(December 23, 1805 – June 27, 1844) was an American religious leader and founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement. When he was 24, Smith published the Book of Mormon.
When was the golden plate story written?
Who translated the plates of the Book of Mormon?
Why are the golden plates important?
How did Joseph Smith interpret the golden plates?
What are the gold plates in the Bible?
What are the golden plates?
Who said the plates are beyond belief?
See 4 more
About this website
Who wrote the golden plates Mormon?
The Book of Mormon itself portrays the golden plates as a historical record, engraved by two pre-Columbian prophet-historians from around the year AD 400: Mormon and his son Moroni. Mormon and Moroni, the book says, had abridged earlier historical records from other sets of metal plates.
What did the Mormon golden plates say?
Other than Smith and his family, Harris, Cowdery and John Whitmer were the primary witnesses to the founding of the church. They signed a joint statement affixed to the Book of Mormon that “an angel of God came down from heaven” and laid before their eyes the engraved plates that Smith said he translated.
Where did the golden plates come from?
The angel Moroni showed Joseph Smith where to find the golden plates. They were buried in the Hill Cumorah. Four years later, Joseph and his wife, Emma, went in a wagon to get the plates.
Who gave Joseph Smith the golden plates?
the angel MoroniIt was on this day in 1827 — 190 years ago — that Joseph Smith received the golden plates from the angel Moroni at a hill in upstate New York. The Mormon prophet went on to translate the plates' ancient writings and publish the Book of Mormon.
Is the Book of Mormon mentioned in the Bible?
Ask a student to read 2 Nephi 3:11–12. (It may be helpful to clarify that these verses are part of a prophecy by Joseph of Egypt. In these verses Joseph mentioned two books—the book written by the descendants of Joseph is the Book of Mormon, and the book written by the descendants of Judah is the Bible.)
Is the angel Moroni mentioned in the Bible?
Because of his instrumentality in the restoration of the gospel, Moroni is commonly identified by Latter Day Saints as the angel mentioned in Revelation 14:6, "having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people."
Do Mormons believe in Jesus?
Latter-day Saints are Christians on the basis of our doctrine, our defined relationship to Christ, our patterns of worship and our way of life. What Do We Believe About Christ? We believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh (John 3:16).
Do Mormons believe in the Trinity?
Do Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Believe in the Trinity? Like many Christians, we believe in God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. However, we don't believe in the traditional concept of the Trinity.
Are Mormons Christians?
Contents. Mormons are a religious group that embrace concepts of Christianity as well as revelations made by their founder, Joseph Smith. They primarily belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or LDS, which is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has more than 16 million members worldwide.
Where do Mormons believe the Garden of Eden is?
According to Mormon founder and prophet Joseph Smith, the Garden of Eden was in Jackson County, Missouri. After the Fall, Adam traveled east of Eden, to what is now Daviess County, to the spot Mormons call Adam-Ondi-Ahman. The church now owns over 3,000 acres here, rolling farm land along the Grand River.
Where did the Mormon tablets come from?
In 1820, a young boy named Joseph Smith was visited by God and Jesus Christ. They offered him to be their prophet on Earth and their angel guided him to an ancient record that will promise him all the answers. The ancient record was then discovered to be the Golden Plates that is popularized today.
Where did the Mormon plates come from?
The Book of Mormon was written by many ancient prophets who recorded their words on different sets of metal plates. These records were later abridged to create the plates of Mormon, or the gold plates that Joseph Smith translated.
What is the Mormon Salamander Letter?
The Salamander Letter was a document Hofmann claimed was written in 1830 by Martin Harris, the scribe of the founder of the Mormon Church Joseph Smith. It stated that Joseph Smith was led to the gold plates by a spirit who “transfigured himself from a white salamander” rather than an angel.
Did Emma Smith see the gold plates?
Emma Smith Although she never saw the plates, at times they were placed under their bed, she would sometimes move them as she cleaned, and other times she would see them wrapped in a small cloth.
Where do Mormons believe the Garden of Eden is?
According to Mormon founder and prophet Joseph Smith, the Garden of Eden was in Jackson County, Missouri. After the Fall, Adam traveled east of Eden, to what is now Daviess County, to the spot Mormons call Adam-Ondi-Ahman. The church now owns over 3,000 acres here, rolling farm land along the Grand River.
Where are the plates of Nephi now?
Palaeographic study of the plates is not possible; according to Joseph Smith the plates were returned to an angel named Moroni, and are no longer in human possession.
