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


A FAIR Analysis of:
Specific works
A work by author: The FIRM Foundation

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

The most perfidious way of harming a cause consists of defending it deliberately with faulty arguments.
—Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher (1844 - 1900)

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.

Within 48 hours the Lord provided the answer to how this was to be accomplished... What a tremendous blessing!... Within 48 hours again the Lord provided another 'miracle'... So the Lord is watching out for this project! ...I asked my dear friend [an emeritus LDS general authority] if he would give my wife and I a special blessing...The only thing I can share from the blessings is that the overall understanding is that this information will go out to "millions" who will be touched by the work, and that this will "embolden" the saints to open their mouths and declare anew the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ so that millions will find and enter his kingdom! The spirit was overwhelmingly wonderful and we felt so blessed to have that privilege.
—"Update and Request to Serve on the FIRM FOUNDATION Counsel," e-mail dated 9 May 2008.

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. The title page states that it is an account taken from the records of people living in the Americas before and after Christ; it was “written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation. … And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.”

President George Q. Cannon (1827–1901), First Counselor in the First Presidency, stated: “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.”
—James E. Faust, “The Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign, Jan 2004, 2–6

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The following abbreviations are used:

  • DVD = DNA Evidence for Book of Mormon Geography
  • IBME = Introductory seminar titled Introduction to Book of Mormon Evidences

Claims made in the seminar "Introduction to Book of Mormon Evidences"

Some claims are unique to the introductory seminar, and are not addressed in the DVD. This section addresses some of those claims.

Page Claim Response Author's sources

How to determine truth
  • The presenter states that there exists a "hierarchy" by which something can be proven through research:

1) Scripture
2) Statements of Joseph Smith
3) Statements of the current prophet only while he is called as a prophet. Everything that does not fit into these three categories is to be considered opinion.

  • In order to demonstrate the proposed hierarchical order, the presenter notes that “prophets themselves are held accountable to the scriptures.”
  • It should also be noted that this "hierarchy" matches exactly the first testimonial on the "DNA Evidence for Book of Mormon Geography" web site:

...In working for the Church I was told to use for research only: 1) the scriptures 2) Joseph Smith and 3) the words of the Prophets, while they were prophets. All else was to be considered opinion. This is why I couldn't go along with the traditional sites of Book of Mormon Lands, as well as numerous textual evidences within the Book itself... (03.02.08 Name withheld) DNA Evidence for Book of Mormon Geography—Testimonials off-site

  • 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.

High culture
  • The presenter claims that Central America has become a popular location for Book of Mormon lands because they had a "high culture." The presenter asks: "When have the Lord's people ever been the highest culture?" The presenter claims that Israelites were "living on the mountains" and that the Lord's people have never been the "largest, greatest culture."
  • What did Joseph Smith have to say about this? The presenter ignores the words of Joseph Smith on this matter. Joseph claimed that the Book of Mormon people had "high culture:"

...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. (Joseph Smith, Dean C. Jessee, The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, [original edition] (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1984). ISBN 0877479747. GL direct link) (emphasis added)

  • As noted below, the words "this content" are defined by Webster's 1828 dictionary as the Western continent, comprising the North and South American landmass.

Genetics
  • In the seminar Introduction to Book of Mormon Evidences, it is claimed that all races on the earth descended from one of three "supergroups" associated with the sons of Noah:
    • All Caucasians are claimed to be descendants of Shem.
    • All Asians are claimed to be descendants of Japheth.
    • All Blacks are claimed to be descendants of Ham.
  • The presenter claims that "Ham's descendants went to Egypt" and that "Japeth went into the Asia area."
  • Note: This racial assignment does not even match the traditional assignment of Japeth to the "white" race, Shem to the "red" race and Ham to the "black" race.
  • The designation of race in this manner is overly simplistic and ignores basic principles of population genetics.
  • The "racialization" of Noah's sons is a modern invention, and has nothing to do with genetics. According to Stephen R. Haynes:

