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.
James 1:22-27
22. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
24. and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.
26. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
***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!***
You previously claimed that there was nobody there and now you say that there were neighbours. Do you consider facts merely variables that you employ or discard at whim?
***Are you turning into a liberal now?***
I doubt it.
And all the guys that COULD have married Resty say...
AMEN!!!
Well, if your husband follows perfectly the perfect Doctrines and Covenants, what are the names of his other nine wives?
I think that it’s a simple question. Why are you doing your best to not answer it?
Evidently!!!
***Having multiple wives means having multiple mothers-in-law.
Well, there is a way around that - marry sisters.***
Hmm. Never thought of that.
It’d be hard, though, finding ten sisters. Else I’d not be obeying the D&C.
Evidently NOT!!!
YOU can't even say what was UNTRUE about PRESBYTERIANISM!
Yup, there’s no doubt about it. :)
I like the term terrestrial. It means of the earth, as opposed to other states in which one has both feet planted firmly in the clouds.
Me, too!!
It is FALSE!!!
(Oh... I ALSO used historical FACTS, logic, geology, DNA testing and COMMON SENSE!)
But did you PONDER?????
sheesh, elsie!! You missed one of the key ingredients!
|
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1/19#19
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! 18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join. 19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” 20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.” |
Egypt is especially problematic, however, for the reasons I posted.
Shorthand |
Reference: |
|
|
|
1. How you interpret it is wrong... |
(Need a source) |
2. You are too ignorant to really understand it because you are not a member.... |
(Need a source) |
3. You're not qualified to judge because you're no LONGER a member... |
(Need a source) |
4. You are just a bigot for bringing the whole ugly truth to light ... |
(Need a source) |
5. So’s yer Mama! |
(Need a source) |
6. Laugh it all off and post some silly image. |
(Need a source) |
7. Jump down the rabbit hole; Alice! |
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1982682/posts?page=683#683 |
8. Bait & Switch |
(Need a source) |
9. The OTHER 'half' of the truth is what we are avoiding. |
(Need a source) |
10. "I Know It When I See It" |
(Need a source) |
11. Hand waving... |
(Need a source) |
12. YOU play defense for a while. |
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1982682/posts?page=944#944 |
13. HEE Hee hee... let's get the Calvinists and the Armenians fighting! |
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1994515/posts?page=15#15 |
14. GREAT FUN! Let's get the Catholics and the Protestants fighting! |
(Need a source) |
15. Huh? Did you say something? |
(Need a source) |
16. If I repeat this enough times some folks will be fooled into thinking it's true. |
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1997522/posts?page=2252#2252 |
17. Playing dumb. |
(Need a source) |
18. Refusing to answer because your ATTITUDE offends them. |
(Need a source) |
19. (Let's see if they'll fall for the 'Defend a freak' ploy.) |
(Need a source) |
20. And the MOST used... IGNORE what they posted and answer the question that SHOULD have been asked. |
Why Hieroglyphics? Ever been the National Masonic memorial in Alexandria, VA?
Yeah, I figured out the explanation for the hieroglyphics.
If you read further in the thread, it is shown that what Smith claimed were hieroglyphics were actually Gaelic symbols plus his own scribbles.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.