Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-03-20

Tho Ecv Livingston smith. in "Th
Presbyterian" of Philadelphia. declare
chat tho "Normous" have uttered
reputation of "tbc mechanical theor
OF tho translation Of their socrc,
book"
Mr. Smith bases his assertions or
statements which he represents Eide
Roberts as making In his recent "De
I Tense OF the Faith and OF the Saints
I They are that "lt Is no use resisting
the matter. tho old lmechanicaD the
0ry must be abandoned for "to sd-
| vance 10 before intelligent and educat-
Z "a people is 60 unnecessarily invite
| rlilcule. and make of those who advo-
/ cate IL candidates for contempt"
The editor OF the Literary Digest all
! Iudes o. Mr. Smiths discovery" and
/ ventures the opinion that the Nor
| mons" viii probably "repudiate the ex-
| treme assumptions OF this critic re-
rardiur the Importance OF these con-
/ cesslons The mechanical theory
Of the translation OF the Book Of
Mormon. Mr.. Smith asserts. has been
exclusively and continuously an
nounced and defended by the lnfalli-
bly, inspired priesthood Of the Mormon
church, from the inception Of the
Church until the recent overwhelming
bombardment Of the Mormon citadel
by the congressional investigation OF
the smoot case In Washington. two
years ago" MT Smith thus states
briefly the theory that he says has now
been definitely abandoned;
what Of populary known as the
mechanical theory Tor process, OF
using the Seer Stone and the Urim and
Thummim, is that Joseph Smith looked
az the golden plates through them,
with his face covered so as 70 exclude
the light and that he beheld two lines
OF characters: the upper line being
those characters upon the golden plates
(said 90 be Reformer Egyptian) and
the other. or lower line, being the Eng
lish translation 81 the same. that these
words % English translation would re-
main until Joseph Smith had correctly
read them and his scribes had correctly
recorded them IN the manuscript
from which the Book Of Mormon was
later printed without tho changing
Of a dot or the crossing Of an f.
II is true that some have held the
mechanical theory OF the transla-
ton OF the plates. iust As many have
held 20 like theory Of verbal insplra-
ton Of the books OF the Old and
New Testament; but others have
thought differently; and there f. no oo-
casion for alarm over these divergen-
cies IN the manner Of accounting for
a received fact
Mr.. smith designates the statement
Of Elder Roberts on this question as
the manual theory and explains the
substance Of the theory as fellows:
Joseph Smith. by great mental ef-
fort the exercise OF faith. andtho GIFT I
~ power Of God was enabled 10 see I
Gin tho Trim and Thummim or iu the /
Seer Stone) not the mechanical and In /
falliblo translation Of the Egyptian /
MeruglyUhiDS into the English /
language. but the conception or
thought OF the hlerog'yphics. which /
he thpraupuu formulated into tho best
form and use of the English language,
of which hD was master. and that too.
]
hi- limited opportunities and environ
meut This rs the iufalible sub
sttute for thg formert Inspired, orig
iuaI theory
just why this critic should attach
so much Importance 10 tho manual
theory" of the manner in which Joseph
smith translated the plates is not en-
tirely clear That the Latter-day saints
discuss this topic at am. simply shows
how far they are in advance NJ
great many Of tho ministers and lalty
BOO other denominations. 10 whom.
t seems. tho thought has never oc-
rurr.d to try 20 find out just how tha
prophets .u all ages have been inspired
t1 perceive to know 20 sueak. On
write. or 90 translate for tho benefit ~
.ho human family lu what way were
.ha prophets inspired did the Spirit
nditg oveN word and shape the form
lf their every expression or ala they
Hr they were moved upon by the
Holy Ghost think speak. write. ana
TRANSLATE On their own way and using
.hcir own perfect and polished. or im-
perfect and crude language as tho cass
might baF
pid Isaiah. Cor example have
't}le peculiarly his oWn7 or did he
.palk exactly as Jeremiah snoka7 Did
Paul, Peter and james use tho same
.d'oms7 m other words. what has
'eeu the relationship between divine
Inspiration aud enlightenment and ths
prophets own peeuI.ar.uts pf sf-sone
a mere glance 40 these questions aiB /
serve to shoN that iu d.aeussIug tbs
manner Boo which Joseph translated ta.
'Ilt.a Ono lmI.rday STUNTS ar. 4i.
rHay as raupta with tls avares
."i'"g of aa.iarau minister. Dol
h" roaim of "hsh.r puuasmH
M matters HttIe as tl mst ho.a faa
-ah oi homaH vac Translated. 1nst
.''A ia "a n.. DC eas the product af
.E.iaiI1H aHl inspiration Various
l".uauaHs haFo Deoa iudulscd as to
Doc psceizg Ppoeoss which ths PgsBhsus