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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
Allen, James B.. "Eight Contemporary Accounts of Joseph Smith's First Vision - What Do We Learn from Them? ." Improvement Era 73, no. 4 (1970): 4-13.
Allen, James B., and John W. Welch. "Analysis of Joseph Smith’s Accounts of His First Vision." In Opening the Heavens: Accounts of Divine Manifestation, 1820-1844, edited by John W. Welch, 36-77. 2nd ed. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: Brigham Young University Press/Deseret Book, 2017.
Jessee, Dean C.. "The Earliest Accounts of Joseph Smith's First Vision." In Opening the Heavens: Accounts of Divine Manifestation, 1820-1844, edited by John W. Welch, 1-35. 2nd ed. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: Brigham Young University Press/Deseret Book, 2017.
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
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Did Moroni Deliver the Plates on September 22? (Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, front of 2013 edition of the Book of Mormon; cf. Joseph Smith—History 1:59),” KnoWhy 193 (September 22, 2016).
Book of Mormon Central, “How Are the Words of the Book of Mormon Like “One That Hath a Familiar Spirit”? (2 Nephi 26:16),” KnoWhy 491 (December 6, 2018).
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Would God Choose an Uneducated Man to Translate the Book of Mormon? (2 Nephi 27:19),” KnoWhy 397 (January 9, 2018).
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Did Moroni Quote Malachi about Elijah’s Coming? (3 Nephi 25:5–6),” KnoWhy 591 (January 19, 2021).
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Did Moroni Quote from the Book of Joel? (Joel 2:28),” KnoWhy 651 (November 8, 2022).
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Is the Book of Mormon’s Historical Authenticity So Important? (Moroni 10:27),” KnoWhy 480 (October 30, 2018).
Book of Mormon Central, “How Can We Know What to Believe about Joseph Smith’s Personal Character? (3 Nephi 8:1),” KnoWhy 413 (March 6, 2018).
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
Book of Mormon Central, “Where is the Location of the Hill Cumorah? (Mormon 6:6),” KnoWhy 489 (November 29, 2018).
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Did the Nephites Preserve Some Items as “National Treasures”? (Mosiah 1:16),” KnoWhy 557 (April 14, 2020).
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Did Mormon and Moroni Write in Reformed Egyptian? (Mormon 9:32),” KnoWhy 513 (May 2, 2019).
Book of Mormon Central, “Is the Book of Mormon Like Other Ancient Metal Documents? (Jacob 4:2),” KnoWhy 512 (April 25, 2019).
Book of Mormon Central, “Are There Other Ancient Records Like the Book of Mormon? (Mormon 8:16),” KnoWhy 407 (February 13, 2018).
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Would a Book Be Sealed? (2 Nephi 27:10),” KnoWhy 53 (March 14, 2016).
Book of Mormon Central, “What Kind of Ore did Nephi Use to Make the Plates? (1 Nephi 19:1),” KnoWhy 22 (January 29, 2016).
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
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Were So Many Sections in the Doctrine and Covenants Revealed during the Days When the Book of Mormon Was Being Translated? (D&C 6:1; 11:1; 12:1; 14:1),” KnoWhy 593 (January 26, 2021).
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Did Joseph and Oliver Seek Authority to Baptize? (3 Nephi 11:24–25),” KnoWhy 279 (February 24, 2017).
Bushman, Richard L.. "The Recovery of the Book of Mormon." In Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins, edited by Noel B. Reynolds, 21-38. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1997.
Cowdery, Oliver. ""Dear Brother," [Letter I]." The Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate 1 (1834): 13-16.
Welch, John W.. "The Miraculous Timing of the Translation of the Book of Mormon." In Opening the Heavens: Accounts of Divine Manifestation, 1820-1844, edited by John W. Welch, 78-125. 2nd ed. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: Brigham Young University Press/Deseret Book, 2017.
Welch, John W.. "Timing the Translation of the Book of Mormon: “Days [and Hours] Never to Be Forgotten”." BYU Studies Quarterly 57, no. 4 (2018): 10-50.
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
Book of Mormon Central, “Did the Book of Mormon Witnesses Really See What They Claimed? (3 Nephi 28:15),” KnoWhy 521 (June 20, 2019).
Book of Mormon Central, “The Simple Miracle That Helped the Whitmers Further the Book of Mormon (Alma 37:6),” KnoWhy 488 (November 27, 2018).
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Is David Whitmer’s Witness of the Book of Mormon So Compelling? (Alma 27:27),” KnoWhy 395 (January 2, 2018).
Book of Mormon Central, “How Did Martin Harris Help Bring Forth the Book of Mormon? (2 Nephi 27:15),” KnoWhy 291 (March 24, 2017).
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Was Martin Harris Needed to Pay for the Printing of the Book of Mormon? (D&C 19:26),” KnoWhy 597 (February 25, 2021).
Book of Mormon Central, “How Important was Oliver Cowdery in Bringing Forth the Book of Mormon? (2 Nephi 27:9),” KnoWhy 270 (February 3, 2017).
Book of Mormon Central, “How Are Oliver Cowdery’s Messenger and Advocate Letters to Be Understood and Used? (Mormon 6:6),” KnoWhy 453 (July 26, 2018).
Anderson, Richard Lloyd. "The Smiths Who Handled the Plates." Improvement Era 72, no. 8 (1969): 28-32.
Anderson, Richard Lloyd. "The Whitmers: A Family That Nourished the Church." Ensign 9 (1979): 35-40.
Anderson, Richard Lloyd. "Personal Writings of the Book of Mormon Witnesses." In Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins, edited by Noel B. Reynolds, 39-60. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1997.
Anderson, Richard Lloyd. "Attempts to Redefine the Experience of the Eight Witnesses." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 14, no. 1 (2005): 18-31, 125-127.
Harper, Steven C.. "Evaluating the Book of Mormon Witnesses." Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 11, no. 2 (2010): 36-49.
Mary Whitmer’s Witness
Book of Mormon Central, “What Does Mary Whitmer Teach Us About Enduring Trials? (2 Nephi 27:14),” KnoWhy 455 (August 2, 2018).
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
Bushman, Richard L.. "The Recovery of the Book of Mormon." In Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins, edited by Noel B. Reynolds, 21-38. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1997.
Skousen, Royal. "John Gilbert's 1892 Account of the 1830 Printing of the Book of Mormon." In The Disciple as Witness: Essays on Latter-day Saint History and Doctrine in Honor of Richard Lloyd Anderson, 383-405. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 2000.
Further Reading on the Priesthood Restoration and Stylometric Evidence
Priesthood Restoration
Anderson, Richard Lloyd. "The Second Witness of Priesthood Restoration." Improvement Era 71, no. 9 (1968): 15-24.
Cannon, Brian Q., and BYU Studies Staff. "The Earliest Accounts of the Restoration of the Priesthood." In Opening the Heavens: Accounts of Divine Manifestation, 1820-1844, edited by John W. Welch, 228-246. 2nd ed., 2017.
Cowdery, Oliver. ""Dear Brother," [Letter I]." The Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate 1 (1834): 13-16.
Stylometric Evidences
Book of Mormon Central, “What Can Stylometry Tell Us about Book of Mormon Authorship? (Jacob 4:4),” KnoWhy 389 (December 12, 2017).
Book of Mormon Central, “Is It Possible That a Single Author Wrote the Book of Mormon? (2 Nephi 27:13),” KnoWhy 399 (January 16, 2018).
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