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Without having info at hand, I broached the subject of the Kinderhook Plates and Joseph's aborted translation of them. Would appreciate any info from pro or anti-Mormon sources on the subject. Understand they still exist and are on display in a Chicago-area museum. Thanks Here you go: I am writing concerning the Kinderhook Plates in which supposidly Joseph Smith translated in the year 1843. In April of that year, a Mr. Robert Wiley (as noted) dreamed three nights that near his home was a mound, and within this mound were treasures. After having the dream three nights in a row, he went to the place and began digging. After digging quite some time, he asked others to assist him. When a company of twelve men digged the mound, they found six brass plates, secured and fastend together by two iron wires, but which were so decayed that they readily crumbled to dust upon being handled. It was agreed by the company that I should cleanse the plates. Accordingly I took them to my house, washed them with soap and water and a woolen cloth; but, finding them not yet cleansed, I treated them with dilute sulphuric acid, which made them perfectly clean, on which it appeared that they were completely covered with hieroglyphics that none as yet have been able to read. The men also found human bones, possibly the burial place of a person or family. It was assumed that the plates must have contained the history of the person or the times concerning the person. The six brass plates were found near Kinderhook (thus, the Kinderhook Plates) in Illinois, on April 23rd. The skeleton they found was six feet from the surface, and was boasted at being nine feet tall. The plates were found on the breast, and were covered with ancient characters . We, the citizens of Kinderhook, whose names are annexed, do certify and declare that on the 23rd of April, 1843, while excavating a large mound in this vicinity, Mr. R. Wiley took from said mound six brass plates of a bell shape, covered with ancient characters. Said plates were very much oxydated. The bands and rings on said plates mouldered into dust on a slight pressure. ROBERT WILEY, W. LONGNECKER, GEO. DECKENSON, FAYETTE GRUBB, W. FUGATE, W. P. HARRIS, J. R. SHARP, G. W. F. WARD, IRA S. CURTIS, (From the Quincy Whig.) Many knew of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. The decided that if Joseph Smith can decipher the hieroglyphics on the plates, he will do more towards throwing light on the early history of this continent than any man living. And also added, We think that he has done that already in translating and publishing the Book of Mormon, and would advise the gentleman and all interested to read for themselves and understand. We have no doubt, however, but Mr. Smith will be able to translate them. The plates were then given into the care of Joseph Smith, while those who handed them over doubted and possibly acknowledged the truthefulness of the BOM, though highly sceptical. By whom these plates were deposited there must ever remain a secret, unless some one skilled in deciphering hieroglyphics may be found to unravel the mystery. Some pretend to say that Smith, the Mormon leader, has the ability to read them. If he has, he will confer a great favor on the public by removing the mystery which hangs over them. A person present when the plates were found remarked that it would go to prove the authenticity of the Book of Mormon, which it undoubtedly will. Joseph Smith then translated a portion of those plates, as noted by John Taylor, and stated the following conerning them: I have translated a portion of them, and find they contain the history of the person with whom they were found. He was a descendant of Ham, through the loins of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and that he received his kingdom from the Ruler of heaven and earth. However, the plates were then shortly taken from Joseph's care, and all manner of writing concerning Joseph being a prophet were challenged: It is proper here to call attention to the fact that the genuineness of this discovery of the Kinderhook plates is questioned by some anti-Mormon writers, among them Professor William A. Linn in his late work The Story of Mormonism. In which, after citing the fact that both John Hyde and T. B. H. Stenhouse
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