Seer Stones & the Book of Mormon: What Really Happened? With Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat

Did Joseph Smith really translate the Book of Mormon with a stone in a hat?

In this episode, hosts Jasmin Rappleye, Neal Rappleye, and Stephen Smoot talk with BYU professor Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat to break down the history, the sources, and the faith behind the translation process.

Far from being a weakness, the use of seer stones was seen by early witnesses as part of the miracle. With multiple independent accounts — from Emma Smith, Martin Harris, David Whitmer, and Joseph Knight — the evidence shows Joseph wasn’t hiding fraud but demonstrating faith.

What we cover in this episode:
• Seer stones in scripture & early American culture
• Why the “stone in a hat” detail matters for history & faith
• How eyewitnesses described the translation process
• Why the gold plates are still central to Joseph’s claims

If you’ve ever wondered how the Book of Mormon was really translated, this discussion will give you the history, the context, and the testimony to understand it better.

Here are some of the resources discussed in the episode as well as other valuable resources on this topic!

-Artwork credit to Anthony Sweat who granted permissions for us to share his incredible artwork.
https://www.anthonysweat.com

Start here (official & concise)
Gospel Topics — Book of Mormon Translation
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...
Church History Topic — Seer Stones
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...
Saints, Vol. 1 (The Standard of Truth)
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...

Primary sources (witnesses & early attestations)
Emma Smith’s 1879 “Last Testimony” (PDF)
https://rsc.byu.edu/sites/default/fil...
Joseph Knight Sr. reminiscences (Church History Library catalog)
https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.o...
David Whitmer — An Address to All Believers in Christ
https://archive.org/details/addressto...
Early newspaper: Jonathan A. Hadley (Palmyra Freeman, 1829)
https://rsc.byu.edu/coming-forth-book...
Wilford Woodruff Papers (Urim & Thummim; Manti consecration)
https://www.wilfordwoodruffpapers.org...

Scholarship & synthesis (faithful)
Turley, Jensen & Ashurst-McGee — “Joseph the Seer” (Ensign, Oct. 2015)
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...
BYU Studies — Opening the Heavens (Translation Documents)
https://byustudies.byu.edu/online-boo...

Printing & publication context
Printing and Publishing the Book of Mormon (Church History Topic)
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...
From Gutenberg to Grandin (RSC)
https://rsc.byu.edu/prelude-restorati...

Recommended books (trusted Latter-day Saint scholarship)
MacKay & Dirkmaat — From Darkness unto Light (RSC)
https://rsc.byu.edu/book/darkness-unt...
Dirkmaat & MacKay — Let’s Talk About the Translation of the Book of Mormon (Deseret Book)
https://www.deseretbook.com/product/P...
MacKay & Frederick — Joseph Smith’s Seer Stones (RSC)
https://rsc.byu.edu/book/joseph-smith...
Bushman — Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling (Publisher page)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...

Scriptural anchors
Joseph Smith—History 1
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...
Mosiah 8
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...
Alma 37
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...
Doctrine & Covenants 3
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...
Doctrine & Covenants 8
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...
Doctrine & Covenants 17
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction - Gerritt Dirkmaat and Book of Mormon translation
4:23 Impossibility of “proving” miracles
9:25 Primary sources importance
14:20 Urim and Thummim?
16:30 Stones, rods, and folk magic
24:05 Joseph’s seer stone and culture
28:48 Witnesses to a seer stone
36:30 Addition accounts of the translation
46:34 The BoM and Wilford Woodruff’s witnesses of stones
49:50 Urim and Thummim
54:10 The golden plates as evidence
1:00:59 The plates to promote faith

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