'A theory! A theory! We have already got a theory, and there cannot be any more theories!'

Title

'A theory! A theory! We have already got a theory, and there cannot be any more theories!'

Publication Type

Video

Year of Publication

2015

Authors

Skousen, Royal (Primary)

Publisher

The Interpreter Foundation/BYU Studies

Citation Key

1861

Abstract

Three common views regarding the translation of the Book of Mormon, still held by some, can be summarized as follows: (1) as Joseph Smith translated, ideas came to his mind and he expressed those ideas in his own language and phraseology; (2) as a result, the original English language of the Book of Mormon is based on Joseph’s upstate New York dialect, intermixed with his own style of biblical English; and (3) the Book of Mormon deals with the religious and political issues of Joseph’s own time. In this paper I will draw upon the work of the Book of Mormon critical text project to argue that all of these views are essentially misguided and are based on a firm determination to hold to preconceived notions, no matter what the evidence.

Subject Keywords

Early Church History
Translation
Language
Book of Mormon
Early Modern English

Bibliographic Citation

Terms of use

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