This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon ought to be on the bookshelf of everyone interested in book of mormon geography. See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here. Joseph smith seems to have had an unusually close relationship with josiah stowell and joseph knight, through the years, from the time smith first claimed knowledge of the ancient nephite record, until the book of mormon was published. After teaching the book of mormon lessons in gospel doctrine class in sunday school for two years, i began to notice that the prophets were describing events that were occurring in and around zarahemla.
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. On january 31, 2014, the lds church published an essay entitled book of mormon and dna studies in the gospel topics series on its official website. All this focus on central american stone ruins came later. Items do not represent the official views of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints or of book of mormon central. As each new theory surfaces, we gain fresh hope of acquiring additional insights into it ancient location, but are all too often disappointed. Book of mormon lands map, january 2016 book of mormon. The astons propose wadi sayq as the best candidate for bountiful, and it impressively fits the criteria that one can derive from the book of mormon. These lesser lands were regional polities, often described in the text as city states mosiah 7. A version of this model which actually included lands from south of peru to northern ecuador was proposed in 1948 by verla birrell the book of mormon guide book. Read more in a mormons unexpected journey, volume 2, chapter 16.
Perhaps the time has come to concentrate more heavily on those lands surrounding the only known landmark we have of the book of mormon saga the hill cumorah in new york state, the very place the record of the nephites were deposited by moroni, the son of mormon, the last nephite prophet to walk the land after the destruction of his people. It not only runs east and was as required by the book of mormon text but has seas on both. It is thorough, covers many aspects of the field, and is probably the most objective work at its time. Dr in 1983, vernal holley proposed a list of names and corresponding maps to prove the book of mormon setting was based on the great lakes region and therefore fictional. So joseph smiths own country is the academically accepted setting for the book of mormon.
The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. Sep 08, 2016 on january 31, 2014, the lds church published an essay entitled book of mormon and dna studies in the gospel topics series on its official website. In this article, we will provide some background on this issue focusing on the book of mormon itself, followed by a point by point response to various statements made in the essay about the book of mormon. The church and byu stay neutral in questions of exactly where the book of mormon took place. In other words, native americans whose ancestors include book of mormon peoples may not be able to confirm that relationship using their dna. If the book of mormon lands are in asia, then josephs account that the book of mormon contains a record of the inhabitants of the. Most of you believe that the book of mormon occurred in central america, right. Quarterly articles and internet articles on book of mormon history, language, culture, and geography. According to mormon theology, native americans lamanites were those whom jesus ministered to when he came to the united states after his resurrection. It is a continuation of book of mormon evidences, part one. The smith family log home, where the angel moroni appeared to the young prophet, and declared the fulfilment of the prophets, the book to be revealed was in cumorah, the book of mormon land. 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. 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. Apr 20, 2009 most of you believe that the book of mormon occurred in central america, right.
Archaeology research in precolumbian americas and the book of mormon. Internal book of mormon geography focuses on the relationships between lands and other geographic features, independent of where they might be physically located on todays maps. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting book. These covenant lands are in the borders of the prophetic united states of america. Mormon land explores the contours and complexities of lds news. The book of mormon itself is the best source for understanding the geographical locations contained therein. Archaeology and the book of mormonarchive 4 wikipedia. Lds scripture, signed by joseph smith, definitely places cumorah the land near the finger lakes of western new york. Jan 12, 2016 this is my best book of mormon lands map to date.
Allen makes convincing arguments in a style that is generally easy to understand. Dec 09, 2011 it may help to see the proposed land of gideon in its larger context in the book of mormon land southward. Numerous observers have suggested that the book of mormon appears to be a work of fiction that parallels others within the 19thcentury moundbuilder genre that was pervasive at the time. Publishers, 1989 for the best summary of this entire subject.
The 10 best restaurants near the book of mormon in chicago. We suggest any proposed location for the book of mormon landsincluding the positioning of the river sidonwould be required to pass the test of fully matching these 20 geographical descriptions recorded by mormon. Chiasmus, mesoamerican evidences, cement, olives, ancient names like alma, and other evidences for the authenticity of the book of mormon a divine ancient record from the new world that testifies of jesus christ. The book of mormon states that lehi and his family followed in a southsoutheast direction along the coast of the red sea. The land of zarahemla is at a lower elevation relative to the land of nephi.
If a sincere student of the book of mormon will conscientiously read and study the book itself and will plot out all the locations mentioned. Another variation was introduced in 1975 by venice priddis the book and the map. Restaurants near the book of mormon, chicago on tripadvisor. The book of mormon does not say that the entire land northward resides in land occupied by the united states of america. Unfortunately, the geographical details of the book of mormon do not fit terribly well in models presented thus far. Much as critics and defenders of the book of mormon would like to use dna studies to support their views, the evidence is simply inconclusive.
