Understanding the age of Joseph Smith when he obtained the gold plates is crucial to understanding the formative years of the Latter-day Saint movement. This event is a cornerstone of the faith and directly relates to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. This article delves into the documented timeline, providing historical context and shedding light on the significance of this pivotal moment.
The Setting: Joseph Smith’s Early Life and Spiritual Seeking
Joseph Smith Jr. was born on December 23, 1805, in Sharon, Vermont. His early life was marked by poverty, hardship, and frequent moves as his family sought economic stability. The Smith family eventually settled in the vicinity of Palmyra, New York, a region experiencing intense religious fervor during the Second Great Awakening.
This environment of religious revivalism deeply impacted young Joseph. He was exposed to various denominations and their competing claims of truth. He struggled with the conflicting messages and sought divine guidance to discern the correct path. This search for truth is a key element in understanding his motivations leading up to the acquisition of the plates.
Joseph’s own account details a period of spiritual seeking and prayer. He described feeling confused by the different denominations and their contradictory doctrines. This confusion, coupled with his desire to find genuine religious truth, led him to earnestly seek divine intervention.
The First Vision: A Foundation for Future Events
According to Joseph Smith’s account, his quest for truth culminated in what is known as the First Vision. In the spring of 1820, while in his fifteenth year, he retreated to a grove of trees to pray. He claimed that God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him.
During this vision, Joseph stated that he was told not to join any of the existing churches, as they were all in error. He was further informed that the fullness of the gospel would be revealed to him at a later time. This experience profoundly shaped Joseph’s understanding of religion and his own divinely appointed role.
While the timing of this vision is crucial, it’s important to note that several different accounts exist regarding the details. These accounts vary slightly in their emphasis and wording, but the central theme remains consistent: Joseph Smith claimed to have received a divine manifestation that guided him on his future path. The impact of this event set the stage for the events surrounding the gold plates.
Moroni’s Visitations: Preparing for the Plates
Three years after the First Vision, on September 21, 1823, Joseph Smith experienced another significant event. According to his account, an angel named Moroni appeared to him in his bedroom. This marked the beginning of a series of visitations that prepared him for the reception of the gold plates.
Moroni informed Joseph about an ancient record written on gold plates, containing the fullness of the gospel and an account of the ancient inhabitants of the American continent. He also revealed the location of the plates, which were buried in a hill called Cumorah, near Palmyra, New York.
During these visits, Moroni instructed Joseph on the history and significance of the plates, emphasizing the important role Joseph was to play in translating and publishing them. Moroni also cautioned Joseph about the challenges and temptations he would face in fulfilling his mission.
Moroni visited Joseph repeatedly over the next four years, each time providing further instruction and preparing him spiritually for the task ahead. These annual visits were a crucial part of Joseph’s preparation, allowing him to mature and develop the necessary spiritual fortitude to handle the responsibility. He was to return to the same spot on Cumorah each year to receive further instruction from Moroni.
The Acquisition of the Plates: When Did It Happen?
The crucial moment arrives when we consider the actual acquisition of the gold plates. Joseph Smith stated that he was allowed to take possession of the plates on September 22, 1827. This was four years after Moroni’s initial visitation in 1823.
Since Joseph Smith was born on December 23, 1805, we can calculate his age when he obtained the plates. By September 22, 1827, he was 21 years old. He would turn 22 three months later.
Therefore, Joseph Smith was 21 years old when he obtained the gold plates from the Angel Moroni on the Hill Cumorah. This fact is a central point in understanding the timeline of the Book of Mormon’s origin and the age at which Joseph Smith began his prophetic work.
Challenges and Persecution: Protecting the Plates
After obtaining the plates, Joseph Smith faced considerable challenges and persecution. Many people, driven by curiosity and greed, sought to steal the plates from him. He had to move the plates several times and keep them carefully hidden to protect them.
These challenges tested Joseph’s faith and resolve. He faced constant harassment and threats from those who did not believe his story. Despite these difficulties, he remained steadfast in his commitment to translate and publish the plates.
Joseph’s family and close friends, including his wife Emma, provided unwavering support during this difficult period. Their faith in his calling helped him persevere through the trials and tribulations he faced. Securing the plates and ensuring their safety became a major preoccupation.
The Translation Process: Unveiling the Book of Mormon
With the plates in his possession, Joseph Smith began the process of translation. According to his account, he translated the plates through the gift and power of God, using the Urim and Thummim, which were ancient instruments provided with the plates.
He worked with scribes, including his wife Emma and later Oliver Cowdery, to record the translation as it came forth. The process was not without its challenges, but Joseph maintained that he was divinely guided in his work.
The translation process took several months and resulted in the publication of the Book of Mormon in March 1830. The publication of the Book of Mormon marked a significant milestone in the history of the Latter-day Saint movement. The act of translation itself became a central part of the narrative.
The Significance of Joseph Smith’s Age
The fact that Joseph Smith was only 21 years old when he obtained the plates is often highlighted in discussions about the Book of Mormon. Some critics argue that it is unlikely that someone so young could have produced such a complex and detailed work.
