The Neville Land Manifesto
This is the first in (what I expect to be) a series of critical examinations of the arguments of Jonathan Neville.
Brother Neville is the prolific author of at least twelve books and over sixty blogs (!), most of which expound his theories on the the Book of Mormon.
A leading personality in the so-called “Heartland geography” movement, Brother Neville insists that the drumlin in western New York state where Joseph Smith obtained the gold plates was the hill Cumorah described in the text of the Book of Mormon. He also argues that the lands of the Nephites and Lamanites were in the American Midwest and Northeast (hence the term “Heartland”). Since 2007 the Heartland theory has been increasing in popularly among Latter-day Saints, thanks largely to the writings and activities of Rodney Meldrum, Jonathan Neville, and a few others.
It is my contention that the Heartland movement in general—and Brother Neville’s writings in particular—are a case study in sloppy thinking, poor scholarship, and agenda-driven conclusions. It is also my contention that the popularity of the Heartland movement stems largely from its foundations in American nationalism and misguided patriotic fervor, along with appeals to conspiracy theories and pseudoscience.
As the entries on this blog will be based on new blog posts by Brother Neville (with special focus on his blog Moroni’s America), new material here may be posted sporadically.
Finally, I wish to clarify that I hold no animosity toward Jonathan Neville; I merely wish to demonstrate that his one-note zeal for his theories has caused him to embrace ideas and conclusions that are not warranted by evidence and clear thinking.
—Peter
Posts
Even if Neville is going on hiatus, there's still plenty to be responded to:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bofm.blog/saints-rewriting-dc-28-30-32/
The "Meso theory is a "False" tradition who's time has come. Neville is a well read researcher who can back up all of his claims.The "Meso theory is so ridiculous its hilarious.Anyone who believes this nonsense hasn't done the research that's required to dispel it, because the answers and conclusions are so obvious and "Hiding in Plain sight! The "Land of Liberty" , this United States(north america) is "The Place"!
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by TLITPR. Your views are welcome here—odd punctuation, typos, and all.
DeleteAre you aware of the interview with Neville on Gospel Tangents? As usual he is misreprenting things.
ReplyDeleteI am aware of it; thanks. I’m also aware that it’s in 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑠.
DeleteGood heavens, he’s exhausting.
Hi Peter. CoachB here. First time to this blog. It is interesting but I just finished an essay on the subject of Heartland Model or Mesoamerica Model, or Both? I'm wondering if we too the YouTube video "“Insights into the Book of Mormon Internal Geography Map” and laid it over the two continents of North and South America, and eliminated the two Cumorah theory and just let the New York location for the Hill Cumorah stand, if that would work for you, since Joseph Smith before his martyrdom pretty much said it was both, and the Church's essay alludes to the "America's"? What do you think?
ReplyDeleteHi, CoachB. What you’re proposing—that North America is the land northward, South America is the land southward, and the Isthmus of Panama is the narrow neck of land—was the view of virtually all Latter-day Saints in the 19th century, including Joseph Smith. Today it’s referred to as the Hemispheric Geography Theory or HGT.
DeleteThe HGT fell out of favor in the early 20th century because, when examined carefully, the action described in the Book of Mormon clearly took place in a limited area that could be traveled on foot in a fairly short period of time. John Sorenson wrote, “A hemispheric or continental scope is contrary to the text [of the Book of Mormon]. Mormon’s map cannot possibly be matched by such a large territory as North or South America, let alone by the entire hemisphere. The total extent of lands that Mormon knew about, based on his own words, did not exceed about 600 miles (965 km) in length and half that in width” (𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘯’𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘹, 20).
Good morning Peter. I read your reply. Since I am not that read up on your personal belief regarding the Book of Mormon Geography Models, if you don;t mind, let me ask you "What is your view on what Model best fits your study and research?" Best regards. Martin Braden.
ReplyDeleteMartin: Because of the distances involved, the correct model has to be a Limited Geography Theory (LGT).
DeleteOf the three best-known LGTs (Mesoamerica, northwest South America, and eastern United States), I lean toward Mesoamerica. The dimensions fit, it’s surrounded by seas, it has north-flowing rivers that could be the Sidon, and it had developed, complex societies and cultures during the time period of the Book of Mormon that most closely match the description in the book. The other two LGTs don’t have any of those.
Having said that, if reliable confirmation of those things in the other areas could be demonstrated, I would be more than open to follow the evidence where it leads.