Another Mormon Dilemma: Reformed Egyptian Language

            The “gold plates” being the very foundation of the Book of Mormon and due to much controversy among Mormon apologists and the inability to account for the weight an its impossibility to be carried should cause much concern among those who call themselves Mormons. The narrative given by Joseph Smith, Jr., seem implausible as little information is given as to how a man with a lame leg could carry the gold plates, then be accosted by three men having his head hit with a gun, then to somehow fight the three men, win the fight, and then carry as fast as he could the plates for some three miles. Did Joseph Smith, Jr., drop the plates to fight and then pick them up again and what were the three men doing during this time? Joseph Smith, Jr., never mentioned that he was given some supernatural power. So we are led to surmise and this is an assumption without facts and only by faith that is also built upon nothing to believe such a story. If this is not problem enough another problem that exists in the language that the Gold Plates were said to be inscribed. The narrative as to how these gold plates were found must be addressed before we address the problem with the supposed ancient language written on the gold plates. The two problems or dilemmas are connected and the fact that the gold plates and the interpretation of the words written on the gold plates are the foundation of the Book of Mormon it is important to review the finding of the gold plates.

            Character determines a person’ actions and the fact that Joseph Smith, Jr., was a treasure hunter and used “seer” stones to aid him in his search for treasure and having the records of those who stated that he was not able to do what he said he could do in finding treasure Joseph Smith, jr., who also had a need from his formative years as a child who grew up in a family in dire straights for money, this too aided in the development of his character.

            After the trial in which Joseph Smith, Jr., was accused, fined, and released Joseph Smith, Jr., returned to his money-digging practices. Martin Harris, a prominent person of he community, a financial backer of the Book of Mormon stated:

There was a company there in that neighborhood, who were digging for money supposed to have been hidden by the ancients. Of this company were old Mr. Stowel--I think his name was Josiah--also old Mr. Beman, also Samuel Lawrence, George Proper, Joseph Smith, Jr., and his father, and his brother Hiram Smith. They dug for money in Palmyra, Manchester, also in Pennsylvania, and other places. ... It was reported by these money diggers, that they had found boxes, but before they could secure them, they would sink into the earth.⁽¹⁰⁾

Controlled experiments have proven water witching and similar methods to be no more successful than choosing a drilling location randomly. Water witching, dowsing, or divining methods can appear to be successful because statistically speaking, almost any hole drilled in New York State will probably result in the discovery of some amount of water. For more information see link in right column of this page under "Links Leaving DEC's Website".http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/36064.html

The fact that this story wasn't subsequently picked up by say the Smithsonian or National Geographic should be a tip off. Also, usually finds take time to be studied and written on - you don't just rip them out of the ground and take pictures!

            The Mormons state that the writing on the gold plates were taken to Professor Anthon and in a letter to E.D. Howe, printed in his book, and in the introduction to the New York edition of the Book of Mormon, Professor Anthon, among other statements, denies that he ever gave a certificate. The letter reads as follows:

NEW YORK, February 17, 1834.

