Informed Saints

Mesoamerica vs. The Heartland: The Book of Mormon Geography Debate

Informed Saints

Show Notes

Where did the Book of Mormon actually take place? It's one of the most divisive internal debates among Latter-day Saints — and one of the most misunderstood.

In this episode, Jasmin Rappleye, Neal Rappleye, and Stephen Smoot sit down with Brant Gardner — author of the six-volume Second Witness commentary on the Book of Mormon and one of the most widely published Book of Mormon scholars working today — to lay out the methodological, archaeological, anthropological, and textual case for Mesoamerica, and why the Heartland model doesn't hold up under scrutiny.

Read Brant Gardner's "Heartland vs. Mesoamerica" article series at The Interpreter Foundation, and check out his brand new book The Record and Explorations in Book of Mormon Authenticity, published by FAIR.

Use discount code INFORMED15 for 15% off at the FAIR bookstore. https://fairlatterdaysaints.org/store/product/the-record-and-the-reading-explorations-in-book-of-mormon-authenticity/

===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye

Episode Resources: www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/book-of-mormon-geography

https://bhroberts.org/records/HcTowb-KL5WGb/observer_and_telegraph_reporter_mentions_the_three_witnesses_and_reports_on_lds_missionary_activity_in_ohio

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/guatemala-mirador-calakmul-karst-basin-lidar-maya-settlements-2235254

https://www.newsweek.com/hidden-ancient-mayan-megalopolis-60000-structures-discovered-guatemala-using-797865

arstechnica.com/science/2021/10/lidar-reveals-hundreds-of-long-lost-maya-and-olmec-ceremonial-centers/

www.sci.news/archaeology/lidar-olmec-maya-ceremonial-complexes-mexico-10206.html

www.cnn.com/2023/02/16/world/maya-civilization-causeways-lidar-discovery-scn

scripturecentral.org/knowhy/why-did-nephis-people-want-him-to-be-a-king

https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/unavailable-genetic-evidence-multiple-simultaneous-promised-lands-and-lamanites-by-location-possible-ramifications-of-the-book-of-mormon-limited-geography-theory scripturecentral.org/knowhy/what-was-the-nature-of-nephite-fortifications

https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/archaeological-trend...

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