Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Iron ore has been discovered in peru, but its purpose was primarily for body paint. The malay peninsula as the setting for the book of mormon. Nov, 2015 ive hemmed and hawed about whether i should post this.
Olsen, the malay peninsula as the setting for the book of mormon, 1997, unpublished. I will suggest another explana tion later in this essay, but let me first use the presence of kjv language in the book of mormon as a jumpingoff point for discussing gardners rather complex theory on how the book of mormon was translated. The purpose of this exercise is to examine the basic model rather than is greatest. Olsen, the malay peninsula as the setting for the book of mormon, no place, no publisher, 1997.
Olsen, a malay site for book of mormon events, sunstone march 2004. Olsen conjectures that the most likely place would be the malay peninsula. Non mormon anthropologist harold gladwin has suggested that around 300 bc. Olsen believes the lehites island hopped from israel and stopped at the malay peninsula. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon. A radically different book of mormon geography theory mormon.
The malay peninsula is located in malaysia, south of thailand. But the principal setting for most book of mormon events was on the malay peninsula. In 1991, john sorensen of byu, the dean of book of mormon geography, created a book called the geography of book of mormon events. The starting point for this theory is the claim that a 4,000 mile journey to the malay peninsula, with appropriate winds and currents from the middle east, would have been much easier for the jaredites, mulekites and lehites than a 16,000 mile voyage across the indian and pacific oceans with no appropriate currents to the americas. This book contains evidence supporting a new site for book of mormon events. The malay peninsula as the setting for the book of mormon by. It provides a narrow peninsula extending northsouth. Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church and other denominations of the latter day saint movement generally believe that the book of mormon describes ancient historical events in the americas, but historians and archaeologists.
He says the source is the malay peninsula, and that is how to. Some scholars argue that joseph smith came to believe that the maya ruins on the yucatan peninsula discovered in the late. So, what if the book of mormon is true, but were digging in the wrong place. Context for this post is provided in part 1, part 2 and part 3 concluding observations. On a side note, its a real shame a good chunk of it primarily setul fell into siam control and its sultanate was in turn dissolved and malay culture suppressed for a good century. Nephites lived in the land of promise for about 1,000 years and jaredites for possibly 3,000 years.
The purpose of this exercise is to examine the basic model rather than is greatest elaboration. Olsen has since selfpublished book elaborating his ideas. The malay peninsula early history, melaka and the colonial setting for countless centuries the malay peninsula was a major locus for maritime trade conducted between west and east asia. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted to find archaeological evidence to support it. Unconventional book of mormon geography theories mormon matters. Ralph olsen in his malay theory, claims that mesoamerica didnt have many of the things mentioned in the book of mormon, the malay peninsula area did ie. While i heartily acknowledge that mesoamerica is the most widely believed setting, there are many other theories out there. Olsen, a malay site for book of mormon events, sunstone no. Oct 04, 2011 the legend of the lost book of gold part 1 of 4. I confess of spending no more than a few minutes for the purpose. But once our focus shifts to the ancient mediterranean we have a perfect candidate. I asked him why he picked malay as a possible book of mormon location, and he cited several reasons. The malay peninsula, with minimal stone ruins, provides a better setting for book of mormon accounts.
Limited geography model religionwiki fandom powered by wikia. Olsen, the malay peninsula as the setting for the book of momon, 1997, p. A few weeks ago, we had quite a discussion on the malay theory. So the majestic ruins represent an anomaly for meso. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. Review of a more promising land of promise book of mormon. This theory says it would have been much easier for nephi to travel a 4000 mile journey to the malay peninsula than a 16000 mile journey in open seas to the americas, and the malay peninsula is a better description of the narrow neck of land. A more clear statement would be that book of mormon geography is allowed to be a subject of speculation because joseph didnt reveal the location. The malay peninsula as the setting for the book of mormon by ralph a.
Some of the greatest discoveries in the book of mormons favor have been made in recent years. Apr 18, 2010 when i think of the baja california peninsula, i think of the baja offroad race where people take lots of vehicles and cross the deserts in all sorts of vehicles. The malay peninsula early history, melaka and the colonial. Saya berjaya menjejak buku tersebut the malay peninsula as the setting for the book of mormon secara maya namun sebelum itu saya kira. A south american setting for book of mormon mormon matters. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints has wisely taken no official position on book of mormon geography, 89 despite the clear presence of americentric sentiment throughout the church as a whole. Sep 08, 2009 strengthened by sentiments like elder widtsoes and aware of the difficult problems with the settings currently being proposed as the site of book of mormon events, i have for some time now been actively searching for a more suitable location. The starting point for this theory is the claim that a 4,000 mile journey to the malay peninsula, with appropriate winds and currents from the middle east, would have been much easier for the.
