What do you think?
Rate this book
Mormon's Codex: An Ancient American Book
from 60 years of academic study of ancient Mesoamerica and its relationship to the Book of Mormon. Here Sorenson reveals that the Book of Mormon exhibits what one would expect of a historical document produced in the context of ancient Mesoamerican civilization. He also shows that scholars discoveries about Mesoamerica and the contents of the Nephite record are clearly related. Indeed, Sorenson lists more than 400 points where the Book of Mormon text corresponds to characteristic Mesoamerican situations, statements, allusions, and history. Are we to simply suppose that mere coincidence can account for similarities of this magnitude? The parallels are too striking and too sweeping to answer in the affirmative. Even the greatest savant of the early 19th century let alone a marginally literate frontier farm boy could not possibly have produced a volume as rich in Mesoamericana as the Book of Mormon. The only format in which a record such as the Book of Mormon could have been preserved is that of a native Mesoamerican book, referred to by scholars as a codex. According to the record itself, the text was compiled by a man named Mormon, who lived in the Mesoamerican isthmus area in the late fourth century. Mormon passed the record to his son Moroni, who survived him by more than 35 years and made modest additions to the text. A significant contribution to the fields of Book of Mormon studies and Mesoamerican studies, Mormon s Codex is John Sorenson s magnum opus. It contains copious explanatory material, extensive footnotes, over 1,300 bibliographical references, illustrations, an appendix, and detailed maps. This long-awaited volume will appeal to informed general readers, archaeologists, and scholars alike.
826 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2013
47 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 10, 2014
John L. Sorenson has been studying the relationship of the Book of Mormon to Mesoamerica for over 60 years. He received an MA in archaeology from BYU and a PhD in anthropology from UCLA. His best known book prior to this was “An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon,” published in 1985.
“Mormon’s Codex” is the culmination of his studies. It begins with a Foreword by Terryl Givens and then has three main sections followed by an appendix. At the center of the book are colorful maps and photographs of places and artifacts. There are also black and white photos interspersed throughout the text.
Part 1 is called “Orientation.” It introduces the Book of Mormon and its orgins and tells us about problems with archaeology. One way archaeologists have been able to base the Bible in reality is through finding convergences where the text agrees with archaeological findings. This book investigates the same type of convergences between the Book of Mormon and Mesoamerica. This is not easy, because “only a fraction of the material that was left behind by ancient peoples has been preserved and is waiting to be found” (page 11). There is also the problem that only a fraction of what has been discovered has been excavated, and only a fraction of the items found have been studied and published. In spite of this, there is a tendency among archaeologists to “speak as if their data were complete and their inferences were facts” (page 12).
Sorenson lists key places from the Book of Mormon text and then places them on the map. He has found that a limited Mesoamerican geography is the best fit, specifically around Guatemala. He has gone as far as to identify plausible locations for many places, such as the narrow neck of land, the east and west seas, the river Sidon, the city of Nephi, and the final Nephite and Jaredite battleground (this is the only Jaredite place that he is very certain about). He concludes that the text of the Book of Mormon fits this area so well that it only could have been produced by people living in that place and time.
The histories of the Jaredites and Nephites are laid out, followed by a parallel history of Mesoamerica. It is also pointed out that there is a limited amount of history to go on from the Book of Mormon (three centuries are covered in a mere four pages, for instance).
Part 2 covers “Correspondences by Topic.” It first lays out geographical correspondences, such as distances and characteristics of the land. This is where a possible site for Jerusalem is first mentioned, a submerged city called Samabaj that was discovered recently in Lake Atitlan.
Evidence for transoceanic voyages is laid out, with a list of some of the plants that have been found in both hemispheres. This is followed by a similar list of diseases, as well as a discussion of languages, records, and writing systems. Also covered are human biology, political economy, society, population and distribution, material culture, government and political processes, warfare, knowledge systems, and ideology and religion.
Part 3 has “Correspondences from Archaeology and History.” I found this part to be the most interesting. It is split up into four time periods: before 600 BC, between 600 and 1 BC, between AD 1 and 200, and between AD 200 and 400. One of the things discussed is the apparent absence of fortifications, since they are a common part of the war chapters. There have actually been more found than is commonly recognized. Sorenson has tabulated 75 named sites that date before AD 400. (It hasn’t been published because the project kept expanding.) He tells how it took generations of work at Tikal before they realized an embankment was actually a wall. It took over 30 years to trace the miles of wall found, and it may not yet be fully revealed.
A possible location for Bountiful has been identified, based on geography, but it has not yet been studied, so Sorenson still considers such correspondence to be premature. However, Santa Rosa is a good candidate for Zarahemla, all the way down to evidence of destruction from the right time period preceding Christ’s visit in 3rd Nephi. In fact, corresponding evidence such as volcanic ash has been found in the same time period in many places in the area. This also includes the city of Jerusalem being covered with water as mentioned previously. In addition, there is evidence of significant cultural and religious
upheaval at that time which corresponds with the Book of Mormon text.
Sorenson explains how the codex (the plates) may have been transported to New York from Mesoamerica by relating the story of English sailors who trekked 3,000 miles from Mexico to Nova Scotia in 1589 over a period of nine months. And near the end of the 20th century, an adventurer named David Ingram walked 4,000 miles from Maine to Tampico in 11 months.
In the appendix, Sorenson explains how he has modified his views of the Jaredites since the publication of “An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon.” He now sets them in Veracruz, with the three main lands in Jalapa, Cordoba, and Tuxtepec. And he has changed his mind to an Atlantic Ocean crossing instead of the North Pacific. However, he notes that all this still remains tentative.
