Various witnesses of the process, including emma smith and martin harris, recalled how joseph dictated the book of mormon while the plates were either covered or absent from the room. As joseph smith translated the book of mormon in the late 1820s, he learned more than the history of the lamanites and nephites. The church continues to portray the hat as used in translation incorrectly. Joseph never talked about how the book of mormon translation process went. At first, some may be surprised to discover that joseph smith did not translate the book of mormon by examining the characters on the plates directly because we often think of translation in the more traditional way we are used to. Aug 17, 2018 for many, joseph smiths claim that he translated the book of mormon from ancient plates has been a topic of interest, confusion, and uncertainty. In addition, joseph already possessed and utilized several seer stones. South park part 4 translating the book of mormon life. Mar 19, 2018 mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss the various historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including accounts of joseph smith using a seer stone to translate the.
Joseph smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris serving as the main scribes, was lost in 1828. And i often sat by and saw and heard them translate and write for hours together. Why did the book of mormon come forth as a miracle. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon. Seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon youtube. 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. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon with the urim. The question at hand, then, is whether or not smith s translation of the book of mormon plates is true. The book of mormon came into the world through a series of miraculous events.
An article in the improvement era, a former publication of the lds church, denied joseph smith s use of seer stones, while simultaneously disparaging the reliability of the witnesses. Did joseph smith use a hat during the translation of the book of. Aug 29, 2014 the church recently released an essay summarizing what we know about the process of translating the book of mormon. 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. According to latter day saint belief, the golden plates are the source from which joseph smith said he translated the book of mormon, a sacred text of the faith.
I believe the book of mormon is the word of god and joseph smith is and was a prophet and most events of the book of mormon happened in north america in the heartland of the united states. So its not a light or trivial fact that, when he went to write his personal history, joseph knight sr. It shows joseph smith putting two seer stones into a hat, then burying his face in the hat. In the video seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon.
A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon by bill mckeever and eric johnson the founder of the lds church, joseph smith, claimed an angel named moroni visited him in september of 1823. Book of mormon translation lds church is true blog. David whitmer said, regarding smith s translation of the book of mormon. Joseph smith and the beginnings of mormonism is a whitewashed presentation of mormon history. Joseph smith and his scribes wrote of two instruments used in translating the book of mormon.
In the opinion of the writer, the prophet used no seer stone in translating the book of mormon, neither did he translate in the manner described by david. 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. Joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon. 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. For a compilation of accounts by joseph smith s contemporaries, see john w. Mormons react to firstever photograph of joseph smiths. Joseph smith received with the breastplate and the plates of the book of mormon, the urim and thummim, which were hid up by moroni to come forth in the last days as a means by which the ancient record might be translated, which urim and thummim were given to the brother of jared. The church continues to imply and express dualmethods for translation of the book of mormon urim and thummim or the brown seer stone which is inaccurate. According to witness accounts, he would put the stones in a hat and pull the hat close. He as a church historian for 69 years and the president of the church.
The translation of the book of mormon was finished choose the one best answer. Did joseph smith translate the book of mormon with a rock. Starting in 20, the church has provided a more accurate version of how the seer stone was used. Joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon. The manuscript joseph smith dictated to oliver cowdery and others is known today as the original manuscript, about 28 percent of which still survives. I ran into this claim on an internet forum, and i think it contradicts what i was taught in institute. Joseph smiths alleged ignorance of the bible mormonism. This is also true when it comes to joseph smith s inspired version of the bible. A depiction of joseph smith dictating the book of mormon by peering into a hat. In march i was privileged to be part of a conference at usu on new perspectives on joseph smith and translation, taking on some of the latest scholarship on smith s role in translating the book. Joseph never had a curtain drawn between him and his scribe while he was translating. Did joseph smith use a hat to translate the book of mormon. The church recently released an essay summarizing what we know about the process of translating the book of mormon. But thanks to better research methods, and by looking more closely at the accounts of those closest to joseph smith during the translation process, we have a clearer picture of how it happened.
