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I still get the ward newsletter and along with this months newsletter I received a Handout about a Missionary Fireside coming up. I think I am going to attend just for kicks and see what they have to say. Not Exactly sure what they are going to be talking about. Anyway, here is the information if anybody wants to go.

The Manila 9th Ward Presents....
Joseph Smith and the Egyptian Connection
A Missionary Fireside

Featuring Dr. C. Wilfred Griss,
Professor of Ancient Studies at BYU

Egyptologist Director of the Seila Pyramid Excavation
Produced a National Geographic Channel Egypt Special
Author of numerous books on Egypt
Currently working on pre and post-Christian burial grounds

Date: Sunday, April 27, 2008
Time: 7:00pm
Place: Manila Stake Center
(This is the stake center directly north of the Timpanogos Temple in American Fork)

Since it is a "Missionary Fireside" I guess they are trying to get investigators to go but I am sure it will be mostly members. It will be interesting to see how much they will talking about the papyrus. I was a little surprised that they handed these out to the entire stake since most people I am sure are not even familiar with the entire story and how they were found to be a common funeral text.

Anybody want to go?

Hi neworder,

I hope you can attend and then return and report.

Portraying Griggs as an "Egyptologist" seems a tad misleading if the topic of his presentation centers on BoAbr-related issues (see his BYU staff page). In any event, I'd be interested in any substantive thoughts that Griggs has to offer.

Cheers,

</brent>

Produced a National Geographic Channel Egypt Special

Which one?

Author of numerous books on Egypt

Which ones?

I remember going to several Ancient American archaeology missionary firesides, thinking there were presenting all sorts of evidence for the Book of Mormon, only to find out that it was all a scam. :-(

I remember thinking Nibley was actually a well respected scholar who presented factual, accurate, and accepted information. :-(

I guess I am just a little skeptical these days when it comes to apologetics and archaeolgoy. My observation is that some are more interested in helping people keep their testimonies than they are presenting facts or discovering truth. Unfortunately Nibley, Sorenson, Gee, and others have not been the best examples of integrity when it comes to sharing accurate information.

:-(

~dancer~

If you want to understand the whys and wherefores of Joseph Smith's use of things Egyptian, I would recommend you skip Griggs, although he's a nice enough fellow, and read Erik Hornung's The Secret Lore of Egypt: Its Impact on the West, which provides a brief but fairly detailed history of the West's fascination with and creative misunderstanding of things Egyptian.

Thanks, Trevor. I'll add that to my reading list.