F I F T E E N
Cultural Patterns
Now it was the custom of the people of Nephi to call their lands, and their cities, and their villages, yea, even all their small villages after the name of him who first possessed them; and thus it was with the land of Ammonihah.
(ALMA 8:7)
TRADITIONS IN MESOAMERICA AND IN THE BOOK OF MORMON
Whether walking down the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem or visiting the village of San Juan Chamula in Chiapas, Mexico, a traveler gets the feeling that things have not changed very much over the last 2,000 years. If you read the accounts of the customs and traditions of Mesoamerica written by Diego de Landa or Bernardino de Sahagun, written in the 16th Century, you soon come to a similar realization that many customs and traditions in Mesoamerica are the same after almost 500 years.
Clothing, houses, food, and family customs appear to have changed very little over the years in Mesoamerica. Some interesting comparisons of the life styles of Book of Mormon people compared to the life styles of Mesoamerica people may be of interest.
'Me following represents a sample of interesting comparisons between the traditions and customs in the Book of Mormon with Mesoamerica traditions and customs. The list is not intended to be exhaustive, but it simply serves as a "liahona" to point to the need for continued and more detailed research both in the Book of Mormon and in Mesoamerica.
Interestingly, when the Book of Mormon was published in 1830, very little was known about Mesoamerica. People oftentimes criticized the Book of Mormon on the grounds that many things mentioned in it (such as cement and wheels) did not exist during the time required by the Book of Mormon. At the middle of the 18th Century, only about 20 percent of so-called external evidences relating to the Book of Mormon had been discovered in Mesoamerica. That has now reversed because virtually all things mentioned in the Book of Mormon have been discovered as having existed in Mesoamerica during the time period required by the Book of Mormon.
ASTRONOMY
Alma said to the antichrist, Korihor, ". . . even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also ALL THE PLANETS WHICH MOVE IN THEIR REGULAR FORM do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." (Alma 30:44)
Nephi, the son of Helaman, said, "And thus, according to his word the earth goeth back, and it appeareth unto man that the sun standeth still; yea, and behold, this is so; FOR SURELY IT IS THE EARTH THAT MOVETH AND NOT THE SUN." (Helaman 12-15)
These BC prophets understood things pertaining to the movements in the heavens. The Spanish writers recorded that the ancient Tultecas of Mesoamerica were men of science who understood things pertaining to astronomy. (See comments by Ixtlilxochitl and Sahagun in Chapters 11 and 12 of this section.)
The Classic Maya (200 AD-900 AD) went to great lengths to erect observatories to understand better the movements of the planets. The Maya observatory at Chichen Itza, the Toltec temple at Chichen Itza, and the Maya temple of Tulum are positioned in relationship to the sun. During the spring and fall equinox, the shadows slowly descend down the temple steps at Chichen Itza-finally settling upon the head of the serpent and thus giving an impression of the serpent's moving. The Maya Classic Period observatory as illustrated in Figure 15-1 is a case in point.
CEMENT
About 45 BC, a large group of Nephites migrated to the "Land Which Was Northward"-the place that is proposed to be in the Mexico City Valley area. Speaking of this group of Nephites, Mormon says,
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. (Helaman 3:7)
Teotihuacan, located in what is considered to be the "Land Which Was Northward," was in existence during the time period referred to above (150 BC ff). Teotihuacan has a city
center that is literally built of cement. Construction by cement is found extensively throughout Mesoamerica. Mitla, a Zapotec site in the State of Oaxaca, although built during a later time period (1300 AD-1500 AD), is an outstanding accomplishment in the workings of cement. (See Figure 15-2.)
Until just recently, when steel has started to play a major role in construction in the Mexico City Valley, most modem buildings were built with cement. Timber is scarce and is very expensive.
CLIMATE
Only a few scriptures in the Book of Mormon give any hint about the climate. About 70 BC, Mormon said that some of the people died with fevers, ". . . which at SOME SEASONSof the year were very frequent in the land . . . ." Mormon then informs us that the excellent qualities of plants and roots helped remove the diseases that the people were subjected to because of "the NATURE OF THE CLIMATE."(Alma 46:40)
The lowland jungle area of Guatemala, along the Usumacinta and Grijalva Rivers that are proposed as the general area of the Land of Zarahemla, certainly meets such climatic descriptions as given above.
