Comments on: Did Mormons invent Wing Dings?

By: Elcoj

Elcoj — Fri, 29 May 2009 08:20:36 +0000

Super post, Need to mark it on Digg
Elcoj

By: ApplyCreditCards

ApplyCreditCards — Thu, 28 May 2009 08:57:44 +0000

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By: Jared

Jared — Thu, 14 May 2009 01:00:23 +0000

“Wait, is there even such a thing as Egyptian Alphabet?”

Egyptian forms of writing – Hieroglyphics, Hieratic, and Demotic – all incorporated aspects of alphabets (technically, they predated but directly led to modern alphabets). While primarily logographic, they were not completely logographic. So, while it may be unconventional to refer to an Egyptian alphabet, it is not entirely incorrect, especially to the lay audience. Joseph Smith was not trained in linguistics, he had only 3 years of formal education. How many people, even today, know the difference between a logographic (assuming they’ve even heard that word) writing system and an alphabetic system?

So while saying “Egyptian alphabet” is not strictly true, it’s no different than me simplifying MRI physics for people with no experience with it or otherwise using terms that people understand, even if not strictly true.

By: Terrance Treynor

Terrance Treynor — Sat, 09 May 2009 01:23:59 +0000

Maybe the Egyptian Alphabet is the same as Wind Dings. Wait, is there even such a thing as Egyptian Alphabet?

The History of the Church, Vol.2, Ch.17, p.238 indicates that Joseph Smith devoted the rest of the month of July to his work:

“The remainder of this month, I was continually engaged in translating an alphabet to the Book of Abraham, and arranging a grammar of the Egyptian language as practiced by the ancients.”

Also in October 1835 History of the Church, Vol.2, Ch.21, p.286:

“This afternoon I labored on the Egyptian alphabet, in company with Brothers Oliver Cowdery and W. W. Phelps, and during the research, the principles of astronomy as understood by Father Abraham and the ancients unfolded to our understanding, the particulars of which will appear hereafter.”

By: Th.

Th. — Sat, 09 May 2009 00:12:46 +0000

. (my wife)

By: Th.

Th. — Sat, 09 May 2009 00:11:48 +0000

Deseret was invented just to learn English — it also was intended to help the leadership filter what was available to read. It seems a little chilling from 2009, but there you go.

My wife did a bunch of research and wrote a paper on why it failed (ends up there were a LOT of reasons).

By: ditchu

ditchu — Fri, 08 May 2009 20:33:34 +0000

As long as we are talking about inventions…
It is a little known fact that most inventions are created by Schottsmen. At least 53-59% of all inventions since the 1500’s in my last estimation.
From Bell to MacAdam and beyond.

Did you know why roadways and Airport landingstrips are often called Tarmac? The may who invented “Blacktop” Asphalt was MacAdam, and tarmac is a short from of “Tar of MacAdam.”
If he was Mormon or not I am unsure.

God bless,
-D

By: Mo in ER

Mo in ER — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:10:57 +0000

A mormon invented the TV, I don’t hear people whining about that, except for parents who have couch potatoes for kids…

By: ditchu

ditchu — Wed, 06 May 2009 23:46:01 +0000

Will,
Thank you for the correction.
It is “Dingbats” That i was thinking of. Sorry for the mistake.

I didn’t know about “windding” being a party but I did hear of “shindigg” and that always sounded like it hurt to me.

God bless,
-D

By: Rusty Lindquist

Rusty Lindquist — Wed, 06 May 2009 22:47:13 +0000

I just know that “dingbat” was a term my mother always used to call me. I wonder how that originated????

“You little dingbat”… I can just hear her now.