Joseph Loved “The Key”
Regarding the “key” Joseph Smith said, “I can see anything; they are marvelous.”
I believe Joseph wore the breastplate under his shirt, as Lucy Mack Smith said, “he kept these things constantly about his person.” Lucy also said speaking of the breastplate, “and is made to fit the breast very exactly.” I believe Lucy, as I have been told that her journal is as accurate or more so than Wilford Woodruff’s.
Lucy also wrote in her journal of 1845 that Joseph said to her, “Mother,” said he. “Do not be uneasy. All is right. See here,” said he, “I have got the key.“ The Key was simply the two clear stones in a silver bow that was fastened to a breastplate.
Joseph Knight was also quoted by Lucy and said, “Then he [Joseph] went on to tell the length and width and thickness of the plates, and said he, “they appear to be gold.” But he seemed to think more of the glasses or the Urim and Thummim than he did of the plates, for, says he, “I can see anything; they are marvelous.” (“Joseph Knight’s Recollection of Early Mormon History,” BYU Studies, Vol. 17, No. 1; spelling modernized.)
Joseph Knight was present at the Smith family farm when Joseph Smith retrieved the plates in September 1827, and he supplied the Prophet Joseph with money, paper, and provisions during the translation of the Book of Mormon.
Translation Method, “not intended to tell the world“
The matter of how the Book of Mormon was translated has been of considerable interest and discussion virtually from the time the book became public. This is illustrated in an exchange that took place between the Prophet and his brother Hyrum in a conference of the Church held 25 October. On that occasion Hyrum said “that he thought best that the information of the coming forth of the book of Mormon be related by Joseph himself to the Elders present that all might know for themselves.” In response, Joseph Smith said that “it was not intended to tell the world all the particulars of the coming forth of the book of Mormon, & also said that it was not expedient for him to relate these things &c” (Cannon and Cook, Far West Record, 23).
Joseph did not share many particulars about the translation but it seems everyone else did. Even today there is a great effort by the historians and Intellectuals in the Church to push the Stone in the Hat Theory. I do not believe that theory. I believe what the Lord said, “and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim… God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book.” (JSH 1:34), was the only means of translation.
Exclusive 26-Page Article Titled, “Mother, I have got the Key”
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This 26-pages are similar pages from the 103-page book titled, “These Stones, Fastened to a Breastplate”, which is a complete story of Joseph and his mother’s descriptions of the method of translation, “by the Gift and Power of God.” Joseph was commanded to not show the plates, breastplate nor the spectacles to anyone unless commanded otherwise. As the only three items in the stone box, these exact articles were utilized by Joseph for the complete translation of the Book of Mormon. A Stone in a Hat was not used to translate, as you will not find that information anywhere in scripture. Free Download Here!
What led up to the discussion between whether the Urim and Thummim or the Seer Stone were used for translation?
SITH below refers to “Stone in the Hat Theory” – M2C refers to the “Two Hill Cumorah’s theory.“
“For over 150 years, LDS Church leaders taught that Joseph Smith translated the Nephite plates with the Urim and Thummim. From the early 1830s, critics said that Joseph produced the Book of Mormon by either (i) reading words off a seer stone he put in a hat or (ii) reading a manuscript written by Solomon Spalding and edited by Sidney Rigdon.
All three alternatives were set out in the 1834 book Mormonism Unvailed (Left). When that book was released in October 1834, Oliver Cowdery responded by declaring unambiguously that Joseph translated the record with the Urim and Thummim. You can see Oliver’s declaration in the Pearl of Great Price, at the end of Joseph Smith-History, or in the Joseph Smith papers here:” By Jonathan Neville
Why are they called Interpreters and where did they come from?
The Interpreters are holy and came from God. How do we know this? It is in the Scriptures. We know where the Interpreters come from and why. That’s why it’s so important knowing that the Prophet Joseph Smith used them to translate the plates. Remember one of the greatest stories about faith is when the Brother of Jared (Mahonri Moriancumer) saw the finger of the Lord and could not be kept outside of the veil. Jesus Christ showed himself unto Mahonri and told him to write the doings of His people and He touched 16 stones for light in the 8 barges. The Lord also touched two additional stones called interpreters, for Mahonri to seal up until after Christ would appear in the flesh.
