A closer look, zenos publications, ogden, utah, 1983. Nov 26, 2017 many critics argue that the translation of the book of mormon as described by many witnesses is evidence that joseph smith was a fraud. A closer look, nearly sixteen years ago, his ideas in regard to book of mormon structure, content, and authorship have received widespread notice both within and without the latter day saint community. The book of mormon is a book that i think is comparable to other religious books around the world. They believe the book contains an abridged history of the progenitors of the american indians. Another possible location for the book of mormon places and locations has been proposed. Vernal holley published a hypothetical map of bom lands that intends to demonstrate that joseph smith modified the names of towns and. Vernal holley s booklet swedenborg and the book of mormon examines how certain swedenborgian theological percepts are echoed within the text of the book of mormon. After mary ann and i read holley s case, we were both quite troubled. For years, as a young tbm, i was always trying to learn more about the book of mormon in the belief that, assuming the book of mormon to be exactly what it claimed to be, i would eventually start running into more and more corroborating evidence in support of the boms claims.
I have really loved using this and learning from emily and david. In 1999 vernal holley of roy, utah, issued a limited edition of swedenborg and the book of mormon the front cover of his booklet says that it is. A closer look, is one of the more recent strains of this particular virus. Nov 01, 2017 vernal holley made the argument that the geography described in the book of mormon is strikingly similar to geography and place names of the great lakes region of the united states. Persuitte thinks that this geographical setting provides evidence that joseph smith wrote the book of mormon. This book was a common household reference in young joseph smiths time and place. Concerning the two maps in the ces letter holley s theories are only one of many and have been discredited due to their many inconsistencies with the book of mormon descriptions. Nov 04, 2017 the book of mormon describes the sidon as a huge river, large enough to wash away thousands of dead bodies.
How joseph smith faked the book of mormon a satirical essay an answer to the vernal holley map theory. Book of mormonplagiarism accusationsplace names from north. Posted in book of mormon, tagged american continent, book of mormon authorship a closer look, book of mormon geography, false prophecies of joseph smith, lamanites, nephites, vernal holley on 111720 leave a comment. This includes maps created by non mormon writers who may an agenda with theory own maps too, such as vernal holley.
Griffith, the spaulding theory is difficult because it is so complicated. Dr in 1983, vernal holley proposed a list of names and corresponding maps to prove the book of mormon setting was based on the great lakes region and therefore fictional. Holleys theories are only one of many and have been discredited due to their many inconsistencies with the book of mormon descriptions. Holley presented 29 modern place names as inspiration for locations in the book of mormon out of 86 unique book of mormon geographical names. Vernal holley maps as appeared on page 9 of jeremy runnells 2014 version of letter to a ces director. We cant contact him to find out exactly where he got his sources. Heres the full story written by his close friend uncle dale r. Read more in a mormons unexpected journey, volume 2, chapter 16. Where were the actual physical places and locations described in the book of mormon. When members of the church begin speculating with their pet ideas and theories, they do a great injustice to the book of mormon and to the church overall. They have brought an new excitement to the book of mormon. About the author the late vernal holley was a former member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and a lifetime resident of weber county, utah. Jerald and sandra tanner, covering up the black hole in the book of mormon norwood, l.
Vernal holley in his book book of mormon authorship compiled a list of book of mormon place names that resemble place names in the vicinity of palmyra, new york, the site of the purported translation and the first publication of the book of mormon. Holley presented 29 modern place names as inspiration for locations in the book of mormon out of 86 unique book of mormon. A good summary of eyewitness testimony of the translation process can be found here. Holley held various midlevel lds leadership positions.
