Although there are many views on Book of Mormon historicity and geography, we understand the Church is officially neutral on the question. However, in practice it’s possible that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is inadvertently or unknowingly endorsing outside groups that do not follow the Church’s position and instead openly promote what is commonly called the “Mesoamerican/two-Cumorah’s” theory (M2C). We believe they may have lead Church administration personnel to believe that they are neutral in their approach to Book of Mormon geography, but they promote the Mesoamerica Book of Mormon theory that they have espoused in previous organizations to the exclusion – and indeed censorship – of all others.
This practice is causing concern and confusion for hundreds of thousands of Church members throughout the world who believe the teachings of the prophets and the scriptures about the Hill Cumorah in New York and about America being a covenant land of promise. Church leaders who have endorsed the M2C organizations are apparently unaware of what is really happening “on the ground.” They do not realize that those organizations openly reject and undermine the multiple teachings of the prophets and scriptures about the Hill Cumorah in New York as well as the teachings regarding the Lord’s involvement in the formation of the United States and its inspired Constitution. This can cause concern for the majority of Church members who still believe these inspired teachings.
On a personal level, we respect and admire our fellow Saints who believe in and promote M2C. This is not a question of faithfulness or fidelity to the Church. We provide this brief overview to possibly assist Church leaders in re-evaluating their unknowing support and or endorsement of these M2C organizations, and to suggest that Church administrators adopt the leadership’s neutral approach by endorsing only organizations that follow our leaders counsel of neutrality. Such organizations should be able to demonstrate their neutrality before receiving any endorsement from the Church. Their websites and information should provide support and encouragement to the majority of Church members who still believe in these inspired teachings of the prophets and scriptures.
FIRM Foundation – Mission Statement
“The FIRM Foundation (Foundation for Indigenous Research and Mormonism) is an organization dedicated to showing forth evidence for the Book of Mormon in order to provide LDS Church members with well-researched information enabling them to powerfully and respectfully defend its historicity and thus its truthfulness – with the ultimate goal of bringing people unto Christ.
The FIRM Foundation believes The Book of Mormon events in the New World occurred in North America in the Heartland of the United States. This is the reason many call us “Heartlanders.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral on this subject. Our information is based on our own personal beliefs in regard to: archaeology, anthropology, text of the Book of Mormon, distances, geology, and we believe the many rivers were the highways of the ancients including the Nephites.
No information or opinions of the FIRM Foundation represent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The owner and employees are members of the LDS Church and in good standing. FIRM Foundation is not neutral in our opinion about the geography of the Book of Mormon.” Rod Meldrum
“I know the Brethren of the Church take a neutral position on the geography of the Book of Mormon. I love and support the Brethren. For you and me to take a neutral stand is not required. The Lord told us to read and study, and in the promise to Moroni, He said we may know the truth of ALL things, and I feel that could include knowing the location of the Book of Mormon events if that is desirable. I believe knowledge of the Spirit and of the head, are both important in learning truth. As Elder Holland in 2018 said, “truth borne by the Holy Spirit comes with, in effect, two manifestations, two witnesses if you will—the force of fact as well as the force of feeling.”
I think there is importance in the Brethren being neutral on Geography, Evolution and other difficult issues. They want us to gain our own witness to secondary information. They have given us sound doctrine and that is what we should focus on. I know through the Spirit that the Book of Mormon is true. However, I love to seek for other truth and as Moroni has said “I may know the truth of all things.
I believe our friend Jonathan Neville has shared some great information below in regard the beliefs of Book of Mormon Central and others like them including The Interpreter, FairMormon, Meridian Magazine and others. I want you to have some information that I think is good to explain the various beliefs. Again we love these other groups and pray that we may all love each other and the Lord.” Rian Nelson
Neutrality at BMC by Jonathan Neville
Here’s the Dilemma “I fully share the objectives of Book of Mormon Central (BMC) in terms of sharing the Book of Mormon. I love all the people associated with BMC and its affiliates. They’re all wonderful people. I support about 90% of what they do and wish I could support the rest. However, I think their focus on M2C undermines their objectives for all the reasons I’ve explained.
At the very least, they should represent all faithful views and interpretations of the Book of Mormon, but they refuse. They have earned the nickname Book of Mormon Central America because that’s the only theory of geography they permit on their web site. They continue to censor alternative faithful views.
Like its predecessor FARMS, BMC is the antithesis of diversity and neutrality, but for obvious reasons they want everyone to think they follow the Church’s policy of neutrality on Book of Mormon geography issues, as well as the policy against contention.
Let’s see what the reality is.
As always, I’m eager to correct any errors in this material, so if there are any, please let me know by email.
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First, let’s review the history of M2C.
1917 map of M2C by L.E. Hills |
M2C originated over 100 years ago with the work of RLDS scholars, including Stebbins and Hills. You can see the 1917 map by Hills to the left. Some details in the map are different from some modern M2C maps, but the Hills map clearly shows Cumorah/Ramah in Central America.
Cumorah was part of the contest between the RLDS and LDS, as I discussed in more detail here.
