When i think of the baja california peninsula, i think of the baja offroad race where people take lots of vehicles and cross the deserts in all sorts of vehicles. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. The hill cumorah in ontario county ny is the hill where joseph smith found the golden plates and is the same hill where the civilizations of the nephites cumorah and the jaredites ramah fought their last battles. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. There are two federal states on the baja california peninsula, baja california and baja california sur. Geography of baja california sur explorando mexico. Book of mormon geography further analysis and information on book of mormon geography compared to land of joseph smiths youth. It is a land with a blessed physical environment of unusual. Book of mormon roads and highways in baja california posted on july 22, 2015 by beau anderson one of the first things that people notice when they start investigating the archaeology of the central baja california peninsula is the extensive network of trails that lead from city to. An approach to the book of mormon geography located in baja california. In 1952, the north territory of baja california became the 29th state of mexico as baja california. The book of mormon is not intended to be a history book or a guide to geography, science, or any other secular topic. At a website called it is proposed that the book of mormon took place in the baja california peninsula.
The answer to this question is simply yes, but if youre familiar with the text of the book of mormon, you might take note of how often it speaks of wildernesses as opposed to fruitful lands. May 02, 2010 morgan has a masters degree in history, and has presented papers on napoleonic warfare and published papers about asian, napoleonic and book of mormon warfare. I told him id let him do a guest post to present his own theory. Jul 22, 2015 book of mormon roads and highways in baja california posted on july 22, 2015 by beau anderson one of the first things that people notice when they start investigating the archaeology of the central baja california peninsula is the extensive network of trails that lead from city to city and from place to place. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the shake. Virtual book of mormon another testament of jesus christ.
There are no large bodies of water more than one north of any part of the baja california chosen as the narrow neck. Its area covers 143,600 square kilometers which holds two of the mexican states. However, the fatherson team of david and lynn rosenvall believe the baja peninsula south of california in mexicoits most famous city you may recognize is tijuana could be the location of book of mormon land. The church has been neutral when it comes to issues relating to book of mormon geography, as is fairmormon. Your first natural assumption would be that prior to 1989, diamond bar didnt exist, at least not under the name diamond bar. After making a post on a baja california book of mormon model, i was contacted by beau anderson who has put together his own baja california model. The geographical setting of the book of mormon has been the subject of serious study and casual speculation since before the book was first published. The california peninsula is a narrow strip of land separated from the mexican territory by the gulf of california or sea of cortez, and the colorado river. View the original article at the book of mormon resources blog.
Videos watch past wayne may presentations as he reveals the supporting evidences of the book of mormon as found in archaeology, geography and historical records. Before we examine some of the possible locations for book of mormon geography however, i would like to stress the fact that as of today, the lord has not revealed where the nephites or lamanites lived, and as such, the lds church has taken no official stance on anything related to book of mormon geography. The california south state has an area of 71,428 sq. Book of mormon land in baja general discussions mormon. The lord could have removed all questions regarding the exact locations of these events but he did not. Make studying fun and effective with diagrams, doodles, and insights. Although the book of mormon is primarily a religious record of the nephites, lamanites, and jaredites, enough geographic details are embedded in the narrative to allow reconstruction of at least a rudimentary geography of book of mormon lands. Since they cant all be correct, obviously, some scientists are digging in the wrong place.
However, the fatherson team of david and lynn rosenvall believe the baja peninsula south of california in mexicoits most famous city you may recognize is tijuana could be the location of book of mormon lands. We at book of mormon christian believe that if you take the record alone without any alleged statements by joseph. None of the baja california theories include all geographical references, so comparing these theories to the book of mormon is incomplete. Book of mormon geography, information about the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, mormon church, questions and answers, doctrine, genealogy, gospel, scriptures. Wouldnt it be cool to find some archaeological evidence. Strengthening ones testimony in the face of criticism and doubt, as. Book of mormon geography is one of my favorite topics, and its been a while since i talked about it. The baja model of book of mormon geography book of.
