Criticism of Mormonism/Video/Search for the Truth DVD/The Translator

The Translator

Claim: "The Book of Mormon was not translated from the golden plates. According to his scribes the plates were usually either hidden in the woods or covered by a cloth in the room during translation. However, Joseph Smith actually did his translating by looking into a magical peepstone placed into a hat. " The video admits that the scribes believed there were real plates. Many witnesses testified from their own experience that Joseph Smith actually had real golden plates. Joseph's translation method was not a typical one. Most conventional translations take place with the translator reading the source document and then rendering it in a second language. Joseph, however, translated by the gift and power of God (D&C 135꞉3) — he did not know the language on the plates, so looking at the plates while translating wouldn't have done him any good. (Many LDS artists have portrayed Joseph translating by staring intently at the open plates, but this is not correct.) In the translation process Joseph used the Urim and Thummim, and later a seerstone (what the video's producers pejoratively call a "magical peepstone"), to translate the record on the plates. We are not certain exactly how the seerstone worked, but it seems to have provided a means for him to focus and eliminate distractions so he could concentrate more fully on the translation given him by the Holy Spirit. There are numerous Biblical examples of prophets using physical materials to divine God's will; Joseph Smith's experience fits in very well with theirs. To read more: Joseph Smith and seer stones Book of Mormon witnesses Claim: "In 1826, four years before the publication of the Book of Mormon, Joseph was arrested and charged for using his peep stone method to deceive the elderly Josiah Stowell while attempting to locate buried treasure on his farm." The video carefully avoids describing the nature and outcome of this legal proceeding. The producers apparently want the viewers to conclude that Joseph was found guilty in court. In fact, the appearance before the judge was not a trial, it was a hearing. No verdict was rendered upon Joseph; he was simply charged for court costs and the case was not pursued further. Joseph was never convicted of any crime. The video also does not tell its viewers that Josiah Stowell testified for Joseph as a defense witness at this hearing, and did not believe that Joseph had defrauded him at all. Stowell testified of Joseph's claims, "Do I believe it? No, it is not a matter of belief: I positively know it to be true." The charges were brought by Stowell's family members, who appear to have been worried that Josiah would accept Joseph's religious claims. Stowell himself joined the Church founded by Joseph and remained a faithful member to the day of his death. Would the video's authors condemn Paul because he was brought before many courts because of religious persecution? (Acts 23꞉6.) Would they condemn Jesus Christ because he would brought before the highest court in Jerusalem and condemned to death? (Note: the video also mentions the Stowell incident of 1826 in the polygamy section, and does not disclose the facts of the matter there either.) To read more: History of 1826 court appearance Claim: If the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God, why have there been thousands of corrections in the Book of Mormon, many of which relate to doctrinal and historical issues? To read more: Links Claim: "Biblical revelations never involve occult rituals or objects." Answer #2 To read more: Links Claim: Joseph Smith was the only person who could verify that the golden plates existed. Answer #2 To read more: Links Claim: "Initially, Joseph’s witnesses vouched for Joseph and the Golden Plates. But when pressed by the public, Joseph’s witnesses stated that they saw the golden plates through the eyes of faith and never physically saw or handled them." Answer #2 To read more: Links Claim: The Book of Mormon contains "another gospel" as described in Galatians 1:8. Answer #2 To read more: Links Claim: Joseph Smith's partial translation of the fraudulent Kinderhook plates shows that he was a fraud. Answer #2 To read more: Church Ensign Article on the Kinderhook Plates off-site

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