This theory has been gaining substantial support among lds scholars since the mid1980s because it more accurately represents. A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in. I had the pleasure of being amongst many on a tour to mesoamerica with john lund. This category and its subcategories contain maps of mesoamerica particularly relating to aspects of its precolumbian history and its subregions. Revisiting the seven lineages of the book of mormon and the seven tribes of mesoamerica diane e. The archaeological and historical evidence indicates that the ancient people that we call olmecs in our day are the same people, called the jaredites in the book of mormon. Graphics processing with supercomputers then yields highly accurate 3d maps of the. Even the hill cumorah, where joseph smith obtained the gold plates, is not really the same hill cumorah mentioned in the text. Although it may be surprising to joseph smith and other church leaders, as well as to the majority of current lds believers, modern book of mormon scholars insist that the book of mormon is actually the story of a relatively small group of israelites who were immediately subsumed within a larger, preexisting, native mesoamerican population. I open mormons map to the first page and immediately note several inconsistencies that contradict my reading of. However, when serious book of mormon students first begin with a detailed consideration of the internal map implicit to the book of mormon and then search for a plausible location that fits the book of mormons map, there has consistently been one general result. A limited geography model for the book of mormon is one of several theories by latter day. After years of studying maps, mormon scripture, and spanish chronicles. And now i, moroni, proceed to give an account of those ancient inhabitants who were destroyed by the hand of the lord upon the face of this north country.
Quetzalcoatl mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. C largely because of his immense stature as an lds scholar. I open mormons map to the first page and immediately note several inconsistencies that contradict my reading of the text. The book of mormon records several references to a significant fourhundredyear prophecy, 19 consistent with this idiosyncratic mesoamerican calendar practice. We are the pioneers of the book of mormon tour concept. As the book of mormon states there were some seasons of the year, that doesnt.
Book of mormonlamanitesrelationship to amerindiansmaya. The book of mormon describes mountains, hills, and valleys with significant elevation differences between them. Numerous observers have suggested that the book of mormon appears to be a work of fiction that parallels others within the 19thcentury moundbuilder genre that was pervasive at the time. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. Anthropologist mark wrights 2008 fair conference address on similarities between mesoamerica and the book of mormon. These finds confirm scriptures found in the book of mormon. This approach, often referred to as the limited geography model, argues for a more limited view of the book of mormon, suggesting that the book is a history of only a small group of native americans in central america. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. Saints members proposed a limited mesoamerican geography for the book of mormon. Revisiting the seven lineages of the book of mormon and. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the.
A dna study by emory university, accepted by the smithsonian, acknowledges that some native americans have ancestry in common with the peoples in modern israel and the mediterranean area. The term has been applied to the swordlike aztec weapons and to others. Other locations may meet some of the following criteria, but only mesoamerica meets all these elements required by the book itself. 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. Any book of mormon lands proposal must be able to demonstrate all. Basically, the olmecs are the earliest civilization to be replaced by the maya. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon.
Book of mormon and the seven tribes of mesoamerica diane e. The mayans language is the only language from central america that has been translated. The maya are the only civilization in the new world that historians of science are interested in. A pan mesoamerica legend tells of a core people descended from seven tribes, which may coincide with the seven lineages mentioned three times in the book of mormon. Wirth the number seven had several connotations to the precolumbian communities of mesoamerica. Our changing understanding of ancient america and its scripture. New revelations of the americas before columbus by charles c. Archaeological evidence seems to indicate that the main core or center of the jaredite civilization was located on the mexican gulf coast, in what are now the southern. There are six serious mesoamerican book of mormon correlations. This is a map showing known aztec military outposts at contact. Wirth t he number seven had several connotations to the precolumbian communities of mesoamerica. Did the inca, aztec or mayan civilizations leave any record that they. Archaeological and historical evidence why book of.
A contemporary mormon view is that these civilizations rose and fell in mesoamerica. These points are discussed in the proofs, travel maps, and commentaries. Proposed map of the lands and sites of the book of mormon. In mormon circles, he is often identified with jesus christ. Donl peterson,a past professor of church history at byu, published two similar maps of moronis travel from central america to. Everywhere in those latitudes, war was normally carried on by the precolumbian inhabitants during a limited annual period. The book of mormon and defensive fortifications in mesoamerica. Bill sanders was one of five archaeologists who worked with nwaf in its first field season in tabasco in 1953. Seasonality of warfare in the book of mormon and in. 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. This paper investigates the evidence for seasonality of warfare in the book of mormon account and compares it with what is currently known about the timing of warfare in mesoamerica. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. Can you learn about jesus by reading the book of mormon. Mormons map strikes me as a manipulation of the nephite record in support of a real world model preexisting since 1955.
