Basic Theory

OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE indicates the derivation of early American culture from Southeast Asia. THE MALAY HYPOTHESIS provides a reasonable way to account for the cultural links between the Middle East, Southern Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania and the western shores of America. It proposes that Book of Mormon peoples lived for hundreds of years in Southeast Asia. Meso is committed to fast, non-stop voyages to America with little or no cultural interactions while enroute.

Note: Many cultural innovations could have been introduced into the Americas by only a few migrants. The DNA of the migrants may not be readily detectible in America either owing to their small numbers mixing with a large indigenous population or to their near annihilation as unwelcome migrants.

“Ziff,” possibly as a metal or ornament (Msh 11:3, 8). Of great interest, therefore, is the report by Yorgason that the term “Ziff” in Arabic refers to a curved sword somewhat like a scimitar (Old World sword!) (Yorgason, B.G. (1989) Little Known Evidences of the Book of Mormon. Covenant, Inc., p. 43). It is used as a weapon and as an ornament.

As an untutored boy, Joseph Smith is not likely to have known of Ziff. The account provides excellent support for his translation abilities and for the genuineness of the Book of Mormon and the Land of Promise being in the Old World.

MULEKITES. The Mulekites walked from Jerusalem to Babylonia as captives soon after 600 B.C. (Omni 1:15). They were allowed to travel further and may have walked as far eastward as Sinim (China?) Omni appropriately reports that they journeyed in the wilderness (Omni 1:16) and then crossed great waters (the large rivers of Burma or the Bay of Bengal?). The Lord brought them into the land north (Hela 6:10). They had become more numerous than the Nephites as would be expected if only a few Nephites had travelled in a small ship. Evidence for Israelites having gone as far as Southeast Asia is provided. There is little or no evidence of Mulekites travelling to America.

LAND OF MORON. Near the Land of Desolation, in the Land Northward,there was a Land of Moron (Eth 7:6). In southern Burma there is a city of Manoron and a Hill Manoron. In the final battles, the Jaredite armies went eastward from Manoron. There is a pass through the hills northeast of Manoron called Maw-daun near the eastern seashore (Eth 14:26). Afterfighting, the armies went southward along the coast. Coriantumr’s troops camped by the Hill Ramah that night (Eth 15:11). Modern  maps show a Hill Maw in a very appropriate location near the east sea. Mesoamerica hasno setting which matches the accounts nearly as well.

POISONOUS SERPENTS CAME FORTH. They poisoned many people and caused flocks to flee southwardEth 9:31-35). America had no flocks and no suitable serpents during Book ofMormon times. Venomous snakes in America do not pursue people or animals. The Mala Land Northward had both! The “Dusky Hamadryad” of southern Burma is a venomous serpent. It is “very fierce and is always ready not only to attack, but to pursue, when opposed.” (Mason, F. (1852) Tenasserim. Am Mission Press, Maulmain, p. 345). Skeptics are encouraged to read a fascinating account of a Burman being chased by one of the serpents. It provides intriguing support for Mala over Meso and for the authenticity of the Book of Mormon.The odds of Joseph Smith knowing about this serpent and concocting the account in Ether are nil.

CUMORAH. Acity of Moroni is located in the Comoros Islands nearMadagascar (See Section 108). The name ‘Comoros’ could easily have evolved from ‘Cumorah.’ There is good evidence for migration of people from the Malay areato Madagascar including plants, animals, language, and musical instruments (8, p. 14) about 400 A.D.. This was about the time ofthe final battles of the Nephites when some (including Moroni) were being scattered (Morm 5:7). The odds of survivors reaching the Comoros Islands from the Malay area(according to Mala) are much greater than the odds from Mesoamerica (according to Meso). There is no known evidence of a migration from America to Madagascar.The names Moroni and Comoros also provide evidence supporting the authenticity of the Book of Mormon and of Joseph Smith as a genuine translator. Joseph is not likely to have had maps with these names on them.

Blessed be he that shall bring this thing (Moroni’s gold plates) to light; for it shall bebrought out of darkness unto light, according to the word of God; Yea, it shall be brought out of the earth, and it shall shine forth out of darkness, and come untothe knowledge of the people; and it shall be done by the power of God (Mormon 8:16).

Traditionally we Mormons have assumed that complimentary comments about the Land of Promise refer to the Other Sheep Folds. The Gospel is to roll forth to the ends of the earth (D&C 65:2). An account of one of Jesus’ visits is provided in 3 Ne 10-29.  He refers to both Israelites and Gentiles (e.g. 3 Ne 12-13) and we have traditionally thought of these U.S.A.. They include: Most choice land (Eth 2:7, 10, 12; 2 Ne 1:5); they were to prosper (2 Ne 1:9); they were to be blessed (2 Ne 1:9); there would be none to molest them (2 Ne 1:9); they were to dwell safely forever (2 Ne 1:9); it was to be a land of liberty (2 Ne 1:7; Enos 1:10; Alma 36:1; Eth 2:12); there would be no captivity (2 Ne 1:7); free from captivity and bondage (Eth 2:12). In my opinion, the Malay Peninsula matches the accounts better than does Mesoamerica. ‘Thailand,’ e.g., means ‘Land of the Free;’ it has never been ruled by a European country! (Note: the U.S.A. is NOT IN Mesoamerica!)

