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Gold plates and the translation process: Difference between revisions
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<h1><b>The Gold Plates and the Translation of the Book of Momon</b></h1> | |||
{{Summary1}} Critics argue that the gold plates seem unnecessary if Joseph Smith often translated by revelation through a seer stone rather than by directly consulting the plates. The plates still played a crucial role as physical evidence of an ancient record, allowing witnesses to testify to their reality and providing the source of the characters shown to Martin Harris and others. Another criticism is that the plates' apparent lack of involvement in the dictation process weakens the claim that the Book of Mormon is a genuine ancient record. However, the existence of the plates instead strengthens the historical claim by forcing a choice between deliberate fraud and authentic ancient origins, rather than permitting the view that the book is merely inspired fiction. A third criticism is that the Book of Mormon cannot properly be called a "translation" if Joseph Smith did not directly read from the plates while dictating the text. While the translation cannot presently be compared to the original record for verification, Latter-day Saint doctrine anticipates the future return and translation of the sealed portion of the plates, which could ultimately demonstrate the relationship between the ancient record and the English text. | |||
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| title = ===Question: Why were the gold plates needed at all if they weren't used directly during the translation process?=== | |||
| state = closed | |||
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{{BMCentral|title=Why Were the Plates Present During the Translation of the Book of Mormon?|url=https://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/knowhy/why-were-the-plates-present-during-the-translation-of-the-book-of-mormon|number=366}} | |||
====Joseph did not need the plates physically present to translate, since the translation was done by revelation==== | |||
Much is made of the fact that Joseph used a seer stone, which he placed in a hat, to dictate the text of the Book of Mormon without viewing the plates directly. <ref>{{CriticalWork:Dehlin:Questions and Answers:25 June 2014}}</ref> | |||
[[File:Anthony Sweat Translating with Emma.jpg|thumb|center|500px|Joseph Smith translates using the seer stone placed within his hat while the plates are wrapped in a cloth on the table while his wife Emma acts as scribe. Image Copyright (c) 2014 Anthony Sweat. This image appears in the Church publication ''From Darkness Unto Light: Joseph Smith's Translation and Publication of the Book of Mormon'', by Michael Hubbard Mackay and Gerrit J. Dirkmaat, Religious Studies Center, BYU, Deseret Book Company (May 11, 2015)]] | |||
{{ | Some witness accounts suggest that Joseph was able to translate while the plates were covered, or when they were not even in the same room with him. <ref>Interview of Emma Smith by her son Joseph Smith III, "Interview with Joseph Smith III, 1879," in {{EarlyMormonDocs1| vol=1|start=539 }}</ref> Therefore, if the plates themselves were not being used during the translation process, why was it necessary to have plates at all? | ||
{{ | |||
Joseph did not need the plates physically present to translate, since the translation was done by revelation. The ''existence'' of the plates was vital, however, to demonstrate that the story he was translating was literally true. | |||
====The existence of the physical plates attested to the reality of the Nephite record==== | |||
If there had been no plates, and Joseph had simply received the entire Book of Mormon through revelation, there would have been no Anthon visit, nor would there have been any witnesses. The very fact that plates ''existed'' served a greater purpose, even if they were not directly viewed during all of the translation process. | |||
The plates served a variety of purposes. | |||
#They were viewed by witnesses as solid evidence that Joseph did indeed have an ancient record. | |||
#Joseph's efforts to obtain them over a four year period taught him and matured him in preparation for performing the translation, | |||
#Joseph's efforts to protect and preserve them helped build his character. If Joseph were perpetrating a fraud, it would have been much simpler to claim direct revelation from God and forgo the physical plates. | |||
#Joseph copied characters off the plates to give to Martin Harris, which he subsequently showed to Charles Anthon. This was enough to convince Martin to assist with the production of the Book of Mormon. | |||
The plates' existence as material artifacts eliminated the possibility that Joseph was simply honestly mistaken. Either Joseph was knowingly perpetuating a fraud, or he was a genuine prophet. | |||
====The existence of actual plates eliminates the idea that the Book of Mormon was "spiritually true," but fictional==== | |||
Furthermore, the existence of actual plates eliminates the idea that the Book of Mormon was "spiritually true," but fictional. There is a great difference between an allegorical or moral fiction about Nephites, and real, literal Nephites who saw a literal Christ who was literally resurrected. | |||
