Testimony of the prophet joseph smith, front of 20 edition of the book of mormon. On march 27, 1808, when martin was 25yearsold he married his cousin, lucy harris. Josephs preface and a testimonial written by a group of eight witnesses described the plates as having an appearance of gold. I have read the book of mormon several times and each time it is like a revelation that enlightens my life in some way. Some critics assume that the golden plates are pure gold, or that they are a solid block of gold. It is not just that it teaches us truth, there is something more. While the plates were in josephs keeping, others saw them, including eleven witnesses whose testimonies appear in all editions of the book. May 18, 2009 the book of mormon was written by a series of prophets from 600 b. They wrote about jesus christ and about how to keep the commandments. Emma hale smith bidamon was born on july 10, 1804, to isaac and elizabeth hale. They remained safe until moroni, as a heavenly messenger, returned in 1827 and delivered the sacred records to the prophet joseph smith. The term golden bible is also used with a negative connotation.
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. Various descriptions provided by eyewitnesses suggest that the plates may have been made of a gold alloy, measured about 6 inches by 8. Said another way, the book of mormon represents far less than half of what was recorded on the plates by moroni. The golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold the golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold, new era, july. Golden plates to book of mormon more about the plates the pages were thin sheets of metal. Moroni burying the gold plates action figure deseret book.
Book of mormontranslationweight of the gold plates fairmormon. The plates are made of a coppergold alloy and are held together by three dshaped rings, forming a sort of book. Ancient metal plates book of mormon archaeological forum. If mormon s book of mormon plates were made of tumbaga, their weight would have been much less than had they been made of pure gold. How did the book of mormon golden plates get to new york. Dimensions according to joseph, the book was 6 x 8 x 6 and each plate was thinner than common tin. 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. Eight men, called the eight witnesses, saw and touched the plates. After the translation was completed, however, joseph reported.
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 book of mormon makes specific reference to voluminous scriptures which moroni spent twentyfive to thirty years carefully and precisely inscribing on the gold plates. The fact that they were buried in stone boxes may also be compelling and significant. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. We first learn about them from the visit of the angel moroni to joseph smith on september 21, 1823. Emma smith bidamon a witness of the book of mormon. Dec 07, 2017 first, it refers to the original writings on the plates.
It shows to our best ability the 23 portion that was sealed according to the description given by smith and other witnesses, the drings described. Packer, in his article cumorahs cave, printed in the journal of book of mormon studies v. 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 bulgariathe famous landing spot, of course, for lehi, nephi and the rest of the original mormon pioneer clan. If you do not want to buy this expensive version with the fancy gold foil cover, please do a search on amazon for a regular paper back copy of the book of. Pure gold plates would be too soft to hold engraving well. All these records are referred to as plates because they. A righteous man named ammaron hid the golden plates so they would be safe. Among these remnants are teachings of four prophets not mentioned in the bible. 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 plates were written in a language called reformed egyptian. Many ancient documents such as king benjamins speech or the plates of brass were quoted or abridged by the ancient authors who compiled the books found on the small and large plates of nephi. Some of these records were comparable to certain books now found in the old testament, but others did not find their way into the bible. Book of mormontranslationweight of the gold plates.
The angel moroni showed joseph smith where to find the golden plates. Unlike many of the other book of mormon characters, laban neither ends up in the new world, nor is he a biblical character. The book of mormon was written by a series of prophets from 600 b. This is a 3d printed scale replica of the gold plates translated by joseph smith into the book of mormon. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be. But second, joseph is clarifying that this was the title page of the original book of mormon. 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. First, it refers to the original writings on the plates. 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. Desperate mopologists claim ancient bulgarian goldplate find. On that trunk lay a book of mormon and gold plates, laban\s sword, aaron\s brestplate. What about the book of mormon witnesses and the gold plates.
The golden plates of mormonism encyclopedia of mormonism, pg. 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. The four families of nephite record keepers of the book of mormon are listed chronologically here, along with their approximate dates of birth and other important information. Book of mormon stories mormon writes on the golden. The book of mormon is the keystone in our witness of jesus christ. Kimball had his own tall tales of treasure to tell. Jul 20, 2012 bill mckeever is asked about the issue of the book of mormon witnesses seeing the gold plates upon which the book of mormon was supposedly written. The plates he held referred to several other sets of plates and records, an understanding of which is necessary to understand the book of mormon. The plates of brass contained a copy of the law five books of moses, a history of the jews, lehis genealogy, and the writings of many prophets.
Since its first publication in 1830, the book of moron has undergone thousands of changes. These plates, unknown when the book of mormon was published since they were discovered n 1933, have long been held as proof of the plausibility of ancient records engraved on gold plates. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked. Mar 09, 2010 the book of mormon setting is in or nearby new york. Royal skousen, a professor of linguistics at byu and a recognized expert of the textual history of the book of mormon, has identified 5,280 variations in all editions of the book of mormon. If a date is not found in or tied directly to a specific verse, then the information has been deduced from general historical information. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates that he found buried in a hill. Book of mormon plates and records book of mormon central. The remaining plates are of a paper composite material colored gold but with no inscriptions. The book of mormons old testament portion bmot quotes heavily from the new testament of the bible. The book of mormon plates religious studies center.
