7 ^3

in

fjn K'

J'lj^

sfc t (?, Ovdb’

J

JOSEPH SMITH.

The PRpPHET of PALMYRA.

Gregg. The Prophet of Palmyra. Hormonism Reviewed and Examined in the Life, Character and Career of its Founder, etc., etc. By Thomas Gregg. 12mo, cloth, JSjJoo. Now ready.

“ To the people of this vicinity the book is doubly Interesting. Thomas Gregg, its author, is an old resident of the country, and his intimate knowledge of the Mormons, and familiarity with many of their lead¬ ers, makes this book authoritative to many of us who know Mr. Gregg personally. The trace of the careful, honest historian is seen all through its pages, while its finish, mechanically, reflects credit upon the publisher.” — Hamilton Pointer, Hancock Co., Ill.

“ A work written by our venerable friend, Thomas Gregg, of Hamilton. The book is not only re¬ plete with historical information, but it is written in an in¬ teresting style that holds the attention of the reader. It is a valuable accession to literature, and it will prove of espe¬ cial worth to people of this vicinity, once the centre of Mor- monism — particularly to the generations that have come on the stage of life since many of the incidents recorded in this book were enacted. Not only is it worth a place in every man’s library, but the price of the work makes this possible. Although a well-bound volume of 552 pages, if ” — Bulletin, Warsaw, Ill.

“We have read enough to be able to assure our readers that the promises of the title-page are fully carried out in the body of the work. Although there are many works extant on Mormon history, none has come to our knowledge which so clearly and fully portrays the character of Mormonism, the character of its author, the sources from which the historical part of the Book of Mor¬ mon was obtained. The whole matter is treated by an honest man having rare opportunities to gather the facts and a disposition to spread the same impartially before the public. This book contains just the information that every intelligent citizen of Hancock County should possess. Those of our people who came to the county in the last thirty years have had but limited opportunity to learn what every one living in the county in which so much of Mormon history was made is expected to know, whenever he falls in company with strangers. This book furnishes just the means for posting up on the most exciting and in¬ teresting period of our country’s history, and every citizen should avail himself of the opportunity. Besides this, to the old citizens of the county, who were living here during the Mormon period, the book contains much matter which revives the memory of many highly-interesting events, wholly or in part forgotten. To us, we have found it even more interesting from this cause than any fresh historical matter could be. Every old settler should therefore have a copy of this work.” — Gazette, Carthage, Ill.

The Prophet of Palmyra.

Gregg. The Prophet of Palmyra. Mormonism Reviewed and Examined in the Life, Character, and Calmer of its Founder, etc., etc. By Thomas Gregg. 12mo, cloth, s£oo.

A Letter from Col. John Hay.

Washington, May 19, 1890.

Dear Mr.. Gregg :

I have devoted all the time I could spare, for the last few days, to reading your book, and now take great pleasure in congratulating you on the work you have ac¬ complished. It is full, complete, and extremely readable. The tone you have adopted is calm and impartial. So many years have passed since the stirring events which happened at your own door, that you have been able to outlive what early prejudices you might have had, and have written this work in a truthful, candid, and disinter¬ ested style. It forms a most valuable contribution to the history of the time.

Yours sincerely,

John Hay.

“ The author, who has been a resident of Iowa and Western Illinois since 1835, and was the publisher of the second newspaper published west of the Mississippi, is thoroughly conversant with the movement, and the object of his book is to add, by the weight of testimony, to the efforts that have been made to lay bare the origin, char¬ acter, and purpose of the scheme of deception which began in New York, and which in its progress since has caused so much misery and crime, and aims at insubordina¬ tion and independence in Utah. The book is full of mat¬ ters of great interest.” — Morning Call, San Francisco.

“ A handsomely printed volume of 552 pages, with a dozen or more portraits of great Mormon leaders and his¬ toric places. The author is an old editor thoroughly con¬ versant with the facts about which he writes, and knew personally many of the men who were leaders of the Mormons forty and more years ago. He writes boldly, and does not hesitate to call black black, and a spade a spade. He was fully posted in all the movements at Nauvoo, and a close observer of all that entered into the life of Mormonism in its incipiency. He gives clear and detailed accounts of the life and character of the founders of the church, and enters upon an exhaustive investigation of the great fraud of the celebrated “ Spalding Manu¬ script,” on which Mormonism was originally based. The author is now 80 years old, but he writes with the fire and vigor of a man of 40. Mormonism, in all its terrible rotten¬ ness at its birth and during its earlier years, has never been more fully and clearly shown up.” — Inter-Ocean, Chicago.

THE

Prophet Palmyra mormonism

Reviewed and Examined in the Life, Character, and Career of its Founder, from ‘ ‘ Cumorah Hill ” to Carthage Jail and the Desert

TOGETHER WITH A COMPLETE

HISTORY OF THE MORMON ERA

In Illinois, and an Exhaustive Investigation of the “ Spalding Manuscript ” Theory of the Origin of the Book of Mormon

BY

THOMAS GREGG

NEW YORK

JOHN B. ALDEN, PUBLISHER

1890

Copyright, 1890, THOMAS GREGG.

TO THE READER.

Mrs. Paddock, in the Preface to one of her remarkable portrayals of the inner life of Mormon- ism, has the following paragraph :

“ Surely, to-day, whoever inflicts an additional volume upon a long-suffering public, ought to be able to set up an unassailable plea in justification thereof.”

While this is true in a general sense, it is doubly so in its relation to that band of people — knaves and fanatics — who, more than fifty years ago began a scheme of deception in New York, which, in its progress since, has caused so much misery and crime in many of the States, and now aims at insubordination and independence in Utah.

Many books have been written on the subject of Mormonism ; some of them honest, trustworthy, and valuable ; others, sensational and unreliable ; and still more, utterly unworthy. Yet, notwith¬ standing all this, the great Christian public in America and abroad remains to-day strangely indifferent to, and ignorant of, the origin, character, and purposes of the miserable fraud.

TO THE HEADER.

vi

The undersigned offers no apology for the matter of the following pages. Content with his purpose to add to the mass of credible history, and to aid in exposing a most silly and dangerous delusion, he leaves it with an intelligent and discerning public, hoping neither to escape censure nor disarm crit icism.

Hamilton, Illinois, 1889.

Th. Gregg.

CONTENTS,

CHAPTER I.

Introductory. ” l

Solomon Spalding — False Prophets in all Ages — Joseph Smith, the Founder of Mormonism— Compared to Mahomet— His Character and Aims — Origin of Mormonism — An Over¬ shadowing Question.

CHAPTER II.

The Beginnings of the Imposture. - 9

Disagreeing Statements — Impossible Claims — The Smith Family — Ignorance and Superstition — The Prophet’s Own Story — “History of Joseph Smith” — The Angel Neplii — Plates Revealed — The Urim and Thummim — Second, Third, and Fourth Visions — Hill of Cumorali — Stone Box — The Prophet’s Marriage — “Persecutions” — After Four Years — Martin Harris and the Translation.

CHAPTER III.

As Told by Others. 25

David Whitmer, One of the Eleven Witnesses — Interviewed by the Kansas City Journal.

CHAPTER IV.

Highly Interesting Letter. 34

Letter from Hon. Stephen S. Harding, former Governor of Utah Territory — His Boyhood Acquaintance with the Smith Family.

CHAPTER V.

Ex-Governor Harding’s Letter Continue®. 45 Curious Developments — Harris’s Frenzy — An Incident in In¬ diana — In Utah — Reflections, Suggestions, etc.

CHAPTER VI.

Professor Anthon’s Story. - • 57

A Plain Statement which Everybody Can Believe.

viii

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VII.

A Terrible Dilemma. 63

Two Revelations and tlieir Causes — Harris and Satan Unjustly Accused — The Real Culprit Unknown — A Happy Ruse Solves the Difficulty.

CHAPTER VIII.

The Stoby and the Book Examined. - 75

Evidences of Falsity — The Record — Its Title — “ Confounding of Language ” — The Nephite-Lamanite Americans — Metal of the Plates— Plates Still Under Ground— A Bonanza- Mariner’s Compass — To Work by Faith.

CHAPTER IX.

Examination Continued. 85

A Story for Ship-Builders — A Year’s Voyage — Eight Wonder¬ ful Barges — An Electric Light — The Land of Promise — War a Pastime — A Great Battle — Words of Isaiah — Beasts in the Promised Land — Remarkable Translation.

CHAPTER X.

Review Continued. 96

Testimony of Three Witnesses — Also of Eight Witnesses —

“What More Need he Said?” — Death to Behold the Plates — A Box of Brickbats — Testimony Analyzed — Smith’s Ipse Dixit — Collusion or Deception — Testimony Invalid — Strang’s Failure — Laban’s Sword and Lelii’s Directors.

CHAPTER XI.

Fubther Revelations and Labors. - 107

The World’s Redemption at Hand — Harris Obstinate, but Yields — He Sees Money in It — Revelations Continue — Church Discipline — Sidney Rigdon’s Hand Manifest — A New Statement Concerning Him — Church Organized — Calvin Stoddard’s Conversion — “Support” for the Prophet — No. 1 Provided For — The Elect Lady — Rigdon Converted— Takes High Rank— P. P. Pratt— Zion Estab¬ lished — Fanatical Excesses — Smith and Cowdery Bap¬ tized.

CHAPTER XII.

Stake Planting. - - 121

Translation of the Scriptures — Reasons for It — Translation Suspended — The First Hegira — Cowdery’s Mission a Fail¬ ure — The Stake at Kirtland — Another in Missouri — Expe¬ dition Thither — Ezra Booth’s Secession — Zion Located — An Organ Established — The Expulsion — A Crusade and its Termination.

CONTENTS.

ix

CHAPTER XIII.

An Anti-Banking Bank. - - 133

Rigdon President, Smith Cashier — Notes Issued — No Redemp¬ tion — Pittsburgh Bankers — Bank Breaks — Flight of Its Officers — The EIrtland Stake Abandoned.

CHAPTER XIV.

Further Stake Planting. - - 138

Adam-ondi-Ahmon, Far West, and Others — Apostasy Shows its Head — The Danites — War and Violence — Mobs and Banishment.

CHAPTER XV.

Across the Mississippi Eastward. - 149

Exodus from Missouri and First Appearance in Illinois — Remarks — The Situation.

CHAPTER XVI.

Immigration and Settlement. - - 156

Status in Illinois — The New City — Mission to Washington — Governor Lucas’s Letter — Great Church Conference — • Mission to the Jews in Europe and Asia — Call to the Faithful.

CHAPTER XVII.

Progress and Politics. - - 164

First Great Error — Presidential Election of 1840 — How Will the Prophet Vote? — Whig Convention — Nominations — A Disgraceful Act — Little and Douglas — Dr. Charles — The Charters — Their Character — Organizations — John C. Ben¬ nett — The Warsaw Signal — Smith Offended — His Char¬ acteristic Letter — The Times and Seasons.

CHAPTER XVIII.

An Anti-Mormon Party. - - 175

Unworthy Sycophancy — A Growing Apprehension — Public Meetings — An Anti-Mormon Party — Its Candidates Elected — Thomas Ford for Governor — The Wasp.

CHAPTER XIX.

The Nauvoo Temple. - - 181

Temple Building — At Nauvoo — Corner-Stone Laid — Revela¬ tion Demanding It — Also a “Boarding House” — The “Nauvoo House” Unfinished — Stockholders Named by Revelation.

CHAPTER XX.

Much Ado About Theft. - - 189

Hyrum Smith’s Affidavit — And the Twelve — Brother Joseph’s Affidavit and Proclamation— The Court-Martial and all tho Generals.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXL

The Game of Habeas Corpus. - 196

Arrest of Smith at Quincy, 1841— Trial Before Judge Douglas — Discharge — Attempted Assassination of Governor Boggs of Missouri — O. P. Rockwell Charged with the Crime — New Demand for Smith and Rockwell — Arrest in Nauvoo — Habeas Corpus Applied by the Municipal Court — Ford’s Statement — Re-arrest and Trial Before Judge Pope and Discharge — The Writs, etc.

CHAPTER XXII.

More Habeas Corpus Work. - 206

Another Indictment and Demand — Congressional Canvass — Walker and Hoge — Arrest Near Dixon — Great Excitement — The Officers Prisoners — The Prophet Triumphant — A Strange Cavalcade — Another Habeas Corpus — Lawyer Southwick’s Statement — Result of the Canvass — “ Brother Hyrum’s” Revelation — Walker Defeated.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Two Ways of Telling a Story. - 218

Story of the Arrest, as Told by Two — The Prophet’s Story — The Officer’s Story.

CHAPTER XXIV.

A Storm-Cloud Rises. - - 223

Quarrel Between the Chiefs— General Bennett’s Defection — Charges and Denials— Bennett Accepts the “Buffetings” and Leaves— His Letters to the Sangamo Journal — Tes¬ timonials Pro and Con.

CHAPTER XXV.

A Presidential Candidate. - - 232

For President of the United States, General Joseph Smith, of Illinois — For Vice-President, Sidney Rigdon, of Pennsyl¬ vania.

CHAPTER XXVI.

An Impending Crisis. - - 235

Rumblings of a Volcano — A Secession Organized — An Opposi¬ tion Church— A Newspaper “Nuisance” Abated.

CHAPTER XXVII.

A Strange Document. - 245

Showing the Reasons Why— Nauvoo Neighbor Extra— Recit¬ ing Action of the City Council Regarding the Expositor N uisance — Official.

CONTEXTS.

Xi

CHAPTER XXYIH.

The Atonement. ... 269

Great Excitement — Writs Procured— Public Meetings — Citi¬ zens Arming — The Governor Appealed to — Arrives at Carthage and Takes Command — Mayor and Council of Nauvoo Summoned — Arrested, but Fail to Appear — Finally Came in and Surrendered — Released on Bail — Re¬ arrested for Treason — Governor’s Definition of Treason — Marches with a Small Force to the City — The Smiths Killed in Jail — Great Consternation.

CHAPTER XXIX.

How the Deed Was Done. - - 281

Effect of the Panic — Governor Ford’s Plan Revealed — Atttack on the Jail by the Mob — The Prophet and His Brother Killed— How it was Done — Purposes of the Mob — Willard Richard’s Statement.

CHAPTER XXX.

Akbests, Indictments, and Trials. - 293

Military Encampment Called — The Wolf Hunt— Governor Ford Interferes — Brings Another Force — March to Nauvoo —To Warsaw — Joseph H. Jackson — Indictments — Trials of the Prisoners — Found Not Guilty.

CHAPTER XXXI.

Struggle fob the Succession. - 303

Sidney Rigdon — Brigham Young — Parley P. Pratt — Orson Pratt — William Smith — Orson Hyde — James J. Strang — An Ecclesiastical Trial — Hyde on Rigdon.

CHAPTER XXXII.

A New Prophet— James J. Strang. - 312

Strang’s Claim to the Succession — His Revelation — Sets up at Voree — He, too, Finds Plates — His Arrogance and Pre¬ tensions — Arrested for Treason — Tried and Acquitted — ' A Polygamist — His Violent Death — Fate of Mormon Prophets.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

More Violence and Bloodshed. - 320

Three Obnoxious Officials — Arrest of Senator Davis— Nauvoo Charter Repealed — Increase of Crime — Murder of Miller and Leiza — Of Irvine Hodge — Of Colonel Davenport — Of Dr. Marshall — Death of Sheriff Deming — Burning of Mor- ley-Town — Killing of Lieutenant Worrell — Of McBratney — Of Wilcox and Danbenheyer — Incidents of the Burning —Arrival of Colonel Hardin with State Troops.

xii

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Nine Counties Interfere— The End Approaching. 334 Colonel Hardin and His Advisers — Major Warren Left in Com¬ mand — Convention of Nine Counties — Browning’s Resolu¬ tions — Action of the Convention — Correspondence with the Mormon Leaders — The Inevitable Accepted.

CHAPTER XXXV.

The Exodus Begun. - - 342

Active Preparations for Leaving — Crossing into Iowa — Major Warren and His Force — Disbanded and Re-mustered — O. P. Rockwell — Arrest, Trial, and Acquittal — Dr. Pickett— Posse Called Out — Major Parker’s Force — War of Procla¬ mations — Posse under Carlin — Singleton’s Peace— Resigns the Command — Major Brockman Succeeds — Advance toward the City.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

A Battle — A Treaty — And the End. - 353

Warsaw Signal's Report of the Battle — Quincy Committee of One Hundred — A Truce — The City Surrenders — The Treaty — The Killed and Wounded — More Trouble and More Troops — Reflections.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

The Exodus— The Desert and Wilderness. 363 Brigham Young’s Choice — En-route Westward — Kanesville — “Winter Quarters” — Colonel Kane’s Description — Mis¬ souri Republican Correspondent — The Mormon Battalion —Brigham Assumes Supreme Power — Pushes on to Salt Lake and Returns — Main Body Reaches the Valley — Stake Planted — State of Deseret.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

The Mormon Temples. - 380

The Kirtland Temple — In Missouri — At Nauvoo — Its Destruc¬ tion by Fire — The Baptismal Font — Important Decision in Ohio.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

The “Reconstructed” Mormon Church. 388

CHAPTER XL.

Polygamy and the Blood Atonement. 394

The Twin Evils of Mormonism — Polygamy in Utah — De¬ nounced by the “Reconstructed” — Originated by the Prophet — Proofs Adduced — Blood Atonement Defined by Young — Known in Missouri and Illinois — Smith and Rigdon Its Authors.

CONTENTS.

xiii

CHAPTER XLI.

The Spalding Romance. - - 408

Review of the Situation — Dr. Hurlbut and E. D. Howe — Their Book Mormonism Unveiled — Solomon Spalding’s Marne- script Found — Efforts to Obtain It — Recent Statements Concerning It.

CHAPTER XLII.

Statements of the Spalding Family. - 417

Mrs. Davison’s Statement — Denied by the Mormons — Mrs. Dickinson’s Publication in Scribner's Magazine — J. E. Johnson in Deseret News — Disagreeing Statements.

CHAPTER XLIII.

The Spalding Witnesses. - - 431

Statement of John Spalding — Of Martha Spalding — Of Henry Lake — John N. Miller — Aaron Wright — Oliver Smith — Nahum Howard — Artemus Cunningham.

CHAPTER XLIV.

