A phylogenetic perspective, journal of book of mormon studies 121 2003. Wayne may presents book of mormon evidence in north american geography, archaeology and historical records. Ask a groupie from either camp to cross on foot their proposed river sidon, east of where they allege the book of mormon land of zarahemla was. His contention is that the dna research thus far doesnt support the book of mormon. Although the question of limited geography is strongly linked to dna and the book of mormon, we will not be dealing with that in this volume. In this article, we will provide some background on this issue focusing on the scientific issues, followed by a point by point response to various statements made in the essay about the book of mormon.
Hi, i just finished watching a dvd titled dna evidence for book of mormon geography. In 1991, john sorenson of byu, the dean of book of mormon geography, created a book called the geography of. The book is composed of 128 pages of understandable text including seventeen maps illustrating geographical features mentioned in the text. Although dna and the book of mormon has probably made the rounds through the bloggernacle, i suspect its a story that wont go away for a while. According to the book, two of these groups originated from ancient israel.
It is a book of scripture aimed at teaching people about christ and. He is also associate professor of history at brigham young university, where he teaches american religious history. Practically since the book of mormon was published, its geography has been the subject of discussion and debate. In mormon theology, lamanites are understood as both chosen and cursed. Sorenson molecular genealogy foundation book of mormon. Clark book of mormon geography digging into the book of mormon. Most of you believe that the book of mormon occurred in central america, right. This remarkable find coincides with the true book of mormon geography which is centered in western new york not mesoamerica. Reviews of dna evidence for book of mormon geography. For example, farms has published a limited geography model for the book of mormon. Mormon revisionists today believe that moroni went from one hill cumorah to the next to bury the plates.
It is commonly referred to as the hemispheric geography model because it locates the events and descendants of the book of mormon peoples across the entire western hemisphere, including north, central, and south america. Book of mormongeographynew worldgreat lakes geography. The book of mormon, the founding document of the latter day saint movement and one of the four books of scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, is an account of three groups of people. Why did mormon give so many details about geography. Farms supported and sponsored what it considered to be faithful scholarship, which includes academic study and research in support of christianity and mormonism, and in particular, the official position of the lds church. Despite the limited space on the plates, mormon as a historian and military.
Nothing is known about the dna of book of mormon peoples, and even if their genetic profile were known, there are sound scientific reasons that it might remain undetected. Amidst the hundreds of passages of potential geographic significance, alma 22. The book and the map, new insights into book of mormon geography by venice priddis 169. The contents, structure, and authorship of the book of mormon by jn washburn 247 pages. Farms has since been absorbed into the maxwell institutes laura f.
Correlation and verification through dna, prophetic, scriptural, historical, climatological, archaeological, social, and cultural evidence rodney meldrum, 2007, mailorder dvd. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence that proves the book of mormon. Historical antecedents and early interpretations matthew roper introduction the book of mormon is a record prepared and written by ancient american prophets. Dna evidence of the book of mormon in north america, linking. Another testament of jesus christ, is true, not false.
Critics claim that such studies prove conclusively that there is no evidence of a middle eastern strand within the native american gene pool. Im not even really sure what the problems are, but i think it would be wise for fair to step back and breathe. Using the book of mormon to combat falsehoods in organic evolution by clark a. The church teaches that joseph smith translated this record from gold plates found on a hillside in upstate new york in 1820, when he was 14. On january 31, 2014, the lds church published an essay entitled book of mormon and dna studies in the gospel topics series on its official website. A man believes in a book of mormon geography, and fair is up in arms about it. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography. In 2014 the church quietly published book of mormon and dna studies, an essay which distills an avalanche of mormon apologetics published solely in lds journals, and attempts to address population genetics. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful, and more. Book of mormon geography, lands, map, dna true evidence. The basic premise of the research engaged in by the author, rod meldrum, was that there was sufficient evidence in the book of mormon and from the prophet jos smith jr. The church takes no position on the specific geographic location of book of mormon events in the ancient americas.
