Willes center for book of mormon studies at the gordon b. 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. Basic historical information, farms paper 1986, which was utilized in an entry i wrote with tim rathbone, book of mormon translation by joseph smith, in encyclopedia of mormonism, ed. Kay m godfrey, author, joseph smith epoch historian. Introduction to the approximate book of mormon translation. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of reformed egyptian. Professor figures out book of mormon translation timeline.
It began with the translation of the book of mormon. Sept 1828joseph starts retranslation of book of mormon without any instructions from god or any kind of revelation. Michael morse, emma smith s brotherinlaw, gave a firsthand account published in an 1879 article in the rlds publication saints herald when joseph was translating the book of mormon i had occasion more than once to go into his immediate presence, and saw him engaged at his work of translation. 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. 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. 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. The approximate book of mormon translation timeline was an interesting article to research. Emma smith, joseph smiths wife and scribe for part of the book of mormon, made a clear distinction between the two in an 1870 letter, the first that my husband translated, was translated by the use of the urim, and thummim i. Willes book of mormon lecture is now available online. Translation begins on the 7th of apriltwo days after oliver arrived. This evidence comes from analysis of corroborating historical documents, contemporaneous revelations, and informal translation experiments. Documents, volume 10, released 4 may 2020 the joseph smith papers. December 23, 1805june 27, 1844 founded the church of jesus christ of latterday saints around 1830.
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. The young man, however, had very little formal education. J smith gets the plates, hides them in a birch log. The church historians press today announced the release of the latest volume of the joseph smith papers. A timeline of the book of mormon translation blogger. From the approximate book of mormon translation timeline. Joseph receives the gold plates from the angel moroni at the hill cumorah and begins translation of the book of mormon with the help of the urim and thummim. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book. Welch examined how long it took joseph smith to translate the book of mormon a lecture wednesday night at the. Timeline of the book of mormon translation scott woodward. Joseph smith, history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, 7 volumes, edited by. Ebenezer robinson recorded joseph as having said i have had trouble enough with this thing. 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. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon.
Because of persecution, joseph and emma decide to leave manchester and move to harmony, pennsylvania where they live with emmas parents. Oliver indicated that their asking about baptism was stimulated by translating 3 nephi. The description of the book of mormon on the registration form is from the title page of the book of mormon, which joseph says is a literal translation taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates see pjs 1. May 15 joseph smith and oliver cowdery receive the aaronic priesthood from john the baptist and are. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris serving as the main scribes, was lost in 1828. 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. This timeline overlays the book of mormon history with latterday prophetic history and organizes the matching events. Joseph smith translated an ancient text by the gift and power of god to produce the book of mormon. Angel moroni reveals location of golden plates to joseph smith. Byu professors lecture examines the timeline of joseph smith. If the primary purpose of the book of mormon were to function as a sign as tangible evidence that joseph smith was a true prophet of god that mission could have been page 180 accomplished much more concisely a longer tome might be more impressive to some, but it would put off other. June 30, the established date for completion of the translation. From when joseph first physically visited the plates its 4 years 9 months or. 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.
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. We have firm evidence that oliver cowdery began working as joseph smiths. 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. Aug 04, 2015 the mormon church is for the first time publishing photos of the stone it believes founder joseph smith used to help translate the story that became the basis of the religion. Joseph smith and the papyri religious studies center. 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 did joseph smith study and. It could be said that mormon history starts with the translation of the book of mormon. Welch, a byu law professor and author who served as the founding president of farms the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, examined the timing of the book of mormon translation as he gave the 2017 book of mormon lecture for the laura f.
More details can now be known about the key events that anchor our historical understandings of the pace of. Its 269,510 words,22 originally printed onto 588 pages,23 were revealed to joseph smith through divinely prepared translation instruments. Church of jesus christ of latterday saints founded. May 15, as documented by testimonies given by cowdery and lucy mack smith, josephs mother. Joseph smith commences translation of the book of mormon with martin harris as scribe. The purpose of welchs address is to get us all thinking a little more specifically than ever before about the amazing and illuminating timing of the. According to the lds church, is the book of mormon a translation from a foreign language. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon.
In his address he explained what we know about joseph smith s translation, and how it was truly a miracle that joseph smith was able to translate the book of mormon in such a short time period. Documents, volume 10, which includes papers from may through august 1842, covers a time during which joseph smith oversaw missionary work, encouraged the construction of the nauvoo temple. He identified himself as a messenger from the presence of god, named moroni. The resulting translation was published in 1830 as the book of mormon. Emma hale smith, and perhaps her brother reuben hale, help as scribes for a portion of the book. Joseph smith translates some of the characters himself. However, what they fail to say is this claim means 60 different individual days translation. The angel charged joseph smith to translate the book from the ancient language in which it was written. Devoted members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints honor its founder, joseph smith, with saintlike reverence. In the video seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon, mason allred interviews dr. These were the days never to be forgotten, oliver cowdery said of his time as joseph smiths scribe under the sound of a voice dictated by the inspiration 1 of heaven. Critics have argued that the book of mormon cannot be true because joseph smith s claims about the book of mormon s translation seem unbelievable, but this new.
