I know that if you read it with real intent, having faith in christ, that the spirit will testify to you also that this book is true. But the exact way in which it was done is not known. 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. Mar 21, 2018 the church history department of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has released a new video exploring joseph smith s use of seer stones in the translation process of the book of mormon. Use of the gold plates in book of mormon translation accounts. Why the catalyst theory is dead on arrival mormon stories. However, he admitted to perpetrating various gold digging, divining and necromancy activities. His parents provided him with only a limited education and though he did have a bright mind, he did not have the education necessary to translate one language into another. Joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon. After joseph smith dictated the book of mormon text, oliver cowder.
Indeed, bushmans depiction of the translation of the text tells the reader almost nothing about the actual translation process at all. Joseph smith s translation and publication of the book of mormon provo, ut and salt lake city, ut. It shows joseph smith putting two seer stones into a hat, then burying his face in the hat and dictating words to martin harris. Nov 04, 2019 i obtained them the plates and the uri and thummim with them, by the means of which i translated the plates and thus came the book of mormon. Or book of mormon not his word because denied, by oliver. Prophets of ancient americas who lived 1,500 years ago wrote the book of mormon. It has admitted its involvement with the mountain meadows massacre. Did joseph smith describe the book of mormon translation. This remains the best description of the translation of the book of mormon. The gospel topics essay book of mormon translation shares some of the accounts of those who participated in the translation process. 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. Joseph smith and his scribes wrote of two instruments used in translating the book of mormon.
A 21stcentury artistic representation of joseph smith translating the golden plates by examining a seer stone in his hat. In 1822, joseph smith found a brown, eggcolored stone while digging a well for willard chase. He testified that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion introduction to the book of mormon. Yet far from being damaging evidence against his claims and against the book of mormon, this fact may strongly support their plausibility.
This heavenly messenger is reported to have told him about gold plates that contained a record of former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. And if the book of mormon is true then joseph smith is a prophet. He helped joseph smith protect the plates from thieves and financed. Religious studies center, brigham young university, and deseret book, 2015. Why did joseph smith attempt to secure the book of mormon. Because joseph was translating a completely unknown language, he needed to rely on the lord. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer stone in a hat. Evidence from the original manuscript royal skousen. Before hiding the gold plates, moroni, the last prophet of the book of mormon, wrote on the book s title page that the book would be translated by the gift and power of god.
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. Concealment and divine prohibition in book of mormon. Nov 29, 2020 joseph smith is the founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. 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.
Absurd as it may seem to some, it is not improbable that the answer to this question will be, joseph smith, the mormon prophet. And, though i was an active participant in the scenes that transpired, and was present during the translation of the plates, and had cognizance of things as they transpired, it is marvelous to me, a marvel. Popular author and mormon historian dan vogels newest video discusses joseph smith s polyandrous marriages. 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. Joseph smith was a prophet called of god, endowed with gods power to set up christs church in the latter days. Apr 30, 2015 artwork of joseph smith translating the book of mormon. One way the lord helped was to provide physical instruments to aid joseph in translating. Select quotations from teachings of the prophet joseph smith. The seer stone translation narrative is false conflict. When formally dressed, he wore a favorite gray suit and a large, stiff hat. Hey guys, so latterday saints believe that the book of mormon, as translated by the prophet joseph smith, is sacred scripture. Later, he switched to a different method with one seer stone inside a hat, but im confused as to how it was supposed to help in translation. In its latest video, the youtube channel messages of christ explores the. But thanks to scholars who assembled the joseph smith papers, others like professor royal skousen, 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.
Concerning this record the prophet joseph smith said. Translation instruments joseph smith and his scribes used two. Translation of 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 to various scribes. Mormonism and historyaccuracy of church art fairmormon. David whitmer said, regarding smith s translation of the book of mormon. For much of the translation of the extant book of mormon text, joseph did not have the plates in front of himthey were often hidden outside the home during the translation. Joseph smith s translation and publication of the book of mormon.
