It was this stone that joseph used to translate the book of mormon. Kirkhams suggestion that the book of mormon was translated within seventyfive. An incredible feat, considering it often takes years and multiple drafts to create a work of history comparable to the 531page book of mormon. Taylor was only nineteen when he was called as one of the first missionaries to open the japan mission in 1901. By the power of god, through the holy spirit, how else.
Historians both in and out of the church agree that it took approximately 65 days to translate the book once joseph smith and his scribe oliver cowdery began. 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. One such early translation that stands out is the translation of the. 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. I have a very strong testimony that joseph smith did not translate the book of mormon with a stone in the hat. Joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon. Nothing is magical, and the urim and thummim, the seer stone, etc. 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.
Did joseph smith use a seer stone to translate the book of mormon. 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 leaders. The mere existence of the book of mormon is one of the greatest miracles in history. Peterson wrote an excellent article in which he cites witnesses to the book of mormon translation process, giving modern readers insight into what eyewitnesses saw regarding how joseph smith translated the book of mormon. Examples are used only to help you translate the word or expression searched in various contexts. Some may believe that the book of mormon must have been a translation in which nothing but formal equivalency word for word translation would be what god would provide as the translation. The process of translating the book of mormon as we know it began in full earnest with the arrival of oliver cowdery on april 5, 1829. Under either theory, a span of no more than sixty ve to seventy ve total days was likely involved in translating the book of mormon. Reuben clark law school and president of the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms. A better question since smith didnt translate anything nor do anything like unto it with his magicrockinhat is how long had smith been working on the basic story in his. Welch and tim rathbone, the translation of the book of mormon. The book of mormon contains a prophecy that the lord god shall commence his work among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, to bring about the restoration of his people upon the earth. He said that he knew of the book of mormon from his religions studies, and his initial reaction was that he did not want to be involved in translating it.
However, soon into his mission, taylor was translating hymns and. To read their article in full see liahona, how did joseph smith translate the book of mormon. But translations of the book of mormon into other languages have also been miraculous, in their own small way. Did joseph smith use the urim and thummim or nephite interpreters to translate. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. 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 his address he explained what we know about joseph smiths translation, and how it was truly a miracle that joseph smith was able to translate the book of. The problem is that the book of mormon does not represent a onefor. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the bom. The english edition of the book of mormon is about 530 pages including footnotes and. The speed with which the book of mormon was translated parent page. An article in the improvement era, a former publication of the lds church, denied joseph smiths use of seer stones, while simultaneously disparaging the reliability of the witnesses. Days and hours never to be forgotten, byu studies quarterly 57 no.
Book of mormon translation joseph smith only about sixtyfive working days to translate a book that, in the current edition, is 531 pages long. One of the most amazing facts about the book of mormon is that it took. This was accomplished while joseph smith was 24 years old with only a basic education in reading and writing and arithmatic. One of the ways this has been brought to pass is through the translation of the book of mormon into numerous foreign languages.
How long did it take to write the book of mormon answers. It was at david whitmers house in 1829 that joseph finished the translation of the book of mormon, long after the angel took and returned the plates and urim. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the. The translation of the book of lehi is completed, resulting in 116 pages of translated text. Welch examined how long it took joseph smith to translate the book of mormon in a lecture wednesday night at the gordon b. Title page translated by joseph smith long ago the lord declared. Joseph smith used magic to translate book of mormon life. He envisioned the book of mormon as one long historical epic. I will now give you a description of the manner in which the book of mormon was translated. I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, yea, a marvelous work and a wonder 2 nephi 27. She said she thought it was almost impossible for joseph to have been able to translate as book as complex as the bom in 30 days without divine inspiration. The use of objects in the translation were only to help focusing on the work. Before that, from 12 april to 14 june 1828, joseph had.
