O that I were an angel!
When I am reading pondering, studying and fixating on the Book of Mormon, I am the happiest man alive. I feel exactly like Pres Nelson has said, “Whenever I hear anyone, including myself, say, “I know the Book of Mormon is true,” I want to exclaim, “That’s nice, but it is not enough!” We need to feel, deep in “the inmost part” of our hearts, that the Book of Mormon is unequivocally the word of God. We must feel it so deeply that we would never want to live even one day without it.” President Russell M. Nelson The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It? This quote represents a deep thirst for this Book and a desire to gorge my soul on it’s precious words.
I feel exactly as Alma exclaims here. “O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth. But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me”. Alma 29:1-3
Nothing Could Convince me that Meso is the Place.
“As a scientist, I worked with Dr. William Woods who was a prominent anthropologist working on Cahokia and he worked closely on the Terra Preta (Dark Earth Soils) soils in the Amazon with Charles Mann who wrote “1491 America Before Columbus.” I meet with Mann and William, and Charles and I had dinner and I listened to the conversations that seems similar to the battle between Heartland and Meso. At the time, we were battling the Smithsonian, however. The Smithsonian claimed there could not have been large human populations in the Amazonian Basin because there was no way to grow enough food on the poor soils of the Amazon.
What Dr. Woods and others found was that the people created their own soils now called Terra Preta. These are among the most fertile soils in the world and have up to a 3-foot-deep dark organic layer. They are buried under the rainforest canopy, so I had to develop a method for mapping these soils using satellite imagery.
The Terra Preta soils cover an area under the Amazonian rainforest that is as large as the country of France. What many do not know is that these soils were created from biochar, so most of the rainforest was cleared to make the biochar and the Terra Preta soils. Most of the rainforest is regrowth forest and not primary forest.
The point to my long story is that even with amazing evidence, still the Smithsonian resists our findings and was promoting its stand that there were few people living in Amazonia and the tales of El Dorado are very likely true. Sometimes you have to wait for the old dogs to die.
As a scientist with close to 100 publications in refereed journals, I do not recall ever PROVING anything. All we can to is continue finding evidence but proving our theory will be difficult and will never be accepted by all.
To me, however, coupling a theory with revelation by a Prophet of God like Joseph Smith is proof enough. I, like Martin Harris will say, ““Tis enough tis enough mine eyes have beheld mine eyes have beheld.” But I hope I have more faith than poor Martin had at the time. Nothing could convince me that Meso is the place. (Picture Right) Heartland is the PLACE.” Best wishes, Kevin Price PhD [email protected]
Science Progresses one Death at a Time
“That’s very interesting about the Amazon. I’ve been there twice, once in Peru and once in Brazil, and it’s easy to see why people would have difficulty believing anyone could farm in those jungles. Your work makes sense, though. As the saying goes, science progresses one death at a time. Academics tend to keep teaching whatever they were taught by the mentors they admired.” Jonathan Neville JD
The Book of Mormon has been Sitting on the Fiction Shelf of People’s Minds too Long
“Thank you so much for your message. We have critics of our work tell us that the Book of Mormon geography is not important. As one with a PhD in geography, I would strongly disagree. Think of removing the geography of the Bible and contemplate the considerable losses associated with the Bible without its geography. Geography professors teach that a place without a known geographic location is only a fable or fairytale. The Book of Mormon has been sitting on the Fiction Shelf of people’s minds too long. I pray the Lord will help us remove it from the fiction shelf in the minds of millions as we keep doing our part to uncover it from the dust of the earth.
The geography took place in the Heartland without doubt. I drank the Meso Kool-Aid for too many years. It was like eating cotton candy. Like the cotton candy, the buildings all look amazing in Mesoamerica, but when you take a bite, there is nothing there.
May I share your story with others? It tells a wonderful story about how the correct model for geography of the Book of Mormon strengthened your testimony.” Best wishes, Kevin Price PhD
The Heartland Model took the Book of Mormon out of the Realm of a Book of Fiction and Placed it Squarely in the Realm of a Real World Documentary.
“Dear Kevin and Heartland friends,
Of course! I would be deeply humbled if you would use my story/testimony to share with others! My greatest desire now is to witness the world flooded with the Lord’s Restored Gospel, coupled with the Lord’s Restored North American Book of Mormon Geography—the means by which the Lord will cause this land to testify to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon! I agree with our own Jonathan Martin Luther Neville. Many more people around the world will come to a knowledge of the Gospel and the Book of Mormon when they are taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ via the Book of Mormon with the correct geography to further ground its message in logic and in truth! As has happened with me and with thousands of others, the testimonies of many members, not just investigators, will be strengthened with this additional light and knowledge, as well!
