Ohio History Journal

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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268      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

instructions, the younger brother Nephi, third son of Lehi, was

chosen by instructions of the father Lehi as leader.  The

father claimed divine manifestation evidenced the approval of

this choice. Nephi having become leader, the two older brothers

and their families rebelled and withdrew from association with

the younger brothers Nephi and Sam, fourth son of Lehi.

Thus originated the two groups of people known in the Book

of Mormon respectively as Nephites and Lamanites. The for-

mer became the Mound Builder of the higher class, or those

who built such fortifications as the enclosures at Circleville,

Marietta and Fort Hill in Butler county, Ohio, and perhaps

also Fort Ancient, Warren county. As to the apparent difference

in construction between Fort Ancient and the forts above re-

ferred to, the writer's personal opinion would be that Fort

Ancient was constructed by the Jaredites, the colony which had

preceded the Nephites. The Lamanites became the familiar

American Indian, and were probably the builders of the type

of mounds known as Burial Mounds. Thus the book gives

the Mound Builders and the American Indian a common origin.

But the latter were cursed with a skin of darkness on account

of their unbelief and wickedness in a similar manner as the

descendants of Ham were cursed. Baldwin in his "Ancient

America" refers to a statement, made by Montessinos, concern-

ing tradition among the ancient Peruvians that four brothers

originated their civilization, a younger brother assumed com-

mand which caused a rebellion, and finally descendants of the

younger brother became the founders of a long line of their

sovereigns. Nadillac in his "Prehistoric America" refers to a

tradition of seven families as the originators of this civilization.

In the Book of Mormon while the story of the four brothers is

most important and seems to have much to do with their history,

it cannot be overlooked that there were two sons born to Lehi,

Jacob and Joseph, on their way to the American continent, and

that they brought with them Zoram, a servant of Laban, who

was one of the tribe of Manassah and undoubtedly had been a

distant relative of Lehi in Palestine. Thus we have the seven

families represented by the six sons above named of Lehi and

Zoram, These people were, according to the Book of Mormon,

The Mound Builder and the Indian.        269

descendants of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, and who had

come to America by instructions from their Heavenly Father.

Being descendants of Joseph through Manassah these people

claimed to be learned in the language and arts of the Egyptians,

and also the learning of the Jewish nation. They believed that

they had come to Joseph's land (America) a land promised

in Genesis, 49 chapter, 22d to 26th verses inclusive, and Deut.,

33 chapter, 13th to 17th verses inclusive. Therefore having

acquired the arts and learning as above they began to make im-

provements along the line of implements, buildings, etc. This we

shall describe from time to time as we advance in our narra-

tion. The land to which they had immigrated was to be a

choice land, as promised them. The two brothers (Laman and

Lemuel), who rebelled and became the Lamanites, had been

warned by the voice of prophecy many times so that they were

aware of the curse that was resting upon them for being dis-

obedient. They brought with them records engraved on plates

of brass containing the Mosaic Law so that they were taught

the story of the creation and the flood, which traditions we

find quite prominent among the Indian today, and the records

of which are often freely discussed by noted archaeologists.

The Nephites and Lamanites were well acquainted with the

traditions of Egypt on account of their being descendants of

Manassah having undoubtedly learned them through the con-

nection of Joseph with Pharaoh's court. It is not surprising

that we find them building on this continent great pyramids

of exact geometrical construction such as are found in Uxmal

and also other large structures resembling Egyptian architecture

although undoubtedly the pyramids were built by the Jeradites

rather than the Nephites as we will explain later. We are told

by Priest in his "American Antiquities" that the art of em-

balming was known and practiced by the American pre-historic

people. This is also confirmed by Tschudi in his "Peruvian

Antiquities." In no other country was this art practiced to

such a great state of perfection as in Ancient Egypt, and it

must be remembered that Joseph's wife was a daughter of one

of the Egyptian priests, and that the practice of embalming in

Egypt was performed by those holding the priesthood. John

The Mound Builder and the Indian.        271

Delafield on page 33 of his book, "American Antiquities", com-

ments on the traditions of the flood and tower of Babel, calling

particular attention to the fact that the traditions of the Ameri-

can continent were the same as the traditions of these events

which followed the Semetic race, and he also speaks of the

nature of the hieroglyphics which were the same as those of

the Egyptians. The Book of Mormon story of the voyage says

that they sailed for many days and after arriving on this conti-

nent in which is now the land of Peru, they began to plant seed

and cultivate the soil which brought forth in abundance. They

also found upon the land various animals, including the horse,

left here by their predecessors, the Jeradites. The question of

the horse existing on this continent has been a disputed point.

Delafield on page 94 insists that there were no horses on this

continent and ascribes their absence as a reason, or one of the

reasons, for his belief that the inhabitants came across by the

way of Alaska. However, we are informed by Priest on page

151, Nadaillac on pages 25 and 42, the National Geographic

Magazine, also by Columbian Encyclopedia, that the horse did

exist on this continent prior to the time of its discovery by

Columbus, but had become extinct, the evidence of which we

shall discuss later. The book also says that they found gold,

silver and copper ores from which they made plates like those

they had brought from Jerusalem, and that on these plates they

made a record of their great events. It is asserted that the

Lord brought Lehi and his descendants here to raise up to Him-

self a righteous branch of the descendants of Joseph, and in

support of this believers of the Book of Mormon refer to the

37th chapter of Ezekiel and the 29th chapter of Isaiah to show

that this is in harmony with promises previously made by the

Lord.

