SURAN INTRO - RUMAN'S INTRO TO THE AKLATAN

At long last, we're finally into the actual text of the Akaltan! (It only took 6+ months ; )

Right off the bat, we're introduced to Ruman, the equivalent of a Mormon-Moroni character--the final believer and record keeper as well as compiler, abridger, and narrator of the Aklatan. As with Mormon in the Book of Mormon, whenever we hear things in a narrative, third-person voice, it'll almost always be Ruman speaking. His introduction here is also similar to Moroni's "Title Page", as it explains his method and purpose for compiling this record.

Method
Ruman says that he wrote on copper sheets so that the record would last until it's revealed in future generations. (He'll explain more about how he fashioned these plates in his book at the end of the Aklatan.) He also tells that he wrote them in a language of his own creation--a code of sorts--so that if the sheets are found by the believers' enemies, who have sworn to destroy everything connected to the Gospel of Christ, they would neither comprehend the words nor their value.

This reminded me of the descriptions in the Book of Mormon of their method of recording. Lehi, the first record keeper (the English translation of his record being lost by Martin Harris), could read Egyptian:

For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these [brass] plates; for he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children... (Mosiah 1:4)

It doesn't specify, but "the language of the Egyptians" could mean any or all of these written forms: formal hieroglyphic, hieratic of religious texts, and/or early demotic of administrative, legal, and commercial documents.

(This is the same text written in the three systems.)




It's apparent from this that Lehi, and later Nephi, followed the pattern of the Brass Plates--Egyptian engravings on metal plates--to keep their own lasting records. Nephi explains their family code:

I, Nephi,... was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father;... therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.

Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians. (1 Nephi 1:1-2)

Though novel in 1829, this kind of mixed writing system--communicating one language in the symbols of another--now appears to have been prevalent in the ancient Mid-East at the time of Lehi and before, and Moroni explains why they wrote in Egyptian and that it'd been changed over the Nephite millennium to something like this:

And now, behold, we have written this record according to our knowledge, in the characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner of speech.

And if our plates had been sufficiently large we should have written in Hebrew; but the Hebrew hath been altered by us also; and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would have had no imperfection in our record.

But the Lord knoweth the things which we have written, and also that none other people knoweth our language; and because that none other people knoweth our language, therefore he hath prepared means for the interpretation thereof. (Mormon 9:32-34)

Which brings us full circle to Ruman. Echoing Moroni, Ruman also has faith that God would provide a means for his coded record to be translated and the Aklatan to be revealed to a chosen people in the future who would then lay the foundation for peace and prosperity.

Purpose
On the Title Page to the Book of Mormon, Moroni declares that the purpose of that record is 1) to remind remnant Israel of God's dealings and covenants with their ancestors and 2) to convince all that Jesus is the Christ. Ruman also explains that he compiled the stories, histories, and prophecies of the Aklatan 1) so that future generations and inhabitants of the islands would know the truth of their ancestors and God's word concerning them and 2) to bear witness that Jesus is the Son of God and that salvation comes through Him and His word. The similarities are striking.

Ruman then begins his record with the writings of the prophet Suran taken from a great scroll. The remainder of the record comes from many other scrolls, bamboo records, and other sacred writings in his possession that contain the words and preachings of many prophets. Like Mormon, Ruman has written only those things that the Holy Ghost testified were important to be preserved and passed on.

From archaeological, historical, and modern-day evidence from the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, etc., we can visualize these scrolls, bamboo records, and the like as similar to these:

EZEKIEL 1-9 - THE MILLENNIAL TEMPLE

In the 25th year of Judah's Babylonian captivity (572 BC), a 50-year-old Ezekiel receives one of the most amazing visions of the Bible (Ezekiel 40-48), one of the millennial temple at Jerusalem and the Lord's holy city. His tour guide, an angel ("man") with radiant bronze skin, escorts him throughout the temple compound, carefully noting every possible architectural measurement. Biblical scholars have debated whether this overload of architectural minutiae was merely to demonstrate the reality of Ezekiel's vision--that he couldn't have made it all up--or rather, that the Lord wanted it to serve as an actual blueprint for that same future temple and its surroundings--a prophecy, then, with great potential for self-fulfillment.

