Welcome!
Thank you for visiting. On this blog I hope to present a strong case to show how Mormon’s Nephite record ended up in western New York. I will present my findings and insights and I will leave it up to you to draw your own conclusions. I will not compare or bash other theories concerning Book of Mormon geography with my theory. Too many sites I have come across have done this already. Everything on this site is my own conclusions and I will cite references everywhere I can. This is a somewhat complex topic to write about so I hope I can be as organized as I can. I am not a professional writer but I will do my best.
Since the day the first Europeans set foot upon this continent, everyone has been wondering who the Native Americans are and where they came from. When the new Americans started exploring and settling in the more remote areas of North, Central, and South America, they discovered strange buildings and artifacts left behind from what seemed to be a great civilization that existed centuries ago. These discoveries ranged from hundreds of mounds in northeast United States to huge temple complexes found in Central and South America. They asked the local tribes that were living in the area who made these things, and all they would say that they were made by their ancient ancestors. Many people speculated on this subject until 1830 when the Book of Mormon was first published. To some people this book seemed to answer a few questions on the history of the Native Americans in this new world they settled in. And yet the question still remained amongst the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: where exactly did the Book of Mormon events take place?
Migrations in the Book of Mormon
In my first post I said that I found a possible pattern in the Book of Mormon concerning migrations. When I first started researching the different theories about where the Nephite lands are I was getting very frustrated at all the different opinions and theories people had on this subject. I had too many questions that was not being answered satisfactorily. So, I decided to get a fresh look on where these lands could possibly be located. I started by looking for possible patterns by doing a keyword search on certain words like migrations, Zarahemla, Nephites, Lamanites, etc. I then looked closer at the migrations and noticed that this was mentioned only six times in the Book of Mormon and every one went north. When I mean migrations I mean a group of people moving to new lands and establishing permanent villages and towns there. If you look in the scriptures you will also notice that only one reference was made every 3 books of people moving to new lands with two mentioned in Alma 63. Now, I need to know where Lehi landed as a place where these migrations started. I remembered a reference where Joseph Smith said in a Times and Seasons article that Lehi landed just south of the Isthmus of Darien or Panama. So, I started here and worked up. Now I needed more reference points to place my information on. There is a lot of research that says that Zarahemla was in the Yucatan/Guatemala region and that the Nephites final war was in upstate New York. These last two wre enough to establish a possible route of the migrations. I made the chart below and placed each Book of Mormon section that corresponds to the above references on a New World map and everything lined up with the appropriate countries that they lived in. For example, most of the Nephite history in Zarahemla is in Mosiah and Alma, the largest book in the Book of Mormon and both books is in the middle of the Book of Mormon. And guess where Zarahemla is now generally accepted? In the Yucatan, southern Mexico and Guatemala area; right in the middle of both continents. This is the perfect location to establish the Church of Jesus Christ in this part of the world. The prophet could send missionaries in both directions, north and south, to spread the word of God throughout the New World. This could not happen until the lands in the north was prepared for the coming of the Nephite nation. There was still a war going on with the Jaredites when Lehi landed and the land need to be purged of the last corrupted nation. Also, the Church of Jesus Christ had to be strong enough and established before the Nephites could move into the new lands or else it would not survived very long. I will talk more on this later on. In short, I believe, because Mormon had so little room to put much detail on where the Nephite lands are more specifically he designed the Book of Mormon as a geographical map, placing certain information in specific places, leaving up to a future individual to figure out the clues and build the map. I am not saying this is me but I wonder if anyone else since the Book of Mormon was published has noticed this pattern. This theory would answer a lot of questions and resolve a lot of seemingly conflicting information that was written by early LDS writers. I will post more of my thoughts and research in the coming weeks.
To start off with I will show you my map that I created then explain the different areas. Essentially, my theory is a combination of all the prevailing theories with some details not included that I have found. Here is the map:
On the Trail of the Plates of Mormon
Start at Bottom.
