N2 the ancient capital of cahokia and a series of lesser population centers developed in the mississippi valley in north america between the eighth and fifteenth centuries ad, leaving behind an extraordinarily rich archaeological record. Zelph in relation to book of mormon geography fairmormon. The people that lived in cahokia a mississippian culture would be descendants of the mound builders of the woodland period whose timeline coincides more closely with that of the book of mormon. Ancient mounds with human bones in north america book of. The mound complex was named after the cahokia subtribe of the illiniwek or illinois tribe, a loose confederacy of related peoples who moved into the area in the 17 th century and were living nearby when the french explorers arrived about 1699. Wayne may presents book of mormon evidence in north american geography, archaeology and historical records. We are the pioneers of the book of mormon tour concept.
While capturing the city teancum, the lamanites took many women and children as prisoners and sacrificed them to idols mormon 4. Lund, mesoamerica and the book of mormon is this the place. Archaeological evidence has placed ancient american peoples such as the olmecs, teotihuacans, zapotecs, mayans, and chiapas in various general locations in mesoamerica. This map plausibly positions these and other book of mormon locations in the general mesoamerican arena.
He notes that gold, silver and copper are mentioned several times in the book of mormon being found in abundance in the land. For years, as a young tbm, i was always trying to learn more about the book of mormon in the belief that, assuming the book of mormon to be exactly what it claimed to be, i would eventually start running into more and more corroborating evidence in support of the boms claims. A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in mesoamerica the contents of all bmaf publications are the sole responsibility of the individual authors and therefore do not necessarily represent the views of bmaf or the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Concerning this record, the prophet joseph smith, who translated it by the gift and power of god, said, i told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book see the introduction at the. A map shown left was produced by cyrus thomas in 1894 in a. After smiths death at the hands of one of those mobs in nauvoo, illinois, they were sold by his family. Hence, the book of mormon might not have been written in the usa. Saved from lellimecnar discover ideas about family scripture. Archaeologists in north america, unfortunately, often narrowly appraise the causes, looking just to climate change or societal problems in need of a solution, without thinking about the aspirations, designs, and ingenuity of people. Rodney meldrum claims that this scripture proves that zarahemla is in north america, across the river. The book of mormon also spoke of sprawling ancient cities, none of which had been identified in the united states. Book of mormon geography your site for lds theology. Book of mormon title page it was written by ancient american prophets for our day mormon 8. Investigators laura kozuch greater cahokia archaeology.
Within this 2,200acre area, the remnants of ancient cahokia are displayed, paying tribute to one of the largest and most influential urban settlements of mississippian culture. Inclusion within the bmc archive does not imply endorsement. Sep 25, 2014 cahokia is currently believed to be the largest archaeological ruins north of mexicos great precolumbian cities. Mormon conflict and controversy at nauvoo, 18391846 guided. Its cahokia, illinois, about 15 minutes away from st. If joseph smith was speaking about the same desolation mentioned in the book of mormon, this would place zarahemla, bountiful, manti, and most other book of mormon cities south of this area this would be about where valley city, illinois now is, and would place the book of mormon to far south for a great lakes geography. Permanent settlement by nonnatives was reportedly begun in 1824 by captain james white. Louis aka, mound city, famous mounds in lds history, including enon and zelphs mound, and.
This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. Anthropologist mark wrights 2008 fair conference address on similarities between mesoamerica and the book of mormon. I read books and articles written by lds scholars, visited sites in. It was inhabited for about 700 years and was home to up to 20,000 people when it peaked from 10501200. He talks about the olmecs and ancient codex in this short clip. Mormon history association mounds and mormons moroni. Family scripture scripture study scripture journal book of mormon stories lds seminary. At the left we can see a single ramp or stairway leading up to the top of the mound. There are six serious mesoamerican book of mormon correlations. In john lunds book mesoamerica and the book of mormon. See more ideas about book of mormon, america and ancient civilizations. Mesoamerican periphery where nephites and lamanites migrated to. They are descendants from the people in the book of mormon.
