Joseph was killed in 1844, after a turbulent 14 year ministry. Let us assume for a moment that despite his numerous revelations and visits from otherworldly beings he was somehow wrong about the American Indian being directly descended from ancient Hebrews. What would one reasonably expect to happen if we assume that Jesus Christ is at the head of the LDS Church?
The Lord was very explicit that the Book of Mormon was to get into the hands of the literal descendants of the Book of Mormon people, as we can see from the revelations in Part 2 of this essay. He gave a direct commandment that the Church should do so. Consequently, in the 19th-century and increasingly so in the 20th century, we have seen the Church spend precious (and sometimes scarce) resources to that very end. If the Lord is truly at the head of the LDS Church, and if Joseph Smith was truly incorrect in his assumptions about the American Indian, then certainly the Lord would have corrected this oversight at some point in the Church's history in order to curtail the waste of such valuable resources. After all, what exactly do we mean when we say that the Church is based on "continuing revelation"? What good is "continuing revelation" in theory if it has no practical use, and vast amounts of money and time are wasted on efforts not fulfilling the Lord's direct commandments?
As the ensuing statements by Church leaders throughout the 150 years following Joseph Smith will show, the Church has been consistent in its views regarding Book of Mormon lands and people, from the angel Moroni's first visit, to the statements of the current prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley. Therefore, if the Lord is leading the Church, it would seem that no correction of Joseph Smith's statements has been needed — the Hemispheric Model of Book of Mormon lands appears to be the divinely-approved model.
Not long after Joseph's death, the Quorum of the Twelve issued an official statement to the world which read in part:
We also bear testimony that the "Indians" (so called) of North and South America are a remnant of the tribes of Israel, as is now made manifest by the discovery and revelation of their ancient oracles and records.
And that they are about to be fathered, civilized, and made one nation in this glorious land.
They will also come to the knowledge of their forefathers, and of the fulness of the gospel; and they will embrace it, and become a righteous branch of the house of Israel. [...]
Let the government of the United States also continue to gather together, and to colonize the tribes and remnants of Israel (the Indians), and also to feed, clothe, succour, and protect them, and endeavour to civilize and unite; and also to bring them to the knowledge of their Israelitish origin, and of the fulness of the gospel which was revealed to, and written by their forefathers on this land, the record of which has now come to light. [...]
He [the Lord] has revealed the origin and the records of the aboriginal tribes of America, and their future destiny.--And we know it. [...]
And last, but not least, we would invite the Editor of the Cherokee Advocate, and others of the remnant of Joseph, to publish the same as extensively as possible in the Indian tongues. (A Proclamation of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: To all the kings of the world; to the president of the United States of America; to the governors of the several states and to the rulers and peoples of all nations; 1845)
Note that the above statement was made during a time in which the Quorum of the Twelve was acting as the First Presidency, since the First Presidency had been dissolved upon Joseph Smith's death and had not been restored. As such, it should be taken as having the same force as such a statement coming from today's First Presidency.
In addition to it being an official statement from the Church's highest ruling body, it is clear that the Quorum was speaking from the perspective of a testimony given to them from the Holy Ghost, which, according to LDS theology, is the highest form of knowledge available to man. ("We bear testimony", "and we know it"). This should not be easily discounted.
Brigham Young, the second prophet of the LDS Church, was also very consistent with Joseph Smith, the angel Moroni, and the Lord:
The Lamanites or Indians are just as much the children of our Father and God as we are....
There is a curse on these aborigines of our country who roam the plains, and are so wild that you cannot tame them. They are of the House of Israel; they once had the Gospel delivered to them, they had the oracles of truth; Jesus came and administered to them after his resurrection, and they received and delighted in the Gospel until the fourth generation when they turned away and became so wicked that God cursed them with this dark and benighted and loathsome condition.
