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Get to Know Joseph Smith Part 10: “I Cannot Read a Sealed Book”

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Once Joseph Smith arrived in Harmony, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Emma, the sacred work of translating the golden plates began.  Joseph began by copying characters from the plates, then used the Urim and Thummim to translate the characters.

The Urim and Thummim consists of two parts.  The first part could be described as ancient eyeglasses.  The second part is a breastplate to which the glasses were attached. The Urim and Thummim were deposited in the stone box on the Hill Cumorah along side the plates.

An interpretation of how the Urim and Thummim looked that Joseph Smith used to translate the Golden Plates

Martin Harris Needs Proof From Joseph Smith

Not long after translation began, Martin Harris visited Joseph and arranged to take a copy of the characters, along with their translation to New York City.  His goal was to consult with experts on the authenticity of ancient characters.

Martin relates his experience:

I went to the city of New York, and presented the characters which had been translated, with the translation thereof, to Professor Charles Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments.  Professor Anthon stated that the translation was correct, more so than any he ahd before seen traslated from the Egyptian.  I then showed him those which were net yet translated, and he said that they were Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyriac, and Arabic; and he said they were true characters.  He gave me a certificate, certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were true characters, and that the translation of such of them as had been translated was also correct.  I took the certificate and put it into my pocket, and was just leaving the house, when Mr. Anthon called me back, and asked how the young man found out that there were gold plates in the place where he found them.  I answered that an angel of God had revealed it unto him.

He then said to me, “Let me see that certificate.”  I accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and tore it to pieces, saying that there was no such thing now as minstering of angels, and that if I would bring the plates to him he would translate them.  I informed himthat part of the plates were sealed, and that I was forbidden to bring them.  He replied, “I cannot read a sealed book.”  I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell, who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said respecting both the characters and the translation. (Joseph Smith–History 1:64-65)

Prophecy Fulfilled!

What Martin Harris may not have realized at that time was that he had become part of the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy found in Isaiah 29:11-12:

11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.   (Isaiah 29:11-12)

Though the learned man rejected the divine source, Martin Harris was convinced of the authenticity of the translation.  He returned to Harmony and began assisting Joseph Smith in the translation process of the Book of Mormon.

Continue reading in Get to Know Joseph Part 11: Pages Lost, Power to Translate Lost

Image Credit:

Golden Plates by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Interpretation of the Urim and Thummim By David A. Baird/Historical Arts and Castings, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Get to Know Joseph Smith Part 9: Pennsylvania

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Once it became known that Joseph Smith had the golden plates, the persecution and threats became unbearable.  Joseph and Emma knew they could no longer stay in Manchester, New York.  They made the decision to relocate to Harmony, Pennsylvania, in Susquehanna County, Emma’s childhood home. But there was one major problem: Joseph and Emma were very poor and couldn’t afford to make the move.

Fortunately, help came in the form of a generous $50 gift from a farmer by the name of Martin Harris, who believed in Joseph’s calling.  This act of faith would not only help Joseph Smith move, but would soon play a pivotal role in the translation of the Book of Mormon.

Even with the fund secured, the journey would prove to be a problem for Joseph and his wife.  Though many scoffed at the idea and claimed to not believe that Joseph had the gold plates, they were certainly anxious to get their hands on them.  Determined to protect the sacred record, Joseph hid the plates in a wood box and buried it in the bottom of a cask filled with beans.

Joseph Smith and the Hard Road to Harmony

Word spread quickly, and soon a mob of about fifty men formed with the intent to steal the plates.  The mob approached Dr. McIntyre to be their leader.  Instead of joining them, he rebuked them calling them a “pack of devilish fools” and ordering them to go home.  Without leadership, the mob fell into quarreling about who would then become their leader and soon disbanded.

But danger still loomed.  During the journey, Joseph and Emma were stopped by a law officer who presented Joseph Smith with a search warrant.  The officer believed he could get the plates.  When the officer found nothing, he left disappointed.

Their troubles weren’t over yet.  Later, a second officer stopped them again. This time the officer meticulously ransacked the Smiths’ wagon, but wasn’t able to find anything.  The plates remained safe.

Joseph Smith Farm in Harmony, Pennsylvania

Despite repeated attempts to steal or seize the plates, Joseph and Emma eventually arrived safely in Pennsylvania.  Once there, Joseph wasted no time.  He quickly began the sacred work of translation of the golden plates, bringing forth what would become the Book of Mormon.

