The Kinderhook Plates are frequently cited by LDS critics as evidence that Joseph Smith was deceived, but the historical record tells a far different story. In 1843, six small brass plates were brought to Joseph Smith in Kinderhook, Illinois, by local men who later admitted they had fabricated them as a hoax. Critics often claim Joseph attempted a full translation, yet no contemporaneous document shows that he produced or published a translation of the plates. The sole statement attributed to Joseph comes from a secondhand account by a non-member observer, reporting that Joseph expressed an initial opinion about one character before any formal investigation occurred. Importantly, Joseph quickly lost interest, no revelation was issued, no translation was canonized, and the plates played no role in LDS doctrine or scripture. Modern scholarly analysis confirms the plates were a 19th-century fabrication, but this does not implicate Joseph Smith in fraud; rather, it demonstrates his restraint, as he did not affirm their authenticity through revelation or authoritative teaching. When the full context is considered, the Kinderhook Plates incident illustrates the caution Joseph exercised when confronted with an unverified artifact.