The familiar connection of Noah's sons with Europe, Asia, and Africa (the three regions of the Old World) developed only "slowly and tentatively" in the first centuries of the common era. What became the conventional "three son, three continent view" was elaborated by Alcuin (732-804) and refined in the twelfth century by Peter Comester (ca. 1100-1179). But these medieval associations were unstable, and the assignment of Ham to Africa, Shem to Asia, and Japheth to Europe was not inscribed on the European mind until the Age of Exploration.[9] By the nineteenth century, the same intellectual and social forces that contributed to the racialization of Noah's prophecy came to bear on Genesis 10, which was consistently read as an account of humanity's racial origins and as proof that "racial distinctions and national barriers proceed from God." [10] [1]

  • No sources provided.

Location of Cumorah
  • The presenter claims that the reason that a "two-Cumorah theory" had to be developed was because "we wanted to believe in Central America" as the location for the Book of Mormon.

Claims made in DVD section: DNA Evidence

Page Claim Response Author's sources

Claims made in section 2: Geography

Page Claim Response Author's sources

DVD 2-2:48
  • The DVD narrator claims that "truth" is comprised of "spiritual evidence combined with physical evidence"

DVD 2-2:48
  • 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 2-5:47
  • 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 author's claim is false
  • 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 2-11:33
  • It is claimed that the "Hill Cumorah" in New York is the "Hill Cumorah" referred to in the Book of Mormon.
  • The hill in New York was not called "Cumorah" until after the publication of the Book of Mormon.
  • The Book of Mormon does not say that the plates were buried in Cumorah—it states that all of the other Nephite records were hidden there. The only reason we know where Moroni ultimately buried the plates is because of where they were found.
  • The geology of the Hill Cumorah in New York makes the presence of a cave there extremely unlikely.
  • Hill Cumorah issues

Claims made in section 3: Joseph Smith

Page Claim Response Author's sources

DVD 3-2:58
  • Joseph Smith is claimed to have said that he received the information contained in the Wentworth letter "by prophecy, by the spirit"

DVD 3-3:55
  • 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)

  •  Misrepresentation of source
  • 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 3-4:37
  •  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.

DVD 3-4:58
  • Joseph said in the American Revivalist that "The Book of Mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western tribes of Indians."

DVD 3-5:41
  • 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 to 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 3-6:22
  • Joseph's mother said that he "would describe the ancient inhabitants of this continent…"

DVD 3-8:46
  • Joseph wrote during Zion's Camp that they were "wandering over the plains of the Nephites"

DVD 3-13:11
  • The story of Zelph is claimed to prove that the Northeastern United States was the land of the Nephites.

DVD 3-16:51
  • "Eight different people" are claimed to have said that they saw "wagon loads" of plates in the Hill Cumorah in New York.
  • The question is not whether or not Joseph and the others saw a cave, but where that cave was actually located.
  • 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 3-17:26
  • Joseph sent missionaries to the Lamanites.

DVD 3-21:41
  • Missionaries were sent to the "borders of the Lamanites."

DVD 3-30:59
  • 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."

  •  Misrepresentation of source
  • 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:

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.[2] (emphasis added)

  • 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.
  • For more detail, see: Joseph Smith's geographical statements about the Book of Mormon

DVD 3-35:23
  • The DVD and presentation "Introduction to Book of Mormon Evidences" show unattributed statements from LDS scholars and indicate that these scholars are "discounting and 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 from LDS scholars are easily identifiable. The presentation therefore accuses Kenneth W. Godfrey, Matthew Roper, Jeff Lindsay and John Sorenson, all of whom are strong defenders of the faith, of "discounting or disdaining" Joseph Smith.
  • For details on this claim, see: LDS scholars "discounting and disdaining" the statements of Joseph Smith?
  • Quotes shown say "name witheld."
  • The quotes by LDS scholars are from Matthew Roper, Kenneth W. Godfrey, and John Sorenson.
  • The DVD shows a quote by Gordon B. Hinckley, "Joseph Smith Jr.—Prophet of God, Mighty Servant," Ensign (December 2005).

