Reading the Book of Mormon to Determine its Geographical Context

This article contains links to a few books that have helped me understand the context and content of the scriptures. As an Amazon Affiliate, I do earn a small commission from qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you). Click here to see all of my favorite books on Amazon.

It is important to know what the Book of Mormon is not. It is not primarily a history, although much of what it contains is historical…George Q. Cannon stated that “the Book of Mormon is not a geographical primer. It was not written to teach geographical truths. What is told us of the situation of the various lands or cities … is usually simply an incidental remark connected with the doctrinal or historical portions of the work…The test for understanding this sacred book is preeminently spiritual. An obsession with secular knowledge rather than spiritual understanding will make its pages difficult to unlock.”^[1]James E. Faust, “The Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign, Nov. 1983, 10.

From the Gospel Topics Essays we read the following:

Since the publication of the Book of Mormon in 1830, members and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have expressed numerous opinions about the specific locations of the events discussed in the book. Some believe that the history depicted in the Book of Mormon—with the exception of the events in the Near East—occurred in North America, while others believe that it occurred in Central America or South America. Although Church members continue to discuss such theories today, the Church’s only position is that the events the Book of Mormon describes took place in the ancient Americas…

The Church does not take a position on the specific geographic locations of Book of Mormon events in the ancient Americas. President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, reminded members that “the Book of Mormon is not a textbook on topography. Speculation on the geography of the Book of Mormon may mislead instead of enlighten; such a study can be a distraction from its divine purpose.”

Individuals may have their own opinions regarding Book of Mormon geography and other such matters about which the Lord has not spoken. However, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles urge leaders and members not to advocate those personal theories in any setting or manner that would imply either prophetic or Church support for those theories. All parties should strive to avoid contention on these matters.^[2]Gospel Topics Essays, Book of Mormon Geography.

John Sorenson, in his book An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon wrote the following:

Even from so brief an overview as this, it becomes clear that Church authorities from the time of Joseph Smith to the present have come to no consensus, made no authoritative statement, and reported no definitive solution to the question of Book of Mormon geography. Yet the problem has never seemed insoluble to them, only difficult. Elder Widstoe felt that “out of diligent, prayerful study, we may be led to a better understanding of times and places in the history of the people who move across the pages of the divinely given Book of Mormon.”^[3]Widstoe, “Book of Mormon Geography,” p. 130. As quoted in John Sorenson, An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon, p. 5. No, the Church authorities have not settled for us any of the major issues concerning the setting of the Book of Mormon…^[4]Ibid., p. 5.

Proponents of the North American Setting

The Heartland Model (or “Heartland Theory”) of Book of Mormon geography postulates that the events described in the Book of Mormon took place, primarily, in the heartland of North America.^[5]See Bruce Porter and Rod Meldrum, Prophecies and Promises: The Book of Mormon and the United States of America, Ditigal Legend Press, 2020. See also Meldrum Exploring Book of Mormon in America’s … Continue reading

Among its proposals are that Mound Builders, including the Hopewell and the Adena, were among those peoples described in accounts of events in Book of Mormon books such as Alma and Helaman.

Proponents of the Mesoamerican setting

John L. Sorenson and Joseph Allen (among others) have proposed that much of the events in the Book of Mormon took place in Mesoamerica. He gives a list of possible locations for many of the places in the text on pages 46-47 of his book An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon.^[6]John L. Sorenson, An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon, p. 1-48, essentially lay out much of his argument for a Mesoamerican setting to the text. Joseph Allen’s work Exploring … Continue reading

Geographic Criteria the Book of Mormon Requires

Whatever model one chooses to believe, there are several things that the text of the Book of Mormon requires internally. These requirements should be seriously considered when analyzing any of the proposed models.^[7]Stephen L. Carr, “A Summary of Several Theories of Book of Mormon Lands in Mesoamerica.”

1. High Civilization with Kings and Priests and City-States — (Mosiah 1:1-7; 2:8; 6:3; 29:25; Alma 4:16-17; 30:29; 43:23; 50:13-15; 51:7, 15-16, 26; Helaman 6:13)
2. Agricultural Base to Support Several Millions of People —(Alma 3:2; 4:2; Helaman 6:12; 3 Nephi 4:4)
3. Highly Literate Society (Written Language) with Scribes as Important Officers — (Mosiah 1:1-7; Alma 60:1-36; 63:11-13; Moroni 1:1; 8:1; 9:1)
4. Multiple, Functional Calendar and Dating Systems — (Alma 51:37-52:1; Helaman 6:14-16; 3 Nephi 2:8)
5. Merchant Class Using Weights and Measures — (Helaman 6:8-9; 7:21; Alma 11:4-19; Ether 10:22)
6. Engineers to Build Temples, Towers, and Highways using Cement — (2 Nephi 5:16; Mosiah 2:1, 7; 19:5-6; Helaman 3:7-11; 14:24; 3 Nephi 6:8; 8:13)
7. Highly-skilled Craftsmen—Precious Metals, Stonework — (Jarom 1:8; Omni 1:20; Helaman 6:11; Ether 10:27)
8. Warrior Society, Great Battles, Structured Armies, Sophisticated Fortifications — (Alma 49:18-23; 50:1-10; 51:22-37; 53:3-5)
9. Tribal Marriage Alliances — (Alma 17:24; 47:35)
10. Enduring Legends of White, Bearded God — (3 Nephi 11:8-14)
11. These must be found in a place marked by a Narrow Neck of Land — (Alma 22:32) and a major river flowing from South to North — (Alma 16:6-7; 22:27; 50:11).