Want to take a Book of Mormon trip? Choose your America
Text 
By Doug Gibson
Commentary
dgibson@standard.net
This is a Mormon thing but it's still very interesting, because it's elders and high priests slugging it out.
There's this guy, Rod Meldrum, who runs a Web site that promotes the Book of Mormon. The Mormon Times even did a feature on him. He was compared to the fictional Indiana Jones, except instead of digging through old tombs he compares DNA markers.
I think it would be cool to have a real Mormon Indiana Jones. He could crack his leather whip and find the ruins of Hagoth's massive ship or ancient treasure hidden by the Gadianton Robbers.
(Before I go any further, to any of those who spend time preaching against the LDS Church, I know there is real skepticism to the Book of Mormon's claims within elements of science. But I'm a believer anyway and this column is about squabbles between researchers who believe.)
So, Meldrum has reached a conclusion that a certain marker might lead to DNA of Hebrew origin. And his research points to this occurring in North America, around the Great Lakes region.
Meldrum has been very proactive with his research. He has his Web site. He pitches a DVD and he spoke at a Book of Mormon Evidences Symposium in Provo. On his Web site are testimonials. And also, for almost $2,000 plus airfare, faithful Mormons can fly to New York and witness Meldrum's conclusions.
This is where the rancor starts. Book of Mormon tours are generally around Central America. That's because Mormon-based scholarship -- much of it reached through BYU's Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship -- have more or less reached that conclusion.
So Meldrum -- who is not an academic -- has really roiled things. His evangelical style was bound to upset the norm. And recently, the scholars launched a counterattack.
It was posted on the group FAIR's online site. (FAIR stands for Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research.) It's not affiliated with the Mormon Church, but as it states, its purpose is defending Mormonism.
The response to Meldrum was titled "Misguided Zeal and Defense of the Church." There is a very long paper, and an executive summary. The summary -- likely read by far more people -- doesn't go after Meldrum's theories much, although there is a promise to explore them later.
Instead, it portrays Meldrum as a crackpot, a man who claims to receive direct revelation from God on Book of Mormon matters and who insinuates that God has told him not to try and convert Mormon scholars. The summary also accuses Meldrum of claiming that some LDS general authorities are enthusiastic backers of his theories.
Meldrum responded, saying on his Web site that FAIR "through ... conjecture and innuendo have misinterpreted and misrepresented them (his research) to imply things that I did not say or intend."
For what it's worth, I probably side with the Mormon scholars over Meldrum. They're not pitching a DVD or Book of Mormon trips. All they get for their research is long hours and average pay. But if I had to choose a "Book of Mormon trip," I'd choose Meldrum's. It's a lot cheaper and less hassle than going to Central America. (After all, Parley P. Pratt, in his very entertaining autobiography, recounts being led to a Nephite gravesite while near Illinois.)
And it seems rather unsporting to insinuate that Meldrum is a goofball. Frankly, we could use more bohemians in the Mormon church. The late Reva Stanley, who authored "The Archer of Paradise," a 1930s biography of Pratt, bemoaned then that the visionaries of Joseph Smith's era had been replaced by old men living in the past. We Mormons were a lot wilder in the 19th century.
The LDS leadership has -- for a long time -- resisted a position on the Book of Mormon geography debate. As FAIR notes, the Apostle Mark E. Peterson said in 1954, "We have had speculation, for instance, on the part of some with respect to the Book of Mormon geography, and it is plain, unadulterated speculation and not doctrine. And if a General Authority has speculated on Book of Mormon geography he did not represent the view of the church while doing so."
I'm glad it remains a mystery. It reserves the right to witness with amusement the future possibilities of "Brother A" taking his Book of Mormon pilgrimage to New York and "Sister A" taking her Book of Mormon pilgrimage to Guatemala.
Gibson is the Standard-Examiner's assistant editorial page editor. He can be reached at dgibson@standard.net.
