Kay m godfrey, author, joseph smith epoch historian seer stone v. This is a reference to the book of mormon and the bible being companion books that compliment each other. Although joseph began translating the book of mormon using the nephite interpreters, he later switched to using one of his seer stones to complete the translation. Brother hyrum smith said that he thought best that the information of the coming forth of the book of mormon be related by joseph himself to the elders present that all might know for themselves.
Mar 31, 2010 1836 account by a minister of another religion. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. Martin harris also witnessed the switch between the two devices, but he never mentioned the color. Joseph smith s response to skepticism, cites a personal interview emma smithbidamon gave to a committee of the reorganized church of jesus christ of latterday saints in 1879. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for book of. Urim and thummim makes a great case for simply going back to the basics. This is one of the first accounts of how joseph smith translated the book of mormon. It does portray the life of the uniquely american figure joseph smith jr. Emma did not participate as a scribe during the translation of the extant book of mormon.
With permission from professor anthony sweat, the artist behind the new artwork depicting joseph smiths translation of the book of mormon, the new pieces from the book are posted below. 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. How joseph smith translated the book of mormon latterday. On april 6, 1830, the day joseph smith organized the church of christ later to be called the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, 1 he proclaimed the words of a revelation to those assembled.
She helped joseph smith retrieve the plates, participated in the translation as a scribe, and recorded her physical encounters with the covered plates. According to latter day saint theology, the two stones found in the breastplate of aaron in the old testament, the white stone referenced in the book of revelation in the new testament, the two stones bound by silver bows into a set of spectacles interpreters that movement founder joseph smith said he found buried in the hill cumorah with the golden plates, and the seer stone found while digging a well. In an interview conducted by her son joseph smith iii in 1879, emma smith, wife of the prophet joseph smith, expressed her faith in the restored church of jesus christ, which was established in 1830 after the prophet had translated the book of mormon and published it to the world. The interpreters were taken from joseph after he allowed martin harris to carry away the 116 pages of ms manuscript of the book of mormon as a punishment, but he was allowed to go on and translate by use of a seers stone which he had, and which he placed in a hat into which he buried his face, stating to me and others that the original.
I will now give you a description of the manner in which the book of mormon was translated. 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. Artwork of joseph smith translating the book of mormon. She also took care of the domestic chores needed for the survival and comfort of those more actively involved in the. The question at hand, then, is whether or not smith s translation of the book of mormon plates is true. 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. Joseph smith used a stone in a hat to help him in his translation of the book of mormon. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. In other words, joseph used the same magic device or ouija board that he used during his treasure hunting days. Ive included this under the joseph smith and the book of mormon references because the two go hand in hand.
Joseph and emma smith moved to harmony, pennsylvania, where joseph began translating the book of mormon in earnest. Oliver cowdery, the principal scribe for the book of mormon, said that the prophet joseph smith translated the book of mormon by the gift and power of god, by the assistance or means of the urim and thummim last days of oliver cowdery, deseret news. Did the church try to hide josephs use of a seer stone to. If smith truly was a prophet with the ability to decipher plates of an unknown language. February 1828 martin harris took a transcript of some characters copied from the golden plates to scholars in new york city. Critics have made merry over this, but it makes sense. By its own terms, the book of mormon is a translation of an ancient book. Nash, of the seventy, in an article entitled joseph smith. Does the church try to hide that joseph smith used a stone in a hat to translate the book of. 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. In the video seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon. Thus the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god, and not by any power of man. At first joseph spent a lot of time becoming familiar with the plates and the language in which they were written. Evidence from the original manuscript royal skousen journal of book of mormon studies 71 1998.
Seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon. According to witnesses of the translation, when joseph looked into the instruments, the words of scripture appeared in english. 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. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. 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 smiths plagiarism of the bible in the book of mormon the book of mormon, one of the books of scripture accepted by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, is purported to be the record of ancient groups of people who migrated to the new world.
Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints believe that smith used seer stones to translate the book of mormon. When i used to debate this stuff with mormons on alt. Thomas wood smith, in a published response about an interview he had with david whitmer, who told him that joseph smith used the urim and thummim in translating the book of mormon, wrote, when i first read mr. Aug 04, 2015 the mormon churchs push toward transparency about its roots and beliefs took another step forward with the first published pictures of a small sacred stone it believes founder joseph smith used. Aug 29, 2014 the church recently released an essay summarizing what we know about the process of translating the book of mormon.
