Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    From $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Where in the Americas Are the Lands of the Book of Mormon?
    Where in the Americas Are the Lands of the Book of Mormon?
    Where in the Americas Are the Lands of the Book of Mormon?
    Ebook121 pages1 hour

    Where in the Americas Are the Lands of the Book of Mormon?

    By Eldon V. Guymon

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    The Book of Mormon was published in 1830. This book tells us that Lehi and his family sailed from the cost of Arabia after 600 BC. Supposedly, Lehi landed in Peru, and his descendants colonized Columbia and later moved northward through a narrow pass. The Isthmus of Panama has been assumed to be the narrow pass. The land to the north of Panama was supposed to be the land of Desolation. Warfare was common between two groups—Nephites and Lamanites. Roughly AD 400, the Lamanites destroyed the Nephites at the Hill Cumorah, which is said to be in New York, USA. Historic “church” leaders are quoted to support the historic theories. However, the church today has no position on the location of the lands in question, so one may choose for himself where the lands were located. Quoting historic “church” leaders proves nothing.

    Scientists associated with the historic Archaeological Department of Brigham Young University have presented Mesoamerica as the lands of the book.

    Mormon told us that the river Sidon ran north to the sea (1981, B of M Index p. 730). The Mississippi runs south and is not the river Sidon. Mormon also told us that the people of Zarahemla (Mulekites) crossed a salt ocean landing at the land of Desolation. Hence, the land of Desolation bordered a salt ocean (Alma 22:30 and 63:5). These facts discount several theories, including the heartland theory and great lakes theories. However, historians quote early “church” leaders as prophets and continue to hold to traditional beliefs.

    The Book of Mormon is the position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The lands in question must fit with this book regardless of traditions. The book fits in Mesoamerica. Because people in 1830 had little or no knowledge of the cultures of Mesoamerica, Joseph Smith could not have stolen the book from other authors and the early Mormons could not have written the book. Read Where in the Americas are the Lands of the Book of Mormon” to find out what the Book of Mormon tells us about the lands in question.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAuthorHouse
    Release dateJun 20, 2018
    ISBN9781546243441
    Where in the Americas Are the Lands of the Book of Mormon?
    Author

    Eldon V. Guymon

    Eldon Vern Guymon was born in 1936 in Provo, Utah. He is a descendent of the Mormon pioneers including handcart pioneers. As a boy and as a young man, he worked for his Father’s company, L. C. Guymon and Sons Electric. He became a journeyman electrician. Eldon was raised within short walking distance of Brigham Young University. He was personally acquainted with and went to church with notable officials of the University including Dallin Oaks, Hugh Nibley and many professors. He studied religion at BYU. Eldon obtained a B. S. Degree from BYU in Botany with a minor in Agronomy, graduating in 1964. He augmented his education with wildlife management studies provided by the University of California. He considered being an archaeologist with the intent of discounting or supporting the content of The Book of Mormon and has continued to study, research, and review related literature. The book “Where in the Americas are the lands of The Book of Mormon” is essentially a research paper that evaluates the most prominent theories concerning the location of the lands of The Book of Mormon. He was fortunate to marry Dianne Long, Eldon helped Dianne raise seven honest citizens that are gainfully employed and provide quality service to others. Eldon has served in the following positions in his Church: Missionary in Denmark for 30 months, Assistant Scout Master, Webelos Leader, Blazer Leader, Cub Master, Elders Quorum President, Ward Clerk, High Priests Group Leader, Assistant to the High Priest’s Group Leader twice, Sunday School Teacher several times. Branch President in Denmark, Counselor to the Branch President in Del Norte Colorado, Ward Mission Leader twice, Welfare Services Missionary in Carrollton, Texas, and temple ordinance worker. He has carefully studied the Old Testament with particular emphasis on historical events recorded in the Book of Isaiah. Eldon served in the Utah National Guard , and he was employed for a short time at Geneva Steel Plant located in Utah Valley. He began working for the U. S. Forest Service while studying at BYU and served as a biologist for the Forest Service some 39 years. When serving in supervisory positions, his decisions were based on facts, not emotion or prejudice. Eldon was required by his superiors to make decisions that are consistent with the truth. On occasion his biological evaluations reversed commitments made by his superiors. Eldon is not a “yes” man. When it comes to The Book of Mormon, Eldon believes it must be consistent with the facts. Many have tried to disprove this book, bur after 70 years of reviewing the book and associated literature, he understands that the book is consistent with the facts. Eldon has written three books: “Do Mormons have Prophets,” “The Mighty Arm of the Lord,” and “Where in the Americas are the Lands of The Book of Mormon.” He has found sufficient solid evidence to support the faith of his youth. He would share this evidence with those who would base their faith on truth, rather than on emotion, tradition, anger, rebellion, or previously learned traditions. The three books written by Eldon display much of the information that has convinced Eldon that the God of the Bible is God.

