Cumorah interview

My first post-mission interview was with Mormon Book Reviews. You can watch it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n68KQyv2nWM

Enjoy!

Recent focus on Cumorah (September 2026)

In the ongoing pursuit of clarity, charity and understanding, the Informed Saints podcast focused on Cumorah recently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yijdqKn-GQ

These podcasters are all smart, good people, faithful Latter-day Saints, with good intentions. We are happy to understand why they think and teach the things they do.

But because we start with clarity, we assess their claims and presentations when people ask about them. 

_____

It remains puzzling why these and other similar podcasters refuse to adopt the FAITH model of analysis, which separates facts from assumptions, inferences, theories and hypotheses.

In this podcast, they focus on the Hill Cumorah. Unfortunately, instead of using the FAITH model of analysis, they chose to mingle facts with their assumptions, inferences and theories. They omitted relevant facts in an effort to persuade their audience to distrust Oliver Cowdery.

I offer annotated analyses of the transcript of their podcast to suggest improvement by moving toward transparency and openness, all with the objective of helping audiences make informed decisions. 

https://www.bookofmormoncentralamerica.com/2026/10/informed-saints-and-cumorah-transcript.html

https://www.bookofmormoncentralamerica.com/2026/10/informed-saints-vs-oliver-cowdery-more.html

Additional records to come forth

On Saturday morning, President Oaks said 

“We believe that the Lord will eventually cause the inspired teachings He has given to His children in various nations to be brought forth for the benefit of all people. This will include accounts of the visit of the resurrected Lord to what we call the lost tribes of Israel and His revelations to all the seed of Abraham.”​

This is the essentially same message then Elder Oaks gave 20 years ago.

We conclude from this that the Lord will eventually cause the inspired teachings He has given to His children in various nations to be brought forth for the benefit of all people. This will include accounts of the visit of the resurrected Lord to what we call the lost tribes of Israel and His revelations to all the seed of Abraham. The finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls shows one way this can occur.

When new writings come forth—and according to prophecy they will—we hope they will not be treated with the rejection some applied to the Book of Mormon because they already had a Bible (see 2 Ne. 29:3–10). As the Lord said through a prophet in that book, “And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man” (2 Ne. 29:9).

Truly, the gospel is for all men everywhere—every nation, every people. All are invited.

( 2006, April, Oaks, All Men Everywhere, ¶44–46 • CR)

These messages reminded me of what President Ivins said in General Conference about 100 years ago during his talk about Cumorah:

I bear witness to you that the words which I have read here, quoted from the Book of Mormon, which refer to the future, will be fulfilled. Those additional records will come forth, they will be published to the world, that the children of our Father maybe converted to faith in Christ, our Lord and Redeemer, through obedience to the doctrines which he taught. May God our Father hasten that day, is my humble prayer, and I ask it through Jesus Christ. 

More portions of Ivins' talk about Cumorah offer additional insights:

President Anthony W. Ivins speaking about Cumorah in General Conference in 1928

Reference has been made by the president to the acquisition by the Church of the spot of ground in the state of New York known as the Hill Cumorah. It appears to me to be an event of such importance that I desire to devote the short time which is at my disposal this morning to a discussion of that subject. There have been some differences of opinion in regard to it, and in order that I might be correct in the statements which I make I have this morning finished a short manuscript which I would like to read—the first time, I believe, in my experience, that I have ever addressed a congregation in this manner, and I do it for the purpose stated.

Of More Than Ordinary Importance

The purchase of this hill which President Grant has announced, is an event of more than ordinary importance to the membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

...

The Final Disposition

So far as we have information this was the final disposition which was made of the records given into the custody of Mormon, from the plates of Nephi. This latter, with the addition of the Book of Ether, and the few chapters written by Moroni, constitute the record contained in the Book of Mormon.

All of the remaining records, Mormon tells us, were deposited in the Hill Cumorah.

...

