CHOICE ABOVE ALL OTHER LANDS
Book of Mormon Covenant Lands According to the Best Sources

Promised Lands

"For God is not the author of confusion..."

(1 Corinthians 14:33)

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Carmel כַּרְמֶל

"Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; ... As the dews of Carmel, so shall the knowledge of God descend..." (Doctrine and Covenants 128:19)

See Mt. Carmel (Physical Map of the Holy Land, B3 Bible Map 1, current LDS edition of the King James Bible)

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Cumorah

"And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings from Cumorah (1)! Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfilment of the prophets- the book to be revealed. A voice of the Lord in the wilderness of Fayette (2), Seneca county, declaring the three witnesses to bear record of the book! The voice of Michael on the banks of the Susquehanna (3), detecting the devil when he appeared as an angel of light! The voice of Peter, James, and John in the wilderness between Harmony (4), Susquehanna county, and Colesville (5), Broome county, on the Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the kingdom, and of the dispensation of the fulness of times!" (Doctrine and Covenants 128:20)

See Finger Lakes and Hill Cumorah (Church History Maps 1 , 2 and 3, current edition of the LDS Scriptures)

With the Finger Lakes region of western New York in mind, consider the following verse:

"And it came to pass that we did march forth to the land of Cumorah, and we did pitch our tents around about the hill Cumorah; and it was in a land of many waters, rivers, and fountains; and here we had hope to gain advantage over the Lamanites." (Mormon 6:4)

Though it isn't specifically mentioned in the Bible, heavy dews do in fact distill upon the fertile slopes of Carmel. Joseph Smith's epistle to the Church (LDS Doctrine and Covenants 128), written while the Prophet was in hiding from his enemies, seems to draw a parallel between the "Garden-land" Carmel and the land of Cumorah - between Elijah's mount of confrontation and Moroni's lonely hill. Though archaeology has not shown that "all Israel" was called to gather at mount Carmel in the days of Elijah, or that certain enemies of the LORD were miraculously defeated there, many who trust their Bible maps, trust they know the location of Carmel by the sea. (Jeremiah 46:18) Similarly, based on scripture, we are given to know the general location of Cumorah, in "a land of many waters", south of "the waters of Ripliancum". (Ether 15:8-11)

On April 6, 1980, president of the Church, Spencer W. Kimball, made the following statement as he stood upon the spot where the Church was first organized exactly one hundred and fifty years before:

"From the soil of Cumorah's hill a few miles west of here, Joseph obtained from the angel Moroni the records of a people who anciently inhabited this land; and through the gift and power of God, he translated that record now known as the Book of Mormon." (Doctrine and Covenants and Church History DVD Presentations for Youth and Adult Sunday School Gospel Doctrine Classes, Lesson 9: "Organization of the Church")

President Kimball's expression, "Cumorah's hill" implies that the hill referred to belongs to the Book of Mormon land Cumorah.

FACT: There is no known, unambiguous, firsthand statement by Joseph Smith placing Book of Mormon lands in Central or South America. Those who claim otherwise are not representing the facts. Joseph Smith apparently believed that Book of Mormon peoples (or there descendents) eventually migrated as far south as Mexico after first settling in "the lake country of America" and this, in his view, explains why the Flood and Babel legends of Mexico agree with native American Flood and Babel legends of Ontario county, New York.

Joseph published an editorial in which he correlates native American Flood and Babel legends with the record of the Jaredites in the Book of Mormon. In his editorial Joseph states, "These accounts, then, precisely agree, one of which was found in Ontario county, N.Y., and the other in Mexico."Joseph notes that the native account of "their travels to this land, is so like that contained in the Book of Mormon, that the striking analogy must be seen by every superficial observer." Quoting the Book of Mormon, Joseph identifies "the Lake country of America" (near Lake Ontario) as "...a land which is choice above all the land[s] of the earth." and adds, "This it [the Book of Mormon] further speaks is the land of America." (Joseph Smith, editor, "Traits of the Mosaic History, Found Among the Azteca Nations", Times and Seasons, Vol. 3, No. 16, June 15, 1842, pg. 818)

