From: gclapp@javelin.sim.es.com (Glenn Clapp)
Subject: Joseph as a prophet (ULM-1)
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 20:08:31 GMT


Along the thread of whether Joseph Smith is a prophet or not, many
interesting questions are posed.  Mormonism stands or falls on whether
Smith was a true prophet of God or not.  There has been much discussion
of the Book of Abraham and the Book of Mormon and the Smith prophecies.
If the Book of Mormon, or the Book of Abraham are false, then Joseph
Smith MUST be a false prophet, and the foundation of Mormonism 
crumbles to dust for all those that seek after Truth.  It will continue
to stand for those who choose comfort and status-quo over Truth.
Along those lines, the following, in 3 parts, is an article published
in the Salt Lake City Messenger about a situation and the controversey
around it that occured not too long ago.  I'm sure all interested
parties will find the following information very enlightening and
instructive.

-- Glenn

                               ***


Salt Lake City Messenger
Utah Lighthouse Ministries
PO Box 1884, Salt Lake City, Utah 84110

Sept 1988

                          Ferguson's Two Faces
           Mormon Scholar's "Spoof" Lives On After His Death


        The word "spoof" was apparently coined by a British comedian by
the name of Roberts around the middle of the 19th century. It is defined
as a "hoax, joke, or deception." The following is the story of a man who
felt he had been "spoofed" by the Mormon Church and, by his own
admission, decided to "spoof a little back." Unfortunately, his "spoof'
continued to live on after his death and will probably bring
embarrassment to his family and associates for many years to come.

A TRUE BELIEVER

        Thomas Stuart Ferguson was born in "Pocatello, Idaho, on 21 May
1915." (_The Messiah in Ancient America_, 1987, p. 248) He "received
degrees in political science and law from the University of California
and practiced law in Orinda, California." (Ibid.) Mr. Ferguson also
worked with the F.B.I., but his first love seemed to be trying to prove
the Book of Mormon through the study of Mesoamerican archaeology. In
1983, J. Willard Marriot wrote a letter in which he commented concerning
Ferguson's dedication to establishing an archaeological base for the
Book of Mormon: "'We spent several months together in Mexico looking at
the ruins and studying the Book of Mormon archaeology. I have never
known anyone who was more devoted to that kind of research than was Tom.
I remember when he was with the F.B.I., he would arise at 4:30 or 5:00
AM and read the Book of Mormon and information he could find pertaining
to it'" (Ibid., p. 250) His wife, Ester, recalled that "during their
courtship that she was sometimes piqued by his passion for the Book of
Mormon and once complained to her mother, 'I think I'm going out with
the Book of Mormon.'... Throughout their married life she staunchly
supported her husband's efforts." (p. 250)

        On page 251-52 of _The Messiah in Ancient America_, we read that
"Tom Ferguson first approached the President of Brigham Young
University, Howard S. McDonald, about establishing a Department of
Archaeology.... Tom Ferguson was able to convince officials of BYU of
the benefit to the University of having such a department....

        "The new Department of Archaeology (now Anthropology) sponsored
its first field trip in 1948 to western Campeche, a state in
southeastern Mexico.... Tom Ferguson,... participated in that first of
many expeditions..."

        Mr. Ferguson devoted a great deal of his life trying to prove
the Book of Mormon by archaeology and was considered by the Mormon
people as a great defender of the faith. He wrote at least three books
on the subject. His book, _One Fold and One Shepherd_, was recommended
to one of the authors of this work (Jerald) as containing the ultimate
case for the authenticity of the Book of Mormon. On the jacket of that
book, we find this information about Ferguson: "Thomas Stuart Ferguson,
47, President of the New World Archaeological Foundation, is a
distinguished student of the earliest high civilizations of the New
World. He, with Dr. A.V. Kidder, dean of Central American
archaeologists, first planned the New World Archaeological Foundation in
1952.... He raised $225,000 for the field work, incorporated the
Foundation (being an attorney), assisted in the initial explorations in
Central America and Mexico and has actively directed the affairs of the
Foundation since its inception."

