ATTENTION BOOK OF MORMON BELIEVERS!
HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED THE TESTIMONIES TO THE TRANSLATION PROCESS?

David Whitmer, one of the witnesses to the so-called divinity of the Book of Mormon describes the manner in which the book was translated in these words, “Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in that hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine…One character at a time would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear.” (An Address to All Believers In Christ,1887, Page 12).

In another statement made in1881, David revealed that Joseph did not use the plates in the translation. “He (Joseph) did not use the plates in the translation….”

David explained that Joseph had the plates during the translation of the116 pages for which Martin Harris acted as scribe, but when Martin lost the manuscript for these pages “this incurred the Lord’s displeasure, and he sent an angel to Joseph demanding the plates and until Joseph had thoroughly repented of his transgressions would not allow him to have the use of them again. When Joseph was again allowed to resume the translation, the plates were taken care of by a messenger of God, and when Joseph wanted to see the plates, the messenger was always at hand.” (The Saints’ Herald, July1 1881, Page 198).

Martin Harris, who also witnessed to the Book of Mormon as well as being one of Joseph’s scribes, confirms David’s statement about the process that was supposed to happen on the stone while it was hidden in the hat, visible only to Joseph’s eyes Martin said, “…the Prophet possessed a seer stone, by which he was enabled to translate as well as from the Urim and Thummim, and for convenience he then used the seer stone…Martin said further that the seer stone differed in appearance entirely from the Urim and Thummim that was obtained with the plates…” (Millennial Star Vol.44, No. 6, Feb. 6, 1882, Pages 86-87).

Emma Smith. Joseph’s wife, who often acted asa scribe and would have been present during the entire translation stated, “I frequently wrote day after day, often sitting at the table close by him (Joseph), he sitting with his face buried in his hat, with the stone in it, and dictating hour after hour with nothing between us.” (The Saints Herald, Oct. 1, 1879, Page 289). So, Emma, too, confirms the fact that the translation process did not involve any ancient plates, but was accomplished by a stone ina hat. They all agree to what was supposed to have happened inside the hat, but it must be noted that none of them – David, Martin or Emma – ever actually saw what happened inside the hat.

Oliver Cowdery the principal scribe for the Book of Mormon, was supposed to have been instructed by God (through Joseph) to assist Joseph in the work of translating. Believing as the other three, that God would give the translation, he attempted the process of looking in the stone hidden in the hat. When he saw nothing, Joseph Smith supposedly speaking for God, told him, “Behold, you have not understood;…you took no thought…you MUST STUDY IT OUT IN YOUR MIND; then you must ask me…if it is right; I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right; but if it be not right, you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought, that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong…IF YOU HAD KNOWN THIS, YOU COULD HAVE TRANSLATED…” (Doc. & Cov., Sec.9 in R.L.D.S Edition April1829). But after God supposedly explained the process. He withdrew the privilege instructing Oliver to return to writing for Joseph.

From these statements, one realizes that the translation process involved NO ANCIENT PLATES and was done without the use of the interpreters which the Book of Mormon claimed was prepared for that purpose. Even though the people associated with the work believed Joseph was reading from an appearing-disappearing operation taking place on a stone hidden in a hat, Joseph revealed in his statements to Oliver that the process was one of working (or studying) it (??) out in his own mind and then testing his conclusions by his feelings plus his ability to remember his conclusions We are not told what the “it” was they were to study out, since they used no plates and nothing appeared on the stone. If the “it” meant to figure out the history and origin of the American Indian, Joseph already had done this, for Mother revealed that as early as1823-1824, Joseph would give the family “the most amusing recitals that could be imagined. He would describe the ancient inhabitants of this continent, their dress, mode of traveling, and the animals upon which they rode; their cities, their buildings, with every particular; their mode of warfare; and also their religious worship. This he would do with as much ease, seemingly, as if he had spent his whole life with them.”(Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith… 1853, By Lucy Smith, Page 85) If these conclusions or recitals were remembered in 1829 when Joseph and Oliver were writing the Book of Mormon, they would have passed the test for being translation. But if he had forgotten those recitals by 1829, he could study out some.

But back to the statements of the Book of Mormon witnesses, considering them what was the purpose of the plates? What was the purpose of the interpreters? What was the purpose of anything ancient, since Joseph just worked orstudied things out in his mind which then were tested by “feeling that it is right” or having“a stupor of thought…” and forgetting it?

May God help all Book of Mormon believers to “PROV E ALL THINGS” (1 Thess. 5:21) Not the way Joseph did, by your feelings, but by the standard given us in Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry. The Bible tells us that “God” who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, HATH IN THESE LAST DAYS SPOKFN UNTO US BY HIS SON WHOM HE HATH APPOINTED HEIR OF ALL THINGS by whom also he made the worlds.” (Heb. 1:1-2).

Have you heard His words?

Are you trusting Him to save you?