Ive been feeling the need to get this out as so many discussions would benefit from having this background. I now know that the book of mormon happened in the usa in the historic heartland that is such a significant part of american and book of mormon history. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading understanding the book of mormon. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. Exploring book of mormon in americas heartland photobook. The proximity of the heartland geography to upstate new york where the book of mormon remained buried in the hill. Most, but not all, mormons hold the books connection to ancient american history as an article of their faith. And it is the basis for what has become known as the heartland model for the geography of the book of mormon. Over 500 stunningly beautiful photographs combine with quotes, stories, charts, commentary, maps and scripture to introduce the reader to the rapidly mounting body of evidence that presents the very real possibility that the book of mormon history occurred in the heartland of north america. The book of mormon, doctrine and covenants, and pearl of great price are shorter books than the bible, so they are often combined and bound together in one book, which members of the church call the triple combination. In the other corner is the challenger, a new theory that places book of mormon events in a north american heartland setting.
The fight over book of mormon geography deseret news. Those who believe that the book of mormon events took place in north america often quote in the almost complete absence of written records, one must be permitted to guess, because there is nothing else to do. This is important because the latterday saints make such a point about it containing the fullness of. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland book. Yes, they may be hebrews but they are entirely different groups, and it is wrong to try to force them into some model by stretching beyond credulity the geographies contained in the internal evidence of the book of mormon. This video discusses all of the main theories critics try and point to for alternative ways the book of mormon could be produced and how these arguments fall apart when the details are explored. Like the mesoamerican theory, it also is limited in area but not quite as limited.
One passage says that the book of mormon shall establish the truth of the bible and shall make known to all kindreds. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful. Correlation and verification through dna, prophetic, scriptural, historical. Mormon included in his compilation the first six books as they were written. There are differing views on the origin of the book of mormon. Pros, cons of book of mormon geography theories deseret news. A heartland book of mormon exploration the millennial star. With that background information, id like to discuss my theory of the translation of the book of mormon.
Both the mesoamerican and the heartland book of mormon geography theories have their strong points and, shall we say, areas that need. This view finds no acceptance outside of mormonism. First, it utterly lacks historical or archaeological support, and there is overwhelming empirical evidence that refutes it. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland. Heartland model ignores book of mormon passages that place elements of the promised land outside the presentday or josephs day united statesincluding the visit of christopher columbus, who never entered the. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Notice young called this teaching a doctrine, not a theory as most mormons like to refer to it today. Home summary of problems with rod meldrums heartland theory. The new book of mormon videos being produced by the church, similar to the bible videos, show a north american setting and i have heard some rumblings that the seminary and institute curriculum is eliminating all references to mesoamerica as the place where the book of mormon takes place. This book is great, but like i said, is the tip of the iceberg. Book of mormon, general, lds scriptures tagged with. Far from undermining the bible, the book of mormon supports its testimony of jesus christ. Book of mormon, work accepted as holy scripture, in addition to the bible, in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and other mormon churches.
A very plausible lost and missing novel by solomon spalding manuscript found, separate and distinct from the oberlin manuscript has not been ruled out by mormon apologists. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Byu studies, naturalistic explanations of the origin of the book of mormon. The book of mormon narrative begins with a small group of people who arrived in the americas around 600 b. We have been disappointed to read online commentary from individuals favoring a heartland model of book of mormon geography that. The prophecies and promises indicate that the united states has to be at least some part of the book of mormon, because practically every one of these promises in it can only really be applied as the united states, rod l. Sure, its protagonists are a pair of missionaries in africa. The book of mormon, a larky buddy story about two american mormons who go to uganda in an attempt to convert the natives, is utterly irresistible. The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is not accepted as scientifically verifiable by. Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. Clark, archaeology and cumorah questions, journal of book of mormon studies. The book of mormon is a vulgar, ugly, offensive and. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim historical authenticity of the book of mormon. David michael reflects on reading the book of mormon cover to cover duration.
Variations of this theory only include that the text is a divinely inspired narrative, regardless of. Adena and hopewell peoples lived in pennsylvania and western new york, but this region represented the impoverished fringe of their culture. Both lds and nonlds people are now officially calling the heartland model research a movement within the membership of the church. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesoverview fairmormon. To date, nothing has been found to verify book of mormon sites. Melekin claims that his book titled, manifestations mysteries revealed, has proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that the book of mormon is an african book and about africans. Exploring book of mormon in americas heartland photobook rod l. Every proponent of meldrums theory i have ever met was at least a little bit smug about white american.
