Watch: Book of Mormon Translation Evidence

Second Video in Evidence Series: Translation of the Book of Mormon

The second installment in Book of Mormon Central's Evidence video series tackles the translation of the Book of Mormon. Critics have argued that the Book of Mormon cannot be true because Joseph Smith's claims about the Book of Mormon's translation seem unbelievable, but this new video seeks to put these criticisms to rest.

This new video highlights the different pieces of evidence that support the Book of Mormon's translation as being inspired, miraculous, and historically viable. Stephen Smoot discusses the eyewitnesses of the translation process, the miraculous details which they reported, the blazing rate of translation, and the corroborating evidence from the Original Manuscript.

As Elder Tad R. Callister said in this last October 2017 General Conference:

The Book of Mormon is not only the keystone of our religion, but it can also become the keystone of our testimonies so that when trials or unanswered questions confront us, it can hold our testimonies securely in place. This book is the one weight on the scales of truth that exceeds the combined weight of all the critics’ arguments. Why? Because if it is true, then Joseph Smith was a prophet and this is the restored Church of Jesus Christ, regardless of any historical or other arguments to the contrary. For this reason, the critics are intent on disproving the Book of Mormon, but the obstacles they face are insurmountable because this book is true.

For additional information on the translation of the Book of Mormon, read some of Book of Mormon Central's KnoWhys on the topic:

Translation KnoWhys

"Why Were the Plates Present During the Translation of the Book of Mormon? (Mosiah 1:6)," KnoWhy #366 (September 21, 2017).

"How Much Could Joseph Smith Have Known about Chiasmus in 1829? (1 Nephi 3:19)," KnoWhy #334 (July 3, 2017)

"Why Did the Book of Mormon Come Forth as a Miracle? (2 Nephi 27:23)," KnoWhy #273 (February 10, 2017)

"Why Was a Stone Used as an Aid in Translating the Book of Mormon? (Alma 37:23)," KnoWhy #145 (July 18, 2016)

"Are There Mistakes in the Book of Mormon? (Title Page)," KnoWhy #3 (January 4, 2016)

Video References

Over 500 Consistent Geographic Details:

Clark, John. "Revisiting 'A Key for Evaluating Nephite Geographies.'" Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 23, no. 1 (2011): 13-43.

Over 300 Names/Over 150 Unique Names:

The Book of Mormon Onomasticon

Hoskisson, Paul Y. "Book of Mormon Names" In Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow. Vol. 1. New York: Macmillan, 1992.

Elaborate Currency System:

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. Charting the Book of Mormon. Provo, UT: Book of Mormon Central, 1999.

Book of Mormon Central, "Why You Should Care About the Nephite Weights and Measures System? (Alma 11:7)," KnoWhy #322 (June 5, 2017).

Complex Source Texts:

Welch, John W., and Fernando Vazquez. Book of Mormon Redaction Chart., 2015.

Multiperspectivity:

Grant Hardy, Understanding the Book of Mormon: A Reader’s Guide. Oxford University Press, 2010.

Consistent Genealogies:

Book of Mormon Central, "Why Does the Book of Ether Begin with Such a Long Genealogy? (Ether 1:16)," KnoWhy #235 (November 21, 2016).

Multilayered Flashbacks:

Book of Mormon Central, "Why Did Mormon Include Flashbacks in His Narrative? (Alma 21:13)," KnoWhy #129 (July 24, 2016).

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. "Flashbacks in the Book of Mosiah" In Charting the Book of Mormon. Provo, UT: Book of Mormon Central, 1999.

Multiple Calendrical Systems

Pratt, John P. "Book of Mormon Chronology" In Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow. Vol. 1. New York: Macmillan, 1992.

Meticulous Record Keeping:

Sorenson, John L. "Mormon’s Sources." Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 20, no. 2 (2011): 2-15.

Complex Hebrew Parallelisms:

Donald W. Parry. Poetic Parallelisms in the Book of Mormon: The Complete Text Reformatted. Provo, UT: The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, 2007.

Subtle Allusions:

McGuire, Ben. "Nephi and Goliath: A Case Study of Literary Allusion in the Book of Mormon." Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 18, no. 1 (2009): 16-31.

S. Kent Brown. "The Exodus Pattern of the Book of Mormon." In From Jerusalem to Zarahemla: Literary and Historical Studies of the Book of Mormon, 75-98. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1998.

