This is a semi-continuation of Jesus Smith's topic on Quetzalcoatl http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,112322,112322.

Just to show that TSCC wants this to be a faith promoting story, this is a recent book called "The Book of Mormon Reference Companion."

I hope this is sourced alright, I don't want it to get pulled. I had to type the whole thing out. My poor fingers.

"Quetzalcoatl [-] Name of a prominent deity and king of ancient Mexico (Parkes, 16-17). It is derived from two words in the Nauhtl (Aztec) language, quetzal and coatl. Quetzal means "feathers" and is the name of a beautiful Guatemalan bird with long tail feathers. Coatl means "serpent." The word kukulcan in the Maya Yucatec language has the same meaning as Quetzalcoatl in Astec (Parkes, 18). The symbolism of the quetzal bird and the serpent goes back to Olmec times (ca. 1000-500 B.C.)."

"There are several variants and interpretations of Quetzalcoatl (Brown, 126-41). Many Latter-day Saints see evidence for the origin of one of the Quetzalcoatl traditions in the visit of Jesus Christ to the Book of Mormon people. The name Quetzalcoatl seems to have originated in Mesoamerica (southern Mexico and northern Central America) about the time of Christ's visit to the Nephites (Allen, 146, v. 43 of Ixtlilxochitl as translated by Allen). The sixteenth-century writer Don Fernando de Alva de Ixtlilxochitl wrote: "Quetzalcoatl was a man of comely appearance and serious disposition. His countenance was white, and he wore a beard. His manner of dress consisted of a long, flowing robe" (Allen, 147, v. 45). Such other sixteenth-century writers as Bernardino de Sahagun, Diego Duran, and Juan de Torquemada also wrote of the white god Quetzalcoatl. Similarities between the Mexican tradition of Quetzalcoatl and Book of Mormon statements about Christ include the following:"

"Both were recognized as the creator of all things (Mosiah 4:2; Saenz, 19, 40)."

"Both were born of virgins (Alma 7:10; Gamiz, 95)"

"Both are described as being white or wearing a white robe (3 Ne. 26:15; Sejourne, 136-37)."

"Both taught the ordinance of baptism (3 Ne. 11:23-26; Irwin, 170)."

"Both prophesied of future events (3 Ne. 16; Allen, 146, v. 40)."

"Both were associated with the cross (3 Ne. 27:14; Irwin, 165)."

"Both sent out disciples to preach their word (3 Ne. 12: 1; Wirth, 55)."

"Both promised they would come a second time (2 Ne. 6:14; Sahagun, 1:40)."

"Both were associated with a new star (3 Ne. 1:21; Anales de Cauhtitlan, 7)."

"The children of both will become lords and heirs of the earth (3 Ne. 12:5; 4 Ne. 1:17; Allen 146, v. 40)."

"Quetzatcoatl "was representative of the wind, the whirlwind" (Sahagun, 4:101) and was called "the god of wind" because the great destruction that occurred in Mesoamerica ca. A.D. 34 was attributed to him (Allen, 140, 146, v. 16, 42-43). Ixtlilxochitl wrote about this incident, saying, "It had been 166 years since they had adjusted their calendar with the equinox and 270 years since the giants had been destroyed when the sun and the moon eclipsed and the earth quaked and rocks were broken into pieces and many other signs that had been given came to pass, although man was not destroyed. This was in the year Ce Calli, which, adjusted to our calendar, happened at the same time that Christ, our Lord, was crucified. And they say that this destruction occurred in the first few days of the year" (Allen, 140, v. 16; cf. Brown, 163). The Book of Mormon records the same date for the great destruction at the time of the crucifixion of Christ (3 Ne. 8:5)."

"The A.D. 300 Temple of Quetzalcoatl at Teotihuacan, Mexico, represents the white god as both a deity (by a serpent motif with quetzal feather) and as the rain god, Tlaloc. Teotihuacan was abandoned in the seventh century A.D., and the Toltecs of Tula, located north of Mexico City, carried on the great tradition of the white god Quetzalcoatl. Many people, including priests, took upon themselves the name or title of Quetzalcoatl. One such person was Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl who was born ca. A.D. 1040 and became a folk hero. Many historians suggest that when Cortez conquered Mexico, the people thought he was Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl returning (Parkes, 57-58 n. 1)."

"Today the legend of the white god Quetzalcoatl continues. Schoolchildren study the lives of the deity and of the men who took upon themselves the name of Quetzalcoatl. Their lives and teachings are widely recognized for their high moral qualities and timeless character."

Article written by Joseph L. Allen

"The Book of Mormon Reference Companion"

http://deseretbook.com/Book-Mormon-Reference-Companion-Dennis-Largey/i/3294022



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/2011 11:57PM by Freevolved.

It's not verified by anything, just an older faith promoting rumor.

And where are "feathers" mentioned in the Book of Mormon? Let alone a "feathered serpent"?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/2011 11:51PM by Freevolved.

"Both are described as being white or wearing a white robe (3 Ne. 26:15; Sejourne, 136-37)."

"Both were associated with the cross (3 Ne. 27:14; Irwin, 165)."

Two pictures might be worth a thousand lies -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Quetzalcoatl.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Crucifix_Masaccio.jpg

I believe the guy who wrote this article is in charge of "the book of mormon archaelogical foundation" in Orem, Utah. It's a book written by a lot of BYU professors and FARMS people.

I thought it was a whole bunch of nonsense, and the way they unload this stuff on the morg is bad-news. I know of someone who converted in part because of the whole Quetzalcoatl thing. As Packham noted, one of the major features of Quetzalcoatl are feathers. What does that have to do with jesus? Many of the similarities are late embellishments.

One of my questions, to Jesus Smith, Richard Packham, or anyone else, is; did these "righteous" men who took upon them the name of Quetzalcoatl (which would have nothing to do with jesus anyways) perform human sacrifices? Anyone know?