Did you know that Jesus visited ancient America after His resurrection? And did you know He said He would return to that same location? Knowing the location of Book of Mormon lands is thus very important:
42 And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first… (1 Nephi 13)
Unfortunately, the Mormon Church has taught for more than a century that Book of Mormon lands are in Mesoamerica. We hold to the truth that Book of Mormon lands are where their records were deposited 1600 years ago, and Joseph Smith retrieved them 200 years ago—in Western New York.
Jesus Christ will make His first Second Coming appearance in America at Delaware Park, Tonawanda, New York, where the ancient Bountiful Temple stood (now beautifully adorned by the Albright-Knox Art Gallery). As then, so will it be again, the place to see, learn, and be baptized in the same waters (Holy aka Hoyt Lake) that Nephi did—to signify the beginning of the prophesied Millennium of Peace.
And another:
-It will require some inspiration, as well, for this is a subject which has not yet been deciphered. It may even require revelation. (William C. Chappell, An Abridgment of the Record of Lehi, 2002, p. 92)
-This is what the author calls the “Clarified Expanded Version” of these scriptures, and is abbreviated CEV. (p. 94)
-Thus, I say that the city Bountiful was located where Panama City is today. (p. 114)
-So let me end this part of my book with a secret which has been hidden from the foundation of the world. Now the Lord has went (sic) to great lengths to keep this secret hidden, even since the translation of the gold plates of the Book of Mormon. Should I reveal it at this time, for I have received the inspiration. Behold, it was the mountain to the east near the mouth of the Magdalena River…Now if a person should climb that mountain, unto the relative direction and position, as the gold plates of the Book of Mormon was found on the Hill Cumorah within the western part of the state of New York; then, he might find a cave there which contained all the plates of the Nephites. (p. 115)
And another:
“On the judgment day, how will we feel if we know we may have known the truth about the geography of the Book of Mormon but kept quiet because of the fear of man?” (Ralph A. Olsen, “The Malay Peninsula as the Setting for the Book of Momon,” 1997, p. 246)
And another:
“I know for a fact, I know for a fact [solemn tone] that Joseph knew way, way more than he ever revealed about the history of this land.”
“I was sitting in Sunday School and all this stuff is flowing around in my brain and I’m trying to concentrate on the class, trying, but this stuff’s in my head I can’t shut it out.” (Wayne May, “Book of Mormon Geography,” Ancient American History Conference, SLC, April 1, 201)
And another:
Claims to have discovered the “Nephitic Language” and knows therefore how to “translate” the untranslated Nephite words in the Book of Mormon. By his method Savelli claims to have discovered the true geography believing Nephite words have been passed down and therefore can be translated phonetically.
His River Sidon shown above flows the wrong way.
One may ask, “How do you safeguard yourself against deception?”
Answer: Read the Book of Mormon – ALL OF THE LAND REFERENCES:
- PHYSICAL
- SPIRITUAL
- INTERNAL
Then, protect those results by NOT supplanting (i.e. replacing) them by modern statements. If modern statements support a conclusion based on the PSI, fine, but stop trusting the words of man more than the unbiased, untarnished Word of God. Clearly the adversary is allowed to play when the Word of God is set aside.
PSI
These are the facts:
- It’s a fact, most modelers do not have an Internal Geography Map
- It’s a fact, without an Internal Geography Map it is impossible to formulate an accurate Physical Map
- It’s a fact, the Land Promises and Land Prophecies or “Spiritual Geography” have been ignored by 97% of the modelers
- It’s a fact, without an alignment of the Internal Geography with the Spiritual Geography, it is impossible to accurately identify the Physical Geography
- It’s a fact, modelers must be able to show ALL THREE MODELS to be accurate
Modelers: DO NOT post a PHYSICAL MODEL without an accompanying SPIRITUAL and INTERNAL MAP.
Investigators: DO NOT consider a PHYSICAL MODEL without an accompanying SPIRITUAL and INTERNAL MAP.
(Sources: Internal Maps – Sorenson, Clark and FAIR.)
New Jerusalem
These are the facts:
- It’s a fact, the New Jerusalem would be built BEFORE the Book of Mormon came forth
- It’s a fact, the New Jerusalem would be built on Book of Mormon lands
- It’s a fact, the New Jerusalem is more a government than a building, town, or city
- It’s a fact, that government would be founded on principles of God, Christ and Freedom
- It’s a fact, the inspired Declaration and Constitution of the United States are based on God, Christ and Freedom
[Details are under New Jerusalem on the Main Menu.]
