Actually, he had less than 6 years of book learning probably a 5th grade education at best. Then he went to harmony and finished the translation from 1 nephi through words of mormon. Welch gave the annual book of mormon lecture entitled hours never to be forgotten for the laura f. For a compilation of accounts by joseph smiths contemporaries, see john w. Book of mormon translation the church of jesus christ of latter. Often, when we think about the translation of the book of mormon, we immediately think of how joseph smith miraculously translated its reformed egyptian characters into english. For example, when joseph translated the text that is now in 1 nephi. Book of mormon central the title page and translation of.
When joseph smith presented the world the book of mormon in 1829, at age 23, he was a senior at oxford studying english, theology, history and philosophy hold on. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints in south. According to the lds church, is the book of mormon a translation from a foreign language. The spiritual text that forms the basis of mormonism, in the last edition edited by its founder, joseph smith, jr. I will now give you a description of the manner in which the book of mormon was translated.
Mormons believe joseph smith found gold plates engraved with writing in ancient egyptian in new york and god helped him translate the text. Kim jo hik aided translation throughout the process, but the translation was completed by han in sang and published on march 29, 1967. It may be surprising to learn that the books from the small plates of nephi 1 nephi through words of mormon almost certainly came last in the translation process. Did joseph smith use the nephite interpreters to translate. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. The book of mormon narrates the historical, religious, political, and military events that shaped and continue to inform the churchs teachings. Afrikaans, the latest edition in the exhibit, was released in 1972. Joseph smith claimed to have translated three ancient records. In fact, joseph smith once remarked that the title page of the book of mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the plates of mormon.
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. Moses, elijah, and alma the younger in the book of mormon were translated. He took them to harmony, pa, where he translated most of them book of lehi through book of moroni. 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. 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. The miraculous translation of the book of mormon into. A person that has been translated is referred to as a translated being. Joseph smiths translation and publication of the book of mormon. For a detailed description of the process by which joseph smith translated the book of mormon, read. The 116 pages of the book of lehi were borrowed and then lost by martin harris. Willes center for book of mormon studies at the gordon b. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. If joseph smith translated everything that is now in the book of mormon without using the gold plates, we are left to wonder why the plates were necessary in the first place.
Eyewitness descriptions of the gold plates from which the book of mormon was translated. Some had waited all of their lifetimes to read the book of mormon in afrikaans. Evidence from the original manuscript royal skousen journal of book of mormon studies 71 1998. 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. 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. For nearly two centuries, faithful members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds have claimed that joseph smith translated the text from the. Welch, the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, in opening the heavens. Translated beings mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Joseph remains with emma for two weeks after the death. 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 gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris serving as the main scribes, was lost in 1828. The book of mormon is one of the most influential, as well as controversial, religious documents in american history, and is regarded as sacred scripture by followers around the world, including members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and. According to lds belief, enoch, elijah, moses, john the apostle, the three nephites, and others were translated. Many concepts from the book of mormon are present in this book notably 2000 stripling warriors, a liahonalike description of a metal device, the freeman movement, rod of iron, standard of liberty, brass plates, cataclysmic earthquakes followed by great darkness, chiasmus, and many, many more. According to witnesses, joseph smith often translated without the plates being present and used the interpreters to receive the revealed text. The weight of the book of mormon gold plates book of mormon translation timeframe. Timeline of the book of mormon translation scott woodward. There are differing views on the origin of the book of mormon. Who translated the book of mormon text into english for. Joseph smith restored the lds church in the early 1800s, and one of his endeavors was to translate the book of mormon from engraved metal.
The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone of our religion. The book of mormon has been translated in its entirety into 97 languages. Edward stevenson gave a similar account in reminiscences of joseph the prophet and the coming forth of the book of mormon salt lake city. Today, all or part of the book of mormon has been translated into 112 languages. He translated this work at the rate of about eight to 10 pages per day. The purpose of these physical instruments was to facilitate that revelatory process and assist joseph smith as he struggled to receive the inspired thoughts, feelings, meanings, and words as he translated the book of mormon by revelation. These tables show all the versions of the book of mormon that have been translated. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Today, the book of mormon has been translated from english into over 100 languages see book of mormon in 110 languages, ensign, may 2015, 7. Joseph smith translated an ancient text by the gift and power of god to produce the book of mormon. How joseph smith translated the book of mormon by royal.
