Now a few words about the land and sites we visit. If you notice carefully, no where in our information packets, discussions, reporting, advertising or web site, etc.,  do we propose or elude to exact locations of cities, rivers, mountains, etc., as referred to  specifically in the Book of Mormon. Our Holy Land tours to Israel  are quite different in this respect. For Nazareth of old is still Nazareth today. Bethlehem is still the same old Bethlehem  where Joseph and Mary sought refuge and place of our dear Savior's birth. And so it is with most of the sites of that part of the old world. And what a glorious blessing and advantage that is. But we don't quite  have all that convenience or blessing in this other Holy Land of Meso and South America tho their are some convincing evidences here and there. 

We know that the peoples of the Book of Mormon history did indeed land somewhere on the west coast of South America. Ruins of their great cities and civilizations are found in abundance! The exact area or location of the original landing, or specific cities however, is basically,  not known, tho, the Prophet Joseph does offer some rare insight into this subject, which we will discuss shortly. Occasionally, we find latter-day students and scholars of the Book of Mormon who publish their works and research, and propose or suggest actual geographical locations of specific cities, rivers, etc. We don't do that. We feel that it is too speculative  In our studies, we have found that there are very few references  to the exact locations of  specific Book of Mormon sites from our beloved General Authorities.

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But now for the studious in heart, this refreshing little taste of research: 

First, please allow me to introduce to you one of my most dear and cherished colleagues and speaking companions during our CES speaking years. Those wonderful and cherished times of traveling around the country with the Education Week and Know Your Religion Programs of the Church. His name is Paul Chessman. We shared  memorable times together, "on the road." (Paul  is no longer with us on this side, but maybe in the future we will have the privilege once again to sit at his feet and bask in his knowledge of the lands of the Book of Mormon and it's peoples.)

Paul was a master researcher and explorer of ancient archaeological sites of  lands of the Book of Mormon. He wrote and published many  meaningful and insightful books and articles reflecting his research and observations. Even produced motion pictures of his findings. During his many  trips, he compiled a world class collection of early antiquities along the years, and sometimes, reluctantly,  sold pieces to finance future  explorations.  But Paul's work is also one of the few great research sources we have today for early and rare quotes from the Prophet Joseph Smith (and a select group of other early Church leaders,) regarding geography and  sites of the Book of Mormon cities and peoples. 

It is really my pleasure and privilege to now share with you  some of these poignant and cherished references. The book cited is, The World of the Book of Mormon by Paul H. Chessman, pp 21 - 28. I quote:

While knowing the exact landing place of the Lehi colony and the location of the ancient Cumorah and lands and cities described in the Book of Mormon can have little impact on personal salvation , it is a fascinating study to Latter-day Saints and of importance to LDS archaeologists.

It seems that no one in the history of the Church has been more enthusiastic about the external evidences of the Book of Mormon than Joseph Smith and other early leaders of the Church. Articles appeared often in the early newspapers on such topics as "Transatlantic Antiquities," "American Antiquities, " and Indian Antiquities." One example is found in the Times and Seasons: 

John L. Stevens, a nineteenth century explorer, was sent by the United States government to explore unknown areas of southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. He took with him a Mr. Catherwood, an artist, to record his findings. After his first expedition he published Volume 1 of Incidents and Travels in Central America, Chiapas and Yucatan, which was met with great enthusiasm by the Church. After nine columns of extracts from Stephens' book were published,  Joseph Smith made this comment: "The foregoing extract has been made to assist the Latter-day Saints in establishing the Book of Mormon as a revelation from God. It affords great joy to have the world assist us to so much proof that even the most credulous cannot doubt." (Times and Seasons 3: 914)

The Prophet also stated concerning Stephens' book: "From an extract from 'Stephen's Incidents of Travel in Central America,' it will be seen that the proof of the Nephites and Lamanites dwelling on this continent, according to the account in the Book of Mormon, is developing itself in a more satisfactory way than the most sanguine believer in that revelation could have anticipated." (Times and Seasons 3: 921).

In 1843, John Taylor, who was editor of Times and Seasons, said concerning Stephen's work: "This is a work that ought to be in the hands of every Latter-day Saint, corroborating as it does the history of the Book of Mormon. No stronger circumstantial evidence of the authenticity of the latter book can be given than that contained in Mr. Stephens' work." (Times and Seasons 4: 346).

Because of the interest of Latter-day Saints in locating ancient sites can cause speculation and disagreement, President George Q. Cannon cautioned them that the "Book of Mormon is not a geographical primer...." (Instructor, January 1, 1890). Members of the Church do not base their testimonies on archaeological proof. External evidences are used as support and to interest the world in the truth of the Book of Mormon. When disagreements arise, we should keep in mind that "out of the studies of faithful Latter-day Saints may yet come a unity concerning Book of Mormon geography; or, the Lord may give a revelation that will end all differences of opinion." (John A. Widtsoe, foreword in Ferguson, Cumorah Where?)"

Brother Chessman continued his research,  giving several references, recorded by different early leaders of the Church,  wherein the Prophet Joseph wrote the following article: "Lehi's Travels. Revelation to Joseph the Seer: The course that Lehi and his company traveled from Jerusalem to the place of their destination: They traveled nearly a south-southeast direction until they came to the nineteenth degree of north latitude: then, nearly east of the Sea of Arabia, then sailed in a southeast direction, and landed on the continent of South America In Chili [sic] thirty degrees south latitude." That's amazing detail isn't it! (The very in-depth specifics of this fascinating background and history of this quote are found on pages 22 and 23 of Brother Chessman's book, The World of the Book of Mormon.)

