NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Golden Plates

In Latter Day Saint theology, the golden plates (also called the gold plates or in some 19th century literature, the golden Bible)^[1] are a set of bound and engraved metal plates that Joseph Smith, Jr. said was his source for the Book of Mormon, one of the faith's sacred texts. Smith said he discovered the plates on September 22, 1823 on Cumorah hill in Manchester, New York, where they had been hidden in a buried box and protected for centuries by an angel named Moroni. He said the angel directed him to the plates but prevented him from taking possession of them until exactly four years later, when Smith had proven himself worthy to do so. Image File history File links Joseph_Smith_receiving_golden_plates. ... Image File history File links Joseph_Smith_receiving_golden_plates. ... Bern Switzerland Temple Statue of Angel Moroni The angel Moroni [mÉ”rounai] is an angel that Joseph Smith, Jr. ... In the early Latter Day Saint movement, seer stones were used as method of divination and played a significant role in its history and theology. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Urim and Thummim (also called Interpreters) were a set of seer stones bound by silver bows into a set of spectacles, that founder Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Sword of Laban was a sword from the Book of Mormon that is said to have originally belonged to Laban of Jerusalem. ... The Latter Day Saint movement (a subset of Restorationism) is a group of religious denominations and adherents who follow at least some of the teachings and revelations of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Joseph Smith redirects here. ... // The Book of Mormon [1] is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1823 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... An 1841 engraving of Cumorah (looking south), where Joseph Smith said he was given Golden Plates by an angel named Moroni, on the west side, near the peak. ... Manchester is a town located in Ontario County, New York. ... This article is about the state. ... This article is about the supernatural being. ... Bern Switzerland Temple Statue of Angel Moroni The angel Moroni [mÉ”rounai] is an angel that Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

Smith's announcement that he had found the plates received mention in local newspapers, a circumstance that brought the curious to his door. This distraction, and Smith's lack of money, led him to move near his wife's parents in northern Pennsylvania. There, sporadically between 1827 and 1829, he dictated what he said was a translation of the plates by looking into stones or crystals and speaking the words he said he saw within them through divine revelation. Except for 116 lost pages, the manuscript from this dictation was published in 1830 as the Book of Mormon. This article is about the U.S. State. ... In the early Latter Day Saint movement, seer stones were used as method of divination and played a significant role in its history and theology. ... Revelation of the Last Judgment by Jacob de Backer Revelation is an uncovering or disclosure via communication from the divine of something that has been partially or wholly hidden or unknown, which could not be known apart from the unveiling (Goswiller 1987 p. ... The lost 116 pages were the original manuscript pages of what Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

Although Smith said the angel had commanded him not to display the plates to others, under pressure from his associates, in 1829, he said God would allow eleven witnesses to see them. These witnesses later declared that they had seen the plates.^[2] Smith said he then returned the plates to the angel Moroni. Many adherents of the faith believe that Moroni retains them, awaiting some point in the future when the "sealed" portion of the plates will be revealed. The Book of Mormon witnesses are a group of contemporaries of Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

The golden plates are the most significant of a number of metallic plates important to Latter Day Saint history and theology. Many of these plates are discussed within the Book of Mormon.

Origin and historicity

Only men who were Joseph Smith's sympathetic associates were allowed to become witnesses to the plates; therefore, assertions of their existence or authenticity remain a matter of religious faith.^[3] Many Mormons believe that the golden plates were an authentic historical artifact and that the Book of Mormon, is its literal translation. Other Mormons accept the Book of Mormon as scripture, but doubt its direct connection to ancient writings.^[4] Some Mormons and non-believers have suggested that the plates were fashioned by Joseph Smith or one of his associates,^[5]that Joseph Smith had the ability to convince others of their existence through illusions or hypnosis,^[6] or that the plates were mystical and should be understood in the context of Smith's historical era, when magic was an accepted part of reality.^[7] These theories are explored in the article Origin of the Book of Mormon. Scholarly examinations of the plates' historicity are discussed in the article Historicity of the Book of Mormon. Book of Mormon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints edition) The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of Mormonism first published in Palmyra, New York, USA, in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Main article: Book of Mormon The question of whether the Book of Mormon is an actual historical work or a work of fiction has long been a source of contention between between members of the Latter Day Saint movement, who are likely to view the work as a history, and... // The Book of Mormon [1] is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... â€œIllusionistâ€ redirects here. ... For other uses, see Hypnotized (song). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Not to be confused with Magic (illusion). ... Book of Mormon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints edition) The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of Mormonism first published in Palmyra, New York, USA, in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Main article: Book of Mormon The question of whether the Book of Mormon is an actual historical work or a work of fiction has long been a source of contention between between members of the Latter Day Saint movement, who are likely to view the work as a history, and...

According to the Book of Mormon itself, the golden plates were 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. Their script, according to the book, was called "reformed Egyptian" a language not known or recognized by Egyptologists or linguists,^[8] but which is described in the Book of Mormon as a language "altered...according to our manner of speech" and that "none other people knoweth our language".^[9] Part of the plates were said to have been sealed, and thus could not be translated. According to Smith, Moroni buried the plates just prior to his death, and then, as the angel Moroni, protected them until 1823, when Smith said he found them in the hill named Cumorah in Western New York. The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the American continents. ... Mormon is the name of the prophet in The Book of Mormon after whom the book is named. ... Moroni hides the plates in the Hill Cumorah Moroni (mÉ”rounai), according to the Book of Mormon, was the last Nephite prophet and military commander who lived in North America in the late fourth and early fifth centuries. ... According to the Book of Mormon, this scripture of the Latter Day Saint movement was originally written in reformed Egyptian characters[1] on plates of ore[2] by prophets living in the Western Hemisphere between 600 B.C. and A.D. 421. ... Bern Switzerland Temple Statue of Angel Moroni The angel Moroni [mÉ”rounai] is an angel that Joseph Smith, Jr. ... An 1841 engraving of Cumorah (looking south), where Joseph Smith said he was given Golden Plates by an angel named Moroni, on the west side, near the peak. ...

Joseph Smith's story of obtaining the plates

Experience with treasure hunting

During the Second Great Awakening, Joseph Smith, Jr. lived on his parents' farm near Palmyra, New York, a place and time also noted for its participation in a "craze for treasure hunting."^[10] Beginning as a youth in the early 1820s, Smith was paid to act as what was called a "seer", using seer stones in (mostly unsuccessful) attempts to locate lost items and buried treasure.^[11] Smith's contemporaries describe his process for finding treasure as placing the stone in a white stovepipe hat, putting his face over the hat to block the light, and then "seeing" the information in the reflections of the stone.^[12] His preferred stone, which some said he also used later to translate the golden plates, was chocolate-colored and about the size of an egg,^[13] found in a deep well he helped dig for one of his neighbors.^[14] The early life of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Second Great Awakening (1800â€“1830s) was the second great religious revival in United States history and consisted of renewed personal salvation experienced in revival meetings. ... Joseph Smith redirects here. ... Palmyra is a village located in Wayne County, New York. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the use of seer stones is a form of divination that played a significant role in shaping the movements history and theology. ... Vaudeville character actor Charles E. Grapewin wearing a top hat For the movie starring Fred Astaire see Top Hat A top-hat or top hat is a kind of tall, flat-crowned, broad-brimmed hat worn by men and was especially common in the 19th century. ...

Story of finding the plates

Smith said that he first learned about the golden plates on the eve of September 22^[15] in 1823 (or possibly 1822),^[16] when, in his bedroom late at night thinking about his First Vision,^[17] an angel^[18] named Moroni appeared to him three times.^[19] Moroni, he said, told him that the plates could be found buried in a prominent hill near his home later referred to as Cumorah (a name from the Book of Mormon).^[20] is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Mariah Carey DVD, see The First Vision. ... Bern Switzerland Temple Statue of Angel Moroni The angel Moroni [mÉ”rounai] is an angel that Joseph Smith, Jr. ... An 1841 engraving of Cumorah (looking south), where Joseph Smith said he was given Golden Plates by an angel named Moroni, on the west side, near the peak. ... // The Book of Mormon [1] is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement. ...

According to Smith and contemporaries who heard his account, the angel said he would not allow Smith to take the plates until he was able to obey certain "commandments".^[21] Smith and his believing followers said the angel's requirements included the following: (1) that Smith tell his father about the vision,^[22] (2) that he have no thought of using the plates for monetary gain,^[23] (3) that he take the plates and go directly away without looking back,^[24] (4) that the plates never directly touch the ground until safe at home in a locked chest,^[25] and (5) that he never show the plates to any unauthorized person.^[26] In addition to the last three of these requirements, some non-believers who heard the story from Smith or his father add that Smith said the angel required him (6) to wear "black clothes" to the site of the plates,^[27] (7) to ride a "black horse with a switchtail",^[28] (8) to call for the plates by a certain name,^[29] and (9) to "give thanks to God".^[30]

In the morning, Smith began to work as usual and did not mention the visions to his father^[31] because, he said, he did not think his father would believe him.^[32] However, Smith said he fainted because he had been awake all night, and while unconscious, the angel appeared a fourth time and chastised him for failing to tell his father.^[33] Smith's father believed Smith's account of the vision and encouraged his son to obey what Smith said were the angel's commandments.^[34] Smith then set off to visit the hill, later stating that he used his seer stone to locate the place where the plates were said to be buried.^[35] Smith said he "knew the place the instant that [he] arrived there" because the angel had shown him the location during the previous night's visions.^[36] Image File history File links Mormon_Hill_engraving_(1841). ... Image File history File links Mormon_Hill_engraving_(1841). ... An 1841 engraving of Cumorah (looking south), where Joseph Smith said he was given Golden Plates by an angel named Moroni, on the west side, near the peak. ...

At the proper location, he said he saw a large stone covering a stone (or possibly iron) box.^[37] Using a stick to remove dirt from the edges of the stone cover, and after prying the cover up with a lever,^[38] he said he saw the plates inside the box, together with other artifacts.^[39]

Stories of unsuccessful retrieval attempts

According to Smith's followers, Smith said he took the plates from the box, put them on the ground, and covered the box with the stone to protect the other valuable treasures that it contained from being taken by passers-by.^[40] Nevertheless, the accounts say, when Smith looked back at the ground after closing the box, the plates had once again disappeared into it.^[41] According to two non-believing Palmyra residents, when Smith once again raised the stone and attempted to retrieve the plates, Smith saw in the box something like a toad that grew larger and struck him to the ground.^[42] Although Smith's contemporary followers do not mention a toad-like creature, they agree with several non-believers that Smith said he was stricken by a supernatural force that hurled him to the ground as many as three times.^[43]

Disconcerted by his inability to obtain the plates, Smith said he briefly wondered whether his experience had been a "dreem of Vision" [sic].^[44] Concluding that it was not, he said he prayed asking why he had been barred from taking the plates.^[45]

In response to his question, Smith said the angel appeared and told him he could not receive the plates because he "had been tempted of the advisary (sic) and saught (sic) the Plates to obtain riches and kept not the commandments that I should have".^[46] According to Smith's followers, Smith had also broken the angel's commandment "not to lay the plates down, or put them for a moment out of his hands",^[47] and according to a non-believer, Smith said "I had forgotten to give thanks to God" as required by the angel.^[48]

Smith said the angel instructed him to return the next year, on September 22, 1824, with the "right person": his older brother Alvin.^[49] Alvin died in November 1823, so Smith returned to the hill in 1824 and said he asked what he should do,^[50] but to his family's disappointment, he did not return with the plates.^[51] Instead, Smith said he was told to return the next year (1825) with the "right person", but the angel did not tell Smith who that person might be.^[52] For the visit on September 22, 1825, Smith may have attempted unsuccessfully to bring his treasure-hunting associate Samuel T. Lawrence,^[53] but eventually, Smith determined after looking into his seer stone that the "right person" was Emma Hale, his future wife.^[54] is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1824 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1825 (MDCCCXXV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Smith said that he visited the hill "at the end of each year" for four years after the first visit in 1823,^[55] but there is no specific record of him being in the Palmyra vicinity between January 1826 and January 1827 when he returned to Palmyra from Pennsylvania with his new wife.^[56] After his arrival in Palmyra in January 1827, Smith visited the hill and returned to tell his parents that the angel had severely chastised him for not being "engaged enough in the work of the Lord",^[57] which could have meant that he missed his annual visit to the hill in 1826.^[58]

Story of taking possession of the plates

The next annual visit on September 22, 1827 would be, Smith told associates, his last chance to receive the plates.^[59] According to Brigham Young, as the scheduled final date to obtain the plates approached, several Palmyra residents expressed concern "that they were going to lose that treasure" and sent for a skilled necromancer from 60 miles (96 km) away, encouraging him to make three separate trips to Palmyra to find the plates.^[60] During one of these trips, the unnamed necromancer is said to have discovered the location, but was unable to determine the value of the plates.^[61] A few days prior to the September 22, 1827 visit to the hill, Smith's loyal treasure-hunting friends Josiah Stowell and Joseph Knight, Sr. traveled to Palmyra, in part, to be there during Smith's scheduled visit to the hill.^[62] is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1827 (MDCCCXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Necromancy is divination by raising the spirits of the dead. ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1827 (MDCCCXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Joseph Knight, Sr. ...

