Mormonism and Wikipedia/Golden plates/Location

Translating the plates

A FairMormon Analysis of Wikipedia: Mormonism and Wikipedia/Golden plates A work by a collaboration of authors (Link to Wikipedia article here)

Returning the plates

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An analysis of the Wikipedia article "Golden plates" (Version December 10, 2009)

Reputed location of the plates during translation

-	Wikipedia Main Article: Golden plates–	Wikipedia Footnotes: Golden plates–Notes	A FAIR Opinion
	When Joseph and Emma moved to Pennsylvania in October 1827, they transported a wooden box, which Smith said contained the plates, hidden in a barrel of beans.	Smith (1853) , p. 113; Harris (1859) , p. 170.	Correct, per cited sources
	For a time the couple stayed in the home of Emma's father Isaac Hale; but when Smith refused to show Hale the plates, Hale banished the concealed objects from his house.	Hale (1834) , p. 264; Knight (1833) , p. 3.	Correct, per cited sources From Mormonism Unvailed: I was informed they had brought a wonderful book of Plates down with them. I was shown a box in which it is said they were contained, which had to all appearances, been used as a glass box of the common window glass. I was allowed to feel the weight of the box, and they gave me to understand, that the book of plates was then in the box -- into which, however, I was not allowed to look. I inquired of Joseph Smith Jr., who was to be the first who would be allowed to see the Book of Plates? He said it was a young child. After this, I became dissatisfied, and informed him that if there was any thing in my house of that description, which I could not be allowed to see, he must take it away; if he did not, I was determined to see it. After that, the Plates were said to be hid in the woods. For a detailed response, see: The Hurlbut affidavits
	Afterward, Smith told several of his associates that the plates were hidden in the nearby woods.	Hale (1834) , p. 264; Knight (1833) , p. 3; Smith (1853) , p. 115.	Correct, per cited sources For a detailed response, see: The Hurlbut affidavits
	Emma said that she remembered the plates being on a table in the house, wrapped in a linen tablecloth, which she moved from time to time when it got in the way of her chores.	Smith (1879) .	Correct, per cited sources
	According to Smith's mother, the plates were also stored in a trunk on Emma's bureau.	Smith (1853) , p. 124.	Correct, per cited sources
	However, Smith did not require the physical presence of the plates in order to translate them.	Stevenson (1882) ; Hale (1834) , pp. 264–65; Van Horn (1881) ; Whitmer (1875) ("The plates were not before Joseph while he translated, but seem to have been removed by the custodian angel."). Isaac Hale said that while Joseph was translating, the plates were "hid in the woods" Hale (1834) , p. 264. Joseph Smith, Sr. said they were "hid in the mountains" Palmer (2002) , pp. 2-5.	Correct, per cited sources For a detailed response, see: Were the plates actually required during the translation process?
	In April 1828, Martin Harris' wife, Lucy, visited Harmony with her husband and demanded to see the plates. When Smith refused to show them to her, she searched the house, grounds, and woods. According to Smith's mother, during the search Lucy was frightened by a large black snake and thus prevented from digging up the plates.	Smith (1853) , pp. 115–116. Lucy may have caused the "loss" of the 116 manuscript pages, which Smith had lent her husband. the mountains" Palmer (2002) , pp. 2-5.	Correct, per cited sources We are not sure why the word "loss" needs to be included in scare quotes—the manuscript existed, and it was indeed lost.
	As a result of Martin Harris' loss of the 116 pages of manuscript, Smith said that between July and September 1828, the angel Moroni took back both the plates and the Urim and Thummim as a penalty for his having delivered "the manuscript into the hands of a wicked man."	Smith (1853) , p. 125 (stating that the angel took back the Urim and Thummim, but referring to the revelation that stated the plates were taken too); Smith (1832) , p. 5 (referring only to the plates); Phelps (1833) (a revelation referring only to the plates and to Smith's "gift" to translate).
	According to Smith's mother, the angel returned the objects to Smith on September 22, 1828, the autumn equinox and the anniversary of the day he first received them.	Smith (1853) , p. 126.	Violates Wikipedia: Citing sources off-site— There is either no citation to support the statement or the citation given is incorrect. Violated by COgden —Diff: off-site Lucy does not mention the "autumn equinox." In fact, the autumn equinox has been mentioned previously—why is it being mentioned again here? Is it necessary to mention the equinox every time the date September 22 is mentioned?
	In March 1829, Martin Harris visited Harmony and asked to see the plates. Smith told him that he "would go into the woods where the Book of Plates was, and that after he came back, Harris should follow his tracks in the snow, and find the Book, and examine it for himself." Harris followed these directions but could not find the plates.	Hale (1834) , pp. 264–265.	Correct, per cited sources According to Isaac Hale as quoted in Mormonism Unvailed: Martin Harris informed me that he must have a greater witness, and said that he had talked with Joseph about it -- Joseph informed him that he could not, or durst not show him the plates, but that he (Joseph) would go into the woods where the Book of Plates was, and that after he came back, Harris should follow his track in the snow, and find the Book, and examine it for himself. Harris informed me afterwards, that he followed Smith's directions, and could not find the Plates, and was still dissatisfied.
	In early June 1829, the unwanted attentions of locals around Harmony necessitated Smith's move to the home of David Whitmer and his parents in Fayette, New York. Smith said that during this move the plates were transported by the angel Moroni, who put them in the garden of the Whitmer house where Smith could recover them. The translation was completed at the Whitmer home.	Smith (1853) , p. 137; Salisbury (1895) , p. 16.

References

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