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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..295f564 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #54337 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54337) diff --git a/old/54337-h.zip b/old/54337-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 23f9e38..0000000 --- a/old/54337-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/54337-h/54337-h.htm b/old/54337-h/54337-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index f841665..0000000 --- a/old/54337-h/54337-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3079 +0,0 @@ -<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd"> -<html lang="en"> -<head> -<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1"> -<title>Reminiscences of Joseph Smith - Edward Stevenson (1893)</title> -<style type="text/css"> -body { - margin-left: 0.5in; - margin-right: 0.5in; -} - -h1, h2, h3, h4 { - text-align: center; -} - -p.quote { - margin-left: 0.5in; - margin-right: 0.5in; - font-size: small; -} - -p.chsum { - font-size: small; - padding-left: 22px; - text-indent: -22px; -} - -p.ctr { - text-align: center; -} - -p.rt { - text-align: right; -} - -p.xl { - text-align: center; - font-size: x-large; -} - -p.lg { - text-align: center; - font-size: large; -} - -p.sm { - font-size: small; -} - -.smcap { - font-variant: small-caps; -} - -p.xsm { - font-size: x-small; -} - -sup { - color: blue; - font-weight: bold; -} - -span.pnum { -position: absolute; -left: 1%; - - font-family: Arial; - font-size: 9pt; - color: blue; - font-style: normal; - font-weight: normal -} - -hr.short { - width: 10%; - border-width: 1px 0px 0px 0px; - border-style: solid; - border-color: black; -} - -hr.long { - width: 20%; - border-width: 1px 0px 0px 0px; - border-style: solid; - border-color: black; - padding-top: 10px; - padding-bottom: 10px; -} - -span.nobr { - white-space: nowrap; -} -</style> -</head> - -<body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's Reminiscences of Joseph the Prophet, by Edward Stevenson - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Reminiscences of Joseph the Prophet - And the Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon - -Author: Edward Stevenson - -Release Date: March 10, 2017 [EBook #54337] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REMINISCENCES OF JOSEPH THE PROPHET *** - - - - -Produced by the Mormon Texts Project -(https://mormontextsproject.org/), with thanks to Andy -Hobbs and Shawnee Hawkes. - - - - - - -</pre> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<p class="ctr"><img src="images/estevenson.jpg" width="400" alt="Edward Stevenson"></p> - -<p class="sm ctr">Born May 1st, 1820, at Gibraltar, Spain</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<p><span class="pnum">[p.1]</span> -<p> </p> - - -<h2>REMINISCENCES</h2> - -<p> </p> - -<h3>OF</h3> - -<p> </p> - -<h1 class="smcap">Joseph, the Prophet</h1> - -<p> </p> - -<p class="lg">And the Coming Forth of</p> - -<p> </p> - -<p class="xl">The Book of Mormon</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<p class="lg">By Elder Edward Stevenson</p> - -<p class="sm ctr"><em>Of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</em></p> - -<p> </p> - -<hr class="short"> -<h3>Illustrated</h3> -<hr class="short"> - -<p> </p> - -<p class="sm ctr">Salt Lake City, Utah</p> - -<p class="ctr">Published By The Author</p> - -<p class="sm ctr">1893</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<p><span class="pnum">[p.2]</span> -<p> </p> - - -<h3>Preface</h3> -<hr class="short"> - -<p><span class="smcap">In presenting</span> this pamphlet of Reminiscences to the public, the Author -desires to explain the circumstances that induced him to issue it. -While delivering a series of illustrated lectures in the various -tabernacles and public halls throughout the Territory--and which -were repeated on more than 200 different occasions--the Author was -earnestly solicited to publish the lectures, including engravings of -the paintings, in the form in which they now appear.</p> - -<p>Having become convinced from the great interest taken in the lectures, -that they were productive of much good, the Author finally determined -to submit the lectures to the public.</p> - -<p>The Author having been personally acquainted with the Prophet Joseph -Smith, and having been with him in many of his trying experiences, -desires to add his testimony to the truth of the work inaugurated by -him, under instructions from the Almighty, and hopes that the incidents -herein related will induce many to investigate this great and important -work; for he that judgeth without investigation is unwise.</p> - -<p class="rt">Respectfully, <br> -The Author.</p> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> - -<p><span class="pnum">[p.3]</span> -<p> </p> - -<h2>Reminiscences</h2> - -<h3>of</h3> - -<h1>Joseph, The Prophet</h1> - -<h3>Chapter 1</h3> - -<p class="chsum">The Mighty Messenger of the Latter-day Dispensation—A Brief Record of a Life fraught with Matchless Heroism, under all manner of Persecution, Trials, Imprisonment, Hardships and finally Martyrdom.</p> - -<p class="ctr"><img src="images/jsmith.jpg" width="300" alt="Joseph Smith, the Prophet"></p> -<p class="sm ctr">Joseph Smith, the Prophet.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> picture herewith presented is one of the few produced of the -Prophet Joseph Smith. It is here reproduced from one published in -Harper’s Pictorial many years ago and now makes its appearance for -the second time. Although it is only a wood cut, there are in it some -true lines and features of the Prophet when he was about the age of -twenty-six. At this early period the science of photography was but -in its infancy and pictures of prominent men were neither so correct -nor plentiful as at the present time. It is, indeed, very proper and -desirable to preserve the best pictures of those who have proven -themselves the benefactors of our country, and more especially so of -him who was chosen and ordained of God to give light and truth and -eternal blessings to mankind.</p> - -<p>Of the few likenesses of our martyred Prophet placed before the <span class="pnum">[p.4]</span> public, -there has been one presented by his son (Joseph Smith, Jr.), which -purports to be a copy or fac simile of a painting which was evidently -taken when he was quite young. It is a front view and, in some -respects, bears a striking resemblance to the one we present to our -readers, notwithstanding that ours is a side view.</p> - -<p>Many efforts have been made to obtain a good portrait, but, it is to be -regretted, without satisfactory results. Brother Nathan T. Porter, of -Centerville, Davis County, Utah, who first saw Joseph Smith in Jackson -County, Mo., in the year 1831, is very much pleased with this picture, -and so also is Aunt Zina D. H. Young, who sees in it many striking -features of the youthful Prophet.</p> - -<p>I first saw him in 1834 at Pontiac and the impression made upon my -mind by him at that time causes me now much pleasure in presenting the -picture to his many friends. The love for him, as a true Prophet of -God, was indelibly impressed upon my mind, and has always been with me -from that time, although nearly sixty years have since passed away.</p> - -<p>In that same year, 1834, in the midst of many large congregations, the -Prophet testified with great power concerning the visit of the Father -and the Son, and the conversation he had with them. Never before did -I feel such power as was manifested on these occasions, and, although -only a small percentage of those who saw and heard him accepted the -restored Gospel, there was not one who dared to dispute it. Many of -our neighbors were heard to say: “Well, if Mormonism is true, it will -stand; if not true, it will fall.” Many of them lived to see it stand -and increase, and while they themselves passed away in death’s embrace, -the work continued to flourish and prosper.</p> - -<p>The fact that so few received his testimony caused me, for a time, to -greatly marvel. But when I looked back to the period when Jesus and -His chosen Twelve and Seventies labored, with all their might, for the -salvation of a fallen world, even with all manner of signs following -their labors, and saw how few believed in our embraced their testimony -in that day of mighty power, when even the grave was robbed of its -victims and the dead commanded to come forth and live, and that while -the dead lived the living were dead; yea, when I saw and meditated -upon these things, I became somewhat reconciled, and the words of -the Lord, through Jeremiah, recurred to my mind and I was satisfied. -The words were these, “And I will take you one of a city, and two of -a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you pastors -according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and -understanding.’—Jer. 3. chap. 14, 15. After these lessons I learned -that while the Gospel was free to every one, yet every one was not free -to receive the Gospel.</p> - -<p>While thus speaking of the Prophet’s visit to Pontiac, Oakland County, -Michigan (then a Territory), I cannot pass by the predictions which he -then made and which were afterwards literally fulfilled as witnessed by -myself and many others. Joseph said, “If you will obey the Gospel with -honest hearts, I promise you in the name of the Lord, that the gifts as -promised by our Saviour will follow you, and by this you may prove me -to be a true servant of God.”</p> - -<p>I am, with others, a witness that these gifts did follow many in the -branch of the Church which was raised <span class="pnum">[p.5]</span> up in Pontiac. Among them were -Deacon Bent of the Presbyterian Church, who was the first one baptized -(and who afterwards became President of the High Council in Nauvoo). -His daughter Mary was the first one who spoke in tongues in this -branch. Besides Mary Curtis, Joseph Wood, Elijah Fordham and others -also enjoyed that gift. We felt that we were blessed above kings, -rulers and potentates of the earth and truly we were a happy branch of -the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our souls were full of -joyous thanksgiving, and our songs of gladness rejoiced the heart by -day, dispelled the gloom of night and welcomed the coming morn. Those -only can realize our happiness and delight who sing with the soul and -understanding the beautiful song of Zion:</p> - -<p class="quote">We thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet,<br> - To guide us in these latter days;<br> -We thank Thee for sending the Gospel<br> - To lighten our minds with its rays.</p> - -<p>The above named Mary Curtis, who afterwards became Sister Reed, will be -remembered as the lady who spoke in tongues in the Logan Temple about -three years ago, on a fast day, and who, on that same day, after having -completed her day’s work in the Temple, went home in the evening and -died. Lyman O. Littlefield, of Logan, as well as myself and my Sister -Mary Stevenson Clark, of Farmington, Davis Co., Utah, witnessed the -speaking in tongues by Mary Curtis in Michigan, sixty years ago, and -also on this occasion in Logan Temple.</p> - -<p>These, however, were not the only blessings with which we were favored -in the Pontiac branch, for we enjoyed the presence of the venerable and -venerated father of the Prophet (Joseph Smith, Sen.), the Patriarch of -the whole Church of God on the earth. The writer was one of many who, -under his hands, received choice and rare blessings, when the power of -the Holy Ghost filled the house to such an extent that the tears flowed -down the cheeks of even those who lived and died outside of the pale of -the Church.</p> - -<p>Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris were also heard by the -writer to testify that they, in open day, stood in the presence of -the God who ministered unto the Prophet. And indeed there was a power -accompanying these testimonies which was irresistible, and which made -deep and lasting impressions.</p> - -<p>Although a mere humble widow’s son, I felt proud and blessed of God, -when he honored us by coming under our roof and partaking of our -hospitality. Oh! how my heart swelled with delightful emotions of -heavenly love, as I selected and presented to him some of our choice -apples in exchange for the golden nuggets of celestial truth, which he -bestowed upon us as he partook of the humble but hearty hospitality -of a widow’s table! We were proud, indeed, to entertain one who had -conversed with the Father and the Son, and been under the tuition of -an angel from Heaven, and who, under the immediate direction of the -Almighty, had organized the true church on the earth, after the exact -pattern of that organized by God, through Jesus Christ, eighteen -hundred years before.</p> - -<p>In parting from under our roof the Prophet expressed a desire to have a -loan of a large English Book of Martyrs which we possessed, promising -to return it to us when he should meet us again in Zion, in the State -of <span class="pnum">[p.6]</span> Missouri, which he did, and on returning -it he said, “I have, by the aid of the Urim and Thummim, seen those -martyrs, and they were honest, devoted followers of Christ, according to -the light they possessed, and they will be saved.”</p> - -<p>For the benefit of those who have not been privileged to meet our -beloved martyred Prophet, I deem it a favor to present the picture, -with the incidents here narrated, for the pleasure and consideration of -all who may peruse them.</p> - -<p>Joseph Smith was born December 23rd, 1805, in Sharon, Windsor County, -Vermont. At about the age of eight years, he passed through an ordeal -which gave remarkable evidence of heroic fortitude and indomitable -power of will, under intense bodily suffering. After recovering from a -severe typhus fever, a fever sore affected his leg and threatened him -with the loss of the limb. Under these circumstances, a consultation -of physicians was held, and after making an incision eight inches -in length, and examining the bone, they decided that, if his life -was to be saved, amputation of the member was absolutely necessary. -This operation, however, was so strongly opposed by both parents and -son that the doctors finally concluded to remove the affected parts -of the bone. Accordingly, they called for a strong cord to bind the -lad, and were intending to give him a stimulant; but to all this our -young hero most decidedly objected, saying, “I will not touch one -particle of liquor, neither will I be tied down; but I will have my -father sit on the bed and hold me in his arms, and then I will do -whatever is necessary to have the bone taken out.” By drilling into -the bone on each side of the part affected, three pieces of bone -were extracted, the removal being made with a pair of forceps. The -manhood and willpower of this noble youth of eight years, under so -trying an ordeal, foreshadowed the story of his life—a life fraught -with matchless heroism, under all manner of persecution, trials, -imprisonments, hardships and finally martyrdom. The howlings of -murderous mobs, infuriated by infernal legions, the lying slanders of a -vile hireling priesthood, and the base treachery of loathsome traitors, -proved utterly powerless to cause him to swerve a single hair’s -breadth from the cause of God and the interests of the downtrodden -and oppressed. To the transgressor and hypocrite he was a fierce lion -in the way, to injured innocence he was a tower of strength, and to -the poor and helpless he was ever a brother and a friend. He lived a -hero of heroes, and a Prophet of Prophets, and to save his brethren -from harm and bloodshed, he dauntlessly went to his death, and died -a Martyr of Martyrs. The world, in its wickedness and crime, may -treat his memory with derision and scorn; but when his defamers are -forgotten, the great and mighty Prophet of God who, under the name of -Joseph Smith, laid down his life for truth and his brethren, shall be -fondly enshrined in the heart of the universe and his life and actions -approved and applauded by the loving lips of eternity.</p> - -<p>It has been truly said that “God moves in a mysterious way” in order -to perform His wonders, and the Scriptures lead us to believe that He -often leads us by a “way that we know not of.” Seldom, or never, were -these expressions more fully verified than in the removal of the future -Prophet’s father from Vermont and <span class="pnum">[p.7]</span> his settling in Palmyra in New York -state. Little did the good man dream of the fact, as he wended his -way from his former home, that he was being led by the Lord to the -very place where his son’s great work was to be accomplished. Yet such -was certainly the fact. Every step of his journey was guided by the -controlling power and wisdom of God, and, although he knew it not, he -settled just where God wanted him and where He wanted his son, who was -to be like Joseph of old, the saviour of his father’s house.</p> - -<p>When between the ages of fourteen and fifteen, after earnestly calling -upon God, Joseph had his first vision, as set forth in another chapter. -When he was between seventeen and eighteen years old, he had his second -vision, which is likewise elsewhere described. And when he was between -twenty-one and twenty-two, after having been instructed by a heavenly -messenger for four years, in the year 1827 the golden records were -entrusted to the custody of the youthful Prophet. He had been married -just eight months and four days at this time. In the year 1827, by the -aid of the Urim and Thummim, or interpreters, the history of two lost -nations was translated, the one being the nation of the Jaredites and -the other that of the Nephites. The remnants of the latter of these -nations of the Nephites were the wild Indians of America, who were -first discovered by Columbus in the year 1492.</p> - -<p>On the sixth day of April, 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of -Latter-day Saints was organized. And on the twenty-seventh day of June, -1844, the Prophet sealed his testimony with his blood. Joseph Smith -was murdered in Carthage Jail when he was in the prime of his life, -being only thirty-eight years, six months and six days old. It was just -fourteen years, two months and twenty-one days after the Church was -organized. Strange as it may appear, our Lord and Saviour was murdered -when only a few years younger than Joseph, and both were put to death -for the same cause, namely, the establishing of the Church of Christ on -the earth, the one in the former and the one in the latter days.</p> - -<p>Dark and solemn was that day when Illinois shed the innocent blood of -the two martyrs, Joseph and Hyrum Smith. They were at the time under -the protection of Governor Thomas Ford, who pledged his sacred honor -for their safety. But the pledge, which was never meant to be kept, was -most shamefully broken, and these two heroic spirits were given up to -a professed Christian mob of merciless demons, and they were cruelly -murdered in cold blood. These great and good men, servants of the Most -High God, of “whom the world was not worthy,” were of one heart and one -mind throughout all their life, and in death they were not separated. -They fled together from the murderous mob to their destined home on -high. There, while they bask in the sunshine of eternal peace and love, -they testify by their blood to the horrid cruelties that reign in the -heart of a wicked and apostate world.</p> - -<p>There were but four years, ten months and fourteen days between the -ages of these noble martyred brothers, Hyrum being the elder.</p> - -<p>Joseph, on this occasion, voluntarily gave himself up to the strong arm -of the law, for he had ever been willing to be tried by the tribunals -of his country. At this time, our beloved Prophet was impressed with a -sad foreboding somewhat similar to that <span class="pnum">[p.8]</span> experienced in Gethsemane by -the Saviour just previous to the crucifixion, when he called upon the -Father and said: “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: -nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.” The Prophet Joseph said, -while on his way to Carthage, “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; -but I am calm as a summer’s morning; I have a conscience void of -offence towards God and towards all men. I shall die innocent, and it -shall yet be said of me, ‘he was murdered in cold blood.’” Elder Bates -Nobles, now living, authorizes me to say that he heard the Prophet -utter those very words. Well, this prophecy of our murdered Prophet -has been often fulfilled in the testimonies of the Saints, both among -themselves and before the world, as well as by the utterances of the -honorable and upright men of all lands, but to its bitter cost, it has -not yet been said by our nation. However, we will watch and wait. “God -is just is all we say.”</p> - -<p class="quote">“Our Patriarch and Prophet, too,<br> -Were massacred. They bled,<br> -To seal their testimony,<br> -They were numbered with the dead.”</p> - -<hr class="long"> - -<p> </p> -<h3>Chapter II.</h3> - -<p class="chsum">The Hill Cumorah, where the Plates of the Book of Mormon were Concealed -by Moroni and afterwards Delivered by him to Joseph Smith.—Some -Valuable History Pertaining to this Thrice-named Hill.</p> - -<p>A beautiful picture of the Hill Cumorah is presented on the opposite -page. The hill is situated in the northwestern part of New York, about -thirty miles south of Rochester. It is also near the New York Central -Railroad, and only three and a half miles from Palmyra station to the -south, and on the Canandaigua turnpike.</p> - -<p>This noted hill has been three times named and by three distinct and -great nations. For particulars concerning its historical importance -we begin our study in the year 1823. At that time there was found in -the side of this historic hill, by an obscure boy, a number of gold -plates. These plates were very ingeniously concealed in a stone box -and, bearing a record and being now translated, supply us with all the -earlier information contained on them.</p> - -<p>There is a vast amount of valuable history pertaining to this hill, -which is far more picturesque than the hills which surround it. There -is an extensive valley on the east, as well as one on the west side -of the hill, where the turnpike runs south, passing through the town -of Manchester in the rear of the hill about two miles. Manchester, as -well as the Hill Cumorah, is situated in the township of Manchester. -The most prominent view of the hill is its north front. It extends -south nearly a mile, where it terminates into a more level plateau, -which is occupied as an agricultural district. From the highest point -of the hill, which is the northern end, where the writer has stood a -number of times, is one of the most lovely sights imaginable. To the -east is the New York Central Railroad, about <span class="pnum">[p.9]</span> four miles north is a most -lovely town named Palmyra, and two miles northwest is where the father -of Joseph Smith located a farm when the latter was only twelve years -of age. Finally, the whole country surrounding the hill from the most -elevated spot, as far as the natural vision can grasp, is indeed a most -charming scene of farms, orchards, houses, barns and rolling hills, -with occasional forests, and in the proper season, fields of golden -grain, barns well-filled, orchard trees laden with apples, peaches -and pears, with here and there patches of strawberries, raspberries, -blackberries, cherries, currants and garden vegetables in variety. All -of these beautiful scenes have engraven upon my mind a picture which -defies the artist’s brush to place on canvas.</p> - -<p class="ctr"><img src="images/hillcumorah.jpg" alt="The Hill Cumorah"></p> -<p class="sm ctr">The Hill Cumorah. <span class="pnum">[p.10]</span> </p> - -<p>The first name given to this hill (and by a lost nation who left the -Tower of Babel 2000 B.C.) was Ramah, as found in their history, page -606, new edition. This history is called the Book of Mormon, and this -portion is written by a historian named Ether.</p> - -<p>It was named the second time by an entirely different people, and -called Cumorah, as found on page 559, new edition, of the same book, by -the historian whose name was Mormon.</p> - -<p>The third name is Bible Hill, or Mormon Hill, and was given in the year -1829.</p> - -<p>Having studied the history of these lost nations, I felt very much -inclined to gratify the desires awakened in my bosom to visit the -place. Impelled by these aspiration, I undertook the journey and soon -found myself at a pleasant and commodious hotel in Palmyra.</p> - -<p>Early on a summer’s morning in the year 1870, after a gentle shower -during the night, with just sufficient rainfall to lay the dust, I -set out to walk to the hill. Never can I forget the lovely scenery of -that lonely but interesting walk down the most excellent Canandaigua -turnpike. Among the objects passed on the way was the former home of -Joseph Smith, and the very old and comely schoolhouse where he learned -some of his early lessons.</p> - -<p>Arriving near the object of my morning’s walk, I set bout inquiring for -the Hill Cumorah. But not one could I find in all the country round who -could give me the desired information; until one, and the right one -too, who was made to comprehend my mind and wish, said, “Is it Mormon -Hill that you want, or what is more familiarly known among us in this -country as ‘Bible Hill,’ where old Joe Smith found the Mormon Bible? Is -it this place you wish to find?”</p> - -<p>Having answered affirmatively the question, I was not only enabled, -by my friend’s direction, to learn the third and last name given to -this hill, but to find myself standing upon the summit of one of the -most interesting objects of my 100,000 miles’ travel. It appeared more -like a dream than a stern reality. Could it be possible that here was -the identical spot of ground where stood a being who had lived in -the fourth century, some fourteen hundred and fifty years prior to -my occupying this position? Indeed, it was verily true. But, oh! the -wonderful contrast between the two views, and the changes of scenery -in that time! Now a beautiful landscape: such a one as delights the -vision, until the mind becomes swallowed up and absorbed in deep -reflection. There are beauties of hills and dales, orchards and farms, -lawns and gardens on every side, more especially to the north, east and -west. Just for a <span class="pnum">[p.11]</span> moment cast your eye on the engraving, which is the -one of my choice, exhibiting, as it does, a north front, and to my mind -the most lovely view of all. There are differing pictures of this hill, -some real and some imaginary. The one presented is from a painting made -from a photograph which Apostle F. D. Richards had taken while on a -visit to this historic hill and country.</p> - -<p>Some cows and other additions have been made to the picture, such as -the carriage conveying the visitors along the roadway by the fence, -to the house, where the owner of the hill and surroundings lives. But -the main features of the hill are true representations of it, so much -so that J. W. Fox, Jr., also Bishop G. H. Taylor, both of whom visited -the place some years before, say it is the best picture of it that they -have ever seen presented.</p> - -<p>Brother Edward Hold, of South Jordan Ward had a vision of the hill -(similar to the one the prophet Joseph Smith had), and described it -very minutely before seeing the picture of it. He said, just above -where he saw a portion of the top of the stone box there was a tree, -and upon this point I interrogated him closely, stating that only two -years previous Bishop Black, Brother Andrew Jenson and I had visited -the spot of ground, and there was no tree there; but he insisted that -there was a tree just above the stone box, a clumpy tree, for he saw -one there. It became necessary for an explanation before he should see -the picture.</p> - -<p>At the period of discovery of the gold plates, there stood upon the -side of the hill, about fifteen feet above where the stone box had so -long reposed, a lone, solitary, sugar maple tree, and there continued -to grow until twenty-two years ago, just as described by Brother Holt, -who was so highly favored of God as to see the whole scene in a vision -or dream.</p> - -<p>What made Brother Holt’s vision all the more deeply interesting to me -was that in 1871 I had enjoyed the great privilege and pleasure of -visiting the hill in person, and of seeing the very identical spot of -ground where Mormon concealed the stone box and its precious records -and where Moroni, his son, finished the writing and sealed up these -records. But there was no tree standing there as was described in the -vision, for it had been cut down shortly before and was lying on the -ground, not having as yet been removed. It was a clumpy sort of a -tree, about two feet in diameter. For a long time it had stood there -like a solitary sentinel guarding the sacred spot which contained -the book that was to shape the destinies of thousands upon thousands -of the human race, and people the heavens with the true sons and -daughters of God. I have always regretted the removal of that tree, -for it was a conspicuous mark on the northwest point of the now almost -treeless hill. After satisfying Brother Hold as to the absence of the -tree, which he had seen in his vision, he very readily recognized the -painting as being a correct and accurate representation of the deeply -interesting Hill Cumorah as he had seen it in his vision forty years -before.</p> - -<p>Brother Holt, with respect to his vision, stated that he “had retired -to bed, after reading the Book of Mormon, and that he had entertained -some doubts regarding the vision Joseph Smith had of the hill, and of -his finding the stone box containing the plates. But the vision which -he had himself received concerning the <span class="pnum">[p.12]</span> matter served to remove every -shadow of a doubt from his mind, for all future time. In the last -chapter, written by Moroni just before closing or sealing up the box, -he engraved upon the plates the following words: “And I seal up these -records, after I have spoken a few words, by way of exhortation, unto -you; behold, I would exhort you, that when ye shall read these things, -if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember -how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the -creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these -things. I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the eternal Father, -in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall -ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, -he will manifest the truth of it unto you.” Brother Holt, as well -as hundreds of others, can testify that these words are true and in -consonance with the words of Jesus Christ himself, “Ask and it shall be -given unto you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened -unto you,” and also in accordance with the words of James, who says, -“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men -liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him,” but “let him -ask in faith, nothing wavering.”</p> - -<p>The boy Joseph did not ask in vain, neither will any other person ask -in vain who asks in faith for the word of the Lord faileth not but -endureth forever. My guide who accompanied me on my visit in 1871, -pointed out to me many places of interest, and also entertained me -hospitably at his table, where a number of harvesters had assembled. -The covered carriage represented in the picture is conveying our party -on my second visit to the house in which we all dined together, which -is situated to the left of the painting. The dinner party to me was -highly interesting, and all the more so as we sat conversing about -the things of God right in the shadow of the Hill Cumorah. All spoke -freely, and asked many questions, which I felt it a great pleasure -to answer. They were anxious to hear something of the spread of the -work since the gold plates were discovered in that remarkable hill, -and I very gladly gratified them with a short account of the rise and -progress of this “marvelous work and a wonder,” from the day the angel -visited Cumorah and gave the plates to Joseph, the boy-prophet, down to -the present time, when the work has gathered into its cause some two -hundred and fifty thousand Saints, and founded the Territory of Utah -in the west. The conclusion come to by this party of harvesters was -that the subject of our conversation was indeed a “marvellous work and -wonder.” Still, like many other time-servers and worldly-wise people, -they felt their spirits weakening within them, and they exclaimed, “But -Mormonism is so very unpopular!”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” I replied, “it has been so since the Jews and Gentiles murdered -the Chief Shepherd.”</p> - -<p>Our pleasant entertainment and agreeable conversation here terminated, -after bearing my testimony to the divinity of the restored gospel, -and to the fact that more than fourteen hundred years ago the gold -plates, that contained the same, were sealed up and deposited in this -very hill, destined to come forth and revolutionize the world, in -these latter days. Cordially bidding good-day to my hospitable host, I -proceeded on my <span class="pnum">[p.13]</span> way, and found an old gentleman who lived west of the -hill and who was quite agreeable and conversational on the subject of -my visit to Cumorah. He was well-acquainted with some of the history of -the coming forth of the book which was to “speak out of the ground,” -although spiritually, he did not seem to have greatly benefited by this -“marvelous work and a wonder.” Still, from him I gleaned some useful -information. He pointed out the spot of ground where the stone box was -placed, near the summit, and on the west side of the point of the hill. -He likewise stated that soon after the rumor so widely spread regarding -“Joe” Smith finding a gold bible, that there was great excitement -throughout the whole country, and that it was about this time the -Rochester Company located and searched for hidden treasure.</p> - -<p>Questioning him closely he stated that he had seen some good-sized flat -stones that had rolled down and lay near the bottom of the hill. This -had occurred after the contents of the box had been removed and these -stones were doubtless the ones that formerly composed the box. I felt a -strong desire to see these ancient relics and told him I would be much -pleased to have him inform me where they were to be found. He stated -that they had long since been taken away. He further said that he knew -“Joe” Smith as a “money digger” and a “visionary man” and Martin Harris -as an honest reliable farmer. Joseph in his history says that he worked -in a mine for Mr. Stowel, hunting for hidden treasures, at fourteen -dollars per month, hence his name as a money-digger. I then inquired -if he ever knew Joseph Smith to be convicted of crime. He replied -that he had not known him as having been convicted. The surrounding -scenery, which embraced a young grove of beech, sugar maple, hickory, -oak, bass-wood, etc., covering about five acres of ground, was very -beautiful. The grove is about 200 yards southwest of where the plates -were found. There was a fine, well-cultivated field of grain on the -hillside. My loquacious guide showed me another and much deeper cavity -made on the east side of the hill by the above-named Rochester treasure -seekers, a company of prospectors. They said that science aided by -mineral rods did not lie and that most assuredly there were rich -treasures concealed in the hill, and they were determined to have them. -But with all their science and laborious excavations they failed to get -a glimpse of the coveted treasures and returned to their homes if not -richer, at least it is to be hoped wiser men, for the only results of -their efforts were the holes they left on the hillside. Notwithstanding -this, there are strong and feasible reasons for believing that there is -abundance of treasure hid up in Cumorah, but it is guarded by the hand -of the Lord and none shall ever possess it until made known in the due -time of the Lord. The great and mighty nation of the Jaredites, having -departed from God and shed the blood of the prophets, became divided -into bloodthirsty factions, who waged relentless and merciless wars -against each other for many years; finally, after millions were slain, -they arrayed themselves into two mighty opposing armies and mutually -agreed to give each other four years in which to gather their entire -forces of men, women and children around Ramah, and there make one last -appalling death struggle for victory, but so well were these colossal -<span class="pnum">[p.14]</span> armies matched in numbers, valor, fury and hatred that they continued -to fight day after day till both sides were completely destroyed from -the face of the land. One man of all these great and mighty armies -alone remained alive. Ere they begin the dreadful carnage, they made -excavations and hid up in Ramah their immense treasures.