Truman Coe says Joseph "deciphered" papyri, this was seen as proof of "divine inspiration."

Date
Aug 25, 1836
Type
Letter
Source
Truman Coe
Non-LDS
Hearsay
Direct
Reprint
Reference

Truman Coe, Letter to the Editor of the Ohio Observer, in "Mormonism," Cincinnati Journal and Western Luminary, August 25, 1836, [4], in Ohio Observer, August 11, 1836)

Scribe/Publisher
Cincinnati Journal and Western Luminary
People
Truman Coe, Joseph Smith, Jr.
Audience
Reading Public
Transcription

Last summer a man came to Kirtland and brought among the Mormons four Egyptian mummies. The exhibition exactly struck their fancy. All the Mormons flocked to see the wonderful sight; and Joseph deciphered some of the hieroglyphics, and made known in writing the name and character and antiquity of some of the mummies;—this was an additional proof of his divine inspiration. The man continued with them a week; and then a command was given them to purchase the whole, which they did for $2400. The mummies were soon sent out for exhibition by one of their apostles, but being unsuccessful, he brought them back to Kirtland, and threw them aside.

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