Recently on Quora,
Robert ("Bob") F. Smith provided some useful information on the topic
of Jewish festivals and Moroni's appearances to the prophet Joseph Smith
between 1823-1827. In response to the question, "Is it possible that
Joseph Smith was receiving coaching from someone who met with him at the Hill
Cumorah each of the four years before obtaining the golden plates?" Smith
wrote:
Yes, he certainly did, and each time at
Autumnal Equinox. His coach was the Angel Moroni, who presented the golden
plates to Joseph for the first time Sept 21-22, 1823 (Sun-Mon), which was
Jewish Tishrei 16-17, during the
Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot);
Thereafter, he and Moroni met there again
Sept 22, 1824 (Wed), which was Jewish Elul
29, on the Eve of Jewish New Year (Rosh
haShana);
Next, on Sept 22, 1825 (Mon) = Tishrei 10, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur);
Next, on Sept 22, 1826 (Fri) = Elul 20, Sabbath Eve (Shabbat);
And finally, on Sept 22, 1827 (Sat) = Tishrei 1, which was both Jewish New
Year and Sabbath (Rosh haShana & Shabbat); Joseph immediately hid the
plates in a hollow log, and retrieved them ten days later on Oct 1, 1827 (Mon)
= Tishrei 10, the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the holiest day of the
year. All that at the end of a Jewish Sabbatical Year.
Mormon history is replete with such
synchronisms.
Further Reading:
Book of
Mormon Central, Why
Did Moroni Deliver the Plates on September 22?
