Project will show original manuscript copies

Third in a seriesNote: Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Seventy, church historian and recorder, has called The Joseph Smith Papers project "the single most significant historical project of our generation." This article, part of an ongoing series, examines the "Revelations and Translations" volumes in the project.Of all the papers produced by Joseph Smith, none have had a greater and more lasting impact upon Latter-day Saints than the revelations he received from God and the translations of ancient scripture he produced by divine gift and power."Mormons are tied to their scriptures, and if you think about the Standard Works that we carry to Sunday School every week, you realize these manuscripts are vitally important for our history of Joseph Smith," said Robin Jensen, an editor of the first volume in the "Revelations and Translations" series in The Joseph Smith Papers project.Jensen and his colleagues in the Church History Department have undertaken a textual study of these divine documents, which include manuscripts of the Book of Mormon, the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, the Book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price, the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants, and others."Some of these documents are among the earliest surviving record-keeping endeavors of Joseph Smith's life," he said. "We have a few letters and business papers, but the bulk of the first three years or so of his prophetic career are scripture, whether it's revelations or translations."Read the full story at www.ldscurchnews.com

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