The Tehuantepec Theory

"A Book of Mormon Companion" by Apostle Donald McIndoo is an attempt to defend the historical accuracy of the Book of Mormon, the controversial religious scripture supposedly discovered and translated by Joseph Smith 1827-29 and first published in 1830. Today, the Book of Mormon is accepted as holy scripture by a large number of religious groups, collectively known as the Restoration. The largest of these groups is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, more commonly known as the LDS Church, Mormon Church or Mormons.

"A Book of Mormon Companion", however, is published by a much smaller group, the Church of Christ (Temple Lot). This group owns the actual spot in Independence, Missouri where Joseph Smith believed that Jesus would appear at his second advent. In many ways, the Church of Christ is to the LDS Church what Protestants are to Catholics. The Church of Christ only accepts the Bible and the Book of Mormon, while rejecting all later doctrinal innovations and embellishments, curiously including those associated with Joseph Smith himself. Thus, the purpose of Donald McIndoo's book is not to defend all the ideas usually associated with Mormonism, but only the Book of Mormon as such.

Does he succeed? Personally, I don't think so. However, it's a valiant attempt, and if you are an avid believer in the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, you will probably find it an exciting read!

The author believes in the Tehuantepec theory, the notion that all of the Book of Mormon is set in southern Mexico and Central America. This theory is rejected by most LDS Mormons, who instead believe that the setting of the Book of Mormon covers all of the Americas. The question is impossible to answer, since the Book of Mormon is very vague in its geographical references. Years ago, when I read Joseph Smith's work, I attempted to crack the riddle myself. Frankly, the geography of the Book of Mormon is impossible to fathom. However, Joseph Smith clearly believed that Cumorah, the place where the supposed last battle between the Nephites and the Lamanites took place, was in Upstate New York, not far from his hometown Palmyra! This makes the Tehuantepec theory problematic. Personally, I suspect the point of this hypothesis is to make it easier to defend the Book of Mormon, which mentions advanced high cultures in pre-Columbian America. Such cultures did indeed exist in Central America, but not in North America. Indeed, Donald McIndoo identifies the Nephites and the Lamanites with the Highland Maya, the Mulekites with the Lowland Maya and the Jaredites with the Olmecs.

In order to "prove" that the high cultures of Central America were similar to ancient Israel or Egypt, the author draws on an impressive variety of sources, many of them quite old and most of them hyperdiffusionist. Cyrus Gordon is an important source, and so are the works of Hugh Nibley, a leading LDS scholar. Barry Fell is referenced as well. McIndoo places heavy emphasis on the Aztec legends of Quetzalcoatl, whom he identifies with Jesus Christ. He claims that the languages and customs of the American Indians are similar to those of the ancient Hebrews, and quote speculations about ancient Hebrew landings in America. McIndoo also attempts to prove that American Indians had access to horses, wheels, money and barley long before the arrival of the Europeans, and even used domesticated elephants!

I don't think historians or archaeologists would like this book. Indeed, they would reject it as sheer pseudoscience. And, quite honestly, so do I. (Did I mention my "Lamanite" ancestry?)

Still, "A Book of Mormon Companion" is a competent attempt to defend the Book of Mormon. And it's brave enough to admit, that in the end the Book of Mormon can only be validated by supernatural revelation. I recommend the book to those interested in the Book of Mormon, Restoration groups or religious apologetics in general.