Jan 29, 2019 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. Heartland model true book of mormon geography lands. Given the variety and sparsity of statements about book of mormon geography during josephs lifetime, it seems that, at least in his mind, the location of lehis landing remained indefinite. The recent gospel topics essay on book of mormon geography makes. The church and byu stay neutral in questions of exactly where the book of mormon took place. They also point to the promises about the new jerusalem being built upon this land and claim that america is the only one that fits it because it is the only one that doesnt have kings or queens ruling it. Debunking 5 myths about the book of mormon lds living. For example, the book of mormon states that the jaredite lands were in the land northward, near desolation and the hill cumorah. In particular, he rejects the socalled twocumorah theory.
Olive has done a great job of backing up her theory with maps, artifacts and research. Dr rosenvall has an extensive book of mormon geography theory. May 27, 2010 the person most often associated with this theory is john l. 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. His analysis is interesting because he once held the view that book of mormon lands were located in mexico and central america but has since become persuaded that a much stronger case can be made for western new york and pennsylvania and ontario, canada. Apr 15, 2020 we specializes in tours to israel, egypt, as well as church history tours, book of mormon land tours to mesoamerica, and specialty cruises. Notes on the hypothetical map of book of mormon lands a parable for critics of the book of mormon written by hugh nibley peoples of the book of mormon. Although church members continue to discuss such theories today, the churchs only position is that the events the book of mormon describes took place in the. It is based on a close reading of the text, which indicates that the lands inhabited by the lehites could be traversed on foot in only a few weeks, making the area no larger than presentday california.
Those who do not accept the book of mormon as scripture offer many theories about its origin. These principal book of mormon lands are southward from the land northward mentioned in helaman 3. Could joseph smith have recited the book of mormon from. The fight over book of mormon geography deseret news. He said something like when i registered my geography theory, i learned that there are some really high number of registered book of mormon geography theories. See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here.
The book of mormon mentions geography in these passages. Home comparative summary of several book of mormon lands theories comparative summary of several book of mormon lands theories 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. Earlier this week published an essay in the gospel topics series laying out the position of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints on the geographic location of the events recorded in the book of mormon. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon matters. Book of mormon geography stirring controversy the salt lake. Some claim that sidney rigdon authored the book of mormon, and conspired with joseph smith well ahead of time to compose it and start a religion. The book of mormon heartland model is a model first proposed by rod. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Much of the heartland of the united states may then correspond to the book of mormon south county or south countries. It commenced with the mesotheorists but soon became general among all members of the church. Part of the learning of my father which nephi referred to in 1 nephi 1. One theory is that the book of mormon covers all of north and south america, or at least a vast portion of the americas the hgthemispheric geographical theory. A reaction to the churchs recent essay on book of mormon. Different researchers have produced various hypotheses or theories about just what area mormon was describing.
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. Sorenson, a retired professor of anthropology at byu, and the author of an ancient american setting for the book of mormon and a series of articles on book of mormon geography that ran in the ensign magazine in september and october 1984. Nov 08, 2012 one theory is that the book of mormon covers all of north and south america, or at least a vast portion of the americas the hgthemispheric geographical theory. The following 2 theories are some of the most radical. Reading the book of mormon to determine its geographical. The book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally been deciphered. Mormons map disproves heartland model john p pratt.
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. In the years since the book of mormon was published, other naturalistic theories have waxed and waned in popularity, but similar to the early 1830s, joseph smiths intellect theory is today the most accepted naturalistic explanation for the origin of the book of mormon. The book of mormon is a record of the forefathers of. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may. He seemed not to have a concrete idea of the locations where book of mormon events took place. The prophecies and promises indicate that the united states has to be at least some part of the book of mormon, because practically every one of these promises in it can only really be applied as the united states, rod l. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful.
Actually, during js time period, it was commonly believed that not only were the ancient americans warlike, but that they comprised two distinct races that warred against each other. Both the mesoamerican and the heartland book of mormon geography theories have their strong points and, shall we say, areas that need. All these years after hearing his presentation, theres one thing he said before he started that i particularly remembered. In fact, clues in its text hint at the presence of other groups book of mormon and dna studies. From the earliest days of the church, the site of lehis landing in the new world has been a topic of discussion. Wayne may presents archaeological support of the book of mormon to a group in malad, idaho in february of 2017. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland book.