I would have preferred if the book were laid out a bit differently – he tends to explain Book of Mormon history and Mesoamerican history separately and then gives a summary conclusion. He explains that “to recapitulate detailed parallels would be tedious; an alert reader can identify further general and specific correspondences” (page 665). While this may be the case, I believe it would better suit the purpose of the book to combine the parallel information, pointing out correspondences in more detail as it goes. On the other hand, I appreciate that in places where the evidence is weak or still lacking, he is quick to point it out.
This book is a treasure trove of information about New World archaeology and how it may relate to the Book of Mormon. It probably won’t convince critics (although it will be harder for them to say there is no evidence), but as a believer in the Book of Mormon as scripture and as real history, it helped me better visualize the events and people it contains. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in physical evidence for the Book of Mormon and placing it on the map.
“Mormon’s Codex” is the culmination of his studies. It begins with a Foreword by Terryl Givens and then has three main sections followed by an appendix. At the center of the book are colorful maps and photographs of places and artifacts. There are also black and white photos interspersed throughout the text.
Part 1 is called “Orientation.” It introduces the Book of Mormon and its orgins and tells us about problems with archaeology. One way archaeologists have been able to base the Bible in reality is through finding convergences where the text agrees with archaeological findings. This book investigates the same type of convergences between the Book of Mormon and Mesoamerica. This is not easy, because “only a fraction of the material that was left behind by ancient peoples has been preserved and is waiting to be found” (page 11). There is also the problem that only a fraction of what has been discovered has been excavated, and only a fraction of the items found have been studied and published. In spite of this, there is a tendency among archaeologists to “speak as if their data were complete and their inferences were facts” (page 12).
Sorenson lists key places from the Book of Mormon text and then places them on the map. He has found that a limited Mesoamerican geography is the best fit, specifically around Guatemala. He has gone as far as to identify plausible locations for many places, such as the narrow neck of land, the east and west seas, the river Sidon, the city of Nephi, and the final Nephite and Jaredite battleground (this is the only Jaredite place that he is very certain about). He concludes that the text of the Book of Mormon fits this area so well that it only could have been produced by people living in that place and time.
The histories of the Jaredites and Nephites are laid out, followed by a parallel history of Mesoamerica. It is also pointed out that there is a limited amount of history to go on from the Book of Mormon (three centuries are covered in a mere four pages, for instance).
Part 2 covers “Correspondences by Topic.” It first lays out geographical correspondences, such as distances and characteristics of the land. This is where a possible site for Jerusalem is first mentioned, a submerged city called Samabaj that was discovered recently in Lake Atitlan.
Evidence for transoceanic voyages is laid out, with a list of some of the plants that have been found in both hemispheres. This is followed by a similar list of diseases, as well as a discussion of languages, records, and writing systems. Also covered are human biology, political economy, society, population and distribution, material culture, government and political processes, warfare, knowledge systems, and ideology and religion.
Part 3 has “Correspondences from Archaeology and History.” I found this part to be the most interesting. It is split up into four time periods: before 600 BC, between 600 and 1 BC, between AD 1 and 200, and between AD 200 and 400. One of the things discussed is the apparent absence of fortifications, since they are a common part of the war chapters. There have actually been more found than is commonly recognized. Sorenson has tabulated 75 named sites that date before AD 400. (It hasn’t been published because the project kept expanding.) He tells how it took generations of work at Tikal before they realized an embankment was actually a wall. It took over 30 years to trace the miles of wall found, and it may not yet be fully revealed.
A possible location for Bountiful has been identified, based on geography, but it has not yet been studied, so Sorenson still considers such correspondence to be premature. However, Santa Rosa is a good candidate for Zarahemla, all the way down to evidence of destruction from the right time period preceding Christ’s visit in 3rd Nephi. In fact, corresponding evidence such as volcanic ash has been found in the same time period in many places in the area. This also includes the city of Jerusalem being covered with water as mentioned previously. In addition, there is evidence of significant cultural and religious
upheaval at that time which corresponds with the Book of Mormon text.
Sorenson explains how the codex (the plates) may have been transported to New York from Mesoamerica by relating the story of English sailors who trekked 3,000 miles from Mexico to Nova Scotia in 1589 over a period of nine months. And near the end of the 20th century, an adventurer named David Ingram walked 4,000 miles from Maine to Tampico in 11 months.
In the appendix, Sorenson explains how he has modified his views of the Jaredites since the publication of “An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon.” He now sets them in Veracruz, with the three main lands in Jalapa, Cordoba, and Tuxtepec. And he has changed his mind to an Atlantic Ocean crossing instead of the North Pacific. However, he notes that all this still remains tentative.
I would have preferred if the book were laid out a bit differently – he tends to explain Book of Mormon history and Mesoamerican history separately and then gives a summary conclusion. He explains that “to recapitulate detailed parallels would be tedious; an alert reader can identify further general and specific correspondences” (page 665). While this may be the case, I believe it would better suit the purpose of the book to combine the parallel information, pointing out correspondences in more detail as it goes. On the other hand, I appreciate that in places where the evidence is weak or still lacking, he is quick to point it out.
This book is a treasure trove of information about New World archaeology and how it may relate to the Book of Mormon. It probably won’t convince critics (although it will be harder for them to say there is no evidence), but as a believer in the Book of Mormon as scripture and as real history, it helped me better visualize the events and people it contains. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in physical evidence for the Book of Mormon and placing it on the map.
