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. Brigham young gave a somewhat similar, secondhand account on june 17, 1877. Joseph smiths golden plate story debunked reasons for jesus. What happened to the golden plates after joseph smith finished.
So allred started adapting the book of mormon into a multipart graphic novel. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. According to smith, the angel was the guardian of the golden plates, buried in the hill cumorah near smiths home in western new york. Joseph smith was careful to obey the command from the lord that he not show the plates to others. Within the larger picture of the book of mormon missionary chapters is a brilliant message of conversion and testimony.
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. The dramatized golden plates audio series on cd living. 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. The reason why moroni took the plates back from joseph is surprisingly apparent right within the book of mormon. However, the golden plates are just one of many known and reputed metal plates with significance in the latter day saint movement. Packer, in his article cumorahs cave, printed in the journal of book of mormon studies v. See book of mormon central, what kind of ore did nephi use to make the plates. 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. Dramatized the golden plates 24 audio cds lds book of mormon living scriptures. My husband wants to get some sheets of ore to help the kids understand this ancient way of writing. The etymology of zyf and a metallurgical analysis of the book of mormon plates online pdf, accessed november, 2015, 79. 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 reported weight, dimensions, and composition of the gold plates are believable. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon christian. 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. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi palmyra, ny. Experience the faithbuilding stories in the book of mormon with the dramatized golden plates. 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 of mormon, which, except for the sealed portion, were subsequently translated by joseph smith, are known today as the gold plates. Golden plates and the inside truth about the book of mormon, church of jesus christ of latter day saint perspective. Some claim that since the original plates of the book of mormon are unavailable for scholarly inspection, it cant reasonably be studied as an. Gold and silver are often mixed together in an alloy called electrum. Disturbing early versions of the golden plates accounts. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. 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.
The prophet joseph smith translates them by the gift and power of god. 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. Had they been unalloyed gold, they would have been too heavy for a single person to carry p. Logically, the book of mormon plates could have been composed of these two metals. The remaining plates are of a paper composite material colored gold but with no inscriptions. Four years later, joseph and his wife, emma, went in a wagon to get the plates. In 2004 and 2005 he selfpublished the golden plates, an actiongospelpacked. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830. It is the unheralded story of the female lamanite missionary abish in alma. The sword of laban and the tree of life the golden plates, volume one michael d.
Smith translated the text of the book of mormon over the next several. Desperate mopologists claim ancient bulgarian goldplate. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be. Premium edition six issue collection, contains all 6 issues of an adaptation of the fifth best selling book of all time, the book of mormon, which has sold over 120 million copies. Since then, researchers have found several examples of ancient metal plates, gold plates, and plates with rings. Oliver cowdery went with the prophet joseph when he deposited these plates.
First, it refers to the original writings on the plates. Joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon. The book of mormon is a translation of ancient gold plates, which is not easily understood by our young kids. Latter day saints believe the plates were the source material for the book of mormon.
Dramatized the golden plates 24 audio cds lds book of mormon living scriptures see more like this. The present english book of mormon, however, is not simply a translation of all those gold plates. While joseph smith had the plates they were constantly at risk. Manchester, ny a team of archaeologistsexcavating 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 thechurch of jesus christof latterday saints, joseph smith jr. 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.
Emma hale smith bidamon was born on july 10, 1804, to isaac and elizabeth hale. Emma smith witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. The golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold the golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold, new era, july. This is the book that explains the twosetsofplates scenario that everyone is talking about. The metal would have to be soft enough to use a stylus so they can understand the difficult process. Where the past reveals the future and proves that god exists. A longer version of this article was originally published by the neal a. 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. The story of their discovery is supported by a large number.
Every latterday saint mormon is aware of joseph smiths claim that he discovered golden plates from which the book of mormon was translated. Golden plates to book of mormon the angel moroni showed joseph smith where to find the golden plates. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been. Smith apparently collected these plates, took them home, and subsequently translated them into the book of mormon which he then published in 1830. Faithful members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints believe that the prophet joseph smith received a set of metal plates which had the appearance of gold. 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. Emma smith bidamon a witness of the book of mormon. Two top plates are made of brass and imprinted with reformed egyptian characters. When told that several witnesses did see and handle them, they ask, what did they look like. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship as how witnesses described the gold plates, journal of book of mormon studies, vol.
So we at least have something tangible to work with. Anyone want to go on a little treasure hunting escapade with me to manchester, new york to find this brick of religious history. 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. Paul hansen has spent much of the past 10plus years working to reconcile the faith and science surrounding the golden plates, the fabled ancient tome that, according to teachings of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, were translated into the book of mormon by church founder joseph smith in the mid19th century. 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. Once joseph hid them under the bricks of the fireplace. How to make the golden plates with kids book of mormon. This series recreates the faithbuilding stories of people like lehi, nephi, abinadi, alma, samuel the lamanite, helaman and the stripling warriors, general mormon and his son moroni. The angel moroni showed joseph smith where to find the golden plates. This graphic novelcomic book adaptation was first illustrated in 2005 by award winning artist michael allred. Golden plates to book of mormon more about the plates the pages were thin sheets of metal. In his book, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, he wrote, r. Book of mormon the idea of an ancient record on gold plates was one of the most mocked claims of joseph smith. But second, joseph is clarifying that this was the title page of the original book of mormon.
Book of mormon prophesy reveals why moroni took the golden. The very idea that a new york farm boy with limited education might translate an ancient document is so unimaginable that it could only have occurred through, as joseph himself declared, the gift and power of. During this visit moroni told joseph that the plates and the urim and thummim were buried nearby, and showed him their location. The golden plates upon which the book of mormon was written have had quite a history, and it is rather well documented. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon. There are numerous examples of ancient writing on metal plates. The text of the book of mormon itself refers to nephis seeking ore from which to make his plates. That is why it is so important to look at what the title page tells us was in the original book of mormon. 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. The sword of laban and the tree of life the golden plates. On these plates was inscribed the text of the book of mormon, which he tra. Metal ore usually has a mixture of various metals in it. The etymology of zyf and a metallurgical analysis of the book of mormon plates provo, ut.
The plates were written in a language called reformed. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. She grew up in harmony, pennsylvania, along the banks of the susquehanna river on a acre farm. 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. Mormonism is a religion less than two centuries old, but in this short time it has managed to accrue a long list of embarrassments which the church leaders would prefer were kept. Provided to youtube by cdbaby book of mormon storiesthe golden plates insideout a cappella sharing time. On that trunk lay a book of mormon and gold plates, labans sword, aarons breastplate. The sealed portion of the plates contained extremely sacred and important content that the lord has promised to reveal in the future. We first learn about them from the visit of the angel moroni to joseph smith on september 21, 1823. When some people interested in the book of mormon ask to see the golden plates, they are disappointed to learn that joseph returned them to moroni. What at one time might have been a heavy left hook against the validity of the book of mormon has since turned into quite convincing evidence in favor of the reality of the golden plates but of course the most convincing witness is that of the spirit of god which comes.
But, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses. What happened to the golden plates after joseph smith. Testimony of the prophet joseph smith, front of 20 edition of the book of mormon. Mormon is allegedly a prophethistorian who was the native american believed by mormons to have written the book of mormon the main religious text of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints mormonism. 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. It is an awesome book for lds audiences who are familiar with church history and want to learn. How to make the golden plates with kids eve out of the. Putnam has argued persuasively that the book of mormon plates that were in joseph smiths hands were of tumbaga. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center.
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