T he popularized mesoamerican setting and opposing heartland book of mormon geography model are both scripturally unfit. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. Book lot mormon lds evidences map geography structure dna. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies. Book of mormon dna mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Genetic drift particularly affects mitochondrial dna and ychromosome dna, but it also leads to the loss of variation in autosomal dna. In 2006, the group became a formal part of the neal a. They flatly reject the hemispheric geography, the view accepted by most mormons and all the prophets. After making some contributions here, i am now beginning to wonder if much of this article should not be moved to the stub on book of mormon geography, leaving this page free to document the specific issue of dna research. Book of mormondna evidencegeography issues fairmormon. Our changing understanding of ancient america and its scripture part 1.
Because the nephites were nearly exterminated, any chance of locating an existing tribe carrying nephite dna on book of mormon land is unrealistic. Correlation and verification through dna, prophetic, scriptural, historical, climatological, archaeological, social, and cultural evidence. Where applicable, we have updated the references to reflect later publications. Archaeological evidence, dna evidence, scientific theories, and scriptures from the book of mormon. Dna evidence for book of mormon geography miscellaneous. Dont know much about book of mormon geography the faith. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints released a statement today concerning the geography of the book of mormon in the form of a new gospel topics essay titled book of mormon geography. In 1997, the group became a formal part of brigham young university byu, which is owned and operated by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church. A statement on our united position visavis creation and dna dating. Spencer fluhman is the executive director of the neal a.
The maxwell institutes statement on book of mormon geography is quite succinct. He graduated summa cum laude from byu and received masters and doctoral degrees in history from the university of wisconsinmadison. 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. Articles which do not invoke any type of limited geography in their discussion include. For these same reasons, arguments that some defenders of the book of mormon make based on dna.
There is generally no direct support amongst mainstream historians and archaeologists for the. Ecuador at the headwaters of the amazon the land of zarahemla. It is conceivable that much of the dna of book of mormon peoples did not survive for the same reason. This presentation examines the question of the location of the nephite lands in the americas. This statement was cited in the 2014 gospel topics essay book of mormon and dna studies n. Historical antecedents and early interpretations, by matthew roper farms limited geography bibliography. The foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms was an informal collaboration of academics devoted to latterday saint historical scholarship. Farms findings on mesoamerica are based on the book of mormon s internal geography, that is, descriptions of how long it took the ancient peoples to get from one place to another.
One of two parts of the most detailed response available anywhere to the 2014 article book of mormon and dna studies on the lds church website. Hence, moroni had to carry the plates from central america to new york. This part responds to the claim that the book of mormon does not teach that native americans are israelites. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence youtube. This suggests that the events chronicled in the book of mormon occurred in a much smaller region than the traditional understanding, which argues the same events occurred across the entire western hemisphere. Sorensons most recent compilation and discussion of book of mormon passages relating to geography. The book of mormon is not intended to be a history book or a guide to geography, science, or any other secular topic. New scientific support for the truthfulness of the book of mormon. To be clear, fair advocates no particular theory of book of mormon. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the. The book of mormon geography and map with dna evidence and the location of lands and cities such as zarahemla, cumorah, the narrow neck, mexico, caribbean sea, american indians, and true evidence are all here. Following are a few excerpts, gleaned from different areas. Correlation and verification through dna, prophetic, scriptural, historical, climatological, archaeological, social, and cultural.
The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. Its been over a year since someone posted something on book of mormon geography, so i think its about time. Patty henetz of the associated press has written an article on dna and the book of mormon, focusing on geneticist simon southerton and his forthcoming book, losing a lost tribe. Dna controversy is an issue that most critics believe completely undermines mormon beliefs in the truthfulness of the book.
See the series of quotations from 1903 to 1993 at book of mormon geography and revelation, fairmormon n. Answers to farms objections to dna evidence against the book of mormon. We have been disappointed to read online commentary from individuals favoring a heartland model of book of mormon geography. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon. Dna research and mormon scholars changing basic beliefs. The controversy stems from dna studies of native american peoples. It might be useful to point out to the casual reader of these articles, that the scholars involved in critiquing the annotated edition of the book of mormon differ from the editors on some fundamental assumptions which accounts for much of the discord and criticism in their expose. While the church has pinned its hopes on the work of limited geography apologetics, the essay makes no mention of geography at all. In early 2008 rodney meldrum published a dvd titled dna evidence for book of mormon geography. The new essay begins with this declarative statement.
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