Some believe that the history depicted in the book of mormon occurred in north america, while others believe that it occurred in central america or south america. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. Others argued for a setting in the american heartland. Book of mormongeographynew worldhemispheric geography. The south american model fits every single word of every. 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. Book of mormon tours lehitours guided tours of guatemala.
Here is more evidence showing that the lamanites of the book of mormon are in north america not mezoamerica as published in our book several years ago. Ferguson eeventually became convinced that the book of mormon is a work of fiction, whose contents bear no relationship to the reality of native american civilization prior to 385 ce. Moronis america the book of mormon in north america. Only 1% are found in north america and 5 to 10% are found in south america mostly in peru and bolivia. Book of mormon geography, lands, map, dna true evidence. Our guest lecturer will give us insights to the book of mormon, the peoples past and present and the sites our group will visit. However, the church has no position on the location lands of the book of mormon, so quoting historic church leaders proves nothing. Book of mormon central where is the book of mormon promised. Cheesman, assistant professor of undergraduate religious education at brigham young university, has spent a great deal of time studying and searching the book of mormon lands in central and south america. Historically, latterday saint leaders have identified the range of north and south america as. My new book, nephi in the promised land is now available in the nephi project discovery store. Book of mormongeographynew worldhemispheric geography theory. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful.
Moronis america today in 1936, when lds scholars first began accepting the twocumorah theory, apostle joseph fielding smith warned the saints. The book of mormon states several times that the land which they were led to, was the promised land, or a choice land. Lehitours offers quality, personalized tours for cultural, religious, humanitarian, medical and recreational travel throughout the americas. The only manner in knowing something beyond guesswork is to rely on written information of the period, cultures, and structures under investigationlike the bible for the middle east, or the book of mormon for the andean area of south america. This fantastic tour includes all of the most important ruins that date back to book of mormon time.
Mormon wrote of the lands of the lamanite mission in alma 22. 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. The areas of north america touted as occupied by nephites, lamanites and jaredites cannot be shown from objective evidence to have been anywhere near that level. Jan 29, 2019 some believe that the history depicted in the book of mormon occurred in north america, while others believe that it occurred in central america or south america. Garth norman posted by permission of ancient america foundation and the author.
The fight over book of mormon geography deseret news. The only thing that was ever in doubt was how far south the rest of the lands mentioned in the book of mormon were from cumorah in new york. 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. Book of mormon geography the encyclopedia of mormonism. Of particular interest are those articles published while the prophet held the title of official editor march 15, to november 15, 1842. The hinterlandshow can lamanites live in both north and south. 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. One important topic bearing upon the issue of animals in the book of mormon is the location of the lands described in the text. Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in north america. 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. There are several theories held among latterday saints for the location of book of mormon lands. This book of mormon geography and lands is very different from all other published books on the subject of book of mormon geography. Purpose of the book of mormon tour helps these single page descriptions of a specific book of mormon site are designed to provide pertinent information to the traveler about the site. Come join us for an adventure of a lifetime to explore firsthand, the beautiful world of guatemala, the land of the eternal spring, and other wonderful countries of central and south america, mexico, and the caribbean.
Jan, 2016 undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in north america. 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. Were the nephites and lamanites spread throughout both north and south america or did book of mormon events occur within a more confined area. 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 book of mormon describes a land of promise given to lehi and his posterity by the lord. The material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america.
The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. Readers of the book of mormon may wonder, at times, where in the americas the events described took place. I read books and articles written by lds scholars, visited sites in. These covenant lands are in the borders of the prophetic. Annually, october 1, is the anniversary of a little known event in early church history that i believe, in consequence of significant research progress into 2019, now deserves recognition for identifying a region of major book of mormon lands and for initiating book of mormon archaeological historic research. 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. T he times and seasons featured many articles relating to the topic of book of mormon lands. Roberts would articulate this same understanding some decades later, stating, the book of mormon teaches that the two american continents north and south america are a promised land, consecrated to righteousness and to liberty, and especially dedicated to the seed of the patriarch joseph, son of jacob, of bible fame, and to the gentile races, who shall in the last days be gathered to the land as well as the descendants of joseph.