</p> - -<p>The Lord again peopled the land and they too became haughty and lifted -up in the pride of their hearts, renounced God and slew his prophets, -and division, war and bloodshed again filled the land with horror. -Once more were immense hosts arrayed into two great armies, the one -called the Nephites, the other the Lamanites, and strange to say they -also marshalled their forces, and undertook to make one last death -struggle for victory or death. The battle ceased when the Nephites -were destroyed, and again millions lay dead upon the fatal ground. The -Jaredites’ Ramah was the Nephites’ Cumorah, and their ashes commingle -and repose in death. Ere this last horrid conflict commenced, they, -too, hid their untold treasures in this HIll Cumorah, and it was said -by President Young at Farmington, Davis Co., Utah, June 17, 1877, just -two months and twelve days before his death:</p> - -<p class="quote">“There were a great many treasures hid up by the Nephites. <span class="nobr">* * *</span> I -lived right in the country where the plates were found from which -the Book of Mormon was translated, and I know a great many things -pertaining to that country. I believe I will take the liberty to tell -you of another circumstance that will be as marvelous as anything can -be. This is an incident in the life of Oliver Cowdery, but he did not -take the liberty of telling such things in meeting as I take. I tell -these things to you, and I have a motive for doing so. I want to carry -them to the ears of my brethren and sisters, and the children also, -that they may grow to an understanding of some things that seem to -be entirely hidden from the human family. Oliver Cowdery went with -the Prophet Joseph when he deposited these plates. Joseph did not -translate all of the plates: there was a portion of these sealed which -you can learn from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. When Joseph got -the plates, the angel instructed him to carry them back to the Hill -Cumorah, which he did. Oliver says that when Joseph and Oliver went -there, the hill opened, and they walked into a cave, in which there was -a large and spacious room. <span class="nobr">* * *</span> They laid the plates on a table; it -was a large table that stood in the room. Under this table there was a -pile of plates as much as two feet high, and there were altogether in -this room more plates than probably many wagon loads; they were piled -up in the corners and along the walls. <span class="nobr">* * *</span> I tell you this as coming -not only from Oliver Cowdery, but others who were familiar with it. <span class="nobr">* -* *</span> I relate this to you, and I want you to understand it. I take this -liberty of referring to these things so that they will not be forgotten -and lost.</p> - -<p class="quote">“Carlos Smith was a young man of as much veracity as any young man -we had, and he was a witness to these things. Samuel Smith saw some -things, Hyrum saw a good many things, but Joseph was the leader. Now, -you may think I am unwise in publicly telling these things, thinking -perhaps I should preserve them in my own breast; but such is not my -mind. I would like the people called Latter-day Saints to understand -some little things with regard to the workings and dealings of the Lord -with his people here upon the earth.”—<em>Journal of Discourses, Vol. 19, -p. 36.</em></p> - -<p>It was likewise stated to me by David Whitmer in the year 1877 that -Oliver Cowdery told him that the Prophet Joseph and himself had seen -this room and that it was filled with treasure, and on a table therein -were the breastplate and the sword of Laban, as well as the portion of -gold plates not yet translated, and that these plates were bound by -three small gold rings, and would also be translated, as was the first -portion in the days of Joseph. When they are translated much useful -information will be brought to light. But till that day arrives, no -Rochester adventurers shall ever see them or the <span class="pnum">[p.15]</span> treasures, although -science and mineral rods testify that they are there. At the proper -time when greed, selfishness and corruption shall cease to reign in the -hearts of the people, these vast hoards of hidden treasure shall be -brought forth to be used for the cause and kingdom of Jesus Christ.</p> - -<p>Changing the scene once more another prophet, whose name was -Mormon, stood on the summit of this hill. At that time a great and -fierce battle was fought. After the conclusion of the battle, which -occurred about 1472 years ago, Mormon’s grief was expressed on this -heart-rending and doleful scene as found on page 560 of their history -in the Book of Mormon. We will here again refer to the great battle of -the Lamanites and Nephites:</p> - -<p class="quote">“And when they had gone through and hewn down all my people save it -were twenty and four of us, (among whom was my son Moroni) and we -having survived the dead of our people, did behold on the morrow, <span class="nobr">* * *</span> -from the top of the hill Cumorah, the ten thousand of my people who -were hewn down, being led in the front by me. And we also beheld the -ten thousand of my people who were led by my son Moroni.”</p> - -<p>And other generals are named who led each their ten thousand until we -reach the enormous number of two hundred and thirty thousand men, with -their wives and children, who were strewn around this most marvelous -hill:</p> - -<p class="quote">“And their flesh, and bones, and blood lay upon the face of the earth, -<span class="nobr">* * *</span> <span class="nobr">* * *</span> to moulder upon the land, and to crumble and to return to their -mother earth. And my soul was rent with anguish, because of the slain -of my people, and I cried: O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed -from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected -that <em>Jesus,</em> who stood with open arms to receive you! Behold, if -ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are -fallen, and I mourn your loss. O ye fair sons and daughters, ye -fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it -that ye could have fallen! But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows -cannot bring your return. And the day soon cometh that your mortal -must put on immortality, and these bodies which are now mouldering in -corruption must soon become incorruptible bodies; and then ye must -stand before the judgment seat of Christ, to be judged according to -your works; and if it so be that ye are righteous, then are ye blessed -with your fathers who have gone before you. O that ye had repented -before this great destruction had come upon you. But behold, ye are -gone, and the Father of heaven knoweth your state, and He doeth with -you according to His justice and mercy.”</p> - -<p>Before leaving the prophet Mormon standing on the hill in his -lamentation, let us still extend the vision over the great -battlefield, calling to mind that the 230,000 men were all soldiers, -then were their wives, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, which -we will multiply by five, making 1,150,000 souls; then extend the -vision over and around the enemy’s camp, and at least double the -number of slain, increasing the sad scene to the enormous total of -2,300,000 souls. Only for a moment imagine that we see the camp just -before that great battle: twenty-three camps each of 10,000, with a -general at their head, would be required for the 230,000 soldiers.</p> - -<p>While I was standing upon this same spot of ground about three years -ago, my mind contrasted the various changes of the present with the -past and I fancied that I could review, as did Mormon, the sad and -gloomy picture of his time, 1472 years ago.</p> - -<p>The fathers of those who fell around this historic hill came from -Jerusalem 600 years B.C. They were warned of God to flee from the -land, because of the terrible calamities that were <span class="pnum">[p.16]</span> about to befall the -inhabitants of that once Holy City, for killing the prophets of God -and for their wickedness.</p> - -<p>The decrees of God were fulfilled in the destruction of the -inhabitants of Jerusalem, after they crucified the Saviour and his -disciples, and became fully ripe in iniquity. But 600 years before -these disasters, the colony, who were directed by revelation, crossed -the sea, landing in South America, building up cities, migrating -northward, and leaving in their tracks northward many cities, temples, -massive walls, and fortifications, some of which have been discovered -by Catherwood and Stevens, as well as by many other historians; and -new discoveries are still being brought to light. Among the many -remarkable ruined aboriginal cities of the continent of America, -Palenque is one of the most noted. It is situated on the Rio Chacamas, -a branch of the great river Usumasinta, on the borders of Yucatan. It -is in latitude 17 degrees 30 minutes north, longitude 92 degrees 25 -minutes west. In this old city of ruins is a temple—no doubt one of -the Nephite temples. The picture shows it as restored from the relics -that are left. It is built of stone and is at the base 310 feet long, - 180 feet deep, and 25 feet high. Ranges of stone steps 30 feet broad -lead up to it, flanked with gigantic statues nine feet high, carved -in stone. There are numerous hieroglyphics engraven but considerably -defaced.</p> - -<p class="ctr"><img src="images/palenque.jpg" alt="Palenque Restored"></p> -<p class="sm ctr">Palenque Restored.</p> - -<p>The Book of Mormon speaks of many temples and cities which were built -by the people of this time, and no doubt this is one of them in -ruins. But who is there that is able to tell the story of those mound -builders, excepting their own revealed history?</p> - -<p>It must be remembered that this last nation, called Nephites, became -a very numerous people, and their history, which they were commanded -of the Lord to keep on thin plates of gold, informs us that while -they lived lives of purity, serving God prayerfully, they prospered -exceedingly.</p> - -<p>The precious metals abounded on this new and promised land, so -beautifully <span class="pnum">[p.17]</span> described by the ancient prophet Moses. This man of God, -just before his death, blessed the children of Israel, and of Joseph, -he said:</p> - -<p class="quote">“Blessed of the Lord be this land, for the precious things of heaven, -for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, and for the -precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things -put forth by the moon, and for the chief things of the ancient -mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, and for -the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good -will of him that dwelt in the bush let the blessing come upon the head -of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated -from his brethren. His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, -and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push -the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten -thousands of Ephraim, and the thousands of Manasseh.”</p> - -<p>Now, if we can successfully establish this continent of America as -being the land spoken of by Moses—which is verily true—then we shall -find not only those lost nations but the present generation dwelling on -this land abounding in the good things found even in the lasting hills, -and a choice land above all others.</p> - -<p>As evidence I will introduce the words of our famed patriarch, Father -Jacob:</p> - -<p class="quote">“Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose -branches [children] run over the wall [the ocean]. The archers have -sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him, but his bow abode -in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands -of the mighty God of Jacob; from thence is the Shepherd, the stone of -Israel. Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by -the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, -blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, -and of the womb: The blessings of thy father have prevailed above -the blessings of my progenitors [Abraham and Isaac, whose land was -Jerusalem] unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills [Rocky -Mountains;] they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of -the head of him that was separate from his brethren [which was Joseph, -sold by his brethren into Egypt].”</p> - -<p>Father Lehi and his son Nephi and others, just before crossing the sea, -or wall of waters, to this choice land of Jacob, searched the records -which were brought from Jerusalem and these are the words which they -found recorded:</p> - -<p class="quote">“And my father Lehi also found upon the plates of brass, a genealogy -of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph, -yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into -Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might -preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with -famine. And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of -Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them. And thus my Father, -Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his fathers.”</p> - -<p>While Father Lehi and those who were with him encamped on the borders -of the Red Sea, by a command of the Lord the sons of Lehi returned to -Jerusalem and succeeded in bringing Ishmael (a righteous Israelite of -the “tribe of Ephraim”) with his five marriageable daughters, to join -the colony. They finally emigrated to America, literally fulfilling -the words of Jacob with regard to Joseph’s promised inheritance of the -choice land that was to reach to the everlasting hills. By this new -acquisition, the sons of Lehi were provided with wives, and that, too, -of Ephraimitish blood, making the remnants of their line, who were -discovered in the year 1492 by Christopher Columbus, of the lineage -of Ephraim and Manassah, whose descendants are the American Indians. -Thus are we provided with a history which every one should read and -become acquainted with the origin of the natives of America, and find -an explanation <span class="pnum">[p.18]</span> of the ruins found in North, South and Central America. -Their history, translated from the gold plates, is now called the Book -of Mormon. This book also gives a brief account of a previous nation, -which left the Tower of Babel 2,000 years B. C., landing near the Gulf -of California. They were 344 days in crossing the ocean. In process of -time, they emigrated northward and finally became a great nation and -people.</p> - -<p>Here follows a few words as recorded in their history on page 571, -chapter first, thirty-third verse:</p> - -<p class="quote">“Jared came forth with his brother and their families, with some - others and their families, from the great Tower, at the time the Lord - confounded the language of the people and swore in his wrath that they - should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.”</p> - -<p>In addition to these words we will add the seventh and eighth verses of -the eleventh chapter of Genesis:</p> - -<p class="quote">“Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they -may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them -abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth.”</p> - -<p>I think America is a pretty large portion of the earth, and comes in -for its share of people. According to the word of the Lord the people -<em>were</em> scattered. Those who wish to follow this colony closely can read -their history as found in the Book of Mormon until they had built up -cities, etc., which have been and are being constantly discovered. In -process of time they numbered about 15,000,000 people and became rich, -wicked and ripe for destruction.</p> - -<p>At one time a fierce battle was fought near where Buffalo, N. Y., now -stands, wherein two million were lying strewn upon the earth, slain in -battle and no one to bury them, till the stench drove them southward -to the Hill Ramah, which was called Cumorah by the Nephite race. A -contract was entered into between Kings Coriantumr and Shiz, giving -Coriantumr four years to gather together all who were on the side of -Coriantumr, and all for King Shiz were gathered together unto his camp. -Ether has recorded in the Book of Mormon that:</p> - -<p class="quote">“The army of Coriantumr did pitch their tents by the hill Ramah. And -it was that same hill where my Father Mormon did hide up the records -unto the Lord, which were sacred. <span class="nobr">* * *</span> When they were all gathered -together, every one to the army which he would, with their wives and -their children, both men, women and children being armed with weapons -of war, having shields, and breast-plates, and head-plates, and being -clothed after the manner of war, they did march forth one against the -other to battle; and they fought all that day, and conquered not, and -when it was night they were weary, and retired to their camps; and -after they had retired to their camps, they took up a howling and a -lamentation for the loss of their people who were slain; their howling -and lamentation did rend the air exceedingly.”</p> - -<p>A continuation of this lamentable slaughter, with weeping and howling, -was kept up for six successive days, till only thirty-two of the people -of Shiz and twenty-seven of Coriantumr’s were left, and on the seventh -day Coriantumr with his twenty-seven retreated, which gave the opposing -King Shiz fresh courage. He said, “I will slay Coriantumr or perish by -the sword,” and indeed his words were fulfilled after a severe battle, -in which all were slain, excepting King Shiz, who had fallen faint and -weak, and Coriantumr, who leaned upon his sword to rest, after which he -smote off the head of Shiz and fell to the ground as if he was dead. -Here the history leaves this, the only survivor of those two mighty -armies, around this historic Hill Cumorah, thus bringing to pass the -words of the prophet Ether, who prophecied to King <span class="pnum">[p.19]</span> Coriantumr that -unless he and his people should repent, every one of them should be -slain except himself and he should live to see a strange people possess -the land and be buried by them. Now, in order to verify the prophet’s -words, I will refer you to the book of Omni, Book of Mormon, which says:</p> - -<p class="quote">“And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he -dwelt with them for the space of nine moons” (months).</p> - -<p>Coriantumr, weak, wounded and alone, had to wend his way about 3,000 -miles to Zarahemla, where he remained until his death and was buried by -this strange people.</p> - -<p>Thus ended two great nations around this historic hill, in fulfillment -of God’s word, as found in the Book of Mormon, page 474:</p> - -<p class="quote">“Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it -[and this will apply to all people in every age] shall be free from -bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, -if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ. I -will forgive thee and thy brethren of their sins, but thou shalt not -sin any more, for ye shall remember that my spirit shall not always -strive with man; wherefore if ye will sin until ye are fully ripe, ye -shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.”</p> - -<p>This has been fulfilled to the very letter with both nations.</p> - -<p> </p> -<hr class="long"> -<h3>Chapter III.</h3> - -<p class="chsum">The Angel that had been foretold would “Fly through the midst of -Heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to Preach unto them that Dwell on -the Earth” appears to Joseph Smith.—The Golden Plates are Given into -his Charge.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> memorable twenty-second day of September, 1827, was the day -appointed by the angel Moroni to meet Joseph Smith on the Hill Cumorah. -There he was to receive the gold plates, the breast-plate and the Urim -and Thummim. The accompanying shows Joseph grown to maturity, being no -longer a lad of tender years as when he received his first vision. He -now stands in his noble, dignified manhood, in the twenty-second year -of his age. Before being entrusted with those valuable plates it was -necessary that he should become experienced with regard to such sacred -matters. For more than four years previous to this event he had at -intervals met the angel and been instructed by him. This was during the -important period between boyhood and manhood, when the mind is easily -impressed. During all that time, he had not been permitted to take the -plates away.</p> - -<p>The appointed time now having come, we see him receiving the treasure, -as pictured in the engraving. He is holding the book in his hands, -while the breast-plate rests on the edge of the stone box, with the -sword of Laban near by. The angel, holding the Urim and Thummim, is in -the act of delivering it unto Joseph, and while doing so charges him as -follows:</p> - -<p class="quote">“Now you have got the record into your own hands, and you are but a -young man: therefore, you will have to be watchful and faithful to -your trust, or you will be overpowered by wicked men; for they will -lay every plan and scheme possible to get it away from you; and if you -do not take heed continually, they <span class="pnum">[p.20]</span> will succeed. While it was in my -hands, I could keep it and no man had power to take it away; but now I -give it up to you. Beware, and look well to your ways, and you shall -have power to retain it, until the time for it to be translated.”</p> - -<p>In 1834 I first listened to this Prophet of God, who related this -vision he had been favored with. The honesty and power of his -expression carried conviction with it.</p> - -<p>I will now introduce a few Bible quotations in order to prove that just -such an event as the one represented by the accompanying illustration -was to take place in the latter days. Zechariah in his 2nd chapter says:</p> - -<p class="quote">“And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another -angel went out to meet him. </p> - -<p class="quote">“And said unto him, run, speak to this -young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls -for the multitude of men and cattle therein.”</p> - -<p>In order to discover further the mind of God’s inspired prophet, we -will turn to his 8th chapter, which reads as follows:</p> - -<p class="quote">“Again the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, “</p> -<p class="quote">Thus saith -the Lord of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy. <span class="nobr">* * *</span></p> -<p class="quote"> -“Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the -midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth.</p> -<p class="quote"> -“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, there shall yet old men and old women -dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his -hand for very age.</p> -<p class="quote"> “And the streets of the city shall be full of boys -and girls playing in the streets thereof. </p> -<p class="quote">“<span class="nobr">* * *</span> Behold I will save my -people from the east country, and from the west country; </p> -<p class="quote">“And I will -bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they -shall be my people, and I will be their God.”</p> - -<p>Soon after the message of the angel to the young man Joseph, he, in -obedience to God’s command, organized the church. In due time there -were Twelve Apostles, and he appointed two of those Apostles on a -mission to Jerusalem. Upon Mount Olivet, one of the apostles,—Orson -Hyde,—offered a dedicatory prayer unto God, the Eternal Father.</p> - -<p>In that prayer he supplicated God to remember his promises made to -Father Abraham concerning this dry and barren land, and Abraham’s seed -which should inhabit this thirsty country, and who had wandered as -strangers in a strange land. The land had become barren because of the -sins of those who, in their ignorance, crucified God’s Only Begotten -Son, Jesus Christ. He further pleaded:</p> - -<p class="quote">“And as Jesus, thy Son, in his sorrowful and trying hours, cried, -‘Lord, forgive them, they know not what they do!’ so do thou, O God, -have mercy on them and let the promises of the prophets come up in -remembrance before thee. Be pleased, O Father, to send the rains on -these parched lands; and may the dews fall upon the hills and valleys, -that the land may again teem with plenty, and cities be built up unto -the Lord our God.”</p> - -<p>This is the substance of the supplication of the Apostle who dedicated -the land of Palestine. Since then the way is being prepared with a -railroad from the Mediterranean Sea to Jerusalem; and lo! the time has -come for God’s mercy, as foretold by Isaiah, 40th chapter:</p> - -<p class="quote">“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye -comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is -accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of -the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”</p> - -<p>Joel, another of God’s ancient prophets, prophecying of future events, -in 2nd chapter, says:</p> - -<p class="quote">“Fear not, O land; be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in -the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, -and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and -the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall <span class="pnum">[p.21]</span> be full of -wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. <span class="nobr">* * *</span> And ye -shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord -your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you, and my people shall -never be ashamed.”</p> - -<p>Realizing that the words of the prophets Isaiah and Joel will have a -literal fulfillment, we can readily conceive of the way being thus -prepared for the support of the hosts that are soon to fill the streets -of Jerusalem; for without the early and the latter rains, this land, -for so many generations barren, could not be redeemed. Indeed, the -words of those who crucified the Savior, or who consented to his death, -are brought forcibly to the minds of Christians:</p> - -<p class="quote">“His blood be upon us and our children.”—<em>Matt.27:25</em></p> - -<p>Because of their wicked desires, desolation has rested upon this land -which once flowed with milk and honey. But, thank God! a pardoning time -is being ushered in. The angel spoken of by Zechariah has come with the -glad tidings.</p> - -<p class="ctr"><img src="images/moroni.jpg" alt="The Angel Moroni Delivering the Golden Plates to Joseph Smith"></p> -<p class="sm ctr">The Angel Moroni Delivering the Golden Plates to Joseph Smith. <span class="pnum">[p.22]</span> </p> - -<p>John, the Revelator, also, was permitted to behold an angel who had a -message to deliver. Who can truthfully say the angel he saw is not the -very one Zechariah said should speak to the young man?</p> - -<p class="quote">“And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having -the everlasting gospel [the Book of Mormon says it contains the -everlasting gospel] to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and -to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people; saying with -a loud voice, fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his -judgment is come; and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the -sea, and the fountains of waters.”—<em>Revelation, 14,6-7.</em></p> - -<p>In Zechariah, 2nd chapter, 8th verse, it says:</p> - -<p class="quote">“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for lo, I come, and I will -dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. And many nations shall be -joined to the Lord in that day.”</p> - -<p>What day? The day in which the angel was to speak to the <em>young</em> (not -old) man. In Zion there are now over twenty nationalities who are -joined to the Lord.</p> - -<p>Zechariah in the same chapter says:</p> - -<p class="quote">“And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the Holy Land and -shall choose Jerusalem again. Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord; -for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.”</p> - -<p>These things are soon to take place, when the Jews will be gathered.</p> - -<p class="quote">“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion: shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; -behold thy king cometh unto thee.”—<em>Zec. 9, 9.</em></p> - -<p>He will come this second time, when:</p> - -<p class="quote">“They shall look upon me whom they have pierced.”—<em>Zec. 12,10.</em></p> - -<p>Again, this prophet says in chapter 15, 6:</p> - -<p class="quote">“And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? -Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of -my friends.”</p> - -<p>“In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David -and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”—<em>Zec. 12, 1.</em></p> - -<p>The same book, 14th chapter, says:</p> - -<p class="quote">“His feet shall stand in that day upon the <em>Mount of Olives</em>.”</p> - -<p>It appears sufficiently plain that God has set his hand again the -second time to gather not only the <em>Jews,</em> but the <em>House</em> of Israel.</p> - -<p>In Isaiah, 11th chapter, it is clearly stated that there is to be an -ensign to the <em>people</em>; to it shall the <em>gentiles</em> seek. And the next -verse says that in that day the Lord will set his hand <em>again</em> the -<em>second</em> time to gather his people.</p> - -<p class="quote">“And he shall set up an ensign for the <em>nations,</em> and shall assemble -the outcasts of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the -four corners of the earth.”—<em>Isaiah, 11,12.</em></p> - -<p>We learn more perfectly in the tenth verse that the Gentiles as well as -the Jews are remembered.</p> - -<p>Isaiah, 2nd chapter, says:</p> - -<p class="quote">“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the -Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains.”</p> - -<p>Following on we find that two places are distinctly spoken of: <em>Zion</em>, -from whence the law of God is to go forth; and the word of the Lord -from <span class="smcap">Jerusalem</span>. And as Jesus came to his own (the Jews) first, and to -the Gentiles last, so now the first shall be last and the last shall -be first. And in our day Joseph Smith has been directed by the Lord to -gather the people to Zion, as so vividly portrayed by the prophet who -saw the angel who should run and speak to the young man.</p> - -<p>Having introduced these Bible evidences, we shall repeat the testimony -of three witnesses whom God raised up, and who, until their death, were -always true and faithful to their testimony:</p> - -<p class="quote">“Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto - whom this work <span class="pnum">[p.23]</span> shall come, that we, through the grace of God the - Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain - this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of - the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who - came from the tower of which hath been spoken; and we also know that - they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice - hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work - is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which - are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of - God, and not of man. And we declare with words of solemness, that an - angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our - eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; - and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord - Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are - true: and it is marvelous in our eyes; nevertheless, the voice of the - Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be - obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these - things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid - our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the - judgment seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the - heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the - Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.</p> - -<p class="quote rt"><span class="smcap">Oliver Cowdery,<br> -David Whitmer,<br> -Martin Harris.</span></p> - -<p>Notwithstanding every one of these three witnesses withdrew from the -Church in 1838, yet they remained firm in their declarations to the -truth of their testimony. Nine years afterwards Oliver Cowdery returned -to the church and was rebaptized. In 1871 Martin Harris came to Utah, -and he also was rebaptized. David Whitmer, who died at Richmond, Ray -Co., Mo., was the only one of the three who died without rebaptism. He -had resided in that place nearly fifty years, and many leading citizens -of Richmond signed their names, which were published, testifying that -David Whitmer was an honorable citizen whose veracity was unquestioned.</p> - -<p>I can testify to the truth of these statements, for I visited him in -1870, also in 1879, and again in 1886. I was acquainted with him in -1833 and also in 1838 when he was disfellowshipped by the Church at -Far West, Mo. It was no secret among those who knew him at his home in -Richmond that he always stood firm to his testimony, as above stated. -The other two witnesses were equally valiant, both while in full -fellowship and after withdrawing from the Church, and I defy the world -to impeach either of those three witnesses.</p> - -<p>Joseph Smith could not have accomplished the work entrusted to him -without the aid of the Urim and Thummim. It was therefore provided for -him. Anciently it was used by God’s servants—His prophets, seers and -revelators. The language engraven upon the gold plates is Reformed -Egyptian and is spoken of in the Book of Mormon, which says:</p> - -<p class="quote">“And now behold, we have written this according to our knowledge -in the characters which are called among us the Reformed Egyptian, -being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner of -speech.”—<em>Book of Mormon, p.570, N. E.</em></p> - -<p>And the thirty-fourth verse says:</p> - -<p class="quote">“But the Lord knoweth the things which we have written, and that none -other people knoweth our language; therefore hath he prepared means -for the interpretation thereof.”</p> - -<p>There is still another instance worth mentioning. King Limhi was -in possession of twenty-four gold plates, and desired to have them -translated. Ammon told the king:</p> - -<p class="quote">“I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man who can translate the -records; for he has wherewith that he can look and translate all -records that are of ancient date; and it is a <span class="pnum">[p.24]</span> gift from God, and the -things are called interpreters.”