John sorensons tehuantepeccentered model of book of mormon geography. His map and ideas have dominated lds scholarly thinking for decades. Many accounts of significant lands and cities are given in the book of mormon. Mormons map carefully and concisely accomplishes what it sets out to do. Clark,4 randall spackman determined that there are upwards of. Sorensons most recent compilation and discussion of book of mormon passages relating to geography. As the ancient prophet mormon edited the scriptural texts that would become the book of mormon, he must have had a map in his mind of the places and physical features that comprised the setting for the events described in that book. The book of mormon describes distances as days traveled. Although the book of mormon is primarily a religious record of the nephites, lamanites, and jaredites, enough geographic details are embedded in the narrative to allow reconstruction of at. Made popular by his 1985 publication an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, sorensons geographic model for the book of mormon has withstood the test of time and remains the preeminent geographic model for book of mormon events.
Mormons map is book of mormon scholar john sorensons reconstruction of that mental map solely from information. I started this blog over a year ago, mainly in response to a document purportedly written by john sorenson about why north america cannot be the setting for the book of mormon. An ancient american book see a video further down the page. This book is out of print but cheap used copies are plentiful on amazon. He ran the new world archaeological foundation from 1959 to 1987. Book of mormon geographymodelslimitedsorenson 1955. The great white god of ancient america bom lands conference 2014 scott hoyt duration. Finally there is a way to really explore john sorensons book of mormon geography. As the ancient prophet mormon edited the scriptural texts that would become the book of mormon, he must have had a map. In addition to the sources cited in notes 6 and 8, see john l. This map was created by me to help bring the book of mormon stories to life. John sorenson, an authority on book of mormon geography, gave a lecture at olive wood books on the book of mormon, geography, and mesoamerica.
Why did mormon give so many details about geography. I have tremendous respect for the many book of mormon studies john sorenson has previously written. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon provo. Mormons map is book of mormon scholar john sorensons reconstruction of that mental map solely from. Mormon s map is book of mormon scholar john sorenson s reconstruction of that mental map solely from information gleaned from the text after years of intensive study. Practically since the book of mormon was published, its geography has been the subject of discussion and debate.
Yeah, theres some text there too, but the real value is in the illustrations and photographs showing central american artwork, pottery, iconography, temples, animals, clothing, tools, weapons, people, and jungles. It is thorough, covers many aspects of the field, and is probably the most objective work at its time. Mormons map is book of mormon scholar john sorensons reconstruction of that mental map solely from information gleaned from the text after years of intensive study. Sorenson were fellow graduate students at byu in the early 1950s. Mormons map is book of mormon scholar john sorenson s reconstruction of that mental map solely from information gleaned from the text after years of intensive. Having been privileged to work with him on some of. John sorenson, the geography of book of mormon events, pp.
Discussion regarding the historicity of the book of mormon often focuses on archaeological issues, some of which relate to the large size and the long time span of the civilizations mentioned in the book. It was postulated by john sorenson and others that no researcher of book of mormon geography should attempt to physically place it anywhere without first extracting an internal geography model to see if the person has a thorough understanding of the text. An ancient american setting for the book of mormon images of ancient america. Publishers, 1989 for the best summary of this entire subject. The only way to have seas north and south on a literal or descriptive basis would be for the two major bodies of land to be oriented at an angle somewhat off true northsouth.
John sorenson notes in his book, the geography of the book of mormon. John sorensons mormons codex examines book of mormon. A source book the following on page 102, this map is identical in practically all substantive details to ludlow et al. Sorenson was born in 1924 in smithfield, utah, where he grew up. Mormon s map is book of mormon scholar john sorenson s reconstruction of that mental map solely from. Beginning as early as 1955 i undertook to synthesize what i was learning about ancient mesoamerica that is, southern mexico and northern central america into a form intended to answer the question, how did the book of mormon account relate to the civilization that once occupied that area. Top 10 book of mormon map features book of mormon history. It was sorenson who first proposed that the scriptures action likely took place in guatemala and southern mexico, rather than encompassing both north and south america. Mormons codex is the culmination of a lifetimes labor by mormonisms preeminent mesoamerican specialist. Sorenson attempts to reconstruct that mental map mormons map using information in the text. When john sorensons longawaited volume an ancient american setting for the book of mormon finally appeared in 1985, i was thrilled and bought it immediately hugh nibley had been investigating the ancient near eastern background of the book of mormon for decades, but the study of its ancient american background had lagged behind. As mormon edited the book of mormon, he must have had a map in his mind of the places and physical features that were setting the events described in that book. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. John sorenson true book of mormon geography lands western.
Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of. Sorenson in his book, mormons map which i recommend for anyone who would like to study what the book of mormon. A contemporary mormon view is that these civilizations rose and fell in mesoamerica. Sorenson 1924 founded the department of anthropology at byu and later taught as professor of anthropology there from 1971 to 1985. The main passage mentions the land of nephi bordering on the seas, a narrow strip of wilderness, the land of zarahemla, and the headwaters of the river sidon see alma 22. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon salt lake city. It has been accepted for inclusion in byu studies quarterly by an authorized editor of byu scholarsarchive. The near identity of these three maps raises a question of directions of unattributed influence. The map, though admittedly tentative, offers three services to readers of the book of mormon. Sorensons geographical model in his other books point to mesoamerica. I agree with sorenson about the importance of alma 22, as well as the utility of creating an abstract map and finding a. Mormons map is book of mormon scholar john sorensons reconstruction of that mental map solely from information gleaned from the text.
An annotated bibliography jerald and sandra tanner, covering up the black hole in the book of mormon. Sorenson, one of the foremost students on the subject, identified over 600 passages relevant to geography. In mormons map, sorenson implied that the seas could not be taken literally. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, pp. The only narrow neck of land book of mormon evidence. After attending utah state agricultural college now utah state university, he enlisted in the army air corps, where he was trained at the california institute of technology as a meteorologist and served in the south atlantic theater of operations. Maps true book of mormon geography lands western new. The four seas of the book of mormon mormons in transition. Nibleys method was essentially a comparative approach, ransacking ancient literature far and wide for parallels to the book of mormon.
John l sorenson is one of the best book of mormon scholars, having written seveal excellent texts, such as an ancient american setting for the book of mormon and images of ancient america. He began teaching at byu in 1963, and he later established the byus anthropology department. Since 1949 john sorenson has been collecting archaeological and anthropological evidence to show that joseph smith translated the book of mormon from a native mesoamerican codex, or book. This is a large coffeetable book with gorgeous fullcolor pictures. For the past 55 years, john sorenson has inhaled every detail of book of mormon life and history. Sorenson attempts to reconstruct that mental map mormon s map using information in the text. In 1991, john sorenson of byu, the dean of book of mormon geography, created a book called the geography of book of mormon events. Visualizing book of mormon life mormons map mormons, scripture, and the ancient world.