Book of mormon tours and research institute, 2008, 422. The following table provides a comprehensive listing of the 36 prophecies and promises included within the text of the book of mormon as pertaining to its promised land. Any latter day nation proposed as being the lands of the book of mormon must, of prophetic necessity, be able to. Theories of book of mormon lands in mesoamerica showing 11 of 1 messages. Wayne may places the narrow pass and land northward in canada which is ruled under a monarchy, but the book of mormon states. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim historical authenticity of the book of mormon. Please improve this by adding secondary or tertiary sources. Listed here is a 12 day11 night book of mormon lands tour itinerary with a brief description of daily activities and places of interest to be visited on our guided tour in guatemala, the proposed. In addition, archaeological excavations in bible lands have been under way for decades longer and on a much larger scale than those in proposed book of mormon lands. Wayne may true book of mormon geography lands western. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may youtube.
The only nation in the americas that qualifies in each of these prophecies is, as elder l. Any latter day nation proposed as being the lands of the book of mormon must, of prophetic necessity, be able to fulfill each and every prophecy. Book of mormon lands were longer from north to south than from east to. The geographical setting of the book of mormon is the set of locations of the events described in the book of mormon. Where were famous book of mormon cities, like zarahemla and. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon ought to be on the bookshelf of everyone interested in book of mormon geography. 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 land of zarahemla is north of the land of nephi. Careful analysis of early writings on book of mormon geography reveals. The book of mormon does not say that the entire land northward resides in land occupied by the united states of america.
Because of this theory, he wrote, some members of the church have become confused and greatly disturbed in their faith in the book of mormon. The hemispheric or twocontinent model proposes that book of mormon lands stretch many thousands of miles over much of south and north america. Autoplay when autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. No effort should be made to identify points on this map with any existing geographical location. There are number of locations that are similar to this one that could be almas baptismal location. The other alternative is to place the hill cumorah down in mexico, which contradicts. She answers a lot of the questions that most people would ask. Amidst the hundreds of passages of potential geographic significance, alma 22. The book of mormon and place names from the area around joseph smiths home summary. Dec 09, 2011 it may help to see the proposed land of gideon in its larger context in the book of mormon land southward. This north american setting has gained support from some notable members of the lds community, including lds filmmaker keith merrill.
The river sidon is the only river mentioned by name, and is the most prominent river in the book of mormon. It is claimed that joseph smith is clearly the author of the book of mormon because many book of mormon place names supposedly have clear evidence of borrowing from geographic locations in the united states and canada. The prophet joseph smith himself accepted what he felt was evidence of book of mormon civilizations in both north america and central america. This article relies too much on references to primary sources. 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. Tom perry has pointed out, the united states of americaa covenant and promised land of god. 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. Jul 27, 2016 the book of mormon is consistent with recorded old testament history according to christs recorded words to the nephites in the book of mormon, there are only two covenant lands of promise for the house of israel.
While holleys map is interesting, it is far from being an accurate reflection of the book of mormon lands. A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in mesoamerica 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. Despite the limited space on the plates, mormonas a historian and. Saints members proposed a limited mesoamerican geography for the book of mormon. 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.
Vernal holleys book of mormon authorship annotated 3. Book of mormonplagiarism accusationsplace names from. These covenant lands are in the borders of the prophetic. Despite the limited space on the plates, mormonas a historian and military leader. It was named after teancum, who fought and died in the land desolation while helping the nephite military commander, moroni, contain the lamanites who were trying to gain access to the land northward. Mar 01, 20 the book of mormon prophets included 36 specific prophecies and promises relating to this nation that would be established on their lands in the latter days. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography book. The land of zarahemla is at a lower elevation relative to the land of nephi.
The location of lands, oceans, rivers, mountain ranges, and boundaries in relationship to distances and relative positions in the book of mormon must match. Book of mormon lands proposed map of the book of mormon. 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 lost lands of the book of mormon phyllis carol olive on. The map spans jaredite and nephitelamanite periods during which settlements changed over time. A popular traditional view among many latterday saint faithful covers much of north and south america. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. This same area is proposed to be the lands of the book of mormon peoples. Why did mormon give so many details about geography. Identifying the sidon is crucial to locating the land of zarahemla. Jan 12, 2016 this is my best book of mormon lands map to date. 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.
As each new theory surfaces, we gain fresh hope of acquiring additional insights into it ancient location, but are all too often disappointed. Wayne may true book of mormon geography lands western new. Book of mormon lands discovering the lost lands of the book. There were several battles fought in and around this river. Moronis america today in 1936, when lds scholars first began accepting the twocumorah theory, apostle joseph fielding smith warned the saints. His latest newsletter dated oct, 2009, says, 10 reasons why the book of mormon took place in peru by george potter my new book, nephi in the promised land is now available in the nephi project discovery. Current archaeological ruins or sites proposed as book of mormon cities. The united states is the promised land book of mormon. The book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally been deciphered.
May 19, 2019 however, limhis rescue expedition requires that all book of mormon lands are located in north america, within a reasonable distance of the hill cumorah in new york. Book of mormon geography the encyclopedia of mormonism. Garth norman, book of mormon mesoamerican geography. 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. July 2014 learn how and when to remove this template message. An additional criticism of the historical authenticity of the book of mormon concerns linguistics. The book of mormon is consistent with recorded old testament history according to christs recorded words to the nephites in the book of mormon, there are only two covenant lands of promise for the house of israel. Of the 15 place names proposed to have been taken straight from the new england map, 5 of them are in the wrong place according to the book of mormon. Waters of ripliancum is the papaloapan water basin of veracruz state. Any study of the book of mormon geography must strictly adhere to criteria that do not alter the book of mormon text, the proposed map, nor established scientific dating systems. Sep 28, 2019 the following table provides a comprehensive listing of the 36 prophecies and promises included within the text of the book of mormon as pertaining to its promised land. Book of mormonplagiarism accusationsplace names from north. 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.
Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. The essay also explains how the prophet joseph smith himself accepted what he felt was evidence of book of mormon civilizations in both north. Carr, president of book of mormon archaeological forum, were sending you a copy of his last article. 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. The book of mormon west sea and east sea, on the other hand, are proper nouns that is, they are the actual names of bodies of water that situate on the west and on the east respectively, of the lands of zarahemla and nephi. Possible book of mormon sites in relation to each other. There is no first hand, verifiable statement by joseph smith endorsing this view.
Jun 18, 20 book of mormon lands proposed map of the book of mormon stay safe and healthy. It incorporates much of what i have learned since this journey began in august, 2011. Book of mormon lands discovering the lost lands of the. Geographical, and other evidences in support of the book of mormon landscape, as found in north america. Allen makes convincing arguments in a style that is generally easy to understand. Jun 27, 2016 practically since the book of mormon was published, its geography has been the subject of discussion and debate. I recently returned from 11 days in guatemala where i collaborated with bright people such as mark wright, diane wirth, dave gray, rick callister, van dunham, neal rappleye, stephen smoot, and rolando amado. In the book of mormon the river sidon was deep and swift enough to carry away semibuoyant human carcasses. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in transition.
See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here. Most, but not all, mormons hold the books connection to ancient american history as an article of their faith. Is it revealed where the book of mormon took place. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Peruvian setting for the book of mormon mormon matters. Book of mormon lands were longer from north to south than from east to west. For that reason, we have designed and prepared this artistic rendering in such a way that you can get a basic idea of approximate directions and theoretical. This significant volume, a large book of 437 pages with 147 maps, is a pleasure to read. There is no universal consensus among mormon scholars regarding the placement of these locations in the known world, other than somewhere in the americas. A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in. Joseph lovell allen true book of mormon geography lands.
Such maps can be a useful introduction for those who are new to the book of mormon. In the other corner is the challenger, a new theory that places book of mormon events in a north american heartland setting. Waters of mormon is likely a springfed lake near antigua, guatemala chimaltenango valley. The book of mormon prophets included 36 specific prophecies and promises relating to this nation that would be established on their lands in the latter days. Joseph lovell allen and blake joseph allen, exploring the lands of the book of mormon, 2nd ed. It is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of. These include the battle between captain moroni and the lamanite leader zarahemna that took place between 7456 bce.
The fight over book of mormon geography deseret news. According to the text, the nephites and the lamanites initially spoke hebrew 600 bc and might have spoken a modified semitic language until at least 400 ad, when the book of mormon ends. These principal book of mormon lands are southward from the land northward mentioned in helaman 3. The other alternative is to place the hill cumorah down in mexico, which contradicts the statements of many prophets and apostles. Some students of the book of mormon have speculated that the record is a history of the ancient peoples of central or south america notwithstanding the fact that their record was recovered from a stone box in a hill near palmyra, new york, usa and church leaders have maintained for over 100 years that this was the location of that hill called cumorah. A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in mesoamerica by. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in.
Watch as wayne may presents the parallels in geography, archaeology and timelines between the jaredites and the adena civilization of north america. Possible book of mormon sites in relation to each other possible relationships of sites in the book of mormon, based on internal evidence. Wayne may presents archaeological support of the book of mormon to a group in malad, idaho in february of 2017. The book of mormon repeats over and over again, that the wars or battles between the nephites and lamanites occurred in parts of the year, and after fighting, the lamanites retreated back into their lands to the southtypically a description of fighting in summer and holing up in winter. 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. Wayne may places the narrow pass and land northward in canada which is ruled under a monarchy, but the book.
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. The scriptural basis for book of mormon geography book. George has recently shifted his focus from the old world to the new world. The scriptural basis for book of mormon geography book of. Gideon was a revered figure in mormons view of nephite history. Wayne may presents the supporting evidence for the heartland model, that the book of mormon nephites and jaredites lived in north america. The river sidon is never mentioned in lands north of zarahemla. The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is not accepted as scientifically verifiable by the mainstream.
Much of the heartland of the united states may then correspond to the book of mormon south county or south countries. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints does not officially endorse any one particular geographical model for where the events in the book of mormon transpired in the new world. These location are north east of the city of nephi and would be in the forest of mormon 8. 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. Garth normans map book of mormon archaeological forum. Shortly after his martyrdom in the first year of the reign of the judges ca. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon joseph l.
The scale of the heartland geography is several times larger than the proposed book of mormon lands in mesoamerica. The united states is the promised land book of mormon evidence. 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. Teancum, a book of mormon city located in a land called desolation, within the north country, was in the borders by the seashore mormon 4. This battle was ostensibly fought near the source or head of the.
He was beloved by the nephites during his lifetime alma 1. In fact, lehis family covered about 6 times the distance from jerusalem to the saudi arabian coastline at bountiful in 8 years as the nephites supposedly travelled over their entire 1,000 year history according to the proposed. George is a proponent that the book of mormon lands are in peru. However, limhis rescue expedition requires that all book of mormon lands are located in north america, within a reasonable distance of the hill cumorah in new york. Hill cumorah wayne may shows the writings of joseph smith jr. These writers have poured over maps of both north and south america in trying to find book of mormon lands. Moronis america the book of mormon in north america. This page is about the book of mormon geography by wayne may, the founder of ancient american magazine and author of this land book series.
Exploring the lands of the book of mormon byu studies. The parallelism has been previously noted in such sources as v. And that it would be located in north america since it is supposed to be a choice land above all others. Practically since the book of mormon was published, its geography has been the subject of discussion and debate.
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