Did Joseph Smith Use Golden Plates to Translate the Book of Mormon? - John Turner Pt. 4 | Ep. 2030
Did Joseph Smith Use Golden Plates to Translate the Book of Mormon? - John Turner Pt. 4 | Ep. 2030  
Podcast: Mormon Stories Podcast
Published On: Thu Jun 12 2025
Description: In Part 4 of our deep-dive podcast series with historian Dr. John G. Turner, we explore one of the most debated questions in Latter-day Saint history: Did Joseph Smith actually use the golden plates to translate the Book of Mormon?We also cover the roles of Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris, Cowdery’s relationship to the Smiths, the use of seer stones and divining rods, and the complex origins of LDS priesthood authority. This episode covers chapter five in John G. Turner’s new book titled Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet, revealing new perspectives on how the Book of Mormon was produced and what was happening behind the scenes.Topics include:Joseph’s poverty and early strugglesMartin Harris’ doubts and dedicationTranslation methods and spiritual toolsPriesthood revelations and baptismsInternal conflicts and legacyDon’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy thoughtful conversations on religious history.00:00:00 Introduction00:08:30 Overview of the last episode 00:13:44 The revelations that Joseph Smith recorded00:16:54 Discussing whether or not Mormons are Christian00:42:30 Lemuel Durfee and the Smith’s losing their farm00:51:55 The golden plates were completely unused with Oliver Cowdery01:04:10 Oliver Cowdery attempting to translate the golden plates01:22:43 Joseph and Oliver baptize each other with the priesthood01:31:40 How was the Book of Mormon produced?01:40:00 Closing remarks___________________Show NotesYouTubeMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:⁠⁠One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠Venmo⁠⁠Our Platforms:⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠Social Media:⁠⁠Insta: @mormstories⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Discord⁠⁠Contact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117