By the time of his death, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and his religion, now known as the latter day saints. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon wikipedia. This is a reference to the book of mormon and the bible being companion books that compliment each other. When the apologists responded to such accusations during the 20th century, one tactic they.
The making of a prophet, dan vogel, a former mormon, imagines the scene when joseph cuts out the plates from tin and crafts them into a loosely fashioned book. It is a record of gods dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the americas. Find the perfect joseph smith book of mormon stock photo. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon, 2d ed. Sep 11, 20 joseph smith could neither write nor dictate a coherent and wellworded letter. The latter assumes that joseph smiths fantastic memory enabled him to recall biblical expressions and incorporate them wholesale into the book of mormon. When did joseph smith write the book of mormon answers. Joseph smith, the book of mormon, and the american. To start at the beginning of the study, click here. It is described as a round brass ball of curious workmanship with two spindles, one of which indicated the direction that his party should travel 1 nephi 16. The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates inscribed by prophets. 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.
Many book of mormon names are either biblical, formed from a rhyming pattern, changed by a prefix or suffix, or greek in etymology. Members of the mormon church believe two things about the book of mormon 1. In the book of mormon, the liahona was found one morning at lehis tent door. Joseph smiths golden plate story debunked reasons for jesus. The book of mormon is a true volume of scripture, prophesied in the bible, and brought forth by god. He said that the book of mormon is the keystone of our religion. Joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon. It is a common claim by critics that there is absolutely no archaeological evidence to support the book of mormon. Its pretty easy to understand what inspired the book of mormon. The book of mormon begins with two sets of witness testimonies people who claimed to have seen and, in some instances, felt the gold tablets excavated by joseph smith. The book of mormon was first published in early 1830, prior to the official organization of the church of jesus christ in new york on april 6 of that year. Sep 26, 2017 according to the deseret news, the printers copy was given by smith to the printer, eb grandin, in new york in 1830, and it was used to set the type for the first edition of the book of mormon. Oct 31, 2012 joseph smith stated that the book of mormon was the keystone of our religion, to which the former lds prophet ezra taft benson added, just as the arch crumbles if the keystone is removed.
Critics believe joseph smith came up with all the names in the book of mormon, noting that joseph owned a king james bible with a table listing all the names used in the bible. This is a service of the california society of cpas, a professional. Written by prophets to a people who lived in america long before white people ever came, some believe they were the beginnings of some native indian tribes. For those who arent architects, in a stone arch a keystone is the piece at the top, holding up and balancing each side of the arch. Joseph smith stated that the book of mormon was the keystone of our religion, to which the former lds prophet ezra taft benson added, just as. How could joseph smith possibly have written the book of. Devoted members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints honor its founder, joseph smith, with saintlike reverence. Follow all the latest news on long island with newsday.
Mormons are a religious group that embrace concepts of christianity as well as revelations made by their founder, joseph smith. Joseph smith translated it by the gift and power of god. The book was written by ancient prophets through the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Rees this comparison of joseph smith and john milton focuses on their literary output and especially the preparation each had for dictating a long religious work, in miltons case paradise lost and in smiths the book of mormon. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates. Mormon doctrine makes divine tender prosperity theology witnessed bygod so, follow the mormon money.
The test of faith was not adherence to a certain confession of faith but belief that christ was resurrected, that joseph smith saw god, that the book of mormon was true history and not philosophy, and that peter, james. Lds scholars often point out that smith had received a rudimentary education at best, and did not have access to the works needed to research the book. Could joseph smith have written the book of mormon. The 1830 edition of the book of mormon named joseph smith as the author and proprietor of the book. All that is required is a basic understanding of smiths world through historical references to that time and some logic. Mar 27, 20 we believe it did, and startling new scriptural, prophetic, physical, and dna evidences strongly point to the location of the book of mormon taking place in the heartland of the united states of. Prophecies about joseph smith bible references for lds beliefs. Most all of the current text of the book of mormon was dictated to a scribe over a period of somewhere between a total of 60 and 90 days, interspersed with other daily activities that sometimes would take joseph smith and oliver cowdery away from. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible, used by latter day saints. Smith published the book of mormon in 1830 and shortly thereafter organized a small church of his first. They will tell you how god told smith to restore the church which had fallen into apostasyincluding the restoration of the offices of apostles. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. 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.
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. Did joseph smith plagiarize the late war in order to write the book of mormon. Smith provides much new information in his thoughtful book schooling the prophet. John milton, joseph smith, and the book of mormon byu studies. Mormon origins is created to make available historical information andor documents relating to the beginnings of mormonism in america. Concerning this record the prophet joseph smith said. Not many know the life story of joseph smith, the founder of mormonism, and americas one and only native prophet. Unfortunately, the literature about joseph smith and the book of mormon is permeated with contradiction and controversy. Book of mormon sets new record for most expensive manuscript. According to mormon belief, the book of mormon was inscribed on golden plates by generations of prophets, quoted and abridged by the prophethistorian mormon, and buried in the. Joseph smith, american prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
Smith apparently collected these plates, took them home, and subsequently translated them into the book of mormon which he then published in 1830. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. And, though i was an active participant in the scenes that transpired, and was present during the translation of the plates, and had cognizance of things as they transpired, it is marvelous to me, a marvel and a wonder, as much so as to any one else. Joseph smith was arrested for stirring up the community by preaching the teachings of the book of mormon and for organizing public meetings. Several investigations and studies which set out to prove that joseph wrote the book of mormon have actua. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon is a 1985 book by david persuitte. Ive included this under the joseph smith and the book of mormon references because the two go hand in hand. Book of mormon geography in joseph smiths day fairmormon. Hobson tordoff, a member of the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints now community of christ.
The following are quotes from joseph smith and a few others that shed much light on the subject. Joseph was acquitted, but vigilante mobs continued to. Why is it impossible for joseph smith to have been the. As such, i propose josephs initial study of stephens in the times and seasons in 1842 was the beginning of book of mormon archaeology, and may have even been the first invitation to pursue archaeological investigations of stephens ruins in middle america. According to joseph smith, the founder of mormonism, in 1823 the angel moroni guided him to some golden plates buried on a hill near to where he lived. Holding an 1830 first edition of the book of mormon can stir the souls of bibliophiles and believers alike. The book of joseph is an untranslated text identified by joseph smith after analyzing egyptian papyri that came into his possession in 1835. I want to know how joseph smith could write the bom so fast and in so much detail without being able to really read or write. Cullimore retells several events from the life of joseph smith, the mormon prophet. What inspired joseph smith to write the book of mormon.
Welcome to find a cpa, the public directory of members of the california society of cpas. I actually dealt with this topic in another answer how could joseph smith write the book of mormon. The salt lake tribune, october 3, 1998 octavo editions give readers a firsthand experience of a milestone text. In an incredible testament to joseph smiths divine calling, james a. The truth about mormonism church of christ in zion. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. In this editorial comment, joseph smith explained that the book of mormon would stand as circumstantial evidence of the validity of his prophetic calling. Book of mormon, work accepted as holy scripture, in addition to the bible, in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and other mormon churches. How the book of mormon influenced joseph smith and the early restoration by asking if the demonstrable lack of frequent public reference to the book of mormon in joseph smiths work is adequate evidence that the book had no influence on him.
One argument that mormon apologists frequently employ is the claim that joseph smith was intellectually unequipped to write the book of mormon. Joseph smith and the book of mormon are at the very heart of the lords latterday work. And i will give unto him a commandment that he shall do none other work, save the work which i shall command him 2 nephi 3. The process of translating the book of mormon was an education for joseph smith, and the book was central to the. However, the title page of the first edition of the book of mormon published.
Honestly, because of the sheer volume of anachronistic errors contained in joseph smith s book, even trying to read it as a novel is taxing. Joseph smith to be his spokesman, or prophet, for our age. The book of mormon is true, just what it purports to be, and for this testimony i expect to give an account in the day of judgment. Critics of the church consider this evidence that joseph wrote the book himself. It provides detailed biographical information about joseph. Nauvoo museum development the book of mormon exploration challenge was not idle. For the early text, revision and commentary on the 4 september 1830 commandment see h. There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. In addition to joseph smith, the lord provided for eleven others to see. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Heres a comparison between the two that can help you decide. Just a eight years after receiveing the priesthood, the melchizedek priesthood, in 1837, joseph smith and sidney rigdon were buyen and sellen stuff and things, selling land to new converts in nauvoo and kirtland.
He had with him two seer stones, as you could say, called the urim and thummim. It is an examination of the teachings of mormonism existing at that time and claims to contain eyewitness accounts and sworn affidavits by. Some have questioned the use of the name jehovah in 2 nephi 22. The core of mormon belief was a conviction about actual events. Numbernumber\number defined prevent table matter joe grant bad. Autobiographical and historical writings salt lake city.
Joseph smith and the beginning of book of mormon archaeology did the prophet joseph smith in 1842 locate book of mormon lands in middle america. 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. This book is much more entertaining if you read it as a historical novel rather than trying to read it as a religious text. However, in order to secure the, joseph had to apply as the author and proprietor.
If what joseph smith taught about jesus is mostly false or at least the aspects that make it distinct and unique is false, then you can still have jesus christ as taught by other churches and the bible, but not the more vivid, revealed, and distinct jesus of the mormon religion. In the first edition of this impressive work, david persuitte provided. As one who holds no strong views regarding book of mormon geography though i do find it interesting, im concerned at the emergence of. Did joseph smith steal from the late war to write the. It is scripture in our day, the story of the book of. Messenger of the restoration joseph smith translates the gold plates another testament of. When they say directly support, they typically mean that they are looking for a direct corroboration, such as the presence of the name nephi or zarahemla in association with ancient american archaeological data.
As you will read under the heading church, joseph smith sequestered the holy book of mormon to his church, thus. Did joseph smith steal from the late war to write the book. Joseph smith is listed as the author and proprietor in the 1830 edition of the book of mormon. We have imagined and supposed that god was god from all eternity, i will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see teachings of the prophet joseph smith, compiled by joseph fielding smith, p. Joseph smith taught that the text contains the writings of the ancient biblical patriarch joseph. They primarily belong to the church of jesus christ. Lds scripture instructs that joseph smith, the prophet and seer of the lord. Emma smith, joseph smith s 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.
Joseph smiths testimony on the lands of the nephites. Latterday saints are accustomed to speaking of joseph smith as the inspired translator of the book of mormon. Joseph smiths mormon defenders have generally avoided addressing their prophets glasslooking career. The scroll associated with the book of joseph has been translated by egyptologists to be a book of. The prophet joseph smith said that the book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion and that a person would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book teachings of the prophet joseph smith, p. The churchs founder, joseph smith, claims to have translated the content of the book of mormon from an ancient text through the power of god.
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. Its followers hold that it is a divinely inspired work. Proof the book of mormon isnt true the book of mormon contradicts the bible and was actually a work of fiction written by joseph smith in the 1800s, who copied much of it from the king james version, trying to make it look like an ancient manuscript. Apr 03, 2009 udv4 crip how joseph smith wrote the book of mormon how joseph smith came up with mormonism anti mormon lds byu flds kbyu jesus christ lord master savior messiah king bible cult scam fraud lies. The mormon religion is based upon the story and religious. Book of mormon mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Joseph smith wrote the book under the influence of some sort of paranoia or demonic possession or dissociative illusion, 3 joseph smith had the help of someone like sidney rigdon in creating the. From the same papyri collection, smith produced the first part of the book of abraham, but was killed before any known part of the book of joseph was translated. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on this earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than any other book. The advent of the computer and the internet allows joseph smith as the author of the book of mormon to be compared to other authors and their books in ways essentially impossible even a couple. Why did the book of mormon originally say that joseph. Printers manuscript of the book of mormon, 1923 photostatic copies. Could joseph smith have authored the book of mormon.
John milton, joseph smith, and the book of mormon author robert a. The book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. Apr 22, 2016 the language in the sections of the book of mormon that correspond to parts of the bible is quite regularly selected by joseph smith, rather than obtained through independent translation. It seems clear that joseph smith was led to translate many passages as they appear in the king james. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Joseph smith and the beginnings of mormonism richard l. In regards to the geography of the book of mormon, he has left us his testimony.
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