The book of mormon is not intended to be a history book or a guide to geography, science, or any other secular topic. Book of mormon geography your site for lds theology. 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. Book of mormon geography, archives edition by common.
The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in. Book of mormon lands were longer from north to south than from east. 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. Hugh nibley and book of mormon geography book of mormon. He took several trips to south america to conduct research for these publications. The fight over book of mormon geography deseret news. Kent brown, editors, etal was recently heralded by the mormon history association. Stapley i read ardis recent report on her gospel doctrine introducing the book of mormon you should too.
North american book of mormon geography the interpreter. Gods word is to be established by two or more witnesses 2 cor. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may youtube. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times.
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. This book was a common household reference in young joseph smiths time and place. 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. John l sorenson is one of the best book of mormon scholars, having written seveal excellent texts, such as an ancient american setting for the book of mormon and images of ancient america. 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. Over 300 photos, works of art, artifacts, maps, charts, scripture and commentary introduce the reader to the growing body of evidence that suggests the very real possibility of a north american setting for the events of the book of mormon. Hugh nibley and book of mormon geography by kirk magleby. National geographic society statement on the book of mormon. There was a book published in 1791 by john walker entitled, a key to the classical pronunciation of greek, latin, and scripture proper names. First and secondhand accounts of what the prophet joseph said are referred to as lesser sources. Arguments for and against the authenticity of the book of. At its conference june 7th, the organization announced.
The american geography of the book of mormon has many competing theories that are divided mainly into two camps, those supporting a geography limited to the area of mesoamerica and those supporting a geography in the north central and atlantic regions of the united states. Watch as wayne may presents the parallels in geography, archaeology and timelines between the jaredites and the adena civilization of north america. The church takes no position on the specific geographic location of book of mormon events in the ancient americas. Book of mormon geography, archives edition december 28, 2015 by j. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. Mormon gave further evidence of that isle when he wrote that the lands of the nephites and the lamanites were nearly surrounded by water.
Moronis america the book of mormon in north america. 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. The book of mormon geography and map with dna evidence and the location of lands and cities such as zarahemla, cumorah, the narrow neck, mexico, caribbean sea, american indians, and true evidence are all here. 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. 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 heartland is the place where it all happened, right under our very noses. The core locations and events detailed in the text of the book of mormon took place in mesoamerica, but many nephites and lamanites migrated and established settlements far northward. Book of mormon nephite destruction outline narrow neck. The book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally been deciphered.
It is a book of scripture aimed at teaching people about christ and. 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. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography. 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. Hemispheric geography theory lds have traditionally interpreted the text hemispherically and assumed a blank continent. By neal lineback and mandy lineback gritzner, geography in the news tm the geography of mormonism the mormon faith is in the news, as a new atlas, mapping mormonism. As each new theory surfaces, we gain fresh hope of acquiring additional insights into it ancient location, but are all too often disappointed. That joseph smith and successive generations of mormon presidents and apostles taught that the nephites and lamanites ranged over all or most of south and north america and fought a battle to. A whole bunch of reasons why book of mormon geography. An overzealous individual trying to expand his version of missionary work had an assistant, even the brother of joseph smith, and the two succeeded despite numerous. Some believe that the history depicted in the book of mormon occurred in north america, while others believe that it occurred in central. 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. 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. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon.
Book of mormon geography in north america lds archaeology. Skip this introductory material and go directly to the list of starting letters for place names. Joseph smith and the geography of the book of mormon. 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.
In the table below, geographical and other place names in the land of promise in the americas are listed in alphabetical order, with their generic map coordinates and the geographical and other scriptural references. Meridian, idaho 83642 2088309651 please use email email us here. The material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model is unique in this regard. Jun 21, 2017 book of mormon map along with a wall map are available for down loading in color and the book of mormon geography is also available at alpha publishing. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, salt lake city. The products services offered by wayne may are neither made, provided, approved nor endorsed by intellectual reserve, inc. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here. The latter includes references to chapter headings and the guide to. In this text, sorenson reconstructs the internal geography of the book of mormon. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may. It is our assertion that the heartlands of the book of mormon peoplesthe nephites, the lamanites, the jaredites and the people of mulek. May showing examples of book of mormon armor and battle mound.
A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. The book of mormon in north america book of mormon evidence. A whole bunch of reasons why book of mormon geography could not have included north america 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. What id like my kids to know about love june 19, 2018 10. Book of mormon geography the encyclopedia of mormonism. The one and only river mentioned in the entire book of mormon is called the sidon. Theories related to a north american geography model. Kieth merrill discusses north american setting for book of mormon and mistake made in filming of the testaments. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new. Regarding point 1, i have read all of sorensons works and most of what farms and the maxwell institute have.
A popular traditional view among many latterday saint faithful covers much of north and south america. 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. Chief among these is the fact that we know we certainty where the story beginsin old world jerusalem. National geographic society statement on the book of mormon national geographic society statement on the book of mormon language. Geographical, and other evidences in support of the book of mormon landscape, as found in north america. What is the heartland model of book of mormon geography mark alan wright. All my studies suddenly made sense, all aspects of the book of mormon finally became clear. Exploring book of mormon in americas heartland photobook.
A discussion of the arabian, or old world, geography of the book of mormon enjoys many advantages over discussion of new world matters. 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 north american geography joseph smith. 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. The church emphasizes the doctrinal and historical value of the book of mormon, not its geography. All opinions, speakers and presenters represent and express their own individual opinions, and not necessarily the opinions of firm foundation, book of mormon evidence, or its employees, and no information or opinions represent the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
The prophet joseph smith himself accepted what he felt was evidence of book of mormon civilizations in both north america and central america. It contains a lineage history of three small colonies who came from the old world and settled in an american land of promise. I now know that the book of mormon happened in the usa in the historic heartland that is such a significant part of american and book of mormon history. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography book.
Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1985, p. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting book. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. In the other corner is the challenger, a new theory that places book of mormon events in a north american heartland setting. 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. Millions have asked the question, is there evidence of the historicity of the book of mormon, because the book of mormon is foundational to the mormon faith more accurately known as the church of jesus christ of latterday saints many have wondered what evidence has been found in its support, as the book asserts to be a record of ancient peoples that came by ship from the old world. This article describes the origin of the myth that the book of mormon events occurred in south america. In this book are a number of future book of mormon names, which appeared within alphabetized lists.
He authored five books, including the geography of book of mormon lands, and a number of maps and pamphlets, many detailing his beliefs about where the book of mormon people were located on the southern and northern american continents. Wayne may presents archaeological support of the book of mormon to a group in malad, idaho in february of 2017. 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. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. The new essay begins with this declarative statement.