| Book of Mormon geography |
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| Modern Map of the area of Smith's youth |
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Posted on 09/11/2009 7:29:00 AM PDT by Colofornian
I came across some interesting Book of Mormon geography theories. Some of which I was familiar with and a few that were new to me. I found them interesting to read through. I’m sure there are more theories out there, but here are a few for you to read through. I’ve included links for more information on each theory on the titles of the theory.
Mesoamerica Theory 1: Isthmus of Tehuantepec
As you can see in this map, this theory is the one in which people believe the main location for the Book of Mormon is in Central America and Mexico. The theory is that the land and continent formation is the same as today for the most part and that the archeological findings in that area could be related to Book of Mormon people. It is also a limited geography model in that the geography covers just parts of the Americas rather than all of North and South America.
Mesoamerica Theory 2: Part of the Caribean that sunk into the ocean
This theory is similar to the first theory, except the geography covers most of North and Central America and it also includes areas of the Carribean that have sunk into the ocean that appear to be cities and/or civilizations.
Baja Penninsula Theory
This theory is a relatively new one that I found the other day which claims that Lehi and company landed on the Baja Penninsula in Mexico. The theory is that this is one of the only locations in the world that supports a Meditteranean climate similar to the one Lehi and his family departed from.
Great Lakes Theory
This theory is that the whole Book of Mormon took place around the Great Lakes region.
Malay Penninsula Theory
This one is another relatively new theory. The theory is that the archeological findings in Mesoamerica do not support Book of Mormon civilizations and also that Lehi and company couldn’t feasibly make the journey 16,000 miles to the Americas. Therefore, they landed on the Malay Penninsula , which is in the area of Singapore and Thailand.
So now it’s your turn to share your thoughts. Which theory do you believe in or do you not believe in any of them? Take time to vote on which theory you believe in and feel free to leave a comment as well.
Could you just imagine if we had to "theorize" where the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea and Jerusalem were?
From the blog: So now it’s your turn to share your thoughts. Which theory do you believe in or do you not believe in any of them?
Well, my theory is this geographical location was simply in Joseph Smith's mind. Joseph borrowed from others -- either having read or at least heard about manuscripts in existence at his time about lost tribes of Israel.
And how do I know my theory has some credence? Well, lots of contextual clues exist...But let's just address the main one -- one revealed by his mother (and moms know a lot about their teen-age sons).
At about the age of 17, Joseph Smith, Jr. was quite "fluent" in telling tall tales...
We even see this later in his life when, still in his 20s, he gave himself secret code names that he pretended were names God gave him -- like Baurak Ale [sounds like a good beer brand for these days, eh?] (Doctrine & Covenants 103:35) and Gazelam (D&C 104:26)...and he would do the same for people he was sending everywhere as missionaries.
It all comes to down to men & women placing their 100% spiritual trust in what a mere lad said he saw. Here's what Lucky Mack Smith said about her 17 yo son, Joseph Smith, Junior:
"During our evening conversations, Joseph would occasionally give us some of the most amusing recitals that could be imagined. He would describe the ancient inhabitants of the continent, their dress, mode of traveling, and the animals upon which they rode; their cities, their buildings, with every particular; their mode of warfare; and also their religious worship. This he would do with as much ease, seemingly, as if he had spent his whole life among them. On the twenty-second of September, 1824, Joseph again visited the place where he found the plates the year previous; and supporting at this time that the only thing required, in order to possess them until the time for their translation, was to be able to keep the commandments of God...he fully expected to carry them home with him. (Lucy Mack Smith, edited by Preston Nibley, History of Joseph Smith, p. 83, Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, 1958)
What Mormons often miss in this account is that Lucy Mack Smith was saying Joseph gave these storied details before he ever even "interpreted" these gold plates. A lot of it was already there -- in his active, imaginitive mind!
Interesting!
My first bom contained photos of the Great Lakes and a reference to them being the ‘great seas’ spoken of in the bom. Wish I could find that particular edition again.
Regarding these ‘theories’, some have become quite a set of fireworks within mormonodom. North American Geographists
lead by Rod Meldrum, have created a great deal of friction with the current Limited Geographists lead by the apologists at the Maxwell Institute (FARMS).
Yet all of these “modern” theories have to in some fashion deny the fundamental historic mormon teaching, inspired from day 1 by Smith, that all native Americans are descended from Israelites. In fact, the Presidency is on the record denouncing the Limited Geography theory as being contrary to the teachings of Smith and the bom.
