I was first taught and inspired about the heartland theory by my great friend rod meldrum. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. Leaders of the church have repeatedly taught that there is. Its difficult to separate the mesoamerican theory from the assertion that the book of mormon is fiction. The 21st international book of mormon evidence conference believes the book of mormon took place in north america the heartland theory, while the book of mormon central 2018 conference believes the book of mormon all took place in central america the mesoamerican theory. Or, how mainstream linguists respond to reformed egyptian characters. The heartland model basics for new world book of mormon geography. The book of mormon narrative begins with a small group of people who arrived in the americas around 600 b. No sea directly west of zarahemla no sea directly east of zarahemla stated travel times make it clear book of mormon lands were small. Here are a few random strengths and weaknesses from both theories.
You cant, along with many other unsolvable issues the heartland theory brings up. Pros, cons of book of mormon geography theories deseret news. I have blogged about the failings of the heartland theory on multiple occasions see for instance here, here, and here. This executive summary of the firm foundations new annotated edition of the book of mormon henceforth aebom is written in response to many inquiries book of mormon central has received about the volume, and to report in a concise, objective manner its many glaring deficiencies. The land of zarahemla was on the coast of the book of mormon west sea. It is true that evolutionary biology does not help the heartland model, but the model has failed long before. The heartland model or heartland theory of book of mormon geography postulates that the events described in the book of mormon took place, primarily, in the heartland of north america among its proposals are that mound builders, including the hopewell and the adena, were among those peoples described in accounts of events in book of mormon books such as alma and helaman. Saints and book of mormon geography church history. 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. How do mainstream anthropologists and archaeologists.
Meldrum places this event along the north shore of the gulf of mexico in the area of tallahassee, florida. In their heartland model book, prophecies and promises. Errors of rodney meldrum true book of mormon geography. Meldrum has been a particularly vocal critic of the byusponsored mesoamerican geography, who eventually returned fire with a scorching dismissal. Where in the americas are the lands of the book of mormon. They also point to the promises about the new jerusalem being built upon this land and claims that america is the only one that fits it because it is the only one that doesnt have kings or queens ruling it. Its clear that the heartland model is mostly laid out wrong. The second season of the book of mormon liveaction video series in springville, utah, has recently been completed. Yet, within 1,000 years, grew to a civilization of hundreds of thousands of people. Hugh nibley, the prophetic book of mormon, ancient temples.
The fight over book of mormon geography deseret news. In the other corner is the challenger, a new theory that places book of mormon events in a north american heartland setting. Summary of problems with rod meldrums heartland theory. The heartland model falsely claims joseph smith had a revelation about book of mormon geography. The heartland theory is not particularly troublesome. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new. I now know that the book of mormon happened in the usa in the historic heartland that is such a significant part of american and book of mormon history. All my studies suddenly made sense, all aspects of the book of mormon finally became clear. The heartland is the place where it all happened, right under our very noses. Executive summary of the annotated edition of the book of. This is like asking how mainstream astrophysicists respond to flatearth theory. It is titled exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland a visual journey of discovery. The book supports its heartland theory of the book of mormon with overwhelming evidence that is. Like other heartlanders, he has adopted an unfortunate mode of discourse which blames mesomaricanists for damaging faith and even misleading the church.
Indeed, that is the thrust of wrights article about the hinterlands. Both the mesoamerican and the heartland book of mormon geography theories have their strong points and, shall we say, areas that need further research. While the dynamics of such a population growth seems astronomical, it. Readers of this blog know that i have not made my disapproval of the socalled heartland theory for book of mormon geography a secret.
It is very interesting, easy to read, and is definitely worth picking up if you are interested in the book of mormon. The proximity of the heartland geography to upstate new york where the book of mormon remained buried in the hill. Exploring book of mormon in americas heartland photobook. Although there are some interesting parallels the heartland theory has with book of mormon geography, people mostly use the heartland theory to reconcile the location of the hill cummorah as it is called today. I argue that these northbound immigrants spread out over the centuries and established settlements that were geographically distant from the core nephite area, far beyond the. Compelling is an understatement as more and more evidence is unearthed it is actually hard to believe the people of north america could be anything other than those whos year history is documented in the book of mormon. Gods word is to be established by two or more witnesses 2 cor.
The book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally been deciphered. Was zarahemla in iowa and other errors with the heartland theory. Book of mormon, general, lds scriptures tagged with. The person most often associated with this theory is john l.
