The Cumorah Debate

[Book of Mormon Archaeological Forum]

May, 2015

Author Chris Heimerdinger has stated, “The debate among Latter-day Saints regarding the locations of the ancient cities and events of the Book of Mormon—in particular the debate regarding the location of the ancient battleground known as the Hill Cumorah—sometimes seems more curious as a matter of human psychology than a matter of archaeology…….Many of these faithful saints will abjectly confess that issues of geography are of minor consequence beside the larger question of the book’s truthfulness, and then, practically in the next sentence, engage in zealous rhetoric regarding a personal conviction as to whether the Hill Cumorah is in New York or Mesoamerica. The phenomenon might be humorous if feelings involved weren’t so passionate and visceral. The debate is sometimes generational, pitting “old school”, lifelong, culturally-entrenched saints against younger or more formally-educated saints who may feel more comfortable applying a stricter scientific litmus to propositions once regarded as matters of faith.”

Similar sentiments are expressed by archaeologist Garth Norman, “Perhaps the geography puzzle will never be solved. That is for those who don’t want to solve it, and I think that includes most people. Do we love the puzzle game mystery more than its solution?” Unfortunately, the whole Book of Mormon geography question has become divisive and emotional; something that should not exist among “saints.”

In the Q&A session after a fireside at a Spanish speaking ward in Salt Lake City, a young lady returned missionary from Peru said that she was surprised and disappointed in the presentation because she had been raised to believe that Book of Mormon events took place in Peru. An explanation was given why it had to have taken place in Mesoamerica because of the geographical and cultural criteria, but an opportunity was missed to mention that many people migrated from Mesoamerica before, during and after Nephite times. Undoubtedly many settled in Peru, Chile and Bolivia; the U.S. west coast, four corners area and Great Lakes mound builders area.

Garth Norman reports that “in a meeting with a Church official a few years back, it was explained that the Brethren do not approve of identifying Mesoamerica as the sole land of the Book of Mormon because it would upset the Saints in other lands like Peru and Chile who have been led to believe that their lands are part of the Book of Mormon history heritage.” 

   

In summary, while BMAF proposes all events recorded in the Book of Mormon took place in Mesoamerica, migration and trade between Mesoamerica and other widely dispersed areas  on the American continent is archaeologically and anthropologically sound. 

Articles posted to the BMAF website (www.bmaf.org) since the last email:

• Comments on Ted Dee Stoddard’s “Thick Darkness”  by  Grover, Jerry
• Why the Oxford English Dictionary  by  Carmack, Stanford
• Zarahemla: Its Size and Its Rise and Fall  by  Andersen, Joe V.
• “Check Please”: Shysters, Conmen, and Flimflam Artists  by  Holt, Jeff

We invite you to follow the astute discussions on the BMAF Facebook site. https://www.facebook.com/groups/bmaf.org/