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The Manner of Translating the Book of Mormon
By Dr. Francis W. Kirkham
THE CONTEMPORARY RECORD AND THE TESTIMONY OF EYE-WITNESSES SHED LIGHT ON A SUBJECT OF PERENNIAL INTEREST.
"HOW and where did you obtain the Book of Mormon?" This was one of twenty questions answered by the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Elders' Journal published July, 1838, at Far West, Missouri. "I am answering these questions," wrote the Prophet, "by publication for the reason they are asked me thousands of times."
"Moroni," writes the Prophet, "the person who deposited the plates from whence the Book of Mormon was translated, in a hill in Manchester, Ontario County, New York, being dead, and raised again therefrom, appeared unto me, and told me where they were; and gave me directions how to obtain them. I obtained them and the Urim and Thummim with them, by the means of which I translated the plates and thus came the Book of Mormon."
Another short statement by the Prophet was published in the Times and Seasons at Nauvoo, May 1, 1842. He was then mayor of the largest and most rapidly growing city in Illinois and the Lieutenant-General of a military organization consisting of all its able-bodied male citizens:
Nauvoo, Illinois, March 1, 1842. At the request of Mr. John Wentworth, Editor and Proprietor of the Chicago Democrat, I have written the following sketch of the rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the Latter-day Saints-of which, I have the honor, under God, of being founder. Mr. Wentworth says that he wishes to furnish Mr. Barstow, a friend of his, who is writing the history of New Hampshire, with this document.
As Mr. Barstow has taken the proper steps to obtain correct information, all I shall ask at his hands is that he publish the account entire, ungarnished, and without misrepresentation. ...
On the evening of the 21st of September, A. D. 1823, while I was praying unto God and endeavoring to exercise faith in the precious promises of Scripture, on a sudden a light like that of day, only of a far purer and more glorious appearance and brightness, burst into the room; indeed the first sight was as though the house were filled with consuming fire. The appearance produced a shock that affected the whole body. In a moment a personage stood before me surrounded with a glory yet greater than that by which I was already surrounded. The messenger proclaimed himself to be an angel of God, sent to bring the joyful tidings that the covenants which God made with ancient Israel were at hand to be fulfilled; that the preparatory work for the second coming of the Messiah was speedily to commence; that the time was at hand for the Gospel in all its fulness to be preached in power unto all nations, that a people might be prepared for the millennial reign. I was informed that I was chosen to be an instrument in the hands of God to bring about some of His purposes in this glorious dispensation.