Twelve decorative stones each displayed a carved name of an Israelite tribe (Rueben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Isaachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph, Benjamin). Our global marketplace is a vibrant community of real people, ranging from makers and independent designers to creative entrepreneurs, connecting over special goods so you can browse the latest urim and thummim stones listings by Etsy sellers from, not just all corners of India, but also around the world. Afew of these accounts are presented or summarized below. Holman Christian Standard Bible (15% off), Sale Price 378 Among other things we inquired minutely about the [begin p. 7] Urim and Thummim and the breastplate. on the front of the ephod (q.v. Urim and Thummim are fortune-telling stones that Melchizedek gives to Santiago. Her heart for seekers and skeptics has led her to seek truth and share it with others. Both say the stones were white and set in along silver frame. This was in contrast to Moses, who was believed to speak to God directly, and indicated that Joshua would not normally receive direct revelation. There are no firsthand descriptions of the interpreters from Oliver Cowdery. Prayer requests and praise reports in conjunction with Live Prayer every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It also requires an understanding of how words such as glasses, transparent, and diamonds were used in JosephSmiths day, particularly in reference to seer stones. October 2015 Joseph the Seer By Richard E. Turley Jr., Assistant Church Historian and Recorder, Robin S. Jensen and Mark Ashurst-McGee, Church History Department The historical record clarifies how Joseph Smith fulfilled his role as a seer and translated the Book of Mormon. It agrees with these accounts and with Mosiah 8:13 in indicating that the interpreters were used by looking into them rather than through them or at their surfaces. FREE shipping Add to Favorites . This suggests, at least, that Whitmer and Harris had similar visual recollections of the interpreters. v t e In the Hebrew Bible, the Urim ( Hebrew: rm, "lights") and the Thummim ( Hebrew: Tummm, meaning uncertain, possibly "perfections") are elements of the hoshen, the breastplate worn by the High Priest attached to the ephod. To this scroll Joseph applied his peep-stone or "Urim-Thummim" and made out a translation purporting to be a vision of Abraham in which the modern theory . .bdtvmegamenu.main-nav > li > a{font-size:13px;letter-spacing:2px;color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-transform:uppercase;}.bdtvmegamenu.main-nav > li > a .link-ext{background:#b88d0e;}.bdtvmegamenu.main-nav > li > a:hover{color:#b88d0e;}. Public collections can be seen by the public, including other shoppers, and may show up in recommendations and other places. Read more var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? Descriptions of the interpreters as diamonds were also acceptable within the cultural context in which they were written. Original Price 249,355 Amazon.com: Urim And Thummim Stones 1-48 of 114 results for "urim and thummim stones" Results Price and other details may vary based on product size and color. Their use. EIN: 46-0869962. Here the interpreters are simply two stones in silver bows. An article published by JosephSmith as Church History in Times and Seasons in March 1842 includes greater detail: With the records was found acurious instrument which the ancients called Urim and Thummim, which consisted of two transparent stones set in the rim of abow fastened to abreastplate.40. The seemingly self-contradictory statement in the Auburn Free Press article suggests asecond possible meaning of transparent in JosephSmiths account. Whether astone is transparent to physical light becomes irrelevant once it is placed in ahat and the light excluded. The stone disappears in the darkness and anything that is seen must be seen, in David Whitmers words, by the spiritual light of avision.52 According to areport of an interview by James H. Hart in 1884, Whitmer described the disappearing act of JosephSmiths seer stone as it was replaced by avision of sacred text: The way it was done was thus: Joseph would place the seer-stone in adeep hat, and placing his face close to it, would see, not the stone, but what appeared like an oblong piece of parchment, on which the hieroglyphics would appear, and also the translation in the English language When the seer-stone was not placed in ahat, no characters or writing could be seen therein.53. Because of their ambiguous language, these passages are ultimately of little help in evaluating the disparate nineteenth century descriptions of the interpreter stones. The stones were white, like polished marble, with afew gray streaks. By Paracelsus (1493-1541) . In Hebrew, Urim means "lights" and Thummim means "perfection." These are the most detailed descriptions of the interpreters attributed to David Whitmer. We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. This was the world in which JosephSmith developed his gift of seeing, and he and others used the vocabulary of that world to describe the ancient seer stones that constituted the interpreters. 