Printed on high quality photo paper 20x30 print sketch artwork done by joseph f. Professor figures out book of mormon translation timeline book. Welch meticulously tracks the timeline of the book of mormons translation. Joseph smith publishes the book of mormon, an english translation of the golden plates. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. For this and other reasons, many people have naturally been interested in the details of its coming forth, including the timing of its translation.
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 most important fact about the translation is that it indeed was done through the power of god. He just does it on his own, the really odd thing is he doesnt attempt to retranslate the book of lehi, and skips 1nephi, 2nephi, jacob, enos, jarom, omni and words of. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of mormon. Matthewss work was a groundbreaking examination of the manuscripts and was the starting point for later research that led to the 2004 and 2011 publications of the new translation. Book of mormon manuscript excerpt, circa june 1829 1 nephi 2. Thus the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god, and not by any power of man. Byu professors lecture examines the timeline of joseph smiths. Those skeptical of joseph smiths claims sometimes insist that his account of the coming forth of the book is simply too.
It is claimed that each sentence and word in the 1830 book of mormon had supposedly come directly from god. If so, what foreign language manuscripts did joseph smith use to produce the book of mormon. Joseph smith clarifies what he means by very last leaf by specifying. Smith tells apostles book of mormon is keystone of our religion. Joseph smiths translation of the biblea history and commentary provo, utah. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints fast facts. He also gave a prophecy of himself that he was a translator. Welchs excellent article entitled the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, from opening the heavens, accounts of divine manifestations 18201844, p. April 5 oliver cowdery arrives to help joseph by acting as a scribe for the translation of the book of mormon.
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. Nov 11, 2017 may 15, as documented by testimonies given by cowdery and lucy mack smith, joseph s mother. Joseph smiths inexperience and weakness as a writer does nothing but intensely magnify the miraculous nature of the book which he brought forth through divine means. Why is the timing of the book of mormons translation so. What do we know about the chronology of the book of. June 11, when joseph smith obtained the from the library of congress. The book of mormon presents itself to the world as a miracle and as a sign that god has begun the process of gathering scattered israel, as he anciently covenanted to do see 3 nephi 21.
Joseph smiths thirtyeight and onehalf years were marked by the highest of spiritual peaks and the depths of tribulation, sorrow, and betrayal such as few mortals have experienced. Joseph smith begins work on an inspired translation of the bible. The translation of the book of mormon was complete. 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. It is well researched and very enlightening and a must read for those who are willing to accept the words of joseph and other prophets at face value. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer stone in a hat. Willes center for book of mormon studies wednesday at the gordon b. Byu professors lecture examines the timeline of joseph.
The best synthesis so far about joseph smiths translation of the book of mormon. On september 21, 1823, joseph smith, then seventeen years old, was in his bed praying when a light began to fill his room. The three witnesses and eight witnesses were shown the gold plates. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the bom. Using thursday june 25, 1829 as the day translation was completed. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the. Oct 07, 2017 the resulting translation was published in 1830 as the book of mormon. God and jesus appear to 14yearold joseph smith in the first vision 1823. Welch of brigham young university, delivered a powerful address on wednesday, november 8 on the timing of the translation of the book of mormon. We are unable to directly examine josephs translation of reformed egyptian, as according to him an angel kept the gold plates after his translation was completed however, we can examine the characters joseph copied allegedly from the plates for martin harris since the book of mormon claims to be an ancient text we can examine if it truly reflects antiquity. Smith places original book of mormon manuscript, witness signatures, and other items in the cornerstone of the nauvoo house, effectively destroying them. 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. Church magazines joseph the seer, ensign, october 2015 i have a question, ensign, january 1988. It is not known whether he ever recouped the cost of printing the first edition of the book of mormon.
The translation of the book of lehi is completed, resulting in 116 pages of translated text. Book of mormon translation timeline lds apologists like to say that the book of mormon was written in only 60 days and what a amazing feat this was. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. From when joseph first saw the plates it was 5 years 9 months. April 12 harmony, susquehanna county, pennsylvania. Which scribes worked on which portions in the book of mormon.
December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. While the book of abraham is different in many respects, this book is helpful for understanding joseph smiths trajectory in translation and how he learned to approach translating an ancient text. Approximate book of mormon translation timeline elden watsons. Almost all of the present book of mormon text was translated during a threemonth period between april and june 1829 with. 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. Not the chronological passing of time from when joseph smith started to when it ended. 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. Timeline of joseph smiths life the joseph smith papers. Joseph and emmas first child, alvin, was born but died shortly thereafter. Welch gave the annual book of mormon lecture entitled hours never to be forgotten for the laura f. God be thanked for this divine book of scripture brought to us through joseph smith.
How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of. Translation of the book of mormon the second installment in book of mormon centrals evidence video series tackles the translation of the book of mormon. Engraved golden plates buried circa 500 ad by moroni, who returned as an angel to instruct joseph smith to retrieve and translate them through inspiration. Was joseph smith really uneducated when he translated the. A personage appeared in the light and began to speak to joseph. Joseph translates the book of mormon with oliver as scribe. May 31, when the title page of the book of mormon was translated. Understanding the timeline of book of mormon translation. Mar 15, 2019 recent research provides evidence that the book of mormon was translated in an astonishingly short amount of time.
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