However, believers argue that Joseph Smith’s youth is a testament to the divine intervention involved in the process. They believe that God chose a young, relatively uneducated individual to be his instrument in bringing forth the Book of Mormon, demonstrating that the work was of divine origin.
Joseph’s age is often considered by both those who accept his claims and those who dispute them. It adds another layer to the complexity surrounding the historical events. It highlights the question of whether a young man, with limited formal education, could produce a work of such magnitude without divine assistance.
Conclusion: A Pivotal Moment in History
The acquisition of the gold plates by Joseph Smith at the age of 21 is a pivotal moment in the history of the Latter-day Saint movement. It marks the beginning of a series of events that led to the publication of the Book of Mormon and the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Understanding the timeline of these events, including Joseph Smith’s age, is essential for comprehending the origins and development of this unique religious tradition. Whether viewed as a divine miracle or a historical fabrication, the story of Joseph Smith and the gold plates continues to fascinate and inspire debate.
The importance of the gold plates cannot be overstated. They represent the physical manifestation of Joseph Smith’s claims and the foundation upon which the Book of Mormon rests.
How old was Joseph Smith when he first saw the gold plates?
Joseph Smith first encountered the gold plates on September 22, 1823, when he was 17 years old. According to his own account and historical records from the period, this initial encounter involved the angel Moroni, who revealed the existence of the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate buried in the Hill Cumorah near his home in Palmyra, New York.
Moroni instructed Joseph that he was not yet ready to receive the plates, but that he would be able to obtain them in four years if he kept the commandments of God and continued to seek divine guidance. This initial visitation marked the beginning of a crucial period of preparation and refinement for Joseph Smith.
When did Joseph Smith finally obtain the gold plates from the Hill Cumorah?
Joseph Smith obtained the gold plates on September 22, 1827, four years after his first encounter with the angel Moroni. This was after repeated visits to the Hill Cumorah on the anniversary of the initial revelation each year. He was finally deemed ready to take possession of the plates.
Upon receiving the plates, Joseph was instructed by Moroni to translate them and publish their contents to the world. This marked the beginning of the challenging process of translation that would ultimately lead to the publication of the Book of Mormon.
What happened during the four years between Joseph seeing the plates and receiving them?
During the four years between Joseph Smith’s first encounter with the angel Moroni and his eventual acquisition of the gold plates, he was instructed by Moroni on a yearly basis. Each September 22nd, Joseph visited the Hill Cumorah and received further teachings and warnings about the importance of the work he was to perform. These instructions emphasized the need for personal righteousness and obedience to divine commandments.
These annual visits served as a period of preparation and testing for Joseph Smith. He was taught about the history and significance of the plates, as well as the responsibilities that came with being chosen to translate and publish them. These years were crucial for Joseph’s spiritual development and readiness to undertake the translation process.
What is the significance of the angel Moroni in the story of the gold plates?
The angel Moroni plays a pivotal role in the story of the gold plates and the Book of Mormon. According to Joseph Smith’s account, Moroni was the last prophet to write on the plates and was responsible for burying them in the Hill Cumorah. He served as a messenger from God to Joseph Smith, revealing the existence and location of the plates and instructing him on their purpose.
Moroni’s visits were essential in guiding Joseph Smith through the process of preparing to receive, translate, and publish the Book of Mormon. He imparted divine knowledge and warnings, helping Joseph understand the sacred nature of the plates and the weight of the responsibility placed upon him. Moroni’s role underscores the divine origin and purpose attributed to the Book of Mormon.
How did Joseph Smith describe the appearance of the gold plates?
Joseph Smith described the gold plates as having the appearance of gold, bound together by rings in a book form. He indicated that they were covered with engravings of ancient writing, which he later translated into the Book of Mormon. He also described the plates as being of substantial weight, contributing to the difficulty of transporting and protecting them.
His description consistently portrays the plates as an ancient record with a tangible presence. He emphasized that the plates were made of a material that had the appearance of gold and were carefully constructed to preserve the historical and religious information they contained. This detailed description adds to the physical reality Joseph Smith attributed to the plates.
What is the Urim and Thummim, and what role did it play in the translation process?
The Urim and Thummim is described in the Book of Mormon and other Latter-day Saint scriptures as an instrument prepared by God to aid in translation. Joseph Smith stated that he received the Urim and Thummim along with the gold plates from the angel Moroni. It is often described as a pair of stones set in silver bows, resembling spectacles.
Joseph Smith used the Urim and Thummim as an aid in translating the engravings on the gold plates into English. He described looking through the Urim and Thummim, which enabled him to see the English translation appear before him, which he then dictated to a scribe. The Urim and Thummim played a central role in the translation process according to Joseph Smith’s account.
What evidence supports the existence of the gold plates?
Historical evidence supporting the existence of the gold plates primarily comes from the testimonies of witnesses who claimed to have seen and handled them. Eleven individuals, known as the Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses, signed statements attesting to the reality of the plates. Their testimonies are included in the introduction of the Book of Mormon.
Beyond the witness testimonies, no physical evidence of the gold plates has been independently verified. The plates were reportedly returned to the angel Moroni after the translation was completed. The absence of the plates and the reliance on witness accounts remain central aspects of the ongoing debate regarding the Book of Mormon’s origin and historicity.