Book of Mormon/Translation/Anthon transcript

This page is based on an answer to a question submitted to the FAIR web site, or a frequently asked question.

Question

What do we know about the Anthon transcript and the translation of the Book of Mormon?

Answer

More than one copy of the "Anthon transcript" exist. The oldest known copy (pictured here) is in the possession of the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). The paper seems to be of the same age and type as that used by Joseph Smith for the Book of Mormon translation.

Joseph describes how between December 1827 and February 1828,

I commenced copying the characters off the plates. I copied a considerable number of them, and by means of the Urim and Thummim I translated some of them, which I did between the time I arrived at the house of my wife's father, in the month of December, and the February following. (Joseph Smith History 1:62).

Joseph then described how Martin Harris carried the transcripts to experts in the east.

A copy of what may be the Anthon Transcript—not to be confused with a Hofmann forgery which was later produced. Original in Library Archives, Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, The Auditorium, Independence, Missouri.

Further reading

FAIR web site

• FAIR Topical Guide: Anthon transcript

External links

• FARMS, "New Light: "Anthon Transcript" Writing Found?," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 8/1 (1999): 68–69.*
• David E. Sloan, "The Anthon Transcripts and the Translation of the Book of Mormon: Studying It Out in the Mind of Joseph Smith," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 5/1 (1996): 57–81.*

Printed material

• John W. Welch, "What did Charles Anthon Really Say?" in John W. Welch, Reexploring the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City, Utah : Deseret Book Co. ; Provo, Utah : Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1992), 47–49. ISBN 0875796001.*