Specific works/DNA Evidence for Book of Mormon Geography (DVD)

A FAIR Analysis of: Specific works

Index to claims made in DNA Evidence for Book of Mormon Geography and in associated seminar presentations

The First Presidency has often been asked to prepare some suggestive map illustrative of Nephite geography, but have never consented to do so. Nor are we acquainted with any of the Twelve Apostles who would undertake such a task. The reason is, that without further information they are not prepared even to suggest [a map]. The word of the Lord or the translation of other ancient records is required to clear up many points now so obscure.

—George Q. Cannon, "Editorial Thoughts: The Book of Mormon Geography," The Juvenile Instructor 25/1 (1 January 1890): 18–19.

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Claims made in section: Geography

Page	Claim	Response	Author's sources
DVD 2:48	The DVD narrator claims that "truth" is comprised of "spiritual evidence combined with physical evidence" In the associated introductory seminar titled "Introduction to Book of Mormon Evidences," the presenter states that there exists a "hierarchy" by which something can be proven: 1) Scripture 2) Statements of Joseph Smith 3) Statements of the current prophet only while he is called as a prophet. In order to demonstrate the proposed hierarchical order, the presenter notes that “prophets themselves are held accountable to the scriptures.”	Note that the “hierarchy” that is set up is designed to lead to the conclusion that the "statements of Joseph Smith" supersede the "statements of the current prophet while he is a prophet." On May 4, 2007 the First Presidency made a significant statement which it published on the Church Website. They clarified what is meant by official Church "doctrine". Church doctrine is only something that is: 1) proclaimed under inspiration by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles 2) when the above individuals authorize it in Church publications, 3) it is in the four Standard Works 4) official declarations and proclamations, and 5) the Articles of Faith The First Presidency went on to say: "Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church."	Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 3:203 Harold B. Lee, Stand Ye in Holy Places, pp. 109-110. Harold B. Lee, Stand Ye in Holy Places, pp. 162-163.
DVD 2:48	The speaker claims that the "founders of the gospel" were "led down some wrong roads" in their search for physical evidence of the Book of Mormon.	The true "founder" of the Gospel is Jesus Christ. We assume that the narrator meant the "founders of the Church" when he made this statement.
DVD 5:47	It is claimed that John Sorenson's 1985 book An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon has become the "bible" of the Mesoamerican theory.	The slide presentation that displays this quote omits the name of the author, Dr. John Sorenson. Mesoamerican theorists have always been clear that the Book of Mormon text itself was their primary touchstone, not Sorenson's work.
DVD 11:33	It is claimed that the "Hill Cumorah" in New York is the "Hill Cumorah" referred to in the Book of Mormon.	Hill Cumorah issues

