The heartland is the place where it all happened, right under our very nose. Mormon wrote of the lands of the lamanite mission in alma 22. When the remnants of the jaredites final battle were discovered, the book of. Critics who attempt to rely on dna evidence to attack the truth of the book of mormon misinterpret or misconstrue what the dna evidence actually shows. Curtiss christ in north america is the most recent attempt to secure this eminence. Archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in north america. The book of mormon is full of references to technologies and species that are known to have not existed in precolumbian america. 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. Khem is related to the biblical name ham, who was the son of noah.
This fantastic tour includes all of the most important ruins that date back to book of mormon times. Sep 15, 2020 the book of mormon gives us several warnings, such as this one. May 22, 2020 this refers to the dark fertile land surrounding the nile. Book of mormon geography watch as wayne may presents the parallels between the geography of the hopewell and adena civilizations and the book of mormon records. Chief among these is the fact that we know we certainty where the story beginsin old world jerusalem.
Phelps linked the land of desolation to the midwestern united states, ranging from the mississippi to the. The book of mormon claims that nonspecific seeds were brought from the land of. A whole bunch of reasons why book of mormon geography could. Central, and south america known as a hemispheric geography approach were. A chapter from the dvd book of mormon archaeology in north america by wayne n. Various apologists have claimed that events in the book of mormon took place in a variety of locations including north america, south america, central america, and even the malay peninsula. The fight over book of mormon geography deseret news. In this history, cowdery stated that the final battle between the nephites. 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. Covenant with god blessings and judgments of the promised land. Sorenson, the geography of the book of mormon events.
Curtis s christ in north america is the most recent attempt to secure this eminence. Its true that the land northward gets relatively short shrift in the book of mormon. As indicated by archaeology and related studies, no place in north america in the period of book of mormon history contained any cultures at the level of civilization. Jan 23, 2012 kieth merrill discusses north american setting for book of mormon and mistake made in filming of the testaments. Aug 25, 2020 rather, hes saying that the nephite settlement followed similar patterns as the european settlement of north america and represents a model for such. Although church members continue to discuss such theories today, the church takes no position on the geography of the book of mormon except that the events it describes took place. Some believe that the history depicted in the book of mormon occurred in north america, while others believe that it occurred in central america or south america. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may. Possible book of mormon sites in relation to each other. The church emphasizes the doctrinal and historical value of the book of mormon, not its geography. This map however looks like mesoamerica turned 90 degrees. Rather, hes saying that the nephite settlement followed similar patterns as the european settlement of north america and represents a model for such. The people who kept the record were descendants of several families who immigrated from jerusalem near the fall of that city.
That is not to say that some other great civilization took root there, but i dont think it was the people of the book of mormon. Geographical, and other evidences in support of the book of mormon landscape, as found in north america. The book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally been deciphered. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. It is evident that people came to the americas from many lands. Sidon, and lands to the north and south occupied by the nephites and their enemi. The land north of the narrow neck was known as the land northward and that to the south as the land southward. I am not here today to tickle your ears, to entertain you. Until we have clearer knowledgeon book of mormon geography. The geographical setting of the book of mormon is the set of locations of the events described in the book of mormon. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. Supposing that joseph smith would have the best information on this subject, the essay notes that he accepted evidence of book of mormon civilization in both north america and central america.
Its not the movie nor will book of mormon videos give. May showing examples of book of mormon armor and battle mound. 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. Best of all we fly from mexico city to villahermosapalenque and we travel by boat from. Limited geography and the book of mormon byu scholarsarchive. A whole bunch of reasons why book of mormon geography could not have included north america by john sorenson. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography.
May 08, 2018 the know readers of the book of mormon may wonder, at times, where in the americas the events described took place. Gazetteer for book of mormon geography map this mapgazetteer is designed as a book supplement end note for both book of mormon and mesoamerican history study. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. The map spans jaredite and nephitelamanite periods during which settlements changed over time. Waves of gentiles the prophecy by an angel to nephi mentioned three waves of gentiles and other details. In the book of mormon, the word khem appears as kum or cum. And now, we can behold the decrees of god concerning this land, that it is a land of promise. Proponents of the great lakes theory adhere to the teachings of lds church leaders, official church history, and church canon that identify the hill in palmyra, new york as the hill cumorah of the book of mormon, the place of the final nephite battle. Jul 22, 2018 and that it would be located in north america since it is supposed to be a choice land above all others. Below is more detail about the above north american map of the book of mormon. Below is more detail about the above north american map of the book of mormon narrow pass. When people approach me with questions about the great lakes model of book of mormon geography, this is my standard response. This makes more sense than being located in some third world country in central america. A discussion of the arabian, or old world, geography of the book of mormon enjoys many advantages over discussion of new world matters.
The book of mormon in north america moronis america. Can i be a mormon without believing in what joseph smith said. Israel will be regathered not to palestine, but america. A popular traditional view among many latterday saint faithful covers much of north and south america. Our changing understanding of ancient america and its scripture. For comparison of 60 different proposals, see john l. Book of mormon north american geography joseph smith foundation. Clair river, andor land between lake st clair and lake erie detroit river, andor ew pass between lake erie and lake ontario near niagara falls, andor ew pass south of lake erie and north of the continental divide along the allegheny river near the narrow. Despite popular belief, the currently available dna evidence supports the book of mormon. According to the book of mormon, the jaredites were a group of. Sidon, and lands to the north and south occupied by the nephites and their enemies, the lamanites. Michael coe, an archaeologist at yale university, said.
