“Nearly all those familiar with the early statements by the Prophet Joseph Smith touching on potential Book of Mormon lands know that he clearly indicated them to be in North America. This is evident in the historically verified accounts wherein he declared revelation such as in the Wentworth Letter, the American Revivalist Account, the Zelph Accounts and Joseph’s handwritten letter to Emma while on Zion’s camp. In addition, the prophet revealed a Nephite altar at Adam-ondi-Ahman, mentioned the land of Manti was near Huntsville, Missouri, and revealed that this land was “the borders of the Lamanites” (see D&C 54:8). Furthermore he received revelation from the Lord for the location of Zarahemla (see D&C 125:3) and New Jerusalem (see D&C 84:1-6) which Christ Himself declared to be on Book of Mormon lands (3 Nephi 20:22), both of which are absolutely located in North America. These accounts and their indications are not speculation based, but historically documented fact.

Mesoamerican theorists are thereby forced to claim that the Prophet Joseph Smith reneged on these early revelations after being introduced to a New York Times best-selling travel book by John Lloyd Stevens called “Incidents of Travels in Central America, Chiapas and Yucatan.” They feel that Joseph learned more about Book of Mormon geography from this travelogue than from his angelic visitations by Moroni, other ancient prophets, or his translation of the sacred text itself. We believe based on D&C 125:3 that the Prophet Joseph Smith received this revelation, that the Zarahemla of the Book of Mormon is across the river from Nauvoo, in the Montrose, Iowa area.” Rod Meldrum Firm Foundation President

Read the complete blog here titled Zarahemla in Iowa

The above map was drawn by Robert E. Lee in 1834 when he came as a young Army officer to deal with the geology of the Keokuk Gorge that stopped riverboats on the Mississippi. Lee came with a company of soldiers. He wanted to determine if it would be possible to create a channel for riverboats to go through the Des Moines Rapids. From 1834 to 1837, Robert E. Lee and his men built an outpost known as Fort Des Moines No. 1. In 1837 the U.S. Army abandoned the outpost. From 1839 to 1846, Montrose became a landing place for many Mormons who were refugees from Missouri and immigrants from Europe. At first, the Saints lived in Lee’s abandoned barracks. The town soon became known as Montrose. Among the town’s residents were Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, and Erastus Snow. Indeed, Nauvoo’s streets aligned to the streets of Lee’s map for Fort Des Moines. For eight years, there were thousands of more Mormons living in Montrose than the town’s current population of 898. Montrose then as well as now had a town area of one square mile or 640 acres. In our research for the Fires of Zarahemla, we scanned the cropland of 21 acres inside the square mile of the city’s limits. Charcoal samples from the ground of this land will be the basis for determining the Carbon-14 dates of the fires. It seems strange that we have started our detailed search for the City of Zarahemla on a site that Mormons farmed many years before they went to the Salt Lake Valley. It also seems strange that when we look at old maps, we find that the Mormons in the mid-nineteenth century named the very road next to this site as “Zarahemla Road.” We will take core samples from the ground that the first generations of Mormons farmed more than 150 years ago when they associated the land with the City of Zarahemla. This result was certainly not our intention. We went to the site because it had a cornfield that is well suited for the SENSYS MX V3 scan. Nevertheless, we are grateful that we can start on a site that was part of the Saints’ early history. We take comfort in the fact that we are so close to the faith of the first believers in this Last Dispensation. The full grid represents an area of about 2.2 acres. Preliminary calculations indicate that there are as many as 124 ancient fires in the ground of this area. Core soil samples will provide pieces of charcoal from the fire pits for which Carbon-14 dating will determine the distribution of the fire pits over a timeline before the arrival of the Europeans to Iowa. The high density of fire pits correlates with a high density of ancient populations. The assumption is that each fire pit would have represented three people and that one acre of fire pits as found on the grid would have meant a density of populations for hundreds of people per acre over many generations. This result certainly supports the idea that this scanned land was a small part of the Lost City of Zarahemla. The above picture is from the surface of land that we scanned on November 18th, 2020, from a cornfield within the city limits of the City of Montrose, Iowa. This field has been under cultivation for more than 150 years. European settlers have not made any major disturbances on this land.Our magnetic scan showed fire pits and lightning strikes from ancient times. Almost 200 years of farming provided the necessary revenue to protect farmland from development. The cultivation of corn for six generations gave a protective cover for the evidence in the ground. Because of corn, we got the magnetic scans that made it possible to create digital maps that show traces of habitation for an ancient city. Donate at www.zarahemla.site   ©2020 Zarahemla | 2681 Milan Street Easton, PA 18045 US

Pipes Formed like all that the Great Spirit Creates

The ancient Adena and Hopewell cultures created pipes in the images that they saw and experienced. Ancient cultures respected all that the Great Spirit created, animals, birds, people, and nature. The Adena culture represents the same time frame as the Jaredites (1500 BC – 200 AD) and the Hopewell culture (200 BC – 400 AD) parallels the time frame of the Nephites.

“There is a bowl for the tobacco in their pipes in the top, and there is a small hole at one end to breathe in the smoke. The pipe was made by Native Americans living in what is today the US state of Ohio. These Native Americans were small-scale farmers who built large burial and ceremonial mounds. There were over 200 pipes buried in a collection of mounds known as the ‘Mound City Group’. The pipe was not simply smoked for pleasure but probably had a religious function. A shaman may have smoked it to evoke the otter as a representative of his clan, or as a spirit guide who would then accompany the shaman on a spiritual journey. Tobacco has been smoked in North America for at least 2300 years and pipe smoking still remains an integral part of modern Native American culture. Tobacco was first brought to Europe in the early 1500s, where it quickly spread across Europe, Africa and Asia.” A History of the World BBC

Read more about the reason for the various shapes of the pipes and how they were used. Why were these pipes so important to the Native Americans?

Great Spirit Appears to the Onondagas

“On the authority of some older inhabitants of Onondaga, New York, it is stated that on a ledge of rocks, about a mile south of Jamesville, (Near Syracuse and Oneida Castle) is a place which used to be pointed out by the Indians as a spot where the Great Spirit once came down and sat and gave good advice to the chiefs of Onondagas. That there are the prints of his hands and his feet, left in the rocks, still to be seen. In the former years the Onondagas used annually to offer, at this place, tobacco and pipes, and to burn tobacco and herbs as a sacrifice to the Great Spirit, to conciliate his favor and which was a means of preventing diseases.” Author L. Taylor Hansen He Walked the Americas 

“Native accounts tell of his arrival [Christ] from the direction of the rising sun, after which he set up his priesthood among his followers known as the “Wau-pa-nu” (the spelling phonetic). They were said to have healed the sick and instituted new laws. Blood sacrifice was forbidden and replaced by the use of tobacco, today an important element in all traditional Native American ceremonies. Among many eastern tribes, East Star Man is regarded as the son of Great Spirit, the Creator.” Wayne May, Christ in North America.

The Name of Nephi

“JOSEPHUS SAYS the Egyptian called their Creator ‘Kneph,’ ‘Noub,’ or ‘Nour.’ Reynolds points out that ancient variants of the name of Nephi include Knephi, Kneph, Noub, Nouv, Knouphis, Nebo, Naba, Nechi, Necho and others. These variants are found in many of the American Indian languages.” George Reynolds, Commentary on the Book of Mormon

“NEPHI: This is also an Egyptian name, usually given as Knephi, and transliterated into Hebrew as Nebi. It means ‘prophet’ or one who speaks with God. The great Osiris, one of the Egyptian gods, was called Nephi or Knephi and the city in his honor was n-ph (vowels always had to be supplied). It is the city we know today as Memphis, located across the Nile from Cairo, but it is referred to by its original name of Noph (a variant of Nephi) in the writings of Hosea, Isaiah, and Jeremiah.” Treasures from the Book of Mormon, Volume One By W. Cleon Skousen

The Seat of the Iroquois

“Onondaga was, from the remotest times, the seat of the Iroquois government. Granting credence to the account of their own origin, on the high grounds or falls of the Oswego, (East of Fulton NY See map below) they had not proceeded far up the course of the widely gathered waters of this stream, when a portion of them planted their wigwams in this fertile region. Whatever was the cause of their migrating from their primary council fire, nothing was more natural than that, by pursuing this stream upward, they should separate into independent tribes, and by further tracing out its far spread forks, gradually expand themselves, as they were found by the discoverers and first settlers, over the entire area of western New-York. On reaching the grand junction of Three River Point (Phoenix, NY), a part went up the Seneca river, who subsequently dividing, formed the Senecas and Cayugas. The bands who took the eastern fork, or Oneida river, pushed forward over the Deowainsta, or Rome summit, into the first large stream, flowing east, and became the Mohawks. The central or Onondaga fork was chosen by the portion who, from the hill country (Onondaga) they first located in, took this name; and from them, the Oneidas, pursuing in fact the track of the Mohawks, were an off-shoot…”

Atotarho or Tah-totah or Chief or Sachem or King

“…The idea of a confederation was, it is believed, an old one with this people, for the very oldest traditions speak of something of this kind, among the lake and St. Lawrence tribes of older days. When the present league was formed, on the banks of the Onondaga lake, this central tribe had manifestly greatly increased in strength, and distinguished itself in arms, and feats of hunting and daring against giants and monsters… Most distinguished, however, above all others, east or west, was a leader of great courage, wisdom and address, called Atotarho…”

“A singular tradition may be here added. It is said that the XIIIth Atotarho reigned at Onondaga when America was discovered” (1414 AD) Aboriginal History, Antiquities and General Ethnology of Western New-York by Henry R. Schoolcraft

In speaking about the 13th Atotarho (or Sachem or Chief ) in the Iroquois tradition, we read also in the Book of Mormon. “And whoso should reign in [Nephi’s] stead were called by the people, ‘Second Nephi,’ ‘Third Nephi,’ and so forth…” (Jacob 1:11)

Tadodaho was said to be a warrior and primary chief of the Onondaga people. Depending on the speaker’s dialect and the writer’s orthography, other versions of the name include Adodarhoh, Atartaho, Atotarho, Tatotarho, Thatotarho, and Watatohtahro. In the 1883 work The Iroquois Book of Rites, edited by Horatio Hale, the term Atartaho is said to signify “entangled”. Wikepedia

“The temple registry page shown below is remarkable in that an Onondaga
Nation king was named King Tah-totah, then others that followed: King Tah to-tah 2, King Tah-to-tah 3…then on the next page, King Tah-to-tah 7 through …15, etc. This tradition of naming kings in respect and remembrance of a prior king follows the pattern of the early Nephite colony.” Annotated Book of Mormon David Hocking and Rod Meldrum page 101

Just like Tah-to-tah means Chief or Prophet to the Iroquois,
Nephi meant Chief or Prophet to the Nephites.

See my blog here titled, 85 NATIVE AMERICAN CHIEFS-BAPTIZED AT THE ST GEORGE TEMPLE

I personally believe there is great evidence pointing to the fact that the Iroquois or more specifically the Onondaga Tribe are the closest people to having Nephite and or Lamanite blood in them. Remember also the Cherokee are another good possibility who originally lived near Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Cherokee are also from the Iroquois Culture.

