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. Also, those of us that have studied the book of mormon for many years and lived in the united states of america, have read of the responsibilities placed upon us in the promised land to live up to the conditions necessary to receive the promises. This book is great, but like i said, is the tip of the iceberg. As the book of mormon puts it, all are alike unto god.
North american book of mormon geography the interpreter. This significant volume, a large book of 437 pages with 147 maps, is a pleasure to read. The united states is the promised land foretold in the book of mormon continuing, he wrote, a place where divine guidance directed inspired men to create the conditions necessary for the restoration of the gospel of jesus christ. Looking over the surrounding country we remembered that two great races of people. According to the book of mormon, the promised land shall be a land of liberty, with no kings upon the. It is true that bison did roam the plains of north america but we have never suggested the book of mormon lands are in the plains of north america, our assertion is the baja peninsula which has no evidence of bison today or even hundreds of years ago. The book of mormon geography book, a promised land, the land of promise, is one of our books at alpha publishing available for purchase at virginia elieson was inspired with this geography, while with her patriarch husband and mission president in dallas here organized into a book by peter covino, jr.
Mormon challenges are precolumbian horses in book of. The united states is the promised land book of mormon. Our guest lecturer will give us insights to the book of mormon, the peoples past and present and the sites our group will visit. So, as you pointed out we would not suspect bison would be mentioned. The prophet joseph smiths letter published october 1, 1842, in the times and seasons is scripture.
The publisher of ancient american magazine and renown book of mormon scholar wayne n. The lost empires and vanished races of the book of mormon. There is a mention of the heat of the day in alma 51. Some believe that the history depicted in the book of mormon.
Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. Sidon, and lands to the north and south occupied by the nephites and their enemies, the lamanites. True book of mormon geography lands, western new york model. In fact, book of mormon horses are never mentioned in a combat narrative. 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. Read more in a mormons unexpected journey, volume 2, chapter 16. Though joseph smith certainly endorses the idea that the book of mormon contains a history of peoples who eventually migrated to central america, the july 1842 article is careful not to say that book of mormon lands are to be found there.
Horses are mentioned in eight different book of mormon episodes that involve an ancient new world setting. 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. During this period, joseph assumed responsibility for pieces published with his editorial signature ed. The history of racism and white supremacy in the mormon. Book of mormon lands right here in the united states of america western great basin and columbia basin adam knew enoch knew noah knew brother of jared knew lehi knew joseph smith knew brigham young knew and you can know this is the place new zion. Watch as wayne may presents the parallels in geography, archaeology and timelines between the jaredites and the adena civilization of north america. And that it would be located in north america since it is supposed to be a choice land above all. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the lost empires and vanished races of the book of mormon. As indicated by archaeology and related studies, no place in north america in the period of book of mormon history contained any cultures at the level of civilization.
Exploring the lands of the book of mormon ought to be on the bookshelf of everyone interested in book of mormon geography. Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new york. God created the many diverse races and ethnicities and esteems them all equally.
Book of mormon geography, lands, map, dna true evidence. That having been said, in the late 1800s some antagonists of the book of mormon and many faithful believed that the heartland of america and the mound builders were, in fact, the setting for the geography of the book of mormon, and that the artifacts coming out of the mounds were evidence of its truthfulness. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting book. 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.
Sep 08, 2009 initially, book of mormon lands were thought to occupy all of south americathe land southwardand north americathe land northwardwith the isthmus of panama understood to be the narrow neck of land connecting the two. 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. Maps moronis america the north american setting for. Allen makes convincing arguments in a style that is generally easy to understand. Mormon s codex by john sorensen is the final word on the geograp. Two of these were small israelite groups that migrated to an american land of. This fantastic tour includes all of the most important ruins that date back to book of mormon time. Since the earliest decade of the church, black mormons have been members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church. A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in. See more ideas about book of mormon, america and ancient civilizations. One of the reasons central america was so enticing for early members to claim as book of mormon lands is that central america had massive buildings. Moronis america today in 1936, when lds scholars first began accepting the twocumorah theory, apostle joseph fielding smith warned the saints.
Now you can have wayne take you on a private tour of the sacred sites of the book of mormon through incredibly stunning, beautiful photography and video. Book of mormon and the american indian book of mormon evidence. I spoke with mueller about his new book, race and the making of the mormon people, which focuses on a few important figures in mormon history. Although church members continue to discuss such theories today, the churchs only position is that the events the book. 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. The new essay begins with this declarative statement.
It is detailed, comprehensive and an interesting read. Geographical, and other evidences in support of the book of mormon landscape, as found in north america. The book of mormon describes the migration of three colonies from the old world to the. In north america, even logan utah, is named after the jerusalem place golan by some ephratas living nearby.
As each new theory surfaces, we gain fresh hope of acquiring additional insights into it ancient location, but are all too often disappointed. The book of mormon details the history of two groups called the nephites and the lamanites. It was the birth of the united states of america that ushered out the great apostasy, when the earth was darkened by the absence of prophets and. Then the mesoamericanists came along with the idea of a theory that the book of mormon lands only took up a few hundred miles. Mormon land explores the contours and complexities of lds news. 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. Moronis america the book of mormon in north america. Book of mormon places and locations mormonism to grace. 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.
The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. Just because there happens to be a hill called cumorah in new york does not mean the book of mormon people lived there. 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. Nov 20, 2018 the book of mormon details the history of two groups called the nephites and the lamanites. The prophet joseph smith himself accepted what he felt was evidence of book of mormon civilizations in. With a lot of attention coming to the theory that north america, rather than central america, is the location of the events recorded in the book of mormon, this book provides a credible rebut of the north american position. May has been exploring the heartland of north america for evidences of the book of mormon for decades.
