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Mayans, Aztecs, Incans Descend From Lamanites?

Did they Mayans, Incans, Or Aztecs descend from Lamanites? what do you think? It also says in the Book Of Mormon the Nephites spoke reformed Epygtian with a slight altering. Has anyone ever compared languages of American Indian tribes with Epygtian? Please post your thoughts on this

Lamanites Descend Incans Aztecs Mayans

I don't particularly subscribe either to the theory that the Lehites lived in South or Central America, nor the theory that they were a huge nation.

I am sure that they (Nephites and Lamanites) affected some of those cultures that you are talking about in some ways, but the known history of those three civilizations are not compatible with what we know of the Lamanites and Nephites.

Personally, I believe that Lehi's family settled in the region around what is now Kirtland, OH. I am certainly willing to be shown evidence otherwise, but I think that most of the "evidence" is taken out of context.

Just my opinion.

Mayans, Aztecs, Incans Descend From Lamanites? Studies Doctrine Mormon

Central America is the only place that has demonstrated the necessary qualifications... namely: a large population, literacy, multiple languages, metal smithing, stone temple building, priest caste, kings, wars and disappearance.

The Olmec civilization roughly corresponds with the Jaredite civilization and the the pre-classic Maya civilization with the Nephite civilization. This is just a brief smattering of evidence. I'd be interested to see what qualifications Kirtland Ohio has?

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Lamanites Descend Incans Aztecs Mayans

A close friend of mine told me once that if one was to look at those ancient people, and look at there beliefs or religion we would find similar aspects to Christianity. The biggest similarity is that there teachings spoke of a god with fare skin and facial hair who has come to them, and promises he will return upon clouds. If you look at history why else would have Cortez and his men have been treated like gods when they arrived. These Spaniards had fare skin, beards, and silver armor that made them shine. Would not the sails on there ship resemble clouds?
It made sense to me when I heard it.

Lamanites Descend Incans Aztecs Mayans

Superme, interesting points. It is true, in most ancient cultures they have stories narrated in a similar fashion about a "God" with those same characteristics you mentioned coming to them, healing them of their illnessess and promised to returned soon.

Rather off topic, but... QUOTE If you look at history why else would have Cortez and his men have been treated like gods when they arrived. These Spaniards had fare skin, beards, and silver armor that made them shine. Would not the sails on there ship resemble clouds? True, but at the same time not all "Conquistadors" were received as "gods" with open arms by the inhabitants of those lands. They were many who were rejected and killed.

Edited: LDS_forever on 31st Oct, 2006 - 2:33am

True, but at the same time not all "Conquistadors" were received as "gods" with open arms by the inhabitants of those lands. They were many who were rejected and killed.

Mayans, Aztecs, Incans Descend From Lamanites?

Nephites and Lamanites were maybe distinct in the beginning of the BoM, as in two family units. As the BoM progresses though, they became so intermixed at times that I would not say that anyone today comes just from "the Lamanites." They would only be Lamanites in the sense that people who did not follow the commandments were labled that way in the BoM, and there were no more righteous people left in the end of the BoM.

There's a long-standing belief that the Nephites and Lamanites were the only people to inhabit the Americas. There's nothing in the BoM that says that, but it's been a natural assumption. That is probably not the case, at least not based on the limited archeological evidence we have from the Americas. I heard recently from an archeologist that only like 5% - 10% of sites in South America have actually been excavated. So there's certainly a lot left to be learned. This comment was not in relation to anything about the BoM by the way. It was just a general discussion about our knowledge of those cultures.

Mayans Aztecs Incans Descend Lamanites

Apparently there has been some study done on this:

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Mayans Aztecs Incans Descend Lamanites Mormon Doctrine Studies

Name: Callis

Comments: Many of the articles in the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies over the last few years have discussed an increasing amount of evidence in MesoAmerica that parallels the Book of Mormon. Including geographic distances and relations to rivers, bodies of waters, mountains and the like, time periods of the rise and fall of the Olmec and Maya corresponding to the Jaredites and Nephites. Cities, city organization (such as towers, markets and gardens) city defenses, weapons, animals, methods and times of war etc etc.

Some articles have also made this point.

You can take two approaches to determine which of the Ancient civilizations would match the Book of Mormon. Start with all and discard those that don't fit or, start with none and include only those that do.
If you use the latter method the only two groups that would be included by archeological correspondence with the Book of Mormon record are the Maya and the Olmec.

So while this really proves nothing, it seems the consensus of much of the scholarship is falling on MesoAmerica and thus the Maya and Olmec, and suggests this would be the group most directly related to the Lehites.