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Even the most avid supporters of Mesoamerican models now admit that the Heartland Model Book of Mormon geography has become a movement sufficient to warrant their utmost attention and concern.  

 

• When asked if the FIRM Foundation should offer memberships to individuals, families and/or businesses, 74.8% of respondents indicated yes, we should. 

• An overwhelming 90.8% felt that the FIRM Foundation should "provide objective responses to articles critical of the Heartland Model...if done in a Christ-like, non-confrontational and respectful way." 

• 67.5% of respondents said they would be interested in participating in online presentations or 'webinars' and 48.9% indicated that they would be willing to help defray the costs through a small fee.  In addition, 82.9% said they would like to see these webinars archived for viewing at their convenience. 

• Another interesting finding was that nearly half (44.1%) of respondents would like to see the FIRM Foundation national conferences available live online and 55% thought that having them archived for later review was a good idea.

 Bishop Henry Westbrook, owner of Royal Motor Coach of Buna, Texas who has provided his services for several of our groups back to visit the sacred sites of the Heartland, was killed Monday, April 19th as he was working to clear a piece of property.  Charlie Ratcliff, who worked for Henry, called me only 2 hours after the accident as Henry was being transported to the hospital. Apparently Henry was on his bulldozer and another person was cutting a large tree when his chainsaw got stuck.  Henry got off the dozer to help remove the saw and the tree fell, crushing him.  His loss is heartbreaking to all of us who knew him.  He was a dear friend and a saint in every sense of the word. We were looking very much forward to working with him on several 'Heartland' tours this summer and fall.  Margaret has decided to close the coach business.  If you would like to contact Margaret and let her know of your love and support, you could call her at 409-994-3600. 

 The documentary film, The Lost Civilization of North America has now undergone its revisions and the new version will be available in the next week or two.  Many have asked why the film was taken off the market and for this answer we will defer to the film's producers.  After speaking with co-producer Barry McLerran recently, the new version, while somewhat different from the first version, will be every bit as powerful in its message.  We are very excited to share this film again and hope that it will reach as many people as possible to show forth the evidences of high civilization in North America during Book of Mormon time frames. 

The Phoenicia 600 B.C ship replica

Those who attended the FIRM Foundation's National Conference in April were treated to a first-hand account of an incredible expedition, the Phoenician,  that is proving out by actual experience that Lehi's group may have left the Arabian Peninsula and sailed around Africa to the America's rather than attempting to cross the earth's largest ocean at its widest point, as proposed by Mesoamerican theorists.  This expedition, taking place as you read this, in a re-created wooden ship patterned after the remains of ancient Phoenician vessels that were plying the oceans during Lehi's days (600 B.C.).  It is showing unequivocally that a circumnavigation of Africa is not only possible; it is the most likely route for Lehi's group coming from the Old World to the New World.  Evidence of this magnitude for the Book of Mormon journey is unprecedented. 

Route intented

We are about to embark on the first tour of the season with Legacy Tours and Travel to see the sacred sites of Church History and visit the proposed Book of Mormon sites of America's Heartland!