Typological Symbolism: 

Joseph Spencer. An Other Testament: On Typology. Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, 2016.

Subtle Literary Unity:

Grant Hardy, Understanding the Book of Mormon: A Reader’s Guide. Oxford University Press, 2010.

Subscriptio: 

Book of Mormon Central, "Why is 'Words of Mormon' at the End of the Small Plates? (Words of Mormon 1:3)," KnoWhy #78 (April 14, 2016).

Multiple Genres: 

Sperry, Sidney B. "Types of Literature in the Book of Mormon: Allegories, Prayers, Songs, Genealogies." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 4, no. 1 (1995): 106-118.

Sperry, Sidney B. "Types of Literature in the Book of Mormon: Epistles, Psalms, Lamentations." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 4, no. 1 (1995): 69-80.

Sperry, Sidney B. "Types of Literature in the Book of Mormon: Historical Narrative, Memoir, Prophetic Discourse, Oratory." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 4, no. 1 (1995): 81-94.

Sperry, Sidney B. "Types of Literature in the Book of Mormon: Patriarchal Blessings, Symbolic Prophecy, Prophetic Narrative, Prophetic Dialogue." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 4, no. 1 (1995): 95-105.

Sperry, Sidney B. "Types of Literature in the Book of Mormon: 'The American Gospel.'" Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 4, no. 1 (1995): 48-68.

Richard Dilworth Rust, Feasting on the Word: The Literary Testimony of the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City and Provo, UT: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1997), 150–154.

Mesoamerican Poetry: 

Hull, Kerry. "War Banners: A Mesoamerican Context for the Title of Liberty." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 24 (2015): 84-118.

Extensive Intertextuality:

Frederick, Nicholas J. "Evaluating the Interaction between the New Testament and the Book of Mormon: A Proposed Methodology." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 24 (2015): 1-30.

Garold N. David, "Pattern and Purpose of the Isaiah Commentaries in the Book of Mormon," Mormons, Scripture, and the Ancient World: Studies in Honor John L. Sorenson. Edited by David Bitton. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1998.

Isaiah in the Book of Mormon, Edited by Donald W. Parry and John W. Welch. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1998.

Barney, Quinten. "Samuel the Lamanite, Christ, and Zenos: A Study of Intertextuality." Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 18 (2016): 159-170.

Book of Mormon Central, "Why Was Jershon Called a Land of Inheritance? (Alma 27:22)," KnoWhy #134 (July 1, 2016).

Book of Mormon Central, "How Did Enos Liken the Scriptures to His Own Life? (Enos 1:27)," KnoWhy #265 (July 23, 2017).

Book of Mormon Central, "Why Was Abish Mentioned by Name? (Alma 19:16)," KnoWhy #127 (June 22, 2016).

Bowen, Matthew L. "Alma — Young Man, Hidden Prophet." Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 19 (2016): 343-353.

Bowen, Matthew L. "Nephi’s Good Inclusio." Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 17 (2016): 181-195.

Sophisticated Discourses: 

Bokovoy, David E. "The Word and the Seed: The Theological Use of Bibilical Creation in Alma 32." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 23 (2014): 1-21.

Non-KJV Early Modern English: 

Skousen, Royal, and Stanford Carmack. "Editing Out the 'Bad Grammar' in the Book of Mormon". The Interpreter Foundation, 2016.

Skousen, Royal. "Textual Variants in the Isaiah Quotations in the Book of Mormon." In Isaiah in the Book of Mormon, edited by Donald W. Parry and John W. Welch, 369-390. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1998.

Extensive Allegory: 

Hoskisson, Paul Y. "The Allegory of the Olive Tree in Jacob." In The Allegory of the Olive Tree: The Olive, the Bible, and Jacob 5, edited by Stephen D. Ricks and John W. Welch, 70-103. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies/Deseret Book, 1994.

Distinct Literary Units:

Joseph Spencer, An Other Testament: On Typology (Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, 2016)

Poetic Discourse: 

Donald W. Parry. Poetic Parallelisms in the Book of Mormon: The Complete Text Reformatted. Provo, UT: The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, 2007.

Complex Thematic Structures: 

Throne, Melvin J. "Complexity, Consistency, Ignorance, and Probabilities." Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins. Edited by Noel B. Reynolds. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1997.