Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. Willes center for book of mormon studies wednesday at the gordon b. While a select few did hear joseph refer to magical items, nobody ever saw a breastplate, spectacles, or ancient interpreter stones. 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. Ces letter no translation errors i dont think you can say that the book of mormon contains unique errors from the king james version bible. As of march 2015, the lds church continues to publish at least portions of the book of mormon in 110 languages. While the translation of the book of mormon may come directly from god, this does not preclude the role that joseph would play in adapting the language of the book of mormon to a cultural and linguistic framework that would both establish that the text was authentic and inspired while also communicating the book s message clearly. I wish also to mention here, 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 collection or book of plates, which contained the record which has been translated.
Introduction to the approximate book of mormon translation. From the approximate book of mormon translation timeline. For many years the mormons taught that the lord had given joseph smith a perfect translation of the book of mormon, and that all of the errors were errors which were made by the nephites on the original plates. Maxwell, 1 and building on my chapter in the second edition of opening the heavens, 2 this article strives to be as precise as possible about the timing of the events and progress of the book of mormon translation. The original book of mormon transcript the book of. It asks readers to understand that if there be fault in the book of mormon it be the mistake of men. Approximate book of mormon translation timeline elden watsons. Mormon inserts his explanation about the large and small plates about 380 ad.
This chronology outlines the major events in the history of the book of mormon, according to the text. I dont agree with this because of the other texts stated here and other reasons stated elsewhere. Willes center for book of mormon studies at the gordon b. Joseph, or someone else involved in the translation, heard or remembered or read the phrase. 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. Which scribes worked on which portions in the book of mormon. Understanding the timeline of book of mormon translation. If this is true, then the book of mormon should be full of errors. Title page if there be fault it be the mistake of men.
Why is the timing of the book of mormons translation so. The truth of the book of mormon and its divine source can be known today. It contained a lengthy historical chronology of the events in 182829. However, when confronted with the presence of 1769 kjv errors and 17th century italics in the book of mormon, many of the same apologists will revert to the loose translation by claiming that maybe joseph smith indeed used a 1769 kjv bible to borrow verses over into the book of mormon. He said at the time that it was translated from plates by the power of god, and. 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. Book of mormon charts charting the book of mormon is a collection of more than 175 visual aids that promote deeper understanding and appreciation of the book of mormon.
Kirkhams suggestion that the book of mormon was translated within seventyfive. For more information, follow the links to the full articles. The book of mormon claims to be the history of 2 ancient civilizations on the american continent. Welch of brigham young university, delivered a powerful address on wednesday, november 8 on the timing of the translation of the book of mormon. 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. Designed for multiple use as study guides, handouts, and masters for creating projectable images, the charts convey a wealth of information that will enrich personal study and teaching. The book of mormon incorporates text which seems to be taken from the king james version, including passages which are now considered to be mistranslations in the king james version.
The book of mormon has no claim to validity due to its lack of incorporation into the biblical cannon. If the book of mormon is an accurate translation, why would it contain translational errors that exist in the king james bible. Joseph smith claimed to have translated the book of mormon from a. Kjv does not take the word for rock and accidentally translate. Joseph smith said 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 history of the church, vol. For this and other reasons, many people have naturally been interested in the details of its coming forth, including the timing of its translation. Somehow the divine process guiding josephs translation of the book of mormon didnt prevent him from making identical translation errors. First significant anti mormon book, mormonism unvailed printed, with no mention of first vision, peter, james, john or priesthood. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris serving as the main scribes, was lost in 1828.
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. Professor figures out book of mormon translation timeline. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of. However, after a fair and candid examination of the evidence, many thousands of. Accounts of divine manifestations, 18201844, edited by john w. This paper aims to stimulate specific thinking about the intense and complex events during which the book of mormon was translated in 1829. Welch meticulously tracks the timeline of the book of mormon s translation. Like a crime scene, we do not need a video recording or an affidavit from the suspect or a witness to show whether or not the suspect murdered with a. These errors totally undermine the claim that joseph translated the book of mormon and the claim that the book of mormon is the most correct book on earth. Welch gave the annual book of mormon lecture entitled hours never to be forgotten for the laura f.
Kjv translation errors our understanding of the hebrew language today is much more advanced than it was in the 1600s when king james authorized an english translation of the bible. The context of verse 18 seems to speak directly to the book of revelation, the last book of the bible written by the apostle john while he was in exile on the island of patmos. 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. Errors which are unique to the 1769 edition that joseph smith owned. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book. Beyond historical problems, the book of mormon also contains errors specific to the king james bible the smith family owned. Although it serves primarily as a religious text, it is to be interpreted literally as being an actual, historical record of the inhabitants of the ancient americas.