Later Testimony. - - 441

Mr. Cooper in Cincinnati Gazette — Joseph Miller’s Letter — Abner Jackson’s Narrative — “Mere Supposition” vs. “God-Given Testimony” — Resume of Testimony — The Book’s Proper Title — Mr. Patterson — Rev. J. Winter — Rigdon’s Hand Manifest.

CHAPTER XLV.

Afteb Fifty Years. - - 458

A Strange Discovery — A Spalding Manuscript Found in Hon¬ olulu — A God-Send to the Mormons — False Impression — Not the Manuscript Found — Of No Historic Value — De¬ scription and Comments on MS. at Oberlin College — Eloquent Reference to Spalding’s Work.

CHAPTER XL VI.

The Nauvoo Charter. - - 463

CHAPTER XL VII.

Some of the City Ordinances. - 472

CHAPTER XLVIII.

Celebrated “Celestial Marriage” Revelation. 478

CHAPTER XL IX.

Miscellaneous and Anecdotal. - 489

The Kinaerhook Plates — Titles of the Twelve — The Prophet as a Linguist — Some Mormon Methods — The Prophet and Church as Land Speculators — A Story from Stenhouse — Bishop John D. Lee— The “ Corrected ” Holy Scriptures.

CONTENTS.

xiv

APPENDIX.

The Leaders in the Revolt at Nauvoo Governor West and the Polygamists, ’ A Characteristic Document, - Mrs. Emma Smith’s Letter, ’

The Mormons or Latter-Day Saints, -

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Joseph Smith, - Frontispiece.

Oliver Cowdery, ----- 98

David Whitmer, ----- 98

Martin Harris, ----- 98

P. P. Pratt, 116

The Temple at Nauvoo, - - - - 181

Hyrum Smith, ------ 189

Major-General John C. Bennett, - - - 224

The Scene of Smith’s Death, - 284

Brigham Young ----- 304

Baptismal Font, ----- 382

Ruins of the Temple at Nauvoo, - - - 384

Fac-simile from the so-called “ Book of Abraham,” 492

The Prophet of Palmyra.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.

Solomon Spalding — False Prophets in All Ages — Joseph Smith, the Founder of Mormonism-- Compared to Mahomet — His Character and Aims — Origin of Mor¬ monism— An Absorbing Question.

Poor, unfortunate, somewhat unbalanced, yet honest and well-meaning Solomon Spalding! His name will go down to posterity as the inno¬ cent originator of one of the most stupendous and wicked frauds ever perpetrated upon the world. Had he lived to witness the result of his work — work in which he took so much delight and spent so many days of his life — his gray head would have been bowed down with sorrow. But he was kindly spared the infliction. He died in 1816, and the fraud perpetrated upon his work and his good name was not committed till some ten or twelve years after he had been laid peacefully in his grave. The story of his connection with the Mormon scheme will be fully told in future chap¬ ters of this work.

THE PROPHET OP PALMYRA.

Prophets have flourished ever since the world was peopled. But, unfortunately for the world, many of them have been false prophets ; and prophesying, instead of being a vehicle of God’s will to man, has been used for base and selfish ends and purposes, and to impose on the credulous and unwary. People of every age have been prone to run after false prophets. Hence the boldest, most daring and unscrupulous among them — he who has put on the most sanctity and arrogated to himself the highest authority — has generally been the most successful. As a rule, their careers have been short and their influence limited. The claims and pretensions of a few, however, have wrought great evil upon the world, and added many dark and bloody pages to its history. One. and not the least of these, will be the subject of these pages. That such a career as was his, with such remark¬ able results following, could be run in this en¬ lightened Nineteenth Century, and in a land where Christianity and Civilization have shed their benign rays, is a mystery which the writer prefers to leave his x-eaders to solve.

On the 27th of June, 1844, was killed by a mob at the jail in Carthage, Hancock County, Illinois, Joseph Smith, the founder of the sect of Latter- Day Saints, and who claimed to have been divinely commissioned as a “Pi-ophet, Seer, and Kevelatoi*.”

, INTRODUCTORY.

Born in the State of Vermont, reared in Western New York, residing three or four years in Ohio, about as long in Missouri, and over five years in Illinois, he had adopted a policy which made him inimical to the people everywhere, and finally brought him to a violent and bloody death.

Parallels to this man’s remarkable career have been sought in history. It has been likened to that of Mahomet. When at Mecca, in Arabia, the great founder of Islamism began his eventful career, he was doubtless honest in his purposes, which were to reform and improve the idolatrous worship of his people. But he was an enthusiast and a fanatic. With an ardent temperament and a rest¬ less and uneasy spirit, he could not brook opposi¬ tion. His efforts met first with neglect, then ridi¬ cule and contumely, and finally with resistance and violence. Friends and neighbors turned to ene¬ mies, and their opposition increased till he was compelled to fly from his native city to save his life. The vindictive persecution and violence to which he was subjected, changed the character of the man, and henceforth revenge and ambition be¬ came his ruling passions.

But his career, in whatever light it may be re¬ garded, was a most remarkable one. Living amongst the idolatries of the Pagan, Jewish, and Christian systems, in one of the darkest of the

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA .

Dark Ages of the world, he built up a system, which, to say the least, was superior to, and an improvement upon, anything by which he was sur¬ rounded. His successes were unprecedented in the world’s history. During his own lifetime and that of his faithful friend and co-worker, Abou- Bekir, his creed, through his zeal — aided by the sword and scimiter, potent agents in the work of propagandism in all ages — had become the recog¬ nized faith through all Arabia, and was fast under¬ mining all the other systems about him.

The curious career of the Prophet of Mormonism has sometimes been contrasted with that of this great leader. But the contrast affords but slight parallel. When “Joe Smith” — as the Mormon Prophet was always designated in his youth (a title which stuck to him through life) — began his career at Palmyra in the State of New York, his motives were not honest, nor was he prompted by either revenge or ambition. His untutored and feeble in¬ tellect had not yet grasped at anything beyond mere toying with mysterious things. It is evident that he had at first no higher purpose in view. He was one of those indolent and illiterate young men, too numerous in all communities, who hope to shun honest labor, and who have imbibed the pernicious doctrine embraced in the phrase: “The world owes me a living.” Any means that would enable

INTRODUCTORY.

him to obtain that living he ready to employ. Hence we find him at an early age, trying his skill at little tricks to impose on the credulity of his ignorant associates. As he grew in years, search¬ ing for lost treasure became one of his favorite employments ; for was it not better, he reasoned, to obtain the golden thousands from the nooks and crevices of the earth, where Captain Kidd and the pirates and robbers had secreted them, and live in ease and idleness, than to obtain a small com¬ petency by the slow and uncertain processes of honest labor? And thus he plodded on, till ac¬ cident opened a new career for him. A petty theft, by himself or one of his co-workers, placed the Spalding ‘ ‘ Manuscript Found ” in his hands ; and then it was that the idea of a new sect, a new creed, a new and deeper play upon popular ignorance and credulity, and consequent power, and place, and fortune, were gradually developed and boldly and persistently and most wickedly carried for¬ ward — aided by confederates as bad as himself and with similar purposes in view.

No ; the character and aims of these two false prophets afford but slight parallel ; in their suc¬ cessful career, a stronger resemblance is to be traced.

Mormonism had its origin and incipient growth in Western New York, whore it attracted little at-

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

tention beyond the ridicule of sensible people and the gaping wonder of a few seekers after the new and the marvellous — and it sought fresh fields. In Northern Ohio it gained strength by contact with the world ; and there, too, its leaders made the discovery that the way to notoriety and success was to create opposition ; and an aggressive policy was boldly adopted, and aggressive tenets en¬ grafted into the creed. In North Missouri it in¬ creased greatly in strength ; but in its violent con¬ tests with its neighbors and the authorities, it became dismembered and broken, and was finally violently expelled from the State. Poor, dis¬ heartened, and scattered — its prophet and some other leaders in prison — all of its members who could muster courage and means made their way eastward across the State to Illinois, where their forlorn condition attracted the sympathy and aid of all classes of people. Settling in the latter State, at Commerce, in Hancock county, in time the same aggressive policy was pursued ; and after eight years of arrogant pretension, active prose- lytism, and stupendous folly, it met the fate it had encountered in Missouri, together with the loss of its daring prophet and leader. Later, under an equally daring and more able successor, it sought isolation and a home among the rugged crags and mountains and fertile valleys of Utah — where it

introdvctohy.

has for more than a third of a century increased in an astonishing degree, and developed into what it now is, an ugly and troublesome excrescence on the body politic, and a disgrace to the nation and to civilization.

While the “Latter-Day Saints” remained in Ohio, Missouri, or Illinois, the “ Mormon Ques¬ tion ” was only one of local or State concern. But since they have withdrawn to the wilderness, and there writhin the tei'ritory and under the jurisdiction and flag of the United States, have assumed an in¬ dependent position and arrayed themselves in open hostility to the government, the matter takes a new shape. From a State problem it has advanced to a National one, and one that is daily becoming of greater magnitude, nowT seriously agitating the minds of the best statesmen of our country.

It bids fair to overshadow all other social ques¬ tions. It is therefore highly important and neces¬ sary that the reading public should be fully in¬ formed, not only as to what Mormonism now is, but made acquainted with the origin, history and development of this the most wicked and dangerous folly of the Nineteenth Century, and with the life, character, and purposes of its founders. Such is the task before us, and to which these efforts are directed.

The term “Mormonism” is a coinage of the

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

present century. It is derived from the name of one of the chief writers of the so-called Book of Mormon (though why after Mormon, rather than Nephi, Moroni, Alma, Enos, or Lehi, it would be hard to tell) — a silly and little worthy, but in the eyes of its deluded believers, the most sacred of all books. It is less interesting and far feebler than the Koran, the holy book of Islam. Its chief in¬ gredients are ignorance and arrogance, and it abounds in blasphemy ; it is full of falsehood, in¬ justice toward man and impiety toward God. To accept the claims and adopt the teachings of its chief adherents, is to eschew holiness and good¬ ness, and to dethrone the Almighty.

THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOST L EE. 9

CHAPTER II.

THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOSTURE.

Disagreeing Statements — Impossible Claims — The Smith Family — Ignorance and Superstition — The Prophet’s Own Story — “History of Joseph Smith” — The Angel Nephi — Plates Revealed— The Urlw and Thummim — Second, Third, and Fourth Visions — Hill of Cumorah — Stone Box — The Prophet’s Marriage — “ Persecu¬ tions” — After Four Years — Martin Harris and the Translation.

In the matter of the early life of Joseph Smith there is great contrariety of statement . The testi¬ mony of the Smith family, and of his faithful believers, goes to show that he was a most exem¬ plary youth, truthful, without guile, and ever seek¬ ing for the highest religious truth. As this is the testimony of interested witnesses only, we are bound to reject it for that of his neighbors, who, with great unanimity, tell a far different story — that he was indolent, ignorant, untruthful, and superstitious.

This counter-testimony has been obtained from a great many sources — people in several sections of the country where he was best known, and some of whom, in high standing, are still living to re¬ affirm statements made long ago by themselves and

10 THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

others, and who could have no reason for falsifying or traducing his character. Coupled with much of his conduct after he had reached years of mature manhood, it furnishes irresistible proof that his youth was such as would render it preposterous and impossible that he should have been selected through divine agency to carry a God-given reve¬ lation to mankind and lead in a great reformation. To adopt any other theory would require that we should accept entirely new ideas of God’s provi¬ dence and of divine things.

The Smith family to which he belonged was of Yankee origin ; Joseph, the elder, having removed from Vermont to Western New York when that country was new and sparsely settled. He is said to have been a soldier of the Revolution. Ignorance and superstition seem to have been traits in the family. The district in which they had resided in Vermont, had for several years been the home of an arrant pretender to supernatural things, living upon the credulity of the people, and who had committed gross crimes under the plea of religious inspiration — crimes which he afterwards expiated in the State’s prison.* Some of the practices of the Mormon Prophet in after years, in New York and elsewhere, show a remarkable resemblance to the doings of this Vermont pretender, leading to

Stephen Burrows.

THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOSTURE. 11

the conclusion that he must have been at least familiar with them.

Mr. E. D. Howe, in his valuable work, Mor- monism Unveiled (Painesville, Ohio, 1834), pre¬ sents the testimonials of eighty-one persons, neighbors and acquaintances of the Smith family, all attesting to their illiteracy and generally worth¬ less and disreputable character, especially that of the son “Joe,” as he was called. Among the most damaging of these statements, perhaps, is that of Isaac Hale, of Harmon}', Pa., whose daughter the would-be prophet married. These testimonials, it will be remembered, were obtained in 1833, only three years after the Booh of Mormon ap¬ peared, and after the Smiths had left Palmyra and Manchester, where most of these certifiers resided.

The prophet’s own story of his early life, and the manner in which he was called to the high position he claimed to occupy, is to be found in the third volume of the Times and Seasons, the organ of the Mormon Church at Xauvoo, of which he was editor — page 706. It purported to have been pre¬ pared at the request of Hon. John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat. A few of the leading paragraphs were also contributed to, and are to be found in, a volume entitled, History of the Religious Denominations of the United States,

12

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

published in Philadelphia. The more important portions are herewith given :

JOSEPH SMITH’S STATEMENT.

“I was born in the town of Sharon, Windsor county, Vermont, on the 23d of December, 1805. When ten years old my parents removed to Pal¬ myra, N. Y., where we resided about four years, and from there we removed to the town of Man¬ chester, a distance of six miles.

“My father was a farmer, and taught me the art of husbandry. When about fourteen years of age, I began to reflect upon the importance of being prepared for a future state, and upon inquiring the plan of salvation, I found there was a great clash in religious sentiment; if I went to one society they referred me to one plan, and another to an¬ other, each one pointing to his own particular creed as the summum bonum, of perfection. Con¬ sidering that all could not be right, and that God could not be the author of so much confusion, I determined to investigate the subject more fully, believing that if God had a church it would not be split up into factions, and that if He taught one society to worship one way, and administer in one set of ordinances, He would not teach another prin¬ ciples which were diametrically opposed. Believ¬ ing the word of God, I had confidence in the declaration of James : ‘ If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.’

“ I retired to a secret place in a grove, and began to call upon the Lord. While fervently engaged in supplication, my mind was taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded, and I was enrapt in a heavenly vision, and saw two glorious personages who exactly resembled each other in features and likeness, surrounded by a brilliant

THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOSTURE. 13

light which eclipsed the sun at noon-day. They told me that all the religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines, and that none of them were acknowledged of God as His Church and Kingdom. And I was expressly commanded ‘ to go not after them,’ at the same time receiving a promise that the fulness of the gospel should at some future time be made known to me.

“ On the evening of the 21st of September, a.d. 1823, while I was praying unto God, and endeav¬ oring to exercise faith in the precious promises of Scripture, on a sudden a light like that of day, only of a far purer and more glorious appearance and brightness, burst into the room ; indeed, the first sight was as though the house was filled with con¬ suming fire. The appearance produced a shock that affected the whole body. In a moment a per¬ sonage stood before me, surrounded with a glory yet greater than that with which I was already sur¬ rounded. The messenger proclaimed himself to be an angel of God, sent to bring the joyful tidings that the covenant which God made with ancient Israel was at hand to be fulfilled ; that the prepara¬ tory work for the second coming of the Messiah was speedily to commence ; that the time was at hand for the gospel in all its fulness, to be preached in power unto all nations, that the people might be prepared for the millennial reign.

‘ ‘ I was informed that I was chosen to be an in¬ strument in the hands of God to bring about some of his purposes in this glorious dispensation.

“ I was informed, also, concerning the aboriginal inhabitants of this country, and shown who they were and from whence they came ; a brief sketch of their origin, progress, civilization, laws, govern¬ ments, of their righteousness and iniquity, and the blessings of God being finally withdrawn from them as a people, was made known to me. I was also

14

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

told where there was deposited some plates, on which was engraved an abridgment of the records of the ancient prophets that had existed on this continent. The angel appeared to me three times the same night, and unfolded the same things. After having received, many visits from the angel of God, unfolding the majesty and glory of the events that should trans¬ pire in the last days, o* the morning of the 22d of September, a.d. 1827, the angel of the Lord deliv¬ ered the records into my hands.

“ These records were engraven on plates, which had the appearance of gold ; each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long, and not quite so thick as common tin. They were filled with engravings in Egyptian characters, and bound together in a volume as the leaves of a book, with three rings running through the whole. The volume was something neat six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed, The characters in the unsealed part were small and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity in its construction, and much skill in the art of engraving. With the records was found a curious instrument, wrhich the ancients called ‘ Urim and Thummim,’ which con¬ sisted of two transparent stones set in the rim of a bow fastened to a breast-plate.

“ Through the medium of the ‘ Urim and Thum¬ mim ’ I translated the records, by the gift and power of God.

“ In this important and interesting book, the his¬ tory of ancient America is unfolded, from its first settlement by a colony that came from the tower of Babel, at the confusion of languages, to the begin¬ ning of the fifth century of the Christian era. We are informed by these records that America in ancient times has been inhabited by two distinct races of people. The first were called Jaredites, and came directly from the tower of Babel. The

THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOSTURE. 15

second race came directly from the city of Jerusalem, about six hundred years before Christ. They were principally Israelites, of the descendants of Joseph. The Jaredites were destroyed about the time that the Israelites came from Jerusalem, who succeeded them in the inheritance of the country. The prin¬ cipal nation of the second race fell in battle toward the close of the fourth century. The remnant are the Indians that now inhabit this country. This book also tells us that our Saviour made his appear¬ ance upon this continent after his resurrection, that he planted the gospel here in all its fulness, and riches, and power, and blessing ; that they had apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangel¬ ists ; the same order, the same priesthood, the same ordinances, gifts, powers, and blessing, as was enjoyed on the eastern continent ; that the people were cut off in consequence of their trans¬ gressions ; that the last of their prophets who existed among them was commanded to write an abridgment of their prophecies, history, etc., and to hide it up in the earth, and that it should come forth and be united with the Bible for the accom¬ plishment of the purposes of God in the last days. For a more particular account, I would refer to the Book of Mormon, which can he purchased at Nauvoo, or from any of our travelling elders .”

