A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. While some latterday saints have looked for possible locations and explanations for book of mormon geography because the new york hill cumorah does not readily fit the book of mormon description of cumorah, there are no conclusive connections between the book of mormon text and any specific site. Parker and stone were best known for creating the animated comedy south park. The lake existed on the southern upper side of the niagara escarpment east of the present course of the niagara river between early lake erie to the south and glacial lake iroquois the ancestor. 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.
The two big problems with the mesoamerican model for book of mormon geography are 1 there is zero evidence of the book of mormon narrative there and 2 the proponents insist joseph didnt know much about the book of mormon. 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. Book of mormon geography book of mormon notes how deep can. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting book. On my fourth visit to the book of mormon on a recent night, the show still.
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. Lds book of mormon geography book is available here. During book of mormon times, both creeks flowed into lake tonawanda. Book of mormongeographystatementstwentieth century. James and andrew rannells in this musical by trey parker, matt stone and robert lopez at. Sydney sperry, for example, says in the preface to book of mormon compendium. News about mormons church of jesus christ of latterday saints, including commentary and archival articles published in the new york times. But it fit right into the archaeological thinking of the time, when.
In 1991, john sorensen of byu, the dean of book of mormon geography, created a book called the geography of book of mormon events. Hammond drives that point home by the use of maps, travel distances, and relationships to other areas. The book of mormon follows two young missionaries who are sent to uganda to. Another theory confines the majority of book of mormon events to mesoamerica limited geography theory, or lgt. By the makers of south park it is a hysterical critique of the missionarys journey to uganda to civilise the natives with the good news of the book of mormon but. There may be some experts on north american indians, but without a firm grounding in the specific lands covered by the book of mormon, namely. What is the heartland model of book of mormon geography mark alan wright. The church emphasizes the doctrinal and historical value of the book of mormon, not its geography. Three years is a long time for a peppy musical to stay peppy. The book of mormon says that there were wolves among the nephites, and this might give us a clue as to where the book of mormon geographical setting was mesoamerica, new york, etc. This heartland model for book of mormon geography downplays the geographical information in the text. First, throughout the complex narrative of the book of mormon, its geographic layout is constant. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. A limited geography model for the book of mormon is one of several theories by latter day.
In 1938 elder joseph fielding smith wrote an article published in the deseret news arguing against what he then termed the modernist theory that the final battlefield of the nephites and jaredites may have been in central america rather than in new york. Numerous attempts have been made to diagram physical and political geographies depicting features mentioned in the text, but this requires many additional assumptions and is difficult to accomplish without making approximate relationships appear precise sorenson, 1991. The book of mormon, a collaboration between the creators of south park and the composer of avenue q, is that rare thing. Mar 07, 2016 in the book of mormon, broadway gets treated to one of its funniest and most irreverent broadway musicals of all time. Some groups who attempt to place the book of mormon in the great lakes area of the united states, also claiming that joseph smith, the book s translator, knew where bom events took. Jan 12, 2008 book of mormon scholars go over the geography of the book of mormon. Feb 18, 20 a clip from the dvd book of mormon and new world dna produce by us at fair. In this volume i have reversed my views, held many years ago, that the hill cumorah, around which the last great battles of the nephites and jaredites took place, was in the state of new york. Perhaps the time has come to concentrate more heavily on those lands surrounding the only known landmark we have of the book of mormon saga the hill cumorah in new york state, the very place the record of the nephites were deposited by moroni, the son of mormon, the last nephite prophet to walk the land after the destruction of his people.
Broadway shows in new york city will extend the current suspension of all performances through june 7, 2020. The book of mormon, the first broadway musical by matt stone and trey parker the creators of south park. National geographic society statement on the book of mormon national geographic society statement on the book of mormon language. Kent brown, editors, etal was recently heralded by the mormon history association. The unidentified times and seasons editorialist seems to have favored modern central america as the setting for book of mormon events. The book of mormon follows two young missionaries who are sent to uganda to try to convert citizens to the mormon religion. Hidden true book of mormon geography lands, western new. See the video below for a great overview on the topic as well as the debates ive had on this topic with mormon apologists. It is true that a number of church leaders in the past expressed the opinion that the hill in new york is the same hill described in the book of mormon. While some of these sources treat book of mormon geography in only the vaguest generalities, others make very specific claims on the topic. Hans mattsson was once a highranking leader for the mormon church in europe. Shortly after arriving in new york, most of these relics were lost when the building that housed them was destroyed by fire. Book of mormon geography 81 the plains of the nephites and the hill cumorah the documents cited above, all of which were associated with josephs name in one way or another, were simply conveying the idea that the events in the book of mormon took place somewhere in the new world, and that the.
