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Mormonism and Wikipedia/Golden plates/Translating
An analysis of claims made in the Wikipedia article "Golden plates" - Translating the plates
| Receiving the plates | A FAIR Analysis of: Wikipedia article "Golden plates", a work by author: Various
|
Reputed location of the plates during translation |
An analysis of claims made in the Wikipedia article "Golden plates" - Translating the plates
Updated 9/21/2011
Section review
Translating the plates
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
Joseph Smith said that the plates were engraved in an unknown language, and Smith told associates that he was capable of reading and translating them. This translation took place mainly in Harmony, Pennsylvania (now Oakland Township), Emma's hometown, where Smith and his wife had moved in October 1827 with financial assistance from a prominent, though superstitious, Palmyra landowner Martin Harris.Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
- Violates Wikipedia: Neutral Point-of-View off-site— All Wikipedia articles and other encyclopedic content must be written from a neutral point of view, representing fairly, and as far as possible without bias, all significant views that have been published by reliable sources.
Violated by John Foxe —Diff: off-site
The paragraph only mentions Martin Harris a single time in the context of providing financial assistance, and even then the word "superstitious" is used. For what possible reason, other than to smear Harris' character as a later witness, would this warrant a footnote in which Harris is called a "visionary fanatic" and a "great man for seeing spooks?"
}}
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
The translation occurred in two phases: the first, from December 1827 to June 1828, during which Smith transcribed some of the characters and then dictated 116 manuscript pages to Harris, which were lost. The second phase began sporadically in early 1829 and then in earnest in April 1829 with the arrival of Oliver Cowdery, a schoolteacher who volunteered to serve as Smith's full-time scribe. In June 1829, Smith and Cowdery moved to Fayette, New York, completing the translation early the following month. Smith used scribes to write the words he said were a translation of the golden plates, dictating these words while peering into seer stones, which he said allowed him to see the translation. Smith's translation ability evolved naturally out of his earlier treasure seeking,Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
- For a detailed response, see: Book of Mormon/Translation/Chronology
}}
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
and he used a process that was "strikingly similar" to the way Smith used seer stones for treasure hunting.Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
- For a detailed response, see: Joseph Smith/Seer stones
}}
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
For the earliest phase of translation, Smith said that he translated using what he called the "Urim and Thummim"—a set of large spectacles with stones where the eye-pieces should be.Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
- For a detailed response, see: Book of Mormon/Translation/Method
}}
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
There is no eye-witness testimony that Smith ever wore the large spectacles, although some witnesses understood that he placed them in his hat while translating.Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
- Violates Wikipedia: Citing sources off-site— There is either no citation to support the statement or the citation given is incorrect.
Violated by John Foxe —Diff: off-site
David Whitmer did state in one interview that Joseph was "affixing the magical spectacles to his eyes."
Each time before resuming the work all present would kneel in prayer and invoke the Divine blessing on the proceeding. After prayer Smith would sit on one side of a table and the amanuenses, in turn as they became tired, on the other. Those present and not actively engaged in the work seated themselves around the room and then the work began. After affixing the magical spectacles to his eyes, Smith would take the plates and translate the characters one at a time. The graven characters would appear in succession to the seer, and directly under the character, when viewed through the glasses, would be the translation in English. ("The Book of Mormon;' Chicago Tribune, December 17, 1885, 3· The Tribune correspondent visited and interviewed Whitmer on December 15, 1885, at Whitmer's home in Richmond, Missouri. )
- For a detailed response, see: Book of Mormon/Translation/Method
}}
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
Witnesses did observe Smith using a single seer stone (not part of a set of spectacles) in the translation,Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
- Correct, per cited sources
- For a detailed response, see: Book of Mormon/Translation/Method
}}
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
the same brown stone Smith had earlier used for treasure seeking.Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
- Correct, per cited sources
- For a detailed response, see: Book of Mormon/Translation/Method
}}
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
Smith seems to have used a single stone during the second phase of translation.Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
- Correct, per cited sources
- For a detailed response, see: Book of Mormon/Translation/Method
}}
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
Smith placed the stone in a hat, buried his face in it to eliminate all outside light, and peered into the stone to see the words of the translation.Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
- Correct, per cited sources
- For a detailed response, see: Book of Mormon/Translation/Method
}}
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
A few times during the translation, a curtain or blanket was raised between Smith and his scribe or between the living area and the area where Smith and his scribe worked.Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
- Correct, per cited sources
- For a detailed response, see: Book of Mormon/Translation/Method
}}
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
Sometimes Smith dictated to Martin Harris from upstairs or from a different room.Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
- Correct, per cited sources
- For a detailed response, see: Book of Mormon/Translation/Method
}}
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
Smith's "translation" did not require any use of the plates themselves.Author's sources:
- Marquardt (2005) , p. 97; Van Wagoner (Walker) , pp. 53.
FAIR's Response
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
As he looked into the stone, Smith told his friends and family that the written translation of the ancient script appeared to him in English.Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
- Violates Wikipedia: Citing sources off-site— There is either no citation to support the statement or the citation given is incorrect.
Joseph Smith himself never stated that "the ancient script appeared to him in English." This description was provided only by second-hand sources—most notably David Whitmer:
“Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. One character at a time would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God, and not by any power of man.” (David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ, Richmond, Mo.: n.p., 1887, p. 12. quoted by Russell M. Nelson, “A Treasured Testament,” Ensign, Jul 1993, 61) off-site
}}
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
There are several proposed explanations for how Smith composed his translation. In the 19th century, the most common explanation was that he plagiarized the work from a manuscript written by Solomon Spaulding.Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
- Correct, per cited sources
- For a detailed response, see: Book of Mormon/Authorship theories/Spalding manuscript
}}
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
This theory is deemed to be repudiated by Smith's preeminent modern biographers.Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
- Correct, per cited sources
}}
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
The most prominent modern theory is that Smith composed the translation in response to the provincial opinions of his time,Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
- Correct, per cited sources
}}
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
perhaps while in a magical trance-like state.Author's sources:
- Bloom (1992) , p. 86; Riley (1902) , pp. 84, 195.
FAIR's Response
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
As a matter of faith, Latter Day Saints generally view the translation process as either an automatic process of transcribing text written within the stone,Author's sources:
- Bushman (2005) , p. 72 (arguing that this transcription method is the only one consistent with the historical record).
FAIR's Response
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
or an intuitive translation by Smith assisted by a mystical connection with God through the stone.
FAIR's Response
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
Smith's dictations were written down by a number of assistants including Emma Smith, Martin Harris, and notably, Oliver Cowdery.Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
}}
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
In May 1829, after Smith had lent 116 un-duplicated manuscript pages to Martin Harris, and Harris had lost them, Smith dictated a revelation explaining that Smith could not simply re-translate the lost pages because his opponents would attempt to see if he could "bring forth the same words again."Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
- Correct, per cited sources
}}
The author(s) of Wikipedia article "Golden plates" make(s) the following claim:
According to Grant Palmer, Smith believed "a second transcription would be identical to the first. This confirms the view that the English text existed in some kind of unalterable, spiritual form rather than that someone had to think through difficult conceptual issues and idioms, always resulting in variants in any translation."Author's sources:
FAIR's Response
- This is, of course, Grant Palmer's own opinion.
- For an analysis of Grant Palmer's critical work, see A FAIR Analysis of An Insider's View of Mormon Origins.
}}
References
| Wikipedia references for "Golden Plates" |
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Further reading
Mormonism and Wikipedia
FairMormon's approach to Wikipedia articles
FairMormon regularly receives queries about specific LDS-themed Wikipedia articles with requests that we somehow "fix" them. Although some individual members of FAIR may choose to edit Wikipedia articles, FairMormon as an organization does not. Controversial Wikipedia articles require constant maintenance and a significant amount of time. We prefer instead to respond to claims in the FAIR Wiki rather than fight the ongoing battle that LDS Wikipedia articles sometimes invite. From FAIR’s perspective, assertions made in LDS-themed Wikipedia articles are therefore treated just like any other critical (or, if one prefers, "anti-Mormon") work. As those articles are revised and updated, we will periodically update our reviews to match.
Who can edit Wikipedia articles?
Editors who wish to participate in editing LDS-themed Wikipedia articles can access the project page here: Wikipedia:WikiProject Latter Day Saint movement. You are not required to be LDS in order to participate—there are a number of good non-LDS editors who have made valuable contributions to these articles.
Recommendations when editing Wikipedia articles
FAIR does not advocate removing any references from Wikipedia articles. The best approach to editing Wikipedia is to locate solid references to back up your position and add them rather than attempting to remove information. Individuals who intend to edit should be aware that posting information related to the real-world identities of Wikipedia editors will result in their being banned from editing Wikipedia. Attacking editors and attempting to "out" them on Wikipedia is considered very bad form. The best approach is to treat all Wikipedia editors, whether or not you agree or disagree with their approach, with respect and civility. An argumentative approach is not constructive to achieving a positive result, and will simply result in what is called an "edit war." Unfortunately, not all Wikipedia editors exhibit good faith toward other editors (see, for example, the comment above from "Duke53" or comments within these reviews made by John Foxe's sockpuppet "Hi540," both of whom repeatedly mocked LDS beliefs and LDS editors prior to their being banned.)
Do LDS editors control Wikipedia?
Although there exist editors on Wikipedia who openly declare their affiliation with the Church, they do not control Wikipedia. Ironically, some critics of the Church periodically falsely accuse Wikipedia editors of being LDS simply because they do not accept the critics' desired spin on a particular article.
Do "anti-Mormons" control Wikipedia?
Again, the answer is no. The truth is that Wikipedia is generally self-policing. Highly contentious articles do tend to draw the most passionate supporters and critics.
Why do certain LDS articles seem to be so negative?
Although some LDS-related Wikipedia articles may appear to have a negative tone, they are in reality quite a bit more balanced than certain critical works such as One Nation Under Gods. Although many critical editors often accuse LDS-related Wikipedia articles of being "faith promoting" or claim that they are just an extension of the Sunday School manual, this is rarely the case. Few, if any, Latter-day Saints would find Wikipedia articles to be "faith promoting." Generally, the believers think that the articles are too negative and the critics believe that the articles are too positive. LDS Wikipedia articles should be informative without being overtly faith promoting. However, most of the primary sources, including the words of Joseph Smith himself, are "faith promoting." This presents a dilemma for Wikipedia editors who want to remain neutral. The unfortunate consequence is that Joseph's words are rewritten and intermixed with contradictory sources, resulting in boring and confusing prose.
We examine selected Wikipedia articles and examine them on a "claim-by-claim" basis, with links to responses in the FairMormon Answers Wiki. Wikipedia articles are constantly evolving. As a result, the analysis of each article will be updated periodically in order to bring it more into line with the current version of the article. The latest revision date may be viewed at the top of each individual section. The process by which Wikipedia articles are reviewed is the following:
- Update each Wikipedia passage and its associated footnotes.
- Examine the use of sources and determine whether or not the passage accurately represents the source used.
- Provide links to response articles within the FairMormon Answers Wiki.
- If violation of Wikipedia rules is discovered, identify which Wikipedia editor (by pseudonym) made the edit, provide a description of the rule violated and a link to the Wikipedia "diff" showing the actual edit.
- If a violated rule is later corrected in a subsequent revision, the violation is removed and a notation is added that the passage is correct per cited sources. This doesn't mean that FAIR necessarily agrees with the passage—only that it is correct based upon the source used.
Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, "Mormonism and Wikipedia: The Church History That “Anyone Can Edit”"
Roger Nicholson, Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, (2012)The ability to quickly and easily access literature critical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been made significantly easier through the advent of the Internet. One of the primary sites that dominates search engine results is Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia that “anyone can edit.” Wikipedia contains a large number of articles related to Mormonism that are edited by believers, critics, and neutral parties. The reliability of information regarding the Church and its history is subject to the biases of the editors who choose to modify those articles. Even if a wiki article is thoroughly sourced, editors sometimes employ source material in a manner that supports their bias. This essay explores the dynamics behind the creation of Wikipedia articles about the Church, the role that believers and critics play in that process, and the reliability of the information produced in the resulting wiki articles.
Click here to view the complete article
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