Jan 05, 2015 said another way, the book of mormon represents far less than half of what was recorded on the plates by moroni. 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 first part of our book of mormon, from first nephi through. This opening book in the book of mormon masterfully weaves together facts. But many people forgot jesus christ and didnt follow him anymore. 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. Book of mormontranslationlocation of the plates fairmormon. Confusion about the golden plates the book of mormon in. And for this intent shall they gothat they may be persuaded that jesus is the christ, the son of the living god. This agreement would come back to haunt smith when these men felt that they should have a share in the book of mormon gold plates.
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. Book of mormon pronunciation guide retrieved 20120225, ipa ified from i. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. A painting depicting gold plates by jerry thompson. They remained safe until moroni, as a heavenly messenger, returned in 1827 and delivered the sacred records to the prophet joseph smith. Said another way, the book of mormon represents far less than half of what was recorded on the plates by moroni. The plates are made of a coppergold alloy and are held together by three dshaped rings, forming a sort of book. Moroni finished the record of his father mormon 8 and 9, abridged the twentyfour gold plates of ether, wrote his own book, wrote part of the title page, and added a large amount which was sealed and not translated by joseph smith. Title page of the book of mormon submitted to the library of congress for registration. Finding records on plates in a specific area during a specific time frame is a little more challenging.
The following is from the introduction to the 1981 ed. 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 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. Jss history added that he was commanded not to show the plates to anyone. Joseph did not need the plates physically present to translate, since the translation was done by revelation. But to achieve exaltation or godhood it is available only to mormons who obey the teachings specific to the book of mormon. The book of mormon an account written by the hand of. This depository cave or room and the event of seeing and being inside this cave, according to heber c.
All we know is that he did have both items they were to be kept together in his possession before he received and translated the twentyfour plates. The book of mormon an account written by the hand of mormon. The plates joseph received were written on directly by 11 different people. The sealed portion of the book of mormon brunson20.
In an 1879 interview, emma smith described the plates of mormon, which she had once felt beneath the linen cloth that covered them. The urim and thummim was preserved in a stone box, along with the gold plates, for over 1,500 years for the purpose of enabling joseph to. Once we have lived up to the revelations we have now, it is far more likely we will be given more from those plates. The book of mormon comes forth presents a sharpened picture of an important segment of lds history. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked.
Book of mormon plates and records book of mormon central. The various plates and records referred to in the book of mormon and used in. The book of mormon claims that jesuss atonement provided for the immortality for all people. Because the plates were written in a language comparable to hebrew, sjodahl had fourteen pages of the english book of mormon translated into hebrew and written out. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Gold plates by jerry thompson what was mormons purpose. Emma smith on the physical characteristics of the book of mormon plates. Much is made of the fact that joseph used a seer stone, which he placed in a hat, to dictate the text of the book of mormon without viewing the plates directly.
In an 1879 interview, emma smith described the plates of mormon, which she had once felt. 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 king james quotations in the book of mormon, the history of the text of the book of mormon. The book of lehi section of the plates deserves special consideration here. Check out book of mormon centrals new video, detailing the historical evidence for the existence of the book of mormon golden plates. The book of mormon setting is in or nearby new york. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the. First, it refers to the original writings on the plates. These include endowments, celestial marriage, and specific tithing. 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.
Mormon and moroni, the book says, had abridged earlier historical records from other sets of metal plates. Because the plates were written in a language comparable to. The title page of the book of mormon refers to its primary records as abridgments. Sometimes, smith dictated to harris from upstairs or from a different room.
The book of mormon is a sacred record of peoples in ancient america, and was engraved upon sheets of metal. Nephi made two sets of platesthe large plates and the small plates. 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. Mormon writes book of mormon stories on the golden plates many prophets wrote on the golden plates. The remaining plates are of a paper composite material colored gold but with no inscriptions. Of course, the words of other prophets and leaders were recorded on the plates by these 11. According to latter day saint belief, the golden plates are the source from which joseph smith. Replica gold plates book of mormon book of mormon, book of. 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. 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. 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. This record was later abridged by mormon and inscribed onto gold plates from which joseph smith.
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. This led to a number of attempts to steal the plates from the smiths. After the translation was completed, however, joseph reported. Most lds church members were taught that joseph smith used seer stones referred to as the urim and thummim nephite interpreters to translate the book of mormon bom 1 to various scribes. We are assured the time will come for the sealed portion to be translated, but that day is not yet here. Book of mormon stories mormon writes on the golden plates. Today, however, critics almost universally admit that there are numerous examples of ancient writing on metal plates. Witnesses of the golden plates and the book of mormon.
Dimensions according to joseph, the book was 6 x 8 x 6 and each plate was thinner than common tin. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be. The books within the book of mormon from the words of mormon to fourth nephi, are taken from mormons abridgment of the large plates. Brass plates 2 mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. Moroni burying the gold plates action figure deseret book. Sjodahl journal of book of mormon studies 101 2001. The men who wrote on them referred to them as these plates, while referring to the large plates held by the kings as the other plates. Text matches the title page of the first edition of the book of mormon, palmyra. Grandin, 1830, but is a different setting of type and lacks imprint statement. 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. Dec 07, 2017 first, it refers to the original writings on the plates. They wrote about jesus christ and about how to keep the commandments. Four kinds of metal record plates are spoken of in the book itself.