I believe that the Lord permits them to chasten us at the present time to convince us that we have to overcome the vindictive feelings which we have harbored towards that poor, downtrodden branch of the House of Israel. (Discourses of Brigham Young, selected by John Widtsoe, pp. 188-189)
* * * * * * * * * * I wish now to put you in mind of a few things. Do you pray for Israel? You will no doubt answer in the affirmative. These Indians are the seed of Israel, through the loins of Joseph who was sold into Egypt; they are the children of Abraham, and belong to the chosen seed; were it not so, you would never have seen them with dark, red skins. This is in consequence of the curse that has been placed upon them, which never would have come upon them in the world, had their fathers not violated the order of God, which was formerly among them; for in proportion to the light they sinned against, so were they reduced by the curse of God, which has been visited upon their children for many generations. They are of the House of Israel, and the time has come for the Lord to favor Zion, and redeem Israel. We are here in the mountains, with these Lamanites for our neighbors, and I hesitate not to say, if this people possessed the faith they ought to have, the Lord Almighty would never suffer any of the sons of Jacob to injure them in the least; no never. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, p.106)
* * * * * * * * * * Before the Book of Mormon was printed, and immediately after Joseph Smith obtained the plates, and the revelations he received concerning this record being the record of the Nephites, and of the Lamanites, who are the fathers of the present aborigines of our country, and in which the Lord told him that He was about to set to His hand the second time to gather Israel, the war commenced against him; this was long before the book was printed. (Brigham Young, February 18, 1855 (Talk 2); Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, p.179)
* * * * * * * * * * Just as soon as the Book of Mormon was declared to the people, or to a neighborhood, and proclaimed to be the history of the aborigines of our country, and to contain the will of God to the people formerly, and that the Lord Jesus appeared to the inhabitants of this continent and revealed to them the Gospel; that the kingdom of God was built up here; that the Lamanites were a remnant of the house of Israel; and that the set time had come for the Lord to favor Zion and gather Israel; at that very time, on that very day, the powers of darkness were arrayed against the Prophet, against the Book of Mormon, and those who believed it to be what it purported to be. (Brigham Young, April 6, 1855; Journal of Discourses, Vol. 2, pp. 248, 249)
* * * * * * * * * * There are millions and millions of spirits in these valleys, both good and evil. We are surrounded with more evil spirits than good ones, because more wicked than good men have died here; for instance, thousands and thousands of wicked Lamanites have laid their bodies in these valleys. The spirits of the just and unjust are here. (Brigham Young, December 4, 1856; Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4)
* * * * * * * * * * Those guards fought us, whipped us, killed our Prophets, and abused our community, until we are now driven by them into the very midst of the Lamanites. (Brigham Young, August 9, 1857; Journal of Discourses, Vol. 5)
* * * * * * * * * * The people do not realize what they have done by driving us into the midst of the Lamanites. ... These Lamanites begin to have a knowledge of their forefathers, and they are cultivating the earth. (Brigham Young, September 13, 1857; Journal of Discourses, Vol. 5, p.236)
* * * * * * * * * * Here are the LamanitesÑdescendants of Joseph... (Brigham Young, June 22-29, 1864; Journal of Discourses, Vol. 10)
* * * * * * * * * * It is prophesied by Nephi as follows: "For after the book [Book of Mormon] of which I have spoken shall come forth, and be written unto the Gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall believe the words which are written; and they shall carry them forth unto the remnant of our seed [the present American Indians.] And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews. (Brigham Young, November 6, 1864 (talk 2); Journal of Discourses, Volume 10)
* * * * * * * * * * After his crucifixion he came to this continent, chose Twelve Apostles from among the people and sent them forth to preach his Gospel. He also did many mighty miracles. He was seen to come from heaven down into the midst of the people. He organized his Church amongst them, healed the sick, and left his Church and Gospel in their midst. I am sorry to say that we see the descendants of this very people now in a very low and degraded state. I refer to the aborigines or native Indians of this continent. But this is in consequence of their apostasy and turning item God. The aborigines of this country are the descendants of this very people whom Jesus visited, to whom he delivered his Gospel, and among whom he organized his Church. They were obedient for over three hundred years, and served God with an undivided heart, after which they began to apostatize. For three hundred years the people on the continent of North and South America were benefitted by the work of the Savior in organizing his Church and revealing every principle and ordinance calculated to assist them back into the presence of God. Is not that good? (Brigham Young, May 29, 1870; Journal of Discourses, Vol. 13, pp.174-175)
* * * * * * * * * * We have Israel in our midst; we live upon their land; we have communion with them and we are under the necessity of feeding and clothing them to a certain extent, and to preserve peace with them at present, until they come to a knowledge of the truth. I mean the Lamanites, the aborigines of our country. They are of the House of Israel. (Brigham Young, October 6, 1870; Journal of Discourses, Vol. 13, p.262)
Other leaders, both Prophets and Apostles, many of whom were close associates with Joseph Smith when he was alive, have consistent testimonies:
It was also made manifest to him, that the "American Indians" were a remnant of Israel; that when they first emigrated to America, they were an enlightened people, possessing a knowledge of the true God, enjoying his favour...