Learn more about the Joseph Smith home in Harmony, Pennsylvania at churchofjesuschrist.org

Continue reading in Get to Know Joseph Smith Part 10: “I Cannot Read a Sealed Book”

Image Credit: Cover: Dallas Golden

Smith Home: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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Get to Know Joseph Smith Part 8: He Receives the Gold Plates

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The long-anticipated day had finally arrived for Joseph Smith to take possession of the plates.  Word had spread that Joseph would be obtaining them, and tensions were high.  In the early hours of September 22, 1827, Joseph set out for the Hill Cumorah.  His new wife, Emma, accompanied him, waiting in the wagon while Joseph climbed the hill.

At the sacred site of the plates, the Angel Moroni appeared once again and issued another warning:

You will have to be watchful and faithful to your trust or you will be overpowered by wicked men, for they will lay every plan and scheme that is possible to get them away from you. And if you do not take heed continually, they will succeed.
(Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–45, book 6, [1])

Joseph Smith and the angel Moroni

Joseph had previously tried to obtain a lockbox for safely transporting the plates but was unsuccessful. With no secure container, he temporarily hid the plates in a hollowed-out log until he could find a proper box.

Meanwhile, back at the Smith home, Lucy Mack Smith fretted over Joseph’s task as she served breakfast to Joseph Smith Sr., Joseph Knight, and Josiah Stowell.  When Joseph and Emma arrived, Lucy had to leave the room when she saw Joseph was empty-handed.  Joseph followed, reassuring her that he had indeed retrieved the plates. He handed her a cloth-wrapped bundle that contained the Urim and Thummim.  The Urim and Thummim were seer stones the Lord prepared for the translation of the plates.

The very next day, Joseph Smith took a job repairing a well to earn some money for a lockbox.  That same day, Joseph Smith Sr. overheard a group of men plotting to steal the plates.  Alarmed, Joseph Sr. rushed home to share what he’d overheard.  Joseph Jr. was an hour’s drive away working on the well, so Emma went at once to find Joseph and warn him.

After receiving the warning, Joseph hurried home and set off to recover the hidden plates.  He wrapped the plates in a shirt and headed for home.

According to Lucy Mack Smith:

“After proceeding a short distance, he thought it would be safe to leave the road and through the woods.  Traveling some distance after he left the road, he came to a large windfall, and as he was jumping over a log, a man sprang up from behind it and gave him a heavy blow with a gun.  Joseph turned around and knocked him down, then ran at the top of his speed.  About half a mile farther he was attacked again in the same manner as the former and ran on again; and before he reached home he was assaulted the third time.  In striking the last one, he dislocated his thumb, which, however, he did not notice until he came within sight of the house, when he threw himself down in the corner of the fence in order to recover his breath.  As soon as he was able, he arose and came to the house.  He was still altogether speechless from fright and fatigue of running” (History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, 107-8).

Despite the danger, Joseph arrived home safely with the plates.  Knowing he still needed to protect them, he sent his youngest brother, Don Carlos, down the road to the home of his older brother Hyrum to fetch a box in which to store the plates.  Only once the plates were securely stored in the box did Joseph finally relax.

Continue reading in Get to Know Joseph Smith Part 9:Pennsylvania

Image Credit: David A. Baird/Historical Arts and Castings -Creative Commons –

Joseph Smith Receives the Gold Plates – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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Book of Mormon Video Series. Awesome!

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Before I share these awesome videos,  I think it will be helpful to give you a little background on what the Book of Mormon is.  If you’re not already familiar with it, check out this post to become more familiar with what this video covers.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has recently undertaken the monumental task of producing a series of videos that bring the stories of the Book of Mormon to life.  While I’m sure how in-depth they plan to go with every story of the Book of Mormon, the first season does a good job chronicling the story.

At first, I considered embedding each video each video here so you could easily find them all in one place.  However, since this series will likely include many episodes over the next several year, I decided to simply direct you to the official pages where you can watch them as they are released.  That way you’ll always have access to the latest content without missing anything.

 

 

All of the videos are available to watch on YouTube, with makes them easy to access from just about anywhere.  Be sure to subscribe to the channel so you can be kept up-to-date on the newest episode.

In addition, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also hosts the entire collection directly on their official website.  This option can actually be a little easier if you want to watch the videos in order, since YouTube’s navigation can make it tricky to follow things chronologically.