Holley is an individual critic of the lds church and is not associated with any particular ministry as far as we know. This long distance between the land northward and the land southward doesnt fit the setting of the book of mormon story. In that 1983 treatise, holley argues that the book of mormon was plagiarized from a manuscript by solomon spaulding. Vernal holleys swedenborg and the book of mormon annotated. Im about 9095% on removing the entire book of mormon geography vernal holley maps out of the ces letter but i wanted to gather your thoughts. Why does the book of mormon quote the new testament. In the spaulding story, rambock marched his whole army towards the city of gamba. It is a complex portrayal of a thousandyear history of an ancient people. Since the appearance of holley s first edition of book of mormon authorship. As an example, vernal holley, published two maps in his book of mormon authorship. The historical case against sidney rigdons authorship of the book of mormon. Vernal holley was suggesting that joseph merely took the names of cities, towns, and other geographical names from the new england are which joseph was allegedly familiar with, and used those names in the book of mormon. Secular and non mormon historians and archaeologists see this book as a work of fiction, for they have been unable to find any city ruins or geographical settings that match what is described in this book. With this companion journal to the bestselling book of mormon for young readers, the child will find this to be a useful tool to help the reader record thoughts and feelings about the scriptures they have read.
In the original ces letter, there were errors contained in holley s maps that i fixed and revised in a later version of the ces letter. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. In 1983, vernal holley published a 45page booklet entitled book of mormon authorship. Does the book of mormon copy themes of liberty and warfare from american history. A zombies reflections on that mormon apologists reflections. The book of mormon includes mistranslated biblical passages that were later changed in joseph smiths translation of the bible. Holley presents an impressive list of parallels between place names in the book of mormon and place names in the northeastern united states and canada.
Nov 15, 2018 there are 345 unique place names mentioned in the book of mormon. The book of mormon describes the narrow neck of land as a day and a half journey between the two oceans. What vernal holley did was look at the modern maps he had available, covering a pretty wide area from west virginia to michigan. No, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormons do not have any maps that they currently recognize as the official maps for book of mormon. It was during these years that smith first claimed knowledge of the ancient nephite records which later became the book of mormon. Bom name similarities in the vernal holley maps book of. The theory first appeared in print in the book mormonism unvailed, published in 1834 by e. The book of mormon for young readers journal deseret book.
Im about 9095% on removing the entire book of mormon geographyvernal holley maps out of the ces letter but i wanted to gather your thoughts. The book of mormon geographic model to gain the most popularity in. They also believe the history was originally inscribed on metal plates that were buried for safekeeping by the last. Apparently the author of the ces letter simply borrowed ideas from vernal holley, book of mormon authorship. This map was taken from her web site and is presumed to be the most current. Opponents of the spaulding theory, like the opponents of evolution, attempt to reduce the theory to an absurd claim in order to refute it. Holley s study was primarily limited to his examination of three swedenborgian sources. Why are book of mormon names similar to where joseph smith. Holley s premise was that the socalled manuscript found novel by solomon spaulding may have served as a significant source of material for the inventors of the book of mormon. Richard hauck, deciphering the geography of the book of mormon. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. In this book are a number of future book of mormon names, which appeared within alphabetized lists. Mar 09, 2005 of the 17 book of mormon place names treated by mr. Mormonism unvailed is a book published in 1834 by eber d.
Joseph smith as author of the book of mormon joseph smith was an uneducated boy, and yet he produced the book of mormon in a few short months. Persuitte accepts the geographical correspondences worked out by vernal holley. The title page proclaims the book to be a contemporary expose of mormonism, and makes the claim that the historical portion of the book of mormon text was based upon a manuscript written by solomon spalding. Vernal holleys book of mormon authorship annotated. Vernal holley claimed to have reconstructed a book of mormon geography based on the region in which joseph smith lived. Since the vernal holley maps match the places in the book. It was authored by vernal holley, entitled book of mormon authorship. H38 virus true book of mormon geography lands western new. There was a book published in 1791 by john walker entitled, a key to the classical pronunciation of greek, latin, and scripture proper names. A closer look, which laid out, among other things, strikingly parallel word combinations between the spalding manuscript and the book of mormon. And for the record vernal holley was indeed a faithful, practicing mormon when he began his research. A typical example of the differences between the bom, the kjv, and the jst. Dec 06, 2017 vernal holley maps as appeared on page 9 of jeremy runnells 2014 version of letter to a ces director.
