Book of mormon for android free download and software. The remaining plates are of a paper composite material colored gold but with no inscriptions. Sorenson, agreed that putnams explanation helps solve the weight problem. But what of the stone box that contained these sacred items. Though emma did not directly see the plates, she stands as yet another witness verifying the book of mormons authentic origin. How corrections in the book of mormon prov see more like this the golden plates the book of mormon in pictures and word volume 1 comic book hb preowned. Its an elaborate hoax as the video commentator goes so far as to explain how the gold plates were a sealed book and was quite difficult to unseal. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. The term golden bible is also used with a negative connotation. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of.
Nephi miraculously obtains possession of the plates by following the guidance of the holy spirit. They were reportedly returned to the angel moroni or to a secret cave hidden inside of hill cumorah. Leading experts of the early americas disavow the historicity of the book of mormon narrative. Description scarce first edition of the book of mormon, the first publication of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints joseph smith. These include the large plates of nephi abridged by mormon, the 24 gold plates abridged by moroni, and the plates of brass quoted from in the book of mormon. Jun 17, 2014 the story of the gold plates is an absolutely essential part of the mormon narrative, for in the eyes of many latterday saints, the coming forth of this record, and its subsequent translation into the book of mormon, legitimizes their belief that smith was indeed a prophet sent by god to restore the true christian faith lost long ago due to a. All these records are referred to as plates because they were engraved on thin sheets of metal. Various source documents were used by mormon in his. The book of mormon was first published in march 1830. Many ancient documents such as king benjamins speech or the plates of brass were quoted or abridged by the ancient authors who compiled the books found. The golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold the golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold, new era, july. A true testimony of the book of mormon comes from reading it and, as counseled by moroni in a promise he left to us in moroni 10. So in the spring and summer of 1820, eight joseph with martin harris and his wife emma working as described began the translation of the book of mormon, those involved with the translation of the book of mormon said that joseph initially used the stones found with the plates.
The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement. Book of mormon plates and records book of mormon central. According to the book itself, this history and the teachings of jesus were abridged and written on gold plates by the prophet mormon. It was the upper plates of the plates of mormon which were translated both into the book of lehi 116 pages and also the book of mormon. We do not have the book of mormon metal plates available to. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1988, 99111. The said angel informed him of a book, written upon gold plates, which explained the origins of those living on the north american continent as well as the truths of the gospel.
The complete book of mormon freethe book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement that contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from. Thus, if these are indeed the plates of mormon, as they certainly appear to be, then there are still over half of them left to be opened at the coming of the savior to those who believe in his word. In the past critics of the book of mormon have attacked the alleged absurdity of the book of mormon having been written on golden plates and its claim of the existence of an early sixth century b. May 23, 2019 it took historic accounts of people who had interacted with the gold plates and used those accounts to offer a comprehensive description. Book of mormon plates and records brigham young university. Their testimonies are printed at the front of every copy of the book of mormon. The plates were fastened together by three dshaped rings. Oct 07, 2017 joseph smith claimed that in 1827 an angel named moroni led him to a set of golden plates which he then translated by the gift and power of god. In his book, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, he wrote, r. Introduction and witnesses of the book of mormon come follow me lesson dec 30 jan 5. A record engraved on gold plates, which js translated and published as the book of mormon.
Anyone who had read it before may 18, 1980, then, was riveted by the descriptions emerging of the. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. Gold plates found in panama in 2011 closely resemble. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. The plates were written in a language called reformed egyptian. Plates description book of mormon i found a great article in an old 2007 new era. This is the book of mormon, an account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. The book of mormon contains a rather detailed description of the plates of mormon from which it was translated by joseph smith, the seer. Joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon. Since then, researchers have found several examples of ancient metal plates, gold plates, and plates with rings.
Lehi and sariah are grateful and delighted when their sons return with the plates, and lehi immediately begins to study their contents. Criticism is aimed at joseph smiths claims because of what appear to be historical contradictions. The plates weighed approximately sixty pounds pure gold plates would be too soft to hold engraving well. It took historic accounts of people who had interacted with the gold plates and used those accounts to offer a comprehensive description. Description foreman of the press pomeroy tuckers copy joseph smith. Everything is too on the nose with these discovered plates, which is a red flag to me. The book of mormon was written by many ancient prophets who recorded their words on different sets of metal plates.
