Table of Translation Theories

There are several theories about the translation of the Book of Mormon. The table below summarizes them.

There are also several theories about the use of the term "Urim and Thummim." See Urim and Thummim in 1832.

All explanations of the origin of the Book of Mormon fall within one or more of three categories or approaches: transcription, composition, and translation. In the following table, unshaded boxes involve divine intervention. Dark shaded boxes involve no divine intervention. Light shaded boxes involve supernatural intervention that may or may not originate with the divine depending on one’s beliefs.

The demonstration scenario was described by David Whitmer to the Chicago Tribune in 1885. An annotated version of that article is available here: https://www.mobom.org/annotation-of-chicago-tribune-article

BYU Studies published an overview of translation theories here: https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/the-book-of-mormon-translation-process/

An analysis of that article is available here: https://www.mobom.org/byu-studies-on-the-translation-process