Philo Sofee wrote: ↑Tue Sep 19, 2023 11:01 pm
tagriffy wrote: ↑Tue Sep 19, 2023 7:16 pm
The plates represent, as Bushman said, "a world where God is an active agent in human affairs."
I would think the seer stone did that. The plates were never needed.
For the translation, no. But mark what I'm saying: the plates are necessary for the mythos.
Think in terms of myths, legends, and folklore, and even real life. Great figures are often associated with iconic objects. Moses and the tablets. Aaron's rod. Arthur and Excalibur. Wizards and their wands. Christians often adorn their houses and bodies with crosses and crucifixes. European royalty wear crowns and carry scepters. In the final break from the Lamanites, Nephi takes the plates of brass, the Liahona, and the sword of Laban (2 Ne. 5:12-14). We could multiply examples practically forever.
So, we have gold plates--gold being a precious metal and has long served a symbol of something's value. The plates existence was revealed to Joseph by an angel. He had an initial problem obtaining the plates because he had pecuniary motive. He had further problems obtaining them because he wasn't accompanied by the right person. Once he did get the plates, other people tried to steal them, in turn requiring sometimes extraordinary measures and even supernatural intervention to keep them safe. The loss of the 116 manuscript pages led to the plates being taken away temporarily and the permanent loss of the Interpreters. Joseph then had to obtain divine forgiveness to get the plates back. Once the translation is done and the plates are shown to God's chosen witnesses, they were taken back and now they will remain forever safe. This is the stuff legends and myths are made of!
Compare to: "One day I put a stone in a hat and this is what I saw. End of story."
The plates--and especially the stories surrounding them--gives the Book of Mormon an intensified importance it might not otherwise have.