Book of Mormon/Translation/Method/1829-1835

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Chronology of statements regarding translation methods used for the Book of Mormon

1829

Hostile news account 11 August 1829

and after penetrating “mother earth” a short distance, the [Golden] Bible was found, together with a huge pair of spectacles! He had been directed, however, not to let any mortal being examine them, “under no less penalty” than instant death! They were therefore nicely wrapped up and excluded from the “vulgar gaze of poor wicked mortals!” It was said that the leaves of the bible were plates of gold, about 8 inches long, 6 wide, and one eighth of an inch thick, on which were engraved characters or hyeroglyphics. By placing the spectacles in a hat, and looking into it, Smith could (he said so, at least,) interpret these characters.^[1]

• Scribe: Not specified
• Curtain: Not specified
• Instrument: "Spectacles" (i.e., Nephite interpreters)
• Method: Spectacles in hat

Martin Harris (eyewitness), paraphrased in the The Gem 5 September 1829

“In the autumn of 1827 a man named Joseph Smith of Manchester, in Ontario County, said that he had been visited by the spirit of the Almighty in a dream, and informed that in a certain hill in that town was deposited a Golden Bible, containing an ancient record of divine origin. He states that after the third visit from the same spirit in a dream he proceeded to the spot, removed earth, and there found the bible, together with a large pair of spectacles. He had also been directed to let no mortal see them under the penalty of immediate death, which injunction he steadfastly adheres to. The treasure consisted of a number of gold plates, about 8 inches long, 6 wide, and one eighth of an inch thick, on which were engraved hieroglyphics. By placing the spectacles in a hat and looking into it, Smith interprets the characters into the English language.[”] ^[2]

• Scribe: Martin Harris
• Curtain: Not specified
• Instrument: "Spectacles"
• Method: Spectacles in hat

1830

Martin Harris (eyewitness), paraphrased and reprinted in New-York Telescope 20 Feb 1830

...he proceeded to the spot, and found the bible, with a huge pair of spectacles....He is said to have shown some of these characters to Professor Samuel L. Mitchell, of this city, who could not translate them. Martin Harris returned, and set Joseph Smith to the business of translating them: who, “by placing the spectacles in a hat and looking into them, Joseph Smith said he could interpret these characters.” ^[3]

• Scribe: Martin Harris
• Curtain: Not specified
• Instrument: "Spectacles"
• Method: Spectacles in hat

Hostile news account 27 Feb 1830

The inspired man who wrote the “Gold Bible” on “plates of brass,” in the “reformed Egyptian” language, on account of its brevity, as we are informed, through the medium of one of these psuedo prophets, never had half the trouble that we experience in deciphering the unseemly scrolls of this dark representative of old Pluto’s dominions. His letters and communications are all written in heathen Greek, and the characters so fine and imperfect, that notwithstanding the great power of our editorial spectacles, we have in one instance burnt the scrawl in despair! ^[4]

• Scribe: Not specified
• Curtain: Not specified
• Instrument: "Spectacles"?
• Method: Not specified

Hostile news account circa May 1830

A fellow by the name of Joseph Smith, who resides in the upper part of Susquehanna county, has been, for the last two years we are told, employed in dedicating as he says, by inspiration, a new bible. He pretended that he had been entrusted by God with a golden bible which had been always hidden from the world. Smith would put his face into a hat in which he had a white stone, and pretend to read from it, while his coadjutor transcribed. ^[5]

• Scribe: Not specified
• Curtain: Not specified
• Instrument: Stone
• Method: In a hat

Hostile news account 2 June 1830

Now the rest of the acts of the magician [Walters], how his mantle fell upon the prophet Jo. Smith Jun. and how Jo. made a league with the spirit, who afterwards turned out to be an angel, and how he obtained the “Gold Bible,” Spectacles, and breast plate–will they not be faithfully recorded in the book of Pukei?” ^[6]

• Scribe: Not specified
• Curtain: Not specified
• Instrument: Spectacles and breast plate [Walters the magician is said to have had a "magic stone" which he took with him.]
• Method: Not specified

Hostile news account 7 July 1830

BOOK OF PUKEI.—Chap. 2. Contents.—....8 spectacles-breastplate-Oliver, &c....[Joseph] art chosen to interpret the book, which Mormon has written, to wit, the gold Bible? 8. “And lo! I answered the spirit of the money diggers saying, how can these things be, as I can neither read nor write? And he said unto me” ‘I will give thee a breast plate, to keep thee from evil, and I will send thee an assistant, even Oliver, the pedagogue.’^[7]

