In recent years, the alleged manner in which Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon has come in for increasing incredulity and mockery.1 Some, who have been led to expect a “dignified” process, as exemplified in LDS art work, have not been able to weather the disenchantment. For others, it has become another embarrassing, latter-day revelation.
But let’s look at embarrassing.2
Once again (if we don’t close our eyes), we see:
Isaiah ~ going naked and barefoot as a sign (Old Testament Isaiah 20:2-3);And how about:
Ezekiel ~ laying about for months on his left side and then his right as a sign; and digging and dragging possessions through walls (Old Testament Ezekiel 4:1-8; 12:1-7);
Hosea ~ taking a wife of whoredoms (Hosea 1)
▪ Adam, Eve, and that talking snake?All in all, doesn’t Joseph Smith and his hat seem but déjà vu!
▪ stuttering, “wild” Enoch?3
▪ insecure, stuttering Moses?4
▪ continually rebellious, wayward children?5
▪ chosen, anointed kings proving not so exemplary: Saul (descending into madness); David (falling from grace); Solomon (captured by excess)?
▪ rough-clad, locust-eating John the Baptist?6
▪ betrothed, unmarried, pregnant Mary?
▪ homeless7 Jesus, Son of the Most High, hailing from that lowly place, as in “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?”?8
▪ impetuous, common Simon Peter?
▪ beggarly Lazarus rewarded with Heaven!?9
▪ all those references to angels, miracles, visions, gifts, resurrection, repentance, sin, casting out devils, etc., etc.?
▪ treasure-seeking, poverty-stricken, juvenile Joseph Smith, Jun., being given a rich, spiritual treasure (by an angel) that he had to return?10
▪ the financial distresses and failings of the Church in Kirtland?11
▪ all that Biblical12 and latter-day polygamy?
▪ all those raw, “weak and simple” young LDS missionaries?13
▪ etc., etc. (Add your own examples!)
So, why all this embarrassing stuff? To break our hearts? Our minds? Our spirits? From what?
OH, and one more thing.
If you had an iStone (a minuscule version of some future technology) that:
▪ could see beyond space and time;what would YOU do?—if you had a handy top hat!
▪ could reveal highly classified information;
▪ was not intended for “unclassified,” untutored eyes;
▪ worked best with contrast and concentrated focus;
▪ was often used during daylight in rooms where others were coming and going; and
▪ sometimes seemed to work like a miniature projector,
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1. Just google <“Joseph Smith” hat> to receive an abundance of “information.” To save time, here are a few quotes and references:
[David Whitmer:] “Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. One character at a time would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God, and not by any power of man.” (David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, Richmond, Mo.: n.p., 1887, p. 12.) from http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=05169209df38b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____2. Embarrassing is often in the eye of the beholder, so recognize that if some of the following are not embarrassing to you, they are (or have been) to others—mostly because these things (supposedly) offend the dignity of God and/or the common-sense of man. In other words, what king or CEO, in our world, would choose the weak and simple, meek and lowly, awkward and "irrational" to be his emissaries before the world, not to mention before noble and great "competitors"?
Highly recommended, well-researched article: http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/the-spectacles-the-stone-the-hat-and-the-book-a-twenty-first-century-believers-view-of-the-book-of-mormon-translation/ ; For other references to the method of translation by Martin Harris, Emma Smith, etc., see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_plates (“Translating the Plates”).
3. Pearl of Great Price Moses 6:31, 38 ~ “And when Enoch had heard these words, he bowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying: Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant? ... And they came forth to hear him, upon the high places, saying unto the tent–keepers: Tarry ye here and keep the tents, while we go yonder to behold the seer, for he prophesieth, and there is a strange thing in the land; a wild man hath come among us.”
4. Old Testament Exodus 3:11 ~ “And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” / Exodus 4:1 ~ “AND Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.” / Exodus 4:10 ~ “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”
5. Substantial portions of scripture in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon seem focused on the sins and wanderings of God’s chosen people. What parent would be so forthcoming in publishing to the world, how their offspring were so continually deficient in filial love, duty, and witness?
6. New Testament Matthew 3:4 ~ “And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.”
7. New Testament Luke 9:58 ~ “And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”
8. New Testament John 1:46 ~ “And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.”
9. New Testament Luke 16:19-26 ~ “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”
10. Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith History and Frontispiece of the Book of Mormon.
11. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirtland_Safety_Society ; "There are many causes of embarrassment, of a pecuniary nature, now pressing upon the heads of the Church.” (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected and arranged by Joseph Fielding Smith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1976], 113.)
12. It is somewhat amazing the number of Christians who are not aware of the polygamy of Abraham, Jacob, King David, King Solomon, etc., etc., etc.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygamy_in_Christianity
13. Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:23 ~ “That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.”
Doctrine and Covenants Section 35:13 ~ Wherefore, I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thrash the nations by the power of my Spirit;
