Reason 1: Because Joseph Smith said so.
This is a touchy subject since so many people are convinced Joseph said the final Nephite battle was in New York. So I'll refer you to John L. Lund's book, Joseph Smith and the Geography of the Book of Mormon. In it, Dr. Lund painstakingly clears up many misconceptions. Including that when Joseph Smith was editor of the Times & Seasons, he specifically said that it would be a good idea to look for Zarahemla in Guatemala (whose borders at the time included southern Mexico) and that the narrow neck of land would be found in Central America. Southern Mexico was considered part of Central America during the early 1800s.
He backs this claim up with exhaustive handwriting and language studies that conclusively prove that Joseph Smith was, indeed, the editor of said articles.
Another example is how Dr. Lund shows the Zelph story in B. H. Roberts' History of the Church was a version that wasn't intended to be published. The passage was taken from various eyewitness accounts of Joseph's tale during Zion's Camp. However, the original manuscript used prior to the book's publication shows Joseph Smith's own editing marks that struck out key phrases such as "Nephites," "last and final battle" and "Hill Cumorah" - leaving the Zelph account as simply a battle between post-Book of Mormon Lamanites led by a North American chief Omandagus.
For some reason, the non-edited version was published, causing years of misunderstanding.
Reason 2: It's the only place with large scale cities
This is the most obvious reason. Of the known ruined cities in the Americas, 90% stretch from central Mexico to Costa Rica with the vast majority of those in southern Mexico and Guatemala - the heartland of the Book of Mormon. Only 1% are found in North America and 5 to 10% are found in South America - mostly in Peru and Bolivia.
There are literally thousands of cities yet to be discovered. Recently, an expedition with a new technology called LIDAR mapped the Mayan jungles and found over "60,000 structures in a sprawling network of cities, farms, highways and fortifications. The extent of ancient Maya agriculture stunned archaeologists, who said that the civilization produced food on an almost industrial scale." They also found that the city of Tikal is "three to four times larger than previously thought, with extensive defenses on its outskirts." Also, "archaeologists identified a previously unknown pyramid in the heart of the city that was [previously] thought to be a natural feature."
We are just scratching the surface. These Mayan cities didn't spring out of nowhere. They were built upon the foundations of older cities dating to pre-Classic times (Book of Mormon era). The Classic Maya simply carried on the city building that was initiated during the Book of Mormon times.
There are literally thousands of cities yet to be discovered. Recently, an expedition with a new technology called LIDAR mapped the Mayan jungles and found over "60,000 structures in a sprawling network of cities, farms, highways and fortifications. The extent of ancient Maya agriculture stunned archaeologists, who said that the civilization produced food on an almost industrial scale." They also found that the city of Tikal is "three to four times larger than previously thought, with extensive defenses on its outskirts." Also, "archaeologists identified a previously unknown pyramid in the heart of the city that was [previously] thought to be a natural feature."
We are just scratching the surface. These Mayan cities didn't spring out of nowhere. They were built upon the foundations of older cities dating to pre-Classic times (Book of Mormon era). The Classic Maya simply carried on the city building that was initiated during the Book of Mormon times.
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| A frequently occuring glyph that linguists used to crack the Mayan language translates to, "And then it happened" or in other words, "It came to pass." |
From 2600 BC to the time of the conquest, a written language was found only in the regions stretching from Mexico to Costa Rica. During that time, the tribes of North America did not have formal written languages. Nor did the people of South America. Even the later Incas did not have a written language.
The many cultures in Mesoamerica had written languages that were very efficient because they were hieroglyphic or logographic - meaning each glyph represents either a word or an entire phrase.
The parent culture, the Olmecs, coincides in time and place with the Jaredites who also had an efficient written language. The book of Ether fit on only 24 metal plates. The Nephites arrived with the Hebrew spoken language, but wrote with Egyptian characters, which was not unusual in Israel at the time. But over the years they adopted many aspects of the Jaredite and other native languages so that by 400 AD, Mormon would explain:
Mormon 9:32 And now, behold, we have written this record according to our knowledge, in the characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner of speech.
The many cultures in Mesoamerica had written languages that were very efficient because they were hieroglyphic or logographic - meaning each glyph represents either a word or an entire phrase.
The parent culture, the Olmecs, coincides in time and place with the Jaredites who also had an efficient written language. The book of Ether fit on only 24 metal plates. The Nephites arrived with the Hebrew spoken language, but wrote with Egyptian characters, which was not unusual in Israel at the time. But over the years they adopted many aspects of the Jaredite and other native languages so that by 400 AD, Mormon would explain:
Mormon 9:32 And now, behold, we have written this record according to our knowledge, in the characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner of speech.
Reason 4: It's the only place with a coast to coast, east-west mountain range
The Chuacus/Sierra de Las Minas are an imposing, rugged mountain range that certainly qualifies for "a narrow strip of wilderness." And this east-west mountain range runs from sea to sea - a requirement to fit the Book of Mormon's explanation.