• Scribe: Oliver Cowdery
• Curtain: Not specified
• Instrument: Spectacles and breast plate
• Method: Not specified

Hostile news account 2 August 1830

the vices and follies of others, if rightly appreciated are full of instruction, & we only require JO SMITH’S Magic Spectacles, or some other powerful optical instrument to turn them to our own advantage. ^[8]

• Scribe: Not specified
• Curtain: Not specified
• Instrument: "Spectacles" (i.e., Nephite interpreters)
• Method: Not specified

Hostile news account 16 November 1830

...which is said to be translated from Egyptian Hieroglyphics, on metal plates, by one Smith, who was enabled to read the characters by instruction from Angels.... ^[9]

• Scribe: Not specified
• Curtain: Not specified
• Instrument: Not specified
• Method: Taught by angels

Oliver Cowdery in hostile news account 18 November 1830

According to the narrative given by one of these disciples—Oliver Cowdery—at their late exhibition in Kirtland, this pretended Revelation was written on golden plates, or something resembling golden plates, of the thickness of tin—7 inches in length, 6 inches in breadth, and a pile about 6 inches deep. None among the most learned in the United States could read, and interpret the hand-writing, (save one, and he could decipher but a few lines correctly,) excepting this ignoramus, Joseph Smith, Jr. To him, they say, was given the spirit of interpretation; but he was ignorant of the art of writing, he employed this Oliver Cowdery and others to write, while he read, interpreted, and translated this mighty Revelation.^[10]

• Scribe: Oliver Cowdery
• Curtain: Not specified
• Instrument: Not specified
• Method: Spirit of inspiration

Hostile news account 20 November 1830

You have probably heard of the Gold Bible taken from the earth by Joseph Smith, the money-digger. This he has translated from the Egyptian reformed language to English, by a pair of stone spectacles (provided by an angel) and a dark hat before his eyes.^[11]

• Scribe: Not specified
• Curtain: Not specified
• Instrument: Stone spectacles
• Method: Hat before eyes

Hostile news account 4 December 1830

In the Fall of 1827, a man named Joseph Smith of Manchester, Ontario county, N.Y. reported that he had three times been visited in a dream, by the spirit of the Almighty, and informed that in a certain hill in that town, was a Golden Bible, containing an ancient record of a divine nature and origin. On going to the spot he found buried the Bible with a huge pair of spectacles: The leaves (he said, tho' he was not permitted to shew them) were plates of gold, about 8 inches long, 6 wide, and 1-8th of an inch thick, on which were engraved characters or hieroglyphicks, which with the spectacles he could interpret. Martin Harris an industrious farmer, caught the contagion, took some of the characters to different learned men to translate, but without success. He returned, set Smith to work at translating it, and has had it printed.^[12]

• Scribe: Not specified
• Curtain: Not specified
• Instrument: Spectacles
• Method: Not specified

Hostile news account 8 December 1830

Some year or two since the crdulous were amused with the tale that, guided by inspiration, some one had found many golden plates buried in the earth near Palmyra, Wayne county, in this state, upon which were revealed,in an unknown tongue, (an odd sort of revelation one would think) the whole duty of man. This the finder and comrade were enabled, by supernatural agency, to translate since which the book has been printed and travelling preachers have gone forth with it, to enlighten the world.^[13]

• Scribe: Not specified
• Curtain: Not specified
• Instrument: Not specified
• Method: Supernatural agency

Hostile news account 14 December 1830

This new Gospel they say was found in Ontario co. N.Y. and was discovered by an Angel of light, appearing in a dream to a man by the name of Smith, who, as directed, went to a certain place and dug from the earth a stone box, containing plates of gold, on which this gospel was engraved in characters unknown. The said Smith though a man so illiterate that he cannot write, was, by divine inspiration, enabled to give the true interpretation, and the man who wrote from the mouth of Smith, is one of the four mentioned above.^[14]

• Scribe: Not specified
• Curtain: Not specified
• Instrument: Not specified
• Method: Supernatural agency

