Gold Plates Seminar--BYU/Maxwell Institute

[_Mike Reed]

Chris Smith and I are having a great time in Provo. Believe it or not, we've both been selected to participate in Bushman/Givens' six-week gold plates seminar at BYU (in the Maxwell Institute building). Can't wait to start researching! We would've already started digging through the archives/libraries by now, but everything seems to be closed on sundays. ;) I hear that we'll soon hear from Dan Peterson. Looking forward to meeting you, Dan. We met once before, long ago when I was a low-tier FAIR apologist... so you probably don't remember.

[_CaliforniaKid]

I'm looking forward to my six week stint as a FARMS/Maxwell Institute scholar. Maybe they'll like us and offer to hire us full time, Mike!

[_Polygamy-Porter]

Srly?

How will you find enough activities to fill six weeks?

Six week seminar about something that never existed.

Wow.

[_CaliforniaKid]

How will you find enough activities to fill six weeks?

Six week seminar about something that never existed.

The seminar is on the cultural history of the plates-- in other words, how they have figured in Mormon (and non-Mormon) imaginations.

[_moksha]

I am wondering about the possibility of two bright and enterprising young men starting a company based on this unique experience. Till a suitable name is picked, perhaps it could be code named, "The Midgley Mint" and produce exquisite commemorative gold plates. I know this is not strictly part of the scholarly agenda, but you will after all be in entrepreneurial Utah County.

http://iht.nstm.gov.tw/files/a/101077(1).jpg

[_harmony]

Aztec Equitation in Comparative Irrelevance...

On tapirs...

Okay, that was funny!

[_Mike Reed]

Today Busman recommended Rick Grunder's Mormon Parallels as a resource for our Gold Plates seminar. I was pleased to hear this. So often folks like Ben McGuire and Bill Hamblin have criticized Rick for his "parallelomania" ("that's not history!" they exclaim)... while turning a blind eye to the fact that it is actually a "bibliographic" resource. It is a place for scholars to start, not end. And for that purpose, I think the book is invaluable.

Dr P visited our group today, and spoke about a certain set of metal records. Very interesting. I was pleased and tickled to hear him say the word "plausible" in regards to their authenticity (which is still being investigated). Whenever I hear/say that word I think of Dan. :) I enjoyed his remarks and was again reminded of his great sense of humor. I only wish he didn't leave so quickly. It would have been nice to talk and get to know him a little better. Maybe the FAIR conference.

[_Joey]

Pardon the applicable saying here, but this is exactly what is meant by "Only in Provo"!  What can possibly be the outcome of such a study other than mantra for some F&T Sunday session.  Who in the academic world, outside of Provo, would devote any serious study to such a project? I really wonder if there is any serious "scholarship" involved in such a program at all.

I'd put this effort right along side with studying the cultural impact that the space craft trailing the Hale Bopp comet had on the Heavens Gate movement!  What kind of "scholars" would that study attract?

Some "scholars" just have way too much time on their hands in Provo!!

[_Daniel Peterson]

Take THAT, Chris and Mike!

You ridiculous Provo-based Mormon apologists!

You silly pseudoscholars!

What a joke!

You should be international corporate CEOs, like Joey!

(from the airport via iPhone)

[_Mortal Man]

Is there any truth to the rumors that John Lund has been selling individual leaves of the gold plates to his students?