Sealed Portion of the Book of Mormon

[_Yoda]

Scottie's thread on the lost 116 pages got me thinking about the supposed sealed portion of the Book of Mormon.

You never hear about this anymore. Where is the sealed portion? Did Moroni "take it up"?

When I was little, I was always told that the sealed portion of the plates would more than likely be translated during my lifetime. I'm assuming that this is one of those "Mormon Urban Myths".

Anyone have any information on the sealed plates?

[_Thama]

Yes, Moroni did supposedly "take it up" into heaven.

I am interested to see if the Church will just indefinitely hold out and imply that the members or the world aren't ready for the coming forth of the sealed portion, or if at some point they will claim that they have translated it and issue it as new scripture. The latter would appear to me to be a bad move, especially as the changing of many Western social mores gives them a convenient excuse to hold out -- the growing "wickedness of the world".

[_Uncle Dale]

...
the sealed portion
...

Craig Criddle tells us this:

IN 1868 RIGDON WROTE A LETTER TO "THE FIRST PRESIDENCY OF ZION" IN WHICH HE CLAIMED TO KNOW THE CONTENTS OF THE SEALED PORTION OF THE Book of Mormon

In a letter dated Sept 1, 1868, Rigdon wrote that the sealed portion of The Book of Mormon contained an account of the history of Zion, including prophecies of the Old Testament prophets, and an account of Joseph in Egypt. He also described the remnant of Joseph account as a kind of on-going revelation, that was unfolding with the destruction of the Smith family (Van Wagoner, 1994). That would be consistent with The Spalding-Rigdon Theory in which Rigdon presumably updated and revised Spalding's "scriptures".

Rigdon's 1868 letter poses a dilemma for those who dismiss the Spalding-Rigdon Theory. Either an untranslated portion of The Book of Mormon existed or it did not. If no untranslated portion existed, why did Rigdon claim that it did? What does this indicate about Rigdon's willingness to deceive in order to obtain and retain a following? Does this mean that he lied? If he lied in this case, why should any weight be placed on his denials of having participated in the creation of The Book of Mormon? On the other hand, if an untranslated record did exist, how would Rigdon know its contents if he had nothing to do with the fabrication of The Book of Mormon?

http://www.mormonstudies.com/criddle/rigdon.htm#25

From Richard van Wagoner's biography of Sidney Rigdon:

[p.461]

Appendices

1: Sidney Rigdon on the Sealed Portion of the Gold Plates

One of Sidney Rigdon's most interesting explications is on the contents of the sealed portion of the "gold plates"
of the Book of Mormon which Joseph Smith was not allowed to translate. Rigdon included his exegesis in a 1 September
1868 letter "To the First Presidency of Zion" (original in Stephen Post Collection, box i, fd. 16, also sec. 42,
Copying Book A, box 3, fd. 12; archives, Historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
Salt Lake City, Utah).

Inasmuch as I the Lord desire to have peace and unity among the children of Zion[,] I will, as far as wisdom in
me requires, give to my people an understanding of the character of the things which are engraven on the sealed
plates.

Let the children of Zion therefore know that the record spoken of differs from the Book of Mormon in its being
historical instead of doctrinal[.] The [B]ook of Mormon teachesÉthe requirements of the Lord pertaining to
perfection with the laws of obedience and all things pertaining to the gospel[.] As also to show unto the saints
the proper applications of the prophecies of the former prophets to themselves and how to understand them as
pertaining to their own salvation.

But the untranslated record deals [with] the history of Zion -- as it existed from the commencement under the
administration of Joseph Smith and gives not only the history of Zion but of Joseph Smith also under whose
administration it first made its appearance shewing how it was that "He" was called to that work giving the history
of his corrupting his way before the Lord and using the grace of god bestowed on him to gratifiy la[s]civious
desires and the prostitution of it to carnal and sensual purposes and gratifications[.] It gives his history
untill he was rejected and cut off from before the Lord and it continues his history to his final doom being
cast out with the hypocrits into outer darkness where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

These plates also give a history of Joseph in Egypt being lifted up in the pride of his heart and his having desired
to use the power he had to obtain worldly fame and to be thought great amongst men[,] and to gratify this ambition
sought to


[p.462]

glorify his name "Joseph." and knowing that from his loins was to come the priesthood that should gather Israel
in the last days he desired of the Lord that the name of the servant revelator might be Joseph "and" by reason of
this covenent Joseph Smith was called.

In addition to this saith the Lord those plates give the history of the family to which Joseph Smith belongeth
giving an account of their being lifted up in the pride of their hearts and in consequence of that fell into the
condemnations of the Devil and were rejected of god; and He the god of Zion swore in his wrath that they nor any of
their descendents should ever have power or authority in Zion forever and ever.

