The mere existence of the book of mormon is one of the greatest miracles in history. About the book although both members and academics alike often think of this story as well known, recent insights and discoveries associated with the efforts by the church history department to publish the joseph smith papers have provided a fuller, richer understanding of the translation and publication of the book of mormon. These were the days never to be forgotten, oliver cowdery said of his time as joseph smiths scribe under the sound of a voice dictated by the inspiration 1 of heaven. How did joseph smith translate the book of mormon answers. Another testament of jesus christ have been provided by those who helped the prophet, joseph smith, as scribes. Why did president joseph fielding smith believe it was unreasonable to claim that joseph smith used a seer stone to translate the book of mormon. Book of mormon translation the church of jesus christ of latter. Thus the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god, and not by any power of man. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon through the inspiration of heavenly father. Book of mormon translation by joseph smith the encyclopedia. Book of mormon translation by joseph smith the encyclopedia of.
Sep, 2019 this article is found on page 557 of the annotated book of mormon. Starting on april 7th, 1829, joseph smith began translating the book of mormon. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. The mormon claim that their founder, joseph smith, was a prophet of god rests entirely on their assertion that he was able to translate ancient documents into english by the gift and power of god. Joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon. The focus is always on joseph smith and why he did this and why he did that but it is not about joseph smith but it is about god and. In his address he explained what we know about joseph smiths translation, and how it was truly a miracle that joseph smith was able to translate the book of. These plates were later revealed to be forgeries meant to expose joseph as a fraud.
Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer stone in a hat. Jan 14, 2019 in the preface to the first edition of the book of mormon, joseph smith wrote that he had translated the book by the gift and power of god book of mormon, 1830, page iii. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. For instance, i read that at first he used a seer stone instead of the urim and thummim which he placed in his hat and buried his face into the hat to block out the light. He put a rock called a peep stone in his hat and put his face in the hat to tell his customers the location of buried treasure on their property. The mormon church is for the first time publishing photos of the stone it believes founder joseph smith used to help translate the story that became the basis of the religion. Jul 20, 2018 why did president joseph fielding smith believe it was unreasonable to claim that joseph smith used a seer stone to translate the book of mormon. Joseph smith translated an ancient text by the gift and power of god to produce the book of mormon. Joseph smith claimed that in 1827 an angel named moroni led him to a set of golden plates which he then translated by the gift and power of.
The process of translating the book of mormon joseph smith. A face to face event with elder cook on september 9, 2018. For further discussion on the book of mormon and the translation process, see the introduction to documents, volume 1. If so, what foreign language manuscripts did joseph smith use to produce the book of mormon. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present. Evidence from the original manuscript royal skousen journal of book of mormon studies 71 1998. In his address he explained what we know about joseph smith s translation, and how it was truly a miracle that joseph smith was able to translate the book of.
Answers to questions, elders journal of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints july 1838. By its own terms, the book of mormon is a translation of an ancient book. Book of mormon reading challenge 2017 do you think you can read the book of mormon in the same amount of time it took joseph smith to translate it. This has caused a serious wound to the original purpose and work of god for the book of mormon. It was written in an ancient language on gold plates by prophets in ancient america. Welch gave the annual book of mormon lecture entitled hours never to be forgotten for the laura f. Why didnt joseph smith translate the book of mormon right.
Recent research has shown more clearly than ever before that the book of mormon as we now have it was translated in a stunningly short amount of time. Kay m godfrey, author, joseph smith epoch historian. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone of our religion. On the title page of the book of mormon, moroni declared that the book would come forth by the gift and power of god unto the interpretation thereof. Joseph smith used magic to translate book of mormon life. He briefly examined them and compared them other ancient writings in his possession, and may have offered an ordinary translation. Josephs original calling was to bring forth the holy book of mormon. The coming forth of the book of mormon, foretold by ancient prophets, began with an angelic visitation in 1823 to 17yearold joseph smith. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Aug 09, 2018 by the power of god, through the holy spirit, how else.
Joseph smith used magic to translate book of mormon 03222020 by lifeafterministry that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. 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. Joseph smith claimed that in 1827 an angel named moroni led him to a set of golden plates which he then translated by the gift and power of god. This article is found on page 557 of the annotated book of mormon. Slaughter, how we got the book of mormon salt lake city. Welch, foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates. Historical details about the time it took to translate the book are remarkably well preserved. He and several of his close associates testified that the translation was accomplished by the gift and power of god. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of. Professor figures out book of mormon translation timeline. Were joseph smiths translation instruments like the. In may 1843, a get of bellshaped brass plates were brought to joseph smith to see if he would translate them.
The book of mormon hardcover january 1, 1953 by jr. Some grammatical constructions that sound odd to english speakers were edited out of later editions of the book of mormon by joseph smith or others in order to render the translation into more standard current english. Revelation given to joseph smith the prophet, at harmony, pennsylvania, likely around april 1829, though portions may have been received as early as the summer of 1828. Gardner joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon. Oliver described the time he spent as a scribe as days never to be forgottento sit under the sound of a voice dictated by the inspiration of heaven, awakened the utmost. Apr 11, 2020 although joseph smith was the translator of the book of mormon, the spelling in the first edition was oliver cowderys, and the punctuation was john h. By the power of god, through the holy spirit, how else.