You can find hundreds of outlines, diagrams, and models of Ezekiel's temple online, and we could go on forever on all of the details and their possible significance. But I'll just post links to a few fun 3D models (except for the glory of God depicted as flying fiery wheels ; ), and add a few comments of interest. (All videos courtesy of Bible Prints.)

Ezekiel 40
Ezekiel 41
Ezekiel 42-43

First off, the temple is going to be quite a substantial construction. With a cubit equalling about a foot-and-a-half (give or take) and a reed equalling about six cubits (give or take), the outer wall of the temple sanctuary will enclose almost 1 1/2 square miles, or roughly the size of Central Park. The central temple compound itself is about 250 yards on each side, or enough area to fit about eight football fields. The chapters don't specify the height of the temple itself, only that it will have three stories of usable rooms; however, the gates of the compound will be about ten stories tall!

Ezekiel mentions in passing the "sons of Zadok", but it's not until Ch 5 (or 44) that their importance is discussed. In that chapter, the Lord chastises the priests of Judah for allowing foreigners, unbelievers, and the unrighteous into the temple. Essentially, the Lord's anointed ones, who should've personally kept the temple clean and pure, had passed the buck and delegated that responsibility to security guards and other temple workers. Apparently, the sons of Zadok were the only ones who cared for their charge and magnified their calling while the rest of Israel and Judah fell into apostasy. It's important to note that Zadok served as the first high priest of Solomon's temple and had previously anointed Solomon as king and aided his father, David, during wartime. The Dead Sea Scrolls speak much about "Sons of Zadok" as leaders in the Qumran community, and there was also a group of Zadok's descendants who immigrated to Egypt during Maccabean times to establish a new temple and righteous community. While all the rest of the priests and Levites followed their own paths, this direct lineage of the high priest seemed to have kept the faith down to intertestamental times, when control of the temple fell into disarray due to conquering foreign empires and internal strife. It is during this time that the Sadducees (Zadokites) gain predominance in both the religious and socio-political realms. However, it is historically doubtful that the Sadducean aristocracy grew from the line of the sons of Zadok; rather, it seems this sect either appropriated the title of Zadok or was founded by a later Zadok who lived in the 2nd century BC. In any case, there will be true sons of Zadok who will have the charge of offering sacrifices again in righteousness in God's millennial temple. (Or in a secondary, more metaphorical interpretation, where Zadok literally means "righteous" (e.g., Melchizedek = "my king is righteousness"), these sons of Zadok could also be simply righteous priesthood holders.)

Another unique feature of the temple will be a river flowing from beneath its foundation out into the Judean desert and emptying into the Dead Sea. This living water will bring life wherever it flows and heal both the desert and the Dead Sea to a point where trees (for food and medicine) and other vegetation will thrive along its banks and the Dead Sea will be full of fish to rival the Mediterranean. John the Revelator (Rev 22) and Zechariah (Ch 14) also saw this river--Zechariah noting that it would split and flow westward into the Mediterranean Sea, as well.

Israel is then divvied up among the twelve tribes, from Dan in the north to Gad in the south. Joseph, as the son of the birthright, is given a double portion (divided between Manasseh and Ephraim), and Levi is subsumed under Judah. The land surrounding the temple sanctuary (upwards of 2500 square miles) is also portioned out to the priests (sons of Zadok), Levites, and the city and farms of Jerusalem. (There is some question as to whether the priests' portion, and thus the temple, will be in the center or north of the plot. In either case, it's interesting to note that the temple will not be within the walls of the city, and the city will cover only half of modern-day Jerusalem.) The extra land on either side of Judah's allocation is given to the Prince, whose identity is left to speculation. Finally, while the King James Version translates the final verse describing the holy city, "and the name of the city from that day shall be, the Lord is there," the Aklatan renders it, "and the name of the city from that day shall be called, Holy; for the Lord shall be there." After scouring dozens of English translations, all were similar to the KJV except for one--Joseph Smith's Inspired Version, which translated it exactly the same as the Aklatan.

NEW FACEBOOK PAGE

Hi all -

Modern Apocrypha finally has it's own Facebook page (HERE)! (I've been meaning to do this for months.) It'll be a secondary venue to (more easily) share and discuss the topics presented here on the blog. All of the previous blog entries will remain solely here, but all subsequent ones will be posted both here and there. So, head on over, like it, discuss it, and share it with all your friends.

