The Golden Plates as a Pattern of Heavenly Things

In 1820, Joseph Smith experienced his first vision of Jesus Christ and God the Father. Seven years later, after much refinement through persecution, Joseph was prepared to receive the golden plates known today as the Book of Mormon. He details the account of obtaining the plates below:

[…] Convenient to the village of Manchester, Ontario County, New York, stands a hill of considerable size and the most elevated of any in the neighborhood. On the west side of this hill, not far from the top, under a stone of considerable size, lay the plates deposited in a stone box. This stone was thick and rounding in the middle on the upper side, and thinner towards the edges, so that the middle part of it was visible above the ground, but the edge all round was covered with earth. Having removed the earth, and obtained a lever which I got fixed under the edge of the stone, and with a little exertion raised it up, I looked in. And there indeed did I behold the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate, as stated by the messenger. The box in which they lay was formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement; in the bottom of the box were laid two stones crossways of the box, and on these stones lay the plates and the other things with them.

I made an attempt to take them out, but was forbidden by the messenger and was again informed that the time for bringing them forth had not yet arrived, neither would until four years from that time. But he told me that I should come to that place precisely in one year from that time and that he would there meet with me, and that I should continue to do so until the time should come for obtaining the plates.

[…] At length the time arrived for obtaining the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate. On September 22nd, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, having went as usual at the end of another year to the place where they were deposited, the same Heavenly messenger delivered them up to me with this charge: that I should be responsible for them; that if I should let them go carelessly or through any neglect of mine I should be cut off; but that if I would use all my endeavors to preserve them until he (the messenger) should call for them, they should be protected ( Joseph Smith-History 1:51-53, 59 ). 

At first glance, detailing the land's topography, stone box, specific dates, and angels may seem arbitrary. However, this post will explain how they are anything but arbitrary and strengthen Joseph's narrative instead. I will also attempt to compare Joseph's experience to other settings recorded in scripture.

Mountains: A Holy Setting

Mountaintops have long been considered acceptable locations to commune with God, usually symbolizing ascent, rite of passage, and temples. Jesus, for example, would often retreat to the hills and mountains outside the city walls of Jerusalem to commune with God despite there being a recognized temple he called his "Father's house" (Luke 6:12 KJV). It makes sense then that God would lead Joseph Smith to "a hill of considerable size and the most elevated of any in the neighborhood" on this occasion.  

 

                             

       

You will also note that Joseph obtained the plates on the west side of the hill. Many things can be said about what the West spiritually represents, but for the purposes of this subject, I see a parallel between the hill's west side and the Tabernacle's west end. As a High Priest approached the Tabernacle, he would first enter through the Eastern Gate and progress towards the Western Holy of Holies, where he would ultimately encounter God's presence. Likewise, Joseph recounts that it was the west side of the hill, "not far from the top," where he met with the angel sent from God's presence. 

Temple imagery is beginning to emerge. 

Arks: A Holy Box

 

Inside the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant box containing unique relics—Aaron's rod, a jar of manna, and the stone tablets written by God's finger. Like the Ark of the Covenant, the stone box Joseph knelt before also contained unique artifacts, such as the golden plates, a High Priest's breastplate, and Urim and Thummim. Indeed, the stone box was a new Ark of Covenant in a location parallel to the Holy of Holies. 

Engravings: A Holy Touch 

 

Even though there were other artifacts in the stone box, Joseph primarily focused on the golden record. He conceals the description of the breastplate in his account and provides only a little about the Urim and Thummim but gives the greatest detail to the plates. He said:

These records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of gold, each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long and not quite so thick as common tin. They were filled with engravings in Egyptian characters and bound together in a volume as the leaves of a book, with three rings running through the whole. The volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed. The characters on the unsealed part were small and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity in its construction and much skill in the art of engraving (Times and Seasons, March 1st, 1842, Page 707).

Why would this be important to mention?

Engraved words on gold plates point our minds to both the inscribed stone tablets and the engravings, or wounds, upon the Lord himself. Isaiah wrote, "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands" (Isaiah 49:16 KJV). 

The temple imagery detailed in this post is beginning to shift to its proper focus: that the stone tablets, the gold plates, and the Lord are all engraved records that, despite being once buried, are destined to be seen, touched, and testified of. 

Plates No More: A Holy Return

In the New Testament, after Christ's resurrection, he showed himself to a small group of people, including his 11 apostles (pending Judas’ replacement). After his ascension, they were sent forth to bear record of what they had seen. Unable to show the Lord to the people they were sent to, they were left with only their written or spoken testimony that Christ lives. 

Likewise, before the golden plates were returned to the angel's custody, 11 additional men besides Joseph were shown the plates and commanded by God to bear record of what they saw. Their testimonies are now known as the Testimony of Three Witnesses and the Testimony of Eight Witnesses. 

Without the physical proof of the plates for all to see, people today are left with only the written testimony of men who saw and handled them. This unquestionably mirrors the same pattern of those who have not seen Jesus but are asked to receive the message of those who have. Unfortunately, many who claim to have received Jesus this way lack the faith to follow the same pattern once more by investigating the message of the Book of Mormon. 

Conclusion: A Holy Faith 

Everything in this post helps highlight ancient patterns occurring once again in modern times. The parallels are intended to help us recognize what comes from God. By identifying these patterns, we can better acknowledge his Word among men and exercise faith in his ways.

The Book of Mormon is the "keystone of our religion" and "the most correct book." Those two statements cannot be divorced from how Joseph obtained the record described in this post. Everything Joseph did to get them, from beginning to end, testifies and bares record of our Lord. It testifies to his life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. And just as the Book of Mormon has two portions - one translated and one yet to be revealed - so is that a shadow and type of our Lord's first and second coming.

This post did not detail every parallel I see, but what I've been able to discover is listed below. I hope you see what I see and uncover more to return and report.