The Gold Plates as a Type of Christ
What is a type? In my book, Before the Second Coming, I defined this important gospel term as follows:
“A type is an event, an object, or a person that closely resembles another event, object, or person of greater significance. Synonyms for type could include terms such as: similitude, likeness, model, prototype, pattern, symbol, or shadow.”[1]
Perhaps the most common example of a type is found in the story of Abraham and Isaac. In this story, Abraham represented our Heavenly Father, who willingly offered his Son as sacrifice, and Isaac represented our Savior, who willingly gave his life on our behalf. This article will briefly discuss how the Golden Plates are also a type of Christ.[2] Consider the following:
- Both Christ’s birth and the coming forth of the gold plates were proclaimed by an angel (see Luke 1:26-35; Joseph Smith–History 1:30-34).
- Both Christ and the gold plates taught the fullness of the gospel.
- Both ushered in a new dispensation, and both helped to restore the gospel during a time of apostasy.
- Both were laid in a stone receptacle and covered by a stone which was sealed shut for a time (see Matthew 27:60; Joseph Smith–History 1:51).
- In each case, the stone receptacle was guarded by an angel (see Matthew 28:2; Joseph Smith–History1:30-34).
- Once the stone was rolled away, both came forth from their stone receptacles miraculously (see Matthew 28:2-6; Joseph Smith–History 1:59).
- The first person to see the gold plates after the stone was removed was Joseph Smith, who was forbidden to touch them for a time (see Joseph Smith–History 1:53). Similarly, the first person to see the resurrected Christ was Mary, who was instructed by the Lord to “touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father” (John 20:17).[3]
- Just as the Savior called Twelve Apostles to act as his witnesses (see Luke 6:13), so too were the gold plates shown to twelve witnesses. They were shown to the three witnesses on one occasion, to the eight witnesses on another occasion, and of course, shown to Joseph Smith (twelve persons total) who could each testify that they saw and handled the plates.
- Finally, the color Gold is also a symbol for Christ, as gold often represents Kings (see Matthew 2:11).
Did you enjoy this article? Join our email list, its free!
Notes:
[1] Brunson, Before the Second Coming, p. 181. To purchase a copy of this book, please visit www.BeforetheSecondComing.com
[2] The following parallels were first discovered by Reed Hopper and originally posted as “The Gold Plates as a Type of Christ,” on Contemplations, January 2010, located at: http://rjnorman.blogspot.com/2010/01/gold-plates-as-type-of-christ.html
[3] A better translation of this phrase from the original Greek is “cease clinging to me.”
What is a type? In my book, Before the Second Coming, I defined this important gospel term as follows:
“A type is an event, an object, or a person that closely resembles another event, object, or person of greater significance. Synonyms for type could include terms such as: similitude, likeness, model, prototype, pattern, symbol, or shadow.”[1]
Perhaps the most common example of a type is found in the story of Abraham and Isaac. In this story, Abraham represented our Heavenly Father, who willingly offered his Son as sacrifice, and Isaac represented our Savior, who willingly gave his life on our behalf. This article will briefly discuss how the Golden Plates are also a type of Christ.[2] Consider the following:
- Both Christ’s birth and the coming forth of the gold plates were proclaimed by an angel (see Luke 1:26-35; Joseph Smith–History 1:30-34).
- Both Christ and the gold plates taught the fullness of the gospel.
- Both ushered in a new dispensation, and both helped to restore the gospel during a time of apostasy.
- Both were laid in a stone receptacle and covered by a stone which was sealed shut for a time (see Matthew 27:60; Joseph Smith–History 1:51).
- In each case, the stone receptacle was guarded by an angel (see Matthew 28:2; Joseph Smith–History1:30-34).
- Once the stone was rolled away, both came forth from their stone receptacles miraculously (see Matthew 28:2-6; Joseph Smith–History 1:59).
- The first person to see the gold plates after the stone was removed was Joseph Smith, who was forbidden to touch them for a time (see Joseph Smith–History 1:53). Similarly, the first person to see the resurrected Christ was Mary, who was instructed by the Lord to “touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father” (John 20:17).[3]
- Just as the Savior called Twelve Apostles to act as his witnesses (see Luke 6:13), so too were the gold plates shown to twelve witnesses. They were shown to the three witnesses on one occasion, to the eight witnesses on another occasion, and of course, shown to Joseph Smith (twelve persons total) who could each testify that they saw and handled the plates.
- Finally, the color Gold is also a symbol for Christ, as gold often represents Kings (see Matthew 2:11).
Did you enjoy this article? Join our email list, its free!
Notes:
[1] Brunson, Before the Second Coming, p. 181. To purchase a copy of this book, please visit www.BeforetheSecondComing.com
[2] The following parallels were first discovered by Reed Hopper and originally posted as “The Gold Plates as a Type of Christ,” on Contemplations, January 2010, located at: http://rjnorman.blogspot.com/2010/01/gold-plates-as-type-of-christ.html
[3] A better translation of this phrase from the original Greek is “cease clinging to me.”
Richard Brunson
Author of Before the Second Coming
Have you ever wondered what will happen between now and the Second Coming?
And have you ever tried placing the signs of the times in their correct chronological order?
This book does
exactly that!
Purchase a copy today!
This site is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All articles on this site are opinions of the various authors and should not be interpreted as official LDS doctrine. Official doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, can be found at their website, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/
Copyright © 2025 by Richard Brunson. All rights reserved