The kinderhook plates, if authentic, contain the history of a descendant of ham through the loins of pharoah of egypt. In his history of the church, 1 joseph smith discusses six brass plates covered with ancient characters and a skeleton which must have stood nine feet high found by nine locals as they explored the area around kinderhook, illinois. This evidence edition does not appear to have actually been printed until may 3rd, two days after the prophets encounter with the plates. For example, the egyptian character for water was misunderstood to cover two entire verses of the book of abraham.
Even allowing for the comments of moroni, we get the idea that about three thousand pages of english text can be translated from the twentyfour gold plates of limhi. Watch as wayne may presents many of the ancient american artifacts found in north america and see how they line up with the nephite, lamanite and jaredite. Criticism of mormonismwebsitesmormonthinkthe kinderhook. Sep, 2009 the sealed portion the final testament of jesus christ is published free online. Mormons who saw the plates were impressed by their ancient appearance and felt that they would prove joseph smiths book of mormon. Below you can find the sources, links, and notes for the paperbackhardback ces letter. The finders of the kinderhook plates, and the general public, were keen to know if smith would be able to decipher the symbols on these plates as well. From the city of byblos on the phoenician coast, about 170 miles from jerusalem, come second millennium bc syllabic inscriptions on spatula plates with inscriptions similar to. Brother reuben hedlock in 1842 assisted smith in making wood cuts for the three facsimiles of the book of abraham. Artifacts from wayne mays collection ancient lost treasures. I insert fac similes of the six brass plates found near kinderhook, in pike county, illinois, on april 23, by mr. Speaking as one who has thoroughly embarrassed myself publicly by ever having been connected to the michigan tablets, i can now say that a bad tast has been left in my mouth. What are some of the key hard evidences that the book of. Controversy has surrounded these plates and their engravings, but most experts agree they are.
Smith allows his mother, lucy mack smith, to exhibited the mummy collection in her home charging a 25 cent admission. Reconstructions of them based on witness descriptions prove extremely difficult. But from my brief overview here are few samples from his translation that interested me. Book of mormon geography in north america wayne may. The plates above alluded to, were exhibited in this city last week, and are now, we understand, in nauvoo, subject to the inspection of the mormon. Zelph and the question of book of mormon geography. The times and seasons, a latter day saint publication, claimed that the existence of the kinderhook plates lent further credibility to the authenticity of the book of mormon. The above donut chart shows percentages of the kinderhook plates section of letter to a ces director that fairmormon is in agreement, disagreement, and neutral on if one assumes that fairmormons undisputed silence is acceptance of the facts, fairmormon agrees with 83% of the ces letters kinderhook plates section breakdown can be found here. At the time of the civil war the kinderhook plates were lost.
That again brings to mind the book of mormon, not the papyri. The inscription upon them is key to unlocking a lost chapter of history. See attached character chart, courtesy wayne mayglade burgon. Kinderhook trail hiking trail near newport, ohio, united. From the city of byblos on the phoenician coast, about 170 miles from jerusalem, come second millennium bc syllabic inscriptions on spatula plates with inscriptions similar to kinderhook. I asked my husband what his main concern with this letter was and he says its the kinderhook plates and the book of abraham papyri. Other common things we may use that have secondary meanings that we may not.
This piece looks similar to the kinderhook plates and appears to be a slim metal plate. A response to wayne may book of mormon archaeology in north america close. Top 100 most popularimportant episodes mormon stories. Hedlock also prepared wood cut facsimiles of the kinderhook plates. In 1843 six brass plates were found in a mound in kinderhook, illinois. A sympathetic letter also dated may 7, 1843, published in the new york herald. Because he was known for having translated the book of mormon from gold plates, and the book of abraham from ancient papyri, some locals decided to test him by forging these plates and tricking him into translating them. Kinderhook plates brought to joseph smith appear to be a nineteenthcentury hoax, ensign, aug. The book of mormon plates, on the other hand, are a different story entirely. The kinderhook plates were six brass, bellshaped plates covered with engravings that were shown the prophet joseph smith in april, 1843 while he was living in nauvoo, illinois. This same day, william records smith saying he has translated portion of the brass kinderhook plates. While joseph smith was dictating the book of mormon to oliver cowdery, he read off a section that declared there would be three special witnesses who would be allowed to see the plates and then bear witness to the book of mormon.
