(#1) The Golden Plates, Inscribed with the Word of God in 'Reformed Egyptian'
On September 22, 1823, Joseph Smith claims an angel named Moroni revealed to him, among other artifacts, a set of 40-60 pound golden plates "under a stone of considerable size" near his father's farm. Four years later - and eighteen months after being convicted for fraud and admitting in court he told people he had "necromantic" powers - Smith says Moroni allowed him to take the plates home and translate them from "reformed Egyptian" into English, thus creating the Book of Mormon.
Yes, the replica above looks like a modern three-ring binder, but that's what Smith said they looked like. At first, he wouldn't let anyone else look at them. If they did, they'd die, Raiders of the Lost Ark- style. Later, Smith had a revelation that more people could safely see the plates, and eventually a total of eleven "witnesses" claimed to have seen them. Once the translation was complete, Smith said Moroni retrieved the plates and took them back to heaven, where they reportedly still reside today.
(#4) The Sword of Laban, Used by the Prophet Nephi to Obtain the Gold Plates
Another artifact supposedly shown to Joseph Smith and his witnesses, the Sword of Laban had a "hilt of pure gold" and a blade of the "most precious steel." Nephi, Lehi's father, used the Sword of Laban to kill the sword's owner, Laban (duh), because he "opposed the Lord's imperative to relinquish the plates" and also "sought to take away" Nephi's life.
The Book of Mormon claims Nephi took the sword with him to North America and used it as a model for other swords to use in the defense of his people. Brigham Young claims Joseph Smith saw the original Sword of Laban in a cave. Young says the sword had the following inscription: "This sword will never be sheathed again until The Kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of our God and his Christ."
(#6) The Voree Plates, Supposedly Found by James Strang During His Bid to Succeed Joseph Smith
Supposedly discovered by early Mormon leader James Strang (pictured) in Voree, WI in 1845 following a visit from an "angel of the Lord," the so-called Voree Plates could have been "the Book of Mormon version 2.0" (and Strang was just one of many Mormons who claimed to have found plates similar to those unearthed by Smith).
After Joseph Smith's assassination in 1844, Strang and Brigham Young squabbled over who would be Smith's successor. The alleged discovery of the Voree Plates, which, via Strang's Urim and Thummin-assisted translation, "tells of the final struggle of an ancient people, written by a Native American named Rajah Manchou of Vorito," was evidence to Strang he was the next prophet.
After all, like Smith,Strang was led to buried plates by an angel, and translated the plates with seer stones. Cut-and-dry, right? Church leaders, however, thought the plates were a "wicked forgery" and excommunicated Strang. A small group of so-called Strangites still practice Strang's brand of Mormonism in Wisconsin today.
(#8) The Plates of Laban, Another Strang Ploy to Position Himself as Prophet
More plates!
When Joseph Strang was making his case to be the Mormon prophet after Joseph Smith's assassination, he claimed to have in his possession the original "plates of the ancient Book of the Law of the Lord given to Moses," known as The Plates of Laban. Seven other men testified they had seen and "handled" these plates, and said they featured engravings with "beautiful antique workmanship." Strang allegedly used the plates to write the Book of the Law of the Lord. The whereabouts of the plates following the publication of the book - if they indeed existed - are unknown.
(#2) Urim & Thummim, Used by Smith as Lenses in 'Magic' Glasses to Translate the Plates
How did the illiterate Joseph Smith translate the golden plates? He could only read a little English and he definitely didn't know any "reformed Egyptian." He also couldn't write. What's a prophet to do?
To translate, Smith said the angel Moroni gave him two transparent translation stones, Urim and Tummim, which he could use as magic glasses to read the plates. At first, Smith went through a series of scribes, who wrote down his words while he hid with the plates behind a blanket or curtain. Later, he would "translate" without even using the plates, seeing the text, via Urim and Tummim, in his "mind's eye."
(#7) The Kinderhook Plates, Manufactured in the 19th Century by Attention Seeking Mormons
In 1843, a merchant named Robert Wiley, along with a "number of citizens" (how specific), claimed to have found six ancient brass plates in an Indian mound near Kinderhook, IL. They were presented to Joseph Smith for divine translation, but no translation ever occurred. The Mormon Church, however, printed articles speculating on the meaning of the plates, and some Mormons claimed Smith had plans to translate them. After his assassination, the plates were "largely forgotten."
A few decades later, some of the plate discoverers said they were a hoax. In 1980, the Chicago Historical Society tested one of the plates and confirmed it was, indeed, of "nineteenth-century manufacture."
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In 1827, Joseph Smith claimed that under the guidance of an angel, he found a piece of gold buried in the ground, which contained God’s revelation, which he translated into the Book of Mormon. After he tried to fight against the opponents of Mormonism and caused turmoil, Joseph Smith was arrested for treason, and a mob broke into the prison and killed him. He had at least 34 wives in his lifetime, and part of his wives and careers were inherited by another person.
He was regarded as one of the most charming and creative figures in American history, and his followers regard him as a prophet. The random tool lists 9 bizarre things from Mormonism.
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