A persistent rumor among celestials, the Urim and Thummin are the set (two
pairs) of spectacles supposedly given to Joseph Smith by the angel Moroni
to translate the golden plates found in the nearby hills. The nonexistence
(in canon, at least) of an angel named Moroni - or any angel who admits to
visiting Joseph Smith as Moroni - has made it nearly impossible to verify
this story, or the existence of the Urim and Thummin.
Yet every celestial knows someone who knows someone who knows someone
who's seen them in person... for sure.
Supposedly, the Urim allow a normal human to read and write in the Angelic
language. The Thummin, though worn over the eyes as normal, allow a normal
human to understand and (on a successful Singing roll) sing the Angelic
language! Few celestials doubt that such artifacts can, and possibly do,
exist... but then there's the fabled effect of BOTH pairs of glasses being
worn at once....
According to rumor, when a human (and only a human) puts on both pairs of
spectacles - a very bulky and obvious sight indeed - he or she can see
celestials. In or out of vessels. Automatically and unerringly. (Whether
or not it can see through Humanity depends on who's telling the story.)
Further abilities appear in certain tellings - it varies from storyteller
to storyteller - some good and some bad. One of the more common
'additions' is the infliction of a new Discord (Intolerance: Blacks) over
the course of time. Be wary of how much you believe... especially if a
Kobalite is anywhere near your side of the grapevine.
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