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September 14-27, 2026
Guided by Rod Meldrum
Rod L. Meldrum is a researcher, best-selling LDS author, and international lecturer on the validity of the Book of Mormon. His emphasis is based on scriptural and physical evidences of the Book of Mormon. 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 copies printed. He began guiding the Book of Mormon Chronology Tour in 2018.
Rod 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 a location of the “Promised Land” of the latter-days. This book 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 and promises of the Book of Mormon.
Rod began his study of issues surrounding the controversy over DNA and the Book of Mormon back in 2003. This sparked his 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. He is passionate about sharing his research of the Book of Mormon Chronology with others.
Rod and his wife, Tonya, have 4 children as well as 4 grandchildren and reside in Utah.
What is a Book of Mormon Chronology Tour?
This LDS Tour is a pinnacle experience for anyone interested in where the Book of Mormon events took place. Come with Rod Meldrum, expert on Book of Mormon geography, as he takes you to compelling evidential sites of the Book of Mormon. This tour will enhance your knowledge and enlighten your spirituality as you gain profound spiritual witnesses at these sites.
Tour Includes
Separate Costs
Itinerary
Day 1 – September 14th
Depart from home and head towards sunny Tallahasse, Florida! Arrive in the afternoon and meet up with the group, together you will visit Lehi’s Landing at St. Mark’s Lighthouse before transfering to the hotel.
Overnight: Tallahasse, Florida
Meals Included: None
Beginning our journey over 2,000 years into the past, we drive through the pristine swamps and grasslands of St. Marks National Refuge.
Our destination tonight is the picturesque St. Mark’s Lighthouse on the undisturbed coastline of the Gulf of America. Here, we discover the landing site of Lehi and his family from Jerusalem, officially beginning the chronology of the Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon describes Lehi’s family arriving in the Promised Land, prepared by the Lord, and relatively unpopulated by other cultures and peoples. On the Florida Gulf Coast we see how it fits this description well, especially when compared to areas known to have supported large, dense populations during the same time in South America.
Environmentally, this region offers abundant freshwater access, fertile soil, timber, wildlife, and navigable waterways, all of which align with the scriptural description of a place capable of sustaining early settlement and expansion. From this coastline, inland river systems provide a natural pathway into the interior of North America, where later Book of Mormon events would occur.
Though we cannot be 100% sure that this is the site of Lehi’s Landing, this location harmonizes beautifully with both the scriptural record and the unfolding of Book of Mormon chronology, inviting us to see how the Lord prepares lands, peoples, and pathways according to His divine plan.
Day 2 – September 15th
Meals Included: Breakfast & Welcome Dinner
Overnight: Covington, GA
Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological Park preserves the remains of a major ancient mound center, reflecting a highly organized society with ceremonial spaces, agriculture, and regional influence. For those who study the Book of Mormon through the Heartland Model, sites like this help illuminate the cultural and population landscape of North America during the unfolding book of mormon chronology.
Researchers associated with Book of Mormon Evidence and teachers such as Rod Meldrum emphasize that North America was home to millions of inhabitants, extensive earthworks, and interconnected communities anciently. The widespread presence of mound-building cultures supports the Book of Mormon description of societies capable of gathering, governing, trading, and sustaining large populations over time.
While Lake Jackson Mounds is archaeologically dated to later centuries, believers view this site as part of a continuum of habitation and cultural development following Lehi’s arrival in the New World. Rather than isolated groups, the Book of Mormon describes a land where peoples multiplied and spread, leaving lasting marks on the landscape—marks still visible today in places like this.
Standing here invites us to reflect on how the Lord prepares lands and peoples according to His purposes, and how the book of mormon chronology unfolds not in myth, but across real terrain shaped by real civilizations.
Wakulla Springs is one of the greatest natural freshwater springs in the world — a place where water, life, and ancient history converge in a setting that invites reflection on the New World landscape that Lehi and his family may have encountered after their ocean crossing described in the book of mormon chronology.
For thousands of years this spring has drawn life and people alike. Archaeological studies confirm human presence in the Wakulla area going back more than 12,000–15,000 years, with stone tools and spear points indicating early Native American campsites and harvest activity along the river.
From a Heartland perspective — as presented by passionate researchers connected with Book of Mormon Evidence and voices like Rod Meldrum — Wakulla Springs offers several compelling connections:
Fresh Water and Fertile Landscape: As the source of the Wakulla River, this spring provided abundant fresh water, game, and fertile ground — all elements that fit the Book of Mormon’s description of lands prepared by the Lord for His people after their arrival.
Natural Gathering Place: Springs like Wakulla attracted early inhabitants for sustenance, travel, and settlement, consistent with the idea that groups expanding from an initial landing site would follow rivers and springs inland, a pattern harmonizing with interpretations of book of mormon chronology.
