Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
fi
AN
young youn
university
in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the
educ education degree of master of religious deduc tion
fj
al
by
paul
cheeswn
BI F TABLE OF CONTENTS
page
CHAPTER
1 io I
introduction
survey of the problem time lapse aspect secrecy aspect problem of secondary sources
environment of joseph smith
lle lie 11 IIs II
FATHER AND SON
visitation
23
ili
visitation
nephi issue
43
moroni
conclusion conclusion
62
IV
pao e page C
appendices
appendix appendix
A
B
C
&
76 77
9 95
tp appendix pendix
appendix
account
112
126
133
undated manuscript
wentworth
appendix E appendix F
appendix appendix
G
H
letter
138
157
0 0 0
0
smiths account
0
168
172
appendix 1 I
comparative chart
10
SELECTED SEISC
references
179
CHAPTER
ONE
introduction
survey of the problem
joseph smith prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of snith
when he was
into the
woods
to pray and
he
that
years old he
was
visited
a
by an angel named
moroni
again he
was
without witnesses
for
account of these
rely
on a
ali all
other
sources of the story of his visions of moroni and the father and son are
secondary since they have been retold
had hear
s josephs josepht
story
members
latterday saints rely upon latter day their faith details left by
.9 9
fp joseph himself however are only sketchy in nature making a historical himsel hinsel
an-
difficult
when
accounts by
other writers
who knew
fill
also
conflicting details
helpful to
and problems
alike
all
the stories
may
still
remain in
this thesis is not an effort to prove beyond telling all doubt that joseph smith was tell ine the truth for this cannot be done tellina teli lne teil ina by empirical methods it is simply an effort to analyze as objectively
as possible the various sources and to suggest possible reasons for some of the problems and conflicts it also shows that joseph smith
consistent in his recitation of the major aspects of his story over the years
was
for the
main
owns words
as
it
previously designed to go having looked around me and finding myself alone 1 kneeled I down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to god 1 had I so scarcely done sop when immediately 1 was seized upon by some power soj I which entirely overcame me and had such astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that 1 could not speak thick darkness I gathered around me and it seemed to me for a time as if 1 were doomed I to sudden destruction but exerting all my powert to call upon god to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me and at the very moment when 1 was ready to sink into despair and abandon I myself to destruction not to an imaginary ruin but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world who had unclear unclear words znclear word any being ioas loas ofis marvelofis marvel odis marvelous marvelods such marve lods power as 1 had never before felt in anybeinge just at I moment of great bun clear wore 1 saw a pillar of light fun funclear word I unclear wort this exactly over my head above the brightness of the sun which descended I alay gradually until it fell upon me it no sooner appeared than 1 found grsdually gaually gaually myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound when the light whose wor7 fmideor wojd me 1 saw two personages 4whose bright&clear worx mclear nojd I rested upon ness and glory defy all description standing above me in the air one of them spake unto me call1mg me by name and said pointing to the calling my beloved son hear him 911 my object in going to other this is join joiu inquire of the lord was to know which to joil no sooner therefore jorl boiu ird of myself so as to be able to speak than 1 I did 1 get possession I febove hbove personages asked the persona es who stood above me in the light which of all the was right at this time it had never entered into my heart sects for
had
after 1 aher I
giu
wrongf I join I wrong were wrongs and which 1 could joins 1 was answered that 1 I that all parsonage must join none of them for they were all wrong and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight that their professors were all corrupt that they draw near to me with their lips but their hearts are far from me they teach for menp nen mena commandments of men having a form of godliness but they doctrines the tj fl he again forbade me to join with any of them power thereof deny the I s more things did he say unto me which 1 cannot write at this thing and nane naoe thinas marfa thina yun fun jnmclear word time Jnmclear 0 funclear clean
clear
en the evening of the above mentioned twenty first of september I n3 9 ht I after 1 had retired to my bed for the night 1 betook myself to prayer 39 and supplication to almighty god for forgiveness of all my sins and follies and also for a manifestation to me that 1 night khow gid my now k I might know fit how state and standing before him nor 1 had fully confidence in obtaining ahn ror I ain kor a devine sic manifestation as 1 had previously had one 14hile 1 I ivhile I was thus in the act of calling upon god 1 discovered a light appeargodp I goda ing in the room which continued to increase untill sic the room was lighter than at noonday when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside standing in the air for his feet did not touch the floor he had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness whiteness hd it was aany beyond any earthly 1 had ever seenp nor do 1 believe that seen seena earthly I I thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant his hands were naked and his arms also a little above the wrist so also were his feet naked as were his leggs a little above the angies a es angles his ankles head and neck were also bare 1 could discover that he had no other col I clothing on but this robe as it was open so that 1 could see into his ciothui clothul I bosom not only was his robe exceedingly white but his whole person was glorious beyohd description beyofad beyond uld nid his countenance truly like aid lightning the room was exceedingly idght but no so very bright as ly exceeding idlght immediately around his person when 1 first looked upon him 1 was I I afraid but the fear soon left me he called me by name and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of god to me and
.9 9
that his
name was
teme
journal story of
first vision took place in 1820 his visions was first published in the
15p 1842 15
As
the narration
this story
and
was
ap 2 2p
80 858
A much
just
two weeks
in the
same
paper
is
known
letter
some
joseph smith were published prior to 1842 although not prior other than
to
1840 9 and
.9
will
be
treated in the
body of the
thesis
and
listed in the
notable that joseph smith evidently attempted to appendix it is also experiences as early as approximately 1833 dictate an account of these
ppe 7 12 pp 712 ap
this
D
was never
it is
found in appendix
of this thesis
ao wid john A Mid stoe a biographer of joseph smith and an apostle of the widstoe uld
church of jesus
christ of latterday s- ints latter day saints garding the time lapse problem timelapse
because
made
comment
re-
wes was this first vision mas not published by the prophet in printed form 1842 until after the prophet began his history 182 in 1838 the conclusion has been offered that the whole story is a fabrication that tint fiat flat did not occur that it was invented to bolster up the pro p hets prophet it bets claims to revelation it is much the same as to say that the doings revei revelationo of jesus are fiction because the gospels recounting them were not writjesus ten until after the death of jesusp or that abraham lincoln was not a jesusa railsplitter because the story of his youth was not printed until he rali rall splitter rail sputter was a mature man a new and astonishing historical dictum2 dictums 2 dictum it is
P
secrecy aspect
pokable reasons poaable posible
josephas why josephts ts joseph
story
was
until eighteen years after its occurrence and then not published until four years later require attention it is recognized however that the followso only explanation ing are mily possible though logical explanations the fact
still
reeven
mains
happened
1831
the book of
com-
tions and
it is
dictate about
that year
joseph did not
tell
it
felt
which were
circulated that
he
compelled to write
it
2john A widstoe gospel interpretations ajohn ohn craftp 1947 p 118 crabb crafb 1947p crafto age appendix sge
A
boo
at the semi annual conference of the church at far west missouri october kt semiannual kest 25. 2 25 1831 the clerk of the conference paraphrased joseph smiths remarks 131 it was not intended tomormonthu world an the particulars of the tell ari ail all coming forth of the book of and also it was not expedient for him to relate these thifags tbjhags tajhgs4 thl thifags As a part of the dictated history of the beginning of the church joseph ks
.1 1
also stated
in the meantime we were forced to keep secret the circumstances of hairing fairing received the priesthood and our having been baptized owing haftng to a spirit of persecution which had already manifested itself in the
neighborhood5 neighborhoods neighborhood 5
by i lication implication libation
c
spiritual manifestations
his mother includes her
he recorded
it at
the end of ac
account
0
next sunset the nezu day we were all seated and joseph commenced telling us the great and glorious things which god mob wob not had manifested to him but before proceeding he charged us mot to bot mention out of the family that which he was about to say to us as ached acked the world was so vdlcked that when they came to a knowledge of these things they would try to take our lives and that when we should obtain names bames piates the plates our aames would be cast as evil by all people hence banes the necessity of suppressing these things as much as possible until pogsiblej come for them to go forth to the world 0 the time should
counse cours ej these things of course pertain to experiences other than the visi-
comment concerning
tation
this
long hesitation in
ljoseph smith history of the church hereafter referred to as joseph latter day lake city church of jesus christ of latterday saints DHC salt
1948
1 I
2200 220
5jbd 5lbd
1 43 44 I 4344
6lucy mack smith history of joseph smith ed by preston nibley flucy smiths lucy 820 inca inc 19451 stevens and vitallis incj 1945 p 82 hallis city salt lake citys cites
it is
he
felt that communications of this nature were to be treated as sacred and not to be made public at first this thought is reflected in an article dated tobe
june
15 18420 150 1842
on
mormon
prophet
man discussed his ideas on gods methods of communication between god and mans nan
the manifestations of the gift of the holy ghost the ministering of angels or the development of the power majesty or glory of god were very seldom manifested publicly and that generally when angels have come or god has revealed him self it haw been to individuals in prihaa has himself vate or their chamber in the wilderness or fields and that generally without noise or tumult the angel delivered peter out of prison in the dead of night came to paul unobserved by the rest of the crew appeared to mary and elizabeth without the knowledge of others spoke to john the kihen nhen baptist whilst the people around were ignorant of it when elisha saw the chariots of israel and the horsemen thereof it was unknown to others when the lord appeared to abraham it was at his tent door when the ivas case angels went to lot no person knew them but himself which was the ccase probably with abraham and his wife when the lord appeared to moses it was in the burning bush in the tabernacle or in the mountain top elijah was taken in a chariot of fire it was unobserved by the world bras rock and when he was in a cleft of a rocka there vias loud thunder but the rock2 the lord was not in the thunder there was an earthquake but bhe lord was volce voice not in the earthquake and then there was a still small voicep which was voiced heqr eiljah jah what heer the voice of the lord saying ifwhat doest thou heqrp elijah the lord cannot always be known by the thunder of his voice by the display of his glory or by the manifestation of his power and those are the least prepared to meet them and were the lord to manifest his power as he characters charadters did to the children of israel such charadters would be the first to say 7 anymmrep lest we his people die 117 not the lord speak anyromre fflet filet let
interpret certain biblical passages to suggest to you it is given to know importance of secrecy about some things the secrets of the kingdom of heaven christ told a few of his disciples the 118 1 have told you earthly again in john not given if I but to them it is I notp not ye believed noop said the lord how shall ye believe if 1 tell things and
there are also
some who
11
.1 1
gig 119 9
VP
30 31 3031
batt 7 6 76
814att latt
0
smith apparently
need for
keep
S
no
1 effort I
silent ilent
known
the visitations
it is
of the details of
date of
may 30
1838
states
the
were engaged
in writing
1110
at this period
were
it
ijith w appears that men other than joseph smith had something to do ath i 1th
V
T
first presi-
sp visionsp the story of the visions would be in a position to correct any error vision that might have crept into the record the men who served as counselors to
joseph smith at
1837 1841 18371841
the clerk
was george
there is
no
evidence to indicate that these men varied from the story as published by
nephimoroni joseph smith except in the case of the nephi moroni problem which
is treated
after
josephs
1838
this
as well as the information they received from continuous it john taylor one who was closely associated with wi th joseph smith association lt fjoseph smitch joseph snrua iti can tell you what he ajoseph smitjh told with joseph smith stated teil teli teh
had access
to
tel
10
8
me
about
it
in the case of all retold stories there are some discrepancies in the various narrations these secondary sources are interesting since some of them contain details which joseph smith
As may be expected
own
1
written account
it must
be assumed
that these details are either 0 additional facts that joseph told orally but did not incorporate into his written account or 2 embe sements shments embellishments by the authors which were original with them and not necessarily what
joseph related
show
that the
of the per-
appeared were not made clear in the reports and accused joseph bade
as intentional
many
writers
imagination
hallucinations
on the other hand
joseph smith never seemed to have changed the essential elements of his
was
death to
the wentworth
his story were true however it would be letter if natural for him to have spoken of those experiences to his close associates times tines joseph gave his story publicly only a few timesp these secondary since
et al journal of discourses hereafter referred 1854 1886 F D and S W richards 18541886 london discourseslondon to as journal of discourses IF igi igl 161 XXI 1610
young
0
li brigham librigham
IN
make
the story
be made
it
will
be
ry jyjgry
ddgtvay in telling
his account and died without refuting or denying the association he had with heavenly messengers As to the secondary accounts the analysis will extend to comparing the retold fe fetories with the primary source pointing out btories stories tonies torles tories
sp shments embellishments the differences apparent embe sements and additions difference
this
should help
to determine
members
if
the story
is
shall
dream dreams
will shew wonders in the heavens and in the 2 02 As the first president of the church of jesus christ of latter earth tp prophe day saintsp joseph is acknowledged as a prophet seer and revelator saints shall see visions
to the mi ons millions
migrated in
embers who have become i4embers
of that church
wstern state of vermont to western new york they astern the twentyfive rap palmyra which had been settled for only twenty five years lived in Palmy raj first
181 1815 from
manchester noved they moved to Manches terp a nearby town later 1820ts the 1820 the life of the ordinary western american family in
centered
on
the
home and
if
religion
12
seemed
gathering
joel 228
300 30
10
although less than fifteen percent of the population actually belohged to belonged
any church
some
of the dis-
violent outbursts
in the second year after our removal to manchester there was vie lived in the place where we livedp an unusual excitement on the subject of livedo sp religion it commenced with the methodists but soon became general Methodist among all the sects in that region indeed the whole district of our country seemed affected by ltv and great multitudes united themselves it esp which to the different religious parties created no small stir and dipartl parti vision amongst the people some crying 10 here and others 10 lo lo some were contending for the methodist faith some for the there falth presbyterian and some for the baptist for notwithstanding the great love which the converts to these different faiths expressed at the time of their conversion and the great zeal manifested by the respective clergy who were active in getting up and promoting this extraordinary scene of religious feeling rious relisious neil sious nell alous reli elous edp converted in order to have everybody convert as they were pleased to call it wh en them then let ghen join what sect they pleased yet when the converts began to let them join what sect they pleased yet when the converts began to another off offa file offp some to one party and some to anotherp it was seen that goodfeelings the seemingly good feelings of both the priests and the converts were tood more pretendedthan real for a scene of great confusioh and bad feelings confusion nore pretended than moreretgnded mr bot the pretests anfltthe converts were more pretended than ren tor prtests rem for p priests dffd bhe eboth tboth the real r riests a scene of great confusion and bad feelihgensued priest contending against priest and convert against convert BO that all their good feelings one for another if they ever had any were entirely lost opinions13 opinions 13 a strife of words and a contest about kopini ons13 opini ih
sometime
vre
.0 0
should be observed
that
many
revivals of western
new york
in character
from some of
typical of areas
such as kentucky
enthfasiasm period of revivals and entlihsiasm the great awakening of this 1790 and the religious fervor of the 1790s left lasting imthe 1740s Cs viar liar upon the country but after the war of 1812 t the religious pres sions pressions qoon it upheavals surpassed all previous experiences if appears that western new york was more intensively engaged in revivalism than
was a
13 Smith 13smith snith selth seith
D
H
C J
1 I
2 3 23
1 1 I
nI
1 14
were other
historian observes in his rehistoric beginnings that competition between religious denominan
resulted in
some
charged with
these reivials reivials the essential idea in these revivals was the millennium and the second coming along with the restoration of pentecostal manifestations emotional instability literal acceptance of the bible as revelation sp renewed interest in the prophecies of the old and new testement testaments Testament ohio characterized the peoples of the sections of new york and chios in which ohios years 16 mormonism had its formative
that these revivals at times resulted in some it good many excellent men have traced their sincere piety which distinguished them through life to such an origin many revival enthusiasts
should be noted
howe verp however became verj
affected only during the life of the current meetings and there
was
it
family were influenced and united with the presbyterian church vith unit edWith unitedwith
says that in his early
life
he
sect
07
he
was
14 Whitney cross scitney crosso the burned over district the social and intel14whitney dver sbitney york 18001850 western new yori 1800 1850 religion in 1 history of enthusiastic lectual prespp 1950 12 11120 1112 prespi university pres 1950p PP 11 120 cornell ithica 15 15gustive 0 larson outline history of utah and the mormons salt gustive e 1958p book company 1958 p 20 lake city deseret 16lowry nelson the mormon village salt lake city university of lowry press 1952 pp 33 34 ppe 3334 ap utah
0
po 6 p 60
12
right
willard bean a historian who lived many years in vern new lew york tried to gain an insight into the environmental conditions of the people living at this time he wrote
the revival started the latter part of april before the rural people could get onto their land to begin spring plo kingo which gave the plowing pio wingo farmers a chance to attend the mee tinga even business and professional nee meeting men neglected their work and all but shut up shop by the first of may the revival was well under way with scores of people confessing religion and each new convert becoming a selfappointed missionary to self appointed neighborn neighbors solicit friend and neighborn the prevailing question among people of savedn waso what the neighborhood was ifwhat shall 1 do to be savedg saved I during the second week in may the revival began to show signs of up breaking upo and the many converts were solicited by the different preachers to join their respective churches this caused considerable rivalry and contention among the ministers so warm did this contention become that harsh accusations were hurled by certain of their numbers tiat tint james it was during this stage that one of the methodist ministers took his text from the first chapter of fifth and sixth verses which any of you lack wisdom let him ask of god that reads as follows if upbraidetiti upbraider giveth to all men liberally and upbraid et 2 not and it shall be given upbraidet unto him but let him ask in faith nothing waivering wai vering waitering the minister made a special appeal to those who were yet undecided those who could nisrfc make lap their minds and were procrastinating the day of the reabt trp lup tip nbt pentance it was rather effective and found ready response with a young pentance he felt more convlas vias 0 rias lad named joseph smith jr who was present cerned about salvation than ever before but could not account for the contention among the ministers joseph smith at this time was fourteen years of age and had never made thb teachings of the respective churches aht tht of the vicinity a minute study hence he did not know that there was concerned any particular difference in their doctrine but he felt much coneerned as to which church he should join the family bible and the christian almanac with the patent medicine recipes made up the principal ray rap Palmy reading matter of the average home during the pioneer days of palmyra and when he got home that evening he got the family bible and looked up he chapter of james and read the ministers text the first thk thh tah read it again and again and the more he read it ahk more it impressed he was worried and wanted to he lacked wisdom on his mind itself he know which of the churches was right and which he should join definitely made up his mind to take james who spoke for the lord at he could scarcely sleep word and carry out his instructions his during the night for thinking about it and even made up his mind where he would go put it to the test18
religion
was
18 Willard bean ae B C history of palmyra and the beginning of mor 18willard bo mtr 1 A illard 0 co coo incp 1938 coe inca 21249 24 2124 N Y inc PP 21 249 palmyra courier rap monism palmyra Palmy raj
13
and earnestly
nkind and many
their souls
to
be
religious
revolution
seemed
in the air
recent
work
the following
mens minds had become unsettled visions of a
come down upon them dowg udon dawg 19 terors 7 derors
1 I
tradition
had
and
transition its
s joseph smiths mother recorded in her writings that the smith family smith
for
many
co-
nstantly to seek
truth
topsfield tapsfield of Tops field massachusetts was very liberal in his views to his family
was
asael could
his advice
cey cep joseph smiths mother likewise maintained her independence despite independen
spiritual
she also
said that spiritual manifestations and serious thought were part of her
many
generations prior
redorded redor ded to have visions which have been reworded and give indication of his spirit-
uality
my
20
et al documentary history of american indudr H clark company 1910 V 20 arthur strial society cleveland arth 20Preston nibley joseph smith the prophet salt I ieke lake leke city preston ake eke 500 ap 150 news press 1946p pp 1500 50 1946 deseret
19john john
R
commons
for our souas salvation soul Is bouas she prevailed on us to attend the meetings and almost the whole family became interested inthe natter meeting matler malter in the matter natler and seekers after tmzfah tmrhh this extraordinary excitement prevailed not only in our neighborhood but throughout the whole country great neighbor oodp oodo 2
numbers were converted
14
difficult to determine the amount of influence all this had on joseph smith it is quite obvious from his own story that deep impressions
were made
it is
much
his years
he was
neither terrified
the threats of
revivalists into an acceptance of their dogmas nor driven by their divi eions divisions with i irith into unbelief in revealed religion the question veith him seemed to be eith rith
ifwhich which
of
all
joseph smiths boyhood was spent in clearing preparing and cultiacreage vating the acneal e of the familys acreaje acreal
chopped wood
A mormon
home
in manchester
he would
sell the
resulting from the clearing of their heavily timbered land environ boys Kirk hamp eirk francis kirkham adds his description to the boy is early enviroh
mental analysis
gods ood falth faith joseph smith grew to manhood among oods noblemen men of faiths self dours they worked twelve hours a day cep initiative and determination reliance cej retian relian tools to build their homes and supply food and clothing for with hand their families travel for pleasure was unknown the first railroad horseedrawn had not yet competed with the horeeedrawn vehicle roads were poor in addition to the and usually maintained by a tax or a toll cp few books home hone almana might blight homec biblep one night find in the homep the almanac and a fewbooks of bibie bible bibler went to school for about three months a year until travel children and cipher modern science was unknown persons they could read write water suffering with fever were denied watery and people were bled when blood children died from communicable would have saved their lives infusion people lived near to nature diseaseji ji 9 now prevented by inoculation disease and mercies of god23 and believed in the love
&
.9
21 21see
see appendix
p 2 pe
mew A new
22see appendix ee
A AP
in america indepenwitness for christ kirkham mt Kirkha co cooj and publishing coop zions printing dencep jackson county missouri dence dencel 36370 37 1942p ppe 36 370 3637 1942
23 Francis M 23francis we
15
these environmental influences must have had their affect upon young joseph youne youn smith in his impressionable years
many
doctrines were ex
george
religious issues later theology were major points of discussion among resome
ligious leaders
among mormon ideas which had their counterparts in other religious movements was the desire to restore the ancient organization and practices
men24 men 24
A
s williams had recognized the need of the church of christ even roger wi of apostles and had stated that until god set them there would not be the authority of god upon the earth the separate baptists in the south actually chose elder samuel harris as an apostle in 1774 and all the ministers present laid their hands on his head and ordained him to that office al&ut 1800p able M sargent founded a sect in alblut albut 1800 southern ohio and gathered around himself twelve apostles mostly wo-
star further
points out
a in england between the years 1830 and 1835 si sect known as the Irving ites irvingites believed that twelve apostles among the gentiles were necessary in preparation for christs second coming and had appointed the sp tijelve by 1835 183 revelation twelve the irvingite leaders also received revelations pre- 25 tiieive dicted the future and had the gift of healing and the gift of tongues monolly t joseph smith never claimed to have a monoply on the truth it
appears howe verp that many of his religious teachings were unique certainhove verj however ly the concept of the godheadi with the father and son separate personages
of flesh
new
third
member
as a spirit was
ijudgement judgement jud also the iud gement of three degrees of glory premortal existence eden edena temple work location of the garden of edenp salvation of the dead
24george shepherd tanner the unpublished masters monism arose 79 77790 1931 7779 PP 21 77 79o
25
16
additional scripture other than the bibiel organization of the church scrijure bibie bible biblel fure
cept of zion gospel taught prior to christ were
con-
all
the
com-
sufficient summarise to summarise by suggesting that mormons acknowledge the idea that a great summarist reat deal of revelation from god to man comes in response to mans needs and his nans majs kajs mais nais
would be
is
this treatise
it
s maars since factors in the environment influence majrs needs mant manf
come would ccmep cone
in
many
so instances as a reinstance
that
most of
other spiritual leaders of ancient dayds raked for direction before the lord dadds eked revealed his will
