The Kinderhook Plates Hoax

In this episode we reveal how the infamous Kinderhook Plates—once hailed by Joseph Smith as an ancient record—turned out to be a deliberate 19th-century hoax that exposes the cracks in Mormonism’s prophetic claims.

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In 1843, Joseph Smith—the founder of Mormonism—was handed what looked like an ancient discovery: six mysterious brass plates unearthed in Illinois. But the “Kinderhook Plates” weren’t ancient at all; they were a deliberately crafted hoax designed to test Smith’s prophetic gift. In this episode, we uncover the full story—how the plates were forged, why they were presented to Smith, what he claimed about them, and how the LDS Church eventually admitted they were fake. More than a quirky historical footnote, the Kinderhook Plates pose a serious question about the foundation of Mormonism and the claims of its prophet. We’ll also point you back to the solid ground of Scripture and the simple gospel of Jesus Christ.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The backstory of the Kinderhook Plates and why they were created
• How Joseph Smith responded and what he claimed they revealed
• Evidence from eyewitnesses, later confessions, and modern scientific testing proving the plates were man-made
• How the LDS Church’s position on the plates has shifted over time
• What the Bible says about testing prophets and why Jesus—not any modern prophet—is God’s final revelation

Why This Matters:

This isn’t just an old scandal. It’s a living test case for Joseph Smith’s credibility and for the LDS Church’s truth claims today. If a prophet can’t discern a man-made fraud, what does that say about his revelations?

Scripture Highlight:

Deuteronomy 18:21-22 – God’s own test for identifying false prophets.