Sidney rigdon then took this manuscript and weaved in his own campbellite theology to it. A radically different book of mormon geography theory. Among the numerous theories that abound, he said that hes probably. 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.
Before we examine some of the possible locations for book of mormon geography however, i would like to stress the fact that as of today, the lord has not revealed where the nephites or lamanites lived, and as such, the lds church has taken no official stance on anything related to book of mormon geography. Quote i like this, i think that an insecurity of sor. In their simplistic reading of the book they assume that the only people permitted in the hemisphere before columbus were either descendants of lehi or of jared and his brother. The heartland model or heartland theory of book of mormon geography postulates that the events described in the book of mormon took place, primarily, in the heartland of north america. It is thorough, covers many aspects of the field, and is probably the most objective work at its time. New lds author thomas wirthlin mcconkie discusses his book. The book of mormon corrects this myopia quite handily.
I wish she had put a map of the book of mormon superimposed onto the modern map. Book of mormongeographynew worldlimited geography theory. In addition, sites and artifacts are also provided that give additional indirect support to the book of mormon story, such as evidence. Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith. 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. Conspiracy theory a conspiracy theory materializes when one observes the controlling practices of the mormon church, also known as the church of latterday saints. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland series. The heartland model or heartland theory of book of mormon geography postulates that the events described in the book of mormon took place, primarily, in the heartland of north america among its proposals are that mound builders, including the hopewell and the adena, were among those peoples described in accounts of events in book of mormon books such as alma and helaman. And i believe it is correct in the assumption laid out in it.
The wooden odometers built and used by the first mormon pioneer company of 1847 have fascinated students of western history for one hundred and fifty years. However, when serious book of mormon students first begin with a detailed consideration of the internal map implicit to the book of mormon and then search for a plausible location that fits the book of mormons map, there has consistently been one general result. Much of the heartland of the united states may then correspond to the book of mormon south county or south countries. The land of zarahemla is at a lower elevation relative to the land of nephi. Patty henetz of the associated press has written an article on dna and the book of mormon, focusing on geneticist simon southerton and his forthcoming book, losing a lost tribe. It is our assertion that the heartlands of the book of mormon peoplesthe nephites, the lamanites, the jaredites and the people of mulek. A tbm friend said that exploring the book of mormon in the american heartland was fascinating and had all sorts of convincing evidence. Moronis america today in 1936, when lds scholars first began accepting the twocumorah theory, apostle joseph fielding smith warned the saints. George is a proponent that the book of mormon lands are in peru. Book of mormon verses taken from the 1990 independence edition, which is published by the church of christ. Meldrum frequently relies on paranoia or conspiracy theories to explain why his model has not been accepted. In his book he helps the reader see the faith development map that allows for healthier smoorth transitions. Therefore, book of mormon analysts should look to the mesoamerica model as the somewhere of new world book of mormon geography. Over 500 stunningly beautiful photographs combine with quotes, stories, charts, commentary, maps and scripture to introduce the reader to the rapidly mounting body of evidence that presents the very real possibility.
This is a book that brittany got me for christmas about the geography of the book of mormon and it makes the case that the promised land of the book of mormon was in the heartland of the united states. One very distinctive feature he mentions is that there was a land northward and a land southward separated by a narrow neck of land. Meldrum, president of the firm foundation, as he presents his latest research with even more profound brand new evidences for the book of mormon in americas heartland. 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 expanded text of 1 nephi readers should read and study the entire chapter of 1 nephi because it speaks about two groups of gentiles coming from europe to the americasbased on the facts of history. Pate employed his talents for problem solving to trace ancient place names in central america to book of mormon cities using the same methods. It is a book of scripture aimed at teaching people about christ and how to find happiness through the gospel. At least eighty versions of a book of mormon map have been produced. Now i read the book of mormon with the ability to follow the action. It is titled exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland a visual journey of discovery. The book of mormon is essentially a nephite record, and most geographic elements mentioned are in nephite territory. Yet, within 1,000 years, grew to a civilization of hundreds of thousands of people. No effort should be made to identify points on this map with any now existing geographical locations cf.
Book of mormon maps app seeks funding on kickstarter codyclark. Moronis america the book of mormon in north america. Oct 02, 2014 finally there is a way to really explore john sorensons book of mormon geography. Scholars gathered in provo, utah, to discuss their theories about where the events described in the book of mormon took place. This conspiracy theory is documented in the book the mormon conspiracy which shows how the latterday saints church lds is organized to restrict individual freedoms, individual thought, independence and. My dad is a liberal mormon and hates that sort of stuff. The purpose of constructing unbiased internal maps is to orient major lands, seas and landmarks mentioned in. Jan 01, 2000 as the ancient prophet mormon edited the scriptural texts that would become the book of mormon, he must have had a map in his mind of the places and physical features that comprised the setting for the events described in that book. Jul 16, 20 heres the book of mormon chapters categorized by length. The heartland model 1 misrepresents the papers cited for dating x2a, many of which are also out of date. Regarding point 1, i have read all of sorensons works and most of what farms and the maxwell institute have. The heartland theory is essentially that the ancient inhabitants of the heartland of north america known as the hopewell mound builders. Publishers, 1989 for the best summary of this entire subject. Limited geography and the book of mormon byu scholarsarchive.
