Translating the Book of Mormon
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Chuck WhickerJuly 3, 2013
Re: Eric, it seems to be the tendency of modern man, in every age, to assume that the current time is more advanced in every way than a former time - and thus they relegate any "mythical" power of the past as mere superstition. It seems to me this is your mistake when it comes to the use of seer stones, divining sticks, etc.. These things are part of the earth's system of intelligence, which we will find is available to all who seek such benefits in faith. I believe the possession of personal seer stones will be far more common when this earth passes into its terrestrial, or millennial glory. Seer stones are, in my opinion, a technology that actually belongs to that order, but is available to all within this lower order can manifest the faith to obtain it.
LanceJuly 1, 2013
God is not the author of confusion. I am so grateful that my eyes were finally opened after 40 years of being in the church. EVERY historicity issue has to have some some crazy long, drawn-out, obscure rationalization in order to make it fit into a true believing Mormon's life. The comparison of Joseph's use of the occult magic and our modern cell phones is the most REDICULOUS argument I've ever heard. Luckily, the good Lord made Prozac for all the Congative Dissonance that Mormon's have to deal with! Good luck with that. ;)
RandallJuly 1, 2013
Re: Erick. The Lord chose Joseph Smith for some of those exact reasons. (IMHO). He was raised in an environment where mystical knowledge was practiced. Yes, he had skills and from all accounts and reference he was very good at it, hence the reason the Lord chose him. When he went to see the plates for the first time he was forbidden to touch the plates. It took four years of instruction and repeated visits for him as he made that transition from mystical to spiritual and was allowed to remove the plates. That is what all of those visits from the heavenly visitors were for. Once you start focusing on the spiritual aspect of how the plates came about you can start to understand that he was taught so much during those visits that he may have known a lot of the book before he started. He even used to gather the family and tell stories of the past. (remember a seer can tell the past, a prophet can tell the future). As for the cellphone....someday we will know exactly how the 'liahona' worked. - The mathematics and physics of a triangulation system will be pretty much the same. Only the medium will be different.
Mike in MilpitasJuly 1, 2013
I'm sorry, I don't understand the parallel between smartphones and the seerstone. Smartphones are commonplace now. Seerstones were far enough outside the norm in Joseph's time and place that use of such was a criminal activity.
G. EdmondsJune 30, 2013
Foolish article. Not needed. All we need is the Book and a testimony that it is true and that Joseph was a prophet. The rest is a waste of time and effort.
Mike AshJune 28, 2013
Danny, you can find more info on this in Nicholson's article (link in my article).
ErickJune 28, 2013
The cell phone argument is strange. We know how those work. I find hard to understand why people think that Joseph Smith needed this superstitious worldview to help him with translation. As I understand the official story, the translation took place after Joseph Smith would have seen God and Jesus Christ, and after a handful of direct encounters with Moroni. If he had come to terms with those events, why would he need to believe in folk magic to assist him in translating. Furthermore, this argument lends credibility to folk magic, which is dangerous territory I think, for defending the restoration which was supposed to be accompanied by the restoration of the Priesthood. Lastly, while it is safe to say that superstition was more prevalent, it is historically inaccurate to suggest that folk practices, such as glass-looking, were seen as acceptable behaviors by the mainstream public. Joseph Smith went to trial for violating a law which specifically prohibited the selling of folk magic, simply because it was seen as a fraudulent business practice designed to take advantage of the gullible. Issac Hale objected to Joseph's courtship to Emma precisely because he was bothered by Joseph's occupation as a glass-looker. He felt it was a fraudulent practice as well. In other words, it wasn't a socially acceptable thing, but rather a controversial issue, with acceptance only among the fringe.
Andrew KnauppJune 28, 2013
Thank you for clearing the air on this subject. As an LDS artist, I have been frustrated by the incorrect portrayals of this important work. A couple of insights that are important. 1. Joseph studied the Nephite language using the interpreters and revelation. Even copying them down on paper to practice before he began translating. Like studying other languages, Joseph learned how to read "Nephite." Both Martin Harris and Oliver Cowdery describe this. References can be found in the book "Martin Harris: The Man Who Knew" by Rhett James. 2. The Urim and Thummim/seerstone were used to open the eyes of Joseph's understanding. He was then able to look at the plates and understand the characters and the intent of the authors in their meaning. Thus giving us an inspired translation, not just a scholarly one. Thus the UT/Seerstone was a tool to help Joseph understand the plates and later in the translation process, he didn't even need to use the UT/Seerstone at all because he understood and had learned the language and no longer needed that assistance. Rather than the UT/Seerstone being all he needed and the plates unnecessary, they were used to understand the plates and THEY eventually became unnecessary (for translation). 4. The Seerstone Joseph used was used for more than translating, and was used to check the plates when hidden, and to warn Joseph of danger and hidden plots. Often when he was using his stone inside the hat etc, it was for one of these other purposes, and thus didn't require the plates. 5. The Whitmer account of Joseph seeing English characters appear on a parchment was not confirmed by anyone else and was given many many years after the David Whitmer left the church. Since no one else describe it this way, not even Joseph, we have to question whether his understanding was accurate. 6. Also, most detailed description of the UT/Seerstone comes from William Smith (who was often estranged from Joseph), who we have no record of his having ever seen them, but who's account seems to be given high consideration. Again, we must always consider the quality of the account before accepting it as fact.