}} | |||
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| title = ===Question: Can the Book of Mormon be considered a genuine translation if the plates weren’t even used during the translation process?=== | |||
| state = closed | |||
| content = | |||
====Without the plates present, it is obviously impossible to physically verify if the Book of Mormon translation is “correct”==== | |||
It is claimed by some that the Book of Mormon can never be viewed as any translation of an ancient record. | |||
Without the plates present, it is obviously impossible to physically verify if the Book of Mormon translation is “correct”. A part of a Mormon theology that is important to keep in mind informs us that the plates will be returned one day before the Second Coming so that a sealed portion of the plates might be translated. | |||
According to the October 2011 ''New Era'': | |||
<blockquote> | |||
When Moroni was finishing the Book of Mormon record, he was commanded to seal up some of the plates, and Joseph Smith was later commanded not to translate them. This sealed portion contains the complete record of the vision of the brother of Jared (see Ether 4:4–5). This vision included “all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof” (2 Nephi 27:10–11; see also Ether 3:25). So basically the Lord revealed to the brother of Jared the history of mankind, and the sealed portion of the plates was Moroni’s translated copy of it. | |||
Few people have seen the sealed record—for instance, the Nephites in the land Bountiful at the Savior’s coming (see Ether 4:1–2) and Moroni (see Ether 12:24). The Lord said the sealed portion would be revealed to the world “in mine own due time” (Ether 3:27). He also said it would “not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord” (Ether 4:6; see also 2 Nephi 27:8). | |||
According to Joseph Smith’s associates who saw the golden plates, anywhere from half to two-thirds of all the plates were in the sealed portion (see Kirk B. Henrichsen, “What Did the Golden Plates Look Like?” New Era, July 2007, 31). <ref>[https://www.lds.org/new-era/2011/10/to-the-point/what-is-the-sealed-portion-of-the-book-of-mormon-and-will-we-ever-know-whats-in-it?lang=eng "What is the “sealed portion” of the Book of Mormon, and will we ever know what’s in it?,"] ''New Era'' (Oct 2011)</ref> | |||
</blockquote> | |||
====When the plates are returned, the reality of the plates will be attested to and we can certainly verify the translation that came therefrom==== | |||
When the plates are returned, the reality of the plates will be attested to and we can certainly verify the translation that came therefrom. The translation of the plates by the hat and the interpreters/seer stone may be viewed as an attempt by God to speak to men “in their weakness, according to their language” and as a means to an end—a means by which a work could commence to prepare for greater things that would be done as the world drew closer to the second coming of the Savior Jesus Christ. | |||
}} | |||
{{endnotes sources}} | {{endnotes sources}} | ||
Latest revision as of 19:14, 15 June 2026
The Gold Plates and the Translation of the Book of Momon
Summary: Critics argue that the gold plates seem unnecessary if Joseph Smith often translated by revelation through a seer stone rather than by directly consulting the plates. The plates still played a crucial role as physical evidence of an ancient record, allowing witnesses to testify to their reality and providing the source of the characters shown to Martin Harris and others. Another criticism is that the plates' apparent lack of involvement in the dictation process weakens the claim that the Book of Mormon is a genuine ancient record. However, the existence of the plates instead strengthens the historical claim by forcing a choice between deliberate fraud and authentic ancient origins, rather than permitting the view that the book is merely inspired fiction. A third criticism is that the Book of Mormon cannot properly be called a "translation" if Joseph Smith did not directly read from the plates while dictating the text. While the translation cannot presently be compared to the original record for verification, Latter-day Saint doctrine anticipates the future return and translation of the sealed portion of the plates, which could ultimately demonstrate the relationship between the ancient record and the English text.
Question: Why were the gold plates needed at all if they weren't used directly during the translation process?
Book of Mormon Central, KnoWhy #366: Why Were the Plates Present During the Translation of the Book of Mormon? (Video)
Joseph did not need the plates physically present to translate, since the translation was done by revelation
Much is made of the fact that Joseph used a seer stone, which he placed in a hat, to dictate the text of the Book of Mormon without viewing the plates directly. [1]
Some witness accounts suggest that Joseph was able to translate while the plates were covered, or when they were not even in the same room with him. [2] Therefore, if the plates themselves were not being used during the translation process, why was it necessary to have plates at all?
