The mission tour took Elder Lee’s
party to historic locations where they could view the archaeological ruins of Mexico’s
past. From Villahermosa they transferred to a single-engine Cessna airplane for
Palenque, the place some Latter-day Saint archaeologists claim was the Land
Bountiful and therefore near the alleged center where the Savior made his
appearance to the Nephites. This was an interesting but most primitive area
tucked away in the jungles, the ruins being about twenty kilometres (twelve to
fifteen miles) from the town. The ruins here and at Chichen Itza were then
regarded as the most famed yet discovered. Here Elder Lee found evidences of
Christianity followed by pagan or mystic corruptions which all but obliterated
the simple Christian doctrines or Mosaic observances which probably were once
practiced here. As the party made their way back to Palenque and Villahermosa
and thence to Merida, via Carmen and Comeche, Elder Lee was convinced the area
possessed good possibilities for future missionary work and determined to
encourage it as an expansion of the Mexican Mission. (L. Brent Goates, Harold
B. Lee: Prophet and Seer [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1985], 263-64)