November 5, 2018
That was incredibly amazing and has taken me a couple years to get through. Absolutely amazing. The author compares historical findings in mesoAmerica work those in the Book of Mormon and the correlations are astonishing, even for someone who is already a believer. He covers everything from ruins found in Central America and how they line up with Book of Mormon descriptions. He reviews city locations, language, boats, plants, diseases, pottery, art, warfare, travel and everything else you can think of. It is astonishing how closely scientific findings today correlate with Book of Mormon descriptions.
April 21, 2014
I've always been uncomfortable when people justify their belief in the Book of Mormon by saying that Joseph Smith couldn't have written it himself because of his lack of education. To be clear, I believe that the Book of Mormon is what it claims to be -- a book of ancient scripture written by prophets on the American continent -- but I also recognize that there is no telling what someone with a superior genius is capable of. Could someone of sufficient genius have produced the Book of Mormon from scratch? Did Joseph Smith posses such genius? Since I couldn't answer those questions, I avoided the issue entirely.
After reading Sorenson's magnum opus, Mormon's Codex, I can confidently answer that it would not be possible for anyone living in Joseph Smith's time, or at the present time for that matter, to produce a work comparable to the Book of Mormon. In Mormon's Codex, Sorenson details the "correspondences" that he has found between the Book of Mormon record and ancient Mesoamerican archaeology, which he has spent a lifetime studying. His case is very convincing. The only explanation for the amount of detail in the Book of Mormon, most of which was unknown in the early nineteenth century, is that the book was written by an ancient American scribe.
I recommend this book to anyone how has any interest in the Book of Mormon. Whether you are a devout Mormon looking to increase your faith in and understanding of it, or you are a curious student of it, or if you simply can't believe that it can be what it claims to be, you will gain much by reading Mormon's Codex.
After reading Sorenson's magnum opus, Mormon's Codex, I can confidently answer that it would not be possible for anyone living in Joseph Smith's time, or at the present time for that matter, to produce a work comparable to the Book of Mormon. In Mormon's Codex, Sorenson details the "correspondences" that he has found between the Book of Mormon record and ancient Mesoamerican archaeology, which he has spent a lifetime studying. His case is very convincing. The only explanation for the amount of detail in the Book of Mormon, most of which was unknown in the early nineteenth century, is that the book was written by an ancient American scribe.
I recommend this book to anyone how has any interest in the Book of Mormon. Whether you are a devout Mormon looking to increase your faith in and understanding of it, or you are a curious student of it, or if you simply can't believe that it can be what it claims to be, you will gain much by reading Mormon's Codex.
January 5, 2022
Mormon’s Codex is an impressive tome. To do it justice, this review will be a little longer than my typical. I really appreciate and enjoy books like this that attempt to approach difficult topics in an objective way. Sorenson thoroughly investigates the correlations and evidence of the Book of Mormon using a limited geography model situated around the isthmus between Southern Mexico (Veracruz) and Guatemala--Mesoamerica. Just about any conceivable point of ancient culture and history is considered as much detail as possible. Weather, politics, volcanoes, war, animals, writing, building, trade, and so much more are analyzed with obvious expertise and knowledge that Sorenson has gained as a professional Mesoamerican archaeologist since 1949. He is not the only LDS historian propounding the Mesoamerican model for the Book of Mormon setting, but he clearly is an authority on the subject.
Sorenson’s key axioms are:
A. The Book of Mormon too closely resembles the history of Mesoamerica to be manufactured by Joseph Smith, other people, or by borrowing from other sources available to Smith such as View of the Hebrews (Ethan Smith, no relation), The Late War (Gilbert Hunt), the KJ Bible, the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, and others. Unfortunately, no alternative source materials like these are discussed by Sorenson.
B. All locations in the world, except the isthmus in Mesoamerica, are decidedly RULED OUT by incongruencies between the Book of Mormon text and geographical or archaeological facts.
C. The Book of Mormon can only have been written by ancient Mesoamericans.
D. The final ancient author (Moroni) must have walked thousands of miles from southern Mexico to upstate NY to deposit the ~50lb plates, and any other Mesoamerican writings or ancient artefacts found at that hill Cumorah.
If the Book of Mormon is a true historical text (not fiction), then Sorenson seems to be on track with a plausible model. He would argue the only possible model. However, there are some valid criticisms that seriously weaken Sorenson’s position. For example, there is not one single direct piece of Book of Mormon historical evidence of any kind that has ever been found by Sorenson or anyone else. None. His analysis is entirely comprised of what he calls correspondences. For example, Sorenson cites how God had to curse the Lamanites with a skin of blackness to distinguish them from the fair Nephites. He then notes how the skin shades of native Mesoamericans range from dark brown to “virtual white,” and therefor correspond with the Book of Mormon. Further, Mesoamerican clay figurines were made of two shades in some areas/times and only dark in others (presumably where only Lamanites were located). Most of his correspondences are less specific than this example, due in part to the fact that there is relatively little ancient Mesoamerican evidence of most kinds to begin with.
There are a handful of contradictions between the Book of Mormon text and historical evidence, which Sorenson attempts to deal with. One example is how the Book of Mormon speaks of North and South, but for the Mesoamerican model to work these directions need to shift 90 degrees and represent East and West instead. Another is how metal swords of the text do not correspond to ancient Mesoamerican weapons, so Sorenson figures out how to justify them as wooden bats with obsidian spikes. Or the fact that there’s no evidence for ancient Mesoamericans writing on metal plates. Further, there is excessive vagueness in all aspects throughout his analysis. However, much of the vagueness is not trying to avoid would-be problems but comes from a dearth of ancient archaeological evidence.
One potential challenge of this kind of analysis is what happens if, like all other geographies have been “ruled out”, the development of Mesoamerican archaeology eventually rules this model out as well? Or what does Sorenson do about the gradual shift among many LDS scholars away from a literal translation of the gold plates or away from the Book of Mormon as historical? In fact, I think Sorenson would have only increased his credibility if he didn’t take such an absolutist approach. Regardless, I think when there are questions that can be answered through scientific research, efforts should be made to answer them, so I appreciate the work that Sorenson and others are doing to better understand the historicity of the Book of Mormon.
Sorenson’s key axioms are:
A. The Book of Mormon too closely resembles the history of Mesoamerica to be manufactured by Joseph Smith, other people, or by borrowing from other sources available to Smith such as View of the Hebrews (Ethan Smith, no relation), The Late War (Gilbert Hunt), the KJ Bible, the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, and others. Unfortunately, no alternative source materials like these are discussed by Sorenson.
B. All locations in the world, except the isthmus in Mesoamerica, are decidedly RULED OUT by incongruencies between the Book of Mormon text and geographical or archaeological facts.
C. The Book of Mormon can only have been written by ancient Mesoamericans.
D. The final ancient author (Moroni) must have walked thousands of miles from southern Mexico to upstate NY to deposit the ~50lb plates, and any other Mesoamerican writings or ancient artefacts found at that hill Cumorah.
If the Book of Mormon is a true historical text (not fiction), then Sorenson seems to be on track with a plausible model. He would argue the only possible model. However, there are some valid criticisms that seriously weaken Sorenson’s position. For example, there is not one single direct piece of Book of Mormon historical evidence of any kind that has ever been found by Sorenson or anyone else. None. His analysis is entirely comprised of what he calls correspondences. For example, Sorenson cites how God had to curse the Lamanites with a skin of blackness to distinguish them from the fair Nephites. He then notes how the skin shades of native Mesoamericans range from dark brown to “virtual white,” and therefor correspond with the Book of Mormon. Further, Mesoamerican clay figurines were made of two shades in some areas/times and only dark in others (presumably where only Lamanites were located). Most of his correspondences are less specific than this example, due in part to the fact that there is relatively little ancient Mesoamerican evidence of most kinds to begin with.
There are a handful of contradictions between the Book of Mormon text and historical evidence, which Sorenson attempts to deal with. One example is how the Book of Mormon speaks of North and South, but for the Mesoamerican model to work these directions need to shift 90 degrees and represent East and West instead. Another is how metal swords of the text do not correspond to ancient Mesoamerican weapons, so Sorenson figures out how to justify them as wooden bats with obsidian spikes. Or the fact that there’s no evidence for ancient Mesoamericans writing on metal plates. Further, there is excessive vagueness in all aspects throughout his analysis. However, much of the vagueness is not trying to avoid would-be problems but comes from a dearth of ancient archaeological evidence.
One potential challenge of this kind of analysis is what happens if, like all other geographies have been “ruled out”, the development of Mesoamerican archaeology eventually rules this model out as well? Or what does Sorenson do about the gradual shift among many LDS scholars away from a literal translation of the gold plates or away from the Book of Mormon as historical? In fact, I think Sorenson would have only increased his credibility if he didn’t take such an absolutist approach. Regardless, I think when there are questions that can be answered through scientific research, efforts should be made to answer them, so I appreciate the work that Sorenson and others are doing to better understand the historicity of the Book of Mormon.
March 2, 2021
A truly monumental work of scholarship, examining in detail the plausibility of locating the Book of Mormon narrative in a specific Mesoamerican region. If there is any fault, it's the understandable temptation to "parallelomania," pointing out correspondences between details or clues in the Book of Mormon and Mesoamerican cultural markers without fully demonstrating the uniqueness of such correspondences.
July 11, 2014
Fascinating read. Although I don't think anyone can ever *prove* the historicity of the Book of Mormon, this book certainly presents some intriguing correspondences between The Book of Mormon and the archaeological/anthropological record of Mesoamerica. I am of the opinion that one's belief in The Book of Mormon should not be based on or centered around these types of things, but it presents information and sets a stage that makes it entirely possible that the events recorded in The Book of Mormon did actually happen. Belief in The Book of Mormon and it's teachings is something that will obviously be decided at an individual level, but Dr. Sorenson creates an environment where that faith can exist without butting heads with the archaeological and anthropological record.
Did The Book or Mormon story take place where Dr. Sorenson says it did and are the peoples he has identified represented by the Jaredites, Mulekites, Nephites and Lamanites recorded in The Book of Mormon? Possibly, but we can't know for sure. Is it completely possible and extremely interesting to read about? Absolutely yes.
Highly recommend this book to the full spectrum of those interested in The Book of Mormon, including individuals questioning it's historicity to those who already absolutely believe it to be true.
Did The Book or Mormon story take place where Dr. Sorenson says it did and are the peoples he has identified represented by the Jaredites, Mulekites, Nephites and Lamanites recorded in The Book of Mormon? Possibly, but we can't know for sure. Is it completely possible and extremely interesting to read about? Absolutely yes.
Highly recommend this book to the full spectrum of those interested in The Book of Mormon, including individuals questioning it's historicity to those who already absolutely believe it to be true.
