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. Pratts view dominated mormon thinking until the middle twentieth century kirk magleby, book of mormon lands 18301985, august 27, 2011. Sorenson outlined his model in his seminal 1985 work, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, john l. I admit that my own model was tainted by preconceptions john sorenson, the geography of book of mormon events, pp. According to the book, two of these groups originated from ancient israel. Mar 15, 2020 this video goes through a wide potpourri of book of mormon evidences which have not been discussed on prior videos. This will give you the chapter summary and show you on the map where that chapters events occurred, what year or range of years they covered, and any traveling that took place.
Sorenson, when lehis party arrived in the land, did they find others there. In 1991, john sorenson of byu, the dean of book of mormon geography, created a book called the geography of book of mormon events. Michael coe lidar, response to john sorenson, and the book of mormon mormon stories april 18, 2018 apologetics, book of mormon 25 comments we are excited to revisit dr. Michael coe at his home in new haven, connecticut to learn what he has been up to since our wildly popular first interview with him. Reply to pros, cons of book of mormon geography theories. But the bom said that they spread trough out the land, so who knows. Most of the book of mormon focuses on the nephites in their cities. This includes detailed information on each of the models, along with a whole bunch of very useful information for anyone who wants to get.
The lord could have removed all questions regarding the exact locations of these events but he did not. Read the classic biography of the founder of the mormon church. The church and byu stay neutral in questions of exactly where the book of mormon took place. Why did mormon give so many details about geography. He received an ma in archaeology from byu and a phd in anthropology from ucla. Site correlations more about these maps land northward. Book of mormon and dna studies church of jesus christ. 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. The lamanite city jerusalem in the land of nephi was named by lehite migrants after the old world site from which their ancestors came alma 21. 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. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon salt lake city, utah. Sorensons groundbreaking book, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, published in 1985. Dunn and william green, terminal archaic and early woodland plant use at the gast spring site la152.
Unfortunately, exploring and testing his geographic model in. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand ended up losing his faith. Discussion regarding the historicity of the book of mormon often focuses on archaeological issues, some of which relate to the large size and the long time span of the civilizations mentioned in the book. Sorenson and others have discussed the history and development of latterday saint ideas about book of mormon geography, which have been literally all over the map, but no authoritative model exists.
A study guide for understanding the writings of isaiah in the book of mormon. The conceptual map of the land of the book of mormon. The following example proves sorenson did not overcome his confessed preconceptions. Jan 01, 2000 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 study. In this text, sorenson reconstructs the internal geography of the book of mormon. A digital, interactive internal map is currently 2016 under development by a. Sorenson, one of the foremost students on the subject, identified over 600 passages relevant to geography. His best known book prior to this was an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, published in 1985. Unfortunately, exploring and testing his geographic. Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith. 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. Book of mormon geographymodelslimitedsorenson 1955. Mormon s map is book of mormon scholar john sorenson s reconstruction of that mental map solely from. Sorenson asserted that one of mormons major editorial aims was to affirm lehis blessing upon the land.
Sorenson suggests that indicators in the books text makes it inescapable that. Sep 26, 2011 the mexico map is the most likely to be correct. 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. This is a large coffeetable book with gorgeous fullcolor pictures.
Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. Compare them to a map of palestine to view the correlations. Jan 01, 2000 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. Dallin oaks on the book of mormon a mormon apostle. Mormons 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.
Jerry grovers book, which uses geological principles to explain the occurrence of natural events in the book of mormon, is. 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. For the past 55 years, john sorenson has inhaled every detail of book of mormon life and history. I am personally assured that the nephite map is now known with quite high probability. 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 sorenson first did archaeological work in mesoamerica while pursuing a masters degree at byu. The book of mormon is so self consistent in its geography and fits this area so perfectly that it really is impressive. The land of zarahemla is at a lower elevation relative to the land of nephi.
Book of mormon video library project wraps second season of. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. Mesoamerica is the only area of the americas that fits the text of the book of mormon, and actually fits it very well. Sorenson molecular genealogy foundation book of mormon and dna. 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. These maps are not drawn to scale and are for illustration only. This video goes through a wide potpourri of book of mormon evidences which have not been discussed on prior videos. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon. Virtual book of mormon book of mormon maps and learning. It contains a record of gods dealings with three groups of people who migrated from the near east or west asia to the americas hundreds of years before the arrival of europeans.
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. Interactive book of mormon map virtual book of mormon. Finally there is a way to really explore john sorensons book of mormon geography. You will also see various cities change from nephite to lamanite control or vice. 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. Sorenson himself expresses confidence in his interpretation of book of mormon geography. A tool for understanding how the book of mormon map used in the seminary.
