In 1978, the company was known as middle america tours and it became the largest company to conduct tours to the lands of the book of mormon, an area today known as mesoamerica. Indeed, my carefully documented books, lehi in the wilderness, nephi in the promised land, and the voyages of the. The book of mormon includes a history of an ancient people who migrated from the. I have watched more than 20 hours of wayne may book of mormon lecture videos and conversed with both wayne may and rod meldrum in person. See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography book. Joseph smith and other early latterday saints, for example, most likely believed that north america was the land northward and that south america was the land southward in the book of mormon.
I still think there is a serious problem of imprinting a particular geographyeven an abstract onebut if the people involved accept the scripture on faith alone, they may never care about the realworld geography, so a mental abstract map is no problem. Thoughtful insights from 32 top scholars continue the journey into the book of mormons thousand. Like the bible, the book of mormon presents itself as an historical record. There were massive earthquakes, and darkness covered the land. Readers of the book of mormon may wonder, at times, where in the americas the events described took place. The material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. Book of mormon lands were longer from north to south than from east to west. An ancient american setting for the book of mormon. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. Were the nephites and lamanites spread throughout both north and south america or did book of mormon events occur within a more confined area.
Publishers, 1989 for the best summary of this entire subject. He never once mentioned either central or south america, but referred to both illinois and missouri as nephite lands. Watch as wayne may presents many of the ancient american artifacts found in north america and see how they line up with the nephite, lamanite and jaredite culture. The view of book of mormon geography taught by joseph smith and subsequent presidents and apostles of the mormon church includes three major, closely related points. I like to think that i am openminded, but proponents of south america as the book of mormon lands are going to have a difficult time convincing me. Geographical, and other evidences in support of the book of mormon landscape, as found in north america.
I read books and articles written by lds scholars, visited sites in. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in transition. In an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, dr. If the book is accurate, archaeologists would expect to find numerous pieces of hard evidence in central america that confirm the presence of these societies. A comparison of the south american inca civilization to mesoamerican. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them. Moronis america the book of mormon in north america. Without finding something like a placard that reads nephi slept here. 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. Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. Claims the narrow neck of land is the isthmus of tehuantepec, and the basic area is that of mesoamerica. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography.
Maps moronis america the north american setting for. According to the book of mormon, the promised land shall be a land of liberty, with no kings upon the land 1, and be discovered by a gentile whom the spirit of god wrought, to cross many waters 2 in order. Michael coe, an archaeologist at yale university, said. It is a continuation of book of mormon evidences, part one. Mythical mesoamerican conspiracy and the book of mormon book of mormon stories. Middle america tours was the wholesale operators for such companies as byu travel study, murdock travel and the foundation of ancient research in mormon studies. Moronis america today in 1936, when lds scholars first began accepting the twocumorah theory, apostle joseph fielding smith warned the saints. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon ought to be on the bookshelf of everyone interested in book of mormon geography.
The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. Sorenson, chairman of the department of anthropology at brigham young university, presents a credible model for an ancient american background for the book of mormon. The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. The book of mormon lands will be dotted by pyramids.
Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland. 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. The hinterlandshow can lamanites live in both north and south. Of course, placing the book of mormon lands within a limited region like. It is thorough, covers many aspects of the field, and is probably the most objective work at its time. The church and byu stay neutral in questions of exactly where the book of mormon took place. Book of mormon archaeology in north america book of. She does an excellent job of giving her reasons why she believes the book of mormon did not occur in south america as is commonly believed by many in the lds church. Virtual book of mormon book of mormon maps and learning. Made popular by his 1985 publication an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, sorensons geographic model for the book of mormon has withstood the test of time and remains the preeminent geographic model for book of mormon events. The lord could have removed all questions regarding the exact locations of these events but he did not. He revealed the site of the ancient manti city to be near huntsville, missouri history of js, vol 16, pg 296 smith also once identified some bones found in illinois during the zions camp march to be the bones of a lamanite whose name was zelph and who had died in. Come join us for an adventure of a lifetime to explore firsthand, the beautiful world of guatemala, the land of the eternal spring, and other wonderful countries of central and south america, mexico, and the caribbean.
This book introduces the reader to an authoritative hierarchy of internal and external witnesses beginning with the 36 prophecies and promises that its ancient writers originally intended latterday readers to use in identifying the promised land of their day. Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith. For that reason, our design team has chosen to develop an internal map that shows relational directions and approximate distances that match the. The book of mormon describes massive destructions when christ was crucified. Phelps had linked the book of mormon to central america in 1833, he continued to identify the land of desolation with the far west and cumorah with the hill in new york. Finally there is a way to really explore john sorensons book of mormon geography. 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. The book of mormon describes migrations of people from the middle east to central america, and further describes some features of their civilizations in the new world. This land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. The lands of te book of mormon are found in mesoamerica.
