December 11, 2009

Translated correctly

Speaking of Mormon literary references, in Mormon theological terminology, "to be translated" means to be resurrected without dying first.

And [Enoch] saw the Lord, and he walked with him, and was before his face continually; and he walked with God three hundred and sixty-five years, making him four hundred and thirty years old when he was translated (D&C 107:49).

A similar pop culture expression (I'm serious) is "to twinkle."

And ye shall never endure the pains of death; but when I shall come in my glory ye shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye from mortality to immortality; and then shall ye be blessed in the kingdom of my Father (3 Nephi 28:8).

On an episode of Bones earlier this year ("Double Death of the Dearly Departed"), that takes place at a funeral home, Agent Booth decides that talking openly about the investigation would be rude. So instead of saying the victim was "murdered," they will say he was "translated."

Angela Montenegro: Hey, you stole the body?
Agent Booth: No. No. No. No. We didn't steal it, you see? We borrowed it. Okay? Cam and Bones think it was translated.
Angela Montenegro: Uh, what?
Agent Booth: Translated. It's code for murder. That's how we're saying it today. Translated.

Okay, opposite meaning, but the usage is otherwise spot on. They keep this gag going for the whole show. It's so funny from a Mormon perspective that I have to believe a Mormon dreamed it up.

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