Joseph dictated the original manuscript of the book of mormon from the plates of mormon. Joseph smith translates using the seer stone placed within his hat while the plates are wrapped in a cloth on the table while his wife emma acts as scribe. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. For one thing, the plates provided concrete evidence for eleven official witnessesand a handful of unofficial onesthat the book of mormon. He informed joseph that there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates. Why were the plates present during the translation of the book of. According to smiths testimony, four more years went by before the angel allowed him to retrieve the gold plates.
A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. Book of mormon translation joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Made it through byu, institute, seminary, and a mission. Smith translating the book of mormon by poring over the plates which is. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the book of. Did joseph use it the urim and thumim primarily, or a stone he placed in a hat. So in the spring and summer of 1820, eight joseph with martin harris and his wife emma working as described began the translation of the book of mormon, those involved with the translation of the book of mormon said that joseph initially used the stones found with the plates. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer stone in a hat. Joseph translated the plates with the urim and thummim taught for decades by lds leaders 18342015 joseph produced the book of mormon by reading words off a stoneinahat. David hocking managing editor, annotated edition of the book of mormon. According to latter day saint belief, the golden plates are the source from which joseph smith. Joseph found the interpreters buried in the hill with the plates.
David whitmer said, regarding smiths translation of the book of mormon. 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. Manchester, ny a team of archaeologists excavating a drumlin known as mormon hill or the cumorah, in western new york, have discovered a set of gold plates which they believe could be linked to the founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, joseph smith jr. Book of mormontranslationlocation of the plates fairmormon. I think we should challenge the idea that it is taught to mormons. One instrument, called in the book of mormon the interpreters, is better known to latterday saints today. Whats going on in the book of mormon isaiah chapters. New church video explains the significance of the gold plates and why we still need them today greyson gurley for latterday saints, the gold plates are immediately associated with. The book of mormon is a book that latter day saints believe is the word of god along with the bible the original english version of the book of mormon was published in march 1830 by a man named joseph smith, jr. The story of the gold plates is an absolutely essential part of the mormon narrative, for in the eyes of many latterday saints, the coming forth of this record, and its subsequent translation into. How did emma smith help bring forth the book of mormon. He rarely if ever actually had the plates with him. The book of mormon records the visit of jesus christ to people in the americas following his resurrection.
Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book. One instrument, called in the book of mormon the interpreters, is better known to latterday saints today as the urim and thummim. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. Jul 20, 2018 where did the idea that the book of mormon was translated with a seer stone in a hat come from. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer. People are sometimes surprised to discover that the plates of the book of mormon were not regularly used during the process of its translation. The lds church doesnt try to hide from its members that a seer stone in a hat was used in translating the book of mormon or that the plates were not necessarily used in the translation process. The title page of the book of mormon declares that it was translated by the gift and power of god, but what do we know about this divine process.
Did joseph smith use the urim and thummim or nephite interpreters to translate. The testimony of these texts and that of joseph the. I think the face in hat shift the book of mormon away from translation to revelation. The book of mormon referred to this instrument, together with its breastplate, as. Mormon apologist john tvedtnes doubts that the hill cumorah contains any caves.
The book of mormon is a sacred record of peoples in ancient america, and was engraved upon sheets of metal. Nov 30, 2017 according to religion professors amy eastonflake and rachel cope, emma smith was arguably more intimately involved in the coming forth of the book of mormon than any person besides joseph. This sealed portion contains the complete record of the vision of the brother of jared see ether 4. 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. These records were later abridged to create the plates of mormon, or the gold plates that joseph smith translated. Thus the same peep stone that failed to find buried treasure and got smith convicted of fraud, was the instrument used to write the book of mormon. A compilation of published statements on the book of mormon translation method in both church and nonchurch publications. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked to joseph smith jr.
