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. 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. 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. After years of studying maps, mormon scripture, and spanish. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Its origin and development, byu publications in archaeology and early history, no. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. Two of the most prevalent claims for the book of mormon are, there is much archaeological proof to the book of mormon, and the american indians are descendants of israelites who came to america as described in the book of mormon. The ruins of ancient maya civilizations were completely shrouded in mystery, yet he held the key in the book of mormon to unlocking the lost history of ancient america civilizations. A contemporary mormon view is that these civilizations rose and fell in mesoamerica. As each new theory surfaces, we gain fresh hope of acquiring additional insights into it ancient location, but are all too often disappointed. Of the 15 place names proposed to have been taken straight from the new england map, 5 of them are in the wrong place according to the book of mormon. Jan 6, 2017 book of mormon map along with a wall map are available for down loading in color and the book of mormon geography is also available at alpha publishing.
The lost lands of the book of mormon is a must read for those interested in book of mormon geography. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new. He established the new world archaeological foundation, where his role as. The book of mormon also spoke of sprawling ancient cities, none of. Watch as wayne may presents many of the ancient american artifacts found in. In a times and seasons editorial, october 1, 1842, the prophet joseph smith, after progressive study. Virtual book of mormon book of mormon maps and learning tools. Interactive book of mormon map virtual book of mormon. 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 location of lands, oceans, rivers, mountain ranges, and boundaries in relationship to distances and relative positions in the book of mormon must match.
All the geography finally fits, not just a piece here and a piece there as mesoamerican and heartland american proponents do in their research. 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. Arabia and precolumbian america kindle edition by nielsen, rocky k. Travel companies boldly offer tours of book of mormon lands, and books abound. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in. Book of mormon lands discovering the lost lands of the book. 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. A vital step in this procedure was to identify book of mormon lands. Archaeological and historical evidence ancient book of. 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. See more ideas about book of mormon, lds scriptures and lds books.
Arabia and precolumbian america, nielsen makes the lands of the book of mormon come alive. Shinar, ancient name for mesopotamia valley of shurr. Rexburg native releases book on book of mormon archeology and. The book of mormon tells the story of two lost civilizations, and travel through these regions paints the picture of how truly lost they are. Nov 17, 2014 the book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally been deciphered. October 1st is the anniversary of a little known event in early church history that i believe, in consequence of significant research progress, now deserves recognition for identifying a region of major book of mormon lands and for initiating book of mormon archaeological historicity research. Before 1841 the existence of ancient jungle cities was almost unknown outside of mesoamerica.
Correlating his dads generic maps to archaeological sites of 600 b. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model is. The map portion of the study guide was especially popular. 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. Builders indian picturesworld culturessiouxfirst nationsfirst worldamerican history. While dever identified a few score of convergences to support the historicity of the old testament, i have identified some 420 correspondences that tie the book of mormon to the picture of ancient mesoamerican civilization constructed by archaeologists and other researchers. Jul, 2011 although joseph smith used the words king of kings 228 times in the book of mosiah the book that precedes alma, he never mentioned a queen until the chapter in question, alma 19, and while it appears a number of times in the book of alma, it is not used in any of the other books found in the book of mormon, but is obviously taken from a. They built fortified cities the way those people did. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, salt lake city. The book of mormon also mentions a king named zarahemla. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1985, p. Jan 18, 2018 according to the book of mormon, bountiful was one of the first areas settled by the nephites, ancient people who supposedly sailed from israel to the americas around 600 b.
Oct 02, 2014 finally there is a way to really explore john sorensons book of mormon geography. Book of mormon lands map, january 2016 book of mormon. 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. Rexburg native releases book on book of mormon archeology. Dec 17, 2007 while holleys map is interesting, it is far from being an accurate reflection of the book of mormon lands. The lost book of mormon was an intensely thoughtful, introspective, well written traveloguemeditation on joseph smiths book as one or all of. Virtual book of mormon book of mormon maps and learning. New insights into book of mormon geography, salt lake city. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Interesting narrative of book of mormon geography, including a map. The sciences that study ancient civilizations have undergone significant changes. Simply put, if final battles occurred in palmyra, new york around the hill cumorah, then thats where book of. The map was printed as an appendix to rickss selfpublished helps to the study of the book of mormon 1916, which also included photography from rickss travels, a narrative history of the lds church, and a comprehensive glossary of book of mormon names, places, and other terms. A limited geography model for the book of mormon is one of several theories by latter day.
