Story of joseph smith translating the book of mormon

How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the book of. 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. Some witnesses described the plates as weighing from 30 to 60 pounds, golden in color, and composed of thin metallic pages engraved with hieroglyphics on both sides and bound with three dshaped rings. I will now give you a description of the manner in which the book of mormon was translated. Book of mormon manuscript excerpt, circa june 1829 1. Mormons believe joseph smith found gold plates engraved with writing. This helps explain why the early latterday saints interchangeably referred to his translation instruments as the urim and thummim. The claim that joseph smith translated the book of mormon from inscriptions on a set of ancient plates is literally at the heart of mormonism. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of. Seven years later, in 1830, this scriptural canon of the latterday saints was published for the world.

The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates. Joseph smith, whom most latter day saints believe to have translated the work, stated, 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. When you dive into church history and get to the parts about joseph smith translating the book of mormon with a rock in a hat, getting the book of abraham translation completely wrong, retrofitting the priesthood restoration, and implementing polygamy behind emmas back. What is the true story behind joseph smith and masons. 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. As he studied and prayed, the urim and thummim helped him understand the characters on the plates. Joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon. Unlike the story ive been taught in sunday school, priesthood, general conferences, seminary, efy, ensigns, church history tour, missionary training center, and byu joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon these facts are now officially confirmed in the churchs december 20 book of mormon translation. Claims that joseph smith ever used a seer stone in the translation of the book of mormon or was ever involved with folk magic come exclusively from antimormons or apostate dissidents and are therefore untrustworthy.

Only by the fourth century after jesus christ were. Fairmormon agrees with this statement, but attempts to argue that this method has been described in a variety of sources, as if to suggest that the rock in the hat translation method is common knowledge. In the opinion of the writer, the prophet used no seer stone in translating the book of mormon, neither did he translate in the manner described by david. Moroni appears to joseph smith, joseph smith receives the gold. Were joseph smiths translation instruments like the. Martin harris took a transcript of some characters copied from the golden plates to scholars in new york city.

When you dive into church history and get to the parts. The book of mormon, first printed in 1830, is currently being published in more than 80 languages worldwide. 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. Brant gardner book length treatment of the wide spectrum of questions about the joseph smiths translation of the book of mormon. There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. This is the simple, direct testimony of joseph smith, giving some of the events that led to the restoration of the gospel and the founding of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. There were numerous witnesses to the translation of the book of mormon by joseph smith.

Born on december 23, 1805, in sharon, vermont, to joseph and lucy mack smith, joseph smith jr. Six criteria can demonstrate the presence of similarity or distinctiveness amon. The manuscript joseph smith dictated to oliver cowdery and others is. In 1827, smith began to gather a religious following after announcing that an angel had shown him a set of golden plates describing a visit of jesus to the indigenous peoples of. These items, along with joseph smith s seer stone, have a number of meaningful parallels with the biblical urim and thummim. The founder of the lds church, joseph smith, claimed an angel named moroni. How the book of mormon translation story changed over time. Joseph smiths translation and publication of the book of mormon.

Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. Joseph smiths famous leg surgery was actually the fourth in a series of surgeries. While some critics try to use this story as evidence that everything about joseph smith was a fraud, the historical evidence suggests that joseph ultimately did not fall for the hoaxhe never tried to purchase the plates, hire scribes, and go into translation mode, like he did with the ancient egyptian papyri he had purchased in ohio. Mormons react to firstever photograph of joseph smiths. As we celebrate joseph smiths birthday, heres a list of 15 other interesting facts about joseph smith. Smith said that he found the plates on september 22, 1823, on a hill near his home in manchester, new york, after the angel moroni direc. This book was written to provide a detailed explanation of how joseph smith and. 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. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon. Her testimony was recorded by their son, joseph smith, iii.

And i often sat by and saw and heard them translate and write for hours together. Could joseph smith have authored the book of mormon. Relationship of the joseph smith translation of the bible to the book of mormon book of mormon translation method. At first joseph spent a lot of time becoming familiar with the plates and the language in which they were written.

The label golden bible predates the book of mormon, as legends of such. When joseph was translating the book of mormon i had occasion more than once to go into his immediate presence, and saw him engaged. The miracle of joseph smith translating the book of mormon. Seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon. The popular tv show south park has an episode titled all about mormons, in which joseph smith s account of the coming forth of the book of mormon is mocked as absurd and completely unbelievable. Smith also asserted that john the baptist appeared to him while he was translating the book of mormon and instructed him to restore the church by. By the power of god, through the holy spirit, how else. Devoted members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints honor its founder, joseph smith, with saintlike reverence. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of mormon.

