The fight over book of mormon geography deseret news. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may youtube. North american book of mormon geography the interpreter. 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. I met rod for the first time in november, 2002 in columbus, ga where he did a short presentation. 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. Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith. 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. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may duration.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. A published book that describes the geography of the book of mormon from jerusalem in the mideast to. The book of mormon does not say that the entire land northward resides in land occupied by the united states of america. 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 northcentral and atlantic regions of the united states. Lecture 01 book of mormon like nothing else hugh nibley mormon. 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. 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. The mesoamerican core and north american periphery of book of mormon geography, interpreter. It focuses on the north american setting with a book by book, chapterbychapter approach to the geography passages, illustrating the points with over 75 maps and diagrams. The material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. The north america model for the book of mormon home facebook.
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. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Moronis america the book of mormon in north america. Book of mormongeographynew worldgreat lakes geography. Gods word is to be established by two or more witnesses 2 cor. May 08, 2018 careful analysis of early writings on book of mormon geography reveals a diversity of ideas and opinions on the location of nearly every book of mormon place. 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. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model is. Here are posts from bofm blog that i enjoy about book of mormon geography.
Book of mormon geography in north america lds archaeology. While some of these sources treat book of mormon geography in only the vaguest generalities, others make very specific claims on the topic. The north american setting for the book of mormon kindle edition by neville, jonathan. 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. See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here. Lehis family landed somewhere on the west coast of south america after sailing across the pacific ocean.
It focuses on the north american setting with a bookbybook, chapterbychapter approach to the geography passages, illustrating the points with over 75 maps and diagrams. The book of mormon includes a history of an ancient people who migrated from the near east to the americas. This blog focuses on the historicity and geography of the book of mormon. Watch as wayne may presents the parallels in geography, archaeology and timelines between the jaredites and the adena civilization of north america. Wayne may book of mormon geography in north america. Lehis family landed on the west coast of guatemala. The articles linked below will describe the various theories and examine the strengths and weaknesses of each. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence.
A whole bunch of reasons why book of mormon geography. Cannon noted there were several different and conflicting book of mormon geographies in circulation, and no two of them agree on all points. The promised land occupied by the nephites was characterized for many centuries as an area of civilization. Those who have followed book of mormon scholarship for the past few decades have become aware of. Jun 27, 2016 also see norman, book of mormonmesoamerican geography, 35. He received his bs from weber state university, his ma from brigham young university, and his phd from the university of. Book of mormon geography, information about the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, mormon church, questions and answers, doctrine, genealogy, gospel, scriptures. Careful analysis of early writings on book of mormon geography reveals a diversity of ideas and opinions on the location of nearly every book of mormon place. When you point out the descriptions in the book of mormon align closely to what is now known about ancient north america, they say that critics have accused joseph of composing the text based on common 1800s beliefs and legends about those ancient inhabitants. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting book. The prophet joseph smith himself accepted what he felt was evidence of book of mormon civilizations in both north america and central america. This history contains information about the places they lived, including descriptions of landforms, natural features, and the distances and cardinal directions between important points. Book of mormon geography the encyclopedia of mormonism.
Wayne may presents archaeological support of the book of mormon to a group in malad, idaho in february of 2017. 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. I believe the following secondary evidences of the truth and veracity of book of mormon geography. Mar 27, 2016 once we recognize that winchester, the smoking gun of book of mormon geography research, wrote these articles and that william smith published them, everything that joseph wrote or taught is consistent with a north american setting for the book of mormon. A whole bunch of reasons why book of mormon geography could not have included north america by john sorenson. Here is a post i have done that deals with geography of the book of mormon. 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. Most latterday saints who write geographies have in mind one or both of two activities. A published book that describes the geography of the book of mormon from jerusalem in the mideast to the hill cumorah in the land of promise. 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.
Jun 23, 2014 wayne may book of mormon geography in north america youtube stay safe and healthy. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. Allen and allen, exploring the lands, 402416, 422426. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new. Kieth merrill discusses north american setting for book of mormon and mistake made in filming of the testaments. Two hundred and twenty gorgeous full color pages filled with more than 500 stunning photos, artwork, maps, charts, artifacts, quotes, scripture and commentary introduce the reader to the rapidly mounting body of evidence that suggests the very real possibility of a north american setting for the events described in the book of mormon. The book of mormon in north america book of mormon evidence. After decades of accepting the mesoamerican theory, ive changed to the north american setting. My belief of these quotes shows solid support of a north american setting of the book of mormon with only one cumorah clearly in manchester, ny. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography book.
Mormon stories dr michael coe an outsiders view of book of mormon archaeology. Book of mormon geographynew worldlimited geography theory. 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. The one and only river mentioned in the entire book of mormon is called the sidon. Some believe that the history depicted in the book of mormon occurred in north america, while others believe that it occurred in central. This article describes the origin of the myth that the book of mormon events occurred in south america. Mormon gave further evidence of that isle when he wrote that the lands of the nephites and the lamanites were nearly surrounded by water. 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 scientific search for nephite remains mormons in. 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. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model. Moronis america is a mustread for anyone interested in the historicity and geography of the book of mormon. Lecture 01 book of mormon like nothing else hugh nibley. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new york. Initially, book of mormon lands were thought to occupy all of south americathe land southwardand north americathe land northwardwith the isthmus of panama understood to be the narrow neck of land connecting the two.
May 10, 2016 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. It, therefore, is an important geographical indicator. Proponents of a north american setting see these statements as authoritative and based in revelation. As indicated by archaeology and related studies, no place in north america in the period of book of. Yet another theory placing it in north america near the great lakes. The church has been neutral when it comes to issues relating to book of mormon geography, as is fairmormon. Jun 23, 2014 wayne may book of mormon geography in north america youtube. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. The book of mormon describes a journey by a group of people led by a prophet named lehi from the old world to the new world in approximately 600 b. 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 north american geography joseph smith.
Videos watch past wayne may presentations as he reveals the supporting evidences of the book of mormon as found in archaeology, geography and historical records. Book of mormon north american geography joseph smith foundation. This opinion is my own and not endorsed by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. It is therefore vital to have a clear understanding of when. Why did mormon give so many details about geography. Theories related to a north american geography model. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading moronis america. 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. On book of mormon peoples leaving the core nephitelamanite centers and reaching other regions of the americas, see mark alan wright, heartland as hinterland. The products services offered by wayne may are neither made, provided, approved nor endorsed by intellectual reserve, inc. A popular traditional view among many latterday saint faithful covers much of north and south america.
The north america model for the book of mormon home. Mar 26, 2016 the material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland. So, just as android has become the 90% player in mobile os, the north american setting is replacing the mesoamerican setting as the dominant theory for book of mormon geography. 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. 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.
From iowa to guatemalaand back again rochester, ny. Regarding point 1, i have read all of sorensons works and most of what farms and the maxwell institute have. When we first read the book of mormon, it seemed clear that the land northward was north america, the land southward was south america, and the narrow neck of land was panama. The church emphasizes the doctrinal and historical value of the book of mormon, not its geography. The land of zarahemla is at a lower elevation relative to the land of nephi. For a long time, few people seemed to see any difficulty in setting the book of mormon in all of north and south america. 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. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting book of. Start with the hill cumorah in new york, as described in letter vii, and proceed from there. The mesoamerican theory will hang around for a while, no doubt, as the 9% player. It is therefore vital to have a clear understanding of when these animals actually became extinct.
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