Where Are the Golden Plates Now? – Purpose in Christ
After learning about Joseph Smith and how he was directed by an angel to find golden plates on which was written an ancient book of scripture, many wonder where those golden plates are now.
Did the Witnesses Really See the Golden Plates? - thebereancall
Did the witnesses actually see the plates on which the Book of Mormon was written?Some of these witnesses had indeed claimed that there were “wagon loads of plates” inside the Hill Cumorah. David Whit
Did the Eleven Witnesses Actually See the Gold Plates?
By Bill McKeever. Check out the Viewpoint on Mormonism podcast series “15 Witnesses to the Book of Mormon” Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 February 15-18, 2016 Joseph Smith claimed that in 1823 he was visited by an angel named Moroni and that this angel told him that “there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the ...
Joseph Smith and the Gold Plates - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter ...
“Joseph Smith and the Gold Plates,” Friend, January 2021 Scripture Stories. Joseph Smith and the Gold Plates
When was the golden plate story written?
The best-known elements of the golden plates story are found in an account told by Smith in 1838 and incorporated into the official church histories of some Latter Day Saint movement denominations. The LDS Church has canonized part of this 1838 account as part of its scripture, the Pearl of Great Price .
Who translated the plates of the Book of Mormon?
Smith dictated the text of the plates while a scribe wrote down the words which would later become the Book of Mormon. Eyewitnesses to the process said Smith translated the plates, not by looking directly at them, but by looking through a transparent seer stone in the bottom of his hat. Smith published the first edition of the translation in March of 1830 as the Book of Mormon, with a print run of 5,000 copies at a production cost of $3,000 (or 60 cents per book).
Why are the golden plates important?
The golden plates are significant within the Latter Day Saint movement because they are the reputed source for the Book of Mormon, which Smith called the "most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion." However, the golden plates are just one of many known and reputed metal plates with significance in the Latter Day Saint movement. 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) ).
How did Joseph Smith interpret the golden plates?
A 21st-century artistic representation of Joseph Smith translating the golden plates by examining a seer stone in his hat. Smith used scribes to write the words he said were a translation of the golden plates, dictating the words while peering into seer stones, which he said allowed him to see the translation.
What are the gold plates in the Bible?
According to Latter Day Saint belief, the golden plates (also called the gold plates or in some 19th-century literature, the golden bible) are the source from which Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, a sacred text of the faith. Some witnesses described the plates as weighing from 30 to 60 pounds (14 to 27 kg), gold in color, ...
What are the golden plates?
According to Latter Day Saint belief, the golden plates (also called the gold plates or in some 19th-century literature, the golden bible) are the source from which Jose ph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, a sacred text of the faith. Some witnesses described the plates as weighing from 30 to 60 pounds (14 to 27 kg), gold in color, ...
Who said the plates are beyond belief?
Origin and historicity. See also: Origin of the Book of Mormon and Historicity of the Book of Mormon. In the words of Mormon historian Richard Bushman , "For most modern readers, the plates are beyond belief, a phantasm, yet the Mormon sources accept them as fact.".
Why was there no need to decipher ancient tablets?
There was really no need to decipher these fascinating ancient tablets because the Phoenician text has long been known to be Semitic. Though the artifacts may not be regarded as an ancient enigma, they are nevertheless of extraordinary historical value and give us a unique insight into how ancient people communicated their beliefs and showed worship of their beloved goddess Astarte (Ishtar, Inanna).
What language are the Etruscan tablets written in?
Two of the tablets are inscribed in the Etruscan language, the third in Phoenician, and are today regarded as the oldest historical source of pre-Roman Italy among the known inscriptions. They contain a dedication by King Thefarie Velianas to the Phoenician goddess Astarte, also known as Ishtar.
Where did the Pyrgi gold tablets come from?
Hamblin, a professor of history at Brigham Young University, the three Pyrgi gold tablets are a prime example of the spread of the Phoenician practice of writing sacred texts on golden plates from their original center in Phoenicia, via Carthage, to Italy, and is roughly contemporary with the Book of Mormon’s claim that sacred texts were written on metal plates by the Phoenicians’ closer neighbors, the Jews.
Who gave the holy place to the Caerites?
This is the holy place, which was made, and which was given by Tiberius Velianas who reigns over the Caerites.
What tablet did Jacob hang on Dinah?
