Seer stone book of mormon

Martin harris also stated that the prophet translated a portion of the book of mormon, with the seer stone in his possession. Book of mormon and the seer stone by latterdaysaint nana on friday, september 22, 2017 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. A depiction of joseph smith dictating the book of mormon through the use of a seer stone placed in a hat to block out light. For decades most latterday saints took the translation of the book of mormon in the way that the 2001 ensign magazine depicted it. William stafford also had a seer stone, and joshua stafford had a peepstone which looked like white marble and had a hole through the center.

This quote is quite extensive, but can be viewed here. Revelations of the restoration, by joseph fielding mcconkie and craig ostler, pg. Translating the book of mormon, proceedings of the 2011 fair conference august 2011. Mar 21, 2018 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. Mormons publish photos of seer stone used by joseph smith. Aug 04, 2015 mormons publish photos of seer stone used by joseph smith.

Smith enlisted his neighbor martin harris as a scribe during his initial work on the text. One who sees visions, especially of a spiritual nature the church recently released a picture of the seer stone joseph smith used to translate the book of mormon. When a historical record says that a revelation was given through the urim and thummim, holzapfel said we cant be sure if it was the urim and thummin book of mormon translators or the prophets seer stone. We have no record of the prophet having the urim and thummim after the organization of the church. When it comes to the book of mormon translation, there is what is called a tight translation and there is what is called a loose translation. Michael quinns early mormonism and the magic world view. It is well researched and very enlightening and a must read for those who are willing to accept the word.

Some of the prophets of the nephites in the book of mormon are also mentioned as having seer stones. Joseph smith becoming the seer stone book of mormon facts. New church video explains joseph smiths seer stones. The second seer stone was reportedly found while digging a well on the property of william chase in 1822. It also traces the provenance of the seer stones once they leave his possession. Seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon. Mormon church releases photos of seer stone used by founder. Jan 09, 2020 seer stone not used in book of mormon translation. Urim and thummim makes a great case for simply going back to the basics. Martin harris tests joseph smiths claim of translating the.

Due to the prominence of the urim and thummim in the narrative of church history, turley conceded that many members might be surprised to learn that joseph often used a seer stone during the. Martin harris tests joseph smith during the translation of the golden plates. Lds quotes about seer stones eve out of the garden. This instrument was referred to in the book of mormon as the interpreters.

That act was the first in over a century where lds openly admitted that its founding prophet used a seer stone to create the book of mormon, the complaint states. Printers manuscript of the book of mormon which included photos of the brown seer stone that joseph smith used in the translation process of the book of mormon. By 1826, js had at least two seer stones, and according to brigham young he eventually had five seer stones. When joseph smith was given the responsibility to translate the book of mormon he used the urim and thummim. Some natives of the book of mormon, or remnants, descend from israel. That is, accepting the translation of the book of mormon as joseph said it was done, as opposed to how others claim it was done. Richard neitzel holzapfel speaks at byu education week. Visions in a seer stone joseph smith and the making of the book of mormon by william l. Roger nicholson, the spectacles, the stone, the hat, and the book. When joseph claimed to know where to go to find the plates, it was probably because he claimed to see the spot in his seer stone.

Book of mormontranslationthe interpreters, seer stone. Mormon scholars and leaders now concede that joseph used his seer stone to dictate at least a large part of the book of mormon. Those stones were later described as spectacles or the urim and thummim, and in the book of mormon they are simply called interpreters. Joseph smith pictures of a smooth, brown, eggsized rock are shown in the printers manuscript of the book of mormon following a news conference tuesday, aug. The following is an excerpt taken from an interview between martin harris and edward. We have been taught since the days of the prophet that the urim and thummim were returned with the plates to the angel. There is also the complaint that the artwork is incorrect concerning joseph translating the plates. Joseph also found another stone that became his seer stone. The second seer stone was reportedly found on the property of william chase in 1822 as chase described it. All methods of seeing with objects required some method whereby normal vision was masked. According to various lds documents, the manner of translation has been described. A somewhat perplexing reference to gazelem, the name of an individual using a stone prepared by god, is found in alma 37.

