“When, according to arrangements, the messenger called for them, I delivered them up to him; and he has them in his charge until this day, being the second day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight.”

Remember how poor Joseph’s family was. Now that the record was translated, wouldn’t it make more sense to deliver up the record for archaeology or at least for the gold? No, the Lord had other plans and Joseph was humble enough to not question this arrangement despite the obvious gain it would have brought his family.

We should remember that all things we obtain in this life – wealth, possessions, etc, all belong to our Father in Heaven. He gives them to us for our enjoyment and stewardship. But we should not become so attached to our possessions that giving them back would be a problem; especially one that would affect our faith.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

“the messenger…informed [me] that the time for bringing them forth had not yet arrived, neither would it, until four years from that time; but he told me that I should come to that place precisely in one year from that time, and that he would there meet with me, and that I should continue to do so until the time should come for obtaining the plates.”

Sometimes the Lord has plans for us receiving our reward, but according to His timetable.

If we are faithful, our reward will surely be ours. Until we receive our reward we can receive instruction through personal revelation and by keeping the commandments we are given we’ll grow into our reward. I have a friend who has struggled through financial troubles, but he maintains a positive outlook on life and continues to keep the commandments and serve to the best of his ability. He is an amazing example to me. He looks forward to a day when his reward will come to him, and he knows that it will. One day he will be called upon by the Lord to endure riches and I am sure he will endure riches equally well as poverty.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

“The box in which they lay was formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement. In the bottom of the box were laid two stones crossways of the box, and on these stones lay the plates and the other things with them.”

The plates, Urim and Thummim and breastplate were protected from the elements by being covered from wind, rain, snow and erosion. They were also raised from the ground to avoid water damage. They were sealed to be protected from animal interference, and hidden such that they could be identified by those who need to know, but hidden from the rest of the world.

Likewise, our precious worldly things should be protected by our proper planning, that they may last us through our needs and beyond. This means properly saving and safely investing our money, planning for retirement and for emergencies. And when we pass on, how shall our wishes regarding our possessions and savings be interpreted without a Urim and Thumin? For this reason we prepare by having a Will and power of attorney, making our wishes known in some formal and legal documentation.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

“Satan would try to tempt me (in consequence of the indigent circumstances of my father’s family), to get the plates for the purpose of getting rich. This he forbade me, saying that I must have no other object in view in getting the plates but to glorify God, and must not be influenced by any other motive than that of building His kingdom; otherwise I could not get them.”

More than the value of the volume of gold to the world, was the value of the record (even to the world), which likely could have been sold to scholarship for a large sum.

An ancient record in upper state New York? Written on Gold? Simply amazing! We see, however, as a common theme in the Book of Mormon, that prosperity doesn’t bring lasting happiness. Only obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring that.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

“I should not show them to any person; neither the breastplate with the Urim and Thummim; only to those to whom I should be commanded to show them; if I did I should be destroyed”

How would Joseph be destroyed… by Gods power? Maybe, but unlikely that God would use such a vulgar display of power. More likely this had reference to the people who sought the plates for monetary gain. If the plates were gotten for gain by someone, Joseph’s credibility would be destroyed and any important message no matter how true or impactful would be lost because the money would supersede anything else in peoples minds.

Money is a powerful thing, it truly brings power. While we can use money for wise purposes, we have to be careful not to taint sacred things with the powerful stigma that money carries with it.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites