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Difference between revisions of "Question: Why were the gold plates needed at all if they weren't used directly during the translation process?"
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===The existence of the physical plates attested to the reality of the Nephite record=== | ===The existence of the physical plates attested to the reality of the Nephite record=== | ||
| − | If there had been no plates, and Joseph had simply received the entire Book of Mormon through revelation, there would have been no Anthon visit, nor would there have been any witnesses. The very fact that plates ''existed'' served a greater purpose, even if they were not directly viewed during all of the translation process. The plates' existence as material artifacts eliminated the possibility that Joseph was simply honestly mistaken. Either Joseph was knowingly perpetuating a fraud, or he was a genuine prophet. | + | If there had been no plates, and Joseph had simply received the entire Book of Mormon through revelation, there would have been no Anthon visit, nor would there have been any witnesses. The very fact that plates ''existed'' served a greater purpose, even if they were not directly viewed during all of the translation process. |
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| + | The plates served a variety of purposes. | ||
| + | #They were viewed by witnesses as solid evidence that Joseph did indeed have an ancient record. | ||
| + | #Joseph's efforts to obtain them over a four year period taught him and matured him in preparation for performing the translation, | ||
| + | #Joseph's efforts to protect and preserve them helped build his character. If Joseph were perpetrating a fraud, it would have been much simpler to claim direct revelation from God and forgo the physical plates. | ||
| + | #Joseph copied characters off the plates to give to Martin Harris, which he subsequently showed to Charles Anthon. This was enough to convince Martin to assist with the production of the Book of Mormon. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The plates' existence as material artifacts eliminated the possibility that Joseph was simply honestly mistaken. Either Joseph was knowingly perpetuating a fraud, or he was a genuine prophet. | ||
===The existence of actual plates eliminates the idea that the Book of Mormon was "spiritually true," but fictional=== | ===The existence of actual plates eliminates the idea that the Book of Mormon was "spiritually true," but fictional=== | ||
Revision as of 08:48, 13 October 2014
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Contents
- 1 Why were the gold plates needed at all if they weren't used directly during the translation process?
- 1.1 Joseph did not need the plates physically present to translate, since the translation was done by revelation
- 1.2 The existence of the physical plates attested to the reality of the Nephite record
- 1.3 The existence of actual plates eliminates the idea that the Book of Mormon was "spiritually true," but fictional
Why were the gold plates needed at all if they weren't used directly during the translation process?
Joseph did not need the plates physically present to translate, since the translation was done by revelation
Joseph did not need the plates physically present to translate, since the translation was done by revelation. The existence of the plates was vital, however, to demonstrate that the story he was translating was literally true.
The existence of the physical plates attested to the reality of the Nephite record
If there had been no plates, and Joseph had simply received the entire Book of Mormon through revelation, there would have been no Anthon visit, nor would there have been any witnesses. The very fact that plates existed served a greater purpose, even if they were not directly viewed during all of the translation process.
The plates served a variety of purposes.
- They were viewed by witnesses as solid evidence that Joseph did indeed have an ancient record.
- Joseph's efforts to obtain them over a four year period taught him and matured him in preparation for performing the translation,
- Joseph's efforts to protect and preserve them helped build his character. If Joseph were perpetrating a fraud, it would have been much simpler to claim direct revelation from God and forgo the physical plates.
- Joseph copied characters off the plates to give to Martin Harris, which he subsequently showed to Charles Anthon. This was enough to convince Martin to assist with the production of the Book of Mormon.
The plates' existence as material artifacts eliminated the possibility that Joseph was simply honestly mistaken. Either Joseph was knowingly perpetuating a fraud, or he was a genuine prophet.
The existence of actual plates eliminates the idea that the Book of Mormon was "spiritually true," but fictional
Furthermore, the existence of actual plates eliminates the idea that the Book of Mormon was "spiritually true," but fictional. There is a great difference between an allegorical or moral fiction about Nephites, and real, literal Nephites who saw a literal Christ who was literally resurrected.
Notes