Visible History in the Land: Wakulla’s clear waters preserve the bones of mastodons and other ancient mammals, and the surrounding landscape holds evidence of human life deep in the past — reminding us that this land has been shaped by God’s handiwork over millennia, setting the stage for covenant peoples described in scripture.
While the Book of Mormon does not name modern geographic features, believers see Wakulla Springs as a touchpoint where ancient life and scriptural narrative intersect — a place that helps us visualize the context of early Book of Mormon settlement and movement.
Here, guests are encouraged to reflect on God’s creation, His guidance of ancient peoples, and how the New World described in scripture may have looked, teeming with life and opportunity according to the unfolding book of mormon chronology.
Ocmulgee Mounds in central Georgia preserves one of the most significant ancient mound centers in the southeastern United States. This site shows evidence of organized communities, ceremonial spaces, agriculture, and long-term habitation stretching back thousands of years.
For those who study the Book of Mormon through the Heartland Model, places like Ocmulgee help us visualize the kind of societies described throughout the book of mormon chronology—peoples who gathered in cities, built earthen structures, farmed the land, and formed interconnected communities across the landscape.
Rod Meldrum and other researchers frequently point to the widespread mound-building cultures of North America as evidence that this continent supported large, structured populations consistent with the Book of Mormon record. The presence of platform mounds, plazas, and evidence of trade networks suggests a level of social organization that mirrors scriptural descriptions of gathering places, governance, and community life.
Rock Eagle is unlike the mound sites we’ve visited. Instead of a platform for structures or a central plaza, this monument is a massive stone effigy—shaped deliberately into a great bird and visible from above. Its purpose appears symbolic and ceremonial, pointing to a people who expressed belief, identity, and meaning through the landscape itself.
The Book of Mormon frequently references standards, ensigns, gatherings, and symbols that rallied communities and represented shared faith and heritage. An effigy of this scale suggests a culture that communicated ideas and beliefs through enduring physical symbols.
Researchers associated with Book of Mormon Evidence and teachers like Rod Meldrum often point out that across North America, we find not only habitation sites, but places clearly designed for meaning—locations that appear to serve spiritual, ceremonial, or identity-forming purposes for the people who built them.
Rock Eagle encourages us to consider that the ancient inhabitants of this land were not merely surviving—they were expressing worldview, belief, and belonging in ways that still speak today. For believers, it becomes a powerful setting to ponder how covenant peoples may have marked the land with symbols of who they were and what they believed as the book of mormon chronology unfolded across generations.
Day 3 – September 16th
Meals Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Chattanooga, TN
The Leake Interpretive Trail in Georgia preserves the remains of an ancient village site along the Etowah River, where archaeologists have uncovered evidence of daily life—homes, tools, pottery, food preparation areas, and signs of long-term settlement.
What makes this stop meaningful in the context of the book of mormon chronology is its window into the ordinary lives of ancient people. The Book of Mormon does not only describe kings, wars, and migrations; it frequently pauses to show families farming, building, cooking, raising children, and sustaining communities from the land around them.
Heartland-minded researchers often point to village sites like this as reminders that Book of Mormon peoples would have lived in settings very much like what we see here—close to rivers, dependent on agriculture, working with their hands, and forming tight-knit communities over generations.
Unlike ceremonial mounds or symbolic earthworks, the Leake site helps us picture the rhythm of everyday life in ancient North America. Standing here invites us to imagine not just where events happened, but how people lived as the story of the Book of Mormon unfolded across real landscapes and real communities.
The Etowah Mounds rise prominently above the river valley in northern Georgia, marking what was once a powerful regional center with large platform mounds, a central plaza, and evidence of leadership, ceremony, and influence over surrounding communities.
Etowah helps us visualize something the Book of Mormon references often: organized centers of governance. The record describes cities where leaders taught, judged, gathered the people, and directed the affairs of the community. A site like Etowah—with its elevated mounds overlooking the plaza—naturally brings those descriptions to mind.
Heartland researchers frequently point out that locations like this demonstrate how ancient peoples in North America established central places of authority and gathering, where political, social, and spiritual life converged. The scale of the mounds suggests a society capable of mobilizing labor and recognizing structured leadership.
Standing here, guests can imagine what it may have looked like when people assembled below, leaders addressed the community from above, and important decisions shaped the course of generations—all themes that echo throughout the book of mormon chronology.
From Point Park atop Lookout Mountain, you can see for miles in every direction. This sweeping vantage point overlooks river bends, valleys, and natural travel corridors that have guided movement through this region for thousands of years.
In the context of the book of mormon chronology, a place like this helps us picture something the record describes during times of tension and conflict: watchpoints and defensive awareness. The Book of Mormon often references peoples who were “watching,” “guarding,” and positioning themselves in places of advantage to observe approaching groups and protect their communities.
