For me, the book of mormon is an anchor for direction, understanding, peace, confidence, and a sense of. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading seers and stones. The lure and lore of magic stones have of course fascinated people throughout history. Mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including joseph smith using a seer stone and. This movie touched me in so many ways that i cant explain here on reddit, but if youre gay and have been or are mormon, please watch this movie. A book of mistakes, error, and fraud by jon gary williams introduction the mormon church promotes the book of mormon as an inspired writing. The translation of the book of mormon as divine visions of an oldtime seer interpreter. Seer stones and treasure digging mormon discussions. Seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon youtube.
Yea, we have hid up our treasures and they have slipped away from us, because of the curse of the land book of mormon, helaman. In fact you can download it on your phone as an app. Seer stones are mentioned in the book of mormon in the book of mosiah, where they are also called interpreters and described as being used by seers to translate and receive revelations. After the lords finger touched the stones, they provided light for the jaredites as they journeyed across the ocean. Seer stones, urim and thummim the mormon church, mormonism. Although the lds church is now at least talking about the seer stone, it is still far from addressing. Seer stone lessons by common consent, a mormon blog. Sherem denies christ, opposes doctrine of christ, in new book of mormon video danielle christensen the newest book of mormon video released friday, december 20, tells the story of sherem, a man who preached against the doctrine of christ. In 1819 or possibly as late as 1822 joseph smith jr. Mormon church releases photos of seer stone used by.
Prior to josephs purchase of the stone, jacks son was using this seeing stone to locate lost items, including attempting to locate a missing child who was eventually found starved to death. As several historians and scholars have discussed, joseph used both the nephite interpreters later called the urim and thummim that were discovered with the plates and his individual seer stone in the translation of the book of mormon. The details of this miraculous method of translation are still not fully known. So, i have no problem reading about joseph smiths seer stone. A 21stcentury artistic representation of joseph smith. After his assassination in 1844 this stone was acquired by philo dibble, who later exhibited the stone, death masks and other historical objects on lecture tours which he conducted in utah territory. A comparison of european regalia and lds scriptural accounts of oracular objects. Seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon. Lds quotes about seer stones eve out of the garden. Mormon seer stone tg6cpxkwk by joabaldwin on shapeways. During the translation of the book of mormon, joseph smith apparently used both of these instruments.
From the page on the book of mormon, we read, by the power of god, joseph smith translated this book from an ancient record written on gold plates. The book of mormon is a translated document, originally written in a language which joseph smith jr. Every man who lived on the earth, joseph said to them, was entitled to a seer stone, and should have one, but they are kept from them in consequence of their wickedness, and most of those who do find one make evil use of it. As joseph smith was not well educated, even in english, how was he able to translate it.
Joseph smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face. Yes, joseph smith really did use a seer stone in the translation of. According to brigham young, joseph smith had three seer stones during the early part of his life. Joseph smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the. Smith enlisted his neighbor martin harris as a scribe during his initial work on the text. I was recently made aware of a new blog that purports to support the use of seer stones by citing mainstream mormon scholarship.
Apologists have long tried to normalize seer stones, because at the end of the day the idea of translating the book of mormon with a rock in a. Last week i attended part of the 22nd international book of mormon evidences conference hosted by the firm foundation. Image and description of the seer stone purchased in susquehannah county note. 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. It also traces the provenance of his stones once they left his possessions. It is a post in response to someone posting an article from the mormon interpreter regarding seer stones. However, the picture makes it look like glasses, but js described seer. Joseph smith would easily fit the identity of gazelem. People have asked me, do you really believe that joseph smith translated with seer.
I like your inclusion of seer stones within mormon liturgy, as an object of liturgy. Items in the bmc archive are made publicly available for noncommercial, private use. Joseph smith used the term the urim and thummim to refer to the pair of seer stones, or interpreters, he obtained for translating the book of mormon as well as to other seer stones he used in a similar manner. Brigham youngs journal, as quoted in latterday millennial star, 26. Joseph smiths seer stones involved in the translation of the book of mormon. The lord provided him with seer stones, also called the urim and thummim. Book cover contains artists painting of josephs white seer stone. Nelson of the quorum of the twelve apostles said that joseph used one of his seerstones to receive the book of mormon. Items do not represent the official views of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints or of book of mormon central.
Mormon leader thinks joseph smiths seer stones were. It also traces the provenance of his stones once they left his possession. This mental process is not magical, unusual or divine. I have always been fascinated with rocks, stones, and magical powers. The seer stone, faith, and miracles mormon women stand. This book discusses the origins of joseph smiths seer stones and explores how joseph used them throughout his life in a way that goes beyond translating the book of mormon. In conjunction with the release of the printers manuscript project, the church posted an article about seership, seer stones, and their roles in translation and revelation. Our organization, the institute for religious research, has had an article about joseph using the seer stone to dictate the book of mormon on its website since 1999. Book of mormon central archive kingship and seer stones. However, after a fair and candid examination of the evidence, many thousands of. Did joseph smith use seer stones and a hat to translate the book of mormon. Thus the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god, and not by any power of man. Posted on march 28, 2016 january 20, 2020 by scott thormaehlen. Joseph smiths use of seerstones in the revealing of the.
