[FactQuest]

as is the case of the Cross and the Ark of the Covenant

Nice try, but... the Mormon plates are from less than 2 centuries ago, right? In the same country, in modern times, no record of when they were lost... they just disappeared. A miraculous disappearance, perhaps?

Whereas the cross was 2000 years ago. The disciples weren't eager to hang onto it, it held no value in itself, the value was the act committed upon it. And it took them over a month to kick it into gear, it was probably lost by then.

The ark - wow, now we're talking, what, 4000 years ago? And we know what happened, the Egyptian pharaoh Shoshenq plundered the temple.

So, only one of these looks fishy.

[P-Marlowe]

it was probably lost by then.

I'm sure it was used again the next day. And again and again until it was eventually used for firewood or a battering ram. Even in Ancient times 300 pounds of lumber was not to be discarded. It wasn't lost. It was recycled.