A strong case can be made for the authenticity of joseph smiths 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. April 12 harmony, susquehanna county, pennsylvania. While i dont doubt that there were individuals who were discussing this method of understanding the translation of the book of mormon before april 2017, most of the members of the church werent being directed to those resources. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. Approximate book of mormon translation timeline elden watsons.
Regarded as sacred scripture by millions, the book of mormon. Department of seminaries and institutes of religion. Most latterday saints grew up learning that joseph smith translated the book of mormon through the use of magic spectacles known as the urim and thummim. 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. Again, it is the rate of translation, approximately 6. Designed for multiple use as study guides, handouts, and masters for creating projectable images, the charts convey a wealth of information that will enrich personal study and teaching. Mormon was the chief abridger and editor of the full book of mormon. Sep 11, 20 the book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. How did joseph smith translate the book of abraham. The mormon church is for the first time publishing photos of the stone it believes. It is a variant of a book of mormon chonology chart, circa 1980. Heres how i would lay out what happened from the time joseph got the plates to the publication. It is claimed that in the book of mormon material which parallels the kjv, joseph smith generally modified the italicized text. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon.
Welch gave the annual book of mormon lecture entitled hours never to be forgotten for the laura f. 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. 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. Why would book of mormon writer, joseph smith, take his. Introduction to the approximate book of mormon translation. The book of mormon contains extensive quotes from isaiah some twentytwo chapters of the prophet are found in the book, in many cases quoted verbatim from the king james version. Once zeniff and his group arrived, the lamanites put them in bondage. Lucy says that it was arranged before joseph smith left palmyra that martin harris was to follow as soon as joseph had enough time to translate some of the.
Thomas professor of law at brigham young university, and was for 27 years editorinchief of byu studies, the premier latterday saint scholarly journal. What do we know about the chronology of the book of mormon translation and publication. Understanding the timeline of book of mormon translation makes a. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. When he sat down in 1832 to write his own history for the first time, he began by promising to include an account of his marvelous experience. 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. Zeniff, a nephite, took a group south to reclaim the nephite lands. With basic figures, it could read like a 4th grade math problem. It also features a hypothetical map based on internal references, an essay on book of mormon poetry, a full glossary of names, genealogical charts, a basic bibliography of mormon and nonmormon scholarship, a chronology of the translation, eyewitness accounts of the gold plates, and information regarding the lost 116 pages and significant. What is less well known is that the book of mormon makes a large number of unacknowledged biblical quotes. Welch and rathbone on book of mormon translation book of. Aug 04, 2015 a picture of a smooth, brown, eggsized rock is shown in the printers manuscript of the book of mormon. As of march 2015, the lds church continues to publish at least portions of the book of mormon in 110 languages.
Could joseph smith have authored the book of mormon. Sloan, the anthon transcripts and the translation of the book of mormon. Deseret book and religious studies center, brigham young university. This reminds me of the time that jesus was resurrected but only appeared to a small collection of his most intimate followers, instead of going directly to pontius pilate and saying im back. The book of lehi mormons abridgement is translated. Visual overview of the flow of events in the book of mormon.
I think this is where i find the most sympathy with those who cry gaslighting when confronted by this. Book of mormon geography settings, timeline, overview. Sep 28, 2012 furthermore, much of the book of mormon appears to have been copied from other sources. Joseph may have derived other parts of the book of mormon, or at least ideas found in it, from contemporary sources. Studying it out in the mind of joseph smith, journal of book of mormon studies 5, no. Kirkhams suggestion that the book of mormon was translated within seventyfive. Welch of brigham young university, delivered a powerful address on wednesday, november 8 on the timing of the translation of the book of mormon. Willes center for book of mormon studies at the gordon b. The article is fairly brief and only superficially addresses the problem.
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. If joseph smith and oliver cowdery translated 10 words per minute, eight hours. Professor figures out book of mormon translation timeline book. What do we know about the chronology of the book of. 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.
Welch examined how long it took joseph smith to translate the book of mormon a lecture wednesday night at the. The book of mormon has been translated in its entirety into 97 languages. 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. The approximate book of mormon translation timeline was an interesting article to research. It is claimed that each sentence and word in the 1830 book of mormon had supposedly come directly from god. Charting the book of mormon is a collection of more than 175 visual aids that promote deeper understanding and appreciation of the book of mormon. Dates given correspond to dates in the footnotes of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church edition of the book of mormon. Professor figures out book of mormon translation timeline. Unless otherwise indicated, the translation was financed and the resulting text published by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church. Furthermore, much of the book of mormon appears to have been copied from other sources.
Willes center for book of mormon studies wednesday at the gordon b. A picture of a smooth, brown, eggsized rock is shown in the printers manuscript of the book of mormon. Joseph and emmas first child, alvin, was born but died shortly. Book of mormon editions 18301981 book of mormon geography. Of the 239 chapters in the book of mormon, 27 are copied nearly verbatim from the king james bible. Byu professors lecture examines the timeline of joseph smiths. A timeline of the book of mormon translation i looked a bit at the timeline of the translation of the book of mormon to help me organize in my thoughts some of the main events related to the translation. April 2015 book of mormon translation challenge the book of mormon translation challenge invites people to read the entire book of mormon during the same time period that it took joseph smith and oliver cowdery to translate it. Jun 05, 2012 april 2015 book of mormon translation challenge the book of mormon translation challenge invites people to read the entire book of mormon during the same time period that it took joseph smith and oliver cowdery to translate it.
It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. See also below for a book of mormon timeline or chronology chart, as at right, with book of mormon nephite and lamanite timeline also jaredite and mulekite timelines. Welch presenting on the translation of the book of mormon. Maxwell, 1 and building on my chapter in the second edition of opening the heavens, 2 this article strives to be as precise as possible about the timing of the events and progress of the book of mormon translation. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. 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. Comparison of the history of the bible and the book of mormon other books the event the date the event relating to time period the nephitesapproximate the jaredites the creation genesis 1, 2 4004 b. Church members believe that the book of mormon is more correct than the bible because the bible was the result of a multiplegeneration translation process and the book of mormon was not. Welchs excellent article entitled the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, from opening the heavens, accounts of divine manifestations 18201844, p. While a select few did hear joseph refer to magical items, nobody ever saw a breastplate, spectacles, or ancient interpreter stones. 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. The book of mormon contains a chronology that is internally consistent over the thousandyear nephite history, with precise nephite dates for several events, including the crucifixion of jesus christ.
Elaborating on a paper he had presented on problems in book of mormon archeology, thomas ferguson, the man that singlehandedly launched the search for mormon archeology, writes that you cannot set book of mormon geography down anywhere because it is fictional and will never meet requirements of dirt archeology. The ten most expensive mormon books meridian magazine. Nov, 2017 i looked a bit at the timeline of the translation of the book of mormon to help me organize in my thoughts some of the main events related to the translation. With a sixfigure price tag, most people might be surprised to learn that on a list of the ten most expensive mormon books, a first edition book of mormon does not rank at the top. The book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. Book of mormon translation, gospel topics essays 2016 book of mormon translation, gospel topics essays.
The truth of the book of mormon and its divine source can be known today. Spring 1820 first vision 21 september 1823 joseph receives a visit from moronithree that night, and one the next day. Martin harris leaves harmony with 116 translated pages of the book of mormon, against the lords counsel, to show them to others and convince them of the truth of the translation. Smith noticed the discrepancy and made up dates to fit a chronology that didnt actually exist to explain it. This assertion can mislead people into believing the book of mormon production process was nothing short of miraculous. Modification of the italicized text in book of mormon biblical passages summary.
This chronology outlines the major events in the history of the book of mormon, according to the text. Understanding the timeline of book of mormon translation. Joseph smith commences translation of the book of mormon with martin harris as scribe. This is the most thorough work on book of mormon translation by a believing scholar. Portions of the book have been translated into another 20 languages. This paper aims to stimulate specific thinking about the intense and complex events during which the book of mormon was translated in 1829. It contained a lengthy historical chronology of the events in 182829. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer stone in a hat.
The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the book of mormon. Periodically, he added editorial commentaries of his own that were skillfully woven into the texts of the primary authors in that record. He is directed to and sees the plates for the first time. The translation of the book of lehi is completed, resulting in 116 pages of translated text. 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.
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