Translating the book of mormon

Joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon. 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. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear. Translating the book of mormon kindle edition by gardner, brant a download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. However, the faithful assurance that it is a translation has not had an accompanying understanding of how that translation took place.

Welch, the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, in opening the heavens. Nov 08, 2018 translating the book of mormon into another language usually takes years to complete, even when someone is able to dedicate themselves to the task fulltime. The book of mormon was presented to the world as the translation of an ancient text engraved on golden plates more than 180 years ago. Were the plates sometimes not in the room while joseph was translating them. Evidence from the original manuscript, in book of mormon authorship revisited, edited by reynolds, 6193. They say that god helped him translate the text using the stone and other tools, which became known as the book of mormon. Porter in may 1829, joseph smith and oliver cowdery found that a combination of circumstances had made continuing the translation of the book of mormon at harmony, pennsylvania, untenable. These facts are now officially confirmed in the churchs december 20 book of mormon translation essay. Accordingly, i opened to a random place in the middle of the book of mormon, and began translating. 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. Analytical and contextual commentary on the book of mormon and the gift and power. 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.

For further discussion on the book of mormon and the translation process, see the introduction to documents, volume 1. Which scribes worked on which portions in the book of mormon. In it, joseph is receiving revelation from god telling oliver he is blessed with a gift of a divining rod. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris serving as the main scribes, was lost in 1828. Stewart, and olivas aoy completed the translation of the entire book of mormon. The words urim and thummim did not appear in the book of mormon, early revelations, or early newspaper accounts.

In this respect the testimony of lorenzo brown about the preparation the prophet made for his translation of the bible may be instructive. A twentyfirst century believers view of the book of mormon translation as well as brant gardners award winning book the gift and power. The question at hand, then, is whether or not smiths translation of the book of mormon plates is true. Translating the book of mormon into other languages commenced relatively soon after the first publication in 1830. The speed with which the book of mormon was translated parent page. Oliver served as scribe to joseph smith during the translation of the book of mormon, was the first person to be baptized into the church, was witness to the truthfulness of the book of mormon, and was a leader in the early days of the church. Willes center for book of mormon studies has invited john w. These tables show all the versions of the book of mormon that have been translated. Translating the book of mormon evidence of witnesses joseph smiths scribes all testified that he had never so much as glanced at the gold plates during his entire translation of the book of mormon, for fear of being struck dead. At a meeting in johannesburg on may 14, 1972, when the afrikaans boek van mormon was introduced to the south african saints, it was a happy and, at the same time, an emotionpacked experience for those in attendance.

From the approximate book of mormon translation timeline. The translation of the book of mormon into afrikaans. The practice of using stones or glass to receive divine revelation is found in many cultures, including among the ancient israelites and maya. 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. For those who would like to read a much more detailed paper on this topic i recommend roger nicholsons new interpreter article, the spectacles, the stone, the hat, and the book. Joseph smith, through divine guidance, translated the book of mormon, which was considered a miracle act. Joseph smith mentioned several times that he translated the book of mormon record through the gift and power of god by means of the urim and thummim, but the term was used ambiguously. The lds version of the book of mormon has been translated into 83 languages and selections have been translated into an additional 25 languages. It was released by the church to help explain how the book of mormon was translated, and to explain why the true story of the translation differs so greatly from the official church narrative taught since its founding. Joseph was given a set of nephite interpreters along with the gold plates from which the book of mormon was produced. The book of mormon is published in 112 languages, and many of them are available in multiple formats online in march 1830, 5,000 copies of the book of mormon were printed in the e. Seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon youtube.

