tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:45:40 +0000<i>"The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution."</i> <br><p align="right">Albus Dumbledore</p>http://www.josephantley.com/jtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)Blogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-7373120562305218472Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:30:00 +00002009-11-02T18:32:51.117-06:00personalI don't normally post about my personal life on here, but I just had to let everyone know that I was one awesome vampire-zombie-thing for Halloween.http://www.josephantley.com/2009/11/halloween.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/4OcxpOEvqaY" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-542786433769903153Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:20:00 +00002009-11-02T18:27:39.143-06:00Treasure-seekingI've updated the topical guide of early American treasure-seeking rituals. A few new sources are utilizes such as History of Wayne County, New York (1877), History of Weare, New Hampshire, (1888), Origin, Rise, and Progress of Mormonism (1867), and Travels through the Northern Parts of the United States in the Years 1807 and 1808 (1809).Click here to download A Topical Guide of Treasure-Seeking http://www.josephantley.com/2009/11/updated-treasure-seeking-rituals.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/CsQTeAWgnnQ" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-2691256677614519291Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:57:00 +00002009-10-29T17:06:19.737-05:00religionhistoryearly MormonismTreasure-seekingI put together a topical guide that documents nearly every mention of early American treasure-seeking rituals that I've been able to find. This made it a lot easier for me to keep up with particular references, and I figured I might as well publish it on here since someone else might find it useful. I'm also hoping that maybe someone else interested in this stuff could point me to some http://www.josephantley.com/2009/10/topical-guide-of-early-american.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/K_9W7JumM6s" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-7829845697761139731Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:05:00 +00002009-11-09T03:09:41.441-06:00Joseph Smithhistoryearly MormonismTreasure-seekingMormon historyseer-stonesSo, while doing my routine dig through old town histories and early New England newspapers, I've noticed something pretty interesting. From the evidence I've gathered, it seems that the use of seer-stones in treasure-seeking may have actually originated in western New York where Joseph Smith, Jr. lived--or, at least, it was there that the idea first gained a strong foothold. Until the 1820s, http://www.josephantley.com/2009/10/seer-stones-cradle-western-new-york.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/vnUGZ-xfRi8" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-1117706015184965760Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:35:00 +00002009-10-25T17:39:29.912-05:00LDS historyreligionJoseph Smithhistoryearly MormonismTreasure-seeking One of the most controversial aspects of Joseph Smith’s early life—and one not especially well known among most Mormons—is his adventures as a treasure-seeker. Joseph’s father was likely a treasure-seeker before the family moved to New York from Vermont, where divining rods were the common medium in the search. Sometime in the early 1820s, Joseph was introduced to seer-stones, a commonhttp://www.josephantley.com/2009/10/joseph-smith-as-prophet-and-treasure.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/B4kleUFcJxk" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-7989555902156799529Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:07:00 +00002009-10-21T03:08:39.892-05:00Treasure-seekingotherGoogle Books is absolutely amazing. I've used it before, but today I've realized just how awesome it actually is. While working on my research on early American treasure-seeking, I had noticed some time ago that many of the first-hand sources referenced by scholars like Alan Taylor and D. Michael Quinn were nineteenth century town histories. Little did I know that Google Books has hundreds of http://www.josephantley.com/2009/10/miracle-of-google-books.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/KV22DN_btvI" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-1875584085787903307Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:31:00 +00002009-10-10T14:33:52.555-05:00Joseph Smithearly MormonismTreasure-seekingToday I published my first post at Mormon Matters titled "Joseph Smith: Treasure-seeker or Prophet," where I briefly address the past arguments that because Joseph Smith was a treasure-seer in Palmyra that that invalidates his later prophethood. You can read the full post here.http://www.josephantley.com/2009/10/joseph-smiths-early-treasure-seeking.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/5wdJlCwx4Fg" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-5090289208976847407Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:45:00 +00002009-10-09T12:46:51.525-05:00personalMormonotherFor the next few weeks, I'm going to be a guest blogger at Mormon Matters. My first blog post will be tomorrow -- don't miss it!http://www.josephantley.com/2009/10/mormon-matters.