Book of Hagoth And Native American Origins

by John P. Pratt
7 Jun 2020, 13 Skull (SR), 1 Fulness (S), 1 Consecrated (P)

©2020 by John P. Pratt. All rights Reserved.

Index, Home

Contents

1. History of Archives 2. Book of Mormon Account 3. Book of Hagoth Account 4. Evidence of Authenticity 4.1 Confluence Controversy 4.2 Detailed Consistency 5. Conclusion Notes

This sacred text purports to have been written by Hagoth of the Book of Mormon, who sailed north to lead native tribes to western North America.

The Book of Mormon claims that many of the indigenous natives of North America are descendants of people who came from Jerusalem about 600 BC. That book describes their civilization, including enough geographic clues to indicate that most of the history probably took place in Mesoamerica.[1]

Has the Book of Hagoth.

Lately, the "Heartland Model" of Book of Mormon geography has become popular because it recommends studying the archaeology first and then trying to fit it to the Book of Mormon. Those researchers have amassed overwhelming evidence for Hebrew people in the ancient mainland of the United States, especially the so-called "Hopewell" people, back to about 100 BC.

My articles support the Mesoamerican model for Book of Mormon geography because that is the only place where there is a mountain range found extending from the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans which can be traversed in a few days (Alma 22:27). The record states that a man named Hagoth built a large ship which was used to transport many families to the Land Northward about 56 BC (Alma 63:4), which was followed by several other ships. That would have given them plenty of time to have spread over much of North America, with archaeological remains found back to about 100 BC.

There have been Native American traditions that several of their sacred books have been hidden, with the prophecy that they would come forth after the year 2000,[2] at which time they would be accepted as holy rather than burned as having come from the devil as assumed by the Spanish priests who burned the Aztec codices.

It appears that the prophesied time has come because one of these prophesied libraries has been translated into English, called the Mentinah Archives. It is only a small part of the sacred books of the Native Americans known as the Nemenhah ("The People"). The first book in the first volume is called the "Book of Hagoth", claiming to have been written by the man named Hagoth of the Book of Mormon. It tells the history of his people up to his death.

One version of the book dates to 2005, but it has been unknown to me until last week. Although newer editions are now available,[3] I obtained an older copy, so it should be understood that the brief excerpts presented in this article may not represent the latest translation. I have not met those who translated it, have not verified where it came from, nor done any of the typical academic methods of attempting to verifying its authenticity. To me it has such obvious resonance with the Book of Mormon account that this article began to be written on the day after first reading the Book of Hagoth, in order to share the information immediately for others to evaluate for themselves.

This article summarizes the Book of Hagoth, the very first very short book of the archives, concluding that it appears to be authentic. Disclaimer: This article is solely about the Book of Hagoth, which spans only a few pages (43 verses) of a large collection of books in the archives. Each book must be evaluated on its own merits, much like the Council of Nicea evaluated each book which they chose to include in the Bible. I cannot endorse all of the books included in this archive collection because I have not even read them.

This article attempts to show that this book has a surprisingly high degree of consistency with the Book of Mormon, with known facts, and with tribal traditions. Moreover, the parts of the account of Hagoth where it fills in gaps are totally believable and have no hint of wild fabrications so common in apocryphal books. The purpose of the article is to make a convincing case to at least read the book and give it a fair hearing before attempting to decide whether you believe it or not.[4]

Benzene structure was discovered in a daydream.

