The Hill Cumorah in New York

Joseph Smith reported finding the golden plates on a hill near Palmyra, New York, which he and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints call the Hill Cumorah. According to Smith's account, he first visited the hill in September 1823 after receiving a vision from an angel named Moroni. Smith said the angel told him the plates were buried there and instructed him to return four years later to retrieve them.

Smith stated that he returned to the hill in September 1827 and removed the plates from the ground. He described the location as a wooded area on a farm owned by a man named Alva Hale. The hill itself is a real geographic feature in western New York, about three miles south of Palmyra, and stands roughly 200 feet above the surrounding land.

Key Takeaways

  • Joseph Smith said he found the golden plates buried on the Hill Cumorah near Palmyra, New York, in September 1827.
  • Smith reported that an angel named Moroni first showed him the location in a vision in 1823 and told him to return four years later.
  • The Hill Cumorah is a real geographic location in western New York that still exists and is visited by members of the LDS Church.
  • Smith said he removed the plates from a stone box buried in the ground and kept them hidden for several years before showing them to others.

Smith's Account of the Discovery

In Smith's telling, the angel Moroni appeared to him three times on the night of September 21, 1823, when Smith was 17 years old. Each time, Moroni described the location of the plates and warned Smith about the importance of the task. Smith wrote that Moroni told him the plates contained a record of the ancient inhabitants of North America and their dealings with God.

Smith said that when he finally dug up the plates in 1827, he found them in a stone box along with other objects, including two stones he called the Urim and Thummim, which he said he used to translate the plates. He reported that he initially kept the plates hidden and did not show them to the public, though he said he allowed a few people to handle them or see them under certain conditions.

What Happened to the Plates

Smith stated that after he finished translating the plates, the angel Moroni took them back. He said this happened sometime after the translation was complete, meaning the original plates were no longer available for public examination. This claim has been a point of discussion among historians and religious scholars, since no one outside Smith's when ready circle ever had the opportunity to study the original objects.

Smith said he gave the plates to Moroni, who he believed was a resurrected being from ancient times. According to Smith's account, Moroni had been the last writer on the plates before they were buried, and he returned to retrieve them once Smith's work was finished.

The Hill Cumorah Today

The Hill Cumorah remains a significant location for members of the LDS Church. The Church owns the land and has built a monument there, along with a visitor center. Each summer, the Church has historically held a pageant on the hill dramatizing events from the Book of Mormon, though the pageant was discontinued in 2020.

The hill is open to the public and attracts visitors interested in the history of the LDS Church and the early life of Joseph Smith. Archaeologists and geologists have studied the hill over the years, but no physical evidence of the plates or the stone box has ever been found or verified by independent researchers.

Different Locations in LDS History

It is worth noting that some LDS scholars and leaders have discussed whether the Hill Cumorah in New York is the same location as the "Cumorah" mentioned in the Book of Mormon itself. Some have suggested that the Book of Mormon's Cumorah may have been located in Mesoamerica, while the New York hill is where Smith found the plates. This distinction reflects ongoing scholarly discussion within the Church about the geography of Book of Mormon events.

Smith himself did not leave detailed written explanations of how he connected the New York hill to the Cumorah described in the Book of Mormon text. Later Church leaders and scholars have offered various interpretations of this connection.

Historical Records and Documentation

Most of what we know about Smith's discovery comes from accounts he gave orally or in letters, along with statements from people who knew him. Smith did not write a detailed, formal account of finding the plates that was published during his lifetime. Instead, the story comes from multiple sources written at different times, some by Smith himself and others by people who heard him describe the event.

The earliest written accounts date to the late 1820s and 1830s, years after Smith said he found the plates. This gap between the event and the written record is one reason historians approach the accounts with caution and note that details vary slightly between different versions of the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did anyone else see the golden plates?

Smith said he showed the plates to a small number of people, including his wife Emma and some early Church members. He reported that these witnesses handled the plates or saw them under controlled conditions. However, no independent verification of the plates' existence or appearance exists outside these accounts.

Why can't the plates be examined today?

According to Smith's account, the angel Moroni took the plates back after the translation was complete. Smith said this happened sometime in the late 1820s or early 1830s. Since Smith claimed the plates were removed by a supernatural being, they are not available for modern scientific study or examination.

Has anyone found evidence of the stone box?

No archaeological evidence of the stone box or the plates has been found at the Hill Cumorah despite various searches and studies over the years. The hill has been owned by the LDS Church since 1907, and no artifacts matching Smith's description have been discovered or verified by independent researchers.

Is the Hill Cumorah in New York the same as the one in the Book of Mormon?

This is debated among LDS scholars. Some believe they are the same location, while others suggest the Book of Mormon's Cumorah was in Mesoamerica and the New York hill is straightforward where Smith found the plates. The Church has not issued a definitive statement resolving this question.