Answers to questions respecting the theory in the senior manual, 19056. Quiz 1 book of mormon translation flashcards quizlet. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book history of the church, vol. The book of mormon, translation, errors, and even the witnesses. The book of mormon came into the world through a series of miraculous events. Oct, 2017 and the book of mormon just happens to omit this word. I wish also to mention here, that the title page of the book of mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates, which contained the record which has been translated. What are 1769 kjv edition errors doing in book of mormon. Again, it is the rate of translation, approximately 6.
It is the meaning that is most important in the book of mormon, not the words. The original book of mormon transcript the book of mormon. The prophet joseph smith did not leave us a detailed account of the daily translation process of the book of mormon but said it was accomplished through the mercy of god, by the power of god. Kjv does not take the word for rock and accidentally translate. Murphy, lamanite genesis, genealogy, and genetics, in american apocrypha. The purpose of the site is to peel away the layers of traditions and assumptions about the translation of the book of mormon and get down to a firm foundation of facts. A typical example of the differences between the bom, the kjv, and the jst. It was released by the church to help explain how the book of mormon was translated, and to explain why the true story of the translation differs so greatly from the official church narrative taught since its founding.
Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. It asks readers to understand that if there be fault in the book of mormon it be the mistake of men. For many years the mormons taught that the lord had given joseph smith a perfect translation of the book of mormon, and that all of the errors were errors which were made by the nephites on the original plates. Why do italic translator words from the kjv bible appear in. The original 1830 edition, book of mormon had s of errors. Kjv translation errors our understanding of the hebrew language today is much more advanced than it was in the 1600s when king james authorized an english translation of the bible. Yet the book of mormon is not a slavish copy of the kjvthere are numerous words deleted, revised, or added to the text. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Book of mormon translation response to an essay on the mechanical process in which the book of mormon was translated was put in the topical guide of the website on 1230. Mormons believe some editions of the bible include translation errors, while muslims believe jews and christians misinterpreted some of gods true. The book of mormon, translation, errors, and even the. The book of mormon includes mistranslated biblical passages that were later changed in joseph smiths translation of the bible. The book of mormon incorporates text which seems to be taken from the king james version, including passages which are now considered to be mistranslations in the king james version.
Translation errors in the king james bible appearing in the book of mormon summary. The king james version of the bible is, in all likelihood, the most successful of all the english translations. The presence of 17th century kjv italics and 1769 kjv errors word for word in the book of mormon is its own damning evidence. The original book of mormon transcript book of mormon. April 06, 1829 to june 16, 1829 translation of the book of mormon at this point we move to a daily analysis of the translation of the book of mormon. Sometimes the quotation is explicit, as in the second book of nephi, which contains 18 quoted chapters of the book of isaiah. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of mormon. Difficult or not, the book of mormon reproduces the kjv translation, at 3 nephi 22. Book of mormontranslation errors from the kjv fairmormon. The last of the plates of mormon was the title page.
The article is fairly brief and only superficially addresses the problem. Welchs excellent article entitled the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, from opening the heavens, accounts of divine manifestations 18201844, p. For example, there is the mention of the most precious steel in 1 nephi 4. The book of mormon itself doesnt claim to be inerrant mormon 8. However, after a fair and candid examination of the evidence, many thousands of honest mormons have discovered that this claim simply is not true. Welch, a byu professor of law, admits that the best early manuscripts lack tois archaiois in matthew 5. It is either of divine or human origin, and if it is of human origin that means that joseph smith concocted the book. Joseph, or someone else involved in the translation, heard or remembered or read the phrase. Smith copied the kjv blindly, not showing awareness of translation problems and errors in the kjv. This claim, as well as all claims to historical authenticity of the book of mormon, are rejected by nonlatter day saint historians and scientists.
Additionally, the language of the king james bible didnt exist in 421 a. Book of mormon problems lds church members are taught that the book of mormon bom is scripture, as well as a true record of the inhabitants of the americas from about 2200 bc to 420 ad. Generally, we find that when the king james version commits a translation error, the book of mormon usually follows. I dont agree with this because of the other texts stated here and other reasons stated elsewhere. Why were textual changes made to the book of mormon over the years after it was first published. Serious errors in the book of mormon as for factual errors, there are a number of anachronisms in the book of mormon. Errors in grammar there are literally thousands of grammatical errors in the original edition of the book of mormon errors that gradually have been changed in later editions.