Israelites as being Book of Mormon people in America. But Israelites were scattered throughout the earth (1 Ne 10:15), including to the Malay Peninsula. With regard to many items which are mentioned (See Section 88), Mala is a far better site than Meso. I see nothing in 3 Ne Chapters 10-29 which convincingly shows that Jesus’ visit was to Mesoamerica.

Importance of History.

Ross T. Christensen writes: If the Book’s history is fallacious, its doctrine cannot be genuine. On the other hand, if the historical content proves to be correct, by inference, it is impossible that the doctrine could be incorrect (12, pp. 5-6).

Church leaders and many Mormons believe that historical authentication of the Book of Mormon is what shores up Joseph Smith’s prophetic calling and the divine authenticity of the L.D.S. Church. Much depends upon early visions and revelations of Joseph Smith.

Importance of Geography.

Beliefs tend to become firmly entrenched especially if frequently recited by respected people, even if they are unintentially incorrect. In Pasteur’s time, diseases were thought to be caused by evil spirits. Good behavior was encouraged by threats of disease. Many erroneous notions have been widely accepted. The location of the Land of Promise MAY BE another belief about which devoted folks may have been mistaken.They poisoned many people and caused flocks to flee southward (Eth 9:31-35). America had no flocks and no suitable serpents during Book ofMormon times. Venomous snakes in America do not pursue people or animals. The Mala Land Northward had both! The “Dusky Hamadryad” of southern Burma isa venomous serpent. It is “very fierce and is always ready not only to attack, but to pursue, when opposed.” (Mason, F. (1852) Tenasserim. Am Mission Press, Maulmain, p. 345). Skeptics are encouraged to read a fascinating account of a Burman being chased by one of the serpents. It provides intriguing support for Mala over Meso and for the authenticity of the Book of Mormon.The odds of Joseph Smith knowing about this serpent and concocting the account in Ether are nil.

Suggesting that an entrenched religious belief MAY BE wrong is not a recommended way to win a popularity contest. Authorities threatened to stretch Galileo on the rack for reporting that he had seen a vast new universe with spherical moons orbiting a spherical planet. This one problem detectedby Galileo was enough to eventually cause rejection of the flat earth hypothesis.

In this article I present not just one problem with the accepted Mesoamerican Hypothesis. . . but over 180! This, of course, doesn’t guarantee that the alternative Malay Hypothesis is correct. But surely it indicates to any open-minded person that the Malay Hypothesis is worthy of consideration!

When I read the Book of Mormon with the Malay Peninsula in mind, I feel far more confident in its authenticity than I did when church leaders assured me that the Land of Promise was somewhere on a land shaped like an hour-glass and we shouldn’t be concerned with its location. I hope and pray that the Malay Hypothesis will be thoughtfully considered by unbiased individuals and that more tangible proofs of the Book of Mormon will be found. Eternal truths remain to be convincingly found. Inquiries are encouraged from people throughout the world.

As indicated in this presentation, the Malay Peninsula appears to provide a far more likely site for Book of Mormon events than does Mesoamerica. But I invite constructive criticism. Have I erred?  Have I overlooked crucial matters? Is there another site which is even more promising? Please respond to each of the 180+ arguments presented and not to just one or two of them. In science we try to openmindedly consider new hypotheses and do our best to help find the truth. Thank heaven some were similarly willing to listen to Joseph Smith when he presented very unusual hypotheses.

As a final plea to critics, please remember that America is not ruled out as a Land of Promise by the Malay Hypothesis. America may have had many small Lands of Promise as did isles of the Pacific; but the Land of Promise described by the Book of Mormon is proposed to be located on the Malay Peninsula.

GLADWIN.  Based upon many unique artifacts and capabilities andpractices, Gladwin proposed that some of the early Americans migrated from theMiddle East to Central and South America via Southeast Asia and the Islands of thePacific (24). He writes: ” . . . these things couldonly have evolved after long ages of experiment and experience; none of them made their appearance in the New World until about the time of Christ” (Gladwin, H.S. (1947) Men Out of Asia. McGraw Hill Co.. NY. p. 257).

According to Mala that is about the time the Book of Mormon peoples would be reaching America. Gladwin’s book provides excellent support for Mala over Meso, particularly with regard to chronology (long after 600 B.C.) and emphasis upon South America as Lands of Promise in America.

President Benson has stated: “The Book of Mormon was written for us today. God is the author of the book. It is a record of a fallen people, compiled by inspired men for our blessings today. Those people never had the book. . . . it was meant for us.” (Conference Report, 1975. p. 94).  Surely then, the divinely inspired Book of Mormon would not include incorrect terms for directions, animals, plants, swords, herds, silk, linen, etc. etc. which raise questions about the authenticity of the book.  Thank heaven the Malay Peninsula provides a suitable setting for the terms used.

Much time, effort, and funding have been devoted to the search for the Land of Promise, most of it in Mesoamerica. The New World Archaeological Foundation (NWAF), e.g., was founded in 1952 for this purpose.  A commitment of $200,000 for the first four years of excavations in Mesoamerica was provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Larson, S. (1996) Quest for the Gold Plates. Free Thinker Press, SLC, UT, p. 50). This and other support since that time provides evidence of the importance of geography to LDS Church Leaders.