Robert Meldrum

[_Ray A]

Is this fact or speculation?

Judging by the testimonials he looks very popular.

One:

04.29.08 "We were missionaries at the Historic Sites around Palmyra. One of the most often asked questions by visitors to the Hill Cumorah was, "Is this where the final battle between the Lamanites and the Nephites really took place?" The missionaries stock answer was, "We don't know for sure." However, when [name withheld], down in Mesa, sent me your DVDs they were watched with great interest by many of the senior missionary couples. You make some very compelling arguments."

According to Brant on MADB:

I suspect that should he attempt such a thing, he would be met with the question, "Who?" I haven't found a large number of saints who know who Sorenson is, and he has been at this for almost 40 years with a wider scholarly community and had a book available for over 20. You can only guess how many fewer have heard of that Gardner fellow. Meldrum has the unique benefit of saying what people want to hear.

[_The Dude]

Meldrum has the unique benefit of saying what people want to hear.

Religions in general tell people what they want to hear, so it would be no wonder if Meldrum is more popular with the masses than FAIR/FARMS (apologetic views that attempt to bridge to a more broadly secular perspective).

[_collegeterrace]

The fair farmers hate it, as he has has a much larger following than fair and farms combined....

Is this fact or speculation?

If you are speculating, then I guess there's a 50% chance you are correct. If it is a fact that Meldrum has a larger following, then I'd like to see the data for future reference... so I can give up speculating myself.

Plausible speculative statistical observation.

The lack of Book of Mormon evidence is a big mountain to climb. Fair/Farms tells you that you must be a trained rock climber to make it over, and that you must have your testimony muscle in top shape.

Meldrum built a tram.

[_Ray A]

I plucked this quote off the Net, from John Sorenson:

"As long as Mormons generally are willing to be fooled by (and pay for) the uninformed, uncritical drivel about archaeology and the scriptures which predominates, the few L.D.S. experts are reluctant even to be identified with the topic." J.L. Sorenson, Brigham Young University, 1966

[_Gadianton]

Meldrum is a decent guy, it's a shame FAIR treated him so bad. I sent an email to him a while back encouraging him.

You know what's so funny? In Kerry's video interview of Ostler, Oslter said what they are doing at that conference and (specifically) his philosophy has nothing to do with testimony. That testimony isn't intellectual. But the way FAIR talks, going immediately into ultimate damage control mode over Meldrum, people will be leaving the church left and right if exposed to apologetics they don't agree with.

So much for testimony carrying the day, huh?

The truth is, though, by Meldrum's populartiy, it doesn't sound like testimonies are getting shredded.

Well, the average Mormon might not yet be ready for the grand tales of the Book of Mormon to have all happened in a 100 square foot swamp somewhere in mesoamerica.

And something the apologists should really consider, if Mormons believe an exalted man can seed galaxy after galaxy and all the other extreme sci-fi stuff in Mormonism, it's really not too much of a leap for members to accept the hemispheric model in contradiction to modern science.

Heck, it shouldn't matter to FAIR anyway what modern science things of DNA and so on, since they're always lecturing on how science changes and is untrustworthy and usually a bunch of bunk.

[_collegeterrace]

Excellent points as usual Gad. Bitchin' siggy line too ;)

Your post just gave me an idea.

We should start a campaign in the exmormon world to email Brother Meldrum and THANK him for his very SCHOLARLY AND SPIRITUAL work!

It must SUCK being a Danielite at this time.

[_TAK]

Meldrum has the unique benefit of saying what people want to hear.

Religions in general tell people what they want to hear, so it would be no wonder if Meldrum is more popular with the masses than FAIR/FARMS (apologetic views that attempt to bridge to a more broadly secular perspective).

It helps that it fits with what saints have been taught their whole lives.

[_Brother of Mahonri]

Religions in general tell people what they want to hear, so it would be no wonder if Meldrum is more popular with the masses than FAIR/FARMS (apologetic views that attempt to bridge to a more broadly secular perspective).

It helps that it fits with what saints have been taught their whole lives.

So he isn't one of the LGT heretical apostates? His theories are in line with what the Book of Mormon, the Bible and D&C teach?

[_antishock8]

I personally think he has more legitimacy than the FAIR types. He upholds prophetic teachings, while the FAIR types eschew them. He is a true and faithful member while the FAIR types are apostates with the veneer of faithfulness. Mr. Meldrum is the body, and FAIR is the cancer. Go figure.

Regardless, neither FAIR nor Mr. Meldrum has any authority, whatsoever, to dictate what is and what isn't doctrine for the LDS church at large. Zero. Zippo. Nada. Zilch.

[_truth dancer]

A point came up in another thread concerning Meldrum vs. apologists...

Meldrum is clear that he has prayed and received inspiration from the HG concerning his work. I get the impression that he truly believes he is following divine guidance to help the church and the gospel of Christ.

Do the FAIR/FARM apologists similarly make this claim?

Seems to me, Meldrum is in line with Joseph Smith and the teachings of the early church, while the apologists believe Joseph Smith just had a "superficial understanding" of the Book of Mormon.

Is there confusion concerning the message from the HG or is Meldrum the only one who claims to have received divine inspiration from the HG concerning this topic?

Hmmm...

~td~