2023 The Interpreter Foundation. Some sellers on Etsy also offer personalized, made-to-order items in case youve found something you love but want to make it even more uniquely yours. Youll see ad results based on factors like relevance, and the amount sellers pay per click. It was struck from the 1845 manuscript and omitted from the corrected history, which was published in book form in 1902.58. View Etsys Privacy Policy. [1] Perhaps the presence of the Urim and Thummim in Israelite society was a test, much like how God had Israel settle among idolatrous nations. Learn more. How this process worked has been a matter of discussion. Original Price 688 It was their way of deferring ultimate leadership to Gods will. She also hosts a YouTube channel that shows how history and archaeology prove the Bible. Martin Harris described them as white, like polished marble, with afew gray streaks, set in asilver frame about eight inches long.3 An account attributed to Lucy MackSmith describes them as smooth three-cornered diamonds set in glasses.4 Orson Pratt described them as two transparent stones, clear as crystal.5 It is the image of clear eyeglasses suggested by the latter two descriptions that has most inspired the imaginations of artists and Sunday school teachers. There may be different types of urim and thummim stones sold by sellers on Etsy, and youll be sure to find something that fits your needs and aesthetic perfectly. When not in use the Urim and Thummim was placed in this pocket, the rod being of just the right length to allow it to be so deposited. They were a part of the high priests outfit (Exodus 28) and appear to be the reason the priests breast piece was created: the breast piece for making decisions (Exodus 28:15). He likely would have been permitted to observe Joseph translating. Urim means "light" as mentioned above. For example, the earliest known account of JosephSmiths method of translating mentions both the extraordinary size of the spectacles as well as how they were used. USA BrighamYoung believed the manuscripts of Lucys history contained errors and requested that Church historian GeorgeA.Smith produce acorrected text for publication.57 The description of the interpreters as three-cornered diamonds was apparently one of those errors. In 1 Samuel 14:36-46, King Saul inquires of God by the Urim and Thummim. Smith said he used what he called Urim and Thummim, two stones set in a frame like a set of large spectacles. Stones come in a plastic bag with information about them. It's a couple of paragraphs from Dr. Bruce Waltke's excellent book (which I highly recommend), entitled, "Finding the Will of God" (pp. In the same account, he also described JosephSmiths own seer stone as transparent while in use: In this stone he could see many things to my certain knowledge.51. , God gave to Brother Joseph the gift to see the sentences in English, when he looked into the hat in which was placed the stone. In alater (1845) manuscript of Lucy MackSmiths history, 2 smooth stones is replaced with two smooth three-cornered diamonds set in glasses, and the glasses were set in silver bows.56 Asimilar phrase, but with glass instead of glasses, was also inserted in blue ink into the earlier, dictated manuscript of her history. The instrument caused astrain on Josephs eyes, and he sometimes resorted to the plan of covering his eyes with ahat to exclude the light in part. The idea that the stones were three-cornered in shape likewise lacks support from other accounts. Shape and size may vary slightly. As recorded at Leviticus 8:8, Moses, after placing the breastpiece upon Aaron, put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece.While the Hebrew preposition here translated "in" can be rendered "upon," the same word is used at Exodus 25:16 in speaking of . When God doesnt respond, Saul gathers the nation for prayer and then sets designations for the Urim and Thummim Urim will mean Saul, Thummim will mean Jonathan then the scriptures say they cast the lot between them. What they were made of, how many of them there were, and their exact function are areas of debate. Moreover, in the interior of ahat pulled closely around his face to exclude the light in aroom lit only by candle or lamplight, the stones would probably not have been seen, much less seen through in the normal sense. He says that rebellion is like the sin of divination (1 Samuel 15:22-23). As mentioned above, she once referred to aneighbors green seer stone as aglass. Get plugged into our global community of daily devoted Bible thumpers. While JosephSmith referred to the interpreters functionally as spectacles in his 1832 history, he gave apurely physical description in the Manuscript History of the Church. Atranslucent alabaster stone matching Harriss description of white, like polished marble, with afew gray streaks29. The term "Urim and Thummim" is usually used by Latter Day Saints members to refer to the "interpreters" mentioned in the Book of Mormon. The account was dictated by him and read back to him to check for errors in transcription.28 Few if any of the other witness descriptions of the interpreters received this degree of verification. Martha Jane Coray and her husband Howard apparently composed the 1845 manuscript based on the original (dictated) manuscript as well as other notes and sources. The Rabbis understood the Urim and Tummim to be part of the breastplate of . Those partners may have their own information theyve collected about you. Etsy is powered by 100% renewable electricity. The LDS Bible Dictionary defines a Urim and Thummim as "an instrument prepared of God to assist man in obtaining revelation from the Lord and in translating languages." The main difference is that the descriptions attributed to WilliamSmith mention two lengths of wire extending between the stones, while Harris mentions asingle round bar. All these detailed descriptions refer to the interpreters simply as stones (not diamonds, glasses, or spectacles) and describe them as set too far apart to be worn like eyeglasses. The interpreter stones, described by Harris as white, like polished marble, with afew gray streaks, may have been similar in appearance to Tabriz marble. A treasure hunt for "the" Urim and Thummim (as a unique artifact) forms the central plot of the John Bellairs novel The Revenge of the Wizard's Ghost. Here's probably the best word on the Urim and Thummim. Personalised advertising may be considered a sale or sharing of