Letter VII (7): Why is it called Cumorah?

Monday, September 21, 2026

Why is it called Cumorah?

In the pursuit of clarity, charity and understanding, we offer a suggestion at the end of this post for the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center.

The most obvious question visitors have when they visit the Hill Cumorah in New York is "Why is this hill called Cumorah?"

Yet there are zero exhibits that explain the reason.

And the missionaries serving there have no answer.

But the answer is simple and obvious.

Hill Cumorah Visitors Center exhibits

The hill is called Cumorah because that is how Moroni referred to it the first time he met Joseph Smith.

- Joseph and the rest of his family knew the hill as "Cumorah" before Joseph obtained the plates in 1827.
- Oliver Cowdery explained that this hill was the same Cumorah/Ramah mentioned in the Book of Mormon, which he knew because he had visited the repository of Nephite records in the hill (Mormon 6:6).
- David Whitmer knew it was Cumorah because he heard the name for the first time from the divine messenger who was taking the abridged plates from Harmony to Cumorah before bringing the plates of Nephi from Cumorah to Fayette for Joseph to translate.

All of this is well attested from several authentic sources in Church history.

But few Latter-day Saints know anything about this.

To be sure, the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center displays D&C 128:20.

And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfilment of the prophets—the book to be revealed.

(Doctrine and Covenants 128:20)

Anyone who reads that can see that Moroni announced the "glad tidings from Cumorah" before the book was revealed; i.e., before Joseph obtained and translated the plates.

That's what the historical record shows.

The passage is also featured on the website.