There is generally no direct support amongst mainstream historians and archaeologists for the. Lets take a look at these fascinating mormons who made a difference through the years. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. A detailed map for the book of mormon has been produced by archaeologist garth norman which may solve a longstanding puzzle. Book of mormon video library project wraps second season. The potential connection with the book of mormon is not proven, but the discovery of an underwater city within miles of sorensons earlier proposed location, and the evidence for its rapid submergence two thousand years ago, is striking. Sorenson born april 8, 1924 is an emeritus professor of anthropology at brigham young university byu and the author of an ancient american setting for the book of mormon as well as many other books and articles on the book of mormon and archaeology. Oliver cowdery and joseph smith taught this clearly. As mormon edited the book of mormon, he must have had a map in his mind of. In mormons map, sorenson implied that the seas could not be. Celebrity mormons, inventors, entertainment, actors, media. The church and byu stay neutral in questions of exactly where the book of mormon took place. Perhaps not as revolutionary in impact as his an ancient american setting for the book of mormon was back in 1985, but still impressive in the higher resolution of the contextualization. Early church authors, including benjamin winchester, speculated about a.
The trajectory of book of mormon studies by john sorenson. Actors, media personalities, politicians, inventors and more all shared the mormon faith. It was sorenson who first proposed that the scriptures action likely took place in guatemala and southern mexico, rather than encompassing both north and south america. Jerry grovers book, which uses geological principles to explain the occurrence of natural events in the book of mormon, is not as widely known. Jerry grovers book, which uses geological principles to explain the occurrence of natural events in the book of mormon, is. Sorenson attempts to reconstruct that mental map mormons map. A detailed map for the book of mormon has been produced by archaeologist. If lehi was a wealthy landowner, as the book of mormon portrays him as being 1 nephi 3. I have tremendous respect for the many book of mormon studies john sorenson has previously written. We will examine some of the more important claims put. However, sorenson s map, which is the very best effort that mormons have made to plot the lands of the book of mormon, utterly fails to correspond to the text. Mormons codex is the culmination of a lifetimes labor by mormonisms preeminent mesoamerican specialist. Underwater archaeology and the book of mormon in sorenson. Mormon s map is book of mormon scholar john sorenson s reconstruction of that mental map solely from information.
Sorensons groundbreaking book, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, published in 1985. These maps are not drawn to scale and are for illustration only. Overview of book of mormon geography and church history. Its validity as scripture depends on its being historically authentic. John l sorenson is one of the best book of mormon scholars, having written seveal excellent texts, such as an ancient american setting for the book of mormon and images of ancient america. The book of mormon itself is the best source for understanding the geographical locations contained therein. Virtual book of mormon book of mormon maps and learning tools.
For all of its strengths, however, one aspect of the model has remained perplexing. Mormons map carefully and concisely accomplishes what it sets out to do. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. Sep 06, 2018 another possibility is that lehi took unmentioned servants with the party into the wilderness. Phelps, and the pratt brothers speculated about a setting in central andor south america. Filming wrapped near springville, utah, for the second season of the book of mormon liveaction video series. List of evidence of the book of mormon john sorenson. As mormon edited the book of mormon, he must have had a map in his mind of the places and physical features that were setting the events described in that book. However, sorensons map, which is the very best effort that mormons have made to plot the lands of the book of mormon, utterly fails to correspond to the text. Brother sorenson proposed instead that the book of mormon took place in a limited area of mesoamerica.
Yeah, theres some text there too, but the real value is in the illustrations and photographs showing central american artwork, pottery, iconography, temples, animals, clothing, tools, weapons, people, and jungles. The lord could have removed all questions regarding the exact locations of these events but he did not. For the past 55 years, john sorenson has inhaled every detail of book of mormon life and history. After attending utah state agricultural college now utah state university, he enlisted in the army air corps, where he was trained at the california institute of technology as a meteorologist and served in the south atlantic theater of operations. Underwater archaeology and the book of mormon in sorensons. An ancient american book which was published by the neal a. In addition, sites and artifacts are also provided that give additional indirect support to the book of mormon story, such as evidence. It has been accepted for inclusion in byu studies quarterly by an authorized editor of byu scholarsarchive. John sorensons tehuantepeccentered model of book of mormon geography.
This map was created by me to help bring the book of mormon stories to life. Since 1949 john sorenson has been collecting archaeological and anthropological evidence to show that joseph smith translated the book of mormon from a native mesoamerican codex, or book. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. If the events it records did not happen, and if it is actually modern rather than ancient in origin, then the book of mormon cannot be the word of god. Book of mormon geography, lands, map, dna true evidence. Sorenson in his book, mormons map which i recommend for anyone. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful.
The lamanite city jerusalem in the land of nephi was named by lehite migrants after the. Compare them to a map of palestine to view the correlations. The four seas of the book of mormon mormons in transition. The book of mormon contains over 600 geographical references to over fifty separate geographical locations. Mormon s map carefully and concisely accomplishes what it sets out to do. I started this blog over a year ago, mainly in response to a document purportedly written by john sorenson about why north america cannot be the setting for the book of mormon. The book of mormon geography and map with dna evidence and the location of lands and cities such as zarahemla, cumorah, the narrow neck, mexico, caribbean sea, american indians, and true evidence are all here. The map below is interactive and gives locations for various archaeological sites, artifacts, or associated stories that may be associated with the book of mormon and its people, or book of mormon descendants. Oct 02, 2014 finally there is a way to really explore john sorenson s book of mormon geography. In mormons map, sorenson implied that the seas could not be taken literally. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1996 1985, 1.