On another occasion, Nephi, the son of Helaman, was shown to plead with the Lord not to let the people be destroyed by the sword but to send a famine that would cause the people to be stirred up in remembrance of the Lord. When the people repented, Nephi asked the Lord to ". . . send forth RAINupon the face of the earth, that she may bring forth her fruit, and her grain in THE SEASON OF GRAIN."(Alma 11: 13)
The people of Mesoamerica absolutely depend on the rainy season for production of their crops. Those familiar with the seasons of Mesoamerica well know that, as opposed to winter, summer, spring, and fall, the seasons in Mesoamerica are measured in terms of the "rainy season" (May-October) or the "dry season" (October-May).
A deeper understanding of the Book of Mormon is realized as we understand the climatic conditions of Mesoamerica.
CLOTHES
Both elaborate clothing and scanty clothing are mentioned in the Book of Mormon. Five years before the birth of Christ, Samuel the Lamanite warned the people that the day would come when they would accept false prophets, when the people would give their substance to the false prophets, and when the people would clothe the false prophets in COSTLY APPAREL. (Helaman 13:28) Two hundred one years after the coming of Christ, the prophecy was literally fulfilled as there were ". . . those who were lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel . . . ." (4 Nephi 1:24) (See Figure 15-3.)
Today, in the mountains of the State of Chiapas, Mexico, and in Highland Guatemala, where over 4 million native people live, the manner of dress consists of beautiful, embroidered, colorful material. Each village is distinguished by its own particular style and color of dress. One set of clothing today, called "huipiles," is traditionally associated with rank and status.
In the lowlands, along the coast of Guatemala, and in the Yucatan, the style of dress is less elaborate and in many cases is scanty. Traditionally, the Maya of the Peten, Guatemala, dress in simple loin cloths-a practice that coincides with Mormon's description of the Lamanites:
Now the heads of the Lamanites were shorn; and they were naked, save it were skin which was girded about their loins, and also their armor, which was girded about them, and their bows, and their arrows, and their stones, and their slings, and so forth. (Alma 3:5)
CORN (Grains)
From a casual reading of the Book of Mormon, we know that the most staple food product during the middle Nephite time period was corn. Corn, or maize, is native to the Americas; and evidence of corn appears as early as 500 BC.
And we began to till the ground, yea, even with all manner of seeds, with seeds of corn, and of wheat, and of barley, and with neas, and with sheum, and with seeds of all manner of fruits; and we did begin to multiply and prosper in the land. (Mosiah 9:9)
In the Yucatan, the Maya double cropped their corn. In Guatemala and Chiapas, the beauty of the golden season (October-November) is overwhelming when the corn stocks, which reach heights of 10 feet, wave in the cool mountain breezes. Although the corn stocks do not produce a heavy yield of ears, the production is, nevertheless, adequate to provide food for the year-if the rainy season has been normal. The corn is made into tortillas and is used as a base for beans, fowl, fish, and other foods. The blue tortilla, made from the colored kernels of corn, is common in Chiapas.
No reason exists to suggest that a dramatic change in the diet of the native people of Mesoamerica has occurred over the last 3,000 years.
Barley is also mentioned in the Book of Mormon and is produced in the Highlands of Guatemala. The farmers farm the steep, high mountain ridges, leaving very little ground to waste.
DEFENSIVE EARTHWORKS
See Chapter 25, "Wilderness Areas."
DIRECTIONS
The Maya lived and breathed by the sun. They were dedicated to the cardinal directions and even associated the directions with colors. East was associated with the color red, as the sun rises in the east. West was associated with the color black, or night. North was white, and south was yellow.
The Mesoamerica map requires such terminology as Mormon uses. Such terms as "southward," "northward," "west sea-south," and "by the east sea south of the possessions of the Lamanites" are all Book of Mormon terms that adequately relate to the Mesoamerica map.
For additional information about directions, see Chapter 24, "Things That Are Narrow," and Chapter 25, "Wilderness Areas."
Some recent Book of Mormon literature suggests that the Nephites followed a different coordinate system than true north and true south. (See Palmer 1981 and Sorenson 1985.
If we cannot rely on the directions in the Book of Mormon as being cardinal directions, we lose the perspective necessary to present a reliable geographical picture. Mormon certainly knew the difference between north and south. And the Maya people literally were married to a north-south coordinate system! (See Figure 15-4.)
FOOD
Pages or even books would be required to discuss the food in Mexico and Guatemala. In addition to the staple products of corn and beans, the major diet of the Mexicans consists of fruit, fish, and chicken.
Many base food products, such as corn, cocoa, tomatoes, potatoes, beans, and a variety of fruits, are gifts to the world from Mexico. The American consumer has fallen in love with much of the Mexico style of cooking. However, some of the cooking methods via the fast-food outlets have Americanized the food.
