In Joseph Smith History 1: 62-64, Joseph says he copied some characters from the plates and translated them. Later, Martin Harris showed these characters to a man named professor Anthon. Harris said that Anthon said the translation was correct. But the Book of Mormon says the language of the Nephites was not known to anyone else. How could professor Anthon have known the language?
Rodrigo,
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2 Responses to “In Joseph Smith History 1: 62-64, Joseph says he copied some…”
Samuel Santana
2009-10-26 05:07:04
In fact, it is true that Anthon could not have deciphered the symbols that Martin Harris showed him, which were apparently written in what the Book of Mormon vaguely calls "reformed Egyptian." As explained in The Encyclopedia of Mormonism (a Mormon publication): "Modern research suggests that, given the state of knowledge of Egyptian in 1828, Anthon's views would have been little more than opinion."
The Anthon Transcript
Furthermore, even if an Egyptian translation had been possible in 1828, the writing system of the Book of Mormon peoples had almost certainly been modified during their 10 centuries of history. Though scholars are not certain, we believe we have some of the characters that Joseph copied (the "Anthon transcript"), and those characters support the theory that the writing system had evolved significantly.
Why did Anthon suggest that the translation was correct? We can't be sure, but academic pride may have played a role, or perhaps Martin Harris somehow misunderstood him. Regardless, we are lucky that Anthon said what he said, because Martin Harris, who had had his doubts, came back to Joseph convinced that the work was true. Harris subsequently became a very important figure in Mormon history.
Few people realize that archeologists have actually found some of the characters from the Anthon transcript on ancient pottery from Mexico. The pottery dates to about 400 B.C., during Book of Mormon times. One non-LDS archeologist said, "[this] hitherto unknown writing systemÂ… closely resemble[s] various oriental scripts ranging from Burma and China to the rim of the Mediterranean. [If authentic, the script] would almost surely be...an instance of transpacific contact during the Preclassic [period]."
If Joseph Smith made up the Book of Mormon, how is it that he was able to guess these kinds of details? It's much more reasonable to believe that Joseph actually had access to a true ancient document. Nevertheless, it is faith, not academic evidence, that should convince us that the Book of Mormon is a true testament of Jesus Christ.
Richard
2009-10-30 20:50:14
Other people who have given answers found through LDS sites have given great responces! If I may I would like to add a second witness that with all the learning of the world and my life, when I did as Moroni directed in Moroni 10: 4-5, I recieved a witness that is difficult to decribe, but Moroni's promise has come true and I know to the deapest parts of my mortal frame, that the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith is and was a prophet of God, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true and living church on the earth today. Yes that is said/typed in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.
Why did Anthon suggest that the translation was correct? We can't be sure, but academic pride may have played a role, or perhaps Martin Harris somehow misunderstood him. Regardless, we are lucky that Anthon said what he said, because Martin Harris, who had had his doubts, came back to Joseph convinced that the work was true. Harris subsequently became a very important figure in Mormon history.
Few people realize that archeologists have actually found some of the characters from the Anthon transcript on ancient pottery from Mexico. The pottery dates to about 400 B.C., during Book of Mormon times. One non-LDS archeologist said, "[this] hitherto unknown writing systemÂ… closely resemble[s] various oriental scripts ranging from Burma and China to the rim of the Mediterranean. [If authentic, the script] would almost surely be...an instance of transpacific contact during the Preclassic [period]."
If Joseph Smith made up the Book of Mormon, how is it that he was able to guess these kinds of details? It's much more reasonable to believe that Joseph actually had access to a true ancient document. Nevertheless, it is faith, not academic evidence, that should convince us that the Book of Mormon is a true testament of Jesus Christ.