Seer Stone v. Urim and Thummim

Book of Mormon Translation on Trial

L. Hannah Stoddard, III James Franklin Stoddard

• Publisher: PolariTeck
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781646334810
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Denominations

Credible history vs. revisionist hearsay - Answering faith crisis with real history. A story of magic, murder and betrayal.

Seer Stone v. Urim and Thummim places the Book of Mormon translation on trial, presenting the latest research in one of the most comprehensive treatments of the translation process to date providing encouragement for Latter-day Saints who fear they have been “betrayed” by the translation history taught by the Church for over 190 years.

• Did Joseph Smith study and master the Nephite language? Did the Prophet tutor some of the early Brethren in ancient Nephite characters?
• Did Joseph Smith translate the Book of Mormon using a dark seer stone in a hat?
• Why are progressive historians creating a new history using sources from a man who vowed to wash his hands in the blood of Joseph Smith, while boasting that he had deceived the Prophet and his God?
• Has The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints covered up its history for nearly 200 years?
• Was Joseph Smith a treasure digger? During his life, did the Prophet artfully suppress his alleged treasure digging past?
• Did Joseph Smith cover up his use of a seer stone during the translation, feigning use of the Urim and Thummim?
• What new information has The Joseph Smith Papers Project uncovered that challenges our understanding of the translation process?
• Is David Whitmer a credible witness of the Book of Mormon translation? Did you know that David Whitmer consulted a witch and occultic seer stones, denounced Joseph Smith as a false prophet and aided the mob in the persecution of the Missouri Saints?
• Was Joseph Smith involved in sorcery, astrology and ritual magic?

“ Seer Stone v. Urim and Thummim makes a great case for simply going ‘back to the basics’! That is, accepting the translation of the Book of Mormon as Joseph said it was done, as opposed to how others claim it was done. It is well researched and very enlightening and a must read for those who are willing to accept the words of Joseph and other prophets at face value.” —Kay M Godfrey, Author, Joseph Smith Epoch Historian

“As you read this book, it will validate your knowledge that the Book of Mormon is a real history of a real people. The Stoddards have once again born witness that Joseph Smith was and is truly our Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. You will love this book.” —Rian Nelson, Author and speaker, FIRM Foundation

“The Stoddards present a thorough and careful analysis of the numerous errors and sometimes outright falsehoods that have crept into many of the translation narratives, even some by respected scholars, who relied on changing accounts from both fallible acquaintances and also outright enemies.” —Leslie Pearson Rees, Author, “Ye Have Been Hid: Finding the Lost Tribes of Israel”

3

Witness #1 – The Lord

The first witness in our defense and preeminent eyewitness of the translation is the Son of God. Therefore, we petition the Lord Jesus Christ, respectfully asking if He would like to take the stand.

In doing so, we present an unimpeachable testimony, for this witness is not only under oath, but He “cannot lie.”¹ He is continuously under oath and "cannot deny [His] word."² His comments include the definite clarification that “[Joseph Smith] has translated the book, even that part which I have commanded him, and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true.”³ He has also affirmed the translation process stating that the Prophet translated “by the means of the Urim and Thummim.”⁴

As we begin our interrogatory, let the record show that the Lord never referred to, or even hinted that a seer stone or “stone in a hat” was used to translate the Book of Mormon. Instead, the Lord testifies in revelation that the entire Book of Mormon was translated by means of the Urim and Thummim. While some imagine that the Nephite plates were covered or even hidden during translation, the revelations clearly state that the Book of Mormon text we read today was translated into English using tangible engravings on literal, physical plates, as opposed to plates buried in a field, sitting under a bed, or hidden under a napkin. The plates and Urim and Thummim were present and essential to the translation process.

As some of the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants were revised by the Prophet Joseph Smith, this chapter will refer to the text from the 1844 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, including references which will allow readers to find the verses in the current edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joseph Smith approved the text for the 1844 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants and as we shall see throughout this chapter, the Lord and Joseph Smith used the term “Urim and Thummim” to refer to the instrument used during the translation in these revelations.

To begin our examination of our first witness’ testimony, we ask the following questions.

Did Joseph Smith Translate the Entire Book of Mormon Using the Nephite Urim and Thummim? Or Only a Part?

After Joseph lost the Book of Lehi (or the 116 pages) in 1828, the Lord gave a revelation to the Prophet wherein he explained that the Book of Lehi had been translated by means of the Urim and Thummim. After the 116 pages were lost, the gift and power to translate was taken from the Prophet, but was eventually restored with the Lord’s definitive command to the Prophet Joseph that he continue translating the remainder of the Book of Mormon “as [he had] begun,” with the Urim and Thummim:

Now, behold I say unto you, that because you delivered up those writings which you had power given unto you to translate, by the means of the Urim and Thummim, into the hands of a wicked man [Martin Harris], you have lost them; and you also lost your gift at the same time, and your mind became darkened; nevertheless, it is now restored unto you again, therefore see that you are faithful and continue on unto the finishing of the remainder of the work of translation as you have begun . . .⁵

Some have speculated, based on claims made by Emma Smith, David Whitmer, and others, that after the 116 pages vanished, Joseph Smith lost the Urim and Thummim and never regained it. But if we examine our witness’ testimony, the Lord’s testimony, we understand that the Lord “restored” the gift and commanded the Prophet to continue translating the remainder of the Book of Mormon as “he had begun.”⁶

Why would the Lord have restored this special instrument, the Urim and Thummim, if Joseph Smith was going to set it aside and use his seer stone instead? Why was Joseph Smith not able to continue translating, after the Urim and Thummim and the plates were taken away, if he was “translating” by simply reading words that appeared on his seer stone? For those who argue that the Prophet did not use the Urim and Thummim or the plates, why were they returned to him? Did the Lord and His angels just have extra time on their hands, or did they believe Joseph Smith needed some toys to play with in the evening?

In all seriousness, for faithful Latter-day Saints there is no doubt that the Urim and Thummim and the plates played an essential part in the translation process, and without them, no translation could have occurred.

Was the Urim and Thummim Used by Joseph Smith His Personal Seer Stone? Or Was it a Jaredite Artifact...

Table of contents

• Joseph Smith Foundation Documentaries
• Contents
• Foreword
• Two Conflicting Narratives
• Has the Church Been Deceptive?
• Witness #1 – The Lord
• Witness #2 – Joseph Smith: Translation Instruments
• Witness #2 – Joseph Smith: Translator or Reader?
• Witness #2 – Joseph Smith: Book of Mormon Historicity
• Witnesses #3-5: Ancient Prophets
• Witness #6: Oliver Cowdery
• Mormonism Unvailed: Hurlbut on Trial
• Mormonism Unvailed: Hurlbut’s Affidavits
• Mormonism Unvailed: Reaction to Publication
• Mormonism Unvailed: Demise & Rebirth
• David Whitmer: Friend or Foe?
• David Whitmer vs. David Whitmer
• Joseph Smith: “Village Seer”? Magic?
• No One Was Betrayed
• Topics in Upcoming Volumes
• Index
• Authors
• Joseph Smith Foundation Documentaries