Hefted and Handled : Tangible Interactions with Book of Mormon Objects
The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon : A Marvelous Work and a Wonder
Salt Lake City, Utah
Deseret Book
2015
43-59
Although Joseph begins his narrative of the Book of Mormon's origins by telling us of actual physical relics, some dismiss the physical reality and factual historicity of the Book of Mormon record by consigning the text to the status of an extraordinary work of mystical mythology. They claim the Book of Mormon could be inspired truth—a supernatural, magical work of revealed religious fiction—yet still not be factual, historical truth. However, this position overlooks Joseph Smith's foundation story of the physical origins of the Book of Mormon: actual relics hefted and handled, touched and transported, from one place to another and by one person to another. [From the text]