Seer Stone v. Urim and Thummim

Book of Mormon Translation on Trial

L. Hannah Stoddard, III James Franklin Stoddard

• Publisher: PolariTeck
• Year: 2019
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781646334810
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: North American History

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