Hagoth facts for kids

Hagoth (pronounced HAY-goth) was a skilled Nephite shipbuilder. He lived around 55 BCE, according to the Book of Mormon. He built very large ships near the border of the land Bountiful. These ships were launched into the "west sea."

Hagoth's Amazing Ships

The Book of Mormon tells us about Hagoth's shipbuilding. He was a very curious person. He built a huge ship near the land Bountiful, close to the land Desolation. This ship was launched into the west sea. This was near a narrow strip of land that led north.

Many Nephite people, including women and children, boarded this first ship. They took lots of food and sailed north. This happened in the 37th year of the reign of the judges.

The next year, Hagoth built even more ships. The first ship he built also returned. Many more people got on board, taking plenty of supplies. They sailed north again. Sadly, this ship and its passengers were never seen or heard from again. People believed they had drowned in the deep sea. Another ship also sailed away, and its destination was unknown.

Did Hagoth's People Sail to the Pacific?

Some people wonder if Hagoth's ships sailed far across the ocean. They think his people might have reached the Pacific Islands. These islands include places like Hawaii, Polynesia, and New Zealand.

Leaders and scholars from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) have suggested this idea. They believe that people in the Pacific Islands might be descendants of Hagoth and his followers. The Book of Mormon says the Nephites were descendants of Israel. Many LDS Church members in Polynesia believe Hagoth is their ancestor.

What Do Scientists Say?

Most non-Mormon scientists don't agree with this idea. They have studied genes, old artifacts, and human cultures. Their evidence shows that Polynesian people originally came from Maritime Southeast Asia.

However, there are a few interesting clues that suggest some contact between Polynesian people and those in the Americas long ago.

• Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potatoes are a common food in Polynesia. But they originally came from South America! The word for sweet potato in the Quechua language (spoken in South America) is kumar. This is very similar to the Polynesian word kumara.
• DNA Evidence: Scientists have also found DNA evidence. This suggests that Polynesian and South American people had some contact before Europeans arrived.

What the Book of Mormon Doesn't Say

It's important to know that the Book of Mormon doesn't say everything about Hagoth.

• The Book of Mormon doesn't say the "west sea" was the Pacific Ocean.
• It doesn't say Hagoth was on any of the lost ships.
• It doesn't say he was a captain, explorer, or leader of people.
• It's possible Hagoth just wanted to make money from building ships.

People related to Hagoth (the Nephites) could have traveled far without Hagoth himself sailing across the ocean. Coastal groups might have built more ships and traveled to distant islands. It's also possible that people came to the Pacific islands from more than one direction.

Church Leaders' Statements

The Book of Mormon itself doesn't strongly state that Polynesians are descendants of Hagoth. The LDS Church also doesn't have an official rule about it.

However, some Church leaders have spoken about it. In 1976, President Spencer W. Kimball told people in New Zealand that President Joseph F. Smith had said, "You brethren and sisters from New Zealand, I want you to know that you are from the people of Hagoth." For many New Zealand Saints, this was a powerful statement from a prophet.

Also, in 1958, President David O. McKay gave a prayer for the Hamilton, New Zealand Temple. In it, he thanked God for guiding "descendants of Father Lehi" to those islands. Lehi was another important person in the Book of Mormon, an ancestor of the Nephites.