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Revision as of 18:51, 27 December 2007

Books of the Book of Mormon
Small Plates of Nephi
Contribution of Mormon
Additions by Moroni

The Book of Mormon[1] is one of the sacred texts of religions derived from the Latter Day Saint movement. The book is named after the prophet–historian Mormon, whom the book says lived in the New World prior to Columbus, and was its main compiler.

The Book of Mormon was first published by Joseph Smith, Jr., the movement's founder, in March 1830 in Palmyra, New York. According to Smith, the book is a translation of golden plates he found in a hill near his Palmyra home, after being directed there by the angel Moroni. Translation proceeded through a process in which he said he could see the words of the translation in a seer stone or set of stone spectacles, which he dictated to a scribe. During the production of the work Smith obtained the affidavits of Three Witnesses and Eight Witnesses who declared that they saw the plates. These affidavits are published as part of the book. When the book was complete, he said he returned the plates to the angel Moroni.[2]

Along with the Bible, the Book of Mormon is esteemed as part of the canon by a number of restorationist churches deriving from Joseph Smith's Church of Christ (the Latter Day Saint movement), including the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Community of Christ. The book's original title page states that it was written in part for "Jew and Gentile", to convince them "that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself to all nations",[3] and in part for Native Americans, which the book says are a "remnant of the House of Israel". The book describes Israelite families traveling by boat to the New World, and establishing Christian civilizations in anticipation of Jesus, who visited them after his resurrection.

The book's historicity is not widely accepted in academia, except among religious Mormon scholars. However, there are those in the Latter Day Saint movement who doubt its historicity but still accept it as scriptural.

Content

Purpose

The title page of the Book of Mormon states:

The Book of Mormon is an account written by the hand of Mormon upon plates taken from the Plates of Nephi, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites—Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile—Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation—Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed—To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile—The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.

An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven—Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever— And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations—And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.

Major themes

Another Testament of Christ

The crowning event of the Book of Mormon is the visitation of the resurrected Christ to the Nephites around 34 AD, shortly after his ministry in Galilee.[4] Many of the writers in the book teach about Jesus.

An angel prophesied to Nephi that Jesus's birth would be 600 years from the time he and his family left Jerusalem.[5] Many prophets in the Book of Mormon, beginning with Lehi and Nephi, saw in visions the birth, ministry, and death of Christ,[6] and were told his name.[7] At the time of King Benjamin, the Nephite believers were called "the children of Christ".[8] The faithful members of the church at the time of Captain Moroni (73 BC) were called "Christians" by their enemies, because of their belief in Christ.[9] For nearly 200 years after Jesus' appearance at the temple in the Americas,[10] the land was filled with peace and prosperity because of the people's obedience to Christ's commandments.[11] The great prophet-general Mormon worked to convince the faithless people of his time of Christ (360 AD), and Moroni buried the plates with faith in Christ.[12] Many others also bore witness to the reality of the Messiah.

Some doctrinal teachings

The following teachings are especially notable in the Book of Mormon:

  • Christ spoke to the Jews in Jerusalem of “other sheep” who would hear his voice,[13] which the Book of Mormon explains meant that the Nephites and other remnants of the lost tribes of Israel throughout the world were to be visited by Christ after his resurrection. The various groups had their own prophets, and each recorded their history and dealings with God. These records will eventually be had among men, and will complement the Bible and Book of Mormon.[14]
  • The Old Testament prophet Isaiah prophesied of the coming forth of The Book of Mormon, whose prophets would "whisper out of the dust."[15]
  • The land of the Jaredites, Nephites, and Lamanites is choice above all other lands.[16]
  • "Inasmuch as ye keep [the Lord's] commandments, ye shall prosper in the land, but inasmuch as ye keep not my commandments, ye shall be cut off from [His] presence."[17]
  • Men and women are "free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."[18]
  • All mankind must be born again, for the natural man is an enemy to God until he yields to the holy spirit and is born of Christ, being changed to a state of righteousness, becoming his son or daughter.[19]
  • "Adam fell that men might be, and men are, that they might have joy."[20] Partaking of the fruit of the tree of life, which tree "is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men" and "is the most desirable above all things" will bring the most joy to the soul.[21]
  • Between death and the resurrection the spirit returns to God and awaits the resurrection in either a place of rest or a place where they have the chance to hear the gospel. At the resurrection, the spirit and body shall be reunited, not one hair of the head shall be lost, and this resurrection shall come to all.[22]
  • Giving to the poor is emphasized as a necessary aspect of living the gospel of Christ.[23] Service to others is essential, and is the same as serving God.[24]
  • The Lord "denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile".[25]
  • Polygamy is condemned.[26]

