A response to wayne may book of mormon archaeology in. 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. Tribe of manasseh north american nephite model by dave mack. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Jan 01, 2011 220 pages 11 x 9 full color case bound heirloom edition. Other scriptures that reference the book of mormon in north america. Camp fish lake 1866 1867, near dyer a temporary post that was intermittently occupied to protect settlers and miners from indian attacks.
The united states is the promised land foretold in the book of mormona place where divine guidance directed inspired men to create the conditions necessary for the restoration of the gospel of jesus christ. The mormon corridor is the areas of western north america that were settled between 1850 and approximately 1890 by members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, who are commonly known as mormons. The mormons and the mounds by jonathan neville mha presentation june 2017 st. The book of mormon is full of references to technologies and species that are known to have not existed in precolumbian america. See more ideas about book of mormon, america and ancient civilizations. 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. Of course, the text actually does reference snow see 1 ne. He was convinced that the book of mormon was an accurate historical document and that it would be relatively easy to uncover artifacts to prove its validity. For example, in rough stone rolling, richard bushman observes that indian relics turned up in newly plowed furrows, and remnants of old forts and burial mounds were accessible to the curious, but none was known in palmyra or manchesterburial mounds, supposedly a stimulus for investigation of the indians, receive only the slightest mention in the book of mormon, alma 16. This tour has been years in the making as we have searched out ancient remains of indian forts that date to nephite times located around the hill cumorah battlefield. Cedar fort, 2015, 2532 shows images of precolumbian forts from both north america and mesoamerica, which are similar to the book of mormon descriptions. Compiled by phil and pete payette 2018 american forts network.
However, the mexican revolution of 191020 eroded their ability to live together in cohesive family units and forced most mormon colonists to flee north to the united states. Joseph smith made several comments concerning book of mormon geography throughout his life which support both a north american setting1, and central american setting. Nevada forts north american forts american forts network. Maxwell institute for religious studies, 20, 405410. 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. They built fortified cities the way those people did.
The annotated edition of the book of mormon aebom enters this discussion by offering archaeological artifacts which the editors david hocking and rod meldrum claim either support a heartland setting for the book of mormon or somehow illustrate descriptions of material culture, warfare, agriculture, and metallurgy in the book of mormon. A response to wayne may book of mormon archaeology in north america this is the video in question, and heres the thread that prompted the investigation. Though i write in my new book that the consequences of the war chapters were expensive forts and garrisons for them that had negative effects on nephite society, so i feel some vindication based on this quote. Several settlements were established in the 1850s between salt lake city and california along the mormon corridor, including the shortlived mormon fort in las vegas. The material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. Moronis america the book of mormon in north america.
Secondary evidences of the book of mormon in north america. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. The mormons and the mounds the book of mormon in north. There is an inherent improbability in specific items that are mentioned in the book of mormon as having. Apr 02, 2010 joseph smith made several comments concerning book of mormon geography throughout his life which support both a north american setting1, and central american setting. Mormon authors advocating the original moundbuilder setting for the book of mormon have similarly suggested north american peccaries also called wild pigs as the swine of the jaredites. 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. Allen, exploring the lands of the book of mormon, revised edition american fork, ut. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting book. Deseret book and the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, is the most ambitious work yet to appear. Wayne may book of mormon geography in north america. Geographical, and other evidences in support of the book of mormon landscape, as found in north america. This is the battlefield tour youve been waiting for.
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. Mar 26, 2016 the material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. Joseph smith preaches book of mormon to cousin lemuel some further discussion in the following overview, i will go through the book of mormon, and present some theories which link the history provided there, to what i perceive to have been a viking invasion c. The book of mormon and defensive fortifications in mesoamerica. 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 old mormon fort in las vegas, nevada photo courtesy derek j.
Two hundred and twenty gorgeous full color pages filled with more than 500 stunning photos, artwork, maps, charts, artifacts, quotes, scripture and commentary introduce the reader to the rapidly mounting body of evidence that suggests the very real possibility of a north american setting for the events described in the book of mormon. Mormon traditions would have us believe that the book of mormon took place in the heartland and in new york. Evidence against the book of mormon is not just genetic. Moronis america the north american setting for the book. Sep 03, 2015 the ancient north american moundbuilder civilizations correlate with the people in the book of mormon. See more ideas about book of mormon, native american, native american indians. Not only this, but he allowed several opinions of north, south, central, and hemispheric geography of the book of mormon to be published, taught, and republished without any correction. The book of mormon purportedly is the history of ancient american people who were descendants of pre babylonian exilic jews. This page is a supplement to my book of mormon evidences page. Even before the book of mormon was published, mormonism was linked to the moundbuilder civilizations of north. An ancient american book salt lake city and provo, ut. The mormons and the mounds the book of mormon in north america. If you arent familiar with the book of mormon, please see my book of mormon introduction page and get your own free copy at mormon.
