Every latterday saint mormon is aware of joseph smiths claim that he discovered golden plates from which the book of mormon was translated. Most of the book of mormon was translated there by revelation to joseph smith. The prophet joseph smith translates them by the gift and power of god. 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. 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. I am excited to share a fun book of mormon based primary activity that would be perfect for the 2016 theme i know the scriptures are true. 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 grandin printing press was used to produce the first copies. The plates are made of a coppergold alloy and are held together by three dshaped rings, forming a sort of book. My dear friend anita shared this book of mormon activity that she organized for her ward after their primary read the book of mormon last year. The bulk of what would become a 600page book was produced in about two months. If joseph smith received at least parts of the book of mormon revelation from writing on a seerstone, rather than reading the golden plates themselves, it means that the source of the book of.
Not only were the gold plates not needed, they never even existed. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. See each listing for international shipping options and costs. Book of mormon allamerican prophet lyrics genius lyrics. Gold contact paper i got mine at a craft store, but amazon has some too. Book of mormon prophecies of christ specific bible prophecies veiled actually nonexistent unless scripture misquoted or prophecies stretched to have two meanings. Book of mormon stories mormon writes on the golden. 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 book of mormon is a revelation, not a translation. Table 2 summarizes the precise proposed dates on the gregorian calendar for each of the seven steps of the life cycle of the golden plates. 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 setting, with a statue of moroni towering above, and the price.
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. And even though people wanted to see the golden plates. Joseph did not need the plates physically present to translate, since the translation was done by revelation. 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 composed of. In the unfolding book of mormon text, joseph smith found answers to some of the questions that had brought him to the sacred grove as a 14yearold boy. But what of the stone box that contained these sacred items. I cite the d not as a grade, but as one more subtle bit of evidence that merits attention. The first part is now available for purchase from the sealed book of mormon is a translation from 19 plates that are part of 42 plates that are now unsealed. There are numerous examples of ancient writing on metal plates. He had failed to obtain the plates immediately after that first night of angelic. According to the mormon church, a couple of decades after smiths 1823 discovery of the infamous golden plates at a hill near his home, the. Golden plates to book of mormon more about the plates the pages were thin sheets of metal.
The angel moroni showed joseph smith where to find the golden plates. Many people close to the process were moved by the book s message and eagerly waited for a renewing of old covenants and the restoration of christs church. We then see elder cunningham doing the same gesture with the book of mormon. 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. 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. 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 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. I saw them as plain as i see you now, and distinctly heard the voice of the lord declaring that the records of the plates of the book of mormon were translated by the gift and power of god. These plates have been revealed by the power of god, and they have been translated by the power of god. This meant that the characters were written top to bottom, and right to left. However, the golden plates are just one of many known and reputed metal plates with significance in the latter day saint movement. 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 book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to.
The golden plates is a dramatized version of the book of mormon. A righteous man named ammaron hid the golden plates so they would be safe. The book of mormon itself portrays the golden plates as a historical record, engraved by two precolumbian prophethistorians from around the year ad 400. According to joseph smith, the book of mormon was originally engraved on golden plates, which he received in 1827 from an angel named moroni, whom smith identified as a resurrected former inhabitant of the american continent. Because of this they are unavailable for examination today.
When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Mar 09, 2010 how did the book of mormon golden plates get to new york. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Nov 03, 2017 check out the latest from book of mormon central.
The text of the book of mormon itself refers to nephis seeking ore from which to make his plates. All about mormons was released on dvd along with the rest of the seventh season on march 21, 2006. But producing the hundreds of pages of translated manuscript was only part of. Two top plates are made of brass and imprinted with reformed egyptian characters. After the translation was completed, however, joseph reported that he returned the plates to the angel. 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 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. Logically, the book of mormon plates could have been composed of these two metals. Dramatized the golden plates 24 audio cds lds book of mormon living scriptures see more like this. As the prophet related it, the book of mormon story typically started with his earliest searches for god. Gold and silver are often mixed together in an alloy called electrum. The gold plates were physical objects sitting in their hands, so there was no need for folklores second sight. Dramatized the golden plates book of mormon living scriptures 24 cd set lds.
