Translation of the Book of Mormon - Part III

Perhaps the final word on the translation of the Book of Mormon and the cavalier approach to this event taken by Mesoamerican Theorists, including John L. Sorenson, Joseph Allen, and a myriad of other “scholars” who use these scriptures to further their own purposes, will be found in the book: “Inaccuracies of Mesoamerican and Other Theorists.”

This book points out the misuse of scripture by these and numerous other “scholars” for the purpose of supporting their Mesoamerican theory regarding the location of the Land of Promise. It begins with the skewing of directions from the scriptural account of lands to the north, Land Northward, Land North, Land Southward, Land South, etc., to Sorenson’s map showing almost a direct east-west directional outline, and his many pages to explain away why the record is wrong and the Nephites did not understand the cardinal compass points. On their maps, these theorists continually put the Land of Desolation to the west of Bountiful, which they put to the west of Zarahemla, etc., when the scriptures make it clear these lands are north of one another.

These changes continue with altering the scriptural dates of the Flood as listed by Moses in Genesis and the Pearl of Great Price, so as to accommodate the Mesoamerican Mayan Calendar, pushing back that date from the recorded 2344 B.C. to 3100 B.C. It also includes a preference for the unreliable writings of Ixtlilxochitl and other Colonial-era codice writers, that talk about early settlement of the Western Hemisphere, typically in non-conclusive terms.

In all, these Mesoamerican Theorists are so dedicated to their singular belief and model that no other ideas are allowed into the mix. Yet, in so many instances, the Mesoamerican theorist must change, alter, ignore, or ridicule the scriptural record in order to justify their beliefs. In addition, when items in the scriptural account are not found in Mesoamerica, such as coins, metallurgy, animals, plants, etc., these “scholars” then alter or change or call into question the scriptural record. Recently we posted some of this about animals in the Post “When is a Cow not a Cow” in which Sorenson tried to change the entire meaning of the unknown animals “cumom” and the “curelom” to be such animals as the sloth, tapir, agouti and paca, which Ether/Moroni wrote: “And they also had horses and asses, and there were elephants and cureloms and curmons, all of which were useful unto man, and more especially the elephants and cureloms and cumoms” (Ether 9:19). Sorenson’s animals cannot fit that description in the slightest manner.

Another wild claim by Mesoamerican Theorists, made necessary by their Mesoamerican beliefs, is that the Book of Mormon prophets did not write about the scores of indigenous people they claim filled the Land of Promise and interacted with Nephites, Mulekites and Lamanites—this despite the fact that the scriptural account does not mention, suggest, or even hint at any other people in the land at all! To compensate for this, these theorists claim the Nephite prophets ignored others because of their “prejudiced and narrow view” of what was happening around them.

In addition, in our previous three posts, “Answers from the Book of Mormon,” parts one and two, fifty specific points found in scripture about the Land of Promise are never mentioned, let alone answered, by Mesoamerican Theorists, plus another 20 points of Israel heritage, mentioned in part three, are totally ignored by these theorists—though each of these 70 points can be easily found and answered in the Peruvian Andes region of the Western Hemisphere.

The book: “Inaccuracies of Mesoamerican and Other Theorists,” gives a clear view of these wild and inaccurate claims by these theorists in precise, scripture-backed manner that should make it clear to anyone interested that Mesoamerican could not possibly be the Land of Promise. In a follow-up book, “Who Really Settled Mesoamerica,” the Mesoamerican scene is completely and accurately covered and questions answered.