Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), is best known for claiming to have discovered and translated a set of golden plates, which he believed contained the record of ancient American civilizations. This event is considered by Latter-day Saints as one of the pivotal moments in religious history, marking the beginning of the Restoration of the Gospel. But when did Joseph Smith find the plates, and how did the discovery unfold? In this article, we will examine the timeline of Joseph Smith’s discovery of the plates, the events leading up to it, and the significance of this moment for Latter-day Saints.
The Background of Joseph Smith’s Search
Before we explore when Joseph Smith found the golden plates, it is important to understand the context of his search. Joseph Smith was born on December 23, 1805, in Sharon, Vermont. He grew up in a religiously diverse environment, where various Christian denominations were competing for followers during what became known as the “Second Great Awakening.” Many religious leaders were preaching about personal salvation and the need for repentance, and this stirred Joseph’s curiosity about the truth of God’s teachings.
In his early years, Joseph experienced a series of spiritual struggles. He sought for a clear understanding of God’s will but was confused by the many differing beliefs around him. His famous “First Vision,” which occurred in the spring of 1820, marked the beginning of his unique spiritual journey. In this vision, Joseph claimed to have been visited by God the Father and Jesus Christ, who instructed him that all existing Christian denominations were wrong and that he should not join any of them.
Following this vision, Joseph was directed to seek a divine role in restoring lost truths. This led to the discovery of the golden plates, which he believed were essential to this restoration. The event of Joseph Smith finding the plates is a cornerstone in the history of the LDS Church, and the timing of this discovery is an important part of the story.
The Search for the Plates: Early Revelations
In 1823, three years after Joseph’s First Vision, he claimed to have been visited by an angel named Moroni, who told him of a sacred record buried in a hill near his home in Palmyra, New York. Moroni, who identified himself as a prophet in the ancient Americas, explained that this record was engraved on golden plates and contained the history of an ancient people and the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Joseph was instructed to go to the hill in the fall of 1823, but he was unable to retrieve the plates at that time. The angel Moroni appeared to him repeatedly over the next year, guiding him on how to prepare for the responsibility of retrieving the plates.
According to Joseph’s account, he visited the hill in September 1827 and found the plates for the first time. This event occurred at the Hill Cumorah, which is located near his family home in Manchester, New York. Joseph’s account of finding the plates is recorded in various sources, including his own writings and the writings of his contemporaries.
The First Discovery: September 22, 1827
The key date when Joseph Smith is said to have found the plates is September 22, 1827. On this day, Joseph claimed that after years of preparation, he was finally permitted to take possession of the golden plates. Joseph had been instructed by Moroni to go to the Hill Cumorah, where the plates were buried in a stone box. Joseph dug them up, and after taking the plates into his possession, he was told to keep them safe and was warned about the dangers they would bring.
The plates were described as being made of gold and inscribed with characters that Joseph could not immediately read. In addition to the plates, Joseph also retrieved other items, such as a set of special seer stones, which he later used to help translate the plates. The process of translation was said to involve the use of these stones, which Joseph placed in a hat to block out light while looking into them to translate the ancient text into English.
Joseph’s description of the plates and their importance is central to LDS teachings. He believed that the plates contained the Book of Mormon, which he would later translate and publish in 1830. This book became the foundational scripture of the LDS Church, alongside the Bible.
The Role of Moroni and Other Angels
Throughout the process of retrieving the plates, Joseph Smith was guided and protected by various divine beings. Moroni, the angel who initially revealed the existence of the plates, played a key role in instructing Joseph about the sacred nature of the plates and their translation.
However, Joseph’s account also includes visits from other angels who helped him along the way. One such angel was John the Baptist, who appeared to Joseph and Oliver Cowdery in 1829 and conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood, which is considered a key authority for baptizing. Later, the apostles Peter, James, and John appeared to confer the Melchizedek Priesthood, which was necessary for other ordinances and for the administration of the church.
In addition to these angelic visitations, Joseph was also visited by individuals from the ancient American world, such as Nephi and Alma, who appeared in vision and gave further guidance on the translation of the plates.
Translating the Plates: The Process Begins
Once Joseph had retrieved the plates, the next phase of his calling was to translate the record contained on the plates. According to Joseph, he began translating the golden plates in the spring of 1828, shortly after taking possession of them. Joseph was assisted in this process by his scribe, Oliver Cowdery, who wrote down the translated words as Joseph dictated them.
Joseph’s translation of the plates was said to be completed through the power of God, as Joseph used the seer stones and sometimes a special instrument called the Urim and Thummim, which had been provided by Moroni. The process of translation was often described as a spiritual endeavor, with Joseph receiving divine help in understanding the ancient script.
The translation of the Book of Mormon was a lengthy process that took approximately three years to complete. However, it was in the spring of 1828, following Joseph’s discovery of the plates, that the translation process began. The first portion of the Book of Mormon was completed by June 1829, and by 1830, the full translation had been published.
The Publication of the Book of Mormon: 1830
The publication of the Book of Mormon in 1830 marked the culmination of Joseph Smith’s efforts to translate and share the ancient record with the world. The book was initially published in Palmyra, New York, by the printer E. B. Grandin, and it quickly became the foundational text for the LDS Church. In the years that followed, the church grew rapidly, and the Book of Mormon became a symbol of Joseph Smith’s prophetic calling.
The Book of Mormon’s publication was a defining moment in the history of the LDS Church, and the golden plates were central to the story of its origin. Latter-day Saints believe that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, revealing His ministry to ancient peoples in the Americas.
The Fate of the Plates
After Joseph Smith completed the translation of the Book of Mormon, the golden plates were eventually returned to the angel Moroni, who took them back. According to Joseph, the plates were no longer needed after the translation had been completed, as their purpose was to restore lost scripture and bring the fullness of the gospel back to the world.
The fate of the plates has been a subject of much debate. Joseph Smith never publicly displayed the plates, and no physical evidence of the plates exists today. Some early believers testified to having seen the plates, including a group known as the Three Witnesses, who claimed to have been shown the plates by an angel. However, the actual plates themselves were never produced for public inspection.
Conclusion
Joseph Smith’s discovery of the golden plates in 1827 is considered one of the most important events in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It marked the beginning of the Restoration, a process that Joseph believed would bring the fullness of the gospel back to the earth. The event took place in the fall of 1827, and Joseph spent the following years translating the plates, leading to the publication of the Book of Mormon in 1830.
Although the golden plates themselves are no longer in existence, their discovery and translation remain central to the beliefs of Latter-day Saints. The plates, as well as the Book of Mormon, are viewed as divine instruments in the restoration of God’s truth, and Joseph Smith’s role in uncovering them is considered a pivotal moment in religious history.
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