Moroni
322 -421 AD–Ether —-Lands of New England—Jaredite Lands—Final battle of both nations
Ether 6:5 And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind.
Mormon
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4 Nephi
52 BC-321 AD 3 Nephi – Lands of Central USA/Missouri and surrounding lands
Helaman– 3:3. And it came to pass in the *forty and sixth, yea, there was much contention and many dissensions; in the which there were an exceedingly great many who departed out of the land of Zarahemla, and went forth unto the land northward to inherit the land. 4 And they did travel to an exceedingly great distance, insomuch that they came to large bodies of water and many rivers. 5 Yea, and even they did spread forth into all parts of the land, into whatever parts it had not been rendered desolate and without timber, because of the many inhabitants who had before inherited the land. 6 And now no part of the land was desolate, save it were for timber; but because of the greatness of the destruction of the people who had before inhabited the land it was called desolate.
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Alma– 63:4 And it came to pass that in the *thirty and seventh year of the reign of the judges, there was a large company of men, even to the amount of five thousand and four hundred men, with their wives and their children, departed out of the land of Zarahemla into the land which was northward. 5 And it came to pass that Hagoth, he being an exceedingly curious man, therefore he went forth and built him an exceedingly large ship, on the borders of the land Bountiful, by the land Desolation, and launched it forth into the west sea, by the narrow neck which led into the land northward. 6 And behold, there were many of the Nephites who did enter therein and did sail forth with much provisions, and also many women and children; and they took their course northward. And thus ended the thirty and seventh year. 7 And in the thirty and eighth year, this man built other ships. And the first ship did also return, and many more people did enter into it; and they also took much provisions, and set out again to the land northward.
30-53 BC-Mosiah —Land Of Guatemala, South Mexico, and Yucatan—Land of Zarahemla
Words of Mormon
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Omni–13 And it came to pass that he did according as the Lord had commanded him. And they departed out of the land into the wilderness, as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord; and they were led by many preachings and prophesyings. And they were admonished continually by the word of God; and they were led by the power of his arm, through the wilderness until they came down into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla. 14 And they discovered a people, who were called the people of Zarahemla. Now, there was great rejoicing among the people of Zarahemla; and also Zarahemla did rejoice exceedingly, because the Lord had sent the people of Mosiah with the plates of brass which contained the record of the Jews.
544-130 BC-Jarom– Lands between South America and Guatemala—Discovery of Zarahemla by Mosiah
Enos
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Jacob
600-421 BC- 2 Nephi – Columbia/Ecuador- Landing of Lehi-just south of the Isthmus of Darien (Panama)
1 Nephi 18:22 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did guide the ship, that we sailed again towards the promised land. 23. And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days we did arrive at the promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and did pitch our tents; and we did call it the Promised Land.
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I read some of your posts vs. the other christian guy. I have been a member since I was a child and profoundly believe in the book of mormon. I have read it several times and have a testimony that it is true. I have also realized that when I read the bofm daily and try to live the principles, my life is better and I am closer to God, but when I neglect the bofm, I am angrier, my language changes, my thoughts change, everything that I am seems to default to nothing. My whole deamener changes.
I think the Lord wants people to have faith in the Book of Mormon, otherwise he would have provided all the “historical evidences”, then everyone would believe, but just like the second coming of christ, the subtle signs are there, mostly just ignored by most people.
The way everyone attacks the church and the book of mormon, it seems like satan and his legions are attacking this religion. It has to be true, you don’t see the kind of vile and angry comments against any other church.
Everyone assumes because they can’t find any archelogical evidences of the book of mormon that it is false. I think alot of your arguments are in the right. Time does not preserve everything. I am very into researching my family history, and I can barely find much evidence that my family existed. Does that mean that they did not exist. I am proof that they did. My great grandfather, Hugh James McIntosh lived in a town called Berlin. This town was located near Skykomish, King Co., Washington. It burned down in 1906. I’ve been there 2-3 times, and you can absolutley, find no evidence that it existed. I found part of a foundation, and that’s it. Does that mean it didn’t exist!
