The book of mormon contains many religious themes, most notably those of faith and doubt. Without the gold plates, the book of mormon is relegated to nothing more than a nineteenthcentury fictional novel. Based on these parameters, modern researchers have estimated plates of pure gold would weigh at least 45 kilograms 100 pounds and might be too soft for engraved characters. Many quotations from these plates, citing isaiah and other biblical and nonbiblical prophets, appear in the book of mormon. Book of mormon manuscript excerpt, circa june 1829 1. A record engraved on gold plates, which js translated and published as the book of mormon. The replica on the left is designed to show what writing on the plates might look like.
All about mormons was released on dvd along with the rest of the seventh season on march 21, 2006. A friend in my ward, james butler, with whom i had served in the boy scouts of america, had not only some gold plates but a model of the liahona created for him by. Two top plates are made of brass and imprinted with reformed egyptian characters. A very in depth diagram of the abridgment of the many authorsbooks plates that make up the book of mormon plates. When it first appeared, the book of mormon was attacked for the alleged absurdity of having been written on golden plates and its claim of the existence of an early sixth century b.
Brass plates or plates of brass obtained by nephi from. The book of mormon translation challenge invites people to read the entire book of mormon during the same time period that it took joseph smith and oliver cowdery to translate it. Replica of the gold plates with reformed egyptian characters via church news. Aug 10, 20 ive built a few replicas of ancient artifacts and devices. My next logical thought was of the gold plates from which the book of mormon was translated by the prophet joseph smith. The sources behind the book of mormon are remarkably complex, and sometimes hard to keep straight. What book of mormon central is doing to bring greater. The prophet joseph smith translates them by the gift and power of god. The remaining plates are of a paper composite material colored gold but with no inscriptions. Replica of book of mormon plates that silversmith gordon andrus made for display in the heavens are opened exhibit at the church history. The golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold the golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold, new era, july. On that trunk lay a book of mormon and gold plates, labans sword, aarons breastplate.
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. Replica of gold plates this is a replica of the alleged. Problems with the gold plates in the book of mormon. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints the. Collect a new golden plate each time you complete the book and work to create your personal replica of the golden plates. How to make the golden plates with kids book of mormon. Mormon gold plates discovered the 100% proven evidence. Putnam made that point in mathematical detail and concluded that the total weight of the plates in joseph smiths charge would have been near the 60pound figure reported by several witnesses. Artist recreates the golden plates for museum display from written. How to make the golden plates with kids eve out of the. Replica of gold plates this is a replica of the alleged gold plates which were given to young joseph smith, founder of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints, by the angel moroni. Artist recreates the golden plates for museum display. How corrections in the book of mormon prove its authenticity presents physical evidence that the book of mormon is precisely what it claims to be. Bill mckeever is the founder and president of mormonism research ministry.
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. Howard carlos smith keeper of the prophets sword in the video below you will see an abc 4 utah special about an original 1830 book of mormon in a private collectors possession and is currently on display with many other relics through october 2014 on the main floor of the joseph smith building. 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. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations.
Golden plates smallwood houseman this looks like its right. Check out book of mormon centrals new video, detailing the historical evidence for the existence of the book of mormon golden plates. A replica of book of mormon plates that silversmith gordon andrus made as they are displayed in the heavens are opened exhibit at the museum of church history and art. The plates, which had a depth of about six inches, were bound together by three dshaped rings, similar to a threering binder today. Brigham young gave a somewhat similar, secondhand account on june 17, 1877. Is the book of mormon like other ancient metal documents. People attending the book of mormon central 2018 conference examine replica book of mormon relics like the gold plates, the urim and thummim, the sword of laban and the liahona, a wooden box like one that once held the gold plates, created by david baird, at the utah valley convention center saturday in provo, utah. The gold plates are records of gods dealing with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contain the fullness of the everlasting gospel of jesus christ. Gold plates origins of the book of mormon scale model etsy. The replica on the right is designed to persuade members that the plates were light enough for joseph smith to run with, tucked under his arms, away from chasers, off and on for miles.
