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. Moroni told him about a really old book written upon golden 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. Moronimoroni delivering the book of mormon to joseph smith, lithograph, 1886. 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. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be. Why were the book of mormon gold plates not placed in a museum. In october 1827, joseph and emma moved from palmyra to harmony now oakland, pennsylvania, aided by a relatively prosperous neighbor, martin harris. 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.
Lds scripture instructs that joseph smith, the prophet and seer of the lord, has done more, save jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in. Neither joseph nor any of the witnesses said that the ancient record was made from solid gold. For a compilation of accounts by joseph smiths contemporaries, see john w. Latter day saints believe the plates were the source material for the book of mormon. Joseph smith, american prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The angel moroni showed joseph smith where to find the golden plates. This name is derived from the origin of the book of mormon text. The golden plates upon which the book of mormon was written have had quite a history, and it is rather well documented.
Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon 2nd ed. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. The golden plates is an illustrated adaptation of the fifth best selling book of all time, the book of mormon. The facts are that he mistranslated portions of the bible, as well as the book of abraham, the kinderhook plates, and a greek psalter. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Strangely enough we find inserted in the middle of the book of mormon, pages 141143 bom p. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Joseph smiths golden plate story debunked reasons for jesus. Mormons believe joseph smith found gold plates engraved with writing in ancient egyptian in new york and god helped him translate the text. 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. By the summer of 1827, when newlyweds joseph and emma smith 1 were living with josephs family in manchester, new york, people began to hear from the smith family about a treasure joseph had found. Mormon beliefs were started by joseph smith, a convicted con artist, from palmyra, new york, who allegedly found golden plates, which he translated to become the book of mormon. Smith translated the writing on the plates into the book of mormon, which.
In 1827, joseph retrieved this record, inscribed on thin golden plates, and shortly afterward began translating its words by the gift of god. This is found in joseph smithhistory 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. Why were the book of mormon gold plates not placed in a museum so that people might know joseph smith had them. If the book of mormon is true, then joseph smith was a prophet. Joseph smith and the materialization of the golden plates ann taves, uc santa barbara abstract. The golden potformer lds church education system ces teacher grant palmer argues that joseph smith developed his story of visits by moroni and the translation of a sacred book from the golden pot, a book by german author e. Original broadway cast recording joseph smith american moses performed by nikki m james and the company. Nearly two dozen individuals had some sort of sensory encounter with the golden plates that joseph smith discovered on a hill near his farm. 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. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon christian. But he encountered a problem that will be familiar to students of islam.
The book of mormon is occasionally referred to as the golden bible. So the question of all questions deals with the truthfulness of book of mormon. 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. Why did joseph smith attempt to secure the book of mormon.
There is no evidence that joseph smith ever translated anything, including the golden plates into the book of mormon. I translated the book of mormon from hieroglyphics, the knowledge of which was lost to the world, in which wonderful event. Laurie mafflykipp, phd, is the archer alexander distinguished professor at the. According to mormon belief, the book of mormon was inscribed on golden plates by generations of prophets, quoted and abridged by the prophethistorian mormon, and buried in the ground by mormons son, moroni.
All joseph said is that they had the appearance of. If joseph smith was a prophet, then the church of jesus christ of latter day saints is the same church that christ established while he was on the earth. Learn more about the life, writings, and legacy of joseph smith. It also serves as a history of the early mormon church and a window on the united states circa 1820 to 1845. Fourteen centuries later, in 1823, the angel moroni led joseph smith to the plates hidden in a hillside in upstate new york.
The angel morona gave joseph smith the golden tablets while he was going for a walk in the woods. On that trunk lay a book of mormon and gold plates, labans sword, aarons breastplate. Smith published the book of mormon in 1830 and shortly thereafter organized a small church of his first followers. 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. Or do you primarily use the book of mormon for the doctrine of your faith. 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. Mormons believe a con artist is a prophet who found golden. In smiths 1832 history, he said he was visited by an angel of the lord, who mentioned the book of mormon prophet moroni as the last engraver of the golden plates. Living near his inlaws, smith transcribed some characters that he said were engraved on the plates, and then dictated a translation to emma.
No man knows my history quells my curiosity regarding joseph smith. 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. The book of mormon by joseph smith, paperback barnes. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. According to smith, the angel was the guardian of the golden plates, buried in the hill cumorah near smiths home in western new york. Phelps said that joseph smith, hyrum smith, oliver cowdery, and david whitmer went to the hill cumorah and walked into a room about 16 ft. What happened to the golden plates after joseph smith. On these plates was inscribed the text of the book of mormon, which he tra. It is a fact that men in ancient days were in the habit of preserving books by engraving their words on thin sheets of metal what we would call a page b. Smith translated the text of the book of mormon over the next several. A depiction of joseph smiths description of receiving the golden plates from. The books style is somewhat oldfashioned it originally was published in 1945, and as history it is more scholarly than popular.
In addition, there is ample evidence that he did not translate the golden plates into the book of mormon. More on joseph smiths plagiarism in the book of mormon. Joseph smith translates the gold plates church history. Smith had received a revelation from god, first through an angel, and then through a book inscribed on golden plates. Smith refused to show the golden plates to anybody, claiming that for other eyes to view them would mean death. Yet, some may wonder what other kinds of evidence, aside from these witnesses, can help verify the reality and authenticity of the ancient artifact in the prophets possession. Golden bible mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Lucy mack smith, history of joseph smith by his mother salt lake city. Welch, the miraculous translation of the book of mormon, in opening the heavens. 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. The teachings were etched on gold plates in an ancient reformed egyptian language and later translated by joseph smith into english as the. Ancient writers fashioned such metal sheets, or plates, by hand and compiled books that would preserve a record of their.
However, the example he cites from the 1830 palmyra reflector, refers to walters the magician, and not to smith precisely. They told the story of a book written on plates of gold which had been buried in the ground in a manchester hill later called the hill cumorah. Nor did they use the term gold plates or plates of gold. And now we wish to honor you with the story of joseph smith, the american moses. A few years later, joseph said that he received those plates and translated them into the book that today is call the book of. The book of mormon told the 1,000year history of the israelites, who were led from jerusalem to a promised land in the western hemisphere. Skeptics have put forth several theories of book of. Once joseph hid them under the bricks of the fireplace. In 1823, joseph smith was praying in his room when moroni appeared. A record engraved on gold plates, which js translated and published as the book of mormon. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been. 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 book of mormon is a book that latter day saints believe is the word of god along with the bible the original english version of the book of mormon was published in march 1830 by a man named joseph smith, jr. Four years later, joseph and his wife, emma, went in a wagon to get the plates.
This graphic novelcomic book adaptation was first created in 2005 by award winning artist michael allred. Gold plates glossary topic the joseph smith papers. Joseph smiths translation and publication of the book of mormon, excerpted by fairmormon. Among other things, moroni told joseph about the existence of a historical record that was engraved on plates of gold. According to joseph smiths own story, when he was 17 years old, he was visited by an angel named moroni. Regardless of where the motifs in the new york narrative came from, most of them, including the basic storyline, were already present in some form in the environment. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Smith apparently collected these plates, took them home, and subsequently translated them into the book of mormon which he then published in 1830. But, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon. Richard lloyd anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses salt lake city. Moroni was a prophet from the american continent around 400 c.
Devoted members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints honor its founder, joseph smith, with saintlike reverence. The stone box that held the gold plates ask gramps. 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. During this visit moroni told joseph that the plates and the urim and thummim were buried nearby, and showed him their location. Another testament of jesus christ, which has sold over 120 million copies. For further discussion on the book of mormon and the translation process, see the introduction to documents, volume 1. The premium edition has replaced the full text originally included in the first edition with simplified. Lucy mack smith, biographical sketches of joseph smith the prophet, and his progenitors for many generations liverpool, s.
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