In the late 1800s, the President of the RLDS Church was Joseph Smith III, the son of Joseph Smith Jr. RLDS missionaries were coming to Utah and converting LDS members to their church. By one count, 3,000 LDS in Utah converted to the RLDS church.
In response, Brigham Young called Joseph F. Smith, the 27-year-old son of Hyrum Smith, to the First Presidency, where he served the remainder of his life.
Joseph Smith III and Joseph F. Smith were first cousins. Their rivalry was partly doctrinal but also familial.
RLDS scholars developed M2C about the time that LDS President Joseph F. Smith focused on the New York Cumorah. As editor of the Improvement Era in 1899, President Smith republished Letter VII, reaffirming President Cowdery’s declaration that it was a fact that the hill Cumorah in New York was the scene of the final battles of the Nephites and Jaredites, as well as the location of Mormon’s depository of Nephite records.
After he became President of the Church, Joseph F. Smith wanted to purchase the Hill Cumorah in New York. RLDS scholars were saying, in effect, “go ahead, but the real Cumorah is in Mexico.”
Over the objections of LDS Church leaders such as Joseph Fielding Smith, LDS scholars adopted the RLDS theory. Today’s M2C is the result.
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The clearest statement of the philosophical basis for M2C was provided by Dr. John Sorenson, author of Mormon’s Codex and other M2C books and articles found in BMC’s archive. Original in blue, my comments in red.
Until he encountered the Stephens’s book, Joseph gave no hint that he was aware that such a limited area with a distinctive civilized culture even existed in the Americas. Even with Stephens’s material in mind, he made no more than a passing attempt to relate the Book of Mormon’s story to the newly-found ruins. And in the long run, the little blip on the Latter-day Saints’ mental screen caused by the explorer’s book faded as the mistaken folk view reasserted its dominance.
They might try to persuade you that they are “neutral” because they disagree with Brother Sorenson about which river is Sidon, or exactly where in Mesoamerica a particular city or feature is located, but they agree with everything he wrote in the quotation above. That’s the essence of M2C.
Now, let’s look at the logo.
We have Hebrew (Old Testament).
We have Egyptian (Book of Abraham)
We have Greek (New Testament).
And we have Mayan (Book of Mormon).
That’s as non-neutral as it gets. The logo is a carryover from the old FARMS, which was also 100% M2C, as discussed below.
This logo, heavily promoted with millions of dollars, announces to the world that there is no room for an interpretation of the Book of Mormon outside Mesoamerica.
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Now, the people involved.
The legal organization behind Book of Mormon Central is the Book of Mormon Archaeological Forum, Inc., a 501 (c) 3 non-profit public charity chartered in the state of Utah in 2004.
When people donate to BMC, they are really donating to BMAF. BMC donors are supporting the dissemination of M2C, as we discussed here.
And that’s perfectly fine, so long as they know what they’re doing.
For decades, BMAF’s mission statement read:
If you can’t read it, it says:
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 codex, (2) to correlate and publish works of LDS and CofC scholars, (3) to help promote unity and cooperation among scholars and students of the Book of Mormon, and (4) to provide a forum where responsible scholars can present current ideas and discoveries.
After I publicized this mission statement, they changed the statement to what it currently reads:
MISSION STATEMENT
Even when they made this change, they could not bring themselves to endorse neutrality. The “other ancient contexts” they refer to here are in the Old World. They are not referring to anywhere in the Americas other than Mesoamerica. This is evident in all their work. Anyone can see it for themselves.
BMC continues “to increase understanding of the Book of Mormon as an ancient Mesoamerican codex.” You can see it in the archive, their Kno-Whys, their social media work, their firesides, their coordinated efforts with other members of the M2C citation cartel, etc.
I’ve mentioned a few examples previously in this blog, which you can see by searching for “KnowWhy,” “Kno-Why” or “no-wise” in the search box. For example:
http://www.bookofmormoncentralamerica.com/2018/01/no-wise-395-on-david-whitmer.html
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Here’s another official statement from BMC
Book of Mormon Central Policy on Book of Mormon Geography – June 2016
- In our hierarchy of evidence, the text itself is primary because it is closest to the divine.
- If profound and compelling location-specific insights shed light on the text, we highlight these regardless of their geographic provenience.
- We favor authors with credentials in their areas of interest.
- We favor formally published works from reputable presses.
This is all window-dressing for Church leaders and donors. I’ve discussed the implementation here:
http://www.bookofmormoncentralamerica.com/2016/04/book-of-mormon-central-america-sigh.html
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I’ll conclude this post with another official statement and its implementation by a BMC employee who demonstrates the deep emotional attachment BMC has with M2C.
Book of Mormon Central Social Media Policy
To see how that policy is implemented, look at the following social media post by a BMC employee, one that Dan Peterson at the Interpreter endorses. (We aren’t putting any of Dan’s posts here because, technically, he’s not listed under BMC’s directory.)
“Physician, heal thyself!”
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That last sentence is good advice for everyone.
Source: About Central America by Jonathan Neville