Could joseph smith have written and recited the book of. Before hiding the gold plates, moroni, the last prophet of the book of mormon. Mar 27, 2015 statute of the prophet joseph smith in salt lake city. Use of the urim and thummim in translating the book of mormon. Despite all that the book of mormon prophets apparently went. Joseph smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it. 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. With the stone in his hat, he placed his face into the opening of the hat so. 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. According to witnesses of the translation, when joseph looked into the instruments, the words of scripture appeared in english. The wikipedia article on the golden plates says that joseph smith translated the golden plates into the book of mormon with the help of seer stones. That sounds very much like the translation method described by the prophet and other witnesses to.
This fact belies the claims of some people who say that joseph smith wrote the book of mormon from his imagination, or the book of mormon was a product of compilation of stories and histories he has read. Joseph smith dictated the words of the translation to scribes, mostly oliver cowdery. But joseph s story involves visions and angels and revelationthe kind of stuff that might have happened thousands of years ago but is a. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. Jun 17, 2014 either the book of mormon is what the prophet joseph said it is, or this church and its founder are false, a deception from the first instance onward. Some critics of joseph smith mock the fact that part of the book of mormon translation. He is the president of the joseph smith foundation, including latterday answers, ziontube, faqs, papers, inspirawiki and teachings of the prophet joseph smith. Joseph smith s response to skepticism, cites a personal interview emma smith bidamon gave to a committee of the reorganized church of jesus christ of latterday saints in 1879. Made it through byu, institute, seminary, and a mission.
Now, it has released a picture of the socalled seer stone that joseph smith used, according to mormonism, to translate the book of mormon. Early this week i posted a brief notice for the book from darkness unto light. 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. This evidence of the actual book of mormon translation method has been. Joseph smith seer stonesrock in hat used for book of mormon translation joseph smith. 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. Artwork of joseph smith translating the book of mormon fair. We should be careful about these quotes from antimormon.
Yesterday the church of jesus christ of latterday saints released photographs of a seer stone that was apparently one that the prophet joseph smith used to aid him in translating the book of mormon. Joseph smith and other mens wives dan vogel part 3 is now up 29 dec 2016. God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book. Aug 29, 2014 the church recently released an essay summarizing what we know about the process of translating the book of mormon. Smith translated the text of the book of mormon over the next several years by using a seer stone, which he placed in the bottom of a hat and then placed the hat over his face to view the words written within the stone. Does the book of mormon contradict joseph smiths translation. When joseph translated, he put the stone in his hat, put his face far enough. Jensen, and mark ashurstmcgee, joseph the seer, ensign, october 2015, 4954. Joseph placed either the interpreters or the seer stone in a hat, pressed his face into the hat to block out extraneous light, and read aloud the english words that appeared on the instrument. Welch, the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, in john w. The title page of the book of mormon said it would be interpreted and come forth by the gift and power of god. Jonathan hadley, a palmyra printer who may have spoken with joseph smith about translation, claimed that the plates were found with a huge pair of spectacles, and that by placing the spectacles in a hat, and looking into it, smith could he said so, at least, interpret these characters. The authenticity of the book of mormon depends on the credibility of joseph smith, the supposed translator of the book.
The three witnesses also testified that they knew the plates have been translated by the gift and power of god, for his voice hath declared it unto us. Like the american joseph smith had obtained in june 1829, a canadian would help protect the book of mormon from those who sought to illegally reprint. Devoted members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints honor its founder, joseph smith, with saintlike reverence. Why was a stone used as an aid in translating the book of mormon. Did joseph smith translate the book of mormon by putting. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Apr 07, 2020 the know sometime in early 1830 probably between january and early march, as the book of mormon was at press, joseph smith received a revelation instructing him to secure the for the book of mormon in canada. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints is becoming more transparent in these latter days. Did joseph smith use a hat during the translation of the. Critics have made merry over this, but it makes sense and its actually an indicator that he was telling the truth. But joseph s story involves visions and angels and revelationthe kind of stuff that might have happened thousands of years ago but is a bit hard for some people to accept closer to our era. Lately, a narrative has crept into the churchs scholarship about how the book of mormon was translated. 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. How exactly did joseph smith translate the book of mormon.
