Do you believe the plates existed?

[Res Ipsa]

“The plates often lay on the table without any attempt at concealment, wrapped in a small linen tablecloth, which I had given him [Joseph Smith, Jr.] to fold them in. I once felt of the plates, as they thus lay on the table, tracing their outline and shape. They seemed to be pliable like thick paper, and would rustle with a metallic sound when the edges were moved by the thumb, as one does sometimes thumb the edges of a book. … I did not attempt to handle the plates, other than I have told you, nor uncover them to look at them. I was satisfied that it was the work of God, and therefore did not feel it to be necessary to do so. … I moved them from place to place on the table, as it was necessary in doing my work.” (The Saints’ Herald, 1 Oct. 1879, p. 290; spelling modernized.)

It would have been quite an elaborate prop if they had the properties she describes.

Do you really think so? Based on the date of the source, this is a 50-year-old recollection of handling the "plates" through a tablecloth one time. Not the most reliable evidence just based on the nature of human memory.

[drumdude]

It would have been quite an elaborate prop if they had the properties she describes.

Do you really think so? Based on the date of the source, this is a 50-year-old recollection of handling the "plates" through a tablecloth one time. Not the most reliable evidence just based on the nature of human memory.

I agree, just playing devils advocate since DCP thinks this is some of the strongest evidence out there for Mormonism. He thinks it’s implausible that Smith would have been able to fabricate the plates, make them gold, scratch the writing on them, etc all as a teenage illiterate farm boy.

[Res Ipsa]

Do you really think so? Based on the date of the source, this is a 50-year-old recollection of handling the "plates" through a tablecloth one time. Not the most reliable evidence just based on the nature of human memory.

I agree, just playing devils advocate since DCP thinks this is some of the strongest evidence out there for Mormonism. He thinks it’s implausible that Smith would have been able to fabricate the plates, make them gold, scratch the writing on them, etc all as a teenage illiterate farm boy.

Ah, thanks!

[2bizE]

Do I believe gold plates inscribed with writings in “Reformed Egyptian”, that were passed down from ancient prophets until an Angel visited a young man telling him where to dig them from the earth, which he obtained and then “translated” the writings by not looking at the plates at all, but rather placing a magic rock in a top hat and words magically displaying on the rock in English (possibly in Comic Sans font) which Joseph dictated and the words were written down….No.