Many proposed book of mormon geography theories were originated using a method proposed by dr. State of affairs since publication of the book of mormon in 1830, readers have questioned where it all happened. Book of mormondna evidencegeography issues fairmormon. 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 the book of mormon from alleged archaeological problems. The book of mormon and the united states of america by.
The book of mormon includes a history of an ancient people who migrated from. Sorenson does address the issue of latterday saint church lead ers having already settled. But to come to this conclusion, they only share the. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model. The church emphasizes the doctrinal and historical value of the book of mormon, not its geography. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful. Hugh nibley and book of mormon geography by kirk magleby. A source book 1990, john clarks a key for evaluating nephite geographies 1989, and david palmers in search of cumorah 1981, despite the fact that all of these works had been available for at least two years before. This would have been approximately ninetysix days later. Summary of problems with rod meldrums heartland theory. Published in the same issue as the unsigned zarahemla article october 1842 with its anachronistic claims about the ruins of quirigua, is a. First, they discuss book of mormon geography, preferring the mesoamerican theory. Some geographical models pose problems for the dna attacks which other models do not.
Reid moon, proprietor of moons rare books, recently sat down with book of mormon central to discuss pieces in his collection which shed. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon matters. This date corresponds to around the first week of january. The mormon geography problem chapter and verse by robert a. The book of mormon itself is the best source for understanding the geographical locations contained therein. For example, critics of mormonism have shown convincing proof that the book of mormon is a synthesis of earlier works written by other men, of the vivid imaginings of joseph smith, and of plagiarisms from the king james bible. National geographic society statement on the book of mormon. Geographical issues related to dna and the book of mormon. The hill of cumorah color added presumably as it was in smiths day, from church history in the fullness of times, church of jesus christ of latterday. Jun 04, 2008 continuing from book of mormon problems title page with my reading through the book of mormon, highlighting problems that occur to me and presenting them in question format. The church has been neutral when it comes to issues relating to book of mormon geography, as is fairmormon. The geographical setting of the book of mormon is the set of locations of the events described. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography book. These many problems are not simply innocuous mistakes.
Views on book of mormon geography, privately circulated book of mormon working paper no. Lds church members are taught that the book of mormon bom is scripture, as well as a true record of the inhabitants of the americas from about 2200 bc to 420 ad. Truth about joseph smiths beliefs on geography of the book. They far exceed the heartland models in their ability to synthesize the text with known archaeology. 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. Anti mormon criticisms of the book of mormon are frequently based on a questionable set of assumptions concerning the nature of historical and archaeological evidence, the role of governing presuppositions, and the nature of historical proof.
Each year at its annual book of mormon lands conference, the book of mormon archaeological forum gives the father lehi award and the mother sariah award to a couple who have contributed significantly to book of mormon studies and research. Critique of hamblins basic methodological problems. Jul 10, 2014 certain groups who entertain a north american setting for the book of mormon claim that joseph knew where book of mormon events took place. These plates were supposedly written 1,400 years ago and detailed the history of the jewish nephites from 600 b. Narrow neck of land origins of nixtun city of bountiful land. Arnold friberg, who painted that image of samuel the lamanite and eleven other paintings in the famous series on book of mormon events, specifically set his paintings in central america. Wilsons slipshod and inadequate approach to the study of book of mormon geography is demonstrated by his failure to utilize three of the four most important recent latterday saint works on book of mormon geographyjohn sorensons the geography of book of mormon events. It, therefore, is an important geographical indicator. In addition, the very content of the book of mormon makes it impossible to accept it as divine revelation. 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. Both an approach to the book of mormon geography, february 2009 6 mediterranean california basin chile south africa australia mediterranean climates throughout the world.
Basic methodological problems with the antimormon approach. Just when you think youve heard it all and nothing else can surprise you, a new discovery in mormon teachings or history rears its ugly head. Apr 20, 2009 unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon heretic april 20, 2009 book of mormon, geography, historicity, lamanites, mormon 342 comments its been over a year since someone posted something on book of mormon geography, so i think its about time. What have prophets thought about book of mormon geography. Garth norman, bookofmormon geography study on the narrow neck of land region, privately circulated book of mormon geography working paper no. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. The smoking gun of book of mormon geography book of mormon. Its where he was born and raised so theres no mistaking that he didnt know the area well. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new. Book of mormon geography the encyclopedia of mormonism. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new york.