Joseph went on to say on another occasion, "Central America, or Guatemala, is situated north of the Isthmus of  Darion and once embraced several hundred miles of territory from north to south.... The city of Zarahemla stood upon this land as will be seen from the following words in the book of Alma. It is certainly a good thing for the excellency and veracity of the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon, that the ruins of Zarahemla have been found where the Nephites left them...We are not going to declare positively that the ruins of Quirigua are those of Zarahemla, but when the land and the stones, and the books tell the story so plain, we are of opinion, that it would require more proof than the Jews could bring to prove the disciples stole the body of Jesus from the tomb, to prove  that the ruins of the city in question , are not those referred to in the Book of Mormon." (Times and Seasons 3: 927). (Don't you love that statement!)

It is important to note that Joseph accepted the responsibility for this statement when he said: "This paper commences my editorial career, I alone stand responsible for it, and shall do so for all papers having my signature henceforward." (Times and Seasons 3: 710).

The Prophet reported on another date, "Let us turn our subject to the Book of Mormon, where these wonderful ruins of Palenque are among the mighty works of the Nephites - and the mystery is solved.... They lived about the narrow neck of land, which now embraces Central America, with all the cities that can be found. Read the destruction of cities at the crucifixion of Christ, pages 459-490." (Times and Seasons 3: 914,15).

After comparing researches in Mexico by a Baron Humbolt with chapter 1 of the book of Ether, the Prophet declared: "Again, those nations, or families, embodied themselves together and traveled they knew not where, but at length arrived in the country of Aztalan, or the lake country of America. The Book of Mormon says that the brother of Jared cried unto the Lord, that he would give them another land; the Lord heard him, and told him to go to a certain place, 'and there I will meet thee and go before thee into a land which is choice above all the land of the earth.'  This further speaks of the land of America. The coincidence is so striking that further comment is unnecessary." (Times and Seasons 3: 820).

In  discourses by Elder Orson Pratt, (who incidentally, sat at the feet of the Prophet various times in private tutoring on this subject,) gave a discourse in the Salt Lake Tabernacle April 10, 1870. He taught many details of the Book of Mormon people. Said he: "[God] brought [Lehi and his family] from Jerusalem first down to the Red Sea. They traveled along the eastern borders of the Red Sea for many days, and then bore off in an eastern direction which brought them to the Arabian Gulf. There they were commanded of the Lord to build a vessel. They went aboard of this vessel and were brought by the special providence of God across the great Indian and Pacific Oceans, and landed on the western coast of South America....They wended their way into the northern part of South America. About four hundred years after this, the two colonies amalgamated in the northern part of South America and they became one nation...

"About forty-five years before Christ a very large colony of  five thousand four hundred men, with wives and children, united themselves together in the northern  part of South America, and came forth by land into North America, and traveled  an exceedingly great distance until they came to large bodies of water and many rivers, very probably in the great Mississippi Valley. In the next ten years numerous other colonies came forth and spread themselves on the northern portion of the continent and became exceedingly numerous...

"Five years after the discovery of this remarkable memento of the ancient Israelites on the American continent, and thirty-five years after the Book of Mormon was in print, several other mounds in the same vicinity of Newark [Ohio] were opened, in several of which Hebrew characters were found. Among them was this beautiful expression, buried with one of their ancient dead, 'May the Lord have mercy on me a Nephite.' It was translated a little different - Nephel." (JD 13:`129-31).

In his discourse in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on November 27, 1870, Elder Pratt talked about the appearance of Jesus Christ to the Nephites:  "On what part of this continent did Jesus appear? He appeared in what is now termed the northern part of South America, where they had a temple built, at which place the people were gathered together, some twenty five hundred in number, marveling and wondering at the great earthquake that had taken place on this land, which had destroyed so many cities, etc,., and the great darkness that had overshadowed the land, which was a sign given them by prophecy concerning the crucifixion of Christ. (JD 14:298).

A controversial subject which Elder Pratt addressed himself was one concerning Yucatan in Central America. An article was published in the mid 1800s concerning Yucatan in which the writer evidently wrote that an ancient civilization in Yucatan had left no history. Elder Pratt responded in the Millennial Star (10:346-57): "The first great nation that anciently inhabited Yucatan, passed away about 2400 years ago; but their prophets left a history, an abridgement of which has been translated into the English language, called the 'Book of Ether'.... The last great nation that inhabited that country and passed away, have also left their history, which was discovered, translated, and published in the English language nearly 20 years ago by Mr. Joseph Smith....The Book of Mormon says that in the 367th year after Christ, the Lamanites - the forefather of the American Indians - 'took possession of the city of desolation,' - which was in Central America, near to or in Yucatan - 'and this because their number did exceed the number of the Nephites,' the Nephites being  the nation who inhabited the cities of Yucatan, and the Lamanites 'did also march forward against the city of Teancum.' In the 384th year, the occupants of Yucatan and Central America, having been driven from their great and magnificent cities, were pursued by the Lamanites to the Hill Cumorah in the interior of the state of New York, where the whole nation perished in battle."

(End of quotes as found in Brother Chessman's marvelous book, The World of the Book of Mormon.)

So there you have some real meat to ponder on this wonderful subject of the Book of Mormon, with validated quotes from the Prophet Joseph Smith and other early leaders of the Church regarding  its geography, location of certain sites, peoples, etc. And believe me, there is so much additional information in books and articles, etc. on this fascinating subject. The above only represent a small sampling, or, "dangling carrot," as it were, of where your studies can lead you. Good reading! Good research. Good, "discovery experience!"

We hope you will be able to join us one day on the dusty trails of our Book of Mormon lands adventure. Essentially, it will change your life!