FIRM Foundation – Mission Statement
The FIRM Foundation (Foundation for Indigenous Research and Mormonism) is an organization dedicated to showing forth evidence for the Book of Mormon in order to provide LDS Church members with well-researched information enabling them to powerfully and respectfully defend its historicity and thus its truthfulness – with the ultimate goal of bringing people unto Christ.
FIRM Foundation – Goals
- to bring people to Christ through evidence of the Book of Mormon that causes them to realize that it is a literal historical and prophetic account of real people and events thereby encouraging them to read, study and ponder the book – which ultimately builds and strengthens testimonies of its truthfulness through the Holy Spirit,
- to utilize the prophecies and promises in the Book of Mormon to increase awareness and understanding of the ancient prophetic history that took place in a long established covenanted and promised land – which today is found within the borders of the nation-state called The United States of America,
- to conduct research in a multiplicity of scientific and scholarly fields of endeavor which may provide secular support for the historicity of the Book of Mormon - including, but not limited to such disciplines as genetics, archaeology, climatology, anthropology, history, religion, geography, linguistics, mythology, meteorology, astronomy, metallurgy, architecture, ancient texts, Jewish customs, zoology, agronomy, oceanography, geophysics, etc.,
- to correlate, publish and offer through our bookstore works of LDS scholars and researchers involving the Heartland Book of Mormon Geography Model and related research in support of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and the gospel of Jesus Christ,
- to produce, provide and encourage well-researched articles, papers, books, films, newsletters and presentations in support of the Book of Mormon through the Heartland Model,
- to create one or more online repositories of knowledge, research and educational materials pertaining to evidence of the Book of Mormon's historicity through the Heartland Model,
- to organize, conduct and sponsor events such as presentations, symposiums, firesides, webinars, and conferences providing educational opportunities for all interested,
- to objectively evaluate and review the assertions, articles, books, films, speeches and conferences of individuals or organizations promoting the plethora of Book of Mormon historical settings, and when said research is critical of the Heartland Model, to correct erroneous, unfounded, misrepresented, ill-conceived or poorly researched information as it pertains the Heartland Model through dispassionate instruction and education in a respectful and Christ-like manner that seeks to avoid confrontation and contention,
- to provide further on-location educational opportunities through travel and tours to visit proposed Book of Mormon sites and museums in conjunction with Church History and United States history,
- to provide forums (blog, Facebook, etc.) where responsible scholars, researchers, and interested individuals can discuss and present ideas and discoveries consistent with the Heartland Model setting for the Book of Mormon, and
- to organize and engage the many thousands of volunteers who have offered to help with this research and organization.
Rod L. Meldrum Bio
Rod L. Meldrum is a researcher, best-selling LDS author, and international lecturer on the validity of the Book of Mormon with an emphasis on its scriptural and physical evidences.
He has authored, co-authored, been Associate Editor or contributed to several published books including:
-Prophecies and Promises; the Book of Mormon and the United States of America, which he coauthored with CES instructor Bruce H. Porter.
-Exploring the Book of Mormon in America’s Heartland. The #1 LDS book on Book of Mormon geography with over 60,000 copies sold.
-Rediscovering the Book of Mormon Remnant through DNA, delves deeply into the controversy surrounding DNA research and the claims of Hebrews coming to America anciently.
-The Annotated Edition of the Book of Mormon, which was compiled and written by David R. Hocking, utilizing research by Rod and a host of additional contributors, with Rod as Associate Editor, has now become the best-selling edition of the Book of Mormon within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
-He also served as senior scientific researcher for seven years on a natural sciences textbook series titled, “The Universal Model” by Dean Sessions, Russ Barlow and others.
He began his study of issues surrounding the controversy over DNA and the Book of Mormon in 2003 which led to a study of the origins of proposed geographical settings of the Book of Mormon. In addition, he has spent years of intensive study of the Book of Mormon itself and the historical background and documents associated with it.
Brother Meldrum has given countless presentations across the United States, Canada and internationally and has shared his research and findings in support of the Book of Mormon and the gospel of Jesus Christ with hundreds of thousands of church members and non-members alike.
He began conducting tours to the Heartland of America in 2010, educating guests at museums, sacred native American sites, and other archaeological sites dating to the time period of the Book of Mormon. Today he hosts tours for Legacy Tours & Travel, a worldwide travel organization.
He founded his organization, The FIRM Foundation (Foundation for Indigenous Research and Mormonism), in 2008, which today sponsors two semiannual International Book of Mormon Evidence Expos and Conferences annually with additional regional conferences and events throughout the country and around the world bringing together dozens of top LDS speakers for tens of thousands of Latter-day Saints and others. The motto is; Faithfully Exploring Relevant Topics of our Time.