And now saith the Lord can not the children of Zion understand the reason why no part of this accord could be made
known untill an other revelator stood before the Lord through whom it could come and had there not another revelator
rose up before the Lord no part of it could ever have come to light; for it was not possible for any man to have
brought to light his own fate as it is written in that record.

The sealed plates saith the Lord also follows the corrupted church through the period of its existence giving the
names of the 12 [apostles] who succeeded the Smith family in the rule of that people untill they, like the Smith
family, were cut down and cast into the fire from whence there is no return.

Again saith the Lord, after giving
the history of the first organization till it disappeared from the earth the record gives the history of the coming
forth of Zion out of the ruins of the corrupted church giving the names of those through whom it came both men and
women including the 12 through whose faith and mighty works Zion shall be pushed to her triumph.É The vision of
Obadiah is of that number which is recorded on the sealed plates in fact. There are also of the prophecies of the
former prophets such as Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel and other[s] of the prophets transferred onto the sealed
plates [and] were connected with the plates from whence the Book of Mormon was translated such as relate to the
affairs of the authorities of Zion as redeemed from the corruptions of the old church and delivered directly to
the children of Zion and none other separating those prophecies from all others so that Zion might have her own
appointed to herself.

But behold and Lo! saith the Lord the rise and progress of Zion to her perfection are a practical translation of
the sealed plates so that Zion as she passes along practically translates the sealed plates.
http://solomonspalding.com/Lib/vWg1994a.htm

UD

[_cinepro]

Obviously, the "Sealed Portion" coming forth would be huge. But I don't think it's ever going to happen.

Whatever you believe about Joseph Smith and the abilities of his prophetic successors, I think it's obvious that Joseph possessed some talent or gift from God that 2-16 haven't. Over the years, the role of "Prophet" in the Church has become increasingly bureaucratic, to the point that I don't think any GA would have the stones (or stone) to actually produce a scripture that claims to be a translation of an ancient document. I think Paul H. Dunn was probably the most qualified GA in the last 50 years to attempt such a task, but his fast-track to seerhood was unceremoniously derailed, and I don't see anyone waiting in the wings.

Some might expect the "Sealed Portion" to be threatening to someone who has doubts about the historicity of the Book of Mormon such as myself. But I think it presents far more danger to those who believe. Especially the apologists. If you look at the intricate web of arguments and evidences woven to support belief in the Book of Mormon, it is easy to see how the Sealed Portion could be catastrophic to such a worldview, with so many opportunities for contradictory data to bring the whole house of cards crashing down.

As it is, people believe in the Book of Mormon, they love it, they read it, and even trained scholars find enough evidence to believe it. The Sealed Portion is only going to upset that apple-cart, so it best lay hidden.

[_Gadianton]

As we know, over the years there have been a number of purported sealed portion translations. This makes the apologists very upset, and anytime it's brought up, they treat the sealed portionees with the same contempt and ignorance for "adding to the Book of Mormon" with something they think is hoaky and an obvious fraud that they feel EV Christians treat them with for "adding to the Bible" with something they think is silly and an obvious fraud.

[_harmony]

As we know, over the years there have been a number of purported sealed portion translations. This makes the apologists very upset, and anytime it's brought up, they treat the sealed portionees with the same contempt and ignorance for "adding to the Book of Mormon" with something they think is hoaky and an obvious fraud that they feel EV Christians treat them with for "adding to the Bible" with something they think is silly and an obvious fraud.

Which only goes to show that Mormons are as tribal as everyone else. If our tribe does it, it's good. If someone else's tribe does it, it's condemned. And if someone inside our tribe does something without official approvaly and appropriate oversight, they're instantly condemned and subject to swift execution... I mean excommunication.

It's all about control. It's always been about control.

[_cinepro]

As we know, over the years there have been a number of purported sealed portion translations. This makes the apologists very upset, and anytime it's brought up, they treat the sealed portionees with the same contempt and ignorance for "adding to the Book of Mormon" with something they think is hoaky and an obvious fraud that they feel EV Christians treat them with for "adding to the Bible" with something they think is silly and an obvious fraud.

Well obviously they're frauds. They usually blatantly copy the "Book of Mormon" word patterns with lots of "And it came to pass" and names that are thinly veiled permutations of "Nephi" or "Coriantumr". Sometimes they borrow whole passages from the Book of Mormon! Then they veer into obvious 20th century influences with "prophecies" that have already been "fulfilled", but precious little specific prophecy for the time period after the publication date.

When you've got red flags like that, there's no need to read, ponder and pray.

Exhibits A and B:
http://www.thesealedportion.com/
http://www.absalom.com/Mormon/mohonri/contents.html