Kinderhook plates: Examining a nineteenth-century hoax, The

Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, Summer 2003 by Peters, Jason Frederick

Although Sharp and Harris wanted to take the plates to Joseph Smith immediately, Fugate and Wiley instead waited. After coordinating their story, the plates were cleaned by Harris and given to Joshua Moore of Quincy for the purpose of taking them to Nauvoo.34 The nine men present at the discovery then signed an affidavit establishing the authenticity of the discovery. Although the affidavit stated that the plates were given to Sharp to take to Nauvoo, it is neither possible to determine why Moore made the trip nor why the conspirators themselves did not transport the plates.

Moore arrived in Nauvoo on Saturday, 29 April.35 On Monday, 1 May, the Kinderhook plates were shown to Joseph Smith himself. According to at least two different accounts, Smith stated that the objects on the plates were very similar to those found on the original golden plates.36 William Clayton evidently recorded in his journal on this date that Smith had "translated a portion of them" and found that they contained "the history of the person with whom they were found." This person is identified in the journal as a descendant of Ham.37 Earlier that same day, a "Mr. J. Roberts" arrived at the offices of the Quincy Whig newspaper in Quincy, Illinois with the story of the plates. The story given to the newspaper was the same that was given to Harris and Sharp, that Wiley had dreamed of the discovery before the event itself. The story would be published two days later on 3 May.38

Once the plates were in Nauvoo, they sparked a minor sensation in the area. Many expected nothing less than a sequel to the Book of Mormon. This sentiment is also alluded to in the title of the 3 May 1843 Quincy Whig article: "Singular Discovery - Material for Another Mormon book." The same article also expressed its hope that Smith would publish a translation. It stated that, in doing so, Smith would "do more towards throwing light on the early history of this continent than any man now living."39 This interest seemed to mirror the interest of several important Mormons as well. Brigham Young viewed the plates on Wednesday, 3 May, traced an outline of one of the plates in his journal, and added the note - " ...found near Quincy."40 Parley P. Pratt, author of A Voice of Warning, noted in a letter of 7 May 1843 that the plates were "filled with engravings in Egyptian language and contain the genealogy of one of the ancient Jaredites back to Ham the son of Noah."41 John Taylor, a close friend of Smith and a future church president, was also made aware of the plates and was so interested in the prospect of a sequel to the Book of Mormon that he published the story. Even without a written, official statement from Smith concerning the issue, it seems that, to most (including Taylor), the authenticity of the find was not questioned.

Under the direction of Taylor, the Mormon publications of Nauvoo brought the story to the people. Taylor, along with Wilford Woodruff, edited both the Times and Seasons and the Nauvoo Neighbor. Both publications were very well established in the Mormon community. The Times and Seasons even had a period of seven months in which it was edited by Joseph Smith himself.42 On 10 May the two newspapers reprinted the 3 May Quincy Whig article while adding their own "Ancient Records" article, the affidavit signed by the nine witnesses, and a letter from Dr. Harris explaining the validity of the discovery. The "Ancient Records" article used the plates as further proof of the validity of the Book of Mormon. While Taylor's article admitted the fact that Smith's opinion concerning the authenticity of the plates was not yet known, it was obvious that the author, as well as many citizens of Nauvoo, had "no doubts, but Mr. Smith will be able to translate them."43