But just eight miles east of the gateway arch is what archaeologists believe to be the ancient city of cahokia. Cahokia was built on the same land that was home to a ton of activity of the middle and late woodland periods. Book of mormon tours has been operated by the allen family since 1970. Muleks party first arrived in the land north see helaman 6. Annually, october 1, is the anniversary of a little known event in early church history that i believe, in consequence of significant research progress into 2019, now deserves recognition for identifying a region of major book of mormon lands and for initiating book of mormon archaeological historic research. On the map above, red represents the streamflows of the usumacinta drainage. 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. I spoke at the mormon history associations annual conference last week on the topic of the mormons and the mounds. This will make your reading of the book of mormon come alive as you now can visualize the possible geography of the nephites in north america. Even before the book of mormon was published, mormonism was linked to the moundbuilder civilizations of north america. The namesake cultural trait of the mound builders was the building of mounds and other earthworks.
The history of nauvoo, illinois, starts with the sauk and fox tribes who frequented the area. Mesoamerica is the site of the only literate precolumbian population. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland. Laura kozuch also studies shark remains from archaeological sites. The book of mormon and mesoamerican travels northward. The book of mormon speaks about several migrations to the north. The book of mormon archaeological forum bmaf is a 501c3 not for profit organization dedicated as an open forum for presentation, dissemination, and discussion of research and evidences regarding book of mormon archaeology, anthropology, geography and culture within mesoamerican and other ancient contexts. Nov 22, 2007 mesoamerica and the book of mormon dr. Rodney meldrum claims that this scripture proves that zarahemla is in north america, across the river from nauvoo. Southern illinois university, carbondale, research records of the university museum, mesoamerican studies 4, 1969.
No one knows exactly how large the city was at its peak. I would recommend that the reader keep a book of mormon map close by such as the one shown above the next time you read through the book of mormon. Mesoamerica and the book of mormon is this the right place. Jan 22, 2011 anthropologist mark wrights 2008 fair conference address on similarities between mesoamerica and the book of mormon. By the 1930s, when ferguson learned about mesoamerican. The lands of te book of mormon are found in mesoamerica. Moroni told joseph that the record was written and deposited not far from his home.
Even the hill cumorah, where joseph smith obtained the gold plates, is not really the same hill cumorah mentioned in the text. These burial and ceremonial structures were typically flattopped pyramids or platform mounds, flattopped or rounded cones, elongated ridges, and sometimes a variety of other forms. The mayans and the cahokia mounds american testament. Cahokia was ancient americas one true city north of mexicoas large in its day as londonand the political capital of a most unusual indian nation. From the squire and davis book, is a drawing of one such mound in cahokia, illinois. Cahokia mounds state historic site is the location of the largest native american precolumbian city built within the current territory of the united states. Teeth from sharks that were caught during mississippian times were from great whites and sandbar sharks from janey b. Cahokia mounds illinois usa cahokia, native american. Ancient cahokia and the mississippians university of. Cahokia, illinois, united states few americans realize that we have the remains of a lost ancient civilization right here in the united states in illinois, just across the mississippi river from st. Greater cahokia archaeology university of illinois.
Although human sacrifice was likely practiced in earlier times among the lehites, this is the first time it specifically recorded in the book of mormon. The book of mormon and mesoamerican travels northward book. But i emphasize, thats because i think knowing the realworld setting is important. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia.
They called the area quashquema, named in honor of the native american chief who headed a sauk and fox settlement numbering nearly 500 lodges. Deseret book and farms, 1990, 438443 for all references to fortifications in the book of mormon. The name mesoamerica is a term used to identify the heartland of a number of significant precolumbian cultures. This empire was based in tenochtitlan and dominated large parts of mesoamerica from the to centuries. At its peak in the century, cahokia was by far the largest native community in north america. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. Ohio rivers on his way to the land of zarahemla illinois and iowa. I usually focus on the ceremonial ties between the israelites the hopi and those found in mesoamerica or the possible lands of the book of mormon. For example in ohio and illinois archaeologists deny the use of the.
It depicts lamanite pursuers yielding mesoamerica type macuahuitl wooden clubs with embedded obsidian shards, which are never mentioned in the book of mormon, as well as moroni using his steel sword with its hilt and sheath as is explicitly described in the text. Illinois, cahokia mounds state historic site is the most. Map showing the location of cahokia mounds state historic site. The lamanites under zarahemnah also crossed the river sidon near manti, located to the south of zarahemla alma 43. Sorenson, fortifications in the book of mormon account compared with mesoamerican fortifications, in warfare in the book of mormon, ed. This map plausibly positions these and other book of mormon. Plausible locations in mesoamerica for book of mormon.
