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The problem is explaining how and why God would produce a piece of 19th-century biblical fan fiction that looks exactly like something written in the 19th century.

Blake Ostler has this covered. It is the expansion theory where Joseph added elements from his own life experience so it would communicate the message in a clearer way.

Rivendale wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2026 9:40 pm

Blake Ostler has this covered. It is the expansion theory where Joseph added elements from his own life experience so it would communicate the message in a clearer way.

It has at least one devoted fan in Ireland.

drumdude wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2026 9:58 pm

Rivendale wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2026 9:40 pm

Blake Ostler has this covered. It is the expansion theory where Joseph added elements from his own life experience so it would communicate the message in a clearer way.

It has at least one devoted fan in Ireland.

I agree. The secret combinations of Neville Neville land, Mike Parker and Richard Nygren chronicles this devoted fan's illustrious history. Expansion model fits nicely in this esoteric paradigm. Hope he has found some peace.

Rivendale wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2026 9:40 pm

Fence Sitter wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2026 9:28 pm

The problem is explaining how and why God would produce a piece of 19th-century biblical fan fiction that looks exactly like something written in the 19th century.

Blake Ostler has this covered. It is the expansion theory where Joseph added elements from his own life experience so it would communicate the message in a clearer way.

Blake’s position is an apostate one. Back in the 90’s he’d have been excommunicated for publicly espousing it.

Fence Sitter wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2026 9:28 pm

The problem is explaining how and why God would produce a piece of 19th-century biblical fan fiction that looks exactly like something written in the 19th century.

Yes. God even slipped in some KJV Bible content for added bamboozlement.

God is so clever He made the Book of Mormon look indistinguishable from a fraud.

Rivendale wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2026 9:40 pm

Blake Ostler has this covered. It is the expansion theory where Joseph added elements from his own life experience so it would communicate the message in a clearer way.

Sometimes they get so close. If you extend Ostler’s ideas and logic about Joseph shaping language and explanation to experience, would you get to roman-à-clef?

Limnor wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 07, 2026 11:39 pm

Rivendale wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2026 9:40 pm

Blake Ostler has this covered. It is the expansion theory where Joseph added elements from his own life experience so it would communicate the message in a clearer way.

Sometimes they get so close. If you extend Ostler’s ideas and logic about Joseph shaping language and explanation to experience, would you get to roman-à-clef?

There’s a school of thought, with some substance behind it, that parallels Book of Mormon names, places, geography, etc. to Joseph’s real life immediate surroundings and accessible materials.

I Have Questions wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 06, 2026 10:52 pm

God even slipped in some KJV Bible content for added bamboozlement.

Including the translation errors.