The Mosiah/Benjamin Error, What’s the King’s Name?

[Shulem]

Changes in The Book of Mormon

The fourth chestnut involves the replacement of the name Benjamin with Mosiah in two places (in Mosiah 21:28 and Ether 4:1). Joseph Smith was apparently the one who changed the first instance (in the 1837 edition); Orson Pratt made the second one (in the 1849 edition). The problem has to do with how the chronology is interpreted in the book of Mosiah. The two original readings with Benjamin are very likely correct. Although Benjamin is unexpected, it appears that king Benjamin lived long enough to be still alive when Ammon and his men returned to Zarahemla with the people of king Limhi (in Mosiah 22).

According to Royal Skousen, the change was likely made in 1837 to avoid an apparent contradiction where Benjamin is both dead and alive at different points....

You’re too kind, Limnor; I’d simply say:

According to Royal Skousen, the change was made in 1837 to negate a contradiction where Benjamin is both dead and alive at different points....

QUESTION:

1) Who informed Joseph Smith that “Benjamin” in the 1830 edition of Mosiah 21:28 was an error and to replace it with Mosiah?

2) Why didn’t Smith make the second correction with Ether 4:1 in the 1837 edition?

Does it not require revelation to emend revelation? But apologists attempt to excuse the whole affair:

All this variation in the accidentals clearly shows that the transmission of the text is human rather than inspired; it has all the signs of human transmission. But the original revelation to Joseph Smith, I would argue, shows that the specific words and phrases, although subject to variation in the accidentals, were controlled for.

Apologists might justify the name swap due to a simple mistake being made internally by the writers of the ancient text -- and Smith, being fallible, simply followed suit while translating with Oliver for the 1830 edition. Or in other words, the ancient writers got a little confused and in process of keeping records on the plates, somehow they allowed the name Benjamin to override that of Mosiah. Or maybe, Smith just got a little confused while translating and that’s why he changed the name for the 1837 edition in order to correct the error.

But we are to understand that Joseph the seer claimed to translate by the power of the Holy Spirit® and had all manner of divine assistance for translating or retelling the stories correctly with divine accuracy approved by that same Spirit. But in this particular case, it seems the all-knowing Spirit was absent leaving Smith solely responsible for dictating the name Benjamin by which Cowdery wrote: “Benjamin.”

Imagine being present and witnessing Joseph & Oliver translate while the Spirit® fills their minds with words to write! The gift of translation through divine communication from God is exactly what Smith claimed to do. But why didn’t the Spirit or Oliver notice the error and correct Joseph in the very act of translation? Oliver could have stopped the process and reminded Joseph that Benjamin was already dead. Believe it or not, the name that materialized or appeared on the seer stone was wrong! Who is to blame, God or man? Modern apologetics can’t put a positive spin on this dilemma or use lipstick to make it look pretty.

Some might see that as a “smoking gun”

It *is* a smoking gun.

What may seem like a tiny thing (little error or molehill) is magnified into something great (mountain) because Joseph claimed to use divine instruments to aid in translation while under the influence of the Spirit. Smith’s edit is proof the finger of God did not cause the name “Benjamin” to appear on the stone or be read by the providence of God. The Spirit did not whisper the name in Joseph’s spiritual ears moving him to annunciate the name “Benjamin” -- thus transferred directly to Oliver’s pen where it would remain as the word of God for several years until corrected for the 1837 addition. It could be argued that Smith, Cowdery, and the Spirit were in error together as they identified the wrong person in the wrong place and time. It wasn’t just a basic error or a little blooper -- it was a colossal error and a breakdown of Joseph’s (Oliver too) ability to maintain order and keep the story straight.

The Translation of the Book of Mormon: A Marvel and a Wonder

But how was that translation accomplished? When Joseph received the plates, he could read and write no language other than English. In fact, he had little education. His wife Emma recalled that he “could neither write nor dictate a coherent and well-worded letter; let alone dictat[e] a book like the Book of Mormon. And, though I was an active participant in the scenes that transpired, … it is marvelous to me, ‘a marvel and a wonder.’”

<snip>

David Whitmer, whose family provided a place for Joseph and Oliver to complete the work of translation, provided this additional information: “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.”

<snip>

“When my husband was translating the Book of Mormon, I wrote a part of it, as he dictated each sentence, word for word, and when he came to proper names he could not pronounce, or long words, he spelled them out, and while I was writing them, if I made any mistake in spelling, he would stop me and correct my spelling, although it was impossible for him to see how I was writing them down at the time. …

Bottom line: Smith read the name/word “BENJAMIN” appear on the stone at the bottom of his translation hat. He claimed to translate by the power of God and David Whitmer testified that he did so, “One character at a time,” and Emma declared “he dictated each sentence, word for word,” as the characters appeared on the stone by the power of God, and not by any power of man.

QUESTION:

Who was in error for making the name/word BENJAMIN miraculously appear on the stone during the word for word translation?

[ ] God
[ ] man

[Limnor]

Mark me down for “man.” Typos seem more human than divine.

[Shulem]

The Church Essay “Book of Mormon Translation” is a brief paper produced by scholars who provide a faith promoting explanation in understanding the translation process in historical context; here are some key points of interest:

• For this monumental task, God prepared additional, practical help in the form of physical instruments.

• According to witnesses of the translation, when Joseph looked into the instruments, the words of scripture appeared in English.

• According to these accounts, Joseph placed either the interpreters or the seer stone in a hat, pressed his face into the hat to block out extraneous light, and read aloud the English words that appeared on the instrument.

• Harris later related that as Joseph used the seer stone to translate, sentences appeared. Joseph read those sentences aloud, and after penning the words, Harris would say, “Written.”

Now, consider the very translation pertaining to the error of getting the king’s name wrong in Mosiah 21:28:

And now Limhi was again filled with joy, on learning from the mouth of Ammon that king Benjamin had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings; yea, and Ammon also did rejoice.

vs.

And now Limhi was again filled with joy, on learning from the mouth of Ammon that king Mosiah had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings; yea, and Ammon also did rejoice.

FAITHFUL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:

1. When Joseph looked into the instrument while translating Mosiah 21:28, the words of scripture appeared in English.

[x] Yes
[ ] No

2. When Joseph read aloud the English words for Mosiah 21:28, that appeared on the instrument, the scribe recorded the revelation.

[x] Yes
[ ] No

3. When Joseph used the seer stone to translate Mosiah 21:28, sentences appeared and he read those sentences aloud, and after penning the words, the scribe recorded the translation.

[x] Yes
[ ] No

[Shulem]

Royal Skousen offers a song and dance in attempting to explain some of the changes made in the Book of Mormon. He avoids the controversy of what originally appeared on the seer stone (instrument) by the power of God’s miraculous hand and not of man. Skousen gives Smith a blank check to change textual theology in what he explains were mere clarifications. But in reality, he is covering up Smith’s original coverup in making changes to divine text given by God. He points out how “Joseph made the changes, to be sure, but he didn’t leave any notes or explanation.” That is a coverup!

For example, 1 Nephi 11:18:

the virgin which thou seest is the Mother of god

the virgin which thou seest is the Mother of God

the virgin which thou seest, is the mother of God

the virgin whom thou seest, is the mother of the Son of God

Skousen claims the change was best interpreted as clarification and offered a tidbit that mocks Smith for insensibilities, saying “Perhaps he [Smith] didn’t like the Catholic sounding expression.”

Give me a break! The Book of Mormon translation was supposed to be from God and it was God that miraculously caused the writing to appear on the stone whereby the translator read it and the scribe recorded it.

Please visit one of my other threads that demonstrates how Smith changed his doctrine to suit his changing beliefs and why he changed certain text in the Book of Mormon without providing any accountability or reason for having done so:

The First Vision

[Shulem]

The divine writing® that Smith claimed to read on the sacred instrument:

the virgin which thou seest is the Mother of God

Smith was perfectly fine with the language expressed in the Book of Mormon and endorsed it in the official Church periodical published in April 1835. Hence, five years had already passed and there was no need to make so-called clarifications about this verse until Smith began to embrace the theology of plurality of gods in which the Father and Son were separate beings, each having their own bodies. But this did not take shape until after Smith acquired the papyrus in July of that same year. The theology in which Smith embraced the plurality of gods happened after he received the papyrus in July of 1835!

Here is all the proof we need in showing that “mother of God” is exactly what Smith claimed to read (translated) on the seer stone:

Again, this writer says: “The name of Jesus Christ, was declared to Nephi, 545 years before it was announced to Mary, and she, in true Roman phraseology, is called ‘The mother of God.’

<snip>

This “friend of truth” says that Mary was “called the mother of God.” — The reader will please turn to the 25th page of the Book of Mormon, and read: “And he [the angel] said unto me, behold, the virgin which thou seest is the mother of God, after the manner of the flesh.”

The theological change made for the 1837 edition of the Book of Mormon does not match what God originally revealed on the seer stone. This is a case of Joseph Smith steadying the ark in order to cover up his new theology and introduce the plurality of gods! Smith was covering up for himself and apologists today are covering up his coverup!

So, when Smith originally translated Mosiah 21:28, I ask: What’s the king’s name written on the seer stone?

[Limnor]

So, when Smith originally translated Mosiah 21:28, I ask: What’s the king’s name written on the seer stone?

Joseph seems to have a recurring problem with kings.

[Shulem]

Changing Critics’ Criticisms of Book of Mormon Changes

In the 1837 edition of the Book of Mormon Joseph Smith replaced the name Benjamin with Mosiah in Mosiah 21:28 and Ether 4:1.

Hales is confused; although Smith authorized and changed the name from Benjamin to Mosiah in the Book of Mosiah, he did no such thing for Ether 4:1. The latter was changed in the 1849 edition wherein Orson Pratt was responsible for making that change. Again, the original name read from the seer stone during translation was later superseded by both Smith and Pratt in effort to fix a chronological error that originated from God, via the seer stone.

More recently Don Bradley has pointed out that king Benjamin’s father — also named Mosiah — translated a “large stone brought unto him with engravings” by using “the gift and power of God” (Omni, 1:20). Bradley’s research into the lost 116 pages indicates the elder Mosiah actually found the interpreters (later called Urim and Thummim), which were passed to Benjamin and then to his son Mosiah. If correct, then all three names could be accurately substituted in the Ether reference and the latter two names in the Mosiah verse. Within the context of the Book of Mormon narrative, this substitution seems insignificant.

Hales and Bradley think they are above God who by his own power caused the name “Benjamin” to appear on the seer stone in both Mosiah and Ether. The apologists think their illogical excuses justify mistakes made by the miraculous manifestation of the Spirit®. They are dishonest and untrustworthy in their crooked ways of defending Joseph Smith.

[bill4long]

Hales and Bradley think they are above God who by his own power caused the name “Benjamin” to appear on the seer stone in both Mosiah and Ether. The apologists think their illogical excuses justify mistakes made by the miraculous manifestation of the Spirit®. They are dishonest and untrustworthy in their crooked ways of defending Joseph Smith.

One might think that the current "prophet" could whip out the "stone" and clarify a few things, seeings how he is a "prophet, seer, and revelator", and all that. But methinks inquiry minds will wait in vain, though all generations of ______ and throughout all ________. The veil shall never part asunder.

Joe and Sidney sure did have a good run there for a while with all them-thar revelashums.

Elder Dallen!? Where was Zarahemla? Where was Cumorah? And what the hell is a curelom? And why would the stone display "curelom" if there was a perfectly good English word for the animal? And why would the stone display "horse" if the writer of the "gold plates" intended "tapir"? Such questions cause me to lose sleep. Elder Dallen could relieve my burden. Sigh and sigh again.

I'm thinking about buying one of these online. Maybe Father Elohim will gimme direct answers to these questions if I squint my eyes and stare at it real hard. With real intent in the name of Jesus. Is putting it in a certain kind of hat required? Who do I think I am! Better than Joseph? He needed a hat! Does it amplify the signal? Maybe I'm praying to the wrong god. Brigham said the father of my spirit is Adam. I'm just a simple man. I don't know. Well, by golly, if that doesn't work, maybe I could make a few extra bucks finding lost pins.

[Shulem]

And why would the stone display "curelom" if there was a perfectly good English word for the animal? And why would the stone display "horse" if the writer of the "gold plates" intended "tapir"?

Witnesses and moreover those who participated in the translation process bore testimony in every respect how the translation was a tight translation from beginning to end. It’s the crooked modern apologists of our time that contend there were elements of loose translations whereby Smith just told the story in his own words, so to speak. But the words that appeared on the seer stone are what comprise the Book of Mormon even though we know it was a ruse and Smith was simply storytelling with his face in a hat. There was no miracle performed, just storytelling from a 19th century point of view.

We are to understand a tight translation includes processing each word and sentence and that one character at a time appeared on the stone in which Joseph was allowed to read the words in succession. The process was entirely linear in nature whereby Joseph would read off the English to Oliver, and when it was written down the scribe would repeat it to ensure it was correct before moving on. Then the writing on the stone would disappear and new writing would appear -- that was the translation process in a nutshell. Smith dictated the stories one word at a time with each sentence being carefully processed. At times he would dictate long words that were difficult to pronounce and he would spell them out, letter by letter.

So, let it be understood that after Joseph claimed to read the name “Benjamin” on the stone, the scribe wrote it down and it became scripture, the word of God. It wasn’t until years later that Joseph learned or was informed how the wrong king’s name appeared on the stone and it needed to be changed. Oops! Keep it quiet and say nothing.

[Shulem]

Mark me down for “man.” Typos seem more human than divine.

I hear you.

The very idea of God committing a typo on the seer stone does not bode well for apologists who are forced to chalk it up as a kind of mistranslation or simple error. But Joseph Smith was able to cover his tracks and never had to provide an answer or explanation for why he screwed up.



I KNOW the characters of Benjamin and Mosiah are fictional persons of a story entirely made up out of the mind of Joseph Smith. There is nothing historical or authentic about it. Neither of those names magically appeared on a stone. That was a lie!