“Therefore, it cannot be written off as some mere obscure historical “tale of lore.””
Sure it can if it’s weighed within the bias of it’s origin and environment of perpetuation.
Allow me to clarify my statement: I should have said: “Therefore, it cannot be written off by Mormons as some mere obscure historical “tale of lore.”
Indeed, the rest of us can -- and should -- write off what plenty of Mormon "prophets" have said as mere cultic mythical folklore.
My comment was more addressing Lds who tend to write off many 19th century comments and tales from their leaders of that era as merely that. Yet, when these same statments get official CURRENT sanction by the Lds church and placed into its CURRENT curricula, including its BYU curricula, then it has rec'd OFFICIAL Lds Church, Inc. imprimatur status.
Huh?