See my blog here: THE ONANDAGA-JOSEPH SMITH’S INDIANS

Burial of Mormon

“When serving as Mission President to the Seminole Indians in Central Florida, Murray J. Rawson was teaching a group of the tribe about the Book of Mormon when he was interrupted by their Chief, saying: “We had a war long ago with a light skinned people around the Great Lakes. We conquered them but we had so much respect for their warrior chief that we buried him at the mouth of the Oswego River that is in New York State. We don’t discuss this very much because it is an embarrassment to us. President Rawson then asked why this is an embarrassment, and the Chief replied, “ Our history is written on metal plates and buried in a hill in New York, but we don’t know which hill!” (Talk given to missionaries in training at the MTC, Provo, Utah 1979, by President Murray J. Rawson). This talk has a poor audio but you can find it here: (See Map Above for Mormon’s burial place)

Dating and Purpose of the Ancient Pipes

“In the first few years following the creation of the [Smithsonian] Bureau, the debate began to escalate regarding the interpretation of the many bird and animal carvings that were coming out of the mounds. Many artifacts being recovered from the Hopewell and Adena mounds appeared to be birds and mammals that only exist in the southern tropical regions of the world. M. C. Read in Archaeology of Ohio, pointed out: “Of the animal that is supposed to represent the seacow, seven carvings have been found. This inhabitant of tropical waters is not met in the higher latitudes of North America.”¹⁶² Many carvings of birds, and animals from tropical climates such as the manatee, large seal-like animals, elephants and tropical birds like the big-beaked toucan and parrot-like carvings were found, all of which were raising questions as to a possible connections with peoples from these tropical regions.

Ancient Monuments Figure 178

A sampling of tropical birds and mammal carvings found in the mounds

The Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, published in 1884, included for the first time a brief section entitled, Explorations in Mounds. It discusses work done in West Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Florida, …by 1883, Cyrus Thomas’s Division of Mound Explorations included three full-time assistants and five temporary helpers, and work was under way in Tennessee, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and Missouri. Some 4,100 artifacts had been collected for the National Museum in Washington. They included elegant pipes and pendants of polished stones and such humbler things as hoes, scrapers, diggers, axes, and hammers. Some of the mounds had yielded clear evidence of contact with European civilizations: bits of hammered iron in North Carolina; silver bracelets, brooches, and crosses in Wisconsin, and fragments of copper plate bearing the marks of machinery in Illinois. All this served to back Powell’s original belief that “a few, at least, of the important mounds of the valley of the Mississippi had been constructed and used subsequent to the occupation of the continent by Europeans, and that some at least, of the mound builders were therefore none other than known Indian tribes.¹⁶³

In the early annual reports of the Bureau of Ethnology public documents, one finds that it is not what they included in their reports, but what they have obviously excluded. The discussions and findings that were explored and addressed in the Bureau’s publications followed a prescribed agenda, pointing out that Indian populations and America’s ancient cultures were never highly advanced, with little to no discussions as to their cultural achievements. Lost from these studies were acknowledgements that the Indians were at one time more advanced than first perceived. As evidence in the construction of their communities, fortifications, smelting of metals and their construction of watercrafts capable of navigating the many rivers and lakes of the northeast. Also distinctively missing were the findings that show that these ancient mound-building cultures possessed knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, written language and engineering, as shown in the building of earthwork structures, which were comparable to any achievements of any ancient culture in the world of their day.

So where did the Mound Builders’ knowledge of these skills come from and why was so much of this knowledge not celebrated or passed on to our day and to their descendants?

“The fourth Annual Report contains an essay by Garrick Mallery on the picture-writing of the Indians, in which he discusses the various inscribed tablets found in mounds. Most of these he dismisses as frauds.” Such was the case of the Holy Stones found by David Wyrick of Newark, Ohio,) “…discovered in 1860 a tablet bearing on one side a truculent likeness of Moses with his name in Hebrew.”¹⁶⁴ [Editors note: These so-called hoaxes are also pushed by the Scholars and Intellects that believe in the Mesoamerican setting for the Book of Mormon]. It is interesting to note that these early men of the Bureau of Ethnology described and defined these artifacts as picture-writings of the Indians or frauds without giving any real consideration to the potential of other visitor, to the America’s prior to Columbus.” Lost Civilizations of North America Steve Smoot Chapter 18, Learning from America’s Antiquities

_______________________

¹⁶² Read, 48.

¹⁶³ Silverberg, The Mound Builders, 136-137.

¹⁶⁴ Silverberg, 137-138.

I want to talk about the values and virtues we may lose as individuals and as a Country. It is more up to us than what we may think. We are Americans, and we are Citizens of the greatest country on Earth. It is “We the People” who are in charge of our own freedom. As the inspired Constitution written by the Lord Himself says, we are endowed with unalienable rights, life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These rights don’t come from man, for any of these rights that man can create, man can also take away. These rights come from God.

Our rights and values have attempted to be stolen by evil men and women. Our election is what I call a fraud. With prayer and the hard work of many good American lawyers and judges we may be vindicated. I pray with all my heart that Pres. Trump gets four more years. I do however say, after all I can do, I give the rest to the Lord and will abide by the law if we lose. That’s what an American does.

I remind you of what we may be in for again. A Democrat backed government that just really doesn’t get it. Most Democrats and many Republican’s just don’t love and respect our Country nor God. I just can’t imagine a third Obama term. Let me remind you of a few reasons why.

Remember whet Pres Obama said at the Prayer breakfast of 2015. “Humanity has been grappling with these questions throughout human history.  And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ.  In our home country, slavery and Jim Crow all too often was justified in the name of Christ.”  National Prayer Breakfast 2015 Barak Obama

Issue Position: America – A Christian Nation

By: Stan Cooke

President Barack Obama stated at a press conference in Turkey in April of 2009 that we Americans “do not consider ourselves a Christian nation, or a Muslim nation, but rather, a nation of citizens who are, uh, bound by a set of values.”

Obama has made similar statements in the past. In June 2007, he told CBS, “Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation — at least, not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, and a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.” Note the progression. In 2007, he said we are no longer “just” a Christian nation. Now, in 2009, he says we “do not consider ourselves a Christian nation” at all.

“The National Day of Prayer has a storied history. In 1952, President Harry Truman signed into law a declaration that every president must proclaim a National Day of Prayer on the day of his choosing. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan codified the first Thursday of May as the official National Day of Prayer. Since then, Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush have marked this day with a White House observance. All presidents have issued commemorative proclamations. For many years, a special prayer service has been held in the East Room.

Of course, now we are in a era of “change,” the “Age of Obama.” As this day approached, many pondered what, if anything, new or otherwise, the president might do. After all, he did state that America is “no longer a Christian nation” and his recent address at Georgetown University came with the insistence that it cover Jesus’ name.  

It turns out that President Obama, in lockstep with his previous hostile decisions, decided not to schedule a public ceremony in the White House, and may not send a representative to the National Day of Prayer Task Force event on Capitol Hill. Instead, he opted for a private proclamation signing. All are actions that indicate a desire to squelch the public expression of faith.” The Family Foundation

I am still praying hard for Pres Trump. He has done so much good for our country. We need to individually pray for this Country. Whether you like Pres Trump or Biden, you must pray for the success of our Nation. don’t give up, the odds were also great against George Washington that Dec 26, 1776. God saved us then and He can again. Here is the brief story.

George Washington wins first major U.S. victory at Trenton

“At approximately 8 a.m. on the morning of December 26, 1776, General George Washington’s Continental Army reaches the outskirts of Trenton, New Jersey, and descends upon the unsuspecting Hessian force guarding the city. Trenton’s 1,400 Hessian defenders were still groggy from the previous evening’s Christmas festivities and had underestimated the Patriot threat after months of decisive British victories throughout New York. The troops of the Continental Army quickly overwhelmed the German defenses, and by 9:30 a.m. Trenton was completely surrounded.

Although several hundred Hessians escaped, nearly 1,000 were captured at the cost of only four American lives. However, because most of Washington’s army had failed to cross the Delaware the previous day, he was without adequate artillery or men and was forced to withdraw from the town.

Although the victory was minor from a strategic perspective, it bore tremendous significance for the future of the Continental Army. Washington needed a success before his solders’ enlistments expired on December 31; without a dramatic upswing in morale, he was likely to lose the soldiers under his command and be unable to recruit new men to replace them. The victories at Trenton and a few days later at Princeton proved to the American public that their army was indeed capable of victory and worthy of support.

The image of ragged farm-boy Patriots defeating drunken foreign mercenaries has become ingrained in the American imagination. Then as now, Washington’s crossing and the Battle of Trenton were emblematic of the American Patriots’ surprising ability to overcome the tremendous odds they faced in challenging the wealthy and powerful British empire.

It wasn’t the “surprising ability to overcome the tremendous odds“, it was the blessing of god that saved us then and I pray he saves us now. Source

Below are several examples of Pres Trump acknowledging Christ. I believe we are a Judeo/Christian nation and our government speaking about that is important.

Trump Speaks of Christ

“In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge lit the first National Christmas Tree.
Later that night, African American community centers held an outdoor worship service on these grounds.  And during that service, the Washington Monument was illuminated with a beautiful cross, a powerful reminder of the meaning of Christmas.

More than 2,000 years ago, a brilliant star shone in the East.  Wise men traveled far, far afield.  I mean, they were a long distance away.  And they came and they stood with us under the star, where they found the Holy Family in Bethlehem.  As the Bible tells us, when the Wise Men “had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and fell down and worshipped him.”

Christians give thanks that the Son of God came into the world to save humanity.  Jesus Christ inspires us to love one another with hearts full of generosity and grace.” Remarks by President Trump at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Issued on: December 5, 2019

Presidential Message on Christmas

I hope we all remember this wonderful message last Christmas as Pres Trump so boldly shared the name of Christ who we worship.

Presidential Message on Christmas Issued on: December 25, 2019

“Melania and I send our warmest greetings to those celebrating Christmas in the United States and around the world.  During this joyous time of year, we join a grateful Nation in thanking God for His abundant blessings and boundless love.

As families, friends, and communities come together to rejoice in the birth of Christ, we are reminded of the divine message from the first Christmas:  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  While the challenges that face our country are great, the bonds that unite us as Americans are much stronger.  Together, we must strive to foster a culture of deeper understanding and respect—traits that exemplify the teachings of Christ.

As we celebrate Christmas, we remember the precious religious liberties our forefathers so righteously fought to secure.  We also pause to pay tribute to those courageous men and women of our Armed Forces who continue to fight for our cherished freedoms.  As Commander in Chief, I salute them for their service and thank their family members for their shared sacrifice in this noble mission, especially during the holiday season.

We hope your heart is filled with the love and joy of your faith, family, and friends this Christmas. We send our best wishes for a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.” Donald J. Trump

I am Grateful for Our Prophet

Now that Thanskgiving Day is over, may we in our hearts remember what yesterday brought and what Pres Nelson said last Friday. “Be Grateful” I am grateful for a living Prophet who has taught me to be a better person. He has taught me to turn the other cheek and pray for victory and freedom. We will learn in these trying times. If we don’t prevail in this election, I will have learned much more in humility than ever. What a sadness if we get closer to losing our beloved Nation.

