I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God based on personal revelation. I have felt the truth of this book by the Spirit of God many times. With that firm witness I also realize that many secondary things associated with the Book of Mormon may likely are true.
For example, where was the record buried and what other two items were buried with the plates? What type of material are the plates made of, who buried them, is their evidence of of the land they were written in, was Mormon’s cave nearby, who saw the plates in addition to Joseph, how were the plates translated, how would the (Interpreters), Urim and Thummim be described, and many other secondary questions. As Moroni said, “he will the of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may the of all things. Moroni 10:4-5
By Small Means
“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” 1 Corinthians 1:27
“And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.” 1 Nephi 16:29
I now believe that in the Book of Mormon text itself (a small means), that Moroni told us what land the plates were buried in, as this information has been hiding in plain sight all the time.
North Country = Cumorah Area
“And now I, Moroni, proceed to give an of those ancient inhabitants who were destroyed by the of the Lord upon the face of this north country. And I take mine account from the and four plates which were found by the people of Limhi, which is called the Book of Ether.” Ether 1:1-2
Cumorah truth, right in front of our eyes.
As Joseph and Oliver said, “This history was written and deposited” not far from Joseph’s home near Palmyra, New York.” Letter IV
I have a great friend named Sam Dunaway who keeps in touch with me. He loves the Lord, the Book of Mormon and fully embraces the many truths of the Heartland research. He sent me this quote from Mormon 8:5 and Sam really opened my eyes to what he said about it. After quoting the scripture below, Sam explained.
3 And my father also was killed by them, and I even to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people. But behold, they are gone, and I fulfil the commandment of my father. And whether they will slay me, I know not.
4 Therefore I will write and up the records in the earth; and whither I go it mattereth not.
5 Behold, my father hath made , and he hath written the intent thereof. And behold, I would write it also if I had room upon the , but I have not; and ore I have none, for I am alone. My father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have not friends nor whither to go; and long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not.” Mormon 8:3-5
Sam continues, “Moroni was specifically speaking of the plates which his father had given him. He did not migrate north to bury the plates or he would have said that he had a place to go He was already there. “I have not friends nor wither to go.”
This also indicates that the many records from which Mormon abridged the plates were left hidden in the Hill Cumorah, where he had moved them because Moroni had no one to help him relocate them…
1 And now I, Moroni, proceed to give an of those ancient inhabitants who were destroyed by the of the Lord upon the face of this north country.
2 And I take mine account from the and four plates which were found by the people of Limhi, which is called the Book of Ether.” Ether: 1:1-2
“Primary proof of the location of the Nephites had been right in front of us in the Book of Mormon all along.
“And I, Moroni, will not the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life.” Moroni 1:3
Webster Dictionary says, “to move about without a fixed course, aim or goal.
Moroni did not migrate northward to bury the plates. He was already living in the north area.” Sam Dunaway
Clarifying Sam’s Point
Sam wrote me again in order to clarify his point as I quote him below:
“From Moroni 1:1 to Moroni 10:2, Moroni makes it clear that he completed his abridgement and is finishing his writings, then sealing or hiding up the records which were in his possession.
Mormon 5:12 and Mormon 8:4 tell of the direction to and hiding up of the records. Moroni knew exactly where the Lord had directed him to bury the plates. Yet he makes no mention of a need to travel to that area or place.
His father spoke of being directed to go to the hill Shim (See map below), where all the records were hidden, and in Mormon 6:6 notes the relocation of those records to Cumorah for safe keeping, except the plates which he gave to Moroni.
Surely, Moroni would have noted any travel to a distant location in conjunction with burying the plates as directed. However, in Moroni 1:3, he states he is wandering for the safety of his own life, not for the purpose of traveling to bury the records in his possession. This indicates he was in the area and being cautious until his writing was completed.
Furthermore, Moroni writes that after burying the plates, it doesn’t matter where he goes. Mormon 8:4
He was prepared. He was already living in the area of the hill, Cumorah, where he was directed to bury the plates. This is the only plausible explanation of those things which he wrote.” Sam Dunaway (Parenthesis, bold and color added)
Where is the North Country?
See the map below to help determine where the North County is. In my opinion the Land of Bountiful is Northern Indiana and Ohio up to almost the Hill Cumorah.
“And the Nephites and the armies of Moronihah were driven even into the land of Bountiful; And there they did fortify against the Lamanites, from the west sea, even unto the east; it being a journey for a Nephite, on the line which they had fortified and stationed their armies to defend their north country.“
Editor note: If Moroni had no ore and was alone, why would he go searching for more ore clear across the over 3,500 miles to or from Mesoamerica? He has already told us that he has stopped writing, so he was not going to find ore and why would he travel hundreds of miles carrying heavy plates and trying to keep hidden amongst his enemies, that he would have met along that long distance journey. If Moroni stays near where he buried the record, and he was alone, why would he make life more dangerous by trying to hide amongst his enemy as he traveled that great distance? People far from Cumorah probably knew that the battle was ended and all were killed. Wouldn’t it be easier for Moroni to hide right there where the final battle was finished, where no one would have believed he remained alive?
