By careful study of that time period we can determine why some were destroyed in the terrible judgments that. Joseph smith made several comments concerning book of mormon geography throughout his life which support both a north american setting1, and central american setting. Fax from the office of the first presidency to farms, april 12, 1993. Further testifies to the prophetic calling and divine mission of the prophet joseph smith. Book of mormon geography tour 11 days10 nights guatemala. Joseph smith knew book of mormon geography book of mormon. Note also that the discovery of coriantumr shortly after the final destruction of the jaredite nation may have taken place much earlier perhaps around 550 bc, with only the report of that discovery being made during the days of mosiah the 1st. It contains a lineage history of three small colonies who came from the old world and settled in an american land of promise. Joseph smith and the geography of the book of mormon. Historical antecedents and early interpretations matthew roper introduction the book of mormon is a record prepared and written by ancient american prophets. Book of mormon geography in nevillenevilleland book of. Hemispheric geography theory lds have traditionally interpreted the text hemispherically and assumed a blank continent. However, all of these models however suffer many of the same substantial problems. However, careful examination of the text revealed that the book of mormon was quite consistent in its use of distances, and that these distances covered only a few hundred miles at most, and not thousands as some had thought.
The features listed in this chart are based on the book of mormon text. Controversy, evidence, and two cumorahs the book of mormon is not intended to be a history book or a guide to geography, science, or any other secular topic. Holley composed the book of mormon map through the data he retrieved in josephs description of the area in the book of mormon and compared it with a map of the us and canada from josephs day. In the book of mormon we find a pattern for preparing for the second coming. The fight over book of mormon geography deseret news. This book introduces the reader to an authoritative hierarchy of internal and external witnesses beginning with the 36 prophecies and promises that its ancient writers originally intended latterday readers to use in identifying the promised land of their day. He received his bs from weber state university, his ma from brigham young university, and his phd from the university of. The land of zarahemla is at a lower elevation relative to the land of nephi. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model.
Chief among these is the fact that we know we certainty where the story beginsin old world jerusalem. The church takes no position on the specific geographic location of book of mormon events in the ancient americas. It is our assertion that the heartlands of the book of mormon peoplesthe nephites, the lamanites, the jaredites and the people of mulek. These are the core areas for the history of the book of mormon and is called the western new york model. A major portion of the book centers on the few decades just prior to christs coming to america.
A memorable book of mormon lands tour guatemala, honduras, belize and mexico 11 days10 nights day 1 fri. Each year at its annual book of mormon lands conference, the book of mormon archaeological forum gives the father lehi award and the mother sariah award to a couple who have contributed significantly to. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. Comparing book of mormon geography models mormon lds. This page provides settings and an overview or summary timeline with approximate dates for the generic map or schematic diagram of the book of mormon lands, including nephite, lamanite and jaredite place names in the promised land in the americas. Apr 02, 2010 joseph smith made several comments concerning book of mormon geography throughout his life which support both a north american setting1, and central american setting. Numerous attempts have been made to diagram physical and political geographies depicting features mentioned in the text, but this requires many additional assumptions and is difficult to accomplish without making approximate relationships appear precise sorenson, 1991. The heartland model or heartland theory of book of mormon geography states that the book of mormon events primarily occurred in the heartland of north america. Home book of mormon science, ancient history, and the book of mormon national geographic society statement on the book of mormon national geographic society statement on the book of mormon language. Book of mormon geography in north america the products services offered by wayne may are neither made, provided, approved nor endorsed by intellectual reserve, inc. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting book.
The first readers of the book of mormon tended to conceive of geography stretching for thousands of miles in a northtosouth direction. Book of mormon geography, archives edition december 28, 2015 by j. This book of mormon map along with a wall map are available for down loading in color and the book of mormon geography book a promised land, the land of promise with all the mormon maps and details is also available at alpha publishing at. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography. Saints and book of mormon geography church history. Although the book of mormon is primarily a religious record of the nephites, lamanites, and jaredites, enough geographic details are embedded in the narrative to allow reconstruction of at least a rudimentary geography of book of mormon lands.
