At least that's what my dad told me...

He mentioned an ancient stone called the Decalogue Stone found at a mound site.

He then begins to tell me that the ancient mound builders of the midwest are the people from the Book of Mormon.

Apparently, this stone has the 10 commandments on it written in ancient Hebrew, and was found cemented in a stone box in the ground (sound familiar?)

He then goes on and tells me that there have been lots of discoveries of artifacts found in cemented stone boxes all over New York, Ohio, Penn, Missouri, etc... and that it was a common practice to store records this way... and that there are whole museums set up to display these artifacts.

Then he continues that the building of these mound sites are outlined in detail in the Book of Mormon, right down to the defenses and they are accurate. These cities were very large and housed hundreds of thousands.

https://cahokiamounds.org/

So, what's my next best move?

"So, what's my next best move?"

It depends on what your goal is. : )

A quick Google search showed this Wiki entry. It looks like the stone is a hoax.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark_Holy_Stones

Show me the peer review?

What does Nat. Geo. have to say? Smithsonian? Any reputable scientific body?

If there were lots of artifacts being discovered, it would make national/ international news. There have been discoveries of Viking artifacts and they got here first before any Jaredite/Nephite/ or any other “ite”. I guess we should properly refer to them as “Vikingites”, just to keep it all consistent, ya know?

Holy crap! Can I become a Mexicanite?!! Mexicanite Rider!!!

> So, what's my next best move?

Does your dad have an explanation for why there have been no conference talks on this marvelous work and a blunder?

And when was the symposium at BYU where all the existing data/proof was offered up, not only to all the TBM 'Aints, but to a world hungering for Truth?

Or maybe it's one of those "if we make the proof too overwhelming, no one will learn to have faith" things?

"there have been lots of discoveries of artifacts found in cemented stone boxes all over New York, Ohio, Penn, Missouri, etc"

You could ask him what his sources are for this statement. Lots of discoveries? Surely there must be newspaper and magazine articles announcing these precious finds! Also, where are these artifacts and boxes now?

Your dad is a fool.

Probably won't be able to change your Dad's mind about the Decalogue stone, it might not even be worth discussing it with him. But for your own knowledge of it, Dr. Bradley T. Lepper is a good source. Here are several items from him.

Newark Holy Stone is Featured on America Unearthed
https://web.archive.org/web/20140106103005/http://apps.ohiohistory.org/ohioarchaeology/newark-holy-stone-is-featured-on-america-unearthed/

A likely source for the design of the Newark Decalogue Stone
https://web.archive.org/web/20140903192002/http://apps.ohiohistory.org/ohioarchaeology/a-likely-source-for-the-design-of-the-newark-decalouge-stone/

Conclusive proof that the Newark Decalogue Stone is a Forgery
https://web.archive.org/web/20150403180929/http://apps.ohiohistory.org/ohioarchaeology/conclusive-proof-that-the-newark-decalogue-stone-is-a-forgery-and-not-a-very-good-one-at-that/

Letter from Dr. Frank Moore Cross to Dr. Bradley T. Lepper
https://web.archive.org/web/20141222121253/http://apps.ohiohistory.org/ohioarchaeology/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Cross-letter-1991.png



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/10/2019 04:47PM by mikemitchell.

Your dad was duped.

Is he still living?

Poor guy might be turning over in his grave finding out it was all a hoax.

Makes sense... if you are stoned.

Thanks guys for your help, here's a link to a video that he sent today while I was at work:

https://youtu.be/I6k8moYz-Gs?t=360

ZZZZZZZZZZ

An 11-minute Rod Meldrum YT video is not "evidence." At c. 7m he brings up "America Unearthed" which is so respected it's on the "History 2 Channel."

Rod is the leading proponent of the Heartland Model, in which the BOM geography is in the central US. By sheer coincidence no doubt, he also sells guided tours to "BOM sites" in the central US, his niche being a certain subset of mormon with more money than common sense.

These tours of his necessarily conflict with other BOM tours in Mexico and Central America, sold to a different subset of mormon with more money than common sense.

Here's what FAIR has to say about Heartland Rod and some of his "evidence" -

https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Book_of_Mormon/Geography/Models/Limited/Meldrum_2003

Seriously. Your dad is a fool. Just search the RfM archives for "meldrum heartland" to get an idea of how to respond. Or you could send him links to these YT videos. But then he'll probably whine about being "attacked" and persecuted and why are you trying to tear down his faith, when he's not self-aware enough to realize that he doesn't get to present his side without you getting a turn. Mormons can dish it out but can't take it.

"Five Problems With the BOM"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCmfbsQK1c8

"Problems With Mormonism: BOM"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMs0OM4Xu0U

"50 Problems With the Mormon Church"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcQthyiTA7c