1140111

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n January 1%8 in this

Beginning a fascinating The Ancient Land ries by Dr.Hugh N dale), of Egypt-Neighbor A New Look at the of Palestine—Refuge of Pearl of Great Price the Prophets with color photographs "- EgyptianEgyptian PapyriPapyri Rediscovered, Regional Represen-Represen- Presented to Church tativestatives of thethe TwelveTwelve Manuscript from whichwhich thethe ProphetProphet Joseph Smith obtainedobtained

Facsimile 1,1, partpart of the Book of Abraham,Abraham, is includedincluded in this valuablevaluable find.

Egyptian PapyriI^pyri Rediscovered

B2JBy Jay M.M. ToddTodd Editorial AssociateAssociate

• Perhaps nono discoverydiscovery in recent mem- uscripts isis oneone identifiedidentified as thethe ory isis expectedexpected to arousearouse asas muchmuch original document from which Joseph widespread interest in the restoredrestored gos-gos- Smith obtainedobtained FacsimileFacsimile 1,1, whichwhich pel as isis thethe recentrecent discoverydiscovery ofof somesome prefaces the Book of Abraham in the Egyptian papyri, one of whichwhich isis Pearl of GreatGreat Price.Price. AccompanyingAccompanying knownto to have been used by thethe the manuscriptsmanuscripts waswas aa letterletter dateddated Prophet Joseph SmithSmith inin producingproducing May 26, 1856,1856, signed by both Emma the BookBook ofof Abraham.Abraham. Smith Bidamon, widow ofof thethe Prophet The papyri,papyri, longlong thoughtthought to havehave Joseph Smith, and theirtheir son,son, JosephJoseph been burned in thethe ChicagoChicago firefire ofof Smith, attesting thatthat the papyripapyri hadhad 1871, werewere presentedpresented to the Church on been the property of the Prophet.Prophet. November 27, 1967, inin New York City Some of thethe piecespieces ofof papyruspapyrus by thethe MetropolitanMetropolitan MuseumMuseum of Art, apparently includeinclude conventionalconventional hiero- more than a yearyear afterafter Dr.Dr. AzizAziz S.S. glyphics (sacred(sacred inscriptions,inscriptions, resembl-resembl- Atiya, former director of the Univer-Univer- ing picture-drawing)picture-drawing) andand hieratic (a(a sity of Utah's MiddleMiddle East Center,Center, had cursive shorthand version of hiero-hiero- made hishis startlingstartling discoverydiscovery whilewhile glyphics) Egyptian funeraryfunerary texts,texts, browsing throughthrough thethe New YorkYork mu-mu- which were commonlycommonly buried withwith seum's papyripapyri collection.collection. Egyptian mummies. Often the funerary Included inin thethe collectioncollection ofof 1111 man- texts containedcontained passagespassages from thethe

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P/iotob hy J Heslop

12 Dr. AzizAziz Atiya examines manuscripts inin the room in whichwhich hehe foundiound Dr. Aziz Atiya, Dr. Joseph Noble, Dr.Dr. ThomasThomas P.P. F.F. Hoeing,Moving, PresidentPresident the papyripapyri andand documentdocument signedsigned byby Emma Smith. TannerTanner compare Facsimile No.No. 1 with original.original.

"Book of thethe Dead," a book thatthat was to City, the manuscriptsmanuscripts werewere turnedturned "While II waswas in oneone ofof thethe dimdim assist in the safesafe passagepassage of the deaddead over to Dr. HughHugh Nibley,Nibley, scholar,scholar, lin-lin- rooms where everythingeverything was broughtbrought person into the spirit world. It is notnot guist atat BrighamBrigham YoungYoung University,University, to me,me, somethingsomething caught my eye,eye, and known atat this timetime whetherwhether the tenten and contributingcontributing editoreditor ofof The Im-Im- I askedasked oneone ofof thethe assistantsassistants toto taketake other pieces of papyri have a directdirect provement Era. for furtherfurther researchresearch me behind the bars into the storehousestorehouse connection with the BookBook of Abraham. and study. of documentsdocuments soso that II couldcould looklook It waswas alsoalso discovereddiscovered thatthat on thethe The story of the unusual manner in some more.more. WhileWhile there I foundfound aa backing ofof three ofof thethe manuscriptsmanuscripts which the Prophet Joseph SmithSmith ob-ob- file with these documents. I atat onceonce (the backingbacking was pasted to the fragilefragile tained the originaloriginal papyripapyri andand fourfour recognized thethe picture part ofof it.it. When manuscripts, apparently by the Proph- Egyptian mummiesmummies has been told often I sawsaw this picture, I knew thatthat it hadhad et Joseph,Joseph, toto givegive themthem firmfirm support)support) and isis fullfull ofof adventureadventure andand fascina-fascina- appeared in the PearlPearl ofof GreatGreat Price.Price. are somesome jottings,jottings, hand-drawnhand-drawn maps,maps, tion. ButBut ofof equalequal interestinterest isis thethe storystory I knewknew thethe generalgeneral formatformat ofof thethe pic-pic- and apparentapparent notationsnotations ofof townships,townships, of Dr. AzizAziz S.S. Atiya'sAtiya's discoverydiscovery of the ture. ThisThis kindkind ofof picturepicture oneone cancan all thoughtthought to bebe inin thethe ProphetProphet papyri inin thethe MetropolitanMetropolitan MuseumMuseum find generallygenerally on otherother papyri,papyri, butbut Joseph Smith'sSmith's handwriting.handwriting. TheirTheir of Art, whichwhich is best toldtold inin hishis ownown this particularparticular oneone hashas specialspecial pecu-pecu- importance oror revelance hashas not yetyet words: liarities. For instance,instance, thethe headhead hadhad been ascertained but willwill be of intense "I waswas writingwriting a bookbook at thethe time,time, fallen off, andand I couldcould see that thethe interest to Latter-day SaintSaint historians.historians. one that II hadhad startedstarted whilewhile aa profes-profes- papyrus was stuck onon paper,paper, nine-nine- The collectioncollection of manuscriptsmanuscripts waswas sor ofof worldworld ChristianityChristianity and easterneastern teenth century paper.paper. TheThe headhead waswas presented to President N. Eldon Tan- Christianity, and I went to the Metro- completed inin pencil,pencil, apparentlyapparently byby ner of the First PresidencyPresidency by Thomas politan Museum of ArtArt lookinglooking forfor Joseph Smith, who must have had it P. G.G. Roving,Moving, director of the Metro-Metro- documents, papyri, pictures, and illus-illus- whenwhen, that part fell off. He apparently politan Museum of Art, in anan impres-impres- trations toto serve thethe book. ItIt mustmust drew the head in hishis ownown hand on the sive ceremony heldheld in the NewNew YorkYork have been in thethe earlyearly springspring ofof 1966.1966. supplementary paper. Also,Also, thethe handshands museum and attendedattended byby worldwideworldwide I reallyreally forget the date. MyMy bookbook waswas of the mummy, raised as they are, and news agencies. AfterAfter beingbeing displayeddisplayed ready for thethe press,press, andand II waswas lookinglooking the leg,leg, raisedraised asas itit is—usuallyis—usually thethe in thethe ChurchChurch officesoffices in SaltSalt LakeLake for supplementarysupplementary material. mummies lie straightstraight forward—areforward—are

January 19681968 13 very peculiar. ThisThis papyruspapyrus isis Egyp-Egyp- the curator had to gogo toto Egypt for a mon history, made, I thinly,think, by Joseph tian, truetrue enough,enough, butbut what it standsstands month in order to arrangearrange finalfinal stepssteps Smith's own hand.hand. ThreeThree ofof thethe backsbacks for, II reallyreally don'tdon't know.know. for the transferencetransference to thethe Metropoli-Metropoli- were full of notesnotes andand maps,maps, whichwhich "Now when II saw this, I beganbegan to tan MuseumMuseum of anotheranother treasure,treasure, inin have to be studied by the specialists. I search further. I Isawsaw moremore piecespieces ofof which II also hadhad aa hand. ItIt concernsconcerns am not a specialistspecialist of that,that, but I havehave papyri stackedstacked together and suspectedsuspected a greatgreat templetemple that isis beingbeing presentedpresented an eyeeye forfor originaloriginal documents,documents, andand that ProvidenceProvidence had assisted. AnotherAnother by thethe EgyptianEgyptian governmentgovernment to the these papyri documentsdocuments areace not fakes; document was found with these docu-docu- American nation in recognition of the they are originaloriginal EgyptianEgyptian papyripapyri ofof ments, signed by Joseph Smith's wife,wife, contributions AmericaAmerica hashas made to-to- a pre-Christianpre-Christian era.era. TheyThey couldcould bebe his son,son, andand someonesomeone else,else, testifyingtestifying ward the salvagesalvage ofof thethe AbyssinianAbyssinian from 30003000 B.C. to 300300 9.o.—overB.C.—over 300300 that thesethese papyripapyri werewere treasuredtreasured and monuments.momunents. B.C., at any rate.rate. ThatThat isis mymy estimate.estimate. owned by Joseph Smith.Smith. "When the curatorcurator camecame back,back, he The era willwill have to be decided by the "In"In 19181918 a Mrs. Heusser came to the reported very nicely about the subjectsubject specialists.specialists. museum and informedinformed thethe officialsofficials and said,said, 'The'The decisiondecision hashas beenbeen "I knowknow the kindkind ofof ink thethe Egyp-Egyp- that sheshe hadhad somesome papyrus,papyrus, but anan taken; your Mormon friends are go-go- tians used andand thethe differencedifference betweenbetween understanding waswas not reachedreached until ing toto get these papyri. So,So, youyou gogo the genuine andand thethe fake. PapyrusPapyrus 1947. TheyThey werewere thenthen acquiredacquired byby to youryour friendsfriends and thethe PresidentPresident ofof writings were usually placed with the the museum,museum, and thenthen thethe museummuseum the ChurchChurch andand makemake thethe necessarynecessary mummy—papyrimummy—papyri of many kinds—butkinds—but changed curators of Egyptian antiqui- arrangements for aa ceremony.'ceremony.' essentially thethe "Book of the Dead,"Dead," ties andand thethe wholewhole subjectsubject waswas for-for- "Of course,course, President Tanner waswas which would give the mummymummy safesafe gotten. just as excited asas II was.was. HeHe reportedreported passage toto the worldworld beyond. TheThe "When I sawsaw thesethese documents,documents, I to PresidentPresident McKay,McKay, whowho waswas veryvery papyri were sometimessometimes colored. YouYou really was taken back.back. I knowknow thethe enthusiastic aboutabout the projectproject also.also. find papyri likelike thisthis withwith blue,blue, gold,gold, Mormon community, whatwhat it standsstands We then decideddecided the wayway inin whichwhich and red colors.colors. ThisThis waswas notnot outout ofof for, its scripture,scripture, etc.,etc., apdand II saidsaid at the ceremonyceremony wouldwould bebe conducted.conducted. the ordinary. WithWith regardregard toto thethe inkink once that thesethese documentsdocuments don't be-be- "I feltfelt veryvery honoredhonored andand very,very, veryvery used, it waswas generallygenerally mademade ofof sootsoot long here.here. TheyThey belongbelong to thethe Mor-Mor- pleasedto to bebe in thethe centercenter of thethe and glue, and that is why it waswas eter-eter- mon Church. Well,Well, ofof course,course, thethe picture with such a distinguisheddistinguished per- nal. II thinkthink thesethese scrollsscrolls areare writtenwritten people in the museum are goodgood friends son asas PresidentPresident TannerTanner and Mr.Mr. in that kindkind ofof ink.ink. Usually the priests of mine, andand II tried to tempt them into Thomas P. G.G. Roving,Hoving, who is director did thethe writing—theywriting—they werewere mostmost ceding the documents toto thethe Church.Church. of the museum. He'sHe's aa veryvery important skilled. TheyThey usedused reedreed pens,pens, andand I informedinformed mymy goodgood friendfriend TazaTaza man, as is hishis assistantassistant andand vicevice di-di- had to sharpen the reed and split it Peirce, who is executiveexecutive secretary ofof rector, Dr.Dr. JosephJoseph Noble.Noble. He'sHe's a veryvery in the middle.middle. the Salt Lake CouncilCouncil forfor InternationalInternational fine man. AllAll ofof themthem werewere there,there, "The EgyptiansEgyptians had thethe papyruspapyrus Visitors, and we discussed the manner and to mymy surprise I foundfound that thethe plant, and they used to split it intointo in whichwhich I shouldshould acquaint the Mor-Mor- papyri were prepared in a veryvery finefine thin layers and putput thethe layerslayers criss-criss- mon community ofofthe the find.find. SheShe sug-sug- box for safekeeping.safekeeping. cross onon one another, pound them with gested I seesee PresidentPresident Tanner,Tanner, andand "But duringduring the morning of thatthat day a woodenwooden hammer,hammer, and thenthen glueglue she was the intermediary who arranged I mademade it aa pointpoint toto gogo in at onan earlyearly them together. They cut them to suitsuit and attendedattended ourour firstfirst twotwo meetings.meetings. hour, long before the meeting of these the purposespurposes ofof thethe documentsdocuments theythey Thereafter, I metmet directlydirectly withwith Presi-Presi- magnates, inin order to make sure that wanted to write. UsuallyUsually longlong strips dent Tanner, whowho had said the Church the papyripapyri werewere there—notthere—not only the were used to makemake scrolls,scrolls, and thisthis was very, very interested and wouldwould do papyri, because what isis ofof importanceimportance one was made in that fashion.fashion. anything or pay any priceprice forfor them.them. is the documentdocument that accompaniedaccompanied the "In orderorder toto protectprotect thethe papyrus,papyrus, Since that time,time, wewe workedworked quietlyquietly papyri. ItIt waswas aa fadedfaded thing,thing, inin nine-nine- which becomes brittle withwith age—forage^for on the possibilitypossibility of their transferencetransference teenth century hand.hand. II foundfound thatthat instance, thethe head of thethe personperson fellfell to the Church.Church. the museummuseum hadhad photographedphotographed it.it. off simplysimply becausebecause thethe papyruspapyrus "In thesethese kindskinds of things,things, I nevernever Well, of course, they they hadhad tried to was brittle—Josephbrittle—Joseph Smith probablyprobably push. II taketake mymy time.time. WithWith somesome photograph itit before, but it wouldn'twouldn't thought thatthat the bestbest thingthing for itsits kindly persuasionspersuasions andand discussions,discussions, show because itit was very fadedfaded blueblue protection was was toto glue it onon paper.paper. the museummuseum ultimately put aa memo-memo- paper. NowNow theythey usedused infra-redinfra-red and When I firstfirst discovereddiscovered thesethese docu-docu- randum on the subjectsubject to thethe boardboard ultra-violet photographyphotographyto to getget the ments, II waswas soso excitedexcited aboutabout thethe of trustees of the museum. ThisThis tooktook text out,out, soso thatthat nownow thethe photographphotograph Egyptian writings thatthat I diddid notnot looklook a longlong time to come toto that step.step. The is very much better than thethe original.original. on the back of the paper, but whenwhen I Board discussedthe the mattermatter at veryvery "I waswas enchantedenchanted aboutabout the dis-dis- returned to thethe museum,museum, II noticednoticed great length, greater length than youyou covery ofof the papyri, whichwhich had beenbeen the writingswritings on the backback byby JosephJoseph might think, andand in thethe endend theythey in thethe handshands ofof JosephJoseph Smith,Smith, butbut Smith. TheseThese writingswritings may not turn thought that sincesince thethe museummuseum hadhad the discoveriesdiscoveries werewere notnot ended there. out to bebe ofof veryvery greatgreat importance;importance; papyri of this naturenature inin plenty,plenty, whywhy On the morningmorning of handing over the however, anyany footnote oneone cancan get in should they keepkeep thesethese documentsdocuments papyri, I beganbegan lookinglooking them up and the restorationrestoration ofof MormonMormon history isis from the Church?Church? down, upup and down, and lo! I foundfound valuable. "When their generousgenerous decisiondecision waswas on the back of the paper onon whichwhich the "The excitingexciting part,part, whichwhich has proved made, it was telephoned to me by the papyri were glued writings and mapsmaps beyond doubtdoubt thatthat this was the papyri curator, and hehe wrotewrote to me also.also. Then and anan enumerationenumeration ofof townshipstownships and that waswas inin JosephJoseph Smith'sSmith's hand,hand, waswas we had a lull in thethe situation,situation, becausebecause material of the highest value to Mor- established by thatthat documentdocument signedsigned

