2 ms·
The two theories on motive posed in the article are interesting, but I think there's another one worth considering: the Deseret alphabet looks a lot like Paleo-
by woodruffw 4y ago
The two theories on motive posed in the article are interesting, but I think there's another one worth considering: the Deseret alphabet looks a lot like Paleo-Hebrew[1] and Armenian[2], both of which would have probably been (vaguely) familiar to the Mormon church's early leadership.
Constructing your own alphabet to resembles the alphabets of the religion(s) you establish your legitimacy via is a savvy political move.
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleo-Hebrew_alphabet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleo-Hebrew_alphabet
[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_alphabet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_alphabet
- mikercampbell 4y agoYeah, have you seen the characters from the plates? Very similar. I had them on a brick on my parents’ shelf growing up. It was sort of a Mormon Household staple, but they are supposedly characters from the original golden plates. This sounds critical, when it’s not meant to be. Well, historically critical, in that I feel like it aligns with the theory mentioned above. A lot of Mormon History is a study of political savvy and lack thereof, and I will never not be fascinated by it.
- woodruffw 4y agoRight! The observation about legitimacy was not meant to be (uniquely) derogatory: almost every religion or organized movement appeals to some historically accepted source of authority. Compare neoclassical architecture, etc.