Did Joseph Smith discover the Nephite ark of the covenant? Ep. 154

David explores the parallels between the contents of the stone box where Joseph Smith found the golden plates, and the contents of the Israelite Ark of the Covenant.

Video transcript and notes: https://bit.ly/3tiGQKw

— There is some debate over whether the Liahona and Sword of Laban were found within the stone box with the plates and interpreters. While there are some records indicating these additional items were indeed found within the box, we don’t have any statements directly from Joseph Smith confirming that. It is possible that they came into play later. In either case, these ancient relics do not appear to be randomly chosen, and the association with the temple is nonetheless apparent. For example, the sword of Goliath was not kept within the ark of the covenant itself, but it was still an important temple relic. Thus, while I believe these additional objects probably were found within the box, I do not believe it is imperative that they be found within the stone box for the association to stay relevant.

For example, even if these objects were not all found together, Doctrine and Covenants 17 groups them together nonetheless: “Behold, I say unto you, that you must rely upon my word, which if you do with full purpose of heart, you shall have a view of the plates, and also of the breastplate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim, which were given to the brother of Jared upon the mount, when he talked with the Lord face to face, and the miraculous directors which were given to Lehi while in the wilderness, on the borders of the Red Sea.” For a list of quotes suggesting that the sword of Laban and Liahona were in fact found within the stone box, please see the notes further below.

— The only “gold plate” with writing on it in the Old Testament was part of the high priest’s ceremonial headwear. There was a gold plate attached to the forehead containing the words, “Holiness to the Lord”.

— If Joseph Smith was a fraud and the parallels were intentional, it assumes a few things about Joseph: First, he had to have been familiar enough with the Bible to know about ancient Israelites temple relics, including the contents of the ark, their symbolism, and functions. Note that these references are scattered throughout the entire Bible. Then, Joseph would have had to intentionally concoct a backstory for each of the parallel Nephite artifacts, and then he would have to make sure to be consistent in keeping track of all of these items throughout the 500+ page story he invented about Nephites and Lamanites. And he would have had to convey this story to his scribe without any notes or reference materials, hour after hour, day after day. Then, he would have had to convince his family and many others that he actually had physically obtained these objects by somehow creating convincing forgeries. And after all of that effort, he would have to play ignorant of most of these parallels throughout the rest of his life (scholars are only recently bringing some of these parallels to light). Food for thought.

— Here are a few quote suggesting that the sword of Laban and Liahona were found within the stone box with the other relics:
— “I remember well the trials my brother had, before he obtained the records. After he had the vision, he went frequently to the hill, and upon returning he would tell us, “I have seen the records, also the brass plates and the sword of Laban with the breast plate and the interpreters.” Source: Katharine (Catherine) Salisbury, “Dear Sisters,” The Saints Herald 33 (1 May 1886): 260.
— “Joseph Smith says he found, with these [Moroni’s] plates, … the sword of Laban.” … “…besides the plates, he had, according to his third story, a breast -plate of brass, Laban’s sword, the crystal interpreters, [and] the ‘brass ball with spindles’ director of Lehi.” Source: John Hyde, Mormonism: Its Leaders and Designs (New York: Fetridge, 1857), 215, 244.
— “Joseph related that he found the plates in a stone box along with a sword and breastplate.” Source: Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith (New York: Knopf, 1979), 39.
— “We see him receiving the treasure, as pictured in the engraving. He is holding the book in his hands, while the breast-plate rests on the edge of the stone box, with the sword of Laban nearby.” Source: Edward Stevenson, Reminiscences of Joseph, the Prophet (Salt Lake City: Stevenson, 1893), 2, 19, 21.
— “Joseph ascertained that the remaining articles were a gold hilt and chain, and a gold ball with two pointers.” Source: Interview with LaFayette Latham (recalling an interview with Joseph Smith Sr. from 1830), published in Historical Magazine 7 (May 1870): 305–09. Link: https://bit.ly/3yaQtvM

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