14 Improvement Era by his widow. When II saw that, I Smith received thethe papyri is veryvery eventually findfind safesafe port in thethe NewNew had it transcribedtranscribed and aa copycopy type-type- fascinating, one seeminglyseemingly filled withwith York harbor.harbor. written to show to President Tanner. providential direction.direction. Some of thethe In AprilApril 18331833 MichaelMichael H. ChandlerChandler "Do youyou knowknow thatthat thisthis discoverydiscovery details are stillstill clouded,clouded, althoughalthough newnew paid thethe customscustoms duties,duties, tooktook posses-posses- appeared inin thethe EgyptianEgyptian presspress onon research each yearyear seemsseems toto divulgedivulge sion of thethe 1111 mummies,mummies, andand openedopened the dayday followingfollowing thethe ceremony? OnOn additional bits of information, butbut the them. HeHe waswas disappointeddisappointed in notnot the firstfirst pagepage ofof thethe mostmost importantimportant principle points of the episode are in finding jewels or somethingsomething of greatgreat paper! You would be surprised atat the general agreement: Napoleon'sNapoleon's 1798-1798- monetary value, but he diddid findfind sev-sev- attention that waswas givengiven to thisthis dis-dis- 99 conquestconquest of EgyptEgypt turnedturned thethe eral rollsrolls ofof papyrus.papyrus. ProvidenceProvidence covery, andand apparently the EgyptiansEgyptians world's attention toward the land ofof seemingly onceonce more enteredentered thethe were very pleased about the revealingrevealing pharaohs, and EgyptEgypt waswas soonsoon over-over- story, for whilewhile yet inin thethe custom-custom- of thesethese documents. II considerconsider itit a run withwith bothboth scientificscientific expeditionsexpeditions house, Chandler was informedinformed that great honor to havehave beenbeen ableable toto and robbersrobbers ofof catacombscatacombs and ancientancient there was no manman in thethe citycity whowho make this discovery. GreatGreat discoveriesdiscoveries burial sites. OneOne ofof thosethose earlyearly ad-ad- could translate the scrolls,scrolls, "but"but waswas are alwaysalways accidental,accidental, andand this oneone venturers interested in EgyptianEgyptian an-an- referred, by the samesame gentlemangentleman (a(a was as accidentalaccidental as any discoverydiscovery I tiquities was aa PiedmontesePiedmontese namednamed stranger),stranger) , to Mr.Mr. JosephJoseph Smith,Smith, Jr., have made—andmade—and probably more excit-excit- Antonio Lebolo, whowho worked asas an who, continued he, possesses some kind ing than allall ofof them.them. ItIt waswas anan honorhonor agent for one of the powerful antiquityantiquity of powerpower or gifts,gifts, by whichwhich he hadhad to have been able to persuade such an barons of the day, Bernardino Drovet- previously translated similarsimilar char-char- august body asas thethe MetropolitanMetropolitan ti. WhileWhile inin EgyptEgypt duringduring whatwhat nownow acters." Museum to present it to another body appears to bebe atat leastleast asas earlyearly asas 1817,1817, It waswas moremore thanthan twotwo yearsyears later,later, as augustaugust as the MormonMormon Church.Church. I Lebolo obtainedobtained aa license to enter the on JulyJuly 3,3, 1835,1835, thatthat ChandlerChandler metmet feel flattered to have been able to dodo catacombs inin Thebes,Thebes,Egypt. Egypt. He dis-dis- the ProphetProphet Joseph.Joseph. DuringDuring thosethose what I did."did." covered aa pit tomb near aa placeplace calledcalled years ChandlerChandler had exhibitedexhibited for a The fact that Dr.Dr. AtiyaAtiya mademade the Gurneh, near Thebes,Thebes, andand foundfound nominal charge the mummiesmimimies andand discovery andand so energeticallyenergetically attests many mummies therein. therein. He turnedturned even sold seven of them toto privateprivate to thethe manuscript'smanuscript's authenticityauthenticity asas the bestbest of themthem overover to DrovettiDrovetti but museums. that whichwhich Joseph Smith used inin part managed to keep some for himself. He According to James R. Clark, a per- in thethe translationtranslation ofof thethe BookBook ofof later left EgyptEgypt enen routeroute toto FranceFrance sistent and intelligentintelligent student of the Abraham is of nono littlelittle importance.importance. via Trieste withwith somesome mummies,mummies, 1111 ofof history of our Pearl ofof GreatGreat Price,Price, Dr. AtiyaAtiya isis a world-recognizeda world-recognized which eventually reached America.America. apparently a BenjaminBenjamin BullockBullock ofof scholar and researcherresearcher ofof EgyptianEgyptian While on the island of Trieste he Moirie, New York, a nonmembernonmember but and ArabicArabic manuscripts. HeHe waswas in-in- became illill andand died. ThisThis isis believedbelieved a relativerelative ofof HeberHeber C.C. Kimball,Kimball, hadhad strumental inin buildingbuilding thethe UniversityUniversity to have been in 1823.1823. It hashas longlong been heard ofof JosephJoseph Smith,Smith, andand whenwhen of Utah's Middle East Library to what presumed that thethe mummiesmummies JosephJoseph Bullock met Chandler, he offered to has beenbeen called "perhaps the finest in Smith eventuallyeventually receivedreceived were fromfrom take himhim moremore thanthan 250250 milesmiles byby its fieldfield inin America."America." (The(The library,library, Lebolo's find,find, and that LeboloLebolo willedwilled wagon to Kirtland, Ohio, to meet the named for Dr.Dr. Atiya,Atiya, waswas previouslypreviously them to Michael H. Chandler,Chandler, who has Prophet. regarded asas one of thethe fivefive finestfinest in been presumed to havehave beenbeen Lebolo'sLebolo's (An interestinginteresting sidelight isis thatthat as the U.S.)U.S.) He isis oneone ofof threethree Distin-Distin- nephew. But some present-day scholars a resultresult ofof Bullock'sBullock's visit to Kirtland,Kirtland, guished Professors at thethe university.university. question Chandler's relationshiprelationship to he returnedreturned toto hishis homehome greatlygreatly im-im- He isis well-regardedwell-regarded for hishis lectureslectures Lebolo. As earlyearly asas 18851885 N. L. Nel-Nel- pressed withwith JosephJoseph Smith.Smith. HeHe tooktook and writingswritings while at thethe universitiesuniversities son, in an addressaddress atat BrighamBrigham YoungYoung with him a copycopy ofof thethe BookBook of Mor-Mor- of Michigan,Michigan, Columbia,Columbia, Princeton,Princeton, Academy at Provo, said that Chandler mon. AfterAfter hehe andand hishis wifewife read it, Liverpool, London, Bonn, Zurich, Cairo, received thethe mummies from an "Eng-"Eng- they movedmoved westwest toto be withwith thethe and Alexandria.Alexandria. He is the authorauthor ofof lish Minister Plenipotentiary." Such a Church.) approximately 20 volumes and aboutabout person might have been Henry Salt,Salt, When they reachedreached Kirtland, Mr.Mr. 50 monograph articles. a famousfamous representativerepresentative of thethe crowncrown Chandler asked the Prophet Joseph ifif But ofof lastinglasting importanceimportance are his in Egypt,Egypt, who died in 1827.1827. AtAt he hadhad thethe powerpower toto translatetranslate thethe writings on the Crusades of the Middle any event,event. ChandlerChandler apparentlyapparently waswas scrolls, andand Joseph replied that hehe Ages and his studiesstudies andand writingswritings ofof thought toto be inin Ireland,Ireland, andand thethe had. The ProphetProphet recordsrecords that hehe gavegave his own Orthodox CopticCopticreligion. religion. He mummies werewere apparently sent to Ire- Chandler an interpretationinterpretation ofof somesome of. is alsoalso the founderfounder ofof thethe InstituteInstitute ofof land via London. Chandler's friends re- the material onon thethe scrolls.scrolls. Coptic Studies inin Cairo. InIn essence,essence, directed the mummiesmummies toto America,America, Mr. Chandler was so impressed that he isis aa well-recognizedwell-recognized fellowfellow amongamong where Chandler was living in Phila- he wrotewrote aa certificatecertificate testifyingtestifying ofof the worldwideworldwide community ofof scholars.scholars. delphia. TheThe mummiesmummies eventuallyeventually Joseph Smith'sSmith's "deciphering"deciphering the an-an- It couldcould asas wellwell bebe saidsaid ofof Dr.Dr. arrived at thethe NewNew YorkYork CityCity custom-custom- cient EgyptianEgyptian hieroglyphichieroglyphic char-char- Atiya's discovery as that which Parley house. acters" "to"to correspondcorrespond in thethe mostmost P. PrattPratt saidsaid ofof Joseph'sJoseph's receptionreception ofof Scholars have observed that it seemsseems minute matters" with thatthat whichwhich Egyptian mummies andand papyrus in nothing shortshort of miraculous thatthat the Chandler had learned from "the mostmost the firstfirst place:place: "Singular"Singular isis thethe provi-provi- mummies and their important records learned." dence by which this ancient record fell should have safelysafely navigatednavigated throughthrough The ProphetProphet recordsrecords in hishis Docu- into the handshands ofof thethe servantservant ofof thethe the roughrough waterswaters ofof antiquityantiquity barons,barons, mentary History of thethe ChurchChurch (Vol.

