How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the book of. It is claimed that each sentence and word in the 1830 book of mormon had supposedly come directly from god. The church of jesus christ of latter day saints, book of mormon translation, gospel topics essays. David whitmer, one of the book of mormon witnesses, explained the process. Dynamically equivalent translation and the book of mormon. Urim and thummim places the book of mormon translation on trial, presenting the latest research in one of the most comprehensive treatments of the translation process to date providing encouragement for latterday saints who fear they have been betrayed by the translation history taught by the church for over 190 years.
I told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book. From the approximate book of mormon translation timeline. Even if you arent a mormon, you may find the book of mormon a valuable tool for learning to read in a new language. Book of mormon translation lds church is true blog. He moved in with the smiths in the winter of 1828 to act as scribe for joseph smith.
Published in 1976, the thai language was the 24th language into which the full text of the book of mormon was translated excluding translations for languages for which there is no version currently in print. In it, joseph is receiving revelation from god telling oliver he is blessed with a gift of a divining rod. Answering a question posed by her son joseph smith iii in 1879, emma smith indicated that the prophet joseph smith could not have been the author of the book of mormon, for he had neither the writing abilities nor adequate knowledge of ancient israel. Book of mormon translation evidence book of mormon. The book of mormon is presently in print in over eighty languages and is now being translated or prepared for publication in many, many more. Sweat shares that the first place his students often learn that joseph smith put stones into a hat when translating is through the television show south park. Translating the book of mormon may 6, 2015 translating the book of mormon how did joseph smith translate the book of mormon. These are the only words that joseph smith himself used to describe the translation process. 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.
Investigating the evidence for mormonism in six steps. Lets say that joseph smith wrote the book of mormon. Oliver begins writing as scribe to joseph smith and will remain so for the vast majority of the remaining book of mormon translation. The church continues to imply and express dualmethods for translation of the book of mormon urim and thummim or the brown seer stone which is inaccurate. Progressive lds historians are trying to change the historical narrative regarding the translation process. Translating the book of mormon, which i was grateful to receive as an advanced reading copy from the publisher, happened to do both. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. Lots of answers here with an incredible amount of evidence. Yet, once joseph was free to dedicate his entire effort to translation, the work surged forward and he translated eight to ten pages a day, completing the preponderance of the book of mormon translation in approximately 63 working days. For this step in the translation of the book of mormon into english, we would need to choose between accepting a more modern version of english as the target language and accepting a nonnative speaker of an earlier version of english as the editor. Matthews and benjmins translation method is particularly interesting for book of mormon translation theories, since some of the biggest issues in discussions of book of mormon translation are. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints, book of mormon translation, gospel topics essays. It is important to remember that what we do know for certain is that the translation of the book of mormon was carried out by the gift and power of god. This research by wilson and wayment is a huge discovery in helping us understand what the jst translation process was like.
Divining rods were believed to have power to help farmers locate where to dig to find water. Based on the earliest sources available, this corrected text represents the most accurate and readable edition of thebook of mormonever published first published in 1830, the book of mormon is the authoritative scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday. Art depicting the book of mormon translation process. Critics have argued that the book of mormon cannot be true because joseph smiths claims about the book of mormon s translation seem unbelievable, but this new video seeks to put these criticisms to rest. Ostler as sistant professor of church history and doctrine, byu from revelations of the restoration. The king james quotations in the book of mormon, the history of the text of the book of mormon. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer stone in a hat. Welchs excellent article entitled the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, from opening the heavens, accounts of divine manifestations 18201844, p.
Joseph didnt share many details of the translation process other than the. Book of mormon translation process life after ministry. In order to develop any theories on how it was done we. April 06, 1829 to june 16, 1829 translation of the book of mormon at this point we move to a daily analysis of the translation of the book of mormon. The second installment in book of mormon centrals evidence video series tackles the translation of the book of mormon. The church officially brings up the rock in the hat book of mormon translation process in the ensign in september 1977 and july 1993 as well as in its new december 20 book of mormon translation essay. The article is fairly brief and only superficially addresses the problem. Joseph smith said the following in regards to the correctness of the book of mormon. How the book of mormon translation story changed over time.
The modern church rarely discusses the translation process. Then i would assume that the lord desired the book of mormon and the bible to be understood and validated in these latterdays. Adam clarke bible commentary in the book of mormon. Translating and printing the book of mormon the book of mormon. The lds church has recently published on its website, a short article titled book of mormon translation that lays out in greater detail than perhaps ever before in an official statement some of the lesserknown aspects of the book of mormon translation process, such as joseph smiths use of and even preference for a seer stone that he had found years before receiving. According to most adherents of the latter day saint movement, the book of mormon is a 19thcentury translation of a record of ancient inhabitants of the american continent, which was written in a script which the book refers to as reformed egyptian. An essay on the mechanical process in which the book of mormon was translated was published 30 december 20 and is now in the topical guide of the website. I am wondering if a similar application towards the book of mormon would possibly bear interesting results. Why new testament words and phrases are in the book of. The translation and publication of the book of mormon immediately preceded the organization of the church in the spring of 1830. Today were looking at a vitally important piece of mormon history the translation process of the socalled golden plates. Why you should care about the nephite weights and measures system.
