Almost every theorist claims as a prelude of their stating their opinions and beliefs about the location of Lehi’s Land of Promise, begins with a statement such as: “Any search for the Nephite location has to begin, first, with the statements in the Book of Mormon,” or “Joseph Fielding Smith states, “anything the church authorities—including Joseph Smith—have said about ‘Book of Mormon geography’ is irrelevant if it conflicts with what is in the Book of Mormon itself.”
On the other hand, Phyllis Carol Olive, a Great Lakes theorist had a different view: “Seeking the Land of Promise should first begin with known locations, like the Hill Cumorah in New York” (Olive, Lost Lands of the Book of Mormon, Cedar Fort Publishers, Springville, Utah, 2012); and John L. Sorenson claims it must start with tropical Mesoamerica since that is where the only landform of a narrow neck exists in the Western Hemisphere.
Few theorists talk much about the climate in support of their Land of Promise. When they do, it is rarely, if ever, used in conjunction with the scriptural reference found in Nephi’s comment after their first landing (1 Nephi 18:24), or upon their subsequent crop in the city of Nephi (2 Nephi 5:11). Mesoamerican theorists use climate only as a support for their tropical climates in their model location of Mesoamerica, i.e., the wearing of loincloths.
However, a better understanding of climate, especially in conjunction with an agrarian society is the most important planting and harvesting of their food—something Nephi would have seen to upon landing—in fact, it would have been the most important thing to do once arranging shelter, such as setting up tents, and ten obtaining water.
To accomplish this, as all farmers throughout history have known, is the climate, soil, temperatures: First, temperate climates of the middle latitudes is and has always been the most beneficial for habitation by man. Climatologists have shown that the colder climates in northern and southern hemispheric locations as well as the hot zones of the equator present great difficulties or challenges to people who settled there—especially when coming from a different climate.
The blue area represent the tropical areas of the planet. Anciently, plants that grew there were tropical plants
When it comes to the planting of seeds—as Nephi did upon landing: “And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days we did arrive at the promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and did pitch our tents; and we did call it the promised land. And it came to pass that we did begin to till the earth, and we began to plant seeds; yea, we did put all our seeds into the earth, which we had brought from the land of Jerusalem. And it came to pass that they did grow exceedingly; wherefore, we were blessed in abundance” (1 Nephi 18:24)—it is important to know that seeds have always grown better in a very similar climate as that in which they were developed. As an example, cold climate apples, grapes, avocados, carrots, beets, etc., do not grow in the tropics; and tropical, guava, papayas, pineapples bananas, grapefruit, passion fruit, mango, etc., did not grow in cold climates. In addition commonality of soils is also important.
Initial Colonial planting in five states—soil spelled the key to success
In fact, when the first settlers in the states of Maryland down the coast through Georgia, which had differing soils, planted such crops as cotton, tobacco, rice, and indigo, at first they did not succeed until they realized that the specific crops grown in each colony depended on which crop grew best in that colonies’ type of soil (The Southern Colonies, Colonial America Articles #6—1607-1732, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2021, emphasis added).
Starving Settlers were rampant in early colonial settlement since the seeds of England and Europe had great trouble growing in warmer climates, and in some cases didn’t grow at all—many colonies lost large percentages of their first population.
In Jamestown, settlers suffered from a “starving time,” when limited crop planting and seeds that did not provide an abundant harvest, struck the first colony. One of the most notable pieces of knowledge passed from the Indian Chief Wampanoag to the Pilgrims was exactly which crops would thrive in the Massachusetts soil—and which plant groups could be grown together so that they might cooperate in the growing process.
Consequently, settlers of the Age of Settlement, who came to the Americas from Europe, especially northern Europe, and brought their seeds with them for planting in their new home, had great difficulty surviving since their plants did not grow, or not sufficiently to feed them.
This is a far cry from Nephi’s statements:
“We did begin to till the earth, and we began to plant seeds; yea, we did put all our seeds into the earth, which we had brought from the land of Jerusalem. And it came to pass that they did grow exceedingly; wherefore, we were blessed in abundance” (1 Nephi 18:24, emphasis added).
“And the Lord was with us; and we did prosper exceedingly; for we did sow seed, and we did reap again in abundance. And we began to raise flocks, and herds, and animals of every kind” (2 Nephi 5:11, emphasis added).
So Nephi’s seeds grew exceedingly and provided an abundant crop. So let’s talke a look at the two main theories.
Köppen Climate Classifications of the United States
• As for the Great Lakes: Ohio and Northwestern Pennsylvania (Harmony): “Dfa” - Hot summer Continental climate;
Western New York (Palmyra) and eastward to the sea: “Dfb” - Continental climate
• As for the Heartland: Illinois, Iowa and No. Missouri: “Dfa” - Hot summer Continental climate; From Southern Missiouri southward and eastward it is “Cfa” humid subtropical.
Obviously, in 600 BC, seeds from a Mediterranean Climate of Jerusalem would not have grown, or if so very poorly, in any of these sites in either the Great Lakes or the Heartland. One would think that with a little research the theorists could see that their locations have some very important problems in matching Mormon’s many descriptions of the Nephite Land of Promise.
Then there is 30º So. Latitude, central Chile:
“Csb” – Mediterranean Climate: hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters (Average temperatures in La Serena varies little; Considering humidity, temperatures feel nice most of the year, excluding some cold weeks in the winter, with a very low chance of rain or snow throughout the year—La Serena has dry periods in January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December. With May, June, July and August being wet months with rain, and late October there is often some moisture, even possibly snow.
(See the next post for a continued understanding of Köppen Classifications and that of Andean South America)
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