Claims made in section: Joseph Smith

Page	Claim	Response	Author's sources
DVD 2:58	Joseph Smith is claimed to have said that he received the information contained in the Wentworth letter "by prophecy, by the spirit"
DVD 3:55	The DVD provides the following quote from the Wentworth Letter, in which Joseph said: "I was also informed concerning the aboriginal inhabitants of this country, and shown who they were, where they came from, a brief sketch of their origin, their progress, their civilization, their laws, their governments. And all this happened on this continent...The remnant are the Indians that now inhabit this country." (emphasis added)	Note that the following text from the Wentworth Letter is ommitted from the presentation: The remnant are the Indians that now inhabit this country. This book also tells us that our Saviour [Savior] made his appearance upon this continent after his resurrection, that he planted the gospel here in all its fulness [fullness], and richness, and power, and blessing; that they had apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists; the same order, the same priesthood, the same ordinances, gifts, powers, and blessing, as was enjoyed on the eastern continent, that the people were cut off in consequence of their transgressions... (emphasis added) Note that in the portion of the Wentworth letter that follows the quote given by the presenter, that Joseph refers to "the eastern continent." It is claimed that the reference to "this country" refers to the United States of America. One must remember that the United States was much smaller at this time. Most of the Native Americans referred to resided in territories which were not part of the United States. Most of the land to the west in the 1830's was designated as "Unorganized Territory" and "Mexican Possessions." See FAIR:Reviews of DNA Evidence for Book of Mormon Geography:Joseph Smith
DVD 4:37	Author's quote: I went back and looked in Noah Webster's dictionary of the 1850's, when Joseph Smith was around, and when it said "continent," they're not talking about North and South America. OK? There's a North American continent and a South American continent in Noah Webster's dictionary.	Joseph died in 1844, therefore a Webster's Dictionary from the 1850's is meaningless relative to this claim. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines a ""continent"" as follows: 1. In geography, a great extent of land, not disjoined or interrupted by a sea; a connected tract of land of great extent; as the Eastern and Western continent. It differs from an isle only in extent. New Holland may be denominated a continent. Britain is called a continent, as opposed to the isle of Anglesey. (emphasis added) Webster's definition of a "Eastern and Western continent" is equivalent to today's definition of "Eastern and Western hemisphere." This usage is entirely consistent with Joseph's use of the term. Note also that the 1828 definition of "America" in the same dictionary refers to the entire North and South American landmass as a single continent: One of the great continents, first discovered by Sebastian Cabot, June 11, O.S. 1498, and by Columbus, or Christoval Colon, Aug. 1, the same year. It extends from the eightieth degree of North, to the fifty-fourth degree of South Latitude; and from the thirty-fifth to the one hundred and fifty-sixth degree of Longitude West from Greenwich, being about nine thousand miles in length. Its breadth at Darien is narrowed to about forty-five miles, but at the northern extremity is nearly four thousand miles. From Darien to the North, the continent is called North America, and to the South, it is called South America. (emphasis added) See FAIR:Reviews of DNA Evidence for Book of Mormon Geography:Joseph Smith	See Webster's Dictionary 1828 definition of "continent" See Webster's Dictionary 1828 definition of "america"
DVD 4:58	Joseph said in the American Revivalist that "The Book of Mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western tribes of Indians."	All Amerindians in Joseph's day were likely Lehi descendants. This does not tell us where the Book of Mormon took place. Amerindians_as_Lamanites All from Lehi?
DVD 5:41	In the American Revivalist, Joseph stated: The Book of Mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western tribes of Indians... By it, we learn that our western tribes of Indians, are descendants from that Joseph that was sold into Egypt, and that the land of America is a promised land unto them. It is claimed that this letter was "written by commandment from God."	The commandment to write the letter was not to confirm a geographical location for the Book of Mormon. According the B.H. Roberts: The Prophet states subsequently that he wrote this communication by commandment of the Lord. The general condition of the world as noted by the Prophet at the commencement of this chapter, was doubtless the occasion of the Lord sending forth such a note of warning to the inhabitants of the earth as is here presented. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, edited by B.H. Roberts, volume 1 (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1972), 312).
DVD 6:22	Joseph's mother said that he "would describe the ancient inhabitants of this continent…"
DVD 8:46	Joseph wrote during Zion's Camp that they were "wandering over the plains of the Nephites"	Book of Mormon geography/Statements
DVD 13:11	The story of Zelph is claimed to prove that the Northeastern United States was the land of the Nephites.	Zelph
DVD 16:51	"Eight different people" are claimed to have said that they saw "wagon loads" of plates in the Hill Cumorah in New York.	The Hill Cumorah in New York is a drumlin, and is not geologically likely to have a cave such as the one described. Archaeology and the Hill Cumorah
