Joseph smith did not obtain possession of the plates until september 1827, and he then moved to harmony, pennsylvania. Aug 17, 2007 the golden plates upon which the book of mormon was written have had quite a history, and it is rather well documented. What was the approximate weight of the gold plates from which the book of mormon was translated. Golden plates upon which ancient american authors ether, mormon, lehi and nephi had recorded additions to biblical history the urim and thummim.
The plates weighed approximately 4060 pounds, and about half of the plates. Some critics assume that the golden plates are pure. Jul 15, 2011 on april 23, 1843, six bellshaped brass plates, covered with undecipherable engravings were unearthed near kinderhook, illinois, 70 miles south of nauvoo. An online handbook to the lds church mormon 1830 original edition. The korean plates were made by hammering gold into sheets and the sheets do not lay flat. The golden plates upon which the book of mormon was written have had quite a history, and it is rather well documented. Facsimile copy of the original manuscript of the book of mormon. The fact that they were buried in stone boxes may also be compelling and significant. When translating the book of mormon into another language.
Golden plates life cycle testifies of book of mormon. Witnesses of the book of mormon were consistent in their witness that the plates weighed 4060 pounds. Dec 07, 2017 thats because the plates of nephi were not in the original book of mormon. Eight men, called the eight witnesses, saw and touched the plates. This linked the bell shaped plates to the book of mormon and the book of abraham both dictated by joseph smith. Mormon history provides an idea, although somewhat conflicting, of the weight of the plates joseph smith collected from the hill to take back to his home. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. People of all faiths and perspectives are welcome to engage in civil, respectful discussion about topics related to mormonism. It was the angel who had taken the plates from joseph for safekeeping. David whitmer marveled that he should be part of this miraculous work.
Witnesses of the book of mormon were consistent in their witness that the plates weighed 4060 pounds some critics assume that the golden plates are pure gold, or that they are a solid block of gold. 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. Materials include a bound copy of fascimiles of pages 324 of the original manuscript of the book of mormon. The two or three people who are selected as translators team up with others in doing the work. Doxey, assistant in the office of the quorum of the. During this visit moroni told joseph that the plates and the urim and thummim were buried nearby, and showed him their location. Today is the one month anniversary of the massacre at marjory stoneman douglas high school in parkland florida. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Oliver served as scribe most of the time, although. Witnesses of the golden plates and the book of mormon. The record on the gold plates included teachings of prophets who lived in the ancient americas. These plates have come to be known as the kinderhook plates.
Four years later smith purportedly received plates of gold. An analysis of the padilla gold plates book of mormon central. Book of mormontranslationweight of the gold plates. Mesoamericans did use a coppergold alloy the spaniards called. Joseph smiths golden plate story debunked reasons for jesus. Moroni eventually delivered these plates to joseph, who translated and published. Personal size giant print, reference bible with concordance by, march 1982, thomas nelson inc edition, hardcover in english giant prnt edition. The golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold painting by kenneth riley m. Ancient artifacts of mystery lds crafts, lds seminary.
Doxey, assistant in the office of the quorum of the twelve. Initially, the film appeas to be as much, or more about joseph and emmas relationship than it is about the golden plates. An analysis of the padilla gold plates book of mormon. So he is right only if we were talking about nice flat cast rolled and milled plates. Why were the golden plates needed if they were not used for.
Its mostly a question on whether golden rings is referring to finger rin. What was the approximate weight of the gold plates from. According to the book of mormon, the plates of nephi, consisting of the large plates of nephi and the small plates of nephi, are a portion of the collection of inscribed metal plates which make up the record of the nephites. Ancient metal plates book of mormon archaeological forum. We do not have the book of mormon metal plates available to us. The book of mormon itself portrays the golden plates as a historical record, engraved by two precolumbian. New era, july the book of mormon online amazing book of mormon study guide website that has tons of additional commentary, images, video, and music to go along with what youre reading. Some contemporaries of smiths suggested that the plates weighed 60 pounds while others alleged they were 30 pounds 2. The golden plates, from which the book of mormon was supposedly translated, were, according to the mormons, written about 600 b. Two top plates are made of brass and imprinted with reformed egyptian characters. David whitmer is reported of saying, we not only saw the plates of the book of mormon but also brass platesand many other plateswe were overshadowed by lightthere appeared as it were a table with many records or plates upon it, besides the book of mormon, also the sword of laban, the directors preston nibley, the witnesses. More on the golden plates sealed portion from brazil.
Rising generation by common consent, a mormon blog. Mormon and moroni, the book says, had abridged earlier historical records from other sets of metal plates. The very next day, joseph and oliver continued the translation. It is written, the golden plates are historys most stunning find in the field of religion. 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. On april 23, 1843, six bellshaped brass plates, covered with undecipherable engravings were unearthed near kinderhook, illinois, 70 miles south of nauvoo. Items do not represent the official views of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints or of book of mormon central. Some often joke derisively, oh if only joseph had thought to actually show someone else those plates instead of keeping them to himself, maybe we might believe him. Book of mormon central archive an analysis of the padilla gold plates. Moronimoroni delivering the book of mormon to joseph smith, lithograph, 1886. What was the approximate weight of the gold plates from which the.
Oct 28, 2009 david whitmer is reported of saying, we not only saw the plates of the book of mormon but also brass platesand many other plateswe were overshadowed by lightthere appeared as it were a table with many records or plates upon it, besides the book of mormon, also the sword of laban, the directors preston nibley, the witnesses. A voice for the community of lds scholars 191 fall 1978. You can read the testimonies of the witnesses at the beginning of the book of mormon. It is only the second half of the film that centers on josephs dealing with the plates of gold. An abridged version of this record, inscribed on gold plates, was the source of the book of mormon, according to joseph smith. The latest edition of the book of mormon can be considered the official version.
You know, when the world sings the twelve days of christmas each year, choirs vary between five gold rings or five golden rings. 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. Strang pulled out of his pocket and showed to stephen post the small, sacred brass plates of rajah manchou. 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. Journal of book of mormon studies journals brigham. Why are we told about the different metal record plates comprising the book of mormon. A latterday saint was present when the plates were discovered, so news traveled quickly back to the mormon community in nauvoo about the discovery of a new set. Joseph himself gave us the length, width, and thickness of the whole set of plates as 6. This abridgement, with additions by mormon s son, moroni, was part of the set of gold plates moroni delivered to joseph smith. 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. The credibility of joseph smith rests on his first revelation, the book of mormon. The purpose of this retreat is to provide free support to mormons navigating a.
The latest chapter in the cultural history of the book of. Yet oneeighteenth of the book of mormon is identical, word for word, to the 1611 king james version of the bible. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship as how witnesses described the gold plates, journal of book of mormon studies, vol. The abridgments, quotations, and original writings of those book of mormon historians are displayed on. 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. Facsimile copy of the original manuscript of the book of. The credibility of the book of mormon rests on its origin, the gold plates. Strang pulled out of his pocket and showed to stephen post.
Utah foot ball players carry copper form of what the plates would have look like. Joseph smith who said he was led by an angel to find the book of mormon engraved on golden plates, since he is viewed by most as being the lead founder of the mormon faith. We first learn about them from the visit of the angel moroni to joseph smith on september 21, 1823. Ancient artifacts of mystery lds crafts, lds seminary, lds. The plates were not a solid block of gold, but a set of pagelike leaves, which reduces the weight by about 50%. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked.
The record of the nephites was also the manuscript title of the book of mormon. Thats because the plates of nephi were not in the original book of mormon. The book of mormon itself portrays the golden plates as a historical record, engraved by two precolumbian prophethistorians from around the year ad 400. The prophet joseph smith described the gold plates as follows. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be.
Nov 20, 2007 their were never any plates martin harris one of the witness to the book of mormon stated that he never saw the plates. At schools across the united states today, many students will walk out of class at 10. 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. This record was later abridged by mormon and inscribed onto gold plates from which joseph smith translated the book of mormon after an angel revealed to him the location. Joseph used a special rock called a seer stone to translate the plates. The phrase record of the nephites has two distinct but related usages.
