Book of Mormon Notes

Joseph Smith's Declaration (1841):

• Joseph Smith stated that the Book of Mormon is the most correct book on Earth.
• It is the keystone of our religion.
• A person gets closer to God by following its precepts more than any other book.

Book of Mormon as Keystone:

• Joseph Smith declared the Book of Mormon to be the keystone of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
• It's considered the best guide for drawing nearer to God.
• The statement implies both doctrinal and historical correctness.
• The Book of Mormon brings people closer to God through:
  • Testifying of Jesus Christ.
  • Teaching the importance of obeying commandments.
  • Explaining the plan of salvation.
  • Revealing truths conducive to personal righteousness.

The Keystone of Religion:

• Central Truths Reinforced:
  • The Book of Mormon is true.
  • Joseph Smith was a prophet.
  • The priesthood was restored.
  • We have a latter-day prophet.
  • Christ appeared in America.
  • Christ died in Jerusalem and was resurrected.
  • The Atonement is real.
• Based upon Ephesians 2:20, with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone.

Explanation of the Keystone:

• Knowing the Book of Mormon is true is like a keystone holding an arch in place.
• It supports the edifice of faith built on apostles, prophets, and Jesus Christ.
• Accepting the Book of Mormon necessitates accepting the Prophet Joseph Smith and the means by which it came forth.
• It reinforces the restored priesthood, living prophets, and the reality of Christ’s redemptive mission.
• The Book of Mormon connects the New and Old Testaments, explaining the fulfillment of the law of Moses in Christ.
• It complements the Bible as another divinely inspired testament of Jesus Christ.

Joseph Smith on Proving the Book of Mormon:

• Joseph Smith believed the Lord would prove the Book of Mormon true.
• The world would prove Joseph Smith a true prophet through circumstantial evidence and experiments, as with Moses and Elijah (1842).

Circumstantial Evidence for the Book of Mormon:

• Circumstantial evidence supports the claim that the Book of Mormon is an ancient record written by former inhabitants of the Americas.
• Joseph Smith stated the Book of Mormon would stand as circumstantial evidence of his prophetic calling.
• Just as Moses and Elijah were proven through miracles, Joseph Smith would be vindicated through evidence for the Book of Mormon's authenticity.

Emma Smith's Testimony (1879):

• Emma Smith, wife of Joseph Smith, expressed her faith in the restored Church.
• The Church was established in 1830 after Joseph translated and published the Book of Mormon.
• Emma testified as a firsthand witness of the translation process.

Emma Smith on the Translation Process:

• Emma Smith testified that Joseph Smith had no notes, drafts, or books during the translation.
• She affirmed that she, like the Three and Eight Witnesses, never wavered in her testimony of the book's authenticity.

Emma Smith's Perspective on Authorship (1879):

• Emma Smith stated that Joseph Smith could not have authored the Book of Mormon himself.
• He lacked the writing abilities and knowledge of ancient Israel necessary to dictate such a book.
• Joseph was not capable of dictating a coherent and well-worded letter, let alone a complex book like the Book of Mormon.

Joseph Smith's Limited Knowledge:

• Joseph Smith's limited knowledge during translation led him to question the presence of a wall around Jerusalem.

Emma Smith on the Plates (1879):

• Emma Smith confirmed the existence of the plates.
• She described the plates as often lying on the table, wrapped in a linen cloth.
• She once felt the plates and traced their outline, noting they seemed pliable like thick paper and rustled with a metallic sound.

Emma Smith as a Witness:

• Though Emma did not see the plates directly, she serves as another witness verifying the Book of Mormon’s authentic origin.

Elder B. H. Roberts on Evidence (1909):

• The Holy Ghost is the chief source of evidence for the truth of the Book of Mormon.
• All other evidence is secondary to this primary and infallible source.
• No arrangement of evidence or argument can replace the testimony of the Holy Spirit.

The Role of Secondary Evidences:

• Truth must be stated clearly to allow the Holy Spirit to testify to souls.
• Secondary evidences can be mighty factors in achieving God’s purposes.

Elder B. H. Roberts quote: $Moroni 10:3-5$

Austin Farrer on Rational Argument and Belief (1965):

• Rational argument maintains a climate in which belief may flourish.
• Lack of argument destroys belief.
• What is not defended is quickly abandoned.

Rational Argument and the Book of Mormon:

• Scholarly research across scientific, archaeological, and linguistic fields can shed light on ancient texts like the Book of Mormon.
• Scholars arguing for the Book of Mormon’s ancient origins help foster an atmosphere in which people can take the book seriously as a historical record.

Rational Argument quote: $Moroni 10:3-5$

Key Events Surrounding Book of Mormon Translation (1827-1828):

• 1827:
  • September: Joseph obtains the plates from the angel Moroni.
  • October-December: Joseph and Emma move to Harmony, Pennsylvania; Joseph translates some characters from the plates.
• 1828:
  • January-March: Martin Harris takes characters and Joseph’s translation to Charles Anthon.
  • April-June: Book of Lehi translated (April 12–June 14).
  • June: Joseph and Emma’s first child is born and dies; Martin Harris loses 116 pages.
  • July-December: Joseph travels to Manchester, New York; interpreters and plates are taken away; Joseph reobtains them; David Whitmer meets Oliver Cowdery.