We have promised to abstain from   religious discussion

arising from our point of view, but it is necessary to express

certain statements that an understanding may be had of the story

of the Book.

In the second book of Nephi we are told that he began to

educate his people along very practical lines. Perhaps a quota-

tion here may better illustrate what was taught them. We find

272      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

in the fourth chapter as follows: "And I did teach my people

to build buildings, and to work in all manner of wood and of

iron and of copper and of brass and of steel and of gold and

of silver and of precious ores which were in great abundance.

And I Nephi did build a temple and did construct it after the

manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so

many precious things, but the manner of construction was like

unto Solomon's temple, and the workmanship thereof was ex-

ceeding fine."

It must be remembered that these people left Jerusalem ac-

cording to the Book of Mormon about 600 B. C., so that they

had opportunity of knowing all about the construction of

Solomon's temple. In this same chapter is told the story of

how the Lord put the curse of dark color upon the Lamanites

so that they would not be attractive to the Nephites, and later

it was told the Lamanites that the Lord would not permit any

kings to rise up to rule the people that should inhabit this con-

tinent. Whether it is admitted or not that this statement is

inspired it must be agreed that it seems to be remarkably ful-

filled, particularly as this statement was addressed to the gentile

nations. The remarkable historic cases of the failure of Don

Pedro in Brazil and of Maximilian in Mexico seem to have

been in fulfillment of it. Enumerating the different tribes and

their branches that settled in America we find that Jacob, the

brother of Nephi, enumerates them  as Nephites, Jacobites,

Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites and Ishmaelites,

the descendants of Ishmael, who did not personally come to

America but whose sons and daughters intermarried with the

other tribes. These branches all became in time either Lamanites

or Nephites.

It will be noted that there are just seven names here given

which correspond to the seven families, tradition of which is

mentioned by Nadillac in his "Prehistoric America".  It is

common tradition with most people that the Book of Mormon

supports the practice of polygamy but the contrary is the truth

of the matter, for in the Second chapter of Jacob, the Lord,

speaking to Nephites, told them that they thought to excuse

themselves for polygamy because David and Solomon had

The Mound Builder and the Indian.         273

many wives, and adds that this was an abomination before him,

as he had brought them forth that they might be a righteous

people. Then he issued this commandment: "For there shall

not any man among you have, save it be one wife, and of

concubines he shall have none". The Nephites had departed

from the law of monogamy and had inaugurated the practice

of polygamy, but the Lord tells them he will not permit it,

and in the same chapter the Lord praises the Lamanites by

saying in spite of their wickedness they had not departed from

the law of monogamy. We find today that very few tribes of

Indians practice polygamy.

We are told in various places that the Nephites were in-

structed in the arts of war and that the Lamanites were con-

tinually coming against them in battle. It was necessary then

for them to learn to make darts and javelins for their defense,

also other articles and tools, even tools of copper.

An interesting topic is the consideration of their fortifica-

tions. In view of what we know today, as has been explained

to us by noted writers along these lines, we believe that their

fortifications present a remarkable likeness to those found

among the remains of the Mound Builders, so called. Mr. E. O.

Randall in his history of the State of Ohio, Volume 1 of the

Rise and Progress of an American State, by Randall and Ryan,

says that in Butler county, Ohio, the fortification known as

Fortified Hill is built after the manner of the famous Tlascalan

forts of Mexico with the same special forms of gateways,

and on page 23 of Vol. 1 of this work the inference is drawn

that the Mound Builders or at least the builders of this class

of fortifications suggest a racial relationship to the ancient

Aztecs and Toltecs. Additional testimony is also given on page

28 of this same work where the author quotes from Professor

Moorehead as follows: "The skulls were well shaped and of

two types of mentality, a lower and higher order."