Details of the translation process joseph smith used for translating the book of mormon from the plates can be adduced from statements of witnesses and from evidence in the original and printers manuscripts. A re translation of the book of mormon was completed in 2005. Joseph could neither have written nor directly translated. David whitmer, an address to all believers in christ, richmond, mo n. Book of mormon manuscript excerpt, circa june 1829 1. Book of mormon translator converted the mormon urban. Smith translated the ancient language into english through divine revelation. Portions of the book have been translated into another 20 languages. Joseph smith at the age of 16 maybe 14,15 or 17 was led to the site of the plates by the angel moroni, joseph was instructed not to remove the items until he was given permission. See, for example, welch, opening the heavens, 100101, 115117. Truly, the translation of the book of mormon was a miracle and was accomplished by miraculous means. The book of mormon says that alma was taken up by the spirit, and that the scriptures saith the lord took moses unto himself. The first nonenglish translation of the book of mormon was the danish edition in 1851.
Joseph smiths response to skepticism, cites a personal interview emma smithbidamon gave to a committee of the reorganized. It has helped millions of people around the world draw closer to jesus christ and learn of his gospel. Thus the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god, and not by any power of man. Miraculous origins theories generally accept joseph smiths own account, that he translated an ancient record compiled and abridged by mormon, a precolumbian resident of the western hemisphere. Joseph and emmas first child, alvin, was born but died shortly thereafter.
These were the first nonenglish editions to be available to native speakers in the regions shown below. Translation of the book of mormon was a lengthy process that commenced in the 1950s, however translators had a difficult time finishing the project. For further discussion on the book of mormon and the translation process, see the introduction to documents, volume 1. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints, which has translated the full book of mormon into 90 languages selections are offered in 21 others since the work was first printed in 1830, also. Professor figures out book of mormon translation timeline. 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.
Joseph smith claimed that in 1827 an angel named moroni led him to a set of golden plates which he then translated by the gift and power of. Skeptics have put forth several theories of book of mormon authorship that do not require believing in golden plates delivered by angels and translated by a miracle. The book of mormon is available in print in various sizes, bindings, and colors. From the surviving portions of the original manuscript it appears that joseph dictated about a dozen words at a time. 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 order for joseph smith to have translated the book of mormon, an english version of the bible, he would have had to translate from a manuscript written in a foreign language, whether it be the textus receptus, the latin vulgate, etc. Joseph smith translated two sets of plates book of. You know we feel really triumphant if we can read the book of mormon in three months, he translated it. Before a translation department was organized, numerous stalwart latterday saints contributed to the work of translating the book of mormon. Welch of brigham young university, delivered a powerful address on wednesday, november 8 on the timing of the translation of the book of mormon. Variations of this theory only include that the text is a divinely inspired narrative, regardless of its.
The translators of the book of mormon deseret news. The introduction of the book of mormon to every corner of the earth is ongoing. Emma smith bidamon to emma pilgrim 1870 now, the first part my husband translated, was translated by the use of the urim and thummim, and that was the part that martin harris. Later, joseph smith translated the book of mormon into.
The coming forth of the book of mormon, foretold by ancient prophets, began with an angelic visitation in 1823 to 17yearold joseph smith. Almost all of the present book of mormon text was translated during a threemonth period between april and june 1829 with. Byu professor discusses book of mormon translation deseret news. Thus, the book of mormon was translated by the spirit of revelation using the seer stones. Fourteen centuries later, in 1823, the angel moroni led joseph smith to the plates hidden in a hillside in upstate new york. Seven years later, in 1830, this scriptural canon of the latterday saints was published for the world. At that point, he returned the plates to the angel, who later showed them to the 3 witnesses. Joseph smith and his scribes wrote of two instruments used in translating the book of mormon. From that humble beginning, today the church prints over 3 million copies a year on large web presses. It strains credulity to suggest joseph smith penned it. It will be remembered that possession of the plates placed the smith family in considerable danger, causing them a. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for book of. Unless otherwise indicated, the translation was financed and the resulting text published by the church of jesus christ.
The translation of the book of lehi is completed, resulting in 116 pages of translated text. Ensign 18 january 1988, 4647, stating that the book of mormon was translated in about sixtyfive working days, that nearly the entire book of mormon was translated between 7 april and 30 june 1829, with a few pages being translated in march 1829 with emma as scribe, and that the translation with oliver likely began at the. Joseph continually insisted, the only real answer, from any perspective, is that the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god. Virtually all of the english text of the book of mormon was then translated between april 7 and the last week of june, less than sixty working days. In the theology of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, translation refers to being physically changed by god from a mortal human being to an immortal human being. But the most significant conclusion supported by this research is the previously unimaginable fact that not only are large portions of the book of mormons original text written in phraseology completely obsolete in joseph smiths time, and spoken and written by virtually nobody on earth when the book of mormon was translated in 1829 and. Many readers of the book of mormon naturally assume that joseph smith translated its books in the order that we find them today, that is, beginning with the title page, and then translating 1 nephi 1. According to witnesses of the translation, when joseph looked. Introductory pages of the book of mormon book of mormon. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. Most scholars of the book of mormon believe that js and cowdery translated the portion from mosiah to moroni first, and the portion from the first book of nephi to words of mormon second.