...The principle nation of the second race [Nephites], fell in battle towards the close of the fourth century. The remaining remnant, having dwindled into an uncivilized state, still continue to inhabit the land, although divided into a "multitude of nations," and are called by Europeans the "American Indians." ...
...We have also stated when, and by whom they [the Gold Plates] were written; that they contain the history of nearly one-half of the globe, from the earliest ages after the flood, until the beginning of the fifth century of the Christian era. (Orson Pratt, An Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions, and of the Late Discovery of Ancient American Records)
* * * * * * * * * * [Discussing the mystery of Native American origins] Whence came they? What were their names? Why had they fallen? None knew. ... Who, then would answer? One day a little boy went into the woods and prayed. God answered him and gave him more than he asked. A book came forth by the power of God; a buried record, hidden in a hill. It told the story of the past, it prophesied of the future, and from that hour, Joseph Smith, the despised Mormon Prophet, became the real discoverer of America. (Orson F. Whitney, "Home Literature";, p. 155)
* * * * * * * * * * ...for two hundred years peace spread her white wings over the great continents of North and South America, and the entire people, Nephites and Lamanites, were converted unto Christ, were brethren and sisters, and all socially equal. (Orson F. Whitney, "Zion and Her Redemption"; Brian Stuy, Collected Discourses Vol. 1)
* * * * * * * * * * The Book of Doctrine and Covenants says that the Lamanites must be established before the Lord shall come in His glory. There are 12,000,000 of Lamanites in Mexico and Central America. This shows the magnitude of the work to be done among that race alone. (Apostle Moses Thatcher, General Conference, Saturday Afternoon, October 4, 1890)
* * * * * * * * * * Seeing a portion of our gallery occupied by a quite a number of our Lamanite brethren and sisters, I feel disposed to make a few remarks.
The first time I ever saw Joseph Smith was in April, 1834. I met him in the streets of Kirtland. He invited me to his house. I stopped with him while preparing to go up to Zion in Zion's camp. On Sunday he called a Priesthood meeting. They all gathered in a little cabin. There I first heard Joseph Smith speak publicly, also Hyrum Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Parley and Orson Pratt, and William E. McLellin. The Prophet called upon the Elders to bear testimony of the Gospel of Christ, and they arose one after another and bore a short testimony. Then Brother Joseph arose and said: "Brethren, I am very much edified and interested in listening to your testimony. But I want to tell you that you know no more concerning the result of this work and what lies before you as the Elders of Israel and before this people, than a parcel of little children." I expect they were all a little startled by it. He told them this work would fill the whole earth, and that all nations would have to hear the proclamation of the Gospel. He further said: "This work will fill the Rocky Mountains with tens of thousands of Latter-day Saints, and there will be joined with them the Lamanites who dwell in those mountains... I little thought, when I listened to those words... that I should ever visit the Rocky Mountains, or ever see the Lamanites of whom he then was speaking. These men before me today bring to my mind sayings of the Prophet. His mind expanded on that occasion and he had a good deal to say with regard to the progress of this work, what the Elders of Israel would have to pass through, and the work that God would require at their hands in the redemption of the Lamanites and the honest and meek throughout the world, and in the building up of the Zion of God on the earth. But I have lived to see these days. I have lived to see the Lamanites in these mountains. I have visited a great many of themÑthe Zunis, Lagunas, Moquis, Navajoes, Apaches, and a great many of these Indian tribes. I have preached the Gospel to them, in connection with my brethren, through interpreters. I have spent many interesting days with these Lamanites in the mountains of Israel. I spent three days in the wilderness in Arizona with Perone, the great war chief of the nation. I preached the Gospel to him. He called his tribe together, stood upon his feet some two hours or more, and told his tribe all that we had said to him. This tribe was looked upon as a very dangerous one in the midst of the nation, and this Petone had engaged in a great deal of warfare.