He said in about 1970 that he had visited with a group of mormon leaders, who sought to commission him to translate the book of mormon from english into afrikaans. Byu professors lecture examines the timeline of joseph smiths. The words urim and thummim did not appear in the book of mormon, early revelations, or. Kirkham wondered how long into july the translation may have continued. The miracle of the book of mormon mormonism, the mormon. No doubt they understand that most people would balk in accepting the book of mormon if it was known to have been translated by using a magical rock and a hat. About 60 daysthats how long it took joseph smith to translate the book of mormon. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of. Many solid and independent historical documents written by people like lucy mack smith, joseph knight, david whitmer, oliver cowdery, and even public records like the mortgage on. 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. Welch examined how long it took joseph smith to translate the book of mormon a lecture wednesday night at the.
Amazingly, the translation of the book of mormon as we now have it took less than 65 actual days of translating. Recent research has shown more clearly than ever before that the book of mormon as we now have it was translated in a stunningly short amount of time. Questions such as how long did it take to translate the book of mormon. One of the most amazing facts about the book of mormon is that it took joseph smith only about sixtyfive working days to translate a book that, in the current edition, is 531 pages long. By its own terms, the book of mormon is a translation of an ancient book. Who translated the book of mormon text into english for joseph smith to read. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of mormon. How long did it take to translate the book of mormon. They are not selected or validated by us and can contain inappropriate terms or ideas.
Willes center for book of mormon studies at the gordon b. Welch, professor of law at brigham young universitys j. They say that god helped him translate the text using the stone and other tools, which became known as the book of mormon. The book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints has translated the book of mormon into tens of languages. Among the many amazing facts about the book of mormon is how little time it took for joseph smith to translate it.
Lucy harris disposes of the first 116 pages of the book of mormon suggesting that if joseph actually had golden plates. The title page of the book of mormon declares that the book is a translation of an ancient set of records, sealed up, and hid up unto the lord. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. I also believe the picture of the brown stone the church shows is a fraud. Did joseph smith use the nephite plates to translate the book of mormon. The truth of the book of mormon and its divine source can be known today. This assertion can mislead people into believing the book of mormon production process was nothing short of miraculous. The resulting translation was published in 1830 as the book of mormon. I have traced every single source the historians use to claim that he had a brown seer stone. Byu professors lecture examines the timeline of joseph. Almost all of the book of mormon as we now have it was translated between 7 april and 30 june 1829.
The book of mormon peter marks of the washington post says, dont believe what they say. From that humble beginning, today the church prints over 3 million copies a year on large web presses. The miraculous translation of the book of mormon into. The translation of the book of mormon into japanese took five years and nine months of labor, and the manuscript consisted of twentyseven handwritten booklets. Now is a great time to share this news with a mormon in your life, and be sure to remind them your heart is concerned for their safety. Where did the idea that the book of mormon was translated with a seer stone in a hat come from.
Welch gave the annual book of mormon lecture entitled hours never to be forgotten for the laura f. In 2011, when this article was written, the translation of the book of mormon into malay was under way. You can read a great essay on how long it took joseph smith to. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful. As the bible is a record of gods dealings with the inhabitants of the eastern hemisphere, the book of mormon tells of a people who were led by god from jerusalem to the western hemisphere 600 years prior to the birth of the savior. Book of mormon translator converted the mormon urban. Truly, the translation of the book of mormon was a miracle and was accomplished by miraculous means.
Joseph smith mentioned several times that he translated the book of mormon record through the gift and power of god by means of the urim and thummim, but the term was used ambiguously. Who translated the book of mormon text into english for. Those skeptical of joseph smiths claims sometimes insist that his account of the coming forth of. Soon after, he writes david whitmer, saying that he is convinced that joseph does. Welch, foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms. 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. Welchs excellent article entitled the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, from opening the heavens, accounts of divine manifestations 18201844, p. Did joseph smith translate the book of mormon with a rock. It took joseph smith about 65 total working days to translate the book of mormon from the original metal plates into english. Professor figures out book of mormon translation timeline. The book of mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western tribes of indians.
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