Jane_Doe22
Well-Known Member
haha, I was called here. I'm going to break this up into different subjects.The Mormons like many protestant groups have some truth. The JWs and other labeled as cults by many also have some truth. The Catholics, of which I was once one, also have some truth.
Without going back and reading the Book of Mormon and other related books of the LDS I cannot remember the details. It's been more than 50 years ago although I still have that Book of Mormon my brother gave me. The Mormons made a connection between Quetzalcoatl and the scriptures via the serpent of brass called Nehushtan in the Bible. Whether it is an important part of their beliefs, I cannot say as I am not Mormon and really don't remember. Perhaps our friend @Jane_Doe22 could help us out here... if people on the forum will not attack her for any help she is able to give us on this.
Quetzalcóatl: Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent, one of the major deities of the ancient Mexican pantheon. Representations of a feathered snake occur as early as the Teotihuacan civilization (3rd to 8th century CE) on the central plateau. At that time he seems to have been conceived as a vegetation god. [from Britannica.com]
The name Quetzalcoatl means Feathered Serpant. He is also known as Kukulcan by the Mayans.
Jeff Lindsay’s thoughtful analysis of the evidence includes this connection: “The Mayan rituals encountered by the Spanish included concepts of being reborn, purified, and prepared for the next life, repenting of sins, confession to a priest, white cloth as symbol, and was called with a name that meant "the descent of the god." These remarkable parallels with teachings in the Book of Mormon may be due to the teachings on baptism that Christ gave to his people in the Americas when he ministered to them after His Resurrection (see 3 Nephi 11).” Overlooking the Obvious? Legends of Quetzalcoatl and Ties to the Book of Mormon [from Mormon wiki]
1) LDS Christians believe that the resurrected Jesus Christ visited the people living in the Americas shortly have His ascension. He taught, and left. For a a few centuries the people follow His teachings, until they fell into massive and complete apostasy. None of the above super-directly has to do with Quetzalcóatl or Nehushtan or Moses' brazen serpent.
2) Quetzalcóatl is an Aztec legend, which includes Quetzalcóatl visiting the people in the form of a man a long long time ago, teaching, and leaving. A secular person would say that there's no direct connection at all between Quetzalcóatl and Nehushtan.
The above are facts. Now putting up my *entering speculation territory* sign. Some folks look at the #1 and #2 above and see a LOT of similarities. Differences too, but a lot of similarities. Some LDS Christian individuals speculate that the Aztec legend of Quetzalcóatl had it's roots in Christ's visit before centuries of being twisted and distorted by the apostate pagan people's. That's speculation of individuals. The institutional Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has no official statement on the matter at all.
As to my personal take: ....*shrug*. It's a speculation theory. Kind of fun to play with tin-foil-hat-style, but I don't really care either way.