Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Im going to first answer the question, and then explain my answer and offer background. A sourcebook, he laid out his thinking on the subject in detail. Sorenson in his book, mormon s map which i recommend for anyone who would like to study what the book of mormon says about its own geography. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland deseret. If you took off the cover of the book of mormon and had 100 people from the northeast read the whole text and then asked them, if the stories in this book occurred in the western hemisphere, where do you think it would have occurred i really believe the number saying the northeast us would be about the bottom of the list. Chiasmus, mesoamerican evidences, cement, olives, ancient names like alma, and other evidences for the authenticity of the book of mormon a divine ancient record from the new world that testifies of jesus christ. Mulekites land near nauvoo illinois book of mormon evidence. This book is out of print but cheap used copies are plentiful on amazon.
Sorensons most popular book is an ancient american setting for the book of mormon. Could the book of mormon be used to evaluate the changes. The likelihood of such a setting was greatly strengthened by john l. Sorenson has been studying the relationship of the book of mormon to mesoamerica for over 60 years. And in my estimation there was little evidence they were necessa. 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. Mar 26, 2016 the material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. This is a large coffeetable book with gorgeous fullcolor pictures. Finally there is a way to really explore john sorenson s book of mormon geography. 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. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. His best known book prior to this was an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, published in 1985.
Wayne may true book of mormon geography lands western. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon salt lake city, utah. Clark,4 randall spackman determined that there are upwards of passages of potential geographic. The cover has some scuffs, and some additional wear along the edges. Sorenson attempts to reconstruct that mental map mormons map. The book of mormon was written for the purpose of convincing those who are sincere abou. Sorenson, when lehis party arrived in the land, did they find others, journal of book of mormon studies, vol. A limited geography model for the book of mormon is one of several theories by latter day. 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. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in transition. His best guess was an average annual rate of increase of 1. Sorenson were fellow graduate students at byu in the early 1950s. In addition, sites and artifacts are also provided that give additional indirect support to the book of mormon story, such as evidence associated with other precolumbian hebrew travelers to the american continents. Its testimony of the master is clear, undiluted, and full of power.
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. John sorenson, the geography of book of mormon events, pp. Very good book, it gave a very plausible realworld setting for the book of mormon, and i think sorenson is definitely on to something. 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. Wayne may presents book of mormon evidence in north american geography, archaeology and historical records. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. An ancient american setting for the book of mormon by john. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon.
It can be read as a very long and complex testimony. He ran the new world archaeological foundation from 1959 to 1987. I agree with sorenson about the importance of alma 22, as well as the utility of creating an abstract map and finding a fit in the real world. Items do not represent the official views of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints or of book of mormon. Imagined map of the book of mormon lands by tyler griffin, taylor.
Sorenson born april 8, 1924 is an emeritus professor of anthropology at brigham young university byu and the author of an ancient american setting for the book of mormon as well as many other books and articles on the book of mormon and archaeology. The map spans jaredite and nephitelamanite periods during which settlements changed over time. Mapping the book of mormon is a monument to one mans faith and excitement of discovery. For the past 55 years, john sorenson has inhaled every detail of book of mormon life and history. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand ended up losing his faith. Sorenson, one of the foremost students on the subject, identified over 600 passages relevant to geography. You can read a transcript of this lecture on the fair website at. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon.
Virtual book of mormon book of mormon maps and learning. List of evidence of the book of mormon john sorenson. Possible book of mormon sites in relation to each other possible relationships of sites in the book of mormon, based on internal evidence. For example, modern western nations define east to be the direction of sunrise, and west as the direction of sunset. Sorenson has 15 books on goodreads with 928 ratings. Having been privileged to work with him on some of. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in.
After attending utah state agricultural college now utah state university, he enlisted in the army air corps, where he was trained at the california institute of technology as a meteorologist and served in the south atlantic theater of operations. The most influential proponent of this view is prof. The potential connection with the book of mormon is not proven, but the discovery of an underwater city within miles of sorensons earlier proposed location, and the evidence for its rapid submergence two thousand years ago, is striking. For example, bountiful is south of the land desolation. Jerry grovers book, which uses geological principles to explain the occurrence of natural events in the book of mormon, is. It has been accepted for inclusion in byu studies quarterly by an authorized editor of byu scholarsarchive. The church and byu stay neutral in questions of exactly where the book of mormon took place. Sorenson, including rediscovering the book of mormon, and an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, and more on.
