Evidence from the original manuscript, in book of mormon authorship revisited, edited by reynolds, 6193. Book of mormon translation response to mormonthink. Mormon archaeological argument that proves the historical accuracy of b of m. Additionally, the plates were not always present during the translating process. Gardner uses mesoamerican culture and history to explain the migrations, practices, theology, and warfare of the nephite and lamanite peoples, and he outlines a set of convergences that run much deeper than the onedimensional parallels cited by amateurs. The p rocess of translating the book of mormon j oseph fielding mcconkie prof essor of ancient scripture, byu c raig j. 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.
Interest in the manner of the translation of the book of mormon is still alive among many thoughtful students. One such popular theory is that smith saw the story unfold before him in some. Book of mormon written in modernday english grace for grace. The view of the hebrews theory of book of mormon authorship. Hagoth and the polynesians religious studies center. Mormon apologists have proposed multiple theories to explain apparent inconsistencies with the archaeological, genetic, linguistic and other records. Book of mormon translation challenge home facebook. Jul 29, 2019 however, the passage quoted above makes a clear delineation between the stoneinahat theory and the urim and thummim narrative. This theory has been gaining substantial support among lds scholars since the mid1980s because it more accurately represents. Smith received these golden plates from mormons son moroni who was dead but considered glorified and resurrected on september 21, 1823.
Here is the link for the file if you are not able to use youtube in the classroom. I translated the record by the gift and power of god history of the church, 4. The remainder of the book of mormon is written in thirdperson historical. For most of my life i have been confused about how joseph smith translated the book of mormon. The nahom apologetic defense of the book of mormon. Download powerpoint presentation pdf overview many of our discussions about the translation of the book of mormon mention the nephite interpreters, and the seer stone in the hat. Book of mormon modern expansion theory lds church is true blog. Elsewhere in the book the authors distinguish between the peep stone and the spectacles. The phrase creative and cultural translation is a euphemism for a composition instead of a translation. The translation of the book of lehi is completed, resulting in 116 pages of translated text. This order of translation, commonly called the mosiahfirst theory or sequence, is strongly supported by multiple lines of evidence and is now favored by a solid scholarly consensus.
While a select few did hear joseph refer to magical items, nobody ever saw a breastplate, spectacles, or ancient interpreter stones. These facts are now officially confirmed in the churchs december 20 book of mormon translation essay. The resulting translation was published in 1830 as the book of mormon. He was a danforth teacher fellow in history, a woodrow wilson foundation fellow, and was honors professor of the year at brigham young in 1978. The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is thus considered to fall outside academic credibility. An overview of secular authorship theories for the book of mormon. It is their theory that means more to them than what the lord thinks.
Welchs excellent article entitled the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, from opening the heavens, accounts of divine manifestations 18201844, p. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of mormon. The evidence shows that the lord fulfilled his purpose in the creation, preservation and use of the divine interpreters, called urim and thummim, for the translation of the book of mormon from the plates held in trust by joseph smith, jr. The credibility of the book of mormon translators religious. There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. Sith and translation instruments moronis america the. The 116 pages of the book of lehi were borrowed and then lost by martin harris. Most histories state that rigdon learned of the book of mormon from parley p. It is an attempt to put an at least approximate date on each of those events which were recorded from the time joseph smith received the book of mormon plates, until the time that the translation was completed. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to. Sometimes we discuss potential anachronisms like the inclusion of ideas from the new. Answers to questions respecting the theory in the senior manual, 19056. Church members believe that the book of mormon is more correct than the bible because the bible was the result of a multiplegeneration translation process and the book of mormon was not.
The question of book of mormon authorship cannot be solved by dismissing or excising solomon spalding from mormon history or by ignoring clear evidence. 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. The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates. The book of mormon is a translation of golden tablets given to joseph smith who wrote of their account of a plan for salvation and what men must do to gain peace in this life and eternal redemption in the life to come. Mormon apologetics have proposed multiple theories tying book of mormon places to modern locations. Those skeptical of joseph smiths claims sometimes insist that his account of the coming forth of. Thereafter, the books teachings on israelites became a focus for proselyting work among the maori. First and foremost, i must say that this book is fun to read. Historians and scholars can no longer acquiesce in perpetuating the myth that the spalding theory has been refuted, repudiated, demolished, or disproved. The movement of the modern mormon church in 2019 to refer to the book of mormon as a revelation instead of a translation. If one assumes that fairmormons undisputed silence is acceptance of the facts, fairmormon agrees with 100% of the ces letters book of mormon translation section. Ideas were revealed to joseph smith, and he put the ideas into his own language a theory advocated by many book of mormon scholars over the years. Hebrew translations of the bom by common consent, a. Book of mormon, work accepted as holy scripture, in addition to the bible, in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and other mormon churches.
Ostler as sistant professor of church history and doctrine, byu from revelations of the restoration. The above donut chart shows percentages of the book of mormon translation section of letter to a ces director that fairmormon is in agreement, disagreement, and neutral on. In fact, the book of mormon translation process was performed entirely without looking at the plates, which were either out of the room or said to have been covered with a cloth. It was first published in 1830 in palmyra, new york, and was thereafter widely reprinted and translated. Joseph and emmas first child, alvin, was born but died shortly thereafter. Authorship theories for the book of mormon jump to subtopic. The book of mormon came into the world through a series of miraculous events. Prejudice against the prophet made it difficult for him to find a willing printer for the controversial gold bible. It was not intended to be a translation of the book of mormon into modern english, and it would fit that role poorly. This was no ordinary history, for it contained the fullness of the everlasting gospel as delivered by the savior. Fairmormon maintains that all of these theories have been disproved and.
Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. May 29, 2014 as i think ive already made clear, the major motivation for a compromise positionthat is, for an account of the book of mormons translation that allows joseph smith a certain part in the. The kjv is seen as a significant source for the book of mormon among those who reject the miraculous origin theory. 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. Still image from seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon via lds church history. Robertss manuscript was private and shared only with lds church leadership. In fact, the book of mormon translation process was performed entirely without. How the plates of the book of mormon were translated part 2. Theories that the book of mormon essentially wrote itself with no help from joseph smith. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris serving as the main scribes, was lost in 1828. Fwiw, sidney sperrys book of mormon compendium has a bit of information on the miller translation, including a letter from j. The lds church has begun to change its narrative, as the historical facts have. Hebrew translations of the bom by common consent, a mormon blog. Joseph responded to such criticism by affirming an angel had guided him to an ancient record, which he translated by the gift and power of god.
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 title page, and then translating 1 nephi 1. Those skeptical of joseph smiths claims sometimes insist that his account of the coming forth of the book is simply too. The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is not accepted as scientifically verifiable by the mainstream academic community. Translation of the book of mormon book of mormon central. Gardner pulls from history, culture, neuroscience, linguistic theory, and numerous other resources to piece together the best viable theory for how the book of mormon was translated.
We have discussions about whether there was a curtain present during the translation. Blake ostlers loose translation or expansion theory. The approximate book of mormon translation timeline was an interesting article to research. Historical statements by witnesses of the translation process also. The following letters on the subject are, therefore, both timely and engagingeditors. Is the book of mormon like any other nineteenth century book. 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 process, after the completion of mormons abridgment of the large plates of nephi mosiah through 4. Translating and printing the book of mormon the book of. Book of mormon translation lds church is true blog. According to most adherents of the latter day saint movement, the book of mormon is a 19thcentury translation of a record. The article is fairly brief and only superficially addresses the problem. Many readers of the book of mormon naturally assume that joseph smith translated its books in the order that we find them today. This approach, often referred to as the limited geography model, argues for a more limited view of the book of mormon, suggesting that the book is a history of only a small group of native americans in central america. Even before the book of mormon came off the press in 1830, newspaper articles criticized the book and its translator, joseph smith.
The historical record has yielded no direct evidence that joseph smith. The translation process of the book of mormon lds scripture. He has also published many scholarly articles which concentrated on the translation of the book of mormon and on the organization of the church. Joseph remains with emma for two weeks after the death. 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 the book of mormon. Theory and midrash show the translation of the book of mormon. Roberts concluded, assuming a hemispheric geography theory for the book of mormon, sufficient parallels existed that future critics could claim that view of the hebrews had provided a structural foundation for the book of mormon story. The mormon faith, however, states that the book of mormon is another testament of jesus christs divinity, and that the bible and bom together accomplish this purpose. Some view the book of mormon as a 19th century work, brought forth in the mind of joseph smith the prophet, which he had a right to do as a prophet of god, sort of like biblical midrash.
The question of book of mormon authorship cannot be solved by dismissing or excising solomon spalding. 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. Oct 07, 2017 the resulting translation was published in 1830 as the book of mormon. A number of questions, from their correspondents, have been submitted to the writer, by the editors of the era, respecting the senior manual for 19056. Aug 05, 2016 download powerpoint presentation pdf overview many of our discussions about the translation of the book of mormon mention the nephite interpreters, and the seer stone in the hat. This claim, as well as all claims to historical authenticity of the book of mormon, are rejected by nonlatter day saint. A commentary on the doctrine and covenants and other modern revel ations salt lake city, ut.
The following essay is the official lds released essay entitled book of mormon translation. German has two words that are translated into the word history in. Oliver cowdery spent the two months of april and may, 1829, in harmony, pennsylvania, assisting the prophet joseph smith as scribe for most of the book of mormon translation. Historical details about the time it took to translate the book are remarkably well preserved, and they are corroborated by the independently consistent statements.
Most readers of the book of mormon naturally assume that joseph. Book of mormon translation joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. On translation theories and the interpretation of the book of. Interesting correspondence on the subject of the manual theory.
Introduction to the approximate book of mormon translation. 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. However, the passage quoted above makes a clear delineation between the stoneinahat theory and the urim and thummim narrative. Some only look at the value of the book of mormon today and ignore history completely as its difficult to sort out with too many missing historical details. The mormon church the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. What this means is that the book of mormon is a creative and cultural translation of what was on the plates, not a literal one. 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 process, after the completion of mormon s abridgment of the large plates of nephi mosiah through 4 nephi.
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. How does the mosiahfirst translation sequence strengthen faith. As francis kirkham, an lds missionary to the maori in the 1890s remembered, we would go to them, hold up a copy of the book of mormon and tell them that we had a. And brant gardner of book of mormon central believes the book of. Again, it is the rate of translation, approximately 6. 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 process. As i think ive already made clear, the major motivation for a compromise positionthat is, for an account of the book of mormons translation that allows joseph smith a certain part in the. The purported testimony of david whitmer as to the means by which the book of mormon was translated, is that of a man who had no direct hand in that translation, being neither translator nor scribe, but simply a witness after its translation, while, on the other hand, the testimony of joseph smith and oliver cowdery is that of men. Joseph smith translated an ancient text by the gift and power of god to produce the book of mormon. Chart depicting the mosiah priority translation theory.
Joseph smith saw specific words written out in english and read them off to the scribethe accuracy of the resulting text depending. How does the unusual translation sequence of the book of. Mar 06, 2020 the purported testimony of david whitmer as to the means by which the book of mormon was translated, is that of a man who had no direct hand in that translation, being neither translator nor scribe, but simply a witness after its translation, while, on the other hand, the testimony of joseph smith and oliver cowdery is that of men. The book of mormon and the king james bible wikipedia. 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.
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