The precious metal that the world will go for even to the extent of penning the rivers and streams to find its course of origin whether that gold plate was really gold. As a mormon, did you know about joseph smith using the stone. Nov 03, 2017 joseph smith claimed he translated the book of mormon from a set of golden plates that were given to him by an angel named moroni. The book of mormon is written in the style of the kjv, which seems unlikely to match what joseph smith claims was reformed egyptian on the gold plates. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the book. He also used this same method for translating the book. We first learn about them from the visit of the angel moroni to joseph smith on. 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. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates inscribed by prophets. Evidence has been found revealing that important messages were engraved into metal objects at the time just prior to the captivity of babylon. So when do members hear the official head in hat with seer. After the translation was completed, however, joseph reported.
Was every word of the book of mormon translation provided. Is it true that the translation of the book of mormon by. This has caused some to wonder why the plates were necessary at all. Did joseph smith use the nephite plates to translate the book of mormon. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our lord jesus christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon with the urim. The following chart is one concept of the arrangement of the book of mormon records, from the encyclopedia of mormonism vol. The first edition of the book of mormon was typeset from that printers manuscript. As a mormon, did you know about joseph smith using the stone in hat. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our lord jesus christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of christ is at hand. However, the golden plates are just one of many known and reputed metal plates with significance in the latter day saint movement. The book of mormon is a book that latter day saints believe is the word of god along with the bible the original english version of the book of mormon was published in march 1830 by a man named joseph. Elder nelsons article from the ensign shows that the church isnt trying to be deceptive.
So in the spring and summer of 1820, eight joseph with martin harris and his wife emma working as described began the translation of the book of mormon, those involved with the translation of the. When moroni was finishing the book of mormon record, he was commanded to seal up some of the plates, and joseph smith was later commanded not to translate them. The book of mormon is a religious record of three groups of people who migrated from the old world to the american continents. Joseph smith claimed he translated the book of mormon from a set of golden plates that were given to him by an angel named moroni. If joseph smith received at least parts of the book of mormon revelation from writing on a seerstone, rather than reading the golden plates themselves, it means that the source of the book of. Jun 17, 2014 the story of the gold plates is an absolutely essential part of the mormon narrative, for in the eyes of many latterday saints, the coming forth of this record, and its subsequent translation into the book of mormon, legitimizes their belief that smith was indeed a prophet sent by god to restore the true christian faith lost long ago due to a. Copying that original manuscript, parts of which survive today, oliver cowdery prepared a printers manuscript owned by the rlds church. Copying that original manuscript, parts of which survive today, oliver cowdery prepared a printers manuscript. Do mormons know what happened to the urim and thummim which joseph smith used to translate the book of mormon. Josephs view of revelation is nuanced in this regard. Mormons react to firstever photograph of joseph smiths seer stone.
Four kinds of metal record plates are spoken of in the book itself. With the plates safely hidden in the nearby forest, smith would be able to see the translation through the peep stone in the hat and dictate it to an accomplice. The leaders of the mormon faith teach that joseph smith translated ancient golden plates to get the foundation scriptures of the faith, namely the book of mormon. Much is made of the fact that joseph used a seer stone, which he placed in a hat, to dictate. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon christian. These groups were led by prophets who recorded their religious and secular histories on metal plates. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon with the urim and thummim, not by a seer stone in a hat. So when do members hear the official head in hat seer stones lesson. Come follow me 2020 podcasts with rod meldrum book of.
If joseph smith used a hat and a stone, why the need for the gold. Did joseph translate or simply transcribe the book of mormon plates. May 08, 2017 the leaders of the mormon faith teach that joseph smith translated ancient golden plates to get the foundation scriptures of the faith, namely the book of mormon. What is the sealed portion of the book of mormon, and. The church videos and other instructional material the church currently uses still show joseph translating the plates without using the stone or hat which we hope. Fairmormon agrees with this statement, but attempts to argue that this method has been described in. The book of mormon was written by many ancient prophets who recorded their words on different sets of metal plates. The mormon church owns the property and it certainly has the financial means to do so. Jul 29, 2019 joseph translated the plates with the urim and thummim taught for decades by lds leaders 18342015 joseph produced the book of mormon by reading words off a stoneina hat revisionist historians 2015 to present iow, our current intellectuals have now embraced what only the critics claimed back in 1834. Joseph did not need the plates physically present to translate, since the translation was done by revelation. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be. Did the mormon church once promise to show the golden plates to the world.
