CAN
IT STAND
Investigation?
BY ARTHUR BUDVARSON*
God, that Joseph Smith was a servant, used of God to translate the Book of Mormon, using means that God had pre pared for translating; and well over a year after its publication, the Lord af firmed the authenticity of the Book of Mormon. Yet a comparison of the latest edition with the first (1830) edition, (the edition that was supposed to be trans lated by the power of God) will show that over three thousand changes have been made. On the title page of the first edition (1830) of the Book of Mormon we read these words: “ By Joseph Smith, Junior, author and proprietor. Palmyra: Printed by E. B. Grandin, For the Author, 1830,” and on the following page: “ Northern District of New York, to wit: Be it re membered, that on the eleventh day of June, in the fifty-third year of the inde pendence of the United States of Amer ica, A.D. 1829, Joseph Smith, Jun., of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right where of he claims as author . . .” Then at the end of the book, which is 588 pages long, there is the testimony of three witnesses, and also the testimony of eight witnesses from which we will quote a part. “ Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, ton gues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that Joseph Smith, Jr. is the Author and Proprietor of this work . . .”. (Note to the reader who is unfamiliar with the Book of Mormon: The editions published since the first edition, now read: Translated by Joseph Smith, Jun., on the title page, and the testimony of the eight witnesses has been changed to read: “That Joseph Smith, Jun., the translator of this work . . .” ) Page Eleven
W E believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.” The above quotation is the eighth ar ticle, of the Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, known as the Mormons. “ The articles of Faith date from March 1, 1841. The articles have been formally adopted by the Church as an authorized summary of its principal doc trines” ( Articles of Faith by Talmadge, 1925 edition, page 457). On numerous occasions, when speak ing with Mormon friends, we have re quested them to show us the part, or parts,- of the Bible that are translated correctly, and the part, or parts, that are mistranslated, according to their eighth article of faith. This of course they have failed to do. The reason they have failed is because the Holy Bible is translated correctly. One Mormon friend offered as proof against the accurate translation this ar gument: “ You and I do not agree on these things we have been discussing *Business man; co-owner of the Uni versity Heating and Ventilating Co., San Diego, Calif. This article can be obtained in tract form from the author. F E B R U A R Y , 1 9 5 0
from the Bible. Your translation of these things is different than my translation, and I have modern day revelation as proof that my translation of these things is correct.” It is obvious that our friend was confusing interpretation with trans lation. Please notice that nothing is stated in the eighth article of faith to discredit the Book of Mormon or its translation. We read in the Doctrine and Cove nants, section 1, verse 29: “ And after having received the record of the Neph- ites, yea, even my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., might have power to translate through the mercy of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon." And in section 20, verse 8 : “ And gave him [Jo seph Smith, Jun.] power from on high, by the means which were before pre pared, to translate the Book of Mormon.” The two quotations from the Doctrine and Covenants, according to Mormon be lief, are revelations given through Jo seph Smith, Jun., from the Lord, and they confirm the authenticity and genu ineness of the Book of Mormon. The first quotation is from a revelation dated No vember 1, 1831, well over a year after the Book of Mormon came off the press in early 1830. The revelations claim that the Book of Mormon was translated by the power of
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