The passages which I have quoted from the Book of Mormon and the more extended discussion of this subject by Elder B. H. Roberts which was published in The Deseret News of March 3, 1928, definitely establish the following facts: That the Hill Cumorah, and the Hill Ramah are identical; that it was around this hill that the armies of both the Jaredites and Nephites, fought their great last battles; that it was in this hill that Mormon deposited all of the sacred records which had been entrusted to his care by Ammaron, except the abridgment which he had made from the plates of Nephi, which were delivered into the hands of his son, Moroni. We know positively that it was in this hill that Moroni deposited the abridgment made by his father, and his own abridgment of the record of the Jaredites, and that it was from this hill that Joseph Smith obtained possession of them.

Part of the Record Sealed

Only a portion of the record which came into possession of Joseph Smith was translated, and is contained in the present edition of the Book of Mormon. Part of the record was sealed, which he was forbidden to translate. 

Awaiting the Time

This sealed portion of the record which came into the hands of Joseph Smith but was not translated by him so far as we are aware, the abridgment made by Mormon, the record of Ether, and the other sacred records which were deposited in the Hill Cumorah, still lie in their repository, awaiting the time when the Lord shall see fit to bring them forth, that they may be published to the world.

Whether they have been removed from the spot where Mormon deposited them we cannot tell, but this we know, that they are safe under the guardianship of the Lord, and that they will be brought forth at the proper time as the Lord has declared they should be, for the benefit and blessing of the people of the world, for his word never fails.

...

Until the Last

These people were human, as we are; they carried with them their most precious possessions until the last, and when the end of the mighty struggle came, and the result was in doubt, they hid them away in order that they might not fall into the hands of their enemies.

Without doubt these treasures lie concealed today, some of them, at least, to be brought forth in the not distant future. How soon this will be we do not know, but this is certain, we are more than a century nearer that time than we were at the time when Joseph Smith took from their resting place in the Hill Cumorah, the plates from which he translated the contents of the Book of Mormon.

All of these incidents to which I have referred, my brethren and sisters, are very closely associated with this particular spot in the State of New York. Therefore I feel, as I said in the beginning of my remarks, that the acquisition of that spot of ground is more than an incident in the history of the Church; it is an epoch—an epoch which in my opinion is fraught with that which may become of greater interest to the Latter-day Saints than that which has already occurred. We know that all of these records, all the sacred records of the Nephite people, were deposited by Mormon in that hill. That incident alone is sufficient to make it the sacred and hallowed spot that it is to us. I thank God that in a way which seems to have been providential it has come into the possession of the Church.

I bear witness to you that the words which I have read here, quoted from the Book of Mormon, which refer to the future, will be fulfilled. Those additional records will come forth, they will be published to the world, that the children of our Father maybe converted to faith in Christ, our Lord and Redeemer, through obedience to the doctrines which he taught. May God our Father hasten that day, is my humble prayer, and I ask it through Jesus Christ. Amen.

(1920s, 1928, April, 1st Session, President Anthony W. Ivins, ¶60–68 • CR)

Heber J. Grant on Cumorah

In the 1920 General Conference, President Heber J. Grant corroborated what Lucy Mack Smith and others said about Cumorah; i.e., that it was Moroni who first identified the hill as Cumorah.

_____

"Three years later an angel of God appeared and told him there was buried in the hill Cumorah some golden plates containing a record, a sacred record of the forefathers of the American Indian, and that he should be the instrument in the hands of God of translating those plates. 

"The angel gave him many wonderful instructions and quoted much Scripture to him; then disappeared. He returned and repeated his instructions and disappeared. He returned again and repeated those instructions, the three visitations occupying the entire night. 

"The next day when that boy went to his work in the field with his father, having had no rest during the night, his father saw that he was not feeling well and told him to go home; and as he was climbing a fence he fainted, but he was aroused from his faint by the voice of the messenger who for the fourth time repeated all that he had said during the previous night, and told him to go back to his father and tell his father all that he had heard and seen. This he did, and the boy’s father answered: “This is of God. Listen to the teachings of the angel.” 

"The boy visited the hill Cumorah; he saw the plates and was instructed by the messenger to come there once a year for four years, to be instructed by that angel of God, regarding the great and marvelous work that was to come forth in the last days. 

"At the end of four years the plated containing the record were delivered to him by the angel Moroni. He translated those plates, and the translation is the Book of Mormon."

