The original manuscript of the Book of Mormon is a work that unites heaven and earth, President Russell M. Nelson said at an event Tuesday, Jan. 25, to celebrate the most recent edition of the The Joseph Smith Papers project (in English).
“His original manuscript is one of the most significant and sacred artifacts the Church possesses,” said the leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Church historians have taken great care — for more than a century — to collect even the tiniest fragments of the manuscript and preserve them from further damage.”
A new volume in The Joseph Smith Papers project — part of the Revelations and Translations series and containing facsimiles of the original Book of Mormon manuscript — now makes these sacred and historic documents available to the public.
“The Book of Mormon is foundational to the promised ‘wonderful work and a wonder,’ prophesied by Isaiah centuries ago,” President Nelson said. “The Book of Mormon has renewed God’s covenant love for His children. And it has initiated and enabled the long-promised gathering of Israel.”
President Nelson and his counselors in the First Presidency, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring, gathered Tuesday in the Church Administration Building in downtown Salt Lake City to thank those who helped make the newest tome possible. The meeting included co-editors Royal Skousen and Robin Scott Jensen.
Gail Miller and her husband, Kim Wilson, also participated. The couple has provided substantial financial support for The Joseph Smith Papers project — an effort started two decades ago by Gail Miller’s late husband, Larry H. Miller.
Elder Neil L. Andersen and Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder LeGrand R. Curtis, General Authority Seventy, also attended the meeting.
Read more: Full Pages to Fragments — See the original Book of Mormon manuscript in the new printed volume of The Joseph Smith Papers
President Nelson said that while each of the 26 volumes in The Joseph Smith Papers project “is of great importance,” the Revelations and Translations series is unique.
“These revelations and translations were at the core of Joseph Smith’s prophetic mission,” he said. “These texts were vital to the Restoration of the gospel in its fullness.”
This most recent edition, volume 5 in that series, contains facsimiles of the original Book of Mormon manuscript and “deeply moves me,” he said. “Because of him, I more fully appreciate the gift and power of God that enabled Joseph Smith to translate it. His remarkable training was augmented by heavenly messengers like Moroni, who instructed this young prophet many times during the translation period.”
President Nelson called it “a deeply moving experience” to look through the pages and “see the hand of God moving His work forward.”
Elder Curtis, a Church historian and recorder, said that in 1841 Joseph Smith placed the original translation of the Book of Mormon on the cornerstone of the Nauvoo Mansion. When it was recovered in 1882, it had deteriorated substantially as “water seeped into the cavity of the stone”.
Today the Church owns 25 percent of those fragments, with 3 percent in private collections. The remaining 72 percent of that original document was destroyed or has been lost, he said.
The images and transcript of 28 percent of the Book of Mormon transcript are compiled into the “truly historical tome.”
The volume will give readers the “remarkable experience of witnessing up close one of the most significant miracles in the history of the Church.”
Miller said his family’s involvement in The Joseph Smith Papers came “through sheer inspiration in hearing that inspiration and acting on it.”
After Larry Miller’s passing in 2009, Gail said there was some concern about whether they would continue to support the project. America was in a recession. Finances were meager. They had to be wise with their resources.”
Some suggested they cut spending. Miller agreed, adding, “The one thing we can’t stop doing is giving. And we continue to support The Joseph Smith Papers Project.”
“I know this is a divine handiwork,” he continued. “I know that it is an important work — almost crucial — for the Church, for people to go to the work of The Joseph Smith Papers and get the truth. The history of man speaks for itself. It is the foundation of this Church. We worship God the Father and Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith strengthens that. He knew what he was doing. He knew that he was being instructed from above. And through this work the world will know.”
Skousen said this new volume “provides the best possible view we have, however indirect, of Joseph Smith, the seer, translating the Book of Mormon.”
“This manuscript provides important support for what the translation witnesses claimed: that Joseph was dictating, word for word, an English text that appeared on his translation tool,” he said. “And that when it was necessary, he could spell the names. This was indeed a marvelous work and a prodigy.”
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