Zelph the Lamanite

107 Primary Sources

Date
Summary
1805

1805 encyclopedia defines America as encompassing the entire hemisphere.

1819

William Winterbotham provides geographic description of America.

1828

Noah Webster defines "America" in his 1828 dictionary.

1830

Book of Mormon Title Page identifies itself as being written to the Lamanites.

Sep 1830

Joseph gives a revelation calling Oliver Cowdery to preach to the Lamanites.

Dec 8, 1831

Ezra Booth identifies Native Americans as Lamanites.

Dec 8, 1831

Ezra Booth criticizes JS's support for alleged intermarriage with Native Americans.

May 5, 1834

JS recalls the start of Zion's Camp.

May 8, 1834

Wilford Woodruff records the discovery of Zelph.

Jun 2, 1834

George Albert Smith says that Joseph visited mound with Zelph's skeleton.

Jun 3, 1834

Reuben McBride recalls JS remarks about Zelph; including arrow in ribs, white Lamanite, and "Omandagus".

Jun 3, 1834

MM's journal entry about Zelph.

Jun 3, 1834

MM gives details on Z's remains, including 8 or 9 feet height.

Jun 3, 1834

RM's journal entry on Z including material written on later dates.

Jun 4, 1834

JS refers to the plains of the Nephites, bones as proof of BOM.

Jun 24, 1834 - Jun 25, 1834

Heber C. Kimball recalls the cholera outbreak that accompanied the end of Zion's Camp.

Dec 31, 1834

EDH on JS's reasoning behind Zelph story.

Jan 1837

William Smith says North and South America are one continent.

Sep 25, 1838

Samuel D. Tyler records identifying the location of Manti.

Jun 1839 - Jan 1841

Joseph Smith says the angel described the gold plates as "an account of the former inhabitants of this continent."

Sep 1840

Editorial in the Millennial Star quotes John Lloyd Stephens.

1841

Charles Knight estimates the square milage of "America."

1841

Charles Blancher Thompson cites John Lloyd Stephens as evidence for the Book of Mormon.

1841

Preface to John Lloyd Stephens's book Incidents of Travel in Central America.

Jun 15, 1841

An editorial in the Times and Seasons quotes John Lloyd Stephens's Incidents of Travel.

Sep 13, 1841

Wilford Woodruff reads Incidents of Travel and sees it as evidence for the Book of Mormon.

Nov 16, 1841

JS talks about historicity of the Book of Mormon.

Dec 1, 1841

Joseph disavows "The Peacemaker" and Udney H. Jacob.

Mar 1842

Parley P. Pratt cites Incidents of Travel as evidence for the Book of Mormon.

Mar 15, 1842

Ebenezer Robinson publishes a retraction in the Times and Seasons.

Jun 1, 1842

Times and Seasons publishes extracts on American antiquities.

Oct 1, 1842

The Times and Seasons links Central American ruins to Zarahemla.

1843

Kenneth W. Godfrey reprints Heber C. Kimball's autobiography entry concerning discovery of Zelph that was later reprinted in the Times and Seasons.

1843

John McIntosh writes about Mexico being part of the "American continent."

1843

William H. Prescott describes Mexico as being part of North America.

Aug 24, 1843

MH "official" account about Zelph discovery.

Oct 1, 1843

The Times and Seasons commends John Lloyd Stephens' book as evidence for the Book of Mormon.

1844

Lucy Mack Smith describes Joseph being told about the ancient Nephites by Moroni.

May 1844

Native tribes recount their history to Joseph, say different colors of men make no difference.

May 23, 1844

Sauk and Fox tribe recount their history to Joseph.

Feb 1, 1845

A reprint of HC Kimball's journal finding Z.

Feb 1, 1845

HCK recalls when they found Z's remains.

Jan 1, 1846

JS recalls the discovery of Z's remains and the visions accompanying it.

1846

Samuel G. Goodrich says Mexico and Guatemala are a part of North America.

1849

Arnold Guyot divides America into two continents.

May 14, 1854

Thomas D. Brown records David Lewis speaking about utilizing Paiute as a "battle axe."

Jan 14, 1855

William H. Dame records account of the "Cumorah Cave."

1857

Heber C. Kimball recounts the "Cumorah Cave."

Dec 11, 1869

Wilford Woodruff records an account of the "Cumorah Cave."

Jan 15, 1873

Elizabeth Kane preserves an account of the "Cumorah Cave."

1878

Brigham retells an account of the "Cumorah Cave."

Aug 16, 1878

David Whitmer in an interview says records are in another cave, not the Hill Cumorah.

Sep 1882

Orson Pratt identifies the Hill Cumorah as being in New York; identifies records still hidden in the hill.

Aug 21, 1883

David Whitmer recalls the Lord assuring the Three Witnesses there would be archaeological evidence for the Book of Mormon.

Jun 1888

JS notes on finding the remains of Z, the Lamanite.

Jun 1888

Lands on Zion's Camp associated with Book of Mormon lands.

