Nov 17, 2014 the book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally been deciphered. Lehis family landed either on the east coast or on the northern shore of the gulf of mexico, after sailing around africa and across the atlantic ocean. 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. History and geography of ancient america in the book of mormon, 60051 b. The book of mormon says that there were wolves among the nephites, and this might give us a clue as to where the book of mormon geographical setting was mesoamerica, new york, etc. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the shake. This book deals with the varoius proposed geographies of the book of mormon since its initial publication in 1830. Geography lessons needed for book of mormon life after ministry. However, there are no good candidates that resemble the bom geography. Sea south true book of mormon geography lands western.
The internal book of mormon geography is seen as an island or a peninsula because mormon states that the land of nephi and the land of zarahemla were nearly surrounded by water, there being a small neck of land between the land northward and the land southward. 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. Hence, moroni had to carry the plates from central america to new york. The book of mormon says that there were wolves among the nephites, and this might give us a clue as to where the book of mormon geographical setting. Despite the limited space on the plates, mormonas a historian and. First and secondhand accounts of what the prophet joseph said are referred to as. Gods word is to be established by two or more witnesses 2 cor. Jan 29, 2019 the article concludes by emphasizing the churchs neutrality on book of mormon geography and quoting president russell m. Soon after the second nephite evacuation of lehinephi, these nephites were en route to zarahemla when they came to a place which was called mormon, having received its name from the king, being in the borders of the land having. A new model for the book of mormon geography by james lee warr on this site, mr. Book of mormon geography your site for lds theology.
The standard of truth, 18151846, some concern has been expressed online and to us personally that the text of the book has expressed a preference against a heartland model of book of mormon geography. Joseph smith and the geography of the book of mormon. The book of mormon itself is the best source for understanding the geographical locations contained therein. Like the church, book of mormon central bmc is officially geography neutral. Nelson on the importance the books primary purposeto testify of jesus christ and his gospel.
Home true book of mormon geography lands western new york. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. Neither does book of mormon geography provide a basis for beliefonly. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. The book specifically claims that the valley is close to the shore of the red sea, and that a river which runs through it empties directly into the sea. The atlantic ocean waters bordering mesoamerica can be divided into at most two seas, the gulf of mexico or more specifically what is called the. Exact location of the waters of mormon waters of mormon there is also a excelent candidate for the waters of mormon found in missouri. The waters of mormon, in the 18th chapter of the book of mosiah in the book of mormon, is a body of water where about two hundred nephites were baptized summary. Based on the same map, we see that the main river in the book of mormon called sidon, is the buffalo river. In 1991, john sorenson of byu, the dean of book of mormon geography, created a book called the geography of book of mormon events. Regarding point 1, i have read all of sorensons works and most of what farms and the maxwell institute have. Home book of mormon science, ancient history, and the book of mormon national geographic society statement on the book of mormon national geographic society statement on the book of mormon language.
King noah, to the waters of mormon for almas teaching in the borders of the land. It is a book of scripture aimed at teaching people about christ and how to find happiness through the gospel. The four seas of the book of mormon mormons in transition. Book of mormon geography according to the study guide for. Sorenson and others have discussed the history and development of latterday saint ideas about book of mormon geography, which have been literally all over the map, but no authoritative model exists. Geography lessons needed for book of mormon life after. Statement on book of mormon geography page 4 general. 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.
Sorenson does an excellent job in showing the requirements of the book of mormon volume and the antiquity of a limited geography model among latterday saints, contra critics who claim it is nothing short of a construct by sorenson from the 1980s and a mormon tactic to protect. Nowhere do we have the lords assurance that joseph knew anything about book of mormon geography via prophecy, or that lds prophets are infallible. Warr takes great effort to prove the geography of the book of mormon in central america, with the landing and etc. The church takes no position on the specific geographic location of book of mormon events in the ancient americas. The music is accompanied by beautiful photographs of big spring, missouri, the largest natural spring in north america and a proposed location for the waters of mormon in the heartland book of mormon geography model.
Home true book of mormon geography lands western new. Book of mormon geography book of mormon notes how deep can. For detailed maps see our book of mormon geography site. The church takes no position on the specific geographic location of book of mormon events in the ancient americas, the essay reads. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography. Another limited geography model, known as the heartland model, has the book of mormon taking place primarily in the eastern united states. Mormon revisionists today believe that moroni went from one hill cumorah to the next to bury the plates. Geographical landmarks, such as the narrow neck of land, and the waters of mormon, are especially helpful if the geography has not changed in the intervening centuries because if they can be identified they can lock in the location. The land of zarahemla is at a lower elevation relative to the land of nephi. Chief among these is the fact that we know we certainty where the story beginsin old world jerusalem. The waters of mormon, in the 18th chapter of the book of mosiah is a body of water where about two hundred nephites were baptized. 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. 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. Joseph smith and the geography of the book of mormon book.
It, therefore, is an important geographical indicator. They are one of the key indicators for locating the specific geography of book of mormon lands. Statement on book of mormon geography page 6 general. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the. The geographical setting of the book of mormon has been the. Amidst the hundreds of passages of potential geographic significance, alma 22. Does the book of mormon fit best in a geography located around the great lakes, between the united states and canada. Backed by scriptural evidence, this book will profoundly change the way you read the book of mormon. Why did mormon give so many details about geography.
