Mormonism and Wikipedia/Golden plates/Story

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Origin and historicity

A FAIR Analysis of Wikipedia: Mormonism and Wikipedia/Golden plates A work by a collaboration of authors (Link to Wikipedia article here) Golden plates, Story of the golden plates

Background

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An analysis of the Wikipedia article "Golden plates"  Updated 9/21/2011

Reviews of previous revisions of this section

• December 2009—
  A review of this section as it appeared in Wikipedia in December 2009. (Link)

From the Wikipedia article:
The story of the golden plates consists of how, according to Joseph Smith, Jr. and his contemporaries, the plates were found, received from the angel Moroni, translated, and returned to the angel prior to the publication of the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith is the only source for a great deal of the story because much of it occurred at times when he was the only human witness. Nevertheless, Smith told the story to his family, friends, and acquaintances; and many of these provided second-hand accounts. Other parts of the story are derived from the statements of those who knew Smith, including several witnesses who said they saw the golden plates.

Wikipedia footnotes:

• Summary. No citations given.

FAIR's analysis:

•  Correct, per cited sources
  

From the Wikipedia article:
The best known elements of the golden plates story are found in an account told by Smith in 1838 and incorporated into the official church histories of some Latter Day Saint movement denominations.

Wikipedia footnotes:

• Smith (1838a) ;Roberts (1902) (official history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints); RLDS History of the Church, vol. 1, ch. 1-2 (official history of the Community of Christ).

FAIR's analysis:

•  Correct, per cited sources
  

From the Wikipedia article:
The LDS Church has canonized part of this 1838 account as part of its scripture, The Pearl of Great Price.

FAIR's analysis:

•  Correct, per cited sources
  

References

Wikipedia references for "Golden Plates"

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• {{{title}}} .
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• A FAIR Analysis of Wikipedia article "Golden plates"—
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