(1920s, 1920, April, 1st Session, President Heber J. Grant, ¶111 • CR)

Later, President Grant announced the purchase of the Hill Cumorah.

Purchase of Hill Cumorah

Within a short time the Church has purchased the Hill Cumorah. The purchase embraces the farm where the hill stands, and the adjoining farm, which together with one that we had already purchased, including a part of the hill, gives us now the entire possession of the Hill Cumorah. 

I know that the hearts of the Latter-day Saints thrilled with pride when the announcement was made that we had secured this property. We now have the home where the prophet was born, and have erected a monument there. We now have the house and farm of Peter Whitmer, where the Church was born. We now have the Palmyra home. 

We have nearly all of the spots that are sacred in the history of the Church; and we rejoice in the financial condition of the Church whereby we have been able to accomplish these things.

(1920s, 1928, April, 1st Session, President Heber J. Grant, ¶88–89 • CR)

More facts from Oliver Cowdery

Several well-known (and well-meaning) LDS scholars continue to teach that Oliver misled everyone about the origin and setting of the Book of Mormon because Oliver taught it is a fact that:

(i) Joseph Smith translated the plates and 

(ii) Cumorah/Ramah is in western New York

They reject what Oliver wrote solely because Oliver's facts contradict their own theories. 

Read what Oliver wrote and decide for yourself. This version of Oliver's account is in Joseph Smith's own history.

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1834-1836/95

Display at Hill Cumorah Visitors Center

Oliver explains the fact that Joseph obtained the plates and translated them. 

It is sufficient for my present purpose, to know, that such is the fact: that in 1823, yes, 1823, a man with whom I have had the most intimate and personal acquaintance, for almost seven years, actually discovered by the vision of God, the plates from which the book of Mormon, as much as much as it is disbelieved, was translated! 

[Note: certain modern LDS scholars are among those who disbelieve that the Book of Mormon was translated from these plates. Instead, they teach that Joseph read words that appeared on a seer stone without even looking at or otherwise using the plates. This is the "stone-in-the-hat" theory, or SITH.)

Such is the case, though men rack their verry brains to invent falsehood, and then waft them upon every breeze, to the contrary notwithstanding.

[Note: think about the way certain LDS scholars, along with the critics, rack their brains to explain why Joseph did not translate the plates.]

...

Oliver's description of the stone box and its contents

Note: Certain LDS scholars claim the sword of Laban was in the stone box. They do so because of M2C/B2C; i.e., if the sword of Laban was not in the stone box, then it was in the repository of Nephite records in the Hill Cumorah/Ramah, just as Oliver said it was. But they can't accept that because it ruins their M2C/B2C theories.

To support their claim that the sword of Laban was in the stone box, they refer to obscure, vague recollections recorded decades later, none of which were specific and clear. These same LDS scholars do not even consider what Joseph and Oliver wrote, in detail, about the contents of the stone box.

The following account by Oliver shows there was no room in the stone box for the sword of Laban or any other artifact other than what Joseph and Oliver claimed.

For the satisfaction of such as believe I have been thus particular, and to avoid the question being a thousand times asked, more than any other cause, shall procede and be as particular as heretofore. The manner in which the plates were deposited:

Note: Oliver mentioned that this question is asked over and over. He gave this specific description, but because of M2C/B2C, modern Latter-day Saints have ever seen this. Notice how he distinguishes between fact and speculation here. Yet certain LDS scholars claim Oliver was speculating when he wrote that something was a fact, solely because their own theories contradict those facts.

First, a hole of sufficient depth, (how deep I know not) was dug. At the bottom of this was laid a stone of suitable size, the upper surface being smooth. At each edge was placed a large quantity of cement, and into this cement, at the four edges of this stone, were placed, erect, four others, their bottom edges resting in the cement at the outer edges of the first stone. 

The four last named, when placed erect, formed a box, the corners, or where the edges of the four came in contact, were also cemented so firmly that the moisture from without was prevented from entering. 

It is to be observed, also, that the inner surface of the four erect, or side stones was smoothe. This box was sufficiently large to admit a breast-plate, such as was used by the ancients to defend the chest, &c. from the arrows and weapons of their enemy. 

