In 1841 joseph smith read stephens incidents of travel in central america. In many respects, the book of mormon remains a sealed book to us because we have. 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. The question of whether it is an actual historical work or a work of fiction has long been a source of contention between members of the latter day saint movement and nonmembers.
From iowa to guatemalaand back again rochester, ny. Sacred sites searching for book of mormon lands by joseph l. Such maps can be a useful introduction for those who are new to the book of mormon. Allen makes convincing arguments in a style that is generally easy to understand.
The following are extracts from the geography of book of mormon events. For most adherents of the movement, book of mormon historicity is a matter of faith. Mormon lands in the great lakes region, south america, or parts of. The material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. Joseph writes four articles identifying central america as the book of mormon lands this point attributes the times and seasons articles directly to joseph smith, even calling one of them a revelatory statement.
In a times and seasons editorial, october 1, 1842, the prophet joseph smith, after progressive study. North american first nations precontact map canadian history, us history. Why did mormon give so many details about geography. 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. 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 lands discovering the lost lands of the. In the late 1800s, the rlds committee on american archaeology arranged for g. The allens write in exploring the lands of the book of mormon that no.
Allen and allen, exploring the lands, 402416, 422426. 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. Joseph smith was wrong when he said the book of mormon is the history of ancient america. Millions have asked the question, is there evidence of the historicity of the book of mormon, because the book of mormon is foundational to the mormon faith more accurately known as the church of jesus christ of latterday saints many have wondered what evidence has been found in its support, as the book asserts to be a record of ancient peoples that came by ship from the old world. The land of zarahemla is at a lower elevation relative to the land of nephi. Allen is an educator, explorer, and historian whose research and travels span half a century, and whose knowledge of the ancient civilizations of mesoamerica in relation to the book of mormon has been his lifes quest. Joseph smiths historically documented statements are consistent with those prophecies. See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted to find archaeological evidence to support it. Since we now know that joseph didnt write those articles see the lost city of zarahemla for the details, woolleys argument here. Emerging scientific research strengthens the assertion that large agrarian societies once flourished in north america during the jaredite and nephite eras. Its pages contain accounts of real people who lived somewhere. Searching for book of mormon lands in middle america john e. 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.
Allen, exploring the lands of the book of mormon byu. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon ought to be on the bookshelf of everyone interested in book of mormon geography. This land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. The initial statement in the book of mormon is found in 1 nephi 18. Joseph allens exploring the lands of the book of mormon orem, utah. Simply stated, without ted, exploring the lands of the book of mormon would not be on the market. Allen, longtime tour guide and author, through his editor.
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. These and many other facts are vividly portrayed in picture form in a new book exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland from rod meldrum with gorgeous full color photography here are a few more of the confirmations now coming from professional archeologist whose conclusions were formed without an lds frame of mind yet agree with the words revealed to joseph. Not as indepth as allens previous exploring the lands of the book of mormon, it seems that book is required reading for this one. It is possible from information in the book of mormon. Also see norman, book of mormonmesoamerican geography, 35. There is no universal consensus among mormon scholars regarding the placement of these locations in the known world, other than somewhere in the americas.
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. Any geography that tries to accommodate a north and south sea, i think, is doomed to fail. The olmec culture dates to the jaredite time period. Mayan civilization and parallels to the book of mormon. In 1989, the book, exploring the lands of the book of mormon, written by dr. America promised land messages of the book of mormon. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Christensen sides with sorensons depiction of the book of mormon as a lineage history, 20 which christensen describes as being selectively concerned with events of interest to a particular line 226. Bruce warren in the course at byu called archaeology and the scriptures. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon, by joseph allen, sa publishers. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. The land of bountiful lies far north of the land of zarahemla. This website is not endorsed by the church of jesus christ of laterday saints. There is no first hand, verifiable statement by joseph smith endorsing this view.
I believe the book of mormon is the word of god and joseph smith is and was a prophet and most events of the book of mormon happened in north america in the heartland of the united states. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them. Although historians and archaeologists consider the book to be an anachronistic invention of joseph smith, many members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church and other denominations of the latter day saint movement believe that it. Below is more detail about the above north american map of the book of mormon. The hemispheric or twocontinent model proposes that book of mormon lands stretch many thousands of miles over much of south and north america. The book of mormon states several times that the land which they were led to, was the promised land, or a choice land. 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. Potter places the land of nephi north of zarahemla. All of allens claims are stated as givens, matteroffactly, with little supporting evidence, mostly unsubstantiated conjecture based on a fleeting glimpse of something. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland.
