The story of the missing 116 pages isn’t just an early Mormon mishap—it’s a revealing glimpse into how Joseph Smith used “divine revelation” to cover his tracks and shape a theology on the fly.
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Introduction
- One of the most embarrassing and revealing scandals in Mormon history is the story of the missing 116 pages of the original Book of Mormon manuscript.
- This event not only highlights the human invention at the heart of Mormon origins but also shows how Joseph Smith used convenient “revelations” to cover his tracks.
- Even South Park famously mocked this story—because it’s so unbelievable that even secular audiences can see through it.
1. The Story of the Missing 116 Pages
- In 1828, Joseph Smith began dictating what he claimed was a divine translation of ancient golden plates, with Martin Harris as his scribe.
- Harris, facing skepticism from his wife and others, begged to take the manuscript home to prove the work's authenticity.
- Smith claimed to receive divine permission after initially being told “no” twice.
- Harris lost the first 116 pages—they were never recovered.
LDS Scripture:
Doctrine & Covenants 3 (July 1828):
- This is Joseph Smith’s first recorded revelation after the disaster.
- It is a sharp rebuke from God, calling Joseph to repentance for his disobedience but also offering reassurance that the work would still move forward.
- This marks the first time Smith claimed to receive a dictated revelation directly from God, setting a pattern for how Mormon “scripture” would develop.
2. Why Couldn’t Smith Just Retranslate?
If Smith was truly translating by the gift and power of God, why not simply redo the translation?
- If the translation was truly by “the gift and power of God,” shouldn’t it have produced the same result, word for word, no matter what?
- Why would God, all-powerful and sovereign, allow a human scheme to thwart the process?
- If the book was engraved on plates, why not simply translate them again as-is?
Smith claimed that evil men would alter the original pages to expose him as a fraud if he attempted a retranslation.
The supposed solution: God had prepared a backup record—the Small Plates of Nephi—which covered the same historical period but with a spiritual focus.
LDS Scripture:
Doctrine & Covenants 10 (Summer 1829):
- Smith claimed God told him not to retranslate but to use the Small Plates, which God had foreseen would be necessary.
3. The “Small Plates of Nephi” Explained
The Small Plates are described in 1 Nephi...