the
he
way
man
to
to ask
therefore
it
seems
fore the senior class of the divinity school of harvard university of july
15.9 15 159
1838
ruerson0 bnerson ralph waldo anerson one of the greatest minds of joseph smiths
religious conditions in the united states and yearned time described the for
modem modern
revelations
he
stated
never greater need was nevergreater for new revelation than now the 0 aj ethere has been a universal decay if not almost death of faith in here fthere 1 look for the hour when the supreme beauty which society I men nen neno souls of those eastern meno and chiefly of those hebrews ravished the lips spoke oracles to all times shall speak in the and through their 26 west also 0 0
26Frederick 1 Carpen terP emerson handbook enerson 26prederick I carpenter snerson 26frederick ppe 7988 house 1953 PP 79 88
17
who knew
joseph smith
farner
1
CD
under
all
was he wes moved to go into the woods to pray for an answer to his hes
religious
problems
by god
en fironments certainly joseph smiths environment whether natural or created became an important influence in establishing the mormon faith
in every dispensation of the priesthood the scrilhpvmes record that to adam the patriarch of the race scriijimes enoch spoke face to face with god revealed his will and gave commandments 28 according to the book of mormon account momon him coun selled counseller the lord who counselled
a means of communication between god and man
.1 1
was given a
to
0 30
moses
will through
physical manifestation
of fire rire
lehi
instructed
by dreams
lar1y s laray testament prophets were favored similarly now call the old we 38 33 jeremiah34 ezekiel35 daniel36 habakkuk 437 and zechariah38 34 Ezekiel 35 Daniel 36 jereniah134 Zechariah 134 jacobi jacob 32 job Jeremiah 934 Jereniah
3 america311 america3 americal America
27 journal 27journal
627 62739
4 320 322
2bher
abher 28efaher 30
311 nephi
210 2 6
22 4 624 224
11
naniel daniel
220 223
8 811 1811 18 11
1 0
18
when
christ
was upon
the
earth
waas was
characterized
by many examples of
instructing in person
As
ba-
they review
all
some who
state
siutiatoh to see
if
scriptural stories known to man let there is any credibility to hhis asserchis this
tion
smithy joseph snithy account smiths
the book of
mormon
is
to those
who
paul the
member
a1single alsingle only apostle had an experience J but he declared on Y that al single
of
deity
39 7 appeared
the apostle
was
sim-
respect40 johns revelation recorded in his book must respect 40 johs ilar in that ep experienc have been a unique experience but as far as the text states we learn that
god alone
A
revealed
it to
him
41
few
scriptural
straighway straig hway jesys jasys and jes ass when he was baptized went up straightway out of the vss him 10 water and lop the heavens were opened unto himp and he saw the loj lo god descending like a dove and lighting upon him and spirit of I heaven saying this is my beloved son in whom 1 10 a voice from k1aven lo ka
am
well pleased
was
19
confirmed ih most
was
details in
each gospel
baptized in the water the voice of the father vas heard and a symbol ln eus kus das
of the godhead were represented this event traas also unique and unparalwas
cl
is
transfiguration
mountain
high
communed
As
result
wf
his prayer he
v was vias
was
glorified
so much so
his face
exceeding white as
was
fuller
on
thus jesus
trans
ith jesus
elijah
peter entered
reverencing
a memorial 8
this
wonderful occasion
hear ye him
this
to
be
was
edp pleased I this is my beloved son in whom 1 am well pleas edy the eternal father introducing and sanctioning the
manifestation
the apostles
fell prostrate
when
told
them not
afraid
disciples
were
left
in this exper-
men
recorded in
43 matthew 43matthew
171 8 1718
20
the savior to
some
unintelligible the third trune it was distinct time tine fl flbehold my beloved son behold ard in whom 1 am well pleased in whom 1 have gloriI arn I fied my name hear ye hime As the intent multitude gazed upwards they hine
ges gas pas jes jas i-
it
beheld the personage of the resurrected jesus christ their redeemer and christj christa
savior
sonages
he spoke and
inspired them so
we
much
As
at this
man
steadfastly
the son of
stephen prayed
my
sp 1 rit spirit
deity
were shown
in vision with
and
son manifested themselves and com communicated with cok riunicated the
his hii
upon god to deliver me out of 0 0 all power of this enemy which had seized upon me and at the very mothe ment when 1 was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to I not to an imaginary ruin but to the power of some actual destruction worlds I being from the unseen world who had such marvelous power as 1 had never alarm I any being just at this moment of great alarms 1 saw in before felt
exerting
my power
to call
head a pi r of light exactly over my heads above the brightness of the pillar fell upon me descended gradually until sun suna which sun2 myseld myself I no sooner appeared than 1 found myseldt delivered from the
it
it
21 2
11
the light rested upon me 1 saw two I perso nages whose brightness and glory defy all description standing personages pOrso above me in the air one of them spake unto me calling me by name nane naine and saidp pointing to the other sald said my beloved son hear hime 1146 saida this is him 46 hin
me bound
kihen lihen ihen l jhen
enemy which
held
following this the other personage jesus christ gave instructions to joseph smith joseph claimed that this was the first event in hnas the restoration of the fulness of the gospel to the earth in this dispenfalness
.9 9
sation
joseph smith told the world that he both saw and heard god the
and his son
B
eternal father
jesus christ
47
47there are two references in apocryphal literature alluding to there alSi aise alseuding the appearance of the father and the son the didache or teaching of the Didach eP twelve apostles is one of the most important discoveries of the second half of the nineteenth century there are several references in early vatn christian literature to a book with this or a similar title As it stands the didache may be described as a manual of church inspru chiono instruction instructiono ep in the last chapter of the didache the author describes the condDidach days itions that will exist in the last daysi
nany cone marw sjxall jarw then sjaall the creation of mankind come to the fiery trail and many shall be offended and be lostp but they will endure in their faith lost losta shall be saved by the curse itself and then shall appear the signs of sins truth first the sign spread out in the heaven then the sign of trumpeta tp trumpe the sound of the trumpet and thirdly the resurrection of the dead cone dead sald said but not of all the deadp but as it was saidp the lord shall cane and deada saida then shall the world see the lord coming his saints with him all on the clouds of heaven
einemann hinemann kirshopp lake the apostolic fatherpj trans william Hi nemann father pj Kir shopp ma london the macmillan co p 1912p p 333 iian lian llan cop 1912 po
i sts ats gives a prophecy of the future lists literature since this I the coming attractions in somewhat of an order 1 would like to further analyse the sign that the author listed as taking place first in the last heavenff ff this interpbteba interpebta tithe sign spread out in the heaven he states dayse the days agrees with the translation of the greek word ekpetasis found in tion vde vie lie greekenglish Howe verp when we look at the greek english lexicon we greek text however hove verj the 11an opening in the heaven ll combining find their interpretation as being an greek textp there is enough similarity to the text texts these two renditions of the event of the visions of joseph smith to merit consideration 0
apocryphal
and
1 I
11
op ic interesting situation reported in the efahiopic there is another christ galilean testament of our lord jesus christo in this manuscript the an interrogation takes place between the apostles and vrriting apocryphal writing discussion centers about the millennium the savior after his resurrection disciples ask christ about his second coming the resurrected ies and the disc ILP les ad
0
22
first vision is
ordinances
the most
im-
man
has received from god since the resurredtjon of the resurredtion resurrection
it
became
the foundation of
all the
commandments
in this age
joseph account suggests that the certainty he had of the reality of the
vision
was a main
factor in giving
him
all
life
redeemer
states that his father will come during the passover time of the so year some translators go go far as to state that text reveals and the son will both come in that season of the year that father although some precautions have to be taken there is a relationship joseph smith claimed that he did have a may very apply here that and the son together he also claimed that it did oce vision of the father cur in the passover season of the year and it was the next appearance of et wrightp catalogue hippic nuscript hiopic manuscript aseer the ascension wrighta catologue of the bbhiopic 11a nu script right Cato logue deity adeer after abbadie museum trans 1877 1677 london 1877p P 270 antoine Abba diep in the british 100 nationalej ap Nati onale biblioteque Nationalej pp 60 loop 199 nationale nationals
visitation
josephs
1I
year
his first vision his story concerning his age remained consistent as seen in a journal entry dated november 14 1835 183
when he had
ne abury Newbur newburyo of newburyyo ohio called on me to inquire about the establishment of the church and to be instructed dd instructdd instruct ine inedoctrine more perfectly doctrine him a 1 gave y brief relation of my experience while in oy juI venile years say from six years old up to the time 1 received my I I first vision which was when 1 was about fourteen years old also the revelations that 1 received afterwards concerning the book of mormon I and a short account of the rise and progress of the church up to this dated 2 date date2
Ho loles holoien holoies ioles loies holmeso holmess
1805
if the
vision occurred in
fourteen years and
the spring of
three to five
visi&n Visi itai the visiitai vision vlsi
months of age
at the time
influenced by a sermon
smith to joseph smiths said that joseph was 5 minister5 minister given by reverend lane a methodist ministeri lane2 lanea
where he should ask god
11 p II
G GP
james passage part of his text the passcbee in jaines 15 lee iassc the minister chose for
the reader
is
informed that
A
if
he lacks
wisdom
joseph
312
appendix
pa 59 p p9 5
2
p
p 2 pa 20 p9
26
24
did not record having heard reverend laneis sermon but did state that lanes passage in the biblep never did any passage of scripassage after reading this p bibie bible alsage file tlle tile passa bibler
ture
to
come
.6 6 it6 ita
man
mine
joseph stated that this stirring impression beca ame the motivating becc 4me became becane
him
to the
woods
near his
home
which church
that
of
he chose a morning of a
he continued shall 1 join I beautiful and clear day early in the spring
7 1820
after joseph
had
his first oral prayer he claimed that his first feeling com lionly commonly tense depression con nionly associated with an evil force
that of in-
then in his
greatest
moment
pratt enlarged
like
a
upon
this description
by writing
was more
fire
that the leaves of the trees were not consumed by it although its brightness apparently was sufficient 2 as he at first thought though to consume everything before it but the trees were not c to consumed donsumed by it and it continued to descend antil it rested upon him dons umed antii tetil raysa and enveloped him in its glorious rays9
he beheld
him re sed from the evil influence and standing above himp released apparently suspended in space were two personages whose brightness and sald glory dfifled all description one of the personages said pointing to the dfified
when he was
po p 6
cite
p pa 25 p9
25
beloved son hear him this is the other personage then talked to the 14 year old boy and answered his question concerning the existence of the true church for josephs own account of this vision refer to appendix A
other
my
1110 0
in the grove when he experienced this visitation he apparently related his story to some of his close friends but did not declare it publicly at this time f&r this f6r far reason there was no story published at that time written accounts by joseph smiths associates which were published
was alone
it
must be remembered
that joseph
later
however
some
seem
he
told
critics
secondary sources
it
the account of joseph Sn hydes orsonpratts orso Pratts orsoh hyde orsah history Orson prattis account and or
story were
durina the durins
all life
ie
life
his smith of joseph smithp other writings and sermons of hi s close associates
pratt for
.9 9
example
who knew
many
years before he
was
killed in
de-
clared
wolen woien he when toien
fire
1
.9 9
fioseph smit2h jioseph smitch was thus encircled about with this pillar of joseph smith snith him hin object was caught away from every objedt that surrounded himp mind his
ap p A
8
&
26
and he was
midst countenances shone with an exceeding great lustre to him saying while pointing to the other this 11 tili whom 1 am well pleased hear ye him 1111 I lim hin
1
filled with the visions of the almighty of this glorious pillar of filep two glorious firep fire
is
personages whose
in the
beloved son in
to further investigate the declaration that there were two personages who appeared to joseph smithp some accounts not affiliated with the momon mormon smith sone snith church have been consulted A publication in england the bdinburg review dp edinburg Englan 1854 and a reprint in 1863 related this story of the vision and reported
1844 1 pamphlet published in 18 by an antimormon anti mormon I ts writer outlined the major parts of Joseph vision and wrote that two josephs
2 two personages appearing 12
personages appeared
a pamphlet published
As I ate late iate
13
1
stated in
as 1843 the year before joseph smiths assassination lie ile lle ie
new york
was
momon ep interviewed by the editor of the pittsburgh gazette a non mormon Gazett
spectator september
the lord does reveal himself to me 1 know it he revealed himself lrd me when 1 was about fourteenIyears old a mere boy 1 will ard I I first to you about it there was a reformation among the different retell I ligious denominations in the neighborhood abene 1 lived and 1 became I serious and was desirous to know what church to join promiscuous while thinking of this matter 1 opened the testament promiscuously I 1 just determined to ask him 1 on these words in james I I I immediately went to the stump where 1 had struck my ame when 1 had I mediately edla ediately ediately 1 kneeled down and prayed saying UO axe iwhat church sh 0 lord that quit work and I C 1 join directly 1 saw a light and then a glorious personage I shall I ansln the light and then another personage and the first personage said nln4n
41
11
pe 3540 p 354
L
noo noe 78 located edinburg review no CCII 0 april 184 PP 7 8 the L D so church historians office salt lake city utah do S the in 13Religious imposters En IDS located in the LDS england 1844p P 26 lahb religious glando 1844 utah utaho historian church historians office salt lake city itaho dp england birmingham Englan P W forbes M rmons of life in utah lathe mormons amons LOc sted odey po 3 edey idso located in the LDS church historians office salt lake zi diodes ziodes ad odes utah city utaha staha
12
the
27
then vanished
to the second behold my beloved sonp hear hin soap son 1 then addressed h4m ham itun I this second person saying 0 lord what church shall 1 join I join11 he replied q do not join any of them they are all corrupt the vision 15
will be observed that some of the details in this story vary from the jandard account by joseph smith aandard tandard landard young here the youn boy prays immediately after reading the biblical passage while in the earlier account
the impression
it
is left that
he continued
some
that
finally the
it is
fp in the later account came from joseph smith himself or reflect the editorhimsel hinsel herep however ializing of the reporter the important point cerep howeverp is that the here verj ializing story is consistent insofar as the number of heavenly personages is concerned
all
first
he
he
became a member
year 1834 in the midst of many large congregations the in that prophet testified with great power concerning the visit of the father son and the conversation he had with them never before did and the wres wras was 1 fehl such power as weas manifested on these occasions and although I fell feli only a small percentage of those who saw and heard him accepted the restored gospel there was not one who dare dispute it
ason on may 27 t 188 edward steveaqson wrote stevenson
in his journal
pointing to a separate personage intf the likeness of eternal father 0 how these my beloved son hear ye him himself said this is
15
joseph he jo seph smith said 1 I am a witness that 0 with uplifted hand 0 a god for 1 saw him in open day while praying in a silent I there is at 1t godo 1820 he further testified that god the spring of grove in the
new
preston hibley joseph smith the prophet salt lake city deseret press 1964 po 31 P
9
28
thrilled my entire system and filled me with joy unspeakable to behold one who like paul the apostle of olden time could with boldness testify that he had been in the presence of jesus chrsit16 chrsitl6
words
.0 0
john taylor
who was
intimately acquainted iwith joseph smith and rith killed taylor himself was criticallywounded critically wounded
evv lvv
jail
delivered a sermon in the 14th wand december ward uard tand land lard
1879
the report of the clerk john irvine quotes john taylor as saying
you what he joseph mithu told me about 1 can joseph mith7 mit2h I he said that purpqses he was very ignorant of the ways designs and purposes of god and sp purpbses design knew nothing about them he was a youth unacquainted with religious bath lath matters of the systems and theories of the day he went to the lordp lorap lord janest james janes having read jamest statement 0 he believed that statement and went to the lord and asked him and the lord revealed himself to him jesus anda together with his son jesusp and pointing to the latter said jesusa andp this soap son is my beloved sonp hear him he then asked in regard to the various religions with which he was surrounded he inquired which of them was ror he was right f or he wanted to know the right way and to walk in for told that none of them was right that they had all departed from the vr way god right vray that they had forsaken god the fountain of all living waters rod sp sp hewad and hemad them out cisterns broken cisterns that could hold no cistern cistern herld
tell
it
.0
it
aters
water
man who
told
him
in a
sermon
delivered at
john taylor
villes
gibbs
further stated
restored the gospel for the purpose of bringing life and immorality to light and without the knowledge of life and immortality men cannot comprehend these principles only as they are made known for unto them and they cannot be revealed tonly through the medium of the then gospel and through obedience to the laws of salvation associated and tnd hence when the heavens were opened &nd the father therewith and son appeared and revealed unto joseph the principles of the gospel unt was vas when the holy priesthood aas restored and the church and kingdom and god established upon this generation which it was possible for man of recieves leveo cleve rec relieves leves ieves re cieve to recieve if they could comprehend ity it iwas the greatest blessing it he is sent his servants forth upor humanity then udog upo6 which god could confer upog humn ity gospel to the nations of the earth and he is now to proclaim this god goda gospel of the son of godp to deliver sending them f forth to preach the orth
god has
T
of edward stevenson unpublished malife 2022 library 1955 PP 20 22 brigham young university libraryp sters dissertation 17 journal of Discourse map p 161o igi 161 17journal sy XXI nar 1610 discourses naj
16 oseph grant stevenson 16j joseph
lif f e ii
29
the testimony that he has given unto us and speaking for the priesthood have we done it we have and we have done it in the name of Isra ells god and he has been with us and 1 know ita 18 eils israels I it
itj
year john taylor told the story in malad idaho reported by george F gibbs d report
on october 20th of
the
same
of the work the father and the son appeared to joseph smith and when they appeared to him the father pointing to pointipa the son said this is my beloved son hear him As much as to say 1 I have not come to teach and instruct you but 1 refer you to him I 19 as your redeemer your high priest and teacher hear him 109
commencement
in the
in a latter dated in 1903 benjamin F johnson who knew joseph smith well wrote to the assistant historian of the church and stated
joseph smith of lowly birth was a yean boy of common class poor feam fann fenn feen coniton terate illiterate and without distinction other than being religiously i aerate he vres s attended revivals and was in the aaz&uus circles honestly inclined ires seeking religion and to learn which was the right church and ca ng calling upon the lord in simple faith that he might know both the father and the son in a pillar of light descended 1 and in teaching him comno manded that he join n religious sect as their deeds were all an abo.9 9
19
.1
k in his sight
e
alexander neibaur
and hebrew recorded
teacher
who
the
story of the
first vision
instruction fioseph smit2h ent jioseph smitch went into the joseph smitj
to pray kneels himself down saw a fire toward heaven come nearer and nearer saw a personage in a piece the fire light complexion blue eyes 2ajiece of white cloth drawn sp am sic after a while another over his shoulder his right arm bear sla shoulders sl7 21 person came to the side of the first21 first second hand As in the case of other secondhand accounts there are some
woods
18ibid ibid
lake city
106
dated 1903 written to elder elst eist brians church historian church historians office salt
.9 9
21 alexander neibaurs office 21alexander Nei baurs journal church historians off ice no page under date of may 24 year undated
30
astonishing embellishments in this diary but the major point the appear appearance of two persons is still there
another interesting note is recorded in the diary of charles 10 L lo
eiker elker
1902
1893
w- alker a lker
faithful
member
of the church
his statement
was made
at
fast
february
ap 2p 2
in southern utah
thursdays 1093.9 february thursday 10939 attended fast meeting dayl 1893 Thurs days 19939 1993 meetings bro br john alger said while speaking of the prophet joseph that when hep john was a small boy he heard the prophet joseph relate his he t ni nh soap son b igfty vision visioh of seeing the father and the sonp that god t qnhf d hig eves hia finger with his yinger and saidp Off oseph this is my beloved son hear him sald said joseph finder saida moseph As soon as the lord had touched his eyes with his yinger he imfinger finder mediately saw the savbior A savior yter meeting a few of us questioned him meetina ior after maetina about the matter and he told us at the bottom of the meeting house meetine steps that he was in the house of father smith in kirtland when joseph made this declaration and that joseph while speaking of it put his finger to his right eye suiting the action with the words so as the illustrate and at the same time impress the occurrence on the tho 22 spea minds of tho se unto whom he was aspea kings speaking those
2nd
when he was
seventeen years of age he met and listened to joseph smith for the
first
years
later
he recorded
edp I looked upon him and listened 1 thought to myself that a man did bearing such a wonderful testimony as he did2 and having such a dida H countenance as he possessed could hardly be a false prophet he certainly could not have been deceived it seemed to me and if he was a deceiver he was deceiving the people knowingly for when he conversati&nwith he had had a conversatiibnmith jesus the son of god testified that with god upon rith had talked with him personally as moses talked i and volce oice olce mount sinai and that he also heard the voice of the father he was something that he wither knew to be false or to be posielther either telling
listen
tively true
in
23
lights
smithw smith snith
by joseph
1855 1902 L waiker 22diary of charles 10 walker of date covering 18551902 in poslo diary young university faculty provo andrus of dr hyrum L andruss brigham session utah 83e xlp alp 231mprovement era article XL p 83 improvement
31
v momon the writings of the mormon prophet ha self tinas ri tines himself seif
nevertheless
all these
2
ac-
counts seems to be consistent with regard to certain basic points agree that 1 there were evvro personages who appeared to joseph tvv two tvo
all
the
father
and 3
after
instructed joseph
to mans
an explanation of some obscure statements
in
some
comments
or statewas one
that
it is
it
or two
personages that
dame
to the
shows
or visitors
is uncertain
that the identity of his visitor an analysis of the vision assuming josephs
young boy
report to be correct
that the
subjects with
the youth
an example of
this confusion
first
vision
comes from a
ap 18792 2p 1879 2
joseph ust just as it was when the prophet J 0 seph asked the angel which of the sects was right that he might join it the answer was that we will not stop what none of them no none of them are right jlin alin to argue that question the angel merely told him to jmin none of 24 them that none of them were right yet in december of the same year john taylor stated that there were
p
done many
years
before
A
2 25
problem of consistency
is
166
XXI ma m2
161 1610
32
it
was
who
appeared to him
in response to his inquiry concerning which church is right it is clear from other references howeverp that john taylor believed that however verj the father and the son had appeared and it is therefore safe to assume
that
he used
the
word angel
to refer to christ
the word
sermon by
jesus christ became a ministering spirit while his body was lying in the sepulchre to the spirits in prison to fulfill an important part of his mission without which he could not have perfected his work or entered into his rest after his resurrection he appeared 26 as an angel to his dieci ples disciples pies anel
iniz another possible misunderstanding could be illustrated by the misunderstand
delivered in
18572 1857
do you suppose that god in person called upon joseph smith our come cane prophet god called upon him but god did not cone himself and do you not see he sent peter but he sent peter to do call j and sent moroni to joseph and told him that had got the plates .27 27 27 no god come himself him he sent moroni and told hime hin did
it
in order to
on
full
agod fgod god
heber
G C
this
occasion
he
heber
their
to
do
it it
not
come down 4
if it
seems evident
that
to
sermon
26dhco DHC
IV
27journal of 27journal
33
the
first vision
in
1854 followed
this
line of reasoning
work of the last days be true why did himself to communicate the intelligence to the inte gence world because IS their angels was committed the power of rea pinia bd reapinia reapine realine was comjdtted to none else 28 earthy and the earth comndtted
if this
it
critics
who
use part of sermons to rel ute the story of the refute rei
first
abn vision must 3bn fairness present these statements in conteap relating them context in conteas
with previous and subsequent remajeks and thus learn their true intent remakks aad remakis
oyson opson ayson hyde published edo publish
in
1842
first vision
of the two per
men
visit
it is
that they believed in the actual appearance of the father and the son isolated passages therefore must be especially interpreted in the light eP therefor
of what
we know
about these
who became
men and
john taylor
philosophy philosophv christ of latterday saints has provided an insight into the philosoplxv latter day
reason why the father to joseph smith why john the baptist conferred the aaronic priesthood Melchia edek why peter james and john conferred the melchizedek priesthood why gathering carne moses came to bestow the dispensation of the gathe ringo and why other rineo iihom whon manifestations have been given unto us as a people his elect whom
nihom
god which
is desired to
the
it
was
wr s wals wrls
government to introduce the rule and go verment of god and his son had come
that after
igho who
to usher
in
a dispensation
the messengers
of the
323
34
their part of the government of god orson pratt emphasized this principle or son
0 10
1
when he
said
on december
1871 181
the lgrd first revealed to that little koy isprd oy boy lurd he was only between fourteen and fifteen years of age now can we imagine or suppose that a great imposter could be made out of a youth of that age and one that could reveal the doctrine of christ as he has revealed it to this generation would he stand forth and bear testimI i aht ony that he had seen with his own eyes a messenger of light and glory and that he heard the words of his mouth as they dropped from his lips and had received a message from the most high at that early age and then after having declared itp to have the finger of scorn ftp it pointed at him with exclamations there goes the visionary boy no gly ily and to have visions in our day imy he is deluded I he is a fanatic this scorn and derision and still continue to testify in the face and eyes of all this while hated and derided by his neighbors that god had sent bis angel from heaven can you imagine that a youth rlN bas his for