Summary of problems with rod meldrums heartland theory bmaf. Then there are those like rodney meldrum, a salesman and creationist with no scientific training, who back a heartland theory that claims all book of mormon events took place in north america. Over 500 stunningly beautiful photographs combine with quotes, stories, charts, commentary, maps and scripture to introduce the reader to the rapidly mounting body of evidence that presents the very real possibility. Jonathan neville is an advocate of the book of mormon heartland model who has been generating an endless array of polemical posts against mesoamericanists, including me, on 2 different blogs.
The book of mormon archeology foundation has a handy short list of major flaws with the recent heartland model for book of mormon geography. We have been disappointed to read online commentary from individuals favoring a heartland model of book of mormon geography that. The heartland model or heartland theory of book of mormon geography postulates that the events described in the book of mormon took place, primarily. According to mormon newsroom, the production focuses on prophets nephi, jacob, and enos in the book of mormon, bringing the stories of ancientamerican civilization to life while spreading the gospel of jesus christ through film. A heartland book of mormon exploration the millennial star. Or, how mainstream egyptologists respond to the book of abraham translation. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland, a visual journey of discovery by rod l. But im sure that most support sorensons meso theory. This page is about the book of mormon geography by rodney meldrum and has the same deficiencies as wayne may, jonathan neville, and other heartland modelers. However, alma 63 indicates that there was a massive northward migration in the midfirst century bc. One thing that mesoamerican and heartland supporters can agree on is that a. Meldrum identify thirtysix prophecies and promises in the book of mormon that relate to the land of the book of mormon and to the. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland book. The aebom is, from what i have heard, selling well.
The purpose of adding this quote, which was written after the dc 125 revelation, is to show that even joseph smith didnt interpret dc 125 as. Both the mesoamerican and the heartland book of mormon geography theories have their strong points and, shall we say, areas that need. An argument could be made that he was wrong and the heartland theory represents the main nephite culture before spreading south. More thoughts on the heartland model of book of mormon. Over 300 photos, works of art, artifacts, maps, charts, scripture and commentary introduce the reader to the growing body of evidence that suggests the very real possibility of a north american setting for the events of the book of mormon. The standard of truth, 18151846, some concern has been expressed online and to us personally that the text of the book has expressed a preference against a heartland model of book of mormon geography. 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 these models, developed in an effort to reconcile claims in the book of mormon with archaeology. Over 500 stunningly beautiful photographs combine with quotes, stories, charts, commentary, maps and scripture to introduce the. The heartland model 1 misrepresents the papers cited for dating x2a, many of which are also out of date. The book of mormon gave only scattered clues, speaking of a narrow isthmus, a river called sidon, and lands to the north and south occupied by. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland a. The new book of mormon videos being produced by the church, similar to the bible videos, show a north american setting and i have heard some rumblings that the seminary and institute curriculum is eliminating all references to mesoamerica as the place where the book of mormon takes place. This book of maps, art, information and diagrams was inspired by the wonderful book by jonathan neville titled moronis america.
Those who promote the heartland model continuously point to words in the book of mormon about giving the house of jacob this land. With over a hundred other theories, these two are by far the predominant. Perhaps the most outrageous example of bias is the authors extensive criticism of an opposing theory, the heartland theory, propounded most extensively by mormon rod meldrum. As the above logo depicts, we do respect this mandate, and our model is. Relationships of cities of nephi, shilom, shemlon, the hill north of shilom, the narrow strip of. Much of the heartland of the united states may then correspond to the book of mormon south county or south countries. Last year the firm foundation and digital legends publishing released the annotated edition of the book of mormon aebom. I want others to know that the spiritual messages of the book of mormon are far more important than the geography. Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. The best available evidence for the book of mormon continues to support a limited mesoamerican model. However, mormon makes it quite clear that the land of first inheritance was on the on the west in. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland. I give this book a five star rating because of the evidence and theories it espouses. Why is the heartland model of the book of mormon is incorrect.
While most lds scholars who grapple with details of book of mormon geography see mesoamerica as the most likely or only reasonably candidate for the ancient new world setting of the book of mormon, several people have. The book of mormon and the united states of america, bruce h. Season two filming of book of mormon videos wraps up. Neither theory limits the book of mormon lands, whether to the united states or mesoamerica.
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