Tarenyawagon: Emerging from Darkness

This post should be read in conjunction with The Great Peacemaker post. I believe they go hand in hand.

There are two Tuscarora sources published 55 years apart from each other in the 1800s, that have been on my mind lately. The first reason is because they describe an earlier people who destroy themselves on this land. (I apologize in advance for not providing all the page numbers. This is because I only have Kindle versions of these books.)

“A blazing star fell into a fort situated on the St. Lawrence and destroyed the people; this event was considered as a warning of their destruction. After a time a war broke out among the northern nations which continued until they had utterly destroyed each other, the island again become in possession of fierce animals.” David Cusick’s Sketches of Ancient History of the Six Nations, 1826

“A blazing star fell into their fort, situated on the banks of the St. Lawrence, and destroyed the people. Such a phenomenon caused a great panic and consternation and dread, which they regarded as ominious of their entire destruction. Not long after this prediction of the blazing star it was verified. These tribes, who were held together by feeble ties, fell into dispute and wars among themselves, which were pursued through a long period, until they had utterly destroyed each other, and so reduced their numbers that the lands were again over-run with wild beasts.” Legends, Traditions, and Laws of the Iroquois, or Six Nations, and History of the Tuscarora Indians, by Elias Johnson, 1881

This destruction of a people because of infighting is similar to the Jaredites in the Covenant of Christ. The account is too long for me to quote here, but a link to the chapter detailing the entire demise of that people can be found here.

Similar instances of destruction and prophets warning the people about their impending destruction are found in an earlier chapter, which can be read at this link.

Emerging From Darkness

Following the destruction of the first people described by the Tuscaroras, is a tradition of the early Iroquoians being confined in a mountain or cave, who are then released by Tarenyawagon, the “Holder of Heavens.”

This is how Elias Johnson (Tuscarora) described Tarenyawagon in his book published in 1881:

“Tarenyawagon united in one person the power of a God and a man, and gave him the expressive name of the Holder of Heavens, and was capable of assuming any form or shape that he chosed (sic), but appeared to them only in the form of a man, and taught them hunting, gardening, and the knowledge of the arts of war. He imparted to them the knowledge of the laws and government of the Great Spirit, and gave them directions and encouragement how to fulfill their duties and obligations.”  Legends, Traditions, and Laws of the Iroquois, or Six Nations, and History of the Tuscarora Indians, Elias Johnson, p.27

In the telling of Elias Johnson, Tarenyawagon is the same being who later unites the Six Nations, Hiawatha, the Great Peacemaker. But before the Six Nations were united by the Great Peacemaker they were first personally guided by Tarenyawagon out of a darker existence and separated from each other into the lands they should live in.

“By some inducement a body of people was concealed in the mountain at the falls named Kuskehsawkich, (now Oswego.) When the people were released from the mountain they were visited by TARENYAWAGON, i. e. the Holder of the Heavens, who had power to change himself into various shapes: he ordered the people to proceed towards the sunrise as he guided them and come to a river and named Yenonanatche, i. e. going round a mountain, (now Mohawk) and went down the bank of the river and come to where it discharges into a great river running towards the midday sun; and Shaw-nay-taw-ty, i. e. beyond the Pineries, (now Hudson,) and went down the bank of the river and touched bank of a great water. The company made encampment at the place and remained there a few days. The people were yet in one language; some of the people went to the banks of great water towards the midday sun; but the main company returned as they came, on the bank of the river, under the direction of the holder of the Heavens. Of this company there was a particular body which called themselves one household; of these were six families and they entered into a resolution to preserve the chain of alliance which should not be extinguished in any manner.” David Cusick’s Sketches of Ancient History of the Six Nations, by David Cusick, 1826

