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I've heard several time growing up that the Smithsonian Institute routinely uses the Book of Mormon (BOM) to locate and verify ancient sites in the Northern Hemisphere. Whenever this was discussed the parties involved would smile and nod. It would be accepted as fact without question. This is one way that rumor slowly becomes established fact.
I wrote to the Smithsonian and asked about this belief. Here is their reply.
Mormons have spent millions of dollars trying to prove the BOM through archeology/geography and have failed to produce one piece of evidence verified by a non-Mormon authority. A statement issued through the Church section of the newspaper Deseret News reflects their frustration.