The book of mormon states several times that the land which they were led to, was the promised land, or a choice land. 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. Hill cumorah wayne may shows the writings of joseph smith jr. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new. Jan 18, 2018 the book of mormon gave only scattered clues, speaking of a narrow isthmus, a river called sidon, and lands to the north and south occupied by the nephites and their enemies, the lamanites. 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. 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. Book of mormon lands were longer from north to south than from east to. In early church history, the most common opinion among members and church leaders was that book of mormon lands encompassed all of north and south america, although at least one more limited alternative view was also held for a time by some.
The study of the ancient american horse and elephant points unavoidably to the north american setting for the book of mormon and adds strong supportive evidence that the book of mormon is true, contrary to the attacks of antimormons who say the absence of the horse and elephant in ancient america discounts the book mormons divine authenticity. 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. 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. The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. Wells jakeman, the ancient middleamerican calendar system. Garth norman posted by permission of ancient america foundation and the author. 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. Book of mormon lands were longer from north to south than from east to west. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model. Jan 18, 2010 the hopewell people never had a large enough population that the book of mormon describes and were by far a trade route group of people. 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. May 17, 2018 today, nonlds scientists have verified two stones having hebrew inscriptions in americas heartland, thereby validating the january 1st, 1842 issue of the times and seasons vol.
Church members are asked not to teach theories about book of mormon geography in church settings but to focus instead on the book of mormons teachings and testimony of. It was carried out in a complex mixture of religious ritual and ideology. Stated travel times make it clear book of mormon lands were small like bible lands, not huge like the united states or india. These relate to artifacts, animal, plant, or technology that critics believe did not exist in the americas during the book of mormon time period before 2500 bc to about 400 ad.
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. Ancient civilization in north america book of mormon. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography book. The church emphasizes the doctrinal and historical value of the book of mormon, not its geography. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting. These principal book of mormon lands are southward from the land northward mentioned in helaman 3. Jun 27, 2016 practically since the book of mormon was published, its geography has been the subject of discussion and debate. One important topic bearing upon the issue of animals in the book of mormon is the location of the lands described in the text.
The book of mormon does not say that the entire land northward resides in land occupied by the united states of america. Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in. Without the mesoamerican filter, a reader can clearly see it is referring to the entire width of book of mormon lands. They consisted of two land masses connected by an isthmus a narrow neck of. Amidst the hundreds of passages of potential geographic significance, alma 22. The fight over book of mormon geography deseret news. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon salt lake city, deseret book, 1985. 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. Mar 23, 2017 wayne may presents archaeological support of the book of mormon to a group in malad, idaho in february of 2017.
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 book of mormon itself is the best source for understanding the geographical locations contained therein. The lands of zarahemla and nephi are near an east and a west sea. Critics of the book of mormon have argued that there are words and phrases in the book that are anachronistic with archaeological findings. The book of mormon and the hopewell of ancient north america. Geographical, and other evidences in support of the book of mormon landscape, as found in north america. The scriptural basis for book of mormon geography book. As each new theory surfaces, we gain fresh hope of acquiring additional insights into it ancient location, but are all too often disappointed. 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. Archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in north america. The true ties between the hopewell and the people of the book of mormon.
The book of mormon is a religious record, and for the people of the book of mormon, as in nearly all ancient cultures, warfare was fundamentally sacral. Wayne may places the narrow pass and land northward in canada which is ruled under a monarchy, but the book. Sep 28, 2019 while an understanding of the physical location where the book of mormon history actually took place may not be essential for individual salvation, it was certainly considered of sufficient importance to the ancient prophets to warrant significant space on the plates in forewarning a specific nation that would one day occupy those same lands. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, members and. These covenant lands are in the borders of the prophetic united states of america. Lamanites inhabited areas outside of book of mormon land. The ancient north american moundbuilder civilizations correlate with the people in the book of mormon. Aug 24, 2015 the ancient north american moundbuilder civilizations correlate with the people in the book of mormon.
