Joseph Smith Jr. and the Golden Plates: September 21, 1827

Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, claimed to have obtained the golden plates on September 21, 1827. According to Smith’s account, these plates were the original source material for the Book of Mormon, a sacred text of the movement.

Background

Smith’s narrative began with a visitation from an angel named Moroni on September 21, 1823. Moroni reportedly told Smith about the existence of golden plates buried near his family farm in Manchester, New York. These plates were said to contain a record of ancient inhabitants of the Americas and their dealings with God. Smith claimed he was instructed to retrieve these plates but was initially forbidden from doing so until he was deemed ready, a period that lasted four years.

The Retrieval

On September 21, 1827, Smith asserted he was finally able to retrieve the plates from the Hill Cumorah, located in upstate New York. Accompanied by his wife, Emma Hale Smith, he claimed to have excavated the plates from their buried location. According to Smith, the plates were inscribed with a language he referred to as “Reformed Egyptian,” which he would later translate into what became the Book of Mormon.

Significance

The acquisition of the golden plates is a foundational event in the history of the Latter Day Saint movement. It marks the beginning of the production of the Book of Mormon, which Smith alleged to translate through a divine inspiration and interpretative devices such as the Urim and Thummim and seer stones. The publication of the Book of Mormon in 1830 played a vital role in establishing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other denominations within the broader movement.

Aftermath and Legacy

Upon retrieval, the golden plates were purportedly shown to a select group of witnesses whose testimonies are included in the initial publications of the Book of Mormon. The plates were reported to have been returned to Moroni after the translation was completed, thus are no longer available for examination. The event remains a subject of faith for believers and skepticism for others outside the faith due to the lack of empirical evidence.

Smith’s account has had a profound influence on religious movements and American religious history, offering a distinctly American origin story for a new scripture. It has led to a worldwide religious community that maintains a significant cultural and social impact.