Seer Stones and the Miracle of Book of Mormon Translation
Podcast: Informed SaintsPublished On: Sun Sep 21 2025
Description: Was Joseph Smith’s use of seer stones evidence of superstition — or of divine power? In this episode of Informed Saints, hosts Jasmin Rappleye, Neal Rappleye, and Stephen Smoot sit down with Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat (BYU professor, historian, and author of From Darkness unto Light) to explore the historical sources behind the Book of Mormon translation. Together, they discuss what the witnesses saw, how early Saints understood seer stones and the Urim and Thummim, and why the very strangeness of the translation process actually strengthens, rather than weakens, the case for its divinity. What you’ll learn: Why Joseph’s contemporaries saw seer stones as miraculous, not fraudulent How early accounts from Emma Smith, Martin Harris, and others describe the translation The difference between folk magic, biblical precedent, and divine seership Why the physical reality of the gold plates remains the strongest defense of Joseph’s calling A faith-affirming conversation that blends history, theology, and testimony. Here are some of the resources discussed in the episode as well as other valuable resources on this topic! -Artwork credit to Anthony Sweat who granted permissions for us to share his incredible artwork. https://www.anthonysweat.com Start here (official & concise) Gospel Topics — Book of Mormon Translation https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/book-of-mormon-translation Church History Topic — Seer Stones https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/seer-stones Saints, Vol. 1 (The Standard of Truth) https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/saints-v1 Primary sources (witnesses & early attestations) Emma Smith’s 1879 “Last Testimony” (PDF) https://rsc.byu.edu/sites/default/files/pub_content/pdf/testimony%20of%20emma%20smith.pdf Joseph Knight Sr. reminiscences (Church History Library catalog) https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/record/37b7b91c-4148-45d6-8f32-df4acf06fe99 David Whitmer — An Address to All Believers in Christ https://archive.org/details/addresstoallbeli00whit Early newspaper: Jonathan A. Hadley (Palmyra Freeman, 1829) https://rsc.byu.edu/coming-forth-book-mormon/joseph-smiths-negotiations-publish-book-mormon Wilford Woodruff Papers (Urim & Thummim; Manti consecration) https://www.wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/day-in-church-history/1841-12-02 Scholarship & synthesis (faithful) Turley, Jensen & Ashurst-McGee — “Joseph the Seer” (Ensign, Oct. 2015) https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2015/10/joseph-the-seer Chapters (00:00:00) - Book of Mormon Restoration: From Darkness Unto Light(00:04:17) - How Was the Book of Mormon Translated?(00:10:12) - Questions about the Translation of the Book of Mormon(00:16:28) - Seer Stones and Folk Magic in Early Mormonism(00:21:47) - On Joseph Smith's Clairvoyance(00:26:03) - Seer Stones and the Book of Mormon(00:32:21) - Martin Harris on the Book of Mormon(00:39:31) - The Origins of the Book of Mormon(00:46:48) - Multiple Translation Devices in the Book of Mormon(00:53:40) - The Real Story of the Plates(01:00:56) - The Physical Reality of the Book of Mormon
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