Our changing understanding of ancient america and its scripture. Oct 02, 2014 finally there is a way to really explore john sorensons book of mormon geography. For example, you reference cahokia as a large site with complex. The king james quotations in the book of mormon, the history of the text of the book of mormon. Data from cahokia and nearby sites indicate that cahokia elites wanted shark teeth. Why did moroni include mormon s condemnation of infant baptism. The form of the mound is that of a parallelogram, seven hundred feet long by five hundred wide at the base. One man who claimed to have heard a reading of the lost 116 pages said it was a description of the mounds about the country and similar to the book of mormon.
The great strength of the book is that it provides a wellargued perspective based on the geology of natural disasters that is new to the analysis of the book of mormon one that adds to the reality of book of mormon events and opens new doors for potential research and understanding of the geography of the book of mormon. Moronis americamaps edition book of mormon evidence. Maps were created by utilizing information from jonathan neville, rod meldrum and wayne may. Why did the lamanites sacrifice women and children to. Book of mormonlamanitesrelationship to amerindiansmaya and. Often the term aztec refers exclusively to the mexica peole of tenochtitlan now mexico city. Archaeology research in precolumbian americas and the book of mormon. John lund on book of mormon in mesoamerica youtube. This article is written in hopes to answer these questions and show that the main stage of the book of mormon took place in mesoamerica while allowing migrations of nephites northward into north america to accommodate statements by joseph smith placing them there. In my view, there are two categories of book of mormon maps. In other words, since we believe main events of the book of mormon. There was a formal written language in mesoamerica. Many accounts of significant lands and cities are given in the book of mormon.
How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. Joseph smith preaches book of mormon to cousin lemuel some further discussion in the following overview, i will go through the book of mormon, and present some theories which link the history provided there, to what i perceive to have been a viking invasion c. Maps moronis america the north american setting for. A limited geography model for the book of mormon is one of several theories by latter day saint movement scholars that the book s narrative was a historical record of people in a limited geographical region, rather than of the entire western hemisphere as believed by some early latter day saints. Oct 27, 2010 these man credited joseph smith with teaching them that the land of bountiful mention in the book of mormon was in central america. Hinterlands lamanites in north, south, and central. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. The book of mormon and mesoamerican travels northward the contents of all bmaf publications are the sole responsibility of the individual authors and therefore do not necessarily represent the views of bmaf or the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The olmecs are thought to have been contemporaries with the jaredites, while the chiapas may possibly have been associated with some of the nephite peoples. Apr 26, 2014 the ruins of this sophisticated native civilization are preserved at cahokia mounds state historic site in collinsville, illinois.
Ancient americas great city on the mississippi, abstract almost a thousand years ago, a native american city flourished along the mississippi river near what is now st. Zelph and the lands of the book of mormon zions camp group at zelph mound. Cahokia was the largest urban center north of the great mesoamerican cities in. Chocolate has been found at cahokia, illinois and other postclassic. North american book of mormon geography the interpreter. The purpose of constructing unbiased internal maps is to orient major lands, seas and landmarks mentioned in. They were generally built as part of complex villages.
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. How does the book of mormon help date the first christmas. Regardless, the only place that had a written language was mesoamerica. A dna study by emory university, accepted by the smithsonian, acknowledges that some native americans have ancestry in common with the peoples in modern israel and the mediterranean area. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand ended up losing his faith. Plausible locations in mesoamerica for book of mormon places. We know that one of the largest ancient civilizations of north america is at cahokia near st. The ancient north american moundbuilder civilizations correlate with the people in the book of mormon. Mesoamerican periphery where nephites and lamanites migrated to outside. Mesoamericanists say, these new lidar images have revealed 60,000. The great strength of the book is that it provides a wellargued perspective based on the geology of natural disasters that is new to the analysis of the book of mormonone that adds to the reality of book of mormon events and opens new doors for potential research and understanding of the geography of the book of mormon.
