On the Trail of the Plates of Mormon

In my previous post, I mentioned a passage from the Mentinah Archives that talked about people coming from other lands and visiting the Nemenhah people.

Here is that passage and a great discussion on seeking the Holy Spirit in all things.

Manti 3:3

3. For behold, we did as a people build many cities in my lifetime. Yea, many cities did grow up in the land.
And following the everlasting hills, one can hardly travel one day without finding refuge in one of the
cities of the Nemenhah in the Land Northward. And from the great mountains even to the coasts of the
western sea, the same does apply. The traveler can disembark on the coast of the sea, having traveled
from the Isles of the Sea, and then proceed east and not spend one day in travel but that he has not come
upon a city of the Nemenhah for refuge in the night.

4. And behold, from the great mountains traveling into the east, one is already in the lands of the Nemenhah of Corianton and their cities are spread out upon the whole face of the land, even unto the eastern sea, and also far into the north. Wherefore, the whole face of the Land Northward is spread with cities and many roads have been built to connect them.

5. Yea, and all the people do engage in trade together, one city taking of its increase and trading with
another. In this way, one city is no different than any other, save only perhaps in size. For, they are all
refuges to the traveler and the trader, and none are turned back from the gate. For, whereas in the time of
my fathers the cities were built to be refuges against the Gadiantonhem, in my day, the cities are become
more refuges from the elements than from evil doers. For, we have all things in common and there are no
more Gadiantonhem among us.

6. And it is because of this happy state of union wherein we did find ourselves because of the knowledge we had of our Christ and of the covenants we had made unto Him, that many people began to come into our lands from other parts of the world and we did welcome them. Yea, there were people from Jerusalem of old who did travel unto our shores. And also, there were curious looking people from afar to the West,
even across the western sea, who did come to live upon the land and they also became Nemenhah. And
this because of the great peace which we did enjoy after the coming of the Son of God.

7. And behold, they do also bring many of their own beliefs and writings. Wherefore, we gained a witness that God does love all people. For, in many of their writings and beliefs and practices, we do see elements of those things which Christ and the prophets taught us. Yea, we do see truths in the things they also taught us from their lands and their cultures. And it was because we do walk upon the Way and we do constantly seek the guidance that only a confirmation of the Holy Ghost may bring that we do not grow confused.

8. For, our faith is certain and our knowledge is sure. Wherefore, how may we be confused by the teachings
of other races and other nations if our own intentions are pure and our eye single to the glory of God? For
does He not raise up prophets unto all nations? Or, where the things of the Spirit are concerned, are we
alone in all the world? Behold, that would be pride indeed, to believe that God may only talk through the
Nemenhah.

9. We are not alone. For, the Holy Ghost does work upon the hearts of men everywhere. And, even if it so
be that the hearts of men in general do wax gross, yea, and even the whole of a nation does succumb and
the eyes of their spirits be filled with darkness, still, there shall be some few who strive to become
enlightened. Unto such will the Spirit ever hasten? Yea, even though the entire nation become filled with
corruption and darkness, if there be but one soul seeking the light and truth of the gospel, the Holy Ghost
shall nurture and comfort that one soul.

10. Wherefore, we did accept the teaching of other peoples insofar as the Spirit does guide. And if the Spirit speaks not on a certain matter, we do not embrace the doctrine, but we do honor the belief. But behold, if the Spirit testifies against a practice or a doctrine which did flow unto us from another people, we do preach the gospel unto them and admonish them to re-think the matter. In this way we do always conduct ourselves in a manner which we believe will bring upon us the approbation of a just and loving God. And in this we think to avoid the judgments of God. For, we seek all truth in all circumstances, and in this we think to honor God and all His followers, regardless of their origin.

11. But I do warn and forewarn all those who might find and read these writings of mine. Seek not truth from foreigners, but from God. And seek not to confirm the truth through the writings of other people, for this is vanity. The wisest of their wise men cannot confirm the truth of one thing. Let the Holy Ghost confirm all things unto you, be they written by your own hand, or by the hand of a foreigner. For, how can one man confirm the truth to another? Does he have all things before him? Then how can one nation confirm the truth to another? Does that nation possess all truth? Wherefore can that nation be a confirmation of truth unto another? Whereas, if you seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost in all things, you cannot be deceived, for, only the Spirit may bring all things to your remembrance.

12. Behold, I say unto you, Unless you are guided in all things by the Spirit, you will be tripped up. Yea, no
matter your intention, you will be deceived from time to time. The same has happened even to the
Nemenhah and so let our experience be an example unto you. Yea, let me recount unto you a disturbance
that did trouble the people of Mentinah for a time because they failed to subject all things unto the
confirmation of the Holy Ghost.

In the next few lines, Manti talks about a foreigner who believed in everything the Nemenhah taught except in plural marriages. This idea spread throughout the Nemenhah people until the elders prayed about this teaching and found out it was not correct. They taught the foreigner and the people the correct principle. The foreigner went back to his own lands and taught the people what he learned.

There is a lot I can talk about with this passage. This during the time after Christ visited the Nemenhah and the Nephites. You can see how there was peace in the land and the conditions that existed. Every effort was made to keep the Gadiatonhem from the lands. Cities were built throughout the land and they became refuges. I have read elsewhere, I believe in Moronihah, that the cities were kept small so that the resources surrounding the cities were not used up too quickly. I believe these might be the Moundbuilder people. This passage says that people even came from as far as Jerusalem to visit and left records. Now, I wonder how these people from Israel knew about the Nemenhah or even people living in North America. There must have been trading going on or early explorations to these lands. These records might similar to the ones that have been found throughout the United States, ie, Michigan and Burrows Tablets, amongst other artifacts that have been found that predate these findings. In another post, I will show you a public domain book that shows that at least the Phoenicians knew one route through the Pacific. In the same paper, it even mentioned Jewish sea traders, so maybe North America was known to the Jews but kept it a secret. This is an area I will like to explore more later on.

Throughout the Archives, seeking the Holy Spirit in all things seem to be the main theme when learning knew things, especially the things of God. This passage is very clear on seeking the Holy Spirit even reading Manti’s own writings. This is also one of the main teachings of the LDS Church. We are told to seek the Spirit in all things, even the words of the Prophet. The closer we are to the Spirit the closer we are to God and Christ.