The writer believes that this is the correct view point and

it is in confirmation of the Book of Mormon story. The state

of Ohio, part of Pennsylvania, and Western New York are

conceded to be the location of the last stand made by this re-

markable people. Today an army in retreat would not erect

Vol. XXVI-18

274       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

great and permanent fortifications; so east of Ohio there are

fewer evidences of their fortified work. Admiral Lindsay Brine

in describing the American Indians, their ancient earth works

and temples, and speaking particularly of a work at Circleville,

Ohio, quotes from Caleb Atwater in regard to this fortification

as follows: "There are two forts, one an exact circle and the

other an exact square, the former is surrounded by two en-

bankments with a deep ditch between them, the latter is en-

compassed by one wall without any ditch. There are eight

gateways or openings leading into the square fort and only

one in the circular fort. The extreme care of the authors of

these works to protect and defend every part of the circle is

nowhere visible about this square fort. The former has a

deep ditch encircling it, the latter has none. The round fort

was picketed in, if we are to judge from the appearance on and

about the walls. Half way up the outside of the inner wall is

a place distinctly to be seen where a row of pickets once stood

and where it was placed when this work of defence was origi-

nally erected." Some of the articles found in the circular fort

show that this was a domestic abode while the square construc-

tion was the fort proper. A similar structure does not appear

at Fort Ancient. This leads the writer to believe that Fort

Ancient was probably the work of an earlier civilization as

we do not find the same evidence of the building of ditches

for defence, or other special preparations that we find at Circle-

ville to defend the domestic portion of their people, although

this is mere conjecture on the part of the writer, as Fort Ancient

may have been hurriedly built to defend against attack. Now

let us see if the above fortifications are in harmony with the

Book of Mormon theory. In chapter 21 of the book of Alma,

we find the following: "Maroni on the other hand had been

preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord

their God, Yea he had been strengthening the armies of the

Nephites and erecting small forts or places of resort; throwing

up banks of earth round about to enclose his armies, and also

building walls of stone to encircle them about, round about their

cities and the borders of their lands." Also, "and behold the

city had been rebuilt -and they had cast up dirt round about

The Mound Builder and the Indian.         275

to shield them from the arrows and stones of the Lamanites."

And again, "Behold how great was their (the Lamanites) dis-

appointment for behold the Nephites had dug up a ridge of

earth around about them which was so high that the Lamanites

could not cast their stones and arrows upon them save it was

by the place of entrance. Now at this time the chief captains

of the Lamanites were astonished exceedingly because of the

wisdom of the Nephites in preparing their places of security."

Also "For they (the Lamanites) knew not that Moroni had

fortified or had built forts of securities in all the lands around

about."  .  .  . "Now behold the Lamanites could not get

into their forts of security by any other way save by the en-

trance because of the highness of the bank which had been

thrown up and the depth of the ditch which had been dug

round about; save it were by the entrance  . . . The cap-

tains of the Lamanites brought up their armies before the place

of entrance and began to contend with the Nephites to get into

their place of security." And in the 22nd chapter of Alma,

"They should commence in digging heaps of earth round about

all their cities, throughout all the land which was possessed by

the Nephites and upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused

that there should be timbers, yea, works of timber built up

to the height of a man round about the cities, and he caused that

upon those works of timbers there should be a frame of pickets

built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and

high and he caused towers to be erected that overlooked those

works of pickets."

We might also quote from the 24th, 25th and 29th chapters

of the same book which deals largely with the wars and which

we believe will bear remarkable resemblance to the means of

defense prepared by the Mound Builders in the State of Ohio,

the remains of which, without this solution, appear to remain

an unanswerable riddle, and a means of much philosophy without

reaching a definite result. The circles represent the camps

of the women and children while the square forts were no doubt

erected to defend in the best possible way the places of entrance.

Note the sketch herewith of the Circelville fort, taken from

Admiral Brine's works. We believe at least the solution is

276      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

reasonable and worthy of consideration, and will bear as much

inspection as the famed Atlantis theory of Donnelly or the

theory of migration from Wales, Denmark, or Delafield's idea

of the Behring Strait passage way. We are told that they built

towers in many places for two purposes, that of defense and

for religious worship. Early in their history the Nephites sent

out an exploring party to discover the Lamanites' defenses, and

this party discovered that another people had landed on the

northwest coast and migrated to the northeast coast of South

America. This latter people having been led there by one

of the sons of Zedikiah about the time he was led into

captivity. This being the tender plant referred to in Ezekiel,

17th chapter. The people of Zarahemla became associated

with the Nephites.  It must be remembered from   time to

time dissenting Nephites associated themselves with the Lam-

anites so that some of the traditions of the Mound Builders

would be found among the American Indians of today. It

might be well to here discuss the reason why the Mound

Builders erected Serpent Mounds or other effigy Mounds in

various places, as for instance, the Serpent Mound in Adams

county, Ohio, and others in different localities representing the

Bear, Tortoise, Elephant, etc. It will be remembered, no doubt,

that coming from Palestine and being of the line of Joseph,

through his son Manassah, the Mound Builders were versed,

no doubt, in the religious traditions of the Egyptian Courts, as

about the first thing that the children of Israel wanted to do

after escaping from Egypt was to set up an image of an animal

that they could worship.  George Rawlinson in his book,

"Religions of Egypt and Babylon" and also Heroditus in his

history bring out the fact with reference to idol worship that

the Egyptian either worships the animal itself or else images

of the various animals and that while some would worship

crocodiles, others would worship the sacred bulls or other

animals. Thus when the people on this continent crowded

northward from the tropical regions and neglected the worship

of the true God, they no doubt erected Mounds that best suited

their fancy of the divinity they worshiped. This same feature

The Mound Builder and the Indian.          277

we find today in some tribes of Indians in their devotion to

the totems.

