Don Bradley and Mark Ashurst-McGee wrote:The argument, however, ignores the historical context of Joseph Smith’s personal interest in languages.
Don Bradley and Mark Ashurst-McGee wrote:<snip>
Indeed, Joseph Smith had quite an interest in languages. He wanted to learn and know things pertaining to several languages, i.e., Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and German. Everyone has interests and everyone has hobbies. But it must be understood that those languages in which he dabbled were KNOWN languages. However, the UNKNOWN languages in which Smith claimed to translate were Egyptian which must be translated by revelation in utilizing the gift of a seer by the power of God.
1. Reformed Egyptian (Book of Mormon)
2. Conventional Egyptian (Book of Abraham)
There is a universal and infinite difference between a KNOWN language and an UNKNOWN language. Joseph Smith is on record for being able to translate two unknown Egyptian languages, one of which was made available to the public eye while the other was secretly returned to the angel. Everyone, including Smith, knew that the conventional Egyptian was a dead language and remained an unknown language to the scholars of the world. Therefore, it would require the gift and power of a seer to be able to translate an unknown language. The only other way anyone could translate an unknown language is to have the same information side by side in which to decode the meaning, hence the Rosetta Stone!
So, no matter how well Smith enjoyed his personal skills in dabbling with known languages, there was no method available to decipher an unknown language outside the bounds of revelation through the Spirit. Right? The Book of Mormon makes it perfectly clear that the only way to decipher an unknown language is by the power of God:
Mormon 9:34 wrote:But the Lord knoweth the things which we have written, and also that none other people knoweth our language; and because that none other people knoweth our language, therefore he hath prepared means for the interpretation thereof.
Interestingly enough, in May of 1843, Smith quoted the above verse cited by Mormon while discussing his understanding of various languages in the Times and Seasons and differentiating between the known and unknown.
Joseph Smith, Times and Seasons, MAY 15, 1843 wrote:There was no Greek or Latin upon the plates from which I, through the grace of God. translated the Book of Mormon. Let the language of that book speak for itself. In the 523d page, of the fourth edition, it reads: “And now behold we have written this record according to our knowledge in the characters, which are called among us the Reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner of speech; and if our plates had been sufficiently large, we should have written in Hebrew: but the Hebrew hath been altered by us, also; and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold ye would have had no imperfection in our record, but the Lord knoweth the things which we have written, and also, that none other people knoweth our language; therefore he that prepared means for the interpretation thereof.”
Here then the subject is put to silence, for “none other people knoweth our language,” therefore the Lord, and not man, had to interpret, after the people were all dead. And, as Paul said, “the world by wisdom know not God,” so the world by speculation are destitute of revelation; and as God in his superior wisdom, has always given his saints, wherever he had any on the earth, the same spirit, and that spirit, is John says, is the true spirit of prophesy, which is the testimony of Jesus. . .
Now, let us rely on some key points given in the King Follett Discourse (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith) in which Smith lets us know that the Holy Spirit was always his guide when translating anything for the benefit of the Church, whether a known language or an unknown language:
- I feel disposed to speak on the subject in general, and offer you my ideas, so far as I have ability, and so far as I shall be inspired by the Holy Spirit to dwell on this subject
- I want your prayers and faith that I may have the instruction of Almighty God and the gift of the Holy Ghost
- I do not intend to please your ears with superfluity of words or oratory, or with much learning; but I intend to edify you with the simple truths from heaven
- Learned men can teach you no more than what I have told you. Thus the head God brought forth the Gods in the grand council. I will transpose and simplify it in the English language. Oh, ye lawyers, ye doctors, and ye priests, who have persecuted me, I want to let you know that the Holy Ghost knows something as well as you do
- The Latin says Jacobus, which means Jacob; the Hebrew says Jacob, the Greek says Jacob and the German says Jacob; here we have the testimony of four against one. I thank God that I have got this old book; but I thank him more for the gift of the Holy Ghost. I have got the oldest book in the world; but I have the oldest book in my heart, even the gift of the Holy Ghost
- But I am learned, and know more than all the world put together. The Holy Ghost does, anyhow, and He is within me, and comprehends more than all the world: and I will associate myself with Him
Wow, just wow.