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Difference between revisions of "Question: Was every word of the Book of Mormon translation provided directly from God?"
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==Question: Was every word of the Book of Mormon translation provided directly from God?== | ==Question: Was every word of the Book of Mormon translation provided directly from God?== | ||
| − | === | + | ===Joseph's view of revelation is nuanced in this regard=== |
| + | Some readers of the Book of Mormon and other students of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have become concerned with issues that might, in their view, preclude the view that the translation of the Book of Mormon was given word-for-word, directly by God such as the [[Question: Does the Book of Mormon plagiarize the King James Bible?| presence of language from the King James Bible]] in the text. Such a view (that the translation was given word-for word) was expressed by early witnesses to the translation; but Joseph's own view of revelation appears to more nuanced and allow for some flexibility in this regard. | ||
| − | + | We read in [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/1.24?lang=eng Doctrine and Covenants 1:24]: | |
| − | + | :24 Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding. | |
| − | + | Key phrases in this verse include "in their weakness" and "after the manner of their language." While the translation of the Book of Mormon may come directly from God, this does not preclude the role that Joseph would play in adapting the language of the Book of Mormon to a cultural and linguistic framework that would both establish that the text was authentic and inspired while also communicating the Book's message clearly. Thus Joseph's model of revelation is one in which God could use things such as King James language as the means to the end of establishing his everlasting covenant and calling his children to repentance. This theology of translation may feel strange to some Latter-day Saints that might only accept the view that a translation provided by God can only be a formally equivalent (word-for-word) rendering of the Reformed Egyptian into English. Though, this view might build our conviction of the reality of God's love and the truth that we are all God's children and thus gods in embryo given that God, using this instance as an example, recognized the divine potential of Joseph Smith and chose to respect his agency. He worked in ''cooperation'' with Joseph (instead of merely ''subjecting'' his mind to the revelation) to get his message out to his children. He exalted the human. "Exalting the human" should feel right at home to Latter-day Saints whose theology sees divinity as the fullest expression of humanity. | |
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[[es:Pregunta: ¿Era cada palabra de la traducción del Libro de Mormón proporcionado directamente de Dios?]] | [[es:Pregunta: ¿Era cada palabra de la traducción del Libro de Mormón proporcionado directamente de Dios?]] | ||
[[pt:Pergunta: Cada palavra da tradução do Livro de Mórmon foi fornecida diretamente de Deus?]] | [[pt:Pergunta: Cada palavra da tradução do Livro de Mórmon foi fornecida diretamente de Deus?]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Questions]] | ||
Latest revision as of 15:27, 13 April 2024
FAIR Answers—back to home page
Question: Was every word of the Book of Mormon translation provided directly from God?
Joseph's view of revelation is nuanced in this regard
Some readers of the Book of Mormon and other students of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have become concerned with issues that might, in their view, preclude the view that the translation of the Book of Mormon was given word-for-word, directly by God such as the presence of language from the King James Bible in the text. Such a view (that the translation was given word-for word) was expressed by early witnesses to the translation; but Joseph's own view of revelation appears to more nuanced and allow for some flexibility in this regard.
We read in Doctrine and Covenants 1:24:
- 24 Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding.
Key phrases in this verse include "in their weakness" and "after the manner of their language." While the translation of the Book of Mormon may come directly from God, this does not preclude the role that Joseph would play in adapting the language of the Book of Mormon to a cultural and linguistic framework that would both establish that the text was authentic and inspired while also communicating the Book's message clearly. Thus Joseph's model of revelation is one in which God could use things such as King James language as the means to the end of establishing his everlasting covenant and calling his children to repentance. This theology of translation may feel strange to some Latter-day Saints that might only accept the view that a translation provided by God can only be a formally equivalent (word-for-word) rendering of the Reformed Egyptian into English. Though, this view might build our conviction of the reality of God's love and the truth that we are all God's children and thus gods in embryo given that God, using this instance as an example, recognized the divine potential of Joseph Smith and chose to respect his agency. He worked in cooperation with Joseph (instead of merely subjecting his mind to the revelation) to get his message out to his children. He exalted the human. "Exalting the human" should feel right at home to Latter-day Saints whose theology sees divinity as the fullest expression of humanity.