Modern document translation does not match Prophet's translation
LDS, Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith, faked translation to quelch doubts about Mormonism
Many withdrew membership from the LDS, Mormon Church after reading this book.
One of the most exciting events in modern Mormon history was the rediscovery of some of the Egyptian papyri which the Mormon "Prophet," Joseph Smith, had in his possession when he produced the "Pearl of Great Price."
From the moment Mormonism was born in about 1830, the Saints under the leadership of Joseph Smith wandered further and further off the course of acceptable social behavior. The resulting irritation caused by Joseph's preaching caused such friction among their neighbors that they were driven out of village after village.
Principal among these irritations was the secret practice of polygamy. Eventually, this practice was soon to be written into doctrine. It had to be. Polygamy couldn't be practiced secretly under the bed covers any longer. The illegal and immoral practice was now impossible to hide.
Critics of Mormonism often complained that the Book of Mormon was a fake document. Joseph told his congregations that he translated this book from gold plates he found lying near his parent's family farm. He told his followers the plates were written in "reformed Egyptian," and he and he alone, had the only "power of God to translate such language." Since these plates had been "taken back into heaven" after the translation, no verification or proof of their authenticity could ever be established.
However, a new document that Joseph Smith translated later was his undoing....
As happenstance and luck would have it, a traveling show exhibiting Egyptian mummies and some Egyptian papyri came through the Mormon village. Upon examination of the papyri in the exhibit, Joseph Smith excitedly proclaimed they contained valuable new doctrine from an early prophet, "Abraham." Since Joseph claimed to have Godly powers of translation, the exhibit was quickly and anxiously purchased by the Mormon group. Joseph took this opportunity to "translate" the papyri to his advantage.
Interestingly, the final translation included doctrine which justified polygamy. It also reinforced the power of Joseph Smith as a leader and "prophet of God." It also made other convenient and important patches to the doctrine of that day.
With such a "new discovery" of old doctine, finally, Joseph had a way to "prove" to the doubters that Mormonism was, in fact, true and that he, indeed, was a prophet of God. Also, most importantly, their polygamy practices were now villified in writing by these ancient papyri of Abraham.
During these times, the religion was faltering --- losing many of it's faithful followers. Such a new "find" of these papyri should surely put to rest any doubts his critics could level about his leadership and new religion.
Years passed and new Mormon prophets came into power. Each one continued to use these new translations of the papyri as gospel truths. Simultaneously, Egyptian writings which were previously impossible to translate, could now be accurately translated by scholars. Research had now provided a way to accurately translate Egyptian writings. Further, the very copy that Joseph Smith used for his translation of this new doctrine eventually surfaced at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.
It was verified that this, indeed, was the original papyri from which Joseph Smith had made his translation. The backing sheets of that papyri contained notes and sketches of the Mormon Nauvoo Temple site. Further studies showed that, indeed, this was the exact same document from which Joseph made the translation because of early detailed descriptions. His earlier copied notations and sketches matched all those on this new-found document.
Researchers unanimously agreed after examing the papyri and comparing it with Smith's translattion..... that Joseph Smith's translation was no more than jibberish. It, in no way, matched the writings on the papyri. Instead it was a very common funeral papyri burried with Egyptian mummies. Smith's translation was obvioulsy and without question, faked.
About every scheme has been used by the LDS Church to denounce and mend the damage by the scholarly findings. Still, this Joseph Smith "translation" is currently in use today in the "Pearl of Great Price," a key part of Mormon doctrine.
Charles M. Larson provides photographs and considerable detailed information which will help the reader grasp and understand these scholarly findings.
Page Modified June 20, 2001