I have a very strong testimony that joseph smith did not translate the book of mormon with a stone in the hat. Joseph put a stone often called a seer stone or peep stone in a hat, then burying his face in the darkened hat words appeared on the stone which he dictated to the scribe. Sep 16, 2010 did joseph smith use seer stones and a hat to translate the book of mormon. Mar 21, 2018 additionally, we at book of mormon central have published a number of knowhy articles on the same topic, including. 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. In this article i discuss what the original manuscript of. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon. 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. Indeed, bushmans depiction of the translation of the text tells the reader almost nothing about the actual translation process at all.
As a mormon, did you know about joseph smith using the stone in hat. Were joseph smiths translation instruments like the. Why was a stone used as an aid in translating the book of mormon. They have also admitted that the golden plates were not used and just sat on the table covered with a linen cloth. Where did the idea that the book of mormon was translated with a seer stone in a hat come from. Initially, he is said to have used two stones set in frames as glasses to see the new translation. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss the various historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including accounts of joseph smith using a seer stone to translate. Critics have made merry over this, but it makes sense.
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. It is claimed that each sentence and word in the 1830 book of mormon had supposedly come directly from god. Seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer stone in a hat. Joseph smiths translating hat just another apostate. Joseph smith seer stonesrock in hat used for book of mormon translation. In defense of this anomaly, the anonymous writer at fair argues that smith s use of the. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon with the urim and thummim, not by a seer stone in a hat. Fairmormon confirms that joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon.
According to the accounts of joseph smith and his associates, the original record was engraved on thin, malleable sheets of metal leaves with the appearance of gold, and bound with three rings at one edge. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. 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. 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. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for book of. Did joseph smith translate the book of mormon with a rock in. I read somewhere that the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has bought land around palmyra in order to preserve the history of the. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for 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. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. Joseph placed either the interpreters or the seer stone in a hat, pressed his. Biographical sketches of joseph smith the prophet, 1853 that joseph said that all is lost is a pretty good summary of his predicament. I also believe the picture of the brown stone the church shows is a fraud.
In other words, joseph used the same magic device or ouija board that he used during his treasure hunting days. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the. Critics have made merry over this, but it makes sense and its actually an indicator that he was telling the truth. David whitmer, one of the three witnesses whose testimony appears at the front of the book of mormon. Later, he switched to a different method with one seer stone inside a hat, but im confused as to how it was supposed to help in translation. Mar 26, 2007 the question at hand, then, is whether or not smith s translation of the book of mormon plates is true. To overcome clear evidence that joseph smith translated the entire book of mormon with a seer stone in a hat instead of the official story about spectacles attached to a breastplate, apologist roger nicholson has argued that smith alternated between instruments even after the loss of the 116 pagesthat he often put the spectacles into his hat. How did joseph smith translate the book of abraham. Despite all that the book of mormon prophets apparently went through to assemble, write, and preserve the records, joseph smith didnt even use them to translate. Joseph smith used a stone in a hat to help him in his translation of the book of mormon. Jan 30, 2020 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. Joseph smith translation kindle edition by lutes, kenneth and lyndell, lutes, lyndell, lutes jr, kenneth, lutes sr, kenneth. There were numerous witnesses to the translation of the book of mormon by joseph smith. 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.
David whitmer said, regarding smiths translation of the book of mormon. Quiz 1 book of mormon translation flashcards quizlet. A popular myth that joseph smith used a peep stone in a hat to translate the book of mormon hoax spread by antimormons the peep stone hoax began in 1834 by an antimormon named willard chase, years after the events supposedly occurred. Bushman omits the fact that joseph smith had his head in a hat during the entire translating process. Rfm concludes his 4part miniseries on joseph smith s translation of the book of mormon with a bang. Did joseph smith use a hat during the translation of the. Apr 29, 2006 if so, how did you reconcile it with the church presentation of joseph smith using the plates in full view. 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. I am intrigued, as you are, with the process joseph smith used to translate the book of mormon, which he said was done through the gift and power of god. This is simply a reflection of the notion of divine dictation, which holds that every word of.
He knew he could never replicate the first 116 pages because he was not even translating from the golden plates, but he also needed the first part of the book of mormon or it would be a book with no beginning. Welch, the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, in opening the heavens. If you like what rfm is presenting, please donate today at. As a mormon, did you know about joseph smith using the stone. Richard bushmans discussion of the book of mormon in joseph smith and the beginnings of mormonism was really good. In the ces letter, i wrote that joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon. 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.