This book was a common household reference in young joseph smiths time and place. Hugh nibley sums up my view of discussions about book of mormon geography. Sorenson, an ancient american setting, 34353, an apologist for the critics. First and secondhand accounts of what the prophet joseph said are referred to as. The book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally been deciphered. Before we examine some of the possible locations for book of mormon geography however, i would like to stress the fact that as of today, the lord has not revealed where the nephites or lamanites lived, and as such, the lds church has taken no official stance on anything related to book of mormon geography. In this book are a number of future book of mormon names, which appeared within alphabetized lists. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting book of. Based on the same map, we see that the main river in the book of mormon called sidon, is the buffalo river.
The one and only river mentioned in the entire book of mormon is called the sidon. Speaking of the book s history and geography, president russell m. The debate on book of mormon geography is heated, but is it necessary for ones salvation to know the location. An approach to the book of mormon geography a land choice above all other lands lynn and david rosenvall, march 2009 the book of mormon story happened somewhere.
There was a book published in 1791 by john walker entitled, a key to the classical pronunciation of greek, latin, and scripture proper names. The heartland is the place where it all happened, right under our very noses. Limited geography and the book of mormon byu scholarsarchive. The majority of mesoamerican book of mormon geography models seek to correlate the isthmus of tehuantepec or the isthmus of guatemala.
A discussion of the arabian, or old world, geography of the book of mormon enjoys many advantages over discussion of new world matters. Critique of a limited geography for book of mormon events jstor. Gods word is to be established by two or more witnesses 2 cor. The two big problems with the mesoamerican model for book of mormon geography are 1 there is zero evidence of the book of mormon narrative there and 2 the proponents insist joseph didnt know much about the book of mormon. Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith. A limited geography model for the book of mormon is one of several theories by latter day saint movement scholars that the book s narrative was a historical record of people in a limited geographical region, rather than of the entire western hemisphere as believed by some early latter day saints. Even though the mormon church formally denies endorsing any geographical theory regarding the location of book of mormon events, its many book of mormon editions, film strips, pamphlets and professors using images and references exclusively of the mesoamerican area speaks otherwise. Hugh nibley and book of mormon geography by kirk magleby. An ancient american setting for the book of mormon salt lake city.
He signed the utah state constitution, was a pioneer railroader and telegrapher, and spent much of his time in genealogical research and a study of book o. First, they discuss book of mormon geography, preferring the mesoamerican theory. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. Book of mormon geography, archives edition by common. The geographical setting of the book of mormon has been the subject of. These are contained in 3 nephi, 4 nephi, the book of mormon, and the book of moroni. Persons interested in book of mormon geography who do not interpret this reference as an isthmus have more difficulty fitting their site to the book of mormon than do those who interpret the narrow neck passage as an isthmus. An approach to the book of mormon geography from the sea west to the sea eastthe orientation of the book of mormon lands to the sea updated the narrow strip of wildernessspatial features, orientation and recorded journeys. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia.
Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting there have been numerous attempts to locate the long, lost lands of the book of mormon over the years. The author wrote in the preface to this 1959 book, for more than a hundred years there has been a need for a geography of the book of mormon. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints released a statement today concerning the geography of the book of mormon in the form of a new gospel topics essay titled book of mormon geography. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new. Book of mormon geography problems life after ministries. Hence, moroni had to carry the plates from central america to new york. Hugh nibley and book of mormon geography book of mormon. This article discusses how geographical theories about the book of mormon have developed. Book of mormon geography your site for lds theology. His many years spent studying the book and his travels to south america left him with a concept of book of mormon geography that he. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the. President benson said, in the book of mormon we find a pattern for preparing for the second coming. Book of mormon geography in joseph smiths day fairmormon. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence.
The new essay begins with this declarative statement. Nov 17, 2014 the book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally been deciphered. Ten essential features of book of mormon geography book. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the shake. While some latterday saints have looked for possible locations and explanations for book of mormon geography because the new york hill cumorah does not readily fit the book of mormon description of cumorah, there are no conclusive connections between the book of mormon text and any specific site. The name mesoamerica is a term used to identify the heartland of a number of significant precolumbian cultures. Each year at its annual book of mormon lands conference, the book of mormon archaeological forum gives the father lehi award and the mother sariah award to a couple who have contributed significantly to book of mormon studies and research.
