Letter from Robert Holmes, 18 December 1889 [LE-12526]
Document Transcript
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To the presidincy of the church of Jesus
Christ of Latter day Saints, Greeting.
Dear Sirs,
I have an empelling force in me that I
can not resist. Reason, truth and light
tells me that ignorance is not bliss. Truth
light and intelligence are the characteristics of
the latter day saints. And espashelly should
these principles be disaminated among the
young of that people. To which I am glad
to say that they are. And what I wish to
draw the attention of the Brethren to is the
giveing of Lectures on the geography of the
Book of Mormon to the Young men and ladies
association. permite me here to say, that in
these Lectures, a map is made, and a city
and lands are located. lines are showen
with their names. Now the name is all-
right. but the location dos not give satisfaction
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all round to older heads, as it has been openly
expressed even by some Bishops and leading
men. And this partly is one reason why I take
up the subject. I may say I have gone through
the Book of Mormon twenty times to find out the
Ge-o-graphical part of it. And I doubt the
ab^i^lity of any man to get up a map and locate
a city as its proper site. I have seen ^two^ maps
gotten up and if my memery serves me right the
two maps disagree. And further more the two
maps disagree with the Book of Mormon its self
for enstance if the city Jashon is placed on the map
and located in south America, and the Book lo-
cate it in North america, which is dos, these
two do not agree. Again if Moroni's line of
defence is placed on a map and located in
south America, running from a given point
nearly a north and south direction where it
would take a Nephite many days to cross it.
And the book say it was a days journey for
a nephite to cross it, from sea to sea, there is
a dis agreement, and the book say so. Now
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the water of Mormon I dear not say much
about it. But with my close study I could
never place it in south America, from the
fact, the condition as a wooded thicket as Alma
found it as a resort to preach and baptize in
in his day. And the condition as found,
280 years a go by two Franciscon Monks I
am enduced to believe it to be located in what
is now known as Guatimala. Alma says it
was a place of pure water. the above Monks
in 1608 went to preach to the indians that dwelt
on an island in a very large Lake in Guatima-
la and the indians sent them a way saying the
time had not come for them to receive christianity
And in after years the Spanish soldiers had
to cut their way to this beautifull place of water
and with their guns frighted the natives they took
to the water and escaped to lands unknown, and
the Monks with the soldies sent a shout of victory to the
heavens and thanked God they had gained an island
with out an inhabitant. Now my next poit
is one that I am a little timmid on as it
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is one that has been handled by men of skill
and ability. And that is the city and land
of Zarahemla. I have taken great paines
and searched deep to find the ge-o-graphy of
that noted and historic place, and with the
discoveries of men made 40 and 50 years a go in
central america, and the reading of the Book of
Mormon its self I could not think to hunt
in south america for it. My reasons, 156 16
And they journeyed in the wilderness and were brought
by the hand of the Lord, a cross the great waters
into the land were Mosiah discovered them. And
They Had Dwelt There From That Time Forth [Omni 1:16]
The land were Mulek was brought too. 445, 10
Now the land south was called Lehi. And
the land north was called Mulek, which was
after the son of Zedekiah. For the Lord did
bring Mulek into the land north. And
Lehi into the land south, [Helaman 6:10] with the above
I can produce a number of evidences that will
establish my theory I think with out a success
full contridiction as to its Ge-o-graphical location
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Brethren of the presidency of the church I must again resume my subject, at the
same time I reliaze ^my^ weakness in under
taking a subject of this kind, and have
tried to resent it, but in vain. Therefor
although my limes quiver while I write as
I feel the weight of my position. Yet by
the help of God if I am permited to appear
befor the leaders of the church to give a reason
for the hope that is with in me. As to
the Ge-o-graphical situation of cities and
lands as given by the Book of Mormon its self
which I will mention below. I shall hold
my self in readiness to respond.
1st The city of Jashon, in the north.
2 The line of defence of Moroni again
st the Lamanites, one days journey.
3 The land and city of Zarahemla, as
being close to the land of Moron isso
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named by the Jeradites, in the south part
of north America.
4 The great general Mormon's nativity
Seems to me can be traced into the land
north, as given by his 10th, 11th, 15th, and
16th, years of age. As Ammaron give him
charge of the plates as hidden in the hill
Shim at ten years of age, in the land Antum
I wish here to say ^if^ the above can be success-
fuly esablished to the satisfaction of all
concerned, the waters of Mormon can
easly ^be^ located, Ge-o-graphcaly, and that by Almas travels with his little band of saints
at liest that is my opinion. I am 58 years of age
I am a high priest in the church.
My aime is to get at the right understing of
things as they are, and as they should be seen
I take no honnor to my self. if I am enlight
end it is through prayer to God, to whom I
have appealed to for light. if my theory is rong
I shall hope to be put right. That being
my objective point. hoping you will
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give this subject your canded consideration,
and if it meet your approval please to commu
unicate your sentiments as to its utility, and
you will conferr a favor upon your brother in
the gospel of Christ.