For a compilation of accounts by joseph smiths contemporaries, see john w. Dec 12, 2012 translating the book of mormon into other languages commenced relatively soon after the first publication in 1830. 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. Were the plates sometimes not in the room while joseph was translating. All opinions, speakers and presenters represent and express their own individual opinions, and not necessarily the opinions of firm foundation, book of mormon evidence, or its employees, and no information or opinions represent the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. A commentary on the doctrine and covenants and other modern revel ations salt lake city, ut. He had translated about a third of the book of mormon into afrikaans, but it had been a long, tedious effort, and it was imperative that the translation be completed without further delay so that the building up of the church in south africa could progress with greater speed and with every possible advantage. 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. 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. Today, the book of mormon has been translated from english into over 100 languages see book of mormon in 110 languages, ensign, may 2015, 7. Much of what ash discusses on the bom translation method has already been discussed above but ill respond again as needed. During 182930, a copy of the original manuscript was made. Book of mormon translation lds church is true blog. Joseph smith used the seer stones referred to as the urim and thummim to translate the book of mormon to various scribes, oliver cowdery.

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. Mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss the various historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including accounts of joseph smith using a seer stone to translate the. By its own terms, the book of mormon is a translation of an ancient book. In this article i discuss what the original manuscript of. Why did joseph smith translate the book of mormon into jacobean english, not in use in 1830. As of april 2011, the book of mormon has been published in its entirety in 82 languages, with selections of the book available in an additional 25 languages. Similarly, joseph smith used both the nephite interpreters and his individual seer stone in the translation of the book of mormon. The following essay is the official lds released essay entitled book of mormon translation. Why would joseph smith use the same stone for translating the book of mormon that he used for money digging. 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. Book of mormon translator converted the mormon urban.

It is the meaning that is most important in the book of mormon, not the words. Later, joseph smith translated the book of mormon into. The process of translating the book of mormon joseph smith. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon.

But translations of the book of mormon into other languages have also been miraculous, in their own small way. Joseph began translating again in 1829, and almost all of the present book of mormon text was translated during a threemonth period between april and june of that year. Ostler as sistant professor of church history and doctrine, byu from revelations of the restoration. Portions of the book have been translated into another 20 languages. Maxwell, 1 and building on my chapter in the second edition of opening the heavens, 2 this article strives to be as precise as possible about the timing of the events and progress of the book of mormon translation. Fhe lesson on the book of mormon translating the book of.

Joseph smith translates some of the characters himself. Translating the book of mormon book of mormon facts. The book of mormon came into the world through a series of miraculous events. 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. The process of translating the book of mormon brs home page.

Joseph began translating again in 1829, and almost all of the present book of mormon text was translated during a threemonth period between april and june of. This fhe lesson on the book of mormon helps teach how joseph smith translated the book of mormon by the power of god, including the seer stones. 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. Oliver cowdery mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. The process of translating the book of mormon book of. Joseph smiths translation of the book of mormon into english was arguably one of the most miraculous occurrences of this dispensation. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for book of. When i see the word translate, it means to me that a scribe read a manuscript written in one language e. Did joseph smith say anything about the process of translation.

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. Jun 29, 2016 writing style usually changes through a book, and becomes more consistent toward the middle. Book of mormon evidence, or its employees, and no information or opinions represent the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. In other words, joseph used the same magic device or ouija board that he used during his treasure hunting days. Royal skousen is professor of english at brigham young university and since 1988 has served as the editor of the book of mormon critical text project. This bookshelf single includes the chapter translating the book of mormon from a reason for faith. Mar 19, 2018 mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss the various historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including accounts of joseph smith using a seer stone to translate the.

Historical setting for its translation and publication larry c. In 2001, the lds church reported that all or part of the book of mormon was available in the native language of 99 percent of latterday saints and 87 percent of the worlds total population. It is claimed that each sentence and word in the 1830 book of mormon had supposedly come directly from god. The book of mormon has been translated in its entirety into 97 languages. The owner and employees of this site are members of the lds church and in good standing. David whitmer said, regarding smiths translation of the book of mormon. He testified that he was only able to translate the book by the gift and power of god book of mormon translation, gospel topics, topics. Donate if you like what were doing and want to help us keep doing it. 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. Oct 07, 2017 the resulting translation was published in 1830 as the book of mormon. After i got through translating the book of mormon, i took up the bible to read with the urim and thummim. Joseph smith translated an ancient text by the gift and power of god to produce the book of mormon. For a compilation of accounts by joseph smith s contemporaries, see john w. The manuscript in the new book actually belongs to the community of.

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. It was written in an ancient language on gold plates by prophets in ancient america. Would god approve the use of a magic peep stone in translating a sacred record. Mormons believe joseph smith found gold plates engraved with writing in ancient egyptian in new york and god helped him translate the text.

Emma hale smith, and perhaps her brother reuben hale, help as scribes for a portion of the book. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the gift and power. Divining rods were believed to have power to help farmers locate where to dig to find water. More insight into the book of mormon translation process might come from the original book of commandments. The translation of the book of mormon into ukrainian is one such small miracle in church history. Book of mormon translation the church of jesus christ of latter. I will now give you a description of the manner in which the book of mormon was translated. In june 27, 20, lds apologist michael ash wrote an article in meridian magazine called translating the book of mormon.

Details of the translation process joseph smith used for translating the book of mormon from the plates can be adduced from statements of witnesses and from evidence in the original and printers manuscripts. Seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon. The p rocess of translating the book of mormon j oseph fielding mcconkie prof essor of ancient scripture, byu c raig j. The miraculous translation of the book of mormon into. One of the greatest single achievements of the south african saints was the translation of the book of mormon into afrikaans. 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. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. One instrument, called in the book of mormon the interpreters, is better known to latterday saints today as the urim and thummim.

Oliver cowdery was one of the first members of the mormon church and was a key figure in mormon history. The seer stone made the translating process much easier and we read that joseph would sit for hours, his face in the hatto obscure the lightwhile he saw the english translation of the book of mormon text that he dictated to his scribes. Those skeptical of joseph smiths claims sometimes insist that his account of the coming forth of the book is simply too. According to witnesses, joseph smith often translated without the plates being present and used the inter. Joseph and his scribes wrote of two instruments used in translating the book of mormon. Welchs excellent article entitled the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, from opening the heavens, accounts of divine manifestations 18201844, p. In order to develop any theories on how it was done we.

Apr 02, 2019 similar to how translators of the bible grapple with translating the names of animals, or how the king james bible translators at times slipped into anachronistic language, horses in the book of mormon might be joseph smiths rendering of the nephite word for, perhaps, tapir or deer. His chief scribe during these months was oliver cowdery, a schoolteacher from vermont who learned about the book of mormon while boarding with josephs parents in palmyra. From that humble beginning, today the church prints over 3 million copies a year on large web presses. If smith truly was a prophet with the ability to decipher. Gardner earned a masters degree in anthropology and mesoamerican ethnohistory from the state university of new york at albany.

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. Translating the book of mormon may 6, 2015 translating the book of mormon how did joseph smith translate the book of mormon. 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 church later admitted these facts in its october 2015 ensign, where they include a photograph of the actual rock that joseph smith used to place in his hat for the book of mormon translation. This copy is called the printers manuscript because, for the most part, this was the manuscript that was taken to the printers shop in palmyra, new york, where the type was set for the first edition of the book of mormon, published in 1830. Translating and printing the book of mormon the book of.

He said, i was startled by the obvious fact that the book of mormon was not authored in english. Jul 18, 2016 a somewhat perplexing reference to gazelem, the name of an individual using a stone prepared by god, is found in alma 37. 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. What translating harry potter reveals about the book of mormon. Why was a stone used as an aid in translating the book of mormon. Book of mormon translation by joseph smith the encyclopedia. Again, it is the rate of translation, approximately 6. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon.

Book of mormon translation joseph smith only about sixtyfive working days to translate a book that, in the current edition, is 531 pages long john w. Joseph found the interpreters buried in the hill with the plates. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. The lord also declares that the salvation of our souls hinges upon our acceptance or rejection of the book of mormon. Brigham believed that the translation of the book of mormon was a miracle, but not that it was an infallible translation that could never be changed. This paper aims to stimulate specific thinking about the intense and complex events during which the book of mormon was translated in 1829. 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.