FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Difference between revisions of "Question: Do we need to know where the Book of Mormon took place?"
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==Response== | ==Response== | ||
| − | It is not required for salvation to know | + | It is not required for salvation to know where the Book of Mormon took place. Critics often exaggerate the extent to which [[Archeology_and_the_Bible|Biblical locations]] are known, and ignore the disadvantages under which [[Book_of_Mormon_archaeology|New World archaeology]] labors compared to the Old World. |
| − | + | Critics also ignore that there is substantial evidence for the [[Book_of_Mormon_geography/Old_WorldOld World]] accounts in the Book of Mormon that were not known in Joseph Smith's day. | |
| − | + | Most LDS scholars believe that a Mesoamerican setting best matches the Book of Mormon data, but [[Template:BoMGeoTableList|other models]] have been advanced by others. Given that the Church has [[Book_of_Mormon_geography/Statements]] no revealed geography outside the Book of Mormon text, it is unlikely that a "Church-endorsed" map will be published. This does not prevent other researchers from seeking the most plausible correlation. | |
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==Conclusion== | ==Conclusion== | ||
Revision as of 16:09, 31 August 2008
This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
Contents
Criticism
Critics claim that the Church has no official position on geography of the Book of Mormon becuase the lands in the Book of Mormon never existed.
Source(s) of the criticism
Response
It is not required for salvation to know where the Book of Mormon took place. Critics often exaggerate the extent to which Biblical locations are known, and ignore the disadvantages under which New World archaeology labors compared to the Old World.
Critics also ignore that there is substantial evidence for the Book_of_Mormon_geography/Old_WorldOld World accounts in the Book of Mormon that were not known in Joseph Smith's day.
Most LDS scholars believe that a Mesoamerican setting best matches the Book of Mormon data, but other models have been advanced by others. Given that the Church has Book_of_Mormon_geography/Statements no revealed geography outside the Book of Mormon text, it is unlikely that a "Church-endorsed" map will be published. This does not prevent other researchers from seeking the most plausible correlation.
Conclusion
Endnotes
None
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
FAIR web site
- FairMormon Topical Guide: Archaeology and the Bible FairMormon link
- FairMormon Topical Guide: Book of Mormon geography FairMormon link
- Brant Gardner, "Behind the Mask, Behind the Curtain: Uncovering the Illusion (Review of: The Bible vs. the Book of Mormon)," FARMS Review 17/2 (2005): 144–196. off-site FAIR link; originally available on FAIR link