When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. 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. 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. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints fast facts. May 31, when the title page of the book of mormon was translated. Joseph smith and the papyri religious studies center. Understanding the timeline of book of mormon translation. Translation of book of mormon completed the joseph smith. The church historians press today announced the release of the latest volume of the joseph smith papers. 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.
The angel charged joseph smith to translate the book from the ancient language in which it was written. Joseph smith clarifies what he means by very last leaf by specifying. The approximate book of mormon translation timeline was an interesting article to research. Book of mormon manuscript excerpt, circa june 1829 1 nephi 2. 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. May 15, as documented by testimonies given by cowdery and lucy mack smith, josephs mother. 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. 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. A timeline of the book of mormon translation blogger.
Welchs excellent article entitled the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, from opening the heavens, accounts of divine manifestations 18201844, p. Professor figures out book of mormon translation timeline. Devoted members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints honor its founder, joseph smith, with saintlike reverence. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer stone in a hat. 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. Joseph smith commences translation of the book of mormon with martin harris as scribe. Welch of brigham young university, delivered a powerful address on wednesday, november 8 on the timing of the translation of the book of mormon. What do we know about the chronology of the book of.
Timeline of joseph smiths life the joseph smith papers. 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. Welch meticulously tracks the timeline of the book of mormons translation. Joseph smith translates some of the characters himself. Ebenezer robinson recorded joseph as having said i have had trouble enough with this thing.
God and jesus appear to 14yearold joseph smith in the first vision 1823. He identified himself as a messenger from the presence of god, named moroni. Angel moroni reveals location of golden plates to joseph smith. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the. Documents, volume 10, released 4 may 2020 the joseph smith papers. The resulting translation was published in 1830 as the book of mormon. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. 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. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris serving as the main scribes, was lost in 1828.
December 23, 1805june 27, 1844 founded the church of jesus christ of latterday saints around 1830. Church of jesus christ of latterday saints founded. Welch examined how long it took joseph smith to translate the book of mormon a lecture wednesday night at the. 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. June 30, the established date for completion of the translation. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Thus the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god, and not by any power of man.
From when joseph first physically visited the plates its 4 years 9 months or. Willes book of mormon lecture is now available online. 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. 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. Mar 15, 2019 recent research provides evidence that the book of mormon was translated in an astonishingly short amount of time. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of mormon. The three witnesses and eight witnesses were shown the gold plates. 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. The best synthesis so far about joseph smiths translation of the book of mormon. May 15 joseph smith and oliver cowdery receive the aaronic priesthood from john the baptist and are. Emma hale smith, and perhaps her brother reuben hale, help as scribes for a portion of the book. Willes center for book of mormon studies at the gordon b.
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 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. Joseph smith begins work on an inspired translation of the bible. Not the chronological passing of time from when joseph smith started to when it ended.
December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. On september 21, 1823, joseph smith, then seventeen years old, was in his bed praying when a light began to fill his room. J smith gets the plates, hides them in a birch log. 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.
It began with the translation of the book of mormon. 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. 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. Byu professors lecture examines the timeline of joseph smith. 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. 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. He also gave a prophecy of himself that he was a translator. Using thursday june 25, 1829 as the day translation was completed. 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.
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. 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. If so, what foreign language manuscripts did joseph smith use to produce the book of mormon. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of reformed egyptian. 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. Smith tells apostles book of mormon is keystone of our religion. However, what they fail to say is this claim means 60 different individual days translation. April 12 harmony, susquehanna county, pennsylvania. Joseph smith publishes the book of mormon, an english translation of the golden plates. 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. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. 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. 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. In the video seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon, mason allred interviews dr.
How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of. The most important fact about the translation is that it indeed was done through the power of god. Professor figures out book of mormon translation timeline book. From the approximate book of mormon translation timeline. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates.
Because of persecution, joseph and emma decide to leave manchester and move to harmony, pennsylvania where they live with emmas parents. Its 269,510 words,22 originally printed onto 588 pages,23 were revealed to joseph smith through divinely prepared translation instruments. We have firm evidence that oliver cowdery began working as joseph smiths. Translation begins on the 7th of apriltwo days after oliver arrived. 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. Joseph smiths translation of the biblea history and commentary provo, utah. April 5 oliver cowdery arrives to help joseph by acting as a scribe for the translation of the book of mormon. It is not known whether he ever recouped the cost of printing the first edition of the book of mormon. This evidence comes from analysis of corroborating historical documents, contemporaneous revelations, and informal translation experiments.
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. Oliver indicated that their asking about baptism was stimulated by translating 3 nephi. Nov 11, 2017 may 15, as documented by testimonies given by cowdery and lucy mack smith, joseph s mother. 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. Joseph and emmas first child, alvin, was born but died shortly thereafter.
Printed on high quality photo paper 20x30 print sketch artwork done by joseph f. The young man, however, had very little formal education. 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. Timeline of the book of mormon translation scott woodward. Oct 07, 2017 the resulting translation was published in 1830 as the book of mormon. 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. The translation of the book of mormon was complete. A personage appeared in the light and began to speak to joseph. Why is the timing of the book of mormons translation so. Joseph smith, history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, 7 volumes, edited by. 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.
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. That is, accepting the translation of the book of mormon as joseph said it was done, as opposed to how others claim it was done. Smith places original book of mormon manuscript, witness signatures, and other items in the cornerstone of the nauvoo house, effectively destroying them. Was joseph smith really uneducated when he translated the. 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. 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. Byu professors lecture examines the timeline of joseph. This timeline overlays the book of mormon history with latterday prophetic history and organizes the matching events. God be thanked for this divine book of scripture brought to us through joseph smith. Willes center for book of mormon studies wednesday at the gordon b. Introduction to the approximate book of mormon translation.
The translation of the book of lehi is completed, resulting in 116 pages of translated text. Welch gave the annual book of mormon lecture entitled hours never to be forgotten for the laura f. Almost all of the present book of mormon text was translated during a threemonth period between april and june 1829 with. A look back at select milestones in the translation of the latterday saint standard works.
It is claimed that each sentence and word in the 1830 book of mormon had supposedly come directly from god. 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. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the bom. From when joseph first saw the plates it was 5 years 9 months. Those skeptical of joseph smiths claims sometimes insist that his account of the coming forth of the book is simply too. 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. 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. It could be said that mormon history starts with the translation of the book of mormon. When combined together, these interlocking sets of data can help readers trust, better than ever before, that the translation of the book of.
Church magazines joseph the seer, ensign, october 2015 i have a question, ensign, january 1988. For this and other reasons, many people have naturally been interested in the details of its coming forth, including the timing of its 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. Kay m godfrey, author, joseph smith epoch historian. According to the lds church, is the book of mormon a translation from a foreign language. Byu professors lecture examines the timeline of joseph smiths. Joseph smith translated an ancient text by the gift and power of god to produce the book of mormon. 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. June 11, when joseph smith obtained the from the library of congress.