The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-20
MORMONS BELIEVE
IN SMITHS BOOK
Committee to Be Sent from Salt
Lake to Study Hieroglyphics
in Mexico.

Mexico City, Oct. 2O.-Believing that
hieroglyphic writings may be, found
which will substantiate the history OF
the human race and the doctrines OF
Mormonism as laid Town in the BOOK OF
Mormon, it is not improbable that q
committee of scientists and scholars
from the Mormon church at Salt Lake
City. Utah. will come to Mexico soon
to explore. the ruins of Teotihuacan,
where Professor Batres OF. the National
museum is now engaged in excavation
work. 800.
Bishop w. w. ,Cluff of the Mormon
church, who was in the city yesterday,
stated that the Book of Mormon pro
est inhabitants of America, covering
a period Of 1900 years. from the year
900 before Christ until the year 900
after Christ, and that the characters in
which the book is written correspond
in great measure to the hieroglyphlcs
which have been found on many Next
can ruins, notably those at Teotihua-
'sIn the Book of Mormons,'' said
Bishop Cluff, cit is professed to tell
of the peoples that inhabited this con-
tinent prior even to the coming of the
Savior.
''The original plates of the book are
in a language resembling the ancient
Chaldaic. with a leaning toward the
cabalistic markings of the earlier orr
entails.
Aborigines Were Mormons.
s'To the minds Of some of our most
able scholars it seems plausible to &C
cept the theory that the new world was
populated by the old Mongolian race,
and confirmation of this is given by
passages in our Book of Mormon on
iob ha founded
at has always been attempted to
prove that the aborigines of America
were the direct descendants Of the Mon
golians, and much controversy has re-
suited therefrom.
ssMany times the wise men have
stated that they have found inscrip-
tions which are in the same language
as the Book of Mormon, but in each
instance it appears that they have not
been exactly correct in their statements.
eff this can be done and the writ
ings proved to be the same tongue as
that Of the Book of Mormon, it will 60
long way to authenticate the state
real race history and religious history.
Confirmation in Mexico.
"For many years it has been the
belief of our scholars that if we ever
= were to receive substantiation of the
Book of Mormon it was to come iron
the ruins of Mexico and not those OF
any other country.
"Some of our wisest authorities hole
to the belief that the writings on the
Mexican ruins will correspond in Ian
guage to the Book Of Mormon, and re
cent finds in Mexico have proved that
they are not far wrong in their sur
mise.
"Recent excavations at Teotihuaca1
have created much comment among thu
learned men of our people and it j
thought that they will. find inscription
of interest at that place. =
EWhen I return to Salt Lake Cit,
7 will lay before them what hav'
heard and learned concerning the ~Teo
tihuacan ruins and hieroglyphics, AM
believezthat, they}wiH send down !;
commission to inspect the writings witt
view to determining scientifcall,,
whether or not they are of the sam
class as the Book of Mormon writings.
"Should it prove to be the case, W
! will have found the historical confirma
ton for which we have been searchin
for MANY years.