Parallel Histories: the Nephites and the Americans

by Anthony E. Larson

paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Writing is what I do for a living as well as for fun. A freelance journalist for the last 10 years, published in several newspapers, magazines and websites, I have also been a successful video producer and writer, as well as an award-winning composer during my rich and varied career.
It was my lifelong interest in prophecy that first led me to become a writer. When I came across a novel view of ancient history that seemed to marvelously illuminate the metaphorical language of the scriptures, I felt compelled to explain it to my fellow Saints; I felt compelled to demonstrate the incredibly broad application it had to the restored gospel and the teachings of the prophets. So, I started writing about it … and I haven't stopped.
In the last two decades, I have retreated from big city life, choosing the wide-open spaces and big sky of Northeastern California, where I live with my wife, Carla, on a 40-acre ranch in a home I built with considerable help from my eight children before they all moved away and started their own families.
Partially retired, I continue to write for three local newspapers on a weekly basis. I still compose and arrange orchestral and choral music on my computer-based digital system at home and dabble in video projects.
Lastly, I continue to explore in print and video the implications of my research into ancient planetary history and its bearing upon the restored gospel. The more I discover about those ancient celestial events and conditions, the better I understand the origins of temple and scriptural imagery.
Like Joseph Smith, I believe that Revelation is “the plainest book God ever caused to be written.” That applies to the Book of Abraham and the enigmatic Egyptian facsimiles as well. But perhaps most important of all is the meaningful significance I find in temple symbolism and ritual, which I believe is chock full of information, like reading a book.

Reviews

[Tim Malone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really makes you think. Anthony presents scenario after scenario of similar events that happened to the Nephites now happening in our day. Logical progression shows what will happen next. Some have called it pure conjecture (like most of his books). I like to think of it as more along the lines of good prophetic insight.

[Ernie Dawson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way too expensive a book for so little insight. There was some real potential in the author's ideas or "theses" (as he put it) but he didn't come through. Near the end he repeated some of the material he put in his book "The Moon Shall be turned to Blood". Did a real poor job in quoting his sources.