The account goes on to say that the Church was organized on the 6th day of April, 1830 ; that the work “ rolled forth with astonishing rapidity,” and churches were soon formed in the States of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri ; that in the latter, large settlements were made, where they suffered divers persecutions and were finally, in 1839, driven out to find a home in

16

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

Illinois. To the good character of the people of Illinois, we have the prophet’s own testimony in the following paragraph :

“ In the situation before alluded to, we arrived in the State of Illinois in 1839, where we found a hospitable people and a friendly home ; a people who were willing to be governed by the principles of law and humanity. We have commenced to build a city called Natjvoo, in Hancock county ; we number from six to eight thousand here, besides vast numbers in the country around, and in almost every county in the State. We have a city charter granted us, and a charter for a Legion, the troops of which now number fifteen hundred. We have also a charter for a university, for an agricultural and manufacturing society, have our own laws and administrators, and possess all the privileges that other free and enlightened citizens enjoy.

“ ... It (the Gospel of Mormonism) has

penetrated our cities, it has spread over our villages, and has caused thousands of our intelligent, noble, and patriotic citizens to obey its divine mandates, and be governed by its sacred truths. It has also spread in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, . . . and in Germany, Palestine, New Hol¬

land, the East Indies, and other places, the stand¬ ard of truth has been erected.”

Exaggeration, in its earlier days, as now, was a marked characteristic of Mormonism. All the fore¬ going statements, except those relating to the char¬ ters and the possession of unusual laws and privi¬ leges, were grossly untrue at the time they were written.

In corroboration of his claim to a divine calling,

THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOSTURE. 17

we find in the Times and Seasons, the organ before mentioned, an extended “ History of Joseph Smith,” written in the first person, and running through many issues of that journal. The earliest of these numbers is lost, the first one before us opening with an account of his first adventure with the angel. It is to be noted that, in all this account, he speaks of it as a “ vision.”

“ I have actually seen a vision, and ‘ wTho am I, that I can withstand God,’ or why does the wrorld think to make me deny what I have actually seen? for I had seen a vision.

“ . . . I continued to pursue my common

avocations in life until the 21st of September, 1823, all the time suffering severe persecution at the hands of all classes of men, both religious and irreligious, because I continued to affirm that I had seen a vision.”

And on that evening he retired to his bed in full confidence that another similar manifestation was to be vouchsafed to him. — Vol. iff., p. 749, Times and Seasons.

And sure enough, the expected ‘‘vision” came — in the form of a light, “until the room was lighter than at noon-day” — and in that light a personage appeared and stood by his bedside ; he was unearthly white, as were his robes ; and his hands and wrists, and feet and ankles, were naked, and he stood on nothing, “for his feet did not touch the floor.”

18

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

“ 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 Nephi.* 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.”

We can well believe that this vision was, at least, partly true ; for his name has been had for ‘ ‘ evil ” among many nations.

And then the angel Nephi went on to reveal to him the existence of the “golden plates,” the “Urim and Thummim,” and the “breastplates,” and “ silver bows,” and that the possession and use of these was what constituted seers in olden times, and that God had prepared these for his use. Then Nephi read to him long chapters from Scripture : third chapter of Malachi, the fourth with variations, the eleventh of Isaiah, the third of Acts, the second of Joel, and many others “too numerous to men¬ tion.” But — he so charged him — when these golden plates were obtained, and the breastplate, and the Urim and Thummim, he was not to show them to any person on pain of utter destruction. And while the angel was still talking, his vision caused him to behold the exact spot where these wonderful things were deposited — in “ Cumorah hill,” two miles awajr. The angel appeared to him twice more

* For the character of this Messenger from God, see other pages of this history.

THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOSTURE. 19

that night, relating “ the very same things which he had done at the first visit, without the least variation,” and adding more concerning the judg¬ ments to come upon this generation. And this not being enough, on the next day, in the field, he had another vision in which the angel appeared as be¬ fore, and repeated the whole story. — Times and Seasons, vol. iii. , 753.

What may have been the acquirements of Nephi when in the flesh, according to the Book of Mormon, he certainly exhibited great volubility as an angel, in the presence of our vision-seeing prophet ; for here we find him reading five chap¬ ters from Scripture, “and many others,” three times in one night, besides much other talk, “ Avith- out the least variation.”

The next thing to be done was to verify this four-fold A'ision. How this was done, we are thus informed.:

“ I left the field, and Avent to the place where the messenger had told me the plates were deposited ; and owing to the distinctness of the vision Avhich I had had concerning it, I knew the place the instant I arrived there. Convenient to the village of Man¬ chester, Ontario County, Xew York, stands a hill of considerable size, and the most elevated of any in the neighborhood ; on the west side of this hill not far from the top, under a stone of considerable size, lay the plates deposited in a stone box ; this stone was thick and rounding in the middle on the upper side, and thinner toAvards the edges, so that

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

the middle part of it was visible above the ground, but the edge all around was covered with earth. Having removed the earth and obtained a lever, which I got fixed under the edge of the stone, and with a little exertion raised it up, I looked in, and there, indeed, did I behold the plates, the Urim and Thummim and the breastplate, as stated by the messenger. The box in which they lay was formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement ; in the bottom of the box were laid two stones, crossways of the box, and on these stones lay the plates and the other things with them. I made an attempt to take them out, but was forbid¬ den by the messenger, and was again informed that the time for bringing them forth had not yet arrived, neither would it until four years from that time ; but he told me that I should come to that place precisely in one year from that time, and that he would there meet with me, and that I should con¬ tinue to do so, until the time should come for ob¬ taining the plates. Accordingly, as I had been commanded, I went at the end of each year, and at each time I found the same messenger there, and received instruction and intelligence from him at each of our interviews, respecting what the Lord was going to do, and how and in what manner His Kingdom was to be conducted in the last days.”

And the long four years rolled on ; long and tedious they must have seemed to one who had so great and important a commission placed upon him. Ignorant and ill-prepared, as he confessedly was for such a work, he made no special effort to qualify himself, but continued to perform his usual daily labors, sometimes about home and sometimes Abroad ; part of the time (in the month of October,

THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOSTURE. 21

1825), with an old gentleman named “ Stoal,” who lived in Chenango County, but Avas searching for a Spanish silver mine at Harmony, in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. With this gentleman he worked for a month, and —

“Hence arose the very prevalent story of my having been a money-digger.”

How digging for a Spanish silver mine on the Susquehanna river in Pennsylvania, would cause excavations all about Palmyra and Manchester, in New York, is left unexplained. We liaAre it from present residents of Palmyra, made to the writer of these pages recently, that, though mostly oblit¬ erated by time, some of these excavations are still to be seen.

Within this period of four years, waiting, he was also married to Miss Emma Hale, daughter of Isaac Hale, of Harmony, Avith whom he boarded Avhile at work for Mr. Stowell. This marriage took place clandestinely, being much opposed by Mr. Hale, who believed his daughter was joining her fortunes Avith a worthless and undeserving young man.

At length the auspicious 27th of September, 1827, arrived, and our vision-seer Avent to the al¬ ready opened stone box, where he met the messen¬ ger, as promised, and received the ancient relics at his hands. He was admonished that he would be

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

held responsible for them, that if he let them go in any way through neglect, he would be cut olf — and if at any time he (the messenger) should call for . them, they must be delivered up.

During all the years previous to his receiving the plates, so the story runs, he had been the sub¬ ject of violent and cruel persecution, because of his declaration and continued protestation that he “ had seen a vision.” And now, that the promised precious relics were in his possession, this perse¬ cution increased with redoubled force. And this explains the conduct of the angel :

" I soon found out the reason why I received such strict charges to keep them safe, and why it was that the messenger had said that when I had done what was required at my hand, he would call for them ; for no sooner was it known that I had them than the most strenuous exertions were used to get them from me ; every stratagem that could be in¬ vented was resorted to for that purpose ; the per¬ secution became more bitter and severe than before, and multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if possible ; but by the wisdom of God they remained safe in my hands, until I had accomplished by them what was required at my hand, when, according to arrangements, the mes¬ senger called for them, I delivered them up to him, and he has them in his charge until this day, being the second day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight.”

Martin Harris, of Palmyra, who is declared to be “ a gentleman and a farmer of respectability,” be-

THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOSTURE. 23

came interested in the matter, and to him Smith confided some of the characters which he had drawn from the plates. Harris took them to the city of New York for the purpose of having them tested by literary men. The following is given by Smith as Harris’s statement on his return :

“ I went to the city of New York (said Harris) and presented the characters which had been trans¬ lated, with the translation thereof, to Professor Anthony, a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments ; Professor Anthony stated that the translation was correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the Egyptian. I then showed him those which were not yet translated, and he said they were Egyptian, Chaldeac, Assyr- iac, and Arahac, and he said that they were the true characters. He gave me a certificate certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were true char¬ acters, and that the translation of such of them as had been translated, was also correct. I took the certificate and put it into my pocket, and was just leaving the house, when Mr. Anthony called me back, and asked me how the young man found out that there were gold plates in the place where he found them. I answered that an angel of God had revealed it unto him.

“ He then said to me, let me see that certificate. I accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and tore it to pieces, say¬ ing that there was no such thing now as ministering of angels, and that if I would bring the plates to him, he would translate them. I informed him that part of the plates were sealed, and that I was for¬ bidden to bring them, he replied, ‘ I cannot read a sealed book.’ I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell,

2t

THE PBOPHET OF PALMYRA.

who sanctioned what Professor Anthony had said respecting both the characters and the translation.”

It is evident that the foregoing is a sheer fabri¬ cation, concocted by either Harris or the prophet, most probably the latter. Professor Anthon’s statement, made some time afterwards, shows in what light he regarded the story told him by Harris.

It is a curious fact, and furnishes another evi¬ dence of the true character of Mormonism, that four years before this statement was printed in Nauvoo, this same Martin Harris — the “ gentleman and farmer of respectability ” — was publicly denounced by the prophet through his newspaper organ, as “a liar and swindler.” — See Elders' Journal , August, 1838.

AS TOLD BY OTHEBS.

25

CHAPTER III.

AS TOLD BY OTHERS.

David Whither, One op the Original Eleven Witnesses— His Statement in His Old Age — Interviewed by the Kansas City Journal.

As will be shown, David Whitmer, Oliver Cow- dery, and Martin Harris, wTere the three first certi¬ fiers to the miraculous character and divine au¬ thenticity of the Book of Mormon, and the most zealous fanatics in bringing it before the world. Yet, strange to say, every one of them in future years, and during the prophet’s lifetime, were either denounced by him or seceded from the sect of which he was the head.

Mr. Whitmer, after following the fortunes of his chief into Ohio, and thence to Northwest Missouri, finally left the sect for good, for reasons which will herein be shown. He died only a few years since at Richmond, Ray County, Missouri, at an ad¬ vanced age. A year or two previous to his death he was interviewed by an attache, of the Kansas City Journal, on the subject of Mormonism and his previous connection with it, a lengthy report of which is published in that paper. It is well

26

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

written and interesting throughout ; but we can only make room for a condensed synopsis, quoting only certain portions entire. Mr. Whitmer’s state¬ ments, made in his serene old age, and many years after having left the church, are important as to his admissions regarding the wickedness and evil designs of the man whom he had so long regarded as the vicegerent of the Almighty.

Eight other witnesses had followed the three in certifying to the Booh of Mormon — making eleven in all — and the Journal introduces Mr. Whitmer as “the last of the eleven” — all the others, with Smith and Rigdon, the principals, having preceded him to their final reckoning.

Mr. Whitmer stated that he was born in Penn¬ sylvania, but at an early age removed with his father’s family to Western New York. In Palmyra he became acquainted with Oliver Cowdery, and there first heard of Mormonism, in 1828. Cowdery seems to have led all the Whitmers into Mormon¬ ism, and afterwards married into the family.

The manner of the translation of the plates, as told by Whitmer, is so interesting that it is given here in his own words.

Said he :

“ He had two small stones of a chocolate color, nearly egg-shaped and perfectly smooth, but not transparent, called interpreters, which were given

AS TOLD BY OTHEBS. 27*

I

him with the plates. He did not use the plates in the translation, but would hold the interpreters to his eyes and cover his face with a hat, excluding all light, and before his eyes would appear what seemed to be parchment, on which would appear the characters of the plates in a line at the top, and immediately below would appear the translation in English, which Smith would read to his scribe, who wrote it down exactly as it fell from his lips. The scribe would then read the sentence written, and if any mistake had been made the characters would remain visible to Smith until corrected, when they faded from sight to be re¬ placed by another line. The translation at my father’s occupied about one month, that is from June 1 to July 1, 1829.”

“Were the plates under the immediate control of Smith all the time ? ”

“No, they were not. I will explain how that was. When Joseph first received the plates he translated 116 pages of the book of ‘ Lehi,’ with Martin Harris as scribe. When this had been completed, they rested for a time, and Harris wanted to take the manuscript home with him to show to his family and friends. To this Joseph demurred, but finally asked the Lord if Harris might be allowed to take it. The answer was ‘ No.’ Harris teased Joseph for a long time, and finally persuaded him to ask the Lord a second time, pledging himself to be responsible for its safe keeping. To this second inquiry the Lord told Joseph Harris might take the manuscript, which he did, showing it to a great many people, but through some carelessness allowed it to be stolen from him. This incurred the Lord’s displeasure, and he sent an angel to Joseph, demanding the plates, and until Joseph had thoroughly repented of his transgressions would not allow him to have

28

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

the use of them again. When Joseph was again allowed to resume the translation, the plates were taken care of by a messenger of God, and when Joseph wanted to see the plates this messenger was always at hand. The 116 pages of the book of ‘Lehi,’ which were stolen, were never recovered, nor would the Lord permit Joseph to make a sec¬ ond translation of it.”

Continuing the interview, Mr. Whitmer is asked :

‘ ‘ When did you see the plates ? ”

‘ ‘ It was in the latter part of June, 1829. Joseph, Oliver Cowdery and myself were together, and the angel showed them to us. We not only saw the plates of the Book of Mormon , but he also showed us the brass plates of the book of Ether and many others. They were shown to us in this way. Joseph and Oliver and I were sitting on a log when we were overshadowed by a light more glorious than that of the sun. In the midst of this light, but a few feet from us, appeared a table, upon which were many golden plates, also the sword of Laban and the directors. I saw them as plain as I see you now, and distinctly heard the voice of the Lord declaiming that the records of the plates of the Book of Mormon were translated by the gift and the power of God.”

‘ ‘ Who else saw the plates at this time ? ”

“No one. Martin Harris, the other witness, saw them the same day, and the eight witnesses, Christian Whitmer, Hiram Page, Jacob Whitmer, Joseph Smith, Sr., Peter Whitmer, Jr., Hyram Smith, Jno. Whitmer, and Samuel II. Smith, saw them next day.”

“ Did you see the angel?”

“Yes; he stood before us. Our testimony as recorded in the Book of Mormon is absolutely true, just as it is written there.”

AS TOLD BY OTHERS.

“ Can you describe the plates?”

“They appeared to be of gold, about six by nine inches in size, about as thick as parchment, a great many in number, and bound together like the leaves of a book by massive rings passing through the back edges. The engraving upon them was very plain and of very curious appearance. Smith made facsimiles of some of the plates, and sent them by Martin Harris to Professors Anson and Mitchell, of New York City', for examination. They pronounced the characters reformed Egyptian, but were unable to read them.”

As before stated, Mr. Whitmer continued with his chief and their people in their several attempts at settlement in Missouri, and it was while there that the events occurred which separated him from the leaders. This personal history we prefer to give in his own words — as illustrating a peculiar phase of human character :

“In 1835 W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer, accompanied by a large number of our people, went to Far West, Caldwell County, and established a church. They lived there, and multiplied very rapidly until 1838, when Elders Joseph Smith and Sidney Higdon came out from Ohio and were dis¬ satisfied with the church, and gave new laws, revelations, etc. The leaders of the Far West church refused to conform to the new laws of Smith and Rigdon, and they issued a decree organizing what was termed the ‘Danites, or Destroying Angels,’ who were bound by the most fearful oaths to obey the commandments of the leaders of the church. The Danites consisted only of those selected by Smith and Rigdon. They threatened myself, John Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery and Lyman

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

Johnson with the vengeance of the Danites unless we took the same oath, but we refused, and fled for our lives to Clay County, and since that time I have had nothing to do with the so-called ‘ Lat¬ ter-Day Saints ’ church, but I still hold to the truth of the original Church of Christ, as organized in New York. During the fall of 1838 the church of Far West became very violent towards the citizens of Caldwell County, which terminated in an up¬ rising similar to that in Jackson County, and they were driven from the State. Smith and Bigdon were arrested and kept prisoners for some time, but finally escaped and went to Nauvoo, Illinois, followed by the saints from Far West, and estab¬ lished a church and built a fine temple. They re¬ mained in Nauvoo until 1844, when they became very corrupt, upheld polygamy, established an en¬ dowment house, etc., which occasioned an uprising of the people, and Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum and John Taylor, the present head of the church in Salt Lake, were arrested and cast into prison, and the two Smiths afterwards shot and killed through the windows of the jail. The tem¬ ple was destroyed and the church scattered, a por¬ tion going to Salt Lake under the leadership of Brigham Young and John Taylor, where they have remained ever since, practicing the vile sj’stem of polygamy and spiritual wifeism.

“ I belong to the original church, organized in 1829, and have never associated myself with any other, and never upheld the reorganization or change of name to ‘ Latter-Day Saints,’ at Kill- land, Ohio.”

The original manuscript of the Booh oj Mormon is thus referred to by Mr. Whitmer :

(He produced about five hundred pages of manu script, yellow with age, of large, old-fashioned,

AS TOLD BY OTHERS.

31

unruled foolscap paper, closely written upon both sides with ink, and fastened together in sections with yarn strings. It very plainly showed that it had been through the hands of the printer, the ‘take ’marks being still upon it.) “ This,” con¬ tinued he, “ was kept by Oliver Cowdery, and when he came to die he placed them in my care, charging me to preserve them so long as I lived. When I die I will leave them to my nephew, David Whitmer, my namesake. J. F. Smith and Orson Pratt, of Salt Lake City, were here three years ago, and offered me a fabulous price for them, but I would not part with them for all the money in the universe.”

“Are you not afraid they will be destroyed or stolen?”

“ No, the Lord will take care of his own. When this house was destroyed by the cyclone three years ago to-day (June 1, 1878), nothing in the room where this manuscript was kept was harmed. Everything else was completely destroyed.”

