Without Disclosing My True Identity
Joseph Receives the Plates, the U&T, and Moroni’s Breastplate
Three more weeks would pass before Joseph would finally be allowed to take
possession of the plates and the contents that were buried with them. As twilight fell on
September 21, 1827, Joseph stayed to himself and spoke very little to anyone else. He rested
much of that day and told Emma that he would be gone for most of the night and possibly into
the next day. Just after midnight he went to the place where he usually met the Brothers and
found no one there. He then proceeded to the site where the plates were buried.
Natural lunar phases promised no light that night^57 (the wee morning hours of
September 22, 1827). Nevertheless, something occurred near the 40th latitude North and 70th
longitude West of the earth that allowed the “light of the Moon”^58 (to whom true messengers
are referred), in its full and complete stage, to brighten the darkened world as if it were only
dusk. On this early morning, the light of the “Son” and the “Moon” would literally light the
skies before the sun had a chance to peek over the horizon. The symbolic significance of this
natural brilliance added to Joseph’s confidence, as he was now about to receive that for which
he had been trained: the gold plates and his final certification as a fully trained true messenger.
Upon approaching the place, he was immediately filled with joy as he saw the Brothers
among three other men, whose skin shown of a different light. Christ, Moroni, and Mahonri
were dressed in white robe-like apparel, similar, but not exact to each other. Their appearance
seemed to absorb the moonlight and transform it into an unearthly glow, while the Brother’s
bodies reflected it as any other mortal’s would.
After a few pleasantries, Joseph was introduced to the real mortal upon whom the
legend of Moses was based. This was Mahonri, known formerly as “the brother of Jared,”^59 or,
as mentioned, the “Moses”^60 of Jewish folklore and tradition. The earth and rock had already
been removed from the hole. After some tearful hugs, Joseph was allowed to remove the
contents himself (the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and Moroni’s breastplate).
With smiles all around, Joseph dusted off the artifacts and held them near him. One by
one, each man gave Joseph more instruction and counsel. But now, Joseph knew what each of
these men knew. Although he still only had a fully mortal brain, his mind had experiences
recorded in it that no other mortal would have until the same thing happened later to his
reincarnated brother, Hyrum. This would occur many years later, in conjunction with the
coming forth of the second part of the plan—the introduction of The Sealed Portion—The Final
Testament of Jesus Christ.^61
Timothy picked up the plates, and Mathoni, the breastplate, leaving Joseph with the
Urim and Thummim. To complete the meeting that night, the Brothers instructed Joseph that
they would always care for the plates unless he needed them to “translate,” which, of course,
Joseph now realized was simply writing what Moroni would help him transcribe through the
text he would receive through the Urim and Thummim. During the meeting, Joseph was told
that he would be able to show the Urim and Thummim to many people and the breastplate to
but a few. He was to take the U&T with him and, when the time was right, get the breastplate
from the Brothers as he was instructed.
After their meeting, the three advanced humans left as they came, bending space
(unorganized matter) to enter back into the atmosphere of the planet on which they now reside
and will continue to reside, while doing “the Father’s work”^62 for our earth. John bid Joseph a
temporary farewell as he was sent back to the area of Jerusalem where he would continue his
work there. The Three Nephites stayed in America for much of the rest of Joseph’s life and