How the church began
How the Book of Mormon was produced
The Church's essay says Joseph Smith often dictated the text by looking at a seer stone placed in a hat, the same kind of stone he had earlier used to look for buried treasure.
In the Church's words
Many Latter-day Saints grew up with paintings of Joseph Smith studying the plates. The Church's own essay describes something different: the plates often lay covered while he dictated from a stone in a hat.
Joseph placed either the interpreters or the seer stone in a hat, pressed his face into the hat to block out extraneous light, and read aloud the English words that appeared on the instrument.
The Church's own words Gospel Topics essay, "Book of Mormon Translation" · source
According to Emma, the plates “often lay on the table without any attempt at concealment, wrapped in a small linen table cloth.”
The Church's own words Gospel Topics essay, "Book of Mormon Translation" · source
What the Bible says
If the plates were not needed for the dictation, the claim rests entirely on the stone and on Joseph Smith. The Law of Moses forbids divination, and the Bible's own books were written by prophets and apostles in ordinary human language, open to anyone to read and check.
10There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, 11or a charmer, or someone who consults with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12For whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh. Because of these abominations, Yahweh your God drives them out from before you.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (WEB) · context
20knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. 21For no prophecy ever came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:20-21 (WEB) · context
Sources
- Gospel Topics essay "Book of Mormon Translation" (churchofjesuschrist.org).