The limited geography which others purport is in opposition to the revealed word. A brief history of the limited geographic view of the book. By miscalculating the size of book of mormon lands, joseph smith and others incorrectly claimed that the entire american hemisphere was book of mormon land. Today latterday saints also hold many views on book of mormon geography, but with the advent of limited geographic models, there is an intensity behind this debate that was not present previously. The heartland is the place where it all happened, right under our very noses. A major reason why the region that is described in the book of mormon cannot be just one limited region is because the book of mormon indicates otherwise since after the arrival in the western hemisphere, lehi prophesied that the knowledge of the land would be kept from the knowledge of the other nations 2 nephi 1. Scholarship ive always thought that a plain reading of the text of the book of mormon clearly indicates a hemispheric model, with lamanites and nephites occuping an otherwise unpopulated land. The geographical setting of the book of mormon has been the subject of serious study and casual speculation since before the book was first published. Later, in the 1920s, scholars in the reorganized church of jesus christ of latterday saints proposed that the book of mormon took place in a limited geography much smaller than the hemispheric model. Hammond drives that point home by the use of maps, travel distances, and relationships to other areas. They far exceed the heartland models in their ability to synthesize the text with known archaeology.
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. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new. First, throughout the complex narrative of the book of mormon, its geographic layout is constant. Second, the only geographic model that fits the text of the book of mormon is a limited geographical model. Book of mormon geography your site for lds theology. If the number of links posted here to mormontimes is any example, we appear to be subjected to a barrage of claims involving the limited geography theory. Why did mormon give so many details about geography.
Lgt is the generic term for limited geography theory. All opinions, speakers and presenters represent and express their own individual opinions, and not necessarily the opinions of firm foundation, book of mormon evidence, or its employees, and no information or opinions represent the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The book of mormon geography conference was held at brigham young academy on may 2324, 1903. 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. In order to remove these inherent improbabilities and protect the credibility of the book of mormon as authentic history, a number of lds scholars have proposed a new approach to book of mormon geography called the limited geography theory.
Pros, cons of book of mormon geography theories deseret news. Whereas many of the early members of the church of jesus christ of. National geographic society statement on the book of mormon. But that flash of insight would fade and for decades the general membership of the church would think of the book of mormon as dealing with the entire new world. It is different, well written, long, and with more footnotes and references than i have ever seen. This book is in contradiction to all other published books on the subject of geography. This is one of many issues about which the church has no official position. Lamanites true book of mormon geography lands western. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in. The final test of our views of book of mormon geography will be archaeological work in the ground itself, ferguson wrote in 1951 to his friend.
We have been disappointed to read online commentary from individuals favoring a heartland model of book of mormon geography. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. 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. Overview of book of mormon geography and church history. Amidst the hundreds of passages of potential geographic significance, alma 22. Discover the book of mormon like youve never seen it before. Smith gave at that conference 107 years ago could apply equally to current disputes over book of mormon geography. The book of mormon describes the final battle place between the nephites and lamanites as the land and hill cumorah. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. The limited view of book of mormon geography began in 1842, when the churchs newspaper, the times and seasons, noted the recent publication of a book by stephens and catherwood that chronicled the discovery of various ruins in mesoamerica.
Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith. From 1952 onward, lds scholar hugh nibley repeatedly argued that the. The lord could have removed all questions regarding the exact locations of these events but he did not. Numerous attempts have been made to diagram physical and political geographies depicting features mentioned in the text, but this requires many additional assumptions and is difficult to accomplish without making approximate relationships appear precise sorenson, 1991. This notion, of course, purports to offer a mesoamerican locale for book of mormon events. Pratt, ruins in central america, latterday saints millennial star 2, no. Has the church ever promoted a limited geography model for the book of mormon. Some question that the limited geographic model of mesoamerica is big enough to contain all of the described civilizations and travels. Book of mormon central archive limited geography and the book of mormon. Lds book of mormon geography a promised land, the land. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful, and more.