Jan 01, 2000 as the ancient prophet mormon edited the scriptural texts that would become the book of mormon, he must have had a map in his mind of the places and physical features that comprised the setting for the events described in that book. This book of mormon map along with a wall map are available for down loading in color and the book of mormon geography book a promised land, the land of promise with all the mormon maps and details is also available at alpha publishing at. 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 gid, land of desolation, middoni, sea sou. After all, when you read the bible, you can turn to the maps and see where everything happened. You can read a transcript of this lecture on the fair website at. The land of zarahemla is at a lower elevation relative to the land of nephi. For example, bountiful is south of the land desolation. Rediscovering the book of mormon, edited by john sorenson and melvin thorne, appeared in 1991. For many years the smithsonian institution in washington has received inquiries concerning the book of mormon, its role in the institutions scientific activities, and a number of specific. This is a large coffeetable book with gorgeous fullcolor pictures. Book of mormon video library project wraps second season of.
As the ancient prophet mormon edited the scriptural texts that would become the book of mormon, he must have had a map in his mind of the places and physical. New correlations it is not enough to demonstrate that the book of mormon geography does not fit into central america. Sorenson published an ancient american setting for the book of mormon. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon salt lake city, utah. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book.
Interactive book of mormon map virtual book of mormon. Finally there is a way to really explore john sorenson s book of mormon geography. Early church authors, including benjamin winchester, william smith, w. Sorensons model places the book of mormon in part of the region known. Sorenson attempts to reconstruct that mental map mormons map using information in the text. Sorenson first developed his model in 1953 and committed it to paper in 1955. Site correlations more about these maps land northward. Sorenson in his book, mormons map which i recommend for anyone who would like to study what the book of mormon says about its own geography. As the ancient prophet mormon edited the scriptural texts that would become the book of mormon, he must have had a map in his mind of the places and physical features that comprised the setting for the events described in that book. See my answers to questions about the book of mormon here.
Sorenson was born in 1924 in smithfield, utah, where he grew up. Overwhelming complexity and consistency the book of mormon contains over 600 geographical references to over fifty separate geographical locations. It appeared that in order to accept that correlation one must accept that the nephites rotated north to what we typically. Aug 15, 2019 2017 overview of book of mormon geography and church history. The likelihood of such a setting was greatly strengthened by john l. Sorenson attempts to reconstruct that mental map mormon s map using information in the text. In this text, sorenson reconstructs the internal geography of the book of mormon. His best known book prior to this was an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, published in 1985. For example, the essay entitled, book of mormon and dna studies2 references john l. That would allow part of the ocean to lie toward the. 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. For that reason, our design team has chosen to develop an internal map that shows relational directions and approximate distances that match the.
Wells jakeman favored the usumacinta river, whereas john l. The map, though admittedly tentative, offers three services to readers of the book of mormon. After attending utah state agricultural college, he enlisted in the army air corps where he was trained at the california institute of technology as a meteorologist and served in the south atlantic theater of ww ii. He received an ma in archaeology from byu and a phd in anthropology from ucla. After attending utah state agricultural college now utah state university, he enlisted in the army air corps, where he was trained at the california institute of technology as a meteorologist and served in. These arguments were summarized more recently in john l. The book of mormon, the founding document of the latter day saint movement and one of the four books of scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, is an account of three groups of people. The multiyear project is being produced by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints to bring the stories of ancientamerican civilization to life and share the teachings of jesus christ. The only way to have seas north and south on a literal or descriptive basis would be for the two major bodies of land to be oriented at an angle somewhat off true northsouth. There is such a variety and volume of media flooding our personal. Sorenson suggests that indicators in the books text makes it inescapable that there were substantial populations in the. Maxwell institute which is the mormon apologist group at brigham young university. According to the book, two of these groups originated from ancient israel.
Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Sorenson outlined his model in his seminal 1985 work, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, john l. Sorensons an ancient american setting for the book of mormon presented the best argument for a new world location for the book of mormon. Another possibility is that lehi took unmentioned servants with the party into the wilderness. Having been privileged to work with him on some of. Sorensons model places the book of mormon in part of the region known as mesoamerica, extending from. The book of mormon purports to be an inspired and accurate translation of an ancient historical narrative covering more than a thousand years. Book of mormon geographymodelslimitedsorenson 1955. Made popular by his 1985 publication an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, sorensons geographic model for the book of mormon has withstood the test of time and remains the preeminent geographic model for book of mormon events. Havent you always wanted to have a detailed map of just where everything is in the book of mormon. Internal book of mormon geography focuses on the relationships between lands and other geographic features, independent of where they might be physically located on todays maps. This was followed in 1992 by reexploring the book of mormon, edited by john welch, and in 1997 by book of mormon authorship revisited. Mormon s map is book of mormon scholar john sorenson s reconstruction of that mental map solely from information gleaned from the text after years of.
This book is out of print but cheap used copies are plentiful on amazon. Finally there is a way to really explore john sorensons book of mormon geography. The evidence for ancient origins, edited by noel reynolds. His map and ideas have dominated lds scholarly thinking for decades. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Made popular by his 1985 publication an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, sorenson s geographic model for the book of mormon has withstood the test of time and remains the preeminent geographic model for book of mormon events.