The book of mormon committee had overseen the successful publication of the 1920 edition and due to great interest around the church, decided to convene a series of book of mormon geography hearings. 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. Book of mormon geography book of mormon notes how deep. Interesting as these matters may be, study of the book of mormon is most rewarding when one focuses on its primary purpose. An ancient american setting for the book of mormon. There is a good chance this is where alma baptized those who believed in the prophet abinadi. Sadly, if such a place was the scene of the book of mormon, he placed the hill cumorah in cerro san gil, guatemala. The new essay begins with this declarative statement. Book of mormon geography march 6, 2018 enter your password to view comments. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints recently released a gospel topics essay which reiterates the churchs neutrality on the subject of book of mormon geography. 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. Jun 11, 2019 the book of mormon committee had overseen the successful publication of the 1920 edition and due to great interest around the church, decided to convene a series of book of mormon geography hearings. Most of you believe that the book of mormon occurred in central america, right. Jun 22, 2016 the music is accompanied by beautiful photographs of big spring, missouri, the largest natural spring in north america and a proposed location for the waters of mormon in the heartland book of mormon geography model.
There has never been a river that empties into the red sea. These are the core areas for the history of the book of mormon and is called the western new york model. See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here. In antiquity, this region was settled by mound building cultures that existed during, and in other cases, centuries after book of mormon times. Before we examine some of the possible locations for book of mormon geography however, i would like to stress the fact that as of today, the lord has not revealed where the nephites or lamanites lived, and as such, the lds church has taken no official stance on anything related to book of mormon geography.
It is a book of scripture aimed at teaching people about christ and. This fascinating look at the geographical, political, and religious subcultures of the book of mormon shows how nephite christianity fared against the barbaric paganism that dominated that part of the world. The fountain of pure water referred to as the waters of mormon is stated to. Even though the mormon church formally denies endorsing any geographical theory regarding the location of book of mormon events, its many book of mormon editions, film strips, pamphlets and professors using images and references exclusively of the mesoamerican area speaks otherwise.
If an army is attempting to cross the river at the area of a. Further testifies to the prophetic calling and divine mission of the prophet joseph smith. Book of mormon great lakes geography jump to subtopic. Jun 27, 2016 practically since the book of mormon was published, its geography has been the subject of discussion and debate. National geographic society statement on the book of mormon. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. Book of mormongeographynew worldgreat lakes geography. Sea south true book of mormon geography lands western new. The war against christianity history and geography of ancient america in the book of mormon, 60051 b. 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. The church emphasizes the doctrinal and historical value of the book of mormon, not its geography.
Clarifies the geography questions that still linger in minds. All lds students of book of mormon geography who have worked systematically with the problem in recent decades have come to agree on this sorenson 1985, 2930. The heartland model is a proposed book of mormon geography that spreads the scriptures new world setting over much of the eastern united states. The one and only river mentioned in the entire book of mormon is called the sidon. National geographic society statement on the book of mormon national geographic society statement on the book of mormon language.
The reference to north and south seas fits nicely into the mesoamerican scene as part of a metaphor for the whole earth and was probably used in a metaphorical sense in the book of mormon a key for evaluating nephite geographies by john e. The book of mormon does not give any information directly about any sea or water boundary south of the narrow strip of wilderness. Deciphering the geography and an ancient american setting. Book of mormon geography matters god intends us to find and use the evidence he has givenreasons, if you willwhich affirm the truthfulness of his work.
The book of mormon is not intended to be a history book or a guide to geography, science, or any other secular topic. He received his bs from weber state university, his ma from brigham young university, and his phd from the university of. Waters of mormon there is also a excelent candidate for the waters of mormon found in missouri. A discussion of the arabian, or old world, geography of the book of mormon enjoys many advantages over discussion of new world matters. Rapids are comprised of shallow water flowing very swiftly through and around projections of rock.
Joseph smith and the geography of the book of mormon by john. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible. 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 geography in the world of joseph smith. March 19 geography lessons needed for book of mormon. The great strength of the book is that it provides a wellargued perspective based on the geology of natural disasters that is new to the analysis of the book of mormonone that adds to the reality of book of mormon events and opens new doors for potential research and understanding of the geography of the book of mormon. We have been disappointed to read online commentary from individuals favoring a heartland model of book of mormon geography that asserts. Joseph smith and the geography of the book of mormon by. Despite the limited space on the plates, mormonas a historian and military leader. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model. Practically since the book of mormon was published, its geography has been the subject of discussion and debate.
Speaking of the book s history and geography, president russell m. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon. The book of mormon claims that a valley can be found between 2 to 3 days from the northernmost shore of the red sea. While some of these sources treat book of mormon geography in only the vaguest generalities, others make very specific claims on the topic. First and secondhand accounts of what the prophet joseph said are referred to as lesser sources. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model is. Those hearings were held on friday, january 21 through monday, january 24, 1921. So, in order to make any models fit, you have to distort the meanings of the geographic descriptions in the bom. The spring issues forth some 285,000 gallons of water per day on average with maximum flows of up to 1. Book of mormon in north america maps book of mormon evidence.
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