Lord, Joseph Smith." catacomb plunderers, dishonest andand 2, page 236):236) : "Soon"Soon afterafter this,this, somesome Indeed, the storystory ofof howhow JosephJoseph rival agents inin searchsearch ofof mummies,mummies, to of the SaintsSaints atat KirtlandKirtland purchasedpurchased

January 19681968 1515 a

the mummiesmummies and papyrus, aa descrip-descrip- reads: "This"This certifiescertifies that wewe havehave that thethe mummiesmummies andand manuscriptsmanuscripts tion ofof whichwhich willwill appearappear hereafter,hereafter, sold to Mr.Mr. A.A. CombsCombs fourfour EgyptianEgyptian were burned in that fire,fire, eveneven thoughthough and withwith W.W. W.W. PhelpsPhelps andand OliverOliver Mummies withwith the records of them.them. the 1856,1856, 1859,1859, and 18631863 catalogues do Cowdery as scribes, I commencedcommenced the This mummies were obtained from the not give any information about the twotwo translation of somesome of thethe characterscharacters catacoms of Egypt sixty feet belowbelow the other mummiesmummies or thethe manuscripts.manuscripts. or hierglyphics,hierglyphics, andand much to our joy surface of thethe Earth,Earth. by the antiquari-antiquari- Information onon the twotwo otherother mum-mum- found that oneone ofof thethe rollsrolls containedcontained tan societysociety of ParisParis && forwardedforwarded toto mies and the rest of the papyri manu-manu- the writingswritings of Abraham,Abraham, another the New York & purchased by the Mor-Mor- scripts used by the ProphetProphet may yetyet writings of Joseph ofof Egypt,Egypt, etc.—aetc.— mon Prophet Joseph Smith at thethe come forth in some future day. more full account of which will ap- price of twentytwenty fourfour hundredhundred dollarsdollars The collectioncollection recently found byby pear in itsits place,place, asas II proceedproceed toto in thethe yearyear eighteeneighteen hundredhundred thirtythirty Dr. Atiya first camecame to the attentionattention examine or unfold them." five they were highlyhighly prized by Mr.Mr. of thethe NewNew YorkYork MetropolitanMetropolitan Mu-Mu- Concerning thethe four mummies,mummies, the Smith on accountaccount ofof thethe importanceimportance seum of Art in 1918. ApparentlyApparently Mr. Prophet generally admitted thatthat he which attached to thethe recordrecord whichwhich A. CoombsCoombs hadhad not disposeddisposed of allall did notnot knowknow whowho the mummiesmummies were,were, were accidentalyaccidentaly found enclosedenclosed in his purchases made from Emma Smith although somesome secondary sources later the breastbreast ofof oneone ofof thethe Mummies.Mummies. Bidamon, because in 19181918 a Mrs. Alice reported thatthat thethe ProphetProphet identi-identi- From translations by Mr. SmithSmith ofof C. Heusser of Brooklyn,Brooklyn, New York,York, fied them as a pharaoh,pharaoh, a queen,queen, a the Records.Records, thesethese MummiesMummies werewere took thethe recentlyrecently discovereddiscovered papyripapyri princess,and and aa slave. TheThe rollsrolls ofof found to be the familyfamily of Pharo KingKing and documentdocument signed by Emma SmithSmith papyrus are knownknown to havehave beenbeen withwith of Egypt,Egypt. they werewere keptkept exclusivelyexclusively by to thethe MetropolitanMetropolitan MuseumMuseum forfor one of the female mummies.mummies. Concern-Concern- Mr. Smith until hishis deathdeath && sincesince by evaluation. Mrs. HeusserHeusser was aa ing thethe rolls,rolls, itit hashas beenbeen surmisedsurmised the MotherMother ofof Mr.Mr. SmithSmith notwith-notwith- daughter of thethe housekeeperhousekeeper of Mr.Mr. that apparentlyapparently theythey werewere originaloriginal standing we have had repeatedrepeated offersoffers A. Coombs. ButBut the museum did not records or copiescopies ofof originaloriginal recordsrecords to purchasepurchase whichwhich havehave invariablyinvariably buy thethe collectioncollection of papyripapyri untiluntil made by AbrahamAbraham and hishis grandsongrandson been refused until herher deathdeath whichwhich Edward Heusser, husbandhusband ofof Alice,Alice, Joseph, and writtenwritten uponupon byby succeed-succeed- occurred onon the fourteenthfourteenth dayday ofof finally sold them to thethe museummuseum inin ing record keepers and pharaohspharaohs overover May last." Signed:Signed: "L."L. C.C. Bidamon,Bidamon, 1947. TheThe papyripapyri havehave been in the several thousand years'years' duration.duration. Emma Bidamon, JosephJoseph Smith [her[her museum's files since that time. The resultresult isis well-knownwell-known to Latter- son]. Nauvoo,Nauvoo, HancockHancock Co. Ill, May Thus, the stage was set for the re-re- day Saints. TheThe ProphetProphet interpretedinterpreted 26." markable discovery of of Dr. Atiya.Atiya. some of thethe writingswritings onon thethe scrolls,scrolls, The nextnext accountaccount ofof thethe mummiesmummies These pieces of papyrus, only part ofof and thisthis interpretationinterpretation andand facsimilesfacsimiles appears in thethe 18591859 "St."St. LouisLouis Mu-Mu- the onesones JosephJoseph Smith had in hishis possession, are back in the hands 1,1, 2, and 3 make up ourour presentpresent BookBook seum Catalogue" and then in thethe 18631863 possession, are nownow back in the hands of Abraham. SomeSome present-daypresent-day schol-schol- "Chicago Museum Catalogue,"Catalogue," pagepage of the Church. TheyThey areare aa remark-remark- ars think that part ofof thethe papyripapyri that 42, in whichwhich areare describeddescribed twotwo mum-mum- ably powerfulpowerful and tangibletangible testimonytestimony Joseph had inin hishis possessionpossession con-con- mies that were "kept by the Prophet's to thethe truthfulnesstruthfulness ofof thethe Prophet'sProphet's tained an actualactual primer in thethe Egyp-Egyp- mother until his death, when the heirs clear and simply told storystory that he had tian alphabetalphabet andand grammargrammar previouslypreviously sold them,them, andand werewere shortlyshortly afterafter in hishis handshands somesome originaloriginal papyripapyri prepared by its ancientancient authorsauthors forfor purchased for the Museum."Museum." documents, somesome ofof which hehe used in the benefit ofof futurefuturetranslators. translators. It isis A great fire destroyeddestroyed much of Chi- producing the Book of Abraham in the also known that thethe ProphetProphet prom-prom- cago in 1871, andand itit hadhad been presumed Pearl of Great Price. 0O ised "further"further extractsextracts fromfrom thethe BookBook of than those writings that of Abraham" than those writings that TheThe officialofficial presentationpresentation ceremoniesceremon/es in NewNew YorkYork inin whichwhich PresidentPresident TannerTanner acceptedaccepted we already have, but martyrdommartyrdom cut papyri from Dr.Dr. ThomasThomas P.P. F.F. Hoeing.Moving. short hishis publicationpublication ofof new materials. (John Taylor,Taylor, Times andand Seasons,Seasons, Feb. 1843.)1843.) At anyany rate,rate, afterafter thethe martyrdommartyrdom of thethe Prophet,Prophet, thethe mummiesmummies andand manuscriptswere were turnedturned over toto Joseph's mother, Lucy MackMack Smith.Smith. At her deathdeath inin MayMay 1855,1855, the mum-mum- mies and manuscriptsmanuscripts were kept by Emma SmithSmith Bidamon,Bidamon, withwith whomwhom Lucy Mack Smith lived the two years previous toto herher death. EmmaEmma SmithSmith Bidamon was the Prophet's widowwidow and had sincesince marriedmarried L.L. C.C. Bidamon.Bidamon. Shortly after one year ofof holdingholding the mummies and manuscripts,manuscripts, EmmaEmma sold them toto aa Mr.Mr. A.A. Coombs.Coombs. It waswas thisthis letterletter ofof salessales to Mr.Mr. A.A. Coombs, signed byby EmmaEmma Smith Bida- mon and dated MayMay 26,26, 1856,1856, in addi- tion toto thethe 1111 piecespieces of papyri,papyri, that was found byby Dr.Dr. Atiya. TheThe letterletter

1616 improvementImprovement EraEra inin an areaarea ofof nono lessless interest to Latter-day Saints—Saints—Saints— thatthat ofofof thethethe religiousreligious practicespracticespractices andandand beliefsbeliefsbeliefs of thethe Egyptians. Recent challenges that question the authenticityauthenticity The Author of many statements inin oneone ofof the standardstandard worksworks ofof The Author the Church, the Pearl Great Price, have reopened the Church, thethe Pearl ofof Great Price, have reopened an oldold discussiondiscussiondiscussion atat aa timetime when when freshfreshfresh discoveriesdiscoveriesdiscoveries and thethe and interpretations are putting anan entirely newnew facefaceface on the whole problem. BrotherBrother HughHugh Nibley, who forfor many years has been gatheringgathering datadata relevantrelevant to thethe Articles study of thethe FacsimilesFacsimiles in thethe BookBook ofof Abraham,Abraham, presents in thisthis fascinatingfascinating seriesseriesseries some of thethe materi-materi- als that mustmust bebe consideredconsideredconsidered inin thethethe reappraisalreappraisalreappraisal ofof certain EgyptologicalEgyptological aspectsaspects ofof the PearlPearl ofof GreatGreat TheThe floodflood ofof newly newly discovered discovereddiscovered Jewish Jewish and Chris- Price forfor whichwhich thethe timetime isis nownow ripe.ripe. tian documents thatthat areare changing thethe complexioncomplexion ofof TheThe readerreader isis warnedwarned toto bebe preparedprepared forfor surprises.surprises. religiousreligious studies studiesstudies in in ourour timetime hashas beenbeenbeen matchedmatchedmatched bybyby Although Dr,Dr. NibleyNibleyNibley pullspulls nono punches, punches,punches, he isis stillstill

equally significant, if ifif less lessless spectacular,spectacular,spectacular, developmentsdevelopmentsdevelopments animated byby aa healthyhealthyhealthy respectrespectrespect for for allallall qualifiedqualified I

