The book of mormon the musical gets its name and many of its jokes from the original book of mormon translated by the power of god. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon translation was performed by the gift and power of god jump to subtopic. The book of mormon musical by parker and stone 2011. The book of mormon is a religious record of three groups of people who migrated from the old world to the american continents. The mormon church has said it wants to be more open about the origin of their religion, and is providing fullcolor photographs of the seer stone. Each reads very much like the bible in type and breadth of thematic concerns and literary forms history, law, psalm. Similarly, joseph smith used both the nephite interpreters and his individual seer stone in the translation of the book of mormon.
What does the seer stone mean for mormons and exmormons. The book of mormon, a larky buddy story about two american mormons who go to uganda in an attempt to convert the natives, is utterly irresistible. Book of mormon creators trey parker and matt stone. They hearken back to the days of ancient israel when the high priest would use the urim and thummim to divine the will of the lord. According to latter day saint theology, the two stones found in the. As you read its pages, you can find answers to lifes toughest questions. In the latter day saint movement, the term urim and thummim refers to a descriptive category of instruments used for receiving revelation or translating languages. He gave a brief description of them in joseph smith history 1. Mormons unveil photos of rare sacred stone used by founder. Book of mormontranslationthe interpreters, seer stone, hat and the gift and power of god. One of the interesting defenses of the book of mormon is that there is no way an uneducated farm boy could have. This is the first time the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has published images of the seer stone, the stone that founder joseph smith used to translate the scriptures in the 1820s. Urim and thummim places the book of mormon translation on trial, presenting the latest research in one of the most comprehensive treatments of the translation process to date providing encouragement for latterday saints who fear they have been betrayed by the translation history taught by the church for over 190 years. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading seers and stones.
The mormon church for the first time is publishing photos of a small sacred stone called the seer stone it believes founder joseph smith used to help translate the story that became the basis of. A 21stcentury artistic representation of joseph smith. Why was a stone used as an aid in translating the book of. Trey parker and matt stone talk about the book of mormon, their blasphemous, hilarious and oddly endearing broadway hit, which leads the tony nominations field this year and will probably go. Critics have argued that the book of mormon cannot be true because joseph smiths claims about the book of mormons translation seem unbelievable, but this new. In september 1827, joseph received the record, which was written on thin plates of gold. Book of mormon translation on trial stoddard, hannah l. Seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon youtube. A dynamic, interactive, webfriendly presentation of the book of mormon. In this case, with the book of mormon now a fixture on broadway. Ive come to know several largerthanlife souls and their amazing stories through the book of mormon. The book of mormon videos youtube channel is a collection of videos based on accounts from the book of mormon.
The book of mormon records the visit of jesus christ to people in the americas following his resurrection. According to witness accounts, he would put the stones in a hat and pull the hat close. According to latter day saint theology, seer stones were believed to have been used by joseph smith, as well as ancient prophets, to receive revelations from god. But in doing so, i found some pretty awesome scriptures that i. A journal of mormon scripture 24 kindle edition by stan spencer. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. Interpreting the evidence, journal of book of mormon studies 22 1993. We carry a variety of book of mormon books, from 1830 heritage editions to journals and study guides. Translation of the book of mormon the second installment in book of mormon centrals evidence video series tackles the translation of the book of mormon. Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church believe that smith used seer stones to translate the book of mormon seer stones are mentioned in the book of mormon in the book of.
Seer stone in a hat book of mormon translation latter. The practice of using stones or glass to receive divine revelation is found in many cultures, including among the ancient why was a stone used as an aid in translating the book of mormon. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. When joseph smith was given the responsibility to translate the book of mormon he used the urim and thummim. The book of mormon, like the bible, teaches about jesus. Find out how you can develop a closer relationship with him through the book of mormon. We look at what critics have said because most of them are sincere people who have relied on interpretations of facts and logic that we think are errors. In one passage, the brother of jared asked the lord to touch 16 small stones, which were white and clear, even as transparent glass ether 3. He rejected the evidence used to indicate that the book of mormon was given wordforword through the seer stones as being based on having accepted too literally the necessarily secondhand accounting, given by martin harris and david whitmer, of the manner in which the translation was done. A book of mistakes, error, and fraud by jon gary williams introduction the mormon church promotes the book of mormon as an inspired writing. Seer stones the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Joseph smith and the making of the book of mormon kindle edition by william l.
