The United States is the promised land foretold in the Book of Mormon—a place where divine guidance directed inspired men to create the conditions necessary for the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was the birth of the United States of America that ushered out the Great Apostasy, when the earth was darkened by the absence of prophets and revealed light. It was no coincidence that the lovely morning of the First Vision occurred just a few decades after the establishment of the United States. L. Tom Perry, Ensign, Dec 2012 p29
Harold RustNovember 16, 2019
Thanks for information new to me. The more I learn about the veil between what Joseph knew by divine intervention and what he didn't know because of the limitations of mortality and information available at those contemporaneous times, the more I am awed by the spiritual insight it allows us in understanding the role of a prophet and the example it can be to each of us: we can gain at least a glimpse of spiritual truths even when limited to mortal perspective forced upon us with everything we learn while mortal.
TerryNovember 15, 2019
Liahona » 1984 » January
Four Peruvian Versions of the White God Legend
Kirk Magleby, “Four Peruvian Versions of the White God Legend,” Tambuli, Jan 1984, 37
Very interesting early written articles about the "great white God" in Peru
roxanneNovember 14, 2019
During your study of this topic did you come across any info on how the plates came to be in new york. like to hear your thoughts on this.
Richard HillsNovember 14, 2019
Advocates of the Heartland Model of Book of Mormon geography dispute Joseph Smith's being the actual author of the Times and Seasons editorial and they postulate that the events described in the Book of Mormon took place, primarily, in the heartland of North America. As far as I know, nobody has attempted to relate the Aztec and Inca civilizations to Book of Mormon peoples in any detail at all. If they originated pretty much independently, maybe the Mayas did also.
C N HaleNovember 14, 2019
In light of recent lidar (laser/light detection) surveys of a region stretching from southern Mexico down to Guatemala and Belize, revealing over 60,000 previously unknown ancient structures, there is no question that "the history of ancient America is [being] unfolded." The structures researchers are identifying include farms, houses and defensive fortifications, as well as numerous miles of causeways, roads and canals connecting large cities across the civilization’s central lowlands. Thank you for sharing Mr. Norman's article, reminding us of the Prophet Joseph Smith's desire to pursue historical research of Book of Mormon lands.
Nancy K Daines CarterNovember 14, 2019
I have questions;
1] At no time in the Book of Mormon does the word 'Hewn Stone' appear as in reference to the Nephites/Lamanites. It is mentioned only once, and by Isaiah about the building in Jerusalem, 2 Nephi 19:10
2] Why does Nephi and others tell of their teaching their people to build with wood, not blocks of stone? Their first temple built was like Solomon’s, which was built of wood overlaid with gold.
3] With all that lush greenery in Middle America, at what point in archaeological history has it become a wilderness, with no trees for building their houses?
4] Why is it so important to prove they came up from So America because they in So America knew Christ when the Spanish Explorers appeared as 'white men with beards?' Surely, Christ did visit many others in the isles of the sea, and why not those who build in hewn stone, in a magnificent forested jungle, with lots of gold to make their own plates [which will one day be discovered], and 'temples' that turned into places for human sacrifice?
5] Joseph Smith at no point in time stated specifically the Book of Mormon began in South America. He studied it out and left the rest to others to explore. He also pointed out many places in the Eastern United States that tied that place in as the place where the seed of Lehi dwelt, fought, and built, but never with hewn stone,
M J GarrisonNovember 13, 2019
This is an excellent article written by Mr. Norman. I especially like his comments that "Broad interest included all nations and peoples past and present. What this says to me is that knowledge from the past in any specific area of interest, including Book of Mormon studies, should be inclusive not exclusive. In other words, it can best grow and be understood and accepted, not in isolation, but in proportion to knowledge expanding in neighboring areas from the past to the present." Much is being written about the possible locals of the Book of Mormon people. I feel that it should not be an either/or acceptance of Nephite/Lamanite locations, but an acceptance of the evidence that there was a great migration that placed these people in a wide area of population.
