DOCSLIB.ORG

The Prophet Like Moses, Page 2 FAIR Conference, Page 4 ! Insights Research at the Shrine of the Book, Page 7 the Newsletter of the Neal A

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Prophet Like Moses, Page 2 FAIR Conference, Page 4 ! Insights Research at the Shrine of the Book, Page 7 the Newsletter of the Neal A I N T H I S I S S U E Update: The Prophet Like Moses, page 2 FAIR Conference, page 4 ! INSIGHTS Research at the Shrine of the Book, page 7 The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship Volume 27 Number 5 New Documentary Focuses on they make their first camp and travel in the wil- 2007 New World derness, mourn the death of Ishmael at Nahom, and build a ship in the land Bountiful to carry Journey of Faith: The them to the Promised Land. New World premiered Journey of Faith: The New World continues the to large audiences at story of the descendants of Lehi and Sariah in the BYU Education Week New World. Insights from 32 top scholars, archae- in a sneak preview. ologists, and educators breathe life into the Book S. Kent Brown, direc- of Mormon’s thousand-year span, aiding under- tor of the newly formed standing of this sacred text. Drawing on Mormon’s Laura F. Willes Center description of the land, religious history, culture, for Book of Mormon and traditions, the film creates a fascinating visual Studies and one of the and descriptive mosaic. Stunningly beautiful images lead historical con- filmed on location in Guatemala and southern sultants on the docu- Mexico, combined with the artwork of Joseph mentary, and Peter N. Brickey, illuminate the rich history of the Book of Johnson, director, hosted the premier. A number of Mormon. people returned for a second viewing because of the The DVD also includes translations of the film sweep of information in the film. “Packing a long into Spanish and Portuguese, a 22-minute seg- history into 80 or 90 minutes of film presented a ment on the making of the documentary entitled huge challenge to the filmmakers,” Johnson said. “Creating the New World,” and several short features The new film enjoys the sponsorship of the Neal A. on important topics specific to the Book of Mormon, Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship and the such as DNA, the law of Moses, chiasmus, language, Willes Center. metallurgy, and Mesoamerican flora and fauna. This film is a sequel to the successful Journey Journey of Faith: The New World is now avail- of Faith, a documentary about Lehi’s travels able for purchase. To order, visit the Maxwell through ancient Arabia, beginning with his life Institute Web site (maxwellinstitute.byu.edu). ! in Jerusalem and following him and his family as Peterson Awarded for Scholastic Islamic Translation Series. It is certainly a tribute to Excellence the work of METI and Dr. Morgan Davis, managing editor of the Islamic Translation Series.” The ITS, FOR MORE INFORMATION The Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters a branch of METI, promotes the study of Islamic The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for held its annual awards banquet on Friday, October philosophy, theology, and mysticism by translat- Religious Scholarship 12, at Weber State University. The academy awarded ing these works and making them widely available. 200 WAIH, BYU Provo, Utah 84602 Daniel C. Peterson, professor of Islamic Studies and Six volumes are published to date and more are in (801) 422-9229 Arabic at Brigham Young University and director progress. (800) 327-6715 of the Maxwell Institute’s Middle Eastern Texts The Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and maxwellinstitute.byu.edu Initiative (METI), the highest award of the evening, Letters, which was founded in 1908, promotes new, naming him a Utah Academy Fellow and lifetime meaningful scholarship in the sciences, arts and TO ORDER PUBLICATIONS member of the organization. letters, business, education, engineering, physical BYU Bookstore Of this honor, Peterson observes, “The award education, and other areas. Provo, Utah 84602 (800) 253-2578 was manifestly inspired by the Middle Eastern Texts The Maxwell Institute congratulates Dr. byubookstore.com Initiative or, I suspect, even more precisely by the Peterson on this honor. ! Insights_2007_5.indd 1 11/27/07 9:20:27 AM PAGE 2 | THE PROPHET LIKE MOSES INSIGHTS 27/5 | 2007 The Prophet Like Moses that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles, (it One of the most frequently quoted Old Testament shall be done even as Moses said) they shall be cut passages in scripture is Moses’s prophecy as off from among my people who are of the covenant” re corded in Deuteronomy 18:15–19: (3 Nephi 21:11). The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a “For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like that at that day whosoever will not repent and unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; According to come unto my Beloved Son, them will I cut off all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb from among my people, O house of Israel” (3 Nephi in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me 21:20). see this great fire any more, that I die not. And the Later iterations of Moses’s words also employ Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which the term cut off in reference to those who will not they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet obey Christ (see Doctrine and Covenants 133:63; from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:55; Joseph Smith— put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall History 1:40; see also the paraphrase