Notable systems of highways were indeed constructed by several ancient american societies. Maya ruins parallels to the book of mormon tree of life. 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. Could the book of mormon events have taken place in south. The ancient maya, in particular, constructed and used highways in a manner that fits the form and.
Apr 01, 2012 mayan paintings showing both light and dark people are compared to book of mormon writings describing two distinct peoples. Our changing understanding of ancient america and its scripture. During this period, joseph assumed responsibility for pieces published with his editorial signature ed. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. Were the nephites and lamanites spread throughout both north and south america or did book of mormon events occur within.
Although church members continue to discuss such theories today, the churchs only position is that the events the book of mormon describes took place in the. According to book of mormon central, the most important material in volume 10. Garth norman, bookofmormon geography study on the narrow neck of land region, privately circulated book of mormon geography working paper no. God commanded lehi to lead a small group of people to the american continent. The book of mormon, just look at the ruins of cities, towns, military roads, forts. These proposed sites include ruins of several ancient cities that belonged to. He also allowed members of the twelve apostles to declare book of mormon cities in mesoamerica, repeatedly. In 1947, mormons, dewey farnsworth and his wife edith published an impressive book that is still in print, the americas before columbus. Despite the fact that lds church leaders warn members not to use south american ruins as proof of the book of mormon, mormons persist in doing so. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Best of all we fly from mexico city to palenque and we travel by boat from guatemala to honduras. Clearly, for early latterday saints, events in the book of mormon were believed to have spanned the entire western hemisphere. Here we learn how the nephites pushing up from the south an exceeding great distance it is more than 1200 air miles from guatemala to mexico city in a major infiltration settled a clearly defined territory. In a times and seasons editorial, october 1, 1842, the prophet joseph smith, after progressive study, announced a discovery that the book of mormon land southward is located in central america middle america, which would be from the isthmus of tehuantepec as the narrow neck of land, south to panama or at least costa rica, which as the prophet pointed out, fits the description in alma 22.
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. Sep 25, 2018 because the book of mormon mentions highways, readers may wonder if the remains of prominent ancient roads have been discovered in the americas. This slideshow led to a popular book on the subject and was a popular. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful. I dont want to give away his tour in case you are interested in taking a book of mormon tour to teotihuacan, but ill give a few juicy tidbits for you to consider. We have found that the book of mormon is a record of people who built humble homes, cities, synagogues and temples. Book of mormongeographystatementsnineteenth centuryjoseph. The book of mormon includes a history of an ancient people who migrated from the.
Any and all ancient or precolumbian ruins and artifacts found throughout north, central, and south america known as a hemispheric geography approach were quickly accepted as evidence of book of mormon peoples. This fantastic tour includes all of the most important ruins that date back to book of mormon times. Stirling, the archaeologist who found it in 1941, labeled. Also, joseph smith published many things in the times and seasons and elsewhere, which placed the book of mormon in central america, what is now southern us, western united states, florida, kentucky, and more. Here we learn how the nephites pushing up from the south an exceeding great distance it is more than 1200 air miles from guatemala to mexico city in a major infiltration settled a. Is there evidence for book of mormon highways in ancient. This fantastic tour includes all of the most important ruins that date back to book of mormon time. In other words, using the same references, it would be hard to show an archaeological and cultural relationship between the book of mormon and the rocky mountains usa or the midwest usa, or anywhere in canada or the lands of south america, at the time periods required 600 bc 400 ad. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, members and leaders of. In a times and seasons editorial, october 1, 1842, the prophet joseph smith after progressive study announced a discovery that the book of mormon land southward is located in central america mesoamerica, which would be from the isthmus of tehuantepec as the narrow neck of land, south to panama or at least costa rica, which as the.
The material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. This article is more careful than the unsigned times and seasons articles which dote on stephens publications. There is an inherent improbability in specific items that are mentioned in the book of mormon as having. When joseph smith wrote about the book of mormon he wrote about many places in central america he knew where ruins were that no one knew until john l. The only manner in knowing something beyond guesswork is to rely on written information of the period, cultures, and structures under investigationlike the bible for the middle east, or the book of mormon for the andean area of south america. But again, squire appleby says that the book of mormon was published in 1830, and mr. According to book of mormon central, the most important material in volume 10 are the anonymous times and seasons articles. Interest in answering these questions began almost immediately after the book of mormon was published. These traditions truly conflict with the book of mormon, the word of god, so the heartland model can be. T he book of mormon is advertized by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints as another testament of jesus christ and specifically of the account of his supposed visit to the american continent the book of mormon, 3 nephi 11.