The scriptural basis for book of mormon geography book. Biblical lands and the book of mormon lands provides an important premise and solution for several geographical features and challenges noted in the book of mormon text. An analysis of the limited geography theory since the advent of the book of mormon in 1830, interested observers and believers have proposed various theories regarding its development, origin, and possible historical significance and setting. Nov 17, 20 book of mormon geography problems 111720 by lifeafterministry leaving mormonism and all it entails is a process filled with surprises, shock, disappointments and relief to name a few. In alma 14, alma and amulek were stripped naked and suffered many days. We hope diligent students work together to achieve working consensus on the geographic correlation issue. They boldly tie the credibility of their prophet joseph smith to this. The heartland models seasonal and climate claims have problems.
The book of mormon is somewhat vague about geography and gives sparse details, intentionally i think, but even with the details the book does give us, it can be determined that the geography in the book does not match any actual place on earth. Oct 11, 2019 if that is what you pictured, you are experiencing the influence of this man the smoking gun of book of mormon geography. 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. Herewith is a copy of my recent 1975 paper on book of mormon matters. Interpreting book of mormon geography byu scholarsarchive. Gods word is to be established by two or more witnesses 2 cor. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. 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. Book of mormon geography problems life after ministry. The book of mormon claims to be a translation of ancient writing on gold plates.
A lot of exciting fluff on book of mormon geography is being discovered, but substance is still lacking. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. In the ultimate analysis, they told us, the book of mormon had to be accepted on faith. Feb 28, 2017 mormons consider the book of mormon a compilation of historical records kept by the primary ancestors of the native americans. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. Oaks and maxwell, in their final assessment of evidentiary proof concerning the book of mormon, admitted to us that the arguments for and against the book were equal, with neither side being able to prove whether the book of mormon was true or untrue. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. A heartland book of mormon exploration the millennial star. Comparing book of mormon geography models mormon lds. Regarding point 1, i have read all of sorensons works and most of what farms and the maxwell institute have. Basic methodological problems with the anti mormon approach to the geography and archaeology of the book of mormon william j. However, all of these models however suffer many of the same substantial problems.
Below are two maps one is for the book of mormon geography, the other is a map from the days of joseph smith. The one and only river mentioned in the entire book of mormon is called the sidon. Close readings of the book of mormon indicate a warm climate with no mention of getting cold. Directional issues book of mormon distances list of locations looking in the wrong places. It was one of several presented in a written symposium on book of mormon geography sic. They then address the topic of domestication, crosscultural naming challenges, the extinction of animals, and the difficulty of identifying an extinction date for any animal. They represent an egregious disregard for the even the most basic standards of scholarship. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, members and. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. The book of mormon gave only scattered clues, speaking of a narrow isthmus, a river called sidon, and lands to the north and south occupied.
Geography problems my reason for investigating the book of mormon geography was that i could not find a map that accurately portrayed the information in the book of mormon. Executive summary of the annotated edition of the book of mormon. 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. The author of this paper was born into a family which belonged to the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints with headquarters in independence, missouri. Problems with the book of mormon by matt slick the book of mormon is supposed to be the account of people who came from the middleeast to the americas. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. The majority of mesoamerican book of mormon geography models seek to correlate the isthmus of tehuantepec or the isthmus of guatemala. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model is unique in this regard. The only bible that joseph smith relied on was the king james version.
Hill cumorahramah final jaredite war final nephite war land northward. May 17, 2019 the annotated edition of the book of mormon aebom is riddled with misinformation, misrepresentation, special pleading, and a host of additional dubious and erroneous claims. Book of mormon geography problems life after ministries. Nov 16, 2018 book of mormon and north america this executive summary of the firm foundations new annotated edition of the book of mormon henceforth aebom is written in response to many inquiries book of mormon central has received about the volume, and to report in a concise, objective manner its many glaring deficiencies. Hugh nibley and book of mormon geography book of mormon. Basic problems with the antimormon approach to geograpgy.
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