Part 4 (1/2)

These records were engraved on plates which had the appearance of gold. Each plate was not far from seven inches in width by eight inches in length, being not quite as thick as common tin. They were filled on both sides with engravings, in Egyptian characters, and bound together in a volume, as the leaves of a book, and fastened at one edge with three rings running through the whole. This volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed.

The characters of letters upon the unsealed part were small, and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity in its construction, as well as much skill in the art of engraving.

With the records was found a curious instrument, called by the ancients the Urim and Thummim, which consisted of two transparent stones, clear as crystal, set in the two rims of a bow. This was in use in ancient times by persons called Seers. It was an instrument by the use of which they received revelation of things distant, or of things past or future.

In the mean time the inhabitants of that vicinity, having been informed that Mr. Smith had seen heavenly visions, and that he had discovered sacred records, began to ridicule and mock at those things.

And after having obtained those sacred things, while proceeding home through the wilderness and fields, he was waylaid by two ruffians, who had secreted themselves for the purpose of robbing him of the records.

One of them struck him with a club before he perceived them; but being a strong man, and large in stature, with great exertion he cleared himself from them, and ran towards home, being closely pursued until he came near his father's house, when his pursuers, for fear of being detected, turned and fled the other way.

Soon the news of his discoveries spread abroad throughout all those parts. False reports, misrepresentations, and base slanders flew as if upon the wings of the wind in every direction. The house was frequently beset by mobs and evil designing persons. Several times he was shot at, and very narrowly escaped. Every device was used to get the plates away from him. And being continually in danger of his life, from a gang of abandoned wretches, he at length concluded to leave the place, and go to Pennsylvania; and accordingly packed up his goods, putting the plates into a barrel of beans, and proceeded upon his journey. He had not gone far, before he was overtaken by an officer with a search warrant, who flattered himself with the idea that he should surely obtain the plates; after searching very diligently, ho was sadly disappointed at not finding them. Mr. Smith then drove on; but before he got to his journey's end, he was again overtaken by an officer on the same business, and after ransacking the wagon very carefully, he went his way, as much chagrined as the first at not being able to discover the object of his research. Without any further molestation, he pursued his journey until he came into the northern part of Pennsylvania, near the Susquehanna River, in which part his father-in-law resided.

Having provided himself with a home, ho commenced translating the record, by the gift and power of G.o.d, through the means of the Urim and Thummim; and being a poor writer, he was under the necessity of employing a scribe, to write the translation as it tame from his mouth.

In the meantime, a few of the original characters were accurately transcribed and translated by Mr. Smith, which, with the translation, were taken by a gentleman named Martin Harris to the city of New York, where they were presented to a learned gentleman named Anthon, who professed to be extensively acquainted with many languages, both ancient and modern. He examined them, but was unable to decipher them correctly; but he presumed, that if the original records could be brought, he could a.s.sist in translating them.

But to return. Mr. Smith continued the work of translation, as his pecuniary circ.u.mstances would permit, until he had finished the unsealed part of the records. The part translated is ent.i.tled the ”Book of Mormon,” which contains nearly as much reading as the Old Testament.

”Well,” says the objector, ”if it were not for the marvellous, the book would be considered one of the greatest discoveries the world ever witnessed. If you had been ploughing, or digging a well or cellar and accidentally dug up a record containing some account of the ancient history of the American continent, and of its original inhabitants, together with the origin of the Indian tribes who now inhabit it; had this record had nothing to do with G.o.d, or angels, or inspiration, it would have been hailed by all the learned of America and Europe, as one of the greatest and most important discoveries of modern times, unfolding a mystery which had, until then, bid defiance to all the researches of the learned world. Every newspaper would have been filled with the glad tidings, while its contents would have poured upon the world a flood of light, on subjects before concealed in the labyrinth of uncertainty and doubt. But who can stoop, and so humble himself as to receive anything, in this enlightened age, renowned for its religion and learning, from the ministering of angels, and from inspiration? This is too much: away with such things, it comes in contact with the wisdom and popularity of the day.” To this I reply, The Lord knew that before He revealed it; this was one princ.i.p.al object He had in view; it is just the manner of His dealing with the children of men; He always takes a different course from the one marked out for Him by the wisdom of the world, in order to ”confound the wise, and bring to naught the understanding of the prudent;” He chooses men of low degree, even the simple and the unlearned, and those who are despised, to do His work and to bring about His purposes, that no flesh shall glory in His presence. O ye wise, and ye learned, who despise the wisdom that comes from above!