Joseph Smith did not place the Book of Mormon land Cumorah in southern Mexico or Central America. This idea was first asserted in the early twentieth century by members of the RLDS religion (Louis E Hills and Jeremiah F. Gunsolley) who avoided the teachings of LDS Doctrine and Covenants 128 including verse 20 (which places Cumorah in western NY). Even though the Prophet Joseph Smith had declared his epistle to the Church to be "the word of the Lord" (LDS Doctrine and Covenants 127:10), the "Community of Christ" church (formerly RLDS) reject the practice of "baptism for the dead" contained therein, and hence Hills and Gunsoley felt free to place Cumorah in southern Mexico, contrary to the teachings of LDS church leaders. (L. E. Hills, "Geography of Mexico and Central America from 2234 B.C. to 421 A.D.", Independence, MO, 1917)

Regarding the Mesoamerican Cumorah theory, Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith stated:

"...This modernist theory of necessity, in order to be consistent, must place the waters of ipliancum and the Hill Cumorah some place within the restricted territory of Central America , not withstanding the teachings of the Church to the contrary for upwards of 100 years...

"It is known that the Hill Cumorah where the Nephites were destroyed is the hill where the Jaredites were also destroyed. This hill was known to the Jaredites as Ramah. It was approximately near to the waters of Ripliancum, which the Book of Ether says, by interpretation, is large or to exceed all. It must be conceded that this description fits perfectly the land of Cumorah in New York for the hill is in the proximity of the Great Lakes , and also in the land of many rivers and fountains..." (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 3, pp. 233-234)

Apostle Bruce R. M^cConkie, who was also aware of the Mesoamerican Cumorah theory, stated that:

"Both the Nephite and the Jaredite civilizations fought their final great wars of extinction at and near the Hill Cumorah (or Ramah as the Jaredites termed it), which hill is located in the western part of the state of New York ... Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and many early brethren, who were familiar with the circumstances attending the coming forth of the Book of Mormon in this dispensation, have left us pointed testimony as to the identity and location of Cumorah or Ramah." (Mormon Doctrine; CUMORAH, pg. 175)

In April Conference, Mark E. Peterson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated:

"I do not believe that there were two Hill Cumorahs, one in Central America and the other in New York, for the convenience of the Prophet Joseph Smith, so that the poor boy would not have to walk clear to Central America to get the gold plates. I do not believe we can be good Latter-day Saints and question the integrity of Joseph Smith." (123rd Annual Conference of the Church, April 4-6, 1953, General Conference Report; pp. 83-84; or The Improvement Era, June 1953, pg. 423)

FACT: More than a decade after the publication of the Book of Mormon, many LDS members became enthralled with John Lloyd Stephens' popular volumes on the ruins of Central America. Several Latter-day Saints went overboard in identifying various ruins (known to date more recent than Book of Mormon times) with Book of Mormon cities. The infatuation with stone ruins in Mesoamerican jungles only encouraged exaggerated geographies, proffered by members of the Church. These exaggerated geographies had the Nephites (including Mormon's son Moroni) journeying many thousands of miles from their presumed homeland in Central America to the land of Cumorah in western New York, to make their last stand as a nation against their foes.

An Example of a Dubious Source

A curious journal entry quoting a sermon, that was probably not based entirely on things Joseph Smith said:

The diary of LDS Church member Charles Lowell Walker contains the following entry for "Wend 26th Jan. 1881...", summarizing remarks made on that date by Patriarch William McBride of Richfield Utah. Patriarch McBride, a contemporary of Joseph Smith, spoke at a prayer meeting in St. George, Utah nearly 37 years after the Martyrdom of the Prophet and his brother Hyrum. Walker records:

"Father McBride...Spoke of the time when the Prophet Joseph spoke to the Nauvoo Legion ...Br McBride also related that Joseph marked with his cane in the sand the track the saints would take to the Rocky Mounts. Says Joseph, will you establish the kingdom there? No, but it will be set up and the saints will live their covenants, meaning the Marriage covenant. Said we should travel on thro the mountains; described the Valley of Great Salt Lake just as tho he had lived there, designating where the soldiers camp would be and the burying ground. ¹⁴"

There is a footnote at this point in the published Walker diary stating:¹⁴"Brother McBride here makes it appear that Joseph Smith marked the route that the Saints would take to the Rocky Mountains at the time he last addressed the legion...although this seeming error could be attributed to C. L. Walker's hasty recording of McBride's remark."

It is not certain whether what follows in the Walker diary, is McBride quoting Joseph, or Walker quoting McBride only, or McBride embellishing with his own opinions remarks made by Joseph:

"Said we should make stations and build up settlements all the way to new, and old Mexico Until we crossed the Isthmus and get back to the place where the Covenant was broke [i.e. the United Order]¹⁵ by the old Nephites."

