The Book of Mormon Archaeological Forum (BMAF) is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization dedicated as an open forum for presentation, dissemination, and discussion of research and evidences regarding Book of Mormon archaeology, anthropology, geography and culture within a Mesoamerican context. Our goals are (1) to increase understanding of the Book of Mormon as an ancient Mesoamerican text, (2) to correlate and publish works of LDS scholars, (3) to help promote unity and cooperation, and (4) to provide humanitarian, educational and employment opportunities for the people of Mesoamerica.
Their indebtedness to the Mesoamerican area goes very deep. The following are some of the staunchest supporters of the Mesoamerican framework:
- John W. Welch
- John L. Sorenson
- John L. Lund
- John A. Tvedtnes
- Ted Dee Stoddard
- Diane E. Wirth
- Joe V Andersen
- Douglas K. Christensen
- Chris Heimerdinger
- Dave Asay
The largest challenge facing these folks is that their models are all “land prophecy deficient.” That is to say, their focus upon “culture, a writing system, or calendar system,” etc. are not land related and can be found anywhere. Take the work of R. A. Olsen for example. His “Malay Theory” has more “hits” than all above modelers combined. and yet his model is in the Islamic state of Malaysia!
Without land prophecies, you could have your ladder against the wrong wall and not know it!
People -v- Land
Culture -v- Geography
Books claiming to be about the “geography” of the Book of Mormon should stick to the geography. Books touting this, that, and the other about culture should entitle their books and their field of study “anthropology.”
People become absorbed by other people and their cultures. People migrate, become annihilated, and so on. In other words, cultures are not land based and any person touting culture as the way to identify a land mass are putting the cart before the horse and should stop.
Plus the following from a 2003 snapshot:
Book of Mormon Archaeological Foundation
Board of Directors
Print Media Orson Wright Ryan D. Williams Glen Sudbury Conrad Gottfredson Brian Utley Blake J. Allen Bruce Warren Nancy Sherwood Les Smith Mont Wooley Ted Stoddard Don Murray Doug Christensen Art Thompson
The following is a snapshot from one of their tours:
Tour Schedule 2002:
Please note that it is possible to join the 15-day deluxe tours for just the first or just the second week. The one week options usually are approximately $1995 (including airfare) depending on when you join and leave the group. Please call the office for details: 888-226-5205.
Unless otherwise noted the above prices include a round-trip airfare allowance of $500.
6/27/03 15-day Nephi to Cumorah Mont Wooley 7/4/03 Land of Nephi (9-day) Todd Allen 7/4/03 15-day Nephi to Cumorah Joseph L. Allen 7/11/03 15-day Nephi to Cumorah Robert Norman / Blake J. Allen 8/4/03 Land of Nephi / Belize Ryan D. Williams 9/18/03 Convention (Guatemala City) Various Lecturers 10/11/03 15-day Nephi to Cumorah Ryan D. Williams 10/24/03 15-day Nephi to Cumorah Richard Berrett 10/31/03 Jaredite (9-day) Rex Arnett 11/1/03 Land of Nephi (9-day) John Lund 11/3/03 Imperial (21-day) Ron Jamison 11/7/03 Nephi-Zarahemla (10-day) Joseph L. Allen 12/26/03 Jaredite (9-day) Ralph McAfee 12/26/03 Land of Nephi (9-day) Todd Allen
This snapshot from 2005 includes General Authorities:
Board of Trustees:
David C. Asay – Chairman
Richard F. Gordon – President
Robert L. Sperry – Vice President
Conrad A. Gottfredson – Vice President
Ryan D. Williams – Executive Director
Elder William Bradford
Elder Ted E. Brewerton
Elder Robert E. Wells
Randy S. Mellor
Art Thompson
Dawn ThompsonAdvisory Board:
Bob Ard
Gilbert Blake
Doug Christensen
Milt Hanks
Kraig Higginson
Kent W. Reese
Joe Reyna
Nancy Sherwood
Robert Starling
Eric Turbiville
Margaret WorkmanResearch and Education Board:
Elder William Bradford – Co-chair
Elder Ted E. Brewerton – Co-chair
Elder Robert E. Wells – Co-chair
David Hadlock – BMAF
F. Richard Hauck – ARI
Bruce Warren – AAF
Diane Wirth
Snapshot from 2007:
Officers and Board of Trustees
David C. Asay – Chairman
Richard F. Gordon – President
Robert L. Sperry – Vice President
Stephen L. Carr – Vice President
Douglas K. Christensen
Randy S. Mellor
Robert StarlingAdvisory Board
Gilbert Blake
Conrad A. GottfredsonKirk MaglebyGlen RawlinsRita RawlinsKent Reese
Ryan Williams
Margaret WorkmanResearch & Education Board
Elder William R. Bradford – Co-Chair
Elder Ted E. Brewerton – Co-Chair
Elder Robert E. Wells – Co-Chair
David Hadlock
F. Richard Hauck, Phd
Garth Norman
Bruce Warren, Phd
Diane Wirth, Phd
Bruce Yerman
It becomes apparent that the Book of Mormon has been a big money maker for many of these individuals, who are heavily invested in Mesoamerica with their books, maps, lectures, tapes, conferences and tours. We dedicate a few pages to correcting their errors.
[Source for all pages: BMAF]
- A to Z in a Nutshell by Diane E. Wirth
- Critical Criteria for Identifying the New World Lands of the Book of Mormon: Implications for the Heartland Model and the Mesoamerica Model by Ted Dee Stoddard
- “Thick Darkness,” “Vapor of Darkness,” and “Mists of Darkness”: Indications of Weather and Climate in the Book of Mormon by Ted Dee Stoddard
- The Whiteness of the Driven Snow: An Evaluation of the Word “Snow” in the Book of Mormon by Ted Dee Stoddard
- A Brief History of the Limited Geographic View of the Book of Mormon by John A. Tvedtnes
- A Whole Bunch of Reasons Why Book of Mormon Geography Could Not Have Included North America by John Sorenson.
- Revelatory Stewardship and the Book of Mormon by Chris Heimerdinger
- American Nationalism or Exceptionalism and Book of Mormon Geography – Chris Heimerdinger
- Book of Mormon Traditions Found Only in Mesoamerica by Diane E. Wirth
- THE TWO CUMORAHS by Edwin M. Wooley