The CES Letter treats the Book of Mormon translation as if it has uncovered some hidden scandal. In reality, it simply takes well-known historical details and frames them in the most suspicious way possible. Rather than examining the actual historical record, the letter relies on selective descriptions and modern assumptions about what translation “should” look like and uses rhetorical manipulation to mock the translation process. The Letter to the CES Director focuses on using degrading catchphrases like “Rock in the Hat.“
Much of the argument centers on repeating phrases meant to sound strange to modern readers while ignoring the broader historical context. It try’s to convince the reader that artwork depicting the Book of Mormon translation was the church trying to hide something. The CES Letters goal is not ever to understand the translation process but to make them feel ridiculous. Witness statements, multiple instruments used during the process, and the presence of scribes during the translation are minimized or ignored because they weaken the narrative the CES Letter is trying to create.
Once the loaded language and framing are removed, the translation objections collapse. They are largely petty criticisms built on misunderstanding prophetic revelation and early nineteenth-century religious culture. By reducing a complex historical process to caricature, the CES Letter reveals more about its own persuasive tactics than it does about the translation of the Book of Mormon.
Here are my questions for the CES Letter about the translation of the Book of Mormon:
Why Doesn’t This Grammar Show Up Anywhere Else?
Why Do Book of Mormon Names Carry Ancient Meaning?
If the Book of Mormon Came from View of the Hebrews, Why Don’t the Ideas Match?
How Did Joseph Smith Know About Ancient Covenant Curse Rituals?
Did Joseph Smith Really Steal “Cumorah” from a Tiny Island Near Mozambique?
Why Consider Dropping the Vernal Holley Book of Mormon Map?
Did the Book of Mormon Translation Story Actually Change?
How did Joseph Smith dictate the Book of Mormon at such speed without drafts, notes, or revision?
Answers to the CES Letter Questions about the Book of Mormon Translation
Why was Joseph Smith portrayed translating the Book of Mormon from the plates when historical sources say he used a seer stone in a hat?
Why do you assume that all Church members were taught that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by reading directly from the plates? When you actually examine the historical record from the people who were present, that assumption falls apart quickly. Early witnesses repeatedly described Joseph using instruments prepared for revelation, including interpreters and a seer stone. Those early Saints were not confused about the process. They knew Joseph often kept the plates covered or hidden, and they understood that the translation involved divine instruments rather than Joseph simply reading from metal plates like a book.
Even critics acknowledge that Joseph went to extraordinary lengths to protect the plates from view. The burden of guarding them weighed heavily on him, and when the Three and Eight Witnesses were finally allowed to see them, Joseph described the experience as a profound relief because he no longer stood alone in bearing testimony of their reality.
More importantly, the translation of the gold plates has never been about the mechanics of the process. From the beginning, the emphasis has always been on what was translated. The Book of Mormon itself points readers toward Jesus Christ, His commandments, His covenants, and the plan of salvation.
The witnesses did not testify about a particular translation technique. They testified that the plates existed and that the record translated from them was real. The focus of early believers was the message of the book and the spiritual confirmation they received when reading it. As multiple scholars have noted, Joseph Smith’s use of revelatory instruments fits the broader prophetic pattern found throughout scripture, where divine knowledge is revealed through means chosen by God rather than through ordinary academic methods.
The claim that members were “taught the wrong story” about translation also ignores how rarely the process was even discussed in ordinary Church instruction. For most members growing up in the Church, the details of the translation method were barely mentioned at all. A brief reference might appear in a Sunday School or Primary lesson once every four years, taught by volunteer teachers who are not historians or professional scholars. These teachers simply do their best to teach faith and scripture, often working from their own assumptions about what the word “translation” means.
That reality says nothing about deception. It simply reflects how lay religious education works in any faith tradition. When researchers examine the historical sources themselves, including early witness statements and modern scholarship summarized by organizations such as FAIR and Scripture Central, the translation accounts are far more consistent and far less mysterious than the CES Letter suggests.
Why were Church members taught that Joseph translated looking at the plates when witnesses say the plates were covered or not even in the room?
Why do you assume that this is what Church members were taught? Weren’t you taught that no one was allowed to see the plates? That detail alone should immediately challenge the assumption behind the question. From the beginning, the historical accounts explain that the plates were often covered or hidden from view while Joseph translated. If no one else was permitted to look at them, it would naturally follow that observers would not be watching Joseph read directly from them like an open book.
The witnesses themselves repeatedly describe the plates being protected, concealed, or removed from the room for safety. That is not evidence of contradiction. It is exactly what the historical record says happened. Joseph Smith was under strict instruction to guard the plates, and the accounts show him taking that responsibility seriously. The claim that members were somehow misled ignores the simple reality that the plates were rarely visible to anyone during the translation period.
Why did Joseph Smith use the same seer stone he previously used in treasure-seeking activities to translate the Book of Mormon?
First, what is the evidence that Joseph Smith used the same seer stone from earlier treasure-seeking to translate the Book of Mormon? The CES Letter presents this as settled history, but the evidence is much weaker than that claim suggests. Many of the statements tying the translation to a specific earlier stone come from late recollections recorded decades after the events, often second-hand. Early sources consistently say Joseph received interpreters with the plates, later called the Urim and Thummim, prepared specifically for the translation (Joseph Smith—History 1:35).
We also know Joseph possessed more than one seer stone. One of them was even described as being shaped like a small foot. The claim that the exact same stone used in earlier treasure-seeking activities was the one used throughout the translation rests largely on later recollections rather than contemporary documentation. The emphasis on this supposed connection serves mainly to associate Joseph Smith with “treasure hunting” in order to cast doubt on the sacred nature of the translation, rather than to clarify what actually occurred.
More importantly, the entire premise of the question focuses on the wrong issue. The translation was always described as occurring by revelation. The seer stones were tools used in that revelatory process, not the source of the message itself. Throughout scripture God uses physical objects to aid revelation. The biblical Urim and Thummim functioned this way. What mattered to those involved in the translation was never the object being used, but the message being revealed.
Even within Joseph Smith’s lifetime the role of such tools began to diminish. Later revelations and translations occurred without any seer stone at all. This shift actually became a point of tension with some early believers. Several members of the Whitmer family struggled with Joseph receiving revelation without using a seer stone, because they had come to associate the instrument with the process. That disagreement contributed to their eventual separation from the Church.
That historical detail highlights the real issue. The revelatory authority did not come from a stone. It came from God. The instruments were temporary aids used during an early stage of the Restoration, while the message being revealed remained the central and enduring focus.
Questions about the role of the gold plates
What were the gold plates for if Joseph Smith translated by looking into a stone in a hat?
The question assumes that the only purpose of the plates would be for Joseph Smith to visually read characters from them. But the historical purpose of the plates was much broader. They were the actual ancient record preserved and delivered by Moroni. Their existence provided physical confirmation that the account Joseph was translating was not imaginary, but a record tied to a real history and a real people who lived on this continent.
The plates also served to establish witnesses. The Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses testified that they saw and handled the plates. Their statements remain printed with the Book of Mormon to this day. This physical artifact gave Joseph Smith and the witnesses a tangible confirmation that the record was real. Joseph himself described the moment when others were allowed to see the plates as a great relief because he was no longer the only one responsible for bearing witness of their existence.
The revelatory instruments used during translation were simply tools. The plates were the preserved source record and the physical evidence of the history behind the text. These two roles are not in conflict.
Why were the plates necessary if the translation text appeared on a stone instead of being read from the plates?
This question assumes that translation must function like reading from a page. But Joseph Smith consistently described the process as occurring by the gift and power of God, meaning it was a revelatory experience rather than a conventional linguistic exercise.