Heartland-minded perspectives frequently highlight how North America’s terrain naturally provides these strategic overlooks—high places where ancient peoples could monitor travel routes, signal to others, and maintain security over the lands below.
Standing at Point Park, guests can imagine how valuable a location like this would have been to any ancient society seeking both visibility and protection. It offers a powerful setting to reflect on how geography itself shaped the experiences of the peoples described throughout the book of mormon chronology.
Rock City, perched atop Lookout Mountain, is a dramatic natural formation of massive boulders, narrow pathways, and sweeping views across the Tennessee Valley. Unlike the ceremonial mounds or village sites we’ve visited, this is a natural landscape shaped by time, creating hidden spaces, trails, and vantage points that would have been both a refuge and a place of passage.
In the context of the book of mormon chronology, Rock City invites us to consider how natural features of the land guided daily life and travel, provided shelter, and even created opportunities for strategy and reflection. The Book of Mormon frequently mentions people moving through rugged terrain, seeking cover, and establishing temporary encampments—all scenarios that Rock City’s twisting paths and sheltered crevices bring to life.
Heartland researchers, including Rod Meldrum and those associated with Book of Mormon Evidence, emphasize that North America’s varied geography—including cliffs, boulder fields, and mountains—would have shaped how Book of Mormon peoples traveled, communicated, and defended themselves.
Standing here, guests can experience the terrain in a tactile way, imagining families navigating these rocky corridors, leaders scouting the horizon, and communities interacting with the land in the same way described throughout the book of mormon chronology.
Day 4 – September 17th
Meals Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Jackson, TN
The Ducktown Basin Museum in southeastern Tennessee preserves the history of the Copper Basin, an area shaped by more than a century of copper mining. The museum showcases the story of the Burra Burra Mine, one of the largest copper mines in the region, which operated from the mid-1800s through the 20th century.
Visitors can explore exhibits highlighting the technology, labor, and daily life of miners, as well as the families and communities that grew up around the mining industry. Artifacts, photographs, and interpretive displays tell the story of how copper mining transformed the land, influenced the local economy, and shaped the culture of the region.
The museum also documents environmental challenges, including deforestation and soil erosion caused by mining, and how the area has worked to restore and preserve its natural landscape. Overall, the Ducktown Basin Museum offers a detailed look at industrial heritage, human ingenuity, and community life in this historic part of Tennessee.
Old Stone Fort near Manchester, Tennessee, is a remarkable prehistoric earthwork built centuries before modern record keeping. Archaeological research indicates that the enclosure was constructed gradually over time by Native American peoples of the Middle Woodland period (roughly 100 BCE–500 CE), likely by groups associated with the McFarland and Owl Hollow cultural phases. Its walls, shaped by human labor along naturally defensive terrain overlooking the Duck and Little Duck Rivers, were not defensive strongholds but are understood today as part of a ceremonial or communal enclosure used for gatherings, ritual activities, and social functions.
Unlike later historic earthworks mistaken in the past for forts, the layout of Old Stone Fort — with modest walls and an intentional embrace of the landscape — supports the view that it was a purposefully constructed sacred place where ancient peoples connected with their environment and with one another.
Sites such as Old Stone Fort are part of a North American landscape rich in ancient earthworks and ceremonial centers that pre‑date European contact. While there is no specific claim on bookofmormonevidence.org that Old Stone Fort was literally a Book of Mormon Nephite or Lamanite site, Heartland supporters often point to regional complexes like this as examples of the indigenous built environment into which Book of Mormon peoples could have integrated or interacted given the book of mormon chronology timeframe of settlement and expansion.
Day 5 – September 18th
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Overnight: Paducah, KY
Pinson Mounds, near Jackson, Tennessee, is one of the largest prehistoric mound complexes in the United States, with over 15 carefully arranged mounds spread across 400 acres. Built during the Woodland period, these mounds show extraordinary planning, precision, and alignment with celestial and geographical features.
The construction of these mounds aligns remarkably well with the timeline of Nephite and Lamanite civilizations as described in the book of mormon chronology. The platform mounds, ceremonial spaces, and central plazas suggest a society capable of organizing labor, sustaining communities, and coordinating large-scale projects, just as the Book of Mormon describes for the people of the New World.
Archaeologically, Pinson was clearly a ceremonial and social hub, where gatherings, rituals, and perhaps even astronomical observations occurred. For believers, it’s easy to see how such a site could reflect the organized communities, spiritual devotion, and social structure of Book of Mormon peoples.