We are told that the Nephites built towers for religious

purposes and also for watch towers. The towers for religious

use were generally built upon elevated ground to which they

could ascend and thus speak to advantage to a large concourse

of people. Nadillac tells us of a tower in Peru where the

natives that had not yet come under the gentle (?) touch of

Spanish civilization, in passing, fall down or bow reverently be-

fore this tower as if it were some sacred place and yet this

tower shows such age as to be classed with the oldest remains.

In the writer's mind there is little doubt that the Pyramids

of Egypt and of South America are due to the same original

cause, and no doubt will remain a great mystery until we are

able to fathom the real meaning of the Egyptian Pyramids.

But let it be remembered that, according to the Book of Mormon,

the civilization representing the Jaredites date back to the tower

of Babel. Is it not possible that the Pyramids of Egypt and

of Central America might have originated in one and the same

idea that rested in the minds of those who attempted to erect

the tower of Babel in order to frustrate the commands of God.

Be this as may, the weight of evidence shows two civilizations

existed in America before the race of Indians.

There seems to be, on careful research, two classes or

more of Mounds, and the writer believes that there are clearly

three classes of Mounds. The fortifications for defense which

give every evidence of a great intelligence, were built, undoubt-

edly, by the Nephites on similar models to those which they

had erected from stone and other building material in South

and Central America. Thus the mounds or fortifications in

Butler County constructed with the Tlascalan gates or entrance

was probably built by the same race that inhabited Central

America and Mexico. This mound is referred to by Mr. Ran-

dall in "The History of Ohio," by Randall and Ryan.

The burial mounds were probably built by the dissenting

Nephites and Lamanites, particularly those mounds in which

the remains of man are found commingled with the remains of

The Mound Builder and the Indian.         279

animals. While the effigy mounds previously referred to could

be ascribed to the previous civilization of the Jaredites.

Professor W. C. Mills has stated that in some of the mounds

are found instruments of bone and stone used for warfare, to-

gether with those of copper, which indicate two grades of

civilization and that the more crude civilization overcame the

intelligent and their burial in the same mound does not neces-

sarily indicate their association in daily life. This would be in

perfect harmony with the Book of Mormon story in which

mention is made of the fortifications that were erected for

defense, etc. It is a notable fact that mounds of defense are

scarcely known in the Northwest while in the state of Wis-

consin are found many mounds in the form of effigies of

animals, such as the elephant and bear and others, mounds of

defense are not found to any great extent in this territory.

This statement is borne out by Professor A. B. Stout, of the

University of Wisconsin in the Ohio State Archaeological and

Historical reports. This shows conclusively that the States of

Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York were the last great battle-

field of the cultured race that was forced from its home in

South and Central America through the great Mississippi

Valley until at last reaching the territory above referred to,

they were met by an overwhelming force as cited in the Book

of Mormon in some of its closing chapters, and this civilization

was blotted out.

The Lamanites were now supreme and long before the white

man of the present age reached the shores of this continent, the

remains of this cultured race were a mere tradition and only

through these traditions are we led to the evidence of the past.

We are told in the book of Mosiah that the people were taught

to till the ground and in the publication known as the National

Geographic Magazine, we learn explorers have discovered re-

markable traces of the ability of the ancient inhabitants of Peru

in agriculture. Insomuch that they built terraces around the

mountains and remarkable as it may seem, the remains in Peru

of this form of agriculture are corroborated by the evidences of

this method employed in Palestine.

We are told also in the Book of Mormon that these people

280       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

were taught to weave and spin and any one who has had the

opportunity of viewing the charred remains as shown in the

display at the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society

museum must agree that there was at least marked evidence of

ability along that line.

The remains of their cities show a remarkable knowledge

of architecture. The use of cement, so frequently mentioned

in the Book of Mormon, is substantiated by nearly every writer

on this subject from the time of Stephens and Catherwood to

the present day. Some of the ancient roads constructed are

still a wonder and an object of admiration. In any event there

is an amazing amount of evidence, which renowned archaeolo-

gists have produced in connection with the early inhabitants of

Peru and Mexico connecting them with Egypt and Southern

Asia. Delafield mentions in his publication that there was a

tradition of the tower of Babel and the Semetic account of the

flood and refers to the fact that the hieroglyphics resemble

those of the section of the country ascribed to them by the

Book of Mormon, namely, Southern Asia, Palestine and Egypt.

We are told also by such writers as Prescott, Tschudi, Priest

and others that the use of iron and copper was known to them,

and while some writers deny the use of iron, yet on a whole,

there are several evidences that tend to show that the use of

those metals was known, as the Book of Mormon states. In

many places in the Book of Mormon towers are spoken of, and

Admiral Linley Brine speaks of a cairn or tower built near

Fort Ancient which stood quite high, which was built, no doubt,

not only as a place of defense, but as a place where the chief

priest or rulers would gather and discourse to the people.

We are told that in the region of the Cliff Dwellers there

were built estufas or places of meeting where they held council.

From all that can be learned there seems to be a sort of rever-

ence for the estufas that indicated their use for some of those

purposes by the Cliff Dwellers or Pueblo Indians.

We now approach the proposition: Who were these cliff

dwellers that seemed to make their homes in places that man

could not approach easily and which were so carefully guarded?