in D&C 1:14). come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto Clearly, the phrase “cut off from the people” my words which he shall speak in my name, I will in the Book of Mormon and modern revelations require it of him. is closer in meaning to “destroyed from among The New Testament, Book of Mormon, and the people” in Acts 3:23 than to “I will require modern revelations through the Prophet Joseph it of him,” the wording in Deuteronomy 18:19 as Smith declare that the prophet like Moses was Jesus it stands in the King James Version (KJV) of the Christ. What is curious, however, is that these other Bible. The skeptic might conclude that Joseph Smith scriptural passages are worded differently at the merely copied (albeit not verbatim) the version used end of the prophecy. For example, in Acts 3:22–23 by Peter, but this does not explain why Peter’s rendi- Peter says, “For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A tion differs from the Deuteronomy passage in both prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you the Hebrew Bible and the Greek Septuagint used in of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in his day. all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it The construction of the Hebrew, wm[m vrda shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not (’edroš mē-cimmō), KJV “I will require it of him,” is hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the difficult at best. If the verb were crda (’edroś), it people” (emphasis added; see the abbreviated ver- might be seen as a variant spelling of srda (’edros), sion in Acts 7:37). Similar wording appears in the which in modern Hebrew means “I will blot out, Book of Mormon citations of Moses’s words: wipe out, extinguish.” The interchange of sibi- “The words of Moses, which he spake, saying: A lants such as š, ś, and s is well attested in Semitic prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, languages such as Hebrew. like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatso- Part of the explanation for the scriptural dis- ever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass crepancies may lie in the fact that Hebrew was that all those who will not hear that prophet shall originally written without vowels, which were be cut off from among the people” (1 Nephi 22:20). added a century or more after the time of the “Behold, I am he of whom Moses spake, saying: New Testament. Thus the word wm[m, vocalized A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto mē-cimmō (“from him”) in the Masoretic Hebrew you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye texts, could just as well have been mē-cammō, hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. “from his people,” where the final ō is the posses- And it shall come to pass that every soul who will sive pronominal suffix his. Based on this evidence, not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among it is likely that the Hebrew was originally intended the people” (3 Nephi 20:23). to read “I will extinguish [him] from his people.” “Therefore it shall come to pass that whosoever Indeed, the verb may have the meaning of “cut off” will not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, in the sense of “excommunicate.” which the Father shall cause him to bring forth Note that in citing the Deuteronomy passage unto the Gentiles, and shall give unto him power three times to the Nephites, Christ twice used the Insights_2007_5.indd 2 11/27/07 9:20:27 AM INSIGHTS 27/5 | 2007 THE PROPHET LIKE MOSES CONTINUED | PAGE 3 term my people (3 Nephi 21:11, 20),1 which would Hebrew text rather than the Greek, it is significant be ym[m (mē-cammī, “from my people”) rather than that the Book of Mormon scribes understood it in wm[m (mē-cammō, “from his people”) in Hebrew.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 24 Salt Lake City Messenger: Moonmen and Nephites
    The Salt Lake City Messenger MODERN MICROFILM COMPANY Issue No. 24 PO BOX 1884, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84110 August 1969 MOONMEN and NEPHITES At the time Joseph Smith established the Mormon Church, many people America are lineally descended from the ancient Hebrews” (The Wonders of believed that the moon was a habitable globe. Adam Clark, a Protestant writer, Nature and Providence Displayed, Albany, N.Y., 1825, page 297). The Book stated: “There is scarcely any doubt now remaining in the philosophical world of Mormon also teaches that the Indians are the descendants of a group of that the moon is a habitable globe” (Clark’s Commentary, vol. 1, page 36). Hebrews who came to America. Josiah Priest made this statement: However this may be, the Mormon people accept the Book of Mormon as scripture. Some members of the Church have made some fantastic claims It is believed and asserted by astronomers as their opinion, obtained from telescopic observation, that the moon, . is a globe in ruins, or if not about archaeologists using the Book of Mormon. For instance, we are informed so, it at least is frequently much convulsed by the operations of volcanic fires. that a letter which was written to Ernest L. English on May 3, 1936, was Its surface, as seen through the glasses, is found extremely mountainous, . duplicated and “distributed to LDS church members by leaders (local) in a great number of rivers, creeks, lakes and small seas must divide the land of Cleveland, Ohio, in 1959.” We quote the following from this letter: this globe into a vast number of tracts of country, which are doubtless filled with animals,—consequently with rational beings in the form of men, as .
