Church releases statement on book of mormon geography book. Sep 09, 2008 the problem is that the geography has to match the book. Dec 22, 2011 yet another serious problem for the limited geography theory is the 45 degree directional skewing that is necessary in order to fit the various geographic features of the book of mormon into the proposed central american site, and the resulting complete absence of a sea north and a sea south, basic features of the area in the book of mormon. May 27, 2011 book of mormon lands encompassed mountainous wildernesses, coastal plains, valleys, a large river, a highland lake, and lowland wetlands. The mormon geography problem chapter and verse by robert a. Jun 27, 2016 practically since the book of mormon was published, its geography has been the subject of discussion and debate.
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 jesus christ and his gospel. When you read the book of mormon, concentrate on the principal figure in the bookfrom its first. Its where he was born and raised so theres no mistaking that he didnt know the area well. Truth about joseph smiths beliefs on geography of the book. Below are two maps one is for the book of mormon geography, the other is a map from the days of joseph smith. Critique of a limited geography for book of mormon events jstor. 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. Fortunately, we can discuss book of mormon geography on more neutral. 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. In 1841 joseph smith read stephens incidents of travel in central america. Instead, this comment represents an institutional unwillingness to take the churchs official position on book of mormon geography seriously and undermines efforts to promote balanced, civil discourse on the topic. Washburn, an approach to the study of book of mormon geography, 1939, p.
Christopher columbus in bom coincidences in mormonism. Problems with out model include suggesting that north american archaeolgical dates might be systematically skewed or just as likely the book of mormon dates themselves are mistaken and we suggest the book of mormon authors had a limited view of what lie in the great salado basin believing the gulf of mexico or east sea extended far farther. Unusually for world scripture, the book of mormon appeared before there was a. In fact, it does not even discourage the monetization of book of mormon geography through book and video sales, tours, cruises, or conferences, however people feel about such endeavors. The land also apparently experienced occasional volcanic eruptions and earthquakes 3 ne. The problem with nevilles geographic theory, of course, is that hes put the cart before the horse. If it doesnt match the book, then we have to discard it. I am purely looking at this from an internal textual basis, with no weight given to historical and scientific evidence not contained within the text of the book of mormon.
Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon. 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. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations.
It seems that the lands described are not wholly imaginary, but correspond to some actual location. In last weeks installment, i discussed the peruvian model for book of mormon geography. Amidst the hundreds of passages of potential geographic significance, alma 22. Jan 26, 2017 the book of mormon heartland model is a model first proposed by rod meldrum and others which places the entirety of book of mormon narrative in the eastern united states of america. It has also been asserted that the geography of the arabian peninsu. Book of mormon and dna studies church of jesus christ. Overview of book of mormon geography and church history. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new. The recent gospel topics essay on book of mormon geography makes two. Basic methodological problems with the antimormon approach. The book of mormon contains two accounts of chariots being used in the new world. However, some geographical models pose problems for the dna attacks which other models do not, and so these issues are considered here. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the. The four texts listed above are the ones that seem to share a statistically significant number of distinctive phrases with the book of mormon.
Second, it demonstrates in detail why only a limited geographical model fits the book of mormon narrative. He presumes that the book of mormon took place in the heartland of the united states, based on his undemonstrated belief that the statements of prophets and apostles about the location of cumorah were revealed by god and based on a. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the shake. The firm foundation should be on the forefront of the promoting the churchs official view and encouraging fellow heartlanders to engage the topic of book of mormon geography with civility and respectwithout pejorative accusations of apostasy. Jul 26, 2018 but i think all the models have problems and this is most accurate, in terms of what the author meant. Basic methodological problems with the anti mormon approach to the geography and archaeology. Leaders of the church have repeatedly taught that there is. Appealing to personal considerations rather than to logic or reason.
Until we have clearer knowledgeon book of mormon geography. It contains a record of gods dealings with three groups of people who migrated from the near east or west asia to the americas hundreds of years before the arrival of europeans. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. The gospel topics essay does not discourage presenting ones views on book of mormon geography in special symposium, on the web, or in personal conversation.
Later, in the 1920s, scholars in the reorganized church of jesus christ of latterday saints proposed that the book of mormon took place in a limited. Book of mormon geography annotated gospel topics essay. Book of mormon archaeologists have often been disappointed in the past because they. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon matters. You cannot fit a continental geographical model to the text of the book of mormon. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. Critique of hamblins basic methodological problems. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. The church does not take a position on the specific geographic locations of book of mormon events in the ancient americas. Problems with the book of mormon are documented in, an incredible story part i the book of mormon. Oct 03, 2019 we believe the book of mormon is the word of god. The heartland models seasonal and climate claims have problems.
Perhaps the biggest problem with most models are their failure to match the configuration of border cities explained the the war chapters of alma. On july 29, 1978, the deseret news published an article in the church news section called geography problems p. I see that as a problem for archaeology, sorenson said. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints affirms that the book of mormon is a volume of sacred scripture comparable to the bible. Joseph smiths statements regarding book of mormon geography. Could joseph smith really have taken a little bit of this and that to produce the book of mormon and if so, why did he do such a thing.
New computer study purports to detect literary influences on. The heartland model also misunderstands the evidence about population sizes and growth. This becomes a problem when we force our personal opinions on. Oct 27, 20 the more distinctive ngrams a text shares with the book of mormon, the more literary dependence is indicated.
