In an editorial statement in the Times and Seasons (vol. 3, No. 18, p. 860 [1842]), the newspaper of the Church for the time, we read (emphasis added):
The stupendous ruins, the elegant sculpture, and the magnificence of the ruins of Guatamala, and other cities, corroborate this statement, and show that a great and mighty people -- men of great minds, clear intellect, bright genius, and comprehensive designs inhabited this continent. Their ruins speak of their greatness; the Book of Mormon unfolds their history. -- ED.
What is rather interesting about this comment is how “this continent” is used to describe Guatemala. This should caution many when reading 19th century LDS works that use “continent” to discuss the whereabouts of the Book of Mormon and use such to support their own theory of Book of Mormon geography (this is a common abuse one finds among “Heartlanders”).