Chronology

The following dates, people, and authors are identified within the Book of Mormon. A more detailed description is available on a Book of Mormon chronology chart produced by the LDS Church (available here).

  • 1 Nephi begins in ancient Jerusalem around 600 BC, at roughly the same time as the Book of Jeremiah in the Bible. It tells the story of a prophet, Lehi, his family, and several others as they are led by God from Jerusalem as a small part of the scattering of one of the Lost Ten Tribes, across the Arabian peninsula, and then to the promised land[1] by ship. The books from 1 Nephi to Omni (called the small plates of Nephi) recount the group's dealings from approximately 600 BC to about 130 BC. The community splits into two main groups, the Nephites and the Lamanites, and grow into separate sizable civilizations that war with each other.
  • The Words of Mormon, written in AD 385 by Mormon, is a short introduction to the books of Mosiah, Alma, Helaman, 3 Nephi, and 4 Nephi, all of which he abridged from a large quantity of existing records (called the large plates of Nephi) that detailed his nation's history from the time of Omni to his own life.
  • 3 Nephi is of particular importance because it contains an account of the resurrected and glorified Jesus' visit to the Americas sometime after his resurrection at Jerusalem, following his 40-day ministry and ascension into heaven. During his American ministry, Christ repeated much of the same doctrine and instruction given in the Gospels of the Bible and established an enlightened, peaceful society which endured for several generations.
  • Mormon is an account of the events during Mormon's life, after the enlightened society of 3 Nephi and 4 Nephi deteriorated yet again into warring groups.
  • Ether is Moroni's abridgment of a record of an earlier people, called the Jaredites. The account describes a group of families led by God to the Americas, headed by a man named Jared and his brother (referred to, in the text, as “the Brother of Jared”). The Jaredite civilization existed on the American continent long before Lehi's family arrived in 600 BC, and it was much larger and more developed.
  • Moroni details the final destruction of the Nephites and the idolatrous state of the remaining society. He adds a few spiritual insights and mentions some important doctrinal teachings, then closes with his testimony and an invitation to pray to God for a confirmation of the truthfulness of the account.

Organization

The format of the Book of Mormon is similar to the Bible, a compilation of smaller "books" of scripture. Each of the books is named after the person in the book who said he began writing the book. The Book of Mormon is composed of the following books (with some editorial divisions in different churches' editions varying): [27]

The book's sequence is primarily chronological. Notable exceptions include the "Words of Mormon" and the "Book of Ether". In the "Words of Mormon," the text says, "And now I, Mormon ... speak somewhat concerning that which I have written",[28] indicating editorial comment by Mormon. The first two verses of the "Book of Ether," say, "And now I, Moroni, proceed to give an account of those ancient inhabitants who were destroyed by the hand of the Lord upon the face of this north country. And I take mine account from the twenty and four plates which were found by the people of Limhi, which is called the Book of Ether."[29] The books of First Nephi through Omni are written in first-person narrative, as are Mormon and Moroni. The remainder of the Book of Mormon is written in third-person historical narrative, said to be compiled and abridged by Mormon (with Moroni abridging the "Book of Ether").

