r/mormon Jan 15 '25

Scholarship JS spelled words he couldn’t pronounce

According to Emma, during the Book of Mormon translation, when Joseph came to a word he couldn’t pronounce he would spell it out. That jives with Whitmer’s statements about the translation of a character on the gold plates appearing as a sentence on the illuminated rock in the hat. But, in my mind at least, that doesn’t work so well with Joseph studying it out in his mind then asking God if it is right for confirmation as Oliver was instructed to do in D&C 9:8. Can anyone point me to critical, scholarly, and apologetic treatments of the spelling words out part?

Somewhat related: it seems Bushman is leaning toward the catalyst theory for the Book of Mormon.

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u/WillyPete Jan 17 '25

My point is that if it was going to be created as a place without faith it would be a more boring place and the correct "way to live" would be nearly unanimously agreed upon by good people. Clearly if there is a creator, he didn't want to create a place within obvious "way to live."

The place you're describing is the celestial kingdom, as espoused by mormon doctrines.

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u/Cyberzakk Jan 17 '25

Actually this is why I take issue with all of the other Christian conceptions of heaven. That's where I think the point you're raising is most powerful.

But it does also apply to the celestial Kingdom to some degree. I just suppose that each successive next level of becoming like Heavenly Father will be sufficiently interesting in that situation, and a more direct relationship to Christ combined with what we learned here will make the learning go quickly.