The last known location of the golden plates is given to us from brigham young in the journal of discourses. Sep, 2019 two sets of plates i mormon made this record out of the plates of nephi, and hid up in the hill cumorah all the records which had been entrusted to me by the hand of the lord, save it were these few plates which i gave unto my son moroni mormon 6. Modern mormon spin doctors write all kinds of articles claiming that the witnesses may have denied the mormon church but they never the book of mormon. Brigham young gave a somewhat similar, secondhand account on june 17, 1877. 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. There are numerous examples of ancient writing on metal plates. Original broadway cast recording joseph smith american moses performed by nikki m james and the company. 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. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Mormon is allegedly a prophethistorian who was the native american believed by mormons to have written the book of mormon the main religious text of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints mormonism.
Joseph smiths golden plate story debunked reasons for jesus. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon. A longer version of this article was originally published by the neal a. Mormonism is a religion less than two centuries old, but in this short time it has managed to accrue a long list of embarrassments which the church leaders would prefer were kept. Premium edition six issue collection, contains all 6 issues of an adaptation of the fifth best selling book of all time, the book of mormon, which has sold over 120 million copies. 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. A true testimony of the book of mormon comes from reading it and, as counseled by moroni in a promise he left to us in moroni 10. A companion for family scripture study is an engaging and clever book of over 300 short, catchy rhymes for family scripture study to learn and love the book of mormon. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates. In 2004 and 2005 he selfpublished the golden plates, an actiongospelpacked story starring nephi, omni, jacob, and. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. Two top plates are made of brass and imprinted with reformed egyptian characters. Nearly two dozen individuals had some sort of sensory encounter with the golden plates that joseph.
The story of the gold plates is an absolutely essential part of the mormon narrative, for in the eyes of many latterday saints, the coming forth of this record, and its subsequent translation into the book of mormon, legitimizes their belief that smith was indeed a prophet sent by god to restore the true christian faith lost long ago due to a great apostasy. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi palmyra, ny. Book of mormon witnesses all later denied its truthfulness. Emma hale smith bidamon was born on july 10, 1804, to isaac and elizabeth hale. Smith translated the text of the book of mormon over the next several. Some mormons will agree that all three witnesses denied the book of mormon but came back to deny their denial. When told that several witnesses did see and handle them, they ask, what did they look like.
The book of mormon itself portrays the golden plates as a historical record, engraved by two precolumbian prophethistorians from around the year ad 400. Music, lyrics and book by trey parker, matt stone and robert lopez. Oct 11, 2011 so allred started adapting the book of mormon into a multipart graphic novel. Mar 02, 2019 the book explains that joseph translated two sets of plates, that mormons repository was in new york, and that the plates are still not far from cumorah. The teachings were etched on gold plates in an ancient reformed egyptian language and later translated by joseph smith into english as the. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. However, the golden plates are just one of many known and reputed metal plates with significance in the latter day saint movement. We have the full text of what joseph smith was instructed to translate. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of mormonism. According to joseph smiths later accounts, three years after he experienced his first vision of deity. The scriptures suggest two reasons the book of mormon gold plates were not made available to the public.
Their signed statements are in the front of all copies of the book of mormon. On that trunk lay a book of mormon and gold plates, labans sword, aarons breastplate. 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 reason why moroni took the plates back from joseph is surprisingly apparent right within the book of mormon. Known as the book of mormon, he said i told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book of earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.
Golden plates to book of mormon church of jesus christ. I lived right in the country where the plates were found from which the book of mormon was translated, and i know a great many things pertaining to that country. The prophet joseph smith translates them by the gift and power of god. After joseph smith completed the translation of the book of mormon, the three witnesses and the eight witnesses were allowed to see and handle the plates. Jun 17, 2014 the story of the gold plates is an absolutely essential part of the mormon narrative, for in the eyes of many latterday saints, the coming forth of this record, and its subsequent translation into the book of mormon, legitimizes their belief that smith was indeed a prophet sent by god to restore the true christian faith lost long ago due to a. How corrections in the book of mormon prov see more like this dramatized the golden plates book of mormon living scriptures 24 cd set preowned. The video is the third in book of mormon centrals evidence video series, the two previous videos being one on the archaeological evidence for the place called nahom, mentioned by nephi 1 nephi 16. 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. The most significant witnesses are the three witnesses and the eight witnesses, all of whom allowed their names to be used on two separate statements included with the book of mormon.
