The book of mormon is most definitely a work of fiction written by joseph smith. We first learn about them from the visit of the angel moroni to joseph smith on september 21, 1823. Smith claimed an angel named moroni helped him find and translate a set of golden plates that give an account of jesuss visit to north america. The full story of joseph smith and the golden plates getting the plates from moroni. When he was finished translating the book of mormon, joseph gave the translators back to the angel, along with the plates. Most members know of mother smiths indepth biography of joseph.
According to smith s account and the books narrative, the book of mormon was originally written in otherwise unknown characters referred to as reformed egyptian engraved on golden plates. When smith said he had obtained the book of golden plates from the angel moroni see early life of joseph smith, he also said the angel commanded him that the plates must be translated, printed and sent before the world tiffany 1859, p. Learn more about the life, writings, and legacy of joseph smith. Since gold weighs 1,204 pounds per cubic foot, we can agree with lds apostle john widtsoe who said, if the gold were pure, the plates would weigh two hundred pounds, which would be a heavy weight for a man to carry, even though he were of the athletic type of joseph smith. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. Although joseph originally said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates history of the church, vol. Emma smith bidamon a witness of the book of mormon. Whether joseph was an ignoramus, madman, or an evil religious genius, critics maintain that the book of mormon cannot be a historical record taken from golden plates. Joseph smith translates the gold plates church history. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. The story of joseph smith and the golden plates abridged by hemant mehta. Joseph smiths golden plate story debunked reasons for jesus. With matthew bellows, dalton blaine, sean bott, brandon luke bringhurst. How did joseph smith carry home the golden plates of the book of mormon, and how did the witnesses lift them so easily.
After the translation was completed, however, joseph. Some witnesses described the plates as weighing from 30 to 60 pounds 14 to 27 kg, golden in color, and composed of thin metallic pages engraved with. After the translation was completed, however, joseph reported. And now we wish to honor you with the story of joseph smith, the american moses. According to joseph smith s later accounts, three years after he experienced his first vision of deity, an angel appeared to him in 1823 and told him of an ancient record written on gold plates. Furthermore, page 55 clearly records joseph smith himself saying the plates were seen in a vision. I will quote and borrow from taves heavily in this post.
Nor did they use the term gold plates or plates of gold. Smith apparently collected these plates, took them home, and subsequently translated them into the book of mormon which he then published in 1830. Joseph smith said the plates were about 6 inches by 8 inches, martin harris said about 7 inches by 8 inches. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Oct 05, 2009 smith had received a revelation from god, first through an angel, and then through a book inscribed on golden plates. Recalled josephs wife emma, no man could have dictated the writing of the manuscripts unless he was inspired. Joseph smith was living on the family farm in manchester, new york, when he became famous for his story of finding gold plates. If you are using gold card stock paper, then you will not need to use cardboard and gold contact paper. In 1823, joseph smith was praying in his room when moroni appeared. Naturalistic theory of the gold plates building on ann.
These plates were allegedly discovered by joseph smith, jr. According to latter day saint belief, the golden plates also called the gold plates or in some 19thcentury literature, the golden bible are the source from which joseph smith said he translated the book of mormon, a sacred text of the faith. Today, it added the printers manuscript of the book of mormon and pictures of the seer stone joseph. Emma smith witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. Nov 03, 2017 joseph smith claimed he translated the book of mormon from a set of golden plates that were given to him by an angel named moroni. The argument by bushman and givens is that the nature of joseph smith s claim to have the nephite golden plates is such that one must either fully accept it or think that he was a fraud. It focuses a lot on his relationship with emma too. Emma hale smith bidamon was born on july 10, 1804, to isaac and elizabeth hale. Four years later, joseph and his wife, emma, went in a wagon to get the plates. In this episode, dave talks about something that both latterday saint critics and scholars largely agree on. What happened to the golden plates after joseph smith finished. Plates of gold, a feature length film about joseph s experience of preparing to receive the plates, getting them, hiding them, translating them and printing the book of mormon.
Jan 02, 2020 in 1823, smith claimed to have been contacted by an angel named moroni, who revealed that there were golden plates at a certain location near palmyra, new york. Recalled joseph s wife emma, no man could have dictated the writing of the manuscripts unless he was inspired. The temple the temple ceremony or the endowment is nothing less or more than joseph smith s copying of masonic rituals. Apr 22, 2016 skeptics have put forth several theories of book of mormon authorship that do not require believing in golden plates delivered by angels and translated by a miracle. The plates were comprised of a thick stack of leaf thin golden metal sheets held together and by 3 dshaped rings which ran through holes made on the edge of one side of the plates. How to make the golden plates with kids eve out of the garden. Smith translated the text of the book of mormon over the next several. Joseph smith claimed that in 1823 he was visited by an angel named moroni and that this angel told him that there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang joseph smith history 1. He explained that he retrieved the plates from a hillside in upstate new york in 1827 and thereafter translated them with help from several scribes. Again, in a case where smith can be checked, he comes up wanting. One might ask, if the plates really lie hidden in the hill cumorah, why not excavate it and prove to the world once and for all that the story of the gold plates was not the result of joseph smiths fertile imagination. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be. Over the past several days there has been an article circulating by many members and non members a like of a team of archaeologists finding the gold plates while excavating a drumlin known as mormon hill or the cumorah.