From the bottom of the box, or from the breast-plate, arose three small pillars composed of the same description of cement used on the edges; and upon these three pillars was placed the record of the children of Joseph, and of a people who left the tower far, far before the days of Joseph, or a sketch of each, which had it not been for this, and the never failing goodness of God, we might have perished in our sins, having been left to bow down before the altars of the Gentiles and to have paid homage to the priests of Baal! 

[Note: Oliver did not mention any original writings of Nephi, just the abridged records which he called "a sketch."]

I must not forget to say that this box, containing the record was covered with another stone, the bottom surface being flat and the upper, crowning. But those three pillars were not so lengthy as to cause the plates and the crowning stone to come in contact. 

I have now given you, according to my promise, the manner in which this record was deposited; though when it was first visited by our brother, in 1823, a part of the crowning stone was visible above the surface while the edges were concealed by the soil and grass, from which circumstances you will see, that however deep this box might have been placed by Moroni at first, the time had been sufficient to wear the earth so that it was easily discovered when once directed, and yet not enough to make a perceivable difference to the passer-by. 

So wonderful are the works of the Almighty, and so far from our finding out are his ways, that one who trembles to take his holy name into his lips, is left to wonder at his exact providences, and the fulfilment of his purposes in the event of times and seasons.

A few years sooner might have found even the top stone concealed, and discouraged our brother from attempting to make a further trial to obtain this rich treasure, for fear of discovery; and a few latter might have lef[t] the small box uncovered, and exposed its valuable contents to the rude calculations and vain speculations of those who neither understand common language nor fear God.

But such would have been contra[r]y to the words of the ancients and the promises made to them: and this is why I am left to admire the works and see the wisdom in the designs of the Lord in all things manifested to the eyes of the world: they show that all human inventions are like the vapors, while his word endures forever and his promises to the last generation.

Having thus digressed from my main subject to give a few items for the special benefit of all, it will be necessary to return, and proceed as formerly.—

And if any suppose I have indulged too freely in reflections, I will only say that it is my opinion, were one to have a view of the glory of God which is to cover Israel in the last days, and know that these, though they may be thought small things, were the beginning to effect the same, they would be at a loss where to close, should they give a moment’s vent to the imaginations of the heart

Conference on Oct 15

Hope to see you and your friends there.

Why is it called Cumorah?

In the pursuit of clarity, charity and understanding, we offer a suggestion at the end of this post for the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center.

The most obvious question visitors have when they visit the Hill Cumorah in New York is "Why is this hill called Cumorah?"

Yet there are zero exhibits that explain the reason.

And the missionaries serving there have no answer.

But the answer is simple and obvious.

Hill Cumorah Visitors Center exhibits

The hill is called Cumorah because that is how Moroni referred to it the first time he met Joseph Smith. 

- Joseph and the rest of his family knew the hill as "Cumorah" before Joseph obtained the plates in 1827. 

- Oliver Cowdery explained that this hill was the same Cumorah/Ramah mentioned in the Book of Mormon, which he knew because he had visited the repository of Nephite records in the hill (Mormon 6:6). 

- David Whitmer knew it was Cumorah because he heard the name for the first time from the divine messenger who was taking the abridged plates from Harmony to Cumorah before bringing the plates of Nephi from Cumorah to Fayette for Joseph to translate.

All of this is well attested from several authentic sources in Church history.

But few Latter-day Saints know anything about this.

To be sure, the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center displays D&C 128:20.

And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfilment of the prophets—the book to be revealed.

(Doctrine and Covenants 128:20)

Anyone who reads that can see that Moroni announced the "glad tidings from Cumorah" before the book was revealed; i.e., before Joseph obtained and translated the plates.

That's what the historical record shows.

The passage is also featured on the website.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/history/sites/new-york-and-pennsylvania/discover/hill-cumorah-exhibit?lang=eng

The displays at the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center are attractive, informative, and helpful.

They would be even better if people knew why the hill is called Cumorah. Such a display would answer the question every visitor has.

The display could contain the text of, or a facsimile copy of, Oliver Cowdery's Letter VII.

Or it could contain some of the sources, such as these: