Joseph smith and the first verse of the bible mormons in. A day in the life of joseph smith, translator extraordinaire. Joseph smith translated an ancient text by the gift and power of god to produce the book of mormon. Is joseph smith the only prophet to have used a seer stone. As joseph grew to understand his prophetic calling, he learned that he could. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Jun 25, 2018 did joseph smith use the same seer stone to translate the book of mormon as he did for his treasure digging.
It is unclear how joseph translated the book of mormon in that time beyond the quote. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for book of mormon. According to witnesses of the translation, when joseph looked into the instruments, the words of scripture appeared in english. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the book. Joseph used the stones in translating the book of mormon as well as portions of. I knew nothing at all about joseph, except what i had heard from his enemies or read in the papers.
If smith truly was a prophet with the ability to decipher plates of an unknown language. Covenants contain the words of the resurrected christ just as he spoke them to joseph smith. David whitmer said, regarding smiths translation of the book of mormon. Joseph smith and his scribes wrote of two instruments used in translating. Joseph smiths translation and publication of the book of mormon. According to him, the plates came with their own translating device. 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. We believe the bible to be the word of god as far as it is translated correctly. Did joseph smith use his own seer stone to translate the book of mormon. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present. As outlined above by fairs use of emma smith, a tight translation is where joseph smith is directly translating the book of mormon via the seer stone in the hat word for word emma was the scribe for the initial 116 pages that were lost. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful study of statements made by joseph smith, his scribes, and others closely associated with the translation of. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Did joseph smith use the same seer stone to translate the.
Another testament of jesus christ behold, i am jesus christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world 3 nephi 11. Joseph smith could neither write nor dictate a coherent and wellworded letter. The book of mormon came into the world through a series of miraculous events. Seer stones are mentioned in the book of mormon in the book of mosiah, where they are also called interpreters and described as being used by seers to translate and receive revelations. There is no evidence that joseph smith ever translated anything, including the golden plates into the book of mormon. God to joseph smith, thus guaranteeing a pure transmission. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for book of. How did joseph smith translate the book of abraham. The joseph smith translation jst, also called the inspired version of the holy scriptures iv, is a revision of the bible by joseph smith, the founder of the latter day saint movement, who dictated inspired changes and additions to scribes. We have a few quotes from martin harris, emma smith, david whitmer, and oliver cowdery that suggest something like this. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. My son and i would like to draw attention to your words too.
Following the publication of the book of mormon in march 1830, joseph smith and his clerks began work on what is now known as the joseph smith translation of the bible, a prophetic revision of the king james version. Joseph never talked about how the book of mormon translation process went. The language in the sections of the book of mormon that correspond to parts of the bible is quite regularly selected by joseph smith, rather than obtained through independent translation. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present with millions of global adherents. For instance, i read that at first he used a seer stone instead of the urim and thummim which he placed in his hat and buried his face into the hat to block out the light. What a about our 10 president of the church, president joseph fielding smith. By its own terms, the book of mormon is a translation of an ancient book. When joseph smith began translating the book of mormon in 1827. 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. Jul 20, 2018 what a about our 10 president of the church, president joseph fielding smith. The setting is the renowned though secretive west wing of the vast joseph smith frontier library, cleverly disguised as joseph smith s crude cabin in the frontier lands of new york. Aug 04, 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.
This is one of the first accounts of how joseph smith translated the book of mormon. Thus, mackay and frederick show in their book, the urim and thummim and term seer. The claim that joseph smith translated the book of mormon from ancient, golden plates is the central proof that he was a prophet of god. According to latter day saint theology, seer stones were believed to have been used by joseph smith, as well as ancient prophets, to receive revelations from god. Apr 19, 2015 the book of mormon is the keystone of our religion. Smith considered this work to be a branch of his calling as a prophet. The following men and women reported joseph smith dictated the book of mormon text while placing his face in a hat holding a seer stone.
Aug 11, 2011 bullock has joseph saying, not, is the true meaning of the words, but, is the true meaning. Mormonism and the biblejoseph smith translationrelationship. For example, when joseph translated the text that is now in 1 nephi. As joseph grew to understand his prophetic calling, he learned that he could use this stone for the higher purpose of translating scripture book of mormon translation, gospel topics on 20. This remains the best description of the translation of the book of mormon. When joseph smith was entrusted with the golden plates, he was also given a set of nephite interpreters and a breastplate. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on. Before hiding the gold plates, moroni, the last prophet of the book of mormon. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of. 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 smiths magic spectacles dan vogel photo of joseph smith wearing breastplate and looking through the urim and thummimmany mormons believe this is how joseph smith translated the book of mormon as he sat behind a curtain dictating the translation to a scribe on the other side. David whitmer, one of the three witnesses to the book of mormon, stated.