The lord could have removed all questions regarding the exact locations of these events but he did not. These pages are written by jeff lindsay, a book of mormon aficionado, who takes full responsibility for the statements and opinions offered on this page. Searching for book of mormon lands allen, joseph l. In our main article, an approach to the book of mormon geography, under the subtopic, mormons description of book of. The amlicites journeyed southwest near the city of amnihu and met the nephites at the hill amnihu, across the river sidon, where they. Virtual book of mormon book of mormon maps and learning tools. Book of mormongeographynew worldgreat lakes geography. Book of mormon places and locations mormonism to grace. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. In 1991, john sorenson of byu, the dean of book of mormon geography, created a book called the geography of book of mormon events. Scott christensen, an archivist for the mormon church and the author of sagwitch, a book about the first shoshone chief to convert, has regrets about the way the church dealt with the situation. Vernal holleys book of mormon authorship annotated 3. American literature scholars place the book of mormon in the mound builder genre of the 19th century. Allen biography book of mormon archaeological forum.
Potter and sedor propose the area of salalah and the nearby ancient port of khor rori as the general site for bountiful. Holley presented 29 modern place names as inspiration for locations in the book of mormon out of 86 unique book of mormon geographical names. Establishing an expanded internal map of the geography of the jaredites part iv. Apr 28, 2016 book of mormon lands map, january 2016. In a very real way, the presence of native americans is evidence of the veracity of the book of mormon. Its been over a year since someone posted something on book of mormon geography, so i think its about time. However, the fatherson team of david and lynn rosenvall believe the baja peninsula south of california in mexicoits most famous city you may recognize is tijuana could be the location of book of mormon lands. 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. The king james quotations in the book of mormon, the history of the text of the book of mormon.
Jul 27, 2016 many proposed book of mormon geography theories were originated using a method proposed by dr. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. According to latter day saint scripture, the narrative in the book of mormon came to an end in the ancient land cumorah, where moroni, in 421 ad deposited the golden plates prior to his death. Book of mormongeographynew worldgreat lakes geography nearby for checkin, dinner, and a brief welcome and orientation meeting regarding our tour. Book of mormongeographyold worldbountiful fairmormon. Does the book of mormon fit best in a geography located around the great lakes, between the united states and canada.
Exploring the lands of the book of mormon byu studies. Mormon and indian university of california, berkeley. It incorporates much of what i have learned since this journey began in august, 2011. In october 1825, at the age of 20, smith went to work for, and lived with, josiah stowell of chenango. It was a very positive relationship up to that point, but i still feel uncomfortable with the way it all ended, he said. Claims the narrow neck of land is the isthmus of tehuantepec, and the basic area is that of mesoamerica. Book of mormon central archive book of mormon lands map, january 2016. Save mesoamerica for the search for migrating remnants from original book of mormon lands.
In this article, we will provide some background on this issue focusing on the scientific issues, followed by a point by point response to various statements made in the essay about the book of mormon. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon, by joseph allen, sa publishers, orem, utah, 1989, pp. Another possible location for the book of mormon places and locations has been proposed. Traveling from the land of desolation in the north, to the land southward, we encounter the principal book of mormon lands of bountiful, zarahemla, and nephi. Listed here is a 12 day11 night book of mormon lands tour itinerary with a brief description of daily activities and places of interest to be visited on our guided tour in guatemala, the proposed lands of the book of mormon. When i think of the baja california peninsula, i think of the baja offroad race where people take lots of vehicles and cross the deserts in all sorts of vehicles.
A radically different book of mormon geography theory posted by mormon heretic on april 9, 2009 in 10 tribes. This long distance between the land northward and the land southward doesnt fit the setting of the book of mormon story. Book of mormon evidences, part 2 presents more of the factors that suggest the book of mormon may be an ancient document. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon matters. After the ship is completed, lehis party departs bountiful and sails to the americas. An archaeologists evaluation, religious educator10, no. Here is more evidence showing that the lamanites of the book of mormon are in north america not mezoamerica as published in our book several years ago. I recently returned from 11 days in guatemala where i collaborated with bright people such as mark wright, diane wirth, dave gray, rick callister, van dunham, neal rappleye, stephen smoot, and rolando amado. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, north and south are perpendicular to that line. This significant volume, a large book of 437 pages with 147 maps, is a pleasure to read. Let the book of mormon change your life, again, as you investigate exploring the lands of the book of mormon. Listed here is a 12 day11 night book of mormon lands tour itinerary with a brief description of daily activities and places of interest to be visited on our guided tour in guatemala. Placing the internal maps within mesoamerica by connecting the landmarks between the nephites and jaredites, a more concise map of the geography and locations of the book of mormon lands can be established. In addition to continentalscale lands such as bountiful and greater zarahemla, the book of mormon describes 31 lesser lands such as melek and ammonihah alma 8.
This caused me to realize that the book of mormon lands were in a relatively localized area. 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. A radically different book of mormon geography theory. In presenting what i label the malay hypothesis, i realize i am suggesting that studies aimed at locating book of mormon lands and accurately identifying the descendants of book of mormon peoples would need to undergo a radical paradigm shiftone that many would. Apr 18, 2010 i believe the book of mormon people understood the cardinal directions as we use them today. Where were the actual physical places and locations described in the book of mormon. Book of mormon lands passion river model tour guatemala and belize 9 days8 nights day 1 fri.
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