Remember again Pres Trumps address from yesterday. May we all thank God to live in this wonderful Country.

Proclamation on Thanksgiving Day, 2020

Issued on: November 25, 2020

“On Thanksgiving Day, we thank God for the abundant blessings in our lives.  As we gather with family and friends to celebrate this season of generosity, hope, and gratitude, we commemorate America’s founding traditions of faith, family, and friendship, and give thanks for the principles of freedom, liberty, and democracy that make our country exceptional in the history of the world.

This November marks 400 years since the Mayflower and its passengers faced the unknown and set sail across the Atlantic Ocean.  Propelled by hope for a brighter future, these intrepid men and women endured two long months at sea, tired and hungry, to arrive in a new world full of potential.  In the winter weather that greeted their arrival, they lost nearly half of their fellow travelers to exposure, disease, and starvation.  Despite unimaginable hardships, these first Americans nevertheless remained firm in their faith and unwavering in their commitment to their dreams.  They forged friendships with the Wampanoag Tribe, fostered a spirit of common purpose among themselves, and trusted in God to provide for them.  The following year, they celebrated a successful harvest alongside their Native American neighbors — the first Thanksgiving.  This seminal event in the history of our Nation is a continual reminder of the power of faith, love, perseverance, prayer, and fellowship.

The Mayflower’s arrival to the New World in 1620 also marks the arrival of the first seeds of democracy to our land.  Absent the rule of a monarch in an uncharted wilderness, these early settlers resolved to create their own government through what is known as the Mayflower Compact.  Defined by majority rule through elected leaders responsible for creating “just and equal laws,” the Mayflower Compact represents the first chapter in the long tradition of self-determination and rule of law in America.  One hundred and fifty-six years later, our Nation’s Founding Fathers resolved to break free from England, building upon the Mayflower Compact to establish an enduring government whose authority came solely “from the consent of the governed.”

This year, as our Nation continues to combat the coronavirus pandemic, we have once again joined together to overcome the challenges facing us.  In the midst of suffering and loss, we are witnessing the remarkable courage and boundless generosity of the American people as they come to the aid of those in need, reflecting the spirit of those first settlers who worked together to meet the needs of their community.  First responders, medical professionals, essential workers, neighbors, and countless other patriots have served and sacrificed for their fellow Americans, and the prayers of our people have once again lifted up our Nation, providing comfort, healing, and strength during times of uncertainty.  Despite unprecedented challenges, we have not faltered in the face of adversity.  To the contrary, we have leveraged our strengths to make significant breakthroughs that will end this crisis, rebuilding our stockpiles, revamping our manufacturing capabilities, and developing groundbreaking therapeutics and life-saving vaccines on record-shattering timeframes.

During this season of gratitude, we also acknowledge those who cannot be with their families.  This includes the brave American patriots of our Armed Forces who selflessly defend our sacred liberty at home and abroad.  And we pause to remember the sacrifices of our law enforcement personnel and first responders.  We are deeply grateful for all those who remain on watch over the holidays and keep us safe as we celebrate and give thanks for the blessings in our lives.

This Thanksgiving, we reaffirm our everlasting gratitude for all that we enjoy, and we commemorate the legacy of generosity bestowed upon us by our forbearers.  Although challenges remain, we will never yield in our quest to live up to the promise of our heritage.  As we gather with our loved ones, we resolve with abiding faith and patriotism to celebrate the joys of freedom and cherish the hope and peace of a brighter future ahead.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 26, 2020, as a National Day of Thanksgiving.  I encourage all Americans to gather, in homes and places of worship, to offer a prayer of thanks to God for our many blessings.“

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.” DONALD J. TRUMP WhiteHouse.gov

In year 16-18 AD, Lachoneus gathered all the people to the center of the land. 3 Nep 3:21-24. We believe the center of the land to be at the southern tip of Illinois. There is perfect protection with the Mississippi River on the west and the Ohio River or the Wabash River on the East. In the tip of Illinois is an escarpment and remains of old fortifications and walls all the way across. The article below talks all about those stone walls and fortifications of southern Illinois.

“But Gidgiddoni saith unto them: The Lord forbid; for if we should go up against them the Lord would deliver us into their hands; therefore we will prepare ourselves in the center of our lands, and we will gather all our armies together, and we will not go against them, but we will wait till they shall come against us; therefore as the Lord liveth, if we do this he will deliver them into our hands.”

And it came to pass in the seventeenth year, in the latter end of the year, the proclamation of Lachoneus had gone forth throughout all the face of the land, and they had taken their horses, and their chariots, and their cattle, and all their flocks, and their herds, and their grain, and all their substance, and did march forth by thousands and by tens of thousands, until they had all gone forth to the place which had been appointed that they should gather themselves together, to defend themselves against their enemies.

And the land which was appointed was the land of Zarahemla, and the land which was between the land Zarahemla and the land Bountiful, yea, to the line which was between the land Bountiful and the land Desolation. 3 Nephi 3:21-23

Ancient American • Issue Number 50; Article below is by Wayne May

In southern Illinois, down at the tip, there is archaeological evidence revealing a fortification project of massive undertaking. Ancient people of times gone by, constructed fortified hilltops of earth, stone and wood. These stretch from the Ohio River on the east to the Mississippi River on the west. Every hilltop could have possibly seen one fort/wall to the left and one fort/wall to the right. Signals could be passed along the fortified hilltops very fast in the event of an approaching enemy or just to announce some event. The overall distance for this line of defense is approximately 100 miles in length as a crow flies.

At least 14 pre-Columbian stone structures are known to exist in the hills of southern Illinois. There may be others… walls of which most have been taken down to ground level. In fact, the latest find was made when the foundation courses were accidentally observed, two miles east of Makanda, IL.

These walled structures, forming a rough alignment across the southern tip of Illinois between the Mississippi and Ohio rivers have one striking feature in common. Each is located on top of a high bluff that projects outward. From the rear, they can be approached easily over gently sloping ground; and it is across this approach that the walls are built. On every other side, the structures border on sheer cliffs. This would suggest that their primary purpose was defensive. However, only one (near Stonefort in southern Saline County) has a water supply within it. Stone cairns and stone-lined pits are found beside the entrance gateways of many of the enclosures. They are constructed of drystone masonry, using loose stones of moderate size, mainly from the beds of the brooks flowing along the cliff bottoms. Early records, and the recollections of very old people, indicate that the walls were originally six to ten feet high and about as wide.

They are now greatly diminished, due to farmers hauling away stones from them. Some, such as the one near Stonefort already referred to, were over 600 feet in length. The amount of labor necessary to build such walls, of stones that had to be carried up from the brook beds 200 feet below, is staggering.

The wall at the Stonefort structure forms half of an accurate ellipse with axis of 450 and 190 feet. It is not easy to see how it could have been so accurately laid out, if the area were as heavily forested at the time as it is now.

The stone walls stretch from the Mississippi River to the Ohio River, as though forming a broken, staggered line south of Carbondale, Marion, and Harrisburg, the three cities of the region, and separating off the southern tip of Illinois. The locations of nine of the walls have been positively identified, and doubtless more were destroyed to make way for modern development or are yet to be uncovered in the thickly overgrown areas of the Shawnee National Forest. One of the more recent examples was found in 1970, in Giant City State Park near Makanda, IL.

The Lewis Wall, at Makanda, is virtually identical to its counterparts. Mr. Allen, a local historian points out, “an inspection of this structure gives a clear idea of the general plan followed for all of them.” The Lewis Wall bisects the top of a steep cliff, running on a linear east-west axis for 285 feet. Six feet high at its highest point, with an average thickness of five feet, the structure is a dry-stone rampart containing an estimated forty thousand stones, all of them apparently conveyed by hand up the sheer incline from the dry streambed two hundred feet below. Stone cairns, or ceremonial rock piles, and pits appear at the rear entrance. The structure was raised ingeniously by fitting together mostly flat stones chosen for moderate size and a rough although uniform fit, the same technique used in building the other walls. “They were not insignificant structures,” Allen insists, “and the amount of manual labor required was great. The many thousands of trips necessary to be made from the brook bed to the top of the bluff, often two hundred feet or more above the creek level, represent a stupendous effort for primitive people, the more so when it is considered that some of these walls were six hundred feet long.”

Archaeologists are unable to confidently associate the Lewis Wall with the Indians, who never engaged in large-scale stonework. Nor do any Native American tribes claim it was the labor of their ancestors. Yet the dating of some of the structures has placed it in the middle to late Hopewell time line. Thanks to the availability of organic material embedded in the structure the wall has been radio carbon-dated to 50 AD, the same time period in which the fortifications of the Hopewell culture took place in the Ohio River Valley. Additional dating has taken place more recently and dates of 400 and 900 AD have been confirmed at the Lewis Wall site.

That this monumental partition has stood fundamentally intact for the last twenty centuries in this major earthquake zone is testimony to its skillful construction. In 1812 the region suffered the most powerful earthquake in U.S. history, when the New Madrid Fault generated enough seismic violence to change the course of the Mississippi River and ring church bells in faraway Virginia. The Ohio and the Mississippi rivers flowed north for 3 days according to pioneer journals of the time. Sadly, farmers have pillaged the stones for building materials since the early nineteenth century, rendering a true conception of its original condition difficult to determine. Other examples, like the wall near Stonefort (a town obviously named after the structure), were more than twice as long, stretching more than 650 feet.

Regional author Judy Magee suggests that the structures may have been originally much larger: “These walls, extending east and west from the gateway, were really one wall almost a quarter of a mile in length. Some believed that this wall and the one around Old Stone Fort on the same mountain were originally eight feet high, while, others believed they were as much as ten or even twelve feet high, especially near the gateways and at the ends.”

Writing of this particular wall, investigator Loren Coleman marveled at its formation of an accurate ellipse with axis of 450 and 190 feet. “It is not easy to see how it could have been so accurately laid out,” he writes, “if the area were as heavily forested at the time as it is now.” Clearly, the organized labor and surveying techniques necessary to construct so many massive ramparts belonged to few if any Native American cultures in the area, but certainly typical of the engineering abilities of Roman-era builders.

The line of stone walls all stand on top of finger like high bluffs thrusting southward, from which they are unassailable. Sheer cliffs fall away on either side, but each structure is easily reached from the north over gently sloping ground.

Allen points out that “a man could scale those cliffs only by careful and strenuous effort. They thus have many of the characteristics that would make them into desirable forts.” Their positions appear to have been not only chosen for specific environmental qualities, but also somewhat modified to meet certain military requirements. The erection of this first-century Maginot Line might well have been aimed at keeping away hostile parties. Any attackers would naturally want to strike up the Mississippi and Ohio, but their passing would have been effectively blocked at these easily defended rivers. But what of the stone cairns at the wall entrances? Could they be collapsed towers?

