Plates of the book mormon

Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. Critics began by labeling the book bungling and stupid, joe smith a perfect ignoramus, and they claimed any blunderhead, with the bible at his side, might have written it. While acting as joseph smiths scribe, martin harris requested to take home the portion of the manuscript that had been translated in order to persuade his wife of the authenticity of the book of mormon. The book of mormon an account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of neph by smith, joseph a copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. Other metals were used to make tablets, plates, and scrolls for recording special histories or ceremonial events. Sjodahl journal of book of mormon studies 101 2001. Book of mormon plates and records book of mormon central. Joseph smith translated two sets of plates book of mormon.

Eight men, called the eight witnesses, saw and touched the plates. The angel moroni showed joseph smith where to find the golden plates. 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. Jan 02, 2020 for teachers and families to explore the structure of the book of mormon. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked. Many quotations from these plates appear in the book of mormon. This beautiful volume is crafted in sturdy bonded leather cover with gold detailing and spine label that is recreated to exact specifications. Replica gold plates book of mormon book of mormon, book. Book of mormon title page markings i like this method of enhancing your study. 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.

This covenant has been established, like ancient covenants, by three separate sets of plates within the book of mormon. 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. Bill mckeever shows how science is not a friend to the book of mormon story. 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. As church membership mushroomed, and it became clear the book of mormon. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. 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.

When moroni, about thirtysix years after, made the deposit of the book entrusted to him, he was, without doubt, inspired to select a department of the hill separate from the great depository of the numerous volumes hid up by his father. Brass plate passage by isaiah quoted by nephi book of mormon. Mormon and moroni, the book says, had abridged earlier historical records from other sets of metal plates. Since then, researchers have found several examples of ancient metal plates, gold plates, and plates with rings. According to the prophet joseph smith, the titlepage of the book of mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the. According to wikipedia after translation was complete, smith said he returned the plates to the angel, but he did not elaborate about this experience. The book was discovered around 1943 in a tomb in the valley of the struma river in bulgaria. Golden plates to book of mormon church of jesus christ. Once joseph hid them under the bricks of the fireplace.

The books within the book of mormon from the words of mormon to fourth nephi, are taken from mormon s abridgment of the large plates. Nephi is led by the spirit to obtain the plates of brass 1. Mar 02, 2018 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. Unfortunately the supposed gold plates joseph smith used to channel the book of mormon from have never been found since he returned them to the angel moroni. Book of mormon index of topics mormonism research ministry. The light shines through the window engulfing the small plates and covers much of the large plates. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the plates of mormon translated by joseph smith and show how the other nephite records were used to produce the book of mormon. Living scripture dramatized golden plates book of mormon cds stories 12 cd. The plates are made of a coppergold alloy and are held together by three d.

The book of mormon an account written by the hand of. The first part of our book of mormon, from first nephi through omni is a translation of the small plates which were written primarily by nephi and jacob, with short entries from the remaining leaders of the nephites down to. In the crowded field of book of mormon fan fiction, this piece is relegated well to the back of the pack. Is the book of mormon and gold plates just a huge fraud.

The various plates and records referred to in the book of mormon and used in making it are 1 the plates of brass. 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. According to the book of mormon, nephi was sent back to jerusalem after his family had travelled for three days. Book of mormontranslationdescription of the plates. The book of mormon and the sealed book of mormon agree that the plates of mormon have three parts to come forth in three different eras until now it has been understood by believers in the book of mormon that the plates of mormon from which it was translated were divided into two parts. The plates of mormon given to the prophet joseph smith. While some critics try to use this story as evidence that everything about joseph smith was a fraud, the historical evidence suggests that joseph ultimately did not fall for the hoaxhe never tried to purchase the plates, hire scribes, and go into translation mode, like he did with the ancient egyptian papyri. These include the large plates of nephi abridged by mormon, the 24 gold plates abridged by moroni, and the plates of brass quoted from in the book of mormon. The abridgments, quotations, and original writings of those book of mormon historians are displayed on. You can read the testimonies of the witnesses at the beginning of the book of mormon.