Hostile news account 18 December 1830

At a recent period, an angel appeared to a poor ignorant man residing in, or near Palmyra, in Ontario county, in the State of New-York, and directed him to open the earth at a place designated, where he would find the new revelation engraved on plates of metal. In obedience to the celestial messenger, Smith repaired to the spot, and on opening the ground, discovered an oblong stone box, tightly closed with cement. He opened the sacred depository, and found enclosed a bundle of plates resembling gold, carefully united at one edge with three silver wires, so that they opened like a book. The plates were about seven inches long and six broad, and the whole pile was about seven inches long and six broad, and was about six inches deep; each plate about the thickness of tin. They were engraved in a character unintelligible to the learned men of the United States, to many of whom it is said they have been presented. The angel afterwards appeared to the three individuals, and showed them the plates. To Smith was given to transcribe the character which he was enabled to do by looking through two semitransparent stones, but as he was ignorant of the writing, Cowdry and others wrote as Smith interpreted. They say, that part of the plates escaped from them in a supernatural manner, and are again to be revealed when the events of time shall require them.^[15]

• Scribe: Oliver Cowdery and others
• Curtain: Not specified
• Instrument: Two semitransparent stones [the Nephite interpreters?]
• Method: Not specified

1831

Hostile press account 7 February 1831

He that touched these stones appeared unto the brother of Jared, and said: “Behold I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son.” Two of these stones were sealed up with the plates, and became the spectacles of Joseph Smith, according to a prediction uttered before Abraham was born....This prophet Smith, through his stone spectacles, wrote on the plates of Nephi, in his book of Mormon, every error and almost every truth discussed in New York for the last ten years....[it] is, without exaggeration, the meanest book in the English language: but it is a translation made through stone spectacles, in a dark room, and in the hat of the prophet Smith, from the reformed Egyptian!!!^[16]

• Scribe: Not specified
• Curtain: Not specified
• Instrument: Spectacles (two stones); "stone spectacles."
• Method: In a dark room, in the hat

Martin Harris (eyewitness), paraphrased in the Palmyra Reflector

Harris declares, that when he acted as amanuenses, and wrote the translation, as Smith dictated, such was his fear of the Divine displeasure, that a screen (sheet) was suspended between the prophet and himself.... ^[17]

• Scribe: Martin Harris
• Curtain: Present
• Instrument: Not specified
• Method: Not specified

1834

Eber D. Howe (non-eyewitness), paraphrasing Martin Harris (eyewitness) in Mormonism Unvailed

[Martin Harris] says he wrote a considerable part of the book, as Smith dictated, and at one time the presence of the Lord was so great, that a screen was hung up between him and the Prophet; at other times the Prophet would sit in a different room, or up stairs, while the Lord was communicating to him the contents of the plates. He does not pretend that he ever saw the wonderful plates but once, although he and Smith were engaged for months in deciphering their contents. ^[18]

• Scribe: Martin Harris
• Curtain: present
• Instrument: Not specified
• Method: not specified
• Locations: Different room; Stairs
• Plates: Not present

Charles Anthon (non-eyewitness), in Mormonism Unvailed

This young man was placed behind a curtain, in the garret of a farm house, and, being thus concealed from view, put on the spectacles occasionally, or rather, looked through one of the glasses, decyphered the characters in the book, and, having committed some of them to paper, handed copies from behind the curtain, to those who stood on the outside. Not a word, however, was said about the plates having been decyphered "by the gift of God:' Every thing, in this way, was effected by the large pair of spectacles. ^[19]

• Scribe: Martin Harris
• Curtain: present
• Instrument: Nephite interpreters ("spectacles"; "large pair of spectacles")
• Method: "looked through one of the glasses"

Isaac Hale (eyewitness), Mormonism Unvailed

I told them, that I considered the whole of it a delusion, and advised them to abandon it. The manner in which he pretended to read and interpret, was the same as when he looked for the money-diggers, with the stone in his hat, and his hat over his face, while the Book of Plates were at the same time hid in the woods! ^[20]

• Scribe: Not identified
• Curtain: Not mentioned
• Instrument: stone
• Method: placed stone in hat

1836

Truman Coe (non-eyewitness), Hudson Ohio Observer

An angel descended and warned him that God was about to make an astonishing revelation to the world, and then directed him to go to such a place, and after prying up a stone he should find a number of plates of the color of gold inscribed with hieroglyphics, and under them a breastplate, and under that a transparent stone or stones which was the Urim and Thummim mentioned by Moses....The manner of translation was as wonderful as the discovery. By putting his finger on one of the characters and imploring divine aid, then looking through the Urim and Thummim, he would see the import written in plain English on a screen placed before him. After delivering this to his emanuensi, he would again proceed in the same manner and obtain the meaning of the next character, and so on till he came to a part of the plates which were sealed up,and there was commanded to desist: and he says he has a promise from God that in due time he will enable him to translate the remainder. This is the relation as given by Smith. A man by the name of [Martin] Harris, of a visionary turn of mind, assisted in the translation, and afterwards Oliver Cowdery. ^[21]

• Scribe: Martin Harris and Oliver Cowdery
• Curtain: not mentioned
• Instrument: transparent stone, Urim and Thummim
• Method: "looking through the Urim and Thummim."

