Garth normans map book of mormon archaeological forum. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new. Many of these are generally agreed upon, even by secular historians. A limited geography model for the book of mormon is one of several theories by latter day saint movement scholars that the books 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. Mormon stories dr michael coe an outsiders view of book of mormon archaeology. Finally there is a way to really explore john sorensons book of mormon geography. It comes with an optional explanatory booklet entitled book of mormon mesoamerican historic geography, and is available online. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence.
Since the early twentieth century, many scholars and other serious students of the book of mormon have come to favor the limited geography model, with mesoamerica extending from southern mexico to guatemala as the book of mormon homeland and new yorks hill cumorah as the repository of mormons record but not the scene of the final. Regarding point 1, i have read all of sorensons works and most of what farms and the maxwell institute have. Why did mormon give so many details about geography. I would also suggest that when reading moronis america maps edition, you have two other books with you. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model. And whenever the book of mormon uses the words north or south, it means exactly what it says due north or south. The book of mormon currently has none of these things.
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. Virtual book of mormon book of mormon maps and learning. Sorenson were fellow graduate students at byu in the early 1950s. Jan 18, 2018 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. 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. What is the heartland model of book of mormon geography. Joseph lovell allen true book of mormon geography lands. Maps book of mormon topics geography and evidences.
Book of mormon topics geography and evidences publications. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies. The mesoamerican core and north american periphery of book of mormon geography, interpreter. Muleks party first arrived in the land north see helaman 6. The land of zarahemla is at a lower elevation relative to the land of nephi.
Even the hill cumorah, where joseph smith obtained the gold plates, is not really the same hill cumorah mentioned in the text. In those roles, he has been approached with difficult questions about book of mormon geography. There was a book published in 1791 by john walker entitled, a key to the classical pronunciation of greek, latin, and scripture proper names. This book was a common household reference in young joseph smiths time and place. A discussion of the arabian, or old world, geography of the book of mormon enjoys many advantages over discussion of new world matters. Many accounts of significant lands and cities are given in the book of mormon. Sheryl lee wilson has traveled throughout mesoamerica with a keen eye capturing on film the essence of americas greatest civilizations.
The lord could have removed all questions regarding the exact locations of these events but he did not. I had the pleasure of being amongst many on a tour to mesoamerica with john lund. In this book are a number of future book of mormon names, which appeared within alphabetized lists. Apr 01, 2018 a another valid reason why you might want to study book of mormon geography is it help determine where the very few lds archaeologists should focus their resources. Garth norman, who has advanced degrees in both archaeology and ancient scripture, and it looks excellent. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Chief among these is the fact that we know we certainty where the story beginsin old world jerusalem. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model is unique in this regard. The boundaries of the united states of america is the promised land. Virtual book of mormon book of mormon maps and learning tools.
Mid resolution 830 k when image is loaded, click on it for a detailed view high resolution 5. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. It comes with an optional explanatory booklet entitled book of mormon mesoamerican historic geography, and is available online in time for christmas. Mesoamerica and the book of mormon linkedin slideshare. While many lds scholars are converging on the idea of mesoamerica as the focal point for the book of mormon in the new world, there is a notable movement calling for new york and the eastern united states as the place of the book of mormon. That is just a way to make geographical features fit. Moronis americamaps edition book of mormon evidence.
For that reason, our design team has chosen to develop an internal map that shows relational directions and approximate distances that match the. With the 100s of thousands of square miles to explore and the s of lost cities to find and excavate, it would be best to use the book of mormon to pinpoint the most promising. Errors of kirk magleby true book of mormon geography lands. Mapping book of mormon geography 101 by lawrence poulsen. Since the initial publication of the book of mormon in 1830, church members have speculated about the geographical locations of the cities mentioned and detractors have scoffed at the lack of correlation to known new world sites. The church and byu stay neutral in questions of exactly where the book of mormon took place. Joseph lovell allen, educator, author and explorer, is a pioneer in the study of history and geography of mesoamerica and the book of mormon. The church emphasizes the doctrinal and historical value of the book of mormon, not its geography. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. Many of her photos were also included in our book, exploring the lands of the book of mormon. Book of mormongeographynew worldlimited geography theory. 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.
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. A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in. These two books are referenced heavily throughout moronis america maps edition. Perhaps every book ever written on mesoamerica theories. This map plausibly positions these and other book of mormon locations in the general mesoamerican arena. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. 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. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon.
Oct 02, 2014 finally there is a way to really explore john sorensons book of mormon geography. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new york. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the. The most important message of the book of mormon is its declared intent to convince readers that jesus is the christ.
Proposed mesoamerican locations for the setting of the book of mormon. The geographical setting of the book of mormon is the set of locations of the events described. The author has had several church leadership positions. Without going into too many details, there are 18 points of inaccuracies that i want to highlight about maps of mesoamerica that were published before the book. Here are posts from bofm blog that i enjoy about book of mormon geography. Carr, president of book of mormon archaeological forum, were sending you a copy of his last article. Famsi map of mesoamerica foundation for the advancement. The book of mormon itself is the best source for understanding the geographical locations contained therein. There is no unanimity on geography, even among church members. Book of mormon charts charting the book of mormon is a collection of more than 175 visual aids that promote deeper understanding and appreciation of the book of mormon.
Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the shake. Rick shared a very good map from shelby saberon who is a trained mesoamericanist. Sorensons 1992 the geography of book of mormon events. Book of mormon geography, lands, map, dna true evidence. 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. 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. This heartland model for book of mormon geography downplays the geographical information in the text. It was produced after forty years of research by archaeologist v. Pratt was an articulate advocate for a sweeping, hemispheric vision of book of mormon lands with the isthmus of panama as the narrow neck of land. Here is a post i have done that deals with geography of the book of mormon. I purchased this book a few days prior to leaving, had it personalized and signed by him, and read it before, during, and after my adventure in the book of mormon lands.
A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in mesoamerica by. The purpose of constructing unbiased internal maps is to orient major lands, seas and landmarks mentioned in the text, and. The article does not actually say that book of mormon lands are to be found in central america. He ran the new world archaeological foundation from 1959 to 1987. Book of mormon answers 1 explain the bofm geography and church history 2 did you know t here is only one narrow neck of land, but a total of 3 unique necks in the book of mormon. 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. Jun 27, 2016 on book of mormon peoples leaving the core nephitelamanite centers and reaching other regions of the americas, see mark alan wright, heartland as hinterland. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful. Such maps can be a useful introduction for those who are new to the book of mormon. Read the classic biography of the founder of the mormon church. Designed for multiple use as study guides, handouts, and masters for creating projectable images, the charts convey a wealth of information that will enrich personal study and. Contrary to one esteemed book of mormon scholar, there is no nephite north.
Archaeological evidence has placed ancient american peoples such as the olmecs, teotihuacans, zapotecs, mayans, and chiapas in various general locations in mesoamerica. In addition, the entire story of the book of mormon occurred within a small 500mile radius within mesoamerica. A another valid reason why you might want to study book of mormon geography is it help determine where the very few lds archaeologists should focus their resources. 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. This map plausibly positions these and other book of mormon locations in the general. 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. 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 name mesoamerica is a term used to identify the heartland of a number of significant precolumbian cultures. See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here. Mesoamerica and heartland book of mormon geographies. 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. New insights into book of mormon geography venice priddis on.