A NewNew LookLook atat thethe Pearl ofof GreatGreat PricePrice

By Dr. HughHugh NibleyNibley

Part I.I. ChallengeChallenge andand and ResponseResponse Response

Unsettled Business—TheBusiness—TheBusiness— The recentrecent reissuing of BishopBishop result of putting thosethose scripturesscriptures in aa muchmuch strongerstronger posi-posi- tion than they were before. have all neglected the Franklin S.S. Spalding'sSpalding's littlelittle hook,book, Joseph Smith,Smith, Jr.,Jr., as aa tion than they were before. WeWe have all neglected the Translator,'Translator,^ though notnot meantmeant toto reviverevive an oldold discussiondiscussion but Pearl of Great PricePrice forfor tootoo long,long, andand shouldshould hebe gratefulgrateful call us to account. rather toto extinguishextinguish anyany lingeringlingering sparkssparks ofof it,it, isis nonethelessnonetheless to thosethose who wouldwould nosynow callcall us to account. a welcome invitation, or rather challenge,challenge, to thosethose who take In thisthis introductoryintroductory studystudy wewe makemake nono excuseexcuse forfor pokingpoking the PearlPearl ofof GreatGreat PricePrice seriously,seriously, forfor longlong experienceexperience hashas around among old bones,bones, since others havehave dugdug them up shownshown thatthat thethethe Latter-dayLatter-dayLatter-day SaintsSaintsSaints only-onlyonly becomebecomebecome awareaware ofof to dauntdaunt us; butbut wewe shouldshould warn them that ifif theythey insistinsist the naturenature andand geniusgenius ofof theirtheir modernmodern scripturesscriptures whenwhen on bringingbringing up thethe ghostsghosts of thethe dead,dead, theythey maymay soonsoon findfind relentless and obstreperousobstreperous criticism from thethe outsideoutside forcesforces themselveswith withmore moreon ontheir theirhands handsthan than theythey had bar-bar- them toto taketake aa closercloser look atat what they have, with the usualusual gained for. AA lotlot ofof waterwater hashas gonegone underunder thethe bridgebridge sincesince

1818 ImprovementimprovementImprovement Era Egyptologists, including including his his own own reveredrevered revered instructors,instructors, instructors, of scholarlyscholarly journals, journals, including including the the Classic Journal, in thethe rudimentsrudiments ofof of thethe the mysteriesmysteries mysteries ofof hieroglyphics, ofhieroglyphics, hieroglyphics, Western Political Quarterly, the Jewish Quarterly and promisespromises to to proceed proceed withwith with such such caution caution and dis-anddis- dis-Review, and thethe Jewish Encyclopedia. cretion thatthat even even they they willwill will approveapprove approve ofof hishisof hismethods,methods, methods, Dr. Nibley received his his B.A. B.A. in inhistory history and and thethe the however muchmuch much they they maymay may disagreedisagree disagree with with hishis hisclassics in in 1934 1934 from the UniversityUniversity of ofof CaliforniaCalifornia California at at conclusions. Los Angeles,Angeles, wherewhere where he was graduatedgraduated with with, high Dr. Nibley,Nihley, whowho is isis professor professorprofessor of ofhistory history and and reli-reli- reli- honors. In InIn 1938 1938 hehe he receivedreceived received hishis hisPh.D.Ph.D. Ph.D. degreedegree degree fromfrom from gion at BrighamBrigham Young University and and who who hashas has the UniversityUniversity ofof of CaliforniaCalifornia California at at Berkeley,Berkeley, Berkeley, wherewhere where hehe he I been a a contributingcontributing contributing editoreditor editor ofof ofThe ImprovementImprovement Era also hashas done done post-doctoral post-doctoralwork. work. work. He Hehas hasbeen been a a for 22 years, isis eminentlyeminently qualifiedqualified qualified forfor for thethe the projectproject project hehe he university fellow fellowfellow inin in historicalhistorical historical research research atat theat the Univer- Univer- has undertaken. InIn In additionaddition addition toto tohishis his familiarityfamiliarity familiarity with with sity ofof CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia at at Berkeley, Berkeley, lecturer lecturer in historyinhistory history and and things Egyptian,Egyptian, he he activelyactively actively uses uses the theLatin,Latin, Latin, Greek,Greek, Greek, social philosophy philosophyphilosophy at at Claremont Claremont College, College, and and visitingvisiting visiting Hebrew, Syriac, Syriac, Babylonian, Babylonian, Russian, Russian, French, French, Ger- Ger-professorprofessor inin in classical classicalrhetoric rhetoric rhetoricat at atthe the UniversityUniversity University ofof of man, Arabic, Arabic, and and Coptic Coptic languages. languages. He Heis at is home at California. with primary documentsdocuments andand and originaloriginal original sources.sources. sources. "A"A NewNew LookLook at atat the thethe PearlPearl Pearl ofof ofGreatGreat Great Price"Price" Price" prom-prom- prom- Dr. NibleysNibley's writings writings include includeinclude ninenine nine extendedextended extended seriesseries series ises to to be be one one of ofthe the mostmost most significantsignificant significant seriesseries series of articles of articles in in The ImprovementImprovement Era. His ability hashas to appearappearappear in in the thethe pages pagespages ofof ofThe ImprovementImprovement Era also receivedreceived continuedcontinued continued recognition recognition in a in wide a wide variety variety in recentrecent years. years.years. D.L.G.

One of 1111 fragmentsfragments ofof papyruspapyrus presentedpresented to thethe ChurchChurch byby NewNew York's Metropolitan MuseumMuseumof ofArt. Art. TheThe papyri,papyri, onceonce inin JosephJoseph Smith's possession,possession, are being studied.studied. 1912,1912, andand of course many manythings things thatthat were saidsaid and written then with greatgreat confidenceconfidence andand finality wouldwould have to bebe revised today.today. On the otherother hand, aa carefulcareful surveysurvey of the journals will, IhiU'hhim, .c «ww we believe, show that thethe yearyear 19121912 sawsaw moremore significantsignificant studies published inin the fieldfield thanthan anyany otherother yearyear beforebefore or since; Egyptology reachedreached aa peak in 1912—it1912— it was the ageage 3VOIC:;411V" of the giants. SoSo ifif itit shouldshould nownow turn outout thatthat thethe giantsgiants 4.`31114414.."7,1 were anything butbut infallible, thatthat should teach us to bebe wary of the scholarly dogmatism of our own day. , YistNt.tey Nothing could be more retrograde to our desire than to C'''.11110011,. iii‘s,i11-1;: LA. call up thethe beardedbearded andand frock-coatedfrock-coated savantssavants ofof 19121912 to gogo through theirtheir pompouspompouspaces pacesall allover overagain. again. ButBut itit isis 434- „ • others who have conjured up the ghostlyghostly juryjury toto testifytestify tre•.%-, against the Prophet;Prophet; andand unlessunless theythey areare givengiven satisfaction,satisfaction, i their sponsorssponsors cancan spread abroad,abroad, asas they did inin BishopBishop A,4-4?*f• II . Spalding's day, the false report that thethe ScholarsScholars havehave spokenspoken the final word and "completely demolished"demolished" (that(that was their expression)for forall all timetime thethe Pearl of GreatGreat Price and itsits author's claimclaim toto revelation.revelation. :Tija-111.-4

19 —

the that "Of"Of allall thethe attacksattacks on Mormonism, thethe the great great campaigncampaign campaignof of1912 1912of 1912. .. .. was was. . wasthe one onethe that one should shouldthat should havehave sucsue have suc

The silence of the Latter-day Saints inin a matter thatthat bishop failed to include in hishis tremendoustremendous barragebarrage aa singlesingle concernsConcerns them themso so vitallyvitally cancan only be interpretedinterpreted as anan shell containingcontaining an item of solid and relevant evidence. IfIf abashed silence,silence,leading leadingmany manyof ofthe the worldworld andand of thethe he has anyany otherother ammunitionammunition thanthan namesnames andand credentials,credentials, Saints toto concludethat that therethere isis nothing toto be said inin he never uses itit—he—he hurls at thethe MormonsMormons aa cannonadecannonade ofof Joseph Smith'sSmith's behalf,behalf, thanthan which nothing couldcould be furtherfurther titles andand opinions,opinions, and nothing more. "The"The authorityauthority from thethe truth. AndAnd soso thethe sorrysorry littlelittle sagasaga ofof 19121912 mustmust of expertsexperts in anyany lineline ofof researchresearch isis alwaysalways toto bebe acceptedaccepted

needs be retold if onlyonly toto forestallforestall indefiniteindefinite repetitionsrepetitions ofof without question,question, unless there is grave reason to doubt their what happened then as wellwell asas inin 1845,1845, 1865,1865, andand 1903.1903. conclusion. ThereThere isis nono suchsuch reasonreasonhere."-^ here."' AndAnd who isis

situation is essentially it The situation today is essentially the same as it was on talking? Spalding'sSpalding's No. 1 expert,expert, a youngyoung man who hadhad all thosethose occasions,occasions, with thethe Mormons,Mormons, untraineduntrained inin just got his degree (not in Egyptology)—heEgyptology) he tellstells us that we Egyptology, helpless to technical the Egyptology, helpless to questionquestion on technical grounds the must accept his verdict "without question" because he is an assertions of experts as Deveria E. assertions of suchsuch experts as Deveria andand E. A. W. Budge,Budge, expert and sees nono reasonreason toto doubtdoubt hishis conclusions.conclusions. This isis who grandly waved theirtheir credentials for for allall to see,see, im-im- what we mean by authoritarianism. patiently stated their opinions,opinions, andand thenthen gingerlygingerly decamped,decamped, But then, who would ever have thought in 1912 that any *refusing toto behe ledled intointo anyany discussiondiscussion with thethe ignorantignorant But then, who would ever have thought in 1912 that any opposition. other kindkind ofof ammunitionammunition wouldwould bebe necessary?necessary? What waswas there to say after the official voice of Scholarship had And so the debate has never really come to the floor, the there to say after the official voice of Scholarship had spoken? The Mormons did what they could. They pointed challengers beingbeing ever satisfiedsatisfiedthat that thethe mere sight of their spoken? The Mormons did what they could. They pointed out that equally great authorities had been proven wrong muscles shouldshould behe sufficient toto settle the issue without a out that equally great authorities had been proven wrong about the Bible time and again. ^ They called attention contestcontest. "These"These 'experts''experts' have given us a lotlot ofof opinions,"opinions," about the Bible time and again.' They called attention to the brevity and superficiality of the experts' comments: wrote the outsider, R. C. Webb, ofof thethe 19121912 affair, "which to the brevity and superficiality of the experts' comments: "This 'inquiry,' " wrote Webb, "has been no inquiry at all they have not attemptedattempted toto proveprove byby authoritativeauthoritative demon-demon- "This `inquiry,'" wrote Webb, "has been no inquiry at all

in . . opinion, pure in anyany realreal sense.sense. . . . [It][It] presentspresents merelymerely aa medleymedley ofof . with stration....stration. . . WeWc areare concernedconcerned whollywholly with opinion, pure opinions. It furnishes absolutely no assistance to and simple,simple, and not withwith anythinganything thatthat maymay bebe provedproved opinions...... It furnishes absolutely no assistance to ."-^ [the] reader. . . They noted that the judges approached conclusively."conclusively."-2 [the] reader. . . ."° They noted that the judges approached their task in aa thoroughlythoroughly hostile statestate ofof mind.°mind.° When For the benefitbenefit ofof thosethose readersreaders whowho maymay havehave forgottenforgotten an editorialeditorial in thethe ChurchChurch newspapernewspaper pointed outout in thethe some of the details of 1912,1912, it may be recalledrecalled that BishopBishop most reserved and respectful language that there were indeed Spalding asked eight Egyptologists what what they thought ofof some rather obvious contradictions and discrepancies in the Joseph Smith'sSmith's interpretation ofof the Facsimiles inin the PearlPearl some rather obvious contradictions and discrepancies in the views of the experts, and that the Mormons might at least of Great Price. YouYou cancan imagineimagine whatwhat theirtheir answersanswers were.were. views of the experts, and that the Mormons might at least be permitted to ask for "a stay of final judgment," since (as Now let us take it upup fromfrom there.there. B. H. RobertsRoberts expressedit) it) "these questions that depend on The AppealAppeal toto Authority—OfAuthority—Of allall attacksattacks onon Mormon-Mormon- special scholarship areare questionsquestions thatthat require timetime and re-

