Brief History:
I have included only a few items concerning the history of this empire. A good source for more details can be
found on Wikipedia or in history books.
ORIGIN:
Current knowledge about this civilization is inaccurate and spotty speculation. The actual history of the
"Olmecs" can be found in the Book of Ether.
According to this record, Jared
and his younger brother, Mahonri Moriancumer,
led their followers from a home in ancient
Mesopotamia to find a new location near the Pánuco River
in Veracruz State,
Mexico. Events at the Tower of Babel caused them to
make the distant exodus via ships and barges. The people foolishly chose to live under a king, despite prior experience
with a kleptocratic royalty. Jaredite history was a series of internecine warfare and regicide throughout a 2,000-year period.
EXPANSION:
Olmecs valued artifacts, a source of which was in the
Motagua River Valley. An early center was located at San Lorenzo
Tenochtitlán, famous for large stone heads,
which were destroyed circa 950 BC. Around 900 BC, La Venta became a
population center until its abandonment in 400 BC. Other important Olmec cities were located at
Laguna de los Cerros and Tres Zapotes. Other centers of Jaredite culture were
at Moron (modern
Monte Alban),
Lib (modern San Lorenzo) and
Kooja (Moon halo) in Guatemala --
Mayans called it Takalik Abaj (Standing Stone).
WAR OF DESTRUCTION:
Circa 400 BC the eastern Olmec heartland became depopulated. The Book of Ether chronicled a war of destruction
between rival kingdoms that terminated in battle at the Hill Ramah
(aka Cumorah). After the war, a prophet named
Ether hid the chronicle in the
Hill Shim (modern Cerro la Malinche). The last surviving
Jaredite king, Coriantumr, found refuge among the
Mulekites prior to his death.
Despite popular belief
among some people today, it is evident that other groups lived north and south of Jaredite lands, and many
others were not involved with the last war. Otherwise, The newly arrived Nephites
and Lamanites could not have engaged in battles within a
few years after Lehi's death.