When you explore the videos, you’ll notice that each tile represents a section of scriptures.  The longest video in each group tells the broader, master story, while the shorter clips are little vignettes highlighting specific events from that same period.

I’m not sure why the shorter videos weren’t included in the longer versions.  My guess is that they were designed as specific lessons for the church’s study curriculum in 2020.

Image Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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What Exactly is the Book of Mormon?

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What is the Book of Mormon?

I asked my 10-year-old daughter what the Book of Mormon is.  She thought for a moment and said, “Some people talking about Jesus and their lives and some stuff like that.”

It made me smile.  That simple answer came from a child who has grown up in a home where she’s heard stories from the Book of Mormon, memorized verses, and felt the Spirit while learning about Jesus Christ.

And honestly– she’s not wrong.

The Book of Mormon is a book of scripture, written by ancient prophets who lived on the American continent. It testifies of Jesus Christ, His divinity, His teachings, and His love for all people. Just like the Bible, it was written by real people with real experiences, trying to follow God and help others do the same.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has published a short and inspiring video that gives a beautiful introduction to what the Book of Mormon is and why it matters. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s about, this is a great place to start.

 

Unfortunately, a one-minute video isn’t quite long enough to truly capture what the Book of Mormon is.

I probably won’t do it justice either, but I’ll give it a try.

The History

The Book of Mormon is a compilation of the writings of prophets much like the prophets of the Bible.

The first prophet we meet in the Book of Mormon is Lehi.  He lived in Jerusalem around 600 B.C., during the same time as the biblical prophet Jeremiah. Like Jeremiah, Lehi was warned by the Lord that the city would soon be destroyed. In response to this revelation, God commanded Lehi to take his family and flee into the wilderness.

Lehi and his family eventually reached the seashore. There, Lehi’s son Nephi (who is also the narrator of the first portion of the Book of Mormon) was instructed by the Lord on how to build a ship. Guided by divine direction, Nephi built the vessel, and the family set sail across the ocean to a promised land, which we now know as the American continent.

Establishing a Nation

Not all was well in Lehi’s family.  His two eldest sons, Laman and Lemuel, were constant complainers. They resisted the journey almost every step of the way, often arguing with Nephi and even rebelling against their father’s leadership.

After the family arrived in the promised land, the tension between the brothers eventually led to a split. Laman and Lemuel took their families and separated from Nephi and those who followed him. Over time, these two groups became distinct civilizations: the Nephites, named after Nephi, and the Lamanites, named after Laman.

Throughout the centuries, God continued to call prophets among these people. One of those prophets was Enos, whose story is a powerful example of sincere prayer and personal conversion. (You can watch a video my family made about Enos here.)

The spiritual state of the people constantly shifted—righteousness would rise and fall with each generation. Conflict between the Nephites and Lamanites became a recurring theme, especially as pride and wickedness crept in.

A large portion of the Book of Mormon is dedicated to the writings of a prophet named Alma. His record includes inspiring teachings, personal conversion stories, and detailed accounts of numerous wars and political struggles between the Nephites and Lamanites.

Why the Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ

The crowning moment of the Book of Mormon is the visit of the resurrected Jesus Christ to the people on the American continent.

During His mortal ministry in Jerusalem, Christ said, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (John 10:16).

Following his resurrection, Jesus Christ came to the American continent and ministered to the people for a short time. This sacred account can be found in 3 Nephi chapters 11 through 27 in the Book of Mormon.

For many years following Christ’s visit, there was peace in the land, However, that peace did not last.  Over time, pride and contention crept back into the lives of the people.  The Book of Mormon concludes with scenes of bloodshed and the complete destruction of the Nephite civilization.

One of the last surviving Nephites was Mormon, a prophet and historian.  He was responsible for compiling all of the available records, which is why the book bears his name.

Mormon passed the plates to his son Moroni, who was the last prophet to write in the Book of Mormon. Moroni then hid the plates in the earth, burying them in a hill that would one day be located in what is now upstate New York.

How We Got the Book of Mormon

In 1823, Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith as a resurrected being and began instructing him regarding the ancient record he had buried centuries earlier. Over time, Moroni guided Joseph in obtaining and eventually translating the plates into what we now know as The Book of Mormon.

