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 [[Book of Mormon witnesses|several witnesses]] who said they saw the golden plates.  

 

The best known elements of the golden plates story are found in a version told by Smith in 1838 and incorporated into the official church histories of some [[Latter Day Saint movement]] denominations.<!--

 

FOOTNOTE--><ref>{{Harvtxt|Smith|1838a}};{{harvtxt|Roberts|1902|loc=ch.1-6}} (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]]).</ref><!--

 

--> [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|The LDS Church]] has [[Biblical canon|canonized]] part of this 1838 account as part of its [[religious text|scripture]], [[Pearl of Great Price (Latter Day Saints)|The Pearl of Great Price]].