How did Joseph Smith write the Book of Mormon using gold plates?

Answer 1

Joseph Smith reportedly translated what was written on plates (of different metals actually) with the help of God and a tool that was with the plates called the urim and Thummim when he received them, although no archealogical evidence exists to suggest that any metal was used to keep records in ancient America.

Translating the plates took a lot of concentration and spirituality. If he was not in the right set of mind he could not do it. There's actually a story where Joseph had an argument with his wife and went to go translate, but found he could not do it. He had to go and apologize to Emma (his wife) and ask forgiveness from God before he could translate again.

Joseph Smith was a prophet, and God revealed the translation to him as they went along. Usually, he would sit with the plates and dictate the translation to a scribe, since he was not good at writing. It took a very long time.

Addition to the above text:

The "tool" used to help Joseph Smith was called "Urim and Thummim"

Addition to the above text:

Clarification. The Urim and Thummim were described as stones, so many believe that one way he translated was to put "seer stones" into a hat and translate the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith apparently did this to (unsuccessfully) find buried treasure before finding the Book of Mormon. This hasn't been mentioned in any records as a way of translating, and the gold plates were used, but were kept hidden from the scribe until Joseph was told otherwise. The Urim and Thummim (the way they were described) sound like they were kind of like glasses that Joseph could look at the plates through. But I don't know if there is actual documentation of that.

Joseph found the gold plates because the Angel Moroni told him where they were buried. Not because of treasure hunting seer stones.

The reformed Egyptian language in which the plates were written is unheard of in any archaelogical circles outside of those within the LDS Church. In fact, no ancient American historical evidence exists to suggest the existence of any ancient culture called the Nephites or Lamanites or any other people group unique to the Book of Mormon.

Correction to the above statement:

Prior to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in the early 1800's the Egyptian language was virtually an unknown language. Archeologists determine the Rosetta Stone dated from about 196 A.D. The 'Book of Mormon' history begins about 600 B.C., 400 years earlier. Now take the Lehi family to America. Things change and a change in language takes place, i.e. 'REFORMED EGYPTIAN'. Even in the language we use English, it is not the same as it was written in 1600 or 1700. The writing is different. Even today the English language is different in various parts of America and English speaking countries. It is possible that a 'REFORMED EGYPTIAN' was created.

Actually, metal plates were used to write on as far back as 600 B.C. and the use of a low grade steel was also manufactured.

The ancient battle on the hill of Cumorah in New York recorded in the Book of Mormon, for example, has left zero evidence behind. Despite the fact that the text says over 200,000 people died there, no weapons, armor, skeletons, mass graves, etc (all things you would expect to find at an ancient battle site) have been found. Unlike the Bible, whose people, wildlife, places, and culture have been preserved throughout history, the Book of Mormon's people and settings left no trace of their existence behind, despite years and millions of dollars of excavation performed by Mormon anthropologists.

Correction to the above statement:

Before he became President of the United States Thomas Jefferson excavated a burial mound about 1773 and published his findings a few years later (about 1780). In his write up of the mound he found thousands of bones. It reads; "conjectured that in this barrow (mound) might have been a thousand skeletons." In the 1700's there were thousands of these mounds on the eastern part of the U.S.

As the settlers moved westward these mounds were ransacked and destroyed by treasure hunters and plowed under by farmers.

Check out the 'Hopewell' Indian Culture of the Ohio area. It dates from (100 B.C. to 500 A.D.)

Correction on Urim and Thummim:

They were actually two stones fastened onto a breastplate.

Answer 2

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called "Mormons") believe Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon from some ancient metal plates by the power of God. An angel showed him to the place where the plates were buried.