We are told by the Book of Mormon that there originated at

one time a powerful league of men who desired to rule and

The Mound Builder and the Indian.          281

live by plunder. These people were bound together by secret

oaths not to reveal each other or their secrets, so that they might

get gain without labor, but rather by exploitation of their fellow-

men. They were compelled finally to withdraw from their

neighbors and dwell upon the borders of the land of the

Nephites. They builded their fortifications in the rocks and

made war with their former brethren-not after the manner

of soldiers-or even after the manner of the Lamanites, but

sought to prey upon them and rob and slay. These people were

known in the Book of Mormon as the Gadianton robbers. In

speaking of them the book says, "and they did commit murder

and plunder and then they would retreat back into the mountains

and into the wilderness and secret places, hiding themselves that

they might not be discovered. . . . Now behold these rob-

bers did make great havoc, yea even great destruction of Nephites

and also among the people of the Lamanites." And in another

place we find the following: "and it came to pass that the ninety

and third year did also pass away in peace, save it were for

the Gadianton robbers, who dwelt upon the mountains and who

did infest their lands, for so strong were their holds and their

secret places that the people could not overpower them." This

history gives a reason for the remarkable cliff dwellings which

have stood for centuries as silent proof of a people that must

have builded for a purpose, and that purpose for secrecy and

defense. Of course, these robbers must needs have been called

upon to defend themselves and we find that the book unveils a

mystery so profound that we view with awe the structures that

were left as silent evidence of the remarkable civilization, the

result of careful study, and an organized effort that cannot be

found today among the scattered remnants of this once powerful

and cultured race. How often have we wished that:--

Out of the past their rocks would deign to tell,

The history of this bright and cultured man,

The story which the bleak cliffs hold so well,

A culture which at best we only scan

By the remains which the dark past has left

And as we view their cliffs and dell and field

We know that history is of much bereft

Unless of their past a record does reveal.

282       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

The Book of Mormon does give a record and explains their

reason for so erecting marvelous cliff dwellings.

We now approach a period in history that has a remarkable

amount of tradition to support it, - that is, the tradition of a

great continental cataclysm which nearly obliterated the people

and destroyed much that had been done in the way of building,

etc. Baldwin in his "Ancient America," on page 176, makes

reference to this event. Ignatius Donnelly in "Atlantis," on

page 102, speaks of a tradition in the Popul Vul or Sacred Book

of Central America and I will quote some of the most descriptive

portions: "They were ingulfed and a resinous thickness de-

scended from Heaven, the face of the earth was obscured  ..

There was heard a great noise above their heads as if produced

by fire." And on page 126 of the same work we find in quoting

De Bourbourg that originally a part of the American continent

not now existing extended into the ocean and that this por-

tion of the continent was destroyed by frightful convulsions.

Stephens, in his "Travels in Yucatan," speaking of the

ruins of Mayapas, and of a cave in particular, says that

marine shells were in such a state as to indicate that the whole

country, or at least a portion of it, had been once, possibly

at no very remote period, everflowed by the sea. Bear in mind

that it was in the neighborhood of Central America that the

events referred to, which I shall quote later, relate. Abbie

Brasseur de Bourborger, as recorded by Nadillac, on pages

16 and 17, tells us that these traditions of this cataclysm

exist in Mexico, Bolivia, and Peru. Also, he tells us that

the region of Sierra Nevada, where he affirms that the

discovery of implements and weapons were found at depths

of several hundred feet, were witnesses that the remarkable

convulsions of nature extended over this territory. And Ban-

croft in volume four, page 647, of "Native Races of the Pacific

State" says in quoting Captain Walker: "A storm of fire

had passed over the town, the stones are calcined by the flames.

The very rock from which the chief building arises there gives

traces of fusion, everything testifies to the intensity of the heat."

And, finally, Susan E. Wallace, in her book "On the Land of

the Pueblos," portrays with remarkable force the history of an

The Mound Builder and the Indian.         283

event, which has left marks that will not be obliterated, which

must be described as something more than an earthquake and

of which the hot springs are the last of the active evidences.

Now let us see if we can determine the purpose that led

up to this event. We believe that the history thereof will be

best described by quoting sentences from the Book of Mormon

itself, for we have arrived now at a time when the book tells us

that the Christ was crucified at Jerusalem. Simultaneous with

the rending of the veil of the temple at Jerusalem came this

catastrophe of which we shall quote: "And it came to pass

in the thirty and fourth year in the first month in the fourth

day of the month there arose a great storm, such an one as

never had been known in all the land, and there was also a

great and terrible tempest and there was terrible thunder; inso-

much as it did shake the whole earth as if it were about to divide

asunder and there was exceeding sharp lightnings, such as never

had been known in all the land, and the city of Zarahamela did

take fire and the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of the

sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned, and the earth

was carried up upon the city of Moronihah, that in the place

of the city thereof there became a great mountain and there

was a great and terrible destruction in the lands southward,

but behold there was a more great and terrible destruction in

the land northward, for behold, the whole face of the land was

changed. .. . And many smooth places became rough and

many great and notable cities were sunk and many were burned.