when
1
1
would do
I
1
it is evident that
of the lord in the
orson
patt att
P
was
first
may
instance since he
in the second
instance he
may
or
ard lrd
this is confusing
on
idith and must be compared with his other statements about the story
order
it
seems
that there is
clear
no
contradiction
men nen mena semons to see that in the sermons of these menp certain representations must be read carefully to gain the correct meaning
19
18690 1869
individual a young man rose up and in the proclaimed the startling news that god had midst of all christendom sent an angel to him that through his faith prayers and sincere repentance he had beheld a supernatural vision that he had seen a pillar of fire descend from heaven and saw two glorious personages clothed upon with this pillar of fire whose countenance irith i rith sun at noonday that he heard one of these personages shone like the soap son my beloved sonp hear ye him say pointing to the other this is age32 young man vms fifteen years of age IBS ims this occurred before this
.9 9
.9 9
p 362 pe
35
again
on september 22
1872 182
J CJ
C
act jct nd ject and verified the story th t joseph irm z not yet fifteen years of age ws aht tht when he had his first vision that two glorious personages appeared to him and identified themselves and that later an angel appeared to him
5
in vision the gold plates nd explained their in st 111 another discourse orson pratt affirmed the visit of armed ali still affirmed 3 34 personages who identified themselves as the father and the son
and showed him
33 purpose
two
first
some
of the statements of
george
in
a sermon
comments 0
he made
the following
josephj the lord answered his prayer and revealed to joseph by the ministration of angels the true condition of the religious world when the holy angel appeared joseph inquired which of all these denominations was right and which he should jon and was told they vias were all wrong they had all gone astray transgressed the e laws changed the ordinances and broken the everlasting covenant and that the lord was about to restore the priesthood and establish hias kias his church which would be the only true and living church on the face of the whole earth joseph josepn feeling that to make known such a vision would be to subject himself to the ridicule of all around him knew not what to do sp tilflgp and in these repetitions i&wp repetition but the vision was xelle d several 1 repeated was instructed aas ras he vaas instrmuc ed to communicate that which he had seen to his i iras
L
of his father exemplary life his mother and brother hyrum were members of the presbyterian church joseph communicated what he had seen to his him who believed his testimony and told hirn to observe the infather hine him hin structions that had been given hime these visits led in a short time to the bringing forth of the mormon conic falness contained record known as the book of momon which contclined the fulness of the gospel as it had been preached by the savior and his apostles land also a history of the falling away to the inhabitants of this and the dealings of god of the people who dwelt on this continent
father
man
with them35
after
careful reading
pps XT ppa pp XVI ap a
it
seems evident
these
140 141 140141
331bide ibid
34 Ibid 34ibid
pp ap
36
visits
boy
young
ministra-
tion of angels
another example of george
A
smiths smith
this subject is
he sought
mormoh mordoh
vlas was the lord by day and by night and ilas enlightened by the i las anmei nhen vision of an holy angel when this personage appeared to him one of anel himl hinl inquiries his first inirles was which of the denominations of christians iries indries right he was iniries in the vicinity was taf that told thf t they had all gone astary they had wandered into darkness and that god was about to restore the gospel in its s IMP licity and purity to the earthy he was simplicity lacity ims earth consequently directed not to join any one of them but to be humble then and seek the lord with all heart and that from tjpjp time he ima lma to laa should be taught and instructed in relation to t e right way to serve the the lord time these visions continued from time to tune and 1830 he published tine to the world the translation of the book known as the book of torild 36
again george
all
to that time
same
it
should also
be observed
that
he seems
to
be using
the
from
all
might conclude
that
it
it
that the
sermons
corredato to cor redt absolutely corredto these things go far in accounting for alleged discorredt corned corred crepancies in the oftrepeated story of joseph smiths visions oft repeated
one
36
critic
that
ibid
p 78 XIII pe 780
IV p 425 IVP pe 4250
37dhgc 37dhcc
XX xxj
37
first 1 never I
38 young vision in his discourses38 however brigham youn once scald discourses sald said
saw anyone
I until 1
or anything satisfactory about angels or the relationship of mafeer39 maker39 to his Maker 39
semonsp in other sermons brigham
young
met joseph snithy who could smithy smithp personality and dwelling place dwellingplace
tell
of god
anmei the lord sent forth his angel to this same obscure person anel joseph smith jr who afterwards became a prophet seer and revelator and informed him that he should not join any of the religious wong gong sects of the day for they were all wrong that they were following the precepts of men instead of the lord jesus that he had a work for him to perform inasmuch as he should prove faithful before him40 him hin
the lord chose joseph smith called upon him at fourteen years of age gave him visions and led him along guided and directed him hinl hini gsg sy gae hin gs6 in his obscurity until he brought forth the plates and translated i4 as them and martin harris was prevailed upon to sustain the printing mormon41 mormon 41 of the book of
ia
jpseph joseph lord called upon jqseph he was but a boy a child only about fourteen years of age he was not filled with traditions his 1 very well mind was not made up to this that or the other I reyo mation which took place in the country among the reformation recollect the refo matlon imow he did not amow what the know anh various denominations of Christi christianh christiana orned informed was iras lord inas going to do with him although he had inf ormed him that the christian churches were all wrong because they had not the holy 2 42 priesthood42 priesthood2 Priesthood
hen the
when
the
to
god
chirst
moroni
tilis this
title
to belittle the calling of the son Ac As joseph smith used the term angel
who
it
only describes a
special mission
C
is
chosen to be a messenger
.1 1
but
79
salt lake
46
tanner pamphlet
po 334 P
40ibid 40ibid
411 411bid ahl ibid bid
po 171 p
1
XII
670 67
38
title to
describe christ
it
may be
that
of joseph smith
M nna moroni 1 nn3
other occasions explicitly referred to the father lv explicit and son as separate personages who appeared in the first vision this
or
the term
anel in
identify
even god
a n int arview with E an interview erview i
C
gave briggs gae the following account of the vision of the boy joseph gake
william
was
at the
mid joseph eld eid you not doubt josephs did briggs
testimony sometimes
asked brother
we all had the most implicit fcluiajn smith tnie inie vii the reply by kli confidence in what he said he was a truthful boy father and mother believed him why should not the children 1 suppose if he I had told crooked stories about other things we might have doubted his word about the plates but joseph was a truthful boy that father and mother believed his report and suffered persecution for no noj sir that belief shows that he was truthful nop sirp we never doubted word for one minute ff his
na
IIMD n&
was
11
saw
11
always had family prayers since 1 can remember hyrum I samuel katherine and mother were members of the presbyterian churchy my father would not join he did not like it because reverend stockton had preached my brothers funeral sermon and intimated very member he had gone to hell for alvin was not a church members strongly that but he was a good boy and my father did not like it
we
yes
caused joseph to ask for guidance as to what church he ought to joani joint join joini asked brother briggs
irwhat what
joint revival in the neighborhood between the bathere Presbyte rians ptists Method sits and presbyterians and tihey had succeeded in stirtistsp methodsits up quite a feeling and after the meeting the question arose ring converts reverend stockton was the which church should have the meeting and suggested that it was their meeting and president of the ougjat and they had a church there and they ougfeb to join under their care did not like reverend stockton very Presbyte rians the presbyterians but as father
why
was a
.9 9
39
well our folks hesitated and the next evening a reverend M lane of 1141hat mfethodists mbthodists the methodists preached a sermon on atiat church shall 1 join and ftiat I joint the burden of his discourses was to ask god who giveth to all men liberally and of coursep when joseph went home and was loo kinte over course looking 100 kintz coursed text ivas the textp he was impressed to do just what the preacher had gaid texts gald said 91ing and gffiing out to the woods with childlike i simple trusting faith simpie SIMI les simlies sini lei believing that god meant just what he said he kneeled down and believina believine beil bell evina beli evine prayed and the time having come for the reorganization of his church god was pleased to show him that he should join none of these churches bubp if faithful he should be chosen to establish the true church43 butp 3 but church 43
C1
iiilliam here iiwiilliam gives us insight into the integrity of his brother ihsight illiam
joseph
when he when
witnessed
his veracity
factor
seem
to
be of importance
first vision in
a sermon on semon
january
13
1884 6
10 who jgseph j8seph smith had a vision of the father and the son nho ever conjaseph necessity ceived of the nedessity of such a vision there was an absence of the being knowledge of god the world by wisdom knew not god the worshipped by so called christianity is a being without a socalled that is testator upon body parts or passions in order that he might have a test god revealed himself so that we might understand a little night unders hi the earth god 44 concerning the personality of
seemed
to
dawn da vm
it
Q
cities
18832 1883
were founded
january 20 1894
XXV 1
.1
p
18
44 journal 44journal of
discourses
40
scarcely upon the earth that had a true conception of god the densest ignorance prevailed and even ministers of religion could not conceive of the true idea and there was mystery associated assoc3 a ted with what is called the trinity that is veith the father with sonp son the soap and the holy ghost but all this was swept away in one a way ims moment by the appearance of the almighty himself by the appearance himselfby of god the fother and his son jesus christ to the boy joseph as father he kneeled in the forest beseeching god for knowledge concerning him and concerning the gospel of salvation in one moment all this darkness disappeared and onee more there was a mane manfbund on the manfcund bund cund manf earthp embodied in the flesh who had seen god who had seen jesus godp goda ood earth eartha and who could describe the personality of both faith vas again rehas hnas stored to the earth the true faith and the true knowledge concerning our oreatorp our father cand being from whence we derive our origin Crea creator and this revelation dissipated all misconceptions and all false ideas and removed the uncertainty that had existed respecting these mason sont tters the father came accompanied by the sons J thus showing that there we re two personages of the godhead two presiding personages whom we were worship and to whom we look the one the father and the other the son joseph saw that the father had a form that he had a head that orn forn f orm
was no man i s
there
he had arms that he had limbs that he had feet that he had a face bs and a tongue with which to express his thoughts for he said unto sonp son joseph this is my beloved soap pointing to the son hear him
11
made by george
cannons cannon
here is the testimony of one who actually saw the father and the son they were as described by all who have seen them literal personages personages with tabernacles the son being the express image of the 6 father6 fa ther46 fathers Father the son of god himself condescended to come and minister unto 0 0 himp him the father having also shown himself unto itunj and these various hin him 7 having also ministered unto him47 hin angels the heads of dispensations arweis wels
june jun god the were two personages appeared unto joseph smith juno there what hat ever and his son jesus christ whatever errors had existed whau hatever father had prevailed up to that time concerning the being of god ever doubts were vere swept almy never to return from the minds of those who believed aisy time at that times god was then understood to be the tine in that revelation belne belna beine beina who walked in the garden of eden and spoke with a voice whose caine finger was to be the beine that he is this testimony came with power belna belne beina fiew firw er
v
on
this occasion
.9
45jbido ibid
XXIV 9 pp ap
pO 3630 363 P
41
in the very outset of this work the father and the son were revealed alis tlis ineffable glory and they were seen by mortal man by the testimin an nan errable aiho effable vrho manj kanj viho have ony of others wghave since seen the lord jesus christ andwho are and who living witnesses mat rie lives and that he is indeed the son of god wat that ilves and one of the two personages that form the godhead 48
the foregoing treatise should represent the beliefs and feelings veith of those affiliated with the church of jesus christ of latterday saints latter day
during that period of time durina
arho who eiho aho therefore those mho believed in joseph smiths story pointed out eP Therefor
moroni
there
we
have
effect
49
believer beile belleverj believerp tend to add credibility to the story of the first vision
summary
in the foregoing analysis an attempt was made to compare josephs account with secondary reports from people closely associated wa th him with
who
heardthis in all probability heard this story from his own particularly se sematics of semantics was of concern partic rly when accurate bartic aly matics
reip criptive term angelp which criptive tem anel reis
11
lips
the problem
vms was
recording re cordina
not
all
josephs
story
josephs
visitation of
the father
48george Q cannon gospel zlonis lake city zionts book zions truth salt quoting from pp 130 131 ap 130131 edo ede 19 newquists 19570 ed jerreld L newquist store 1957 6756 38 weekly april 7 1889 3 PP 675 6 deseret
p
of
mormon
42
that
in this visita-
tion
when
the secondary
vra sources though not confirmed by joseph smithy since he ara s not alive was wes smith
believers con-
it is
vas joseph was of the actuality of this vision could not be provided since josephwas
it is this visitation st critics1 quite evident that the criticist attempts to disprove its occurrence is criticst critics critic
1
also inconclusive
and
upon
actuality the only method by which one might arrive at a in as to the truth of falsity bf this story would seem to be through decision spiritual experience after thorough study one would have to an inner
story
do
exactly as the
visitation
of the godhead had appeared to him
he
members
stated
that
that not onzy had the father only moroni came to him in 1823
other heavenly personages
Moron moronis
and
he
he announced
him but
that an angel
made
visits
1873
its visit
joseph wrote that on the 21st of september
he
retired to
his
god
room
that
led into
many
appetites
this
to speculate that his statement indicated kolimribr in a letter to oliver cowdery joseph noun&r
explains that sins which concerned him were a light and too often
fo hh vain mind exhibiting a fo&liiah and
trifling conversation
the details of this visitation are outsode of the historical problems as well as soe
lined in the
2 appendix
some
IDHC 1 I 1dhc1 ip
po p 10
2see 2see ee
43
44
joseph declared that the angel I loroni appeared three times durloronia illoroniv ing the evening of september
noon of the 22nd
what he had said
21
1823
afterC
previously
0
rise of the
oliver
cowdery
letters
.34 1834 34 1834
concerning the appearance of the aneel moroni and the anhel anel
beginning october
in his version elder cowdery explained more completely what he 4 in analyzing cowdery cowderys thought moroni quoted to joseph smith account
we
on
that mommas interpretation of these scriptures brought new light ancient writings which had heretofore been a mystery to religious scholars
see
one passage
krhen 1 when uhen
looked upon him 1 was afraid but the fear soon left I urald me he called me by name and said unto me that he was a messenger vias sent from the presence of god to me and that his name was thepresence mephi moro kephi moroni keahi
I first
it
is
first written
by
the
51n a discourse dated september 22y 1872 orson pratt described 22 182 in mor iia asp fla a above the size of common men at the is moronic personage as ila journal of present day and his arms and feet were partially bare andhis anahis Axt xvp po 182 XV advocate quoted a letter from ali vocate the messenger and axi xvi discourses inthe ifthe moroni the cowdery which includes the following concerning moronis oliver aove the common size of men in personage was a above stature of this was age his garment vaas perfectly white and had the appearance of being this Ip see appendix F pendix without seam
little
little
A 41
ppe pp ap
11 12t 12 1112
45
scribe
mormon
ne ohl was one of the ancient prophets described nephi ohi nhi
lias
in the
was ivas
book of
someone
later
0 s
MORONI RONI
ibo 140
rodl above
it
an asterisk was
placed also
written
2
cov evidently a clerical error see doc and gov sec sec 106 par 20 also elders journal vol page
1
par
should be
smith of confusion assuming that the vision of the father and the son
and the moroni vision were one and the same
NAFM the apparent error of the use of NEEBI occurred in three published nerel
accounts
1842
vol
3 pp 30 ap
749
&
753
kugust Killen nial the millennial star august 1842 and the 1851 edition of the pearl of r 8 great price 0 these publications carried the story of the visit using
the
instead of
MORONI
was made
determine difficult to dete ne the note at the bottom of the manuscript page is 0 2 sp some help Covenant doctrine and covenants section 50 par 211 note the of is
1835
some
subsequent edi-
is
behold
wherefore marvel not for the hour cometh is drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth
wisdom
in
me 9
.9
ap p 12 A po
8the mother of the prophet lucy mack smith quotes in her writings athe ker rhe the took her account from the times and seasons that nephi appeared since she lucy mack smith biographical sketches which contained the error article W orson pratt & S M richards 1853 po 79 P joseph smith liverpool of rp whitmere Whitme mary 04hitmerp wife of peter whitmerp hhitmer mitner aitmer Aitmer mer john C 1ihitmer grandson of aither altner aitner alt mary whitmer say on several lairmer laitmer lAit ner seap grandnuather grandmther grandmther UI senp senj sen stated 1 I have heard my grandmother of the book of mormon by an holy shown occasions that she was shonn the plates edo ed nephi tl the historical record edw always called brother angeio angelo whom she angel gait VIIs jenson galt lake city 1888 VII p 621 vil pub by andrew ait lindrew alt andrev and
11
46
t1 and trfith moroni v ta whom 1 have sent unto you to reveal the book of 11om I whon with mormon conta ining the fulness 0 1 my everlasting gospel to whom momon containing falness of I 1 have committed the keys of the record of the stick of ephraim I and also v vihon with elias to whom 1 have committed the keys of bringing whon I to pass the restoration of all things or the restorer of all spoken things spoked by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the spokeq world began 7
ith
on page 52 of the
this section
apparently
first written in
my after may
1838
this man-
uscript sometime
jook book
evi-
after
may 2
4
it
1838
gs moronigs appearance but moronism moroniss appear anceo writing of the story of Mo Moroni roniSs
a- er arter after ft
since
it is
on page 52
it
ite
section
it
goes only
to section
the
1844
edition goes
contain the 106th section of which the 20th verse reads as follows
and again what do we hear glad tidings from cumorah moroni declaring an angel from heaven dec bring the fulfillement of the prophets fulfill ement decbring 10 this appears as section 12820 in the the book to be revealed sP 1962 edition of the doctrine and covenants Covenant
made
at the
bottom
manuts clipt manuscript continuing continuinp the suggestion made by the footnote on the manues cript
alo aie smith et ale doctrine and covenants kirtland ohio al seco 5021 p 180 sece 502 co sec coo 1835 14 illiams & ooo also found in doctrine and WL lliams 1962 2700 sc 2755 covenants 1962s sec 2750 275
0
0 9
G F 0 ge .0
.6 6
10
ibid
2nd
edition
1844
106200 10620
47
s the elders journal published in eiders eider elder
1838
question ath how and chere did you obtain the book of 14ormon ihere mormon here 4th answer ansi er moroni the person who deposited the plates from whence the book of mormon was translated in a hill in manchester ontario county new york being dead and raised again therefrom appeared unto me and told me where they were and gave the directions how arim to obtain them 1 obtained shemp and the lipjjn and thummim with themp them urim then I them by the means of iwhich 1 translated the plates and thus thich I u came the book of mormon 11
.9 9
it
story
jr
was
this statement seems to be clear wae waz was and concise this report indicates that it maz the angel moroni who kae appeared to the young prophet and told him about the plates of the book
of
mormon
written in his
journal
oliver
who
cowdery
one of
book of mormon
letter printed in
1 have been I
whose words
rehearsing who communicated the knowledge of the record of the Nep hites in this age nephites
the personage
witnesses
who was
designated to
show
is identified by oliver cowdery unquestionably as moroni his history of the church john corrill an early member of in
r edito elders journal joseph smith editor &3 ap 42430 1838p pp 42&3 42 43o 1838 4253
11
ip
.1 1
far
1 I 11
mo I lo st 1 10
july
12messenger
up letter VI
1835
p pe 112
48
deposited in a hill anciently called carmoah sic in the township of manchester ontario county new york they were deposited nevi neir about 1400 years since by one moroni under the direction of heaven vath with a promise that in the lords own due tilep they should be timep time brought forth for the special benefit of the remnant of his people j peo ole oie the house of israel through joseph of egypt as well as for the salvation of the G e antiles upon this continent 13 ntiles john corrill who later left the church wrote the above as a
disaffected
record
member
in
what next ivho icho then came men who had held the priesthood beforel ijho caine were they theyl moroni an ancient prophet who had lived upon this con corr coir tenent and who had charge of the records from which the book of tinent mormon was translated momon a fitting person to introduce the same ed transit transil
principles again
heber
.9
november 8 9 1857 187 do you suppose that god in phet god called upon him but he sent peter to do moroni to joseph and told no he sent come himself
it
moroni
person called upon joseph smiths our prosmith callp but god did not come himself and calap cali cail call he sent peter and sent do you not see him that he had got the plates did god 11 9
monnon was given an additional aspect of j8s ephus visions wcas 91 ven by the momon ephts joseph
ovi oki pr ophe oil prophets brother william
.9 9
js
ts
who
a 1883 6
joseph smith 9 at the age of 17 years with the moral training he had from strictly pious and religious parents could not have received ng pa conceived the idea in his mind of palming off a fabulous story such e as seeing angels etc sceiae andels sufficient age to efficient was not a singel member of the family of su sing el fficient there know right from wrong but what had implicit confidence in the
.9
11
brief history of the church of jesus christ 7e 1839 john corrill 1839s po 7 P ae louls st louis
XXVI XMP
14 journal 14journal
of discourses
VI
po p 291
p 106 pe
49
brother joseph concerning his vision and the ision knowledge he thereby obtained concerning the plates
made by my
1
statements
it
seems
1 te irle trie irie
must be remembered
by joseph smith
was
dictated
to a scribe
was wab
it
made
the error of writing nephi inb begad of moroni iab instead inttead
since he did not identity himself in
we cr n can
the scribe
analysis of later historical incidents suggest that george robinson 17 most likely the scribe
one would wonder why the name Ne phit was written in the nephi iihy not
bihy 11hy
first
place
name
there
may be some
further evidence
proprietor of the
.0 0
which
will shed sane light hp at the request of mr john wentworth editor Wentwort lt
and
chicago democrat
persecution and faith of the latterday saints latten day iatter latter
ddte jour his journal under the adte of march
1
this is referred to in
1842
wherein he wrote
morom tunes tines this angel fmoronji appeared to me three times the same night and unvisits folded the same things after having received many visita from the angels of god unfolding the majesty and glory of the events that sepq days on the morning of the 22nd of sepa should transpire in the last
827 tember 181 1827 tember1827 the angel of the lord delivered the records into hands
my
smiths
visited
it is
true
referring to the visitation of the father and the that son but further analysis does not seem to indicate that this was josephs
he could have been
16
nibley
op
cit
45 4
18dehc1 HC
337 537
50
Li intention tention
orson pratt
who was ws
1869 0
god
four years ajpfcerwards was afterwz ads rds was not merely something spealcing it wrapped up mystery speaking gus mus was in the dark it wes not something with no in glory attending it but a glorious angel whose countenance shone like a vivid flash of lightning and who was arrayed in a white robe and stood before him this young man saw the countenance of the angel and he saw his person and his glory and rejoiced therein angel this cangel so revealed to him SOBBI great realities not mysterious or dark sayings covered up without any particular info mation light or knowledge information matlon but certain realities were made manifest to him concerning the ancient inhabitants of this land this angel told him that they were a branch of the house of israel that they kept sacred and holy records that those records were kept by prophets and inspired men that they were deposited some fourteen centuries ago after the nation had fallen into wickedness by one of their last prophets and that the time was pourer hbnd hhnd pouter at hhand for this record to be brought forth by the gift and power of
.9 9
here then was a reality something great and glorious and after having received from time to time visits from these glorious personrede ived ages and talking with them as one man would talk with ano therp face another to face beholding their glory he was permitted to go and take these records plates from the place of their deposit plates of gold record some st and marly mariy arly garly of which were made BM ariy six hundred years before christ lind then to mim thummim min Thum something eon arim show still further a reality Bom ething tangible the urim and thumm JMP w3 with a glorious instrument used by ancient seers was also obtained wa th record the recordp through which by the gift and power of the holy ghost and records god ood by the commandment of almighty gody he translated that record into our year 18300 19 1830 1630 fo depart language and the book was published in the forepart of the
1
on two
said
the present day until the time when the lgrd by the mouth of his 4rd ard him a knowledge by holy angels called joseph smith and gave unto vision of the place where the ancient records of a portion of the 20 deposited20 were deposited020 deposited 020 israelitish nation
on september 22
1872 1672
he declared
during these four years he was often that 1 will state I god odp ood to by the angels of G edp and received instruction ministered
howeverp however vens vers 19 journal 19journal 191ournal
of discourses XIII
660 66 pe gge
29ibido ibid
51
latter
21 days21 days
parley
pratt in
declared
joseph smith by the gift and power of god 1 say through that young I man and the ministration of holy angels to him that book came forth cane to the worldy and it has since that time been preached and read in our worldp world langauge and many others and we rejoice in itp and have borne testimlanauge ian gauge lan auge ftp lanauze it ony of it in the world
this subject in
a sermon dated
april
and when joseph smith was raised up as a prophet of god mormon moroni nephi and others ef the ancient prophets who formerly lived of on this continent and peter and john and others who lived on the an
asiatic continent
god23 ples pertaining to the gospel of the son of god 23 again on december
1 can I
