FAIR distorting the facts in UVU presentation
Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 9:52 pm
On March 29 & 30 of 2012, there was a live presentation held at the Utah Valley University entitled 'Mormonism and the Internet'. Guest speakers included LDS true believers, FAIR apologist Scott Gordon as well as non-traditional believers like Joanna Brooks and John Dehlin.
http://mormonstories.org/uvu-mormonism- ... ry-avance/
In reviewing the presentation, we noticed a significant error in the presentation made by Scott Gordon (President of FAIR):
In Scott's presentation at the 41:07 mark he has a slide that says "Translation with a Hat". He then lists 5 LDS sources that he claims states that Joseph translated the Book of Mormon with a hat.
I looked them up and 3 of the references do not even say the word "hat". They talk about the translation but do not say he put his face in a hat, which is the issue:
He lists:
Ensign Jan 97, pg 36 (NO HAT MENTIONED)
Ensign, Jul 93, pg 61 (HAT IS MENTIONED)
Ensign, Jan 88, pg 6-13 (NO HAT MENTIONED)
Ensign, Sep 77. pg 79 (HAT MENTIONED)
Friend, Sep 1974, 7 (NO HAT MENTIONED)
If FAIR wants to claim that the critics are wrong, when they say that the church isn't forthcoming in much of its history like the actual Book of Mormon translation process, and attempt to prove this by showing 5 examples taken from the church, they should at least be truthful in the sources they use as examples. Only twice was the word "hat" mentioned. Take in mind that the title of FAIR's presentation is 'Translation with a Hat'. Hat is the keyword here.
Looking at the two times the word "hat" was actually used in the articles discussing the Book of Mormon translation, one was 19 years ago and the other was 35 years ago. The church has of course had many opportunities to mention the "stone in the hat" method in the many articles and images used in its publications over the last 35 years, but to only mention hat twice and to have ever single image showing Joseph actually using the plates while translating with no image of his face in the hat is very misleading.
Good thing someone is checking FAIR's facts!
http://mormonstories.org/uvu-mormonism- ... ry-avance/
In reviewing the presentation, we noticed a significant error in the presentation made by Scott Gordon (President of FAIR):
In Scott's presentation at the 41:07 mark he has a slide that says "Translation with a Hat". He then lists 5 LDS sources that he claims states that Joseph translated the Book of Mormon with a hat.
I looked them up and 3 of the references do not even say the word "hat". They talk about the translation but do not say he put his face in a hat, which is the issue:
He lists:
Ensign Jan 97, pg 36 (NO HAT MENTIONED)
Ensign, Jul 93, pg 61 (HAT IS MENTIONED)
Ensign, Jan 88, pg 6-13 (NO HAT MENTIONED)
Ensign, Sep 77. pg 79 (HAT MENTIONED)
Friend, Sep 1974, 7 (NO HAT MENTIONED)
If FAIR wants to claim that the critics are wrong, when they say that the church isn't forthcoming in much of its history like the actual Book of Mormon translation process, and attempt to prove this by showing 5 examples taken from the church, they should at least be truthful in the sources they use as examples. Only twice was the word "hat" mentioned. Take in mind that the title of FAIR's presentation is 'Translation with a Hat'. Hat is the keyword here.
Looking at the two times the word "hat" was actually used in the articles discussing the Book of Mormon translation, one was 19 years ago and the other was 35 years ago. The church has of course had many opportunities to mention the "stone in the hat" method in the many articles and images used in its publications over the last 35 years, but to only mention hat twice and to have ever single image showing Joseph actually using the plates while translating with no image of his face in the hat is very misleading.
Good thing someone is checking FAIR's facts!