‘DEAR SIR: I received your letter of the 9^th, and lose no time in making a reply. The whole story about my pronouncing the Mormon inscription to be reformed Egyptian hierogylphies is perfectly false. Some years ago, a plain, apparently simple-hearted farmer called on me with a note from Dr Mitchell, of our city, now dead, requesting me to decipher, if possible, the paper which the farmer would hand me. Upon examining the paper in question, I soon came to the conclusion that it was all a trick—perhaps a hoax. When I asked the person who brought it how he obtained the writing, he gave me the following account: A gold book consisting of a number of plates, fastened together by wires of the same material, had been dug up in the northern part of the state of New York, and along with it an enormous pair of spectacles. These spectacles were so large that if any person attempted to look through them, his two eyes would look through one glass only, the spectacles in question being altogether too large for the human face. “Whoever,” he said, “examined the plates through the glasses was enabled not only to read them, but fully to understand their meaning.” All this knowledge, however, was confined to a kyoung man, who had the trunk containing the book and spectacles in his sole possession. This young man was placed behind a curtain in a garret in a farm-house, and being thus concealed from view, he put on the spectacles occasionally, or rather looked through one of the glasses, deciphered the characters in the book, and having committed some of them to paper, handed copies from behind the curtain to those who stood outside. Not a word was said about their being deciphered by the gift of God. Everything in this way was effected by the large pair of spectacle. The farmer added that he had been requested to contribute a sum of money toward the publication of the golden book, the contents of which would, as he was told, produce an entire change in the world, and save it from ruin. So urgent had been these solicitations, that he intended selling his farm and giving the amount to those who wished to publish the plates. As a last precautionary step, he had resolved to come to New York, and obtain the opinion of the learned about the meaning of he paper which he brought with him, and which had been given him as part of the contents of the book, although no translation had at that been made by the young man with spectacles. On hearing this odd story, I changed my opinion about the paper, and instead of viewing it any longer as a hoax, I began to regard it as part of a scheme to cheat the farmer of his money, and I communicated my suspicions to him, warning him to beware of rogues. He requested an opinion from me in writing, which, of course, I declined to give, and he then took his leave, taking his paper with him. This paper in question was, in fact, a singular scroll. It consisted of all kings of singular characters disposed in columns, and had evidently been prepared by some person who had before him at the time a book containing alphabets, Greek and Hebrew letters, crosses and flourishes; Roman letters, inverted or placed sideways were arranged and placed in perpendicular columns, and ht whole ended in a rude delineation of a circle, divided into various compartments, arched with various strange marks, and evidently copied after the Mexican calendar given by Humboldt, but copied in such a way as not to betray the source whence it was derived. I am thus particular as to the contents of the paper, inasmuch as I have frequently conversed with friends on the subject since the Mormon excitement began, and well remember that the paper contained anything else but Egyptian hieroglyphics. Some time after, the farmer paid me a second visit. He brought with him the gold book in print, and offered it to me for sale, I declined purchasing. He then asked permission to leave the book with me for examination. I declined receiving it, although his manner was strangely urgent. I adverted once more to the roguery which, in my opinion, had been practiced upon him, and asked him what had become of the gold plates. He informed me they were in a trunk with the spectacles. I advised him to go to a magistrate and have the trunk examined. He said the curse of God would come upon him if he did. On my pressing him, however, to go to a magistrate, he told me he would open the trunk if I would take the curse of God upon myself. I replied I would do so with the greatest of willingness, and would incur every risk of that nature, provided I could only extricate him from the grasp of the rogues. He then left me. I have given you a full statement of all that I know respecting the origin of Mormonism, and must beg of you, as a person favor, to publish this immediately, should you find my name mentioned again by these wretched fanatics.

                                                    Yours respectfully,

                                                                                    ‘CHARES ANTHON.’

            A story was reported that a team of archaeologists led by Professor Abraham Jones, who is associated with Brigham Yong University as a member of archaeology while excavating at the hill of Cumorah and said that they have discovered a set of gold plates and have noted that those plates could be linked to the founder of the Mormons, Joseph Smith, Jr. and in this discovery found in a cavity then found an exiguous cavern with walls and ceiling covered with ancient traces of soot and a large flat stone resembling an altar. Also, they found what looks like a book made of metal plates.[1] The book contained, metal plates about 56 pounds in weight and contained mysterious symbols similar to the “reformed Egyptian” characters written by Joseph Smith, Jr., and a document known as the “Anthon Transcript.” Mormon scholars have attempted to justify the use of the word “reformed” by saying that the word “reformed” is not capitalized therefore it does not mean “reformed” in the sense that is currently the definition for “reformed.” Those scholars attempt to use other languages that are hieroglyphs that seem similar. What does the mainstream scholars say about “reformed Egyptian? There are no standard reference works that contain a reference to “reformed Egyptian.[2]  There not to be found a non-Mormon scholar that acknowledges the existence of either a “reformed Egyptian” language or a “reformed Egyptian” script as described in Mormon belief. John A. Wilson, professor of Egyptology at the University of Chicago, wrote in 1966: “From time to time there are allegations that picture writing has been found in America…. In no case has a professional Egyptologist been able to recognize these characters as Egyptian hieroglyphs. From our standpoint there is no such language as ‘reformed Egyptian.[3] Klaus Baer, an Egyptologist at the University of Chicago called the characters of the “Caractors” document nothing but “doodling.”[4] Michael D. Coe of Yale University, an expert in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican studies, wrote: “Of all the peoples of the pre-Columbian New World, only the ancient Maya had a complete script.[5] No archaeological, linguistic, or other evidence of the use of Egyptian writing in ancient America has been discovered.[6]

            What about the report that a similar book as the gold plates were found as reported by World News Daily?[7] The World News Daily publishes fictional and satirical news and the following disclaimer can be found on their website—“WNDR assumes however all responsibility for the satirical nature of its articles and for the fictional nature of their content. All characters appearing in the articles in this website—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional and any resemblance between them and any persons, living, dead, or undead is purely a miracle.”[8] The reports that Mormon archeologists had found plates similar to the “Gold Plates” was published in the Deseret News a newspaper published in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is owned by Deseret News Publishing Company, a subsidiary of Deseret Management Corporation, a holding company owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (Mormons) and co-owns The Salt Lake Tribune under a joint operation agreement. Also this newspaper publishes a weekly compact-sized insert, the Church News and the Mormon Times. The Church Almanac publishes an annual edition carrying Facts and statistics edited by the Church News Staff or the Mormon Church.[9]

            The Smithsonian Institutes’ statement quoted above is here to remind the first of eight statements: “The Smithsonian Institution has never used the Book of Mormon in any way as a scientific guide. Smithsonian archeologists see no direct connection between the archeology of the New World and the subject matter of the book.”  Michael Ammons, of the Mormon Church wrote to the National Geographic Society requesting information on the Book of Mormon and archaeology. The Society replied in a letter dated April 26, 1989:

"Neither the Society nor any other institution of equal prestige has ever used the Book of Mormon in locating archaeological sites. Although many Mormon sources claim that the Book of Mormon has been substantiated by archaeological findings, this claim has not been verified scientifically."

