Book of mormon plates and records

This paper looks at the book of mormon through the lens of library science and the concept of archival provenance. Preston nibley, the witnesses of the book of mormon 1953, pp. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies. Records on metal plates are becoming a fairly common archeological find. 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.

Sep, 2019 two sets of plates i mormon made this record out of the plates of nephi, and hid up in the hill cumorah all the records which had been entrusted to me by the hand of the lord, save it were these few plates which i gave unto my son moroni mormon 6. According to the book of mormon, nephi was sent back to jerusalem after his family had travelled for three days. The book of mormon was translated and published in 1830 from an ancient record inscribed on plates that had the appearance of gold. There were books piled up on tables, book upon book. Mormon did not abridge the small plates of nephi but he did include them in the records he gave to his son moroni words of mormon 1. Incredible video explains the story of the plates of mormon. The records which were on thin hammered out gold pages like a book were the gold plates that joseph translated to become the book of mormon. Nephi is led by the spirit to obtain the plates of brass.

A dynamic, interactive, webfriendly presentation of the book of mormon. They explain how the different records were gathered and combined to make one record that we use today. The mormon church owns the property and it certainly has the financial means to do so. Smith that he, oliver cowdery, and martin harris had seen not only the plates of the book of mormon, but also the brass plates, the plates of the book of ether, the plates containing the records of the wickedness and secret combinations of the people and many other plates. Book of mormon plates and records book of mormon central. In 1827 when joseph smith received the gold plates, he found that much of the record was an abridgment of many other records written by ancient kings and prophets living in the americas.

The first edition of the book of mormon was typeset from that printers manuscript. We then enter mormon s abridgment of the large plates. The depository in the hill cumorah in new york was the site of all the nephite records. Why are we told about the different metal record plates comprising the book of mormon. The plates he held referred to several other sets of plates and records, an understanding of which is necessary to understand the book of mormon. Kimball, journal of discourses, 28 september 1856 purchase over 150 maps of the book of mormon in north america.

Copying that original manuscript, parts of which survive today, oliver cowdery prepared a printers manuscript owned by the rlds church. Recent reevaluation of the evidence now points to the fact that the book of mormon s description of sacred records written on bronze plates fits quite nicely in the cultural milieu of the ancient eastern mediterranean. Book of mormon, 1837, page 161 the joseph smith papers. The book of mormons description of sacred records written on bronze plates fits quite nicely in the cultural milieu of the ancient eastern mediterranean recent reevaluation of the evidence now points to the fact that the book of mormons description of sacred records written on bronze plates fits quite nicely in the cultural milieu of the ancient eastern mediterranean. Red arrow jonathan neville art by val chadwick bagley. The book of mormon plates religious studies center. Book of mormon the idea of an ancient record on gold plates was one of the most mocked claims of joseph smith.

Mar 29, 2016 therefore, mormons abridgment of lehis record found on the large plates could accurately be described as an account abridged from the plates of lehi, by the hand of mormon. According to the book of mormon, the plates of nephi, consisting of the large plates of nephi and the small plates of nephi, are a portion of the collection of inscribed metal plates which make up the record of the nephites. In other words, mormon introduces the small plates to his readers, which seems like an odd thing to do at the end, rather than the beginning. Finding records on plates in a specific area during a specific time frame is a little more challenging.

The book of mormon was written by many ancient prophets who recorded their words on different sets of metal plates. The plates of nephi were kept in mormon s depository. Many people close to the process were moved by the books message and eagerly waited for a renewing of old covenants and the restoration of christs church. Those who saw the ancient nephite record described it as being engraved onto thin golden plates which were bound together with dshaped rings. Deity, an angel appeared to him in 1823 and told him of an ancient record written on gold plates. In the unfolding book of mormon text, joseph smith found answers to some of the questions that had brought him to the sacred grove as a 14yearold boy. This has story maps to help you follow the amazing stories, helps for understanding doctrine, etc use for personal scripture study or family or class. The idea that the book of mormon was engraved onto golden plates and buried in a stone box, along with other sacred relics, was ridiculed by some people in the 19th century. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. While we proclaim that the book of mormon is the most correct book, detractors have often made criticisms because of punctuation errors or. Blue arrow the plates in the stone box were the original book of mormon.