Archaeological remains of peccaries have been found in mesoamerica from the preclassic or formative. Basically, the two maps compare a proposed map constructed by vernal from the internal descriptions of the book of mormon and comments, over the years by latterday saint scholars, with a map showing actual place names on maps of the area around palmyra, new york, where the book of mormon originally was published. Maya to aztec is richly illustrated with professor barnhartis own photos taken in the field, along with museumgrade images of artifacts, illustrations recreating ancient cities and temples, maps showing where to find different sites, and graphics that decode mesoamerican writing and iconography. Jan 18, 2018 how a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand ended up losing his faith. Oct 27, 2010 mesoamerica and the book of mormon is this the right place. Quetzalcoatl is the white bearded god or the serpent god from the legend of quetzalcoatl of the ancient aztecs. Book of mormon, mayan and aztec archaeology and geography in. The three authors of an lds guide to mesoamerica, walk us through the lands of the book of mormon. Very cool article about the book of mormon and mesoamerica. Thomas stuart ferguson lay in his hammock, certain that he had found. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. Mesoamerica, the region of southern mexico, guatemala, and adjacent nations.
In 1790 the great aztec calendar stone had been uncovered in mexico city. Hence, it is written for an audience with background knowledge about mesoamerican archeology, but not about the book of mormon. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. Book of mormon tours which take interested members to see the lands of the book of mormon in mesoamerica. The number seven had several connotations to the precolumbian communities of mesoamerica. I compare and contrast several distinctive types of such ritual complexes from mesoamerica and the book of mormon and argue that they. Why did moroni include mormons condemnation of infant baptism. A panmesoamerica legend tells of a core people descended from seven tribes, which may coincide with the seven lineages mentioned three times in the book of mormon. Book of mormonlamanitesrelationship to amerindiansmaya and. So, if im understanding you correctly, you are dismissive of vogels workclaims on the subject because so much remains undiscovered. Mesoamerica is the site of the only literate precolumbian population. Until recently most attempts to identify the locations of the events of the book of mormon focused on southern mexico and central america mesoamerica, but recent efforts have focused more on north america because the archaeology is better there, even though the sites do not fit the map described in the book of mormon as does mesoamerica. All opinions, speakers and presenters represent and express their own individual opinions, and not necessarily the opinions of firm foundation, book of mormon evidence, or its employees, and no information or opinions represent the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
Many latterday saints have not had access to sources which communicate how recent research has changed our understanding of the book of mormon as an ancient document. For the first 150 years of mormonisms existence, everyone thought it was a story about a people who left the middle east and came to south or central america, and who fought wars clear up into new york state where. The most fruitful exploration that directly connects to the book of mormon are texts and websites that explain the similarities and differences between ethan smiths the view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. Civilizations of their magnitude and duration would be expected to leave extensive archaeological records. Jan 03, 2011 book of mormon, mayan and aztec archaeology and geography in north america part 18. The river sidon is mentioned in connection with military movements at the river, baptisms in the river, and bodies floating to the sea in the river. Mesoamerica has highly varied landforms with elevations ranging from sea level to 5,600 meters. They discuss early church assumptions as to where the people of the book of mormon lived, and then discuss the plausible locale that is theorized by most lds scholars today. Several volumes dealing with book of mormon archaeology published since those by. The mesoamerican limited geography model posits that the events of the book of mormon occurred in a geographically limited region in mesoamerica only hundreds of miles in dimension and that other people were present in the new world at the time of lehis arrival.
Clark checks correlations between the book of mormon and mesoamerican archaeology by focusing on the rise and decline of cities. Jun 20, 2019 m2c advocates think that joseph could not have known about ancient civilizations in mesoamerica, so the mesoamerican setting proves joseph couldnt have written the book of mormon. Book of mormon, mayan and aztec archaeology and geography in north america part 18. Without going into too many details, there are 18 points of inaccuracies that i want to highlight about maps of mesoamerica that were published before the book of mormon. This is a determinative point anchoring the book of mormon in mesoamerica. The maya and the olmec have a written languagea requirement for book of mormon peoples, who kept records. I agree that the book of mormon describes mountains, hills and valleys, but the text also refers to plains e. This similarity in recording time in mesoamerica and book of mormon times is reinforced by each. The dates of the maps are displayed in the lower lefthand part of the map. For old maps showing mesoamerica and its subregions that is, maps made over 70 years ago, please see category old maps of mesoamerica. Mesoamerica and the book of mormon is this the right place.
Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. The number seven was significant to the precolumbian communities of mesoamerica, as it was in the book of mormon. We have taken more tours to mesoamerica to compare the ancient sites and civilizations with the book of mormon than any other tour operator. Archaeological and historical evidence jareditesolmecs. You will be astonished with the amount of concrete scientific parallels between mesoamerica and slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Meat from large animals was a minor part of the aztec diet. Roberts, in his book studies of the book of mormon noted eighteen points of striking parallels between the two books. The aztecs used a silk material taken from nests made by two indigenous insects, the moth. The aztecs existed from 01521 long after the nephites are assumed to have been. I originally wrote this piece in january of 2001 as a term paper for a harvard class on mesoamerican civilizations foreign cultures 34.
The grijalva river and the river sidon by joseph l. Considered a sacred number, it represented the seven directions in the universefour cardinal directions plus the zenith or sky, center, and nadir. Oct 06, 2015 bill sanders was one of five archaeologists who worked with nwaf in its first field season in tabasco in 1953. Finally there is a way to really explore john sorensons book of mormon geography. M2c advocates think that joseph could not have known about ancient civilizations in mesoamerica, so the mesoamerican setting proves joseph couldnt have written the book of mormon. How does the book of mormon help date the first christmas. There are many other anachronistic plants and animals present in the book of mormon, such as wheat, cattle, ox, sheep, elephant and the ass.
Bmaf supports a mesoamerican context for the major book of mormon sites. This page is a supplement to my book of mormon evidences page. Clark concludes that the correspondences between the book of mormon and cycles of mesoamerican civilization are striking p 48. Why does the book of mormon include the rise and fall of two nations. Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins byu. However, when serious book of mormon students first begin with a detailed consideration of the internal map implicit to the book of mormon and then search for a plausible location that fits the book of mormon s map, there has consistently been one general result. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted. While nothing can take the place of a spiritual witness of the truthfulness of the book of mormon, an understanding of the correlating evidence of the book of mormon, especially as it relates to geography, can provide greater appreciation for this inspired book of scripture. Revisiting the seven lineages of the book of mormon and the seven tribes of mesoamerica. By contrast, they claim a setting in north america, with the hill cumorah in new york, supports the arguments of critics who say joseph wrote the book.
Archaeology research in precolumbian americas and the book of mormon. If you arent familiar with the book of mormon, please see my book of mormon introduction page and get your own free copy at. The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. See more ideas about book of mormon, lds scriptures and lds books. Because we cannot expect to find textual proof of the nephites in mesoamerica, we must ask whether the book of mormons report is plausible in light of secondary evidence provided by archaeology. The book of mormon and mesoamerican archeology book of.
Mayan and aztec archaeology and geography in north america part 38. In addition, the entire story of the book of mormon occurred within a small 500mile radius within mesoamerica. 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. The book of mormon in mesoamerica home my approach. I purchased this book a few days prior to leaving, had it personalized and signed by him, and read it before, during, and after my adventure in the book of mormon lands. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful. Apr 06, 2007 i had the pleasure of being amongst many on a tour to mesoamerica with john lund.
Oct 06, 2015 that is his small 2000 book mormons map. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. Jan 22, 2011 anthropologist mark wrights 2008 fair conference address on similarities between mesoamerica and the book of mormon. Joseph smith and the book of mormon should be the final arbiters of book of. The main book of mormon events took place in mesoamerica. Jon daniels, the book of mormon and mesoamerican archeology excerpt from standord. When hernan cortes learned about the wealthy aztecs during his exploration trip, he set out to find them. This similarity in recording time in mesoamerica and book of mormon times is reinforced by each groups parallel narratives of sequential civilizations. Many also are unaware of some rather surprising new discoveries supporting the book of mormon which have been brought about by the advanced methods of science.
For example, michael coe of yale university tries to connect specific aztec gods, whose characteristics we know mainly from. Revisiting the seven lineages of the book of mormon and the. And i take mine account from the twenty and four plates which were found by the people of limhi, which is called the book of ether. One of the more obvious anachronisms contained in the book of mormon is the presence of horses. Another area of agreement between mesoamerican and book of mormon. The name mesoamerica is a term used to identify the heartland of a number of significant precolumbian cultures. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the shake.
Book of mormon tours has been operated by the allen family since 1970. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand ended up losing his faith. Book of mormon statements with mesoamerica and us heartland. Book of mormon, mayan and aztec archaeology and geography. A variety of such axes mundi are known from the archaeological record of mesoamerica and the text of the book of mormon.
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