Linda Hansen in 1989 wrote to the Department of Archaeology at Boston University to request the same and the department responded:

"The Archaeological Institute of America has never used the Book of Mormon as a scientific guide in locating historic ruins on the Western Hemisphere.... Over the past 30 years The New World Archaeological Foundation, located at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, has conducted numerous scientific excavations in Mesoamerica, originally with a view to confirming the claims in the Book of Mormon. They have discovered no evidence that supports the Book of Mormon in any way. Nonetheless, they have published in full detail the results of their excavations in Papers of the New World Archaeological Foundation, Volumes 1-55, 1959 and following.... They are accepted by the Archaeological Institute of America and the Society of American Archaeologists as legitimate scientific investigations and the New World Archaeological Foundation is to be commended for publishing the results of their work that essentially refutes the basic beliefs of the Mormon Church on which the Foundation is based" (endnote 24).

            These prestigious institutions having an opinion in contradiction to the Mormons and the findings, if they were presented to them, may have changed their opinions. This never happens and yet they publish as fact this finding(s) in their news media independently of verification. To verify is prove the truth and this can be done by evidence, such as presenting the Gold Plates, and the other findings, to the experts who would then act to confirm the truth. This can be done be testimony but this testimony also must be verified as truth before it can be accepted as truth. Any research to have acceptance is to have independent researchers to verify the truth or absence of truth, to ensure that the opinion is not a one-sided, self-serving opinion.

            We must form a consensus from professional archaeologist, Mormon and non-Mormon alike, that there is no specific confirmation of he Book of Mormon from archaeology, and this would include and “suppose” evidence not submitted for confirmation especially that they claim a language that has been proven to not exist, now, or ever.

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[1] http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/archaeologists-discover-golden-plates-believed-to-be-linked-to-joseph-smith-jr/

[2] Standard language references

[3] John A. Wilson, March 16, 1966, cited in Jerald and Sandra Tanner, The Changing World of Mormonism (Chicago: Moody Press, 1979), ch. 5. Richard A. Parker, department of Egyptology at Brown University, wrote, "No Egyptian writing has been found in this [Western] hemisphere to my knowledge". Parker to Marvin Cowan, March 22, 1966, in Jerald and Sandra Tanner The Changing World of Mormonism (Chicago: Moody Press, 1979), ch. 5. In the same letter Parker said, "I do not know of any language such as Reformed Egyptian". In 1959, Mormon archaeologist Ross T. Christensen said that "'reformed' Egyptian" is a "form of writing which we have not yet identified in the archaeological material available to us". Book of Mormon Institute, December 5, 1959, BYU, 1964 ed., p. 10, cited in Jerald and Sandra Tanner The Changing World of Mormonism (Chicago: Moody Press, 1979), ch. 5.

[4] Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Changing World of Mormonism, Moody Press, 1980, p. 143.

[5] Michael D. Coe, Breaking the Maya Code, (London: Thames and Hudson, 1999, preface.

[6] Standard language references such as Peter T. Daniels and William Bright, eds., The World's Writing Systems (New York: Oxford University Press, 1996) (990 pages); David Crystal, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language (Cambridge University Press, 1997); and Roger D. Woodard, ed., The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the World's Ancient Languages (Cambridge University Press, 2004) (1162 pages) contain no reference to "reformed Egyptian." "Reformed Egyptian" is also ignored in Andrew Robinson, Lost Languages: The Enigma of the World's Undeciphered Scripts (New York: McGraw Hill, 2002), although it is mentioned in Stephen Williams, Fantastic Archaeology: The Wild Side of North American Prehistory (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1991). On their website, Bad Archaeology, two British archaeologists, Keith Fitzpatrick-Matthews and Dames Doeser, say "The only writing systems to have been recognized in the Americas are those used by the Maya and the Aztecs, neither of which resembles Egyptian hieroglyphs, although Joseph Smith produced a scrap of papyrus containing hieroglyphs he claimed to be a Reformed Egyptian text written by the Patriarch Abraham." Bad Archaeology

[7] http://worldnewsdailyreport.com/archaeologists-discover-golden-plates-believed-to-be-linked-to-joseph-smith-jr/

[8] http://holyfetch.com/gold-plates-recently-discovered/

[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deseret_News