Joseph smith stated that the book of mormon was the keystone of our religion, to which the former lds prophet ezra taft benson added, just as the. Unpopular because of their polygamy, they moved to missouri, then to nauvoo, illinois. Joseph smith led the mormons until he was martyred by an angry mob on june 27, 1844. But joseph smith s manuscript consisted not only of spauldings literary work, but also of material taken from ethan smith s book a view of the hebrews, which was first published in 1823 and expanded in a second edition in 1825 in poultney, rutland county, vermont state, near windsor county, vermont, where the smith family lived.
In 1830, smith published the book of mormon and organized the church of. The book of mormon by joseph smith, paperback barnes. In 1830, joseph smith published the book of mormon. Popular fiction author orson scott card is a mormon and posted an article about why he as someone whose career is writing fiction does not believe that the book of mormon is a work of fiction or something joseph smith could possibly have created himself.
After the assassination of joseph smith in 1844, young was chosen leader of the mormons and continued as president until his death. How exactly did joseph smith translate the book of mormon. Could joseph smith have authored the book of mormon. Messenger of the restoration joseph smith translates the gold plates another testament of jesus christ. Gramps, there was a question about josephs stone and hat but you never mentioned either. This article is an excerpt from the book falling in love with joseph smith.
The page lists statements related to book of mormon geography that are attributed to joseph smith. Mormon history secrets and the conflicts of mormons christians. Therefore, he must have had divine aid, as he claims. I sense that your question is sincere, and that youre befuddled by the seeming contradictions that arise from the various explanations offered by those who just cant bring themselves to seriously consider that joseph smith could have been a prop. Apush unit 4 vocab religious movements flashcards quizlet. An angel led him to a book of golden plates and he published an english translation of the plates book of mormon. One of the claims often made by lds people is that there was no information on the indian ruins in mexico and guatemala available prior to 1830. Written by prophets to a people who lived in america long before white people ever came, some believe they were the beginnings of some native indian tribes. For instance, i read that at first he used a seer stone instead of the urim and thummim which he placed in his hat and buried his. Honestly, because of the sheer volume of anachronistic errors contained in joseph smiths book, even trying to read it as a novel is taxing. Actually, numerous books recounting similar ideas as those in joseph smiths book of mormon had already been published. Of course, it would be easy for joseph smith to include these things in the book of mormon, if in fact it was first written in his own day, rather than many centuries earlier as he claimed it had been. We realize that he made several other statements which place the book of mormon in north and south america, but. If joseph smith wrote the book of mormon, and if he was a.
Joseph smith 18051844 as founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, popularly known as the mormons, joseph smith stands as one of the most charismatic and influential religious. The history of mormonism begins with joseph smith jr. Where did joseph smith get his ideas for the book of mormon. Nov 26, 2010 here are a few quotes by joseph smith which place the book of mormon in mesoamerica. He also serves as editor of journal of book of mormon studies. It also shows that persuittes analysis, even if unchallenged, at best accounts for less than 5% of the verses in the book of mormon.
Also, hes the first prophet and president of the church. The parties here then never could have been the authors of it, certainly. They must also explain why people today claim, just as joseph smith did, that they receive information through scrying. Aug 29, 2014 the church recently released an essay summarizing what we know about the process of translating the book of mormon.
History curriculum framework, a book for teachers that outlines the essential. In 2007, andrew hedges published an excellent article in the mormon historic sites journal that discusses the 11 particularly noteworthy documents generated during joseph smiths lifetime that pertain to book of mormon geography. Brother hedges states that these are documents that were generated during joseph smiths lifetime, and that. Article by joseph smith in the messenger and advocate, defending slavery and claiming it was authorized in the bible. Smith and his followers moved out west and finally made a thriving settlement in the utah desert. The book of mormon a sacred text of the latter day saint movement. Smith established the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Again the book of mormon contradicts the bible, because it has many aspects of salvation being practiced long before they were truly in effect.
In addition to joseph smith, the lord provided for eleven others to see. I was taught that the seer stones helped translate the golden plates but i never heard anything about. The book of mormons foggy origins did joseph smith believe himself. If joseph smith did makeup the book of mormon, how and. In 1823 moroni was sent as a resurrected being to reveal the book of mormon to joseph smith and finally delivered the plates to him in 1827 the guide to the scriptures, moroni, son of mormon, 16768. I took my time rereadinglistening to this standard work of the latterday saints lds faith. American religious leaders such as joseph smith, jr. In regards to the geography of the book of mormon, he has left us his testimony. Book of mormongeographystatementsnineteenth centuryjoseph. Apush chapter 15 the american pageant flashcards quizlet. Britain and publish a book of verse and subsequently wrote other. Joseph smith as author of the book of mormon joseph smith was an uneducated boy, and yet he produced the book of mormon in a few short months. Took place both in churches and frontier camp meetings and often led to the. If devout latterday saints reject the modern use of scrying, they must explain why joseph smith was able to use that method for revelations and translating the book of mormon.
