''The Foundation for Indigenous Research and Mormonism''

[_karl61]

he should get ads put in protestant and catholic christianity magazines because what he is saying is that christianity was preached in the americas 600 years prior to an angel letting mary in on what was happening. He should say that they will tour the land of the super prophets.

[_Henry Jacobs]

I want to assure them that nobody at the Maxwell Institute is in a panic, or concerned about "market share," or, even, paying a whole lot of attention to this. We're aware of it, but it's not a topic of even brief weekly conversation. We've got lots of interesting things going on.

Well, from an academic perspective, "market share" may not be the term to use. It is way too "private sector" for a subject like Book of Mormon geography.

You say you're only "aware of it". Do you at least see Brother Meldrum's geography theory and that of Brs. Sorenson, Clarke et. al at FARMS as being in direct competition with each other? Aren't they competing theories? Isn't FARMS trying just as hard as Meldrum to convince the world that their theory is superior and should become the accepted explanation for Book of Mormon Geography?

Daniel, can you ever foresee the issue of Book of Mormon Geography threatening to divide the church or holding it back(a la polygamy or the priesthood ban) such that it has to be resolved by revelation from the prophet?

Such a revelation is long overdue already, in my opinion.

[_Daniel Peterson]

You say you're only "aware of it".

We're aware of it and we've discussed it. But it scarcely dominates our thinking or our plans.

The next issue of the FARMS Review will feature an article that addresses some matters related to Meldrum's position.

Do you at least see Brother Meldrum's geography theory and that of Brs. Sorenson, Clarke et. al at FARMS as being in direct competition with each other?

Yes.

Aren't they competing theories?

Yes.

Isn't FARMS trying just as hard as Meldrum to convince the world that their theory is superior and should become the accepted explanation for Book of Mormon Geography?

No, not nearly as hard.

Daniel, can you ever foresee the issue of Book of Mormon Geography threatening to divide the church or holding it back(a la polygamy or the priesthood ban) such that it has to be resolved by revelation from the prophet?

No. I don't think it's that important an issue.




.

[_Ray A]

Daniel, can you ever foresee the issue of Book of Mormon Geography threatening to divide the church or holding it back(a la polygamy or the priesthood ban) such that it has to be resolved by revelation from the prophet?

Such a revelation is long overdue already, in my opinion.

Not answering for Dan, but you should note that this is precisely what B.H. Roberts called for in the 1920s, while undertaking his Book of Mormon study. He felt the only way to resolve the problem was by revelation. The Brethren paid no attention to his suggestion.

[_Yong Xi]

At Shades's request -- both because I like Shades and because I still owe him a book (which I've not forgotten, but which continues to cause me enormous embarrassment) -- I'm briefly commenting on this thread.

Seems to me that the "FIRM" acronym is clearly a dig at FARMS, FAIR, and SHIELDS. FARMS may have thrown the first punch, but Mr. Meldrum intends to throw the last.

I'm not sure that it's a dig -- though it may be -- but it's plainly a reference. The unfortunate acronym FARMS gave rise to FAIR and SHIELDS and, now, to FIRM. It was a trend that, I had hoped, was running out of gas.

Where might this end? Foundation for Research by Apologists Using Drugs?

[_Ray A]

Well I've been doing some more reading to see if I could cut Meldrum some slack, but I haven't been able to. I wanted to see if his hosting of tours was limited only to the lands where he believes the Book of Mormon took place, but he is co-host for This tour, which includes:

You will be able to do in-depth studies of the Book of Mormon as possible locations and events are discussed during studies at sea. When the ship goes ashore our expert hosts will show you the magnificent ruins at Chichen Itza and Tulum.

What will he say? "Folks, I'd like to show you the locations where FARMS believes the Book of Mormon took place"?

DCP's jokes about the luxurious lives that FARMS scholars live has turned into reality with The FIRM (note the name of the ship).

[_Daniel Peterson]

Where might this end? Foundation for Research by Apologists Using Drugs?

When we went from simply FARMS to ISPART (the Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts) -- prior to the Maxwell Institute name, which I like -- I tried to ward ISPART off by counterproposing the Institute for the Study of the History and Texts of Ancient Religions.

ISHTAR.

I suggested that we could show the Dustin Hoffman/Warren Beatty film of that name every year at our annual Institute dinner.

Nobody else seems to have found my proposal as amusing as I did.

[_cinepro]

Nobody else seems to have found my proposal as amusing as I did.

I did.

Almost as good as the Naked Gun 2.5 where the lobbying groups for oil, coal and nuclear are SPILL, SMOKE and KABOOM.

[_Dr. Shades]

Other than FARMS, FAIR, and FIRM, I would say that the three most active organizations are the following:

Joseph Allen's Book of Mormon Tours/Book of Mormon Archaeological Foundation: tours, books, kitsch

BMAF: tours, conferences, books, videos

Nephi Project: books, videos

Thanks for that, Tom.

You're obviously far more familiar with these organizations than I am, so I must ask: From what you know, where do these organizations fall along the Chapel Mormon/Internet Mormon spectrum? I imagine that all of them other than the new FIRM Foundation fall quite squarely into the FARMS/FAIR sector of Internet Mormonism (otherwise more of us would've heard of them)--is that right?

At Shades's request -- both because I like Shades and because I still owe him a book (which I've not forgotten, but which continues to cause me enormous embarrassment) -- I'm briefly commenting on this thread.

Thank you on both counts. :-)

It's pretty plain that Rod Meldrum sees himself as countering FARMS and/or the Maxwell Institute. I'm not sure what "punch" FARMS has "thrown."

I'm quite sure it's FAIR whom he considers to have thrown the first punch. But how do you think he'll react to the upcoming issue of FARMS Review?

Some people here seem to be eager for a mudwrestling match between the Maxwell Institute and Rod Meldrum. I want to assure them that nobody at the Maxwell Institute is in a panic, or concerned about "market share," or, even, paying a whole lot of attention to this. We're aware of it, but it's not a topic of even brief weekly conversation. We've got lots of interesting things going on.

Do you envision a time when the Maxwell Institute will get out of Mormon issues entirely to concentrate on projects like ISPART?

[_Daniel Peterson]

But how do you think he'll react to the upcoming issue of FARMS Review?

I doubt that he'll read it.

I've seen little evidence that he pays much attention to what we publish.

Do you envision a time when the Maxwell Institute will get out of Mormon issues entirely to concentrate on projects like ISPART?

No.