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I enjoyed this review, and found it very helpful.
I did find a small number of typos though and thought I’d share them below so you can correct them. Feel free to delete this comment afterwards. – I love the bother of Jared typo
The Problem of Definitions:
By the time Joseph Smtih’s later history was written in 1839
This stone matches some descriptions of the seer stone used by Joseph Smtih
The problem with stones
… the bother of Jared:
Seers Using Stones
.. he releaved them of the strain.
Using invective as a substitute for academic srgumentation
I think I’ll leave this post, just to make sure that the rumor that I am infallible can be squashed. Oh, wait. There never nhs been such a rumor. I’m glad that finding those typos didn’t totally detract from your enjoyment of the review. For those interested, the fix is in. If you go looking for these typos, they should no longer be there. Thank you for letting us know.
Oh my… I just realized we’re being treated to a double-barrel, Gardner AND Lindsay shotgun pushback on Neville and Lucas!
I am uniquely well prepared to receive these essential contributions to the BoM translation puzzle BECAUSE I’ve been studying Eld. Uchtdorf’s Oct 24 Conf talk … “Nourish the Roots….. Don’t Mistake the Branches for the Roots …”!
Elder Uchtdorf’s encouragement, and his footnote 10, clear up this U&T, SITH, Interpreters controversy once and for all …. how timely….
“For example, if you want a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon, focus on its witness of Jesus Christ. Notice how the Book of Mormon testifies of Him, what it teaches about Him, and how it invites and inspires you to come unto Him.”
Uchtdorf Footnote 10: “… Is it helpful to learn from the accounts of scribes and others about the details of how Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon? It is for some. But none of this constitutes a lasting testimony that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. For that, you need to find the Savior in the Book of Mormon, to hear His voice speaking to you. Once this happens, it won’t matter to you where the ancient city of Zarahemla was actually located or what the Urim and Thummim looked like. Those are branches that can be pruned off your tree if needed, but the tree will remain.” End quote.
Many wonderful church historians and authors and lawyers have helped strengthen my testimony of Jesus Christ as found in the BoM! Thank you. But, many church historians, authors and lawyers have also confused me.
After reading Neville’s/ Lucas books and following R. Skousen’s BMCTP for 15 years and after reading S. Carmack’s, J. Welch’s, Brant Gardner’s, Grant Hardy’s, etc, etc… books & articles over the last many, many, many years and after having studied the BoM for the last 50 years I can authoritatively put this U&T translation mystery (and the strict vs loose vs. iron clad control head-scratcher) in its final resting place and give it a proper burial. Although I’m not a scholar or lawyer or historian … my authoritative answer is: “The BoM was translated by the gift and power of God by means of the interpreters that came with the plates. The BoM is a remarkable book of depth, beauty and complexity. The BoM is a miraculous work and a miracle. The BoM is the handbook on the atonement of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith has a huge prophetic gift that scholars, layman, lawyers and historians barely understand. Spend your time seeking to hear the Savior’s “voice speaking to you” in the BoM”!
I wish more faithful LDS authors, historians, lawyers & scholars would lead their readers to a better articulated summary than the above conclusion I’ve finally come to on my own.
Many historians, authors, historians, scholars, historians, commentators, historians and podcasters confuse themselves, then leave the church. They also confuse others with this constant back & forth.
Thank you Eld. Uchtdorf for your tree-trimming counsel.
I also read in one of the Oct 24 conf. talks that LDS Christians are under a permanent commandment to avoid contention … at all costs. In that same talk Pres. Oaks reminds scholars that some permanent commandments, to avoid contention, have taken considerable time to be fully implemented throughout the church. No duh!
In summary, I’ll take the Gift of the HG over historians & lawyers.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
Yours Truly, Blair Lucas (no relation)