Where is the book of mormon gold plates

While the men were viewing these things, they heard a voice that said. According to the book itself, this history and the teachings of jesus were abridged and written on gold plates by the prophet mormon. In the portion of the plates that was translated which is now known as the book of mormon, the prophet nephi recorded a prophecy that the book in the sealed portion of the plates would not be. Some claim that since the original plates of the book of mormon are unavailable for scholarly inspection, it cant reasonably be studied as an. 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. The explanation most accepted is that they are in the possession of god. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon. Testimony of the prophet joseph smith, front of 20 edition of the book of mormon. The book of mormon was translated from the unsealed portion of the gold plates, but there was at least one other book contained within a sealed portion of the gold plates that was not translated.

Plates of gold book of mormon archaeological forum. Packer, in his article cumorahs cave, printed in the journal of book of mormon studies v. Golden plates to book of mormon the angel moroni showed joseph smith where to find the golden plates. The scriptures suggest two reasons the book of mormon gold plates were not made. This year we will be studying the book of mormon as part of the come, follow me curriculum. And several of their unusual featuressuch as being bound by dshaped rings, having a sealed portion, and being written in reformed egyptianhave a surprising amount of corroboration from the ancient world. 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. This book will be convincing to those already certain that the gold plates actually existed and that the eleven witnesses saw them. God gave joseph smith the gift and power to translate writings recorded centuries ago in a language of which joseph had no knowledge. The text explained that the plates were an abridgment of other ancient records and were written by an american prophet named mormon and his son moroni.

Smith translated the text of the book of mormon over the next several. Some witnesses described the plates as weighing from 30 to 60 pounds 14 to 27 kg, golden in. The traditional version of church history is that moroni buried the golden plates in the hill cumorah in a stoneandcement box he built in the hillside. Mar 15, 2016 nephi prophesied that there would be multiple groups of people who would see the plates upon which the book of mormon was written. Putnam made that point in mathematical detail and concluded that the total weight of the plates in joseph smiths charge would have been near the 60pound figure reported by several witnesses. Two top plates are made of brass and imprinted with reformed egyptian characters. The metal would have to be soft enough to use a stylus so they can understand the difficult process. Joseph smiths golden plate story debunked reasons for jesus. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked. Book of mormon the idea of an ancient record on gold plates was one of the most mocked claims of joseph smith. Cox has graciously provided me with a new account of moroni showing the book of mormon plates to mary whitmer 17781856, wife of peter whitmer senior. The remaining plates are of a paper composite material colored gold but with no inscriptions. What happened to the golden plates after joseph smith. Without the gold plates, the book of mormon is relegated to nothing more than a nineteenthcentury fictional novel.

The story of their discovery is supported by a large number. 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. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be. The book of mormon plates are the fly in the critics potato salad.

I hope my readers will begin to read the book of mormon on their own and use this blog to. His son, moroni, made additions and buried the plates in the ground, where they remained for about 1,400 years, until moroni, appearing as a resurrected being or angel, delivered them to joseph smith. Mormon, a prophet and military leader who lived at the end of the nephite era c. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. First, he specifically mention 3 witnesses, then a few, and also as many witnesses as seemeth the lord good. Thomas stuart fergusons archaeological search for the book of mormon larson, stan on. 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. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. 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. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture.

These distinctions appear to reflect the three witnesses who saw the plates and the angels, the eight witnesses who saw and handled the plates. Book of mormon gold plates mormonism research ministry. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of mormonism. Thomas stuart fergusons archaeological search for the book of mormon. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon christian. Bill mckeever is the founder and president of mormonism research ministry. 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. Brigham young gave a somewhat similar, secondhand account on june 17, 1877. End by showing your child a copy of the book of mormon. Josephs preface and a testimonial written by a group of eight witnesses described the plates as having an appearance of gold.

These plates have been revealed by the power of god, and they have been translated by the power of god. The angel moroni showed joseph smith where to find the golden plates. My husband wants to get some sheets of ore to help the kids understand this ancient way of writing. 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. 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. 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. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon.

The painting joseph smith receives the gold plates by artist kenneth riley. This video explores the history behind the witnesses to the book of mormon and explains why their combined testimony strongly indicates that joseph smith did in fact possess plates which he translated by the gift and power of god. Mormon and moroni, the book says, had abridged earlier historical records from other sets of metal plates. However, the golden plates are just one of many known and reputed metal plates with significance in the latter day saint movement. Let your child color the pictures before folding this booklet to read to them, the book of mormon teaches me about jesus christ. The precious metal that the world will go for even to the extent of penning the rivers and streams to find its course of origin whether that gold plate was really gold.

Part of the plates were sealed so they couldnt be opened. According to joseph smiths later accounts, three years after he experienced his first vision of deity. Joseph smith, the man who translated the book of mormon from the plates, said this regarding where they are at now. The reported weight, dimensions, and composition of the gold plates are believable. 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.

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. 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. Dramatized the golden plates on 24 audio cds lds book of mormon brand new see more like this the golden plates by. How to make the golden plates with kids eve out of the garden. Joseph smith translating the book of mormon by looking at a seer stone in a hat. 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. Recalled josephs wife emma, no man could have dictated the writing of the manuscripts unless he was inspired. David whitmer, and martin harris see the testimony of three witnesses, book of mormon. 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. Mar 02, 2018 but, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses.