Harris who shared news of the discovery with the eager mormons in nauvoo. A response to wayne may book of mormon archaeology in. Zarahemla and the nephite nation, hayriver press,colfax, wisconsin march 2002. The namesake cultural trait of the mound builders was the building of mounds and other earthworks. The accounts related to zelph are used as evidence bysome book of mormon scholars to suggest that the lehites inhabited the entire north american continent as proposed by the hemispheric geographical model, rather than merely portions of central america as suggested by the limited geography model. The kinderhook plates were a set of six small, bellshaped pieces of brass with strange engravings which were claimed to have been discovered in 1843 in an indian mound near kinderhook, illinois.
Times and seasons editorial may 1, 1843 may 7, 1843. The may 10, 1879 tribune exposure of the kinderhook plates hoax appears to have been largely ignored by latter day saint readers, despite the circulation of reprints in 1879 issues of the ogden. The kinderhook plates were a set of six small, bellshaped pieces of brass with strange. Kinderhook plates a hoax book of mormon archaeological forum. What is the general lds opinion about the kinderhook plates. That brings to mind the book of mormon, not the papyri. The kinderhook plates were a set of six small, bellshaped pieces of. A response to wayne may book of mormon archaeology in north america this is the video in question, and heres the thread that prompted the. The voree and kinderhook plates are small and crude and were obviously made of easily available materials. According to latter day saint belief, the book of mormon was originally. In 1843, joseph smith was presented with a set of brass plates pulled from an indian burial mound, and determined that they were a record of a descendant of ham in the bible. Compare also the kinderhook plates with the artifact soper is holding in the photograph in the introduction to etzenhousers book. The problem with that explanation, however, is that nothing about the actual find would have associated the kinderhook plates with egypt.
This misunderstanding also might relate to the issue of the gold plates being large enough to house the book of mormon, the lost 116 pages, and the untranslated sealed portion. This lie appears to be random until you consider that joseph smith was a farmer when he discovered the gold plates and translated the book of mormon. In 1843, joseph smith was presented with a set of brass plates pulled from an. Facsimile of both sides of one of the small bell shaped plates. Josephs preface and a testimonial written by a group of eight witnesses described the plates as having an appearance of gold. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. His last book of mormon conference presentation was regarding the kinderhook plates, the olmecs, and the suggestion that the jaredites were black. The plates were cleaned and taken to nauvoo by a w. These burial and ceremonial structures were typically flattopped pyramids or platform mounds, flattopped or rounded cones, elongated ridges, and sometimes a variety of other forms. Suddenly, the kinderhook plates did not support joseph smith or the book of mormon, but instead raised serious questions about josephs prophetic claims to be able to translate ancient languages. The kinderhook plates are six brass plates engraved by men from illinois for. Warsaw signal, may 22, 1844 the contents of the plates, together with a facsimile of the same, will be published in the times and seasons, as soon as the translation is. An account of the purported discovery of the plates was published in the may 3, 1843 quincy whig.
Along the way, you may glimpse wildlife, and will recognize the influence of humans, both now and in the past. Growing up in salt lake county, her favorite childhood hobbies were visiting cemeteries and eavesdropping on adult conversations. These incidents, coupled with the book of abraham in early 1842, reveal jo to be the liar he was. Twenty years earlier, on september 22, 1823, smith claimed to have uncovered a set of golden plates, and, according to latter day saint belief, translated them into the book of mormon. I insert facsimiles of the six brass plates found near kinderhook, in pike county, illinois, on april 23, by mr. Wilford poulson, a faculty member at brigham young university, discovered one of the original plates in the chicago historical society museum. The plates then disappeared, but later on, in 1920, one of them was found in the possession of the chicago historical society, accidentally mislabeled as one of the gold plates of the book of mormon. The results were printed in the official church publication, the. This lie therefore builds false association between the gold plates and these kinderhook plates, subtly making us think joseph smith was fooled about the gold plates. Six plates having the appearance of brass have lately been dug out of a mound by a gentleman in pike co. The kinderhook plates may have originated in the old worldbrought here through intercontinental travel, or were manufactured here sometime after the colonists arrived. The plates were supposedly found by a mister robert wiley on his farm in kinderhook, pike county, illinois. Ricks the kinderhook plates, the improvement era, september 19, 1962.