Beyond these wall fragments, the rest of the fortifications must have disintegrated long ago. The abundant forest timber of southern Illinois and scarcity of buildingstone quarries could well have compelled the people of the time to construct their homes, temples, and palaces of wood. Then, as now, builders made their structures from the local material at hand. In the event of a lost war or lethal epidemic, either of which could have forced abandonment of the site and dispersal of the inhabitants, the buildings-reduced to ashes or left to the natural processes of neglect and decay for tens of centuries- – simply would have dissolved without a trace. Of course, if this was the gathering place of a forgotten people they may have only been in the area for a short time. Could this southern tip of Illinois have been a fortified sanctuary in time of trouble, a place of resort to face some invading foe? We will probably never know for sure. But, with the Ohio River on the east flank and the Mississippi on the west flank and the stone walls meandering across the state from the east to the west, forming an inverted pyramid, it would be a great place for a long defensive siege.” Wayne May Ancient American Magazine Volume 50

“The Book of Mormon is truly unique. To illustrate, I quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and his wife, Pat. She reported that many years ago while Jeff was working on his PhD at Yale University, he got to know one of the senior reference librarians who provided him valuable help in researching his dissertation.

One day, Jeff said, “Ilene, I need to know how many books we have in either the Sterling Memorial or Beinecke Rare Book Libraries that claim to have been delivered by an angel.” The librarian gave him a peculiar look and said, “I don’t know of any books that have been delivered by angels.” Brother Holland replied, “Well, just run a check for me, would you? It may take a little doing, but I really would like to know. It would help me with some religious writing I am doing.” (In recounting this experience, Sister Holland noted that Yale University at that time had the fourth-largest library in the nation, with nearly 9 million volumes in its collection.)

Ultimately, Ilene fulfilled this request. She reported to Brother Holland, “I have a book for you. I found one book which, it is claimed, was delivered by an angel.” She held up a paperback copy of the Book of Mormon. “I’m told you can get them for a dollar. “My word,” she continued. “An angel’s book for a dollar. You would think angels would charge more, but then again, where would they spend it?”

An angel did deliver a written text to the Prophet Joseph Smith. The angel Moroni told Joseph that “there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of [the American] continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants;” The Book of Mormon: A Miraculous Miracle President Russell M. Nelson President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles June 23, 2016 (“the American” was in the original quote. I believe American is the USA, not Central or South America)

Be Grateful

In this time of challenging and rapid change in the world, we must remain valiant to our Savior and His Church leaders. Follow President Nelson and the 14 in all they say. “Stay on the Covenant Path”, as our Prophet says.

Just this past Friday our Prophet asked us to be grateful. He also said, “We are grateful for all those who are striving to combat the covid pandemic, please bless them with protection and inspiration. Wilt Thou help us end this virus which has plagued so many of Thy children.” President Russell M. Nelson Nov 20, 2020 #givethanks #bookofmormonevidence

The quote that hit home to me this past Friday was simple but powerful. Pres Nelson said, “Relieve us of political strife” Russell M Nelson Nov 20, 2020 #givethanks

Below is the Prophets council if you haven’t heard it. 

An Angel of Light

I truly believe our country is close to the end. I have no idea if that is a few months a few years or 10 years or more, but we are close to losing the blessings of this great country. Why? Because I feel there is so much wickedness and desire for money and power now in our world than ever before. 

I believe Satan is appearing as that angel of light to deceive us. Our constitutional rights are being ripped from us. This was a fraudulent election and I strongly feel Pres Trump won this election. I pray the Lord will spare us a little longer. At the core of most Democrats are evil ideas of abortion, no freedom of speech nor worship, no right to bear arms, and socialism. I believe the Republican Party is almost as corrupt, but I believe in the honorable results I have seen with President Trump. I believe he loves America and we as a people. I pray the Lord will help our courts of law come to the correct and proper decisions.

Complaining or kicking against the pricks is wrong and will lead you nowhere but the bottom. Remember the quote, “Obedience is greater than Sacrifice?” (see 1 Samuel 15:22). With our leaders it is  better to simply be obedient than worry about why they are asking you to do something. “Just Do It”. Not blind obedience, but faithful obedience. If the Book of Mormon is the truth (and it is), then obey it. If Joseph Smith is and was a Prophet (which he is and was), just obey him. Stop trying to find fault with Brother Joseph. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and I continue to strive to be obedient to our leaders teachings. The difference between a righteous and a wicked person is simply this. The righteous are continually being obedient and repenting. The evil don’t have a desire to obey anything and they are never repenting. 

Revelation in a Changing World
Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Oct 1989

“All inspiration does not come from God. (See D&C 46:7.) The evil one has the power to tap into those channels of revelation and send conflicting signals which can mislead and confuse us. There are promptings from evil sources which are so carefully counterfeited as to deceive even the very elect. (See Matt. 24:24.)

Nevertheless, we can learn to discern these spirits. Even with every member having the right to revelation, the Church can be maintained as a house of order.

Revelation comes in an orderly way in the Church. We are entitled to personal revelation. However, unless we are set apart to some presiding office, we will not receive revelations concerning what others should do…

An unusual spiritual experience should not be regarded as a personal call to direct others. It is my conviction that experiences of a special, sacred nature are individual and should be kept to oneself.

Few things disturb the channels of revelation quite so effectively as those people who are misled and think themselves to be chosen to instruct others when they are not chosen.

Others, fearing they also might go astray, then hold back and do not seek the source of divine revelation. Obedience to constituted priesthood authority will protect us from going astray.

There are those within the Church who are disturbed when changes are made with which they disagree or when changes they propose are not made. They point to these as evidence that the leaders are not inspired.

They write and speak to convince others that the doctrines and decisions of the Brethren are not given through inspiration.

Two things characterize them: they are always irritated by the word obedience, and always they question revelation. It has always been so. Helaman described those who “began to disbelieve in the spirit of prophecy and in the spirit of revelation; and the judgments of God did stare them in the face.” (Hel. 4:23.) “They were left in their own strength” (Hel. 4:13), and “the Spirit of the Lord did no more preserve them; yea, it had withdrawn from them” (Hel. 4:24).

Changes in organization or procedures are a testimony that revelation is ongoing. While doctrines remain fixed, the methods or procedures do not.”
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1989/10/revelation-in-a-changing-world?lang=eng

3 Grand Keys

Instructions given by Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, February 9, 1843, making known three grand keys by which the correct nature of ministering angels and spirits may be distinguished.

D&C 129:1 There are two kinds of beings in heaven, namely: Angels, who are resurrected personages, having bodies of flesh and bones—

2 For instance, Jesus said: Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

3 Secondly: the spirits of just men made perfect, they who are not resurrected, but inherit the same glory.

4 When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you.

5 If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand.

6 If he be the spirit of a just man made perfect he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear—

7 Ask him to shake hands with you, but he will not move, because it is contrary to the order of heaven for a just man to deceive; but he will still deliver his message.

8 If it be the devil as an angel of light, when you ask him to shake hands he will offer you his hand, and you will not feel anything; you may therefore detect him.

9 These are three grand keys whereby you may know whether any administration is from God.

Be not deceived, even Satan can appear as an angel of light. See 2 Corinthians 11:14

American’s Please Repent

When the lord says below “at that day” he is speaking of we in the USA today. We are the ones sinning against His gospel, so now that day of the Gentile is leaving us. Look at our world of riots, looting, dishonesty, immoral behavior, corruption in Government, abortion, etc. That’s why the Lord says below that He will bring “the fulness of my gospel from among them.”

 “And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.” 3 Nephi 16:10

The Lord is speaking to us! To whom? Citizens of the United Stated of America. I must repent and I urge us all to do the same, for repentance is the only way this country can continue to exist. We are ripe to be swept off this Choice Land.

Burned Bones, Mysterious Timber Circles & the Rites of the Ancients – Adena Culture in Mason County, WV

Mason County, West Virginia is a place rich in history. Founded in 1804, the county is named after George Mason, who was a delegate at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787. In October of 1774, Colonel Andrew Lewis successfully lead the Virginia militia against a confederation of Algonquian Shawnee and Mingo forces led by Chief Cornstalk in the “Battle of Point Pleasant”. Lewis’ camp was named “camp Point Pleasant”, which became a permanent settlement and gradually grew into the modern town and County Seat of Mason County.

Illustration of Battle of Point Pleasant. 1854

Following the Battle of Point Pleasant, Chief Cornstalk ( Hokoleskwa or Kokolesqua in Shawnee) became a diplomat and peace advocate who secured working relations between his Shawnee kinsmen and Revolutionary Americans.

Illustration; one of the earliest depictions of Chief Cornstalk. (1720-1777) From Frost’s pictorial history of Indian wars and captivities from the earliest record of American history to the present time. 1872.

“How America Was Discovered is a story told by Handsome Lake (Seneca Prophet and contemporary of Cornstalk), and documented by Arthur C. Parker, about a young minister who meets the one he perceives to be the Lord, who then asks him to go to a new land and bring with him cards, money, a fiddle, whiskey, and blood corruption. In return the young minister will become rich. The young minister sought out Christopher Columbus, and with the help of his crew, traveled to the Americas. They turned back to report what they had seen, which caused an immigration of people from Europe to the Americas. Along with the people came the five things that aided in destroying the natives. The end reveals that the “Lord” in the gold castle was actually the devil, and that even he knew what he had caused was wrong.” Rudes, B. Tuscarora English Dictionary Toronto

Ganargua Creek (Mud Creek) was a primary stopover point for the Iroquois on their trade routes.  Joseph Smith also had an interest in the creek after hearing a speech from Seneca Indian Chief Red Jacket at Palmyra in 1822. The Buffalo of Yesteryear: Red Jacket’s speech on religious freedom (left)

Disturbing Death and Injustice

In the fall of 1777, Cornstalk and his son, Elinipsico, were wrongly detained at Fort Randolph while attempting to engage in peaceful relations with the Virginia militia, and both were murdered on November 10th.  By the time of his death, Chief Cornstalk had become a renowned figure throughout the American colonies, and there was outrage over his wrongful end.

None other than Patrick Henry (governor of Virginia at the time) attempted to bring justice upon Cornstalk’s killers, but the militiamen refused to testify against one another, and the murderers walked free.

While these historical events may be interesting enough in their own right, there are far older things buried in the ancient soil of Mason County. For over 2,000 years ago, this region of West Virginia hosted several ritual centers of the Adena Culture.

History Hidden in the Soil

The first to build burial mounds and earthworks in the Ohio River Valley, the chronology of the Adena Culture spans 1000 BC and to around 200 AD. A major Adena center (consisting of 10 earthen enclosures and between 40 and 50 burial mounds), was once located along the Kanawha River at the present-day location of Charleston, West Virginia in Kanawha County.

Another major conglomerate of Adena mounds once existed at Grave Creek Flats in Marshall County, consisting of several enclosures and around 47 mounds, including the famous Grave Creek Mound, which was originally between 60 and 65 feet in height. While these two locales have received the lion’s share of attention by historians and archaeologists in West Virginia, the lesser-known Adena sites in Mason County are extraordinary in their own right and provide a unique glimpse into Adena ritualism and burial practices.

Grave Creek Mound, Moundsville, West Virginia, USA (Tim Kiser

Ritual Circles

The Neibert Site was located along the Ohio River south of Point Pleasant, near the Gallipolis Locks and Dam. Excavations at Neibert ahead of a locks replacement project in the 1980s revealed the former existence of four or five timber circles located on a high terrace above the Ohio River.

Four of the circles were constructed in paired-post fashion, and all five were situated in a linear pattern variously 10-50 meters (32.8-164 feet) distant from one another.

