Why were the plates preserved?

Why were the golden plates preserved?

In our day (2025), this is an important question because many Latter-day Saints do not believe Joseph Smith translated the plates. Many do not believe Joseph used the Urim and Thummim that came with the plates. 

Prominent scholars such as Royal Skousen and his followers claim Joseph and Oliver "intentionally misled" everyone about the translation because, according to them, Joseph merely read words that appeared on the stone-in-the-hat (SITH).

One of the reasons for this belief is the Gospel Topics Essay on Book of Mormon Translation, which does not even quote or cite what Joseph and Oliver said about the translation, but instead focuses on the theories of the scholars who wrote the essay. 

The Gospel Topics Essays were never intended to replace the scriptures, the teachings of the prophets, or authentic documents from Church history. 

Let's see what we know about why the plates were preserved.

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In July 1828 the Lord explained why the plates were preserved:

And for this very purpose are these plates preserved, which contain these records—that the promises of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to his people;

And that the Lamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers, and that they might know the promises of the Lord, and that they may believe the gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ, and be glorified through faith in his name, and that through their repentance they might be saved. Amen.

(Doctrine and Covenants 3:19–20)

When he first appeared to Joseph Smith, Moroni explained that

He [Moroni] said this history was written and deposited not far from that place [Joseph's home near Palmyra], and that it was our brother’s privilege, if obedient to the commandments of the Lord, to obtain and translate the same by the means of the Urim and Thummim, which were deposited for that purpose with the record.

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1834-1836/68 

[Note: This passage also explains one reason why we know the hill Cumorah/Ramah is in western New York. Mormon and Moroni lived "not far from" Palmyra when they wrote and deposited the record.]

Joseph Smith explained to Noah Saxton that:

The Book of Mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western Tribes of Indians, having been found through the ministration of an holy Angel translated into our own Language by the gift and power of God, after having been hid up in the earth for the last fourteen hundred years containing the word of God, which was delivered unto them, By it we learn that our western tribes of Indians are descendants from that Joseph that was sold into Egypt, and that the land of America is a promised land unto them, and unto it all the tribes of Israel will come. with as many of the gentiles as shall comply with the requisitions of the new covenant.

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/letterbook-1/29

See Historical Introduction: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/letter-to-noah-c-saxton-4-january-1833/2#historical-intro

The month before he was murdered, Joseph Smith met with the local Indians and said

“The Great Spirit has enabled me to find a book, (shewing them the book of Mormon) which told me about your fathers, and the Great Spirit told me, ‘you must send to all the tribes that you can, and tell them to live in peace’; and when any of our people come to see you, I want you to treat them as we treat you.”

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1838-1856-volume-f-1-1-may-1844-8-august-1844/58

The Lord sent Oliver Cowdery, Peter Whitmer Jr., Ziba Peterson, and Parley P. Pratt to go "into the wilderness among the Lamanites." (D&C 32:2; 28:8) The "wilderness" at that time was western New York, Ohio, Missouri, etc. 

Parley P. Pratt "described the visit: “We called on an Indian nation at or near Buffalo; and spent part of a day with them, instructing them in the knowledge of the record of their forefathers. We were kindly received, and much interest was manifested by them on hearing this news. We made a present of two copies of the Book of Mormon to certain of them who could read"

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/letter-from-oliver-cowdery-12-november-1830/1 note 1.

This is why the plates were preserved.

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What did Joseph and Oliver teach about the translation?

They never said or implied that Joseph did not use the plates or that he used a "seer stone" he found in a well years before Moroni's visit. 

The SITH narrative was published in the 1834 book Mormonism Unvailed, here. But Joseph and Oliver formally refuted that narrative, in print, several times.

The teachings of Joseph and Oliver were repeated frequently in General Conference:

https://www.mobom.org/urim-and-thummim-in-lds-general-conference

In recent years, certain LDS scholars have revived the SITH narrative from Mormonism Unvailed and then rationalized away what Joseph and Oliver taught.

But we can all read the original sources.

Here are some examples:

Responding to ongoing confusion about the translation, Joseph Smith answered the question  in the Elders Journal in 1838.

Question 4th. How, and where did you obtain the Book of Mormon?

Answer. Moroni, the person who deposited the plates, from whence the Book of Mormon   was translated, in a hill in Manchester, Ontario County, New York, being dead, and raised again therefrom, appeared unto me and told me where they were and gave me directions how to obtain them. I obtained them and the Urim and Thummim with them, by the means of which I translated the plates and thus came the Book of Mormon.

