A somewhat perplexing reference to gazelem, the name of an individual using a stone prepared by god, is found in alma 37. In the story of the coming forth of the book of mormon, all of these oddsounding components play a part. Michael quinns early mormonism and the magic world view. Seer stones, salamanders, and early mormon folk magic in the light of folklore studies and bible scholarship author eric a. Book of mormontranslationthe interpreters, seer stone. Last week i attended part of the 22nd international book of mormon. Since joseph claimed to have translated reformed egyptian to produce the book of mormon mormon 9. As i referenced in my response to jim, the church clearly says joseph smith used a seer stone or the urim and thummim spectacles sans breast plate, i assume in a hat to translate the book of mormon. An october 2015 ensign article is set to appear called joseph the seer which attempts to explain josephs practice of using a seer stone. In the latter day saint movement, the term urim and thummim refers to a descriptive category. Criticism of mormonismbooksan insiders view of mormon. People wanted more information and wondered why they hadnt been aware of the stones existence. The lds church provided a new glimpse of its origins tuesday by publishing the handwritten printers manuscript of the book of mormon and photos of the seer stone, a dark, eggsize polished.
Although it is new to many church members today, the stoneinahat theory had its origins back in 1834 in a book titled mormonism unvailed. What most people see in this seer stone will depend largely on how they view the origins of the mormon church. The interpreters originate at the end of the book of mormon in ether. I will prepare unto my servant gazelem, a stone, which shall shine forth in darkness unto light. Although the two terms are often coupled, there is a scriptural difference between a prophet and a seer. Seer stones the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The authors of an insiders view of mormon origins makes the following claim.
The images of the seer stone that mormons believe founder joseph smith used to translate buried gold plates he said he found in upstate new york 185 years ago were released as part of. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been. The seer stone was used, not the urim and thummim to create most of the bom according to one of the three witnesses, david whitmer, and josephs mother lucy mack smith. The objective is not to find the most correct meaning for each passage of the book of mormon, but to find the most likely sources which joseph smith remixed to. I was taught that joseph translated from the golden plates. Variations of this theory only include that the text is a divinely inspired narrative, regardless of its. Salt lake city the mormon churchs push toward transparency about its roots and beliefs took another step forward tuesday with the. Roberts concluded that this book, originally published in poultney, vermont in 1823 7 years prior to the book of mormon was available to joseph smith and contained enough parallel material to the book of mormon so as to furnish a virtual groundplan for it.
At what age do mormons first learn about joseph smiths. Over the past thirty years, an enormous amount of research has been conducted into mormon originsjoseph smiths early life, the book of mormon, the. Those who would defend traditional beliefs about mormon origins often turn to the testimonies of 11 men. How joseph smith received visions through seer stones and. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. While the statement has been made by some writers that the prophet joseph smith used a seer stone part of the time in his translating of the record, and information points to the fact that he did have in his possession such a stone, yet there is no authentic statement in the history of the church which states that the use of such a stone was.
It also traces the provenance of his stones once they left his possessions. The first time i heard about him burying his face in a hat was on the south park episode about mormons. Whats interesting news for many latterday saints is, for some of our critics, simply earthshattering and hopely faithshattering for benighted mormons. The book of mormon is silent on the urim and thummim. Mormons publish photos of seer stone used by founder joseph smith. The practice of using stones or glass to receive divine revelation is found in many cultures, including among the ancient. 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. Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church believe that smith used seer stones to translate the book of mormon. Miraculous origins theories generally accept joseph smiths own account, that he translated an ancient record compiled and abridged by mormon, a precolumbian resident of the western hemisphere. There are differing views on the origin of the book of mormon. What are 1769 kjv edition errors doing in book of mormon.
It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Mormon church releases photos of seer stone used by. Seer stones, salamanders, and early mormon folk magic in. An insiders view of mormon origins by grant palmer. Similarly, joseph smith used both the nephite interpreters and his individual seer stone in the translation of the book of mormon. When it comes to the book of mormon translation, there is what is called a tight translation and there is. It teaches me about a savior who is alive, active and who cares about me. This book discusses the origins of joseph smiths seer stones and explores how joseph used them throughout his life in a way that goes beyond translating the book of mormon.