Clair river, andor land between lake st clair and lake erie detroit river, andor ew pass between lake erie and lake ontario near niagara falls, andor ew pass south of lake erie and north of the. Where were famous book of mormon cities, like zarahemla and bountiful, or the epic battlefields of the. Oct 05, 2018 a possible theory is that the phonecians, who had established trade from the dead sea along the entire coast of africa and back up to the mediterranean and were already capable of making trips to north america, brought them to the promised land. They consisted of two land masses connected by an isthmus a narrow neck of land flanked by an east sea and a west sea alma 22. The final test of our views of book of mormon geography will be. Only months later, a group of missionaries, including oliver cowdery, were apparently telling people in ohio that lehi landed on the coast of chile. It acknowledges the range of views taken on book of mormon geography by individual members and leaders throughout church history. Many other times editor phelps identified the land of america as being the place where at least some book of mormon history took place, including the last battles of both the jaredites and the nephites see messenger and advocate, vol. According to joseph smith and subsequent presidents and apostles of the lds church, the geographical extent of book of mormon lands included virtually all of north and south america. Interest in answering these questions began almost immediately after the book of mormon was published. 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. May 06, 2007 evidence against the book of mormon is not just genetic. These covenant lands are in the borders of the prophetic united states of america. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful.
The promised land occupied by the nephites was characterized for many centuries as an area of civilization. An address given to the brigham young university studeny body. The book of mormon peoples were as you correctly stated from the near east around. Its not the movie nor will book of mormon videos give a. We read about a narrow neck, a narrow neck of land, a small neck of land, a narrow pass, a narrow passage, and a narrow strip of wilderness. This fantastic tour includes all of the most important ruins that date back to book of mormon time. The book of mormon seems to claim that the hemisphere was empty at time of lehis arrival.
Our guest lecturer will give us insights to the book of mormon, the peoples past and present and the sites our group will visit. 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. Mar 15, 2012 the book of mormon talks of people in a limited geographical area in possibly meso america thought to be around guatamala etc, although the church has never made a statement on the location. The book of mormon is a record of ancient scripture written on the american continent and preserved in upstate new york until it was revealed by an angel in the 1800s. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted. The aggressive mountain goat is indigenous to north america. Book of mormongeographynew worldgreat lakes geography. The book of mormon geography, juvenile instructor 25, no. There is an inherent improbability in specific items that are mentioned in the book of mormon as having. Others argued for a setting in the american heartland. The map code sign near the number is the site location.
The heartland models land of nephi does not stretch from east to west sea, as it would need to in order to match the book of mormon text. Summary of problems with rod meldrums heartland theory. A whole bunch of reasons why book of mormon geography. Some place the geography of the book in upstate new york or near the great lakes. Where were famous book of mormon cities, like zarahemla and. May 27, 2011 book of mormon lands were longer from north to south than from east to west. Theres no dearth of theories of just where the book of mormon s new world is located from the great lakes to the heartlands in north america, from various sites in central america or south america and on to a geography theory consisting of the entire western hemisphere. Wayne may presents archaeological support of the book of mormon to a group in malad, idaho in february of 2017. Book of mormon lands in america general discussions. Jan 29, 2019 some believe that the history depicted in the book of mormon occurred in north america, while others believe that it occurred in central america or south america.
Does the book of mormon fit best in a geography located around the. The book of mormon warns america ezra taft benson 16. A thousand years had elapsed from the time the book of mormon closed until the discovery of america, and we know that other people came to america during that period. Had the phonecian vessel made stops along the way perhaps africans made the journey as well. Mormon quotes on north america being an empty continent. A continent of jaredites, mulekites, and nephites mound rovers.
The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. No effort should be made to identify points on this map with any existing geographical location. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in. Born out of upstate new york, the church now claims to be the fastestgrowing on the planet. There are several theories held among latterday saints for the location of book of mormon lands. The heartland model elsewhere claims that bountiful is directly north of the land of nephi.
Book of mormon in north america maps book of mormon evidence. The book of mormon does not say that the entire land northward resides in land occupied by the united states of america. The book of mormon claims that nonspecific seeds were brought from. So as we look at the word cumorah, we can see that it contains the word khem land and also the word mor water. Jan 08, 2019 saints in every land have equal claim upon the blessings of the lord. The population of book of mormon lands over much of the period of its history totaled from hundreds of thousands up to millions. There is no universal consensus among mormon scholars regarding the placement of these locations in the known world, other than somewhere in the americas. Mar 20, 2019 despite joseph smiths statement above of a return to canaan, the book of mormon in the america chapters instead says that america is the land of your inheritance. Christ visited the nephites in the land of promise in. Stay in luxury as you see the most significant ruins in central america. Book of mormon geography the encyclopedia of mormonism. Helaman chapter 3 requires a vast area north of the narrow neck where cement was the primary construction material because timber. Jul 09, 2020 the mormon land newsletter is a weekly highlight reel of developments in and about the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, whether heralded in headlines, preached from the pulpit or.
The map locates lands, features, and cities by number indexed to the gazetteer. Book of mormon may have migrated to other parts of the americas. Clair river, andor land between lake st clair and lake erie detroit river, andor ew pass between lake erie and lake ontario near niagara falls, andor ew pass south of lake erie and north of the continental divide along the allegheny river near the narrow passage. Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in. These finds are divided into competing models, most notably the hemispheric geography model, the mesoamerican limited geography model, and the finger lakes. Others look to peru and south america, or to the baja peninsula, or texas, and some even propose the malaysian peninsula. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in transition.
As indicated by archaeology and related studies, no place in north ame. Of course, placing the book of mormon lands within a limited region li. Antionum land of bountiful city of bountiful land of east wilderness hill riplah jershon land of melek land of narrow neck of land sidon river seas east and west zarahemla city of zarahemla land of. The book of mormon map of is supported by studies of the antiquities of mesoamerica as well as north and south america. Some placed the nephite capital city zarahemla in mesoamerica, others in south america. The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon.
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