Church Museum Renovation features Book of Mormon Translation Process

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

In addition to adding an exhibit for polygamy they have added an exhibit that also addresses the Book of Mormon translation process.

Here's an article ref polygamy:

https://kutv.com/news/local/mormons-ack ... 09-30-2015

Ref the Book of Mormon I just heard it on the morning KUTV 2 broadcast.

Man, I'm so tempted to go downtown and check it out. It's an easy trip for me because of my location.... But then I'd have to go to Main Street. Blegh.

- Doc

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Thanks, Google!

http://www.sltrib.com/home/3006921-155/ ... opens-with

Images of an egg-shape brownish rock — the so-called "seer stone" — that LDS Church founder Joseph Smith used to produce The Book of Mormon. An interactive display where visitors can try their hands at being a scribe to Smith as he dictated the faith's unique scripture... Maps that allow children to direct ships across the Atlantic. The clothes Smith's brother Hyrum was wearing when he was gunned down.

...

The redone museum coincides with a move by officials in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be more transparent and less simplistic in their retelling of the Mormon historical narrative.

In the past two years or so, the Utah-based faith has posted on its website more than a dozen "Gospel Topics" essays — which discuss polygamy, race relations, revelation, scripture and translation, among other issues.

...

The image of early Mormonism is more human, he said, "warmer and more attractive."

The new approach highlights the contribution of Mormon women — from the church's founding in 1830 through Smith's death in 1844 and various Western migrations in 1846 — by displaying artifacts from the creation of the Relief Society and showcasing video testimonials of women talking about their experiences with early LDS polygamy.

It'd be awesome if they had a mannequin of Mr. Smith with his face buried in a hat.

Obviously the museum is a marketing tool, but now I think I'll definitely head down there and check out the HeartsellTM.

- Doc

[_Arrakis]

LDS apostle Jeffrey R. Holland, who oversees the church's historical efforts, said he was "thrilled" to know that thousands of visitors will get a "view of our collective past."

A sense of honor and respect for history "is essential to any civilized society," he said, adding that it has "always been part of LDS history."

"The building and exhibits were tired," Holland told The Salt Lake Tribune. "In its own way, it fits with trying to tell our story as openly and honestly as we know how."

Historians consulted scholars "far and wide," the apostle said. "When we learn it, we'll tell it. When we know more, we'll teach it."

Uh Huh....sure.

[_SuperDell]

A magic peepstone in a hat where words magically appear it not "translating" a thing.

No plates, no nothing - just pure magical foolishness.

[_sock puppet]

What? no interactive display where visitors can try their hands at JSJr-style spiritual wifery?

[_suniluni2]

The display says "As a young man he used a seer stone to find lost objects." I know Joseph Smith claimed to look for objects, but did he ever claim to have found something? I thought he had told Lucy's father the stone didn't work, or that he'd never found anything with it, something like that.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

The display says "As a young man he used a seer stone to find lost objects." I know Joseph Smith claimed to look for objects, but did he ever claim to have found something? I thought he had told Lucy's father the stone didn't work, or that he'd never found anything with it, something like that.

I'm sure there will be missionaries there, and given the way I dress I'll probably get approached. I'll have to ask them if Joseph Smith ever found anything with the rock. It would be interesting to hear their response.

- Doc

[_suniluni2]

The display says "As a young man he used a seer stone to find lost objects." I know Joseph Smith claimed to look for objects, but did he ever claim to have found something? I thought he had told Lucy's father the stone didn't work, or that he'd never found anything with it, something like that.

I'm sure there will be missionaries there, and given the way I dress I'll probably get approached. I'll have to ask them if Joseph Smith ever found anything with the rock. It would be interesting to hear their response.

- Doc

That would be great. The display says he used it to find lost objects so I'd simply ask them what objects did he find and where is the fact of these findings documented. Please let us know what they say if you're able to make it down there.

[_son of Ishmael]

What? no interactive display where visitors can try their hands at JSJr-style spiritual wifery?

Wouldn't that be awesome if they had a display where you would enter some personal information and then have a virtual Joseph Smith tell you that the Lord as told him that you have been blessed to allow your daughter to be one of his wives? And then for the low price of $9.99 you could print out a marriage certificate suitable for framing.


For males it could be where you are sent on a mission and then he virtually marries your wife.


Who wouldn't want to do that?

[_Equality]

That would be great. The display says he used it to find lost objects so I'd simply ask them what objects did he find and where is the fact of these findings documented. Please let us know what they say if you're able to make it down there.

Won't they just say that he found a needle in a haystack with it, according to Martin Harris?
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705346461/How-a-seer-stone-helped-in-the-Book-of-Mormon-translation.html?pg=all