The great white god of ancient america bom lands conference 2014 scott hoyt duration. Made popular by his 1985 publication an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, sorenson s geographic model for the book of mormon has withstood the test of time and remains the preeminent geographic model for book of mormon events. Analytical and contextual commentary on the book of mormon 6 volume set clark hinckley, christopher columbus. The overall question of the use of metals by book of mormon cultures is an important topic that deserves detailed attention see john sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon 1985, 27788. This paper makes an attempt to understand that process as it details the limitations mormon faced and the sources he would have used. John sorenson true book of mormon geography lands western. Sorenson attempts to reconstruct that mental map mormons map using information in the text. Reasons the topic is not addressed more explicitly in the record include a focus on the nephites and not on other people, a generic treatment of lamanites, an a desire not to waste space on something obvious or insignificant. Book of mormon central, what did it mean to be king over all the land. Sorenson, one of the foremost students on the subject, identified over 600 passages relevant to geography. Unfortunately, exploring and testing his geographic model in. Mormons codex can be purchased at the fairmormon bookstore. One commentator explained the use of steel in the book of mormon. Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins byu.
Oct 02, 2014 finally there is a way to really explore john sorenson s book of mormon geography. Sorenson born april 8, 1924 is an emeritus professor of anthropology at brigham young university byu and the author of an ancient american setting for the book of mormon as well as many other books and articles on the book of mormon and archaeology sorenson first did archaeological work in mesoamerica while pursuing a masters degree at byu. After attending utah state agricultural college now utah state university, he enlisted in the army air corps, where he was trained at the california institute of technology as a. List of evidence of the book of mormon john sorenson duration. Mormon s codex can be purchased at the fairmormon bookstore.
List of evidence of the book of mormon john sorenson youtube. Details are presented in several books, including an ancient american setting for the book of mormon deseret book, 1985, images of ancient america. Sorenson and his late wife, kathryn, reared nine children. His best known book prior to this was an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, published in 1985. Michael coe at his home in new haven, connecticut to learn what he has been up to since our wildly popular first interview with him.
May 25, 2014 on the basis of these figures john sorenson, a professor of anthropology at brigham young university, estimated the total nephitelamanite population to be over 600,000 at that time about 200,000 nephitesamlicites and over 400,000 lamanites. An ancient american setting for the book of mormon. An ancient american book is unquestionably a monument to an impressive career defending, defining, and explaining the book of mormon. For many years the smithsonian institution in washington has received inquiries concerning the book of mormon, its role in the institutions scientific activities, and a number of specific. He received an ma in archaeology from byu and a phd in anthropology from ucla. When john sorenson s longawaited volume an ancient american setting for the book of mormon finally appeared in 1985, i was thrilled and bought it immediately hugh nibley had been investigating the ancient near eastern background of the book of mormon for decades, but the study of its ancient american background had lagged behind. Willes book of mormon studies lecture, presented september 8, 2011 on the. John sorenson proposes a plausible chronology for the jaredites based on what is known of ancient american cultures through archaeology. It is the first serious attempt by a noted scholar trained in the cultures of precolumbian mesoamerica to describe the lifeways of the indigenous inhabitants of that region as they may relate to the artistic, social, and literary heritage of peoples described in new world scripture. John sorenson s new book is a welcome addition to the field of book of mormon studies. The book of mormon links all three systems in several passages that are apparently consistent. His seminal work an ancient american setting for the book of mormon popularized the limited geography theory within lds culture and scholarship, and has been the primary reference point for both.
Sorensen tells of becoming interested in the book of mormon and in mesoamerican anthropology and archaeology. Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon. His 1985 book an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, published by farms and deseret book, has become the most influential treatment of book of mormon peoples and history in their mesoamerican context. Mormons map is book of mormon scholar john sorensons reconstruction of that mental map solely from information gleaned from the text after years of intensive. John sorenson changed his mind about dna simons dna. Sorenson documents several materials which were used in mesoamerica to make fine cloth equivalent to silk, some of which the spanish actually called silk upon their arrival, including the fiber kapok from the seed pods of the ceiba tree, the cocoons of wild moths, the fibers of silkgrass achmea magdalenae, the. See also john sorensons 2012 fairmormon conference presentation reading mormons codex.
Book of mormon peoples the encyclopedia of mormonism. Rediscovering the book of mormon paperback january 1, 1991 by john l. Book of mormonanachronismsanimalshorsesloanshifting. Sorenson was born in 1924 in smithfield, utah, where he grew up. Finally there is a way to really explore john sorenson s book of mormon geography. Mormon s codex is the culmination of a lifetime s labor by mormonism s preeminent mesoamerican specialist. Sorenson has been intrigued by applying scholarly methods to book of mormon studies ever since 1949, when he finished a mission to new zealand and the cook islands and enrolled in the new archaeology program at brigham young university. Book of mormon, book of mormon evidences, john sorenson, mesoamerica.
Concrete evidence for the book of mormon book of mormon. Interview with lds scholar john l sorenson part 1 youtube. Mormons framework depended primarily on the larger plates of nephi, but this paper demonstrates that mormon appears to have supplemented those plates with. For a time he served as editor of the journal of book of mormon studies. There is no historical or archeological evidence to support the book of mormon. Mormon s map is book of mormon scholar john sorenson s reconstruction of that mental map solely from. For many years the smithsonian institution in washington has received inquiries concerning the book of mormon, its role in the institutions scientific activities, and a number of specific informational questions about ancient american archaeology. The author, john sorenson, has some insightful ideas about where the book of mormon lands may have been located, and he provides compelling evidence.
Sorenson founded the anthropology program at byu in 1958 and lead anthropology research at byu for 14 years before retiring in 1986. Maps true book of mormon geography lands western new york. Sorenson attempts to reconstruct that mental map mormon s map using information in the text. It was postulated by john sorenson and others that no researcher of book of mormon geography should attempt to physically place it anywhere without first extracting an internal geography model to see if the person has a thorough understanding of the text. For the past 55 years, john sorenson has inhaled every detail of book of mormon life and history. Michael coe lidar, response to john sorenson, and the book of mormon mormon stories april 18, 2018 apologetics, book of mormon 25 comments we are excited to revisit dr. The following example proves sorenson did not overcome his confessed preconceptions. John sorensons mormons codex examines book of mormon. Jun 27, 2016 practically since the book of mormon was published, its geography has been the subject of discussion and debate. Table 1 lists several events using the nephite systems. On the basis of these figures john sorenson, a professor of anthropology at brigham young university, estimated the total nephitelamanite population to be over 600,000 at that time about 200,000 nephitesamlicites and over 400,000 lamanites.
Also see the book chapter, nephis bows and arrows by william j. Cement roofs covered areas of seventyfive square meters. Sorenson born april 8, 1924 is an emeritus professor of anthropology at brigham young university byu and the author of an ancient american setting for the book of mormon as well as many other books and articles on the book of mormon and archaeology. Mormons map is book of mormon scholar john sorensons reconstruction of that mental map solely from information gleaned from the text after years of intensive study. Sorenson s most popular book is an ancient american setting for the book of mormon. Maps true book of mormon geography lands western new. Notwithstanding the fact i disagree with sorenson about his views on quetzecoatl, this book is a must for book of mormon students as it presents an extremely plausible geographical and cultural setting for the events related in the text of the book of mormon.
Jun 05, 2014 when john sorensons longawaited volume an ancient american setting for the book of mormon finally appeared in 1985, i was thrilled and bought it immediately hugh nibley had been investigating the ancient near eastern background of the book of mormon for decades, but the study of its ancient american background had lagged behind. In this text, sorenson reconstructs the internal geography of the book of mormon. Why did mormon give so many details about geography. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship, 20, 362380. Review of an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, by john l. Smith, barley in ancient america, in reexploring the book of mormon. Sometimes the builders filled a room with stones and mud, smoothed the surface on top to receive the concrete, then removed the interior fill when. See also john sorenson s 2012 fairmormon conference presentation reading mormon s codex. John sorenson, mormon s codex brant gardner, second witness. After attending utah state agricultural college now utah state university, he enlisted in the army air corps, where he was trained at the california institute of technology as a meteorologist and served in the south atlantic theater of operations. Neal rappleye, tzimins are not really tzimins theyre horses, at studio et quoque fide, june 23, 2015 accessed march 5, 2016. Sorenson discusses seasons of war, seasons of peace in the book of mormon, richard dilworth rust presents poetry found in the ancient record, and john w. Hamblin in reexploring the book of mormon, edited by john w.
