FAIR Conference This Week!

[_Daniel Peterson]

I know that many here are thrilled at the approach of the season:

http://www.fairlds.org/conf09a.html


.

[_harmony]

I know that many here are thrilled at the approach of the season:

http://www.fairlds.org/conf09a.html


.

As I was telling Uncle Jim this morning, I wish these sorts of things were held in a more accessible place and/or format. We'd come, if we could. I'd even tune in, if it was broadcast over the web.

Turns out he has a son who is taking a class in Arabic this fall. I assured him your antipathy towards me wouldn't rub off onto his son.

[_Daniel Peterson]

As I was telling Uncle Jim this morning, I wish these sorts of things were held in a more accessible place and/or format. We'd come, if we could. I'd even tune in, if it was broadcast over the web.

There will be live streaming video of it on the web.

Turns out he has a son who is taking a class in Arabic this fall. I assured him your antipathy towards me wouldn't rub off onto his son.

I feel absolutely no antipathy towards you.

Still, the son probably won't encounter me if he's taking beginning Arabic. I've never taught the basic classes, and won't be doing so this term, either. Do tell him, though, if he starts having a crisis of doubt -- which is very common in beginning Arabic students; the language is intimidating and frustrating -- that he's welcome to come and talk with me about it. I'm very serious on that point. I would be happy to talk with him, and to try to reassure him.

[_Mike Reed]

I know that many here are thrilled at the approach of the season:
http://www.fairlds.org/conf09a.html

Wish I could make it, Dan, but my finances will only make an allowance for Sunstone this month. Bring a FAIR conference to Nor Cal and I will be there in a heartbeat. Good luck with your presentation.

[_Brackite]

Here is the Schedule of the Presentations at the FAIR Conference:


Science and the Book of Mormon.

The Sariah Dilemma: Finding Increased Faith When Our Children Misplace Their Own.

The Larger Issue.

Haplogroup X in Light of Recent Book of Mormon Claims.

The Reliability of Mormon History Produced by the LDS Church.

On Being An Apologist: Imperatives, Predicaments, Perils, and Blessings.


Uh oh!" to "Ah ha!" in Apologetics—20/20 Foresight for a Faithful Future in Defending the Church.

Joseph the Seer, or Why Joseph Translated with a Rock in His Hat.

Joseph Smith and Modern Cosmology.


Brigham Young’s Teachings on Adam.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Plural Marriage * But Were Afraid To Ask.

Mormonism in the Public Square.

The Temple as a Place of Ascent to God.

[_Black Moclips]

I hope someone who goes can tell me about Brant Gardner's presentation on why Joseph used a rock in a hat to translate. I'm doubting it talks about the science and mechanics of seer stones, but one could hope.

[_TAK]

Curious that its not held in an LD$ building..

Is there a need to distance LD$ inc. from FAIR?

[_harmony]

Curious that its not held in an LD$ building..

Is there a need to distance LD$ inc. from FAIR?

Why would they hold a conference in an LDS building? What LDS building did you have in mind?

[_Brackite]

LOAP has Posted a lot of Notes on Brant Gardner's Presentation, at on one of his Blogs.

Here are a few of his Notes, From The Presentation:

First, why would anyone think of translating with a rock in a hat.

Second, why are we so surprised at that?

The adventurers and farmers, cunning men and wise women embarked in the wilderness in pre-industrial villages. Folk magic has a history. Contemporary medicine drove men and women to village specialists with herbs, etc. who were considered to be taught by God or angels.

Exhibited their cunning in many ways. Joseph belonged to a class of people who did scrying. A long practiced method. [He described some interesting methods] Stones became the most used m ethod to see future, or to see the location of lost items. These traditions were found in Palmyra in 1820s still performing these functions. Young Joseph Smith was the member of a sub-community with ties to these old practices, increasingly marginalized. Others had same abilities. D. Michael Quinn noted that Sally Chase was Palmyra's most known seer, and there were others. Richard Bushman adds a few other names of people who had stones to find lost objects.

Some reminisciences tell us how such things occurred. [Gardner quoted people who recounted their experiences with Sally Chase.] Basically, when things were lost you went to the seer who would tell you where to find things. Finding lost wallet, lost cattle, etc.

Joseph Smith, long before the plates complicated his position, appears to have functioned similarly to Joseph Smith. Some reports describe Joseph Smith looking for and discovering a stolen mare. Sally Chase's clients consulted her for things lost, Joseph Smith had at least on client who did the same.

Henry Harris described Joseph Smith pretending to tell fortunes with a stone in a hat. Joseph Smith is described as turning someone else down in an instance.

Local seers became involved in the digging for lost treasure. This practice, like scrying, also traced back to England. The idea was when the wealthy buried their treasures. I nthe New World it was Spanish or Pirate treasures burying. A lot of stories of striking it rich circulated, though not likely many of them were true.

A conjurer was frequently used in the search. Mosaiacal rods were used, etc. Money digging didn't require a seer, it was just something some used. Ronald W. Walker described various digging attempts with seers. A context is provided for Joseph Smith's assistance of Josiah Stoal and money digging. Joseph Smith was hired to help. In 1826 Stoal's wife's nephew took Joseph Smith to court for fraud. Peter Bainbridge believed the seer stone was defrauding. This would not be the last time he would be accused of fraud based on this. Dan Vogel picks up on that theme, a recent biographer. Vogel allows us to see better historical view of what that "confidence man" means. It was a transient who went about with a peep stone to lead credulous to remote spot where he previously hid coins, then would "discover them." He would then establish a company and collect money, and then bolt. Or he would offer magical explanations for why treasure was lost.

The implication is that because such scammers existed, Joseph Smith must have been one. Joseph Smith was acquited, though of those old charges. Should he be acquited of the continuing charges?

HyperLink:

[_CaliforniaKid]

Does anyone know why the LDS Dialogue & Discussion forum has disappeared at MADB?