Scriptures of Ten Tribes Found in Barn Loft Saturday

[_consiglieri]

I made a remarkable "discovery" Saturday afternoon, 2/4/12.

Thanks in large part to Zeezrom, I have recently been immersing myself in Greek Mythology, courtesy of Edith Hamilton, and noting many interesting connections between ancient Greek stories and Old Testament stories.

I was previously aware that Deucalion (not to be confused with Duke Ellington), son of Prometheus, was a Greek version of Noah, being saved in an ark (large wooden chest) by the great flood sent by Zeus to destroy humanity who had become unsalvageably wicked.

I was interested to also find the story of the origin of the golden fleece (later famously sought for by Jason and the Argonauts), which has clear connections to the Old Testament story of Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac. (In brief, the Greek story has a king forced against his will to sacrifice his son, and at the last minute the Gods send a ram to save the boy and carry him across the sea to safety on an island where the boy dutifully sacrifices the ram to the Gods in gratitude. The ram's fleece was golden.)

Other connections emerged. Now, usually I would be thinking along the lines of which stories influenced the other, or whether they both came from an independent earlier story.

Saturday afternoon, though, something clicked in my head with the force of a revelation. It happened while I was searching for something unrelated in the loft of a barn.

The stories of ancient Greek mythology are the scriptures of the lost ten tribes mentioned in the Book of Mormon.

2 Nephi 29 refers to the ten tribes writing scripture, which will be joined in the last days with the Nephite and Jewish scriptures. Alma 29 assures us God speaks to all nations in their own tongue and gives as much as they are willing to receive. (For purposes of this comparison, the Greeks don't have to be one of the lost ten tribes, inasmuch as 2 Nephi 29 broadens the scope of God's revealed word to all nations. But it does seem more romantic to frame it that way.)

Up till Saturday, I had always thought that the ten tribes' scriptures would look like the Bible or the Book of Mormon. While I was thinking about the similarities between Greek mythology and the Bible, it occurred to me that their mythology was the Greeks' scriptures, containing stories about how the Gods interacted with man (as well as with each other).

If the scriptures of the ten tribes are hidden, it is hidden like Poe's Purloined Letter--in plain sight.

The thought that followed hard on the first was the Norse mythology, which may likely be in the same category. I expect what we refer to as "mythology" of other cultures may well fall into the same category, even as much mythology of the Hebrews made its way into the Bible.

The question I pose now is whether I have completely lost my mind or whether I may be onto something.

For the sake of my sanity, I hope Zeezrom will chime in at some point.

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

[_zeezrom]

Awesome!

I'm out of time. :(

Let me quickly say that you have definitely NOT lost your mind. She must be making headway up there... providing the mortals with revelations.

[_consiglieri]

In the words of the Dr. Crane show, "I'm listening."

[_Fence Sitter]

I believe this might be considered the 2nd most eye opening Mormon discovery made in the loft of a barn!

I am looking forward to more on the subject.

[_harmony]

I believe this might be considered the 2nd most eye opening Mormon discovery made in the loft of a barn!

I am looking forward to more on the subject.

The first, of course, being Fanny's fanny.

[_quaker]

Just out of curiosity, how do you look at mythology? What definition or understanding do you have?

I'm not all that skilled in literature, etymology or languages and recently I've read a rather eye opening explanation of 'myth' that seemed infinitely more useful than its common conception among my 20 ish year old peers.

I ask because it never occurred to me that my understanding of the word was so limited. Would be nice to be on the same page because the OP is very interesting.

[_Yoda]

I believe this might be considered the 2nd most eye opening Mormon discovery made in the loft of a barn!

I am looking forward to more on the subject.

The first, of course, being Fanny's fanny.

OMG! THAT is a sig-worthy comment! LOL

[_zeezrom]

Consig,

Something I find extremely fascinating right now is the mode of communication between Athena and the mortal as recorded in the early books of the Odyssey. Of special note is how She comes in the disguise of a mortal friend.

To me, the best part about Christianity is that Jesus is said to be God Himself come to live among men. In a way, Jesus is just as the Greeks hoped: God came in the disguise of a mortal man.

Why do I like this? Because it puts God very near us.

There is a time when Telemachus holds the hand of Athena (then disguised as a man), but he already suspects it is Her. What a brilliant idea! Brilliant and beautiful. This is religion in its purest.

Thanks Consig, for bringing this to my attention. You are like my own, personal Sidney Rigdon (I mean that as a complement). I need to be careful. The feeling of having potential disciples moves me in powerful ways, LOL. I can see how Joseph Smith must've just ate this up!

[_moksha]

Consiglieri, do you think there might be a connection between this recorded work of the Ten Tribes and Minoan and Etruscan artwork?

[_zeezrom]

Consig,

I also see parallels in the hope for Ulysses' return and the hope for Jesus' coming.