Reader Comments
I know Rod and his family and they are really good people who I've seen demonstrate a lot of integrity. It makes me sad to see Rod's character get bashed. He's presenting a theory, not a church doctrine for crying out loud!
The truth is that we don't know where the events in the Book of Mormon took place, and it doesn't really matter anyway. If you have a testimony that it is a true book, then it is true whether it happened on the Southern or Northern continent.
It is interesting to speculate about the where's and why's & hows however, and there is NOTHING wrong with considering ideas, comparing theories, etc., as long as they are not being taught as doctrine. I believe that is why each of us was given a brain along with our agency (functioning or otherwise).
So (in response to other websites I've read) let's lighten up people! Contention never serves anyone well, and there is plenty enough of it in government politics as it is for pity sakes!
If anyone is "slugging", it's FAIR; Rod Meldrum has never attacked FAIR. To state that the "scholars" have launched a counterattack presupposes that Rod has launched an initial attack, which is not true. Sharing his research is not an attack.
What does FAIR have to gain by attacking Rod Meldrum? If FAIR's purpose is to defend Mormonism, then they should have no argument against Rod, for his purpose is also to defend. By the way, FAIR does "pitch" a DVD of their own.
The premise of Christianity, that a mortal man, Jesus of Nazareth, born 2000 years ago, was the Christ, the Son of God, takes FAITH. To believe that a man, Joseph Smith, in 1820 in America, saw the Father and Son, takes FAITH. To believe that all he did as a man, including giving his life for what he believed and taught, takes our FAITH. Believing that a group of people migrated from the Middle East in 600 B.C. to the America's and they left a record including prophetic teachings and 1000 years of history, including the appearance of that same Christ to these people in America after his resurrection, takes FAITH. In the end, FAITH itself is a personal witness by the Holy Ghost which was a promise to all mankind by that same Christ.
Men like Rod Meldrum or groups like the Neal Maxwell Institute, who stimulate our minds to develop a greater FAITH that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, are to be commended. Any groups or individuals who make personal attacks on the credibility of a person, not their research, is inappropriate and should be cautioned. It does not speak well of the group or person. I have attended Mr. Meldrum's presentation, and he makes a point not to attack by name or teaching, those who do not agree with him, but does indicate their disagreement for the point of our own understanding. He does counter those whose inaccurate statements are to prove the Book of Mormon false or its translator, Joseph Smith, false. For that, he is to be commended. His website and presentation state clearly, that his intent is to support his FAITH that Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith was a prophet and the Book of Mormon is true. However, there are also facts and evidences of people that lived in both North America and Central America. Who they were or if they knew of Christ or left records, is for our study and research. Mr. Meldrum's conclusions and information are as worthy of our consideration as our others who have different ideas so long as they support these stated purposes.
It behooves us all, to read and learn all we can and make our own decisions of truthfulness, based on FAITH, not just the proven fact. A personal witness through the Holy Ghost, can prove to us individually, that Jesus is the Christ and did atone for us. That is the most important fact and science cannot prove the atonement. Our lives will warrant its efficacy. Let us be careful that we don't, in our quest for knowledge or personal zeal, diminish that fact or do personal damage by our attitudes and open statements. That will only diminish the originators.
Brother Meldrum,
God has sent you to set the record straight! I nearly left the church due to the DNA issues.
I first went to Fair and I just could not believe nor understand what they were saying, which seem all of nothing.
You answer the tough questions.
I watched your DVD and then joined my wife in solemn prayer asking God to help me know if you were a servant and if your research was true.
He answered me and thanks to you, I am once again a full time active, believing member! Finally my wife has her eternal mate back and my children have their priesthood holding father back in their lives.
The feeling I got from my prayer was just like the feeling I got over 15 years ago when I joined the church.
I feel that you are a chosen spirit, sent to us during these trying times.
I think the church should shutdown Fair as their so called apologetics is very damaging to questioning members and they are very cold in their presentation.
God Bless YOU Brother Meldrum!