A comparison of the south american inca civilization to mesoamerican civilizations shows the same lack of wheeled vehicles. 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. Jan 29, 2019 in 1842, the church newspaper times and seasons published articles under joseph smiths editorship that identified the ruins of ancient native civilizations in mexico and central america as further evidence of the book of mormons historicity. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. For some who read the book of mormon, with maps of the western hemisphere in view, the isthmus of panama seems an easy fit for the book of mormons narrow neck of land. In 1842, as editor of a mormon newspaper, smith published excerpts from a book about the ruins of the mayan city of palenque in mexico, with the commentary. Mayan paintings showing both light and dark people are compared to book of mormon writings describing two distinct peoples. Ruins in central america good testimony in favor of the book of mormon in an article titled discovery of ancient ruins in central america, there is a reprint of a story describing guatemalan ruins at peten. Mayan civilization and parallels to the book of mormon. Stephens did not discover the ruins of central america until 1840, so that because the book of mormon speaks of cities being builded somewhere by the nephites, the ruins which mr. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted.
Evidence against the book of mormon is not just genetic. He never once formally linked the book of mormon to anything in central or south america. The prophet joseph smiths letter published october 1, 1842, in the times and seasons is. Both missionaries and lay members state to potential converts, that the book of mormon is a record of the indians ancestors who built the great pyramidlike structures in central and south america. Were the nephites and lamanites spread throughout both north and south america or did book of mormon events occur within a more confined area. Notable systems of highways were indeed constructed by several ancient american societies, and their remains have long been studied by archaeologists. To confirm our research on book of mormon geography, there are some who appeal for us to find ruins of buildings in our proposed lands that match the mental images of what an ancient nephite building or city is expected to look like. Ancient israelites did come to america over 2400 years ago. In a times and seasons editorial, october 1, 1842, the prophet joseph smith after progressive study announced a discovery that the book of mormon land southward is located in central america mesoamerica, which would be from the. The book of mormon is full of references to technologies and species that are known to have not existed in precolumbian america. Jack h west a narrated slide show, describing the authors visits to various sites of south and central america important in book of mormon history. 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. Ruins in central america good testimony in favor of the book of mormon in an article titled discovery of ancient ruins in central america, there.
The church of jesus christ of latterday saints released a statement today concerning the geography of the book of mormon in the form of a new gospel topics essay titled book of mormon geography. 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. Fields, atul nepal, joseph smith, the times and seasons, and central american ruins, journal of book of mormon and other restoration scripture 22, no. This history contains information about the places they lived, including descriptions of landforms, natural features, and the distances and cardinal directions between important points. Jan 18, 2018 in 1842, as editor of a mormon newspaper, smith published excerpts from a book about the ruins of the mayan city of palenque in mexico, with the commentary. Our guest lecturer will give us insights to the book of mormon, the peoples past and present and the sites our group will visit. The hill cumorah in ontario county ny is the hill where joseph smith found the golden plates.
Rediscovering the book of mormon remnant through dna. That sounds very much like the book of mormon to me. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography. 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 lands will be dotted by pyramids. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography book. The book of mormon corrects this myopia quite handily. The book of mormon includes a history of an ancient people who migrated from the near east to the americas. Of particular interest are those articles published while the prophet held the title of official editor march 15, to november 15, 1842. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting book. Could the book of mormon events have taken place in. As expected, our friends at book of mormon central, the front for book of mormon archaeological forum, inc. Andrew jenson, ancient ruins in south american lands held to be evidence of divine authenticity of book of mormon, deseret news, june 6, 1923, 7. If the book of mormon truly is an ancient history of america, we can search the book of mormon, then search archaeology to discover if the book of mormon is accurate. Years later, joseph smith received a book on central american ruins. Claims book of mormon archaeology is based upon scant evidence is deception for the masses.
See more ideas about book of mormon, mayan ruins and lds art. Central america, or guatemala is situated north of the isthmus of darien and once embraced several hundred miles of territory from north to south. Book of mormon tours lehitours guided tours of guatemala. A possible baptismal font is found in the ruins of ancient peru.
