Will Schryver's Benefactor

[_Doctor Scratch]

Don't they already have that in the form of John Gee?

Cannon fodder is expendable. Someone like Will can go out and spout crazy nonsense that no scholar with any self-respect would push because he has nothing to lose. Gee certainly would not have pushed a theory like Will's. Will does his bit, has his moment in the spotlight, and then evaporates like a fart in the wind. It was a distraction that ultimately served as a further smokescreen or possibility to bamboozle the unsuspecting.

Huh. That's an intriguing analysis, Reverend. That said, I wonder if it fully explains the support that Will has gotten from Skousen, Midgley, DCP, Hoskisson, and so on.... Plus there is the fact that he was given access to the KEP. If all they wanted was a "fall guy," why not give this to Kerry Shirts, or Wade Englund, both of whom are also very interested in Book of Abraham issues?

[_Kishkumen]

That said, I wonder if it fully explains the support that Will has gotten from Skousen, Midgley, DCP, Hoskisson, and so on.... Plus there is the fact that he was given access to the KEP. If all they wanted was a "fall guy," why not give this to Kerry Shirts, or Wade Englund, both of whom are also very interested in Book of Abraham issues?

Yeah, that makes no sense to me. Of course, the guy fawns on these fellows and probably picks up the lunch bill when they get together for their chats.

[_Drifting]

I'm not fully understanding the impact.

Here are some hypothetical questions...

A. If an individual was found to be related in some less than legitimate way to an early Prophet of the Church, how would that individual leverage that knowledge to gain himself some perceived credibility in mopologetic circles?

B. If an individual was found to be related in some less than legitimate way to an early, high profile, mopologist, how would that individual leverage that knowledge to gain himself some perceived credibility in mopologetic circles?

C. Would either A or B being accurate explain any hypothetical statements by a hypothetical individual that went along the lines of displaying self confidence to pretty much do or say anything without fear of censure because their calling and election had been made sure?

---

If A or B were accurate depictions of real life events, rather than the fictional portrayals that my questions are; What threat would that be to the Church's reputation and how might Church Leaders deal with that?

Note: all of the above is not intended to bear any resemblance to real people or real events and any such resemblance is purely coincidental.

[Guest]

A. If an individual was found to be related in some less than legitimate way to an early Prophet of the Church, how would that individual leverage that knowledge to gain himself some perceived credibility in mopologetic circles?

Hey, Drifting-

I am not buying this, but here are my thoughts: in a Church where who you are descended from means so much, why would you suppose that this would not have any influence on their feelings about an associate?

B. If an individual was found to be related in some less than legitimate way to an early, high profile, mopologist, how would that individual leverage that knowledge to gain himself some perceived credibility in mopologetic circles?

Well, if the person were somehow related to both, then that would certainly mean more than simple descent from an apologist.

C. Would either A or B being accurate explain any hypothetical statements by a hypothetical individual that went along the lines of displaying self confidence to pretty much do or say anything without fear of censure because their calling and election had been made sure?

I think the latter is just a matter of such a person having a special kind of craziness. In conjunction with the other items, that sort of crazy might actually be quite endearing in some circles (I am thinking here of modern Mormonism's Whistling and Whittling Brigade).

If A or B were accurate depictions of real life events, rather than the fictional portrayals that my questions are; What threat would that be to the Church's reputation and how might Church Leaders deal with that?

Don't you think that kind of person might undermine their own credibility, and therefore any threat they might pose, by being generally unhinged? I mean, supposing a person did go around broadcasting their apotheosis.

[_RockSlider]

Don't you think that kind of person might undermine their own credibility, and therefore any threat they might pose, by being generally unhinged. I mean, supposing a person did go around broadcasting their apotheosis.

Best part of the story is that Dan gets assigned to act as his big brother! i.e. Dan is only a level or two higher on the disposable list!

The gravy train does appear to have its price from time to time. Likely sleeps like a baby anyway.

[_Kishkumen]

Best part of the story is that Dan gets assigned to act as his big brother! i.e. Dan is only a level or two higher on the disposable list!

The gravy train does appear to have its price from time to time. Likely sleeps like a baby anyway.

Are you kidding? Peterson volunteered for the job! He likes Will a whole lot. Fields emails from the guy at all hours! It's a demanding job, but someone has to do it, and who better?

Babysitting Will has got to be a real treat for Dan. Will knows Italian.

[_Carton]

Huh. That's an intriguing analysis, Reverend. That said, I wonder if it fully explains the support that Will has gotten from Skousen, Midgley, DCP, Hoskisson, and so on.... Plus there is the fact that he was given access to the KEP. If all they wanted was a "fall guy," why not give this to Kerry Shirts, or Wade Englund, both of whom are also very interested in Book of Abraham issues?

Yes, this is the strange part of the whole Schryver/KEP thing. My understanding was that pretty much NO ONE was ever granted access to the JSP and the KEP, and all of a sudden Schryver comes along and within no time at all he is given the chance of examining these privileged documents from the First Presidency vault? It doesn't make any sense to me. I was one of those, like Dr. Shades, who really thought Schryver was just making it all up. But it's pretty certain now that he really has been given access to the JSP and the KEP, despite not being an Egyptologist or having a college degree or anything.

Again, it doesn't make any sense to me. There's got to be something going on behind the scenes to explain how an obvious non-scholar and vulgar jerk like Schryver managed to get himself inside the FP vault to play with some of the most treasured documents held there.

[_Carton]

Best part of the story is that Dan gets assigned to act as his big brother! i.e. Dan is only a level or two higher on the disposable list!

The gravy train does appear to have its price from time to time. Likely sleeps like a baby anyway.

Are you kidding? Peterson volunteered for the job! He likes Will a whole lot. Fields emails from the guy at all hours! It's a demanding job, but someone has to do it, and who better?

Babysitting Will has got to be a real treat for Dan. Will knows Italian.

But why would Peterson risk his career by taking the side of such an arrogant vulgar jerk like Schryver? Again, it doesn't make any sense to me.

I can say that it looked like Schryver does know Italian, based on him going on and on with Ugo Perego at the FAIR conference last year. That whole thing was pretty strange too. Perego finished his talk, and afterwards lots of people surrounded him to ask questions, etc. But then as soon as Schryver came up, Perego excused himself and he and Schryver walked off, talking away in Italian. It was actually kind of rude of Perego. I had also hoped to ask him a few questions about his talk, but all of us got left in the lurch.

[_Kishkumen]

But why would Peterson risk his career by taking the side of such an arrogant vulgar jerk like Schryver? Again, it doesn't make any sense to me.

I don't see how he is risking anything by taking Will's side. Will has enjoyed the support of several BYU faculty and perhaps even others more highly placed than that.

That whole thing was pretty strange too. Perego finished his talk, and afterwards lots of people surrounded him to ask questions, etc. But then as soon as Schryver came up, Perego excused himself and he and Schryver walked off, talking away in Italian. It was actually kind of rude of Perego. I had also hoped to ask him a few questions about his talk, but all of us got left in the lurch.

I can't say. I guess it is one of those "had to be there" things.