A new translation of the book of mormon, doctrine and covenants and pearl of great price was recently released. 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. Book of mormon translation that the church portrayed and still portrays to its members. What do we know about the method used to translate the book of mormon. Mormons believe joseph smith found gold plates engraved with writing in ancient egyptian in new york and god helped him translate the text. Book of mormon translation joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris serving as the main scribes, was lost in 1828. Joseph began translating again in 1829, and almost all of the present book of mormon text was translated during a threemonth period between april and june of. Church resources book of mormon translation, gospel topics, topics the gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon.
Joseph didnt use the plates 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. For a further analysis of the question, how long it took for joseph to translate the book of mormon, see my recent article, timing the translation of the book of mormon. 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. 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. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. Introduction to the approximate book of mormon translation. She hid away from the mormon corridor by going to southern oregon and later living in the far north of california. Prejudice against the prophet made it difficult for him to find a willing printer for the controversial gold bible. Amazingly, the translation of the book of mormon as we now have it took less than 65 actual days of translating. Once oliver cowdery volunteered to act as scribe, joseph was able to dictate for many hours at a time.
Book of mormontransmission from translator to printed text. These tables show all the versions of the book of mormon that have been translated. Isaiah and nephi both prophesied that the book of mormon would be translated by him that is not learned so that the lord could show that he is able to do his own work and is a god of miracles 2 nephi 27. 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. 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. In conclusion, we feel that the move away from the actual facts of the translation process of the book of mormon demonstrates a lack of credibility on the part of lds. The book of mormon is published in 112 languages, and many of them are available in multiple formats online in march 1830, 5,000 copies of the book of mormon were printed in the e. 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. Book of mormon translation challenge home facebook. Welch and rathbone, book of mormon translation by joseph smith, 1. Critics have argued that the book of mormon cannot be true because joseph smiths claims about the book of mormons translation seem unbelievable, but this new video seeks to put these criticisms to rest. A picture of a smooth, brown, eggsized rock is shown in the printers manuscript of the book of mormon. In the ces letter, i wrote that joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon.
For further discussion on the book of mormon and the translation process, see the introduction to documents, volume 1. Matthews and benjmins translation method is particularly interesting for book of mormon translation theories, since some of the biggest issues in discussions of book of mormon translation are. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Most readers of the book of mormon naturally assume that joseph smith translated its books beginning in 1 nephi 1. Oct 07, 2017 the second installment in book of mormon centrals evidence video series tackles the translation of the book of mormon. 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. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been.
Brigham believed that the translation of the book of mormon was a miracle, but not that it was an infallible translation that could never be changed. The translation and publication of the book of mormon immediately preceded the organization of the church in the spring of 1830. We discuss joseph smiths seer stones, gold plates, treasure digging, and. However, it was later shown that she had faked her translation and gone into hiding with her husband in order to increase sales of her books. Days and hours never to be forgotten, byu studies quarterly 57 no. And i will even venture to say that if the book of mormon were now to be rewritten, in many instances it would materially differ from the present translation. From that humble beginning, today the church prints over 3 million copies a year on large web presses. Book of mormon translation by the gift and power of god.
Were the plates sometimes not in the room while joseph was translating. 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. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon. Oct 07, 2017 joseph smith claimed that in 1827 an angel named moroni led him to a set of golden plates which he then translated by the gift and power of god. Smith later stated that god allowed him to resume translation, but directed that he begin translating another part of the plates in what is now called the book of. Joseph smith translates some of the characters himself. Interesting correspondence on the subject of the manual theory. The following essay is the official lds released essay entitled book of mormon translation. Whats so remarkable about this part of the translation of the book of mormon is the breakneck pace of the work the translation of the text during this time was completed in an astounding 65 to 72 working days based on the number of pages in the 1830 edition of the book of mormon. Joseph smith claimed that in 1827 an angel named moroni led him to a set of golden plates which he then translated by the gift and power of god. By its own terms, the book of mormon is a translation of an ancient book.
The book of mormon is available in print in various sizes, bindings, and colors. This assertion can mislead people into believing the book of mormon production process was nothing short of miraculous. Joseph smith reported that on the evening of september 21, 1823. The book of mormon is now published in more than 80 languages, with selections available in another 25 languages. Emma hale smith, and perhaps her brother reuben hale, help as scribes for a portion of the book.
In september 1851, an apostle, a mission president, a missionary and two converts came together to translate and publish the first edition of the book of mormon in german. 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. More insight into the book of mormon translation process might come from the original book of commandments. For a compilation of accounts by joseph smiths contemporaries, see john w. Welchs excellent article entitled the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, from opening the heavens, accounts of divine manifestations 18201844, p. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. Unless otherwise indicated, the translation was financed and the resulting text published by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. 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.
