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

by Eldon V. Guymon

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781546243441
Publisher:	AuthorHouse
Publication date:	06/20/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	108
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

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.

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

Fireside Presented by President Mask

My wife Dianne and I were invited to a presentation by President, Clate W. Mask of the Guatemala City Temple, the time being about December of 2010. His presentation confirmed what I was expecting. For years, the people and Native Americans in Mesoamerica have been joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in such numbers that buildings could not be built fast enough to accommodate them. In 2010, patrons had to wait for hours to get into the Guatemala City temple. Many Native Americans recognize their own history and traditions in The Book of Mormon, and they accept this book as their own.

President Mask also served as a missionary in Guatemala as a young man. Then there was only one LDS chapel in Central America. Now there are hundreds of LDS church buildings. He said there were three new temples under construction in Central America (Liahona Dec 2006, Honduras Temple Announcement).

Legends and stone records in Guatemala tell of a man named "Jawbone" who was a father of the natives (Woolley). The Hebrew word for jawbone of a donkey is "Lehi." "Jawbone" crossed the sea from the west. "Flint" came with "Jawbone." Flint in Hebrew is Zoram (Miner). Lehi, Zoram, and Lehi's family are reported in The Book of Mormon to have left Jerusalem, to have built a ship, and to have crossed what appears to be the Pacific Ocean. The name Lehi or Jawbone may have a connection with Samson slaying the Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey.

The Native Americans know who Quetzalcoatl was: the white god that appeared to their ancestors and promised to return. The native records and legends tell us that a god appeared to the people of Guatemala and taught them many things (Calderwood p. 42), similar to the record of Jesus Christ appearing to the people in the Americas as recorded in The Book of Mormon (3 Nephi Ch 8-28). Several books have been written that associate the appearance of Christ in the Americas with the god that was to return. For more information on this subject see the book: The Messiah in Ancient America by Warren and Ferguson.

The natives of Guatemala say they came from seven tribes (Woolley also Miner). The Book of Mormon (Jacob 1:13) and The Doctrine and Covenants (Sec 3: 17-18) tell of seven tribes in the Americas: Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Ishmaelites, Lamanites, and Lemuelites.

President Mask also said that Guatemala was a land of earthquakes and volcanos (Peterson, Ensign, Jan. 2000). Earthquakes, fire from heaven, and thick mists of darkness are associative with volcanic eruptions. Similar events are recorded in The Book of Mormon, when Christ appeared in the America's, and they help to identify Book of Mormon lands (3 Nephi 8: 6-23 & Alma 14: 27).

CHAPTER 2

Miscellaneous Evidence Supporting The Book of Mormon

Retracing the route that Lehi and Nephi traveled in Arabia, they left Jerusalem and traveled south-southeast in the borders of the Red Sea (1 Nephi 16: 13-14). We now know that there were caravan trails there used for transporting trade goods. Lehi's party went south-southeast to Nahom where Ishmael died and was buried. There is still a place named Nahom in the appropriate location as recorded in The Book of Mormon. From Nahom, Lehi's family traveled east to the edge of the ocean, finding the land they called Bountiful. This route has been checked out, and it fits well on the land as described in The Book of Mormon. One of the criticisms of The Book of Mormon has been that there was no cliff on the coast of Arabia where Nephi could have been thrown into the sea by his brothers. This criticism is wrong because there is a building site above a cliff near the ocean, in what appears to be the land Nephi called Bountiful. Also, iron ore, honey, trees, a mountain, and several other resources described in the book are there, or were there. The ocean current brings moisture on land, making the place fertile (Peterson also Aston). This is the question: who wrote The Book of Mormon? Joseph Smith and his associates knew nothing about the caravan trails by the Red Sea, the place called Nahom, or conditions at Bountiful, so they could not have concocted this information. Obviously, The Book of Mormon was written by a person or persons who knew the geography of Arabia very well. There is no other logical conclusion. Nephi was there, and he wrote the record, of this I am sure (Search on-line for "Bountiful Book of Mormon" for more information).

Then Lehi and his family apparently sailed from the Arabian Sea to the west coast of America (Alma 22: 28).

Note, to cross the Pacific from Arabia against the prevailing winds is said to be unlikely. However, El Nino may have been active in the Pacific, making crossing possible (Aston).

Surviving records from the Mayan people support the content of The Book of Mormon. From the "Anales de lox Xahil de los Indios Cakchiqueles" (translation): "We come from the west, from the place of abundance, from the other side of the sea" (Asturias and Gonzalez p. 10 & 11), and "From the west we came to Tulan, from across the sea ..." (Recinos & Goetz p. 45), and "I shall write the stories of our first fathers and grandfathers that came from the other side of the sea to the place called Tulan. Then we were four families that arrived at Tulan (Op. cit. p. 43 & 44, also Woolley) (this information summarized from Warren Aston's, Did the Nephites Remember Bountiful).