When i think of the baja california peninsula, i think of the baja. The baja model has a general list of attractive features. Brother ash is author of the book shaken faith syndrome. Each year at its annual book of mormon lands conference, the book of mormon archaeological forum gives the father lehi award and the mother sariah award to a couple who have contributed significantly to book of mormon studies and research. It separates the pacific ocean from the gulf of california.
The author wrote in the preface to this 1959 book, for more than a hundred years there has been a need for a geography of the book of mormon. Since the rosenvalls included information about battles roughly pages 3650, i asked morgan what he thinks of baja geography in relation to some of these battles. The geographical setting of the book of mormon is the set of locations of the events described in the book of mormon. Another baja california book of mormon model posted on september 9, 2014 by bruce nielson after making a post on a baja california book of mormon model, i was contacted by beau anderson who has put together his own baja california model. On february 1, 2018, national geographic broke a story about some incredible new discoveries in mesoamerican archaeology using new technology. In this podcast brother ash discusses the rosenvalls model for the book of mormon geography in the baja peninsula of mexico. Book of mormon geography jeff lindsays site and the. I have looked for any responses to the arguments of placing the events in baja california but i suppose that their argument is so. There is no universal consensus among mormon scholars regarding the placement of these locations in the known world, other than somewhere in the americas. The climate of jerusalem, its got to be california or baja california, one of those. All lds students of book of mormon geography who have worked systematically with the problem in recent decades have come to agree on this sorenson 1985, 2930.
Finally there is a way to really explore john sorensons book of mormon geography. You will not believe what we found in baja california. Because as a geographer he taught it for many, many years. Going deeper than just physical geography, members of the rosenvalls working group have also done a fantastic job of pointing out that the climate of baja california and southern california parallel climaterelated references in the book of mormon quite well. This book of mormon study guide will deepen your love for the scriptures. We propose that the land of nephi was located in the southern.
Book of mormon roads and highways in baja california. Chief among these is the fact that we know we certainty where the story beginsin old world jerusalem. Baja california, also called baja california norte, estado state, northwestern mexico, bounded to the north by the united states california and arizona, to the east by the state of sonora and the gulf of california sea of cortez, to the west by the pacific ocean, and to the south by the state of baja california sur. We at book of mormon christian believe that if you take the record alone without any alleged statements by joseph smith, the truth will speak very loud and very clear. Hugh nibley and book of mormon geography book of mormon. Hugh nibley and book of mormon geography by kirk magleby. When you consider that baja california is a place where fertile lands are found in geographically restricted areas, the fact that those places are distributed in a way that matches up well to the book of mormon text is a significant strength to the model. Narrow neck baja california book of mormon geography. Controversy, evidence, and two cumorahs the book of mormon is not intended to be a history book or a guide to geography, science, or any other secular topic. National geographic society statement on the book of mormon. Book of mormon geography and history hunters castle.
Is this a plausible location for the book of mormon lands. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Wikimedia commons has media related to geography of baja california state geography of baja california. Most are semiperennial, meaning they are dry during parts of the year. See the video below for a great overview on the topic as well as the debates ive had on this topic with mormon apologists.
Book of mormon geography in north america the products services offered by wayne may are neither made, provided, approved nor endorsed by intellectual reserve, inc. The church and byu stay neutral in questions of exactly where the book of mormon took place. A popular traditional view among many latterday saint faithful covers. In 1931 baja california territory was divided into northern and southern territories. The area is nearly the size of utah and five times the size of israel. President benson said, in the book of mormon we find a pattern for preparing for the second coming. Dec 02, 2016 to help with the increasing amount of new information, a blog site has been setup for research relating to the book of mormon lands in baja california. On subsequent days, the story was picked up by other major media outlets such as bbc, washington post, npr, the new york times, and. Fifteen of the islands are part of the state of baja california south.
