 (1999): 587-593.
● Haywood, J. Natural and Aboriginal History of Tennessee. Nashville, 1823
● Hunter, M. “Remarks,” in Conference Report, October 1954. Salt Lake City: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: p.108
● Hunter, Milton R. Christ in Ancient America. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1959.
● Jakeman, M. Wells “An unusual Tree-of-Life Sculpture from Ancient Central America,” University Archaeological Society Newsletter 4 (1953): 26-49.
● Jakeman, M. Wells, "The Book-of-Mormon Civilizations in Space and Time," U.A.S. Newsletter, No. 22 (Provo, Utah, August 23, 1954; rev. and enlarged ed. in Ross T.
Christensen, ea., Progress in Archaeology; an Anthology, 1963, listed above).
● Jakeman, M. "Progress of Archaeology in Book-of-Mormon Lands," ibid. (rev. and enlarged ed. in Ross T. Christensen, ea., op. Cit.).
● Juarros, J. Statistical and Commercial History of the Kingdom of Guatemala. London, 1823.
● Jakeman, M. "Review of Hugh Nibley, An Approach to the Book of Mormon," ibid., No. 40 (Provo, Utah, March 30, 1957), pp. 1-11. (Some further views on Book of Mormon
geography and archaeology).
● Jakeman, M. “The complex tree of life carving Izapa St. 5,: BYU Archaeology and Ethnohistory 4 (1958). Note: this publication did not appear until 1959.
● Jakeman, M “Izapa St. 5 and the Book of Mormon,” In Book of Mormon Institute, ed. Dee F. Green. Provo: Extensions Publications, 1959: 47-53.
● Jakeman, M. "The Main Challenge of the Book of Mormon to Archaeology; and a Summary of Archaeological Research to Date Giving a Preliminary Test of Book-of-Mormon Claims."
In Progress in Archaeology, An Anthology, ed. R. Christensen, pp. 99-103. Provo, Utah, 1963.
● Jakeman, M. Wells. "Stela 5, Izapa, as `The Lehi Tree-of-Life Stone."' In The Tree of Life in Ancient America, ed. R. Christensen. Provo, Utah, 1968.
● Kohl, P & Fawcett, C. Nationalism, Politics, and the Practice of Archaeology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
● Larson, Stan Quest for the Gold Plates: Thomas Stuart Ferguson’s Archaeological Search for
the Book of Mormon. Salt Lake City: Freethinker Press, 1996.
● Leone, Mark Roots of Modern Mormonism. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1979.
● Louden, A. Selection of Some of the Most Interesting Outrages Committed by the Indians in
Their Wars with the White People. New York: Kessinger Publishing2006/1811.
● Mauss, A. The Angel and the Beehive. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1994.
● McCullough, J. Researches on America. Baltimore, 1817.
● Miles, S. “Sculpture of the Guatemalan-Chiapas Highlands and Pacific slopes, and associated hieroglyphs,” Handbook of Middle American Indians, Vol. 2, Part 1 (1965):
253-275.
● Mills, N. History of Mexico. Kensigner Publications, 2007/ 1824.
● Murphy, T. “From Racist Stereotype to Ethnic Identity: Instrumental Uses of Mormon
Racial Doctrine,” Ethnohistory 46.3 (1999): 451-480.
● Museum of Peoples and Cultures Self Study Document, Provo: Brigham Young University, 2000.
● Nibley, Hugh “M. Wells Jakeman, Stela 5, Izapa (Provo, Utah, 1958,”) unpublished manuscript in the possession of John Clark.
● Norman, G. “Izapa Sculpture, Part 1: Album” Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation 30 (1973)
● Norman, G. “Izapa Sculpture, Part 2: Text, Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation, No. 30, Provo: NWAF, 1976.
● Norman, G. “I have a question: what is the current status of research concerning the ‘tree of life’ carving from Chiapas, Mexico? Ensign 15 (1985): 54-55.
● Norman, G. “New FARMS drawing creating temporary confusion,” Book of Mormon Archaeological Digest 2 (1999): 1-2.
● Olsen, S. “Theology as a cultural system,” paper delivered at the University of Alabama, Spring, 2000. (http://www.aliveonline.com/ldspapers/StevesTalk.html)
● Ostling, R. & Joan Ostling, J. Mormon America. New York: HarperSanFrancisco, 1999.
● Parrish, A. “Stela 5, Izapa: A layman’s consideration of the tree of life stone,” In M. Nyman
and C. Tate (eds.) The Book of Mormon: First Nephi, the Doctrinal Foundation. Provo: Religious Studies Center, BYU, 1986.
● Parrish, R. New System of Modern Geography. Newburyport, 1810.
● Roberts, B The Truth, the Way, the Life. San Francisco: Smith Research Associates, 1994.
● Roberts, B. H. Studies of the Book of Mormon, University of Ill Press, 1982.
● Rodseth, L. and Olsen, J. “Mystics against the market: American religions and the
autocritique of capitalism,” Critique of Anthropology 20 (2000):265-288.
● Smith, E. Key to the Figurative Language of the Prophecies. 1814.
● Smith, E. Dissertation on the Prophecies. Boston: Armstrong, 1814.
● Smith, E. View of the Hebrews. Poultney: Smith & Shute, 1823.
● Smith, Joseph Fielding Man: His Origin and Destiny. Salt Lake City: Deseret Publishing
Company, 1954.
● Stephens, J. Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan. New York:21
Marburg Journal of Religion: Volume 13, No. 1 (May 2008)
Harper & Brothers, 1841.
● Stirling, M. “Stone monuments of Southern Mexico,” Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 138 (1943).
● Stark, R. “The rise of a new world faith,” in J. Duke ed. Latter-Day Saint Social Life. Provo:
Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1998.
● Stark, Rodney “The basis of Mormon success: A Theoretical Application,” in J. Duke ed. Latter-Day Saint Social Life. Provo: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University,
1998.
● Thorowgood, T. Jewes in America or Probabilities that the Indians are Judaical. London, 1650/1640.
● Warren, B. and Ferguson, T. The Messiah in Ancient America. Provo: Book of Mormon Research Foundation, 1987
● Wirth, D. “A review by Diane E. Wirth,” Book of Mormon Archaeological Digest 2, 4 (1999): 5.
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2015-05-28
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Nuckolls, C. W. (2015). Archaeology, Mormonism, and the Claims of History. Marburg Journal of Religion, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.17192/mjr.2008.13.3596
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