Two of the most prevalent claims for the book of mormon are, there is much archaeological proof to the book of mormon, and the american indians are descendants of israelites who came to america as described in the book of mormon. Not only this, but he allowed several opinions of north, south, central, and hemispheric geography of the book of mormon to be published, taught, and republished without any correction. 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. 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. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography. Just because there happens to be a hill called cumorah in new york does not mean the book of mormon people lived there. The book of mormon was translated by joseph smith the prophet from ancient records and gives an account of people who used to live in north and south america, and their wars and dealings with god. All my studies suddenly made sense, all aspects of the book of mormon finally became clear. 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. The essay asks us to be willing to consider the views of church.
It provides a testimony of the visit of jesus christ to the promised land of america after his death and resurrection. Placing the internal maps within mesoamerica by connecting the landmarks between the nephites and jaredites, a more concise map of the geography and locations of the book of mormon lands can be established. Virtual book of mormon book of mormon maps and learning. Nov 17, 2014 the book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally been deciphered. Garth norman posted by permission of ancient america foundation and the author. Discovering the lost lands of the book of mormon e. These covenant lands are in the borders of the prophetic. 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. Mentioned in ether, mastodons and mammoths lived in north america during the pleistocene era, yet became extinct on this continent towards the end of the last ice age, predating the book of mormon by thousands of years. After years of studying maps, mormon scripture, and spanish. Annually, october 1, is the anniversary of a little known event in early church history that i believe, in consequence of significant research progress into 2019, now deserves recognition for identifying a region of major book of mormon lands and for initiating book of mormon archaeological historic research.
Maps the north american setting for the book of mormon. Readers of the book of mormon may wonder, at times, where in the americas the events described took place. This is probably true, and the reason is that the book of mormon is not a scientific theory. Here, between these hills, the entire power and national strength of both the jaredites and nephites were destroyed. The church takes no position on the specific geographic location of book of mormon events in the ancient americas. See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here. The area of the bom is in north america, near the great lakes area.
Arguments for and against the authenticity of the book of. The four seas of the book of mormon mormons in transition. The geographical setting of the book of mormon is the set of locations of the events described in the book of mormon. Discovering the lost lands of the book of mormon book of. The authors of this study use archaeological evidence to argue the animals mentioned in the book of mormon had once been present in north america, although dating to an earlier period than that covered in the book of mormon, and could have survived even into the lehite period. But the lands those in the book of mormon times lived in were smaller. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography book. In the last few years i have read over 5000 pages about the south america theory and reread the book of mormon multiple times highlighting every scripture over 500 that has any reference to geography, culture, prophecies, etc that may shed light on where the book of mormon lands are.
Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. Havent you always wanted to have a detailed map of just where everything is in the book of mormon. The conceptual map of the land of the book of mormon. Isaiah chapters were copied straight from the king james, with only a couple changes made by the translator as he went. There is no universal consensus among mormon scholars regarding the placement of these locations in the known world, other than somewhere in the americas. Limited geography and the book of mormon byu scholarsarchive. The book of mormon does not say that the entire land northward resides in land occupied by the united states of america. The book of mormon includes a history of an ancient people who migrated from the. Ferguson eeventually became convinced that the book of mormon is a work of fiction, whose contents bear no relationship to the reality of native american civilization prior to 385 ce. The material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. Mounds of bones are found all over that area, due to the wars they had. Jun 22, 2016 book of mormon archaeology in north america.
Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. The book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally been deciphered. Until we have clearer knowledgeon book of mormon geography. If it was, research teams would be trying to test it and falsify it, to verify its validity. Book of mormon lands map, january 2016 book of mormon. The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. Joseph smith made several comments concerning book of mormon geography throughout his life which support both a north american setting1, and central american setting. Maps moronis america the north american setting for. The book of mormon in north america book of mormon evidence. After all, when you read the bible, you can turn to the maps and see where everything happened. I believe that the truth of the geography of the book of mormon lies in. To my knowledge there is no reputable researcher who is specifically attempting to test the authenticity of the book of mormon with dna evidence.
And anyone that takes the time to research, will find that the island was not that big, certainly not the continents that most map makers place the book of mormon lands on. Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins byu. Mormon scholars today are confident that the main histories of the book of mormon peoples in the new world took place almost entirely in a small region of central america known as mesoamerica. The heartland is the place where it all happened, right under our very noses. Many have wondered what evidence has been found in its support, as the book asserts to be a record of. Book of mormon in north america maps book of mormon evidence. As for other book of mormon locations in lehis promised land, church leaders have always said we dont know for sure where they are. 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. Establishing an expanded internal map of the geography of the jaredites part iv.
