While all cultures in mesoamerica share a number of common characteristics, cultural subareas are defined by a higher level of specificity in defining elements i. I can soak in the rivers, mountains, jungles, beaches, passes and other terrain of the book of mormon s settings. The purpose of constructing unbiased internal maps is to orient major lands, seas and landmarks mentioned in the text, and. Byu library, an account of our book of mormon lands tour, 27 january to 16 february 1961.
However, when serious book of mormon students first begin with a detailed consideration of the internal map implicit to the book of mormon and then search for a plausible location that fits the book of mormon s map, there has consistently been one general result. See more ideas about book of mormon, mayan ruins and lds art. I finally got around to watching the free dvd i got from a small order i made with. Book of mormon tours has been operated by the allen family since 1970. Revisiting the seven lineages of the book of mormon and the seven tribes of mesoamerica diane e. 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. The three authors of an lds guide to mesoamerica, walk us through the lands of the book of mormon. The first one to start showing evidence will be the one i jump on board.
Items in the bmc archive are made publicly available for noncommercial, private use. Chapter 9 ancient america 6th grade social studies. The lands of te book of mormon are found in mesoamerica. The main passage mentions the land of nephi bordering on the seas, a narrow strip of wilderness, the land of zarahemla, and the headwaters of the river sidon see alma 22. They discuss early church assumptions as to where the people of the book of mormon lived, and then discuss the plausible locale that is theorized by most lds scholars today.
Feb 18, 2008 is the book of mormon being confirmed. The most important message of the book of mormon is its declared intent to convince readers that jesus is the christ. I agree wholeheartedly, and im not discounting anything. Mesoamerica, the region of southern mexico, guatemala, and adjacent nations. It comes with an optional explanatory booklet entitled book of mormon mesoamerican historic geography, and is available online. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted to find archaeological evidence to support it. Book of mormon central bomc is a team of ardent students of the nephite scripture working together to share the wonders of this inspired masterpiece with the world.
In john lunds book mesoamerica and the book of mormon. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. Such maps can be a useful introduction for those who are new to the book of mormon. The various climates and elevations in these areas provide important habitat for a wide spectrum of wildlife. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. Metals and golden plates in mesoamerica, daniel johnsons 2010 bmaf lecture.
Mormons detailed description of the nsw nephizarahemla mountain range. Even though we have yet to know enough to absolutely pinpoint any given city, just knowing that the book of mormon took place in mesoamerica lets me be a map nut again but this time with the book of mormon. Finally there is a way to really explore john sorensons book of mormon geography. Inclusion within the bmc archive does not imply endorsement. This dvd gives george potters support for a peru setting for the book of mormon.
Why does the book of mormon include the rise and fall of two nations. Sheryl lee wilson has traveled throughout mesoamerica with a keen eye capturing on film the essence of americas greatest civilizations. However, when serious book of mormon students first begin with a detailed consideration of the internal map implicit to the book of mormon and then search for a plausible location that fits the book of mormons map, there has consistently been one general result. Bountiful is the name of two places described in the book of mormon, a religious narrative dictated in 1829 by joseph smith. Mayan civilization and parallels to the book of mormon. However, alma 63 indicates that there was a massive northward migration in the midfirst century bc. A discussion of the arabian, or old world, geography of the book of mormon enjoys many advantages over discussion of new world matters. A limited geography model for the book of mormon is one of several theories by latter day saint movement scholars that the book s narrative was a historical record of people in a limited geographical region, rather than of the entire western hemisphere as believed by some early latter day saints these models, developed in an effort to reconcile claims in the book of mormon with archaeology. This map plausibly positions these and other book of mormon locations in the general mesoamerican arena.
Joseph lovell allen, educator, author and explorer, is a pioneer in the study of history and geography of mesoamerica and the book of mormon. In addition, the entire story of the book of mormon occurred within a small 500mile radius within mesoamerica. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. Interactive book of mormon map virtual book of mormon. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new.
Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. Book of mormon geography further analysis and information on book of mormon geography compared to land of joseph smiths youth. The mesoamerica area also fits many of the geographical features given in the book of mormon, including features and the absence of such features in some places like mountains, passes, waters, rivers, basins, in reasonable and plausible relationship to each other. Anthropologist mark wrights 2008 fair conference address on similarities between mesoamerica and the book of mormon. Wirth t he number seven had several connotations to the precolumbian communities of mesoamerica. In 1975, he submitted a paper to a symposium about book of mormon geography outlining the failure of archaeologists to find old world plants, animals, metals, and scripts in mesoamerica. Even the hill cumorah, where joseph smith obtained the gold plates, is not really the same hill cumorah mentioned in the text.
Book of mormon geography your site for lds theology. 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. Lloyd stephens explorations of ancient maya ruins in central america map quote, upper. Mesoamerica united states mexico panama honduras guatemala jamaica haiti dominican republic costarica elsalvador belize nicaragua cuba 20n 30n tropicofcancer 10n 110w 100w 90w 80w 70w 60w yucatan peninsula indies puerto rico u.
Theories of book of mormon lands in mesoamerica showing 11 of 1 messages. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. Claims the narrow neck of land is the isthmus of tehuantepec, and the basic area is that of mesoamerica. Mesoamerica as a whole is considered a culture area within which a number of cultural subareas existed. George has recently shifted his focus from the old world to the new world. Items do not represent the official views of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints or of book of mormon central. The best available evidence for the book of mormon continues to support a limited mesoamerican model. From rolling bajadas speckled with cholla, yucca and joshua trees, to intricately carved canyons forested with pinyon pine and juniper, and jagged mountain peaks topped with stands of oldgrowth ponderosa pine. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland. Many accounts of significant lands and cities are given in the book of mormon.
He promises to continue his research in peru next year. Joseph lovell allen true book of mormon geography lands. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies. Muleks party first arrived in the land north see helaman 6. Madrea mountains along chiapasoaxacaveracruz border. Formative 1500 bc to 250 ad antiquities constructed in book of mormon times. If you arent familiar with the book of mormon, please see my book of mormon introduction page and get your own free copy at mormon. On february 1, 2018, national geographic broke a story about some incredible new discoveries in mesoamerican archaeology using new technology.
Joseph allen took the first tour to mexico in 1970. Why did moroni include mormon s condemnation of infant baptism. Each landscape contains inspiring beauty and jawdropping surprises. The 10th annual book of mormon lands symposium was held in salt lake city to discuss the research and discoveries most recently made supporting the mesoamerican setting of the events of the book. Archaeological evidence has placed ancient american peoples such as the olmecs, teotihuacans, zapotecs, mayans, and chiapas in various general locations in mesoamerica. 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. 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. How does the book of mormon help date the first christmas.
While secular and non mormon scholars consider the book of mormon to be a work of fiction, latter day saints view the book as a chronicle of actual. I argue that these northbound immigrants spread out over the centuries and established settlements that were geographically distant from the core nephite area, far beyond the. View the original article at the book of mormon resources blog. Revisiting the seven lineages of the book of mormon and. Basically, the two maps compare a proposed map constructed by vernal from the internal descriptions of the book of mormon and comments, over the years by latterday saint scholars, with a map showing actual place names on maps of the area around palmyra, new york, where the book of mormon originally was published. Carr, president of book of mormon archaeological forum, were sending you a copy of his last article. The lord could have removed all questions regarding the exact locations of these events but he did not. In this page, i discuss the recent discoveries in mesoamerica which have caused a complete paradigm shift in the thinking of scholars. The number seven was significant to the precolumbian communities of mesoamerica, as it was in the book of mormon. Metals and golden plates in mesoamerica, daniel johnsons.
A peru setting for the book of mormon miscellaneous. His latest newsletter dated oct, 2009, says, 10 reasons why the book of mormon took place in peru. Plausible locations in mesoamerica for book of mormon places. Discounting the text of the book of mormon when trying to locate the lands of the book of mormon is absurd. George is a proponent that the book of mormon lands are in peru. We find a similar suffix in the book of mormon place names ammonihah. All of the static images in the article book of mormon map and most. A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in.