Foot note 15 indicates Walker's reference to the "United Order". Again, it is not clear that Joseph Smith is being quoted:

"Spoke of the Great Temple in Central America unfinished, showing marks of the work being stopped while in the Course of erection; that pillars and other curiously worked stones were found in the Quarry quite a distance from the Temple exactly corresponding with those already fitted and placed in the grand massive structure, Showing plainly that some unexpected event transpired causing a stoppage in the work. This temple was situated by the River Copan anciently called the River of Nephi."

McBride's remarks enlarge on details described in Stephens' Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan. Artist Frederick Catherwood, who accompanied Stephens on his expedition, provided a detailed drawing of the "Plan of Copan" showing the "River Copan" flowing by the complex of ruins. The ruins discovered and described by Stephens are known to date more recent than Book of Mormon times. Stephens himself, concluded that the hewn stone ruins which he and Catherwood discovered were not of great antiquity but were comparatively "modern". (Incident of Travel in Central America, Vol. II, Chapter XXVI, "COMPARATIVE MODERN DATE OF RUINS", pp. 442-443)

There is not a single reference in the Book of Mormon to any building of hewn stone erected in ancient America. Nephi specifies wood and metal working in the construction of buildings, including a temple in form like Solomon's. (2 Nephi 5:15-16, see 1 Kings 5:17 and LDS edition footnote with cross-reference 17a) By comparison, there are numerous references to hewn stone buildings in the Bible.

Walker continues to record McBride's talk: "Told of the US government trying to prove Joseph a false prophet and the Book of Mormon also false by sending out Stevens and Catherwood to explore the Ancient Ruins and monuments, works &c, &c. but all they did only proved the Book of Mormon to be an authentic Record of the ancient People of this vast continent of North and South America, and they (Stevens and Catherwood) admit that the Continent was once inhabited by vast and mighty People who were acquainted with and understood the Arts of Agricu[l]ture, Manufacture, sculpture, Quarrying, stone cutting, masonry, painting, engraving, writing, Shipping and Comerce(sic), and war as the implements of war and industry exhibited when exhumed from the Ruins which are all over the Land."

The remark about the Book of Mormon being an "authentic Record of the ancient People of this vast continent of North and South America..." probably indicates that McBride had in mind, as did others, an exaggerated geography for the Book of Mormon. McBride would have seen no problem placing some Book of Mormon lands in Central America and the Book of Mormon land Cumorah thousands of miles to the northeast in mound builder territory. This view is consistent with the last recorded remarks made by McBride:

"Spoke of the Route the old Nephites took traveling to Cumorah from the South and south west; of having to bury their tr[e]asure as they journeyed and finally burying the Records and precious things in the Hill Cumorah; of Moroni dedicating the Temple site of what we now call St. George, Nauvoo, Jackson Co., Kirtland and others we know not of as yet." (Diary of Charles Lowell Walker, Vol. III, edited by A. Karl Larson & Katharine Miles Larson, Utah State University Press, Logan, Utah, Copyright 1980, pp. 524-526)

Clearly McBride had left off quoting Joseph Smith at some point before the end of his sermon. It is unlikely that Joseph Smith named the town of St. George, Utah before it existed.

McBride seems to distinguish between "Cumorah" (the land) and "the Hill Cumorah". His reference to "Nephites" (plural) and "burying the Records" (plural) indicate that he was referring to events described in the Book of Mormon prior to the destruction of the Nephite nation, that is, before their annihilation at Cumorah, western NY. (Mormon 6:1-6)

Concerning a find related to Walker's diary account of McBride's sermon: The late BYU Church History professor H. Donl Peterson discovered two apocryphal maps which he concluded were drawn by the "same hand". (Peterson, The B. of M.: Fourth Nephi through Moroni, Moroni, the last of the Nephite Prophets, pg. 247) Peterson describes his find as follows: "Several years ago, I came across two copies of a map in the Archives Division of the Historical Department of the Church relative to Moroni's North American journeys (see Figures 1 and 2). On the back of the map in Figure 1 is written the following:

"A chart, and description of Moroni's travels through this country. Got it from Br. Robert Dickson. He got if from Patriarch Wm. McBride at Richfield in the Sevier and also from Andrew M. Hamilton of the same place. And they got it from Joseph Smith the Prophet." (Peterson, The B. of M.: Fourth Nephi through Moroni, Moroni, the last of the Nephite Prophets, pg. 245)

Only the third or fourth party comment on the back of the map attributes the map to Joseph Smith. No explanation is given as to how this conclusion was reached. Did McBride and Hamilton actually attribute the map(s) to Joseph Smith or is this a conclusion that a second or third party reached based on hearsay, or an interpretation of remarks from a source like the Walker diary?