Gods word is to be established by two or more witnesses 2 cor. Such maps can be a useful introduction for those who are new to the book of mormon. Jan 18, 2018 the ancient north american moundbuilder civilizations correlate with the people in the book of mormon. The book of mormon mentions cities, trade, warfare, towers, and the use of armorall of which did exist in the ancient americasyet their existence has not convinced critics that the book of mormon is an authentic ancient text. Book of mormon geography the encyclopedia of mormonism. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in transition.
She aligns all pertinent text to actual geography past and present. A fullcolor, exquisitely detailed map of the city of katalal, the starting. According to the book of mormon, the land of zarahemla popularly attributed to biblical hebrew. 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. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new york. Book of mormon verses taken from the 1990 independence edition, which is published by the church of christ.
Although joseph smith used the words king of kings 228 times in the book of mosiah the book that precedes alma, he never mentioned a queen until the chapter in question, alma 19, and while it appears a number of times in the book of alma, it is not used in any of the other books found in the book of mormon, but is obviously taken from a. 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. Hugh nibley, the book of mormon as a mirror of the east, improvement era 51 1948, pp. Wells jakeman, the ancient middleamerican calendar system. A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model. Civilizations of their magnitude and duration would be expected to leave extensive archaeological records. This will give you the chapter summary and show you on the map where that chapters events occurred, what year or range of years they covered, and any traveling that took place. Arabia and precolumbian america kindle edition by nielsen, rocky k, bastian, valancy, nielsen, harold k. While holleys map is interesting, it is far from being an accurate reflection of the book of mormon lands. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may.
See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here. The ancient land of their inheritance is, according to lds scripture, associated with the land of new jerusalem. Outline map of part of mesoamerica, including southern mexico and western. Come see a live presentation on archaeological discoveries and their correlation to the book of mormon cultures. As the modern lds church tries to shore up belief in the prophet joseph smith and his special powers of translation, it continues to try to argue for something more than a fictional narrative for the book of mormon. The book of mormon, however, leads us to ask how a colony of ancient. You will also see various cities change from nephite to lamanite control or vice. Publishers, 1989 for the best summary of this entire subject. The book of mormon is clear that the city of bountiful is in the north parts of the land southward near the narrow neck, but it also puts the land bountiful way over on the east, with a string of cities running from the city bountiful to the city of moroni and all those cities are by the seashore. Watch presentations about american archaeology and its parallels to the book of mormon civilizations. Here are ancient pyramids swallowed in the tropical jungles, mounds and walls entangled in vegetation, remains of cities buried in lava flows, hidden in lakes, and buried under centuries of earth. The book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally been deciphered. Book of mormon lands discovering the lost lands of the.
Book of mormon lands map, january 2016 book of mormon central. Sitemap true book of mormon geography lands western. Ancient lightskinned native americans destroyed in war. 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. Any study of book of mormon geography must strictly adhere to criteria that do not alter the book of mormon text, the proposed map, nor established scientific dating systems. The material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america.
The ancient north american moundbuilder civilizations correlate with the people in the book of mormon. Arabia and precolumbian america kindle edition by nielsen, rocky k, nielsen, harold kriss. The final test of our views of book of mormon geography will be. The lord could have removed all questions regarding the exact locations of these events but he did not. Archaeological evidence and the book of mormon fairmormon. According to the book of mormon, bountiful was one of the first areas settled by the nephites, ancient people who supposedly sailed from israel to.
Alma the younger gave up the judgement seat to nephihah. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. Book of mormon lands, cities, and ancient civilizations maps. That joseph smith and successive generations of mormon presidents and apostles taught that the nephites and lamanites ranged over all or most of south and north america and fought a battle to. For critics, finding such items are too often seen as lucky guesses on the part of joseph smith. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading book of mormon lands, cities, and ancient civilizations. This is the city of aaron that is near nephihah and moroni alma 50. The church and byu stay neutral in questions of exactly where the book of mormon took place. Mar 26, 2016 the material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. Wayne may gives evidence of the great city of zarahemla in modern day iowa. Sitemap true book of mormon geography lands western new. It is thorough, covers many aspects of the field, and is probably the most objective work at its time.
In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove. Leading experts of the early americas disavow the historicity of the book of mormon narrative. Finally there is a way to really explore john sorensons book of mormon geography. Zarahemla is the name of a region and a city mentioned in the book of mormon. For that reason, our design team has chosen to develop an internal map that shows relational directions and approximate distances that match the. Guatemala city, could qualify as the book of mormon city of nephi. Of the two, only the civilizations in the mesoamerican region are known to. Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. 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. Of course, placing the book of mormon lands within a limited region like. As we begin to explore mormon archaeology, it seems appropriate to introduce the fascinating history of thomas ferguson, an attorney by trade, whose true passion manifest as an amateur archaeologist who dedicated decades of his life to the search for evidence to validate the book of mormon as a historical record.
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