Generations of mormons grew up with the notion that american indians are descended from a lost tribe from the house of israel, offspring of a book of mormon figure named lehi, who left jerusalem and sailed to the americas around 600 b. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model is. The hill cumorah in ontario county ny is the hill where joseph smith found the golden plates and is the same hill where the civilizations of the nephites cumorah and the jaredites ramah fought their last battles. All lds students of book of mormon geography who have worked systematically with the problem in recent decades have come to agree on this sorenson 1985, 2930. Mormon revisionists today believe that moroni went from one hill cumorah to the next to bury the plates. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new york. For detailed maps see our book of mormon geography site. They far exceed the heartland models in their ability to synthesize the text with known archaeology. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. The two maps below came from a book written by the late vernal holley called book of mormon authorship. The map is without any scale, and does not attempt to relate them to presentday geography or place names. We have sought to uphold the churchs position of neutrality on these theories.
John l sorenson, the geography of the book of mormon. Mss 2857 joel ricks papers, 18741940 joel ricks, jr. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model is unique in this regard. The book of mormon strongly implies that the hill cumorah is near the narrow neck of land morm. They then address the topic of domestication, crosscultural naming challenges, the extinction of animals, and the difficulty of identifying an extinction date for any animal. While some of these sources treat book of mormon geography in only the vaguest generalities, others make very specific claims on the topic. Jaredite geography the jaredites who dwelt in the same area as the nephites had a number of different names for the terrain and the cities that existed in their time. Clarifies the geography questions that still linger in minds. As each new theory surfaces, we gain fresh hope of acquiring additional insights into it ancient location, but are all too often disappointed.
This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful. Book of mormon geography settings, timeline, overview. National geographic society statement on the book of mormon national geographic society statement on the book of mormon language. After several months of intense careful study of the text i have put together the following proposed map, showing the relative positions of book of mormon lands, cities, rivers, etc. Note that it was the people of zarahemla who discovered coriantumr and the stone mentioned in omni 1. Though there are several plausible hypotheses regarding the geographic locations of book of mormon events. Videos watch past wayne may presentations as he reveals the supporting evidences of the book of mormon as found in archaeology, geography and historical records. A limited geography model for the book of mormon is one of several theories by latter day saint movement scholars that the books narrative was a historical record of people in a limited geographical region, rather than of the entire western hemisphere as believed by some early latter day saints these models, developed in an effort to reconcile claims in the book of mormon with archaeology. The nephites journeyed in the wilderness for many days to get away from laman and lemuel. The church emphasizes the doctrinal and historical value of the book of mormon, not its geography. Book of mormon geography evidence land map definitive dna archaeolgy. Regarding point 1, i have read all of sorensons works and most of what farms and the maxwell institute have.
Not only this, but he allowed several opinions of north, south, central, and hemispheric geography of the book of mormon to be published, taught, and republished without any correction. Joseph smith and book of mormon geographyexactly what joseph. National geographic society statement on the book of mormon. Interpreting book of mormon geography byu scholarsarchive. First and secondhand accounts of what the prophet joseph said are referred to as lesser sources. Book of mormon geography in nevillenevilleland the contents of all bmaf publications are the sole responsibility of the individual authors and therefore do not necessarily represent the views of bmaf or the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. It is a book of scripture aimed at teaching people about christ and how to find happiness through the gospel. By careful study of that time period we can determine why some were destroyed in the terrible. Cumorah true book of mormon geography lands western. Book of mormon geography march 6, 2018 enter your password to view comments. Dec 02, 2016 an approach to the book of mormon geography from the sea west to the sea eastthe orientation of the book of mormon lands to the sea updated the narrow strip of wildernessspatial features, orientation and recorded journeys. An entirely new approach to the study of book of mormon geography.
1377 1469 1430 757 303 839 1264 1239 72 1246 182 1490 1180 119 1483 960 1427 251 1217 1170 1016 31 1490 1418 1421 826 310 969 533 751 94 643 1140 1416 1032