By Grok 4.2, 5/19/26
Jay Mackley (full name often given as Jay Dell Mackley) is a retired software engineer, computer scientist, web developer, business owner, and real estate investor from the Fort Madison, Iowa area (near Nauvoo, Illinois). He is best known in Latter-day Saint circles as the creator of the Zarahemla Centric Heartland Model (ZCHM or Zarahemla Model), a detailed, database-driven proposal for Book of Mormon geography centered in the North American Heartland.
Education: Graduate of Brigham Young University (BYU) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. He interrupted his studies for a full-time proselyting mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before completing his degree.
Professional Career: Worked in computer consulting, software engineering/analysis, web development, and owned businesses. He has since retired, allowing him to focus on scripture study, research, and related projects.
Location: Lives in the Fort Madison, Iowa region, which places him near key sites in his model (e.g., proposed locations for ancient Zarahemla across the Mississippi River from Nauvoo).
Starting in March 2015, Mackley invested approximately 7,000 hours (as of updates around 2024–2025) into developing a systematic, scripture-first model of Book of Mormon geography. His approach is distinctive because:
It is database-driven: He extracted and modeled hundreds of interrelationships (e.g., 872 relationships among 149 unique locations) from the Book of Mormon text itself, using computer analytics for consistency validation before mapping to real-world topography.
It prioritizes a logical model first (textual constraints only), then aligns it with physical locations — avoiding preconceived maps.
Core Anchor: Places the city/land of Zarahemla in the Midwest (near Montrose/Fort Madison, Iowa), consistent with D&C 125:3 and Helaman 1:27, with the Hill Cumorah in western New York.
The full model, maps, database, PDFs, and explanations are freely available on his site: zchm.theholyscriptures.info.
This work positions him as a prominent voice in "Heartland" geography discussions, distinguishing his "limited geography" variant from broader models through rigorous textual fidelity and computational methods. He has collaborated with groups like the Heartland Research Group and Zarahemla Quest (an RPG project).
Presentations and Media: Featured on podcasts and YouTube channels (e.g., Gospel Tangents, Zion Media) discussing his model, topics like DNA, geology, potential Nephite sites near Nauvoo, and translation philosophy. He has spoken at events, including seminars in Fort Madison and planned talks in Utah.
Writing: Maintains the "Jay Mackley LDS Zion blog" (blog.theholyscriptures.info), sharing insights on scripture, Church history, and Zion-related topics.
Community: Active in family and local efforts; involved in hosting seminars and supporting research into ancient American sites aligned with his model.
Mackley approaches his work with a scientific and faith-affirming mindset, emphasizing that the model enhances appreciation of the Book of Mormon’s internal consistency and historicity while inviting review and refinement. He is a dedicated Latter-day Saint who views his research as a contribution to understanding "this land" promised in scripture.
In short, Jay Mackley exemplifies the intersection of technical expertise and religious scholarship — using his professional skills to tackle one of the long-standing questions in Book of Mormon studies. His efforts highlight how personal background (e.g., proximity to proposed sites and computer science training) can shape deep, methodical inquiry into sacred texts. For the most direct and up-to-date view, his websites and presentations provide comprehensive primary sources.