Joseph Smith's first visit to the Hill Cumorah

Background. Joseph Smith reported being visited by an angel on September 21, 1823, who revealed the location of golden plates buried in a stone box near his home. The angel, later identified as Moroni, directed Smith to the site. Smith's 1838 history describes the angel as the person who deposited the plates and gave directions for obtaining them.

The Visit. On September 22, 1823, Smith visited the hill near Manchester, New York. He attempted to remove the plates from the stone box but was forbidden by the messenger. The angel informed him that the time for bringing them forth had not yet arrived and instructed him to return annually until the appointed time.

Provenance. The specific date of September 22, 1823, is derived from Smith's 1838 account. Earlier accounts, such as an 1832 history, referred to an unnamed angel. The identification of the angel as Moroni occurred later, notably in 1835 and 1838. The event is recorded as a religious narrative rather than established historical fact.