The Watson Letter Challenge

[_Gadianton]

Dear Bro Watson,

I am writing requesting clarification on a point in which you previously responded to someone else regarding the location of the Hill Cumorah. This letter identified the site as the hill in New York where Joseph Smith found the plates. I was under the impression that there is no official interpretation or pronouncements on this matter.

Could you clarify this for me? Do the Brethren have a stance on this issue?

Many Thanks,

I doubt that will work. Since,

The Church has long maintained, as attested to by references in the writings of General Authorities, that the Hill Cumorah in western New York state is the same as referenced in the Book of Mormon

Why would you "being under the impression" about what is or isn't doctrine even register on Watson's radar?

[_The Nehor]

Dear Bro Watson,

I am writing requesting clarification on a point in which you previously responded to someone else regarding the location of the Hill Cumorah. This letter identified the site as the hill in New York where Joseph Smith found the plates. I was under the impression that there is no official interpretation or pronouncements on this matter.

Could you clarify this for me? Do the Brethren have a stance on this issue?

Many Thanks,

I doubt that will work. Since,

The Church has long maintained, as attested to by references in the writings of General Authorities, that the Hill Cumorah in western New York state is the same as referenced in the Book of Mormon

Why would you "being under the impression" about what is or isn't doctrine even register on Watson's radar?

Well, I find my letter more plausible then most everything suggested so far. Also, do we have context for how the 1st Watson Letter was procured? Could it be that maybe THAT letter was more forcefully sought?

Another thing I am not sure on is that I'm sure the First Presidency gets a fair amount of mail from members and leaders requesting clarification on doctrines.....is it possible that these answers are delegated to a small group of people to answer and the two different requests went to two different people on staff and that the Secretary just signed them?

[_Tom]

Does the church have an official position on Book of Mormon geography, including the location of the Hill Cumorah1 mentioned in the Book of Mormon?

Sincerely yours,

William J. Hamblin, Ph.D.2
Defender of the Kingdom of God3

----------------------
1 "Because the New York site does not readily fit the Book of Mormon description of Book of Mormon geography, some Latter-day Saints have looked for other possible explanations and locations, including Mesoamerica. Although some have identified possible sites that may seem to fit better (Palmer), there are no conclusive connections between the Book of Mormon text and any specific site that has been suggested." David A. Palmer, "Cumorah," in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, ed. Daniel H. Ludlow (New York: Macmillan, 1992), 1:347.

2 I received my Ph.D. in History at the University of Michigan following advanced studies in Arabic in Cairo. I am currently associate professor of History at Brigham Young University. I am the coauthor of World History to 1648 (1993) and coeditor of Warfare in the Book of Mormon (1990). I have published or presented nearly two dozen papers on medieval Near Eastern military history and over a dozen on Latter-day Saint topics. I have worked for the Department of Defense as an intelligence analyst. I have presented papers on Islamic religion and on computer use in teaching History and have published computer tutorials with HarperCollins. See "About the Reviewers," Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 6/1 (1994).

3. See William J. Hamblin, "An Apologist for the Critics: Brent Lee Metcalfe's Assumptions and Methodologies," Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 6/1 (1994): 439.

[_antishock8]

by the way, here is my humble letter:

Dear Mr. Watson,

At the behest of Mr. Daniel C. Peterson, I’m writing this letter to you to request a copy of your correspondence with Mr. William Hamblin reference what is now called the “2nd Watson Letter”. I know this sounds funny that your name would be attached to an apologetic discussion between critics and Mormon apologists, but it has. The bottom line is this:

Critics use your first letter reference the location of the Hill Cumorah to rebut Mormon apologists’ claims that there are two Hills Cumorah.

The “2nd Watson Letter” that you purportedly wrote to Mr. Hamblin essentially backs away from the claim the Hill Cumorah is located in New York. The problem is Mr. Hamblin and Mr. Peterson both say the letter has been lost, and now destroyed. I was wondering if you have a copy of that second letter, and if you would make it available to me. Mr. Peterson thinks that if someone asks you would provide the letter, or a clarifying statement. Critics think that a “nobody” won’t get a response from someone who works in the capacity that you do.

To summarize, apologists say there is no “official position/doctrine” on the location of the Hill Cumorah. Critics use your first letter, because you were the Secretary to the Office of the First Presidency, and responded on official letterhead that your statement was a declarative on Mormon doctrine. Regardless, apologists assert you didn’t have the authority to address official doctrine. As for me, I’m just interested in whether or not you actually wrote a “2nd letter” to Mr. Hamblin that backed away from your earlier statement. Your response would not only be a pleasant surprise, but appreciated.


V/R
XXX X. XXXXXX
XXX XXXXX XX
XXXXXX, NC XXXXX

[_Daniel Peterson]

At the behest of Mr. Daniel C. Peterson,

Bzzzt. He would've referred to me as Dr. or Professor.

And, in fact, he didn't write at my behest.

[_antishock8]

At the behest of Mr. Daniel C. Peterson,

Bzzzt. He would've referred to me as Dr. or Professor.

And, in fact, he didn't write at my behest.

Please try to stay with the thread. This was my letter to Mr. Watson. Now run home to your mother and get yourself a nice little cookie. *pats Daniel on the head*

[_Daniel Peterson]

Now run home to your mother and get yourself a nice little cookie. *pats Daniel on the head*

Every little girl dreams of what it'll be like when she grows up. She likes to wear Mommy's high heels and put on lipstick. She bosses dolly around, and scolds her.

Like most adults, I think it's kinda cute.

[_antishock8]

Now run home to your mother and get yourself a nice little cookie. *pats Daniel on the head*

Every little girl dreams of what it'll be like when she grows up. She likes to wear Mommy's high heels and put on lipstick. She bosses dolly around, and scolds her.

Like most adults, I think it's kinda cute.

You dream of being a little girl? Wow. Weirder by the post.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Your reading skills will improve as you diligently apply yourself to your fifth-grade primers.

(Have your Mommy read that line to you and explain the big words.)

[_harmony]

At the behest of Mr. Daniel C. Peterson,

Bzzzt. He would've referred to me as Dr. or Professor.

And, in fact, he didn't write at my behest.

Skimming too quickly results in mistakes like this.

That was antishock's letter, not Bill Hamblin's. Antishock wrote his letter at your behest. No one knows why Dr Hamblin wrote his and he isn't here to comment.

Can we get this thread back on track again?