Witnesses of the book of mormon were consistent in their witness that the plates weighed 4060 pounds. Book of mormontranslationdescription of the plates fairmormon. As a result of a dream, lehi sends his sons back to jerusalem to obtain sacred records on plates of brass from a wicked. 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 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. For teachers and families to explore the structure of the book of mormon. Replica gold plates book of mormon book of mormon, book of. Many quotations from these plates appear in the book of mormon. Book of mormon plates and records book of mormon central. According to smith, the angel was the guardian of the golden plates, buried in the hill cumorah near smiths home in western new york. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. 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.
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. Golden plates to book of mormon church of jesus christ. Ammon responded by telling him of king mosiah, who could use his divine gift of seership to look, and translate all records that are of ancient date mosiah 8. The plates of mormon given to the prophet joseph smith. The various plates and records referred to in the book of mormon and used in making it are 1 the plates of brass. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. Finding records on plates in a specific area during a specific time frame is a little more challenging. 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 book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. The plates of ether and the covenant of the book of mormon. The book of mormon was written by many ancient prophets who recorded their words on different sets of metal plates.
According to the book of mormon, nephi was sent back to jerusalem after his family had travelled for three days. Some of these records were comparable to certain books now found in the old testament, but others did not find their way into the bible. The plates of mormon the plates that joseph smith received had been personally made by the hand of mormon, and were called the plates of mormon. While some critics try to use this story as evidence that everything about joseph smith was a fraud, the historical evidence suggests that joseph ultimately did not fall for the hoaxhe never tried to purchase the plates, hire scribes, and go into translation mode, like he did with the ancient egyptian papyri. Joseph smith translated two sets of plates book of mormon. The point of the chiasm comes as nephi realizes the need to have the plates for his posterity to keep the commandments. The abridgments, quotations, and original writings of those book of mormon historians are displayed on.
Written by prophets to a people who lived in america long before white people ever came, some believe they were the beginnings of some native indian tribes. The story of the gold plates cannot be underestimated, for without them there can be no book of mormon. 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. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. New listing antique vintage book of mormon gold plates miniature model lds 1947 mormon utah. We may choose to keep our covenants and prosper or break these sacred oaths and be destroyed. The book of mormon and the sealed book of mormon agree that the plates of mormon have three parts to come forth in three different eras until now it has been understood by believers in the book of mormon that the plates of mormon from which it was translated were divided into two parts. Brass plate passage by isaiah quoted by nephi 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.
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. 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 plates of brass were the basic scriptures of the nephite nation, and for centuries their prophets read them, quoted them in sermons, and. Mar 01, 2011 the first part of our book of mormon, from first nephi through omni is a translation of the small plates which were written primarily by nephi and jacob, with short entries from the remaining leaders of the nephites down to omni, who lived somewhere between 279 and b. 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.
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. The plates were written in a language called reformed egyptian. Book of mormon title page markings i like this method of enhancing your study. Nephi is led by the spirit to obtain the plates of brass. You can read the testimonies of the witnesses at the beginning of the book of mormon. 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.
Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked. Jan 02, 2020 for teachers and families to explore the structure of the book of mormon. Records on metal plates are becoming a fairly common archeological find. Nephi is led by the spirit to obtain the plates of brass 1. This beautiful volume is crafted in sturdy bonded leather cover with gold detailing and spine label that is recreated to exact specifications. 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. Book of mormon the idea of an ancient record on gold plates was one of the most mocked claims of joseph smith. Many quotations from these plates, citing isaiah and other biblical and nonbiblical prophets, appear in the book of mormon. But, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses.
What can we learn from 10 of the best chiasms in the book. Part of the plates were sealed so they couldnt be opened. Lehis and nephis visions of the tree of life form the central section of the book, with nephis. This covenant has been established, like ancient covenants, by three separate sets of plates within the book of mormon. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of mormonism. 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.
Sjodahl journal of book of mormon studies 101 2001. Jul 24, 2018 the small plates help directly compensate for the lost 116 pages, and they provide the book of mormon with a muchneeded, spiritually focused introduction. Book of mormontranslationdescription of the plates. The plates of brass contained a copy of the law five books of moses, a history of the jews, lehis genealogy, and the writings of many prophets. The plates are made of a coppergold alloy and are held together by three dshaped rings, forming a sort of book. 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. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. As a result of a dream, lehi sends his sons back to jerusalem to obtain sacred records on plates of brass from a wicked religious and military leader named laban.
When moroni, about thirtysix years after, made the deposit of the book entrusted to him, he was, without doubt, inspired to select a department of the hill separate from the great depository of the numerous volumes hid up by his father. Packer, in his article cumorahs cave, printed in the journal of book of mormon studies v. The book of mormon comprises fifteen main parts or divisions, known, with one exception, as books, each designated by the name of its principal author. These records were later abridged to create the plates of mormon, or the gold plates that joseph smith translated. The books within the book of mormon from the words of mormon to fourth nephi, are taken from mormons abridgment of the large 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. Because the plates were written in a language comparable to. The book of mormon also claims this in reference to works by zenos and zenock, prophets who lived in jerusalem, but are now unknown to history. The small plates of nephi came down in a different line. In the book of mormon, when limhi desired to know the contents of the ancient jaredite plates, he asked ammon, knowest thou of any one that can translate. Mormon and moroni, the book says, had abridged earlier historical records from other sets of metal plates. The book of mormon plates religious studies center. Golden plates to book of mormon more about the plates the pages were thin sheets of metal. Book of mormon central teamed up with artist katie payne to create a beautiful and engaging video called the plates of mormon. 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. Latter day saints believe the plates were the source material for the book of mormon. Eight men, called the eight witnesses, saw and touched the plates. Sep 17, 2019 and all the ancient plates, mormon deposited in cumorah, about three hundred and eightyfour years after christ. Some critics assume that the golden plates are pure gold, or that they are a solid block of gold.
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. 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. The book of the law was seen by strang as making up only a portion of the plates of laban, rather than the whole, showing that it was a more complete bible that included books now lost. The first part of our present book of mormon 1 nephi through the words of mormon comes from. Sep, 2019 that this wicked purpose had been conceived by the evil one and was known to the lord even while mormon, the ancient nephite historian, was making his abridgment of the accumulated plates, is shown in the book of mormon see words of mormon 1.
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