The book of mormon s description of sacred records written on bronze plates fits quite nicely in the cultural milieu of the ancient eastern mediterranean recent reevaluation of the evidence now points to the fact that the book of mormon s description of sacred records written on bronze plates fits quite nicely in the cultural milieu of the. And what of the many other records that were supposedly hid up in the hill. The book of mormon chapters 17 moronisubscript 2s additions to his fathers records. Sep 17, 2019 purchase over 150 maps of the book of mormon in north america but the grand repository of all the numerous records of the ancient nations of the western continent, was located in another department of the hill, and its contents put under the charge of holy angels, until the day should come for them to be transferred to the sacred temple of zion. I make an abridgment of the record of my father, upon plates which i have made.

Since then, researchers have found several examples of ancient metal plates, gold plates, and plates with rings. This record was later abridged by mormon and inscribed onto gold plates from which joseph smith translated the book of mormon after an angel revealed to him the location where the. Those records this people will yet have, if they accept of the book of mormon and observe its precepts, and keep the commandments. Learn about the book of mormon with verse by verse commentaries from renowned book of mormon scholars like john w. A chart of the various plates and records behind the book of mormon see more. If the rest of the book of mormon history were written as briefly as these four books, the book of mormon would be a 20 page pamphlet instead of a 531 page book. 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.

Book of mormon plates and records brigham young university. They told of jesus christ visiting and administering to the ancient inhabitants of the americas. 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. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the plates of mormon translated by joseph smith and show how the other nephite records were used to produce the book of mormon. Moroni, the last scribe who had charge of the plates, placed them inside a box made of stones cemented together. See more ideas about book of mormon, lds and book of mormon stories. Their script, according to the book, was described as. Smith that he, oliver cowdery, and martin harris had seen not only the plates of the book of mormon, but also the brass plates, the plates of the book of ether, the plates containing the records of.

There is no specific reference in the book of mormon to the origin of the brass plates. At least eleven witnesses, in addition to joseph smith, saw and or hefted the book of mormon plates before he returned them to moroni see book of mormon witnesses. Freebie scripture or scripture journal insert book of. The gold plates and the translation of the book of mormon. However, the golden plates are just one of many known and reputed metal plates with significance in the latter day saint movement. Book of mormon charts charting the book of mormon is a collection of more than 175 visual aids that promote deeper understanding and appreciation of the book of mormon. Many people close to the process were moved by the book s message and eagerly waited for a renewing. In mormon s eyes, incidentally, his digest of the secular book of lehi must now have seemed a supplement to the composite religious record. Sep 29, 2019 12 and he desired of laban the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, which contained the genealogy of my father. The title pagewhich is printed in the front of the book of mormon todaywas also at the end of the plates, on the very last leaf, according to. Joseph smith translated two sets of plates book of mormon.

While we proclaim that the book of mormon is the most correct book, detractors have often made criticisms because of punctuation errors or grammatical problems. Some records were quoted, others were abridged which if you are like me you had to look that word. These books bring the small plates to a conclusion. Eventually a flourishing cultural tradition developed ether 10. The fact that they were buried in stone boxes may also be compelling and significant. Nov 19, 20 in studying 1 nephi chapter 19, i came across a couple different charts outlining the makeup of the book of mormon. They were abridgments of the records of the nephites and the jaredites, plus moronis final writings. Laman attempts to obtain the sacred records 1 nephi 3. The book of mormon consists of a complex set of different records, accounts, and plates. These plates, unknown when the book of mormon was published since they were discovered n 1933, have long been held as proof of the plausibility of ancient records engraved on gold plates. The influence of the brass plates on the teachings of nephi. Is the book of mormon like other ancient metal documents. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be. Others kept records on metal plates, too, instructor 92 october 1957.

Lehi tells nephi that he and his brothers need to return to jerusalem to obtain sacred records family genealogies and scriptures from laban. Read this weeks knowhy connected with the come follow me curriculum, and watch a video elucidating an insight in this weeks scripture reading. Mormon apologist john tvedtnes doubts that the hill cumorah contains any caves. Joseph dictated the original manuscript of the book of mormon from the plates of mormon. The following chart is one concept of the arrangement of the book of mormon records, from the encyclopedia of mormonism vol. If a date is not found in or tied directly to a specific verse, then the information has been deduced from general historical information. Laban is a character in the first book of nephi, near the start of the book of mormon, a scripture of the latter day. These records were later abridged to create the plates of mormon, or the gold plates that joseph smith translated. Curtis wright, literally thousands of metal documents have been discovered from all over the ancient world. The book of mormon, as its modern subtitle states, stands with the bible as another testament of jesus christ. Scripture journal filled with study pages that are great for every age. Book of mormon plates and records church of jesus christ.

