Ohio History Journal

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THE MOUND BUILDER AND THE INDIAN

THE MOUND BUILDER AND THE INDIAN.

ACCORDING TO THE BOOK OF MORMON.

 

BY C. W. CLARK,

Official of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

 

In relating the story of Prehistoric America as outlined in

the Book of Mormon it is the purpose of the writer to avoid

religious issues and controversies, as far as possible, and to

present simply the statements and portray the record in a way

that will bring out only such parts as will be of interest to

student of archaeology. But it will be necessary to introduce

a few of the religious facts that bear upon the statements con-

necting the life and manners of the people of which the Book

of Mormon purports to be a record.

The Book of Mormon tells of three groups of population

that inhabited the continents of North and South America in

times past. These groups were, first, the Jaredites who came to

this continent in boats or barges shortly after the building of the

tower of Babel. This division traversed southern Europe, crossed

the Atlantic Ocean, and landed at or near the peninsula of

Yucatan. On account of wars among them, this civilization

became extinct about 600 B. C., but during the time of their

sojourn they built many cities and traveled in a northerly direc-

tion, and this northern travel may account for one class of

mounds, a few of which we find in Ohio, and large numbers

in the state of Wisconsin. These mounds are known as effigy

mounds, including the great serpent mound in Southern Ohio.

We will speak of these later. The second colony of which the

book relates left Jerusalem about the year 600 B. C. and origi-

nated with Lehi and his four sons. These people crossed the

deserts of Arabia and eventually, after a long voyage, arrived

on this continent on the Peruvian portion of the coast of South

America. On account of the rebellious disposition of the two

older brothers, sons of Lehi, Laman and Lemuel, against divine

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