I rejoice that I have lived to see this day; that I have lived to see the Rocky Mountains; that I have been gathered with the Latter-day Saints here. A great deal has been done by this people, but much more will have to be done... I believe the day will come when these Lamanites, with the dark skin that rests upon them, will enter into these Temples of the Lord in these mountains and do a great deal of work. They will come to an understanding of the redemption of the dead. They will have wisdom given unto them. They will have light and truth given unto them, and the spirit of their forefathers will be manifest unto them. I am thankful that I am able to see these Lamanites here. (Wilford Woodruff, address at The Salt Lake Temple; Brian Stuy, Collected Discourses Volume 3, p.85)
* * * * * * * * * * There is no other element that the heavens look to but the rising generation of the Latter-day Saints, in connection with the Lamanites, and they will be true and faithful. (Wilford Woodruff, "Blessings of the Rising Generation"; Brian Stuy, Collected Discourses Volume 3)
* * * * * * * * * * Today we see the Lamanites wandering forth as a dark and loathsome people upon the North and South American continent, and also upon some of the Pacific islands. (John W. Taylor, "Morality and Chastity"; Brian Stuy, Collected Discourses Volume 5)
* * * * * * * * * * Where will you find a more corrupt set than the descendants of Ephraim, so far fallen and so debased a set as the Indians that dwell in these mountains, and that roam wildly over the broad prairies of this country? (John Taylor, June 12, 1853; Journal of Discourses Volume 1)
* * * * * * * * * * Israel are upon all the face of the earth. Some think that these American Indians are Israel, and we think that they are too; but they are only one part or portion of the twelve tribes; indeed, they are only a very small portion of the tribes of Joseph, the most of them being the descendants of Manasseh. ...
Now, is there any indication about the house of Joseph coming to America? Says one, "If I really thought these American Indians were the descendants of Joseph, I should be inclined to think that the Book of Mormon was actually the record of Joseph." (Orson Pratt, April 7, 1855; Journal of Discourses, Volume 2)
* * * * * * * * * * ...and among the various tribes of Lamanites that are scattered over this vast continent. (Orson Pratt, April 6, 1856; Journal of Discourses, Vol. 3, p.300)
* * * * * * * * * * The door has already been unlocked to the Lamanites in these mountains, and they will begin to embrace the Gospel and the records of their fathers, and their chiefs will be filled with the Spirit and power of God, and they will rise up in their strength, and a nation will be born in a day, because they are of the seed of Abraham, and God has promised to bless the descendants of Abraham, and they will be saved with the house of Israel, for the Lord has spoken it, and made those promises unto them through their fathers. (Wilford Woodruff, February 22, 1857; Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, p.231)
* * * * * * * * * * I bless the elements in these mountains; and my prayer is that the fathers of these LamanitesÑthe old prophets and old patriarchsÑwill visit them by night and by day; and they will do it when the proper time comes, and they will visit this people when they are worthy and when it is necessary. (Heber C. Kimball, September 27,1857; Journal of Discourses Volume 5)
* * * * * * * * * * It [The Book of Mormon] professes to contain the history of part of the tribe of Joseph, who came out of the land of Jerusalem 600 years before Christ, and colonized the American continent. These Indian tribes are their descendants. (Orson Pratt, January 2, 1859; ,i>Journal of Discourses Volume 7)
* * * * * * * * * * ...Those who survived the overwhelming judgments of war and famine were left only to sink into the lowest depths of degradation and misery. Their descendants are called by us American Indians. (Orson Pratt, August 14, 1859; Journal of Discourses Volume 7)
* * * * * * * * * * Here are numbers of the Lamanites before me. [...]
