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Mesoamerica and the Book of Mormon's "Narrow Neck of Land"
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Mesoamerica and the Book of Mormon's "Narrow Neck of Land"
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Summary: Most Latter-day Saint scholars of the Book of Mormon accept a Mesoamerican setting for the events described in the book. Those scholars believe that the Isthmus of Tehuantepec is the "narrow neck" referred to in the Book of Mormon, which separates the land northward from the land southward. Many question how the Isthmus of Tehuantepec could be the Book of Mormon's "narrow neck" when the Isthmus is 137 miles wide at its narrowest point.
FAIR takes no position on the geography of the Book of Mormon, but we do want to help those seeking a plausible setting for the events described in the Book of Mormon. Issues like these might allow people to dismiss Mesoamerica out of hand. Without a plausible setting for the Book of Mormon's events, people's testimony of the Book of Mormon's divine origins might founder. For this reason, the editors have decided to address two issues that might seem like easy reasons to dismiss the Mesoamerican setting for the Book of Mormon. The first relates to how Mesoamerica is geographically situated and the Book of Mormon's directionality. The second is the one this page responds to.
- Michael R. Ash, "Challenging Issues, Keeping the Faith: a Journey Across the 'Narrow Neck'," Deseret News, March 7, 2011.
- Ned Scarisbrick, "Fair Issues 95: a Journey Across the 'Narrow Neck'," FAIR, February 28, 2016.
- Mike Ash, Shaken Faith Syndrome, 2nd ed. (FAIR, 2013), 181–82.
- Joe V. Andersen, "Isthmus of Tehuantepec: Not the “Narrow Neck of Land”," Scripture Central.
- Andrew H. Hedges, "The Narrow Neck of Land," Religious Educator 9, no. 3 (2008): 151–60.
- Kirk Magleby, "The Narrow Strip of Wilderness," Scripture Central.
- The Narrow Pass and Narrow Passage," Scripture Central.