John sorenson true book of mormon geography lands western. This was followed in 1992 by reexploring the book of mormon, edited by john welch, and in 1997 by book of mormon authorship revisited. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon salt lake city, utah. The map, though admittedly tentative, offers three services to readers of the book of mormon. 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. 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. Sorenson had to skew the cardinal directions so his east coast cities are actually north northwest of his zarahemla. His map and ideas have dominated lds scholarly thinking for decades. Havent you always wanted to have a detailed map of just where everything is in the book of mormon. 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. 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.
A detailed map for the book of mormon has been produced by archaeologist garth norman which may solve a longstanding puzzle. Sorenson attempts to reconstruct that mental map mormon s map using information in the text. This is a large coffeetable book with gorgeous fullcolor pictures. Based on the same map, we see that the main river in the book of mormon called sidon, is the buffalo river. 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. It has been accepted for inclusion in byu studies quarterly by an authorized editor of byu scholarsarchive. Pratt a detailed map for the book of mormon has been produced by archaeologist garth norman which may solve a longstanding puzzle. Some placed the nephite capital city zarahemla in mesoamerica, others in south america. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon matters. In 1991, john sorenson of byu, the dean of book of mormon geography, created a book called the geography of book of mormon events. Sorenson outlined his model in his seminal 1985 work, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, john l.
Utah the mormon capital american travel i think it was in kansas city that i first became conscious of the fact that, without my knowing it, my mind had made, in advance, imaginary pictures of certain sections of the country, and that, in almost every instance, these pictures were remarkable for their untruthfulness. 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. Luke sorenson is a managing partner at sorenson capital and has been with the firm from its earliest days. Neville argues that this chiasmus allows the reconstruction of a geography that stretches south to the gulf of mexico in the cont. Thus, there is a definite lack of agreement between the text and sorensons map of the land of zarahemla. To explain more thoroughly, more than one view of where the nephites lived was held in the. In one corner is the moreestablished idea of a mesoamerican. New correlations it is not enough to demonstrate that the book of mormon geography does not fit into central america. For detailed maps see our book of mormon geography site. Finally there is a way to really explore john sorenson s book of mormon geography.
One point to keep in mind is that mormon describes the overall picture of. Apr 20, 2009 most of you believe that the book of mormon occurred in central america, right. Mormon s map is book of mormon scholar john sorenson s reconstruction of that mental map solely from. The framework for book of mormon geography is set forth in alma 22, in which. Sorenson, a retired professor of anthropology at byu. Lukes investment experience spans a wide range of disciplines, from aerospace to technology, consumer, and manufacturing. He writes, the nearest thing to a systematic explanation of mormons geographical picture is given in alma 22. Archaeology, relics, and book of mormon belief book of. The evidence for ancient origins, edited by noel reynolds. Mar 02, 2015 accurate correlation of the book of mormon with the mesoamerican map requires interpretation of the words north, south, east and west. 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 book of mormon as a mesoamerican record book of mormon. Jan 01, 2000 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. Adds the nephite and lamanite civs into the game, also adds a few citystates from the book of mormon, and nauvoo. According to sorenson, his proposed book of mormon geography plausibly places the city of jerusalem on the south shore of the lake atitlan. Mormons codex is the culmination of a lifetimes labor by mormonisms preeminent mesoamerican specialist. 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. This book is out of print but cheap used copies are plentiful on amazon. 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. Mapping the book of mormon is a monument to one mans faith and excitement of discovery. Book of mormon geographymodelslimitedsorenson 1955. It can be read as a very long and complex testimony. Maps moronis america the north american setting for.
An ancient american setting for the book of mormon by john l. After all, when you read the bible, you can turn to the maps and see where everything happened. 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. The fight over book of mormon geography deseret news. Brother sorenson proposed instead that the book of mormon took place in a limited area of mesoamerica. Rediscovering the book of mormon is a useful volume of essays dealing with the literary texture, variety and richness of the book of mormon that shows joseph smith could not have possibly authored the text in the 19th century. Thomas stuart ferguson lay in his hammock, certain that he had found.
Sorenson attempts to reconstruct that mental map mormons map using information in the text. Garth normans map book of mormon archaeological forum. Book of mormon geography the encyclopedia of mormonism. Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins byu.
Confusions of tongues and a map book of mormon central. Sorenson capital 3400 n ashton blvd lehi, ut financial. Our changing understanding of ancient america and its scripture part 1, ensign september 1984 offsite matthew roper, limited geography and the book of mormon. Latterday saints believe the book of mormon to con tain a true. Jan 18, 2018 how a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand ended up losing his faith. Clark had circumstances permitted a marked grave for the slain prophet, a fitting headstone could have read, by joseph smith, junior, author and proprietor. Over the last couple of years, one of the many things i have dabbled in offandon has had to do with the methodologies employed by those who develop new world book of mormon geographies. Sorenson first developed his model in 1953 and committed it to paper in 1955. 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. 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 informational questions about ancient american archaeology.
One historical anecdote makes clear that it was wide enough that a party passing. There is obviously a lot of diversity of opinion on this topic, and certain proponents have blamed all this conf. Very good book, it gave a very plausible realworld setting for the book of mormon, and i think sorenson is definitely on to something. The near agreement in time between the flooding described in the book of mormon city and the rise of the lake waters over samabaj, as well as the seemingly abrupt manner. Oct 02, 2014 finally there is a way to really explore john sorenson s book of mormon geography. Mormon s map carefully and concisely accomplishes what it sets out to do. Sorenson argues that book of mormon lands and peoples were in central america and southern mexico, an area known as mesoamerica. He had a lot of really good ideas as to how the book of mormon could fit into current knowledge of history, archaeology, and geography of ancient north america. I still think there is a serious problem of imprinting a particular geographyeven an abstract one but if the people involved accept the scripture on faith alone, they may never care about the realworld geography, so a mental abstract map is no problem. Such maps can be a useful introduction for those who are new to the book of mormon. He is unable to identify the one major river in the book of.
Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins author john e. In this text, sorenson reconstructs the internal geography of the book of mormon. This is yet one more data point supporting our deduced value for the book of mormon standard unit of measure one days travel. Unfortunately, it cannot be read for solid information on toponyms, languages, or cultural history. Book of mormongeographynew worldlimited geography theory.
Jonathan neville, an advocate of the heartland geography setting for the book of mormon, claims to have identified a novel chiastic structure that begins in alma 22. Allens exploring the lands of the book of mormon 1989 is one example. Rediscovering the book of mormon, edited by john sorenson and melvin thorne, appeared in 1991. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1996 1985, 1. At least eighty versions of a book of mormon map have been produced. Book of mormon geography your site for lds theology. One common argument for the book of mormon having taken place in. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. John sorenson, the geography of book of mormon events, pp. We notice that the configuration of lands, seas, mountains, and other natural features in mesoamerica are a tight fit with the internal requirements of the text. These are the core areas for the history of the book of mormon and is called the western new york model. We invest in you because we understand that great companies are built by the vision and creativity of the people behind them.