Finding records on plates in a specific area during a specific time frame is a little more challenging. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon. The abridgments, quotations, and original writings of those book of mormon historians are displayed on the lefthand and middle columns of this chart and are then shown in relation to the new set of plates produced by mormon and moroni that was delivered to joseph smith by the angel moroni. Together, the testimony of both the three and the eight witnesses are difficult to explain away. Sep, 2019 that this wicked purpose had been conceived by the evil one and was known to the lord even while mormon, the ancient nephite historian, was making his abridgment of the accumulated plates, is shown in the book of mormon see words of mormon 1. In the past critics of the book of mormon have attacked the alleged absurdity of the book of mormon having been written on golden plates and its claim of the existence of an early sixth century b. Records on metal plates are becoming a fairly common archeological find. The concluding portion, from mormon, chapter 8, to the end of the volume, was engraved by mormon s son moroni, who, after finishing the record of his fathers life, made an abridgment of the jaredite record as. Jul 24, 2018 the small plates help directly compensate for the lost 116 pages, and they provide the book of mormon with a muchneeded, spiritually focused introduction. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. The plates are made of a coppergold alloy and are held together by three dshaped rings, forming a sort of book. That this wicked purpose had been conceived by the evil one and was known to the lord even while mormon, the ancient nephite historian, was making his abridgment of the accumulated plates, is shown in the book of mormon see words of mormon 1.

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. Packer, in his article cumorahs cave, printed in the journal of book of mormon studies v. Four years later, joseph and his wife, emma, went in a wagon to get the plates. Transcribed only once, from ancient writings, this book is an. Mormon abridged this record in his plates, and joseph smith translated it, but since it was lost by martin harris, very little is now known about it except what can be inferred from references in other texts brown, pp. The plates of ether, like the plates of nephi and mormon, witness of the great latterday book of mormon covenant of the eternal god. Today, however, critics almost universally admit that there are numerous examples of ancient writing on metal plates. Nephi is led by the spirit to obtain the plates of brass. The abridgments, quotations, and original writings of those book of mormon historians are displayed on the lefthand and middle columns of this chart and are then shown in relation to the new set of plates produced by mormon and moroni. The longest portion, from mosiah to mormon, chapter 7, inclusive, is a translation of mormon s abridgment of the large plates of nephi.

Written by prophets to a people who lived in america long before white people ever came, some believe they were the beginnings of some native indian tribes. 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. 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. 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. Joseph smith translated two sets of plates book of. According to mormon lore, smith claimed to receive the few plates from moroni in 1827 and from them translated the book of mormon. New listing antique vintage book of mormon gold plates miniature model lds 1947 mormon utah. The books within the book of mormon from the words of mormon to fourth nephi, are taken from mormons abridgment of the large 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. The plates of ether and the covenant of the book of mormon. Given all the effort that went into producing the replica plates and swords, i expected more time and care would have gone into producing this fraud as well. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. As a result of a dream, lehi sends his sons back to jerusalem to obtain sacred records on plates of brass from a wicked religious and military leader named laban. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi.

Ancient metal plates book of mormon archaeological forum. Sep 17, 2019 and all the ancient plates, mormon deposited in cumorah, about three hundred and eightyfour years after christ. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be. Bill mckeever explains in a conference talk how the book of mormon, if made of gold plates, would have weighed around 200 pounds. 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. Book of mormon the idea of an ancient record on gold plates was one of the most mocked claims of joseph smith. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830. We may choose to keep our covenants and prosper or break these sacred oaths and be destroyed.

It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon. The golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold the golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold, new era, july. 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. The book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. 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 lost 116 pages is the missing portion of the manuscript of the book of mormon.

Some critics assume that the golden plates are pure gold, or that they are a solid block of gold. This piece received an honorable mention in the 2019 book of mormon central art contest. And all the ancient plates, mormon deposited in cumorah, about three hundred and eightyfour years after christ. The tumbaga theory recognizing that plates of pure gold are not feasible, many mormon apologists have turned to an lds metallurgist named read putnam, who has proffered the theory that the plates were made of a lighter central american alloy called tumbaga. Although the large plates were intended for the more secular history of the nephites, it is obvious from the version available in the book of mormon that there was a good deal of spiritual content as well. The concluding portion, from mormon, chapter 8, to the end of the volume, was engraved by mormons son moroni, who, after finishing the record of his fathers life, made an abridgment of the jaredite record as. The longest portion, from mosiah to mormon, chapter 7, inclusive, is a translation of mormons abridgment of the large plates of nephi.