Dear friends over the next several days i will be streaming a set. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. If the plates were made of eight karat gold, which is gold frequently used in presentday jewelry, and allowing a 10 percent space between the leaves, the total weight of the plates would not be above one hundred and seventeen poundsa weight easily carried by a man as strong as was joseph smith john a. Not only were the gold plates not needed, they never even existed. That is, the spirit of the book of mormon could now go forth throughout the world, rapidly like a deer, being the spirit of the golden plates. Why were the golden plates needed if they were not used. Jun 23, 2015 provided to youtube by cdbaby book of mormon storiesthe golden plates insideout a cappella sharing time. Its a common misconception by people outside the church that joseph smith was the only person who ever saw the golden plates. The script was said to be egyptian characters like those on the gold plates of the book of mormon. John dehlin, natasha helfer parker, and margi weber dehlin on the mormon stories podcast facebook page.
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. Some often joke derisively, oh if only joseph had thought to actually show someone else those plates instead of keeping them to himself, maybe we mig. The remaining plates are of a paper composite material colored gold but with no inscriptions. May 25, 2015 the credibility of joseph smith rests on his first revelation, the book of mormon. Maxwell yet, unlike other stunning finds in history, the gold plates are nowhere to be found. 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. These pages include what is now 1 nephi, chapter 2, verse 2 through 1 nephi, chapter, verse 35. The korean diamond sutra gold plates are about the same dimensions as well, except there are fewer gold leaves. The various plates and records referred to in the book of mormon and used in. The book of mormon is a complex text with a complicated history. Nelson classic giant print centercolumn reference bible 9780840708588 by thomas nelson and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices.
When they reached the whitmer farm, the angel returned the plates as promised. Which american religious leader said he was led by an angel. Confusion about the golden plates the book of mormon in. The primary use is to describe the collection of inscribed metal plates on which the nephites recorded their history. These were two stones in silver bows which appear in numbers 27. Aug 27, 2009 they were given to an angel named mormoni. In september 1823, joseph smith pried open a stone box in the side of a new york hill and beheld, for the first time, the luminous gold plates of the book of mormon. Thus, a composite metal could be made to have the appearance of solid gold. These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of gold, each plate was six inches wide and eight. In an article for the mormon times scholars corner, taking the golden plates and running october 8, 2010. For details, see how witnesses described the gold plates, journal of book of mormon studies, vol.
A surprising amount of consistent information can be gleaned from eyewitnesses. How to know the book of mormon is true by rose, tom g isbn. He was the last prophet of the book of mormon and died sometime after 420 a. He was the same individual who delivered the plates to joseph smith. Their were never any plates martin harris one of the witness to the book of mormon stated that he never saw the plates. Journal of book of mormon studies journals brigham young. Some critics assume that the golden plates are pure gold, or that they are a solid block of gold. It was claimed that the contents newly found kinderhook plates told something about the race of the person with whom they were found. What happened to the golden plates from which joseph smith. Smith translated the text of the book of mormon over the next several. A longer version of this article was originally published by the neal a.
The book of mormon comes forth presents a sharpened picture of an important segment of lds history and how the book of mormon came to the worlds attention. One of my favorite passages is in 3 nephi chapters 1119, where the resurrected lord appears to the people and teaches his gospel. The gold plates that the prophet joseph smith received and. How witnesses described the gold plates byu scholarsarchive. Book of mormontranslationweight of the gold plates fairmormon. A latterday saint was present when the plates were discovered, so news traveled quickly back to the mormon community in nauvoo about the discovery of a new set of metal plates. Some of the plates are specifically mentioned in the book of mormon, including the brass plates of laban, the history of the jaredites, and the large and small plates of nephi.
Provided to youtube by cdbaby book of mormon storiesthe golden plates insideout a cappella sharing time. Can mormon scholars devise a new theory to accommodate the evidence from the book of mormon manuscript. Evidence from the book of mormon manuscript mormonthink. You may be interested to know that 5 scrolls were given to a museum in chicago.