Saturday, July 25, 2020

Exploring Possible Book of Mormon Lands

So, I have a goal to get through my book Lehi Never Saw Mesoamerica by Del Dowdell by the end of the year. It is a book I think I got around 4 years ago, but it is a freaking 772 page book that is heavily footnoted and referenced and it is a slow read for my mental capacity, hence why I'm only on page 326. I've been trying to recruit Corey and others to investigate this Peru Theory with me. It's been a few years and so far I haven't had any takers. But my little brother, who leans toward the Heartland Theory at the moment, said he's ok exploring it, but he doesn't have time to read a hefty book like this, so he asked me if there are any videos on Youtube. So I've gone searching, and am going to put links I find here. ... and I am also maybe going to dabble with posting my own content on the subject (which will be just me reading from George Potters book or Del Dowdells books) Just private videos for now that you can access with the link, but not available to public searches yet, since I don't edit videos and it would just be me rambling, so here's my first take of my first attempt: Introduction to my Interest in the Book of Mormon lands. NOT that I don't have a hundred other things to do, but I could get excited about this. And maybe it could lead our family to a family adventure in Peru, which I'd consider doing if we ever had the opportunity. Anyway. Ok, let's see what I find on Youtube under "Peru Book of Mormon"

"Book of Mormon Evidence in Peru?" - a missionary talking about Chiclayo and Las Tumbas Reales Museum of the Mochica culture. Then later he mentions the Kuelap fortress, which is close to the city Chachapoyas, and says that that is a place where there might be a ceremonial burial site for 2000 stripling warriors who were never defeated in battle. The Kuelap fortress has been dated to begin in 500 AD. However, radiocarbon dating shows the hilltop was actually dated to 200 BC! So that would make it consistent with the stripling warriors, so that's cool.

Reading George Potter's Book -
Why Peru and Not Mesoamerica? Reason #1: Gold
Book of Mormon in Peru: A Language with Semitic Roots
Book of Mormon in Peru: A Vanished Written Language
Book of Mormon in Peru: A Visitation By Jesus Christ
And I recognize their disclaimer:

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not officially endorse any one particular geographical model for where the events in The Book of Mormon transpired in the New World. For that reason, we have designed and prepared this artistic rendering in such a way that you can get a basic idea of approximate directions and theoretical relationships between various geographical features mentioned in the stories."

Book of Mormon Conceptual Map. I do like how similar that conceptual map looks to the Peru model via the Nephicode.
Their Peru model is on the Costal Thrust Front there in Peru and Ecuador on top as the Land Northward
*Update: I asked on his blog last last night and just got a reply directing me to his youtube channel! Oh yeah! And a facebook group!  Now I have another place to have fun with this hobby

A theory I've looked into more this month is the Heartland Theory.
Heartland Theory - Alma 22 deciphered
(Although I prefer we start with scripture points instead of with pre-decided places which the Church does not teach as doctrine. The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion, not the Hill Cumorah or Zelph's mound)

Hill Cumorah - New York
City of Manti - Huntsville Co, Randolph Co
Zelph's Mound
Zarahemla across from Nauvoo - D&C 125:3
Neck of Land - "Niagagarega" Iriqiouian word for neck
Big Springs Missouri - Waters of Mormon
Waters of Mormon to Nauvoo - 313 - 320 miles according to google maps
Here at 7 am, it shows pioneers traveled between 15-20 miles in a day
Alma, went from waters of Mormon in land of Nephi an eight days journey into the wilderness (Mosiah 23:3) so could be 120 - 160 miles
They came to a pleasant land of pure water, pitched tents, called it the land of Helam and the city of Helam (Mosiah 23:20) Lamanites came into the borders with Amulon, Alma showed them the way back to the Land of Nephi (Mos 23:36)
Mosiah 24:20 - left land and city of Helam, traveled one day to a valley they called the valley of Alma
Mosiah 24:25 - travelled 12 days to reach Zarahemla (180 miles - 240 miles)
Waters of Mormon/Land of Nephi to Zarahemla approx 300 miles to 400 miles march, so I guess that could work
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