Mormon Dilemma 591

Anthon Transcript

Joseph Smith History 1:64-65; “”I went to the city of New York, and presented the characters which had been translated, with the translation thereof, to Professor Charles Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments. Professor Anthon stated that the translation was correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the Egyptian. I then showed him those which were not yet translated, and he said that they were Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyriac, and Arabic; and he said they were true characters. He gave me a certificate, certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were true characters, and that the translation of such of them as had been translated was also correct. I took the certificate and put it into my pocket, and was just leaving the house, when Mr. Anthon called me back, and asked me how the young man found out that there were gold plates in the place where he found them. I answered that an angel of God had revealed it unto him.

65 “He then said to me, ‘Let me see that certificate.’ I accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and tore it to pieces, saying that there was no such thing now as ministering of angels, and that if I would bring the plates to him he would translate them. I informed him that part of the plates were sealed, and that I was forbidden to bring them. He replied, ‘I cannot read a sealed book.’ I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell, who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said respecting both the characters and the translation.””

Comprehensive History of the Church 1:103; “ANTHON’S LETTER TO E. D. HOWE, NEW YORK, February 17, 1834. “Dear Sir: I received your letter of the 9th, and lose no time in making a reply. The whole story about my pronouncing the Mormon inscription to be reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics is perfectly false…Upon examining the paper in question, I soon came to the conclusion that it was all a trick—perhaps a hoax…This young man was placed behind a curtain in a garret in a farm-house, and being thus concealed from view, he put on the spectacles occasionally or rather looked through one of the glasses, deciphered the characters in the book, and having committed some of them to paper, handed copies from behind the curtain to those who stood outside. Not a word was said about their being deciphered by the gift of God…

… On hearing this odd story, I changed my opinion about the paper, and instead of viewing it any longer as a hoax, I began to regard it as part of a scheme to cheat the farmer of his money, and I communicated my suspicions to him to beware of rogues…I am thus particular as to the contents of the paper, inasmuch as I have frequently conversed with friends on the subject since the Mormon excitement began, and well remember that the paper contained anything else but Egyptian hieroglyphics.”

Martin Harris had a lot to lose by not receiving a good review of Joe Smith’s revelations. He mortgaged his farm and lost it and he lost his wife over the deal. It’s no wonder he’d go to whatever lengths necessary for a favorable reception.

Charles Anthon was a professor at Columbia University. E.D. Howe was the founder and publisher of the Painesville Telegraph in Painesville, OH. Howe was one of the first to publish “anti-Mormon” literature exposing Smith’s story. He authored “Mormonism Unvailed” pointing out the many biblical and archaeological discrepancies which the Church hotly contested. 

The scenario above took place because of a transcript Joseph Smith wrote for Martin Harris to take to Professor Anthon for an opinion on what characters from the Book of Mormon said. Harris’ rendition of what took place directly opposes that of Mr. Anthon’s.

Keep in mind it would’ve been impossible for Anthon to translate the characters for a couple of reasons. 

1. The Rosetta Stone wasn’t completely translated until 1858 which gave us insight into the Egyptian language.

2. Reformed Egyptian still remains an unidentified language and improvable.