For the first 150 years of mormonisms existence, everyone thought it was a story about a people who left the middle east and came to south or central america, and who fought wars clear up into new york state where. It, therefore, is an important geographical indicator. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model. Hamblin, basic methodological problems with the anti mormon approach to the geography and archaeology of the book of mormon, journal of book of mormon studies 2, no. Sorenson does an excellent job in showing the requirements of the book of mormon volume and the antiquity of a limited geography model among latterday saints, contra critics who claim it is nothing short of a construct by sorenson from the 1980s and a mormon tactic to protect the book of mormon from alleged archaeological problems. In 1841 joseph smith read stephens incidents of travel in central america. The great strength of the book is that it provides a wellargued perspective based on the geology of natural disasters that is new to the analysis of the book of mormonone that adds to the reality of book of mormon events and opens new doors for potential research and understanding of the geography of the book of mormon. Hugh nibley and book of mormon geography by kirk magleby. Regarding point 1, i have read all of sorensons works and most of what farms and the maxwell institute have.
The city of lib key to book of mormon geography transcript of the september 2005 bmaf conference presentation. For the first 150 years of mormonisms existence, everyone thought it was a story about a people who left the middle east and came to south or central america, and who fought wars clear up into new. 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. The author of this paper was born into a family which belonged to the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints with headquarters in independence, missouri. The book of mormon claims to be a translation of ancient writing on gold plates. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. Start reading about the geography, names, places and events, that relate to modern day and book of mormon scripture. See more ideas about book of mormon videos, book of. Here is the spot where the prophet moroni stood and dedicated this piece of land for a temple site, and that is the reason why the location is made here, and we cant move it from this spot. Further testifies to the prophetic calling and divine mission of the prophet joseph smith. 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. Antimormon criticisms of the book of mormon are frequently based on a questionable set of assumptions concerning the nature of historical and archaeological evidence, the role of governing presuppositions, and the.
They far exceed the heartland models in their ability to synthesize the text with known archaeology. Many readers of the book of mormon assume that the events depicted therein took place all over north, central, and south america and that only the peoples named in the book of mormon lived in the americas anciently. Book of mormon geography problems life after ministries. Anti mormon criticisms of the book of mormon are frequently based on a questionable set of assumptions concerning the nature of historical and archaeological evidence, the role of governing presuppositions, and the nature of historical proof. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. It was one of several presented in a written symposium on book of mormon geography sic. New scientific support for the truthfulness of the book of mormon.
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. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Joseph smiths statements regarding book of mormon geography. Clarifies the geography questions that still linger in minds. The society has never used the book of mormon to locate archaeological sites, and we do not believe that any of the places named in the book of mormon can be placed geographically by the evidence of archaeology. Joseph smith and the geography of the book of mormon. Hugh nibley, the book of mormon, and the lachish letters old testament scholar thomas finley examines lds scholar hugh nibleys comparisons between the book of mormon and the lachish letters, written from the jewish town of lachish. Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. A brief history of the limited geographic view of the book. Rodney meldrum, dna evidence for book of mormon geography.
This geography was originally based on a dvd presentation which is in turn based on fireside presentations produced by rodney rod meldrum. So far as we know there is no archaeological evidence to verify the history. We know of no archaeological evidence that corroborates the ancient history of the western hemisphere as presented in the book of mormon, nor are we aware of empirical verification of the places named in the book of mormon. Continuing from book of mormon problemstitle page with my reading through the book of mormon, highlighting problems that occur to me and presenting them in question format. Interesting as these matters may be, study of the book of mormon is most rewarding when one focuses on its primary purpose. Articles by hugh nibley read this article the archaeological problem, an approach to the book of mormon. 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. Correlation and verification through dna, prophetic, scriptural, historical, climatological, archaeological, social, and. My approach to the book of mormon, as a professional archaeologist, for over four decades, has been researching the book mormon and archaeology assuming the book of mormon as a history of ancient america. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. 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. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful. Watch as wayne may presents the parallels between the geography of the hopewell and adena civilizations and the book of mormon records.
Read this article view a pdf of an approach to the book of mormon geography in its entirety including maps, illustrations and photographs. In many instances, once we see the likelihood of a limited scale for the book of mormons geography, questions about language, culture, racial affiliations, and other problems that critics have raised about the scripture come into an entirely different perspective. The geographical setting of the book of mormon has been the subject of serious study and casual speculation since before the book was first published. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the. Herewith is a copy of my recent 1975 paper on book of mormon matters. The church emphasizes the doctrinal and historical value of the book of mormon, not its geography. Basic methodological problems with the antimormon approach to the geography and archaeology of the book of mormon william j. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may.
Speaking of the book s history and geography, president russell m. This organization, as did the much larger utah mormon church and many smaller divisions, developed as a direct result. These plates were supposedly written 1,400 years ago and detailed the history of the jewish nephites from 600 b. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. 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. National geographic society statement on the book of mormon. In addition, the very content of the book of mormon makes it impossible to accept it as divine revelation. Hugh nibley and book of mormon geography book of mormon. A more careful reading of the text has led various latterday saint leaders and scholars to challenge this popular view and to suggest that the jaredites. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. Apr 01, 2017 these are five problems with the book of mormon, and to doubt its authenticity as an ancient document. Wayne may presents archaeological support of the book of mormon to a group in malad, idaho in february of 2017. The majority of mesoamerican book of mormon geography models seek to correlate the isthmus of tehuantepec or the isthmus of guatemala. The book of mormon itself is the best source for understanding the geographical locations contained therein.
Correlation and verification through dna, prophetic, scriptural, historical, climatological. Full, longer version of luke wilsons 1992 article on basic problems in book of mormon geography and history. These are five problems with the book of mormon, and to doubt its authenticity as an ancient document. The national geographic society has not examined the historical claims of the book of mormon. 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. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new. A brief history of the limited geographic view of the book of. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence.
The one and only river mentioned in the entire book of mormon is called the sidon. Roberts 18571933, a general authority of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, which examine the validity of the book of mormon as a translation of an ancient american source. Comparing book of mormon geography models mormon lds. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model is unique in this regard.
National geographic society statement on the book of mormon national geographic society statement on the book of mormon language. The land of zarahemla is at a lower elevation relative to the land of nephi. 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. The book details biblical scripture while also telling of early american prophets and gods interaction with them. Youll find objective evidence of the book of mormon through my this land, multibook series. While some of these sources treat book of mormon geography in only the vaguest generalities, others make very specific claims on the topic. The book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally been deciphered. See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here. 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. Nov 17, 2014 the book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally been deciphered.
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. 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. Thank you for writing to the national geographic society. The articles linked below will describe the various theories. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new york. 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. However, all of these models however suffer many of the same substantial problems. Other books by john sorenson that discuss the limited tehuantepec view of book of mormon geography are.
Sandor bokonyi, history of domestic mammals in central and eastern europe, trans. Hamblin, basic methodological problems with the antimormon approach to the geography and archaeology of the book of mormon, journal of book of mormon studies 211993, 14. The two maps below came from a book written by the late vernal holley called book of mormon authorship. The church has been neutral when it comes to issues relating to book of mormon geography, as is fairmormon.
The heartland is the place where it all happened, right under our very noses. The hill of cumorah color added presumably as it was in smiths day, from church history in the fullness of times, church of jesus christ of latterday saints, 1989. Hamblin, basic methodological problems with the antimormon approach to the geography and archaeology of the book of mormon, journal of book of mormon studies 2, no. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saints, first published in 1830 by 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. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. New pieces of evidence from the this land series of books will give you new insight into the book of mormon. 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.
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