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How did Joseph Smith say that he translated the Book of Mormon?
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Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Mormon temple, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Joseph Smith stated that he did not compose the Book of Mormon himself but rather translated it under divine guidance.12
According to his account, he was instructed by the angel Moroni to translate the characters engraved on the surface of golden plates he had discovered. To perform this translation, Smith used special stones referred to as "interpreters". He completed the work in less than 90 days and published the volume in March 1830.12