Jason Jarrell and Sarah Farmer  are investigative historians and avocational archaeologists. They study many subjects including depth psychology, Biblical mysteries, political science, and comparative mythology. They’re also authors of the book, Ages of the Giants: A Cultural History of the Tall Ones in Prehistoric America (2017).

Heartland Research with Wayne May and John Lefgren have been doing magnetometry research in Iowa near Nauvoo, Illinois for signs of ancient civilizations in the Heartland during Book of Mormon Times. They have found Adena Roundhouses like the one above. Visit my blog here to read more about it.

BYU’s 2017 Department of Geological Sciences Hates New Science!* (See Below)

When I was a college student there were many discussions on the question of organic evolution. I took classes in geology and biology and heard the whole story of Darwinism as it was then taught. I wondered about it. I thought much about it. But I did not let it sway me, for I read what the scriptures said about our origins and our relationship to God.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Faith: The Essence of True Religion, p. 18.)

Our Church is Neutral on Evolution

“The Church has no official position on the theory of evolution. Organic evolution, or changes to species’ inherited traits over time, is a matter for scientific study. Nothing has been revealed concerning evolution. Though the details of what happened on earth before Adam and Eve, including how their bodies were created, have not been revealed, our teachings regarding man’s origin are clear and come from revelation.” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2016/10/to-the-point/what-does-the-church-believe-about-evolution.html?lang=eng

Why? Editors Opinion

Many intellectuals and scientists love sharing the quote above which says, “The Church has no official position on the theory of evolution.” The Church has also said they are neutral on the Geography of the Book of Mormon. These statements by the Church however don’t say that we have to be neutral about these things. I believe the Church is telling us to search and pray for ourselves. The Church can’t teach us everything as we are accountable for our own spiritual growth as we learn in this life. We should read, study and search for evidences about all things, and by the Spirit we may know ALL THINGS! Moroni 10:5

Supposedly those writers at FAIR Mormon use Elder Holland’s statement below as he says, “I do not know the details of what happened on this planet before that”, to feel they can tell us all about evolution as they are smarter than the Prophets. This secular society needs to have the faith of the Brethren and end this tremendous amount of time spent in promoting evolution of ape to man and from nothing comes something.

Why is it no surprise that a vast number of those who believe in the Mesoamerican Theory of the Book of Mormon also believe man came from nothing, Noah’s flood is a myth, the Earth is billions of years in creation, and believe in Pre-Adamites?

WE DID NOT COME FROM AN APE OF THIS I AM MOST CERTAIN! MAN DID NOT EVOLVE FROM NOTHING! ADAM WAS PLACED ON THE EARTH IN ABOUT 4,000 BC! THE MATERIALS OF THE EARTH ARE BILLIONS (innumerable) OF YEARS OLD, BUT THE CREATION IS THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD, NOAH’S FLOOD IS REAL, and if there is ever a difference between Scripture and Science, always choose Scripture!

“One need not look far into science to discover it consists too generally of a maze of facts and theory so closely interwoven that even the most learned and honorable scientist (to say nothing of the intellectually dishonest one or the novice) may have difficulty in distinguishing readily between truth and theory.” — Joseph Fielding Smith Man, His Origin and Destiny

See my blog titled EVOLUTION AT BYU here:

DNA & Dating Dinosaurs DVD

Could a Single Experiment Change Much of Science? Could Modern Science Have Some Things Wrong? Are All the Creation Accounts Actual or Myths? Is Evolution Being Taught as Fact at BYU? Can We Trust the Scriptures & Prophets? Are Our Youth Being Taught the Truth? Was There a Real World-Wide Flood? Did Adam and Eve Really Exist?

Join scientific researcher, author and international lecturer Rod Meldrum as he introduces a paradigm-altering experiment that may forever change the very foundations of science as we know it. Learn about a new millennial science, called the Universal Model, that provides the hard scientific evidences of the processes by which:

1- This magnificent Earth may have actually formed out of water.
2. How, and how long it took, for dinosaurs and trees to fossilize.
3. How a world-wide catastrophic flood at the time of Biblical Noah happened.
4. How mankind’s place in the Universe came through Adam and Eve.

Yes, We Really Can Trust the Scriptures and Prophets!

For 7 years Rod Meldrum was the head scientific researcher for Dean Sessions, author of The Universal Model. Rod gives many presentations about how science and the scriptures go hand in hand including the one above called, DNA and Dating Dinosaurs.

What Is The Universal Model?
“The purpose of science is to describe and explain Nature so that we can understand and comprehend it, but where do we learn these things simply, in a way that makes sense? For many decades, a number of incorrect theories and misleading philosophies have formed the foundation of ‘modern’ science. Now, newly discovered scientific truths in the Universal Model have revealed long-hidden natural laws that explain Nature’s workings in an easily comprehensible format. We invite all to explore and experience the adventure of learning by investigating new discoveries about the Earth and our Universe found in the UM. These scientific truths establish a New Millennial Science destined to take us through the current millennium to heights of knowledge and discovery never before imagined.” The Universal Model Home Page

“We must keep in mind that He [Christ] is allowing the wheat and tares to grow up together for a season, and by and by the tares will be gathered together and be burned up. Before the burning though, there will be a judgement, and the Lord is allowing us each right now to work out our salvation or damnation. Those that have the facts before them and reject them (see below) will pay the ultimate price, but there also must be a Great Divide that is taking place right now (talked about in the BoM and in the last chapter of Vol II of UM [Universal Model] – the Human Model) to clearly mark each of us to which side we are on.

Joseph Fielding Smith wrote:
“One need not look far into science to discover it consists too generally of a maze of facts and theory so closely interwoven that even the most learned and honorable scientist (to say nothing of the intellectually dishonest one or the novice) may have difficulty in distinguishing readily between truth and theory.” — Man, His Origin and Destiny

This is the purpose of the UM, to take this maze (the modern science puzzle that makes no sense – everything from nothing) and replace it with Nature’s Puzzle – they way things really are.

Melvin A. Cook in the Intro of:  Man, His Origin and Destiny also said:
“Unfortunately, owing to the strong desire of scientists to display their brilliance and ingenuity, there is a tendency for theory to become the objective instead of a means to the end. Theory then not only loses its real value, but actually becomes a stumbling block to progress. Its inventor and disciples become so engrossed in the theory that they lose sight of its fundamental purpose, the quest for truth. This condition was shockingly illustrated in my presence at a meeting of scientists when one of great renown met a factual objection with the statement, “I am more concerned with the elegance of the theory than the truth of it.” — Man, His Origin and Destiny

Therefore, the Lord will judge these so-called intellectuals to whether they want to follow and learn of the Truth (which is literally Christ) or not. The sad thing is that most do not realize following Christ means following and seeking out for the Truth.
 
The UM has already produced experiments for the first time that are “more than words” (for example it has created sandstone and petrified wood which are identical to how Nature produced it in only a few days). The UM does not just have “alternative explanations” to how things are done in Nature, it has the ONLY explanation in hundreds of instances where modern science admits their theories cannot explain such and such natural phenomena. So ‘producing’ more ‘things’ is not the solution. Science is about demonstrating the true nature of Nature, it is not technology, which is only a tool that helps us understand it better.

Therefore, we cannot expect the leaders of science today to ever change their religion of atheism and accept the truth. It’s just not going to happen. For the UM to gain a much wider acceptance, it will have to be promoted full time to a much greater degree and I will personally have to be involved with this with others. This means I will be involved in debates and interviews and making many more recordings for the Web with influencers.

Although each Volume of the UM stands alone and has more new natural law than produced by modern science over the last century, Vol III does have double the amount of natural law as the other two volumes and many more experiments seen for the first time. Being able to demonstrate the true models of both matter and energy is more than any physicist or chemist or cosmologist has ever dreamed of, as this alone changes all their fields of study – and the UM does this. It also shows the errors in the physics of the Big Bang and proves the Universe is not expanding, but rotating in a Revolutionary Universe. It really is beyond what any scientist could dream about – yet it is all real and empirically demonstrated.” Dean Sessions-Founder and Author of the “Universal Model, A New Millennial Science“

None of us . . . knows enough. The learning process is an endless process. We must read, we must observe, we must assimilate, and we must ponder that to which we expose our minds. I believe in evolution, not organic evolution, as it is called, but in the evolution of the mind, the heart, and the soul of man. I believe in improvement. I believe in growth.‖ (Gordon B. Hinckley, Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 298.)

For a free PDF of quotes from Prophets about Creation and Evolution, click the link below: Creation and Evolution A witness of Prophets

The UM Is For All Lovers Of Truth by Chauncey Riddle

I have just completed reading the first two of the three systems of the new UM project of Dean Sessions. I am greatly impressed and delighted by what I found. It was like seeing an exciting, powerful new movie that deals with some of my favorite topics and concerns. To specifics:

1. Sessions is right on in pointing out that much of present day science is theory oriented rather than being fact oriented as it should be. For many scientists, theory is more important than law. Scientific laws are demonstrated by facts, but theories cannot be demonstrated by facts. There are always an infinite number of possible theoretical explanations for any finite set of facts. Theories can be eliminated by facts, but only if the persons involved in evaluating them will make the correct application: face the facts. When a theory is an article of faith, many people refuse to apply the pertinent facts which should cause them to abandon a particular theory. Sessions has called attention to specific facts and laws which should cause any honest person to reject the theories of organic evolution, the great age of fossils, the magma theory of the history of the earth, etc. How refreshing to see such candor in scientific thinking!
2. Sessions is also correct in showing that technology is as important as scientific theorizing. Technology enabled the work of Galileo to establish the helio-centric theory of the solar system, much to the consternation of the self-appointed scientists of his day. Sessions has shown by technology how granite rock is actually formed, as well as other minerals. He has shown how fossils are formed, such as petrified wood. Diamonds are now produced by technology. All of these technical achievements create facts and laws which every honest scientist must recognize and apply to theories affected by them. Technology trumps scientific theory because technology demonstrates what is (facts), whereas scientific theory only muses on what might be. Theory in science is actually metaphysics, not physics. Only when substantiated by facts and laws do theories become acceptable, and are always subject to elimination if new facts and laws come forth to negate them. Sessions has done an admirable job of showing how some present theoretical darlings of some scientists must be rejected.
3. Session’s discussions of hydrofountains, hypretherms, the Universal Flood, organic evolution, fossils, climate, history, anthropology, etc., are all refreshing and challenging. Reading this book is having one’s imagination stretched at every turn. Every serious reader who has an interest in knowing the truth will be delighted with the challenging ideas found here.

Will there be criticisms of this work? Most certainly. What form will they take?