It is difficult to see wherein such value is at¬ tached to this relic, when it is remembered that it is merely the manuscript in Oliver Cowdery’s hand¬ writing, made while the prophet was peeping at the little stones in his hat, and pretending to translate from the “Reformed Egyptian.” The compositor who set up the type for the Book of Mormon , in the office of the Wayne Sentinel, at Palmyra, retains the proof-sheets of that grand work, to which he, also, attaches much value. They are relics, to be sure ; but relics of a miserable, wicked, and blasphemous fraud, which should have

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

brought the blush of shame to the faces of all its originators and abettors.

Since this interview, Mr. Whitmer has died — his friends say, a full believer in the faith in which he had so long lived, and cherishing as a precious jewel the manuscript copy of the Book of Mormon, left in his hands by his brother-in-law, Oliver Cowdery. A believer in the story of Mormonism, he refused, ever since his affront fifty years ago, to hold any intercourse with its founder.

These statements of Mr. Whitmer are valuable as showing how easily a man may be deluded into a belief of supernatural things. Some men’s minds are so constituted as to accept anything of a mar¬ vellous nature, rather than plain, simple truth. They are more valuable still, as establishing the oft-denied charges of the existence of an or¬ ganized “ Danite Band ” — organized for the purpose, as Mr. Whitmer stated, of working murder and destruction upon enemies and apostates. No rec¬ ognized leader in the church has heretofore ever been found, but who would deny the existence of any such organization for any such purpose. And yet here is an adherent and believer in the story, and co-worker through all the earlier years, and who came near becoming a victim of its author’s vengeance — who certifies to its truth, and charges that Smith and Rigdon were the organizers and

AS TOLD BY OTHERS.

33

directors of the band. Mr. Whitmer also gives credence to and affirms the charges so long made, and so persistently denied, of the practice of polyg¬ amy by the prophet and his leaders at Xauvoo.

Was not this aged and venerable man, standing on the verge of the grave, a valuable witness to the truth and divine origin of the story ?

34

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

CHAPTER IV.

as told by others. — Continued.

A Highly Interesting Letter from Hon. S. S. Harding, Ex-Governor of Utah Territory — His Boyhood Ac¬ quaintance with the Smith Family.

Knowing that ex-Governor Harding, later ar judge in Indiana, had been in his early life a resident of Palmyra, N. Y., and acquainted with the Smith family and the other originators of the Boole of Mormon, we addressed him on the subject, and received the following lengthy and interesting reply.

At the date of this letter — February, 1882 — and several years later, Judge Harding was residing in Indiana, an octogenarian in age and feeble health, but with a remarkable memory of the events of his long and distinguished life. His recollection and statements concerning the ignorant and superstitious character of young Smith and his father’s family, and most of the early adherents of Monnonism, are strongly corroborative of those made by all the citizens of Palmyra from 1830 down to the present time. Human testimony could scarcely be made stronger or more convincing.

“ Milan, Ind., Feb., 1882.

“ Dear Sir : — Yours of 9th January duly re¬ ceived, and I send you this reply. The incidents

AS TOLD BY OTHEBS. 35

I am about to relate would not be worth repeating only as illustrative of the wild fanaticism, super¬ stition, and credulity of persons upon whose ve¬ racity mainly depends the authenticity of the Booh of Mormon. That such a book, replete with self- evident plagiai'isms and humbuggery, that sink it below the dignity of criticism, should find tens of thousands of persons of ordinary intelligence throughout Christendom, who have accepted it as a Revelation from God to man, is indeed a moral phenomenon unparalleled in the nineteenth century. In view of these things it is not strange that some daring iconoclast should go forth with his merciless sledge, breaking in fragments the shrines and idols that for thousands of years have struck with rever¬ ential awe the hearts of untold millions of men, and leading captive the human will.

“ In the summer of 1829, I resolved to return to the place of my nativity, in the vicinity of Palmyra, N. Y. It was from this place that my father had emigrated in the spring of 1820, with his large family, to the newly admitted State of Indiana. This was before the days of railroads, and I took stage from Cincinnati for Cleveland, from Cleve¬ land down the lake shore for Buffalo, where I saw, for the first time, the great canal, only re¬ cently completed. On this I took passage for Palmyra.

“ In these nine years of transition from boyhood to manhood, most striking changes had taken place. My old-time playmates were no longer little boys and girls, but grown-up men and women ; some of whom had taken their positions in society as hus¬ bands and wives, fathers and mothers. Others had gone down to early graves that had

1 Hidden from the living The full-blown promise of the life that was.’

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

“ When I left my home in the West, I had never heard of Mormonism, by that name. When 1 was a student at Brookville, in the fall of 1827, the Brookville Enquirer was laid upon my table, when my eye fell upon a paragraph, credited to some Eastern paper, of the finding of a book of metallic plates, called the ‘ Golden Bible.’ It was found by a young man by the name of Joe Smith, who had spent liis time for several years in telling for¬ tunes and digging for hidden treasures, and espe¬ cially for pots and iron chests of money, supposed to have been buried by Captain Kidd. This para¬ graph interested me more at the time from the fact that all this had happened near the village of Pal¬ myra, X. Y. I had at the time no certain recol¬ lection as to who this ‘ Joe Smith ’ was ; but re¬ membered having seen a long-legged, tow-headed boy of that name, who was generally fishing in the mill-pond at Durfee’s grist-mill, on Mud Creek, when my elder brother and I went to mill. This boy was about three years older than myself, and it turned out that he was the veritable finder of the ‘ Golden Bible.’

“ Of course the paragraph in the Enquirer passed without further notice at the time, and the whole subject was forgotten, until I found myself in the very neighborhood where the thing had happened. At that time the Book of Mormon had not been printed, and no Mormon church had been organized. 1 do not believe that such a thing as the latter had ever been seriously contemplated, and that the publication of the Book of Mormon had for its ob¬ ject only the making of money, by publishing and putting on sale a book that could be readily sold as a curiosity at a high profit. Nevertheless, there was something so unusual in the affair, that it ex¬ cited a good deal of curiosity and comment. The fact that such a man as Martin Harris should mold-

AS TOLD BY 0T1IEBS.

37

gage his farm for a large sum, to secure the pub¬ lisher for printing the book, should abandon the cultivation of one of the best farms in the neigh¬ borhood, and change all his habits of life from in¬ dustry to indolence and general shiftlessness, was truly phenomenal. He, at the same time, was the only man among all the primitive Mormons who was responsible in a pecuniary sense for a single dollar. Nevertheless, he had become absolutely infatuated, and believed that an immense fortune could be made out of the enterprise. The mis¬ fortune that attended Harris from that day did not consist in the loss of money merely, and the gen¬ eral breaking up of his business as a farmer ; but the blight and ruin fell upon all his domestic rela¬ tions — causing his separation from his wife and family forever. In early life he had been brought up a Quaker, then took to Methodism as more con¬ genial to his nature. He was noted as one who could quote more Scripture than any man in the neighborhood ; and as a general thing could give the chapter and verse where some important pas¬ sage could be found. If one passage more than another seemed to be in his mind, it was this : ‘ God has chosen the weak things of this world to confound the wise.’ His eccentricities and idio¬ syncrasies had been charitably passed over by all who knew him, until his separation from his wife and family, when he was looked upon as utterly infatuated and crazy. I had been acquainted with this man when a little boy, until ray father emi¬ grated from that neighborhood in 1820. He was intimately acquainted with my father’s family, and on several occasions had visited our house, in com¬ pany with Mrs. Harris. None in all that neigh¬ borhood were more promising in their future pro pects than they.

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

“Upon my return to Palmyra, and learning that Martin Harris was the only man of any account, as we say in the West, among all of his near as¬ sociates, it was but natural that I should seek an early interview with him. I found him at the printing office of the Wayne Sentinel in Palmyra, where the Booh of Mormon was being printed. He had heard several days before of my arrival in the neighborhood, and expressed great pleasure at seeing me. A moment or two after, I was intro¬ duced to Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Smith, Sen., and then to the young « Prophet ’ himself.

‘ ‘ Here was a most remarkable quartette of per¬ sons. I soon learned that at least three of them were in daily attendance at the printing-office, and that they came and went as regularly as the rising and setting of the sun. I have the authority of Martin Harris himself, who stated that some one hundred and fifty pages, more or less, of the origi¬ nal manuscript of the Booh of Mormon had been stolen, lost, or destroyed, by some evil-minded person, and that the angel of the Lord had ap¬ peared to young Joseph and informed him that the devil had appeared in the form of a man or woman, and had possessed himself of the sacred MS. ; and Joseph had been commanded by the angel to thenceforth always have at least three witnesses to watch over it when in the hands of the printers. This was the reason given me at Hie time by Harris, why at least three persons should bring the MS. to the office immediately after sun¬ rise, and take it away before sunset in the evening.

“After my introduction to Cowdery and the Smiths, I entered into conversation with them — especially with Cowdei-y and the father of the prophet. But young Joe was hard to be ap¬ proached. He was very taciturn, and sat most of the time as silent as a Sphynx, seeming to have no

AS TOLD BY OTIIEJRS.

39

recollection of ever having seen me when fishing in Durfee’s inill-pond. This young man was by no means of an- ordinary type. He had hardly ever been known to laugh in his childhood ; and would never work or labor like other boys ; and was noted as never having had a fight or quarrel with any other person. But notwithstanding this last redeeming trait, he was hard on birds’ nests, and in telling what had happened would exaggerate to such an extent, that it was a common saying in the neighborhood : ‘ That is as big a lie as young Joe ever told.’

“ He was about six feet high, what might be termed long-legged, and with big feet. His hair had turned from tow-color to light auburn, large eyes of a bluish gray, a prominent nose, and a mouth that of itself was a study. His face seemed almost colorless, and with little or no beard.

“Indeed (in the language of Martin Harris): ‘ What change a few years will make in every¬ thing ! ’ And what a demonstration of this truth was afforded in the life and career of the man be¬ fore me. At that time his weight was about one hundred and fifty pounds, he had not a dollar in the world, and his character was such that credit was impossible. Let the mind pass over the career of this man to the date of his marriage with Emma Hale ; his banking and temple-building at Kirtland ; his flight as a fugitive from that place to Inde¬ pendence and Far West, Missouri ; his forcible expulsion from that State to Xauvoo ; the spring¬ ing up of a city of 20,000 people as if by magic ; and where, beside his divine appointment as “ Prophet, Seer, and Revelator,” he became Lieut. - General of a Legion that would make a respectable standing army, mounted on a blooded charger in all the military trappings, that filled with awe the thousands of his followers, and even the outside

40

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

Gentiles. He had now reached the zenith of his glory ; and fifteen years from the time I met him at the printing-office, he had become a millionaire, notwithstanding his harem of numerous spiritual wives and concubines.

“In the neighborhood of Palmyra there lived another prophet, older and wiser than the Mormon prophet. This was old George Crane, who had been born and brought up a Quaker. On one oc¬ casion Smith and Cowdery had gone to the house of George, who had manifested some interest in the pretended translation. It was in the evening, and when several chapters had been read, Mr. Crane, who had been an attentive listener, in his straightforward, Quaker soberness said: ‘Joseph, thy book is blasphemous ; and I counsel thee to mend thy ways, or thee will come to some bad end.’ George Crane lived to see the fulfilment of that prophecy, when this greatest of all modern deceivers fell out of the back window of the Car¬ thage jail riddled with bullets.

" I had arrived at the printing-office about nine in the morning, and after my interview with Harris, and introduction, as aforesaid, I spent an hour or two with E. B. Grandin and Pomeroy Tucker, proprietor and foreman of the Sentinel. From these gentlemen I learned many particulars that were new to me. I expressed a desire to read the manuscript then in process of being printed ; but was informed by them that that was hardly possible, inasmuch as a few sheets only at a time were used as copy in the hands of the printers ; and that probably Cowdery and Smith would have no ob¬ jection to reading it to me, if I would give them an opportunity without interfering with their duties at the office.

“It was now noon, and I went home with my cousin ^Mr. Tucker) to dinner. On returning to

ylS TOLD BY OTHEBS.

41

the office, I found Harris, Cowdery, and the Smiths had remained, substituting a lunch for a regular dinner. My intimacy with them was reneAved, and Harris talked incessantly to me on the subject of dreams, and the fearful omens and signs he had seen in the heavens. Of course I became greatly interested, and manifested a desire to hear the miraculous MS. read ; and it was agreed that I should go out with them to the house of the elder Smith, and remain over night. In the mean time, I remarked that but one at a time left the printing office, even for a short period.

“ The sun had now got down to the roofs of the houses, and the typos had laid by their work. Each page of the MS. that had been used as copy was delivered to Cowdery, and avc prepared to return to Smith’s. We arrived at our destination a few minutes before sunset. The Smith residence consisted of a log house, not exactly a cabin. Upon our arrival, I was ushered into the best room in company with the others. In a few moments I was left alone, my companions having gone out on private business. An interview with the family was being held by them in the other part of the house. It was not long before they returned, ac¬ companied by Lucy Smith, the prophet’s mother. She came close to me, and taking me by the hand, said :

“ ‘ I’ve seed you before. You are the same young man that had on the nice clothes, that I seed in my dream. You had on this nice ruffled shirt, with the same gold breast-pin in it that you have now. Yes, jest ezactly sich a one as this ! ’ — suiting the action to the word, taking hold of the ruffle, and scrutinizing the pin closely. It was not long till she left the room, and I, following to the door, saw two stout, bare-footed girls, each with a tin bucket of red raspberries. Soon after, the old

4li

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

man announced that supper was ready. We went into the other part of the house, where supper was waiting, consisting of brown bread, milk, and abundance of fine raspberries before mentioned. There was no lack of these, and if any left the table without a really good supper, it was not the fault of the hostess. She, good soul — full sister to all her sex — began to make excuses, saying :

“ ‘ If I had only known what a nice visitor I was goin’ to have, I would have put on the table flour bread, and not ryn’ Injun.’

“ I remarked that it needed no excuses ; that the supper was good enough for a king, and that the berries on the table were better than could be bought in any city in America. Beside being true, this had the effect of quieting the feelings of the old lady.

“ It was now time to begin the reading of the manuscript, and we retired to the room we had oc¬ cupied. This was before the days of lucifer matches, and there being no fire, it took some time before a light could be brought into the room. This was done by our good hostess, who set upon the table a tin candlestick with a tallow dip in it, remarking : ‘ This is the only candle I can find in the house ; I thought I had two, but mabby the rats has eat it up.’

Cowdery commenced his task of reading at the table, the others sitting around. The reading had proceeded for some time, when the candle began to spit and splutter, sometimes almost going out, and flashing up writh a red-blue blaze. Here was a phenomenon that could not be mistaken. To say that the blaze had been interrupted by the flax sliives that remained in the tow wicking, would not do ; but Martin Hands arrived at a conclusion * across lots : ’ ‘ Do you see that,’ said he, direct¬ ing his remark to me and the old lady, who sat be¬ side him. ‘I know what that means; it is the

AS TOLD BY OTIIEIIS.

43

Devil trying to put out the light, so that we can’t read any more.’ * Yes,’ replied the old lady ;

‘ I seed ’iin ! I seed ’im ! as he tried to put out the burnin’ wick, when the blaze turned blue.’

“ The tallow dip shortened at such a fearful rate that the further reading had to be abandoned. It was now past ten, and the other members of the family retired. The MS. was carefully put away, and directions given as to where we were to sleep. In the mean time Mother Smith loaded a clay pipe with tobacco, which she ground up in her hands ; a broom splint was lighted in the candle, and the delicious fumes issued in clouds from the old lady’s mouth.

* ‘ She now began to talk incessantly for the little time that remained, and told me at some length the dream that she had, when I appeared before her, ‘ in the nice suit of clothes and ruffled shirt,’ as she expressed it ; and continued : ‘ You’ll have visions and dreams, mebby, to-night ; but don’t git skeered; the angel of the Lord will protect you.’

“ After breakfast, in the morning, Mother Smith followed me as I arose from the table, and plied me with questions as to whether I had had dreams, and whether I had seen a vision that ‘ skeered ’ me. I told her I had a dream, but so strange that I could not tell it to her or any one else. The fact was communicated to Harris and the rest. All saw that I looked sober, and I determined to leave them in doubt and wonder.

“We started back to Palmyra, Cowdery bearing in his hand the sacred scroll. Martin was exceed¬ ingly anxious that I should give him at least some glimpse of the strange things I had seen in my dream. I told him that was impossible, and I be¬ gan to doubt whether I ought to tell it to any human being. They all became interested in my

44

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

reply; and the prophet himself, forgetting his taciturnity, said: ‘I can tell you what it was. I have felt just as you do. Wait, and the angel of the Lord will open your eyes.’ Here we parted, and I returned to the home of my brother.”

EX-GO VERNOR HARDING'S LETTER. 45

CHAPTER V.

ex-governor harding’s letter. — Continued.

Curious Developments— Harris’s Frenzy — An Incident in Indiana — In Utah — Reflections, Suggestions, etc.

“About two weeks after this I met Martin Harris. He was glad to see me ; inquired how I felt since my dream. He told me that since he saw me at Mr. Smith’s, he had seen fearful signs in the heavens. That he was standing alone one night, and saw a fiery sword let down out of heaven, and point¬ ing to the east, west, north, and south, then to the hill of Cumorah, where the plates of Nephi were found. At another time, he said, as he was passing with his wagon and horses from town, his horses suddenly stopped and would not budge an inch. When he plied them with his whip, they com¬ menced snorting and pawing the earth as they had never done before. He then commenced smelling brimstone, and knew the Devil was in the road, and saw him plainly as he walked up the hill and disappeared. I said, ‘ What did he look like?’

“ He replied : 4 Stephen, I will give you the best description that I can. Imagine a greyhound as big as a horse, without any tail, walking upright on his hind legs.’ *

“I looked at him with perfect astonishment. * Now, Stephen,’ continued he, 4 do tell me your dream.’ I dropped my head and answered : 4 1

am almost afraid to undertake it.’ He encour¬ aged me, and said it was revealed to him that an-

*JVIr. Harris ought to have known that creature could not have been the Devil, as his majesty most surely has a tail. — T. G.