There is of course the excellent possibility that none of them are even close, but i have in the past attempted to find one that i would like to use in my stu. For our purposes in understanding this book of mormon event, and using sorenson s geography as a. Sorenson, siberian dna, and book of mormon directions wheat. Nov 26, 2011 in his book, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, john l. As a result, i say that the book of mormon is an ancient mesoamerican record, derived ultimately from a native book written in the fourth and fifth centuries ad.
As mormon edited the book of mormon, he must have had a map in his mind of. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints does not officially endorse any one particular geographical model for where the events in the book of mormon transpired in the new world. According to joseph smith and subsequent presidents and apostles of the lds church, the geographical extent of book of mormon lands included virtually all of north and south america. John sorenson notes in his book, the geography of the book of mormon. This book is great, but like i said, is the tip of the iceberg. Brother john sorenson summarized the basic idea on p. Book of mormon geography in nevillenevilleland book of. Sorenson s groundbreaking book, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, published in 1985. Sorenson first builds a map based upon the information provided in the book.
There are many different maps available for use in studying the book of mormon, but theyre all so different i never know which one to use. Mormon s map carefully and concisely accomplishes what it sets out to do. The book of mormon itself is the best source for understanding the geographical locations contained therein. Sorenson first developed his model in 1953 and committed it to paper in 1955. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1996 1985, 1. Mormon s map is book of mormon scholar john sorenson s reconstruction of that mental map solely from. I have tremendous respect for the many book of mormon studies john sorenson has previously written. Sorenson biography book of mormon archaeological forum. The book of mormon critical text project, under the editorship of royal skousen, began in 1988 and is now nearing completion. He received an ma in archaeology from byu and a phd in anthropology from ucla. 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. Destruction and disaster in 3 nephi and the geology of mesoamerica. This book of mormon map along with a wall map are available for down loading in color and the book of mormon geography book a promised land, the land of promise with all the mormon maps and details is also available at alpha publishing at. The book is composed of 128 pages of understandable text including seventeen maps illustrating geographical features mentioned in the text.
It was sorenson who first proposed that the scriptures action likely took place in guatemala and southern mexico, rather than encompassing both north and south america. In 2001, facsimile transcripts of the two book of mormon manuscripts volumes 1 and 2 of the critical text were published by the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. After attending utah state agricultural college, he enlisted in the army air corps where he was trained at the california institute of technology as a meteorologist and served in the south atlantic theater of ww ii. Facts, reason, filters and byus abstract map moronis. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. The following map contains probable locations for book of mormon related locations in modern mexico and central america.
The book makes a lot of seemingly good approximations of where the book of mormon predominately took place. Oct 02, 2014 finally there is a way to really explore john sorenson s book of mormon geography. A model for the book of mormon in baja the forgotten. In mormon s map, sorenson implied that the seas could not be taken literally. Each pointer on the map can be opened clicked on to obtain information regarding the specific site, artifact, or other. As mormon edited the book of mormon, he must have had a map in his mind of the places and physical features that were setting the events described in that book. Sorenson outlined his model in his seminal 1985 work, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, john l. Restoring the original text of the book of mormon by royal. John l sorenson is one of the best book of mormon scholars, having written seveal excellent texts, such as an ancient american setting for the book of mormon and images of ancient america. 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. I admit that my own model was tainted by preconceptions.
Why did mormon give so many details about geography. Mormon s map is book of mormon scholar john sorenson s reconstruction of that mental map solely from information gleaned from the text after years of intensive. For reasons i understand, this is a frequently asked question. I think he problem is that there is little it seems mention of the nature of the customs of the people other than whether or not they were obeying the law. The four seas of the book of mormon mormons in transition. The map, though admittedly tentative, offers three services to readers of the book of mormon. Sorensons groundbreaking book, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, published in 1985.
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. Sorenson s geographical model in his other books point to mesoamerica. Statement on book of mormon geography page 3 general. That would allow part of the ocean to lie toward the. Proposed map of the lands and sites of the book of mormon. He then shows us the very complex cultures in mesoamerica and how things seem to have been in the centuries the book of mormon took place.
