David whitmer interview with a reporter of the kansas city daily journal, 5 june 1881, cited in larry c. 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. See also below for a book of mormon timeline or chronology chart, as at right, with book of mormon nephite and lamanite timeline also jaredite and mulekite timelines. It is claimed that in the book of mormon material which parallels the kjv, joseph smith generally modified the italicized text. 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.
Joseph smith translated an ancient text by the gift and power of god to produce the book of mormon. Willes center for book of mormon studies wednesday at the gordon b. The map is without any scale, and does not attempt to relate them to presentday geography or place names. 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.
Website also has summaries of the book of mormon stories for fhe here are four printable versions of my book of mormon timeline. However, what they fail to say is this claim means 60 different individual days translation. More details can now be known about the key events that anchor our historical understandings of the pace of translation, about witness testimonies that credibly document the impressive work, and other considerations regarding the keystone restoration scripture. Porter, from a book coming forth, ensign july 1988, 42. He is directed to and sees the plates for the first time. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. Visual overview of the flow of events in the book of mormon.
April 2015 book of mormon translation challenge the book of mormon translation challenge invites people to read the entire book of mormon during the same time period that it took joseph smith and oliver cowdery to translate it. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer stone in a hat. May 15, 2014 book of mormon timeline p jeff decker. What do we know about the chronology of the book of mormon translation and publication. Most latterday saints grew up learning that joseph smith translated the book of mormon through the use of magic spectacles known as the urim and thummim. It contained a lengthy historical chronology of the events in 182829. Which scribes worked on which portions in the book of mormon. Book of mormon chronology timeline of jaredites mormon. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. Charting the book of mormon is a collection of more than 175 visual aids that promote deeper understanding and appreciation of the book of mormon. Joseph smith publishes the book of mormon, an english translation of the golden plates. Spring 1820 first vision 21 september 1823 joseph receives a visit from moronithree that night, and one the next day. A transcript and partial translation of the book of mormon is taken to academics by martin harris. The anthon transcript often identified with the caractors document is a piece of paper on which joseph smith wrote several lines of characters.
Our book of mormon timeline bookmark makes studying the people of the book of mormon just a little bit easier. Ammaron instructs mormon concerning the sacred records. Understanding the timeline of book of mormon translation. Joseph smith translates some of the characters himself.
Two are bookmarks, and the last is a word doc, so you can resi. 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. Its 269,510 words, 22 originally printed onto 588 pages, 23 were revealed to joseph smith through divinely prepared translation instruments. Mar 15, 2019 the book of mormon, however, was produced in a very different manner. 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. And may we joyfully share our testimonies of its precious promises with all of gods children. Welchs excellent article entitled the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, from opening the heavens, accounts of divine manifestations 18201844, p. Nov 11, 2017 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. Unless otherwise indicated, the translation was financed and the resulting text published by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church. Byu professors lecture examines the timeline of joseph smiths. Mulekite history represented by light pink on the timeline. The miraculous translation of the book of mormon book of. Joseph began translating again in 1829, and almost all of the present book of mormon text was translated during a threemonth period between april and june.
Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. Welch gave the annual book of mormon lecture entitled hours never to be forgotten for the laura f. But beginning about 182728, smith and his followers began to change how they talked about the translation process, transforming it from magical treasure lore into christian epic. Jun 05, 2012 the book of mormon translation challenge invites people to read the entire book of mormon during the same time period that it took joseph smith and oliver cowdery to translate it. This page provides settings and an overview or summary timeline with approximate dates for the generic map or schematic diagram of the book of mormon lands, including nephite, lamanite and jaredite place names in the promised land in the americas. 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. Professor figures out book of mormon translation timeline.
See more ideas about book of mormon, book of mormon stories and scripture study. The book of mormon came into the world through a series of miraculous events. A look back at select milestones in the translation of the latterday saint standard works. 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. Printed on high quality photo paper 20x30 print sketch artwork done by joseph f. What do we know about the chronology of the book of. Welch meticulously tracks the timeline of the book of mormon s translation.
Read cnn s fast facts on the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. June martin harris loses 116 pages of the translated manuscript of the book of mormon. When joseph smith began the book of mormon translation, he acted in his capacity as a treasure seer and used the tools of that trade. What do we know about the method used to translate the book of mormon. Willes book of mormon lecture is now available online. The church history department of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has released a new video exploring joseph smiths use of seer stones in the translation process of the book of mormon. Kirkhams suggestion that the book of mormon was translated within seventyfive. Byu professors lecture examines the timeline of joseph. Alleging a connection between the first book of napoleon and the book of mormon requires valid evidence. The young man, however, had very little formal education and was incapable of writing a book on his own, let alone translating an ancient book written from an unknown language, known in the book of mormon as reformed egyptian. Book of mormon geography settings, timeline, overview.
Mormon is mortally wounded in the battle at a place called cumorah, and the nephites are nearly obliterated, but moroni survives another 36 years and adds material to the book of mormon before. 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. According to smith, these characters were from the golden plates the ancient record from which smith claims to have translated the book of mormon and represent the reformed egyptian writing that was on the plates. While a select few did hear joseph refer to magical items, nobody ever saw a breastplate, spectacles, or ancient interpreter stones. Heres how i would lay out what happened from the time joseph got the plates to the publication. Emma hale smith, and perhaps her brother reuben hale, help as scribes for a portion of the book. Were the plates sometimes not in the room while joseph was translating them. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints fast facts. Welch meticulously tracks the timeline of the book of mormons translation. Oct 18, 2005 joseph smith publishes the book of mormon, an english translation of the golden plates. Timeline chronology for the jaredite culture from the book of ether in the book of mormon. 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.