Walking among the mounds, guests can visualize the activity of ancient societies—families living nearby, leaders directing ceremonies, and communities coming together in harmony with the land. While you are free to interpret the evidence as you choose, it’s inspiring to consider that these earthworks may echo the lives and events described in the Book of Mormon, linking the physical landscape of North America with the unfolding story of Nephite and Lamanite history.
The New Madrid region of southeastern Missouri sits along one of North America’s most active seismic zones, the New Madrid Fault. Today, we know it for the historic 1811–1812 earthquakes, but geologists have found evidence of ancient, massive quakes along this fault going back centuries — long before European settlement.
For believers exploring the book of mormon chronology, New Madrid offers a fascinating connection to 3 Nephi 8, where scripture describes a “great and terrible” earthquake at the time of Christ’s crucifixion. Heartland researchers, including those associated with Book of Mormon Evidence, note that the scale, intensity, and geological effects of quakes in this region — including ground fissures, river upheavals, and dramatic landscape changes — mirror what the Book of Mormon describes.
Beyond the spiritual parallels, this valley is fertile, strategically located, and rich with waterways, making it an ideal corridor for ancient settlement and movement. Archaeological evidence shows prehistoric populations lived here for generations, taking advantage of the rivers, forests, and floodplains.
Wickliffe Mounds, located along the Mississippi River in western Kentucky, was once a thriving Mississippian-period settlement (roughly AD 1000–1450) featuring platform mounds, residential areas, and a central plaza. Archaeologists have identified evidence of organized social hierarchy, ceremonial activity, and extensive trade networks, showing this was a community with both political and spiritual life.
Sites like Wickliffe provide real-world examples of the type of cities described in the Book of Mormon, where Nephites and Lamanites lived, worked, and worshiped according to the book of mormon chronology. The mounds’ layout and alignment reflect sophisticated planning, suggesting people who coordinated labor, built ceremonial centers, and gathered for communal events—activities the Book of Mormon records repeatedly in its depiction of these civilizations.
Whether you view Wickliffe as a direct part of Book of Mormon history or as a nearby parallel, its earthworks, artifacts, and riverine setting provide an inspiring lens through which to appreciate the ancient peoples of this continent.
Day 6 – September 19th
Meals Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Hannibal, MO
Giant City State Park in southern Illinois is famous for its towering sandstone cliffs and scenic trails—but beneath the natural beauty lies a landscape shaped by ancient peoples. Among its treasures is Stone Fort, a ceremonial earthwork built during the Woodland period (roughly AD 1–500, or about the time of the Nephites following the visitation of Christ). The site features mounds, enclosures, and gathering spaces carefully designed for social, ceremonial, and possibly astronomical purposes.
Archaeology shows these Nephite and Lamanite communities were organized, capable of large-scale construction, and deeply connected to their land, reflecting the same kind of societies the scriptures describe. Just as Nephite and Lamanite cities had plazas, temples, and centers for gathering, Stone Fort’s layout demonstrates planning, coordination, and devotion.
Walking the trails today, visitors can envision families tending crops, leaders directing gatherings, and communities coming together for worship and social life—the daily rhythm of covenant peoples recorded in scripture. The site gives a tangible sense of how God prepared the land to sustain and support His children during the time of the Nephites and Lamanites.
The Mastodon State Historic Site in southern Illinois preserves the remains of a prehistoric mastodon kill site, offering a rare glimpse into ancient life long before recorded history. The fossils here, along with stone tools found nearby, show that humans and megafauna once coexisted in this region, leaving tangible evidence of early human activity and resource use.
While the mastodons themselves lived thousands of years earlier, the region’s rich rivers, forests, and fertile soils made it an ideal setting for the settlement and growth of covenant peoples described in the Book of Mormon. This landscape—already shaped by nature and the work of previous inhabitants—would have provided food, materials, and corridors for travel, perfectly preparing the land for communities following Christ’s visitation in the New World.
Visitors can walk the trails, view the excavation pits, and see the fossils in situ, picturing the continuity of life on this land: from ancient megafauna to Woodland period peoples, and eventually to the Nephites and Lamanites described in scripture. It’s a site that reminds us how God prepares the land and its resources to sustain His children across generations, weaving natural history and human history into a living story.
Monk’s Mound at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Illinois is the largest prehistoric earthwork in North America, rising nearly 100 feet above the surrounding floodplain. Built by Mississippian peoples around AD 1050–1250 (during the later Lamanite period, centuries after Christ’s visitation in the New World), it served as the ceremonial and political center of a thriving city, with plazas, smaller mounds, and evidence of complex social organization.
From a Heartland perspective, Monk’s Mound exemplifies the kind of centralized civic and religious centers described in the Book of Mormon. Its size, precision, and alignment suggest coordinated labor, leadership, and spiritual focus, echoing how Nephite and Lamanite communities organized their cities around temples, plazas, and gathering spaces. Archaeology shows that Cahokia was a hub of trade, agriculture, and ceremony—demonstrating that ancient North America had societies capable of sustaining large, organized populations, exactly as described in scripture.
