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.
Correction
Joseph Smith claimed that the Nephites were taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
BTW Mormon was not born yet when the Nephi first made a record of the Book of Nephi they were called Saints!
You have your history mixed up!
The Last Prophet died around 400 AD
Semantics. But nice to see you acknowledge that this is merely Smith's "claim." Nevertheless, why were their no practitioners of the Gospel in America when the Europeans arrived?
Did Christ lie about the gates of hell not prevailing against His Church or did Smith lie?
You have your history mixed up!
History without corroborating evidence is a fable.
Joseph Smith Testified of the Book of Mormon and I also testify of the Book of Mormon by the power of the Holy Spirit!
Like I said if you read the Book of Mormon you would have your answer of why there were none here to meet the Europeans!
You might not be aware of it but you are coming across hostile!
All I'm doing is trying to get an answer to a legitimate question.
I'm not asking WHY Smith said the Nephites were gone, I'm asking how this can be true if Christ didn't lie.
Well, there is a way around that - marry sisters.
Why do you think any one lied I have no clue what you are getting at!
Tread carefully, the mormonism apologists are famous for mischaracterizing what you post ... like the claim that folks opposed to polygamy are calling Abraham and Jacob ‘bad’. With your clear question—which Resty not only will not answer but cannot answer—you open yourself up for one of the slimesters to characterize your posts as calling Jesus a liar!
I'll wager that they all teach at Brigham Young University.
They are independent scholar not relate to BYU and from the Middle East.
Like the Movie Expelled their names are not mention for fear of retribution.
Like the Movie Expelled their names are not mention for fear of retribution.
How convenient, but surely the "ancient writings" that are offered as "proof" can be published by Mormons without any fear of retribution.
I gathered that.
This would reQUIRE logic!
Does this mean that a 'testimony' trumps the fact that you cannot say what was UNTRUE about the religion you left for MORMONISM?
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THE
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS SECTION 132
51–57, Emma Smith is counseled (commanded) to be faithful and true; 58–66, Laws governing the plurality of wives are set forth.
51 Verily, I say unto you: A commandment I give unto mine handmaid, Emma Smith, your wife, whom I have given unto you, that she stay herself and partake not of that which I commanded you to offer unto her; for I did it, saith the Lord, to aprove you all, as I did Abraham, and that I might require an offering at your hand, by covenant and sacrifice.
52 And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, areceive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me; and those who are not pure, and have said they were pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God.
53 For I am the Lord thy God, and ye shall obey my voice; and I give unto my servant Joseph that he shall be made ruler over many things; for he hath been afaithful over a few things, and from henceforth I will strengthen him.
55 But if she will not abide this commandment, then shall my servant Joseph do all things for her, even as he hath said; and I will bless him and multiply him and give unto him an ahundredfold in this world, of fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, houses and lands, wives and children, and crowns of beternal lives in the eternal worlds.
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The REORGANIZATIONED kept the original name; too!
The FUNDAMENTALIST's kept the original name; too!
This must be THIS weeks new word!
A few weeks ago it was STUMBLELAND.
I still think it sounds like the name of a ski slope.
Who CARES!!??
WHY were the Super Sacred Temple Rites® CHANGED???
Don’t forget “tendentiousness.”
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