Apostle parley pratt comments on the kinderhook plates, comparing their look to the book of abraham papyrus. Is about to issue as a translation of these kinderhook plates will be nothing more nor less than a sequel to the book of mormon. Dec 01, 2015 in 1843, joseph smith was presented with a set of brass plates pulled from an indian burial mound, and determined that they were a record of a descendant of ham in the bible. Kinderhook plates in april 1843 some alleged new world antiquities were presented to joseph smith for his opinion. You may feel uncomfortable learning things we were never taught in. Wilford poulson, who taught at brigham young university, told us that he found one of the original plates in the chicago historical society museum, but it was mislabeled as one of the original gold plates of the book. Read about the supporting evidence for the book of mormon cultures. Robert wiley and others, while excavating a large mound. Kinderhook plates will be nothing more nor less than a sequel to the book of mormon warsaw signal, may 22, 1844 the contents of the plates, together with a facsimile of the same, will be published in the times and seasons, as soon as the translation is completed. Moreover, there is no precedent for joseph smith claiming to have made secular translations of people or events relating to ancient biblical or book of mormon history. Kinderhook plates brought to joseph smith appear to be a nineteenthcentury hoax.
My life with the duke wayne, pilar, thorleifson, alex on. Nov 17, 2014 the book of mormon map described in alma chapter 22 has finally been deciphered. Solving the mystery of the kinderhook plates by don bradley i know after the presentation earlier today you are probably wondering if i am going. The book is 655 pages long with 100 chapters, each divided into verses, and there are even chapter headings.
In nauvoo, illinois, during the first week in may 1843, the church publication times and seasons printed an article entitled ancient records which reported the alleged discovery of six ancient brass plates in an indian mound near the town of kinderhook, fiftyfive miles south of nauvoo in pike county, illinois. Wayne may holds that michigan relics of the scotford type were. There are the kinderhook plates, too, found in america and now in the possession of the chicago historical society. Kinderhook plates brought to joseph smith appear to be a. Kinderhook plates mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. However, the golden plates are just one of many known and reputed metal plates with significance in the latter day saint movement. Joseph smith read the golden plates like a book, translating the text out loud to. So a sequel to that holy book may soon be expected. Peterson published a book called those gold plates. Mormonisms encounter with the michigan relics book of mormon. Start by the chaptersection of the ces letter and then look for the footnote number that you see next to the text in the book. Degraffenreid stie, egyptian temple east tennessee, rod meldrum, wayne may temple institute in jerusalem sons of aaron prepare an offering to the lord the dress rehearsal.
In reply to the chapter, the worlds most perfect book page 99 and 100. The authors, in an introduction to another chapter seeking to discredit the book of mormon, begin by bringing up the old kinderhook plates issue 1 in trying to show that joseph smith was tricked into accepting a forgery they quote from his journal of may l, 1843, l have translated a portion of them, and. The book of ether, representing less than 1% of the 24 gold plates of limhi, in english translation runs 31 pages in the current edition of the book of mormon. I have translated a portion of them, and find they contain the history of the person with whom they were found. In a letter written from nauvoo, illinois, dated may 2, 1843, charlotte haven said that when j. I insert fac similes of the six brass plates found near.
Any content or opinions expressed, implied or included in or with the goods services offered by wayne may are solely those of wayne may and not those of intellectual reserve, inc. Have you read the sealed portion of the book of mormon yet. Brent metcalfe early years, mark hofmann, the salamander letter, the bombings, the book of abraham, and life after mormonism. The kinderhook platesfirst issue of the nauvoo neighbornew mission. The heartland is the place where it all happened, right under our very noses. The times and seasons, a latterday saint publication, claimed that the existence of the kinderhook plates lent further credibility to the authenticity of the book of mormon. The plates are now back in their original category of genuine. A convert of 33 years, born and raised in wisconsin. And finally on youtubewayne may on ancient american artifacts it says unedited. After that is the entirety of the kinderhook plates incident, which proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that jo unabashedly knew he was a fraud. Stylistically the text is similar to the book of mormon itself. I need help with information on the kinderhook plates third hour forum rules please be familiar with these rules before posting. The kinderhook plates were an archaeological hoax perpetrated.
