The story of their discovery is supported by a large number of similar archeological finds. And several of their unusual featuressuch as being bound by dshaped rings, having a sealed portion, and being written in reformed egyptianhave a surprising amount of corroboration from the ancient world. Joseph smith running with the gold plates mormonthink. Some witnesses described the plates as weighing from 30 to 60 pounds 14 to 27 kg, golden in color, and composed of thin metallic pages engraved with. David whitmer, mormon apostle and book of mormon witness interview, chicago times, october 17, 1881.
Packer, in his article cumorahs cave, printed in the journal of book of mormon studies v. The plates weighed approximately 4060 pounds, and about half of the plates. Josephs preface and a testimonial written by a group of eight witnesses described the plates as having an appearance of gold. In perspective, that would be like carrying a bag of. If mormons book of mormon plates were made of tumbaga, their weight would have been much less than had they been made of pure gold. If the plates were made of eight karat gold, which is gold frequently used in presentday jewelry, and allowing a 10 percent space between the leaves, the total weight of the plates would not be above one hundred and seventeen poundsa weight easily carried by a man as strong as was joseph smith john a. In his book, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, he wrote. Based on these dimensions, mormon apostle john widtsoe suggested that if the gold were pure, the plates would weigh two hundred pounds, which would be a heavy weight for a man to carry, even though he were of the athletic type of joseph smith 4. Joseph smiths golden plate story debunked reasons for jesus. Some critics assume that the golden plates are pure. The plates weighed approximately sixty pounds witnesses of the book of mormon were consistent in their witness that the plates weighed 4060 pound.
How much would the gold plates weigh that momonisms joseph. What was the approximate weight of the gold plates from which the. Book of mormontranslationweight of the gold plates. Book of mormontranslationweight of the gold plates fairmormon. With rumors swirling about the plates, joseph sought to set the record straight by publishing official statements in the first edition of the book of mormon. The book of mormon itself portrays the golden plates as a historical record, engraved by two precolumbian. Putnam made that point in mathematical detail and concluded that the total weight of the plates in joseph smiths charge would have been near the 60pound figure reported by several witnesses. Doxey, assistant in the office of the quorum of the twelve. Weight the weight of plates range from 30 to 60 pounds. The prophet joseph smith described the gold plates as follows. Since gold weighs 1,204 pounds per cubic foot, we can agree with lds apostle john widtsoe who said, if the gold were pure, the plates would weigh two hundred pounds, which would be a heavy weight for a man to carry, even though he were of the athletic type of joseph smith. Though lead is lighter than gold, these lead plates weight 118 pounds, or one.
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here notes see roy w. These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of gold, each plate was six inches wide and eight. Mormon metallurgist reed putnam estimates that if the plates were made of pure gold, they would have probably weighed around 100 pounds. Orson pratt, mormon apostle sermon, journal of discourses 3. Part of the plates were sealed so they couldnt be opened. Pure gold plates would be too soft to hold engraving well. We do not have the book of mormon metal plates available to us. Critics of the church often use the weight of the plates as evidence that the book of mormon story is not true. Mesoamericans did use a coppergold alloy the spaniards called.
These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of gold, each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long, and not quite so thick as common tin. The reported weight, dimensions, and composition of the gold plates are believable. What was the approximate weight of the gold plates from which the book of mormon was translated. Some critics assume that the golden plates are pure gold, or that they are a solid block of gold. The prophet joseph smith described the gold plates. Witnesses of the book of mormon were consistent in their witness that the plates weighed 4060 pounds. Mormon and moroni, the book says, had abridged earlier historical records from other sets of metal plates. Two witnesses said that 23 of the book was sealed, leaving 2 inches of plates translatable. Critics fail to note that at no time does the book of mormon itself say that the plates on which mormon abridged his record were made of gold. The plates were written in a language called reformed egyptian.
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