Most students of Mormonism know that Joseph Smith claimed to have the ability to translate ancient documents, specifically to produce the Book of Mormon and portions of both the Pearl of Great Price and the Doctrine and Covenants (Section 7 in particular.) A deeper investigation into Mormon history shows that Joseph Smith also tried to “translate” some hoax tablets called the Kinderhook Plates.
Many do not know, however, that Joseph Smith claimed he could translate a psalter (ancient book of the Psalms) written in Greek — except he said they were actually a dictionary of Egyptian hieroglyphics. Read several accounts of this 1842 incident here (including an illustration from the book written by the man who presented the Greek psalter to Joseph Smith in order to show he could not translate.)
For more information, see The Mormon Mirage 3rd Edition: A Former Member Looks at the Mormon Church Today(Zondervan, 2009). Also available as an audiobook and as an expanded-text E-book for Nook, Kindle and other reading devices.