—<em>Book of Mormon, p. 30, N. E.</em></p> - -<p>“And now he translated them by the means of those two stones which -were fastened into the two rims of a bow. Now these things were -prepared from the beginning, and were handed down from generation -to generation, for the purpose of interpreting language.”—<em>Book of -Mormon, p. 228, 13-14 v.</em></p> - -<p>“And whosoever has these things is called Seer, after the manner of -old times.”—<em>Book of Mormon, p. 228, 16 v.</em></p> - -<p>By the above we learn that the Urim and Thummim or interpreters was -anciently used, and answered the description of those that Joseph is -represented as receiving.</p> - -<p>The Prophet’s mother was permitted to see and handle them and describes -them thus:</p> - -<p class="quote">“I found that they consisted of two smooth, three-cornered diamonds, -set in glass, and the glasses were set in silver bows which were -connected with each other in much the same way as old-fashioned -spectacles.”</p> - -<p>Martin Harris described them just the same, only he said they were -larger than the ordinary spectacles.</p> - -<p>Some have marveled at the Lord’s choice in selecting one so young and -unlearned as Joseph Smith to perform so great a work. However, the -Lord’s ways are not man’s ways. For,</p> - -<p class="quote">“As the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are the Lord’s ways -higher than man’s ways.”</p> - -<p>As an instance we read how the Lord sent the prophet Samuel unto Jesse, -saying he had provided a king among his sons. And how, when Samuel -looked on Eliab, he thought surely the Lord’s anointed was before him. -But the Lord said unto Samuel:</p> - -<p class="quote">“Look not at his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because -I have refused him; for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man -looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”</p> - -<p>After seven sons of Jesse had been presented, Samuel asked, “Are here -all thy children?” to which Jesse replied, “There remaineth yet the -youngest and behold he keepeth the sheep.” And he it was whom the Lord -had chosen should be anointed king. Samuel did the bidding of the Lord, -and we learn that the spirit of God rested upon David, and he became a -man after God’s own heart.</p> - -<p>In this connection we will not pass by unnoticed God’s mighty power in -raising up the great prophet Moses, as a deliverer of His chosen people -from under the hand of Pharoah, the oppressor and king of Egypt. In -this case, His power was manifested in overruling Pharoah’s midwives -even unto disobedience of their wicked king in preserving the male -children of the promised seed of Abraham, as found in the 1st chapter -of Exodus:</p> - -<p class="quote">“But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt -commanded them, but saved the men children alive.” [That is, the -Hebrew children, for they were the ones the king sought to destroy.]</p> -<p class="quote"> -“Therefore, God dealt well with the midwives; and the people -multiplied, and waxed very mighty. </p> -<p class="quote">“And it came to pass, because the -midwives feared God, that he made them houses. </p> -<p class="quote">“And Pharaoh charged -all his people, saying, every son that is born ye shall cast into the -river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.”</p> - -<p>Where is the mother that will not join in saying that King Pharoah was -an oppressor, a tyrant and a murderer? Yet God’s ways are so kind, good -merciful and wise that we are led to praise His holy name forever. God -raised up a Moses, whose mother kept him hid three months, after which -she put him in an ark of bulrushes, while his sister acted as a spy and -watched over him at a distance. King Pharoah’s daughter to her bath -drew near; <span class="pnum">[p.25]</span> the babe’s cries inclined her heart to the young Hebrew, -the spy was at hand, the real mother was procured, who received pay -for minding her own child. Moses finally became the adopted son of the -king’s daughter, whom she named Moses, because she drew him out of the -water, as found in the 2nd chapter of Exodus. The life and history of -Moses is well known to every Bible student, as the deliverer of ancient -Israel, and I ask, is it more marvelous to accept a modern Moses in the -person of Joseph Smith, the Prophet whom God raised up in our day?</p> - -<p>Again, if the selection by Jesus of Peter the fisherman to be the chief -apostle had taken place in our day, it would probably have seemed as -surprising as the choosing of Joseph Smith for his work. The fellow -apostles of Peter were all unlearned, except Paul.</p> - -<p>It is just as easy for our Lord to accomplish His purposes now through -the agency of unlearned men as it was anciently. God <em>has</em> established -a Church through the agency of this young man, which has caused the -wisdom of the wise to perish.</p> - -<p>The story of Joseph Smith’s first vision is a very simple and beautiful -one. It will be remembered he was but a boy fourteen years of age when -this event occurred. He had been, previously, in a disturbed state of -mind concerning religion. In the neighborhood where he dwelt there -had been great excitement, on account of a religious revival. At the -meetings he attended he learned that the various sects were very much -opposed to each other. In the midst of this tumult and war of words and -opinions, Joseph felt grieved and asked himself, “What is to be done? -Who of all these are right? And how shall I know?”</p> - -<p>One day Joseph read in the first chapter of James as follows:</p> - -<p class="quote">“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men - liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”</p> - -<p>Using Joseph’s own words, he said:</p> - -<p class="quote">“Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart -of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with -great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again -and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did. -<span class="nobr">* * *</span> Unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never -know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood -the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all -confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible. At -length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness -and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of -God. <span class="nobr">* * *</span> So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of -God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning -of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred -and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such -an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the -attempt to pray vocally. After I had retired to the place where I had -previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself -alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart -to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by -some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing -influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. -Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as -if I were doomed to sudden destruction. But exerting all my powers to -call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had -seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into -despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, -but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had -such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at -this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my -head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until -it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered -from <span class="pnum">[p.26]</span> the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I -saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, -standing above me in the air. One of them spoke unto me, calling me by -name and said, pointing to the other, ‘This is my beloved Son, hear -him!”</p> - -<p>“My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all -the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, -therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, -than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which -of all the sects was right—for at this time it had never entered -into my heart that all were wrong—and which I should join. I was -answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; -and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were -an abomination in his sight. <span class="nobr">* *</span> ‘They teach for doctrine the -commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the -power thereof.’ He again forbade me to join any of them; and many -other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time.</p> - -<p>“Some time afterwards the vision was made known to a Methodist -preacher, who treated it with contempt, saying it was all from the -devil; that there was no such thing as visions or revelations in these -days; that all such things had ceased with the Apostles, and that -there never would be any more of them.”</p> - -<p>The ministers and others persecuted him, which caused him deep sorrow, -although an obscure boy, and under the necessity of obtaining a scanty -maintenance by his daily labor. But, strange to say, he became very -prominent and conspicuous, and evil was spoken of him continually. -Nevertheless, he had seen a vision, and, like Paul before King Agrippa, -related the account of the vision he had, when he “saw a light and -heard a voice.” Still, there were a few who believed him. Some said -he was dishonest; others said he was mad; and he (like Joseph) was -ridiculed and reviled; but all this did not destroy the reality of his -vision. He had seen a vision—he knew he had—and all the persecution -under heaven could not make it otherwise. Joseph Smith said:</p> - -<p class="quote">“I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God? -or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? -for I had seen a vision. I knew it. I knew that God knew it; and I -could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so -doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation.”</p> - -<p>For over three years Joseph continued his labors daily until the 21st -of September, 1823. After retiring to his bed in quite a serious mood, -he shortly betook himself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God -for a manifestation of his standing before Him. While thus engaged he -received the following vision, using his own words:</p> - -<p class="quote">“While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light -appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was -lighter than at noonday, when a personage appeared at my bed-side; -he had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness, <span class="nobr">* * *</span> his hands -were naked, and his arms also a little above the wrist, <span class="nobr">* * *</span> his head -and neck were also bare. <span class="nobr">* * *</span> his whole person was glorious beyond -description, and his countenance truly like lightning. The room was -exceedingly light, but no so very bright as immediately around his -person. When I first looked upon him I was afraid, but the fear soon -left me.</p> - -<p>“He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent -from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that -God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good -and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues; or that it should -be both good and evil spoken of among all people. <span class="nobr">* * *</span> While he -was conversing with me about the plates, the vision was opened to -my mind that I could see the place where the plates were deposited, -and that so clearly and distinctly, that I knew the place again when -I visited it. After this communication, I saw the light in the room -begin to gather immediately around the person of him who had been -speaking to me, and it continued to do so until the room was again -left dark, except just around him, <span class="pnum">[p.27]</span> when instantly I saw, as it were, a -conduit open right up into heaven, and he ascended up till he entirely -disappeared, and the room was left as it had been before this heavenly -light had made its appearance.”</p> - -<p>This vision was repeated three times during the night, and the -angel each time instructed him of great events, such as famine, -war, pestilence and grievous judgments, which were to come in this -generation. He also reminded him that his name should be known for good -and evil, and that wicked men would seek to destroy him, which was -literally fulfilled.</p> - -<p>In 1517, Mexico, then unknown to the world, though teeming with its -millions of Lamanites, was discovered by Cortez; and the gold plates -that Joseph Smith received contain their history, which I advise all -men to read.</p> - -<p>Furthermore, the angel said that the fulness of the everlasting -gospel was contained in the record that was about to be delivered to -him, which was the same as that taught by the Savior to the ancient -inhabitants of Jerusalem.</p> - -<p>Thus comes unto us knowledge unveiling the mystery surrounding the -American Indians which has puzzled the most profound historians of our -age to explain. For all this useful knowledge we are indebted to God, -the giver of all good.</p> - -<p>Although the Prophet was manifestly unlearned at this time, as evinced -by the spelling written by him over the seven lines of characters, -shown in another place in this pamphlet, he afterwards became -proficient as a scholar, and studied the classic languages at the -School of the Prophets in Kirtland, Ohio. This school was established, -by command of the Lord, for the purpose of educating the Elders and -others in the history of nations, countries and people; thus laying up -treasures of knowledge and useful information.</p> - -<p>The Prophet, however, was not dependent upon scholastic learning, for -God revealed to him line upon line, here a little and there a little, -enabling him to become efficient in organizing the Church in its -perfect order; so much so, that the learned theologians and others of -the present day are adopting many of the doctrines revealed to him.</p> - -<p>The description of the breast-pate, as given by the mother of Joseph, -is very interesting. She was favored with handling it, but it was -covered with a thin muslin cloth, through which she could see the -glittering gold. It was concave on one side and convex on the other. -It would extend from the neck downwards as far as the center of the -stomach of a man of extraordinary size. Attached to it were four straps -of the same material, for the purpose of fastening it to the breast; -two of these ran back so as to fasten over the shoulders, and the other -two were designed to fasten to the waist. Mother Smith said the straps -were the width of her two fingers, for she measured them. They had -holes in the ends for convenience in fastening. Although the Urim and -Thummim and breast-plate go together, it was not necessary for them -always to remain attached to each other. Mother Lucy Smith also saw and -handled the interpreters, and described them as “two diamonds set in -silver bows, much like old-fashioned spectacles, only much larger.” She -also said that the breast plate was worth more than $500.</p> - -<p>Soon after Joseph received the plates and other articles, the angel -left him to manage the work <span class="pnum">[p.28]</span> entrusted to him, which responsibility -he felt very seriously. He first concealed the secret treasure in a -secluded place, excepting the Urim and Thummim, which he kept with -him. Soon after Joseph arrived at home he explained to his parents the -necessity of keeping the sacred relics under lock and key, and until -such time as proper precaution was taken, he had hidden them away -securely. Then said the mother:</p> - -<p>“Order a chest at once.”</p> - -<p>“But we have not a dollar in the house to pay for it,” said Joseph.</p> - -<p>“God will provide, my son,” said the confidential mother. “Go, promise -part cash and part trade,” which was done, and the same day Mrs. Wells, -of Macedon, gave Joseph work at digging a well, promising cash for the -work. The mother reminded the son of the Lord’s providence, so soon -fulfilled.</p> - -<p>While Joseph was working for Mrs. Wells, to supply their daily wants -and to pay for the chest in which the plates were to be secured, a mob -of twelve men, headed by Mr. Willard Chase, a Methodist class leader, -and a certain conjurer whose special business was to divine the hiding -place of the gold plates, were heard to say:</p> - -<p>“We will have that gold Bible in spite of all the devils in hell.”</p> - -<p>Father Smith, knowing that the plates were secreted away from home, -felt deep anxiety concerning their safety, and he induced Emma, the -Prophet’s wife, who was living with the family, to go on horseback to -give warning to Joseph of the intentions of the mob. From an impression -Joseph had, he looked with the Urim and Thummim, which he had with -him, after which, meeting his wife with a smile, he informed her that -the plans of the mob would prove futile; that the plates were safe. -However, he returned home with his wife, and in the evening, after -procuring the chest, Joseph started for the plates, but as he was -returning home with them, he was waylaid and attacked three times, but -he finally escaped, although bruised and weary, bringing the plates -home in safety.</p> - -<p>This was one of his first lessons and a fulfillment of the angel’s -words to him.</p> - -<p>Not long after this first experience, the Prophet was warned of a -second attempt to rob him of the treasure.</p> - -<p>On this occasion he remembered the angel’s charge in regard to using -every precaution, and the promise that if he was prayerful and careful -he should not lose them. A stone of the old-fashioned hearth was -removed and the plates and the breast-plate were concealed in a cavity -under the hearth. The stone had just been replaced, when a large armed -mob came rushing uproariously around the house. The door was thrown -open and were in the house, Joseph at their head, rushed out, when the -mob fled without their booty. A third attempt to obtain the plates was -also unsuccessfully made. This time the treasures were hid in some flax -in the loft of a cooper shop, and an empty box was hidden under the -floor. It was said that a young woman, aided by a peepstone, pointed -out the cooper shop as the repository of the “Gold Bible.” During the -night the place was rummaged, the floor torn up and the box broken -to pieces. This was another experience, but the treasures were still -safely preserved. It was manifested to the Prophet that a facsimile -of characters must be copied <span class="pnum">[p.29]</span> and sent to the most learned professors -of the country, and that Martin Harris should be the bearer of them. -Before the Prophet could accomplish this desired object, however, he -was compelled to seek peace in Pennsylvania, for the whole country -around seemed determined to give Joseph no peace whatever. While the -servant of God was on his way from his father’s house, to seek a -peaceful retreat, he was stopped on the highway twice by a mob of fifty -men, but as the necessary precaution had been observed by hiding the -plates in a barrel of beans, again they were preserved.</p> - -<p>The trying scenes which this young man had to pass through, having been -compelled to leave his home and country by reason of the persecutions -heaped upon him in his young married life, were of a heart-rending -character, besides the labor of translating the Book of Mormon, and -organizing the Church, which he was instructed to do. It became all the -more difficult to perform this great work because new revelation came -so much in contact with the traditions of the different religious sects -of the day, each one differing from the other, yet each one claiming -to be the right Church. Just imagine this unlearned youth, possessing -no funds only as he earned them by his daily labor, under these -circumstances, with increasing responsibilities of family, and home. -Without God’s aid it would border on insanity to entertain a faint -hope of success in so stupendous an undertaking. Had it not been that -the Lord had promised to help him, his heart would have failed him by -the way. But there was encouragement found in the words of the prophet -Isaiah, 29th chapter, where the prophet, speaking of the very time and -condition surrounding the youth, used these words:</p> - -<p>“Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this -people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their -wise men shall perish ... They also that erred in spirit shall come to -understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.” (Isaiah -29:14, 24)</p> - -<p>Tens of thousands have proven those words to be true. I was personally -favored with many conversations with the three witnesses whom God -raised up, one of whom was Martin Harris, a near neighbor of Joseph -Smith. In 1871, while I was emigrating Martin Harris from Kirkland, -Ohio, during our journey of over 2,000 miles, he related many little -incidents which occurred in those early times.</p> - -<p>One of the incidents that interested me most was when, on a certain -occasion, Martin’s neighbors prevailed upon him to drink some wine with -them with the evident intention of getting him to deny his testimony -to the Book of Mormon. Martin drank but little, while his neighbors -partook more freely. When they were in high glee they asked him if he -really believed that he saw the angel of which he had testified.</p> - -<p>“No,” said Martin, “I do not believe it.”</p> - -<p>“Now,” said they, “we know you are an honest man.”</p> - -<p>“Stop a moment,” said Martin, “and properly understand me. My reason -for not believing it is that knowledge surpasses belief. Gentlemen, it -was in open day when I saw the angel and I testify to you that I know -my testimony is true. I do not believe it is true; I know it is.”</p> - -<p>The reader can imagine the chagrin that his neighbors felt at this -<span class="pnum">[p.30]</span> unexpected outcome of their efforts to entrap him.</p> - -<p>Martin told me that, knowing the indigent circumstances of the Prophet, -he felt it was his duty to aid in the great work by giving Joseph fifty -dollars to help advance the Lord’s work. This occurred just prior to -Joseph’s leaving Manchester for Harmony, Penn. The Lord raised tip a -friend in time of need. The Lord remembered Martin for the timely aid, -although it was many days afterwards. Martin also stated that he had -hired Joseph to work for him on his farm many times and paid him fifty -cents per day, which was the usual price paid for hired help at that -time. He also said that he had hoed corn with Joseph often, and that -the latter was a good hand to work.</p> - -<p>The Prophet found a short season of rest with his father-in-law at -Harmony, Penn., where he succeeded in copying the seven lines of -characters, which, by a previous arrangement, were taken to Professor -Anthon, of New York, as explained in the next chapter.</p> - -<p>Soon after Martin Harris returned from New York, he commenced to write -for the Prophet while he translated from the gold plates. Martin often -related to the writer the mode of translation. He said that the Prophet -possessed a seer stone as well as the Urim and Thummim, by means of -which he could translate the characters. On one occasion Martin placed -in a hat a stone very much like the Prophet’s seer stone, and after -the Prophet had looked an unusual length of time, he raised his head, -saying, “Martin, what in the world is the matter? all is dark as -Egypt.” Martin smiled, and confessed. Joseph said, “Martin, why did you -do this?” Martin answered: “To stop the mouths of fools, who tell me -you know all this by heart, and are deceiving me.”</p> - -<p>Father Sanford Porter, while living in Jackson County, Mo., in 1832, -Was desirous to know how the Prophet translated the characters which -were engraven on the gold plates, and made it a matter of prayer. While -the Prophet was receiving a revelation in Jackson County, Missouri, -Father Porter was present in the room and while observing that the -Prophet would speak a sentence to be written by a scribe engaged for -that purpose, the scribe would say, “It is written,” and if written -correctly the sentence before the Prophet would disappear and another -sentence would appear likewise, but if not written correctly by the -scribe the sentence would remain, and after the necessary correction -had been made, the sentence would disappear.</p> - -<p>Many years ago Father Porter related to me that it was shown unto -him, that by the aid of the Urim and Thummim the Prophet could see a -sentence as if in gold letters, which he would read, and when it was -written another sentence would appear. Martin Harris stated to me -as above that when he had written the sentence that was presented, -if written correctly it would disappear and another sentence would -appear, and so continue. At the conclusion of the revelation Joseph was -receiving, Father Porter said that the Prophet remarked that he had -never found such great faith as was manifested in that house on that -occasion.</p> - -<p>The writer is satisfied that there never was a greater prophet, seer -and revelator on this earth than Joseph Smith, the Prophet of God. <span class="pnum">[p.31]</span> </p> - -<p> </p> -<hr class="long"> -<h3>Chapter IV</h3> - -<p class="chsum">The Seven Lines of Characters that were translated by Joseph Smith are -taken by Martin Harris to Prof. Anthon, fulfilling the words of the -Prophet Isaiah, 29th chapter: “Read this, I pray thee, but he says, I -cannot, for it is sealed.”</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> seven lines of characters presented in the accompanying engraving -were copied by the hand of Joseph Smith in Harmony, Pennsylvania, in -the year 1827, he then being in the twenty-second year of his age. They -were copied from a book of gold plates which he found hidden in a stone -box, the box being nicely jointed together and set in cement. The six -slabs of stone forming the box were so dressed that they were smooth -and square on the inside, but rough on the outside. Indeed, they were -so rough that the capstone, which was crowning, looked something like -a cobblestone, for at the time of being found a small portion was laid -bare and protruded from the hill side. No one, unless in possession -of the knowledge of what was therein contained, would have paid any -attention to the stone in passing.</p> - -<p>Most certainly, it was very ingeniously constructed and hidden in a -very choice spot of ground. It was first found in the spring of 1823, -and the young man who found it was only in the seventeenth year of -his age. He was too young and inexperienced at that time to receive -so valuable a treasure, for it must be in weight about forty pounds -or more of pure gold, and in sheets that were very thin like unto -thin sheets of tin plate; and they were covered with engravings of -a very curious workmanship, showing great skill by those who were -the engravers. There were several different persons who did the -work of engraving. The plates contained a history which reached out -over a period of a thousand years, beginning 600 B. C., and continuing -until 420 AD. The history had necessarily to be very brief, and when -translated was called the Book of Mormon—that is, the portion which -was translated, for there is a portion yet held in reserve, which was -sealed with three extra rings, and which will yet, in the due time of -the Lord, be revealed and translated.</p> - -<p>All these plates were fastened together with three great rings, so -that each plate could be turned over in the same manner as if hinged -together. So we are led to see that these people were very skilled, -and were also careful in preserving their history. That history brings -to light who the people were that left so many ruined cities, towers, -temples and other relics, many of which are found with hieroglyphics of -a similar character to the seven lines presented. The Book of Mormon, -translated from those plates, makes a book of 623 pages, and is at -the present time printed in about fifteen different languages. In the -box with the gold plates was a breast-plate made of gold and valued -at about five hundred dollars. Attached to this breast-plate was a -Urim and Thummim or interpreters. The latter was in form like unto -an old-fashioned pair of spectacles, two clear stones set in rims of -silver. I have conversed with Martin Harris, who handled them, and he -said he had placed them as he would a pair of spectacles, but they were -too large for him, as if they had been made for a larger race of people -than the present generation.</p> - -<p>This Urim and Thummim was <span class="pnum">[p.32]</span> similar to what we read of in the Bible of -olden times and which only belonged to seers, revelators and prophets. -These were hidden with the book, to help the one to whom they should be -entrusted to translate them correctly.</p> - -<p class="ctr"><img src="images/characters.jpg" alt="The Seven Lines of Characters"></p> -<p class="sm ctr">The Seven Lines of Characters <span class="pnum">[p.33]</span> </p> - -<p>The hill from whence those plates were taken is fully described in -another chapter.</p> - -<p>I will vouch for the correctness of the characters, as I have compared -them with the original copy, which is still in existence, intact, -just as it was when Martin Harris, as a messenger, took it with the -translation Joseph Smith had made, to Professor Anthon of New York. -The copy here presented was traced from the original copy, and this -engraving, made by Mr. John Held, of Salt Lake City, is an exact -reproduction of it.</p> - -<p>In the year 1871 I was favored with the privilege of bringing Martin -Harris from Kirtland, Ohio, to Utah. While on our journey, I had many -opportunities of conversing with him upon this subject, as well as -upon many other incidents which occurred at the early period of the -translation. Soon after presenting the seven lines of characters to -Professor Anthon, be (Martin Harris) aided the young Prophet by acting -as scribe during a portion of the translation. The learned Professor -Anthon, after having the lines of characters presented to him, examined -them carefully, and gave a certificate stating that they were Egyptian -characters and had been correctly translated. Mr. Harris, with the -certificate, started to leave, but when he had advanced as far as the -door, the Professor called to him, asking where he obtained those -plates. Harris replied:</p> - -<p>“In a hill near Palmyra, New York.”</p> - -<p>“Then bring the book to me and I will translate the plates for you.”</p> - -<p>“I can not do so,” said Martin, “for a part of them is sealed.”</p> - -<p>“Then,” replied Mr. Anthon, “I cannot read a sealed -book,” upon which he recalled the certificate and tore it up.</p> - -<p>Martin Harris said to me, “At that time I was not aware that the -Prophet Isaiah, in the twenty-ninth chapter of his writings, had -predicted that those exact words would be uttered and the prophecy thus -fulfilled by Prof. Anthon. For the better information of the reader -we will refer to the book of Isaiah, beginning at the 11th and 12th -verses, which reads as follows:</p> - -<p class="quote">“And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that -is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, -I pray thee: and he said, I cannot, for it is sealed. And the book [not -the words or seven lines of characters] is delivered to him that is not -learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.</p> - -<p>It is well known that Joseph Smith was not learned, and claimed to -be only a farmer’s boy without the opportunities for a scholastic -education; for he had, as Peter the fisherman, to work for his living.</p> - -<p>Permit me to offer some striking evidence to show that the Prophet was -not learned, by the word directly over the lines of characters. How -natural it would be for a boy unlearned to leave out the silent h and -further to substitute the o for the e, as it is written by his own -hand, thus—Caractors. This I offer as evidence of the fulfillment of -Isaiah’s words, 29th chapter and 12th verse, “I am not -learned.” <span class="pnum">[p.34]</span> </p> - -<p>Well, indeed, may the prophet say in the same chapter:</p> - -<p>“Cry ye out, and cry; they are drunken, but not with wine; they -stagger, but not with strong drink.”</p> - -<p>I ask what kind of drunkenness can this mean, unless as really inferred -by Isaiah’s own words: “For the Lord hath poured out upon you the -spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your -rulers, the seers hath he covered.”</p> - -<p>At the time the book came forth there were upon the earth no prophets -or seers to guide the people. There had been prophets from the time of -Adam to Moses and from Moses to Jesus Christ, John the Revelator being -the last prophet of that time, 96 AD.</p> - -<p>And the Book came forth and a new prophet arose after that long period, -and at a time when people were drunken with confusion regarding the -true religious light, for there were about six hundred different -religious sects staggering against each other, each one claiming to be -the true church that Christ established, with one lord, one faith, one -baptism, and one God and Father of all.</p> - -<p>Every Bible student should know that Jesus placed in his church: first, -twelve apostles, then seventies, elders, pastors, teachers, gifts and -blessings for the perfecting of the saints. After the apostasy from -the Church of Christ, the mother of harlots made all nations drunken -with the wine of her fornication, divided up into fragments, without -prophets, seers or revelators. It was in this condition, as the -prophets have foretold, when the boy Prophet began so marvelous a work, -and which cost him his life to establish.</p> - -<p> </p> -<hr class="long"> - -<h3>Chapter V</h3> - -<p class="chsum">The Prophet Joseph and others Sentenced to be Shot on the Public Square -at Far West, in the Presence of their Friends.—The Execution Deferred, -and the Prisoners afterwards sent to Liberty Jail.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Liberty Jail, which is fast going into ruins, is situated in the -city of Liberty, Clay County, Missouri. It is inland three miles from -the Missouri River and about ten miles from Independence in Jackson -County, and Independence is eleven miles from Kansas City of the same -state.</p> - -<p>There are many reasons why this jail should become conspicuous and -be preserved in history, but the principal one is that there Joseph -Smith, the Prophet, in the fall of 1838 and spring of 1839, at the -time of Governor L. W. Boggs’ exterminating war against the Mormons, -was most unjustly and wickedly imprisoned. In 1838, the Prophet and -others were betrayed into the hands of the Missouri mob by Colonel -George M. Hinkle, the mob being headed by General Samuel D. Lucas. The -prisoners were tried under martial law and sentenced to be shot on -the following day on the public square in Far West, in the presence -of a multitude of the followers of “Joe” Smith, as they chose to call -him. This was intended, no doubt, as a sample of Missouri charity, -sympathy and humanity, and as a <span class="pnum">[p.35]</span> lesson for Mormons for daring to -believe as conscience dictated, and for exercising as American freemen -the privileges guaranteed by a Constitution believed to be inspired. -The writer speaks for himself, as one for whom he had deep sentiments -of regard, as a true Prophet, who was sent of God to re-establish the -fullness of the everlasting gospel.