The book of mormon the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. A rioter commented, if the law could not reach them then powder and shot could. Translating and printing the book of mormon the book of. As joseph grew to understand his prophetic calling, he learned that he co. Initially, he is said to have used two stones set in frames as glasses to see the new translation. Was joseph smith involved in sorcery, astrology and ritual magic. Why was a stone used as an aid in translating the book of.
In the video seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon, mason. Thus the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god, and not by any power of man. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon by bill mckeever and eric johnson the founder of the lds church, joseph smith, claimed an angel named moroni visited him in september of 1823. In other words, joseph used the same magic device or ouija board that he used during his treasure hunting days. Smith describe the manner of translating the book of mormon by joseph smith the prophet and seer, which was as follows as near as i can recollect the substance of his description. Seven years later, in 1830, this scriptural canon of the latterday saints was published for the world. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. The essay book of mormon translation in the gospel topics section of.
A palmyra newspaper published the earliest known account of the translation in august 1829. Joseph smith answered when asked on the particulars of translation, it was not intended to tell the world all the particulars of the coming forth of the book of mormon. New church video explains joseph smiths seer stones book. The church recently released an essay summarizing what we know about the process of translating the book of mormon. The following quotes come from the book teachings of the prophet joseph smith, edited by joseph fielding smith. The three witnesses were finally excommunicated from the church. Joseph smith and the beginnings of mormonism is a whitewashed presentation of mormon history. Bushman omits the fact that joseph smith had his head in a hat during the entire translating process. I think the face in hat shift the book of mormon away from translation to revelation. This was an employee gift by the first presidency in 1991 and uses the 1976 edition.
As joseph grew to understand his prophetic calling, he learned that he could use. Foundation of the restoration quiz questions flashcards. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be. John smith and his brother hyrum, founders of the mormon church, were dragged from their prison cell by a mob of 200 and lynched in carthage, illinois, the result of a disagreement over the question of polygamy. If he thought he could divine treasure with a seer stone, he was selfdeluded.
Joseph did not render the writing on the gold plates into the english language in his own style of language as many people believe, but every word and. Note that a poem published in an early mormon newspaper contained a line about js. Joseph smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face. Joseph smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat. The angel charged joseph smith to translate the book from the ancient. 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. He was born to a farming family of nine children in vermont in 1805 and moved to new york in 1817. Book of mormon translation on trial and the producer or executive producer of seven documentary films. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. May 10, 2019 given joseph smith s firsthand knowledge of and experience with the translation of the book of mormon, one would suppose that faithful latterday saint researchers and authors would treat the prophet joseph smith s words as authoritative, placing them in a preeminent position within their works.
They testify to the divinity of the book of mormon and the. The youthful prophet received many visions through the medium of urim and. Firsthand and reliable witness accounts said joseph smith used the urim and thummim, but now historians say he used a different seer stone. As a mormon, did you know about joseph smith using the. Dec 14, 2017 youre right, the prophet used both the seer stone and the urim and thummim in translating the book of mormon. After joseph smith dictated the book of mormon text, oliver cowdery. Aug 05, 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. The original 1830 edition, book of mormon had s of. Oct 06, 2017 firstperson accounts of joseph smith s process of translating the book of mormon describe not an academic translation but a revealed translation. At age 14, he prayed to know which church to join and was visited by god the father and his son jesus christ. Born into a poor farming family, he was the fifth child of 11 nine of whom survived childhood.
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. For more than 190 years, critics of mormon founder joseph smith have tried to. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. The book of abraham and joseph smith as translator jstor. God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man teachings of the prophet joseph smith, p. The whole project by a relatively unschooled and littleknown young. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful. Holland delivers a stirring testimony of the book of mormon to believers, nonbelievers and former believ. Now the first my joseph smith translated, the book was.
