Book of Mormon - Intro

For this analysis, I am using the Key of Joseph Revision, because the marked changes in the text become relevant.

Problems in the introductory matter to The Book of Mormon:

• Claims it as written "to the Lamanites" ... that they may know the covenants" ... "that they are not cast off forever."  This is the first mention in the book of this Euro-centric viewpoint that assumes Native American culture is barbaric and that they need to be "saved" and brought into conformity with European cultural ideals.
• Today, it has become apparent based upon DNA that Lamanites cannot be identified (because the ancestors of the Native Americans were not actually Jews), which means the Book of Mormon has actually failed to reach its primary target audience, since its target audience does not exist.
• The Book is supposed to come forth by way of the Gentile, but according to later statements, Joseph Smith was not a Gentile.
• “Jacob blessed his twelve sons and gave them each a blessing suited to their individual rewards and pronounced promises that should come to them. Joseph received a special blessing which we are most interested in because we are his descendants, the most part of us, and the blessings of the gospel have come through this line, for Joseph Smith, Senior, was a true descendant, through Ephraim, the younger son of Joseph” (Elder Eldred G. Smith, Conference Report, April 1952).

• Teaches that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ.)  A 19th Century Christian perspective is cast back into an Old Testament time period.
• Teaches that Jesus is the Eternal God.  A 19th Century Christian Theology is embodied in the text, which embodied the teachings of the Creeds and oversteps the bounds of anything that is expressed within the Biblical text.  Notice "the Son of" in the title page is a correction inserted into the Key of Joseph Revision to resolve the theological inconsistency. My critique here is upon the original text where this phrase is not present. 

THE

BOOK OF MORMON:

AN ACCOUNT 

WRITTEN BY THE HAND OF MORMON

UPON PLATES

TAKEN FROM THE PLATES OF NEPHI. 

Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites—Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile—Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation—Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the LORD, that they might not be destroyed—To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof— Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the LORD, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile—The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.

An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the LORD confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven—Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the LORD hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the LORD, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the Son of the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations—And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.

TRANSLATED BY JOSEPH SMITH, Jr. 

KEY OF JOSEPH TRANSLATION 

 

PALMYRA:

PRINTED BY E.B. GRANDIN, FOR THE AUTHOR. 

1830.

This Edition Published 2007.

  

INTRODUCTION.

Northern District of New-York, to wit:

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the eleventh day of June, in the fifty-third year of the Independence of the United States of America, A.D. 1829, JOSEPH SMITH, JUN. of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as author, in the words following, to wit: “The Book of Mormon: an account written by the hand of Mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of Nephi. Wherefore it is an abridgment of the Record of the People of Nephi; and also of the Lamanites; written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the House of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile; written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of Prophesy and of Revelation. Written, and sealed up, and hid up unto the LORD, that they might not be destroyed; to come forth by the gift and power of God, unto the interpretation thereof; sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the LORD, to come forth in due time by the way of Gentile; the interpretation thereof by the gift of God; an abridgment taken from the Book of Ether. Also, which is a Record of the People of Jared, which were scattered at the time the LORD confounded the language of the people when they were building a tower to get to Heaven: which is to shew unto the remnant of the House of Israel, how great things the LORD hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the LORD, that they are not cast off forever: and also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Eternal God, manifesting Himself unto all nations. And now if there be fault, it be the mistake of men; wherefore condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment seat of Christ. —By Joseph Smith, Jun. Author and Proprietor.”

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, “An set for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned;” and also the act, entitled, “An act supplementary to an act, entitled, ‘An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints.’”

R. R. LANSING, Clerk of the Northern District of New-York. 

 

PREFACE.

TO THE READER—

As many false reports have been circulated respecting the following work, and also many unlawful measures taken by the evil designing persons to destroy me, and also the work, I would inform you that I translated, by the gift and power of God, and caused to be written, one hundred and sixteen pages, the which I took from the Book of Lehi, which was an account abridged from the plates of Lehi, by the hand of Mormon; which said account, some person or persons have stolen and kept from me, notwithstanding my utmost exertions to recover it again—and being commanded of the LORD that I should not translate the same over again, for Satan had put it into their hearts to tempt the LORD their God, by altering the words, that they did read contrary from that which I translated and caused to be written; and if I should bring forth the same words again, or, in other words, if I should translate the same over again, they would publish that which they had stolen, and Satan would stir up the hearts of this generation, that they might not receive this work: but behold, the LORD said unto me, I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing: therefore thou shalt translate from the plates of Nephi, until ye come to that which ye have translated, which ye have retained; and behold ye shall publish it as the record of Nephi; and thus I will confound those who have altered my words. I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will shew unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the Devil. Wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, I have, through his grace and mercy, accomplished that which he hath commanded me respecting this thing. I would also inform you that the plates of which hath been spoken, were found in the township of Manchester, Ontario county, New-York.

THE AUTHOR.

 

CONCERNING THE

KEY OF JOSEPH TRANSLATION.

This is a revision of The Book of Mormon intended to faithfully complete the unfinished work of revision that Joseph Smith, Jr. commenced in 1836 and continued to perform through 1842, at which point he apparently became occupied with other important matters such as the completion of the Temple, establishing the Anointed Quorum, managing the city affairs of Nauvoo, and campaigning for President of the United States. His assassination/martyrdom in 1844 ultimately prevented him from finishing this work and others such as his Inspired Translation of the Holy Bible.

In November 1841, the year in which the fourth edition of the book was published, Joseph Smith, Jr. stated: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” It is from this esoteric allusion to a keystone that the name Key of Joseph has been derived.

TRANSLATION COMMITTEE.

 

NOTATION USED IN THIS EDITION.

Italic {shown as a yellow highlight in this blog} indicates changes introduced in the KJT.

Bold indicates changes introduced in Historic Editions.

“LORD” or “GOD” may be read as JEHOVAH or YHVH.

“Lord” may be read as Adonai, meaning Master or My Lord. 

“God” may be read as Elohim, meaning The Gods, Judges, or Arbiters.

This edition features footnotes and bracketed [explanatory text]. 

  

 READINGS SIGNIFICANT TO THIS EDITION.

1 Nephi 11:26, 2 Nephi 9:41, Enos 1:3 

Mosiah 15, Mosiah 18:19-20 & 25:22 

Alma 52:15-17, 3 Nephi 19:18–20:1, Ether 2-3