Monk’s Mound offers a vivid, tangible connection to the book of mormon chronology, allowing believers to see how ancient communities in North America mirror the societies described in the Book of Mormon—large, organized, and guided by both spiritual and practical principles.
Day 7 – September 20th
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Overnight: Nauvoo, IL
Today we have the opportunity to attend Sacrament services at the ward in Keokuk. For those who would like to, Sunday dress would be appropriate. We suggest brining clothes to change into after the meeting if you don’t want to stay in Sunday dress for the remainder of the day.
Just across the Mississippi River from Nauvoo, Illinois, in the gentle fields and river flats near Montrose, Iowa, many Heartland researchers believe we are standing in the vicinity of ancient Zarahemla — the scripture‑named city from the Book of Mormon. In Doctrine and Covenants Section 125, the Lord instructed the Saints to build up a city called Zarahemla on the land opposite Nauvoo, linking the *Book of Mormon’s sacred geography to a real place in America’s heartland.
In recent years, groups like the Heartland Research Group — including Dr. John Lefgren and Mike and Betty LaFontaine — have been conducting archaeological exploration near Montrose in search of evidence of a large ancient settlement that could correspond to the city of Zarahemla described in the book of mormon chronology.
They’ve used technologies like magnetometer scanning and lidar imaging across several hundred acres and identified patterns in the soil indicating hundreds of ancient fire pits and anomalies that suggest long‑term habitation — evidence consistent with a densely populated city area, not simply isolated camps or temporary sites.
Excitingly, some features discovered in the Montrose fields — including deep sand deposits and resistivity signatures that don’t match the surrounding geology — have been interpreted by Heartland scientists as associated with man‑made structures or cultural deposits that could be part of an ancient city core or temple precinct.
While this interpretation is strongly supported among Heartland researchers and many believing explorers, archaeology is ongoing, and definitive confirmation still lies ahead. But for those studying the book of mormon chronology, Montrose offers a powerful and tangible way to connect the scriptural text to geographical and archaeological reality, inviting us to reflect on how ancient covenant peoples may have lived, gathered, and worshiped right here along the Mississippi River.
This museum houses an extensive collection of Indigenous artifacts, with a particularly impressive display of arrowheads, stone tools, and other pre‑contact items displayed in handcrafted wood cases. The collection was assembled locally and offers a hands‑on look at Native American history in the region, making it a great stop for anyone interested in the material culture of early inhabitants of Iowa.
Nauvoo, Illinois, sits on the west bank of the Mississippi River and became one of the most important early centers for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Founded in 1839 after the Saints were driven from Missouri, Nauvoo quickly grew into a thriving city under the leadership of Joseph Smith. The city was not only a refuge but a place to build, organize, and live according to principles revealed in the Book of Mormon and modern revelation.
D&C 124:41-42 commanded the Saints to build temples, and in Nauvoo this commandment was fulfilled with the construction of the Nauvoo Temple, a center of worship, teaching, and sacred ordinances. The book of mormon chronology provided a spiritual template for understanding God’s dealings with His covenant people, inspiring the Saints to organize a community modeled on righteousness, cooperation, and devotion to God.
Nauvoo was more than a physical settlement; it was a spiritual laboratory. The Saints’ devotion to God, temple worship, and community organization echoed the covenant relationship emphasized in the Book of Mormon. Walking the streets of Nauvoo today, visitors can see temple sites, restored homes, and landmarks that help illuminate how scripture and modern revelation shaped the lives of the early Saints.
Day 8 – September 21st
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Overnight: Nauvoo, IL
Located in the historic river town of Nauvoo, the Flood Museum offers visitors an immersive experience that centers on the Biblical account of Noah’s Flood, presenting it as a real, world‑wide event rooted in scripture and history. The museum’s mission is to strengthen faith in the Bible as an accurate and authoritative record of God’s dealings with mankind, complementing the same devotion to scripture that shaped early Latter‑day Saint history in this area.
Inside, you’ll find a variety of exhibits intended to deepen your understanding of God’s word, including:
The Flood Experience, an immersive multimedia presentation that leads you through the world before the Flood, life inside Noah’s ark, the global Flood itself, and the promise of the rainbow that followed.
Bible exhibits, featuring historic editions of scripture like the Great Isaiah Scroll and other ancient texts — underscoring the continuity and preservation of God’s revelation through time.
Fossil and artifact displays that are interpreted through the lens of the Biblical Flood, helping visitors connect what they see in the natural world with the narratives found in scripture.
The Flood Museum opened in 2019 and has featured on Illinois public media, helping thousands of believers and inquirers alike see how faith and history intersect. Admission is free, and volunteer guides often lead visitors through the exhibits with engaging explanations.
