OCR Text |
Show :. j , 'V V 'X "H V ?S V ' v - V' '':. o vft y. slttiSf 5? ,,?,:::M:H-krjt- ' ''" ? 'S. !F . C " 'iv s' ''' - v$t i -- jf ' ) . i 'v ? : ' TV 35 'V'S't.vS ,. 8 C v & Photo shows three cultures. Foreground is Tenochititlan, an city; center an early Spanish church, and rear, a modern apartment bouse. Told Of Ancients Story In Latin American Ruins Story by JACK E. JARRARD Photos by PAUL R. CHEESMAN PROVO, UTAH ' ground has just begun to be in uncovering ruins in the a area and many archeological treasures are still covered with vegetation and tropical growth. Thats the way Dr. Paul R. Cheesman, director of the Brigham Young Institute of Book of Mormon Projects, sees it He and Mrs. Cheesman have returned from an g tour of 8,000-mil-e photo and The Mexico-Guatemal- fact-findin- ihe area. The institute is a tool of BYU in researching all aspects of the Book of Mormon culture, history, theology, etc. Dr. Cheesman emphasized that the institute is not an . archeology project but rather one to relate discoveries in archeology and other fields to be used in the teaching of the Book of Mormon. The institute has received valuable assistance from Dr. Wells Jakeman and Dr. Ross Christensen of the BYU Archeology Department In correlating this work. He added that the institute is trying to excite people in Book of Mormon history. culture means The Lamanite-Nephlt- e much to the people of the Church and properly so. Here at BYU should we not have the greatest collection of artifacts, records, writings, concerning them in the world? Through revelation we have received much knowledge concerning these people. Should not BYU then be preeminent in this field of culture? Elder Spencer W. Kimball of the Council of the Twelve asked on Sept. 12, 1967, In the BYU fic'.dhouse during an address to the faculty. The university has quite a collection of artifacts as well as material from the. early days of the Church but has no museum to house them in one central area for students and the public to see. Dr. Cheesman, who received his doctorate in religious education, spent a month recently in Mexico and Guatemala with Mrs. Cheesman inspecting, photographing and writing about ruins in those two countries. They traveled by truck and camper into the remote areas. Dr. Cheesman emphasized that such power equipment is necessary to get into some of the ruins. There are quite a few ruins left by ancient peoples near the highways but there are many others off the beaten track. The Mexican government has built roads to some of the sites. lie believes that the Mayan culture is a reflection of the Nephite culture, but isnt well-know- n dences seem to stop at Guatemala then pick up again in Peru. Historians are trying to figure out where these people came from and whore they have gone. Many of the evidences found were during Book of Moimon times and some after. The evidences after the Book of Mormon arc just as important as have characteristics Continued on Page 8 f $ 4 i . . - - .. t ? 'v'iT'X ...... positive. Dr. Cheesman pointed out that evidences fot Book of Mormon civilizations are in Peru, Central America and Mexico. Correlations of the culture with the Book of Mormon history show the possibility of those ancient civilizations in this area being related in some way. Particularly the Olmec culture of the Mexico gulf coast and the Mayan of southern Mexico, Guatemala and Yucatan those before," he said. It was interesting to note that 85 per cent of the items mentioned in the Book of Mormon in .early Church ' times were scoffed at. Now there are only about 15 per cent ol &$, ' ... v- Jf - that allow specific relationships with the Book of Mormon as to time and customs. "It's Interesting to note that these evi Dr. and Mrs. Paul R. Cheesman pause In front of Mexican ruin. Vv'ftK fNDIfiG APUfl'id, CHURCH- -j |