The practice of using stones or glass to receive divine revelation is found in many cultures, including among the ancient israelites and maya. Printers manuscript of the book of mormon, 1 nephi 1alma 35, facsimile edition, ed. Jan 28, 2020 though joseph smith largely used the urim and thummim seer stones while translating the book of mormon, in recent years we have learned more about another seer stone he regularly used to help him translate. Joseph never talked about how the book of mormon translation process went. The following essay is the official lds released essay entitled book of mormon translation. The coming forth of the book of mormon, ensign jan 1988.
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. Mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including joseph smith using a seer stone and accounts of joseph smith using urim and thummim. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the book. 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. He later used it to help in the translation of the book of mormon and also in receiving certain revelations. The article is fairly brief and only superficially addresses the problem. Phelps wrote in the lds publication the evening and morning star jan. Today we begin our first live broadcast of the mormon discussion podcast. A picture of a smooth, brown, eggsized rock is shown in the printers manuscript of the book of mormon. Similarly, joseph smith used both the nephite interpreters and his individual seer stone in the translation of the book of mormon. Did the church try to hide josephs use of a seer stone to. 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.
Where and how did joseph smith receive the seer stone used. Official lds magazine provides a detailed account of the. Fairmormon posted new book of mormon translation artwork showing joseph smiths face in a hat. 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. Joseph smiths translation and publication of the book of mormon. In the video seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon, mason allred interviews dr.
Oct 09, 2018 claims and controversies of book of mormon translation, sunstone, december 2010, 2029. Erekson this story appeared in the marchapril 2020 issue of lds living. Rather, a different stone not found with the plates was used to facilitate this process. Some have placed undue emphasis on artistic renditions of joseph smith translating from the golden plates that have been included in official church. See more ideas about book of mormon, lds seminary and scripture study.
Up until very recently, the lds church taught that joseph smith translated the book of mormon from golden plates using ancient divine tools called the urim and thummim. 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 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. How the mormon church now explains the translation of the. Please consider donating today to support our effort to provide latterday saints the tools and resources and the safe space for conversations to navigate a difficult and often lonely faith transition. Jul 20, 2018 i appreciate reading the firsthand accounts from the prophet himself and oliver cowdery, and, of course, the scriptural references to the translation of the book of mormon. Over the last three decades, word of the churchs acquisition of a book of mormon supposedly written in by elvis presley spread easily through fireside speakers, classroom teachers, and newspaper columnists. Firsthand accounts of the miraculous translation of the. Debunking the myth of elviss book of mormon keith a. 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. The stone joseph smith used in the book of mormon translation effort was often referred to as a chocolatecolored stone with an oval shape. According to latter day saint theology, seer stones were believed to have been used by joseph smith, as well as ancient prophets, to receive revelations from god.
The mormon church is for the first time publishing photos of the stone it believes. The young man, however, had very little formal education and was incapable of writing a book on his own, let alone translating an ancient book written from an unknown language, known in the book of mormon as reformed egyptian. At mormon discussions we look to help you navigate mormonism. 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 found the interpreters buried in the hill with the plates. Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church believe that smith used seer stones to translate the book of mormon.
A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. The angel charged joseph smith to translate the book from the ancient language in which it was written. My research tells me that after the 116 pages were lost, the spectacles later referred to as the urim and thummim by the lds church were no longer used in the translation of the book of mormon. Its how the missionaries teach it, its depicted in their art on the walls of their chapels, and its what has always been taught in their sunday school classes. I appreciate reading the firsthand accounts from the prophet himself and oliver cowdery, and, of course, the scriptural references to the translation of the book of mormon. Aug 04, 2015 a picture of a smooth, brown, eggsized rock is shown in the printers manuscript of the book of mormon. Book of mormon translation lds church is true blog.
In the book of mormon, the prophets the brother of jared and mosiah both used devices called interpreters to receive revelation for their people. The idea that the translation of the book of mormon was revealed as a series of imaginative visions is consistent with the way seer stones were used by others in joseph smiths day, with the way witnesses described joseph smiths use of seer stones in translating and receiving revelations, with the revelatory use of stones as portrayed in. Mormon scholars debate joseph smiths role in translation. 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.
