Mexico Ministries Support Group utilizes this hieroglyph as an icon to represent our organization.  This glyph shows a man wearing a headdress, and loin cloth, and carrying a pole with a flag bearing a message represented by the three glyphs below the flag.  Behind the man there is a footprint.  This hieroglyph comes from a stone stele found in La Venta, Mexico, which is identified as Stele 13 and informally as the Ambassador stone.

La Venta Stela 13 Photo of Basalt Sculpture (Ambassador Stone)

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Archeologists have interpreted the stone as representing a man carrying a message through the lands. The footprint indicates traveling, and the glyphs identify the message.  The bird glyph is a representation of God.  It is noteworthy that the glyphs found on this stele are believed to be the earliest written language found in Mesoamerica found to date.

In the Book of Mormon in Alma 21 Verses 40 -49 we have the following record of Moroni, and the title of liberty.

Alma 21:40 And now it came to pass that when Moroni, which was the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, had heard of these dissensions, he was angry with Amalickiah.

Alma 21:41 And it came to pass that he rent his coat, And he took a piece thereof and wrote upon it – “In memory of our God, our religion and freedom and our peace, our wives and our children” – And he fastened it upon the end of a pole thereof;

Alma 21:42 And he fastened on his headplate and his breastplate and his shields and girded on his armor about his loins, And he took the pole which had on the end thereof his rent coat and he called it the title of liberty.

Alma 21:47 And he saith: “Surely God shall not suffer that we who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own trangressions.”

Alma 21:48 And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people, waving the rent of his garment in the air that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent, And crying with a loud voice, saying:

Alma 21:49 “Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, Let them come forth in the strength of the Lord and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.”

MMSG has selected this iconic image from Stele 13 to represent our organization since it appears to be a clear record of Captain Moroni carrying the title of liberty throughout the lands. For us, it is a proof of the truth of the Book of Mormon, and is a reminder of our responsibility as believers to work to take the record of the Book of Mormon back to the descendants of Lehi so that they may be reminded that the promises of the Lord to their forefathers is extended to them even in these last days.

For an in-depth article about Captain Moroni, ancient Mexican customs, and more on the flag mentioned here, see our about: Chief Captain Moroni Remembered