.<\/span><\/p> <\/p>
Those like Mark Twain, who had not been impressed when reading the book before, were
generally unimpressed still, in spite of the fact that science had bestowed its own special kind of
blessing upon it. Without a spiritual witness from God, their knowledge and familiarity with the
Book of Mormon was superficial and built upon a sandy foundation. And, in fact, the additional
knowledge they had received through the news broadcasts of the event served only to increase <\/p>
their condemnation before God in the end; for surely, greater knowledge of the truth brings with
it a greater responsibility to believe and to act accordingly in one's life. <\/p>
<\/p>
For governments and their officials, the temporary distraction of the golden plates was
fun while it lasted, but soon everything was back to normal. The daily news cycle started up
again, providing TV viewers, radio listeners, newspaper readers, and Internet bloggers a number
of new and exciting things to choose from: wars and rumors of wars, natural disasters, poverty,
hunger, diseases, weak or booming economies, political scandals, volatile financial markets, and
so forth. There were a number of follow-up stories done on the Book of Mormon plates,
including TV news specials and newspaper columns written at the one-year anniversary of the
event, but otherwise, there was plenty to replace it with on the public agenda. Interest in the
subject waned considerably within a week of the presentation and news conference.<\/p>
<\/p>
Leaders of world religions and other Christian churches had watched the events in Salt
Lake City with great interest, but were largely disappointed by what they saw. They had hoped
for a different outcome—that the findings of fact might prove the restored Church of Jesus Christ
to be a fraud so that their own team might win the big game in the end. That didn't happen.<\/p>
<\/p>
In the months that followed, there was little change noticeable among them. But that was
not surprising. For many of these leaders, religion was their chosen profession in life. It was not
just their belief system that would need to change, but their culture and lifestyle as well. <\/p>
<\/p>
There were, however, some religious leaders who were overjoyed at what had been
revealed by the Lord through this event. They immediately embraced the restored gospel, even
recommending that members of their congregations do the same. But most did not believe,
choosing instead to work around it by switching to new tactics. There were a few other
secondary lines of attack that they could use against the doctrines and beliefs of the Latter-day
Saints, so they focused on those instead. <\/p>
<\/p>
Atheists, agnostics, philosophers, researchers, and others with personal livelihoods
directly impacted by the announcement, sat quiet for a while, but then, with few exceptions,
continued on much the same as before, reasoning away the new findings of fact. They, too, were
disappointed by the outcome. The team they had been rooting for had not won either. But they
had not believed in these kinds of things before, so they saw no reason to start believing now.
Why should this be any different from any of the other archeological finds in history that have
been the subjects of debate and controversy? For them and others, the search for the truth of
man's existence would go on. <\/p>
<\/p>
Many who had previously opposed the Church on political and/or policy grounds chose
to continue living out their lives the same as before. They, too, were largely unfazed by what was
revealed. <\/p>
<\/p>
Thus, it was not long—a few years only—before that wonderful day in Salt Lake City
had been largely forgotten by the world. And, in fact, doubts had already been raised by some
experts in the media about the materials provided by the Church for the laboratory tests, causing
a few from among the \"Dream Team\" of scientists (as they were initially referred to by the <\/p>
media) to ask the Church to remove their names from the testimonies published on the Church
website and in future printed copies of the Book of Mormon. They didn't necessarily recant their
testimonies, but they felt it best to keep their names out of the controversy since it was more of a
\"religious matter\" anyway. Enemies of the Church quickly seized upon this change as a way to
undermine the original findings of fact, which then put pressure on the remaining members of the
team to have their names withdrawn as well. <\/p>
<\/p>
In the end, the Church decided to remove the entire public statement of the scientists
from the Church website and from all newly printed copies of the Book of Mormon, leaving only
the photographs of the plates and the testimony of the fifty Church leaders. It was déjà vu; the
episode of Charles Anthon was seemingly playing itself out all over again. <\/p>
<\/p>
The circumstances in the world had become like those at the beginning of Third Nephi
many centuries before:<\/p>
<\/p>
But it came to pass in the ninetieth year of the reign of the judges, there were great signs
given unto the people, and wonders; and the words of the prophets began to be fulfilled.<\/i><\/p>
<\/p>
And angels did appear unto men, wise men, and did declare unto them glad tidings of
great joy; thus in this year the scriptures began to be fulfilled.<\/i><\/p>
<\/p>
Nevertheless, the people began to harden their hearts, all save it were the most believing
part of them, both of the Nephites and also of the Lamanites, and began to depend upon their
own strength and upon their own wisdom, saying:<\/i><\/p>
<\/p>
Some things they may have guessed right, among so many; but behold, we know that all
these great and marvelous works cannot come to pass, of which has been spoken.<\/i><\/p>"}