BoM Geography: The Gloves are Off...

[cinepro]

Yes JS, BY and others visitied it in "Vision".

Wait, where have I heard that argument before.....? Oh yeah, it's the exact same thing said to discredit the Book of Mormon witnesses.

I guess you can use it, but please give it back when you're done with it.

[Anijen]

Yes JS, BY and others visited it in "Vision".

Okay I have heard this too and I CFR the source so I can read it in its entirety. And where they directly quoted or heresey?

How do we know that JS and BY in their vision just didn't assume that the cave with all the deposited plates was the New York Hill Cumorhah? Could it have not been a vision of a Mesoamerican hill and then assumed it was the same hill in NY?

[annoyed]

The actual reason why close readers of the Book of Mormon began looking beyond the New York drumlin is because they realized that Mormon 6:6 describes the plates that eventually became the Book of Mormon being removed from their Cumorah. It does NOT say they were buried there, "removed from" having an unambiguously different meaning to those who read and comprehend. The Book of Mormon nowhere describes where that set of plates where buried. It does however provide many details regarding Cumorah/Ramah, the comprehensive picture of which expressly excludes the New York hill. Hence, those who defend the New York hill as the Book of Mormon Cumorah pointedly ignore all of Mormon's eye-witness descriptions of the hill.

David Whitmer said both depositories were in Palmyra. He also spoke with a Nephite who identified the area as "Cumorah." Joseph F. Smith is clear on this, and if he were a live, I doubt you are any other apologists would be so quick to discharge what he said:

[Wiki Wonka]

Nephi's vision in 1 Nephi 13 describes the Promised Land clearly:

1. Gentiles are moved by the Spirit of God to come to the Promised Land. (v. 13)
2. They leave lands of captivity. (v. 13)
3. Many multitudes come. (v. 14)
4. The Indians are scattered by them. (v. 14)
5. They are white with fair skin. (v. 15)
6. They buy the Promised Land. (v. 15)
7. They humble themselves before God. (v. 16)
8. The Spirit of God is with them. (v. 16)
9. Their mother countries come to battle against them. (v. 17)
10. They come on the waters and on the land. (v. 17)
11. The Gentiles are delivered from all nations. (v. 19)

One could argue, there is no merit in pursuing a model if it first does not match prophecy.

...

Saying so, doesn't make it so, don't forget those prophecies!

You forgot the prophecy in verse 12:

12 And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.

Was this Columbus? If it was, then it is important to note that Columbus never landed in North America.

[Cold Steel]

Why are you confronting George Potter here? He has an email on his website and usually answers questions.

Simply rhetorical.

[John T]

Heres the problem... you equvocate what was found in NY with what was buried in cumorah. Mormon buried room fulls of plates in Cumorah at the last battle. He gave his son a "small portion" of plates to continue writing on. The BOM never records that the Plates given to Moroni were ever buried at the site of the last battle. Moroni had 37+ years to get from central america or were ever the last battle was to upstate NY.

Read the verse again John...

6 And it came to pass that when we had gathered in all our people in one to the land of Cumorah, behold I, Mormon, began to be old; and knowing it to be the last struggle of my people, and having been commanded of the Lord that I should not suffer the records which had been handed down by our fathers, which were sacred, to fall into the hands of the Lamanites, (for the Lamanites would destroy them) therefore I made this record out of the plates of Nephi, and hid up in the hill Cumorah all the records which had been entrusted to me by the hand of the Lord, save it were these few plates which I gave unto my son Moroni.

Moroni's Plates were not buried at Cumorah.

Sorry Zakuska,

but you need to read it again, especially what I made red. All the records...save ...were the few means exactly that. Excepting for a few, and by definition and context, less than all "were hid up in the hill Cumorah". Common sense means that more than 51%, and less than 99% of the plates were hid on the hill, according to the words of Moroni. And since the numbers are not exactly given, and since "few" means "more than one" it means that from 2 to 10 (or so)plates were given to Moroni.

But the significant part about that sentence is that the MAJORITY of the plates were buried at Cumorah. Therefore, based upon the clear meaning of the statement in Mor 6:6, your conclusion "Moroni's Plates were not buried at Cumorah" can not be not substantiated.

David Palmer wrote this, and it is picked up by the Mormon Encyclopedia.