Apr 19, 2015 the book of mormon is the keystone of our religion. Joseph smith used a stone in a hat to help him in his translation of the book of. Kay m godfrey, author, joseph smith epoch historian. Mark ashurstmcgee of the joseph smith papers project concerning the various historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process. Smith did not look at the plates but rather into a seer stone in a hat and then. South park part 4 translating the book of mormon life. Joseph smith declared that he translated the book of mormon from an ancient language reformed egyptian into english, but he spoke only one language. South park depiction of the translation of the book of mormon is more accurate than the most mormons realize. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth. So when do members hear the official head in hat with seer. Joseph smith put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light. Some critics of joseph smith mock the fact that part of the book of mormon translati. The stone has been in the church archives for many generations, but no known photographs have ever been taken of it or shown to the public.
Failed prophecies of joseph smith mormons in transition. Did joseph smith use a hat during the translation of the book. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone of our religion. The actual book of mormon, whose hieroglyphs smith translated while peering at peep stones in the bottom of his hat, lives up t. Allowed joseph to unintentionally of course mislead everyone into thinking he translated the book of abraham from these papyri, when he knew that this would be the cause of so many losing faith, and when he put plan in place over 2,400 years before joseph smith lost the 116 pages forcing nephi to create two sets of metal plates in the new. Did joseph smith use a hat during the translation of the book of. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to latter day saint theology, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. Of the 33 plus women mormon founder joseph smith married, about 14 were already married to other men. Magic, mysticism, and the origins of the book of mormon jstor.
It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for book of. As mayor of the city of nauvoo, illinois, joseph smith had ordered the destruction of the facilities used to print the nauvoo expositor, a newly established newspaper created by a group of nonmormons and others who had seceded from the church. Joseph smith, the founder and leader of the latter day saint movement, and his brother, hyrum smith, were killed by a mob in carthage, illinois, united states, on june 27, 1844, while awaiting trial in the town jail. The church shows joseph smiths seer stone for the first time. 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. Martin harris accused joseph smith of lying and licentiousness. Joseph smith used a stone in a hat to help him in his translation of the book of mormon.
Urim and thummim makes a great case for simply going back to the basics. To visit the site with all of the books and quotes from these, go here. How the mormon church now explains the translation of the. Harris promoted construction of the erie canal through palmyra along a. Roy al skousen has traced mormon interpretations of this passage to the lifetime of joseph smith himself, where both the prophet joseph smith and the stone were variously identified as gazelem. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the church. Some critics of joseph smith mock the fact that part of the book of mormon translation process apparently involved dictating while looking at a stone that hed placed within a hat. Joseph placed either the interpreters or the seer stone in a hat, pressed his. Joseph smith the prophet saw god and jesus in first vision. How joseph smith translated the book of mormon latterday. The papers browse the papers documents journals administrative.
Firsthand witness accounts of the translation process. Finally, joseph smith began the translation himself, dictating the text by what he. Joseph smith could neither write nor dictate a coherent and wellworded letter. Sep 28, 2020 the church published photos of a small sacred stone it believes founder joseph smith used to help translate the book of mormon. Most accounts describe joseph smith actually testifying under oath that he really could divine the location of treasure. Nov 30, 2020 its like a modern equivalent of the nineteenthcentury reports of joseph smith s ability to translate the plates from a vast distance. While the statement has been made by some writers that the prophet joseph smith used a seer stone part of the time in his translating of the record, and information points to the fact that he did have in his possession such a stone, yet there. New church video explains joseph smiths seer stones book of. This website is not owned by or affiliated with the church of jesus christ of latterday saints sometimes called the mormon or lds church. The founder of the lds church, joseph smith, claimed an angel named moroni visited him in september of 1823. Joseph smith said, we have imagined and supposed that god was god from all eternity. Most latterday saints grew up learning that joseph smith translated the book of mormon through the use of magic spectacles known as the urim and thummim.
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