Claims made in section 4: Promised Land

Page Claim Response Author's sources

DVD 4-1:29
  • Missouri is the New Jerusalem.
  • This is correct.

DVD 4-3:05
  • The narrator claims that the New Jerusalem is Zion.
  •  The author's claim is false
  • What did Joseph Smith have to say about this? The narrator attempts to equate Zion exclusively with the location of the New Jerusalem, but this contradicts the words of Joseph Smith:

...speaking of the Land of Zion, It consists of all N[orth] & S[outh] America but that any place where the Saints gather is Zion which every righteous man will build up for a place of safety for his children...The redemption of Zion is the redemption of all N[orth] & S[outh] America." (emphasis added) [3]

  • Other latter-day prophets have declared that North and South America constitute the land of Zion: see Location of Zion.
  • Articles of Faith 1:10

DVD 4-2:47
  • Missouri is the only "Land of Promise" in the Western Hemisphere.
  •  The author's claim is false
  • The prophets and apostles have clearly stated that Missouri is not the only land of promise, nor the only area to which Book of Mormon promises apply.
  • For example, Wilford Woodruff said:

This land, North and South America, is the land of Zion; it is a choice land-the land that was given by promise from old father Jacob to his grandson and his descendants, the land on which the Zion of God should be established in the latter days. (emphasis added) [4]

DVD 4-3:35, IBME
  • The New Jerusalem will be upon "this land," meaning exactly where the Book of Mormon prophet was standing when he made that statement.
  • The Introduction to Book of Mormon Evidences seminar offers a strict interpretation of the words "this" and "that" as used in the scriptures. The word "this" is interpreted to mean the very spot upon which the statement is made.
  • And how does the narrator know where the Book of Mormon prophet was standing when he made that statement? He simply assumes that Ether was standing in North America, and then uses Ether's own words to "prove" this!

DVD 4-4:40
  • The Land of Promise is a "choice land," interpreted by the narrator to be "a land where people would choose to live."
  • The term "land of promise" refers to whatever land the Lord has granted to His people, and upon which they are commanded to gather.

DVD 4-5:34
  • The choice land will be lifted up by God above all other nations because God approves of the political system ("nation") on the choice land.

DVD
  • It is claimed that the gentiles mentioned in 1 Nephi 13 are Joseph Smith's ancestors (American colonists) because he brought the book forth.

DVD
  • Where the Book of Mormon comes forth will be a land of liberty with no kings, fortified against all other nations, and God will be the King of the people of the land.

Claims made in section: Prophesies and Promises

Page Claim Response Author's sources

DVD 5-4:37
  • It is claimed that the only nation that "fulfills every Book of Mormon requirement to be the promised land" is the United States since it is a "land of liberty" and there would be "no kings" in the land.

DVD 5-6:01
  • The narrator claims that the city of Zarahemla was provided through revelation and that it was located on the Mississippi River opposite where Nauvoo is located today.

Claims made in section: Tents, Temples and Teepees

Page Claim Response Author's sources

DVD 6-1:54
  • The narrator concludes that the Book of Mormon people used tents from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem. According to the narrator, "ancient peoples almost always had tents as a survival strategy" because "they didn't know at that time if the Syrians or the Babylonians or somebody were going to come to call and they might have to leave their permanent structures."
  • Actually, Lehi's family could just as easily have had tents if his family traveled as traders.
  • It is likely that the people had tents because they were often required to go to battle against the Lamanites. Any army would use tents.