4G THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

other vessel Avas to be chosen, and that Joseph had the gift of interpreting dreams the same as Daniel, who was cast into the lions’ den. I said, ‘ Mr. Harris, after considering the matter, I conclude that I ought not to repeat my dream to you, only on one condition : that you will pledge your honor not to tell it to any one.’ « Oh, do let me tell it to Joseph. He can tell all about what it means.’ ‘ Well,’ said I, ‘ What I mean is, you may tell it to whom you please, only you shall not connect my name Avith it.’ ‘ I’ll do it ! I’ll do it ! ’ said he, hastily. ‘ Joseph will be able to tell Avho it was, the same as if I told the name.’”

[Here the narrator proceeded to relate a wonder¬ ful dream that never was dreamed, during the course of which he took occasion to describe some char¬ acters that had appeared to him on a scroll — pre¬ senting some of them with a pencil, a mixture of stenographic characters and the Greek alphabet, rudely imitated. These were handed to Mr. Harris.]

“ Speechless with amazement, he looked at them for a moment, and then springing to his feet, and turning his eyes toward heaven, with uplifted hands, cried out :

“ ‘ O Lord, God ! the Arery characters that are upon the plates of Nephi ! ’

“ He looked again at the characters, and then at me, with perfect astonishment. His excitement was such that I became positively alarmed, for it seemed to me that he Avas going crazy. I began to have some compunctions of conscience for the fraud that I had practiced upon him ; for I might as well say just here, as avcII as anywhere, that the dream had been improvised for the occasion. He suggested that Ave go to the house of old man Smith and there relate my dream. I told him that I would never repeat it again to anybody. lie bade me good-bye, saying : ‘ You are a chosen vessel of the Lord.’

EX-GOVERNOR HARDING’S LETTER. 47

“ There is but one excuse for my conduct on this occasion ; that was, to fathom the depth of his credulity.

“ For the next two or three weeks I did not meet Harris or any of the Smiths or Cowdery. About four weeks afterwards I again visited Palmyra, and spent part of the day in the printing-office, where I found the prophet, Cowdery, and Harris again. The latter took me by the hand with a grip and a shake that were full of meaning ; even the prophet himself shook hands with me, looking me steadily in the eye as if new ideas possessed him in regard to myself ; and it was evident that my dream had been repeated to these people, and that it was a puzzle to them all.

“In the meantime the printing of the Book of Mormon was proceeding. There was abundant evidence that the proof sheets had been carefully corrected. The printing was done on a lever press of that period ; and when a sufficient number of pages for the entire edition of five thousand copies had been completed, the type had to be distributed. This was a slow process in comparison with what is done in a jobbing office of to-day. Mr. Tucker, the foreman, had just received from Albany a font of new type, and had set up with his own hands the title page of the Book of Mormon, and preparations were now ready for the first impression. About this time the prophet’s father also came in. He, too, had evidently heard of my dream, and shook my hand most cordially. Mr. Grandin and two or three typos were present, as if curious in seeing the first impression of the title page. Tucker took up the ink-balls and made the form ready ; then laying the blank sheet upon it, with one pull at the lever the work was done ; then taking the impres¬ sion, looked at it a moment, passed it to Cowdery, who scanned it carefully, and passed it to the

48

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

prophet himself, who seemed to be examining every letter, and without speaking gave it into the hands of his father and Harris. It was then returned to Tucker. Of course we all looked at it with more or less curiosity, and the work was pronounced excellent. Tucker, who was my cousin, then handed it to me, saying : ‘ Here, Steve, I’ll give this to you. You may keep it as a curiosity.’ I thanked him, and put it carefully in my pocket.

“ It was not long until rumors of the dream had reached the ears of many persons. Upon hearing this I felt some concerned, for I did not want to be mixed up or identified with this thing in the least. But all of my apprehension soon vanished, when I found my name had no connection with it, and that the dream had been a real vision of the prophet himself l Of course this relieved me of all appre¬ hension, and greatly increased my desire to make further experiments in this wild fanaticism.

“ My next subject was Calvin Stoddard, a very clever man, avIio had been a kind of exhorter among the Methodists. He was a married man, and lived with his wife in a frame house with unpainted weather-boarding, that had become loose from age and exposure to wind and weather. I had met Mr. Stoddard on several occasions, and his conver¬ sation generally turned on the subject of the new revelation. He said that we were living in the latter days spoken of in the Bible, and that wonder¬ ful things would come to pass on the earth ; that he had seen signs in the heavens that would satisfy any one that a new dispensation was coming. That young Joseph had had a dream that was more wonderful than anything he had ever read in the book of Daniel, and that if the village of Palmyra did not repent it would meet the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah.

“Mr. Tucker, in his book, has referred to the

EX-GOVERNOR HARDING'S LETTER. 49

call that was given to Stoddard on one occasion, to preach the new gospel. In the main, his state¬ ment is substantially true ; nevertheless, it does great injustice to the dramatic effect of the call that was given. Suffice it to say, that Stoddard and his wife were among the primitive members of the Mormon Church, and in obedience to the call, con¬ tinued to preach the best that he could to the close of his life.* Itequiscat in pace.

“ It was now getting about time for me to return West, and in the month of September, 1829, 1 took passage on a canal packet for Buffalo. In the mean¬ time marvellous stories were being circulated throughout the neighborhood, in regard to the strange dream of the prophet, and the celestial call of Calvin Stoddard to preach the new gospel. I had received from Harris and Cowdery the first- and second chapters of the Booh of Mormon. These, with the title page before mentioned, were carefully put away in my trunk. Three or four days before my embarkation, Martin Harris, in company with Cowdery, met me at the village, manifesting a great deal of concern at my intended departure, informing me that young Joseph had been having visions. The day was fixed when I was to leave, and we separated, and the reader may judge of my astonishment when Harris and Cowdery came on board the boat at the first lock below the village, and approached me very much excited, Martin particularly. He wanted to know if I was really starting West. I informed him that I was going directly home to Indiana. He said that the night before the angel of the Lord had visited Joseph, and informed him that I was a

* For the particulars of this remarkable conversion, the reader is referred to the account to be found in another chapter. Mr. Stoddard was married to one of the prophet’s sisters, and lived and died in the faith in Illinois. — Editor.

50

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

chosen vessel of the Lord, and they must pursue me at least as far as Rochester, and inform me of the commands of the angel, and that I must remain in Palmyra until the printing of the Book of Mormon was completed ; after which I must go to the city of London and there remain until the Lord would inform me what to do. This, I confess, was a new phase in this wild fanaticism, and I felt very much puzzled and confounded. The first I said was :

‘ Where is the money to come from to pay my passage to London?’ ‘Oh,’ said Martin, ‘ the^ Lord will find the money. The Book of Mormon will sell for thousands and thousands of dollars, and I can furnish the money any day, if necessary.’

‘ ‘ I confess that for a time I felt very much con¬ fused. I had bidden all my friends good-bye, and could not have returned to Palmyra in company with these men without seriously compromising myself. And yet, what a temptation was here presented to me to play the rdle of the hypocrite and villain ! I had no complications, either of love or business, and was as free as the winds that sweep over the prairies. Many times, since Mormonism has be¬ come a most dangerous proselytism throughout all Christendom, have I asked myself: What if I had accepted the apple plucked from the tree of knowl¬ edge of good and evil, crucified my own sense of honor and manhood, and sold myself to the devil of ambition ! It is hardly probable, notwithstand¬ ing all this, that the Dead Sea fruit would have turned to ashes on my lips.

“They continued with me until we arrived at Rochester, where we parted. In the mean time it seemed as if these messengers sent to intercept me would hardly take ‘No’ for an answer. Martin, with great earnestness, dwelt upon the danger of disobeying the commands of the Lord, and proph¬ esied that I would soon be removed from the earth,

EX-GOVERNOR HARDIN O' S LETTER. 51

and most probably before I reached my destination, quoting several passages of Scripture fitting my case. On leaving, they shook me by the hand most heartily, Martin warning me of the dangers ahead. The whole scene was worthy of the pro- foundest study. Here were two men, whose names will go down through the ages as witnesses to the divine authenticity of the Boole oj Mormon, whose superstition and credulity were such as to unseat all confidence in what are termed miracles ; and yet, at that time, the evidence of Martin Harris would have been received in a court of justice against all of the Smiths, Pages, and Whitmers, who have published to the world, in the presence of God, that they had « seen and hefted ’ the mirac¬ ulous plates ! This, it will be remembered, was before Brigham Young, Heber Kimball, or John Taylor had ever heard of the new dispensation.

“In 1847, after the expulsion of the Mormons from Nauvoo, I came home one Saturda}r night from court, and found a stranger at my house. This was not remarkable, for it was generally un¬ derstood that my doors had never been shut in the face of any human being in distress, black or white. He was a middle-aged man, an Englishman, named Campbell. He told me that he had come from the city of Nauvoo, and was going to some place in Ohio ; had heard of me before he left Nauvoo, and hoped I would not consider it an intrusion if he stayed over until Monday morning. He was really an inoffensive-looking person, and was possessed of considerable intelligence. He had emigrated from England a few years before, and was, by trade, a copper-plate engraver. During his stay in my house, I informed him that I had the first title page of the Booh of Mormon, that was ever printed, and briefly related to him how it came into my posses¬ sion. I produced it, and as he examined the strange

52

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

relic it was evident that a feeling of awe and ven¬ eration had come over him. ‘ Is it possible ! Is it possible ! ’ exclaimed he, his eyes still fixed upon it. ‘ The hand of the Lord is in it.’ He contin¬ ued to examine it with so much fascination, I said : ‘ You take so much interest in this that I will give it to you.’

“ ‘ Will you let me take it away?’ said he.

“ ‘ Oh, yes, sir, you may keep it as your own,’ I said.

“ ‘ Thank you, sir ! God bless you. The angel of the Lord must have directed me to this house.’ He said it would add greatly to the value of the relic, if I would write something over my own name. I told him I would do so, and wrote the following :

“ ‘ This is the first title page of the Book of Mor¬ mon that was ever printed. It was printed in the presence of Joseph Smith, Jr., Joseph Smith, Sr., Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, and myself, at the office of the Wayne Sentinel , Palmyra, New York, August, 1829, — and which was examined and handled by all the persons above named, and the same is hereby respectfully presented to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Stephen S. Harding, of Milan, Ind.*

“ It will be seen, hereafter, how a little crumb of bread cast upon the waters will be returned. This man was evidently as honest and sincere in his be¬ lief as any member of the most orthodox church. When I went to the territory of Utah as Governor, in 1862, Mr. Campbell was almost the first one to meet me. He held a clerkship in Salt Lake City. He was really glad to see me, and shaking my hand, said :

“ * Governor, the hand of the Lord is in it. This is revelation.’ The deep grief that was settled upon him was unexplained, until he informed me

EX-GOVERNOR HARDING'S LETTER. 53

that his eldest son, a young man of promise, had been drowned a day before in the river Jordan, and his body had just been recovered, and was then lying at his house ; that he and his wife were nearly overwhelmed with sorrow ; but upon hearing of my arrival, he had left her in tears and came to pay his respects to me, and bid me welcome. Poor fellow ! It would have been a hard heart that would not have gone out in sympathy for him.

“ I soon learned that the first title page had been well preserved in the Historical Society and Mu¬ seum. It had been placed between two panes of window glass in a stout frame. By this means it could be carefully handled and examined without danger of defacement. It had been examined, by thousands and thousands ; and after my arrival the number increased. I looked upon it one day my¬ self, in company with a gentleman from San Fran¬ cisco. I was soon surrounded by a large company of simple-minded people, who, after my appoint¬ ment as Governor was known, had heard a thou¬ sand times from bishops and elders, that the hand of the Lord was in it. But, alas ! the faces that I had known in Palmyra could not be seen. The prophet had been overtaken by retributive justice. Hyrum, his brother, had also paid the penalty. The father and mother had disappeared, and poor Martin Harris had been expelled, trampled upon, and insulted by the prophet himself in the zenith of his power, and was now a wanderer and a vag¬ abond. Cowdery had fired little better. Sidney Rigdon was exiled. Unseen hands had been turn¬ ing the wheel of fortune. ‘My hand-maiden, Emma Smith ’ (referred to in the revelation that cost the prophet his life), was the wife of a Gentile, and the third Joseph Smith, eldest son of the prophet, had to appeal to the Governor, asking for protection, before he dared enter the dominions of

54

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.'

the new hierarch. The whole thing seemed to me more like a romance than a reality.

4 4 In your second letter you ask me certain ques¬ tions, which I will now briefly answer. Oliver Cowdery, the scribe of the prophet, was a young man of about twenty-four or twenty-five, about the age of Smith. I had never known him previous to my return to Palmyra. lie had been a school¬ teacher in country schools, and I am certain had little or no acquaintance with English grammar at that time. If this same Oliver Cowdery studied law and was admitted to practice in Ohio, it must have been after the time that I met him ; and if he ever acquired a knowledge of the dead languages, it was certainly afterwards. I never saw, to my knowledge, either Sidney Higdon, or Parley P. Pratt, the latter of whom was shot by Dr. McLane for proselyting his wife. I knew his brother, Or¬ son Pratt, in Salt Lake City, and also Mrs. Mc¬ Lane, who had been 4 sealed ’ to another man.

“As for 4 Joe Smith,’ the prophet, I have long been satisfied that his intellectual forces as a man have been greatly underrated.* In deception and low cunning he has had no peer. Mahomet was a much greater man intellectually ; but he never could have played the part of Joe Smith, the Mormon Prophet. Ignorant as ho is represented to have been, still he was familiar with the Scriptures, and never tired of reading the miracles in the Old Tes¬ tament and in the New. The revelations that he pretended to have had, were composed and written by somebody, certainly not Solomon Spaulding. The most of them evince quite as much talent in composition as parts of the Manuscript Found. The question again recurs, Who was the author of these Revelations? His last one at Nauvoo, in

* Our opinion is that they have been greatly over-rated. — Editor.

EX-GOVERNOR HARDING'S LETTER. 55

184-, authorizing Polygamy and spiritual mar¬ riages, wherein the Lord commanded the prophet not to put his property out of his hands, could hardly have been written by Oliver Cowdery, the Seneca County lawyer, unless he put into the mouth of the Lord the language of a country jus¬ tice of the peace. There is another reason, how¬ ever, of much greater significance, that Cowdery had nothing to do with the revelation, for it was about that time that he and Martin Harris had fallen into disgrace in the Church — had been ex¬ communicated, and published in the court journal of the prophet as * liars ’ and ‘ white niggers.’ * “That Spalding’s Manuscript Found was the real foundation of Mormonism, I have no doubt. When he wrote his romance in Ohio, surrounded by evidences of a pre-historic race, the sight of canoes at that time in general use, would furnish the idea and model of the sharp-pointed ships, ‘ of the length of a tree,’ constructed at the ship-yards of the Land Bountiful, mentioned in the Boole of Mormon. All that he had to do, in the conception of his model, was to put one canoe on top of an¬ other, bottom-side up, and the idea supplemented with breathing holes, is almost complete. The bellows made from the skins of beasts, by boss ship- carpenters of Bountiful, his kindling a fire by striking two stones together, and making tools for the workmen out of crude iron ore, are so inex¬ pressive of poetic imagery, that I agree with you, it seems improbable that a clergyman who had

* Here the Governor misapprehends our point. We, nor any one, ever supposed that Spalding had ever had anything to do with the “Revelations.” Our suggestion was to the efl’ect that it may have been Cowdery instead of Rigdon, who somehow obtained the Manuscript Found, and placed it in Smith’s hands, at the beginning of the Imposture, and that they two manipulated it into the Book of Mormon, while pretending to “ translate” and “ transcribe.” — Editor.

56

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

graduated at Dartmouth College had ever been its author. These portions of the MS. fall below the dignity of criticism. There are other portions that might readily be attributed to Mr. Spalding.

“ When I was in Palmyra in 1829, I heard the particulars of the incident as related by Mr. Tucker, when the Smith family was out of meat, and the manner in which the black wether of William Staf¬ ford had been obtained. • But I refer the reader to the account given in Mr. Tucker’s book. The best part of the story, however, had been forgotten by Mr. T. , as illustrative of the cunning of the young money-digger. When Stafford was told it required the sacrifice of a black sheep in order to reach the hidden treasure, it was not plain to him why the blood of one sheep was not as good as that of an¬ other. His black wether, that had been selected by young Joe, was large and in excellent condition for mutton. Stafford hesitated, and was loth to give him up, offering a white wether of smaller size, yet in good condition. But the coming prophet was not to be foiled in his purpose, and i-esorted_to logic that confounded the objector. ‘ The i*eason why it must be a blctch sheep,’ said the young de¬ ceiver, ‘ is because I have found the treasure by means of the blaclc art.’ This, of course, was un¬ answerable, and the black wether was given up.

“ With malice toward none, and charity for all, I subscribe myself,

“ Respectfully yours,

“ Stephen S. Harding.”

JPH OFESS OH ANTHON'S STOJRY.

57

CHAPTER VI.

PROFESSOR ANTHON’S STORY.

A Plain Statement Which (Everybody Can Believe.

Smith, it will be remembered, endeavored to gain credence for his story by falsifying men of science as to the character of his hieroglyphics and their translation. See his story as from Professor “ An¬ thony,” in a previous chapter. A few years after the appearance of the Book of Mormon, and the publicity of his name in connection with it, Pro¬ fessor Anthon, in reply to inquiries, made the following statement :

“New York, Feb. 17, 1834.

“Some years ago, a plain, apparently simple- hearted farmer, called on me with a note from Dr. Mitchell, of our city, now dead, requesting me to decipher, if possible, the paper which the farmer would hand me. Upon examining the paper in question, I soon came to the conclusion that it was all a trick — perhaps a hoax. When I asked the person who brought it, how he obtained the writing, he gave me the following account : A ‘ golden book,’ consisting of a number of plates fastened together by wires of the same material, had been dug up in the northern part of the State of New York, and along with it an enormous pair of ‘ spectacles ! ’ These spectacles were so large, that if any person attempted to look through them.

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

liis two eyes would look through one glass only — the spectacles in question being altogether too large for the human face. ‘ "Whoever, ’ he said, ‘ ex¬ amined the plates through the glasses, was enabled not only to read them, but fully to understand their meaning.’

