Book of mormon gold plates

Over the past several days there has been an article circulating by many members and non members a like of a team of archaeologists finding the gold plates while excavating a drumlin known as mormon hill or the cumorah. 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. 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. 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. Five of her sons would become witnesses for the gold plates, along with her sonsinlaw. The gold plates were a combination of records my intent in writing a blog is to introduce sincere investigators to the book of mormon. Thomas stuart fergusons archaeological search for the book of mormon. First, he specifically mention 3 witnesses, then a few, and also as many witnesses as seemeth the lord good. If mormons book of mormon plates were made of tumbaga, their weight would have been much less than had they been made of pure gold. The plates are made of a coppergold alloy and are held together by three dshaped rings, forming a sort of book. Joseph smiths golden plate story debunked reasons for jesus. But, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses. 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.

Problems with the gold plates in the book of mormon. Joseph smith translated two sets of plates book of. Is the book of mormon and gold plates just a huge fraud. Replica gold plates book of mormon book of mormon, book. Dimensions according to joseph, the book was 6 x 8 x 6 and each plate was thinner than common tin. Nephi prophesied that there would be multiple groups of people who would see the plates upon which the book of mormon was written. Moroni showed the plates to oliver cowdery, david whitmer, and martin harris see the testimony of three witnesses, book of mormon. 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. 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. Mary whitmer witnesses of the golden plates and book of mormon. Sep, 2019 although i do offer an answer to the question in this book, most of the book explains the new paradigm about the plates themselves. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be.

The individual book of mormon within the book of mormon, is the the third to last book, preceeding moroni and ether. Stan larsons quest for the gold plates aims to describe the fascinating journey of thomas stuart ferguson, who was instrumental in developing contemporary lds apologetics but came to disbelieve in mormon truthclaims near the end of his life. To make sure the record would not deteriorate over time, the record keepers used gold or an alloy of gold to engrave their writings upon. How to make the golden plates with kids eve out of the garden. Smith apparently collected these plates, took them home, and subsequently translated them into the book of mormon which he then published in 1830. Thus, the plates are foundational to the mormon religion. Supposedly, it was originally recorded in reformed egyptian on several gold plates which were discovered in the back woods of new york state by joseph smith, a young farm boy at the time. Who besides joseph smith actually saw the gold plates. You cant just eat around it, you have to get rid of it in a way that still makes the salad palatable to the dinner guests.

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. Packer, in his article cumorahs cave, printed in the journal of book of mormon studies v. I want to help others learn about the book of mormon. You can read the testimonies of the witnesses at the beginning of the book of mormon. Thomas stuart fergusons archaeological search for the book of mormon paperback december 1, 1997 by stan larson author visit amazons stan larson page.

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 prophet joseph smith translates them by the gift and power of god. Thomas stuart fergusons archaeological search for the book of mormon fooling the prophet with the kinderhook plates how heavy were those gold plates. 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 book of mormon plates are the fly in the critics potato salad. One thing i found a little amusing was this statement about the gold plates. 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. The plates are made of a copper gold alloy and are held together by three dshaped rings, forming a sort of book. 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 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. Golden plates to book of mormon more about the plates the pages were thin sheets of metal.

Gold plates, book of mormon, joseph smith, lds, missionary. 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. Did the eleven witnesses actually see the gold plates. 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. Book of mormon gold plates mormonism research ministry. Two top plates are made of brass and imprinted with reformed egyptian characters. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. 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. I dont know that the plausibility for the gold plates ideas in this blog really prove or disprove anything. What i do know is that i found out the book of mormon is true because as i read it i felt the spirit of god testify to my soul that it is true, that jesus is. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon is his translation of an ancient book written on gold plates. Book of mormon title page markings i like this method of enhancing your study. Joseph smith translated two sets of plates book of mormon. Mormon, a prophet and military leader who lived at the end of the nephite era c.

Is the book of mormon and gold plates just a huge fraud, just. 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 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 content of the gold plates of the book of mormon. The book of mormon describes the plates as being made of ore. Joseph showed the plates to christian whitmer, hiram page, jacob whitmer, joseph smith sr. In this article they state that the archelogist believe that the plates that were found could. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of mormonism. These distinctions appear to reflect the three witnesses who saw the plates and the angels, the eight witnesses who saw and handled the plates. My husband wants to get some sheets of ore to help the kids understand this ancient way of writing.

The famous orphic gold plates provide perhaps the best examples of such early religious texts written upon tablets of gold and buried in the ground. 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. One might look for gold plates from the earlier period with religious texts inscribed upon them to help establish historical compatibility for the book of mormon. Check out book of mormon centrals new video, detailing the historical evidence for the existence of the book of mormon golden plates. Eight men, called the eight witnesses, saw and touched the plates. Although i do offer an answer to the question in this book, most of the book explains the new paradigm about the plates themselves. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Read the story from gold plates to the book of mormon having your child help trace the path. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked.

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. 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. Book of mormon the idea of an ancient record on gold plates was one of the most mocked claims of joseph smith. In this article they state that the archelogist believe that the plates that were found could be linked to joseph smith and were in fact the original gold plates from. The remaining plates are of a paper composite material colored gold but with no inscriptions. 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. As church membership mushroomed, and it became clear the book of mormon is pretty. Mormons accept the king james version of the bible as their bible. Since then, researchers have found several examples of ancient metal plates, gold plates, and plates with rings. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon. The term golden bible is also used with a negative connotation. The book of mormon plates religious studies center.

The golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold the golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold, new era, july. Where are the book of mormon gold plates at now answers. 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. The plates were first described as gold, and beginning about 1827, the plates were widely called the gold bible. How to make the golden plates with kids eve out of the. Criticism is aimed at joseph smiths claims because of what appear to be historical contradictions. 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. Attacks against the book of mormon have experienced a kind of mission creep since its publication in 1830. The book of mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western tribes of indians. 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 engraved with. 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. The plates were written in a language called reformed egyptian.

Reports of gold plates being found stem from a fake news. The book of mormon is a translation of ancient gold plates, which is not easily understood by our young kids. Language the language on the plates is called reformed egyptian. Problems with the gold plates 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. Replica gold plates book of mormon book of mormon, book of. When the book of mormon was published in 1830, the eight witnesses described the plates as having the appearance of gold. I hope my readers will begin to read the book of mormon on their own and use this blog to. 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.

Testimony of the prophet joseph smith, front of 20 edition of the book of mormon. The metal would have to be soft enough to use a stylus so they can understand the difficult process. 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. 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. Mary whitmer witnesses of the golden plates and book of.