December 9, 2022

New Video: The Discovery of the Book of Mormon

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Scripture Central

Where did the Book of Mormon Come From? Who wrote it? Where was it found? What is it about? Join Professor Casey Griffiths as he travels to upstate New York and Pennsylvania to explore the historical sites connected to the discovery, translation, and printing of the Book of Mormon, and find answers to these questions and more!

Before traveling to the east, Casey gathers information about the historical setting prior to Joseph’s discovery of the Book of Mormon. The Smiths were facing hard times, trying to survive and make a living. Religion was a major part of their society. And young Joseph was asking deep questions about God and religion.

Joseph Smith Sees God

Casey meets BYU Professor Gerrit Dirkmaat, who explains Joseph’s vision of seeing God the Father and Jesus Christ, and being told that the full truth was not on the earth at that moment, but the full truth would come. That’s where the Book of Mormon comes into the picture! It would be several years after this amazing vision of God before Joseph would experience another amazing vision.

Further Reading on the First Vision

An Angel Visits Joseph Smith

Casey then travels to Palmyra, New York and visits a reconstruction of the Smith Family Log Home, located on the plot of land the Smith’s would have lived when all these heavenly experiences happened.

On September 21, 1823, while Joseph was getting ready for bed, an angelic messenger appeared to him. The angel said that his name was Moroni. He was an ancient American prophet who lived hundreds of years before Joseph Smith, and who was one of the original writers of the Book of Mormon. The angel told Joseph that these sacred writings were buried on a hill not too far and that Joseph was to find these plates.

Further Reading on Moroni’s Visit to Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith Discovers the Gold Plates

Casey then takes us to the actual hill where the plates were buried! Under a rock Joseph discovers ancient golden plates. Joseph eventually learns that these plates originated with an ancient people in the Americas, over a thousand years ago. These people recorded their history and even Christ’s visit among them. While the Bible details the accounts of God’s people in the Old World, the Book of Mormon records the accounts of God’s people in the New World.

Further Reading on the Gold Plates

The Book of Mormon Translation

Joseph waited several years before being able to collect the plates and begin translating them. He eventually marries Emma Smith. Casey visits Harmony, Pennsylvania, where Emma’s father lived, and where Joseph moved to in order to translate the golden plates in peace.

Casey then takes us into the main room where the translation happened, mainly with Oliver Cowdery as his scribe. By looking closely at the translation process, Casey shows just how complicated it was. Witnesses left accounts of how it happened and stated that Joseph did not use or copy any notes. They did not plagiarize any novels. And Casey explains how certain references in the golden plates about ancient civilizations help show its historical accuracy.

Further Reading on the Book of Mormon Translation

Witnesses See the Gold Plates

Joseph Smith wasn’t the only person to view the golden plates. Casey travels to the Whitmer Farm, where twelve witnesses were able to see the plates for themselves! Several of them stated that they saw an angel holding the plates! They stood behind their testimonies their entire lives, despite even leaving the Church. Eight witnesses were able to hold the plates and observe its size and dimensions.

Further Reading on the Three and Eight Witnesses

The Printing of the Book of Mormon

Finally, towards the end of the video, Casey explains the printing of the Book of Mormon and visits the original location where this happened. Casey even gets to holds two original editions of the Book of Mormon! The first was owned by Hyrum Smith, Joseph’s older brother who was murdered with Joseph by mob in Carthage jail. The second was from Samuel Smith, Joseph’s younger brother. Samuel shared his story of seeing the plates so much that he even marked his name in his book, to shows others that that’s him, that he saw the plates which his brother translated!

We hope this video builds faith in the Book of Mormon and leads you to read from its pages and find within them a closer relationship with God.

Further Reading on the Printing of the Book of Mormon
Further Reading on the Priesthood Restoration and Stylometric Evidence
Book of Mormon
Gold Plates
Angel Moroni
Witnesses

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