The heartland is the place where it all happened, right under our very nose. An interesting correlation with mesoamerican geographysee map below. Interesting correspondence on the subject of the manual theory. It postulates that the events in the book took place over north and south america, with the isthmus of panama as the narrow neck of land. From the west sea to the east sea at the narrow neck of land was 1 to 1 12 days. It is a book of scripture aimed at teaching people about christ and how to find happiness through the gospel.
Book of mormon geography the encyclopedia of mormonism. One of the earliest theories was that the book of mormon was based on a manuscript by solomon spaulding also spelled spalding, a fictional story about early inhabitants of america. Reply to pros, cons of book of mormon geography theories book. Purpose of the book of mormon tour helps these single page descriptions of a specific book of mormon site are designed to provide pertinent information to the traveler about the site. It is based on a close reading of the text, which indicates that the lands inhabited by the lehites could be traversed on foot in only a few. Theories of book of morm on lands in mesoamerica showing 11 of 1 messages. When they are learned they think they are wise messages of. Although the intellect theory is the most popular, it is not universally. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon. Rather, the church urges local leaders and members not to advocate theories of book of mormon geography in official church settings. 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. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. The steps are to derive nine criteria from the facts from mormon s description of the book of mormon lands which any candidate theory must meet in order to be consistent with his map. Thomas and jennifer ferguson the first edition of exploring the lands of the book of mormon was published in 1989 and has been an overwhelming success.
The articles linked below will describe the various theories and examine the. Book of mormon geography new england theory mormonism. The church takes no position on the specific geographic location of book of mormon events in the ancient americas. The book of mormon brims with warfare and nasty people. Until twenty years ago, the book s claims on this matter were poohpoohed by the famous scholars. Study two dozen detailed, fullcolor maps that follow the footsteps of mosiah, alma, ammon, limhi, and lands from nephi to zarahemla. The book of mormon geography book, a promised land, the land of promise, is one of our books at alpha publishing available for purchase at virginia elieson was inspired with this geography, while with her patriarch husband and mission president in dallas here organized into a book by peter covino, jr. The hemispheric geography theory or hgt is the traditional understanding of the book of mormon. If members of the church would place more confidence in the word of the lord, and less confidence in the theories of men, they would be better off. Apr 20, 2009 the following 2 theories are some of the most radical. Until we have clearer knowledgeon book of mormon geography. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon by joseph l. Let the book of mormon change your life, again, as you investigate exploring the lands of the book of mormon. Oct 12, 2020 those who promote the heartland model continuously point to words in the book of mormon about giving the house of jacob this land.
Comparing book of mormon geography models mormon lds. I asked him why he picked malay as a possible book of mormon location, and he. Book of mormongeographynew worldgreat lakes geography. The heartland model or heartland theory of book of mormon geography postulates that the events described in the book of mormon took place, primarily, in the heartland of north america. Nov 12, 2014 the book of mormon does not contradict the land bridge migration theory. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon joseph l. Carr, president of book of mormon archaeological forum, were sending you a copy of his last article. Virtual book of mormon book of mormon maps and learning. Mormon s map is book of mormon scholar john sorensons reconstruction of that mental map solely from information gleaned from the text after years of intensive study. Is there a registry of book of mormon geography theories.
In our opinion, the second edition of exploring the lands of the book of mormon will be the encyclopedia for the study of the book of mormon history and geography for years to come. Importantly, what this statement did not say was that any one theory of the book of mormons setting was correct or incorrect. I asked the lord, which of all the book of mormon geography models was right, and he replied, they are all wrong, for they teach as truths the theories of man. May 27, 2011 see this page in the original 1992 publication. No effort should be made to identify points on this map with any existing geographical location. For that reason, our design team has chosen to develop an internal map that shows relational directions and approximate distances that match the. Meldrum and porter say they are careful not to make claims counter to church teaching and to ensure it is presented as a theory, not fact. Much of the debate has centered around the origin of a statement written by frederick g.
