Papyri--keep ''em; gold plates--not so fast, buddy

[sock puppet]

The papyri from which the Book of Abraham was supposedly taken remain (despite the LDS church trying to dance around it, the KEP inescapably link the Book of Abraham text to the papyri found in 1967). Whichever heavenly figures (if any) participated in the papyri's ending up in Joseph Smith's hands did not demand a quick translation and return of the papyri. (Indeed, Lucy Mack Smith charged people to look at the papyri.)

That's quite different than the gold plates that Nephi Moroni wanted and got back from Joseph Smith. Is Mormon god only interested in precious metal writings? Are those on papyri or paper not as valuable, and heaven doesn't need to retrieve them?

[drumdude]

Anyone who viewed the plates who wasn’t Joseph Smith would obviously have had their faces melted off. Raiders of the Lost Ark style.

[sock puppet]

Anyone who viewed the plates who wasn’t Joseph Smith would obviously have had their faces melted off. Raiders of the Lost Ark style.

Any idea why the plates had to be returned to Moroni, but meh as to the papyri?

[Fence Sitter]

Faithful explanation = evil men would steal the plates for their monetary value while the same cannot be said for the papyri.

Actual explanation = plates never existed so the cover story of an angel taking them back was made up to explain where they were. The papyri were not hidden because Smith and Co. probably thought that no one who would see them would be able to translate them anyways, so his made-up translation would not be challenged.

[jfro18]

He really had no choice but to show everyone the papyri because they had been traveling the country being displayed, whereas the gold plates were never shown prior to Joseph claiming to grab them so it was easy to say that God wanted them kept from being seen.

But as Dan Vogel has pointed out he likely didn't show them because they'd never pass inspection - the papyri everyone knew were legitimate since they came with mummies.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

Joseph Smith > pays money for stolen ancient artifact

Also Joseph Smith > people might steal this ancient artifact and sell it for money

-_-

- Doc

[Dr Exiled]

One can never tell what the Mormon god will do from one day to another. One day he condemns plural marriage in the Book of Mormon and the next a flaming sword appears. He hides the plates, just like he, himself hides from the world. Yet, he lets the holy writ in the form of the Book of Abraham be displayed for money. He isn't consistent. That's for sure. Maybe he deliberately contradicts himself to see if the dupes faithful will remain?

[Everybody Wang Chung]

ChatGPT: why didn't an angel take the Book of Abraham papryi back to heaven, like the golden plates?


"Unlike the golden plates, the papyri were not returned to an angel after they were translated but were instead preserved and are still in existence today.

The exact reason why the papyri were not returned to heaven like the golden plates is not specified in LDS scripture or teachings. It is possible that the papyri were considered to be of historical and educational value and were meant to be studied and preserved, while the golden plates were considered to be a far more sacred and divine artifact.

It's worth noting that there has been controversy and debate over the authenticity of the Book of Abraham, as many non-Mormon scholars and Egyptologists have challenged Joseph Smith's translation of the papyri and have claimed that the text bears no relation to the content of the Book of Abraham. The LDS Church has defended the authenticity of the Book of Abraham, but the controversy continues to be a matter of ongoing discussion and debate."

[Everybody Wang Chung]

One can never tell what the Mormon god will do from one day to another. One day he condemns plural marriage in the Book of Mormon and the next a flaming sword appears. He hides the plates, just like he, himself hides from the world. Yet, he lets the holy writ in the form of the Book of Abraham be displayed for money. He isn't consistent. That's for sure. Maybe he deliberately contradicts himself to see if the dupes faithful will remain?

If only we had L. Tom Perry's manuscript.....

[Dr Exiled]

One can never tell what the Mormon god will do from one day to another. One day he condemns plural marriage in the Book of Mormon and the next a flaming sword appears. He hides the plates, just like he, himself hides from the world. Yet, he lets the holy writ in the form of the Book of Abraham be displayed for money. He isn't consistent. That's for sure. Maybe he deliberately contradicts himself to see if the dupes faithful will remain?

If only we had L. Tom Perry's manuscript.....

It was supposed to answer all the questions in a faithful way. I heard it was glorious. Too bad we would have physically burned up after reading it.