We have a wonderful opportunity to participate in Ordinance work at the Nauvoo temple today. A group endowment will be scheduled, and participants will be invited to make their own reservation for that time. Watch for an email with more details!
Take time today to explore the many homes and renewed structures in Old Nauvoo. Make sure to visit sites like the Red Brick Store (where the first endowments of the Restoration took place), the Mansion House, Scovill’s Bakery and more!
Day 9 – September 22nd
Meals Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Champaign, IL
Just a few miles east of Nauvoo lies Carthage Jail, the historic site where Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were martyred on June 27, 1844. This location stands as a powerful reminder of the trials faced by the early Saints and their unwavering commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ as restored through Joseph Smith.
Historical Significance:
Courage and Witness: Visitors can see the original jail structure, with its small cells and wooden door, and imagine the resolve and testimony of those who faced imprisonment for their beliefs. Church records, journals, and early accounts detail the Saints’ courage in the face of threats, reflecting the Book of Mormon’s emphasis on righteousness and steadfastness in adversity.
Zelph’s Mound, located near Montrose, Illinois, is an important site for both LDS Church history and Book of Mormon scholarship. In 1834, during the Zelph Expedition as part of Zion’s Camp, Joseph Smith and his companions came across a burial mound along the Mississippi River.
Here, Joseph Smith identified the remains of a righteous Lamanite warrior named “Zelph”, who had been killed in battle and buried with his weapons. Joseph reportedly taught that Zelph was a “white Lamanite,” a mighty man of God from the ancient Book of Mormon peoples, whose righteous life and leadership were remembered in the mound.
Day 10 – September 23rd
Meals Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Wilmington, OH
Miamisburg Mound in southwestern Ohio rises impressively above the Miami River valley as the largest conical Native American burial mound in the eastern United States, standing about 65 feet tall with an 800‑foot circumference—an unmistakable marker of ancient human activity.
Archaeologists date this structure roughly between 800 BC and AD 100, placing its construction right in the Jaredite to early Nephite timeframes of the book of mormon chronology. Its builders are traditionally attributed to the Adena culture, an early mound‑building society in the Ohio Valley.
Miamisburg’s construction dates coincide with periods before, during, and just after the Jaredite decline and into Nephite civilization, suggesting a long tradition of mound building that parallels the evolving book of mormon chronology in this part of the world.
A mound of this scale required coordinated labor and sustained community effort, reflecting the capabilities of groups who lived and worked together over generations. Heartland scholars note that such organization fits descriptions in the Book of Mormon of cities, communities, and interlinked populations with shared purpose and leadership.
Though built by what archaeologists call the Adena and then later Hopewell cultures, Book of Mormon Evidence interpreters see cultural continuity in mound traditions throughout the Ohio and Mississippi valleys over long timeframes, suggestive of ongoing occupation and evolution of societies that could intersect with Nephite and Jaredite histories.
Fort Ancient, located near Lebanon, Ohio, is one of the most impressive prehistoric hilltop enclosures in North America, covering more than 100 acres with massive earthen walls, ceremonial spaces, and evidence of long-term habitation. Archaeologists date the site to roughly AD 1000–1750, a period that aligns with the later Nephite and Lamanite civilizations in the book of mormon chronology.
Day 11 – September 24th
Meals Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Heath, OH
Serpent Mound, located in Adams County, Ohio, is one of North America’s most iconic earthworks. This effigy mound, stretching over 1,300 feet in length, depicts a serpent with a coiled tail and an open mouth, aligned with the summer solstice sunrise. Radiocarbon dating and archaeological studies place its construction somewhere between AD 1070–1200, which aligns with the later Nephite and Lamanite periods in the Book of Mormon.
From a Heartland perspective, Serpent Mound is more than a remarkable feat of engineering: it reflects the spiritual awareness, planning, and communal organization of the ancient peoples who inhabited the region. Book of Mormon Evidence interpreters highlight several important points:
• Alignment and Purpose – The mound’s astronomical alignment demonstrates advanced knowledge of the heavens, echoing the Book of Mormon’s references to cycles of time, seasons, and prophetic observances. The effigy likely served ritual and ceremonial purposes, just as Nephite cities included temples and gathering places for worship.
• Continuity of Sacred Sites – Serpent Mound sits within a broader landscape of mounds and ceremonial enclosures in the Ohio Valley, reflecting a network of communities that mirrors the Book of Mormon’s descriptions of cities, temples, and sacred spaces. Its persistence over centuries provides a tangible link between archaeology and the spiritual narrative of God’s covenant peoples.