    [Show full text]
  • Stray Thoughts.” Juvenile Instructor 18 (15 June 1883): 182-83
    J. J.001 J., W. “Stray Thoughts.” Juvenile Instructor 18 (15 June 1883): 182-83. Notes the ill treatment and antagonistic attitude of the white people toward the Indians. According to the Book of Mormon the Indians have a glorious destiny and the LDS are urged to treat them with consideration. [D.M.] J.002 Jackson, Kent P. “The Beginnings of Christianity in the Book of Mormon.” In The Book of Mormon: The Keystone Scripture, edited by Paul R. Cheesman, S. Kent Brown, and Charles D. Tate Jr., 91-99. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center, 1988. Gives scriptural reasons why the Book of Mormon prophets who lived before Jesus’ birth possessed and taught Christian teachings. Christological understanding was new to Lehi and Nephi and their knowledge unfolded at intervals. The sermons and reections about Christ by Lehi, Nephi, and Jacob inuenced subsequent Lehite prophets. [D.M.] J.003 Jackson, Kent P. “Christ and the Jaredites.” In Studies in Scripture: Alma 30 to Moroni, edited by Kent P. Jackson, 245-58. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1988. Comments on how the Nephites and Mulekites became aware of the Jaredites. Focuses on Ether 1-4 and the supreme role played by the brother of Jared (Mahonri Moriancumer). Discusses Ether 3:15, the appearance of Jesus to the brother of Jared. [D.M.] J.004 Jackson, Kent P. “The Lamanite Converts Firm in the Faith of Christ.” In Studies in Scripture Vol. 7: 1 Nephi to Alma 29, edited by Kent P. Jackson, 335-45. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1987.
    [Show full text]
  • Joseph Smith's Interpretation of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon
    SCRIPTURAL STUDIES Joseph Smith's Interpretation of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon David P. Wright THE BOOK OF MORMON (hereafter BM), which Joseph Smith published in 1830, is mainly an account of the descendants of an Israelite family who left Jerusalem around 600 B.C.E. to come to the New World. According to the book's story, this family not only kept a record of their history, which, added upon by their descendants, was to become the BM, but also brought with them to the Americas a copy of Isaiah's prophecies, from which the BM prophets cite Isaiah (1 Ne. 5:13; 19:22-23). Several chapters or sections of Isaiah are quoted in the BM: Isaiah 2-14 are cited in 2 Nephi 12-24; Isaiah 48-49 in 1 Nephi 20-21; Isaiah 49:22-52:2 in 2 Nephi 6:6-7,16- 8:25; Isaiah 52:7-10 in Mosiah 12:21-24; Isaiah 53 in Mosiah 14; and Isaiah 54 in 3 Nephi 22. Other shorter citations, paraphrases, and allusions are also found.1 The text of Isaiah in the BM for the most part follows the King James Version (hereafter KJV). There are some variants, but these are often in- significant or of minor note and therefore do not contribute greatly to clarifying the meaning of the text. The BM, however, does provide inter- pretation of or reflections on the meaning of Isaiah. This exegesis is usu- ally placed in chapters following citation of the text (compare 1 Ne. 22; 2 Ne.
