Posted on 04/29/2008 6:06:04 AM PDT by restornu
Ancient writings unearthed in the last century and a half, primarily in Egypt, are lending support to doctrines and teachings of Joseph Smith, founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a Brigham Young University professor of antiquities said Sunday.
C. Wilford Griggs, who has written extensively on Egypt and is working on excavating Christian burial grounds in Egypt, said scholars are now admitting that "Joseph Smith got into the antiquities" before experts in the field began their discoveries, but they won't accept his explanation.
Smith, an uneducated farm boy, claimed he translated the Book of Mormon from ancient gold plates using instruments given him by an angel, but scholars are refusing to believe that, Griggs said during a fireside, "Joseph Smith and the Egyptian Connection," at the Pleasant Grove Manila Stake Center. Some of the ancient writings have been found in the past few years.
Many scholars are now admitting that the book accepted as scripture by church members is an ancient book, but as one scholar of antiquities told Griggs, he had no problem with the gold plates and Smith's story would be acceptable "if you'd get rid of that angel."
Anciently, the fountain of Christian knowledge was Egypt and the Mediterranean region and for about 1,000 years 90 percent of the people were in the faith "until they were converted to Islam by the sword," he said.
"We are being flooded with (ancient) writings," Griggs said, describing many as coming from the biblical New Testament period. Many of the writings, now totaling about 8,000, are on papyri, but others are on metal plates. None are exactly alike, which lends historical credence to the finds.
The apostles scattered throughout the known world and established pockets of Christianity after the time of Jesus Christ, including Egypt, he said. Some of the best early Christian records were found in Egypt, where they survived because of the climate.
The traditional concept that the Bible is complete came about 400 A.D., he said. Before then Christians knew that many other writings existed.
Many of the Christian teachings found in Egyptian digs that are shared in common with Smith's teachings have to do with the temple "and how the heavens can be open to us," Griggs said.
Among those findings is the teaching of baptism by proxy for folks who have died without learning of Christ and his gospel, which centers on the resurrection.
Anciently, baptism was known as a "sealing" to go to heaven, he said. The word "sealing" is used today in LDS temples in similar fashion.
Most of the writings which have now been found were secret anciently and held back from the people until they proved their worthiness.
Some speak of the potential of their divinity, also a common theme Smith taught, which the first LDS prophet said was given to him by revelation.
"Several of the gospels ... show that revelation was alive and well in the ancient world. Revelation was a keystone," Griggs said.
Yet centuries later, revelation and temples were denounced by religious leaders, including Augustine, as unnecessary.
Many thanks.
I must overcome my tendencies to err on the side of reality. At least if I want to journey celestially, that is. :)
The Book of Mormon is the most correct Book they never said perfect or infallible.
Pratt was an Apostle and what he said about the Doctrine and Ordinance have been true from day one of the Revelation!
Those copies of manuscripts you speak are of recorders of thousands of years yet it was not until the 1800's before any archeology has come forth.
The Book of Mormon has only been in our presents for a couple hundred years and in the Lord own time will the knowledge so many are murmuring for come forth!
Only revelation are in the D&C.
That was not a Revelation
***The Book of Mormon might not have location Evidence you are looking for but the D&C is infallible!***
Okay then, what are the names of the other nine wives of your husband?
D&C 132:
61 And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood—if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse aanother, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else.
62 And if he have aten virgins given unto him by this law, he cannot commit adultery, for they belong to him, and they are given unto him; therefore is he justified.
63 But if one or either of the ten virgins, after she is espoused, shall be with another man, she has committed adultery, and shall be destroyed; for they are given unto him to amultiply and replenish the earth, according to my commandment, and to fulfil the promise which was given by my Father before the foundation of the world, and for their exaltation in the eternal worlds, that they may bear the souls of men; for herein is the work of my Father continued, that he may be be glorified.
I only had one Husband!
*** I am reminded of my 23 year old grand son, who lies with alarming regularity even when the truth would suffice. If he told me it was raining outside, I’d have a looksee out the window before searching for my bumbershoot,***
Didn’t someone in the 1830’s say the same thing about Joseph Smith? If he told them their house was on fire they would have to go out and see the smoke before they would believe him.
I have only heard this. I have no backup.
When you read those revelation you have to study and ponder over them with the Spirit of the Lord or you miss many important words!
Resty, please don’t change your story. I said nothing about Brigham Young’s attitude. I pondered about the reasons for his assumption of religious and secular power, though.
The townspeople were very hacked off at the LDS members and a lot of them would have been hurt or killed if they hadn’t hightailed it out of there.
***That area was empty but the when man allow telestial thinking than those unkind thoughts enter and before you know it Jealousy and anger etc takes over!***
If the area was empty, then there would have been nobody to get upset at the Mormons. I really wish that you’d get your story straight.
That’s not what I asked.
I posted D&C 132 which directs Mormon men to marry 10 virgins if he wishes. Since you are a female LDS, I was wondering what are the names of your husband’s other nine wives.
Which important words did I miss?
D&C 132:
61 And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood—if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse aanother, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else.
62 And if he have ten virgins given unto him by this law, he cannot commit adultery, for they belong to him, and they are given unto him; therefore is he justified.
63 But if one or either of the ten virgins, after she is espoused, shall be with another man, she has committed adultery, and shall be destroyed; for they are given unto him to amultiply and replenish the earth, according to my commandment, and to fulfil the promise which was given by my Father before the foundation of the world, and for their exaltation in the eternal worlds, that they may bear the souls of men; for herein is the work of my Father continued, that he may be be glorified.
I read in this that one man may have 10 wives. Am I mistaken in this? This is taken from http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/132 which is from the LDS website. They are the words of your church. Can you show me how my interpretation is wrong?
He seemed to be quite good at it. As a Free Mason, I'm offended that he stole our rituals, lock, stock and barrel, which, by the way, we never claimed came from God.
I'm looking into the possibility of getting John Edwards to sue the Mormons.
IIRC, it is the second largest corporation west of the Mississippi.
Now, that right there is funny!
Hard to resist a good line when offered. Don't miss the translation followup in #301(?)
You are living in the world today where most of the land is filling or divided into farm land.
In those days it was blank mean nothing was done to a land and no Mormon was going to kill their neighbors, it was the neighbors who could not mind their own business!
Are you turning into a liberal now?
You've done it now. The Mormon Babblenackle Choir will be on you like stink on poop.
Your question
Okay then, what are the names of the other nine wives of your husband?
Then based on this, please answer the question I posed in post #131.
You might be confusing the Revelation given for the last dispensation in which we are living.
The Book of Mormon in many passage speak of a record for the last day which would come forth in this dispensation
This has NOTHING to do with my question.
Smith claimed that the Nephites were taught Mormonism by Jesus Christ after the Resurrection, yet it is an UNDISPUTED FACT that there were NO Mormons in America when Europeans arrived.
Did Jesus Christ lie in Matthew 16:18 or did Joseph Smith lie when he wrote the Book of Mormon? Who LIED Jesus Christ or Joseph Smith?
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