Izapa Stela #5

Location
:  Izapa (es-ah-pa) in Chiapas, Mexico

Description:  From The Messiah in Ancient America - “Izapa Stela 5 is possibly one of the most important graphic depictions of the tree of life.  Dated to the late Preclassic phase, about 300 - 50 B.C., it is the earliest Mesoamerican depiction of the tree of life discovered so far.  The tree, the river, the path, and the rod of iron are clearly portrayed on the stone.” [9]  The tree of life, filthy river, path, and rod of iron are all a part of Lehi’s vision in the Book of Mormon.  In addition, Nephi, Lehi, Sariah, Laman, and Lemuel are also believed to be depicted.

Go here to read Lehi's vision in the Book of Mormon

A nice web page with more information regarding Izapa Stela 5 and more pictures

Drawing of Izapa Stela 5.  Drawing by Madman2001, Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.  Retrieved April 23, 2011.  Numbers in red added.
Copyright © 2011 Church of Christ (Temple Lot) AVA Committee
Key:

1
- Tree of Life with fruit
2 - Someone partakes of the fruit from the Tree of Life
3 - Someone blinded
(hood over head) by the temptations of the world
4 - Sariah
5 - Lehi pointing to the Tree of Life
6 - Laman (or Lemuel) with back to the Tree of Life
7 - Lemuel (or Laman) with back to the Tree of Life
8 - Nephi pointing to the Tree of Life
9 - Sam
10 - The straight and narrow path and the rod of iron
11 - River
Actual photo of the stone taken by George Delange.  Used with permission.
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