Joseph fielding smith institute for latterday saint history. But the economic conditions of joseph smiths time and place are not reflected in the book of mormon. Messenger of the restoration joseph smith translates the gold plates another testament of. The claim that joseph smith translated the book of mormon from inscriptions on a set of ancient plates is literally at the heart of mormonism. In one of the most famous declarations ever made about the book of mormon, the prophet joseph smith declares this sacred record to be the.
The student manual contains mostly general authority quotes and brief statements of explanation for blocks of verses. Barney the question is obviously based on a number of assumptions, including the following. New testament come follow me 2019 book of mormon central. Mormon recorded the events of his day on the large plates and then used them as the source for his abridgment, which was later buried in the hill cumorah. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was originally an ancient nativeamerican.
All continually testified that they believed the book of mormon to be the word of god. And, though i was an active participant in the scenes that transpired. Why was joseph smith not inspired to translate the plates directly into the words used in the joseph smith translation jst. I have not met mauricio, who is an excommunicated mormon. As such, many latterday saints have viewed joseph smith as the rod and root of jesse, and the book of mormon as the ensign. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. In a revelation given to the prophet joseph smith in 1829, the lord declared to joseph that this generation shall have my word through you doctrine and covenants 5. The book of mormon, published before the beginning of joseph smiths work on. If the book of mormon is a 19th inspired creation as you believe, how do you explain. This is the simple, direct testimony of joseph smith, giving some of the events that led to the restoration of the gospel and the founding of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. They claim that this shows that joseph smith was a true prophet by omitting that phrase. This is from the churchs official website at joseph smith translation jst. The book of mormon, first printed in 1830, is currently being published in more than 80 languages worldwide. Born in the lowest ranks of poverty, without book learning and with the homeliest of all human names, he made himself at the age of thirtynine a power upon earth.
Book of mormon student manual published by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints free this is an official resource of the church for use in institute classes. I have a copy of the book and have read through it, although i havent studied it in detail. The book of mormon records the visit of jesus christ to people in the americas following his resurrection. Nibleys commentary on the book of mormon is based on transcriptions from classes taught by hugh nibley, and is published with the permission of the neal a. The coming forth of the book of mormon, foretold by ancient prophets, began with an angelic visitation in 1823 to 17yearold joseph smith. Joseph fielding smith doctrines of salvation volume 3 chapter 12 a voice from cumorah page 589599 compiled by bruce r. The very idea that a new york farm boy with limited education might translate an ancient document is so unimaginable that it could only have occurred through, as joseph himself declared, the gift and power of. The words of mormon contains editorial commentary by mormon. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon.
The authors are very knowledgeable and reliable in the things they share. Book of mormon central, knowhy david whitmer maintained his testimony of the book of mormon even though he became separated from joseph smith and the church. The revelation was given in the context of the translation of the book of mormon. Richard bushman, an esteemed cultural historian and a practicing mormon, moves beyond the. In the book of mormon, the lord declared that out of weakness, joseph smith shall be made strong 2 nephi 3. This suggests that most of us could benefit by some. Joseph fielding smith doctrines of salvation volume 3. For example, in 1990 susan curtis explains the economic subthemes of the book as joseph smiths commentary on market capitalism. The 1838 mormon defense of northern missouri, dissertations in latterday saint history provo, ut. In march of 2019 mauricio berger of brazil published the sealed book of mormon. Best of book of mormon commentary list scripture notes.
Regarded by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints as holy scripture detailing gods revelation to joseph smith. I am grateful to have been asked to discuss the title page of the book of mormon. It would take 10 minutes to scroll through and find my place each time i used the book. It is not sponsored or endorsed by either the maxwell institute or. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. Designed for those who wish to carefully research the early text of the book of mormon and efforts to publish that book, the transcript in this volume reproduces the printers manuscript exactly as it appears today.
Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Indeed, as jensen and hauglid point out in their introductory remarks in the new volume, joseph smiths keen interest in egyptian writings may have stemmed in part from his belief that the writing system on the gold plates from which he translated the book of mormon had an egyptian component. Concerning this record the prophet joseph smith said. As the keystone of our religion, in joseph smiths words, the book of mormon is high priority reading. Does the bible contain prophecies about joseph smith. About a year ago, byu published an article showing the joseph smith translation jst of the bible appears to rely on the adam clarke bible commentary.
Some other explanation of the origin of the book of mormon must be found, if any explanation is required. Seven years later, in 1830, this scriptural canon of the latterday saints was published for the world. The book of mormon restores plain and precious truths that were lost over the centuries. Joseph smith beginning his work on the book of mormon. Mormon defenders of the faith claim that 3 nephi 12.
The founder of the mormon church, joseph smith, wed as many as 40 wives, including one as young as 14 years old, the church acknowledged. This volume of the joseph smith papers provides a facsimile edition of the printers manuscript of the book of mormon. In it, joseph smith desired to restore many of the plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the lamb of god. My husband and i read from it each night while studying the book of mormon. No matter what i did, it always opened up at the beginning of the chapter. Mormonism and the biblejoseph smith translationrelationship to. Adam clarke bible commentary in the book of mormon. Joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon. Joseph smiths biblical antiquity religious studies center. Scholars reject smiths explanation of the origin of the book of mormon. Joseph smith could neither write nor dictate a coherent and wellworded letter. These groups were led by prophets who recorded their religious and secular histories on metal plates. Joseph smith s detailed accounts of obtaining, protecting, and translating the gold plates 4. The book of mormon is a true volume of scripture, prophesied in.
Mauricio berger and the sealed book of mormon latterday. Use this reading schedule to help you achieve president russell m. It is my duty to teach the doctrine, he said, and he preached, wrote, and explained in informal and formal settings what the lord had revealed to him. What do mormons think about the joseph smith version of. The prophet joseph smith was the greatest doctrinal teacher since jesus christ. Garth norman posted by permission of ancient america foundation and the author. Mcconkie 195456 entire volume 3 here witnesses of book of mormon why plates.
Maxwell institute for religious scholarship and nibley llc. Joseph smith and the beginning of book of mormon archaeology did the prophet joseph smith in 1842 locate book of mormon lands in middle america. Thus, the restoration was both prophesied in and influenced by the words of isaiah. I first was made aware of this in a good podcast interview by laura hales at lds perspectives. The jst is a harmonization, expansion, commentary, and clarification of doctrinally important. When moroni visited the boy joseph smith, he quoted isaiah 11 and said it was about to be fulfilled. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. When the apologists responded to such accusations during the 20th century, one tactic they employed was to blame the 1820s upstate new york moneydigging commotion on. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. Joseph smith did not receive the large plates, but the book of mormon suggests that they may yet be published to the world 3 ne. Mcconkie and millets four volume doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon is good, although it is as conservative a series as you might guess a work by a man sporting the names of both joseph fielding smith and bruce r. Did joseph smith plagiarize from adame clarkes commentary. Testimony of the prophet joseph smith a brief explanation about the book of mormon. Why is david whitmers witness of the book of mormon so compelling.
Study the new testament with a verse by verse commentary by lynne hilton wilson, the cofounder of book of mormon central. The first kind of support given for this thesis is from the inspired version of the bible, also known as the joseph smith translation jst. Phinney company in cooperstown, new york, published a quartosize edition of the king james bible. The simplest explanation for this is that the bible contains the record of gods. The chapters consist of the entire book in the book of mormon. Starting on sunday, october 7, 2018, you can complete the book of mormon by the end of the year by reading about 2. The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. What are some great commentary books on the book of mormon. Joseph smiths commentary on the bible deseret book. The prophet joseph smiths own words about the coming forth of the book of mormon are. This is the version that joseph smith, founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, used in his work when he created a new translation of the bible. Founder of the largest indigenous christian church in american history, joseph smith published the 584page book of mormon when he was 23 and went on to organize a church, found cities, and attract thousands of followers before his violent death at age 38. Much of his teaching focused on passages from the bible.
Smith as the rod and root of jesse, and the book of mormon as the ensign. A forum for exmormons and others who have been affected by mormonism to share news, commentary, and comedy about the mormon church. Naturally it is read with varying degrees of understanding. The appearance of the angel moroni, one of the authors of the bofm. The book of mormon is a religious record of three groups of people who migrated from the old world to the american continents. How this either speaks to joseph smith being a genius or it imposes that joseph had other sources by his side in his translation work and what that means for other works including the book of abraham but namely the book of mormon does the book of mormon utilize clarkes commentary. Richardson, richardson and bentley note that joseph quincy, mayor of boston, said of joseph. Ive included this under the joseph smith and the book of mormon references because the two go hand in hand.
Doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon by robert millet and joseph fielding mcconkie this is a 4 volume set which doesnt go straight through the book of mormon as some other commentaries, but approaches it by topic and then studies the scriptures with prophetic statements about those verses. This is a reference to the book of mormon and the bible being companion books that compliment each other. When moroni visited the boy joseph smith, he quoted isaiah 11 and said. Click here for general teachings about the book of mormon. The commentary in 2 nephi 26 and 27 is the most helpful explanation we have of isaiah 29 in the book of mormon. The best example of joseph smiths providing an explanation of the book of. It is not sponsored or endorsed by either the maxwell institute or brigham young university, and. To learn more about joseph smith s translation of the book of mormon, click here. This suggests that most of us could benefit by some aid to that understanding. Prophecies about joseph smith bible references for lds.
John edward page biography the joseph smith papers. The presence gold plates while joseph translated, seen by many witnesses. So, the book of mormon, brought forth through the prophet joseph smith, teaches. Joseph smiths mormon defenders have generally avoided addressing their prophets glasslooking career. The commentary is insightful and we learned many new and interesting thingspoints about most every section. Reynolds and sjodahl, commentary on the book of mormon, vol. In offering such aid, this commentary focuses on the most significant aspect doctrine.
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