Is There a Revealed Book of Mormon Geography?
by Rod Meldrum
Many intellectuals and historians say that Joseph Smith was confused about Book of Mormon geography because of his seemingly conflicting statements on the matter. Some have suggested that he changed his mind about it over time. And others claim that the geographic model now known as the Heartland geography of the Book of Mormon is wrong because of ‘cherry-picked’ statements by prophets that only support this model.
Some Mesoamerican Geography Theorists [And others “MGT”] say Heartlanders only utilize quotes by prophets that support our model, while there are other quotes that they claim support other geography theories, including theirs, even by the same prophet. In other words, some MGT claim that our prophets and leaders have made many conflicting statements that have lead to confusion on the subject.
Heartlanders have understood this confusion as resulting from misunderstanding Joseph Smith by not separating his revealed statements from non-revealed statements, or speculations based on a hierarchy which will be explained below, that some historians espouse, which we profoundly disagree with. Should we believe that opinions – even of prophets – carry the same weight of evidence as revelations directly from the Lord?
Heartlanders suggested a hierarchy of evidence some 20 years ago, and was included in my (Rod Meldrum’s) first DVD titled DNA Evidence for Book of Mormon Geography (2006), and later 5 DVD disc set, called simply, Book of Mormon Evidence, because of the confusion that was rampant among Church members over the issue of evidences and geography of the Book of Mormon.
John Sorensen established the primary MGT methodology by starting with speculations about a “narrow neck of land” forming an hour-glass shaped overall geography first and then looking at potential archeology to fit, while practically ignoring prophecies and prophetic statements from the book itself and of Joseph Smith. This methodology has led to over 150 different geographies for the Book of Mormon, ranging from the entire Western hemisphere to a tiny area just 80 miles by 60 miles in Western New York, and even proposed geographies in Malaysia and the Baja peninsula. This also included the MGT, which is less than half the size of the state of Utah in the extent of its primary lands.
I began with the following hierarchy in my first DVD’s. It is based on the underlying teachings of the gospel, which counsels to begin with what is known truth and then build upon it, line upon line, and precept upon precept. If we start with speculation, we end with more speculation, which is why we have over 150 different geographies and much confusion throughout the church membership on this subject. God is not a god of confusion. Can we cut through the confusion by following a more robust methodology, and if so, what would it be?
Hierarchy of Evidence
It shouldn’t start with speculations about unknown locations, but rather begin with the following:
- Scriptures: Including the Prophecies and Promises passages for which the book of Mormon was actually written according to D&C 3. “And for this very purpose are these plates preserved, which contain these records—that the promises of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to his people; And that the Lamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers, and that they might know the promises of the Lord, and that they may believe the gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ, and be glorified through faith in his name, and that through their repentance they might be saved. Amen.” D&C 3:19-20
- Joseph Smith’s prophetic and/or revelatory statements, writings and teachings.
- Physical evidences such as DNA, archeology, culture, language, civilization, archeoastronomy, metallurgy, building practices and materials, burials, climate, weather, etc.
- Geographic passages from the Book of Mormon. But, if these were clear and complete, why would there be any confusion about geography? Obviously, they are neither.
Historically inaccurate claims have been made that Joseph Smith never received any revelations regarding the geography of the Book of Mormon. We have found that the more recently known historical facts (thanks to the Joseph Smith Papers Project) provide a very different picture, with several revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith that clearly indicate a North American setting for the Book of Mormon. Please take a look at these accounts and see if you agree that Joseph Smith was claiming revelatory knowledge on the subject in each one, contrary to the old, historically inaccurate claim that Joseph has no revelatory knowledge on the subject.
See web article: What Did Joseph Know? – Book of Mormon Evidence
https://bookofmormonevidence.org/what-did-joseph-know-copy/
Joseph Smith’s Revealed Geography Statements
1- Revelations from the Lord in D&C sections 28, 30 and 32 regarding sending the first 4 missionaries (Oliver Cowdrey, Parley P Pratt, David Whitmer Jr, and Ziba Petersen) of this dispensation unto the Lamanites, wherein the Lord promises that “I myself will go with them and be in their midst; and I am their advocate with the Father, and nothing shall prevail against them.” These revelations resulted in a journey including visits to four Native American tribes in New York, Ohio, and Missouri, according to the journal accounts and autobiography of Parley P. Pratt. Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City (1874 ed.), pp. 41–44 / or pp. 53–57 depending on edition.
2-D&C revelations in sections 45, 54 and 84 establishing the revealed location of the New Jerusalem, which two ancient prophets, Ether of the Jaredites, and Moroni of the Nephites, declared would be built on their (Book of Mormon) lands.
While abridging the Jaredite records, Moroni makes the following commentary.
“2 For behold, they rejected all the words of Ether; for he truly told them of all things, from the beginning of man; and that after the waters had receded from off the face of this land it became a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord; wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof;
3 And that it was the place of the New Jerusalem, which should come down out of heaven, and the holy sanctuary of the Lord.
