A Key for Evaluating Nephite Geographies | Archaeologist John Clark

In this 1989 review, John E. Clark establishes a framework for evaluating Book of Mormon geography by prioritizing the internal textual data over external archaeological finds. He argues that a valid model must first reconcile all scriptural references to distances, directions, and land features before seeking a physical location in the Americas. Clark utilizes ten specific geographic keys, such as the existence of a narrow neck of land and the relative positions of cities like Zarahemla and Bountiful, to test existing theories. Through this lens, he critiques the work of F. Richard Hauck, finding it logically inconsistent with the text, while suggesting that John L. Sorenson’s model better aligns with the scriptural record. Ultimately, Clark presents a conceptualized Nephite world where certain directional references may be metaphorical rather than strictly literal. He concludes that while several Mesoamerican models exist, only those that survive rigorous internal textual analysis merit serious scientific and archaeological investigation.

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