Where are those plates? or Some things you got to believe to see

"When, according to arrangements, the messenger called for them, I delivered them up to him; and he has them in his charge until this day, being the second day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight.” -last lines of Testimony of Joseph Smith in the front of the Book of Mormon.

Why Why Why couldn't Moroni have left the plates on earth? Why couldn't they be on display in temple square right now? Just imagine how many doubts would have been settled if people could see the plates! Wouldn't so many more people believe in the BoM if they could see the plates?

I would love to see the plates that Joseph found in Cummorah- but I can see a few reasons why they had to go:

1. Joseph's Safety - The Palmyra Townsfolk knew that Joseph had a gold book ($$$$$)

“I soon found out the reason why I had received such strict charges to keep them safe, and why it was that the messenger had said that when I had done what was required at my hand, he would call for them. For no sooner was it known that I had them, than the most strenuous exertions were used to get them from me. Every stratagem that could be invented was resorted to for that purpose. The persecution became more bitter and severe than before, and multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if possible." (Note: Townsfolk didn't think he was a prophet but they did think he had the plates - that's good evidence the plates are real. Also note that even though they knew the plates were real it didn't give them a testimony of the BoM)

2. Faith - It's why we are here. God's plan for us has at it's preliminary principle faith. God want's the BoM to turn his children to him (not to an archeologist). It is an amazing book but knowing it's true comes from the Holy Ghost. Would seeing the plates make Moroni's promise less effective as a testimony builder? Maybe. I don't think scientists are going to find any inscriptions in South America somewhere talking about Nephi & Lehi. Why? Because I think God wants there to be a choice when it comes to the BoM. If you believe it you see all the evidence you could ever need, if you don't you can't see a thing.

3. It would distract from the main mission of the plates: A record to show that Jesus is the Christ. It took Joseph three years of waiting and learning from Moroni to really believe that Gold Plates were more important than money. When Joseph understood what the BoM really was, then he could be trusted. If the plates were sitting here today a lot of people would be missing the point. How long before Egyptologists would want to take a crack at their own translation? And if the new version wasn't quite the same, which would you believe - the one done by the power of God or the new and improved one done by the learning of man. That's what happened with the Bible; God didn't want a repeat with the BoM. (The BoM is our key sent from God to us to unlock the confusion of the world.)

The BoM isn't really about ancient war's, or Native Americans. It's about Jesus Christ. So we are left only with the word of God to his Prophets just as he intended us to have it. God gives us just enough room to find out for ourselves.