Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon (Part 1)

Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon

The official (LDS Church) Version

The follow is the coming forth of the Book of Mormon using only Scripture (Pearl of Great Price) and Primary, Sunday School, Seminary, and Institute Manuals. There is no mention of a seer stone or the practice of placing it in a hat.

From the Pearl of Great Price:

The Joseph Smith History (JSH) in the Pearl of Great Price is a 1838 account from Joseph Smith. Joseph states an angle named Moroni appeared to him on September 21, 1823, and said (JSH 1:33-35):  

God had a work for me [Joseph Smith] to do… [and] there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fullness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants;

Also, that there were two stones in silver bows—and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim—deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted “seers” in ancient or former times; and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book.

Two things were “deposited:”

1.     A book written on gold plates which:

a.     Gives an account of the former inhabitants of this continent.

b.     Contains the source from whence the former inhabitants sprang.

c.     Contains the fullness of the everlasting Gospel as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants.

2.    The Urim and Thummim (two stones in silver bows fastened to a breastplate) for translating the book. (Note: verses 52 and 59 seem to imply that the breastplate was separate from the Urim and Thummim)

The next day Joseph went to the place where the gold plates were deposited (JSH 1:50-51), having been shown in a vision where they were during Moroni’s visit (JSH 1:42). They were located about three miles away in a hill of considerable size in the village of Manchester, Ontario County, New York. (JSH 1:51). He was not allowed to take the gold plate, but meet annually with Moroni where Joseph “received instruction and intelligence…respecting what the Lord was going to do, and how and in what manner his kingdom was to be conducted in the last days” (JSH 1:53-54).

Joseph received the gold plates and Urim and Thummim on September 22, 1827 (JSH 1:59). He  was not allowed to show anyone the plates or the Urim and Thummim (JST 1:42). Because people tried to take or steal the gold plates and persecution, Joseph and Emma move to Pennsylvania with the help of Martin Harris (JSH 1:60-61). Joseph copies some of the characters and translates them with the  Urim and Thummim, gives them to Martin Harris who takes them to Professor Charles Anton in New York. Anton says the characters and translation were correct, gives Harris a certificate to this fact, but rips it up after learning the gold plates were revealed by an angel. (JSH 1: 59-65)

Oliver Cowdery arrives in April and translation of the BOM begins on April 7, 1829. (JSH 1:66-67). They continue the work of translation under the threats of mobs but protected by father-in-law with “divine providence” (JSH 1:75).

Oliver Cowdery stated “Day after day I continued, uninterrupted, to write from his [Joseph Smith] mouth, as he translated with the Urim and Thummim, or, as the Nephites would have said, ‘Interpreters,’ the history or record called ‘The Book of Mormon.’" (JSH 1:71 footnote. See Messenger and Advocate, Vol. 1 [October 1834], pg. 14)

The only words about the translation process is in JSH 1:62 and the footnote to 1:72:

“…I [Joseph Smith] copied a considerable number of them [characters from the plates], and by means of the Urim and Thummim I translated some of them…” ( JSH 1:62)

“Day after day I [Oliver Cowdery] continued, uninterrupted, to write from his [Joseph Smith] mouth, as he translated with the Urim and Thummim, or, as the Nephites would have said, ‘Interpreters,’ the history or record called ‘The Book of Mormon.’" (JSH 1:71 footnote)

From Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants Church History (1997):

From Lesson 5: Joseph Smith Receives the Gold Plates, pg. 24:

“4. Teach the children about the Urim and Thummim:

The Urim and Thummim is a sacred tool given by God to help prophets receive revelations from the Lord and translate languages (see Bible Dictionary, “Urim and Thummim”).

Joseph Smith described the Urim and Thummim as “two stones in silver bows . . . fastened to a breastplate” (JS—H 1:35). The Prophet stated that when he was humble and prayerful, he could look into these stones and read the strange language on the gold plates. He could also look into these stones and get Heavenly Father’s word about certain things he ought to know and do.

Help the children find and discuss the following scriptures that refer to the Urim and Thummim:

Exodus 28:30

Mosiah 28:11, 13

Ether 3:23–24, 4:4–5

Doctrine and Covenants 17:1

5. Write the following statements on separate pieces of paper:

• Each gold plate was six inches wide and eight inches long.

• Joseph Smith described each plate as “not quite so thick as common tin.”

• Three rings bound the book of plates together.

• The whole book was about six inches thick.

• The plates had small characters engraved on them.

• A portion of the book was sealed and could not be translated.

• Joseph Smith was told that the sealed part would be translated at a future time.

Give each piece of paper to a child, and have the children read the statements out loud to help the class members understand what the gold plates were like (see History of the Church, 4:537).”

From Lesson 6: Joseph Smith Begins to Translate the Gold Plates, pg. 26-27:

“Explain that usually translators need to understand both of the languages they work with. Joseph Smith, however, had had very little schooling and could not speak or read languages other than English. The reformed Egyptian characters on the plates were very strange to him. He had to rely on the Spirit of the Lord, not his own knowledge, to help him translate the characters on the plates into English…"

Once Joseph and Emma Smith were settled in Harmony, Pennsylvania, Joseph began to translate the gold plates. At first Joseph spent a lot of time becoming familiar with the plates and the language in which they were written. As he studied and prayed, the Urim and Thummim helped him understand the characters on the plates. Joseph learned that the process of translation requires faith, hard work, worthiness, patience, and obedience…"

Joseph and Martin suffered greatly because of the loss of the translation. Joseph returned to Harmony, where he prayed for forgiveness. The angel Moroni took the gold plates and the Urim and Thummim for a while. Later, because of Joseph’s sincere repentance, the Lord forgave Joseph, and Moroni returned the plates and the Urim and Thummim…”

From Lesson 7: Joseph Smith Translates the Gold Plates, pg. 31+:

“As Joseph continued the translation, he found that he did not have time to take care of his family and farm and still translate as fast as he wanted to. The work of translation was also slowed because Joseph had no scribe to write for him as he translated. Martin Harris was no longer allowed to be Joseph’s scribe. Emma sometimes served as scribe, but she had other work to do also…When Oliver [Cowdery] arrived, Joseph realized the Lord had sent Oliver to help with the translation of the Book of Mormon…With Oliver assisting, the translation of the Book of Mormon went faster.

Explain that when Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, he said the words out loud, and his scribe wrote the words down. Sometimes Joseph and the scribe were separated by a divider and could not see each other.”

Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual (1999):

From Lesson 1: “The Keystone of Our Religion”, pg 3.

“2. Many witnesses have testified of the Book of Mormon.

If you are using the pictures of Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith and of Joseph Smith receiving the gold plates, display them now. Have the assigned class member summarize the events recorded in the Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Then explain that after Joseph Smith had finished translating the Book of Mormon, other people were privileged to see the plates. Have the assigned class members present their summaries of the Testimony of the Three Witnesses and the Testimony of the Eight Witnesses.”

Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual (2003):

From Lesson 4: “Remember the New Covenant, Even the Book of Mormon”, pg. 18-19, 22:

“As Joseph translated the Book of Mormon, he learned that the Lord would permit three witnesses and a few others to view the plates (see the references to these witnesses in 2 Nephi 27:12–14 and Ether 5:1–3). Who were the Three Witnesses? (See “The Testimony of Three Witnesses,” Book of Mormon.) What were they commanded to do? (See D&C 5:11–15, 24–25; 17:3, 5.)

Why was their testimony important? (See Ether 5:4; D&C 5:16–18; 17:4.)

Explain that in addition to the Three Witnesses, eight others were shown the gold plates (“The Testimony of Eight Witnesses,” Book of Mormon). All of the Three Witnesses and three of the Eight Witnesses later left the Church. Only a few returned, but none ever denied his testimony of what he saw."

4. “Translated by the gift and power of God” (D&C 135:3)

Joseph Smith completed the translation of the Book of Mormon in about 65 working days (“I Have a Question,” Ensign, Jan. 1988, 46–47). Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve commented on the speed of this process:

“One able LDS translator in Japan, surrounded by reference books, language dictionaries, and translator colleagues ready to help if needed, indicated that he considered an output of one careful, final page a day to be productive. And he is retranslating from earlier Japanese to modern Japanese! More than 50 able English scholars labored for seven years, using previous translations, to produce the King James Version of the Bible, averaging about one precious page per day. The Prophet Joseph Smith would sometimes produce 10 pages per day! (see the bulletin Insights: An Ancient Window [Provo, Utah: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (F.A.R.M.S.), Feb. 1986], 1).

“A second marvel of the Book of Mormon translation process is that from what we know, rarely would Joseph go back, review, or revise what had already been done. There was a steady flow in the translation. . . ."

“Emma Smith said of the inspired process: ‘After meals, or after interruptions, [Joseph] would at once begin where he had left off, without either seeing the manuscript or having any portion of it read to him’ (“Last Testimony of Sister Emma,” Saints’ Herald, 1 Oct. 1879, 290). One who has dictated and been interrupted must usually resume by inquiring ‘Now, where were we?’ Not so with the Prophet!

“If one were manufacturing a text, he would constantly need to cross-check himself, to edit, and to revise for consistency. Had the Prophet dictated and revised extensively, there would be more evidence of it. But there was no need to revise divinely supplied text. Whatever the details of the translation process, we are discussing a process that was truly astonishing!” (“By the Gift and Power of God,” Ensign, Jan. 1997, 39–40)."

From Gospel Principles (2009), pg 46. and Gospel Principles (1997), pg 53:

"Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon into English through the gift and power of God. He said that it is “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” (introduction to the Book of Mormon)"

From Our Heritage:

[pg. 5]

“He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants” (JS—H 1:33–34).

Moroni had been the last prophet to write on this ancient record, and as directed by the Lord, he had buried it in the Hill Cumorah. He had also buried the Urim and Thummim, which was used by prophets anciently and which Joseph was to use to translate the record.”

[pg. 7-9]

The Work of Translation

"On 22 September 1827, after four years of preparation, Moroni gave the Prophet Joseph the gold plates and told him to begin the work of translation. Emma Hale, whom Joseph had married earlier that year, accompanied him on that occasion and was waiting at the foot of the Hill Cumorah when her husband returned with the plates. She became an important help to the Prophet and acted as one of the Book of Mormon scribes for a brief period.

Because of the repeated and strenuous efforts of a local mob to steal the gold plates, Joseph and Emma were forced to leave their home in Manchester, New York. They took refuge at the home of Emma’s father, Isaac Hale, in Harmony, Pennsylvania, about 120 miles southeast of Manchester. There Joseph began translating the plates. He was soon joined by his friend, Martin Harris, a well-to- do farmer, who became his scribe.

Martin asked Joseph if he could take 116 pages of translated material home to show his family members to prove to them the validity of the work they were doing. Joseph asked the Lord for permission, but the Lord’s answer was no. Martin pleaded for Joseph to ask again, which Joseph reluctantly did two more times and finally received permission. Martin made a covenant to show the manuscript only to certain people, but he broke his promise, and the pages of manuscript were stolen. This loss caused Joseph inconsolable grief, for he thought that all his efforts to serve the Lord had been lost. He cried, “What shall I do? I have sinned—it is I who tempted the wrath of God. I should have been satisfied with the first answer which I received from the Lord.”

Joseph sincerely repented, and after a brief period when the plates and the Urim and Thummim were taken away, the Lord forgave him and he began translating once again. The Lord instructed him not to retranslate the lost material, which contained a secular history. Instead, Joseph was to translate other plates prepared by the prophet Nephi that covered the same period of time but contained greater prophecies of Christ and other sacred writings. The Lord had foreseen the loss of the 116 pages and inspired Nephi to prepare this second history. (See 1 Nephi 9; D&C 10:38–45; see also D&C 3 and 10, which were received during this period.)

At this time, Joseph was blessed with the help of Oliver Cowdery, a young schoolteacher who was directed by the Lord to the Prophet’s home. Oliver commenced to write on 7 April 1829. Of that momentous time he said, “These were days never to be forgotten—to sit under the sound of a voice dictated by the inspiration of heaven, awakened the utmost gratitude of this bosom!” (JS—H 1:71, footnote)…"

"In the midst of their work, Joseph and Oliver found that their dedication to the translation of the record had left them without food or money; they lacked even the necessary writing materials. Learning of their plight, Joseph Knight Sr., a former employer and friend of the Prophet, determined to give them assistance…"

"Because of increasing persecution, Joseph and Oliver left Harmony and completed the work of translation at the Peter Whitmer farm in Fayette, New York, during June 1829. The completion of this work in the midst of such trying circumstances is truly a modern-day miracle. With little formal education, Joseph Smith dictated the translation in just a little over two months of actual working time and made very few corrections. The book stands today essentially as he translated it and has been the source of testimony for millions of people throughout the world. Joseph Smith was a powerful instrument in the hands of the Lord in bringing forth the words of ancient prophets for the blessing of Saints in the latter days."

From Church History In The Fulness Of Times Student Manual, Second Edition (2003):

[pg. 50]

"By this time Joseph Smith had gained considerable experience with various means of revelation. He had communed with God and his Son and with angelic messengers. He had seen visions, felt the promptings of the Spirit, and grown in skill in using the Urim and Thummim. We should not conclude that revelation came easy to him, for another lesson he learned during this time was the price in faith, diligence, persistence, worthiness, and obedience he had to pay to receive communication from God."

[pg.52-53]

"At the end of 1828, Moroni returned the plates and the Urim and Thummim and promised a new scribe to assist in the translation…"

"During the winter of 1828–29, Joseph Smith periodically worked on the translation with the help of Emma and her brother, but earning a living left little time for translating. Emma’s brother, Jesse Hale, was suspicious of Joseph’s claims about the plates and showed little sympathy. Hence, in March of 1829, Joseph said, “I had not where to go and I cried unto the Lord that he would provide for me to accomplish the work whereunto he had commanded me.” The Lord told him to stop for the present and wait “until I command thee, and I will provide means whereby thou mayest accomplish the thing which I have commanded thee” (D&C 5:34). Confidently the Prophet awaited the arrival of a new scribe, and on 5 April, Oliver Cowdery came…"

"Joseph and Oliver labored “with little cessation” on the translation throughout April. With Oliver’s help, Joseph proceeded faster than ever before. During the next three months Joseph and Oliver completed the amazing task of translating approximately five hundred printed pages. This was a glorious period in their lives. Oliver wrote: “These were days never to be forgotten—to sit under the sound of a voice dictated by the inspiration of heaven. . . . Day after day I continued, uninterrupted, to write from his mouth, as he translated, with the Urim and Thummim . . . the history, or record, called ‘The Book of Mormon.’”