Joseph smith put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it. Her testimony was recorded by their son, joseph smith, iii. Evidence from the original manuscript royal skousen journal of book of mormon studies 71 1998. 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 heralded as gods word to mankind. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the. Book of mormon translation lds church is true blog. Later, joseph smith translated the book of mormon into english through the gift and power of god. Emmas testimony on translating the book of mormon life. And, though i was an active participant in the scenes that transpired. Were joseph smiths translation instruments like the. What did the interpreters urim and thummim look like.
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. Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints believe that smith used seer stones 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 god. Accounts vary of the way in which smith dictated the book of mormon. The question at hand, then, is whether or not smith s translation of the book of mormon plates is true. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. In the latter day saint movement, the term urim and thummim refers to a descriptive category. Joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon. Apr 22, 2016 the language in the sections of the book of mormon that correspond to parts of the bible is quite regularly selected by joseph smith, rather than obtained through independent translation. Beardsley, 1931 joseph smith and his mormon empire p. He studied the historical documents claiming that joseph smith translated the book of mormon using a seer stone in a hat and he concluded joseph smith did not use a seer stone to translate.
Joseph smith, the nineteenthcentury mormon founder, is often accounted. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. Joseph would often place the stone in a hat to block out light and more. Joseph smith and his scribes wrote of two instruments used in translating the book of mormon. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer stone in a hat.
Mar, 2007 the question at hand, then, is whether or not smith s translation of the book of mormon plates is true. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris serving as the main scribes, was lost in 1828. The joseph smith translation of the bible and his false. Jan 31, 2019 thanks for asking this very serious question. Kay m godfrey, author, joseph smith epoch historian. The facts are that he mistranslated portions of the bible, as well as the book of abraham, the kinderhook plates, and a greek psalter. As joseph grew to understand his prophetic calling, he. Mar 31, 2010 1836 account by a minister of another religion. Other accounts variously state that he used one or more seer stones placed in a top hat. This minister was considered very antagonist towards the saints. Almost all of the present book of mormon text was translated during a threemonth period between april and june 1829 with. Martin harris, david whitmer, william smith, isaac hale, joseph knight sr. When he joseph smith had finished translating the book of mormon, he was still only a boy, yet in producing this book he developed historical facts, prophecies, revelations, predictions, testimonies and doctrines, precepts and principles that are beyond the power and wisdom of the learned word to duplicate or refute.
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. Michael morse, emma smith s brotherinlaw, gave a firsthand account published in an 1879 article in the rlds publication saints herald when joseph was translating the book of mormon i had occasion more than once to go into his immediate presence, and saw him engaged at his work of translation. Dear gramps, i would like to know the exact way the prophet joseph translated the book of mormon. He as a church historian for 69 years and the president of the church. Unfortunately, this one seems to get the round, and i already ansewered it in the question. Smith himself implied that he read the plates directly using spectacles prepared by the lord for the purpose of translating. How exactly did joseph smith translate the book of mormon. While joseph smith may have possessed two stones set in silver bows, evidence seems to indicate that he used the stone which he placed in a hat to translate 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 1 to various scribes. 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. Emma smith, joseph smiths wife and scribe for part of the book of mormon, made a clear. How joseph smith translated the book of mormon youtube.
God called joseph smith to be a prophet and help restore the church of jesus christ on the. There have been many questions from historians about the bom translation process in the past 185 years, far too many to count. Oct 18, 2015 today were looking at emma smiths version of history when her husband, joseph smith, jr. Book of mormon translation by joseph smith book of mormon. It is extremely important to mormon doctrine that joseph smith had a supernatural, godgiven ability to translate ancient languages into english. May 14, 20 joseph smith, the first prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, was an uneducated farm boy with no resources for research who translated ancient writings into the book of mormon, over 500 pages long, in under 65 days. Joseph smith used a stone in a hat to help him in his translation of the. Joseph smith dictated the words of the translation to scribes, mostly oliver cowdery. Why did joseph smith fail to translate the book of abraham. Joseph smith used the same rock in hat seer stone for translating that he used for.