1893

Edward Stevenson recounts a version of the "Cumorah Cave" story.

1896

LH records JS telling Sylvester Smith the story of Z personally.

May 25, 1903

Deseret Evening News reports a meeting on Church leaders and scholars meeting to discuss Book of Mormon geography.

1938

William E. Berrett writes that there is no official position on Book of Mormon geography.

Apr 1938

Frederick J. Pack concludes it is unlikely Joseph actually said Lehi landed in Chile.

1958

Bruce R. McConkie discusses the "Lamanite Curse" in Mormon Doctrine.

1960

John J. Stewart uses Lamanites as a case study in curse-by-darkening.

1962

Edition of the Book of Mormon from 1962 contains photographs of artifacts and ruins from Central and South America.

Nov 1968

Paul R. Cheesman writes on the location of the Hill Cumorah in The Instructor magazine.

Dec 1975

Dean L. Larsen understands the growth in Church membership among "Lamanites" in Central America to be the fulfillment of prophetic promises in the Book of Mormon.

Apr 3, 1976

J. Thomas Fyans understands the increase in missionary efforts, and increase in Church membership of, "Lamanites" (Native Americans) to be a fulfillment of prophecy.

1978

LeGrand Richards discusses the role of Brazil in Official Declaration 2.

1986

Brant A. Gardner deconstructs Christianized images of Quetzalcoatl; argues the parallels with Christ are illusory.

1987

Moshe Greenberg writes that the location of biblical Uz is uncertain.

1989

John Clark argues that the Book of Mormon describes an "hourglass" geography.

Apr 30, 1989

Location of Zelph's mound is identified as Naples-Russell Mound 8.

Dec 7, 1991

The Church News reports on the publication of the Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

1992

David A. Palmer provides an entry for "Cumorah" in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

1992

Preface to the Encyclopedia of Mormonism mentions the oversight of Church leaders on the project.

1992

John E. Clark writes on Book of Mormon geography for the Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

1992

Ernst Axel Knauf writes on the land of Uz from the Bible.

1992

John L. Sorenson compiles Book of Mormon geography theories up to 1992.

1993

William J. Hamblin writes on the difficulties of reconstruction ancient geographies.

2000

John L. Sorenson writes on the internal geography of the Book of Mormon.

Jan 2000

Daniel C. Peterson writes in favor of the Mesoamerican theory in the Ensign.

2000

Rex C. Reeve Jr. provides encyclopedia entry on the Hill Cumorah.

2002

Diane E. Wirth argues for parallels between Jesus Christ and Quetzalcoatl.

2004

Cameron J. Packer reviews the sources behind the "Cumorah Cave".

2004

John E. Clark writes on the archaeology of the Hill Cumorah.

2004

Daniel C. Peterson reviews the history of the NWAF.

Apr 2004

Clate W. Mask Jr. speaks of "Children of Lehi" in Central America embracing the Gospel, including Temple attendance.

2005

James K. Hoffmeier writes on the location of Mt. Sinai.

2007

Brant A. Gardner writes on Book of Mormon geography, highlighting the major models.

2010

IAS dates Zelph mound to 50 BC - 250 AD.

2010

AIS identifies Zelph location as Naples-Russell Mound #8.

2010

Gregory L. Smith reviews Rod Meldrum's DNA arguments and the Heartlander model.

2010

Andrew H. Hedges and Alex D. Smith write about Joseph's activities while hiding in Nauvoo from extradition orders.

2011

Richard E. Turley, Jr. discusses the publication of the 1920 edition of the Book of Mormon.

2012

Seminary manual on the Book of Mormon says the Church has no official position on its geography.

2013

Matthew Roper et al. argue from wordprint studies that Joseph likely had a a hand in authoring the Times and Seasons Mesoamerica editorials.

2013

BOM introduction identifies Lamenite relationship with indigenous Americans.

2014

Neal Rappleye writes on how different methodological approaches result in different Book of Mormon geography theories.

2015

Matthew Roper writes on the reception of John Lloyd Stephens among early Saints.

2015

Jennifer A. Raff and Deborah A. Bolnick review the evidence for haplogroup X2a; conclude it does not lend support to theory of migration from Near East to America.

2017

Alexander L. Baugh writes on Joseph Smith discovering a "Nephitish alter."

Oct 12, 2018

Jed Woodworth and Matthew J. Grow discuss how Saints approaches Book of Mormon geography.

Oct 23, 2018

During a trip to Paraguay (October 2018), Wendy Nelson teaches that the Paraguayan people are the children of Lehi and Sariah.

Jan 29, 2019

Gospel Topics essay stating the Church has no official position on BoM geography.

2023

Gospel Topics essays says the Church has no position on Book of Mormon geography.

2025

Mission statement of the New World Archaeological Foundation.

2025

Editorial introduction to the 1 September 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons on the Joseph Smith Papers website.

2025

Official statement on the Church's website about its position on Book of Mormon geography.