Joseph smith asked heavenly father to help him choose the. 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. The church of jesus christ of latter day saints is true sharing time. Book of mormon commentary using a testimony of jesus christ. The book of mormon is a hebrew book written in the manner of the jews. Mcconkie and millets four volume doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon is good, although it is as conservative a series as you might guess a work by a man sporting the names of both joseph fielding smith and bruce r.
Think joseph smith could have gotten that right by sheer chance. Primary sharing time ideas for april 2018 joseph smith translated the book of mormon and restored gospel truths primary games, teaching ideas, and more. This suggests that most of us could benefit by some. Founder of the largest indigenous christian church in american history, joseph smith published the 584page book of mormon when he was twentythree and went on to organize a church, found cities, and attract thousands of followers before his violent death at age thirtyeight. Bonus idea use these awesome illustrations to create a first vision flip book to. The book of mormon is a true volume of scripture, prophesied in. 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.
It is not sponsored or endorsed by either the maxwell institute or. In the year 1827 joseph smith was living in palmyra, new york, and it was at the hill cumorah, not far from his. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Weve done the same thing with joseph smiths preaching. There are some serios problems with the book of mormon that the lds. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2600 bc to ad 421. Welch, in figuring out how long it took joseph to write the book, lists some 200 references that document in detail the important timing of events that. Before primary, write joseph smith translated the book of mormon and restored gospel truths on a sheet of paper, and cut the paper into puzzle pieces. This is my th year serving in the primary organization of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Plus, theres an explanation how the original apostles were killed. Did the church try to hide josephs use of a seer stone to. In early 1829, even while smith was actively producing the text of the book of mormon, the smith family only reluctantly shared the narrative of joseph smiths retrieval of the plates with oliver cowdery, a schoolteacher and boarder who subsequently acted as principal scribe for 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. This is an odd phrase, and one that seems almost creedal in its intent. The title page the introduction the testimonies of the three and eight witnesses the testimony of the prophet joseph smith with this kit you andor your children will learn all about the purpose and power. A comprehensive commentary of the title page of the book of mormon download pdf. The book of mormon, first printed in 1830, is currently being published in more than 80 languages worldwide. Nibleys commentary on the book of mormon is based on transcriptions from classes taught by hugh nibley, and is published with the permission of the neal a. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon and restored gospel truths. We believe that he acted under the direction of god while doing so. Apologists want you to believe that joseph smith wasnt having sex with his polygamous wives yeah right close. Mormonism and the biblejoseph smith translationrelationship to. The commentary in 2 nephi 26 and 27 is the most helpful explanation we have of isaiah 29 in the book of mormon.
Garth norman posted by permission of ancient america foundation and the author. The last nephite prophet in the book of mormon circa a. It differs from earlier commentaries by providing not only introductory and summarizing remarks but also the most specific scriptural intertextual commentary on the matter. He was born in upstate new york in the 1820s and had little education, but later dictated 30 books which were supposedly revealed to him by spirits. Book of mormon geography in joseph smiths day fairmormon. Before primary, write joseph smith translated the book of mormon and. I first was made aware of this in a good podcast interview by laura hales at lds perspectives. His blog posts have almost always been interesting. We are grateful to him for helping to restore the gospel to the earth. Another testament of jesus christ behold, i am jesus christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world 3 nephi 11. Prophecies about joseph smith bible references for lds. He translated the book of mormon, built the first latterday temple, and received most of the revelations found in the doctrine and covenants. 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.
This lds sharing time teaching package is designed specifically for december. Doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon, volumes 14 by. Regarded by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints as holy scripture detailing gods revelation to joseph smith. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. They joseph smith couldnt have written the book exmormon. December 30 january 5 introductory pages of the book of mormon this printable kit for all ages will help you study and teach the introductory pages to the book of mormon. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon and restored gospel. Not only this, but he allowed several opinions of north, south, central, and hemispheric geography of the book of mormon to be published, taught, and republished without any correction. By appealing to his own translation of genesis 50, he could claim that his appointment as a prophet was established back in the old testament, centuries. 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. You need to provide them with an explanation for refusing. Concerning this record the prophet joseph smith said. The book of mormon by joseph smith, paperback barnes.
As the keystone of our religion, in joseph smith s words, the book of mormon is high priority reading. Doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon, volumes 14 book. About a year ago, byu published an article showing the joseph smith translation jst of the bible appears to rely on the adam clarke bible commentary. In terms of john, the story of the adulterous woman john 7,8 was not present in early texts, but now its canonical, and we use it all the time see for example, metzger, commentary on greek nt stuttgart, 2001, 187. In addition to joseph smith, the lord provided for eleven others to see. And we should be thankful for the example of faith and courage he set. 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. Of the dozens of bloggers whose writings i enjoy, i read watchers posts each time they come out. Naturally it is read with varying degrees of understanding. Joseph smith president in his notes of a council meeting with the twelve in nauvoo on 28 november 1841, joseph wrote. The jst is a harmonization, expansion, commentary, and clarification of doctrinally important points. The cover design is from vernon roy horning, with original artwork based on the death mask of joseph smith. John milton, joseph smith, and the book of mormon byu.