According to latter day saint theology, seer stones were believed to have been used by joseph smith, as well as ancient prophets, to receive revelations from god. Joseph smith used a seer stone that he placed in his hat. It also traces the provenance of the seer stones once they leave his possession. Both of these instruments apparently operated in much the same spiritual manner, and through them joseph received an undetermined number of visions in addition to the translation of the book of mormon. Lds church unveils 1st published photos of seer stone. The book of mormon explains how a seer is greater than a prophet, and how joseph smith can be called the choice seer of the latter days. A picture of a smooth, brown, eggsized rock is shown in the printers manuscript of the book of mormon. After responding to jim bennetts ama today, i got to thinking about the role of the seer stones in the process of translation. Joseph smiths seer stones religious studies center. Eliason the 2015 publication of an ensign article on, and especially photos of, one of joseph smiths seer stones still owned by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints caused quite a sensation in the blogosphere.
Did you know joseph smith translated it in 65 days with the help of a couple of scribes. The youthful prophet received many visions through the medium of urim and thummimsometimes a seer stone and, more particularly, the nephite interpreters. Welcome to our project to crowd source the origins of the book of mormon, a controversial text published in 1830. The mormon church is for the first time publishing photos of the stone it believes. By latterdaysaint nana on friday, september 22, 2017. Yes, joseph smith really did use a seer stone in the translation of. According to josephs widow emma, david whitmer, and william mclellin, joseph used the stone spectacles when he dictated the 116 pages of manuscript that martin harris lost in 1828, but used his seer stone when he dictated in 1829 the text of the published book of mormon. Mormons publish photos of seer stone used by founder. An analysis of the lds church seer stone announcement. What does the seer stone mean for mormons and exmormons.
On page 12 of his book an address to all believers in christ, david whitmer wrote, i will now give you a description of the manner in which the book of mormon was translated. The book of mormon is this fantastic volume of text, which inflates my soul every single time i pick it back up and read it. Book of mormon and the seer stone latterday saint nana. Joseph used a rock in a hat for the book of mormon dictation but may have also used the 1769 kjv edition bible and possibly other sources in aiding in producing the book of mormon. The seer stone and the original manuscript of the book of mormon photo of the longdiscussed seer stone used by joseph smith. Officials with the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The method in which joseph smith translated the gold plates has been a source of interest to many people who have studied the origins of the lds movement. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful study of. A prophet is a spokesperson for god, whereas a seer is one who uses means divine instruments to reveal mysteries and secrets.
A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon by bill mckeever and eric johnson the founder of the lds church, joseph smith, claimed an angel named moroni visited him in. Book of mormontranslationthe interpreters, seer stone, hat and the gift and power of godfurther reading translating the book of mormon. It also traces the provenance of his stones once they left his possession. It was sold at deseret books for several years and is still available there by special order. This book discusses the origins of joseph smiths seer stones and explores how joseph used them throughout his life in a way that goes beyond.
A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. Otherwise theres nothing new about the lds churchs publication of the printers manuscript for the book. The authors published the book in painesville, ohio, just a few miles from kirtland, and sought every way possible to discredit joseph smith, his associates, and the book of mormon. During the translation of the book of mormon, joseph smith apparently used both of these instruments. Seer stones, salamanders, and early mormon folk magic in the. These men signed statements declaring the book of mormon was true, and that they had seen andor handled the plates used in the translation. A treasured testament 1 collected works of hugh nibley, vol 18. For me, the book of mormon is an anchor for direction, understanding, peace, confidence, and a sense of wellbeing. Second, the fact that joseph smith used a seer stone in dictating the text of the book of mormon is something that the dreaded antimormon critics as mormons insist on calling them have been saying for decades, but which the lds church has rarely mentioned and never explained until very recently. Ive come to know several largerthanlife souls and their amazing stories through the book of mormon. Book of mormon origins the internet annotated book of mormon.
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