“An exceedingly curious man”

Alma 63Hagoth

HagothAlma 63

So where did these people end up?

Alma 63:4-8

So where did these people end up?

Alma 63:4-8

WAIRUA- MaoriWAILUA – HawaiianVAILUA – SamoanSweet Potato and Chicken‘HA’ – Breath of life / Spirit. ‘HA-OLE’ = without spirit Let us be people with the Spirit

We thank Thee, O God, for revealing to us the Book of Mormon, the story of the ancient inhabitants of America…We humbly thank Thee that this building is erected in this land, so that those faithful Maoris who came here in early days, descendants of Father Lehi, may be remembered.Prayer at Dedication of New Zealand Temple Cornerstone

What Church Leaders Have Said

Hugh B. Brown

We express gratitude that to these fertile islands thou didst guide descendants of Father Lehi and hast enabled them to prosper.

New Zealand Temple Dedication, April 20, 1958

What Church Leaders Have Said

David O. McKay

I would like to say to you brethren and sisters from New Zealand, you are some of Hagoth’s people, and there is No Perhaps about it! So you are of Israel. You have been scattered. Now you are being gathered.

Response to a Telegram from New Zealand Saints in 1913

What Church Leaders Have Said

Joseph F. Smith

The Polynesian Saints are characterized by a tremendous faith. Why do they have this great faith? It is because these people are of the blood of Israel. They are heirs to the promises of the Book of Mormon.

As Latter-day Saints we have always believed that the Polynesians are descendants of Lehi and blood relatives of the American Indians.

1962 General Conference

What Church Leaders Have Said

Mark E. Peterson

It seems to me rather clear that your ancestors moved northward and crossed a part of the South Pacific. And so we have a great congregation of people in the South seas who came from the Nephites.

The Lord knows what he is doing when he sends his people from one place to another.

1976 Samoa Area Conference

What Church Leaders Have Said

Spencer W. Kimball

Fiji 1290 BCSamoa 1000 BCTonga 820 BCTahiti 300 ADHawaii 600 ADEaster Island 700 ADCook Islands 800 ADNew Zealand 1200 AD

What does the archaeology say?When did people arrive in the Pacific?

Hagoth - 53 BC

Hagoth’s people likely went to the Pacific and integrated with the Polynesians as they were migrating around the Pacific.

The Kon Tiki ExpeditionThor Hyerdahl tried to prove that Polynesia was peopled from the Americas.His balsa wood raft departed Peru on April 28, 1947, and arrived in Tuamoto 101 days later.

DeVere Baker suddenly became convinced of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. He wanted to demonstrate it’s truthfulness by showing the world that a long ocean voyage was quite possible.

“Lehi I” drifted off San Francisco harbor for six days before Devere needed to be rescued.  

“Lehi II” faced a severe storm and after just three days the crew had to be rescued by the Coast Guard. DeVere’s failure to get more than a few miles offshore drew much scorn from the local press.

Undaunted, DeVere locked himself away in a garage, emerging months later with “Lehi 3”. This time Baker successfully floated down the coast of California, eventually reaching Los Angeles. The feat brought renewed publicity.

“Lehi 4” set sail July 5th, 1958 from Redondo Beach with four crew and his dog.

Despite storms, heavy winds and shark encounters and living off rainwater and fish, after a total of 69 days and sailing 2100 miles across the northern Pacific, Baker and his small crew landed on the island of Maui.

In looking back at the book of Alma, which have been your favorite lessons and principles from the book?• Alma 17-29 Ammon’s mission and the Anti Nephi Lehi’s• Alma 30 – Korihor the Anti Christ• Alma 31- The Ramiumptum• Alma 32-34– Faith and the Word• Alma 35-38 - Alma recounts his conversion• Alma 39 – Three big sins• Alma 40 – Death and the spirit world• Alma 41 – The Law of Restoration (wickedness never was happiness)• Alma 42 – The Final Judgment• Alma 43-48 – Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty• Alma 49-54 – High ground warfare• Alma 55-59 – Stripling Warriors• Alma 60-62 – Moroni and Pahoran letters• Alma 63 - Hagoth

Alma

“An exceedingly curious man”

Alma 63Hagoth