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. This is how joseph smith translated the book of mormon. He put a rock called a peep stone in his hat and put his face in the hat to tell his customers the location of buried treasure on their property. Joseph would translate aloud, and the scribe would. Joseph smith, magic, masonry and the occult life after ministry.
Lets say that joseph smith wrote the book of mormon. Joseph put a stone often called a seer stone or peep stone in a hat, then burying his face in the darkened hat words appeared on the stone which he dictated to the scribe. Mormons react to firstever photograph of joseph smiths seer stone. Another testament of jesus christ have been provided by those who helped the prophet, joseph smith, as scribes. Fairmormon agrees with this statement, but attempts to argue that this method has been described in a variety of sources, as if to suggest that the rock in the hat translation method is common knowledge. Did joseph smith use a hat during the translation of the book of mormon. When joseph claimed to know where to go to find the plates, it was probably because he claimed to see the spot in his seer stone. Mormons react to firstever photograph of joseph smiths. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon with the urim and.
There were numerous witnesses to the translation of the book of mormon by joseph smith. Money digger joseph smith looking at a seer stone in a hat. Mormons react to firstever photograph of joseph smiths seer. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon with the urim and thummim, not by a seer stone in a hat. Which city shall be built, beginning at the temple lot, which is appointed by the finger of the lord, in the western boundaries of the state of missouri, and dedicated by the hand of joseph smith, jun. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. Did joseph smith use a hat during the translation of the book.
Joseph did not need the plates physically present to translate, since the translation was done by revelation. This is the place to learn about the holy book of mormon, without church bias. Joseph fielding smith said it hardly seems reasonable to suppose that the prophet would substitute something evidently inferior under these circumstances joseph fielding smith said the following. Establishing key narrative the rock and hat narrative leads to other narratives about joseph smith and the book of mormon. Saints has released a new video exploring joseph smiths use of seer stones in the translation process of the book of mormon. Thomas wood smith, in a published response about an interview he had with david whitmer, who told him that joseph smith used the urim and thummim in translating the book of mormon, wrote, when i first read mr. Why would joseph use the rock in the hat for the book of mormon translation that he previously used for money digging. Members of the church call him a prophet because, according to the traditional role of prophets recorded in the old and new testaments in the bible, he relied on revelation from god for teaching the people, and not on his own wisdom or learning. Aug 05, 2015 last week, the joseph smith papers published the records of joseph smiths legal trials. Group christians whitmerites josephites brighamites rigdonites leader jesus christ david whitmer joseph smith. Group christians whitmerites josephites brighamites rigdonites leader jesus christ david whitmer joseph smith brigham young sidney rigdon church church. The seer stone display at the church history museum in salt lake city. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on.
Joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon. As a mormon, did you know about joseph smith using the stone. 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. Why did the book of mormon come forth as a miracle. Joseph fielding smith said it hardly seems reasonable to suppose that the prophet would substitute something evidently inferior under these circumstances. Learn more about the life, writings, and legacy of joseph smith. Seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon youtube. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Critics have made merry over this, but it makes sense and its actually an indicator that he was telling the truth. The church later admitted these facts in its october 2015 ensign, where they include a photograph of the actual rock that joseph smith used to place in his hat for the book of mormon translation. It seems apparent that the book of mormon was, in fact, brought about using an occultic method.
This article discusses what the lds church has admitted on this issue and explains why it matters. David whitmer said, regarding smiths translation of the book of mormon. Artwork of joseph smith translating the book of mormon fairmormon. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. In the book of mormon, the prophets the brother of jared and mosiah both used devices called interpreters to receive revelation for their people. Richard bushmans discussion of the book of mormon in joseph smith and the beginnings of mormonism was really good. By the time joseph smith finished dictating his translation of the book of mormon to scribes in mid1829, the meaning of seer had been further clarified in the text. Given that many local palmyra residents remember joseph with a white stone, and taking into consideration the fact that he gave his brown seer stone away to oliver cowdery, is it also possible that joseph translated the book of mormon with the white stone. Gramps, there was a question about joseph s stone and hat but you never mentioned either. 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.
The gold plates contained the teachings of prophets in ancient america. Some critics of joseph smith mock the fact that part of the book of mormon translation process apparently involved dictating while looking at a stone that hed placed within a hat yet far from being damaging evidence against his claims and against the book of mormon, this fact may strongly support their plausibility. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon, 2d ed. Joseph smith declared that he translated the book of mormon by the gift and power of god.