Another of Smith's former treasure-hunting associates, Samuel T. Lawrence, was also apparently aware of the approaching date to obtain the plates, and Smith was concerned he might cause trouble.^[63] Therefore, on the eve of September 22, 1827, the scheduled date for retrieving the plates, Smith dispatched his father to spy on Lawrence's house until dark. If Lawrence attempted to leave, the elder Joseph would have informed him that his son would "thrash the stumps with him" if he found him at the hill, but Lawrence never left his home.^[64] Late at night, Smith took a horse and carriage to the hill Cumorah with his wife Emma.^[65] While Emma stayed in the wagon kneeling in prayer,^[66] Joseph walked to what he said was the site of the Golden Plates. Some time in the early morning hours, he said he retrieved the plates and hid them in a hollow log on or near Cumorah.^[67] At the same time, Joseph said he received a pair of large spectacles he called the "Urim and Thummim" or "Interpreters", with lenses consisting of two seer stones, which he showed his mother when he returned in the morning.^[68] is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1827 (MDCCCXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... An 1841 engraving of Cumorah (looking south), where Joseph Smith said he was given Golden Plates by an angel named Moroni, on the west side, near the peak. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Urim and Thummim (also called Interpreters) were a set of seer stones bound by silver bows into a set of spectacles, that founder Joseph Smith, Jr. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the use of seer stones is a form of divination that played a significant role in shaping the movements history and theology. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Over the next few days, Smith took a well-digging job in nearby Macedon to earn enough money to buy a solid lockable chest in which to put the plates.^[69] By then, however, some of Smith's treasure-seeking company had heard that Smith said he had been successful in obtaining the plates, and they wanted what they believed was their share of the profits from what they viewed as part of a joint venture in treasure hunting.^[70] Spying once again on the house of Samuel Lawrence, Smith, Sr. determined that a group of ten to twelve of these men, including Lawrence and Willard Chase, had enlisted the talents of a renowned and supposedly-talented seer from 60 miles (96 km) away, in an effort to locate where the plates were hidden by means of divination.^[71] When Emma heard of this, she rode a stray horse to Macedon and informed Smith, Jr.,^[72] who reportedly determined through his Urim and Thummim that the plates were safe. He nevertheless hurriedly rode home with Emma.^[73] Macedon is a town located in Wayne County, New York. ... For other uses, see Divination (disambiguation). ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Urim and Thummim (also called Interpreters) were a set of seer stones bound by silver bows into a set of spectacles, that founder Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

Once home in Manchester, he said he walked to Cumorah, removed the plates from their hiding place, and walked home through the woods and away from the road with the plates wrapped in a linen frock under his arm.^[74] On the way, he said a man had sprung up from behind a log and struck him a "heavy blow with a gun." "Knocking the man down with a single punch, Joseph ran as fast as he could for about a half mile before he was attacked by a second man trying to get the plates. After similarly overpowering the man, Joseph continued to run, but before he reached the house, a third man hit him with a gun. In striking the last man, Joseph said, he injured his thumb."^[75] He returned home with a dislocated thumb and other minor injuries.^[76] Smith sent his father, Joseph Knight, and Josiah Stowell to search for the pursuers, but they found no one.^[77] Manchester is a town located in Ontario County, New York. ... An 1841 engraving of Cumorah (looking south), where Joseph Smith said he was given Golden Plates by an angel named Moroni, on the west side, near the peak. ... Joseph Knight, Sr. ...

Smith is said to have put the plates in a locked chest and hid them in his parents' home in Manchester.^[78] He refused to allow anyone, including his family, to view the plates or the other artifacts he said he had in his possession, although some people were allowed to heft them or feel what were said to be the artifacts through a cloth.^[79] A few days after retrieving the plates, Smith brought home what he said was an ancient breastplate, which he said had been hidden in the box at Cumorah with the plates. After letting his mother feel through a thin cloth what she said was the breastplate, he placed it in the locked chest.^[80]

The Smith home was approached "nearly every night" by villagers hoping to find the chest where Smith said the plates were kept.^[81] After hearing that a group of them would attempt to enter the house by force, Smith buried the chest under the hearth,^[82] and the family was able to scare away the intended intruders.^[83] Fearing the chest might still be discovered, Smith hid it under the floor boards of his parents' old log home nearby, then being used as a cooper shop.^[84] Later, Smith said he took the plates out of the chest, left the empty chest under the floor boards of the cooper shop, and hid the plates in a barrel of flax. Shortly thereafter the empty box was discovered and the place ransacked by Smith's former treasure-seeking associates,^[85] who had enlisted one of the men's sisters to find the hiding place by looking in her seer stone.^[86] Assembly of a barrel in progress A cooper readies, or rounds off, the end of a barrel using a coopers hand adze at the Van Ryn Brandy Cellar near Stellenbosch, South Africa Traditionally, a cooper is someone who makes wooden staved vessels of a conical form, of greater length than... For other uses, see Flax (disambiguation). ... Seer stones within historical Mormonism were used by Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

Translating the plates

Joseph Smith said that the plates were engraved in an unknown language, and Smith told associates that he was capable of reading and translating them. This translation took place mainly in Harmony, Pennsylvania (now Oakland Township), Emma's home town, where Smith and his wife had moved in October 1827 with financial assistance from a prominent, though superstitious, Palmyra landowner Martin Harris.^[87] The translation occurred in two phases: the first, from December 1827 to June 1828, during which Smith transcribed some of the characters and then dictated 116 manuscript pages to Harris, which were lost. The second phase began sporadically in early 1829 and then in earnest in April 1829 with the arrival of Oliver Cowdery, a schoolteacher who volunteered to serve as Smith's full-time scribe. In June 1829, Smith and Cowdery moved to Fayette, New York, completing the translation early the following month. The life of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Harmony Township is a township located in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. ... Oakland Township is a township located in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. ... Martin Harris (1783–1875) was the first financier of The Book of Mormon. ... The Book of Mormon (a sacred text of Mormonism) states that it was written with reformed Egyptian (Mormon 9:32) characters on plates of ore (1 Nephi 19:1) by Messianic Israelite prophets between 600 B.C. and 421 AD. Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The lost 116 pages were the original manuscript pages of what Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Photograph of Oliver Cowdery found in the Library of Congress, taken in the 1840s Oliver Hervy Pliny Cowdery[1] (3 October 1806 â€“ 3 March 1850) was the primary participant with Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Fayette is a town located in Seneca County, New York. ...

Translation process

Smith used scribes to write the words he said were a translation of the golden plates, dictating these words while peering into seer stones, which he said allowed him to see the translation. Smith said that he translated using what he called the "Urim and Thummim"—a set of large spectacles with stones where the eye-pieces should be.^[88] There is no eye-witness testimony that Smith ever wore the large spectacles, although some witnesses suggest he placed them in his hat while translating.^[89] Witnesses did observe Smith using a single seer stone (not part of a set of spectacles) in the translation,^[90] and some said that this stone was one of those Smith had earlier used for treasure seeking.^[91] Smith placed the stone (or the spectacles) in a hat, buried his face in it to eliminate all outside light, and peered into the stone to see the words of the translation.^[92] A few times during the translation, a curtain or blanket was raised between Smith and his scribe or between the living area and the area where Smith and his scribe worked.^[93] Sometimes Smith dictated to Martin Harris from upstairs or from a different room.^[94] In the early Latter Day Saint movement, seer stones were used as method of divination and played a significant role in its history and theology. ... In ancient Israelite religion and culture, Urim and Thummim (Hebrew: ×”××•×¨×™× ×•×”×ª×ž×™×, Standard Tiberian ; Arabic: Ø§Ù„Ø§ÙˆØ±ÙŠÙ… ÙˆØ§Ù„ØªÙ…ÙŠÙ… al-ÅªrÄ«m waÊ¾aá¹¯-á¹®ummÄ«m) is a phrase from the Hebrew Bible associated with the sacred breastplate, divination in general, and cleromancy in particular. ... Martin Harris (1783–1875) was the first financier of The Book of Mormon. ...

Smith's process of what he called "translation" was not typical of the usual meaning of that word because his dictation of the English words did not require his understanding of the source text. As he looked into the seer stone, Smith said that the words of the ancient script appeared to him in English. These dictations were written down by a number of assistants including Emma Smith, Martin Harris, and most notably, Oliver Cowdery.^[95] In May 1829, after Smith had lent 116 un-duplicated manuscript pages to Martin Harris, and Harris lost them, Smith dictated a revelation explaining that Smith could not simply re-translate the lost pages because his opponents would attempt to see if he could "bring forth the same words again".^[96] Smith seems to have assumed that a second transcription of the lost pages should be identical to the first rather than be filled with the variants that would naturally occur if one was translating a text from one language into another in the normal manner.^[97] Look up translate in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A source text is text (usually written but sometimes oral) from which information or ideas are derived. ... Emma Hale Smith Emma Hale Smith (10 July 1804 - 30 April 1879) was the wife of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Martin Harris (1783–1875) was the first financier of The Book of Mormon. ... Photograph of Oliver Cowdery found in the Library of Congress, taken in the 1840s Oliver Hervy Pliny Cowdery[1] (3 October 1806 â€“ 3 March 1850) was the primary participant with Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The lost 116 pages were the original manuscript pages of what Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

Location of the plates during translation

When Joseph and Emma moved to Harmony, Pennsylvania in October 1827, the golden plates were said to have been transported in a glass box hidden in a barrel of beans.^[98] For a time the couple stayed in the home of Emma's father Isaac Hale, but when Smith refused to show Hale the plates, only allowing him to heft the box that contained them, Hale banished the concealed object from his house.^[99] Afterwards, the plates were said to have been hidden for much of the time in the nearby woods,^[100] although Emma said that for at least part of the time, Joseph kept them in the house, on a table, wrapped in a linen tablecloth, which she moved from time to time when it got in the way of her chores.^[101] In one instance, the plates were said to have been stored in a trunk on Emma's bureau.^[102] Isaac Hale was the father of Emma Hale Smith. ...

Smith did not require the physical presence of the plates in order to translate them; and many witnesses said the plates were hidden during the translation process, presumably in the woods.^[103] In April 1828, Martin Harris' wife Lucy visited Harmony with her husband and demanded to see the plates. When Smith refused to show them to her, she searched the house and grounds and, in the woods, were protected by a large black snake that frightened her and reportedly prevented her from digging them up.^[104] Lucy may have caused the "loss" of the 116 pages of translation manuscript, which Smith had lent her husband so that he could prove to his friends and family that the plates were real. Martin Harris (1783–1875) was the first financier of The Book of Mormon. ... Lucy Harris Harris (1792â€”1836) was the wife of Martin Harris, one of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormons Golden Plates. ... The lost 116 pages were the original manuscript pages of what Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

Smith said that between July and September 1828, the angel Moroni took back both the plates and the Urim and Thummim as a penalty for his having delivered "the manuscript into the hands of a wicked man".^[105] The angel is said to have returned the objects to Smith on September 22, 1828, the autumn equinox and the anniversary of the day he first received the plates.^[106] Bern Switzerland Temple Statue of Angel Moroni The angel Moroni [mÉ”rounai] is an angel that Joseph Smith, Jr. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Urim and Thummim (also called Interpreters) were a set of seer stones bound by silver bows into a set of spectacles, that founder Joseph Smith, Jr. ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1828 (MDCCCXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... In astronomy, the autumnal equinox signals the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere: the moment when the sun appears to cross the celestial equator, heading southward; the equinox occurs around September 22–September 24, varying slightly each year according to the 400-year cycle of leap years in the...

In March 1829, Martin Harris visited Harmony and asked to see the plates. Smith told him that he "would go into the woods where the Book of Plates was, and that after he came back, Harris should follow his tracks in the snow, and find the Book, and examine it for himself." Harris followed these directions but could not find the plates.^[107]

In early June 1829, the unwanted attentions of locals around Harmony necessitated Smith's move to the home of David Whitmer and his parents in Fayette, New York. Smith said that on this move the golden plates were transported by the angel Moroni, who placed them in the garden of the Whitmer house in Fayette where Smith could recover them.^[108] Translation was completed at the Whitmer home in Fayette. David Whitmer (January 7, 1805â€“January 25, 1888) was an early adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormons Golden Plates. ... Fayette is a town located in Seneca County, New York. ... Bern Switzerland Temple Statue of Angel Moroni The angel Moroni [mÉ”rounai] is an angel that Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

Stories of returning the plates and their present location

After translation was completed, Smith said he returned the plates to the angel, without elaboration.^[109] According to accounts by several early Mormons, a group of Mormon leaders including Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and possibly others^[110] went with Smith to return the plates to a cave inside the Hill Cumorah.^[111] There, Smith is said to have placed the plates on a table near "many wagon loads" of other ancient records, and the Sword of Laban hanging on the cave's wall.^[112] According to Brigham Young's understanding which he said he heard from Cowdery, on a later visit to the cave, the Sword of Laban was said to be unsheathed and placed over the plates, and inscribed with the words "This sword will never be sheathed again until the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our God and his Christ."^[113] An 1841 engraving of Cumorah (looking south), where Joseph Smith said he was given Golden Plates by an angel named Moroni, on the west side, near the peak. ... Photograph of Oliver Cowdery found in the Library of Congress, taken in the 1840s Oliver Hervy Pliny Cowdery[1] (3 October 1806 â€“ 3 March 1850) was the primary participant with Joseph Smith, Jr. ... David Whitmer (January 7, 1805â€“January 25, 1888) was an early adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormons Golden Plates. ... The Hill Cumorah is a place from the Book of Mormon where the Nephites were destroyed in a final battle with the Lamanites, and according to Joseph Smith, it was a place where many Nephite records and other artifacts were kept in a cave. ... The Sword of Laban was a sword from the Book of Mormon that is said to have originally belonged to Laban of Jerusalem. ... For other uses, see Brigham Young (disambiguation). ...