    Related to Where in the Americas Are the Lands of the Book of Mormon?

    Related ebooks

    Religion & Science For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • UNLIMITED

      10 Strangest Bible stories

      Sep 9, 2021

      10 Strangest Bible stories
      5 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      How the Mormons Conquered America: The success of the Mormon religion is a study in social adaptation.

      Jun 12, 2014

      At the end of the smash Broadway musical, The Book of Mormon, the protagonist, Elder Price, a zealous young Mormon missionary in Uganda, triumphantly sings, “We are still Latter day Saints, all of us / Even if we change some things, or we break the r

      11 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Preparation, Iowa

      Jan 28, 2020

      Preparation, Iowa
      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Great Mormon Migration

      Jan 21, 2021

      In the icy grip of winter, a thin line of wagons set out from Nauvoo, Illinois, and crossed the Mississippi River, laden with passengers and provisions. Those inside belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (otherwise known as the

      8 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      A Little Paper With Clout

      Sep 1, 2020

      A Little Paper With Clout
      9 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      A Legacy Of Hope And Glory

      Jun 9, 2021

      DESPITE my birthplace in the Mississippi Delta and my early years in schools whose teachers tried hard to educate the children in the poorest state in the Union, I reckon I had a head start when I arrived in Suffolk as the bride of a farmer. White ch

      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Southern Stand

      Mar 16, 2020

      Southern Stand
      5 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Refracting History | Stories In Digital And Print

      Dec 15, 2023

      [The act] was an overtly racist law prohibiting the arrival of newcomers from China. It also required all people of Chinese heritage, including Canadian-born, to register with the federal government in order to stay in the country. Chinese Canadian c

      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      It’s Time We Started Stressing: The Millions Interviews Earl Swift

      Oct 2, 2018

      With his seventh book, Chesapeake Requiem: A Year With the Watermen of Vanishing Tangier Island, Earl Swift has hit the trifecta sought by all writers of nonfiction but achieved by very few. The book is the fruit of deep-dive, immersive research; it

      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      a Sacred Refuge

      Dec 23, 2021

      a Sacred Refuge
      8 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      To Hell With Drowning

      Nov 1, 2021

      To Hell With Drowning
      10 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Presidents And The West

      Jun 9, 2020

      Presidents And The West
      8 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Is The Future Seen In Our Dreams?

      Sep 8, 2022

      TO SEND REVIEW COPIES, CONTACT THE BOOK REVIEWS EDITOR AT [email protected] Sam Knight Faber and Faber 2022 Hb, 256pp, £14.99, ISBN 9780571357567 Experiences with Precognitive Dreams, Synchronicity and Coincidence Gary Lachman Floris Books 2

      11 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      All About The Oregon Trail Crossword Puzzle

      Oct 1, 2023

      All About The Oregon Trail Crossword Puzzle
      1 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Refracting History | Writing in the Dark

      Dec 15, 2022

      I’m writing this during a power outage, an experience befitting the winter issue of British Columbia History magazine. I’ve spent most of my life in rural areas where power outages are often measured in days, and we predict when electricity will be r

      9 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Standoff

      Aug 11, 2022

      The Standoff
      19 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Illusion Of Discovery

      May 1, 2023

      BEGINNING IN THE MID-1400S — bear with me here — the Catholic Church issued a series of decrees sanctioning the dispossession of the Indigenous peoples of Africa and the Americas. Known as the “Doctrine of Discovery,” these decrees were used by Europ

      1 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Interview But Now Am Found

      Feb 25, 2020

      Interview But Now Am Found
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Hermit Of Suvarov

      Jul 30, 2020

      The Hermit Of Suvarov
      5 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      What Do You Know About 1491?

