Question for mormons??

Question

Is it true that Joseph translated the book of mormon out of a hat? Is it true that when the rich man who wrote it down for him "mis placed" the scripts that joseph couldn't get them back. Why is that? If he had the plates then why couldn't he just re read them? I don't understand...

I'm not trying to offend anyone, i'm just truely curious.

Answer 1

Below, is a great article that discusses the translation process Joseph used. It seems that there were a few techniques he used at different times.

David Whitmer wrote that Joseph would put a seer stone in a hat and put his face tight against it to keep out the light. He would see each character and the translation for it.

Joseph's wife, Emma, also served as a scribe. She doesn't mention the hat.

Martin Harris was the man who "borrowed" the translated pages. He showed them to his wife and somehow the pages fell into the hands of some unscrupulous men who wanted to make Joseph look like a false prophet. Their plan was to somehow change the document. Then when Joseph re-translated it, there would be two different accounts and discredit him.

Answer 2

Joseph Smith did not translate the BOM out of a hat! He got them when he went into the sacred grove to pray to God which church he should join. Then God and Jesus appeared to him and told him that none of the churches had the full truth. Later, an angel appeared to him when he was sleeping and told him to go to a certain place and move a rock. When he did that, there was the golden plates, which is now the BOM, underneath the boulder. He translated it using help from the Urim and Thummim, which was help from God.

His friend helped him translate the Book Of Mormon, not some rich person. After Joseph Smith translated the first book in the BOM, the person who helped him translate it wanted to show it to his family. After Joseph prayed to God and asked him if it was the right thing to do, he said yes to his friend. Then, his friend showed it to more then his family, which is why God took it away. I think that is what you mean by "mis placed" it. He couldnt just re read it because, that part of the golden plates was also taken away.

I hope this helped! :)

Answer 3

He didn't translate it out of a hat. They were special instruments used, but the how we don't know. All I can say is that the saying "with God all things are possible" applies here.

Joseph was told when he first prayed that he shouldn't give the translated pages to Martin Harris. But, Martin kept asking, and Joseph kept asking God. God finally said yes. I think it was more of a teaching experience then anything. I God finally decided to give Joseph what he wanted, and then let him learn from the mistake of not obeying. Joseph never did it again, so apparently, he learned.

God told Joseph not to re-translate it at the time. That doesn't mean it won't be in the future, but it was sealed to prevent mis-translation from the plates that were lost.

Answer 4

Joseph Smith Translated the plates he was given into the Book of Mormon. The part that was lost was not re translated because since they were out of his hands there was a possibility of someone making changes that would be like sabotage and the Lord warned Smith about that and actually planned for it because He knew what would happen. You could find out more on the Mormon web site. I hope that helps.

lds.org

Answer 5

Okay, hang tight. I know the answer, just need to check a couple facts.

He had two special stones that he used to translate, called seer stones. How exactly he did it, we don't know.

When Martin Harris took the translations and Lucy Harris hid them, Joseph had the plates of Lehi, and he could have retranslated them, but the Lord told him not to. This was because Lucy and her co conspirators planned to change the documents to prove he was a fraud. so then he was instructed to translate from the plates of Nephi. They were the same story, only told by a different author.

Answer 6

One of the scribe's wife, wanted to 'see them'. pages that had been translated, and like a fool, Joseph let them take them.
What a 'surprise'. they were ''lost''.
Joseph was 'told' not to translate the scripts again, as the 'lost ' pages could be altered, or falsified, and then compared to the 'new' pages, thus giving enemies of the church ammunition, to slander the it.
The 'lost' pages never turned up, because the situation was resolved, Joseph was punished, because God took the plates away from him, and Joseph had to earn the privilege to translate them again, and they were returned to him.
the portion that was stolen, it certainly wasn't 'lost', was retold in another section of The Book Of Mormon.
No harm done.
Hope this helps!

Answer 7

Well, let's get down to business first.
Desiree is repressed I think, and rude, too! she doesn't know squat about this church.
marie, is a liar. i left the church without any trouble at all. some people just want to cause trouble.

What does it matter how he translated the Golden Plates.He could have stood on his head for all I cared. He was given the power to translate, that is all that is important.
check out the lds.org site, for more info.

Answer 8

There are a lot of books on the subject, here is one that is a very interesting read and is more concerned with the truth and NOT being anti-mormon.
"Under the Banner of Heaven" by Jon Krakuaer, is easy to read and spends a lot of time going fully into the beginnings of the Mormon faith, recommended reading.

Answer 9

What Herb said is true about why they werent redone.

Also, as for the hat...yes thats apparently true but not well known amongst the members. Its a part of history and even general authorities (high ranking members of the church/leaders of the church, if you will) have said so in articles they've written,etc.

Answer 10

You have already received the right answer, so I will just confirm that the senator and a few others got it right.