Book of Mormon Geography

204 Primary Sources

Date
Summary
1805

1805 encyclopedia defines America as encompassing the entire hemisphere.

1819

William Winterbotham provides geographic description of America.

1828

Noah Webster defines "America" in his 1828 dictionary.

1830

Book of Mormon Title Page identifies itself as being written to the Lamanites.

Nov 18, 1830

Observer and Telegraph reports early Church leaders saying Lehi landed in South America.

Mar 7, 1832

Fredonia Censor reports early LDS leaders teaching Lehi landed in South America.

Apr 14, 1832

The Catholic Telegraph reports early Church leaders were teaching Lehi landed in South America.

Apr 14, 1832

Newspaper reports Orson Pratt saying Lehi landed in South America and the final battle in the BoM happened where the plates were found.

Aug 1832

W. W. Phelps writes on Book of Mormon geography and history.

Oct 1832

W. W. Phelps defines the boundaries of America.

Jan 1833

W. W. Phelps identifies the Hill Cumorah as being in New York.

Jan 4, 1833

Joseph calls the Book of Mormon a record of "our western Tribes of Indians."

Feb 1833

W. W. Phelps writes that Central American ruins are evidence for the Book of Mormon.

Jun 1833

W. W. Phelps writes on archaeological "proof" for the Book of Mormon.

Jun 3, 1834

RM recalls JS remarks about Z, including arrow in ribs, white Lamanite, and "Omandagus".

Jun 4, 1834

JS refers to the plains of the Nephites, bones as proof of BOM.

Jun 4, 1834

Joseph tells Emma about the "plains of the Nephites" and recounting Book of Mormon history while on Zion's camp.

1835

Frederick G. Williams identifies Chile as the landing spot of Lehi.

Jul 1835

Oliver Cowdery identifies the Hill Cumorah as being in New York.

Nov 9, 1835

Joseph narrates how Moroni described the origins of Native Americans.

Jan 1837

William Smith says North and South America are one continent.

May 19, 1838

Joseph's journal records discovering a "Nephitish alter."

Sep 25, 1838

Samuel D. Tyler records identifying the location of Manti.

Jul 2, 1839

Joseph's manuscript history identifies the town in Iowa to be built to be called Zarahemla.

Jul 2, 1839

Joseph records wanting to build a town in Iowa.

1840

Orson Pratt argues for a hemispheric Book of Mormon geography.

Sep 1840

Editorial in the Millennial Star quotes John Lloyd Stephens.

1841

Charles Knight estimates the square milage of "America."

1841

Charles Blancher Thompson cites John Lloyd Stephens as evidence for the Book of Mormon.

1841

Preface to John Lloyd Stephens's book Incidents of Travel in Central America.

Jun 15, 1841

An editorial in the Times and Seasons quotes John Lloyd Stephens's Incidents of Travel.

Sep 13, 1841

Wilford Woodruff reads Incidents of Travel and sees it as evidence for the Book of Mormon.

Nov 16, 1841

JS talks about historicity of the Book of Mormon.

Nov 16, 1841

Joseph thanks John M. Bernhisel for his gift of a book on Central America.

Dec 1, 1841

Joseph disavows "The Peacemaker" and Udney H. Jacob.

Mar 1842

Parley P. Pratt cites Incidents of Travel as evidence for the Book of Mormon.

Mar 1, 1842

Joseph touches on Book of Mormon geography in his 1842 "Church History" editorial.

Mar 15, 1842

Ebenezer Robinson publishes a retraction in the Times and Seasons.

Mar 15, 1842

Joseph becomes editor of the Times and Seasons.

May 2, 1842

Joseph as editor of Times and Seasons publishes on evidence for the Book of Mormon in Kentucky.

Jun 1, 1842

Times and Seasons publishes extracts on American antiquities.

Jun 15, 1842

Joseph cites evidence from Central America in favor of the Book of Mormon.

Jul 15, 1842

Joseph cites Incidents of Travel as evidence for the Book of Mormon.

Jul 15, 1842

T&S links Central American ruins to the BoM.

Sep 7, 1842

Joseph identifies the hill in New York as Cumorah.

Sep 15, 1842

Joseph cites Central American findings as "proof of the Nephites and Lamanites."

Sep 15, 1842

T&S says that the Nephites lived in Central America.

Oct 1, 1842

The Times and Seasons links Central American ruins to Zarahemla.

Nov 15, 1842

Joseph appoints John Taylor as editor of the Times and Seasons.

1843

John McIntosh writes about Mexico being part of the "American continent."

1843

William H. Prescott describes Mexico as being part of North America.

Oct 1, 1843

The Times and Seasons commends John Lloyd Stephens' book as evidence for the Book of Mormon.

1844

Lucy Mack Smith describes Joseph being told about the ancient Nephites by Moroni.

Apr 8, 1844

Joseph says all of North and South America is Zion.

Apr 8, 1844

Joseph Smith says all of North and South America is Zion.

Apr 8, 1844

Joseph says the "whole America" is Zion.

Apr 8, 1844

Joseph says all of America is Zion.

Apr 8, 1844

Joseph says North and South America is Zion.

May 23, 1844

Joseph talks with Native Americans about the Book of Mormon.

Aug 18, 1844

Brigham teaches Zion is all of North and South America.

1846

Samuel G. Goodrich says Mexico and Guatemala are a part of North America.

1849

Arnold Guyot divides America into two continents.

Jan 14, 1855

William H. Dame records account of the "Cumorah Cave."

Apr 6, 1855

Brigham says Zion is North and South America.

1857

Heber C. Kimball recounts the "Cumorah Cave."

Jun 3, 1860

Brigham teaches the United States is a land of promise.

Dec 11, 1869

Wilford Woodruff records an account of the "Cumorah Cave."

Jan 15, 1873

Elizabeth Kane preserves an account of the "Cumorah Cave."

May 18, 1873

Orson Pratt defines the American continent as containing North and South America.

Jan 11, 1876

Brigham writes about settling "the American continent."

1878

Brigham retells an account of the "Cumorah Cave."

Aug 16, 1878

David Whitmer in an interview says records are in another cave, not the Hill Cumorah.

1879

Orson Pratt, as editor of the 1879 Book of Mormon, provides footnotes giving geography details for the Book of Mormon.

Sep 1882

Orson Pratt identifies the Hill Cumorah as being in New York; identifies records still hidden in the hill.

Aug 21, 1883

David Whitmer recalls the Lord assuring the Three Witnesses there would be archaeological evidence for the Book of Mormon.

1884

Revelation attributed to Joseph Smith locates Lehi's landing place as Chile.

Feb 2, 1884

Erastus Snow teaches Zion is the entire American continent.

Jan 18, 1885

George Q. Cannon teaches the United States was founded under God's protection.

Jul 1887

George Q. Cannon writes that Book of Mormon maps are not advised because they differ so much.

Jun 1888

Lands on Zion's Camp associated with Book of Mormon lands.

Jul 1888

Andrew Jenson attributes Joseph Smith as identifying the ancient city of Manti.

Jan 1890

George Q. Cannon discusses Book of Mormon geography; emphasizes the Church's neutrality.

1893

Edward Stevenson recounts a version of the "Cumorah Cave" story.

1899

James E. Talmage identifies the hill Cumorah as being in New York.

May 25, 1903

Deseret Evening News reports a meeting on Church leaders and scholars meeting to discuss Book of Mormon geography.

1905

History of the Church entry speaks of Joseph identifying a "Nephite altar."

1907

B. H. Roberts argues for a hemispheric geography.

1907

B. H. Roberts argues that North and South America are the land of promise.

1909

B. H. Roberts argues for a hemispheric Book of Mormon geography.

1909

B. H. Roberts writes that Book of Mormon geography theories will have to change with more evidence.

Feb 23, 1923

James E. Talmage says Church leaders have not approved an official Book of Mormon geography.

Sep 1927

Janne M. Sjodahl highlights different Book of Mormon geography theories.

Apr 5, 1929

Anthony W. Ivins says that Book of Mormon geography has not been revealed.

Apr 6, 1929

James E. Talmage says Book of Mormon geography is not definitively known or settled.

1937

John A. Widtsoe writes the entire American hemisphere is a land of promise.

1938

William E. Berrett writes that there is no official position on Book of Mormon geography.

Apr 1938

Frederick J. Pack concludes it is unlikely Joseph actually said Lehi landed in Chile.

Sep 10, 1938

Joseph Fielding Smith argues for the Hill Cumorah being in New York.

Jun 9, 1940

First Presidency teaches the American hemisphere is Zion.

Oct 6, 1940

George Albert Smith teaches the entire Western Hemisphere is the promised land.

Apr 8, 1950

Levi Edgar Young teaches that America is a land of liberty.

Jul 1950

John A. Widtsoe cautions that Book of Mormon geography is not definitively known.

Feb 27, 1954

Joseph Fielding Smith argues that the Hill Cumorah is in New York.

Apr 5, 1954

Mark E. Petersen rejects the belief in "two Hill Cumorahs."

Apr 3, 1955

Ezra Taft Benson teaches that all of America is Zion.

Dec 1961

M. Wells Jakeman argues Izapa Stela 5 depicts Lehi's tree of life vision.

1962

Edition of the Book of Mormon from 1962 contains photographs of artifacts and ruins from Central and South America.

Nov 1968

Paul R. Cheesman writes on the location of the Hill Cumorah in The Instructor magazine.

Aug 4, 1973

The Church News reports on Harold B. Lee speaking at the Hill Cumorah.

1975

Venice Priddis argues for South America as the location of the Book of Mormon.

Apr 1975

Spencer W. Kimball teaches North and South America is Zion.

Feb 19, 1977

Spencer W. Kimball teaches that all of America is a promised land protected from kings.

1981

David A. Palmer argues that the Hill Cumorah is in Mexico (Cerro Vigia).

1982

Harold B. Lee indicates the Lord has not revealed the location of the Hill Cumorah.

1982

Mark E. Petersen says speculation about Book of Mormon geography is not doctrine.

Sep 1984

John L. Sorenson writes (Part 1) in support of the Mesoamerican model in the Ensign.

Oct 1984

John L. Sorenson writes (Part 2) in support of the Mesoamerican model in the Ensign.

1985

Sorenson posits a central American geography model for BoM.

1985

John L. Sorenson writes that the destruction in 3 Nephi did not fundamentally change Book of Mormon geography.

1985

John L. Sorenson argues for the Hill Cumorah being in Mexico.

1986

Brant A. Gardner deconstructs Christianized images of Quetzalcoatl; argues the parallels with Christ are illusory.

1986

Neal A. Maxwell says Book of Mormon peoples may have been located "located in Meso–America or elsewhere."

1987

Moshe Greenberg writes that the location of biblical Uz is uncertain.

Oct 1987

Ezra Taft Benson teaches that America is a land of liberty.

1988

Alan K. Parrish writes that Izapa Stela 5 may be evidence for the Book of Mormon.

1989

John Clark argues that the Book of Mormon describes an "hourglass" geography.

Oct 16, 1990

F. Michael Watson writes a letter implying the Church's official position is that the Hill Cumorah is in New York.

Dec 7, 1991

The Church News reports on the publication of the Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

1992

John E. Clark writes on Book of Mormon geography for the Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

1992

Ernst Axel Knauf writes on the land of Uz from the Bible.

1992

John L. Sorenson compiles Book of Mormon geography theories up to 1992.

1992

David A. Palmer provides an entry for "Cumorah" in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

1992

Preface to the Encyclopedia of Mormonism mentions the oversight of Church leaders on the project.

1993

William J. Hamblin writes on the difficulties of reconstruction ancient geographies.

1993

Delbert W. Curtis argues for Book of Mormon geography near the Great Lakes.

1993

Deanne G. Matheny critiques John Sorenson's geography model on the issue of directionality.

Apr 23, 1993

First Presidency memo of 1993 explaining the Church's neutrality on the location of the Hill Cumorah.

1999

John E. Clark argues against Izapa Stela 5 being related to the Book of Mormon.

Oct 1999

Russell M. Nelson teaches to focus on the spiritual message of the Book of Mormon.

2000

John L. Sorenson writes on the internal geography of the Book of Mormon.

Jan 2000

Daniel C. Peterson writes in favor of the Mesoamerican theory in the Ensign.

2000

Rex C. Reeve Jr. provides encyclopedia entry on the Hill Cumorah.

2001

Phyllis Carol Olive argues Book of Mormon events happened in New York.

2001

Dallin H. Oaks says he learned to read the Book of Mormon in a limited geography context in the 1950s during his time as a student at BYU.

2002

Diane E. Wirth argues for parallels between Jesus Christ and Quetzalcoatl.

2002

Edwin G. Goble and Wayne N. May argue that Joseph Smith's statements place Book of Mormon geography in North America.

2004

John E. Clark writes on the archaeology of the Hill Cumorah.

2004

Daniel C. Peterson reviews the history of the NWAF.

2004

Cameron J. Packer reviews the sources behind the "Cumorah Cave".

2004

Ralph A. Olsen argues the Book of Mormon took place on the Malay Peninsula.

2005

James K. Hoffmeier writes on the location of Mt. Sinai.

2005

Edwin G. Goble and Wayne N. May argue Joseph Smith identified Book of Mormon lands in North America.

2006

Ralph Austin Olsen argues for the Malay Peninsula as the setting for the Book of Mormon.

2007

Brant A. Gardner writes on Book of Mormon geography, highlighting the major models.

2007

Andrew H. Hedges reviews the statements made by Joseph Smith and other early Saints on Book of Mormon geography.

2007

John L. Lund argues that Quetzalcoatl may be Jesus Christ.

