The Gold Plates

Joseph Smith had the plates. He was not to show them to anyone unless commanded. He had the gift to translate the plates.
The Lord describes how he shall provide witnesses for the Book of Mormon
Apart from these witnesses, nobody else will get to see the plates and receive a testimony from a voice from heaven, until after the Lord's church has risen out of obscurity.
And it came to pass that when we had gathered in all our people in one to the land of Cumorah, behold I, Mormon, began to be old; and knowing it to be the last struggle of my people, and having been commanded of the Lord that I should not suffer the records which had been handed down by our fathers, which were sacred, to fall into the hands of the Lamanites, (for the Lamanites would destroy them) therefore I made this record out of the plates of Nephi, and hid up in the hill Cumorah all the records which had been entrusted to me by the hand of the Lord, save it were these few plates which I gave unto my son Moroni.
Plates given to Moroni by Mormon
Moroni hid plates in the Hill Cumorah
Joseph Smith found/received plates by Moroni's instruction
Appearance of the plates described.
Appearance of the plates described.
Joseph Smith describe his obtaining of the gold plates.
Obtained 22/Sep/1827
Returned to Angel Moroni who has them in his charge.
Cites Joseph Smith Jr.'s sister Katharine Smith Salisbury as follows:
"I well remember the trials my brother had, before he obtained the records. After he had the vision, he went frequently to the hill, and upon returning would tell us, "I have seen the records, also the brass plates and the sword of Laban with the breast plate and interpreters." He would ask father why he could not get them? The time had not yet come, but when it did arrive he was commanded to go on the 22d day of September 1827 at 2 o'clock. We had supposed that when he should bring them home, the whole family would be allowed to see them, but he said it was forbidden of the Lord."
Researcher takes descriptions of Gold Plates and creates actual metal sheets that match the description.
Based on his research, the brass plates would have had a minimum of 300 plates up to about 600 plates.
Discussion of corrosion and the composition of the Gold Plates.
Discusses how the Gold Plates can be seen as a type of Christ.

Notes

We do not have all that was written on the Gold Plates. A portion of the Nephite history was translated and lost, known as the Lost 116 Pages, though it was almost certainly significantly longer. A portion of the Gold Plates was sealed up and consists of the Book of the Brother of Jared.

Cross-References