Smith taught that part of the golden plates were "sealed".^[114] This "sealed" portion is said to contain "a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof".^[115] Many Latter Day Saints understand that because of this, the plates will be kept hidden until some future time, when the sealed part will be translated^[116] and, according to one early Mormon leader, transferred from the hill to one of the Mormon temples.^[117]

David Whitmer, is quoted as stating that he saw just the untranslated portion of the plates sitting on the table with the sword (and also a breastplate).^[118] Apparently, Whitmer was aware of expeditions at Cumorah to locate the sealed portion of the plates through "science and mineral rods", which he said "testify that they are there".^[119] At least one influential Mormon apologetic scholar, however, doubts that there is a cave Cumorah containing the plates.^[120] David Whitmer (January 7, 1805â€“January 25, 1888) was an early adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormons Golden Plates. ...

Description of plates by Smith and his contemporaries

Witnesses to the plates

Smith said the angel commanded him not to show the plates to any unauthorized person.^[121] He reportedly expected that the first authorized witness would be his firstborn son, but his first child was stillborn in 1828.^[122] In March 1829, after pressure by Martin Harris to see the plates,^[123], Smith dictated a revelation stating that the words of the plates would be accompanied by the testimonies of three witnesses who would have the exclusive privilege to "view [the plates] as they are"^[124] Some time later, Smith’s dictation of the Book of Ether (chapter 2) also made reference to three witnesses, stating that the plates would be shown to them "by the power of God".^[125] The Book of Mormon witnesses are a group of contemporaries of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Martin Harris (1783–1875) was the first financier of The Book of Mormon. ... The Book of Ether is one of books that make up the Book of Mormon. ...

Thus, in the second half of June 1829,^[126] Smith took Harris, together with Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer (known collectively as the Three Witnesses),^[127] to the woods in Fayette, New York, where they said they saw^[128] an angel holding the golden plates and turning the leaves^[129] The four of them also said they heard "the voice of the Lord" telling them that the translation of the plates was correct, and commanding them to testify of what they saw and heard.^[130] A few days later, Smith selected a group of Eight Witnesses,^[131] the males of the Whitmer home, including David Whitmer's father Peter, his brothers Christian, Jacob, and John, and his brother-in-law Hiram Page. Smith took this group, along with his father Joseph Smith, Sr. and his brothers Hyrum and Samuel to a location near Smith's parents' home in Palmyra^[132] where they said Smith showed them the golden plates^[133] Photograph of Oliver Cowdery found in the Library of Congress, taken in the 1840s Oliver Hervy Pliny Cowdery[1] (3 October 1806 â€“ 3 March 1850) was the primary participant with Joseph Smith, Jr. ... David Whitmer (January 7, 1805â€“January 25, 1888) was an early adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormons Golden Plates. ... A monument to the Three Witnesses at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. ... The Eight Witnesses were one of the two groups of witnesses who signed a statement (reprinted in the Book of Mormon) stating that they had seen the golden plates which Joseph Smith, Jr. ... David Whitmer (January 7, 1805â€“January 25, 1888) was an early adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormons Golden Plates. ... Hiram Page (1800–1852), was an early member of the Latter Day Saint movement and one of the Eight Witnesses to the Book of Mormons Golden Plates. ... Joseph Smith, Sr. ... Hyrum Smith Hyrum Smith (February 9, 1800â€”June 27, 1844) was the older brother of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Samuel Harrison Smith (1808–1844) was one of the younger brothers of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Palmyra is a town in Wayne County, New York, USA. The population was 7,672 at the 2000 census. ...

When the Book of Mormon was published in 1830, the book included one affidavit testifying to the experience of the Three Witnesses and another affidavit of the Eight Witnesses. There is no evidence that these two affidavits were actually signed by either group, and ^[134] these statements were apparently drafted by Joseph Smith.^[135] There were also other witnesses who later said they had have visions of the plates, or had been shown the plates by an angel.^[136] // The Book of Mormon [1] is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... A monument to the Three Witnesses at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. ... The Eight Witnesses were one of the two groups of witnesses who signed a statement (reprinted in the Book of Mormon) stating that they had seen the golden plates which Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

In March 1838, some church members said that Martin Harris, who had previously given specific descriptions of the plates, now publicly denied having seen them at all.^[137] Near the end of his long life, Harris also said that he had seen the plates only in "a state of entrancement".^[138] Nevertheless, in 1871 Harris testified that no one had "ever heard me in any way deny the truth of the Book of Mormon [or] the administration of the angel that showed me the plates".^[139] Martin Harris (1783–1875) was the first financier of The Book of Mormon. ...

Format, binding, and dimensions

The plates were said to be bound at one edge by a set of rings. In 1828, Martin Harris, one of Joseph Smith, Jr.'s early scribes, is reported to have said that he understood the plates to be "fastened together in the shape of a book by wires".^[140] In 1859 Harris said that the plates "were seven inches [18 cm] wide by eight inches [20 cm] in length, and were of the thickness of plates of tin; and when piled one above the other, they were altogether about four inches [10 cm] thick; and they were put together on the back by three silver rings, so that they would open like a book".^[141] David Whitmer, another 1829 witness, was quoted by an 1831 Palmyra newspaper as saying the plates were "the thickness of tin plate; the back was secured with three small rings...passing through each leaf in succession".^[142] Anomalously, Smith's father is quoted as saying the (stack of?) plates (were?) only half an inch (1.27 centimeter) thick.^[143] Smith's mother, who said she had "seen and handled" the plates, is quoted as saying they were "eight inches [20 cm] long, and six [15 cm] wide...all connected by a ring which passes through a hole at the end of each plate".^[144] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2506x1593, 1340 KB)I took this picture at the Museum of Church History and Art, Salt Lake City I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2506x1593, 1340 KB)I took this picture at the Museum of Church History and Art, Salt Lake City I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the... Martin Harris (1783–1875) was the first financier of The Book of Mormon. ... Joseph Smith redirects here. ... David Whitmer (January 7, 1805â€“January 25, 1888) was an early adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormons Golden Plates. ... A monument to the Three Witnesses at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. ... Joseph Smith, Sr. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Hyrum Smith and John Whitmer, also witnesses in 1829, are reported to have stated that the rings holding the plates together were, in Hyrum's words, "in the shape of the letter D, which facilitated the opening and shutting of the book".^[145] Joseph Smith's wife Emma and his younger brother William said they had examined the plates while wrapped in fabric. Emma said she "felt of the plates, as they thus lay on the table, tracing their outline and shape. They seemed to be pliable like thick paper, and would rustle with a metallic sound when the edges were moved by the thumb, as one does sometimes thumb the edges of a book".^[146] William agreed that the plates could be rustled with one's thumb like the pages of a book.^[147] Hyrum Smith Hyrum Smith (February 9, 1800â€”June 27, 1844) was the older brother of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... John Whitmer (1802–1878) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. ... The Eight Witnesses were one of the two groups of witnesses who signed a statement (reprinted in the Book of Mormon) stating that they had seen the golden plates which Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Emma Hale Smith Emma Hale Smith (10 July 1804 - 30 April 1879) was the wife of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... William Smith (also found as William B. Smith) (1811â€“1893) born in Royalton, Vermont, was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. ...

Joseph Smith did not provide his own published description of the plates until 1842, when he said in a letter that "each plate was six inches [15 cm] wide and eight inches [20 cm] long, and not quite so thick as common tin. They were...bound together in a volume, as the leaves of a book, with three rings running through the whole. The volume was something near six inches [15 cm] in thickness".^[148]

Composition and weight

The plates were first described as "gold", and beginning about 1827, the plates were widely called the "gold bible".^[149] When the Book of Mormon was published in 1830, the Eight Witnesses described the plates as having "the appearance of gold".^[150] The book itself describes the plates as being made of "ore".^[151] In 1831, a Palmyra newspaper quoted David Whitmer, one of the Three Witnesses, as having said that the plates were a "whitish yellow color", with "three small rings of the same metal".^[152] The Eight Witnesses were one of the two groups of witnesses who signed a statement (reprinted in the Book of Mormon) stating that they had seen the golden plates which Joseph Smith, Jr. ... David Whitmer (January 7, 1805â€“January 25, 1888) was an early adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormons Golden Plates. ... A monument to the Three Witnesses at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. ...

Joseph Smith, Jr.'s first published description of the plates said that the plates "had the appearance of gold"^[153] but provided no information about their composition. Late in life, Martin Harris stated that the rings holding the plates together were made of silver,^[154] and he said the plates themselves, based on their heft of "forty or fifty pounds" (18–23 kg),^[155] "were lead or gold".^[156] Joseph's brother William Smith, who said he felt the plates inside a pillow case in 1827, said in 1884 that he understood the plates to be "a mixture of gold and copper...much heavier than stone, and very much heavier than wood".^[157] Joseph Smith redirects here. ... Martin Harris (1783–1875) was the first financier of The Book of Mormon. ... William Smith (also found as William B. Smith) (1811â€“1893) born in Royalton, Vermont, was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. ...

Different people estimated the weight of the plates differently. According to Smith's one-time-friend Willard Chase, Smith told him in 1827 that the plates weighed between 40 and 60 pounds (18–27 kg), most likely the latter.^[158] Smith's father Joseph Smith, Sr., who was one of the Eight Witnesses, reportedly weighed them and said in 1830 that they "weighed thirty pounds" (14 kg).^[159] Joseph Smith's brother, William, said that he lifted them in a pillowcase and thought they "weighed about sixty pounds [23 kg] according to the best of my judgment".^[160] Others who lifted the plates while they were wrapped in cloth or enclosed in a box thought that they weighed about 60 lbs [23 kg]. Martin Harris said that he had "hefted the plates many times, and should think they weighed forty or fifty pounds [18–23 kg]".^[161] Joseph Smith's wife Emma never estimated the weight of the plates but said they were light enough for her to "move them from place to place on the table, as it was necessary in doing my work".^[162] Had the plates been made of 24-karat gold (which Smith never claimed), they would have weighed about 140 pounds (64 kg).^[163] Joseph Smith, Sr. ... The Eight Witnesses were one of the two groups of witnesses who signed a statement (reprinted in the Book of Mormon) stating that they had seen the golden plates which Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Emma Hale Smith Emma Hale Smith (10 July 1804 - 30 April 1879) was the wife of Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

"Sealed" portion

According to Joseph Smith and others, the book of Golden Plates contained a "sealed" portion^[164] containing "a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof".^[165] Smith never described the nature or extent of the seal, and the language of the Book of Mormon may be interpreted to describe a sealing that was spiritual, metaphorical,^[166] physical, or a combination of these elements. // The Book of Mormon [1] is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement. ...

The Book of Mormon refers to other documents and plates as being "sealed" by being buried in order to be revealed at some future time. For example, the Book of Mormon says the entire set of plates was "sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord",^[167] and that separate records of John the Apostle were "sealed up to come forth in their purity" in the end times.^[168] One set of plates to which the Book of Mormon refers was "sealed up" in the sense that they were written in a language that could not be read.^[169] // The Book of Mormon [1] is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... John the Apostle (Greek Î™Ï‰Î¬Î½Î½Î·Ï‚, see names of John) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. ... // In the three Abrahamic Religions (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity), the End Times are depicted as a time of tribulation that precede the predicted coming of a Messiah figure. ...

Smith may have understood the sealing as a supernatural or spiritual sealing of the plates "by the power of God" (2 Nephi 27:10).^[170] This idea is supported by a reference in the Book of Mormon to the "interpreters" (Urim and Thummim) with which Smith said they were buried or "sealed".^[171] Oliver Cowdery also stated that when Smith visited the hill, he was stricken by a supernatural force because the plates were "sealed by the prayer of faith".^[172] For other uses, see Supernatural (disambiguation). ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the use of seer stones is a form of divination that played a significant role in shaping the movements history and theology. ...

Several witnesses described a physical "sealing" placed on part of the plates by Mormon or Moroni. David Whitmer said that an angel showed him the plates in 1829 and that "a large portion of the leaves were so securely bound together that it was impossible to separate them".^[173] He also said that the "sealed" part of the plates were held together as a solid mass that was "stationary and immovable",^[174] "as solid to my view as wood",^[175] and that there were "perceptible marks where the plates appeared to be sealed"^[176] with leaves "so securely bound that it was impossible to separate them".^[177] Lucy Mack Smith said in 1842 that some of the plates were "sealed together and are not to be opened, and some of them are loose".^[178] The Eight Witnesses said they saw the plates in 1829 and handled "as many of the leaves as [Joseph] Smith has translated", implying that they did not examine untranslated parts of the book such as the sealed portion.^[179] David Whitmer (January 7, 1805â€“January 25, 1888) was an early adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormons Golden Plates. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Eight Witnesses were one of the two groups of witnesses who signed a statement (reprinted in the Book of Mormon) stating that they had seen the golden plates which Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

In one interview, David Whitmer said that "about half" the book was sealed,^[180] and in 1881, he said that "about one-third" of the book was unsealed, and the remainder sealed.^[181] Whitmer's 1881 statement is consistent with an 1856 statement by Orson Pratt, an associate of Smith's who never saw the plates himself, but who said he had spoken with witnesses.^[182] According to Pratt, "about two-thirds" of the plates were "sealed up".^[183] Orson Pratt Orson Pratt (September 19, 1811 â€“ October 3, 1881) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. ...

The sealed portion of the plates is said to contain "a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof".^[184] The Book of Mormon states that this vision was originally given to the Brother of Jared, recorded by Ether on a set of 24 plates later found by Limhi, and then "sealed up".^[185] According to this account, Moroni copied the plates of Limhi onto the sealed portion of the Golden Plates.^[186] Mahonri Moriancumer is the brother of Jared in the account in the Book of Ether, part of the Book of Mormon. ... In the Book of Mormon, Limhi (BoM Arabic لمحي Limḥī) is the third and final king of the second Nephite habitation of the land of Lehi-Nephi. ... Moroni hides the plates in the Hill Cumorah Moroni (mÉ”rounai), according to the Book of Mormon, was the last Nephite prophet and military commander who lived in North America in the late fourth and early fifth centuries. ...