We are called upon to begin here in the city of Provo, on the lands that these Lamanites call their own, and where they have chosen their homes. (Orson Pratt, July 15, 1855; Journal of Discourses Volume 9)
* * * * * * * * * * ...and we should be as ready to preach to these Lamanites as we are to the Gentiles. Are they not of the seed of Israel? (Wilford Woodruff, July 15, 1855; Journal of Discourses Volume 9)
* * * * * * * * * * ... He appeared on this great Western Hemisphere, peopled by numerous nationsÑthe remnants of the House of Israel, of whom our American Indians are the descendants. They saw Jesus as well as the Jews at Jerusalem. They beheld the wounds in His hands, in His feet, and in His side. They saw Him descend clothed in a white robe; they saw Him come down into the midst of their assemblies, in the northern portion of what we call South America. (Orson Pratt, June 14, 1868; Journal of Discourses Volume 12, p. 252)
* * * * * * * * * * After the destruction of the Jaredites, the Lord brought two other colonies to people this land. One colony landed a few hundred miles north of the Isthmus on the western coast; the other landed on the coast of Chili, upwards of two thousand miles south of them. The latter were called the Nephites and Lamanites. It was some four or five centuries after these two colonies came from Jerusalem and occupied the country before they amalgamated. A little over one century before Christ the Nephites united with the Zarahemlaites in the northern portions of South America, and were called Nephites and became a powerful nation. The country was called the land Bountiful, and included within the land of Zarahemla. But to go back to their early history. Shortly after the Nephite colony was brought by the power of God, and landed on the western coast of South America, in the country we call Chili, there was a great divison among them. The righteous were threatened by the wicked who sought to destroy them. The Lord warned Nephi, their leader, to flee from among the Lamanites, to depart for the safety of himself and his family and those that believed in the revelations of God. Nephi and the righteous separated themselves from the Lamanites and traveled about eighteen hundred miles north until they came to the head waters of what we term the Amazon river. There Nephi located his little colony in the country supposed to be Ecuador, a very high region, many large and elevated mountains being in that region. (Orson Pratt, December 27, 1868; Journal of Discourses Vol. 12, p.342)
* * * * * * * * * * He [Christ] also chose twelve disciples to administer his Gospel on this land and for the ministration of the Holy Ghost. The twelve disciples went forth and preached the Gospel, commencing in South America, and then went into North America, until all the people both in North and South America were converted, receiving the principles of the GospelÑnamely, baptism, and the laying on of hands, and all the other principles as preached in our day. About two centuries after this, the Nephites fell into wickedness: the Lamanites, who dwelt in the southern portion of South America, also apostatized; and they began to wage war with the Nephites, who were their enemies; and being exceedingly strong they drove all the Nephites out of South America and followed them with their armies up into the north country, and finally overpowered them. They were gathered together south of the great lakes in the country which we term New York. (Orson Pratt, February 19, 1871; Journal of Discourses Volume 14)
* * * * * * * * * * After landing on the western coast of South America, they divided into two colonies, one colony called Lamanites, the other called Nephites. [...]
At the time of the crucifixion the Nephites dwelt in North America and also occupied a portion of South America. [...]
About three hundred and seventy-five years after the birth of Christ, the Nephites occupying North America, the Lamanites South America, and wars having existed between them for nearly fifty years, the Lamanites began to overpower the Nephites, and they drove them northward from the narrow neck of land which we call the Isthmus of Darien... The Nephites continued to flee before their conquerors until they came into the interior of the State of New York.
Now let me here remark that this remnant of the house of Israel or Jacob, which we term the American Indians, are eventually to become a righteous branch of the house of Israel... (Orson Pratt, February 11, 1872; Journal of Discourses Volume 14)
* * * * * * * * * * ...the Lord led one of the Prophets, whose name was Lehi and his sons, and one or two, other families from the land of Jerusalem to this American continent. That was about six hundred years before Christ; of these families the American Indians are the descendants. (Orson Pratt, February 4, 1872; Journal of Discourses Volume 15, p. 70)
* * * * * * * * * * I know the day is not far distant when young men, now living in these mountains, will be commissioned to go, not to the Gentiles, for their times will be fulfilled, but the Lord will say to themÑ"Go forth and fish and hunt up Israel in the four quarters of the earth. Go to the remnants of Joseph that are in South America, and scattered over this vast continent from the frozen regions of the north to Cape Horn in South America; go and teach them the Gospel, for they are a remnant of the tribe of Joseph: and his arm will be made have in that day in such a manner that they will not reject the truth, and they will be grafted in again into their own olive tree, and become a righteous branch of the house of Israel.
