Bringing Forth the Book of Mormon Quiz

Answer: The angel Moroni appeared to Smith one night and described them

In the LDS Church's "Joseph Smith--History," (abbreviated hereafter as JSH) Smith gave the date and described praying for forgiveness for his minor sins in bed that night. He told of seeing the Angel Moroni appear before him in a brilliant white light and wrote that Moroni "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..." (JSH 1:27-34)

Answer: Smith said he recognized where to dig from a vision showing the place

Smith wrote: "I went to the place where the messenger [Moroni] had told me the plates were deposited;" but he added: "and owing to the distinctness of the vision which I had had concerning it, I knew the place the instant that I arrived there." (JSH 1:50)

He was referring to the vision he reported upon Moroni's first visit: "While he [Moroni] was conversing with me about the plates, the vision was opened to my mind that I could see the place where the plates were deposited, and that so clearly and distinctly that I knew the place again when I visited it." (JSH 1:42)

Answer: A breastplate and the Urim and Thummim

After prying open the stone box, Smith reported: "I looked in, and there indeed did I behold the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate." (JSH 1:52) Smith had said Moroni predicted those things would be in the box. During his first vision, he recalled Moroni saying, about the contents: "Also, that there were two stones in silver bows--and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim..." (JSH 1:35)

Answer: He left them there and returned to the place once each year to meet Moroni

Joseph Smith claimed he was not allowed to have the contents at first: "I made an attempt to take them out, but was forbidden by the messenger [Moroni], and was again informed that the time for bringing them forth had not yet arrived, neither would it, until four years from that time; but he told me that I should come to that place precisely in one year from that time, and that he would there meet with me, and that I should continue to do so until the time should come for obtaining the plates." (JSH 1:53) Smith said he did not remove the contents to his home until the four years were up, in 1827.

Answer: They persecuted him and his family, and tried to steal the plates

The local people had already been attacking Smith for his religious claims, but he reported: "No sooner was it known that I had [the plates], than the most strenuous exertions were used to get them from me. Every stratagem that could be invented was resorted to for that purpose. The persecution became more bitter and severe than before, and multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if possible." (JSH 1:60)

He moved with his family to Pennsylvania, where he began "copying the characters off the plates. I copied a considerable number of them..." and he also translated some. (JSH 1:62)

Answer: Prof. Anthon said the translation was accurate and gave Harris a signed certificate saying so

At first, Prof. Anthon endorsed the translation. Harris was leaving with the certificate when Prof. Anthon asked how the gold plates were discovered. Harris said an angel of God had revealed them.

Harris described what happened next: "[Prof. Anthon] then said to me, 'Let me see that certificate.' I accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and tore it to pieces, saying that there was no such thing now as ministering of angels, and that if I would bring the plates to him he would translate them. I informed him that part of the plates were sealed, and that I was forbidden to bring them. He replied, 'I cannot read a sealed book.' I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell, who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said respecting both the characters and the translation." (JSH 1:65)

Answer: Temporarily stopped the translation, and told Smith not to retranslate the pages

The church's Doctrine and Covenants 3 and 10 are revelations that Joseph Smith reported receiving. The first said he would lose his ability to translate for a while. When his ability was restored, the second instructed him not to re-translate the 116 pages but simply to go forward without them. D&C 10 said that those who had the pages had altered them and were waiting to accuse Smith of not being able to translate the plates the same way twice.

Answer: The Urim and the Thummin found with the plates

Smith said he found the Urim and Thummin buried with the plates. They were two stones connected in a silver frame. Smith explained that "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." (JSH 1:35)

Answer: Egbert B. Grandin of Palmyra, New York

E. B. Grandin hesitantly agreed, emphasizing it was only a business transaction and he wasn't endorsing the religious aspects. Smith wanted 5,000 copies printed, a large and expensive press run for that era. Grandin wanted $3,000. Smith reported a revelation from God instructing Martin Harris not to "covet thine own property, but impart it freely to the printing of the Book of Mormon..." (Doctrine & Covenants 19:26). Martin Harris mortgaged his farm to pay for the printing, and the finished book went on sale in March of 1830.

Answer: The angel Moroni took them back

Joseph Smith wrote, concerning the plates, "But by the wisdom of God, they remained safe in my hands, until I had accomplished by them what was required at my hand. When, according to arrangements, the messenger [Moroni] called for them, I delivered them up to him; and he has them in his charge until this day, being the second day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight." (JSH 1:60)