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. Already in 1903, some were disputing proposals for book of mormon geography on the grounds that students could not reconcile the statements as to time consumed in traveling from one place to another with zarahemla being at the point claimed by him. This does away with the notion of the socalled continental view of the range of the book of mormon. He shows clearly that the book of mormon occured in a rather limited geographical scope, in the order of a few hundred miles or so, and that the lds church has no official position on the book of mormon s geography. Mormon s map is book of mormon scholar john sorenson s reconstruction of that mental map solely from information. Practically since the book of mormon was published, its geography has been the. Book of mormon geographymodelslimitedsorenson 1955. Our changing understanding of ancient america and its scripture. I propose that this location is a prime candidate for the land northward in the book of mormon. The book of mormon claims to be an historic document and contains hundreds of geographical and ethnological references within its text. Possible book of mormon sites in relation to each other. Dec 02, 2016 to help with the increasing amount of new information, a blog site has been setup for research relating to the book of mormon lands in baja california. Yeah, theres some text there too, but the real value is in the illustrations and photographs showing central american artwork, pottery, iconography, temples, animals, clothing, tools, weapons, people, and jungles.
Land southward to land northward map animal migrations wayne may, book of mormon geography presentation, ancient american history conference, slc, april 1, 2011 wayne may says the land of nephi tennessee was a higher elevation than the land of zarahemla illinois. The king james quotations in the book of mormon, the history of the text of the book of mormon. Mormon s map is book of mormon scholar john sorenson s reconstruction of that mental map solely from information gleaned from the text after years of. A limited geography model for the book of mormon is one of several theories by latter day saint movement scholars that the book s 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. John sorenson s tehuantepeccentered model of book of mormon geography. Mar 29, 2018 i have been concerned for sixty years with the topic of the book of mormon in relation to the scientificscholarly picture of ancient america. Views on book of mormon geography, privately circulated book of mormon working paper. Sep, 2012 john sorenson s 2007 fair conference lecture. 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.
Sure and even more reason to not accept that area as the setting. He provided his interpretation of over seven hundred verses he deemed relevant to the book of mormon. Underwater archaeology and the book of mormon in sorensons. Sorenson s 1992 the geography of book of mormon events. The only narrow neck of land book of mormon evidence.
Confusions of tongues and a map book of mormon central. Sorenson attempts to reconstruct that mental map mormons map using information in the text. Sorenson restricts the book of mormon setting to an approximately 400milelong section of central america, with the isthmus of tehuantepec in southern mexico corresponding to the narrow neck of the hourglassshaped land mass described above. This map plausibly positions these and other book of mormon. Practically since the book of mormon was published, its geography has been the subject of discussion and debate. There are 31 references to alma 22 in sorenson, mormons map.
No effort should be made to identify points on this map with any existing geographical location. In this text, sorenson reconstructs the internal geography of the book of mormon. Does the book of mormon have archaeology to back up any of. For that reason, our design team has chosen to develop an internal map that shows relational directions and approximate distances that match the. Unfortunately, it cannot be read for solid information on toponyms, languages, or cultural history. Sorenson spends some time explaining that the directions we use are cultural artifacts that are not universally shared. All my studies suddenly made sense, all aspects of the book of mormon finally became clear. In this video i have placed an overlay of john sorenson. In his speculations on book of mormon populations, vern elefson 1984 briefly discussed population figures contained in the book of mormon, and then reverseengineered them to estimate the growth rate that must have prevailed for those figures to be reached. The trajectory of book of mormon studies by john sorenson.
He had a lot of really good ideas as to how the book of mormon could fit into current knowledge of history, archaeology, and geography of ancient north america. This map was created by me to help bring the book of mormon stories to life. Jerry grovers book, which uses geological principles to explain the occurrence of natural events in the book of mormon, is not as widely known. For many years the smithsonian institution in washington has received inquiries concerning the book of mormon, its role in the institutions scientific activities, and a number of specific informational questions about ancient american archaeology. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Sorenson was born in 1924 in smithfield, utah, where he grew up. Sorenson attempts to reconstruct that mental map mormon s map using information in the text. The lord could have removed all questions regarding the exact locations of these events but he did not.
Other m2c intellectuals make the same argument, but sorenson s book is still the highwater mark of scholarship among m2c believers. Made popular by his 1985 publication an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, sorenson s 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 is book of mormon scholar john sorensons reconstruction of that mental map solely from information gleaned from the text after years of. The intellectuals use the term neutral because it has a connotation of unbiased, but this internal map is based on the sorenson translation of the book of mormon, adjusted 90 degrees so it goes northsouth instead of using sorensons west means coastline theory. Overwhelming complexity and consistency the book of mormon contains over 600 geographical references to over fifty separate geographical locations. An ancient american book see a video further down the page.
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