Records on metal plates are becoming a fairly common archeological find. Gold plates by jerry thompson what was mormons purpose in writing the book of mormon. Other metals were used to make tablets, plates, and scrolls for recording special histories or ceremonial events. Book of mormon title page markings i like this method of enhancing your study. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. As a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints studying the book of mormon at byu, i have learned many things concerning how to live a good life. In the first book of the book of mormon, 1st nephi, there is a story concerning an individual, our prophet, lehi, and his sons nephi, laman and lemuel.
The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which is believed to contain writings of ancient prophets who lived on american continent from approx. Js may have created separate characters documents for different purposes. Nov 03, 2017 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. Ancient metal plates book of mormon archaeological forum. 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 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. How did the book of mormon golden plates get to new york. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle. In contrast, the book of lehi had been written by an entirely different line of record. A righteous man named ammaron hid the golden plates so they would be safe.
The plates were written in a language called reformed egyptian. 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. Language the language on the plates is called reformed egyptian. The plates from which joseph translated the book of mormon are called the gold plates and the golden plates interchangeably because it is unknown exactly what they were. Considered the oldest book in the history of mankind, it dates to 500 bc and perhaps even earlier. Mormons foresight in providing two different accounts of the same period of. The small plates of nephi and the words of mormon religious. How did the book of mormon golden plates get to new.
Mormonthe chief editor of the book of mormon part 2 canada. The book of mormon an account written by the hand of mormon upon 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. But second, joseph is clarifying that this was the title page of the original book of mormon. The first part of our present book of mormon 1 nephi through the words of mormon comes from the small plates. Book of mormon stories mormon writes on the golden. Archaeological and historical evidence where are the. 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. An outline of the textual structure of the book of mormon. Replica gold plates book of mormon book of mormon, book.
The book of mormon was translated and published in 1830. 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. Jul 20, 2018 i obtained them and the urim and thummim with them, by the means of which i translated the plates and thus came the book of mormon. Its a common misconception by people outside the church that joseph smith was the only person who ever saw the golden plates. Mormons insert provided a transition from nephis small plates to mormons. Kimball in 1856 recorded that the book of mormon plates were returned into a depository cave or room. An outline of the textual structure of the book of mormon by j. The whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity in its construction, and much skill in the art of engraving. The book of mormon plates religious studies center. The plates that joseph smith received were the golden plates, the official record and history abridgement that was translated into what was published as the book of mormon. 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. Inspired to add the small plates of nephi to his own record, mormon. The abridgments, quotations, and original writings of those book of mormon historians are displayed on.
The book of mormon itself portrays the golden plates as a historical record, engraved by two precolumbian prophethistorians from around the year. 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. Brown connects many littleknown historical fragments with more familiar accounts to present the most complete narrative to date on the restoration and. He includes in his narrative the visit of the angel moroni. The plates are made of a coppergold alloy and are held together by three d. Golden plates to book of mormon more about the plates the pages were thin sheets of metal. Unfortunately, the book of mormon does not tell us how or when king mosiah received the brother of jareds interpreters. The fact that they were buried in stone boxes may also be compelling and significant.
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. Joseph smith himself wrote his own history, which is included in our scripturesjoseph smith history 1. The various plates and records referred to in the book of mormon and used in making it are 1 the plates of brass. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Two top plates are made of brass and imprinted with reformed egyptian characters. The golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold the golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold, new era, july.
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. Taken from the plates of nephi hardcover antique books, 1920. The golden plates are often confused with the brass plates, which while important to the book of mormon, are not the same thing. Does the church have a position on the rumor that someone. After several unsuccessful attempts, smith said he dug up the gold plates on september 22, 1827. 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. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the.
The book of mormon was written by many ancient prophets who recorded their words on different sets of metal plates. Joseph smith received with the breastplate and the plates of the book of mormon, the urim and thummim, which were hid up by moroni to come forth in the last days as a means by which the ancient record might be translated, which. Mar 09, 2010 the book of mormon setting is in or nearby new york. Most latterday saints know the essential story of the coming forth of the book of mormon, but there are scores of fascinating details of the saga that are seldom told. The book of mormon tells how he hid the golden plates in the earth at hill cumorah. Nephi, jacob, enos, jarom, omni, amaron, chemish, abinadom, amaleki, mormon, and moroni. How did joseph smith translate the plates from which the book. The small plates of nephi came down in a different line. According to the book of mormon, nephi was sent back to jerusalem after his family had travelled for three days. Mar 01, 2011 the first third of the set contained two records. These records were later abridged to create the plates of mormon, or the gold plates that joseph smith translated. She recalled that they were pliable like thick paper but rustled with a metallic sound when they were moved.
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