The total lack of scientific evidence to support ANY of the theories (in contrast to the overwhelming evidence to the contrary) is not suprising when one considers the bom to be a work of fiction (agreed to by former Apostle B.H. Roberts).
Are they stealth Mormons?..
My theory is that the BOM is a pack of lies.
How does that wash?
I’ve read the BOM. It is an utter work of pure fiction. I was considering becoming a Mormon back around 1979. A little studying shut that down real quick. A lot of studying and decades later I am, frankly, amazed at how many actually intelligent people believe this thing with absolutely no proof whatsoever.
Don’t get me wrong. Christianity is all about faith. But not BLIND faith.
If one looks at sites in the Book of Mormon that DO comport with modern day sites, then one would expect to find archaeological artifacts that support the stories of events that supposedly took place there.
One glaring example is the “Hill Cumorah” in New York. According to the Book of Mormon, an incredible battle took place there between the Nephites and the Lamanites. One would expect to find some tell-tale evidence of such a bloody battle. A knife blade.. an arrowhead... a chariot wheel... a breastplate... a helmet... anything at all. But nothing has been found ... nothing.
In fact, since no artifacts have been found at the Hill Cumorah in New York, some LDS “archaeologists” have begun to theorize that no battle took place there at all. (Ya think?) An hypothesis has arisen that postulates Cerro Vigia near Veracruz, Mexico as the site of the battle between the Nephites and Lamanites.
I eagerly await archaeological evidence that will support this latest new attempt to harmonize events depicted in the Book of Mormon with North American geography. I suspect that the result will be like all the other previous attempts.. unsuccessful.
This theory is similar to the first theory, except the geography covers most of North and Central America and it also includes areas of the Carribean that have sunk into the ocean that appear to be cities and/or civilizations.
In all honesty, I feel sorry for Mormons.
This shows how far people will go to hold onto their beliefs despite overwhelming evidence they aren't true.
Sunken cities? And of course all the anacronisms (horses, sheep, forged metal, barley, wheat, etc...) found in the BOM also sunk. See, they existed, we've just been looking in the wrong place.
When you have to resort to a theory that makes the City of Atlantis legend look rational, you've redefined desperate.
Sorry, I am wiping tears from eyes from laughing.
Yes, the limited geographists place the bom Hill Cumorah there. That doesn't explain why Moroni dug the plates up from that location and moved them to NY state and placed them into a new hole, then lied to smith about the resting place of the plates.
The intangibles like is God really God and does he really exist, is Jesus truly the son of God and the like are the only things we should have to apply faith to, and even those things can also be argued with some reason and logic.
We should not have to take on faith that there was a Rome, a Red Sea, a Herod etc.
I realize this is a LDS smear thread, but as a believing member of that faith, I will post the text that explains the sinking cities and changed landscape of the Americas as the death of Christ. I hold my own view of geography, but as there is so much not known, there is no need debating it among non believers.
This is from the BOM.
http://scriptures.lds.org/3_ne/8
Maybe both sides were "green" warriors, and all of their fallen weapons were biodegradable!
| Book of Mormon geography |
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| Modern Map of the area of Smith's youth |
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However he does destroy people and lands half a world away that were inhabited by harmless indigenous people and presumably the decedents of the Israelite people who fled to the new world as put forth in the book of Mormon.
Makes sense... (does it need the tag?)
Please read the “Book of Mormon” and the KJV of the Bible. Then read “View of the Hebrews”. Then make up your own mind about it.
1 Nephi 19
11 For thus spake the prophet: The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with his voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power, by tempest, by fire, and by smoke, and vapor of darkness, and by the opening of the gearth, and by mountains which shall be carried up.
12 And all these things must surely come, saith the prophet Zenos. And the rocks of the earth must rend; and because of the groanings of the earth, many of the kings of the isles of the sea shall be wrought upon by the Spirit of God, to exclaim: The God of nature suffers.
13 And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and the power and glory of the God of Israel.
14 And because they turn their hearts aside, saith the prophet, and have despised the Holy One of Israel, they shall wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss and a byword, and be hated among all nations.
15 Nevertheless, when that day cometh, saith the prophet, that they no more turn aside their hearts against the Holy One of Israel, then will he remember the covenants which he made to their fathers.
16 Yea, then will he remember the isles of the sea; yea, and all the people who are of the house of Israel, will I gather in, saith the Lord, according to the words of the prophet Zenos, from the four quarters of the earth.
17 Yea, and all the earth shall see the salvation of the Lord, saith the prophet; every nation, kindred, tongue and people shall be blessed.
18 And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer.
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