Jaredite
From Freepedia
The Jaredites are an alleged ancient people of the Americas, whose existence is mainly accepted by Latter Day Saints. In the Book of Mormon, specifically the Book of Ether, the Jaredites are described as the descendants of Jared and his brother, Mahonri Moriancumer. At the time the Tower of Babel was destroyed and the tongues of all nations were confounded, the Lord acceded to the desires of Jared and his brother so that their language, as well as that of their families and friends, was not confounded, and they were granted a land of promise.
According to the narrative, the people were guided by God through the wilderness, and were eventually directed to cross the sea in "barges."
Ether is the last in the royal line that began with one of the sons of Jared. From the time of the first king to the destruction of the Jaredites, there were only occasional times of peace and prosperity. These times of peace were interrupted by intrigue to the throne, civil war, and the accession of wicked kings. Thus the history of the Jaredites proved the fear of Jared and his brother that a monarchy would lead to captivity.[1]
The Jaredites finally destroyed themselves about the time Lehi and the other refugees from Jerusalem arrived in America (see also Nephites, Lamanites, and Mulekites). A prophecy given by Ether is fulfilled, and the last Jaredite king, Coriantumr, lives both to see the total destruction of his people and the arrival of another people to inherit the land.[2]
Jaredites as decendants of Ham
Some research by individual Mormons on the heritage of the Jaredites have suggested that the Jaredites may have been descendants of Ham, Noah's son who according to the Pearl of Great Price married Egyptus, a Canaanite woman. A number of studies by those within the Latter Day Saint movement have suggested the following evidence:
- The Jaredites had oaths "handed down even from Cain." (Ether 8:16) Some believe that this hints that they were part of the family of Cain.
- They came from the valley of Nimrod, who was a Hamite.
- There are no priesthood ordinations mentioned in the book, which hints that they may have been prevented from having the priesthood due to their heritage. Until 1978, those of black descent were generally prevented from holding the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. See Curse and mark of Cain and Curse of Ham.
- Parley P. Pratt, one of the original Mormon Apostles, wrote that the genealogy of the Jaredites goes "back to Ham the son of Noah" (Pratt to Van Cott, LDS Church Archives)
- Many Jaredite names are supposedly Hamitic.
- Many Mormons believe that the Jaredites could be the Olmecs of Mesoamerica, due largely to similarities between archeological evidence and the recorded history of the Jaredites. Evidence suggests that the Olmecs could have been of black Africans decent, according to studies of Olmec skulls and the ancient giant Olmec stone heads.
- According to Carlos de Siguenza y Gonorra (1645-1700) there were ancient Mayan records that claimed that the original settlers of Mexico sailed there from the Tower of Babel (The Jaredites Were Black by David Grant Stewart, 1978, p.22)
This speculation has not been commented on by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
