Monday, August 23, 2021

Differences in the "Essential Formula" (Wording) of the Sacramental Prayers in the 3 Church-Approved Translations of the Japanese Book of Mormon

There have been three Church-approved translations of the Book of Mormon in the Japanese language:

 

Taylor’s translation (started in 1904; completed in 1909)

 

Satō Tatsui’s translation (published May 30, 1957)

 

Current translation (mid-1980s)

 

Interestingly, for those interested in sacramental theology, there are some important differences in the “essential formula” (the wording that must be said for an ordinance/sacrament to be confected), showing that the Church has allowed for some fluidity in the essential form from one translation of the Book of Mormon in Japanese to another:

 

Translations of Sacrament Prayers on Bread

 

Taylor's Translation:

 

Eien no tempu naru Kami yo,

Warera Onko Iesu Kirisuto no mina ni yorite

negaitatematsuraku wa,

Subete kono pan o azukari kurau hitobito ga,

Onko no karanda no kinen ni kore o kurau koto

o uru yō,

Mata tsuneni Onko no mitama o onorera to

tomo ni arashimen tame,

Onko no mina o amanji ukete

Tsuneni Onko o kinen shi,

Sono kudashitamaishi imashime o mamoru o

Nanji ni seiyaku suru koto o uru yō,

Kono pan o karera no kokoro no tame ni

iwaikiyometamawan koto o

Amen

 

Literal English Meaning of Taylor's Translation:

 

O God, the Eternal Father,

That which we ask in the name of Thy Son

Jesus Christ,

Is that all people who receive and eat this bread

So that they may eat in remembrance of Thy body,

And in order that the Spirit of Thy Son may

always be with them,

Willingly taking upon them the name of Thy Son

Always remembering Thy Son,

So that they may take upon themselves a covenant with Thee to obey

His commandments,

We pray Thou wilt bless and sanctify this

bread for the benefit of their hearts.

Amen

 

Satō's translation:

 

Eien no chichi naru Kami yo, Warera Onko Iesu Kirisuto no mina ni yorite negaitatematsuru, Koko ni kono pan o itadaku subete no hitobito ga, Onko no karada no kinen ni kore o itadaku yō, Mata yorokobite Oko no mina o uke, Onko o tsuneni wasurezu, Mata sono kudashitamaeru imashime o mamoru koto o Eien no chichi naru Kami no onmae ni shōmei shi, Kakushite Onko no "Mitama" tsueni ichidō to tomo ni mashimasu yō Kono pan o iwaikiyometamae. Amen.

 

Literal English Meaning of Satō's Translation:

 

O God, the Eternal Father, We humbly ask Thee in the name of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, That all of the people who partake here of his bread So that they may partake of it in remembrance of the body of Thy Son, And gladly receive the name of Thy Son, Never forgetting Him, And that they will keep the commandments which He has given them, They witness before Thee, O God the Eternal Father, So that they will always have the "Spirit" of Thy Son with them, We implore thee to bless and sanctify this bread. Amen.

 

Current Translation:

 

Eien no chichi naur Kami yo, Watashitachi wa Onko Iesu Kirisuto no mina ni yotte Anata ni negaimotomemasu. Kono pan wo itadaku subete no hitobito ga, Onko no karada no kinen ni kore o itadakery yō ni, meta susunde Onko no mina o uke, Itsumo Onko o oboe, Onko ga ataete kudasatta imashime o mamoru koto o Eien no chichi naru Kami yo, anata no shōmei shite, Itsumo Onko no mitama o ukerareru yō ni, Kono pan o shukufuku shi, kiyomete kudasai. Amen.

 

Literal English Meaning of Current Translation:

 

O God, the Eternal Father, We ask You in the name of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, That all of the people who partake of this bread, So that they may partake of it in remembrance of the body of Thy Son, And willingly taken upon them the name of Thy Son, Always remembering Thy Son, To keep the commandments which Thy Son has given them, They witness unto You, O God the Eternal Father, So that they may always receive Thy Son's spirit, Please bless and sanctify this bread. Amen. (Van C. Gessel, “Languages of the Lord: The Japanese Translations of the Book of Mormon,” in Reid L. Neilson and Van C. Gessel, Taking the Gospel to the Japanese: 1901 to 2001 [Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 2006], 233-61, here, pp. 256-58)

 

On the topic of Eucharistic theology, be sure to check out my book-length discussion of the topic:

 

Do This in Memory of Me: A Biblical and Historical Analysis of Roman Catholic Dogmatic Teachings Concerning the Eucharist and Sacrifice of the Mass

 

(for those who want a PDF of this book for free, you can email me at ScripturalMormonismATgmailDOTcom)

 

Further Reading

 

Examples of Changes to the "Form" (Wording) of Ordinances