,,new ,,witnesses ,,for ,,god ,,ii4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,mormon 99 99 99 99 ,by ,b4 ,h4 ,roberts1 ,author of ,the ,gospel1 ,outlines of ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,mormon ,doctrine of ,deity1 ,defense of the ,faith and the ,saints1 ,the ,prophet-,teacher1 etc41 etc4 99 99 99 99 ,,in ,,three ,,volumes ,,vol4 ,,ii4 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,deseret ,,news ,salt ,lake ,city #aiji ,,preface4 ,the following work was begun twenty-two years ago1 in ,england1 when the author was in that land on a ,mission1 as assistant ,editor of the ,latter-day ,saints' ,millennial ,star4 ,it was the author's design then to make the treatise on the ,book of ,mormon the first volume under the general title ,new ,witnesses for ,god2 but after some progress in collecting and arranging the materials had been made1 the thought occurred to him that the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith in chronological order1 if not in importance1 preceded the ,book of ,mormon in the introduction of ,god's ,witnesses in this last and great dispensation4 ,the materials of this work1 therefore1 so far as they had been collected1 were laid aside and work was begun on the treatise of ,joseph ,smith as a ,witness for ,god2 which1 however1 because of many other demands upon the author's time1 was not published until #ahie4 ,meantime work was continued from time to time upon the treatise of the ,book of ,mormon2 and in #aijc-d-e1 the materials were used1 substantially as in their present form1 as ,manuals for the ,senior ,classes of the ,young ,men's ,mutual ,improvement ,associations4 ,the work has undergone a thorough revision at the hands of the author1 and is now to take the place in his writings designed for it so long ago4 ,while the coming forth of the ,book of ,mormon is but an incident in ,god's great work of the last days1 and the book itself subordinate to some other facts in that work1 still the incident of its coming forth and the book are facts of such importance that the whole work of ,god may be said1 in a manner1 to stand or fall with them4 ,that is to say1 if the origin of the ,book of ,mormon could be proved to be other than that set forth by ,joseph ,smith2 if the book itself could be proved to be other than it claims to be1 viz41 and chiefly1 an abridged history of the ancient inhabitants of ,america1 a volume of scripture containing a message from ,god to the people to whom it was written--to the ,lamanites ,american ,indians1 who are a remnant of the house of ,israel2 and also to ,jew and ,gentile2 written by way of commandment1 and also by the spirit of prophecy and revelation--if1 ,i say1 the ,book of ,mormon could be proved to be other than this1 then the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 and its message and doctrines1 which1 in some respects1 may be said to have arisen out of the ,book of ,mormon1 must fall2 for if that book is other than it claims to be2 if its origin is other than that ascribed to it by ,joseph ,smith1 then ,joseph ,smith says that which is untrue2 he is a false prophet of false prophets2 and all he taught1 and all his claims to inspiration and divine authority1 are not only vain but wicked2 and all that he did as a religious teacher is not only useless1 but mischievous beyond human comprehending4 ,nor does this statement of the case set forth sufficiently strong the situation4 ,those who accept the ,book of ,mormon for what it claims to be1 may not so state their case that its security chiefly rests on the inability of its opponents to prove a negative4 ,the affirmative side of the question belongs to us who hold out the ,book of ,mormon to the world as a revelation from ,god4 ,the burden of proof rests upon us in every discussion4 ,it is not enough for us to say that if the origin of the ,book of ,mormon is proved to be other than that set forth by ,joseph ,smith2 if the book itself be proved to be other than it claims to be1 then the institution known as ,mormonism must fall4 ,we must do more than rest our case on the inability of opponents to prove a negative4 ,the security of ,mormonism rests on quite other grounds2 and1 from a forensic standpoint1 upon much more precarious ground2 for not only must the ,book of ,mormon not be proved to have other origin than that which we set forth1 or be other than what we say it is1 but we must prove its origin to be what we say it is1 and the book itself to be what we proclaim it to be--a revelation from ,god4 ,from these remarks the reader will observe1 ,i trust1 that while ,i refer to the coming forth of the ,book of ,mormon as an incident1 and the book itself as a fact subordinate to some other facts connected with the great work of ,god in the last days1 ,i have by no means underrated the importance of the ,book of ,mormon in its relation to ,god's work of the last days as a whole4 ,it is to meet the requirements of this situation that ,i have been anxious to add my contribution to the gradually accumulating literature on this subject1 both within and without the ,church1 both upon the affirmative and the negative side of the question4 ,my treatise is divided into four parts3 ,i4--,the ,value of the ,book of ,mormon as a ,witness for the ,authenticity and ,integrity of the ,bible2 and the ,truth of the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,,ii4--,the ,discovery of the ,book of ,mormon and its ,translation1 ,migrations1 ,lands1 ,intercontinental ,movements1 ,civilizations1 ,governments1 and the ,religions of its ,peoples4 ,,iii4--,evidences of the ,truth of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,,iv4--,objections to the ,book of ,mormon ,considered4 ,it will be seen from the titles of these divisions that ,parts ,i and ,,ii are really only preparatory in their nature4 ,the more interesting field of evidence and argument is not entered until ,part ,,iii is reached4 ,but ,parts ,i and ,,ii1 if not so intensely interesting as the divisions devoted to argument1 they are1 nevertheless1 every whit as important4 ,it goes without saying that the success of an argument greatly1 and ,i may say fundamentally1 depends upon the clearness and completeness of the statement of the matter involved2 and it is frequently the case that a proper setting forth of a subject makes its truth self-evident2 and all other evidence becomes merely collateral1 and all argument becomes of secondary importance4 ,especially is this the case when setting forth the ,book of ,mormon for the world's acceptance2 in which matter we have the right to expect1 and the assurance in the book itself that we shall receive1 the co-operation of divine agencies to confirm to the souls of men the truth of the ,nephite record2 that as that record was written in the first instance by divine commandment1 by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation2 and as it was preserved by angelic guardianship1 and at last brought forth by revelation1 and translated by what men regard as miraculous means1 so it is provided in ,god's providences1 respecting this volume of scripture1 that its truth shall be attested to individuals by the operations of the ,holy ,spirit upon the human mind4 ,when ye shall receive these things1 says the prophet ,moroni1 referring to the writings of the ,nephites1 ,i would exhort you that ye would ask ,god1 the ,eternal ,father1 in the name of ,christ1 if these things are not true2 and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart1 with real intent1 having faith in ,christ1 he will manifest the truth of it unto you1 by the power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,and by the power of the ,holy ,ghost ye may know the truth of all things4 ,this must ever be the chief source of evidence for the truth of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,all other evidence is secondary to this1 the primary and infallible4 ,no arrangement of evidence1 however skilfully ordered2 no argument1 however adroitly made1 can ever take its place2 for this witness of the ,holy ,spirit to the souls of men for the truth of the ,nephite volume of scripture1 is ,god's evidence to the truth2 and will ever be the chief reliance of those who accept the ,book of ,mormon1 and expect to see its acceptance extended throughout the world2 for1 as the heavens are higher than the earth1 so must the testimony of ,god forever stand above and before the testimony of men1 and of things4 ,i confess that these reflections have a saddening effect upon one who undertakes to set forth what he must confess are but the secondary evidences to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon1 and make an argument that he can never regard as of primary importance in the matter of convincing the world of the truth of the work in the interest of which he labors4 ,but ,i trust these reflections will help my readers to a right apprehension of the importance of ,parts ,i and ,,ii1 the importance of a clear and1 so far as may be1 a complete statement of the incidents connected with the coming forth of the book1 and also of its contents4 ,to be known1 the truth must be stated1 and the clearer and more complete the statement is1 the better opportunity will the ,holy ,spirit have for testifying to the souls of men that the work is true4 ,while desiring to make it clear that our chief reliance for evidence to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon must ever be the witness of the ,holy ,spirit1 promised by the prophet ,moroni to those who will seek to know the truth from that source2 and desiring1 also1 as ,i think is becoming in man1 to acknowledge the superiority of ,god's witness to the truth as compared with any evidence that man may set forth--,i would not have it thought that the evidence and argument presented in ,parts ,,iii and ,,iv are unimportant4 ,secondary evidences in support