Jun 20, 2019 if joseph andor his coconspirators composed the book of mormon as a record of a lost civilization, the most natural setting would be ancient america in central and south america, precisely as described by humboldt and others before the book of mormon was published in 1830. The book of mormon is another witness of the life and ministry of the lord jesus. Best of all we fly from mexico city to villahermosapalenque and we travel by boat from. Stephens went down to investigate after the book of mormon was written. 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. Then quoting the book of mormon prophet almas description of the narrow neck of land in the book of mormon, the writer concluded, the. Joseph smith, central american ruins, and the book of mormon. Is there evidence for book of mormon highways in ancient america. Searching for book of mormon ruinswhat should we expect. Book of mormon archaeology is real, authentic, scientifically researched, a proven fact.
National geographic discovery of mayan ruins not proof, but very. The serpent figures in the book of mormon as a rival for the possession of the land ether 10. There is no overt written attempt to connect the yucatan ruins with cities described in the book of mormon. The apologetics of m2c the book of mormon in north america. The ruins found in locations such as mesoamerica remind us of structures built by the ancient egyptians with hundreds, if not thousands of workers. Ancient myan ruins support the book of mormon blogger. Moronis america today in 1936, when lds scholars first began accepting the twocumorah theory, apostle joseph fielding smith warned the saints. I do not doubt that great civilizations existed in south america, but the historical evidence of these cultures so far does not match up with the book of mormon the way the maya history does. If joseph andor his coconspirators composed the book of mormon as a record of a lost civilization, the most natural setting would be ancient america in central and south america, precisely as described by humboldt and others before the book of mormon was published in 1830.
Moronis america the book of mormon in north america. Mormon traditions would have us believe that the book of mormon took place in the heartland and in new york. The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. Two weeks later, the writer was even more specific. Readers of the book of mormon may wonder, at times, where in the americas the events described took place. Everything he formally said, wrote or endorsed instead corroborated the new york cumorah e.
Michael coe, an archaeologist at yale university, said. Izapa is unique in that it is a very large site with many stela. Book of mormongeographystatementsnineteenth century. Dec 24, 2008 illuminating the credibility of the book of mormon through archaeological photographs. This was an address delivered in the salt lake tabernacle on sunday, may 27, 1923, as reported by frank w. It is a striking and extraordinary coincidence, that, in the book of mormon, commencing page 563, there is an account of many cities as existing among the nephites on the narrow neck of land which connected the north country with the south country. As such, i propose josephs initial study of stephens in the times and seasons in 1842 was the beginning of book of mormon archaeology, and may have even been the first invitation to pursue archaeological investigations of stephens ruins in middle america. T he times and seasons featured many articles relating to the topic of book of mormon lands. Because the book of mormon mentions highways, readers may wonder if the remains of prominent ancient roads have been discovered in the americas. The authors, without stating their mormon affiliation, hoped to manipulate the public into believing that the story in the book of mormon is true that tells of a white hebrew family, generally referred to as nephites, coming to ancient america from.
Nov 27, 2019 while the stevens book was sensational because of its detailed illustrations, the existence of mayan ruins was well known even before the book of mormon was published. Mesoamerica abstract series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of ancient america and their connections to the book of mormon, which is the key to understanding old american studies. Ancient ruins of america is a presentation documenting the evidence of a tremendous ancient civilization on the north, south and central american continents. Only a fool does not test his or her christian belief to see if it withstands scrutiny and tough well reasoned questioning. Searching for book of mormon ruinswhat should we expect to find. Plainly, a great deal remains to be learned about precolumbian america, and several new findings here seem relevant to the book of mormon. Views on book of mormon geography, privately circulated book of mormon working paper no. Book of mormon geography in joseph smiths day fairmormon.
In the early 1840s, john lloyd stephens twovolume work incidents of travel in central america, chiapas, and yucatan was seen by some church members as an essential guide to the ruins of book of mormon cities. I dont have a problem with the bearded white god in mexico and further south as christ told the nephites he had other sheep he needed to visit after leaving bountiful. Some apologists, and church leaders including joseph smith believe that the maya ruins on the yucatan peninsula belonged to book of mormon peoples lds efforts to relate anachronistic mayan ruins to book of mormon cities, owes much of its origins to an infatuation with archaeologists stephens and catherwoods discoveries of mesoamerican ruins, made public more than a decade after the first publication of the book of mormon. West traveled 38,500 miles zigzagging through the ancient ruins of these continents, and with the help of tour guides and insights from noted scientists who have studied these. Aug 27, 20 in 1947, mormons, dewey farnsworth and his wife edith published an impressive book that is still in print, the americas before columbus. The only manner in knowing something beyond guesswork is to rely on written information of the period, cultures, and structures under investigationlike the bible for the middle east, or the. Archaeological science versus claims of the book of mormon. Old america ancient ruins 3 book of mormon central.