Nevilles book of mormon geography makes no sense, part 1. Limited geography models predate issues of dna and genetics by decades. Deciphering the geography of the book of mormon is a study guide for those wanting to better understand the geography and history of the book of mormon. It is a comfort to know that additional knowledge of many of the events of the book of mormon geography happened right here in the untied states. As much as we want it to be, the english version of the book of mormon is not a primary source, just as the kjv or vulgate is not used to explore the original authors. State of affairs since publication of the book of mormon in 1830, readers have questioned where it all happened. Within a few hundred miles one might be wrong in suggesting locations, but there is little possibility that one can miss the whole land. A lot of exciting fluff on book of mormon geography is being discovered, but substance is still lacking. Brother hills is a student of the book of mormon, the greatest i have ever met, and his contribution to the geography of that book will be handed down to generations unborn as one of the grandest discoveries of the age.
A serious problem facing book of mormon geography is the severe discontinuity of mesoamerican toponyms between the preclassic before c. Despite the limited space on the plates, mormon as a historian and military leader. In utah, the saints saw themselves in book of mormon lands just like they. Aug 15, 2019 when he organized the book of mormon into chapter and verse, he included footnotes about geography that he specified were speculative, except for cumorah, which he declared was in new york.
First, it demonstrates contrary to current antimormon assertions that limited geographical models were not proposed only after the mid1980s after b. Daniel macgregor, book of mormon geography, the saints herald, volume 68, 1921, p. Executive summary of the annotated edition of the book of. I think that you then run up against the problem that youve then pretty. The church has been neutral when it comes to issues relating to book of mormon geography, as is fairmormon. The archaeological problem book of mormon geography. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. The heartland model falsely claims joseph smith had a revelation about book of mormon geography. Dna attacks on the book of mormon are arguably futile, regardless of which geographical model one adopts. Ive enjoyed discussing the book of mormon with brant going way back to the 90s when i ran the old mormant mailing list to discuss ancient history as it related to mormon scripture. Summary of problems with rod meldrums heartland theory. All in all, i found pros, cons of book of mormon geography theories.
Basic methodological problems with the anti mormon approach to the geography and archaeology of the book of mormon journal of book of mormon studies, volume 2, issue 1, pages 16197 provo, utah. Pros, cons of book of mormon geography theories deseret news. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography. Reid moon, proprietor of moons rare books, recently sat down with book of mormon central to discuss pieces in his collection which shed. Secondary evidences of the book of mormon in north america. The church takes no position on the specific geographic location of book of mormon events in the ancient americas. Critics argue that there is no archaeological evidence to support the use of wheeled vehicles in mesoamerica, especially since many parts of ancient mesoamerica were not suitable for wheeled transport. A clip from the dvd book of mormon and new world dna produce by us at fair. A reaction to the churchs recent essay on book of mormon. Comparing book of mormon geography models mormon lds. Certain groups who entertain a north american setting for the book of mormon claim that joseph knew where book of mormon events took place. I believe the book of mormon is scripture, the word of god.
Book of mormondna evidencegeography issues fairmormon. As has been demonstrated in detail, the book of mormon is completely consistent internally in. What have prophets thought about book of mormon geography. Joseph smith and the geography of the book of mormon.
Book of mormon geography problems life after ministries. Mormons unfamiliar with the geographical issues of the book of mormon often immediately respond with an objection regarding the hill cumorah. Linguistic evidence, however, finds words for metal that go back to 1,000 b. Book of mormon research topics az life after ministry. Executive summary of the annotated edition of the book of mormon. First, it demonstrates contrary to current anti mormon assertions that limited geographical models were not proposed only after the mid1980s after b. The archaeological problem hugh nibley, an approach to the book of mormon, deseret book, 1976, 366376 the book of mormon is so often taken to task by those calling themselves archaeologists that it is well to know just what an archaeologist is and does. Why did the church change the book of mormon geography. Geography problems my reason for investigating the book of mormon geography was that i could not find a map that accurately portrayed the information in the book of mormon. Wait, the famous hill cumorah, the scene of the final battles for the nephite and jaredite civilizations, and the place where the gold plates were buried and found, is in the state of new york. Lamb demonstrated problems and inconsistencies in book of mormon geo. The book of mormon itself is the best source for understanding the geographical locations contained therein. Instead, this comment represents an institutional unwillingness to take the churchs official position on book of mormon geography seriously and.
Home true book of mormon geography lands western new york. Individuals may have their own opinions regarding book of mormon geography and other such matters about. Truth about joseph smiths beliefs on geography of the. Book of mormon geography the encyclopedia of mormonism. 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. Church addresses book of mormon geography in new topics. It will also be of great interest to those desiring a rigorous scientific approach to the settlement and route networks described in this important book of scripture. Although church leadership officially and consistently distances itself from issues regarding book of mormon geography in order to focus. The second issue is something that those critical of the book of mormon. Why did mormon give so many details about geography. Mar 02, 2019 as reported by fairmormon and others, there have been some updates to the new book of mormon geography gospel topics entry i reported on in january. Jan 29, 2019 like the church, book of mormon central bmc is officially geography neutral.
The book contains so much geographical information that it is evident that the author had a specific model in mind. Hes a research assistant with book of mormon central and arguably one of the top experts in the question of book of mormon geography. It seems to have arisen in response to perceived problems in the limited mesoamerican model. New computer study purports to detect literary influences. This week, id like to briefly examine the baja model. So instead of simply using statements from modern day saints and claiming they knew better, we have to compare that with what the book of mormon actually says. The book of mormon contains the record of gods dealings with a branch of the tribes of joseph, who were divinely led to a country far away from the biblical promised land. We hope diligent students work together to achieve working consensus on the geographic correlation issue. We seek deep understanding of the book of mormon text. Speculation on the geography of the book of mormon may mislead instead of enlighten.
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