Book of mormon plates weight

Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon christian. Stan larsons quest for the gold plates aims to describe the fascinating journey of thomas stuart ferguson, who was instrumental in developing contemporary lds apologetics but came to disbelieve in mormon truthclaims near the end of his life. The heavier weight is based on what would probably be the total weight of a solid block of gold measuring the size of smiths plates. The book of mormon itself portrays the golden plates as a historical record, engraved by two precolumbian prophethistorians from around the year ad 400. Some witnesses described the plates as weighing from 30 to 60 pounds 14 to 27 kg, golden in color, and composed of thin metallic pages engraved with. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. Sorenson, agreed that putnams explanation helps solve the weight problem.

The abridgments, quotations, and original writings of those book of mormon historians are displayed on. Martin harris interview, iowa state register, august 1870, as quoted in milton v. Witnesses of the book of mormon were consistent in their witness that the plates weighed 4060 pounds. The golden plates, on the other hand, had some various descriptions of their size, especially with the thickness of the individual plates. Book of mormontranslationweight of the gold plates. To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here notes see roy w. Joseph smith, jr these records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of gold. The book of mormon implies that limhi knew his scriptures in the broadest and most basic sense of the word. Joseph smith running with the gold plates mormonthink. Some contemporaries of smiths suggested that the plates weighed 60 pounds while others alleged they were 30 pounds 2. Sjodahl presents estimates of the size and weight of the plates. There are, as far as i know, no data from which to calculate, with accuracy, the number of plates contained in the original volume of the book of mormon, or their weight.

What was the approximate weight of the gold plates from which the. Archaeological and historical evidence jareditesolmecs. Book of mormontranslationdescription of the plates. We do not have the book of mormon metal plates available to us. Sep 21, 2017 people are sometimes surprised to discover that the plates of the book of mormon were not regularly used during the process of its translation. When the angel moroni first appeared to joseph smith on the night of 21 september 1823, he said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates joseph smith history 1. Contemporaries of smith gave varying dimensions for the plates, as well as a wide range of estimated weights. Joseph smith translated two sets of plates book of. In his book, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, he wrote, r.

Because the plates were written in a language comparable to. Doxey, assistant in the office of the quorum of the. An introduction to the study of the book of mormon weight. In an article for the mormon times scholars corner, taking the golden plates and running october 8, 2010. Mormon is allegedly a prophethistorian who was the native american believed by mormons to have written the book of mormon the main religious text of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints mormonism. The most significant witnesses are the three witnesses and the eight witnesses, all of whom allowed their names to be used on two separate statements included with the book of mormon. The book of mormon plates religious studies center. The book of mormon notes them as initially righteous people who eventually had fallen into a state of unbelief and awful wickedness and were destroyed by the lamanites in about ad 385. Sjodahl journal of book of mormon studies 101 2001.

These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of gold, each plate was six inches wide and eight. New and another testements of jesus christ the book of mormon. 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. And yet, such questions have been discussed by unfriendly critics of the book. 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. Thus, the present book of mormon contains only the second account of early nephite history. Mormon and moroni, the book says, had abridged earlier historical records from other sets of metal plates. Some critics assume that the golden plates are pure. The most common description is the thickness of tin, or as one source says, around 2. Dec 19, 2010 what was the weight of the golden plates from which joseph smith translated the book of mormon. Josephs wife emma talks about the golden plate book lying around the house and having to move it when cleaning. The book of mormon and the sealed book of mormon agree that the plates of mormon have three parts to come forth in three different eras until now it has been understood by believers in the book of mormon that the plates of mormon from which it was translated were divided into two parts.