Figure 1.

Figure2.

The maps portray a five to six thousand mile overland journey for Moroni and his sacred cargo; an indirect journey from Central America to the Great Lakes region. There is every reason to believe that the maps intend to represent Moroni's journey in parallel with the mass exodus of his nation - "the old Nephites". "Why Moroni took the route he did [alleged by the maps] is still without answers", writes Peterson. (The B. of M.: Fourth Nephi through Moroni, Moroni, the last of the Nephite Prophets, pg. 247)

Had the Nephite nation been destroyed in Central America before Moroni's alleged journey, it would seem a better plan for the aging Moroni to have secured a boat in which to cross the Gulf of Mexico. He could then have worked his way up the Mississippi, Ohio and Allegheny rivers, eventually arriv in the neighborhood of western New York where the plates were deposited. After depositing the heavy record and other sacred articles, Moroni could then have visited future temple sites less encumbered.

It is interesting that the Walker account of McBride’s sermon does not explicitly mention the Temple at Manti, Utah. There is no known firsthand statement by Brigham Young claiming that Moroni dedicated the Manti Temple spot previous to its official dedication (April 25, 1877). The popular legend can be traced back to a statement written by the first official Manti Temple recorder, Moses F. Farnsworth. Brother Farnsworth wrote that on the same day that Brigham Young dedicated the Manti Temple site, that he (Brigham Young) went with Brother Warren S. Snow of Manti to the site and said, “Here is the spot where the prophet Moroni stood and dedicated this piece of land for a Temple site…” There is nothing in Brother Farnsworth’s statement that tells us the direction Moroni supposedly came from to visit Manti. We do not know for certain what was said by Brigham Young about Moroni at Manti. (Manti Temple Historical Record, pp 36-38) Brigham Young allegedly said that the St. George Temple site was “dedicated by the Nephites.” (Statement by David H. Cannon, Jr., 14 October 1942, quoted in Kirk M. Curtis, “History of the St George Temple”, Masters Thesis, BYU, 1642, pp 24-25)

Note that both apocryphal maps (Figures 1 and 2) mention the six bell-shaped Kinderhook plates. It seems the creator of the maps intended to enhance his work by tying in the Illinois plates. The plates had become something of a sensation in the Mormon community. ("Ancient Records", Times and Seasons, May 1, 1843, Vol. 4, No. 12, pp. 185-187 - John Taylor, Editor) These metal plates, allegedly recovered from an Indian mound, were later claimed by one Wilbur Fugate (1879) to be a hoax; devised to ensnare Mormons, and Joseph Smith in particular. Recent analysis has shown the metal of one of the plates to be consistent with 19th century alloy, and to have been acid etched.

There is no firsthand account of Joseph Smith's opinion regarding the bell-shaped plates. According to the redacted secondhand account in History of the Church, Vol. 5, pp. 372-378. Joseph Smith did not attribute the Kinderhook plates to Nephites.

The apocryphal maps (Figures 1 and 2) also reference "Utah" and "Arizona" - territories designated years after the Prophet's martyrdom. Clearly, Joseph Smith did not create these maps.

Among the very best sources are the scriptures and first hand
statements by Joseph Smith

Upon What Modern Nation is the Blessing and Curse of Lehi's Covenant Land of Liberty?

The following heuristic questions and scriptures are an aid to discovering the American Promised Land of the Book of Mormon, with the "decrees of God" which the inhabitants of the land are required to know. (Ether 2:11-12) The ancient American prophet Moroni reminds us that after contemplation, faith and prayer, it is by the power of the Holy Ghost that "ye may know the truth of all things." (Moroni 10:5)

Q: Are we to understand that the Promised Land of the Book of Mormon occupies a limited geography thousands of miles away from where the pilgrims landed, or from where the battles of the American Revolution were fought?

A: "And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the Gentiles upon the land of promise; and I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren; and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten.                                                                                                   And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance; and I beheld that they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people before they were slain."

"And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them.                                                                                                            And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle.                                                                  And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.                                                                                          And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that they did prosper in the land; and I beheld a book, and it was carried forth among them."

"Nevertheless, thou beholdest that the Gentiles who have gone forth out of captivity, and have been lifted up by the power of God above all other nations, upon the face of the land which is choice above all other lands, which is the land that the Lord God hath covenanted with thy father that his seed should have for the land of their inheritance; wherefore, thou seest that the Lord God will not suffer that the Gentiles will utterly destroy the mixture of thy seed, which are among thy brethren." (1 Nephi 13: 14-15, 17- 20, 30)

"But behold, this land, said God, shall be a land of thine inheritance, and the Gentiles shall be blessed upon the land.                                                                                                                            And this land shall be a land of liberty unto the Gentiles, and there shall be no kings upon the land, who shall raise up unto the Gentiles.                                                                                                      And I will fortify this land against all other nations.                                                                                And he that fighteth against Zion shall perish, saith God.                                                                     For he that raiseth up a king against me shall perish, for I, the Lord, the king of heaven, will be their king, and I will be a light unto them forever, that hear my words." (2 Nephi 10:10-14)

"And it came to pass that when he had poured out his soul to God, he named all the land which was south of the land Desolation, yea, and in fine, all the land, both on the north and on the south "A chosen land, and the land of liberty." (Alma 46:17)

"Now the land south was called Lehi and the land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north, and Lehi into the land south."(Helaman 6:10)

Q: Given that "all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile", are we to understand from the Book of Mormon, that all lands are equally "choice" to the Lord?

A: "But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord.                                                                                                                                                            Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord.                             Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever." (2 Nephi 1:5-7)

"Wherefore, I will consecrate this land unto thy seed, and them who shall be numbered among thy seed, forever, for the land of their inheritance; for it is a choice land, saith God unto me, above all other lands, wherefore I will have all men that dwell thereon that they shall worship me, saith God." (2 Nephi 10:19)

"And never could be a people more blessed than were they, and more prospered by the hand of the Lord. And they were in a land that was choice above all lands, for the Lord had spoken it." (Ether 10:28)

Q: Are we to conclude that the blessing and curse upon the American Promised Land are really ubiquitous; being the same in every country, and that there is no particular need for modern peoples to identify Lehi's covenant land of liberty with the curse and blessing which God decrees upon it?

A: "For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true." (Alma 29:8)

"For behold, there is a curse upon all this land, that destruction shall come upon all those workers of darkness, according to the power of God, when they are fully ripe; therefore I desire that this people might not be destroyed.

Yea, and cursed be the land forever and ever unto those workers of darkness and secret combinations, even unto destruction, except they repent before they are fully ripe." (Alma 37:28, 31)

"And he said: Thus saith the Lord God - Cursed shall be the land, yea, this land, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, unto destruction, which do wickedly, when they are fully ripe; and as I have said so shall it be; for this is the cursing and the blessing of God upon the land, for the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance." (Alma 45:16)

"For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off.                                         And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God - that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the fulness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done.                 Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written." (Ether 2:10-12)

"And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a New Jerusalem. And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you." (3 Nephi 20:22)

"And that a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, for which things there has been a type." (Ether 13:6)

"HEARKEN, O ye elders of my church, saith the Lord your God, who have assembled yourselves together, according to my commandments, in this land, which is the land of Missouri, which is the land which I have appointed and consecrated for the gathering of the saints.                                    "Wherefore, this is the land of promise, and the place for the city of Zion." (Doctrine and Covenants 57:1-2)

Q: Did sacred events of the restoration not take place on land that was inhabited by peoples of the Book of Mormon?

A: "Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Harmony, Pennsylvania..."

Yea, and this was their faith - that my gospel, which I gave unto them that they might preach in their days, might come unto their brethren the Lamanites, and also all that had become Lamanites because of their dissensions.                                                                                             Now, this is not all - their faith in their prayers was that this gospel should be made known also, if it were possible that other nations should possess this land;                                                              And thus they did leave a blessing upon this land in their prayers, that whosoever should believe in this gospel in this land might have eternal life;                                                                                  Yea, that it might be free unto all of whatsoever nation, kindred, tongue, or people they may be." (Doctrine and Covenants 10: Heading, 48-51)

"And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfilment of the prophets - the book to be revealed. A voice of the Lord in the wilderness of Fayette, Seneca county, declaring the three witnesses to bear record of the book! The voice of Michael on the banks of the Susquehanna, detecting the devil when he appeared as an angel of light! The voice of Peter, James, and John in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna county, and Colesville, Broome county, on the Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the kingdom, and of the dispensation of the fulness of times!" (Doctrine and Covenants 128:20)

Copyright © 2008 by W. Vincent Coon

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