From the "Popul Voh" (Goetz, Morlen & Recinos), we read that the Mayans were guided across the sea to their new home by an instrument called the Pizom-Gagal. From the "Title of the Lords of the Totonicapan" p. 170 (Choney), we read that an instrument called the Giron-Gaghl led the people to their new home. These are reminiscent of the Liahona that guided Lehi across the sea (1 Nephi 16:10 & 18:12 & 21 & Alma 37: 38), (this information summarized from Warren Aston's, Did the Nephites Remember Bountiful).

According to Ainsworth, a tapestry that dates back to ancient time presents a man holding a round objectbefore his face, leading people out of the sea. The tapestry also pictures the man leading the people as they migrate from town to town, with the man carrying the round object leading the way. The tapestry is located in the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. A photograph of this tapestry is included in the book: The Lives and Travels of Mormon and Moroni by Ainsworth, page 87. From The Title of the Lords of Totonicapan, page 170, we learn that the name of the object is the Giron Gagal, this name meaning compass or director, and the enemies of these people believed that whoever had the Giron Gagal could not lose in battle, because they were protected by God (Ainsworth p. 86).

Lehi was given a ball or director called the Liahona as he traveled in Arabia (1 Nephi 16:10). After arriving in America, Nephi possessed the Liahona (2 Nephi 5: 12). Later King Benjamin gave the Liahona to Mosiah (Mosiah 1:16). The Book of Mormon tells us that these people who possessed the Liahona were seldom defeated in battle, and they were protected by God.

From the Lords of Totonicapan p. 194 (Chonay): "Our ancestors had come from the other part of the sea from Civan-Tulan at the confines of Babylon," and also "These tribes came from the other side of the sea, from the east, from Pa-Tulan. Pa-Civan they came from where the sun rises, descendants of Israel of the same language and the same customs; they were descendants of Abraham and Jacob" (this information summarized from Aston, Warren). Mr. Aston points out that Tulan refers to "Bountiful," meaning that the people may have come from the Land of Bountiful, perhaps the land named Bountiful by the family of Lehi, where they built a ship and departed from the south coast of Arabia (Peterson).

Note, Mulek was the son of Zedekiah (Helaman 6: 10). The Bible tells us that Zedekiah was appointed king at Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24: 17-20, & 25: 1-21), and Mulek is reported to be the only surviving son of Zedekiah (Helaman 8: 21 & Omni 1: 15). Mulek and associates departed from Jerusalem and may have crossed the Atlantic Ocean arriving in the Americas, perhaps on the north side of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec near the mouth of the Usumacinta River, later settling at Zarahemla after 600 BC.

Richard Hauck points out that Mulek probably landed near the mouth of the Usumacinta River on the Gulf of Mexico (Hauck pp.7-9). So Mulek may have sailed from the east across the Atlantic Ocean from the nation of Babylon. Again, Mulek was the son of Zedekiah who was appointed king at Jerusalem by the King of Babylon. The "Lords of Totonicapan" account, quoted above, says that the people came from the east from Babylon and were descendants of Israel and sons of Abraham and Jacob. "These tribes came from the other side of the sea, from the east (op. cit, Aston)" This quotation supports Richard Hauck's position that Mulek may have come from the east and may have landed near the mouth of the Usumacinta River on the Gulf of Mexico (Hauck pp. 7-9). Mulek may have crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Lehi landed on the west coast of the Americas, so he apparently crossed the Pacific Ocean (Alma 22: 28).

Check the work of Einar C. Erickson on-line for more discussion on the above. See Erickson in references.

The ruins of the mansion owned by "Beit Lehi" (The house of a prophet named Lehi) is located about 17 miles south-west of Jerusalem. Reportedly, The House of Lehi abandoned their mansion between 600 & 700 BC. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s CxzQKb1ZA). We read in The Book of Mormon that Lehi and his family left Jerusalem approximately 600 BC, at about the right time to be Beit Lehi that abandoned the mansion ("The Book of Mormon," '1 Nephi' 1; 7 & 2: 4). Nephi said that Lehi lived in Jerusalem, not 17 miles to the south-west (1 Nephi 1: 4). However, Nephi also said that we went down to the land of our inheritance, from Jerusalem, (1 Nephi 3: 22) to get gold and other wealth to trade to Laban for the brass plates. Then they went up to the house of Laban. Laban robbed Nephi and his brothers of their wealth (1 Nephi 3: 25). Later they went up to Jerusalem again, and Nephi's brothers hid at the wall of Jerusalem while Nephi went again to the house of Laban (1 Nephi 4: 4-5). It appears from these references that the mansion of Lehi was not located in the city of Jerusalem but in the land of Jerusalem. The home of Lehi appears to have been at some distance from the city of Jerusalem, making the mansion of Beit Lehi more likely to have been the home of Lehi of The Book of Mormon. How did the account of Lehi become a major event in The Book of Mormon? Joseph Smith and his friends knew nothing of Beit Lehi?

Chiasmas, a Hebrew form of writing is found in The Book of Mormon. This form of writing is not used in the Americas and was likely unknown to Joseph Smith or his associates, so it is unlikely that they could have used it if they concocted the book. The Book of Mormon appears to have been compiled by someone other than Joseph Smith and his associates. For examples, search on-line for Book of Mormon chiasmus.