information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have a right to opt out. The Jewish Roman historian Flavius Josephus (Antiquities 3:216-218) links the breast piece with a special manifestation of Gods presence that involved the glowing of the stones on the breast piece and on the shoulders of the high priest. t +1 519-940-8338. Some scholars have suggested "the" Urim and Thummim consists of two crystals; however, the precise nature of the medium is unknown to most secular scholars. Urim . Three accounts of interviews with Whitmer include detailed descriptions of the interpreters. In either case, Urim and Thummim is not mentioned specifically in Biblical text in regard to this calling. The interpreters are described by Mormon as two seer stones fastened together: And now he translated them by the means of those two stones which were fastened into the two rims of abow And whosoever has these things is called seer, after the manner of old times. Corie Bobechko is a daily co-host, speaker, and writer of Bible Discovery. Except for the instrument used, their descriptions of the translation process agree quite well with David Whitmers. Keep in mind that anyone can view public collections- they may also appear in recommendations and other places. FREE shipping Add to Favorites . The section of the article that includes the description of the interpreters was taken with some modification from an earlier publication by Orson Pratt, A[n] Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions, and of the Late Discovery of Ancient American Records. Asummary of the interview was recorded in an 1831 letter. All of our articles are available thanks to your generous donations. Martin Harris described them as two white, marble-like stones that could be looked into when placed in ahat. Christian Standard Bible Place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece for decisions, so that they will also be over Aaron's heart whenever he comes before the LORD. We remained with him at his home in Osterdock, Iowa, for several days, and our conversation often turned upon the early scenes with which he and his fathers family were connected during the rise of the church. The portion of this history describing the interpreters was first published in Times and Seasons in April 1842: [Page 232]Also that there were two stones in silver bows, and these stones fastened to abreastplate constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim.39. In addition, Martin Harriss description was personally dictated and then checked for accuracy, while the description attributed to Lucy MackSmith was likely composed by someone else.6. They were not clear like eyeglasses but were transparent in the sense that they, like other seer stones, could be looked into by aperson gifted as aseer of visions. Here the two stones are transparent and set in the rim of abow. Although JosephSmith may have written parts of Church History himself or more likely dictated them to one of his scribes, some of the text was borrowed from at least one other source. Thus, there is no obvious reason for the interpreter stones to have been clear, as Pratt described them. In the discussion above, Ihave reviewed all the historical accounts that contain detailed descriptions of the interpreters and are attributed to persons who may have seen or handled the instrument. God provided a Urim and Thummim to His prophets in ancient times (see Exodus 28:30; 1 Samuel 28:6; Ezra 2:63 ). [Page 230]Harris describes the interpreter stones as white and marble-like with gray streaking. Jones is ambivalent as to whether the stones were looked into or through, but either word works in describing how aseer sees visions [Page 239]with astone. 1 David Whitmer provided the most detailed account of the process of translation. Within the fold of the High Priest 's breastplate were the Urim and Thummim (lights and perfections). You can find more details in the description section on the right side of every listing page, including the delivery and return policies, to help you make an informed decision during your shopping experience. 1 According to most traditions, the Urim and Thummim were a piece of parchment with Gd 's four-letter name written on it. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. Nor is there any reference to the . An 1830 article in the Auburn Free Press states that JosephSmith translated by looking through two semi-transparent stones.44, Stones that are semi-transparent, by definition cannot be looked through in the usual sense. Stevensons account agrees that the interpreters were too large to be used as spectacles. It agrees with Mosiah 8:13 in suggesting the stones might be used to see or look for things that one ought not. In addition, the account is specific, with the most detailed and precise description of the interpreters of any surviving account. All research and opinions provided on this site are the sole responsibility of their respective authors, and should not be interpreted as the opinions of the Board, nor as official statements of Latter-day Saint doctrine, belief or practice. var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-7775239-1");pageTracker._trackPageview(); In the Book of Mormon the prophets Ether and Mosiah both used devices called "Urim and Thummim" to receive revelation for their people. PO Box 150, Murrysville PA 15668-0150 There were other errors in the report, and Whitmer soon wrote aletter of correction to the editor: I notice several errors in the interview had with me by one of your reporters as published in the DAILY JOURNAL of June 5th, 81, and wish to correct them. In the world of aNew York seer, adiamond was aseer stone, glasses were placed in hats to see visions, and what was transparent was not always clear. Now he Bing an unlearned man did not know what to Do. None of the descriptions of the interpreters in these accounts can be taken at face value, except for JosephSmiths description in the Manuscript History of the Church, Lucy MackSmiths description in the original 18441845 dictated manuscript of her history, and Martin Harriss 1859 description. 