An Unfortunate Approach to Joseph Smith’s Translation of Ancient Scripture

Review of Jonathan Neville, A Man That Can Translate: Joseph Smith and the Nephite Interpreters.

Abstract: Jonathan Neville has long argued that Joseph Smith did not use a seer stone during the translation of the Book of Mormon, and he has more recently dismissed the multitude of historical sources that include the use of a seer stone. Neville’s “Demonstration Hypothesis” is explored in A Man That Can Translate, arguing that Joseph recited a memorized text from Isaiah rather than translate Isaiah from the Book of Mormon record. This hypothesis fails to deal with the historical record seriously or faithfully. Neville ironically describes Joseph as a liar, even to the point that Neville defends hostile sources while targeting Church-published histories and publications. He attacks the witnesses of the translation to discredit their testimonies regarding the seer stone, and repeatedly misrepresents these sources. Coming from a Latter-day Saint, such claims are troubling and demand a response.