According to the [Mormon] church, sometime after the translation was complete, the golden plates were removed by Moroni and are hence unavailable for inspection. This means that there is no concrete evidence that the plates ever, in fact, existed. In any event, the original Book of Mormon was published in 1830. Before the plates were taken from the earth, three witnesses--David Whitmer, Martin Harris, and Oliver Cowdery--prayed with Joseph Smith that they might see them. According to Mormon accounts... read more
