The Kinderhook Plates Incident in Mormon History

LDS Perspective

The Kinderhook Plates incident refers to the discovery of a set of six brass plates in 1843 near Kinderhook, Illinois, which were purported to be ancient artifacts. The plates were unearthed by a group of men, including Wilbur Fugate and Robert Wiley, who later admitted to having forged the plates as a hoax intended to deceive Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). This event is significant in Mormon history for several reasons, including its implications about the authenticity and credibility of Joseph Smith's role as a prophet and translator. Upon their discovery, the Kinderhook Plates generated considerable excitement among some members of the Church. It was believed that they could provide additional evidence of ancient American civi

Historical Perspective

The Kinderhook Plates Incident refers to a purported archaeological discovery made in 1843 when six brass plates were allegedly unearthed near Kinderhook, Illinois, by local residents. These plates were said to have been inscribed with ancient characters and were believed to contain genealogical and historical accounts relevant to the descendants of Ham, son of Noah. Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter-day Saint movement, claimed he was able to translate these inscriptions, stating that they recounted the history of a man who was a descendant of Pharaoh, King of Egypt. Smith's translation was reported in the History of the Church, where he expressed certainty in the authenticity of the plates and their historical narratives (MormonThink - Kinderhook Plates). The significance of this e