Alma 22:27 . . . all the regions round about, which was bordering even to the sea, on the east and on the west, and which was divided from the land of Zarahemla by a narrow strip of wilderness, which ran from the sea east even to the sea west . . . and thus were the Lamanites and the Nephites divided.
How do we know that the "narrow strip of wilderness" was mountains? Because there are multiple references in the Book of Mormon that make it clear that the lands south of Zarahemla where higher in elevation. These include Manti and Nephi. Also, there are hills to the north of Nephi, which indicate that after passing through the narrow strip of wilderness you had to descend again into the valley that cradles the cities of Nephi, Shemlon and Shiblon. This also clarifies which direction the River Sidon flows. The headwaters of the river were near Manti and Manti was south and higher in elevation than Zarahemla. Which means the river Sidon flowed north and that leads me to the next reason. . .
Reason 5: It's the only place with north-flowing rivers
OK. You got me. These are not the ONLY north-flowing rivers in the western hemisphere but they are the only ones which flow through an area covered by a civilization with a written language that date to the Book of Mormon time period.
The north flowing rivers of Colombia and Venezuela are not associated with any significant ancient civilization with writing during the Book of Mormon times. The other north flowing rivers have too icy of a climate to be seriously considered and, again, don't have any sizable ruined cities near them.
Knowing that the river Sidon flows in a northerly direction is one of the most important aspects of understanding Book of Mormon geography. And it helps to avoid falling for the notion that the Mississippi River is the river Sidon.
The two most-likely candidates for the River Sidon are the Grijalva and the Usumacinta Rivers. And both of their sources are found in the Guatemala highlands. Their sources are so close together that you might understand why Limhi's expedition didn't find Zarahemla. They must have been told to follow the river down until you reach the City of Zarahemla - but they followed the wrong river and ended up in the Land of Desolation!
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| It's only 60 miles, a day and a half, from the confluence of the El Corte and Coatzacoalcos rivers to the Pacific Ocean. |
The Book of Mormon is very consistent with its language, as long as you don't put words in its mouth. The oft recited "it takes a Nephite a day and a half to go from the east sea to the west sea" is putting words in its mouth. It does NOT say "east sea." (This sentiment has been so strong, for so long, that the Spanish translation of the Book of Mormon does erroneously say, "from the sea of the east to that one of the west" OR "desde el mar del este al del oeste")
It actually says ". . . it was only the distance of a day and a half’s journey for a Nephite, on the line Bountiful and the land Desolation, from the east to the west sea. . ." So, it is a day and a half's journey along the border of Bountiful/Desolation to the west sea.
That line/border between Bountiful and Desolation runs from the the upper reaches of the Coatzacoalcos River, a river that is navigable for large ocean-going vessels for almost 2/3rds of its length. That is almost halfway through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. This is easily the reason for it being described as "the place where the sea divides the land." Ether 10:20
The remaining distance from the fordable part of that river to the west sea is the defensive "line Bountiful and the land Desolation" and it is roughly a day and a half on foot from one end to the other.
There is also confusion with the term "narrow pass" or "narrow passage." Many people assume it is another way to say "narrow neck." But that is not the case. It is indeed a narrow pass.
This confusion is understandable because the "narrow pass" just happens to be in the "narrow neck." Mesoamerica has a narrow passage in the same place as a narrow neck. There is no other place in the Americas that fits BOTH requirements.
It actually says ". . . it was only the distance of a day and a half’s journey for a Nephite, on the line Bountiful and the land Desolation, from the east to the west sea. . ." So, it is a day and a half's journey along the border of Bountiful/Desolation to the west sea.
That line/border between Bountiful and Desolation runs from the the upper reaches of the Coatzacoalcos River, a river that is navigable for large ocean-going vessels for almost 2/3rds of its length. That is almost halfway through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. This is easily the reason for it being described as "the place where the sea divides the land." Ether 10:20
The remaining distance from the fordable part of that river to the west sea is the defensive "line Bountiful and the land Desolation" and it is roughly a day and a half on foot from one end to the other.
There is also confusion with the term "narrow pass" or "narrow passage." Many people assume it is another way to say "narrow neck." But that is not the case. It is indeed a narrow pass.
This confusion is understandable because the "narrow pass" just happens to be in the "narrow neck." Mesoamerica has a narrow passage in the same place as a narrow neck. There is no other place in the Americas that fits BOTH requirements.
Reason 7: It's nearly surrounded by water
The entire Book of Mormon setting has a limited area of approximately 600 miles from end to end. They measured their travels in "days" not weeks or months. They could reach the sea in any direction in a matter of "many days."
Alma 22:32 . . . the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla were nearly surrounded by water, there being a small neck of land between the land northward and the land southward.
Helaman 3:8 . . . they began to cover the face of the whole earth, from the sea south to the sea north, from the sea west to the sea east.
