The modern church rarely discusses the translation process. The scribes who assisted with the translation unquestionably believed that joseph translated by divine power. For a detailed description of the process by which joseph smith translated the book of mormon, read. Only the paragraphs in the 1830 edition were as indicated on the plates. Many readers of the book of mormon naturally assume that joseph smith translated its books in the order that we find them today, that is, beginning with the title page, and then translating 1 nephi 1. Mar 21, 2018 in the video seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon, mason allred interviews dr. Come follow me 2020 podcasts with rod meldrum book of. This hardly allows for the 3,9 changes that have been made between the first edition of the book of mormon and the edition presently in use. Although we do not fully understand precisely how the book of mormon was translated, the. Joseph never talked about how the book of mormon translation process went. For more on theories regarding the translation process, see royal skousen, how joseph smith translated the book of mormon, journal of book of mormon studies 7, no. Almost all of the present book of mormon text was translated during a threemonth period between april and june 1829 with. The translation of the book of mormon and church art for many years, latterday saints were led to believe that joseph smith translated the book of mormon by looking directly at the gold plates that he supposedly dug up out of the ground in 1827 that had been buried by moroni, whom leaders have taught was the last living nephite, in the fifth. It may be surprising to learn that the books from the small plates of nephi 1 nephi through words of mormon almost certainly came last in the translation process.
Could the book of mormon be a parallel history of the united states of america. Her testimony was recorded by their son, joseph smith, iii. New church video explains joseph smiths seer stones book. Joseph smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light. The king james quotations in the book of mormon, the history of the text of the book of mormon. Art depicting the book of mormon translation process. A compilation of published statements on the book of mormon translation method in both church and nonchurch publications.
Amy eastonflake and rachel cope, a multiplicity of witnesses. In fact, the book of mormon translation process was performed entirely without looking at the plates, which were either out of the room or said to have been covered with a cloth. Emma smith on the book of mormon translation process. Book of mormon translation response to an essay on the mechanical process in which the book of mormon was translated was put in the topical guide of the website on 1230. Firsthand witness accounts of the translation process religious.
Tight translationthis is the belief that the book was revealed word for word. Various witnesses of the process, including emma smith and martin harris, recalled how joseph dictated the book of mormon while the plates were either. People are sometimes surprised to discover that the plates of the book of mormon were not regularly used during the process of its translation. By its own terms, the book of mormon is a translation of an ancient book. This provision which compensated for the loss of the 116 pages would have served no purpose either. Four women were witnesses to book of mormon translation.
Meaning, joseph had little or no control over the text. Evidence for tight control of the text, royal skousen, 1998 the punctuation was added by the printer, and the lds versification by orson pratt. There seem to be two basic theories about the translation. David whitmer, one of the book of mormon witnesses, explained the process. 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.
Evidence that the new testament phrases in the book of mormon. The process of translating the book of mormon book of. Critics of the book of mormon have claimed that a variety of linguistic anachronisms exist in it which cast doubt upon its historical authenticity. 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. In june 1829, mary and her husband, peter whitmer, opened their home to joseph and emma smith and oliver cowdery. The process of translating the book of mormon joseph smith. It took roughly 65 days to translate the book of mormon. The angel charged joseph smith to translate the book from the ancient. Emma smith on the physical characteristics of the book of mormon plates.
Emma smith on the book of mormon translation process, quote 1. Can the book of mormon be considered a genuine translation if the plates werent even used during the translation process. Joseph smiths translation and publication of the book of mormon. Firsthand witness accounts of the translation process. Emma smith on the book of mormon translation process, quote 2. Note the mention of the stone in the official childrens magazine, the friend available online at. The process as described brings to mind a passage from the book of mormon that. Book of mormon translation the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, by john w.
In conclusion, we feel that the move away from the actual facts of the translation process of the book of mormon demonstrates a lack of credibility on the part of lds. The owner and employees of this site are members of the lds church and in. The subject of the book of mormon translation is one of interest to me, because i find it to be one of the most confused aspects of the book of mormon. Third, if the process of translation was simply a matter of reading from a seer stone in a hat, surely oliver cowdery could do that as well, if not better, than joseph smith. While a select few did hear joseph refer to magical items, nobody ever saw a breastplate, spectacles, or ancient interpreter stones. Some accounts indicate joseph studied the characters on the plates.
For further discussion on the book of mormon and the translation process, see the introduction to documents, volume 1. Translating the book of mormon, presentation given at. He moved in with the smiths in the winter of 1828 to act as scribe for joseph smith. The process of translating the book of mormon brs home page. 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. Church members believe that the book of mormon is more correct than the bible because the bible was the result of a multiplegeneration translation process and the book of mormon was not. This claim, as well as all claims to historical authenticity of the book of mormon, are rejected by nonlatter day saint historians and scientists. Why was joseph smith so reluctant to disclose details relative to the process of translation. The process of translating the book of mormon joseph. Joseph smith translated an ancient text by the gift and power of god to produce the book of mormon. If the plates were not part of the translation process, this would not have been the case. Events surrounding the translation of the book of mormon, 18271828. New church video explains joseph smiths seer stones. Home the process of translating the book of mormon.
