Accounts vary of the way in which Smith dictated the Book of Mormon. Smith himself implied that he read the plates directly using spectacles prepared by the Lord for the purpose of translating. Other accounts variously state that he used one or more seer stones placed in a top hat. Beginning around 1832, both the special spectacles and the seer stone were at times referred to as the "Urim and Thummim". During the translation process itself, Smith sometimes separated himself from his scribe with a blanket between them. Additionally, the plates were not always present during the translation process, and when present, they were always covered up.