Eight men, called the eight witnesses, saw and touched the plates. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was originally an ancient nativeamerican record written on golden plates, and that god gave him the power to translate it into english. The depository in the hill cumorah in new york was the site of all the nephite records. As he translated the book of mormon, joseph learned that special witnesses would be called to bear testimony of the ancient record written on metal plates. Golden plates to book of mormon more about the plates the pages were thin sheets of metal. Once joseph hid them under the bricks of the fireplace. 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. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. Brigham young, on june 17, 1877, related the following. The angel moroni showed joseph smith where to find the golden plates. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon christian.
There is no evidence that joseph smith ever translated anything, including the golden plates into the book of mormon. The reported weight, dimensions, and composition of the gold plates are believable. The facts are that he mistranslated portions of the bible, as well as the book of abraham, the kinderhook plates, and a greek psalter. The traditional version of church history is that moroni buried the golden plates in the hill cumorah in a stoneandcement box he built in the hillside.
Smith apparently collected these plates, took them home, and subsequently translated them into the book of mormon which he then published in 1830. The gold plates that the prophet joseph smith received and translated were the plates of mormon on which mormon and his son moroni 2 made. Mormon, a prophet and military leader who lived at the end of the nephite era c. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. Packer, in his article cumorahs cave, printed in the journal of book of mormon studies v. The story of the gold plates is an absolutely essential part of the mormon narrative, for in the eyes of many latterday saints, the coming forth of this record, and its subsequent translation into the book of mormon, legitimizes their belief that smith was indeed a prophet sent by god to restore the true christian faith lost long ago due to a. Scholars reject smiths explanation of the origin of the book of mormon. The book of mormon witnesses are a group of contemporaries of joseph smith who claimed to have seen the golden plates from which smith translated the book of mormon. The etymology of zyf and a metallurgical analysis of the book of mormon plates online pdf, accessed november, 2015, 79.
The record on the gold plates included teachings of prophets who lived in the ancient americas. Mar 02, 2018 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 was careful to obey the command from the lord that he not show the plates to others. You can read the testimonies of the witnesses at the beginning of the book of mormon. The gold plates that the prophet joseph smith received and translated were the plates of mormon on which mormon and his son moroni 2 made their abridgment. The etymology of zyf and a metallurgical analysis of the book of mormon plates provo, ut. The story of their discovery is supported by a large number. Oliver cowdery went with the prophet joseph when he deposited these plates. The remaining plates are of a paper composite material colored gold but with no inscriptions. Why were the book of mormon gold plates not placed in a. Children will happily learn book of mormon stories and principles in a way they can understand and remember. This graphic novelcomic book adaptation was first illustrated in 2005 by award winning artist michael allred. The plates were written in a language called reformed egyptian. Some claim that since the original plates of the book of mormon are unavailable for scholarly inspection, it cant reasonably be studied as an.
Mormon and moroni, the book says, had abridged earlier historical records from other sets of metal plates. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked. While joseph smith had the plates they were constantly at risk. According to smiths 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. She grew up in harmony, pennsylvania, along the banks of the susquehanna river on a acre farm. Golden plates to book of mormon the angel moroni showed joseph smith where to find the golden plates. The book of mormon itself refers to a long tradition of writing historical records on plates, of which the golden plates are a culmination see list of plates latter day saint movement. Book of mormon prophesy reveals why moroni took the golden. Stan larsons quest for the gold plates aims to describe the fascinating journey of thomas stuart ferguson, who was instrumental in developing contemporary lds apologetics but came to disbelieve in mormon truthclaims near the end of his life.
Four years later, joseph and his wife, emma, went in a wagon to get the plates. Emma smith witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. Angelic handoff of mormon golden plates to joseph smith took. When some people interested in the book of mormon ask to see the golden plates, they are disappointed to learn that joseph returned them to moroni.
Maxwell institute for religious scholarship as how witnesses described the gold plates, journal of book of mormon studies, vol. When it first appeared, the book of mormon was attacked for the alleged absurdity of having been written on golden plates and its claim of the existence of an early sixth century b. After the translation was completed, however, joseph reported. Below is some predictable silly putty propaganda from an lds outfitcalling itself the genesis group and marching under the heavenly banner of ancient america foundationregarding a gold plate book found in drum roll, please bulgaria the famous landing spot, of course, for lehi, nephi and the rest of the original mormon pioneer clan. Emma smith bidamon a witness of the book of mormon.
Based on these parameters, modern researchers have estimated plates of pure gold would weigh at least 45 kilograms 100 pounds and might be too soft for engraved characters. But, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses. Desperate mopologists claim ancient bulgarian goldplate find. The sealed portion of the plates contained extremely sacred and important content that the lord has promised to reveal in the future. The golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold the golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold, new era, july. Joseph smith translated two sets of plates book of mormon.