Not long after the book of mormon was published, latterday saints began speculating about the location of this hill. In 1991, john sorensen of byu, the dean of book of mormon geography, created a book called the geography of book of mormon events. A limited geography model for the book of mormon is one of several theories by latter. Book of mormon geography the encyclopedia of mormonism. Comparing book of mormon geography models mormon lds. The standard of truth, 18151846, some concern has been expressed online and to us personally that the text of the book has expressed a preference against a heartland model of book of mormon geography. Why have church leaders taught a hemispheric geography for the book of mormon rather than a limited one. The majority of mesoamerican book of mormon geography models seek to correlate the isthmus of tehuantepec or the isthmus of guatemala.
John sorenson s theory seems to be the most popular among apologists, so that is the one i use as an example. The book of mormon itself is the best source for understanding the geographical locations contained therein. Lehis family landed either on the east coast or on the northern shore of the gulf of mexico, after sailing around africa and across the atlantic ocean. Latterday saints speculated that the book of mormon took place. This article discusses how geographical theories about the book of mormon have developed. The book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally been deciphered. It is a book of scripture aimed at teaching people about christ and how to find happiness through the gospel. Is the limited geography model for the book of mormon a plausible.
The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. This page provides settings and an overview or summary timeline with approximate dates for the generic map or schematic diagram of the book of mormon lands, including nephite, lamanite and jaredite place names in the promised land in the americas. The book of mormon geography book, a promised land, the land of promise, is one of our books at alpha publishing available for purchase at virginia elieson was inspired with this geography, while with her patriarch husband and mission president in dallas here organized into a book by peter covino, jr. The church and byu stay neutral in questions of exactly where the book of mormon took place. The book of mormon geography, a promised land, the land of promise, is one of our books. In 1938 a church study guide for the book of mormon stated that the book. Issues in the limited mesoamerican or mayanland models. It is generic due to the fact that there are slightly different versions of lgt, but certain ideas remain consistent throughout. More importantly, it is the only book on the subject that is not merely someones belief or opinion, but every point made is reference directly to the book of mormon text and. Limited geography and book of mormon population in 1927, janne m. He received his bs from weber state university, his ma from brigham young university, and his phd from the university of. I have yet to discover when church leaders realized that mapping the book of mormon would require taking sides, but it was a subject of. Two other pieces of evidence might be invoked to support the idea that the book of mormon text requires a limited geography, although both break down upon close examination.
Practically since the book of mormon was published, its geography has been the subject of discussion and debate. But careful reading of the text clearly demands a limited geography, and mesoamerica is the prime candidate. Virtual book of mormon book of mormon maps and learning. 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. Ive always thought that a plain reading of the text of the book of mormon clearly indicates a hemispheric model, with lamanites and nephites occuping an. Book of mormon geography settings, timeline, overview. Sjodahl stated that students of the book of mormon should be cautioned. The articles linked below will describe the various theories and examine the strengths and weaknesses of each. A clip from the dvd book of mormon and new world dna produce by us at fair.
Another limited geography model, known as the heartland model, has the book of mormon taking place primarily in the eastern united states. Book of mormongeographynew worldlimited geography theory. The fight over book of mormon geography deseret news. Interesting as these matters may be, study of the book of mormon is most rewarding when one focuses on its primary purpose. The book of mormon contains the record of gods dealings with a branch of the tribes of joseph, who were divinely led to a country far away from the biblical promised land. The church has been neutral when it comes to issues relating to book of mormon geography, as is fairmormon. It is generic due to the fact that there are slightly different versions of lgt, but certain ideas remain. This book is a large geographic setting like no other setting available. Thus, all american indians were considered to be lamanites who descended from lehi or mulek. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. The articles linked below will describe the various theories and examine the strengths and weaknesses of.
Did joseph smith teach a hemispheric, rather than a limited, geography model for the book of mormon. A limited geography model for the book of mormon is one of several theories by. This book will astound all book of mormon geography enthusiasts. Speaking of the book s history and geography, president russell m. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the. Cumorah and the limited mesoamerican theory religious. We have been disappointed to read online commentary from individuals favoring a heartland model of book of mormon geography that asserts. Limited geography and the book of mormon byu scholarsarchive.
A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. Reuben clark taught under assignment from the first presidency. The map is without any scale, and does not attempt to relate them to presentday geography or place names. An approach to the book of mormon geography from the sea west to the sea eastthe orientation of the book of mormon lands to the sea updated the narrow strip of wildernessspatial features, orientation and recorded journeys.
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