Hugh nibley has noted that the karens of burma have displayed such aston. Archaeology and the book of mormon wikipedia republished. Statement on book of mormon geography page 5 general. Copies are available in libraries at montana state, utah state, and the university of utah. For me, the real potential of the malay model is in demonstrating the consistency of the book of mormon as a historical document. I acknowledge its a controversial topic, but oh well, some might find it interesting enough. Now, the book of mormon bofm is centered around a promised land. Home true book of mormon geography lands western new york. Jan 17, 2020 most peoples approach, who seek a geographical setting for the book of mormon lands, began with a personal view, belief, or understanding that a specific location for various reasons was a certain place and then gone about trying to prove their selection correct. Jun 01, 2009 ive read the book by priddis and consider it one of the best on book of mormon geography. Revisiting the malay book of mormon geography general. However, the fatherson team of david and lynn rosenvall believe the baja peninsula south of california in mexicoits most famous city you may recognize is tijuana could be the location of book of mormon land.
The malay peninsula, which covers malaysia, singapore, and parts of thailand and burma. Olsen hypothesizes that representatives of the various book of mormon peoples not only lamanites eventually. Most of the presentation of the book is in the form of numbered paragraphs. The malay book of mormon geography model asserts that the book of mormon account matches the geography and historical record of the malay peninsula. The legend of the lost book of gold part 1 of 4 wheat. Most of the presentation of the book is in the form of numbered paragraphs that show a specific claim or event was more likely to have occurred in malaysia than in mesoamerica. Land located south of the land of zarahemla and bordered on the east and west by two large bodies of water, the sea east and the sea west. One more timemalay is not the land of promise part v. For the first 150 years of mormonisms existence, everyone thought it was a story about a people who left the middle east and came to south or central america, and who fought wars clear up into new york state where their history was hidden in a hillside, inscribed on. Olsen, voni rivas, nicole debloois and wyatt rivas, photographers on. Olsen, the malay peninsula as the setting for the book of. Jul 19, 2019 however, i had recently read ralph olsens book the malay peninsula as the setting for the book of mormon, which argues for pretty much what it says on the tin, and the dream was presumably influenced by that alternative understanding. Its also interesting that the tale of setul is completely absent in discussions about the history of the kedah sultanate. It reads with more of a sciencedryness, it does not offer field identification quality and, there are several better, true field guides available for this region.
Preface 7 gratefulacknowledgmentshavetobemadebythe authorsofthevaluableassistancerenderedintheprepara tionofthevolume,eitherbytheloanofphotographsor. The south american theory seems to fit better than any other. While we cannot rule out the possibility that other lands may have promises from god, the book of mormon is clear what promises are associated with its lands. To date lds apologists who insist on an ancient american setting for the book of mormon have searched in vain for a plausible site for this epic battle. For the past twentyfive years or so, believing book of mormon theorists have been steadily attempting to work out the details of a new paradigm for the book of mormonone that shifts book of mormon events from a fullhemispheric to a limitedgeography model. The earliest scientific description of peccaries in the new world in brazil in 1547 referred to them as wild pigs. One more timemalay is not the land of promise part v nephicode. Mergefrommultiple a limited geography model for the book of mormon is one of several theories by latter day saint movement scholars that the book s narrative was a historical record of people in a limited geographical region, rather than of the entire western hemisphere as believed by some early latter day saints. Book of mormon events occurring in mesoamerica are mostly circumstantial and unconvincing.
Jan 18, 2009 in search of book of mormon geography. Olsen true book of mormon geography lands, western. There is an incredibly lengthy section in archaeology and the book of mormon covering the proposed book of mormon geographical setting, and does not really talk about any hard archaeological evidences. I asked him why he picked malay as a possible book of mormon location. Mar 19, 2008 actually, there is no reference to stone construction in the book of mormon at all. Ralph olsen is a retired chemistry professor at montana state university, with research interests in plants, soils, and microbes. Actually, there is no reference to stone construction in the book of mormon at all. The examination did not find reason to deal with the greater detail in the book. Jan 29, 2019 as for a book of mormon geography being based on a theory that joseph didnt know what he was talking about, that is an incorrect statement. Malay peninsula definition of malay peninsula by the free. Mormon authors advocating the original moundbuilder setting for the book of mormon have similarly suggested north american peccaries also called wild pigs as the swine of the jaredites. On the judgment day, how will we feel if we know we may have known the truth about the geography of the book of mormon but kept quiet because of the fear of man. Olsen true book of mormon geography lands western new. Land of nephi american hemospheric setting book of mormon.
The peninsula was strategically situated at the crossroads of the principal south and east asian maritime routes, lying between two major subcontinents india and. What should someone do when a longheld hypothesis fails. These models have situated the book s events in south america. The malay peninsula as the setting for the book of momon r. Malay peninsula synonyms, malay peninsula pronunciation, malay peninsula translation, english dictionary definition of malay peninsula. A little more than 10 years ago, i was vacationing in hawaii with a few friends. A radically different book of mormon geography theory. I think this is a clear cut case of merging this information into this article. Terry the book of mormon translation puzzle 181 nephite idioms mormon actually used. He further surmised that the book of mormon accountwhile literally historicdid not take place in the americas, but rather took place directly south of the home of the karen people.
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