The version currently published by the LDS Church,[30] in addition to the main body of the work, contains the following:

  • A title page (believed to have been written by Moroni)
  • A modern day introduction written by church leaders
  • The "Testimony of Three Witnesses", the "Testimony of Eight Witnesses", and the "Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith" (as it concerns the Book of Mormon)
  • A brief explanation of the contents of the book
  • Chapter headings[31]
  • A "pronouncing guide" to names and places in the Book of Mormon
  • Footnotes and cross-references to the Bible
  • An index of doctrinal teachings.

Religious significance

Role of the Book of Mormon in Mormonism

The Book of Mormon is of prime importance to the church as one of the greatest differentiating factors of the Church as well as a spiritual foundation. It is held as a tangible evidence of the truthfulness of the church. Joseph Smith said,

“I told the brethren 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”.[32]

Members of the Church hold the Book of Mormon as the most important, correct, and basic book of scripture. Not placing enough emphasis on the Book of Mormon or ignoring it altogether was decried in a revelation to Joseph Smith that pronounced a condemnation on the "whole church" for treating it “lightly,” until they should “repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I [the Lord] have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written, that they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom”.[33] While this revelation also applies to the early Church’s under-emphasis of the Bible (“the former commandments which [the Lord had] given them”), the importance of studying the Book of Mormon has also been stressed by every church president since Joseph Smith, Jr..

The Book of Mormon’s significance was reiterated in the late 20th century by Ezra Taft Benson, Apostle and 13th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In an August 2005 Ensign message, current LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley challenged each member of the church to reread the Book of Mormon again before year's end. The book’s importance is commonly stressed at the twice-yearly general conference and at special devotionals by general authorities in the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the several Quorums of the Seventy

Verifiability: the challenge of the Book of Mormon

The book invites the reader to make a personal investigation into the truthfulness of the writings. The invitation is associated with a promise that God will give an undeniable witness of its truthfulness through the Holy Ghost.

"Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."[34]

These verses are often referred to collectively as Moroni's Promise.

Mormons state that a spiritual witness from the Holy Ghost is a personal event. For example, one manner of such a spiritual witness is described in Doctrine and Covenants 9:8: "your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right." Doctrine and Covenants 8:2 further states that such a manifestation will occur "in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart." Those who claim to have received a witness consider it to be sacred, to be of great import, and to be the basis of what is called their "testimony". The act of telling others of one's spiritual experiences and declaring one's faith is called "bearing testimony".

LDS also believe that the witness of the spirit was demonstrated by the Apostle Peter, whose testimony of Christ came from the Father,[35] by seeking answers and wisdom directly from God.[36] Mormons believe that unless one receives a personal testimony of the truthfulness of this work from God, the conversion and activity of the newly baptized Saint would be temporary and superficial, and that once such a testimony is personally received from God himself, nothing would prevail against such experience (Matthew 16:13-18).

Another scripture found in the Book of Mormon explains how to learn of the truthfulness of its words. It is found in 2 Nephi 33:10

10 "And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good."

Origin and authorship

Main article: Origin of the Book of Mormon
A painting of Joseph Smith Jr. receiving the Golden Plates from the angel Moroni.

There are several theories as to the origin of the Book of Mormon. Most adherents to the Latter Day Saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. The most common theory accepted by adherents is that promoted by Joseph Smith, Jr., who said he translated the work from an ancient set of golden plates inscribed by prophets and leaders, which Smith discovered near his home in western New York in the 1820s after being told to go there by an angel. Besides Smith himself, there are more than 11 witnesses who said they saw the plates either physically or in a vision in 1829. (Note those who claimed a vision say it accompanied physically seeing and handling the plates and was not the sole means of their testimony.) There are also many other witnesses, some hostile, who observed him dictating the text that eventually became the Book of Mormon, while Smith was looking into a hat at a seer stone.