CHAPTER 3

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

The Book of Mormon describes the lands of Nephi and Zarahemla as being nearly surrounded by water (Alma 22: 32). The lands in Central America fit this requirement. The lands from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, west of Yucatan, (about 121 miles distance wide) to the Isthmus of Panama are nearly surrounded by water. This land in Central America is a place where the Native Americans are joining the Church, and they find many of their traditions confirmed by The Book of Mormon.

Where is the Land of Desolation? Desolation is probably located in Mexico, northward in latitude from Guatemala (Talmage, "Jesus The Christ," p. 18). To determine the location of the Land of Desolation, I looked for concrete ruins that date about 46 BC until 400 AD, built by the Nephites in the Land of Desolation. Cement structures and ruins are found in Southern Mexico, from Mexico City east to the Gulf of Mexico and to the south.

The Book of Mormon tells us that cement (concrete) was used extensively in the Land of Desolation in the year 46 BC, because the trees had been cut down by the Jaredites (Helaman 3: 3-11).

"And the people who were in the land northward (Desolation) did dwell in tents, and in houses of cement, and they did suffer whatsoever tree should spring up upon the face of the land that it should grow up, that in time they might have timber to build their houses, yea, their cities, and their temples, and their synagogues, and their sanctuaries, and all manner of their buildings (Helaman 3:9). The Nephites began colonizing the land Desolation in about 46 BC, about two thousand years ago (Ibid, see date, bottom of page).

According to Hyman, cement appeared in Southern Mexico about 2000 years ago. His report supports the theory that Southern Mexico is the Land of Desolation.

There is much cement found in the ruins of Southern Mexico.

"One of the most notable uses of cement is in the temple complex at Teotihuacan, north of present-day Mexico City. The structural use of cement appears suddenly in the archaeological record. And yet its earliest sample "is a fully developed product." The cement floor slabs at this site "were remarkably high in structural quality." Although exposed to the elements for nearly two thousand years, they still "exceed many present-day building code requirements" (Hyman ii. sec 6 p.7).

Cement is also found in Guatemala as would be expected (Hyman).

The Land of Desolation is associated with a narrow neck of land. This narrow neck was located on the south border of the Land of Desolation by the place where the sea divides the land (Ether 10: 19-21 & Alma 63: 5 & Alma 22: 32), perhaps the Isthmus of Tehuantepec or a narrow pass on the south side of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec at Paredon Viejo.

Assuming that Southern Mexico is the Land of Desolation, then where was the "narrow neck of land" described in Ether, chapter 10?

... and in the days of Lib (a Jaredite king of the land called Desolation by the Nephites) ... they did go into the land southward to hunt food for the people of the land, for the land was covered with animals of the forest ... and they built a great city by the narrow neck of land 'by the place where the sea divides the land. And they did preserve the land southward for a wilderness to get game (Ether 10: 19-21). Game was bountiful there.

Bountiful bordered the Land of Desolation on the south at this narrow neck of land, located on the west sea where Hagoth launched his ship.

Perhaps Hagoth launched from the lagoon located near to Tonola (Alma 63:5 & Alma 22: 27-32). Bountiful was south of the narrow neck of land, and Desolation was north of this narrow neck of land (Ibid). There remains a fortification near to Tonola called Paredon Viejo that runs from the east mountains to the west sea, and it appears to be located at the narrow neck of land. This narrow neck of land should not be confused with the narrow strip of wilderness that separated the Land of Nephi from the Land of Zarahemla (Alma 22: 27).

Consider the Isthmus of Tehuantepec for the narrow neck of land between Bountiful and Desolation, where Mexico narrows down before Yucatan, a distance about 120 miles wide, or a day and a half journey for a Nephite (Alma 22: 32), if horses were used for travel. The Nephites did not have to travel on foot. They may have used horses to travel a day and a half from the "east to the west sea" (see horses in Appendix).

(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Where in the Americas are the Lands of the Book of Mormon?"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Eldon V. Guymon.
Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
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Table of Contents

Acknowledgments, vii,
Introduction, ix,
1. Fireside Presented by President Mask, 1,
2. Miscellaneous Evidence Supporting The Book of Mormon, 3,
3. Southern Mexico and Guatemala Fit the Geography Described in The Book of Mormon, 8,
4. The Great Plains, South America, or the Hill Cumorah Area in New York?, 20,
Hemispheric Model, 23,
Mound Builders, 24,
Zelph, the White Lamanite, 31,
South America, 36,
The Hill Cumorah and the Great Lakes Area, 39,
Summary, 49,
5. Prophecy Being Fulfilled in Guatemala and Latin America, 53,
6. My Testimony of The Book of Mormon, 55,
Appendix, 59,
Appendix 1, American Horses, 59,
Appendix 2, Mound Builder Discussion Continued, 61,
Appendix 3 Which Groups of Indians Relate to the Peoples of The Book of Mormon?, 72,
Appendix 4, Instructions for Viewing Maps of Mesoamerica at the Google Map Site, 75,
References, 77,