**Rod Meldrum – Origins of Heartland Research

How and Where did Rod find so much information about Heartland research? What are some of his best sources over the past few decades, and how does it clarify Church History and Native American Histories? Now, Rod pulls out a few of his key resources, and show how much depth and breadth has been behind his life’s work.
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Rod L. Meldrum is a researcher, best-selling LDS author, and international lecturer on the validity of the Book of Mormon with an emphasis on its scriptural and physical evidences. His book titled, “Exploring the Book of Mormon in America’s Heartland” is the #1 LDS Book about Book of Mormon geography with over 40,000 printed.

Mr. Meldrum has now combined this best-selling LDS book on geography, with the complete text of the Book of Mormon, making this new volume an inspiring book to own! Exciting new archaeology and information is being discovered regularly. Rod and his co-editor David R. Hocking have now compiled a fantastic new book called “Annotated Edition of the Book of Mormon”. The first printing of 5,000 was sold quickly in September of 2018. A new printing of 10,000 was delivered in December 2018. The third printing of 10,000 arrived September of 2019. We are at 25,000 printed.

In this 600-page volume is the entire text of the Book of Mormon (1920 Version) and interspersed throughout are evidences, artifacts, pictures, maps and prophetic statements about the “Most correct book”, even the Book of Mormon.

He has also written a book titled “Prophecies and Promises; The Book of Mormon and the USA.” This book outlines the 36 Prophecies and Promises that clearly identify the United States as the location of the ‘Promised Land’ of the Latter-days. It has been called a “stunning” new insight on geography research and provides historical evidence that documents containing Joseph Smith’s words, writings, and actions were consistent with the prophecies & promises of the Book of Mormon. He also served for seven years as the senior scientific researcher on the book titled, “Universal Model” by Dean Sessions, a natural sciences textbook. The first volume of over 800 pages was printed in April 2017 and volume two was in stores in April 2020. Volume three will come in the next year. It’s over 2,500 pages of “New Millennial Science.”

He began his study of issues surrounding the controversy over DNA and the Book of Mormon in 2003 which led to a study of the origins of proposed geographical settings of the Book of Mormon. In addition, he has spent years of intensive study of the Book of Mormon itself and the historical background and documents associated with it.

Mr. Meldrum has given several hundred presentations across the United States, Canada and internationally and has shared his research and findings in support of the Book of Mormon and the gospel of Jesus Christ with hundreds of thousands of members and non-members alike. Mr. Meldrum has been conducting tours to the Heartland of America since 2010, educating guests at museums, sacred native American sites, and other archaeological sites dating to the time period of the Book of Mormon.

He founded his organization, The FIRM Foundation (Foundation for Indigenous Research and Mormonism), in 2008 which today comprises ten boards with more than 200 board members and over 40,000 LDS newsletter recipients. The FIRM Foundation sponsors two International Book of Mormon Evidence Expos and Conferences annually with additional regional conferences and events throughout the country and around the world bringing together dozens of the top LDS speakers for thousands of Latter-day Saints and others.

Mr. Meldrum’s research has blessed and enhanced the lives of thousands and increased their faith in the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon, the prophetic role of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and a renewed understanding of the sacred covenants with God on His Promised Lands.

He and his wife, Tonya, are the parents of four children. He is a fifth-generation active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, served a mission in Milan, Italy, has served faithfully in many church leadership callings, and currently lives in Provo, Utah.