On one occasion, when our young family had spent the summer in Mexico, I recall how everyone was eager to return home. Our ten-year-old son said, "I can hardly wait to get home so I can go to Taco Bell to get some real Mexican food."
The manner in which the food is prepared by the Indian populations of Mexico and Guatemala may give us hints as to the type of food and the manner in which the food may have been prepared in Book of Mormon times.
Also, the experience of walking through the museums in Mexico and Guatemala to observe the pottery that dates to the time period of the Book of Mormon is very interesting. Perhaps such experiences can even provide us with a glimpse of the types of "pots and pans" that the wives of Alma, Helaman, or Mormon used for cooking purposes.
HORSES
The term "horse" is used 24 times in the Book of Mormon. The last time it is used dates to 29 AD. (See 3 Nephi 6.) When the Spaniards arrived in the year 1519, they did not discover horses in either Mexico or Guatemala. Even the natives were surprised to see the Spaniards riding horses. The natives referred to the horses as "deer."
The horse of the Spaniards became an extremely successful instrument in the Conquest of Mexico. Reportedly, the natives considered the horse and rider to be of the same mind.
A great deal of speculation still exists among students of the Book of Mormon as to what happened to the horses. Some students suggest that the horses became extinct because of famine or that the horses may have been used as food for human consumption. Others suggest that the term "horse" may have reference to a four-legged animal that may not necessarily have been like the horse we know today. Still others propose that only the elite used horses and that their horses were more like a small draft animal that pulled the chariots.
Without attempting to solve the "horse" question in the Book of Mormon, we may simply withhold judgment until further information becomes available.
HOUSES (Family Life)
The houses of Chiapas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, and the Yucatan are all built with thatched roofs. They consist of simple one-room homes with additional small buildings for cooking, storage, and living quarters for the extended families.
The Maya homes in the villages of the Yucatan closely parallel the Classic Time Period (200 AD-900 AD) rooms in the Quadrangle of the Nunnery at the ruins of Uxmal. (See Figure 15-5 picture of a typical thatched-roof house found today in Mesoamerica.) This suggests that very few changes in Mesoamerica home styles have occurred over the centuries.
Joy
On one of our tours, my wife and I were walking through the market place at Chichicastenango, Guatemala. Our group was shopping when a native Quiche woman came up to us and said, "May I be your guide to take you through the church?"
The church is the place where the native document, the Popol Vuh, was discovered, so we were eager to take the tour. On the tour, our guide not only explained about things in the church but also took us through the little museum.
We joked a little with her, and she got so excited that several times she said something and then laughed and laughed. I asked my wife, "Do you see what she's doing? Do you remember reading in Mosiah, when Alma baptized at the Waters of Mormon, that all of the people clapped their hands for joy?"
And now when the people had heard these words,THEY CLAPPED THEIR HANDS FOR JOY, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts. (Mosiah 18:11)
"Look at what she's doing every time she laughs."
We smiled and agreed. "That's right. She swings her hands together so they meet about eye level. She then gives a little jump and laughs."
I then recalled that I had seen this behavior hundreds of times in Mesoamerica. Dona Sofia at the black pottery shop in Oaxaca does the very same thing. We concluded, "I guess that makes more sense than applauding like we do or giving high fives like the athletes do."
LIQUOR
Both the Book of Mormon and Ixtlilxochitl speak of getting guards drunk and then escaping. King Noah, a Nephite king who lived in the Land of Nephi about 130 BC, kept vineyards; and he became a wine-bibber. (Mosiah 11:15) The Nephite soldiers provided wine in its strength to Lamanite guards. (Alma 55:10-13)
If a Mesoamerica pattern is followed, the wine was probably made from the maguey plant or from other similar plants. The maguey plant is a relative to the century plant and has a large center with the appearance of a giant pineapple. The unfermented pulque juice is processed into tequila or mescal.
MEDICINE
The Tultecas were the inventors of medicine in Mesoamerica. The Book of Mormon makes reference to the use of herbs for medicinal purposes:
And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land-but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the climate(Alma 46:40)
Herbs and roots of many varieties are used today in Mesoamerica for the treatment of illnesses.
METAL (Iron)
The Book of Mormon refers to metals on many occasions. Some evidence exists of metal use during pre-Columbian times in Mesoamerica. Small metal weapons are displayed at the Olmec museum of Santiago Tuxtla. This museum contains artifacts from the site of Tres Zapotes dating to 800 BC.