Latter day saints believe the plates were the source material for the book of mormon. You all know the bible is made of testaments old and new. The plates were written in a language called reformed egyptian. The golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold the golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold, new era, july.
At the beginning of act two, it shows a flashback of moroni getting the golden plates. The book of mormon and the growth of printing in america. They wrote about jesus christ and about how to keep the commandments. Dec 07, 2017 thats because the plates of nephi were not in the original book of mormon. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi.
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. 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. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked. Added print run and production cost, is it too much detail for the introductory paragraph. Sidney rigdons final words about joseph smith and the. Where the past reveals the future and proves that god exists. How to make the golden plates with kids eve out of the garden. That is, the spirit of the book of mormon could now go forth throughout the world, rapidly like a deer, being the spirit of the golden plates. Known as the book of mormon, he said i told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book of earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book. The unsealed plates have been divided into two parts for publication. Why were the plates present during the translation of the book of mormon. Pure gold plates would be too soft to hold engraving well. Confusion about the golden plates moronis america the. Rigdon, the son of sydney rigdon visited utah and spent the winter among the mormons.
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. We the three witnesses not only saw the plates of the book of mormon, but the brass plates, the plates containing the record of the wickedness of the people of the world, and many other. 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. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be. The book of mormon is a complex text with a complicated history. In many cases, the biblical quotations in the englishlanguage book of mormon, are close, or identical to the equivalent sections of the kjv. Low postage rates for periodicals and building of postal roads. This is the first time ive heard that in conference could be wrong here.
Parker and stone later carried over many themes from the episode for their musical the book of mormon, which opened on broadway in 2011. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present with millions of global adherents. Book of mormontranslationdescription of the plates. Did the book of mormon witnesses see the gold plates only in. Metal ore usually has a mixture of various metals in it. Origin of the book of mormon, golden plates, and criticism of the book of mormon. Jun 23, 2015 provided to youtube by cdbaby book of mormon storiesthe golden plates insideout a cappella sharing time. Book of mormon stories mormon writes on the golden plates. The sword of laban and the tree of life the golden plates. Original broadway production 2011 the book of mormon. The sword of laban and the tree of life the golden plates, volume one michael d. The term golden bible is also used with a negative connotation.
Of what material were the book of mormon gold plates constructed. The following is from the introduction to the 1981 ed. Provided to youtube by cdbaby book of mormon storiesthe golden plates insideout a cappella sharing time. 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. Four kinds of metal record plates are spoken of in the book itself. Joseph smith said that the writing for the title page of the book of mormon came directly from the last leaf on the lefthand side of the page. The book of mormon joseph smith american moses lyrics. A significant portion of the book of mormon quotes from the brass plates, which purport to be another source of old testament writings mirroring those of the bible. The stone box that held the gold plates ask gramps. The book of mormon original broadway cast recording 2011 trey parker, matt stone, robert lopez. We first learn about them from the visit of the angel moroni to joseph smith on september 21, 1823. A bit about the theory and practice of theatrical production.
How to make the golden plates with kids eve out of the. Rigdon, sidneys son, asks his dad if he wrote the book of mormon or if josephs story about golden plates is true. Day saints, announced the sale, and the price tag, on wednesday. Hill cumorah pageant offers mormon spectacle, way off broadway. Why were the golden plates needed if they were not used for the translation of the book of mormon was only used for first lost pages.
The book of mormon is a sacred record of peoples in ancient america, and was engraved upon sheets of metal. 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. It was in june 1829, the very last part of the month, and the eight witnesses, i think, the next day. Book of mormon central teamed up with artist katie payne to create a beautiful and engaging video called the plates of mormon. Why were the golden plates needed if they were not used for.