Nov 30, 2015 witnesses to the book of mormon give insight to the translation process and physical reality of the plates. This chapter will help satisfy the rising interest in the translation of the book of mormon by analyzing what witnesses and close associates of joseph smith said. The translation process what do we really know about the translation process of the book of mormon. Witnesses to the book of mormon give insight to the translation process and physical reality of the plates. 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. Welch, the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, in opening the heavens. This lesson was hard to put together because there is so much that can be taught about moronis visit, the gold plates, the witnesses, the translation process, joseph marrying emma that was part of the preparation of receiving the plates, the printing process, etc.
As the person closest to joseph and with him from the beginning to the very end of the translation process, emma was arguably more intimately involved with the coming forth of the book of mormon than any other individual besides joseph, said sister eastonflake. Why were the gold plates needed at all if they werent used directly during the translation process. Many accounts of the process of translating the book of mormon. Sep 21, 2017 people are sometimes surprised to discover that the plates of the book of mormon were not regularly used during the process of its translation. Many of these events are covered in the extra activities to do during the week. Translating the book of mormon, presentation given at 2011 fair conference. Mark ashurstmcgee of the joseph smith papers project concerning the various historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process. Book of mormon translation the church of jesus christ of latter.
I began to see considerable evidence for the traditional interpretation that witnesses of the translation process claimed. The translation process of the book of mormon lds scripture. It may be surprising, therefore, to learn that the small plates of nephi 1 nephi through words of mormon almost certainly came last in the translation process, after the completion of the large plates of nephi mosiah through. Welch by the gift and power of god, by elder neal a. Book of mormon translation process life after ministry.
It also leaves us wondering why the lord directed the writers of the book of mormon to take a duplicate record of the plates of lehi. It covers just about everything relating to the how of the translation process. We have a few quotes from martin harris, emma smith, david whitmer, and oliver cowdery that suggest something like this. What was the instrument prepared by the lord for sacred translations. Women and the translation process, in the coming forth of the book of mormon. Today were looking at emma smiths version of history when her husband, joseph smith, jr. Four women were witnesses to book of mormon translation process. Linguistic anachronisms in the book of mormon are words that represent concepts that are not believed to have existed in the americas between 2500 b. Book of mormon translation process 1 claims of revelation in the lds church 2 contemporary issues 3 contradictory doctrines between lds books of scripture 4 deborah, anna and other prophetesses 1 definition by jesus of his doctrine and gospel 4 dishonesty by lds church leaders 2 divorce and jesus philosophy 1 doctrinal errors 27. Perhaps the matter can be treated most directly in a question and answer format. 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. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. 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.
Maxwell the spectacles, the stone, the hat, and the book. 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. In the video seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon, mason allred interviews dr. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris serving as the main scribes, was lost in 1828. Isaiah and nephi both prophesied that the book of mormon would be translated by him that is not learned so that the lord could show that he is able to do his own work and is a god of miracles 2 nephi 27. Most readers of the book of mormon naturally assume that joseph smith translated its books beginning in 1 nephi 1. Is it just coincidental that the churchwide study of the book of mormon always happens on presidential election years in the united states.
I will now give you a description of the manner in which the book of mormon was translated. Book of mormon evidence, or its employees, and no information or opinions represent the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. How does the mosiahfirst translation sequence strengthen. The same goes for oliver cowderys use of the terms in his description of the translation process. There have been many questions from historians about the bom translation process in the past 185 years, far too many to count. The article is fairly brief and only superficially addresses the problem. The process as described brings to mind a passage from the book of mormon that speaks of god preparing a stone, which shall shine forth in darkness unto light. It covers just about everything relating to the how of. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. These are the only words that joseph smith himself used to describe the translation process. Joseph smith himself never recorded the precise physical details of the method of translation. Scribes and others who observed the translation left accounts giving insight into the process.
However, the church magazine ensign continues to publish images. I is a awful resp onsib ility, j seph smith sad, t write. Book of mormon translation by joseph smith the encyclopedia. Dirkmaat, firsthand witness accounts of the translation process, in the coming forth of the book of mormon. As a firsthand witness of the translation process when she acted as his scribe, emma could testify that her husband had no notes, drafts, or books with him while he translated that ancient record.
He and several of his close associates testified that the translation was accomplished by the gift and power of god. If you are interested in the translation process of the book of mormon in any way read this book. He and several of his close associates testified that the translation was accomplished by the gift and power of god hc 1. That said, the church has been very frank about the seer stones use, though the product of the translation of the book of mormon is usually given much more attention that the process. Truly, the translation of the book of mormon was a miracle and was accomplished by miraculous means. Activity after losing the 116 pages and not being able to translate for a while the translation of the book of mormon started again on april 7, 1829. 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. I repeat, then, that the translation of the book of mormon by means of the interpreters and seer stone, was not merely a mechanical process, but required the utmost concentration of mental and spiritual force possessed by the prophet, in order to exercise the gift of translation through the means of the sacred instruments provided. Church history sites in western new york, 18201831. In recent years, lds artwork found in church curriculum and magazines has been criticized because it does not portray the book of mormon translation process historically accurate. She, like the three and eight witnesses of the book of mormon, never wavered in. Witnesses those who assist to bring forth this work. Book of mormon translation lds church is true blog.
For a compilation of accounts by joseph smiths contemporaries, see john w. Evidence that the new testament phrases in the book of. 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. 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. The translation of the book of mormon, from dan vogel, ed. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon.