Mormon's making of "a record of the things which I have both seen and heard" (Mormon 1:1) has similarities to what has been found in Mesoamerica. Hunter and Ferguson relate an account of Huematzin [Hueman], a Mesoamerican astrologer. . . . Before dying he (Huematzin) gathered together all the histories the Tultecas had, from the creation of the world up to that time (his time) and had them pictured in a very large book, where were pictured all their persecutions and hardships, prosperities and good happenings, kings and lords, laws and good government of their ancestors, old sayings and good examples, temples, idols, sacrifices, rites and ceremonies that they had, astrology, philosophy, architecture, and the other arts, good as well as bad, and a resume of all things of science, knowledge, prosperous and adverse battles, and many other things. He entitled this book Teoamoxtli, which interpreted means various things of God and divine book. The natives now call the Holy Scriptures Teoamoxtli because it is almost the same, principally in the persecutions and hardships of men.
According to Ixtlilxochitl, Hueman rose up as a great leader of the people of Bountiful-land in the year they left their ancient homeland (A.D.339). [Milton R. Hunter and Thomas Stuart Ferguson, Ancient America and the Book of Mormon, pp. 337, 344]
Mormon 1:1-4 Ammaron said unto me [Mormon] . . . take the plates of Nephi unto yourself (Nephite Record Keepers) [[Illustration]]: Nephite Record Keepers. Adapted from [Church Educational System, Book of Mormon Student Manual: Religion 121 and 122, 1989, p. 155]
Mormon 1:2 I being about ten years of age ([Illustration]): Mormon As a Young Boy. Artist: Scott Snow. [Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Ensign, November 1987, p. 84]
Mormon 1:2 I [Mormon] being about ten years of age, and I began to be learned ([Illustration]): Mormon Age 10. Mormon was "a sober child, and . . . quick to observe." Artist: Scott Snow. [Thomas R. Valletta ed., The Book of Mormon for Latter-day Saint Families, 1999, p. 583]