There are certain disciplines which frankly, lie almost wholly in the realm of acadamia. Genetics is certainly one these cases, I am entirely wary of someone who after having read a little about Mendel, suddenly begins an attempt to delineate the genetic history of a group of people for thousands of years in order to support a link to a religious claim. Finally, there is issue of the Michigan tablets. Many LDS, “part-time scholars” (business men playing like scholars) have embarassed themselves over these alleged forgeries during three centuries. Wayne May has been the lone defender of the relics now for some twenty years, while BYU and U of U professors of several disciplines have rejected the documents authenticity over the last 100 years. Not least among those who rejected the documents authenticity was the late Mormon Apostle, James E Talmage. If anyone would have wanted to believe that there was this kind of evidence in support of the Book of Mormon, certainly it would be a Mormon Apostle.

Thanks for your comments. We did try to work with Mr. Meldrum for months before our reviews were published. Unfortunately, those efforts were not fruitful.

You appear to be responding to our single initial review. Make sure you look at the in-depth reviews of each section of the DVD. You may find them enlightening.

-Allen

You are straining over a gnat. Just take the time to look at the research instead of wasting your breath on what he said about wasted funds that you wrongfully take offense to.

And yes it is obvious you take offense to the statement because you make such a big deal of it when it has nothing to do with the theory Mr. Meldrum is proposing and does not equate to questioning the judgement of church leaders. I understand his intent and if he believes that his theory is more correct, as I do, then why wouldn’t he feel like those were wasted funds? It is merely a statement of OPINION. Who cares! Get on with the research and get over your own high horse, be done with the bickering and help refine what is there. Good grief. Scholars like to pretend they are objective when in reality they are protecting their pet theories like a miser protects his money.

Some are sincere and have the humility to actually contribute after someone advances the idea that they may be wrong and those actually come back to contribut with positive research. Your remarks are inflamatory because you say that Mr. Meldrum said those were wasted funds and he didn’t say that. He said they were spent in vain, which can have a different meaning from the logic you advance. What I understood was that with all that has been spent, it has been in vain because NO CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE has ever come forth, not because it did not advance any good knowledge.

Many scientist and researchers appear to be too prideful to accept evidence against their own theories. They take it personal and seek to debase others research and character, even in the face of opposing evidence, because the most popular theories get all the funding and their reputation and lifes work is at stake, thus destroying any true objectivity. They already have an iron in the fire and don’t want someone else to steal their thunder. Unfortunately that is what I see going on here.

In your studies, make sure that you locate and read the full series of reviews provided by FAIR.

Best of luck in your explorations.

-Allen

I thought this was a very stimulating DVD. I got it from a person in our ward in California. I could not find any thing wrong with the Joseph Smith Quotes. I looked them up and I find them to be correct. I have listened to the information on the DVD and I am doing my own research, which is similar to the investigation that did when I joined the Church 33 years ago, and I have been doing that ever since. It works pretty well. Truth will always stand any test of any investigation. Just like the Book of Mormon continues to stand true under the investigation of all its critics. One good thing about the Church that it’s members can discern truth from error for them self. They do not need to be scientist.

I read the critical comments listed or posted on the Fair’s web site, but I could not find any real substance to the criticism of Rod Meldrum’s DVD. I was disappointed with the lack of meaningful comments. I would like to known the details of what is incorrect about the DVD—if you have any. It is clear that the comments on the DVD are not intended to speak for the Church. Rod Meldrum made this very clear as far as I am concern. If you have any real solid facts about why the information on the DVD is incorrect, I would like to hear about the detail.

The Church is not going to confirm or deny the findings of this report or any other reports of this DVD. The leaders of the Church are to smart to make that kind of a move. But as far as the non-members and the critics of the Church going after or attacking Rod Meldrum, let them do it. I will be happy to read their comments. But I have not found any substance with the work of the anti-Mormon’s in the past.

I am going to work on proving or disproving the information on the DVD. I may not do either. But the gospel is true either way. This is what Rod Meldrum position seems to be also.

As such, their collective opinions are no more, nor less, valid than any regular member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All members of the church are given the power of discernment through the gift of the Holy Ghost at baptism. It is encouraged that members use this God-given power to determine for themselves whether something is true or in error. Members need not assume that all truth must be first filtered through scholars before being able to find and know it for themselves.

“5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” (Book of Mormon | Moroni 10:5)

Members of FAIR have taken the research I have presented and the words I have spoken, and through what I believe to be conjecture and innuendo have misinterpreted and misrepresented them to imply things that I did not say nor intend.

I will not be drawn into further contentious argument and debate on the matter. This is contrary to the spirit of Christ.

“For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.” (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 11:29)

To be clear exactly where I stand, I make the following statements.

I have not, and do not claim to receive revelation for the church or any of its leaders or members.

I support and sustain current and past prophets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as Prophets, seers and Revelators.

I do not represent the church in any way in this research, and so state in my DVD, my presentations, and on my website (www.bookofmormonevidence.org) .

I do ask daily for personal guidance from the Lord in all aspects of my life through prayer, including my research, and will not deny that I have on occasion felt his guiding influence in my life. This is not contrary to the teachings of the gospel. Please see the following scriptures. I believe the scriptures are true. Following are quotes from the standard works pertaining to this subject.

“35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh.” (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 4:35)

“7 Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
8 For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.” (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 14:7 -

“20 And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.” (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 18:20)

“5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (New Testament | James 1:5)

“7 But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before me,…” (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 46:7)

“64 Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:64)

I am doing my utmost to be a servant of God and his son, Jesus Christ, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I know that I am not perfect, and neither is my research. I state this up front in the DVD. As mistakes are found, I will correct them. Please note that the presentation under review was a 4-hour long, non-scripted presentation before a live audience from memory. I could not include much of the total research as the content was limited to a four hour DVD.

I have posted the following on my website at http://www.bookofmormonevidence.org . “Correction Notice: A quote from President Hinckley used in the presentation is used incorrectly and will be removed from the next version of the DVD and all future presentations. It was incorrectly understood that the Prophet was speaking of all people who dismiss Joseph Smith, including LDS scholars; however it has been brought to my attention that President Hinckley spoke specifically of non-members and did not specifically mention scholars. As stated in the live, non-scripted presentation, if there are mistakes they will be corrected.”

This is an example of my willingness to correct mistakes when shown that such is the case. FAIR did not give me the courtesy of enough time to make the correction before publishing their review as I was on the road and had no internet access and therefore could not review the material, nor make the change on my website.

I am simply presenting ideas and information. It is fully referenced to enable those who would like to study further to do so. The information is available for those who seek further knowledge on this subject.

I invite anyone who wants to know what I have actually said to review the information I present and then make their own decision. It is every member’s right and responsibility to study it out for them self, then pray and ask the Lord to determine what is truth and what is not. The scriptures are clear how to judge for yourself whether something is of God or not.

“5 For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also.
10 Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good gift.
11 For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil.
12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.
13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.
19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.” (Book of Mormon | Moroni 7:5, 10- 19)

I testify that the Book of Mormon is first and foremost a spiritual witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. I also testify that it is a literal historical record of real people and events that did actually occur.

I testify to the Prophetic calling of Joseph Smith Jr. as the leader of this dispensation. I give my solemn witness that he did indeed translate the ancient records of Lehi’s posterity to bring forth the Book of Mormon. I also believe his prophetic statements, claimed by him to have been received by revelation.

I testify that the church today is headed by a prophet of God, currently President Thomas S. Monson, who guides and directs the affairs of the church on the earth today, and who is solely authorized to receive divine revelation appertaining to the body of the church.

Truth stands on its own.