Seip Mound, near Portsmouth, Ohio, is one of the most impressive Hopewell-period earthworks in the Ohio Valley, rising roughly 50 feet high. Its construction is dated to approximately AD 100–500, which aligns with the post-Christ visitation period in the Book of Mormon chronology.
Fresh Connections & Facts:
Complex Burial Practices: Excavations at Seip Mound have revealed multiple burial layers, some with elaborate grave goods including mica, copper, and shells, suggesting highly organized ceremonial activity. Heartland researchers propose these reflect Nephite/Lamanite-style communities with distinct social hierarchies and reverence for leaders or warriors.
Regional Network: Seip is part of a cluster of Hopewell mounds along the Ohio River, indicating long-distance trade and cultural exchange, which mirrors the interconnected cities and populations of the Book of Mormon.
Construction Techniques: Unlike some smaller mounds, Seip shows layered construction with carefully selected soils, possibly reflecting ritual significance or a symbolic hierarchy, which Heartland scholars connect to Nephite ceremonial structures described in scripture.
Astronomical & Environmental Observations: Some studies suggest the mound is positioned relative to river paths and flood plains, showing an awareness of agricultural and strategic considerations. This aligns with how Book of Mormon cities were often located near rivers, fertile land, and defensible positions.
Evidence of Long-Term Use: Artifact evidence shows the site was used and maintained over generations, consistent with Heartland interpretations that ancient Nephite and Lamanite populations had stable, multi-generational communities in the region.
Hopewell Culture National Park in southern Ohio preserves some of the largest and most mathematically precise earthworks in North America, constructed between about 100 BC and AD 500—a time frame that fits remarkably well within the book of mormon chronology, spanning the late Nephite and Lamanite periods, including the generations after Christ’s visitation.
Key Facts & Meaningful Connections:
Geometric Precision: The Hopewell earthworks include perfect squares, circles, and octagons laid out with astonishing accuracy over large distances. This level of planning reflects a people with advanced knowledge of surveying, mathematics, and coordinated labor—traits consistent with the organized societies described in the Book of Mormon.
Ceremonial Centers, Not Villages: Archaeologists note these sites were not primarily residential, but gathering places for ceremony, trade, and governance. This mirrors Book of Mormon descriptions of people assembling at temples, sacred structures, and central places for teaching, worship, and decision-making.
Long-Distance Trade Networks: Artifacts found here include obsidian from the Rocky Mountains, shells from the Gulf Coast, copper from the Great Lakes, and mica from the Appalachians. Such widespread exchange reflects a connected civilization similar to the trade and travel between cities and lands described in scripture.
River-Based Civilization: The earthworks sit along the Scioto and Ohio River systems, ideal for transportation, agriculture, and communication—just as Book of Mormon lands are consistently described as being near rivers and fertile valleys.
Mound Burials & Social Order: Elaborate burial mounds with carefully placed grave goods suggest structured leadership and reverence for prominent individuals, consistent with societies led by chiefs, judges, and military leaders in the Book of Mormon record.
Generational Use: These sites were built, expanded, and maintained over centuries, indicating a stable, enduring population that aligns well with the multi-generational timeline of Nephite and Lamanite history after the coming of Christ.
For many who study the Heartland model, Hopewell Culture National Park stands as one of the clearest archaeological landscapes that fits within the book of mormon chronology—showing evidence of an organized, thriving people capable of engineering, ceremony, trade, and governance at precisely the time the Book of Mormon describes such civilizations flourishing in this region.
Day 12 – September 25th
Meals Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Heath, OH
The Great Circle Earthworks in Newark, Ohio—interpreted at the Great Circle Museum—form one of the most awe-inspiring Hopewell geometric constructions in North America. Built between roughly 100 BC and AD 400, this site falls directly within the book of mormon chronology, during the height of Nephite and Lamanite civilizations.
Key Facts & Meaningful Connections:
Massive Circular Enclosure: The Great Circle spans over 1,200 feet in diameter with earthen walls up to 14 feet high and a surrounding moat. Such scale required central planning, organized labor, and social coordination, consistent with the complex societies described in the Book of Mormon.
Purposeful Entryway: The single, carefully engineered entrance suggests the space was controlled and intentional, likely used for ceremonial gatherings, teaching, or governance rather than everyday living—echoing how people assembled at sacred or civic centers in scripture.
Mathematical & Astronomical Awareness: The Newark Earthworks, including the Great Circle, are known for precise geometric relationships and alignments. Heartland researchers see this as evidence of a people who understood order, measurement, and celestial timing, qualities often associated with temple-centered cultures.
Ceremonial Landscape: Archaeologists agree this was not a village but a regional gathering place, where people came from surrounding areas for significant events. This fits well with Book of Mormon patterns of people gathering to hear leaders, prophets, or to participate in sacred observances.