This annual pageant has reinforced the common assumption that Moroni buried the plates of Mormon in the same hill where his father had buried the other plates, thus equating this New York hill with the Book of Mormon Cumorah. Because the New York site does not readily fit the Book of Mormon description of Book of Mormon geography, some Latter-day Saints have looked for other possible explanations and locations, including Mesoamerica. Although some have identified possible sites that may seem to fit better (Palmer), there are no conclusive connections between the Book of Mormon text and any specific site that has been suggested.

(emphasis not in original)

Yet the same David A Palmer, in his scathing review of "The Land of the Nephites" by Delbert W. Curtis Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, 1990 (cited frequently in this thread) writes:

This summary of the archaeology of western New York, developed by a prominent archaeologist, shows that the region of western New York could not have been the scene of the culture described in considerable detail by Mormon. Where are the ruins? Where are all the other cultural facets demanded by his text? They simply are not there. This author fails to show that the Nephites ever lived in that area. By contrast, there is substantial evidence for a Mesoamerican location for those cultures. In fact, there is agreement on a number of site locations being specific Book of Mormon cities. There is also general agreement that the probable site of the Hill Ramah/Cumorah was at the hill called Vigia, in Veracruz, Mexico.

I do not cite this to create a rabbit trail, but the bottom line here is that no one has a clue as to where Cumorah is. Since that is a corner stone of the LDS faith, I find it strange that a hill so big could have so much debate surrounding its location.

It is also strange to me that many other LDS Presidents stated over and over that Cumorah is in New York, but Palmer and others say "No evidence exists for Cumorah [any place]".

Seriously, if I can find such things where there is so much acrimonious shouting, "It is here!" and "No, it is here!" and I can climb on top of the hill to see the monument as I have done several times, finding no sign saying "Here is where..." or go into the Visitor's Center below the hill and see nothing other than what amounts to speculation, do you not think that this is a serious faith issue?

Yes, I am very hard on those who who try to foist off speculation as fact. My training required me to learn the value of prima facie evidence; that is evidence so strong on the positive side that only primary, first hand verifiable evidence can shake it. That is why I believe that everyone needs to look at the claims of many people, especially the ones brought forth in this thread.

[annoyed]

You forgot the prophecy in verse 12:

Was this Columbus? If it was, then it is important to note that Columbus never landed in North America.

Hmmm, shall we approach that verse metaphorically?

[annoyed]

Yes, I am very hard on those who who try to foist off speculation as fact. My training required me to learn the value of prima facie evidence; that is evidence so strong on the positive side that only primary, first hand verifiable evidence can shake it. That is why I believe that everyone needs to look at the claims of many people, especially the ones brought forth in this thread.

Are you hard of hearing? What did David Whitmer say? He said a Nephite told him that was Cumorah. Proof number two, during the first angel visit that Joseph received, he was told it contained the history of the prior inhabitants of "this land." So you have three supports:

1. Prophecy said it would come forth on BoM lands.
2. The angel told Joseph it was about the prior inhabitants of the land.
3. An angel told David the land was called Cumorah.

Move on.

[Anijen]

Are you hard of hearing? What did David Whitmer say? He said a Nephite told him that was Cumorah. Proof number two, during the first angel visit that Joseph received, he was told it contained the history of the prior inhabitants of "this land." So you have three supports:

1. Prophecy said it would come forth on BoM lands.
2. The angel told Joseph it was about the prior inhabitants of the land.
3. An angel told David the land was called Cumorah.

Move on.

CFR Could you please cite your sources? Why should we move on? It has not been answered adequately for either side.

The Hill Cumorah in New York is where JS recieved the plates.

The Hill Cumorah in New York is where Moroni buried the plates.

Because of these two facts many assumed that is where the final battle was. Yes, even early prophets. Serious study of BoM geography however did not even start to happen until the 1930s

Opinion does not make it fact. Sorry all you Hemispheric or New York theorist have to do more to convince me. And before you go on citing all the old quotes I have studied this to my content and have yet to be budged from what is to me the most likely location (Mesoamerica which includes the final battle place).

[cinepro]

Okay I have heard this too and I CFR the source so I can read it in its entirety. And where they directly quoted or heresey?

How do we know that JS and BY in their vision just didn't assume that the cave with all the deposited plates was the New York Hill Cumorhah? Could it have not been a vision of a Mesoamerican hill and then assumed it was the same hill in NY?

FARMS has all the relevant quotes in their article.

[pcarthew]

Threads like this intrigue me.

This is not to be argumentative, but to ask a simple question, "Why is it so that you can not difinitively locate Cumorah, or any other LDS artifact, city etc? We can sing "Oh Little town of Bethlehem" and are able to point to it today. Likewise we can point to Jericho on a map, likewise Tyre, likewise Damascus, etc.

Nothing similar can be said of Zarhema, Bountiful or other stuff, with the exception of Cumorah, since JS clearly placed it about 25 miles from where I live according to JSH1:52ff. One might think that as many times as I have on top of the hill, overlooking the area, for there is a great view next to the Moroni statue that there would be some sings saying "Here it was!"

So why do any of you suppose that there is a significant absence of physical data regarding the stuff in the BoM?

As I said at the top, this is not going to be an argumentative attack on anything, so please do not reply on the "we do not need proof" sort of polemic, for that is not my purpose in posting this. But as Solomon said, "There is a reason for everything under the sun..."

What reasons do you propose for the remarkable inability to point the stuff mentioned in the BoM, excepting Jerusalem, and say, "There it is"?

Significant lack of physical data? Remarkable inability to point to stuff mentioned in the BOM? Huh, are you for real. There is plenty of evidence, it just depends on what lens you view things through.

[annoyed]

CFR Could you please cite your sources? Why should we move on? It has not been answered adequately for either side.

The references were already given early on, the statements stand.

Opinion does not make it fact. Sorry all you Hemispheric or New York theorist have to do more to convince me. And before you go on citing all the old quotes I have studied this to my content and have yet to be budged from what is to me the most likely location (Mesoamerica which includes the final battle place).

Maybe you should follow that advice. We have facts cited two posts ago, which cannot be reconciled with a Mesoamerican OR Mississippi River model. Read Nephi 13 and tell us how that was fulfilled in Mesoamerica.

[annoyed]

So why do any of you suppose that there is a significant absence of physical data regarding the stuff in the BoM?

As I said at the top, this is not going to be an argumentative attack on anything, so please do not reply on the "we do not need proof" sort of polemic, for that is not my purpose in posting this. But as Solomon said, "There is a reason for everything under the sun..."

What reasons do you propose for the remarkable inability to point the stuff mentioned in the BoM, excepting Jerusalem, and say, "There it is"?

First off, nobody who reads the BoM should expect anything to remain for the following reasons:

1. Believers, i.e. Nephites, were constantly harassed.
2. They did not have the man power, time, or interest to build mega structures like they did in Mesoamerica.
3. The predominant building material was wood.
4. To the final battle, they were driven from their lands and their homes and cities were ALL BURNED.
5. Unbelievers vowed to exterminate the white man, their culture, religion, writing, history - EVERYTHING.
6. At each exterminating battle, no one buried the dead, their bodies modlered upon the earth, meaning, disappeared over the years.
7. The Gaddianton Robbers came through and gathered anything of value, i.e. shoes, coats, gloves, helmets, swords, knives, etc.
8. God cursed the land that it would not hold treasure.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For a taste of the environment the Nephites were under, read this:

For at the present our strugglings were vain in restoring them to the true faith. And

they swore in their wrath that, if it were possible, they would

destroy

our records and us, and also

all the traditions of our fathers

. (Enos 1:14)

And they brought their wives and children together, and

whosoever believed or had been taught to believe in the word of God they caused that they should be cast into the fire; and they also brought forth

their records

which contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire also

, that they might be burned and destroyed by fire. (Alma 14:

13 And now there are many records kept of the proceedings of this people, by many of this people, which are particular and very large, concerning them.

14 But behold, a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people, yea, the account of the Lamanites and of the Nephites, and their wars, and contentions, and dissensions, and their preaching, and their prophecies, and their shipping and their building of ships, and their building of temples, and of synagogues and their sanctuaries, and their righteousness, and their wickedness, and their murders, and their robbings, and their plundering, and all manner of abominations and whoredoms, cannot be contained in this work.

