Is Zarahemla near Nauvoo, Illinois?

[SkepticTheist]

Just for clarification, as far as I know, this theory about Zarahemla in Iowa originated with Duane Erickson, not Meldrum. It has been around since the mid-90's and Meldrum is merely a perpetuator of it. I should know. I perpetuated it myself before Meldrum came along, and retracted it.

Ed Goble

D/C 125:3 "Let them build up a city unto my name upon the land opposite the city of Nauvoo, and let the name of aZarahemla be named upon it."

Rodney Meldrum claims that this scripture proves that Zarahemla is in North America, across the river from Nauvoo. As ridiculous as this is, Matt Roper has done an excellent job in answering this claim.

In March 1841, in a revelation now known as section 125 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord counseled the Saints in Iowa to gather at several appointed locations:

What is the will of the Lord concerning the saints in the Territory of Iowa? Verily, thus saith the Lord, I say unto you, if those who call themselves by my name and are essaying to be my saints, if they will do my will and keep my commandments concerning them, let them gather themselves together unto the places which I shall appoint unto them by my servant Joseph, and build up cities unto my name, that they may be prepared for that which is in store for a time to come. Let them build up a city unto my name upon the land opposite the city of Nauvoo, and let the name of Zarahemla be named upon it. And let all those who come from the east, and the west, and the north, and the south, that have desires to dwell therein, take up their inheritance in the same, as well as in the city of Nashville, or in the city of Nauvoo, and in all the stakes which I have appointed, saith the Lord. (D&C 125:1

[Kevin Christensen]

SNIP But modern geology makes a lie out of the Book of Mormon. SNIP

Indeed? Try Bart J. Kowallis, "In the Thirty and Fourth Year: A Geologist's View of the Great Destruction."

http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=6500

Kevin Christensen

Pittsburgh, PA

[urbanaut]

This is only my opinion, but it makes sense to me that by Joseph naming the place eventually settled as Nauvoo as "Zarahemla," he was calling it so symbolically and not geographically. I believe it was a prophetic message in a sense because by so naming the area Zarahemla, he was referring to the fact that it would eventually be the last city established by the Saints destroyed as was the case of the Nephites in Mormon 6 & 8.

[Anijen]

Indeed? Try Bart J. Kowallis, "In the Thirty and Fourth Year: A Geologist's View of the Great Destruction."

http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=6500

Kevin Christensen

Pittsburgh, PA

Excellent paper by the way! Thank you for the link. I printed it off (all 58 pages).

Urbanaut;

This is only my opinion, but it makes sense to me that by Joseph naming the place eventually settled as Nauvoo as "Zarahemla," he was calling it so symbolically and not geographically. I believe it was a prophetic message in a sense because by so naming the area Zarahemla, he was referring to the fact that it would eventually be the last city established by the Saints destroyed as was the case of the Nephites in Mormon 6 & 8.

symbolic is exactly correct. Thanks for your input and welcome to the board.