The churchaffiliated publishing house, deseret book, has been phasing out or renaming titles that used the word mormon, prompting authors to scramble to rename their books and figure out new. Sidon, and lands to the north and south occupied by the nephites and their enemies, the lamanites. Hemispheric geography theory lds have traditionally interpreted the text hemispherically and assumed a blank continent. One missionary, elder price, is an enthusiastic gogetter with a strong. The new york times sunday, december 29, 1912 museum walls proclaim fraud of mormon prophet. True book of mormon geography lands, western new york model. On my fourth visit to the book of mormon on a recent night, the show still had me at hello, the first word of the first song in this longrunning musical. Mormon and moronis cumorah is claimed by many believers to be the same land containing the modern hill cumorah near joseph smiths home in palmyra, western new york, from whence the gold plates of the book of mormon were retrieved. The narrow neck of is the isthmus of panama, and the last battles recorded in book of mormon were fought in new york at the hill cumorah. Regarding point 1, i have read all of sorensons works and most of what farms and the maxwell institute have.
Book of mormon geography book of mormon notes how deep. These rivers are of considerable size and were used to import timber inland as stated in the text. This is an abbreviated version of a fulllength video which fair. A new book, kingdom of nauvoo, examines joseph smiths theocratic visions. Lake tonawanda true book of mormon geography lands. Also like most heartlanders, he has never produced a detailed study of book of mormon geography.
Joseph smith, discourses of the prophet joseph smith, compiled by alma p. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model is. National geographic society statement on the book of mormon. The text does not mention creeks or brooks, only rivers. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon.
There is no official revelation in the church establishing the drumlin in new york as the hill cumorah of the book of mormon where two nations were destroyed. This is the land south of the lamanite line of possession and in general terms is referring to lamanite lands meaning, lamanites by birth or in other words, the lands of preexisting, neutral in belief people the hopewell. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. We knew that the shows creators, trey parker and matt stone south park and. The 1842 times and seasons article seems to place many book of mormon activities in that region. The book of mormon data are very clear and show quite conclusively that. Correlation and verification through dna, prophetic, scriptural, historical, climatological, archaeological, social, and cultural.
A radically different book of mormon geography theory. The smash broadway musical the book of mormon took a tortuous route to the stage, including the departure of a director, before earning 14. The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. Truth about joseph smiths beliefs on geography of the book. New scientific support for the truthfulness of the book of mormon. Since the early20th century, there has been discussion within the latter day saint movement about whether hill cumorah in new york is the same place described in the book of mormon, or whether there are two hills of the same nameone in new york and one in either southern. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Book of mormon wins big at olivier awards the new york times. By neal lineback and mandy lineback gritzner, geography in the news tm the geography of mormonism the mormon faith is in the news, as a new atlas, mapping mormonism. Book of mormon geography has been a source of debate for years both inside and outside of the lds or mormon faith. Book of mormon geography mormonism, the mormon church. The core locations and events detailed in the text of the book of mormon took place in mesoamerica, but many nephites and lamanites migrated and established settlements far northward. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new york. The land of zarahemla is at a lower elevation relative to the land of nephi.
The book of mormon says that there were wolves among the nephites, and this might give us a clue as to where the book of mormon geographical setting was mesoamerica, new york. 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. Generations of mormons grew up with the notion that american indians are descended from a lost tribe from the house of israel, offspring of a book of mormon figure named lehi, who left jerusalem and sailed to the americas around 600 b. Second, the only geographic model that fits the text of the book of mormon is a limited geographical model. Book of mormon geography in joseph smiths day book of. Response to the smithsonian institute statement on the.
Numerous other travel times are mentioned within the book of mormon, generally just days or less. Even though lds church presidents and apostles affirmed that the final battle occurred in palmyra, new york church news, february 27th, 1954, p. For over 100 years, mormons generally accepted the new york setting for the hill cumorah. Since the early twentieth century, many scholars and other serious students of the book of mormon have come to favor the limited geography model, with mesoamerica extending from southern mexico to guatemala as the book of mormon homeland and new yorks hill cumorah as the repository of mormons record but not the scene of the final. See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here.
The path of the book of mormon to broadway the new york times. The book of mormon geography lds map and lands with dna evidence for zarahemla, cumorah, america, and indians and the narrow neck the book of mormon geography book, a promised land, the land of promise, uses the book to show mormon geography along with prophetic statements. Mormons by neal lineback and mandy lineback gritzner, geography in the newstm the geography of mormonism the mormon faith is in the news, as a new atlas, mapping mormonism. A casual reader of the book of mormon tends to lean towards the hgt, because the plates were discovered at the hill cumorah in new york. Rivers true book of mormon geography lands western new. The smithsonian staff does not appear to have a single specialist in mesoamerica john l. General authority comments regarding book of mormon geography. Nephi true book of mormon geography lands western new. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting there have been numerous attempts to locate the long, lost lands of the book of mormon over the years. Gods word is to be established by two or more witnesses 2 cor.