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. Mormons map carefully and concisely accomplishes what it sets out to do. Why have church leaders taught a hemispheric geography for the book of mormon rather than a limited one. Whether or not one believes the book of mormon to be historical in this sense is maybe the most fundamental question affecting ones relationship to mormon faith and the lds church. It is true that evolutionary biology does not help the heartland model, but the model has failed long before. The book of mormon describes a journey by a group of people led by a prophet named lehi from the old world to the new world in approximately 600 b. Has the church ever promoted a limited geography model for the book of mormon.
You have a different idea of what it looks like to be steadfast, loyal, and constant than the average member. The map, though admittedly tentative, offers three services to readers of the book of mormon. May, 2018 those who believe that the book of mormon events took place in north america often quote in the almost complete absence of written records, one must be permitted to guess, because there is nothing else to do. It is a striking and extraordinary coincidence, that, in the book of mormon, commencing page 563, there is an account of many cities as existing among the nephites on the narrow neck of land which connected the north country with the south country. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia.
Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. Includes book of mormon geographical references on verso catrda digitalmapproject description based on print version record scanned map showing possible book of mormon sites in relation to each other dpi 600 and 400 1. Land of amulon, city of cumeni, land of desolation, land of first inheritance, land of jershon, jerusalem. Then the central american theory become popular and many textual and historical things started making sense to the point there really was no other realistic candidate. Meldrum, president of the firm foundation, as he presents his latest research with even more profound brand new evidences for the book of mormon in americas heartland cia and homeland security child trafficking agent timothy ballard recently completed research documenting the deep knowledge our countries greatest leaders had about the prophetic. Controversy, evidence, and two cumorahs the book of mormon is not intended to be a history book or a guide to geography, science, or any other secular topic. Finally there is a way to really explore john sorensons book of mormon geography. The lost lands of the book of mormon phyllis carol olive on. Summary of problems with rod meldrums heartland theory. Mormon s map carefully and concisely accomplishes what it sets out to do. So in the book of mormon as in malachi we read of the young lion that wreaks havoc among the aliens 3 nephi 12. Rod meldrum, exploring the book of mormon in the american.
Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the shake. Although dna and the book of mormon has probably made the rounds through the bloggernacle, i suspect its a story that wont go away for a while. The two big problems with the mesoamerican model for book of mormon geography are 1 there is zero evidence of the book of mormon narrative there and 2 the proponents insist joseph didnt know much about the book of mormon. She answers a lot of the questions that most people would ask. From textual evidence, one can approximate some spatial relationships of various natural features and cities.
While some of these sources treat book of mormon geography in only the vaguest generalities, others make very specific claims on the topic. This includes attacks on byu, lds scholars, lds who offer a different model, the national science foundation, the national association of science, the american association for the advancement of science, dna researchers on mutation rates and dating haplotype x2a, elder james e. Blog posts about book of mormon geography 20162017. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the. With strategic cities identified and a strong sense of spatial relations, he analyzed the geographic descriptions in the book of mormon using some new paradigms to solve such. What are the main objections to the heartland model of book of mormon geography. This article was written primarily about those readers who believe that all new world events recorded in the book of mormon took place in the continental united states, mostly in the territory from the great lakes on the north to the gulf of. Mcclures lands of the book mormon app will let tablet and. Hemispheric geography theory lds have traditionally interpreted the text hemispherically and assumed a blank continent. Cia and homeland security child trafficking agent timothy ballard recently completed research documenting the deep knowledge our countries greatest leaders. The book of mormon narrative begins with a small group of people who arrived in the americas around 600 b.
Everything is based on simple principles of following the book of mormon and then the locations have to be exactly how it was written in it. Then, according to the theory, sidney rigdon colluded with joseph smith to form the mormon churchwith joseph smith being the. The book of mormon also describes the journey of 2 other groups to america. Mar 05, 2017 what are the main objections to the heartland model of book of mormon geography. To most readers who believe in the historicity of the book of mormon, the book is a real account about real people who lived somewhere in the new world. Mormon s map is book of mormon scholar john sorenson s reconstruction of that mental map solely from information. The heartland model or heartland theory of book of mormon geography postulates that the events described in the book of mormon took place, primarily. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon by joseph l. Generations of mormons grew up with the notion that american indians are descended from a lost tribe from the house of israel, offspring of a book of mormon figure named lehi, who left jerusalem and sailed to the americas around 600 b. Many are becoming aware of the expanding body of evidence suggesting that the book of mormon may have occurred on the same sacred lands as adamic history and church history, in the heartland of north america. My new book, nephi in the promised land is now available in the nephi project discovery store. An approach to the book of mormon geography a land choice above all other lands lynn and david rosenvall, march 2009 the book of mormon story happened somewhere. We cover what a faith crisis feels like, how other react to it, and how we might.