May 2, 2014
Splendid work by Sorenson. 700 plus pages, with over 100 pages of references. Perhaps not as revolutionary in impact as his An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon was back in 1985, but still impressive in the higher resolution of the contextualization. Like going from standard definition to high resolution. I'm particularly impressed with the way that he maps specific cultural movements in particular locations to Book of Mormon events. This is not the kind of thing that you can use to beat someone into submission with, given that anyone can say "So what?"
There are a few things I can think of that would have improved the book. I think that Brant Gardner's work on Mesoamerican directional concepts, wherein we ought to think quadrants, rather than compass points would have helped on the maps. And Larry Poulson's work on Limhi's explorers strikes me as a particularly good correlation. And when he refers to non-LDS scholars writing positively about the Book of Mormon, he mentions Charlesworth and Stendahl, but not Margaret Barker. However, that sort of improvement is just tweaking.
It's an important read. No serious student of the Book of Mormon should ignore it.
Kevin Christensen
There are a few things I can think of that would have improved the book. I think that Brant Gardner's work on Mesoamerican directional concepts, wherein we ought to think quadrants, rather than compass points would have helped on the maps. And Larry Poulson's work on Limhi's explorers strikes me as a particularly good correlation. And when he refers to non-LDS scholars writing positively about the Book of Mormon, he mentions Charlesworth and Stendahl, but not Margaret Barker. However, that sort of improvement is just tweaking.
It's an important read. No serious student of the Book of Mormon should ignore it.
Kevin Christensen
May 3, 2025
The best work of Book of Mormon scholarship I have ever read by miles.
Dr. Sorenson is a titan in this field, but he is not necessarily well-known by general Church membership. This book is not a cohesive narrative, but, rather, instead is functionally a reference book. It is divided into chapters and sections based on topic; those chapters, in turn, compare verses of the Book of Mormon against Mesoamerican archaeology and research. One will not find a "smoking gun" in here in the sense of finding a site with a sign that reads "Welcome to Zarahemla," but rather one finds an astonishing series of "coincidences." For example, that Helaman refers to his enlisted men as "his sons" and they refer to him as "their father," mirroring a practice the Spanish observed in the region. Or that weather patterns and seasonal changes described in the Book of Mormon line up with what is known about the region, or even details such as the Lamanites' desire to destroy the records matching typical practices of regime change in the region. This book is full of fascinating little details and comparisons, and I have never been able to read the Book of Mormon the same way since.
This is the book that comes to mind whenever someone makes the ignorant accusation that "there's no proof for the Book of Mormon." What Dr. Sorenson demonstrates is that there are an astonishing series of coincidences here that, if the Book of Mormon is not an authentic document, are in serious need of explanation.
Dr. Sorenson is a titan in this field, but he is not necessarily well-known by general Church membership. This book is not a cohesive narrative, but, rather, instead is functionally a reference book. It is divided into chapters and sections based on topic; those chapters, in turn, compare verses of the Book of Mormon against Mesoamerican archaeology and research. One will not find a "smoking gun" in here in the sense of finding a site with a sign that reads "Welcome to Zarahemla," but rather one finds an astonishing series of "coincidences." For example, that Helaman refers to his enlisted men as "his sons" and they refer to him as "their father," mirroring a practice the Spanish observed in the region. Or that weather patterns and seasonal changes described in the Book of Mormon line up with what is known about the region, or even details such as the Lamanites' desire to destroy the records matching typical practices of regime change in the region. This book is full of fascinating little details and comparisons, and I have never been able to read the Book of Mormon the same way since.
This is the book that comes to mind whenever someone makes the ignorant accusation that "there's no proof for the Book of Mormon." What Dr. Sorenson demonstrates is that there are an astonishing series of coincidences here that, if the Book of Mormon is not an authentic document, are in serious need of explanation.
March 2, 2019
When we picked this up at the library, Caroline snickered at me and said "Yeah, you're not going to read that before it's due." That was the exact same thought that was running through my head, but hearing the 8 year old doubt me was just what I needed to hear. You don't think I can do it, huh, short stuff? Watch this. Challenge accepted.
This is not an easy read, by any means, but it is accessible. I know nothing of Meso-American history, and I felt like I could follow along for the most part.
The case Sorenson lays out is very compelling and very interesting. I frequently spent the evening talking it over with Michael. I even read portions of it out loud on our way to Maryland. It wasn't super stimulating to listen to, but it was interesting, and we had great discussions about it.
What I most appreciated about the book was it put the Book of Mormon in a new perspective. I've never been the person to worry or demand proof. I'm confident in my own feelings and testimony that I feel secure in my beliefs. Reading about the culture of Meso-American society was fascinating in its own rights, and then using that as a lens to see the Book of Mormon stories that I have grown up with was impressive.
Its worth sitting down and reading. It will take awhile to get through, but I don't regret my time reading it. (And I DID finish it before it was due. SO HA)
This is not an easy read, by any means, but it is accessible. I know nothing of Meso-American history, and I felt like I could follow along for the most part.
The case Sorenson lays out is very compelling and very interesting. I frequently spent the evening talking it over with Michael. I even read portions of it out loud on our way to Maryland. It wasn't super stimulating to listen to, but it was interesting, and we had great discussions about it.
What I most appreciated about the book was it put the Book of Mormon in a new perspective. I've never been the person to worry or demand proof. I'm confident in my own feelings and testimony that I feel secure in my beliefs. Reading about the culture of Meso-American society was fascinating in its own rights, and then using that as a lens to see the Book of Mormon stories that I have grown up with was impressive.