He once explained that the title page of the book of mormon is a literal. The book of mormon itself portrays the golden plates as a historical record, engraved by two precolumbian prophethistorians from. According to smiths account and the books narrative, the book of mormon was originally written in otherwise unknown characte. Joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon. Joseph and his scribes wrote of two instruments used in translating the book of mormon. Smith translated the text of the book of mormon over the next several years by using a seer stone, which he placed in the. The golden plates upon which the book of mormon was written have had quite a history, and it is rather well documented. Rumor has it that steve harper and others in the church history dept, and maybe some folks at byu, may be transitioning to replace the blatant lie of translation in the old mormon narrative. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. The very idea that a new york farm boy with limited education might translate an ancient document is so.
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. The video is the third in book of mormon centrals evidence video series, the two previous videos being one on the archaeological evidence for the place called nahom, mentioned by nephi 1 nephi 16. The precious metal that the world will go for even to the extent of penning the rivers and streams to find its course of origin. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. Was every word of the book of mormon translation provided directly from god.
Fairmormon agrees with this statement, but attempts to argue that this method has been described in a variety of sources, as if to suggest that the rock in the hat translation method is common knowledge. But second, joseph is clarifying that this was the title page of the original book of mormon. Witnesses said smith placed the urim and thummim in his hat while he was translating. In the ces letter, i wrote that joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon. If smith truly was a prophet with the ability to decipher plates of an. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the. The church just doesnt want people to be caught up in the. The various plates and records referred to in the book of mormon and used in making it are 1 the plates of brass.
He also used this same method for translating the book of mormon, while the gold plates were covered, placed in another room, or even buried in the woods. As a mormon, did you know about joseph smith using the. The question at hand, then, is whether or not smiths translation of the book of mormon plates is true. Smith claimed the angel moroni, a prophet in the book of mormon, directed him in the 1820s to a hill near his home in palmyra, new york where the plates were buried.
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. The book of mormon claims that a record was kept on brass plates prior to the invasion and captivity of babylon. She helped joseph smith retrieve the plates, participated in the translation as a. Apr 29, 2006 if so, how did you reconcile it with the church presentation of joseph smith using the plates in full view. On 22 september 1823, after receiving repeated instruction from the angel moroni, joseph smith went to a large hill convenient to his fathers home.
Emma smith was far more involved in the coming forth of the book of mormon than some people may realize. 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. While many paintings and pictures used in mormon visitors centers and books depict a prayerful smith leaning over the plates, many contemporaries of smith admit that he used a hat and a seer stone as a means of bringing about this divine record. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Book of mormon evidence come follow me supplementary study podcasts. Was it translated the way that many have assumed, or was there more to the miracle that brought forth another testament of jesus christ. Did joseph smith use a seer stone to translate the book of mormon. Sep 21, 2017 people are sometimes surprised to discover that the plates of the book of mormon were not regularly used during the process of its translation. The brass plates of laban in jerusalem prior to the invasion of babylon. Why were the gold plates needed at all if they werent. What happened to the golden plates after joseph smith. The following is from the introduction to the 1981 ed. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked.
So when do members hear the official head in hatseer stones lesson. These texts show what means god had prepared for the interpretation of the plates from which the book of mormon was translated. Where did the idea that the book of mormon was translated with a seer stone in a hat come from. For one thing, the plates provided concrete evidence for eleven official witnesses and a handful of unofficial onesthat the book of mormon.
132 643 1439 333 1451 1004 280 1406 1000 1315 83 1045 334 974 973 581 169 448 383 1082 924 1266 1508 1134 1249 678 1316 29 358 541 1204 598 670 779 611