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/120FILGfNbI" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-7695878436832678150Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:24:00 +00002009-10-05T01:43:20.757-05:00New Testamentearly ChristianityMormonThe Latter-day Saint doctrine of exaltation is perhaps our most criticized belief by non-LDS Christians. The doctrine of exaltation is the revealed truth that we have the potential to live eternally with our Heavenly Father and be like him.For many Christians, the idea that we can be gods (or be like God) seems immediately blasphemous and heretical. However, a thorough investigation of the http://www.josephantley.com/2009/08/christian-doctrine-of-becoming-like-god.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/0t9rIzRbmOA" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-1727255336689340615Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:37:00 +00002009-10-05T01:26:47.884-05:00New Testamentearly Christianitybiblical criticismMormonreligionWinter has officially come to Provo. Two months early.But this post isn't about radical weather shifts on the Wasatch Front; no, this is about something much more exciting: the early Christian mysteries alluded to in the New Testament. Consider the following passage from Paul in 1 Corinthians (all quotes from KJV):"But we speak of the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which http://www.josephantley.com/2009/10/early-christian-mysteries-in-new.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/obscYmT8ItU" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-404205026999039579Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:56:00 +00002009-09-29T23:57:09.552-05:00personallame attempts at humorotherAfter a long hiatus I feel the need to return to public life and again offer much-needed personal advice to the masses. Over the past few months I have seen the world for what it is, and without doubt my wisdom has increased, although you might've thought that impossible (and with good reason!). But do not doubt it, for sophia and myself have never been closer than at this very moment, and along http://www.josephantley.com/2009/09/lectures-on-love-lecture-5-other.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/BjxXn786rOs" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-3449206614684133861Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:00:00 +00002009-09-25T12:18:30.461-05:00personallame attempts at humorotherAfter again taking a long break from offering my advice, I once again return to shed light on everyone's insignificant lives. We will continue a related theme from last time.In my last lecture, we discussed the appropriate ways to handle rejection. This time, we will discuss the aftermath. Oftentimes after a good, solid rejection, the rejectee can maintain painful feelings. Now, some arrogant http://www.josephantley.com/2009/09/lectures-on-love-lecture-4.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/vcjfpKy-yfk" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-8212939316103010340Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:55:00 +00002009-09-20T19:07:55.740-05:00FacebookMormonBook of MormonLast February, I created a Facebook fan page for The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. That was before the LDS Church had an official presence on social networking sites (they might've had their YouTube page up by then, I can't remember). Either yesterday or Friday, the fan page hit 100,000 fans, with a steady 75-150 new fans every day. We had a good run (seven months?), but http://www.josephantley.com/2009/09/book-of-mormon-facebook-page.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/N7G9CWwU_9I" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-6617904563636233284Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:44:00 +00002009-09-14T19:54:57.839-05:00Mormonearly MormonismotherContinuing my research on the young Joseph Smith, I checked out a copy of Fawn Brodie's biography of Joseph Smith, No Man Knows My History. Since Brodie's work is considerably outdated, I expected it to be a boring read, but because of its place as one of the first (perhaps the first) major secular biographies of the Prophet I thought I should anyway.To my surprise, the first couple chapters http://www.josephantley.com/2009/09/fight-breaks-out-in-marginal-notes-of.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/EjMS3X2h0z4" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-7412492087533337496Sun, 06 Sep 2009 23:57:00 +00002009-09-06T19:07:49.927-05:00personalMormonLDS historyMormon historyIn 2003, members of the Farmerville, Louisiana Branch of the LDS (Mormon) Church put together "A History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Union Parish, LA - 1898 to 2003." I had it scanned a few weeks ago. Hopefully by the end of the week, I will post a link to a downloadable PDF version of the 160-page book, and possibly by the end of the month may have an HTML version http://www.josephantley.com/2009/09/history-of-lds-church-in-union-parish.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/qO5ItyE5o_Q" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-5052656886696897171Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:01:00 +00002009-08-10T18:00:18.095-05:00KolobBook of AbrahamMormonreligionIn the third chapter of the Book of Abraham, the ancient patriarch sees a grand vision of the cosmos through the Urim and Thummim. From this vision comes several controversial doctrines unique to Mormonism such as the existence and nature of "Kolob" and God's physical presence in the universe.It is not uncommon to hear speculation about what Kolob is and where it might be. Theories have been http://www.josephantley.com/2009/08/great-one-is-kolob-because-it-is-near.