Zelph and the land of cumorah

[Hemidakota]

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By Doctor Jerry Ainsworth

Since living in Salt Lake City during the last three months, I have had the opportunity to speak with a variety of people concerning The Lives and Travels of Mormon and Moroni. Invariably when we engage in this discussion I am asked about the view that the Book of Mormon took place, at least partially, around the great lakes. Principle among those questions, indeed challenges is the account of Zelph.

I have therefore decided to revisit this account and share my views on what this account may imply and what it may not. At the on-set, let me say that I accept the fact that the Prophet Joseph Smith did indeed identify the bones that were exhumed as being the remains of an ancient man named Zelph.

The thrust of the questions posed to me about this account is that the event is proof that the battle of Cumorah took place in or around the banks of the Missouri river. I will present the essentials of the story as given in Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 3, by Joseph Fielding Smith.

The Zelph incident event took place in June of 1834. There are seven written accounts of what the Prophet Joseph Smith said, when shown the remains of this man. Joseph Smith himself never recorded the account. Joseph Fielding Smith quotes Wilford Woodruff’s account, which is the only account of the seven that mentions Cumorah. The other six accounts simple state that Zelph served under a great prophet named Onandagus, who was known from the eastern seaboard, to the Rocky Mountains. I will give Wilford Woodruff’s account, as presented in Joseph Fielding Smith’s book.

“The brethren procured a shovel and a hoe, and removing the earth to the depth of about one foot, discovered the skeleton of a man, almost entire, and between his ribs the stone point of a Lamanitish arrow, which evidently produced his death. Elder Burr Riggs retained the arrow. The contemplation of the scenery around us produced peculiar sensations in our bosoms; and subsequently the visions of the past being opened to my understanding by the Spirit of the Almighty, I discovered that the person whose skeleton was before us was a white Lamanite, a large thickset man, and a man of God. His name was Zelph. He was a warrior and a chieftain under the great prophet Onandagus, who was known from the Hill Cumorah, or eastern sea to the Rocky Mountains. The curse was taken from Zelph, or at least, in part – one of his thigh bones was broken by a stone flung from a sling, while in battle, years before is death. He was killed in battle by the arrow found among his ribs, during the last great struggle of the Lamanites and Nephites.”

Joseph Fielding Smith also quotes the account in Heber C. Kimball’s journal, to wit:

“While on our way we felt anxious to know who the person was who had been killed by that arrow. It was made known to Joseph that he had been an officer who fell in battle, in the last destruction among the Lamanites, and his name was Zelph.”

You will notice that Heber C. Kimball’s journal does not mention Cumorah, nor did any of the other five men who made journal entries of this event. Cumorah is only mentioned in the account of Wilford Woodruff. Most scholars conclude that the term “Cumorah” was added to the comments of Joseph, as the writer just assumed Missouri was the land of Cumorah. Evidence of this is that the account mentioned in the other six journals, do not indicate that the prophet Joseph included the name Cumorah. For more documentation and insight on this issue, see In Search of Cumorah by David Palmer.

Excluding the mention of Cumorah, which is assumed to be an errant entry, here is a summary of the several facets of this event:

1. Zelph was a white Lamanite
2. Zelph was a Lamanite warrior/chieftain, and a man of God
3. Zelph served under a great prophet named Onandagus
4. Zelph was killed in the last great struggle of the Lamanites and Nephites
5. Zelph was killed by a Lamanitish arrow

Looking over these five points, I ask, “Is there anything in these five points that would lead me to conclude that this warrior was killed in the battle of Cumorah?” The answer is “No, there is nothing that would lead me to believe that, indeed, just the contrary.”

According to Mormon, there were no Nephites or Lamanites that were “men of God,” during his tenure as commander of the Nephite nation.

In 4 Nephi 1:45-46 Mormon writes:

“And it came to pass that when three hundred years had passed away, both the people of Nephi and the Lamanites had become exceeding wicked one like unto another.”