1. One will be ignoring this work and discouraging others from reading it. Just as the politicians in charge try to marginalize everyone who is not “politically correct,” so will influential members of the science community try to ignore and belittle this work. But every honest seeker after truth will relish the opportunity to think freshly about important scientific matters, in a refined paradigm of science, and with new facts and laws to ponder.
2. Some critics will say that this work should be ignored or discounted because the author, Dean Sessions, is not a professional scientist and does not have the “necessary” academic background to propound such a work. This attitude is rubbish, of course. That is like saying someone cannot run fast because they are not part of an official Olympic Team. The proof of science is not in who says it but in the physical evidence brought to bear in evaluating our ideas about this physical world we live in. Sessions is right in pointing out that theory (which cannot be proved, but can be falsified) has become more important to many current scientists than are facts. The great example of this is the theory of organic evolution which is the darling of much of academia right now and which is completely unsupported by the facts, specifically the fact that there is no observable speciation in nature. That plus the inability to prove the immense time frame necessary for the theory spell the death-knell for the theory of organic evolution for every honest person. But evolution is a religion, a matter of faith for many persons, and they would rather give up their honesty than give up their favorite irrational article of faith.
3. Some will say that Sessions has picked and chosen very carefully the quotations of other writers which he cites to support his case. But that is not a fault. Every person picks and chooses among potential citations, a necessity in the flood of writings about every topic. What is most remarkable and commendable is the breadth and depth of the scholarship which Sessions exhibits in his writing. He has searched the literature of many fields of endeavor with exciting and telling results. Most people know the literature only in their own field. Sessions has no primary field and delves into what others have said from all the fields he deals with to help his readers realize what is being said and not said in the areas of his interest. Be grateful he has been selective and brings to you a summary of what others are saying.
4. Sessions will possibly be proved wrong about some assertions he has made in his work. This is almost inevitable for anyone doing serious thinking and writing. But the finding of such errors will not be an embarrassment for Sessions. He will laud such finding, because that will mean that the cause of truth will be advanced. His purpose is to bring truth and light to important matters, and if his work stimulates others to produce more truth and light, even unto showing his work needs to be amended, he will be grateful. He will be grateful because he writes not to give the final word but to further the ongoing human inquiry into the powerful ideas about the true nature of the universe that give us all more understanding and power.

I commend this work for all serious thinkers and lovers of truth. You will be challenged in reading the material. It is not “light” reading. But any effort will be well worth it.

Chauncey C. Riddle, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Brigham Young University, USA 10/22/2016

*A Sad Commentary about the Universal Model

Daily Universe Readers Forum April 4-10, 2017 http://newsnet.byu.edu/pdf/du20170404.pdf

BYU’s student newspaper, The Universe, printed a full-page advertisement on behalf of the “Firm Foundation Expo,” a 3-day expo that bills itself as “faithfully exploring LDS topics of our time.” In the advertisement, all of the 70+ speakers are portrayed as distinguished and as experts in some area or another.

One of those speakers is Dean W. Sessions, the author of the “Universal Model.” Mr. Sessions claims to have disproved several straightforward tenets of modern science, including the basic interior structure of the Earth (which he argues has a core of ice and liquid water) and the mass of the Earth (which he recalculates at about a third of what is known in order to fit this model). He will be speaking about his model on each day of the event.

We, members of BYU’s Department of Geological Sciences, cannot accept Mr. Sessions “Universal Model” as it runs contrary to multiple lines of empirical evidence and generations of scientific query. It would not pass expert peer review.

Students and the BYU community are reminded that organic evolution, anthropogenic climate change, radiometric dating and a 4.56 billion-year-old age of the Earth are all seriously taught on campus by professors, who are in good standing with the church, in fields directly relating to these subjects. Students may learn more about these subjects through a variety of courses offered by the Department of Geological Sciences as well as from other departments.

We, the undersigned, support the honest development of knowledge by way of the scientific method and as vetted through expert peer review. We are concerned that the presence of the aforementioned advertisement in The Universe may legitimize Dean Sessions’ “Universal Model” in the eyes of some within the community.

—Bart Kowallis, PhD, Associate Dean of CPMS; Ron Harris, PhD; Jeffrey Keith, PhD;Jani Radebaugh, PhD; Eric Christiansen, PhD; Carl Hoiland, PhD; Thomas Morris, PhD; Sam Hudson, PhD; Stephen Nelson, PhD; Geology master’s degree students:Kimberly Sowards, Colin Hale, Michael Jensen, William Meservy, TJ Slezak, Collin Jensen, Matthew Randall, Aaron Holmes, Braxton Spilker, Danielle Spencer, Rebecca Esplin, Hannah Checketts, Brian Packer, David Tomlinson, Kevin Stuart, Hanif Sulaeman, Han Deng, Joel Barker; Geology bachelor’s degree students: Torri Duncan, Jason Klimek, Brett Young, Austin Eells, Hanna Howell, Chelsea Samuelson”

It’s sad how many scholars feel they know more than most of us who are uneducated people. I feel the great and spacious building is having fun right now at our expense. May the Lord help them become humble and at least consider some of this incredible research.

The Ezra Taft Benson talk from 25 Oct 1966 at a BYU Devotional is a sobering reminder of evil people in the church with an agenda (revising church history by quoting the intellectuals and apostates and ignoring the prophets). Ezra Taft Benson said to avoid being deceived, look to the Prophet. Listen to his entire talk at https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/ezra-taft-benson/immediate-responsibility/

At the 32:07-33:02 mark, just before the above quote, President Ezra Taft Benson states the following.

“We all have stewardships for which we must account to the Lord. Unfortunately, some men who do not honor their stewardships may have an adverse effect on many people. Often the greater the man’s responsibility, the more good or evil he can accomplish. The Lord usually gives a man a long enough rope and sufficient time to determine whether that man wants to pull himself into the presence of God or drop off somewhere below. There are some regrettable things being said and done by some people in the church today. As President Clark so well warned, the ravening wolves are amongst us. From our own membership and they more than any others are clothed in sheep’s clothing because they wear the habiliments of the priesthood. We should be careful of them.”

It is very appropriate to speak about the Gospel of Jesus Christ while also speaking about our blessed Constitution that the Lord Himself wrote. He said, “And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood. D&C 101:80

Today after a very contentious voting process our citizenry seems very split on what form of government the people want. We are a divided nation. We have been divided for a long time. Think back to the time of Joseph Smith. The saints thought that in about June of 1834, Zion’s Camp was going to establish the New Jerusalem in Missouri and yet the Lord said, “now is not the time” to redeem my people. That was 186 years ago! That means the 2nd Coming has to be even closer than we may realize.

Joseph Smith Quote

“There will be two great political parties in this country. One will be called the Republican, and the other the Democrat party. These two parties will go to war and out of these two parties will spring another party which will be the Independent American [sic] Party. The United States will spend her strength and means warring in foreign lands until other nations will say, “Let’s divide up the lands of the United States,” then the people of the U.S. will unite and swear by the blood of their fore-fathers that the land shall not be divided. Then the country will go to war, and they will fight until one half of the U.S. Army will give up, and the rest will continue to struggle. They will keep on until they are very ragged and discouraged, and almost ready to give up – when the boys from the mountains will rush forth in time to save the American Army from defeat and ruin. And they will say, “Brethren, we are glad you have come; give us men, henceforth, who can talk with God.” Then you will have friends, but you will save the country when it’s [sic] liberty hangs by a hair, as it were.” – Prophet and presidential candidate Joseph Smith, 19 June 1844, as recorded in the autobiography of Mosiah Lyman Hancock. See Duane S. Crowther, Prophecy – Key to the Future, p. 10.

Constitutional Values

Today in Utah we have a party called, the Independent American Party which as part of its mission is, “to uphold and revere our Constitution in the tradition of our Founding Fathers as the only and supreme law of this land.” It was founded on many of the principles set forth by Ezra Taft Benson. I am not affiliated with this party, but I support many of its principles. You can also see a video that the Firm Foundation recorded of Greg Duerden & Wayne Hill – Utah Gubernatorial Candidates Website Here:

“If you vote for the lesser of two evils, you are still voting for evil… Always vote for the best possible candidate, whether they have a chance of winning or not. Then, even if the worst possible candidate wins, the Lord will bless our nation more because more people were willing to stand up for what is right.” Ezra Taft Benson

“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” (Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759)

“The sign [above] that once labeled Joseph Smith’s office in Nauvoo’s Red Brick Store draws attention to his position as prophet, yet it hung in a place where he filled many additional roles. Like Joseph himself, the Red Brick Store fulfilled both Church and state purposes. In Joseph’s office, he received and dictated revelations. In the store’s upper assembly room, he organized the Relief Society and introduced temple ceremonies. The assembly room also housed Nauvoo’s municipal court and provided space for the political convention that nominated Joseph Smith as a presidential candidate.₁ Joseph didn’t draw a stark line between his civic and religious roles, like we might today, and his political involvement was extremely important to the Church.

In 1839, Joseph Smith and other Church leaders visited the president of the United States, Martin Van Buren, because the Saints had endured so many losses in Missouri without any redress at the local or state level. President Van Buren heard Joseph’s complaints and famously responded, “Gentlemen, your cause is just, but I can do nothing for you. . . . If I take up for you, I shall lose the Vote of Missouri.”₂ Recognizing that the government would not protect his people, Joseph determined to do what he could to ensure the Saints’ rights were safeguarded.₃

In June 1840, Joseph Smith was considering different ways to organize a government for the Saints’ new settlement along the banks of the Mississippi River when John C. Bennett arrived. Bennett was popular with political leaders in the Illinois state capital, having been appointed quartermaster general over the state militia. He was sympathetic to the Saints’ cause and helped Joseph plan a city government with more legal protections than the Saints had enjoyed in the past.₄ The Nauvoo Charter guaranteed the local government’s rights to pass laws, form a city militia, and issue writs of habeas corpus, meaning the right to appeal arrest or imprisonment. Bennett became a Church member and returned to Springfield to shepherd the Nauvoo Charter through the Illinois legislature. The charter gained approval in December 1840. Bennett became the city’s first elected mayor in February 1841, and Joseph Smith served on the city council and as the lieutenant general of the newly formed Nauvoo Legion.₅

Joseph actively participated on the city council and introduced all 11 of the ordinances passed during the council’s first five meetings. One ordinance addressed temperance.₆ Another demonstrated his commitment to religious freedom: “Be it ordained . . . That the Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Latter Day Saints, Quakers, Episcopalians, Universalists, Unitarians, Mohammedans, and all other Religious Sects and denominations whatever, shall have free toleration, and equal privileges, in this City.”₇ Source

Notes for above.

1. See “ Store (JS’s red brick store), Nauvoo, Illinois ,” josephsmithpapers.org.
2.  Joseph Smith, “ History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] ,” 1016, josephsmithpapers.org.
3. See Arnold K. Garr, “Joseph Smith: Mayor of Nauvoo,”  Mormon Historical Studies,  vol. 3, no. 1 (Spring 2002), 29.
4. See  Church History in the Fulness of Times Student Manual,  2nd ed. (Church Educational System manual, 2003), 222–24.
5. See Garr, “Joseph Smith: Mayor of Nauvoo,” 30–31.
6. See  Church History in the Fulness of Times Student Manual,  222–24.
7.  Joseph Smith, “ History, 1838–1856, volume C-1 [2 November 1838–31 July 1842] ,” 1169.

Union of the Saints, A Discourse
by President Heber C. Kimball

“The preaching we have had by brother Joseph Young, is the kind I love. It is very unlike the mixed up preaching of the world; but it is music to my ears; there are no jars nor discord when we hear the sounds of the glorious Gospel of the Son of God. It matters not to me what kind of an instrument it is played on, it is music to me and to you; but if you will tear in pieces the best and most perfect thing on the earth, it will not look well in that condition.