1842

John A. Clark (non-eyewitness), Gleanings by the Way

The way that Smith made his transcripts and transcriptions for Harris was the following. Although in the same room, a thick curtain or blanket was suspended between them, and Smith concealed behind the blanket, pretended to look through his spectacles, or transparent stones, and would then write down or repeat what he saw, which, when repeated aloud, was written down by Harris, who sat on the other side of the suspended blanket. Harris was told that it would arouse the most terrible divine displeasure, if he should attempt to draw near the sacred chest, or look at Smith while engaged in the work of decyphering the mysterious characters. This was Harris's own account of the matter to me. ^[22]

• Scribe: Martin Harris
• Curtain: present
• Instrument: Nephite interpreters ("spectacles"); Transparent stones
• Method: "look through his spectacles"

Charles Anthon (non-eyewitness), Gleanings by the Way

A young man, it seems, had been placed in the garret of a farm-house, with a curtain before him, and, having fastened the spectacles to his head, had read several pages in the golden book, and communicated their contents in writing to certain persons stationed on the outside of the curtain. He had also copied off one page of the book in the original character, which he had in like manner handed over to those who were separated from him by the curtain, and this copy was the paper which the countryman had brought with him. ^[23]

• Scribe: Martin Harris
• Curtain: present
• Instrument: Nephite interpreters ("spectacles")
• Method: "fastened the spectacles to his head"

1867

Pomeroy Tucker (non-eyewitness), Origin, Rise, and Progress of Mormonism

Translations and interpretations were now entered upon by the prophet, and manuscript specimens of these, with some of the literally transcribed characters, were shown to people, including ministers and other gentlemen of learning and influence.... The manuscripts were in the handwriting of one Oliver Cowdery, which had been written down by him, as he and Smith declared, from the translations, word for word, as made by the latter with the aid of the mammoth spectacles or Urim and Thummim, and verbally announced by him from behind a blanket-screen drawn across a dark corner of a room at his residence-for at this time the original revelation, limiting to the prophet the right of seeing the sacred plates, had not yet been changed, and the view with the instrument used was even too brilliant for his own spiritualized eyes in the light! This was the story of the first series of translations, which was always persisted in by the few persons connected with the business at this early period of its progress. The single significance of this theory will doubtless be manifest, when the facts are stated in explanation, that Smith could not write in a legible hand, and hence an amanuensis or scribe was necessary. Cowdery had been a schoolmaster, and was the only man in the band who could make a copy for the printer. .... The work of translation this time [after the loss of the 116 pages] had been done in the recess of a dark artificial cave, which Smith had caused to be dug in the east side of the forest-hill near his residence. , .. [T]hough another version was, that the prophet continued to pursue his former mode of translating behind the curtain at his house, and only went into the cave to pay his spiritual devotions. ^[24]

• Scribe: Oliver Cowdery
• Curtain: mentioned
• Instrument: Nephite interpreters ("mammoth spectacles"); Urim and Thummim; "the instrument"
• Method: Not specified

1870

Martin Harris (eyewitness)

Martin Harris related an incident that occurred during the time that he wrote the portion of the translation of the Book of Mormon which he was favored to write direct from the mouth of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He said that the Prophet possessed a seer stone, by which he was enabled to translate as well as from the Urim and Thummim, and for convenience he then used the seer stone. Martin explained the translation as follows: By aid of the seer stone, sentences would appear and were read by the Prophet and written by Martin, and when finished he would say, "Written," and if correctly written, that sentence would disappear and another appear in its place, but if not written correctly it remained until corrected, so that the translation was just as it was engraven on the plates, precisely in the language then used. ^[25]

• Scribe: Martin Harris
• Curtain: Not mentioned
• Instrument: The seer stone and the Urim and Thummin mentioned as separate items
• Method: Not specified

Elizabeth Ann Whitmer Cowdery (eyewitness)

"I cheerfully certify that I was familiar with the manner of Joseph Smith's translating the book of Mormon. He translated the most of it at my Father's house. And I often sat by and saw and heard them translate and write for hours together. Joseph never had a curtain drawn between him and his scribe while he was translating. He would place the director in his hat, and then place his [face in his] hat, so as to exclude the light, and then [read] to his scribe the words as they appeared before him." ^[26]

• Scribe: Unknown
• Curtain: Denied that a curtain had been used.
• Instrument: A "director"
• Method: Hat.

