Book of Mormon Geography

There are multiple theories about the location of Book of Mormon events. The most widely accepted is probably John Sorenson's, which locates these events in southern Mexico and Guatemala. Most of the writers at FARMS/BYU have concluded that Mesoamerica is the mostly likely site for BoM events.

This consensus seems ill-advised for many reasons. First, the Nephites quickly assumed leadership of their territory. If the Nephites they were the only people in the land, their leadership role makes common sense. However, if instead they dominated indigenous people (which seems more likely), it is highly unlikely that a boatload of Nephites would dominate a culture as extensive and advanced as the Mayans.

FARMS/BYU also focuses on Mesoamerica because it is the only place in the Americas that had a writing system. This "evidence" is counter-intuitive. For one thing, the Mayan writing in no way resembles Egyptian/Hebrew in appearance or structure, so it's irrelevant for BoM claims. As significantly, what Mayan records we have do nothing to corroborate the BoM.

All indications from the BoM are that their writing was exclusively a tool of the ruling class, especially with respect to writing on metal plates, which was the only enduring form of writing they had. There is no reason to suggest an archaeological discovery of Nephite writings, other than what was written on plates.

The BoM does not refer to alternative written language and/or writings.

Mesoamerica also does not fit the description of plants and animals.

We should be looking instead for a territory where there is no existing record of writing; where the people were primitive enough to be quickly dominated by a boatload of Nephites; where there were plans and animals as described by the BoM; and where there were populations, geography, and earth movements that conform to BoM descriptions.

Another element largely overlooked by FARMS/BYU, and Sorenson, is the prophetic description of BoM territory.