According to joseph smith, the book of mormon was originally engraved on golden plates, which he received in 1827 from an angel named moroni, whom smith identified as a resurrected former inhabitant of the american continent. Mammoths could have easily been present in north america at the time of the jaredites the only time that elephants are mentioned in the book of mormon. Illuminating the credibility of the book of mormon through archaeological photographs. Elephants true book of mormon geography lands western. The book of mormon says man dwelt contemporaneously with elephants and that they were useful to them. The elephant is mentioned only once in the book of mormon ether 9. In 1830, the book of mormon would also relate the existence of elephants in ancient america, and as late as historical precolumbian times. Mammoths were members of the family elephantidae mammoths could have easily been present in north america at the time of the jaredites the only time that elephants are mentioned in the book of mormon. Hunting for elephants in the book of mormon meridian magazine. Blanco fossil museum to help joe talor futher his work of uncovering americas ancient history. The fact that the mammoth elephant, horse and ass were supposed to have been extinct in north america during book of mormon time has caused many to doubt. This, many claim, is proof the book of mormon is wrong.
While the jury is still out, there are a number of north american indian traditions that recount legends of giant stifflegged beasts that would never lie. Thus any elephants existing upon the american continents need not have survived past about 2400 b. Here is a list of mormon animals that might have existed but whose remains disappeared. Elephants in the new world book of mormon research. In these instances there is the possibility that a such things were once in the americas but the evidence has either disappeared or has not yet. This appears a problem to some, in particular, the smithsonian. June 3, 2019 introduction the book of mormon records in ether 9. The book of mormon mentions elephants being useful to the jaredites ether 9. The mammoth elephant, horse, and ass are animals listed in the book of mormon that presumably became extinct in north america at the close of the. Smith claimed to translate the original text of the plates into english.
Authorities on ancient america claim that elephants and horses ceased to exist after the last ice age. Already joe talor has proven the book of mormon spoke truly about elephants in america. Book of mormon archaeology is real, authentic, scientifically researched, a proven fact. The arguments for book of mormon elephants prove all things. The following information is from the annotated book of mormon by david hocking and rod meldrum, pages 472474. Archaeology has proved that the american indian hunted and killed elephants. An interesting study on men and elephants in america ludwell h. The book of mormon claims elephants in ancient america.