“And it came to pass that the robbers of Gadianton did spread over the face of the land; and there were none that were righteous save it were the disciples of Jesus…”

These two verses from Mormon make it clear that during his life time, there were no “men of God,” in the lands of the Book of Mormon, either Nephite or Lamanite. The one exception to this statement was the Three Disciples, who were themselves removed soon after this was written by Mormon. If there were no “men of God,” among the Lamanites or Nephites during Mormon’s day, that pretty well excludes a Lamanite warrior, (man of God), being killed at the battle of Cumorah, indeed a man of God of either group. It certainly excludes a Lamanite that was so righteous that he had turned white.

This leads me to believe that Zelph may have been a Lamanite man of God, but was not killed during the battle of Cumorah, which addresses and explains items # 1 and # 2.

Item # 3 indicates that Zelph served under a great prophet named Onandagus and this prophet was known from the eastern sea to the Rocky Mountains. During Mormon’s day, the Lamanites did not serve under a prophet of any kind. They served under the very wicked King Aaron, (see Mormon 2:9 and Mormon 6:2).

Onandagus was a righteous prophet of God, while the King and commander of the Lamanites, King Aaron was a wicked and brutal cannibal, (see Moroni 9:7-10).

Not only were the Nephite and Lamanite armies devoid of any men of God, but Mormon says of them, “And there never had been so great wickedness among all the children of Lehi, nor even among all the house of Israel, according to the words of the Lord, as among this people.”

Mormon is not describing conditions in which a Lamanite warrior would lose his dark skin color because of his being a man of God. Nor is he describing a prophet who would have been the commander of a Lamanite warrior, such as the one named Zelph.

In item # 4, the account indicates that Zelph was killed in the last great struggle between the Nephites and Lamanites. The battle of Cumorah was not the last great struggle between the Nephites and the Lamanites. The battle of Cumorah took place in AD 385.

The struggle in which Mormon was killed, took place in AD 399, some fourteen years later, (see Moroni 9:24 and Mormon 8:1-8). Mormon had been chased by the Lamanites for fourteen years after the battle of Cumorah and assumedly he had traveled many miles from Cumorah during those fourteen years.

Not only did the Lamanites and Nephites continue to have military struggles after Cumorah, culminating in the death of Mormon, but the Lamanites continued to chase Moroni for an additional 21 years. During those years, the Lamanites “put to death every Nephite who would *not deny the Christ.” (see Moroni 1:1-2)

And lastly, item # 5, which states that Zelph was killed by a Lamanite arrow. Why would Lamanites be killing Lamanites?

*I remind the reader that the 3rd chapter of Helaman states that during the time period of BC 50 to BC 40, thousands of Nephites and Lamanites, (People of Ammon) had left the lands of the Nephites and Lamanites and gone into the land northward to get away from the wars of these two groups. Lamanites (the People of Ammon) would therefore have been in the land northward for almost 400 years before Mormon was chased in that direction after the battle of Cumorah.

So, there were no righteous Nephites or Lamanites in their lands, (the land southward). There were however, still righteous Nephites and Lamanites in the land northward. Proof of this can be found in Moroni 1:1-2 where the Lamanites are putting to death every Nephite who “will not deny the Christ,” and in Moroni 7:1-5, where Mormon is preaching to members of the church who are going to the Celestial Kingdom and who he represents as “having a peaceful walk with the children of men.” In other words, the People of Ammon, who were certainly people of God and who did lived in the land northward, could have easily migrated as far as Missouri, during these 400 years. They were just not part of the Nephite or Lamanite nation, per se.

Not only does Helaman indicate these righteous Lamanites went into the land northward along with thousands of Nephites, but states “there were many of the people of Ammon, who were Lamanites by birth, did also go forth into this land. And now there are many records kept of the proceedings of this people, which are particular and very large, concerning them.”

We therefore know that during Mormon’s day there were righteous Nephites and righteous Lamanites living in the land northward, and were still living the gospel. Not only had they separated them selves from the Nephite and Lamanite nations, but they were keeping their own records. I suggest they probably also had a prophet who led them – one different from Mormon.

I suggest this prophet’s name could have been Onandagus. If there was indeed a person from the People of Ammon serving as a warrior under a prophet named Onandagus, it could explain two things. It could explain how this Lamanite was a man of God. It could also explain how he had lost the curse of dark skin. From what little we are told about the People of Ammon they were certainly people who lived the gospel.