My training is in the field of physics and mathematics, specializing in astronomy. Many of the greatest scientific discoveries have be born in lucid "aha" moments where the scientist sees in an instant the answer that he seeks to explain something in nature. That vision puts him on the right track, and he then uses the secular tools of the trade to present the result to his colleagues in an objective "scientific" manner, deducing his conclusion step by step in a logical sequence, in order for them to be convinced of the correctness of the result. If he told them he first saw this result in a dream, he would be laughed to scorn. There need be no deceit in this procedure; it does not matter how the scientist arrived at his conclusions. He is allowed to present them in a manner which others can be convinced of their truth.[5] Years later, when receiving a prize for the discovery, he can then be at liberty to disclose exactly how it happened. An example is the discovery of the structure of the benzene molecule, which was symbolized in a daydream of a serpent biting its own tail.[6]

This description of the usual manner of presentation of scientific results was given here as preface to the following official history of the Mentinah Archives which include the Book of Hagoth. I personally believe that the Book of Hagoth is so amazingly accurate, as discussed below, that there must be more to the story, which likely includes inspiration.

The following is an excerpt from the introduction to the Mentinah Archives (2007 edition):

The Mentinah Archives are the recorded histories of the people known anciently as the "Nemenhah." These people trace their history from the journey of Hagoth into the Land Northward up to the present day. They were written upon plates of various metals and alloys of metals, processed animal hides and paper velum. The records were archived in several locations in North and Central America anciently, but the only surviving copies of the histories of the Nemenhah, of which we have anything to do, have been strictly guarded in the libraries of Sanpete County, Utah.

When the Mormons came into the Sanpete valley they were met by American Natives who had been forewarned in dreams and visions of their coming and of their complete conquest of the region. After converting to the new religion, several of the Chiefs of these Americans met with Brigham Young to give into his keeping a copy of the libraries hidden in the hills of the Wasatch Front, as part of their consecration to the United Order. They were pleased that the men of prophecy had come because this meant that they could leave the valley and return to where their families had originally come. Pres. Young informed them, however, that they would have to remain but for a little while longer. His words to them; "for we have not wherewith to translate these records," are still repeated today by certain of their descendants. Shortly thereafter, the natives sealed the libraries up and no one was allowed to visit them except their brethren who came periodically from the south.

For generations, the Council of Mayan Elders has sent emissaries to the libraries to make copies for translation purposes. In 1957, the Council requested that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints translate and publish the books of the library. They report that the Brethren of the Church with whom they met responded just as Pres. Young had to the Chiefs of the Indians in Sanpete County -- "We have no way of translating these things. No one speaks this language anymore."

Thus, it appears that since the time of Brigham Young, Native Americans in Sanpete County have been hoping that an actual seer who can translate languages (Mosiah 8:12-13) would become the president of the LDS Church, but have been disappointed. Instead, a council which includes Mayans has come forth and these precious documents have been translated into English.

That introduction in the book is followed by a foreword which basically states that if you do not believe you can be inspired by the Holy Ghost to know the truthfulness of this book, then "this history is definitely not for you". Because I believe in obtaining both a spiritual and intellectual witness, this article attempts to supply some intellectual evidence by noting that the book contains many true details. Let us begin by reviewing what the Book of Mormon states about Hagoth.

The Ship of Hagoth. (by Minerva Teichert)

Then in the 37th year, which my work has proposed began on Fri 24 Nov 57 BC (Gregorian),[7] something monumental happened. Some 5,400 families left to relocate in the land northward (Alma 63:4). As part of that exodus, a shipbuilder named Hagoth built a very large ship which sailed with many families to inhabit the land northward. That migration was a civil event worth including in this sacred record. Why was it included? No one has convincingly deduced where they went, nor who they became. So what good does it do to know those secular events?

Moreover, some more details are given, as if we should care about them. The group going by ship launched into the West Sea (Pacific Ocean) by the narrow neck of land in order to travel to the Land Northward (Alma 63:5). Why was that detail included? Would that be important to know someday?

Then we are told that in the next year Hagoth built more ships (implying that he did not go on the first voyage) and then some of the group returned. Those took many more people and "much provisions" (Alma 63:7). Why did they need so many provisions? If they had found a lush land like the southern United States, why did they need so many provisions? And why did Hagoth begin building more ships before the first ship even returned? Was it only because many were leaving by land and decided they would rather go by ship?