      Oct 9, 2023

      What Do You Know About 1491?
      4 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Q&A

      Oct 17, 2019

      You retreated to the ancient lands and Pueblo peoples of New Mexico when writing Spring. Was it a subtle form of protest, given the nature of the Trump administration. Was that the idea? Yes! The administration makes life incredibly hard for the la

      1 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      This Issue’s Contributors

      May 13, 2021

      I spent the last five years researching and writing a book on the Anglo-Saxons. The process by which a pagan people were converted to Christianity was one I found particularly fascinating. Marc argues that the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons was a bru

      1 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Where in the Americas Are the Lands of the Book of Mormon?

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Where in the Americas Are the Lands of the Book of Mormon? - Eldon V. Guymon

      © 2018 Eldon V. Guymon. All rights reserved.

      No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

      Published by AuthorHouse 06/19/2018

      ISBN: 978-1-5462-4345-8 (sc)

      ISBN: 978-1-5462-4343-4 (hc)

      ISBN: 978-1-5462-4344-1 (e)

      Library of Congress Control Number: 2018906223

      Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

      and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

      Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

      Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

      Contents

      Acknowledgments

      Introduction

      1. Fireside Presented by President Mask

      2. Miscellaneous Evidence Supporting The Book of Mormon

      3. Southern Mexico and Guatemala Fit the Geography Described in The Book of Mormon

      4. The Great Plains, South America, or the Hill Cumorah Area in New York?

      Hemispheric Model

      Mound Builders

      Zelph, the White Lamanite

      South America

      The Hill Cumorah and the Great Lakes Area

      Summary

      5. Prophecy Being Fulfilled in Guatemala and Latin America

      6. My Testimony of The Book of Mormon

      Appendix

      Appendix 1, American Horses

      Appendix 2, Mound Builder Discussion Continued

      Appendix 3. Which Groups of Indians Relate to the Peoples of The Book of Mormon?

      Appendix 4, Instructions for Viewing Maps of Mesoamerica at the Google Map Site

      References

      Acknowledgments

      My wife Dianne, my brother Reed Guymon, my son Scott and his wife Dianne, my son Michael and his wife Charisse, my daughter Mary Anne Wilson and her husband Rob, my son Jonathan, my son Mark and his wife Paige, my Daughter Rebecca and her husband Jacob Fox, and my dear friends Vaughn and Linda Hassell have assisted in refining draft copies of this book and have provided support.

      Clate Mask was very helpful by sharing his knowledge of the native cultures and terrain of Mesoamerica. He also assisted in providing reference materials related to the natives of Mesoamerica

      Brent Bargeron, recommended references related to the Native Americans and The Book of Mormon. He also suggested improvements in the text.

      Todd Daly and his daughter Danie assisted in preparing an early version of this book for publication and printing.

      Steven Bergquist reviewed this book and provided additional references and alternatives.

      I owe these people my sincere thanks.

      Eldon V. Guymon

      Introduction

      The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has no official position as to where the lands of The Book of Mormon are located (Palmer p. 19). Consequently, statements by Joseph Smith Jr., latter-day prophets, and the Zelph incident as contained in The History of the Church, do not tell us where the lands of the Nephites and Lamanites were located. However, The Book of Mormon tells us where it happened.

      When I was a young man attending Brigham Young University, I thought about being an archaeologist. I wanted to investigate the ruins in America to determine where the lands described in The Book of Mormon are found. I decided against this career because I desired to be a father and raise a family.