</p> - -<p class="ctr"><img src="images/libertyjail.jpg" alt="The Liberty Jail"></p> -<p class="sm ctr">The Liberty Jail <span class="pnum">[p.36]</span> </p> - -<p>But God overruled the horrible edict that the Prophet and his -companions should be shot on the public square on the following day at -8 o'clock a.m. This was on the 31st of October, 1838. General Doniphan -denounced the proposed act as “cold-blooded murder,” threatening to -withdraw his brigade from the scene of the intended massacre.</p> - -<p>This turned the tide of events and Lucas and his murderous colleagues -began to hesitate and finally to reconsider their action. That General -Lucas was acting under Governor Lilburn W. Boggs’ orders is evident by -the utterances made unto us who were compelled to assemble together -on the public square at Far West, where we were harangued by General -Clark at considerable length. The speech was very abusive, as can be -learned by reading it farther on in this pamphlet. Before introducing -the speech we will state a number of interesting facts which occurred -about that time. There was in existence the Fifty-third Regiment of -Missouri Militia, under the command of Col. George M. Hinkle, who held -a commission signed by the Governor of the state.</p> - -<p>There was times of trouble when it became necessary for Colonel Hinkle -to call out the militia, consequently our movements were in accordance -with the laws of Missouri. On the 30th of October, 1838, Neil Gillam -was at the head of a mob who were disguised as wild Indians. They were -painted, and Gillam himself was arrayed as an Indian chief. The mob -had been burning houses and driving the Mormons’ stock away from their -owners, taking prisoners, etc. Colonel Hinkle ordered out a company -of militia, about 150 in number, to endeavor to learn the intentions -of Gillam and others, who were camping on Log Creek, near Far West. I -was one of those under Col. Hinkle, and we all were on horseback. We -soon learned that their intentions were hostile. A flag of truce in the -hands of Charles C. Rich was shot at during the day, and our company -was cut off from Far West by a line of battle being formed between us -and our homes. Colonel Hinkle returned from the front of our line with -his military coat off, saying that there were hardly enough of us to -allow a mouthful apiece for the numerous hosts before us. He seemed -excited and fearfully frightened, and for this and other reasons I have -always believed this accounted for his conduct on that occasion. We -retreated fifteen miles (instead of five miles, from where we were), -to Far West, arriving about the time the troops were nearing the city. -They were marching with red flags, which were interspersed and mixed -up with Gillam’s command of painted faces. Our company coming into Far -West on the gallop, created quite a sensation, as we were mistaken -for the enemy coming in from two different points. We, however, soon -proved ourselves to be friends, and were just in time to extend the -line already formed in defense of the <span class="pnum">[p.37]</span> city. Our adversaries were in -the ratio of about ten to one of us, which looked rather serious for a -little handful of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day -Saints.</p> - -<p>The Prophet came along after our arrival and said:</p> - -<p>“Fear them not; God is for us, and there are more for us than there -are against us [meaning the hosts of heaven were on our side.] God -and liberty is the watchword,” said Joseph. “Fear them not, for their -hearts are cold as cucumbers.”</p> - -<p>Night was fast approaching, and flags of truce were passing between -the two lines, by which we learned that this formidable army was sent -out by Governor Boggs with orders to exterminate us. It was finally -concluded not to murder us that night, so the army withdrew until the -next morning, when they intended to make a final end of Mormonism. -They camped for the night on Goose Creek, one mile away from the city. -Thus ended one of the most eventful days of our lives. It fell to my -lot to stand guard that night, and the worst confusion and disorder -ever witnessed by human beings existed in the enemy’s camp. This, with -unearthly yelling and howling, produced a real pandemonium very much -resembling my idea of hell. A sort of breast-work was constructed -during the night, made principally of wagons, house logs, etc. A dark -and dreary night was that. On the following day, October 31st, we -were preparing to meet death, if necessary, rather than surrender our -religion to a mob. We trusted in the Lord, however, and a better way -was prepared. Colonel Hinkle had been communicating with the enemy -during the day, and in the afternoon Joseph Smith and others passed -over the breast-works near where I and others were on duty. Colonel -Hinkle lead the party to meet the enemy, where he betrayed them into -their hands. This treachery on his part turned out for the best, for -God suffers offences to come, as in the case of Judas, “but woe to him -by whom they come.”</p> - -<p>On the following day, November 1st, 1838, we were marched into a hollow -square just outside of the city, where we delivered up about 630 guns, -grounded our arms, and advanced to the center of the square, where the -small arms and swords were left in a pile. The late Bishop McRae gave -six cuts with his sword and a pointer in the ground and left his sword -sticking there. We were left without the means of self-defense and at -the mercy of a conscienceless set of ignorant, prejudiced people, many -of whom, like St. Paul before his conversion, acted as if they were -doing God’s service in destroying property and abusing the Mormons. My -widowed mother’s house was plundered and my sister, now living here in -Utah, had her clothes taken from her in open day, leaving her destitute -of her necessary apparel.</p> - -<p>General Wilson, who was one of the mobbers in Jackson County, was in -company with Joseph Smith soon after he was condemned to be shot. -Joseph asked General Wilson what he had done that he should be treated -with such indignity, stating that he had always been a supporter of the -Constitution and of good government. Wilson’s reply was:</p> - -<p>“I know it, and that is the reason I want to kill you, or have you -killed.”</p> - -<p>Subsequently this same Wilson said to P. P. Pratt and others:</p> - -<p class="quote">“We Jackson County boys know how it is, <span class="pnum">[p.38]</span> and therefore have not the -extreme hatred and prejudice which characterizes the rest of the -troops. We know perfectly well from the beginning that the Mormons -have not been the aggressors at all. As it began in 1833 in Jackson -County, Mo., so it has been ever since.… We mob you without law; -the authorities refuse to protect you according to law, you then are -compelled to protect yourselves, and we act upon the prejudices of -the public, who join our forces and the whole is legalized for your -destruction and our gain … When we drove you from Jackson County -we burned 203 of your houses, plundered your goods, destroyed your -press, type and paper, books, office and all—tarred and feathered old -Bishop Partridge—as exemplary an old man as you can find anywhere. We -shot down some of your men, and if any of you returned the fire, we -imprisoned you and had you on trial for murder. D—d shrewdly done, -gentlemen; and I came d—d near kicking the bucket myself; for on -one occasion while we were tearing down houses, driving families and -destroying and plundering goods, some of you good folks put a ball -through my son’s body, and another through the arm of my clerk, and a -third pierced my shirt collar and marked my neck. No blame, gentlemen; -we deserved it, and let a set of men serve me as your community have -been served, and I’ll be d—d if I would not fight till I died.”</p> - -<p>Most certainly this was an honest confession, and I can certify to -nearly all of his acknowledgments, for I have been driven from my home -and robbed of my hard-earned property more than once. There are many -others besides General Wilson who have acknowledged to the same things, -for I have personally heard them.</p> - -<p>When the brethren were being hurried away, as prisoners, from their -homes, P. P. Pratt says:</p> - -<p class="quote">“I went to General Moses Wilson in tears, and stated the circumstances -of my sick, heart-broken, destitute family, in terms which would have -moved any heart that had a latent spark of humanity yet remaining, but -I was only answered with an exultant laugh and a taunt of reproach by -this hardened murderer. Halting at the door of Hyrum Smith, I heard -the sobs and groans of his wife at Hyrum’s parting. She was then near -confinement and needed more than ever the comfort and consolation of a -husband’s presence. As we returned to the wagon we witnessed the sad, -parting of Sidney Rigdon and his family, and in the same wagon was -Joseph Smith, while his aged father and mother came up overwhelmed with -tears, and took each of the prisoners by the hand with a silence of -grief too great for utterance.</p> - -<p>Little encouragement was left to those grief-stricken parents, for they -knew so well that they were in the hands of a mob who had snatched and -dragged them away as if they were murderers. Fresh to their minds was -recalled a scene that took place in earlier days, when, close to their -own thresholds, a demon in human form, in the dark hour of the night, -had fired at their son, just barely missing him. There were fifty-six -citizens thus dragged away from their homes, without any earthly hope -of deliverance, only as in God they put their trust. Judge King said to -H. C. Kimball:</p> - -<p>“Joe Smith is not fit to live.”</p> - -<p>For further light concerning the good or evil wishes of this great mob -of Missourians, we will now return to the public square to hear the -abusive words of General Clark. Addressing the Mormons he said:</p> - -<p class="quote">“It now devolves upon you to fulfill a treaty that you have entered -into.</p> - -<p class="quote">“1st.—Your leading men be given up to be tried according to the law. -This you have already complied with.</p> - -<p class="quote">“2nd.—That you deliver up your arms. This has been attended to [which -we did, surrounded by the mob, some of whom I heard say, ‘Now we have -got their arms, it is as good as death to them.']</p> - -<p class="quote">“3rd.—That you sign over your properties to defray the expenses of the -war. This you have also done.</p> - -<p class="quote">“4th.—That you leave the state forthwith. And whatever may be your -feelings concerning this, or whatever your innocence, it is nothing to -me. General Lucas (whose <span class="pnum">[p.39]</span> military rank is equal to mine) has made this -treaty with you, and I approve of it. I should have done the same. I am -determined to see it executed. The character of this state has suffered -almost beyond redemption. And we deem it as an act of justice to -restore her character to its former standing among the states by every -proper means. The orders of the Governor to me were, that you should -be exterminated, and not allowed to remain in the state. And had not -your leaders been given up, and the terms of the treaty complied with, -before this time you and your families would have been destroyed and -your houses in ashes.</p> - -<p class="quote">“There is a discretionary power vested in my hands, which, considering -your circumstances, I shall exercise for a season. You are indebted to -me for this clemency. I do not say you shall go now, but you must not -think if staying here another season or of putting in crops; for, if -you do, the citizens will be upon you. If I am called here again in -case of non-compliance of a treaty made, do not think that I shall do -as I have done now. You need not expect any mercy, but extermination. -For I am determined the Governor’s orders shall be executed.</p> - -<p class="quote">“As for your leaders, do not think, do not imagine for a moment, do not -let it enter into your minds, that they shall be delivered and restored -to you again for their fate is fixed, their die is cast. Their doom is -sealed. I am sorry, very sorry, gentlemen, to see so many intelligent -men found in this situation. Oh! if I could invoke the Great Spirit, -the unknown God—[I suppose without body, parts or passions]—to -rest upon and deliver you from that awful chain of superstition, and -liberate you from those fetters of fanaticism with which you are bound, -that you no longer do homage to a man! My advice is that you become -as other citizens, let by a recurrence of these events you bring upon -yourselves irretrievable ruin.”</p> - -<p>It vividly recurs to my mind that at the closing of General Clark’s -hard talk, G. M. Hinkle also spoke to the large body of Saints, saying:</p> - -<p class="quote">“I would advise you all to do as I have done, for I have got my hand -out of the lion’s mouth, and I intend to keep it out hereafter.”</p> - -<p>It may not be out of place to relate a statement made to me by E. B. -Tripp, who authorizes me to use his name, regarding George M. Hinkle, -whose hand he said was out of the lion’s mouth (taking his own word for -it.) Elder. E. B. Tripp says:</p> - -<p class="quote">“In 1852, I lived in Wapelo, Louisa Co., Iowa G. M. Hinkle, a stranger -to me, came into my drug store. He introduced himself to me, saying: -‘This is Mr. Tripp, I understand. I hear that you are going to Utah, -and I would like to have a private talk with you. I am the man who -betrayed Joseph Smith and others into the hands of the mob in Missouri. -I am a miserable man, and scarce know what to do with myself. I would -be willing to lay down my life if this would atone for the sin I -committed. What can I do, Mr. Tripp, for I know Mormonism is true?”</p> - -<p>This is the substance of the conversation as reported by Brother Tripp, -who save him some good advice before he parted with him. Thomas B. -Marsh, one of the Twelve Apostles, apostatized during this dark hour -of Missouri persecution. I saw him and heard him speak then, and also -when he came to Utah and was rebaptized. I heard him confess with deep -regret, saying:</p> - -<p>“Look at my trembling limbs and see the fate of an apostate, for I am -a wreck, but Mormonism is true, and I advise you not to do as I have -done, in my apostasy.”</p> - -<p>Gen. John C. Bennett, who once flourished in Nauvoo, apostatized -because of his iniquities. He died in Polk City, Iowa, a miserable -wreck, debased and degraded. When I was in Iowa on a mission I learned -of a party who once had a rope around his neck and over a limb. At that -time he barely escaped being hung up like a dog.</p> - -<p>Prior to Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and others, being marched to Liberty -jail, General Lucas allowed the prisoners to see for a few moments, in -the presence of their guards, their weeping <span class="pnum">[p.40]</span> wives and children. Most of -them were not permitted to speak, being merely allowed to look at them -before being hurried away.</p> - -<p>Mary Fielding Smith, wife of Hyrum Smith, a few days after his painful -parting from her husband, became a mother. The favored child thus born -amidst those warlike scenes is today known as Joseph Fielding Smith, -Counselor to the First Presidency.</p> - -<p>The brethren were taken to Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, -to be murdered by those who only a few years before drove the Saints -from the country, murdering some, tarring and feathering others, and -expelling the remainder without color of law. Notwithstanding this, on -Sunday, November 4th, 1838, the Prophet preached to many who gathered -around them. The officers, finding that the people’s feelings were -softened into tears of sympathy, had them removed to Richmond, where -they were chained down as felons and then removed to Liberty jail.</p> - -<p>In September, 1888, in company with Elder Andrew Jenson and -Bishop Black, of Deseret, I visited this place, also Far West and -Adam-Ondi-Ahman. This trip brought vividly before me many sayings of -the Prophet, more particularly of his speaking of the Garden of Eden, -which he said was situated at Independence, which is only about ten -miles to the northwest of Liberty jai. The Prophet said it had been -manifested unto him that here was where our Father Adam was placed, -and where his home was until his fall, when he was driven out into the -dreary world, and from thence he took his departure northeast about -seventy miles, to where a stake of Zion was located, and it was named -Adam-Ondi-Ahman by revelation. This knowledge makes this land, which is -good and greatly blessed, all the more attractive to the Saints, and -creates a desire to cherish not only the memory of the land, but this -loathsome jail as well, which is now going to ruins.</p> - -<p>The Bible tells us about the Garden of Eden, and why not locate it -here in this goodly land as well as any other part of the earth? Many -changes have taken place since Adam’s time, as, for instance, the great -deluge and the division of the earth in the days of Peleg. Again, at -the crucifixion, when the solid rocks were rent, mountains cast up, -and great convulsions took place on the face of the whole earth. All -of these events would naturally tend to make it difficult to locate -the Garden without revelation, and this is how I became informed on -this subject. I was with the Prophet Joseph Smith sixty miles northeast -of Liberty jail in 1838, less than one year before he was imprisoned -there. We were standing with others on the hill Adam-Ondi-Ahman. The -Prophet said, pointing to a mound of stones:</p> - -<p>“There is where Father Adam built an altar when he was driven from the -Garden of Eden and offered up sacrifice unto the Lord.”</p> - -<p>He further said that the Garden of Eden was in or near Independence, -the center stake of Zion. I thought it a great privilege to be at that -time with the Prophet, and to hear his words regarding the mound and -pile of rocks laid up at so early a period of the world’s history.</p> - -<p>Three years ago I visited the same altar with deep interest, and also -the spot of ground where the Prophet received the revelation, wherein -Adam-Ondi-Ahman is named as the place where Adam shall come to visit -his <span class="pnum">[p.41]</span> people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel -the Prophet. Doc. and Cov., Sec. 115, page 415. The Prophet said that -this Michael is Adam.</p> - -<p>I quote the following from the revelation:</p> - -<p class="quote">“Is there not room enough upon the mountains of Adam-Ondi-Ahman … the -land where Adam dwelt? … Therefore come up hither to the land of my -people, even Zion.’—<em>Doc. and Cov., sec. 117, v. 8</em></p> - -<p>Having lived and worked at the tin business in sight of this dungeon -where the Prophet was so unjustly imprisoned and suffered so much, this -knowledge of the country was welcome news to me. On one occasion, as -I was informed by the late Bishop Alexander McRae, who was imprisoned -in this same jail, and as he substantially related to me, five of the -prisoners, viz: Joseph Smith, Hyrum, his brother, Caleb Baldwin, Lyman -Wight, Sidney Rigdon and Bishop McRae were taking supper together. All -but Brother McRae partook of tea, as they were glad to get anything to -sustain life. Soon afterwards five of the inmates were taken sick and -some of them were blind for three days, after which they were afflicted -with sore eyes for a long time. Bishop McRae escaped this affliction -as he did not partake of the tea. All of the six prisoners agreed that -poison had been put in the tea, but how and by whom was unknown to them.</p> - -<p>While the prisoners were confined in this jail, young Joseph Smith and -Emma, his mother, visited their husband and father. It was at this time -that Joseph’s son, now the leader of the Reorganized church, claims -to have received a blessing under the hands of his father. Joseph F. -Smith, with his mother, visited his father in this same jail, and -although but an infant, received a blessing under his hands. Owing to -the delicate state of her health, Joseph F.’s mother had to be taken -on a bed in a carriage, to see, perhaps for the last time, her husband -as a prisoner for the gospel’s sake. The meeting and parting on that -occasion must have been heartrending under the circumstances. Very few -can now realize such days as those of the imprisonment at Liberty jail.</p> - -<p>From the day that Joseph Smith received the plates at the hands of -Moroni, the angel, until his incarceration in Liberty jail, his life -was one of persecution, trial and imprisonment, so much so that on one -occasion Joseph was led to pray:</p> - -<p class="quote">“O God! where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy -hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye—yea, -thy pure eye—behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people, -and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries? -Yea O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful -oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened towards them, and -they bowels be moved with compassion towards them? O Lord God Almighty, -maker of the heaven and earth, and seas, and all things that in them -are, and who controlleth and subjecteth the devil and the dark and -benighted dominion of Sheol! Stretched forth thy hand; let think eye -pierce; let thy pavilion be taken up; let thy hiding place no longer be -covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine heart be softened, and -thy bowels moved with compassion towards us. <span class="nobr">* * *</span> Remember thy suffering -Saints, O our God.”</p> - -<p>The Prophet loved the Saints, and he knew of their extreme suffering, -and their moving through mud and rain, in poverty, leaving their homes -and all behind them, while he, with his brethren, was in a dungeon -liable to be poisoned at any time. They knew their lives were not safe -in such <span class="pnum">[p.42]</span> a mobocratic state as was Missouri then. However, Joseph had -consolation, dark as it appeared, for he promised his brethren that not -one of their lives should be lost. In the midst of their cries unto the -Lord, he was answered thus:</p> - -<p class="quote">“My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversary and thine afflictions -shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God -shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thou -art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither -charge thee with transgression, as they did Job. <span class="nobr">* * *</span> Wo unto all those -that discomfort my people, and drive, and murder, and testify against -them, saith the Lord of Hosts. A generation of vipers shall not escape -the damnation of hell. <span class="nobr">* * *</span> Let thy bowels also be full of charity -towards all men and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish -thy thoughts unceasingly. Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the -presence of God, and the doctrine of the Priesthood shall distill upon -thy soul as the dews from heaven. The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant -companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and -truth, and they dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without -compulsory means it shall flow unto thee for ever and ever.”</p> - -<p>When I looked upon the Liberty jail in 1834, again in 1838-39, and -for the last time in 1888, in the last stages of decay (it being 54 -years from the time I first saw it), my soul was moved upon with deep -emotion, for thoughts of the past crowded upon my mind. Indeed, I felt -almost bewildered, and as if in a dream. It was only four years and -nine months after the Prophet left this dungeon that he was murdered, -dying as a martyr in Carthage jail, Hancock County, Illinois, on the -memorable 27th of June, 1844.</p> - -<p>Elder Jenson, Bishop Black and myself obtained a photograph of the jail -as a relic, from which the engraving illustrating this article has been -taken. The jail was built about 1830, of hewn oak logs, and was only 14 -by 14-1/2 feet in the clear. Soon after a stone wall two feet thick was -added, leaving a space of twelve inches between the logs and the stone -wall, which was filled in with loose stones, thus making a wall four -feet thick.</p> - -<p>In order to show how particular the Prophet was regarding revelations -which he received from the Lord, I will relate an incident which -occurred in Liberty jail. While the Prophet was receiving a revelation, -the late Bishop Alexander McRae was writing as Joseph received it. Upon -this occasion Brother McRae suggested a slight change in the wording of -the revelation, when Joseph sternly asked:</p> - -<p>“Do you know who you are writing for?”</p> - -<p>Brother McRae, who at once discovered his mistake, begged the Prophet’s -pardon for undertaking to correct the word of the Lord.</p> - -<p>In March, 1839, and less than one month before leaving the jail, Joseph -received the word of the Lord, as follows:</p> - -<p class="quote">“The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall -have thee in derision, and hell shall rage against thee, while the pure -in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek -council, and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy hand. -And thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of -traitors. And although their influence shall cast thee into trouble, -into bars and walls, thou shalt be had in honor, and but for a small -moment and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thy enemies -than the fierce lion, because of thy righteousness; and thy God shall -stand by thee forever and ever. If thou art called to pass through -tribulation; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in -perils by land or by sea; if thou are accused of all manner of false -accusations; if thy enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the -society of thy father and mother, and brethren and sisters; and if, -with a drawn sword, thine enemies tear thee from the <span class="pnum">[p.43]</span> bosom of thy wife -and of thine offspring, and thine elder son (Joseph), although but 6 -years of age, … and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies -prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb; and if thou -should be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the -sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if -the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine -enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to -hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell gape open the -mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall -give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath -descended below them all; art thou greater than he? Therefore hold on -thy way, and the Priesthood shall remain with thee, for their bounds -are set and they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall -not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God -shall be with you for ever and every.”</p> - -<p> </p> -<hr class="long"> -<h3>Chapter VI</h3> - -<p class="chsum">The Assassination of Generals Joseph and Hyrum Smith in Carthage, -Hancock Co., Ill., June 27, 1844, while under the pledged protection of -the Governor of the State.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> engraving presented on another page is a true representation of -the jail at Carthage, Illinois, wherein Joseph Smith, revered by -the “Mormon” people as a prophet of God, and his brother Hyrum were -foully murdered in 1844. A sketch of the building was made by the late -Robert Campbell soon after the massacre, from which the illustration -accompanying this sketch was made.</p> - -<p>The mob of eighty men, whose faces were painted black, were under the -direction of the notorious Captain Williams, who is represented in the -picture as standing just back of the four men who are shooting the -Prophet as he is lying partially stunned against the well curb. The -Captain is directing the murder, as is to be seen in the engraving. -Farther to the right is Captain Smith, with his company of Carthage -Greys, who were entrusted with the care and custody of the prisoners -under the pledge of the Governor of the state for their safety.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon of the day of the murder, the mob were concealed -in the woods about three-quarters of a mile northwest of the jail, -where they had previously marched. The front of the jail is to the -south. Communication for some time was kept up between the mob and -the Carthage Greys by couriers, until a perfect understanding was -effected between the two mobs, for by this mutual understanding the -State troops had become identified with the murder. The diabolical plot -was so arranged that the troops had their guns loaded only with blank -cartridges. From the situation of affairs, the disbanding of the troops -at Carthage (except those treacherous Greys), and the Governor being -at the same time in Nauvoo disarming the Nauvoo Legion, looks like a -very deep plot for the murder of those two innocent prisoners. What -makes it still more apparent that the State was guilty of this foul -deed, is the fact that not one of those who were immediately connected -with the murder were ever convicted, while many of them roamed at -large, although well known to the community as having taken part in <span class="pnum">[p.44]</span> the -murder, some even boasting of having participated in the vile act. One -man in particular, who lived in what was known as Morley’s settlement, -near Carthage, openly claimed to have helped in the massacre.</p> - -<p>While I was in St. George about two years ago I read from a record book -the following:</p> - -<p>“Mr. Meradis Perry, a near neighbor of ours, was one of the mob who -killed Joseph Smith. He came home from Carthage sick and begged my -father to kill him; ‘for,’ said he, ‘I can neither eat nor sleep. When -I close my eyes I can see Joseph Smith before me; I am a miserable -man.’ My father told him that he was in the hands of the Lord, and he -would deal with him as seemed good onto himself; that Joseph was a true -prophet sent of God, and his blood, with that of his brother, would -cry from Carthage jail against his murderers as did Able’s against his -slayer. My father, James Bellows, lived near Morley’s settlement.”</p> - -<p>The daughter of Jas. Bellows, who has the record named, vouches for the -above, having seen the mobber. She says he was a miserable human being.</p> - -<p>The mob came from the woods, entered the stairway door, crowded -upstairs, and commenced pressing in the door where the prisoners were -confined. They were unable to open the door for a while, when shots -were fired through the door. All was commotion and confusion. A ball -passing through the door pierced Hyrum Smith on the side of his nose -just below the eye, when he fell prostrate on the floor, exclaiming: “I -am a dead man.”</p> - -<p>The Prophet thought that by leaping from the window of the upper story -would attract the attention of the rabble and thus save the lives of -his friends. Willard Richards is to be seen looking from the window of -the prison upon the heart-rending scene without being able to render -the Prophet of God any assistance in his dying moments.</p> - -<p>It is possible that while the martyr was holding on to the window sill -he received some of his wounds, before falling to the ground. As he -reached the ground he cried out: “O Lord, my God!”</p> - -<p>Each received four balls. John Taylor and Willard Richards, two of the -Twelve Apostles, were the only ones in the room at the time besides -the two martyrs. John Taylor was wounded severely with four balls, but -after much suffering he recovered, and lived a life of usefulness, and -finally presided over the Church, until his death. Willard Richards -escaped without a hole in his robe, and died in peace in his Utah home -many years after.</p> - -<p>Thus two of the most noble sons of God have sealed their testimony with -their blood, and henceforth are numbered with those whom John saw under -the altar,—“the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and -for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, -saying: How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge -our blood on them that live on the earth? And white robes were given -every one of them: and it was said unto them, that they should rest for -a little season, until their fellow servants and their brethren, that -should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”</p> - -<p>As Jesus our Saviour was crucified and his disciples martyred, and not -one of their murderers ever brought to justice (only as God punished -them), so has it been in this enlightened age of the world with -assassins who have been equally guilty.</p> - -<p>The picture, although a sad one, is <span class="pnum">[p.45]</span> a true representation of the -tragedy, and will never be forgotten by those who once behold it. Hyrum -Smith was 44 years old in February, 1844, and Joseph Smith was Only 38 -in December, 1843. They were martyred on the 27th of June, 1844. The -late President John Taylor’s watch was struck with a bullet while in -his pocket, and stopped between 4 and 5 o'clock.</p> - -<p class="ctr"><img src="images/martyrdom.jpg" alt="Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith"></p> -<p class="sm ctr">Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith <span class="pnum">[p.46]</span> </p> - -<p>I first saw Joseph Smith in 1844 at my mother’s house. It was late -in the spring season. I also heard him bear his testimony many times -with a power that was not gainsaid by those who heard him testify with -regard to the visions which he had been favored with. Some of his -hearers said:</p> - -<p>“Well, if it is true it will stand.”</p> - -<p>When I heard the three witnesses testify to the coming forth of the -Book of Mormon, and that they had in open daylight both seen and -heard the voice of the angel, I knew their testimony was true. My -first impression of Joseph nearly sixty years ago was that he was a -true prophet, and I formed a love for him which increased with our -acquaintance. I was with him in the state of Missouri during those -trying scenes until his imprisonment in Liberty jail, and subsequently -in Illinois, and with the bereaved family and thousands of Latter-day -Saints shed a tear over his remains as he lay silently in death’s -embrace. I took a last look at him in the Nauvoo Mansion in June, 1844.</p> - -<p>Joseph Bates Nobles stated to me that he was with the Prophet when he -was going voluntarily to give himself up to the pretended requirements -of the law, on which occasion he said:</p> - -<p>“I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am calm as a summer’s -morning; I have a conscience void of offence towards God and towards -all men. I shall die innocent, and it shall yet be said of me—'He was -murdered in cold blood.’”</p> - -<p>Hyrum also knew of their doom, for on the morning just before leaving -for the murderous prison he turned down the leaf of the fifth chapter -of the Book of Ether, which reads as follows:</p> - -<p class="quote">“And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give -unto the gentiles grace, that they might have charity. And it came to -pass that the Lord said unto me, if they have not charity, it mattereth -not unto you, thou hast been faithful; wherefore, thy garments are -clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness, thou shalt be made -strong, even to the sitting down in the place which I have prepared -in the mansions of my father. And now I —— bid farewell unto the -gentiles; yea, and also until my brethren whom, I love, [and all who -knew him well knew of his mercy and benevolence], until we shall meet -before the judgment seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my -garments are not spotted with your blood.”