Its worth sitting down and reading. It will take awhile to get through, but I don't regret my time reading it. (And I DID finish it before it was due. SO HA)
April 17, 2020
While this book is fairly disorganized, it is understandably so due to the fragmented nature of the archaeology and the volume of topics covered. That said, the contents systematically map out a series of compelling correspondences between the Book of Mormon and archaeological findings. Without going into details (you will have to read for that), a panoply of possible links are considered: geography, ecology, sociology, linguistics, and so on. This book will serve as an excellent reference when looking for supporting physical evidence for various aspects and parts of the Book of Mormon. This body of evidence looms large to any who claim that archaeology contradicts the authenticity of the Book of Mormon. The claims of the Book of Mormon have stood for nearly 200 years, and it has been the movement of archeology that explains the convergence of the two.
June 27, 2021
While we will never be able to prove the authenticity of the Book of Mormon to the satisfaction of detractors, after reading this book skeptics must concede that the Book of Mormon as a Mesoamerican codex is at least very plausible. And infact, the chronological, archeological and geographical parallels between the Book of Mormon and what we know of the history of Guatamala and Southern Mexico at the same proported time are so extensive as to make it irrational to suppose they can be accounted by mere chance. The probability of the Book of Mormon being anything other than an ancient American document is staggeringly low.
May 24, 2021
Exciting read filled with correspondences between research on ancient mesoamerica and the culture, history, geography, and religion described in the Book of Mormon. I especially loved the chapters on religious correspondences, geographical correspondences, and on mesoamerican history between ad 1 and ad 200. My one complaint is that Sorenson's frequent repeating of his thesis (that the BoM could only have been written by a mesoamerican) felt a little unacademic at times (it reminded me that he has an agenda). He also doesn't engage with criticisms of his work as much as I'd hope. With that said, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 13, 2018
This is a well researched tome regarding both the history of a small section of Mesoamerica, that also coincides well with the record we have in the translated Book of Mormon. The information is well documented and referenced, and provides ample evidences for a Mesoamerican setting for the events in the Book of Mormon. Dr. Sorenson is also not hesitant to show areas where there is simply not enough information in the archeological record to support his positions. Well worth the read.
October 29, 2022
Impressive argument for how information given in the Book of Mormon about the geography, history, and culture of the Jaredites, Nephites, and Lamanites correlates with what is known about the geography, history, and culture of Mesoamerica.
While archaeological research in Mesoamerica is far from exhaustive, there is still enough known or interpreted from such research to draw strong correlation. Very worth reading if you are interested in that kind of thing.
While archaeological research in Mesoamerica is far from exhaustive, there is still enough known or interpreted from such research to draw strong correlation. Very worth reading if you are interested in that kind of thing.
November 9, 2024
Incredible book!! Wow!! I love all the well documented research that has gone into this! It has really helped me understand the Book of Mormon in a way I never have before. I’ve wondered why no one had done this kind of work! I just didn’t know about it before. Thank you John Sorensen for your magnificent life work on this amazing book!! My husband read it first and highly recommended that I read it. I’m so grateful that I did!!!!
May 8, 2017
Fascinating update on current archaeological findings in Central America - and how they compare to the Book of Mormon.
June 27, 2018
Muy interesante las correlaciones que se pueden establecer entre el Libro de Mormón y la geografía de Mesoamérica...
December 27, 2014
When I read "Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon" over twenty years ago, my views of the Book of Mormon was completely changed. The Book of Mormon events suddenly seemed more plausible, even in light of modern views of geology and archaeology. But those views are not the traditional, orthodox views. Most of the Book of Mormon took place within Mesoamerica, not over the entire western hemisphere. There were hundreds of thousands of other people already living in the Americas when Lehi and his family arrived. Native Americans were not all pure-blooded Lamanites. Yes, these changes in my "Book of Mormon" paradigm contradicted what I had been taught in early-morning seminary and what I had always assumed, but this new view of the Book of Mormon made sense and strengthened by belief in the historicity of the Book.
In Mormon's Codex, Sorenson takes things a step further, offering more evidence to support his view that the Nephites and Lamanites were part of the pre-classic Mayan people. Sorenson concludes that, because of the many points of correspondence between what the Book of Mormon says about the history of the Nephites and Lamanites and what we learn about Mayan history, the Book of Mormon must be true. I must disagree with that reasoning. I do believe (very strongly) that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, but I do not think establishing historical correspondences necessarily leads to that conclusion. The only way to know that the Book of Mormon contains the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to read it, ponder its teachings, and then pray about it, asking God to tell you whether it is true.
The problem with proof by historical correspondences is that the evidence is not fool-proof. There are many striking similarities between early Mayan and Nephite history. But there are also many (MANY) areas that do not match up. The Book of Mormon implies strongly that the Nephites and Lamanites rode horses, drove wheeled vehicles, had sheep, and used metal weapons extensively. There is no or very little archaeological support for horses, wheeled transport, sheep, or metal weapons. The explanations Sorenson gives for that dearth of evidence are not entirely consistent or satisfying. Moreover, many of the "correspondences" are not that surprising. Both the Mayans and the Nephites had extensive wars, moderately complicated political systems, complex theology, and extensive societies, but the Nephites share those similarities with many other semi-primitive societies.
The other major problem with Sorenson's theory is that it effectively ignores the Yucatan Peninsula. Did the Nephite and Lamanite sphere of influence not spread that far? If not, why? Mormon's Codex does not address that issue, or even hint at it.
