A Few Historical Perspectives about the New World Location of Book of Mormon Lands
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of Mormon are located in Mesoamerica. On the other hand, today’s
“Heartlanders” identify the territory between the Great Lakes on the
north and the Gulf of Mexico on the south as the location, in general,
of all New World lands of the Book of Mormon.
Historically, neither stance is an exclusive product of the twenty-
first century. At various times since the publication of the Book of
Mormon in 1830, both models, with variations, have been advocated by
Book of Mormon readers and scholars.
On his blog site, Joseph Trevor Antley recently shared a historical
event from the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints that reflects the geographical dichotomy of the continental
United States versus Mesoamerica as the location of the New World
events of the Book of Mormon. On his blog at one point, he said,
“While reading Elder Talmage's personal journals as part of a separate
research project, I came across the following few entries he had
written in 1921. The ‘Book of Mormon committee’ he references is a
Church committee established in 1919 for the purpose of preparing a
new edition of the Book of Mormon, which at the time of these
‘hearings’ had just been completed (right before the first ‘hearing,’
Elder Talmage received the first shipment of the new ‘Missionary
Edition’ of the Book of Mormon)”:
Jan. 14, Fri.: In addition to other committee work I attended an
afternoon session of the Book of Mormon committee, at which
preliminary arrangements were made for hearing some of the proponents
of different views on Book of Mormon geography. Many varied and
conflicting views concerning the location of Book of Mormon lands have
been advocated amongst our people; and not a few maps have been put
out. With all precautions taken to make plain the fact that these maps
have been intended as suggestive presentations only, we find some
people accepting one map and others another as authoritative. The
matter was brought before the council through the receipt of a
communication from Elder Joel Ricks of Logan, who several years ago
published a map, of which over 6,000 have been disposed of. Brother
Ricks and several other good brethren have voiced a sort of complaint
that they have had no opportunity to present their views, with the
fullness they desire, before the Church authorities. The entire matter
was referred to the Book of Mormon committee; and today appointments
were made for the beginning of the series of hearings.
Jan. 21, Fri.: Sat with the rest of the Book of Mormon committee in
the first session appointed for the hearing of those who have views to
present on the subject of Book of Mormon geography. The entire
afternoon was occupied by Brother Joel Ricks of Logan, who exhibited a
copy of his map, and gave many details of his personal travels and
investigations in the northern part of South America and in part of
Central America.
Jan. 22, Sat.: The Book of Mormon committee sat during both forenoon
and afternoon. Elder Joel Ricks occupied part of the morning session,
and the rest of that meeting, together with the whole of the afternoon
session was given over to Elder Willard Young, who claims that most of
the Book of Mormon scenes were laid in Guatemala, and Honduras.
Jan. 23, Sunday: I had looked forward to this opportunity of attending
Sunday School in my own ward for once; but this was made impossible by
action taken at last night’s meeting of the Book of Mormon committee
this forenoon. This morning Elder Willard Young continued his
presentation.
Jan. 24, Mon.: We were engaged from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Book of Mormon
hearings, with a noon intermission. Elder Anthony W. Ivins of the
Council of the Twelve presented his views and suggestions, indicating
that the Book of Mormon lands embraced mainly Yucatan and Mexico.
There being none others who had expressed a desire to be heard by the
committee, this meeting was regarded as the closing session of the
present stage of the investigation.
Interestingly, on these occasions in 1921, none of the proposals for
Book of Mormon geography models that were presented to the “Book of
Mormon committee” dealt with the continental United States. “What goes
around comes around” might be appropriate wisdom that applies in this
instance. That is, even though today’s Book of Mormon readers are
barraged with claims for its geographical location in both the
continental United States and Mesoamerica, the preponderance of
evidence in favor of a Mesoamerica model for Book of Mormon geography
continues to dominate the thinking of most credible Book of Mormon
scholars.
However, that thinking today is impacted even more by the outcomes of
at least the following historical events: (1) the fact that many of
these scholars have personally visited, on numerous occasions, the
various proposed locations for Book of Mormon lands, cities, valleys,
rivers, wilderness areas, and seas and have rigorously compared
geographical, topological, archaeological, historical, and cultural
aspects of these locations with the content of the Book of Mormon; (2)
the translation into English and publication of numerous historical
documents written by Mesoamerican natives, Spanish conquistadors and
explorers, and Catholic Church priests and leaders; (3) the Internet,
via which Book of Mormon readers and scholars can readily research
most elements of Book of Mormon geography; and (4) Google Earth, via
which researchers can go far beyond the limitations of both flat and
three-dimensional maps in examining geographical statements associated
with the Book of Mormon.
Regrettably, Joseph Antley’s blog containing the quotations from Elder
Widtsoe’s journal can no longer be accessed on the Internet. However,
readers will find many other interesting ideas about the Book of
Mormon on Joseph’s blog site: http://josephantley.com.
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