DannyJune 28, 2013
Can you provide a reference where Joseph said he had difficulty fitting the original spectacle Urim & thummim into a hat?
RandallJune 28, 2013
In addition to Garner's and Hardy's books, another one is "In Heaven As It Is On Earth" by Samuel M. Brown. Dr. Brown discusses Joseph Smith as a seer and clearly defines the difference in a seer and a prophet. It is also interesting to note that divining rods can be purchased on Amazon today. They still use them in rural farming areas to search for water.
Rob McGhieJune 27, 2013
Re: Your 4th paragraph on the complexion of Israelites. The author makes a common mistake that because 'middle easterners' in today's world are dark that they were so in ancient times. This is not so. The Jewish historian Maimonides states that some had 'blonde or red hair' and that Simeon, Levi and Joseph were 'as pink as a rose' and that Joseph looked like Germani or like someone from the North. See article at https://www.britam.org/anthropology.html
TerryJune 27, 2013
I second Bro. Ash's recommendation of Brant Gardner's book "The Gift and Power", along with Grant Hardy's "Understanding the Book of Mormon". Those two books are among the most important studies ever published on the Book of Mormon and provide a welcome understanding of its complexity, richness, and miraculous nature.
Bob in BoiseJune 27, 2013
On the Title Page of The Book of Mormon it says, "Translated by Joseph Smith, Jr." The language used in the the text of the title page does not use the words translate or translation, but uses interpretation by the gift an power of God. Anyone that has studied another language knows that ideas often do not "translate" literally but are subject to "interpretation" in order to give them meaning. I really see no problem with using the term translate. The process of translation or interpretation of the plates, however it was accomplished, involved effort and much faith on Joseph's part. Whether believer or doubter, the results are truly amazing.
H. MurrayJune 27, 2013
Thanks for these insights. Several of these comments helped me to understand better. Regarding cell phones, it is hard to see what is written on them if we are out in the sunlight. Maybe the same thing came into play with the seer stones. Our cell phones can be compared to the Liahona or the Urim and Thummin in several ways too. There is a GPS function (a sort of compass telling us which way to go,) "new messages" (texting), and although God doesn't use our cell phones to communicate with us directly, we can download the scriptures onto our phones--(word of God), and receive communication in that way. I have also heard that some cell phones can translate things into other languages. Interesting parallels...
KeithJune 27, 2013
H Murray, we don't know that Joseph actually DID need the plates to make the translation -- only that they were present. It is possible that they were there as a "backup copy." It is also possible that he studied the plates, then, with the images in his mind, those images were explained to him as he pondered the Urim and Thummim. The divining may have been a form of meditation which opened his mind to what the Lord wanted to tell him, and as he became more attuned, he was able to learn without those tools (such as in the writing of the D&C). The bottom line is that WE DON'T UNDERSTAND exactly how the translation was done. We have statements made by Joseph and by witnesses, but this doesn't tell us the details. This is, of course, by design -- we're supposed to walk by FAITH, not by KNOWLEDGE.
Christopher BigelowJune 27, 2013
The term "translation" is completely wrong and should be abandoned. Joseph received the Book of Mormon text through revelation via the stone(s). There was really no "translation" involved, in any common sense of the word.
Mike AshJune 27, 2013
For H. Murray: Without the plates Joseph could have just been another religious orator. The plates help cement his calling to something tangible for both his followers then and now, as well as all of those who hear his story. There are really only two possibilities (since the plates were handled by other witnesses). Either he created the plates himself, or they really were ancient. Real plates have stuck in the craw of critics from day one and they continue to come up with fanciful theories to try to brush them under the rug. The testimony of the many witnesses is powerful evidence for the veracity of JS story. Without the plates, we would not have such witnesses.
Carl CoxJune 27, 2013
I published an article on the same subject. Martin Harris clearly described using the seer stone in his translation. I welcome discussion on this topic.
Richard WinmillJune 27, 2013
David Hinton has it right. Before the advent of cell phones, iPod, iTouch and iPads having your own seer stone seemed passing strange. Now not so much. Most of us in US now peep every few minutes at our plastic or brushed aluminum communication and storage devices to receive communications from all over the world. Perhaps we need a little patience and a little faith...
David GrahamJune 27, 2013
It really doesn't make any difference which method Joseph used to translate the B of M. It had to be by the power of God. I would like the Author to give his analysis of how the number of B of M copies were printed in such a short time?
Mike MansfieldJune 27, 2013
Good Article. This is a very accurate description of the accounts and fits well with the known facts. Thank you for your research and accuracy.
Phil RussellJune 27, 2013
Great article Mike! Keep up the good work!
ChrisJune 27, 2013
What? No details about how he supposedly translated the Book of Mormon? You're really showing a lack of information or deception by leaving out reading out of his hat!
H. MurrayJune 27, 2013
I have a sincere question which I hope you can answer. Why would Joseph Smith even need the gold plates if he used a seer stone in a hat to translate the Book of Mormon?
vern lockhartJune 27, 2013
thought you would enjoy
David HintonJune 27, 2013
people who dont believe spend their time staring into their little black plastic and glass ipads and get all sorts of things translated?? how come no one discusses the translation process and in context with the information with which moroni gave him in his yearly interviews. Perhaps he was given information how to process all the information and knew some of the stories and character from moronis own mouth so he knew also what he was looking for so when he inquired of God he had something specific to ask
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