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. After the loss, smith recorded that he had lost the ability to translate, and that. Most of the descriptions of the process of translating the book of mormon. A better question since smith didnt translate anything nor do anything like unto it with his magicrockinhat is how long had smith been working on the basic story in his. But the most significant conclusion supported by this research is the previously unimaginable fact that not only are large portions of the book of mormons original text written in phraseology completely obsolete in joseph smiths time, and spoken and written by virtually nobody on earth when the book of mormon was translated in 1829 and. It is well researched and very enlightening and a must read for those who are willing to accept the words of joseph and other prophets at face value. Historical evidence, however, suggests that joseph wasnt fooled. Another testament of jesus christ behold, i am jesus christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world 3 nephi 11. The use of objects in the translation were only to help focusing on the work. How exactly did joseph smith translate the book of mormon.
How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of mormon. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for book of. According to latter day saint belief, the golden plates are the source from which joseph smith said he translated the book of mormon, a sacred text of the faith. Book of mormontranslationurim and thummim fairmormon. He completed his translation on july 1st of that yearjust 90 days. Engraved golden plates buried circa 500 ad by moroni, who returned as an angel to instruct joseph smith to retrieve and translate them through inspiration.
Who helped joseph smith translate the book of mormon. Who translated the book of mormon text into english for. If joseph smith did not translate the book of mormon from a set of ancient plates, for example, then all of mormonism falls apart. In the preface to the first edition of the book of mormon, joseph smith wrote that he had translated the book by the gift and power of god book of mormon, 1830, page iii. Nothing is magical, and the urim and thummim, the seer stone, etc. Joseph smith quotes by the power of god i translated the book of mormon from hieroglyphics, the knowledge of which was lost to the world, in which wonderful event i stood alone, an unlearned youth, to combat the worldly wisdom and multiplied ignorance of eighteen centuries, with a new revelation history of the church, 6.
Thomas wood smith, in a published response about an interview he had with david whitmer, who told him that joseph smith used the urim and thummim in translating the book of mormon, wrote, when i first read mr. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the. Joseph smiths response to skepticism, cites a personal interview emma smithbidamon gave to a committee of the reorganized church of jesus christ of latterday saints in 1879. Joseph fielding smith did not say that it was not reasonable to use a stone to translate the book of mormon. According to witnesses of the translation, when joseph looked. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. Book of mormon reading challenge book of mormon central. Joseph smiths signature work of scripture is the book of mormon, which the prophet claimed to have translated from golden plates by the gift and power of god. In other words, joseph used the same magic device or ouija board that he used during his treasure hunting days. According to the lds church, is the book of mormon a translation from a foreign language. How did joseph smith translate the book of abraham. 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 smith to translate. Among the many amazing facts about the book of mormon is how little time it took for joseph smith to translate it.
Joseph smith translated two sets of plates book of mormon. Welch, the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, in opening the heavens. Aug 04, 2015 the mormon church is for the first time publishing photos of the stone it believes founder joseph smith used to help translate the story that became the basis of the religion. I have written a short answer to this question before but i believe a longer more involved answer is appropriate. He and several of his close associates testified that the translation was accomplished by the gift and power of god hc 1.
For most of my life i have been confused about how joseph smith translated the book of mormon. Joseph smith and his scribes wrote of two instruments used in translating the book of mormon. Timeline of the book of mormon translation scott woodward. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. Today, the book of mormon is associated with doctrine it does not contain those will be pointed out on the church page. 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. That makes for an average of about 8 pages per day. Dear gramps, i would like to know the exact way the prophet joseph translated the book of mormon. Later, joseph smith translated the book of mormon into. Oct 07, 2017 joseph smith claimed that in 1827 an angel named moroni led him to a set of golden plates which he then translated by the gift and power of god. Willes center for book of mormon studies at the gordon b. When joseph smith was entrusted with the golden plates, he was also given a set of nephite interpreters and a breastplate. Although joseph smith was the translator of the book of mormon, the spelling in the first edition was oliver cowderys, and the punctuation was john h.
Joseph smith used the seer stones referred to as the urim and thummim to translate the book of mormon to various scribes, oliver cowdery being the scribe used for most of the book of mormon. He had with him two seer stones, as you could say, called the urim and thummim. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful study of statements made by joseph smith, his scribes, and others closely associated with the translation of. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the book. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris serving as the main scribes, was lost in 1828. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon.
For a compilation of accounts by joseph smiths contemporaries, see john w. But thanks to scholars who assembled the joseph smith papers, my own experience typing the book of mormon and the pearl of great price, and recently by reading saints, the story of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, 18151846, i understand the word translate more clearly and i hope i. That is, accepting the translation of the book of mormon as joseph said it was done, as opposed to how others claim it was done. Book of mormon translation by joseph smith book of mormon. Some of the prophet josephs earliest revelations came through the same means by which he translated the book of mormon from the gold plates. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Seven years later, in 1830, this scriptural canon of the latterday saints was published for the world. How long did it take to translate 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. Jss later history describes a document that included copies of the characters along with their translation, a document that may have been similar to the second document featured below.
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