Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jim Mo. on July 5, 2009 at 4:53pm

Going further with this idea, I wonder how J. Smith's "experiences" compare with claims and works of channelling mediums such as Jane Roberts (Seth Speaks).

Permalink Reply by Joey on July 5, 2009 at 6:25pm

This is a great question, and is one that keeps many skeptical, intelligent Mormons (such as my wife) from completely rejecting the whole cockamamie story. As the leadership has repeated ad nauseum, the Book of Mormon exists, and anyone looking to expose TSCC for the fraud that it may be (or is) must deal with the text.

I had not heard of Jane Roberts previously, and it was very interesting to read some of her writings as "Seth." Another great example of an uneducated person writing a prodigious amount of material is Pearl Curran writing as Patience Worth. These examples strike me as far more outrageous than the thought of JS composing the BoM with all of its "'convincing', biblical-style writings." Yet Mormons are perfectly content to be skeptical about the other cases, while holding up the JS case as bullet-proof (or at least extremely convincing).

The most convincing explanation for the BoM, in my opinion, is a combination of many factors. Influences from View of the Hebrews, Oliver Cowdery, Solomon Spaulding, and Sidney Rigdon, with JS acting as the "editor," seems the most plausible explanation to me. The Rigdon article by Craig Criddle is fascinating reading and approaches the question from a skeptical, naturalist perspective.

Permalink Reply by Krystal on September 12, 2009 at 2:06pm

I have a possible explanation. Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. I have the condition myself and have had numerous visions of religious types. TLE can cause hyper-religosity, hypergraphia, and peadophilia (in men..not all of them but it tends to be more prevailaent in men with TLE ) Those 3 symptoms alone could be responsible for the book of Mormon and it's churches bizarre ways. Add to it that Joseph Smith's character was highly questionable to begin with. He perpetrated so many financial scams a whole lot of people wanted him hung.
Other symptoms are hallucinations of all the senses, out of body experiences, waking dreams/night terrors, sleep paralysis. Trust me, a TLE can produce volumes and volumes of writing within their lifetime and if they are intelligent and hyper-religious as well..The book of Mormon is a piece of cake.

Permalink Reply by Jim Mo. on September 13, 2009 at 1:27am

Thank you, Krystal. It is always helpful to hear from someone with first-hand experience with a special condition that can help us understand what it is like on the inside. The "hallucinations of all the senses" is what I was wondering about. We typically think of hallucinations as being primarily visual but I assume it can be auditory as well. Is a TLE episode something the can be triggered by certain mental activities or dietary habits, etc.?

Permalink Reply by Truth Is Relative on August 15, 2015 at 3:03pm

Have we all forgotten that he had 2 older brothers and a father who were huge supporters? Alvin told him before he died (literally his last words in the film) to finish the book! I see no reason why his brothers and father couldn't have helped him do it all and get it almost finished even before he had the first vision! Then all he would have to do is write it down, easy! That would also explain his emotional attachment to the whole story. Don't forget about all the financial problems he had. But I can easily see Alvin writing the whole thing and Joseph just read it to his friends!!! :)