Methodology

Historical Accounts

From Scriptures

Commentary

The scenarios for the origin of the Book of Mormon involve two basic levels of assumptions: either Joseph used the plates or he did not. These can each be broken down into whether Joseph used a curtain or not.

In the table below:

Unshaded scenarios involve divine intervention.

Dark shaded scenarios involve no divine intervention.

Light shaded scenarios involve supernatural intervention of whatever source a person wants to believe.

From Ensign, 1988:

How long did it take Joseph Smith to translate the Book of Mormon? by John W. Welch