This could also explain why Zelph had been killed by a Lamanite arrow. Even though he was a Lamanite, remember the wicked Lamanites hated the People of Ammon because of their belief in the teachings of the Savior. Therefore it would make sense to me for those Lamanites who had been chasing Moroni for 21 years to encounter a Lamanite warrior, (from the People of Ammon), who was a man of God, a Lamanite warrior named Zelph. I assume the Lamanites chasing Moroni, would want to put such a man to death.

Putting the story in this context, all of the five points of the story identified by me, now make sense. They don’t make sense, if you attempt to force this story into the battle of Cumorah.

I believe the remains of a Lamanite warrior, who was a man of God, was discovered on the banks of the Missouri river. I believe that the Prophet Joseph did identify him as Zelph, and that he was involved in the last struggle between the Lamanites and Nephites. That struggle was in the lands of the Missouri river, some 36 years after, and thousands of miles from the location of the battle of Cumorah. The remains of Zelph were therefore not found in the lands of Cumorah, but in the north countries. (see Ether 1:1).

NOTE:
It will be noted that Helaman 3:13 indicates that the People of Ammon, who went into the land northward 400 years before Moroni was there, were keeping their own records. One would assume that the People of Ammon were also keeping their records on gold plates. This may explain where Moroni got the additional gold plates he needed in order to finish his record, as there was almost no space left on the plates his father gave him.

(see Mormon 8:5)

[newlight]

Thanks for the post. The way you've backed everything with scriptures makes complete sense.

[Hemidakota]

It wasn't me but Jerry who has that pondering thought process. I just receives his e-mails and converse with him on other objects of the Gospel.

[Justice]

There are a few points I would question, or seek more information about, before any conclusion could be made. here is the first one that jumped out at me from what I read and remember.

According to Mormon, there were no Nephites or Lamanites that were “men of God,” during his tenure as commander of the Nephite nation.

This is not actually true. 4th Nephi ended about the year 321, which is the time period Mormon made that statement. This is the same time Ammaron hid up the plates in the hill Shim. Mormon was about 10, and was made leader of the Nephite army 5 years later. So, in about the year 326 Mormon writes:

WoMormon 1:
8 And it came to pass in this year there began to be a war between the Nephites, who consisted of the Nephites and the Jacobites and the Josephites and the Zoramites; and this war was between the Nephites, and the Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites.

This was the beginning of the time of the great and last war referred to by Joseph Smith, 5 years after Mormon commented there were none righteous. Mormon had a church and was teaching and preaching. Moroni told of how they called priests and teachers and people were baptized. So, there began again to be righteous among them, including Moroni.

Now, this war began about 326 and lasted until about 385 and covered a large portion of the land "north." There's no telling exactly where it began and where it ended. It appears to me that Zelph was killed during this last and great battle that spanned from 321 to 385, and was killed when they crossed that spot of land as they were fleeing from the Lamanites. It does not mean he was alive and took place in the final battle of Cumorah. They may very well have ended up in New York before that last day when 320,000 of the Nephites were slain in a single day.

[rameumptom]

Justice wrote: It does not mean he was alive and took place in the final battle of Cumorah. They may very well have ended up in New York before that last day when 320,000 of the Nephites were slain in a single day.

Except that Ainsworth, and most LDS scholars do not believe the Cumorah battle happened in New York state, but in Mesoamerica! Ainsworth's concept is that Mormon was wounded at the battle of Cumorah in Mesoamerica, and went with Moroni elsewhere for almost 15 years. We find Moroni and Mormon giving several farewells, because they really don't know when they are done with the record and their lives. In one farewell, dated about 400 AD, Moroni states:

Moroni 8:1 Behold I, Moroni, do finish the record of my father, Mormon. Behold, I have but few things to write, which things I have been commanded by my father.
2 And now it came to pass that after the great and tremendous battle at Cumorah, behold, the Nephites who had escaped into the country southward were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all destroyed.
3 And my father also was killed by them, and I even remain alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people. But behold, they are gone, and I fulfil the commandment of my father. And whether they will slay me, I know not.
4 Therefore I will write and hide up the records in the earth; and whither I go it mattereth not.
5 Behold, my father hath made this record, and he hath written the intent thereof. And behold, I would write it also if I had room upon the plates, but I have not; and ore I have none, for I am alone. My father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have not friends nor whither to go; and how long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not.
6 Behold, *four hundred years have passed away since the coming of our Lord and Savior.