of truth1 like secondary causes in natural phenomena1 may be of firstrate importance1 and mighty factors in the achievement of ,god's purposes4 ,i only desire by these remarks to place the matters to be considered in their right relations4 ,b4 ,h4 ,,roberts4 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,march1 #aiji4 ,,table ,,of ,,contents4 ,,part ,i4 ,,the ,,value ,,of ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,mormon ,,as ,a ,,witness ,,for ,,the ,,authenticity ,,and ,,integrity ,,of ,,the ,,bible1 ,,and ,,the ,,truth ,,of ,,the ,,gospel ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,the ,bible in the ,nineteenth ,century4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,the ,witness of the ,western ,hemisphere4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,the ,purposes for ,which the ,book of ,mormon was ,written4 ,,part ,,ii4 ,,the ,,discovery ,,of ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,mormon ,,and ,,its ,,translation4--,,migrations1 ,,lands1 ,,intercontinental ,,movements1 ,,civilizations1 ,,and ,,the ,,religions ,,of ,,its ,,peoples4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,how ,joseph ,smith ,obtained the ,book of ,mormon4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,the ,translation of the ,record--,martin ,harris ,amanuensis4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,translation of the ,record 7,continued7--,oliver ,cowdery1 ,amanuensis4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,the ,manner of ,translating the ,book of ,mormon4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,publication of the ,record4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,an ,analysis of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,migrations to the ,western ,hemisphere and the ,nations that ,arose from ,them4 ,i4 ,jaredites-- ,migration and ,place of ,landing4 ,capital and ,centers of ,civilization4 ,extent and ,nature of ,civilization4 ,numbers4 ,literature4 ,government4 ,religion4 ,history4 ,,ii4 ,the ,nephites4 ,lehi's ,colony4 ,mulek's ,colony4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,book of ,mormon ,lands4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,inter-,continental ,movements of ,book of ,mormon ,people4 ,nephite ,movements ,southward4 ,nephite ,movement ,northward4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,government and ,religion ,among the ,nephites4 ,nephite ,government4 ,religion4 ,the ,people of ,mulek4 ,government and ,religion4 ,the ,lamanites4 ,civilization1 ,government1 ,religion4 ,,part ,,iii4 ,,evidences ,,of ,,the ,,truth ,,of ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,mormon4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,classification of ,evidences4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,direct ,external ,evidences4 ,the ,testimony of the ,three ,witnesses4 ,the ,testimony of the ,eight ,witnesses4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,direct ,external ,evidences--,the ,three ,witnesses--,subsequent ,life and ,testimonies4 ,oliver ,cowdery4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,direct ,external ,evidences--the ,testimony of the ,three ,witnesses--,subsequent ,life and ,testimonies 7,continued74 ,david ,whitmer4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,direct ,external ,evidences--,testimony of the ,three ,witnesses--,subsequent ,life and ,testimonies 7,continued74 ,martin ,harris4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,direct ,external ,evidences--,reflections ,upon the ,testimonies of the ,three ,witnesses4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,direct ,external ,evidences--,testimony of the ,eight ,witnesses4 ,christian ,whitmer4 ,jacob ,whitmer4 ,peter ,whitmer1 ,jr4 ,john ,whitmer4 ,hiram ,page4 ,joseph ,smith1 ,sen4 ,hyrum ,smith4 ,samuel ,harrison ,smith4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,direct ,external ,evidence--,reflections on the ,testimony of the ,eleven ,witnesses4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,the ,testimony of ,incidental ,witnesses4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,the ,probability of ,joseph ,smith's ,story of the ,origin1 ,translation and ,final ,disposition of the ,plates of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,i4 ,the ,ministration of ,angels is ,neither ,unscriptural nor ,unreasonable4 ,,ii4 ,to ,believe in ,media for ,ascertaining ,divine ,knowledge is ,neither ,unscriptural nor ,unreasonable4 ,,iii4 ,of ,returning the ,plates of the ,book of ,mormon to ,moroni4 ,,iv4 ,on the ,loss of ,one ,hundred and ,sixteen ,pages of ,manuscript1 ,being the ,translation of the ,first ,part of ,mormon's ,abridgment of the ,nephite ,records4 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,indirect ,external ,evidences--,american ,antiquities4 ,preliminary ,considerations4 ,i4 ,what the ,book of ,mormon ,requires as to the ,location and ,character of the ,jaredite ,civilization4 ,,ii4 ,what the ,book of ,mormon ,requires as to the ,location1 ,extent and ,nature of the ,nephite ,civilization4 ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,indirect ,external ,evidences--,american ,antiquities4 ,preliminary ,considerations 7,continued74 ,,iii4 ,of the ,probability of ,intercourse ,between the ,eastern and ,western ,hemispheres ,during ,jaredite and ,nephite ,times4 ,,iv4 ,the ,western ,world ,since the ,close of the ,nephite ,period--,the ,lamanite ,civilization4 ,v4 ,of the ,writers on ,american ,antiquities4 ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,indirect ,external ,evidences--,american ,antiquities4 ,i4 ,the ,evidence of the ,existence of ,ancient ,civilizations in ,america4 ,,ii4 ,chief ,centers of ,ancient ,american ,civilization4 ,copan4 ,palenque4 ,,chapter ,,xxvii4 ,indirect ,external ,evidences--,american ,antiquities 7,continued74 ,i4 ,antiquity of ,american ,ruins4 ,,ii4 ,successive ,civilizations4 ,,iii4 ,peruvian ,antiquities4 ,,iv4 ,the ,mound ,builders4 ,summary4 ,,chapter ,,xxviii4 ,external ,evidences--,american ,traditions and ,mythologies4 ,i4 ,the ,creation4 ,,ii4 ,the ,flood4 ,,chapter ,,xxix4 ,indirect ,external ,evidences--,american ,traditions and ,mythologies 7,continued74 ,,iii4 ,tradition of the ,tower of ,babel4 ,,iv4 ,migrations4 ,,pronouncing ,,vocabulary ,to aid the reader in pronouncing accurately ,book of ,mormon names and also the difficult ,spanish and ,mexican proper names found in the body of this work1 where it treats of ,american antiquities1 we append1 first1 the rules of pronounciation of the ,book of ,mormon names formulated at the ,book of ,mormon ,convention held at the ,brigham ,young ,university1 ,provo1 ,may1 #aijc2 and1 second1 a list of the ,spanish and ,mexican words--chiefly proper names--and their pronounciation in ,english4 ,for the pronunciation of the ,spanish and ,mexican names ,i am indebted to ,professor ,john ,m4 ,mills of the ,latter-day ,saints' ,university1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,utah4 ,,rules ,,for ,,the ,,pronunciation ,,of ,,book ,,of ,,mormon ,,names ,words of two syllables to be accented on the first syllable4 ,words of three syllables to be accented on the second syllable with these exceptions1 which are to be accented on the first syllable2 namely3 ,amlici 7c1 soft72 ,amnion2 ,antipas2 ,antipus2 ,corihor2 ,cumeni2 ,curelom2 ,deseret2 ,gazelam2 ,helaman2 ,joneam2 ,korihor2 ,tubaloth4 ,words of four syllables to be accented on the third syllable with the following exceptions1 which are to be accented on the second syllable2 namely3 ,abinadi2 ,abinidora2 ,amalickiah2 ,aminadi2 ,aminadab4 ,ch is always to be pronounced as ,k4 ,g at the beginning of a name to be always pronounced 'hard4' ,i final1 always to take the long sound of the vowel4 ,,list ,,of ,,spanish ,,and ,,mexican ,,proper ,,names ,,and ,,their ,,pronunciation ,a ,acolhuas 7ah col'wahs7 ,acosta 7ah cos'tah7 ,acxiquat 7ak he'quat7 ,acxopil 7ak ho'peel7 ,ahahuetl 7ah ha way'tl7 ,ahpop 7ah'pope7 ,allabahamah 7ah yah bah hah'mah7 ,amautas 7ah mah oo'tas7 ,amoxoaque 7ah mo wha'ky7 ,antisuyu 7an tee su'yu7 ,atitan 7ah tee tan'7 ,atonatiuh 7ah to nah'tee oo7 ,anahuac 7ah nah wak'7 ,aymara 7i mah'rah7 ,aztlan 7as tlan'7 ,b ,balam ,agab 7bah lam'ah gab7 ,balam ,quiche 7bah lam kee chay'7 ,boachia 7bwa chee'ah7 ,bochica 7bo chee'kah7 ,boturini 7bo too ree'nee7 ,brasseur de ,bourbourg 7brah sieur doo boor boor7 ,c ,caha ,paluma 7kah'hah pah loo'mah7 ,cakixaha 7kah kee hah'hah7 ,calel ,ahus 7kah lail'ous7 ,camalotz 7kah mah lo'tz7 ,capichoch 7ka peech'och7 ,carli 7kar'lee7 ,carreri 7kah ray'ree7 ,camanco kah pac'7 ,ce ,calli 7say ca'ye7 ,cecumbalam 7say cum bah'lam7 ,chap ul tepee 7cha pool'tay peck7 ,chialman 7chee ahl'man7 ,chiapas 7ehee ah'pass7 ,chichen ,itza 7chi chen eat'sah7 ,chicomoztoc 7chi comb os'tok7 ,cholula 7cho lu'la7 ,cholultecs 7cho lool'tecks7 ,chomeha 7cho may'hah7 ,cioacoatl 7see wa kwa'tl ,clavigero 7cla vee hay'ro7 ,colhuacan 7coal wab can'7 ,colla 7ko'ya7 ,cantisuyu 7cone tee su'yu7 ,cortez 7car teth--,mexican cortes'7 ,coxcox 7cos'cos7 ,cozas 7co sas'7 ,cukulcan 7koo kool can'7 ,cundunamarco 7koon doona mar'ka7 ,cuzco 7koos'co7 ,coatzacoalcos 7kwats ah kwal'cos7 ,d ,de las ,casas 7day las ca'sas7 ,dupaix 7du pay'7 ,f ,fuentes y ,guzman 7fwen tes e goose man'7 ,g ,gomara 7go mah'ra7 ,gregorio ,garcia 7grey go'rio gar see'ah7 ,guanacauri 7gwa'na cow'ree7 ,guarani 7gwa rah'nee7 ,guatemala 7gwa teh mah'la7 ,gucumatz 7goo koo matz'7 ,h ,herrera 7a ray'rah7 ,hogates 7o gah'tes7 ,honduras 7own doo'ras7 ,huamantaco ,amauto 7hwa man ta'co ama oo'ta7 ,huaves 7hwah'ves7 ,huehue ,talapalan 7way way tah la pah ,ian'7 ,huemac 7way mack'7 ,huitzitzilin 7weet seet see leen'7 ,huitziton 7weet see tone'7 ,hurakan 7oo rah kan7 ,i ,ilocab 7e lo cab'7 ,iqui ,balam 7e kee bah'lam7 ,istli 7east'lee7 ,ixtlilxochitle 7east leel ho-che'etl7 ,izcalli 