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. If smith truly was a prophet with the ability to decipher plates of an unknown language. How did joseph smith translate the book of abraham. Another testament of jesus christ have been provided by those who helped the prophet, joseph smith, as scribes. As joseph grew to understand his prophetic calling, he learned that he could use this stone for the higher purpose of translating scripture.
Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer stone in a hat. 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. The prophet joseph smith on the translation process. The use of objects in the translation were only to help focusing on the work.
Joseph smith and his scribes wrote of two instruments used in. Ashurstmcgee explains that statements and recollections made by the prophet joseph smith and his close associatesincluding his wife emma smith, his friends martin harris and david whitmer, and othersmake it clear that the instruments utilized in the translation of the book of mormon included the nephite interpreters mosiah 8. In a times and seasons editorial, october 1, 1842, the prophet joseph smith, after progressive study. New church video explains joseph smiths seer stones.
As with most lds movies that deal with mormon history, you tend to expect two thingsan absence of pertinent facts and an appeal to the emotions. 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. The power of god was similarly demonstrated with joseph smith, who. 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 with millions of global adherents.
Here the lord explains to the prophet joseph why his gift to translate was taken. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. Did joseph smith use a hat during the translation of the book of. Titled joseph smiththe prophet of the restoration, the film begins in nauvoo in 1844 while flashing back to past events in smiths life. 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. How exactly did joseph smith translate the book of mormon. Joseph smiths magic seer stonedefinition of seer stone. At that time, the seer stone was stored in the prophets vault near. On september 21, 1823, joseph smith, then seventeen years old, was in his bed praying when a light began to fill his room. Joseph smith was born 23 december 1805 in sharon, vermont. Why did joseph smith attempt to join the methodist church in 1828. October 1st is the anniversary of a little known event in early church history that i believe, in consequence of significant research progress, now deserves recognition for identifying a region of major book of mormon lands and for initiating book of mormon archaeological historicity research. Thus the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god, and not by any power of man.
He used both devices to produce the record, which is called the 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. One of his accounts was recorded in the elders journal published july 1838, at far west, missouri. Nothing is magical, and the urim and thummim, the seer stone, etc. The practice of using stones or glass to receive divine revelation is found in many cultures, including among the ancient. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon with a rock in. While the statement has been made by some writers that the prophet joseph. In the video seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon. Smith also had in his possession a brown seer stone. The language in the sections of the book of mormon that correspond to parts of the bible is quite regularly selected by joseph smith, rather than obtained through independent translation.
I originally answered this question early on in my quora experience with the idea that weighing the evidence was not the way to discover the truth of the book of mormon and joseph smith, since the. I wanted to put together some historical accounts that show that joseph smith used a seer stone in his translation of the book of mormon. The founder of the lds church, joseph smith, claimed an angel named moroni visited him. 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 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. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. David whitmer said, regarding smith s translation of the book of mormon. The question at hand, then, is whether or not smiths translation of the book of mormon plates is true. 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. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. Did joseph smith describe the book of mormon translation. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for book of mormon. This page shows accounts of some of the people close to joseph specifically emma smith, martin harris, david whitmer, and william smith stating that he did in fact, use a seer stone in the translation of the text. The history of joseph smiths 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 josephs seer stones, has been clearly delineated by latterday saint historians. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book. After learning how joseph smith translated, some have been troubled and supposed that the church has been hiding the truth, since we have been taught in the past that joseph smith translated the book of mormon with the urim and thummim and gold plates, not with a stone in a hat. 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. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement.
Joseph smith received the golden plates from the angel moroni. 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. 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. When i was a senior in high school my friends told me joseph smith put a rock in a hat to translate. When he joseph smith had finished translating the book of mormon, he was still only a boy, yet in producing this book he developed historical facts, prophecies, revelations, predictions, testimonies and doctrines, precepts and principles that are beyond the power and wisdom of.
He identified himself as a messenger from the presence of god, named moroni. A prophet is a spokesperson for god, whereas a seer is one who uses means divine instruments to reveal mysteries and secrets. Gramps, i would like to know the exact way the prophet joseph translated the book of mormon. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the book of. The prophet joseph smith gave at least six accounts telling of the translation. Smith placed the stone in a hat, buried his face in it to eliminate all outside.