The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates inscribed by prophets. Mar 02, 2018 but, what never seems to go away for book of mormon critics are those pesky witnesses. Careful analysis shows that the book of mormon depends on the kjv itself, rather than independent sources from the brass plates for the old or the words of jesus for the new. With that article as a source, i have built this handout which should work great for any church class. Mormon mentioned that he found nephis set of small plates after he had made an abridgment from the large plates of nephi, down to the reign of. According to smith, the angel was the guardian of the golden plates, buried in the hill cumorah near smiths home in western new york. The very idea that a new york farm boy with limited education might translate an ancient document is so unimaginable that it could only have occurred through, as joseph himself declared, the gift and power of god. Nephi is led by the spirit to obtain the plates of brass 1. A sealed book is a common phrase used in lds lessons about joseph smith and the gold plates. Book of mormon the idea of an ancient record on gold plates was one of the most mocked claims of joseph smith. The book of mormon is a book that latter day saints believe is the word of god along with the bible the original english version of the book of mormon was published in march 1830 by a man named joseph smith, jr. What were the characteristics of the rings which held the gold plates together.
Putnam has argued persuasively that the book of mormon plates that were in joseph smiths hands were of tumbaga. The story of the gold plates is an absolutely essential part of the mormon narrative, for in the eyes of many latterday saints, the coming forth of this record, and its subsequent translation into the book of mormon, legitimizes their belief that smith was indeed a prophet sent by god to restore the true christian faith lost long ago due to a great apostasy. An alloy of gold and copper called tumbaga, known in mesoamerica, would suit both the appearance and weight of the plates. If this description is accurate, the document harris showed anthon was longer and more. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates. Although no single comprehensive description of the book of mormon plates has been preserved, the prophet joseph smith and several people closely. Part of the plates were sealed so they couldnt be opened. Manchester, ny a team of archaeologists excavating a drumlin known as mormon hill or the cumorah, in western new york, have discovered a set of gold plates which they believe could be linked to the founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, joseph smith jr. Latter day saints believe the plates were the source material for the book of mormon. The angel moroni showed joseph smith where to find the golden plates. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon christian. Its followers hold that it is a divinely inspired work revealed to and translated by the founder of their religion, joseph smith. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of mormonism.
As the modern lds church tries to shore up belief in the prophet joseph smith and his special powers of translation, it continues to try to argue for something more than a fictional narrative for the book of mormon. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. The book of mormon plates religious studies center. In 1827 when joseph smith received the gold plates, he found that much of the record was an abridgment of many other records written by ancient kings and. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked. Historically, latter day saint movement denominations have taught that the book of mormons description of the.
The book of mormon an account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi published. The book of mormon is a complex text with a complicated history. The text explained that the plates were an abridgment of other ancient records and were written by an american prophet named mormon and his son moroni. As said in the title page of the 1908 rlds book of mormon, the text contained in this android app is faithful copy from the original translation by joseph smith jr. It is primarily an abridgment of several earlier records by its chief editor and namesake, mormon. The plates were not a solid block of gold, but a set of pagelike. Book of mormontranslationdescription of the plates. Book of mormon, work accepted as holy scripture, in addition to the bible, in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and other mormon churches. According to latter day saint belief, the golden plates also called the gold plates or in some 19thcentury literature, the golden bible are the source from which joseph smith claimed to have translated the book of mormon, a sacred text of the faith. Book of mormontranslationdescription of the plates fairmormon. Reconstructing the book of mormon s missing stories heres the book description that appears on the publishers website.
On 22 september 1823, after receiving repeated instruction from the angel moroni, joseph smith went to a large hill convenient to his fathers home. She recalled that they were pliable like thick paper but rustled with a metallic sound when they were moved. There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. Thus, this article compares a careful reading of the book of mormon to the claims made by the sealed book of mormon of three parts to the plates. These records were later abridged to create the plates of mormon, or the gold plates that joseph smith translated. Many ancient documents such as king benjamins speech or the plates of brass were quoted or abridged by the ancient authors who compiled the books found on.
Although no single comprehensive description of the book of mormon plates has been preserved, the prophet joseph smith and several people closely associated with him made various statements that include partial descriptions of the plates. Some witnesses described the plates as weighing from 30 to 60 pounds 14 to 27 kg, golden in. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Two top plates are made of brass and imprinted with reformed egyptian characters.
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