Criticism of Mormonism/Video/Search for the Truth DVD/The Translator

The Translator

Claim: The Book of Mormon was not translated from the gold plates. "Joseph Smith actually did his translation by looking into a magical peepstone, placed into a hat." Many witnesses testified from their own experience that Joseph Smith actually had real golden plates. Joseph used the Urim and Thummim, and later a seerstone (what the video's producers pejoratively call a "peepstone"), to translate the record on that plates by the gift and power of God. We are not certain exactly how the seerstone worked, but it seems to have provided a means for him to focus and eliminate distractions so he could concentrate more fully on the translation given him by the Holy Spirit. There are numerous Biblical examples of prophets using physical materials to divine God's will; Joseph Smith's experience fits in very well with theirs. To read more: Joseph Smith and seer stones Book of Mormon witnesses Claim: "In 1826, four years before the publication of the Book of Mormon, the Joseph was arrested and charged for using his peepstone method to deceive the elderly Josiah Stowell." The video carefully avoids describing the outcome of this legal proceeding. The video apparently wants the listener to conclude that Joseph was found guilty in court—after all, there is no shame in being charged with a crime if one is found not guilty. (And, even a false conviction is no stain on a man's character—even Jesus Himself was falsely condemned.) But, these facts would not serve the video's purposes, so they say nothing about the outcome. In fact, the appearance before the judge was not a trial—as demonstrated by the Reverend Wesley Walters, a prolific anti-Mormon author. Therefore, he could not be found "guilty," and no trial was held. Despite their claims that they are trying to "Search for the Truth," the video does not tell its viewers that Josiah Stowell testified for Joseph as a defense witness and did not believe that Joseph had defrauded him at all. Stowell testified of Joseph's claims, "Do I believe it? No, it is not a matter of belief: I positively know it to be true." The charges were brought by Stowell's family members, who seem worried that Josiah would accept Joseph's religious claims. In fact, Stowell joined the Church founded by Joseph, and remained a faithful member to the day of his death. Would the video's authors condemn Paul because he was brought before many courts because of religious persecution? (See Acts 23꞉6.) Note: the video mentions the Stowell incident of 1826 in the polygamy section, and does not disclose the facts of the matter there either. To read more: History of 1826 court appearance Claim: If the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God, why have there been thousands of corrections in the Book of Mormon, many of which relate to doctrinal and historical issues? To read more: Links Claim: "Biblical revelations never involve occult rituals or objects." Answer #2 To read more: Links Claim: Joseph Smith was the only person who could verify that the golden plates existed. Answer #2 To read more: Links Claim: "Initially, Joseph’s witnesses vouched for Joseph and the Golden Plates. But when pressed by the public, Joseph’s witnesses stated that they saw the golden plates through the eyes of faith and never physically saw or handled them." Answer #2 To read more: Links Claim: The Book of Mormon contains "another gospel" as described in Galatians 1:8. Answer #2 To read more: Links Claim: Joseph Smith's partial translation of the fraudulent Kinderhook plates shows that he was a fraud. Answer #2 To read more: Church Ensign Article on the Kinderhook Plates off-site

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