</p> - -<p>They were innocent of crime, as had been proven many, many times. -It was a conspiracy of “traitors and wicked men,” and their blood, -as I saw it on the floor of Carthage jail in 1844, soon after their -martyrdom, and again in 1888, is still there as a witness against the -murderers.</p> - -<p>The jail is now transformed into a comfortable private residence, and -is occupied by Mrs. Elizabeth Mathews Browning, her husband having -deeded it to her. Many years ago the county sold the premises to Mr. -B. F. Patterson, subsequently he sold it to Mr. Jas. M. Browning, who -in turn deeded it to his wife. While being shown around the premises, -in its varied parts, by Mrs. Browning, we came to where the well -curb once stood, which is now substituted by a bed of lilies of the -valley, being assured that the spot <span class="pnum">[p.47]</span> will ever be held in remembrance. -The house has an addition of an east wing, and the rude fence has been -remodeled into a nice picket fence. Just prior to leaving Carthage, the -kind lady of the house took us up stairs, where the mob entered. We -saw the bullet hole through the door. Although repaired somewhat, we -saw where the bullet went that killed Hyrum. Other bullet marks were -also visible. Although the floor was carpeted, we were assured by Mrs. -Browning that the blood stain still remains, and cannot be washed away.</p> - -<p>At the time of the Prophet’s martyrdom, many marveled why Joseph was -taken away from the Church; but since that time we have learned that -it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to them by whom they -come. God suffered his Son Jesus to be crucified. It was necessary -to accomplish certain ends. Many have marveled because of his death, -but it was needful that he should seal his testimony with his blood, -that he might be honored and the wicked be condemned. When Mr. O. -H. Browning, pleading for the Prophet, gave a recitation of what he -himself had seen at Quincy, Illinois, on the banks of the Mississippi -River (when the Saints were expelled from Missouri), so sad were the -scenes depicted that the spectators were moved into tears. Judge -Douglass himself and most of the officers wept. In conclusion, Mr. -Browning said:</p> - -<p class="quote">“Great God! have I not seen it? Yes, my eyes have beheld the -blood-stained traces of innocent women and children in the drear -winter, who have traveled hundreds of miles barefoot, through frost -and snow, to seek refuge from their savage pursuers. ‘Twas a scene -of horror sufficient to elicit sympathy from an adamantine heart. -And shall this unfortunate man, whom their fury has seen proper to -select for sacrifice, be driven into such a savage land and none dare -to enlist in the cause of justice? If there was no other voice under -heaven ever to be heard in this cause, gladly would I stand alone -and proudly spend my last breath in defense of an oppressed American -citizen.”</p> - -<p>Judge Douglass dismissed Joseph on the 10th of June, 1841. Again in -May, 1843, he was kidnapped in Dixon, Ill., but before his enemies -succeeded in dragging him over the line into Missouri, he obtained the -aid of three lawyers, who finally secured his release on habeas corpus. -While in custody, Mr. Reynolds of Missouri several times cocked his -pistol on Joseph, threatening to shoot. The latter bared his breast, -saying:</p> - -<p>“Shoot away! I have endured so much I am weary of life; kill me, if you -please.”</p> - -<p>After repeated failures to have him executed in a legal way, his -enemies said:</p> - -<p>“If we cannot reach him by law, powder and ball shall,” which was at -last fulfilled at the well-curb at Carthage jail.</p> - -<p class="quote">“Our Patriarch and Prophet, too,<br> - Were massacred; they bled<br> -To seal their testimony,—<br> - They were numbered with the dead,<br> -Ah, tell me, are they sleeping?<br> - Me thinks I hear them say,<br> -’Death’s icy chains are bursting,<br> - ’Tis the Resurrection day!’”</p> - -<p class="quote"> * * * * * * * * * *</p> - -<p class="sm">“Oh, wretched murd’rers, fierce for human blood!<br> -You’ve slain the Prophets of the living God,<br> -Who’ve borne oppression from their early youth,<br> -To plant on earth the principles of truth.”</p> - - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Reminiscences of Joseph the Prophet, by -Edward Stevenson - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REMINISCENCES OF JOSEPH THE PROPHET *** - -***** This file should be named 54337-h.htm or 54337-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/4/3/3/54337/ - -Produced by the Mormon Texts Project -(https://mormontextsproject.org/), with thanks to Andy -Hobbs and Shawnee Hawkes. - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Reminiscences of Joseph the Prophet - And the Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon - -Author: Edward Stevenson - -Release Date: March 10, 2017 [EBook #54337] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REMINISCENCES OF JOSEPH THE PROPHET *** - - - - -Produced by the Mormon Texts Project -(https://mormontextsproject.org/), with thanks to Andy -Hobbs and Shawnee Hawkes. - - - - - - -REMINISCENCES - -OF - -JOSEPH, THE PROPHET, - -AND THE COMING FORTH OF - -THE BOOK OF MORMON. - -BY ELDER EDWARD STEVENSON, - -Of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. - -ILLUSTRATED. - -SALT LAKE CITY: - -PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. - -1893. - -[Image: Edward Stevenson, Born May 1st, 1820, at Gibraltar, Spain.] - - - -PREFACE. - -In presenting this pamphlet of Reminiscences to the public, the Author -desires to explain the circumstances that induced him to issue it. -While delivering a series of illustrated lectures in the various -tabernacles and public halls throughout the Territory--and which -were repeated on more than 200 different occasions--the Author was -earnestly solicited to publish the lectures, including engravings of -the paintings, in the form in which they now appear. - -Having become convinced from the great interest taken in the lectures, -that they were productive of much good, the Author finally determined -to submit the lectures to the public. - -The Author having been personally acquainted with the Prophet Joseph -Smith, and having been with him in many of his trying experiences, -desires to add his testimony to the truth of the work inaugurated by -him, under instructions from the Almighty, and hopes that the incidents -herein related will induce many to investigate this great and important -work; for he that judgeth without investigation is unwise. - -Respectfully, THE AUTHOR. - - - -REMINISCENCES OF JOSEPH THE PROPHET - - -CHAPTER I. - -The Mighty Messenger of the Latter-day Dispensation.--A Brief Record of -a Life fraught with Matchless Heroism, under all manner of Persecution, -Trials, Imprisonment, Hardships and finally Martyrdom. - -[Image: Joseph Smith, the Prophet.] - -The picture herewith presented is one of the few produced of the -Prophet Joseph Smith. It is here reproduced from one published in -Harper's Pictorial many years ago and now makes its appearance for -the second time. Although it is only a wood cut, there are in it some -true lines and features of the Prophet when he was about the age of -twenty-six. At this early period the science of photography was but -in its infancy and pictures of prominent men were neither so correct -nor plentiful as at the present time. It is, indeed, very proper and -desirable to preserve the best pictures of those who have proven -themselves the benefactors of our country, and more especially so of -him who was chosen and ordained of God to give light and truth and -eternal blessings to mankind. - -Of the few likenesses of our martyred Prophet placed before the public, -there has been one presented by his son (Joseph Smith, Jr.), which -purports to be a copy or fac simile of a painting which was evidently -taken when he was quite young. It is a front view and, in some -respects, bears a striking resemblance to the one we present to our -readers, notwithstanding that ours is a side view. - -Many efforts have been made to obtain a good portrait, but, it is to be -regretted, without satisfactory results. Brother Nathan T. Porter, of -Centerville, Davis County, Utah, who first saw Joseph Smith in Jackson -County, Mo., in the year 1831, is very much pleased with this picture, -and so also is Aunt Zina D. H. Young, who sees in it many striking -features of the youthful Prophet. - -I first saw him in 1834 at Pontiac and the impression made upon my -mind by him at that time causes me now much pleasure in presenting the -picture to his many friends. The love for him, as a true Prophet of -God, was indelibly impressed upon my mind, and has always been with me -from that time, although nearly sixty years have since passed away. - -In that same year, 1834, in the midst of many large congregations, the -Prophet testified with great power concerning the visit of the Father -and the Son, and the conversation he had with them. Never before did -I feel such power as was manifested on these occasions, and, although -only a small percentage of those who saw and heard him accepted the -restored Gospel, there was not one who dared to dispute it. Many of -our neighbors were heard to say: "Well, if Mormonism is true, it will -stand; if not true, it will fall." Many of them lived to see it stand -and increase, and while they themselves passed away in death's embrace, -the work continued to flourish and prosper. - -The fact that so few received his testimony caused me, for a time, to -greatly marvel. But when I looked back to the period when Jesus and -His chosen Twelve and Seventies labored, with all their might, for the -salvation of a fallen world, even with all manner of signs following -their labors, and saw how few believed in our embraced their testimony -in that day of mighty power, when even the grave was robbed of its -victims and the dead commanded to come forth and live, and that while -the dead lived the living were dead; yea, when I saw and meditated -upon these things, I became somewhat reconciled, and the words of -the Lord, through Jeremiah, recurred to my mind and I was satisfied. -The words were these, "And I will take you one of a city, and two of -a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you pastors -according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and -understanding."--Jer. 3. chap. 14, 15. After these lessons I learned -that while the Gospel was free to every one, yet every one was not free -to receive the Gospel. - -While thus speaking of the Prophet's visit to Pontiac, Oakland County, -Michigan (then a Territory), I cannot pass by the predictions which he -then made and which were afterwards literally fulfilled as witnessed by -myself and many others. Joseph said, "If you will obey the Gospel with -honest hearts, I promise you in the name of the Lord, that the gifts as -promised by our Saviour will follow you, and by this you may prove me -to be a true servant of God." - -I am, with others, a witness that these gifts did follow many in the -branch of the Church which was raised up in Pontiac. Among them were -Deacon Bent of the Presbyterian Church, who was the first one baptized -(and who afterwards became President of the High Council in Nauvoo). -His daughter Mary was the first one who spoke in tongues in this -branch. Besides Mary Curtis, Joseph Wood, Elijah Fordham and others -also enjoyed that gift. We felt that we were blessed above kings, -rulers and potentates of the earth and truly we were a happy branch of -the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our souls were full of -joyous thanksgiving, and our songs of gladness rejoiced the heart by -day, dispelled the gloom of night and welcomed the coming morn. Those -only can realize our happiness and delight who sing with the soul and -understanding the beautiful song of Zion: - - We thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet, To guide us in these latter days; - We thank Thee for sending the Gospel To lighten our minds with its - rays. - -The above named Mary Curtis, who afterwards became Sister Reed, will be -remembered as the lady who spoke in tongues in the Logan Temple about -three years ago, on a fast day, and who, on that same day, after having -completed her day's work in the Temple, went home in the evening and -died. Lyman O. Littlefield, of Logan, as well as myself and my Sister -Mary Stevenson Clark, of Farmington, Davis Co., Utah, witnessed the -speaking in tongues by Mary Curtis in Michigan, sixty years ago, and -also on this occasion in Logan Temple. - -These, however, were not the only blessings with which we were favored -in the Pontiac branch, for we enjoyed the presence of the venerable and -venerated father of the Prophet (Joseph Smith, Sen.), the Patriarch of -the whole Church of God on the earth. The writer was one of many who, -under his hands, received choice and rare blessings, when the power of -the Holy Ghost filled the house to such an extent that the tears flowed -down the cheeks of even those who lived and died outside of the pale of -the Church. - -Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris were also heard by the -writer to testify that they, in open day, stood in the presence of -the God who ministered unto the Prophet. And indeed there was a power -accompanying these testimonies which was irresistible, and which made -deep and lasting impressions. - -Although a mere humble widow's son, I felt proud and blessed of God, -when he honored us by coming under our roof and partaking of our -hospitality. Oh! how my heart swelled with delightful emotions of -heavenly love, as I selected and presented to him some of our choice -apples in exchange for the golden nuggets of celestial truth, which he -bestowed upon us as he partook of the humble but hearty hospitality -of a widow's table! We were proud, indeed, to entertain one who had -conversed with the Father and the Son, and been under the tuition of -an angel from Heaven, and who, under the immediate direction of the -Almighty, had organized the true church on the earth, after the exact -pattern of that organized by God, through Jesus Christ, eighteen -hundred years before. - -In parting from under our roof the Prophet expressed a desire to have a -loan of a large English Book of Martyrs which we possessed, promising -to return it to us when he should meet us again in Zion, in the State -of Missouri, which he did, and on returning it he said, "I have, by the -aid of the Urim and Thummim, seen those martyrs, and they were honest, -devoted followers of Christ, according to the light they possessed, and -they will be saved." - -For the benefit of those who have not been privileged to meet our -beloved martyred Prophet, I deem it a favor to present the picture, -with the incidents here narrated, for the pleasure and consideration of -all who may peruse them. - -Joseph Smith was born December 23rd, 1805, in Sharon, Windsor County, -Vermont. At about the age of eight years, he passed through an ordeal -which gave remarkable evidence of heroic fortitude and indomitable -power of will, under intense bodily suffering. After recovering from a -severe typhus fever, a fever sore affected his leg and threatened him -with the loss of the limb. Under these circumstances, a consultation -of physicians was held, and after making an incision eight inches -in length, and examining the bone, they decided that, if his life -was to be saved, amputation of the member was absolutely necessary. -This operation, however, was so strongly opposed by both parents and -son that the doctors finally concluded to remove the affected parts -of the bone. Accordingly, they called for a strong cord to bind the -lad, and were intending to give him a stimulant; but to all this our -young hero most decidedly objected, saying, "I will not touch one -particle of liquor, neither will I be tied down; but I will have my -father sit on the bed and hold me in his arms, and then I will do -whatever is necessary to have the bone taken out." By drilling into -the bone on each side of the part affected, three pieces of bone -were extracted, the removal being made with a pair of forceps. The -manhood and willpower of this noble youth of eight years, under so -trying an ordeal, foreshadowed the story of his life--a life fraught -with matchless heroism, under all manner of persecution, trials, -imprisonments, hardships and finally martyrdom. The howlings of -murderous mobs, infuriated by infernal legions, the lying slanders of a -vile hireling priesthood, and the base treachery of loathsome traitors, -proved utterly powerless to cause him to swerve a single hair's -breadth from the cause of God and the interests of the downtrodden -and oppressed. To the transgressor and hypocrite he was a fierce lion -in the way, to injured innocence he was a tower of strength, and to -the poor and helpless he was ever a brother and a friend. He lived a -hero of heroes, and a Prophet of Prophets, and to save his brethren -from harm and bloodshed, he dauntlessly went to his death, and died -a Martyr of Martyrs. The world, in its wickedness and crime, may -treat his memory with derision and scorn; but when his defamers are -forgotten, the great and mighty Prophet of God who, under the name of -Joseph Smith, laid down his life for truth and his brethren, shall be -fondly enshrined in the heart of the universe and his life and actions -approved and applauded by the loving lips of eternity. - -It has been truly said that "God moves in a mysterious way" in order -to perform His wonders, and the Scriptures lead us to believe that He -often leads us by a "way that we know not of." Seldom, or never, were -these expressions more fully verified than in the removal of the future -Prophet's father from Vermont and his settling in Palmyra in New York -state. Little did the good man dream of the fact, as he wended his -way from his former home, that he was being led by the Lord to the -very place where his son's great work was to be accomplished. Yet such -was certainly the fact. Every step of his journey was guided by the -controlling power and wisdom of God, and, although he knew it not, he -settled just where God wanted him and where He wanted his son, who was -to be like Joseph of old, the saviour of his father's house. - -When between the ages of fourteen and fifteen, after earnestly calling -upon God, Joseph had his first vision, as set forth in another chapter. -When he was between seventeen and eighteen years old, he had his second -vision, which is likewise elsewhere described. And when he was between -twenty-one and twenty-two, after having been instructed by a heavenly -messenger for four years, in the year 1827 the golden records were -entrusted to the custody of the youthful Prophet. He had been married -just eight months and four days at this time. In the year 1827, by the -aid of the Urim and Thummim, or interpreters, the history of two lost -nations was translated, the one being the nation of the Jaredites and -the other that of the Nephites. The remnants of the latter of these -nations of the Nephites were the wild Indians of America, who were -first discovered by Columbus in the year 1492. - -On the sixth day of April, 1830, the Church of Jesus Christ of -Latter-day Saints was organized. And on the twenty-seventh day of June, -1844, the Prophet sealed his testimony with his blood. Joseph Smith -was murdered in Carthage Jail when he was in the prime of his life, -being only thirty-eight years, six months and six days old. It was just -fourteen years, two months and twenty-one days after the Church was -organized. Strange as it may appear, our Lord and Saviour was murdered -when only a few years younger than Joseph, and both were put to death -for the same cause, namely, the establishing of the Church of Christ on -the earth, the one in the former and the one in the latter days. - -Dark and solemn was that day when Illinois shed the innocent blood of -the two martyrs, Joseph and Hyrum Smith. They were at the time under -the protection of Governor Thomas Ford, who pledged his sacred honor -for their safety. But the pledge, which was never meant to be kept, was -most shamefully broken, and these two heroic spirits were given up to -a professed Christian mob of merciless demons, and they were cruelly -murdered in cold blood. These great and good men, servants of the Most -High God, of "whom the world was not worthy," were of one heart and one -mind throughout all their life, and in death they were not separated. -They fled together from the murderous mob to their destined home on -high. There, while they bask in the sunshine of eternal peace and love, -they testify by their blood to the horrid cruelties that reign in the -heart of a wicked and apostate world. - -There were but four years, ten months and fourteen days between the -ages of these noble martyred brothers, Hyrum being the elder. - -Joseph, on this occasion, voluntarily gave himself up to the strong arm -of the law, for he had ever been willing to be tried by the tribunals -of his country. At this time, our beloved Prophet was impressed with a -sad foreboding somewhat similar to that experienced in Gethsemane by -the Saviour just previous to the crucifixion, when he called upon the -Father and said: "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: -nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done." The Prophet Joseph said, -while on his way to Carthage, "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; -but I am calm as a summer's morning; I have a conscience void of -offence towards God and towards all men. I shall die innocent, and it -shall yet be said of me, 'he was murdered in cold blood.'" Elder Bates -Nobles, now living, authorizes me to say that he heard the Prophet -utter those very words. Well, this prophecy of our murdered Prophet -has been often fulfilled in the testimonies of the Saints, both among -themselves and before the world, as well as by the utterances of the -honorable and upright men of all lands, but to its bitter cost, it has -not yet been said by our nation. However, we will watch and wait. "God -is just is all we say." - - "Our Patriarch and Prophet, too, Were massacred. They bled, To seal - their testimony, They were numbered with the dead." - -CHAPTER II. - -The Hill Cumorah, where the Plates of the Book of Mormon were Concealed -by Moroni and afterwards Delivered by him to Joseph Smith.--Some -Valuable History Pertaining to this Thrice-named Hill. - -A beautiful picture of the Hill Cumorah is presented on the opposite -page. The hill is situated in the northwestern part of New York, about -thirty miles south of Rochester. It is also near the New York Central -Railroad, and only three and a half miles from Palmyra station to the -south, and on the Canandaigua turnpike. - -This noted hill has been three times named and by three distinct and -great nations. For particulars concerning its historical importance -we begin our study in the year 1823. At that time there was found in -the side of this historic hill, by an obscure boy, a number of gold -plates. These plates were very ingeniously concealed in a stone box -and, bearing a record and being now translated, supply us with all the -earlier information contained on them. - -There is a vast amount of valuable history pertaining to this hill, -which is far more picturesque than the hills which surround it. There -is an extensive valley on the east, as well as one on the west side -of the hill, where the turnpike runs south, passing through the town -of Manchester in the rear of the hill about two miles. Manchester, as -well as the Hill Cumorah, is situated in the township of Manchester. -The most prominent view of the hill is its north front. It extends -south nearly a mile, where it terminates into a more level plateau, -which is occupied as an agricultural district. From the highest point -of the hill, which is the northern end, where the writer has stood a -number of times, is one of the most lovely sights imaginable. To the -east is the New York Central Railroad, about four miles north is a most -lovely town named Palmyra, and two miles northwest is where the father -of Joseph Smith located a farm when the latter was only twelve years -of age. Finally, the whole country surrounding the hill from the most -elevated spot, as far as the natural vision can grasp, is indeed a most -charming scene of farms, orchards, houses, barns and rolling hills, -with occasional forests, and in the proper season, fields of golden -grain, barns well-filled, orchard trees laden with apples, peaches -and pears, with here and there patches of strawberries, raspberries, -blackberries, cherries, currants and garden vegetables in variety. All -of these beautiful scenes have engraven upon my mind a picture which -defies the artist's brush to place on canvas. - -[Image: The Hill Cumorah.] - -The first name given to this hill (and by a lost nation who left the -Tower of Babel 2000 B.C.) was Ramah, as found in their history, page -606, new edition. This history is called the Book of Mormon, and this -portion is written by a historian named Ether. - -It was named the second time by an entirely different people, and -called Cumorah, as found on page 559, new edition, of the same book, by -the historian whose name was Mormon. - -The third name is Bible Hill, or Mormon Hill, and was given in the year -1829. - -Having studied the history of these lost nations, I felt very much -inclined to gratify the desires awakened in my bosom to visit the -place. Impelled by these aspiration, I undertook the journey and soon -found myself at a pleasant and commodious hotel in Palmyra. - -Early on a summer's morning in the year 1870, after a gentle shower -during the night, with just sufficient rainfall to lay the dust, I -set out to walk to the hill. Never can I forget the lovely scenery of -that lonely but interesting walk down the most excellent Canandaigua -turnpike. Among the objects passed on the way was the former home of -Joseph Smith, and the very old and comely schoolhouse where he learned -some of his early lessons. - -Arriving near the object of my morning's walk, I set bout inquiring for -the Hill Cumorah. But not one could I find in all the country round who -could give me the desired information; until one, and the right one -too, who was made to comprehend my mind and wish, said, "Is it Mormon -Hill that you want, or what is more familiarly known among us in this -country as 'Bible Hill,' where old Joe Smith found the Mormon Bible? Is -it this place you wish to find?" - -Having answered affirmatively the question, I was not only enabled, -by my friend's direction, to learn the third and last name given to -this hill, but to find myself standing upon the summit of one of the -most interesting objects of my 100,000 miles' travel. It appeared more -like a dream than a stern reality. Could it be possible that here was -the identical spot of ground where stood a being who had lived in -the fourth century, some fourteen hundred and fifty years prior to -my occupying this position? Indeed, it was verily true. But, oh! the -wonderful contrast between the two views, and the changes of scenery -in that time! Now a beautiful landscape: such a one as delights the -vision, until the mind becomes swallowed up and absorbed in deep -reflection. There are beauties of hills and dales, orchards and farms, -lawns and gardens on every side, more especially to the north, east and -west. Just for a moment cast your eye on the engraving, which is the -one of my choice, exhibiting, as it does, a north front, and to my mind -the most lovely view of all. There are differing pictures of this hill, -some real and some imaginary. The one presented is from a painting made -from a photograph which Apostle F. D. Richards had taken while on a -visit to this historic hill and country. - -Some cows and other additions have been made to the picture, such as -the carriage conveying the visitors along the roadway by the fence, -to the house, where the owner of the hill and surroundings lives. But -the main features of the hill are true representations of it, so much -so that J. W. Fox, Jr., also Bishop G. H. Taylor, both of whom visited -the place some years before, say it is the best picture of it that they -have ever seen presented. - -Brother Edward Hold, of South Jordan Ward had a vision of the hill -(similar to the one the prophet Joseph Smith had), and described it -very minutely before seeing the picture of it. He said, just above -where he saw a portion of the top of the stone box there was a tree, -and upon this point I interrogated him closely, stating that only two -years previous Bishop Black, Brother Andrew Jenson and I had visited -the spot of ground, and there was no tree there; but he insisted that -there was a tree just above the stone box, a clumpy tree, for he saw -one there. It became necessary for an explanation before he should see -the picture. - -At the period of discovery of the gold plates, there stood upon the -side of the hill, about fifteen feet above where the stone box had so -long reposed, a lone, solitary, sugar maple tree, and there continued -to grow until twenty-two years ago, just as described by Brother Holt, -who was so highly favored of God as to see the whole scene in a vision -or dream. - -What made Brother Holt's vision all the more deeply interesting to me -was that in 1871 I had enjoyed the great privilege and pleasure of -visiting the hill in person, and of seeing the very identical spot of -ground where Mormon concealed the stone box and its precious records -and where Moroni, his son, finished the writing and sealed up these -records. But there was no tree standing there as was described in the -vision, for it had been cut down shortly before and was lying on the -ground, not having as yet been removed. It was a clumpy sort of a -tree, about two feet in diameter. For a long time it had stood there -like a solitary sentinel guarding the sacred spot which contained -the book that was to shape the destinies of thousands upon thousands -of the human race, and people the heavens with the true sons and -daughters of God. I have always regretted the removal of that tree, -for it was a conspicuous mark on the northwest point of the now almost -treeless hill. After satisfying Brother Hold as to the absence of the -tree, which he had seen in his vision, he very readily recognized the -painting as being a correct and accurate representation of the deeply -interesting Hill Cumorah as he had seen it in his vision forty years -before. - -Brother Holt, with respect to his vision, stated that he "had retired -to bed, after reading the Book of Mormon, and that he had entertained -some doubts regarding the vision Joseph Smith had of the hill, and of -his finding the stone box containing the plates. But the vision which -he had himself received concerning the matter served to remove every -shadow of a doubt from his mind, for all future time. In the last -chapter, written by Moroni just before closing or sealing up the box, -he engraved upon the plates the following words: "And I seal up these -records, after I have spoken a few words, by way of exhortation, unto -you; behold, I would exhort you, that when ye shall read these things, -if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember -how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the -creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these -things. I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the eternal Father, -in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall -ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, -he will manifest the truth of it unto you." Brother Holt, as well -as hundreds of others, can testify that these words are true and in -consonance with the words of Jesus Christ himself, "Ask and it shall be -given unto you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened -unto you," and also in accordance with the words of James, who says, -"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men -liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him," but "let him -ask in faith, nothing wavering." - -The boy Joseph did not ask in vain, neither will any other person ask -in vain who asks in faith for the word of the Lord faileth not but -endureth forever. My guide who accompanied me on my visit in 1871, -pointed out to me many places of interest, and also entertained me -hospitably at his table, where a number of harvesters had assembled. -The covered carriage represented in the picture is conveying our party -on my second visit to the house in which we all dined together, which -is situated to the left of the painting. The dinner party to me was -highly interesting, and all the more so as we sat conversing about -the things of God right in the shadow of the Hill Cumorah. All spoke -freely, and asked many questions, which I felt it a great pleasure -to answer. They were anxious to hear something of the spread of the -work since the gold plates were discovered in that remarkable hill, -and I very gladly gratified them with a short account of the rise and -progress of this "marvelous work and a wonder," from the day the angel -visited Cumorah and gave the plates to Joseph, the boy-prophet, down to -the present time, when the work has gathered into its cause some two -hundred and fifty thousand Saints, and founded the Territory of Utah -in the west. The conclusion come to by this party of harvesters was -that the subject of our conversation was indeed a "marvellous work and -wonder." Still, like many other time-servers and worldly-wise people, -they felt their spirits weakening within them, and they exclaimed, "But -Mormonism is so very unpopular!" - -"Yes," I replied, "it has been so since the Jews and Gentiles murdered -the Chief Shepherd." - -Our pleasant entertainment and agreeable conversation here terminated, -after bearing my testimony to the divinity of the restored gospel, -and to the fact that more than fourteen hundred years ago the gold -plates, that contained the same, were sealed up and deposited in this -very hill, destined to come forth and revolutionize the world, in -these latter days. Cordially bidding good-day to my hospitable host, I -proceeded on my way, and found an old gentleman who lived west of the -hill and who was quite agreeable and conversational on the subject of -my visit to Cumorah. He was well-acquainted with some of the history of -the coming forth of the book which was to "speak out of the ground," -although spiritually, he did not seem to have greatly benefited by this -"marvelous work and a wonder." Still, from him I gleaned some useful -information. He pointed out the spot of ground where the stone box was -placed, near the summit, and on the west side of the point of the hill. -He likewise stated that soon after the rumor so widely spread regarding -"Joe" Smith finding a gold bible, that there was great excitement -throughout the whole country, and that it was about this time the -Rochester Company located and searched for hidden treasure. - -Questioning him closely he stated that he had seen some good-sized flat -stones that had rolled down and lay near the bottom of the hill. This -had occurred after the contents of the box had been removed and these -stones were doubtless the ones that formerly composed the box. I felt a -strong desire to see these ancient relics and told him I would be much -pleased to have him inform me where they were to be found. He stated -that they had long since been taken away. He further said that he knew -"Joe" Smith as a "money digger" and a "visionary man" and Martin Harris -as an honest reliable farmer. Joseph in his history says that he worked -in a mine for Mr. Stowel, hunting for hidden treasures, at fourteen -dollars per month, hence his name as a money-digger. I then inquired -if he ever knew Joseph Smith to be convicted of crime. He replied -that he had not known him as having been convicted. The surrounding -scenery, which embraced a young grove of beech, sugar maple, hickory, -oak, bass-wood, etc., covering about five acres of ground, was very -beautiful. The grove is about 200 yards southwest of where the plates -were found. There was a fine, well-cultivated field of grain on the -hillside. My loquacious guide showed me another and much deeper cavity -made on the east side of the hill by the above-named Rochester treasure -seekers, a company of prospectors. They said that science aided by -mineral rods did not lie and that most assuredly there were rich -treasures concealed in the hill, and they were determined to have them. -But with all their science and laborious excavations they failed to get -a glimpse of the coveted treasures and returned to their homes if not -richer, at least it is to be hoped wiser men, for the only results of -their efforts were the holes they left on the hillside. Notwithstanding -this, there are strong and feasible reasons for believing that there is -abundance of treasure hid up in Cumorah, but it is guarded by the hand -of the Lord and none shall ever possess it until made known in the due -time of the Lord. The great and mighty nation of the Jaredites, having -departed from God and shed the blood of the prophets, became divided -into bloodthirsty factions, who waged relentless and merciless wars -against each other for many years; finally, after millions were slain, -they arrayed themselves into two mighty opposing armies and mutually -agreed to give each other four years in which to gather their entire -forces of men, women and children around Ramah, and there make one last -appalling death struggle for victory, but so well were these colossal -armies matched in numbers, valor, fury and hatred that they continued -to fight day after day till both sides were completely destroyed from -the face of the land. One man of all these great and mighty armies -alone remained alive. Ere they begin the dreadful carnage, they made -excavations and hid up in Ramah their immense treasures. - -The Lord again peopled the land and they too became haughty and lifted -up in the pride of their hearts, renounced God and slew his prophets, -and division, war and bloodshed again filled the land with horror. -Once more were immense hosts arrayed into two great armies, the one -called the Nephites, the other the Lamanites, and strange to say they -also marshalled their forces, and undertook to make one last death -struggle for victory or death. The battle ceased when the Nephites -were destroyed, and again millions lay dead upon the fatal ground. The -Jaredites' Ramah was the Nephites' Cumorah, and their ashes commingle -and repose in death. Ere this last horrid conflict commenced, they, -too, hid their untold treasures in this HIll Cumorah, and it was said -by President Young at Farmington, Davis Co., Utah, June 17, 1877, just -two months and twelve days before his death: - -"There were a great many treasures hid up by the Nephites. * * * I -lived right in the country where the plates were found from which -the Book of Mormon was translated, and I know a great many things -pertaining to that country. I believe I will take the liberty to tell -you of another circumstance that will be as marvelous as anything can -be. This is an incident in the life of Oliver Cowdery, but he did not -take the liberty of telling such things in meeting as I take. I tell -these things to you, and I have a motive for doing so. I want to carry -them to the ears of my brethren and sisters, and the children also, -that they may grow to an understanding of some things that seem to -be entirely hidden from the human family. Oliver Cowdery went with -the Prophet Joseph when he deposited these plates. Joseph did not -translate all of the plates: there was a portion of these sealed which -you can learn from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. When Joseph got -the plates, the angel instructed him to carry them back to the Hill -Cumorah, which he did. Oliver says that when Joseph and Oliver went -there, the hill opened, and they walked into a cave, in which there was -a large and spacious room. * * * They laid the plates on a table; it -was a large table that stood in the room. Under this table there was a -pile of plates as much as two feet high, and there were altogether in -this room more plates than probably many wagon loads; they were piled -up in the corners and along the walls. * * * I tell you this as coming -not only from Oliver Cowdery, but others who were familiar with it. * -* * I relate this to you, and I want you to understand it. I take this -liberty of referring to these things so that they will not be forgotten -and lost. - -"Carlos Smith was a young man of as much veracity as any young man -we had, and he was a witness to these things. Samuel Smith saw some -things, Hyrum saw a good many things, but Joseph was the leader. Now, -you may think I am unwise in publicly telling these things, thinking -perhaps I should preserve them in my own breast; but such is not my -mind. I would like the people called Latter-day Saints to understand -some little things with regard to the workings and dealings of the Lord -with his people here upon the earth."