Roberts, a brief debate on the book of mormon, in defense of the faith and the saints, 2 vols. How exactly did joseph smith translate the gold plates. Listenwise seer stones used to translate the book of mormon. It teaches me about a savior who is alive, active and who cares about me. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon by bill mckeever and eric johnson the founder of the lds church, joseph smith, claimed an angel named moroni visited him in september of 1823. Joseph smith pictures of a smooth, brown, eggsized rock are shown in the printers manuscript of the book of mormon following a. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. The nephites continued that tradition and used the gift and power of god to translate ancient records. Mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss the various historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including accounts. Mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss the various historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including accounts of joseph smith using a seer stone to translate the. Mormons reveal seer stone for first time members of the religion believe the eggshaped stone was used by the utahbased faiths founder. The mormon church is for the first time publishing photos of the stone it. Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church believe that smith used seer stones to translate the book of mormon. Mormons reveal seer stone for first time telegraph.
From the page on the book of mormon, we read, by the power of god, joseph smith translated this book from an ancient record written on gold plates. Other articles where the book of mormon is discussed. Seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon. For me, the book of mormon is an anchor for direction, understanding, peace, confidence, and a sense of wellbeing. A picture of a smooth, brown, eggsized rock is shown in the printers manuscript of the book of mormon. The translation of the book of mormon as divine visions of an oldtime seer interpreter. A new volume of the joseph smith papers project featuring the printers manuscript of the book of mormon was released august 4 by the. Pictures of a smooth, brown, eggsized rock are shown in the printers manuscript of the book of mormon following a news conference tuesday, aug.
In one passage, the brother of jared asked the lord to touch 16 small stones. However, after a fair and candid examination of the evidence, many thousands of honest mormons have discovered that this claim. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. An analysis of the lds church seer stone announcement.
Book of mormon, work accepted as holy scripture, in addition to the bible, in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and other mormon churches. This post has nothing to do with the truthfulness, or not, of the book of mormon. Book of mormontranslationthe interpreters, seer stone. Seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including joseph smith using a seer stone and accounts of joseph smith using urim and thummim. Salt lake city the mormon church for the first time is publishing photos of a small sacred stone it believes founder joseph smith used to help translate the story that became the basis of the. A somewhat perplexing reference to gazelem, the name of an individual using a stone prepared by god, is found in alma 37. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. It was first published in 1830 in palmyra, new york, and was thereafter widely reprinted and translated.
The fact that joseph smith did not use the stone spectacles to translate the book of mormon stands in conflict with the teaching of the book of mormon itself. Book of mormon printers manuscript, photos of seer stone. Books about mormons score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. The book of mormon describes a sacred purpose for specially designated stones. Seer stones in the book of mormon and in church history are fascinating. Joseph smith and the making of the book of mormon by davis on. This is a friendly discussion among brothers and sisters who are interested in the book of mormon.
New church video explains joseph smiths seer stones book of. For decades, and heavily over the past ten years, mormon historians, podcasters, and critics have been urging the lds church to be more open and honest about joseph smiths use of folk magic and a peep stonehat in his production of the book of mormon text. Joseph smith used the term the urim and thummim to refer to the pair of seer stones, or interpreters, he obtained for translating the book of mormon as well as to other seer stones he used in a similar manner. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Book of mormon and the seer stone latterday saint nana. The broadway production, which parker codirected, received numerous tony awards, including best musical. Vol 1 gl direct link vol 2 gl direct link gl direct link. Mormons publish photos of seer stone used by joseph smith. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the.
The website is the best website to visit, if you know little about the church or this book of scripture. Mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including joseph smith using a seer stone and accounts of joseph smith using urim and thummim. One of the simplest ways to get a free book of mormon is to order it online from one of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints official websites. I recently decided to go through the entire book of mormon, and in green, i highlighted all of the scriptures that made me glad. Fun new video about seer stones maybe its time to go ahead and write off the next. The practice of using stones or glass to receive divine revelation is found in many cultures, including among.
Mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including joseph smith using a seer stone and. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. Mormon included in his compilation the first six books as they were written. Some of the prophets of the nephites in the book of mormon are also mentioned as having seer stones. Additionally, its original cast album won a grammy award in 2012. These groups were led by prophets who recorded their religious and secular histories on metal plates. Josephs statement that the possession and use of these stones of the spectacles called the urim and thummim were what constituted seers in ancient or former times jsh. Mormon church releases photos of seer stone used by. The book of mormon comprises fifteen books, each named after its principal writer.