He claimed that when placed in the hat, words would appear which he would then read off to the transcriber. Starting in 20, the church has provided a more accurate version of how the seer stone was used. Did joseph smith use a hat during the translation of the. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. The book of mormon contains a prophecy attributed to joseph of egypt declaring that one of his descendants. Did joseph smith use a hat to translate the book of mormon. Did joseph smith translate the book of mormon with the white seer stone. Do mormons really believe joseph smith read the book of. Do mormons really believe joseph smith read the book of mormon out of a hat. Lots of answers here with an incredible amount of evidence.
Book of mormon manuscripts 2 book of mormon editions 4 bible revision manuscripts 5 book of abraham and other egyptian material 19 additional revelations and translations. Speaking of the historical descriptions of the prophet burying his face in the hat to view the. I was taught that the seer stones helped translate the golden plates but i never heard anything about. Teachings of the prophet joseph smith salt lake city, deseret book, 1977, 17273. Lds apostle admits joseph smith translated the book of mormon through a rock in hat in the lds churchs official organ, the ensign magazine, a general conference sermon by mormon apostle russell m. Seven years later, in 1830, this scriptural canon of the latterday saints was published for the world. Did joseph fielding smith say that it was not reasonable for joseph smith to use a seer stone to translate the book of mormon. Did joseph smith translate the book of mormon with a rock. If so many witnesses testify to smiths use of a hat and a magical rock, why dont mormon books and periodicals, for the sake of. 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.
Many latter day saints believe that the urim and thummim of joseph smith and the book of mormon were the functional equivalent of the urim and thummim mentioned in the old testament. For a living, smith used a divining rod and seer stones to find buried treasure. Are you saying that joseph smith was actually talking out of his hat. Much is made of the fact that joseph used a seer stone, which he placed in a hat, to dictate the text of the book of mormon without viewing the plates directly. Apr 29, 2006 if so, how did you reconcile it with the church presentation of joseph smith using the plates in full view. It seems after reading these posts that the only possible answer is that the book of mormon happened just like joseph and others claim. Book of mormon manuscripts the joseph smith papers. Oliver cowdery, the principal scribe for the book of mormon, said that the prophet joseph smith translated the book of mormon by the gift and power of god, by the assistance or means of the urim and thummim last days of oliver cowdery, deseret news. Joseph placed either the interpreters or the seer stone in a hat, pressed his. Joseph smith put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it. The same way that god flashed the kjv deuteroisaiah onto smiths magic rock. Between about 18281829, joseph used the brown stone to dictate the book of mormon. Today, it added the printers manuscript of the book of mormon and pictures of the seer stone joseph.
The teachings were etched on gold plates in an ancient reformed egyptian language and later translated by joseph smith into english as the book of mormon. The supposed gold plates were always covered wrapped in a. Joseph smith put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the book. New church video explains joseph smiths seer stones book of. Joseph smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely. Smith was the founding prophet and first president of the church. The supposed gold plates were always covered wrapped in a cloth and. Joseph smith dictated the book of mormon to several scribes, including oliver cowdery, who was the scribe for these lines. Why did joseph smith eventually stop using the seer stones to receive revelation. He studied the historical documents claiming that joseph smith translated the book of mormon using a seer stone in a hat and he concluded joseph smith did not use a seer stone to translate. I just watched the south park episode all about the mormons and i dont think ive ever laughed so hard. Critics have made merry over this, but it makes sense. It was this stone that joseph used to translate the book of mormon.
May 11, 2018 so, ive been a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints all my life, and i thought id pretty much heard it all, but ive never heard this one beforewhere did they get the idea that moroni told joseph smith he was from the pleadies. Feb 19, 2020 joseph smith, american prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. So its not a light or trivial fact that, when he went to write his personal history, joseph knight sr. Traughbers paper in the herald of november 15th, i thought that i would not notice his attack at all, as i supposed that i was. According to latter day saint belief, the golden plates are the source from which joseph smith said he translated the book of mormon. I know nothing about mormonism and i know south park tends to exaggerate and twist things, so i just want to make sure that this is accurate.
You might not agree with his writings, but that doesnt make it ok to mock the. Joseph smith head in hat account from thurlow weed lds. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer stone in a hat. Smith published the book of mormon in 1830 and shortly thereafter organized a small church of his first followers. In fact he translated nothing, he dictated from his head in his hat. Did joseph smith translate the book of mormon with a rock in. Nelson is published, in which nelson openly acknowledgesand invokes as truethe book of mormon rockinthe hat translation tale, as follows. When the apologists responded to such accusations during the 20th century, one tactic they employed was to blame the 1820s upstate new york moneydigging commotion on persons other than smith.
Seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon. David whitmer, one of the three witnesses to the book of mormon, described how joseph smith placed the seer stone into a hat to translate the book of mormon. Jul 20, 2018 what a about our 10 president of the church, president joseph fielding smith. View entire discussion 48 comments more posts from the mormon community. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for 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.
Did joseph smith use a hat during the translation of the book of. In 1820, a young boy named joseph smith prayed to know which church was true. Joseph smith and seer stones most of the descriptions of the process of translating the book of mormon. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. On march 20, 1826, four years before publishing the book of mormon, joseph smith was tried in court and found guilty for deceiving josiah stowel into believing that he could locate hidden treasure through divination. Messenger of the restoration joseph smith translates the. Founder of the largest indigenous christian church in american history, joseph smith published the 584page book of mormon when he was twentythree and went on to organize a church, found cities, and attract thousands of followers before his violent death at age thirtyeight. The mormon religion is based upon the story and religious teachings of joseph smith. Joseph smith translates the book of mormon using a hat in a 2003 south park episode. Mar 20, 2007 this is how joseph smith translated the book of mormon. By building a relationship between treasure hunting stories and the book of mormon, skeptics can build a powerful narrative.
Mar 27, 2015 joseph smith used a stone in a hat to help him in his translation of the book of mormon. Because god flashed it onto joseph smith s magic8ball rockina hat the same way that god flashed the kjv deuteroisaiah onto smith s magic rock. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for book of. In other words, joseph used the same magic device or ouija board that he used during his treasure hunting days. Lds church is true blog perspectives of one mormon through faith crisis and reconstruction. The church continues to imply and express dualmethods for translation of the book of mormon urim and thummim or the brown seer stone which is inaccurate. Joseph smiths preoccupation with animal sacrifice relates to his belief in sacrificing sheep to appease evil spirits who guarded buried treasure. Devoted members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints honor its founder, joseph smith, with saintlike reverence. In the ces letter, i wrote that joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon. Did joseph smith study and master the nephite language. Lds scripture instructs that joseph smith, the prophet and seer of the lord, has done more, save jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in.
Joseph eventually learned, through divine tutoring, how to receive unmediated revelation. Last week, the joseph smith papers published the records of joseph smith s legal trials. What a about our 10 president of the church, president joseph fielding smith. Mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss the various historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including accounts of joseph smith using a. These facts are now officially confirmed in the churchs december 20 book of mormon translation essay. Because it was a revelation from god to joseph smith. David whitmer said, regarding smith s translation of the book of mormon.
Mar 19, 2018 mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss the various historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including accounts of joseph smith using a seer stone to translate the. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone of our religion. The church continues to portray the hat as used in translation incorrectly. Book of mormon translation as you will see from the article, joseph smith apparently alternated between using the urim and thummim which he obtained simultaneously with the plates, and a seer stone that he.
Joseph smith s mormon defenders have generally avoided addressing their prophets glasslooking career. Witnesses said smith placed the urim and thummim in his hat while he was translating. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Joseph smith dictated the book of mormon using the same seer stone he had previously used for years in hunting for buried treasure. When we read of gold plates, we might for now on think of phony gold treasure hunts. Joseph smith used a stone in a hat to help him in his translation of the book of mormon. He as a church historian for 69 years and the president of the church. Book of mormon, 1830, page iii the joseph smith papers. David whitmer said, joseph smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in. Mormon origins is created to make available historical information andor documents relating to the beginnings of mormonism in america.
If so many witnesses testify to smith s use of a hat and a magical rock, why dont mormon books and periodicals, for the sake of. As a mormon, did you know about joseph smith using the stone in hat. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon, 2d ed. The coming forth of the book of mormon, foretold by ancient prophets, began with an angelic visitation in 1823 to 17yearold joseph smith. The church recently released an essay summarizing what we know about the process of translating the book of mormon. Book of mormontranslationlocation of the plates fairmormon.
Aug 29, 2014 the church recently released an essay summarizing what we know about the process of translating the book of mormon. Joseph smith and the book of mormon mormonism research ministry. Messenger of the restoration joseph smith translates the gold plates another testament of jesus christ. The process of translating the book of mormon joseph. Why would joseph smith use the same stone for translating the book of mormon. To the inside front cover are affixed four clippings of descriptions of different versions of first edition copies of the book of mormon and of an 1854 edition of the doctrine and covenants, along with a clipping describing the origin of the text of the book of mormon and a bookplate of the shepard book company of salt lake city, utah. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon with the urim. As a mormon, did you know about joseph smith using the. I will now give you a description of the manner in which the book of mormon was translated.
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