The Gospel and plan of salvation that I have embraced, is music to me; it is sweet to my body, and congenial to my spirit; and it is more lovely than anything else I have ever seen since I have been in the world. I love it, and that is why I love this people better than any other people on God’s earth, because there was never a better people, that is, I am speaking of the majority of them; but if you take them as a whole, I do not know that you can find any worse—that is, there are some that will compare with the worst in the world for sin and wickedness.

As brother Joseph said, so say I—Do not fear anything this side of hell, or that is in the east, west, north or south. I do not fear it any more than I do that the sun will fall from its position in the heavens, if this people will do just precisely as they are told. You know I preach upon this a great deal. The world considers it to be quite ridiculous for us to be of one heart, and of one mind. It is this union among those who are faithful “Mormons” that makes the world afraid of us; they fear us because we differ from the world. In the United States and in the old countries, they are divided into six or seven hundred different religious denominations, all disagreeing with each other; besides political and a thousand other kinds of divisions and differences, such as whiggery, democratism, socialism, which, in short, may all be summed up under the term, Devilism. This is not the policy of the Latter-day Saints. Jesus says, if you are not one, you are not mine. Let the Christian world who profess to believe in Jesus Christ, and in his Father, and in this book, the Bible, note that passage, “Except ye are one, ye are not mine.”

Editors note:

Does that mean only one political party is good and the other is of the devil? I don’t think so. There were 75 million that voted for Joe Biden and 72 million that voted for Trump. I think there are some great people who voted from both parties. I also think many in the Democratic Party did some voter fraud from what I have read and seen. I do believe if you take the very best people from each party and determine the intent of their hearts to be good, that is the majority party and I call it the Gathered of Israel as President Nelson speaks of so often. Only God can judge this fairly. I still hope and pray Pres. Trump will win, but if he doesn’t we need to support the office of President of the United States.

There is more oneness in this people, than in any people that ever lived upon the earth. There was not that oneness in the days of Jesus, that there is now, and I suppose there never has been since the days of Enoch. Because there was such a oneness among the people of Enoch, and they could not continue to be one, and live with the people in the same world, God took them and their city with a part of the earth to Himself, and they sailed away like one ship at sea separating from another.

Jesus says, “Except ye are one, ye are not mine.” And yet the Christian world take a course to justify themselves in division, in strife, in animosity, in quarreling, in envy, in jealousy, in war and bloodshed. And yet they say they are one: I say THEY LIE. A man that says it, lies to me, and he lies to God. I say this to all the world, and to those who are passing through the city as emigrants; if you profess to be disciples of Christ, and have hatred to us in your hearts, I say you lie; in the name of the Lord God Almighty I say it. Do you not think He will sustain me in it? Yes, and all His faithful followers will too; and those who desire to be the disciples of Christ and to be one, will gather together.

I referred to the days of Jesus; was there that union then, that might have been? Jesus said to the disciples, when the people turned away from him, “Will ye also go?” This he said to the Twelve. Many of the disciples forsook him. Even Peter, the chief Apostle, turned away from him when he was in the greatest trouble, and denied him with cursing and swearing.

In this day and age of the world, we profess to be one. Jesus said then, how often would I have gathered you together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not. He will do so now if you will let him; he will gather us together from the four quarters of the earth—I mean the Saints, the honest in heart, the elect of God; that they may become one, and lay aside their selfishness, their bickering, their murmuring and complaining, and everything of this nature.

If a man wants my ox, let him come and tell me so, and he shall have it; he need not quarrel with me about it; and if he robs me of it, I want him to enjoy the stolen property, if he can; for I will not quarrel about the foolish things of this world, for they will soon decay, and return to their mother earth, as you and I will.

Now, brethren and sisters, I will say to the emigrants who are passing through this city, and to the world at large, that it is our intention to become perfectly one in heart and mind. Have those who have separated themselves from this people prospered? They may have prospered for a season; but by and by they become like a limb that is severed from the tree; they wither and vanish away; and all such will continue to do so from this time henceforth and forever. It is just as much impossible for a people to exist that withdraw from this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as it is for a limb of a tree to live when it is severed from the body of the tree. Of this I am positive, because I know it. So I will say concerning the world and all the sects and denominations and kingdoms of the world, that oppose this work and people of God, they will wither in due time likewise, and they cannot help themselves.

Editors Note:

I believe this righteousness to be true of many of the noble and great ones in the Church and many in this world that may not be members, but only those who love and follow God and Christ are part of this gathering.

When brother Joseph Smith lived, he was our Prophet, our Seer, and Revelator; he was our dictator in the things of God, and it was for us to listen to him, and do just as he told us. Now that appears very absurd in the eyes of the world; but they all say, if they had lived in the days of Peter, Moses, or Jesus, they would not have done as the people in those days did to them; but at the same time they would take their lives if they could, and do just like them. We are the servants of God; we have been called of God through the ministry of that holy Prophet Joseph Smith, who received his authority through the ministry of holy angels. Now he was just as true a Prophet as Moses was, or as any Prophet that has ever been upon the earth; and we are just as much the authorized servants of God, as the Apostles and disciples in the days of Jesus Christ were, and I know it. And I bear testimony of it to the United States, and to the nations of the world. They say they do not believe it. What do I care whether they do or not? I know it, and God requires me to bear testimony of it, to be valiant in testimony to the truth of this work, and to preach the Gospel, and to lay before my brethren their duty.

Brother Joseph is gone, and now brother Brigham Young, the Governor of the Territory of Utah, is our Prophet, our leader, our Revelator; and it is for me and you to listen to him with all diligence, the same as we would listen to Joseph were he alive. Brother Brigham is his successor; his word is sacred; and if you do not observe it, it will not be well, and there is where I fear for you, brethren. I do not fear so much for myself as I do for you, because it will go hard with you, if you disobey his advice. There will many of you turn from the faith; you will turn your backs to us, and some will be guilty of shedding innocent blood, if you are not aware. This will be the result of apostasy. When that spirit attacks you, you will be led to do as other apostates have, who have turned from the Church of Christ.

Judas, when he lost the faith, received the power of the devil, and betrayed the Son of God into the hands of murderers. Joseph Smith in like manner was betrayed into the hands of wicked men, who took his life. He was betrayed by apostates, by men whom he once loved when they were in our midst, and had the Spirit of the Lord. We also would have been slain, if they could have got hold of us; but they were afraid to touch us; they knew it would be certain death to the man who lifted his heel against us. Just so now. I have got my old Gospel preparation laid up drying, preparing himself for action. Do I fear? No. I do not fear anything that lives on the earth, or that is in hell; Indians or anything else never will disturb us, the Saints, from this time to all eternity, if we will do precisely as we are told.

I do not speak of these things to establish myself as a Prophet, but I know what I say; I know you will prosper, and live in peace in the mountains of the Great Salt Lake, and be perfectly independent. You will have food and raiment, houses and lands, flocks and herds, and everything your hearts can desire, that there is in heaven and on earth, if you but do as you are told. If you will do this, you will think my words are very profitable to you, whether I am a Prophet or not. I am not saying anything but what my President has said time and time again. You will live in peace, and God will be your defense; and you will increase in knowledge, in power, in grace, and in every good thing that you can think of, or mention. I have said often, you may go and write blessings for yourselves, and insert every good thing you can think of, that is in heaven or on the earth, and it will all come to pass on your heads, if you do right.

What do I care for what the world says? I care no more about it than I do for the squawking of a goose. It is none of their business if I have a mind to be a Saint, and keep the commandments of God; and as you have heard it said, so say I—the time will come in which you will dwell in peace and safety; and when the time comes that you will go back to Jackson County, you will be independent, and live without any opposition at all. Can the Lord do it? Yes. All the people are in His hands, and He can turn the nations as I can an obedient horse. They are governed and controlled by the Almighty as much as we are. What can they do against us? Why nothing whatever, but if we do not do right they will be a scourge in the hands of God to scourge us, just as the Indians are at this time. There never would have been a disturbance if this people had done as they were told.

I am not speaking of the people in this city any more than of the people of other settlements. To my certain knowledge there is not a settlement in these mountains but were instructed by brother Brigham to build good forts and live in them; and on these conditions alone were volunteers permitted to go out and make new settlements.

Have any of them built forts? Tell of one settlement, if you please, excepting they commenced one in Iron County which remains unfinished yet. The Indians are now upon us, and our brethren are scattered off, three, four, and five families in a place, away off in this and in that direction, exposed to the Lamanites. They have been called into the city that they might be safe, and they are now teasing us, and wanting to go back again, and live in those exposed locations without a fort.

The Lord has made the Lamanites—the Indians, a scourge; but if this people will turn to and do just as they have been told, their wrath will be turned away in a short time, but not until the Lord God sees that this people are determined to do right. Upon the same principle that my wrath would be turned away from a child that repented under the rod of correction, so will the Lord’s wrath be turned away from His children when they repent, and go and do what they are told. A spirit of compassion seizes me the moment I see a repenting child; so it is with our heavenly Father. But the most of parents, when they tell their children to do a thing, and happen to give them a little slap on the ear for disobedience, the next moment they are saying, “O my dear child, I am sorry, let me give you a piece of bread and butter.” Our Father in heaven does not do so, until he sees contrition of heart in His children, for their wrongs.

Editors Note:

The evil “Deep State” that lies at the very core of our government will not go away and is as vexing to we as Christians and Latter-day Saints in these days, and is equal to the Gadianton Robbers of the Book of Mormon who continually raided and killed both Lamanites and Nephites. The Lord is trying us and saying to we as a Country, “Repent, Repent!” The Lord is not speaking to the evil ones, but to we of Israel who are not being obedient to Him.

We live in the days of Prophets, Apostles, High Priests, and servants of God who have the Priesthood upon them, and I know it. Gentlemen, I have been a member of this Church near 23 years, and passed through the whole of the difficulties in Kirtland, Ohio, and Missouri. When brother Brigham and myself and others, with our families, left Kirtland to go to Missouri with Joseph Smith, we had to lie with our firelocks by our side. When we arrived in Missouri, the devil contrived to raise the armies of the wicked against us there; and all the Elders and male members that could be counted from the western boundaries of Missouri to Nova Scotia, were not more than 205 men. We went up to Missouri to reinstate our brethren who had been driven out of Jackson County. We went up near 1,000 miles with our firelocks in our hands. Was there any fear in us? No. It never entered into our hearts, from the day we started to the time we returned again. I never saw the time but I could whip out twenty of the best men on earth.

I had a spirit on me as much superior to this earth, as the earth is superior to the degraded spirits of the wicked that dwell on its face. It was the Spirit of the Lord that stood by me, and diffused strength into my body, and into my limbs, until the very hair of my head felt all alive. Did they fear us in that upper country? Yes, they ran as though they were never going to stop in the world. We felt perfectly able to clear out that country to Nova Scotia, and we could have done it with 205 men, if the Lord God had commanded us, as the Gideonites did in days of old. Yes; 205 men, with the Spirit and power of God upon them, and their faces shining like the sun, it cannot be told what they could accomplish; neither can we form any conception of it.