Nevertheless, critics have explored a number of issues, including (1) whether Joseph Smith actually had golden plates, or whether the text of the Book of Mormon originated in his mind or through inspiration; (2) whether it was Smith himself who composed the book's text, or whether an associate of Smith's such as Oliver Cowdery or Sidney Rigdon could have composed the text; and (3) whether the book was based on a prior work such as The View of the Hebrews, or the Bible.

Criticisms of Plagiarism

Critics claim that Joseph Smith fabricated the Book of Mormon, and that it was not divinely inspired.[37][38][39] Critics specifically cite four books that Joseph Smith used to obtain verses for the Book of Mormon:

  • View of the Hebrews by Ethan Smith (published 1823, seven years before the Book of Mormon)
  • The Wonders of Nature by Josiah Priest (published in 1825, five years before the Book of Mormon)
  • The Bible
  • Apocrypha

Plagiarism from View of the Hebrews

Critics claim that Smith copied several verses in The Book of Mormon from View of the Hebrews, published in 1823 by Ethan Smith.[40][41] Examples of verses that critics claim are plagiarized include:[42][43]


View of the Hebrews by Ethan Smith (1823) Book of Mormon (1830)
"[T]hose far distant savages have (as have all other tribes) their Great Spirit, who made everything" (p. 103) "Believest thou that this Great Spirit which is God, created all things ... And he saith, Yea, I believe that he created all things" (Alma 18:28-29)
"[T]he places ... are noted; among which are 'the isles of the sea'". (p. 232-233) "[W]e have been led to a better land, ... [W]e are upon an isle of the sea" (2 Nephi 10:20)
" 'I will hiss for them' God is representd as hissing for a people. ... [To] behold the banner of salvation now erected for his ancient people.... This standard of salvation." (p241-242) "[M]y words shall hsis forth unto the ends of the earth, fo a standard unto my people, which are of the House of Israel." (2 Nephi 29:2)


"And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set his hand again, the second time, together the remnant of his people" (p. 56) "[A]nd the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state" (2 Nephi 25:17)

Plagiarsim from The Wonders of Nature

Critics claim that Smith copied several verses in The Book of Mormon from The Wonders of Nature, published in 1825 by Josiah Priest.[44][45] Examples of verses that critics claim are plagiarized include:[46][47]

The Wonders of Nature by Josiah Priest (1825) Book of Mormon (1830)
"a narrow neck of land is interposed beetwixt two vast oceans" (p. 598) "the narrow neck of land, by the place where the sea divides the land" (Ether 10:20)
"From whence no traveller returns" (p. 469) "from when no traveller can return" (2 Nephi 1:14)
Darkness which may be felt.... vapours ... so thick as to prevent the rays of the sun from penetrating an extraordinary thick mist. ... no artificial light could be procured ... vapours would prevent lamps, etc. from burning. ... [T]he darkhness lasted for three days." (jp. 524) "[They] could feel the vapour of darkness, and there could be no light ... neither candles, neither torches, ... neither the sun ... for so great were the mists of darkness ... [I]t did last for the space of three days." (3 Nephi 8:20-23)

Plagiarism from the Apocrypha

Critics claim that Smith copied several verses from the books of the Apocrypha, including the important name "Nephi".[48][49] Examples of verses that critics claim are plagiarized include:[50][51]


Apocrypha Book of Mormon (1830)
"We will assay to abridge in one volume.... labouring to follow the rules of an abridgment.... But to use brevity ... is to be granted to him that will make an abridgement." (2 Maccabees 2:25-31) "I make an abridgement of the record ... aftert I have abridged the record.... I had made an abridgement from the plates of Nephi.... I write a small abridgement." (1 Nephi 1:17, Words of Mormon 3, 5:9)
"They commanded that this writing should be put in tables of brass, and that they should be set ... in a conspicuous place; Also that the copies thereof should be laid up in the treasury" (1 Maccabees 14:48-49) "And I commnaded him ... that he should go with me into the treasury ... I also spake unto him that I should carry the engravings, which were upon the plates of brass" (1 Nephi 4:20,24)
"Then the king, in closing the place, made it holy ... many men call it Nephi". (2 Maccabees 1:34,36) "And my people would that we should call the name of the place Nephi; wherefore we did call it Nephi". (2 Nephi 5:8)
"And it came to pass ... I dreamed a dream by night" (2 Esdras 15:1) "And it came to pass ... Behold, I have dreamed a dream" (1 Nephi 8:2)