That is the destiny of our Indian tribes. (Orson Pratt, September 25, 1874; Journal of Discourses Volume 16)
* * * * * * * * * * ...the Lord God made a promise to the forefathers of the Indians, about six hundred years before Christ, that all this continent should be given to them and to their children after them for an everlasting inheritance... (Orson Pratt, February 7, 1875; Journal of Discourses Vol. 17, p.300)
* * * * * * * * * * This remnant, the American Indians, do not comprise all Israel, they are but a small remnant of one single tribe, namely the descendants of that Joseph who was carried into Egypt. [...]
The Lord gave North and South America to these Indians, nearly six hundred years before Christ. And he promised that the Gentiles, in the latter days, who should come upon the face of this land, if they would repent when this Gospel should come forth unto them, they should have the privilege of receiving their inheritance in common with this remnant of IsraelÑthese Indians. (Orson Pratt, April 11, 1875; Journal of Discourses Volume 18)
* * * * * * * * * * Where will this work commence among the house of Israel? Among the remnant that we call the American Indians, who are the literal descendants of Israel. (Orson Pratt, July 18, 1875; Journal of Discourses Volume 18)
* * * * * * * * * * God looks to us to build these Temples, and to bring about the redemption of the earth. He holds us responsible for this work; we have to preach to the house of IsraelÑto the LamanitesÑto gather together the honest in heart from all parts of the earth. We are chosen to perform this great and important workÑwe, a small handful of people compared with the millions of human beings on the earth. The Lord does not expect any other people but the Latter-day Saints to do this work; there is nobody else preparing. (Wilford Woodruff, October 13, 1877; Journal of Discourses Volume 19)
* * * * * * * * * * The American Indians are a remnant of the ancient inhabitants of this continent... The Lamanites, now a down-trodden people, are a remnant of the house of Israel. (Wilford Woodruff, June 12, 1881; Journal of Discourses Volume 22)
* * * * * * * * * * If the Spirit gives me liberty I will pursue the train of thought that has passed through my mind while Brother Richards has been speaking upon the spirit that has gone abroad upon the remnants of the house of Israel who occupy this land, the American Indians whom we understand to be the descendants of the Nephites, the Lamanites, the Lemuelites and [p.8] the Ishmaelites who formerly possessed this land, whose fathers we have an account of in the Book of Mormon. Those who are most familiar with their history, and with the history of our settlements in these mountains for the last thirty yearsÑthe manner in which we have sent out our colonies to locate upon the land of the Lamanites... (Erastus Snow, February 5, 1882; Journal of Discourses Volume 23)
* * * * * * * * * * We (the Twelve Apostles, Seventies and others) are called to go forth to preach the Gospel to the Lamanites and organize them. I am glad of it. I have felt for a long time that we should turn our attention to them. They are the literal descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the Lord is working in their midst. (Wilford Woodruff, December 10, 1882; Journal of Discourses Volume 23)
* * * * * * * * * * The Gospel must be preached to the Lamanites, those red men of the forest, who are a branch of the house of Israel, whose forefathers came from old Palestine to this continent. (Chas. W. Penrose, May 18, 1883; Journal of Discourses Volume 24)
* * * * * * * * * * ...the aborigines of this continent, called the American Indians, but really the descendants of Jacob. (George Teasdale, January 13, 1884; Journal of Discourses Volume 25)
I have probably burdened the reader with too many examples, but these are just a fraction of the many pronouncements from the pulpit in the 19th century. I will forego giving the reader the same number of examples from the 20th century, but they are available.
Suffice it to say, that the vast majority of the prophets and apostles in both the 19th and 20th centuries have made it clear that the Nephites and Lamanites were not "limited" in their geography on the Western Hemisphere. The overwhelming consensus of our "prophets, seers and revelators" is that Lehi's literal descendants covered the entire Western Hemisphere and the Polynesian Islands, and that Lehi's descendants today number in the millions throughout the same territory.
