Twopart presentation at the november 20 vernal, ut book of mormon evidence conference. A whole bunch of reasons why book of mormon geography could not have included north america the contents of all bmaf publications are the sole responsibility of the individual authors and therefore do not necessarily represent the views of bmaf or the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Related to this view is the common belief among lds that book of mormon people were the founding inhabitants of all native peoples of both north and south america. I am not here today to tickle your ears, to entertain you. The lord kept the continent hidden from all those except some he purposely led there. The north america model for the book of mormon home facebook.
Though ostling presents a wellbalanced, meticulously researched overview of mormonism and dispels some of the myths about mormonism for example, polygamy, i still found this a tough read. 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. Two utah missionaries are sent to a remote village in. The book of mormon is full of references to technologies and species that are known to have not existed in precolumbian america. Aug 02, 2015 the tony awardwinning musical, the book of mormon, opened in salt lake city last week. If the book is accurate, archaeologists would expect to find numerous pieces of hard evidence in central america that confirm the presence of these societies. The authors tell the mormon story in such a disjointed way that its almost impossible to follow. Some believe that the history depicted in the book of mormon occurred in north america, while others believe that it occurred in central. Why did alma ask about having gods image engraven upon ones countenance. The north america model for the book of mormon home. Local documentarians challenge south american claims. The belief in the restoration of the 10 tribes provided the basis for an americacentered theology and made america the home of a wholly new scripturethe book of mormon.
Dec 14, 2015 several colonies with ties to israel made it to the promised land of america,not just the nephites and mulekites. May 07, 2020 as expected, our friends at book of mormon central, the front for book of mormon archaeological forum, inc. According to the book of mormon, the promised land shall be a land of liberty, with no kings upon the land 1, and be discovered by a gentile whom the spirit of god wrought, to cross many waters 2 in order. Many have wondered what evidence has been found in its support, as the book asserts to be a record of ancient peoples that came by ship from. Several colonies with ties to israel made it to the promised land of america,not just the nephites and mulekites. Popular mormon fiction books meet your next favorite book. The sendup of missionaries from the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is getting a rousing reception. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may youtube. In the 6 sections of this essay, i provide evidence that the north american geography model answers all the normal critiques of the book of mormons historicity. A whole bunch of reasons why book of mormon geography.
Although historians and archaeologists consider the book to be an anachronistic invention of joseph smith, many members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church and other denominations of the latter day saint movement believe that it. It focuses on the north american setting with a bookbybook, chapterbychapter approach to the geography passages, illustrating the points with over 75 maps and diagrams. The book of mormon states several times that the land which they were led to, was the promised land, or a choice land. Joseph smith also seemed to believe that the united states was the book of mormon land. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. That the small neck of land was at the southern end of the island continent is also evidenced by moroni burying the gold plates in north america. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. Book of mormon archaeology in north america home facebook. Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in. Millions have asked the question, is there evidence of the historicity of the book of mormon, because the book of mormon is foundational to the mormon faith more accurately known as the church of jesus christ of latterday saints many have wondered what evidence has been found in its support, as the book asserts to be a record of ancient peoples that came by ship from the old world. Book of mormon archaeology in north america wayne n. Nov 19, 2009 examples of book of mormon forts from the dvd book of mormon archaeology in north america by wayne may.
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. The book of mormon warns america ezra taft benson 16. Watch as wayne may presents many of the ancient american artifacts found in north america and see how they line up with the nephite, lamanite and jaredite. The tony awardwinning musical, the book of mormon, opened in salt lake city last week. An address given to the brigham young university studeny body. The book of mormon describes migrations of people from the middle east to central america, and further describes some features of their civilizations in the new world. These traditions truly conflict with the book of mormon, the word of god, so the heartland model can be. 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. Mormons embrace america unearthed while scott wolter. 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. The latest archaeology information on the lands of the book of mormon in north america. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting book. The book of mormon in north america book of mormon evidence.
Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting book of. Such maps can be a useful introduction for those who are new to the book of mormon. The book of mormon original us tour cast 2012 us tour. The products services offered by wayne may are neither made, provided, approved nor endorsed by intellectual reserve, inc. As expected, our friends at book of mormon central, the front for book of mormon archaeological forum, inc. Thus the lds contends that the book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. This book is great, but like i said, is the tip of the iceberg. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. How do these new discoveries relate to the book of mormon. In this candid examination of the church of jesus christ of latterd. Mar 27, 2016 book of mormon evidence in north america confirmed, secular evidence of every book of mormon geographic, cultural, and metallurgical detail in north america. North american book of mormon geography david mckane.