ism undertakenundertaken beneath the bannersbanners ofof sciencescience andand search ...... andand thethe conclusionsconclusions ofof thethe learnedlearned inin suchsuch scholarship, thethe great campaign of 19121912 conducted by the matters are not asas unchangeableunchangeable as they seem,"'seem,"" the New ". Right Reverend F. S. Spaulding, Episcopal bishop of Utah, York TimesTimes exploded withwith indignation: ". . .. thethe DeseretDeseret was the oneone thatthat shouldshould havehave succeededsucceeded mostmost bril-bril- Evening News spent its entire editorial pagepage reviling scholars

liantly. CarefullyCarefully plannedplanned andand shrewdlyshrewdly executed,executed, it en-en- and scholarship."'scholarship."" OneOne diddid notnot talktalk hackback toto recognizedrecognized

listed the servicesservices of the mostmost formidableformidable rosterroster ofof scholarsscholars scholars—itscholars— it justjust wasn't done.done. that havehave everever declareddeclared against Joseph Smith as a prophet,prophet, The Deseret News News editorial in questionquestion pointed out that while at thethe samesame timetime loudlyloudly professingprofessing feelings of nothing the MormonsMormons hadhad somesome yearsyears beforebefore alreadyalready anticipatedanticipated but affectionaffection and esteem forfor the Saints and a realreal desiredesire Bishop Spalding's investigations by making inquiries on their to helphelp themthem findfind thethe lightlight inin a aspiritspirit ofof high-mindedhigh-minded ownn amongamong leadingleading BritishBritish Egyptologists,Egyptologists, whichwhich "at leastleast dedication toto truthtruth atat allall costs.costs. serves toto showshow thatthat we havehave notnot been lax, nor afraid to learn Bishop Spalding's grand design hadhad all thethe ingredientsingredients ofof from whatever lightlight the wisdom of the world might throwthrow

quick and sure success but butone, one,and andif if inin spite ofof it thethe upon the illustrationsillustrations of the BookBook of AbrahamAbraham and theirtheir

Pearl of Great Price is still beingbeing read, it isis becausebecause thethe translation by thethe ProphetProphet Joseph."'Joseph.""

20 Improvement Era ceeded most most brilliantly."brilliantly." brilliantly."

Two days earlier an editorial in the Deseret News News made when B. H.H.- RobertsRoberts was pressingpressing Dr. Mercer pretty hard, a clearclear statementstatement of policy:policy: "The"The Latter-dayLatter-day SaintsSaints courtcourt the latterlatter overruledoverruled him too,too, withwith thethe observationobservation thatthat inquiry, suchsuch asas this.this. TheyThey wantwant toto knowknow the truth,truth, andand the sourcesource of the difficultiesdifficulties in thethe casecase ofof Mr.Mr. Roberts,Roberts, only the truth. ThereThere isis nono importantimportant issueissue that theythey areare "is"is to bebe foundfound in thethe factfact that thethe writerwriter is aa laymanlayman in not gladglad toto face,face, whetherwhether presented byby friend or foe."" things Egyptian.""Egyptian."^-' WhatWhat Mercer'sMercer's explanationexplanation amountsamounts And in thethe discussiondiscussion thatthat followed,followed, thethe MormonsMormons provedproved to, asas R.R. C.C. WebbWebb observes,observes, isis thethe argumentargument "in"in effect,effect, their good faith and sinceritysincerity by printingprinting inin thethe pagespages ofof that scholarsscholars in hishis departmentdepartment cancan makemake nono mistakes,""mistakes, "^'^ The ImprovementImprovement EraEra Era the lettersletters ofof BishopBishop SpaldingSpalding andand or, inin Mercer'sMercer's own words, thatthat their opinionsopinions are "un-"un- his supporters,supporters, without deletiondeletion andand withoutwithout comment,comment, assailable." How cancan oneone discussdiscuss anan "unassailable""unassailable" along with thosethose ofof thethe Latter-dayLatter-day SaintsSaints defendingdefending JosephJoseph opinion? OneOne can't—thatcan't—that is just the point;point; thethe issueissue isis Smith. closed; no debate is intendedintended oror possible.possible. There was no suchsuch dialoguedialogue in thethe non-Mormonnon-Mormon period-period- In hishis finalfinal letter,letter. Dr.Dr. MercerMercer dividesdivides the oppositionopposition intointo icals in whichwhich Dr.Dr. SpaldingSpalding published,published, includingincluding his ownown three classes:classes: "First, intelligent andand fair-mindedfair-minded Mormons,"Mormons," Utah newspaper,newspaper, The UtahUtah Survey; Survey; in spitespite ofof hishis con-con- namely, those whowho do not challengechallenge the scholarsscholars in anyany stant protestsprotests of impartiality and intellectualintellectual integrity,integrity, only way; "secondly biased Mormons (perhaps unconsciously),"unconsciously)," '^^ his own and like opinions ever appeared there.there." that is,is. MormonsMormons guiltyguilty ofof pro-Mormonpro-Mormon leanings,leanings, includingincluding The MormonMormon writers,writers, moreover,moreover, never claimed any suchsuch B. H. Roberts,Roberts, John A. Widtsoe, John Henry Evans,Evans, andand religious immunity as might have been conceded to Joseph religious immunity as might have been conceded to Joseph J. M. Sjodahl—inSjodahl—in fact, all whowho havehave presumedpresumed toto questionquestion Smith as a spiritualspiritual leader,leader, butbut alwaysalways insistedinsisted on arguingarguing the verdictverdict of thethe experts.experts. Fortunately for Mercer, allall theirtheir the case onon its merits: "I"I allow the bishopbishop all hishis claimsclaims toto remarks can bebe summarilysummarily strickenstricken fromfrom thethe record,record, sincesince the diredire resultsresults toto 'Mormonism''Mormonism' "" wrote B. H. Roberts,Roberts, "if"if they areare "very"very ignorantignorant in respectrespect to thethe subjectsubject theythey pre-pre- he can,can, toto thethe pointpoint ofof demonstration,demonstration, makemake hishis casecase goodgood tend toto criticise"—itcriticise"— it is not for them under anyany circumstancescircumstances against Joseph SmithSmith asas aa translator.""translator."^- BishopBishop Spalding'sSpalding's to talk back;back; they are all outout ofof order.order. Dr.Dr. Mercer'sMercer's thirdthird scholarly band,band, on the otherother hand,hand, mostmost emphaticallyemphatically did class is "biased"biased and ignorantignorant gentiles,"gentiles," being any such asas claim immunity—toimmunity—to questionquestionthem them waswas toto "revile" that may be inclined to give ear to the Mormon replies."replies.^" noble thing calledcalled Scholarship,Scholarship, and that waswas thethe secretsecret ofof And so the doctorsdoctors must be allowed to sit inin judgmentjudgment their strength.strength. on theirtheir ownown casecase becausebecause no one else is qualified;qualified; and ifif When Dr.Dr. S.S. A.A. B.B. Mercer,Mercer, aa hustlinghustling youngyoung clergymanclergyman they should happen toto decidedecide inin favorfavor ofof themselves,themselves, why,why,

who ran interferenceinterference for the bishopbishop throughoutthroughout the game,game, there is justjust nothing we can dodo aboutabout it,it, sincesince theirtheir exper-exper- summed up the casecase for the prosecution,prosecution, his argument made tise is far beyond thethe reach of the layman, placing them in a perfectperfect circle: "The failurefailure of thethe MormonMormon replies,"replies," he fact "at thethe intellectualintellectual summitsummit of thethe universe"universe" by thethe wrote, "is explained byby thethe fact that the unanimous opinion ancient professionalprofessional mystery ofof "autodeification in the orderorder of the scholarsscholars is unassailable. In thethe judgmentjudgment of thethe of knowing."'knowing."^ ^

scholarly world, therefore, Joseph Smith standsstands condemnedcondemned This arrangementarrangement is basic to thethe prosperityprosperity of mostmost ofof of self-deception or imposition.imposition."^^ the learnedlearned professions.professions. Long ago the JesuitsJesuits deviseddevised a spe-spe- Who said that thethe MormonMormon reply had "failed"? MercerMercer cial vocabularyvocabulary and aa specialspecial disciplinediscipline ofof theologytheology which,which, did, to hebe sure. HereHere wewe seesee thethe greatgreat convenienceconvenience of per-per- they announced, only one of their faith couldcould reallyreally under-under- mitting the attorneyattorney for thethe prosecutionprosecution to act asas judge.judge. stand; forfor anyany outsideroutsider toto riskrisk criticismcriticism ofof anythinganything theythey Dr. Mercer announces thatthat the Mormon replies toto him and chose toto propound in that reconditerecondite jargon couldcould only hebe his colleagues havehave failedfailed—because—because he hesays saysso. so. And what the sheerestsheerest folly, as Arnold Lunn reminded thethe greatgreat scien-scien-

he says must bebe soso becausebecause his colleaguescolleagues agree svithwath him. tist J. B. S. Haldane when the latterlatter venturedventured to pointpoint outout When the MormonsMormons pointed out that there was anything certain weaknesses in inhis histheology.^" theology)" But thenthen thethe scien-scien- but unanimousunanimous agreementagreement amongamong thethe colleagues,colleagues, MercerMercer tists have played thethe samesame gamegamefor forall all itit is worth. Thus,Thus, sternly overruled them,them, explaining thatthat where any ordinaryordinary when "the mainmain objectionsobjections [to[to thethe evolutionaryevolutionary hypothesis)hypothesis]

person might find thethe disagreementsdisagreements rather obvious,obvious, "to"to were clearly stated in its very early days," they wwereere quickly the expertexpert there is herehere nono discrepancy.""discrepancy."^^ OnlyOnly oneone overruled because "most"most ofof them camecame fromfrom peoplepeople whowho

had to be an EgyptologistEgyptologist to tosee seeit itthat thatway. way. That isis whywhy were not trained biologists.biologists. . . .. TheirTheir objectionsobjections could be

January 1968 21 — —

"To thisthis dayday nono oneone hashas come to grips with thethe PearlPearl ofof GreatGreat Price"Price"

countered summarily on thethe groundsgrounds ofof ignorance,ignorance, despitedespite In thisthis casecase thethe answeranswer is—everything.is—everything. Dr.Dr. MercerMercer the factfact that Darwin'sDarwin's hypothesishypothesis appealedappealed so largely to the frankly admits that hehe andand thethe otherother scholarsscholars "did notnot seemseem evidence ofof commoncommon observation observationobservationand and and experience.experience.'"° experience.""-° Com-Com- to taketake thethe mattermatter veryvery seriously,"seriously," andand devoteddevoted very little ". monmen observation and experience, nono mattermatter how clear and time to it indeed: ".... the. the hastehaste seaswaswas justifiedjustified inin thethe mindsminds convincing, were no match forfor officialofficial credentials.credentials. of the scholars byby thethe simplicity ofof thethe task.task. EvenEven less time Even while Sir Gavin de BeerBeer boasts thatthat "the founda-founda- could bebe expected,""expected."-"expected." tion principleprinciple ofof sciencescience isis thatthat itit concernsconcerns itselfitself exclusivelyexclusively Elsewhere hehe explains thethe perfunctory treatmenttreatment of the with what cancan bebe demonstrated,demonstrated, and doesdoes not allowallow itselfitself whole thing: "They probablyprobably felt as I did, that their timetime to hebe influencedinfluenced byby personalpersonal opinionsopinions or sayingssayings of any-any- wasWas too valuable to spendspend on suchsuch scientificscientific work asas that

