In the last part of our series about questioning Joseph Smith, we looked at Mormon apologetics about geographical evidence for the Book of Mormon in light of the official LDS church position- “The Church does not take a position on the specific geographic locations of Book of Mormon events in the ancient Americas. Speculation on the geography of the Book of Mormon may mislead instead of enlighten; such a study can be a distraction from its divine purpose” (Book of Mormon Geography)
Here’s another perspective from an archaeologist and professor of anthropology at Brigham Young University —
The Book of Mormon must be the final and most important arbiter in deciding the correctness of a given geography; otherwise we will be forever hostage to the shifting sands of expert opinion. John Clark
As a believing Mormon and practicing Mesoamerican archaeologist, I’m frequently questioned by strangers and neighbors about physical evidence and proofs of the Book of Mormon. I try to dissuade both friends and foes alike from going down this path, because absolute proof is a logical and philosophical impossibility. I have frequently made three claims that may at first glance appear at odds: (1) archaeological evidence will never prove or disprove the truth or falsity of the Book of Mormon, (2) the amount of physical evidence that potentially corroborates claims in the Book of Mormon has increased as a function of more and better archaeology, and (3) evidence gets interpreted according to one’s prior belief or disbelief in the book. Belief is sight, and disbelief is blindness. This is a well-known social and psychological phenomenon not limited to religious, political, or scientific topics, and I will not explore it further. Antecedent beliefs account for most of the shouting about the Book of Mormon I have read or heard (except for that by disgruntled or excommunicated Mormons). Belief of some sort precedes any parade of evidence, and believers of all stripes tend to see what they look for. John Clark
Book of Mormon Geography
The Book of Mormon covers thousands of years of human history, which includes the locations of where those humans lived. The Book of Ether begins at the Tower of Babel with the family of Jared traveling to “the land of promise” (Ether 2:7). The estimated dates would be during the third millennium BC. The Jaredites landed somewhere in the Americas about 600 B.C. The question for both families is “where.”
Here are some of the primary location models for the Book of Mormon —
- Mesoamerican Model
- Limited Mesoamerican Model
- Hemispheric Model
- Central American Model
- Hourglass Model
- North American Model
- Heartland Model
- Limited Geography Model (aka Hinterland Model)
- Western New York Model
- Malaysia Model
The large number of models for where the Jaredites and Nephites landed in the New World after sailing west from the Old World demonstrates the challenges Mormon apologists have in defending the historical authenticity of the Book of Mormon.
Two of the top Mormon apologists of the 20th century were B.H. Roberts and Hugh Nibley. What were their positions on geographical evidence for the Book of Mormon?
Let’s begin with Brigham Henry Roberts. Roberts was born in 1857 and died in 1933. He was a historian and leader in the LDS church for many years. While standing by the authority of the Book of Mormon, Roberts also listed many problems with and arguments that can be made against the Book of Mormon.
Recently, that faith has been drawn into question in the minds of some people. This is because of a set of papers about the Book of Mormon which B. H. Roberts wrote in 1922. In these papers, Elder Roberts bluntly lists many Book of Mormon “problems” and raises many arguments that he contemplated could be made against the Book of Mormon. He wrote a series of essays in the early part of the 20th century that were later compiled into Studies of the Book of Mormon and published decades after his death.
This [power of the Holy Ghost] must ever be the chief source of evidence for the truth of the Book of Mormon. All other evidence is secondary to this, the primary and infallible. No arrangement of evidence, however skilfully ordered; no argument, however adroitly made, can ever take its place; for this witness of the Holy Spirit to the soul of man for the truth of the Nephite volume of scripture, is God’s evidence to the truth; and will ever be the chief reliance of those who accept the Book of Mormon, and expect to see its acceptance extended throughout the world. B.H. Roberts: Seeker After Truth
Hugh Nibley was born in 1910 and died in 2005. He was a life-long Mormon and a professor at BYU for almost 50 years.