Many attempts have been made to match these references to physical locations in the americas, but these have not yet built a consensus among lds scholars. Over 300 photos, works of art, artifacts, maps, charts, scripture and commentary introduce the reader to the growing body of evidence that suggests the very real possibility of a north american setting for the events of the book of mormon. The following affiliates have contributed to book of mormon central by providing access to articles, images, and various other resources to further the cause of book of mormon research. Book of mormon evidence in north america confirmed, secular evidence of every book of mormon geographic, cultural, and metallurgical detail in north america. Examples of book of mormon forts from the dvd book of mormon archaeology in north america by wayne may. According to book of mormon central, the most important material in volume 10 are the anonymous times and seasons articles. Firm was so excited about the america unearthed episode that they updated their website to promote wolter and his work, trumpeting how his scientific findings are now validating the claims of the book of mormon.
The following 20 points outline the evidence i have gathered. Currently, most lds scholars and some lds leaders reject the hgt in favor of a limited geography theory lgt for the book of mormon. Whether the mormon church and its hierarchy will find it so i am unsure. The first hundred pages of mormon america cover the early history of the church, but readers who are expecting a comprehensible account of mormon beginnings and the development of the church should look elsewhere.
Book of mormon archaeology in north america wayne may. Tribe of manasseh north american nephite model by dave mack. Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in north america. Joseph smith and other early latterday saints, for example, most likely believed that north america was the land northward and that south america was the land southward in the book of mormon. North american book of mormon geography the interpreter. The material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. It focuses on the north american setting with a book by book, chapterbychapter approach to the geography passages, illustrating the points with over 75 maps and diagrams. View the original article at the book of mormon resources blog. He revealed the site of the ancient manti city to be near huntsville, missouri history of js, vol 16, pg 296 smith also once identified some bones found in illinois during the zions camp march to be the bones of a lamanite whose name was zelph and who had died in one of the last battles. Michael coe, an archaeologist at yale university, said. Hemispheric geography theory lds have traditionally interpreted the text hemispherically and assumed a blank continent. On february 1, 2018, national geographic broke a story about some incredible new discoveries in mesoamerican archaeology using new technology.
Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted to find archaeological evidence to support it. Mormon traditions would have us believe that the book of mormon took place in the heartland and in new york. Geographical, and other evidences in support of the book of mormon landscape, as found in north america. The book of mormon s ancient north american inhabitants. 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.
Book of mormon geography is predominantly in north america. Mormon similarly describes the construction of highways and road systems in 3 nephi 6. What the book of mormon says about america the book of mormon peoples were led to the american continent as a land of promise reserved for the righteous. As you will of course recall from the episode of america unearthed covering this topic s02e10, lost relics of the bible, wolter did not verify that the hebrew writing. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. Mormonism and the making of american culture2 and richard n. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography book.
Exploring book of mormon in americas heartland photobook. Moronis america today in 1936, when lds scholars first began accepting the twocumorah theory, apostle joseph fielding smith warned the saints. The making of an american faith lee trepanier and lynita k. The book of mormon is a classic oddcouplefishoutofwater story. Mar 24, 2011 the book of mormon is a classic oddcouplefishout of water story. A whole bunch of reasons why book of mormon geography could. 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. 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. But reading mormon america, even with my faculties for detecting patronization and pathologization turned up high, i found the book remarkably careful, fair and untendentious. The book of mormon claims to be an historic document and contains hundreds of geographical and ethnological references within its text. Book of mormon evidence videos book of mormon evidence.
The following affiliates have contributed to book of mormon central by providing access to articles, images, and various other resources to further the cause of. Jun 12, 2016 joseph smith also seemed to believe that the united states was the book of mormon land. A model for the book of mormon in baja the forgotten. 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.
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. Wayne may presents archaeological support of the book of mormon to a group in malad, idaho in february of 2017. Moronis america is a mustread for anyone interested in the historicity and geography of the book of mormon. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Moronis america the book of mormon in north america. The book of mormon us tour, the book of mormon original cast list, original cast, current cast. Two utah missionaries are sent to a remote village in northern uganda. There is an inherent improbability in specific items that are mentioned in the book of mormon as having. Today, mormons use the book of mormon in much the same way that christians use and study the bible. While this new scripture remedied the omission of america from the bible, it has been one of the main reasons why so many nonmormon americans have been suspicious of mormonism. Book of mormon evidence videos book of mormon evidence in. Evidence against the book of mormon is not just genetic.
The book of mormons ancient north american inhabitants. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland. The book of mormons most spectacular recorded event was a postresurrection appearance of jesus christ himself among the nephite people 3 nephi 11. The book of mormon itself does not sustain this view which supports the claim that joseph was not the author of the book of mormon. Tribe of manasseh geography map and supporting verses. Since the foundation of the church of latterday saints, mormon archaeologists and historians have tried mightily to harmonize the prehistory of the united states as given in the book of mormon with the facts on the ground, which have stubbornly refused to admit a continentwide hebraic civilization in the early centuries ce. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. All my studies suddenly made sense, all aspects of the book of mormon finally became clear. On subsequent days, the story was picked up by other major media outlets such as bbc, washington post, npr, the new york times, and. The book of mormon mentions other public works such as dikes, irrigation systems alma 17.
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