EZEKIEL & THE TEMPLE

In Visions 3, the Lord tells Elisha:

Now I give unto you a command. You shall read the words of Ezekiel written in the record of the Jews. And read those chapters forty through forty-eight. And as you read them I will show unto your mind the meaning thereof. And you shall include the words of Ezekiel in your writings, even at the beginning of the record which you shall translate. And this you shall do for a special purpose.

He doesn't elaborate on what that "special purpose" would be, but examining those chapters of Ezekiel, it's pretty clear it has to do with re-establishing the temple as a focal point of God's kingdom and putting forth a pattern for future temple construction and worship.

We'll see a similar pattern throughout the Aklatan, and these chapters of Ezekiel set a proper tone for the entire record.

1) Future Jerusalem -- Ezekiel sees the millennial temple of God in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 40-48)

2) Ancient Maharlika -- Suran and his sons are led to ancient records detailing pre-Israelite temple construction and worship, and build a temple and offer sacrifice after that pattern. (Suran 5, 8; Ahkman 12)

3) Present/Future Maharlika -- The Lord tells Ahkman that his descendants in the last days will build a temple as a precursor to the completion of His temple in Jerusalem. (Ahkman 7)

4) Future Jerusalem --  John the Revelator teaches Ruman that the temple he measured in Revelation 11 is the temple in Jerusalem that will be built in the last days after the pattern given by Ezekiel. (Ruman 5)

And so, the Aklatan itself is a complete historical and thematic arc or circle centered on past, present, and future temple worship and bookended by glorious visions of God's holy house.

THE AKLATAN & LDS CHURCH

There's been a good amount of discussion, online and elsewhere, of the Aklatan's place vis-à-vis the LDS Church. Elisha's answer to the "Mormon" question in his latest update triggered my memory that I wanted to post an experience recorded last year that gives an second perspective on this.

In a nutshell, Elisha claims no affiliation or connection with the LDS Church or the Book of Mormon. Rather, his mission and calling are specific to building Christ's island kingdom and restoring those people to their covenant relationship with Him through the Aklatan. This second witness is reported by someone who posts under the name captmoroni1981, and it gives an account of the LDS Church's take on the Aklatan--unofficially and off the record.

In spite of all the anonymity within the story, in the relating his experience, captmoroni definitely seems much more straightforward and declarative in his testimony and outwardly deferential than I am or probably would be in this situation. But I think it speaks to his sincerity or at least that which he'd like to portray.

Part 1 (HERE): meeting with his bishop
Part 2 (HERE): meeting with a seventy

We can get into the reasons behind this non-relationship between the Aklatan and the LDS Church in the comments, but I think there's an echo of Gamaliel and the Apostles (Acts 5) in all of this. As the great Pharisee defended Peter and the Apostles from execution by the Sanhedrin, he argued:

Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. (Acts 5: 38-39)

Joseph Smith also prophesied:

The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.

If the Aklatan is part of God's truth, and Elisha's calling is part of God's work, these previous statements represent good counsel.

UPDATE FROM ELISHA

Hi all. Just a quick post before we delve into the actual text of the Aklatan. Elisha just posted on the official website to answer a few questions (find it HERE). Without reposting the whole thing here, I'll give some of the highlights and let you check out the details.

Where is Elisha Enoc?
Traveling all over Maharlika helping people and spreading the message of Christ. He says he "[doesn't] have a lot of time left." I don't know if that means he feels he won't live much longer, or if there's another event on the horizon, and he's trying to get as much work done as possible before that.

Why isn't Elisha more active online?
Answering questions online isn't his greatest priority; ministering to the people is. God's work should be the focus, not him.

Who runs your website?
A couple of close friends, who have their own lives and families. They want to get more people involved in their online operations. You can volunteer to help out HERE.

I don't live in the Philippines, how can I help support the Aklatan?
Read and share it (esp. with Maharlikans: people and descendants of the Philippines, Taiwan, Borneo, Palau, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and Micronesia). For Maharlikans, help establish the designated international communities in California (San Luis Obispo/Santa Barbara counties), Spain (Galicia/Canary Islands), and Japan (Okinawa). (These were announced and specified HERE).

