How FIRM a Foundation

[structurecop]

Does anyone know anything about these people?

http://www.thefirmfoundationonline.org/

I've never heard of this organization, though its name seems to be a parody of FARMS or FAIR.

From their homepage:

The FIRM Foundation combines research from multiple disciplines to provide supporting evidence for the Book of Mormon, through DNA, prophetic, scriptural, historical, climatological, archaeological, social and cultural evidences. These evidences combine to show the wisdom of The Prophet, Joseph Smith, and the validity of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

[Ray Agostini]

I know that Rod Meldrum is associated with it in some way.

Book of Mormon Evidence. org.

[structurecop]

I know that Rod Meldrum is associated with it in some way.

Book of Mormon Evidence. org.

Interesting:

03.02.08 "If I may introduce myself, my name is [name withheld] and live in the Mesa Arizona area, and would like you to know how much I appreciate the work you've done on DNA in the Book of Mormon,... I have been an Institute director and teacher, worked for BYU in the Religion Dept. and in the Religious Study Center, and worked for the church doing specialized scripture research, and now lead LDS scripture tours mostly to the middle east and church history sites. 25 years ago I realized that the statements of Joseph Smith did not jive with the standard theories about the Book of Mormon lands, and I refused to teach those traditions and theories. In working for the Church I was told to use for research only: 1) the scriptures 2) Joseph Smith and 3) the words of the Prophets, while they were prophets. All else was to be considered opinion. This is why I couldn't go along with the traditional sites of Book of Mormon Lands, as well as numerous textual evidences within the Book itself. My fields of study were ancient languages and religions of the Ancient Near East, and have degrees in Hebrew, Egyptology, The History of Religion, and others. Many years ago I had a paper published in a book honoring Hugh Nibley called "By Study and Also by Faith" vol. 1, after viewing your DVD I remembered an article in the same volume by Cyrus Gordon, then the foremost scholar in Semitic languages in the world. Gordon spoke of the mounds in the river valleys in the United States and the Hebrew wittings there, oceanic migrations to there and even old Middle Eastern coins found in some of these mounds. Another note on the textural evidence has something to do with the Semitic way of writing and that is a phrase that should not be over looked which is "this land" in the Book of Mormon that phrase means "where I/we stand" i.e. "this is the place" along with the statements about the New Jerusalem by Christ and Moroni it always uses the phrase "this land" the statement "the land" is more general but "this land" is important with the modern prophecies. Like so many other things science has again proved that Joseph Smith is a prophet and did know what he talked about. ; It will be a long and tedious fight to get those who have spent, and earned so much money on the Central America theories as well as their reputations and books, to give credit to Joseph Smith and the DNA evidence. The truth will prevail." -Name Withheld

[Ray Agostini]

Interesting:

In case you missed it, Rod Meldrum on the FAIR Blog.

[Cold Steel]

No, but after more than three hours of painstaking research, and twenty minutes using Google Earth, I've concluded that the Book of Mormon lands are situated right in my neighborhood! I am thus happy to extend to all a very special pricing on tours of the newly found Book of Mormon land, including Zarahemla (now underwater), Cumorah (also underwater) and the narrow neck (partially underwater).

Bring your family and friends for a 3-day, 2-night tour of my neighborhoo...er...the Book of Mormon lands for only $999.99 per person (babies free). Don't forget your cameras and mosquito repellent. Price includes a bus tour, 3-4 lectures in my back yard and four packed ham sandwich lunches with chips and decaffeinated cola.

"I can honestly say I've never seen anything quite like this offer...."

â??Dr. Daniel Peterson

"I can't imagine something like this...will be offered for very long...."

â??Dr. William Hamblin

Sign up today! As Nephi would say, "Holimocum sen seti ses focum tu," or "Don't let the grass grow under your feet!"

Major credit cards accepted.

Zarahemla

Narrow neck of land.

[cinepro]

Does anyone know anything about these people?

http://www.thefirmfoundationonline.org/

I've never heard of this organization, though its name seems to be a parody of FARMS or FAIR.

From their homepage:

We talked about this a bit last January:

Promised Land Seminars

I signed up for a seminar in Los Angeles, but it was cancelled

[structurecop]

In case you missed it, Rod Meldrum on the FAIR Blog.

Wow, ol' Rod seems to be quite the lightning rod (no pun intended).

[T-Shirt]

I don't know where Meldrum believes the actual Hill Cumorah is found, but I have just come across some research that proves once and for all that the Hill Cumorah is Cerro Vigia in Mexico. Some locals were clearing some thick brush and were shocked to find the following:

(Click to enlarge)

Best,

T-Shirt

[Cold Steel]

Yes, those Nephite sign designers later escaped the wars and went north, settling in what is now Hollywood, California. Are there any signs that say: "Caves this way"?

Seriously, I wonder if this website has any affiliation with Meldrum? I couldn't get any videos to play, but I noticed a segment featuring him was included.

[livy111us]

Don't agree with Joseph Smith statements!? Which ones? The ones where he placed the BOM in Canada? Or how about Kentucky? Florida? What about his statements saying it happened in Central America? Did they look over the ones which place it in South America? Give me a break! I guess 25 years in CES didn't teach him how to look at the whole picture and not just take what quotes you want that fit your pet theory.

The DNA stuff is also something that should be scrutinized. If anyone is gullible enough to believe it, read Ugo Peregos 2009 FAIR conference talk, or his academic paper Distinctive Paleo-Indian Migration Routes from Beringia Marked by Two Rare mtDNA Haplogroups. It is NOT what is cracked up to be.