Randy Mellor and Dave Asay
Dave Asay and Randy Mellor are not archaeologists or religious scholars. They are business associates and good friends who love the gospel and are active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS).
Both were raised in the Church with the belief that the Hill Cumorah spoken of in the Book of Mormon was the same hill near Palmyra, New York where the Prophet Joseph Smith recovered the gold plates.
The Book of Mormon tells us that two great nations lived, fought and finally perished in the same location. The Jaredite people called this place Hill Ramah. The Nephites called it Hill Cumorah. (Ether 15:11)
Our study and research first took us to New York to learn what we could about the history and evidence of these great civilizations. There was none that dated back further than 1000 AD. The arrowheads and artifacts simply do not correlate with the time period covered in the Book of Mormon. And furthermore, there was no evidence of a written language or large population during this period.
As we continued to study and search we were finally led to the state of Veracruz in southern Mexico. Here we found the evidence we were seeking. The Mother culture of Mexico is called the Olmecs. We learned that the Olmec history tells of coming from the Great Tower across the large waters where all language was confounded except their own. The Olmec history and time frame parallel that of the Jaredite people. The Hill Vigia, near Santiago Tuxtla matched all the criteria for the Hill Ramah/Cumorah. There are literally hundreds of archeaological sites on and around this hill dating to both Jaredite and Nephite times. It is a significant landmark, standing approximately 2400 feet high and sets apart from the Tuxtla mountain range. It matches perfectly with the geographical descriptions given in the Book of Mormon with the Papoloapan Water Basin (waters of Ripliancum) a short distance to the north and a coastal plain not far from the sea shore. Less than 30 miles away is another, smaller hill called Hill Cintepec, which being translated from the Mayan language means corn or corn hill. This is an ideal candidate for the Hill Shim (also meaning corn hill) since it is near the Hill we believe to be Cumorah (Ether 15:11) and gives us a name correlation.
We wanted to share our experience and evidence with the world. So, we have produced a video called "In Search of Ancient Cumorah" with exclusive video footage of the Hill Ramah/Cumorah, Hill Shim and the Waters of Ripliancum. Included are interviews with well known and respected LDS archaeologist Dr. Bruce Warren and renowned LDS Scholar Dr. Joseph L. Allen.
It is not our intent to challenge your faith or shake your testimony. On the contrary, everything we have done is to inform, educate and hopefully strengthen your faith. As the Prophet Joseph Smith stated:
"It will not be a bad plan to compare Mr. Stephens'1 ruined cities with those in the Book of Mormon: Light cleaves to light, and facts are supported by facts. The truth injures no one." (Times and Seasons, Vol. 3, No. 23, p. 927, October 1, 1842)