Editorial comment: Where this may tell us more than it says is the specific statement that "Joseph never had a curtain drawn between him and his scribe while he was translating." The statement made by Elizabeth virtually requires that there be a story in current circulation that there was a curtain, and that this statement was made to counter that story. This indicates that among the Saints there may have been two versions circulating and that there was no clear understanding about which was the accurate picture. Therefore, Elizabeth wanted to clarify the account based on her experience.

I staid in Richmond two days and nights. I had a great deal of talk with widow Cowdry, and her amiable daughter. She is married to a Dr Johnson, but has no children. She gave me a certificate, And this is the copy. "Richmond, Ray Co., Mo. Feb 15, 1870--I cheerfully certify that I was familiar with the manner of Joseph Smith's translating the book of Mormon. He translated the most of it at my Father's house. And I often sat by and saw and heard them translate and write for hours together. Joseph never had a curtain drawn between him and his scribe while he was translating. He would place the director in his hat, and then place his face in his hat, so as to exclude the light, and then [read the words?] as they appeared before him: ^[27]

• Scribe: Unknown
• Curtain: Not mentioned
• Instrument: A "director"
• Method: Hat.

1877

John Gilbert (non-eyewitness), Detroit Post and Tribune

As he claimed to be the author of the "Book of Mormon" his story was that by the aid of his wonderful stone he found gold plates on which were inscribed the writings in hieroglyphics. He translated them by means of a pair of magic spectacles which the Lord delivered to him at the same time that the golden tablets were turned up. But nobody but Joe himself ever saw the golden tablets or the far-seeing spectacles. He dictated the book, concealed behind a curtain, and it was written down by Cowdery. This course seemed to be rendered necessary by the fact that Joe did not know how to write. ^[28]

• Scribe: Oliver Cowdery
• Curtain: Mentioned
• Instrument: Nephite interpreters ("magic spectacles," "far-seeing spectacles")
• Method: Not specified

1878

William S. Sayre (non-eyewitness)

Richards [Martin Harris], got into the Stage house when on <the> rout & Said he resided at Palmira, & had been to Quages, which was in the town of Colesville a few miles from South Bainbridge village to See Jos[eph] Smith, who had resided in Palmira, & had found a gold bible & stone in which he looked & was thereby enabled to translate the very ancient chara[c]ters which <he> found in the bible. He Said Smith was poor & was living in a house which had only one room <in which he could keep [for?]> & Smith had a sheet put up in one corner & went behind it from observation when he was writing the bible. He SaId Smith kept the bible hid or covered up & put it in a hat & had the Stone which <he> found in Pal=mira & look[e] d through it & then wrote what he read in the bible. He Said <he> would not let him see the bible but let him feel of it when it was covered up. Smith read to him a good deal of the bible & he repeated to those in the Stage verse after verse of what Smith had read to him; ^[29]

• Scribe: Not specified (Martin Harris?)
• Curtain: mentioned ("a sheet")
• Instrument: Either the Nephite interpreters or the seer stone ("the Stone which he found in Palmira")
• Method: Looked "through" it.

1879

Emma Smith Bidamon (eyewitness)

In writing for your father I frequently wrote day after day, often sitting at the table close by him, he sitting with his face buried in his hat, with the stone in it, and dictating hour after hour with nothing between us. ^[30]

• Scribe: Emma Smith
• Curtain: Not present
• Instrument: Seer stone
• Method: Hat

S.F. Walker

He had seen the plates; and it was his especial pride and joy that he had written sixty pages of the Book of Mormon.... When the work of translation was going on he sat at one table with his writing material and Joseph at another with the breast-plate and Urim and Thummim. The later were attached to the breast-plate and were two crystals or glasses, into which he looked and saw the words of the book. The words remained in sight till correctly written, and mistakes of the scribe in spelling the names were corrected by the seer without diverting his gaze from the Urim and Thummim. ^[31]

• Scribe: Not specified
• Curtain: Not present
• Instrument: Nephite interpreters ("Breast-plate and Urim and Thummim," "two crystals or glasses")
• Method: Joseph "looked" into the crystals or glasses
• Location: Scribe "at one table" and Joseph "at another"

1880

Sallie McKune (non-eyewitness)

MRS. SALLIE MCKUNE, widow of Joseph McKune and mother of Sheriff [Benjamin] McKune, is now eighty years old. She was between twenty-five and thirty years old when Joe Smith was performing about Susquehanna, and lived upon a farm adjoining Joe Smith's lot and the Isaac Hale farm, and in sight of the place where they dug for the ton of silver, on Jacob I. Skinner's farm. Smith's residence was between the residence of an addition to the house, and Mrs. McKune lived in the house about forty years. She remembers the arrangement of the nails used for hooks to hang blankets on during the translation of the golden bible. ^[32]

• Scribe: Unknown
• Curtain: Mentioned
• Instrument: Not specified
• Method: Not specified

Frederick G. Mather (non-eyewitness)

Joe Smith would write the translation from his plates upon a slate, or dictate what to write, and others would copy upon paper. His assistants were witness Martin Harris, and brother-in-law Reuben Hale.31 The translating and writing were done in the little low chamber of Joe Smith's house. The Prophet and his precious trust were screened even from the sight of his clerks by blankets nailed to the walls. 32 The nails remained for many years just as they were driven by the Prophet, and it was not until some repairing was done a short time ago that they were drawn out. Neighbors were free to call at the house as much as they pleased while the bible was concocting, and the matter of the golden bible would be talked over. Some persons were permitted to lift the pillow case in which it was kept, and feel the thickness of the volume the plates made, but no one was permitted to see them. ^[33]

• Scribe: Not identified
• Curtain: Mentioned
• Instrument: Not specified
• Method: Not specified

Eri B. Mullin (non-eyewitness), Saint's Herald

I for my part know he said that Joseph had the instrument Urim and Thummim. I asked him how they looked. He said they looked like spectacles, and he (Joseph) would put them on and look in a hat, or put his face in the hat and read. Says I, "Did he have the plates in there:' "No, ^[34]

• Scribe: Not identified
• Curtain: Not mentioned
• Instrument: Nephite interpreters ("spectacles")
• Method: Hat

1881

David Whitmer (eyewitness), Kansas City Daily Journal

My statement was and now is that in translating he put the stone in his hat and putting his face in his hat so as to excluded the light and that then the light and characters appeared in the hat together with the interpretation which he uttered and was written by the scribe and which was tested at the time as stated. ^[35]

• Scribe: Not identified
• Curtain: Not mentioned
• Instrument: "the stone"
• Method: Hat

1884

David Whitmer (eyewitness), St. Louis Republican

The understanding we have about it was that when the book was discovered an angel was present and pointed the place out. In translating from the plates, Joseph Smith looked through the Urim and Thummim, consisting of two transparent pebbles set in the rim of a bow, fastened to a breastplate. He dictated by looking through them to his scribes: ^[36]

• Scribe: Not explicitly identified ("his scribes")
• Curtain: Not mentioned
• Instrument: Urim and Thummim, two transparent pebbles set in the rim of a bow.
• Method: "dictated by looking through them"

1885

David Whitmer (eyewitness), Chicago Tribune

Each time before resuming the work all present would kneel in prayer and invoke the Divine blessing on the proceeding. After prayer Smith would sit on one side of a table and the amanuenses, in turn as they became tired, on the other. Those present and not actively engaged in the work seated themselves around the room and then the work began. After affixing the magical spectacles to his eyes, Smith would take the plates and translate the characters one at a time. The graven characters would appear in succession to the seer, and directly under the character, when viewed through the glasses, would be the translation in English. ^[37]

• Scribe: Not explicitly identified ("the amanuenses")
• Curtain: Not present
• Instrument: Nephite interpreters ("magical spectacles," "glasses")
• Method: "affixing the magical spectacles to his eyes"

David Whitmer (eyewitness), Chicago Tribune

In order to give privacy to the proceeding a blanket, which served as a portiere, was stretched across the family living room to shelter the translators and the plates from the eyes of any who might call at the house while the work was in progress. This, Mr. Whitmer says, was the only use made of the blanket, and it was not for the purpose of concealing the plates or the translator from the eyes of the amanuensis. In fact, Smith was at no time hidden from his collaborators, and the translation was performed in the presence of not only the persons mentioned, but of the entire Whitmer household and several of Smith's relatives besides. ^[38]

• Scribe: Not mentioned
• Curtain: Mentioned
• Instrument: Not specified
• Method: Not specified

1887

David Whitmer (eyewitness), An Address to All Believers in Christ

God gave to an unlearned boy, Joseph Smith, the gift to translate it by the means of a STONE. See the following passages concerning the ”Urim and Thummin," being the same means and one by which the Ancients received the word of the Lord. ^[39]

