All of allens claims are stated as givens, matteroffactly, with little supporting evidence, mostly unsubstantiated conjecture based on a fleeting glimpse of something. Mosiahs nepbites also colonized a land some three hundred miles to the north of zarahemla shortly after settling in. The church emphasizes the doctrinal and historical value of the book of mormon, not its geography. Then i discovered exploring the lands of the book of mormon by joseph l. Byu studies is collaborating with book of mormon central to preserve and extend access to byu studies and to scholarly research on the book of mormon. All of allen s claims are stated as givens, matter of factly, with little supporting evidence, mostly unsubstantiated conjecture based on a fleeting glimpse of something. A popular traditional view among many latterday saint faithful covers much of north and south america. As each new theory surfaces, we gain fresh hope of acquiring additional insights into it ancient location, but are all too often disappointed. In 1990, todd allen joined his father in conducting book of mormon tours to mesoamerica. Fourhorned incense burner from monte alban period i. Book of mormon geography the encyclopedia of mormonism.
It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. My research, my travels in mesoamerica, and my evaluations of joes thinking all convince me that mesoamerica is the best candidate for the lands of the book of mormon. That sound made its way into later book of mormon languages and survived the centuries until today. Features of the joseph allen model researcher, ces instructor. Book of mormon geography your site for lds theology. Moroni referred to the jaredite heartland as this north country. It incorporates much of what i have learned since this journey began in august, 2011.
May discusses correlations between book of mormon armor and that found among the hopewell mound building civilization of north america which existed during book of mormon time frames, such as headplates, breastplates, arm shields, and massive gravesites. Allen, exploring the lands of the book of mormon, rev. From the point of view of nephites occupying lands to the north, we read of the. Not as in depth as allen s previous exploring the lands of the book of mormon, it seems that book is required reading for this one. Allen biography book of mormon archaeological forum. 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. Book of mormon archaeology and geography meridian magazine. And i was not alone as a byu profresearcher giving such rebuttals, there were others. Allens new book, sacred sites searching for book of mormon lands, published by covenant recordings to be released in november 2003. Allen and allen, exploring the lands, 402416, 422426. But the heartland camp has also contradicted the book of mormon in many cases. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon byu studies. Not as indepth as allens previous exploring the lands of the book of mormon, it seems that book is required reading for this one.
In mormons map, sorenson implied that the seas could not be taken literally. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. 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. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon joseph l.
Joseph smith was open to the possibility that book of mormon peoples. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model is. Allen pointed out in his book, exploring the book of mormon lands, that a candidate for hill shim is found in southern vera cruz by the name of cintepec. That would allow part of the ocean to lie toward the. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon, by joseph allen, sa publishers, orem, utah, 1989, pp. These writers have poured over maps of both north and south america in trying to find book of mormon lands. How do we know the river sidon runs south to north. Why did mormon give so many details about geography. This book is a great read and serves as a great companion to studying the book of mormon. In 1990, todd allen joined his father in conducting book of mormon tours to. Directions in the book of mormon book of mormon research.
Gods word is to be established by two or more witnesses 2 cor. Publishers, 1989, 173, and the discussion in chapters 18 the land. Book of mormon lands discovering the lost lands of the. Allen, longtime tour guide and author, through his editor, ted d.
John sorensons tehuantepeccentered model of book of mormon geography. Let the book of mormon change your life, again, as you investigate exploring the lands of the book of mormon. The four seas of the book of mormon mormons in transition. Critique of a limited geography for book of mormon events. Study two dozen detailed, fullcolor maps that follow the footsteps of mosiah, alma, ammon, limhi, and lands from nephi to zarahemla.
There are times when there is not the opportunity to get a clear understanding of what the traveler saw and these bulletins will help with that understanding. While some latterday saints have looked for possible locations and explanations for book of mormon geography because the new york hill cumorah does not readily fit the book of mormon description of cumorah, there are no conclusive connections between the book of mormon text and any specific site. 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. The geographical setting of the book of mormon is the set of locations of the events described in the book of mormon. Claims the narrow neck of land is the isthmus of tehuantepec, and the basic area is that of mesoamerica. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present with millions of global adherents. Joseph allen, exploring the lands of the book of mormon, p. The olmec culture dates to the jaredite time period. Simply stated, without ted, exploring the lands of the book of mormon would. Quarterly articles and internet articles on book of mormon history, language, culture, and geography. Exploring the lands of the mesoamerican antiquities. Although the book of mormon is primarily a religious record of the nephites, lamanites, and jaredites, enough geographic details are embedded in the narrative to allow reconstruction of at least a rudimentary geography of book of mormon lands.