To find out why the maps I use are missing the Yucatan peninsula, read: Yucatan Island and the Land Bountiful
To find out why the maps I use are missing the Yucatan peninsula, read: Yucatan Island and the Land Bountiful
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| The term northward is NOT interchangeable with north. One of the many consistencies in this "most correct book." |
The Book of Mormon uses the term "northward" 41 times in describing the layout of their land. (Two of those are the Jaredites describing the direction they traveled when leaving the Tower of Babel, but that is for another post.)
It also uses the term "southward" 19 times. So the general orientation of the Book of Mormon lands are in a general northwest to southeast direction. Mesoamerica fits that requirement.
Whenever the Book of Mormon uses the cardinal directions alone, it is usually referring to directions within the Land Southward. For example:
Helaman 6:12 They did raise grain in abundance, both in the north and in the south; and they did flourish exceedingly, both in the north and in the south . . .
When the Book of Mormon uses the words "north" or "south," it means exactly what it says - due north or south. Contrary to one esteemed Book of Mormon scholar, there is no "Nephite north" where you have to turn our maps to match a preconceived idea. That is just a way to make geographical features fit an erroneous interpretation of the Book of Mormon text.
When the Book of Mormon uses the words "north" or "south," it means exactly what it says - due north or south. Contrary to one esteemed Book of Mormon scholar, there is no "Nephite north" where you have to turn our maps to match a preconceived idea. That is just a way to make geographical features fit an erroneous interpretation of the Book of Mormon text.
Reason 9: It has a land of many waters
The Mexican states of Vera Cruz, Tabasco and Campeche have a unique feature. They are called "pantanos." These lagoons dot the coast all along the Gulf of Mexico, where the rivers empty into the sea. Also, during the rainy season, there are many more freshwater swamp forests around the river deltas.
Wetlands change over time so they were probably different 2000 years ago. Rivers deposit more and more sediment over time. So the coast and these pantanos were most likely several miles further inland than they are today.
These pantanos are situated in the exact area that fits the description of the location of the land of many waters mentioned in the Book of Mormon.
Wetlands change over time so they were probably different 2000 years ago. Rivers deposit more and more sediment over time. So the coast and these pantanos were most likely several miles further inland than they are today.
These pantanos are situated in the exact area that fits the description of the location of the land of many waters mentioned in the Book of Mormon.
Reason 10: There Is no snow!
The continental United States is unlikely to be the land of the Book of Mormon for one simple fact. The Book of Mormon only mentions "snow" once and that is to describe the color of the fruit in the Tree of Life vision. It mentions "cold" once, when Lehi talks about going to his "cold and silent grave."
These are mentioned near the beginning of the book, written by people familiar with snow because the just came from Jerusalem.
However, the rest of the Book of Mormon does talk about heat. Their battles raged year-round with the Lamanites in loin clothes and shaved heads. Teancum was able to sneak into the Lamanite camp and put a javelin in Amalickiah's heart without being caught, because everyone was sound asleep due to the intense fighting during the "heat of the day." And this took place on "the first morning of the first month." Depending on which calendar system they were using, their New Year's Day would fall anywhere between the middle of December and the middle of April. Hardly the time of year in the mid-west or New York to be running around naked and getting exhausted by the heat of the day. (Alma 51 & 52)
However, the rest of the Book of Mormon does talk about heat. Their battles raged year-round with the Lamanites in loin clothes and shaved heads. Teancum was able to sneak into the Lamanite camp and put a javelin in Amalickiah's heart without being caught, because everyone was sound asleep due to the intense fighting during the "heat of the day." And this took place on "the first morning of the first month." Depending on which calendar system they were using, their New Year's Day would fall anywhere between the middle of December and the middle of April. Hardly the time of year in the mid-west or New York to be running around naked and getting exhausted by the heat of the day. (Alma 51 & 52)
Not only does southern Mexico and Guatemala (northern Mesoamerica) have these required features, they are all in the correct locations relative to each other based on the details found in the text of the Book of Mormon. No need to force things to fit, ignore things that don't fit or twist maps to match a pre-conceived belief.
Sources:
Additional reading:
Book of Mormon Statements with Mesoamerica and US Heartland Comparisons
Examining the Heartland Hypothesis as Geography
Heartland as Hinterland: The Mesoamerican Core and North American Periphery of Book of Mormon Geography
Is Zarahemla in Iowa? And Other Fatal Flaws with the Heartland Theory
Summary of Problems with Rod Meldrum's "Heartland" Theory
The Prophecies and Promises of 1 Nephi 13:30–31 That Invalidate the Heartland Theory for New World Book of Mormon Geography
Could the Book of Mormon Events Have Taken Place in South America?
Book of Mormon Statements with Mesoamerica and US Heartland Comparisons
Examining the Heartland Hypothesis as Geography
Heartland as Hinterland: The Mesoamerican Core and North American Periphery of Book of Mormon Geography
Is Zarahemla in Iowa? And Other Fatal Flaws with the Heartland Theory
Summary of Problems with Rod Meldrum's "Heartland" Theory
The Prophecies and Promises of 1 Nephi 13:30–31 That Invalidate the Heartland Theory for New World Book of Mormon Geography
Could the Book of Mormon Events Have Taken Place in South America?
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