4 Behold, Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake concerning a New Jerusalem upon this land.” Ether 13:2-4
This, then, is a double prophetic witness that the lands of both the Jaredites and Nephites were located on the lands of the future New Jerusalem which will be established in the Heartland of America – by revelation.
3- The Wentworth Letter, a portion of which was actually canonized into scripture, speaks of the “Western tribes of Indians” as being related to the Native Americans in North America. Joseph wrote, “On the evening of the 21st of September 1823, while I was praying unto God and endeavoring to exercise faith in the precious promises of scripture, on a sudden, a light like that of day, only of a far purer and more glorious appearance and brightness, burst into the room. In a moment a personage stood before me, surrounded with a glory yet greater than that which I was already surrounded. This messenger proclaimed himself to be an angel of God, sent to bring the joyful tidings. I was informed that I was chosen to be an instrument in the hands of God to bring about some of his purposes in this glorious dispensation… I was also informed concerning the Aboriginal inhabitants of this country and shown who they were and from whence they came; a brief sketch of their origin, progress, civilization, laws, governments, of their righteousness and iniquity, and the blessings of God being finally withdrawn from them as a people, was made known unto me.” Church History, Times and Seasons 3, no. 9 (March 1, 1842): 706–710, Nauvoo, Illinois. What country was Joseph in at the time? Clearly, he was in the United States. How does this not qualify as revealed information on Book of Mormon geography by the Lord to His prophet?
4- Zelph accounts. These historical accounts were written in several journals of those that witnessed a revelation given to Joseph Smith in vision standing on top of a mound near today’s Griggsville, Illinois, just off of the Illinois River today and known as Naples Russell Mound number 8, [James L. Bradley, Zion’s Camp 1834: Prelude to the Civil War (Salt Lake City: Publisher’s Press, 1990), p. 257].
Joseph recounted that it was through the “the spirit of the Almighty” that he knew about the bones that had just been dug up and that he was shown that the skeleton before them had been a white Lamanite, a large, thick-set man and a man of God whose name was Zelph, and that he was killed in one of the final battles between the Lamanites and Nephites of the Book of Mormon, right there in Illinois. In his subsequent Letter to Emma, written just two days later, Joseph writes that they were “wandering over the plains of the Nephites, recounting occasionally the history of the Book of Mormon, roving over the mounds of that once beloved people of the Lord, picking up their skulls & their bones, as a proof of its divine authenticity…” which again testifies to Joseph’s knowledge of the lands, the mounds, and the peoples of the Book of Mormon and that it occurred in America’s Heartland. Source and https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1838-1856-volume-a-1-23-december-1805-30-august-1834/489?highlight=zelph
5- American Revivalist article was “written by commandment of God” according to Joseph Smith and published in the American Revivalist and Rochester Observer newspaper. He specifically stated that “The Book of Mormon is a record of the forefathers of our Western tribes of Indians… By it we learn that our Western tribes of Indians are descendants from that Joseph that was sold into Egypt and that the land of America is a Promised land unto them” American Revivalist, and Rochester Observer (Rochester, New York), vol. 7, no. 6, February 2, 1833, p. [2] https://bhroberts.org/records/QSDbqc-PxTkGg/joseph_calls_the_book_of_mormon_a_record_of_our_western_tribes_of_indians
Joseph Smith in his letter to Noah Saxton 4 Jan 1833 said, “Therefore I declare unto you the warning which the lord has commanded me to declare unto this generation, rembring [remembering] that the eyes of my maker are upon me and that to him I am accountabl for evry word I say…” https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/letter-to-noah-c-saxton-4-january-1833/5
6- Nephite altar at Adam-ondi-Ahman. Through Revelation, Joseph Smith learned that an area in northwestern Missouri, near Gallatin, was the place where Adam lived after he was cast out of the Garden of Eden and that a Nephite altar had been erected near there. The revelations about Adam-ondi-Ahman can now be found in D&C 107:53; 116. Joseph Smith located an altar and showed the remains to numerous people. On a historical marker at Adam-ondi-Ahman, it states that “there is an overlook of the western portion of the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman from a prominence called Tower Hill. Tower Hill is a name given by Joseph Smith because of the remains of an old Nephite altar (see JSP History of the Church 3:35). It makes sense that if there was an old Nephi altar there that there were also Nephites there, which again puts Book of Mormon geography in North America.
7- Joseph Smith’s Mother wrote…”During our evening conversations, Joseph would occasionally give us some of the most amusing recitals that could be imagined. He would describe the ancient inhabitants of this continent, their dress, mode of traveling, and the animals upon which they rode; their cities, their buildings, with every particular; their mode of warfare; and also, their religious worship. This he would do with as much ease, seemingly, as if he had spent his whole life among them.” Lucy Mack Smith, History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, pp. 82-83.