Raish, precolumbian contact with the americas across the oceans. Jun 27, 2016 compare sorenson, mormons map, inside front cover, with clark, revisiting, a key, 38, fig. This allows us to put a face to the names and the stories and allow you to see these. Pratt was an articulate advocate for a sweeping, hemispheric vision of book of mormon lands with the isthmus of panama as the narrow neck of land. Meldrum, president, the firm foundation all in all, i found pros, cons of book of mormon geography theories relatively well balanced, although still teetering toward the mesoamerican theories. Jerry grovers book, which uses geological principles to explain the occurrence of natural events in the book of mormon, is not as widely known. 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. Sorenson gives a footnote, where he tells the reader that they can find documented information on 70 of the 80 maps in another book of his called the geography of book of mormon events. Civilizations of their magnitude and duration would be expected to leave extensive archaeological records. The book of mormon purports to be an inspired and accurate translation of an ancient historical narrative covering more than a thousand years. For that reason, our design team has chosen to develop an internal map that shows relational directions and approximate distances that match the. Sorenson in his book, mormons map which i recommend for anyone who would like to study what the book of mormon says about its own geography. It has been accepted for inclusion in byu studies quarterly by an authorized editor of byu scholarsarchive. Made popular by his 1985 publication an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, sorensons geographic model for the book of mormon has withstood the test of time and remains the preeminent geographic model for book of mormon events.
Mormon s map is book of mormon scholar john sorenson s reconstruction of that mental map solely from information. Sorenson of brigham young university raises this objection to traditional book of mormon geography in his book, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon salt lake city. Errors of kirk magleby true book of mormon geography lands. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1985, pp. An ancient american book see a video further down the page. A contemporary mormon view is that these civilizations rose and fell in mesoamerica. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. If the events it records did not happen, and if it is actually modern rather than ancient in origin, then the book of mormon cannot be the word of god. Smith, barley in ancient america, in reexploring the book of mormon.
I have tremendous respect for the many book of mormon studies john sorenson has previously written. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1996 1985, 1. This book is out of print but cheap used copies are plentiful on amazon. There is generally no direct support amongst mainstream historians and archaeologists for the. Sorenson was born in 1924 in smithfield, utah, where he grew up. Oct 02, 2014 finally there is a way to really explore john sorenson s book of mormon geography. For a brief time, from zeniff to the return of the.
This map was created by me to help bring the book of mormon stories to life. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. Underwater archaeology and the book of mormon in sorenson. Sorenson attempts to reconstruct that mental map mormons map using information in the text. John sorenson notes in his book, the geography of the book of mormon. See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here.
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. Having been privileged to work with him on some of. Sorenson following his excellent presentation at the fair conferenc. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. I started this blog over a year ago, mainly in response to a document purportedly written by john sorenson about why north america cannot be the setting for the book of mormon. Jan 18, 2018 how a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand ended up losing his faith.
Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith andrew h. Clark,4 randall spackman determined that there are upwards of passages of potential geographic. What was mormons purpose in writing the book of mormon. The book of mormon, the founding document of the latter day saint movement and one of the four books of scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, is an account of three groups of people. Your browser does not currently recognize any of the video formats available. There are 31 references to alma 22 in sorenson, mormons map. May 20, 2011 where are these major book of mormon cities. His map and ideas have dominated lds scholarly thinking for decades. 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. The church knocks it out of the park with latest video about the book of mormon. The only narrow neck of land book of mormon evidence.
These arguments were summarized more recently in john l. 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. Hedges in the course of his efforts to chart the development of ideas regarding book of mormon geography, john l. Imagined map of the book of mormon lands by tyler griffin, taylor. Finally there is a way to really explore john sorenson s book of mormon geography. Sorenson has been studying the relationship of the book of mormon to mesoamerica for over 60 years. Book of mormon video library project wraps second season.
He also serves as editor of journal of book of mormon studies. Practically since the book of mormon was published, its geography has been the subject of discussion and debate. Underwater archaeology and the book of mormon in sorensons. In this video i have placed an overlay of john sorenson. Vern holly maps shows book of mormon names are of recent origin. Virtual book of mormon book of mormon maps and learning tools. 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.
Its validity as scripture depends on its being historically authentic. John sorenson true book of mormon geography lands western. A glimpse into lamanite culture bom lands conference brant. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. Sorenson first developed his model in 1953 and committed it to paper in 1955. The lamanite city jerusalem in the land of nephi was named by lehite migrants after the. Errors of kirk magleby true book of mormon geography. 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. Inasmuch as ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints affirms that the book of mormon is a volume of sacred scripture comparable to the bible. The likelihood of such a setting was greatly strengthened by john l. I propose that this location is a prime candidate for the land northward in the book of mormon.
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