Many of the churchs faithful believe that the books geographical setting was central and south america, while others believe that its setting took place in the heartland of north america. The material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. The lost empires and vanished races of the book of mormon kindle edition by olive, phyllis carol. Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in north america. Book of mormon lands were thought to occupy all of south americathe land southwardand north. Jensons letters help reader better understand events and experiences that may have led to the reopening of the south american mission in 1925. The identity of the lamanites, including especially their identity in the latterdays among native american peoples, remains an open question which readers of the book of mormon grapple with.
Latterday saint scripture and teachings affirm that god loves all of his children and makes salvation available to all. Others argue for a location still north of but nearer to the necks of land in central america or mexico. Naturally some people applied this to the language in the book of mormon. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Of particular interest are those articles published while the prophet held the title of official editor march 15, to november 15, 1842.
The book of mormon, however, never says horses were ridden a curious thing if joseph was the author of the book of mormon or that they pulled chariots. 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. That, plus joseph smiths 1842 endorsement of the yucatan travels book that, plus the lidar imaging of 3 4 years ago over northern guatemala, where the billions of laser beams penetrated the jungle canopy and revealed 60,000 cement homes. 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. 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. The book of mormon mainly its book of ether describes the jaredites as the descendants of jared and his brother, who lived. Mar 26, 2016 the material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america.
The book of mormon states several times that the land which they were led to, was the promised land, or a choice land. Oct 30, 2019 from this promiscuous mix of speculation spawned the idea that the book of mormon lands covered the whole hemisphere. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Many settlers, blinded by racism, concluded that the mound. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon byu studies. The american geography of the book of mormon has many competing. This north american setting has gained support from some notable members of the lds community, including lds filmmaker keith merrill. A popular argument among great lake theorists, is the promised land theory. Many of the names and places didnt exist in the late 1820s, and they are in the wrong locations relative to one another. The second race came directly from the city of jerusalem, about six hundred. Best of all we fly from mexico city to palenque and we travel by boat from guatemala to honduras. In fact, there is no indication anywhere in the book of mormon regarding winter time or summer time. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in transition.
Apr 18, 2010 it is true that bison did roam the plains of north america but we have never suggested the book of mormon lands are in the plains of north america, our assertion is the baja peninsula which has no evidence of bison today or even hundreds of years ago. T he times and seasons featured many articles relating to the topic of book of mormon lands. While the book of mormon only discusses the lamanites, early church leaders believed that this applied to all races, and that everyone in the celestial kingdom would have white skin. 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.
Church releases statement on book of mormon geography book. The structure and organization of the church encourage racial integration. This book covers this important period in both jensons life and church history, which has rarely been told and is virtually unknown by most mormon historians. Who were the lamanites in the book of mormon and who are their modern descendants.
Book of mormonplagiarism accusationsplace names from. The term is used throughout the book of mormon to describe the religious, political, and cultural traditions of the group of settlers. Readers of the book of mormon may wonder, at times, where in the americas the events described took place. The population of book of mormon lands over much of the period of its history totaled from hundreds of thousands up to millions. Its hosted by awardwinning religion writer peggy fletcher stack and salt lake tribune managing editor david noyce. 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. All my studies suddenly made sense, all aspects of the book of mormon finally became clear. Local documentarians challenge south american claims. Today, historians of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints affirm that the church has never taken any official position on the geographical setting of the book of mormon. Book of mormon and the american indian book of mormon.
The book of mormon is more than a history book of two ancient civilizations, it reveals the covenant land of joseph, the favorite son of jacob, israel who was sold into egypt by his brothers that being the promised land of america. This long distance between the land northward and the land southward doesnt fit the setting of the book of mormon story. Over the past two centuries, the relationship between black people and mormonism has a history that includes both official and unofficial discrimination, but more recently it has become one of increased outreach and involvement. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may. The book of mormon does not say that the entire land northward resides in land occupied by the united states of america. The church takes no position on the specific geographic location of book of mormon events in the ancient americas. 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. The lost lands of the book of mormon phyllis carol olive on. Like the bible, the book of mormon presents itself as an historical record of gods revelation of himself to the human race. Stay in luxury as you see the most significant ruins in central america. 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.
Wayne may presents book of mormon evidence in north american geography, archaeology and historical records. These covenant lands are in the borders of the prophetic. 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. 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. They the jaredites landed to the south of this, just below the gulf of california, on our western coast.
A whole bunch of reasons why book of mormon geography could. Americas first elephant arrived in 1796 on captain jacob crowninshields boat from india. Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. New correlations it is not enough to demonstrate that the book of mormon geography does not fit into central america. Some believe that the history depicted in the book of mormon occurred in north america, while others believe that it occurred in central. Whether or not it was fully appreciated at the time, this divinely inspired epistle. The jaredites are one of four peoples that the latterday saints believe settled in ancient. A limited geography model for the book of mormon is one of several theories by latter day. Book of mormon geography is to serve one purpose, and that is to identify land promises and hold her inhabitants accountable to them ether 2. This epistle is the times and seasons peremptory word on the location of the land cumorah, and therefore on the general location of book of mormon lands. Mar 06, 2012 the lost lands of the book of mormon phyllis carol olive on.
The book of mormon is a religious text of the latter day saint movement. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may lds archaeology. The original idea behind this proposal was that joseph picked up these place names and locations from a map in order to create his book of mormon geography. The prophet joseph smith himself accepted what he felt was evidence of book of mormon civilizations in both north america and central america. 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. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography. 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. Mar 23, 2017 book of mormon geography in north america wayne may lds archaeology. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in. As for other book of mormon locations in lehis promised land, church leaders have always said we dont know for sure where they are.