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http://www.uwec.edu/geOGrApHY/Ivogeler/ ... -names.htm

I got to looking at these maps and started searching for some of the towns. Some exist and some don't (not today). I guess I'd have to start digging up older maps to see how valid this comparsion is. Of course, all the city names on the "proposed" map do exist in the Book of Mormon.

Has anyone else here bothered to validate this map of Joseph Smiths time? Does anyone else feel that this is compelling evidence for inspiration of the Book of Mormon?

WOW! thanks for the information. Add in Dan Vogel's thoughts on how Joseph brought in the anti-mason culture into the book and add the King James verses and there you have it - the Book of Mormon.

Where did the 'proposed' map come from? I've tried to reconstruct the geography several times and have seen many maps of others who tried. None of them look at all like that.

The Nehor wrote:Where did the 'proposed' map come from? I've tried to reconstruct the geography several times and have seen many maps of others who tried. None of them look at all like that.

I'm not sure where the "proposed" map came from, but I'm not sure that it matters that much. I think what we take from it is, the comparison of the names in the Book of Mormon to the actual city and town names that were in the area during the early 1800's.

I mean, take a bunch of darts and throw them at the wall, who cares. I think the author tried to arrange them somewhat according to the Book of Mormon text, i.e. Zarahemla lies in the "Land Southward" on so on. But the similarities of the names is what strikes me.

The purpose of these maps (usually called "the Holley maps) wasn't so much to try to pinpoint "Book of Mormon geography" as to suggest what might have been Joseph Smith's inspiration while writing it. I linked to these in a thread in the Celestial forum where Paul Osborne was discussing the "narrow neck" because I was curious how he would regard their parallels. Their author, Vern Holley was a Spauldingist, If I recall correctly.

Blixa wrote:The purpose of these maps (usually called "the Holley maps) wasn't so much to try to pinpoint "Book of Mormon geography" as to suggest what might have been Joseph Smith's inspiration while writing it. I linked to these in a thread in the Celestial forum where Paul Osborne was discussing the "narrow neck" because I was curious how he would regard their parallels. Their author, Vern Holley was a Spauldingist, If I recall correctly.

From the lovable Uncle Dale's archives:
http://www.solomonspalding.com/docs2/2001vern.htm

And the view from the other side:
http://farms.BYU.edu/display.php?id=10&table=review

Blixa wrote:The purpose of these maps (usually called "the Holley maps) wasn't so much to try to pinpoint "Book of Mormon geography" as to suggest what might have been Joseph Smith's inspiration while writing it. I linked to these in a thread in the Celestial forum where Paul Osborne was discussing the "narrow neck" because I was curious how he would regard their parallels. Their author, Vern Holley was a Spauldingist, If I recall correctly.

Sorry, Blixa, I hadn't realized that you'd already brought these maps to light. I should have looked around a little bit more before I started this thread.

It's okay, TenBear. I don't venture much to the Celestial Forum either. I'm just preparing myself for eternity. ha ha ha

Doctor Steuss wrote:

Blixa wrote:The purpose of these maps (usually called "the Holley maps) wasn't so much to try to pinpoint "Book of Mormon geography" as to suggest what might have been Joseph Smith's inspiration while writing it. I linked to these in a thread in the Celestial forum where Paul Osborne was discussing the "narrow neck" because I was curious how he would regard their parallels. Their author, Vern Holley was a Spauldingist, If I recall correctly.

From the lovable Uncle Dale's archives:
http://www.solomonspalding.com/docs2/2001vern.htm

And the view from the other side:
http://farms.BYU.edu/display.php?id=10&table=review

Thanks for the links, Steuss, I'm not so quick on the draw. Let me just add that whatever you think of "the Spaulding theory," Uncle Dale's website contains a treasure trove of interesting documents relating to early Mormon history.