Then they were never heard of since and were supposed to have drowned (Alma 63:7), for otherwise would they have not return to trade with their friends back home? We are not told whether or not Hagoth went with the second (and last) group to leave, although is usually assumed that he led both expeditions, as in the illustration. Because 5,400 families in total left, it can be deduced that most would not have gone by ship, but overland.

Then in the 39th year Shiblon conferred the sacred things to his brother Helaman's son Helaman before he died. That indeed ended an era and ended the Book of Alma. The chief judge Pahoran had died and in the 40th year the Gadianton robbers began to steadily take over (Helaman 1:2).

Thus we see that a multitude of families went north just two years before the government began to collapse as the Nephites became very wicked. Was that just lucky timing for them to get out just before the collapse? Might they have foreseen the coming calamity? Might they have been more righteous than most of the Nephites and wanted to preserve their lives, liberty and religion from destruction?

Mormon may have been inspired to include all of these details, because the Book of Hagoth answers all of these questions and fills in many more details. Let us now review parts of that book, so that the reader may decide whether the Book of Hagoth is simply the product of a vivid imagination of someone perpetrating fraud or whether those answers are indeed a true account of actual history.

4.1 Confluence Controversy

One evidence favoring the authenticity of the Book of Hagoth is that it places the settlement of Hagoth's city at the place where several tribes claim their origin was. The Hopi and Zuni tribes (both are divisions of the Pueblo) claim that they came from the area of the confluence of the Little Colorado into the Colorado River. That does not prove anything in itself, except that if the book is a fraud, then it was written by someone familiar with the traditions of several tribes about their location of origin.

Hagoth's path up the Colorado River.
(Click to enlarge.)

If, however, the book is a fraud, it is strange that the area is described differently. The current jargon for the area is that the tribal origin is at the confluence of the two rivers. The Book of Hagoth, however, does not mention the other river at all, but instead states that Hagoth's city was built where the big river turned from coming from the east to coming from the north. Looking at the map shows that such is simply a different description of the same thing. That is, the area circled in red in the upper right corner contains both the confluence was well as the area where the Colorado River turns from coming from the east to flowing from the north. That is a very subtle point for forgers to think of and to expect the reader to know. If they wanted to link their fraud to native traditions, that was an unusual way to do it.

Moreover, the book explicitly states that Hagoth, being a ship builder and carpenter, was looking for a wooded area to build his city, so he could trade with those came the previous year who were building a city at the mouth of the Colorado. If this book is a fraud, those perpetrators were careful to note that the encircled area on the map contains much of the Kaibab National Forest (in high mountains -- altitude is indicated by the color) one would encounter going up the Colorado. Those who have been to the Grand Canyon via Jacob's Lake will be familiar with the lush forests there. He may have located his city at lower altitude, but access to the forests was close. It is proposed the it was located somewhere within the red circle. It is much easier to believe that the extremely self-consistent narrative in the Book of Hagoth is actually authentic than a fraud!

There has been a land development controversy about the land near the confluence owned by the Navajo Nation in the Black Mesa region of Arizona. The dispute is not reviewed because is beyond the scope of this article and is well documented on the Internet,[8] but apparently the Navajo Nation won.[9] The relevance to this article is that it brought attention to the fact that several Native American tribes trace their origin to that very area, which corresponds to that described in the Book of Hagoth. Those tribes include the Hopi (formerly called Pueblo, Spanish meaning they lived in adobe houses) and the Zuni Pueblo. They are considered by some to be oldest culture in the U.S.[10] Note that the Book of Mormon states that many who went north build their houses from cement due to lack of lumber (Hel. 3:7).

That rather precise agreement between modern tribal traditions of their location of origin and that in Book of Hagoth seems far beyond chance. Thus, it is most likely either due to the Book of Hagoth being authentic or of being a fraud by someone familiar with tribal beliefs.

There is now another controversial project about building a dam on the Little Colorado on Hopi land, which is also held sacred by them.[11]

Let us now consider the following points which convince me that the book is authentic.