DVD 6-2:51
  • In 124 B.C., the people brought tents to listen to King Benjamin's speech. This is used as proof that the people lived in tents.
  • According to the Book of Mormon, after he was done speaking, King Benjamin "dismissed the multitude, and they returned, every one, according to their families, to their own houses." Mosiah 6꞉3 (emphasis added)

DVD 6-3:30-3:44
  • It is claimed that the Lamanites may have lived in tents in order to keep up with the movement of their food supply. The Lamanites are claimed to not have done "much in the way of city building."
  • This is used to imply that the Lamanites were nomadic. However, when the sons of Mosiah travel to Lamanite country on their mission (prior to the time of Christ) the Lamanites were clearly living in cities. (This is in contrast to the DVD's claim that "they didn't do much in the way of city building.") From the descriptions of their kings and kings over kings, they were not only cities, but large ones with a complex social organization. Although there is some evidence for Lamanite nomadic hunting and gathering early in Nephite history (Enos 1꞉20), but this is not the dominant Lamanite lifestyle through most of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon text disagrees with the presenter's claim that the Lamanites were nomadic throughout most of Nephite history.

DVD 6-6:20
  • Mesoamerican temples shown in a photo could not be "Nephite temples" because they date to "about 900 years A.D."
  • To state that these structures were built "about 900 years A.D." is a gross over-simplification of facts. This statement ignores the complexity of overlapping Mayan cultures. The Maya built new structures on top of older structures. This is one of the reasons why it is so difficult to examine early pre-Classic Mayan structures which do date to Book of Mormon times.
  • Amerindians as Lamanites/Maya and Olmec

DVD 6-6:40
  • The Church produced film "The Testaments" depicts Mayan temples as existing during Nephite times.

DVD 6-7:11
  • Mayan temples do not look like Solomon's Temple.
  • This is not surprising, since the Nephite's lasted 1000 years after Lehi's departure from Jerusalem. Even if the Maya were somehow related to the Lamanites, the Lamanite civilization which replaced the Nephite civilization would not have known anything about Solomon's Temple.
  • Amerindians as Lamanites/Maya and Olmec

DVD 6-7:24
  • Mayan temples were used to perform sacrifices, which is not consistent with the use of Solomon's Temple.
  • This is not surprising either, since if the Mayans were related to the Lamanites they would have used their temples in a different manner than the Nephites. The Book of Mormon clearly states that by approximately 400 A.D. that the Lamanites were performing human sacrifices.

Claims made in section: Weather and Climate

Page Claim Response Author's sources

Claims made in section: Buffalo Evidence

Page Claim Response Author's sources

Claims made in section: Chronological Evidence

Page Claim Response Author's sources

Claims made in section: Nephite Defenses

Page Claim Response Author's sources

Claims made in section: Nephite Structures

Page Claim Response Author's sources

Claims made in section: The Mound Builders

Page Claim Response Author's sources

IBME
  • In Introduction to Book of Mormon Evidences, it is claimed that the mounds along the route of Zion's Camp (associated with the Mound Builders) contain "thousands" of bones and were created to bury the dead after huge battles.

Claims made in section: Nephite Culture

Page Claim Response Author's sources

Claims made in section: Nephite Implements

Page Claim Response Author's sources

Claims made in section: Book of Mormon Lands

Page Claim Response Author's sources

Claims made in section: Travel Indications

Page Claim Response Author's sources

Claims made in section: Conclusions and Results

Page Claim Response Author's sources

Endnotes

  1. [note] Stephen R. Haynes, Noah's Curse: The Biblical Justification of American Slavery, (Oxford University Press, 2002), p. 5.  [ATTENTION!] Add Haynes refs [9] and [10] here.
  2. [note]  Joseph Smith (editor), "American Antiquities," Times and Seasons 3 no. 18 (15 July 1842), 860. off-site GospeLink
  3. [note] Martha Jane Knowlton Coray, [edited by Dean C. Jessee], "Joseph Smith's July 19, 1840 Discourse," Brigham Young University Studies 19/ 3 (Spring 1979): 392.
  4. [note] Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses 15:279.
  5. [note] Anthony W. Ivins, Conference Report (April 1929): 16.
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