Watch as wayne may presents many of the ancient american artifacts found in north. Hopewell moundbuilders of north america book of mormon. Book of mormon lands discovering the lost lands of the. The book of mormon and the hopewell of ancient north. Jan 29, 2019 the new essay begins with this declarative statement.
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. 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. Watch as wayne may presents the parallels in geography, archaeology and. 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. Joseph lovell allen true book of mormon geography lands. These covenant lands are in the borders of the prophetic. Gods word is to be established by two or more witnesses 2 cor.
We may not know but here is some compelling evidence. These two lands were covenanted and promised by god for the inheritance of his covenant people throughout the history of mankind and these same two promised lands are. Book of mormon geography in north america 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. 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. Despite the limited space on the plates, mormonas a historian and military leader.
Mormon, the compiler and abridger of the book of mormon, was himself a military commander. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted. Its origin and development, byu publications in archaeology and early history, no. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography. She answers a lot of the questions that most people would ask. See more ideas about book of mormon, america and ancient civilizations. An ancient american book salt lake city and provo, ut. Perhaps the time has come to concentrate more heavily on those lands surrounding the only known landmark we have of the book of mormon saga the hill cumorah in new york state, the very place the record of the nephites were deposited by moroni, the son of mormon, the last nephite prophet to walk the land after the destruction of his people.
Many mormon apologists point to central america for the location of book of mormon lands due to the mention of a narrow neck of landwhere the sea divides the land, however problems arise when one considers that the sea south and the sea north are irreconcilable with this limited geographical location for book of mormon. The book of mormon includes a history of an ancient people who migrated from. Wayne may true book of mormon geography lands western new. As stated in this book, this does not mean that descendants of book of mormon peoples did not eventually migrate to other parts of the hemisphere and the world during or following book of mormon times. Explorations in critical methodology, signature books, 1993, page 1 to 2. Book of mormon archaeology in north america wanyes intro.
Was the usa home to the ancient book of mormon lands. Sorenson published an ancient american setting for the book of mormon which was considered a major breakthrough in the search for book of mormon lands and many noted scholars of the day viewed this book as the legitimate location of book of mormon locations. The land of zarahemla is north of the land of nephi. Book of mormon lands discovering the lost lands of the book.
I feel they very possibly might have been influenced by migrations coming north out of mesoamerica but as the subject people of the book of mormon i dont think so imo. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. A fortified line between the land of zarahemla and the. Taken from the new dvd touring book of mormon lands in north america. Readers of the book of mormon may wonder, at times, where in the americas the events described took place. Careful analysis of early writings on book of mormon geography reveals. In north america dvd hopewell culture, copper mines, earthen walls, mounds and ditches are just some of the very important sites, artifacts and discussions presented on this brand new dvd. The church takes no position on the specific geographic location of book of mormon events in the ancient americas. Book of mormon, history of warfare in the encyclopedia of. The jaredites of the book of mormon are identified as being primarily located in the land northward as opposed to the land southward, however, no information is discussed specific to the jaredites as to where the dividing line of the land northward and land southward was.
Maxwell institute for religious scholarship, 20, 322. Welch, a steady stream of significant recognitions, in echoes and evidences of the book of mormon, ed. Phelps, discovery of ancient ruins in central america, the. Why did mormon give so many details about geography.
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. 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 evidence in american archaeology wayne may. The real implication of the paper is that you cant set the bookofmormon geography down anywherebecause it is fictional and. Lamanites true book of mormon geography lands western. Five compelling archeological evidences 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. Wayne may presents the supporting evidence for the heartland model, that the book of mormon nephites and jaredites lived in north america. Ancient moundbuilding cultures of north america are known to have mined and worked native.
Hugh nibley, the book of mormon as a mirror of the east, improvement era 51 1948, pp. Book of mormon geography the encyclopedia of mormonism. In our view, an ancient mesoamerican setting is best supported by the information given in the book of mormon. Lamanites were greater in number than the nephites. 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. Wayne may true book of mormon geography lands western. Thus, the land on the northward was called desolation, and the land on the southward was. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia.
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