The following quotes come from LDS Prophet and Secretary of Agriculture – Ezra Taft Benson, This Nation Shall Endure, 1977:
-This was the place of three former civilizations: that of Adam, that of the Jaredites, and that of the Nephites. This was also the place where our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith. (p. 15)
-Yes, we are priviliged to live in a choice land – a land of Zion – a land reserved for the second coming of our Lord and Savior, and the Lord’s base of operations today. (p. 28)
-What those framers did can be better appreciated when it is considered that when the instrument (Constitution) went into operation (April 6, 1789), it covered only thirteen states with fewer than four million people. (p. 40)
I reverence the Constitution of the United States as a sacred document. To me its words are akin to the revelations of God, for God has placed His stamp of approval on the Constitution. (p. 44)
Only a FREE people can be truly a HAPPY people. (Freedom is the core of the New Jerusalem.) (p. 82)
John Quincy Adams: ‘From the day of the Declaration…[the American people] were bound by the laws of God…and by the laws of the Gospel, which they nearly all acknowledged as the rules of their conduct.’ (Oration celebrating July 4, 1821) (p. 130)
It was not just incidental nor was it mere political platitude that the NAME OF GOD was mentioned in the Declaration of Independence FOUR TIMES, and that our adopted NATIONAL MOTTO became ‘In God We Trust.’ (p. 130)
“He that fighteth against Zion shall perish.” (p. 14) Applies to those who endorse models outside the United States.
It is the job of the historian and educator and church leader [particularly modelers] to help us as a nation to pull ourselves together, to help us regain perspective and vision…it will be done by men who possess a love of country, a vision of our country’s future, and the assurance of her divinely guided destiny. (p. 24)
My plea is that you stir up the gift that is within you. You will recall the Lord told us why we needed to exercise the spiritual gifts He has given us: ‘…BEWARE LEST YE ARE DECEIVED; AND THAT YE MAY NOT BE DECEIVED SEEK YE EARNESTLY THE BEST GIFTS…’ (D&C 46:8) (p. 27)
Test
These are the facts:
- It’s a fact, that the Book of Mormon was the first of many records to come forth
- It’s a fact, that how well the Book of Mormon was received would determine whether other records would come forth
- It’s a fact, that the Lord stated in 1832 that the “whole church” was under “condemnation” for not following the Book of Mormon (D&C 84:54-58)
- It’s a fact, that in 1986 President Ezra Taft Benson stated the church was still under that condemnation (Ensign 16, [May 1986] p. 78)
- It’s a fact, that LDS historians and professors have admitted that the LDS church is not based on the Book of Mormon (see: www.bomchristian.com)
- It’s a fact, that more records have not come forth
- It’s a fact, that the reason they have not come forth is because the Book of Mormon has not been followed (see: Reformed Mormonism)
- It’s a fact, that the additional records would have proven the historicity of the Book of Mormon (3 Nephi 26:6-10; Alma 37:3-4, 14-15)
- It’s a fact, that a people not worthy of additional records, are not worthy of other proofs, i.e., archaeological, geographical, or other
“The word of the Lord or the translation of other ancient records is required to clear up many points now so obscure that, as we have said, no two original investigators agree with regard to them” (George Q. Cannon, ed., “The Book of Mormon Geography” in The Juvenile Instructor, Jan. 1, 1890, p. 18).
“It is the personal opinion of the writer that the Lord does not intend that the Book of Mormon, at least at the present time, shall be proved true by any archaeological findings. The day may come when such will be the case, but not now” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 1998, v. 2, p. 196).
It is clear, that the views expressed on the geography of the Book of Mormon since the time of Joseph till now are full of delusions, which is the fruit of condemnation.
Seas
These are the facts:
- The word “lake” was not used by Mormon because he never experienced a salt water ocean and had nothing to differentiate
- It’s a fact, 99.9% of the models are void of a Land Northward surrounded by FOUR SEAS and a Land Southward surrounded by THREE SEAS, lacking one on the south
- It’s a fact, they believed they were on an “ISLE OF THE SEA” and God considered them to be on one also
- It’s a fact, FOUR SEAS bordered the Jaredite Land Northward
- It’s a fact, the “Great Sea” “Great Water” “Irreantum” “Many Waters” “Deep” and “Great Deep” that were crossed to arrive at Book of Mormon lands did NOT directly border Book of Mormon lands
- It’s a fact, neither the Atlantic nor the Pacific oceans directly bordered Book of Mormon lands
- It’s a fact, no seas bordered the SOUTHERN END of the Land of First Inheritance
- It’s a fact, that the Sea South of the Jaredite Land Northward was the Sea North of the Nephite Land Southward
- It’s a fact, that the body of water east of the Narrow Passage, that led into the Jaredite Land Northward, was the same as the Sea South of the Jaredite Land Northward and the Sea that Divides the Land from the Nephite Land Southward
- It’s a fact, there are more references to the Sea North and the Sea South than Sorenson, Clark, or Hamblin admit
- It’s a fact, there is no cause to abandon the clear meaning of the FOUR SEAS text for a more “conducive physical model” that interprets the FOUR SEAS as merely a metaphor
- It’s a fact, cities bordering “seas” implies the seas were fresh water, not salt, just like the Sea of Galilee
- It’s a fact, the word “Sea” has been used in the Bible to describe INLAND FRESH WATER LAKES
- It’s a fact, if an Internal Map is void of the bodies of water described in the text, it is biased; seas should only be absent from Physical Maps if the “metaphorical card” is played
You can’t skirt the seas because they don’t fit. The seas bordered Book of Mormon lands. BOOK OF MORMON LANDS HAD DISTINCT BOUNDARIES.