The finders of the kinderhook plates, and the general public, were keen to know if smith would be able to decipher the symbols on the kinderhook plates as well. They are small and filled with engravings in egyptian language and contain the genealogy of one of the ancient. I have listened attentively to his fireside presentation and watched in amazement as he almost mesmerized his audience with tall tales and misrepresentations of what the book of mormon states. What do the kinderhook plates reveal about joseph smith. May 30, 2018 the bat creek stone is not a proven forgery any more than the book of mormon, the kinderhook plates, the newark holy stones, the walam olum, the michigan tablets, and so many others that have been branded as hoax without a complete and thorough study. Continuing family tradition, she graduated byu with a degree in elementary education and taught for several years. The olmec civilization corresponds with the jaredite timeline, and the olmecs seem to have been black. The six 2 78by2 14inch bellshaped brass plates with strange engravings were reported to have been excavated in kinderhook, illinois, about seventy miles south of nauvoo hc 5. The may 1, 1843 edition of the times and seasons reprinted an article reporting the discovery of the kinderhook plates.
The kinderhook plates were discovered in 1843 in an indian. Etzenhouser, engravings of prehistoric specimens, 3. The fact remains that six small brass plates were unearthed from an ancient burial mound in illinois in 1843. They found a skeleton about six feet from the surface of the earth, which must have stood nine feet high. That one of the apostles was reportedly dispatched to get a hebrew lexicon suggests that the men who were examining the kinderhook plates may have been comparing their characters to hebrew as well as egyptian characters, languages connected by both the book of mormon and book of abraham. The trail winds through some of the steeper hills on the wayne national forest. What do the kinderhook plates reveal about joseph smiths. There is no indication that joseph smith considered the kinderhook plates translation a secular translation. According to wilbur fugate in 1879, the plates were carefully forged by himself and two other men from kinderhook. Do you subscribe to his magazine, ancient american. History of joseph smith was edited into book form as the history of the church in 1909. The book of mormon itself refers to a long tradition of writing historical records on plates, of which the golden plates are a culmination see list of plates latter day saint movement. I need help with information on the kinderhook plates.
The second fugate statement dated june 30, 1879 reads very much like his letter of april 8th. A response to wayne may book of mormon archaeology in north america this is the video in question, and heres the thread that prompted the investigation. Some supposed they were further plates like those that produced the book of mormon. Jan 21, 2015 about ja benson joanna entered the world as a byu baby. You could also do it yourself at any point in time. The plates are now back in their original category of genuine joseph smith, jun. Mormonisms encounter with the michigan relics byu studies. History museum mislabeled as an original gold plate of the book of. The kinderhook plates, the tucson artifacts, and mormon. During the early 19th century when joseph smith was working his magic, we hadnt yet translated any egyptian hieroglyphics. Tests were done on the plates, and they determined not only that the plate was in fact one of the kinderhook plates, but that the story described. In 1980, permission was granted to make some very sophisticated, analytical destructive tests of the kinderhook plate. Henry caswell three days at nauvoo greek psalter expose.
Stanley kimball indicated that accounts related to josephs statements on the authenticity of the kinderhook plates are confused and conflicting, and that joseph may not have ever made such a statement. Wayne may presents book of mormon evidence in north american geography, archaeology and historical records. Kimball, kinderhook plates brought to joseph smith appear to be a nineteenthcentury hoax, ensign 11 august 1981. The kinderhook plates were at joseph smiths home for a brief time. Solving the mystery of the kinderhook plates by don bradley i know after the presentation earlier today you are probably wondering if i am going be speaking about uncombable hair syndrome, but im sorry to disappoint. A branch has been recently organized at lyons, wayne county, new york. Pending thorough linguistic analysis and translation, we may yet unravel the message and the mystery of the plates of kinderhook. But, what people are not told is that the experience was visionary in nature. During the civil war, the kinderhook plates were apparently lost. Service in the church includes four branch presidencies, three elder quorumpresidencies, seminary instructor, gospel doctrine instructor and currently is serving as president of the menomonie wisconsin branch, oakdale, minnesota stake. Kinderhook joseph smith and the kinderhook plates the may 1, 1843 lds publication times and seasons reported the discovery of six brass plates with unusual characters inscribed upon them in a mound near kinderhook, illinois and commented. It appears that a young man by the name of wiley, a resident in kinderhook, dreamed three nights in succession, that in a certain mound in.
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