_--Journal of Discourses, Vol. 19, -p. 36._ - -It was likewise stated to me by David Whitmer in the year 1877 that -Oliver Cowdery told him that the Prophet Joseph and himself had seen -this room and that it was filled with treasure, and on a table therein -were the breastplate and the sword of Laban, as well as the portion of -gold plates not yet translated, and that these plates were bound by -three small gold rings, and would also be translated, as was the first -portion in the days of Joseph. When they are translated much useful -information will be brought to light. But till that day arrives, no -Rochester adventurers shall ever see them or the treasures, although -science and mineral rods testify that they are there. At the proper -time when greed, selfishness and corruption shall cease to reign in the -hearts of the people, these vast hoards of hidden treasure shall be -brought forth to be used for the cause and kingdom of Jesus Christ. - -Changing the scene once more another prophet, whose name was -Mormon, stood on the summit of this hill. At that time a great and -fierce battle was fought. After the conclusion of the battle, which -occurred about 1472 years ago, Mormon's grief was expressed on this -heart-rending and doleful scene as found on page 560 of their history -in the Book of Mormon. We will here again refer to the great battle of -the Lamanites and Nephites: - - "And when they had gone through and hewn down all my people save it - were twenty and four of us, (among whom was my son Moroni) and we - having survived the dead of our people, did behold on the morrow, * * * - from the top of the hill Cumorah, the ten thousand of my people who - were hewn down, being led in the front by me. And we also beheld the - ten thousand of my people who were led by my son Moroni." (Mormon - 6:11-12) - -And other generals are named who led each their ten thousand until we -reach the enormous number of two hundred and thirty thousand men, with -their wives and children, who were strewn around this most marvelous -hill: - - "And their flesh, and bones, and blood lay upon the face of the earth, - * * * to moulder upon the land, and to crumble and to return to their - mother earth. And my soul was rent with anguish, because of the slain - of my people, and I cried: O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed - from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected - that _Jesus,_ who stood with open arms to receive you! Behold, if - ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are - fallen, and I mourn your loss. O ye fair sons and daughters, ye - fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it - that ye could have fallen! But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows - cannot bring your return. And the day soon cometh that your mortal - must put on immortality, and these bodies which are now mouldering in - corruption must soon become incorruptible bodies; and then ye must - stand before the judgment seat of Christ, to be judged according to - your works; and if it so be that ye are righteous, then are ye blessed - with your fathers who have gone before you. O that ye had repented - before this great destruction had come upon you. But behold, ye are - gone, and the Father of heaven knoweth your state, and He doeth with - you according to His justice and mercy." - - Before leaving the prophet Mormon standing on the hill in his - lamentation, let us still extend the vision over the great - battlefield, calling to mind that the 230,000 men were all soldiers, - then were their wives, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, which - we will multiply by five, making 1,150,000 souls; then extend the - vision over and around the enemy's camp, and at least double the - number of slain, increasing the sad scene to the enormous total of - 2,300,000 souls. Only for a moment imagine that we see the camp just - before that great battle: twenty-three camps each of 10,000, with a - general at their head, would be required for the 230,000 soldiers. - - While I was standing upon this same spot of ground about three years - ago, my mind contrasted the various changes of the present with the - past and I fancied that I could review, as did Mormon, the sad and - gloomy picture of his time, 1472 years ago. - - The fathers of those who fell around this historic hill came from - Jerusalem 600 years B.C. They were warned of God to flee from the - land, because of the terrible calamities that were about to befall the - inhabitants of that once Holy City, for killing the prophets of God - and for their wickedness. - - The decrees of God were fulfilled in the destruction of the - inhabitants of Jerusalem, after they crucified the Saviour and his - disciples, and became fully ripe in iniquity. But 600 years before - these disasters, the colony, who were directed by revelation, crossed - the sea, landing in South America, building up cities, migrating - northward, and leaving in their tracks northward many cities, temples, - massive walls, and fortifications, some of which have been discovered - by Catherwood and Stevens, as well as by many other historians; and - new discoveries are still being brought to light. Among the many - remarkable ruined aboriginal cities of the continent of America, - Palenque is one of the most noted. It is situated on the Rio Chacamas, - a branch of the great river Usumasinta, on the borders of Yucatan. It - is in latitude 17 degrees 30 minutes north, longitude 92 degrees 25 - minutes west. In this old city of ruins is a temple--no doubt one of - the Nephite temples. The picture shows it as restored from the relics - that are left. It is built of stone and is at the base 310 feet long, - 180 feet deep, and 25 feet high. Ranges of stone steps 30 feet broad - lead up to it, flanked with gigantic statues nine feet high, carved - in stone. There are numerous hieroglyphics engraven but considerably - defaced. - - [Image: Palenque Restored.] - - The Book of Mormon speaks of many temples and cities which were built - by the people of this time, and no doubt this is one of them in - ruins. But who is there that is able to tell the story of those mound - builders, excepting their own revealed history? - - It must be remembered that this last nation, called Nephites, became - a very numerous people, and their history, which they were commanded - of the Lord to keep on thin plates of gold, informs us that while - they lived lives of purity, serving God prayerfully, they prospered - exceedingly. - - The precious metals abounded on this new and promised land, so - beautifully described by the ancient prophet Moses. This man of God, - just before his death, blessed the children of Israel, and of Joseph, - he said: - - "Blessed of the Lord be this land, for the precious things of heaven, - for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, and for the - precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things - put forth by the moon, and for the chief things of the ancient - mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, and for - the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good - will of him that dwelt in the bush let the blessing come upon the head - of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated - from his brethren. His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, - and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push - the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten - thousands of Ephraim, and the thousands of Manasseh." - -Now, if we can successfully establish this continent of America as -being the land spoken of by Moses--which is verily true--then we shall -find not only those lost nations but the present generation dwelling on -this land abounding in the good things found even in the lasting hills, -and a choice land above all others. - -As evidence I will introduce the words of our famed patriarch, Father -Jacob: - - "Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose - branches [children] run over the wall [the ocean]. The archers have - sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him, but his bow abode - in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands - of the mighty God of Jacob; from thence is the Shepherd, the stone of - Israel. Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by - the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, - blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, - and of the womb: The blessings of thy father have prevailed above - the blessings of my progenitors [Abraham and Isaac, whose land was - Jerusalem] unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills [Rocky - Mountains;] they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of - the head of him that was separate from his brethren [which was Joseph, - sold by his brethren into Egypt]." - -Father Lehi and his son Nephi and others, just before crossing the sea, -or wall of waters, to this choice land of Jacob, searched the records -which were brought from Jerusalem and these are the words which they -found recorded: - - "And my father Lehi also found upon the plates of brass, a genealogy - of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph, - yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into - Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might - preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with - famine. And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of - Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them. And thus my Father, - Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his fathers." - -While Father Lehi and those who were with him encamped on the borders -of the Red Sea, by a command of the Lord the sons of Lehi returned to -Jerusalem and succeeded in bringing Ishmael (a righteous Israelite of -the "tribe of Ephraim") with his five marriageable daughters, to join -the colony. They finally emigrated to America, literally fulfilling -the words of Jacob with regard to Joseph's promised inheritance of the -choice land that was to reach to the everlasting hills. By this new -acquisition, the sons of Lehi were provided with wives, and that, too, -of Ephraimitish blood, making the remnants of their line, who were -discovered in the year 1492 by Christopher Columbus, of the lineage -of Ephraim and Manassah, whose descendants are the American Indians. -Thus are we provided with a history which every one should read and -become acquainted with the origin of the natives of America, and find -an explanation of the ruins found in North, South and Central America. -Their history, translated from the gold plates, is now called the Book -of Mormon. This book also gives a brief account of a previous nation, -which left the Tower of Babel 2,000 years B. C., landing near the Gulf -of California. They were 344 days in crossing the ocean. In process of -time, they emigrated northward and finally became a great nation and -people. - -Here follows a few words as recorded in their history on page 571, -chapter first, thirty-third verse: - - "Jared came forth with his brother and their families, with some - others and their families, from the great Tower, at the time the Lord - confounded the language of the people and swore in his wrath that they - should be scattered upon all the face of the earth." - -In addition to these words we will add the seventh and eighth verses of -the eleventh chapter of Genesis: - - "Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they - may not understand one another's speech. So the Lord scattered them - abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth." - -I think America is a pretty large portion of the earth, and comes in -for its share of people. According to the word of the Lord the people -_were_ scattered. Those who wish to follow this colony closely can read -their history as found in the Book of Mormon until they had built up -cities, etc., which have been and are being constantly discovered. In -process of time they numbered about 15,000,000 people and became rich, -wicked and ripe for destruction. - -At one time a fierce battle was fought near where Buffalo, N. Y., now -stands, wherein two million were lying strewn upon the earth, slain in -battle and no one to bury them, till the stench drove them southward -to the Hill Ramah, which was called Cumorah by the Nephite race. A -contract was entered into between Kings Coriantumr and Shiz, giving -Coriantumr four years to gather together all who were on the side of -Coriantumr, and all for King Shiz were gathered together unto his camp. -Ether has recorded in the Book of Mormon that: - - "The army of Coriantumr did pitch their tents by the hill Ramah. And - it was that same hill where my Father Mormon did hide up the records - unto the Lord, which were sacred. * * * When they were all gathered - together, every one to the army which he would, with their wives and - their children, both men, women and children being armed with weapons - of war, having shields, and breast-plates, and head-plates, and being - clothed after the manner of war, they did march forth one against the - other to battle; and they fought all that day, and conquered not, and - when it was night they were weary, and retired to their camps; and - after they had retired to their camps, they took up a howling and a - lamentation for the loss of their people who were slain; their howling - and lamentation did rend the air exceedingly." - -A continuation of this lamentable slaughter, with weeping and howling, -was kept up for six successive days, till only thirty-two of the people -of Shiz and twenty-seven of Coriantumr's were left, and on the seventh -day Coriantumr with his twenty-seven retreated, which gave the opposing -King Shiz fresh courage. He said, "I will slay Coriantumr or perish by -the sword," and indeed his words were fulfilled after a severe battle, -in which all were slain, excepting King Shiz, who had fallen faint and -weak, and Coriantumr, who leaned upon his sword to rest, after which he -smote off the head of Shiz and fell to the ground as if he was dead. -Here the history leaves this, the only survivor of those two mighty -armies, around this historic Hill Cumorah, thus bringing to pass the -words of the prophet Ether, who prophecied to King Coriantumr that -unless he and his people should repent, every one of them should be -slain except himself and he should live to see a strange people possess -the land and be buried by them. Now, in order to verify the prophet's -words, I will refer you to the book of Omni, Book of Mormon, which says: - - "And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he - dwelt with them for the space of nine moons" (months). - -Coriantumr, weak, wounded and alone, had to wend his way about 3,000 -miles to Zarahemla, where he remained until his death and was buried by -this strange people. - -Thus ended two great nations around this historic hill, in fulfillment -of God's word, as found in the Book of Mormon, page 474: - - "Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it - [and this will apply to all people in every age] shall be free from - bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, - if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ. I - will forgive thee and thy brethren of their sins, but thou shalt not - sin any more, for ye shall remember that my spirit shall not always - strive with man; wherefore if ye will sin until ye are fully ripe, ye - shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord." - -This has been fulfilled to the very letter with both nations. - -CHAPTER III. - -The Angel that had been foretold would "Fly through the midst of -Heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to Preach unto them that Dwell on -the Earth" appears to Joseph Smith.--The Golden Plates are Given into -his Charge. - -The memorable twenty-second day of September, 1827, was the day -appointed by the angel Moroni to meet Joseph Smith on the Hill Cumorah. -There he was to receive the gold plates, the breast-plate and the Urim -and Thummim. The accompanying shows Joseph grown to maturity, being no -longer a lad of tender years as when he received his first vision. He -now stands in his noble, dignified manhood, in the twenty-second year -of his age. Before being entrusted with those valuable plates it was -necessary that he should become experienced with regard to such sacred -matters. For more than four years previous to this event he had at -intervals met the angel and been instructed by him. This was during the -important period between boyhood and manhood, when the mind is easily -impressed. During all that time, he had not been permitted to take the -plates away. - -The appointed time now having come, we see him receiving the treasure, -as pictured in the engraving. He is holding the book in his hands, -while the breast-plate rests on the edge of the stone box, with the -sword of Laban near by. The angel, holding the Urim and Thummim, is in -the act of delivering it unto Joseph, and while doing so charges him as -follows: - - "Now you have got the record into your own hands, and you are but a - young man: therefore, you will have to be watchful and faithful to - your trust, or you will be overpowered by wicked men; for they will - lay every plan and scheme possible to get it away from you; and if you - do not take heed continually, they will succeed. While it was in my - hands, I could keep it and no man had power to take it away; but now I - give it up to you. Beware, and look well to your ways, and you shall - have power to retain it, until the time for it to be translated." - -In 1834 I first listened to this Prophet of God, who related this -vision he had been favored with. The honesty and power of his -expression carried conviction with it. - -I will now introduce a few Bible quotations in order to prove that just -such an event as the one represented by the accompanying illustration -was to take place in the latter days. Zechariah in his 2nd chapter says: - - "And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another - angel went out to meet him. - - "And said unto him, run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem - shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men - and cattle therein." - -In order to discover further the mind of God's inspired prophet, we -will turn to his 8th chapter, which reads as follows: - - "Again the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, - - "Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great - jealousy. * * * - - "Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the - midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth. - - "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, there shall yet old men and old women - dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his - hand for very age. - - "And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing - in the streets thereof. - - "* * * Behold I will save my people from the east country, and from - the west country; - - "And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of - Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God." - -Soon after the message of the angel to the young man Joseph, he, in -obedience to God's command, organized the church. In due time there -were Twelve Apostles, and he appointed two of those Apostles on a -mission to Jerusalem. Upon Mount Olivet, one of the apostles,--Orson -Hyde,--offered a dedicatory prayer unto God, the Eternal Father. - -In that prayer he supplicated God to remember his promises made to -Father Abraham concerning this dry and barren land, and Abraham's seed -which should inhabit this thirsty country, and who had wandered as -strangers in a strange land. The land had become barren because of the -sins of those who, in their ignorance, crucified God's Only Begotten -Son, Jesus Christ. He further pleaded: - - "And as Jesus, thy Son, in his sorrowful and trying hours, cried, - 'Lord, forgive them, they know not what they do!' so do thou, O God, - have mercy on them and let the promises of the prophets come up in - remembrance before thee. Be pleased, O Father, to send the rains on - these parched lands; and may the dews fall upon the hills and valleys, - that the land may again teem with plenty, and cities be built up unto - the Lord our God." - -This is the substance of the supplication of the Apostle who dedicated -the land of Palestine. Since then the way is being prepared with a -railroad from the Mediterranean Sea to Jerusalem; and lo! the time has -come for God's mercy, as foretold by Isaiah, 40th chapter: - - "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye - comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is - accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of - the Lord's hand double for all her sins." - -Joel, another of God's ancient prophets, prophecying of future events, -in 2nd chapter, says: - - "Fear not, O land; be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in - the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, - and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and - the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of - wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. * * * And ye - shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord - your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you, and my people shall - never be ashamed." - -Realizing that the words of the prophets Isaiah and Joel will have a -literal fulfillment, we can readily conceive of the way being thus -prepared for the support of the hosts that are soon to fill the streets -of Jerusalem; for without the early and the latter rains, this land, -for so many generations barren, could not be redeemed. Indeed, the -words of those who crucified the Savior, or who consented to his death, -are brought forcibly to the minds of Christians: - - "His blood be upon us and our children."_--Matt.27:25_ - -Because of their wicked desires, desolation has rested upon this land -which once flowed with milk and honey. But, thank God! a pardoning time -is being ushered in. The angel spoken of by Zechariah has come with the -glad tidings. - -[Image: The Angel Moroni Delivering the Golden Plates to Joseph Smith.] - -John, the Revelator, also, was permitted to behold an angel who had a -message to deliver. Who can truthfully say the angel he saw is not the -very one Zechariah said should speak to the young man? - - "And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having - the everlasting gospel [the Book of Mormon says it contains the - everlasting gospel] to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and - to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people; saying with - a loud voice, fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his - judgment is come; and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the - sea, and the fountains of waters."_--Revelation, 14,6-7._ - -In Zechariah, 2nd chapter, 8th verse, it says: - - "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for lo, I come, and I will - dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. And many nations shall be - joined to the Lord in that day." - -What day? The day in which the angel was to speak to the _young_ (not -old) man. In Zion there are now over twenty nationalities who are -joined to the Lord. - -Zechariah in the same chapter says: - - "And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the Holy Land and - shall choose Jerusalem again. Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord; - for he is raised up out of his holy habitation." - -These things are soon to take place, when the Jews will be gathered. - - "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion: shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; - behold thy king cometh unto thee."_--Zec. 9, 9._ - -He will come this second time, when: - - "They shall look upon me whom they have pierced."_--Zec. 12,10._ - -Again, this prophet says in chapter 15, 6: - - "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? - Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of - my friends." - - "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David - and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem."_--Zec. 12, 1._ - -The same book, 14th chapter, says: - - "His feet shall stand in that day upon the _Mount of Olives_." - -It appears sufficiently plain that God has set his hand again the -second time to gather not only the _Jews,_ but the _House_ of Israel. - -In Isaiah, 11th chapter, it is clearly stated that there is to be an -ensign to the _people_; to it shall the _gentiles_ seek. And the next -verse says that in that day the Lord will set his hand _again_ the -_second_ time to gather his people. - - "And he shall set up an ensign for the _nations,_ and shall assemble - the outcasts of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the - four corners of the earth."_--Isaiah, 11,12._ - -We learn more perfectly in the tenth verse that the Gentiles as well as -the Jews are remembered. - -Isaiah, 2nd chapter, says: - - "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the - Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains." - -Following on we find that two places are distinctly spoken of: _Zion,_ -from whence the law of God is to go forth; and the word of the Lord -from JERUSALEM. And as Jesus came to his own (the Jews) first, and to -the Gentiles last, so now the first shall be last and the last shall -be first. And in our day Joseph Smith has been directed by the Lord to -gather the people to Zion, as so vividly portrayed by the prophet who -saw the angel who should run and speak to the young man. - -Having introduced these Bible evidences, we shall repeat the testimony -of three witnesses whom God raised up, and who, until their death, were -always true and faithful to their testimony: - - "Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto - whom this work shall come, that we, through the grace of God the - Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain - this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of - the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who - came from the tower of which hath been spoken; and we also know that - they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice - hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety that the work - is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which - are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of - God, and not of man. And we declare with words of solemness, that an - angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our - eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; - and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord - Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are - true: and it is marvelous in our eyes; nevertheless, the voice of the - Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be - obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these - things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid - our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the - judgment seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the - heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the - Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen. - - OLIVER COWDERY, DAVID WHITMER, MARTIN HARRIS. - -Notwithstanding every one of these three witnesses withdrew from the -Church in 1838, yet they remained firm in their declarations to the -truth of their testimony. Nine years afterwards Oliver Cowdery returned -to the church and was rebaptized. In 1871 Martin Harris came to Utah, -and he also was rebaptized. David Whitmer, who died at Richmond, Ray -Co., Mo., was the only one of the three who died without rebaptism. He -had resided in that place nearly fifty years, and many leading citizens -of Richmond signed their names, which were published, testifying that -David Whitmer was an honorable citizen whose veracity was unquestioned. - -I can testify to the truth of these statements, for I visited him in -1870, also in 1879, and again in 1886. I was acquainted with him in -1833 and also in 1838 when he was disfellowshipped by the Church at -Far West, Mo. It was no secret among those who knew him at his home in -Richmond that he always stood firm to his testimony, as above stated. -The other two witnesses were equally valiant, both while in full -fellowship and after withdrawing from the Church, and I defy the world -to impeach either of those three witnesses. - -Joseph Smith could not have accomplished the work entrusted to him -without the aid of the Urim and Thummim. It was therefore provided for -him. Anciently it was used by God's servants--His prophets, seers and -revelators. The language engraven upon the gold plates is Reformed -Egyptian and is spoken of in the Book of Mormon, which says: - - "And now behold, we have written this according to our knowledge - in the characters which are called among us the Reformed Egyptian, - being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner of - speech."_--Book of Mormon, p.570, N. E._ - -And the thirty-fourth verse says: - - "But the Lord knoweth the things which we have written, and that none - other people knoweth our language; therefore hath he prepared means - for the interpretation thereof." - -There is still another instance worth mentioning. King Limhi was -in possession of twenty-four gold plates, and desired to have them -translated. Ammon told the king: - - "I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man who can translate the - records; for he has wherewith that he can look and translate all - records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God, and the - things are called interpreters."_--Book of Mormon, p. 30, N. E._ - - "And now he translated them by the means of those two stones which - were fastened into the two rims of a bow. Now these things were - prepared from the beginning, and were handed down from generation - to generation, for the purpose of interpreting language."_--Book of - Mormon, p. 228, 13-14 v._ - - "And whosoever has these things is called Seer, after the manner of - old times."