ap 7p 7
came
to
to
him
certain princi-
tell
you what he
told
me
about
it
ft son
upon
0
it
ely again who more likely than mormon and nephi and some of those who had ministered to the people upon this continent under prophets belv felv representa represents same gospel to operate again as its representa4iv the influence of the well now do 1 believe that joseph smith saw the several I tives U hin angels alleged to have been seen by him as described one after another 24 yes 1 doe why do 1 believe it because 1 obeyed this gospel yesp I dow khy I do desp I
.9 9
it
seem a
21
was
if nephi
22 Ibid 22ibid
did appear
made
it
does
little
ibidp ibid
more
the mistake of
212
IX p
XXI
24ibid 24ibid
pp ap
52
name
it
once
journals that he understood joseph to imply that the disciple nephi med appeared to him had ted in a special interview on may 20 1964 dr sidney 20p B sperry professor at brigham young univebsity vi university attested to the writer univebsit7l niter riter
that tl git
he saw thomas
bullocks journal
and
that the
contained in
it
if
was a
direct
it
would be
cannon adds
further testimony in
his
sermons 0 sermonso
ephraim ephrain held the keys of the record of the stick of Ephra imp bout less aiso boatless also iclsited joseph he had boutless alsop visits from nephi and it iflsited may be from alma and others but though they came and had authority holding the authority of the priesthood we have no account of their r thel thei 5 ordaining him 25
or
who
ajoseph smitj was visited constantly by angels moroni fjoseph snith joseph smith the beginning as you know to prepare him for his mission came in and ministered and talked to him from time to time and he had lon vision vi ion after vision in order that his mind might be fully saturated c know7e god goda ood omnrehend knowledge with a knowse 6 of the things of godp and that he might comprehend 20 the great and holy calling that god has bestowed upon him
he
testimonies of the
s aspects of mor kspedts aspedts moronis visit repeated1 of moroni to joseph smith have been repeated
1
details of the
some
visit
ietter letter
and journal
of those
who were
pe p 3630
53
him
in
a sermon on december 10
1871
cone comer shall come that we through the grace of god the father and our T lond jesus christ have seen the plates which contain this record tord lord ond ord and we testify with words of soberness that god sent forth an holy angel from heaven and he showed unto us the plates from which this record was takenp and he commanded us to bear record of the same and to be taken takena sane anto obedient unto the commandment of god 116 bear testimony of these e linto things and we do know if we are faithful in christ we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men tt and so forth 1 have repeated to you I part of the testimony of these three men now is there any chance for deception here an angel to be sent god goda cone down forth from godp an angel to come doin from heaven clothed in glory and anel cane domn brightness an angel to take these plates and turn them over leaf after leaf and show the engravings thereon an angel to proclaim to them that they must bear testimony of it to all people nations and tongues j and at the same time to hear the voice of god out of the tongues and at the same time to hear the voice of god out of the heavens procliaming that it had been translated correctly any chance ivene for deception here so far as they are concerned ikene they deceived sop you may as well say that peter gus deceived that paul was deTOS so ws soj if p james was deceived that all the writers of the new testadece IV edp ceived that dp ment were deceived that all the writers of the old T stament were deTI testament deceive ceived when they testify that they saw angels for one stands on as good and sound a foundation as the other and if the very nature of the impossibly ity impossibl testimony as recorded by the ancient writers shows the impoasiblity stetimony of their being deceived so does the nature of the stetimony revealed in the last days show the impossibility of these individuals being 27
work
176
1
bhe let us see whether they fthe three wit nesse could be deceived men athe witnesse vdtnesseis witnessed the and yet their testimony be given as it is here recorded they have sp whom whon testified to all nations kindred tongues and people unto ivhon this hom nation hon
iv
deceived
from
elder
samuel
S 14
letter from oliver mr cowdery by yx Cowder yp and be the last letter written 1884 this is believed to importance and significance it appears for that reason is of considerable
be a
to
plain
claimed participation in
editor deseret
1 I
news t
27 journal of 27journal
54
written by oliver cowdery as a direct testimony of the facts therein set forth by myself personally at the time indicated y the rate cate sate date affixed at that time he with his family was spending a few days say sty bay brith with me at my then residence in Ilis souri as he was on his way to visit missouri nay iday liay vfl ezo mlo david val whitmer and family in richmond mo j prior to his contemplated whitner atmer dtmer departure for salt lake city that coming spring to spend the remainder of his days with and in laboring for the church As he was about to semerc take his leave after severc i days of most interesting and familiar several conversation with me he penned with his ownhand and in my presence mej nej testamony testimony testAmony the testdlmony and statement therewith which 1 deem worthy of record I
samuel
W
richards
oliver
28 0 cowdery0 cowdery
smithp snith stesenson edward stemensonp another associate of joseph smith gives furStesenson stefenson
august
18940
the youne prophet further said that in 1823 three years after house 1 I have been his first vision while praying in his fathers so highly favored of the lord as to have been in the very house vervently prayin vervently praying pradin hen servant of god said he was fervently prayin 9 when sudwhere the sun sulp denly the house was filled with light brighter than the noon day sunp midst of which there stood an angel who said he was sent in the godp goda from the presence of god as a messenger to him the angel instrucregarding retarding him regardinga a marvelous work that god was about to bring to ted beogods beCSGod beO Gods bed who was selected to becsgod josephp was the one josephj pass and that he P joseph mouthpiece to bring about and establish the great and servant and mout hiece t 0 biece
aseret
55
it three tunese said the young man did this angel tunes1 tunesi times angi tines same night each angl continue his visits during the nirfrt time repeating the niaht same seme s me instructions only extending some a little and q sane sme quoting several quotina liotina passages of scripture relating to the great onk which was to come wonk work ork forth in closing the last visit the angel invited the boy to meet anmei anel him on a neighboring hill two miles alday from his fathers house away aid ald ay housep where he would give him still further instructions and permit him to see a book of gold plates containing a history of two nations who mho had previously inhabited this great land of america so plainly was iss this made known that on the next day joseph sadd he was able to find said scid the exact place and met the angel as reou ested tle requested weil well weli he reouested veil eeli zioseph smitch jioseph smit7 joseph smitjh did know for an angel from heaven had talked with him and giyen him promises which he neither doubted nor feared to degiygn gi 7 n clare
marvelous work
ins
it
made
moroni
in the night
1823
visits t
those
who would
would have
classify the night visits as dreams succeeding with irith possibility leith the succedding
daytime
visits
the fourth and fifth visits could have given joseph the
from a messenger of god
TVI ivd ird
assurance that his experiences of the previous night were no dream but
Is mornnds message was summarized by wilford woodruff on february tilford mornni morani
7
when he
same
said
forp for organization and gospel that christ died corp and the that apsotels spilled their blood to vindicate is again established generation how did it come by the ministering of an in this man nan from rith malp holy arua el yron god out of heaven who held converse with manp fron arla anelfrom anel and revealed unto him the darkness that enveloped the world and unfolded unto him the gross darkness that surrounded the nations those scenes that should take place in this generation and would quick succession even unto the coming of follow each other in messiah the angel taught joseph smith those principles which the necessary for the salvation af the world and the lord gave him of ned essary are nedessary ga e gae sp and sealed upon him the priesthood and gave him power commandments commandment he told him adininister the ordinances of the house of the lord to administer organisak organisa menp nen was not among men and that there was not a true orga niza mena gospel the kingdom in the world that the people had turned away tion of his lilg true order changed the ordinances and broken the lils hig ilg jis from his ils
liv
1
29 stevenson 29stevenson
op ope
cit
pp pps ap
2122
21 22p 240 22 24
56
everlasting covenant and inherited lies and things wherfein there V hem n hea aas 3 no profit tas he told him the time had come to lay the foundation ias among for the establishment of the kingdom of god amon men for the least last tune preparatory time reparatory to the winding up scene J vlin ding oiin olin tine joseph trus strenn themed oseph iwas strengthened ras iras thened by the spirit and power of crod and was enabled to listen to the arod end ood cod teachings of the angel he told him he should be made an instrument in the hands of the londs if he kept his commandments in doing a lords lond lord good work upon the earth that his name should be held in honor by the honest in heart and in dishonor throughout the nations by the wicked he told him he should be an instrument in laying the foundation of a work that should gather tens of thousands of the children of men in the generation in which he lived from every nation under heaven who should hear the sound of it through his instrumentality he told him the nations were wrape in wickedness and abomination wrapt judgements and that the judgements of god were ready to be poured out upon them falness in their fulness that the angels were holding the vials of his fulness wrath in rec diness but the decree is that they shall not be poured readiness red out until the nations are warned tibt they may be left wit out an without that tiat ros pei excuse this man to whom the angel appeared obeyed the mos pel he gospel MEOW nee ss meeknass meekness received it in mee knass and humility and bowed down before the lord and worshipped him and did the best he could in his LU iterate state illiterate boye he laid hold of it with all plow boy he was as it were but a mere plowboy his heart though he saw he would have to wage war with sin and wickedness wickadness vdckadness and abominations and the oppositions of the people he wherever began to trust in the lord and what was the consequence h the words of the gospel which the angel revealed to him were 3b menp nen mena preached among the children of men it had its effects effect
mus mas
.1 1
1 I
71
ber
13
18572
proclamation made declaring that a holy angel from heaven it appeared had that he had revealed himself unto a young man that was yanmerts conj thout ziny phout a yarmeris sonj without any parfarmers farmerts son va farmer backwoods of america neris farner far born in the appeared ticular educational advantages that this angel having gave account unto him had revealed unto him an ancient record that gate an of the aboriginal inhabitants of this country that in this record there was an account of prophets having existed on this continent appear edp former days of jesus having appeared and of angels having adin unto them account of their having been in possesministered sion of the gospel having the same doctrines the same blessings welth urith with same privileges and powers that were associated weith the gospel the on the asiatic continent and that this record agreed with the bible 3 blessings311 blessings3 indoctrines ordinances teachings and blessings in doctrines
was a
josephs
arter after
moronis
57
and went
work
the next
ill
tree
stopped to
rest
by an apple
the messenger whom he saw the previous night visited him again and the first thing he said was imhy imay why did you not tell your father that which 1 commanded you to I him11 joseph replied 1 I was afraid my father would not behin tell him lieve me the angel rejoined he will believe every word you say
short time
to
him
ii
joseph then promised the angel that he would do as he had comanel upon this the messenger departed and joseph returned to manded the field where he had left my husband and alvin but when he got there his father had just gone to the house as he was somewhat unwell joseph then desired alvin to go straightway and see his something of great importance father and inform him that he had sa nething to communicate to him and that he wanted him to come out into the as field where they were at work alvin did as he was requested and when my husband got there joseph related to him all that had passed between him and the angel the previous night and that morning having heard this account 2 his father charged him not to fail in attending strictly to the instruction which he had received from this
heavenly messenger
he
zjoselh proceeded to relate further particulars concernjosep ing the work which he was appointed to do and we received them ourselves agreeable joyfully never mentioning them except among ourselvesagreeable to the instructions which we had received from him
from
ayery eyery from the lord and we continued to get the children together eery evening for the purpose of listening while he gave us a relation of sing luar singliar the same 1 presume our family presented an aspect as singluar as I any that ever lived upon the face of the earth all seated in a father mother sons and daughters and giving the most procircie circle found attention to a boy eighteen years of age who had never read the bible through in his life he seemed much less inclined to the IM a en bilt perusal of books than any of the rest of our children but far more given to meditation and deep study e
this
to receive instructions
childr
1 I
IM
stihhiffsssswe
skas skfs
was were now confirmed in the opinion that god mas about to bring to light something upon which we could stay our minds or that would give us a more perfect knowledge of the plan of salvation and the cep cej caused us greatly to rejoice human family this redemption of the the sweetest union and happiness pervaded our house and tranquility reigned in our midst
yie we ice lie
rejoi
sp conversations during our evening conversation joseph would occasionally us some of the most amusing recitals that could be imagined give he would describe the ancient ihnabitants of this continent their mode of traveling and the animals upon which they rode dress
58
with as much easer seemingly cis ease as among thern thein than then
on
their cities their buildings with every particular their mode of warfare and also their religious worship this he would do belig ious beligious
5
if
he had spent
twbdty twadty the twaddy second of september 1824 joseph again visited the place where he found the plates the year previous and supposing yean yein at this time that the only thing required in order to possess them was until the time for their translation wets to be able to keep the command menta of god hae commandmenta commandments fhe keep and firmly believing fae could kee o every he keen commandment cammndment which has been given him expected to carry he fully ex oected them home with him therefore having arrived at the place unppt covering the plates he appt forth his hand and took them up but as vas he was taking them hence the unhappy thought darted through his mind that probably there was something else in the box besides the nd plates which would be of some pecuniary advantage to him so i in the moment of excitement he laid them down very carefully for the purpose of covering the box lest some one might happen to pass that way and get whatever there might be remaining in it covering after cover ng but turned around to it heand where he knewtake the record againknow behold it was c h wheres gone not neither ded he dad did the mans by which it had been taken from him
a natural consequence he was much alarmed he kneeled down and asked the lord why the record has been taken from him upon which the angel of the lord appeared to him and told him that he had not done as he had been commanded for in a former revelaates tion he had been commanded not to lay the lates down or put them depe for a moment out of his hands until he got into the house and d posited them in a chest or trunk having a good lock and key and contrary to this he had laid them down with the view of securing ede some fancied or imaginary treasure that remained binary ginary remain
11
at this as
jgseph jaseph of excitement j18seph was overcome by the powers imas iras of darkness and forgot the injunction that was laid upon him
in the
moment
occasi&n eel rei having further conversations with the an gel on this occasion anel eted joseph bras pe tted to raise the stone again when he beheld the hnas permitted as he had done before he immediately reached forth his hand plates them but instead of getting them as he anticipated he was to take hurled back upon the ground with great violence when he recovered angel was gone and he arose and returned to the house weeping the disappointment for grief and disappointments
that he we would expect him to bring the plates we mi g ht dj that w e might doubt him he was greatly troubled fearing t troubie trouble home with As soon as he entered the house my husband his having seen them no not asnwer was noy father the piates asked if he had obtained the plates
was As he iv as aware ivas
it
tfdid did
1
replied joseph
A
59
1
ness
know
if
would have take themy ll rejoined theny them bhan then 1 had been in your plade I
11
much
11
earnest-
would not
you ivyou returned joseph in quite a subdued toner jou do not tone ivyon 1 could not get them for the angel of the lord i what you say I hat
Irvi why irvilyp
11
lyP
let
me
joseph then related the circumstance in full which gave us much uneasiness as we were afraid that he might utterly fail of obtaining the record through some neglect an his part on in
0
0 0 0
O 0
10
fioseph smitch jioseph smit2h joseph smitjh7 smiled and said presently severest chastisement that 1 have ever had in my I he
my
tj
life
supposing that it was from some of the neighbors was quite angry and observed 1 I would like to know what business you anybody has to find fault with youl
husband
stop father said n said joseph it was the angel of the lord As 1 passed by the hill of cumorah where the plates arel the angel ane are I met me and said that 1 had not been engaged enough in the work of the I tame lord that the time had come for the record to be brought f forth and orth god that 1 must be up and doing and set myself about the things which I had commanded me to do but father give yourself no uneasiness concerning the reprimand which 1 have received for 1 now know the course I I tart t I viell the thl veli veil t1rt 1 am to pursue so all will be well
1
11
also made known to him at this interview that he should it twentysecond make another effort to obtain the plates on the twenty second of piates the following september but this he did not mention to us at that
was
it
mother brings
to light a
she
thedbory thesbory jory thedbory thestory different aspect of the sbory than
moroni had
tell
visits
do
visit
smiths
it
when he
also there is
mrs
cit
j1 ja
pp ap
79 85 7985
60
went
after the first visit in josephs account he is clear in stating that the angel told him the time for receiving the plates would not be until four years from the time of the 33 although the point of first visit difference is not so important it
to the hill
cumorah a year
is an example of how some aspects in are tics which a re unlike the original
summary
retold story
assume
characteris-
with in analyzing josephs account of moronis visit we are not u without problems from the testimonies cited it seems possible that joseph story of mornoi was believed by his family and close as1
saw
an angel who
oliver
cowdery
identified
by subsequent
on occasion
writings
that other
on
book
further thought
ment made
end in this thesis concerning the visitation of the father and the bep son lep that an experience such as joseph claims can be verified lej iep
ie
only by a
human
spiritual
experience on
error existing in the mistakes of memory and a natural tendency isp best besta is to embellish the retold story asp at bestp a confirmation of only the
33see appendix
35
A
16
VI letter up
1835
po 112
see appendix
D dp
pp ap
4 5 45
city
pp ap
101 loo lois loi 85s 100 1010 79 85 1001010 7985 100101
61
v eri vered a messageft nd gave him a record fijn eli angel moroni appeared to hijn eti elivered messagend slivered nessa himttelivered messa gend
c
of josephs story
is that the
all
CHAPTER
FOUR
conclusion
is
made up
first vision
and of the
was
accounts attention
visits of the angel moroni in selecting these given to their authenticity the date of publi-
cation and the authors proximity to the primary source joseph smith proC prokUnity
nu script nuscript first is the manuscript history as dictated by joseph smith to a clerk who wrote in longhand next is the story as it appears today in twpearl qgreat price an accepted scripture of the church exic is next exfc erub tre pearl f great pricco priceo trs peari
included
sion which
vms was
letter oliver
ryde cowdery s account orson hyde s pamphlet and the accounto hydes
s prophets the prophet brother
1 I
appendix
As
several
clear and
some
in the
these
2
to
show
d-
etails and footnotes have been added to explain any additions changes or
on
the manuscript
this thesis
63
pendix
1
Kp appendix B
one
it
contains certain
original
first
appendix
orson ppatt published a pamphlet in 1840 which became the opatt pratt
first vision
and
because
it
was
it
was
appendix
in discussing appendix
account of the
which
earliest written
information given
is
is nevertheless historically
important
and
in this particular narrative josephs scribe wrote down a number then wrote over it to the writer and others it looks like a 16 indi-
16th year
writes briefly of the vision he does not mention the father as being present however this does not indicate that he was not present the date
of the appearance of the angel moroni
1822
is given as the
this date of course could or could not be an error since the recorded as lasting from the evening of the 21st day of vision is later
tember
22nd
sep-
the morning of the 22nd and again in the afternoon of the until account written by joseph smith at a the year does disagree with the
later date
joseph also related in
this early
instructions
martin harris
64 appecaalred to oliver cowdery with instructions and a vision appeared appellred ilith
another
new
samuel
smithy josephs younger brother imas used as an assistant in the translasnithy was ras smith iras imas snith tion of the book of mormon
adcount this account was never published or referred to by any of the au thiD lAties of the church as far as the writer has been able to determine thidlaties thidrities latles
from the lack of recognition and importance given
docio docioment document docement cEment this do ment
it
seems
draft which was started but never corrected or fininstead of gong back over and revising joseph smith evidently
was ca a
we
it
have
it
in appendix
ientworth this account is commonly called the vint worth letter explanation lint of the origin is given in the beginning pages of appendix itself howevery this account also contained what is known to the members of the ever church of jesus christ of latterday saints as the articles of fa ith a latter day falth faith statement of thriteen doctrinal beliefs the wgntworth letter became the tntworth Tnt worth wintworth antworth int
11
first
first vision
appendix
this is oliver
more
is
much
detailed than any of the other accounts that joseph approved of olivers writing this particular story is shown by his offer of assistance
and
is
wg we
details
lost
first
vision
is
unknown
65
apostle and a close associate of jpseph he should have heard the story
directly
lips
same
that
a copy of the times and seasons account of the 11rentwroth wentwroth uentwroth
letter
or the
history that
ple
appendix
H
was bras
in the
ath ith
orson hyde
jm smith william smithp brother to joseph wrote his story Millia snith
when he was 72
some
but some
this final
sources of the
utilized
piabli ca publica-
first
vision
As
is the
case in most
if
not
all
these
may be on
canions soon lons cations merely points out scon of the differences which appear in these publications son pull cat ions SOB scob
those
who made
conclusion
soap son story of the visit of the father and the sonp and the account of the b6rmairopfeotbie the visit of moroni have caught the interest bermagyoptopike throughout the fro world certainly a claim of a visit fr 04j god to man deserves some attention
the reaction
was dramatic
some
considered
it
blasphemous
others treated
it
as gloriously sacred
visits
therefore all
him
smiths true that in considering joseph smithes experiences with the is it brn soap and vrn th moroni one is obliged wither to accept or reject son aither alther brith vdth edth and the sonp father
the story
it is
rented in private
and the
left
on
out of
josephs published
ac-
fall
ter
and
integrity
dr hugh
validity of the major claims made by him nibley professor of history and religion at brigham
1
univebsity compiled a series of articles on the first vision throughly university analyzing the antimormon writ erst criticism of josephs significant claims ts writers1 ersi writers anti mormon writerst Joseph iny publishedin publish edin Ju these articles were published in the improvement era periodically from july uly
1
to
november 1961
in his
summary
.9 9
critic distorted
fessing to follow
smith
it
be made of
it
the meaning of
it
did they did not use forms from which they read
their sermons these men were guided by their feelings and acknowledged their weaknesses as finished speakers therefore if their remarks are to be critized by skeptics they should be read carefully and in context with the particular topic of the sermon or publication definition of words dd which were accepted in that time should be considered in determining the consider which A case in point is the term ft angel whi ch true meaning of certain remarks
we
the
men
ferred to
christ
it
seems
that they
this title is not in any sometimes had joseph smith sinith snith way belittle their calling it only describes their mission term angel as a ministering personage and in fact names christ defined the using this definition anyone could have referred to christ angel as an
reason to refer to
5
them as angels
.9 9
11d9hcp IV p 425 po HC
67
as an angel
be defined
know what
the writer of
how many
we
first
reliable
first
show
father
visit of
and number
it
was
has hopefully been shown how these may have crept in and that they may be
sttry stbry consistent in the retelling of the essential items of his sabry and only
nor minor discrepancies are found in the narratives of his associates
environment
sp envivvnment environment certainly in most situations the envidonment plays an important Certain lyp situation
which the
it
seems
nas mans response to mans request along with the necessity of nans being ready mas mas in
to receive this revealed word the message which joseph smith claimed was given to him by jesus christ could not have been given to the people of the
world unless the environment of
their minds to receive these instructions members of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints claim that joseph smith was selected years before his birth to their
day had conditioned
gep parenta his particular day and time through his religious parentage forth in gods to meet god purposes in this environment god gave mankind the selec tod selected restorati&n restoration ty opportunity to accept the story of the restoratidm of his kingdom on the opp&rtunl
come
earth
68
importance of story
to equall this in ulli aaspects the story lill ali ail all the eternal father and his son jesus christ appeared to a
Q
prophecy
telling that such a specific experience was prophecfefes propheclis plus other prophe chis foretelling the restoration of clis
Q
the gospel in
the last
number
3 days
place between
he was then
memory
1838
trusting to his
this
there
all
he could do
israelites
john the 0
baptist
the dig distinction of introducing the christian dispensation and of dit tinction baptizing christ peter james and john were chosen to head that particular allowing christ dispensations Ollowing christs resurrection moroni and nephi were great
had
nephite leaders and the father and his son jesus christ are accepted as rather A 0 too to joseph smith claimed tow godhead by almost all christians members of the
have conversed with
all
each had a
particular
chapter
message
11
1
to deliver
47
to
footnote no
69