We have a few quotes from martin harris, emma smith, david whitmer, and oliver cowdery that suggest something like this. Joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon. 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. The first group, referred to as jaredites, is said to have made. The interpreters were taken from joseph after he allowed martin harris to carry away the 116 pages of the manuscript of the book of mormon as a punishment, but he was allowed to go on and translate by use of a seers stone which he had, and which he placed in a hat into which he buried his face, stating to me and others that the original character appeared upon parchment and under it the translation in. Athalia robinson, were present when that book was handed to me in mentor, ohio, and all i ever knew about the origin of the book of mormon was what parley p. Gardner joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon. Over the course of his life, joseph smith wrote, dictated, or assigned others to. Did joseph smith use seer stones and a hat 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. So when do members hear the official head in hat with seer. It is well researched and very enlightening and a must read for those who are willing to accept the words of joseph and.
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. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for 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, and under it was the interpretation in english. New church video explains joseph smiths seer stones book of. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. Perhaps he dictated it over the course of 90 days it certainly could have taken much longer but he had the ideas and stories already in his head.
Members of the church call him a prophet because, according to the traditional role of prophets recorded in the old and new testaments in the bible, he relied on revelation from god for teaching the people, and not on his own wisdom or learning. A little information on smiths stone in a hat date. Critics typically those who reject mormonism but still believe in god reject the idea that god would approve the use of an instrument for translation that had previously been used for money digging. The historical record clarifies how joseph smith fulfilled his role as a seer and translated the book of mormon. In reality the major difference between the averagememberview of the book of mormon translation joseph looked into the crystals in the interpreters vs the historical view joseph looked into a seer stone in a hat is the hatone is a stone or crystal out of the hat. In 1827, smith began to gather a religious following after announcing that an angel had shown him a set of golden plates describing a visit of jesus to the indigenous peoples of. 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. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful. 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. Joseph smiths translation and publication of the book of mormon. Jul 20, 2018 joseph smith translating the book of mormon was a great miracle, and the proof of its truth can be found in its contents. David whitmer, one of the three witnesses whose testimony appears at the front of the book of mormon. Joseph smith translated an ancient text by the gift and power of god to produce the book of mormon. Joseph placed either the interpreters or the seer stone in a hat, pressed his face into the hat to.
Joseph the seer the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was the founder of the latter day saint movement, also known as mormonism, and an important religious and political figure during the 1830s and 1840s. Some witnesses described the plates as weighing from 30 to 60 pounds 14 to 27 kg, golden in color, and composed of thin metallic pages engraved with. The name joseph is to be found in both the old and new testaments, and indeed the book of mormon remarks that he shares his name with joseph son of jacob and rachel, as well as discussion of what appears to be a reference to joseph smith himself. A fair biography of the mormon prophet, joseph smith, written from the perspective of an admitted member of the church, in 7677. As a mormon, did you know about joseph smith using the stone. Joseph smith used a rock in a hat to translate the book of. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates. However, we can examine the characters joseph copied allegedly from the plates for martin harris. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon, gospel art book 2009, no.
In 1988, elder maxwell also referred to the lightshielding hat reportedly used by joseph smith during some of the translating of the book of mormon. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris. Emma smith was far more involved in the coming forth of the book of mormon than some people may realize. Pratt, oliver cowdery, joseph smith and the witnesses who claimed they saw the plates have told me, and in all of my intimacy with joseph smith he never told.
Yes, joseph smith really did use a seer stone in the. Joseph smith put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it. Eyewitness descriptions of the gold plates from which the book of mormon was translated. How joseph smith translated the book of mormon by royal skousen. Mar, 2007 the question at hand, then, is whether or not smith s translation of the book of mormon plates is true.
How joseph smith translated the book of mormon youtube. For further discussion on the book of mormon and the translation process, see. Mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss the various historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including accounts of joseph smith using a. Coe suggests, the only model joseph smith might conceivably have heard about for control of subjugated peoples was the roman one, which was the opposite of the system used among the maya, and also the opposite of the system used in the book of mormon. How did joseph smith translate the book of abraham. Mormons react to firstever photograph of joseph smiths. The power of god was similarly demonstrated with joseph smith, who used. Joseph smith s translation and publication of the book of mormon. He reportedly placed the instrument whether it was always the urim and thummim, or interpreters, or sometimes some other seer stone, is. 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. How exactly did joseph smith translate the book of mormon. In this bonus episode, i am tackling these concerns relating to the translation of the book of mormon. 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. How could joseph smith possibly have written the book of.
