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2007 Expedition
In the Spring of 2007 a group of
seven members traveled to Mexico to
visit the Cerro Rabon Valley and to
follow-up with the progress of our
friends in the Jalapa de Diaz region.
This group traveled with a list of
items to accomplish as set out by Neil
Steede and other members of the Hill
Cumorah Expedition Team.
First on the agenda was to reconnect
with old friends and establish
permissions for access to Cerro
Rabon. That accomplished, we spent
our first day climbing familiar
ground to base camp, cave camp,
and the ledges above cave camp in
one last effort to find a cave opening.
There was none to be found. We had
spent the day in a light mist, but by
late afternoon the rain was coming
down harder and we made our
descent slipping and sliding most of
the way.
Next on our agenda was a day spent
gathering more information on the
stela located on the southwest slope
of Cerro Rabon. Once the
information was gathered we then
climbed the steep slopes above the
stela in search for a pathway to the
top of the mountain. The jungle was
thick and footing treacherous with
steep angles and loose soil, so that
venture ended in a resolve to try
another approach as some future
venture. But, Kevin was able to find
some pottery in the open field on our
way down the mountainside.
On many occasions we found
ourselves being asked to pray for the
sick through the laying on of hands.
In every case the Spirit of the Lord
was present in power. One instance
found our recipient openly weeping.
She did not understand a word of the
prayer as she only spoke Mazateca,
but the expression of love and divine
presence moved upon her and she
felt the joy well up from inside. How
do we know this? The Spirit testified
to us.
Our group finally made its way to the
small hill in the center of the bowl
located to the south of Cerro Rabon
and across the Santa Domingo River.
It was here that we felt the that our
trip was truly worthwhile. There
were several indications for this.
First, we climbed to the north peak of
this hill and found that the peak
itself was altered and perhaps even
man made. Then we found a series
of walls on the north end of the top
of the mountain that indicates it was
a leveled terrace. And, Kevin again
was able to find just enough pottery
to link the styles with other pottery
found just across the river at the
base of Cerro Rabon.
A sobering experience was felt by
many as we stood at the top of this
hill and realized, because of the view
it provides of the entire area, that
this was indeed the place where
Mormon viewed the results of the
battle and his heart wrote the lament
we have recorded in Mormon
3:18-23. But, we know with certainty
that from this place of darkness will
come forth a beacon of light to call
the children of Israel back to the
arms of their Redeemer who longs to
fulfill the covenant he made with
their fathers.
seven members traveled to Mexico to
visit the Cerro Rabon Valley and to
follow-up with the progress of our
friends in the Jalapa de Diaz region.
This group traveled with a list of
items to accomplish as set out by Neil
Steede and other members of the Hill
Cumorah Expedition Team.
First on the agenda was to reconnect
with old friends and establish
permissions for access to Cerro
Rabon. That accomplished, we spent
our first day climbing familiar
ground to base camp, cave camp,
and the ledges above cave camp in
one last effort to find a cave opening.
There was none to be found. We had
spent the day in a light mist, but by
late afternoon the rain was coming
down harder and we made our
descent slipping and sliding most of
the way.
Next on our agenda was a day spent
gathering more information on the
stela located on the southwest slope
of Cerro Rabon. Once the
information was gathered we then
climbed the steep slopes above the
stela in search for a pathway to the
top of the mountain. The jungle was
thick and footing treacherous with
steep angles and loose soil, so that
venture ended in a resolve to try
another approach as some future
venture. But, Kevin was able to find
some pottery in the open field on our
way down the mountainside.
On many occasions we found
ourselves being asked to pray for the
sick through the laying on of hands.
In every case the Spirit of the Lord
was present in power. One instance
found our recipient openly weeping.
She did not understand a word of the
prayer as she only spoke Mazateca,
but the expression of love and divine
presence moved upon her and she
felt the joy well up from inside. How
do we know this? The Spirit testified
to us.
Our group finally made its way to the
small hill in the center of the bowl
located to the south of Cerro Rabon
and across the Santa Domingo River.
It was here that we felt the that our
trip was truly worthwhile. There
were several indications for this.
First, we climbed to the north peak of
this hill and found that the peak
itself was altered and perhaps even
man made. Then we found a series
of walls on the north end of the top
of the mountain that indicates it was
a leveled terrace. And, Kevin again
was able to find just enough pottery
to link the styles with other pottery
found just across the river at the
base of Cerro Rabon.
A sobering experience was felt by
many as we stood at the top of this
hill and realized, because of the view
it provides of the entire area, that
this was indeed the place where
Mormon viewed the results of the
battle and his heart wrote the lament
we have recorded in Mormon
3:18-23. But, we know with certainty
that from this place of darkness will
come forth a beacon of light to call
the children of Israel back to the
arms of their Redeemer who longs to
fulfill the covenant he made with
their fathers.
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