_--Book of Mormon, p. 228, 16 v._ - -By the above we learn that the Urim and Thummim or interpreters was -anciently used, and answered the description of those that Joseph is -represented as receiving. - -The Prophet's mother was permitted to see and handle them and describes -them thus: - - "I found that they consisted of two smooth, three-cornered diamonds, - set in glass, and the glasses were set in silver bows which were - connected with each other in much the same way as old-fashioned - spectacles." - -Martin Harris described them just the same, only he said they were -larger than the ordinary spectacles. - -Some have marveled at the Lord's choice in selecting one so young and -unlearned as Joseph Smith to perform so great a work. However, the -Lord's ways are not man's ways. For, - - "As the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are the Lord's ways - higher than man's ways." - -As an instance we read how the Lord sent the prophet Samuel unto Jesse, -saying he had provided a king among his sons. And how, when Samuel -looked on Eliab, he thought surely the Lord's anointed was before him. -But the Lord said unto Samuel: - - "Look not at his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because - I have refused him; for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man - looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." - -After seven sons of Jesse had been presented, Samuel asked, "Are here -all thy children?" to which Jesse replied, "There remaineth yet the -youngest and behold he keepeth the sheep." And he it was whom the Lord -had chosen should be anointed king. Samuel did the bidding of the Lord, -and we learn that the spirit of God rested upon David, and he became a -man after God's own heart. - -In this connection we will not pass by unnoticed God's mighty power in -raising up the great prophet Moses, as a deliverer of His chosen people -from under the hand of Pharoah, the oppressor and king of Egypt. In -this case, His power was manifested in overruling Pharoah's midwives -even unto disobedience of their wicked king in preserving the male -children of the promised seed of Abraham, as found in the 1st chapter -of Exodus: - - "But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt - commanded them, but saved the men children alive." [That is, the - Hebrew children, for they were the ones the king sought to destroy.] - - "Therefore, God dealt well with the midwives; and the people - multiplied, and waxed very mighty. - - "And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made - them houses. - - "And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, every son that is born - ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive." - -Where is the mother that will not join in saying that King Pharoah was -an oppressor, a tyrant and a murderer? Yet God's ways are so kind, good -merciful and wise that we are led to praise His holy name forever. God -raised up a Moses, whose mother kept him hid three months, after which -she put him in an ark of bulrushes, while his sister acted as a spy and -watched over him at a distance. King Pharoah's daughter to her bath -drew near; the babe's cries inclined her heart to the young Hebrew, -the spy was at hand, the real mother was procured, who received pay -for minding her own child. Moses finally became the adopted son of the -king's daughter, whom she named Moses, because she drew him out of the -water, as found in the 2nd chapter of Exodus. The life and history of -Moses is well known to every Bible student, as the deliverer of ancient -Israel, and I ask, is it more marvelous to accept a modern Moses in the -person of Joseph Smith, the Prophet whom God raised up in our day? - -Again, if the selection by Jesus of Peter the fisherman to be the chief -apostle had taken place in our day, it would probably have seemed as -surprising as the choosing of Joseph Smith for his work. The fellow -apostles of Peter were all unlearned, except Paul. - -It is just as easy for our Lord to accomplish His purposes now through -the agency of unlearned men as it was anciently. God _has_ established -a Church through the agency of this young man, which has caused the -wisdom of the wise to perish. - -The story of Joseph Smith's first vision is a very simple and beautiful -one. It will be remembered he was but a boy fourteen years of age when -this event occurred. He had been, previously, in a disturbed state of -mind concerning religion. In the neighborhood where he dwelt there -had been great excitement, on account of a religious revival. At the -meetings he attended he learned that the various sects were very much -opposed to each other. In the midst of this tumult and war of words and -opinions, Joseph felt grieved and asked himself, "What is to be done? -Who of all these are right? And how shall I know?" - -One day Joseph read in the first chapter of James as follows: - - "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men - liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." - -Using Joseph's own words, he said: - - "Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart - of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with - great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again - and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did. - * * * Unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never - know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood - the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all - confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible. At - length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness - and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of - God. * * * So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of - God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning - of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred - and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such - an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the - attempt to pray vocally. After I had retired to the place where I had - previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself - alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart - to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by - some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing - influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. - Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as - if I were doomed to sudden destruction. But exerting all my powers to - call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had - seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into - despair and abandon myself to destruction--not to an imaginary ruin, - but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had - such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being--just at - this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my - head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until - it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered - from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I - saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, - standing above me in the air. One of them spoke unto me, calling me by - name and said, pointing to the other, 'This is my beloved Son, hear - him!' - - "My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all - the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, - therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, - than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which - of all the sects was right--for at this time it had never entered - into my heart that all were wrong--and which I should join. I was - answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; - and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were - an abomination in his sight. * * 'They teach for doctrine the - commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the - power thereof.' He again forbade me to join any of them; and many - other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. - - "Some time afterwards the vision was made known to a Methodist - preacher, who treated it with contempt, saying it was all from the - devil; that there was no such thing as visions or revelations in these - days; that all such things had ceased with the Apostles, and that - there never would be any more of them." - -The ministers and others persecuted him, which caused him deep sorrow, -although an obscure boy, and under the necessity of obtaining a scanty -maintenance by his daily labor. But, strange to say, he became very -prominent and conspicuous, and evil was spoken of him continually. -Nevertheless, he had seen a vision, and, like Paul before King Agrippa, -related the account of the vision he had, when he "saw a light and -heard a voice." Still, there were a few who believed him. Some said -he was dishonest; others said he was mad; and he (like Joseph) was -ridiculed and reviled; but all this did not destroy the reality of his -vision. He had seen a vision--he knew he had--and all the persecution -under heaven could not make it otherwise. Joseph Smith said: - - "I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God? - or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? - for I had seen a vision. I knew it. I knew that God knew it; and I - could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so - doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation." - -For over three years Joseph continued his labors daily until the 21st -of September, 1823. After retiring to his bed in quite a serious mood, -he shortly betook himself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God -for a manifestation of his standing before Him. While thus engaged he -received the following vision, using his own words: - - "While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light - appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was - lighter than at noonday, when a personage appeared at my bed-side; - he had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness, * * * his hands - were naked, and his arms also a little above the wrist, * * * his head - and neck were also bare. * * * his whole person was glorious beyond - description, and his countenance truly like lightning. The room was - exceedingly light, but no so very bright as immediately around his - person. When I first looked upon him I was afraid, but the fear soon - left me. - - "He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent - from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that - God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good - and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues; or that it should - be both good and evil spoken of among all people. * * * While he - was conversing with me about the plates, the vision was opened to - my mind that I could see the place where the plates were deposited, - and that so clearly and distinctly, that I knew the place again when - I visited it. After this communication, I saw the light in the room - begin to gather immediately around the person of him who had been - speaking to me, and it continued to do so until the room was again - left dark, except just around him, when instantly I saw, as it were, a - conduit open right up into heaven, and he ascended up till he entirely - disappeared, and the room was left as it had been before this heavenly - light had made its appearance." - -This vision was repeated three times during the night, and the -angel each time instructed him of great events, such as famine, -war, pestilence and grievous judgments, which were to come in this -generation. He also reminded him that his name should be known for good -and evil, and that wicked men would seek to destroy him, which was -literally fulfilled. - -In 1517, Mexico, then unknown to the world, though teeming with its -millions of Lamanites, was discovered by Cortez; and the gold plates -that Joseph Smith received contain their history, which I advise all -men to read. - -Furthermore, the angel said that the fulness of the everlasting -gospel was contained in the record that was about to be delivered to -him, which was the same as that taught by the Savior to the ancient -inhabitants of Jerusalem. - -Thus comes unto us knowledge unveiling the mystery surrounding the -American Indians which has puzzled the most profound historians of our -age to explain. For all this useful knowledge we are indebted to God, -the giver of all good. - -Although the Prophet was manifestly unlearned at this time, as evinced -by the spelling written by him over the seven lines of characters, -shown in another place in this pamphlet, he afterwards became -proficient as a scholar, and studied the classic languages at the -School of the Prophets in Kirtland, Ohio. This school was established, -by command of the Lord, for the purpose of educating the Elders and -others in the history of nations, countries and people; thus laying up -treasures of knowledge and useful information. - -The Prophet, however, was not dependent upon scholastic learning, for -God revealed to him line upon line, here a little and there a little, -enabling him to become efficient in organizing the Church in its -perfect order; so much so, that the learned theologians and others of -the present day are adopting many of the doctrines revealed to him. - -The description of the breast-pate, as given by the mother of Joseph, -is very interesting. She was favored with handling it, but it was -covered with a thin muslin cloth, through which she could see the -glittering gold. It was concave on one side and convex on the other. -It would extend from the neck downwards as far as the center of the -stomach of a man of extraordinary size. Attached to it were four straps -of the same material, for the purpose of fastening it to the breast; -two of these ran back so as to fasten over the shoulders, and the other -two were designed to fasten to the waist. Mother Smith said the straps -were the width of her two fingers, for she measured them. They had -holes in the ends for convenience in fastening. Although the Urim and -Thummim and breast-plate go together, it was not necessary for them -always to remain attached to each other. Mother Lucy Smith also saw and -handled the interpreters, and described them as "two diamonds set in -silver bows, much like old-fashioned spectacles, only much larger." She -also said that the breast plate was worth more than $500. - -Soon after Joseph received the plates and other articles, the angel -left him to manage the work entrusted to him, which responsibility -he felt very seriously. He first concealed the secret treasure in a -secluded place, excepting the Urim and Thummim, which he kept with -him. Soon after Joseph arrived at home he explained to his parents the -necessity of keeping the sacred relics under lock and key, and until -such time as proper precaution was taken, he had hidden them away -securely. Then said the mother: - -"Order a chest at once." - -"But we have not a dollar in the house to pay for it," said Joseph. - -"God will provide, my son," said the confidential mother. "Go, promise -part cash and part trade," which was done, and the same day Mrs. Wells, -of Macedon, gave Joseph work at digging a well, promising cash for the -work. The mother reminded the son of the Lord's providence, so soon -fulfilled. - -While Joseph was working for Mrs. Wells, to supply their daily wants -and to pay for the chest in which the plates were to be secured, a mob -of twelve men, headed by Mr. Willard Chase, a Methodist class leader, -and a certain conjurer whose special business was to divine the hiding -place of the gold plates, were heard to say: - -"We will have that gold Bible in spite of all the devils in hell." - -Father Smith, knowing that the plates were secreted away from home, -felt deep anxiety concerning their safety, and he induced Emma, the -Prophet's wife, who was living with the family, to go on horseback to -give warning to Joseph of the intentions of the mob. From an impression -Joseph had, he looked with the Urim and Thummim, which he had with -him, after which, meeting his wife with a smile, he informed her that -the plans of the mob would prove futile; that the plates were safe. -However, he returned home with his wife, and in the evening, after -procuring the chest, Joseph started for the plates, but as he was -returning home with them, he was waylaid and attacked three times, but -he finally escaped, although bruised and weary, bringing the plates -home in safety. - -This was one of his first lessons and a fulfillment of the angel's -words to him. - -Not long after this first experience, the Prophet was warned of a -second attempt to rob him of the treasure. - -On this occasion he remembered the angel's charge in regard to using -every precaution, and the promise that if he was prayerful and careful -he should not lose them. A stone of the old-fashioned hearth was -removed and the plates and the breast-plate were concealed in a cavity -under the hearth. The stone had just been replaced, when a large armed -mob came rushing uproariously around the house. The door was thrown -open and were in the house, Joseph at their head, rushed out, when the -mob fled without their booty. A third attempt to obtain the plates was -also unsuccessfully made. This time the treasures were hid in some flax -in the loft of a cooper shop, and an empty box was hidden under the -floor. It was said that a young woman, aided by a peepstone, pointed -out the cooper shop as the repository of the "Gold Bible." During the -night the place was rummaged, the floor torn up and the box broken -to pieces. This was another experience, but the treasures were still -safely preserved. It was manifested to the Prophet that a facsimile -of characters must be copied and sent to the most learned professors -of the country, and that Martin Harris should be the bearer of them. -Before the Prophet could accomplish this desired object, however, he -was compelled to seek peace in Pennsylvania, for the whole country -around seemed determined to give Joseph no peace whatever. While the -servant of God was on his way from his father's house, to seek a -peaceful retreat, he was stopped on the highway twice by a mob of fifty -men, but as the necessary precaution had been observed by hiding the -plates in a barrel of beans, again they were preserved. - -The trying scenes which this young man had to pass through, having been -compelled to leave his home and country by reason of the persecutions -heaped upon him in his young married life, were of a heart-rending -character, besides the labor of translating the Book of Mormon, and -organizing the Church, which he was instructed to do. It became all the -more difficult to perform this great work because new revelation came -so much in contact with the traditions of the different religious sects -of the day, each one differing from the other, yet each one claiming -to be the right Church. Just imagine this unlearned youth, possessing -no funds only as he earned them by his daily labor, under these -circumstances, with increasing responsibilities of family, and home. -Without God's aid it would border on insanity to entertain a faint -hope of success in so stupendous an undertaking. Had it not been that -the Lord had promised to help him, his heart would have failed him by -the way. But there was encouragement found in the words of the prophet -Isaiah, 29th chapter, where the prophet, speaking of the very time and -condition surrounding the youth, used these words: - -"Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this -people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their -wise men shall perish ... They also that erred in spirit shall come to -understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine." (Isaiah -29:14, 24) - -Tens of thousands have proven those words to be true. I was personally -favored with many conversations with the three witnesses whom God -raised up, one of whom was Martin Harris, a near neighbor of Joseph -Smith. In 1871, while I was emigrating Martin Harris from Kirkland, -Ohio, during our journey of over 2,000 miles, he related many little -incidents which occurred in those early times. - -One of the incidents that interested me most was when, on a certain -occasion, Martin's neighbors prevailed upon him to drink some wine with -them with the evident intention of getting him to deny his testimony -to the Book of Mormon. Martin drank but little, while his neighbors -partook more freely. When they were in high glee they asked him if he -really believed that he saw the angel of which he had testified. - -"No," said Martin, "I do not believe it." - -"Now," said they, "we know you are an honest man." - -"Stop a moment," said Martin, "and properly understand me. My reason -for not believing it is that knowledge surpasses belief. Gentlemen, it -was in open day when I saw the angel and I testify to you that I know -my testimony is true. I do not believe it is true; I know it is." - -The reader can imagine the chagrin that his neighbors felt at this -unexpected outcome of their efforts to entrap him. - -Martin told me that, knowing the indigent circumstances of the Prophet, -he felt it was his duty to aid in the great work by giving Joseph fifty -dollars to help advance the Lord's work. This occurred just prior to -Joseph's leaving Manchester for Harmony, Penn. The Lord raised tip a -friend in time of need. The Lord remembered Martin for the timely aid, -although it was many days afterwards. Martin also stated that he had -hired Joseph to work for him on his farm many times and paid him fifty -cents per day, which was the usual price paid for hired help at that -time. He also said that he had hoed corn with Joseph often, and that -the latter was a good hand to work. - -The Prophet found a short season of rest with his father-in-law at -Harmony, Penn., where he succeeded in copying the seven lines of -characters, which, by a previous arrangement, were taken to Professor -Anthon, of New York, as explained in the next chapter. - -Soon after Martin Harris returned from New York, he commenced to write -for the Prophet while he translated from the gold plates. Martin often -related to the writer the mode of translation. He said that the Prophet -possessed a seer stone as well as the Urim and Thummim, by means of -which he could translate the characters. On one occasion Martin placed -in a hat a stone very much like the Prophet's seer stone, and after -the Prophet had looked an unusual length of time, he raised his head, -saying, "Martin, what in the world is the matter? all is dark as -Egypt." Martin smiled, and confessed. Joseph said, "Martin, why did you -do this?" Martin answered: "To stop the mouths of fools, who tell me -you know all this by heart, and are deceiving me." - -Father Sanford Porter, while living in Jackson County, Mo., in 1832, -Was desirous to know how the Prophet translated the characters which -were engraven on the gold plates, and made it a matter of prayer. While -the Prophet was receiving a revelation in Jackson County, Missouri, -Father Porter was present in the room and while observing that the -Prophet would speak a sentence to be written by a scribe engaged for -that purpose, the scribe would say, "It is written," and if written -correctly the sentence before the Prophet would disappear and another -sentence would appear likewise, but if not written correctly by the -scribe the sentence would remain, and after the necessary correction -had been made, the sentence would disappear. - -Many years ago Father Porter related to me that it was shown unto -him, that by the aid of the Urim and Thummim the Prophet could see a -sentence as if in gold letters, which he would read, and when it was -written another sentence would appear. Martin Harris stated to me -as above that when he had written the sentence that was presented, -if written correctly it would disappear and another sentence would -appear, and so continue. At the conclusion of the revelation Joseph was -receiving, Father Porter said that the Prophet remarked that he had -never found such great faith as was manifested in that house on that -occasion. - -The writer is satisfied that there never was a greater prophet, seer -and revelator on this earth than Joseph Smith, the Prophet of God. - -CHAPTER 4 - -The Seven Lines of Characters that were translated by Joseph Smith are -taken by Martin Harris to Prof. Anthon, fulfilling the words of the -Prophet Isaiah, 29th chapter: "Read this, I pray thee, but he says, I -cannot, for it is sealed." - -The seven lines of characters presented in the accompanying engraving -were copied by the hand of Joseph Smith in Harmony, Pennsylvania, in -the year 1827, he then being in the twenty-second year of his age. They -were copied from a book of gold plates which he found hidden in a stone -box, the box being nicely jointed together and set in cement. The six -slabs of stone forming the box were so dressed that they were smooth -and square on the inside, but rough on the outside. Indeed, they were -so rough that the capstone, which was crowning, looked something like -a cobblestone, for at the time of being found a small portion was laid -bare and protruded from the hill side. No one, unless in possession -of the knowledge of what was therein contained, would have paid any -attention to the stone in passing. - -Most certainly, it was very ingeniously constructed and hidden in a -very choice spot of ground. It was first found in the spring of 1823, -and the young man who found it was only in the seventeenth year of -his age. He was too young and inexperienced at that time to receive -so valuable a treasure, for it must be in weight about forty pounds -or more of pure gold, and in sheets that were very thin like unto -thin sheets of tin plate; and they were covered with engravings of -a very curious workmanship, showing great skill by those who were -the engravers. There were several different persons who did the -work of engraving. The plates contained a history which reached out -over a period of a thousand years, beginning 600 B. C., and continuing -until 420 AD. The history had necessarily to be very brief, and when -translated was called the Book of Mormon--that is, the portion which -was translated, for there is a portion yet held in reserve, which was -sealed with three extra rings, and which will yet, in the due time of -the Lord, be revealed and translated. - -All these plates were fastened together with three great rings, so -that each plate could be turned over in the same manner as if hinged -together. So we are led to see that these people were very skilled, -and were also careful in preserving their history. That history brings -to light who the people were that left so many ruined cities, towers, -temples and other relics, many of which are found with hieroglyphics of -a similar character to the seven lines presented. The Book of Mormon, -translated from those plates, makes a book of 623 pages, and is at -the present time printed in about fifteen different languages. In the -box with the gold plates was a breast-plate made of gold and valued -at about five hundred dollars. Attached to this breast-plate was a -Urim and Thummim or interpreters. The latter was in form like unto -an old-fashioned pair of spectacles, two clear stones set in rims of -silver. I have conversed with Martin Harris, who handled them, and he -said he had placed them as he would a pair of spectacles, but they were -too large for him, as if they had been made for a larger race of people -than the present generation. - -This Urim and Thummim was similar to what we read of in the Bible of -olden times and which only belonged to seers, revelators and prophets. -These were hidden with the book, to help the one to whom they should be -entrusted to translate them correctly. - -The hill from whence those plates were taken is fully described in -another chapter. - -I will vouch for the correctness of the characters, as I have compared -them with the original copy, which is still in existence, intact, -just as it was when Martin Harris, as a messenger, took it with the -translation Joseph Smith had made, to Professor Anthon of New York. -The copy here presented was traced from the original copy, and this -engraving, made by Mr. John Held, of Salt Lake City, is an exact -reproduction of it. - -In the year 1871 I was favored with the privilege of bringing Martin -Harris from Kirtland, Ohio, to Utah. While on our journey, I had many -opportunities of conversing with him upon this subject, as well as -upon many other incidents which occurred at the early period of the -translation. Soon after presenting the seven lines of characters to -Professor Anthon, be (Martin Harris) aided the young Prophet by acting -as scribe during a portion of the translation. The learned Professor -Anthon, after having the lines of characters presented to him, examined -them carefully, and gave a certificate stating that they were Egyptian -characters and had been correctly translated. Mr. Harris, with the -certificate, started to leave, but when he had advanced as far as the -door, the Professor called to him, asking where he obtained those -plates. Harris replied: - -"In a hill near Palmyra, New York." - -"Then bring the book to me and I will translate the plates for you." - -"I can not do so," said Martin, "for a part of them is sealed." - -"Then," replied Mr. Anthon, "I cannot read a sealed book," upon which -he recalled the certificate and tore it up. - -Martin Harris said to me, "At that time I was not aware that the -Prophet Isaiah, in the twenty-ninth chapter of his writings, had -predicted that those exact words would be uttered and the prophecy thus -fulfilled by Prof. Anthon. For the better information of the reader -we will refer to the book of Isaiah, beginning at the 11th and 12th -verses, which reads as follows: - - "And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that - is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, - I pray thee: and he said, I cannot, for it is sealed. And the book [not - the words or seven lines of characters] is delivered to him that is not - learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. - -It is well known that Joseph Smith was not learned, and claimed to -be only a farmer's boy without the opportunities for a scholastic -education; for he had, as Peter the fisherman, to work for his living. - -Permit me to offer some striking evidence to show that the Prophet was -not learned, by the word directly over the lines of characters. How -natural it would be for a boy unlearned to leave out the silent h and -further to substitute the o for the e, as it is written by his own -hand, thus--Caractors. This I offer as evidence of the fulfillment of -Isaiah's words, 29th chapter and 12th verse, "I am not learned." - -Well, indeed, may the prophet say in the same chapter: - -"Cry ye out, and cry; they are drunken, but not with wine; they -stagger, but not with strong drink." - -I ask what kind of drunkenness can this mean, unless as really inferred -by Isaiah's own words: "For the Lord hath poured out upon you the -spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your -rulers, the seers hath he covered." - -At the time the book came forth there were upon the earth no prophets -or seers to guide the people. There had been prophets from the time of -Adam to Moses and from Moses to Jesus Christ, John the Revelator being -the last prophet of that time, 96 AD. - -And the Book came forth and a new prophet arose after that long period, -and at a time when people were drunken with confusion regarding the -true religious light, for there were about six hundred different -religious sects staggering against each other, each one claiming to be -the true church that Christ established, with one lord, one faith, one -baptism, and one God and Father of all. - -Every Bible student should know that Jesus placed in his church: first, -twelve apostles, then seventies, elders, pastors, teachers, gifts and -blessings for the perfecting of the saints. After the apostasy from -the Church of Christ, the mother of harlots made all nations drunken -with the wine of her fornication, divided up into fragments, without -prophets, seers or revelators. It was in this condition, as the -prophets have foretold, when the boy Prophet began so marvelous a work, -and which cost him his life to establish. - -CHAPTER 5 - -The Prophet Joseph and others Sentenced to be Shot on the Public Square -at Far West, in the Presence of their Friends.