    [Show full text]
  • WHY WE STAY Samoan Temple Burns Down; Book Stirs Controversy; FIVE PERSPECTIVES New LDS Films; More! (P.74) J
    Cover_129.qxd 10/15/2003 10:05 AM Page 2 MORMON EXPERIENCE SCHOLARSHIP ISSUES & ART THE MAKING OF IMMANUEL: SUNSTONESUNSTONE Brian David Mitchell and the Mormon Fringe by John-Charles Duffy (p.34) NEBULA an England essay contest winner by Mari Jorgensen (p.46) Experience the YEAR OF THE CICADA a story by Joe Peterson (p.52) Surviving BYU and Berkeley by Joanna Gardiner (p.57) IN MEMORIAM: Dean L. May and Stanley B. Kimball (p.6) 2003 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium Report (p.68) UPDATE Conference news: Church members arrested after confrontations with street preachers; LDS leaders speak out on same-sex marriage legislation; WHY WE STAY Samoan temple burns down; Book stirs controversy; FIVE PERSPECTIVES New LDS films; More! (p.74) J. Frederick “Toby” Pingree, October 2003—$5.95 MaryAnne Hunter, Bill Bradshaw, Grethe Peterson, & Thomas F. Rogers ifc.qxd 10/15/2003 10:08 AM Page 1 Washington MOLLY BENNION—ORGANIZER ROY BENNION LEVI S. PETERSON RICHARD DUTCHER MARNI CAMPBELL ARMAND L. MAUSS THERESA ROTH CHARLOTTE ENGLAND TOM MUMFORD SUSAN PALMER JULIE MUMFORD DAVID HUNTER DAN PINGREE SAGE JOHNS LEAH SMITH pecial thanks to this year’s fall regional symposium volunteers! S Tape order form, page 73 Texas STEVE ECCLES—ORGANIZER MARGARET BLAIR YOUNG ROBERT H. BRIGGS DARIUS GRAY DAVID FEATHERSTONE ARMAND L. MAUSS CLIFTON JOLLEY VICKIE STEWART EASTMAN PAUL H. SMITH DARRELL FLETCHER LAEL LITTKE 01_toc.qxd 10/15/2003 11:19 AM Page 1 MORMON EXPERIENCE, SCHOLARSHIP, ISSUES, & ART OCTOBER 2003 Issue 129 FEATURES 22 J. Frederick “Toby” Pingree, . WHY WE STAY MaryAnne Hunter, Bill Bradshaw Grethe Peterson, Thomas F.
    [Show full text]
  • C.001 C., JE “Dr. Duncan and the Book of Mormon.”
    C. C.001 C., J. E. “Dr. Duncan and the Book of Mormon.” MS 52 (1 September 1890): 552-56. A defense of the Book of Mormon against the criticism of Dr. Duncan in the Islington Gazette of August 18th. Dr. Duncan, evidently a literary critic, concluded that the Book of Mormon was either a clumsy or barefaced forgery or a pious fraud. The author writes that the Book of Mormon makes clear many doctrines that are difcult to understand in the Bible. Also, the history and gospel taught by the Bible and the Book of Mormon are similar because both were inspired of God. [B. D.] C.002 C., M. J. “Mormonism.” Plainsville Telegraph (March 3, 1831): 4. Tells of the conversion of Sidney Rigdon who read the Book of Mormon and “partly condemned it” but after two days accepted it as truthful. He asked for a sign though he knew it was wrong and saw the devil appearing as an angel of light. The author of this article warns against the Book of Mormon and against the deception of the Mormons. [J.W.M.] C.003 Cadman, Sadie B., and Sara Cadman Vancik. A Concordance of the Book of Mormon. Monongahela, PA: Church of Jesus Christ, 1986. A complete but not exhaustive concordance, listing words alphabetically. Contains also a historical chronology of the events in the Book of Mormon. [D.W.P.] C.004 Caine, Frederick Augustus. Morumon Kei To Wa Nanzo Ya? Tokyo: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1909. A two-page tract. English title is “What is the Book of Mormon?” [D.W.P.] C.005 Cake, Lu B.