Comments | Return to Story
Vaughn LloydNovember 26, 2019
The United States is the promised land foretold in the Book of Mormon—a place where divine guidance directed inspired men to create the conditions necessary for the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was the birth of the United States of America that ushered out the Great Apostasy, when the earth was darkened by the absence of prophets and revealed light. It was no coincidence that the lovely morning of the First Vision occurred just a few decades after the establishment of the United States. L. Tom Perry, Ensign, Dec 2012 p29
Harold RustNovember 16, 2019
Thanks for information new to me. The more I learn about the veil between what Joseph knew by divine intervention and what he didn't know because of the limitations of mortality and information available at those contemporaneous times, the more I am awed by the spiritual insight it allows us in understanding the role of a prophet and the example it can be to each of us: we can gain at least a glimpse of spiritual truths even when limited to mortal perspective forced upon us with everything we learn while mortal.
TerryNovember 15, 2019
Liahona » 1984 » January Four Peruvian Versions of the White God Legend Kirk Magleby, “Four Peruvian Versions of the White God Legend,” Tambuli, Jan 1984, 37 Very interesting early written articles about the "great white God" in Peru
roxanneNovember 14, 2019
During your study of this topic did you come across any info on how the plates came to be in new york. like to hear your thoughts on this.
Richard HillsNovember 14, 2019
Advocates of the Heartland Model of Book of Mormon geography dispute Joseph Smith's being the actual author of the Times and Seasons editorial and they postulate that the events described in the Book of Mormon took place, primarily, in the heartland of North America. As far as I know, nobody has attempted to relate the Aztec and Inca civilizations to Book of Mormon peoples in any detail at all. If they originated pretty much independently, maybe the Mayas did also.
C N HaleNovember 14, 2019
In light of recent lidar (laser/light detection) surveys of a region stretching from southern Mexico down to Guatemala and Belize, revealing over 60,000 previously unknown ancient structures, there is no question that "the history of ancient America is [being] unfolded." The structures researchers are identifying include farms, houses and defensive fortifications, as well as numerous miles of causeways, roads and canals connecting large cities across the civilization’s central lowlands. Thank you for sharing Mr. Norman's article, reminding us of the Prophet Joseph Smith's desire to pursue historical research of Book of Mormon lands.
Nancy K Daines CarterNovember 14, 2019
I have questions; 1] At no time in the Book of Mormon does the word 'Hewn Stone' appear as in reference to the Nephites/Lamanites. It is mentioned only once, and by Isaiah about the building in Jerusalem, 2 Nephi 19:10 2] Why does Nephi and others tell of their teaching their people to build with wood, not blocks of stone? Their first temple built was like Solomon’s, which was built of wood overlaid with gold. 3] With all that lush greenery in Middle America, at what point in archaeological history has it become a wilderness, with no trees for building their houses? 4] Why is it so important to prove they came up from So America because they in So America knew Christ when the Spanish Explorers appeared as 'white men with beards?' Surely, Christ did visit many others in the isles of the sea, and why not those who build in hewn stone, in a magnificent forested jungle, with lots of gold to make their own plates [which will one day be discovered], and 'temples' that turned into places for human sacrifice? 5] Joseph Smith at no point in time stated specifically the Book of Mormon began in South America. He studied it out and left the rest to others to explore. He also pointed out many places in the Eastern United States that tied that place in as the place where the seed of Lehi dwelt, fought, and built, but never with hewn stone,
M J GarrisonNovember 13, 2019
This is an excellent article written by Mr. Norman. I especially like his comments that "Broad interest included all nations and peoples past and present. What this says to me is that knowledge from the past in any specific area of interest, including Book of Mormon studies, should be inclusive not exclusive. In other words, it can best grow and be understood and accepted, not in isolation, but in proportion to knowledge expanding in neighboring areas from the past to the present." Much is being written about the possible locals of the Book of Mormon people. I feel that it should not be an either/or acceptance of Nephite/Lamanite locations, but an acceptance of the evidence that there was a great migration that placed these people in a wide area of population.
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