Was Joseph Smith’s use of seer stones evidence of superstition — or of divine power?

In this episode of Informed Saints, hosts Jasmin Rappleye, Neal Rappleye, and Stephen Smoot sit down with Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat (BYU professor, historian, and author of From Darkness unto Light) to explore the historical sources behind the Book of Mormon translation. Together, they discuss what the witnesses saw, how early Saints understood seer stones and the Urim and Thummim, and why the very strangeness of the translation process actually strengthens, rather than weakens, the case for its divinity.

What you’ll learn:

• Why Joseph’s contemporaries saw seer stones as miraculous, not fraudulent

• How early accounts from Emma Smith, Martin Harris, and others describe the translation

• The difference between folk magic, biblical precedent, and divine seership

• Why the physical reality of the gold plates remains the strongest defense of Joseph’s calling

A faith-affirming conversation that blends history, theology, and testimony.

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/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/book-of-mormon-translation

• Church History Topic — Seer Stones

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/seer-stones

• Saints, Vol. 1 (The Standard of Truth)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/saints-v1

Primary sources (witnesses & early attestations)

• Emma Smith’s 1879 “Last Testimony” (PDF)

https://rsc.byu.edu/sites/default/files/pub_content/pdf/testimony%20of%20emma%20smith.pdf

• Joseph Knight Sr. reminiscences (Church History Library catalog)

https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/record/37b7b91c-4148-45d6-8f32-df4acf06fe99

• David Whitmer — An Address to All Believers in Christ

https://archive.org/details/addresstoallbeli00whit

• Early newspaper: Jonathan A. Hadley (Palmyra Freeman, 1829)

https://rsc.byu.edu/coming-forth-book-mormon/joseph-smiths-negotiations-publish-book-mormon

• Wilford Woodruff Papers (Urim & Thummim; Manti consecration)

https://www.wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/day-in-church-history/1841-12-02

Scholarship & synthesis (faithful)

• Turley, Jensen & Ashurst-McGee — “Joseph the Seer” (Ensign, Oct. 2015)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2015/10/joseph-the-seer

• BYU Studies — Opening the Heavens (Translation Documents)

https://byustudies.byu.edu/online-book/opening-the-heavens/5

Printing & publication context

• Printing and Publishing the Book of Mormon (Church History Topic)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/printing-and-publishing-the-book-of-mormon

• From Gutenberg to Grandin (RSC)

https://rsc.byu.edu/prelude-restoration/gutenberg-grandin

Recommended books (trusted Latter-day Saint scholarship)

• MacKay & Dirkmaat — From Darkness unto Light (RSC)

https://rsc.byu.edu/book/darkness-unto-light

• Dirkmaat & MacKay — Let’s Talk About the Translation of the Book of Mormon (Deseret Book)

https://www.deseretbook.com/product/P6012373.html

- MacKay & Frederick — Joseph Smith’s Seer Stones (RSC)

https://rsc.byu.edu/book/joseph-smiths-seer-stones

• Bushman — Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling (Publisher page)

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/22031/joseph-smith-by-richard-lyman-bushman/

Scriptural anchors

• Joseph Smith—History 1

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1

• Mosiah 8

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/8

• Alma 37

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/37

• Doctrine & Covenants 3

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/3

• Doctrine & Covenants 8

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/8

• Doctrine & Covenants 17

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/17