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

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