The White God Quetzalcoatl
By Joseph L. Allen
taken from his book Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon
towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven;
and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the
midst of them.... (3 Nephi 11:8)
Virtually all 16th-Century writers wrote about a white god called
Quetzalcoatl (KATES-ALL-CO-OUGHT-ALL). This tradition is strong and
repetitive. Every school child in Mexico studies Quetzalcoatl and
knows the importance of his role.
The symbol of the serpent has long been associated with deities of
Mexico and Guatemala. In the Aztec language, the word "coatl" means
serpent. By placing the Aztec word "quetzal" in front of the word
"coatl" we have the word, "Quetzalcoatl". The word "quetzal" means
feathers. A beautiful bird, native to Guatemala, carries the name
quetzal. Quetzalcoatl, therefore, means, "feathered serpent," or
serpent with precious feathers. The word quetzal is the name of the
coin in Guatemala and also is the national symbol of the country.
Throughout pre-Columbian Mexican history, scores of individuals, both
mythological and real, were given the name or title of Quetzalcoatl,
just as today they are given the name Jesus. (hay..suse) Attempts also
have been made to attribute the name Quetzalcoatl to only one person.
The following quotations are indicative of what is said about
Quetzalcoatl.
| "In all of America's past no figure is more exciting, more tantalizing, or more frustrating than that of the Fair God Quetzalcoatl". (Irwin 1963:33) |
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| "Quetzalcoatl was a man of comely appearance and serious disposition. His countenance was white, and he wore a beard. His manner of dress consisted of a long, flowing robe". (Ixtlilxochitl: 45) | |
| "Just as our era began with Christ, so that of the Aztecs and their predecessors began-approximately at the same time-with Quetzalcoatl. His image, the plumed serpent, had for pre-Columbian people the same evocative force as has the Crucifix for Christianity". (Sejourne 1957:25) |
|
| "The story of the life of the Mexican divinity, Quetzalcoatl closely resembles that of the Savior, so closely indeed, that we can come to no other conclusion than that Quetzalcoatl and Christ are the same being". (Taylor 201) |
We should, however, exercise caution as we correlate Jesus Christ and
Quetzalcoatl as identical personages because of the fact that a
10th-Century culture hero called Ce Acatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl took
upon himself the title of the deity Quetzalcoatl (As well as many
others). Nevertheless, the deity Quetzalcoatl apparently had its
origin in the visit of Jesus Christ to the American continent. (See
Allen 1970.)
Similarities of Christ and Quetzalcoatl include the following:
1. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl were recognized as creator of all
things. (Mosiah 4:2; Saenz 1962:19, 40)
2. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl were born of virgins. (Alma 7: 10;
Gamiz 95)
3. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl are described as being white or as
wearing a white robe. (3 Nephi 11:8; Torquemada 47)
4. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl performed miracles. (3 Nephi 26:15;
Sejourne 136-137)
5. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl taught the ordinance of baptism. (3
Nephi 11:23; Irwin 1963:170)
6. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl prophesied of future events.
(Ixtlilxochitl: 40)
7. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl were universal as opposed to just
being recognized as local gods. (3 Nephi 16: 1; Sejourne 1962)
8. A great destruction was associated with both Christ and
Quetzalcoatl at exactly the same time period in history. (3 Nephi 8:5;
Ixtlilxochitl: 40)
9. The cross was a symbol to both Christ and Quetzalcoatl. (3 Nephi
27:14; Irwin 1963:165)
10. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl sent out disciples to preach their
word. (3 Nephi 12:1; Wirth 1978:55)
11. Both Christ and Quetzalcoatl promised they would come a second
time. (2 Nephi 6:14; Sahagun 1:40)
12. A new star is associated with both Christ and Quetzalcoatl. (3
Nephi 1:21; Anales de Cuauhtitlan 7)
13. The children of both Christ and Quetzalcoatl will become lords and
heirs of the earth. (4 Nephi 1: 17; Ixtlilxochitl: 40)