The book of mormon and the king james bible wikipedia. Is the book of mormon really inspired like the bible. According to most adherents of the latter day saint movement, the book of mormon is a 19thcentury translation of a record of ancient inhabitants of the american continent, which was written in a script which the book refers to as reformed egyptian. New approaches to the book of mormon brent lee metcalfe, editor. Book of mormontransmission from translator to printed text. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris serving as the main scribes, was lost in 1828. The published text of the book of mormon has been corrected and edited through its various editions.
Jan 04, 2016 i wish also to mention here, that the title page of the book of mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates, which contained the record which has been translated. Besides errors from their fallible original authors, scriptures accumulate errors as they are copied, translated, copied, and translated again, etc. Each step introduces accidental errors as well as unavoidable ambiguities and errors due to the impossibility of creating a. Fairmormons response to presence of 1769 kjv errors in book of mormon in terms of attempting to pinpoint the origin of the book of mormon, even more significant than book of mormon revisions are places where it follows the kjv into error, echoing mistranslations or including translations of late and derivative greek texts. Joseph smith and his scribes wrote of two instruments used in translating the book of mormon. Joseph smith translated an ancient text by the gift and power of god to produce the book of mormon. Unless one supposes that it was important to god that the book of mormon contain the same translation errors as the king james bible, the evidence suggests that large parts of the book of mormon were simply copied from the bible. Accordingly, after the translation was finished, oliver cowdery copied the entire book of mormon onto a second manuscript, known today as the printers manuscript. The original book of mormon transcript book of mormon central. If the book of mormon is an accurate translation, some claim that it shouldnt contain these translational errors. If this is true, then the book of mormon should be full of errors.
The book of mormon claims to be the history of 2 ancient civilizations on the american continent. He next pointed out that the language of the book of mormon translation reflected the english of new england in the early 1800s but that it did not show any effect from the idiom of an ancient language. It seems reasonable to assume that if smith was a prophet of god and was translating the book of mormon under divine inspiration, he would have known about the errors found in the king james version, and would have corrected them for when passages from the king james version appeared in the book of mormon. Mormonism is a religion less than two centuries old, but in this short time it has managed to accrue a long list of embarrassments which the church leaders would prefer were kept. The book of mormon agrees with the textus receptus not the original text and includes the later phrase by them of old time. A number of questions, from their correspondents, have been submitted to the writer, by the editors of the era, respecting the senior manual for 19056. The origin of the hill comora wildly racial statements in mormon. Thus the book of mormon couldnt be based on plates buried in 421 a. The writer has an obsession with warfare and killing, with killings starting from chapter 4. These plates were supposedly written 1,400 years ago and detailed the history of the jewish nephites from 600 b. The first group left the tower of babel about 2250 bc, crossing to europe and sailing to central america. Ces letter no translation errors i dont think you can say that the book of mormon contains unique errors from the king james version bible.
Critics wonder why many of the quotes from isaiah in the book of mormon are identical to the king james version. Why thousands of errors in the original 1830 the book of mormon. The english bible lied to you interfaith now medium. In some cases, entire passages are duplicated in the book of mormon. Somehow the divine process guiding josephs translation of the book of mormon didnt prevent him from making identical translation errors. Islam and the church of jesus christ of latterday saints both teach that god revealed their sacred texts, the quran and the book of mormon, to correct humanmade errors in other religious practices.
In response, apologists sometimes claim that the book of mormon does not transmit translation errors, mainly focusing on the highly subjective nature of translating. Grammatical errors offline book of mormon translation. Brigham believed that the translation of the book of mormon was a miracle, but not that it was an infallible translation that could never be changed. That story of the book of mormon translation will be consistent with all of the various forms of evidence. Although it serves primarily as a religious text, it is to be interpreted literally as being an actual, historical record of the inhabitants of the ancient. These book of mormon verses should match the inspired jst version instead of the incorrect kjv version that joseph later fixed. The following essay is the official lds released essay entitled book of mormon translation. Introduction to 3,9 changes utah lighthouse ministry. Lds church members are taught that the book of mormon bom is scripture, as well as a true record of the inhabitants of the americas from about 2200 bc to 420 ad.