father and the son appeared to enlighten the world as to the being character 4 moroni and a butes of god and attr autes which knowledge had been lost attributes altr his associa tes sociates bridged the gap existing between the two continents and gave to
book
of
scripture scrip ure additional scrippure necessary to mans salscri pure scriure
work was
mormon
the beginning
first told
by joseph
human
smith
er-
this
way
god has not spoken if the angel of god has not appeared smith to joseph smithp and 0 these things are not true of which we speak then the whole thing is an imposture from beginning to end there is no debter detter rf etter halfway house no middle path about the natter is either one thing itter
and
if
if
or the other
we have e
it
who
were not
man who
reads
accounts will have to determine for himself whether he will accept these
saints
to
acknowledge
and
lives of millions
hec
4phcs hoc
jj
CI
1659 165
70
many
know
mormon were
that they
As
mormon
felt the
evidence
expounded by
this
of the doctrines
to existing problems
partly known these problems developed from partlyknown truths then in existence
his
own making
was people associated with joseph never thought that this new doctrine mas of
or
that
first to
left the
that
he had a
father
years
and
until his
martyrdom
age of 38
sp error errors principle to introduce correct principles to overturn errorp evil and corruption earthe earth I and to establish his church and kingdom upon the eartho 1 have heard 1 have heard him tell over and I him talk about these things myself over again to myself and others the circumstances pertaining to these and the various ministrations of angels and the development of visions purposes of god towards the human family the
e
3650 365
71
orson pratt another close compan on of joseph smith pratta pratt3 companion
testifies
god had again spoken from the heavens and that by holy doval angels sent down from heaven he had again revealed the everlasting gospel in all its fuljiess and for forty years past we have declared fulness falness igie ivie this to the world 1 e have also testified that many of the servants of god have been ordained by holy angels and sent forth to publish these tidings among the inhabitants of the earth and that others have been orda qed by those who received their ordination from heavenly messenordained ked f
.9 9
that
gers
in
1853
on
this contact in
the salvation of
what
he said
or any part of it or called the attention og the people towards it giving rise to the system now called mormonism it was the ministration of angels to certain indi vidualsj vidual sj or in other words certain individuals in this age enjoyed open vi duals viduals visuals
world
visions
patriarchs but where can we read under the government of the patr archs aichs before the flood or after it 5 before moses or after him before christ 0 or after christ where can we read in sacred history of a people of god by whom the doctrine of visions and ministering of angels would be dis8 erroneous8 carded or be considered erroneous
edward stevenson was present on one occasion when joseph
told the
was so An inspired by
spired
it that
he never
smitch smitj the prophet joseph smitjh stood at a table for the pulpit where he began relating his vision and before he got through he was in the do rland uplifted iland I 0 midst of the congregation with UP lifted hand 1 00o believe that there 0 am M 4m NM was nol 1 was not one person present who wag not lconvincejd of the truth of his 5t1511tacsince coming an angel fcomimo to him his countenance seemed to me to hin hi vision of assume a heavenly whiteness and his voice was so piercing and forcible my part it so impressed me as to become indelibly imprinted on for mind9 minda my mind 9 nind
0
11
of an angel from
71bide bid
XVI p xvi3 xvii
familo were proud indeed to entertain one soap son the father and the sonp and been under the tuition heaven and who under the immediate direction of the
790 79
1 I
299
9stevenson3 9sievenson
pp ap
lgb 18 igo 19o 18190 19 1819
op
72
almighty had organized the true church on the earth after the exact pattern of the organized by god through jesus christ eighteen hundred oy6anized 10 years before
we have
recited testimonies of
own
who
lips
now
not only
testifies
stated
fioseph jioseph pero nally living witness that 1 peronally heard this young prophet joseph I personally stoity testify in 1834 that jesusi words were true and that god had smit2h smitch testily feo establish tio reestablish this same order called upon him by heavenly vision tro re
although 1 was then only one year old in the church and felt as I though we were highly honored by entertaining a prophet of god who had stood in the presence of god the father and jesus christo his only bechrist gotten upon the earth and while we heard him tell in his plain simple way about this open vision and also of the visit of moroni the angel to him 1 had a testimony of the truth for the spirit of god witnessed f or I cords and the holy ghost sealed upon me his truthful words
0
9
joseph smith & hyrum smitjh in the ir smitj snit their mortal life in michigan in missouri and in illinois and to me it has proved that to know them well has proven to love them dearly 1 have I I written much concerning joseph of his sayings and doings as 1 have witintercoursel I nessed them and in all my inter cousee with them 1 testify that 1 intercousee I coursel have not either been taught anything or heard them publicly teach any principle but what was wholesome pure and calculated to elevate mortals to a higher degree of excellence and salvation both in this life and cone I knowthat eternal lives in the worlds to come and 1 know that they were prophets sent of god and that they opened up a gospel dispensation of salvation to all who obey and carry out their doctrine which still lives and will continue to spread and do just as theptophets left the work doieg gathering the people together building temples doihg temple work for for the living and for the dead which will increase f or at least one thousand years to come until every souls in the prison house shall be and redeemed and thus fulfill the great work of the redeemer who red Tred saved fill redtred fred 12 died for all
1 have been with men of god I
were of such
josepho josephj qabid quoting edward stevensons reminiscences of joseph the qlbid 1oibid tp prophet Prophe p 46
168
11 11ibid ibid
1893
121bid ibid
73
3
was
at least
charles
one
instance where
13
pratt relates that as early as 133 there 83 3 rejection of a vision was one of the reasons bras
1
for an excommunication
W
first
presidency of
1917
testimonial
the greatest event that has ever occurred in the world since the resurrection of the son of god from the tomb and his ascension on high was the coming of the father and of the son to that boy joseph smith to 6 prepare the way for the laying 66 the foundation of his kingdom not the kingdom of man never more to cease nor be overturned having accepted this truthp 1 find it easy to accept of every other truth that truth trutha I enurubitated he enunffi&ated and declared during his mission of fourteen years in the t1 world he never taught a doctrine ta at was not true he never practhat tiet ticed a doctrine that he was not commanded to practice he never adraas baas vocated error he was not deceived he saaw he heard he did as he was commanded to do and therefore god is responsible for the work accomplished by joseph amith not joseph smith the lord is responsismith lith ble for it and not man
.9 9
summary
it
ience
there is
130rson orson
14
no
general conference report church of jesus christ of latterday latter day s 91 94p 1921 1923 p 9 16 94 saints 9194 19211923 saint
15 nibley 15nibley op
cit
po 28 p 280
74
place
first manifestations
who
although
were person-
theme involved
is
if
all the
it
that there would be no question as to the consistency of the story joseph smith storye t will be noted that most of the statements and acwould seem
mormon 11ormon
prophet so that he
was wals
josephs
much sorrow
eventually joseph
claims
was
willing to give
up
problems of accuracy
an attempt has been made to point these out and show that despite the
prevailed ie sone sane errors in some of the details the basic aspect of the story preval led leeo separate sepa ate and the son appeared as two separ rAe personages and that ahe tte that the father
ilessengerp loroni another appearance of a heavenly ihessenger moroni
ly 1
as joseph dictated
it
to
him
be
co-
oils various rather than deny the vard otis here then humm turn suffered a mob to kill hurm his aspects of his spiritual manifestation arid arld close associates honored him by family believed him his friends and
who have a story by a man i4hov
75
to the history
man
himself
in all
visitation of the father and the son and communication with both of them the integrity of this mormon prophet seems to have stood the n test during his lifetime he was persecuted to such an extent that many
a
timesp times tines
after beatings
through
and abuses
he was
left for
his story
it all
he remained
criticism
members
and
insults
have been
christ of latterday saints bear testimony that they have received a spiritual latter day smith1 smitha smiths assurance of the actuality of joseph smithts s first vision the principle of
revelation
grown
u-jon from heaven has become the rock upon which the organization has
i
ond and
C
the story
fail
on the
first vision
zingel appe carance angel and the appearance of the fingel moroni
appendices
77
APPENDIX A APP ix
joseph smitht original manuscript history s smiths joseph smith realized the importance of record keeping
he did
we
because
series of seven volumes of church history the first six of which were taken from his journals which were kept until his death in
have a
lahb lahl
one of
josephs
the unreliability of
was
some
of his
who were
record keeping
1838
he used
flett
this assistance
comprised
this handwritten copy of the history is in poss ession of the church historians office A microfilm has been made possession assion and from the original cand from this film the following copy was made
are
left to conjecture
name
of the clerk
who
took
however
is
correll
and
elias
higbee
historians
george li robinson
T
1dhc HC
26 260
78 76
first
presidency
april
2. 2 27
1838
I this day 1 chiefly spent in writing a history of the church from the date3 existence earliest period of its e ds tence up to this dated 3 date dstence immediately following this entry under date of april 28 1838 was
were attended by joseph recorded the minutes of the high council which v
first
presidency
the first presidency were engaged in church history and adsicka ministering to the sicki5 sick5
joseph in josephs
6
journal dated
may 19
18380 1838
he mentions
that
he went up
li
clerkp clerks the river accompanied by president rigdon and his clerk george
son
robin
jensen assistant church hiitovianp classified george h&stdrian andrew robinson as general church recorder from
law of sidney rigdon
by joseph smith august
1837
tel
to
1840
robinson
29
later
he
1842
left
nauvoo
in
7 1843
from
this
daba dala
it
seems
2ibid1 111 bide iiip III ili iiii 31bid 111 3lbid III lii ili
41 bid 41bid
pp ap
13 14 1314
p
pp ap
250 25 25p 26 2
51bidsp ibid
111 iiip III ill ili iiii iiip lii lil ill iiii
p 26 pe 26s
pa 35 p9
encyclopedia day 7andrew jensen latterday saint biographical encylopedia candrew andrew latter i gornpanyp company 1901 sompany 1901p 1p pe 253 oompany I Som jensen historical lake city andrew
salt
79
history which the prophet kept which resulted in seven printed volumes
and
is called the
80
owing
to the
many
by
evil disposed
all
its
character as a
enquirers
its
history
so as
and put
all
after truth into possession of the facts as they lation both to myself and the church as far as 1 I
sess on session
have
transpired in re-
have such
facts in pos-
history I hutory in this h&story 1 will present the various events in relation to this church in truth and righteousness cas they have transpired as or as they at present exist being now the eighth year since the organap 1p
CD
my
thousand eight hundred and five on the twenty chrid day of december thrid see note E page 2 addenda my father 2 town of sharon j widdsor county state of vermont windsor in the
father fat he r
to palmyra
he
ontario
vyne county in the state of new york tifiaen 1 was in my hen I tenth year on about four years after my fathers arrival at palmyra
now
moved with
same
my
county of ontario
mother lucy smith whose name previous to her marriage was mack U
my
in the
don
25
hyrum
ap So sophona saphona sophon
carlos
sisters phona
sometime
in
ithe the
words
father
was
line
81
the second year gafter our removal to ilanchester er there msinchest gfter yfter
where we
corm nenced commenced fenced
was
in the
bace lace
on
it
lia ila
Metho dista with the methodisty but soon became general among call the becane methodista cali cail ali ail all
fun clear wor7 funclear wor2d of country indeed the whole district unclear wore unclear of country seemed affected by it and fun clear funclear worz multitudes
sects in that
no
stir
some
crying
10 here lo
and
some 10 lo
there
some
great love which the converts to these different faiths expressed at the
ime bime of time hine
their conversion
clergy
who were
active in getting
to to
call it let
them
join
some
party and
some
to another
it
zun clear worjd that the seemingly good feelings of both the unclear wor7 wort Lun lunclear wore
and
priests
more
great confusion and bad feeling ensued priest contending against priest
and convert against convert so
another
arld arid and a
if tey
that all their good feelings one for ever had any were entirely lost in a strife of words
r7 my
fifteenth year
bynum hynum hyrum
ty fathers family
my
that church
imely
my
mother lucy
my
brothers
my
82
I still 1
their several meetings as often as occasion would perbut in process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the becane tine til tiivlie ie becar
felt
some
desire to
be
great
was
that
was
it
unqcquanited with
things to
my
right and
vino who
was wrong
mind
at different times
tly
the presbyterians were most decided against the baptist and methodists
in their turn
own
hat
is to
be done
C
of
all
wrong
nd together and
know
if
right
is it
and how
I shall 1
it
V
vidile i vas vihile 1was laboring under the extreme ifhile I was ivas
difficulties caused by zu sp wore wor7 religionist I mclear worjd of religionists 1 was one
ices
epistle of
james
reads
men
if
chapter and
fifth verse
which
ask of god
it
shall
any passage of
come
that
mine
it
seemed
it
that if zunclear wor2d amclear wore amilear wor7 Zun clear worx act 1 did not dun I
than
1 had 1 I I
did for
62 83 da
different sects understood the same passage of scripture diff erent e sane passaly sme as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by to the bible kt length 1 came to the conclusion that 1 carre calne I carne I p
0
so
CL
an an appeal
must
is
I
1
ask of god
1 I
at last
tion to ask of
god
concluding that
if
he gave wisdom
wisdom wisdon lacked misdom and would give liberally and not up braide 1 might venture woud upbraider I upbraide
this
J
my
the
the
woods
to
make
the attempt
it
was iras
beautiful
it
was
first
my liv
time in
my
I life that 1
for amidst
all
a dempt a eties 1 had never as yet made the a1rempt to pray vocal lyo0 attempt aempt vocally nade anxieties I aties ifo
I after 1
kneeled
had
and
to offer
me
up
the desires of
so had scarcely done sop when immediately 1 was siezed upon by some power siezer soj I
which
entirely
my
overcame
as to bind
around
me
and
it
seemed
to
me
for a time as
powers to
I if 1 were
call
to sudden
destruction
me
but exerting
lil lii
&11 my
upon god
to deliver
and at the
this
me
very
abondon myself abandon ready to sink into despair and abonclon mys elf to eif
just at this
of great
over
until
it fell
it
no
84 04
61
sooner appeared than 1 found myself delivered from the enemy which held I
boundo me bound
me 1
whose
all description
calling
of
me
1
standing above
by name
my r
other
this is
my
to join
no sooner
so as
me
to
be able
to speak
into
trhan 1 asked I
the personages
all
my
the sects
right
it
heart that
all
were wrong
should join
were
1 was answered I
I that 1
must
all
wrong
said that
but
me
with
their lips
M
far
from
me
commandments of men
he again forbade me
me
which
my
cannot write
at this time
happened
on my back looking up
into
3 heaven
I this vision 1
who was
to
preachers
nun clear world7 act 1ve fun funclear word active unclear
him
had I to give him an account of the vision which 1 had hhd 1 took occasion I behaviour 1 was greatly surprised at his behaviourp he treated my communication I devlio devil only lightly but with great contempt saying it was all of the devilo not
that there
was no such
132
13211
311b note P ab 3b
85
and though 1 was an obscure boy only bethiyeen fourteen nd e I between betiireen obscu
fifteen years
of age aze
or thereabouts and
my diw div
circumstances in
life
boy of no consequence
in the world
was common among wias vias
me
yet
men
mind
against
all
all united to
if
how
very strange
it
teen years of a
e and one
that an obscure boy of a little over fourwom to whom was doomed to the necessity of obyc aning obtc dning won obtaining
vv
was as kas
of sufficient importance to
it
was
0
it
was
felt
much
I I fact that 1 had had a vision 1 have thought since that t aggrippa and grippa like paul when he made his defence before Ag
a
ard
heard related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light and hec1rd
a voice
was
but
still
said he
mad
and he was
da but d1 1 dil
vision he
make
all
C
it
light
all the
PA WW
make him
so
it
was with me U
v
1 had I
actually
seen a light and in the midst of that light 1 sa two personages and sav sar nd I saw
me
or one of them did and though 1 waa waa was wab I oas
me
reviling
me
and speaking
all
my
a
manner
of evil against
why
me
falsely for
so saying
1 was I bras
1 have I
led to sayin
heart vision
persecute
me
actually seen
a
or ar
why does
make deny
hat
what
had seen
I vision 1
knew
it
do
that
god knew
it
it
neither dare 1 I
it
at least 1 I
knew chat by so doing 1 would offfend god and come under con voaid offbnd that I woald offend
satisfied
so
was concerned
I tinue as 1 was
james
wes it was not my duty to join with any of them but conI flntill further directed 1 had found the testimony of antill tntill
that
to
that a
man who
1 I
tain
continued to pursue
avocations
in life
first
SLep ember sleptember enber of SIC ept tember one thousand eight hundred
all
men
vened between the time 1 had the vision and the year eighteen hundred I
01 having been forbidden to join any o the religious of ol coin havins sects of the day and being of very tender years and persecuted by those my who ought to have been my friends and to have treated mp kindly and if friend si
l
they supposed
me
to to
be deluded
to have endeavored in a proper and afclean fun clear funclear unclear unclean left to all society 1 frequently fell into I
1
fectionate
manner
wordis temptations
dingli
87 many
bayed foolish errors and displayed the weakness of youth and the corrup disp layed borrup eions of human nature which 1 am sorry to say led i- into divers tempta ne tions tempha terlipto I ain
CY
L
lions to the gratification of nany appe Utes offensive in teie sight of tele ratification many appetites 123 133 gode god in consequence of these things 1 often felt condemned for my oodo code ood I
jo C
see note
po p
of september after 1 had retired to my bed for the night I lv 1 betook myself to prayer and su ood supplication to almighty god for forgivecod I plication
CD
twenty
first
all
ness of
my
mam estation to efstation sins and follies and also for a nam f es manifestation tation
i
me
1 might show I
of
my
state
I for 1
had
full confi-
dence
14 hiie
obtaining in bbtaining
to
a devine manifestation as 1 had previously had onco one oneo once manifesto llon manifestolion tion lion I
1 di sc overed a I discovered 8 scovered
hi
uhlie 1 hile I
is
liht
zi
s
my
ediauely
he
it
IL was a whiteness
thing could be
exceedingly hite aeed to appear so e ceed jlng17 i white and br illic nt his brilliant brillia brillic
a
C
arms arns nahed lands werg n ked and his ams also ands were naked nd
viere
fidis CIDLs
lit
e a
wrisu cle above the weisu wris lie lle aris littile
L
little
his
ityl s
1 could I
clothing
on
but
this
robe as
it
ws
uras
open so
kras was not only wras his robe exceedingly white but his whole person was bosorio rosorio bosom boson
lightningo lightningo lightning iono lone descriptiono descriptions descript ione glorious beyond description and his countenance truly like lightnings trull the
vra was room ara s exceedingly
so very
bright as immediately
me meo neo
he
called
see note
11
po 123
133 fl 13311
88
a messenger sent from the i resence of god at 1t presence re sence cresence 110 roni moronic 110roni noni 5 liephikX nephi that god had a work for me to do
140
fro
evil
to
me izie lile
and
that his
my name
0
ancl and
that
should be or that
he
had
for
among
all
evil
kindreds kndrcds nations kndreds and tongues anong spoken of among amlong amione
it
all
people 0
said
there
fonner inhabitants of the former inhabit nt s of this continent and the source from whence forner
they sprang
aas jas irais ias
he
also
sc s
contained in
it
these stones
urim and arim
deposited wiah the plates and the possession and use of these with vath
booko translating the booke after book
stones was what constituted seers in ancient or former times and that
god had prepared them for the purpose of
telling me these things he commenced quoting the prophecies of the old testament he first c uoted part 0 f the third chapter of ilachi ana he nent quoted licila c rii end of thi rd doted ril test ment alachi and iii quoted also the forth or last chapter 0 the same prophecy though with of
T 7
1
.1 1
little
variation
from
the
vray way
it
quoting the
first verse as reads in our books he quoted it thus for and behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven j cand all the proud yea shali shail dy dy cail cali and call th t do wickedly shall burn as stubble for the day that cometh ail all
C
shall
it
behold 1 I
prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the the
hephi written above the name hemphi with an asterisk is writl6n It evidently pale next to it referring to a note at the bottom of the pae itevidently log 106 doc dov see 0 par a clerical error see doco & covo sec 50 paro 2 sec 1060 par 50 n page 43 439 should be moroni oj7o idso elders journal volo 9207 liso 0370 also f207 aiso voi vol
moroni
ca
89
also quoted the next verse dira erently and he shall ant in nekl nerl dlent alent int diff brently dirl diri erent ly dlf dir dif lnt the hearts of the children the promise rilade to the fathers and the made nade
he
i
sp hearts of the children shall turn to their fathersp if it iwere not so ere fathers rathers rather father the whole earth would be utterly waisted at his comingo in addition to welsted walsted t coming
these he quoted the eleventh chapter of isaiah saying that it ITJ-S a IBS about las bout to be fulfilled he quoted elso the third chapter of ets swanty second twanty ols 0 eiso also els twaaty
1
1
1.
they
who would
the
peopico people
also quoted the second chafer of joel from the twenty eighth to the last verse e he also said that this was
coneo soon cone but woon would come boon
full-
other passages
many
told
me
that
when 1 got I
m arim thumm tith i rith to any persons neither bhe breastplate wd th the urim and thummim the
only to those to
whom 1
I should
be commanded
to
if
llo I lio 1
did 1 I
i should be destroyed 1 hiie he w- s conversing with dest rovedo labile hile was
ith
4
vision
was opened
to
my wy r lind
plates
1dlace I that 1 could see the place where the I that so clearly and distinctly that 1 knew
commma catlon I un1 commmi uni a aln place aaen when 1 visited ito arter this conni una cation 1 saw the I after ain the it aain bus das ii mediately light dus the room begin to gather immediately around the person of him
who had been
speaking to
me
and
it
was i jas
again
a
left
hitaj when I hi dark except just round hiiaj ithen instantly 1 saw as
it
were
up conduit open right ur into heaven and he ascended up was and the room hnas
till he
this
entirely disappeared
left as it
90
its
lay musing
on
greatly at
told
me
by
this extraordinary
in an instant as
in the midst of
room was
it
were
the
same
bedsideo bedside
1 I
again
things which he had done at his first visit without the least variation which having done he informed me of great judge
same
ments which were coming upon the earth which great desolations by yamine famine
sword
and
would come on
gener generationo generations generation the earth in this genenationo having related these things he again bener ascended as he had done beforeo before
by
ampf essions deep were the impf sessions made on impressions impfessions
my
mind
that
surprise
when
again 1 I
my
me
the
same
a caution
to
me
te na telling
me
that satan
my
would
try to tempt
forbid
4
me
in 0
consequence of the
indigent circumstances of
purpose of getting richy rich
no
ls fathers father
he
this
other object in view in getting the plates but to glorify god and
chrid after this thrid visit as before and 1 was arain left to I
mess strange ness I ponder on the strangeness of what 1 had just experienced when almost
immediately
after the
the
cock crowed
and 1 found I
that day
was approaching so
91
1 I
bed
me
entirely unable
my
father
with
me
who was
and
told
my nw
to
go home
1 I
and 1 I
calling
me
by
my
looked up and beheld the same messenger standl nging over atandinging standinging standi
he
head
me
all that
go
related to
me
to
to
my
father and
1 obeyed I
tell
to
him of
received
1 returned back I
him
to
my
whole matter
he
replied to
that
1 I
it
to
go
and want
to the
me
ms boap box size erable sleep lay the plates deposited in a stone boxp this stone was siderable sleer sid
thick and rounding in the middle of the upper side and thinner towards aove the edges so that the middle part of it was visible above the ground
bhe the but ghe edge
all
earth round was covered with eartho having removed the earth
and
I and obtained a lever which 1 got fixed under the edge of the stone
with a
little
exertion raised
it
up
1 I
plate as statedd
92
by the messenger
was formed by
laying stones
together in
some
stones cross ways of the boxp and on these stones lay the plates and boap box
forbidden by the messenger and was agin informed that the time for bring-
from
he
told
me
that 1 should I
come
that time
and
that
he would
ther
and
I that 1
should continue
to
do so
untill the
time should
plates
accordingly as
j
at the
end of each
and
intelligence
from him
at
how and
in
what manner
to
be conducted
As my
rtunity sometimes
we
were
at
my
by the death of my
in the
state
of new york
silver
harmony spaniards in HarMonys susquehanah county state of pennsylthe j prev ous 0 had previous to my hiring with him been digging in order vania and took vook took I possibleto to discover the mine after 1 went to live with him he pook jlf possible alf f
opened by ly
me
mine
at
which 1 I
93
continuedto continued
to
work
for nearly a
in our undertaking
and
it
digger during the time that 1 was thus employed 1 was put to board with I I
a mr isaac hale of e haie
that place
hale
it
was
there that 1 I
first
his daughter
service of
mr
roma boma
hundred and twenty seven we were garfied while yet 1 was employed marfied martied I
sooalo stoalo stoal
in the
owing
to
alwert asert abert I still continuing to aswert that 1 rathers fathers rather still followed me and my wifes father
my
much opposed
was
therefore under
at
new
ep Bainbridg chenango the house of squire tarbill in south bainbridge Chenango county
after
my
marriage 1 I
fathers
stoulp stoalp and went to my etoal stoal left tene tiue tine that season at length the time arrived
mr
T thummim
oata urim arim obtaining the epl4tes the urjlai and plates th piates for obta
ftxd ind
the breastplate on
the twenty second day of september one thousand eight hundred and
twenty seven having went as usual at the end of another year to the
delivered
thene them then with t hi 9 charge that 1 should be responsible for theme I this
that
them
I if 1
should
let
them go
that
if lri iri
1 would use I
all
endeavors
to preserve
shouldbe thea themo call for them they should be until wby why I prot ected 1 soon found out the reason aby 1 had received such strict protected I acted messang messeng er charges to keep them safe and why it was that the messenger had said required when 1 had done what was require d at my hand he would call for I that
he the messenger
should
them
for
no sooner was
it
known
I that 1
94
to get
them from me
could be invented
became more
was
the persecution
wisdom of
bitter
if
in
hands
I untill 1
tot tbt what was required bot my hand when according ht hands
to arrangement the
messen-
themp I them ger called for shemp 1 delivered them up to him and he has them in his
95
APPENDS APPMIX
visitation of moroni was published in the first edition of the pearl of great price in 1851 thee
and the
first vision
story
taimage talmage ta ae of the council of twelve was 9e assigned to make a revision of the paarl of great price including the caarl story of the first vision and moronis visit in the october conference of that year it was again voted on by the church and accepted as scrip turea tures scripture A fourth major edition of the pearl of great price was made in 1921 this
octobers october
in
1902 james E
was
revised by the
first
it a
reference work
is
made from
revision
con-
details