We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church articles of faith 1. Joseph smithexecutive summary what joseph smith knew or understood about the book of mormon ought to be research questions rather than presumptions. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon by the power of god. John milton, joseph smith, and the book of mormon author robert a.
Of course, the book of mormon doesnt spend a lot of time with david. From that time onward there were no valid baptisms, no laying on of hands for the. Sharing time ideas from the 20 primary outline identify the doctrine and encourage understanding discussing. The book of mormon is the only explanation for this scripture. Members of the church have long held that its joseph smith. One became more standard and its the one in mark 16. 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. Joseph smith said the book of mormon was translated from writing on golden plates in a reformed. They joseph smith couldnt have written the book of mormon, but tell them about andrew jackson davis. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship and nibley llc. Could joseph smith have authored the book of mormon. Paper cup apostasy lds youth sunday school, object lessons, lds. Sharing time sharing time jesus christ restored the gospel through joseph smith.
Hebrew midrash and the book of mormon its about time. It is in a sense, a forecasting of matthews dual jesus. 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 central bmc began publishing a series of short online articles offering insights into the first vision. Joseph smith made several comments concerning book of mormon geography throughout his life which support both a north american setting1, and central american setting. Book of mormon commentary 2 nephi 29 page 1 of 3 introduction to 2 nephi 29 joseph fielding smith insists that the lord has always followed the law of witnesses in granting new revelation to the people. An error occurred while retrieving sharing information. Jesus christ appeared to joseph smith in a grove of trees near his home. A faithful telling exploring an alternate polygamy narrative. The book was written by ancient prophets through the spirit of prophecy and revelation. This paper is the executive summary version of the full paper available in both html format and pdf format. Yet there is no proof of the book of mormon, but think they can have it both ways. 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. It would take 10 minutes to scroll through and find my place each time i used the book.
It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith, jr. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. In 1823 moroni was sent as a resurrected being to reveal the book of mormon to joseph smith and finally delivered the plates to him in 1827 the guide to the scriptures, moroni, son of mormon, 16768. As the keystone of our religion, in joseph smiths words, the book of mormon is high priority reading. Joseph smiths mormon defenders have generally avoided addressing their prophets glasslooking career. His book contains some 28,044 words, or about a tenth of the words found in the book of mormon. And yet, it turns out, the book of mormon was written in approximately the same time frame. Ive included this under the joseph smith and the book of mormon references because the two go hand in hand. Over the years, i have admired sites such as for finding creative ideas to use when working with children. New theory connects a native american prophet with joseph. Joseph smith and the beginning of book of mormon archaeology did the prophet joseph smith in 1842 locate book of mormon lands in middle america. Introductory lesson the book of mormon the red headed. This is a reference to the book of mormon and the bible being companion books that compliment each other. Apologists want you to believe that joseph smith wasnt.
What are some great commentary books on the book of mormon. The church of jesus christ of latter day saints is true. Adam clarke bible commentary in the book of mormon. In the book of mormon, jesus previous life is as the lord omnipotent. Identify the doctrine and encourage understanding discussing. Haley wilson lemmon sits down with us today to discuss the joseph smith translation of the bible haley worked with byu professor thomas a wayment in looking into what possible sources joseph smith used in his bible translation. The major discovery here was that joseph smith direct borrowed or plagiarized heavily from adam clarkes commentary in order to carry out his bible translation.
Doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon salt lake city. What is your own personal witness of the book of mormon. Brother hyrum smith said that he thought best that the information of the coming forth of the book of mormon be related by joseph himself to the elders present that all might know for themselves. Joseph smiths chief scribe during the translation of the book of mormon, oliver cowdery, reported the following in 1831. This is the simple, direct testimony of joseph smith, giving some of the events that led to the restoration of the gospel and the founding of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. All down through the ages this law has been a fixed and definite one. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible, used by latter day saints. This lds primary sharing time teaching package is designed specifically for.
If anyone has read grant palmers an insiders view of mormon origins, you will know that during the early 1830s, smith was under tremendous pressure, as some of the early witnesses to the book of mormon, were denying their testimony. When the apologists responded to such accusations during the 20th century, one tactic they employed was to blame the 1820s upstate new york moneydigging commotion on. He seems to be well connected and sincere in advocating the book of mormon and the mission of joseph smith. Joseph smith and polygamy latterday commentary last.
A comprehensive commentary of the first book of nephi download pdf. So, the book of mormon, brought forth through the prophet joseph smith, teaches us that we were meant to have johns description of the events leading up to the second coming of jesus christ and that it is worthy of our study. Problems with the book of mormon catholic answers catholic. Smith was seen by his followers as a modernday prophet. It is often difficult for those who are not familiar with the jewish culture, traditions and mannerisms to understand or appreciate the complexities and subtleties of this amazing witness of christ.