Many of these Expo's have had as many as 85 presenters conducting more than 130 classes in 3 days with as many as 7,500 attending. For years these events have been video recorded and edited, but did not have a platform to share with others.
Today, he and his team have established an incredible streaming video subscription website with over 1,800 presentations by over 450 experts and researchers, making it the largest repository of information and research ever assembled on the validity of the Book of Mormon, including additional related topics such as; Signs of the Times, Science & Religion, Self Reliance, and Health & Wellness. Together, it is a tremendous resource for those who seek learning and greater understanding of these subjects.
His YouTube channels have had more than 3 million views and currently has over 350 podcasts with some 1.5 million views with about 15,000 subscribers.
He also communicates with over 40,000 newsletter recipients on a monthly basis.
Brother Meldrum's research has blessed and enhanced the lives of hundreds of thousands and works to support their faith in the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon, the prophetic role of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and a renewed understanding of the sacred covenants with God on His Promised Lands.
He and his wife, Tonya, have four children and five grand children.
He is a fifth-generation active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, served a full-time mission in Milan, Italy, has served faithfully in many church leadership callings, most recently Stake Sunday School presidency counselor and currently Elders Quorum instructor.
He and his family reside near Fairview, Utah.
Contact Rod:
About Rian
Rian Nelson has always loved the Book of Mormon and its heroes, and after 40 years of searching for the location where Nephi and Moroni lived, served, and fought for their freedom has finally been realized. They lived right where the Prophet Joseph Smith said they did, in the United States of America.
Rian loves the Lamanites. He served a mission to Fiji and Kiribati, his parents met each other while each serving the Navajos, Apaches, and Hopis in New Mexico and Arizona, and his son served his mission among the Lamanites of Alaska. Discovering about new heroes, Zelph and Onandagus has inspired him. New found secondary evidences (Archaeology and Geology) has added to his previous testimony and inspired him to create art, maps, and handmade relics, to inspire others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
His passion for truth has been ignited by the description of a “mound” from Rod Meldrum, the location of the “narrow neck of land” from Jonathan Neville, the amazing “finds” from Wayne May, and the inspiration of the James Stoddard family. Rian thanks his friends Val Chadwick Bagley, Ken Corbett, and Kendra Burton for creating art, and cartoons of Rian’s favorite heroes, and a special thanks to Steve Blake who taught Rian a new talent; creating “cool relics.”
Rian is an author, editor, and speaker. His newest book called, Moroni’s America-Land Bountiful Edition. was published in 2019. He has written a previous book in it’s 6th printing titled “Moroni’s America-Map Edition“, edited by Jonathan Neville. Also with Val Chadwick Bagley as cartoonist, Rian is also the editor of “It Came to Pass Where? “, and a coloring book series titled “The Book of Mormon in America’s Heartland.” He has also been a major contributor of art and maps in the newly published 600 page “Annotated Book of Mormon” by David Hocking and Rod Meldrum.
Rian wrote a book titled "These Two Stones, Fastened to a Breastplate" It shares over 9 scriptures that speak of Joseph using the two stones in a bow, like spectacles, and attached to a breastplate as instruments to translate the Book of Mormon, not the use of a stone in a hat as some have said. It was published in 2022 and available here:
Rian enjoys working with his good friend Rod Meldrum of The FIRM Foundation. Rian is the event coordinator for the Book of Mormon Evidence Conferences which are held twice each year. In April 2018 the event was held at Davis Conference Center in Layton, Utah where over 6,000 guests attended and listened to over 90 amazing speakers and 160 different presentations on subjects such as, Book of Mormon, Church History, United States Constitution, Signs of the Times, New Millennial Science, Self-Reliance and other LDS topics of importance.
The Firm Foundation Expo featuring the 32nd International Book of Mormon Evidence Conference was just held in Sept 2023, with more to come.
Rian is married to his eternal companion Stacy, has two married children, Kinley (Tim) and Caden (Shireen), and a six-year-old grandchild named Brooklyn, a 3 year old grandchild named Elle and with a grandson on the way. He currently serves as a Temple Preparation Teacher in Bountiful, Utah.
Contact Rian:
Cell/Text: 801-931-9031
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: facebook.com/firmfoundationexpo
Website:bookofmormonevidence.org
Disclaimer:
All opinions, speakers and presenters represent and express their own individual opinions, and not necessarily the opinions of FIRM Foundation, Book of Mormon Evidence, or it's employees, and no information or opinions represent the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The owner and employees of this site are members of the LDS Church and in good standing.