In his recent study of the book of mormon translation process, richard l. Peterson wrote an excellent article in which he cites witnesses to the book of mormon translation process, giving modern readers insight into what eyewitnesses saw regarding how joseph smith translated the book of mormon. Im currently using it to learn portuguese, and ive discovered even people who arent mormon are using the book as a valuable tool. The translation of the book of mormon, from dan vogel, ed.
This book details the story of the translation of the book of mormon into the thai language. Bushman, professor of history at columbia university, presents the details and evidence from the perspective of the original participants, including joseph and emma smith, oliver cowdery, and other scribes and family members. The church continues to portray the hat as used in translation incorrectly. Questions raised during the translation process led to many of the earliest revelations now recorded in the doctrine and covenants and to significant events like the restoration of the priesthood. For a pretty thorough discussion of the issues surrounding the translation process of the book of mormon and why this is a problem and for many details not mentioned previously, please see mormonthinks section on the book of mormon translation. Book of mormontranslationlocation of the plates fairmormon. This claim, as well as all claims to historical authenticity of the book of mormon, are rejected by nonlatter day saint historians and scientists. Book of mormontranslationthe interpreters, seer stone. It seems after reading these posts that the only possible answer is that the book of mormon happened just like joseph and others claim. But beginning about 182728, smith and his followers began to change how they talked about the translation process, transforming it from magical treasure lore into christian epic.
She, like the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon, never wavered in her testimony of the book. The writer, josiah jones, claims as his source the first latterday saint missionaries to that territoryelders cowdery. Again, it is the rate of translation, approximately 6. Which scribes worked on which portions in the book of mormon. Emma hale smith, and perhaps her brother reuben hale, help as scribes for a portion of the book. A commentary on the doctrine and covenants and other modern revel ations salt lake city, ut. What i want to talk about is the process of translating the book of mormon. Evidence that the new testament phrases in the book of. Starting in 20, the church has provided a more accurate version of how the seer stone was used. This wise purpose probably refers, at least in part, to the loss of 116 pages of manuscript by martin harris, a scribe of joseph smith during the early translation process.
Joseph smith said that the book of mormon translation was performed by the gift and power of god the lost 116 pages of the book of mormon manuscript. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god preface to the book of. The translation miracle of the book of mormon book of. Little is known about the actual translation process. Joseph didnt share many details of the translation process other than the fact that he received the translation by the gift and power of god. The p rocess of translating the book of mormon j oseph fielding mcconkie prof essor of ancient scripture, byu c raig j. A compilation of published statements on the book of mormon translation method in both church and nonchurch publications. Did joseph smith describe the book of mormon translation process. The translation process seems to have progressed through several stages with the nephite interpreters until joseph discovered his seer stone worked better for.
Can the book of mormon be considered a genuine translation if the plates werent even used during the translation process. Joseph smith translates some of the characters himself. More insight into the book of mormon translation process might come from the original book of commandments. Why was joseph smith so reluctant to disclose details relative to the process of translation. Mormonthinks section on the book of mormon translation. Doctrine and covenants 17 contains the lords instructions to these men. Josephs many responsibilities often interrupted the translation process, sometimes for several months. When joseph smith began the book of mormon translation, he acted in his capacity as a treasure seer and used the tools of that trade. Consistent with that definition, the translation of the book of mormon by joseph smith is indeed a modernday miracle. The miraculous translation of the book of mormon john w.
Welch t he translation of the book of mormon, completed by joseph smith in june 1829, was an amazing feat. He seeks to provide artwork that not only portrays the process more accurately but also respectfully. The same goes for oliver cowderys use of the terms in his description of the translation process. If the plates were not part of the translation process, this would not have been the case. The earliest known description of the process of translating the book of mormon is found in an article titled history of the mormonites, published 9 june 1831, in kirtland, ohio. By any standard, this 588page holy book is extraordinary. Martin harris related an incident that occurred during the time that he wrote that portion of the translation of the book of mormon which he was favored to write direct from the mouth of the prophet joseph smith. Out of those 7 official articles, only 3 articles clearly explain the rock in the hat book of mormon translation process to the members. Book of mormon written in modernday english grace for grace. This is the path i would take if i undertook such a study. It also leaves us wondering why the lord directed the writers of the book of mormon to make a duplicate record of the plates of lehi. Consider the churchs current process of translating the book of mormon from english. I would analyze the book of mormon sermon portions.
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