Thomas professor of law at brigham young university, and was for 27 years editorinchief of byu studies, the premier latterday saint scholarly journal. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon. The mormon religion was officially founded in 1830 when the book of mormon was. Book of mormon translation challenge posts facebook.
Book of mormon timeline brigham young universityidaho. The only real markers we have to build a working chronology from are firstly, the date of the dearth and megafauna extinction given in the narrative of heth ether 9. Willes center for book of mormon studies wednesday at the gordon b. Emma hale smith, and perhaps her brother reuben hale, help as scribes for a portion of the book.
Oliver indicated that their asking about baptism was stimulated by. Willes center for book of mormon studies at the gordon b. Maxwell the spectacles, the stone, the hat, and the book. The book of mormon is published in 112 languages, and many of them are available in multiple formats online in march 1830, 5,000 copies of the book of mormon were printed in the e.
A strong case can be made for the authenticity of joseph smiths account of the coming forth of the book of mormon first, the eyewitness testimony of those directly involved with the translation unanimously agree that joseph was not copying from another book or manuscript, but rather the text of the book of mormon as he peered into the sear. 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. It may be surprising, therefore, to learn that the small plates of nephi 1 nephi through words of mormon almost certainly came last in the translation process, after the completion of the large plates of nephi mosiah through moroni and the title. Follow this chronology that details mormon beliefs and major events. Compelling data confirm the dates of five key events during the translation timeline. Welch t he translation of the book of mormon, completed by joseph smith in june 1829, was an amazing feat. First significant anti mormon book, mormonism unvailed printed, with no mention of first vision, peter, james, john or priesthood. Once zeniff and his group arrived, the lamanites put them in bondage. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful study of statements. Many accounts of the process of translating the book of mormon.
This chronology outlines the major events in the history of the book of mormon, according to the text. Two are bookmarks, and the last is a word doc, so you can resi. Understanding the timeline of book of mormon translation. On september 21, 1823, joseph smith, then seventeen years old, was in his bed praying when a light began to fill his room. 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. The approximate book of mormon translation timeline was an interesting article to research.
His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris serving as the main scribes, was lost in 1828. Jaredite history covers nearly twice as many years as nephite history. Joseph smith translated an ancient text by the gift and power of god to produce the book of mormon. Welch of brigham young university, delivered a powerful address on wednesday, november 8 on the timing of the translation of the book of mormon. This paper aims to stimulate specific thinking about the intense and complex events during which the book of mormon was translated in 1829. What do we know about the chronology of the book of mormon translation and publication. From that humble beginning, today the church prints over 3 million copies a year on large web presses. This group left the tower of babel and arrived in the americas about 2200 b. It could be said that mormon history starts with the translation of the book of mormon. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon the gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon according to joseph smiths later accounts, three years after he experienced his first vision of deity, an angel appeared to him in 1823 and told him of an ancient record written on gold plates. By any standard, this 588page holy book is extraordinary.
The church of jesus christ of latterday saints copyright 1974. 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. Notes from timing the translation of the book of mormon. Book of mormon translation joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. Department of seminaries and institutes of religion.
Joseph smith translates some of the characters himself. We keep it on our wall permanently as a reference to our studies. Which scribes worked on which portions in 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. Welch meticulously tracks the timeline of the book of mormon s translation. Ammaron instructs mormon concerning the sacred records. Book of mormon translation the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, by john w. More insight into the book of mormon translation process might come from the original book of commandments. Why is the timing of the book of mormons translation so. 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.
Here are four printable versions of my book of mormon timeline. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Peterson wrote an excellent article in which he cites witnesses to the book of mormon translation process, giving modern readers insight into what eyewitnesses saw regarding how joseph smith translated the book of mormon. As of march 2015, the lds church continues to publish at least portions of the book of mormon in 110 languages. In it, joseph is receiving revelation from god telling oliver he is blessed with a gift of a divining rod. This is an amazing, well put together timeline of the book of mormon. Charting the book of mormon is a collection of more than 175 visual aids that promote deeper understanding. A timeline of the book of mormon translation i looked a bit at the timeline of the translation of the book of mormon to help me organize in my thoughts some of the main events related to the translation. 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. A personage appeared in the light and began to speak to joseph. Most readers of the book of mormon naturally assume that joseph smith translated its books beginning in 1 nephi 1.
The miraculous translation of the book of mormon john w. Willes book of mormon lecture is now available online. Introduction to the approximate book of mormon translation. Book of mormon title page markings i like this method of enhancing your study. Translation begins on the 7th of apriltwo days after oliver arrived. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon.
Zeniff, a nephite, took a group south to reclaim the nephite lands. However, what they fail to say is this claim means 60 different individual days translation. Almost all of the present book of mormon text was translated during a threemonth period between april and june 1829 with oliver cowdery as the scribe. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Mulekite history represented by light pink on the timeline. 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.
Visual overview of the flow of events in 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. Dates given correspond to dates in the footnotes of the. 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. From the approximate book of mormon translation timeline.
The book of mormon jaredite king list gives only 7 exact dates lifespans and reigns for the jaredite chronology. More details can now be known about the key events that anchor our historical understandings of the pace of translation, about. One is just the right size to fit into the front of your scriptures. Welch and rathbone on book of mormon translation book of. The book of mormon is the keystone in our witness of jesus christ. Book of mormon chronology timeline of jaredites mormon. Modification of the italicized text in book of mormon biblical passages summary.
Unless otherwise indicated, the translation was financed and the resulting text published by. Book of mormon translation lds church is true blog. Welch by the gift and power of god, by elder neal a. Welch gave the annual book of mormon lecture entitled hours never to be forgotten for the laura f. Byu professors lecture examines the timeline of joseph. 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.
Drawing upon this research, the following summaries demonstrate why people can be confident that the vast majority of the book of mormon was translated within that narrow window of time. Joseph translates the book of mormon with oliver as scribe. A source book for book of mormon chronology source book. It is claimed that in the book of mormon material which parallels the kjv, joseph smith generally modified the italicized text. 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. The application contains the title page of the book of mormon. Quiz 1 book of mormon translation flashcards quizlet. Mormon inserts his explanation about the large and small plates about 380 ad. Professor figures out book of mormon translation timeline. While a select few did hear joseph refer to magical items, nobody ever saw a breastplate, spectacles, or ancient interpreter stones. Timeline chronology for the jaredite culture from the book of ether in the book of mormon. The early history of the mormons american experience. According to the prophet joseph smith, the titlepage of the book of mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the. Unless otherwise indicated, the translation was financed and the resulting text published by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church.
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