Plagiarism from The King James Bible

Main article: The Book of Mormon and the King James Bible

Critics claim that Smith copied several verses in The Book of Mormon from the King James Bible.[52] [53] Examples of verses that critics claim are plagiarized include:[54] [55]

King James Bible Book of Mormon (1830)
"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up" (Malachi 4:1) "For behold, saith the prophet, ... the day soon cometh that all the proud and they who do wickedly shall be as stubble; and they day cometh that they must be burned" (1 Nephi 22:15)
"[T]he axe is laid unto the root of the trees; therefore every tree which brigneth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire" (Matthew 3:10) "[T]he ax is laid at the root of the tree; therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire" (Alma 5:52)
"[B]e stedfast and immovable, always abounding in good works" (1 Corinthians 15:58) "[B]e ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" (Mosiah 5:15)

Historicity

File:City of zarahemla the testaments film lds.jpg
A depiction of the City of Zarahemla in the Latter-day Saint film The Testaments. Zarahemla is described as a major Nephite city in the Book of Mormon, but has not been clearly linked to any archaeological site.
Main article: Historicity of the Book of Mormon

The question of whether the Book of Mormon is an actual historical work or a work of fiction has long been a source of contention between adherents to the Latter Day Saint movements , who are likely to view the work as a history, and scholarly critics, who generally view it to the contrary. Beginning in the late 20th century, some former members, and some denominations have treated the work as possibly fiction or inspired fiction. However, both the Community of Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially view the Book of Mormon as sacred scriptures and historically accurate.

For many Mormons, the historicity of Book of Mormon is a matter of faith, and not amenable to scholarly analysis. For scholars, on the other hand, the historicity issue has been approached from a number of different perspectives. One approach to the historicity issue is through archaeological studies. Thus far, there has been no accepted archaeological link to the events or cultures described in the Book of Mormon. The book refers to things such as steel, and horses,that are not known to have existed in the New World at the relevant time. Though many apologists maintain that these references may relate to things that due to the nature of translation had no modern equivalent at the time. Moreover, the majority of "Mormon" scholars have acknowledged the difficulty in interpreting the book as a history of the entire New World. For this reason, most modern scholars in support of its historicity have adopted a limited geography model, which states that the book is the history of a limited geographic area in Mesoamerica.[2] Mormon scholars have attempted, thus far without definitive results, to identify geographic locations in Mesoamerica with places in the Book of Mormon.

Another approach to the historicity issue is through linguistic studies of the Book of Mormon. Some Mormon scholars have found linguistic and literary patterns (such as chiasmus and place names) in the book that they say point to an ancient origin. On the other hand, critics have found word patterns, place names, as well as literary and religious themes they say point to an origin in the early 19th century.

Another major approach to the historicity issue is genetic studies. The book says that some Native American people descended from groups of Semitic people, including Ancient Israelites, who emigrated from the Old World by ship. The consensus among critics, however, is that the Native American people descended primarily from north-east Asian stock. However geneticists and apologists note that there is no pure sample of Lehi's genes to compare it to thus making it a moot point[56].