7eas ca yee7 ,j ,jiutemal 7hugh tay mal'7 ,juitemal 7whee tay mal7 ,k ,kabah 7kah'bah7 ,l ,loak ,ishtohooloo ,aba 7lo akish to hoo'loo ah'ba7 ,m ,mahucutah 7mah hoo cooth7 ,malinalli 7mah lee naw ye7 ,mama ,oello 7ma ma way'yo7 ,manco capac 7man co capac'7 ,mar ,barrnejo 7mar bar nay'ho7 ,mendieta 7men dee a tah ,michoacan 7me choa can'7 ,mictlanteuctli 7meek tlan tenk tli7 ,mijes 7me'hays7 ,mitla 7me'tla7 ,mizes 7me says7 ,miztees 7meas'tecks7 ,montesinos 7mon tay see'nos7 ,munez de la ,vega 7moon yes'day la vay'ga7 ,n ,nadaillac 7nah day lac'7 ,nata 7nah ta7 ,naliuatl 7na watl7 ,nahuatlacs 7na wat lacs7 ,nimaquiche 7nee ma kee chay'7 ,o ,oajaca 7oali ha'ca7 ,ozaca 7o sah'ca7 ,p ,palenque 7pah len'kay7 ,pamutla 7pah moot'la7 ,panoaia 7pa no ah'ya7 ,pantlan 7pan tlan'7 ,panuco 7pa noo co7 ,paye ,tome 7pah ye to'me7 ,puhua ,manco 7poo wha man co7 ,q ,quetzalcohua 7kate sal'qua7 ,quequetzalcohua 7kay kate sal'qua tl7 ,quetzalcohuatl 7kate sal qua'tl7 ,quilaztli 7kee las'tlee7 ,quirigua 7kee ree'gua7 ,quito 7kee to7 ,r ,rosales 7ro sah'les7 ,s ,sahagun 7sah hah'gun7 ,sierra de ,cocotl 7see a'ra day co co'tl7 ,suchiquecal 7soo chee kay'cal7 ,t ,tahuantin-,suya ,capac 7tah whan teen'-soo-ya-ca pac7 ,talma 7tal'ma7 ,tamoauchan 7ta mwa chan7 ,tamub 7tah moob'7 ,tapallan 7tah pah yan7 ,tecpatzin 7teck pat seen'7 ,tehuantepec 7tay wan'tay peck7 ,temazcalli 7tay mas cah'ye7 ,teocallis 7tayo cah'yees7 ,teocysactli 7tayo see sac'tlee7 ,teotes 7tayo tes7 ,tezcatlipoca 7tes cat tee po' ca7 ,tezpa 7tes'pee7 ,titicaca 7tee tee ka'ka7 ,tlacapan 7tla ca pan'7 ,tlaloc 7tla lock'7 ,tlaloques 7tla lo kes7 ,tlamanalco 7tla ma nal'co7 ,tlapallan 7tla pa yan'7 ,talascatec 7tlas cal tes7 ,tlatelolco 7tla tay lol'co7 ,teatl 7tay otl7 ,toltan 7tol tan'7 ,tonacatecutli 7to nali cah tay coo'tlee7 ,tonacatecutle 7to nah cah tay coo'tlay7 ,topolitzin 7to po lit seen'7 ,torquemada 7tor kay mah'dah7 ,tschudi 7tchew dee7 ,tuccabatches 7tuc cah bah'ches7 ,tulan-,zaiva 7too lan-si va7 ,tzontemoc 7tson tay moak'7 ,tzununiha 7tsoo noo ne'a7 ,u ,usumacinta 7oo soo ma seen'ta7 ,utatlan 7oo ta tlan'7 ,uxmal 7oox mal'7 ,v ,vemac 7vay mack'7 ,veytia 7vay tee'a7 ,viracocha 7vee ra co cha7 ,votan 7vo tan'7 ,w ,wixipecocha 7week see pa co' cha7 ,x ,xecoicovach 7hay coat co vach'7 ,xelhua 7hay loo'ah7 ,xibalba 7he bai'bah7 ,ximinez 7he me nais'7 ,xochiquetzal 7ho chee kate sal7 ,y ,yaqui 7ya'kee7 ,ytztlacoliuhqui 7eats tla co lee oo'kee7 ,yucatec 7yu ca tec'7 ,z ,zaculi 7sa coo'lee7 ,zamna 7,sam'na7 ,zocheqnetzal 7so chay kate'sal7 ,zopotec 7sa'po tec7 ,zumarra 7su mar ra7 ,,forewords4 ,i4 ,,new ,,witnesses ,,for ,,the ,,truth ,,of ,,god',s ,,word ,,assured4 ,it is a happy omen1 that1 while so much of the literature of our times is marked by a tone of infidelity1 and especially by a disparagement of the evidences of the authenticity and inspiration of the ,scriptures1 there is in other quarters an increasing readiness to make the choicest gifts of modern science and learning tributary to the word of ,god4 ,the eclipse of faith is not total4 ,and it is an additional cause for gratitude to the ,god of ,providence and of ,revelation1 that1 even at this remote distance of time from the date of the ,sacred ,oracles1 new evidences of their credibility and accuracy are continually coming to light4 ,how much may yet remain1 buried under barren mounds1 or entombed in pyramids and catacombs1 or hidden in the yet unexplored pages of some ancient literature1 it were vain to conjecture2 but of this we may be sure1 that if any new forms of evidence should hereafter be needed1 to meet any new forms of unbelief1 and authenticate afresh the word of truth1 they will be found deposited somewhere1 waiting for the fulness of time2 and ,god will bring them forth in their season1 from the dark hieroglyphics1 or the desert sands1 or the dusty manuscripts1 to confound the adversaries of his word1 and to magnify it above all his name4--,historical ,evidences of the ,truth of the ,scripture ,records1 by ,george ,rawlinson1 ,m4 ,a4 ,american ,edition1 #ahhe4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,world',s ,,hunger ,,for ,,knowledge ,,of ,,the ,,christ4 ,were a parchment discovered in an ,egyptian mound1 six inches square1 containing fifty words which were certainly spoken by ,jesus1 this utterance would count more than all the books which have been published since the first century4 ,if a veritable picture of the ,lord could be unearthed from a catacomb1 and the world could see with its own eyes what like he was1 it would not matter that its colors were faded1 and that it was roughly drawn1 that picture would have at once a solitary place amid the treasures of art4--,rev4 ,john ,watson1 ,d4 ,d4 7,ian ,maclaren7 ,life of the ,master1 ,prologue4 ,,iii4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,mormon ,a ,,witness ,,for ,,the ,,christ4 ,and ,i1 ,nephi1 beheld that the ,gentiles that had gone out of captivity1 were delivered by the power of ,god out of the hands of all other nations4 ,and it came to pass that ,i1 ,nephi1 beheld that they did prosper in the land2 and ,i beheld a ,book1 and it was carried forth among them4 ,and the angel said unto me1 ,knowest thou the meaning of the ,book8 ,and ,i said unto him1 ,i know not4 ,and he said4 ,behold it proceedeth out of the mouth of a ,jew2 99 99 99 99 and he said unto me1 ,the ,book that thou beholdest is a record of the ,jews1 which contains the covenants of the ,lord which he hath made with the ,house of ,israel2 and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy ,prophets4 99 99 99 99 ,and it came to pass that ,i beheld the remnant of the seed of my brethren1 and also the ,book of the ,lamb of ,god1 which had proceeded forth from the mouth of the ,jew1 that it came forth from the ,gentiles1 unto the remnant of the seed of my brethren4 ,and after it had come forth unto them1 ,i beheld other ,books1 which came forth by the power of the ,lamb1 from the ,gentiles1 unto them1 unto the convincing of the ,gentiles1 and the remnant of the seed of my brethren1 and also the ,jews1 who were scattered upon all the face of the earth1 that the records of the ,prophets and of the ,twelve ,apostles of the ,lamb the ,bible are true4 ,and the angel spake unto me1 saying4 ,these last records which thou hast seen among the ,gentiles1 shall establish the truth of the first1 which are of the ,twelve ,apostles of the ,lamb1 and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them2 and shall make known unto all kindreds1 tongues and people1 that the ,lamb of ,god is the ,son of the ,eternal ,father1 and the ,savior of the world2 and that all men must come unto him1 or they cannot be saved4--,i4 ,nephi xiii4 ,,part ,i4 ,the ,value of the ,book of ,mormon as a witness for the authenticity and integrity of the ,bible1 and the truth of the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,,new ,,witnesses ,,for ,,god4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,mormon4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,the ,,bible ,,in ,,the ,,nineteenth ,,century ,the ,bible in the ,nineteenth ,century will yet form an interesting subject for a volume4 ,the writer of it will recount the attacks made upon the sacred volume by unbelievers1 and the defense of it by faithful ,christian and ,jewish scholars4 ,he will also be under the necessity of writing the history of the betrayals of the ,holy ,scriptures by pretended friends2 and he will say such betrayals were more mischievous than the attacks of avowed enemies4 ,he will balance the harm done by the attacks and the betrayals1 against the good accomplished by the defenses1 and give the net result of gain or loss4 ,which will preponderate8 ,the nineteenth century was prolific in both assaults and defenses2 and much valuable material was collected from unexpected quarters for the defense of the ,scriptures2 but for all that it is doubtful if in what is recognized as the ,christian world the faith of the ,christians in the ,bible1 as the veritable word of ,god1 was as sound and absolute at the close of the nineteenth century as it was at the commencement of it4 ,this is not saying that what is regarded as old fashioned faith in the ,bible has been entirely banished1 or totally eclipsed4 ,there are those1 and many of them1 thank ,god1 who still revere the ,bible as the word of ,god1 and therefore hold it true1 and take it as a lamp to their feet1 as a guide to their path4 ,but there has arisen within ,christendom itself--and chiefly within the nineteenth century--a class of ,bible scholars who have done much mischief to faith in the ,bible2 who make it part of their boast that in their study of the ,bible they have dropped the theological attitude towards it1 viz41 the preconception that the ,bible is the word of ,god1 on which conception men were wont to reason3 ,god is a ,god of absolute truth2 the ,bible is the word of ,god2 therefore the ,bible is absolutely true4 ,this position they now abandon and take up what they are pleased to call the literary attitude or method4 ,that is1 they approach the ,bible without any preconception whatsoever4 ,they take up the collection of books forming the ,bible as they would take up any other body of literature2 as they would ,english1 ,french1 or ,german literature4 ,this method1 says one high in authority in the new school of critics1 assumes nothing4 ,it leaves the conclusion of the questions whether the ,bible came from ,god1 in what sense it came from ,god1 how far and to what extent it came from ,god1 all to be determined by examination of the book itself4 ,this ,i call the literary method4 #a ,this method1 says another1 leads to the investigation of the origin1 authorship1 and meaning of the several books of the ,bible1 and the credibility of the history which it contains4 #b ,concerning in what those of the ,literary school are agreed1 and in what their method results1 