2009

Terryl Givens discusses Orson Pratt's edition of the Book of Mormon.

2009

Don Burgess argues that the Tucson Lead Artifacts are most likely forgeries.

2009

Rod L. Meldrum cites the Newark Holy Stones and other disputed artifacts as evidence for the Heartland model.

2009

Matthew Roper argues the location of the Hill Cumorah in the Book of Mormon best corresponds with Mesoamerica.

2009

Andrew H. Hedges argues the Hill Cumorah could correspond to the hill in New York.

2009

Porter and Meldrum advocate a Heartland BoM geography theory.

2009

Bruce H. Porter and Rod L. Meldrum argue that Joseph Smith's statements place the Book of Mormon in North America.

2009

George Potter argues that South America is the land of the Book of Mormon.

2009

Rod L. Meldrum cites 45 correlations between the Book of Mormon and ancient Hopewell peoples.

2010

Gregory L. Smith reviews Rod Meldrum's DNA arguments and the Heartlander model.

2010

Andrew H. Hedges and Alex D. Smith write about Joseph's activities while hiding in Nauvoo from extradition orders.

2010

Matthew Roper concludes there is no known revelatory statement from Joseph Smith on Book of Mormon geography.

2010

Ugo Perego reviews DNA evidence of Native American peoples and discusses how it relates to the BOM.

2011

Richard E. Turley, Jr. discusses the publication of the 1920 edition of the Book of Mormon.

2011

George Potter et al. argue for South America as the location of Book of Mormon lands.

2011

Rod L. Meldrum argues Book of Mormon geography was revealed to Joseph Smith.

2011

Embaye Melekin argues the Book of Mormon happened in Africa.

2012

Seminary manual on the Book of Mormon says the Church has no official position on its geography.

2012

John L. Lund writes on Joseph Smith's whereabouts between August–October 1842.

Dec 2012

L. Tom Perry says the United States is the land foretold in the Book of Mormon.

2013

Matthew Roper et al. argue from wordprint studies that Joseph likely had a a hand in authoring the Times and Seasons Mesoamerica editorials.

2013

Michael R. Ash reviews different Book of Mormon geography theories.

2013

John L. Sorenson argues for Cumorah being in Mexico.

2013

Phyllis Carol Olive argues for Book of Mormon geography in western New York.

2014

Neal Rappleye writes on how different methodological approaches result in different Book of Mormon geography theories.

2014

Ugo A. Perego and Jayne E. Ekins argue that DNA neither confirms nor disconfirms the Book of Mormon.

2015

Matthew Roper writes on the reception of John Lloyd Stephens among early Saints.

2015

Jennifer A. Raff and Deborah A. Bolnick review the evidence for haplogroup X2a; conclude it does not lend support to theory of migration from Near East to America.

2015

Mark Alan Wright argues that Zelph is evidence for a Book of Mormon "hinterland" outside Mesoamerica.

2016

Jonathan Neville argues for Book of Mormon events happening in the United States.

2016

Jonathan Neville interprets Alma 22 to be referring to an oval or rectangle.

2017

Alexander L. Baugh writes on Joseph Smith discovering a "Nephitish alter."

2018

David R. Hocking and Rod L. Meldrum provide 50 correlations between the Hopewell and the Book of Mormon.

2018

The annotated Book of Momon cites the Bat Creek Stone and other disputed artifacts as evidence for the Heartland model.

2018

Map of Book of Mormon sites published in the Church's Book of Mormon student manual.

Oct 12, 2018

Jed Woodworth and Matthew J. Grow discuss how Saints approaches Book of Mormon geography.

2019

R. Kent Crookston argues for the Baja Peninsula theory for Book of Mormon geography.

Jan 29, 2019

Gospel Topics essay stating the Church has no official position on BoM geography.

Aug 21, 2019

Book of Mormon Central reviews likely forgeries sometimes cited as evidence for the Book of Mormon.

2021

Andrew H. Hedges reviews the major theories for Book of Mormon geography.

2023

Gospel Topics essays says the Church has no position on Book of Mormon geography.

2025

Mission statement of the New World Archaeological Foundation.

2025

Editorial introduction to the 1 September 1842 issue of the Times and Seasons on the Joseph Smith Papers website.

2025

Official statement on the Church's website about its position on Book of Mormon geography.

2025

Joseph Smith Papers gives the historical context of D&C 125.

2025

Reference entry on BYU website for "Ancient America Speaks."

2025

Website "Book of Mormon Geography" argues for the Western New York model.

2025

Lynn Rosenvall and David Rosenvall argue for the Baja Peninsula for Book of Mormon geography.