Ether 3:21-24
“And it came to pass that the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold, thou shalt not suffer these things which ye have seen and heard to go forth unto the world, until the time cometh that I shall glorify my name in the flesh; wherefore, ye shall treasure up the things which ye have seen and heard, and show it to no man.
And behold, when ye shall come unto me, ye shall write them and shall seal them up, that no one can interpret them; for ye shall write them in a language that they cannot be read.
And behold, these two stones will I give unto thee, and ye shall seal them up also with the things which ye shall write.
For behold, the language which ye shall write I have confounded; wherefore I will cause in my own due time that these stones shall magnify to the eyes of men these things which ye shall write.” Ether 3:21-24
These two stones were also given to Mosiah with the same promise of being kept secret. Then these two stones were given back to Moroni who finally sealed up the Interpreters with the plates for the last time before Joseph Smith received them.
With this spiritual background of the Interpreters it is essential to understand the significance of Joseph using these “two stones” to translate the plates. In Ether we read, “And behold, these two stones will I give unto thee, and ye shall seal them up also with the things which ye shall write. For behold, the language which ye shall write I have confounded; wherefore I will cause in my own due time that these stones shall magnify to the eyes of men these things which ye shall write.” Ether 3:23-24.
It was “these two stones”, not A seer stone, not A stone, not A stone found in a well, but “these TWO stones” that were sealed up to come forth to Joseph the Prophet to translate the plates. Remember the translation was done “by the Gift and Power of God”, not by any other means. Not with one stone for convenience, or because Joseph left the Interpreters home, or he just can’t carry two stones, so I will only use one; these things did not matter because the Prophet was to do the translation “by the Gift and Power of God”, only! Joseph’s single stone he found in a well was not THAT spiritual method that the Lord planned from the beginning. Man’s way is not the Lord’s way. Joseph Smith the Prophet of the Lord translated the records of the Nephites and Jaredites with the spiritual means the Lord intended with the Interpreters (two stones and a breastplate) that were provided inside that most sacred stone box on Cumorah’s hill.
Scriptural Proof about the Method of Translation
Joseph said, “there were two stones in silver bows—and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim—deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted “seers” in ancient or former times; and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book.” (Joseph Smith—History 1:34–35). This scripture is very clear on the method and means of translation. The Urim and Thummim or more correctly called Interpreters, is a tool those in the Old Testament used but it was different than the one in the new world. See my complete blog here with more scriptural evidence.
“Joseph Smith received the same Urim and Thummim had by the Brother of Jared for it was the one expressly provided for the translation of the Jaredite and Nephite records. (D&C 10:1; 17:1; Ether 3:22-28.) It was separate and distinct from the one had by Abraham and the one had by the priests in Israel. The Prophet also had a seer stone which was separate and distinct from the Urim and Thummim, and which (speaking loosely) has been called by some a Urim and Thummim.” Mormon Doctrine page 576 under title Urim and Thummim and (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, pp. 222-226.)
Many of the saints in Joseph’s day spoke of the instrument as a Urim and Thummim, but it was only called “Interpreters” in the entire Book of Mormon. Hence the Urim and Thummim or the Interpreters are that singular spiritual instrument called by two various names combined for translation, not the single stone, or a stone found somewhere in a well. To equate the two is not, “by the Gift and Power of God.
Proper Translation by Joseph
“Again, he told me, that when I got those plates of which he had spoken—for the time that they should be obtained was not yet fulfilled—I should not show them to any person; neither the breastplate with the Urim and Thummim; only to those to whom I should be commanded to show them; if I did I should be destroyed. While he was conversing with me about the plates, the vision was opened to my mind that I could see the place where the plates were deposited, and that so clearly and distinctly that I knew the place again when I visited it.” Joseph Smith History in the Pearl of Great Price or History of the Church 1:2–79.