    [Show full text]
  • “Prophet, Seer and Revelator”In Mormonism
    Midwestern Journal of Theology 9.2 (Fall 2010):145-172 The Role of “Prophet, Seer and Revelator”in Mormonism SANDRA TANNER Utah Lighthouse Ministries Salt Lake City, Utah, [email protected] For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24 NKJ) Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (I John 4:1 NKJ) At the April, 2009 annual conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Thomas Monson was formally set apart as the “Prophet, Seer and Revelator” of the church.1 Sandra Tanner and her late husband Jerald Tanner (both ex- Mormons) are founders of Utah Lighthouse Ministries, an Evangelical ministry to Mormons. Together and separately they have written numerous books on Mormon history and Doctrine. 1 Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Sustaining of Church Officers,” Ensign (May 2009): 27. TANNER: Prophet, Seer, Revelator 146 Fig. 1: LDS President Thomas Monson But what does this title mean and how does it function in Mormonism? Do the LDS leaders claim their revelatory process is distinct from the spiritual guidance received by a minister in answer to his prayers? Joseph Smith founded his church on April 6, 1830. However, at that time it was called the Church of Christ, not receiving its current name until 1838. On that spring day in 1830 Smith announced that through revelation he had been designated as God’s prophet, seer, translator, revelator, and apostle.2 Today Mormon literature usually shortens those titles to simply “prophet, seer and revelator.” Verse five of that early revelation instructed Smith’s followers to accept his words as if from God’s “own mouth.” Today I want to focus on each of the three designations given to the president of the LDS Church.
    [Show full text]
  • Collection Inventory Box 1: Adam-God Theory (1852-1978) Folder 1: Adam-God Folder 2: Adam-God Doctrine and LDS Endowment Folder 3: Fred C
    Collection Overview Title: H. Michael Marquardt papers Dates: 1800-2017 Collection Accn0900 Number: The H. Michael Marquardt papers (1800-2017) contains correspondence, clippings, Summary: diary copies, scholarly articles, miscellaneous research materials on topics in Mormon history and theology. Marquardt is a historian and author. Repository: J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah Special Collections 295 South 1500 East Address: Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-0860 801-581-8864 http://www.lib.utah.edu/collections/manuscripts.php Gifts of H. Michael Marquardt, 1986-2017 The inventory of the H. Michael Marquardt Papers contains 449 archival boxes. Note: Box and/or File numbers and headings may vary slightly from this preliminary list. Lists of books, pamphlets, photographs, and cassette tapes are not included. Collection Inventory box 1: Adam-God Theory (1852-1978) folder 1: Adam-God folder 2: Adam-God Doctrine and LDS Endowment folder 3: Fred C. Collier, "The Adam-God Doctrine and the Scriptures" folder 4: Dennis Doddridge, "The Adam-God Revelation Journal of Reference" folder 5: Mark E. Peterson, Adam: Who is He? (1976) 1 folder 6: Adam-God Doctrine folder 7: Elwood G. Norris, Be Not Deceived, refutation of the Adam-God theory (1978) folder 8-16: Brigham Young (1852-1877) box 2: Adam-God Theory (1953-1976) folder 1: Bruce R. McConkie folder 2: George Q. Cannon on Adam-God folder 3: Fred C. Collier, "Gospel of the Father" folder 4: James R. Clark on Adam folder 5: Joseph F. Smith folder 6: Joseph Fielding Smith folder 7: Millennial Star (1853) folder 8: Fred C. Collier, "The Mormon God" folder 9: Adam-God Doctrine folder 10: Rodney Turner, "The Position of Adam in Latter-day Saint Scripture" (1953) folder 11: Chris Vlachos, "Brigham Young's False Teaching: Adam is God" (1979) folder 12: Adam-God and Plurality of Gods folder 13: Spencer W.
