Whatever happened. Book of Mormon translated prior to Smith.

[_just me]

A while back it was alleged that Royal Skousen mentioned in a fireside something about the Book of Mormon being translated prior to Joseph Smith.

Whatever happened with that?

[_sock puppet]

Hey, just me, do you have a link to Skousen, or posts about this?

[_Fence Sitter]

I recall Skousen or someone what preparing a book on what was in the lost 116 pages. Might that be what you are asking about?

[Guest]

-

[_Chap]

See:

http://www.mormondialogue.org/topic/582 ... ge__st__40

And:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=24574

[_just me]

Thank you chappy! That is exactly what I was talkin' bout.

[_Drifting]

A while back it was alleged that Royal Skousen mentioned in a fireside something about the Book of Mormon being translated prior to Joseph Smith.

Whatever happened with that?

Buried.

Buried deep in the hopes some nosey broad wouldn't follow up on it expecting it to have been developed and supported...

[_just me]

A while back it was alleged that Royal Skousen mentioned in a fireside something about the Book of Mormon being translated prior to Joseph Smith.

Whatever happened with that?

Buried.

Buried deep in the hopes some nosey broad wouldn't follow up on it expecting it to have been developed and supported...

BWAHAHAHAHA! They can't escape the likes of me!!!

[_Willy Law]

And we're the apostates?

Quote
Skousen concludes that article by saying:

Quote
"These new findings argue that Joseph Smith was not the author of the English-language translation of the Book of Mormon. Not only was the text revealed to him word for word, but the words themselves sometimes had meanings that he and his scribes would not have known, which occasionally led to misinterpretation. The Book of Mormon is not a 19th-century text, nor is it Joseph Smith's. The English-language text was revealed through him, but it was not precisely in his language or ours."

Did no-one in the audience of Skousen's talk ask the obvious question - who, then DID produce the translation that was delivered to Joseph Smith?
No one asked that question. But I have. Royal and I have also discussed this question, and I have some ideas about its possible answer: that the work of translation was very likely delegated (consistent with our understanding of the economy of God) to those who produced the original work (Mormon, Moroni, Alma, etc.). To me, this makes complete sense. As regards these angelic ministrants, we are told:

Quote
Angels are personages who minister for the Lord in carrying out his work. Joseph Smith taught that all angels who minister to the earth are “Those who belong to it or have belonged to it.”

Link