behowl belowl cbagges chagges cerna cerning cerrang the chagdes made can be found in the source belowil
ijames mark ljames clarks the story of the pearl of great price james dark 186 221 186221 2219 1955p bookcraft citty utah Bookeraft inc 1955 PP 1862219 ciby city
1
salt lake
96
1
owing
to the
many
tion
by
christ of latterday saintsp all of latter day saints which have been designed by the authors thereof to militate against its character as a church and its progress inthe world 1 have been induced proftess prob oess prof in the I debs tess to write this history to disabuse the public mind and put all inquirers
rac tsas dp fac after truth in possession of the factsjppas they have transpired in transpire factsas relation both to myself and the church so far as 1 have such badts in fadts I
my
possession
2
or as they at present existp being now the eighth year since the organowthe exist lowthe exists
nization of the said churchy church
3
lord in the year of our i8rd on thousand eight huntwentythird the twenty third day of december in the town of sharon
my ny
state of vemont
vennont Venn ont of vemontp
and moved
left the state county in theadate of the state theatate tate thea
abouts s about moved
now wayne
.9
eon souls son consisting eonsisting sonsisting 4 his family gonsisting of eleven soulss nameiy souls namely
rather father
mar
who
joseph smith
.9 9
my
to her
hyrum
raige
was mack
myself
samuel harrlson william sanuel smuel harrison williamp don carlos and
in
manchester year after yea rafter second yearafter our removal to Manches terp the
97
there
among
was
we
on
the subject
of religion
it
commenced
district of
themselves to the different religious parties which created no ama sma aoa amail amali small
and division amongst the people
some
stir
theret P some were contending for the methodist raith some for the there ralth faith faiths
presbyterian and
6
some
for notwithstanding the great love which the converts to these differ ant faiths expressed at the time of their conversion and the differbnt differant different
great zeal manifested by the respective clergy
who were
active in get-
ting
up and promoting
this extraordinary
in order to have everybody converted as they were pleased to call it convertsbegan let them join what sect they pleased j yet when the converts began to
file off
some
to
one
party and
some
to another
it
ror a pretended than real foia scene of great confusion and bad feeling en for fora roia
priests suedspriest contending against priest and convert against convert sued spriest priest
so
good feelings their goodfeelings one for another if they ever had any were that all opinions bons hons entirely lost in a strife of words and a contest about op mons isy fathers rat hents fat herts 1 was at this time in my fifteenth year my rathers family 7 I hp P esbyterian falth esbyterian fait was proselyter to the presbyterian faith and four of them joined that proselyted terlan falt
1
church namely
and
my
my mothers mother
lucy
my
excitement
my mind was
my
called up to
these
serious relfection
feelings were
still
1 I
98
esp panties parties though 1 attended their several meetings as often as occasion panti I partl parti
would permit
in process of time
my
partial to
sect the methodist sectp and 1 felt some desire to be united with them but sects I so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations
that
with
it
was impossible
for a person
come
young
as
1 was I
and so unacquainted
who was
men and
things to
right and
wer
at times
was
dp greatly excited the cry and tumult excitedp bryand cryand excite
all the
their turn
10
1 I
to is ao
all
or right orp are they all wrong together which is ftp and how shall 1 know it itp I it
11
if
right
while 1 was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused wllie I uhlie
by ly the
arst
let
and
rtedss and fifth verse earst chapter andfifth versep which r eadst firth versea
if
any
of
men
it
it
1 I
seemed
to
on
heart
reflected
it
that
if
99
1 did I
for
how
know and
know
wisdom
different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the
bible
13
at length 1 I
came
must
either re-
is
ask of god
concluding that
if
he gave wisdom
in accordance with this my determination to ask of god 1 retired to the woodston make the attempt woods to e t he woodsto onthe anthe I it was on the morning of a tenety spting beautiful clear day early in the epting of eighteen hundred and twnety SP ing
14
so
it
was
the
first
my
time in
my
I life that 1
for
amidst
15
ail all
anxieties
had
1 had never I
as yet
I after 1
designed to go 0 having looked around me and finding myself alone 1 mej 0 90 nej I
.0
kneeled
down
and began
the desire of
my
heart to god
1 had I
to
I that 1 could not speak thick darkness gathered around tune doomedto destruction me and it seemed to me for a time as if 1 were doomed to sudden destructions I tine 16 but exerting all my powers to call upon god to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me and at the very moment when 1 was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to I binary not to an imaginary ruin but to the power of some actual i m ginary destruction
tongue so
un seen being from the unseen world
who had such
100
before
felt in
any being
just at this
over
my
moment
of great alarm 1 I
saw a
until
it fell
when
upon me
it
delivered from
me 1 saw
the
enemy which
held
me bound
two
all description
standing
name and
above me
in the air one of them spake unto me calling me by saidp pointing to the other this is my beloved son hear himl hinl him sald said saida hin S 18 my object in going to inquire ofthe lord was to know knem knew of the odthe
1
which
know which
to join
no sooner
the personages
who
me
all the
sects
was
19
right
1 was answered I
that 1 I
must
all
the personage
who
addressed
said that
all their
were
creeds
were an abomination
draw near
to
me
with
egl 811 wll oll godliness but they deny the power thereof 011 of
20
he
again forbade
me
when 1 I
to myself again 1 found myself lying on my back looking up into I edp edv depart I heaven when the light had departed 1 had no strength but soon recoverdes gree I I ing in some desgree 1 went home and as 1 leaned up to the fireplace desaree
mother inquired what the matter was
1 I
dp replied never repile replie my
mind
tt
all is
well 1 I
am
ni have learned
as though the
is
it
101
mes ep adversary was aware at a very early period of ves vas awan
my
was
why
me
why
my
the opposition
me
a almost in
infancy
I after 1
had
I this vision 1
happened
to
be
in
who was
subject of religion
greatly surprised at his behavior he ny treated my communication not only lightly but with great contempt saying
it
was
all
no such
things as visions or
rete lations in these days that all such things had ceased with the revelations retelations apost lesp and that there would never be any more of them apostles howeverp 22 1 soon found however that my telling the story had excited houeverj I
a great deal of prejudice against
me among
was
fifteen years of age and my circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the worldy yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite worldp world
the public mind against
was common among
23
how
me mej
and creat a
bitter persecution
and
this
it
11 all the sects all united to persecute me ail ali since then cause me serious reflection thenj and often has sincep sincee thena
very strange
it
was
that an obscure
boy
of a
little
over fourteen
mas vas onep too one years of age and gnep toop who was doomed
in
spirit
102
of the most
was
bitter persecution
was
and
reviling
it
and
24
it
it
was
1 had beheld a I
when he made
vision
that 1 felt I
much
like paul
his defense before king agrippa and related the account of the vision
had when he saw a
who
he
light
some
but
still
said he
was
and he was
all this
of his vision
all the
perse
it
knew
to his latest
breath that he had both seen a light and heard a voice speaking unto
him and
25
all
so
make him
it
was with me
light
and
in the
speak
reality
me j
to
me mea
me
say3lngthat I and though 1 was hated and persecuted for saying that 1 had seen I
it
was
reviling
evil against
why W
who am 1
me
me
falsely for
1 can I
so saying
1 was led I
to say in
hearts
persecute
I that
or
why
to
actually seen
for
1 had seen a I
vision
.0 0
1 knew I
it iti
and 1 knew I
do
that
god knew
knew
it
and 1 I
by so
it
I neither dared 1
it
at least 1 I
that
alfend god doing 1 would wrend gods and come under condemnation I
satisfied so far as the sectarian world themp them cone arned that was conc erned thab it was not my duty to join with any of shemp but concerned concernedthat teatimony edw 1 had found the testimony teb edo I was until further directed to continue as 1 direct I
26
I
1
1 I
1q3 ca c3
man who
continued to pursue
jq
my common
vocations in
life until
twentyfirst the twenty first of september one thousand eight hundred and twenty
thraep threep three
all the
all
menp nen classes of men both religious and irreligious because 1 icontinued to mena I continued affirm that 1 had seen a vision I
28 during the space of time which intervened between the time tiue 1 had 1had the vision I
and the year eighteenhundred and twenty three eighteen hundred twentythree
having been forbidden to join any of the reli havingbeen religious sects of the day and reil rell
by being of very tender years and persecuted ty those yearb vert velt
my ny
who
ought
to
me
have been
me
kindly and
if
manner
to be to have
reclaimed
to
all
eight sight into divers temptations offensive in the bight god rn making this confessions no one need suppose me guilty of any confession in of gnant great or malignant sins A disposition to commit such was never in my levityp nature but 1 was guilty of levity and sometimes associated with jovial I
me
company etcop not cansis t ent with etc consis consistent etcor
L
aa I was wash tained by one who mas called of god as 1 had been
seem
who
29
my
in
felt
condemned
for
above mentioned the evening of the abovementioned eveni ng weakness and imperfections nigh ts twenty first of september after 1 had retired to my bed for the night I twentyfirst
104
ness of
all
my
that 1 I
might know of
state
full
peared
at
standing in the airp for his feet did not st air aira
touch
the floor
31
a whiteness beyond anything earthly 1 had ever seen nor do 1 believe I I seeni
that any earthly thing bril brit ilumto his brilliant 60 the wrist so also
and above the ankles
c ould be made e
appear to pppear
hands were naked and his a nakeda alms aims also a ains
were
edp his feet naked as were his legs
ms
Us
1 could discover I
that
it
that
1 could see I
into his
bosom
32
not only was his robe exceedingly white but his whole
room was exceedingly
person was gloriously beyond description and his countenance truly like
ingo lightning the lightninge
light but
no so very
bright as
person immediately around his persone ediate3y bul but bla bia afraid btw the fear
33 he
when 1 wien I
me
first
soon
left
called
me
that he
was a mes-
mej senger sent from the presence of god to me and that his name was moronic fron
to
do
and
that
my name
evil
among
all
it
should
evil
spoken of among
105
31 34
he
said
there
was a book
plates giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent and the source from whence they sprang he also said that the fulness sprar falness sarar wer werlasting of the wenlasting gospel was contained in its as delivered by the savior rerhastin it to the ancient inhabitants
so two bows and aiso also that there were t wo stones in silver bowsand these stones fastened to a breastplate constituted what is called the urim arim
5 35
thummim depo lad with the ar deposited and th iad
and use of
these stones were what constituted seerein ancient or former times seers in bee seerkin seerein
and
that
36
book
after telling
me
these things he
quoting the
first
chapter of malachi and he quoted also the fourth Q last chapter of the or
wame prophecy same
although with a
little litte
rom froma
it
reads in
our bibles
he quoted
37
first
verse as
it
it
thus 8
day cometh
all
do wickedly
balth baith the lord of hosts that saith mith with ird
it
shall leave
behold I will wll rieth verse thust beholds 1 wil fifth finh fish prophets eiljah elijah the priesthood by the hand of f3 jah the prophet fa
be-
coming fore the co g of the great and dreadful day of the lord
d also quoted the next verse differently and he shall ses promises irade proi beb trade plant in the hearts of the children the prot seb made to the fathers rathers t rather lather and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers s if it were
39
soy not so the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming soj
cue cle
106
40
isaiah saying that it was about to be fulfilled he quoted also the chrid twentysecond ttrenty third tinrenty thrid chapter of acts twenty second and strenty thind verses precisely as they stand in our new testament he said that that prophet was as abs
christy christ but the
41
day had not yet come when they who would not hear his
among
peopled peoplen the peop lep but soon would pieu pleu plen iea lea
come
seaidnd seoond also quoted the second chapter of joel from the twenty firs twentyfirs eighth verse to the last he also said that this was not yet fu fulfilled ifilled
to
be
gentiles
was soon
to
come
in
many
again he told
that
when 1 I
he had spoken
yet
fulfilled 1 I
manded
to
only to those to
1 should be comI
was con-
to
show them
me
if
1 I
versing with
1 could see I
to
my mind
that
arld and sd theplace where the plates were deposited arid that so the place clearly and distinctly that 1 knew the place again when 1 visited it visit edite I visitedito edito I c catlon cation I 43 after this communication 1 saw the light in the room begin
to
dark darka until the room was again left darkp except it cond&tfc open right enp ondlit hin when just around him wh eap instantly 1 saw as it were a c I entirety up into heaven and he ascended till he entirely disappeared and the before thib heavenly roma this roammas roan was left as it had been beforethisheavenly light had made its
and andit continued anait
to
do so
appearance
44 1 I
lay
musing on
he the
and marveling
107
told to me by this extraordinary messenger when in the midst of my meditation 1 suddenly discovered that my room was I again beg beginning to get lighted and in an instant as it werep the same were cerep
what had been
greatly at
my
bedside
same saine salae
and again
things which
which having
he had done
coming upon
the earth
deboi debolatlo with great desolations by faminep sword and pestilence and that these desolations desolation famines desolatio famine
come abn bn
by
this
noy toy nov that sleep had fled from my eyes at what 1 had both seen and hearde heard I
at
me
the
same
in consequence of the indigent circumstances of my rathers family to get the tatters f fathers me purpose of getting rich this he forbade mej saying that plates for the 1 must have no other object in view in getting the plates but to glorify I
to
me
telling
me
that satan
would
try to
tempt
me
that of building
his hi s
kingdom
47p 47
this third visit he again ascended into heaven as after I before and 1 was again left to ponder on the strangeness of what 1 I edla ediately mediately experienced when almost immediately after the heavenly messenger experiincel ediately had just expertinced I time tilep from had ascended fram me for the third timep the cock crowed and 1 found frau
that
day was approaching approach
11
so
108
48 1 shortly I
after arose
went
to
the necessary labors of the day but in attempting to work as at other times 1 found my strength so exhausted as to render me entirely unI
able
my wy
father
who
was
me
discovered something
w
to
started with the intenhouse tion of going to the houses but in attempting to cross the fence out
and
me
be wrong with me
told
to
go home
1 I
we
entirely failed
me mea
and 1 I
fell
helpless
hindee hinfee hir
on
49
the
can
recollect
unto
me mev
ca ng calling
by name
related unto
commanded me
me
he had hehad that chehad related to me the jhrevious night and ail ali all a nt s to go to my father and tell him of the vision and cckomandments fatherand ten teil teli
1
returned to
he
my
the
me
whole matter
to
him
replied to
that
it
1 I
me
told
de-
to
and
went
posited and
I to the distinctness of the vision which 1 had concerning ftp 1 know the place the instant that 1 arrived there itp I knew I it manchester 51 Conveninet to the village of Man chesters ontario county 5 conveninet vi ge
owing
had
new york
size slee a hill stands ahill of considerable sleer and the most elevated
in plates top cosiderable from thetop9 under the stone of considerable size lay the piates the a stone box this stone was thick and rounding in the despoiled despoited in that on the upper side and thinner towards the edges so t hat the middle
of any
the neighborhood
109
middle part of
it
was
visible
all
around
earth
52 having removed
little
exertion raised
it
up
1 I
looked in and there indeed did 1 behold the plates the urim and thum piates arim I
mim
and
they lay was formed by laying stones together in botton in the bottom of the
on
box were
laid
these stones lay the plates and the other things with them
53
1 made an attempt I
was
forbidden by
them
forth
it until
that 1 should I
nep year from that time and that he would there meet with me and that 1 timep nes tilep I
should continue
to
do so
plates
54
at
intelligence ceived instruction and inteligence from him at each of our interviews inteli gence
in
what manner
his
kingdom was
55
As my
ted circumstarmes were very limited r1a ircumstannes fatheraa fathers worldly c
as
we
we
handsp hands were under the necessity of laboring with our handsy hiring out by
some
times
we
at
56
homep and smetimes abroad home sometimes sme times hone tines homec
my
fathers
110
affliction
who
by the death of
1 I
my
in the
name
month of
state of pennsylvania
him
and had
previous to
my
hiring
to
if possible to
after
1 went I
to live with
rest of his
work
to dig
month
for nearly a
in our undertaking
and
gentleman
it
story of
57
my
edp during the time that 1 was thus employed 1 was put to board employ I I
it
was
there 1 first I
1827
saw my
we
bif
e wife wif
his daughter
58
were married
owing
to
my
persecution
much opposed
still
followed
and
my
wifes father family were very ep 1 was therefore under the necessity I wasp therefor and were married at the house of
immra mrs mr
squire
tarbill
mediately after
marriage 9 1 I
.9
left
my
fathers
that season
on
plates at length the time arrived for obtaining the piates the
a
septembers september 9
seven sevena one thousand eight hundred and twenty sevenp having gone as
to the place
deposited
delivered them up to
that 1 should I
be responsible
I if 1
should
let
them go
carelessly
amny any or through mny neglect of mine 1 should be cut of but that I
all
my
until
he heo
the reason
why
why 1 had I
strict
had said
it
at
was
my
that
for
hand he would
call for
them
no sooner was
it
known
that 1 I
had them
that
exertions were
and severe
me
the persecution
became more
bitter
than before and multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from
me
if
possible
my
.9
hands
I until 1
up
at ky
day being
the second
one thousand
112
APPENDIX C APPEMIX
in hartford
he bas vas bras
new york
orson was converted to the restored gospel by his brother parley and
was
later ordained
he was
first
in
to
be one of
the
quorum of
ordained
and
three witnesses
d he was ca called
to
go on a mission
to england
left far
in
april
26 1839 26p
in scotland
this mission orson pratt had ballantyne and dj interests interesting Inte hughes of edinburg publish his pamphlet entitled ijnt resti interesti account of entitle isnt sp visions several remarkable Vision and the late discovery of ancient american pamphlet hiet blet ords records he compiled this in england and the pamp biet became the first separately published account of the arst vision and moronis visit he irst only the section of this pamphlet which relaiarned to Ameri cain 1841 retrtarned americain
1840
while on
113
mr dir
who made
I ndsor covery was born in the town of sharon 1 endsor county vermont bom windsor
the
ten years oldp his parents with their oid old olda family moved to palmyra new york in the vicinity of which he resided vict n 1ty ofwhich for about eleven years the latter part in the town of manchester
Av Do 18050 k d 1805
krhen uhen
aty
was
he
knowledge
to a
three of the
branches of learning
difficulty
these were his highest and only attainments while the rest of those
to
him
about four-
teen or fifteen years old he began seriously to reflect upon the necessity of being prepared for a future
uay what way
to prepare himself
he perceived
was a
his
and
own mind
that
it
that the salvation of his souls depended upon a correct understanding wayo way saw same hw saws that if he understood not the vayo it would be hv baws of the impossible to walk in it except by change and the thought of resting his ltv uncertainities hopes of eternal life upon chance or uncertainitiesp was more than he could endure if he went to the religious denominations to seek information
ways way
p
walk ye
were
in
many
tthis this partic r to its particular tenets saying athis is the bartic while at the same time the doctrines of each
one another god was not od
G
occurred to his
that
114
and therefore could not acknowledge but one denomination as his church den OMI nation and
must be a people
who
that
doctrine
whatever
it
may be
rise to
many hundreds
of different denominations
was
whiciz christ whicji become satisfied in relation to this question he could not rest man aan malp tented to trust to the decisions of fallible manp and build his
hopes
would
upon
the
same
of his
own
not satisfy the anxious desires that pervaded his breast satis fr
to decide decides
cep evidence without any positive and definite evidencep on which he could reply upon evidences eviden
coulp soui soul a subject involving the future welfare of his soulp was revolting to
his feelings
accordingly
was
to
he
perusing the sacred pages of the biblep with bibie bible bibler
reade read sincerity believing the things that he reado sincer itys
ulf if
men
5
let
him a sk of ask
liberally i
from
and
it
shall
was
this
it
the privilege of
doengi doingi doing
all
men
to ask
receive expectation of receiving liberally without being upbraided for so receivi ing tain
this
was cheering
was
great joy
e like a light shining forth in a dark place to gude it ilke hep now saw that if he inhe nows walls n him to the path in which he should walko i god therelvasp not only a possi blityp but a probability possibility ewes eues therewas ther ewas quired of therevas i
of
all
115
the doctrines was the doctrine of christ and which of all the doctrines1 doctrinesolwas churches was the church of christ he therefore retired to a secret
1
house
and
knelt
down
and began
to callupon the lord lupon cail cali call upon cai cal
at first
he was severely
was enabled
and
in
faith
and while thus pouring beh his soul anxiously desiring an hat bet
at length
first
seemed
to
be
at a considerable dis-
tance
he continued praying
.9
it
drewwmghbrri drewmighterr
it
increased in bright-
nessp and magnitude so tbatp ty the time that it reached the tops of ness that by nesip e h e greeso the whole wilderness ted bome the treeso for some distance around was illuminated t trees i
in a ir
1 I
brilliant
manners manner
consumed leaves and boughs of the trees consume dp as soon as the light
in
it
its
presence
it
he was
until
it
in the midst of
it
first
from the
sur-
rounded
personages
his sins were forgiven he was also informed that ness mindv minda subj ectro which had for some time previously agitated his mind upon the suba ectso subjects believing the religious denominations were bellev ing in incorrect viz that all
he was informed 9
116
not after them and he received a promise that the true doctrine
some
made known
to
after
ht
his
mind
in a state of
indescribable
after
having received
it
god anthe on the pleased gods onthe evening of the 21st of september
only
that his
who
filled
gers ger er
to
commune
with
some
kind messen
to
him
forner remitted christs according to the promise which he had reca&fed in the former recitted christ
vision
of
while he thus continued to pour out his desires before the father
good
all
endeavouring
a
non a sudden on
far
more
indeed the
first
sight si ht 19
was
was
filled with
fire
this
sudden appearance of a
light
so bright
it
followed with a
body visible to the extremities of the bodye ca ess and serenity of mind and an minds calmness
117
illumined the room yet there seemed to be an additional glory surroon coomo roomo
rounding or accompanying
this
degree of brillian cyp of which he was in the midst and though his brilliancy
countenance was as lightning yet
it
was of a
glorious appearance so
p
much so
the
little
size of
men
was
the
sent
be an angel of god
that his sins were forgiven sp prayers were hearda and that his prayerswere heard and also to bring the joyful tidings tiding
communicate
him
to
to
that covenant which god made with ancient israel concerning their tyO posterity was at hand to be fulfilled that the great preparatory work posteri cdc the sedond comming of the messiah was speedily to commence that the redond ftfr cdr falness fulness time was at hand for the gospel in its fulness to be preached in power
might preapred unto ali nations that a people mig ht be preapred with faith and righteous-
that
he was
god goda xands lands tent in the bands of godj to bring about kent
it
was
also
made
israel that
they
first
knowledge of the
true god enjoying his favour and peculiar blessings among oug anong sp prophet from his hand that the prophets and inspired writers among them were required to keep a sacred history of the most important events transpiring
.9 9
among them
which
history
for
many
generations
till at
118
length they
prophets
among them
to destroy
them
he was informed
that
many
events s of the kingdom as weil as prophecies relating to the great event of trell beil dell
the last days and that to fulfil his promises to the ancients
sp wrote the record and to accomplish his purposes records
who
in the restitution of
ac &c cone &cp the thelt children tcp they were to cane forth to the knowledge of the people if faithful he was to be the instrument who should be thus
ed highly favoured in inbringing these sacred things to light at the bringing favour infringing
same
it
single
to the glory of
sp writings writing
who
god
that
no one could be
after giving
which would be
him
souie serenity ca ess serOnltv calmness and beron ity indescribable pervaded the soule soui soul
morning the vision was twice renewed
before
instructing
him
further and
on
still
the
he went out
vision
by
was renewed
previous visions of the night concerning the place where those the
instructed to
them
descr&iption repatfeed lyp accordingly According he repafted to the place a brief descriliption of
199
which shall be given in the words of a gentleman by the name of shail shali shan shau
oliver
As you pass on
wayne county
to
canandaiguap canandaigua
little
why
village of Manches terp say from three to fourp or about four miles manchester fram frcm foun fron four foura
rap from palmyra you pass a large Palmy raj
1 I
hill
on the
say large
is
because
it is
it
assumes a
may
level
say an elevation
cep higher than at the mouths a short distance say half or three fourths of south cej souths threefourths distan
ue a mile mlle
As you
it
surface assumes
its
common
level or is broken
1 I
some
hills
certain
northp north northa
think 1 I
justified in saying
am
rak&es rues that its appearance as it raknes so suddenly from a plain on the rles must attract the notice of the traveller as he passed by the endp which has been described as rising suddenly from the plain end enda
bythe north
.9 9
forms
As you
pass to the
art
left
with the
even the
it
is
for pasturage
its
at the
9
the
be deposited
on
far
its
fillp hill the west side of the hillp not myself visited the place in the
year 1830 there were several trees standing enough to cause a shade in
120
summer but no so much as sumner sunner sumer
p
was
the record
was
first
found
car ear below the surface these records fl bif anciently placed far mirbit wir olt 1 am unable to say but from the fact that they had been some fourteen I ain sone hundred years buried and that too on the side of a hill so steep one yearsburied
.9 9
is
ready to conclude that they were some feet below as the earth would one s ome sone
but
rAturally naturally wear more or lessp in that length of time niturally raturally wearp nitu less lessa
they being
much
placed toward the top of the fillp the ground would not remove as hillp hill
as
at
two
thirds perhaps
.9 9
all probability as soon as timber had time to grow coverett fiand coveredt and the hill was cove redt ffand the roots of the same would hold the surface however on this point 1 shall leave every man to draw his own conclusion I
of the earth in
p
own
11
but
a hole of
sufficient
at the
bottom of
smooth
size laid a laidal sizes this was laidaa stone of suitable slee at each edge was placed a large quantity
btone this atone were cement cements placed erect four others their bottom edges resting in the cementp at the shohe outer edges of the first stohe the four last named when placed erect
this
cement 0
.0
at the four
edges of
formed a box
came
in contact
that the
su sufraces suf to be observed also that the inner surraces of fraces from entering it is erect or side stones were smoot this box was sufficiently the four to admit a breastplate such as was used by the ancients to defend large