Joseph smiths use of seer stones ensign magazine, october 2015joseph the seer. Mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss the various historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including accounts of joseph smith using a seer stone to translate the. Seer stones and the translation of the book of mormon mason allred and mark ashurstmcgee discuss historical accounts of the book of mormon translation process, including joseph smith using a seer stone and accounts of joseph smith using urim and thummim. To go along with this, an article was published in the october 2015 ensign 1 that gave a brief overview of seers, seer stones, and the translation of the book of mormon, and. In one passage, the brother of jared asked the lord to touch 16 small stones, which were white and clear, even as transparent glass. Seer stone associated with joseph smith, long side view photograph by. Joseph smithseer stonesrock in hat used for book of mormon.
The mormon church is for the first time publishing photos of the stone it believes. Inclusion within the bmc archive does not imply endorsement. A picture of a smooth, brown, eggsized rock is shown in the printers manuscript of the book of mormon. This blog is created in order to learn more, and network with individuals that actually use or seek to use seer stones. David whitmer, address to all believers in christ part 1 1886 joseph. Using a seer stone to find lost cattle seems much more pragmatic than. Seer stone in a hat book of mormon translation latter. The article is scheduled to be published in print in the churchs. President uchtdorf shares what he believes about seer stones. A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon mormonism research ministry bill mckeever and eric johnson posted on 12272010 11. About that new seer stone video lds discussions blog. Seer stones, also called urim and thummim in the mormon church, are instruments prepared by god to assist man in obtaining revelation and in translating languages.
Seer stones and such earlier this month, the lds church published a version of the printers manuscript of the book of mormon. The relationship between joseph smiths seer stone and the urim and thummim. A depiction of joseph smith dictating the book of mormon through the use of a seer stone placed in a hat to block out light. As of right now my parents and my sister are the only family members who know. My 3 brothers will not react well to me coming out. Joseph smith owned a green seer stone, pictured above, which was purchased from jack belcher in 1825. In the hebrew language, the words urim and thummim mean lights and perfections. The urim and thummim consist of two stones set in silver bows and sometimes used with a breastplate see doctrine and covenants 17. Nelson admits to joseph smiths seer stone in hat on lds. The sally chase seer stone in the early 1800s, palmyras most notable seer was sally chase, who claimed the ability to see visions and find lost objects using a seer stone. Did joseph smith use seer stones and a hat to translate. It examines the role of seer stones in the early church, the origins of joseph smiths seer stones, the use of seer stones in translating the book of mormon, the chain of custody of the stones from joseph smith to the present, and the depiction of the use of seerstones and seerstonelike objects in the book of mormon itself. This green seer stone was apparently sold to joseph smith by jack belcher in the 1820s. The particular seer stone used to translate text that would become the book of mormon was found in 1819 after joseph smith borrowed a seer stone from a friend to find another whitish seer stone in.
A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints released a 1,000 page, twovolume book containing the printers manuscript of the book of mormon. Salt lake city the mormon churchs push toward transparency about its roots and beliefs took another step forward tuesday with the. Learn more before you buy, or discover other cool products in memes. Seer stones, also called urim and thummim, in mormonism are instruments prepared by god to assist man in obtaining revelation and in translating languages. An analysis of the lds church seer stone announcement. Mormons publish photos of seer stone used by founder. Early mormon seer stones are of the greatest rarity and importance. Now ive learned seer stones are a repeated instrument and not unusual in gods kingdom. About a year ago, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints released a picture of joseph smiths seer stone, the same stone that smith used in the translation process of the book of mormon. In fact, the whitmer cabin, where joseph dictates most of the book of mormon, is a haven for people with seer stones, which includes hiram page, laura hubble and the whitmers. According to witness accounts, he would put the stones in a hat and pull the hat. The translation of the book of mormon as divine visions.
New church video explains joseph smiths seer stones book of. The founder of the lds church, joseph smith, claimed an angel named moroni visited him in september of 1823. Book of mormon translation on trial stoddard, hannah l. In the hebrew language the words urim and thumim mean lights and perfections. Book of mormon translated with peep stone, seer stone. Bill reel free episode joseph smith nephite interpreters seer seer stone thummim treasure digging urim 058. Founder of the mormon church, joseph smith, used what he called a seer stone to derive mystical information and supernatural knowledge. Book of mormontranslationseer stone smiths seer stones were published in the joseph smith papers. The term urim and thummim is usually used by latter day saints members to refer to the interpreters mentioned in the book of mormon. The book of mormon describes a sacred purpose for specially designated stones. What results is a lengthy explanation about what a seer is and how they operate with revelatory devices 4 fascinating insights about seers, seer stones, and interpreters book of mormon central.
Included in the book are pictures of the seer stone that joseph used in addition to the urim and thummim in translating the golden plates. Harris later mortgaged his farm to underwrite the printing of the book of mormon. Seer stones and treasure digging critics cite the church as intentionally creating a simple sanitized view of the translation of the book of mormon. Seer stones the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Book of mormon and the seer stone latterday saint nana. A journal of mormon scripture 24 kindle edition by stan spencer. Focusing on jacob 7, the latest installment takes place in 544421 bc in the land of nephi. David whitmer, one of the three witnesses whose testimony appears at the front of the book of mormon. I am intrigued, as you are, with the process joseph smith used to translate the book of mormon, which he said was done through the gift and power of god. Joseph actually was the defendant in a court case in 1826 in regards to the.