as to the ,old ,testament1 ,i quote the following3 ,they are generally agreed in thinking that the book of ,genesis is composed of three or four or more documents woven together by some ancient editor in one continuous narrative4 ,they are generally agreed in thinking that the book of the ,covenant1 #c with the ,ten ,commandments at its forefront1 is the oldest book in the ,bible2 that the history in which that book of the ,covenant is embedded was written long subsequent to the time of ,moses4 ,they are generally agreed in thinking that the ,book of ,deuteronomy1 embodying a later prophet's conception of ,mosaic principles1 was not written or uttered by ,moses himself in its present form1 but some centuries after the death of ,moses4 ,they are generally agreed in thinking that the book of ,leviticus was written long subsequent to the time of ,moses1 and so far from embodying the principles of the ,mosaic code embodies much that is in spirit adverse if not antagonistic to the simple principles of ,mosaism4 ,they are generally agreed in considering that we have in the books of ,kings and ,chronicles history and belles lettres so woven together that it is not always possible to tell what is to be regarded as belles lettres and what is to be regarded as history4 ,they are generally agreed in the opinion that ,job1 while it treats of history about the days of ,moses1 or even anterior thereto1 was written later than the time of ,solomon2 that very little of the ,hebrew ,psalter was composed by ,david2 that most of it was composed in the time of the exile or subsequent thereto2 that ,solomon's song was not written by ,solomon1 and is the drama of a pure woman's love1 not a spiritual allegory2 that the book of ,isaiah was written certainly by two authors and perhaps more1 the later book being written one hundred years at least after the earlier and by a prophet now unknown2 that the book of ,jonah belongs to the series of moral instruction through fiction1 and that the book of ,daniel conveys moral instruction by means of1 to use ,dean ,farrar's phraseology1 one of these splendid specimens of the lofty moral fiction which was always common among the ,jews after the exile4 #d ,another recognized authority in the same field of learning in summing up the results of the so-called higher criticism1 says3 ,it has thus far done an inestimable service in the removal of the traditional theories from the sacred books1 so that they may be studied in their real structure and character4 4 4 4 4 ,the higher criticism shows us the process by which the sacred books were produced1 that the most of them were composed by unknown authors1 that they have passed through the hands of a considerable number of unknown editors who have brought together the older material without removing discrepancies1 inconsistencies and errors4 ,in this process of editing1 arranging1 addition1 subtraction1 reconstruction and consolidation1 extending through many centuries1 what evidence have we that these unknown editors were kept from error in all their work8 #e ,such dissecting as this can have but one general result--death of reverence for the ,bible2 death of faith in it1 as the revealed word of ,god4 ,the authenticity of the ,bible by it is left doubtful2 for while this method of criticism succeeds1 with those who affect it1 in proving that ,moses is not the author of the five books for so many centuries accredited to him1 it fails to tell us who is the author of those books4 ,this ,higher ,criticism tells us that there are two and perhaps more1 authors of the book of ,isaiah's prophecies2 that the last twenty-seven chapters were not written by the great ,hebrew prophet whose name the book bears2 but it fails to tell us who is the author of them4 ,nor can it be determined even when the unknown author lived4 ,the same is true as to the other books of the ,old ,testament upon whose authenticity this system casts its shadow4 ,the system is wholly destructive in its tendencies2 it unsettles everything1 it determines nothing1 except that everything with reference to the authenticity1 time of composition1 inspiration1 and credibility of the ,old ,testament is indeterminable4 ,it leaves everything hanging in the air1 says one able critic of ,higher ,criticism4 ,it begins in guesses and ends in fog4 ,at all events the result leaves us in a hopeless muddle1 and1 when that is the only thing settled1 the proposed solution is self-condemned4 #f ,and yet the ,doctor of ,divinity who wrote that sentence1 ,rev4 ,a4 ,j4 ,f4 ,behrends1 when he comes in his treatise to remark upon the extent to which the destructive criticism obtains1 has to confess that in eight of the most famous ,german ,universities #g possessing theological faculties1 and numbering seventy-three professors in all1 thirty of those professors upheld and taught the destructive criticism2 while forty-three were counted conservatives4 #h ,a more significant admission1 as showing the rapid increase of the radicals1 or liberals1 as the upholders of the destructive criticism are called1 will be found in the following statement concerning the same theological faculties4 ,the so-called liberal wing has increased from ten to thirty during the last twenty-five years2 and the conservatives have been reduced from fifty to forty-three4 ,of the ,american universities where the destructive criticism obtains1 ,dr4 ,behrends names eight2 #i and eighteen where conservative criticism holds its ground4 #aj ,it should be remembered that these are admissions of one upholding the conservative criticism as against radical criticism4 ,the claims of the radical school for the success of their methods are much more sweeping than the admissions allow4 ,but taking the extent to which the destructive criticism obtains1 even at the estimate of those who are opposed to it1 and who for that reason reduce its triumphs to a minimum1 yet it must be admitted that it has succeeded in making very marked progress4 ,it permeates all ,protestant ,christian countries2 and all ,protestant ,christian sects4 ,it is more in evidence in the churches than in the schools2 and tinctures all ,protestant religious literature4 ,there is scarcely any necessity for unbelievers in the ,bible assailing it from without2 the destruction of faith in it as an authentic1 credible1 authoritative revelation from ,god1 whose truths when rightly understood are to be accepted and held as binding upon the consciences of men1 is being carried on from within the churches who profess to hold the ,bible in reverence1 more effectually than it could be by profane infidels4 ,doctors of ,divinity are more rapidly undermining the faith of the masses in the ,bible than ever a ,voltaire1 a ,paine1 a ,bradlaugh or an ,ingersoll could do2 and that may account for the singular circumstances of absolute silence at present on the part of popular infidel writers and lecturers4 #aa ,it is not my purpose here to enter into a discussion of the merits or demerits of ,higher ,criticism2 to point out what is true in it1 and what false4 ,i am merely calling attention to a condition that has been created by that method of ,bible treatment1 viz41 a condition of rapidly increasing unbelief among the masses in the ,bible as the undoubted word of ,god4 ,the learned who are leaders in the new method of ,bible criticism1 after destroying confidence in the authenticity of almost every book of the ,old ,testament2 after questioning the credibility of the greater part of all those same books2 after retiring some of the books from the dignified realm of reliable history to the questionable station of belles-lettres2 after saying1 ,we are obliged to admit that there are scientific errors in the ,bible1 errors of astronomy1 of geology1 of zoology1 of botany1 and anthropology2 after saying1 ,there are historical mistakes in the ,christian scriptures1 mistakes of chronology and geography1 errors of historical events and persons1 discrepancies and inconsistencies in the historians1 which cannot be removed by any proper method of interpretation2 after reducing the inspired writers to the level of just ordinary historical1 poetical1 and fiction-writing authors1 by saying that the foregoing enumerated errors in the sacred books are just where you would expect to find them in accurate1 truthful writers of history in ancient times1 and that the sacred writers merely used with fidelity the best sources of information accessible to them--ancient poems1 popular traditions1 legends and ballads1 regal and family archives1 codes of law and ancient narratives1 and there is no evidence that they received any of this history by revelation from ,god1 there is no evidence that the divine ,spirit corrected their narratives either when they were being composed in their minds1 or written in manuscript2 after saying1 we cannot defend the morals of the ,old ,testament at all points1 99 99 99 the ,patriarchs were not truthful1 their age seems to have had little apprehension of the principles of truth2 after saying that ,god spake in much the greater part of the ,old ,testament through the voices and pens of the human authors of the scriptures1 and then ask--,did the human voice and pen in all the numerous writers and editors of the ,holy ,scriptures prior to the completion of the ,canon always deliver an inerrant word8 and1 ,even if all the writers were possessed of the ,holy ,spirit as to be merely passive in his hands1 the question arises1 can the finite voice and the finite pen deliver and express the inerrant truth of ,god8 ,after all this1 then these ,higher ,critics propound the question3 ,can we1 in the face of all the results of our literary and historical #ab method of treating the scriptures1 still maintain the truthfulness of the ,bible8 ,and while they are speculating how they can make it appear that the substantial truthfulness of the ,bible need not be