These book of mormon verses should match the inspired jst version instead of the incorrect kjv version that joseph later fixed. For the first 150 years of mormonisms existence, everyone thought it was a story about a people who left the middle east and came to south or central america, and who fought wars clear up into new york state where their history was hidden in a hillside, inscribed on. New light on ancient origins farms reprint kindle edition by reynolds, noel b download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Another important note i want to make here is that vernal holley is dead. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading book of mormon authorship. Concerning the two maps in the ces letter holley s theories are only one of many and have been discredited due to their many inconsistencies with the book of mormon. Vernal holley matches this up to the genessee river, but the genessee river is tiny. List of book of mormon geography theories the book of. Vernal holley claimed to have reconstructed a book of mormon geography based on a great lakes setting from the book of mormon text, which he then compares to the new england of joseph smiths day.
I love the way it is set up with different areas to write different things. Of the 17 book of mormon place names treated by mr. Vernal holley claimed to have reconstructed a book of mormon geography based on a great lakes setting from the book of mormon text, which he then. Since the vernal holley maps match the places in the book of. Vernal holley claimed to have reconstructed a book of mormon geography based on a great lakes setting from the book of mormon text, which he then compares to the new england of joseph smiths day holley based his theory on the spaulding theory of authorship for the book of. Here i will look at an interesting feature of the book of mormon its geography and specifically the work of one vernal holley 192420003, with his efforts to identify the geographical locations in the book of mormon. A closer look at jesus christ in the book of mormon. Holley claims that his booklet is a comprehensive study of the similarities between the nephite record and manuscript story. Im about 9095% on removing the entire book of mormon geography vernal holley maps out of the ces letter but i wanted to gather your thoughts and assessment. Did joseph smith make up book of mormon geography and maps. He therefore concludes that the book of mormon is a 19th century work based on the authors personal experience. Dallin h oaks lawyer for the lord lds mormon apostle.
Dr in 1983, vernal holley proposed a list of names and corresponding maps to prove the book of mormon setting was based on the great. In the book of mormon s helaman war, a band of two thousand stripling warriors have taken their weapons of war, and would that i helaman, the eldest son of alma should be their leader. What vernal holley did was look at the modern maps he had available, covering. Book of mormon places and locations mormonism to grace. To refute evolution, fundamentalists state that evolution means that monkeys. Book of mormonplagiarism accusationsplace names from. Of the 15 place names proposed to have been taken straight from the new england map, 5 of them are in the wrong place according to the book of mormon. Phyllis carol olive lost lands of the book of mormon book, lost tribes of the book of mormon book, lost empires of the book of mormon book, dvd, christs new world flock book carol has conflicting maps. Helps me think about personal revelation a little more and helps me be more aware of it and the great things in my life. The spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship is the theory that the book of mormon was plagiarized in part from an unpublished manuscript written by solomon spalding. Are there any official lds maps, showing the physical places and locations described in the book of mormon.
Vernal holley made the argument that the geography described in the book of mormon is strikingly similar to geography and place names of the great lakes region of the united states. Review of books on the book of mormon 11 1989 by what whose standards shall we judge the text. In this section, runnells promotes a theory created by a guy named vernal holley that the setting of the book of mormon was based on the great lakes region. Contains comparison of spauldings manuscript with chiasmus in the book of mormon. Review of books on the book of mormon 19892011 volume 1number 1 article 10 1989 vernal holley, book of mormon authorship.
A monograph dealing with the writings of emanuel swedenborg, compared with the book of mormon. In this section, runnells promotes a theory created by a guy named vernal holley that the setting of the book of mormon was based on the. The main premise of holley s study is that, contrary to statements by the likes of bush, hugh nibley, l. Mary ann showed oaks a pamphlet authored by vernal holley, entitled, book of mormon authorship. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. There are 345 unique place names mentioned in the book of mormon. They believe the book contains an abridged history of the. Holley, nine of them more than 50% are mentioned only once or twice in the entire nephitejaredite record. Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship. While holleys map is interesting, it is far from being an accurate reflection of the book of mormon lands. Book of mormon geography, and he uses vernal holley, who relied on the solomon spalding theory of the book of mormon, which has been exploded, detonated so many times that its exasperating to see it keep coming back. Holley believes that most of the book of mormon was plagiarized from solomon spauldings 1812 novel, manuscript story. It is generally accepted by critics and apologists that joseph smith placed his own seer stone or the nephite interpreters. Vernal holley published a hypothetical map of bom lands that intends to demonstrate that joseph smith modified the names of towns and areas from his surroundings and incorporated them into the bom narrative.
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