LDS historical narratives: Improving the Moroni-Cumorah narrative

This is an excellent reference that could be improved with some additional material from authentic historical sources.

https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/content/moroni-messenger-of-the-restoration?lang=eng

Original in blue, my suggestions in red.

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Moroni: Messenger of the Restoration

Introduction

On the night of September 21, 1823, Joseph Smith prayed to know God’s further will toward him.

Steadily a light grew “as though the house was filled with consuming and unquenchable fire.”1

Replace the sentence with this: Oliver Cowdery wrote that, "to use his [Joseph's] own description, the first sight was as though the house was filled with consuming and unquenchable fire."

1. Letter from Oliver Cowdery to William W. Phelps, Feb. 1835, Kirtland, Ohio, published in Messenger and Advocate, Feb. 1835, 79.
1. Add the following link to the footnote: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1834-1836/67

Moroni, a messenger sent from God, stood before him. In mortal life Moroni had been the last of ancient American prophets having authority2 from God and whose teachings were recorded for our time.

2. “The permission granted to men on earth called or ordained to act for and in behalf of God the Father or Jesus Christ in doing God’s work” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Authority,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

No suggestions.

Moroni declared “that the time was at hand for the Gospel3 in all its fullness to be preached in power, unto all nations” and that Joseph was “to be an instrument in the hands of God” in that work.4

3. “God’s plan of salvation, made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The gospel includes the eternal truths or laws, covenants, and ordinances needed for mankind to enter back into the presence of God. God restored the fulness of the gospel to the earth in the 19th century through the Prophet Joseph Smith” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Gospel,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
4. History of the Church, 4:537.
4. Replace HC reference with JSP: "Church History," aka the "Wentworth letter," https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/church-history-1-march-1842/2

He quoted ancient prophets who had foreseen that this time would come. As Moroni stood before him, Joseph was shown in vision “the place where the plates were deposited” (Joseph Smith—History 1:42).

He quoted ancient prophets who had foreseen that this time would come. Moroni explained that "a history of the aborigines of this country... was written and deposited not far from" Joseph's home, and that "the record is on a side hill on the Hill of Cumorah 3 miles from this place." 5 As Moroni stood before him, Joseph was shown in vision “the place where the plates were deposited” (Joseph Smith—History 1:42).

5. See https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1834-1836/68 and https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1844-1845/41.

Every September for four years, Joseph went to the Hill Cumorah and was taught by Moroni. In September 1827 Joseph met Moroni at the hill and received the gold plates. Twenty-one months later, having completed the translation, Joseph returned the plates to Moroni.5

Every September for three years, Joseph went to the Hill Cumorah and was taught by Moroni. In early 1827, Joseph came home late from Manchester and explained to his concerned parents that "as I passed by the hill of Cumorah, where the plates are, the angel of the Lord met me and said, that I had not been engaged enough in the work of the Lord; that the time had come for the record to be brought forth."6 In September 1827 Joseph met Moroni at the hill and received the gold plates. When he finished the translation, Joseph returned the plates to Moroni.7

5. See History of the Church, 1:13.
6. https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1845/111
7. Because the cited reference in note 5 does not say what the narrative claims, it is better to cite JS-H 1:60

Quotes

Joseph Smith Quotes

“This messenger [Moroni] proclaimed himself to be an angel of God, sent to bring the joyful tidings that the covenant which God made with ancient Israel was at hand to be fulfilled, that the preparatory work for the second coming of the Messiah was speedily to commence; that the time was at hand for the Gospel in all its fullness to be preached in power, unto all nations that a people might be prepared for the Millennial reign. I was informed that I was chosen to be an instrument in the hands of God to bring about some of His purposes in this glorious dispensation” (History of the Church, 4:536–37).

