I’m not sure what this has to do with Meldrum’s funny abuse and misuse of buffalo evidence, but I see you’ve also posted similar remarks to all FAIR’s blog threads on Book of Mormon geography and the Meldrum DVD. I will add here what I added there.

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In between your sarcasm, it does not seem that you have paid very close attention to the discussion up to now. Since you are coming in late, hopefully we can make some things clear.

1) In the first place, FAIR does not hold the positions which you attribute to it.

FAIR endorses no geographical model of the Book of Mormon. There are members of FAIR who hold a North American model, some hold a continental model, some favor a Mesoamerican model, and a sizeable chunk don’t care and have no real opinion on the matter at all.

This is made very clear at the beginning of each section of the review listed here.

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2) In the second place, Joseph Smith made several statements about Book of Mormon geography. These statements changed over time–indicating that either he got revelation later in the process OR that he was speaking of his own best assessment of the evidence, and this changed as he learned more.

You can see all statements made by the prophet Joseph Smith here.

You can read about this and treatment of the evidence in our review of Rod Meldrum’s material here. You will note he both ignored evidence which did not fit his model, and distorted some which he did cite.

3) FAIR is not making the statement that prophets do not automatically know everything, especially peripheral details. FAIR has drawn that conclusion via numerous scriptures and statements of the modern prophets and apostles.

Joseph Smith himself said that a prophet was only a prophet “when he was acting as such.” Scripture makes it clear that even serious matters affecting the progress of the Church were not always revealed to Joseph (D&C 10:37).

In the LDS tradition, prophets are not omniscient, nor are they infallible

As George Q. Cannon explained:

The Presidency of the Church have to walk just as you walk. They have to take steps just as you take steps. They have to depend upon the revelations of God as they come to them. They cannot see the end from the beginning, as the Lord does. They have their faith tested as you have your faith tested. So with the Twelve Apostles. All that we can do is to seek the mind and will of God, and when that comes to us, though it may come in contact [conflict?] with every feeling that we have previously entertained, we have no option but to take the step that God points out, and to trust to Him… [George Q. Cannon, “Enduring to the End,” 5 October 1890; reported in ''Collected Discourses: delivered by Wilford Woodruff, his two counselors, the twelve apostles, and others'', Vol. 2, edited and compiled by Brian H. Stuy, (Woodland Hills, Utah: B. H. S. Publishing, 1988), 115–116.]

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Finally, leaders of the Church have repeatedly been clear that there is no revealed location for Book of Mormon geography.

FAIR aims to support and defend the leaders of the Church. And our review used their words on this point.

If you are convinced that the Church and its leaders are neglecting a revelation to the prophet Joseph Smith on Book of Mormon geography, and not teaching it, perhaps you should make your concern known by writing to:

President Boyd K. Packer
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
50 E. North Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150

You should explain to him how he and the other prophets and apostles are ignoring a revelation to Joseph Smith. You may even with to point out how FAIR members are also guilty of “heresy” on this point, as you put it, and that many employees of the Church’s flagship university (BYU, in Provo) have published and taught the same thing for over fifty years. You should also point out that Rod Meldrum is trying to correct this matter.

Please let us know how he replies.

Your recent comment on this and other blog threads (making essentially the same claims) are, unfortunately, why FAIR believed it was necessary to respond to the material and claims made by Rod Meldrum which are at variance with the teachings of the living prophets and the historical record.

I hope you will examine the evidence and refrain from charging members of the Church (including the prophets and apostles) who do not agree with you with heresy or a rejection of Joseph Smith’s or Brigham Young’s prophetic role.

Best wishes,

Greg Smith

Linda – I find it vaguely sad to observe your behavior. You must really think you’ve got something there. Unfortunately, your scattershot attempts at character assassination mean nothing to the validity and truthfulness of the church.

You might want to review the extensive literature on these matters.

For example, here and here. You’re only about 30 years out of date.

[Edited: the links now work.]

It seems that whenever people get so cocky that they think they know it all, things blow up on them.

Fun quote from Hyrum. Too bad it runs a bit counter to what his brother Joseph said:

Don’t be silly.

Hyrum didn’t say you’d be damned for believing false things. He just said that it would be better, all things considered, if you didn’t believe untruths. It’s always better to have just faith in true things, and no faith in false things.

I find it hard to believe anyone would quarrel with the idea that having faith in a false idea is not the optimum state of affairs.

Fun quote from Hyrum. Too bad it runs a bit counter to what his brother Joseph said:

“I never believed in a man being damned for believing too much.”