Why is the Kingdom named the Kingdom of Maharlika? Wasn't that something Marcos developed?
Here's the entire answer:

It is true that Maharlika was (mis)used by Ferdinand Marcos. It is an ancient Tagalog word used to refer to the warrior class. This is a name that we have chosen to refer to the Kingdom. The modern kingdom was never given a specific name however the ancient followers of Christ took on the name "Mahardika" as spoken of by Namwaran. More information about this will be known as more of the Aklatan is published. But it is true that the name "Kingdom of Maharlika" is a modern name not an ancient one.

Does the Aklatan support the Book of Mormon/Mormon Church?
"There have been a lot of questions and comments by Mormons about the Aklatan," (*newby raises his hand*) but the specific purpose of the Aklatan is to reestablish Christ's kingdom in Maharlika. Once that purpose is accomplished, God will do what He wants with the book.

What is this I have read about twelve women?
Liwan prophesied of twelve women living today, who will travel throughout the islands to minister and reestablish the kingdom; however, they don't know about the Aklatan or their callings yet. They are key to the work, but it's up to us to find them.

ELISHA'S CHARACTER

Now that we're done with Elisha's story, I'd like to point out a few of his qualities & characteristics that stood out to me from the Book of Visions. I know it's a first-person narrative and a potentially biased portrayal (consciously or not), but I think we can gain some insight into the "character" of Elisha through a quick retrospective. (This list of qualities is in no particular order, just as they came to me in reading the text. I'm sure you'd be able to find other descriptive terms.) Here's how I see Elisha:

Visionary
- sees a vision of the copper sheets in the cave
- Christ visits him
- sees a vision of the whole of the island kingdom with Christ
- translates the copper sheets in a dream-state (The dream-vision connection reminded me of Lehi's "Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision.")

Skeptical/analytical
- checks his vision of the cave with his family to make sure he wasn't hallucinating
- wants to take the plates to a university for testing
- skeptical of Oleeha and how he knew everything
- thinks it was all a hoax or trick being played on him
- thinks it curious that the three men couldn't tell their names

- questions why he has to be baptized a second time and what the priesthood is all about

- but accepts the men's explanation as logical

- doesn't know whether his speaking in tongues was truth or gibberish
- surprised to have to wait 20 years to publish the Aklatan

Susceptible to/follows the Spirit
- led by the Spirit to the cave and leaves when prompted
- Christ says the Spirit had inspired him from time to time
- feels warmth and power upon receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and begins speaking in tongues
- able to translate the copper sheets via the Spirit

Trustworthy/faithful/obedient/diligent
- doesn't reveal the location of the cave
- doesn't speak of the cave or Oleeha for 3 months
- given a huge responsibility to bring forth this record and preach Christ
- tried all his life to live God's commandments
- sells his things and gives the money to the poor as commanded
- writes down Christ's words as commanded
- begins preaching right away in the region
- follows the directions of the three men
- studies the scriptures
- spends every night for 8 months translating the copper sheets
- waits 20 years to publish the Aklatan

Believing
- tried all his life to live God's commandments

- knows the Bible and believes it to be the word of God

- believes when taught that there's more to God's word than the Bible
- believes that he needs to be baptized again and receive the priesthood

- believes the men when they say he spoke truth through the gift of tongues

- continues to read the scriptures

Humble
- recognizes his sins and imperfection before Christ
- doesn't know how he can do all this
- doesn't claim to be wealthy, powerful, or influential
- sells his things and gives the money to the poor

- quickly changes his point of view when taught that there's more to God's word than the Bible, or that he needs to be baptized again and receive the priesthood

Apostle/prophet
- called by Christ as a special apostle to people of the islands
- is to declare the Lord's commands to His people

Generous
- sells his things and gives the money to the poor

Inquisitive/curious/thoughtful
- asks questions and clarifications of Christ
- thinks it curious that the three men couldn't tell their names

- questions why he has to be baptized a second time and what the priesthood is all about
- ponders for hours about the visit of the three men 

VISIONS 6 - THE LONG WAIT

On Saturday, 21 November 1987, after nearly eight whole months of translating, Elisha completes the record, and is visited again by Oleeha, who, again, knows everything that has taken place. Elisha makes it a point to relate that he was awake this time for Oleeha's visit, but it's still unclear when he first entered his dream-state back on April 6. Did he fall asleep reading his Bible (very plausible ; ) even before Oleeha comes, or during their talk before translation, or after that first instruction in God's method of translation? I don't know.