In that context, the plates still served their central purpose. They were the preserved ancient record from which the Book of Mormon came. The translation method does not change the origin of the record itself.
In other words, the plates established the reality and origin of the record, while the revelatory process was the means by which its message was brought forth. The importance of the Book of Mormon has never rested on the mechanics of the translation, but on the message it contains about Jesus Christ, His commandments, and the plan of salvation.
Why did Moroni preserve and deliver the plates if Joseph Smith did not need to look at them to translate?
Why did Moroni preserve and deliver the plates if Joseph Smith did not need to look directly at them during the translation? The question assumes that if Joseph was not visually reading characters from the plates, then the plates had no role in the translation. But the historical record shows the opposite. The plates were still required for the translation to occur, even if the process itself was revelatory rather than mechanical.
One of the clearest examples is the loss of the 116 manuscript pages. When Martin Harris lost those pages after showing them to members of his family, the plates and the interpreters were taken from Joseph Smith. During that time Joseph was unable to continue translating at all. The translation only resumed after he repented and the plates were returned to him. This demonstrates that the plates were not irrelevant to the process. Their presence and stewardship were directly tied to Joseph’s ability to continue the work.
There were also other moments when Joseph was unable to translate because he was not spiritually prepared to receive revelation. The translation was always described as occurring by the gift and power of God, meaning Joseph had to be worthy to receive that revelation. The plates were part of that sacred stewardship. Moroni preserved and delivered them as the ancient record itself, and Joseph was entrusted with them as the authorized translator. The revelatory method does not diminish their purpose. It reinforces that the translation was a sacred responsibility tied to the plates, not simply a mechanical act of reading characters from metal
Questions about the translation preparation
Why did Moroni allegedly train Joseph for four years before giving him the plates if they were not needed in the translation process?
The mission Joseph was being prepared for was far greater than simply producing a book. Joseph was being called as a prophet. The preparation period was about shaping his character, teaching obedience, patience, and spiritual discipline so he could be worthy to receive revelation by the gift and power of God.
Joseph was only 17 years old when Moroni first visited him. He came from a poor farming family. When he first learned the plates were made of gold, his thoughts turned to how they might help relieve his family’s poverty. Moroni corrected that thinking immediately. The plates were not given for worldly gain. They were entrusted to Joseph for a sacred purpose that required humility, maturity, and spiritual preparation.
The record Joseph would bring forth contained doctrine that would affect the entire world. The Book of Mormon restores teachings about Jesus Christ, His covenants, and the plan of salvation that had been lost or misunderstood for centuries. It explains that being part of God’s covenant people is not about lineage or geography, but about entering a covenant relationship with Christ.
Joseph was not just preparing to translate words. He was preparing to lead a restoration. The record he would bring forth would clarify doctrine, restore priesthood authority, and call people everywhere to covenant with God. The four-year preparation period reflects the seriousness of that responsibility. Moroni was not preparing a translator. He was preparing a prophet who would help prepare the world for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Questions about witnesses
Why were the plates shown to the Three Witnesses if they were not actually used in the translation?
Because the plates were never meant to remain in the world as a permanent artifact that anyone could examine. Once the translation was complete, the plates were returned to Moroni. Since the physical record would not remain as a visible object for future generations to inspect, God provided witnesses who could testify that the plates were real and that the record truly existed.
The Three Witnesses did more than simply hear Joseph’s claims. They experienced a shared visionary manifestation in which an angel showed them the plates and allowed them to see the engravings. Their testimony states that the angel declared the record was translated by the gift and power of God. This experience became one of the primary evidences of the Book of Mormon’s authenticity alongside the content of the book itself.
The strength of their testimony is especially significant because of what happened later in their lives. All three men experienced serious trials. Each became estranged from Joseph Smith or the Church for a period of time. Yet none of them ever denied their testimony of what they saw and experienced. Even when separated from the Church, they continued to affirm that an angel showed them the plates and that the record was real. That consistency under pressure gives their witness unusual credibility and remains one of the strongest external testimonies supporting the Book of Mormon outside of Joseph Smith’s own account.