Editions

Version of the Book of Mormon published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Book of Mormon is published today by the following publishers:

  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under the expanded title The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (since 1982)
  • Herald House for the Community of Christ as The Book of Mormon - Revised Authorized Version (1966) and The Book of Mormon - Authorized Version (1908)
  • The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) as The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates taken from the Plates of Nephi — an original edition compiled by a committee made up of Church of Jesus Christ apostles: Thurman S. Furnier, Charles Ashton and William H. Cadman
  • Richard Drew, Burlington (Voree), Wisconsin for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite); a photo enlarged facsimile of the 1840 edition
  • Zarahemla Research Foundation as The Book of Mormon - Restored Covenant Edition
  • The University of Illinois Press as The Book of Mormon: A Reader's Edition (2003) (this edition is based on the 1920 LDS edition)
  • Doubleday under the title The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (2004)
  • Herald Heritage (Herald House) (1970) 1830 Facsimile copy reproduction.
  • ExperiencePress.org (2006) of two reprints of the 1830 edition. The type was reset to match word, line & page the text of the original 1830 edition with one categorical exception: all known original typographical errors were corrected.[57]

Changes between editions

Former Mormons, and now critics of the LDS church, Jerald and Sandra Tanner have claimed to have documented almost 4000 changes in the Book of Mormon.[58] The vast majority of these changes have been discussed in official Church publications including the Ensign, Improvement Era, Millennial Star and Times and Seasons, and are consistent with early pre- and post-publication edits made by Joseph Smith. Some corrections were made due to earlier print or copy errors, or changes in punctuation.[59]

In fact, there are differences between various copies of the original copies printed in 1830. The manuscript was taken to E.B. Grandin's print shop, then a copy was made for typesetting. Following typesetting, the set of pages was printed. When proofreading found errors, the printing process was halted, and the page reset—but those sheets already printed had to be used, due to time and budgetary constraints. When the books were finally collated, the sheets with errors were randomly distributed throughout the print run.

Between today's editions of the book and the first edition there are approximately 3000 differences. Most of these changes had already begun in the 1837 edition. These changes are mostly corrections of punctuation, orthography and grammar; however, there are also several changes in wording, which critics allege were made to fit changes in teaching or political conditions.

Since 1989, the LDS Church's Brigham Young University has published a critical text edition in four volumes. Volumes 1 and 2, published 2001, contain transcriptions of all the text variants of the English editions of the Book of Mormon, from the original manuscript up to the newest editions.[60] Volume 4, in four parts (3 already published since 2005) contains a critical analysis of all the text variants. Meanwhile, volume 3, not yet published, is to describe the history of all the English-language texts from Joseph Smith to today.[61]

Non-English Translations

File:Book of Mormons.jpg
Translations of The Book of Mormon.
See also: List of Book of Mormon Translations

The complete Book of Mormon has been published by the LDS Church in 81 languages and is currently available in 78 languages. Selections of the Book of Mormon have been translated by the LDS Church into an additional 27 languages. In 2001, the church reported that all or part of the Book of Mormon was available in the native language of 99% of Latter-day Saints and 87% of the world's total population.[62]

Translations in primarily oral languages are available on audiocassette. Translations into American Sign Language are available on videocassette and DVD.

Typically, translators are members of the LDS Church who are employed by the church and translate the text from the original English. Each manuscript is reviewed many times before it is approved and published.[63]

In 1998, the LDS Church stopped translating selections from the Book of Mormon. The church has announced that each new translation it approves will now be a full edition.[64]

Registration of the term as a trademark

In 2004, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) successfully registered the term Book of Mormon as a United States trademark (through the church's subsidiary corporation Intellectual Reserve, Inc.).[65] As of October 2007, the church has not asserted the trademark against other organizations or churches who use and publish the work, and the registration has not been challenged in court. As of December 2007, the domain name bookofmormon.com is owned by the Utah Lighthouse Ministry, an organization critical of the Book of Mormon.[66]

Auction of a 177-year old rare book

On September 14, 2007, Mark Witmer (of Hessney Auction Co., Geneva, N.Y.) stated that a rare 177-year-old 1st edition of the Book of Mormon (discovered in a box of books near Palmyra) would be up for New York estate auction on September 19. Hessney's book was in a good, unrestored state. John Hajicek (Missouri collector) owns 75 first editions of the Book of Mormon (of his $20 million collection of rare books). In March, 2007, Auction Galleries (New York City) sold a first edition for $180,000 (1997 - Sotheby's sold it for $32,200; 2000, at West Virginia auction for $44,000). Hajicek paid $58,000 in 1999 at Salt Lake City auction and he will bid on the Hessney book.[67] [68]

