Dr Bushman gives several great examples of the historical context around the Prophet Joseph Smith that are new to me and testimony strengthening. He is a courageous historian and a real treasure to the church.

I have thought for some time that Joseph Smith’s first vision experience in the sacred grove was his endowment to the fullness of the priesthood (later offered to all Latter-day Saints through the temple rituals). As such, it is analogous to the storied experiences of Abraham on Mount Moriah or of Moses on Mount Sinai. It seems to me that the golden plates, retrieved from the hill Cumorah, rested on four small stone pillars in that stone box. Under them was the breast plate of the high priest. Also in the box were the rod of Aaron (a branch of the almond tree that had been represented by the menorah in the Holy of holies) and the Urim and Thummim (interpreters). This entire collection of artifacts and their arrangement appears to be an abridged tabernacle or at least a holy of holies in miniature. Dr. Bushman mentions that the golden plates are suggestive of the golden Ark of the Covenant. Both the Ark and the plates contain the word of God. It is also suggestive that the plates, as an abridgment of the record of the Nephites appearing as they do in an abridgment of the tabernacle or holy of holies, signals that the book of Mormon may contain not just a story of a people but more importantly a hidden mystery or a range of hidden mysteries within the parts of the story selected by Mormon to appear in the abridgment of the Nephite record. I agree with Dr. Bushman that the plates signify the existence of a reality that is neither entirely material or entirely immaterial. In this regard, the plates fit the pattern of apports-physical manifestations from the unseen world.

This is a question for Richard Bushman. What do you think of the Mt. Ebal curse tablet found and anounced back in March 2022? This discovery is a small lead ancient Hebrew inscription found at the sacrificial site on Mt. Ebal mentioned in Deut. 27:4-15. This supports the idea that metal sheets were used to write sacred words in Moses day. Also the Dead Sea Copper Scroll (3Q15) is a historical record which is more extensive which describes a hiding place and the treasure to be found also written in Hebrew on thin copper sheets. In addition Job 19:25 describes writing on lead. As a historian wouldn't these be applicable to your discussion with Joseph Smith's gold plates as examples supporting ancient record keeping?

This was a wonderful interview . I could listen to Professor Bushman all day long . So smart .

I read "Rough Stone Rolling" after I read "In Sacred Loneliness." Both opened my eyes to how human these early Mormons were and how their faith and testimonies helped them overcome everything. I remember the Golden Plates primary song we used to sing in church. I enjoyed listening to Dr. Bushman discuss several times how the "sources" don't contain enough information to draw a precise conclusion to some arguments. It's the only honest thing a true historian can do. However, the golden plates that Joseph received were quite the "source" and were not lacking in information or arguments for salvation. Speaking of Golden Plates and Brother Bushman, Hugh Nibley mentioned him in his BYU Book of Mormon class, Semester 1, Lecture 2: "Incidentally, at that very time (the generation that Lehi was living) was the time that Reformed Egyptian (Demotic) became the official government language. In the twenty-sixth dynasty, the time of Semiticus II and of Lehi, it became the official way of writing. It was this new reformed type of Egyptian known as Demotic. And at the very same time, the priests who used to be in the former royal court at Napata fled farther to Meroë. There they produced a new type of Egyptian at this time which was Meroitic (I've got a picture of it here). When you compare the Anthon transcripts with Meroitic, it's very impressive. In fact, Brother Bushman back at Brown University (which is one of the four universities in the country where Egyptian has always been a big thing), showed them the Anthon transcript, and Parker immediately recognized them as Meroitic. He said, "They're the closest thing you can get to Meroitic." We may not have the plates with us now, but we have some of the original characters. Thank you to Brother Bushman for showing them to fellow professor Richard Parker (Egyptology).

I think you should look at what all the witnesses said, what prophets have revealed and spiritual testimonies having followed Moroni's invitation to pray abt the truthfulness...

Bushman's a great man.

Scott Gordon someone is pulling your leg😂... metalic gold paint was indeed around in 1830 so was real gold leaf... infact they were manufactured by suppliers from ancient civilizations... yes paints were modified and modernized... when oils were found to be superior carriers of powderd pigments😊for the last 500 years... including driers and accelerates as mediums to paint.... But paint was never used on gold plates just the buggies and wagons etc😮

Respectfully: Joseph Smith was not a treasure digger. Had you bothered to read his account in the History of the Church, you would know where this false idea came from. Why do you ignore Joseph Smith's own account? Was he a liar in your estimation?

This is very puzzling, sometimes bushman speaks with strong testimony and belief and then moves to a secular point of view and gives credence to anti publications like Mormonism unveiled (the first anti book). I think of him much like the apocrypha, it’s good but one has to have the spirit to discern the good from the bad.

If you can’t provide the plates then they don’t count. If you believe some Angel took em back then well you’ll believe anything - like man living on moon …oh wait bad example lol. I mean there’s a reason why membership is dropping like a rock.