Keep working on your blog. We need more faith in the world.
I have a testimony that Jesus is the Christ of the bible and of the book of mormon. I know that the book of mormon is the word of God as it has profoundly changed my life.
Doyle
March 27, 2008 at 1:33 pm
There is archelogical evidence for all of the other history of the canoncalized Bible, from the New Testament to the Old. God does not require us to accept anythign by blind faith. God did not harden the pharoe’s heart in Egypt for no reason at all, but to prove to the world that He was the true God and creator! The many miracles and signs that were witnessed by thousands, prove and proclaim that God is Lord. Anything you read and believe with profoundly change your life, but it doesn’t make it the truth. There is only one truth, and that is, God is Lord of all He sent His son to die for our sins, and only by believing in Him and no other thing can we be saved.
God bless you!
John
April 10, 2008 at 8:48 am
By the way, John, there is ample evidence for the Book of Mormon, only if you can accept it as evidence. Hundreds of people have seen and witnessed many miracles and signs of Christ and yet they still crucified Him. Only the Holy Spirit can witness to you who Christ is and His plan for you in your life. I have read and witnessed some things that I can’t explain other than it was by divine intervention that caused it. How can a farm boy with a third grade education can come up with a fantastic story as the Book of Mormon even with resources available in his area? It has been shown that the names of the Book of Mormon are Hebraic in origin and are found only in ancient texts that were not available in the early 1800’s in upstate New York. There are information in the Book of Mormon that have been discovered many years after it was published. How could he have described Qatar, south of Saudi Arabia, with accuracy without any maps available? It has been shown that this is Bountiful in 1 Nephi. I could go on but I will leave you with this. Try reading the Book of Mormon and decide for yourself whether it is true or not. Don’t judge the Church by its members. Study the basic doctrines and see if it is true or not. You will probably find that they are found in the Bible. I could tear apart Christianity and every other church based on the actions of the members and its history. But I chose to study by the Holy Spirit the doctrines and beliefs of the different faiths and figure out for myself what is right or wrong.
uft36
April 10, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I have read all of the LDS doctrine. In fact, I at one time was very open to the possibility that it was correct. That is why I read it, upon reading it and comparing it with what the Bible says, it is very clear that one of the two is in error. Romans very clearly teaches that we are saved by grace alone, and not works. The Bible says there is only one God and no others. The LDS doctrine says we all can become God and that God was once a man like us.
“When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that [is] the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, [but] the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”(Deu 18:22)
Prophecy #1 – Temple to be built in Independence, Missouri. In September of 1832 Joseph Smith prophesied that the New Jerusalem and a new temple would be built in Zion, Missouri, a site near Independence. He further stated that his generation would not all pass away until these events took place. The temple was never built in Smith’s lifetime or within the generation of his contemporaries. The Mormons were driven out of Missouri in 1839. The site where the temple was to be built is not even owned today by the Mormon Church.
Prophecy #2 – The End of all nations. In December 1832 Smith prophesied that South Carolina would rebel against the federal government, resulting in a war that would spread worldwide and would result in the “full end of all nations.” Nothing needs to be said about the failure of this bizarre prophecy.
Prophecy #3 – The Return of the Lord. In 1835, as the prophecies of William Miller were growing in popularity, Joseph Smith stated that “the return of the Lord is nigh – even fifty-six years should wind up the scene.” The 56 years passed in 1891. In a diary entry dated April 6, 1843, Smith repeated this prophecy, stating the Lord would return when “I am 85 years old, 48 years hence, or about 1890.” Smith was killed when he was 39 years old.
