IN the columns of the JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR there have appeared from time to time many interesting articles concerning the Book of Mormon and furnishing evidence of its divine authenticity. We feel sure that our readers peruse with interest the chapters which now appear, written by Elder Thomas A. Shreeve, upon "A Sacred History."

As our children multiply and education increases among them, there is a natural inclination to pay attention to all subjects connected with the Book of Mormon. The ancient history of this continent is a theme that possesses great interest to educated men in all lands, but especially to those who reside on the continent. Every discovery that is made, archaelogical, paleontological and antiquarian, contribute to establish the truth of the divine record, which God has given to us.

Among our own people there is considerable anxiety manifested to identify the sites of the ancient cities of the Nephites, and to locate the exact spots where the stirring scenes described in the Book of Mormon were enacted. There are a few points which can be identified. The hill known as Cumorah among the Nephites and as Ramah among the Jaredites, is a spot which we are now familiar with, it being the place where Moroni concealed the records of his fathers, and to which the Prophet Joseph was directed by his angel guide. While the Book of Mormon does not give us all the information necessary to identify the river Sidon under its modern name, it is understood that the Prophet Joseph communicated to some individual or individuals that it was the stream now known as the River Magdalena. It is also known that the landing place of Lehi and his family was near what is now known as the city of Valparaiso, in the Republic of Chili. The book itself does not give us this information, but there is no doubt of its correctness.

Beyond these few points, it may be said that the sites of the cities of the Nephites are left to conjecture. We have geographical descriptions by some of the writers of the Book of Mormon concerning the lands inhabited by the Lamanites and those inhabited by the Nephites: but they are not sufficiently definite to enable the reader to locate the lines exactly.

There has been a great anxiety manifested by some persons to get up maps of the regions which the Nephites inhabited. In every instance that I have noticed these maps differ one with the other, no two agreeing upon scarcely any point. I understand that attempts are now made to illustrate Book of Mormon history by the aid of maps, and the children are taught to look upon them as being, at least, tolerably correct.

Assistant Superintendent George Goddard wrote to me a short time since upon the subject of getting up a map under the auspices of the Sunday School Union, that would illustrate Book of Mormon history. He thought that it would be a great advantage to our children to have a map that would be deemed authentic for this purpose. His proposition led to correspondence upon the subject, and I think he became convinced that the suggestion was impracticable.

I have no confidence myself in the maps which I understand are being used. I am quite satisfied that in some particulars, at least, they are incorrect. In this opinion I am not alone. Others who have given the Book of Mormon considerable study think the authors of the maps are mistaken upon many points.

Now, I think it better that we should have no maps at all than to have an incorrect one. It is better not to attempt to teach our children upon the geography of the Book of Mormon than to teach them by means of agencies which are unreliable and misleading. If our children be permitted to conceive incorrect ideas concerning the location of the lands inhabited by the Nephites and the sites of their cities, it will be difficult to eradicate them. Therefore I am clearly of the opinion that it is unwise to use means of this character to illustrate Book of Mormon history.