| Book of Mormon geography |
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| Modern Map of the area of Smith's youth |
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Could you just imagine if we had to "theorize" where the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea and Jerusalem were?
From the blog: So now it’s your turn to share your thoughts. Which theory do you believe in or do you not believe in any of them?
Well, my theory is this geographical location was simply in Joseph Smith's mind. Joseph borrowed from others -- either having read or at least heard about manuscripts in existence at his time about lost tribes of Israel.
And how do I know my theory has some credence? Well, lots of contextual clues exist...But let's just address the main one -- one revealed by his mother (and moms know a lot about their teen-age sons).
At about the age of 17, Joseph Smith, Jr. was quite "fluent" in telling tall tales...
We even see this later in his life when, still in his 20s, he gave himself secret code names that he pretended were names God gave him -- like Baurak Ale [sounds like a good beer brand for these days, eh?] (Doctrine & Covenants 103:35) and Gazelam (D&C 104:26)...and he would do the same for people he was sending everywhere as missionaries.
It all comes to down to men & women placing their 100% spiritual trust in what a mere lad said he saw. Here's what Lucky Mack Smith said about her 17 yo son, Joseph Smith, Junior:
"During our evening conversations, Joseph would occasionally give us some of the most amusing recitals that could be imagined. He would describe the ancient inhabitants of the continent, their dress, mode of traveling, and the animals upon which they rode; their cities, their buildings, with every particular; their mode of warfare; and also their religious worship. This he would do with as much ease, seemingly, as if he had spent his whole life among them. On the twenty-second of September, 1824, Joseph again visited the place where he found the plates the year previous; and supporting at this time that the only thing required, in order to possess them until the time for their translation, was to be able to keep the commandments of God...he fully expected to carry them home with him. (Lucy Mack Smith, edited by Preston Nibley, History of Joseph Smith, p. 83, Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, 1958)
What Mormons often miss in this account is that Lucy Mack Smith was saying Joseph gave these storied details before he ever even "interpreted" these gold plates. A lot of it was already there -- in his active, imaginitive mind!
Interesting!
My first bom contained photos of the Great Lakes and a reference to them being the ‘great seas’ spoken of in the bom. Wish I could find that particular edition again.
Regarding these ‘theories’, some have become quite a set of fireworks within mormonodom. North American Geographists
lead by Rod Meldrum, have created a great deal of friction with the current Limited Geographists lead by the apologists at the Maxwell Institute (FARMS).
Yet all of these “modern” theories have to in some fashion deny the fundamental historic mormon teaching, inspired from day 1 by Smith, that all native Americans are descended from Israelites. In fact, the Presidency is on the record denouncing the Limited Geography theory as being contrary to the teachings of Smith and the bom.
The total lack of scientific evidence to support ANY of the theories (in contrast to the overwhelming evidence to the contrary) is not suprising when one considers the bom to be a work of fiction (agreed to by former Apostle B.H. Roberts).
Are they stealth Mormons?..
My theory is that the BOM is a pack of lies.
How does that wash?
I’ve read the BOM. It is an utter work of pure fiction. I was considering becoming a Mormon back around 1979. A little studying shut that down real quick. A lot of studying and decades later I am, frankly, amazed at how many actually intelligent people believe this thing with absolutely no proof whatsoever.
Don’t get me wrong. Christianity is all about faith. But not BLIND faith.
If one looks at sites in the Book of Mormon that DO comport with modern day sites, then one would expect to find archaeological artifacts that support the stories of events that supposedly took place there.
One glaring example is the “Hill Cumorah” in New York. According to the Book of Mormon, an incredible battle took place there between the Nephites and the Lamanites. One would expect to find some tell-tale evidence of such a bloody battle. A knife blade.. an arrowhead... a chariot wheel... a breastplate... a helmet... anything at all. But nothing has been found ... nothing.
In fact, since no artifacts have been found at the Hill Cumorah in New York, some LDS “archaeologists” have begun to theorize that no battle took place there at all. (Ya think?) An hypothesis has arisen that postulates Cerro Vigia near Veracruz, Mexico as the site of the battle between the Nephites and Lamanites.
I eagerly await archaeological evidence that will support this latest new attempt to harmonize events depicted in the Book of Mormon with North American geography. I suspect that the result will be like all the other previous attempts.. unsuccessful.
This theory is similar to the first theory, except the geography covers most of North and Central America and it also includes areas of the Carribean that have sunk into the ocean that appear to be cities and/or civilizations.
In all honesty, I feel sorry for Mormons.
This shows how far people will go to hold onto their beliefs despite overwhelming evidence they aren't true.
Sunken cities? And of course all the anacronisms (horses, sheep, forged metal, barley, wheat, etc...) found in the BOM also sunk. See, they existed, we've just been looking in the wrong place.
When you have to resort to a theory that makes the City of Atlantis legend look rational, you've redefined desperate.
Sorry, I am wiping tears from eyes from laughing.
I realize this is a LDS smear thread, but as a believing member of that faith, I will post the text that explains the sinking cities and changed landscape of the Americas as the death of Christ. I hold my own view of geography, but as there is so much not known, there is no need debating it among non believers.
This is from the BOM.
http://scriptures.lds.org/3_ne/8
| Book of Mormon geography |
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| Modern Map of the area of Smith's youth |
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Please read the “Book of Mormon” and the KJV of the Bible. Then read “View of the Hebrews”. Then make up your own mind about it.
Since when the BOM has anything to do with true geography? There is more real geography in the _Lord of the Rings_ trilogy than in the BOM. To argue otherwise is a huge waste of time for me.
-Theo
In Search of Book of Mormon Geography at post 52.
I posted the link to Helland's
BOOK OF MORMON PROBLEMS in the post following yours.
Book of Mormon Geography: Which Theory do you Believe?
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None of them...
Harry Potter is more believable...
Joey Smith should have plagurized JK Rowling...
Why...
ALL of them!
For each one has been put forth by EXPERTS in MORMON geography!
--MormonDuqe(Yes; I CAN hold all those beliefs at once: I'm a MORMON!)