Once joseph hid them under the bricks of the fireplace. The book of mormon, the evening and the morning star, jan. But, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses. The plates from which joseph translated the book of mormon are called the gold plates and the golden plates interchangeably because it is unknown exactly what they were composed of. Where can i find out what happened to the golden plates when joseph smith finished the translation of the book of mormon. Among other things, moroni told joseph about the existence of a historical record that was engraved on plates of gold. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon.
Naturalistic theory of the gold plates lds church is true blog. What happened to the golden plates after joseph smith finished translating the book of mormon. The stone box that held the gold plates ask gramps. Joseph smith received the first three degrees of masonry on march 15th and 16th of 1842. Sep 22, 2016 read aptly summarized, on 22 september 1827, israels trumpets sounded throughout the world. All joseph said is that they had the appearance of gold. Occult context of joseph smith s 1823 discovery of gold plates dan vogel duration.
The dead sea scrolls and other evidences demonstrate that hiding away records for future generations was indeed an ancient middleeastern practice. The actor playing joseph is the same that played him a few years ago. Latter day saints believe the plates were the source material for the book of mormon. Smith published the book of mormon in 1830 and shortly thereafter organized a small church of his first followers. Last week, the joseph smith papers published the records of joseph smith s legal trials. Smith translated the writing on the plates into the book of mormon, which. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present with millions of global adherents. As a mormon, did you know about joseph smith using the. According to latter day saint belief, the golden plates are the source from which joseph smith said he translated the book of mormon, a sacred text of the faith. How long did mormon prophet joseph smith have the gold plates. How to make the golden plates with kids eve out of the.
When the prophet joseph smith went to the hill cumorah the first time he describes the setting for the gold plates, the urim and thummin and the breastplate. Angelic handoff of mormon golden plates to joseph smith took. Book of mormontranslationweight of the gold plates. One might ask, if the plates really lie hidden in the hill cumorah, why not excavate it and prove to the world once and for all that the story of the gold plates was not the result of joseph smith s fertile imagination. Therefore, it seems logical that we should look to them to know positively how joseph smith translated the gold plates, which translation became the book of mormon. Mormons believe joseph smith found gold plates engraved with writing in ancient egyptian in new york and god helped him translate the text using an. This is found in joseph smith history verse 52 having removed the earth, i obtained a lever, which i got fixed under the edge of the stone, and with a little exertion raised it up. They had been placed there 1,400 years earlier by an ancient prophet named moroni.
Location of the gold plates angel retrieves gold plates. Several lds historians and church manuals have repeated the story given by lucy mack smith, the mother of the mormon prophet. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. May 18, 2009 joseph smith found the golden plates buried in a hill near his home. Teach the children about joseph smith receiving the gold plates, moronis counsel to joseph concerning the safety of the gold plates, and joseph s efforts to protect the plates, as described in joseph smith history 1.
Neither joseph nor any of the witnesses said that the ancient record was made from solid gold. The story of the golden plates consists of how, according to joseph smith and his contemporaries, the plates were found, received from the angel moroni, translated, and returned to the angel before the publication of the book of mormon. Joseph smith s father told fayette lapham about the dead man guarding the golden plates. In this article they state that the archelogist believe that the plates that were found could be linked to joseph smith and were in fact the original gold plates from. The story that chronicles the coming forth of the book of mormon. What did joseph smith say about efforts that were made to steal the gold plates from him. The plates were buried in presentday manchester, ontario county, new york, in what is now known as the hill cumorah. Cut the contact paper to match and apply to both sides of the cardboard. The eruption of a volcano in indonesia was instrumental in joseph smith receiving the gold plates. That some years ago, a spirit had appeared to joseph his son, in a vision, and informed him that in a certain place there was a record on plates of gold, and that he was the person that must obtain them, and this he must do in the following manner. Teach the children about joseph smith receiving the gold plates, moronis counsel to joseph concerning the safety of the gold plates, and josephs efforts to protect the plates, as described in joseph smithhistory 1. Joseph smith, the prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormons tells us that the book of mormon was translated from some golden plates shown to him by a heavenly messenger on september 21, 1823. In this article they state that the archelogist believe that the plates that were found could be linked to joseph smith and were in fact the original gold plates from which the book of mormon was translated from. Dec 10, 2008 joseph smith gave the gold plates the dimensions of approximately 15 cm by 20 cm by 15 cm.