“At this period there were six families took refuge in a large cave in a mountain, where they dwelled for a long time. The men would come out occasionally to hunt for food. This mammoth cave was situated at or near the falls of the Oswego River. Taryenya-wa-gon (Holder of the Heavens) extricated these six families from this subterraneous bowels and confines of the mountain. They always looked to this divine messenger, who had power to assume various shapes, as emergency dictated, as the friend and patron of their nation. As soon as they were released he gave them instructions respecting the mode of hunting, matrimony, worship and many other things. He warned them against the evil spirit, and gave them corn, beans, squash, potatoes, tobacco, and dogs to hunt their game. He bid them go toward the rising of the sun, and he personally guided them, until they came to a river, which they named Yehnonanatche (that is going around a mountain,) now Mohawk, they went down the bank of the river and came to where it discharges into a great river, running towards the midway sun, they named it Skaw-nay-taw-ty (that is beyond the pineries) now Hudson, and went down the banks of the river and touched the bank of the great water. The company made an encampment at this place and remained for a while. The people was then of one language. Some of them went on the banks of the great waters, towards the midway sun, and never returned. But the company that remained at the camp returned as they came—along the bank of the river, under the direction of Taryenyawagon (Holder of the Heavens). This company were a particular body, which called themselves of one household. Of these there were six families, and they entered into an agreement to preserve the chain of alliance which should not be extinguished under any circumstance.” Legends, Traditions, and Laws of the Iroquois, or Sic Nations, and History of the Tuscarora Indians, by Elias Johnson, 1881

By Uoaei1 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46479931

I don’t doubt the possibility that there may have been an actual cave they lived in for a time, but real cave or not I can’t help but see the metaphor which the Creator often gives us in real world situations. This theme of darkness and light was spoken of by Jesus when he said:

…I am the light of the world; he that follows me will not walk in darkness, but shall be guided by the light of life. Testimony of St. John 6, paragraph 12

That they are freed from a dark place and led to a better existence by a being like Tarenyawagon tells me the darkness they existed in before was a spiritual one, and like a true messenger of God, Tarenyawagon instructs his people, bringing back the light. True to scriptural themes, they are then led by God to a land for them to live in. Most scriptural versions put requirements on the people in order to keep their right to the land. They must live in righteousness. I have to ask myself if this was the case for Tarenyawagon’s people too. Since his teachings came along with him leading them to their lands, I have to assume that yes, they had such a requirement as well. The following two quotes from each source confirm this to me.

"About this time it is supposed an agent from superior power solemnly visits the families, and he instructs them in various things respecting the infinity, matrimony, moral rules, worship, &c.; and he warns them that an evil spirit was in the world and would induce the people to commit trespasses against the rules he had given them; and he offers them favorable promises obedience to rules, the souls would enter the place of happiness; but to the disobedient their souls would be sent to a state of misery. And he gives the seeds for corn, beans, squashes, potatoes and tobacco, with directions how to cultivate them; and he gives them the dogs to aid in pursuing the game; and he repeats the administration of the game; and that the great country was given for their people’s maintenance. When he ended the interview of consolation he leaves." David Cusick’s Sketches of Ancient History of the Six Nations, by David Cusick, 1826

"If we unite in one band the Great Spirit will smile upon us, and we shall be free, prosperous and happy; but if we shall remain as we are we shall incur his displeasure. We shall be enslaved, and perhaps annihilated forever." Legends, Traditions, and Laws of the Iroquois, or Sic Nations, and History of the Tuscarora Indians, by Elias Johnson, 1881, p. 30

Furthermore, we have a cautionary tale given to us through the Tuscarora tradition (in my own opinion) of what may happen to a people who remains in darkness. The people who lived here before utterly destroyed themselves. We have two directions we can choose from in these examples: a path disconnected from the Holder of Heavens that leads to complete destruction, and a path that leads to light through the guidance and teachings of the Holder of Heavens.

This theme of being freed from darkness and captivity has an obvious parallel in the tradition of God freeing the Israelites from Egypt through Moses. There are other examples that exist too in the accounts of Lehi’s family, the Jaredites, and even the Mulekites of Zarahemla in the Covenant of Christ.

Here are examples of Lehi emerging from a corrupt society (darkness) to be led by God to a better land:

My father Lehi lived his whole life at Jerusalem. During the first year that Zedekiah king of Judah ruled, many prophets were warning that the people must repent or the great city of Jerusalem would be destroyed. 

