FARMS (The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies) argues that Book of Mormon lands should be located in Central America. See for example Sorenson's "An Ancient American Setting For The Book of Mormon." Anyone who reads FARMS' arguments should also read two other books:

Delbert Curtis' "Christ in North America"

Vernal Holley's "Book of Mormon Authorship"

These books present overwhelming evidence that the "land northward" was southern Canada, the "land southward" was the New York / Pennsylvania area, the "east sea" was what we now call Lake Erie, the "west sea" was what we now call Lake Ontario, and the "narrow neck of land" was the narrow strip that joins them all. At this point some readers may have questions. Relax. Your questions are answered in those two books.

Please note: Curtis is a very orthodox believer, while Holley is less orthodox. Apart from the geography they have very little in common. The important thing is that these two books deserve a much wider audience. This page summarises their main points.

First, Cumorah is in New York, not Central America. Read Doctrine and Covenants 128:20: "And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfilment of the prophets-the book to be revealed. A voice of the Lord in the wilderness of Fayette, Seneca county, declaring the three witnesses to bear record of the book! The voice of Michael on the banks of the Susquehanna, detecting the devil when he appeared as an angel of light! The voice of Peter, James, and John in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna county, and Colesville, Broome county, on the Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the kingdom, and of the dispensation of the fulness of times!"

The verse plainly starts with the coming forth of the Book of Mormon from a hill in New York State. The location is named as Cumorah. For Mormons, this is scripture.

Second, the Central America theory is a recent invention with no prophetic support. This has been documented extensively elsewhere on the Zarahmla City Limits site. In response, FARMS writers point out that, in 1842, after Stephens published his famous book about Central America, a church newspaper suggested that the Central American remains might have been Nephite. But the same newspaper also identified sites much further north as Nephite. In other words, Nephite remains were believed to be throughout the Americas, and not just limited to one smal part.

Third, the Central America model has severe problems. For example, the "narrow neck of land" is far too wide (as Hugh Nibley pointed out). And the most important directions, "north" and "south," must be changed to "east" and "west."

Fourth, the evidence for Central America is much weaker than the evidence for the Great Lakes. For example, numerous locations in the Great Lakes area still have the Book of Mormon names. Curtis' and Holley's books have other examples.

Fifth, of all the Book of Mormon sites identified by prophets, none of them is in Central America. We have the hill Cumorah, as already noted. We have the bones of Zelph found on the Zion's Camp march. And we have Manti, Utah, where (according to Brigham Young) the site of the temple was dedicated by Moroni. And we have Manti in Randolph County:

"In 1836, the Prophet Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and others, found it best, on account of apostasy and bitterness, to leave Kirtland and go to Far West, Mo., where the Saints were endeavoring to establish themselves. On September 25, they passed through Huntsville, Randolph Co., and the Prophet is said to have told the brethren that that place, where a stake of Zion had been established, was the ancient site of the city of Manti." (See Reynolds and Sjodahl, Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol 2 1956, p. 324.)

Sixth, Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: "From all the evidence in the Book of Mormon, augmented by the testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, these final battles took place in the territory known as the United States and in the neighborhood of the Great Lakes and hills of Western New York. And here Moroni found the resting place for the sacred instruments which had been committed to his care." (Doctrines of Salvation, Joseph Fielding Smith. Compiled by Bruce R. McConkie. 3 vols. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1954-56, p.238-240.)

Finally, the Great Lakes region contains numerous sites that still have Book of Mormon names. Vernon Holley's book re-constructed the internal geography of the Book of Mormon and superimposed it on the modern Great Lakes area - there is a precise fit. This is just a list of the names:

In comparison, despite many years of searching, FARMS has been unable to find a single Book of Mormon name in Central America. No wonder. They are looking in the wrong place.