Editors Note:

Just as those of Zion’s Camp could do it with 205, don’t you think 50-70 million righteous voters can do it now? Or can a very righteous 20 million overtake Satan, or 20,000 or 2,000 or 200, even as Zion’s Camp could? Yes! Why should we fear any of the evil Republicans, Democrats or Independents at all? We shouldn’t fear but pray, not sin but repent, not get mad but get humble, and fight this as a righteous battle against the Deep State who I am certain Satan himself is at the head.

Let us be as one person from this time henceforth, and do not let us suffer ourselves to become cold and stupid, but be Saints all the day long; and we shall build up the kingdom of God, and be prospered in all things we set our hands to do.

These are a few things I wanted to say; still there are many more things of great importance to us if we will only listen to them. One is, take care of your grain; for it is of more worth to you than gold and silver. I know you will see harder times before another harvest, than you have seen this season. Do you believe it? Did they believe it last year, when there were 15,000 bushels of wheat in the Tithing Office? No. When brother Brigham said the same thing last spring, to stir up the people to be careful of their grain, they said, “O no, brother Brigham, we cannot surely come to such scarcity as you foretell; look at the storehouse, it is full.” How much was there in the storehouse this harvest? There is not one bushel of grain of any kind, and I do not know that there will be.

There has been a great quantity thrashed out this harvest, but little of it has come into the public store, and the hands on the public works are obliged to live. If you go into the joiner’s shop, it is almost left desolate. If you go into the machine shops, and into the mason’s shop, they are the same; and yet there are thousands of bushels being thrashed out and ground into flour, and sold for from seven to ten dollars per hundred weight to the world—the emigrants who are passing through here yet—and at the same time the business on the public works stopped for want of it.

Brethren and sisters, please to look at this; you know I am telling you the truth, which is every day exhibited before your eyes.

The public ground here has to be enclosed before we can put forth a hand to build a Temple to the name of our God; and you are ready to feed everybody else under the heavens but the workmen. Have you turned from the Lord your God, and forgot His purposes? Think of it, you farmers!

Editors note:

Just as Heber C Kimball is chastising the Saints about grain, how are we doing with food storage? As he is upset at the Saints for not building forts, are we fortifying our homes and cities and states with proper righteousness and teachings? What can we learn from this sermon?

I do not know but I am wearying the brethren, but these things were on my mind, and I have got a back load of them yet; I see them, and reflect upon them in my heart. O Lord God, what will become of us? Have the people forgotten thee and thy purposes, with the Holy Priesthood upon them—with the sacred ordinances of God’s house upon them? Now think of it, brethren and sisters. There is enough, and we need never want bread; but if we do not take the right course, we are sure to see sorrow, and the greatest you have ever seen. Some of you never saw any in your lives. Those who were never without bread, and clothing, and good houses to dwell in, murmur the worst; and those who never had any troubles and trials since they have been in this Church, or since they have been on the earth, are the most ready to complain. This may appear strange doctrine to you, but you know it is true.

Editors Note:

Have we been in the fight for our Republic for many years? Have we only voted recently? Have we only today decided to do something. Have we taken our Government for granted with this wonderful Land of Liberty? Have we never had many trials or felt much in tribulation as Citizens of this great United States of America? Are those of us with the least amount invested in the Country, complaining the most? Let us repent if it is the case.

As to getting rich, why bless your souls, is not the earth the Lord’s and the fulness thereof? Are not the gold and precious metals in the mountains, in the dells, and in the cliffs of the earth, all the Lord’s? He created all; and the human family, with all the treasures of earth, are in His hand. They all belong to the Lord our God, and we are His people if we do His will. Are we not heirs to all these riches? Certainly we are; every son and daughter of Adam, who loves the great Father of our spirits and His Son Jesus Christ, and obeys the Gospel, and listens to him whom God has delegated as an Apostle and Prophet to counsel His people, I tell you that all this treasure is theirs, and the devils cannot help themselves. I am just as sure of it as I am that the sun will rise and set tomorrow. Do you believe it, brethren and sisters? Do you know it? Yes, you know it. Now if you ever expect to enjoy it, you have got to live for it, as individuals, independent of any other man or woman. You have got to live as independent Saints, and obey the will of God independently as it is taught, and laid before you from time to time. All that wish to be delivered from the scourge, and from afflictions, will have to rise up and do right to their God, and to each other, not as a Conference merely, but as a people, as the Saints of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am not going to command you to do it; but my advice is for you to do it. Rise up now, and do just as you are told, and you will see happy times.

I know there is a greater desire in this people for things that perish, for theatrical performances and dancings, than there is for the public interests of the Kingdom of God. Well, let us be Saints indeed, and show to the world that we are for God and for none else.

Among some people in the world it is popular to be a Christian; and among another class it is not popular; but it is popular with me to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and then it is popular for me to do the will of the Holy Spirit.

Editors Note

Do we love our homes and cars and smart phones more than God? Do we strive to be part of this world so the popular person will praise us? It is not popular in our current world of progressives to love Donald Trump’s agenda as he loves America, just as it is not popular to be a good Christian or a good Muslim or Jew. What do the evil who point their finger at us from that great and spacious building say about us? Do they believe in equal rights and in free speech, or the right to bear arms, or that abortion is killing? No they trample under foot the saying’s of God. May we not be as them and may we Repent. We don’t ask others to repent but we, the Children of Israel are willing to do it. The only difference between a righteous and an evil person is; the righteous are always repenting. How are we doing?

A single man can accomplish more with the power of the Spirit of God, than this whole people can, if they will not do right. Do I fear anything? No; but if I have to bow down to the chastening rod, as I have already done many times in this Church, I will do it like a man of God. I have been driven five or six times, and yonder are my habitations, and they may rot there. And so have some of you been driven in like manner; and some of you never had one thing to trouble you in your lives. I am now well off; but if I have got to come to it again as I have in former times, I will round up my back to the burden, and make it as tough as a piece of sole leather, to bear what shall be laid upon me manfully, or else I will die. I have no fears upon that ground at all; but my prayers are, by night or by day, for the Lord to take me from the earth, rather than I should sin against Him, or against my brethren, or against our President Brigham Young. I have known him 30 years, and he and brother Joseph Smith have been comrades together; and better men never lived on the earth than they are; and you may tell the kings and rulers of the earth this, and the nations over which they preside, if you please. The reason why we would rather have him to be our Governor than any other man, is because he is the best man we are acquainted with.

I have lived in the State of New York, town of Bloomfield, Monroe County, right in the heart of the country where the ancient Lamanites, and other veterans, destroyed each other, root and branch; where the Book of Mormon was discovered in the hill of Cumorah. From among those rich hills the people are flocking to these mountains. Why? Because this is the richest place in the world.

Editors Note

It seems Heber C. Kimball is speaking here about his familiarity of the area known as Cumorah. He indicates this country was where Lamanites and veterans were destroyed, validating the information Heartlanders believe that the final battles took place near Cumorah, not in Mexico somewhere.

The country adjacent to the Sweet Waters has actually become a rich gold mine. Talk about gold! The Lord can change any of the elements into gold as easy as He could change the water into wine.

I suppose I had better bring my disjointed remarks to a close. I feel first-rate; I feel like a soldier of Christ, like a man of God. I feel sometimes that I could take one of those mountains, and handle it as I could a football. Bless your souls! If you will only do as the Lord tells you through His delegated agent, who gives you the voice of God and the wisdom of God, I am not troubled at all. The question is asked many times, “Has brother Brigham got the Urim and Thummim?” Yes, he has got everything; everything that is necessary for him to receive the will and mind of God to this people. Do I know it? Yes, I know all about it; and what more do you want? That is true, gentlemen; I am one of his witnesses in the last days, and to bear testimony of the truth of “Mormonism.”

Editors Note

Like Heber C. Kimball, I believe there is a sacred importance of having the original Urim and Thummim in possession of the Church. It is a reminder of the importance of having the revealed word of God as the Book of Mormon and the Priesthood with it. This type of heavenly instrument may be available to us all as an instrument for us to translate, interpret, understand, and see Heavenly things of God in the life to come. (See my last Editors Note below)

I say to the Saints, do not look upon us as perfect beings; notwithstanding, if you are perfect yourselves, then look for it in us, and not until then. If any of you are perfect, we want you to come here that we may see such beings, and know how to model ourselves after you; just as I take a piece of clay and shape it after another model more beautiful still.

Some of you think you have passed through awful tribulations in leaving your mothers and friends. I was glad when I got away from mine, because they persecuted me, and lied about me, and persecuted my brethren; so I was glad to get away from them. But they will see the day when they will be glad to come to brother Heber, and say, “Let me black your boots, clean your horse, or drive your carriage,” &c.

You talk about carriages; good heavens! I am just as sure of enjoying these blessings as I am of enjoying anything on this earth. If you do not believe it, read that book (the Bible), which speaks about the armies of heaven, and about horsemen and chariots, and men armed with swords, and all kinds of instruments of music; it is all spoken of in this book, and we will enjoy it, while those who seek our destruction, and all sinners, will go to hell.

All this enjoyment of the good things of heaven and earth will come by a separation of the righteous and the wicked. There was a time when an eruption took place in heaven, and Michael and his armies arose, and cast out the rebellious portion of the angels from heaven. Don’t you think they got tired of contention, and broils, and tumults? Yes, so they universally agreed to cast it out. We will get tired of it too, in these last days, and we will make a separation between Saint and Sinner. The Sectarian priests have written and preached about forty years ago, and have proved to their readers, and to their hearers, that there would be a separation, and the sheep would be placed on the right hand and the goats on the left; I suppose the goats mean those that are not good for much, they bear no wool.

I guess I had better stop speaking. May the Lord God bless you forever; and may union, peace, righteousness, and salvation be with you forever and ever. Amen.” Union of the Saints, Etc A Discourse by President Heber C. Kimball, Delivered at the Special Conference in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, August 13, 1853

Final Editors Note

As I was reading D&C 130 9-11 tonight I had an interesting thought. It seems this section is speaking of a possible 3 different Urim and Thummim’s.
1- Verse 9, the earth will become like crystal and a be a Urim and Thummim.
2- Verse 10, “the” white stone mentioned in Rev 2:17 will be a Urim and Thummim given to each to use in the various levels of the Celestial Kingdom, on this earth. This becomes the first of two white stones we receive.
3- Verse 11, “a” white stone with a new name for those in the highest order of the Celestial Kingdom. The new name is the key word as this is the second white stone we possess.

In other words those who reach exaltation have their own (two-stone) Urim and Thummim, while those who receive one of the various degrees of glory within the celestial kingdom receive just a one stone Urim and Thummim which could be called a “seer stone” by itself to be used as another type of Urim and Thummim.

(Food for thought, not for a controversy)

D&C 130:9 This ^aearth, in its ^bsanctified and ^cimmortal state, will be made like unto ^dcrystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it; and this earth will be ^eChrist’s.10 Then the white ^astone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a ^bhigher order of kingdoms will be made known;11 And a ^awhite stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new ^bname written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word.Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that ^aovercometh will I give to eat of the hidden ^bmanna, and will give him a ^cwhite^dstone, and in the stone a new ^ename written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

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