The book of mormon mainly its book of ether describes the jaredites as the. Cahokia mounds state historic site according to unesco, cahokia is the largest precolumbian settlement north of mexico. The most important message of the book of mormon is its declared intent to convince readers that jesus is the christ. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints in mexico. Book of mormon story took place is on shaky ground by the very nature of its. Carr, president of book of mormon archaeological forum, were sending you a copy of his last article. American species of grapes were known to grow in the gulf coast and yucatan areas, and some natives in northern mexico reportedly made red wine from native grapes. Indigenous people along the northern coast of the gulf of mexico have traditions of giant beasts with long noses that could trample people and uproot trees.
With regard to book of mormon geography, sorenson concludes that the events recorded in the book of mormon occurred in a fairly restricted area of southern mexico and guatemala. The jaredites are one of four peoples that the latterday saints believe settled in ancient america. All parallels are based on speculation by lds archaeologists and historians, most of whom have spent years trying to find proof that the book of mormon exists among the many artifacts and temples that the mayans have left behind. They also took an exploratory boat ride in the bays of the gulf of mexico east of these. Additional convergences are found in the book of mormon account, including the destruction in 3 nephi 810, which is consistent with volcanic events accompanied by earthquakes. One group was the people of mulek supposed by bible authors to have died, who was the son of zedekiah. Yet, with all of the digs and research ferguson and his team undertook, they failed to find one artifact to prove that book of mormon nephite cities, villages, or territories ever existed. Until the middle of the twentieth century vague or awkward terms like middle americawere used co distinguish this civilized area between the north and south american continents. This smoking gun evidence says book of mormon lands are in a location such as mesoamerica where the culture exhibits strong maritime influence. The lateral isthmus of tehuantepec goes from east to west, bordering the gulf of mexico on the north allegedly the book of mormon east sea and the pacific.
Following are two of the most well known theories for book of mormon geography. Contrary to the claims of our critics, there are impressive findings that make it difficult to explain away the book of mormon as a nineteenthcentury fraud from joseph smith. After years of studying maps, mormon scripture, and spanish chronicles, ferguson had concluded that the book of mormon took place around the isthmus of tehuantepec, the narrowest part of mexico. The city of enoch and the gulf of mexico eve out of the. Joe smith allegedly said the gulf if mexico is where the city of enoch is going to come down. Twentyfive miles east southeast of the site of the 2017 mormon history associations 52 nd annual conference in st. In the book of mormon the city of zarahemla was located in the center of the land on the west bank of the river sidon. 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. In divine authenticity of the book of mormon 18501851, a series of six pamphlets, orson pratt 18111881, a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles, drew together early latterday saint thinking about the book of mormon.
The maya believed some of their ancestors originally came from across the sea p. Big mound served as a landmark for mississippi river steamboat pilots until it was leveled in 1868. Emperor iturbide 17831824, dictator santa anna 17941876, emperor maximilian 18321867, progressive minded tyrant francisco morazan 17991842 to name only a few. Cheesmans, the world of the book of mormon, deseret book, 1978. The following three newspaper clippings show and describe the extent of the flooding that can occur in the state of tabasco, mexico, along the gulf coast and one of the most notable locations in mesoamerica that correlates with book of mormon indications. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful, and more. Updated book of mormon map book of mormon, lds seminary, mormon. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. Wilford woodruff journal after reading this, i recalled that in the book, visions of glory, spencer had talked about the gulf of mexico as well. The name mesoamerica is a term used to identify the heartland of a number of significant precolumbian cultures. A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in mesoamerica by. A journal of mormon scripture april 21, 2014 john r.
This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. The book of mormon, the first broadway musical by matt stone and trey parker the creators of south park. Sheryl lee wilson has traveled throughout mesoamerica with a keen eye capturing on film the essence of americas greatest civilizations. The narrow neck of land is the isthmus of tehuantepec.
An ancient american setting for the book of mormon salt lake city. The next, we quit, and will never set foot in a mormon building of any kind, ever again, for any reason. The power of the book of mormon in my life, ensign, oct. Book of mormon central, why does the book of mormon mention wine, vineyards, and winepresses. If the olmecs, who had their headquarters along the gulf of mexico, are the same people as the jaredites in the book of mormon, then the hill cumorah referred to in the book of mormon is in veracruz, mexico, and not in upstate new york. Why does the book of mormon mention wine, vineyards, and. Further, tulum was build hundreds of years after the close of the book of mormon. The book of mormon shall stand as a testimony against the world, ether 5. Quarterly articles and internet articles on book of mormon history, language, culture, and geography allen, joseph l.