In any case, Oleeha reiterates what the Lord had already told him about the publication process (Visions 3, Part 5), that only a portion would be included in the first edition, and even that would have to wait twenty years. He instructs Elisha to call the record "The Aklatan", meaning "library" or "collection of books" (we discussed this back in Introduction, Part 1), and tells him which books to include first. Christ had explained that this piecemeal process will be a test of faith for His people in accepting not only these new scriptures, but also Elisha as His prophet.

And If My people shall receive it with glad hearts, and do all the things I shall command them through you; then you shall publish more of the record. Even until all the record shall be published. (Visions 3, Part 5)

Elisha has posted HERE what trigger events need to transpire to allow more to be released, but I'll add the chart here, too. (Those events in bold and underlined occurred during the second half of 2013, and the accompanying books were published in the 2nd edition.)

The Great Scroll of Suran	After land has been acquired to build the temple.
The History of the Ophir	After ministry are established in each of the six areas of the Kingdom.
The rest of the Book of Ahkman	During the large gathering of believers
The rest of the Book Arakim	After the Filipino communities in America have been established.
The Book of Kimesh	After the Filipino communities have been established in Europe
The Gospel Written by Angulu	After a great number of men begin to travel around to share the Aklatan.
The Gospel Written by Taletan	At a large gathering with representatives from all six areas of Maharlika.
A Record of the Twelve Women	After a great number of women begin to travel around to share the Aklatan.
The Prophecies of Telemek	After the first pilgrimage has been completed.
The Book of Datara	After the Warriors of the Darkness are re-established and strong in numbers.
The Book of Kilinga	After Temple construction had begun.
The Preserved Record of Algapo	Just before beginning the friendship ministry to the Muslims in Mindanao.
The rest of the Book of Namwaran	After cities for believers have begun to be built.
The Record of the Ancients	After the Kingdom of Maharlika is completed

I started to wonder what it would've been like had the Book of Mormon been published in this same way but then quickly remembered that it had. A large portion was published in 1829, and we consider that the entire record, but time and again in the text itself, we are promised to receive more records (those of lost tribes, more of Christ's words during His Bountiful visit, the sealed portion of the plates, etc.) according to our faith in accepting the first. (We might even get to have the Book of Lehi back ; ) The Aklatan is the first of these purporting to be a record of lost tribes that we're exploring here in this blog, but there are others that we'll get to in due time. Pray and exercise your faith so that we can receive more!

Elisha again notes his surprise that such a long waiting period is necessary, even though Christ told him the same thing over a year ago. I'm assuming this is a continuation of the surprise he must've felt when he first found out. I know I would've been too overwhelmed at that visit to show much emotion other than only mustering blank looks, nods, and "uh-huh's". But Oleeha explains that the people of the islands need a time of preparation to receive the record and take up the work. During the interim, Elisha will "begin other works to bring forth God's purposes"--preaching, gathering, translating, etc. Remember that we discussed in passing "another work of translation" that Christ said Elisha would help with five years from that time (1986) (Visions 3, Part 5). I don't know what that would be but seems to be something other than a record of the people of the islands.

So, what has happened in the 1987-2007 period to prepare the people of the Philippines?









1986 - Marcos ousted, and a new republic established.
1987 - New constitution ratified, but the recovery process from Marcos' rule in uniting various political factions is difficult
1991 - Mt Pinatubo erupts, killing over 800, leaving 200,000 homeless and 650,000 unemployed
1992 - US military presence officially ends
1994-96 - Peace achieved with separatist and militant groups
1998 - Election of a president who favors the poor and economic growth
2000 - War against militant groups
2001 - That president is forced to resign for corruption
2001-07 - Coalition politics, military mutinies, etc.
2007-present - economic growth, political influence in the region, etc.
It definitely hasn't been all puppy dogs, fluffy clouds, and rainbows, and there still remain major poverty issues, but there has been much change, maturation, and growth in these islands since 1986. The Lord feels that the people of the islands are now prepared enough to accept Him fully and move forward in establishing His kingdom.

