The prophet joseph smith said, i wish to mention here that the titlepage of the book of mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates. How to make the golden plates with kids eve out of the garden. There are several theories as to 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. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer stone in a hat. After translation was complete, smith said he returned the plates. Feb 25, 2018 a study of the life of joseph smith and his associates bears this out. The 2003 south park depiction of the book of mormon s translation process turns out to be more accurate than sanitized lds images of joseph smith poring over the golden plates. Joseph smith translated two sets of plates book of.
Dear christine, 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. The book of mormon is a translation of ancient gold plates, which is not easily understood by our young kids. The resurrected moroni gave the plates to joseph smith, who translated the writing on the plates with the help of heavenly father. Don bradley, lds historian, introducing research from nonlds scholar ann taves on joseph smith and the gold plates. Manchester, ny a team of archaeologists excavating a drumlin known as mormon hill or the cumorah, in western new york, have discovered a set of gold plates which they believe could be linked to the founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, joseph smith jr. Part of the plates were sealed so they couldnt be opened. Disturbing early versions of the golden plates accounts. Smith said he has received these plates in 1827 from an angel named. The present english book of mormon, however, is not simply a translation of all those gold plates. On the golden plates was a history of an ancient man named mormon and his fabled ancient hebrew tribe. Dec 31, 2017 green berets ultralight bug out bag with gear recommendations duration. An online handbook to the lds church mormon the angel moroni allegedly visited joseph once a year for five years until 1827, when joseph was allowed to obtain the gold plates to translation them. Book of mormontranslationdescription of the plates fairmormon. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon the gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon according to joseph smiths 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.
The book of mormon speaks about wars and history of his time, same thing it could be said about the sargon plates. The biggest obstacle in adopting this same kind of view for the book of mormon is the gold plates. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of mormon. In fact, mormonism can be referred to as a cult, which can be defined as a religious group that denies one or more of the fundamentals of biblical truth. And some of the book of mormon sounds as though the preachers were falling from god and casting his name. Their signed statements are in the front of all copies of the book of mormon. 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.
The timeline for the translation of the book of mormon presents some problems that are hard to rectify. Manchester, ny a team of archaeologists excavating a drumlin known as mormon hill or the cumorah, in western new york, have discovered a set of gold plates which they believe could be linked to the founder. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. Followers of the latter day saint movement believe that joseph smith was visited by an angel who gave him the golden plates from which he translated the book of mormon, one of the faiths sacred texts. Where can i find out what happened to the golden plates when joseph smith finished the translation of the book of mormon. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon. 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. As with other historical events, not a lot of eyewitness accounts have been leftthere are no records that were written at the time the events were taking place.
After the translation was completed, however, joseph reported that he returned the plates to the angel. But instead of just retranslating the pages from the plates, he received a message from the lord telling him not to bother. Four women were witnesses to book of mormon translation process. Pure gold plates would be too soft to hold engraving well. Although mormons profess to be christians and say they believe the word of god, there are many of their beliefs that contradict christianity. The greater portion of those golden plates were sealed to come forth at a later time, but the part which was published in 1830 as 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. Smith claimed to be able to translate these engravings, and the result of his translation was the book of mormon. Dear jack, the golden plates upon which the book of mormon was written have had quite a history, and it is rather well documented. An online handbook to the lds church mormon the angel moroni allegedly visited joseph once a year for five years until 1827, when joseph was allowed to obtain the gold plates to translation them with the help of scribes he began translating the plates the language on the plates. In this vision, harris heard the voice of god say that josephs translation. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. Aug 20, 20 he apparently translated the golden plates reformedegyptian script into english as the book of mormon, and gave the first draft to martin harris. The lds church has begun to change its narrative, as the historical facts have become well known and impossible to ignore. The stone box that held the gold plates ask gramps. When joseph smith had finished the work god wanted him to do with the gold plates, including the translation of the book of mormon, the angel moroni visited joseph smith. What happened to the golden plates after joseph smith. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked to joseph smith jr. The explanation most accepted is that they are in the possession of god. There is an abundance of positive comments about the golden plates and divine inspiration as to their translation in the links to the two articles you provided.
My husband wants to get some sheets of ore to help the kids. The community of christ, however, accepts the book of mormon as scripture but no longer takes an official position on the historicity of the golden. According to smith, the book is originally written in an otherwise unknown language called reformed egyptian on golden plates and it should be of similar importance as the bible. What was the method of translation, and why did it happen in the way it did. However, other versions exist and are sold in the official lds bookstore deseret book. Golden plates simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. When joseph smith had completed the translation of the book of mormon, the angel moroni appeared to him and took the plates into his possession, along with the urim and thummim. Two separate sets of witnessesa set of three and a set of eighttestified as having seen the golden plates, the record from which the book of mormon was translated. And, though i was an active participant in the scenes that transpired, and was present during the translation of the plates. They were found on september 22, 1823 on cumorah hill in manchester, new york. I have received a number of inquiries from people seeking additional information and clarification on my moroni and the golden pot chapter, found in, an insiders view of mormon. Sep 22, 2015 the authenticity of the golden plates. Palmer first writes about the origins of the book of mormon and the golden plates.
