A pdf of the printers manuscript of the book of mormon. Palmyra, known as swifts landing and tolland before being renamed palmyra, 1796. Three early critics set the agenda for the first sustained criticisms of the book. The following document is a readonly version of the book of mormon. The book of mormon, the hit musical by matt stone and trey parker, creators of south park and bobby lopez avenue q, frozen. Download the book of mormon as a free pdf book holy books. It was recorded by the musicals original broadway cast and released on may 17, 2011 to digital outlets. The original manuscript was in this manner carefully guarded, and the copy struck off by oliver cowdery was used in the printing of the book of mormon. Howe each alleged joseph smith used the book of mormon as part of an elaborate scheme to defraud the public. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. This is the perfect gift for your lds friends and family.
According to joseph smith, the book of mormon is more correct than the bible history of. Miraculous origins theories generally accept joseph smiths own account, that he translated an ancient record compiled and abridged by mormon, a precolumbian resident of the western hemisphere. Mormon books digitized materials rare book and special. Jessee this article is being offered free as a courtesy to as it was footnoted in an expanded gospel topic on their site. The original 1830 edition, book of mormon had s of. An exact facsimile reproduction of the first edition of the book of mormon, providing the authentic size, look and feel, and format of the original. The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the book of mormon. One challenge in performing a linguistic analysis of the book of mormon is that no original text is available for analysis.
Howe 1788 1885, editor of the painesville telegraph, on his meetings with martin harris 17831875. According to chronology found in the book of mormon, king benjamin should have been dead at this time. For example, in the 1830 edition, the first chapter of 1 nephi included all of what is now labeled 1 nephi 15 the entire episode of obtaining the brass plates. This photocopy of the title page of the original 1830 edition of the book of mormon gives modern readers an idea of how the book first appeared when it was published in palmyra, new york. The original book of mormon manuscript author dean c.
This is an exact facsimile reprint of the original, 1830 edition of the book of mormon, the authoritative scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Book of mormon stories the church of jesus christ of latterday. The earliest text, attempts to sift through changes in the manuscript to bring the reader back to the best approximation of what the original text of the book of mormon would have said. Title page if there be fault it be the mistake of men. In 2001, facsimile transcripts of the two book of mormon manuscripts volumes 1 and 2 of the critical text were published by the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms. The original book of mormon transcript book of mormon central. Jul 26, 2018 large parts of the book of mormon were found to be the same as parts of the 1769 version of the king james version of the bible. The last of the plates of mormon was the title page. But beyond this, some surviving, badly weathered fragments of the original manuscript permit a consideration of the book of mormon from a paleographic standpoint. Uncorrected, coalesced, and transcribed text from the original blue and printers black manuscripts. Moreover, on subjects widely discussed, and that deal in matters of widespread public interest, there is built up in the course of years, a community knowledge of such subjects, usually referred to as matters of common knowledge to which nonreaders of books or of periodicals. The original 1830 edition, book of mormon had s of errors.
For information about the more recent discovery of several fragments of the original manuscript. Author royal skousen has made it his lifes work to bring readers back to the original text of the book of mormon. Professor royal skousen has spent more than twentyfive years meticulously researching the original and printers manuscripts of the book of mormon, revealing discrepancies and making a case for the type of translation the book of mormon is. And i did read many things unto them, which were written in the book of moses. The rare book and special collections division has an important collection of early printed books relating to the history of the latterday saints, beginning with two copies of the first edition of the book of mormon by joseph smith, printed in palmyra, new york in 1830. Sperry, of the brigham young university, made the following comment concerning this change. The original manuscript of the book of mormon book of.
There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. There is considerable evidence that these original chapter breaks were written on the gold plates by the original authors. Jan 30, 20 the earliest editions of the book of mormon did not have the same chapter divisions as our modern editions. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the. These take the form of such things as double negatives, incorrect adverbs and adjectives, and incorrect tenses.
Ive been working on the critical text project of the book of mormon. Variations of this theory only include that the text is a divinely inspired narrative, regardless of its. The handwritten book of mormon is the most originalauthentic copyever produced. Large parts of the book of mormon were found to be the same as parts of the 1769 version of the king james version of the bible. There are differing views on the origin of the book of mormon.
Willes center for book of mormon studies sponsored three. The book of mormon has a number of original and distinctive doctrinal discussions on subjects such as the fall of adam. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 10 pages and is available in paperback format. Book of mormon, 1830, page 0 the joseph smith papers. There were 5,000 original book of mormon copies published in 1830 in palmyra, new york. The first edition of the novel was published in 1950, and was written by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith. It asks readers to understand that if there be fault in the book of mormon it be the mistake of men. Ever since its appearance in 1830, the book of mormon has been a contentious volume. My greatgreatgrandfather received it in massachusetts and brought it out west through missouri and finally. Royal skousen, the original and printers manuscripts book. We know it was the 1769 version because even translation errors unique to that bible were copied into the original 1830 book of mormon.
Pdf book of mormon, doctrine and covenants, pearl of. Section 5 describes the prophecies and promises in the book of mormon that must be fulfilled by the latterday promised land, thereby giving. David whitmer was not aware of this commandment, or had forgotten it, and without doubt, believed that the printers copy was the original. A faithful site with a colored photographic facsimile reprint of every page of the original first edition palmyra, 1830 book of mormon. By far the majority of changes between the 1830 and subsequent versions of the book of mormon are spelling or grammar corrections. From the original manuscript to the current lds edition of the book of mormon, various changes have made their way into the text. The book of mormon contains many religious themes, most notably those of faith and doubt. According to joseph smith, the book of mormon is more correct than the bible history of the church, vol.
Claimed by millions of latter day saints to be a record of the ancient israelites and their journeys in the americas, this volume has earned its place amongst the classics of apocryphal biblical literature. When joseph smith was 14 years old, many churches were claiming to be true, and he did not know. The original 1830 book of mormon text in a single pdf. Although the musical satirizes organized religion and the literal credibility of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, the mormons in the book of mormon are portrayed as. The original was never in the hands of the printer.
Errors in grammar there are literally thousands of grammatical errors in the original edition of the book of mormon errors that gradually have been changed in later editions. The original book of mormon transcript the book of. Book of mormon sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Section 4 defines the promised land of the book of mormon from the scriptures themselves. Dna evidence for book of mormon geography, sections 4 and 5 of the 18 sections in the original dvd. The book of mormon original broadway cast recording. Introduction 39 changes in the book of mormon utah. The original text betrays its new england origin in many ways, from inconsistent spelling to incorrect use of tenses and number, as well as incorrect usage of jacobean english. Original 1830 book of mormon page numbers redwith corresponding 1981 current book of mormon verses.
The earliest text and his printers manuscript volumes, this book is an indispensable resource for studies of the book of mormon that rely on an accurate and original text. Book of mormon printers manuscript is now online church. Browse our collection of utah art, historical documents, lds books, lds scripture, rare historical mormon items, and unique collectibles. This is a portion of the transcript of the live presentation. The book of mormon critical text project byu studies. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture.
Royal skousen, the original and printers manuscripts book of mormon lecture, 1 of 3, february 26, 20. The original book of mormon transcript the book of mormon. Free download or read online book of mormon, doctrine and covenants, pearl of great price pdf epub book. Moons rare books first edition book of mormon for sale. The book of mormon critical text project, under the editorship of royal skousen, began in 1988 and is now nearing completion. The first edition book of mormon is composed in a narrative, paragraph format, uninterrupted by verses and chapters, which many readers will find easier to digest. Finally, the mormon church leaders became so embarrassed about the grammar that they decided to abandon the idea that god gave joseph smith the english that is found in the. This reprint contains an additional eightpage introduction including a description of how joseph smith obtained the ancient record, an outline of the contents of the book, and charles anthons 17971867 1834 letter to e. This volume will be incorporated into our interactive text of the book of mormon. This book presents the original transcription of joseph smiths dictated translation of the golden plates. The book of mormon is a sacred text that was published in march 1830 by joseph smith, jr. It has been argued that there are significant parallels between view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. According to smith, the book is originally written in an otherwise unknown language called reformed egyptian on golden plates and it should be of similar importance as the bible. Book of mormon, 1837, page 0 the joseph smith papers.
The website shows a sidebyside comparison of the pages. Only scrupulous attention to the earliest written manuscripts of the book of mormon can uncover such discrepancies. This book was printed on thirtyseven sheets and folded into thirtyseven gatherings of eight leaves each, making a text block of 592 pages. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. The earliest editions of the book of mormon did not have the same chapter divisions as our modern editions. This file contains the entire text of the 1830 edition of the book of mormon. Online access to the book of mormon critical text project by royal skousen. For the latest detailed report, see royal skousen, towards a critical edition of the book of mormon, byu studies 30 winter 1990. This article is being offered free as a courtesy to as it was footnoted in an expanded gospel topic on their site while much that has been said regarding the origin of the book of mormon is beyond the experience of the average searcher, only as he accepts or rejects the credibility of the earliest witnesses, the existence of the book itself provides a common ground for careful.
A stray drop of ink and a quirk of nineteenthcentury penmanship make the difference between retain that wrong and repair that wrong. A colored photographic facsimile reprint of the original. Royal skousen, the original and printers manuscripts. In 1841, joseph smith declared the book of mormon to be the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and suggested that a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book history of the church, 4. The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates inscribed by prophets. The original book of mormon manuscript byu studies. An outline of the textual structure of the book of mormon by j. The rare book and special collections division has an important collection of early printed books relating to the history. The earliest text and his printers manuscript volumes, this book is an indispensable resource for studies of the book of.
View of the hebrewsethan smithoriginal book of mormon. The book of mormon the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The original book of mormon transcript book of mormon. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to. Restoring the original text of the book of mormon fairmormon. Skousens decades if painstaking effort have provided a whole new landscape for critical study of the book of mormon.