KnoWhy #540 - Why New Testament Words and Phrases Are in the Book of Mormon Part 8: Were These Expressions Parts of Joseph Smith's Linguistic Toolbox? (Introduction)

The segments in this series, up to this point, have focused on possible ancient sources for the New Testament-type language that is found in the Book of Mormon. It is also arguable, however, that much of this New Testament material first entered into the text of the Book of Mormon at the level of the English translation.

 

Scholars who have looked at this issue have suggested theories that fall into at least two camps: that the divine process involved in the translation of the gold plates maintained either (1) a "loose" or (2) a "tight" control over the resulting translation of the text. This KnoWhy (Part 8) will focus mainly on the "loose control" theory of translation, which has been described as follows: "Ideas were revealed to Joseph Smith, and he put those ideas into his own language."

 

We do not know for sure how the process of translation worked, except that the work was done, as Joseph always claimed, "by the gift and power of God." It is clear, however, that dependence on memory or on the use of a physical Bible in that process are unlikely explanations for what is happening with the New Testament-type language in the Book of Mormon.