According to latter day saint belief, the golden plates also called the gold plates or in some 19thcentury literature, the golden bible are the source from which joseph smith said he translated the book of mormon, a sacred text of the faith. He did it with his hat and a stone he found digging a neighbor\s well. Smith s wife emma supported harriss and whitmers versions of the story in recalling that her husband buried his face in his hat while she was. According to witnesses, joseph smith often translated without the plates being present and used the interpreters to receive the revealed text. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon translation was performed by the gift and power of god. Joseph placed either the interpreters or the seer stone in a hat, pressed his. Mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including joseph smith using a seer stone and accounts of joseph smith using urim and thummim. Strength out of weakness, two different images show an object next to joseph smith not typically seen in lds depictions. That\s the way joseph smith translated 100% of the book of mormon. When joseph smith began translating the book of mormon in 1827, he usually left the plates in a box or wrapped in a cloth, placed the interpreters or his seer stone both of which seem to have been called urim and thummim in a hat, and read the translation he saw in the stone to a scribe. Did joseph smith translate the book of mormon with a rock. Joseph dictated it the book of mormon word by word as he looked into instruments the lord had prepared for him, including the urim and thummim and at times a seer stone, using a hat to shield his eyes from extraneous light in order to plainly see the words as they appeared. Did joseph smith use a hat during the translation of the book. Joseph smith s chief scribe during the translation of the book of mormon, oliver cowdery, reported the following in 1831.
May 23, 2018 joseph smith could not read or write reformed egyptian the language on the gold plates that became the book of mormon nor could he read or write egyptian the language of the papyri scrolls the book of abraham came from. When i see the word translate, it means to me that a scribe read a manuscript written in one language e. Prophecies about joseph smith bible references for lds beliefs. Dear gramps, i would like to know the exact way the prophet joseph translated the book of mormon. Why did joseph smith translate the book of mormon into jacobean english, not in use in 1830. 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. Joseph never talked about how the book of mormon translation process went.
Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. Joseph had been telling stories about the golden plates, the nephites and lamanites for years before the book of mormon was published. David whitmer said, regarding smiths translation of the book of mormon. 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. Apr 30, 2015 early this week i posted a brief notice for the book from darkness unto light. Book of mormon translation by joseph smith book of mormon. Early this week i posted a brief notice for the book from darkness unto light. Critics have made merry over this, but it makes sense and its actually an indicator that he was telling the truth. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. Joseph smith and his scribes wrote of two instruments used in translating the book of mormon. 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. Ravell call, deseret news joseph smith used a stone in a hat to help him in his translation of the book of mormon.
The process of translating the book of mormon joseph. The history of joseph smith s use of both the nephite interpreters and his personal seer stone in the translation of the book of mormon, as well as the provenance of joseph s seer stones, has been clearly delineated by latterday saint historians. Who translated the book of mormon text into english for. Joseph smith dictated the book of mormon to several scribes, including. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful study of statements. An article in decembers issue of the ensign is making waves by altering the traditional imagery of joseph smith translating the book of mormon. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth. Mormon church where it shows joseph smith looking through these spectales translating the book of mormon its always like this, which is not historically accurate if were going to believe what joseph smith said here is a case where the mormon church has to revise its own history in order to make it even somewhat believable. Did joseph smith translate the book of mormon with a rock in. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been. Nov 14, 2017 according to those contemporaries of joseph smith who observed the book of mormon translation process, joseph smith did not look at or read from the golden plates while translating the book of mormon. It is this traditional context of a finder of lost things, a seeer of the unseen, that explains how rocks in the hat figure in to the story of joseph smith and the translation of the book of mormon. Traughbers paper in the herald of november 15th, i thought that i would not notice his attack at all, as i supposed that i was. Skousen, towards a critical edition of the book of mormon, byu studies 301 winter 1990.
This minister was considered very antagonist towards the saints. According to witnesses of the translation, when joseph looked. As he studied and prayed, the urim and thummim helped him understand the characters on the plates. The angel charged joseph smith to translate the book from the ancient. The lost 116 pages of the book of mormon manuscript. Mormons react to firstever photograph of joseph smiths seer. Welch and tim rathbone, book of mormon translation by joseph smith, in encyclopedia of mormonism,1. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon translation was performed by the gift and power of god the lost 116 pages of the book of mormon manuscript. Joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon these facts are now officially confirmed in the churchs december 20 book of mormon translation essay. The book of mormon is a true volume of scripture, prophesied in the bible, and brought forth by god. 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. How did emma smith help bring forth the book of mormon.
Book of mormon translation lds church is true blog. Joseph smiths translating hat just another apostate. 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. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the book. This 2001 ensign cover shows joseph smith translating the book of mormon by poring over the plates which is how many faithful latterday saints have been instructed to imagine the process.
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