Devoted members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints honor its founder, joseph smith, with saintlike reverence. Joseph smith translates the book of mormon, dictating the text to his scribe oliver cowdery. 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 smith head in hat account from thurlow weed lds. Many latter day saints believe that the urim and thummim of joseph smith and the book of mormon were the functional equivalent of the urim and thummim mentioned in the old testament. The wikipedia article on the golden plates says that joseph smith translated the golden plates into the book of mormon with the help of seer stones. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading joseph smith translation. 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. Jul 20, 2018 what a about our 10 president of the church, president joseph fielding smith. Many of you are experienced in the difficult task of translating written text from one language to another.
A strong case can be made for the authenticity of joseph smith s account of the coming forth of the book of mormon first, the eyewitness testimony of those directly involved with the translation unanimously agree that joseph was not copying from another book or manuscript, but rather the text of the book of mormon as he peered into the sear. 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. Did joseph smith study and master the nephite language. New church video explains joseph smiths seer stones book of. 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. Were joseph smiths translation instruments like the israelite urim and thummim. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the book of. In response to accounts that indicated that joseph may have used his own seer stone during the translation of the book of mormon, elder smith flatly stated that he did not believe this to be true, since the stone was inferior to the nephite interpreters. Joseph smith translated an ancient text by the gift and power of god to produce the book of mormon. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful study of.
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. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the book. The church through the essay on the translation of the book of mormon has admitted that joseph smith used the seer stone in the hat method. New church video explains joseph smiths seer stones book. We have a few quotes from martin harris, emma smith, david whitmer, and oliver cowdery that suggest something like this. The process of translating the book of mormon joseph.
Book of mormon translation joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. 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. Your contribution keeps radio free mormon broadcasting behind enemy lines. According to witnesses of the translation, when joseph looked. Joseph smith used the term the urim and thummim to refer to the pair of seer stones, or interpreters, he obtained for translating the book of mormon as well as to other seer stones he used in a similar manner. Mormon scholars debate joseph smiths role in translation. According to witnesses of the translation, when joseph looked into the instruments, the words of scripture appeared in english.
Did joseph smith use seer stones and a hat to translate the. Translating the book of mormon joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon. Based on our class discussion in our last class, as well as the churchs essay on first vision accounts, when were the two earliest accounts of joseph smith s first vision rediscovered by historians working in the churchs documentary collection. How joseph smith translating with a hat is stronger evidence. Joseph smith put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. But it is important to remember that joseph was not translating from one language he knew to another. I cheerfully certify that i was familiar with the manner of joseph smiths translating the book of mormon. Second, according to david whitmers account of how the book of mormon was translated, joseph smith was the instrument of transmission, while translation rested solely with the lord.
As a mormon, did you know about joseph smith using the. If smith truly was a prophet with the ability to decipher plates of an unknown language. Did joseph smith use a hat during the translation of the book. For further discussion on the book of mormon and the translation process, see the introduction to documents, volume 1. This website is not endorsed by the church of jesus christ of laterday saints. Mormons react to firstever photograph of joseph smiths seer. I applaud the churchs baby steps with their first published image of joseph translating the book of mormon with a hat near at hand.
In the book of mormon, the prophets the brother of jared and mosiah both used devices called interpreters to receive revelation for their people. I will now give you a description of the manner in which the book of mormon was translated. Room in johnson home where joseph smith worked on bible translation. Translating the book of mormon south park depiction of the translation of the book of mormon is more accurate than the most mormons realize.
Hopefully there are some members of the church still up this late. Royal skousen is professor of english at brigham young university and since 1988 has served as the editor of the book of mormon critical text project. It was a 1992 talk given to new mission presidents in provo, utah that was reprinted in the july 1993 ensign, which was twenty years ago when the internet wasnt a household word and hammer pants were in style. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon by bill mckeever and eric johnson the founder of the lds church, joseph smith, claimed an angel named moroni visited him in.
106 829 934 684 568 11 1533 1317 268 686 1037 99 378 499 1378 200 397 169 1474 967 1369 1321 1396 1377 1432 265 578 755 448 688 13 580 424 919 1309 220 748 1353