15 But behold, there are many books and many records of every kind, and they have been kept chiefly by the Nephites.

16 And they have been handed down from one generation to another by the Nephites, even until they have fallen into transgression and have been murdered, plundered, and hunted, and driven forth, and slain, and scattered upon the face of the earth, and mixed with the Lamanites

until they are

no more

called the Nephites, becoming wicked, and wild, and ferocious, yea, even becoming Lamanites. (Helaman 3)

And behold, the Lamanites have hunted my people, the Nephites, down from city to city and from place to place,

even until they are

no more

; and great has been their fall; yea, great and marvelous is the destruction of my people, the Nephites. (Mormon 8:7.)

This outcome was even foreknown and prophesied of:

16. For

those who shall be

destroyed

shall speak unto them out of the ground, and their speech shall be low out of the dust, and their voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit; for the Lord God will give unto him power, that he may whisper concerning them, even as it were out of the ground; and their speech shall whisper out of the dust.

17. For thus saith the Lord God: They shall write the things which shall be done among them, and they shall be written and sealed up in a book, and those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not have them, for they seek to destroy the things of God.

18. Wherefore, as

those who have been

destroyed

have been

destroyed speedily

; and the multitude of their terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away -- yea, thus saith the Lord God: It shall be at an instant, suddenly -- (2 Nephi 26)

10 And these are the words: Behold, I perceive that this very people, the Nephites, according to the spirit of revelation which is in me, in four hundred years from the time that Jesus Christ shall manifest himself unto them, shall dwindle in unbelief.

11 Yea, and then shall they see wars and pestilences, yea, famines and bloodshed, even

until the people of Nephi shall become extinct

[Anijen]

The references were already given early on, the statements stand.

Maybe you should follow that advice. We have facts cited two posts ago, which cannot be reconciled with a Mesoamerican OR Mississippi River model. Read Nephi 13 and tell us how that was fulfilled in Mesoamerica.

I might follow your advice when you learn the definition of facts then.

* Prophecy said it would come forth on BoM lands.

Nephi 13 is a prophesy yes, that takes place in Nephi's future, that in no way proves Nephi was in New York when he had this vision.

* The angel told Joseph it was about the prior inhabitants of the land.

3 "And he said unto me: These are the nations and kingdoms of the Gentiles." How do you get prior inhabitants? It is a vision of the future of a different people and possibly a different place than were Nephi had the vision.

Its not that I don't believe in the vision of all the gold and plates in caves (thanks cinepro for the link) I do, but I am unconvinced that anyplace in New York was the final battle hill. There could be or not be a huge deposit of gold records deep inside the NY Hill Cumorah, or they simply could have been transferred to another place, like Nephi was transported in vision...

* An angel told David the land was called Cumorah. Okay does that prove that the Book of Mormon happened in New York? No. And the hill was called Cumorah because Moroni buried the plates there and Joseph received the plates there. Although assumed from early leaders it was the same hill it doesn't say,imply or prove it in any way.

Move on. Why? You haven't proven anything yet.

[Zakuska]

Sorry Zakuska,

but you need to read it again, especially what I made red. All the records...save ...were the few means exactly that. Excepting for a few, and by definition and context, less than all "were hid up in the hill Cumorah". Common sense means that more than 51%, and less than 99% of the plates were hid on the hill, according to the words of Moroni. And since the numbers are not exactly given, and since "few" means "more than one" it means that from 2 to 10 (or so)plates were given to Moroni.

You don't say?! Thats exactly what Ive been saying all along.

But the significant part about that sentence is that the MAJORITY of the plates were buried at Cumorah. Therefore, based upon the clear meaning of the statement in Mor 6:6, your conclusion "Moroni's Plates were not buried at Cumorah" can not be not substantiated.

I never said other wise. All the plates that where given to Mormon where buried in the final Battle hill called Cumorah, the plates Mormon Gave Moroni were not. Moroni continued writing on those plates. Can you site one source that says he buried them in the same place as the others?

David Palmer wrote this, and it is picked up by the Mormon Encyclopedia.

(emphasis not in original)

Yet the same David A Palmer, in his scathing review of "The Land of the Nephites" by Delbert W. Curtis Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, 1990 (cited frequently in this thread) writes:

I have this book, I weight it in the balances and found it wanting.

I do not cite this to create a rabbit trail, but the bottom line here is that no one has a clue as to where Cumorah is. Since that is a corner stone of the LDS faith, I find it strange that a hill so big could have so much debate surrounding its location.

One question for you... Will the real Mt. Sinai please stand up?!

