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Mormonism and Wikipedia/Golden plates/Story
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.
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.[1] The LDS Church has canonized part of this 1838 account as part of its scripture, The Pearl of Great Price.- ↑ 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).