Opposition and Setbacks:

• After obtaining the gold plates in September 1827, opposition arose to translation.
• Attempts were made to steal the plates.
• Persecution forced Joseph and Emma to move to Harmony, Pennsylvania.
• Professor Charles Anthon initially certified characters and translation but later recanted.
• Martin Harris’s loss of 116 pages from the book of Lehi resulted in Joseph being chastened and temporarily losing translation privilege.

Setting the Stage for Collaboration:

• David Whitmer met Oliver Cowdery in December 1828.
• Obstacles in 1827 and 1828 set the stage for Oliver Cowdery's arrival in Harmony in April 1829, who would serve as scribe.

Events Surrounding Book of Mormon Translation (1829-1830):

• 1829:
  • January-March: Joseph receives D&C 4; the Lord appears to Oliver Cowdery; Joseph translates a few pages; Martin Harris visits Joseph.
  • April: Oliver arrives in Harmony (April 7); Joseph translates the majority of the Book of Mormon by the end of June.
  • July-December: E. B. Grandin agrees to print. Typesetting begins.
• 1830:
  • January-April: Printing is finished; the restored Church of Jesus Christ is officially organized.

Sacrifices and Support:

• This period illustrates the sacrifices made to bring forth the Book of Mormon quickly.
• Oliver Cowdery assisted as scribe during April and May 1829.
• Martin Harris mortgaged his farm to pay for printing 5,000 copies of the first edition.
• The ancient Nephite record was published in March 1830, enabling the organization and growth of the restored Church.

Church History Sites Near Palmyra, New York (1820–1831):

• The Hill Cumorah: Where Joseph Smith received the gold plates from Moroni in 1827.
• The Joseph Smith Farm: Where Joseph and Emma lived after their marriage and the plates were concealed.
• The Martin Harris Farm: Mortgaged to cover Book of Mormon printing expenses.
• The Grandin Print Shop: Where the Book of Mormon was printed in 1830.

Church History Sites in Western New York (1820–1831):

• Harmony, Pennsylvania: Most of the translation took place here.
• Fayette, New York: Translation completed and the Church was officially organized.
• South Bainbridge, New York: Where Joseph and Emma were married on 18 January 1827.
• Colesville, New York: Site of the church's first branch in October 1830.

Book of Mormon Plates and Records: Structure

• The Book consists of: Small Plates of Nephi, Large Plates of Nephi, Plates of Brass.
• The Small Plates included writings from: 1 & 2 Nephi, Jacob, Enos, Jarom, Omni.
• The Large Plates included writings from: Book of Lehi (lost 116 pages), Record of Zeniff, Records of Alma and Sons of Mosiah, Epistles from Helaman, Pahoran, and Moroni, Records of Nephi 3, Records of the Jaredites, Mormon, Words of Mormon, Moroni Title Page.
• Joseph Smith translated the original manuscript of the Book of Mormon from the Plates of Mormon.

Book of Mormon Plates

• Mormon abridged ancient documents. Examples included: King Benjamin's speech or Plates of Brass.
• Copied from the original manuscript. Parts of which still survive today.
• Typeset for the first edition of the Book of Mormon from his manuscript.

Plates of Brass Contents:

• Contained a copy of the Law (five books of Moses).
• A history of the Jews.
• Lehi’s genealogy.
• The writings of many prophets.

Influence of the Plates of Brass:

• Some records were comparable to books in the Old Testament, while others were unique.
• Nephi’s summary of the contents is found in $1 Nephi 5:11-14$, graphically displayed, along with references illustrating the profound influence of these records.

Sources Behind the Book of Ether:

• Early Jaredite Records: Jaredite King list, Brother of Jared, Prophecies of Ether
• Ether's Writings: Account, Combinations, Faith/faith of brother of Jared, Abridgement
• Moroni's Commentary: abridgement: Mosiah's Translation, Ether's gold plates

Origin of Book of Ether

• Combined from Jaredite Records and Ether's Writtings.
• Found by people of Limhi near Zarahemla.
• Translated by King Mosiah
• The final form included Moroni's Comments after Abidgment.

Authors with books named after them

• Many of the books in the Book of Mormon are named for their authors.
• Records were handed down in Saired Trust, usually from father to Son.
• Only 4 nephrite families kept the records (Lehi, Mosiah, Alma, Mormon).

Genealogy and Record Keepers Overview

• From the posteriity of Lehi, through Jacob
• The family of Mosiah
• Alma and his descendants
• Mormon and Moroni

Lineage of Lehi Record Keepers

• Nephi1: Born in Jerusalem (615 B.C.). Began record when about 15 years old (600 B.C.). Died about 540 B.C.
• Jacob: born son of Lehi, brother of Nephi (592 B.C.). 544 B.C. Becomes Keeper. Dies about 495 B.C.
• Enos
• Jarom
• Omni
• Amaron
• Chemish
• Abinadom
• Amaleki

Lineage of Alma Record Keepers

• Benjamin: Born Son of Mosiah1 (190 BC), 140 BC becomes Record Keeper, (121 BC) 69 old,
• Mosiah2: Born Son of Benjamin 154 Bc, 91 BC dies about 63 years old,

Lineage Key

• born - becomes record keeper- dies

Details Surronding Alma1:

• Descendant of Nephi
• Alma was a