    [Show full text]
  • Recovery Board : Rfm Joseph Smith's Phony Character Exposed by His
    Recovery Board : RfM Recovery from Mormonism (RfM) discussion forum. Joseph Smith’s Phony Character Exposed by His Posted by: steve benson ( ) Phony “Caractors” Date: May 05, 2018 03:11AM Questioning Joseph Smith's Character: Possible, Examinable Sources of His Copied "Caractors" Supposedly Replicated from the "Book of Mormon" Gold Plates "'Reformed Egyptian Or Deformed English?' "There are a number of theories as to what the characters on the transcript sent to Anthon actually represent. Joseph Smith, of course, maintained they were 'reformed Egyptian.' Charles A. Shook, on the other hand, felt that: "Instead of 'Reformed Egyptian' many of the "Caractors" are deformed English, as any one will observe who will compare them with English letters, figures and signs. I have counted thirty-six different characters in the fac-simile, some of them occurring more than once, which are either identical with, or which closely resemble, the English. .Latter-day Saints are very quick to see a resemblance between the 'Caractors' and the letters in the Maya and Egyptian alphabets of Le Plongeon; will they be as quick to see the similarity between the "Caractors" and the English? If similarity proves anything, it proves that the transcript is a bold, bare forgery and one not above the ability of a Smith or a Harris to execute ('Cumorah Revisited,' 1910, pp. 538-39). "After the discovery of the vertical transcript was announced, Grant Heward suggested that it would be interesting to see if an English message could be conveyed with Joseph Smith's characters. It did not take us too long to find characters on the transcript which could represent every letter and every number in the English language.
    [Show full text]
  • TANNER BIBLIOGRAPHY.Rtf
    A TANNER BIBLIOGRAPHY 1959-2019 by H. Michael Marquardt © 2020 by H. Michael Marquardt All rights reserved. A Tanner Bibliography 1959-2017 contains a list of publications written by Jerald and Sandra Tanner. It is complied, as far as possible, in chronological order. The listing with title and short comment is based upon the format prepared by Robert R. Black in 1970. Jerald and Sandra first started publishing their works in a mimeograph format. They later used offset printing. The following publications are considered both of their writings and exceptions will have each name after the title. For a very short period they wrote papers while living in North Hollywood, California. All other publications were done in Salt Lake City, Utah. Sandra Tanner is listed as editor of the Salt Lake City Messenger commencing October 2003. Jerald Tanner died on October 1, 2006. Not included in this bibliography are cassette tapes, videos, postings on web site, newspaper advertisements, introductions to reprinted publications, short handouts on various topics, and reprints of church periodicals. A few exceptions are listed. [Digital books are not included in this list. See http://www.utlm.org/booklist/digitalbooks.htm] "Ad" at the end of an entry means advertisement for the book by the Tanners and is included without quotation marks. All other notations are my own. PUBLICATIONS OF JERALD AND SANDRA TANNER Believed the Bible and the Book of Mormon 1959-1962 1959 Does the Book of Mormon Teach Racial Prejudice? by Jerald Tanner. 1 p. Quotes from the Book of Mormon on racial prejudice. Circa 1959-1960 Do You Realize? North Hollywood.