I will now give you a description of the manner in which the Book of Mormon was translated. Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and pout his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. One character at a time would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God, and not by any power of man. ^[40]

• Scribe: Oliver Cowdery
• Curtain: Not mentioned
• Instrument: Stone, "Urim and Thummin," seer stone
• Method: Hat

1888

W.R. Hine (non-eyewitness), Naked Truths about Mormonism

Soon I learned that Jo claimed to be translating the plates in Badger's Tavern, in Colesville, three miles from my house. I went there and saw Jo Smith sit by a table and put a handkerchief to his forehead and peek into his hat and call out a word to Cowdery, who sat at the same table and wrote it down. Several persons sat near the same table and there was no curtain between them. ^[41]

• Scribe: Oliver Cowdery
• Curtain: Stated that there was no curtain
• Instrument: Not mentioned
• Method: Hat

1907

Samuel W. Richards (non-eyewitness)

He [Oliver Cowdery] represents Joseph as sitting by a table with the plates before him. and he reading the record with the Urim & Thummim. Oliver, his scribe, sits close beside to hear and write every word as translated. This is done by holding the translators over the words of the written record and the translation appears distinctly in the instrument, which had been touched by the finger of God and dedicated and consecated for the express purpose of translating languages. This instrument now used fully performed its Mission. Every word was made distinctly visible even to every letter, and if Oliver did not in writing spell the word correctly it remained in the translator until it was written correctly. This was the Mystery to Oliver, how Joseph being compar[a]tively ignorant could correct him in spelling, without seeing the word written, and he would not be satisfied until he should be permitted or have the gift to translate as well as Joseph. ^[42]

• Scribe: Oliver Cowdery
• Curtain: Not mentioned
• Instrument: Nephite interpreters ("translators")