        Thomas Ferguson worked hard to get the Mormon Church interested
in helping with the organization he envisioned. In a letter to Mormon
President David O. McKay, dated Dec. 14, 1951, Ferguson wrote: "If the
anticipated evidences confirming the Book of Mormon are found, worldwide
notice will be given to the restored gospel through the Book of Mormon.
The artifacts will speak eloquently from the dust." (_The Messiah in
Ancient America_, p. 257) Although church leaders claimed that they were
interested in archaeological studies with regard to the Book of Mormon,
they declined to provide any financial help. On Jan. 12, 1952, Ferguson
wrote again and promised the First Presidency that he would "take an
active part in the Foundation to the end that the Church receives the
full benefit of any discovered evidences relating to the Book of Mormon.
I anticipate that many important artifacts will be discovered confirming
the Book of Mormon." (Ibid., p. 259) Joseph Anderson, secretary to the
First Presidency, responded that "The Brethren feel that it may be that
no discovery will be made which shall establish the historical value of
the Book of Mormon. They incline to feel that the faith now required to
accept the book is a very considerable factor in the faith of the
Restored Gospel, belief in which is the result of faith therein." On
April 9,1953, Ferguson wrote a letter in which he again urged the
Brethren to financially support the organization: "The source of our
income and support for the work can be kept strictly confidential if it
is desired.... the Church cannot afford to let all of the priceless
artifacts of Book of Mormon people fall into other hands. We can make
wonderful use of them in missionary work and in letting all the world
know of the Book of Mormon." (Ibid., p. 263)

        On pages 263-66 of the same book we find the following:

                "...Ferguson's persistence and persuasiveness paid
   off,... Ferguson appealed to his good friend J. Willard Marriott for
   assistance. The following day Ferguson had an appointment with
   President McKay which Marriott had arranged.... President David O.
   McKay listened to Tom Ferguson's proposal and asked the specific
   amount he was requesting. Ferguson replied, 'Only about the amount
   that it would take to build a chapel.'

                "President McKay gave him a penetrating glance. 'We
  build $50,000 chapels and $250,000 chapels. Which did you have in
  mind? Tom Ferguson promptly replied, 'A $250,000 chapel.' That was the
  amount granted, sufficient to underwrite five years' work in a
  generous way (1955-1959).... It was during this period that Ferguson
  spent approximately half of his working time away from law, devoting
  this time to administering the affairs of the NWAF, giving speeches,
  studying and writing about the archaeology and history of ancient
  America and their relationship to the Book of Mormon."

        It was agreed that the New World Archaeology Foundation would
not "discuss direct connections with the Book of Mormon, but rather to
allow the work to stand exclusively on its scholarly merits." (Ibid., p.
276) The church provided financial support for this organization for
many years. It was eventually "attached to and administered through
BYU."

        In a paper entitled, "Thomas Stuart Ferguson, 1915-83," Fred W.
Nelson wrote the following: "Thomas Ferguson has either directly or
indirectly influenced thousands of people's thinking on archaeology....
He has had a great influence on professional archaeology through the
Department of Archaeology at Brigham Young University, the Gates
Collection, and the New World Archaeological Foundation.... Ferguson's
legacy in the founding of the Archaeology Department at Brigham Young
University, the obtaining of the Gates Collection, and as founder of the
New World Archaeology Foundation stands as a shining example to us all."
(As cited in _The Messiah in Ancient America_, pp. 282-83)

        From all that we can learn, Thomas Stuart Ferguson was a
dedicated believer in the authenticity of the Book of Mormon at the time
he founded the New World Archaeology Foundation. He really believed that
archaeology would prove the Book of Mormon. In a letter dated April 23,
1952, Mr. Ferguson said the "the archaeological data now available is
entirely inadequate" for testing the Book of Mormon. He predicted,
however, that the "next ten years of excavations in Mexico and Guatemala
should enable us to make the archaeological tests." For a number of years
he was very excited about the progress of the work and seemed certain
that the Book of Mormon would be vindicated soon. In his book, _One Fold
And One Shepherd_, p. 263, he stated: "The important thing now is to
continue the digging at an accelerated pace in order to find more
inscriptions dating to Book-of-Mormon times. Eventually we should find
decipherable inscriptions... referring to some unique person, place or
event in the Book of Mormon." In 1962 Mr. Ferguson said that "Powerful
evidences sustaining the book are accumulating"

-- 
=============================================================================
= Glenn Clapp                          |  gclapp@javelin.sim.es.com         =
= Evans and Sutherland Computer Corp.  |  My opinions are my own, but then  =
= Salt Lake City, Utah  (801) 582-5847 |  that's my opinion.                =