In fact, the Limited view of Book of Mormon people never started from the pulpit. It started in academic circles who were having a hard time reconciling their belief in the traditional view of the Book of Mormon with the facts surrounding Native Americans.
What should have put an end to the Limited view, is the forceful condemnation of this new theory from one of the sustained church leaders. Joseph Fielding Smith stated in no uncertain terms:
Within recent years there has arisen among certain students of the Book of Mormon a theory to the effect that within the period covered by the Book of Mormon, the Nephites and Lamanites were confined almost within the borders of the territory comprising Central America and the southern portion of Mexico; the Isthmus of Tehuantepec probably being the "narrow neck" of land spoken of in the Book of Mormon rather than the Isthmus of Panama...This modernistic theory of necessity, in order to be consistent, must place the waters of Ripliancum and the Hill Cumorah some place within the restricted territory of Central America, notwithstanding the teachings of the Church to the contrary for upwards of 100 years... In the light of revelation it is absurd for anyone to maintain that the Nephites and Lamanites did not possess this northern land... In the face of this evidence coming from the Prophet Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer, we cannot say that the Nephites and Lamanites did not possess the territory of the United States and that the Hill Cumorah is in Central America. ('The Deseret News', Church Section, Feb. 27, 1954, pp. 2-3)
Indeed, the development of what is today known as the Limited Geography Theory, has never been embraced by those sustained as "prophets, seers and revelators". Spencer W. Kimball, for instance, made these very clear remarks:
"With pride I tell those who come to my office that a Lamanite is a descendant of one Lehi who left Jerusalem six hundred years before Christ and with his family crossed the mighty deep and landed in America. And Lehi and his family became the ancestors of all of the Indian and Mestizo tribes in North and South and Central America and in the islands of the sea, for in the middle of their history there were those who left America in ships of their making and went to the islands of the sea. [...] Now the Lamanites number about sixty million; they are in all of the states of America from Tierra del Fuego all the way up to Point Barrows, and they are in nearly all the islands of the sea from Hawaii south to southern New Zealand. The Church is deeply interested in all Lamanites because of these revelations and because of this great Book of Mormon, their history that was written on plates of gold and deposited in the hill. [...]
"The term Lamanite includes all Indians and Indian mixtures, such as the Polynesians, the Guatemalans, the Peruvians, as well as the Sioux, the Apache, the Mohawk, the Navajo, and others. It is a large group of great people.
"[...] [Addressing the Lamanites of the Church] My brothers and sisters, you belong to a great race. Your father is Joseph who was sold into Egypt, the virtuous man who went to prison rather than yield to the seduction of a queen. Your father was Jacob, the father of twelve sons. You came through one of them. One of the great prophets of all times, your father, was Isaac. Another great prophet, your father, was Abraham, than whom there were no greater ones. Abraham was a great man who walked and talked with God. He is your father back those many generations. Be proud of him and know that you are of royal blood; with your royal blood you can achieve, rising to the top. ... You are of royal blood, the children of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Lehi." (Spencer W. Kimball, "Of Royal Blood," Ensign, July 1971)
* * * * * * * * * * "Our Lamanite work has been going forward. The American Indians and others of the Lamanites, 60 million or more of them in South and Central America and Mexico and the islands, are accepting the gospel. [...] We are told that there are some thirty-six missions directed largely toward the Lamanite people. There are sixty stakes, with more being organized, which have large Lamanite memberships. [...] The Book of Mormon prophecy which promises 'nursing fathers and nursing mothers' for the Lamanites is being fulfilled. Some 10,000 or 15,000 Indian students are being taught in the seminaries and other instructional institutions of religion, and hundreds of the more mature students are receiving their degrees from Brigham Young University, probably the greatest benefactor of Lamanite students among all higher learning institutions... We are very proud of our Lamanites." (Spencer W. Kimball, "A Report and a Challenge," Ensign, Nov. 1976)
In 1981, not long after Pres. Kimball made these statements, the Church published the current edition of the Book of Mormon — long after the Limited Geography Theory had gained significant support in the academic circles, and long after Church leaders were made aware of the Theory (as evidenced by Joseph Fielding Smith's statement above, as well as statements made by others). Yet, the Church still reinforced the Hemispheric Model by stating in the introduction to the book that the Lamanites "are the principal ancestors of the American Indians." Apologists often discount that statement as the mere opinion of Elder Bruce R. McConkie who worked on the new edition. However, even if Elder McConkie wrote the words, it still remains a fact that the leadership of the Church accepted his words and included them in the official canon of the Church. And, just as telling, those words have never been rescinded. Over 20 years later, these words can still be found in the Introduction to the Book of Mormon.