Hessney Auction Co. reported this edition of the Book of Mormon sold for $105,600 (buyer's premium included.)[69]

Notes

  1. ^ Originally, the book was entitled The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi. Various other subtitled have been added by different denominations. The most widely-distributed edition, published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is subtitled Another Testament of Jesus Christ to emphasize its connection to Christianity. See Report of the 152nd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," Ensign, Nov 1982, pg. 1, par. 6.
  2. ^ Lua error: Book <js_h> not found in Standard Works.
  3. ^ Book of Mormon Title Page
  4. ^ See 3 Nephi 11 to 3 Nephi 26
  5. ^ See 1 Nephi 10:4, 1 Nephi 19:8; See also 3 Nephi 1
  6. ^ 1 Nephi 11
  7. ^ Mosiah 3:8
  8. ^ Mosiah 5:7
  9. ^ Alma 46:13–15
  10. ^ 4 Nephi 1:22-23
  11. ^ 4 Nephi 1
  12. ^ See Lua error: Book <bm/ttlpg> not found in Standard Works.
  13. ^ See John 10:16 in the King James Version of the Bible
  14. ^ 3 Nephi 15:13–24, 3 Nephi 16:1–4, 2 Nephi 29:7–14
  15. ^ See Isaiah 29:4 from the King James Version of the Bible. (Compare 2 Nephi 26:15–16)
    And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.
  16. ^ 1 Nephi 2:20; 1 Nephi 13:30; 2 Nephi 1:5; 2 Nephi 10:19; Jacob 5:43; Ether 1:38–42; Ether 2:7,10-15; Ether 9:20; Ether 10:28; Ether 13:2.
  17. ^ 1 Nephi 2:20; 1 Nephi 4:14; 2 Nephi 1:20; 2 Nephi 4:4; Jarom 1:9; Omni 1:6; Mosiah 1:7; Mosiah 2:22,31; Alma 9:13; Alma 36:1,30; Alma 37:13; Alma 38:1; Alma 48:15,25; Helaman 3:20; Helaman 5:20,22.
  18. ^ 2 Nephi 2:27
  19. ^ Mosiah 3:19; Mosiah 27:25; Alma 22:15–18; Moroni 10:34
  20. ^ 2 Nephi 2:25
  21. ^ 1 Nephi 11:22–23; 1 Nephi 8:12
  22. ^ Alma 11:42–45; Alma 40:11–23
  23. ^ 2 Nephi 9:30; Mosiah 4:26; Mosiah 18:8
  24. ^ Mosiah 2:17
  25. ^ 2 Nephi 26:33
  26. ^ Jacob 2:27
  27. ^ Book of Mormon Title Page
  28. ^ Words of Mormon 1:1–3
  29. ^ Ether 1:1–2
  30. ^ The version published by the LDS Church is known as "The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ"
  31. ^ Many of the chapter headings were written by Bruce R. McConkie, an Apostle
  32. ^ Smith, Joseph (1950), History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, vol. 4, Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Company, p. 461
  33. ^ Doctrine and Covenants 84:55–58
  34. ^ Moroni 10:3–5
  35. ^ see Matthew 16:16–17 from the King James Version of the Bible
  36. ^ See James 1:5 from the King James Version of the Bible
  37. ^ Abanes, Richard (2003). One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church. Thunder's Mouth Press. pp. 67–75. ISBN 1568582838.
  38. ^ Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (1987). Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?. Utah Lighthouse Ministry. pp. 84–85. ISBN 9993074438.
  39. ^ Persuitte, David (2000). Joseph Smith and the Origins of the Book of Mormon (2nd Edition). McFarland & Company. pp. 155–172. ISBN 078640826X.
  40. ^ Abanes, Richard (2003). One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church. Thunder's Mouth Press. p. 69. ISBN 1568582838.
  41. ^ Persuitte, David (2000). Joseph Smith and the Origins of the Book of Mormon (2nd Edition). McFarland & Company. pp. 155–172. ISBN 078640826X.
  42. ^ Abanes, Richard (2003). One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church. Thunder's Mouth Press. p. 68. ISBN 1568582838.
  43. ^ Persuitte, David (2000). Joseph Smith and the Origins of the Book of Mormon (2nd Edition). McFarland & Company. pp. 155–172. ISBN 078640826X.
  44. ^ Abanes, Richard (2003). One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church. Thunder's Mouth Press. p. 68. ISBN 1568582838.
