 Joseph Smith | In June of 1830, Joseph Smith, Jr., received the word of God as it was revealed to Moses. The work of translation began in the latter half of 1830 and was completed on July 2, 1833, although the manuscripts indicate additional editing by Joseph after that date. Many sections in the Doctrine and Covenants give the Lord's instructions regarding the translation (see D&C 34:5; 42:5c, 15a; 45:11a; 73:2a; 76:3c; 87:5a; and 90:12). Although the work is referred to as a "translation," it should be understood that the process of receiving the text was primarily revelatory, as opposed to the modern definition of scholarly conversion of a writing from one language to another. The Doctrine and Covenants indicates the inspired and revelatory nature of the work: "the Scriptures shall be given even as they are in mine own bosom, to the salvation of mine own elect" (D&C 34:5b). |
