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Official LDS statement on Christ in America

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:47 pm
by _truth dancer
I recently came across some pamphlets and other LDS literature.

In light of the apologetic assertions regarding the LTG, I found a pamplet, written by Mark Peterson and published by the church, titled Christ in America interesting.

It is quite clear from the pamplet that the Great White God is Jesus Christ according to this apostle. He states the Great White God is known as.. "Quetzalcoatl, in parts of Mexico,... as Votan in Chiapas, Wixepechocha in Oaxace, Cucumatz in Guatemala, Viracocha and Hyustus in Peru, and Sume in Brazil, and as Bochica in Colombia.

"To the Peruvians he was also known as Con-tici-or illa-Tici, Tici meaing both Creator and the Light. To the Mayans he was principally known as Kukulcan."

Here are a few passages that some may find interesting.
The Great White God of ancient America still lives! The divine personage that emerges from the discoveries and writings of archaeologists and historians now stands out as an unassailable reality. The mystery that so long veiled the puzzling traditions of the natives is swept aside by newly found but centuries old records that open a widely expanded view of this divinity and his labors in the Western Hemisphere.

There was such a God!

According to the findings of scholars, he came to America long before the time of Columbus.

He taught the ancients his true religion, raised some of the dead, healed many of their sick, taught new and more productive methods of agriculture, and established a government of equality and peace.

He came suddenly and left suddenly in a super-natural manner.

The ancients regarded him as the Creator, come to earth in bodily form.

Many now readily admit that his teachings were akin to those of the Bible.

And that he promised to return in a second coming is an acknowledged fact, all attested by historical accounts.

The tradition of a White God in ancient America was preserved through generations of Indians from Chile to Alaska, and has been significantly persistent likewise among the Polynesians from Hawaii to New Zealand.

In their main details all such traditions agree. They differ in name and minor details from island to island and from country to country, but the overall outline remains the same 0 there was a Great White God. He came among their forefathers, ministered for a while, and then left again. Some say he ascended to heaven.

….What did he look like, this Great White God?

He was frequently described as a tall white man, bearded and with blue eyes. He wore loose, flowing robes. He came from the heavens and went back to the heavens.

…This personage, as he taught his religion, also urged the people to build great temples for worship.

…Not only have the oft-told stories of the White God continued through the ages, but his teachings are also still dear to the hearts of the natives.


The Popul Vuh is used to support LDS doctrine, for example…
Popul Vuh, the sacred book of the ancient Quiche Maya, reveals that the early Americans believed in a trinity of deities. They believed also in a heavenly father and a heavenly mother, and that the Eternal Father and his Beloved Son were creators of heaven and earth.

…The Book of Mormon tells the facts about the coming of the White God, an event that occurred in America following Christ’s resurrection in Palestine. Millions of people lived in America then.

…When the Crucifixion took place and the earthquakes shook Palestine, even worse quakes, tempests, and conflagrations swept over the Western Hemisphere.


Several verses of the Book of Mormon are quoted and the final sentence…

This is the true story of the Great White God! He is Jesus the Christ, the Savior of all mankind.


~td~

Edit to fix some wording.

Re: Official LDS statement on Christ in America

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:52 pm
by _cinepro
Looks like it's online here.

Brant Gardner eats this pamphlet for breakfast. With ketchup and a little pepper.

Re: Official LDS statement on Christ in America

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:53 pm
by _Scottie
When was this published?

Re: Official LDS statement on Christ in America

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:13 pm
by _cinepro
Scottie wrote:When was this published?


The website says 1979. Of course, Elder Petersen was born in 1900, so his views of the Book of Mormon probably solidified sometime between 1920 and 1930.

Ironically, this was also the same year that FARMS came into being. Maybe his brochure was the last straw. Or maybe it was in response to the dangers Elder Petersen saw from this new, broader minded approach to Book of Mormon studies...?

(Insert DP comment about how Elder Petersen secretly supported an LGT, and how he had taught it privately for years, and was a really great guy.)

Re: Official LDS statement on Christ in America

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:16 pm
by _TAK
Scottie wrote:When was this published?


I passed that out as a mishy in the 70s but should date matter? .. clearly it does - dead apostles words are trumped by living apologists.

Re: Official LDS statement on Christ in America

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:51 pm
by _Scottie
TAK wrote:I passed that out as a mishy in the 70s but should date matter? .. clearly it does - dead apostles words are trumped by living apologists.

Not only that, but it was never canonized, it was opinion, he wasn't the prophet, it never passed correlation, blah blah blah.

Re: Official LDS statement on Christ in America

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:40 pm
by _TAK
Scottie wrote:Not only that, but it was never canonized, it was opinion, he wasn't the prophet, it never passed correlation, blah blah blah.


I know you are kidding.. but as a missionary pamplet it would have passed correlation and been treated as a Church doctrine/teaching.

Re: Official LDS statement on Christ in America

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:49 pm
by _Daniel Peterson
Plainly, you guys have this all worked out and under control.

Re: Official LDS statement on Christ in America

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:58 pm
by _TAK
Daniel Peterson wrote:Plainly, you guys have this all worked out and under control.


I suppose that you did not have this pamplet when you were a mishy?

Re: Official LDS statement on Christ in America

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:27 pm
by _Daniel Peterson
TAK wrote:I suppose that you did not have this pamplet when you were a mishy?

I was never a mishy.