Engravings

The Golden Plates were said to contain engravings in an ancient language that the Book of Mormon describes as Reformed Egyptian.^[187] Smith later described the writing as "Egyptian characters...small, and beautifully engraved", exhibiting "much skill in the art of engraving".^[188] According to the Book of Mormon, this scripture of the Latter Day Saint movement was originally written in reformed Egyptian characters[1] on plates of ore[2] by prophets living in the Western Hemisphere between 600 B.C. and A.D. 421. ... Download high resolution version (942x396, 43 KB)Large Joseph Smith Anthon transcript of Book of Mormon Caractors The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus... Download high resolution version (942x396, 43 KB)Large Joseph Smith Anthon transcript of Book of Mormon Caractors The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus... Joseph Smith redirects here. ... According to the Book of Mormon, this scripture of the Latter Day Saint movement was originally written in reformed Egyptian characters[1] on plates of ore[2] by prophets living in the Western Hemisphere between 600 B.C. and A.D. 421. ...

John Whitmer, one of the Eight Witnesses, said the plates had "fine engravings on both sides",^[189] and Orson Pratt, who did not see the plates himself but who had spoken with witnesses, understood that there were engravings on both sides of the plates, "stained with a black, hard stain, so as to make the letters more legible and easier to be read".^[190] John Whitmer (1802–1878) was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. ... The Eight Witnesses were one of the two groups of witnesses who signed a statement (reprinted in the Book of Mormon) stating that they had seen the golden plates which Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Orson Pratt Orson Pratt (September 19, 1811 â€“ October 3, 1881) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. ...

Other metal plates in Latter Day Saint tradition

Book of Mormon references

In addition to the Golden Plates, the Book of Mormon refers to several other sets of books written on metal plates:

This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In the Book of Mormon, Laban (BoM Arabic لابان Lābān) is a man in Jerusalem who commands wealth and servants, and also possesses records on brass plates of the genealogy of Lehi. ... The Babylonian captivity, or Babylonian exile, is the name generally given to the deportation and exile of the Jews of the ancient Kingdom of Judah to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. ... According to the Book of Mormon, Zenos was an old world prophet whose pre-Christian era writings were recorded upon the plates of brass. ... According to the Book of Mormon, Zenock was an old world prophet whose pre-Christian era writings were recorded upon the plates of brass. ... In the Book of Mormon, the Plates of Nephi were the record which contained the history of the Nephite nation. ... Mormon is the name of the prophet in The Book of Mormon after whom the book is named. ... In the Book of Mormon, the Plates of Nephi were the record which contained the history of the Nephite nation. ... The First Book of Nephi (pronounced ) is the first book of the Book of Mormon. ... The Second Book of Nephi (pronounced nee-fie) is the second book of the Book of Mormon. ... The Book of Jacob is the third book of the Book of Mormon. ... The Book of Enos is the fourth book of the Book of Mormon. ... The Book of Jarom is one of the books that make up the Book of Mormon. ... The Book of Omni is one of the books that make up the Book of Mormon. ... The lost 116 pages were the original manuscript pages of what Joseph Smith, Jr. ... In the Book of Mormon, Limhi (BoM Arabic لمحي Limḥī) is the third and final king of the second Nephite habitation of the land of Lehi-Nephi. ... The Jaredites are a people written of in the Book of Mormon, principally in the Book of Ether. ... Mosiah was the king of the Nephite nation from about 124 BC to 91 BC according to the Book of Mormon. ... The Book of Ether is one of books that make up the Book of Mormon. ...

Other metal plates

In 1843, Smith acquired a set of six small bell-shaped plates, known as the Kinderhook Plates, found in Kinderhook, Pike County, Illinois. Although Smith did not translate the plates, William Clayton, his secretary, wrote that Smith said they contained "the history of the person with whom they were found and he was a descendant of Ham through the loins of Pharaoh king of Egypt." As Richard Bushman has written, "Joseph may not have detected the fraud, but he did not swing into a full-fledged translation as he had with the Egyptian scrolls. The trap did not quite spring shut, which foiled the conspirators original plan."^[191] After Smith's assassination, the Kinderhook Plates were presumed lost, and for decades The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published facsimiles of them in its official History of the Church as evidence that ancient Americans wrote on metal plates. In 1980 the Kinderhook Plates were tested at BYU and determined to have been manufactured in the nineteenth century. Today the LDS Church acknowledges the plates as a hoax and makes no attempt to defend their authenticity.^[192] The Kinderhook Plates were a set of 6 small, bell-shaped pieces of brass with strange engravings discovered in 1843 in an Indian mound near Kinderhook, Illinois. ... Richard Lyman Bushman, Gouverneur Morris Professor of History emeritus at Columbia University, is the author of many books on early American cultural and religious history. ... For other uses, see The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (disambiguation). ...

James J. Strang, one of many rival claimants to succeed Smith, in the Succession Crisis, said that he discovered and translated a set of plates known as the Voree Plates or "Voree Record". Like Joseph Smith, Strang produced witnesses to his plates' authenticity.^[193] Although Strang's attempt to supplant Brigham Young proved abortive, Joseph Smith's mother, Lucy Mack Smith,^[194] and for a time all living witnesses to the Book of Mormon, including the three Whitmers and Martin Harris (although perhaps excluding Oliver Cowdery), accepted "Strang's leadership, angelic call, metal plates, and his translation of these plates as authentic".^[195] Strang equally claimed to have discovered and translated the Plates of Laban spoken of in the Book of Mormon. As with the Voree Plates, Strang produced witnesses who authenticated his claim to possess them. Strang's purported translation of these plates was published in 1850 as the Book of the Law of the Lord. This book, together with the Voree Record, is still accepted as Scripture by members of Strang's diminutive church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite).^[196] 1856 daguerreotype of James Strang, taken on Beaver Island, Lake Michigan, by J. Atkyn, one of his assassins. ... The succession crisis in the Latter Day Saint movement occurred after the violent death of the movements founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Voree Plates, sometimes called The Record of Rajah Manchou of Vorito were a tiny set of metal plates discovered in 1845 in Voree (now Burlington), Wisconsin. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... // The Book of Mormon [1] is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... Martin Harris (1783–1875) was the first financier of The Book of Mormon. ... Photograph of Oliver Cowdery found in the Library of Congress, taken in the 1840s Oliver Hervy Pliny Cowdery[1] (3 October 1806 â€“ 3 March 1850) was the primary participant with Joseph Smith, Jr. ... In the Book of Mormon, Laban (BoM Arabic لابان Lābān) is a man in Jerusalem who commands wealth and servants, and also possesses records on brass plates of the genealogy of Lehi. ... The Book of the Law of the Lord was translated from metallic plates with the use of Urim and Thummim by James Strang in the late 1840s, and first published in 1851. ... The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) is a denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement. ...

Non-LDS plates and Mormon apologetics

Since Joseph Smith's announcement that he had received golden plates from an angel, non-believers have challenged their reality. Nevertheless, Mormon scholars have argued that other ancient civilizations wrote sacred records on metal plates.^[197] Some ancient European and Mesopotamian cultures did keep short records on metal plates, but extant examples are rare, have comparatively brief texts, and are extremely thin. A six-page, 24-carat gold book, written in Etruscan, was found in Bulgaria;^[198] and in 2005, an eight-page golden codex, allegedly from the Achaemenid period, was recovered from smugglers by the Iranian police. The Pyrgi Tablets (now at the National Etruscan Museum, Rome) are gold plates with a bilingual Phoenician-Etruscan text. Gold Laminae funerary texts similar to Books of the Dead have also been found in Italy. In the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls had been found, archeologists later discovered the aptly-named Copper Scroll, two rolled sheets of copper that may describe locations where treasures of the Second Temple of Jerusalem may have been hidden.^[199]Another Israelite example is the tiny "Silver Scrolls" dated to the 7th century B.C.E. (First Temple period), containing just a few verses of scripture, perhaps the oldest extant passages of the Old Testament. ^[200] Nevertheless, there is no known extant example of writing on metal plates longer than the eight-page Persian codex and no extant metal plates with writing from Egypt or from any ancient civilization in the Western Hemisphere.^[201] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (2272 Ã— 1704 pixel, file size: 905 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (2272 Ã— 1704 pixel, file size: 905 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Pyrgi Tablets, found in an excavation of a sanctuary of that town in Italy, a port of the southern Etruscan town of Caere, are three golden leaves that record a dedication made around 500 BC by Thefarie Velianas, king of Caere, to the Phoenician goddess â€˜Ashtart. ... Carat is a measure of the purity of gold and platinum alloys. ... Achaemenid Empire The Achaemenid Dynasty was a dynasty in the ancient Persian Empire, including Cyrus II the Great, Darius I and Xerxes I. At the height of their power, the Achaemenid rulers of Persia ruled over territories roughly emcompassing some parts of todays Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon... The Pyrgi Tablets, found in an excavation of a sanctuary of that town in Italy, a port of the southern Etruscan town of Caere, are three golden leaves that record a dedication made around 500 BC by Thefarie Velianas, king of Caere, to the Phoenician goddess â€˜Ashtart. ... This page is on the museum itself, for the architectural history of the house see Villa Giulia. ... This article is about the leaf, a plant organ. ... Funerary texts or funerary literature feature in many belief systems. ... For other uses, see Book of the Dead (disambiguation). ... The Dead Sea scrolls consist of roughly 1000 documents, including texts from the Hebrew Bible, discovered between 1947 and 1979 in eleven caves in and around the Wadi Qumran (near the ruins of the ancient settlement of Khirbet Qumran, on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea) in the West... The Copper Scroll is one of the Dead Sea Scrolls found at Khirbet Qumran, but differs significantly from the others. ... A stone (2. ... Solomons Temple was the first Jewish temple in Jerusalem which functioned as a religious focal point for worship and the sacrifices known as the korbanot in ancient Judaism. ...