Book of mormon, 1837, page 18 the joseph smith papers. Confusion about the golden plates moronis america the. Exactly how long before the time of laban the brass records were begun is unknown. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Book of mormon scriptures book of mormon stories lds books book of mormon quotes bible family scripture scripture study lds youth doctrine and covenants this book of mormon study guide is designed to fit the needs of various ages and study habits and is ideal for personal, class or family study. This record was later abridged by mormon and inscribed onto gold plates from which joseph smith translated the book of mormon after an angel revealed to him the location where the plates were buried on a hill called cumorah near the town of palmyra, new york.

Ancient metal plates book of mormon archaeological forum. Book of mormon plates bibliography of metal records metal records mentioned in ancient texts america. Nephi commits to obtain the sacred records 1 nephi 3. Ancient perspectives on enos, jarom, omni, and words of mormon. In an interview at richmond, missouri, in september 1878, david whitmer, one of the three witnesses, declared to elders orson pratt and joseph f. Mormon abridged a ton of records to make the book of mormon just a summary of the other plates and records we have never seen idle witness mormon could not preach because of gods command people were not yet ready. However, ideas of archival science and provenance are recent d. Freebie scripture or scripture journal insert book of mormon.

Designed for multiple use as study guides, handouts, and masters for creating projectable images, the charts convey a wealth of information that will enrich personal study and. The nephites cared deeply about their records, and mormon documented a thorough chain of custody for the plates he edited. As mosiah2 stated, for it were not possible that our father, lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates mosiah 1. Mormon and moroni, the book says, had abridged earlier historical records from other sets of metal plates.

Bibliography of metal records book of mormon research. Oct 23, 2019 book of mormon central teamed up with artist katie payne to create a beautiful and engaging video called the the story of the book of mormon. Are there other ancient records like the book of mormon. The book of mormon is a complex text with a complicated history. These records were later abridged to create the plates of mormon, or the gold plates that joseph.

It is primarily an abridgment of several earlier records by its chief editor and namesake, mormon. The book of mormon is a sacred record of peoples in ancient america, and was engraved upon sheets of metal. The importance of recordkeeping is stressed in the story of nephi, who, before leaving the old world, obtained the brass plates from laban in jerusalem. Book of mormon records, particularly the small plates of nephi, occasionally quote at length from the plates of brass, and these quotations. According to mormon lore, smith claimed to receive the few plates from moroni in 1827 and from them translated the book of mormon. Smith that he, oliver cowdery, and martin harris had seen not only the plates of the book of mormon, but also the brass plates, the plates of the book of ether, the plates containing the records of the wickedness and secret combinations of the people and many. Nephi explained that laban also was a descendant of joseph, wherefore he and his fathers had kept the records the brass plates 1 nephi 5. This is one of those grammatically awkward passages in the book of mormon. Dec 07, 2017 thats because the plates of nephi were not in the original book of mormon. According to the text, the first seven chapters were written by the prophet mormon and the last two by his son moroni.

The various plates and records referred to in the book of mormon and used in making it are 1 the plates of brass. Using only the text of the book of mormon as the narration, get a glimpse of the fatherson relationship between mormon and moroni, as they strive to pass the plates along to where we have it today as the book of mormon. The book of mormon itself refers to a long tradition of writing historical records on plates, of which the golden plates are a culmination see list of plates latter day saint movement. The book of mormon is the name of a book, or subdivision, of the larger book of mormon. For further information, see a brief explanation about the book of mormon, which is in the book of mormon. The few lines of history that mormon added to the small plates of nephi thus served to combine two great religious records into one. Because many readers are unaware of the hugh volume of such evidence, i have decided to list information about some of the finds, including, where possible, photographs, of metallic plates most of them containing records and stone boxes.

Laban and his forefathers had kept the records of their progenitors on plates of brass, beginning with the creation of the world and continuing through adam, moses, and the other holy prophets down to the. Another testament of jesus christ less as a result of a dream, lehi sends his sons back to jerusalem to obtain sacred records on plates of brass from a wicked religious and. The first six books of the book of mormon, from first nephi to omni are said to be a translation of the small plates of nephi. Many ancient documents such as king benjamins speech or the plates of brass were quoted or abridged by the ancient authors who compiled the books found on the small and large plates of nephi. Book of mormon peoples the encyclopedia of mormonism. When he was finished translating the plates he gave them back to the angel who he claimed has them in his charge joseph smith history 1. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked. Laban, a descendant of joseph of egypt, was living in jerusalem at the time of lehis exodus. One of the most distinctive aspects of the book of mormon is its physical form.