This book is great, but like i said, is the tip of the iceberg. Historically, latterday saint leaders have identified the range of north and south america as the land of promise, as well as the land of zion. Tour packages to the lands in the book of mormon cruise lady. The book of mormon is the position of the church and is said to be the word of god. Some place the geography of the book in upstate new york or near the great lakes. Oct 30, 2019 the only thing that was ever in doubt was how far south the rest of the lands mentioned in the book of mormon were from cumorah in new york. Just because there happens to be a hill called cumorah in new york does not mean the book of mormon people lived there. He never once mentioned either central or south america, but referred to both illinois and missouri as nephite lands.
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. Many have wondered where this land of promise might be physically located in the americas. What is the hemispheric geography theory regarding the location of book of mormon. In our view, an ancient mesoamerican setting is best supported by the information given in the book of mormon. Lds groups who want to visit the lands mentioned in the book of mormon can sign up for one of the tour packages of cruise lady.
Finally there is a way to really explore john sorensons book of mormon geography. But traveling from any of those three placescentral united states, central or south americathe jaredites and nephites would have to move north or northwards to cumorah in new york. Although church members continue to discuss such theories today, the church takes no position on the geography of the book of mormon except that the events it describes took place. These relate to artifacts, animal, plant, or technology that critics believe did not exist in the americas during the book of mormon time period before 2500 bc to about 400 ad. The 1923 latin american travel writings of mormon historian andrew jenson justin r. The population of book of mormon lands over much of the period of its history totaled from hundreds of thousands up to millions. The book of mormon and the american indian 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. Others look to peru and south america, or to the baja peninsula, or texas, and some even propose the malaysian peninsula. The book of mormon map of is supported by studies of the antiquities of mesoamerica as well as north and south america. His latest newsletter dated oct, 2009, says, 10 reasons why the book of mormon took place in peru.
Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography book. Although church members continue to discuss such theories today, the church takes no position on the geography of the. Of the known ruined cities in the americas, 90% stretch from central mexico to costa rica with the vast majority of those in southern mexico and guatemala the heartland of the book of mormon. In the last few years i have read over 5000 pages about the south america theory and reread the book of mormon multiple times highlighting every scripture over 500 that has any reference to geography, culture, prophecies, etc that may shed light on where the book of mormon lands are. What is the hemispheric geography theory regarding the location of book of mormon lands. This material was first presented at the 16th annual archaeological symposium. Naturally some people applied this to the language in the book of mormon. All my studies suddenly made sense, all aspects of the book of mormon finally became clear. Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in transition. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. The popular theory that the land southward including zarahemla was in mesoamerica southern mexico and parts of central america started in 1842 with some speculation in the church. These relate to artifacts, animal, plant, or technology that critics believe did not exist in the americas during the book of mormon time period before 2500 bc to.
Book of mormon in north america book of mormon central. 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. Lands south of cumorah, where a few nephites had temporarily escaped destruction, are referred to as the south countries. Some placed the nephite capital city zarahemla in mesoamerica, others in south america.
Critics of the book of mormon have argued that there are words and phrases in the book that are anachronistic with archaeological findings. The nwaf failed to find evidence to prove the book of mormon, and the man who organized it. See more ideas about book of mormon, america and ancient civilizations. The book of mormon does not say that the entire land northward resides in land occupied by the united states of america.
Jan 08, 2019 the book of mormon describes a land of promise given to lehi and his posterity by the lord. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may. Although church members continue to discuss such theories today, the church takes no position on the geography of the book of mormon except. A popular argument among great lake theorists, is the promised land theory. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography.
Phelps had linked the book of mormon to central america in 1833, he continued to identify the land of desolation with the far west and cumorah with the hill in new york. Book of mormon in north america book of mormon central america. This country southward may have been beyond the borders of principal book of mormon lands frequently mentioned in the text. Book of mormon lands encompassed all of north and south america. According to the book of mormon, the promised land shall be a land of liberty, with no kings upon the. 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. When the book of mormon peoples entered the notempty new. Wayne may presents book of mormon evidence in north american geography, archaeology and historical records. Book of mormon central where is the book of mormon. 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.
The book of mormon lands fit in mesoamerica and no where else. Joseph smith and the beginning of book of mormon archaeology did the prophet joseph smith in 1842 locate book of mormon lands in middle america. George is a proponent that the book of mormon lands are in peru. The book of mormon itself is the best source for understanding the geographical locations contained therein. There are times when there is not the opportunity to get a clear understanding of what the traveler saw and these bulletins will help with that understanding. Maps moronis america the north american setting for. Wayne may presents archaeological support of the book of mormon to a group in malad, idaho in february of 2017.
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