FAIR: Joseph Smith didn't act in prophet's role during translation of Kinderhook plates

By Rhett Wilkinson, For the Deseret News

Published: Tuesday, Aug. 9 2011 5:00 a.m. MDT

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Summary

Though the Kinderhook plates have often been used to disprove the authenticity of Joseph Smith’s seer-ship, evidence exists to show that Joseph had begun to translate the plates out of curiosity rather than as his role as a prophet, student says.

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Enola

BOUNTIFUL, UT

For years the church taught that Joseph translated the Kinderhook Plates and that they were authentic. The plates were used an example of Joseph's prophetic translation abilities. Then when the plates were discovered to be a fraud, apologists said More..

11:14 a.m. Aug. 9, 2011
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Enola

BOUNTIFUL, UT

It was taught many places included the comprehensive history of the church, in the Ensign, and by LDS scholars. Here is the excerpt from the history of the church:

"I have seen 6 brass plates which were found in Adams County by some More..

1:33 p.m. Aug. 9, 2011
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Enola

BOUNTIFUL, UT

Sorry, I failed to answer your question about the timeline. It appears to have been from about 1843 until the 1980s. In 1966, BYU tested one of the plates and proved it to be a 19th century creation. However, teachings from church leaders about the More..

1:44 p.m. Aug. 9, 2011
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