VISIONS 5 - TRANSLATION PROCESS

Ten weeks after the experience with the three men, it's Monday night, 6 April 1987 (a date well-known and significant to LDS readers, and the day after Pres Ezra Taft Benson gave his concluding General Conference talk (found HERE) on the role of the scriptures of the Restoration in the gathering of Israel and instruction of the plan of salvation). Elisha is having a single-person-style FHE, studying his scriptures, when he notices movement outside his house. (He still has a home even after selling all his belongings.) Ignorant, brave, curious, stupid, or whatever, he opens his door to see what was moving in the dark and, luckily, only finds Oleeha standing there. (Again, he refers to him as American.)

I think it's interesting that Oleeha seems to be loitering outside the house and doesn't knock. I don't know if there's anything there to read into (e.g., he needed to be invited in, à la vampire mythology), or maybe it's just that his arms were full with the stack of copper sheets he'd brought to Elisha for translation and didn't want to rudely kick-knock a probably flimsy door ; )

Now here's a rhetorical question, but with all of these ancient records needing translation (e.g., Jaredite, Nephite, Aklatan, etc.), why doesn't the Lord simply provide correct translations for everyone in their own language at once? Why does he go through the all the trouble and complications of human assistants and instrumentation? My best suggestion is that as a loving Father wishing for our progress, He provides experiential opportunities for the righteous exercise of faith and agency. The translation process is one of those situations: faith and an eye single to the God's glory are necessary on both the part of the translator and reader.

So, Oleeha puts the copper sheets on a table, asks Elisha to get paper and pencil (ah, the pre-computer age), and begins instructing him in how to translate. He first shows Elisha "man's way of translating"--deciphering symbols from one known language into another. But God's method is "an easier way to do it." (Although, I think "easier" is relative in this situation; it all depends on how in-tune one is to the Spirit.) This spiritual method consists of looking at a symbol, closing your eyes, focusing on that symbol in your mind, noting the strongest word that comes to mind, and asking God if that is the correct word. The Spirit will then confirm the truth. Elisha does this for all the symbols of a line, and to his surprise, his translation isn't gibberish. Oleeha then validates his translation via man's method. The two then work for hours to translate the first sheet of the record.

If you remember back in Visions 2, Part 2, we discussed the method of translation the Lord taught Oliver as found in D&C 9. It's the same exact method as taught to Elisha--work with the Spirit to find a potential solution to a problem, ask God if it's right, and feel the answer given by the Holy Ghost. This is "the gift and power of God" that Joseph Smith referred to time and again whenever someone inquired concerning the method of translating the Book of Mormon. It is kinda cool to see, though, that the singular method of translation "by the gift and power of God" can still occur through various media: three different individuals (Joseph, Oliver, Elisha) possessing three different gifts of the Spirit (seership, revelation, dreams and visions) and utilizing three different spiritual tools (Urim and Thummim/seerstones, rod, mind).

Elisha wakes up and realizes the whole experience happened in a dream-state. However, he still can remember the translation word-for-word and quickly writes it down. Once it's put to paper, it's gone from his mind. (Christ made this same promise to him in Visions 3, Part 9, that he'd be able to remember everything from these visions, etc. until they're written down.) It takes him eight months of nightly translation to complete the entire record. In comparison, with the translation of the Book of Mormon as we currently have it (minus the Book of Lehi), it took Joseph and Oliver only three months to translate ~250,000 English words. The current edition of the Aklatan contains only ~68,000 words, but we can't do much more of a comparison than that since there are still full and portions of books of the record still to be released. It could've taken longer for a number of reasons: differences between dream- and awake-state translation process, Joseph's natural gift of seership, differences between the coded writing systems, sleeptime shorter than the workday, etc. It's all fun speculation. One interesting advantage of performing all the translation while in a dream-state is that Elisha probably would still be able to go about his daily activities no worse for wear. (Although this experience seems different than lucid dreaming or REM sleep, so I don't know how it would've affected him physiologically.) There were many times that the translation of the Book of Mormon had to be postponed so that Joseph and Oliver could work for money or food, and they were often saved by the generosity of others.