What those two lands had in common was the sea north riplia. The book of mormon on broadway retains its charms the new. While many lds scholars are converging on the idea of mesoamerica as the focal point for the book of mormon in the new world, there is a notable movement calling for new york and the eastern united states as the place of the book of mormon. The heartland theory for the book of mormon geography suggests that events took place in the heartland of north america and culminated in upstate new york. First and secondhand accounts of what the prophet joseph said are referred to as. Rivers plural are mentioned in the text in two places, one in the land northward, and the other in the land of cumorah. The book of mormon musical arrives in salt lake for the third time. A new theory arose in of mormon geography suggesting that the relative distances in the book of mormon were much smaller than traditionally assumed. Book of mormon geography your site for lds theology. Orson pratt seems to have been the only one who recognized that the book of mormon outlines a very definite geography which cannot be disregarded. Truth about joseph smiths beliefs on geography of the. Book of mormon geography, the near cumorah setting book of. Apr 14, 2014 the broadway hit the book of mormon dominated the tony awards in 2011, winning nine including for best musical, and on sunday night the show was a powerhouse at the olivier awards, londons equivalent of the tonys. I noticed links to my blog from the the fair board regarding my why people leave the church, and what we can do about it video cast, and someone referenced this map within the thread.
As noted, recent geographies by some church members promote this identification, but others consider upstate new york or south america the correct setting. Book of mormon geography new england theory mormonism. Book of mormon geography in nevillenevilleland book of. Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith. Primary drainage of lake tonawanda is northward by multiple streams and rivers which flow into lake ontario.
Given that the book of mormon clearly describes inhabitants of the new world long before lehis arrival, lds scholars have long. Those holding tickets for performances through june 7, 2020 should contact their point of purchase for refunds and exchanges. 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. 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 these models, developed in an effort to reconcile claims in the book of mormon with archaeology.
Aug 21, 2014 on my fourth visit to the book of mormon on a recent night, the show still had me at hello, the first word of the first song in this longrunning musical. The only new broadway musicals this season that tony nominators thought fully succeeded at the things musicals do song and dance and story were the book of mormon and the scottsboro boys, which were each nominated for best book, score, direction, orchestrations and choreography as well as best musical. Sacred books claimed to have been given divinely to the first prophet are shown to be taken from old egyptian originals, their translation being a work of the imaginationwhat a comparison with metropolitan museum treasures shows. Sorenson, a new evaluation of the smithsonian institution statement regarding the book of mormon, p. Joseph smith and the geography of the book of mormon. The geographical setting of the book of mormon is the set of locations of the events described. Book of mormongeographynew worldgreat lakes geography. Book of mormon geography mapcomparison to new yorkcanada. Hidden lands would become known by later explorations, not the first ones, i. As each new theory surfaces, we gain fresh hope of acquiring additional insights into it ancient location, but are all too often disappointed. Book of mormon scholars go over the geography of the book of mormon. Book of mormongeographynew worldlimited geography theory. A new york times article detailed how in 2010, producer scott rudin felt.
Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the. The book of mormon new york city 2020 all you need to. Evidence indicates that winters were milder in western new york during book of mormon times. The smash broadway musical the book of mormon took a tortuous route to the stage, including the departure of a director, before earning 14 tony nominations. Rodney meldrum, dna evidence for 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. From south park creators trey parker and matt stone, its the book of mormon, winner of nine tony awards including best musical. The interesting fact in this connection is that the prophet joseph smith at this time was editor of the times and seasons, and had announced his full editorial responsibility for the paper. Lake tonawanda was a prehistoric lake that existed approximately 10,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age, in western new york, united states. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model is unique in this regard.
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. Phelps had linked the book of mormon to central america in 1833, he continued to identify the land of desolation with the far west and cumorah with the hill in new york. Correlation and verification through dna, prophetic, scriptural, historical, climatological, archaeological, social, and cultural evidence rodney meldrum, 2007, mailorder dvd. At its conference june 7th, the organization announced. The book of mormon is a musical comedy with music, lyrics and book by trey parker, robert lopez, and matt stone first staged in 2011, the play is a satirical examination of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints beliefs and practices that ultimately endorses the positive power of love and service. Despite that, he has confidently asserted, it turns out that if you put cumorah in new york and zarahemla in iowa, the geographical references in the text fit nicely. However, there is evidence that joseph smith and other church leaders believed that the events of the book of mormon spanned the north and south american continents, that the isthmus of panama was the narrow neck of land, and that the hill in new york was the cumorah referred to in the book of mormon. Some groups who attempt to place the book of mormon in the great lakes area of the united states, also claiming that joseph smith, the books translator, knew where bom events took place. Orson pratt, an interesting account of several remarkable visions. Book of mormon geography further analysis and information on book of mormon geography compared to land of joseph smiths youth.
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