In 2024 I announced the completion of my Book of Mormon Geography project. I started in 2015 so it has been a big effort, about 7000 hours. I labored to provide a scientific methodology based on the Book of Mormon text itself. Called the Zarahemla Model, everything is freely available for viewing at zchm.theholyscriptures.info .
Here are five important reasons to know about Book of Mormon geography:
- I believe it is important to establish the historical veracity of the Book of Mormon as an additional testimony of its truthfulness. Some members of the Church of Jesus Christ have come to believe the Book of Mormon geography and history to be inspirational stories but with fictional history. At BYU they teach the geography with a totally fictional map, implying to many that the best we can do is to think of the Book of Mormon as fictional. I know we can and must do better.
- I believe it is also important doctrinally to understand the special purposes and destiny of North America in Gods plan for the latter-day Zion and what that means for those who live there. The Book of Mormon says its land comes with a special promise and responsibility attached to it – and that it has an important role to play in the latter days as regards to the New Jerusalem and the coming of Jesus Christ. Because of this, knowing where the land is located is important.
- Geographical references are found extensively in the Book of Mormon during the time of Alma, Helaman, 3 Nephi, and Mormon (91 BC – 34 AD, 363 – 384 AD). I find it very satisfying to read the Book of Mormon while understanding the geography involved. Everything in the narrative is thereby clarified and becomes more relatable. There is no need to skim over these verses with eyes glazed over.
- On the title page, the stated purpose of the Book of Mormon is for the convincing of Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ. Many people have a need to first accept the Book of Mormon on an historical basis before they can even begin to consider the message of Christ that is in it. The extensive geography portrayed in the Book of Mormon is not just incidental but crucial in establishing the Book of Mormon as real. Not establishing the history and geography as being something real means a closed door to millions of potential investigators of the Book of Mormon. We hold the Bible to be real history but imagine if we could not even agree on the location of Jerusalem? That would be faith damaging for the Bible. I know we can do better for the Book of Mormon.
- The Entity Relationship database table provides powerful evidence of the Book of Mormons remarkable consistency regarding geography, and is therefore a testimony of the historical and divine origin of the text. This should be more widely known. It is a part of the convincing process.