|
What are Book of Mormon facsimiles?
Facsimiles are a photo copy of an original Book of Mormon. What is the difference between the 1840 and the 1842 Book of Mormon facsimiles?
First Printing: The first printing of the 1840 edition took place in Cincinnati even though the title page indicates it was published in Nauvoo. The first use of stereotype plates for printing the Book of Mormon was the 1840 edition. Stereotyping is a process of creating printing plates from a typeset form of movable type. The 1840 Nauvoo edition could be called the 1840 Cincinnati impression published in Nauvoo but printed in Cincinnati. Second Impression: The plates were then taken to Nauvoo, where in the spring of 1841, a new impression was run. Third Impression: A third impression was probably done in early 1842. These first three impressions all have Nauvoo and 1840 on the title page. They are distinguished as different impressions by a change in the arrangement of the witness pages at the end of the book. They are also differentiated by a broken letter and a variation in the paper type. Fourth Impression: A fourth impression using these stereotype plates was run in Nauvoo in August 1842 with two changes on the title page: the date was changed from 1840 to 1842, and the Jr. from Joseph Smith’s name was dropped because Joseph Smith Sr. had died in September of 1840. Note: There are other editions that were printed during the life of Joseph Smith Jr. To the best of our knowledge, these are the last editions which were carefully revised by the translator. What is the Historic Edition of the Book of Mormon?
The Historic Edition is a digital copy of the 1840 Book of Mormon that matches what is found in the facsimiles. Punctuation, misspelling, and printer errors are preserved. Why is the 1840 edition of the Book of Mormon significant?
The 1840 Book of Mormon was the first and only edition (that we know of) which was carefully revised by the translator, Joseph Smith Jr. The 1842 edition was essentially a reprint of the 1840 edition. Why are there no verses in the 1840 Book of Mormon?
The original translation of the Book of Mormon was recorded word for word as it came forth from the mouth of Joseph Smith without verses, paragraphs or punctuation of any kind. The first typesetting which included paragraphs and punctuation was done by 27 year old John Gilbert in the E.B. Grandin Print Shop of Palmyra, NY., but versification of the Book of Mormon was not seen until 1879. Although the versing helps tremendously as a reference tool, the intended message of the Prophet Mormon can easily be lost when the story line is broken up into verses. What is the purpose of the Book of Mormon?
It is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations. What is the message of the Book of Mormon?
The overarching message of the Book of Mormon is to come unto Christ and understand His doctrine… Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ; and there will be no more doctrine given, until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh the things which he shall say unto you, shall ye observe to do. 2 Nephi 14 (page 119 paragraph 1) Who is the target audience for the Book of Mormon?
It is written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile. |
|