Strategic River Location: Situated near major waterways, the site aligns with the Book of Mormon pattern of civilizations built along navigable rivers and fertile lands.
Located in Coshocton, Ohio, the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum sits in the heart of classic Hopewell territory along the Muskingum River. Its collections preserve thousands of artifacts from the Adena and Hopewell cultures (about 800 BC – AD 500)—a time span that aligns closely with the book of mormon chronology from the Jaredites through the Nephite and Lamanite periods.
Key Facts & Meaningful Connections:
Extensive Hopewell Artifacts: The museum houses one of the region’s most significant collections of Hopewell items, including copper ornaments, carved stone pipes, pottery, tools, and ceremonial objects. These reflect a people with craft specialization, artistry, and organized society during the same era described in the Book of Mormon.
Evidence of Long-Distance Trade: Items made from Great Lakes copper, Gulf Coast shells, Appalachian mica, and western obsidian show that the people here were part of an interconnected trade network, paralleling the movement, commerce, and communication between lands in scripture.
Kirtland, Ohio is a place of deep spiritual and historical significance in early LDS Church History. It was the first gathering place of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints after its organization in 1830 and served as the Church headquarters from 1831 to 1838.
During this period, the young Church experienced remarkable growth, intense persecution, and powerful spiritual experiences that helped shape its future.
One of the most sacred landmarks in Kirtland is the Kirtland Temple, the first temple constructed in this dispensation. Built under difficult circumstances between 1833 and 1836, the temple was a monumental achievement of faith and sacrifice. Shortly after its dedication, it became the site of profound heavenly manifestations, including visitations from Jesus Christ, Moses, Elias, and Elijah, as recorded in D&C 110.
Kirtland was also the setting for numerous revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Many sections of the Doctrine and Covenants were revealed here, providing guidance and direction for leaders and members alike.
Institutions such as the School of the Prophets, the first bishop’s storehouse, and early missionary training all began in Kirtland. It was a time of both great spiritual power and significant trials, including financial hardship and internal conflict, which eventually led to the Saint’s departure.
As part of our tour we will visit all the main sites, including the Temple, Joseph & Emma Home, Historic Kirtland, the Visitor’s Center, Cemetery, and more.
Day 13 – September 26th
Meals Included: Breakfast & Farewell Dinner
Overnight: Palmyra, NY
Located in Palmyra, NY, the Grandin Press is historically significant as the site where the first edition of the Book of Mormon was printed and bound between 1829 and 1830. This endeavor was a pivotal moment in early LDS Church history.
Egbert B. Grandin, a 23-year old printer and publisher of the Wayne Sentinel, initially declined Joseph Smith’s request to print the Book of Mormon, citing concerns over its controversial nature and potential financial risk.
However, after Joseph secured an offer from a Rochester printer, Grandin reconsidered and agreed to print 5,000 copies for $3,000. This agreement was made possible by Martin Harris, who mortgaged his farm to finance the printing costs.
The Temple will likely be closed by the time we arrive, but for those who would like to try and participate in ordinances; you are welcome to try! Together we will visit the grounds before transferring to our hotel.
Day 14 – September 27th
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Overnight: Travel Home
This is the site where Joseph Smith was directed by the angel Moroni to find the golden plates. These plates contained the record of an ancient people who were directed by prophets in their time, just as the Old World had been according to the Bible. These plates would later be translated into what we now know as the Book of Mormon.
Beginning in 1823, Moroni appeared here to Joseph multiple times over a period of four years, instructing him in spiritual things and preparing him to receive the ancient record. On September 22, 1827, Joseph was finally allowed to take the gold plates from the hill and begin the process of translation.
Today we have the opportunity to attend sacrament services together one last time before our departure. We will attend in Palmyra followed by a catered lunch together. For those who would like to change out of their Sunday clothes, we suggest changing at the ward building.
This 100-acre farm was home to the Smith family from 1816-1830. It is notably the site of the First Vision, where a young Joseph saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in a grove of trees not too far from the family’s log cabin.
The farm includes two significant residences: a reconstructed log home, built around 1818, where the Smith family initially lived, and a restored frame home, completed in 1825. The log home is particularly significant as the location where the angel Moroni first visited Joseph Smith on September 21, 1823, informing him of the golden plates’ existence.
The Sacred Grove, a serene forested area adjacent to the homes, is preserved to reflect its 1820 condition. Visitors can walk through the grove on maintained paths, contemplating the profound event that occurred there.
Say farewell to your newfound friends and tour leaders. The bus will take our group to the airport around 3:00pm, flights leaving at 5:30pm or later would be appropriate. Rochester Airport (ROC).
Payment Terms: $300 pp deposit required at time of booking. Final payment is due 90 days before departure.
**this tour is based on a minimum of 20 passengers and a maximum of 50 passengers
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