Mormonism and Wikipedia/Golden plates/Story

Origin and historicity

A FairMormon Analysis of Wikipedia: Mormonism and Wikipedia/Golden plates A work by a collaboration of authors (Link to Wikipedia article here)

Background

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An analysis of the Wikipedia article "Golden plates" (Version December 10, 2009)

-	Wikipedia Main Article: Golden plates–	Wikipedia Footnotes: Golden plates–Notes	A FAIR Opinion
	The story of the golden plates consists of how, according to Joseph Smith, Jr. and his contemporaries, the plates were found, received from the angel Moroni, translated, and returned to the angel prior to the publication of the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith is the only source for a great deal of the story because much of it occurred at times when he was the only human witness. Nevertheless, Smith told the story to his family, friends, and acquaintances; and many of these provided second-hand accounts. Other parts of the story are derived from the statements of those who knew Smith, including several witnesses who said they saw the golden plates.	Summary. No citations given.	Correct, per cited sources
	The best known elements of the golden plates story are found in a version told by Smith in 1838 and incorporated into the official church histories of some Latter Day Saint movement denominations.	Smith (1838a) ;Roberts (1902) (official history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints); RLDS History of the Church, vol. 1, ch. 1-2 (official history of the Community of Christ).	A wiki editor's opinion is presented as fact— The wiki editor has placed his own opinion in the article as if it were fact. The wiki editor is determining where the "best known elements" of the story appear. The use of the term "version" rather than "account" is pejorative. It implies that Joseph told different "versions" of his story rather than different accounts.
	The LDS Church has canonized part of this 1838 account as part of its scripture, The Pearl of Great Price.

References

Wikipedia references for "Golden Plates"

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