But, how many know of accounts of the gold plates story which mention smith first discovered the plates with a seer stone. Elder ulisses soares just gave a talk about how it is best to think about the book of mormon production as a revelation rather than a translation. In the lds church, much emphasis is placed on the witness of three men who said that they saw the gold plates which were translated by joseph smith into the book of mormon, as well as eight additional witnesses who testified of their belief in the book of mormon. Book of mormontranslationweight of the gold plates fairmormon. Antimormons and skeptics accuse joseph smith of secondsight entirely as an attack on his character. Book of mormon christ is completely accepted in bible he is rejected. The book of mormon says that a jaredite rebel forged steel weapons from ore in a nearby hill and armed an entire army with it. What happened to the golden plates after joseph smith. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been.
Book of mormontranslationlocation of the plates fairmormon. Mormon writes book of mormon stories on the golden plates many prophets wrote on the golden plates. While the men were viewing these things, they heard a voice that said. How many specific hiding places are mention for the golden plates. Witnesses of the book of mormon were consistent in their witness that the plates weighed 4060 pounds. The hill cumorah pageant, based on the book of mormon, kicked off last. Dear gramps, what happened to the stone box that the gold plates, liahona, sword of laban were found in. But it turns out that elder cunningham is just holding it at arms length to get a good look at the pages.
From an 1830 revelation we learn that it was early. The book of mormon also mentions the nephites becoming exceedingly rich in steel production over 200 years after nephis arrival. When joseph smith was arrested and tried in south bainbridge and colesville, new york, in early july 1830 on the old 1826 charge of being a stone gazer, he pled the statute of limitations since more than three years had elapsed. At least seven scribesincluding emma and her brotherwrote as joseph dictated. Criticism is aimed at joseph smiths claims because of what appear to be historical contradictions. Joseph smiths negotiations to publish the book of mormon. Sidney rigdons final confession about joseph smith and the origin of the book of mormon. The former represents the sunk costs leading up to opening night. One strategy evidently was to distance the book of mormons production from smiths former treasure seeking activities. A close look at the book of mormon fraser, gordon holmes on. This is a good project for celebration of the feast of trumpets, when joseph got the gold plates from moroni. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. Joseph smiths role as a seer is described very differently in early mormon literature and in the book of mormon. The golden plates upon which the book of mormon was written have had quite a history, and it is rather well documented.
In the midst of this light, but a few feet from us, appeared a table upon which were many golden plates, also the sword of laban and the directors. How did the book of mormon golden plates get to new york. The engravings on the plates were written in reformed egyptian characters and followed the writing hebrew writing form. Check out book of mormon centrals new video, detailing the historical evidence for the existence of the book of mormon golden plates. Thomas stuart fergusons archaeological search for the book of mormon larson, stan on. How much did a copy of the book of mormon cost in 1830. Mormon and moroni, the book says, had abridged earlier historical records from other sets of metal plates. Smith from reformed egyptian engravings on a set of golden plates. 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.
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. The remaining plates are of a paper composite material colored gold but with no inscriptions. Steel is only mentioned at the very beginning of the book. Some critics assume that the golden plates are pure gold, or that they are a solid block of gold. Why are we told about the different metal record plates comprising the book of mormon.
Golden plates life cycle testifies of book of mormon. During this visit moroni told joseph that the plates and the urim and thummim were buried nearby, and showed him their location. So the bible is actually a trilogy, and the book of mormon is return of the jedi. Examine the book of mormon as a historical printed artifact. After evaluating evidence for the plausibility and authenticity of the mysterious golden plates, i must report that the book of mormon gets a d for being in an interesting bind, or shall i say binder. Disturbing early versions of the golden plates accounts. But many people forgot jesus christ and didnt follow him anymore. They were reportedly returned to the angel moroni or to a secret cave hidden inside of hill cumorah. According to smith, the angel was the guardian of the golden plates, buried in the hill cumorah near smiths home in western new york.