(Elders’ Journal I.3:42 ¶20–43 ¶1)

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/elders-journal-july-1838/11 

In 1842, the question persisted so Joseph explained it again in the Wentworth letter, published as "Church History" in the Times and Seasons.

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. They were filled with engravings, in Egyptian characters and bound together in a volume, as the leaves of a book with three rings running through the whole. The volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed. The characters on the unsealed part were small, and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity in its construction and much skill in the art of engraving. With the records was found a curious instrument which the ancients called “Urim and Thummim,” which consisted of two transparent stones set in the rim of a bow fastened to a breastplate.

Through the medium of the Urim and Thummim I translated the record by the gift, and power of God.

(Times and Seasons III.9:707 ¶5–6)

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/times-and-seasons-1-march-1842/5

Joseph reiterated this statement in 1844.

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. They were filled with engravings, in Egyptian characters and bound together in a volume, as the leaves of a book with three rings running through the whole. The volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed. The characters on the unsealed part were small, and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity in its construction and much skill in the art of engraving. With the records was found a curious instrument which the ancients called “Urim and Thummim,” which consisted of two transparent stones set in the rim of a bow fastened to a breastplate.

Through the medium of the Urim and Thummim I translated the record by the gift, and power of God.

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/latter-day-saints-1844/3

For more, see https://www.mobom.org/translation-references

Moroni's Easter Egg

Moroni wrote, "Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you. Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing." (Mormon 8:34–35)

Part of "our doing" in the Church today is having different opinions about the setting of the Book of Mormon. Which is fine, of course. But presumably Moroni was incredulous when he observed this.

Maybe that's why he left an "Easter egg" in the annals of Church history.

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Definition: Easter eggs in movies are hidden references, cameos, or subtle nods to other works, pop culture, or inside jokes. For example, in Pixar Films, the Pizza Planet truck from the first Toy Story (1995) appears in nearly every Pixar film, like Finding Nemo (2003) during a street scene or Inside Out (2015) in a memory orb. Nemo shows up as a toy in Monsters, Inc.

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What "Easter egg" did Moroni leave for us to discover?

In 1835, when Oliver Cowdery wrote the first and most detailed account of Moroni's visit, he left a clue that few people noticed.

Joseph Smith's history later summarized what Oliver had written:

33 He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people.

34 He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants;

35 Also, that there were two stones in silver bows—and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim—deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted “seers” in ancient or former times; and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book.

(Joseph Smith—History 1:33–35)

When we see how much Oliver wrote, we can see why the scribes who compiled Joseph Smith-History abbreviated the account. The also added details, such as the name of the messenger (although when first written and published in the Times and Seasons, the scribes had written "his name was Nephi." See https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-circa-1841-draft-draft-3/6 and the discussion here: https://www.mobom.org/moroni-and-nephi)

But Moroni told Joseph something important that has long been overlooked. I bolded it at the end of this passage, which is from Joseph's own history from 1834-36. As you read this, notice the way Oliver pointed out how he learned this account directly from Joseph Smith.

In this situation hours passed unnumbered—how many or how few I know not, neither is he able to inform me; but supposes it must have been eleven or twelve, and perhaps later, as the noise and bustle of the family, in retiring, had long since ceased.— While continueing in prayer for a manifestation in some way that his sins were forgiven; endeavouring to exercise faith in the scriptures, on a sudden a light like that of day, only of a purer and far more glorious appearance and brightness, burst into the room.— Indeed to use his own description, the first sight was as though the house was filled with consuming and unquenchable fire. This sudden appearance of a light so bright, as must naturally be expected, occasioned a shock or sensation, visible to the extremities of the body. It was, however, followed with a calmness and serenity of mind, and an overwhelming rapture of Joy that surpassed understanding, and in a moment a personage stood before him.

Notwithstanding the room was previously filled with light above the brightness of the sun, as I before describe​d,​ yet there seemed to be an additional glory surrounding or accompanying this personage, which shone with an increased degree of brilliancy, of which he was in the midst; and though his countenance was as lightning, yet it was of a pleasing, innocent and glorious appearance, so much so, that every fear was banished from the heart, and nothing but calmness pervaded the soul.

It is no easy task to describe the appearance of a messenger from the skies—indeed, I doubt their being an individual clothed with perishable clay, who is capable to do this work. To be sure, the Lord appeared to his apostles after his resurrection, and we do not learn as they were in the least difficultied to look upon him; but from John’s description upon Patmos, we learn that he is there represented as most glorious in appearance; and from other items in the sacred scriptures we have the fact recorded where angels appeared and conversed with men, and there was no difficulty on the part of the individuals, to endure their presence; and others where their glory was so conspicuous that they could not endure. The last description or appearance is the one to which I refer, when I say that it is no easy task to describe their glory.

But it may be well to relate the particulars as far as given. The stature of this personage was a little above the common size of men in this age; his garment was perfectly white, and had the appearance of being without seam. 

Though fear was banished from his heart, yet his surprise was no less when he heard him declare himself to be a messenger sent by commandment of the Lord, to deliver a special message and to witness to him that his sins were forgiven, and that his prayers were heard; and that the scriptures might be fulfilled, which say— “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen; yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things which are that no flesh should glory in his presence. Therefore, says the Lord, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; the wisdom of their wise shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid; for according to his covenant which he made with his ancient saints, his people, the house of Israel must come to a knowledge of the gospel, and own that Messiah whom their fathers rejected, and with them the fulness of the Gentiles be gathered in, to rejoice in one fold under one Shepherd”.

“This cannot be brought about until first certain preparatory things are accomplished, for so has the Lord purposed in his own mind. He has therefore chosen you as an instrument in his hand to bring to light that which shall perform his act, his strange act, and bring to pass a marvelous work and a wonder. Wherever the sound shall go it shall cause the ears of men to tingle, and wherever it shall be proclaimed, the pure in heart shall rejoice, while those who draw near to God with their mouths, and honor him with their lips, while their hearts are far from him, will seek its overthrow, and the destruction of those by whose hands it is carried. Therefore, marvel not if your name is made a derission, and had as a by-word among such, if you are the instrument in bringing it, by the gift of God, to the knowledge of the people.”

He then proceeded and gave a general account of the promises made to the fathers, and also gave a history of the aborigenes of this country, and said they were literal descendants of Abraham. He represented them as once being an enlightned and intelligent people, possessing a correct knowledge of the gospel, and the plan of restoration and redemption. He said this history was written and deposited not far from that place, and that it was our brother’s privilege, if obedient to the commandments of the Lord, to obtain and translate the same by the means of the Urim and Thummim, which were deposited for that purpose with the record.

“Yet,” said he, “the scriptures must be fulfilled before it is translated, which says that the words of a book, which were sealed, were presented to the learned; for thus has God determined to leave men without excuse, and show to the meek that his arm is <​not​> shortened that it cannot save.”

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1834-1836/66

The "Easter egg" is Moroni's explanation that the history was "written and deposited not far from" Joseph's home near Palmyra, NY. 

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Mormon explained that he wrote the abridgment after he had removed the Nephite records from the hill Shim and had taken them to the repository in Cumorah. (Presumably he knew the Jaredites had built a repository there, in the hill they called Ramah, centuries earlier.) 

And it came to pass that when we had gathered in all our people in one to the land of Cumorah, behold I, Mormon, began to be old; and knowing it to be the last struggle of my people, and having been commanded of the Lord that I should not suffer the records which had been handed down by our fathers, which were sacred, to fall into the hands of the Lamanites, (for the Lamanites would destroy them) therefore I made this record out of the plates of Nephi, and hid up in the hill Cumorah all the records which had been entrusted to me by the hand of the Lord, save it were these few plates which I gave unto my son Moroni. (Mormon 6:6)

When Moroni first appeared to Joseph, he told him "the record is on a side hill on the Hill of Cumorah 3 miles from this place remove the Grass and moss and you will find a large flat stone pry that up and you will find the record under it laying on 4 pillars."

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1844-1845/41

When Moroni told Joseph the record was "written and deposited not far from" Joseph's home, he corroborated what his father had said; i.e., the abridged record was written at Cumorah, just three miles from Joseph's home.*

This is the other aspect of the Easter egg. This is the clue Moroni gave us from the outset, so we would understand that he and his father Mormon lived in what is now western New York.

Understanding and accepting this unites Latter-day Saints today, just as it did during Joseph Smith's lifetime when Oliver's account was published and republished in all the Church newspapers.