inconsistent with the existence of circumstantial errors2 and are indulging in subtle refinements to show that none of the mistakes1 discrepancies and errors which have been discovered disturb the religious lessons of ,biblical history #ac--masses who come to hear of these doubts cast upon what they have hitherto been taught to regard as the infallible oracles of ,god1 answer off-hand3--,if so much doubt exists as to the authenticity1 credibility1 inspiration1 and authoritativeness of so great a part of the ,bible1 how are we to determine that the few remaining things you urge upon us are of divine appointment1 or reach to any higher level than human conception and human authority8 ,this their question2 and1 ever glad to meet with any excuse that will lend the lightest shadow of justification for casting aside the restraints which religion imposes upon the indulgence of human passion1 and human inclination to worldliness in general1 they rid themselves of their faith in the word of ,god1 and in the religion it teaches1 and walk abroad in the earth unchecked in their selfish pursuit of whatsoever may attract the fancy1 please the taste or gratify the passions4 ,for whatever may be the effect of what is left of the ,bible1 on minds of peculiar structure1 after ,higher ,criticism is done with it1 it must be conceded that a ,bible of doubtful authenticity1 of questionable credibility as to the greater part of it2 with its divine inspiration and its divine authenticity remaining open questions--neither such a ,bible nor any religion formulated from it in harmony with such conceptions1 can have much influence over the masses of humanity4 ,again ,i find it necessary to say that it is foreign to my purpose to enter into a consideration of the merits or demerits of ,higher ,criticism1 or even to point out how much of that criticism merely attacks an apostate ,christianity's misconceptions and false interpretations of the ,bible1 and not the ,bible itself4 ,it is sufficient for my purpose1 if ,i have made clear the results that must inevitably follow this attack upon the ,scriptures under the guise of ,higher ,criticism4 ,i must notice briefly the other side of the question2 that is1 give some account of the materials which have been brought to light in the nineteenth century for the defense of the ,bible2 materials which tend to prove its authenticity1 its credibility1 its inspiration and its divine authority4 ,and here ,i am but a compiler of a very few of the principal results of researches that have been made in ,egypt1 in the valley of the ,euphrates and in ,palestine4 ,i make no pretentions to original investigations of these researches1 but accept the statements of what ,i consider to be reliable authorities in relation to them4 ,in the year #agii a ,french officer named ,boussard discovered a large1 black basalt stone at ,fort ,st4 ,julian near ,rosetta1 in the delta of the ,nile4 ,from the circumstances of the discovery being near ,rosetta it has always been known as the ,rosetta ,stone4 ,it was inscribed in ,greek1 in ,egyptian hieroglyphics1 and a third class of writing which is called ,demotic4 ,the last is the common writing of the people of ,egypt as opposed to the hieroglyphic which was written by the priests4 ,the ,greek upon the stone was readily made out1 and it was found to consist of a decree drawn up by the priests of ,memphis in honor of ,ptolemy ,epiphanes1 who ruled about #aih ,b4 ,c4 ,it was at once evident that the ,greek inscription on this stone was the translation of the hieroglyphics upon it1 and hence afforded a key to the interpretation of the ,egyptian hieroglyphics4 ,by the fortunes of war the ,rosetta ,stone was surrendered by the ,french to ,general ,hutchinson and subsequently presented to the ,british ,museum where it is now preserved4 ,accurate copies of the three-fold text were made forthwith and distributed among the scholars of ,europe with the result that through the combined1 patient labors of ,silvestre de ,sacy1 ,akebald the ,swede1 ,thomas ,young1 ,champollion1 ,lepsius in ,germany1 ,birch in ,england1 and others1 the hieroglyphics were deciphered and a system of translation constructed which enabled ,european scholars to read many of the inscriptions upon the monuments of ,egypt1 and bring to light much of the history of that country which hitherto had been a mystery4 ,this gave an impetus to research4 ,the political representatives of the great countries of ,europe made collections of antiquities in ,egypt1 and travelers spent much time and money in opening tombs and digging out ruins4 ,the tombs have given up not only their dead1 but with them the books which the ,egyptians read1 the furniture which they used in their houses1 the ornaments and articles of the toilet of the ,egyptian lady1 the weapons of the warrior1 the tools of the handicraftsman and laborer1 the dice of the gambler1 the toys of the children1 and the portraits1 statutes and figures of the men and women for whom they were made4 ,the many-lined inscriptions upon the tombs give us their ideas about the future world1 the judgment of the dead1 the paradise of the happy souls1 the transmigration of souls1 and they enable us to place a juster estimate upon the statements of those ,greek writers who profess to understand and to describe with accuracy the difficult religion of the educated ,egyptians4 ,and the result of all this1 as affecting the authenticity of the ,bible8 ,simply this3 the manners1 customs1 governments1 arts1 sciences1 occupations and state of civilization of the ,egyptians in general1 are demonstrated by these monuments to be substantially what they are described to be in the book of ,genesis4 ,also there is supposed to be the confirmation of special events in the scripture narrative4 ,professor ,a4 ,h4 ,sayce1 for instance1 has the following upon the existence of such a line of kings ruling at ,jerusalem as ,melchizedek is described to be in ,genesis3 ,among the cuneiform tablets found at ,tel el-,amarna in ,upper ,egypt1 are letters to the ,pharaoh from ,ebed-tob1 king of ,jerusalem1 written a century before the time of ,moses4 ,in them he describes himself as appointed to the throne1 not by inheritance from his father or mother 7compare ,heb4 #g3c71 but by the arm of 'the ,mighty ,king1' i4 e4 of the god of whose temple stood on ,mount ,moriah4 ,he must therefore have been a priest-king like ,melchizedek4 ,the name of ,jerusalem is written ,ura-,salim1 'the city of the god of peace1' and it was the capital of a territory which extended southward to ,kellah4 ,in the inscriptions of ,rameses ,,ii and ,rameses ,,iii1 ,salem is mentioned among the conquests of the ,egyptian kings4 ,the same writer sees confirmation of the history of ,joseph1 son of ,jacob1 in the following circumstance3 ,the ,story of the ,two ,brothers1 an ,egyptian romance written for the son of the ,pharaoh of the oppression1 contains an episode very similar to the ,biblical account of ,joseph's treatment by ,potiphar's wife4 ,potiphar and ,potipherah are the ,egyptian ,pa-tu-pa-,ra1 the gift of the ,sun-god4 ,the name given to ,joseph1 ,zaphnath-paaneah1 7,gen4 #da3de71 is probably the ,egyptian ,zaf-nti-pa-ankh1 nourisher of the living one1 i4 e4 of the ,pharaoh4 ,there are many instances in the inscriptions of foreigners in ,egypt receiving ,egyptian names1 and rising to the highest offices of state4 ,the story of the ,exodus as related in the ,bible is supposed to find confirmation in the following3 ,the cuneiform tablets found at ,tel el-,amarna1 in ,upper ,egypt1 have shown that in the latter days of the eighteenth ,egyptian dynasty1 when the ,pharaoh had become a convert to an ,asiatic form of faith1 the highest offices of state were absorbed by foreigners1 most of whom were ,canaanites4 ,in the national reaction which followed1 the foreigners were expelled1 exterminated1 or reduced to serfdom2 while a new dynasty1 the nineteenth1 was founded by ,rameses ,i4 ,he1 therefore1 must be the new king1 the builder of ,pa-,tum or ,pithom 7now ,tel el-,maskhuteh1 near ,ismailia71 as has been proved by ,dr4 ,naville's researches1 and consequently1 as ,egyptian students had long maintained he must have been the ,pharaoh of the oppression4 ,the occupancy of the land of ,goshen by the ,israelites who1 it will be remembered1 were shepherds1 is supposed to receive confirmation in the following3 ,further excavations of ,dr4 ,neville have shown that ,goshen1 the ,egyptian ,goshen 7now ,saft el-,henneh71 is the modern ,wadi ,tumilat1 between ,zagazig and ,ismailia4 ,a dispatch dated in the eighth year of the reign of ,meneptah1 the son and successor of ,rameses ,,ii1 state that ,bedouin from ,edom has been allowed to pass the ,khetam or fortress in the district of ,succoth 7,thukot71 in order to feed themselves and their herds on the possessions of ,pharaoh4 ,khetam is the ,etham of ,exodus #ac3bj4 ,the geography of the ,exodus agrees remarkably with that of the ,egyptian papyri of the time of ,rameses ,,ii and his son4 #ad ,the search for evidence of the truth of the ,bible has not been confined to ,egypt4 ,equal interest has been awakened in those ancient empires that occupied the valley of the ,euphrates2 in ,palestine1 and the ,sinaitic ,peninsula4 ,european scholars with keen interest followed the study of the cuneiform characters found on ,babylonian tablets and monuments4 ,progress made in deciphering this ancient method of writing led ,m4 ,botta1 in #ahdb1 to begin excavations upon the ancient site of ,nineveh1 but he met with little success4 ,later1 however1--#ahde--,mr4 ,henry ,layard 7subsequently ,sir ,henry ,layard7 undertook excavations at the same place for the ,trustees of the ,british ,museum1 and succeeded in uncovering the palaces of ,sennacherib1 ,esarhaddon1 and ,assur-banipal1 and in bringing to light the terra cotta tablets which formed the great library founded