The Secret of the Stones (Sean Wyatt, #1; Lost Chambers Trilogy, #1)

by Ernest Dempsey

He wasn’t a loner, just an island of sorts.

“His search for God, dear. My husband did not accept the traditional views of God: an old man with white hair up in the sky. He wanted to know who God truly was. If he could find out what God was, then perhaps he could know his creator even better.”

“Most people spend their whole lives believing what they were taught since they were children. My husband did not simply just accept what was given to him. It was simple enough for him to believe in a higher power. He could never wrap his mind around the mathematical improbabilities that would produce a world full of species through mere chance. Believing in a creator was easy. The intricate way in which organisms work and behave is a delicate design, one which Frank had the utmost respect for.”

“I love this part of the country. Been to a lot of places all over the world, but the Southeast just has something special about it.”

Above them, the black sky glittered with more stars than Allyson had seen in a long time. Sounds of nature filled the night: cricket songs with croaking frogs and the melodies of nocturnal birds. The air was scented with a mixture of hardwood and pine.

There’s something about the Blue Ridge Mountains that makes them the most magical of places. A sense of peace and wonder which can only be felt in the oldest mountain range on earth. The Appalachian region feels like home no matter which state I’m in and the traditions passed down through generations makes the area “hone” regardless of where you were born.

“Now, one of the most interesting ideas the Mormon Church has presented to the world is that the Native Americans were, and still are, the lost tribe of Israel.”

“True, but don’t underestimate religious values of the zealous. The Mormons held the Indians in the highest regard. They were treated almost like living saints.”

Never underestimate a zealot. It doesn’t matter what has radicalized their thinking. You cannot change their minds. You will not understand their thought process. You must not underestimate their willingness to sacrifice for what they believe in.

something that every church in the world seems to crave: money.”

“Organized” religion is the killer of faith no matter the belief system. Once mankind gets involved and believes they are in charge of everything it all changes.

“Look at the history of all the white settlers that went west. There are literally hundreds of stories of Indian attacks on the wagon trains. Everyone knows about them. But there is not a single recorded incident of any tribe ever attacking a Mormon settler or a group of Mormons.

“The Church of Latter-day Saints believes that American Indians were actually a lost tribe of Israel from Biblical times. Although there are only a few vague scriptural references to such a group, the founding fathers of the church believed this firmly.” Joe nodded in agreement. “Joseph Smith, the man who created the Mormon doctrine, claimed that while he was out in the woods one day, an angel came to him and told him to dig a hole. The angel said that he would find something amazing if Smith would do as he was told. “Smith said that he eventually some golden plates with strange inscriptions on them. On these plates, were supposedly the lost scriptures about Christ’s ministry to the Americas.” “So what happened to these golden plates?” She asked. “No one knows,” Joe replied. “In fact, Smith claimed that only he was allowed to see them. Many people were suspicious of such a claim. Others didn’t trust him because of things they heard. But some did believe him and supported his new ideas. This was essentially how the Church of Latter-day Saints came about.”

“And it hardly seems that anyone would have been living up in Siberia at that point, much less have been able to survive the temperatures in that area during an ice age. And then, of course, the crossing of an ice bridge in itself would have posed many dangers. It is much more probable the Natives that settled in this part of the world would have arrived by a different means than some fanciful frozen ice overpass.”

Exactly!

Fort Mountain wall

“And not only were they a strong people, but they were blessed by the gods as exhibited by the amount of gold they had. The thinking being that no enemy would dare attack a city that was protected by the gods.”

Power of the Raven Blessed/holy like a Dove

The claws are holding an olive branch and the arrows. Eagle claws were a symbol of strength. And only the strong can wage war or create peace.