From Deseret News archives:
BYU creates 2nd film on Mayans, Olmecs
"Journey of Faith: The Book of Mormon in the New World," incorporates footage of archaeological sites and inscriptions in Mesoamerica southern Mexico and Guatemala with the opinions of LDS scholars about how details in the Book of Mormon coincide with known religious, cultural and military practices in that region from 600 B.C. to about 400 A.D.
Produced by the Foundation for Ancient Research in Mormon Studies at BYU, the 90-minute film explores what FARMS director S. Kent Brown said is a "growing consensus" among LDS scholars of archaeology, history and religion that "this is the area where the Book of Mormon took place."
He said the film "makes predictions about the culture and society in the place that we see the closest connections." For instance, Brown said, societies chronicled in the book were "literate they produced books and documents. That (region) is the main place (in the New World) that we find this kind of thing" during the time period specified.
Also chronicled in the book are accounts of social stratification, with descriptions of royalty, government and legal professionals, as well as servants and slaves. "We see evidence of that also in this region," Brown said.
While some may see it as being a bolder statement of assertions than the physical evidence currently warrants, that doesn't trouble Brown or the filmmakers, who don't claim to have produced a definitive statement of what actually occurred.
"In a way, this film gives us a photograph of where the current research stands at this minute. It's very likely that this will grow blurry over time as new research brings us to different conclusions. We welcome someone to come behind us in 15 years and make another film that will update us," he said.
While LDS leaders and scholars have maintained the book is an account of actual civilizations that inhabited a portion of the American continent, secular scholars have never adopted the text as a historical document.
Recent comments
I am glad that there will be an explanation to some of the questions...
Ralph George | Sept. 14, 2007 at 3:38 p.m.
Isn't it interesting that everyone seems to conveniently ignore the...
Trounced | Sept. 14, 2007 at 10:27 a.m.
Melissa - I keep reading that the BOM is a �religious record not an...
James Brown | Sept. 14, 2007 at 9:47 a.m.
- Boy Scouts seek new recruits 7:18 p.m.
- Celtics top Heat 92-85 7:15 p.m.
- Recent prosecutions for Demjanjuk 7:10 p.m.
- German trial is twist for Demjanjuk 7:10 p.m.
- Blood-pressure meds help sugar? 7:09 p.m.
- Magic get 6th straight road win 7:04 p.m.
- UNC's Williams gets 600th win 7:02 p.m.
- BCS stable at top, Y. up to 14 6:42 p.m.
- Peterson: Woods in tough spot 6:38 p.m.
- Passengers evacuated from plane 6:36 p.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- BYU is champion of the state
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Credit Coug defense for win
- Field goals, penalties doomed Utes
- Cougar defense rose to occasion
- Marriage definitions vary widely
- Banged up Jazz get best of Blazers
- Jones' joy for life remembered
- Fantasy is reality for BYU professor
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
772 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
468 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - BYU is champion of the state
129 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
117 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
90 - Hall's legacy measured today
79 - Y. focused on 10-win season
74
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
Glad I'm an Aggie!
Why does the wind blow so hard near the point of the mountain?
Im a twelve year old and I don't think max should feel any guilt about what...
Well done Mr. Hall. You have embarassed yourself and BYU for years to come...
Great victory at Idaho when it would have been easy to fold the tents and...
Poor sport Max has embarrassed the Church Leaders with his un-Christian like...
but not florida. I'm pulling for TCU all the way though, it's good for the...
Thanks Max! You said what I have felt for years! Sometimes you have to make a...
good job devils! I'm so proud of my older brother alema! love u!
Rand is a Christ-figure? In this latest book he is dark, cold and not loving....