The lord could have removed all questions regarding the exact locations of these events but he did not. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in. Wayne mays twopart presentation at the november 20 vernal, ut book of mormon evidence conference. However, sorensons map, which is the very best effort that mormons have made to plot the lands of the book of mormon, utterly fails to correspond to the text. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove. Book of mormon geography, lands, map, dna true evidence. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. Some believe that the history depicted in the book of mormon. The book of mormon is true and could have only happened in north america. A detailed map for the book of mormon has been produced by archaeologist garth norman which may solve a longstanding puzzle. 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. Moronis americamaps edition 150 maps of the bofm in north.
Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in north america. It postulates that the events in the book took place over north and south america, with the isthmus of panama as the narrow neck of land. Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in. In utah, the saints saw themselves in book of mormon lands just like they had in missouri. 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. Here, between these hills, the entire power and national strength of. Interest in answering these questions began almost immediately after the book of mormon was published. I believe that the people in the book of mormon built those ancient ruins cities from south america to north america. Sidon, and lands to the north and south occupied by the nephites and their enemies, the lamanites. Naturally some people applied this to the language in 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.
See more ideas about book of mormon, america and ancient civilizations. There are thousands of sites throughout north america that fit book of mormon timelines and geography, but its impossible to tell which specific ones line up with the named sites in the book of mormon. Exploring book of mormon in americas heartland photobook rod l. 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. 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 popular traditional view among many latterday saint faithful covers much of north and south america. An additional criticism of the historical authenticity of the book of mormon concerns linguistics. This book is great, but like i said, is the tip of the iceberg. 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. 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. 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. Virtual book of mormon book of mormon maps and learning tools. The hemispheric geography theory or hgt is the traditional understanding of the book of mormon. Geographical, and other evidences in support of the book of mormon landscape, as found in north america.
May 06, 2007 to my knowledge there is no reputable researcher who is specifically attempting to test the authenticity of the book of mormon with dna evidence. Mar 26, 2016 the material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. The book of mormon itself is the best source for understanding the geographical locations contained therein. Book of mormon geography in joseph smiths day fairmormon.
The church and byu stay neutral in questions of exactly where the book of mormon took place. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. The geographical setting of the book of mormon is the set of locations of the events described. Any geography that tries to accommodate a north and south sea, i think, is doomed to fail. Book of mormon may have migrated to other parts of the americas.
Moronis america the book of mormon in north america. Internal book of mormon geography focuses on the relationships between lands and other. Book of mormon archaeology in north america book of mormon. Non mormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. Wayne may presents book of mormon evidence in north american geography, archaeology and historical 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. Apr 02, 2010 book of mormon geography in joseph smiths day april 2, 2010 by tyler livingston joseph smith made several comments concerning book of mormon geography throughout his life which support both a north american setting1, and central american setting. The prophet joseph smith himself accepted what he felt was evidence of book of mormon civilizations in. Were the nephites and lamanites spread throughout both north and south america or did book of mormon events occur within a more confined area.
Below is more detail about the above north american map of the book of mormon. Book of mormon archaeology in north america book of. North american book of mormon geography the interpreter. The book of mormon is more than a history book of the ancient nephite and jaredite nations. Sep 21, 2016 any geography that tries to accommodate a north and south sea, i think, is doomed to fail. Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon. To be honest with you im overwhelmed with the information. Got my copy of moronis america maps and you guys put an insane amount of work into them.
Internal book of mormon geography focuses on the relationships between lands and other geographic features, independent of where they might be physically located on todays maps. New correlations it is not enough to demonstrate that the book of mormon geography does not fit into central america. Nov 27, 2019 as for other book of mormon locations in lehis promised land, church leaders have always said we dont know for sure where they are. 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.
Although church members continue to discuss such theories today, the churchs only position is that the events the book of mormon describes took place in the ancient americas. 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. 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. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland. Exploring book of mormon in america s heartland photobook rod l. Jun 20, 2016 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. For that reason, our design team has chosen to develop an internal map that shows relational directions and approximate distances that match the.
What is the hemispheric geography theory regarding the location of book. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, members and leaders of. The churchs position on questions related to book of mormon geography. That study may include issues of historicity and geography that often are an impediment to faith. The nwaf failed to find evidence to prove the book of mormon, and the man who organized it. Exploring book of mormon in america s heartland photobook. Jan, 2016 undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in north america.
So the church says we are just waiting until we discover the truth. New world geography location of the majority of the book of mormon narrative, in the promised landsomewhere in the western hemisphere. Moronis america today in 1936, when lds scholars first began accepting the twocumorah theory, apostle joseph fielding smith warned the saints. Lands of the book of mormon narrow strip of wilderness sea west is the mississippi. Arguments againstces letter issues such as wordforword king james bible language, and the mistakes in the king james isaiah being propagated in the book of mormon are a pretty solid argument against authenticity there is little doubt the b. Secondary evidences of the book of mormon in north america. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in transition.
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