Common questions about the book of mormon, ensign, oct. The original book of mormon transcript the book of. These errors totally undermine the claim that joseph translated the book of mormon and the claim that the book of mormon is the most correct book on earth. Rather than ascribe these errors to deity, either through direct or indirect means, men will reject the claims of the book of mormon. The book of mormon contains many linguistic similarities to the king james bible kjv. Title page if there be fault it be the mistake of men. I encourage people to read the ensign regularly, especially this year when were all focused on the book of mormon. The book of mormon contains extensive quotes from isaiah some twentytwo chapters of the prophet are found in the book, in many cases quoted verbatim from the king james version. Weapons used from 544 bc to 52 bc p107359 are listed as bows and arrows, steel swords, axes. Current year why are so many people obsessed with he current year. What are 1769 king james version edition errors doing in the book of mormon. These take the form of such things as double negatives, incorrect adverbs and adjectives, and incorrect tenses. A book of mistakes, error, and fraud by jon gary williams introduction the mormon church promotes the book of mormon as an inspired writing.
In contrast to the bible, mormons believe the book of mormon is perfect because it was translated perfectly miraculously as reflected in the second half of the same article of faith. Joseph smith once said, the book of mormon is the most correct of any book on this earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by. The few that do make it through tend to be those that are polite, thoughtful, and relevant to the discussion on this page. Book of mormontextual changeswhy were these changes made. Those historical interests are manifest in the recent description of the translation of the book of mormon found on the churchs official website. Weapons used from 544 bc to 52 bc p107359 are listed as. In responding to the ces letters book of mormon section, fairmormon makes a few critical concessions, including that errors unique to the 1769 version of the king james version bible are included in the current version of the book of mormon. In addition, the very content of the book of mormon makes it impossible to accept it as divine revelation.
This arguments incorrectly claims that the kjv edition of the bible has translation errors, and the book of mormon is in error for copying them. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. Volumes have been written on its distinctive and rhythmic style, and it is still regarded as a triumph of modern english literature. The book of mormon account of jesuss sermon in 3 nephi 1214 originated in the nineteenth century, derived from unacknowledged plagiarism of the kjv.
There are two possible explanations for the origin of the book of mormon. Kjv translation errors as found in the book of mormon. While the translation of the book of mormon may come directly from god, this does not preclude the role that joseph would play in adapting the language of the book of mormon to a cultural and linguistic framework that would both establish that the text was authentic and inspired while also communicating the book s message clearly. The original 1830 edition, book of mormon had s of. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. All of the italic words that the book of mormon does include are universally reasonable additions for any english translation. The few significant modifications were made by the prophet joseph smith to clarify the meaning of the text, not to change it. The book of mormon emerged from an antebellum perspective, out of a frontier american peoples struggle with their god, and not from an authentic american indian perspective thomas w. For example, no, the book of mormon does not contain unique errors from the king james version bible. Errors which are unique to the 1769 edition that joseph smith owned. The book of mormon does not include the italicized word her, which is further proof that the book of mormon does not copy italicized portions word for word. Mormon is allegedly a prophethistorian who was the native american believed by mormons to have written the book of mormon the main religious text of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints mormonism. Translation of the book of mormon book of mormon central. Whether from friends, family, the truly interested, or the antagonistic, we all get asked questions about the book of mormon.
Some of the sharpest detractors of the book of mormon translation have confessed that as we stated earlier, most of the 3,9 changes which we found were related to the correction of grammatical and spelling errors and do not really change the basic meaning of the text. Our filter blocks most comments, including any with links or aggressive language. Eighth, joseph smiths new translation of the bible used the 1830 edition of the book of mormon as a source for changing some of the corresponding biblical text in isaiah. Id say this was highly improbable, and creates additional problems see the note below. David whitmer, one of the three witnesses to the book of mormon, made this statement. The book of mormon claims to be a translation of ancient writing on gold plates.