Josephs environment and the book of mormon book of. Critique of a limited geography for book of mormon events. Lehi, the book of mormon prophet, speaks of some of the special characteristics of the promised land as established by god in the americas. These writers have poured over maps of both north and south america in trying to find book of mormon lands. The book of mormon claims that jewish ancestry formed the majority of precolumbian inhabitants of america. As noted repeatedly in various sections of this book, josephlike all prophets was, in part, a product of his milieu. 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. A popular traditional view among many latterday saint faithful covers much of north and south america. Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model is. My research, my travels in mesoamerica, and my evaluations of joes thinking all convince me that mesoamerica is the best candidate for the lands of the book of mormon. We welcome our panel of illustrious guests today on the question as to where in the promised land lehi and his colony landed.
The geographical setting of the book of mormon is the set of locations of the events described. In 1990, todd allen joined his father in conducting book of mormon tours to. Map of book of mormon locations by book sacred sites searching. Clarkmormon scholars today are confident that the main histories of the book of mormon peoples in the new world took place almost entirely in a small region of central america known as mesoamerica. Gods word is to be established by two or more witnesses 2 cor. According to the book of mormon, the promised land shall be a land of liberty, with no kings upon the land 1, and be discovered by a gentile whom the spirit of god wrought, to cross many waters 2 in order. 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. Lehis landing place book of mormon archaeological forum. Joseph smith was visited by the angel moroni and was shown plates in a hill near his home in palmyra, new york. The geographical setting of the book of mormon is the set of locations of the events described in the book of mormon. Allen, exploring the lands of the book of mormon orem, ut. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon by joseph l.
The four seas of the book of mormon mormons in transition. Moronis america today in 1936, when lds scholars first began accepting the twocumorah theory, apostle joseph fielding smith warned the saints. The committee reported that although the church never officially endorsed the maps, the proposed geographical locations of book of mormon cities and lands on the maps made a lasting impression which has been difficult to correct. Geographical, and other evidences in support of the book of mormon landscape, as found in north america. Allens exploring the lands of the book of mormon 1989 is one. Allen, exploring the lands of the book of mormon, pp. 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. Lovell allen and blake joseph allen, exploring the lands of the book of mormon, rev. His worldview, environment, and education no doubt influenced his interpretation of scripture, how it related to his surroundings, his understanding of past and future prophecies, and his interpretation of historical events. The book of mormon is vague enough about geography that mormons, who have studied it extensively cannot agree about where the nephites or jaredites landed. Book of mormon geography the encyclopedia of mormonism. See more ideas about book of mormon, america and ancient civilizations. Study two dozen detailed, fullcolor maps that follow the footsteps of mosiah, alma, ammon, limhi, and lands from nephi to zarahemla.
Clair river, andor land between lake st clair and lake erie detroit river, andor ew pass between lake erie and lake ontario near niagara falls, andor ew pass south of lake erie and north of the. Sorenson and from exploring the book of mormon by joseph l. Joseph lovell allen true book of mormon geography lands. Books on the book of mormon 19892011 by an authorized editor of byu scholarsarchive. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new. It will also show how, in most circumstances, these details can lead us to christ, which is the ultimate purpose of the book of mormon. The book of mormon purports to be a record of an ancient israelite migration to the new world. Let the book of mormon change your life, again, as you investigate exploring the lands of the book of mormon. Thus, there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest a jewish or middleeastern migration to america. 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. Quarterly articles and internet articles on book of mormon history, language, culture, and geography. Tuesday, october 11, 2011 book of mormon resources. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon byu studies. Exploring the lands of the mesoamerican antiquities.
Review of books on the book of mormon 31 1991 joseph fielding mcconkie and robert l. Wells jakeman claimed that a carved stone monument unearthed in izapa, mexico, in 1941 depicted lehis vision of the tree of life as reported in the book of mormon. A version of this model which actually included lands from south of peru to. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon joseph l. 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. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present with millions of global adherents. The interpretion of the image as referenced in joseph allens book exploring the lands of the book of mormon is listed below the image.
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