Translation Process
How the Book of Mormon was brought forth and rendered into English. 155 documents from 1827 to 1998.
❮ All historical sources
1820s
- Joseph recorded that he translated characters from the plates between December 1827 and February 1828. (1827) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- In a revelation, Joseph was told that he had been given the right to translate by God. (1828) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- Joseph receives revelation about his gift to translate; he should not claim any other spiritual gift at the time. (1829) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- Joseph receives revelation that translation is done according to faith. (1829) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- Revelation to Oliver about how Oliver cannot translate BOM. (1829) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- In a revelation, God tells Oliver Cowdery through Joseph that he needs to study before translating. (1829) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- Wayne Sentinel reports on the that the "Golden Bible" can only be interpreted by someone with a "special gift" given by "inspiration." (1829) — The Wayne Sentinel
- Jesse Smith refers to Joseph's spectacles and deciphering of hieroglyphics. (1829) — Jesse Smith
- Palmyra Freeman reports on story of an angel appearing to Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon translation. (1829) — Jonathan Hadley
- According to Jonathan Hadley, Joseph said that he used a huge pair of spectacles to translate the BOM. (1829) — Jonathan Hadley
- The Gem records that Harris says Joseph translated the BOM by putting the spectacles in a hat. (1829) — The Gem: A Semi-Monthly Literary and Miscellaneous Journal
1830s
- The 1830 titlepage of the Book of Mormon states it was interpreted by the power of God. (1830) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- Fenn tells Bronson about the vision and translation process and angel appearing to the 3 witnesses. (1830) — Lucius Fenn
- Articles and Covenants of the Church teaching that God gave Joseph the means to translate. (1830) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- Wayne County Inquirer reports that Joseph used a white stone to translate BOM. (1830) — Wayne County Inquirer
- Obadiah Dogberry (in work of fan-fiction) writes about how Joseph used the Spectacles to translate the Book of Mormon. (1830) — Abner Cole
- Diedrich Willers describes how Joseph would use spectacles that he claimed to find next to the plates to translate. (1830) — Diedrich Willers
- The Reflector reports that Joseph used "magic spectacles." (1830) — The Reflector
- The Philadelphia Album reports that Joseph used two clear stones to translate the Book of Mormon. (1830) — The Philadelphia Album
- The Jesuit or Catholic Sentinel circulates rumors that Joseph translated the characters using two semi-transparent stones and supernatural methods. (1830) — The Jesuit or Catholic Sentinel
- Lucy Smith says that after Joseph repented of his sins, he was given an instrument by God by which to translate the BOM. (1831) — Lucy Mack Smith
- Richard McNemar writes in his journal that Joseph translated with two transparent stones and a hat. (1831) — Richard McNemar
- Campbell describes the BOM translation process as occurring in a dark room with spectacles. (1831) — Alexander Campbell
- "A Presbyterian" describes the translation as Joseph looking into a small stone and reading the will of the Lord. (1831) — "A Presbyterian"
- David S. Burnett reports that Joseph translated the inscriptions from the Book of Mormon without looking at the plates. (1831) — Evangelical Inquirer
- The Reflector reports that Book of Mormon translation was done with a sheet in between Harris and Joseph. (1831) — The Reflector
- "AWB" reports that Joseph used glass-looking techniques to translate the Book of Mormon. (1831) — A. W. B.
- Ashbel Kitchell writes that Cowdery was an assistant in the translation of the "golden Bible." (1831) — Oliver Cowdery
- Mourning Courier and New-York Enquirer suggests that Sidney Rigdon wrote the BOM and Joseph fallaciously claimed to translate it. (1831) — Morning Courier and New-York Enquirer
- Unknown author described Joseph finding two stones and plates connected with rings in the shape of 'D' in the same place. (1831) — Unknown
- Ebenezer Robinson reports that Joseph says BOM translation process not intended for public reading. (1831) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- Ezra Booth says that Joseph used the same dark glass to translate the BOM as he did for treasure digging. (1831) — Ezra Booth Disaffected
- David Marks reports as hearing that only Joseph could translate the BOM. (1831) — David Marks
- The neighbors of Joseph assert that he pretended to find a box in the woods with plates that had characters that only he could decipher. (1832) — Nathaniel W. Howell
- Joseph translated the characters using spectacles prepared by the Lord. (1832) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- W. W. Phelps writes about "sacred spectacles" and links them to the biblical Urim and Thummim. (1832) — W. W. Phelps
- William McLellin claims that Joseph translated plates with engravings in an inspired way. (1832) — William McLellin
- Boston Investigator reports that Joseph used the Urim and Thummim, two crystal stones, to translate the BOM. (1832) — Unknown
- Nathaniel Willis believes that Joseph pretended to have a vision and pretended to find spectacles. (1832) — Nathaniel Willis
- Joseph writes how the Anthon incident reinforced the idea that JS needed to use the spectacles to translate the BOM. (1832) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- Thomas Hamilton said that Joseph used the spectacles to translate the BOM. (1833) — Thomas Hamilton
- Joseph receives revelation (now D&C 3) over lost pages/translation; God's plans will prevail in spite of errancy of men. (1833) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- The Evening and the Morning Star recorded that Joseph translated using the Urim and Thummim. (1833) — The Evening and the Morning Star
- Joseph recorded a revelation that promised Oliver Cowdery the ability to translate if he was faithful. (1833) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- Joseph said that the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God. (1833) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- Isaac Hale relates that Joseph used a stone in a hat to be a "money-digger." (1833) — Isaac Hale
- Jesse Townsend wrote that Joseph and Oliver Cowdery wrote a pretended translation of the BOM. (1833) — Jesse Townsend
- Per Martin Harris, Joseph confessed that he drank too much before translating the BOM and didn't know the contents of the BOM beforehand. (1834) — Orson Hyde
- Charles Anthon Denies Having Vindicated the Characters from the Plates Harris showed him to Eber Howe. (1834) — Charles Anthon
- F.E.M. claims that Joseph was reported to find plates and spectacles, but delayed the translation due to memorizing NT chapters. (1834) — F. E. M.
- Jesse Townsend described Joseph's translation of the BOM as done in secret. (1834) — Jesse Townsend
- Oliver Cowdery says Joseph used U&T to translate the BOM. (1834) — Oliver Cowdery
- W.W. Phelps records that the Book of Mormon was translated with the Urim and Thummim. (1834) — W. W. Phelps
- Isaac Hale describes Joseph as using the stone in the hat while translating the BOM. (1834) — Isaac Hale
- W.W. Phelps recounts that Harris declared that Joseph used silver spectacles to translate the BOM. (1834) — W. W. Phelps Excommunicated
- Oliver Cowdery described Joseph using the Urim and Thummim during the BOM translation. (1835) — Oliver Cowdery
- Brookville Enquirer reports that Joseph was given plates by an angel from heaven to translate. (1835) — Messenger and Advocate
- D&C 107: when describing the President of the office of the High Priesthood, Joseph is called "a seer, a revelator, a translator, and a prophet." (1835) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- William Burnett states that Joseph pretended that he was inspired to translate through either a stone in a hat or two flat smooth stones. (1835) — William Burnett
- J. Newton Brown writes an encyclopedia entry where he describes Joseph as being a glass-looker and this contributing to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. (1835) — J. Newton Brown
- Oliver Cowdery stated that the plates were "translated by the gift and power of God." (1835) — Oliver Cowdery
- Oliver Cowdery says JS used the Urim and Thummim for Newel K. Whitney's patriarchal blessing. (1835) — Oliver Cowdery
- Joseph said that he translated the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God and could not translate when he was in transgression. (1835) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- Truman Coe writes how Joseph used a transparent stone known as the Urim and Thummim to translate the BOM. (1836) — Truman Coe
- An unnamed correspondent said that Joseph read the reformed Egyptian by putting a stone in a hat or box. (1836) — Correspondent from New York Commercial Advertiser
- Alphonso Wetmore writes that Joseph's translation was a farce done with marble spectacles strapped to his head with leather in a closet. (1837) — Alphonso Wetmore
- Joseph describes the end of translating and the copyright deals with publishers. (1838) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- Joseph says that he translated the BoM with the Urim and Thummim. (1838) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- John Boswell describes Joseph as finding spectacles and going from being an idiot to having average intelligence through them. (1838) — John L. Boswell
- Mulholland records the account of the BOM translation; Joseph used instruments he called U&T. (1839) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- Joseph Smith’s history says Oliver Cowdery began work as his scribe on April 7, 1829. (1839) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- John Storrs said that Joseph translated the Book of Mormon by using a "peculiar stone." (1839) — John Storrs
- James M'Chesney writes that Joseph found a book hidden in the woods and uses an enchanted stone to translate it. (1839) — James M’Chesney
- John Corrill describes how Martin Harris took characters to NY to be translated, but that Joseph translated the BOM using two stones set in a box. (1839) — John Corrill Excommunicated
1840s
- Orson Pratt references use of Urim and Thummim in the translation process. (1840) — Orson Pratt
- Parley Pratt described Joseph translating the BOM with "two transparent stones, clear as chrystal." (1840) — Parley P. Pratt
- John Clark (based on discussion with Martin Harris) describes the translation process as occurring with a curtain and a seer stone, but favors the Spaulding theory. (1840) — John A. Clark
- Haining reports that Joseph was directed to find the place where the plates were and to translate those by the the biblical Aaron's U&T. (1840) — Samuel Haining
- W. White provides description of the translation from characters engraved in Egyptian by Urim and Thummim. (1840) — W. White
- D&C 124 mentions Joseph as a translator when describing the officers of the Church. (1841) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- Charles Anthon tells T.W. Coit that Martin Harris told him that Joseph translated the plates with "a very large pair of spectacles." (1841) — Charles Anthon
- Walter Scott said that Oliver Cowdery described Joseph as translating the plates with transparent stones. (1841) — Walter Scott
- William Smith tells James Murdock that Joseph could not translate a sealed portion, testifies that Joseph was divinely assisted. (1841) — William Smith
- Joseph showed Brigham and the other 12 Apostles the U&T which was also called a "seer stone." (1841) — Brigham Young
- Henry Caswell reports Lucy Mack as describing Joseph translating the BOM through using the Urim and Thummim resembling two large diamonds in a pair of spectacles. (1842) — Henry Caswall
- George Moore comments on BOM translation, gold plates, and hieroglyphics. (1842) — George Foot Moore
- Joseph in Times and Seasons reports translated the Book of Mormon through the U&T. (1842) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- Times and Seasons reprints revelation of Joseph's where it is said Joseph translated the BOM through the Urim and Thummim. (1842) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- Joseph wrote that he translated the BOM from hieroglyphs. (1843) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- Lucy Smith offers account of BOM translation. (1844) — Lucy Mack Smith
- Joseph comments on translation process: he used the Urim and Thummim by the power of God. (1844) — Joseph Smith, Jr.
- James Hunt says that Joseph translated the BOM with "the big spectacles," the biblical Urim and Thummim, and by looking into his hat. (1844) — James Henry Hunt
- Robert Baird says that Joseph read off the translation to Martin Harris and Oliver Cowdery with a partition in the room. (1844) — Robert Baird
- William Appleby writes that Joseph found the Urim and Thummim with the plates of the BOM. (1844) — William I. Appleby
- Joseph Knight recalls Joseph describing the plates and Urim & Thummim. (1847) — Joseph Knight, Sr.
- Joseph Knight said that Joseph used the Urim and Thummim in a hat to translate the plates. (1847) — Joseph Knight, Sr.
- Reuben Miller records Oliver Cowdery stating how Joseph translated the BOM and Rigdon did not make it up. (1848) — Reuben Miller