Wayne may presents archaeological support of the book of mormon to a group in malad, idaho in february of 2017. It is a book of scripture aimed at teaching people about christ and how to find happiness through the gospel. 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. The land of zarahemla is at a lower elevation relative to the land of nephi. If the book is accurate, archaeologists would expect to find numerous pieces of hard evidence in central america that confirm the presence of these societies. Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. Generations of mormons grew up with the notion that american indians are descended from a lost tribe from the house of israel, offspring of a book of mormon figure named lehi, who left jerusalem and sailed to the americas around 600 b. 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. Some students of the book of mormon have speculated that the record is a history of the ancient peoples of central or south america notwithstanding the fact that their record was recovered from a stone box in a hill near palmyra, new york, usa and church leaders have maintained for over 100 years that this was the location of that hill called cumorah. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting book. Mormons originally thought that the book of mormon peoples covered the entire north and south america. Geography series dives into the many components that make each continent distinctive and exceptional. Theories related to a north american geography model.
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. Zarahemla of the book of mormon is theorized to be located across the mississippi from nauvoo, illinois in iowa see meldrum, exploring p. Joseph smiths statements regarding book of mormon geography. Why did alma ask about having gods image engraven upon ones countenance. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Until we have clearer knowledgeon book of mormon geography. May 06, 2007 the story goes that a man in jerusalem named lehi built a boat for his family and sailed across the atlantic to the american continent in about 600 b. Mormon traditions would have us believe that the book of mormon took place in the heartland and in new york. Such maps can be a useful introduction for those who are new to the book of mormon. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the. This is a natural interpretation of book of mormon geography based on a cursory reading and superficial understanding to the book of mormon text. A popular traditional view among many latterday saint faithful covers much of north and south america. 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.
North america is a beautiful continent with sprawling land that encompasses everything from icy tundra and green forests to bonedry deserts and rocky mountain peaks. Most latterday saints who write geographies have in mind one or both of two activities. 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. We read about a narrow neck, a narrow neck of land, a small neck of land, a narrow pass, a narrow passage, and a narrow strip of wilderness.
The material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. The hemispheric geography theory or hgt is the traditional understanding of the book of mormon. Book of mormon lands encompassed all of north and south america. Wayne may presents book of mormon location theories.
Readers will get to know each continents geography, history. It was one of several presented in a written symposium on book of mormon geography sic. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may. Hemispheric geography theory lds have traditionally interpreted the text hemispherically and assumed a blank continent. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in. Geography theory hgt posits that north america is the land northward, that south america is the land southward, and that presentday panama is the narrow neck of land. The mississippi river cannot be forded well to the south of nauvoo, illinois and what was zarahemla, iowa. Wayne may book of mormon geography in north america duration. The book of mormon describes migrations of people from the middle east to central america, and further describes some features of their civilizations in the new world. Most serious scholars now doubt this, but many church members probably still believe this today. As each new theory surfaces, we gain fresh hope of acquiring additional insights into. Book of mormon geography new england theory mormonism.
The american geography of the book of mormon has many. It focuses on the north american setting with a bookbybook, chapterbychapter approach to the geography passages, illustrating the. These traditions truly conflict with the book of mormon, the word of god, so the heartland model can be. A whole bunch of reasons why book of mormon geography. The products services offered by wayne may are neither made, provided, approved nor endorsed by intellectual reserve, inc. 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. A strength of the theory is the belief that cumorah mentioned in the book of mormon where moroni buried the engraved records kept by himself and his father mormon see mormon 6. A discussion of the arabian, or old world, geography of the book of mormon enjoys many advantages over discussion of new world matters. The internal geography of the book is remarkably consistent, and many book of mormon students have produced conjectural maps based on many geographical clues given in the book. His work this land is widely read by many people interested in the book of mormon. 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. All opinions, speakers and presenters represent and express their own individual opinions, and not necessarily the opinions of firm foundation, book of mormon evidence, or its employees, and no information or opinions represent the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Book of mormon hemispheric geography theory summary.
The name mesoamerica is a term used to identify the heartland of a number of significant precolumbian cultures. Book of mormon geography in north america book of mormon geography shows geographical evidence supporting the heartland model for the book of mormon. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. Book of mormon geography the encyclopedia of mormonism. The bulk of mormon approved scholars support this general theory. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography book.
