Synopsis

The Book of Mormon begins with a stirring account of Lehi's family fleeing Jerusalem through the wilderness to a new home in the Americas.  For decades, scholars have scoffed at many of the locations and conditions described by Lehi's son Nephi.  This new evidence shows that Nephi's account is completely accurate.

Two Latter-day Saints, with unprecedented access to the lands of the Middle East, having completed a six-year odyssey documenting the actual locations of Lehi's journey from Jerusalem to the land of Bountiful.  Their discoveries give tangible proof of the locations described by Nephi in the Book of Mormon.

Through the author's detailed descriptions, careful research, and spectacular photographs, such places as the River of Laman, the Valley of Lemuel and the Land of Bountiful come alive.  The authors also make clear where Nephi could have found wood to replace his broken bow, why the Lord commanded them not to build fires, and how Nephi could have built a ship to cross the sea.

Follow these modern explorers as they share 81 evidences that validate the Book of Mormon account.

Author Biography

George Potter first became interested in archaeology as an LDS missionary in Peru and Bolivia.  After a year at BYU and his mission, George returned to his home state of California and put aside his archaeological interest.  He graduated with high honours from the University of California at San Diego, and two years later received a master's degree from the University of California at San Diego and he became a certified public accountant. Later he entered management and consulting, two professions which have taken him to over forty countries, including a five-year stay in Zurich, Switzerland.  For the last ten years he has owned and operated Bear River Training and Consultancy, a training, e-learning and financial services company located in Saudi Arabia.  He has lectured at universities in the United States, Germany, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia.

Dr Richard Wellington graduated from Guy's Hospital dental school, University of London in 1980 with honours in paedodontics and orthodontics.  After graduation he moved to South Africa where he taught at the University of the Witswatersrand in Johannesburg and was in private practice in Sanditon.  In 1982 he returned to the U.K. and completed a master's in conservative dentistry at the Eastman Institute, London University.

In December 1983 he went to Saudi Arabia to work for the Arabian American Oil Company, where he worked for 18 years as a specialist in prosthodontics.  It was here that he met George Potter and they began their work on Old World Book of Mormon geography.  In 2000 he graduated as a C.D.T. (certified dental technician) from the U.S. National Board of Certification.  He returned to the UK in 2002 and presently works in private practice in Folkstone, England

 Endorsements

‘This is a rare and beautiful book… and the authors have left no stone unturned to leave the reader completely convinced on what it is…The authors bring up every argument that might be made against the authenticity of 1 Nephi, a very risky thing to do. The book of 1 Nephi is where Joseph Smith is most vulnerable… The authors have challenged him from one side and another, and Joseph Smith, as they point out, has never the slightest cause for embarrassment. After this those who challenge the Book of Mormon will have some heavy explaining to do.’

Hugh Nibley    7 November, 2003

"Any student ...of the Book of Mormon has to take [this book] seriously." 

S. Kent Brown  Professor of Ancient Scripture, Brigham Young University, Former director of the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies, Editor of Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, FARMS

In a nutshell "Lehi in the Wilderness" by George Potter and Richard Wellington, represents the most exciting and most extensive insights into the geographic and cultural background of Lehi's travels to the Promised Land that has ever been produced. It also represents the most significant work at this time on any facet of Book of Mormon geography. Potter and Wellington have paid the price in scholarship, they have sought out the best experts, they have done the necessary investigative fieldwork, they have searched the best libraries and museums, and they have made the best choices in what ideas to defend and what to discard. I say these things because I have followed their work for a number of years and have read all their manuscripts. I have also spent the time to collect and study every LDS article or book ever written on the subject of Book of Mormon culture and geography, of which Lehi's travels represent a significant part. 

Alan C. Miner, author, Step by Step through the Book of Mormon.