The new essay begins with this declarative statement. It was postulated by john sorenson and others that no researcher of book of mormon geography should attempt to physically place it anywhere without first extracting an internal geography model to see if the person has a thorough understanding of the text. Sorensons groundbreaking book, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, published in 1985. This has lead to more than 150 different proposed geographies. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon. Peay, verneil simmons, multiple internal models, authors supporting the north and south america. Sorenson does an excellent job in showing the requirements of the book of mormon volume and the antiquity of a limited geography model among latterday saints, contra critics who claim it is nothing short of a construct by sorenson from the 1980s and a mormon tactic to protect the book of mormon from alleged archaeological problems. Most books on book of mormon geography can be discounted easily. For good overviews of book of mormon geographies and related issues, see sorenson, an ancient american setting. Book of mormon geographymodelslimitedsorenson 1955. The four seas of the book of mormon mormons in transition.
The fight over book of mormon geography deseret news. Garth norman, bookofmormon geography study on the narrow neck of land region, privately circulated book of mormon geography working paper no. Sorensons work is the best ive yet read on book of mormon geography. Already in 1903, some were disputing proposals for book of mormon geography on the. I am personally assured that the nephite map is now known with quite high probability.
Olsen has proposed a malay site for the book of mormon, and says, in particular, ive focused on the problems associated with the mesoamerican setting proposed by john l. The book is composed of 128 pages of understandable text including seventeen maps illustrating geographical features mentioned in the text. The church emphasizes the doctrinal and historical value of the book of mormon, not its geography. Truth about joseph smiths beliefs on geography of the book of mormon. Sorensons useful study aid for those interested in book of mormon geography issues. Sorensons 1992 the geography of book of mormon events. Aug 07, 2015 the great white god of ancient america bom lands conference 2014 scott hoyt duration. Views on book of mormon geography, privately circulated book of mormon working paper no. He ran the new world archaeological foundation from 1959 to 1987. Just one cumorah by riley lake dixon, slc, bookcraft, 1958 general 1830s. Sorensons most recent compilation and discussion of book of mormon passages relating to geography. He offers the reader more than just a landscape by describing other aspects of life, such as animals, building materials, and food items and how they may have related to the book of mormon peoples. Overwhelming complexity and consistency the book of mormon contains over 600 geographical references to over fifty separate geographical locations.
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. I admit that my own model was tainted by preconceptions. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon matters. Jan 30, 2019 see the series of quotations from 1903 to 1993 at book of mormon geography and revelation, fairmormon n. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, oclc 35363524 further reading edit ash, michael r. When john sorenson s longawaited volume an ancient american setting for the book of mormon finally appeared in 1985, i was thrilled and bought it immediately hugh nibley had been investigating the ancient near eastern background of the book of mormon for decades, but the study of its ancient american background had lagged behind. For example, bountiful is south of the land desolation. The church takes no position on the specific geographic location of book of mormon events in the ancient americas. Dunn and william green, terminal archaic and early woodland plant use at the gast spring site la152. 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. Sorenson lecture, sponsored by the byu department of anthropology and book of mormon central. Unfortunately, exploring and testing his geographic model in. See the series of quotations from 1903 to 1993 at book of mormon geography and revelation, fairmormon n.
The author, john sorenson, has some insightful ideas about where the book of mormon lands may have been located, and he provides compelling evidence. Mormons map is book of mormon scholar john sorensons reconstruction of that mental map solely from information gleaned from the text after years of intensive study. Sorenson was born in 1924 in smithfield, utah, where he grew up. He shows clearly that the book of mormon occured in a rather limited geographical scope, in the order of a few hundred miles or so, and that the lds church has. Sorenson s analysis cannot be considered the last word, but any coherent book of mormon geography must address the issues of distance within the text, as laid out by sorenson. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon salt lake city. In mormons map, sorenson implied that the seas could not be taken literally. This is not a book of archeaology or consideration of placement of cities in modern mesoamerica. Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins byu.
Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith. Dont know much about book of mormon geography the faith. 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. John sorensons mormons codex examines book of mormon. That would allow part of the ocean to lie toward the. Even though the mormon church formally denies endorsing any geographical theory regarding the location of book of mormon events, its many book of mormon editions, film strips, pamphlets and professors using images and references exclusively of the.
Sorenson, a retired professor of anthropology at byu, and the author of an ancient. John sorenson changed his mind about dna simons dna. 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. 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. In 1991, john sorenson of byu, the dean of book of mormon geography, created a book called the geography of book of mormon events. Sorensons an ancient american setting for the book. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Sorenson has been studying the relationship of the book of mormon to mesoamerica for over 60 years. Sorenson were fellow graduate students at byu in the early 1950s. The likelihood of such a setting was greatly strengthened by john l. John sorensons tehuantepeccentered model of book of mormon geography. An ancient american book see a video further down the page. An ancient american setting for the book of mormon by john.
John sorenson true book of mormon geography lands western. Unfortunately, exploring and testing his geographic. Sorenson s work is the best ive yet read on book of mormon geography. 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 sorenson first did archaeological work in mesoamerica while pursuing a masters degree at byu. Smith, barley in ancient america, in reexploring the book of mormon.
