The coming forth of the Book of Mormon involved a whole series of miraculous and wondrous events-the ministry of angels, the bestowal and use of sacred translation devices, and the gift of prophecy and revelation. Indeed, everything associated with the acquisition and production of the Book of Mormon-particularly the unbelievably brief time associated with its translation and transcription-was beyond human ability and comprehension.
The prophet’s statement concerning the process of translation is succinct but impactful:
“Through the medium of the Urim and Thummim I translated the record by the gift and power of God”
(HC 4:537).
As Moroni indicated on the title page, the plates of the Book of Mormon were “written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation-Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed-To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof.”