Oliver Cowdery’s 1835 Letters — Joseph Smith’s First Attempt to Obtain the Plates (September 1823)

In 1823, Joseph Smith visited the hill Cumorah to secure the gold plates. Upon reaching the repository, he removed the soil from the box but was shocked when he attempted to take the plates, losing his physical strength. He made three attempts, each resulting in greater weakness. After the third attempt, he cried out, asking why he could not obtain the book. The angel Moroni appeared and informed him he had not kept the Lord's commandments. Joseph then prayed and was filled with the Holy Spirit. The heavens were opened, the glory of God shone upon him, and he was shown a vision of the prince of darkness and his associates to help him discern between good and evil. He was instructed that the plates were for the glory of God, not for earthly gain, and that he must be patient and faithful to receive them later. As detailed in Oliver Cowdery's 1835 Letter VIII, this initial attempt was shaped by the atmosphere of the site and the heavy burden of the angelic instructions.

Fuller account of this event (as retold in Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate, Vol. 2, No. 1, Letter VIII (October 1835)):

On attempting to take possession of the record a shock was produced upon his system which deprived him, in a measure, of his natural strength. He desisted for an instant, and then made another attempt, but was more sensibly shocked than before. What was the occasion of this he knew not—there was the pure unsullied record, as had been described—he had heard of the power of enchantment, and a thousand like stories, which held the hidden treasures of the earth, and supposed that physical exertion and personal strength was only necessary to enable him to yet obtain the object of his wish. He therefore made the third attempt with an increased exertion, when his strength failed him more than at either of the former times, and without premeditating he exclaimed, “Why can I not obtain this book?” “Because you have not kept the commandments of the Lord,” answered a voice, within a seeming short distance. He looked, and to his astonishment, there stood the angel who had previously given him the directions concerning this matter. In this second interview, the same directions were given, and the same promises made, as in the first. He was again told that the records were for the glory of God, and that they were not to be obtained for the sake of gain, or for the purpose of raising him to a level with the common earthly fortunes of his fellow men, and that he must be patient and faithful to receive them later. He was also shown a vision of the prince of darkness and his associates, that he might discern between good and evil, and be prepared to resist the temptations of the adversary.