Where Are The Lands of The Book of Mormon?
Opinions of Latter-day Saints concerning the location of the lands of The Book of Mormon are scattered from South America to the Hill Cumorah in New York. There is no consensus of opinion.
Regardless, The Book of Mormon is the position of the Church, and the geography and cultures described in this book must be the standard for identifying the lands and cultures presented by Nephi, Mormon, Moroni, and Ether. Theories that conflict with the content of The Book of Mormon can not be correct. However, there are many Mormons that as part of their testimonies are determined to fit a large square peg into a small round hole based on traditional beliefs reported to have been presented by historic Mormon leaders.
The fact is that, the "Church" has no position as to where the lands of The Book of Mormon are located.. This being the case, then statements and opinions of historic Church leaders are not conclusive. Nevertheless, statements and opinions of historic prophets are cherished by believers. Reportedly Joseph Smith said that there were Nephites and Lamanites in the Hearland of the USA. Consequently, some are sure that the events recorded in The Book of Mormon occurred in the Great Plains and north to the Hill Cumorah in New York, Nephites and Lamanites may have lived in South America or in Canada, so why is the Heartland of the USA the right place?
Some have found evidence in South America that supports The Book of Mormon, and they tend to hold fast to South America as the right place.
On the other hand, LDS scientists have firmly established the relationship between the geography recorded in The Book of Mormon and Mesoamerica.
The lands of The Book of Mormon fit well in Mesoamerica (Hauck, F. Richard; Deciphering The Geography of The Book of Mormon, printed by Deseret Book, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1988. p. xii).
Regardless of scientific evidence, believers report that Joseph Smith said or wrote that the Nephites and Lamanites were found in the Heartland of the USA. Remember, the LDS Church has no position as to the location of the lands of The Book of Mormon, so quoting historic LDS prophets is not conclusive. The geography presented in The Book of Mormon is conclusive.
It is apparent that the lands of The Book of Mormon were not in the United States of America because:
There were no major battles fought among the natives of the Great Plains before 1050 AD (Pauketat, Timothy R., Cahokia, Viking, Penguin Group, 375 Hudson Street, New York, N. Y., USA, 2009. p. 165).
Moreover, the archaeological data from the area of Palmyra, New York is not consistent with the cultures presented in The Book of Mormon. There were no great cities, no towers for worship, little metallurgy, no formal political state, and no organized religion. There was very little craft development, limited agriculture, no formal written language, and no calendar, in that area (Palmer, David A. In Search of Cumorah, Horizon Publishers and Printers, August 1984. P. O. Box 490, 50 South 500 West, Bountiful, Utah 84010. pp 86-87.)
Discounting The Book of Mormon is popular, but the geography presented in the book fits well in Mesoamerica. The city of Moroni of The Book of Mormon appears to be inundated under the Caribbean Sea, just east of Lake Izabal. The Cuchumatanes must be the narrow strip of wilderness that ran in a straight line from the east sea to the west sea. The Grijalva River and the Usumacinta River both head out in the Cuchumantes (mountains) and run north to the sea. LDS scientists are divided on which of these rivers is the river Sidon of The Book of Mormon. Paredon Viejo appears to be the fortification built by General Mormon's troops. Paredon Viejo is located on the south side of the Iathmus of Tehuantepec. The hill "Xim" pronounced Shim in the Mayan language appears to the hill Shim of The Book of Momon, located on the west and north side of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and the hill Vigia located nearby is presented by nearly all Latter-day Saint scientists as the hill Cumorah of The Book of Mormon. Careful study of these issues has proved to me that The Book of Mormon is faithful beyond all opposition, and I doubt that any open minded person that will do his homework can come to any other conclusion.
I have proved to myself of the bases of the facts that Mesoamerica is the right place. and I have written the book: Where in the Americas are the Lands of The Book of Mormomn. Free copies of this book may be obtained by contacting me. [email protected].