“All this knowledge, however, was confined to a young man, who had the trunk containing the book and spectacles in his sole possession. This young man was placed behind a curtain, in a garret in a farm-house, and being thus concealed from a iew, he put on the spectacles occasionally, or, rather, looked through one of the glasses, deciphered the characters in the book, and having committed some of them to paper, handed copies from behind the curtain to those who stood outside. Not a word was said about their being deciphered by the ‘ gift of God.’ Everything in this way was effected by the large pair of spectacles. The farmer added that he had been requested to contribute a sum of money toward the publication of the ‘ golden 'book,’ the contents of which would, as he was told, produce an entire change in the world, and save it from ruin. So urgent had been these solicitations, that he intended selling his farm and giving the amount to those who wished to publish the plates. As a last precautionary step, he had resolved to come to New York, and obtain the opinion of the ‘ learned ’ about the meaning of the paper which he had brought with him, and which had been given him as a part of the contents of the book.

“The paper in question was, in fact, a singular scroll. It consisted of all kinds of singular char¬ acters, disposed in columns, and had evidently been prepared by some person who had before him at the time a book containing various alphabets; Greek and Hebrew letters, crosses and flourishes, Roman letters, inverted or placed sideways, were

PROFESSOR ANTIION’S STORY.

arranged and placed in perpendicular columns, and the whole ended in a rude delineation of a circle, divided into various compartments, arched with various strange marks, and evidently copied after the Mexican calendar, given by Humboldt, but copied in such a way as not to betray the source whence it was derived. I am thus particular as to the contents of the paper, inasmuch as I have fre¬ quently conversed with my friends on the subject since the Mormon excitement began, and well re¬ member that the paper contained anything else but ‘ Egyptian hieroglyphics.’

“ Yours respectfully,

“Charles Anthon.”

Thus it appears that Martin Harris had told the Professor a straight story in regard to the matter, as it had been represented to him ; that the book of gold plates, held together with rings, had been dug up in Northern New York ; that they were being translated by a young man behind a curtain, through the medium of the Urim and Thummim, which were generally talked of as spectacles — that it was designed to publish the translation, and that he proposed to contribute money for the purpose — (he already had fifty dollars and the expenses of this trip in the enterprise.) And no man in his senses can be made to believe that Professor An- thon, with the reputation he possessed as a scientist and man of honor, ever made the reply to Harris that is ascribed to him in Smith’s narrative.

This letter of Anthon’s was in reply to inquiries

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

made of him by Mr. Howe, and first appeared in his expose, Mormonism Unveiled. At a sub¬ sequent date, Rev. T. W. Coit addressed a note of inquiry to Professor Anthon, and received in reply the substance of the foregoing, to which he added the following :

“ The matter rested here for a considerable time, until one day, when I had ceased entirely to think of the countryman and his paper, he paid me a second visit. He now brought with him a duodecimo volume, which he said was a translation into Eng¬ lish of the ‘ Golden Bible.’ He also stated, that, notwithstanding his original determination, he had been induced eventually to sell his farm, and apply the money to the publication of the book, and had received the golden plates as a security for pay¬ ment. He begged my acceptance of the volume, assuring me that it would be found extremely in¬ teresting, and that it was already ‘ making a great noise ’ in the upper part of the State. Suspecting now, that some serious trick was on foot, and that my plain-looking visitor might be in fact a very cunning fellow, I declined his present, and merely contented myself with a slight examination of the ' volume while he stood by. The more I declined receiving it, however, the more urgent the man be¬ came in offering the book, until at last I told him plainly that if lie left the volume, as he said he in¬ tended to do, T should most assuredly throw it after him as he departed. I then asked him how he could be so foolish as to sell his farm and en¬ gage in this affair ; and requested him to tell me it the plates were really of gold. In answer to this latter inquiry, he said, that he had not seen the

PROFESSOR ANTIION'S STORY.

61

plates themselves, which were carefully locked up in a trunk, but that he had the trunk in his pos¬ session. I advised him by all means to open the trunk and examine its contents, and if the plates proved to be of gold, which I did not believe at all, to sell them immediately. His reply -was, that if he opened the trunk, the ‘ curse of Heaven would descend upon him and his children. However,’ added he, ‘ I will agree to open it, provided you will take the ‘ curse of Heaven ’ upon yourself, for having advised me to the step.’ I told him I was perfectly willing to do so, and begged him to hasten home and examine the trunk, for he would find that he had been cheated. He promised to do as I recommended, and left me, taking his book with him! I have never seen him since.

“ Such is a plain statement of all that I know respecting the Mormons. My impression now is, that the plain-looking countryman was none other than the prophet Smith himself, who assumed an appearance of great simplicity in order to entrap me, if possible, into some recommendations of his book. That the prophet aided me, by his inspira¬ tion, in interpreting the volume, is only one of the many amusing falsehoods which the Mormonites utter relative to my participation in their doctriues. Of these doctrines I know nothing whatever, nor have I heard a single discourse from any one of their preachers, although I have often felt a strong curiosity to become an auditor, since my friends tell me that they frequently name me in their ser¬ mons, and even go so far as to say that I am al¬ luded to in the prophecies of Scripture !

“ If what I have here written shall prove of any service in opening the eyes of some of their de¬ luded followers to the real designs of those who profess to be the apostles of Mormonism, it will

62 THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

afford me a satisfaction equalled. I have no doubt, only by that which you yourself will feel on this subject.

“I remain, very respectfully and truly, “Your friend,

_ “ Chas. Anthon.

“ Kev. Dr. Coit, New Rochelle, N. Y.”

I

A TERRIBLE DILEMMA.

63

CHAPTER VII.

A TERRIBLE DILEMMA.

Two Revelations and Their Causes1— Harris and Satan Unjustly Accused — The Real Culprit Unknown — A Happy Ruse Solves toe Difficulty.

And now comes a most curious part of this re¬ markable story. Mr. Harris had become the aman¬ uensis to the prophet while engaged in translating the plates, and from April to June, 1828, had Avritten one hundred and sixteen pages of foolscap, as called out to him by the translator, using the Urim and Thummim. Such valuable service he thought was worthy of recognition from a higher source, so he teased that the instrument might be put into requisition to inquire of the Lord if he might not lie permitted to carry the writings home for exhibition to his wife and friends. Twice the Lord pointedly refused; but upon his insisting, leave Avas granted — only on the express condition that they must be shown to only five persons, namely : his brother, Preserved Hams, his father and mother, his wife, and her sister, Mrs. Cobb. And he was required to enter into a most solemn covenant to abide by the agreement. He took the

64

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

writings, hut failed to fulfil his covenant (so this story runs) , and they were taken from him by stratagem, “ and have never been recovered nor obtained back again unto this day.”

Here was a difficulty that was likely to prove disastrous, and perhaps never could have been overcome had it not been for the ingenuity of the messenger — and the Lord. Says Smith :

“ I was walking out a little distance when behold the former heavenly messenger appeared and handed me the Urim and Thummim again (for it had been taken from me in consequence of my having wearied the Lord in asking for the privilege of letting Martin Harris take the writings, which he had lost by transgression), and I inquired of the Lord through them, and obtained the following revela¬ tion.”

This revelation is given here entire, as being the first deemed by its author worthy of being pre¬ served, among the long series of pretended com¬ munications from the Almighty ; and as furnishing, together with another on the same subject, also given in full, indubitable evidence of the falsity and absurdity, and blasphemous character of his pre¬ tensions. The book of Doctrine and Covenants, the authentic collection of these revelations, con¬ tains another, for which a prior date is given ; but it is evidently an after-thought, and was placed there as an introduction to those that follow.

A TERRIBLE DILEMMA.

65

Revelation to Joseph Smith, Jr., given July, 1828, concerning certain manuscripts on the first part of the Book of Mormon, which had been taken from the possession of Martin Harris.

1. The works, and the designs, and the pur¬ poses of God, cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to nought, for God doth not walk in crooked paths ; neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left ; neither doth he vary from that which he hath said ; therefore his paths are straight and his course is one eternal round.

2. Remember, remember, that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men ; for although a man may have many revela¬ tions, and have power to do many mighty works, yet, if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at nought the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates ot his own will, and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him.

3. Behold, you have been intrusted with these things, but how strict were your commandments ; and remember, also, the promises which were made unto you, if you did not transgress them ; and be¬ hold how oft you have transgressed the command¬ ments and the laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men ; yet behold, you should not have feared man more than God, although men set at nought the counsels of God, and despise his words, yet you should have been faithful and he would have extended his arm, and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary, and he would have been with you in every time of trouble.

4. Behold, thou art Joseph, and thou wast chosen to do the work of the Lord, but because of transgression, if thou art not aware thou wilt fall, but remember God is merciful ; therefore repent of

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

that which thou hast done, which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you, and thou art still chosen, and art again called to the work ; except thou do this, thou shalt be delivered up and become a£ other men, and have no more gift.

5. And when thou deliveredst up that which God had given thee sight and power to translate, thou deliveredst up that which was sacred, into the hands of a wicked man, who has set at nought the counsels of God, and has broken the most sacred promises, which were made before God, and has depended upon his own judgment, and boasted in his own wisdom, and this is the reason that thou hast lost thy privileges for a season, for thou hast suffered the counsel of thy director to be trampled upon from the beginning.

6. Nevertheless, my work shall go forth, for inasmuch as the knowledge of a Saviour has come unto the world, through the testimony of the Jews, even so shall the knowledge of a Saviour come unto my people, and to the Nephites, and the Jacobites, and the Josephites, and the Zoramites, through the testimony of their fathers, and this testimony shall come to the knowledge of the Lamauites, and the Lemuel ites, and the Ishmaelites, who dwindled in unbelief because of the iniquity of their fathers, whom the Lord has suffered to destroy their breth¬ ren the Nephites, because of their iniquities and their abominations ; and for this very purpose are these plates preserved which contain these records, that the promises of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to his people ; and that the Laman- ites might come to a knowledge of their fathers, and that they might know the promises of the Lord, and that they may believe the gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ, and be glorified through faith on his name, and that through their repent¬ ance they might be saved. Amen.

A- TERRIBLE DILEMMA.

The Urim and Thummim were now taken from him, but restored in a few days, and the following revelation was forthcoming, dating ten months after the other. The long delay will probably be made apparent in the sequel

Revelation given to Joseph Smith, Jr., May, 1829, informing him of the alteration of the manuscript of the fore part of the Book of Mor¬ mon.

1. Now, behold, I say unto you, that because you delivered up those writings which you had power given unto you to translate, by the means of the Urim and Thummim, into the hands of a wicked man, you have lost them ; and you also lost your gift at the same time, and your mind became dark¬ ened ; nevertheless, it is now restored unto you again, therefore see that you are faithful and con¬ tinue on unto the finishing of the remainder of the work of translation as you have begun ; do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided to enable you to translate ; but be diligent unto the end ; pray always that you may come off conqueror ; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of' Satan, that do uphold his work. Be¬ hold, they have sought to destroy you ; yea, even the man in whom you have trusted, has sought to destroy you. And for this cause I said he is a wicked man, for he has sought to take away the things wherewith you have been entrusted ; and he has also sought to destroy your gift, and because you have delivered the writings into his hands, be¬ hold, wicked men have taken them from you ; there¬ fore you have delivered them up, yea, that which was sacred, unto wickedness. And behold, Satan

68 THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

has put it into their hearts to alter the words which you have'caused to be written, or which you have translated, which have gone out of your hands ; and behold, I say unto you, that because they have altered the words, they read contrary from that which you translated and caused to be written, and on this wise the devil has sought to lay a cunning plan, that he may destroy this work ; for he has put it into their hearts to do this, that by lying they may say they have caught you in the words which you have pretended to translate.

2. Verily I say unto you that I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing ; for behold he has put it into their hearts to get thee to tempt the Lord thy God, in asking to translate it over again ; and then behold they say and think in their hearts, we will see if God has given him power to translate, if so he will also give him power again, or if he translate again, or in other words, if he bringeth forth the same words, behold we have the same with us and we have altered them ; therefore they will not agree, and we will say that he has lied in his words, and that he has no gift, and that he has no power ; there¬ fore, we will destroy him, and also the work ; and we will do this that we may not be ashamed in the end, and that we may get glory of the world.

3. Verily, verily, I say unto you that Satan has got hold upon their hearts ; he stirreth them up to iniquity against that which is good, and their hearts are corrupt, and full of wickedness" and abominations, and they love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil ; therefore they will not ask of me. Satan stirreth them up, that he may lead their souls to destruction. And thus he has laid a cunning plan, thinking to destroy the work of God, but I will require this at their hands, and it shall turn to their shame and condemnation

A TERBIBLE DILEMMA.

in the day of judgment ; yea, he stirreth up their hearts to anger against this work ; yea, he saith unto them deceive, and lie in wait to catch, that ye may destroy ; behold this is no harm, and thus he flattereth them, and telleth them that it is no sin to lie, that they may catch a man in a lie, that they may destroy him, and thus he flattereth them, and leadeth( them along until he draggeth their souls down to hell ; and thus he causeth them to catch themselves in their own snare, and thus he goeth up and down, to and fro in the earth, seeking to destroy the souls of men.

4. Verily, verily, I say unto you, wo be unto him that lieth to deceive, because he supposeth that another lieth to deceive, for such are not ex¬ empt from the justice of God.

5. Now, behold they altered those words be¬ cause Satan saith unto them : He hath deceived you ; and thus he flattereth them away to do iniquity, to get thee to tempt the Lord thy God.

6. Behold I say unto you that you shall not translate again those words which have gone forth out of your hands ; for behold, they shall not ac¬ complish their evil designs in lying against those words. For, behold, if you should bring forth the same words they will say that you have lied ; that you have pretended to translate, but that you have contradicted yourself ; and behold, they will pul>- lish this, and Satan will harden the hearts of the people to stir them up in anger against you, that they will not believe my words. Thus Satan thinketh to overpower your testimony in this gen¬ eration that the work may not come forth in this generation : but, behold here is wisdom, and be¬ cause I shew unto you wisdom, and give you com¬ mandments concerning these things, what you shall do, show it not unto the world until you have ac-

•complished the work of translation.

70

THE PROF HE T OF PALMYRA.

7. Marvel not that I said unto you, here is wis¬ dom, show it not unto the world, for I said show it not unto the world, that you may be preserved. Behold I do not say that you shall not show it unto the righteous ; but as you cannot always judge the righteous, or as you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous, therefore, I say unto you, hold your peace, until I shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter.

8. And now, verily I say unto you, that an account of those things that you have written, which have gone out of your hands, are engraven upon the plates of Nephi ; yea, and you remember, it was said in those writings that a more particular account was given of those things upon the plates of Nephi.

9. And, now, because the account which is en¬ graven upon the plates of Nephi, is more particular concerning these things, which in my wisdom I would bring to the knowledge of the people in this account ; therefore you shall translate the engrav¬ ings which are on the plates of Nephi, down even until you come to the reign of King Benjamin, or until you come to that which you have translated, which you have retained ; and you shall publish it as the record of Nephi, and thus I will confound those who have altered my words. I will not sufler that they shall destroy my work ; yea, I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the Devil.

10. Behold they have only got a part or an abridgment of the account of Nephi. Behold there are many things engraven on the plates of Nephi, which do throw greater views upon my gospel ; therefore it is wisdom in me, that you should translate this first part of the engravings of Nephi, and send forth in this work. And behold, all the remainder of this work does contain all those

A TERRIBLE DILEMMA.

71

parts of my gospel which my holy prophets, yea, anct also my disciples desired in their prayers, should come forth unto this people. And I said unto them that it should be granted unto them ac¬ cording to their faith in their prayers ; yea, and this was their faith, that my gospel which I gave unto them, that they might preach in their days, might come unto their brethren, the Lamanites, and also all that had become Lamanites, because of their dissentions.

11. Now this is not all, their faith in their prayers were, that this gospel should be made known also, if it were possible, that other nations should possess this land : and thus they did leave a blessing upon this land in their prayers, that whosoever should believe in this gospel in this land might have eternal life, yea, that it might be free unto all of whatsoever nation, kindred, tongue or people, they may be.

12. And, now, behold according to their faith in their prayers, will I bring this part of my gospel to the knowledge of my people. Behold I do not bring it to destx*oy that which they have received, but to build it up.

13. And for this cause have I said, if this gen¬ eration harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them. Now I do not say this to destroy my church ; but I say this to build up my church ; therefore, whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven, but it is they who do not fear me, neither keep my commandments, but buildeth up churches unto themselves to get gain, yea, and all those that do wickedly, and buildeth up the kingdom of the Devil ; yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, that it is they that I will disturb, and cause to tremble and shake to the centre.

14. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the son of God.

72

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

I came unto my own, and my own received me not. I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not. I am he who said other sheep have I which are not of this fold, unto my disciples, and many there were that understood me not.

15. And I will show unto this people that I had other sheep, and that they were a branch of the house of Jacob : and I will bring to light their marvellous works, which they did in my name : yea, and I will also bring to light my gos¬ pel, which was ministered unto them, and behold they shall not deny that which you have received, but they shall build it up, and shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine, yea, and the only doctrine which is in me ; and this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention ; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention, concerning the points of my doctrine : and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the Scriptures, and do not under¬ stand them : therefore, I will unfold unto them this great mystery7, for behold I will gather them as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if they will not harden their hearts ; yea, if they will come, they may, and partake of the waters of life freely7.

16. Behold, this is my doctrine: whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church, whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me : therefore he is not of my church.

17. And now, behold, whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my Rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.

18. And now, remember the words of him who is the life and the light of the world, your Re¬ deemer, your Lord, and yrour God. Amen.

A TERRIBLE DILEMMA. T3

And these two long harangues, abounding in absurdities, blasphemy, misquoted Scripture, and bad grammar, are given forth as communications from the Almighty ! On what pretense and for what purpose ? This pretender to a divine mission had produced one hundred and sixteen pages of what he claimed to be a translation from gold plates l-evealed to him by an angel from heaven ; these pages had been entrusted to Martin Harris and lost, causing a very serious dilemma, as he had sense enough to perceive that he could not by “translation” or otherwise, reproduce them. So these “ revelations” were resorted to as a remedy for the difficulty.

