Easter is the time of year when our hearts and minds are turned anew to our Savior, Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice. We want to send you our hope that this Easter will be a special, wonderful time for you as you reflect on His life, His teachings, and His sacrifice for you and all of us. May you have a blessed Easter Sunday. Enjoy the latest painting, just announced yesterday, by master artist Jon McNaughton that he completed just in time to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.  Click HERE to see Jon's newest painting of Christ's Resurrection.

There are a few newsworthy items we think you'll enjoy...

1. A powerful new video by the Church, called Scriptures Legacy, focuses on the sacrifices made throughout history to preserve the word of God.  The program, which aired between LDS General Conference sessions Saturday and Sunday April 5-6, includes a welcome "new video depiction" of Christ's visit to the Nephites portrayed among large earthen mounds and wooden structures that appear remarkably similar to those of the Hopewell Mound Builders of the Heartland of North America, rather than stately stone pyramids in Mesoamerica. Some of the scenes appear to have been modeled after some pages of the book, Exploring the Book of Mormon in America's Heartland by Rod Meldrum. Read the Article HERE or watch the video depiction in the Video Gallery #1 HERE. While the Church remains neutral on the geography of the Book of Mormon, it is most significant that they are not portraying scenes in Mesoamerica in this video. See a couple of the scenes from the film below... 

2. The History Channel's new series, America Unearthed, has been showing some astounding episodes relating the Heartland Model Geography.  In one recent episode forensic geologist Scott Wolter conducts an analysis on one of the Newark Holy Stones.  His scientific conclusions regarding the authenticity of the Decalogue Stone is one that every student of the Book of Mormon should see.  Watch an incredible small segment of the episode HERE and read the most powerful repository of information on the subject of Book of Mormon language verification HERE.   

3. The Schedule for the 13th International Book of Mormon Evidence Conference is now posted on the event home page HERE.  This event is going to be extraordinary, with a mini-concert by music superstar Nathan Osmond, screening of the incredible new film Statesmen & Symbols by the Joseph Smith Foundation, an art gallery, a scale replica of the Mayflower ship, Joseph Smith's sword and more!  20 speakers, 4 musical entertainers, Nephite armor display and a brand new song about the Book of Mormon in the Heartland of America! To learn more about the speakers, the presentations and more visit the event home page.    

4. A recent Mormon Chronicle podcast features FIRM Foundation president Rod L. Meldrum.  Listen to the podcast HERE.  Get the scoop about the latest happenings within the Heartland research.  

5. Things to be looking forward to...

A. (For Utah Heartlanders) Watch the Nephite Explorer TV Series - Aired every Sunday evening 4:30 and again at 6:30 pm on KJZZ-TV (channel 14 on most carriers).  This weeks episode on secret combinations will be amazing! Gather your family and watch, or set your DVR! Preview the latest 30 second ad that will be running for the first time during this coming Sunday's episode HERE! 

B. Watch and/or record all of the America Unearthed series on the History2 channel.  While some episodes don't have much Heartland related material, those that do are truly spectacular.  You don't want to miss these amazing shows.   

C. The Joseph Smith Foundation is going to be having the first ever public screening and release its newest and best film yet during our upcoming conference.  

Statesmen & Symbols: Prelude to the Restoration   

After a private showing of the film, FIRM president Rod Meldrum claimed that "this is one of the most significant films on Mormon symbolism and the history of the world that has ever been assembled."  This film causes one to realize that our religion is deeply tied to ancient orders established by God throughout human history.  A truly amazing film!  Watch the film trailer HERE!       

On March 29 - The LDS Church News published an article introducing a  new video, Scriptures Legacy, which aired between General Conference sessions on KSL-TV on Saturday, April 5 at 1:30 pm MST and nationally on BYU-TV immediately following the Sunday morning conference session at noon MST.   

 

In a long awaited and welcomed change, the video depicts Christ's visit to the Nephites in the Book of Mormon as a scene from the Hopewell Mound Builders of America's Heartland, rather than the stately stone pyramids of Mesoamerica. The grass-covered massive mounds surrounded by Native American tee-pee's and wooden palisade walls are distinctive to this highly advanced ancient civilization that matches closely the time-frames of the Book of Mormon's Nephite civilization, which flourished from 600 B.C. to 400 AD in the Heartland of North America. The final scene is one of incredible likeness to page 116 of Exploring the Book of Mormon in America's Heartland book by Rod Meldrum. 

Actual image from the article

 

 "An Account of Christ Appearing to Believers in the Americas is Recorded in 3 Nephi 11" 

Click image to go to the article

 

This beautiful scene depicts Christ descending a large, grass-covered mound during His appearance to the Nephites. It is remarkably similar to the image on the front cover of the book Exploring the Book of Mormon In America's Heartland.  It is a wonderful departure from the Arnold Frieberg type portrayals of Christ coming to the Mayan stone ruins of Mesoamerica.  We applaud those involved in this article and artwork.  It is most gratifying to see such depictions coming from our LDS Media Community.  Read the article with the video and images HERE.    

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