There are times when there is not the opportunity to get a clear understanding of what the traveler saw and these bulletins will help with that understanding. Interest in the manner of the translation of the book of mormon is still alive among many thoughtful students. Dec 02, 2016 to help with the increasing amount of new information, a blog site has been setup for research relating to the book of mormon lands in baja california. Critical theories that sidney rigdon was a book of mormon author or coconspirator summary. The heartland model or heartland theory of book of mormon geography postulates that the events described in the book of mormon took place, primarily, in the heartland of north america among the models proposals are that mound builders, including the hopewell and the adena, were among those peoples described in accounts of events in book of mormon books such as alma and helaman.
Pros, cons of book of mormon geography theories deseret news. The book of mormon west sea and east sea, on the other hand, are proper nouns that is, they are the actual names of bodies of water that situate on the west and on the east respectively, of the lands of zarahemla and nephi. Book of mormon hemispheric geography theory summary. Comparative summary of several book of mormon lands theories. Book of mormon geography mormonism, the mormon church. The solomon spalding theory chapter 9 of joseph smiths. Our expertise is in providing sacred and meaningful experiences at various scriptural sites throughout the world. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography. The book of mormon never claims that the people it describes were either the only or even the predominant inhabitants of america. The book of mormon does not state into which sea the river sidon empties, so the mouth of the river is not shown.
The following letters on the subject are, therefore, both timely and engagingeditors. The new essay begins with this declarative statement. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the shake. The geographical setting of the book of mormon has been the subject. In the last few years i have read over 5000 pages about the south america theory and reread the book of mormon multiple times highlighting every scripture over 500 that has any reference to geography, culture, prophecies, etc that may shed light on where the book of mormon lands are. 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 and nearly all current latter day saints. Mormon, the compiler of the book of mormon, provides a map of the land in which the book of mormon occurred. Teachings of latterday prophets, seers, and revelators. A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in. Possible book of mormon sites in relation to each other. A parable for critics of the book of mormon written by hugh nibley peoples of the book of mormon strait and straight in the book of mormon those confusing book of mormon plates war and the book of mormon pronouncing guide book of mormon scripture mastery passages thirtyfive minute history of the book of mormon enallage in the hebrew bible and.
My days at the maxwell institute are spent working on a book that will examine each of the major geographic models for the book of mormon. Comparative summary of several book of mormon lands theories comparative summary of several book of mormon lands theories 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. A summary of several theories of book of morm on lands in mesoamerica by. Sep 11, 2018 how does learning spiritual and secular give one greater capacity to serve god if he or she remains humble and teachable. Why the heartland model of the book of mormon is incorrect. The lost lands of the book of mormon phyllis carol olive on. This idea was held early on by joseph smith, a proof that he merely translated the book of mormon, rather than inventing it himself. American indian and a new convert to the church or just learning about the church. This approach treats mormon s observations as the facts of the geography which need to be matched by any candidate to be the actual geographical map. The lord could have removed all questions regarding the exact locations of these events but he did not. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland book of. The land of zarahemla is at a lower elevation relative to the land of nephi. 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.
Naturalistic explanations of the origin of the book of mormon. Williams, stating that lehi landed on the continent of south america in chile thirty. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new york. It will change your lives and expose truths that even conspiring men could not hide or destroy. Learning to love the book of mormon contents introduction the first book of nephi 1 nephi chapter 1 1 nephi chapter 2 1 nephi chapter 3 1 nephi chapter 4 1 nephi chapter 5. The book of mormon is not intended to be a history book or a guide to geography, science, or any other secular topic.
Possible book of mormon sites in relation to each other possible relationships of sites in the book of mormon, based on internal evidence. Sep 08, 2009 as in the ongoing theories pertaining to the geography of the book of mormon, perhaps all the three, even the gulf of darien, the tehuantepec gulf and even the honduran gulf may qualify as a narrow strip of land as described in the book of mormon. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may youtube. The limited geography theory or lgt is a nontraditional interpretation of the text, but one that has gained wide acceptance among the book of mormon scholars and readers over the last 60 years. The map spans jaredite and nephitelamanite periods during which settlements changed over time. The williams handwritten document is the prime source of information about its own origin.
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