The real facts were these : Mr. Harris had, in good faith and honesty of purpose, carried the manuscript home to exhibit to his wife and four friends, in accordance with his “solemn covenant” ; but his more sensible spouse, not being a believer in such blasphemies, and foreseeing only trouble and ruin to her husband, abstracted it in his sleep, and committed it to the flames. For years she kept the fact a profound secret, even until after the book was published. But this active hostility on her part, finally produced a feud in the family which resulted in separation. — Pomeroy's History.

This last “ revelation,” after ten months’ labor, is produced, informing the prophet “ of the altera-

74

THE PEOPllET OF PALMYRA.

tion of the manuscript of the fore part of the Book of Mormon” and yet no alterations had been made. Neither the prophet Smith, the heavenly messenger, nor even the Lord (according to the story) , knew what had become of the lost pages ; but were falsely accusing innocent persons of altering and pervert¬ ing them at Satan’s instigation. And not only that, the whole three are written down as dishonest — the Lord in instigating a dishonest transaction, and the others as participators in carrying it out ; using the Devil’s own weapons to counteract the designs of his emissaries.

It is difficult to conceive of a more senseless piece of folly ; and yet it is given forth in all solemnity, as a cute scheme of the Lord to circum- vent the cunning of the Devil and his abettors. And yet those two “ revelations ” are printed in all editions of the Doctrines and Covenants , and care¬ fully read and quoted by thousands of Mormon ad¬ herents !

STORY AND BOOK EXAMINED.

CHAPTER Yin.

THE STORY AND THE BOOK EXAMINED.

Evidences of Falsity — The Record— Its Title — “ Con¬ founding of Language” — The Nephite-Lamanite Americans — Metal of the Plates— Plates Remaining Buried — A Bonanza — Mariner’s Compass— To Work by Faith.

We have now followed this story as told by its author, from its inception down to the period of its development into a systematic and wicked scheme of imposture. On it the whole structure of Mor- monism is built. It is the ground-work of a delu¬ sion, which, for fifty years, has been spreading over the United States and making proselytes in Europe and Asia, and in the islands of the sea.

It contains within itself many evidences of its falsity, which, when properly weighed and consid¬ ered, must cause it to be rejected by every intelli¬ gent and well-balanced mind. And when viewed in connection with surrounding circumstances, and with the well-known characters and lives of its author and chief abettors, it becomes simply as¬ tounding that any human being, in the wide range of humanity, can be found so credulous as to be¬ lieve it. The fact that hundreds and thousands do

76

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

accept it, and build their hopes of salvation upon it, without so much as a decent inquiry into its truth, is a mournful one, in any fair estimate we may make of human intelligence. And now let us examine it somewhat in detail.

This investigation naturally divides itself into three branches, as embraced in the following propo¬ sitions :

1. The Importance of the Message to the World.

2. The Manner of its Communication.

3. The Character and Qualifications of the Agent employed.

In considering the question of the importance of the message to the world, we must first discover what it purports to be. The reader will bear in mind that the golden plates of the story so miraculously obtained, were translated by Joseph Smith, Jun¬ ior,* through the medium of the Urim and Thum- mim, into a book, which is designated as “ The Book of Mormon” . The folio wing is its title entire :

“Tiie Book of Mormon : An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon, upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi.

‘ ‘ Wherefore it is an abridgment of the Record of the People of Nephi ; and also of the Lamanites ; written to the Lamanites, which are a remnant of the House of Israel ; and also Jew and Gentile;

* The father being also named Joseph, the young prophet was always particular to have tha“ Junior” designation ap¬ pended to his name.

STOEY AND BOOK EXAMINED. 77

written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of Prophecy and of Revelation. Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed ; to come forth by the gift and power of God, unto the interpretation thereof; sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord ; to come forth in due time by the way of Gentile ; the interpretation thereof by the gift of God ; an abridgment taken from the Book of Ether.

“Also, which is a Record of the People of Jared, which were scattered at the time the Lord con¬ founded the language of the people when they were building a tower to get to Heaven ; which is to shew unto the remnant of the House of Israel how great things the Lord hath done for their fathers ; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast oft' forever ; and also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all Nations. And now if there be fault, it be the mistake of men ; wherefore condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judg¬ ment seat of Christ.

“ By Joseph Smith, Junior, “Author and Proprietor.”

Title, preface, and admonition, all in one.

The foregoing is a verbatim copy from the first- edition, printed in 1829-30, by E. B. Grandin, as the title page indicates, “ for the author.” On the succeeding page is the usual copyright certificate of “ R. R. Lansing, Clerk- of the Northern District ^of New York,” certifying that, “ on the 11th day of June, a.d. 1829,” Joseph Smith, Junior, did

78

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

deposit the title of u book, “ the right whereof he claims as author ,” and reciting the title page as above. In subsequent editions the obvious ab¬ surdity of claiming to be the author of a work sent from Heaven, seems to have been discovered, and the signature of “Moroni,” the angel, takes the place of “Joseph Smith”; but whether the sub¬ stitution mends the matter we will not attempt to decide. It makes the angel an applicant for copy¬ right in a book, which, according to his own state¬ ment, was only partly his own. Still later editions — especially those issued at Plano, Illinois, for the “ Reconstructed ” branch of the church — make still further changes, and slightly “reconstruct” its phraseology.

The design and purpose of the work, however, will be hard to discover from the ‘ ‘ confounding of language ” in its title. But, on examination, we find it to be a pretended history of the early inhab¬ itants of the American Continent ; that they are represented to have been the descendants of some of the people who were dispersed at the Tower of Babel, and also of some of the tribes of Israel, who left Jerusalem during the reign of King Zedekiah ; that one portion managed to reach these shores in “ eight barges,” “ as tight as a dish and as long as a tree ” ; that their principal business here was preaching and fighting, and writing records ; and

STOllY AND BOOK EXAMINED. 79

that after multifarious and terrible wars, they be¬ came, like the Kilkenny cats, sadly used up, and that the Indian tribes, termed “ Lamanites,” are the tails that were left.

This, in short, is the Message from Heaven, the “ fulness of the gospel,” the “ preparatory work,” that is to usher in “ the millennial reign ” ! This is the story, of which Orson Pratt, one o'f the ablest of Mormon writers, says :

‘ ‘ The nature of the message in the Book of Mormon is such that, if true, none can be saved and reject it ; and if false, none can be save who re¬ ceive it.

Had the general historical idea been dressed in good English by one possessed of a well-balanced mind, instead of one who had

“ eaten of the insane root ■ That takes the reason prisoner,”

it might have made a volume of pleasant reading, if nothing more ; and had there been any facts known to the author to give it color, it might even have approached the dignity of a historical ro¬ mance.

These pretended records are claimed to have been handsomely engraved on metal plates, by a suc¬ cession of prophets or holy men, belonging to these descendants of the Jews here in America, at various periods of their history, from Nephi, in the reign of Zedekiah, down to Moroni, the last his-

80 THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

torian among them, in about the fifth century of the Christian era. The plates were of various metals, manufactured by the writers, sometimes of gold, sometimes of brass, and at others of a metal not mentioned, hut of ores obtained from the mines. The brass mines of America are not now known.

Mormon and Moroni made abridgments of all these records on plates of gold, and buried them in the hill Cumorah, which stands near Palmyra, in the State of New York. There they had lain, in a stone box held together by “ some kind of cement,” for thirteen centuries, awaiting the advent of some suitable person to translate them, and give them to the world for its redemption. And that classical and consecrated mount is now known as ‘ ‘ Mormon Hill.” Why do not these people erect a monument, or build one of their many temples there ?

Mormon and Moroni’s plates — abridgments only of the great encyclopedia of American histoiy — were of the precious metal, and they were the only ones revealed. The others are presumed to be — if we put faith in the story — if not in the hill Cumorah, certainly in some “ placer ” in the vicinity ; and the wonder is that the faithful have not been “ prospecting ” for them. Should these, or a considerable portion of them, also be of gold, their value is great ; as there should be more than ,i dozen of these bundles of plates, besides some other

STOBY AND BOOK EXAMINED.

81

valuables, “ hid up” somewhere about Palmyra. Those alone obtained from the stone box, and hid¬ den away again, as described, would make a solid block of gold of twTo hundred cubic inches, worth many thousand dollars for the metal alone. The wonder is, that while excavating for the treasure hid by Kidd and the pirates, the youthful prophet did not bring to light more of these precious relics of antiquity. As evidence of faith in the story, “Mormon Hill ” should have been thoroughly pros¬ pected long ago.

The nomenclature of the volume is unique, if not classical, or beautiful, as witness such names as Riplakish, Shiz, Shule, Kib, Com, Coriantumr, Gadianton, Zarahemla, Mulek, Giddianhi, Gidgid- doni, Zemnarihah, Cezoram, beside many others equally euphonious. According to the Booh of Mormon, Black Hawk, our Indian chief, was a de¬ scendant of the Lamanites ; hence, probably, his name , Ma-hci-ta i-m e-she-h ia-hiah .

“ Lo, and behold,” and “ And it came to pass,” are repeated hundreds of times in the volume, sup- posably to give the narrative greater solemnity. Whole chapters are given bodily and verbatim from the writings of the prophets, in the commonly used King James version of the Scriptures, but profess¬ edly written by these Jewish- American prophets, and translated from the “Reformed Egyptian,” by

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

Joseph Smith. Strange, indeed, that this Urim and Thummim translation should so closely follow the renderings of the scholars of King James’s day. The term ‘ ‘ Bible ” is put into the mouth of one of these prophets to designate the sacred writings, hundreds of years before they were collected and known by that name.

The mariner’s compass, this story gives us to know, was in use in the days of Zedekiah ; though it is inferred that the one used by Lehi was the first one, and that Nephi, the historian, was the in¬ ventor of it— certainly of this one.* It was pre¬ pared for the occasion, as the party was about to start on a journey into the wilderness :

“And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord spake unto my father, by night, and commanded him, that on the morrow he should take his journey into the wilderness. And it came to pass, that as my father arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round ball, of curious workman¬ ship, and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles ; and the one pointed the way whither toe should go into the ivilderness (!)... And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord said unto him, Look upon the ball and behold the things that are written. . . . And it came to pass that

I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, and they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them. ( ! )

* This we find on further reading to be a mistake. The name of it was ‘ ‘ Liahona —which is, being interpreted, a com¬ pass ; and the Lord prepared it.”

STORY AND BOOK EXAMINED.

83

And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord ; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the diligence and faith which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.” — Book of Mormon, 1st edition, pp. 39-41.

Truly a wonderful and accommodating compass ! Working on principles peculiarly its own, one of its spindles pointed the way for them to go, and both spindles worked according to the faith and diligence and heed given them by its users. And afterwards, when they had built a ship, and gone out upon the briny and tempestuous ocean, and the tem¬ pests came and the waves ran high, and they were sorely troubled, “ behold, I took the compass, and it did work whither I desired it.” Such a compass as this which the Lord vouchsafed to Nephi, would be invaluable now in the hands of the searchers for the North Pole. With it in skilful hands, and the needed diligence and faith, they could walk right up to the Pole, and plant the stars and stripes, without further search. And great is the pity that the British government could not have supplied such a valuable instrument to Sir John Franklin, when he undertook his disastrous voyage ; and it would have been so serviceable, too, on board the many vessels that were sent out to find him. In¬ stead of wandering all over the ice-covered seas in

84

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

their search, it could have led them right up to where he and his famishing crew were perishing. Oh, why did not these ancient people think to place that invaluable compass in the stone box with the Urim and Thummim and Laban’s sword? or, if there, why was it not delivered to Joseph by the messenger? Let us hope that it may yet be found somewhere about Cumorak hill.

EXAMINATION CONTINUED.

85

CHAPTER IX.

EXAMINATION CONTINUED.

A Stoky for Ship-builders — A Year’s Voyage— Eight Wonderful Barges— An Electric Light — The Land of Promise — War a Pastime — A Great Battle — Words of Isaiah — Beasts in the ' Promised Land — Remarka¬ ble Translation.

It is Ether, the historian of the Jaredites, who informs us how the Jared family, after escaping from the “ confounding of language ” at the Tower of Babel, finally reached these shores. It was a remarkable voyage. Navigators, and, indeed, all who go down to the sea in ships, will be interested in it, and may gain from it some valuable knowl¬ edge pertaining to their perilous calling. It is lengthy, and we omit the unimportant portions, retaining the main facts. Jared and his brethren had reached the sea, “ and they called the name of the place Moriancumer,” and there they dwelt in their tents for the space of four years. But this was not to be their abiding place. Turn to page 542 of the first edition and read the wonderful story :

“ And the Lord said, Go to work and build, after the manner of barges which ye have hitherto built.

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did go to work, and also his brethren, and built barges after the manner which they had built, according to the instructions of the Lord. And they were small, and they were light upon the water, even like unto the lightness of a fowl upon the water ; and they were built after a manner that they were exceeding tight, even that they would hold water like unto a dish ; and the bottom thereof was tight like unto a dish ; and the sides thereof was tight like unto a dish ; and the length thereof was the length of a tree ; and the door thereof, when it was shut, was tight like unto a dish. And it came to pass that the brother of Jared cried unto the Lord, say¬ ing : O, Lord, I have performed the work which thou hast commanded me, and I have made the barges according as thou hast directed me. And behold, O Lord, in them there is no light, whither shall we steer. — And also we shall perish, for in them we cannot breathe, save it is the air which is in them ; therefore, we shall perish. And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared, Behold, thou shalt make a hole in the top thereof, and also in the bottom thereof ; and when thou shalt sutler for air, thou shalt unstop the hole thereof, and re¬ ceive air. And if it so be that the water come in upon thee, behold, ye shall stop the hole thereof, that ye may not perish in the flood. And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did so, according as the Lord had commanded. And he cried again unto the Lord, saying, O Lord, behold I have done as thou hast commanded me ; and I have prepared the vessels for my people, and behold, there is no light in them. Behold, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness ? And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared, What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels? 1’or behold, ye cannot have windows,

EXAMINATION CONTINUED.

87

for they will be dashed in pieces ; neither shall ye take fire with you, for ye shall not go by the light of fire ; for behold, ye shall be as a whale in the midst of the sea ; for the mountain waves shall dash upon you. Nevertheless, I will bring you up again out of the depths of the sea ; for the winds have gone forth out of my mouth, and also the rains and the floods have I sent forth. And behold, I prepare you against these things : for howbeit, ye can¬ not cross this great deep, save I prepare ye against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come. Therefore, what will ye that I should prepare for you, that ye may have light, when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea ?

“And it came to pass that the brother of Jared, (now the number of the vessels which had been prepared was eight,) went forth unto the mount, which they called the mount Shelem, because of its exceeding height, and did moulten out of a rock sixteen small stones ; and they were white and clear, even as transparent glass ; and he did cany them in his hands upon top of the mount, and cried again unto the Lord, saying, O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed about by the floods ; . . . but behold these things which I have moulten out of the rock. And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man ; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness ; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea. Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to shew forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men. And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

his hand and touched the stones, one by one, with his finger ; and the veil was taken off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord ; .

* ‘ For it came to pass after that the Lord had pre¬ pared the stones which the brother of Jared had carried up into the mount, the brother of Jared came down out of the mount, and he did put forth the stones into the vessels which were prepared, one in each end thereof ; and behold, they did give light unto the vessels thereof. And thus the Lord caused the stones to shine in darkness, to give light unto men, women and children, that they might not cross the great waters in darkness.

“And it came to pass that when they had prepared all manner of food, that thereby they might subsist upon the water, and also food for their flocks and herds, and whatsoever beast, or animal, or fowl, that they should carry with them : And it came to pass that when they had done all these things, they got aboard their vessels or barges, and set forth into the sea, commending themselves unto the Lord their God. And it came to pass that the Lord caused that there should a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land ; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind. And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind :

“And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep, there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ark of Noah ; therefore, when they were encompassed about by many waters, they did cry unto the Lord, and He did bring them forth again upon the top of the

EX AMIN A TION CONTINUED.

waters. And it came to pass that the wind did never cease to blow towards the promised land, while they were upon the waters : and thus they were driven forth before the wind ; and they did sing praises unto the Lord ; yea, the brother of Jared did sing praises unto the Lord, and he did thank and praise the Lord all the day long ; and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord. And thus they were driven forth ; and no monster of the sea could break them, neither whale that could mar them ; and they did have light continually, whether it was above the water or under the water. And thus they were driven forth, three hundred and forty and four days upon the water, and they did land upon the shore of the promised land.”

The historian has not informed us how many persons composed the company in this remarkable voyage. There must have been several, though, to properly man each of the vessels. And let us pause to contemplate these eight wonderfully con¬ structed barges, on their adventurous voyages. All built alike — light like a fowl, long as a tree, tight like a dish ; all provided with holes in bottom and top, and lighted with those transparent stones which the sagacious brother of Jared “ did moulten ” out of a rock. All laden, too, with “ whatsoever beast, or animal, or fowl, that they should carry with them,” and with “all manner of food” necessary for a year’s voyage. They start together before a furious wind, and after nearly a year, land together without so much as one being lost. No monster of the

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

deep hurt them ; no whale marred them ! Some¬ times riding on top of the waves, sometimes en¬ gulfed beneath them, the ever-watchful brother of Jared is ready in one barge, plug in hand, to stop and unstop the holes, as occasion may require, to shut out the water, or to give his crew and passen¬ gers another sniff of air. Who performed that im¬ portant service in the remaining seven barges is not stated.

These vessels, it will be observed, were provided with no propelling power, no steering apparatus, no compass. The instrument used by Nephi and his father, centuries after, had not yet been invented. But they did not need any of these things, for a furious wind blew steadily for the space of a year directly toward the promised land !

And now that these refugees from the Tower are safely landed on these shores, let us turn to page 572 of the same book, and learn of some of the deeds of their descendants here. War seems to have been the main business and pastime of these people through all the long centuries of their existence in their western home. And when they did fight, they fought to kill. Here is an account of one of the greatest battles ever fought since the world began, certainly the most sanguinary ever fought on this continent. Talk of the wars of Napoleon, of the Ctesars, of Alexander ; talk of the battle of Water-

EXAMINATION CONTINUED.

