When they were first commanded to testify of these things they demurred and told the Lord that the people would not believe them for the Book of Mormon, concerning which they were to bear record, told of people who were educated nd refined, dwelling in large cities; whereas all that was then known of the early inhbitants of this country was the filthy, lazy, degraded and ignorant savages that were roaming over the land.
David Whitmer said: "The Lord told us in reply that He would make it known to the people that the early inhabitants of this land had been just such a people as they were described in the Book of Mormon and he would lead them to uncover the ruins of the great cities, and they should have abundant evidence of the truth of that which is written in the book."
The seal of Melchizedek is a sacred symbol depicting Deity. It is found all over the world. However Latter-day saints can find this Sacred Symbol in the most holy of places, our Temples.
The San Diego temple seems to have the most representations of the Seal of Melchizedek. Below are some examples. (Some pictures borrowed from Sealofmelchizedek.com [No Affiliation]
The picture below depicts the Seal of Melchizedek at the Salt Lake Temple.
The picture below is a gold artifact found in South America clearly depicting the Seal of Melchizedek.
Below we see that the Seal of Melchizedek is clearly represented on the Aztec calendar stone.
Below we again find the seal of Melchizedek in an earthwork in Ohio. It shares the same sacred geometry as the Great Pyramid of Giza.
The Picture below is one of the many Nazca lines found in Peru. Again, we find the seal of Melchizedek clearly depicted.
Some more designs of the Nazca Lines in South America (Peru)
The Nazca lines are very similar to the effigy mounds of North America. Specifically the state of Wisconsin seemed to have a different and distinct peoples &has (or had) more effigy mounds than any other state. Unfortunately most are now destroyed due to cultivation and human expansion.
Below are designs of various effigy mounds found in Wisconsin. (I count it not coincidence thatthis picture was found on JosephKnew.com and can be found here: http://www.josephknew.com/the-adena-culture/)
Now I am going to share something that is MY OPINION.
At the bottom of this site http://www.bookofmormongeography.net/map.htm you will find under the section "Did Joseph Smith say anything about Book of Mormon geography?" the following:
He said that the Jaredites settled in the country of Aztalan, Wisconsin. This is an archeological site similar to the thousands found in the Mississippi valley region attributed to the Mound Builders of North America. The site contains three small stepped pyramidal mounds.
Times and Seasons, "Truth will prevail." Vol. III. No. 16. CITY OF NAUVOO, ILL. JUNE 15, 1842. [Whole No. 52 From the Millennial Star Pg 88.] After the death of Don Carlos Smith, Josephs younger brother in August of 1841, Joseph took responsibilities of editor of Times and Seasons.
Now this statement is usually generally not believed by those who study book of Mormon geography. Again, try to bear with me here....The very name Aztalan was named by Judge Hyer who was a member of our church! Could it be that this was a prophetic statement? What if Wisconsin IS where the Jaredites settled? Now, I will attempt to show you why (I believe) it IS where they settled.
NOTE: it says in the COUNTRY of Aztalan. I take that to mean the surrounding vicinity. Also Aztalan could have been a much older settlement that was added upon by later peoples (as we find elsewhere)
Another fascinating "coincidence" is that Increase A. Lapham whose contributions are surpassed by none, is the author of THE ANTIQUTIES OF WISCONSIN. He was also the first to properly survey Aztalan and many other ancient earthworks in southern Wisconsin. Mr. Lapham was born in PALMYRA, NEW YORK on March 7, 1811.....
Below is a picture of myself Atop the Pyramid at Aztalan, WI. I must say that I felt the spirit as soon as I got there!
It is believed by some that the Adena Culture is the best fit for the Jaredites. This is based upon the fact that the timeline matches. Also based upon the unmatched work of Wayne May.
Below is a picture of an Adena (proposed Jaredite) point that I personally found in Jefferson County. The same county as Aztalan (the country surrounding).
Below is a another picture of my own making that I believe helps the theory that there was a Jaredite Presence in Jefferson, County, WI. Coincidentally both the above point and mound below are located in PALMYRA, WI. Again, same County and the surrounding country of Aztalan.
Connected to the northern border of Wisconsin is the upper peninsula of Michigan. This is known for its copper, iron, & silver mines today as well as anciently. Found plentifully are ancient copper pits and utensils (picture below) used to mine such. (this is the only place in the world where silver is found imbedded with the copper)
In the Jaredite Record we find the following:
21 And they did preserve the land southward for a wilderness, to get game. And the whole face of the land northward was covered with inhabitants.
22 And they were exceedingly industrious, and they did buy and sell and traffic one with another, that they might get gain.
