When working with partial facts, we use assumptions to help us supplement them. Every theory I have read has assumed that the land masses of the Americans have not changed over the past thousands of years. I believe that they have changed, even dramatically, over that time. To me, the narrative of the book does indicate a large area, but not as large as others assume. I base this partly on the geological history of the area. Also, the Indians did not regard distances as the obstacles that we do. The Illini would travel over 400 miles on foot to fight an enemy. Plains Indians would ride horses from Canada into Mexico on raiding parties. Plus, the writers of the Book of Mormon could only write about those populations in the areas where they resided. I’m sure there were populations, even among their own peoples, that they were not aware of.
Corey D.August 29, 2025
Ultimately the geographical areas of where the Book of Mormon took place are not the most important, it's the spiritual teachings that set it apart but it does make for interesting, albeit sometimes heated discussion. I myself have always been curious about Joseph Smith's comments (found in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith) that Lehi and his family landed in Northern Chile, most LDS historians, archaeologists, etc., don't give that much credence. I served my mission in the southern part of Chile back in the 70's, I was serving in a city called Chillan, one evening we had stopped to visit a man who we had left a Book of Mormon with, we asked if he had read any of it and did he have any questions, he said he had started to read it and was intrigued that the Nephites claimed to have come from the Middle East (that was not the usual story at the time for who settled in the New World) but then told us an interesting story about some writings that had been discovered out in the cordillera (Andes) and what he knew or had been told they were arabic writings. I got transfered not long after that and never had a chance to check out the story or possibly go out and see them but have always remembered that incident.
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Ronald BarnesAugust 30, 2025
When working with partial facts, we use assumptions to help us supplement them. Every theory I have read has assumed that the land masses of the Americans have not changed over the past thousands of years. I believe that they have changed, even dramatically, over that time. To me, the narrative of the book does indicate a large area, but not as large as others assume. I base this partly on the geological history of the area. Also, the Indians did not regard distances as the obstacles that we do. The Illini would travel over 400 miles on foot to fight an enemy. Plains Indians would ride horses from Canada into Mexico on raiding parties. Plus, the writers of the Book of Mormon could only write about those populations in the areas where they resided. I’m sure there were populations, even among their own peoples, that they were not aware of.
Corey D.August 29, 2025
Ultimately the geographical areas of where the Book of Mormon took place are not the most important, it's the spiritual teachings that set it apart but it does make for interesting, albeit sometimes heated discussion. I myself have always been curious about Joseph Smith's comments (found in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith) that Lehi and his family landed in Northern Chile, most LDS historians, archaeologists, etc., don't give that much credence. I served my mission in the southern part of Chile back in the 70's, I was serving in a city called Chillan, one evening we had stopped to visit a man who we had left a Book of Mormon with, we asked if he had read any of it and did he have any questions, he said he had started to read it and was intrigued that the Nephites claimed to have come from the Middle East (that was not the usual story at the time for who settled in the New World) but then told us an interesting story about some writings that had been discovered out in the cordillera (Andes) and what he knew or had been told they were arabic writings. I got transfered not long after that and never had a chance to check out the story or possibly go out and see them but have always remembered that incident.
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