The book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally been deciphered. If any further proof of the truth of the book of mormon were wanting than the spirit of inspiration and truth which is breathed into the soul of every honest man as he reads the blessed volume, he might easily find it in the ruins of cities, towns, military roads, forts, fortifications, mounds, artificial caves, temples, statues, monuments. The mormons, who were unsophisticated, poorly educated rural folk in 1846, have joined the general american trend by turning away from the countryside to dwell in suburbs and cities, and away from farming and simple crafts to the professions, commerce, finance, and industry. In 1912 some 4,500 mormon colonists, which included utah senator mitt romneys five. 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 scientific search for nephite remains mormons in transition. 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.
David jones, native north american arms and armor, ut austin press, 2004, viiiix. If they were the jaredites of the book of mormon, then they died out not only as a culture, but also as a people. Led by a prophet named lehi, jewish refugees sailed to america about 600 b. These traditions truly conflict with the book of mormon, the word of god, so the heartland model can be. Michael coe, an archaeologist at yale university, said. However, sorensons attempt to limit book of mormon events to mesoamericathe region. Book of mormon archaeology in north america july 26, 2010 the lost civilizations of north america is a powerful film that gives answers to the question of why we havent heard about the great civilizations that existed on the north american continent and why theories about their origins have passed out. 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. The book of mormon in north america book of mormon evidence. Many have wondered what evidence has been found in its support, as the book asserts to be a record of.
Such views were published before the book of mormon came forth from cumorah the western new york book of mormon land not just a hill on which joseph smiths family settled. 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. Smith said the angel moroni, who was the guardian of these plates, had directed him to these writings and that his mission was to publish a translation of this book. Located just west or northwest of town along the state border. Dynamics of warfare in the book of mormon springville, ut. Mormons in the american west page 2 legends of america. The earliest scientific description of peccaries in the new world in brazil in 1547 referred to them as wild pigs. The following 20 points outline the evidence i have gathered.
Moronis america is a mustread for anyone interested in the historicity and geography of the book of mormon. Book of mormon archaeology in north america the lost. 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. As each year passed, the foundations scientists were unable to find any evidence that would support the book of mormon. 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. Abstract mormonism sprang from the mounds, wrote roger kennedy, former director of the smithsonian national museum of american history. The mormon church was founded in new york after joseph smith, jr.
Moronis america today in 1936, when lds scholars first began accepting the twocumorah theory, apostle joseph fielding smith warned the saints. Sep 12, 2019 for example, in rough stone rolling, richard bushman observes that indian relics turned up in newly plowed furrows, and remnants of old forts and burial mounds were accessible to the curious, but none was known in palmyra or manchesterburial mounds, supposedly a stimulus for investigation of the indians, receive only the slightest mention in the book of mormon, alma 16. Exploring book of mormon in americas heartland photobook. 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. Sorensons 1985 book, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon salt lake city. Dec 20, 2017 if any further proof of the truth of the book of mormon were wanting than the spirit of inspiration and truth which is breathed into the soul of every honest man as he reads the blessed volume, he might easily find it in the ruins of cities, towns, military roads, forts, fortifications, mounds, artificial caves, temples, statues, monuments. Nov 19, 2009 examples of book of mormon forts from the dvd book of mormon archaeology in north america by wayne may. 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. Book of mormon archaeology in north america july 26, 2010 the lost civilizations of north america is a powerful film that gives answers to the question of why we havent heard about the great civilizations that existed on the north american continent and why theories about their origins have passed out of place and time. Book of mormon map and geography high def during the zions camp march of 1834 the men dug into a burial mound overlooking the illinois river where they found the skeleton of an ancient warrior. If you arent familiar with the book of mormon, please see my book of mormon introduction page and get your own free copy at. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting book of. Book of mormon geography in joseph smiths day fairmormon. Join wayne may and ryan fisher for a book of mormon archaeology tour of cumorahland.