Metal Plates in Dire Straits

From the latest updates I’ve seen, things aren’t looking good for our Jordanian lead plates. As more scholars gain access to photos of the plates and are beginning to be able to evaluate the inscriptions and images, there are some who are quite certain that they are forgeries.  I think it will still be some time before we can know that conclusively, but that is the growing suspicion.

Bryce Haymond has put together a great summary of some of the most recent findings and opinions, organized into evidence supporting their authenticity vs. evidence of forgery.  There seems to be more evidence for them being forgeries. Please see his post at TempleStudy.com here: http://www.templestudy.com/2011/03/31/jordanian-lead-plates-authentic-forgery/#more-2396

Daniel McClellin has the content of an email that was sent by Peter Thonemann at Oxford to David Elkington (the archaeologist who is leading the investigation into the plates) in which Thonemann demonstrates how the (one) bronze tablet that he was shown was apparently made rather recently by someone who did not know Greek, as there are errors in the writing that suggest to Thonemann that the writer didn’t even know the Greek alphabet. Furthermore, the writings don’t make sense as they stand and appear to have been copied from known Greek inscriptions. You can read the full email at Daniel’s site: http://danielomcclellan.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/peter-thonemann-on-the-lead-codices/

Rice University Professor April DeConick gives her opinion (not positive) on the plates: http://forbiddengospels.blogspot.com/2011/03/lead-tablets-come-on.html

It’s beginning to look like the plates, despite all the fun hype, may be too good to be true.

UPDATE: Jim Davila, at PaleoJudaica, has further information on and discussion of the Thonemann email. See here: http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/2011_03_27_archive.html#7454369078247746754

As Professor Davila notes, the Deseret News now has a good article up about the plates as well: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700123230/Ancient-metal-plates-found-in-Middle-East.html?pg=1

Sites to See!

Before posting more on my trip to the SBL Conference in New Orleans, I wanted to mention just a couple of websites that I think you should see (of course that is up to you!).

Follow the Prophet

Bryce Haymond, the talented web designer who has blessed us with TempleStudy.com for the past couple of years (which, as I’m sure I’ve mentioned, has been a great inspiration for my own blog), has now, along with his brother Brad,  launched a new website designed to help readers get to know LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson better by reporting on the prophet’s words and activities.  The new site is called FollowtheProphet.Net.

In Bryce’s own words:

This site’s mission is to help members of the Church follow the prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by collecting all the news, talks, speeches, devotionals, dedications, interactions, and activities he does and posting links to those things in one central location. This way members of the Church may more easily learn more about the prophet, and his ongoing counsel to us, as well as his daily example.

The site includes detailed reports,  information, pictures, and maps showing where in the world the prophet has been.

"The Temple as a Place of Ascent to God" — Bryce Haymond's Notes From the Daniel Peterson Fireside

Bryce Haymond over at www.templestudy.com has posted his notes from Dr. Daniel Peterson’s fireside Sunday on “The Temple as a Place of Ascent to God.” This, of course, is one of my favorite topics and I really wish I could have been there to hear Dr. Peterson speak. Bryce, however, has taken some incredible notes accompanied by some awesome diagrams and images that are the next best thing to being there.

According to Bryce’s notes, Dr. Peterson touched on very important and exciting topics, including:

• Ascent Stories
• Mountains of the Lord
• Temple Worthiness
• Temple Structure
• Temple as Garden of Eden
• Washings/Anointings
• Veils

I won’t elaborate here, but rather will direct you to take a look at Bryce’s great post at the following link:

http://www.templestudy.com/2009/07/15/temple-place-ascent-god-notes-dr-petersons-fireside/#more-1677

Dr. Bill Hamblin Interview with Margaret Barker at TempleStudy.com

Attention Margaret Barker fans!! If you haven’t already noticed, Bryce Haymond over at www.templestudy.com has posted a series of videos (with more on the way) of an interview that Dr. William Hamblin of BYU conducted with Barker. The intimate and personal conversation covers many topics, including why Barker decided to study the Temple in the first place, the state of temple studies in the field of religious studies, Barker’s future plans, and information regarding her new book on the original story of Christmas.

Anyone who is interested in Margaret Barker’s research should take advantage of this unique opportunity to see her and hear her talk about her personal life and research. Many thanks to Dr. Hamblin for providing us with this opportunity and to Bryce for making it easily accessible on his great website.

I will take advantage of Bryce’s “ShareThis” function to post links to the videos here on Heavenly Ascents.