Prophecy #4 – The Liberty jail prophecies. In March of 1839 Smith issued a whole package of prophecies from his jail cell in Liberty, Missouri. Among other things, he predicted that his enemies would be destroyed “by the sword,” that his friends would never charge him with transgressions, and that God was about to change the times and seasons. None of these prophecies came true. The enemies of the Mormons were not destroyed, God did not change the times and seasons, and Smith’s friends did turn on him with serious charges that ultimately led to his arrest and death.
Prophecy #5 – The United States Government to be overthrown. In May of 1843 Smith prophesied that if the United States government did not redress the wrongs suffered by the Mormons in Missouri, the government would be “utterly overthrown and wasted.” The federal government rejected the Mormon petitions and their “wrongs” were not redressed, yet the U.S. government continued to exist.
Prophecy #6 – His son to succeed him. In April 1844 Smith prophesied that his son would succeed him and would become “president and king of Israel.” The child was named David. Needless to say, he never became “president and king of Israel.” Nor did he succeed his father. He died in 1904 at the age of 60, after spending the last 27 years of his life in an insane asylum.
The Bible says if one prophecy is wrong, then the person is not a prophet of God.
In Christ’s Love,
John
John
April 11, 2008 at 8:05 am
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]:
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.
Col 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
John
April 11, 2008 at 8:13 am
Once again, this blog is not for a doctrinal debate. If you have read my posts and comments from another commenter you will see that I stand firm in my beliefs. If you want to comment on history or on what I have posted go ahead. I have studied and read doctrines from Christianity and LDS Church and as far as I am concerned, there is a lot more we can learn than what is taught in the Bible. There are doctrines taught by the LDS Church that were once taught by Christian preachers. So, I can say that Christianity is false based on what was once taught in the ancient churches and should be now taught. Every one believes what they want. We have that right. So, don’t waste my space and time on this blog trying to convince me that I am wrong in my beliefs. You won’t win.
uft36
April 11, 2008 at 5:31 pm
It is wonderful to see how wrong the “Mentinah Archives” are because the writers tried to incorporate the FARMS geographical model which we now know were wrong.
This is similar to the “Sealed Portion” which is also easy to discern being based on incorrect theories as well.
Anyone can regurgitate data into a “narrative of a family history” which requires the Holy Ghost – NOT. If there was doctrine pertinent to salvation, then maybe the Holy Spirit would be required to discern, however, there is not a shred of NEW preaching on Christ, new doctrines on salvation, prophecies, insights, revelations or faith building stories. No gifts or fruit of the true Spirit are present and it is a waste of time to stroke the shallow egos of the arrogant and excessively bored perpetrators of this fraud.
Alan
June 8, 2008 at 9:13 am
My theories are not based on FARMS and I have shown, at least in part, that there were people that migrated north into the southwest US. I don’t like FARMS too much. I think they are too arrogant and close-minded and won’t accept anything different than their theories. The top map is my original map and is based on my understanding of the Book of Mormon, Native American legends, and Joseph Smith. I have had similar ideas that are found in the Mentinah Archives on the migrations of the Nephites north long before I read the Archives. The Archives are not meant to introduce new doctrine nor are they considered scriptures. They are not heavily promoted nor sold for profit. And you need the Holy Spirit no matter what you read to help you determine what is true or not. Including the Book of Mormon and any other text. The LDS Church have always said to read the Book of Mormon by the Holy Spirit why not do the same with these books? Even Joseph Smith have said that the Apocrypha contains some truth and left it up to the individual to study them and learn from them. And yet they are not considered official scriptures by any Church that I know of. There will be more records for us in the future. Are we going to dismiss them all because they don’t come from the official LDS Church? If you found and translated a record that you discovered on your own and presented it to the world would you be label a fraud and a liar? Probably. No one will accept it because it is not from official channels even though you know the truth and the circumstances behind the discovery. I believe I have found the true history of how the Nephites came to the US but no one will accept it or at least go through my research and try to understand it. I am not a scholar or affiliated with any school or group so no one will take me serious. These archives filled in the blanks for me and I am still going through them and tie them in with archaeology and history.
uft36
June 8, 2008 at 7:00 pm
It took 21 days for Alma and his group with women, children, and flocks to go from near the City of Nephi to Zarahemla. You can’t have a geographic scope of thousands of miles for those two cities.