. . And there were some who were carried away in the

whirlwinds. . . . And the face of the whole earth became

deformed because of the tempests; and the thunderings; and the

lightnings, and the quaking of the earth, and behold the rocks

were rent in twain. They were broken up on the face of the

whole earth, insomuch that they were found in broken fragments

and in seams and in cracks upon all face of the land.

For behold they did last for about the space of about three

hours and it was said by some that the time was greater . . . .

There was pitch darkness upon all the face of the land.

And there was not any light seen, neither fire nor glimmer,

neither the Sun, nor the Moon, nor the Stars, for so great

284      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the

land. And it came to pass that it did last for the space of three

days that there was no light seen and there was great mourning

and howling and weeping among the people continually. And

in some places they were heard to say, 'Oh, that we had repented

before this great and terrible day.'"  (Chapter 4, book of

Nephi, in Book of Mormon.)

I do not wish to make any comments but want to ask how

much out of harmony with modern discovery is this little-under-

stood and much misrepresented Book of Mormon. Another

quotation, worthy of citation, is found in "New Light on the

Great Pyramids," by Alfred Ross Parsons, as follows: "From

the New York Herald, October 5th, 1894, 'Word comes from

Bogota that the remains of a prehistoric city have been dis-

covered near the crater of the volcano of Purace in the Andes

mountains. Professor Gutierrich, who made excavations on the

spot, found there the bones of a race of giants who attained the

height of eight to ten feet. The buried city embraces hundreds

of acres and contains the ruins of great buildings with immense

granite columns, remains of an aqueduct in an almost perfect

state of preservation have also been found.'" How, like the

fate of the city Moronihah referred to! We leave the reader

to judge for himself.

We now take up the subject of the tradition which would

indicate that the Saviour himself, came to the American con-

tinent. The Book of Mormon features this idea and indicates

that He here taught the same doctrine He did on the Eastern

continent, and for the same purpose. He also told the inhabi-

tants that they were the people of whom it was said, "Other

sheep have I which are not of this fold, they, too, must hear my

voice." We do not wish to slight this subject but lack of space

compels us to treat the matter briefly for the purpose of show-

ing it is in harmony with the general traditions. We need but

mention Lord Kingborough's work wherein he quotes from

Humboldt in regard to the Mexican Quetzalcotal, who by tradi-

tion was born of a virgin without man by the power of divine

will and that the Son was both God and man; that he had ex-

isted, previous to his incarnation, from eternity; that he had

The Mound Builder and the Indian.         285

descended to reform the world and was crucified for the sins of

mankind. We find also from the same work that the sign Nahuy

Olluy or four earthquakes was dedicated to Quetzalcotal as a

sign of his first coming to the ancient Mexicans and which sign

they expected would accompany his second advent. Desire

Charney in his "Ancient Cities of the New World" says that

this great Prophet, Priest and King departed for the East,

promising to return to reign over them again. Nadillac, on page

527, refers to a tradition that a white man wearing a long beard

had taught them many good things and had disappeared to re-

turn to earth in about 2,000 years and finally Susan E. Wallace

tells us in her book "The Land of the Pueblos" of the time

when the savage hailed a white man as a child of the sun and

brought their blind to have their eyes opened and their sick

that by the laying on of his hands they might be healed. Mothers

brought their children for blessings, and all their traditions point

to the second advent of this wonderful individual who would not

fail to come and redeem his promise.

Today we blush for shame when we think how the trusting

savage was betrayed at the hands of those who sought only gold

and territory and who pushed back the natives of the soil from

their former possessions, and we can only say, "⁰ civilization,

what terrible crimes have been committed in your name." And

today the red man is the last remnant of a people who was once,

as we believe, a righteous and intelligent race, but because of

his disobedience was punished much in the same manner as the

descendants of the tribes of Jacob.

We believe from the quoted evidence that it is at least a

thought worthy of consideration that the Christ did visit this

continent and leave with his people here the traditions which we

have cited, a religion in conformity to that taught in the New

Testament Scripture.

Now as it is true that in the histories of other nations evi-

dence of revolutionary movement, particularly, of a religious

character, shows that influence to be but ephemeral; so our

history points to the fact that after a few decades had passed

these people turned to their former sinful ways and began to

fight against each other. The Book of Mormon shows their

The Mound Builder and the Indian.         287

course was northward (See maps). This is also sustained by

Nadillac, Baldwin and Priest, while those of the higher type

were gradually driven from  their former habitations. They

came through the Mississippi Valley continually pressed on every

hand by the Lamanites and dissenting Nephites until they reached

the valley of the Ohio and its tributaries and there made their

last stand against the intruders until, as their mute remains

testify, they were overcome. According to the Book of Mormon

chronology, about the year 400 the last of the faithful Nephites

were overcome and slain. This data is also in harmony with

modern research, and here - in this Ohio country-it was that

fortifications were built in manner similar to those which I de-

scribed previously, duplicating in earthworks many of the forms

of defense known to them before being overrun by their

enemies. As a crowded, fleeing nation has no time to build

cities, the circular enclosures were no doubt places to defend

their helpless ones, while their warriors fought within the square

fort at the entrance or fort of protection; retreating to the circle

only as a last resort, and dwelling, as they must have done, in

tents. Their specimens of fortifications show art combined with

strength, and are truly marvelous pieces of architecture.