23 And they did work in all manner of ore, and they did make gold, and silver, and iron, and brass, and all manner of metals; and they did dig it out of the earth; wherefore, they did cast up mighty heaps of earth to get ore, of gold, and of silver, and of iron, and of copper. And they did work all manner of fine work. (Ether 10:21-23)
Below is an example of a hammer stone found near the ancient copper mines. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of them. Some are so large that it must have been used by a people larger than us.
"And also they have brought breastplates, which are large and they are of brass and of copper, and are perfectly sound. And again they have brought swords, the hilts thereof have perished, and the blades thereof were cankered with rust" (Mosiah 8:10-11)
Below are artifacts found in Wisconsin.
Also examples of various Breastplates recovered in mounds.
“And now, in this two hundred and first year there began to be among them those who were lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel, and all manner of fine pearls, and of the fine things of the world.” (4 Nephi 1:24).
The breastplate below is decorated with numerous fresh water pearls!
(below the breastplates are the many different styles of weapons mostly found in Wisconsin)
The example below (43402/11996) measures 13 x 12.5 x 1.6 centimeters and was discovered with a cache of 20 other copper artifacts in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin during the construction of a sewer trench in 1916.
In Ether chapter 9:19 we read:
19 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.
Modern archaeology often reference this verse as proof that the book of Mormon is false. "There were no elephants in the new world they say". Well, lets take a look..
In "ANIMAL CARVINGS FROM MOUNDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY BY HENRY W. HENSHAW" we find:
The first elephant pipe, which we obtained (Fig. 17) a little more than a year ago, was found some six years before by an illiterate German farmer named Peter Mare, while planting corn on a farm in the mound region, Louisa County, Iowa. He did not care whether it was elephant or kangaroo; to him it was a curious 'Indian stone,' and nothing more, and he kept it and smoked it.
Most importantly we find reference to the Elephant mound found in Grant County, Wisconsin!
In the picture below is the tooth of a mammoth found in Janesville, WI. Janesville is a town built on the Rock river. Aztalan is just north of Janesville if you were to follow the river a bit north.
Below is a Petroglyph I found that I believe portrays a mammoth or mastodon. I will admit it is more convincing in person. This was found on a waterway that connects my familys property (since 1845) to Aztalan and other prominent spots.
Ether 11:6:" And there was a great calamity in all the land, for they had testified that a great curse should come upon the land, and also the people, and that there should be a great destruction among them, such an one as never had been upon the face of the earth, AND THEIR BONES SHOULD BECOME AS HEAPS OF EARTH UPON THE FACT OF THE LAND except they should repent of their wickedness."
Ether 15:26: "....And they were large and mighty men as to the strength of men."
3 And it came to pass in the forty and sixth, yea, there was much contention and many dissensions; in the which there were an exceedingly great many who departed out of the land of Zarahemla, and went forth unto the land northward to inherit the land
4 And they did travel to an exceedingly great distance, insomuch that they came to large bodies of water and many rivers.
5 Yea, and even they did spread forth into all parts of the land, into whatever parts it had not been rendered desolate and without timber, because of the many inhabitants who had before inherited the land.
6 And now no part of the land was desolate, save it were for timber; but because of the greatness of the destruction of the people who had before inhabited the land it was called desolate.
7 And there being but little timber upon the face of the land, nevertheless the people who went forth became exceedingly expert in the working of cement; therefore they did build houses of cement, in the which they did dwell.
Below is an example of "Aztalan brick" or it could be called "Aztalan cement"
We know from the book of Mormon that the Jaredites traveled east to the hill Cumorah in Palmyra, N.Y.
We also know that the Aaronic Priesthood was restored to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery by the resurrected John The Baptist on the banks of the SUSQUEHANNA RIVER. (Doctrine and Covenants Sec. 13)
The picture Below:
On the left side are mounds found in Wisconsin.
On the right side are petroglyphs found in Safe Harbor, PA on the SUSQUEHANNA RIVER.
It could be argued they are an exact match. Could they have been traveling eastward unto Cumorah? (New York)
In conclusion we learn that Wisconsin had a unique peoples that disappeared. Then in Mesoamerica we find to many similarities to be coincidence. The Olmecs also build mounds and earthworks, even flat top pyramid mounds build by the first inhabitants of central America.
Below are the oldest earthworks (mounds) in Mesoamerica that predate the Aztec and Mayan Pyramids.
When we hear the name "the great serpent mound" generally what comes to mind is this Adena effigy mound in Ohio. (Adena=Jaredite)
However, Relatively unknown to most is a effigy petroglyph that shares the same name. It is located on the same enclosure that the above flat top pyramid is.