In short, I think Sorenson does a great (and thorough) job of establishing that the Nephites COULD have been a part of the pre-classic Mayan peoples, but Mormon's Codex does not PROVE that conclusion.
In Mormon's Codex, Sorenson takes things a step further, offering more evidence to support his view that the Nephites and Lamanites were part of the pre-classic Mayan people. Sorenson concludes that, because of the many points of correspondence between what the Book of Mormon says about the history of the Nephites and Lamanites and what we learn about Mayan history, the Book of Mormon must be true. I must disagree with that reasoning. I do believe (very strongly) that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, but I do not think establishing historical correspondences necessarily leads to that conclusion. The only way to know that the Book of Mormon contains the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to read it, ponder its teachings, and then pray about it, asking God to tell you whether it is true.
The problem with proof by historical correspondences is that the evidence is not fool-proof. There are many striking similarities between early Mayan and Nephite history. But there are also many (MANY) areas that do not match up. The Book of Mormon implies strongly that the Nephites and Lamanites rode horses, drove wheeled vehicles, had sheep, and used metal weapons extensively. There is no or very little archaeological support for horses, wheeled transport, sheep, or metal weapons. The explanations Sorenson gives for that dearth of evidence are not entirely consistent or satisfying. Moreover, many of the "correspondences" are not that surprising. Both the Mayans and the Nephites had extensive wars, moderately complicated political systems, complex theology, and extensive societies, but the Nephites share those similarities with many other semi-primitive societies.
The other major problem with Sorenson's theory is that it effectively ignores the Yucatan Peninsula. Did the Nephite and Lamanite sphere of influence not spread that far? If not, why? Mormon's Codex does not address that issue, or even hint at it.
In short, I think Sorenson does a great (and thorough) job of establishing that the Nephites COULD have been a part of the pre-classic Mayan peoples, but Mormon's Codex does not PROVE that conclusion.
January 17, 2015
To call this book exhaustive is accurate but not adequate. This book is a monster – over 800 pages with extensive footnotes. This book is the product of a lifetime of scholarship. The gist of the book is that the Book of Mormon fits into the ancient Mesoamerican context.
To explain his thesis, Sorenson details what we know about the Mesoamerican context from history and archaeology. Then he reads the Book of Mormon very carefully and compares them. He finds much that is similar – a great deal, so much that it must be seen as more than a possibility that the Book of Mormon was written in ancient Mesoamerica.
One of the great lessons of this book is to read the Book of Mormon closely and to pay attention not only to what it says, but to what it does not say. There are a lot of assumptions that Mormons and others have made for a long time that are not supported in the test. For example, Sorenson points out that the actual descendants of Lehi’s party were likely outnumbered by others in the area and could have simply established themselves as a ruling elite – a pattern that is very familiar in Mesoamerica and is consistent with the text – we need not assume that the descendants of Lehi were the only occupants of an otherwise vacant land.
This book is not apologetics – it scholarship. Sorenson challenges assumptions that are not supported by the evidence and his conclusions are very well supported by the evidence.
Sorenson’s aim is not to prove the Book of Mormon, but to show that, based on everything he has learned over decades as an archaeologist, the Book of Mormon fits very well into an ancient Mesoamerican context. Overall, this is a very convincing book. But perhaps the main thing to learn from this book is to keep an open mind to the research. There is much that we have learned, but there is still so little that we know. There is still much knowledge about prehistory and archaeology lost out there, covered in rain forests or underground. The best we can do is to keep looking and listening.
And, in matters of faith, we need to remember the source to whom we look for knowledge and reassurance. This book does not make me believe in the Book of Mormon. Personal experiences through my life have given me that belief. But this book does make me think a lot about the Book of Mormon and what it really is and is not.
To explain his thesis, Sorenson details what we know about the Mesoamerican context from history and archaeology. Then he reads the Book of Mormon very carefully and compares them. He finds much that is similar – a great deal, so much that it must be seen as more than a possibility that the Book of Mormon was written in ancient Mesoamerica.
One of the great lessons of this book is to read the Book of Mormon closely and to pay attention not only to what it says, but to what it does not say. There are a lot of assumptions that Mormons and others have made for a long time that are not supported in the test. For example, Sorenson points out that the actual descendants of Lehi’s party were likely outnumbered by others in the area and could have simply established themselves as a ruling elite – a pattern that is very familiar in Mesoamerica and is consistent with the text – we need not assume that the descendants of Lehi were the only occupants of an otherwise vacant land.
This book is not apologetics – it scholarship. Sorenson challenges assumptions that are not supported by the evidence and his conclusions are very well supported by the evidence.
Sorenson’s aim is not to prove the Book of Mormon, but to show that, based on everything he has learned over decades as an archaeologist, the Book of Mormon fits very well into an ancient Mesoamerican context. Overall, this is a very convincing book. But perhaps the main thing to learn from this book is to keep an open mind to the research. There is much that we have learned, but there is still so little that we know. There is still much knowledge about prehistory and archaeology lost out there, covered in rain forests or underground. The best we can do is to keep looking and listening.
And, in matters of faith, we need to remember the source to whom we look for knowledge and reassurance. This book does not make me believe in the Book of Mormon. Personal experiences through my life have given me that belief. But this book does make me think a lot about the Book of Mormon and what it really is and is not.
July 13, 2015
The single best book about archaeological, linguistic, historical, cultural, and anthropological evidence (indirect, in the form of correspondences) tying the Book of Mormon to Mesoamerica. Much of the research is not new but Dr. Sorenson encapsulates it in a way that makes it both readable and compelling. The book also provides great insight into the Book of Mormon cultures, governments, and conflicts.