Allen makes convincing arguments in a style that is generally easy to understand. You may call 18882265205 for information on book of mormon tours and cruises. I recently returned from 11 days in guatemala where i collaborated with bright people such as mark wright, diane wirth, dave gray, rick callister, van dunham, neal rappleye, stephen smoot, and rolando amado. Learning things like up means up in elevation and never up on a map north helped my inner compass from getting confused. Purpose of the book of mormon tour helps these single page descriptions of a specific book of mormon site are designed to provide pertinent information to the traveler about the site. On the map, this is called nephite north, a designation that other scholars have applied to his concept, although. Joseph and blake allen place nephi at kaminaljuyu guatemala city. Here are a few quotes by joseph smith which place the book of mormon in mesoamerica. The land of bountiful lies far north of the land of zarahemla. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon, by joseph allen, sa publishers. Mar, 2018 that sound made its way into later book of mormon languages and survived the centuries until today. Allen, exploring the lands of the book of mormon byu. Allen at the grove theater in pleasant grove, utah.
Also see norman, book of mormonmesoamerican geography, 35. A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in mesoamerica by. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting there have been numerous attempts to locate the long, lost lands of the book of mormon over the years. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates. Joseph smith stated that the book of mormon 1 was the most correct of any book on earth1.
There is no universal consensus among mormon scholars regarding the placement of these locations in the known world, other than somewhere in the americas. Exploring the lands of the book of mormon ought to be on the bookshelf of everyone interested in book of mormon geography. A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in. Jan 31, 2018 then i discovered exploring the lands of the book of mormon by joseph l. A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in mesoamerica 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. In order to orient his map so that the book of mormon lands mentioned as being northward and southward from each other, he employs adirectional system that is cultural somewhat similar to what other groups have used in the past and still do in other parts of the world rather than as we understand the cardinal directions. Its pages contain accounts of real people who lived somewhere.
The interpretion of the image as referenced in joseph allens book exploring the lands of the book of mormon is listed below the image. Joseph allens exploring the lands of the book of mormon orem, utah. Publishers, 1989, 173, and the discussion in chapters 18 the land northward and 19 the land southward, ibid. Bruce warren in the course at byu called archaeology and the scriptures. The allens write in exploring the lands of the book of mormon that no nephite ever. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model. The book of mormon states several times that the land which they were led to, was the promised land, or a choice land. Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith. We realize that he made several other statements which place the book of mormon in north and south america, but. Cheesmans, the world of the book of mormon, deseret book, 1978. Allen is an educator, explorer, and historian whose research and travels span half a century, and whose knowledge of the ancient civilizations of mesoamerica in relation to the book of mormon has been his lifes quest. Wells jakeman claimed that a carved stone monument unearthed in izapa, mexico, in 1941 depicted lehis vision of the tree of life as reported in the book of mormon. Review of exploring the lands of the book of mormon, by joseph l. Here is more evidence showing that the lamanites of the book of mormon are in north america not mezoamerica as published in our book several years ago.
Olmec jaredite archaeological sites along mexicos gulf coast. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. 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. Allen, exploring the lands of the book of mormon orem, ut. The name being a nahuatl word meaning cincorn and tepechill. Allen, exploring the lands of the book of mormon, pp. Joseph lovell allen true book of mormon geography lands. A limited geography model for the book of mormon is one of several theories by latter day. Tehuantepec geography, in new approaches to the book of mormon. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new york.
Jan 12, 2016 this is my best book of mormon lands map to date. Geographical, and other evidences in support of the book of mormon landscape, as found in north america. From iowa to guatemalaand back again rochester, ny. Arianne brown is a mother of six young children and is an altra, probar, nuun and unshoes sponsored athlete. The lost lands of the book of mormon takes the reader back in time to an era when ancient waters and. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi.
Allen, exploring the lands of the book of mormon, p. In 1989, the book, exploring the lands of the book of mormon, written by dr. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Quarterly articles and internet articles on book of mormon history, language, culture, and geography allen, joseph l. The only way to have seas north and south on a literal or descriptive basis would be for the two major bodies of land to be oriented at an angle somewhat off true northsouth. Mayan civilization and parallels to the book of mormon. Book of mormon lands discovering the lost lands of the book.