As the ancient prophet mormon edited the scriptural texts that would become the book of mormon, he must have had a map in his mind of the places and physical features that comprised the setting for the events described in that book. The geographical setting of the book of mormon is the set of locations of the events described. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland. The fight over book of mormon geography deseret news. Walters, 1990, page 30 our own computer study of the book of mormon has certainly not been as sophisticated as that of david i. The great felides, lion, jaguar and puma figure everywhere in the postclassical as representing the valor of the societies of youthful warriors, the cutting edge of aztec conquest. New lds author thomas wirthlin mcconkie discusses his book navigating mormon faith crisis. Distances in the book of mormon are recorded in terms of the time required to travel from place to place. This conspiracy theory is documented in the book the mormon conspiracy which shows how the latterday saints church lds is organized to restrict individual freedoms, individual thought, independence and democracy. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland a. Book of mormon and the ruinsthe main issues hugh nibley. Volumes upon volumes have been written on book of mormon his. Finished reading this behemoth book on the most comprehensive, well laid out theory, of where the book of mormon took place.
Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland book. See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here. Today we sit down with lds author thomas wirthlin mcconkie. Picture the following passage from the book of mormon in your head. Well, we know that a river is going to flow from a high point down to a low point. He received his bs from weber state university, his ma from brigham young university, and his phd from the university of. The heartland model or heartland theory of book of mormon geography postulates that the events described in the book of mormon took place, primarily, in the heartland of north america among its proposals are that mound builders, including the hopewell and the adena, were among those peoples described in accounts of events in book of mormon books such as alma and. Also, my dad called complaining that their ward in kaysville had an adult fireside where meldrum spoke and said all sorts of nonsense. The use of the old testament in the book of mormon, by wesley p.
His latest newsletter dated oct, 2009, says, 10 reasons why the book of mormon took place in peru. Jul, 2011 the use of the old testament in the book of mormon, by wesley p. A limited geography model for the book of mormon is one of several theories by latter day saint movement scholars that the books 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 these models, developed in an effort to reconcile claims in the book of. This article discusses how geographical theories about the book of. I needed to know the chapter size so i could plan reading sections for a bookofmormonreadathon. A heartland book of mormon exploration the millennial star. The book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally.
Harmon during the westward journey, was used from a point near present day north platte, nebraska, to the great salt lake. Mar 06, 2012 olive has done a lot of research into the ancient geography of the area of western new york and to me it makes a lot of sense that the lands of the book of morman are located in upper new york. How can statements of joseph that might seem to point to a heartland geograp. Mesoamerica, the region of southern mexico, guatemala, and adjacent nations. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. We discuss at length his book navigating mormon faith crisis. This is here explained by a map reproducing the land as apparently it was then a map supported by powerful. Heres the book of mormon chapters categorized by length. All my studies suddenly made sense, all aspects of the book of mormon finally became clear.
Blue shortest purple average about 27 verses red longest jacob chapter 5 is definitely the longest. 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. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. What is the book of mormon limited geography theory. However, since it is a growing belief among many members, it is time to awaken those followers into a comparison between meldrums map and the scriptural record left us regarding the geographical setting of the book of mormon. What is the significance of the great and spacious building. I have a very different idea of what being faithful looks like that your average orthodox member. Book of mormon geography your site for lds theology.
One group was the people of mulek supposed by bible authors to have died, who was the son of zedekiah. What sacrifices did lehi offer to god in the wilderness. This book is great, but like i said, is the tip of the iceberg. Isolated statements are often taken out of context, leaving their. Book of mormon dna, the church statement, and the heartland. All anomalies of extranarrative had been relegated to curiosities. The map below is interactive and gives locations for various archaeological sites, artifacts, or associated stories that may be associated with the book of mormon and its people, or book of mormon descendants. It is true that evolutionary biology does not help the heartland model, but the model has failed long. Meldrum has been conducting research and presenting his findings throughout the country. The many errors in their map alone should deter much further investigation into the theory. Latterday saints believe the book of mormon to con tain a true. What faith crisis feels like, how others react, and how we might can make healthier. 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. See his faith development map as a way for healthier smoother transitions.
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