4.2 Detailed Consistency

Kaibab National Forest in mountains north of the confluence.

This section is essentially a bullet list of points of consistency with, and believable extensions of, the Book of Mormon account. None of these is a proof, but together they form either compelling confirmation of authenticity or a very astutely executed fraud.

• It correctly ties the year of Hagoth's first ship to the death of Captain Moroni.
• It explains where Hagoth learned his carpentry skills.
• It correctly describes what is found when one travels north along the western coastline of the mainland of Mexico.
• It correctly describes what is found when one travels north along the Colorado River, being without forests until the river turns north after the Grand Canyon.
• The place described for the location of Hagoth's city (forests near where Colorado turns north) coincides with the traditions of the Hopi and Zuni that their origin was at the confluence of the Little Colorado Riven into the Colorado River.
• Hagoth did not go on the first journey in the large ship he built! That is implied in the Book of Mormon and to my knowledge has never been noticed. Would forgers have been the first to notice this?
• The routes of subsequent ships were in both the East Sea (Gulf of Mexico) and West Sea (Pacific Ocean).
• It highlights the leadership of the much-overlooked Shiblom as a true prophet and ties his short term of office to the migration northward.
• It explains that Shiblon had a revelation from the Lord that Hagoth should build several ships to take people and supplies and to be launched into both the West Sea (Pacific) and the East Sea (Gulf of Mexico).
• The Lord commanded that copies of their scriptures be take with those migrating north.
• The migration via the Gulf of Mexico explains the Hopewell civilization which began about 100 BC in the United States.
• It supports Mormon's map that the East and West Seas are near each other because Hagoth's ships were launched into both.
• Alma received the priesthood after the order of the Son of God by the confirmation of the voice of God.
• The clear distinction is made between conferral of priesthood outside of the church (order of Son of God) and the ordination to a priesthood office within the church (high priest). Many LDS priesthood leaders are unaware of this distinction,[12] so it is unlikely that forgers would make a point of getting this correct.
• Those who went northward built their houses of adobe, called "cement" in Helaman 3:7.

To me this list provides independent support for the spiritual witness received that this book is true. Without that knowledge, however, these arguments alone may not be compelling. It is hoped that the reader will at least read the Book of Hagoth before deciding.

