With that article as a source, i have built this handout which should work great for any church class. 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. Aug 07, 2006 the dshape of the rings is a minor and subtle detail that may have been overlooked by most people. Reports of gold plates being found stem from a fake news. End by showing your child a copy of the book of mormon.
You cant just eat around it, you have to get rid of it in a way that still makes the salad palatable to the dinner guests. The closest parallel to the book of mormon plates is usually said to be the 4 thcentury bc gold plates discovered in 1933 buried in a stone box in the foundation of king dariuss temple in persia, modernday iran. What about the book of mormon witnesses and the gold plates. According to mormon lore, smith claimed to receive the few plates from moroni in 1827 and from them translated the book of mormon. Janne sjodahl discusses how the book of mormon would have taken up less space on the plates than in its current translated and printed form. Citations on plates of gold book of mormon citations on the book of mormon. Testimony of the prophet joseph smith, front of 20 edition of the book of mormon. Today, however, there are numerous examples of ancient writing on metal plates. David whitmer, one of the book of mormons three witnesses, said if you believe. The plates are made of a coppergold alloy and are held together by three dshaped rings, forming a sort of book. Because the plates were written in a language comparable to hebrew, sjodahl had fourteen pages of the english book of. What is the book of mormon the book of mormon teaches about god and jesus christ. Packer, in his article cumorahs cave, printed in the journal of book of mormon studies v.
The book of mormon was written by many ancient prophets who recorded their words on different sets of metal plates. These records were later abridged to create the plates of mormon, or the gold plates that joseph smith translated. He was quite relieved when he was permitted to show the plates to several witnesses. Desperate mopologists claim ancient bulgarian goldplate find proves truth of 19thcentury book of mormon fairy tale well, here is the opportunity to put their own dna arguments onto their golden plates and serve it to them cold. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. And in 2000, the church achieved a milestone, bringing the total number of translations of the book of mormon to 100, including english. Eight witnesses to gold plates and their testimony is included in the book of mormon. Bill mckeever shows how science is not a friend to the book of mormon story. In 1851 the book of mormon was translated into danish, its first translation to a nonenglish language. The story of the gold plates cannot be underestimated, for without them there can be no book of mormon. Gold plates will never be exhibited again jsj truth. Thus, the plates are foundational to the mormon religion. Because the plates were written in a language comparable to. The book of mormon s description of sacred records written on bronze plates fits quite nicely in the cultural milieu of the ancient eastern mediterranean recent reevaluation of the evidence now points to the fact that the book of mormon s description of sacred records written on bronze plates fits quite nicely in the cultural milieu of the.
Over the past several days there has been an article circulating by many members and non members a like of a team of archaeologists finding the gold plates while excavating a drumlin known as mormon hill or the cumorah. I asked him about the gold plates which he professes to have dug up an translated into the book of mormon. Henrichsen, how witnesses described the gold plates, journal of book of mormon studies 10, no. May 23, 2019 i found a great article in an old 2007 new era. Desperate mopologists claim ancient bulgarian goldplate. A fairmormon analysis of wikipedia article golden plates. Givens in littleknown facts in mormon history writes. 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.
Thomas stuart fergusons archaeological search for the book of mormon larson, stan on. This article contains descriptions of the gold plates. How witnesses described the gold plates, journal of book of mormon studies. Deseret news archives this monument honers the eight witnesses of the book of mormon and was erected in liberty, missouri, on the same day the 100th anniversary of the three witnesses monument in richmond, missouri. Book of mormon graphic leaves out important detail. The rings that bound the gold plates meridian magazine.
Once the plates were removed, neither the prophet nor anyone else appeared interested in the fate of the stone box itself. This article contains descriptions of the gold plates quoted directly from individuals who were closely associated with joseph smith jr. Why were genealogies important to book of mormon peoples. Thomas stuart fergusons archaeological search for the book of mormon.
Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be. In this article they state that the archelogist believe that the plates that were found could. Later, joseph smith translated the book of mormon into english through the gift and power of god. Did book of mormon witnesses simply see the golden plates with. How witnesses described the gold plates book of mormon. Book of mormon index of topics mormonism research ministry. 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. But, how many know of accounts of the gold plates story which mention smith first discovered the. This article is about two very special women who had the privilege of witnessing to the divinity of the gold plates from which we have the wonderful book of mormon today. This feature article is brought to you for free and open access by the all journals at byu scholarsarchive. Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon.
One thing i found a little amusing was this statement about the gold plates. Thus, if these are indeed the plates of mormon, as they certainly appear to be, then there are still over half of them left to be opened at the coming of the savior to those who believe in his word. Thus to the extent that one believes the evidence points to a nonhistorical book of mormon, it also points to something other than real gold plates under the cloth. It took historic accounts of people who had interacted with the gold plates and used those accounts to offer a comprehensive description. Elders journal, july 1838, 4243, summarizes the angels visit and joseph smiths discovery and. 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. 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. Aug 04, 2015 a picture of a smooth, brown, eggsized rock is shown in the printers manuscript of the book of mormon. A picture of a smooth, brown, eggsized rock is shown in the printers manuscript of the book of mormon.
