This is pretty typical. After something comes along that corroborates something to do with Mormonism, out comes the deniers. Is it possible that the Saudi plates are a hoax? Yes, right now (without more provenance - or stuff that corroborates or puts it in context, like the other stuff that was purportedly found in the same chamber), I would say there is a 50% chance of it being made up. That is my head. My heart feels it is correct based on a prophecy that I made over a decade ago that there would be a flood of stuff that would corroborate the coming forth of the Book of Mormon (including the Sealed Portion), that would corroborate and make irrefutable, the evidence of the Book of Mormon. To the point that to deny it, you would have to deny that the sun existed as it arced in the sky above, providing light and warmth and the other external evidences of it, such as plants alive due to photosynthesis, etc. And, there are some, who for the hatred of anything related to God, woud do just that. Kind of like Gene Matthews at Boeing, who knew in his heart of hearts that he had been cursed for cursing God, would not follow the guy's advice who likely had something to do with it and seek out the Elders he had bragged about throwing off his porch to save his life via a blessing. Stubborn likely to the point he would rather die than acknowledge God.
The crowd that hate the truth thought it folly that Joseph Smith had found gold plates in a stone box and that there were plates made from lesser precious metals that contained things of lesser importance, such as the Brass Plates, etc. The fact that Joseph or the Book of Mormon even were based on such a thing before the Apadana hoard (with gold and silver plates in a carved stone box in Persia)
and the Copper Scrolls (found near the Dead Sea Scrolls) all come from a similar time period and culture, pretty much says that Joseph predicted that these things were a thing (even if the translation from the golden bible were somehow a hoax). At a miminum, the naysayers have to give it up for Joseph Smith for conceiving of something that actually became a thing over a century after he purported to have found the gold plates here in the Americas, that had roots in a middle eastern culture.
The fact that people cannot see it, pains me. But such is it for God. One third of his royal offspring were such dunces that they overlooked Christ and went with that miserable of all beings.
It doesn't matter the evidence, people will still hold on to their paradigm of reality that empowers them with all their prejudices - Pride.
ReplyDeleteNo one wants to be caught believing something others would deride and make fun of.
I have accepted that people need to find out for themselves, I can state my position, even though my words are imperfect and have difficulty describing my view because it requires so much explanation that they have no interest...It is as though I were a prophet in his own country who is rarely accepted...this is the position of parents, their children know all their warts and imperfections and will judge everything from that perspective, after all, the youth are so much more advanced in understanding of the world with a more enlightened view.
It is as though anything I have to say to enlighten, is a useless exercise.
The children of Israel were witnesses of all the curses that came upon the Egyptians to the point of releasing the Israelites. All the miracles, the of pillar of fire to prevent the Egyptian army from attacking the Israelites and opening of the Red sea to cross over, and many people still went awol when Moses went to the mountain.
Humanity is not much different today. As Members of LDS church with superior perspective, many still easily falter ignoring all the truths they have learned, doubting how they understood these things. No longer trusting in the thoughts, impressions, ideas that had once enlightened them. As Elder Bednar stated in a conversation with a group after conference, that the seeking of revelation is often over complicating something that is plain and simple. Bednar said; look, I am a simple man, meaning he just makes sure he is a good boy and follows those thoughts and impressions he receives.