Notes

1. Pratt, John P., "Mormon's Map Puzzle Solved?" Meridian Magazine (12 Dec 2006).
2. See L. Taylor Hansen, He Walked the Americas (Amherst, WI: Amherst Press, 1963), p. 168: "Keep hidden your books, oh my children, all during the [Venus] Cycle of Warring Strangers. The day will come when they will be precious. For five full Cycles of the Dawn Star, the rule of the warring strangers will go on to greater and greater orgies of destruction.... Know that the end will come in five full cycles ..." (p. 168). Here, "full Cycle of the Dawn Star" refers a ventury, 104 years, so five full cycles is 520 years. The "Year of Warning" at the top of the Aztec (really Toltec) Calendar Stone is 13 REED, and the new 104-year Venus Cycle begins in the following year 1 FLINT. The year 2000 was 1 FLINT (see my "Ixtlilxochitl's Toltec History", Table 3, which lists AD 960 as the end of the Toltec 520-year Age. 520 years later was 1480, the end of the Aztec Age. 520 years later is the end of the Age of Warring Strangers, AD 2000. Each of those years was 1 FLINT) This prophecy tells us to look for the sacred "precious books" to appear after the year 2000!
3. The official website at which to procure the latest edition of this book is at nemenhah.org under "Publications", where it is now called Ayahtkuhyaht Nemenhah. The title, as well as translation, reflects the desire of the translators to revive a phonetic version of the old language rather than translate names into English. For example, what was the "Book of Hagoth" in the 2007 edition is now called the "Book of Hahgohtl". For readers familiar with the Book of Mormon, the older translation is much easier to understand. On the other hand, the new translation is much better to actually understand the original sounds of the names. For example, how did they pronounce the name "Jeshua" (Hebrew for "Jesus")? In the new translation it is "Ayyahshuhway", indicating their pronunciation of the name "Jeshua" (Hahgohtl 31).
4. Some LDS reviewers have dismissed the Mentinah Archives out of hand because "If there were to be such scripture revealed at this time, it would come through the proper channels of priesthood authority. It would come from the current Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (See "Question: What do the Mentinah Papers or the Nemenhah People have to do with the Mormons?" on fairmormon.org). But fortunately, some have taken the Book of Hagoth seriously ("The Book of Hagoth").
5. Early in my work, a wise person admonished me never to confuse perspicacity (the insight to recognize a principle or truth) with perspicuity (the ability to help others to see it in a clear manner).
6. See "August Kekulé" in Wikipedia, Section 4.1 Kekulé's Dream: "The new understanding of benzene, and hence of all aromatic compounds, proved to be so important for both pure and applied chemistry after 1865 that in 1890 the German Chemical Society organized an elaborate appreciation in Kekulé's honor, celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of his first benzene paper. Here Kekulé spoke of the creation of the theory. He said that he had discovered the ring shape of the benzene molecule after having a reverie or day-dream of a snake seizing its own tail".
7. Calculated with my Calendar Spreadsheet using the model proposed in "The Nephite Calendar" Meridian Magazine (14 Jan 2004).
8. Colorado College, "The confluence of the Colorado River and the Little Colorado River: Escalade Development"; Ellen Heyn, "Controversy at the Confluence: Calling Escalade’s Bluff"
9. Michelson, Megan, "How Navajo Activists Defeated the Grand Canyon Escalade" Outside (23 May 2018).
10. "Pueblo Indians -- Oldest Culture in the U.S.".
11. Carr, James, "Damming Little Colorado River for power projects is opposed by tribes, environmentalists" Cronkite News (8 Jan 2020).
12. In fact, LDS Church president Heber J. Grant was unaware of the distinction and instructed priesthood leaders that there was no need to confer the priesthood on men before ordaining them to an office in the Church requiring the priesthood. He felt that such would be redundant because having the priesthood was implied in receiving the church office. According to Hagoth, Nephi did not feel that way.

Appendix

This is a list of verses of the Book of Hagoth quoted in this article. The first number is the chapter number (not stated, hence implied to be 1) and the second is to the verse number in that chapter.