Notes

^ Use of the terms golden bible and gold Bible by both believers and non-believers dates from the late 1820s. See, for instance, 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 these terms has been rare, especially by believers, since the 1830s.
^ Two separate statements were later incorporated into printed editions of the Book of Mormon.
^ See generally Metcalfe (1993), which outlines the main arguments for and against Book of Mormon authenticity.
^ In the early 20th century, B. H. Roberts historian for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), entertained the notion that Joseph Smith was capable of producing the Book of Mormon himself. In 1999, Richard N. Ostling, another LDS Church scholar, wrote that within "the loyal Mormon community, there is a moderate intellectual group that believes the Book of Mormon does have ancient roots but, as part of the process of revelation properly understood, is expressed through nineteenth-century thought processes....an ancient text mediated through the mind of Joseph Smith" (Oslint 1999, pp. 264). At the 2007 Community of Christ World Conference, President Stephen M. Veazey ruled a resolution to "reaffirm the Book of Mormon as a divinely inspired record" out of order. In so doing he stated that "while the Church affirms the Book of Mormon as scripture, and makes it available for study and use in various languages, we do not attempt to mandate the degree of belief or use. This position is in keeping with our longstanding tradition that belief in the Book of Mormon is not to be used as a test of fellowship or membership in the church." Andrew M. Shields, "Official Minutes of Business Session, Wednesday March 28, 2007," in 2007 World Conference Thursday Bulletin, March 29, 2007. Community of Christ, 2007.
^ Vogel (2004, pp. 98, 600 note 65) (suggesting the plates were made of common tin).
^ Riley (1903, p. 211) (proposing the theory that Smith hypnotized his followers in a way that suggested to them that they had seen the plates).
^ Metcalfe (1993, p. 178).
^ Smith (1830, p. 538). Standard language references such as Daniels & Bright (1996); Crystal (1997); and Woodard (2004) contain no reference to "reformed Egyptian". "Reformed Egyptian" is also not discussed in Robinson (2002), although it is mentioned in Williams (1991).
^ Mormon 9:32-34
^ Bennett (1893). The treasure-seeking culture in early 19th century New England is described in Quinn (1998, pp. 25–26).
^ Smith (1838, pp. 42–43) (stating that he was what he called a "money digger", but saying that it "was never a very profitable job to him, as he only got fourteen dollars a month for it").
^ Harris (1833, pp. 253-54); Hale (1834, p. 265); Clark (1842, p. 225); Turner (1851, p. 216); Harris (1859, p. 164); Tucker (1867, pp. 20–21); Lapham (1870, p. 305); Lewis & Lewis (1879, p. 1); Mather (1880, p. 199); Bushman (2005, pp. 50–51, 54–55).
^ Roberts (1930, p. 129)
^ Harris (1859, p. 163); Lapham (1870, pp. 305–306). The stone was found in either 1819 (Tucker 1867, pp. 19–20 Bennett 1893) or 1822 (Chase 1833, p. 240).
^ September 22 was listed in a local almanac as the autumnal equinox, which has led to the suggestion that the date had astrological significance according to Smith's worldview (Quinn 1998, p. 144; Owens 1995). A Palmyra minister said that Martin Harris told him in 1827 that Smith had been on a treasure-hunting excursion earlier the night of the angel's first visit.(Clark 1842, p. 225)
^ Smith's first mention of the angel in later histories is an appearance on the eve of September 22, 1823 (Smith 1839–1843, p. 4); however, other accounts say or infer that the angel may have appeared a year earlier in 1822. Smith's first history in 1832 said the angel's first visit was on September 22, 1822, although he also said he was "seventeen years of age" (Smith 1832, p. 3), which would have made the year 1823 (he turned 17 in December 1822). In 1835, after Oliver Cowdery initially dated the angel's visit to the "15th year of our brother J. Smith Jr's, age", he corrected the statement to read the 17th year of his age (16 years old, or 1822) —but he said this visit in Smith's "17th year" occurred in 1823 (Cowdery 1835a, p. 78). Smith's father is quoted by an inquirer who visited his house in 1830 as saying that the first visit by the angel took place in 1822 but that he did not learn about it until 1823 (Lapham 1870, p. 305). A Smith neighbor who said Smith told him the story in 1823 said the angel appeared "a year or two before" the death of Joseph's brother Alvin in November 1823.
^ Salisbury (1895, p. 11).
^ Smith referred to the visitor as an "angel of the Lord" at least as early as 1832 (Smith 1832, p. 4). Some early accounts related by non-Mormons described this angel as a "spirit" (Hadley 1829; Harris 1833, p. 253; Chase 1833, p. 242) or a "ghost" (Burnett 1831); see also Lewis & Lewis (1879, p. 1) (a later-published account using the "ghost" terminology). In 1838, however, Smith later said that the "angel" was a man who had been "dead, and raised again therefrom" (Smith 1838, pp. 42–43).
^ Smith, Cowdery & Rigdon 1835, p. 180; Smith 1838, pp. 42–43. Contrary to his other statements, Smith's 1838 autobiography said that the angel was Nephi (Smith 1839–1843, p. 4); nevertheless, modern historians and Latter Day Saints generally refer to the angel as Moroni.
^ Smith (1839–1843, p. 4) (identifying the hill, but not referring to it by a name); Cowdery (1835b, p. 196) (referring to the hill as Cumorah).
^ Smith (1839–1843, p. 6) (saying the angel told him to obey his charge concerning the plates, "otherwise I could not get them"); Clark (1842, pp. 225–26) (the angel "told him that he must follow implicitly the divine direction, or he would draw down upon him the wrath of heaven"); Smith (1853, p. 83) (characterizing the angel's requirements as "commandments of God", and saying Smith could receive the plates "not only until he was willing, but able" to keep those commandments).
^ Smith's mother Lucy Mack Smith said he was commanded to tell his father during the third vision (Smith 1853, p. 81), but he disobeyed because he didn't think his father would believe him, and the angel appeared a fourth time to rebuke him and reiterate the commandment (p. 82). Joseph Smith and his sister Katharine said the angel gave him the commandment in his fourth visit, but did not say whether he had received the commandment earlier that night (Smith 1839–1843, p. 7; Salisbury 1895, p. 12). Smith's father is quoted by a skeptical interviewer to say that in 1830, Smith delayed telling his father about the vision for about a year (Lapham 1870, p. 305). Smith's brother William, who was 11 at the time, said the angel commanded him to tell his entire family (Smith 1883, p. 9), although he may have been remembering Smith tell the story that night after he visited the hill, according to their mother's recollection (Smith 1853, p. 83).
^ Smith (1832, p. 5) (saying he was commanded to "have an eye single to the glory of God"); Smith (1839–1843, p. 6) (saying the angel commanded him to "have no other object in view in getting the plates but to glorify God".)
^ This commandment is described in the account of Joseph Knight, Sr., a loyal Latter Day Saint friend of Smith's (Knight 1833, p. 2), and Willard Chase, an associate of Smith's in Palmyra during the 1820s (Chase 1833, p. 242). Both Knight and Chase were treasure seekers, but while Knight remained a loyal to his death, Chase was a critic of Smith's by the early 1830s.
^ There is agreement on this commandment by Smith's mother (Smith 1853, pp. 85–86) and sister (Salisbury 1895, p. 14) and by two non-Mormons (Chase 1833, p. 242; Lapham 1870, p. 305).
^ Hadley (1829); Smith (1839–1843, p. 6).
^ Chase (1833, p. 242) (an affidavit of Willard Chase, a non-Latter Day Saint treasure seeker who believed Smith wrongly appropriated his seer stone). Chase said he heard the story from Smith's father in 1827. Fayette Lapham, who traveled to Palmyra in 1830 to inquire about the Latter Day Saint movement and heard the story from Joseph Smith, Sr., said Smith was told to wear an "old-fashioned suit of clothes, of the same color as those worn by the angel", but Lapham did not specify what color of clothing the angel was wearing (Lapham 1870, p. 305).
^ Chase (1833, p. 242) (affidavit of Willard Chase, relating story heard from Smith's father in 1827). A friendly but non-believing Palmyra neighbor, Lorenzo Saunders, heard the story in 1823 from Joseph Smith, Jr., and also said Smith was to required to ride a black horse to the hill (Saunders 1884b).
^ Chase (1833, p. 242) (affidavit of the skeptical Willard Chase).
^ Saunders (1893) (statement of Orson Saunders of Palmyra, who heard the story from Benjamin Saunders, who heard the story from Joseph Smith).
^ Smith (1839–1843, p. 7)
^ Smith (1853, p. 82); Salisbury (1895, p. 12) (stating that Smith told the angel during the fourth visit that he was afraid his Father would believe him).
^ Smith (1853, p. 82); Smith (1839–1843, p. 6).
^ Smith (1853, p. 82); Smith (1839–1843, p. 7). Smith's brother William, who was 11 at the time, said he also told the rest of his family that day prior to visiting the hill (Smith:1883, pp. 9–10)}}, although he may have been remembering Smith tell the story the night after he visited the hill, according to their mother's recollection (Smith 1853, p. 83). Smith's sister Katharine said that Joseph told his father and the two oldest brothers Alvin and Hyrum the morning prior to visiting the hill, but Katharine was too young (10 years old) to understand what they were talking about (Salisbury 1895, p. 13).
^ Harris (1833, p. 252) (statement were by Henry Harris, a non-Mormon Palmyra resident); Harris (1859, p. 163) (statement by Martin Harris, a Latter Day Saint who became one of the Three Witnesses of the Golden Plates). According to one hearer of the account, he used the seer stone to follow a sequence of landmarks by horse and on foot until he arrived at the place the plates were buried.Lapham (1870, p. 305).
^ Smith (1839–1843, pp. 6–7).
^ Most accounts, including those written by Smith, say the plates were found in a stone box (Cowdery 1835b, p. 196; Smith 1839–1843, pp. 15–16; Whitmer 1875, calling it a "stone casket", and stating that Smith had to dig down for the box "two and a half or three feet"); according to two non-believing witnesses, however, Smith said they were buried in an iron box (Bennett 1831, p. 7; Lewis & Lewis 1879, p. 1).
^ Salisbury (1895, p. 13)
^ Smith (1839–1843, pp. 15–16). According to various accounts, these artifacts may have included a breastplate (Cowdery 1835b, p. 196; Smith 1839–1843, p. 16; Salisbury 1895, p. 13, saying it was the "breast-plate of Laban"), a set of large spectacles made of seer stones (Chase 1833, p. 243; Smith 1839–1843, p. 16; Salisbury 1895, p. 13), the Liahona, the sword of Laban (Lapham 1870, pp. 306, 308; Salisbury 1895, p. 13), the brass plates of Laban (Salisbury 1895, p. 13), the vessel in which the gold was melted, a rolling machine for gold plates, and three balls of gold as large as a fist (Harris 1833, p. 253).
^ Knight (1833, p. 2) (account by Joseph Knight, Sr., a loyal life-long follower who had worked with Smith in treasure expeditions); Smith (1853, p. 85) (account by Smith's mother, saying this occurred on Smith's second visit to the hill); Salisbury (1895, p. 14) (account of Smith's sister, saying this occurred on Smith's third visit to the hill, but that it happened prior to their brother Alvin's death, which was in November 1823); Cowdery (1835b, p. 197) (account by Smith's second-in-command Oliver Cowdery, stating that when Smith was looking in the box for other artifacts, he hadn't yet removed the plates).
^ Smith (1853, p. 85) (account by Smith's mother); Knight (1833, p. 2) (account by Smith's life-long friend Joseph Knight, Sr.); Salisbury (1895, p. 14) (account of Smith's sister).
^ Chase (1833, p. 242) (account of Palmyra resident Willard Chase, who heard the story from Smith's father in 1827 and was a non-believer); Saunders (1884a) (account of Benjamin Saunders, a sympathetic non-believer who heard the story from Joseph Smith in 1827); Saunders (1893) (account of Orson Saunders, a non-believer who heard it from Benjamin Saunders).
^ Oliver Cowdery, writing for a church periodical with Smith's assistance, said Smith was stricken three times with an ever increasing force, persisting after the second time because he thought the plates were held by the power of an "enchantment" (like hidden-treasure stories he had heard) that could be overcome by physical exertion (Cowdery 1835b, pp. 197–98). Smith's mother said he was stricken by a force but did not say how many times (Smith 1853, p. 86). Willard Chase said Smith was stricken at least twice (Chase 1833, p. 242). Fayette Lapham, who said he heard the story in about 1830 from Smith's father, said Smith was stricken three times with ever-increasing force (Lapham 1870, p. 306). Two neighbors who heard the story from Smith in Harmony in the late 1820s said Smith was knocked down three times (Lewis & Lewis 1879, p. 1). Smith himself said he made three unsuccessful attempts that day but did not mention being stricken (Smith 1832, p. 3). Smith's sister Katharine stated that three times, "he felt a pressure pushing hom [him] away" (Salisbury 1895, p. 14). David Whitmer said that the angel struck Smith three times with such force that he was knocked off the hill onto the surrounding plain and had to reascend (Whitmer 1875).
^ Smith (1832, p. 3).
^ Smith (1832, p. 3); Knight (1833, p. 2) (saying Smith exclaimed, "why Cant I stur this Book?"); Cowdery (1835b, p. 198) (saying that Smith exclaimed, without premeditation, "Why can I not obtain this book?"); Salisbury (1895, p. 14) (saying Smith asked, "Lord, what have I done, that I can not get these records?")
^ Smith (1832, p. 3); Knight (1833, p. 2) (saying the angel said "you cant have it now", to which Smith responded, "when can I have it?" and the angel said "the 22nt Day of September next if you Bring the right person with you".); Cowdery (1835b, pp. 197–98) (stating that although Smith "supposed his success certain", his failure to keep the "commandments" led to his inability to obtain them). In Smith's 1838 account he said the angel had already told him he would not receive the plates for another four years (Smith 1839–1843, p. 7). Smith's brother, who was 11 at the time, said "upon his return [he] told us that in consequence of his not obeying strictly the commandments which the angel had given him, he could not obtain the record until four years from that time" (Smith 1883, p. 10). Smith's sister Katharine (who was 10 at the time) said that Moroni told him, "You have not obeyed the commandments as you were commanded to; you must obey His commandments in every particular. You were not to lay them out of your hands until you had them in safe keeping" (Salisbury 1895, p. 14).
^ Smith (1853, p. 85); Knight (1833, p. 2).
^ Saunders (1893) (statement of Orson Saunders, who heard the account from his uncle Benjamin Saunders, who heard it from Smith in 1827).
^ Knight (1833, p. 2) (account of Joseph Knight, Sr., a life-long follower of Smith); Lapham (1870, p. 307) (account of Fayette Lapham, who became a skeptic after hearing the story from Smith's father in 1830); Salisbury (1895, p. 14) (account of Smith's sister Katharine).
^ Salisbury (1895, p. 14).
^ Smith (1853, p. 85) (account of Smith's mother). About the time of the scheduled September 22, 1824 meeting with the angel that Alvin was to attend, there were rumors in Palmyra that Alvin's body had been dug up and dissected. To quell these rumors, Joseph's father brought witnesses to exhume the body three days after Joseph's reported meeting with the angel (September 25) and then ran a notice in a local newspaper stating that the body remained undisturbed—except, of course, by Smith, Sr. and the witnesses. (Smith 1824).
^ Knight (1833, p. 2); Salisbury (1895, p. 14) (saying the angel said, "You will know her when you see her.").
^ Chase (1833, p. 243); Knight (1833, p. 3) (saying Lawrence was a seer and had been to the hill and knew what was there); Harris (1859, p. 164) (identifying Samuel T. Lawrence as a practitioner of crystal gazing).
^ Knight (1833, p. 2); Salisbury (1895, p. 15) (saying that Smith "knew when he saw her that she was the one to go with him to get the records").
^ Smith (1839–1843, p. 7).
^ Smith (1853, pp. 99–100).
^ Smith (1853, p. 99).
^ Smith's father is cited as stating Smith was late one year and missed the date for visiting the hill, and therefore was chastised by the angel (Lapham 1870, p. 307).
^ Knight (1833, p. 3).
^ Young (1855, p. 180).
^ Young (1855, pp. 180–81).
^ Knight (1833, p. 3) (Saying Knight went to Rochester on business, and then passed back through Palmyra so that he could be there on September 22); Smith (1853, p. 99) (Smith's mother, stating Knight and Stowell arrived there September 20, 1827 to inquire on business matters, but stayed at the Smith home until September 22).
^ Knight (1833, p. 3) (saying Lawrence was a seer, had been to the hill, and knew what was there).
^ Knight (1833, p. 3).
^ Smith (1853, p. 100); Salisbury (1895, p. 15) (Emma "didn't see the records, but she went with him").
^ Harris (1853, p. 164).
^ Chase (1833, p. 246); Smith (1850, p. 104) (Smith had cut away the bark of a decaying log, placed the plates inside, then covered the log with debris); Harris (1859, p. 165); Salisbury (1895, p. 15) (saying Smith "brought them part way home and hid them in a hollow log").
^ Smith (1853, p. 101). Smith's friend Joseph Knight said Smith was even more fascinated by the Interpreters than the plates (Knight 1833, p. 3).
^ Smith (1853, p. 101).
^ Harris (1859, p. 167).
^ Smith (1853, p. 102); Salisbury (1895, p. 15) (saying that Smith's father "heard that they had got a conjurer, who they said would come and find the plates".
^ Smith (1853, p. 103); Salisbury (1895, p. 15).
^ Smith (1853, pp. 103–104).
^ Smith (1853, pp. 104–06).
^ Vogel (2004, p. 99)Salisbury (1895, p. 15); Howe (1834, p. 246); Smith (1853, pp. 104–06); Harris (1859, p. 166).
^ Smith (1853, pp. 104–06) (mentioning the dislocated thumb); Harris (1859, p. 166) (mentioning an injury to his side); Salisbury (1895, p. 15) (mentioning the dislocated thumb and an injury to his arm).
^ Smith (1853, pp. 105–06); Salisbury (1895, p. 15).
