The Key to Knowing Where the Land of Promise is Located – Part I

As has been shown in several recent and earlier posts, Mesoamerican and Great Lakes and Heartland Theorists show maps of their models that have little or nothing to do with the geographical scriptural record. Our last post suggested how the Andean model of the Land of Promise came about—that is, by following the scriptural record on every single point.

In fact, in our book “Lehi Never Saw Mesoamerica,” fifty specific points describing the Land of Promise are taken right from the scriptural record and shown their relationship in the Andeal area. In addition, fifteen other points, specific to this area and consistent with Hebrew culture, activity, and achievement are also show, such as circumcision, irrigation, slings used for weapons, building of roads, skeletal remains of great battles, etc. Following are several of these points and the scripture describing them:

1) Fevers and diseases due to climate (Alma 46:40)
2) Plants and roots for medicinal cures (Alma 46:40)
3) Gold and silver as a single unit with copper (1 Nephi 18:25)
4) All manner of ore (1 Nephi 18:25; Helaman 6:11; Ether 10:23)
5) Mining and working precious metals (Helaman 6:9, 11; Ether 10:23)
6) Roads and highway systems (Helamen 14:24; 3 Nephi 6:8)
7) Construction and building (2 Nephi 5:16, Mosiah 11:8-9, 12-13; 3 Nephi 6:7)
8) Volcanoes and earthquakes (1 Nephi 12:4; 2 Nephi 6:15;27:2; Mormon 8:30; 3 Nephi 8:6-19)
9) Fine-twined linen (1 Nephi 13:7-8; Alma 1:29; 4:6; Helaman 6:13; Ether 10:24)
10) Wild and domesticated animals (1 Nephi 18:25; Ether 210:19. 21)
11) Corn, wheat and barley (Mosiah 9:9)
12) Seeds and other plants (1 Nephi 8:1; 18:24; 2 Nephi 5:11; Mosiah 9:9)
13) Crops that grew in abundance (1 Nephi 18:24; 2 Nephi 5:11)
14) Arabic ancestors of the First Settlers (Lehi and Ishmael)
15) A North-South Elongated Land of Promise (Alma 22:28-33)
16) Two distinct racial characteristics (Nephites and Lamanites)
17) Shipyard building and port at the Narrow Neck of land (Alma 63:4-10)
18) Lamanite living conditions differing from Nephite conditions (Enos 1:20)
19) Signs of a combining or mixing of two cultures not at war with each other (Mulekites and Nephites, Omni 1:19)
20) An explosion of cultural development, building, and rapid growth around 600 B.C. (Nephites entered the Land of Promise, 2 Nephi 5:15)

The problem is, scholars and theorists pay little attention to the complete descriptions shown in the Book of Mormon, relying on their feelings and locations to make their point. However, Nephi, Jacob, Amaleki, Mosiah, Alma, Helaman, Disciple Nephi, Ether, and both Momon and Moroni, all left us clues as to the appearance, location, topography, mineralogy, oceanography, and other means for us to interpret in the way they were listed and written to gain an understanding of the overall Land of Promise. When their models do not match ALL these clues, then the model must be rejected, no matter how persuasive an individual wants to be over it. Nor can one take one or two ideas from the scriptures, but reject all the others.

(See Part II in the next post for the list of 21 through 50 such items and their scriptures that are found in the Andean area and consistent with scriptural description of the Land of Promise)