    [Show full text]
  • Answers to Book of Mormon Questions
    CHAPTER IX Some Problems Arising from Martin Harris' Visit to Professor Charles Anthon Shortly after receiving the plates of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Joseph Smith began to copy the characters thereon. He states that he copied a considerable number of them and by means of the Urim and Thummim translated some of them.1 After he had done this, it would appear that the Lord commanded him to have someone take the characters that had been translated and show them to some learned men. For in part of the text of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon we find these words: But behold, it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall say unto him to whom he shall deliver the book [Joseph Smith]: Take these words which are not sealed and deliver them to another [Martin Harris], that he may show them unto the learned [Dr. Anthon, Dr. Mitchell, et. al.], saying: Read this, I pray thee. And the learned shall say: Bring hither the book, and I [Dr. Anthon] will read them. (2 Nephi 27:16; cf. Isa. 29:11; the Book of Mormon indicates a corrupt text.) The prophet must have been commanded to send Martin Harris on the mission to the "learned," for in his history he writes: Sometime in this month of February [1828], the aforementioned Mr. Harris came to our place, got the characters which I had drawn off the plates, and started with them to the city of New York. For what took place relative to him and the characters, I refer to his own account of the circumstances, as he related them to me after his return, which was as follows: "I went to the city of New York, and presented the characters which had been translated, with the translation there- 54 ANSWERS TO BOOK OF MORMON QUESTIONS of, to Professor Charles Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments.
    [Show full text]
  • REGORD I I ; Ii I
    ZARAHEMLA t@REGORD i I ; ii I Allresearch is conductedwith a biasor "viewpoint."This is trueno matter L'how "objective"the researchermay be, The biasor viewpointheld by ZarahemlaResearch Foundation is thatthe Bookof Mormonwas written by ancientHebrews on metalplates, divinely preserved and delivered to Joseph Smith.While this is primarily a conviction based on faith, there is a risingtide of evidenceto supportthis viewpoint. Thepast two issues of theRecord have explored some of themost convin- cingtestimony ever that this assertion is true.The presence of qualityHebrew poetryin suchabundance within the Bookof Mormonmust be accounted for outsideof JosephSmith or anyoneelse in the 1830's, Whenthe truesignificance of thepoetry dawns upon us, we thenrealize theimportance of eachword of thetext. Therefore, we nowturn to a studyof thewords of the originaland printer's manuscripts. This issue and the next issuewill be devotedto themanuscripts and editions of theBook of Mormon. We believethis research will provide a betterunderstanding of, andgreater appreciationfor, this miraculous book. I ,^. by Lucy Mack Smithto her sister- ^^- in-law.The lettercontained the informationthat Sariahwas the rn#l I I I ;;;;'il. llopaseswhichwourd \ havebeen the onlypart of the - ir tl--LaIt I Bookof Mormontranslated by the i iit!''ot thetetter. Ashworth atso purchasedfrom Hofmann a letter supposedlywritten by MartinHar- HISTORICALDOCUMENTS ris reaffirminghis testimonyof the PROBABLEFORGERIES Bookn^^l- of^t Mormontt--,-^--^ (lbid.,lL!i pp, 96-97),AA Atr o',:-"::'
    [Show full text]
  • Anthon Transcript
    Anthon Transcript Danel W. Bachman The Anthon Transcript was a sheet of paper, thought to be lost, upon which Joseph Smith copied sample “reformed Egyptian” characters from the plates of the Book of Mormon. In the winter of 1828, Martin Harris showed these characters to Dr. Charles Anthon of Columbia College (now Columbia University), and hence the name. In February 1828, Martin Harris, a farmer from Palmyra, New York, visited the Prophet Joseph Smith, who was then residing in Harmony, Pennsylvania, where he had just begun to translate the Book of Mormon (see Translation of the Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith). Smith had earlier turned to Harris for nancial backing for the translation; now Harris came to Harmony to take samples of the reformed Egyptian characters from the gold plates (cf. Morm. 9:32), thereafter to obtain scholarly opinion about their authenticity. Smith gave Harris a copy of some of the characters, along with a translation, which Harris then presented to at least three scholars in the eastern United States. The most important of these, given the nature of the inquiry, was Charles Anthon, an acclaimed classicist at Columbia College. The two men’s accounts of the meeting differ. Harris said that Professor Anthon gave him a certicate verifying the authenticity of the characters but that when Anthon learned that Joseph Smith claimed to have received the plates from an angel, he took the certicate back and destroyed it. Anthon, for his part, left written accounts in 1834 and 1841 in which he contradicted himself on whether he had given Harris a written opinion about the document.
    [Show full text]