EVIDENCE: Zarahemla—Location for Zarahemla (Mosiah 25:4)

Ed J. Pinegar, Richard J. Allen

Next to the Grijalva River in the Mexican state of Chiapas lies an archaeological site that meets all the geographical requirements for the Nephite city of Zarahemla. Though the ruin, known half a century ago as Santa Rosa, now sits under water, earlier excavations point to a great deal of building activity around the first century b.c. Large earthen mounds were formed, and a huge platform was built in the center of the city. Details surrounding this platform suggest the division of the community into two social groups. This recalls the situation of the city of Zarahemla at the time of King Mosiah when his subjects—who spoke two different languages—gathered to hear him in two separate bodies. (See Echoes, 296–298).

Commentaries and Insights on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1

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