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− | + | |title=Question: Did LDS scholar Hugh Nibley support the "Heartland model" of Book of Mormon geography? | |
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− | == == | + | }} |
− | + | <onlyinclude> | |
+ | ==Question: Did LDS scholar Hugh Nibley support the "Heartland model" of Book of Mormon geography?== | ||
+ | ===Heartland advocates often cite Nibley selectively, and do not provide a full inventory of his statements=== | ||
− | + | Advocates of the "[[Book_of_Mormon_geography/Models/Limited/Meldrum_2003|Heartland]]" geographical model claim that LDS scholar Hugh Nibley supported their view. Heartland advocates often cite Nibley selectively, and do not provide a full inventory of his statements. Nibley's writings suggest that he was partial to a Mesoamerican model, with later infiltration of some ideas northward. For example, in his 1946 reply to Fawn Brodie, Nibley rejected the idea that the moundbuilders of the eastern United States—used by the Heartland theory as evidence of Book of Mormon geography--had anything to do with the Book of Mormon: | |
− | + | <blockquote> | |
− | + | "The Moundbuilders actually resemble the Book of Mormon people not at all. Who said they did? The Book of Mormon tells of a people ages removed from the Mound-builders and very far away." <ref>{{Book:Nibley:Tinkling Cymbals and Sounding Brass|pages=[http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=77&chapid=961#_ednref149 "No Ma'am, That's Not History]}}</ref> | |
− | + | </blockquote> | |
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He would later say: | He would later say: | ||
− | + | <blockquote> | |
+ | "All this took place in Central America, the perennial arena of the Big People versus the Little People."<ref>BYU Commencement Ceremony, 19 August 1983; cited in {{Dialogue1|author=Hugh Nibley|article=[http://mimobile.byu.edu/?m=5&table=transcripts&id=125 Leaders to Managers: The Fatal Shift]|vol=16|num=4|date=Winter 1983|pages=12-21}}</ref> | ||
+ | </blockquote> | ||
Whether Nibley agrees with an idea does not mean that it is true or false—each idea must be evaluated by the strength of the evidence. In this case, however, Heartland advocates attempt to trade on Nibley's prestige and authority to reinforce their position, by giving the false impression that he agrees with him. | Whether Nibley agrees with an idea does not mean that it is true or false—each idea must be evaluated by the strength of the evidence. In this case, however, Heartland advocates attempt to trade on Nibley's prestige and authority to reinforce their position, by giving the false impression that he agrees with him. | ||
This is not honest scholarship. | This is not honest scholarship. | ||
− | == == | + | |
− | + | ===Nibley repeatedly mentioned a variety of geographical theories, including Central America=== | |
* "Book of Mormon geography is a waste of time. I wouldn't touch it with a forty-foot pole. Never have; it's not necessary."<ref>{{Book:Nibley:Teachings of the Book of Mormon 1|article=[http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=116&chapid=1338 Lecture 18: 2 Nephi 3-8]}}</ref> | * "Book of Mormon geography is a waste of time. I wouldn't touch it with a forty-foot pole. Never have; it's not necessary."<ref>{{Book:Nibley:Teachings of the Book of Mormon 1|article=[http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=116&chapid=1338 Lecture 18: 2 Nephi 3-8]}}</ref> | ||
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* "John Sorenson's book 'Images of America' must remain the indispensable handbook for students of the Book of Mormon. The only book of its kind — enlightening and convincing. Who else will ever bring such diligence, knowledge and honesty to the task?"<ref>[http://www.johnlsorenson.com/media/Hugh-Nibley-note-to-Dad.jpg Nibley to John Sorenson], 14 January 1999).</ref> | * "John Sorenson's book 'Images of America' must remain the indispensable handbook for students of the Book of Mormon. The only book of its kind — enlightening and convincing. Who else will ever bring such diligence, knowledge and honesty to the task?"<ref>[http://www.johnlsorenson.com/media/Hugh-Nibley-note-to-Dad.jpg Nibley to John Sorenson], 14 January 1999).</ref> | ||
− | + | </onlyinclude> | |
− | {{ | + | {{endnotes sources}} |
− | + | {{CriticalSources}} | |
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+ | [[en:Question: Did LDS scholar Hugh Nibley support the "Heartland model" of Book of Mormon geography?]] | ||
+ | [[pt:Pergunta: LDS erudito Hugh Nibley apoiar o "modelo Heartland" do Livro de Mórmon geografia?]] |
Advocates of the "Heartland" geographical model claim that LDS scholar Hugh Nibley supported their view. Heartland advocates often cite Nibley selectively, and do not provide a full inventory of his statements. Nibley's writings suggest that he was partial to a Mesoamerican model, with later infiltration of some ideas northward. For example, in his 1946 reply to Fawn Brodie, Nibley rejected the idea that the moundbuilders of the eastern United States—used by the Heartland theory as evidence of Book of Mormon geography--had anything to do with the Book of Mormon:
"The Moundbuilders actually resemble the Book of Mormon people not at all. Who said they did? The Book of Mormon tells of a people ages removed from the Mound-builders and very far away." [1]
He would later say:
"All this took place in Central America, the perennial arena of the Big People versus the Little People."[2]
Whether Nibley agrees with an idea does not mean that it is true or false—each idea must be evaluated by the strength of the evidence. In this case, however, Heartland advocates attempt to trade on Nibley's prestige and authority to reinforce their position, by giving the false impression that he agrees with him.
This is not honest scholarship.
Notes
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]
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