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

[Shulem]

I wish to mention here, that the title-page of the Book of Mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates, which contained the record which has been translated, the language of the whole running the same as all Hebrew writing in general; and that said title-page is not by any means a modern composition, either of mine or of any other man who has lived or does live in this generation. Therefore, in order to correct an error which generally exists concerning it, I give below that part of the title-page of the English version of the Book of Mormon, which is a genuine and literal translation of the title-page of the original Book of Mormon, as recorded on the plates.

Smith affirmed he was literally able to read or translate the name “Mormon” from the ancient writing found on the last leaf of the gold plates. He termed it a “literal translation” -- genuine, tight and precise!

Compare that with how Smith translated Mosiah 21:28, whereupon the stone was recorded the very words:

And now Limhi was again filled with joy on learning from the mouth of Ammon that king Benjamin had a gift from God

Thus, Smith was said to literally translate the Book of Mormon by reading the words that appeared on the seer stone by the power of God and not man. Smith was fine with this translation for several years until the time arrived in which it was covertly swapped with that of Mosiah with no explanation or reason for doing so.

Joseph Smith was sneaky. So also are modern apologists.

[Shulem]

And now Limhi was again filled with joy on learning from the mouth of Ammon that king Benjamin had a gift from God

Accordingly, the name “Benjamin” appeared on the seer stone by the miraculous power of God and not by man. Smith was obligated to annunciate the name “Benjamin” -- it being the very word of God that was expressed by divine revelation, thus obligating both translator and scribe to record *that* name.

Go figure. “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself.”

But, as it was, Smith altered the word which he had received from God by changing the name without authorization or commandment to do so because that would demonstrate how the original writing on the stone was a hoax!

Gotcha, Joe.

[bill4long]

And now Limhi was again filled with joy on learning from the mouth of Ammon that king Benjamin had a gift from God

Accordingly, the name “Benjamin” appeared on the seer stone by the miraculous power of God and not by man. Smith was obligated to annunciate the name “Benjamin” -- it being the very word of God that was expressed by divine revelation, thus obligating both translator and scribe to record *that* name.

Go figure. “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself.”

But, as it was, Smith altered the word which he had received from God by changing the name without authorization or commandment to do so because that would demonstrate how the original writing on the stone was a hoax!

Gotcha, Joe.

The super fun fact is that he did it twice: Mosiah 21:28 and Ether 4:1.

I have it on good authority that the Mormon god was on vacation that day. The "spirit group" who controlled the seer stone are alledged to have been drunk during this time.

When dad's away, the spirits will play!

[Shulem]

The super fun fact is that he did it twice: Mosiah 21:28 and Ether 4:1.

Yes, the record bore witness of its own error, twice!

Smith read the words that emanated from the seer stone (divine instrument) according to the mind and will of God. Those words were said to be read by the gift and power of God:

“King Benjamin”

There is nothing anyone can say or do to change that, not even Joseph Smith! The alteration in subsequent publications do not negate the fact that Benjamin was the original error set in stone via revelation from God! The apologists lose the argument. Checkmate!

Sincerely,

Shulem

[Shulem]

Joseph Smith was sneaky. So also are modern apologists.

Don Bradley is one such apologist who waves the chronological error away as if it doesn’t really exist and gives it a pass in his book, The Lost 116 Pages, p. 197. First, he quotes the original 1830 passage given in Mosiah 21:28 and references Skousen in a footnote saying, “Note that this reading differs from that of the second printing and later editions of the Book of Mormon.” Then, Bradley references Ben McGuire’s apologetic works and says, “Benjamin’s possession of the interpreters and sealed plates has often gone unrecognized because although it is reported in the Book of Mormon’s earliest text, as quoted above, later editions of the Book of Mormon have his name changed to ‘Mosiah’ to preempt criticism of a perceived discrepancy in the text. This is due to some seeing Limhi’s rejoicing of Benjamin’s possession of the interpreters as a chronological error, though it is not clearly so.”

I’ve got news for Bradley; the “chronological error” he references that he claims doesn’t really exist as pointed out by “some” (critics) seeing this as a perceived discrepancy was acknowledged by Smith, Pratt, and others -- because it was those guys who changed the name in order to preempt criticism that points to an error in the original reading! Smith knew there was an error and that’s why he authorized the name change! So, the name that divinely appeared via revelation from God during the translation process was later rejected and swapped with another name in order to hide or conceal the error in which everyone may continue to read the silly story and go on their merry way.

Thus we see how apologists, like Joseph Smith, deceive their readers and fail to understand the implications of what Smith really did when he changed the name without authorization or an explanation from God. It was a coverup! And Bradley is covering the coverup! That my friends is shameful deception!

Amen.

[Shulem]

The name (Benjamin) given by revelation from God signifies the person that applies to *that* situation but if the person’s name is swapped with another, then history is changed or altered with something entirely different.

Consider the following revelation:

...you shall translate the engravings which are on the plates of Nephi, down even till you come to the reign of king Benjamin, or until you come to that which you have translated

*That* was considered a revelation of God -- the very word of God!

Let’s demonstrate how changing a name results in changing the historical content and chronology by swapping the name in the above revelation with different persons, namely that of king Benjamin’s father (king Mosiah I) and Benjamin’s son (king Mosiah II) and see the difference. That is what Smith did in Mosiah 21:28 when he changed the name and clearly we see how that changes everything:

1) ...you shall translate the engravings which are on the plates of Nephi, down even till you come to the reign of king Benjamin Mosiah I, or until you come to that which you have translated

2) ...you shall translate the engravings which are on the plates of Nephi, down even till you come to the reign of king Benjamin Mosiah II, or until you come to that which you have translated


With regard to Mosiah 21:28:

QUESTION:

Who authorized Smith to alter the word of God by changing the name from Benjamin to Mosiah? What revelation superseded God’s miracle of causing the name Benjamin to appear on the seer stone?

ANSWER:

Smith authorized himself by taking it upon himself to change the name in order to hide an error that should never have occurred because God does not make mistakes.

Gotcha, Joe!

[Shulem]

“Out of Weakness He Shall Be Made Strong”

Emma, Joseph’s wife, frankly acknowledged her husband’s limitations. Late in life, she gave an interview in which she countered the accusation that Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon himself. Emma said he was incapable of doing that. She later recounted that, at the time he translated the golden plates,

Joseph Smith...could neither write nor dictate a coherent and well- worded letter; let alone dictating 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,” as much so as to anyone else.

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. Even the word Sarah he could not pronounce at first, but had to spell it, and I would pronounce it for him. ...

<snip>

(Photo Excerpt From The Book of Mormon Manuscript)

Please note the flowing prose, without punctuation, without strikeouts. This was not a composition. This was dictated, word by word, as he looked into instruments the Lord prepared for him, using a hat to shield his eyes from extraneous light in order to plainly see the words as they appeared.

QUESTION FOR ELDER NASH:

What’s the king’s name in Mosiah 21:28 in which Smith translated as he looked into the instrument while carefully reading “word by word” in which the name “appeared” by the power of God?

ANSWER:

“Benjamin”

[bill4long]

...you shall translate the engravings which are on the plates of Nephi, down even till you come to the reign of king Benjamin, or until you come to that which you have translated

The next verse makes me grin sardonically:

42 And behold, you shall publish it as the record of Nephi; and thus I will confound those who have altered my words.

That whole "confounding" thing didn't work out too well for the Mormon Jesus.

[Shulem]

The translation finally commenced. They were found to contain a language not now known upon the earth, which they termed “reformed Egyptian characters.” The plates, therefore, which had been so much talked of, were found to be of no manner of use. After all, the Lord showed and communicated to him every word and letter of the Book. Instead of looking at the characters inscribed upon the plates, the prophet was obliged to resort to the old “peep stone,” which he formerly used in money-digging. This he placed in a hat, or box, into which he also thrust his face. Through the stone he could then discover a single word at a time, which he repeated aloud to his amanuensis, who committed it to paper, when another word would immediately appear, and thus the performance continued to the end of the book.

These critical points are an accurate description of the translation process and agrees with the witnesses previously quoted at the beginning of this thread, namely, 1) David Whitmer, 2) Emma Smith. To my knowledge, nobody in early Mormonism denied the accuracy of Howe’s reporting in reference to the above claims.

So, it was God who caused the name to appear during the translation process by which the name “Benjamin” was literally written in stone. Seven years later, Smith changed the name thinking he could simply plug the hole he made in the first place.

Folks, this is not rocket science, it’s very simple, but Mormon apologetics turns the whole thing into a circus act!

[Shulem]

D&C 10:41, April 1829 wrote:
...you shall translate the engravings which are on the plates of Nephi, down even till you come to the reign of king Benjamin, or until you come to that which you have translated

The next verse makes me grin sardonically:

And behold, you shall publish it as the record of Nephi; and thus I will confound those who have altered my words.

It’s ironic how Smith accused others of altering (D&C 10) God’s words on the lost manuscript in an effort to catch Joe in a lie when he did the same thing in effort to cover up his errors.

What excuse do apologists give to excuse Smith for changing God’s word?