See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here. 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. The original idea behind this proposal was that joseph picked up these place names and locations from a map in order to create his book of mormon geography. Moronis americamaps edition book of mormon evidence. The church and byu stay neutral in questions of exactly where the book of mormon took place. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography book. Maps the north american setting for the book of mormon. An ancient american setting for the 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. Thanks to everyone who has participated in this discussion thus far. The best way to teach the book of mormon is with a fantasy map based on an interpretation that repudiates the teachings of the prophets about the new york cumorah.
Summary of problems with rod meldrums heartland theory. 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 york state where. Although church members continue to discuss such theories today, the churchs only position is that the events the book. The lord could have removed all questions regarding the exact locations of these events but he did not. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Adena and hopewell peoples lived in pennsylvania and western new york, but this region represented the impoverished fringe of their culture. Readers of the book of mormon may wonder, at times, where in the americas the events described took place. In the last few years i have read over 5000 pages about the south. Maps moronis america the north american setting for. Book of mormon archaeology in north america dvdrom 2010. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland. The state of utah has the highest percentage of mormons. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth.
All my studies suddenly made sense, all aspects of the book of mormon finally became clear. Some believe that the history depicted in the book of mormon. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful. Moronis america the book of mormon in north america. The many convergences of book of mormon locations and statements with geographical, archeological, and anthropological evidence, as shown in this article and others, confirm the book of mormon and its location in mesoamerica. On the map of the usa, i cannot find a place where the sea divides the land in pennsylvania located to the south of cumorah, new york or anywhere else in the united states that would mark the boundary between desolation and bountiful. Were the nephites and lamanites spread throughout both north and south america or did book of mormon events occur within a more confined area. The book of mormon does not say that the entire land northward resides in land occupied by the united states of 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. These two books are referenced heavily throughout moronis america maps edition. Many mormon apologists point to central america for the location of book of mormon lands due to the mention of a narrow neck of landwhere the sea divides the land, however problems arise when one considers that the sea south and the sea north are irreconcilable with this limited geographical location for book of mormon. As mormons believe in jesus christ, they are considered to be christians. Here is a post i have done that deals with geography of the book of mormon.
Moronis americamaps edition 150 maps of the bofm in north. Book of mormon fringe theory was inspired by geography enthusiast john e. Review of deciphering the geography of the book of mormon. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints does not officially endorse any one particular geographical model for where the events in the book of mormon transpired in the new world. Sharing map with rian nelson permission from works of joseph. 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. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may. Continued below two pins on the map lands of the book of mormon narrow strip of wilderness sea west is the mississippi zarahemla opinions additional pins on the map. Mormon stories dr michael coe an outsiders view of book of mormon archaeology here are posts from bofm blog that i enjoy about. A mormon history of the americas the book of mormons history of the americas is full of irreconcilable errors and false archaeology. 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. I would also suggest that when reading moronis america maps edition, you have two other books with you. Wayne may presents book of mormon evidence in north american geography, archaeology and historical records.
True book of mormon geography lands, western new york model. The book of mormon is a real history, but we know nothing about where any events took place. Geographical, and other evidences in support of the book of mormon landscape, as found in north america. 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 book of mormon, and the book titled moronis america the north american setting for the book of mormon, by jonathan neville. The owner and employees of this site are members of the lds church and in good standing. 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 material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. Book of mormongeographynew worldgreat lakes geography. A hundred and fifty years of book of mormon geographies.
Book of mormon geography, lands, map, dna true evidence. Then more recently north america theories including heartland, etc. Settlements and routes in ancient america, by richard hauck. 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. Many of the names and places didnt exist in the late 1820s, and they are in the wrong locations relative to one another. These covenant lands are in the borders of the prophetic. Wayne may mormon refers to that intervening period of no israelite presence in north america as the dark ages. Moronis america today in 1936, when lds scholars first began accepting the twocumorah theory, apostle joseph fielding smith warned the saints. Below is more detail about the above north american map of the book of mormon. The great strength of the book is that it provides a wellargued perspective based on the geology of natural disasters that is new to the analysis of the book of mormonone that adds to the reality of book of mormon events and opens new doors for potential research and understanding of the geography of the book of mormon.
A map demonstrating these claims is available here. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. Whether you create an abstract map, or a map in baja, central america, peru, thailand, or anywhere else, every nonnew york based map rejects what oliver. Virtual book of mormon book of mormon maps and learning. The land of zarahemla is at a lower elevation relative to the land of nephi. The purpose of this series of articles is to open a forum for the proponents of the two major north american theories on book of mormon geography and to explore a possible connection between them. Short summary of problems with rod meldrums heartland by gregory smith. 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. Such maps can be a useful introduction for those who are new to the book of mormon. Book of mormongeographynew worldgreat lakes geography book of mormon evidences. The book of mormon is the sacred text of mormonism. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may.
In 2018, there were 16,118,169 members worldwide with the highest population found in the united states at 6,592,195 members. For that reason, our design team has chosen to develop an internal map that shows relational directions and approximate distances that match the. Indeed, the book of mormon has come forth on this land, and the. The prophet joseph smith himself accepted what he felt was evidence of book of mormon civilizations in both north america and central 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. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting book. Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. Book of mormonplagiarism accusationsplace names from. Book of mormon in north america maps book of mormon evidence. The authors of this study use archaeological evidence to argue the animals mentioned in the book of mormon had once been present in north america, although dating to an earlier period than that covered in the book of mormon, and could have survived even into the lehite period. 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. Wayne may presents archaeological support of the book of mormon to a group in malad, idaho in february of 2017. 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.
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