Welch presenting on the translation of the book of mormon. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful study of statements. The last of the plates of mormon was the title page. Also with rare exception, the timeline does not cover mormon film history. In making this study we obtained photocopies of an original 1830 edition of the book of mormon. Furthermore, if a prophet so great as joseph smith needed a seer stone to translate, and even so made mistakes in his translation, how much worse off are the.
Joseph completes the translation of the book of mormon and the three witnesses and eight witnesses see the gold plates. Concerns of the historicity and origin of the book of mormon. The original 1830 edition, book of mormon had s of. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of a book written in reformed egyptian engraven on gold plates, which is a record of the ancient inhabitants of the americas. If the book of mormon is an accurate translation, some claim that it shouldnt contain these translational errors. Many christians wonder if this passage speaks directly to the extra biblical books of mormonism, specifically the book of mormon. Book of mormon timeline brigham young universityidaho. Ether 15, book of mormon student manual 2009 and book of mormon time line, ensign october 2011. Book of mormon problems lds church members are taught that the book of mormon bom is scripture, as well as a true record of the inhabitants of the americas from about 2200 bc to 420 ad. That errors of grammar and faults in dictation do exist in the book of mormon and. Book of mormontranslation errors from the kjv fairmormon. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents.
In this study we will show that there have been at least 3,9 changes made in the book of mormon from the time it was first published in 1830. The first group left the tower of babel about 2250 bc, crossing to europe and sailing to central america. Byu professors lecture examines the timeline of joseph. What are 1769 king james version edition errors doing in the book of mormon. Again, it is the rate of translation, approximately 6. Emma hale smith, and perhaps her brother reuben hale, help as scribes for a portion of the book. Kjv translation errors as found in the book of mormon. Id say this was highly improbable, and creates additional problems see the note below.
Weapons used from 544 bc to 52 bc p107359 are listed as. 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. It is the meaning that is most important in the book of mormon, not the words. The translation of them which you have seen is cor rect history of the church, 1. Mormonism is a religion less than two centuries old, but in this short time it has managed to accrue a long list of embarrassments which the church leaders would prefer were kept. Professor figures out book of mormon translation timeline book. The narrative dates itself from the tower of babel to about 421 ad. By allowing a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percent, a tolerable allowance for. It is mostly a book of wars, oppression, slavery, treachery, bloodshed. April 06, 1829 to june 16, 1829 translation of the book of mormon at this point we move to a daily analysis of the translation of the book of mormon.
According to chronology found in the book of mormon, king benjamin should. David whitmer, one of the three witnesses to the book of mormon, made this statement. It could be said that mormon history starts with the translation of the book of mormon. Mulekite history represented by light pink on the timeline. For example, it includes errors that suggest the scribe heard words incorrectly. A book of mistakes, error, and fraud by jon gary williams introduction the mormon church promotes the book of mormon as an inspired writing. A personage appeared in the light and began to speak to joseph.
Mormon is allegedly a prophethistorian who was the native american believed by mormons to have written the book of mormon the main religious text of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints mormonism. When he sat down in 1832 to write his own history for the first time, he began by promising to include an account of his marvelous experience. This means that either joseph simply plagiarized directly from the bible which means he could have easily also used a document to help dictate other portions or the lord gave him the same biblical errors that the book of mormon claims were made by the great and. Ammaron instructs mormon concerning the sacred records. Joseph smith translated an ancient text by the gift and power of god to produce the book of mormon. The writer has an obsession with warfare and killing, with killings starting from chapter 4.
Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. More details can now be known about the key events that anchor our historical understandings of the pace of translation, about witness testimonies that credibly document the impressive work, and other considerations regarding the keystone restoration scripture. What are 1769 kjv edition errors doing in book of mormon. It is either of divine or human origin, and if it is of human origin that means that joseph smith concocted the book. Dates given correspond to dates in the footnotes of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church edition of the book of mormon.
Joseph smith translates some of the characters himself. On september 21, 1823, joseph smith, then seventeen years old, was in his bed praying when a light began to fill his room. There are two possible explanations for the origin of the book of mormon. In fact, the book of mormon translation process was performed entirely without looking at the plates, which were either out of the room or said to have been covered with a cloth. The original book of mormon transcript book of mormon. However, what they fail to say is this claim means 60 different individual days translation. The miraculous translation of the book of mormon book of. Fairmormons response to presence of 1769 kjv errors in book of mormon in terms of attempting to pinpoint the origin of the book of mormon, even more significant than book of mormon revisions are places where it follows the kjv into error, echoing mistranslations or including translations of late and derivative greek texts. Brigham believed that the translation of the book of mormon was a miracle, but not that it was an infallible translation that could never be changed.
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