by these kings at ,nineveh1 and of which some twenty-two thousand are now preserved in the ,british ,museum4 ,an examination of these tablets soon showed that they consisted of historical inscriptions1 astronomical reports and calculations1 grammatical lists1 etc41 and scholars began to apply ,sir ,henry ,rawlinson's system of decipherment of the ,babylonian version of the ,behistun inscription to the texts inscribed upon these tablets4 ,a large portion of the history of ,babylonia and ,assyria through the translation of these tablets is now revealed to us1 and the knowledge of the language of these countries has thrown much light upon the language1 literature1 history1 and learning of the ,jews4 ,the excavations which have been carried on in ,mesopotamia for the last fifty years have yielded the most valuable results2 and the inscribed slabs1 monolithic stelae1 boundary stones1 gate-sockets1 bricks1 seal-cylinders and tablets1 now preserved in the ,british ,museum1 afford an abundant supply of material from which ,bible customs and language may be freely explained and illustrated4 ,the cuneiform writing is1 at least1 as old as ,b4 ,c4 #c1hjj1 and there is evidence to show that it was in use as late as ,b4 ,c4 #hj4 #ae ,in #ahfe the ,palestine ,exploration fund was opened1 and excavations were begun in ,jerusalem1 and have continued1 with some interruptions1 until now4 ,since then researches have followed in the south1 east and north of ,palestine4 ,geological investigations have been made1 natural history collections have been formed1 enquiries into nationalities and customs carried on1 towns1 villages1 hills1 valleys1 water courses1 wells1 cisterns1 notable trees and other land marks have been located4 ,in #ahfh a party of engineering experts left ,england to make a scientific survey of the ,sinaitic ,peninsula4 ,this they effected1 making plans and models1 taking three thousand copies of inscriptions with collections of specimens bearing on the zoology1 botany and geology of the country4 #af ,the results of these explorations and discoveries1 in the valley of the ,euphrates1 in ,palestine and the ,sinaitic ,peninsula1 have been even more fruitful1 in the production of materials which tend to confirm the truth of the ,bible narrative and general credibility1 than the discoveries so far made in ,egypt4 ,the confirmation of the ,bible narrative of ancient events is remarkable4 ,so1 too1 the confirmation of its location of cities1 mountains1 rivers1 plains and1 indeed1 the whole geography of the scriptures4 ,the confirmation given of the ,bible's incidental allusions to the manners and customs of neighboring and contemporary nations is no less remarkable2 together with what is said of reigning kings and dynasties1 and the incidental allusions that the ,bible makes to their invasions of each other's territories1 their alliances1 their victories1 and their defeats4 ,the following are a few of the special ,bible incidents which receive confirmation from the results of these researches condensed from the article of ,professor ,sayce3 ,,creation3 ,one of the accounts of creation in cuneiform characters found on the tablets very nearly resembles the first chapter of ,genesis4 ,it commences with the statement that in the beginning all was a chaos of waters1 called the deep 7,tiamat1 the ,hebrew tehom74 ,then the ,upper and ,lower ,firmaments were created1 and the ,gods came into existence4 ,after that comes a long account of the struggle between ,bel-,merodach and the ,dragon of chaos1 ,timaat1 the serpent of evil1 with her allies1 the forces of anarchy and darkness4 ,it ended in the victory of the god of light1 who thereupon created the present world by the power of his word4 ,the fifth tablet or book of the poem describes the appointment of the heavenly bodies for signs and seasons1 and the sixth 7or perhaps the seventh7 the creation of animals and reptiles4 ,the latter part of the poem1 in which the creation of man was doubtless described1 has not yet been recovered4 ,but we learn from other texts that man was regarded as having been formed out of the dust of the ground4 ,,the ,,sabbath3 ,from the tablets it is also learned that the ,babylonians observed a day of rest1 which is called ,sabbattu and described as a day of rest for the heart4 ,on it1 it was forbidden to eat cooked meat1 to put on fresh clothes1 to offer sacrifices1 to ride in a chariot1 etc4 ,the ,sabbattu fell on the #gth1 #adth1 #aith1 #bast1 and #bhth days of the month4 ,,the ,,garden ,,of ,,eden3 ,the plain of ,babylonia was called ,edin in the ancient ,sumerian language of the country1 and the word was adopted by the ,semitic ,babylonians1 in the form of ,edinu4 ,eridu1 the early seaport of ,babylonia1 was the chief center of primitive ,babylonian religion and culture1 and in its neighborhood was a garden1 wherein1 in a holy place1 according to an ancient poem1 was a mysterious tree whose roots were planted in the deep1 while its branches reached to heaven4 ,the tree of life is often represented in ,assyria sculptures between two winged cherubim who have sometimes the heads of eagles1 sometimes of men1 and sometimes stand1 sometimes kneel4 ,eri-,aku or ,arioch 7,gen4 #ad3a7 calls himself the executor of the oracle of the holy tree of ,eridu4 ,in ,sumerian1 wine was called ges-din1 the draught of life4 ,a second tree is mentioned in ,babylonian hymns on whose heart the name of the god of wisdom is said to be inscribed4 ,,the ,,flood3 ,in #ahgb ,george ,smith discovered the ,babylonian account of the deluge1 which strikingly resembles that of ,genesis4 ,it is contained in a long poem which was composed in the age of ,abraham1 but the ,chaldean tradition of the deluge1 of which the account in the poem is but one out of many1 must go back to a very much earlier date4 ,xisuthros1 the ,chaldean ,noah was rescued along with his family1 servants1 and goods1 on account of his righteousness4 ,the god ,ea warned him in a dream of the coming flood1 and ordered him to build a ship1 into which he should take every kind of animal so that the seed of life might be preserved4 ,,ur ,,of ,,the ,,chaldees3 ,ur is now identified as ,mugheir4 ,this was the early home of ,abraham and his forefathers spoken of in ,genesis 7#ab3bg-cb74 ,it was situated on the west side of the ,euphrates4 ,the name means the city in ,babylonia4 ,it is proven now that there was such a city1 and that it is identical with ,mugheir1 the ruins of which have been thoroughly explored4 ,it was the seat of a dynasty of kings who reigned before the age of ,abraham1 and was famous for its temple of the moon-god1 whose other famous temple was at ,haran in ,mesopotamia4 ,,abraham3 ,contract-tablets show that in the age of ,abraham1 ,canaanites--or ,amorites1 as the ,babylonians called them--were settled in ,babylonia1 and that a district outside the walls of ,sippara had been assigned to them4 ,several of the names are distinctly ,hebrew1 and1 in a tablet dated in the reign of the grandfather of ,amraphel 7,gen4 #ad3a71 one of the witnesses is called the ,amorite1 the son of ,abi-ramu1 or ,abram4 ,,campaign ,,of ,,chedorlaomer3 ,the records on the tablets that this event 7described in ,genesis #ad7 is in accordance with the national movements of that age4 ,,shishak',s ,,invasion ,,of ,,judah3 ,on the southern wall of the temple of ,karnak1 ,shishak 7,shashang in ,egypt7 the founder of the twenty-second ,egyptian dynasty1 has given a list of the places he captured in ,palestine4 ,most of them were in ,judea1 but there are few 7e4 g4 ,megiddo and ,taanach7 which belonged to the northern kingdom4 ,,the ,,moabite ,,stone3 ,the ,moabite stone was discovered by ,rev4 ,f4 ,klein1 at ,dhiban in the land of ,moab1 on ,august #ai1 #ahfh4 ,it measures three feet ten inches1 by two feet1 by one foot two inches2 and is inscribed with thirty-four lines of text4 ,the language of the inscription hardly differs from ,hebrew in vocabulary1 grammar1 or expression4 ,the stone gives the ,moabite account of the war of ,mesha1 king of ,moab1 about #hfj ,b4 ,c41 against ,omri1 ,ahab1 and other kings of ,israel1 and confirms to quite an extent the history of the same war as given in ,,ii ,kings1 chapter #c4 #ag ,very naturally those believers in the ,bible who regard it as the very word of ,god1 those believers who regard the ,bible's historical statements as substantially true1 allowing only for such errors as may have crept in through the carelessness of copyists1 or perchance here and there an error through additions or omissions on the part of copyists or designing custodians--such believers rejoice at the confirmation the scriptures receive from the inscriptions upon monuments and tablets brought to light by the researches and scholarship of the nineteenth century4 ,it is a pious sentiment1 this rejoicing over the confirmation of the word of ,god2 and one can only regret that the evidences supplied by these modern discoveries are not sufficiently voluminous or explicit to silence altogether the unbelief of modern times in the ,bible4 ,but they are not sufficient2 for in spite of them unbelievers not only exist in ,christian lands1 but increase daily4 ,footnotes #a4 ,the ,bible as ,literature4 ,a course of lectures by ,dr4 ,lyman ,abbot1 in ,plymouth ,church1 ,brooklyn1 #ahif-g4 ,what is here called the ,literary ,method1 is identical with what is called ,higher ,criticism2 the terms are used interchangeably4 ,higher ,criticism may be said to stand in contradistinction to what is called ,lower ,criticism in this1 that it concerns itself with writings as a whole1 whereas ,lower ,criticism concerns itself with the integrity or character of particular passages or parts2 and is sometimes called ,textual ,criticism4 ,the term ',literary' or ',higher ,criticism' designates that type of ,biblical criticism which proposes to investigate the separate books of the ,bible in