Brigham young said in a cave in the hlll cumorah, with. Royal skousen, a professor at brigham young university, has been working for over 20 years on a project to recover the original, or earliest, text of the book of mormon. Scholarly reference works on languages do not, however, acknowledge the existence of either a reformed egyptian language or reformed egyptian script as it has been described in mormon. Often ignored in lds history is the fate of the stone box in which the golden plates were deposited on hill cumorah and to which joseph was led in 1827. The mormons believe in polygamy, and their hierarchy of apostles, etc. The metal would have to be soft enough to use a stylus so they can understand the difficult process. One of a sect in the united states, followers of joseph smith, who professed to have found an addition to the bible, engraved on golden plates, called the book of mormon, first published in 1830. 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. Since that time many people have spoke concerning the location of the gold plates. Confusion about the golden plates moronis america the. They had been brought up from pennsylvania so that joseph and oliver could continue the translation and dictation of the book of mormon from the golden plates without persecution.
The book of mormon contains a rather detailed description of the plates of mormon from which it was translated by joseph smith, the seer. The plates were written in a language called reformed egyptian. 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. Book of mormon translation response to an essay on the mechanical process in which the book of mormon was translated was put in the topical guide of the website on 1230. Is there anything that directly states what happened to them. Some witnesses described the plates as weighing from 30 to 60 pounds 14 to 27 kg, golden in. Historically, latter day saint movement denominations have taught that the book of mormon s description of the plates origin is accurate, and that the book of mormon is a translation of the plates. 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. Obviously, with so much work lost, smith was distraught. Translating the golden plates lds video encyclopedia. The translation was completed with oliver cowdery as scribe, at which time the golden plates were delivered back to the angel.
Manchester, ny a team of archaeologists excavating a drumlin known as mormon hill or the cumorah, in western new york, have discovered a set of gold plates. Todd christofferson at the library of congress on december 7, 2016. On these plates was inscribed the text of the book of mormon. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked. Book of mormon translation joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. Mormons assert that, just as many ancient records were kept on sheets of various metals, the book of mormon was recorded on sheets of gold. Book of mormontranslationweight of the gold plates. In the book of mormon the plates of inspiration and. Heavenly father has promised that someday we will have the translation. Four women were witnesses to book of mormon translation. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. Instead, the lord told joseph about some different plates, the plates of nephi, which he would use in lieu of the golden plates. A longer version of this article was originally published by the neal a.
Joseph smith and martin harris began by translating the plates of mormon, and when they had reached the reign of king benjamin, they had 116 pages of translation. The story of both sets of plates is told in the book of mormon, which is a translation of the golden plates, which is a collection of sacred books recorded by numerous prophets on those plates which were passe. May 18, 2009 what language were the golden plates actually written in and how did joseph smith junior possibly translate a language that he didnt even know. Combining both my physical examination with what was revealed to me by the holy spirit, there is no doubt whatsoever in my heart or mind that the gold plates which i examined are indeed the plates of mormon, from which came the translation the book of mormon. In addition to the visual and audible witness, lucy mack smith would help find hiding places for the plates and often defended the reality of the plates. This name is derived from the origin of the book of mormon text. The church has been forced to catch up to the internet and attempt to soften the blow to members who were taught the simplistic and faithpromoting story about the translation of the gold plates. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates inscribed by prophets. 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.
How to make the golden plates with kids eve out of the. Mormonism and wikipediagolden platesreturning the plates. The mormon church owns the property and it certainly has the financial means to do so. Golden plates to book of mormon more about the plates the pages were thin sheets of metal. Book of mormontranslationweight of the gold plates fairmormon. Recall that mormon tradition claims that smith discovered some golden plates which contained engravings of an ancient reformed egyptian language. 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. My husband wants to get some sheets of ore to help the kids understand this ancient way of writing. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be.
The article is fairly brief and only superficially addresses the problem. The golden plates of the book of mormon were real like were real those of sargon, darius, the etruscans, the essenes, or any others left by the ancients and we have many now after almost 200 years. When harris lost the first draft, smith stated that he would have to translate from a different plate so the new translation would be slightly different from the original. Nov 03, 2017 check out the latest from book of mormon central. 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. Subsequently, the angel appeared to harris and joseph smith. Josephs preface and a testimonial written by a group of eight witnesses described the plates as having an appearance of gold. Witnesses of the book of mormon were consistent in their witness that the plates weighed 4060 pounds.
A seer stone and a hat translating the book of mormon. This heavenly messenger is reported to have told him about gold plates that contained a record of former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. And the introduction to the book of mormon declares that the plates were delivered to joseph smith,who translated them by the gift and power of god. Givens in littleknown facts in mormon history writes. A prophet named mormon made a shorter account of the writings on golden plates, and his son, moroni, buried the plates in a hill. In an unknown year after ad 400, the prophet moroni buried the golden plates. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. Every latterday saint mormon is aware of joseph smiths claim that he discovered golden plates from which the book of mormon was translated. How did joseph smith carry home the golden plates of the book of mormon, and how did the witnesses lift them so easily. They had been brought up from pennsylvania so that joseph and oliver could continue the translation and dictation of the book of mormon from the golden plates. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the.
What happened to the urim and thummim after the book of. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of. Also where did he find it he said an angel gave it to him, but doesnt that sound crazy. The book of mormon is occasionally referred to as the golden bible. Golden bible mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. In june 1829, the peter whitmer family welcomed joseph and emma smith and oliver cowdery to board at their home in fayette, new york. Sep 22, 2011 mormonism the golden plates have been found. 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. 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. Jul 26, 2018 the book of mormon is a sacred text that was published in march 1830 by joseph smith, jr. 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.
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 claimed to have translated the book of mormon, a sacred text of the faith. Naturalistic theory of the gold plates building on ann. Because of this they are unavailable for examination today. Dear gramps, what happened to the stone box that the gold plates, liahona, sword of laban were found in. However, with in this time frame many other things occurred which have lead scholars to believe that the translation could only have occurred with 65 days. Some critics assume that the golden plates are pure gold, or that they are a solid block of gold.