DVD 17:26	Joseph sent missionaries to the Lamanites.	Book of Mormon geography/Borders of the Lamanites
DVD 21:41	Missionaries were sent to the "borders of the Lamanites."	Book of Mormon geography/Borders of the Lamanites
DVD 30:59	In the Bernheizel letter, Joseph states: "I received your kind present by the hand of Elder Wudruff and feel myself under many obligations for this mark of your esteem and friendship, which to me is the more interesting as it unfolds and develops many things that have great importance to this generation and corresponds with and supports the testimony of the Book of Mormon."	The presenter simply dismisses this statement and claims that Joseph's purpose in writing the letter was to express his friendship with Bernheizel, despite Joseph's praise of a Mesoamerican book and its relationship to the Book of Mormon. See FAIR:Reviews of DNA Evidence for Book of Mormon Geography:Joseph Smith Here is a statement from Joseph Smith that was not included in the presentation: If men, in their researches into the history of this country, in noticing the mounds, fortifications, statues, architecture, implements of war, of husbandry, and ornaments of silver, brass, &c.-were to examine the Book of Mormon, their conjectures would be removed, and their opinions altered; uncertainty and doubt would be changed into certainty and facts; and they would find that those things that they are anxiously prying into were matters of history, unfolded in that book. They would find their conjectures were more than realized-that a great and a mighty people had inhabited this continent-that the arts sciences and religion, had prevailed to a very great extent, and that there was as great and mighty cities on this continent as on the continent of Asia. Babylon, Ninevah, nor any of the ruins of the Levant could boast of more perfect sculpture, better architectural designs, and more imperishable ruins, than what are found on this continent. Stephens and Catherwood's researches in Central America abundantly testify of this thing. The stupendous ruins, the elegant sculpture, and the magnificence of the ruins of Guatamala [Guatemala], and other cities, corroborate this statement, and show that a great and mighty people-men of great minds, clear intellect, bright genius, and comprehensive designs inhabited this continent. Their ruins speak of their greatness; the Book of Mormen [Mormon} unfolds their history.-ED. [1] Page 862 of this issue of the Times and Seasons states: "The Times and Seasons, Is edited, printed and published about the first and fifteenth of every month, on the corner of Water and Bain Streets, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, by JOSEPH SMITH." This statement was signed "ED," which attributes it directly to Joseph Smith.
35:23	The narrator claims that the "fruit of the Central American theories" is researchers are "dismissing Joseph Smith," as illustrated by the following quotes. The narrator claims that the names of these authors are being withheld "because this is not about the individuals.": Quote #1: "Since Moroni offered Joseph Smith only a brief sketch, it is unlikely that he revealed to Joseph a comprehensive knowledge of Native American origins. It is important to understand that Joseph Smith did not have access to this knowledge. He translated the book, but apparently did not know the scope of its geography." Quote #2: "Exactly what Joseph Smith believed at different times in his life concerning Book of Mormon geography in general is also indeterminable. I think it's quite clear where Joseph Smith thought it was. Evidently, Joseph Smith's views on this matter were open to further knowledge." Quote #3: "The historical sources give no indication that Moroni's instructions to the young Joseph Smith included geography. Nor did Joseph Smith claim inspiration on the matter. Ideas he later expressed about the location of events reported in the book apparently reflected his own best thinking." The narrator than claims that the following quote from Gordon B. Hinckley is the "end-sign": Quote #4: "It is a constantly recurring mystery to me how some people speak with admiration for the church and its work while at the same time, disdaining him through whom, as a servant of the Lord, came the framework of all the church is, all that it teaches and all that is stands for. They would pluck the fruit from the tree while cutting off the root from which it grows." In the seminar titled "Introduction to Book of Mormon Evidences," the presentation refers to those that make such statements as "disdaining" Joseph Smith.	This is an absurd claim. Despite the omission of the writers names and the narrator's claim that this is "not about the individuals," the quotes are identifiable. The presentation therefore accuses Kenneth W. Godfrey, Matthew Roper, Jeff Lindsay and John Sorenson, all strong defenders of the faith, of "disdaining" Joseph Smith.	Quote #1: Matthew Roper, "Nephi's Neighbors: Book of Mormon Peoples and Pre-Columbian Populations," FARMS Review of Books 15/ 2 (2003): 91–128. Quote #2: Kenneth W. Godfrey, "The Zelph Story," Brigham Young University Studies 29/ 2 (Spring 1989): 48; on-line author Jeff Lindsay, "Nugget #11: What Could Joseph Smith Have Known about Mesoamerica?" www.jefflindsay.com; on-line at http://www.jefflindsay.com/bme11.shtml (accessed 21 June 2008). Quote #3: John Sorenson, An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon (Provo, Utah: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1985), 1 Quote #4: Gordon B. Hinckley, "Joseph Smith Jr.—Prophet of God, Mighty Servant," Ensign (December 2005).

Endnotes

1. [note]  Joseph Smith (editor), "American Antiquities," Times and Seasons 3 no. 18 (15 July 1842), 860. off-site GospeLink