For me, it does not matter where the Book of Mormon events took place - that's not central to the message of the book. I know some people feel that it is important and I can respect that but it's a religious book with the purpose to draw people to Christ by testifying and teaching of Him. That being said, John Sorenson offers the most compelling arguments for the setting of the Book of Mormon that I've read. I don't believe someone can read the Book of Mormon with an open mind, read Mormon's Codex, and not find a Mesoamerican setting extremely plausible and not be at least softly convinced of the historicity of the Book of Mormon; to read both books and reject the connections outright requires impressive intellectual dishonesty. This book can serve as the nail in the coffins (please excuse a tired phrase) of doubts people might have about the historicity of the Book of Mormon.
This book doesn't change my beliefs about the Book of Mormon - those are founded on much firmer ground - but Mormon's Codex is an interesting read regardless. I highly recommend it.
For me, it does not matter where the Book of Mormon events took place - that's not central to the message of the book. I know some people feel that it is important and I can respect that but it's a religious book with the purpose to draw people to Christ by testifying and teaching of Him. That being said, John Sorenson offers the most compelling arguments for the setting of the Book of Mormon that I've read. I don't believe someone can read the Book of Mormon with an open mind, read Mormon's Codex, and not find a Mesoamerican setting extremely plausible and not be at least softly convinced of the historicity of the Book of Mormon; to read both books and reject the connections outright requires impressive intellectual dishonesty. This book can serve as the nail in the coffins (please excuse a tired phrase) of doubts people might have about the historicity of the Book of Mormon.
This book doesn't change my beliefs about the Book of Mormon - those are founded on much firmer ground - but Mormon's Codex is an interesting read regardless. I highly recommend it.
August 20, 2013
Don't be daunted by Sorenson's opus magnus: the tome seems prohibitive but a full third is footnotes, source notes, tables, appendices, and so on. This is a follow-up volume to his earlier Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon and a culmination of Sorenson's life work. It is chock full of connections, correlations, correspondences, comparisons, as well as directions for future research needed. I was impressed at the vast quantity of evidence and correlations given--very specific timelines, archaeological data, artifacts, biological details, lexical similarities, and so on. A must read for any serious student of Book of Mormon geography--even those with other settings in mind need to be aware of all this material, and how solid the Mesoamerican historical and cultural correspondence is to the text.
May 24, 2016
It's a great summary of most of the latest archeological findings that relate, or don't relate, to the Book of Mormon. As this is a topic full of out of date information and other rumors or misrepresentations it's particularly helpful to those who are curious but not extensively well read on this topic.
While it's mostly moves along quickly a few sections would have been more effective trimmed down.
A few interesting notes that were nicely dealt with:
1) The fact that someone (Moroni) could have carried the plates several thousands miles is perfectly plausible given several examples and the incentive to escape hostile areas. 2) The account of wars is very fitting other accounts of battles during the same time frame. 3) The political and religious hierarchy was well explained and fitting with modern scholarship.
While it's mostly moves along quickly a few sections would have been more effective trimmed down.
A few interesting notes that were nicely dealt with:
1) The fact that someone (Moroni) could have carried the plates several thousands miles is perfectly plausible given several examples and the incentive to escape hostile areas. 2) The account of wars is very fitting other accounts of battles during the same time frame. 3) The political and religious hierarchy was well explained and fitting with modern scholarship.
December 26, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this book. Sorenson goes out with a bang. Explains many areas and aspects of the Book of Mormon that I thought were good. As important as all the scientific backing and other facts. The real claim to the Book of Mormon is reading it for yourself and finding if it is the word of God. The Book of Mormon does not replace the Bible, it is a second witness of Jesus Christ. For all those that fight and try to find ways to discredit the Book of Mormon, drop it and swallow your pride. It won't kill you to read it and pray about it.
July 23, 2014
Fascinating. I'm relatively new to this topic, so it was a bit tedious for me at times. However, this is the most comprehensive look at demonstrating that the author of the BoM is from Mesoamerica. Some parallels/correspondences/convergences carry more weight than others, but there were powerful nuggets laced throughout this entire 800+ page book. It also helped me to understand the BoM and its people much better. I'll never look at the BoM in the same away again; it brought it to life.
July 18, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was not looking to prove the Book of Mormon true (already believe it) but was looking for ancient american history to supplement and add to the stories in the BoM. This book nailed it. From Aztec and Inca history to wars and culture in central America, this book has a lot of information. It has already been loaned out, and I have a list of others wanting to read it.
April 8, 2014
This book is mostly boring details based upon loose connections between the Book of Mormon and Mesoamerica. I don't buy it. It's a large book with little substance. Sorenson's Magnum Opus? More like Magnum Erroneous. Joseph Smith never said Guatemala was Zarahemla so the book is almost a waste of time.
April 11, 2015
The author, who established the anthropology dept at BYU, presents here a great accumulation of archeological correspondences between the Book of Mormon and Mesoamerica. I recommend it to those with a love of the Book of Mormon.
September 29, 2016
This is a wonderful book written by the only person I know who had repaired himself to write. A long time student of the Book of Mormon, Dr John I Sorenson has written over 200 Books and articles in a lengthy academic career
December 2, 2015
Fantastic book that is painstakingly researched by Sorenson. It is clear he poured his heart and soul into this work. While not an easy read, the book is very rewarding for the reader who can stick with it to the end.
Read
November 20, 2024Fascinating. I learned so much!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews