Comments on: Friday Quiz: Does the Book of Mormon support the Biblical account of the flood?

By: Jimbob

Jimbob — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:43:43 +0000

Gary, you didn’t answer my question. Instead, you assumed I’m simply ignorant of what the Church publishes.

Q1:Do you recognize any epistemology other than authoritarianism in the Church?
Q2: Can authoritative Church sources ever be wrong? Manuals, Ensign articles, GC talks, etc.? Ever?

By: R. Gary

R. Gary — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:15:14 +0000

Jimbob,

Nobody is required to agree with Church magazines, manuals, or web publications. Mine was merely an attempt to point out something the Church says about its own scripture in its own official media.

In case you cared.

But you don’t have to care. You may believe whatever you want.

Best wishes,
Gary

By: Jimbob

Jimbob — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 01:42:54 +0000

Sorry Gary. Not the same Jimbob

Seriously, is there any epistemological system for you besides authoritarianism?

By: R. Gary

R. Gary — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 01:12:38 +0000

Nice sidestep, Jimbob. I see hooked-on-logic worked for you too!

By: Jared

Jared — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:28:39 +0000

Well, there you have it. You see the account of the Biblical flood as recorded in the Book of Mormon slightly different than I do. I wouldn’t say it “confirmed” the account of the flood because that would take an eye witnesses to use that term. The word “support is stronger” than “infer” but still useful here, in my opinion.

Regarding rankings: the flood isn’t in your top ten, I’m sure it would be in mine. But again, these issues are not too important. I’ll bet we agree on more things, in a gospel context, than we would disagree on.

Keep coming by, I enjoyed you’re insights.

By: Jimbob

Jimbob — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:13:56 +0000

“Does the Book of Mormon refer to the Biblical flood”?

Yes. No. Maybe, but not clearly. (And I would have voted #3)

As for ranking, I’ve never really thought about it, but I’d put Restoration (or First Vision, if we’re getting specific.) I don’t think flood would rank in my top ten.

By: Jared

Jared — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:02:48 +0000

Jimbob–

If you were to ask the question I did for the Friday Quiz, how would you have worded it?

I think of the greatest events in religious history in terms of how Elder McConkie outlined it:

1. Creation
2. Fall
3. Atonement

At the moment, I’m not sure what I would put for number 4 or 5, but I think the flood ranks in there. How about you?

By: Jimbob

Jimbob — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:35:38 +0000

There are many major events in the history of the world that the BoM says nothing about. Why should it be problematic?

By: Jimbob

Jimbob — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:34:52 +0000

Jared, it doesn’t so much “support” as “off-handedly allude to.” Nor does it (or Gary’s endless appeal to authority) have anything to say about genre questions or the issues of transmission which I raise above (which Elder Widtsoe was very aware of.)

If President Monson refers obliquely to King Arthur or Camelot in a line in GC, is he “supporting” a historical Arthur? Perhaps Gary can find us some GA references to Arthur in the Ensign or other official publications, thereby proving its historicity, genre, and accuracy!

By: Jared

Jared — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:38:40 +0000

Jimbob & R. Gary–

I’ve enjoyed the back and forth of your discussion. Thanks for commenting.

I used the word “support” carefully. If the Book of Mormon didn’t mention anything at all about the flood that would be a glaring omission, in my opinion, because the flood was a major event in the history of our world.

One of the unique things about the Book of Mormon is that the Savior gave his approval of Joseph Smith’s translation (D&C 17:6). In addition, the Savior while among the Nephite’s showed His interest and oversight in the details the original record keepers kept (3 Nephi 23:6-11).