^ Smith (1853, p. 106); Salisbury (1895, p. 15).
^ Howe (1834, p. 264); Harris & 1859 (169–70); Smith (1884).
^ Smith (1853, p. 107) (saying she saw the glistening metal, and estimating the breastplate's value at over 500 dollars).
^ Salisbury (1895, p. 15).
^ Smith (1853, p. 108); Harris (1859, pp. 166–67).
^ Smith (1853, p. 108).
^ Harris (1859, p. 167).
^ Smith (1853, pp. 107–09); Harris (1859, p. 167).
^ Smith (1853, p. 109) The seer was the sister of Willard Chase who said she had "found a green glass, through which she could see many very wonderful things".
^ The local Presbyterian minister, Jesse Townsend, described Harris as a "visionary fanatic". A acquaintance, Lorenzo Saunders, said, "There can't anybody say word against Martin Harris...a man that would do just as he agreed with you. But he was a great man for seeing spooks." (Walker 1986, p. 35).
^ Smith et al. (1839–1843, p. 5). Early followers of Smith used the term Urim and Thummim to refer both to these large spectacles and Smith's other seer stones, most notably one commonly called the "Chase stone" that Smith had found in a Palymra well during the early 1820s(Wagoner 1982, pp. 59–62).
^ Martin Harris, one of Smith's scribes, is reported to have said that the spectacles were made for a giant, and would not have been wearable by Joseph Smith (Anton 1834). David Whitmer, another scribe, also said that the spectacles were larger than normal spectacles, and indicated that Smith placed them in his hat while translating, rather than wearing them (Whitmer 1875). However, a man who interviewed Smith's father in 1830 said that Smith did at least some of the translation while wearing the spectacles (Lapham 1870).
^ Hale (1834, p. 265); Smith (1879, pp. 536-40); (Wagoner 1982, pp. 59–62) (containing an overview of witnesses to the translation process).
^ Smith's father-in-law, Isaac Hale, said that the "manner in which he pretended to read and interpret was the same as when he looked for the money-diggers, with the stone in his hat, and his hat over his face, while the Book of Plates were at the same time hid in the woods!" (Hale 1834, p. 265).
^ Whitmer (1875) ("Having placed the Urim and Thummim in his hat, Joseph placed the hat over his face, and with prophetic eyes read the invisible symbols syllable by syllable and word by word."). Michael Morse, Smith's brother-in-law, stating that he watched Smith on several occasions: "The mode of procedure consisted in Joseph's placing the Seer Stone in the crown of a hat, then putting his face into the hat, so as to entirely cover his face." (Wagoner & 1982 52–53, quoting W.W. Blair, Latter Day Saints' Herald 26 (15 Nov. 1879): 341, who was quoting Michael Morse). Smith's wife Emma stated that she took dictation from her husband as she sat next to him, and that he would put his face into a hat with the stone in it, dictating for hours at a time. (Smith 1879, pp. 536-40).
^ Cook (1991, p. 173). However, Elizabeth Ann Whitmer, later to be the wife of scribe Oliver Cowdery, said she had never seen a curtain raised between Smith and Cowdery or her brothers while translation took place in the Whitmer home (Wagoner 1982, p. 51).
^ Howe (1834, p. 14).
^ Clark (1842) ("Although in the same room, a thick curtain or blanket was suspended between them, and Smith concealed behind the blanket, pretended to look through his spectacles, or transparent stones, and would then write down or repeat what he saw, which when repeated aloud, was written down by Harris."); Benton (1831) ("Oliver Cowdery, one of the three witnesses to the book, testified under oath, that said Smith...translated his book [with] two transparent stones, resembling glass, set in silver bows. That by looking through these, he was able to read in English, the reformed Egyptian characters, which were engraved on the plates.").
^ Phelps (1833, p. 24).
^ Palmer (2002, p. 7).
^ Smith (1853, p. 113); Harris (1859, p. 170).
^ Hale (1834, p. 264); Knight (1833, p. 3).
^ Hale (1834, p. 264); Knight (1833, p. 3); Smith (1853, p. 115).
^ Smith (1879).
^ Smith (1853, p. 124).
^ Stevenson (1882); Hale (1834, pp. 264–65); Van Horn (1881); Whitmer (1875) ("The plates were not before Joseph while he translated, but seem to have been removed by the custodian angel."). Isaac Hale said that while Joseph was translating, the plates were "hid in the woods" (Hale 1834, p. 264). Joseph Smith, Sr. said they were "hid in the mountains" Palmer (2002, pp. 2-5).
^ Smith (1853, pp. 115–116).
^ Smith (1853, p. 125) (stating that the angel took back the Urim and Thummim, but referring to the revelation that stated the plates were taken too); Smith (1832, p. 5) (referring only to the plates); Phelps (1833, 9:1, p. 22) (a revelation referring only to the plates and to Smith's "gift" to translate).
^ Smith (1853, p. 126).
^ Hale (1834, pp. 264–265).
^ Smith (1853, p. 137); Salisbury (1895, p. 16).
^ Van Horn (1881); Smith (1853, p. 141).
^ Young (1877, p. 38) (mentioning only Smith and Cowdery); Packer (2004, p. 52, 55) (including David Whitmer in the list and describing Whitmer's account of the event, and citing William Horne Dame Diary, 14 January 1855, stating that Hyrum Smith was also in the group).
^ Packer (2004, p. 52).
^ Young (1877, p. 38) (Young said he heard this from Oliver Cowdery).
^ Young (1877, p. 38).
^ Smith (1842, p. 707).
^ Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 27:7.
^ Packer (2004, p. 55).
^ Packer (2004, p. 55) (quoting a statement by Orson Pratt).
^ Packer (2004, p. 55) (citing reporter Edward Stevenson's 1877 interview with Whitmer).
^ Packer (2004, p. 55).
^ Tvedtnes (1990).
^ Hadley (1829); Smith (1839–1843, p. 6).
^ Chase (1834) (citing Martin Harris as stating in 1829 that Smith’s unborn son would translate the plates at the age of two (this son was stillborn), and thereafter, "you will see Joseph Smith, Jr. walking through the streets of Palmyra, with the Gold Bible under his arm, and having a gold breast-plate on, and a gold sword hanging by his side."); Hale (1834, p. 264) (stating that the first witness would be "a young child”).
^ In March 1829, Martin Harris returned to Harmony and wanted to see the plates firsthand. Smith reportedly told Harris that Smith "would go into the woods where the Book of Plates was, and that after he came back, Harris should follow his tracks in the snow, and find the Book, and examine it for himself"; after following these directions, however, Harris could not find the plates (Hale 1834, pp. 264–265). The next day (Hale 1834, p. 265), Smith dictated the revelation stating that witnesses were not necessary, but that three witnesses could be called, and Harris could be one of them if he “humble[d] himself in mighty prayer and faith” (Phelps 1833, pp. 10–12).
^ (Phelps 1833, pp. 11–12)
^ (Smith 1830, p. 548).
^ Van Horn (1881).
^ Smith selected the Three Witnesses soon after a visit by Martin Harris to the Whitmer home in Fayette, accompanied by Smith's parents (Smith 1853, p. 138), to inquire about the translation (Roberts 1902, p. 51). According to Smith's mother, this trip was prompted by news that Smith had completed the translation of the plates (Smith 1853, p. 138). When Harris he arrived, he joined with Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to request that the three be named as the Three Witnesses referred to in the much earlier revelation directed to Harris, and also referred to in a recently-translated portion of the plates called the Book of Ether (2:2–4) (Roberts 1902, p. 51). In response, Smith dictated a revelation that the three of them would see the Golden Plates (Smith et al. 1835, p. 171).
^ They "saw" with their "spiritual eyes", according to a reported statement by Harris decades later (Gilbert 1892).
^ Roberts (1902, pp. 54–55); Smith (1830b, appendix).
^ Roberts (1902, pp. 54–55); Smith (1830b, appendix). David Whitmer later stated that the angel showed them "the breast plates, the Ball or Directors, the Sword of Laban and other plates". (Van Horn (1881); Kelley & Blakeslee (1882); see also Smith (1835, p. 171).
^ With Joseph Smith, the Three, and the Eight, there were a total of twelve witnesses. Just prior to selecting these twelve, Smith had dictated a revelation commanding Cowdery and Whitmer to seek out twelve "disciples", who desired to serve, and who would "go into all the world to preach my gospel unto every creature", and who would be ordained to baptize and to ordain priests and teachers (Phelps 1833, p. 37). Some commentators view this as a foreshadowing of the first Quorum of the Twelve that years later would be formed in 1835.^{[citation needed]}
^ Smith (1853). Because of a foreclosure on their Manchester property, the Smith family was then living in a log cabin technically in Palmyra (Smith 1883, p. 14; Berge 1985)
^ Roberts (1902, p. 57). Though the Eight Witnesses did not refer, like the Three, to an angel or the voice of God, they said that they had hefted the plates and seen the engravings on them: “The translator of this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship" (Smith & 1830b appendix).
^ Smith & 1830b (appendix).
^ This is the conclusion of Palmer (2002, p. 195-96), who compared "The Testimony of Three Witnesses" to part of the Doctrine and Covenants written in 1829 (first published at Smith et al. (1835, p. 171)), and concluding that they show "the marks of common authorship". Palmer also compares a letter from Oliver Cowdery to Hyrum Smith dated June 14, 1829, quoting the language of this revelation (Joseph Smith letterbook (22 November 1835 to 4 August 1835), 5-6). Commentators generally agree that this letter refers to the revelation. See Larry C. Porter, "Dating the Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood", Ensign (June 1979), 5.
^ For instances of people testifying to having seen the Golden Plates after Smith returned them to the angel, see the affirmations of John Young and Harrison Burgess in Palmer (2002, p. 201). In 1859, Brigham Young referred to one of these "post-return" testimonies: "Some of the witnesses of the Book of Mormon, who handled the plates and conversed with the angels of God, were afterwards left to doubt.... One of the Quorum of the Tweleve, a young man full of faith and good works, prayed, and the vision of his mind was opened, and the angel of God came and laid the plates before him, and he saw and handled them, and saw the angel." Journal of Discourses, June 5, 1859, 7: 164.
^ Their accounts state that Harris publicly denied that either he or the other Witnesses to the Book of Mormon had ever seen or handled the golden plates—although he had not been present when Whitmer and Cowdery first claimed to have viewed them. Harris's recantation, made during a period of crisis in early Mormonism, induced five influential members, including three Apostles, to leave the Church. (Stephen Burnett to Luke S. Johnson, 15 April 1838, in Joseph Smith's Letterbook, Early Mormon Documents 2: 290-92. Warren Parrish also wrote in August 11, 1838: "Martin Harris, one of the subscribing witnesses, has come out at last, and says he never saw the plates, from which the book purports to have been translated, except in vision, and he further says that any man who says he has seen them in any other way is a liar, Joseph not excepted." EMD, 2: 289.)
^ Metcalf in EMD, 2: 347.
^ "No man heard me in any way deny the truth of the Book of Mormon, the administration of the angel that showed me the plates; nor the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under the administration of Joseph Smith, Jr." Letter of Martin Harris, Sr., to Hanna B. Emerson, January 1871, Smithfield, Utah Territory, Saints' Herald 22 (15 October 1875):630, in EMD 2: 338. See also Richard Lloyd Anderson, Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1981), 118
^ Anthon (1834, p. 270).
^ Harris (1859, p. 165).
^ Cole (1831).
^ Lapham (1870, p. 307).
^ Smith (1842b, p. 27).
^ Statement by Hyrum Smith as reported by William E. McLellin in the Huron Reflector, October 31, 1831. See also Poulson (1878).
^ Smith (1879).
^ Smith (1884).
^ Smith (1842).
^ Harris (1859, p. 167); Smith (1853, pp. 102, 109, 113, 145); Grandin (1829).
^ Smith (1830, appx.)
^ Smith (1830, Mormon 8:5).
^ Cole (1831).
^ Smith (1842).
^ Harris (1859, p. 165).
^ Harris (1859, p. 166)
^ Harris (1859, p. 169).
^ Smith (1884)
^ Chase (1833, p. 246).
^ Lapham (1870).
^ Smith (1883).
^ Harris (1859, pp. 166, 169).
^ Smith (1879).
^ Vogel (2004, p. 600, n. 65).
^ Smith (1842, p. 707).
^ Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 27:7. The "sealing" of apocalyptic revelations in a book has precedents in the Bible. See, for example, Isaiah 29:11, Daniel 12:4, and Revelation 5:1–5.
^ i.e. that the book was "sealed" in the sense that its contents were hidden or kept from public knowledge
^ (Smith 1830, title page)
^ Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 14:26
^ Book of Mormon, Ether 3:22.
^ Quinn (1998, pp. 195–196).
^ Book of Mormon, Ether 4:5. According to Martin Harris, anyone who looked into the "interpreters", "except by the command of God", would "perish" (Harris 1859, p. 166).
^ Cowdery (1835b, p. 198).
^ David Whitmer interview, Chicago Tribune, 24 January 1888, in David Whitmer Interviews, ed. Cook, 221. Near the end of his life, Whitmer said that one section of the book was "loose, in plates, the other solid". Storey (1881).
^ Cole (1831)
^ Poulson (1878).
^ Storey (1881)
^ Whitmer (1888). Orson Pratt, who said he had spoken with many witnesses of the plates,(Pratt 1859, p. 30), assumed that Joseph Smith could "break the seal" if only he had been "permitted" (Pratt 1877, pp. 211–12).
^ Smith (1842b, p. 27).
^ Smith (1830, appx.)
^ Cole (1831); Poulson (1878).
^ Storey (1881)
^ Pratt (1859, p. 30).
^ Pratt (1856, p. 347).
^ Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 27:7.
^ Book of Mormon, Ether 1:2.
^ Book of Mormon, Ether 4:4. In the 1980s, Christopher Marc Nemelka claimed to have received the gold plates from Joseph Smith and translated some of the sealed portion. Salt Lake City Weekly, December 27, 2001 [1].
^ (Smith 1830, Mormon 9:32).
^ Smith (1842).
^ (Roberts 1906, p. 307).
^ Pratt (1859, pp. 30-31).
^ Bushman (2005, p. 490) The original source is William Clayton's Journal, May 1, 1843 (See also, Trials of Discipleship — The Story of William Clayton, a Mormon, 117): "I have seen 6 brass plates... covered with ancient characters of language containing from 30 to 40 on each side of the plates. Prest J. has translated a portion and says they contain the history of the person with whom they were found and he was a descendant of Ham through the loins of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and that he received his kingdom from the ruler of heaven and earth." The information was deemed important enough to be republished in the first person (as if Smith had said it) in the History of The Church: "I insert facsimiles of the six brass plates found near Kinderhook...I have translated a portion of them, and find they contain the history of the person with whom they were found. He was a descendant of Ham, through the loins of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and that he received his kingdom from the Ruler of heaven and earth." More than six pages in Volume Five of History of the Church discuss the Kinderhook plates.
^ Richard Bushman, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005), 489-90.
^ Strang, James J. "The Record of Rajah Manchou of Vorito." Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
^ In a letter of 11 May 1846 Lucy Mack Smith wrote: "I am satisfied that Joseph appointed J. J. Strang." The same day William Smith said, "James J. Strang has the appointment and we have evidence of it. The whole Smith family excepting Hyrum's widow uphold Strang." Palmer, 211. Earlier Lucy Mack Smith said at the October 1844 General Conference that she hoped all her children would accompany the saints to the West, and if they did she would go.
^ Palmer, 208-13. Cowdery's father converted to Strang's movement in the summer of 1846, and a year later Oliver Cowdery was living in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, 12 miles (19 km) from Strang's headquarters and may have been associated in some way with his church. Stanley R. Gunn, Oliver Cowdery: Second Elder and Scribe (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1962), 189. Lucy Mack Smith's acceptance of Strang's leadership was short-lived; until her death, she made her home in Nauvoo with her daughter-in-law Emma and Emma's non-Mormon husband. (Bushman, 554-55).
^ The Book of the Law of the Lord. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
^ William J. Hamblin, "Sacred Writing on Metal Plates in the Ancient Mediterranean", Neil A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, Brigham Young University. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
^ Unique book goes on display. BBC News, 2003-05-23. Retrieved on 2008-03-18. "The six sheets are believed to be the oldest comprehensive work involving multiple pages", said Elka Penkova, who heads the museum's archaeological department. "There are around 30 similar pages known in the world", Ms Penkova said, "but they are not linked together in a book".
^ A summary of information about the Copper Scroll from the Copper Scroll. West Semitic Research Project, University of Southern California. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
^ A news article on the discovery of the Silver Scroll taken from the Baptist Press. Retrieved on 2008-03-18. The two silver scrolls were discovered in a burial cave southwest of Jerusalem and are dated to the First Temple period, around the time of Jeremiah or Josiah. The passage from Numbers 6:24-26 is translated into English, "The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace."
^ Mesoamerican writing systems have been preserved only on stone or paper made from bark or deerskin. Encyclopedia of Archaeology (Oxford: Elsevier, 2008), 2231; Ruth D. Whitehouse, ed. Facts on File of Archaeology (New York: Facts on File, 1983), 553. In the section of the Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt (Oxford, 2001), dedicated to metallurgy, the writer notes implements of all kinds in copper, bronze, and gold, including daggers, ewers, chisels, mirrors, statuettes and jewelry of all types. No plates with writing are mentioned.