Through divine revelation, he translated these plates into the book of mormon. The question of the authenticity of the book of mormon is the basis for any discussion on the truthfulness of the lds church. Aug 12, 2012 the book of mormon s foggy origins did joseph smith believe himself. Joseph smith and book of mormon geography fair mormon. Joseph smiths testimony on the lands of the nephites. Joseph smith led the mormons until he was martyred by an. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. He justified polygamy and hoped for a society that would inspire moral perfection. More on joseph smiths plagiarism in the book of mormon. Joseph smith is the founder of the mormon religion. Clark, archaeology, relics, and book of mormon belief, journal of book of mormon studies 142 2005. Book of mormon translation as you will see from the article, joseph smith apparently alternated between using the urim and thummim which he obtained simultaneously with the plates, and a seer stone that he. The history of joseph smith by his mother deseret book.
He said that he knelt to pray and was visited by god and jesus christ, who instructed him to restore the church jesus christ founded when he lived on the earth. The book was written by ancient prophets through the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Hedges in the course of his efforts to chart the development of ideas regarding book of mormon geography, john l. The lds church considers joseph smith, who founded mormonism. Regarded by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints as holy scripture detailing gods revelation to joseph smith. The book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. Smith claimed that the book of mormon was a translation from a gold plate that an angel named moroni showed him. Could joseph smith have written the book of mormon. Brother hedges states that these are documents that were generated during joseph smiths lifetime, and that joseph at least allowed, in one.
The following are quotes from joseph smith and a few others that shed much light on the subject. To read this book is to know joseph smith more intimately and to be inspired by the insights and stories surrounding the. While there they met with joseph smith, the founder of mormonism. Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith andrew h. He was born in sharon vermont and moved to new york and during the second great awakening he heard a series of visions. Meanwhile, nonmormon hostility in the surrounding county had been growing for the usual reasons, and, when the press was closed, irate local citizens brought charges of promoting riot against smith and his brother hyrum.
The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible, used by latter day saints. Did joseph smith use a hat during the translation of the book. Dear gramps, i would like to know the exact way the prophet joseph translated the book of mormon. Apr 05, 2014 joseph smith and book of mormon geography fair mormon. The signature of joseph smith in the book of mormon. Study 50 terms chapter 15 vocab apush flashcards quizlet. Book of mormon geography in the world of joseph smith. Organized the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. Joseph smiths contributions to the development of mormons. Since joseph smith was younger than most of you and not nearly so experienced or welleducated as any of you at the time he ed the book of mormon, it should not be too much to ask you to hand in by the end of the semester which will give you more time than he had a paper of, say, five. It is a complex portrayal of a thousandyear history of an ancient people. Based on book of mormon cooperative social organization. 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.
After smith was killed in 1844, brigham young led mormons to utah territory b. From a geographical standpoint, some lds scholars believe mesoamerica to be the setting of the book of mormon. Luckily, in 1608, a captain john smith took over control and whipped. In 1827, smith began to gather a religious following after announcing that an angel had shown him a set of golden plates describing a visit of jesus to the indigenous peoples of. Strangely enough we find inserted in the middle of the book of mormon, pages 141143 bom p. Members of the church call him a prophet because, according to the traditional role of prophets recorded in the old and new testaments in the bible, he relied on revelation from god for teaching the people, and not on his own wisdom or learning. American revivalist the book of mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western tribes of indians. The mormon religion was officially founded in 1830 when the book of. I come on here often and definitely have my doubts but i want to know how joseph smith could write the bom so fast and in so much detail without being able to really read or write. Following the visit, joseph smith signed a copy of the book of mormon and gave it to charles francis.
When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Brigham young a mormon leader that led his oppressed followers to utah in 1846. Did joseph smith use a hat during the translation of the. The book of mormon bom is an abbreviated account of the inhabitants of the ancient americas from 2200 bc to 421 ad. The last nephite prophet in the book of mormon circa a. How could joseph smith possibly have written the book of.
Sep 11, 20 the last nephite prophet in the book of mormon circa a. How could joseph smith possibly have written the book of mormon so fast. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which is believed to contain writings of ancient prophets who lived on american continent from approx. Book of mormongeographystatementsnineteenth century. Actually, numerous books recounting similar ideas as those in jo. Atlantic coast and the british islands in the west indies took. Second edition of the book of mormon, 1837, in contemporary sheep book of mormon smith, joseph. For instance, i read that at first he used a seer stone instead of the urim and thummim which he placed in his hat and buried his face into the hat to block out the light. The book of mormon is set in north america in the first century. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present. Joseph smith founded mormonism in new york in 1830 with the guidance of an angel.
It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith, jr. In the spring of 1820, joseph smith went to a grove of trees in palmyra, new york. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. How do you account for the production of the book of mormon, mr. Joseph smith has done many things to enlighten the understanding of men throughout the restoration of the gospel. In 1844, charles francis adams and his cousin josiah quincy, jr. Also smith began the latterday saints church in 1830 in palmyra, new york. Study 30 terms apush chapter 11 terms flashcards quizlet. Just as the arch crumbles if the keystone is removed, so does all the church stand or fall with the truthfulness of the book of mormon. Te apush study guides loudoun county public schools. It is a record of gods dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the americas.
Mormonism attempts to establish smith and his revelation as being from god on the grounds that they fulfill bible prophecy. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Smith believed that the figure speaking to him was god so he went out and began this new religion he named mormon. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Here are a few quotes by joseph smith which place the book of mormon in mesoamerica. Did joseph smith use a hat during the translation of the book of mormon. Reforms took the shape of social movements for temperance, womens rights, and. They must also explain why people today claim, just as joseph smith. To start at the beginning of the study, click here. Start studying apush unit 4 vocab religious movements. Concerning this record the prophet joseph smith said.
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