  45. ^ Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (1987). Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?. Utah Lighthouse Ministry. pp. 84–85. ISBN 9993074438.
  46. ^ Abanes, Richard (2003). One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church. Thunder's Mouth Press. p. 68. ISBN 1568582838.
  47. ^ Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (1987). Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?. Utah Lighthouse Ministry. pp. 84–85. ISBN 9993074438.
  48. ^ Abanes, Richard (2003). One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church. Thunder's Mouth Press. p. 71. ISBN 1568582838.
  49. ^ Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (1987). Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?. Utah Lighthouse Ministry. pp. 72–73. ISBN 9993074438.
  50. ^ Abanes, Richard (2003). One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church. Thunder's Mouth Press. p. 68. ISBN 1568582838.
  51. ^ Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (1987). Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?. Utah Lighthouse Ministry. pp. 72–73. ISBN 9993074438.
  52. ^ Abanes, Richard (2003). One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church. Thunder's Mouth Press. p. 72. ISBN 1568582838.
  53. ^ Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (1987). Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?. Utah Lighthouse Ministry. pp. 73–80. ISBN 9993074438.
  54. ^ Abanes, Richard (2003). One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church. Thunder's Mouth Press. p. 68. ISBN 1568582838.
  55. ^ Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (1987). Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?. Utah Lighthouse Ministry. pp. 73–80. ISBN 9993074438.
  56. ^ http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/DNA.shtml
  57. ^ http://www.experiencepress.org
  58. ^ 3913 Changes in The Book of Mormon Jerald and Sandra Tanner
  59. ^ Skousen 2001
  60. ^ Skousen & May 2001;Skousen & January 2001;Skousen & March 2001
  61. ^ Skousen 2004;Skousen 2005;Skousen 2006
  62. ^ "Taking the Scriptures to the World", Ensign, July 2001, 24
  63. ^ "Translation Work Taking Book of Mormon to More People in More Tongues," Ensign, Feb. 2005, 75–76
  64. ^ "Translation Work Taking Book of Mormon to More People in More Tongues", 6 February 2005
  65. ^ United States Patent and Trademark Office, Reg. No. 2,883,572.
  66. ^ whois search dated December 5 2007.
  67. ^ Yahoo.com, Rare Mormon book up for bid
  68. ^ Mormon book sold at auction
  69. ^ { url=http://www.hessney.com | title=Auction result on old Book of Mormon}

References

Further reading

  • Maxwell Institute Books available online
  • George Potter and Richard Wellington (2003). Lehi in the Wilderness: 81 New Documented Evidences That the Book of Mormon Is a True History. Cedar Fort. ISBN 1555176410.
  • Noel B. Reynolds (1997). Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins. Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies(FARMS). ISBN 093489325X.
  • Wesley Ziegler (2004). An Analysis of the Book of Mormon. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 1417968559.
  • Elder William A. Morton (2004). Book of Mormon Ready Reference. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 1417968508.
  • John Henry Evans (2004). Message and Characters of the Book of Mormon. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 1417968184.
  • William E. Berrett and Milton R. Hunter (2004). A Guide to the Study of the Book of Mormon. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 1417968826.
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