His father has finally been killed by the Lamanites - sometime AFTER the Cumorah battle.

Tradition states that Moroni wandered more, for 21 more years after this. Brigham Young claimed that Moroni had dedicated the spot upon which the Manti Temple is situated for a future temple. So we can figure he went through the American southwest. We also know that Moroni buried the plates in the New York Hill Cumorah - named by Oliver Cowdery as an assumption, never so named by the angel. It would have been easy for him to pass by other groups, as he noted that the Lamanites were battling amongst themselves for years.

It is possible that the destruction of the Nephites at the Mesoamerican Cumorah was not the "final" battle. In fact, the evidence shows the battles continuing in the north. As Jerry Ainsworth notes, many people had moved into the northern lands. Over 400 years, they could have expanded further and further, integrating with many tribes already present. Onandagus most likely was an Ammonite, as was Zelph; as we do not have evidence of any other white Lamanites going north.

Whether Moroni ran into Onandagus or another with extra plates is, of course, speculation. Somehow, Moroni did obtain the ability to make more plates. If he didn't have the skill to mine and create the plates, he would have had to find someone with that skill. It is as likely to have been the Ammonites in the north, as anyone else.

How famous Onandagus really was is also conjecture. Remember, the vast majority of people were wicked Lamanites and Nephites. They may have heard of Onandagus, but would have only sought to kill him, as they sought to slay Mormon.

Interestingly, the name Onandagus is more of a tribes North American Indian name, than a BoM name. This shows evidence of inter-mingling with the locals over the 400 years of moving northward.

[Hemidakota]

Thanks for your input....

[Justice]

Yes, but if we assume this story of Zelph is true, they were already at the Missouri when Mormon was alive. This could have been closer to 322, or closer to 385... no one knows.

Originally Posted by rameumptom

His father has finally been killed by the Lamanites - sometime AFTER the Cumorah battle.

When I read the story of Cumorah in the Book of Mormon, it appears to me that Moromon, and the other 22 that survived that fateful day (besides Moroni), were killed fairly quickly after that day. By the dates in the scriptures, it would have to be no longer than 14 or so years, presumably much faster.

CHAPTER 8
The Lamanites seek out and destroy the Nephites—The Book of Mormon shall come forth by the power of God—Woes pronounced upon those who breathe out wrath and strife against the work of the Lord—The Nephite record shall come forth in a day of wickedness, degeneracy, and apostasy. Between A.D. 400 and 421
1 Behold I, Moroni, do finish the record of my father, Mormon. Behold, I have but few things to write, which things I have been commanded by my father.
2 And now it came to pass that after the great and tremendous battle at Cumorah, behold, the Nephites who had escaped into the country southward were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all destroyed.
3 And my father also was killed by them, and I even remain alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people. But behold, they are gone, and I fulfil the commandment of my father. And whether they will slay me, I know not.

There wasn't much need for Moroni carry all those plates around with him. It looks like he wandered around and then back to where the plates were so he could finish his father's record. Those plates were heavy and there were many different sets. My guess is he wandered back to the place of battle in those last 14 or 15 years and finished the record of his father, abridged Ether, and wrote a few last words shortly before he re-buried them. If Mormon didn't think he was going to write much more, it could possibly have been him that prepared the stone box and buried everything, or Moroni did under his direction. Their greatest fear was letting those plates fall in to the hands of the Lamanites who would destroy them. My guess is they buried and sealed them up before that last dreadful day. It would have been a good strategy to buy time for this by asking the Lamanite commander for time, which he did only once. I think it was then, after he asked for time to gather his people to Cumorah, that he prepared the box and buried all the plates. At that point, Moroni did not know he was going to be asked at a future day to unearth them and write more. As far as they knew, they would all be dead the next day. My guess is Moroni did not have time, nor did he want to take the chance of unearthing them, while many Lamanites were in the area. So, after the battle he fled with no plates, and only returned to unearth them after it was safe, and after he was commanded to do so, in the year 420 or so.