• Hagoth 1:5 -- "Wherefore, I built a ship, and it was after the pattern of the ship built by Nephi except that it was much larger. Into this ship went up many of the Nephites and from Bountiful, by the Isthmus, they set sail into the West Sea. These Nephites sailed following the shore northward beyond the land Desolate and they went down out of the ship at the mouth of a great river. The place where they went down out of the ship was exceedingly barren, however, and the people sent the ship and a few trusty men back to the land Bountiful for provisions."
• Hagoth 1:6 -- "I went to Shiblon to get the word of the Lord concerning them. Now Shiblon was also concerned, for many had also taken their journey northward by land. And he went to the Lord and inquired of Him. And the Lord commanded that I should send provisions unto the Nephites in the Land Northward both by the West Sea and by the East Sea. Yea, I did build a fleet of ships by which many of the Nephites and their families removed into the Land Northward and Shiblon commanded that copies be made of all the writings of our fathers and that they should be carried with those journeying into the Land Northward so that the people should not dwindle in unbelief."
• Hagoth 1:7 -- "Now, the people who sailed to the Land Northward by way of the East Sea found a land of dense forests and much water and they did establish themselves somewhat in that land and a record is kept, I am told, of their doings. The people who journeyed into the Land Northward by way of the West Sea passed near unto the Land of Desolation and for many days found a land barren and unforgiving. And when they ran low of provisions, they stayed their journey at the mouth of a great river and sent my ship back for provisions. And I did send even more ships and more people into the Land Northward by that same route, for it seemed curious to me that so great a river should flow out of a barren country. And even I, myself, took my family and certain of the Lamanites of the People of Ammon, who had covenanted with Moroni to take up the sword no more against us, even they went with me into the Land Northward."
• Hagoth 1:20 -- "And it was ninety and three days from the time we left our brethren at the mouth of the great river and that was in the thirty and eighth year of the reign of the judges over the Nephites. Yea, we traveled up the great river ninety and three days and we came to a place where the river became wide and there were great fields of grass on both sides of the river. In this place the river made a great turning, whereas it had run somewhat into the east parts, it now turned again northward. At this great bending in the river we disembarked and built our settlement. And I, Hagoth, sent four of our young men back down the river to give our brethren word of our success and instructions for safely traveling through the canyons. For there was also much wood in the mountains and we were desirous to set up trade by shipping with those who settled at the mouth of the river, for there the land was barren and they had no wood."
• Hagoth 1:21 -- "Now, the river was heavy with red earth, and the walls of the canyons through which we had traveled were red, wherefore, we called the river Akish, which being interpreted means “red earth”. And the city which the Nephites built was called Akish-hah, after the name of the river. The city which we built the people called Hagohah after the manner of the Nephites, but to most it has been known as the city of Hagoth. This my people did to honor me, for I built the ships and the boats upon which we traveled to the Land Northward."
• Hagoth 1:22 -- "And in not many years, we built many cities and set up much trade with the Nephites in the Land Southward. For each time that our ships and our boats went south with goods, they returned with goods and also much people. For the peace of the Land Southward was a variable thing and many came north into this land to escape strife. And we built many cities and the people were alike fruitful and industrious. And we enjoyed continual peace in the land, for we had no enemies and we were all alike in each others' eyes."
• Hagoth 1:23 -- "Thus we did prosper in the Land Northward and as often as Shiblon sent word to us by any emissary, we did receive him with all honor and dignity. Likewise, when Helaman sent teachers to us to regulate our Churches, we did meekly receive them and they did ordain teachers and ministers unto us of our own brethren, and we enjoyed the blessings of the Church also."
• Hagoth 1:29 -- And we became an exceedingly numerous people and an exceedingly happy people. And the Nephites became a wicked and loathsome people in the Land Southward, yet the Lamanites in the Land Southward became more righteous."
• Hagoth 1:31 -- "Behold, Hagmeni, son of Hagoth! I, having authority of Jesus Christ, lay my hands upon your head, in accordance with the ordinance of the priesthood, and I confer upon you the priesthood of the Most High God, even after the order of the Son of God, the which has been transmitted to us from father to son even down to Alma, who received it from God. And I ordain you unto this office in that order. Therefore, you shall teach, preach, expound and exhort all men to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and observe to keep the commandments of God. And in His name, if you do this, being guided by the Holy Ghost, you shall speak as if with the voice of the Lord, for His power shall be with you. And relying not on the arm of the flesh but on the Lord in all things, you shall be protected in your labors. Behold, your wife and your children shall also be blessed and prospered, and they shall suffer no hardships because of your calling, but the Lord will be with them always."
• Hagoth 1:32 -- "Behold, Ameliki, son of Hagoth! By the authority given me of Jesus Christ and in His name, I lay my hands on your head, in accordance with the administration of my calling in the priesthood which I have received by like manner, to confer upon you the Priesthood of the Most High God after the Order of the Son of God. Wherefore, you are ordained unto a high calling, to seek out and teach those who have rebelled against the Lord. To them shall you cry repentance and teach them the true ordinances of God, and if you do this, you shall have the voice and power of the Lord. Yea, and you shall be protected and your family shall be prospered because of your work. Go now, therefore, among the more wicked part of the dissenters and speak as the Spirit directs."
• Hagoth 1:33 -- "And many more were ordained under the hand of Nephi and he spoke as if with the voice of God and prophesied."
• Hagoth 1:35 -- "Now when all this was accomplished, Nephi set Hagmeni apart as a High Priest unto our people."