Written and Deposited not Far from That Place
by Jonathan Neville
“He [Moroni] then proceeded and gave a general account of the promises made to the fathers, and also gave a history of the aborigenes of this country, and said they were literal descendants of Abraham. He represented them as once being an enlightened and intelligent people, possessing a correct knowledge of the gospel, and the plan of restoration and redemption. He said this history was written and deposited not far from that place, and that it was our brother’s privilege, if obedient to the commandments of the Lord, to obtain and translate the same by the means of the Urim and Thummim, which were deposited for that purpose with the record.” Excerpt from Letter IV
“There was a time when Church members still believed what Moroni first told Joseph Smith when he “gave a history of the aborigenes of this country” and said “this history was written and deposited” not far from Joseph’s home near Palmyra, New York.
See https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1834-1836/68
For example, Lucy Mack Smith told people it was a record of the Indians.
From Lucy Mack Smith’s History, 1844-5. [p. [8], bk. 12]
“I will now return to the time when the Elders set out for Missouri the reader will recollect that Hyrum Smith my oldest son was directed to go by the way of Detroit. I thought this would be a good opportunity for me to visit the family of my My Brother Stephen Mack Who had been dead some 4 or 5 years this being 1831 and my brother died in 1826— Hyrum was very anxious to have me accompany him And as my niece was about returning home I this was another inducement for me to undertake the journey I accordingly set off in the month of June our company consisted Hyram Smith Brother Moredock [John Murdock] Lyman Wight Brother Corril [John Corrill] Almira Mack my Niece and myself—
When we went on board the boat we held a consultation to Determine whether it was best to say much concerning the gospel at first it was concluded that we should be entirely still as to religion but finally Hyrum said that Mother might say what she was disposed to and if a difficulty arose the Elders should assist her out of it
We had not been long on board when as I was setting one day at the door of the cabin very much engaged reading the Book of Mormon a lady accosted me thus What book have you madam you seem very much engaged The Book of Mormon I replied— The Book of Mormon said she what work is that I then gave her a brief history of the coming forth of the work She seemed highly delighted I said that it was a record of the Indians Is it possible she exclaimed why My Husband is a Missionary out now among the Indians and I am going to how I do wish that I could get a book to carry him”
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1844-1845/148 Posted by jonathan3d
Omer Traveled Out of the Land Ohio?
“And the Lord Omer in a dream that he should depart out of the land; wherefore Omer out of the land with his family, and traveled many days, and came over and passed by the hill of , and came over by the place the Nephites were destroyed, and from thence eastward, and came to a place which was called Ablom, by the seashore, and there he pitched his tent, and also his sons and his daughters, and all his household, save it were Jared and his family.” Ether 9:3
Notice below the Land Bountiful runs from Buffalo, NY and Irving, NY then south to Kill Buck and Salamance, NY. In the green below that is the Land Southward which is at the Allegheny River and south in the Land of Lehi-Nephi, as seen in the above map.
The yellow and off yellow areas below, are the Land Northward or the “Land North” or the “North Country.”
I ask you to read, ponder and pray about this information. Obviously it is only my opinion, but it makes a lot of sense to me. Much of this information I read about in Jonathan Neville’s best selling book, “Moroni’s America”. Purchase his full 366 page book here, his 108 page pocket edition book here and a map book package of over 210 maps here.
Seership and Personal Revelation
“Joseph Smith, Jr. said, every man who lived on the earth was entitled to a seer stone, and should have one, but they are kept from them in consequence of their wickedness.” – Prophet Brigham Young, “History of Brigham Young,” Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, v. 26, February 20, 1864
“The power of seership is one of the greatest gifts ever given to man; and the time is not far distant when every man who bears the Priesthood will be a seer. But it can only be when men have proved themselves able to withstand all of the false deceptions of the devil. (Brigham Young, Des. News, June 18, 1871, p. 308) (See Revelation 2:17 and D&C 130:11)
I don’t expect a seer stone in this life, but one day perhaps. As the Lord wants us all to find truth with His guidance. I have found many truths about the geography of the Book of Mormon and the proper translation, which the church has not spoken about or may never speak about. That doesn’t mean I can’t know, or I shouldn’t try to find, “all the truth I can.”
“It’s My Truth”
We each believe based on our own bias, study and research. We also learn from personal revelation or until we understand more from God or the Spirit. I will understand certain things as my definition of truth different from you, and it isn’t a matter of who is correct, but who’s personal feelings are correct for them, at the time of their ability to receive and understand. I don’t believe in todays fad saying of, “It’s my own truth.” My own truth could mean its true to me, but not revealed truth from God. Revealed truth from the Lord is true, no matter what anyone thinks is “their truth.”
You can’t push your feelings about truth on others, as it is personal to you. We each must learn revealed truth by the Spirit. I agree truth is only one way, meaning truth is truth and only God and Christ know all truth. We cant change truth, just understand it more and more. We have different ways of receiving and understanding it completely or in bits and pieces. That’s why we are taught line upon line until more knowledge or possibly perfect knowledge is achieved in a certain thing.