I think that it's significant that even the present-day "prophet, seer, and revelator", Gordon B. Hinckley, does not, apparently, subscribe to the Limited Geography Theory, — at least not with the same "limits" the theory requires — despite the fact that he must have become acquainted with it at some point in his long tenure as prophet of the Church. Yet, despite his probable acquaintance with the theory, he has not changed his tune. According to his public speeches, he does not limit Lamanite people to just a small part of Meso-America. At the very least, President Hinckley is telling us that he believes that the literal descendants of Lehi today are located in such disparate places as Peru, Bolivia, Mexico and Guatemala:
Bless Thy saints in this great land and those from other lands who will use this temple. Most have in their veins the blood of Father Lehi. Thou hast kept Thine ancient promise. Many thousands "that walked in darkness have seen a great light." May the harvest that we have witnessed here foreshadow greater things to come as Thy work rolls on in power and majesty in this the dispensation of the fulness of times. (President Gordon B. Hinckley, December 1, 1983; Mexico City D.F. Mexico Temple Dedicatory Prayer)
* * * * * * * * * * We thank Thee, O God, for lifting the scales of darkness which for generations clouded the vision of the descendants of Lehi. We thank Thee for the wondrous light of the gospel, restored in this dispensation through the instrumentality of Thy servant Joseph Smith, whom Thou didst ordain a prophet to the nations. We thank Thee for the glorious vision given him in the opening of this dispensation. We thank Thee for the restored record of our ancestors, the record of Lehi, Nephi and Jacob, of Alma and Mosiah, of Benjamin and Mormon and Moroni. We thank Thee for this voice which has come from the dust to bear witness of the divinity of Thy Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. (President Gordon B. Hinckley, December 14, 1984; Guatemala City Guatemala Temple Dedicatory Prayer)
* * * * * * * * * * We are particularly mindful this day of the sons and daughters of Lehi. They have known so much of suffering and sorrow in their many generations. They have walked in darkness and in servitude. Now Thou hast touched them by the light of the everlasting gospel. The shackles of darkness are falling from their eyes as they embrace the truths of Thy great work. Surely father Lehi has wept with sorrow over his posterity. Surely he weeps today with gladness, for in this holy house there will be exercised the fullness of the priesthood to the blessing, not only of those of this and future generations, but also to the blessing of those of previous generations. (President Gordon B. Hinckley, January 10, 1986; Lima Peru Temple Dedicatory Prayer)
* * * * * * * * * * May the sons and daughters of father Lehi grow in strength and in fulfillment of the ancient promises made concerning them. May there be constant peace between the cultures and may they dwell together with love and respect one for another. (President Gordon B. Hinckley, March 6, 1999; Colonia Juarez Chihuahua Mexico Temple Dedicatory Prayer)
* * * * * * * * * * We remember before Thee the sons and daughters of Father Lehi. Wilt Thou keep Thine ancient promises in their behalf. Lift from their shoulders the burdens of poverty and cause the shackles of darkness to fall from their eyes. May they rise to the glories of the past. (President Gordon B. Hinckley, April 30, 2000; Cochabamba Bolivia Temple Dedicatory Prayer)
Even if we accept that the Lamanites were/are limited to the areas Pres. Hinckley mentioned above, the theory still wouldn't work. The area is too large. To shelter themselves from the attacks of critics, proponents of the Limited Geography Theory must limit the Book of Mormon lands to an extremely small area.
Part Four: Conclusion