If you’re interested in learning more, I encourage you to read the series of posts I’ve written about Joseph Smith. These cover his early life, his miraculous vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ, the translation of the Book of Mormon, and the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our day. The story begins with Getting to Know Joseph Part 1

In Conclusion

Rather than try to say it better myself, I’ll simply invite you to read the second half of the Introduction page in the Book of Mormon—it says it best.

Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

In addition to Joseph Smith, the Lord provided for eleven others to see the gold plates for themselves and to be special witnesses of the truth and divinity of the Book of Mormon. Their written testimonies are included herewith as “The Testimony of Three Witnesses” and “The Testimony of Eight Witnesses.”

We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)

Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah.

Image Credit: Dallas Golden

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Joseph Smith For Those in a Hurry

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Are you reading my Getting to Know Joseph Smith articles about the Prophet Joseph Smith? Are you getting impatient for me to finish? Or maybe you aren’t even that interested because you stumbled onto this site during your lunch break.

Of course, I would love for you to read them! I spent a lot of time researching and writing, hoping they would be helpful and meaningful.  But if you’re not quite ready to dive in just yet (spoiler: you should read them anyway!), there is an easier starting point.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has published a short video that does a great job of summing up Joseph Smith in just five minutes.  Give it a watch!  Then, if you’re curious to learn more, you can come back and read the longer Getting to Know Joseph Smith articles!

Also, don’t forget to check out the official website of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for even more information and resources!  You can even request an appointment receive a copy of the Book of Mormon, and to meet with a pair of missionaries, who will come to your home and personally teach you about the miracle of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Image Credit: Screenshot from video

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Get to Know Joseph Smith Part 6: The Gold Plates

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Following Moroni’s visits on the night of September 21, 1823, Joseph Smith did as Moroni had instructed and made his way to the Hill Cumorah to find the buried gold plates.

Joseph Smith describes the hill in his own word:

Convenient to the village of Manchester, Ontario county, New York, stands a hill of considerable size, and the most elevated of any in the neighborhood. On the west side of this hill, not far from the top, under a stone of considerable size, lay the plates, deposited in a stone box. This stone was thick and rounding in the middle on the upper side, and thinner towards the edges, so that the middle part of it was visible above the ground, but the edge all around was covered with earth.

 

The Hill Cumorah where Joseph Smith received the gold plates to translate into the Book of Mormon
A screenshot of Google Earth’s rendering of the Hill Cumorah

 

Joseph Smith Continues:

Having removed the earth, I obtained a lever, which I got fixed under the edge of the stone, and with a little exertion raised it up. I looked in, and there indeed did I behold the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate, as stated by the messenger. The box in which they lay was formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement. In the bottom of the box were laid two stones crossways of the box, and on these stones lay the plates and the other things with them. (Joseph Smith—History 1:52)

Joseph’s Family was poor, and the temptation to take the plates for financial gain was real.  As Joseph reached into the box to retrieve the plates, he received a shock that drained him of strength.  Not learning the lesson the first time, Joseph again reached into the box to retrieve the plates and received a bigger shock this time.  Still determined, Joseph Smith made third attempt and received a powerful, overwhelming shock.

Puzzled and humbled, Joseph asked himself, “Why cannot I obtain the book?”.  To his surprise, he received an answer, “Because you have not kept the commandments of the Lord”.  As Joseph Smith looked up, he saw the angel Moroni standing before him once again.

Joseph Smith and the angel Moroni

In deep humility, Joseph prayed and was shown another vision of Satan and his minions in their “diabolical fury”.  The angel then instructed him saying:

All this is shown, the good and the evil, the holy and the impure, the glory of God and the power of darkness, that you may know, hereafter, the two powers and never be influenced or overcome by that wicked one. Behold, whatever entices and leads to good and to do good is of God, and whatever does not is of that wicked one.  It is he who fills the hearts of men with evil, to walk in darkness and blaspheme God; and you may learn from henceforth, that his way are to destruction; but the way of holiness is peace and rest.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Essentials in Church History, 48-50)

Following the vision, Joseph was forbidden to take the plates after he made one final attempt. He was told that it was not time to get them, but it would be after four years.  Joseph was commanded to return to that location every year, where he would meet with Moroni and receive instruction about the work the Lord was doing to restore His kingdom.

Continue reading Get to Know Joseph Smith Part 7: Joseph Waits

Image Credit: Dallas Golden, Joseph Smith and the Angel Moroni: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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