The Book of Mormon avers, and the writer believes, that

sufficient evidence can be produced to show that these people

were acquainted with the use of iron and steel. But on the

contrary many have asserted that because no such evidence was

found its use was unknown, much in the same manner as one

might assert that because he had never seen a steamship that

there was no such production. William Pidgeon in his traditions

of the "De Coo Dah" refers to the finding of pieces of copper

with iron rust about it as if the decayed object might have been

the remains of a sword, and Donnelly in his "Atlantis" states

that the ancient Peruvians worked excellent iron mines on the

west shore of Lake Titicaca. It was remarkable, says Molina,

that iron which was thought unknown to the ancient Americans

had specific names in some of their tongues. He states also that

the Mound Builders fashioned implements from meteoric iron.

Caleb Atwater in his "Archaeologia Americana", as recorded in

Admiral Brine's work, refers to a sword found in the mound at

288       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

Circleville, the handle made of an elk's horn, but the article

found showed an oxide which must have resulted from iron or

steel. It is not surprising that nothing but oxide remains when

we consider that a possible period of 1,000 years had passed

away before the white man came to this country, and then a

long period intervened before investigators of the mounds could

have revealed their contents. The same author states that in the

same mound was found an oxide which undoubtedly resulted

from a plate of iron.

The remains of Mexico reveal many idols in the forms of

animals, such as were worshiped in southern Asia and Egypt.

These Mexicans remains find their last expression in the effigy

mounds of which the great Serpent Mound in Adams county is

a type.

Perhaps it might be well to consider some of the evidences

in favor of there having been at least two civilizations on this

continent prior to the American Indian, the story of which is

recorded in the Book of Mormon.

William Pidgeon in his tradition of the "De Coo Dah" (on

page 176) says that the conclusion must be drawn that at least

two distinct races occupied portions of the northwest territory

and that both races became ultimately extinct anterior to the

occupation of the country by the present Indian race. Many

modern investigators believe the Indian and Mound Builders had

the same origin, but the same authorities are forced to admit a

racial distinction between them.  Pidgeon makes inferences,

drawn from Indian traditions that there was a great war be-

tween the Indian and Mound Builders and that finally the In-

dian race predominated. Stephens and Catherwood, in Volume

II, Harper & Brother's edition of "Central America, Chiapas

and Yucatan," page 186, writes as follows: "Comparing the

remains of Santa Cruz del Quiche with those of Copan and

Quirigua points out that there were no evidence of these places

[cities] being built by the same people but on the contrary all

indications considering these remains point to the fact that

Copan and Quirigua were cities of another race of much older

date." And in volume one of "Travels in Yucatan," page 304,

speaking of Uxmal, the author says the building possesses a

The Mound Builder and the Indian.         289

curious feature-it is erected over and completely enclosed a

smaller one of older date. Notice on the map the point of the

Jaredite landing and their line of travels and there will be

seen, by comparison with the Nephite map, the relation of the

two civilizations in the territory they covered and how well the

story in the Book of Mormon is verified by these discoveries.

Statements in the Columbian Encyclopedia and other works

definitely testify that the horse existed on the American continent

in pre-historic times. This knowledge was first narrated in

the Book of Mormon (1830). We are told further in this

book that the Jaredites and Nephites were learned in fine work-

manship of stone and wood, and every explorer who has visited

the mines of Central America and Peru expresses surprise at

the wonderful remains there observed. Admiral Brine, refer-

ring to a lintel found at Uxmal, says, "No attention has, how-

ever, been directed to the artisan qualities of the workman who

shaped and fitted the lintels, which, however, proves that the

workers in wood were as skillful as the masons. The lintels

were made of wood harder than mahogany and it is doubtful if

a good carpenter's plane could give them a smoother surface."

This quotation agrees with the fourth chapter, second book of

Nephi, Book of Mormon, as follows: "And I did teach my

people to build buildings and to work in all manner of wood,

copper, iron, brass and of steel and of gold and silver, and of

precious ores, which were in great abundance."

Concerning the animals that were upon this continent we

find in the Book of Ether a statement as follows: "And the

Lord began again to take the curse off the land  . . . inso-

much that they became exceeding rich, having all manner of fruit

and of grain and of silks and of fine linens and of gold, and of

silver and of precious things and also all manner of cattle, of oxen

and cows and of sheep and of swine and of goats and also many

other kinds of animals which were useful for the good of a

man and they also had horses and asses and there were elephants

and cureloms, and cumoms all of which were useful unto man

and more especially the elephants and cureloms and cumoms."

This statement refers to the first or Jaredite civilization, which

became extinct before the year 600 B. C., and bears out the

Vol. XXVI-19.