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/1M-YMLh8ebM" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-676793141530522869Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:49:00 +00002009-08-02T23:56:44.543-05:00personalMormonotherI was browsing some old blog posts earlier and realized that yesterday was my two-year anniversary as a blogger. I made my first blog post here on August 1, 2007, at the start of my senior year in high school. My first posts were mostly amateurish political commentary where I relished in the idea of Mitt Romney as the first Mormon president. My first substantial post, written on August 2, was http://www.josephantley.com/2009/08/two-year-blogging-anniversary.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/ikZM01QC7OQ" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-409100570600435428Sun, 02 Aug 2009 02:12:00 +00002009-08-02T19:48:45.943-05:00TrinityOrigenearly ChristianityGodheadOrigen was an early Christian scholar and theologian living in Alexandria during the third century. At an assembly of bishops, he entered into the following dialogue with Bishop Heracleides:Origen: I charge you, father Heracleides: God is the almighty, the uncreated, the supreme God who made all things. Do you hold this doctrine?Heracleides: I do. That is what I also believe.Origen: Christ http://www.josephantley.com/2009/08/dialogue-of-origen-and-heracleides.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/2cd1yMaxuio" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-273472216080123338Sun, 26 Jul 2009 04:58:00 +00002009-07-29T20:42:03.952-05:00personalMormonreligionJoseph Smithearly MormonismThe following is the new introduction for my paper which offers a good summary of my thesis. If anyone wants to read the whole thing (I desperately need a proof reader who actually is aware of Latter-day Saint history), drop me an e-mail."As a teenager, Joseph Smith made remarkable spiritual claims. He said that he had been visited by God, who informed him that all denominations were wrong and http://www.josephantley.com/2009/07/providential-environment-of-joseph.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/uFjoa08MLOQ" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-4341976884718019300Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:55:00 +00002009-07-24T12:51:57.085-05:00BiblereligionJoseph SmithOccasionally while weighed down, some people run across a scripture that sparks a flood of emotion. Conceived of as an act of providence, the scripture literally speaks, offering a divine substitute—words written by long-dead hands that act as the living voice of God. For many people, this happens one or fewer times. The event is momentous and life-changing; for some, it is the spiritual climaxhttp://www.josephantley.com/2009/07/scripture-and-heart-of-man.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/oVLPENkD3Tw" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-7383568194973460766Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:33:00 +00002009-07-22T18:12:20.589-05:00Joseph SmithBook of Mormon translationOver at By Common Consent, John Hamer wrote an entertaining satire of events detailing what should have happened had Sidney Rigdon actually somehow obtained Solomon Spaulding's "other manuscript", snuck into Palmyra, and gotten Joseph Smith to use it as the basis for the forthcoming Book of Mormon.Absolutely brilliant. Here's a link.Edit: Here's some background for those unaware. As least as http://www.josephantley.com/2009/07/spaulding-fable.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/3MOzXjb5kVk" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-332345516398583351Sat, 18 Jul 2009 23:28:00 +00002009-07-19T17:57:03.594-05:00BibleotherA while back, David Bokovoy wrote an excellent post on the MAD&B that I've just now read where he discusses the sexual nature (and thus anthropomorphic nature) of God in the Old Testament and in the ancient Near East as a whole. Bokovoy is currently a doctrinal candidate at Brandeis University.For those interested, Ron Beron has reposted Bokovoy's short essay over at his blog.http://www.josephantley.com/2009/07/sexual-nature-of-deity-in-old-testament.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/RF4cQLS67l0" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-60575302174877969Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:41:00 +00002009-07-19T21:56:00.357-05:00Book of Mormon evidencesBook of MormonBook of Mormon translation"It is my belief that Joseph Smith did a pretty good job in looking at the text in a literal sense and rendering, as closely as he could in English, an ancient text; and that this is what is reflected in the language of the Book of Mormon."—John A. Tvedtnes,Scholar of linguistics and Middle Eastern studiesA Hebraism is an English representation of something that was originally written in Hebrew.http://www.josephantley.com/2009/07/evidence-of-book-of-mormons-ancient_18.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/HFK9k3my29A" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8314733636083788720.post-3672179056457632314Thu, 16 Jul 2009 05:43:00 +00002009-07-16T00:45:20.835-05:00otherThe following are short excerpts from the current draft of my paper-in-progress, "Joseph Smith's Spiritual Heritage as a Catalyst for His Early Visions" (if you have a shorter, catchier title to suggest, I'm all ears.) Endnotes aren't included; the formatting from Word is too much of a hassle to carry over.Lucy Smith described her son Joseph as “a remarkably quiet, well disposed child,” “much http://www.josephantley.com/2009/07/excerpts-from-my-paper.htmljtantley@gmail.com (Joseph Antley)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/josephantley/~4/6vPpxajX1oQ" height="1" width="1"/>