I totally related to your profound comment about taking the Book of Mormon off the Fiction Shelf in the minds of the people! I would like to add that, for me, the Heartland Model took the Book of Mormon out of the realm of a book of fiction and placed it squarely in the realm of a real world documentary. I had a testimony the Book of Mormon was true because it was part of the Gospel! I knew the Gospel was true, and I loved the Gospel! But for years I did not love the Book of Mormon as others loved it! For years I felt guilty and ashamed! In retrospect, I now understand what was wrong! I have never liked fiction! However, I was granted a tender mercy some years ago. The Spirit brought peace to my troubled heart when I was assured that one day I, too, would love the Book of Mormon! That day has come…I love the Book of Mormon with all of my heart! And that love came the minute I learned where the people in the Book of Mormon lived on this earth. I never even prayed about whether the Heartland Model was true or not! I did not have to! I was overwhelmed with joy and peace and love and enthusiasm! I knew the answer! And the Spirit continues to testify to the truthfulness every time I learn more about the Heartland! Uncovering Zarahemla is already so exciting! A clambake in Zarahemla and the spotted bee balm to treat their fevers—how real is that? The only prayers I have uttered about the Heartland have been the many prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving. This is what the correct Book of Mormon geography has done for me! This is what I pray many others will experience, as well!
Dave sent me a copy of the article on the Spotted Bee Balm by none other than the HEARTLAND RESEARCH INSTITUTE!! This is over the top! So professional and so fitting! The Heartland is pushing all of my buttons! I have been active in natural healing and herbals for 30 years—I call it the “Lord’s Pharmacy!” Thank you for this, as well!
I continue to be profoundly touched and amazed by the diligent efforts and by all of the evidences my Heartland friends continue to uncover! I testify that this is the Work of the Lord! Each of you have been called by Him to play your part in His marvelous work and a wonder! Thank you for magnifying your callings so magnificently and for sharing with the world!
My sincere love and thanks to all!” Barbara Garner
The Book of Mormon by the Spirit and the Evidence
“I think there is importance in the Brethren being neutral on Geography, Evolution and other difficult issues. They want us to gain our own witness to secondary information. They have given us sound doctrine and that is what we should focus on. I know through the Spirit that the Book of Mormon is true. However, I love to seek for other truth and as Moroni has said “I may know the truth of all things”.
I believe the Land of Promise spoken of in the Book of Mormon is the United States of America. The Constitution was created by the Lord, that Adam and Eve were placed on this same land and the New Jerusalem will be on this same land. No need for me to check out Mesoamerica anymore as I did for 40 years.
Just like Evolution. I don’t believe we came from an ape and I know that matter cannot come from nothing. I don’t have to look into science to figure this out, but by the witness of what the scriptures tell us.
I don’t expect Pres Nelson to come right out and tell me where the Book of Mormon events happened or if we came from an ape, I know through sound reasoning the answer that makes most sense to me. Now if the Brethren say otherwise I would always listen to them first, but in my opinion the Church is neutral on difficult issues that exist to help each of us individually come to a knowledge of the “truth of all things” as promised in the Book of Mormon. I don’t need to be commanded in all things!
All the teachings from current Brethren and those before them and from the Prophet Joseph Smith are to be taken as given. They are guides to the answers I seek. I leave one example on believing that the United Sates is the Choice and Promised land, I quote Pres Nelson when he was President of the Quorum of the Twelve who said, “The Book of Mormon reveals that Joseph, the son of Jacob who was once sold into Egypt, foresaw the Prophet Joseph Smith and his day (see 2 Ne. 3:6–21) and noted that there would be many similarities in their lives. Centuries later, the Prophet Joseph stated, “I feel like Joseph in Egypt.” (The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, ed. Dean C. Jesse, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1984, p. 409; spelling modernized.) The Book of Mormon reveals that the inheritance of Joseph, son of Israel, was not forgotten when, as promised in the Abrahamic covenant, land was distributed to the tribes of Israel. Joseph’s inheritance was to be a land choice above all others. (See Ether 13:2, 8.) It was choice not because of beauty or wealth of natural resources, but choice because it was chosen. It was to be the repository of sacred writing on plates of gold from which the Book of Mormon would one day come, choice because it would eventually host world headquarters of the restored church of Jesus Christ in the latter days.” A TREASURED TESTAMENT By Elder Russell M. Nelson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
The Voice of Seven Thunders
I end this blog with true words of a prophet, “Whenever I hear anyone, including myself, say, “I know the Book of Mormon is true,” I want to exclaim, “That’s nice, but it is not enough!” We need to feel, deep in “the inmost part” of our hearts, that the Book of Mormon is unequivocally the word of God. We must feel it so deeply that we would never want to live even one day without it. I might paraphrase President Brigham Young in saying, “I wish I had the voice of seven thunders to wake up the people” to the truth and power of the Book of Mormon.” (President Russell M. Nelson The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?)” Article By Rian Nelson
About the Windows
All the above pictures are beautiful windows at the Old Stone Church in Independence, Mo owned by the Community of Christ.
The Stone Church of the Community of Christ (“CofC”) in Independence, Missouri was the administrative headquarters and site of general conferences of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (which was renamed the CofC in 2001) from the early 20th century until the building of the Auditorium in 1958. For that reason, they refer to the Stone Church as the “pulpit of the presidency.”