their
on
enemy
from the
the
same
121
these three pillars were placed the recordsoll soll seli sell records record
this
containing
the records
flat
on
was
it
was
1823.9 18239 1823
first visited
ila ita a
by mr
smith on
visible
lt
ep above the surfacep whle the edges were concealed by the surface whie 1 surfac while surfaced I
soil
and grass
it
that
however deep
the box might have been placed at firstp the time had been sufficient to tine first firsta
wear the earth p so
that
it
make a
little
baxp from the edges of the top of the babp and a box
edg4d light pry brought the edgd edge a light pry brought to his natural vision its
lordp beholds beholdl beholdt the angel of the lorap who had previously lord
visited
as
him
again stood in his presence and his soul was again enlightened
was
it
was
filled
spirit
and
the heavens were opened and the glory of the lord shone round about and ird rested upon him while he thus stood gazing and admiring the angel said
lookt looft
spake darkness and as he thus spakes he beheld the prince of dankness
surrounc surrounc surrounded surround bunro burro
sv associate train of associates all this passed before him and evil messenger saidp ifall this is shown the good and the evilp evila showns bald baid said saida ali the heavenly god darkness holy and impure the glory of gods and the power of dankness that the
by his innumerable
be influenced or over-
that
beholds behold
and
one
to
good do goods
is
is of that
wicked
menwith evila renwith evil the hearts of men with evilp to walk in falleth is that filleth it darkness and blaspheme god and you may learn from henceforth that his
he
.1 1
122
ways
way
of holiness
is
peace and
rest
of god
you cannot
commandment
ever these sacred things are obtaimedp they must be obta&ned obtained
here for the sake of accumulating gain and wealth for the glory of
this
menp men mena
faith
knowledge which they contain they are of no worth among the children of
is
and
whun
it
shall
be brought
.9 9
forth
it
shall be carried
seed
to the gentiles of
those
who
whom many
will receive
it
and
it
also
land kept the commandments of the lord on this landj desired this landa
at his
if their descendants
should be kept and
fall
away
that a record
these
in the last
days come
to their children
obtain them
so things are sacred and must be kept soo for the promise of the lord consoj
fulfilled
that
N NO
man can
if his hs
heart
is
which
by them
will
as nought
power
shall
be hid and
know
because the
of god
shall
be displayed those
who
the
shall tremble with anger but with signs and gestations sp fe festations alth aith healing stations wonders with gifts and with healings with the manifestations of ith with god power of godr and with the holy ghost shall the hearts of the faiththe you have now beheld the power of god manifested and ful be comforted you see that there is nothing desirable in the works satana the power of satan
123
who
are over-
therewith are miserable while on the other handj the righteous hand handa
are blessed with a place in the kingdom of god where joy unspeakable
theme thene surrounds them then
enemy
of truth
where no
evil
disturb them
themp the glory of god crowns shemp and they them then
withstanding you have seen this great dispaly of power by which you powe whi ch r
when
ever be able to detect the evil onepyet 1 give unto you another sign 9 and one yet I
it
go
comes
know
god
and
that
he
will
that the
will
dp esp and kindreds and tongues and people under the tongu kindred kindre
this is the sign when these things begin to be known that isj when it known that the lord has shown you these things the is isa workers of iniquity will seek your overthrow they will circulate falseci rc te hoods to destroy your reputation and also will seek to take your life but remember this if you are faithful and shall hereafter continue to ralth ruis faith fuis raith fulp
whole heaven
shall
be
time things forth for in due tune he will give you a tine
to
come
and
edp they are interpreted the lord will give the holy priesthinterpret
proclaim scmep iain liin bone schep ood to some and they shall begin to proc ikin this gospel and baptized waterp and after thatp they shall have power to give the holy ghost by thaap walterp water that
by
it
farther increasing in
inheritance ih heritance they shall be sanctified 9 and receive an ihheritance where the till C od arld arid takes god ood cod glory of ood will rest upon them and when this yakes place and all
ew dtf
124
u ings prepare things are prep acad the ten tribes 01 1 s rc prepacad alad of I ol isr
t duf X daf A
r
T
1
te
1 i
ha c C C 6 n ocen ceen
1
or for
J
this
t
is
fulfill
cd fulfilled
will
to
the prophet
and
to zion and unto the t IT b urn from t hc ns froa nd dint 0 them that burn fron lfaans ro1 eol n gres slon J n jacob s th the lord egression in notij th gression sion but fotij thstanding the worker notwithstanding arith srith standing J workers torker i
U
0f of
il on inqukity sh ill s ck your destruction the arm of the lord will be inqmity shall seek r- ur destructil arn shali shail adm destruct
ali iii
e at end e d xt extended
and you
b be
your name sll 11 be ie noin anong sit knovn among knoon shail shell shali lour
commancornia all his cornim nd the nations for the iwork iwhich ork
L
ill
vri aked ari cked the wicked to rage vlith the race alith lith iith
one
it
11
ano with had ln and sheill be hc d in honor oano lith shali shail shall
7
the great
shall
be a
terror
because of 0 ccl3use
and be
and he
and devices of
the
wicked one
when he
shali shail shall manifest unto thee thou mayest that the
1 I
have power
to escape the
a
evil
T
T
above quotation
is
oan an
extract from
was cry ery vos vas cowdery elder oliver Cowd eny which w s published in one of betler letler advocc te fl er sairftst idlessenl iiltter latter the numbers of the wiltter day saints1 iiessenger and advocate many acan nany ziven siven although mcan v more instructions were given by the mouth of the fiven br
which we do
4
1
this
book
foregoing cont aimed n almed important L jortant items are contained in the fore oi ng relation
elod
L
ceived ins ruction refollowing years he frequently received in u ru ulon period of the four follo vvinf
geny veny venly hea veney mouth of the heavenly messenger nouth from the nouh
and on
1827
delivered dei anggi of the angel 0 the lord del ivcxcd the records into enzel
AC
121k 12
his hi a hands
these records were engraved
of gold
each plate
was
on
tin
at
they were
filled
three
sp sp engravings sides with engraving in egytpian characters and bound together character
bookap bookp book
volume volumes in a volumep as the leaves of a rings running through the whole
and fastened
this
sealed
the characters or
the
letters
as
much
upon
antiquity in
with
its
construction as well
engraving
te
which
co-
two r s rims
of a
bow
this
was
it
was an
e 0
126
APPENDIX APFENDIX D
undated manuscript
this account
was found
this was done in the presence and with agreement of earl olsen and laub itz peterson of laufcitz laut ite churda historians the churdh historiants ts office the first page of this ledger identified historian frederick G williams as the scribe and bore the date of 1833 subsewilliam quent pages in the journal contained copies of letters of oliver cowdery smithy joseph smith hyrum smithy wi smith william W phelps reynolds cahoon jared clark dank dark 14 sidney rigdon and john murdock the earliest letter was dated june 14p 1829 the latest august 4 1835
there
ments seem
was not
vas vad to suggest that this account was written near 1833 since it recorded in the first person this would also suggest either that is joseph smith wrote it or he dictated it from handwriting comparisons it would appear that the latter supposition is the more likely one
127
A
all
rise of the
church of
christ in the
of
time according as the lord brought forth and established by his hand
firstly
ood
by
he
unclear word.7 the holy priesthworl 7 fxnclear Sn zunclear Zun clear wor 7angels snclear lun unclear wordlangels to a nister the 7 angels administer andels
commandments
as they
a
forthy
confirmation and reception of thehigh priesthood after the holy order shehigh the high
on high
to preach
st administrations and demonstrations of the spirit the the gospel in the a strations stratiots rations
key of the kingdom of god conf ered upon him and the continuation of the confered conferee
was born
in the town
vercuont vemmnt of sharon in the state of vemont north america on the twenty third day
of december
me me
AD
1805
of goodly parents
father
new
york and being in indigent circumstances was obliged to labor hard for
liy lly ily support of a large family having nine children and as the
exertions of
it
required
thes 4 the
all that
were able
we were
suffice
it
say 1 was mearly instructed in reading and writing and the ground to I
arithmetic which constituted my whole literary acquire ground rules of age of twelve years my mind became seriously imprest mentse ments at about the
with regard to the
all
my
immortal
128
me
to
bession fession by a holy walk and godly conversation agreeable to what 1 found I contained in that sacred depository this was a grief to
from the age twelve years
my
souls thus
my
to fifteen 1 pondered I
many
things in
heart
d concerning the sittuations of the world of mankind the contentions and divi-
sions the wickedness and and abominations and the darkness which pervaded
my
sins and
did not
come
unto the lord but that they had apostatised from the
true and living faith and there was no society or denomination that built upon the gospel of jesus christ as recorded in the new testament
and 1 I
world
felt to mean for my own sins and for the sins of the ttet that for 1 learned in the scriptures th6t god was the same yesterday I
that
he was no
fhe fae he respecter to persons for hae
to
was god
for 1 looked upon the sun the glorious luminary of the earth and also the I magesky moon rolling in their magesty through the heavens and also tjie stars the tte
I shining shin shihaing in their courses and the earth also upon which 1 stood and the beast of the field and the fowls of the heaven and the fish of the waters
and also
man
magesky walking forth upon the face of the earth in magesty and
whose power and
in strength of beauty
governing the
marvilous marcilous exedding great and marvilous even in the likeness of ex exeda edding things which are so exedd who created them and when 1 considered upon these things my heart him I
exclaimed well hath the wise man said
it is
no god my
heart exclaimed
bear testimony
129
and bespeak an 0 potent and omnipreasant power a being who maketh laws omnipotent nd mabeth
falleth filleth ijas eternity who was and is and will be from all eternity to eternity and lias when 1 considered all these things and that that being seeketh such to I seebeth worship him as worship him in spirit and untruth therefore 1 cired unto i hin intruth I aired
who
all
was none
my
else to
whom
1 could go and I
to
attitude of calling
and rested upon
i me
upon the
age a
pillar
filled with the spirit of god and 1 saw the lord and he spake I
go
unto
me
my
say-
ing joseph
my
thy
way walk
in
all
those
who
believe
they have turned aside from the gospel and keep not
with
far
h that
from
me
is kindling against the inhabitants of the ungold ungoodliness ungoldliness angol ness according acording to their ungol liness and to bring to pass
quickly as
it
was
written of
me
father in the glory of days 1 could rejoice with great joy and the lord I 0
was and my souls w s
filled
I believe the heavenly vision nevertheless 1 pondered that my heart but after many days 1 fell into transgression I these things in rv wouad wouid many things keich brought gouid upon my soul and there kelch blich and sinned in
find none
would
transpired that
my
fathers
130
it
to
pass when 1 was seventeen years of age 1 called again upon the lord and I I alain
me
it
was by
me
by name and
me my
plates of gold
his father
com-
there
1i the servant of the living god in ancient days and deposited by the aivuxi9
mandments mandments
of god and kept by the power thereof and that 1 should go and I
many
comand ments comandments of the earth which since have been revealed in commandments and revila
lions and
me
it
was on
the
22 day
of step
1822 and
e next times in one night and once on the nezu day and then 1 juoabbdiate I immdiat three
ly
went
was
to get
fore
1 I
them and
it
I
had been
it was
not there-
why can 1
not obtain
me
you
I lord which 1 gave unto you therefore you cannot now obtain them for the time is not yet fulfilled therefore might est wasu left unto temptation that thous mightest be made acquainted lightest thous
have not kept the commandments of the
the adversary therefore repent and call on the lord thou with the then4 shait shail shall bbtain thena be forgiven and in his own due time thou shalt batain them for shalt advisory advisary tempted of the advisary and sought the plates to obtain now 1 had been I
power of
commandment
I that 1 should
to
therefore
diligently to
131
twty
years of
was
lived in
1827
same
susquehana to susquehanna
the assistance
the
name
of martin harris
deed the
who became
fifty do rs to dollars
his marvelous
some sone
mye expenses bear myeexpenses and because of this faith uoito lord appeared unto u0to ulto
him
in
a vision and
do and immediately
to
that
he must go
to
new york
city with
of the characters so
of them and he took his journey to the eastern city and to the learned
say ng read saying
if
he would
it
it
and he
returned to
1 am I
to
me
not learned but the lord had prepared spectacles for to read the
book
I therefore 1
of isiah
commenced
thus the
chapter conern cobern
prophecy prophcy
was
fulfilled
came
29
to pass that after we had translated 116 it pages that he desired to carry them to read to his friends that peradventure I might convince them of the truth therefore 1 inquired of the lord and he
ing the book
and
me
that
again aga3 I of the lord and he said inquire agac n and 1 inquired martin the aga n and also the third time and the lord said unto me let him go with ag a again
word
that ht will not show them to only but four persons and he covenants with the lord that he would actoschis to&his cording to the word of the lord therefore he took them and todchis
me
132
palmra journey unto his friend to pa ra wayne county and state of new york palera
and he brake the covenant which he made before the
for
my
it
much
humility
young man by
the lord
t0
do
was
write for
me
to translate
my
my
now my
to trans-
late
and also
brother samuel
smith but
we had become
me
reduced in
property and
not whereto go and 1 cried unto the lord and he would provide for I
to accomplish the
133
APPENDIX E APPMIX
wentworth
letter
summary
according accorda accardang to joseph smith mr hohn wentworth editor and proprietor
democrats of the chicago democrat requested him to write a
history of the
nise progreaso persecution and faith of the latterday saints mr wentsej rise latter day ri sep progress worth was to furnish a mr bastow his fiiendj with a copy of this summary friend
nw to be used in a history of new hampshire which mr bastow was to publish smalt Stait joseph smiths summary to mr wntworth has become known in church history wgntworbh antworth
ls
letter
it is
dated march
1 ap 1842 j 1p
although there
1842
9
is indi-
2 aj cone cation that id did not come off the press until march 2j
worth
letter
was
first
ili
111 III
1842
sometime
the
same
year 1 daniel I
he published
this in
letter
this brief history only W antworth ntworth the part of the wentworth letter that relates directly to this thesis is
chrity smith was thrity seven years old when he wrote
presented here
ID HsC idhsc HC
ap IV pp
134
1 was born I
in the
A
town of sharonp windsor county venmonto on vermont sharon Ver sharone vermonto vermonte
D do 1805
the
23d
of december
when
my
parents removed to
hbout resided bbout four years and from thence bbott fron
we removed
to the
town
of manchester
taught
me
father
about fourteen years of age 1 began to rehect upon the impartance of importance reelect I rellect
being prepared for a future states and upon enquiring the plan of salvastate
found I round that tion 1 foundthat there
went
was a
I if 1
to
one
to
and another
to another
particular creed as the summum bonum of pert he sumdum fection considering that all could not be right and that god could not fections factions be the author of so much confusion 1 determined to investigate the subI
each one pointing to his
ject
more up
split
not be
worship
one way
in
one
if
any man
lack
wisdom
let
it
shall
call
the lord
liberally and up ail ali all 1 retired to a secret place in I while fervently engaged in su-
personages
who
surrounded with a
that all pect doc triness and that none of thatnone hect doctrines
they told
me
his
135
at the at
some sone
same saine
time receiving a promise that the fulness of the gospel should tine falness
Is
future time be
while 1 I
and endeavoring
to exercise faith in the precious a sudden a light like that of day only of a
burst into the
was
far purer
com suming consuming
first sight
fire the
moment
body
in a
already surrounded
this
was
messen-
with ancient
israel
at
wonk work for eds fulfilled that the preparatory workfor the second coming of fulfill cxxnmence commence the messiah was speedily to cmmmence that the time was at hand for the
to
be
gospel in
be preached
in
power unto
that 1 I
was chosen
to
be an instrument
shown who
came
brief
.9 9
origin progress civilizaation laws governments of sketch of their and the blessings of god being finally their righteousness and iniquity
withdrawn from them
where
as a people
some
1 was I
also told
abridg-
there
was
deposited
plates
ment of
ancient prophets that had existed on this the records of the jines times tines iines angel appeared to be three t junes the same night and continent the
136 13
after
last
days
he the angels of god unfolding the majesty and glory of the events that
on
hands
wise six inches wide and eight inches long and not
quite so thick as
book with ething near
common
thin
they were
filled
with engravings in
the volume
the
characters
and much
of antiquity in
its
construction
was found a
thummimpn which thummim11
bow
engraving
urlin uriin triin curious instrument which the ancients called urim and
fastened
I translated the
record
in this important
america
and
interesting
book the
history of ancient
came from caine
is
unfolded from
its first
babal the tower of babup at the confusion of languages to the beginning of babua tle tie century of the christian era we are informed by these records the fifth
that
of people
came
directly from tige city of jerusalfron tjie tower of babel principally princl pail pali principale principall em about six hundred years before christ they were princi pally josepho Jared ites joseph the jaredites were destroyed esp of the descendants of josephe israelites Israelit
the second race
came
137
who
succeeded
fell in battle
that
he
this
book
also
and
tells
richness and power and blessing that they had apost lesp prophets pastors apostles teachers and evangelists the
continents continent
same
the eastern
were cut
existed
and
to hide
days
it
in the earth
and
that
it
with the bible for the accomplishment of the purposes of god in the last
for
a more
which can be
particular partic r account 1 would refer to the book of mormon 9 I bartic nauvoos purchased at nauvoo or from any of our traveling elders
.9
As soon as
made known
false
wind
sp reports misrepresentation and s itter flew as slavitter report slaitter sia sla r
on
in every direction the house was frequently beset by mobs and evil sp person designing persons several times 1 was shot at and very narrowly escaped I
mes was meb and every device mas made use of
the
my
the church of jesus christ of latter 100 130 loo manchester day saints was first organized in the town of Manches terp ontario yorks york county state of new yorke
on the 6th of april aprils ath
138
APPENDIX F APPEMIX
oliver in
cowdery had
first to
was
publish
oliver
probably more
intimately acquainted with the prophet than any of his associates he telp so int tely associate
spent day
beccime becrime translating he becajne the second elder of the churchy an anassistant president and was with joseph when assistant
after
many heavenly
visitors
oliver
letters to
phelps
mormon
primarily
these were origit
1834 134
i3tudey btudey the portions of these letters which are pertinent to this studey are here-
greatest contributions of these letters is that gives additional scripture quoted by moroni that does not appear oliver in any other writings this follows as part of this appendix As an introduction to his let terso oliver states letters iet letterso letterio
corrects be correct and particularly the introduction staith brother is proper to inform our patrons that our bro therp joseph smith it cono cone cor juip jun abe ae junp has offered to assist us indeed there are many items con hib his necked nected with the fore part of this subject that render Us labor indispensable with his labor and with authentic documents now in gnp our possession we hope to render this a pleasing and agreeable narposess3 onp j
may
rative
letter to oliver
cowdery
in
which he wrote
that
139
details
.1 1
ft
as 6s november 6 1834
140
LETTER
ili
111 III
in part
MESSENGER NESSENGER AND ADVOCATE ADVOUTE
december
1834
youp yous you
you
the
first
number of
necessarily embrace the life and character of our esteemed friend and
brothers joseph smithy jmj brother ohs jr ths
information on
1 come I
of the presidents of this churchy and for church I that part of the subject 1 refer you to his communication
one 1 I
jrj
to the seventeenth year of his life till is necessary to premise this account by relating the situation it mre kanep lane mind relative to religion at this times one mr lanep a time of the public presiding elder of the methodist churchy visited palmyra and vicinity
elder lane
raised
on
was
literary
endow-
awkkeningp awldeening
or excitement
nqu3 ra inquiry for the world of life i r7 preb terian Pres terlan methodist pre lerian and baptist erlan erian to the preslerian
h simen simer of the hearer and arouse the sinner to look about him the intellect
much good
for safety
awakened
instruction
common
1ssvsr
IV
in part
141
NESSIMIGER MESSENGER AND ADVOCATE
february
you will
mentp ment menta
1835
alme recollect that 1 mentioned the time of a religious excitetlme I in palmyna and vicinity to have been to the 15th year of our brother
J smiths
jr
age
that
was an
it
this correction as sary for the full understanding of what will followir in wll follower fuli followir follow
down
ith
it will
time
be neces-
this
would
to the year
1823
1 do not deem I
this excitement
priety with
it it is
to
be necessary to write
further
on
the subject of
good
real or essential
ever resulted from such excitements while others advocate their proexcitements
warmth
up
it
is just that it
is
a regret
sp occupying the heart when we consider the deep anxiety of thousands who are thousand
lead
away with a
no
idle
wind or the
spiders
web
but
if
dettermination stemgthened sterngthened in the detbrmination to know for himself of the certainty and determination det termination
reg lity of pure and holy religion re&iity reglity reality
e
it is
me
excitemeht continue dt to say that while this excitement continued he continued to call upon forp for secret for a full manifestation of divine approbation and corp fuli the lord in
to
him
the
all
if
have an assurance
correct
mains
it
was
that right
this
said the lord has saidp long since and his word resaida lrd sald ard
him who knocks
steadfast that to
may come
will
shail shall be opened and whosoever I shai shal it shali and partake of the waters of ilfe freely
142
1823
our
brothers
in fervent prayer and his whole soul was so lost to every things of a temporal natucem that earths to natuvem earth him had lost 1 ts charms and all he desired was to be prepared in heart to I its ail ali
commune
his heart
who
silences in silence
still
to pray
was
its
purpose
unnumbered
me
how many
or few 1 I
must have been
but supposes
it
eleven or twelve and perhaps later as the noise and bustle of the family ands baters laters
in retiring
ifestation in fe station
endeavoring to exercise
days day
faith
indeed
im A
on a sudden a
only of a
room roon purer and far more glorious appearance and brightness burst into the roomy
to
use his
own
first sight
was as though
the
to the extremities of the body it was howa shock or sensation visible a calmness and serenity of mind and an overwhelming ever followed with
understandings rapture of joy that surpassed understanding and in a
hine him hin stood before hime
moment a
personage
notwithstanding the room was previously filled with lihgt above the
143
brightness of the sun as 1 have before described yet there seemed to be an I additional glory surrounding or accompanying this personage which shone with an increased degree of brilliancy of which he was in the midst and though brillian cyp
1
his countenance
was as
lightning yet
much sop so soj
it
was of a
it is no
the skies
clays clay
who
easy task
indeed 1 doubt there biking an individual clothed with perishable I habie hable
is
capable to do
this
work
to
we do
be sure
learn that
he
is there represented as
in the sacred scritpures
fact recorded
where
on
men nen angels appeared and conversed with menp and there mena
was no
difficulty
where
the
their
glory was so conspicuous that they could not endure the last description which I referp or appearance is the one to whidh 1 reyer when 1 say it is noe easy I refer referd
it
may be
the
little
his garment
was
heart though fear was banished from his heartp yet his surprise was no hearte
less
his
command-
messuage messeage mes seage nes ment of the lorap to deliver a special messeagep lordp lord
to
him
that
and
were heard
and
that the
scriptures
fulfill
god has chosen the foolish which are mighty P and base
144
things of the world and things which are despised has god chosen yea and things which are not to bring to nought things which a re that no flesh ane are
should glory in his presence
do a marev lous work among marevlous
this people
the
shall
be hid
made
to a knowledge of the
P
that messiah
e
G ntiles ge antiles
their fathers rejected and with them the gathered in to rejoice in one folduunder one
whom
shepherd
tt
he has
shall perform his act 9 his strange act and bring to pass a marvelous wondero wherever the soun ghail go it shall cause the ears of and a wonder hali hail Ahall hall sounahall
.9
to tingle
procliamedj and wherever ih shail be procliamed the pure in heart sh shali shall shail shali shall
who draw
it
rejoice
him hin with their lips while their hearts are far from himy will seek
its
over-
it is
carried
theregod of godo
if
your name
is
made a
if
gift
to the
knowledge of
made
sp rathers fathers
this country
a correct
literal
represented them
gospel and the plan of restoration and redemption he knowledge of the was written and deposited not far from that place and said this history
145
that
brothers privilege if obedient to the commandments of the lord to obtain and translate the same by the means of the urim and sane saine arim Thummim which were depos cited for that purpose with the redord thummim deposited ited bedord
was our
wegs weas
.0 0
it
yes
said he
it is
trans-
lated
which says
that the
without
it
cannot
save
it
part of the
the
revelation which
was given
to
john upon the isble of patmos and when the people of the lord are prepared e
and found worthy then
on
it
1
will
record
it
may be
proper to say that our brother was expressly informed with an eye single to the glory of god
that
it
if this
con-
sideration did not wholly characterize all hns proceedings in relation to ail hs ali his
it
himp him
making
edp deposit while describing the place where the record was deposited he
gave a minute
at the
same
mind bahng baing nind being and the vision of his mindbaing opened
it
being acquainted with the place he was able to follow the direction of
angela arigel afterward according to the voice of the angelp and obtain the vision
the book
present by subscribing myself as ever your brother everl 1 close for the I
in christ
OLIVER COWDERY
146
letter VI in parti
MESSENGER AND ADVOCATE
april apri
1 gave I
1835
in
my
last lastr
the
in
consequence of the
israels
being so con-
it
may
difficult to
it is
decreed to bring forth the fulness of the gospel in the last days previous falness
this being of so much importance and of so deep interest to the s detail saints 1 have thought best to give a farther deta 1 l of the heavenly mesI saint I words sage and if 1 do not give it in the precise wordsp shall strictly confine wordsw I
1
make a
all
ye
come
before
was
all
lands
all
he
the earth
good
ise of 0 give
Ps
1
endureth forever let the redeemed of for his mercy en dureth for is so lolhd say sop whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy and soj lotd the flotd 0 east ds gathered out of the lands from the easts and from the west from the they wandered in the wilderness in a solitary north and from the south
147
way
fainted in them
he
that they
to t0
tion
most
clearly
was
it
shown
be gathered from
that the children of israel were of the lord and permitted to possess
the west the north
when he would
the land of canaan though they were rebellious in the desert but he far-
ther
knew
that they
it
was
when
oppressed
be
grown up
in their youth
and
their
men
