Interpreter Foundation Mesoamerica Tour
Study Resources

The following videos may be helpful for those who visit Mexico and Guatemala. However, the opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of The Interpreter Foundation or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

General

• Guatemala: Heart of the Maya World. A beautifully produced documentary film that provides an overview of Guatemala’s cultural, geological, and archaeological wonders. In Spanish with English subtitles. Available on Netflix.
  
• Journey of Faith: The New World. Presents startling insights from 32 top scholars regarding the land, religious history, culture, and traditions of Mesoamerica as related to the Book of Mormon. Contains beautiful images filmed on location in Guatemala and Mexico combined with the art of Joseph Brickey.

• “Responding to John Lundwall that the Book of Mormon is non-historical with Brant Gardner”. Mormonism with the Murph. Discussion with Brant Gardner regarding theories of translation and the development of ancient cultures as those theories apply to the Book of Mormon.

Kaminaljuyu

• Kaminaljuyu. Quinn (Video tour of the site)

Tikal

• Tikal – Ancient Mayan City of Guatemala – 4K | DEVINSUPERTRAMP. Short video tour of site
• Megapolis – The Ancient World Revealed | Episode 3: Tikal | Free Documentary History. 50-minute documentary with CGI recreations of the site.

Antigua

• Ruins & Rooftops in ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA!. Kevin & Lyss (Tour around the city. 22 min.)

Lake Atitlan

• LAKE ATITLAN, GUATEMALA! 3 Day Travel Itinerary. Kevin & Lyss (Tour to a number of cities around the lake. 30 min.)

Huehuetenango

• HUEHUETENANGO, GUATEMALA 2016. One-minute drone tour over the city
• Huehuetenango. Video overview of the surrounding area

Cuchumatanes Mountains

• Region: Los Cuchumatanes. Short video tour

Zaculeu

• The Incredible Mayan Ruins of Zaculeu. Guatemala–Bajo Cero Films (Drone video)

Archaeological zone of Chiapa de Corzo

• Mayan Ruins at Chiapa de Corzo. Mike Tracy (Short video tour)
• NANDALUMÍ Archaeological Zone. What to do in Chiapa de Corzo? What things to do in Chiapas? Viajando con Arturo. In Spanish – English subtitles available in YouTube settings.

Palenque

• The Lost City of Palenque | The Coolest Stuff on the Planet. How Stuff Works
• Palenque: Secrets of the Ancient Maya Revealed. Canadian Museum of History
• Palenque and the Ancient Maya World | Nat Geo Live. National Geographic
• Palenque Tourist Guide 🇲🇽 Mexico Video Guide. Travel & Discover

La Venta Museum

• Ancient Olmec Culture Megalithic Masterpieces At La Venta Park In Mexico. Brien Foerster

Hill Shim (Cintepec), Hill Vigia (Cumorah/Ramah) and Ripliancum

• Where is the Location of the Hill Cumorah?. Scripture Central Knowhy #489
• In Search of Ancient Cumorah – segment 3. Robert Starling (8-minute clip taken from 40 min. film)
• IN SEARCH OF ANCIENT CUMORAH. Robert Starling (from DVD)

Teotihuacan

• Teotihuacan. Smarthistory (Short introduction to Teotihuacan)
• The Holy City of Teotihuacan 🇲🇽 Mexico Pre-Hispanic World Heritage Site. Travel And Discover
• Teotihuacan. Smarthistory
• Teotihuacan: Where One Becomes a God. Ancient Americas

National Museum of Anthropology

• ENORMOUS MUSEUM IN MEXICO (NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY). Eileen Aldis
• The Phenomenal Anthropology And Archaeology Museum In Mexico City. Brien Foerster
• National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City. Quintessential Travel

Allen, Blake. Exploring The Lands Of The Book of Mormon. (American Fork, UT: Covenant Communications Inc., 2011).
Allen, Joseph L., and Sheryl Lee Wilson. Promised Place, Precious People. (Self Published by authors / Peczah Printing, 2020).
Christenson, Allen J. Popol Vuh: Sacred Book of the Maya. (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 2007).
Coe, Michael. The Maya. 10th edition (London: Thames and Hudson, Inc., 2022).
Drew, David. The Lost Chronicles of the Maya Kings. (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999).
Foster, Lynn V. Handbook to the Life in the Ancient Maya World. (Oxford University Press, 2002).
Gardner, Brant A. Traditions of the Fathers: The Book of Mormon as History. (Sandy: UT: Kofford Books, 2015).
Sorenson, John L. An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon. (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 1985).
Sorenson, John L. Images of Ancient America: Visualizing Book of Mormon Life. (Provo, UT: Research Press, 1998).

• “Volcano in Central Mexico”
  
• “Mesoamerican Temples ”
  
• “Pre-Columbian Beards in Early Mesoamerican Artv (La Venta Stela 3, Stela 10 at Kaminaluyu, etc.)
  
• “All Manner of Shields” (Figurine from Teotihuacan, etc.)
  
• “Three Nephites and the Popol Vuh”
  
• “What Does Archaeology Reveal about Warfare During Early Nephite Times?”
  
• “Fortifications”
  
• “Axes” (Warrior holding ax in stela 11 at Kaminaljuyu)
  
• “War Banners in Mesoamerica” (Altar 49-sub in the North Plaza of Tikal with the “Marcador” standard)
  
• “Sunken Cities” (Samabaj under Lake Atitlan)
  
• “Headplates” (Veracruz)
  
• “Thrones” (La Venta, Altar 4)
  
• “Large Engraved Stones”
  
• “What Was the Nature of Nephite Fortifications?”
  
• “Cement” (Teotihuacán , Palenque)
  
• “Ancient American Highways”
  
• “Nephi’s Garden and Tower”
  
• “Watch Towers and Strong Holds”
  
• “Calendrical Pattern”
  
• “Hand Gestures (Mesoamerica)” (La Venta Alta 3, Kaminaljuyu, Teotihuacan)
  
• “Codices in Stone Boxes” (National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Guatemala City)
  
• “God’s Image Engraven upon Countenances”
  
• “In the Thirty and Fourth Year: A Geologist’s View of the Great Destruction in 3 Nephi,” Bart J. Kowallis
  
• “Volcanic Destruction in the Book of Mormon: Possible Evidence from Ice Cores,” Benjamin R. Jordan