Today we’re doing things a little differently – woo-hoo!
Go back in your memory bank – way back. Try to remember your very first memory in life that you hold most dear and just think upon that for a moment.
Got it? That tender memory you hold most dear is guarded with the utmost respect and we pamper that memory as if we’re protecting the small child in your memory. You don’t let anyone or anything that could bring harm to come within reach of that kid (probably you) and such is the case with our fondest memory .
That’s the mindset for most Mormons when it comes to the Book of Mormon and its author, Joseph Smith. It goes without saying Mormons today protect and guard the story of Joe Smith and the BoM without question.
Now switch gears – imagine you’ve just discovered it’s all a sham. Everything you thought was true about your precious memory is a lie and this too is what it’s like for Mormons. All the theological dogmas of Mormonism are in direct opposition of what God’s word says. This is the stunning realization Mormons must face whether it’s here and now; or in the end. We’re praying it’s here!
The BoM has to be one of the biggest lies modern history has witnessed. The realization that Mormon dogma doesn’t align itself with biblical values is bad enough, but finding out that Smith was practicing witchcraft to compile the BoM narrative makes it that much worse and adds insult to injury.
Today we’re looking at the BoM translation process and what devoted Mormon experts have known about it.
BoM Translation Controversies
Defense of the Faith and the Saints 1: 265; “This view of the translation of the Nephite record accounts for the fact that the Book of Mormon, though a translation of an ancient record, is, nevertheless, given in English idiom of the period and locality in which the prophet lived; and in the faulty English, moreover, both as to composition, phraseology, and grammar, of a person of Joseph Smith’s limited education; and also accounts for the same-ness of phraseology and literary style which runs through the whole volume.” – BH Roberts, 1907
BH Roberts still stands as a highly respected historian and expert in all things Mormon. The major difficulties he saw and admitted to within Mormonism didn’t deter his faith or devotion to the organization or Smith’s ideals.
Sunstone Magazine, “The Book of Mormon – A Literal Translation?,” March-April 1980, p 12; “At this point it is germane to discuss what the term “translate” actually meant to Joseph Smith for it is true that he used the term in a sense not commonly understood. Possibly the best evidence of that comes from his description of facsimile number two of the Book of Abraham in which the prophet expressly avoided any of the portions which contained written text, confining his descriptions to the vignettes. He called the interpretations a “translation”…
His revision of the Bible was consistently termed “translations” even though he “did not at anytime use any biblical manuscripts,” with the result that it should therefore “be more appropriately interpreted to mean ‘revision.’’’ Furthermore, the recent evidence of the Joseph Smith papyri has demonstrated that there is no evidence that Joseph Smith knew Egyptian, in fact, [there is] evidence that he did not…” – Edward Ashment
Edward. Ashment was an active Mormon scholar when he began studying the Egyptian papyri that supposedly makes up the canon for the Book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price. While studying the historicity of Smith’s amazing discovery he made a discovery of his own which led him out of the Church.
Mr. Ashment’s assessment above is only a partial look at what the Church has done to cover up and deceive the tricks of Joseph Smith.
Finding out that Smith never used the mysterious golden plates to bring about the Book of Mormon or the papyri he purchased from the traveling salesman to produce the Book of Abraham was heartbreaking for me. I’m sure it’s that way for countless others when they learn the truth. I know I always believed he was divinely inspired to read what the foreign words and drawings meant in order for us to know the truth about God. It never dawned on me that he didn’t use the actual artifacts. If he didn’t use them then why does the Church continue to promote this scenario?
Shockingly, Smith’s ignorance of the Egyptian and Hebrew languages didn’t deter him from making people believe he could translate words or ideas into a new canon for his god. Mormon scholars even admitted that Smith gave a new definition for the meaning of ‘translate’ which for him meant ‘interpret’ or ‘interpretation’.
This is diametrically opposed to how the God of the Bible operates! Everything God does is specifically laid out for all to see. While there are unknown mysteries we must take on faith utilizing witchcraft practices or interpreting works from unknown gods to share God’s will for us isn’t one of them! We also need to remember what Jesus said about nothing being hidden…
Mark 4:21-22; “And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? 22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad”.
Ed, I have been trying to reach you. I am the producer of The PBS series, The Mormons. Might you call me,212 242-2642, or write me at whitneyhelen@gmail.com