Conclusion

The evidence supporting the geographical views of Norman and Sorenson, under the exacting tests laid down by the text of the Book of Mormon, is indeed very meager. We have the cylinder seal from Chiapa de Corzo, the cylinder seal form Tlatilco and the toys with wheels. That’s all about it. This paucity of specific support presents, at least to me, a dilemma. One way out of the dilemma is to say that everything was scrambled and lost because of the upheavals described in 3 Nephi for the time of the crucifixion. In my personal opinion, this is not a satisfactory escape hatch. Virtually all of the data in the Book of Mormon must be credited to Mormon and his abridgment of the “larger plates.” He and Moroni, writing in the fourth century (over 300 years after the crucifixion), where responsible for the last 400 pages of the text. And it is in those 400 pages that most of the geographical data appear. Mormon doesn’t say that his references to geography are useless and hopeless.

Further, innumerable excavations in the area we are dealing with, and in the time span (300 B.C.—400 A.D.) with structures extensive relatively undisturbed ancient strata, etc., etc.—right through the time of the crucifixion.

I don’t have the answer to the dilemma. I just call it up.

I’m afraid that up to this point I must agree with Dee Green, who has told us to date there is no Book-of-Mormon geography. I for one, would be happy if Dee were wrong.

Respectfully submitted,

[signed] Thomas Stuart Ferguson

Thomas Stuart Ferguson

1 Irving Lane

Orinda, California 94563

3-12-75

[12 March 1975]