“The box in which they lay was formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement. In the bottom of the box were laid two stones crossways of the box, and on these stones lay the plates and the other things with them.” JSH 1:52
In order to keep the commandment of the Lord it would be necessary for Joseph to use his intellect and be guided by the spirit, to protect these articles from being seen by those who transcribed or anyone else.I believe Joseph sat at one end of the table while Emma or Martin sat at the other end. In front of Joseph were the gold plates which were only covered by a cloth over about 10% of the front of the plates facing Emma. This way with the angle of Emma looking on, she could only see the cloth hiding the front end of the plates. I believe Joseph wore the breastplate as Lucy Mack Smith said, “he kept these things constantly about his person.” Lucy also said speaking of the breastplate, “and is made to fit the breast very exactly.” I believe Lucy, as I have been told that her journal is as accurate or more so than Wilford Woodruff’s.
As farm boy I believe Joseph wore a wide brim farmers hat, and not a top hat, and with that hat as a prop, he hid the spectacles from the view of Emma. Joseph did not put a stone or the spectacles in the hat, he just used the hat to block the sight (Joseph had to hide the spectacles with something. See picture left), between the spectacles and Emma’s view.
From Emma’s view (Picture below) all she could see is the farmers hat and maybe a slight view of the covered front of the plates. Joseph with the spectacles secured to the breastplate, could use one hand to hold the hat in front and use the other hand to turn the pages of the plates. This makes sense as the History of Joseph Smith which is canonized scripture says, “Also, that there were two stones in silver bows—and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim—deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted “seers” in ancient or former times; and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book.“ JSH 1:35
“I have got the Key” by Joseph Smith Jr., as told by his mother Lucy
After first returning late at night from Hill Cumorah after the 4th year mentioned by Angel Moroni, on Sept 22, 1827 Joseph ran into the house and his mother Lucy said, “I trembled so much with fear lest all might be lost again by some small failure in keeping the commandments, that I was under the necessity of leaving the room to conceal my feelings. Joseph saw this and followed me. “Mother,” said he. “Do not be uneasy. All is right. See here,” said he, “I have got the key.“
“I knew not what he meant, but took the article in my hands and, examining it with no covering but a silk handkerchief, found that it consisted of two smooth three-cornered diamonds set in glass, and the glasses were set in silver bows connected with each other in much the same way that old-fashioned spectacles are made. He took them again and left me but did not tell me anything of the record….
The spectacles shown left, reflect the definition by Lucy above. The glasses probably looked like two magnifying glasses with a clear diamond shaped and clear crystal possibly embedded in something like a magnifying glass. I’m sure it would be difficult for Lucy to describe, but I am confident that however it looked, it was an amazing instrument which originally came from the Brother of Jared. (See Ether 3:23-24; 4:5)
Spencer W. Kimball said, “Exactly how this precious instrument, the Urim and Thummim, operates we can only surmise, but it seems to be infinitely superior to any mechanism ever dreamed of yet by researchers… the abode of God is a master Urim and Thummim, and the synchronization of transmitting and receiving apparatus of this kind can have no limitation.” (Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle, Pg.52 – Pg.53)
For the full 103-page book $14.95 visit here!
We offer this entire 26-page pdf as an overall summary of the truest method of translation as we have discovered as you may also. Not just by the words you read but by the Spirit you may feel after study and prayer.
As Elder J. Reuben Clark says below, “So long as that church was persecuted from without, it prospered, but when it began to be polluted from within, the church began to wither.” What can we do to strengthen our family and ourselves? Now is the time to draw upon our testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and follow our dear Prophet, Russell M. Nelson.”
We must study and pray to receive personal revelation from the Lord as the Prophet tells
us here.”
Personal Revelation
“You don’t have to wonder about what is true. You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that this is the Lord’s Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true.
I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that “if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.” Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives by President Russell M. Nelson