91

loo, of Olmutz, of Sevastopol — they dwindle into insignificance when contrasted with the struggle between the two great heroes, Shiz and Coriantumr. They had already fought till Coriantumr computed a loss of “ two millions of mighty men, and also their wives and children.” If Shiz had lost as many, the total number would not fall short of fifteen to twenty millions of souls. So they had now become highly incensed and prepared to go at it in earnest :

‘ ‘ It came to pass that Ether did behold all the doings of the people ; and he beheld that the people which were for Coriantumr were gathered together to the army ot Coriantumr, and the people which were for Shiz were gathered together to the army of Sliiz ; wherefore, they were for the space of four years gathering together the people, that they might get all which were upon the face of the land, and that they might receive all the strength which it were possible that they could receive. And it came to pass that when they wrere all gathered to¬ gether, 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 another, to bat¬ tle ; and they fought all that day, and conquered not.”

Men, women, and children, all armed and pan- oplied, going forth to battle ! And it proved to be a nine da}Ts’ fight ; for “ on the morrow ” they went at it again, and the next, and the next, to the sixth day, when, a count being made, it was found

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

“ they had. all- fallen by the sword, save it were fifty and two of the people of Coriantumr, and sixty and nine of the people of Shiz.” Then another day’s fight and another count. At the end of this day Shiz had thirty-two left and Coriantumr twenty-seven. The following day it was fight and flight ; but “on the morrow,” which was the ninth, after a fierce and day-long struggle, only the two gritty commanders were left to face each other. And they were about as good as dead, for Shiz fainted with the loss of blood, and Coriantumr was greatly exhausted. Savage fellows ! they should now have shaken hands, and given up the contest ; but no, for

‘ ‘ It came to pass that when Coriantumr had leaned upon his sword, that he rested a little, he smote off the head of Shiz. And it came to pass that after he had smote off the head of Shiz, that Shiz raised upon his hands and fell ; and after that he had struggled for breath, he died. And it came to pass that Coriantumr fell to the earth, and be¬ came as if he had no life.”

And Ether finished his record, and hid it in a way that the “ people of Limhi did find it ; and it was buried again, and Joseph Smith, Junior, dug it up, and with it enlightened and saved the world ” !

Going back to Lehi and Nephi again : after they had ended the voyage in which the compass

EXAMINATION CONTINUED.

had rendered them such valuable service, and brought them to this land of promise, they found here

“Beasts in the forests of every kind, both the cow, and the ox, and the ass, and the horse, and the goat, and the wild goat, and all manner of wild animals, which were for the use of men.”

It is known that horses were introduced into America since its discovery by Europeans, and as to oxen, they are not supposed to he indigenous in any country l In other parts of the work, sheep and swine are alluded to as being common here ; none of which, our historical writers agree, were here until after the discovery of the country by Co¬ lumbus. ‘ * Cureloms ” and ‘ ‘ cumons ” are also men¬ tioned ; they were probably here, and are not known to have existed anywhere else, and are now extinct.

But with all its foolishness and glaring absurdi¬ ties, it will not do to say there is no good in this Booh of Mormon. There is in it a great deal of good doctrine, and precept, and instruction, and many sublime thoughts. But all, or nearly so, of these, are direct and palpable plagiarisms from the Scriptures and other works. The nonsense is original ; and the two are combined in such an un¬ skilful way, as to make it, as a whole, a piece of ridiculous absurdity. Besides numerous detached texts and phrases from the Bible, several whole

94

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

chapters are copied. A number of these chapters are from the Prophet Isaiah. On page 86, first edition, Nephi is made to say :

“ And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words.”

Then he quotes continuously from the beginning of chapter second to the end of chapter fourteen, verbatim from the book of Isaiah. The inquiry nab urally arises, How could Nephi, here in America, in the reign of Zedekiah, King of Judah, be able to quote from the writings of Isaiah in Jerusalem? Ah ! we must not forget : the plates which Lehi’s sons stole from Jerusalem, after murdering their owner, Laban, contained these prophecies of Isaiah, and those they had with them in America. But another difficulty arises : Laban’s plates were writ¬ ten in Hebrew (or were they in “ Reformed Egyp¬ tian ? ” — no matter) ; in either case is it not queer that when rendering them into English, they should happen to coincide, word for word, sentence by sentence, with the King James translation? Such a feat in translation was never before performed since the world began. Three hundred years ago a number of the learned men of Europe are set to work to translate the Holy Scriptures, from the Hebrew, from the Greek, from any language in which they were to be found ; and they produce the vei’sion now commonly in use, and known as the

-EXAMINATION CONTINUED. 95

King James version. In 1829-30 Joseph Smith translates certain of these chapters from what he calls the Keformed Egyptian tongue, on plates dug up from the ground in New York, where they had lain thirteen hundred years, themselves a translation from the Hebrew, and “ lo and behold,” these trans¬ lations perfectly correspond ! And yet there are thousands who see in this a strong proof of Joe Smith’s divine mission !

Many pages might be written, filled with instances of the senseless, ridiculous, incongruous, and blas¬ phemous character of the work. But the foregoing are sufficient to show that such a work could never have been sent as a Message from God to man.

96

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

CHAPTER X.

REVIEW CONTINUED.

Testimony oe Thkee Witnesses — Also of Eight Witnesses — “ What Moke Need Be Said? ” — Death to Behold the Plates — A Box of Brickbats— Testimony Analyzed — Smith’s “ Ipse Dixit ” — Collusion or Deception— Testi¬ mony Invalid— Strang’s Failure — Laban’s Sword and Lehi’s Directors.

We have now shown this Book of Mormon to be utterly valueless as a revelation to mankind ; to be puerile, absurd, inconsistent, false, and blas¬ phemous. It does not contain within its lids one known historical or scientific fact, one valuable religious or moral maxim, one elevating or en¬ nobling thought, not to be found elsewhere, pro¬ mulgated long before its framers had existence.

Let us next consider the testimony and the means and methods by which it is attempted to palm it upon the world. The fact of its unworthiness alone, however, ought to be conclusive against it. The Almighty could not, by extraordinary or any other means, communicate to mankind an unworthy mes¬ sage.

A story to be believed, must, 1, Be reasonable ; 2, Must agree in its several parts ; 3, Must com-

liE VIEW CONTINUED.

97

port with well-known facts ; and, 4, Must keep nothing back. A departure from any of these is prima facie evidence of its falsity. This story, told by Smith and those who vouch for hini, is a departure from all these conditions. His own testi¬ mony has been given in a previous chapter. It is attempted to be supported by that of eleven witnesses — three in one certificate, and eight in another. The three certify as follows :

THE TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES.

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 con¬ tain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, his brethren, and also of the people of Jared, which 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 sober¬ ness, 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 there¬ on ; and we know that it is by the grace of God, the Father, and our Lord, Jesus Christ, that we be¬ held and bear record that these things are true ; and it is marvellous in our eyes. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it ; wherefore, to be obedient unto

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

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.

(No date.)

The reader will note the names of these three

witnesses. Then follows :

AND ALSO THE TESTIMONY OF EIGHT WITNESSES.

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that Joseph Smith, Jr., the author and proprietor of this work, has shewn unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold ; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated, we did handle with our hands ; and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And thus we bear record, with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shewn unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world to witness unto the world that which we have seen : and we lie not, God bearing witness of it.

Christian Whitmer, Hiram Page,

Jacob Whitmer, Joseph Smith, Sr., Peter Whitmer, Jr., Hyrum Smith,

John Whitmer, Samuel H. Smith. fNo date.)

MARTIN HARRIS.

OLIVER COWDERY. DAVID WHITMER.

THE THREE WITNESSES.

REVIEW CONTINUED.

90

‘ ‘ What more need be said ? ” triumphantly ex¬ claims the editor of the Deseret News, after quot¬ ing these testimonials. Much more may be said. The first inquiry one would be likely to make after reading them and hearing Smith’s story for the first time, would be — Why should Smith resort to super¬ natural means to prove the truth of the story, when ample natural means were at hand? Why should he call in the angels to convince the world that he had the plates, when it was only necessary to ex¬ hibit them openly to the people, to convince them? There were hundreds of people about Palmyra, and thousands in the near cities and towns, certainly quite as respectable and truth-loving as these eleven witnesses, who would have been glad to testify of the fact, without angels’ aid, had they been allowed the opportunity. And they would as gladly have aided with their means, to have the plates properly translated and published, trusting to the common- sense of mankind to judge of their value. Yet he studiously avoided exhibiting them to any one, learned or unlearned, on the miserable pretence that it would be death for any one to behold them. Why did not the eleven fall dead at the terrible sight, instead of living, to be afterwards denounced as liars and scoundrels by the prophet, and “given over to the buffetings of the Devil,” as the chiefest among them were? Carefully shut in a box and

100

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

covered with a cloth, was his mode of showing them to his associates. And the story is told about Palmyra, that two men, by a bold manoeuvre, did obtain a sight of what was beneath the cloth. They prevailed upon him to remove the lid of the box, when one of them, in his impetuosity, and remem¬ bering the death penalty, exclaimed, “Egad, I’ll see the critter, live or die ! ” and snatching off the cloth, disclosed — a large brickbat ! And the sight didn’t kill him, either. The testimony of these two men should have been added to the other testimonials. They saw it with their natural eyes, and their testimony could have been believed.

To analyze the statements of these eleven wit¬ nesses : The first three assert that they (together apparently) were shown the plates containing the record ; that they had seen the engravings thereon ; that this book is a correct translation thereof , and that it is true. How did they know all this ? By the grace of God, and because an angel told them so. How did they know it was the voice of God and an angel? Because Joseph Smith said so. How did Joseph Smith know? Because a messenger from heaven revealed it to him in a vision ; and because the prophets foretold, in this same record, that another Joseph should bring it to light, and that three witnesses should testify thereof! So all this array of testimony is based on his ipse dixit

BE VIEW CONTINUED

101

alone ; evidently so, also, from statements in his autobiography, and from more than one of his pre¬ tended revelations, to which we shaft presently refer. The eight certify that the plates were shown them, not by an angel, but by Smith himself, and that they had handled and “ hefted ” them — whether in a box and covered, they do not say — and further, that he was “ author and proprietor” of the work. Those eleven must have been very “knowing” men.

These certificates are both evidently emanations from Smith’s own mind — in the same style and partly in the same language. And one of them is subsequently altered, long after signature and after the publication of the book, to make it conform to the new claim that he was only the “translator,” and not the “ author and proprietor.”

Who are these eleven witnesses, and had they any incentives to make these testimonials ? Being without date, we must guess at the period they were written, but it was evidently after Smith had decided to make a book, and intended these testi¬ monials as aids to give it circulation. All of them, except Harris and Page, belonged to the two families of Smith and Whitmer — five of the latter and three of the former — Cowdery’s wife being also a Whitmer. Nearly all of them had a pecuniary interest in the success of the venture. Cowdery

102 THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

and Harris had each been the amanuensis of the prophet during the translation, and the elder Whit- mer had boarded him, and they were his creditors to that amount. Besides this, Harris had already given him fifty dollars, and was the capitalist to foot the printer’s bill of three thousand dollars. The circumstances strongly suggest collusion, but it is unimportant whether they signed the papers knowing their falsity, or did so as the result of a too implicit reliance on Smith’s word.

Again, is it not a fair presumption that Mrs. Smith would have seen or known something positive about those plates, had there been any ? Yet numer¬ ous persons have testified that she always denied having seen them, and declared that she knew no more about them than others. She had seen and handled a box, said by her husband to contain them ; but had not taken interest enough to look into it. Can it be possible, under this state of facts, that Mrs. Emma Hale Smith believed that box contained golden plates worth thousands of dollars in value, and carried in living characters a message from heaven to earth, that was to work the redemption of mankind ; and that her husband was a chosen instrument in the hands of God to effect that redemption? No, it is no stretch of imagination to believe that Emma Smith went to her grave believing — not that Joseph Smith was a

BE VIEW CONTINUED.

103

“Prophet, Seer, and Revelator” — but that he was instead an arrant fraud and imposter.

Mormon writers assert that the testimony of the eleven witnesses would be strong enough to substantiate the claim ‘ ‘ in any court of justice on earth.” So far from this being true, it is just such testimony as would be thrown out of any court, in accordance with well established rules of evidence. Nor do the Mormons themselves always accept such testimony. James J. Strang, at a later day one of the faithful, tried a similar game at Vorce, "Wis¬ consin, but failed to obtain any considerable fol¬ lowing. His plates and translation were witnessed by four persons. Perhaps if he had introduced angels and fighting devils into his story, and another Urim and Thummim, and another assassin’s sword, he might have gained the ears of more of his breth¬ ren. But he introduced only human witnesses and natural means, and failed. It is the marvellous and impossible only that can give credence in some minds.

We have shown that the testimony of these eleven witnesses was but the ipse dixit of Smith himself. We will now turn to his book of revela¬ tions, the Doctrine and Covenants , and see what he says about it. In March, 1829, while this pre¬ tended translation was going forward, or about the time of its close, and the approach of the day when

104 THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

the three thousand dollars must be forthcoming, Martin Harris very naturally became anxious for further evidence, and was brought to silence and obedience with the following revelation :

“Behold, I say unto you, that as my servant, Martin Harris, has desired a witness at my hand, that you, my servant, Joseph Smith, Jr., have got the plates of which you have testified and borne record that you have received of me ; and now, be¬ hold, this shall you say unto him, He who spake unto you said unto you, I, the Lord, am God, and have given these things unto you, my servant, Joseph Smith, Jr., and have commanded you that you should stand as a witness of these things, and I have caused you that you should enter into a covenant with me, that you should not show them except to those persons to whom I commanded you, and you have no power over them except I grant it unto you. And you have a gift to translate the plates, etc. . . . And that he

shall say unto the people of this generation, be¬ hold, I have seen the things which the Lord has shown unto Joseph Smith, Jr., and I know of a surety that they are true, for I have seen them ; for they have been shown unto me by the power of God, and not of man.” — Doc. and Cov., pp. 69- 70, Plano edition.

The English of this is, in short, that Smith in¬ forms Harris that the Lord requires him to lie about having seen the plates, and it appears that he accepted the message, and did so.

Again, same edition, page 89 ;

REVIEW CONTINUED.

106

“Revelation given to Oliver Coicdery , David Wliitmer , and Martin Harris, June, 1829, previous to their viewing the plates containing the Booh of Mormon.

“ Behold I say unto you, that you must rely upon my word, which, if you do with full purpose of heart, you shall have a view of the plates, and also of the breastplate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim, which were given to the brother of Jared upon the mount, when he talked with the Lord face to face, and the miraculous directors which were given to Lelii while in the wilderness on the borders of the Red Sea ; and it is hy your faith that you shall obtain a view of them, even by that faith which was had by the prophets of old.”

And they had faith, for did not Smith tell them they must have? And they did rely upon the Lord’s word, for did not Smith tell them it was the word of the Lord ? And they did view the plates through faith, for Smith told them the Lord said that was the way it was to be done ; and after seeing them through faith, they must testify to their truth. Certainly; these revelations explain the testimony of the eleven witnesses. “What more need be said ? ”

But why did not these three witnesses tell the whole story? The revelation promised them that they should see not only the plates, but the breast¬ plate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thum¬ mim, and Lehi’s directors; yet they only tell of seeing the plates.

106

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

The instruments used by Jared and his brother, and by Lehi, in crossing the sea, have heretofore been alluded to in these pages ; but the sword of Laban has not. This sword, it will be remembered by readers of the Book of Mormon, belonged to Laban, a friend of Lehi, who remained at Jerusa¬ lem. After leaving that city and journeying some time in the wilderness, Lehi bethought him of some plates that Laban had, containing much genealogi¬ cal and other Jewish history, and he coveted them. So he sent his sons back to obtain them; but Laban refused to give them up, and the boys slew him with his own sword, and stealing the plates and the sword, made their way back unmolested to their kind-hearted father. Those stolen plates, and that sword, with the stain of assassination on its blade, are a part of the relics which the Lord had handed down from father to son through many generations — to be dug out of Cumorah hill, and testified of by these three witnesses; and they failed to do it at last 1

FUBTHEB REVELATIONS.

107

CHAPTER XI.

FURTHER REVELATIONS AND LABORS.

The World’s Redemption at Hand — Harris Obstinate, but Yields — He Sees Money in It — Revelations Con¬ tinue — Church Discipline — Sidney Rigdon’s Hand Manifest — A New Statement Concerning Him — Church Organized— Calvin Stoddard’s Conversion — “Support” for the Prophet— No. 1 Provided for — The Elect Lady — Rigdon Contorted — Takes High Rank — Parley P. Pratt — Zion Established— Fanatical Excesses— Smith and Cowdery Baptized.

We have thus far seen the plates taken from their long repose in the hill of Cumorah, carried about in a box by the young prophet, after three years translated, their authenticity and truthfulness vouched for, and the copyright of a book obtained ; and now the work is ready to be issued for the redemption of the world. But it cost something in those days, as well as now, to print books ; and where was the money to come from to pay for the edition of five thousand copies, deemed necessary to begin with? None of the Smiths and none of the Whitmers, with Cowdery and Page to help, were in a financial condition sufficiently prosperous to meet the requirement. Martin Harris was the only camel that was known to be able to carry the

108

THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.

heavy burden ; but he was not yet quite willing to kneel down and receive the load. Yet he thought he could see money in the venture. He was told that the retail price for the book had been fixed by divine authority at $1.25 per copy, cheap enough for so valuable a message, and as everybody would be keen to purchase, there must be a fortune in the enterprise. He figured thus: “$1.25X5,000= $6,250 ; cost $3,000 ; profit $3,250, not taking into account the large sums to be obtained on future editions.* Still he hesitated and was rebellious; and to add to his own misgivings, he had at home a very heavy weight to hold him back, in the per¬ son of his more cautious wife. But the prophet was equal to the emergency, and brought forth the following to counteract the obstinacy of his dupe :

“A Commandment of God, and not of man, to Martin Harris, given (Manchester, N. Y, , March, 1830) by Him who is eternal.”

It was designed to be impressive, for Martin’s aid must be secured. After rebuking and threaten¬ ing him severely for his disobedience and wrant of faith, section three reads as follows :

“3. And again I command thee that thou shalt not covet thy neigbor’s wife, nor seek thy neigh¬ bor’s life. And again I command thee that thou

* Of the many editions of the Book of Mormon yet pub¬ lished, no one ever heard of Martin Harris or his heirs receiv¬ ing any perquisites. So the venture proved to be not so great a speculation as he imagined.

FURTHER REVELATIONS.

shalt