Wayne may presents the supporting evidence for the heartland model, that the book of mormon nephites and jaredites lived in north america. Book of mormon evidences, part 2 presents more of the factors that suggest the book of mormon may be an ancient document. Garth norman posted by permission of ancient america foundation and the author. 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. Lehi, the book of mormon prophet, speaks of some of the special characteristics of the promised land as established by god in the americas. The book of mormon is full of references to technologies and species that are known to have not existed in precolumbian america. Phelps, discovery of ancient ruins in central america, the. The lord kept the continent hidden from all those except some he purposely led there. The lost lands of the book of mormon phyllis carol olive on. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. The book of mormon says there were towers read pyramids throughout all. 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. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland a visual journey of discovery book. Book of mormon geography the encyclopedia of mormonism.
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, lands, map, dna true evidence. Joseph smith and the beginning of book of mormon archaeology did the prophet joseph smith in 1842 locate book of mormon lands in middle america. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. Evidence against the book of mormon is not just genetic. The lost lands of the book of mormon takes the reader back in time to an era when ancient waters and. 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 book of mormon states several times that the land which they were led to, was the promised land, or a choice land. The fight over book of mormon geography deseret news. It is clear from the bible that the ancient israelites used the rising sun as. Such maps can be a useful introduction for those who are new to the book of mormon. These pages are written by jeff lindsay, a book of mormon aficionado, who takes full responsibility for the statements and opinions offered on. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting book. Journey of faith the new world, chronicles the book of mormon, another testament of jesus christ.
Cheesmans, the world of the book of mormon, deseret book, 1978. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon, by joseph allen, sa publishers, orem, utah, 1989, pp. Our changing understanding of ancient america and its scripture. Wayne mays twopart presentation at the november 20 vernal, ut book of mormon evidence conference. The best way to teach the book of mormon is with a fantasy map based on an interpretation that repudiates the teachings of the prophets about the new york cumorah. 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.
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. 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. Cities were burned, buried with earth, and sunk under water. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in.
The book of mormon is more than a history book of two ancient civilizations, it reveals the covenant land of joseph, the favorite son of jacob, israel who was sold into egypt by his brothers that being the promised land of america. Part one, land of the nephites a growing body of compelling scientific evidence testifies that the book of mormon is a true history and that it probably took place in several specific areas. These finds are divided into competing models, most notably the hemispheric geography model, the mesoamerican limited geography model, and the finger lakes. 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. As each new theory surfaces, we gain fresh hope of acquiring additional insights into. A popular traditional view among many latterday saint faithful covers much of north and south america. An entirely new approach to the study of book of mormon geography. Arianne brown is a mother of six young children and is an altra, probar, nuun and unshoes sponsored athlete. This significant volume, a large book of 437 pages with 147 maps, is a pleasure to read. The lack of a population base in south america of the time of the book of mormon is also a major concern. In other words book of mormon peoples would have looked like, lived like, and acted like the native american cultures that inhabited book of mormon lands. Incidents of travel in central america and the book of mormon the treason of the geographers. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon byu studies.
Lands of the book of mormon book of mormon central. The book of mormon is true and could have only happened in north america. 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. This book is a great read and serves as a great companion to studying the book of mormon. The book of mormon may not be an accurate translation because joseph didnt know anything about mayan culture.
The book of mormon does not state into which sea the river sidon empties, so the mouth of the river is not shown. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted. The article does not actually say that book of mormon lands are to be found in. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland a. Careful analysis of early writings on book of mormon geography reveals a.
We know that one of the largest ancient civilizations of north america is at. The book of mormon itself does not sustain this view which supports the claim that joseph was not the author of the book of mormon. There is currently no evidence of a precolumbian written hieroglyphic language that existed in south america. A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in. The book of mormon teaches truth, but is not a real history. 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. The church emphasizes the doctrinal and historical value of the book of mormon, not its geography. There is an inherent improbability in specific items that are mentioned in the book of mormon as having. What the book of mormon says about america the book of mormon peoples were led to the american continent as a land of promise reserved for the righteous. The debate on book of mormon geography is heated, but is. See more ideas about book of mormon, america and ancient civilizations.
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