Deseret News | Joseph Smith Papers editors reveal tools of trade

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Joseph Smith Papers editors reveal tools of trade

Myself | 1:27 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Whenever I visit the U. of U. Marriott Library's rare books room and ask to see a volume, I am issued a pair of clean white cotton gloves so my fingerprints don't soil the pages. So why on earth would anyone examine, point to, and probably turn the pages of, this most valuable document WITHOUT WEARING GLOVES?

Cats | 7:59 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

I am told that there is some disagreement within the document studying world about what is the appropriate way to handle historic documents. Some believe one must wear white gloves. Others disagree with that and don't think one should wear gloves. Which is best, I have no idea. But, I'm sure these guys know what their doing.

Mormon Scholar | 8:30 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

To Cats,

There really is no debate. Gloves must be worn to prevent the skin's oils and acids from ruining the documents.

I have no idea why this man is touching the page without gloves. It makes no sense if the Church wants to preserve these documents. I guess they really don't.

Comments continue below

RE: Cats | 8:37 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

"But I'm sure these guys know what their doing"?
If these guys had anything to do with the Mormon encyclodpedia. I'm not Sure.Here is the correct definition of, Only begotten(monogenes 3439)"The word "begottn does not imply a beginning of His Sonship. It suggest relationship indeed,but must be distinguished from generation applied to man. "Vines Biblical Words"

dhs | 9:10 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

After looking at this photo, I immediately contacted the Church History Library in Salt Lake and expressed my concern that researchers are touching the pages of this document with their hands. I was assured that NOBODY touches these types of documents with their hands and that latex or cotton gloves are always required.

This put my mind at ease and I think the photo in the D-News is just for show and that this researcher really didn't touch the page with his hand.

Twunchy | 10:16 a.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Are you guys just completely blind? You can't touch something without actually touching it...look at the shadow of his finger, he's not touching the book, otherwise the shadow would "connect" to his finger! You can't damage a book by getting close to touching it. The guy is an expert, and is expertly close to touching the book without touching it. Take another look.

observing | 12:04 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Isn't it wonderful that this book and volumes more have been preserved so that they can be studied and viewed? I am amazed. I would LOVE to be able to even get close to that book and know that my Prophet Joseph Smith wrote those words and did touch those pages with his hands. Wow.

Anonymous | 12:18 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

I think it is pretty naive to blindly say "I'm sure these guys know what they are doing"!

Why? Because everything in Mormondom is perfect, flawless, and can be trusted?

Give me a break!

Silliness | 12:28 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Ahhh, I have seen them touch the papers on TV and they weren't wearing gloves, so whoever told you that they were not- are pulling both your legs.

R: Mormon Scholars | 1:11 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

If these are the same Scholars who produced the "Mormon Encyclopedia" they cannot read Greek,example; Firstborn(prototokos 4416)means His priority over creation,not in the sense to be first to be born.(Col 1:15) He himself produced creation.
If they were working on Biblical manuscripts,they would need Christian supervision.

John Pack Lambert | 1:39 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are Christians.
That said, I had professors at BYU who would gripe about how BYU special collections had some many rules for use of materials while most archives in Europe were very lax about their materials, sending ancient tomes flying down tables and such.
Since in the article it specifically said that a special tool was used to turn the pages, most of the comments so far have betrayed the fact that the people who posted them did not bother reading the article at all.

John Pack Lambert | 2:15 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Also, I remember one visit I had to the BYU Special Collections with my ex-wife. We were instructed that we had to wear cotton gloves if we were going to touch any book.

Cats | 2:31 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Good Grief. I didn't mean to create such a big debate when I said these guys know what they're doing. But, in fact they do...no matter how they are handling the documents.

And to the person who keeps putting up so-called biblical definitions...I hope you realize that those so-called definitions are the opinions and works of MEN, not of God. That's why the fullness of the Gospel of Christ had to be restored to the earth. That's why I am so grateful to have a living Prophet who can tell us the truth as to the REAL nature of Our Father in Heaven and his Son Jesus Christ.

All who follow Christ and believe in his divinity are Christians. Those who truly understand this would never call someone else a non Christian because of doctrinal differences.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, Christ is the center of our lives. We don't question the Christianity of those who have some differences in their beliefs. You might want to think about that.

I'm just saying... | 2:35 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

Doesnt the handwritten first vision account differ from the official church account? ie...no mention of evil trying to thwart his prayer, no mention of a revival, he doesnt see two personages together, in fact none of the personages he writes in his journal are identified, he also states in his journal account, that thru his studies he learned all churches are not true, contradicting the official account.

Re: Cats | 3:12 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

"We don't question the Christianity of those who have some differences in beleifs." "All thier creeds were an abomination in his sight;that those professors were all corrupt." (Joseph Smith History)
"so-called Bibical definition" The quotes are initially from(Thayers Greek Lexicon)The Greek Dictionary. more reliable than Mormon scholars.
The God of the Bible is the uncreated creator not an exalted man.

Least | 3:29 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

>Doesnt the handwritten first vision account differ from the official church account?

There are differences in the versions, according to the focus, purpose, and audience of the account, similar to the differences found in the accounts of the four Gospels. (There is also evidence that Joseph Smith struggled to put some elements of his transcending spiritual experiences into mortal language. (The "light" and "fire" description, for example.) In the early accounts of the first visions (grove, Moroni, etc.), there seems to be more of a focus on Joseph's own experience, his forgiveness of sins, etc. In the later accounts, the focus seems to shift toward the doctrine that he was taught, etc. This has been addressed extensively in a number of places, but one readily available source is Columbia University's Richard Bushman 2005 biography of Joseph Smith.

Just sayin | 4:06 p.m. Sept. 16, 2009

This is the handwritten account of what became the official account...which Joseph himself wrote after realizing his first attempts were very general with poor grammar, and that missionaries were wanting an official version to teach with. Those first accounts still exist as well, and though slightly different are not contradictory as has been claimed.

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2 photos

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Robin Jensen looks over the Letterbook #1 at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, Friday, Sept. 11, 2009. Jensen is working on the Joseph Smith Papers project and the book was written or dictated by Joseph Smith.

Gallery (2 photos)