their internal peculiarities1 and to estimate them historically4 ,it discusses the questions concerning their origin1 the time and place1 the occasion and object of their composition1 and concerning their position and value in the entire body of revelation4 4 4 4 4 ,the ',higher ,criticism' has been so often employed for the overthrow of long-cherished beliefs that the epithet 'destructive' has frequently been applied to it2 and hence it has become an offense to some orthodox ears4 7,the ,mosaic ,authorship of the ,pentateuch1 ,charles ,elliott1 ,d4 ,d41 pp4 #ab1 #ac47 #b4 ,beginning of ,christianity 7,fisher7 p4 #cib4 #c4 #ba1 #bb1 #bc ,exodus--,the ,ten ,commandments and amplifications4 #d4 ,the ,bible as ,literature1 ,dr4 ,lyman ,abbot4 #e4 ,truthfulness of ,scripture1 a paper submitted to ,the ,world's ,parliament of ,religion by ,professor ,chas4 ,a4 ,briggs1 ,d4 ,d4 ,see ,world's ,parliament of ,religions 7,barrows7 vol4 ,i1 p4 #efc4 #f4 ,rev4 ,a4 ,j4 ,f4 ,behrends1 ,d4 ,d41 ,bible ,criticism and its ,methods1 course of lectures1 #ahig4 #g4 ,these are the ,universities of ,berlin1 ,bonn1 ,breslau1 ,griefswald1 ,halle1 ,konigsberg1 ,leipzig and ,tubingen4 #h4 ,this was the condition in #ahig4 #i4 ,these ,universities are ,boston1 ,yale1 ,harvard1 ,cornell1 ,johns ,hopkins1 ,union1 ,chicago and ,andover4 #aj4 ,dr4 ,behrend's1 ,bible ,criticism1 ,second ,lecture1 ,feb4 #bh1 #ahig4 #aa4 ,this is written in #aijc1 and since the death of ,bradlaugh in ,england in #ahia1 and the death of ,ingersoll in ,america in #ahii1 there have appeared no infidel lectures against the ,bible of any prominence4 ,the mantle of those noted unbelievers and revilers of the ,scriptures seems not to have fallen upon the shoulders of any of their followers4 #ab4 ,historical criticism and its results were also considered in volume ,i of ,new ,witnesses1 see ch4 ,i4 #ac4 ,the quoted passages in the foregoing are all from the paper of ,dr4 ,chas4 ,a4 ,briggs1 one of the foremost scholars among the ,higher ,critics1 and was read before the ,world's ,parliament of ,religions4 ,see ,barrows' ,history of the ,parliament of ,religions1 vol4 ,i1 pp4 #fej-ffa4 #ad4 ,professor ,sayce's article from which the foregoing quotations are made1 is to be found in the ,bible ,treasury1 published in ,nelson ,son's addition of the authorized version1 p4 #dc4 #ae4 ,the ,witness of ,modern ,discoveries to the ,old ,testament ,narrative1 ,oxford ,bible ,helps4 #af4 ,ibid4 #ag4 ,the foregoing statements of monumental testimony to the truth of the ,old ,testament are condensed from an article of ,professor ,a4 ,h4 ,sayce1 ,,ll4 ,d4 ,the whole article--too long to be inserted here--will be found in the ,nelson ,illustrated ,bible ,treasury1 pp4 #ci-dd4 ,those desiring more specific knowledge of the interesting subject will find it in the magnificent work of ,herman ,v4 ,hilprecht1 ,explorations in ,bible ,lands1 ,during the #aith ,century 7#aijc74 ,mr4 ,hilprecht holds the ,professorship of the ,clark ,research ,professorship of ,assyriology in the ,university of ,pennsylvania2 and in his great work of #hjj pages is assisted by other specialists4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,the ,,witness ,,of ,,the ,,western ,,hemisphere ,one thing with reference to modern discoveries of confirmatory evidences of the ,bible is singular4 ,that one thing is the fact that all these modern discoveries of evidences are confined to the eastern half of the world1 to ,asia and ,africa4 ,can it be that ,god left no witnesses for himself in the western half of the world8 ,did he ignore and leave to perish without spiritual enlightenment1 or knowledge of any means of salvation1 all those tribes of men1 those nations and empires1 that inhabited the western hemisphere through so many ages8 ,it should be remembered while considering these questions that the scriptures teach that ,god hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth1 and hath determined the times before appointed1 and the bounds of their habitation2 that they should seek the ,lord1 if haply they might feel after him1 and find him1 though he be not far from every one of us3 for in him we live1 and move1 and have our being2 as certain also of your own poets have said1 ,for we are also his offspring4 #a ,from this it appears that all races of men have a common origin4 ,they are all made of one blood1 and have one common ,father--,god4 ,yet if one judge the spirit of orthodox believers in the ,bible1 he would conclude that this ,father's anxiety had all been expended in the enlightenment of those races and nations inhabiting the eastern hemisphere4 ,that he had made ample provision for their instruction in the ways of ,god1 and revealed to them1 through his ,son1 the means of their salvation2 but left the untold millions of his children in the western hemisphere to perish in ignorance4 ,no prophets instructed them2 no ,son of ,god came to announce to them the means of salvation1 or proclaim by his own resurrection the reality of the future life and immortality of man4 ,and hence no one has unearthed the half-buried cities1 or examined the ruined temples1 or the fallen palaces--the extent and greatness of which proclaim the grandeur of ancient ,america's civilization--for confirmatory evidence of the ,bible4 ,the inscriptions upon their temple walls and monuments have not been deciphered for that purpose1 nor their history and traditions investigated with that end in view1 except in a few instances where men have been imbued with the idea that the aborigines of ,america might be the descendants of the ,lost ,tribes of ,israel4 ,these1 with a few others prompted by a desire to solve the mystery of ,america's ancient civilization1 have explored the ruined cities1 described the crumbling pyramids and temples1 and remains of splendid aqueducts4 ,they have collected and detailed their mythologies1 traditions1 and history2 some circumstances of which bear strong evidence to the fact that the ancient inhabitants of the western hemisphere1 in some way1 had been made acquainted with some of the chief events of ,bible history1 including some knowledge of the atonement and other doctrines of ,messiah4 ,but such evidences of these facts as have been collected are not received into the collection of modern evidences for the truth of the ,bible4 ,i do not know of a single book in which they are so received4 ,from the profound silence enforced upon ,american monuments and inscriptions1 one would be left to suppose that they are as silent in testimony for the revealed truth of ,god as the birds of the ,south continent1 however resplendent in gaudy plumage1 are silent as to song4 ,it is just here1 however1 where the importance of the ,book of ,mormon is best exhibited4 ,it is here where it can be proclaimed as the voice of the western hemisphere proclaiming the sublime truth that ,god did not leave himself without witness among the races and nations of men that inhabited the western world4 ,it is here that its importance is felt as the voice of sleeping nations speaking as out of the dust to the whole world1 not only vindicating the quality of justice in ,god1 in that he did not leave the inhabitants of the western hemisphere to perish in ignorance of himself and the plan of life and salvation which had been ordained for the redemption of mankind2 but also in that it bears witness to the world that the collection of books known as the ,bible is the word of ,god1 authentic1 credible1 and binding upon the consciences of men4 ,it is a ,witness for the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ and of the truth of the ,bible1 which in value far surpasses all the evidences discovered in ,egypt1 the valley of the ,euphrates1 the ,sinaitic ,peninsula1 and the land of ,palestine throughout the nineteenth century4 ,let us here consider it4 ,first in chronological order1 if not in importance1 is the book of ,ether1 within the ,book of ,mormon4 ,this book of ,ether is an abridgment of a very ancient ,american record that was engraven upon twenty-four gold plates1 by a prophet named ,ether1 hence the name of the book4 ,he wrote his record most likely in the early part of the sixth century ,b4 ,c4 ,the plates were discovered by a branch of the ,nephite nation about #abj years ,b4 ,c41 and were preserved by the ,nephites with other sacred records1 which finally were placed in the keeping of a prophet named ,moroni1 about the close of the fourth century ,a4 ,d4 ,this ,moroni is the one who translated the record engraven upon the plates of ,ether1 an abridgment of which he placed with the ,book of ,mormon4 ,the book of ,ether contained an account of the most ancient events from the creation of ,adam to the confusion of languages2 but as ,moroni supposed the information of this part of the book of ,ether would be in the possession of the ,jews1 he did not transcribe that part of it1 but began his abridgment from the confounding of the languages at ,babel4 ,the book of ,ether speaks of one ,jared and his brother1 the latter a most remarkable prophet1 living at ,babel previous to the confusion of languages1 and to whom the ,lord revealed his intention of confounding the language of the people4 ,at the solicitation of ,jared1 to whom he had imparted the knowledge of the coming calamity1 this prophet besought the ,lord that the language of ,jared1 himself1 and their families might not be confounded1 and the ,lord had respect unto his prayer and confounded not their language2 but directed the formation of a colony consisting of ,jared1 his brother1 and their families and friends which the ,lord led forth from ,babylon and finally brought to the north continent of the western hemisphere4 ,the colony grew into a great nation1 occupying at least the greater part of ,north ,america1 and were known to the ,nephites as the people of ,jared4 ,the book of ,ether confirms the