--The Execution Deferred, -and the Prisoners afterwards sent to Liberty Jail. - -The Liberty Jail, which is fast going into ruins, is situated in the -city of Liberty, Clay County, Missouri. It is inland three miles from -the Missouri River and about ten miles from Independence in Jackson -County, and Independence is eleven miles from Kansas City of the same -state. - -There are many reasons why this jail should become conspicuous and -be preserved in history, but the principal one is that there Joseph -Smith, the Prophet, in the fall of 1838 and spring of 1839, at the -time of Governor L. W. Boggs' exterminating war against the Mormons, -was most unjustly and wickedly imprisoned. In 1838, the Prophet and -others were betrayed into the hands of the Missouri mob by Colonel -George M. Hinkle, the mob being headed by General Samuel D. Lucas. The -prisoners were tried under martial law and sentenced to be shot on -the following day on the public square in Far West, in the presence -of a multitude of the followers of "Joe" Smith, as they chose to call -him. This was intended, no doubt, as a sample of Missouri charity, -sympathy and humanity, and as a lesson for Mormons for daring to -believe as conscience dictated, and for exercising as American freemen -the privileges guaranteed by a Constitution believed to be inspired. -The writer speaks for himself, as one for whom he had deep sentiments -of regard, as a true Prophet, who was sent of God to re-establish the -fullness of the everlasting gospel. - -But God overruled the horrible edict that the Prophet and his -companions should be shot on the public square on the following day at -8 o'clock a.m. This was on the 31st of October, 1838. General Doniphan -denounced the proposed act as "cold-blooded murder," threatening to -withdraw his brigade from the scene of the intended massacre. - -This turned the tide of events and Lucas and his murderous colleagues -began to hesitate and finally to reconsider their action. That General -Lucas was acting under Governor Lilburn W. Boggs' orders is evident by -the utterances made unto us who were compelled to assemble together -on the public square at Far West, where we were harangued by General -Clark at considerable length. The speech was very abusive, as can be -learned by reading it farther on in this pamphlet. Before introducing -the speech we will state a number of interesting facts which occurred -about that time. There was in existence the Fifty-third Regiment of -Missouri Militia, under the command of Col. George M. Hinkle, who held -a commission signed by the Governor of the state. - -There was times of trouble when it became necessary for Colonel Hinkle -to call out the militia, consequently our movements were in accordance -with the laws of Missouri. On the 30th of October, 1838, Neil Gillam -was at the head of a mob who were disguised as wild Indians. They were -painted, and Gillam himself was arrayed as an Indian chief. The mob -had been burning houses and driving the Mormons' stock away from their -owners, taking prisoners, etc. Colonel Hinkle ordered out a company -of militia, about 150 in number, to endeavor to learn the intentions -of Gillam and others, who were camping on Log Creek, near Far West. I -was one of those under Col. Hinkle, and we all were on horseback. We -soon learned that their intentions were hostile. A flag of truce in the -hands of Charles C. Rich was shot at during the day, and our company -was cut off from Far West by a line of battle being formed between us -and our homes. Colonel Hinkle returned from the front of our line with -his military coat off, saying that there were hardly enough of us to -allow a mouthful apiece for the numerous hosts before us. He seemed -excited and fearfully frightened, and for this and other reasons I have -always believed this accounted for his conduct on that occasion. We -retreated fifteen miles (instead of five miles, from where we were), -to Far West, arriving about the time the troops were nearing the city. -They were marching with red flags, which were interspersed and mixed -up with Gillam's command of painted faces. Our company coming into Far -West on the gallop, created quite a sensation, as we were mistaken -for the enemy coming in from two different points. We, however, soon -proved ourselves to be friends, and were just in time to extend the -line already formed in defense of the city. Our adversaries were in -the ratio of about ten to one of us, which looked rather serious for a -little handful of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day -Saints. - -The Prophet came along after our arrival and said: - -"Fear them not; God is for us, and there are more for us than there -are against us [meaning the hosts of heaven were on our side.] God -and liberty is the watchword," said Joseph. "Fear them not, for their -hearts are cold as cucumbers." - -Night was fast approaching, and flags of truce were passing between -the two lines, by which we learned that this formidable army was sent -out by Governor Boggs with orders to exterminate us. It was finally -concluded not to murder us that night, so the army withdrew until the -next morning, when they intended to make a final end of Mormonism. -They camped for the night on Goose Creek, one mile away from the city. -Thus ended one of the most eventful days of our lives. It fell to my -lot to stand guard that night, and the worst confusion and disorder -ever witnessed by human beings existed in the enemy's camp. This, with -unearthly yelling and howling, produced a real pandemonium very much -resembling my idea of hell. A sort of breast-work was constructed -during the night, made principally of wagons, house logs, etc. A dark -and dreary night was that. On the following day, October 31st, we -were preparing to meet death, if necessary, rather than surrender our -religion to a mob. We trusted in the Lord, however, and a better way -was prepared. Colonel Hinkle had been communicating with the enemy -during the day, and in the afternoon Joseph Smith and others passed -over the breast-works near where I and others were on duty. Colonel -Hinkle lead the party to meet the enemy, where he betrayed them into -their hands. This treachery on his part turned out for the best, for -God suffers offences to come, as in the case of Judas, "but woe to him -by whom they come." - -On the following day, November 1st, 1838, we were marched into a hollow -square just outside of the city, where we delivered up about 630 guns, -grounded our arms, and advanced to the center of the square, where the -small arms and swords were left in a pile. The late Bishop McRae gave -six cuts with his sword and a pointer in the ground and left his sword -sticking there. We were left without the means of self-defense and at -the mercy of a conscienceless set of ignorant, prejudiced people, many -of whom, like St. Paul before his conversion, acted as if they were -doing God's service in destroying property and abusing the Mormons. My -widowed mother's house was plundered and my sister, now living here in -Utah, had her clothes taken from her in open day, leaving her destitute -of her necessary apparel. - -General Wilson, who was one of the mobbers in Jackson County, was in -company with Joseph Smith soon after he was condemned to be shot. -Joseph asked General Wilson what he had done that he should be treated -with such indignity, stating that he had always been a supporter of the -Constitution and of good government. Wilson's reply was: - -"I know it, and that is the reason I want to kill you, or have you -killed." - -Subsequently this same Wilson said to P. P. Pratt and others: - -"We Jackson County boys know how it is, and therefore have not the -extreme hatred and prejudice which characterizes the rest of the -troops. We know perfectly well from the beginning that the Mormons -have not been the aggressors at all. As it began in 1833 in Jackson -County, Mo., so it has been ever since.... We mob you without law; -the authorities refuse to protect you according to law, you then are -compelled to protect yourselves, and we act upon the prejudices of -the public, who join our forces and the whole is legalized for your -destruction and our gain ... When we drove you from Jackson County -we burned 203 of your houses, plundered your goods, destroyed your -press, type and paper, books, office and all--tarred and feathered old -Bishop Partridge--as exemplary an old man as you can find anywhere. We -shot down some of your men, and if any of you returned the fire, we -imprisoned you and had you on trial for murder. D--d shrewdly done, -gentlemen; and I came d--d near kicking the bucket myself; for on -one occasion while we were tearing down houses, driving families and -destroying and plundering goods, some of you good folks put a ball -through my son's body, and another through the arm of my clerk, and a -third pierced my shirt collar and marked my neck. No blame, gentlemen; -we deserved it, and let a set of men serve me as your community have -been served, and I'll be d--d if I would not fight till I died." - -Most certainly this was an honest confession, and I can certify to -nearly all of his acknowledgments, for I have been driven from my home -and robbed of my hard-earned property more than once. There are many -others besides General Wilson who have acknowledged to the same things, -for I have personally heard them. - -When the brethren were being hurried away, as prisoners, from their -homes, P. P. Pratt says: - -"I went to General Moses Wilson in tears, and stated the circumstances -of my sick, heart-broken, destitute family, in terms which would have -moved any heart that had a latent spark of humanity yet remaining, but -I was only answered with an exultant laugh and a taunt of reproach by -this hardened murderer. Halting at the door of Hyrum Smith, I heard -the sobs and groans of his wife at Hyrum's parting. She was then near -confinement and needed more than ever the comfort and consolation of a -husband's presence. As we returned to the wagon we witnessed the sad, -parting of Sidney Rigdon and his family, and in the same wagon was -Joseph Smith, while his aged father and mother came up overwhelmed with -tears, and took each of the prisoners by the hand with a silence of -grief too great for utterance. - -Little encouragement was left to those grief-stricken parents, for they -knew so well that they were in the hands of a mob who had snatched and -dragged them away as if they were murderers. Fresh to their minds was -recalled a scene that took place in earlier days, when, close to their -own thresholds, a demon in human form, in the dark hour of the night, -had fired at their son, just barely missing him. There were fifty-six -citizens thus dragged away from their homes, without any earthly hope -of deliverance, only as in God they put their trust. Judge King said to -H. C. Kimball: - -"Joe Smith is not fit to live." - -For further light concerning the good or evil wishes of this great mob -of Missourians, we will now return to the public square to hear the -abusive words of General Clark. Addressing the Mormons he said: - -"It now devolves upon you to fulfill a treaty that you have entered -into. - -"1st.--Your leading men be given up to be tried according to the law. -This you have already complied with. - -"2nd.--That you deliver up your arms. This has been attended to [which -we did, surrounded by the mob, some of whom I heard say, 'Now we have -got their arms, it is as good as death to them.'] - -"3rd.--That you sign over your properties to defray the expenses of the -war. This you have also done. - -"4th.--That you leave the state forthwith. And whatever may be your -feelings concerning this, or whatever your innocence, it is nothing to -me. General Lucas (whose military rank is equal to mine) has made this -treaty with you, and I approve of it. I should have done the same. I am -determined to see it executed. The character of this state has suffered -almost beyond redemption. And we deem it as an act of justice to -restore her character to its former standing among the states by every -proper means. The orders of the Governor to me were, that you should -be exterminated, and not allowed to remain in the state. And had not -your leaders been given up, and the terms of the treaty complied with, -before this time you and your families would have been destroyed and -your houses in ashes. - -"There is a discretionary power vested in my hands, which, considering -your circumstances, I shall exercise for a season. You are indebted to -me for this clemency. I do not say you shall go now, but you must not -think if staying here another season or of putting in crops; for, if -you do, the citizens will be upon you. If I am called here again in -case of non-compliance of a treaty made, do not think that I shall do -as I have done now. You need not expect any mercy, but extermination. -For I am determined the Governor's orders shall be executed. - -"As for your leaders, do not think, do not imagine for a moment, do not -let it enter into your minds, that they shall be delivered and restored -to you again for their fate is fixed, their die is cast. Their doom is -sealed. I am sorry, very sorry, gentlemen, to see so many intelligent -men found in this situation. Oh! if I could invoke the Great Spirit, -the unknown God--[I suppose without body, parts or passions]--to -rest upon and deliver you from that awful chain of superstition, and -liberate you from those fetters of fanaticism with which you are bound, -that you no longer do homage to a man! My advice is that you become -as other citizens, let by a recurrence of these events you bring upon -yourselves irretrievable ruin." - -It vividly recurs to my mind that at the closing of General Clark's -hard talk, G. M. Hinkle also spoke to the large body of Saints, saying: - -"I would advise you all to do as I have done, for I have got my hand -out of the lion's mouth, and I intend to keep it out hereafter." - -It may not be out of place to relate a statement made to me by E. B. -Tripp, who authorizes me to use his name, regarding George M. Hinkle, -whose hand he said was out of the lion's mouth (taking his own word for -it.) Elder. E. B. Tripp says: - -"In 1852, I lived in Wapelo, Louisa Co., Iowa G. M. Hinkle, a stranger -to me, came into my drug store. He introduced himself to me, saying: -'This is Mr. Tripp, I understand. I hear that you are going to Utah, -and I would like to have a private talk with you. I am the man who -betrayed Joseph Smith and others into the hands of the mob in Missouri. -I am a miserable man, and scarce know what to do with myself. I would -be willing to lay down my life if this would atone for the sin I -committed. What can I do, Mr. Tripp, for I know Mormonism is true?" - -This is the substance of the conversation as reported by Brother Tripp, -who save him some good advice before he parted with him. Thomas B. -Marsh, one of the Twelve Apostles, apostatized during this dark hour -of Missouri persecution. I saw him and heard him speak then, and also -when he came to Utah and was rebaptized. I heard him confess with deep -regret, saying: - -"Look at my trembling limbs and see the fate of an apostate, for I am -a wreck, but Mormonism is true, and I advise you not to do as I have -done, in my apostasy." - -Gen. John C. Bennett, who once flourished in Nauvoo, apostatized -because of his iniquities. He died in Polk City, Iowa, a miserable -wreck, debased and degraded. When I was in Iowa on a mission I learned -of a party who once had a rope around his neck and over a limb. At that -time he barely escaped being hung up like a dog. - -Prior to Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and others, being marched to Liberty -jail, General Lucas allowed the prisoners to see for a few moments, in -the presence of their guards, their weeping wives and children. Most of -them were not permitted to speak, being merely allowed to look at them -before being hurried away. - -Mary Fielding Smith, wife of Hyrum Smith, a few days after his painful -parting from her husband, became a mother. The favored child thus born -amidst those warlike scenes is today known as Joseph Fielding Smith, -Counselor to the First Presidency. - -The brethren were taken to Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, -to be murdered by those who only a few years before drove the Saints -from the country, murdering some, tarring and feathering others, and -expelling the remainder without color of law. Notwithstanding this, on -Sunday, November 4th, 1838, the Prophet preached to many who gathered -around them. The officers, finding that the people's feelings were -softened into tears of sympathy, had them removed to Richmond, where -they were chained down as felons and then removed to Liberty jail. - -In September, 1888, in company with Elder Andrew Jenson and -Bishop Black, of Deseret, I visited this place, also Far West and -Adam-Ondi-Ahman. This trip brought vividly before me many sayings of -the Prophet, more particularly of his speaking of the Garden of Eden, -which he said was situated at Independence, which is only about ten -miles to the northwest of Liberty jai. The Prophet said it had been -manifested unto him that here was where our Father Adam was placed, -and where his home was until his fall, when he was driven out into the -dreary world, and from thence he took his departure northeast about -seventy miles, to where a stake of Zion was located, and it was named -Adam-Ondi-Ahman by revelation. This knowledge makes this land, which is -good and greatly blessed, all the more attractive to the Saints, and -creates a desire to cherish not only the memory of the land, but this -loathsome jail as well, which is now going to ruins. - -The Bible tells us about the Garden of Eden, and why not locate it -here in this goodly land as well as any other part of the earth? Many -changes have taken place since Adam's time, as, for instance, the great -deluge and the division of the earth in the days of Peleg. Again, at -the crucifixion, when the solid rocks were rent, mountains cast up, -and great convulsions took place on the face of the whole earth. All -of these events would naturally tend to make it difficult to locate -the Garden without revelation, and this is how I became informed on -this subject. I was with the Prophet Joseph Smith sixty miles northeast -of Liberty jail in 1838, less than one year before he was imprisoned -there. We were standing with others on the hill Adam-Ondi-Ahman. The -Prophet said, pointing to a mound of stones: - -"There is where Father Adam built an altar when he was driven from the -Garden of Eden and offered up sacrifice unto the Lord." - -He further said that the Garden of Eden was in or near Independence, -the center stake of Zion. I thought it a great privilege to be at that -time with the Prophet, and to hear his words regarding the mound and -pile of rocks laid up at so early a period of the world's history. - -Three years ago I visited the same altar with deep interest, and also -the spot of ground where the Prophet received the revelation, wherein -Adam-Ondi-Ahman is named as the place where Adam shall come to visit -his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel -the Prophet. Doc. and Cov., Sec. 115, page 415. The Prophet said that -this Michael is Adam. - -I quote the following from the revelation: - -"Is there not room enough upon the mountains of Adam-Ondi-Ahman ... the -land where Adam dwelt? ... Therefore come up hither to the land of my -people, even Zion."--Doc. and Cov., sec. 117, v. 8 - -Having lived and worked at the tin business in sight of this dungeon -where the Prophet was so unjustly imprisoned and suffered so much, this -knowledge of the country was welcome news to me. On one occasion, as -I was informed by the late Bishop Alexander McRae, who was imprisoned -in this same jail, and as he substantially related to me, five of the -prisoners, viz: Joseph Smith, Hyrum, his brother, Caleb Baldwin, Lyman -Wight, Sidney Rigdon and Bishop McRae were taking supper together. All -but Brother McRae partook of tea, as they were glad to get anything to -sustain life. Soon afterwards five of the inmates were taken sick and -some of them were blind for three days, after which they were afflicted -with sore eyes for a long time. Bishop McRae escaped this affliction -as he did not partake of the tea. All of the six prisoners agreed that -poison had been put in the tea, but how and by whom was unknown to them. - -While the prisoners were confined in this jail, young Joseph Smith and -Emma, his mother, visited their husband and father. It was at this time -that Joseph's son, now the leader of the Reorganized church, claims -to have received a blessing under the hands of his father. Joseph F. -Smith, with his mother, visited his father in this same jail, and -although but an infant, received a blessing under his hands. Owing to -the delicate state of her health, Joseph F.'s mother had to be taken -on a bed in a carriage, to see, perhaps for the last time, her husband -as a prisoner for the gospel's sake. The meeting and parting on that -occasion must have been heartrending under the circumstances. Very few -can now realize such days as those of the imprisonment at Liberty jail. - -From the day that Joseph Smith received the plates at the hands of -Moroni, the angel, until his incarceration in Liberty jail, his life -was one of persecution, trial and imprisonment, so much so that on one -occasion Joseph was led to pray: - -"O God! where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy -hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye--yea, -thy pure eye--behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people, -and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries? -Yea O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful -oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened towards them, and -they bowels be moved with compassion towards them? O Lord God Almighty, -maker of the heaven and earth, and seas, and all things that in them -are, and who controlleth and subjecteth the devil and the dark and -benighted dominion of Sheol! Stretched forth thy hand; let think eye -pierce; let thy pavilion be taken up; let thy hiding place no longer be -covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine heart be softened, and -thy bowels moved with compassion towards us. * * * Remember thy suffering -Saints, O our God." - -The Prophet loved the Saints, and he knew of their extreme suffering, -and their moving through mud and rain, in poverty, leaving their homes -and all behind them, while he, with his brethren, was in a dungeon -liable to be poisoned at any time. They knew their lives were not safe -in such a mobocratic state as was Missouri then. However, Joseph had -consolation, dark as it appeared, for he promised his brethren that not -one of their lives should be lost. In the midst of their cries unto the -Lord, he was answered thus: - -"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversary and thine afflictions -shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God -shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thou -art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither -charge thee with transgression, as they did Job. * * * Wo unto all those -that discomfort my people, and drive, and murder, and testify against -them, saith the Lord of Hosts. A generation of vipers shall not escape -the damnation of hell. * * * Let thy bowels also be full of charity -towards all men and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish -thy thoughts unceasingly. Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the -presence of God, and the doctrine of the Priesthood shall distill upon -thy soul as the dews from heaven. The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant -companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and -truth, and they dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without -compulsory means it shall flow unto thee for ever and ever." - -When I looked upon the Liberty jail in 1834, again in 1838-39, and -for the last time in 1888, in the last stages of decay (it being 54 -years from the time I first saw it), my soul was moved upon with deep -emotion, for thoughts of the past crowded upon my mind. Indeed, I felt -almost bewildered, and as if in a dream. It was only four years and -nine months after the Prophet left this dungeon that he was murdered, -dying as a martyr in Carthage jail, Hancock County, Illinois, on the -memorable 27th of June, 1844. - -Elder Jenson, Bishop Black and myself obtained a photograph of the jail -as a relic, from which the engraving illustrating this article has been -taken. The jail was built about 1830, of hewn oak logs, and was only 14 -by 14-1/2 feet in the clear. Soon after a stone wall two feet thick was -added, leaving a space of twelve inches between the logs and the stone -wall, which was filled in with loose stones, thus making a wall four -feet thick. - -In order to show how particular the Prophet was regarding revelations -which he received from the Lord, I will relate an incident which -occurred in Liberty jail. While the Prophet was receiving a revelation, -the late Bishop Alexander McRae was writing as Joseph received it. Upon -this occasion Brother McRae suggested a slight change in the wording of -the revelation, when Joseph sternly asked: - -"Do you know who you are writing for?" - -Brother McRae, who at once discovered his mistake, begged the Prophet's -pardon for undertaking to correct the word of the Lord. - -In March, 1839, and less than one month before leaving the jail, Joseph -received the word of the Lord, as follows: - -"The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall -have thee in derision, and hell shall rage against thee, while the pure -in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek -council, and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy hand. -And thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of -traitors. And although their influence shall cast thee into trouble, -into bars and walls, thou shalt be had in honor, and but for a small -moment and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thy enemies -than the fierce lion, because of thy righteousness; and thy God shall -stand by thee forever and ever. If thou art called to pass through -tribulation; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in -perils by land or by sea; if thou are accused of all manner of false -accusations; if thy enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the -society of thy father and mother, and brethren and sisters; and if, -with a drawn sword, thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife -and of thine offspring, and thine elder son (Joseph), although but 6 -years of age, ... and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies -prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb; and if thou -should be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the -sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if -the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine -enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to -hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell gape open the -mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall -give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath -descended below them all; art thou greater than he? Therefore hold on -thy way, and the Priesthood shall remain with thee, for their bounds -are set and they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall -not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God -shall be with you for ever and every." - -CHAPTER 6 - -The Assassination of Generals Joseph and Hyrum Smith in Carthage, -Hancock Co., Ill., June 27, 1844, while under the pledged protection of -the Governor of the State. - -The engraving presented on another page is a true representation of -the jail at Carthage, Illinois, wherein Joseph Smith, revered by -the "Mormon" people as a prophet of God, and his brother Hyrum were -foully murdered in 1844. A sketch of the building was made by the late -Robert Campbell soon after the massacre, from which the illustration -accompanying this sketch was made. - -The mob of eighty men, whose faces were painted black, were under the -direction of the notorious Captain Williams, who is represented in the -picture as standing just back of the four men who are shooting the -Prophet as he is lying partially stunned against the well curb. The -Captain is directing the murder, as is to be seen in the engraving. -Farther to the right is Captain Smith, with his company of Carthage -Greys, who were entrusted with the care and custody of the prisoners -under the pledge of the Governor of the state for their safety. - -In the afternoon of the day of the murder, the mob were concealed -in the woods about three-quarters of a mile northwest of the jail, -where they had previously marched. The front of the jail is to the -south. Communication for some time was kept up between the mob and -the Carthage Greys by couriers, until a perfect understanding was -effected between the two mobs, for by this mutual understanding the -State troops had become identified with the murder. The diabolical plot -was so arranged that the troops had their guns loaded only with blank -cartridges. From the situation of affairs, the disbanding of the troops -at Carthage (except those treacherous Greys), and the Governor being -at the same time in Nauvoo disarming the Nauvoo Legion, looks like a -very deep plot for the murder of those two innocent prisoners. What -makes it still more apparent that the State was guilty of this foul -deed, is the fact that not one of those who were immediately connected -with the murder were ever convicted, while many of them roamed at -large, although well known to the community as having taken part in the -murder, some even boasting of having participated in the vile act. One -man in particular, who lived in what was known as Morley's settlement, -near Carthage, openly claimed to have helped in the massacre. - -While I was in St. George about two years ago I read from a record book -the following: - -"Mr. Meradis Perry, a near neighbor of ours, was one of the mob who -killed Joseph Smith. He came home from Carthage sick and begged my -father to kill him; 'for,' said he, 'I can neither eat nor sleep. When -I close my eyes I can see Joseph Smith before me; I am a miserable -man.' My father told him that he was in the hands of the Lord, and he -would deal with him as seemed good onto himself; that Joseph was a true -prophet sent of God, and his blood, with that of his brother, would -cry from Carthage jail against his murderers as did Able's against his -slayer. My father, James Bellows, lived near Morley's settlement." - -The daughter of Jas. Bellows, who has the record named, vouches for the -above, having seen the mobber. She says he was a miserable human being. - -The mob came from the woods, entered the stairway door, crowded -upstairs, and commenced pressing in the door where the prisoners were -confined. They were unable to open the door for a while, when shots -were fired through the door. All was commotion and confusion. A ball -passing through the door pierced Hyrum Smith on the side of his nose -just below the eye, when he fell prostrate on the floor, exclaiming: "I -am a dead man." - -The Prophet thought that by leaping from the window of the upper story -would attract the attention of the rabble and thus save the lives of -his friends. Willard Richards is to be seen looking from the window of -the prison upon the heart-rending scene without being able to render -the Prophet of God any assistance in his dying moments. - -It is possible that while the martyr was holding on to the window sill -he received some of his wounds, before falling to the ground. As he -reached the ground he cried out: "O Lord, my God!" - -Each received four balls. John Taylor and Willard Richards, two of the -Twelve Apostles, were the only ones in the room at the time besides -the two martyrs. John Taylor was wounded severely with four balls, but -after much suffering he recovered, and lived a life of usefulness, and -finally presided over the Church, until his death. Willard Richards -escaped without a hole in his robe, and died in peace in his Utah home -many years after. - -Thus two of the most noble sons of God have sealed their testimony with -their blood, and henceforth are numbered with those whom John saw under -the altar,--"the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and -for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, -saying: How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge -our blood on them that live on the earth? And white robes were given -every one of them: and it was said unto them, that they should rest for -a little season, until their fellow servants and their brethren, that -should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." - -As Jesus our Saviour was crucified and his disciples martyred, and not -one of their murderers ever brought to justice (only as God punished -them), so has it been in this enlightened age of the world with -assassins who have been equally guilty. - -The picture, although a sad one, is a true representation of the -tragedy, and will never be forgotten by those who once behold it. Hyrum -Smith was 44 years old in February, 1844, and Joseph Smith was Only 38 -in December, 1843. They were martyred on the 27th of June, 1844. The -late President John Taylor's watch was struck with a bullet while in -his pocket, and stopped between 4 and 5 o'clock. - -I first saw Joseph Smith in 1844 at my mother's house. It was late -in the spring season. I also heard him bear his testimony many times -with a power that was not gainsaid by those who heard him testify with -regard to the visions which he had been favored with. Some of his -hearers said: - -"Well, if it is true it will stand." - -When I heard the three witnesses testify to the coming forth of the -Book of Mormon, and that they had in open daylight both seen and -heard the voice of the angel, I knew their testimony was true. My -first impression of Joseph nearly sixty years ago was that he was a -true prophet, and I formed a love for him which increased with our -acquaintance. I was with him in the state of Missouri during those -trying scenes until his imprisonment in Liberty jail, and subsequently -in Illinois, and with the bereaved family and thousands of Latter-day -Saints shed a tear over his remains as he lay silently in death's -embrace. I took a last look at him in the Nauvoo Mansion in June, 1844. - -Joseph Bates Nobles stated to me that he was with the Prophet when he -was going voluntarily to give himself up to the pretended requirements -of the law, on which occasion he said: - -"I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am calm as a summer's -morning; I have a conscience void of offence towards God and towards -all men. I shall die innocent, and it shall yet be said of me--'He was -murdered in cold blood.'" - -Hyrum also knew of their doom, for on the morning just before leaving -for the murderous prison he turned down the leaf of the fifth chapter -of the Book of Ether, which reads as follows: - -"And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give -unto the gentiles grace, that they might have charity. And it came to -pass that the Lord said unto me, if they have not charity, it mattereth -not unto you, thou hast been faithful; wherefore, thy garments are -clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness, thou shalt be made -strong, even to the sitting down in the place which I have prepared -in the mansions of my father. And now I----bid farewell unto the -gentiles; yea, and also until my brethren whom, I love, [and all who -knew him well knew of his mercy and benevolence], until we shall meet -before the judgment seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my -garments are not spotted with your blood." - -They were innocent of crime, as had been proven many, many times. -It was a conspiracy of "traitors and wicked men," and their blood, -as I saw it on the floor of Carthage jail in 1844, soon after their -martyrdom, and again in 1888, is still there as a witness against the -murderers. - -The jail is now transformed into a comfortable private residence, and -is occupied by Mrs. Elizabeth Mathews Browning, her husband having -deeded it to her. Many years ago the county sold the premises to Mr. -B. F. Patterson, subsequently he sold it to Mr. Jas. M. Browning, who -in turn deeded it to his wife. While being shown around the premises, -in its varied parts, by Mrs. Browning, we came to where the well -curb once stood, which is now substituted by a bed of lilies of the -valley, being assured that the spot will ever be held in remembrance. -The house has an addition of an east wing, and the rude fence has been -remodeled into a nice picket fence. Just prior to leaving Carthage, the -kind lady of the house took us up stairs, where the mob entered. We -saw the bullet hole through the door. Although repaired somewhat, we -saw where the bullet went that killed Hyrum. Other bullet marks were -also visible. Although the floor was carpeted, we were assured by Mrs. -Browning that the blood stain still remains, and cannot be washed away. - -At the time of the Prophet's martyrdom, many marveled why Joseph was -taken away from the Church; but since that time we have learned that -it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to them by whom they -come. God suffered his Son Jesus to be crucified. It was necessary -to accomplish certain ends. Many have marveled because of his death, -but it was needful that he should seal his testimony with his blood, -that he might be honored and the wicked be condemned. When Mr. O. -H. Browning, pleading for the Prophet, gave a recitation of what he -himself had seen at Quincy, Illinois, on the banks of the Mississippi -River (when the Saints were expelled from Missouri), so sad were the -scenes depicted that the spectators were moved into tears. Judge -Douglass himself and most of the officers wept. In conclusion, Mr. -Browning said: - -"Great God! have I not seen it? Yes, my eyes have beheld the -blood-stained traces of innocent women and children in the drear -winter, who have traveled hundreds of miles barefoot, through frost -and snow, to seek refuge from their savage pursuers. 'Twas a scene -of horror sufficient to elicit sympathy from an adamantine heart. -And shall this unfortunate man, whom their fury has seen proper to -select for sacrifice, be driven into such a savage land and none dare -to enlist in the cause of justice? If there was no other voice under -heaven ever to be heard in this cause, gladly would I stand alone -and proudly spend my last breath in defense of an oppressed American -citizen." - -Judge Douglass dismissed Joseph on the 10th of June, 1841. Again in -May, 1843, he was kidnapped in Dixon, Ill., but before his enemies -succeeded in dragging him over the line into Missouri, he obtained the -aid of three lawyers, who finally secured his release on habeas corpus. -While in custody, Mr. Reynolds of Missouri several times cocked his -pistol on Joseph, threatening to shoot. The latter bared his breast, -saying: - -"Shoot away! I have endured so much I am weary of life; kill me, if you -please." - -After repeated failures to have him executed in a legal way, his -enemies said: - -"If we cannot reach him by law, powder and ball shall," which was at -last fulfilled at the well-curb at Carthage jail. - -"Our Patriarch and Prophet, too, Were massacred; they bled To seal -their testimony,--They were numbered with the dead, Ah, tell me, are -they sleeping? Me thinks I hear them say, 'Death's icy chains are -bursting, 'Tis the Resurrection day!' - -* * * * * * * * * * - -"Oh, wretched murd'rers, fierce for human blood! -You've slain the Prophets of the living God, -Who've borne oppression from their early youth, -To plant on earth the principles of truth." - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Reminiscences of Joseph the Prophet, by -Edward Stevenson - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REMINISCENCES OF JOSEPH THE PROPHET *** - -***** This file should be named 54337.txt or 54337.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/4/3/3/54337/ - -Produced by the Mormon Texts Project -(https://mormontextsproject.org/), with thanks to Andy -Hobbs and Shawnee Hawkes. - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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