There is no evidence that joseph smith ever translated anything, including the golden plates into the book of mormon. When joseph smith uncovered the urim and thummim with the gold plates, he began using them and other interpreters to translate the ancient record. Have you found any reference where joseph smith actually called the hill of the golden plates cumorah. On the golden plates was a history of an ancient man named mormon and his fabled ancient hebrew tribe. Jun 17, 2014 as with much of lds history, smiths retrieval of the gold plates is a story of incredible drama. The story of joseph smith and the golden plates abridged. See articles of faith, by talmage, page 262, 34 th ed. Joseph smith, american prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Reports of gold plates being found stem from a fake news. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked. The eleven witnesses admitted that they gazed upon and handled the golden plates in the same way that they saw spectacular treasures in caves guarded by angels, in the spirit and not in the flesh. Step into nineteenthcentury new england and experience the story of one of the most influential men in religious history. These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of gold.
The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon. Jan 28, 2020 when joseph smith uncovered the urim and thummim with the gold plates, he began using them and other interpreters to translate the ancient record. Faithful members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints believe that the prophet joseph smith received a set of metal plates which had the appearance of gold. What happened to the golden plates after joseph smith. Smith is the only source for a great deal of the story because much of it occurred while he was the only. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the. Moroni was a prophet from the american continent around 400 c. Its easy to mock religious ideas, but you cant do it effectively unless you understand what the followers of those faiths really believe. The teachings were etched on gold plates in an ancient reformed egyptian language and later translated by joseph smith into english as the. He claimed that an angel named moroni had directed him to a buried stone box, containing a set of gold plates, covered with strange symbols. Less than two months later may 4, 1842 he gave the endowment ceremonies.
After the gold plates were translated into the book of mormon, they were given back to the angel moroni, who originally lead joseph to where they were buried. The golden plates upon which the book of mormon was written have had quite a history, and it is rather well documented. The angel moroni showed joseph smith where to find the golden plates. She grew up in harmony, pennsylvania, along the banks of the susquehanna river on a acre farm. On these plates was inscribed the text of the book of mormon, which he tra. God gave joseph smith the gift and power to translate writings recorded centuries ago in a language of which joseph had no knowledge. Criticism is aimed at joseph smith s claims because of what appear to be historical contradictions. According to smith, the angel was the guardian of the golden plates, buried in the hill cumorah near smith s home in western new york. Ann taves published an article joseph smith and the materialization of the golden plates. The mormon claim that joseph smith discovered ancient golden plates buried in a hillside in upstate new york is too often viewed in simple eitheror terms, such that the plates. Mar 12, 2019 though i tend to agree with welch that plates of pure gold would be too fragile to be useful, the fact remains that mosiah 8.
Joseph smith and the materialization of the golden plates ann taves, uc santa barbara abstract. It was on this day in 1827 190 years ago that joseph smith received the golden plates from the angel moroni at a hill in upstate new york. Joseph said relatively little about efforts to steal the plates in his official history 59 at length the time arrived for obtaining the plates, the urim and thummim, and the breastplate. In addition, there is ample evidence that he did not translate the golden plates into the book of mormon. Joseph smiths gold plates were not solid gold youtube.
December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Translation of the golden plates recruitment of martin harris. Skeptics have put forth several theories of book of mormon authorship that do not require believing in golden plates delivered by angels and translated by a miracle. The text explained that the plates were an abridgment of other ancient records and were written by an american prophet named mormon and his son moroni. Joseph smith claimed he translated the book of mormon from a set of golden plates that were given to him by an angel named moroni. According to joseph smith, the founder of mormonism, in 1823 the angel moroni guided him to some golden plates buried on a hill near to where he lived. The facts are that he mistranslated portions of the bible, as well as the book of abraham, the kinderhook plates, and a greek psalter. If, as isaac hale testified, smith could see the writing on the golden plates on his seer stone while the plates were hidden in the woods, then smith s whole story about moroni painstakingly recording his peoples history onto the plates, burying them in the ground, and god bringing them forth for smith to translate is totally unnecessary.
379 291 636 248 463 716 1106 922 495 1520 1072 585 76 1214 1270 271 515 1062 501 1131 597 1297 151 1564 1354 946 1630 480 457 244 1349 660 158 1288 318 1474 448 148 1652 173 1323 1310 1027 821 712 1142 93 1314 681 819 1042