Joseph did not need the plates physically present to translate, since the translation was done by revelation. The existence of the plates was vital, however, to demonstrate that the story he was translating was literally true.
The existence of the physical plates attested to the reality of the Nephite record
If there had been no plates, and Joseph had simply received the entire Book of Mormon through revelation, there would have been no Anthon visit, nor would there have been any witnesses. The very fact that plates existed served a greater purpose, even if they were not directly viewed during all of the translation process.
The plates served a variety of purposes.
- They were viewed by witnesses as solid evidence that Joseph did indeed have an ancient record.
- Joseph's efforts to obtain them over a four year period taught him and matured him in preparation for performing the translation,
- Joseph's efforts to protect and preserve them helped build his character. If Joseph were perpetrating a fraud, it would have been much simpler to claim direct revelation from God and forgo the physical plates.
- Joseph copied characters off the plates to give to Martin Harris, which he subsequently showed to Charles Anthon. This was enough to convince Martin to assist with the production of the Book of Mormon.
The plates' existence as material artifacts eliminated the possibility that Joseph was simply honestly mistaken. Either Joseph was knowingly perpetuating a fraud, or he was a genuine prophet.
The existence of actual plates eliminates the idea that the Book of Mormon was "spiritually true," but fictional
Furthermore, the existence of actual plates eliminates the idea that the Book of Mormon was "spiritually true," but fictional. There is a great difference between an allegorical or moral fiction about Nephites, and real, literal Nephites who saw a literal Christ who was literally resurrected.
Question: Can the Book of Mormon be considered a genuine translation if the plates weren’t even used during the translation process?
Without the plates present, it is obviously impossible to physically verify if the Book of Mormon translation is “correct”
It is claimed by some that the Book of Mormon can never be viewed as any translation of an ancient record.
Without the plates present, it is obviously impossible to physically verify if the Book of Mormon translation is “correct”. A part of a Mormon theology that is important to keep in mind informs us that the plates will be returned one day before the Second Coming so that a sealed portion of the plates might be translated.
According to the October 2011 New Era:
When Moroni was finishing the Book of Mormon record, he was commanded to seal up some of the plates, and Joseph Smith was later commanded not to translate them. This sealed portion contains the complete record of the vision of the brother of Jared (see Ether 4:4–5). This vision included “all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof” (2 Nephi 27:10–11; see also Ether 3:25). So basically the Lord revealed to the brother of Jared the history of mankind, and the sealed portion of the plates was Moroni’s translated copy of it.
Few people have seen the sealed record—for instance, the Nephites in the land Bountiful at the Savior’s coming (see Ether 4:1–2) and Moroni (see Ether 12:24). The Lord said the sealed portion would be revealed to the world “in mine own due time” (Ether 3:27). He also said it would “not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord” (Ether 4:6; see also 2 Nephi 27:8).
According to Joseph Smith’s associates who saw the golden plates, anywhere from half to two-thirds of all the plates were in the sealed portion (see Kirk B. Henrichsen, “What Did the Golden Plates Look Like?” New Era, July 2007, 31). [3]
When the plates are returned, the reality of the plates will be attested to and we can certainly verify the translation that came therefrom
When the plates are returned, the reality of the plates will be attested to and we can certainly verify the translation that came therefrom. The translation of the plates by the hat and the interpreters/seer stone may be viewed as an attempt by God to speak to men “in their weakness, according to their language” and as a means to an end—a means by which a work could commence to prepare for greater things that would be done as the world drew closer to the second coming of the Savior Jesus Christ.
Notes
- ↑ John Dehlin, "Questions and Answers," Mormon Stories Podcast (25 June 2014).
- ↑ Interview of Emma Smith by her son Joseph Smith III, "Interview with Joseph Smith III, 1879," in Dan Vogel (editor), Early Mormon Documents (Salt Lake City, Signature Books, 1996–2003), 5 vols, 1:539.
- ↑ "What is the “sealed portion” of the Book of Mormon, and will we ever know what’s in it?," New Era (Oct 2011)