This is one in a series on book of mormon translations and translators. Critics have argued that the book of mormon cannot be true because joseph smiths claims about the book of mormon s translation seem unbelievable, but this new video seeks to put these criticisms to rest. Was every word of the book of mormon translation provided directly from god. Afrikaans, the latest edition in the exhibit, was released in 1972. Book of mormon greek translation to bibaio toy mopmon. Were the plates sometimes not in the room while joseph was translating them. Above all, were these words given by the gift and power of god. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. The second installment in book of mormon centrals evidence video series tackles the translation of the book of mormon. Interest in the manner of the translation of the book of mormon is still alive among many thoughtful students. Various witnesses of the process, including emma smith and martin harris. Josephs view of revelation is nuanced in this regard. Earlier that year france and wales saw translations appear in their languages, following the first foreignlanguage edition of the book of mormon in danish in 1851. The book of mormon came into the world through a series of miraculous events.
In it, joseph is receiving revelation from god telling oliver he is blessed with a gift of a divining rod. The approximate book of mormon translation timeline was an interesting article to research. The following letters on the subject are, therefore, both timely and engagingeditors. Today, all or part of the book of mormon has been translated into 111 languages. After the prophet joseph smiths original translation of the book of mormon from the gold plates into english in 1829 and the return of those plates to the angel moroni, no translations from english into other languages appeared until the 1850s. Book of mormon translation as it actually happened since learning this disturbing new information and feeling betrayed, i have been attacked and gaslighted by revisionist mormon apologists claiming that its my fault and the fault of anyone else for not knowing this. Book of mormon translation evidence book of mormon. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1988, 23755. The article is fairly brief and only superficially addresses the problem.
The german translation of the book of mormon gilbert w. The book of mormon bulgarian translation smith, joseph on. Many accounts in the bible show that god transmitted revelations. The first nonenglish translation of the book of mormon was the danish edition in 1851. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. Joseph smith and his scribes wrote of two instruments used in translating the book of mormon. 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 claimed that in 1827 an angel named moroni led him to a set of golden plates which he then translated by the gift and power of. Joseph smith translated an ancient text by the gift and power of god to produce the book of mormon. Book of mormon translation by joseph smith the encyclopedia. The annotated lds gospel topics essay on the book of mormon translation. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and. The book of mormon has been translated in its entirety into 97 languages. As of march 2015, the lds church continues to publish at least portions of the book of.
Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer stone in a hat. Book of mormon translations the encyclopedia of mormonism. 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 mormon church is for the first time publishing photos of the stone it believes. While the translation of the book of mormon may come directly from god, this does not preclude the role that joseph would play in adapting the language of the book of mormon to a cultural and linguistic framework that would both establish that the text was authentic and inspired while also communicating the book s message clearly. Book of mormon translation the church of jesus christ of latter. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon. Jul 18, 2009 the translation of the book of mormon. Dynamically equivalent translation and the book of mormon. Portions of the book have been translated into another 20 languages. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon.
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. Apr 02, 2020 for a further analysis of the question, how long it took for joseph to translate the book of mormon, see my recent article, timing the translation of the book of mormon. Elder john taylor had just supervised the translation of the book of mormon into french. Again, it is the rate of translation, approximately 6. Book of mormon greek translation to bibaio toy mopmon na, jr. Welch, the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, in opening the heavens. It may be surprising, therefore, to learn that the small plates of nephi 1 nephi through words of mormon almost certainly came last in the translation process, after the completion of the large plates of nephi mosiah through moroni and the title. On 25 may 1852, the first german edition of the book of mormon came off the press in hamburg. Divining rods were believed to have power to help farmers locate where to dig to find water. From the approximate book of mormon translation timeline. It was later proven that she physically died of natural causes. Which scribes worked on which portions in the book of mormon.
Oliver cowdery testified under oath in 1831 that joseph found with the plates, from which he translated his book, two transparent stones, resembling glass, set in. Though there were less than 100 actual translation days. It is claimed that each sentence and word in the 1830 book of mormon had supposedly come 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. According to witnesses of the translation, when joseph looked into. 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. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. While a select few did hear joseph refer to magical items, nobody ever saw a breastplate, spectacles, or ancient interpreter stones. Book of mormon translation lds church is true blog. Truly, the translation of the book of mormon was a miracle and was accomplished by miraculous means.
1117 826 1034 1102 132 1230 1228 571 835 781 458 1104 1145 892 902 1360 1180 1207 788 387 1100 1021 70 471 242 474 535 773 618 583 190 1139 1215 1343 674 1191 478 622 344 259