Iluminatu'

David Whitmer changed his story about seeing the plates and later told of finding them lying in a field and later still, told Orson Pratt that they were on a table with all sorts of brass plates, gold plates, the Sword of Laban, the 'Director' and the Urim and Thumim. This brings us to the second reason the plates were not made available to the public—the test of faith. 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 likes of witchcraft and the supernatural were also quite at home in the lives of the earliest Mormons (21). Based on these dimensions, Mormon Apostle John Widtsoe suggested that “If the gold were pure, [the plates] would weigh two hundred pounds, which would be a heavy weight for a man to carry, even though he were of the athletic type of Joseph Smith” (4). “For what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you at the judgment bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey.” (2 Ne. “Take Heed Continually”: Protecting the Gold Plates. For example, of the 11, three were directly related to Smith (his father and two brothers), some where close friends, financial backers, and Oliver Cowdery was a distant cousin. 10. Why were the Book of Mormon gold plates not placed in a museum? 19. An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon. 8. Defending the Kingdom, Rethinking the Faith: How Apologetics is Reshaping Mormon Orthodoxy. (They weighed about 230 lbs. Palmer, G. 2002. The challenge for accepting these testimonies based on visions would be the same if an individual claimed to be an eyewitness to a murder and while providing his testimony in a court claimed that he seen the crime take place in a “vision.” One wouldn’t take such a testimony seriously, and perhaps for good reason. 4. No “angel of God” laid the plates before them; no “voice of the Lord” told them to testify of what they saw… However, the eight did claim revelation in their conversations with others. They were a record of ancient immigrants to the Americas who came from the Middle East. 33:14–15. What Is The 3rd Eye, & Did Jesus Mention It? Hedges, A. They planted them in an Indian burial mound and later dug them up again. . Those who are of the people of Israel, or those who are adopted into the covenant, will know of the truth of the plates’ content through the power of the Holy Ghost without seeing the plates. History of Joseph Smith by His Mother. An acknowledgement of the truth of the plates at judgment day, however, will be, in the words of Samuel the Lamanite, “everlastingly too late.” (Hel. p. 133. The Keystone of Our Religion. ), Mormon and Moroni bear a similar testimony. According to Robert N. Hullinger, the eight witnesses. p. 84.; Kirkham, F. 1951. & Harris, F. 1937. The Church of the Latter-day Saints. Smith apparently collected these plates, took them home, and subsequently translated them into the Book of Mormon which he then published in 1830. Ibid. Hebraisms in the Book of Mormon, and the Genuine Existence of the Golden Plates January 15, 2021 Dan Peterson Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on … “By the Gift and Power of God.” Available. Given Brodie’s assumptions, was there not deception here, if not collusion? Understandably, this had led to concerns and claims pertaining to the possibility of collusion (18). Smith apparently collected these plates, took them home, and subsequently translated them into the Book of Mormon which he then published in 1830. Lucy Mack Smith’s 1829 Letter to Mary Smith Pierce. / And I, God, have anointed you to dig up this part three / that is buried by a tree on the hill in your backyard. However, even granted these calculations are correct and the the plates weighed 50 pounds, carrying such a weight remains a difficult task, especially if one is to flee from attackers multiple times. They are dated to 522 bc. This argument is problematic given that Smith never credits God for granting him such a supernatural ability nor does Smith ever say that God did. The Lord had assured that the record would come even as Isaiah had prophesied, although it would “be said that miracles are done away.” (Morm. In short, it is not necessary that the plates be physically present to bless the lives of the covenant people. Joseph Smith’s Response to Skepticism. 2004. Joseph Smith said that the ancient records were engraved on plates which had the appearance of gold, each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long, and not quite so thick as common tin. Despite Mormons holding to a number of religious texts, the Book of … BBC Documentary Debunked, Who Wrote The Gospels? Widtsoe, J. No “voice” declared to them that the “work is true.” No “power of God” showed them the plates—just Joseph Smith. p. 108. 26:6–11.) What was the approximate weight of the gold plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated? Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies. 1996. He saw that pride had corrupted the churches of that day and that the members of those churches loved money, their fine apparel, “and the adorning of your churches more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.” (Morm. Truth. Was Jesus A Buddhist Monk? According to Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, in 1823 the angel Moroni guided him to some golden plates buried on a hill near to where he lived. The Refiner’s Fire: The Making of Mormon Cosmology, 1644-1844. p. 77. One, is that they deny the plates were of pure gold in hope to lessen their weight. The men were quite superstitious and often included in their practices the use of divination and seer stones, and they believed that they possessed the ability to see spirits and the dwelling places of these spirits (20). Does Chanting Mantras Cause You To Reach God? per cubic foot. His theological interests encompass comparative religion and the links between science and religion. Since it was by faith that the record was brought forth, why would the Lord not require the same kind of faith from readers as he did from the recorders of the plates? Editor's note: Portions of this column were previously published at maxwellinstitute.byu.edu.. See Articles of Faith, by Talmage, page 262, 34 th ed.) Gold Plates Of The Book of Mormon Parent page: Book of Mormon The idea of an ancient record on gold plates was one of the most mocked claims of Joseph Smith. Perhaps most striking in the list of provided names is that many of the men were related. Smith refused to show the golden plates to anybody, claiming that for other eyes to view them would mean death. In an effort to support the existence of the golden plates, Smith included a number of witnesses of whom he claimed he had shown the plates to. This may be one reason he commanded the plates to be taken from the earth following their translation. p. 179. Some argue that since we lack the original plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated, it should be read as a 19th-century English-language text … 1994. Another argument proposed is that the plates were made of tumbaga, an alloy found in Central America (9). I think that one should admit that eyewitness testimony can prove to be a strong kind of evidence, especially if it can be trusted and/or prove to be generally reliable. The Church of the Latter-day Saints. (Millennial Star, vol. (See Morm. Critics began by labeling the book “bungling and stupid,” Joe Smith a “perfect ignoramus,” and they claimed “any blunderhead, with the Bible at his side, might have written [it] . The Contributions of Martin Harris. But he encountered a problem … Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, 7(4): 83. Is Contemplative Prayer A Legitimate Approach To God? Thus, the plates are foundational to the Mormon religion. 1. Such conditions would require constant vigilance over the plates were they to be placed on display. There’s a part three to the Bible, Joe! After he had left the other three men prayed and this time an angel stood before them holding the plates. Duffy, J. According to Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, in 1823 the angel Moroni guided him to some golden plates buried on a hill near to where he lived. the last pedestal gave way, in my view our foundations’” (16). The words of the Lord are found in the scriptures. In Howe, E. Mormonism Unvailed. However, given her narrative and in the absence of evidence suggesting Smith successfully fought off his attackers, we need to suppose that he fled from his attackers outrunning them for part of his journey back home a few miles away. Because the plates were made of precious metal, their monetary value was undoubtedly impressive—but they would be of still greater value to those who would attempt to publicize them by displaying them. BYU Studies Quarterly. It is the content of the plates that is important. The four Whitmers were also brothers to David Whitmer (17). However, as will briefly be shown, there is some doubt concerning the veracity of the story. 8:14.). Sorenson, J. Jessee, D. 1982. Some of the Prophet Joseph’s earliest revelations came through the same means by which he translated the Book of Mormon from the gold plates. Moroni testified that the plates and their message would be brought forth by the power of God and warned that those who condemn the message will be judged on the same basis. A challenge to the apologetic of the witnesses to the plates is what they suggest when they say that they saw the plates (11). Brooke, J. 10, no. 13:38.). The fact that they were buried in stone boxes may also be compelling and significant. While in the woods, Smith, Cowdery, Whitmer, and Harris attempted “to obtain, by fervent and humble prayer” the fulfillment of the revelation that they would see the plates by faith. When David Marks stopped at the Whitmers on March 1830, the eight witnesses “affirmed, that an angel had showed them certain plates of metal, having the appearance of gold that were dug out of the ground by one Joseph Smith.” They explained to Mark’s certain basic points about the Book of Mormon and its contents but claimed to have viewed the plates in vision only” (19). Among other things, Moroni told Joseph about the existence of a historical record that was engraved on plates of gold.Moroni was a prophet from the American Continent around 400 C.E. “The Field Is White Already to Harvest”, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin: Finding Happiness Serving the Lord, The New Testament—A Matchless Portrait of the Savior, “On the Morrow Come I into the World”—The Book of Mormon Christmas Story, Talking with Your Children about Moral Purity. Witnesses lift them so easily Book of Mormon have experienced a kind of “ mission creep ” since publication. 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