Challenging Issues, Keeping the Faith: Michael R. Ash: Models for Book of Mormon geography
Some of Joseph’s statements, for example, appear to support the traditional Hemispheric Geography. After reading news of discoveries in Central American, however, he suggested that the land was once inhabited by the Nephites. Since the Nephites primarily occupied lands south of the "narrow neck," Panama couldn’t possibly be the "narrow neck" if the Nephites lived in Central America.
It’s hard to know if Joseph Smith realized this fact or if it altered his general views on Book of Mormon geography. It’s also ironic that, while critics claim that Joseph was smart enough to write a fictional Book of Mormon — a book that is amazingly consistent in keeping track of wars, stories, people and internal geographic features — he was apparently not familiar enough with his own work to know positively where the events took place.
When we really dig into the Nephite scripture, we find that a Limited Geography better fits the text. Some textual examples and analysis will be discussed in the next installment.
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"but he never claimed that his personal views on the matter were based on divine revelation. "
Serious questions
Is there a collection of "revelation" anywhere?
Are there 2? 5? 200?
Is there a collection More..
I liked how he explained that JS changed opinions on geography and how this indicates that he was telling the truth. Some have spent lifetimes fabricating error and questions, only to have criticisms fall flat. Then they theorize that JS must have More..
At the very least, Joseph Smith believed the Lamanites/Nephites were also in North America (in addition to Central America). Just read Joseph's statments of Nephite Towers in Missouri, or his Zelph revelation. It leaves no doubt that he believed, More..