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*As Orson Pratt explained, there were two departments in the hill Cumorah. One was the repository of Nephite records. The other was Moroni's stone box. This made sense because it took Joseph four years of preparation to overcome the temptation to sell Nephite artifacts, just from seeing the plates, breastplate, and Urim and Thummim in the stone box. It wasn't until later that he realized the entire Nephite repository was in the same hill. See https://www.mobom.org/two-departments-in-cumorah

Ocean currents and settings

The following is an excerpt from a post on one of my other blogs, but it is appropriate for this blog. 

There are lots of ideas about the setting of the Book of Mormon, and they are all based on interpretations of the text combined with extrinsic evidence (archaeology, anthropology, geology, geography, etc.). Everyone who creates or endorses one of these scenarios (multiple working hypotheses) naturally thinks that scenario best fits the text and the extrinsic evidence. 

Otherwise they would change their minds. 

Which is what I did, having accepted M2C (the Mesoamerican/two-Cumorahs theory) for decades until I learned more about Church history and the relevant extrinsic evidence that, in my view, corroborates the teachings of the prophets.

The multiple working hypotheses can be categorized into two groups: those that accept the teachings of the prophets about the New York Cumorah, and those that reject those teachings in favor of another location of Cumorah.

The various hypotheses also rely on different assumptions about how Lehi, Mulek and Jared crossed the oceans (or "the great deep"), given the various ocean currents.

At the end of this post I show the map of the scenario that makes the most sense to me. Reasonable people can differ, of course.

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A basic premise of M2C is that Lehi landed on the west coast of Mesoamerica in the midst of an extensive Mayan civilization. Some M2Cers also believe the Mulekites landed in Mesoamericn in the midst of an Olmec (Jaredite) civilization.

These theoretical voyages were shown on the map that RLDS scholar L.E. Hills proposed over 100 years ago. 

1917 map published by RLDS scholar L.E. Hills

To make his theory work, Hills put Cumorah in southern Mexico. He specifically rejected what Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Smith, David Whitmer, Brigham Young and everyone else said about Cumorah in New York.

"Cumorah" in Mexico, according to L.E. Hills

LDS leaders specifically rejected what Hills taught and reaffirmed the New York Cumorah, but gradually LDS scholars adopted the Hills theory instead. 

John Sorenson, Jack Welch, Kirk Magleby, Brant Gardner, and all their followers preferred Hills' theory about Cumorah over the teachings of the prophets.

BYU Studies map of Cumorah, based on L.E. Hills, as
adapted by Sorenson/Welch.

Next, Tyler Griffin, who is a great guy, an effective teacher, a faithful Latter-day Saint, etc., created a fictional map to represent the Hills/Sorenson/Welch theory for new generations. (Somehow he and his followers think it's a good idea to teach the Book of Mormon using a fictional map more akin to Lord of the Rings than to any real-world setting.)  

Obviously, placing the Nephites and Mulekites in the midst of these Mesoamerican civilizations contradicts Lehi's declarations in verse 8-9. Mesoamerica was the opposite of what Lehi described. Again,

8 And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations; for behold, many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance.

9 Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves. 

(2 Nephi 1:8–9)

We can all see that the Mayans (and Olmecs) were well established nations. Naturally, the M2Cers have a variety of ways to rationalize the incongruity, but the plain language is there for everyone to read.

An alternative to M2C is the idea that Lehi followed ocean and wind currents, crossed the Atlantic, and actually landed in an area that was occupied only by unorganized hunter/gatherers in what is now the southeastern United States, circa 600 BC. 

Book of Mormon voyages and ocean currents
(click to enlarge)

Then, after King Mosiah led the Nephites to Bountiful, the division of the Lamanites and Nephites looked something such as this, which explains why Cumorah is in New York.

This map also shows Zarahemla across from Nauvoo, pursuant to D&C 125.

There are lots of other ideas about the setting of the Book of Mormon, but this one makes the most sense to me. Reasonable people can differ, of course.

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2 sets of plates: 1981 vs 2025

The heading to Words of Mormon gives us another example of the FAITH model (Facts, Assumptions, Inferences, Theories and Hypotheses).

Back in the 1981 edition of the scriptures, the heading to Words of Mormon added something to the text that is not actually in the text. It was an assumption that led to widespread misunderstanding.

Anyone can read the text and see that Mormon did not say he inserted the plates of Nephi into the abridgment. Yet this assumption became a widespread belief.

The current edition of the scriptures (2013) and the online edition has corrected this heading to more accurately reflect what the text says. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/w-of-m/1?lang=eng 

It is good to see these incremental improvements.