Book of Mormon/Geography/Statements

The FAIR Wiki Defending Mormonism by providing well-researched answers to challenging questions within a faithful context

Jump to statements in: 1829–1840|1841|1842|1843|1844|1844–1899|1900–1999|2000–

Criticism

• Critics sometimes claim that the Church has officially endorsed a "hemispheric" geography of the Book of Mormon.
• Critics insist that leaders of the Church long ago made one view of Book of Mormon geography "official."
• Critics claim that Church members are encouraged by their leaders not to try to determine where the Book of Mormon occurred.
• Joseph Smith associated the Mayan city of Palenque with Book of Mormon civilizations.
• It is claimed that Joseph Smith knew exactly where the Book of Mormon occurred.

See also: Citations to the critical sources for these claims

Supporting Data

The Church emphasizes the doctrinal and historical value of the Book of Mormon, not its geography. While some Latter-day Saints have looked for possible locations and explanations [for Book of Mormon geography] because the New York Hill Cumorah does not readily fit the Book of Mormon description of Cumorah, there are no conclusive connections between the Book of Mormon text and any specific site.
—Fax from the Office of the First Presidency to FARMS, April 12, 1993.

This page collects a variety of writings by Church leaders and members throughout its history, illustrating that debate and discussion about Book of Mormon geography has been very free, precisely because there was no revealed or "authoritative" geography.

This collection is a work in progress; readers who know of additional statements are invited to contact FAIR.

• Critical sources on geography statements (Link)
  • No revealed geography—A collection of statements indicating that there is no revealed geography for the Book of Mormon (these quotes are also in the collections below, by date). (Link)
• Nineteenth century (Link)
  • Joseph's lifetime (1829–1844) (Link)
  • After Joseph's death (1844–1899) (Link)
• Twentieth century (Link)
  • Twentieth century (1900–1999) (Link)
  • First Presidency letters (Link)
    • First Presidency letters (critical sources) (Link)
• Twenty-first century (Link)
  • Twenty-first century (2000–) (Link)