How did Joseph Smith know about ancient practices regarding preservations of sacred texts?
The idea of the ancients burying a sacred book on gold plates was utterly laughable to others in 1830, but has gained significant credibility since then. This most basic aspect of the Book of Mormon is firmly in the milieu of the ancient world, but that’s based on modern knowledge, not knowledge that Joseph could have had. The eminent non-LDS scholar, R.H. Charles, gives us some insight into these ancient practices, and notes their relationship to the Book of Mormon: The tradition of secrecy begins with Enoch: When Enoch found the Book of Adam and read it, ‘he knew that the human race would not be able to receive it. So he hid it again, and it remained hidden until Noah.’ But the practice began with Adam, who received the golden book from Michael and hid it in the crevice of a rock. The Torah itself was buried when Israel sinned, to be dug up in later times. The Copper Scroll of the Dead Sea Scrolls shows us how in times of dire peril all those sacred things that have been dedicated, i