body. . . .. TheThe mottomotto ofof thethe RoyalRoyal SocietySociety ofof LondonLondon isis of JosephJoseph Smith's guesses.""guesses."-"guesses."' WhateverWhateverWhatever thethe reason,reason, theythey Nullus inin verba:verbs:verba: we take no man's word for anything,"-^anything,".anything,'s never intended to do anyany realreal work,work, butbut dependeddepended entirelyentirely he isis guiltyguilty ofof seekingseeking to overaweoverawe or at leastleast impressimpress usus on theirtheir credentialscredentials toto seesee thethe thing through.through, with the authorityauthority of menmen ofof "science""science" in generalgeneral and ofof A^ word from such great men should hebe enough to settle the RoyalRoyal SocietySociety of of LondonLondon (all(all stand, please) in par-par- anything, but still wewe insist on appealingappealing to thethe sloganslogan ofof ticular. the RoyalRoyal Society.Society. ManyMany eminenteminent scientists,scientists, inin fact, areare Just so,so, inin thethe SpaldingSpalding discussiondiscussion "the"the prosecutionprosecution restsrests today calling attention to the cripplingcrippling effecteffect of appeal toto itsits casecase onon thethe reputationsreputations and standingstanding ofof itsits wit-wit- authority and positionposition inin science,science, aa professionalprofessional compla-compla- ."-- nesses..nesses. . . . . ."" "In"In compiling compilingcompiling the the pamphlet," pamphlet,"pamphlet," wrotewrotewrote the cency thatthat "may in factfact bebe thethe closingclosing of our eyeseyes to as yetyet bishop in his summing-up, "I mademade nono claimclaim toto aa knowledgeknowledge undiscovered factorsfactors whichwhich may remainremain undiscoveredundiscovered forfor

of Egyptology. I introduction to of Egyptology. I merelymerely wrote an introduction to thethe many years if we believe thatthat the answeranswer has been already opinions ofof scholars.scholars. In a mattermatter ofof thisthis kindkind mostmost of usus found."'found."-''found.", ThusThus Thus a agreatgreat biologistbiologist remindsreminds usus thatthat "it isis must form our judgmentjudgment fromfrom thethe opinionopinion ofof competentcompetent important to combat the assumption"assumption" thatthat we knowknow what experts."=experts."'experts."-^3 ThusThus hehe echoesechoes thethe opinionopinion ofof hishis No.No. 1I1 expert,expert, primitive conditions of life were likelike (every(every scientistscientist knewknew cited above, whosvho gracefullygracefully returnsreturns thethe compliment,compliment, noting that inin 1912),1912), sincesince "as"as longlong asas thisthis isis assumed,assumed, insufficientinsufficient that afterafter all,all, itit waswas thethe goodgood bishop'sbishop's opinion thatthat in thethe effort willwill behebe put intointo thethe attemptattempt toto findfind waysways to obtainobtain end would settlesettle allall disputes:disputes: "The"The advisersadvisers ofof thethe BishopBishop genuine evidence."-''evidence."'evidence." proved to his satisfaction" that glaringglaring contradictions of the Now, part of the secretsecret of the unusual productivity of the judges diddid notnot really exist, "that"that therethere werewere no suchsuch differ-differ- Egyptologists ofof 1912 wasu-as aa buoyant adolescentadolescent confidenceconfidence ences. TheThe apparentapparent discrepanciesdiscrepancies were proved notnot to bebe injn theirtheir ownown newlynewly foundfound powers,powers, whichwhich present-daypresent-day real." ThusThus Spalding'sSpalding's chiefchief adviseradviser declaresdeclares thatthat hishis scholars may envy, but which they cancan wellwell dodo without—without satisfying bishop that all well, had advisers, byby satisfyingthe the bishop that all seaswas well, had there isis somethingsomething decidedlydecidedly sophomoroniesophomoronicin in theirtheir loftylofty brought the issueissue to itsits finalfinal andand satisfactorysatisfactory conclusion,conclusion, pretensions toto havehave plumbed thethe depths ofof thethe human pastpast binding all thinking men to accept andand shareshare hishis opinion.-^opinion:.opinion.' after having taken aa fewfew courses,courses, read a few texts (bristling Thus reassured,reassured. BishopBishop SpaldingSpalding proceededproceeded to demolishdemolish with^vith questionquestion marks), and broken bread with the learnedlearned R. C. Webb: "We feelfeel that wewe shouldshould be in aa betterbetter positionposition at aa digdig oror two.two. TheirTheir inexpressibleinexpressible contemptcontempt forfor JosephJoseph to judge the value of the opinions ofof Robert C.C. Webb, PhD Smith as an ignorantignorant interloperinterloper isis aa measuremeasure of their pridepride

is. If ...... ifif if wewewe werewerewere toldtoldtold definitely definitelydefinitely who who hehe he is. is. . .. . . . IfIf in theirtheir ownown achievement.achievement.

Dr. Talmage . . .. wouldwould informinform us what thethe author'sauthor's realreal Inin 19121912 the EgyptologistT. T. E.E. Peet tooktook toto tasktask allall lay-lay- name is,is, where he receivedreceived his degree,degree, and whatwhat academicacademic men who "mistrust a process in which they see a criticcritic position hehe holds, we should be betterbetter ableable toto estimateestimate assign halfhalf a verse to Source EE and the other half toto SourceSource the valuevalue ofof hishis opinions.opinions."opinions."=^="= 5 HereHere it it is is again: again: TheTheThe bishopbishop J."j." TimeTime hashas moremore thanthan vindicatedvindicated thethe skepticalskeptical laymen,laymen, in is not interestedinterested in Webb's argumentsarguments and evidence,evidence, butbut in but inin thosethose days Dr. Peet laid it onon thethe line:line: "Have"Have thesethese his statusstatus andand rank—considerationsrank—considerations thatthat areare supposedsupposed toto people followed the developmentsdevelopments of modern philology and bearhear no weight whatever with honesthonest searcherssearchers after truth—truth do they realize thatthat the criticscritics ...... areare men men whosewhose wholewhole Nullus inin verbalverba! What onon earthearth havehave aa man'sman's name,name, degree,degree, lives are devoted toto the study ofof suchsuch problems,problems, and whosewhose academic position,position, and,and, ofof allall things, opinions, to do with knowledge ofof HebrewHebrew andand of the SemiticSemitic languages inin gen-gen-

whether a thing is true or not?not? eral is so greatgreat thatthat the differences of ofstyle style...... are as patent

22 Improvement EraEra Coffins similar to thesethese maymay havehave housed mummies boughtbought by JosephJoseph Smith.Smith.

to themthem as as theythey they would would hebe in be EnglishEnglish in English toto a layman?"'layman?"-"'^ to a layman?'" ProfessorPeet Peet Peetwould would wouldhave have have donedone welldonewell to well harken to toharken whatwhat to what Bishop Spalding's Spalding's own own star witness,starwitness, witness, ProfessorProfessor Professor A. H.H. Sayce,Sayce, A. H. Sayce, had writtenwritten somesome some yearsyears years before:hefore: before: "How thenthen isis isitit possibleitpossible possible forfor the forthe European theEuropean European scholarsscholars scholars ofof of today to to analyseanalyse analyse an oldanold HebrewoldHebrew Hebrew hookbook intohookinto itsits into componentcomponent its component

is is parts . . .?..? .? HebrewHebrew Hebrew is a ais languagelanguage a language thatthat is thatveryvery isimperfectlyimperfectly very imperfectly known; it it hashas has longlong long ceasedceased ceased toto bebe tospoken;spoken; be spoken; onlyonly aa fragment fragmentonly a fragment of its literatureliterature has has come come downdown down toto us,us, andtoand us, thatthat and often that in a aoften in a corrupt state; state; and and the meaningthe meaning ofof manymany of ofofmany thethe wordswords of the whichwhich words which have survived, survived, andand and even even of the of grammaticalgrammatical the grammatical forms, is forms, un- is un- certain and and disputed. disputed. In fact, In fact,it isis justjust it is thisthis just fragmentaryfragmentary this fragmentary and and imperfect knowledgeknowledge knowledgeof of thethe' of languagethe'language language whichwhich hashaswhich made has the made the work and and results results of the of higherthe higher criticscritics critics possible. possible. The 'critical' The 'critical' analysis of of the the Pentateuch Pentateuch isis butbut isaa measurebutmeasure a measure ofof ourour ignoranceignorance of our ignoranceand demolishing demolishing their their claimsclaims claims with thewiththe samesame the devastating samedevastating devastating

. . in and the the limitationslimitations limitations of our of knowledge.our knowledge.. . . . With . .aa Withfullerfuller a fullerfinality as as was was toto delighttodelight delight thethe intellectuals theintellectuals intellectuals againagain in again 1865,1865, in 1865, knowledgeknow ledgewe we wewould would wouldcome come cometo to aa recognitionto a recognition ofof the futilityfutility of the futility1912,1912, and and today. today. of thethe task."^'task." task." The figuresfigures in inthethe the Facsimiles,Facsimiles, Facsimiles, it waswas it announced announcedwas announced inin 1845,1845, in 1845, Subsequent discoveries discoverieshave have provenprovenhave provenhim him quite him right, quite but right,were but "familiar "familiar and and nownow now understood,"understood," understood," andand itit servedandserved it JosephservedJoseph Joseph Sayce'sSayce 's earlyearly early protestprotest protest waswas awas voice a voicein thethe wilderness.inwilderness. the wilderness. SoonSoon Smith Soon right rightright forfor for "confidently"confidently "confidently defyingdefying defying inevitableinevitable inevitable exposure,"exposure," exposure," the higher higherhigher criticscritics critics werewere were havinghaving having itit all theirtheirit all own owntheir way,way, own andand way, nosynownos, and thatthat that "the"the "the ChampollionsChampollions Champollions ofof thethe ofBibliothequeBibliotheque the Bihliotheque dede ReiRei de Bei none ran ran moremore more eagerlyeagerly eagerly withwith withthemthem themthanthan Sayce thanSayce himself.Saycehimself. himself.[sic] and the thethe BritishBritish British Museum"Museum" Museum" had thehadthe subjectsubject the subject well in well in B. H. Roberts,Roberts, aa personalapersonal personal friendfriend friend ofof Spalding's,Spalding's, of Spalding's, admittedadmitted admitted hand. It ItIt was waswas alreadyalready already apparentapparent apparent to thethe tolearnedlearned the learned that "the"the that "the

that the the bishopbishop bishop held held the whipthe whip handle:handle: handle: "I"I thinkthink "I thethe think bishopbishop the bishopwholehole thing thing is istootoo too grossgross gross to bearbear to patiently,patiently,bear patiently, too painful too to painful to

is it ."•'' matter, is entitledentitled to tohave have it knownknown it known byby thosethose by thosereadingreading reading thesethese 'remarks''remarks' these 'remarks'laugh at. at . .. .'"'. ."" That ThatThat shouldshould should havehave have settledsettled settled thethe matter, the butbutmatter, but how eminent eminent is isthe the juryjury jury pronouncingpronouncing pronouncing in thethe case incase the againstagainst case againstthe Mormons MormonsMormons were were not notconvinced convinced and would\\ould and havewould done have well done well

the 'Mormon' 'Mormon' Prophet.Prophet. Prophet...... One.One . . Onewho canwho lay can nono claimlayclaim no toto claim in undertakingundertaking to some some study study of Egyptian of Egyptian on their on own.own. their own.

the learning learning ofof ofEgypt Egypt atat first at hand,first hand,. .. . . maymay . .well wellmay pausepause well pauseAgain and and againagain again JosephJoseph Joseph SmithSmith Smith andand BrighamBrigham and Brigham YoungYoung haulhad Young had before suchsuch such anan anarrayarray array ofof Egyptologists.Egyptologists.... of Egyptologists...... InIn theirtheir Inpresencepresence their presencepointed the the way way for for the theLatter-dayLatter-day Latter-day Saints Saints to prepareprepare to preparethem- them- it isis becoming becomingbecoming in me,in me, and andallall othersothers all others unschooledunschooled unschooled in ancientancient in ancientselves for for just just suchsuch such eventualities,eventualities, eventualities, pleadingpleading pleading withwith them with toto them to Egyptian lore, lore, to tospeak speak with with modestymodesty modesty and behavebehave and withbehavewith take with heed heed to tothemselvesthemselves themselves and use and their use brains.brains. their Even Evenbrains. duringduring Even during becoming deference."''-deference."? deference."" the grimgrimgrim daysdays days ofof ofDecemberDecember December 1844,1844, 1844, thethe leaders the leaders of the Church of the Church