Martin Harris (1783–1875) was the first financier of The Book of Mormon. ... Brigham Henry Roberts (March 13, 1857 _ September 27, 1933) was born in Warrington, a manufacturing town of Lancashire, England. ... For other uses, see The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (disambiguation). ... RLDS redirects here. ... Stephen M. Veazey (born May 3, 1957) is the current Prophet-President of the Community of Christ headquartered in Independence, Missouri which has no affiliation with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. ... This article is about the region in the United States of America. ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Calendarium cracoviense, an almanac for the year 1474. ... 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Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... is the 326th day of the year (327th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... | Come and take it, slogan of the Texas Revolution 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... is the 216th day of the year (217th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... | Come and take it, slogan of the Texas Revolution 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... is the 156th day of the year (157th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 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Martin Harris (1783–1875) was the first financier of The Book of Mormon. ... is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Orson Pratt Orson Pratt (September 19, 1811 â€“ October 3, 1881) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. ... December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (362nd in leap years). ... This article is about the year. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 77th day of the year (78th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Elkhorn is a city located in Walworth County, Wisconsin. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 77th day of the year (78th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 77th day of the year (78th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 77th day of the year (78th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 77th day of the year (78th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

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Smith, Joseph, Jr.; Cowdery, Oliver; Rigdon, Sidney & Williams, Frederick G. (1835), Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints: Carefully Selected from the Revelations of God, Kirtland, Ohio: F. G. Williams & Co, <http://www.irr.org/mit/BOC/default.html> .
Smith, Joseph, Jr. (July 1838), "Editor's note", Elders' Journal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 1 (3), <http://www.solomonspalding.com/docs/eldjur03.htm> .
Smith, Joseph, Jr.; Mulholland, James; Thompson, Robert B.; Phelps, William W. & Richards, Willard (1839–1843), "History of the Church, Ms. A–1", written at LDS Church Archives, in Jessee, Dean C, Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2002, ISBN 1-57345-787-6 .
Smith, Joseph, Jr. (March 1, 1842), "Church History [Wentworth Letter]", Times and Seasons (Nauvoo, Illinois) 3 (9): 906–936, <http://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v3n09.htm> .
Smith, Joseph, Sr. (September 29, 1824), "To the Public", Wayne Sentinel 1, <http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/NY/miscNYSg.htm#092924> .
Smith, Lucy Mack (1842b), Casawall, Henry, ed., The City of the Mormons; or, Three Days at Nauvoo, in 1842, London: J.G.F. & J. Rivington, 1842, <http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC11230666&id=VTIBAAAAQAAJ> .
Smith, Lucy Mack (1853), Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and His Progenitors for Many Generations, Liverpool: S.W. Richards, <http://relarchive.byu.edu/19th/descriptions/biographical.html> .
Smith, William (1883), William Smith on Mormonism: A True Account of the Origin of the Book of Mormon, Lamoni, Iowa: RLDS Church, <http://www.olivercowdery.com/smithhome/1883Wilm.htm> .
Smith, William (1884), "The Old Soldier's Testimony", The Saint's Herald 34 (39): 643–644, <http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/IA/sain1882.htm#100484> .
Stevenson, Edward (1882), "One of the Three Witnesses: Incidents in the Life of Martin Harris", The Latter Day Saints' Millennial Star 44: 78–79, 86–87, <http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/MStar&CISOPTR=51200&REC=8> .
Storey, Wilbur F. (October 17, 1881), "Interview with David Whitmer", Chicago Times, <http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/IL/mischig.htm#101781> .
Tvedtnes, John A (1990), "Review of Little Known Evidences of the Book of Mormon by Brenton G. Yorgason", FARMS Review of Books (Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute) 2 (1): 258–59, <http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=review&id=49> .
Tucker, Pomeroy (1867), Origin, Rise and Progress of Mormonism, New York: D. Appleton, <http://www.solomonspalding.com/docs1/1867TucA.htm> .
Turner, Orasmus (1851), History of the Pioneer Settlement of Phelps and Gorham's Purchase, and Morris' Reserve, Rochester, New York: William Alling, <http://olivercowdery.com/texts/1851Trn1.htm#turn1851> .
Wade, B. (April 23, 1880), "An Interesting Document", The Salt Lake Daily Tribune 19 (8), <http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/UT/tribune2.htm#042380> .
Van Wagoner, Richard S. (Summer 1982), "Joseph Smith: The Gift of Seeing", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 15 (2): 48–68, <http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/dialogue&CISOPTR=16574&REC=16>.
Walker, Ronald W. (1986), "Martin Harris: Mormonism's Early Convert", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 19 (4): 29–43, <http://content.lib.utah.edu/u?/dialogue,16264> .
Whitmer (August 7, 1875), "The Golden Tables", Chicago Times, <http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/IL/mischig.htm#080775> .
Whitmer, David (1887), An Address to All Believers in Christ By A Witness to the Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, Richmond, Missouri: David Whitmer, <http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/address1.htm> .
Whitmer, David (January 24, 1888), "An Old Mormon's Closing Hours: David Whitmer, One of the Pioneers of That Faith, Passing Away", Chicago Daily Tribune: 5, <http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/687454712.html?dids=687454712:687454712&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+24%2C+1888&author=DAVID+WHITMER&pub=Chicago+Daily+Tribune+(1872-1963)&edition=&startpage=5&desc=AN+OLD+MORMON%27S+CLOSING+HOURS.> .
Williams, Stephen (1991), Fantastic Archaeology: The Wild Side of North American Prehistory, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press .
Woodard, Roger D., ed. (2004), The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the World's Ancient Languages, Cambridge University Press .
Young, Brigham (February 18, 1855), "The Priesthood and Satan—the Constitution and Government of the United States—Rights and Policy of the Latter-day Saints", in Watt, G.D., Journal of Discourses by Brigham Young, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, His Two Counsellors, the Twelve Apostles, and Others, vol. 2, Liverpool: F.D. & S.W. Richards, 1855, pp. 179–90, <http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/u?/JournalOfDiscourses3,9594> .
Young, Brigham (June 17, 1877), "Trying to Be Saints—Treasures of the Everlasting Hills—The Hill Cumorah—Obedience to True Principle the Key to Knowledge—All Enjoyment Comes from God—Organization—Duties of Officers—Final Results", in Evans, D.W. & Gibbs, Geo. F., Journal of Discourses by Brigham Young, His Two Counselors, and the Twelve Apostles, vol. 19, Liverpool: William Budge, 1878, pp. 36–45 .

