Where are Joseph Smith's "golden plates" (source of the Book of Mormon) located today?

Answer 1

I believe the angel Moroni was supposed to have taken them back from Smith when we finished with them.

Answer 2

Fotomama, I love your answer!!!! So true! It really doesn't matter where they are today. They would have been destroyed, melted down, or used for evil purposes if they were still around. We do believe that they were taken by the Angel Moroni. Although, we do believe that some day they will be revealed again- this is not official doctrine of the church, just speculation!

Here is a website about the Book of Mormon. Might answer some questions you have about it! Also the link to the official church website, just in case you want to hear from the "horses mouth".

Answer 3

According to LDS (aka Mormon) church history, the angel that delivered them to Joseph Smith later came and retrieved them after the history was translated into English.

If I were God and had a whole nation's history written on gold sheets, I wouldn't trust them in the hands of the bigoted, fear-driven people of the early 1800s. I'd let Joseph have them only long enough to translate them. Once there was an English manuscript, I'd get them back in my posession ASAP.

Check what happened to Joseph and his family because of those plates... I'd bet he was glad to give them back to Moroni (the angel who gave the plates to him)... stop the harassment, the illegal searches, etc.

Considering this question, I guess the harassment hasn't stopped, yet... and maybe it never will...

Answer 4

Actually, not one of the "witnesses" actually *saw* the book uncovered, but J Smith DID convince them to see it with their "spiritual eyes".

Actually, Joseph Smith never referred to the golden plates during his 'translation', as he did this by peering into his peepstone placed inside his hat.

Actually, Joseph Smiths family business revolved around folkloric traditions of the early 19th century: finding hidden treasures guarded by magical spirits using magic rocks and divining rods.

Actually, he was arrested in 1826 for 'Glass Looking' in New York state and fined $2.18. There is no record of payment made.

Actually, Moroni took the plates away after JS made the most correct translation of the most correct book by not looking at the plates in the first place (a celestial version of 'Use it or Lose it').

Actually, it was a big fat lie from the very beginning that simply got out of hand - until the polygamy part. Then it got downright ludicrous.

Answer 5

Fotomama has a really good point. Not only that, If they weren't hidden or taken form the earth when they were, they could have very easily been found stolen and destroyed for personal gain. If they some how miraculously survived until today, scholars would continue to argue translations. If you really think about about, it's a very good thing we don't have them anymore.

Answer 6

There is no real tangible evidence that they ever existed. No person alive today has ever seen them. Any person believing that they have existed does so on faith.

The story says that Joseph Smith returned them to the angel Moroni. What Moroni did with them is never mentioned.

Answer 7

Okay, I'll fess up! They're at my house. I get to keep them for a year and then I hand them to the next family in line.

Really, what difference does it make "where" they are?!? People watched Jesus perform miracles and called him a devil too. Would you really believe if you saw them? Probably not.

Answer 8

If you Read the Book of Mormon it will tell you.

Answer 9

They were returned to the Angel Morori. I assume he took them to heaven (Paradise) with him.... Jim

Answer 10

No one knows. God hid them somewhere.