When he dug the white stone up, it became josephs first seer stone and would have been used for josephs earliest treasure hunting days joseph then used this white seer stone to locate the famous brown seer stone used to translate the book of mormon. The seer stone is believed to have helped mormon church founder joseph smith translate a. If the church wanted to educate the members, it would take getting an artist to render the portrait, approve it and publish it probably wont happen. Aug 08, 2015 for detailed discussions of josephs use of a seer stone in the book of mormons creation, see ces letter, mormon think, or d. Joseph smiths magic seer stonedefinition of seer stone. Joseph smith the man and the seer mormon book of 1979. Joseph smith dictated the book of mormon using the same seer stone he had previously used for years in hunting for buried treasure.

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 september of 1823. Until the book of mormon thrust young smith into prominence, palmyras most notable seer was sally chase, who used a greenishcolored stone. The belief in seer stones was common in the culture of 19thcentury. The practice of using stones or glass to receive divine revelation is found in many cultures, including among the ancient israelites and maya. Martin played a trick on joseph to prove whether he actually was translating golden plates or was not. Even though the stone had been discussed in church magazines before, many mormons apparently. Jan 28, 2016 when he dug the white stone up, it became josephs first seer stone and would have been used for josephs earliest treasure hunting days joseph then used this white seer stone to locate the famous brown seer stone used to translate the book of mormon. Accordingly, using sallys stone, joseph proclaimed that he could see his own seer stone and that it was a hundred and fifty miles away buried under a tree.

Seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including joseph smith using a seer stone and accounts of joseph smith using urim and thummim. They are a chosen people who will fulfill the work of god in the. The question at hand, then, is whether or not smiths translation of the book of mormon plates is true. Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints believe that joseph smith used a seer stone in the book of mormon translation effort. Mormon church releases photos of seer stone used by. Joseph smiths seer stones religious studies center.

What are 1769 kjv edition errors doing in book of mormon. When and how did joseph smith obtain his brown seer stone, and what did he use it for. In a nutshell, the authors a couple of latterday saint scholars disagree with the idea that joseph used a seer stone to help him translate the book of mormon. Jul 18, 2016 a somewhat perplexing reference to gazelem, the name of an individual using a stone prepared by god, is found in alma 37. In 2015, the lds church removed what it claimed to be smiths seer stone from a vault and allowed it to be photographed.

Given that many local palmyra residents remember joseph with a white stone, and taking into consideration the fact that he gave his brown seer stone away to oliver cowdery, is it also possible that joseph translated the book of mormon with the white stone. Friendly, faithful sources which affirm joseph smith used a seer stone in the translation of the book of mormon include martin harris and emma smith, to name just two. Sep 20, 2009 they both had reputations based on their skill at using seer stones, and since joseph smith found the brown stone using the green stone of sally chase, and joseph smith then used the brown seer stone to translate the book of mormon, the significance of whether or not sally chase was a necromancer is crucial in defining joseph smiths role. Phineas young, who had helped reunite oliver cowdery with the church in the late 1840s, obtained the stone from cowderys widow, and in turn gave it to his brother brigham young. At some point, however, joseph began translating with another seer stone he had used in money digging and folk. According to most accounts, the seer stone was used during all stages of the translation of the book of mormon, both before and after the loss of the first 116 manuscript pages. Did the church try to hide josephs use of a seer stone to. Aug 05, 2015 mormons reveal seer stone for first time members of the religion believe the eggshaped stone was used by the utahbased faiths founder, joseph smith, to write the book of mormon. Aug 10, 2015 joseph smith pictures of a smooth, brown, eggsized rock are shown in the printers manuscript of the book of mormon following a news conference tuesday, aug. An analysis of the lds church seer stone announcement.

I know a lot of people have complained church members have complained that we always reference the urim and thummim, but not seer stones. 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. Book of mormon witnesses, seer stones, and a hat eve out. This apostle who later became the tenth president of the church denied such a thing in 1954. Yes, joseph smith really did use a seer stone in the. So when do members hear the official head in hat with seer. Mormons reveal seer stone for first time telegraph. The book of mormon gives the covenants of the lord through christ. Mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including joseph smith using a seer stone and accounts of joseph smith using urim and thummim.