      Today, devoted scientists have done the work that I thought about doing. They have convinced me that the lands described in The Book of Mormon have been found in Southern Mexico and Guatemala. My main purpose is to summarize in a short document enough archaeological, geographic, resource, and social information to demonstrate that the lands of Mesoamerica are the lands described in The Book of Mormon and that early Mormons knew little about Mesoamerica, so they could not have written The Book of Mormon. Today, it is not a matter of guessing, hoping, or believing. Today the location of The Book of Mormon lands is a matter of science and a matter of facts. I have not included all the details that are available. What is presented herein is scientific, resource, and social evidence that most anyone can use to find the place of the lands of The Book of Mormon. I have added some of my own knowledge concerning American horses and some of my opinions that are not the work of others. I have prayerfully tried to present the facts. However, there are other alternatives.

      Some Latter-day Saints believe that the Hill Cumorah where the Nephites were destroyed is in New York. Many in the Church believe that the Isthmus of Panama is the narrow neck of land spoken of in The Book of Mormon. I have been taught and have believed the same. Mormons have written books, have made videos, and have made compact disks to provide evidence that the Hill Cumorah where the Nephites were destroyed is found in New York, with the Land of Zarahemla being located in the Great Plains of the USA. Others, including Orson Pratt, thought that Zarahemla was in South America. I understand that Joseph Smith wrote that the Great Plains of the USA were the lands of the Nephites as recorded in a letter he sent to his wife Emma. In a letter to Bishop Brooks, not dated, Michael Watson (Secretary to the First Presidency) responded to a letter written to President Hinckley with the following statement: The Church has long maintained, as attested by writings in the references of General Authorities, that the Hill Cumorah in Western New York is the same as referenced in the Book of Mormon… (Tanner). However, Joseph Smith Jr., John Taylor, and Apostle Moses Thatcher are reported to have said Central America is the place of The Book of Mormon (In search of Cumorah, the video). Also, in the Times and Seasons we read: "Those wonderful ruins of Palenque (in Central America) are among the mighty works of the Nephites… They lived about the narrow neck of land, which now embraces Central America…with all the cities that can be found. Central America or Guatemala is situated north of the Isthmus of Darien (Panama)...The city of Zarahemla stood upon this land (Times and Seasons, March 1844). Moreover, President, David O. McKay authorized $250,000 for archaeological research in Central America (Warren and Ferguson p. 265).

      I understand that Church leaders tell us the events of The Book of Mormon took place somewhere in the Americas. The writings of Mormon, Moroni, Ether, and Nephi settle the question. Opinions that are inconsistent with the writings of these prophets need not be accepted as accurate. Nevertheless, historians have presented alternatives that appear to contradict the writings of these prophets.

      I understand that contention is undesirable, and I have tried to avoid attacking anyone. If the reader will carefully study the content of The Book of Mormon, questionable theories will become obvious to the reader. Yes, I have discounted opinions that are not consistent with what The Book of Mormon tells us. Where it happened is recorded in The Book of Mormon. Trust it.

      The geography, cultures, and resource descriptions of The Book of Mormon fit on the lands of Mesoamerica, and they do not fit very well anywhere else in North or South America.

      image002.jpg

      However, at the time of the Lord’s crucifixion, the land was substantially altered in the lands of The Book of Mormon. Mountains were laid low, and valleys became high mountains (Helaman 14: 23). The land as we see it today, may not be the same as it was described in Alma chapter 22. There are what appear to be Pre-Classic Mayan cities under the Caribbean Sea, just off from the coast of Belize (Ainsworth p 70) & (4 Nephi 1: 9), and there is a sunken valley (a graben) that includes Lake Izabal and extends from the Caribbean west into Guatemala. Lake Izabal contains a partially sunken city, and Lake Atitlan contains a sunken city. The time of the sinking of the ruins in Lake Atitlan date about 2000 years ago when waters covered several cities (3 Nephi 9: 7 & Book of Mormon Central).

      Dr. Richard Hauck studied the geographic locations recorded in The Book of Mormon. He created a model based on the geographic features, lands, cities, and routes of travel described in The Book of Mormon, showing how the cities and land forms described in the book are arranged. He did not use an existing map. He used only the geographic information in The Book of Mormon to create his model. Then he asked Dr. Vaughn E. Hansen to create a model based on geographic information from The Book of Mormon. Hansen and Hauck did not compare their models or use

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1