Some time ago, somebody decided to create and sell prints of digital images under the brand "
Real Hero Posters." These artworks are meant to glorify figures from Mormon history and mythology (which include, apparently, the American Founding Fathers). The name "Real Hero Posters" implies that these people are real, and the things depicted on the posters are real too. Strangely, nearly every poster I've studied seems to feature non-real, inaccurate, or downright disturbing elements. Just to soothe my own mind, I've set about to right some of the wrongs in these posters.
Note: My images are non-commercial comments and criticisms of existing copyrighted works, and are therefore permitted as a fair use under U.S. Copyright Law.
I put this one in an earlier thread, but this is a better place for it.
Original Image:
http://ldsengine.com/heroposters/index. ... duct_id=76Original Image Text:
Joseph Smith history:
59 At length the time arrived for obtaining the plates...having gone as usual at the end of another year to the place where they were deposited, the same heavenly messenger delivered them up to me with this charge: that I should be responsible for them; that if I should let them go carelessly, or through any neglect of mine, I should be cut off...
60 ...For no sooner was it known that I had them, than the most strenuous exertions were used to get them from me... The persecution became more bitter and severe than before, and multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if possible. But by the wisdom of God, they remained safe in my hands, until I had accomplished by them what was required at my hand.
Improved Image:
Improved Image Text:
I am intrigued that Joseph Smith—an unschooled young man in rural America—could have translated [the Golden Plates'] Semitic language mix into the English language. That unlikely scenario relates to Isaiah’s remarkable prophecy:
“I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder.” (Isa. 29:14.)
***
The details of [Joseph's] miraculous method of translation are still not fully known. Yet we do have a few precious insights. David Whitmer wrote:
“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.” (David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, Richmond, Mo.: n.p., 1887, p. 12.)
Emma Smith, who acted as an earlier scribe for Joseph, gave this account in 1856:
“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. (Edmund C. Briggs, “A Visit to Nauvoo in 1856,” Journal of History, Jan. 1916, p. 454.)
--Russell M. Nelson, “A Treasured Testament,” Ensign, July 1993, 61