So my father, when he was alone, prayed to the Lord with his whole heart for his people. As he prayed to the Lord, a pillar of fire descended and rested on a rock in front of him, and he saw and heard many things. What he saw and heard made him shake and tremble. Afterward, he returned to his house in Jerusalem and collapsed on his bed, overwhelmed by the Spirit and what he had seen. While overwhelmed by the Spirit, he was carried away in a vision. He saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting on His throne, surrounded by numberless rings of angels engaged in singing and praising Him. He also saw a person descending from heaven who was brighter than the midday sun. He then saw twelve others following Him, and they were brighter than the stars in the sky. They came down to the earth. The first one came and stood in front of my father and gave him a book and told him to read. As he read, he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord. He read: Woe, woe to Jerusalem, because I’ve seen your abominations! My father continued to read about Jerusalem; that it would be destroyed along with its inhabitants, many would be killed by the sword and many would be captured and taken to Babylon. After my father read and saw many great and surprising things, he cried out to the Lord: O Lord God Almighty, You’ve done such great and awe-inspiring things! Your throne is high in the heavens, and Your power, goodness, and mercy are over everyone living on earth. And because You are merciful, You won’t let those who come to You be lost. This is an example of how my father praised God. He rejoiced and his heart was full because of what the Lord showed him. 1 Nephi 1, paragraph 2-3

Following this, the Lord spoke to my father in a dream and told him: You are blessed, Lehi, because of the things you’ve done. And because you’ve been faithful and declared the things I commanded you, they’re trying to kill you. In that dream, the Lord commanded my father to take his family and make his way into the wilderness. He obeyed the Lord’s word and did what the Lord commanded him. 1 Nephi 1, paragraph 6

Up to that point, the Lord hadn’t allowed us to make many fires as we traveled in the wilderness. He said: I’ll keep your food from spoiling, and you will not need to cook it. I will also be your light in the wilderness and prepare the way in front of you if you keep My commandments. So to the degree you keep My commandments, you’ll be led toward the promised land. And you’ll know that you’re led by Me. The Lord also said: After you’ve arrived at the promised land, you will know that I the Lord am God, that I saved you from destruction and brought you out of the land of Jerusalem. 1 Nephi 5, paragraph 16

In the scripture below Lehi’s family is compared to a branch being broken off the main tree, or like the Tuscarora traditions, being separated from the main group and led into their own land (I should acknowledge this is also similar to the tribes of Israel being divided in the land of Israel when they finally reach it). And also like the Tuscarora traditions the theme of a Savior or Messiah freeing them from darkness is echoed. Lehi’s version below, though, is a prophecy.

The Lord made great covenants with Joseph. As a result, Joseph was shown about us, and the Lord promised him that He would raise up righteous descendants of the house of Israel from his offspring — not the Messiah, but a separated branch, who would be included in the Lord’s covenants — and the Messiah would make Himself known to them in the last days in the spirit of power in order to enlighten them. He’ll move them from darkness into light, from dark confusion and being lost into freedom. 2 Nephi 2, paragraph 2

In this related prophecy, the emergence from darkness accompanies a gathering, similar to the gathering of the people under the Great Peacemaker after first being led them into separate lands:

As a result, He’ll bring them back out of captivity — they’ll be gathered to the lands they first inherited, and they’ll be brought out of confusion and darkness, and they’ll know the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel. 1 Nephi 7, paragraph 3

Broken Off Branches

This taking of people out of darkness and leading them into another land is also described in the parable of Zenos, as the Lord of the Vineyard taking "many" branches from his failing mother tree, and dividing them into four of the “lowest parts of the vineyard.”

And the lord of the vineyard said: I’ll remove many of these new, tender branches and graft them in places I choose; then it won’t matter if the original tree root dies, because I can still save its fruit for myself. Therefore I’ll take these young, tender branches and graft them in places I choose. Jacob 3, paragraph 7

And the lord of the vineyard went his way and hid the natural branches of the tame olive tree in the lowest parts of the vineyard, some in one part and some in another, according to his deliberate plan. After a long time had elapsed, the lord of the vineyard said to his servant: Come, let’s return to the vineyard to work there. Jacob 3, paragraph 9

As I have written about previously, the similarity of Zenos’ tree and gathering of the branches back to the original tree is similar to the traditions of the Six Nation’s Tree of Great Peace, and the union of their tribes into a single confederacy. Now I can see that they also share the part of the parable about being led by God out of darkness, being broken off from the main group, and placed into their own land. Their traditional history is a smaller scale version of the promises in the parable, mirroring it from scattering to their return. As discussed in my previous post, they even have a prophecy that applies this pattern to all the world, just as the parable does.

I find this a remarkable coincidence! And yet another corroborating witness of the same principles.