Book of mormon geography in joseph smiths day book of. A radically different book of mormon geography theory. Regarding point 1, i have read all of sorensons works and most of what farms and the maxwell institute have. Chief among these is the fact that we know we certainty where the story beginsin old world jerusalem. The church emphasizes the doctrinal and historical value of the book of mormon, not its geography. For the first 150 years of mormonisms existence, everyone thought it was a story about a people who left the middle east and came to south or central america, and who fought wars clear up into new. A whole bunch of reasons why book of mormon geography could not have included north america 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. Book of mormon lands were longer from north to south than from east. 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.
A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. Mar 23, 2017 wayne may presents archaeological support of the book of mormon to a group in malad, idaho in february of 2017. 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. Geographical, and other evidences in support of the book of mormon landscape, as found in north america. 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. The prophet joseph smith himself accepted what he felt was evidence of book of mormon civilizations in both north america and central america.
Herewith is a copy of my recent 1975 paper on book of mormon matters. 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. Book of mormon geographynew worldlimited geography theory. North america may be divided into at least five major physiographic regions. Controversy, evidence, and two cumorahs the book of mormon is not intended to be a history book or a guide to geography, science, or any other secular topic. Yet another theory placing it in north america near the great lakes. The river sidon flowed north, down from manti to zarahemla. Mar 01, 2009 north america is a beautiful continent with sprawling land that encompasses everything from icy tundra and green forests to bonedry deserts and rocky mountain peaks. As each new theory surfaces, we gain fresh hope of acquiring additional insights into it ancient location, but are all too often disappointed. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new. Moronis america the book of mormon in north america.
Various apologists have claimed that events in the book of mormon took place in a variety of locations including north america, south america, central america, and even the malay peninsula. Some believe that the history depicted in the book of mormon occurred in north america, while others believe that it occurred in central. These finds are divided into competing models, most notably the hemispheric geography model, the mesoamerican limited geography model, and the finger lakes. Study guide chapter of this geography study guide course is the most efficient way to study the geography of north. Mar 26, 2016 the material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. Wayne may book of mormon geography in north america. 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. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Not only this, but he allowed several opinions of north, south, central, and hemispheric geography of the book of mormon to be published, taught, and republished without any.
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. North american book of mormon geography the interpreter. Book of mormon geography, information about the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, mormon church, questions and answers, doctrine, genealogy, gospel, scriptures. Jul 07, 2014 wayne may, without a doubt the foremost authority on the real location and people in the book of mormon. A whole bunch of reasons why book of mormon geography could. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here.
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. 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. It postulates that the events in the book took place over north and south america, with the isthmus of panama as the narrow neck of land. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may youtube. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in transition. It focuses on the north american setting with a book by book, chapterbychapter approach to the geography passages, illustrating the points with over 75 maps and diagrams. Moronis america is a mustread for anyone interested in the historicity and geography of the book of mormon. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. 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. Wayne may, without a doubt the foremost authority on the real location and people in the book of mormon. It is a striking and extraordinary coincidence, that, in the book of mormon, commencing page 563, there is an account of many cities as existing among the nephites on the narrow neck of land which connected the north country with the south country. This book is a large geographic setting like no other book available. In 1841 joseph smith read stephens incidents of travel in central america.
Study guide chapter of this geography study guide course is the most efficient way to study the geography of north america. 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 these models, developed in an effort to reconcile claims in the book of. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. Supporting ideas from those favoring north america as the location of the book of mormon events.
Joseph smith made several comments concerning book of mormon geography throughout his life which support both a north american setting1, and central american setting. 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. Canadian shield this is a geologically stable area of rock dating between 2. I met rod for the first time in november, 2002 in columbus, ga where he did a short presentation. Book of mormon geography mormonism, the mormon church. Join us now as we enter a mysterious building that no outsider has ever visited a mormon temple for today were studying that most curious of history texts, the book of mormon the mormons, formally and properly known as the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, is the same as any other more conventional christian church, but with the additional. 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. 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. The heartland theory for the book of mormon geography suggests that events took place in the heartland of north america and culminated in upstate new york. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421.