Charles Anthon (November 19, 1797 â€“ July 29, 1867) was an American classical scholar, born in New York City. ... is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1834 (MDCCCXXXIV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Painesville is a city located in Lake County, Ohio. ... James Gordon Bennett, Jr. ... is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... James Gordon Bennett James Gordon Bennett (1 September 1795 in Keith, Moray, Scotland - 1 June 1872), was the founder and publisher of the New York Herald and a major figure in the History of American newspapers. ... Dan Vogel is the author of a number of books related to early Mormon history. ... Emma Hale Smith Emma Hale Smith (10 July 1804 - 30 April 1879) was the wife of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... is the 86th day of the year (87th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1876 (MDCCCLXXVI) // January 31 - United States orders all Indigenous peoples in the United States to move onto reservations February 2 - The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs of Major League Baseball is formed. ... is the 66th day of the year (67th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Leopold I 1831 (MDCCCXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Richard Lyman Bushman, Gouverneur Morris Professor of History emeritus at Columbia University, is the author of many books on early American cultural and religious history. ... Colophon of the publisher Alfred A. Knopf. ... Painesville is a city located in Lake County, Ohio. ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 78th day of the year (79th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Leopold I 1831 (MDCCCXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Photograph of Oliver Cowdery found in the Library of Congress, taken in the 1840s Oliver Hervy Pliny Cowdery[1] (3 October 1806 â€“ 3 March 1850) was the primary participant with Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Messenger and Advocate (previously, the Latter Day Saints Messenger and Advocate) was an early Latter Day Saint periodical published monthly in Kirtland, Ohio from October 1834 to September 1837. ... Photograph of Oliver Cowdery found in the Library of Congress, taken in the 1840s Oliver Hervy Pliny Cowdery[1] (3 October 1806 â€“ 3 March 1850) was the primary participant with Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Messenger and Advocate (previously, the Latter Day Saints Messenger and Advocate) was an early Latter Day Saint periodical published monthly in Kirtland, Ohio from October 1834 to September 1837. ... Photograph of Oliver Cowdery found in the Library of Congress, taken in the 1840s Oliver Hervy Pliny Cowdery[1] (3 October 1806 â€“ 3 March 1850) was the primary participant with Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Messenger and Advocate (previously, the Latter Day Saints Messenger and Advocate) was an early Latter Day Saint periodical published monthly in Kirtland, Ohio from October 1834 to September 1837. ... Photograph of Oliver Cowdery found in the Library of Congress, taken in the 1840s Oliver Hervy Pliny Cowdery[1] (3 October 1806 â€“ 3 March 1850) was the primary participant with Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Messenger and Advocate (previously, the Latter Day Saints Messenger and Advocate) was an early Latter Day Saint periodical published monthly in Kirtland, Ohio from October 1834 to September 1837. ... is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Wayne Sentinel was a weekly newspaper published in Palmyra, New York beginning in 1823, and continuing at least until 1863. ... is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Painesville is a city located in Lake County, Ohio. ... Painesville is a city located in Lake County, Ohio. ... Painesville is a city located in Lake County, Ohio. ... Martin Harris (1783–1875) was the first financier of The Book of Mormon. ... Painesville is a city located in Lake County, Ohio. ... is the 120th day of the year (121st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... William Wine Phelps (also W.W. Phelps, and William W. Phelps) (February 17, 1792–March 7, 1872) was an important early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... Independence is a city in Missouri, in the Kansas City metropolitan area. ... William Wines Phelps (also W.W. Phelps, and William W. Phelps) (February 17, 1792â€“March 7, 1872) was an important early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Orson Pratt Orson Pratt (September 19, 1811 â€“ October 3, 1881) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. ... The Journal of Discourses (often abbreviated J.D.) is a 26-volume collection of public sermons by early leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Orson Pratt Orson Pratt (September 19, 1811 â€“ October 3, 1881) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. ... The Journal of Discourses (often abbreviated J.D.) is a 26-volume collection of public sermons by early leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Orson Pratt Orson Pratt (September 19, 1811 â€“ October 3, 1881) was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. ... The Journal of Discourses (often abbreviated J.D.) is a 26-volume collection of public sermons by early leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... The New Era is an official magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Brigham Henry Roberts (March 13, 1857 _ September 27, 1933) was born in Warrington, a manufacturing town of Lancashire, England. ... For other uses, see The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (disambiguation). ... Brigham Henry Roberts (March 13, 1857 _ September 27, 1933) was born in Warrington, a manufacturing town of Lancashire, England. ... For other uses, see The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (disambiguation). ... is the 100th day of the year (101st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Joseph Smith III â€” Leader of the 1860 Reorganization of the Latter Day Saint church. ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Joseph Smith redirects here. ... Joseph Smith redirects here. ... Joseph Smith redirects here. ... William Wine Phelps (also W.W. Phelps, and William W. Phelps) (February 17, 1792â€“March 7, 1872) was an important early leader of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... Willard Richards (June 24, 1804 – March 11, 1854) was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts to Joseph and Rhoda Howe Richards on June 24, 1804. ... Joseph Smith redirects here. ... is the 60th day of the year (61st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Times and Seasons was a nineteenth-century Latter Day Saint periodical published monthly or twice-monthly at Nauvoo, Illinois, from November 1839 to February 15, 1846. ... There is also a Nauvoo, Alabama, and a Nauvoo, Pennsylvania Nauvoo (× Ö¸××•×•Ö¼ to be beautiful, Sephardi Hebrew NÃ¥vu, Tiberian Hebrew NÃ¢wÃ») is a city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. ... Joseph Smith, Sr. ... is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1824 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... William Smith (also found as William B. Smith) (1811â€“1893) born in Royalton, Vermont, was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. ... William Smith (also found as William B. Smith) (1811â€“1893) born in Royalton, Vermont, was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. ... is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Chicago Times was a newspaper in Chicago, Illinois. ... is the 113th day of the year (114th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 219th day of the year (220th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1875 (MDCCCLXXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... David Whitmer (January 7, 1805â€“January 25, 1888) was an early adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormons Golden Plates. ... David Whitmer (January 7, 1805â€“January 25, 1888) was an early adherent of the Latter Day Saint movement who eventually became the most interviewed of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormons Golden Plates. ... is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Brigham Young (disambiguation). ... is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1855 (MDCCCLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Brigham Young (disambiguation). ... is the 168th day of the year (169th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

External links

For other uses, see The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (disambiguation). ... Handsome picture of the Salt Lake Temple from the Dutch wikipedia taken by Bjørn Graabek April 7, 2003. ... The early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is shared by the larger Latter Day Saint movement, which originated in upstate New York under the leadership of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The original Nauvoo Temple of the Latter Day Saint movement built in Nauvoo, Illinois. ... Joseph Smith redirects here. ... The early life of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The life of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The life of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The life of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The life of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The life of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Main article: Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Latter Day Saint movement (a subset of Restorationism) is a group of religious denominations and adherents who follow at least some of the teachings and revelations of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Latter Day Saint movement is a religious movement within Christian Restorationism beginning in the early 19th century that led to the set of doctrines, practices, and cultures called Mormonism and to the existence of numerous Latter Day Saint churches. ... For the Mariah Carey DVD, see The First Vision. ... Photograph of Oliver Cowdery found in the Library of Congress, taken in the 1840s Oliver Hervy Pliny Cowdery[1] (3 October 1806 â€“ 3 March 1850) was the primary participant with Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Sidney Rigdon Sidney Rigdon (19 February 1793 â€“ 14 July 1876) was an important figure in the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... For other uses, see Brigham Young (disambiguation). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Mormon War is a name sometimes given to the 1838 conflict which occurred between Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and their neighbors in the northwestern region of the U.S. state of Missouri. ... A stone from Hauns Mill, at one time used as a memorial at the site of the massacre. ... Belligerents United States Utah Territory Commanders Pres. ... An Illustration of the Mountain Meadows massacre, from a seminal 1873 history of the Mormons by T.B.H. Stenhouse. ... The Mormon Battalion was the only religious unit in American military history serving from July 1846 to July 1847 during the Mexican-American War. ... Combatants United States Army Shoshone Indians Commanders Col. ... The Deseret Morning News LDS Church Almanac gives the following information on historical membership records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1065x800, 99 KB) Summary Christus statue on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah Taken by Ricardo630 in August 2005 Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms... Mormonism, depending on era and denomination within the Latter Day Saint movement, has accommodated a diverse range of views of the concept of the Christian Godhead including forms of modalism, binitarianism, tritheism, henotheism, and trinitarianism. ... Topics in Christianity Movements Â· Denominations Ecumenism Â· Preaching Â· Prayer Music Â· Liturgy Â· Calendar Symbols Â· Art Â· Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul Â· Church Fathers Constantine Â· Athanasius Â· Augustine Anselm Â· Aquinas Â· Palamas Â· Wycliffe Tyndale Â· Luther Â· Calvin Â· Wesley Arius Â· Marcion of Sinope Pope Â· Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box: The Great Apostasy is... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Restoration was a period in its early history during which a number of events occurred that were understood to be necessary to restore the early Christian church as demonstrated in the New Testament, and to prepare the earth for the Second Coming of... Latter Day Saints teach that the Latter Day Saint movement began with a Revelation from God (see History of the Latter Day Saint movement). ... It has been suggested that Unrighteous dominion be merged into this article or section. ... In Mormonism, an ordinance is a religious ritual of special significance, often involving the formation of a covenant with God. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Endowment is a gift of power from on high that has several meanings in various contexts of Latter Day Saint theology. ... The plan of salvation as taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Plan of Salvation is a concept in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - the plan that the Heavenly Father created to save, redeem, and exalt humankind. ... The plurality of gods usually refers to a unique doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and is based on interpretations of the Bible, the canonical Book of Abraham, the teachings of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Celestial marriage (also called the New and Everlasting Covenant) is a doctrine peculiar to Mormonism, particularly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and branches of Mormon fundamentalism. ... Family Home Evening (FHE) or Family Night, in the context of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, refers to one evening per week, usually Monday, that families are encouraged to spend together in study, prayer and other wholesome activities. ... Latter Day Saints teach that Perfection is a continual process requiring the application of Faith, Works, and Grace in compliance with the admonition of Jesus Christ to: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. ... The King Follett Discourse is an address delivered by Joseph Smith, Jr. ... From the end of the nineteenth century until 1978, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did not allow black men to be ordained to the priesthood or to enter its temples to perform ceremonies such as the Endowment or sealing that the church believes are necessary for... Main article: Sexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, homosexuality is officially seen as a set of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and not an immutable condition or an indication of an innate identity (Oaks 1995). ... The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that members must obey what it calls the law of chastity, which is a code of morality and modesty. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1672x2204, 566 KB) Summary photo by user Ricardo630 The Book of Mormon English Missionary Edition Soft Cover The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Book of Mormon Metadata This... The Standard Works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) consists of several books that constitute its open, scriptural canon, and include the following: The Holy Bible (King James version)* The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ The Doctrine and Covenants The Pearl... For other uses, see Bible (disambiguation). ... The King James or Authorized Version of the Bible is an English translation of the Christian Bible first published in 1611. ... The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, also called the Inspired Version of the Bible or the JST, is a version of the Bible dictated by Joseph Smith, Jr. ... // The Book of Mormon [1] is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: The Doctrine and Covenants The Doctrine and Covenants (sometimes abbreviated and cited as D&C) is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... The Pearl of Great Price is part of the standard works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church; see also Mormonism) and some other Latter Day Saint denominations. ... The Book of Moses is a text published by Joseph Smith, Jr. ... For other meanings of this name, see Book of Abraham (disambiguation). ... In Mormonism, the Articles of Faith are a creed composed by Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Family: A Proclamation to the World is a statement issued by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1995, which defined the churchs official position on gender roles, human sexuality, and the family. ... In Mormonism, worship services include weekly services, held on Sundays (or Saturday when local custom or law prohibits Sunday worship), in neighborhood based religious units. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (2304 Ã— 1728 pixel, file size: 793 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) From English Wikipedia, en:Image:PSP 028. ... The Salt Lake Temple, operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the best-known Mormon temple. ... The LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City In Mormonism, a general conference is a meeting meant for instruction of all members of the Latter Day Saint faith. ... The Culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has sprung up around the basic beliefs and traditions of the Church. ... The Young Men (often referred to incorrectly as Young Mens) is a youth organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... The Young Women (often referred to incorrectly as Young Womens or Young Womans) is a youth organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Institutes of Religion are organizations, usually situated near colleges or universities, which offer classes on the doctrine and scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). ... A pair of sister missionaries at the Oakland Temple Visitors Center The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 50,000 full-time missionaries worldwide. ... Image File history File linksMetadata LDS_church_office_building. ... The Church of Christ, later called Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was the original church organization founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the President of the Church is generally considered to be the highest office of the church. ... This article is about the Latter-day Saint leader. ... Thomas S. Monson, Gordon B. Hinckley, and James E. Faust, the recent members of the First Presidency of the LDS Church. ... The current Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the LDS Church. ... The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. ... Seventy is a priesthood office in the Melchizedek Priesthood of several denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Life-size figure of Joseph Smith Criticism of Mormonism is the criticism of the Latter Day Saint movement, especially of the largest and most prominent group, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (hereafter referred to as the LDS Church). ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1940x1908, 2854 KB) Summary LDS Church Administration Building (LDS Church Office Building in background) Salt Lake City, Utah, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Ricardo630 Ricardo630 06:21, 21 April 2006 (UTC) Licensing File links The following... Historians widely agree that Joseph Smith Jr. ... From the end of the nineteenth century until 1978, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did not allow black men to be ordained to the priesthood or to enter its temples to perform ceremonies such as the Endowment or sealing that the church believes are necessary for... For other meanings of this name, see Book of Abraham (disambiguation). ... Main article: Book of Mormon The question of whether the Book of Mormon is an actual historical work or a work of fiction has long been a source of contention between between members of the Latter Day Saint movement, who are likely to view the work as a history, and... The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (softcover missionary edition) According to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other Latter Day Saint denominations, the Book of Mormon is a 19th century translation of a historical record of the inhabitants of the American continents, part... Since the introduction of the Book of Mormon in 1830, both Mormon and non-Mormon archaeologists have studied its claims in reference to known archaeological evidence. ... The Book of Mormon, one of the four books of scripture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (see Standard Works), is purported to be an account of a number of Hebrew individuals who, as a small part of one of the Lost Ten Tribes, emigrated from... In Mormonism, the oath of vengeance (or law of vengeance) was an oath that was made by participants in the Endowment ritual of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between the 1850s and the 1920s. ... An Illustration of the Mountain Meadows massacre, from a seminal 1873 history of the Mormons by T.B.H. Stenhouse. ... Mark Hofmann (b. ... The September Six were six noted intellectuals and feminists expelled from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the LDS Church, or Mormons) in September 1993. ... Life-size figure of Joseph Smith Criticism of Mormonism is the criticism of the Latter Day Saint movement, especially of the largest and most prominent group, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (hereafter referred to as the LDS Church). ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1940x1908, 2854 KB) Summary LDS Church Administration Building (LDS Church Office Building in background) Salt Lake City, Utah, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Ricardo630 Ricardo630 06:21, 21 April 2006 (UTC) Licensing File links The following... This article is about the history and use of the word Mormon. For information about the religious beliefs and culture of Mormons, see Mormonism. ... For more general information about religious denominations that follow the teachings of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... Topics in Christianity Movements Â· Denominations Â· Other religions Ecumenism Â· Preaching Â· Prayer Music Â· Liturgy Â· Calendar Symbols Â· Art Â· Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul Â· Church Fathers Constantine Â· Athanasius Â· Augustine Anselm Â· Aquinas Â· Palamas Â· Luther Calvin Â· Wesley Arius Â· Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury Â· Catholic Pope Coptic Pope Â· Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box: Since the... This 15-barreled silo at Welfare Square contains enough wheat to feed a small city for 6 months. ... The Church Educational System (CES) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners. ... The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS) is an informal collaboration of academics devoted to Mormon historical scholarship. ... Much of the worldwide statistics have not been imputed yet. ... Image File history File links The_Hill_Cumorah_by_C.C.A._Christensen. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1065x800, 99 KB) Summary Christus statue on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah Taken by Ricardo630 in August 2005 Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms...

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Origin and historicity GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");