Know ye not, that it was impossible for the world by wisdom to find out G.o.d? Know ye not that all your wisdom is foolishness with G.o.d?

Know ye not that ye must become as a little child, and be willing to learn wisdom, from the least of His servants, or you will perish in your ignorance?

But what are the evidences which we gather from Scripture, concerning the coming forth of this glorious work? We shall attempt to prove: first, that America is a land promised to the seed of Joseph; second, that the Lord would reveal to them His truth as well as to the Jews; and third, that their record should come forth, and unite its testimony, with the record of the Jews, in time for the restoration of Israel, in the last days.

First, Genesis, xlviii, Jacob, while blessing the two sons of Joseph, says: ”Let them grow into a mult.i.tude in the midst of the earth.” In the same blessing, it is said of Ephraim, ”His seed shall become a mult.i.tude of nations.” Now put the sense of these sayings together, and it makes Ephraim a mult.i.tude of nations in the midst of the earth.

In Genesis, xlix, it is prophesied concerning Joseph, while Jacob was blessing him, that he should be ”a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall: the archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him, but his bow abode in strength.” Again, he further says: ”The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors, unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills; they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.” Now I ask, Who were Jacob's progenitors, and what was the blessing conferred upon him?

Abraham and Isaac were his progenitors, and the land of Canaan was the blessing they conferred upon him, or that G.o.d promised them he should possess. Recollect that Jacob confers on Joseph a much greater land than that of Canaan; even greater than his fathers had conferred upon him, for Joseph's blessing was to extend to the uttermost bound of the everlasting hills. Now, reader, stand in Egypt, where Jacob then stood, and measure to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills, and you will land somewhere in the central part of America. Again, one of the Prophets says, in speaking of Ephraim: ”When the Lord shall roar, the children of Ephraim shall tremble from the west.” Now let us sum up these sayings, and what have we gained? First, that Ephraim was to grow into a mult.i.tude of nations in the midst of the earth; second, Joseph was to be greatly blessed in a large inheritance, as far off as America; third, this was to be on the west of Egypt or Jerusalem.

Now let the world search from pole to pole, and they will not find a mult.i.tude of nations in the midst of the earth, who can possibly have sprung from Ephraim, unless they find them in America; for the midst of all other parts of the earth is inhabited by mixed races, who have sprung from various sources; while here an almost boundless country was secluded from the rest of the world, and inhabited by a race of men, evidently of the same origin, although as evidently divided into many nations. Now, the Scriptures cannot be broken; therefore, these Scriptures must apply to America, for the plainest of reasons: they can apply to no other place.

Now, secondly, we are to prove that G.o.d revealed himself to the seed of Joseph or Ephraim--their location we have already proved--dwelling in America. For this, we quote Hosea, viii, 12; speaking of Ephraim, he says by the spirit of prophecy: ”I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.” This is proof positive and needs no comment, that the great truths of Heaven were revealed unto Ephraim, and were counted as a strange thing.

Third: Were these writings to come forth just previously to the gathering of Israel? Answer: They were, according to Ezekiel, thirty-seventh chapter, where G.o.d commanded him to ”Take one stick, and write upon it For Judah, and the children of Israel his companions; then take another stick, and write upon it For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions; and join them one to another, into one stick, and they shall become one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt not thou show us what thou meanest by these? say unto them, Thus saith the Lord G.o.d, Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand; and the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.

And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord G.o.d, Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.”

Now, nothing can be more plain than the above prophecy; there are presented two writings, the one to Ephraim, the other to Judah; that of Ephraim is to be brought forth by the Lord, and put with that of Judah, and they are to become one in their testimony, and grow together in this manner, in order to bring about the gathering of Israel. The eighty-fifth Psalm is very plain on the subject: speaking of the restoration of Israel to their own land, it says, ”Mercy and Truth are met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. _Truth shall spring out of the earth:_ and Righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before Him, and shall set us in the way of His steps.” Now the Savior, while praying for His disciples, said: ”Sanctify them through Thy _truth_--Thy _word_ is _truth_.” From these pa.s.sages we learn, that His word is to spring out of the earth, while Righteousness looks down from heaven. And the next thing that follows is, that Israel are set in the way of His steps, and partaking of the fruit of their own land.

