The time period of the Book of Mormon is of such wide scope that it does not include many minute historical details. Yet references it makes to the elephant, the horse, and the bee have caused a great deal of controversy concerning the existence of these animals in pre-Columbian America. Despite skepticism by critics, all three did exist in ancient America.

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The Bee

J. Eric Thompson wrote that not only was the domestic bee in ancient America but that there were gods of bees and beekeepers as depicted in figure 5.5. Honey was considered a real treat for the Indians. Equally important was black wax taken from the hives which was often traded for other commodities. The existence of the bee, anciently, is also supported by Ignacio Bernal whose specialty was the Olmec civilization. (The Jaredite culture coincides with the name of the earliest grand culture of Mesoamerica, dubbed the “Olmec,” an archaeological name given to these people meaning “Dweller in the Land of Rubber.”)

Conclusions

Scholars have presented evidence to show that the elephant existed into Jaredite times.

Mesoamerican art pieces portray the elephant as described by the forefathers of the craftsmen.

The horse is depicted in pre-Columban stonework.

Evidence has been fond depicting a saddle-like object atop what is possibly a horse.

The hose may have met its demise on the dinner table.

No archaeologist would deny the existence of the bee in ancient America.