One maymay wonder wonder how how anan admittedly anadmittedly admittedly unqualifiedunqualified unqualified partyparty "advise[d]party"advise [d] the the Elders Elders toto getget toup up getschools, schools, up schools,that thatall all. ....that. mightmight all . . might could pass pass on onsuchsuch such reconditerecondite recondite qualificationsqualifications qualifications in others,others, in hutbut others, hebe taughttaught but inin inthethe the branchesbranches branches ofof education,education, of education, andand prepareprepare and them- them-prepare them- it isisis the the credentials credentialscredentials ofof the theof specialiststhespecialists specialists thatthat impressimpress that BrotherimpressBrother Brotherselves, thatthat that the the leastleast least mightmight might bebe fullyfully be competent, competent,fully competent, toto correspondcorrespond to correspond "^'' Roberts, notnot not their their knowledge, knowledge, whichwhich which hehe is in he no is position in no positionto withw ith thetothe wise wise men men ofof thetheof theworld.world."" world.'"" TheyThey Theywerewere to towere meetmeet to the meet the judge. FacedFaced Faced byby bya solidsolid a solid phalanxphalanx phalanx ofof PhD's,PhD's, of PhD's, thethe MormonsMormons the Mormons scholarsscholars of ofthe the world world on theirtheir on theirownown grounds; grounds;own grounds; butbut insteadinstead but ofof instead of were properly properly overawed; overawed;they they hadtheyhad no had David no toDavid gogo againstagainst to go againstthat, human humanhuman naturenature nature sawsaw sawfitfit toto fitexpendexpend to expend itsits energiesenergies its energies else-else- else- these Goliaths, Goliaths, andand and for thatfor theythatthey hadtheyhad onlyonly had themselvesthemselves only themselves toto where: to "There "There "There areare are hundredshundreds hundreds inin thisthis in community," community,"this community," saidsaid said blame. Brigham Young Young in in1860,1860, 1860, "who "who are more moreare moreeagereager toeagerto becomebecome to become The MormonsMormons Default—FromDefault Default—From—From thethe firstthefirst thefirstthe Latter-dayLatter-day the Latter-day rich inin in the thethe perishableperishable perishable things things of this of worldworld this thanworld toto adornthanadorn to adorn Saints had had good good reason reason to expect to expect the Pearl the of PearlGreatGreat PriceofPrice Great their Price minds mindsminds withwith with thethe the powerpower power ofof self-government,self-government, of self-government, and with and aa with a to comecome in in forfor for somesome some roughrough rough treatment.treatment. treatment. "Here,"Here, then,""Here,then," wrotewrote then," knowledgewrote ofof of thingsthings things asas theythey as theywere, were,asas they as are, they and are,asas theythey and as they Parley P. P. Pratt Pratt inin 1842,in1842, 1842, "is another"isanother another subjectsubject subject for the GentileGentilefor the Gentileare to toto come,""'come,"'"' come,""" andand and hehe rebukes rebukeshe rebukes thethe SaintsSaints the forSaintsfor beingbeing for satisfiedsatisfied being satisfied world to to stumblestumble stumble at, andat,and andforfor which forwhich which toto persecutepersecute to persecute thethe "to"to remaintheremain fixedfixed fixed withwith with aa veryvery a very limitedlimited limited amountamount amount ofof knowledge,knowledge, of knowledge, ."^^ Saints....""Saints....".Saints. . . Within WithinWithin three threethree yearsyears years ofof thatthat of remark thatremark remark thethe worldworld the worldand, like likelike aa adoordoor door uponupon upon itsits hinges, hinges,its hinges, move tomove andand frofroto fromandfrom frooneone from one i was firing firing the the samesame same scholarlyscholarly scholarly blastsblasts blasts againstagainst againstthethe FacsimilesFacsimiles the Facsimiles year toto anotheranother another withoutwithout without anyanv visibleanyvisible visible advancementadvancement advancement oror im- or im-

January 19681968 23

provement, lustinglusting afterafter thethe grovelling thingsthings ofof this lifelife familiar groundsgrounds asas puttingputting "Book"Book ofof AbrahamAbraham investiga-investiga- which perish withwith the thethe handling."•r handling."^^handling.'.' tion on aa moremore soundsound andand scholarlyscholarlyscholarly basis. basis.""basis."."'*° ButBut nono Those Latter-day SaintsSaints whowho have gone on to higherhigher studies were forthcoming onon the new foundationfoundation savesave a fewfew

studiesstudies have eithereither pursuedpursued thethe physicalphysical andand biologicalbiological "primarily for the laymen . .. .. makingmaking nono claimclaim ofof beingbeing

