70: Where Did Joseph Smith Get the Idea for Ancient Plates?
From LDS Discussions - Mormon Truth Claims Examined by Mormon Stories Podcast
January 23, 2026 · 1h 50m
About this episode
This episode explores the origins of the concept of ancient metal plates in relation to Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.
Welcome to Episode 70 of our LDS Discussions series!In this episode, our panel takes a deep dive into one of the most debated questions surrounding the Book of Mormon: were ancient metal plates a known concept in Joseph Smith’s world, and are they truly comparable to the golden plates he described?We examine historical sources from the 18th and 19th centuries that reference metal records –brass, copper, lead, and stone –and place them within Joseph Smith’s cultural and intellectual milieu. From biblical scholarship and early American speculation about Native American origins to apologists’ use of presentism, this episode carefully distinguishes between general awareness of metal inscriptions and the specific, unprecedented claims of a large golden codex containing extensive narrative text.Along the way, we explore major figures, books, and ideas circulating before and during Joseph Smith’s lifetime, assess whether these sources were likely known to him, and ask a crucial question: at what point does probability break down –not because of a single anachronism, but because of the sheer scale and complexity of the plates described in the Book of Mormon?This conversation builds…
People in this episode
Host: John Dehlin
Topics covered
- Joseph Smith
- ancient plates
- Book of Mormon
- historical sources
- cultural context
- biblical scholarship
Keywords
- Joseph Smith
- golden plates
- metal records
- historical context
- 18th century
- 19th century
- apologetics
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Mormon Stories
Books & works: Book of Mormon
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