When Jacob left Shechem, he wrote down the story of the violation of Dinah by Shechem on a golden tablet. When Dinah subsequently gave birth to Asenath, Jacob hung this tablet about her neck and exposed her near the wall of Egypt. On the same day, Potiphar was taking a walk, accompanied by his retinue, and approached the wall.
Who illustrated Joseph and Asenath?
Joseph and Asenath. Illustration by Owen Jones from "The History of Joseph and His Brethren" (Day & Son, 1869). Credit: Public Domain
What is the Golden Tablet?
The Golden Tablet is the first tablet that is designed to help accelerate the growth and evolution of the soul gem itself. Each page is separately programmed to evolve a specific section of the soul. As the soul evolves, it has the capacity to more easily build vessels to carry consciousness, a body of immortal light, energies that propel the force of enlightenment into the body, and much more.
What is the actus tablet?
The Actus Tablets - The Actus portion of the soul stores all of the events and information that pertain to the life of the soul. The Actus Tablets give us access to the Actus region of the soul and allows us an easier path to enlightenment.
What is the purpose of Prima tablets?
The Prima Tablets - The Prima portion of the soul stores all of the energy and power necessary for the manifestation of life and immortality within the soul and the bodies that it creates. The Prima tablets help to alleviate the dependence of the body on the energy of physical reality for sustenance. These tablets also help the body and soul become healthier.
What are dark facet tablets?
The Dark Facet Tablets - The Dark Facets of the soul contain our darkest and most malevolent energies. These facets create the work for each lifetime that it is the essence of suffering. We cannot totally destroy these dark facets, but we can transmute much of their dark fire into True Light. The Dark Facet Tablets help us to transmute and transform our darkest energy into the brightest True Light.
Who wrote the decalogue?
The Decalogue and Covenant Collection are written by Moses on a scroll (Exod 20-24:11); Moses inscribes the Cultic Decalogue on tablets (Exod 34); God gives Moses tablets containing an undefined “teaching and commandment” (Exod 24:12).
What does Rashi say about the tablets of stone?
Thus, Rashi reads the verse to say, “the stone tablets [of the Decalogue, which includes in it] the whole Torah, that is to say, all the commandments.”. In this understanding, even though God’s personal writing consisted of the Decalogue alone, it is as if God wrote all the commandments on the tablets of stone.
Where are the tables of the covenant stored?
The “tablets of the covenant” with the Decalogue, however, are stored in the ark, far away from the public eye, and (at least according to P texts) serve as a testimony (hence: לוחות העדות) rather than as an educational tool (see Exod 25:16; 31:18; 40:20; cf. Deut. 10:1-5). [7]
Why did Moses smash the tablets of teaching and commandment?
Quite possibly, these tablets of “teaching and commandment” are the very ones smashed by Moses in reaction to the sin of the Golden Calf.
How many tablets does Exodus 32 speak of?
Exodus 32 speaks of two tablets while Exodus 24:12 does not. Admittedly, this is not a large problem, since Exodus 24 is not specific and could be picturing two.
Does the narrative identify the tablets with the Decalogue?
Once again, the narrative never identifies the tablets with the Decalogue, and there is no compelling reason to assume that it is not picturing the same “teaching and commandment” described in Exod 24:12. And yet, there are problems with connecting these verses with the tablets of Exodus 24:12.
Is Ramban's parsing of the verse awkward?
Finally, Ramban’s parsing of the verse, separating the tablets from the teaching and commandment, is grammatically awkward. As the Bible scholar, Brevard Childs (1923-2007) writes: “ [t]he suggestion [of Ramban] is logically sound, but gramm atically impossible.” [11]
What is the title of the book "Take Heed Continually"?
5. Hedges, A. 2001. “Take Heed Continually”: Protecting the Gold Plates . Available; Nibely, P. 1945. History of Joseph Smith by His Mother. p. 108.
How many witnesses did Smith have to give to the golden plates?
In an effort to support the existence of the golden plates, Smith included a number of witnesses of whom he claimed he had shown the plates to. These testimonies, referred to as “The Testimony of Three Witnesses” and “The Testimony of Eight Witnesses,” are included at the beginning of the Book of Mormon. For many believers, that some 11 men would testify to witnessing the golden plates constitutes sufficient evidence for believing the Book of Mormon is of divine origin.
How much did the golden plates weigh?
Some contemporaries of Smith’s suggested that the plates weighed 60 pounds while others alleged they were 30 pounds (2).
Who took the plates home?