1. All content by The Interpreter Foundation, unless otherwise specified, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Oliver Cowdery was interviewed by Josiah Jones in 1830. That by looking through these, he was able to read in English, the reformed Egyptian characters, which were engraved on the plates.71. Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. The phrases inquiring of the Lord and casting lots may refer to the use of the Urim and Thummim, depending on context. The high priest wore the breastplate (breastpiece, RSV, NEB) of judgment (q.v.) On occasion, Whitmer issued corrections to statements he was purported to have made. They are second- or thirdhand at best, and were recorded decades after the interview with WilliamSmith, on which they were based. Like Joseph Knight, Benton refers to JosephSmiths own seer stone as aglass. He refers to the interpreters as two transparent stones, resembling glass. He does not say how they resembled glass. Bentons understanding that JosephSmith used the stones by looking through them may have led him to assume the stones were clear, and that assumption may have in turn influenced the language he used in his summary. (Mosiah 28:13, 16). And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. This seems bolstered by their association with casting lots. 3,470, 3,856 The other seer stone [Page 224]JosephSmith sometimes used in his revelatory work has also been described quite well. In calling the interpreters glasses, he was not likely thinking of eyeglasses as JosephSmith had been, since eyeglasses were usually called spectacles, not glasses. The Urim and Thummim is also thought to be a Hebrew oracular device, used in the following manner: "The twelve stones in the breastplate, with their bright colors, were of great importance in the oracular sentences of the high priest, who by means of these stones made the Urim and Thummim exercise their functions" according to Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews. Overview An ancient instrument or tool prepared by God and used by Joseph Smith to aid in the translation of the Book of Mormon. Urim and Thummim, generally translated as "lights and perfections" or "revelation and truth" were a scrying medium or divinationprocess used by ancient Hebrews (usually Israelites) in revealing the will of God on a contested point of view or other problem. Upon the death of Aaron and Moses, Joshua was instructed to present himself to the high priest for the counsel of the Urim and Thummim when he wished to consult God. Two descriptive phrases that have disproportionately influenced the popular perception of the interpreters three-cornered diamonds set in glass and clear as crystal are especially dubious. These three descriptions were dictated or reviewed by the respective witnesses and use relatively unambiguous language. . Scriptures Scripture References Doctrine and Covenants 6:11, 14-16 Doctrine and Covenants 10:1 They may have also been similar in their color and optical qualities to JosephSmiths own white seer stone. Casting lots was also a pagan form of divination (cleromancy) and as such was actually outlawed by the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 19:26, Deuteronomy 18:9-15). 13,521, 15,907 To enable personalised advertising (like interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. The first place it is mentioned is in the book of Exodus in relation to the unique and special clothing worn by the High Priest of Israel. Monthly letters and recent news from Bible Discovery's lead pastor. It is my understanding that the stone refer[r]ed to was furnished him when he commenced translating again after losing the 116 pages. By examining the interpreter stones through acloth, Lucy could have only speculated that they were made of diamonds or glass. (Mosiah8:13). In ancient Israel the stones were part of the breastplate worn by the high priest of the Aaronic Priesthood. Jesus later healed a blind man by applying spittle to the man's eyes. The report represents Whitmer as describing the translation of the BookofMormon as follows: In translating from the plates, JosephSmith looked through the Urim and Thummim, consisting of two transparent pebbles set in the rim of abow, fastened to abreastplate. This description of the translation is uncharacteristic of DavidWhitmer, who, in the most credible statements attributed to him, spoke of JosephSmith using asingle seer stone and hat, not the interpreters.69 The reporter may have augmented his recollection of Whitmers words with other sources. Yale's Coat of Arms -- The Biblical Hebrew "Urim and Thummim" is emblazoned across the open book pictured on the Yale shield, a legacy of Yale College president Ezra Stiles. First, its helpful to note that the Urim and Thummim were only to be used in the presence of God, by the High Priest and the leader of the nation for making national decisions. The device consisted of 12 crystals that worked with sound, light, and color. They are Stevensons words and represent his memory and understanding of ideas Harris had been trying to convey eleven years earlier. The English text of the BookofMormon is described as appearing in the stone, not because the stone becomes aviewing device, but because the stone is no longer seen, being replaced by avisioned document. were the twelve stones on the breastplate. It agrees with these accounts in indicating that the interpreters were used, not by wearing them like eyeglasses, but by placing them in ahat.
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