This is a coffeetable version of sorenson s older book, it contains some beautiful images of mesoamerica and some interesting insights. For example, he criticizes sorenson s comment that the cows, asses, and swine of the book of mormon might be mesoamerican animals such as deer, tapirs, and peccaries. John l sorenson is one of the best book of mormon scholars, having written seveal excellent texts, such as an ancient american setting for the book of mormon and images of ancient america. Sorenson born 1924 is emeritus professor of anthropology at brigham young university, and has written books such as mormon s map, images of ancient america.
Sorenson born 1924 is emeritus professor of anthropology at brigham young university, and has written books such as mormons map, images of. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. It was sorenson who first proposed that the scriptures action likely took place in guatemala and southern mexico, rather than encompassing both north and south america. Sorenson does an excellent job in showing the requirements of the book of mormon volume and the antiquity of a limited geography model among latterday saints, contra critics who claim it is nothing short of a construct by sorenson from the 1980s and a mormon tactic to protect the book of mormon from alleged archaeological problems. When lehis party arrived in the land, did they find. Sorenson has authored or coauthored some 200 books and articles. Most of the nephite record pertains to three historical periods.
Sorenson is an emeritus professor of anthropology at brigham young university, and a renowned expert of book of mormon archeology and geography. Mormons codex is the culmination of a lifetimes labor by mormonisms preeminent mesoamerican specialist. Sorenson born april 8, 1924 is an emeritus professor of anthropology at brigham. This video will help you understand that the foundation of the lds faith is built upon myth. Mormon s codex is the culmination of a lifetimes labor by mormonisms preeminent mesoamerican specialist. Some of the more interesting images were of wheeled toys possibly recalling the chariots mentioned in the book of mormon. In 1993 he married helen lance christianson, mother of nine. A number of statements in the book of mormon text indicate the presence in lehis promised land of peoples other than those descended from lehis party. I admit that my own model was tainted by preconceptions john sorenson, the geography of book of mormon events, pp. Sorenson has been for the new world setting of the book of mormon what hugh nibley was for.
Metals, weapons, and the book of mormon mormon answers. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon salt lake city. Aug 07, 2015 the great white god of ancient america bom lands conference 2014 scott hoyt duration. Sorenson has been studying the relationship of the book of mormon to mesoamerica for over 60 years. Unfortunately, exploring and testing his geographic. After this article and another six years of fruitless search, ferguson published a 29page paper in 1975 entitled, written symposium on book of mormon geography. Sorenson has 15 books on goodreads with 934 ratings. Since 1949 john sorenson has been collecting archaeological and anthropological evidence to show that joseph smith translated the book of mormon from a native mesoamerican codex, or book. Clark,4 randall spackman determined that there are upwards of passages of potential geographic. A significant contribution to the fields of book of mormon studies and mesoamerican studies, mormon s codex is john sorenson s magnum opus. An ancient american book see a video further down the page. For good overviews of book of mormon geographies and related issues, see sorenson, an ancient american setting. Mormon s framework depended primarily on the larger plates of nephi, but this paper demonstrates that mormon appears to have supplemented those plates with.
Willes book of mormon studies lecture, presented september 8, 2011 on the campus of brigham young university. There are five explicit references to metal weapons and. As mormon edited the book of mormon, he must have had a map in his mind of the places and physical features that were setting the events described in that book. Weather you are looking for a book of mormon, a study guide, or a journal edition. As the ancient prophet mormon edited the scriptural texts that would become the book of mormon, he must have had a map in his mind of the places and physical features that comprised the setting for the events described in that book. Sorenson is an emeritus professor of anthropology at brigham young university and the author of an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, a seminal apologetic work. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon salt lake city and provo, ut. An ancient american book salt lake city and provo, ut.
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