The book is published by the university of utah press. A native american burial site hidden for 7,000 years beneath the gulf of mexico off the coast of florida has been unearthed in what archaeologists are calling an unprecedented discovery. Charles, missouri, sits one of only 22 unesco world heritage sites in the united states. These rlds scholars developed a map of book of mormon events that placed all the events in a limited geography of mesoamerica, with cumorah in southern mexico near the gulf of mexico. Book of mormon evidence, or its employees, and no information or opinions represent the church of jesus christ of. The lands of the book of mormon are therefore unlike mexico and central american which in modern times have had numerous emperors, dictators and potentates upon the land. The battle star galactica series is loosely based on this mormon idea that a group of ancient humans left earth for the stars. The hill cumorah hill ramah book of mormon vacation.
The book of mormon itself never actually mentions grapes, but it does mention winepresses only once, mosiah 11. Thus, the land northward, as mentioned many times in the book of mormon, can very easily be placed in the area of southern mexico from the guatemala border to mexico city even though that entire territory lies in more of a northwest to westnorthwest configuration. Chiapas state archaeological sites guatemala gulf of mexico caribbean sea. During the dedication of the mexico city temple, president gordon b. Lehis landingapalachicola florida book of mormon evidence. Joseph allen, phd, author, educator, and explorer, and his son blake. The mormons and the mounds the book of mormon in north america. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. In april 1917, an rlds scholar of the book of mormon named l. This page is a continuation of book of mormon evidences, part one and part two. Knowing about the history, cultural traditions, language, and geography of the book of mormon is essential because doing so legitimately supports the fundamental reason for the book s messagethat jesus christ is the lord and savior of the whole earth and that the earth itself testifies to this divine truth.
Some readers, assuming that grapes were unknown in precolumbian america, have wondered why the book of mormon mentions wine mosiah 11. Ixtlilxochitl wrote that the people lived in an area in the northern parts of the land, along the gulf coast of mexico. The book of mormon geography and map with dna evidence and the location of lands and cities such as zarahemla, cumorah, the narrow neck, mexico, caribbean sea, american indians, and true evidence are all here. Those living in mesoamerica would refer to the gulf of mexico as the east sea and the pacific as the west sea. Sep 11, 2011 the principal problem facing mesoamericanist book of mormon scholars in september, 2011, is the fact that there are two large rivers in the chiapas, tabasco, guatemala area and either one of them the grijalva or the usumacinta could be the sidon. Hinckley repeatedly emphasized that a new era was opening in church growth and development in mexico and central america.
In 1943 anthropologist paul kirchoff identified more than a dozen featuresfor example, writing systems. I just heard for the first time that joe smith allegedly said the gulf if mexico is where the city of enoch is going to come down. City of ammonihah, city of kishkumen, ogath, land of antionum, antiparah, waters of mormon, land of first inheritance, valley of shurr, onihah, land of sidom, land of amulon, city of and land of morianton, city of and land of lehi. City desolation book of mormon archaeological forum. Wandering river the principal problem facing mesoamericanist book of mormon scholars in september, 2011, is the fact that there are two large rivers in the chiapas, tabasco, guatemala area and either one of them the grijalva or the usumacinta could be the sidon. Why does the book of mormon mention wine, vineyards, and wine.
He also maintains that the huge mountains about 50 miles southeasterly of san lorenzo is the book. An ancient american book salt lake city and provo, ut. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. After years of studying maps, mormon scripture, and spanish chronicles, ferguson had concluded that the book of mormon took place around the. See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here. These traditions truly conflict with the book of mormon, the word of god, so the heartland model can be. Apr 01, 2020 these rlds scholars developed a map of book of mormon events that placed all the events in a limited geography of mesoamerica, with cumorah in southern mexico near the gulf of mexico. 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 mormon with archaeology. The four seas of the book of mormon mormons in transition. Theories of book of mormon lands in mesoamerica showing 11 of 1 messages. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon by joseph l. Swanton, indian tribes of the lower mississippi valley and adjacent coast of the gulf of mexico washington. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon joseph l. Ancient myan ruins support the book of mormon blogger.