[annoyed]

I might follow your advice when you learn the definition of facts then.

* Prophecy said it would come forth on BoM lands.

Nephi 13 is a prophesy yes, that takes place in Nephi's future, that in no way proves Nephi was in New York when he had this vision.

Just the facts mam, All the facts. Still waiting your explanation of the 10 other prophecies in the vision. You could acknowledge Colonial America fulfilled it, we can address the whereabouts of the hill after.

* The angel told Joseph it was about the prior inhabitants of the land.

3 "And he said unto me: These are the nations and kingdoms of the Gentiles." How do you get prior inhabitants? It is a vision of the future of a different people and possibly a different place than were Nephi had the vision.

Its not that I don't believe in the vision of all the gold and plates in caves (thanks cinepro for the link) I do, but I am unconvinced that anyplace in New York was the final battle hill.

You're confusing Joseph and Nephi. Let me cite what the angel said to Joseph:

...an account of the former inhabitants of

this continent

. (Joseph Smith History v.34)

On them is contained the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as it was given to his people on

this land

. (Joseph's account as reiterated by Oliver Cowdery to W.W. Phelps in

Messenger & Advocate

, October 1835, 2:195-198)

There could be or not be a huge deposit of gold records deep inside the NY Hill Cumorah, or they simply could have been transferred to another place, like Nephi was transported in vision...

David Whitmer said the plates are in another hill in Palmyra. Amazing how some people prefer confusion.

[annoyed]

One question for you... Will the real Mt. Sinai please stand up?!

I like it!

[Maya]

Why can we see Jerusalem and go there but cant find BoM cities? One of the reasons is the same, as why you cant find out where IS Christiania in Norway... you can try... it is a small country, find me Christiania please anybody! My friends grandfather was born there and lived there, but I cannot find it anywhere....

[Anijen]

Just the facts mam

Annoyed for your reference I am a he, please don't get childish and say "mam"

You're confusing Joseph and Nephi.

I wasn't confusing anyone you asked about Nephi's vision perhaps you confused my answer with a remark by Joseph.

an account of the former inhabitants of this continent.

Last I checked Mesoamerica was part of this continent.

On them is contained the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as it was given to his people on this land.

I agree

David Whitmer said the plates are in another hill in Palmyra. Amazing how some people prefer confusion.

So are you giving up on the other sources which said the Hill Cumorah now? This statement just proves there is confusion about which hill. Most of the statements are 2nd to 3rd hand accounts recalled many years later.

Annoyed, I have no problem with early saints seeing in vision a cave in with many gold records etc. I have no problem with the hill in New York being called Cumorah, after all Moroni buried the plates there and Joseph received them there. I see no problem with the early saints assuming the hill Cumorah in NY as the final battle location.

You quoted an earlier quote of Joseph did you realize later Joseph read a book by John L Stevens Incidents of Travel in Yucatan. After reading it he was so excited the very next day he writes in the Times and Seasons (Sept 1842)the following?

[annoyed]

Why can we see Jerusalem and go there but cant find BoM cities? One of the reasons is the same, as why you cant find out where IS Christiania in Norway... you can try... it is a small country, find me Christiania please anybody! My friends grandfather was born there and lived there, but I cannot find it anywhere....

Good point!

[SlackTime]

Why can we see Jerusalem and go there but cant find BoM cities? One of the reasons is the same, as why you cant find out where IS Christiania in Norway... you can try... it is a small country, find me Christiania please anybody! My friends grandfather was born there and lived there, but I cannot find it anywhere....

Check out the wikipedia entry on Oslo, Norway

- SlackTime

Can't go back to Constantinople...

[annoyed]

So are you giving up on the other sources which said the Hill Cumorah now? This statement just proves there is confusion about which hill. Most of the statements are 2nd to 3rd hand accounts recalled many years later.

There is ignorance disguised as confusion. Thanks to David Whitmer's FIRST HAND statements by a Nephite, we know:

1. Where Cumorah is. (The Nephite called it "Cumorah.")
2. Both depositories are in Palmyra.

What a relief to know this, what a blessing.

