Before i get flamed i would like to point out three of the more glaring anachronistic errors. Aug 29, 2014 the church recently released an essay summarizing what we know about the process of translating the book of mormon. Pratt, oliver cowdery, joseph smith and the witnesses who claimed they saw the plates have told me, and in all of my intimacy with joseph smith he never told. Apr 30, 2015 early this week i posted a brief notice for the book from darkness unto light. How joseph smith translated the book of mormon youtube. I wanted to put together some historical accounts that show that joseph smith used a seer stone in his translation of the book of mormon. Why is the book of mormon written in 16th century english. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates. According to those contemporaries of joseph smith who observed the book of mormon translation process, joseph smith did not look at or read from the golden plates while translating the book of mormon. Read the entire essay book of mormon translation in the gospel topics section of topics. Eventually, even joseph smith used urim and thummim indiscriminately as labels generically representing either the book of mormon interpreters or the seer stone used during translation.
Sometimes you will hear a reference to the jstb sometimes referred to as the inspired version of the bible either by detractors of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormons or sparingly in mormon literature. Book of mormon translation by joseph smith book of mormon. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon by the power of. Historical details about the time it took to translate the book are remarkably well preserved. This image is available for web and print publication. Relationship of the joseph smith translation of the bible to the book of mormon book of mormon translation method. Michael morse, emma smiths brotherinlaw, gave a firsthand account published in an 1879 article in the rlds publication saints herald when joseph was translating the book of mormon i had occasion more than once to go into his immediate presence, and saw him engaged at his work of translation. Joseph smith said, in the nowfamous letter to john wentworth, that he translated the book of mormon through the medium of the urim and thummim. The book of mormon is set in north america in the first century.
Why did joseph smith translate the book of mormon into jacobean english, not in use in 1830. Joseph smith s translation and publication of the book of mormon. One of the most amazing facts about the book of mormon is that it took joseph smith only about sixtyfive working days to translate a book that, in the current edition, is 531 pages long. In 1830, smith published what he said was a translation of these plates as the book of mormon, and the same year he organized the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. He identified himself as a messenger from the presence of god, named moroni. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the. For more details on the translation process, see by the gift and power of god by elder neal a.
Heres a statement they give about david whitmers account. Thus the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god, and not by any power of man. Aug 09, 2018 by the power of god, through the holy spirit, how else. Again, to apply these to the book of mormon is assumption without proof. Joseph smiths translation machine for book of mormon. He examined egyptian characters copied from book of mormon and said they were. How could joseph smith possibly have written the book of. The joseph smith translation is only an inspired revision of the king james version. Joseph smith and his scribes wrote of two instruments used in translating. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon was a great miracle, and the proof of its truth can be found in its contents.
The church recently released an essay summarizing what we know about the process of translating the book of mormon. According to joseph smiths later accounts, three years after he experienced his first vision of deity, an angel appeared to him in 1823 and told him of an ancient. A day in the life of joseph smith, translator extraordinaire. Most of the descriptions of the process of translating the book of mormon. Because joseph followed the instructions from heavenly father and translated the writings of ancient prophets, each of us can be blessed by reading the stories found in the book of mormon. A personage appeared in the light and began to speak to joseph. But the exact way in which it was done is not known. Jul 20, 2018 joseph smith translating the book of mormon was a great miracle, and the proof of its truth can be found in its contents. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon.
The book of mormon hardcover january 1, 1953 by jr. When i see the word translate, it means to me that a scribe read a manuscript written in one language e. Emma smith on the book of mormon translation process. In the isaiah chapters which were plagiarized by the book of mormon, joseph smith has changed them in his translation to fit the book of mormon.
Book of mormon translation by joseph smith book of. Sep 27, 20 the title page of the book of mormon said it would be interpreted and come forth by the gift and power of god. Box 1884 salt lake city, utah 84110 bookstore 58 s. He reportedly placed the instrument whether it was always the urim and thummim, or interpreters, or sometimes some other seer stone, is. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. The book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. This is one of the first accounts of how joseph smith translated the book of mormon. By its own terms, the book of mormon is a translation of an ancient book. Joseph smiths plagiarism of the bible in the book of mormon by jerald and sandra tanner utah lighthouse ministry p. Did joseph smith use a hat during the translation of the book. Joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon. It could be said that mormon history starts with the translation of the book of mormon.
Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of reformed egyptian. Problems in the joseph smith translation of the bible and comparison to the book of mormon. Dec 14, 2017 youre right, the prophet used both the seer stone and the urim and thummim in translating the book of mormon. Most lds church members were taught that joseph smith used seer stones referred to as the urim and thummim nephite interpreters to translate the book of mormon bom 1 to various scribes. Book of mormon we are unable to directly examine joseph s translation of reformed egyptian, as according to him an angel kept the gold plates after his translation was completed. Wright, isaiah in the book of mormon, or joseph smith in isaiah in american apocrypha. Most lds church members were taught that joseph smith used seer stones referred to as the urim and thummim. Transcribed only once, from ancient writings, this book is an. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon with a seerstone. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for book of. As you will see from the article, joseph smith apparently alternated between using the urim and thummim which he obtained simultaneously with the plates, and a seer stone that he. In 1820 a 14yearold boy named joseph smith lived near palmyra, new york.
Early this week i posted a brief notice for the book from darkness unto light. Did joseph smith use a hat during the translation of the. With permission from professor anthony sweat, the artist behind the new artwork depicting joseph smiths translation of the book of mormon, the new pieces from the book are posted below. Joseph smith translating joseph smith translating the. Welch, foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms. Historical details about the time it took to translate the book are remarkably well preserved, and they are corroborated by the independently consistent. This book utilizes that research to provide a concise, ataglance reference book that teachers and students of the scriptures can use to quickly find any and every change the. Bushman points out in the foreword to from darkness unto light, this volume is the first of what could be many potential histories coming out of the joseph smith papers project v, which has been a central. Joseph smith translates the book of mormon using a hat in a 2003 south park episode. Joseph smith translating joseph smith translating the gold plates, by del parson.
The use of objects in the translation were only to help focusing on the work. Nov 14, 2017 according to those contemporaries of joseph smith who observed the book of mormon translation process, joseph smith did not look at or read from the golden plates while translating the book of mormon. This assertion can mislead people into believing the book of mormon production process was nothing short of miraculous. Primary manual 514 this image is to be used for church purposes only. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer stone in a hat. Joseph smiths translation and publication of the book of mormon. Apr 22, 2016 the language in the sections of the book of mormon that correspond to parts of the bible is quite regularly selected by joseph smith, rather than obtained through independent translation. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center.
The language in the sections of the book of mormon that correspond to parts of the bible is quite regularly selected by joseph smith, rather than obtained through independent translation. The book of mormon is the keystone of our religion and will bring us nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book teachings of the prophet joseph smith, p. Anybody could write a book and claim it fulfills these verses. Look, here in view of the hebrews is information that we can use to make the book of mormon fit the most modern state of knowledge from the learned ethan smith. With permission from professor anthony sweat, the artist behind the new artwork depicting joseph smith s translation of the book of mormon, the new pieces from the book are posted below. How joseph smith translated the book of mormon by royal.
According to witnesses of the translation, when joseph looked. May we appreciate this miraculous translation, and may it be our desire to come to know and follow the savior through his teachings in the book of mormon. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and. Joseph smith translated an ancient text by the gift and power of god to produce the book of mormon. As joseph grew to understand his prophetic calling, he learned that he could use this stone for the higher purpose of translating scripture book of mormon translation, gospel topics on 20. Another testament of jesus christ have been provided by those who helped the prophet, joseph smith, as scribes. Mormons react to firstever photograph of joseph smiths. For most of the 1830s, smith lived in kirtland, ohio, which remained the headquarters of the church until smith began encouraging members to gather the church to a latter.
Artwork of joseph smith translating the book of mormon. The only recorded words that the prophet ever uttered about how he performed the translation are recorded on the title page of the book of mormon to come forth by the gift. Joseph is writing madly on sheets of paper as oliver cowdery, martin harris, david whitmer, father smith joseph smith. However, we can examine the characters joseph copied allegedly from the plates for martin harris. I read from pages 155 through 159, where he speaks of a great being among the ancient indians named quetzalcoatl. In an interview conducted by her son joseph smith iii in 1879, emma smith, wife of the prophet joseph smith, expressed her faith in the restored church of jesus christ, which was established in 1830 after the prophet had translated the book of mormon and published it to the world. The miracle of joseph smith translating the book of mormon. Book of mormon translation as you will see from the article, joseph smith apparently alternated between using the urim and thummim which he obtained simultaneously with the plates, and a seer stone that he. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. The setting is the renowned though secretive west wing of the vast joseph smith frontier library, cleverly disguised as joseph smiths crude cabin in the frontier lands of new york. Joseph didnt use the plates despite all that the book of mormon prophets apparently went through to assemble, write, and preserve the records, joseph smith. This minister was considered very antagonist towards the. He also gave a prophecy of himself that he was a translator. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of.
How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the book. Nothing is magical, and the urim and thummim, the seer stone, etc. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. For most of my life i have been confused about how joseph smith translated the book of mormon. This page shows accounts of some of the people close to joseph specifically emma smith, martin harris, david whitmer, and william smith stating that he did in fact, use a seer stone in the translation of the text. What follows is the story of how joseph received, translated, and published the record now titled the book of mormon. Everyone with an interest in mormonism is welcome to participate in rmormondebate, including truebelieving mormons, doubting active mormons, unorthodox mormons, exmormons, nonmormon christians, people of other faith traditions, and. On september 21, 1823, joseph smith, then seventeen years old, was in his bed praying when a light began to fill his room. By the power of god, through the holy spirit, how else. Book of mormon translation by joseph smith the encyclopedia of. Mormons react to firstever photograph of joseph smiths seer. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris serving as the main scribes, was lost in 1828. Welcome to rmormondebate this community operates a little differently than many, so please take a moment to read and learn how to contribute.
It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Evidence from the original manuscript royal skousen journal of book of mormon studies 71 1998. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which is believed to contain writings of ancient prophets who lived on american continent from approx. How exactly did joseph smith translate the book of mormon. Later, joseph smith translated the book of mormon into english through the gift and power of god. Everyone with an interest in mormonism is welcome to participate in rmormondebate, including truebelieving mormons, doubting active mormons, unorthodox mormons, exmormons, non mormon christians, people of other faith traditions, and atheists. Book of mormon translation the church of jesus christ of latter. Written by prophets to a people who lived in america long before white people ever came, some believe they were the beginnings of some native indian tribes. I give unto you my servant joseph to be a presiding elder over all my church, to be a translator, a revelator, a seer, and prophet. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful.
This minister was considered very antagonist towards the saints. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. Heres a great article written on this twenty years ago by joseph fielding mcconkie and craig j. I know that if we will read and pray about the book of mormon, we can know that it is true and that joseph smith was a true prophet of god. How joseph smith translated the book of mormon latter. Most all of the current text of the book of mormon was dictated to a scribe over a period of somewhere between a total of 60 and 90 days, interspersed with other daily activities that sometimes would take joseph smith and oliver cowdery away from. Almost all of the present book of mormon text was translated during a threemonth period between april and june 1829 with. The mormon churchs push toward transparency about its roots and beliefs took another step forward with the first published pictures of a small sacred stone it. Seer stone used by joseph smith to translate the book of mormon joseph the seer.
The urim and thummim was preserved in a stone box, along with the gold plates, for over 1,500 years for the purpose of enabling joseph to translate the writings on the. The prophet joseph smith said very little about the actual process of translating the book of mormon. Aug 04, 2015 the mormon churchs push toward transparency about its roots and beliefs took another step forward with the first published pictures of a small sacred stone it believes founder joseph smith used. The very idea that a new york farm boy with limited education might translate an ancient document is so unimaginable that it could only have occurred through, as joseph himself declared, the gift and power of god. Athalia robinson, were present when that book was handed to me in mentor, ohio, and all i ever knew about the origin of the book of mormon was what parley p. May 14, 20 joseph smith, the first prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, was an uneducated farm boy with no resources for research who translated ancient writings into the book of mormon, over 500 pages long, in under 65 days. In the late 1990s, a team of byu scholars worked with the community of christ formally rlds church to gain access to the complete joseph smith translation manuscripts. Joseph smith and his scribes wrote of two instruments used in translating the book of mormon. How joseph smith translated the book of mormon latterday. Laurie mafflykipp, phd, is the archer alexander distinguished professor at the. Who translated the book of mormon text into english for. Details of the translation process joseph smith used for translating the book of mormon from the plates can be adduced from statements of witnesses and from. The book of mormon by joseph smith, paperback barnes.