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. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. If mormons book of mormon plates were made of tumbaga, their weight would have been much less than had they been made of pure gold. The book of mormon tells how he hid the golden plates in the earth at hill cumorah. The plates were returned to the lord shortly after the work of translating them was complete.
Gold plates the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Does the church have a position on the rumor that someone. The book is made of a set of twelve metal plates, each measuring six inches 15 cm in width, eight inches 20 cm in length approximately half an inch 1. I encourage you to read this book to see what i am talking about. Because we do not have the original plates to examine, its impossible to identify the language used to make the ancient record. The teachings were etched on gold plates in an ancient reformed egyptian language and later translated by joseph smith into english as the book of mormon. What happened to the golden plates after joseph smith. Printed in canada first edition, isbn 9780981146720. Brass plates mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Once we have lived up to the revelations we have now, it is far more likely we will be given more from those plates. Mormon and moroni, the book says, had abridged earlier historical records from other sets of metal plates. It is almost unbelievable to contemplate the lonely vigil of moroni as he tried to scrounge around for a little food while fearfully evading the predatory bands of lamanites. Replica gold plates book of mormon with images book of.
You can read the testimonies of the witnesses at the beginning of the book of mormon. Brown connects many littleknown historical fragments with more familiar accounts to present the most complete narrative to date on the restoration and. Dec 09, 2006 the plates were returned to the lord shortly after the work of translating them was complete. Although joseph originally said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates history of the church, vol. We are assured the time will come for the sealed portion to be translated, but that day is not yet here. The plates are consistently described as gold and golden. The book of mormon text contains logical impossibilities. But, how many know of accounts of the gold plates story which mention smith first discovered the.
This model was created using joseph smiths description as well as the description of others who handled or saw the gold plates as a guide. Martin harris was born on may 18, 1783, at what is now saratoga, new york. 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. They are called the testimony of the 3 witnesses and the testimony of the 8 witnesses. It is primarily an abridgment of several earlier records by its chief editor and namesake, mormon.
What is the original language of the book of mormon. The holy text, supposedly engraved on gold plates by a native american prophet named mormon in the fifth century a. 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. Gold plates origins of the book of mormon scale model etsy. The golden plates upon which the book of mormon was written have had quite a history, and it is rather well documented. Jan 05, 2015 said another way, the book of mormon represents far less than half of what was recorded on the plates by moroni. Martin harris witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. According to joseph smiths later accounts, three years after he experienced his first vision of deity. When he was tenyearsold his family relocated to palmyra, new york. Why were the golden plates needed if they were not used for the translation of the book of mormon was only used for first lost pages. But many people forgot jesus christ and didnt follow him anymore. Unless otherwise indicated, bible quotations are taken from the king james version. Provided to youtube by cdbaby book of mormon storiesthe golden plates insideout a cappella sharing time. The abridgments, quotations, and original writings of those book of mormon historians are displayed on.
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. These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of gold. The teachings were etched on gold plates in an ancient reformed egyptian language and later translated by joseph smith into english as the. The people described in the book of mormon came from ancient israel and so likely spoke hebrew in the beginning. Where are the original gold plates stored that the book of. The book of mormon comes forth presents a sharpened picture of an important segment of lds history. Why were the golden plates needed if they were not used for. There were certain people besides joseph smith who were allowed to see them, and their testimonies are recorded in the beginning of the book of mormon, before 1 nephi. The golden plates of mormonism life after ministries. But, how many know of accounts of the gold plates story which mention smith first discovered the plates with a seer stone. In 1827 when joseph smith received the gold plates, he found that much of the record was an abridgment of many other records written by ancient kings and prophets living in the americas. She grew up in harmony, pennsylvania, along the banks of the susquehanna river on a acre farm. Emma smith witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon.
When word spread that joseph smith had secured the for the book of mormon, it caused a stir in the local press. A vision of the gold plates of the book of mormon by john landers 17941892 we heard the first sound of the restored gospel through my wifes brother, john cairns, who had been baptized by father blakeslee. Smith translated the text of the book of mormon over the next several. Plates of gold book of mormon archaeological forum. 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. Thomas stuart fergusons archaeological search for the book of mormon larson, stan on. Finally, the plates contained a more extensive account of old testament peoples and events than the bible see 1 nephi 5. The sealed portion of the book of mormon your site for lds.
Witnesses of the book of mormon were consistent in their witness that the plates weighed 4060 pounds. The book of mormon setting is in or nearby new york. That is why it is so important to look at what the title page tells us was in the original book of mormon. The book of mormon is a complex text with a complicated history. 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. Confusion about the golden plates the book of mormon in. Mormon, a prophet and military leader who lived at the end of the nephite era c. Check out book of mormon centrals new video, detailing the historical evidence for the existence of the book of mormon golden plates. The book of mormon itself portrays the golden plates as a historical record, engraved by two precolumbian prophethistorians from around the year ad 400.
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. Language the language on the plates is called reformed egyptian. Not only were the gold plates not needed, they never even existed. Most latterday saints know the essential story of the coming forth of the book of mormon, but there are scores of fascinating details of the saga that are seldom told. 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. Two top plates are made of brass and imprinted with reformed egyptian characters. Bill mckeever is asked about the issue of the book of mormon witnesses seeing the gold plates upon which the book of mormon was supposedly written.