Just want to clarify my perspective. I believe most of the Book of Mormon was in a limited, warm climate, geographic area. I believe that area to be in most parts Mesoamerica. I believe there was a northern migration into the US, but even so, most of the events in the Book of Mormon occurred in Mesoamerica. I believe the final battle was in Mesoamerica. I finally say, after that final battle Moroni had roughly 38 years to wander and he eventually ended up in New York where he buried the plates. I believe Joseph retrieved those same plates from the same hill Moroni buried them. It is not so hard to come to this opinion. I think most scholars hold to somewhat the same view.

You're opinion makes it clear:

1. Facts won't sway your position.
2. You feel safe with the majority.
3. Prophecy has no bearing whatsoever.

I am sad for you, the majority (for now), the only reason anyone should be looking into the geography is to learn what blessings and promises, responsibilities and cursings are tied to the land. This knowledge is everything, I'm sad it has been overlooked.

[annoyed]

Can't go back to Constantinople...

Atlantis?

[SlackTime]

There is ignorance disguised as confusion. Thanks to David Whitmer's FIRST HAND statements by a Nephite, we know:

1. Where Cumorah is. (The Nephite called it "Cumorah.")
2. Both depositories are in Palmyra.

What a relief to know this, what a blessing.

You're opinion makes it clear:

1. Facts won't sway your position.
2. You feel safe with the majority.
3. Prophecy has no bearing whatsoever.

I am sad for you, the majority (for now), the only reason anyone should be looking into the geography is to learn what blessings and promises, responsibilities and cursings are tied to the land. This knowledge is everything, I'm sad it has been overlooked.

I have to think Anijen has a better approach to the question. Here is a quote, right out of the Book of Mormon...

12 And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.

The most common interpretation (doesn't make it correct) is that this refers to Christopher Columbus, but then he never set foot upon the "North American continent" at all, and the closest that he got was on his fourth voyage when he sailed the coast of the Yucatan peninsula

Fourth Voyage document from wikipedia article

But the Book of Mormon says he is led to the "promised land"! Guess that makes North America unpromised.

- SlackTime

[Calm]

They did not have the man power, time, or interest to build mega structures like they did in Mesoamerica.

What about Noah?

1 And now it came to pass that Zeniff conferred the kingdom upon Noah, one of his sons; therefore Noah began to reign in his stead; and he did not walk in the ways of his father.

2 For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. And he had many wives and concubines. And he did cause his people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight of the Lord. Yea, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness.

3 And he laid a tax of one fifth part of all they possessed, a fifth part of their gold and of their silver, and a fifth part of their ziff, and of their copper, and of their brass and their iron; and a fifth part of their fatlings; and also a fifth part of all their grain.

4 And all this did he take to support himself, and his wives and his concubines; and also his priests, and their wives and their concubines; thus he had changed the affairs of the kingdom.

5 For he put down all the priests that had been consecrated by his father, and consecrated new aones in their stead, such as were lifted up in the pride of their hearts.

6 Yea, and thus they were supported in their laziness, and in their idolatry, and in their whoredoms, by the taxes which king Noah had put upon his people; thus did the people labor exceedingly to support iniquity.

7 Yea, and they also became idolatrous, because they were deceived by the vain and flattering words of the king and priests; for they did speak flattering things unto them.

8 And it came to pass that king Noah built many elegant and spacious buildings; and he ornamented them with fine work of wood, and of all manner of precious things, of gold, and of silver, and of iron, and of brass, and of ziff, and of copper;

9 And he also built him a spacious palace, and a throne in the midst thereof, all of which was of fine wood and was ornamented with gold and silver and with precious things.

10 And he also caused that his workmen should work all manner of fine work within the walls of the atemple, of fine wood, and of copper, and of brass.

11 And the seats which were set apart for the ahigh priests, which were above all the other seats, he did ornament with pure gold; and he caused a breastwork to be built before them, that they might rest their bodies and their arms upon while they should speak lying and vain words to his people.

12 And it came to pass that he built a tower near the temple; yea, a very high tower, even so high that he could stand upon the top thereof and overlook the land of Shilom, and also the land of Shemlon, which was possessed by the Lamanites; and he could even look over all the land round about.

13 And it came to pass that he caused many buildings to be built in the land Shilom; and he caused a great tower to be built on the hill north of the land Shilom, which had been a resort for the children of Nephi at the time they fled out of the land; and thus he did do with the riches which he obtained by the taxation of his people.

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/mosiah/11/6,8,17-18,27,29#6