After years of studying maps, mormon scripture, and spanish chronicles. Dec 30, 2012 the main purpose of the book of mormon is to the convincing of jew and gentile that jesus is the christ, the eternal god, manifesting himself unto all nations. You will be astonished with the amount of concrete scientific parallels between mesoamerica and slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. It shouldnt surprise anyone that moroni knew how to work with cement in new york. In addition, the entire story of the book of mormon occurred within a small 500mile radius within mesoamerica. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. The maya and the olmec have a written languagea requirement for book of mormon peoples, who kept records.
Based on the reasons i listed above as well as others, i currently favor a mesoamerica setting for book of mormon geography, similar to the map presented below. Why does the book of mormon include the rise and fall of two nations. A summary of several theories of book of mormon lands in. Book of mormon old and new videos book of mormon evidence. Cacaxtla is in the part of mesoamerica most book of mormon modelers consider the land northward. Numerous observers have suggested that the book of mormon appears to be a work of fiction that parallels others within the 19thcentury moundbuilder genre that was pervasive at the time. The main passage mentions the land of nephi bordering on the seas, a narrow strip of wilderness, the land of zarahemla, and the headwaters of the river sidon see alma 22. My reference to greater book of mormon lands beyond the limited territory in mormons map in alma 22 within mesoamerica. Hinterlands lamanites in north, south, and central america. Hallwas reinforces the importance of theology in mormon politics and pursues an understanding of nauvoo from the eyes of the surrounding nonmormons.
The largest mississippian archaeological site on the. In celebration of the 2018 illinois bicentennial, the cahokia mounds were. Book of mormon comparisons 1 chapters updated apr 02. The book of mormon itself is the best source for understanding the geographical locations contained therein. Sep 02, 2015 john lund talks about the book of mormon and mesoamerica at the learn our religion lecture series. The book of mormon, with its saga of righteous, white nephites and wicked, darkskinned lamanites, echoed these ideas. Early book of mormon authors made similar descriptions mosiah 27. The geographical setting of the book of mormon is the set of locations of the events described. In fact, if one looks at a map of north america you will see that it is possible to sail.
Estimates range from a population of 10,000 to 40,000 in the. We have taken more tours to mesoamerica to compare the ancient sites and civilizations with the book of mormon than any other tour operator. The main purpose of the book of mormon is to the convincing of jew and gentile that jesus is the christ, the eternal god, manifesting himself unto all nations. The firm foundation applauds the films balance of neutrality. This is a promising area of study that will surely produce results in the future. While the church has no official position on book of mormon geography some. During zions camp while in illinois, and missouri, the prophet. Also seen at the top of this article as it looks today. More than 120 mounds were built for ceremonial purposes and to provide a prestigious spot for temples and the homes of chiefs. Hidden cities in north america book of mormon evidence. The possible reasons for the emergence of cahokia, or any early city, have intrigued scholars for more than a century. Items do not represent the official views of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints or of book of mormon central. Mormon s map is book of mormon scholar john sorenson s reconstruction of that.
He also taught them that moroni had traveled from central america to palmyra, newyork dedicating future temple sites along the way. For me, any map that doesnt put cumorah in new york is not useful or even relevant. Those that show cumorah in new york, and those that dont. Archaeologist and professor of anthropology at the univeristy of illinois. We can map the approximate extent of contiguous maya territory 354,325 square kilometers which consisted of the northern lowlands in the yucatan peninsula approx. The joseph smith maps may be a hoax, but moroni starting his journey in mewoamerica is consistent with the content of the book of mormon.
Items in the bmc archive are made publicly available for noncommercial, private use. Oct 02, 2017 this was in new york, not mesoamerica. The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. The featured picture of cahokia was an ancient mississippian earthwork. He regards the conflict at nauvoo as a conflict of differing ideologies about democracy on the frontier. When you think pyramids, you think of egypt or mexico not illinois. Has cahokia ever been discussed in terms of book of mormon. Only known nephite cement is in new york, not mesoamerica. Book of mormon tours which take interested members to see the lands of the book of mormon in mesoamerica. The book of mormon says people in the land northward used cement as an architectural building material helaman 3.
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