e daughters like cormer stones polished after the similitude of a beautiful ilke cozmer
it is
at that time the garners of the righteous will be fullp affording all manner of store it was while contefillp fuli full mplating this time and viewing this happy state of the righteous that he zion says the lord shall reign forever even thy god 0 ziony unto further
dream dreams
V
all
generations
isaiah
who was on
were led away captive from the land of canaan was show not only
their
calamity and sff1 i action but the time when they were to be delivered ction affliction reproving them for their corruption and blindness he prophesies of after
their dispersion
burnt with
he says
your country
is desolate
your
cities are
fire
it
it
148
is thus
made
he
further says
gifts
after re-
they judge not the fatherless neither does the cause of the
of
my
me
of
my
ene-
es mies
but
upon them 1 I
after the calamity has befallen israel and the lord has poured judgements his afflicting judgements as he said by the mouth of moses
upon them
and with
send
themp them the teeth of beasts upon shemp with the poison of the earth
will also
1 I
will win
hand upon thee and purely purge away thy dross theep
fulfill
way
right
to a city of habitation
what
isaiah continues his prophecy concerning israel and tells them would be done for them in the last days for thus it is written
word
the
and
that isaiah
come cone cane
it
shall shall
house
be
all
it
to
many people
and they
149
hooks
lift
up
place of his people in zionp and upon their assemblies a cloud and smoke zion ziona by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory
shall
shadow
for
they shall possess the land yoreverp even the land which foreverj forever
to
the prophet
the house
of
man seed of manp and with the seed of beastp and beast malp beaste shemp have watched over themp them then
it
shall
and
come
to pluck
upp up
to
break
and to destroy
s
and
to afflict
so
will 1 I
to
for this
happy
looky phets look and obtained a promise tbatp though the house of israel and tint flat fiat
last
days would
with them a new one not according to the one which he made with
by
my
their
which
although 1 was I
I this shall be the covenant that 1 I make falth the houseof israel faith after those days says the lord 1 kith will tith put my law in their inward parts and 1 will be their god and they I will
a husband and a
father unto
but
.9 9
shall
be my people
.9 9
I for thus says the lord 1 will bring again the captivity of jacobs tents and have mercy on his dwelling places and the city shall heapp heape upon her own heap and the palace shall remain after the manner be builded
thereof
and out of them
and
1 I
that
make merry
thqy they thep multiply them and thay shall not be few will
150
1 I
shall not
their congregation shall be established before me and 1 will punish all that oppress them I their nobles shall be of vesp themselves and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them themsel timep at the same time says the lord will 1 be the god of all the tilep I families of israel and they shall be my people 1 will bring them from I
and
shall
be as aforetime
the north country and gather them from the coasts of the earth 1 will I say to the northp give up and to the south keep not back bring my sons north northa
from and and
far
and
my
lp
and in those
have been driven
come weeping
at that time says the lord though israel and judah edp together scattered they shall come togetherp they shall even scatter
they shall ask the
for
with supplications will 1 lead them they shall go and seek the lord their I
god
let
way
be
shall say
arise
and
let
nays for he will teach us of his ways and instruct us to walk in his paths
that they
way
for this to
be
fully accomplished
may be
egypt ian sea lan will utterly destroy the tongue of the egyptian seap and with his mighty sp stream strean wind shake his hand over the river and smite it in its seven streams shode dryshodo bmft1tefont1hthmsnant shod and make men go over dry shodo and there shall be a hfcgbyfotntlhhctttbant e ilke be left from assyria like as it was to israel people which shall of his
when
they
came up
israel
left
into
all
as abundantly manifested in their gathering as cause his mercy to be they are gathered according to his wrath in their dispersion until
151
the covenant
and they
many
who
fishers
shall fish
hunt them
shall not as their enemies have to af et but with ffladtidings gladtigngs afflict
them and
after
send
for
many
hunters
of great joy with a message of peace and a call yor their return for f or and it will come to pass that though the house of israel has forsaken the lordp and bowed down and worship other gods which werezgods lorap lord werez gods were
and been cast out before the face of the worldp they worldy world
will
know
the voice
calls upon them this tite for soon his people will be willing to hearken to his counsel and even now are they already beginning to be stirred up in their hearts to search for these things and
when he
of the shepherd
are daily reading the ancient prophets and are marking the times and seasons of
thus god
is preparing the
way
turn
but
be
it is
is
not only
but
if
they will repent and embrace the gospel for they are to
sane saine also in the same covenant and are to be fellow heirs with yor god is no ror hamp inasmuch as they are so by faith Abra lor the seed of abraham respecter of persons this was shown to moses when he wrote rejoice
0 ye
in
at the
coming
of
its
be
for
it
is written
the
first shall
there-
fore
upon
edp repent whall be delivered for they shall understand ahall shall dellver deliver will and restoration of israel as the lord manifested the plan of salvation
gospel as was preached by the righteous falness the fulness of the come forth it shall be declared to the gentiles landp shall land landa
whoso
152
to the ancients
they shall
they shall be baptized wat h water and with the spirit with wit
up
their hearts with joy and gladness for the time of their redemption shall also roll on and for their obedience to the faith they shall see the house of jacob come with great glory even with
songs of everlasting joy and with him partake of salvation
lift
when
turn to blood and the stars fall from heaven the lord will
commandments and
statutes that
they
may be
.9
drunken man 9 earthquakes cause the nations to tremble P and the detar oyl ng destroying dettr boyl
angel goes forth to waste the inhabitants at noonday for so great are to noon day
be
come upon
man
shall
prepared cannot abide but suck as are found faithful and remain 9 shall
up
and so
1
brother
when he was
directed to
acid go and
philes phites
in arrangement in
preserve dP principle is preserved and you will be able to bring forward abundance ppon subject of corrobratinjt scripture apon the subjedt of the gospel and of the corrobratirt gathering
bat fact ptetvto the factp eblatleo give a minute rehearsal facto hat to L 11 la a lengthy interview with a heavenly messenger is very difficult unless of there is another math mith one is assisted immediately meth the gift of inspiration
1
aware of
l1
item 1 wish I
to notice
on
searches
all things
cone cane comee servants those things that are to comep or those which have been to his he does
it
by unfolding them by
the
power of
that spirit
which comprehends
153
always and so much may be shown and madeperfectly plain made perfectly nade
to the understanding in a short time that to the world who are occupied all their life to igfn a littlep look at the relation of itj and are igan littlee learn ljttle ita it disposed to call it false you will understand then by this that while those glorious things were being rehearsed the vision was also opened
so
was
am
much more
full
all it is
but a shadow
truths compared to an
se realizing eternal things and vision of seaimg hearing and realiz ing et realia thinq99 ernal
were known knownp
if the
facts
ations
it
would be found
communic-
to the ancients
showed
a quarto vocabulary
it is
day
saida and 1 believe the account that the saidp sald said I
lord
ioriancume aall s ll ali sii the brother of jared fmoriancumer7all things which were to sll
transpire
from
that
1 I
wel I weli weil well to the end of the earth as wet 1 as those
which
was
same as sames
hin the lord caused them to pass in vision before him as he stood upon the mount 1 believe that the lord jesus told many things to his apostles I ascension inf elded lon unfolded written and after his as cens ion unf olded all things unto lahip lehl lehi them 1 believe that nephi the son of lehip whom the lord brought out I I of jerusalem saw the same 1 believe that the twelve upon this continent
which are not
whom
to manifest
voice were also permitted to behold the same mighty should hear his
and 1 believe I
who communicated
aiso also before he hid up alsos nephites the record of the Nep hites in this of marvellous marcellous great and marv ellous things which were to transpire unbothe same unto the lord untothe the tothe
ages
saw
154 when
come
god
xqadn apdn line precept apan precept to his saints wrbil all these unti untl antl things will be unfolded th thens and they finally sanctified and brought them then
line
where
tears will
VII
all
faces and
letter
in part
MESSENGER AND ADVOCATE
july
you
1835
will
remember
that in
my
I last 1
brought
1823
my
subject
down
to the
and gave an
outline of the
9
conversation of the angel upon the important fact of the blessings promises and covenants to andcovenants
israel
worldy world falness the worldp in the ushering in of the fulness of the gospel to prepare
the
way
when he comes
in the glory
remarkable fact
is to
to this vision
dream
warned of
the lord in a
dream
n
alsop aiso flee into egypt also the wise men were not to return to herod and when out of such were the manifestations to
faithful in
dreams
lord fulfilled
been speaking
is
it
was
it
was
not a dream
for
155
F
c 0n conjecture
1I
would be
awake ai rake
nake
to sport with
sees and
the
common
is
when he
wh e i he when
some
it
his words
mormon
is
he was awake
made
and
in solemn prayer as
mind
when
the angel
to a perfect brilliancy lit hearts so that darkness wholly disappeared he heard his words with hishearts his arbs hisearbs hise
room was
that his
own
be remembered
against
h
if
holy commandments
also
saw
to walk before the lord according to his ird him departs the light and glory withdraw depart
man
bhte bhb calmness leaving a ca ess and peace of soul past bab language of
imms
to paint
he deceived
far
from
farther the mysteries of godliness and those still things to come in the morning he went to his labor as usual but soon heavenly messenger was renewed insturcting him to go the vision of the
unfolding farther and
edp inform thihgs of which he had been informed with a immediately and velv those things
promise that
if
he followed
wen P went
necessary to give you more fully the express instruccribed but it is angels with regard to the obgetit of this work in which our obaett tions of the angel
156
brother had
house of
now engaged
1
he was
to
remember
that
made
it
to
was
the
work of
the
a branch of the
it
should be brought
forth must
you
as
1 I
godp goda ood the glory of god and the welfare and restoration of the house of israel
will understand then that no motive of a pecuniary or earthly nature was fuffered to take the lead of the heart of the
.9 9
man
thus favored
eum d ance kum without the direct guidance of the holy wealth
spirit
.9 9
must have no
warm
it
that
desire for
obtaining obta n lordo the glory and kingdom of the lord or instead of oata ining disappointment arid add reproof would most assuredly follow such was the instruction ardd and
iono lone caution this the caut lono
157
APPENDIX C APPRMIX
OBSON HYDE ORSON hyue HYDEIS ACCOUNT
was
at oxford connecticut
he
joined the methodist faith but becoming dissatisfied joined the campbe-
llite
later
ptized
1835
bato dedifrom
in october
1831
he was appointed
to
go he
be an apostle
in february of e
1840
calls
was
to
to jerusalem in
left
on
that mission
city in february of 1841 after accomplishing the purpose of his mission he went to germany where he published an account of the
vision in the german language
concerning the publication joseph
first
smith records
elder hyde published a pamphlet elry G entitled A ory in the wilderness in the disep etc of shout 120 pages settling forth the risep progress and dorise latter day ctrines of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints
something
this
this entitled
in frankfurt
german
1842
and was
earths cry from the wilderness avvoice irom the dust of the eartha earth from eaith 0
was
was made
erp erv also the publisher the following translapublish historians by justus ernst of the church historian
mc
dhow dhco daco
158
jr to
whom
was
.1 1
sent
on
first
the 23rd of
december
when uhen
moved
to
in the vicinity of which he resided for about eleven years the latter part in the town of manchester his only activity was to plow and cultivate the fieldsp As his parents were poor and had to take fields fieldse
palmyra
care of a large family his educ&tion was very limited eduaktion education ted
he could read
yp without much difficulty and write a very imperfect hand and had a very difficult
these were
so
hgghest hghest his highest and only attainements while the rest of those branches
common
entirely
unknown
to
him
necessity seriously to reflect upon the nedessity of being prepared for a future state of existence but how or in what way to prepare himself was a
question as yet undetermined in his
a question of
own mind
that
it
was
infinite importance
he saw
that
if
he understood not
the
it
would be impossible
to walk in
it
life
uncertain-
ties
was more
religious world working under numerous errors through their contradicting nature and principles gave cause to which so many different sects and parties and whose the organization of
he disdovered a discovered
hatep hate each other were poisoned through hapep envy malace feelings against
and rage
who would
he
truth
and
AL
that those
same
understand
it
it
159
manner
looked through the glaze of soberness and good sense upon these religious systems which all were so different but nevertheless all drawn from the
scripture of truth
after
he had
was
that darkness
sufficiently assured himself to his own satisfaction covering the earth and gross darkness the minds of
up hope fever
to find
a sect of party
that
was
in the
caen
the bible
his
if any
liberally
from
wisdom
let
and
him ask
all
men
it
shall
the
james 125 15
men
this
promise he learned
that
it
was
privilege of all
and thus he
to ask
god
for
wisdom
doings lidber ally doi eraily brally expectation of receiving lidberally without being upbraided for so dox ng erally
started to send the burning desires of his soul with a faitheP ful determination he therefore retired to a secret place in a grove therefor
upon
to call
his
the lord
fathers house and knelt down and at first he was severely tempted by the
4
began powers
and brought
him
in his efforts and the accomplishment gad gfed overblowing over1lowing overllowing however the overt lowing mercy of g&d came to buoy him overl of his goal soon new impulse and momentum to his dwindling strength up and gave
edv eds disappear dark clouds disappeared and light and peace the
heart
and again he
filled his troubled upon the lord uponthe called uponthelord with renewed faith and
spiritual strength
160
at this sacred
moment
his mind
with which he was surrounded and he was enwrapped in a heavenly vision edo surround
and saw two gim rious p erso nages glorious personages bim
who
answered and that the lord had decided to grant him a special blessings biess bless ingv
as they were
wrong
was
recog-
he received a promise
that the
mind
true doctrine
be made known
to
him
after
which the
in a state of calmness
some time
and peace
indescribable
after
which world being young he was again entangled in the vanities of the worlds of whidh
he afterwards
300 ZL 31
and
it
96w
ra
adj
AD ada
was
1823
for
he had
retired to rest as
filled
in fervent prayer and his soul f1to comune to earnest desire fato commune with some kind
messenger
forner chrisop of christp according to the promise which he had received in the former christ
vision
while continuing in prayer for a manifestation in
were for givens endeavouring forgiven
some way
that
to exercise faith in the scriphis sins I a sudden a light 1 i ke that of day only of a purer and far ilke like tures on indeed the room indeedy more glorious appearance and brightness burst into
to use his
own
description
the
f1the fethe
first
sight
161
way waaa wa wab wai
fire
this
sudden appearance
body
it
was has
how-
ever followed with a calmness and serenity of mind and an overwhelming rapture of joy that surpassed understanding and in a moment a
personage stood before him
above
seemed
the brightness of the sun as 1 have beforedescribedp yet there before described I
to
be an
which
his countenance
was as
it
was
of a
that every
fear
soul
was banished
calmness arm his heart and nothing but ca ess pervaded his fro fra frm
was a
little
above
the
was
had
the appear-
forth by
commandment 2
to
communicate
to
him
were forgiven
sp tidings prayers were heard and also to bring the joyful tiding and that his
that
israel
concerning
their
that the great preparatory posterity that work for the second coming of the messiah was speedily to commence yui yulness fulness falness ful tune was at hand for the gospel in its fulnessp to be preached in tine the time sp power unto all nations that a people might be prepared with faith and nation
at
hand
to
be
fulfilled
joy reign of universal peace and joye millennial righteousness for the
he was informed
that
he was
be an instrument
162
in the hands of
god
to bring about
some
it
was
also
americoan amerl coan american the Ameri coen indians were a remnant of israel that when they first emigrated to america they were an enlightened people possessing a knowledge of the true god enjoying his favour and peculiar blessings
his hand that the prophets and inspired writers among them were required to keep a sacred history of themist important events transpirnost the most themost
from
ing
history
for
many
generations
till at
by commandment of god
to
one
bf the last
prophets
among them
were
to destroy
them
he was informed
that
many
last
days and
.9 9
if
faithful
to be the instrument
who
in bringing these sacred things to light at the same time being expressly gody must be done with an single to the glory df god informed that it omed inf
that
no one could
who
should
many
instructions concerning
come
light
perfect peace while a calmness and serenity indescribable in his mo ngp nap morning the vision was twice renewed souie soule soui pervaded the soul but before
163
still
work
of
to
be performed on the
earth
in the
to
h s work as his
appeared and having been informed by the previous visions of the night concerning the spot where these rewords were deposited he was instructed redords
to
this
was on
september 22 AD
.9 9
1823
exertion in removing
a
yp repositor after arriving at the repository a little the soil from the edges of the top of the box and
brough trough light lever brought its contents to his natural sight uhlie viewing labile and contemplating his sacred treasure with wonder and astonishment behold trea bure Dure
who
again enlightened as
holy
it
was
the evening
him
filled with
spirit
.9 9
his
all this
all this is
shown shoun
hereafter the
that
wicked one
is
is of that
walk
wicked one
it is
he
that
fills
the
the hearts of
of holiness
men
is
peace and
rest
commandment was
strict
that
if
ever
164
these sacred things are obtained they must be by prayer and faithfulness in obeying the lord they are not deppetted here for the sake of acdeppe&ted deppetted
cumulating gain and wealth for the glory of
by
this
world
the prayer of faith and because of the knowledge which they contain they are of no worth among the children of men only for their knowledge
in
them
is
it
was
this land and when it shall be brought forth by the power of god it shall be carried to the gentiles of whom many shall e recej ve it and after will the seed of israel be brought into the fold receive recek redeemer by of their redeemed ty obeying it also those who kept the commandments of the lord on this land desired this at his hand and through the prayer of faith obtained the promise that if their descendants should transway gey gress and fall away that a record might be kept and in the last days ley sop come to their children soj these things are sacred and must be kept so for no concerning them must be fulfilled mo man can promise of the lord the obtain them if his heart is impure because they contain tho which is
given to his people on
and sacred andp besides 4 should they be entrusted in unholy hands the knowanda
come
be
interpreted
by
the learning of this generation consequently they would be considered of no worth only as precious metal therefore remember that they are
.9 9 .9 9
.9 9
to
be
work
gift
by them
as
nought
and
the
power of god
shall
profess to
know
the truth
but walk
wonders
shall tremble with anger but with signs and with in deceit with gifts and with healings with the manifestations of the
the holy
ghosty ghost
165
comforted
you have now beheld the power of god manifested and the power you
of
that there is nothing that is desirable in the works of darkness that they cannot bring happiness that those who are overcome
etan stan
on
god blessed with a place in the kingdom of godp where joy unsepakable surgoda unseparable
rounds them
where no
of truth
behold not
may
withstanding you have seen this great display of power by which you witstanding wit standing
ever be able to detect the evil ohep yet 1 give unto you another sign ohe I
and when
it
comes
to pass then
know
god and
that
he
will
fulfill
will
go
his purposes and that the knowledge which this record contains
to every nation
and kindred
a
this is the signs when these things begin to be known shenit that is whenit is known that the lord has show you these things the workers of iniquity will seek your overthrow they will circulate falseto t hoods to destroy your reputation and also will seek tot ake your life tontinue tonti nue remember this if you are faithful and shall hereafter continue to but
whole heaven
command wants commandnants commandeents nants keep the commandments of the
lord
you
shall
tijae things forth for in due mijae he will again give you a ta4e
come and
to
take them
by water
when
edp they are interpreted the lord will give the interpret
this gospel
to give the
have power
their men shall be revealed and those who more and more for the iniquities of upon the rock will seek to overthrow this church but it are not built uon
holy ghost by the laying
hands
spread further and further increasing opposed will increase the more oppose dv and
166
in knowledge
and
till they
shall
be
this takes place all things are prepared the ten tribes of israel will be revealed
and when
and
will rest
in the north country whither they have been for a long season
when
be brought
come
phet
from
to zion
that turn
the lord lrd ard
but notwithstanding
arm of
will
his
if
you keep
all
your name shall be known among the nations for the sj nation
work which
the lord will perform by your hands shall cause the righteous
it it
shall
shall
way
be a
terror t error
marv ellous marcellous because of the great and marvellous work which shall follow the coming
forth of
and he
thy
remembering what
commandments
the lord has done for thee and be diligent in keeping his
and devices
may become
strong
that
when he
thee manifest unto theep thou mayest have power to escape shall
the evil and obtain these precious things during the four following years he frequently received instruc-
tion
from
the
mouth of
A-
the angel of the lord delivered the records his hands these records were engraved on plates which had the into gold each plate was not far from seven by eight inches appearance of
22 september 22y
D
1827
length being not quite as thick as common tin they were in width and egyptian sp engraving on both sides with engravings in inegyptian characters and bound filled
16 167
book
at
one edge
this
near six inches in thickness a part of which was sealed vas iras
1
the characonstruction as
cters of1letters upon the unsealed part were small and beautifully engraved of letters
many marks
of antiquity in
its
clear as
crystal called
by
in
ancient times by persons called seers these were used in the following manner these two stones called
was excluded
thummim in urim and Thummim m diameter the size of an elgish crown coin only a arim elaish
little
thicker thickerp
all light
the persons
prgyers using these offered their preyers to the lord and the answer became
arim visible p written in letters of light on the urim and
T Thummim thummim
but disap-
thus
not
11
it
168
APPENDIX APPEMIX H
WILLIAM SMITHS ACCOUNT CCOUNT wllliam willlam k
mathis
smith
was
born march
13
1811
joseph
in
1883
ag e years of age
in his preface
states that revelation is founded upon visions and dreams and angel sic visits to man and why should not god send angels to deliver messages to his servants in these latter days as well as in older times
proc edes with this premise william precedes to give his story of the rise of the
churche church
so visitations visitation
he
contributes to the
many
understainding of the environment of the time and the reaction of the tine understainding
family to the experiences
years
death after josephs deaths it does not contain the prophets correction of the details the following part of williams narrative is from pages
lamoni momonism iano nip moronism lano william smith william smith on Mo monism Iamo 4 office 1883 pi 4e steam book and job orfice 18831 po ae herald
.0 0
iowa
169
in
1822
up
much
stirred
mr
elder of the methodist church and celebrated through the country as a great revival preachers
my
mother
who was
very pious
interested in the
made use
of every
then was
in getting
religion
1 I
and almost
and seekers
resty nest attended the meetings with the nesty but being quite young rest
extradodinary this extradvdinarjr
verted
it
and
sp then Baptist extended from the methodists to the baptists from them to
all
in
it
it
my hy
mother con-
nt erest nterest tinued her importunities and exertions to gnterest us in the importance interest
souls soulso of seeking for the salvation of our immortal coulso until almost
all
of
the family
became
the excitement has subsided in a measure each sect began after cone ifwe we are rightft come and iffe right up for volunteers each one saying to beat
oln join us J oin
O 0
11
with us and
my
we
will
do you good
quence was
that presbyterian church joseph then about seventeen years of joined the unbrought brought dp age had become seriously inclined though not nbrought out as the incline
mother
my
.9 9
brothers
phrase was
and began
170
was
right
it
was
right which
the case and the question then hos which one of the whole taught the true was hns vos gospel of jesus christ and made known the plan of salvation if he went
.0 0
to
one he was
told they
were
right and
him
were wrong
if
to
church
but one way of entering into the kingdom of heaven and that there was but one
and narrow path
etc
all this
however was
beneficial
it
to
know
for himself of the certainty and reality of pure and holy religion
he continued
in secret to call
upon the
that
he might
at length
he determined
to call
upon
into the
woods and
falling fa ng upon his knees called for a long time upon the lord for
and knowledge and descended
wisdom
until it rested
upon
was
it
appeared
an
he
mmmm&
like fire
him
things
the sects were right but that if he was faithful that told keeping the commandments he should receive the true way should be made in
known
to
him
were forgiven
next day 1 was at work in the field together with joseph I the
and
my
alvin told
by the
if
sat
down
fence when
171
communicate
told
if
believe
it
to
he
come
to the house as
him as
he had something
how
tell
after
we were
all
short
.9 9
him
what he had
him a
told
ajgove written angove and that the angel had also given above
who
full history
to us
of
whom
plates
which were
he continued
talking
bftlievyi aall aali the whole family were melted to tears and believa11 fill
he said
that
that
advantages of a
C
common
that
he was
totally incapable of
usp fuhere fore us fehere of asp therefore believed cumorah 9
.9
sp parents before his aged parent his brothers and sister and so solemnly arising
all
containing the record of which the angel told him ln in search of the plates
172
APPENDIX 1 ix
I
some
corm com nonly commonly comnonly cord of the most cormnonly used
comparative chart
first vision
and moronis
visi-
tation as follows the pgarl of great pice account which is accepted today ppice apice plarl ptarl etarl by the church of esus christ of latter day saints as part jsus
of
its scripture
2 20
missionary pamphlet published by the church of jesus of latterday saints which has been used for many christ christof latter day years
new pamphlet published conary mi s A onary tract missionary ra ct
A
3
40 4
in
1963 which
is
now
used as a
own
ae 5e
joseph smithis account as published in the times and smith seasons and known as the wentworth letter
1 I
each
and
me
exhusbLETTER
glorious
taught
who
feature
SFASONS
of
art
father
VJNTWORTH
resembled
two
personages
&
TIMES
in
likeness
saw
andry
inthe
actly
other
my
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so
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as as
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