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. A twentyfirst century believers view of the book of mormon translation, interpreter. So when do members hear the official head in hatseer stones lesson. Practitioners of folk magic, such as joseph and his family, believed that that there is a seer stone of this quality, somewhere, for every one. Book of mormon and the seer stone latterday saint nana. The descriptions of how joseph used a seer stone prior to the book of mormon have him placing the stone in the crown of his hat and then drawing the hat to his face so that his vision was obscured. The seer stone is believed to have helped mormon church founder joseph smith translate a story that became the foundation of.

Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for book of. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. After the 116 pages were lost joseph translated the rest of the book of mormon with a stone, saints herald 19 1 aug. I will now give you a description of the manner in which the book of mormon was translated. I want to address joseph smiths seer stone, his hat, the three witnesses, emma smiths witness and elizabeth ann whitmer cowderys witness.

The mormon church for the first time is publishing photos of a small sacred stone it believes founder joseph smith used to help. As several historians and scholars have discussed, joseph used both the nephite interpreters later called the urim and thummim that were discovered with the plates and his individual seer stone in the translation of the book of mormon. Between about 18281829, joseph used the brown stone to dictate the book of mormon. Some of the quotes from mormons who owned seer stones, or talked about seer stones, or saw seer stones. Some say the book of mormon is an authentic historical record of ancient peoples.

Imagine the surprise of many mormons when a 2015 gospel topics essay admitted that the seer stone was used in the translation of the book of mormon. Mormons reveal seer stone for first time members of the religion believe the eggshaped stone was used by the utahbased faiths founder, joseph smith, to write the book of mormon. We learn in the book of mormon and in church history that god uses small and simple means to bring about mighty works. There are many book of mormon names found in this book that was published years prior to the publication of the book of mormon. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. Sep 22, 2017 book of mormon and the seer stone by latterdaysaint nana on friday, september 22, 2017 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. In fact, faith is magical, so i have no problem with. 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. Did joseph smith translate the book of mormon with the white seer stone. This article discusses what the lds church has admitted on this issue and explains why it matters. Many members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints believe that joseph smith used this seer stone in the book of mormon translation effort. In this episode of 5minute firesides, tad callister shares a case for the book of mormon and reveals several golden nuggets found within the sacred scriptures.

If smith truly was a prophet with the ability to decipher plates of an unknown language which were said to contain the story of jesus appearance in the americas, then this. Eventually, even joseph smith used urim and thummim indiscriminately as labels generically representing either the book of mormon interpreters or the seer stone used during translation. The particular seer stone used to translate text that would become the book of mormon was found in 1819 after joseph smith borrowed a seer stone from a friend to find another whitish seer stone in. Did joseph smith use a magical seer stone as an aid to translating the book of mormon. Joseph with the seer stone by gary ernest smith via. These are just a few i found, but im sure id find more if i looked closer. For instance, the volume contains stunning, neverbeforeseen photographs of a seer stone that joseph smith used in the translation of the book of mormon.

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. The surprising geology of joseph smiths brown seer stone. Joseph smith would easily fit the identity of gazelem. However, according to todays leaders of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, the stone was a tool certainly used by smith to do his translation. There are many book of mormon names found in this book that was published years prior to the publication of the book of. Similarly, joseph smith used both the nephite interpreters and his individual seer stone in the translation of the book of mormon.

Joseph then used this first stone to find a second stone a white one. In the video seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon, mason allred interviews dr. If the origins of the book of mormon are a single modern revelation by one man, derived with the assistance of a seerstone, thats a completely different kind of book than if it is a. Mormons react to firstever photograph of joseph smiths seer. He gave a brief description of them in joseph smith history 1. 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. Why was a stone used as an aid in translating the book of mormon. He claimed that when placed in the hat, words would appear which he would then read off to the transcriber. Harris later mortgaged his farm to underwrite the printing of the book of mormon. While these changes are understandable and many of them were made by joseph smith in the 1837 or 1840 editions of the book of mormon, they challenge the narrative of a preexisting translation that appeared in the seer stone. New church video explains joseph smiths seer stones book. Did a magic world view influence the coming forth of the book of mormon.