Boundaries
Israel is synonymous with Promised Land, Holy Land and Palestine. Israel is surrounded by other nations, yet her boundaries are distinct. No one would claim that the promises associated with Israel are inferred to apply to adjoining or distant lands. Only Israel’s promises are FOR ISRAEL, not Syria, Iraq, Jordan, or Egypt.
For some reason however, modelers assume the land promises of Nephi and Jared may be applied ANYWHERE. In one breath claiming Mexico and Guatemala as Book of Mormon lands and in the next claiming the glory of the United States of America.
When God gives a land to someone, with promises, that land and those promises are sacred. Pitty the man who stretches forth his hand and seeks to re-align those. Pitty the man who is blinded and cares more about notoriety than the all piercing eye.
With two hundred years of hindsight, can you modelers not feel the pain of God? Is there the slightest remorse for having moved the field of geography away from her promises and contrary to the United States, the New Jerusalem?
And blessed are the Gentiles (Mormons) they of whom the prophet has written for behold if it so be that they shall repent and FIGHT NOT AGAINST ZION (US government, its Declaration and Constitution) and do not unite themselves to that great and abominable church (Notoriety) they shall be saved. (2 Nephi 6:12)
Presumptuous? The Jaredite Land Northward was bordered by FOUR SEAS and the Land Southward was bordered by THREE SEAS. The promises apply there, not Missouri, Mexico, or Guatemala.
All land prophecies were fulfilled with Colonial America, by her INSPIRED Declaration, Constitution and Bill of Rights. Which favors by God apply since that time to lands under her government.
Everything Joseph did was contrary to the New Jerusalem. Thus, with each sin, God pushed his followers off Book of Mormon lands and out of the New Jerusalem, the United States of America. They even called America “Babylon”:
DEPARTURE OF THE SAINTS FROM THE UNITED STATES URGED
“We do not want one saint to be left in the United States after that time,” said the message. “Let every branch,” he continued, “in the east, west, north and south be determined to flee out of ‘BABYLON,’ either by land or sea, as soon as then.” (B. H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1930, vol. 3, p. 25.)
Brethren awake!—be determined to get out from this EVIL NATION next spring. We do not want the saints to be left in the United States after that time. Let every branch in the east, west, north, and south, be determined to flee out of BABYLON, either by land or by sea, as soon as then. Judgment is at the door; and it will be easier to go now, than to wait until it comes. (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, vol. 7, p. 516.)
TEMPLE COVENANT PUTS MORMON CHURCH BEFORE THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
We were then made to swear “To obey the laws of the Mormon Church and all they enjoin, in preference to those of the United States” [She describes the penalty and sign that accompany this grip.] (Mrs. G.S.R., “Lifting the Vail(sic): The Endowment House Mysteries Fully Exposed,” Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 28 September 1879).
Joseph and Hyrum sealed their hate and were buried with nonbelievers in a Lamanite burial mound.
Fringe Theory
Book of Mormon FRINGE THEORY was inspired by geography enthusiast John E. Clark:
Adena and Hopewell peoples lived in Pennsylvania and western New York, but this region represented the impoverished FRINGE of their culture. (John E. Clark, “Archaeology and Cumorah Questions,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies: vol. 13, no. 1, 2004, pp. 144-51).
In actuality, what was considered a weakness by Clark regarding our Western New York model is in fact a key element of true Book of Mormon geography.
As was stated on our Lamanite page, the Book of Mormon is clear—other people existed prior to the arrival of Lehi’s group and they were larger in number. Fringe Theory states:
Nephite lands and culture were smaller than Lamanite lands and culture which should be reflected in the archaeological record as a ‘fringe group’.
–>