There was plenty of time while everyone was alive during that last struggle with the Lamanites, even if the story of Zelph is true, for the camp to have reached upper state New York. Besides, it seems like a good place to make a stand, knowing you're nearing the end of your land and can't run much farther. It seems they wouldn't want to make it much closer to water and cut off their way of retreat (if any were to survive). It was more important to Mormon to have a good hiding spot for the records than it was for him to save his own life. Besides, it would seem the Lord would lead Mormon to the spot where Joseph Smith would live later, which would have led him to the upper east coast.

I think there is very good evidence in the Book of Mormon that Cumorah could very well have been the Cumorah we know. It doesn't have to be, however, and it certainly wouldn't shake my testimony if we learn it wasn't.

The one thing that will stand as evidence is that 230,000 Nephites, and an untold number of Lamanites, died on that spot. Evidence like that is very hard to hide.

[rameumptom]

Moroni sits down several times to "finish" his father's record. He first thinks he is finishing it in Moroni 8.

1 Behold I, Moroni, do finish the record of my father, Mormon. Behold, I have but few things to write, which things I have been commanded by my father.

He writes this around 400 AD, 15 years AFTER the battle at Cumorah. Sometime in that 15 year period, Mormon died. Whether it was soon after the battle, or long afterward, is immaterial. The point is, Moroni wandered for 15 years up to this point.

He states he has no plates to continue the record. So I assume he plans on ending it with Mormon 9.

Then, in Ether 1, he suddenly has at least 24 plates to write the Book of Ether abridgement. This must have been at a later date than his writing in Mormon 8-9.

In Moroni 1, he writes:

1 Now I, Moroni, after having made an end of abridging the account of the people of Jared, I had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet perished; and I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me.
2 For behold, their wars are exceedingly fierce among themselves; and because of their hatred they put to death every Nephite that will not deny the Christ.
3 And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life.
4 Wherefore, I write a few more things, contrary to that which I had supposed; for I had supposed not to have written any more; but I write a few more things, that perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day, according to the will of the Lord.

This is obviously later than his writing of Ether, which must have taken him at least a few weeks to write, not including the time to obtain the ore to make the plates.

Here he states he has been in hiding, thinking he doesn't have the opportunity to write more, because he is constantly on the move. Yet, he finds a safe place where he can write his book. I suspect this was done in the New York area, circa 421, when he was finally ready to bury the plates.

Mormon 6:6 is suggestive that the hill Cumorah was where the vast record collection was hidden up. No where does it state that Moroni hid the plates in the same hill. Given the concept that Moroni was in Manti at one point, it doesn't make sense that he would travel back to New York, just to bury the plates. This is especially true, since those Nephites running to the south for safety were being caught and killed.

The original Cumorah was in Mesoamerica. Mormon died sometime between 385 and 400 AD, after the battle of Cumorah. Moroni wandered with just the plates given him by his father. He buried them in the New York hill Cumorah in 421 AD, after adding a few more items.

[Justice]

Good discussion. Of course it is possible that Moroni gathered up the entire collection of things that were hidden up before that last day of battle, and carried them to upper state New York (I don't believe they would NOT have hidden them up before that last day). It just seems like a simpler and more logical explanation for Moroni that he went back to the spot they were buried and only took what he needed to finish the record. This way he knew they were safe, and didn't know if he was going to get the chance to write in them.

Had there been more empty plates, and he was carrying them around with him, it seems like he would have known that. Mormon had control of them before that last day, suggesting Moroni didn't know much about them when he "sat down to finish his father's record" in Mormon 8. It seems most other authors tells who they give the plates to, but Mormon didn't, making it appear he didn't know any more would be written. Even Mormon told of how he got the plates from Ammaron. It "appears" that Mormon buried them *for good* before that last day. That's one strong impression I've had as I've studied this section of the book.

Thanks for the discussion. I obviously don't know what happened, I just like to ponder about events and picture them in my mind and how they may have happened. I've discovered a lot of interesting things doing this.

[Hemidakota]

"The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand." - Frank Herbert