A longer version of this article was originally published by the neal a. But, how many know of accounts of the gold plates story which mention smith first discovered the plates with a seer stone. Book of mormonmetal plates article was originally published by the neal a. Despite mormons holding to a number of religious texts, the book of mormon stands in as the word of god, includes many details and truths missing from the bible, and is deemed the keystone of mormonism 1. Thus, vogel must come up with a counterexplanation for the book of mormon. Angelic handoff of mormon golden plates to joseph smith. Joseph smiths golden plate story debunked reasons for jesus. Journal of book of mormon studies volume 10number 1 article 4 12001 how witnesses described the gold plates kirk b. 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 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. Why are there two sets of official book of mormon witnesses. 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. Jan 26, 2017 eight witnesses to gold plates and their testimony is included in the book of mormon. An analysis of the padilla gold plates byu studies. Sep 19, 2019 this article is about two very special women who had the privilege of witnessing to the divinity of the gold plates from which we have the wonderful book of mormon today. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon christian. It was written in an ancient language on gold plates by prophets in ancient america. 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. The book of mormon was first published in english in new york in 1830. 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. When some people interested in the book of mormon ask to see the golden plates.
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. Recalled josephs wife emma, no man could have dictated the writing of the manuscripts unless he was inspired. Packer wrote in an article for journal of book of mormon studies. The padilla gold plates 1 are well known in lds church archaeologicalanthropological circles, where they have been the subject of publications, papers, 2 discussion, and firsthand examination. I dont know that the plausibility for the gold plates ideas in this blog really prove or disprove anything. Sjodahl journal of book of mormon studies 101 2001. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship as how witnesses described the gold plates, journal of book of mormon studies, vol. Did book of mormon witnesses simply see the golden plates with their. Among those quoted are martin harris, orson pratt, and emma smith. It was the upper plates of the plates of mormon which were translated both into the book of lehi 116 pages and also the book of mormon.
The overall trend in the date over the past 175 years fits the expectations for the book of mormon as history rather than hoax. This article first appeared in christian research journal, volume 34, number 02. They have become an exciting topic and have often been used in missionary endeavors as an example of empirical evidence for the authenticity of the book of mormon. 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. What i do know is that i found out the book of mormon is true because as i read it i felt the spirit of god testify to my soul that it is true, that jesus is. Language the language on the plates is called reformed egyptian. When he was finished translating the plates he gave them back to the angel who he claimed has them in his charge joseph smith history 1. 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. Joseph smith claimed he translated the book of mormon from anciently engraved gold plates, which he took from a stone box in the side of a hill near his home in manchester, new york. And in 2000, the church achieved a milestone, bringing the total number of translations of. After all, it was the gold plates themselves that were of real interest.
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. 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. The angel moroni showed joseph smith where to find the golden plates. Later, joseph smith translated the book of mormon into english through the gift and power of. It was first published in 1830 in palmyra, new york, and was thereafter widely reprinted and translated. The book of mormon plates are the fly in the critics potato salad. Plates and lineage via book of mormon central, featuring mormon abridging the plates by tom lovell and the gold plates by jerry thompson now behold, i, jarom, write a few words according to the commandment of my father, enos, that our genealogy may be kept. The mormon church is for the first time publishing photos of the stone it believes. Bill mckeever explains in a conference talk how the book of mormon, if made of gold plates, would have weighed around 200. Smith said the angel moroni had commanded him not to show the plates to any. Let your child color the pictures before folding this booklet to read to them, the book of mormon teaches me about jesus christ. Given no corrections were ever given nor any contradictions ever cited, the above article stands as the ultimate statement that the gold plates which were in the hands of joseph smith junior from which he transcribed the book of mormon, will never be exhibited again. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the book. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked.
However, the golden plates are just one of many known and reputed metal plates with significance in the latter day saint movement. Dimensions according to joseph, the book was 6 x 8 x 6 and each plate was thinner than common tin. With that article as a source, i have built this handout which. But like so many other details in and involving the book of mormon, there is a whisper of authenticity in this matter. Bill mckeever explains in a conference talk how the book of mormon, if made of gold plates, would have weighed around 200 pounds. How witnesses described the gold plates byu scholarsarchive. Book of mormon, work accepted as holy scripture, in addition to the bible, in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and other mormon churches. Packers article presents several accounts from church leaders and others about what happened to the plates. According to joseph smith, the book of mormon was engraved on a stack of plates six inches wide, six inches thick, and eight inches long that had the appearance of gold. The plates were deposited in cumorahs cave, cameron j.
Many have wondered what became of the golden plates following the translation and publication of the book of mormon. Book of mormon gold plates mormonism research ministry. God gave joseph smith the gift and power to translate writings recorded centuries ago in a language of which joseph had no knowledge. Read the story from gold plates to the book of mormon having your child help trace the path.
As seen by science, the book of mormon is stronger today than it was in 1830, 1844, 1950, or even 2000, so i expect it will continue to become stronger in the future. 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. Jul 20, 2018 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. Henrichsen, compiler journal of book of mormon studies 101 2001. Discussion compared to all that could have been recorded on the gold plates, mormon and others were inspired to choose only a small portion for the book of mormon see words of mormon 1. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the. Every latterday saint mormon is aware of joseph smiths claim that he discovered golden plates from which the book of mormon was translated.
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