Why were the plates shown to the Eight Witnesses if the translation did not involve reading from them?
Because the purpose of the witnesses was not to explain the translation method. Their purpose was to testify that the plates were real.
The Eight Witnesses handled the plates directly. They examined the engravings and confirmed that the plates were a tangible, detailed artifact. Their testimony states that they “hefted” the plates and saw the engravings with their own eyes.
This provided an additional layer of evidence beyond Joseph Smith’s testimony. While the Three Witnesses experienced an angelic manifestation, the Eight Witnesses served as practical, physical witnesses that the gold plates actually existed. Their testimony helps establish that the plates were not an imaginary object or a fabricated story, but a real artifact connected to the record Joseph Smith translated.
Questions about the narrative itself
Why would God go through the effort of preserving plates, providing interpreters, and organizing witnesses if Joseph Smith could simply use a stone found while digging a well?
This question assumes the only purpose of the plates was the mechanical act of translation. But that was never their purpose alone. The plates were the ancient record itself, preserved so that the Book of Mormon would not simply appear as a story or idea, but as a documented history tied to real prophets and real people. Multiple witnesses saw and handled the plates so that Joseph Smith would not stand alone in that claim.
The record itself also shows how seriously the ancient writers treated this responsibility. Nephi, Mormon, and Moroni all described the difficulty of engraving on metal plates and the sacrifice required to record their history and testimony. They wrote carefully and sparingly because engraving on metal was difficult and time consuming. Their effort shows that preserving the record itself mattered deeply to them. Their role was to preserve the testimony. Joseph’s role centuries later was to bring that preserved record to light.
God could have done it differently. He is God. But written records and scripture have always been central to the way God preserves doctrine. From the earliest times records were kept to preserve covenant teachings. The Nephites themselves recognized this when they sent Nephi and his brothers back to obtain the Brass Plates, because without those records they would lose their doctrine, their covenants, and their religious identity.
For the Nephite prophets, keeping sacred records was essential. They knew their writings were intended for a future people living in the dispensation of the fulness of times. Their record would restore knowledge of Jesus Christ, His covenants, and the plan of salvation that had been lost or obscured. The plates were therefore not just a translation source. They were the preserved testimony of ancient prophets prepared to come forth in the last days to help prepare the world to receive the full blessings of the gospel, including temples, priesthood authority, and covenant relationships with Jesus Christ.
Is it really a credible explanation that the plates and translation instruments were preserved for centuries only for Joseph Smith to use a different stone instead?
This question assumes that we actually know which seer stones were used. It assumes the specific object used during moments of the translation is a relevant issue. But the focus was never the tool. The translation occurred by the gift and power of God. Different instruments could assist in that revelatory process, but the authority and message did not come from the objects themselves.
The plates served their essential purpose. They preserved the ancient record. They established witnesses that the record was real. They connected the Book of Mormon to a genuine historical tradition of prophets who had engraved their testimony for a future generation.
In other words, the plates preserved the record, the witnesses confirmed the reality of the artifact, and the revelatory process brought the message to the world. The importance of the Book of Mormon has never rested on which instrument Joseph used at a particular moment, but on the ancient testimony of Jesus Christ and the covenants with Him that the record restores.
More Resources for Responding to CES Letter Claims on the Translation of the Book of Mormon
- FAIR Sarah Allen’s Book of Mormon Translation Response
- Debunking CES Letter – Book of Mormon Translation
- Mormonr Book of Mormon Translation Methods
- Official Church of Jesus Christ o Latter-Day Saints Translation Account
- Answering the Critics Book of Mormon Translation
- Light and Truth Letter – Book of Mormon
- Anti Anti-Mormon Book of Mormon Translation