. . the student sciences oror coveted bread-and-butter certificates thatthat havehave .. . . .learned learnedlearned ororor scientific.".scientific."scientific."^^41 How, How,How, thethe ingenuousingenuousingenuous student rendered themthem allall thethe moremore subservientsubservient to meremere officeoffice and may ask, can any study hope to bebe "sound"sound andand scholarly"scholarly" authority. To thisthis dayday nono oneone hashas engagedengaged in thethe typetype ofof without being at least a littlelittle learnedlearned andand scientific?scientific? One study necessary toto comecome toto gripsgrips withwith thethe Pearl ofof GreatGreat should not enter the arenaarena unlessunless oneone isis willingwilling toto meetmeet Price, though that greatgreat bookbook openlyopenly invitesinvites suchsuch study:study: more formidable opposition than than the gullible student and "If"If thethe worldworld cancan findfind outout thesethese numbers,numbers, soso letlet it be.be. tractable layman.layman. Amen." .(To'(To(To bebe continued)continued) Up to the present,present, all studiesstudies of the Pearl of GreatGreat PricePrice FOOTNOTES 'Franklin^Franklin S.S. Spalding,Spalding, Joseph Smith,Smith, Smith, Jr.,Jr., As a TranslatorTranslator (Salt(Salt Lake City: The been in the nature of auxiliary 'Franklin S. Spalding, fr., As without exception have have been in the nature of auxiliary Arrow Press, 1912); reprintedreprintedby by the NationalNational CouncilCouncil of thethe ProtestantProtestant Episcopal Church (New(New York:York: ChurchChurch MissionsMissions House.House,House, 1915),1915);1915); photomechanicalphotomechanical historical background, etc. or pre- studies—compendiums,studies—compendiums, historical background, etc.—oretc ——or pre- repaint,reprint, SaltSaltSalt LakeLake City:City: ModernModemModern MicrofilmMicrofilm Company,Company, 1965.1965. Era, 16 °Robert'Robert"Robert C. C. WebbWebb Webb G.(J. (t. C.C. Homans). Homans),Homan), in TheThe ImpromenentImprovement Era, Era, Vol. Vol. 16 (1913).(1913),(1913), liminary surveys...surveys.''^surveys.. InInIn 187918791879 GeorgeGeorgeGeorge ReynoldsReynoldsReynolds notedpoted thatthat p. 10.11.1077.7177 .5.)5.^S. A.A.A. B.B.B. Mercer,Mercer,Mercer, TheThe Utah SurveySurvey (published(published monthly by thethe SocialSocial ServiceService said in spitespite ofof allall provocation,provocation, "very"very little hashas everever beenbeen said C.ommLesionCommissionof of ofthe the the EpiscopalEpiscopal EpiscopalChurch ChurchChurchin inin.Utah), Utah), Utah), Vol.Vol. I1 (September (September 1913), No. 1,1, p. SO.30.30. its as by the Elders of thethe ChurchChurch inin advocacyadvocacy of its claimsclaims as 'e.g.,•e.g., anan editorialeditorial in thethe Deseret Evening Evening News, News, Dec. 17, 1912, p.p. 4, andand Era), Vol. 16 7.I.J. M.M.M. Sjodahl,Slodahl,Sjodahl, inin The ImprovementImprovement EraEra Era (hereafter(hereafter designateddesignated asas as Era),Era), Vol. 16 vigo- an Inspiredinspiredinspired record,"record," and thatthat whilewhile "outsiders"outsiders havehave vigo- (1913),(1919), p.p. 326.326. The TheThe high highhigh critics criticscritics erred errerred ed egregiously egregiouslyegregiously especially especiallyespecially wherewherewhere EgyptEgypt waswawas s concerned: "Dr."Dr"Dr.. Von Bohlen,Bohlen, thethe honoredhonored cozlabtamco-laborerco-laborer with GesenitiaGeseniusGesenius andand DeDe rously attacked itit . .. .. styledstyled itsits languagelanguage 'gibberish,''gibberish,' andand Wette,Wm., gave gave long long chapters chapters toto thethethe easyeasyeasy tasktask of ofprovingproving Imrefromfrom overwhelmingoverwhelming classical testimonytestimonytestimony that thatthat thethe BibleBible blunderedblundered almost almost even everyevery, timetime time It itit mentions mentionsmentions anan classed itit among the 'pious frauds' . . .. thethe peoplepeople ofof GodGod EgyptianErwin!. custom. custom.custom. According According to to this this ghatgustgreat scholar,scholar, the thethe statement statementstatement thatthat thethethe Egyptians built with brick in ancient times, used asses, cultivated the vine, and ."^^ Egyptians built with brick in ancient time, used asses, cultivated the vine, and have said oror writtenwritten littlelittle in inin its itsits defense. defense.defense. . . . .".. HisHis ownownown aused'2" g14,costlyb rl.materialsmaterials'12 inin such constructions asas thethe ar;nrgattetiV:Provark andand thethe tabernacle,tabernacle, provedprovedal that thethe authorauthor ofofof thethethe PentateuchPentateuchPentateuch waswas `an'an absoluteabsolute strangerstrangerstranger to to Egypt."' Egypt.'Egypt.'" " C.C. H. S.S. hookbook furnishesfurnishes a clear demonstration of just why the SaintsSaints Davis,Davis AncientAncient Egypt Egypt in in thethe the Light ofof ModernModern DiscoveriesDiscoveries (Meriden,(Meriden, Conn.,Conn., 1892),1892), P.p.p. 911.311.311. had never been able to getget offoff thethe ground—theyground—they just didn't "Robert°Robert"Robert C.C. Webb, inin Era,Era, Vol.Vol. 1717 (1914),(1914), p. p. 319, 313,313, conunentingcommenting ononon anan articlearticle in thethe SurveySurvey magazinemagazine of NovemberNovember 1913.1913.Webb Webbnotes, notes,in in thethe Era, Vol.Vol. 16,16, have the knowledge.knowledge. g;p. , j45435,435, thatthat afterafterafter thenthe great greatgreat promisesprtzipromisesses mademadmade: before bbeforeefore its itsits publication, publication,publication, Spalding'sSpalding'sSpalding's book 1;‘,,has turnedturnedd outout. disappointinglydisappointinglyi i. , dd.thin and.,andd skimpy.skimpy. The authorsauthors of aa longlong processionprocession of articles in the EraEra IN.°N."N. L.L. Nelson.Nelson,Nelson, in thrika,thethe Era, Vol. Vol. 16, 16,16, pp- pp.pp. 6069. 606f,606f, eewaswasPasY. moremore outspokeneuhlwitemoutspoken thanthanthan thethe others: "... "." . . aa juryafuryjury of of Gentiles,of Gentiles,Gentiles, prejudiced, prejudiced,prefudiced, ill-temperedill-tempered liken= and and mad mad with with thethethe inin 1912,1912, 1913,1913, 1914, andand 1917 franklyfrankly admitted their igno-igno- pride ofof 'humanhumanhuman learning."Imming."learning." 0''B.13.S. H. H. Roberts, Roberts,Roberts, inin DeseretDeseret News, Dec. 19, 1912, p.p. 11;II; cf.cf. JuniusJunius F. Wells.Wells. rance, and pleaded that theythey hadhad beenbeen caughtcaught byby surprise.surprise. ibid., p. 4.4. TheThe editorialeditorial tototo whichwhich theththee Times referred waswas ofof Dec. Dec.Dec. 17,17, 1912, p.p. 4. °The>^TheThe NewNew York Times Magazine, Magazine, Part 5,5, Sunday,Sunday, Dec.Dec. 29,29, 1912.1912. studies to to Their studies are nonetheless byby far the best to appearappear to .9."J. F.F. Wells,Wells, Minin Deseret News,News. Dec. 19, 1912,1912, p. 4. '°°Deseret^"Deseret,Deseret News, News, Dec. 17,17, 19121912,1912,; p. p. 4.4. the articles, master's theses since date; the books,books, articles, and master's theses turned out since "Bishop.BishopJ^Bishop Spalding'sSpalding''Spalding's attacksattacksattacks ininin TheThe Spirit Spirit of of thethe Mission, Mission,Mission, October October 1912, 1912.1912, are diedcited by by R. R. C. C. Webb Webb in in the thethe Era, Era, Vol. Vol. 17, 17,17, pp. pp.pp. 565ff: 565ff;565ff; S. S. A. A. B. B.B. Memer'sMemer'sMercer's longlong then have largely repeated they had to say, with per- then have largely repeated what they had to say, with per- irkattack in ininSpalding'' Spalding'sSpalding's pOLTtoteeT;ZI,,Utzlot411=1ownown paper,paper, The UtahUtah Survey,Survey, Vol. 1 (Sept.(Sept. 1913),Inc)1913),,,ai pp. 3-36.3-36, has been beenm reprintedreprinted photomechanicallyphotomechanically alongalong withwith the SpaldingSpalding book,book. SaltSalt LakeLakeLake haps an itemitem oror twotwo addedadded toto thethe bibliographiesbibliographies wherewhere it City: ModernModern MicrofilmMicrofilm Co.,Co., 1965.1905.1965. .3.«B. H.H. Roberts. Roberts.Roberts, Era,Em, Vol. 16.16, p.e.p. 310.310. was felt necessary to justify a degree in the seven arts. Even was felt necessary to justify a degree in the seven arts. Even 1"Samuel"Samuel°Samuel A.A. B.B.B. Mercer,Mercer,Mercer, Utah Survey, Vol.Vol. I,1, p. 36.36. '"Ibid.,"7iid.,,Ibid., pp. 17-18.17-18. the extensive labors of R. Clark, valuable as they are, the extensive labors of JamesJames R. Clark, valuable as they are, "ibid.,^•Ibid., p. 25.25. saRobert'"Robert"Robert C. Webb, Era, Vol.Vol. 17.17, p.p. 316:316: "ln"In"In thethe SpaldingSpalding literatureliterature thethe publicpublic are all of an introductory nature, clearing the decks as it are all of an introductory nature, clearing the decks as it has beenbeeneen thoroughlythoroughlythoroughly indoctrinatedindoctrinatedindoctrinated onon thethethe sufficiencysufficiencysufficiency ofof scholarlyscholarly opinions,opinions, whichwhich,, as as we we read, read, are areare 'always •ahms'always acceptedaccepted withoutwithout question unless there is gravegrave were for the real action to come. question unless there is grave were for the real action to come. reason toto doubt.doubt.'doubt.' ( "' ItalicsItalics added.ad.ded.added. mMercer,'I'Mercer,,Mercer, The Utah Survey, Survey,Survey, Vol. 11 (1913),(1913), pp.pp. 12-13.12-13. Full-scale college and extension courses, graduate semi- Vol. I (1913), pp. 12-13. Full-scale college and extension courses, graduate semi- .C.i^C. R.R. Dechert, Dechert,Dechert, in inin international InternationalInternational Philosophical PhilosophicalPhilosophical Quarterly, Quarterly, Vol.Vol. 55 (1965),(1965), pp. 321.32f. nars, Churchwide lecture series, stately public symposiums, PP. 32f. nars, Churchwide lecture series, stately public symposiums, 'aArnoldmArnold^"Arnold Lunn,Lunn, Science Science and thethe Supernatural; Supernatural; A ACorrespondence Between Ar- Ar- nold Lunn and B. S. Haldane (New York, 1935), and The Flight from Reason books, pamphlets, monographs, newsletters, and articles, all ngnoldld Li4Lunnnn argland. {.J. B. S. Haldane11tione TeNy(New York, 1935), and The FlightFlight from Reason books, pamphlets, monographs, newsletters, and articles, all (Newr,, York:.k: DialDial Press, 11931),9 caCh. xi.xi. -OR. Good, The Listener, May 7, 797. done up in fancy bindings usually adorned with reproduc- .R."R. Good, The Listener,er, May4ay 7, 1959,1959, p.p. 797. done up in fancy bindings usually adorned with reproduc- .SirmSlr-^Sir Gavin Gavin dede Beer,Beer, n77.The Listener,Listener, ladyJuly 3,3, 1958.1958. 2^'Robert C. Webb, Era, Vol. 16, 435. tions of thethe FacsimilesFacsimiles fromfrom thethe Pearl of GreatGreat PricePrice oror 66"RobertRobert C. Webb, Era, Vol.VOL 16.16, p. 435. "F.-•'F.F. S.S. Spaulding, Spaulding, UtahUtah Survey, Vol.Vol. 1,1, p. 3.3. with faked Egyptian symbols toto intrigue and beguile the .Mercer,=^Mercer,Mercer, op. op. cit., cit..cit., Vol.Vol. 1,1,I, p.p. 30.30. .SpaldIng,^Spalding, loc.loc. cit.cit. public, havehave all failedfailed to getget beyondbeyond the startingstarting pointpoint ofof "Mercer,.Mercer,"^Mercer, A op. cit., cit., pp.pp. 7,7,7, 30.30.30. .SamuelmSamuelJJ'Samuel A. A.. B. B. Mercer,.Mercer,Mercer, Era, Vol. 13,16, p.p. 613.619.613. the race,race, which afterafter allall must bebe run on thethe longlong hardhard °.G."*G.'G. A. A. Kerkut, Kerkut,Kerkut, implications ImplImplicationsications ofof Evolution Evolution (Oxford, (Oxford, New New York: York:York: Pergamon PergamonPergamon Press), p.p 195.195.195. obstacle course ofof EgyptianEgyptian grammargrammar andand epigraphy and not 2»N. Pirie,ric, in Annals of thethe New YorkYork AcademyAcademyofof Sciences,Sciences, 1969,1959, p. 373.373. :T1;^T. EE. Peet,Peet, EgyptEgypt candlod`he thethisee' Old01Ydor TestamentTe:Iret;Testament& (Liverpool((LiverpoolI f.heCr'Po"or 'UnlvervitylltrersftUniversitysy7;ess, Press.Press, on thethe lecturelecture platform.platform. TheThe Mormons,Mormons, itit seems,seems, havehave gonegone 1922),1922), p. 30.30. ^^A.A. H.Fr! Boyce. Sore,Sayce, Monuments,Monuments,ntt, FactsFacts and HigherHigher Critical Fancies (4th(4th ed..ed., Lon-Lon- all outout forfor thethe gimmicksgimmicks andand mechanicsmechanics ofof education,education, but don, 1910),1910), p. p. 19. 19.19. The TheThef firstfirst edition editionedition was waswas 1894.1894.1894. "B.3=^B.B. H.H.H. Roberts,Roberts, Era, Vol.Vol, 16,16, pp.pp. 310-11.310-11. have never evinced anyany realreal inclination to tackle the tough,tough, "Parley.Parleysaparley P.P. Pratt,Pratt,Pratt, The MillennialMillennial Star, Star, Vol. 3 (1842),(1842), p. 47.47. stEditorialoiEditorial^iRditorial Inin WarsawWarsaw SiSignal,gnal, Sept. 19,19, 1845,1845, p. 2. basic questions ofof evidenceevidenceraised raisedby by thethe Pearl ofof GreatGreat "Brigham'^Brigham YoungYoung History, Dec. 15, 18441844 (ms. ivin thethethe ChurchChurchChurch Historian'sHistorian's Office,Of(ice,Office, Salt LakeLake City). Price. Price. "Brigham.Brighqm^«Brigham Young,Young, fournapJournall .of Discourses,Discourses, Vol. Vol. 88 (1860,(1860), p. 9. DIbid.,'''Ibid.,., vol.Vol.l. 10 (1863).(1863),(1863), p.p. 2266.266. 66. A new school of interpretation somesome yearsyears ago attemptedattempted 660Th;'^''^ThisThls willwill becomebecomebecome immediatelyimmediately clear cleardear toto oneoneone inspectinginspecting ImamJames ILR. Clerk'sClark'sClark's PenalPearl of of Great PrigPricePrice BaliograPhyBibliography (Provo:(Provo: 9111 BYUBYU Extension ExtensionExtension Publications, Publications,Publications, 1965),1965),1965), to Gm. to meet the challengechallenge to and of the PearlPearl ofof Great PricePrice byby everyeve, single single item item of ofof which whichwhich dealsdeal,deals onlyonly incidentally incidentallyincidentally and and peripherallyperipherallyperipherally with thethe basic issuesissues ofof authenticity raised by thethe Facsimiles.Facsimiles. the face-saving thesis that the Book of ^''George Reynolds, The Book Abraham (Salt Lake City: Deseret the face-saving thesis that the Book of Abraham was notnot "George.George Reynolds,Remolds, The Book of ofof Abraham (Salt• Lake City: Deseret NewsNews Publishing Co., Co., 1879), p.p. I.1. written in 879), P. 1. written in EgyptianEgyptian after all, butbut inin "some"some SemiticSemitic lan-lan- "Charles'°Charles^oCharles E.E. Haggerty,'Haggerty,Haggerty, A Study ofof thethe RookBook ofof Abraham (BYL1(BYT.5(BYU Thesis, Thesis,Thesis, 1946),1946), PP.pp. 83-64.83-84.83-84. guage," and this guage," and hailed this shiftingshifting ofof thethe discussiondiscussion toto moremore 4*mid.,4131r1., p.P. 82.82.

24 24 Improvement EraEra 4inpv Seer • rF

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Photograph above above aboveshows shows showsan an apparentapparent an apparentmap mapthat that wasmap drawn that onon was recently drawn rediscovered on rediscovered in in thethe MetropolitanMetropolitan in the Metropolitan MuseumMuseumof of ArtArt andMuseum pre.pre- of Art and pre backing paper paper toto which to whichwas attachedattached was attachedone of piecespieces one of papyruspapyrus sented to tothethe Church.theChurch. Church.

Eternal Gifts Gifts If 1II werewerewere a aa musician musicianmusician And I couldcouldcould compose, compose.compose, ■ By SusanSusanSusan BroschinskyBroschinsky Broschinsky The music I Iwouldwould would bringbring Age 191919 Is thethe joy joy from from thethe the birdsbirds birds andand and thethe the babblingbabbling babbling 1]If II werewere anan inventor inventorinventor brook and and the the chapelchapel chapel bells hells whentvhen when theythey they ring.ring. ring. And II couldcould invent, invent,invent, If II werewere a speaker The thingthing rdI'd I'd inventinvent wouldloould would be be If I were a speaker And I couldcould speak,speak, Something as as deep deep and and as strongas strong and asandas as The wordswords that that I wouldIwoidd would saysay say pure asas the the tidetide tide comingcoming coming in frontfromfrom thethethe sea. sea.sea. Would comecome from from thethe the softsoft soft whisperingwhispering whispering breezesbreezes breezes If II werewerewere aa painterpainter at the tendertendertender wakingivaking waking of ofday.day. day. And II couldcould paint, paint.paint, And allall ofof thesethese things things that that I would wouldI would have,have, have, The paintingpainting that that I tvouldIwould would do do even though though they they be be so sofew, few, Is toto blendblend all allall thethe the beautybeauty beauty ofof ofGod'sGod's God's lovelylovely lovely VdI'd carefullycarefully wrapwrap in in eternal eternaleternal truth,truth, truth, andand and Earth with thethe radiant radiant freshnessfreshness freshness of dew.ofdew. dew. then II wouldwould give give them them toto toyou.you. you.

January 1968 1968 25