Jeremiah, x.x.xiii, 6, speaking of the final return from captivity of both Judah and Israel, says: ”I will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.” And Isaiah, speaking of the everlasting covenant, which should gather them, makes this extraordinary and very remarkable expression: ”Their seed shall be known amongst the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people.” Now, reader, let me ask, can any one tell whether the Indians of America are of Israel, unless by revelation from G.o.d? Therefore this was a hidden mystery, which it was necessary to reveal in time for their gathering.

So much, then, we have produced from the Scriptures, in proof of a work, like the book of Mormon, making its appearance in these days; to say nothing of Isaiah, xxix. But says one, ”What is the use of the Book of Mormon, even if it be true?” I answer: First, it brings to light an important history, before unknown to man. Second, it reveals the origin of the American Indians, which was before a mystery. Third, it contains important prophecies, yet to be fulfilled, which immediately concern the present generation. Fourth, it contains much plainness in regard to points of doctrine, insomuch that all may understand, and see eye to eye, if they take pains to read it.

”But what are its proofs, as to chosen witnesses who testify to its translation by inspiration?” For this testimony, I refer the reader to the testimony of the witnesses in the first page of the Book of Mormon; he will there find as positive testimony as has ever been found in the other Scriptures concerning any truth which G.o.d ever revealed. Men there testify, not only that they have seen and handled the plates, but that an angel of G.o.d came down from heaven, and presented the plates before them, while the glory of G.o.d shone round about them, and the voice of G.o.d spoke from heaven, and told them that these things were true, and had been translated by the gift and power of G.o.d, and commanded them to bear record of the same to all people.

Blessed be the Lord G.o.d of our fathers! He has visited His people, and the dayspring from on high has dawned upon our benighted world once more; for no sooner had the Book been translated, and men begun to bear record of the same, than the Angel of the Lord came down from heaven again, and commissioned men to preach the Gospel to every creature, and to baptize with water for the remission of sins. No sooner did the people begin to believe their testimony, and be baptized, than the Holy Ghost fell upon them, through the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus; and the heavens were opened: and while some had the ministering of angels, others began to speak in other tongues, and prophesy. From that time forth, many of them were healed by the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus; and thus mightily grew the word of G.o.d, and prevailed. And thus, thousands have been raised up to testify that they do know for themselves, and are not dependent on the testimony of any man, for the truth of these things, for these signs follow them that believe. And when a man believes the truth, through the testimony of G.o.d's witnesses, and then these signs follow, not only them, but him also; if he has the ministering of angels, if he has been healed, or heals others, by the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus, or if he speaks in other tongues, or prophesies, he knows it for himself; and thus is fulfilled the saying of Scripture, ”If any man do my will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of G.o.d.” Thus faith comes by hearing, and knowledge by obeying; but hearing comes by preaching, and preaching comes by sending; as it is written--”How shall they preach, except they be sent?”

But there are many who say--”Show us a sign, and we will believe.”

Remember, faith comes not by signs, but signs come by faith. Gifts were not given to make men believe; but what saith the Scripture?

”Gifts are for the edifying of the Church.” If otherwise, why was it not written--”Faith comes by miracles,” instead of ”Faith comes by hearing?” I always take it for granted, that a man or woman who comes demanding a sign in order to make them believe, belongs to a wicked and adulterous generation, at least, to say no worse; for any person who will go to Jesus, with a pure heart, desiring and praying in faith, that he may know the truth concerning these things, the Lord will reveal it to him, and he shall know, and shall bear testimony, for by the Spirit of G.o.d they shall know truth from error: as it is written--”My sheep hear my voice.” And he that will not come unto Jesus by faith, shall never know the truth, until, too late, he finds the harvest is over, and the summer is ended, and his soul not saved.

Thus the religion of Jesus, unlike all other religious systems, bears its own weight, and brings certainty and knowledge, leaving no room for imposition. And now I say unto all people, Come unto the Father in the name of Jesus; doubt not, but be believing, as in days of old, and ask in faith for whatsoever you stand in need of; ask not that you may consume it on your l.u.s.ts, but ask with a firmness not to be shaken, that you will yield to no temptation, but that you will keep His commandments, as fast as He makes them manifest unto you; and if ye do this, and He reveals to you that He has sent us with a new and everlasting covenant, and commanded us to preach, and baptize, and build up His Church as in days of old, then come forward and obey the truth; but if you do not know, or are not satisfied that He has sent us, then do not embrace the doctrine we preach. Thus to your own master you shall stand or fall; and one day you shall know, yea, in that great day, when every knee shall bow, then shall you know that G.o.d has sent us with the truth, to prune His vineyard for the last time, with a mighty pruning.