The book of mormon was written for the intent that we may believe the bible, morm. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon, by joseph allen, sa publishers, orem, utah, 1989, pp. Basically enoch and his entire city were so righteous that god took them all to heaven. Five misunderstandings of the book of mormon text that veils. Unprecedented native american burial site discovered off.
Some of the classic maya ruins that stevens explored and catherwood drew are post period book of mormon. Mormon traditions would have us believe that the book of mormon took place in the heartland and in new york. Jan 18, 2018 after years of studying maps, mormon scripture, and spanish chronicles, ferguson had concluded that the book of mormon took place around the isthmus of tehuantepec, the narrowest part of mexico. 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. The book of mormon records that the nephites constructed houses of cement, 34 as well as temples, synagogues and sanctuaries 35 throughout their territories. Many of her photos were also included in our book, exploring the lands of the book of mormon.
We found 52 books set in gulf of mexico and 29 others set nearby. The 1923 latin american travel writings of mormon historian andrew jenson provo, ut. After reading this, i recalled that in the book, visions of glory, spencer had talked about the gulf of mexico as well. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. These writers have poured over maps of both north and south america in trying to find book of mormon lands. The largest of these, big mound, located on what is now mound street and north broadway, would have been visible to mormons traveling to nauvoo from the gulf of mexico or from the ohio river. I believe the references in these countries are evidence of that, i just dont believe the book of mormon writers lived there, based on statements in the book of mormon and. The hill cumorah hill ramah book of mormon vacation tours. The gulf of mexico was speculated as the location where the city used to be. Book of mormon evidences, part 3 presents further evidence supporting the book of mormon as an ancient document.
Miller and matthew roper, animals in the book of mormon. Just as stephens exploration of ancient maya ruins was the beginning of american archaeology, from the perspective of the early saints, stevens opened the door to exploring book of mormon lands. In search of cumorah is one of the most significant books ever to be published on the book of mormon. Joseph also said that when the city of enoch fled and was translated, it was where the gulf of mexico now is. Claims the narrow neck of land is the isthmus of tehuantepec, and the basic area is that of mesoamerica. The east sea is the gulf of mexico or its component, the gulf of campeche. Another theory according to james warr placing it near nicaragua and panama. Apr 09, 2016 this smoking gun evidence says book of mormon lands are in a location such as mesoamerica where the culture exhibits strong maritime influence. See more ideas about book of mormon, mayan ruins and lds art.
The book of mormon also describes the journey of 2 other groups to america. A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in. Book of mormon studies the encyclopedia of mormonism. Book of mormon geography, information about the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, mormon church, questions and answers, doctrine, genealogy, gospel, scriptures. City of enoch now gulf of mexico life after ministry.
The church of jesus christ of latterday saints has not officially sanctioned any mayan sites as book of mormon sites. Updated book of mormon map book of mormon, lds seminary. The land of zarahemla is at a lower elevation relative to the land of nephi. Book of mormon central scholars complete expedition to veracruz. Apr 28, 2016 the book of mormon itself never actually mentions grapes, but it does mention winepresses only once, mosiah 11. The city of enoch and the gulf of mexico eve out of the garden. The book details the story of mormons who sought refuge in mexico after fleeing from us authorities for polygamy. The atlantic ocean waters bordering mesoamerica can be divided into at most two seas, the gulf of mexico or more specifically what is called. Aug 26, 2012 tulum could not possibly have been the city of zarahemla. The mormons and the mounds the book of mormon in north.
The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. Mayan civilization and parallels to the book of mormon. The heartland of the olmecs was along the gulf coast of mexico in the states of. A native american burial site hidden for 7,000 years beneath the gulf of mexico off the coast of florida has been unearthed in what. Joseph lovell allen true book of mormon geography lands. The book of mormon chronicles 3 migrations that originally came from across the sea 1 nephi 18. Annually, october 1, is the anniversary of a little known event in early church history that i believe, in consequence of significant research progress into 2019, now deserves recognition for identifying a region of major book of mormon lands and for initiating book of mormon archaeological historic research.
An interesting correlation with mesoamerican geographysee map below. I dont have a problem with the bearded white god in mexico and further south as christ told the nephites he had other sheep he needed to visit after leaving bountiful. Mormon colonies in mexico is also the title of a 1938 book by thomas cottam romney. Four international scholars representing book of mormon central kirk. An approach to the study of book of mormon geography american fork, utah.
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