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Question

 

Gramps,

What does it mean a sealed book and the quote “I can not read a sealed book?

mormon4life

 

Answer

 

Dear mormon4life,

When Joseph Smith received the Golden Plates from Moroni, he immediately noticed that about two-thirds of the plates themselves were wrapped in two golden bands, preventing them from being opened and read. Joseph called this part of the plates the ‘sealed portion’. To this day, we don’t know what is written on those plates but there may be a time in the future when they will be unsealed and then be translated. The portion of the plates that were not sealed is what we have, and call, the Book of Mormon.

The quote “I cannot read a sealed book” comes from a couple places, but I’ll start with the event as recorded by Joseph Smith during the process of translating the Book of Mormon. This is from Joseph Smith-history which was written by Joseph himself.

62 By this timely aid was I enabled to reach the place of my destination in Pennsylvania; and immediately after my arrival there I commenced copying the characters off the plates. I copied a considerable number of them, and by means of the Urim and Thummim I translated some of them, which I did between the time I arrived at the house of my wife’s father, in the month of December, and the February following.

 

63 Sometime in this month of February, the aforementioned Mr. Martin Harris came to our place, got the characters which I had drawn off the plates, and started with them to the city of New York. For what took place relative to him and the characters, I refer to his own account of the circumstances, as he related them to me after his return, which was as follows:

 

64 “I went to the city of New York, and presented the characters which had been translated, with the translation thereof, to Professor Charles Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments. Professor Anthon stated that the translation was correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the Egyptian. I then showed him those which were not yet translated, and he said that they were Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyriac, and Arabic; and he said they were true characters. He gave me a certificate, certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were true characters, and that the translation of such of them as had been translated was also correct. I took the certificate and put it into my pocket, and was just leaving the house, when Mr. Anthon called me back, and asked me how the young man found out that there were gold plates in the place where he found them. I answered that an angel of God had revealed it unto him.

 

65 “He then said to me, ‘Let me see that certificate.’ I accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and tore it to pieces, saying that there was no such thing now as ministering of angels, and that if I would bring the plates to him he would translate them. I informed him that part of the plates were sealed, and that I was forbidden to bring them. He replied, ‘I cannot read a sealed book.’ I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell, who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said respecting both the characters and the translation.”

Forgive the long quote, but it connects in a fascinating way with what we find in Isaiah

Isaiah 29:11

11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

In fact, Isaiah 29:9-14 presents some interesting reading when considering the Book of Mormon, how it came about, and the restoration in general.

 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.

 

10 For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.

 

11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a bookthat is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

 

12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.

 

13  Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

 

14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous workamong this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

 

 

Gramps

 

 

 

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