Njoseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon

Persuitte also says that joseph smith s imperfect handwriting, coupled with his talent for speaking. Another testament of jesus christ behold, i am jesus christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world 3 nephi 11. Smith translated the writing on the plates into the book of mormon. Gerald smith explores how the book of mormon influenced joseph smith in issues ranging from his organization of the new churchdrawing its formal name of the church of christ from the text 46to shaping its ecclesiastical structure and priesthood offices 18086. In 1830, joseph smith published the book of mormon. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The lord told joseph not to join any of the churches because none of them were true, but he was promised that the. A challenge to origins of the book of mormon a group of researchers contend that joseph smith s 1830 translation is based less on writings he found on gold plates than on the king james version of the bible. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon is a 1985 book by david persuitte. This comparison of joseph smith and john milton focuses on their literary output and especially the preparation each had for dictating a long religious work, in miltons case paradise lost and in smiths the book of mormon. Lds scholars often point out that smith had received a rudimentary education at best, and did not have access to.

He argues the book of mormon was critical in establishing joseph. Mormons believe it was translated by joseph smith through the revelation of god. Some critics have claimed that joseph smith created the book of mormon names cumorah and moroni by copying them from a map of the comoros islands. However, joseph smith claimed, if jesus christ was the son of god, and john discovered that god the father of christ had a father, you may suppose that he had a father also teachings of the prophet joseph smith, p. 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. This comparative analysis indicated that ethan smiths book provided not only the basic story line for the book of mormon but many of its religious. Where did joseph smith get his ideas for the book of mormon. May 11, 2020 download 21page term paper on early influences on joseph smith and origins of the book of mormon 2020. Rather than writing it down himself, he dictated it and most of. Lds scholars often point out that smith had received a rudimentary education at best, and did not have access to the works needed to research the book. The primary source of smith s latterday revelation is the book of mormon, and to fully understand his role as the founder of the mormon faith, one must also understand the book of mormon and how it came to be. Mormonism, latter day saints church, joseph smith, book of. Unfortunately, the literature about joseph smith and the book of mormon is permeated with contradiction and controversy.

John milton, joseph smith, and the book of mormon byu. Mormonism, latter day saints church, joseph smith, book of mormon. The test of faith was not adherence to a certain confession of faith but belief that christ was resurrected, that joseph smith saw god, that the book of mormon was true history and not philosophy, and that peter, james, and john restored the apostleships. It provides detailed biographical information about joseph smith and background information about the origin of the book of mormon. Smith was the founding prophet and first president of the church. To order this book directly from amazon, click here. Soon after arriving here, my husband received another very singular vision, which i will relate.

Persuitte also says that joseph smiths imperfect handwriting, coupled with his talent for speaking. Learn more about the life, writings, and legacy of joseph smith. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. The primary source of smiths latterday revelation is the book of mormon, and to fully understand his role as the founder of the mormon faith, one must also understand the book of mormon and how it came to be. Persuitte also demonstrates that joseph smith s plan for the book of mormon evolved from a nonreligious history of the precolumbians to a sacred text. The lost book of abraham was translated by joseph smith from the catacombs of egypt.

Most notable authors, including milton, had a long apprenticeship that involved writing several try works, practice works that served as tutorials and stepping stones. Mormons react to firstever photograph of joseph smiths seer. The book of mormon by joseph smith, paperback barnes. I consider this a very modest exploration of ways in which biblical scholarship and joseph smiths revelations may achieve some closure. October 1st is the anniversary of a little known event in early church history that i believe, in consequence of significant research progress, now deserves recognition for identifying a region of major book of mormon lands and for initiating book of mormon archaeological historicity research. The history of joseph smith, the 19thcentury prophet and founder of the. Feb 18, 2008 members of the mormon church believe two things about the book of mormon. Rather than writing it down himself, he dictated it and most of his other works, as well to a scribe p. Mormon origins is created to make available historical information andor documents relating to the beginnings of mormonism in america. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Early influences on joseph smith and origins of the book. Mormons react to firstever photograph of joseph smiths.

Download 21page term paper on early influences on joseph smith and origins of the book of mormon 2020. Miraculous origins theories generally accept joseph smiths own account, that he translated an ancient record compiled and. Should we accept joseph smith as a prophet, the book of mormon and doctrine and covenants as the word of god, and the church of jesus christ of latter day saints as the true church. Apr 22, 2016 finally, how the book of mormons dates were chosen. Pdf joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon. The text of the actual revelation was recently discovered and published in the joseph smith papers. Going beyond the book of mormon, persuitte does a very thorough job of summarizing the evidence against the other famous smith translation the book of abraham from the chandler papyri. Joseph smith was seventeen, and for the past three years the heavens had been silent. The book was written by ancient prophets through the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Brigham young was the successor to smith and the second president of the latterday saints church. He examined egyptian characters copied from book of mormon and said they were.

It is also known that smith translated this book out of a hat from four golden plates, reading the writing through seer stones. The mormon religion is based upon the story and religious teachings of joseph smith. I immediately took it up, and placed it under my left arm. Smith believed that the figure speaking to him was god so he went out and began this new religion he named mormon. A statistical approach to bom origins takes a more quantitative approach, demonstrating with a high degree of confidence that the. Actually, numerous books recounting similar ideas as those in jo. 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 arch crumbles if the keystone is removed. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon. John milton, joseph smith, and the book of mormon byu studies. However, just because his formal schooling was limited, that does not mean he did not have the mental acumen to produce a work like the book of mormon.