While no claim to Revelation is directly attributed to this knowledge, the fact remains that Joseph knew these things before he even had possession of the plates from which he translated the Book of Mormon, which indicates that these things were taught to him by revelation or the ancient inhabitants themselves in vision.
“This was before he received the plates. He must have received this by revelation, for he knew the whole story of the content of the record that is now the Book of Mormon. He had had five long visits with Moroni, and his mother says he received many revelations.” Eldred G. Smith, Conference Report, October 1967, pp. 82-84
Ask Yourself
Q1: Can anyone provide documentation that ANY prophet or apostle has ever refuted Joseph Smith’s or the Lord’s revelatory statements involving geography?
Q2: Given Joseph Smith’s claims of revelation in historical accounts such as these, how do we reconcile so many revelatory accounts indicative of a North American Heartland setting?
Q3: If there is no historically verified evidence of Joseph Smith specifically claiming revelation that the Book of Mormon occurred in Mesoamerica, then wouldn’t it be prudent to at least look deeply into a North American setting?
Deep Research- Joseph Knew 2.0
I would like to share with you our full research in this area that Jonathan Neville and I did about two years ago in what I would consider to be the deepest dive ever done on the subject. We called it Joseph Knew 2.0 because we literally went through my 2009 DVD presentation on what Joseph Knew and updated it with all the current research. It’s about 6 hours of intensive research, broken down into 5 podcasts. I know it’s a LOT of information, but I hope it will be a blessing in further understanding how the Heartland geography originated, and why it has now been so widely accepted.
Interested students of early Church History should be excited to review these podcasts. Links to them are below. The information that was discovered is historically verified and has changed our perspectives significantly. I hope you find them helpful and informative as well.
This is my original DVD segment. It garnered some 180,000 YouTube views
https://youtu.be/KKEwcWI14P0?si=dlO1BOeH89VFooXf
Joseph Knew 2.0 part 1
https://youtu.be/YxqfOwRELZ4?si=u20lAD8vD9-zO-Iv
Joseph Knew 2.0 part 2
https://youtu.be/K5Y546-yIUM?si=FkjnCfe9Bt8aPnnB
Joseph Knew 2.0 part 3
https://youtu.be/5xh3mBstmV0?si=uDdREhJK-RJtZ59N
Joseph Knew 2.0 part 4
https://youtu.be/yK_RVB_3EWs?si=XMIBzRPyXz3HTEdu
Joseph Knew 2.0 part 5
https://youtu.be/WKVljmRw5n0?si=mpxQIw4VnDHuLrCN
Flawed Mesoamerican Hierarchy
Civilization First, then Geography.
This proposed methodology ignores the stated purpose for which the plates were preserved as well as the revealed statements from the prophet Joseph Smith.
A primary position of many MGT advocates is that church history statements are contradictory, don’t work, and can be dangerous. This is only their position because they have not done the deep historical research required to know which of Joseph Smith’s statements were revealed and which were not revealed and some that were attributed to Joseph Smith, when in fact, we now know historically that they were not from Joseph Smith. This includes such articles as those in the Times & Seasons and the John Bernheisel letter, which are examples of false claims of Joseph accepting a Mesoamerican setting.
See Times & Seasons articles and John Bernheisel letter articles here.
What is truly dangerous is making the claim that Joseph Smith was confused about Book of Mormon geography and that we cannot rely on his revelatory statements because of contradicting statements that others made without Joseph Smith’s knowledge or consent.
Certainly, this has led to all kinds of confusion and even later apostles and Prophets making statements and claims based on what some have falsely attributed to Joseph Smith until the Joseph Smith papers came out and corrected much of those supposed statements. Now we know better, but we have to go back and correct many years of misinformation given to justify the Mesoamerican setting for the Book of Mormon rather than what Joseph Smith clearly made as revelatory statements about the Book of Mormon happening in a North American setting.
Today, the Mesoamerican setting is no longer as widely accepted. Few, except for a few advocates, who have tried to keep it relevant, believe in it anymore because everyone can now go to the internet and see that the evidence of the Mayan civilization in Central America does not match up in any significant way with the Book of Mormon account. Not the dating, not the archeology, not the animals or the plants or the metalworking or the linguistics or any of that match with the Mayan culture in Mesoamerica.
Isn’t it time to embrace a more robust, revelation based and prophet supported setting for the Book of Mormon that is an actual, real location on real maps, rather than a hypothetical ‘Narnia’ Fantasy Map, (See Left) based in a non-existent world, as has been used by the Church for many years in CES Seminaries and Institutes and printed in educational materials? We believe the time has come to hold up the multiplicity of evidences of the physical reality of the Book of Mormon by following the prophecies, the revelations of Joseph Smith and the many fields of expertise that all point to the Heartland of America as the sacred setting of the Book of Mormon.”
Rod Meldrum
Firm Foundation