Joseph Smith, recipient of most of the visions that are recorded in the Book of Mormon (not the musical!) and founder of what has come to be called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, came to his visions in this way: he was directed by the angel Moroni to go and dig at a spot where golden plates lay buried in a stone box.

Today’s two saints–Gervasius and Protasius–were discovered in a manner quite similar to those golden plates! Called “protomartyrs,” these two were martyrs that no one then-living knew had ever existed! In the late 300s, during a time of persecution by the followers of Arius, Ambrose (a priest) was told in dream (presumably by God) to go and dig under a big stone box (a tomb, in this case). He (or, rather, laborers at his command) did so, and what Ambrose found were the skeletal remains of two beheaded men that, by divine inspiration, Ambrose knew to be martyred saints–likely dating from the time of Nero. It remains unclear how the names Gervasius and Portasius came to be attached to these remains, but they were.

Immediately, these sanctified bones became miracle-working relics! Blind people who touched the bones were able to see, demonically possessed individuals were released by evil spirits when in contact with these remains (with devil voices confessing the glory of these martyrs), lame and sick persons were made well, and any number of men changed their professions from secular to religious. The Arians were repulsed (perhaps in more ways than one). And, not surprisingly, Ambrose–who directed the dream-inspired excavation that led to finding these bones–was subsequently canonized (though Gervasius and Portasius are the ones honored today).

All I can say–whether it’s Joseph Smith or Ambrose, whether it’s golden tablets or skeletal remains–is that followers of one religious stream have precious little right to declare that those of another are full of nonsense (or worse) because of seemingly impossible and certainly incredible reports. Is any religion devoid of revelations (or, at minimum, belief systems) that stretch credulity?