Replace reference with JSP

“Let us take the Book of Mormon, which a man took and hid in his field, securing it by his faith, to spring up in the last days, or in due time; let us behold it coming forth out of the ground, which is indeed accounted the least of all seeds, but behold it branching forth, yea, even towering, with lofty branches, and God-like majesty, until it, like the mustard seed, becomes the greatest of all herbs. And it is truth, and it has sprouted and come forth out of the earth, and righteousness begins to look down from heaven, and God is sending down His powers, gifts and angels, to lodge in the branches thereof” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith (1976), 98).

Replace reference with JSP

Witnesses

Joseph Knight, Early Member of the Church

“[In] the forepart of September [1827,] I went to Rochester on business and returned by Palmyra to be there about the 22nd of September. . . . That night we all went to bed and in the morning I got up and my horse and carriage were gone. . . . After a while he [Joseph Smith] came home [with] the horse. All came into the house to breakfast. But no thing [was] said about where they had been. After breakfast Joseph called me into the other room. . . . He set his foot on the bed and leaned his head on his hand and said, . . . ‘It is ten times better than I expected.’ Then he went on to tell the length and width and thickness of the plates, and said he, ‘They appear to be gold’” (Reminiscenses of Joseph Knight, Church History Library, Salt Lake City; spelling, grammar, and capitalization standardized. This manuscript, written between 1833 and 1847, has been published in Dean C. Jessee, “Joseph Knight’s Recollection of Early Mormon History,” BYU Studies, vol. 17, no. 1 [Fall 1976], 30–39).

John A. Widtsoe, Apostle, 1921–1952

“The first visitation of Moroni came in answer to prayer. So came the First Vision. The Lord is ready to give, but he requires that his children ask. It would not be natural or wise to force blessings on anyone. The power of prayer is inestimable. One prays for little; usually much comes in answer. . . . The most marvelous part of the message to the young man, lying upon his wakeful pillow, was that he, Joseph Smith, was the chosen instrument in the hands of the Lord to inaugurate the great work planned for the last days of the world. It was astonishing! It was wonderful!” (Joseph Smith: Seeker after Truth, Prophet of God [1951], 32–33; paragraph divisions altered).

Questions

How many times did Moroni visit the Prophet Joseph?

There is no record of the exact number of visits from Moroni, but 22 have been documented (see H. Donl Peterson, “Moroni—Joseph Smith’s Tutor,” Ensign, Jan. 1992, 22–29).

What did Joseph Smith learn in his visits with Moroni?

Moroni taught Joseph Smith from scripture, quoting Malachi, Isaiah, Joel, and Acts. John Taylor explained: “Joseph Smith in the first place was set apart by the Almighty according to the [councils] of the Gods in the eternal worlds, to introduce the principles of life among the people. . . . The principles which he had, placed him in communication with . . . Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, Adam, Seth, Enoch, and Jesus and the Father and the apostles that lived on this continent as well as those who lived on the Asiatic continent. . . . Why? Because he had to introduce a dispensation which was called the dispensation of the fulness of times, and it was known as such by the ancient servants of God” (Deseret News, June 9, 1880, 280).

What did Moroni teach Joseph Smith about the ancient Americans?

Joseph also learned about the ancient inhabitants of the Americas, “who they were, and from whence they came; a brief sketch of their origin, progress, civilization, laws, governments, of their righteousness and iniquity, and the blessings of God being finally withdrawn from them as a people” (History of the Church, 4:537).

Replace reference with JSP

Readings

Online Resources at ChurchofJesusChrist.org

Moroni 8:16

“A Period of Preparation, 1823–29”—Church History in the Fulness of Times Student Manual (Church Educational System manual, 2003), 37–51

“Many Angels Visited Joseph Smith”—in “Joseph Smith: First President of the Church,” Presidents of the Church Student Manual (Church Educational System manual, 2004), 7

“Joseph Told His Father about Moroni’s Visit”—in “Joseph Smith: First President of the Church,” Presidents of the Church Student Manual (Church Educational System manual, 2004), 7

“Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon”—in “Establishing the Foundations of the Church,” Our Heritage: A Brief History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1996), 5–11

Online Resources at the Joseph Smith Papers

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1834-1836/68

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1845/111

Online Resources at BYU