How did the book of mormon get translate

One of the most amazing facts about the book of mormon is that it took joseph smith only about sixtyfive working days to translate a book that, in the current edition, is 531 pages long. Smith was the founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints often called the mormon church as well as a martyr. She said she thought it was almost impossible for joseph to have been able to translate as book as complex as the bom in 30 days without divine inspiration. In 1822, joseph smith found a brown, eggcolored stone while digging a well for willard chase. I have written a short answer to this question before but i believe a longer more involved answer is appropriate. In what order did joseph smith translate the book of mormon. Why did the book of mormon smith add a comma after. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of mormon. He said that he knew of the book of mormon from his religion studies, and his initial reaction was that he did not want to be involved in translating it. How did joseph smith translate the book of abraham. On these, he was to engrave a record of the ministry of his people.

One of the most amazing facts about the book of mormon is that it took. How did joseph smith translate the book of mormon answers. Welchs excellent article entitled the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, from opening the heavens, accounts of divine manifestations 18201844, p. Why do italic translator words from the kjv bible appear. Also, see the lds churchs essay on the book of mormon translation on. He said that he knew of the book of mormon from his religions studies, and his initial reaction was that he did not want to be involved in translating it. A video lecture detailing the facts of how joseph smith translated the golden plates into the book of mormon. A prophet, named mormon, organized the thousand years of history into a book. 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. This assertion can mislead people into believing the book of mormon production process was nothing short of miraculous. When joseph smith took possession of the book, he did not understand any of its contents because it was written in characters. Did joseph smith translate the book of mormon with a rock. I did translate the book of mormon by the gift and power of god, and it is before the world, and all the powers of earth and hell can never rob me of the honour of it quoted in james palmer, journal, 75, church history library, salt lake city. In order to develop any theories on how it was done we must to.

In a nutshell, the authors a couple of latterday saint scholars disagree with the idea that joseph used a seer stone to help him translate the book of mormon. How the book of mormon translation story changed over time. Welch, foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms. Book of mormon translator converted the mormon urban. A face to face event with elder cook on september 9, 2018.

Answers to questions, elders journal of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints july 1838. I have a very strong testimony that joseph smith did not translate the book of mormon with a stone in the hat. From lds scholar and faithful member richard bushman. Book of mormontranslationurim and thummim get in it. 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.

Book of mormontranslationlocation of the plates fairmormon. Why didnt joseph smith translate the book of mormon right the first time. Disconcerted by his inability to obtain the plates, smith said he briefly wondered whether his experience. She helped joseph smith retrieve the plates, participated in the translation as a scribe, and recorded her physical encounters with the covered plates. Who helped joseph smith translate the book of mormon. They say that god helped him translate the text using the stone and other tools, which became known as the book of mormon. Of course, joseph smith didnt translate the book of abraham, nor receive it thru inspiration, revelation, osmosis, or the gift and power of god. The lord also declares that the salvation of our souls hinges upon our acceptance or rejection of the book of mormon. As mentioned above, the book of mormon is a book of scripture kept by the ancient inhabitants of north america and covers a span of 1,000 years. Mormons believe joseph smith found gold plates engraved with writing in. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center.

Why didnt joseph smith translate the book of mormon right. By the power of god, through the holy spirit, how else. How long did it take to translate the book of mormon. 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. Revelations of the restoration, by joseph fielding mcconkie and craig ostler, pg. Much is made of the fact that joseph used a seer stone, which he placed in a hat, to dictate the text of the book of mormon without viewing the plates directly. Emma smith was far more involved in the coming forth of the book of mormon than some people may realize. 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. This quote is quite extensive, but can be viewed here. Title page translated by joseph smith long ago the lord declared. The purpose of welchs address is to get us all thinking a little more specifically than ever before about the amazing and illuminating timing of the. He had been approached in 1970 by the mission president, harlan clark and others to translate the book of mormon in afrikaans.

The pictures in the new book show different angles of a stone that is dark. The translation of the book of mormon into afrikaans. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the bom. Ces letter is incorrect about italic words ces letter claims the book of mormon quotes this verse isaiah 9. Moroni gave joseph a tool to help him translate the characters, and this tool is called urim and thummim. 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. It was hard enough to produce the book of mormon but lets see someone else produce a long, complex, powerful book like. 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. Later, joseph smith translated the book of mormon into english. This is the lords description of how oliver cowdery could have translated with the aid of urim and thummim, and is undoubtedly the manner in which joseph smith did translate the book of mormon through the medium of urim and thummim. Critics claim that joseph smith did not actually translate ancient plates into the book of mormon, but rather wrote the book. Plus, it is a further testimony of the truthfulness of the book of mormon that a seer stone was used. 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.

Joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon. Did joseph smith describe the book of mormon translation. According to smiths account and the books narrative, the book of mormon was originally written in otherwise unknown characte. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful. According to mormon theology, the book of mormon is a translation of a record telling of three relatively small groups that came to the americas, by boat, from the ancient middle east. Welch, professor of law at brigham young universitys j. Arent mormons supposed go get married on alien planets or. In his address he explained what we know about joseph smiths translation, and how it was truly a miracle that joseph smith was able to translate the book of mormon in such a short time period. Yes, joseph smith really did use a seer stone in the. The miraculous translation of the book of mormon into.

Did joseph smith use the nephite plates to translate the book of mormon. The book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. Translating the book of mormon joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Book of mormontranslationurim and thummim fairmormon. I have traced every single source the historians use to claim that he had a brown seer stone. Joseph smith was a seer able to translate the golden plates into the book of mormon by his seer abilities not by the plates themselves. As the bible is a record of gods dealings with the inhabitants of the eastern hemisphere, the book of mormon tells of a people who were led by god from jerusalem to the western hemisphere 600 years prior to the birth of the savior.

How the book of mormon was translated let us reason. According to latter day saint belief, the golden plates are the source from which joseph smith said he translated the book of mormon. I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, yea, a marvelous work and a wonder 2 nephi 27. Did the church try to hide josephs use of a seer stone to. This whole concept of finding the book of mormon on plates is a sham. Avowed detractors of the prophet joseph smith and the restored gospel of jesus christ mimic the same claim, as if there was a coordinated attempt. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris serving as the main scribes, was lost in 1828. But translations of the book of mormon into other languages have also been miraculous, in their own small way. Reuben clark law school and president of the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms. He said in about 1970 that he had visited with a group of mormon leaders, who sought to commission him to translate the book of mormon from english into afrikaans. Dear gramps, i would like to know the exact way the prophet joseph translated the book of mormon. There are all kinds of differences from what is italicized in the kjv. If joseph smith blindly copied it out of the bible.

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. Why did joseph smith translate the book of mormon into jacobean english, not in use in 1830. The use of objects in the translation were only to help focusing on the work. It was during this time period 18231827 that joseph had yearly visitations from the angel moroni who lead him to find the book of mormon plates. If the gold plates were not even used to translate the book of mormon then why did the lord have the nephites go through all the trouble of making plates for 1,000 years when it wasnt necessary. Joseph did not need the plates physically present to translate, since the translation was done by revelation. Professor figures out book of mormon translation timeline. Why did president joseph fielding smith believe it was unreasonable to claim that joseph smith used a seer stone to translate the book of mormon. I hope you find the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the book of mormon is the true word of god and that by reading and pondering the message within its pages, we can get closer to him, than by any. Nothing is magical, and the urim and thummim, the seer stone, etc.

Joseph smiths translation of the book of mormon into english was arguably one of the most miraculous occurrences of this dispensation. How exactly did joseph smith translate the book of mormon. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Was it just blind luck that the rare place name nahom in the book of mormon, identified as the place where ishmael was buried, turns out to correspond to an ancient burial site right where the book of mormon says it is. Sept 1828joseph starts retranslation of book of mormon without any instructions from god or any kind of revelation. How the book of mormon was translated let us reason ministries.

Solomon spalding wrote a document now called the spalding manuscript. 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. Joseph smiths translation and publication of the book of mormon by michael hubbard mackay and gerrit j. He just does it on his own, the really odd thing is he doesnt attempt to retranslate the book of lehi, and skips 1nephi, 2nephi, jacob, enos, jarom, omni and words of mormon. The focus is always on joseph smith and why he did this and why he did that but it is not about joseph smith but it is about god and. Lucy harris disposes of the first 116 pages of the book of mormon suggesting that if joseph actually had golden plates. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the. The translation of the book of mormon into ukrainian is one such small miracle in church history. I also believe the picture of the brown stone the church shows is a fraud. When i see the word translate, it means to me that a scribe read a manuscript written in one language e. She also took care of the domestic chores needed for the survival and comfort of those more actively involved in the translation.

Stoal hired joseph to use josephs peep stone to look through and find treasure for him. After writing the history of his people on metal plates, the prophet nephi was instructed by the lord to create a second set of plates, which are known today as the small plates of nephi. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of. Book of mormon translation the church of jesus christ of latter.