And this eastwest mountain range runs from sea to sea a requirement to fit the book of mormon s explanation. Unfortunately, exploring and testing his geographic. The church emphasizes the doctrinal and historical value of the book of mormon, not its geography. It comes with an optional explanatory booklet entitled book of mormon mesoamerican historic geography, and is available online in time for christmas. The first location is set in the old world near jerusalem, and the second location is set somewhere in the americas. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. Particularly troublesome to the mesoamerica geography hypothesis, is the fact lds scripture places cumorah, a land which the book of mormon says is in a land of many waters, rivers, and fountains, near new yorks finger lakes, just south of lake ontario doctrine and covenants 128. The book of mormon itself is the best source for understanding the geographical locations contained therein. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful. Today, while some individuals still argue for a book of mormon setting in the great lakes region of the united states and canada, 2 most latterday saint scholars acknowledge mesoamerica as the most likely region that matches descriptions found within the book. Gods word is to be established by two or more witnesses 2 cor. Virtual book of mormon another testament of jesus christ.
We have taken more tours to mesoamerica to compare the ancient sites and civilizations with the book of mormon than any other tour operator. Regarding point 1, i have read all of sorensons works and most of what farms and the maxwell institute have. Jan 22, 2011 anthropologist mark wrights 2008 fair conference address on similarities between mesoamerica and the book of mormon. He notes that gold, silver and copper are mentioned several times in the book of mormon being found in abundance in the land. This mantree notion is wellattested in mesoamerican iconography. Lunds love for history and the book of mormon has taken him to mexico, honduras, belize and guatemala more than twenty times. The lamanites under zarahemnah also crossed the river sidon near manti, located to the south of zarahemla alma 43. The boundaries of the united states of america is the promised land. We are the pioneers of the book of mormon tour concept.
Garth normans map book of mormon archaeological forum. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model is. Best trails in mormon mountains wilderness nevada alltrails. Book of mormon geography, lands, map, dna true evidence. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the shake. Many of her photos were also included in our book, exploring the lands of the book of mormon. Considered a sacred number, it represented the seven directions in the. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the. Chief among these is the fact that we know we certainty where the story beginsin old world jerusalem.
The mormon mountains are located in lincoln and clark counties in nevada, between 16 and 28 miles 45 km northwest of mesquite on i15 in the virgin valley, east of the meadow valley mountains and meadow valley and northeast of moapa valley. Virtual book of mormon book of mormon maps and learning. Book of mormon mesoamerican historic geography, and is available online. The geographical setting of the book of mormon is the set of locations of the events described. He is a great teacher, a brilliant scholar, and gifted with a sense of humor. For that reason, our design team has chosen to develop an internal map that shows relational directions and approximate distances that match the. The church and byu stay neutral in questions of exactly where the book of mormon took place. 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. I would recommend that the reader keep a book of mormon map close by such as the one shown above the next time you read through the book of mormon. Although historians and archaeologists consider the book to be an anachronistic invention of joseph smith, many members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church and other denominations of the latter day saint movement believe that it.
This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model is unique in this regard. 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. A pan mesoamerica legend tells of a core people descended from seven tribes, which may coincide with the seven lineages mentioned three times in the book of mormon. Church history maps 1, 2 and 3 accompanying the doctrine. The article does not actually say that book of mormon lands are to be found in central america.
Mesoamerica and the book of mormon linkedin slideshare. This page is a supplement to my book of mormon evidences page. The name mesoamerica is a term used to identify the heartland of a number of significant precolumbian cultures. Cheesmans, the world of the book of mormon, deseret book, 1978.
Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. John clark, a mesoamerican archaeologist answers this question. Oct 02, 2014 finally there is a way to really explore john sorensons book of mormon geography. 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. He has spent almost fifty years in teaching, searching and researching the internal and external messages of that sacred history revered by millions of latterday saints worldwide. The highest point in the range is mormon peak, at 7,414 feet 2,260 m above sea level. The book of mormon and defensive fortifications in mesoamerica. See the video below for a great overview on the topic as well as the debates ive had on this topic with mormon apologists. In other words, using the same references, it would be hard to show an archaeological and cultural relationship between the book of mormon and the rocky mountains usa or the midwest usa, or anywhere in canada or the lands of south america, at the time periods required 600 bc 400 ad.
1659 849 1574 1173 373 74 1326 1367 510 741 725 200 1632 1287 1224 602 1462 837 1008 394 1151 590 1593 183 168 678 441 1309 573 926 577 1370 287 1023 1231 282 86 256 583 1110 1444