Daniel Peterson's Article on Book of Mormon in Deseret News

[_sock puppet]

Is DCP as equally impressed at Jim Jones' charismatic charm at weaving a theology that also in just a few years led to many people abandoning their assets and lives and following him to Guyana?

Or the appeal of David Koresh albeit a smaller, but more devoted band of followers in Waco?

Their followers too stood in amazement at their leader's acumen and overlooked his shortcomings.

[_Cardinal Biggles]

Oliver Cowdery was a learned man. He acted as scribe. Is there good reason to believe that he didn't help Smith invent the story?

[_stemelbow]

Oliver Cowdery was a learned man. He acted as scribe. Is there good reason to believe that he didn't help Smith invent the story?

What is this "let's throw out any old theory and let other defeat it" approach? Oh boy. ..here we go.

[_sock puppet]

Oliver Cowdery was a learned man. He acted as scribe. Is there good reason to believe that he didn't help Smith invent the story?

What is this "let's throw out any old theory and let other defeat it" approach? Oh boy. ..here we go.

The balloon is burst if even just one pin pricks it; the balloon survives only if it withstands each and every pin prick.

[_TrashcanMan79]

"The central miracle of Islam was and remains the Quranic revelation. To this day no one has put forward a defensible explanation of how an unlettered caravan merchant of the early seventh century might have been able, by his own devices, to produce a text of such inimitable beauty, of such capacity to stir emotion, and which contained knowledge and wisdom which stood so far above ideas current among mankind at that time. The studies carried out in the West which try to determine the 'sources used by Muhammad', or to bring to light the psychological phenomenon which enabled him to draw inspiration from his 'subconscious', have demonstrated only one thing; the anti-Muslim prejudice of their authors."

Roger du Pasquier, Unveiling Islam, pg 53

[_Themis]

Oliver Cowdery was a learned man. He acted as scribe. Is there good reason to believe that he didn't help Smith invent the story?

What is this "let's throw out any old theory and let other defeat it" approach? Oh boy. ..here we go.

HOLY crap. Am I reading this right, from the guy who is always throwing out any old theory, any old possibility. Maybe you shouldn't get on others for doing what you are famous for here.

[_Themis]

But comparing him to Mozart or some guy who can memorize names seems to miss the boat, no? Are you saying, though Joseph couldn't really compose a sentence himself when he was married, he was brilliant enough to create a complex and consistent record from the top of his mind, and when taking a break from dictating he began right were he left off again? How is alluding to Mozart's young age of being able to create music, or alluding to a guy who can memorize names, making a case?

Joseph's lack of good grammar tend to be over blown to make the Book of Mormon look better, but then try reading the original before any mistakes were fixed. The Mozart's example, as with others, is juts to show that people even at young ages can do great things, so why not Joseph. Why does he have to be presented as some stupid farm boy?

[_why me]

Why does he have to be presented as some stupid farm boy?

Because in many ways he was a stupid farm boy. When the book was first published the people in Palmyra had a difficult time believing that Joseph Smith could write such a book. And this is why some sought to find other sources for the book, eventually latching on to sidney rigdon.

[_why me]

Oliver Cowdery was a learned man. He acted as scribe. Is there good reason to believe that he didn't help Smith invent the story?

Most likely no. Oliver was fascinated by the what was happening around him, especially with Joseph Smith. And emma never said a word about Oliver helping to write the Book of Mormon and she would have known. Also, Martin Harris was setting a few traps for Joseph Smith to fall into. But none of the traps worked. There were witnesses to how the transcription was taking place. And no one said that Oliver was helping Joseph Smith to write the Book of Mormon.

[_Themis]

Because in many ways he was a stupid farm boy. When the book was first published the people in Palmyra had a difficult time believing that Joseph Smith could write such a book. And this is why some sought to find other sources for the book, eventually latching on to sidney rigdon.

Joseph was a skilled at making people think he could use a rock in a hat.Not really a stupid farm boy, but we know why you want people to think so. And do you know why some would think Sidney Rigdon was involved, when he didn't even meet Joseph publicly or join the church until after the Book of Mormon was publishes?