According to the account set forth concerning how Smith transported the plates home by Lucy Mack Smith, Smith’s mother, Smith took the plates “wrapping them in his linen frock, placed them under his arm and started for home.”.
When was the golden plate story written?
The best-known elements of the golden plates story are found in an account told by Smith in 1838 and incorporated into the official church histories of some Latter Day Saint movement denominations. The LDS Church has canonized part of this 1838 account as part of its scripture, the Pearl of Great Price .
Who translated the plates of the Book of Mormon?
Smith dictated the text of the plates while a scribe wrote down the words which would later become the Book of Mormon. Eyewitnesses to the process said Smith translated the plates, not by looking directly at them, but by looking through a transparent seer stone in the bottom of his hat. Smith published the first edition of the translation in March of 1830 as the Book of Mormon, with a print run of 5,000 copies at a production cost of $3,000 (or 60 cents per book).
Why are the golden plates important?
The golden plates are significant within the Latter Day Saint movement because they are the reputed source for the Book of Mormon, which Smith called the "most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion." However, the golden plates are just one of many known and reputed metal plates with significance in the Latter Day Saint movement. 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) ).
How did Joseph Smith interpret the golden plates?
A 21st-century artistic representation of Joseph Smith translating the golden plates by examining a seer stone in his hat. Smith used scribes to write the words he said were a translation of the golden plates, dictating the words while peering into seer stones, which he said allowed him to see the translation.
What are the gold plates in the Bible?
According to Latter Day Saint belief, the golden plates (also called the gold plates or in some 19th-century literature, the golden bible) are the source from which Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, a sacred text of the faith. Some witnesses described the plates as weighing from 30 to 60 pounds (14 to 27 kg), gold in color, ...
What are the golden plates?
According to Latter Day Saint belief, the golden plates (also called the gold plates or in some 19th-century literature, the golden bible) are the source from which Jose ph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, a sacred text of the faith. Some witnesses described the plates as weighing from 30 to 60 pounds (14 to 27 kg), gold in color, ...
Who said the plates are beyond belief?
Origin and historicity. See also: Origin of the Book of Mormon and Historicity of the Book of Mormon. In the words of Mormon historian Richard Bushman , "For most modern readers, the plates are beyond belief, a phantasm, yet the Mormon sources accept them as fact.".
Overview
Story
The story of the golden plates consists of how, according to Joseph Smith and his contemporaries, the plates were found, received from the angel Moroni, translated, and returned to the angel before the publication of the Book of Mormon. Smith is the only source for a great deal of the story because much of it occurred while he was the only human witness. Nevertheless, Smith told the …
Origin and historicity
In the words of Mormon historian Richard Bushman, "For most modern readers, the plates are beyond belief, a phantasm, yet the Mormon sources accept them as fact." Smith said that he returned the plates to the angel Moroni after he finished translating them, and their authenticity cannot be determined by physical examination. They were reportedly shown to several close associates of Smith. Mormon scholars have formed collaborations such as Foundation for Ancie…
Descriptions of the plates
Smith said the angel Moroni had commanded him not to show the plates to any unauthorized person. However, Smith eventually obtained the written statement of several witnesses who saw the plates. It is unclear whether the witnesses believed they had seen the plates with their physical eyes or had seen them in a vision. For instance, although Martin Harris continued to testify to the truth of t…
Significance in the Latter Day Saint tradition
The golden plates are significant within the Latter Day Saint movement because they are the reputed source for the Book of Mormon, which Smith called the "most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion." However, the golden plates are just one of many known and reputed metal plates with significance in the Latter Day Saint movement. The Book of Mormon itself refers to a long tradition of writing historical records on plates, of which the golde…
Other plates
A few other sets of plates have arisen to prominence in various denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement.
In 1843, after reading a missionary tract written by Orson Pratt, three men in Kinderhook, Pike County, Illinois—Robert Wiley, Wilburn Fugate, and Bridge Whitton—decided to collaborate to counterfeit a set of metal plates and "startl…
Notes
1. ^ Use of the terms golden bible and gold bible by both believers and non-believers dates from the late 1820s. See Harris (1859, p. 167) (use of the term gold bible by Martin Harris in 1827); Smith (1853, pp. 102, 109, 113, 145) (use of the term gold Bible in 1827–29 by believing Palmyra neighbors); Grandin (1829) (stating that by 1829 the plates were "generally known and spoken of as the 'Golden Bible'"). Use of those terms has been rare since the 1830s.