Gold Plates

Author: Hardy, Grant R.

On September 21, 1823, the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith and instructed him about a record engraved on thin goldlike sheets. The record, written by Moroni 2, his father Mormon, and other ancient inhabitants of the Americas, was buried in a stone box in a hill not far from the Smith residence. Moroni eventually delivered these plates to Joseph, who translated and published them as the Book of Mormon and returned them to Moroni. While the plates were in Joseph's keeping, others saw them, including eleven witnesses whose testimonies appear in all editions of the book. Various descriptions provided by eyewitnesses suggest that the plates may have been made of a gold alloy, measured about 6 inches by 8 inches (15.2 cm by 20.3 cm), were 6 inches (15.2 cm) thick, and weighed about 50 pounds (22.7 kg). [See also Book of Mormon Plates and Records; Book of Mormon Translation By Joseph Smith; Book of Mormon Witnesses; Plates, Metal.]

Bibliography

Welch, John W. and Kelsey D. Lambert. "Two Ancient Roman Plates." BYU Studies 45:2 (2006):54-76.

GRANT R. HARDY