How do these new discoveries relate to the book of mormon. It conforms to the book of mormons requirement that the events took place in a limited geography. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. The climate of jerusalem, its got to be california or baja california, one of those californias. Apr 18, 2010 when i think of the baja california peninsula, i think of the baja offroad race where people take lots of vehicles and cross the deserts in all sorts of vehicles. Various sources from the historical lds church have put forth certain facts and suppositions regarding the geography of the book of mormon, including the location of the hill of cumorah. A radically different book of mormon geography theory. The main passage mentions the land of nephi bordering on the seas, a narrow strip of wilderness, the land of zarahemla, and. A radically different book of mormon geography theory posted by mormon heretic on april 9, 2009 in 10 tribes. Each year at its annual book of mormon lands conference, the book of mormon archaeological forum gives the father lehi award and the mother sariah award to a couple who have contributed significantly to. Baja california, also called baja california norte, estado state, northwestern mexico, bounded to the north by the united states california and arizona, to the east by the state of sonora and the gulf of california sea of cortez, to the west by the pacific ocean. It is pretty apparent to me that the book of mormon lands are much. The only information that you have about diamond bar is that it was a city in california and that it was incorporated as a city on april 18, 1989.
Virtual book of mormon book of mormon maps and learning. The peninsula extends 1,247 km 775 miles from mexicali, baja california in the north to cabo san lucas, baja california sur in the south. Made popular by his 1985 publication an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, sorensons geographic model for the book of mormon has withstood the test of time and remains the preeminent geographic model for book of mormon events. It, therefore, is an important geographical indicator. There are a few, widely spaced, perennial rivers in baja california. Geography of baja california sur for features in the southern state. The heartland model or heartland theory of book of mormon geography states that the book of mormon events primarily occurred in the heartland of north america. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. Actually, baja california is an 800 milelong peninsula, with a delightful climate similar to california and the state of israel. The one and only river mentioned in the entire book of mormon is called the sidon. Many accounts of significant lands and cities are given in the book of mormon. By careful study of that time period we can determine why some were destroyed in the terrible judgments that. It is our assertion that the heartlands of the book of mormon peoplesthe nephites, the lamanites, the jaredites and the people of mulekwere located in what is now the peninsula of baja california.
The book of mormon describes the land of promise as a choice land where agriculture was practiced and seeds flourishedisnt baja california mostly just a desert. To help with the increasing amount of new information, a blog site has been setup for research relating to the book of mormon lands in baja california. There are over 100 theories concerning book of mormon geography. An approach to the book of mormon geography a choice land. This book of mormon map along with a wall map are available for down loading in color and the book of mormon geography book a promised land, the land of promise with all the mormon maps and details is also available at alpha publishing at. Jan 23, 2011 lawrence poulsens 2008 fair conference address.
The articles linked below will describe the various. It is a book of scripture aimed at teaching people about christ and how to find happiness through the gospel. Brushing up on your baja means understanding mexico and california. Another testament of jesus christ for our day discover the book of mormon like youve never seen it before. A major portion of the book centers on the few decades just prior to christs coming to america. For that reason, our design team has chosen to develop an internal map that shows relational directions and approximate distances that match the. Melek, city and land of noah, hermounts, city of moronihah, city of nephihah, land of shemlon, narrow strip of wilderness, city of bountiful, valley of alma, land of jershon, sea west, city of zarahemla, hill manti, waters of mormon, hill amnihu, city of an. Book of mormon geography evidence land map definitive dna archaeolgy. We will zoom in on his map as he talks about different geographical. The baja model of book of mormon geography book of mormon. Book of mormon geography your site for lds theology. A discussion of the arabian, or old world, geography of the book of mormon enjoys many advantages over discussion of new world matters. Satellite image of baja california, mexico, overlaid with book of mormon lands. The full text of this article can be found at deseret news online.
For that reason, our design team has chosen to develop an internal map that shows relational directions and approximate distances that match the approximately 550 geography descriptions in the text as closely as possible. It is the purpose of this site to share information relative to the geography of the book of mormon in a manner true to the faith of our fathers and consistent to the truth of the past, without. Home book of mormon science, ancient history, and the book of mormon national geographic society statement on the book of mormon. Book mormon geography, map, dna, promised land, peter covino orchestra composer, arranger, conductor, music editor, publisher, producer. After 1848, the baja california peninsula again became a mexican territory when alta california was ceded to the united states see 1854 map.
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