True book of mormon geography lands, western new york model. Saints and book of mormon geography church history. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland book book. In antiquity, this region was settled by mound building cultures that existed during. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland a. The book of mormon, like the bible, teaches about jesus. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland deseret book. The heartland model is a proposed book of mormon geography that spreads the scriptures new world setting over much of the eastern united states. A longitudinal study the spalding theory of book of mormon authorship jump to subtopic. Mormon books mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. A new book, tentatively titled mormons codex, is in the process of being published.
An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Thus, the book of mormon prophecies and promises about the massive destruction in the land at the time of christs crucifixion involve other realworld and geographical evidences that negate porter and meldrums heartland theory about the location of the new world events of. The book of mormon is another witness of jesus christ and confirms the truths found in the holy bible. As you read its pages, you can find answers to lifes toughest questions. Creativity theory and the origin of the book of mormon and. The view of the hebrews theory became popular with the publishing of b. Roberts critical examination of the book of mormon titled studies of the book of mormon. The book of mormon is far, far cleverer, far kinder, far more nuanced than that, and one of its many surprises is that it sent an enraptured, ecstatic. The heartland model or heartland theory of book of mormon geography postulates that the events described in the book of mormon took place, primarily. A biography is the first book that this college professor of english has written on the subject of mormonism. The book of mormon was translated by joseph smith through a process of using a seer stone called the urim and thummim.
Because the book was not widely available for many. The book supports its heartland theory of the book of mormon with overwhelming evidence that is very convincing. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon. Summary of problems with rod meldrums heartland theory. And a hefty portion of its laughs come at the expense of those friendly doorto. Some of which i was familiar with and a few that were new to me. Heartland model declared a movement book of mormon evidence. Compelling is an understatement as more and more evidence is unearthed it is actually hard to believe the people of north america could be anything other than those whos year history is documented in the book of mormon. The mormon church, a sect of christianity sometimes referred to as a cult, has a collection of sacred writings called the pearl of great price mormons believe in the concept of creation according to genesis, but they also give some additional information based on several other texts from moses, abraham, and texts of joseph smith according to those texts, before. The heartland model or heartland theory of book of mormon geography postulates that the events described in the book of mormon took place, primarily, in the heartland of north america among its proposals are that mound builders, including the hopewell and the adena, were among those peoples described in accounts of events in book of mormon books such as alma and helaman. Miraculous origins theories generally accept joseph smiths own account, that he translated an ancient record compiled and abridged by mormon, a precolumbian resident of the western hemisphere. Hugh nibley, the prophetic book of mormon, ancient temples. Book of mormon, 1837, page 0 the joseph smith papers.
Siron, city of jordan, waters of ripliancum, city and land of noah, land of joshua, city of teancum, city of aaron, city of mulek, hermounts, city of nephi, land of antum, land of jershon, city of bountiful, city of. I came across some interesting book of mormon geography theories. Book of mormon fringe theory was inspired by geography enthusiast john e. What authorship theories are proposed by nonbelievers to account for the authorship of the book of mormon. First published in 1830, the bom has gone through many changes involving grammar, name corrections, and. All my studies suddenly made sense, all aspects of the book of mormon finally became clear.
The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. It is claimed that joseph smith, the founder of mormonism, translated golden plates and the result of this work was the book of mormon. The book of mormon is an extrabiblical text of mormonism. For about a year now, ive been working out how to word my thoughts on how creativity theory relates to the origin of the book of mormon. In fact, many within the mormon church are beginning to abandon the idea that the. Mormon cries repentance unto the nephitesthey gain a great victory and glory in their own strengthmormon refuses to lead them, and his prayers for them are without faiththe book of mormon invites the twelve tribes of israel to believe the gospel. Second, the book of mormon contains none of the key mormon doctrines. The book of mormon comprises fifteen books, each named after its principal writer. Smith said he has received these plates in 1827 from an angel named moroni, who. Why is the heartland model of the book of mormon is. Visual overview of the flow of events in the book of mormon.
It was first published in 1830 in palmyra, new york, and was thereafter widely reprinted and translated. Editions of the scriptures can also be purchased in one large book with the bible both old and new testaments included. The following 2 theories are some of the most radical. The book of mormon is a sacred text that was published in march 1830 by joseph smith, jr. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland a visual journey of discovery book. The best argument against view of the hebrews being the source for the book of mormon is the text of view of the hebrews itself. The publisher obviously decided to choose a neutral observer to analyze what joseph smith called the most correct book on earth. According to smith, the book is originally written in an otherwise unknown language called reformed egyptian on golden plates and it should be of similar importance as the bible. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. New scientific support for the truthfulness of the book of mormon. The writers of the book of mormon musical focus their story on two groups of people, but it is clear from the text that they.
691 1358 19 475 518 891 50 447 196 1012 920 1419 1524 945 755 1415 466 1131 702 644 1277 326 965 1185 557 404 1287 1441 597 1017 907 93 559 824