What was the approximate weight of the gold plates from. The plates weighed approximately sixty pounds witnesses of the book of mormon were consistent in their witness that the plates weighed 4060 pound. Archaeological and historical evidence what did the book. The remaining plates are of a paper composite material colored gold but with no inscriptions. Joseph smiths golden plate story debunked reasons for jesus. Mormon history provides an idea, although somewhat conflicting, of the weight of the plates joseph smith collected from the hill to take back to his home. Mormonism is a religion less than two centuries old, but in this short time it has managed to accrue a long list of embarrassments which the church leaders would prefer were kept silent. The dimensions are given, 7 x 8 x 4 which i calculate to be 224 cu. Jun 17, 2014 in an article for the mormon times scholars corner, taking the golden plates and running october 8, 2010. What was the approximate weight of the gold plates from which. How much would the gold plates weigh that momonisms joseph. As seen by science, the book of mormon is stronger today than it was in 1830, 1844, 1950, or even 2000, so i expect it will continue to become stronger in the future.

This weight would tend to be unlikely given the fact that engravings on a thin. 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. Orson pratt, mormon apostle sermon, journal of discourses 3. Limhi, as a passionate scripturist, was the first to want to read the record of a lost people contained in twentyfour golden plates. David whitmer, mormon apostle and book of mormon witness interview, chicago times, october 17, 1881. Different people estimated the weight at 30 to 60 lbs. Nov 03, 2017 joseph smith claimed he translated the book of mormon from a set of golden plates that were given to him by an angel named moroni. The four families of nephite record keepers of the book of mormon are listed chronologically here, along with their approximate dates of birth and other important information. The first part of our book of mormon, from first nephi through omni is a translation of the small plates which were written primarily by nephi and jacob, with short entries from the remaining leaders of the nephites down to omni, who lived somewhere between 279 and b.

Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon. Supposedly, it was originally recorded in reformed egyptian on several gold plates which were discovered in the back woods of new york state by joseph smith, a young farm boy at the time. What was the weight of the golden plates from which joseph. Related i once felt of the plates as they just lay on the table tracing their outline in shape. Premium edition six issue collection, contains all 6 issues of an adaptation of the fifth best selling book of all time, the book of mormon, which has sold over 120 million copies. The concluding portion, from mormon, chapter 8, to the end of the volume, was engraved by mormon s son moroni, who, after finishing the record of his fathers life, made an abridgment of the jaredite record as. This weight would tend to be unlikely given the fact that.

Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. The books within the book of mormon from the words of mormon to fourth nephi, are taken from mormon s abridgment of the large plates. Doxey, assistant in the office of the quorum of the twelve. The book of mormon witnesses are a group of contemporaries of joseph smith who claimed to have seen the golden plates from which smith translated the book of mormon. Although laban only makes a brief appearance in the narrative, his brass plates would later play an important role.

While not referring to the material of the plates as tumbaga, j. And several of their unusual featuressuch as being bound by dshaped rings, having a sealed portion, and being written in reformed egyptianhave a surprising amount of corroboration from the ancient world. If a date is not found in or tied directly to a specific verse, then the information has been deduced from general historical information. The golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold the golden plates couldnt be made of pure gold, new era, july. Packer, in his article cumorahs cave, printed in the journal of book of mormon studies v.

The longest portion, from mosiah to mormon, chapter 7, inclusive, is a translation of mormon s abridgment of the large plates of nephi. Archaeological evidence indicates that these ancient jaredite people, who according to the book of mormon lived on the western hemisphere from approximately 2500 b. Sjodahl discussed the idea that the plates were probably made of a goldcopper alloy in an introduction to the study of the book of mormon salt lake city, utah. The reported weight, dimensions, and composition of the gold plates are believable.

Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. Book of mormon witness oliver cowdery, who said, i beheld with my eyes and handled with my hands, the gold plates from which it was translated. The translation continues from the rest of the plates of mormon, which were abridged from the large plates of nephi, and includes the books of mosiah, alma, helaman, 3 nephi, 4 nephi, and mormon the last two chapters of which were written by moroni. 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 said he translated the book of mormon, a sacred text of the faith. Two top plates are made of brass and imprinted with reformed egyptian characters. What was the approximate weight of the gold plates from which the book of mormon was translated. Brass plate passage by isaiah quoted by nephi book of mormon. The prophet joseph smith described the gold plates as follows. After the translation was completed, however, joseph reported. This graphic novelcomic book adaptation was first illustrated in 2005 by award winning artist michael allred. Book of mormontranslationdescription of the plates fairmormon.