Who are the few who were permitted to see the plates. Jun 19, 2014 the gold plates were a combination of records my intent in writing a blog is to introduce sincere investigators to the book of mormon. Dimensions according to joseph, the book was 6 x 8 x 6 and each plate was thinner than common tin. In fellowship or alienation, youth or age, persecution, poverty or affluence, four whitmer brothers and hiram page never altered their plain testimony that they handled the. Here are some meaningful and beautiful gifts you can give to show the mothers in your life that you love them. The gold plates are records of gods dealing with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contain the fullness of the everlasting gospel of jesus christ. The plates were written in a language called reformed egyptian. I asked him about the gold plates which he professes to have dug up an translated into the book of mormon. Since that time many people have spoke concerning the location of the gold plates. On that trunk lay a book of mormon and gold plates, labans sword, aarons breastplate. Most latterday saints are aware of the testimonies of the three witnesses and the eight witnesses to the book of mormon. Thus, vogel must come up with a counterexplanation for the book of mormon. Five who handled the plates book of mormon central. 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.

Perhaps one should not expect that a book about the witnesses to the book of mormon published by deseret book company would be anything other than an attempt to strengthen the readers faith in the book of mormon. We first learn about them from the visit of the angel moroni to joseph smith on september 21, 1823. The book explains that joseph translated two sets of plates, that mormon s repository was in new york, and that the plates are still not far from cumorah. 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. After the translation was completed, there were several witnesses appointed to testify of the truthfulness of the book of mormon. A record engraved on gold plates, which js translated and published as the book of mormon. Read the story from gold plates to the book of mormon having your child help trace the path.

I want to help others learn about the book of mormon. Dec 31, 20 if the book of mormon plates were made of tumbaga, they were probably between 8 and 12 carat gold and thus would have weighed between 53 and 86 pounds. During this visit moroni told joseph that the plates and the urim and thummim were buried nearby, and showed him their location. Nyman, professor of ancient scripture, brigham young university. 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. Together, the testimony of both the three and the eight witnesses are difficult to explain away. Oliver cowdery went with the prophet joseph when he deposited these plates. The golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold the golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold, new era, july. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830. 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. How to make the golden plates with kids eve out of the.

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. 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. Smith apparently collected these plates, took them home, and subsequently translated them into the book of mormon which he then published in 1830. About 1,400 years later, in 1823, moroni, now resurrected. There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. Once joseph hid them under the bricks of the fireplace. The book of mormon plates religious studies center.

Jan 30, 2018 the reported weight, dimensions, and composition of the gold plates are believable. The book of mormon itself portrays the golden plates as a historical record, engraved by two precolumbian prophethistorians from around the year ad 400. 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 content of the gold plates of the book of mormon. You try spraying, scrubbing, and still were left with so many persons whose testimonies of the physicality of the golden plates, angels, and other artifactsnever wavered. Golden plates to book of mormon more about the plates the pages were thin sheets of metal. They remained safe in my hands, until i had accomplished by them what was. Others view the modern hill cumorah to be distinct from the original, and simply to have been named after it. Where are the book of mormon gold plates at now answers. What happened to the golden plates after joseph smith finished. 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. Language the language on the plates is called reformed egyptian.

Since then, researchers have found several examples of ancient metal plates, gold plates, and plates with rings. The community for those interested in faithful discussions related to the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and its members, known colloquially as mormons. Check out book of mormon centrals new video, detailing the historical evidence for the existence of the book of mormon golden plates. The stone box that held the gold plates ask gramps. The story of their discovery is supported by a large number of similar archeological finds. 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. In mesoamerica and the book of mormon, he shows a simplified drawing of one of them and gives a translation of its carvings. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. But, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses. 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. According to mormon lore, smith claimed to receive the few plates from moroni in 1827 and from them translated the book of mormon. Joseph smith declared that an angel of god directed him to gold plates, which contained the writings of prophets in ancient america, and that he translated those plates by divine powers.

The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates inscribed by prophets. Another account of mary whitmers viewing of the golden plates by royal skousen carl t. Why were the book of mormon gold plates not placed in a museum. Sep 19, 2019 mary whitmer sees the plates by brooke malia mann. Four years later, joseph and his wife, emma, went in a wagon to get 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. Dear gramps, what happened to the stone box that the gold plates, liahona, sword of laban were found in. One thing i found a little amusing was this statement about the gold plates. The prophet joseph smith translates them by the gift and power of god. Mormon and moronis cumorah is claimed by many believers to be the same land containing the modern hill cumorah near joseph smiths home in palmyra, western new york, from whence the gold plates of the book of mormon were retrieved. 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, which contained the record which has been translated, the language of the whole running the same as all hebrew writing in general. A young woman reads from the book of mormon while family members follow along. Joseph showed the plates to christian whitmer, hiram page, jacob whitmer, joseph smith sr. The teachings were etched on gold plates in an ancient reformed egyptian language and later translated by joseph smith into english as the.