Did you know joseph smiths famous leg surgery was the fourth in a series of surgeries. Some of his contemporaries who heard him recount these events also wrote them down. Includes discussion about the role of folk magic, how the english text replicates. 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. If smith truly was a prophet with the ability to decipher plates of an unknown language which were said to contain the story of jesus appearance in the americas, then this man should be revered and his translation of this ancient work.

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. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. 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. Let them tell the story in their own words of how moroni appeared to joseph smith, how he received the gold plates, and translated the book of mormon. Did joseph smith translate the book of mormon with a rock. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for book of. Some people will not agree, but i submit to you that the prophet joseph smith in translating the book of mormon did a superhuman work. Nothing is magical, and the urim and thummim, the seer stone, etc.

For many people, joseph smith s claims are just too ridiculous, and the south park episode effectively captures this incredulous attitude. The following list identifies accounts found on the joseph smith papers website. What do the kinderhook plates reveal about joseph smiths. The advent of the computer and the internet allows joseph smith as the author of the book of mormon to be compared to other authors and their books in ways essentially impossible even a couple of decades ago. I cheerfully certify that i was familiar with the manner of joseph smiths translating the book of mormon. I cant confirm your story about being encouraged to join for protection, however from historical records its clear that hyrum smith was a mason while in palmyra, but that there was a wave of antimason sentiment about the time joseph smith was translating the book of mormon. By its own terms, the book of mormon is a translation of an ancient book. I be lieve the prophet joseph smith was a prophet because he did many superhuman things. Joseph smith translates the book of mormon, dictating the text to his scribe oliver cowdery. For most of my life i have been confused about how joseph smith translated the book of mormon. 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. In other words, joseph used the same magic device or ouija board that he used during his treasure hunting days. Martin harris lost 116 pages joseph smith had translated from the book of mormon. When joseph smith was 21, he went to the hill cumorah and got the plates from the place where moroni had buried them.

Mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss the various historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including accounts of joseph smith using a. An article in the improvement era, a former publication of the lds church, denied joseph smiths use of seer stones, while simultaneously disparaging the reliability of the witnesses. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the bom. The prophet joseph smith taught that the devil will so transform things as to make one gape at those who are doing the will of god. The text featured here begins on the third manuscript page second leaf of what in the published book of mormon was titled the first book of nephi. 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. Lds scripture instructs that joseph smith, the prophet and seer of the lord, has done more, save jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in. 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. Book of mormon translation by joseph smith book of. When joseph smith found the golden plates, he discovered that accompanying them were a set of nephite interpreters and a breastplate. Moroni, the person who deposited the plates from whence the book of mormon was translated, in a hill in manchester, ontario county, new york.

Joseph and emma smith moved to harmony, pennsylvania, where joseph began translating the book of mormon in earnest. The use of objects in the translation were only to help focusing on the work. Some think if a different prophet had translated the book of mormon, the stories and doctrine would be similar but differ in vocabulary and. Apologists assert that physical plates werent essential as a source text but were necessary to convince joseph smith and others that the story of the principle. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Joseph smith and his scribes wrote of two instruments used in translating the book of mormon. Joseph smiths translation and publication of the book of mormon michael hubbard mackay, gerrit j.

Mormon scholars debate joseph smiths role in translation. Emmas testimony on translating the book of mormon life. Brother hyrum smith said that he thought best that the information of the coming forth of the book of mormon be related by joseph himself to the elders present that all might know for themselves. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon, gospel art book 2009, no. 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. It is claimed that each sentence and word in the 1830 book of mormon had supposedly come directly from god. Today were looking at emma smiths version of history when her husband, joseph smith, jr. The bible was recorded largely on scrolls in the old world as separate books and copied by scribes for centuries. Joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon. The same method he used for treasure digging compare jsh 1. Through the power of god, joseph smith translated the writing on the plates.

According to witnesses of the translation, when joseph looked into the instruments, the words of scripture appeared in english. There have been many questions from historians about the bom translation process in the past 185 years, far too many to count. This 2001 ensign cover shows joseph smith translating the book of mormon by poring over the plates which is how many faithful latterday saints have been instructed to imagine the process. 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.