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 the book of mormon. Elaborating on a paper he had presented on problems in book of mormon archeology, thomas ferguson, the man that singlehandedly launched the search for mormon archeology, writes that you cannot set book of mormon geography down anywhere because it is fictional and will never meet requirements of dirt archeology. Welch and rathbone on book of mormon translation book of. 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 americas.
Why is the timing of the book of mormons translation so. Sept 1828joseph starts retranslation of book of mormon without any instructions from god or any kind of revelation. The translation of the book of lehi is completed, resulting in 116 pages of translated text. One is just the right size to fit into the front of your scriptures. Designed for multiple use as study guides, handouts, and masters for creating projectable images, the charts convey a wealth of information that will enrich personal study and teaching. A timeline of the book of mormon translation blogger. Youll find important events, prophets, and the movements of people in the book of mormon.
Compelling data confirm the dates of five key events during the translation timeline. Once zeniff and his group arrived, the lamanites put them in bondage. It is claimed that each sentence and word in the 1830 book of. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon. From the approximate book of mormon translation timeline. Book of mormon origins 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. Scripture mastery mad gabs book of mormon scriptures. Whats so remarkable about this part of the translation of the book of mormon is the breakneck pace of the work the translation of the text during this time was completed in an astounding 65 to 72 working days based on the number of pages in the 1830 edition of the book of mormon. June 15 joseph and emma have their first child, a boy named alvin. April 06, 1829 to june 16, 1829 translation of the book of mormon at this point we move to a daily analysis of the translation of the book of mormon. He just does it on his own, the really odd thing is he doesnt attempt to retranslate the book of lehi, and skips 1nephi, 2nephi, jacob, enos, jarom, omni and words of mormon. Welch, john w the miraculous translation of 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. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris serving as the main scribes, was lost in 1828. Welch examined how long it took joseph smith to translate the book of mormon a lecture wednesday night at the. Again, it is the rate of translation, approximately 6. The book of mormon presents itself to the world as a miracle and as a sign that god has begun the process of gathering scattered israel, as he anciently covenanted to do. A dynamic, interactive, webfriendly presentation of the book of mormon.
Martin harris, a book of mormon scribe for the lost 116 pages of the bom, also one of the three witnesses to the book of mormon, provided this information to his friend edward stevenson, who would later become part of the lds first council of seventy. Welch presenting on the translation of the book of mormon. Welch and tim rathbone, the translation of the book of mormon. This timeline overlays the book of mormon history with latterday prophetic history and organizes the matching events.
Willes center for book of mormon studies at the gordon b. It also includes parallel biblical and world events. The first 5,000 copies of the book of mormon are printed. 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. Professor figures out book of mormon translation timeline book. Accounts of divine manifestations, 18201844, edited by john w. Its message spans the earth and brings its readers to a knowledge of the truth. How the book of mormon translation story changed over time.
It is a variant of a book of mormon chonology chart, circa 1980. Joseph and emmas first child, alvin, was born but died shortly. The book of mormon jaredite king list gives only 7 exact dates lifespans and reigns for the jaredite chronology. Approximate book of mormon translation timeline elden watsons. These tables show all the versions of the book of mormon that have been translated. As of march 2015, the lds church continues to publish at least portions of the book of mormon in 110 languages. Free printable book of mormon timeline bookmark or scripture insert awesome. It is my testimony that the book of mormon changes lives. Zeniff, a nephite, took a group south to reclaim the nephite lands. First significant anti mormon book, mormonism unvailed printed, with no mention of first vision, peter, james, john or priesthood. Introduction to the approximate book of mormon translation. The book of lehi mormons abridgement is translated. 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.
Lucy says that it was arranged before joseph smith left palmyra that martin harris was to follow as soon as joseph had enough time to translate some of the. Translation process mormon stories mormon stories podcast. Church members believe that the book of mormon is more correct than the bible because the bible was the result of a multiplegeneration translation process and the book of mormon was not. The approximate book of mormon translation timeline was an interesting article to research. 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. 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.
This paper aims to stimulate specific thinking about the intense and complex events during which the book of mormon was translated in 1829. For the first 150 years of mormonisms existence, everyone thought it was a story about a people who left the middle east and came to south or central america, and who fought wars clear up into new york state where. For this and other reasons, many people have naturally been interested in the details of its coming forth, including the timing of its translation. Without any supportive historical data, the author of the ces letter assumes that joseph was aware of the first book of napoleon and constructed the book of mormon by using structural elements from it. While any proposed relationships between these revelations and the book of mormon remain tentative, interesting analyses help locate which portions of the book of mormon may have been produced at particular points during the translation timeline. Comparison of the history of the bible and the book of mormon other books the event the date the event relating to time period the nephitesapproximate the jaredites the creation genesis 1, 2 4004 b. Modification of the italicized text in book of mormon biblical passages summary. Take your hr comms to the next level with prezi video. Nov, 2017 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. Timeline of the book of mormon translation scott woodward. Almost all of the present book of mormon text was translated during a threemonth period between april and june 1829 with.
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