Endnotes

1. [note]  “Golden Bible,” Rochester Advertiser and Daily Telegraph (New York) (31 August 1829). Reprinted from Palmyra Freeman, 11 August 1829. off-site
2. [note]  “Golden Bible,” The Gem: A Semi-Monthly Literary and Miscellaneous Journal (Rochester, New York) (5 September 1829): 70. off-site
3. [note]  C. C. Blatchley, “Caution Against the Golden Bible,” New-York Telescope 6, no. 38 (20 February 1830): 150. off-site
4. [note]  “Diabolical,” The Reflector (Palmyra, New York) new series, no. 8 (27 February 1830: 66–67. off-site
5. [note]  Cincinnati Advertiser and Ohio Phoenix (2 June 1830). Reprinted from Wayne County Inquirer, Pennsylvania, circa May 1830. off-site
6. [note]  “The Book of Pukei.—Chap. I.” The Reflector (Palmyra, New York) 3d series, no. 5 (12 June 1830): 36–37. off-site
7. [note] “The Book of Pukei.—Chap. 2.” The Reflector (Palmyra, New York) 3d series, no. 8 (7 July 1830): 60. off-site
8. [note]  “Every thing in this world . . .” The Reflector (Palmyra, New York) 3d series, no. 14 (28 August 1830): 108–9. off-site
9. [note]  “The Golden Bible,” Painesville Telegraph (Ohio) (16 November 1830). off-site
10. [note]  A.S., “The Golden Bible, or, Campbellism Improved,” Observer and Telegraph (Hudson, Ohio) (18 November 1830). off-site
11. [note]  Clericus, Letter to the editor, Brattleboro Messenger (Vermont) 9, no. 43 (20 November 1830). off-site
12. [note]  “The Golden Bible,” Republican Advocate (Wooster, Ohio) (4 December 1830). off-site
13. [note]  “The New Bible,” Buffalo Journal & General Advertiser (New York) (8 December 1830). off-site
14. [note]  “Beware of Impostors,” Painesville Telegraph (Ohio) (14 December 1830). Reprinted from Huron County Free Press (Ohio) circa December 1830. off-site
15. [note]  “Delusion,” The Jesuit or Catholic Sentinel (Boston, Massachusetts) (18 December 1830): 125. Reprinted from Geauga Gazette (Ohio) circa November 1830. off-site
16. [note]  Alexander Campbell, Delusions (Boston: Benjamin H. Greene, 1832), p. 89, 92, 94 of original; originally published in Millennial Harbinger 2 (7 February 1831): 85–96. off-site O. Cowdery reply #1 #2 Full title
17. [note] Gold Bible, No.6; Reflector, March 19, 1831, 126
18. [note] Howe, Mormonism Unvailed 14, 77, 100. Based on reports by Doctor Philastus Hurlbut
19. [note] Howe, Mormonism Unvailed 270-1. Here, Howe reprints a letter, dated February 17, 1834, written by Charles Anthon
20. [note] Howe, Mormonism Unvailed 270-1. Statement made by Isaac Hale, Joseph Smith's father-in-law.
21. [note] Truman Coe to Mr. Editor, Hudson Ohio Observer, August 11, 1836; cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 1:47.
22. [note] John A. Clark, Gleanings By the Way (Philadelphia: W J. and J. K. Simon, 1842), 224, 228, 230-31; part of this chapter on the Mormons appeared as a letter in the Episcopal Recorder 18 (1846): 94. This interview was also reprinted in "Modern Superstition.-The Mormonites.-No. I;' Visitor, or Monthly Instructor (1841): 62, 63-64.
23. [note] Charles Anthon to Reverend T.W. Coit April 3, 1841, in Clark, Gleanings By the Way, 234-35.
24. [note] Pomeroy Tucker, Origin, Rise, and Progress of Mormonism (New York: D. Appleton, 1867), 29-49
25. [note] Francis W. Kirkham, "The Manner of Translating the Book of Mormon," Improvement Era 42. 10 (October 1939) quoting Deseret Evening News, September 5, 1870, which reports in part an address delivered in the Salt Lake Tabernacle.
26. [note] Elizabeth Ann Whitmer Cowdery, "Elizabeth Ann Whitmer Cowdery Affidavit, 15 February 1870," in Early Mormon Documents, ed. Dan Vogel, 5 vols. (Salt Lake City, UT: Signature Books, 1870), 5:260.
27. [note] William E. McLellin to "My Dear Friends;' February 1870, Community of Christ Library-Archives; cited in Cook, David Whitmer Interviews, 233-34. Elizabeth Whitmer, born in 1815, was the daughter of Peter Whitmer Sr. and Mary Whitmer (and the sister of David Whitmer). She was fourteen years old when the translation was completed at her parents' home in Fayette, New York. She married Oliver Cowdery in 1832.
28. [note] "Joe Smith, Something about the Early Life of the Mormon prophet;' Detroit Post and Tribune, December 3, 1877, 3; cited in Vogel, Early Mormon Documents, 2:517, 520. John Gilbert (1802-95) was principal typesetter and proofreader when the Book of Mormon was printed in 1829-30.
29. [note] William S. Sayre to James T. Cobb, 31 August 1878, Theodore A. Schroeder Papers, Archives, Wisconsin State Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin.
30. [note] Joseph Smith III, "Last Testimony of Sister Emma;' Saints' Herald 26 (October 1, 1879): 289-90; and Joseph Smith III, "Last Testimony of Sister Emma;' Saints' Advocate 2 (October 1879): 50-52.
31. [note] S. F. Walker, "Synopsis of a Discourse Delivered at Lamoni, Iowa," Saints' Herald 26 (December 15,1879): 370.
32. [note] [Frederick G. Mather], "The Early Mormons. Joe Smith Operates at Susquehanna," Binghamton Republican, 29 July 1880.
33. [note] [Frederick G. Mather], "The Early Mormons. Joe Smith Operates at Susquehanna," Binghamton Republican, 29 July 1880.
34. [note] Eri B. Mullin, Letter to the editor, Saints' Herald 27 (March 1, 1880): 76.
35. [note] David Whitmer to the editor, Kansas City Daily Journal, June 19, 1881; cited in Cook, David Whitmer Interviews, 71-72.
36. [note] St. Louis Republican, July 16, 1884; cited in Cook, David Whitmer Interviews, 143.
37. [note] "The Book of Mormon;' Chicago Tribune, December 17, 1885, 3· The Tribune correspondent visited and interviewed Whitmer on December 15, 1885, at Whitmer's home in Richmond, Missouri.
38. [note] "The Book of Mormon;' Chicago Tribune, December 17, 1885, 3. The Tribune correspondent visited and interviewed Whitmer on December 15, 1885, at Whitmer's home in Richmond, Missouri.
39. [note] David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, (1887), p. 5. off-site
40. [note] David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, (1887), p. 11. off-site
41. [note] W. R. Hine's Statement, Naked Truths about Mormonism 1 (January 1888) 2.
42. [note] Samuel W. Richards Statement, May 21, 1907, holograph, 2-3, Church Archives.