A twentyfirst century believers view of the book of mormon. Those skeptical of joseph smiths claims sometimes insist that his account of the coming forth of the book is simply too. Max wilson new liberal mormon folklore the nephites left samuel the lamanites prophecies out of the scriptures. Use of the urim and thummim in translating the book of mormon. New church video explains joseph smiths seer stones.
According to witnesses of the translation, when joseph looked into the instruments, the words of scripture appeared in english. Initially, he is said to have used two stones set in frames as glasses to see the new translation. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. They were meant to magnify the eyes of men these things which ye the brother of jared shall write. Reading your article got me curious as to whywith such direct and clear information on how the book of mormon was translatedtheres even a question about it. Jan 09, 2020 he later used it to help in the translation of the book of mormon and also in receiving certain revelations. One 1976 book produced during this period, the story of the latterday saints, by james b. These facts are now officially confirmed in the churchs december 20 book of mormon translation essay. 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.
New church video explains joseph smiths seer stones book. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for book of. That stone was given to oliver cowdery after the translation of the book of mormon was completed. Aug 29, 2018 the angel charged joseph smith to translate the book from the ancient language in which it was written. Claims and controversies of book of mormon translation, sunstone, december 2010, 2029.
When joseph smith was entrusted with the golden plates, he was also given a set of nephite interpreters and a breastplate. Leonard, noted in a straightforward manner josephs acquisition of his seer stone and its use in the translation of the book of mormon. Initially, in 1828, he utilized the nephite interpreters, which he described as. Donate today to a good cause while supporting latter day saints like you. Why was a stone used as an aid in translating the book of.
Oct 07, 2017 the resulting translation was published in 1830 as the book of mormon. 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. The church history department of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has released a new video exploring joseph smiths use of seer stones in the translation process of the book of mormon. This fhe lesson on the book of mormon helps teach how joseph smith translated the book of mormon by the power of god, including the seer stones. 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. According to joseph smiths history, he returned the urim and thummim, or nephite interpreters, to the angel. Book of mormontranslationurim and thummim fairmormon. A somewhat perplexing reference to gazelem, the name of an individual using a stone prepared by god, is found in alma 37.
Those skeptical of joseph smiths claims sometimes insist that his account of the coming forth of. We will engage the topic of joseph smiths treasure digging and welcome live call ins to the show and discuss the messy issue of joseph smiths treasure hunting and use of seer stones. Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church believe that smith used seer stones to translate the book of mormon seer stones are mentioned in the book of mormon in the book of mosiah, where they are also. The resulting translation was published in 1830 as the book of mormon. Last august, the church released the first ever photo of a stone long associated to be one of the seer stones used by joseph smith to translate the book of mormon. From that humble beginning, today the church prints over 3 million copies a year on large web presses.
In recent decades, some members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints have developed an oversimplified understanding of the process by which joseph smith translated the book of mormon. Jul 18, 2016 a somewhat perplexing reference to gazelem, the name of an individual using a stone prepared by god, is found in alma 37. Joseph smith and his scribes wrote of two instruments used in translating the book of mormon. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon. Seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon. Roger nicholson, the spectacles, the stone, the hat, and the book. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful study of. Bruce r mcconkie discredited those references that lds. Yes, joseph smith really did use a seer stone in 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. Additional photos of the rock can be viewed on lds. The practice of using stones or glass to receive divine revelation is found in many cultures, including among the ancient. Royal skousen makes the same argument, though he also concedes that joseph exercised caution in referring to his treasurehunting activities. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer stone in a hat.
We have a few quotes from martin harris, emma smith, david whitmer, and oliver cowdery that suggest something like this. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. Mar 21, 2018 the church history department of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has released a new video exploring joseph smiths use of seer stones in the translation process of the book of mormon. Uchtdorf posted on his facebook page comparing the seer stone in the hat book of mormon translation to his iphone.