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. Here is a helpful chart to use as you read and study. Smith claimed to have translated the book of mormon from the plates, which moroni later took back. Make your own brass or gold plates, or liahona, this. The lds churchs history museum exhibit of gold plates replicas. Finally, several witnesses remarked upon the beauty and seeming antiquity of the engravings on the plates, which the book of mormon calls reformed egyptian mormon 9. This is a 3d printed scale replica of the gold plates translated by joseph smith into the book of mormon. Gold plates the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The video is the third in book of mormon centrals evidence video series, the two previous videos being one on the archaeological evidence for the place called nahom, mentioned by nephi 1 nephi 16. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon.
This beautiful volume is crafted in sturdy bonded leather cover with gold detailing and spine label that is recreated to exact specifications. Although it serves primarily as a religious text, it is to be interpreted literally as being an actual, historical record of the inhabitants of the ancient. Paul hansen has spent much of the past 10plus years working to reconcile the faith and science surrounding the golden plates, the fabled ancient tome that, according to teachings of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, were translated into the book of mormon by church founder joseph smith in the mid19th century. Gold plates made from cardboard spray painted gold sister seminary. One of the most distinctive aspects of the book of mormon is its physical form. The book of mormon comprises fifteen main parts or divisions, known, with one exception, as books, each designated by the name of its principal author. As a longtime volunteer at the utah lighthouse book store in salt lake city, i have watched many visitors attempt to lift a replica set of plates that. The angel moroni told joseph that the plates could be found buried in a prominent hill near his home, later called cumorah.
Golden plates to book of mormon more about the plates the pages were thin sheets of metal. 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. The book of mormon itself portrays the golden plates as a historical record, engraved by two precolumbian prophethistorians from around the year ad 400. The book of mormon online amazing book of mormon study guide website. Gold contact paper i got mine at a craft store, but amazon has some too. New video on evidence for book of mormon plates book of. Mormon metallurgist reed putnam estimates that if the plates were made of pure gold, they would have probably weighed around 100 pounds. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. Fourteen centuries later, in 1823, the angel moroni led joseph smith to the plates hidden in a hillside in upstate new york. Although the musical satirizes organized religion and the literal credibility of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, the mormons in the book of mormon are portrayed as.
Joseph smith saw them when a resurrected angel moroni led him. Mormon and moroni, the book says, had abridged earlier historical records from other sets of metal plates. Centrals new video, detailing the historical evidence for the existence of the book of mormon golden plates. Parker and stone later carried over many themes from the episode for their musical the book of mormon, which opened on broadway in 2011. This model was created using joseph smiths description as well as the description of others who handled or saw the gold plates as a guide. Imagine the challenge of creating a copy of something you cant see. To replicate the sealed portion of the golden plates, andrus encased the edges of the sealed portion of his plates with a solution of beeswax and pitch. It shows to our best ability the 23 portion that was. But thats what silversmith gordon andrus did in late 2014 when the church history museum commissioned him to create a copy of the golden plates from which the book of mormon was translated. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. They told of jesus christ visiting and administering to the ancient inhabitants of the americas. A powerpoint slide shows a closeup view of book of mormon characters gordon andrus engraved onto metal for his replica of the golden plates.
The production takes place on the very same hill where mormons believe religion founder joseph smith spoke with the angel moroni, who directed him to the golden plates which smith unearthed and translated into the book of mormon. Book of mormon problems lds church members are taught that the book of mormon bom is scripture, as well as a true record of the inhabitants of the americas from about 2200 bc to 420 ad. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon christian. 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.
Oliver cowdery went with the prophet joseph when he deposited these plates. For joseph smiths birthday, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints wanted an accurate representation of the golden plates that were used to make the book of mormon. I knew where i could borrow a replica of the plates. Those who saw the ancient nephite record described it as being engraved onto thin golden plates which were bound together with dshaped rings. If mormon s book of mormon plates were made of tumbaga, their weight would have been much less than had they been made of pure gold. Known as the book of mormon, he said i told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book of earth, and the keystone of our religion. With rumors swirling about the plates, joseph sought to set the record straight by publishing official statements in the first. The base display includes the book of mormon challenge golden plate. This is a good project for celebration of the feast of trumpets, when joseph got the gold plates from moroni. The replica of the gold plates serve as a reminder to us how the book of mormon came forth through gods chosen prophet, joseph smith. Joseph translated the book of mormon from gold plates. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be. The plates were written in a language called reformed egyptian.
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