290       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

writer's idea that the people of the earlier civilization were the

originators of the Effigy Mounds. Dr. Peet in his "Prehistoric

America" refers to the images and remains of the elephant and

mastodon as found in various places and as the Book of Mormon,

which was written from plates supposed to have been inscribed

several centuries ago, it is possible that the Mastodon may have

been one of the animals to which reference is above made.

Nadaillac in his work says on page 25 as follows: "Mixed up

promiscuously with the human remains were found those of

several animals, chiefly feline and cervine, still extant in some

regions together with others belonging to species which have

now migrated or become extinct". On page 27 the same author

refers to the fact that several species of animals have disappeared

from the western hemisphere since the arrival of man, and this

bears out the statements contained in the Book of Mormon.

The above is also confirmed by articles in the National

Geographic Magazine.

As we stand upon the ancient battlefields in Ohio where,

according to tradition, have perished two powerful civilizations,

it is a source of much pleasure to the writer to note that at last

there has appeared a record of these people, the study of which

record we see agrees with authenticated accounts by scientific

investigators and that this record shows that the same divine

providence which overshadowed the Hebrews in their migrations

also protected the sons of Joseph and their posterity when faith-

ful, and we can see how He has created of one blood all nations

and has determined the bounds of their habitation.

This subject introduces itself into Ohio history not only

because are found in this state abundant records of the other-

wise unfathomable past. Here the Indian pushed back the

greater civilization and in turn was deprived of his great in-

heritance. But we believe that this is a matter of interest inas-

much as the people who accept the Book of Mormon as cor-

roborative evidence of the Bible, early in their career built

a temple that still stands in Northern Ohio known as the Kirt-

land Temple.

For the benefit of the readers of the Ohio State Archaeolog-

ical and Historical Quarterly, who may not be familiar with the

The Mound Builder and the Indian.         291

relation of the Book of Mormon to the prehistoric earth works

of Ohio and the relation of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter

Day Saints to the history of Ohio, a few words of explanation,

in conclusion, are in order. In 1827 Joseph Smith, Jr., then a

young man, resident of Palmyra, New York, began his transla-

tion of the sacred writings on the gold plates, known as the

Record of Mormon, which translation, in addition to the Bible,

constitutes not only the faith and teachings of the Church of

Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints but also is a religious history

of the aborigines of America, as is brought out in the narrative

statement of the article herewith written. In 1831 Smith moved

with his followers to Kirtland, Lake county, Ohio. Here the

members of the new sect rapidly increased in number and the

building known as the Kirtland Temple was erected, a building

still standing and the object of historic interest to innumerable

visitors. Here the church thrived and was thoroughly organized,

with Joseph Smith, Jr., as its chief head. The name of the sect

adopted was "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."

From Kirtland, they went to Jackson County, Missouri.

While there, religious persecution became intolerable, which

forced them to make their departure. Their next place of set-

tling was Illinois. There they founded and built the city of

Nauvoo.   Again religious persecution became very intense.

Joseph Smith was arrested on a pretense of treason. Of this

charge he was acquitted. He was immediately rearrested on

some false accusations. With his brother and two others, he

was committed to jail without a hearing, although protest was

offered by their council. While in jail, they were attacked by a

drunken mob of about two hundred, which fired, killing Smith

and his brother Hyman, on June 27, 1844.

The iniquity of polygamy, as condemned in the Book of

Mormon, was taught to be a great evil by Joseph Smith. Brig-

ham Young, one of the disciples of the church, became the chief

apostate and usurper, taking the leadership of the church without

authority and taking such as would follow him, migrated to the

wilds of Utah, at Salt Lake City, in the year of 1852, eight

years after the death of Smith.

292      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

Brigham Young instituted the nefarious doctrine of polyg-

amy into the apostate Latter Day Saint Church, headquarters at

Salt Lake City.

The original Latter Day Saints faith, as established by

Joseph Smith, Jr., was adhered to by bands and followers

remaining or originating in various places in the middle

west.   These representatives of the original church are

strong and outspoken opponents of the doctrine and practice of

polygamy. A portion of the original organization retained an

existence in Kirtland and claimed the property as against the

Utah branch.  In 1880 the "Reorganized Church of Jesus

Christ of Latter Day Saints" as the eastern remnant of the true

faith designated themselves, brought suit to affirm their title to

the Kirtland Temple. The Utah Mormon church was made

defendant. The decision of the Ohio court, Judge L. S. Sher-

man presiding, was not only that the Kirtland Temple belonged

to the "reorganized" organization, but that the reorganization

represented the true and lawful continuation of, and successor

to, the said original Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day

Saints, instituted in 1830, and was entitled in law to all its

rights and property, but the court also held that polygamy and

kindred false doctrines were only promulgated and exclusively

adopted by the church in Utah.

This Ohio trial and court decision therefore legally estab-

lished the fact that while the church of Utah had departed from

the faith, doctrine and usages of the original church and the

clear teachings of the Book of Mormon, the reorganized church

now existing in Ohio, and in other localities of the country, has

never departed from the true principles and practices of the

original church and not only does the Ohio church abhor but

denounces the doctrine of celestial marriages, plurality of wives

and Adam-worship.