The mormon churchs push toward transparency about its roots and beliefs took another step forward with the first published pictures of a small sacred stone it. Your claim that i make the book of mormon largely a question of the character of joseph smith is incorrect, even leaving out the allegation of desperation. The book of mormon is known as another testament of jesus christ. John milton, joseph smith, and the book of mormon author robert a. The text of the revelation was published in the the joseph smith papers. Joseph smith translated it by the gift and power of god. Now, a decade and a half later, persuitte has added many more facts in this, the 325page second edition. Most all of the current text of the book of mormon was dictated to a scribe over a period of somewhere between a total of 60 and 90 days, interspersed with other daily activities that sometimes would take joseph smith and oliver cowdery away from. Joseph smith and the book of mormon are at the very heart of the lord jesus. Education was important to the smith family, and although joseph may.

Joseph smith had a limited formal education which is often used as a reason why he could not have written the book of mormon. David persuitte, joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon. Joseph smiths contributions to the development of mormons. 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 with millions of global adherents. Also smith began the latterday saints church in 1830 in palmyra, new york. Smith published the book of mormon in 1830 and shortly thereafter organized a small church of his first followers. Persuitte also presented an extensive comparative analysis positing that the probable conceptual source for the book of mormon was a book written by an early new england minister named ethan smith. And lucy smack and born in sharon, vermont on december 23, 1805. Smith claimed the angel moroni, a prophet in the book of mormon, directed him in the 1820s to a. Oct 31, 2012 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 arch crumbles if the keystone is removed.

A challenge to origins of the book of mormon and joseph smith. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon 2nd edition and also in kindle. That wont be an important goal or it may even be a negative one for many believers. Rees this comparison of joseph smith and john milton focuses on their literary output and especially the preparation each had for dictating a long religious work, in miltons case paradise lost and in smiths the book of mormon. It is scripture in our day, the story of the book of mormon began on september 21, 1823. One argument that mormon apologists frequently employ is the claim that joseph smith was intellectually unequipped to write the book of mormon. In 1811, we moved from royalton, vermont, to the town of lebanon, new hampshire. 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. This image is available for web and print publication. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel.

David persuitte is the author of joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon, 2d ed. Peter manseaus new book suggests that joseph smith and the book of mormon may have been influenced by a seneca religious prophet who died 200 years ago. I carefully observed what was told me by my guide, and proceeding a short distance, i came to the box. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi kirtland, ohio. David persuittes debut work is a thorough attempt to discredit joseph smiths prophetic calling and to present. There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates inscribed by prophets. David persuitte, joseph smith and the origins of the book of.

Joseph smith translates the book of mormon using a hat in a 2003 south park episode. The point of my article was not to conclude that joseph was a bad man, but that josephs account of the origins of the book of mormon is at least partially falsified. The salt lake tribune, october 3, 1998 octavo editions give readers a firsthand experience of a milestone text. Joseph smith, american prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.

The core of mormon belief was a conviction about actual events. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon, 2d ed. Title, david persuitte, joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon. Extracts from the history of joseph smith, the prophet. Could joseph smith have written the book of mormon. Laurie mafflykipp, phd, is the archer alexander distinguished professor at the. It is a record of gods dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the americas. In the book, persuitte provides a large number of parallels in support of the idea that joseph smith used an earlier work, view of. There are a lot things about the book of mormon translation that render any comprehensive explanation difficult. Jan 01, 1985 joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon, 2d ed. David persuitte, a technical writer from virginia, wrote the first edition of this book in 1985. Joseph smith was seventeen, and for the past three years the. Parody for joseph smiths discovery of the golden plates.

Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon, 2d ed. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. The test of faith was not adherence to a certain confession of faith but belief that christ was resurrected, that joseph smith saw god, that the book of mormon was true history and not philosophy, and. David persuitte author of joseph smith and the origins of. In our day, the story of the book of mormon began on september 21, 1823. To this overfamiliar question the orthodox latterday saint answer is a resounding no, because the official belief is that a series of men with quasibiblical names wrote the book over many centuries. In a times and seasons editorial, october 1, 1842, the prophet joseph smith, after progressive study. Again, to apply these to the book of mormon is assumption without proof.

It is said to contain the history of gods relationship with israelites. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible, used by latter day saints. Below is a partial list of books published prior to 1830 dealing with the indians condensed from indian origins and the book of mormon, dan vogel, signature books, salt lake city, utah, 1986, pp. What they challenge is perhaps the most cherished and unique mormon belief. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon wikipedia. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon 8580000988529. Description in the first edition of this work, david persuitte provided, with the support of several recently found documents, a revealing biographical profile of joseph smith that resolved many of the controversies concerning the character of the man and cast light on the path he took in establishing the mormon religion. Holding an 1830 first edition of the book of mormon can stir the souls of bibliophiles and believers alike.

The two major books of mormonism are the lost book of abraham and the book of mormon. David persuitte, joseph smith and the origins of the book. Members of the mormon church believe two things about the book of mormon 1. Early influences on joseph smith and origins of the book of. Finally, how the book of mormons dates were chosen. Anybody could write a book and claim it fulfills these verses. Mormon origins is created to make available historical information and or documents relating to the beginnings of mormonism in america.