Critics of the church often use the weight of the plates as evidence that the book of mormon story is not true. The plates were returned to moroni joseph smithhistory 1. The overall trend in the date over the past 175 years fits the expectations for the book of mormon as history rather than hoax. Unlike many of the other book of mormon characters, laban neither ends up in the new world, nor is he a biblical character. Book of mormontranslationweight of the gold plates fairmormon. I was using information from various witnesses who saw and or handled the plates. Fourteen centuries later, in 1823, the angel moroni led joseph smith to the plates hidden in a hillside in upstate new york. They go through complex calculations to show how gold plates with the dimensions described by the witnesses must have weighed some 200 pounds. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon.

Introduced at the beginning of every copy of the book of mormon are the testimonies of the three and eight witnesses these three witnesses all over calgary, david whitmer and martin harris wrote that they were shown the plates by an angel who also attested to them that joseph smith translated the book by the gift and power of god. Putnam has argued persuasively that the book of mormon plates that were in joseph smiths hands were of tumbaga. Others were later privileged to see the plates and some even hefted them and leafed through the plates themselves. Although the large plates were intended for the more secular history of the nephites, it is obvious from the version available in the book of mormon that there was a good deal of spiritual content as well. This video explores the history behind the witnesses to the book of mormon and explains why their combined testimony strongly indicates that joseph smith did in fact possess plates which he translated by the gift and power of god. Jan 30, 2018 the reported weight, dimensions, and composition of the gold plates are believable. Weight the weight of plates range from 30 to 60 pounds. These are the plates from which joseph smith translated the book of mormon by the gift and power of god. If the plates were made of eight karat gold, which is gold frequently used in presentday jewelry, and allowing a 10 percent space between the leaves, the total weight of the plates would not be above one hundred and seventeen poundsa weight easily carried by a man as strong as was joseph smith seven claims of the book of mormon. I was reading about the golden plates and it is hysterical, my sides are hurting. According to mormon belief, the book of mormon was inscribed on golden plates by generations of prophets, quoted and abridged by the prophethistorian mormon, and buried in the ground by mormon s son, moroni. Book of mormon plates and records book of mormon central. For further information concerning the plates of the book of mormon, see the following. 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.

Mar 12, 2007 the heavier weight is based on what would probably be the total weight of a solid block of gold measuring the size of smiths plates. The abridgments, quotations, and original writings of those book of mormon historians are displayed on the lefthand and middle columns of this chart and are then shown in relation to the new set of plates produced by mormon and moroni that was delivered to joseph smith by the angel moroni. In translating the plates of mormon, joseph smith learned that many other records and plates were kept and preserved by. The teachings were etched on gold plates in an ancient reformed egyptian language and later translated by joseph smith into english as the book of mormon. Mormon metallurgist reed putnam estimates that if the plates were made. Together, the testimony of both the three and the eight witnesses are difficult to explain away. That this wicked purpose had been conceived by the evil one and was known to the lord even while mormon, the ancient nephite historian, was making his abridgment of the accumulated plates, is shown in the book of mormon see words of mormon 1. This over 2000 year time period, allow them to spread out over the land from at least as far south as peru, traveling by boat along the west coast. Two witnesses said that 23 of the book was sealed, leaving 2 inches of plates translatable. Years later after making these plated i came across additional information and a more accurate understanding of what the various witness were saying about the book of mormon plates. People are sometimes surprised to discover that the plates of the book of mormon were not regularly used during the process of its translation. The story of their discovery is supported by a large number of similar archeological finds. Josephs preface and a testimonial written by a group of eight witnesses described the plates as having an appearance of gold.