Timeless
July 6, 2008 at 7:30 am
I’m still trying to figure out how Lehi landed on the west coast of South America from Israel?….That’s some kinda voyage!!!!
Stanley
July 6, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Timeless: With my geographic model you can. If you check out this site: http://www.bookofmormongeography.net/index.htm you will see that it is possible that a group could travel this far in 21 days. And if you are talking about Mosiah discovering the land of Zarahemla he and his family traveled into the land of Zarahemla not the city itself and he left the land of Nephi not the city of Nephi. Both lands could cover thousands of square miles. They were brought to the city by some local people. My model uses the migrations over the 1000 period of Nephite history to bring the Nephites to New York. I cannot believe that two groups of people living for about 500 years in a small area that everyone believes the Book of Mormon events took place would miss each other, with all the wars, drought, political unrest, etc. happening on both sides. In history, during every single war or when a tyrant rule over the land people or religious differences migrated to better lands and started their own colonies. Between Lehi and Mosiah was about 500 years. Am I to believe that absolutely no one in that time frame discovered the land of Zarahemla? The Nephites were pushed north by the Lamanites and if you read the Book of Mormon you will see that a migration happened just before the Church or the Nephites were about to be destroyed. Lehi, Mosiah, the migrations in Helaman just before Christ’s coming, Mormon’s march to New York, and the brother of Jared just before the languages were confounded. This is a pattern I discovered and I will stand by it.
Stanley: Some people believe that Lehi went to the area of Qatar on the Arabian coast and traveled through the south Pacific to reach South America.
uft36
July 6, 2008 at 7:04 pm
This all facinating research. Thank you for making you findings public. Keep up the good work. I have a question. Doesn’t it state in the mentinah archives that the modern day church and it’s leaders have gone astray? And that in the days prior to the second coming 10% of the churches followers will not survive because they couldn’t follow the law of consecration even though it was a commandment? You seem to be an upstanding mormon so I was wondering what your thoughts on this are. I am leaning more towards the archives being true…but I’m a little undecided.
matilda
October 10, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Thanks for visiting, Matilda. I don’t think they have gone astray but if I remember right, it’s been a while, it also says that the Church has a different mission and that is to do missionary work for the living and the dead. That is, to introduce to the world the true Gospel of Jesus Christ using the Book of Mormon as a guide. It seems that the Ammonites of the archives, if you believe they are true, were given the higher laws of the Temple and were able to keep them as part of their lives. One day, when we are ready maybe we will be given the same opportunities as the Ammonites were given to practice the higher laws of God. But we must go through a trial period first to see who would be ready or not and maybe this is where the 10% figure comes from. I haven’t heard about this figure before but there will be a trial by fire for all Church members, including leaders, before the second coming. I still a little reserved about the archives being true myself, just being cautious about them, but the have a lot of information that answers some questions that comes from the Book of Mormon and they have a lot of great lessons in following the commandments of God. If these are true, these could become a valuable source of information on the early history of the people of North America and temple practices, etc. I have made some connections between the Archives and what I have found on American history that either someone was very good at research or they are actual records of a lost people. Thanks, again, for your comments.
uft36
October 14, 2008 at 5:01 pm
You can save yourself a lot of effort by reading the information at http://www.bookofmormongeography.info and then doing your own theory from them.
John
April 19, 2009 at 9:36 am
John – Regarding your comment above, namely,
I assume you are not familiar with Orson Pratt’s comments in 1873,
Those living in Joseph Smith’s day and magnified the priesthood will one day receive this marvelous blessing. It does not matter if they have died and gone into the spirit world where they have continued their labors in the priesthood.
Greg
October 19, 2009 at 9:18 pm