Hugh W. Nibley’s defining statement on Book of Mormon geography was published in 1957:
It is our conviction that proof of the Book of Mormon does lie in Central America, but until the people who study that area can come to some agreement among themselves as to what they have found, the rest of us cannot very well start drawing conclusions. (An Approach to the Book of Mormon, Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, 6:442) Hugh Nibley and the Book of Mormon Geography
What did Joseph Smith think about the locations for the Book of Mormon?
The Prophet Joseph Smith himself accepted what he felt was evidence of Book of Mormon civilizations in both North America and Central America. While traveling with Zion’s Camp in 1834, Joseph wrote to his wife Emma that they were “wandering over the plains of the Nephites, recounting occasionally the history of the Book of Mormon, roving over the mounds of that once beloved people of the Lord, picking up their skulls and their bones, as a proof of its divine authenticity.” In 1842, the Church newspaper Times and Seasons published articles under Joseph Smith’s editorship that identified the ruins of ancient native civilizations in Mexico and Central America as further evidence of the Book of Mormon’s historicity. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Notice that Joseph Smith referred to the potential direct evidence of human skulls and bones and claiming them as “a proof of its divine authenticity.” He also wrote about wandering over “the plains of the Nephites” and recounting “the history of the Book of Mormon.” Smith also referred to “roving over the mounds of that once beloved people of the Lord.” Those statements alone by the founding prophet of Mormonism open the door to serious questions concerning the anthropology and geography of the people and lands mentioned in the Book of Mormon. Smith pointed to the Nephites, their bones and their lands, as being “proof” of the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon.
City and Land Areas in the Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon lists the names of many cities and areas. Those names should be helpful to geographers and archaeologists looking for those ancient places, but have they helped? It doesn’t appear they have. Keep in mind that according to the Book of Mormon millions of people lived in the New World who came from the families of Jared and Nephi. They reportedly lived in the Americas over a period of about 25-hundred years. They built large and small cities and traveled thousands of miles during their journeys. They cooked hundreds of millions (possibly billions) of meals and fought battles where millions of fighters and their families died. We might expect a lot of geographical and archaeological evidence to support their living in the Americas, but little has been found. Here is a short list of the names of the cities and land areas that you’ll find in the Book of Mormon.
- Antiparah
- Middoni
- Cumeni
- Hill Amnihu
- Hill Riplah
- Moroniha
- Land of Jershon
- Antionum
- Morianton
- Siron
- Amulon
- Onihah
- Middoni
- Hermounts Wilderness
- Valley of Alma
- Manti
- Moron
- Heth
- Jashon
- Waters of Ripliacum
- Zarahemla
- Hill Onidah
- Nephihah
- Moroni
- Mulek
- Tower of Sherrizah
- Land Bountiful
- City of Bountiful
- Gid
- Plains of Agosh
- Zeezrom
- Land of Nephi
- City of Nephi
- Waters of Sebus
- Nehor
- Ablom
That is a short list, but gives you some idea of the places geographers and archaeologists can search for the “proof” Smith pointed to in his writings. The question about where those places may be located depends on the location model one accepts as best. Here are two maps with different location models in mind.
Conclusion Concerning Geography
I’ve mentioned previously how I used the PPT system (People, Places, Things) to investigate the truth claims of the Bible when I was an atheist. The fact that history, geography, and archaeology supported those claims so well kept me searching the Bible for truth. If, as an atheist, I had used that same criteria for the Book of Mormon, I would not have continued my search. The supporting evidence is not there. Mormon missionaries and friends often remind me that what’s important about the Book of Mormon is the spiritual message, but any religion could say the same thing. There has to be more evidence into a truth claim than just the way someone feels about an ancient text or spiritual message.
The Book of Mormon presents itself as a document of history, geography, and anthropology. Therefore, it should have ample supporting evidence for its claims to legitimacy.
Next Time
In the next part of our series we will journey into how Joseph Smith retranslated the Bible. Changing the Bible has many implications, so we’ll see how Smith conducted the retranslation and whether it should be trusted.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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