Lds scripture instructs that joseph smith, the prophet and seer of the lord. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. On april 6, 1830, joseph smith organized the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and became its first president. Concerning this record, the prophet joseph smith, who translated it by the gift and power of god, said, i told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book. The prophet joseph smith s own words about the coming forth of the book of mormon are. 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. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon translation was performed by the gift and power of god the lost 116 pages of the book of mormon. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. This script is taken from portions of joseph smith s own testimony, found at the beginning of the book of mormon. Transcribed only once, from ancient writings, this book is an. However, if that is true, then why does the book of mormon contradict mormon. Another testament of jesus christ behold, i am jesus christ, whom. In 1830, smith published what he said was an english translation of these plates called the book of mormon. 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.
The book of mormon is a record of the ancient people of the americas that had the gospel of jesus christ just as the ancient israelites that accepted jehovah in the old testament and jesus in the new testament. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was the founder of the latter day saint movement, also known as mormonism, and an important religious and political figure during the 1830s and 1840s. The testimony of joseph smith about the book of mormon. Fourteen centuries later, in 1823, the angel moroni led joseph smith. The coming forth of the book of mormon, foretold by ancient prophets, began with an angelic visitation in 1823 to 17yearold joseph smith.
Many reject joseph smith s claims that he received and translated the book of mormon through divine direction and assistance. If joseph smith was a prophet, then the church of jesus christ of latter day saints is the same church that christ established while he was on the earth. Book of mormon, 1840, page 0 the joseph smith papers. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Book of mormon manuscripts 2 book of mormon editions 4 bible revision manuscripts 5 book of abraham and other egyptian material 19 additional revelations and translations.
December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. The very idea that a new york farm boy with limited education might translate an ancient document is so unimaginable that it could only have occurred through, as joseph. The book of mormon is true, just what it purports to be, and for this testimony i expect to give an account in the day of judgment. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith. The book of mormon by joseph smith, paperback barnes. To participate in the bicentennial commemoration of the restoration, to heighten appreciation for joseph smith s first vision, and to help better inform latterday saints of the founding event of their history, earlier this year book of mormon. The process of translating the book of mormon was an education for joseph smith, and the book was central to the. The book of mormon is a record of the ancient people of the americas that had the gospel of jesus christ just as the ancient israelites that accepted jehovah in the old testament and jesus in the new.
According to mormon belief, the book of mormon was inscribed on golden plates by generations of prophets, quoted and abridged by the prophethistorian mormon, and buried in the ground by mormon s son, moroni. The mormon religion is based upon the story and religious teachings of joseph smith. Interestingly, oliver cowdrey, joseph smith s right hand man, attended the church where ethan smith was a pastor. Mormon origins is created to make available historical information andor documents relating to the beginnings of mormonism in america. So the question of all questions deals with the truthfulness of book of mormon. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scriptures comparable to the bible. Smith also asserted that john the baptist appeared to him while he was translating the book of mormon and instructed him to restore the church by preaching the true gospel. Book of mormon testimony of the prophet joseph smith. Concerning this record, the prophet joseph smith, who translated it by the gift and power of god, said, i told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book see the introduction at the.
Joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon. One of my favorite passages is in 3 nephi chapters 1119, where the resurrected lord appears to the people and teaches his gospel. If the book of mormon is true, then joseph smith was a prophet. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. A face to face event with elder cook on september 9, 2018. Joseph smith s translation and publication of the book of mormon, excerpted by fairmormon. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone1 of our religion. To the inside front cover are affixed four clippings of descriptions of different versions of first edition copies of the book of mormon and of an 1854 edition of the doctrine and covenants, along with a clipping describing the origin of the text of the book of mormon and a bookplate of the shepard book.
Book of mormon, 1830, page iii the joseph smith papers. Devoted members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints honor its founder, joseph smith, with saintlike reverence. The book of abraham text is a source of some distinct latter day saint doctrines, which mormon author randal s. Midgley has pointed out that alternate theories on the authorship of the book fall into four main categories. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. The book of mormon is a musical comedy with music, lyrics and book by trey parker, robert lopez, and matt stone first staged in 2011, the play is a satirical examination of the church of jesus christ of. These groups were led by prophets who recorded their religious and secular histories on metal plates. In 1824, he wrote this book, which is amazingly similar to the book of mormon. Book of mormon manuscripts the joseph smith papers. A motion picture about the life and legacy of joseph smith, the founding prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints who translated the book of mormon. It is claimed that each sentence and word in the 1830 book of mormon had supposedly come directly from god. Skeptics have put forth several theories of book of. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center.
Chase calls truths of the gospel of jesus christ that were previously unknown to church members of joseph smith. According to joseph smith, the book of mormon is more correct than the bible history of the church, vol. Publication date 20140107 usage public domain mark 1. Seven years later, in 1830, this scriptural canon of the latterday saints was published for the world. Joseph smith and the book of mormon are at the very heart of the lords latterday work. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fullness of the everlasting gospel. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was the founder of the latter day saint movement, also known as mormonism, and an important religious and political figure during the 1830s. Full length version unabridged audiobook, duration. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon. Written by prophets to a people who lived in america long before white people ever came, some believe they were the beginnings of some native indian tribes. The book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ.
The book of mormon, first printed in 1830, is currently being published in more than 80 languages worldwide. On the evening of the twentyfirst of september 1823 i betook myself to prayer and supplication to. Transcribed only once, from ancient writings, this book. Fourteen centuries later, in 1823, the angel moroni led joseph smith to the plates hidden in a hillside in upstate new york. Joseph smith was only 23 years old when he dictated the book of mormon, and had about 7 years of formal education, with almost all of that homeschooled. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone of our religion. Joseph smith characterized the book of mormon as the keystone of mormonism, and claimed that it was the most correct of. Joseph had never published book or story or anything that we know of. The book of mormon is a religious record of three groups of people who migrated from the old world to the american continents. This is the simple, direct testimony of joseph smith, giving some of the events that led to.