Martin harris took a transcript of some characters copied from the golden plates to scholars in new york city. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for book of. The process of translating the book of mormon joseph. Joseph smiths translation and publication of the book of mormon. 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.
In other words, joseph used the same magic device or ouija board that he used during his treasure hunting days. 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. Yes, joseph smith really did use a seer stone in the. David whitmer said, regarding smiths translation of the book of mormon. Lapham, lafayette 1870, interview with the father of joseph smith, the mormon prophet, forty years ago. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the. According to latter day saint belief, the golden plates are the source from which joseph smith said he translated the book of mormon. A somewhat perplexing reference to gazelem, the name of an individual using a stone prepared by god, is found in alma 37. Smith mock the fact that part of the book of mormon translation. 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 s response to skepticism, cites a personal interview emma smith bidamon gave to a committee of the reorganized church of jesus christ of latterday saints in 1879. What evidence is there that joseph smith was a prophet. Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church believe that smith used seer stones to translate the book of mormon. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. This list of books presents some of most interesting history and biography published on the life and experiences of joseph smith.
Similarly, joseph smith used both the nephite interpreters and his individual seer stone in the translation of the book of mormon. 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 prophet joseph smith answered questions pertaining to the translation of the book of mormon. A personage appeared in the light and began to speak to joseph. Most of the descriptions of the process of translating the book of mormon. Joseph smith said that in 1827 he was led by an angel to dig up golden plates containing a record of ancient inhabitants of the american continent, along with spectacles, or interpreters, that the lord had prepared to translate the record. Martin harris lost 116 pages joseph smith had translated from the book of mormon. The best books are the scriptures and the words of the prophet joseph smith. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. Did joseph smith study and master the nephite language.
Joseph smiths 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 and emma smith moved to harmony, pennsylvania, where joseph began translating the book of mormon in earnest. The book of mormon explains how a seer is greater than a prophet, and how joseph smith can be called the choice seer of the latter days. For nearly a generation, church members have exulted in the accumulation of the high and lofty themes and. The research of president joseph fielding smith through the writings and sermons of the prophet joseph smith for this book has been thorough and definitive. 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. Joseph smith was the founding president and prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. 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. Both the scriptures and the testimony and withess of jesus christ and the prophet joseph smith declare that the book of mormon was translated through the medium of the urim and thummim and by the gift and power of god not by a stone in the hat. Joseph placed either the interpreters or the seer stone in a hat, pressed his. The prophet learned the nature of that gift the night the angel moroni first visited him. Joseph smith used the same rock in hat seer stone for translating that he used for money digging.
In an affidavit that isaac hale provided we find some very interesting information. Although the two terms are often coupled, there is a scriptural difference between a prophet and a seer. 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. Joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon. How long did mormon prophet joseph smith have the gold plates. Early this week i posted a brief notice for the book from darkness unto light. The title page of the book of mormon said it would be interpreted and come forth by the gift and power of god.
Did the prophet tutor some of the early brethren in ancient nephite characters did joseph smith translate the book of mormon using a dark seer stone in a hat. Did joseph smith use a seer stone to translate the book of mormon. Given joseph smiths firsthand knowledge of and experience with the translation of the book of mormon, one would suppose that faithful latterday saint researchers and authors would treat the prophet joseph smiths words as authoritative, placing them in a preeminent position within their works. How joseph smith translated the book of mormon latter.
For most of my life i have been confused about how joseph smith translated the book of mormon. 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. Joseph smiths fatherinlaw, isaac hale, noticed a definite relationship between the method joseph smith used to translate the book of mormon and the way he searched for buried treasures. By the power of god, through the holy spirit, how else. Dear gramps, i would like to know the exact way the prophet joseph translated the book of mormon. Did joseph smith translate the book of mormon with a rock. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful study of. Joseph smith put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat. Artwork of joseph smith translating the book of mormon.
People are sometimes troubled when they see artists depictions of the prophet and oliver sitting at. It could be said that mormon history starts with the translation of the book of mormon. New church video explains joseph smiths seer stones book of. Fairmormon confirms that joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon. Why are progressive historians creating a new history using sources from a man who vowed to wash his hands in the blood of joseph smith, while boasting that he had. Some critics of joseph smith mock the fact that part of the book of mormon translation process apparently involved dictating while looking at a stone that hed placed within a hat yet far from being damaging evidence against his claims and against the book of mormon, this fact may strongly support their plausibility.
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