Jarvis takes it a step further with 3 Nephi: 14-22, saying that it is the remnant of Jacob that shall establish the New Jerusalem in Jackson County, Mo. It is commonly taught in the LDS Church that the Lamanites will do that. Lamanites are the people in the Book of Mormon whose descendants are believed to be Native and Latin Americans.

But if it's a remnant of Jacob who will build the New Jerusalem, then count the Japanese in. The book also suggests the Japanese could fulfill other prophesies.

Jarvis, who said he's studied the Book of Mormon from cover to cover more than 300 times in his 93 years, points to another scripture to drive home a Japanese connection. In the Doctrine and Covenants, another LDS book of scripture, Section 87; church founder Joseph Smith wrote about a prophecy on war. While this section is generally taken to represent the Civil War, it goes further than that, Jarvis said.

D&C 87:5 speaks of "remnants who are left of the land . . . shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation." To Jarvis that passage can only be talking about Pearl Harbor.

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E-mail: rodger@desnews.com