This book is aimed for a broad audience with an interest in the book of abraham. If they seem overskeptical, you might tell them that you translated the book from original records by the aid of the. They are usually already members for a substantial amount of time and well acquainted with. Where did the events described in the book of mormon take. The most significant distinction between modern english and that used in the. The miraculous translation of the book of mormon into ukrainian. The book of mormon, translation, errors, and even the. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. 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. From a 1993 statement from the first presidency of the church. Deseret book and byu religious studies center, 2017.
The very idea that a new york farm boy with limited education might translate an ancient document is so unimaginable that it could only have occurred through, as joseph himself declared, the gift and power of god. Dear gramps, i would like to know the exact way the prophet joseph. Joseph smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat. After several aborted attempts that turned into short books, ill try again.
The miraculous translation of the book of mormon into. The church has announced planned translation projects for 34. But translations of the book of mormon into other languages have also. Joseph smiths translation of the book of mormon into english was arguably one of the most miraculous occurrences of this dispensation. Over 180 million total copies have been distributed since 1830. The lds church has plans to translate scriptures into 34 additional languages, and a new release process will allow church members to have access to the translations in their own language.
The book of mormon was translated and published in 1830. Byu professors lecture examines the timeline of joseph. One of the most amazing facts about the book of mormon is that it took joseph smith only about sixtyfive working. Today, all or part of the book of mormon has been translated into 112 languages. Portions of the book have been translated into another 20 languages. As of april 2011, the book of mormon has been published in its entirety in. The book of mormon references several seminal events from the bible. See book of mormon central, why did jesus deliver a version of the sermon on the mount at the temple in bountiful.
Unless otherwise indicated, the translation was financed and the resulting text published by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church. Book of mormon translation evidence book of mormon. It was a pleasure to read john gees recently published an introduction to the book of abraham salt lake city and provo, ut. Mormon scriptures to be translated into 34 additional languages. I will now give you a description of the manner in which the book of mormon was translated. In the book of mormon, nephi tells the biblical story of the fiery serpents, but adds an interesting detail. 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. A popular myth that joseph smith used a peep stone in a hat to translate the book of mormon. Do mormons interpret the events depicted in the book of.
Let me note that for the faithful view of history the fact joseph smith translated the book of mormon does not mean he was that familiar with it. See book of mormon central, why did the book of mormon come forth as a miracle. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, salt lake city, utah. There is a specific reason that the book of mormon is not translated into more modern english. Joesph smith translated the records, through the power of god, from a modified, reformed egyptian, into english. The ancient doctrine of the two ways and the book of. Concerning this record, the prophet joseph smith, who translated it by the gift and power of god, said, i told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book see the introduction at the. This paper aims to stimulate specific thinking about the intense and complex events during which the book of mormon was translated in 1829. The triple combination of the book of mormon, doctrine and. Of the many interesting responses, none have yet addressed what i believe to be an important possibility. Mormon scriptures to be translated into 34 additional. Royal skousen and stanford carmack are doing great research into the book of mormon and how it was.
A biography lives of great religious books 10 kindle edition by gutjahr, paul c download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Reynolds the bible describes a bifurcated world in which god bids, commands, and teaches the people he has created to. The initial release for a few selected languages will begin on november 30, 2017. All three of these could be the result of a dynamically equivalent translation that, like matthews and benjamins translations, 1 aims to emphasize the relationship between the book of mormon and the bible.
I believe that the power in the book of mormon comes from the conviction that the events actually occurred. Why you should read the book of mormon guide for life. Manuals gospel topics essays previous next previous next. Even if this argument were true, it gods compelling. What do people who are not lds think of the book of mormon.
Lds church announces new scripture translation process, plans to. How did emma smith help bring forth the book of mormon. The question of the book of mormon witnesses is extremely significant. In 2001, the lds church reported that all or part of the. How exactly did joseph smith translate the book of mormon. Book of mormon central, why were the plates present during the translation of the book of mormon. These tables show all the versions of the book of mormon that have been translated.
We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. All three of these could be the result of a dynamically equivalent translation that, like matthews and benjamins translations, 1 aims to emphasize the relationship between the book of mormon and the. Church to translate scriptures in 34 more languages. Critics have argued that the book of mormon cannot be true because joseph smiths claims. What do we know about the method used to translate the book of mormon. The book is divided into smaller books that read as narratives. Recently the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. And why, if it took joseph four arduous years to get hold of the plates from which he could translate the book of mormon, did he not use them in actually translating the book of mormon. 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.
The lds church states that more than 150 million copies of the book of. Cannon, who translated the book of mormon into hawaiian, once gave her a blessing. From his own statements and those of others close to him. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the book of mormon. Why did god reveal the book of mormon to joseph smith. Here is a place that i obviously had to search outside the churches realm for. Mormon scholars debate joseph smiths role in translation. The church is neutral on this, but i will give you what i believe from the archaological evidence i have studied and what i think may have happened during christs coming to earth. The translation of the book of mormon into afrikaans. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful study of. He said that he knew of the book of mormon from his religions studies, and his initial reaction was that he did not want to be involved in translating it. 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. Top lds church authorities have approved translation of the book of mormon and other of the.
Welch, foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms. America reads and the book of mormon religious studies. Thus the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god, and not by any power of man. These events, standing alone, could be taken as metaphors or myths, but given the book of mormon reference, does. Did joseph smith translate the book of mormon with a rock. The prophet joseph received these ancient metal records written in reformed egyptian from the heavenly messenger moroni 3 and translated them by the gift and power of god 4 into the book of. The book of mormon has been translated in its entirety into 97 languages. Joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon. It indicates a positive effort by the church to ensure that church members are aware of the gospel topics essays addressing sensitive issues like the translation method of the book of. Now, if joseph didnt get the story for the book of mormon from the plates, then where did he get it. He said in about 1970 that he had visited with a group of mormon leaders, who sought to commission him to translate the book of mormon from english into afrikaans.
When the book of mormon is translated into another language from english it is done by a native. The book of mormon drove a wedge between the latterday saints and the rest of protestant america, which defended the bible as the sole word of god. In march i was privileged to be part of a conference at usu on new perspectives on joseph smith and translation, taking on some. The lds church states that more than 150 million copies of the. How did joseph smith translate the book of mormon and other scriptures. Indeed a peculiar feature of early mormonism is just how. The lds version of the book of mormon has been translated into 83 languages and selections have been translated into an additional 25 languages.