Jun 27, 2016 practically since the book of mormon was published, its geography has been the subject of discussion and debate. This guide does not endorse any theory for book of mormon geography and in attempting to show many sides does not. Oct 02, 2014 finally there is a way to really explore john sorenson s book of mormon geography. May 27, 2010 the person most often associated with this theory is john l. Interpreting book of mormon geography byu scholarsarchive. John l sorenson, the geography of 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. Sorenson in ancient american setting and in many other books and articles, which is currently the. Stephen houston, one of the leading maya archaeologists in the world, currently the dupee family professor of social sciences at brown university, gave the inaugural john l. Clark,4 randall spackman determined that there are upwards of passages of potential geographic.
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. Ja and jn washburn, an approach to the study of the book of mormon geography, provo, utah, 1939. Sorenson himself expresses confidence in his interpretation of book of mormon geography. Interpreting book of mormon geography brigham young university. May 08, 2018 careful analysis of early writings on book of mormon geography reveals a diversity of ideas and opinions on the location of nearly every book of mormon place. 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.
Mormons map is book of mormon scholar john sorensons reconstruction of that mental map solely from. Finally there is a way to really explore john sorensons book of mormon geography. For comparison of 60 different proposals, see john l. Mormons map is book of mormon scholar john sorensons reconstruction of that mental map solely from information gleaned from the text after years of. Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith andrew h. Cannon noted there were several different and conflicting book of mormon geographies in circulation, and no two of them agree on all points. List of evidence of the book of mormon john sorenson duration. Sorenson, a retired professor of anthropology at byu, and the author of an ancient american setting for the book of mormon and a series of articles on book of mormon geography that ran in the ensign magazine in september and october 1984. He received an ma in archaeology from byu and a phd in anthropology from ucla. Jerry grovers book, which uses geological principles to explain the occurrence of natural events in the book of mormon, is.
Church releases statement on book of mormon geography. Mormons map is book of mormon scholar john sorensons reconstruction of that mental map solely from information gleaned from the text after years of intensive. Sorenson outlined his model in his seminal 1985 work, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, john l. An annotated bibliography jerald and sandra tanner, covering up the black hole in the book of mormon. It is, however, a fantastic and exhaustive examination of what the book of mormon itself says about its own geography. 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. 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.
Practically since the book of mormon was published, its geography has been the subject of discussion and debate. The scriptural basis for book of mormon geography book. Deseret news archives when john sorensons longawaited volume an ancient american setting for the book of mormon finally appeared in 1985, i was thrilled and bought it immediately. Sorenson, the geography of the book of mormon events.
The great white god of ancient america bom lands conference 2014 scott hoyt duration. Why did mormon give so many details about geography. John sorenson, the geography of book of mormon events, pp. Many proposed book of mormon geography theories were originated using a method proposed by dr. His best known book prior to this was an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, published in 1985. Apr 20, 2009 in 1991, john sorenson of byu, the dean of book of mormon geography, created a book called the geography of book of mormon events. Maps true book of mormon geography lands western new. Most interesting is the process of discussing an alternate geography by contrasting it with sorensons. 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. Sorenson, one of the foremost students on the subject, identified over 600 passages relevant to geography.
Jerry grovers book, which uses geological principles to explain the occurrence of natural events in the book of mormon, is not as widely known. Sorensons analysis cannot be considered the last word, but any coherent book of mormon geography must address the issues of distance within the text, as laid out by sorenson. When john sorensons longawaited volume an ancient american setting for the book of mormon finally appeared in 1985, i was thrilled and bought it immediately hugh nibley had been investigating the ancient near eastern background of the book of mormon for decades, but the study of its ancient american background had lagged behind. The person most often associated with this theory is john l. Sorenson is an emeritus professor of anthropology at brigham young university and the author of an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, a seminal apologetic work. He also serves as editor of journal of book of mormon studies. 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. Maps true book of mormon geography lands western new york. In this text, sorenson reconstructs the internal geography of the book of mormon. Sorenson founded the anthropology program at byu in 1958 and lead anthropology research at byu for 14 years before retiring in 1986. Sorenson shares his research and reflections on the origins of the book of mormon peoples in mormons codex. Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon. 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. 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.
For decades, john sorenson has been among the foremost students of the book of mormon, and the principal advocate for a limited mesoamerican geography. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints released a statement today concerning the geography of the book of mormon in the form of a new gospel topics essay titled book of mormon geography. Hedges in the course of his efforts to chart the development of ideas regarding book of mormon geography, john l. Finally there is a way to really explore john sorenson s book of mormon geography. Geography book of mormon subject guides at brigham young. For the past 55 years, john sorenson has inhaled every detail of book of mormon life and history. Raish, precolumbian contact with the americas across the oceans. Although his is certainly not the only one, the strength of his position is such that it is practically impossible to discuss book of mormon geography without referencing his model. I vividly remember the excitement of reading an ancient american setting for the book of mormon back in 1985.