special particulars of the ,bible concerning there being in existence a record of the creation2 the existence of ,adam2 the erection of the tower of ,babel2 the confounding of languages2 and the scattering of the people into all the lands of the earth4 ,second3 ,six hundred years before ,christ1 a prophet of the ,lord named ,lehi1 being warned of the destruction of ,jerusalem1 departed with his family into the wilderness1 traveling southward from the ,holy ,city until he reached the borders of the ,red ,sea2 and while camped on its shores he received direction from the ,lord that his sons should return to ,jerusalem and obtain a certain record in the hands of one ,laban1 containing a record of the ,jews and also the genealogy of ,lehi's forefathers engraven upon plates of brass4 ,agreeable to the heavenly commandment the sons returned1 and after overcoming some difficulties finally succeeded in securing the records and returning with them to the encampment of ,lehi4 ,finally1 when ,lehi's colony embarked for ,america1 they brought those records with them4 ,these records are thus described by ,nephi1 son of ,lehi1 who engraved the description in his record1 at least as early as the first quarter of the sixth century ,b4 ,c43 ,and after they ,lehi's colony had given thanks unto the ,god of ,israel1 my father1 ,lehi1 took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass1 and he did search them from beginning4 ,and he beheld that they did contain the five books of ,moses1 which gave an account of the creation of the world1 and also of ,adam and ,eve1 who were our first parents2 and also a record of the ,jews from the beginning1 even down to the commencement of the reign of ,zedekiah1 king of ,judah2 and also the prophecies of the holy prophets1 from the beginning even down to the commencement of the reign of ,zedekiah1 and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of ,jeremiah4 ,and it came to pass that my father1 ,lehi1 also found upon the plates of brass1 a genealogy of his fathers2 wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of ,joseph2 yea1 even that ,joseph who was the son of ,jacob1 who was sold into ,egypt1 and who was preserved by the hand of the ,lord1 that he might preserve his father1 ,jacob1 and all his household from perishing with famine4 ,and they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of ,egypt1 by that same ,god who had preserved them4 ,and thus my father1 ,lehi1 did discover the genealogy of his fathers4 7,i ,nephi #e3aj-af47 ,what a testimony we have here for the truth of the ,bible6 ,what a number of its incidents are here confirmed6 ,the ,higher ,criticism questions the ,mosaic authorship of the ,pentateuch1 but here is an entry made in an ancient record in ,america at least #ege years ,b4 ,c41 attributing the authorship of five books to ,moses1 specifying that they gave an account of the creation of the world and also of ,adam and ,eve1 who were our first parents2 so that there can be no question as to this record brought by ,lehi's colony from ,jerusalem to ,america being identical with the ,pentateuch of our ,bible4 ,in addition to the incident of the creation1 and ,adam and ,eve1 this entry upon the ,nephite records also confirms the ,bible narrative concerning ,jacob and also of ,joseph1 his son1 who was sold into captivity and taken to ,egypt4 ,reference is made also to the subsequent exodus of ,israel from the land of ,egypt4 ,mention also is made of the prophets and their prophecies in this record1 making special mention of the name of ,jeremiah4 ,some of the writings of ,jeremiah were also included in this record4 ,the first ,nephi also makes special mention of ,isaiah by name1 and describes in what manner he read from his writings upon the plates of brass1 to his brethren4 #b ,and what is better yet1 he quotes1 in his record1 many passages from the prophet ,isaiah4 ,at this point it is well to call attention to the fact that the ,higher ,criticism holds that the book of ,isaiah in our ,old ,testament is composite2 that is1 it claims that it is composed by at least two1 and perhaps by seven different authors2 that the last twenty-seven chapters certainly were not written by ,isaiah4 ,the best answer that can be made to these claims1 on the part of those disposed to defend the ,isaiah authorship of the book of prophecies which bears that prophet's name1 is to say that from two hundred years ,b4 ,c4 the authorship of the prophecies1 as they now stand in the ,bible1 have been attributed to ,isaiah4 ,but here is testimony1 in this first book of ,nephi1 which shows that as early as #eej years ,b4 ,c41 a certain collection of prophecies in a record taken from ,jerusalem1 are attributed to ,isaiah2 and what is best of all a transcription is made from these prophecies into the ,nephite record1 which corresponds to chapters #dh1 #di1 #ej1 #ea and #ei1 and also fragments of chapter #bi2 #c being a very large amount of the very part of ,isaiah's prophecies of which the authenticity is questioned4 ,here are at least five of the twenty-seven chapters in dispute accounted for and fragments of another1 while of the first part of the prophecies of ,isaiah there is a transcription into the ,nephite record corresponding to chapters from two to fourteen2 #d so that so far as the authenticity of the book of ,isaiah's prophecies is concerned1 and the five books of ,moses1 the ,book of ,mormon is the most important of all witnesses4 ,third3 ,since the ,nephites1 then1 in this collection of brass plates1 had the five books of ,moses and the writings of the prophets down to the reign of ,zedekiah1 king of ,judah1 it is to be expected that in their own record-making frequent reference would be made to the brass plates and their contents1 and this is the case4 ,the first ,nephi speaks of ,israel's passage of the red sea1 under the leadership of ,moses2 and the destruction of the ,egyptian army4 #e ,subsequently the same writer refers to the captivity of the children of ,israel in ,egypt1 and the grievousness of their bondage2 of their escape from their slavery2 their being fed with manna in the wilderness2 their being miraculously provided with water from the smitten rock2 the visible presence of ,god in the cloud by day and the pillar of light by night2 the blind and rebellious spirit of the people2 the judgment of ,god upon them in the fiery-flying serpents1 and the healing provided for them by looking upon the brazen serpent erected by ,moses4 #f ,the prophet ,lehi1 near the close of his life1 when blessing his son ,joseph1 refers to ,joseph1 the son of ,jacob1 of ,egyptian fame1 and speaks of a prophecy uttered by that patriarch concerning the deliverance of the people under the leadership of ,moses2 and also of a future seer of the same lineage as himself1 7i4 e4 ,joseph7 who would be mighty in bringing forth the word of ,god unto the remnant of ,lehi's seed4 #g ,in the book of ,helaman will be found further reference to many of the same things4 #h ,special reference is made also to the prophecy of ,moses concerning the future coming of the ,messiah1 saying1 ,a prophet shall the ,lord your ,god raise up unto you1 like unto me2 him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you4 ,and it shall come to pass that all those who will not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among the people4 ,nephi follows this passage with the declaration that this prophet of whom ,moses spake is the ,holy ,one of ,israel1 the ,messiah4 #i ,the ten commandments are quoted in the book of ,mosiah1 substantially as they are found in the book of ,exodus4 #aj ,and thus throughout the ,nephite record frequent references are made to these ancient things of the scriptures1 all of which1 found as they are in an ancient record1 though revealed to the world through the prophet ,joseph ,smith in modern times1 confirm the authenticity and credibility of the ,bible4 ,fourth3 ,it is the ,book of ,mormon as a whole1 however1 in which its greatest value as a witness for the truth of the ,bible1 and the truth of the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 most appears4 ,i mean the ,book of ,mormon considered apart from any reference to an abridgment of the ancient records of the ,jaredites2 and the transcriptions from the ancient ,hebrew scriptures carried by ,lehi's colony to the western world4 ,in the ,book of ,mormon1 so considered1 we have the record of the hand-dealings of ,god with the peoples that inhabited the western hemisphere4 ,we have in it the record of those things which occurred in a branch of the house of ,israel that ,god was preparing for the same great event for which he was training the house of ,israel in the eastern world2 viz41 the advent of the ,messiah1 and the acceptance of the gospel through which all mankind are to be saved4 ,this branch of the house of ,israel1 broken from the parent tree and planted in the western hemisphere1 brought with them the traditions and hopes of ,israel2 they brought with them1 as we have already seen1 the ,hebrew scriptures1 the writings of ,moses and of the prophets down to the reign of ,zedekiah1 king of ,judah2 but what is more important than all this1 they came to the western world with the favor and blessing of ,israel's ,god upon them1 and ,israel's peculiar privilege of direct communication with ,god1 through inspired dreams1 the visitation of angels1 and the voice of ,god4 ,lehi's colony was led to the western world by prophets1 inspired of the ,lord1 their journey being marked by many and peculiar manifestations of his presence with them4 ,after their arrival in the western world1 to them a land of promise1 the ,lord from time to time raised up prophets among them1 who instructed them in the ways of the ,lord2 who reproved them when overtaken in transgression2 who pronounced judgments against them when persuasion was of no avail for their correction2 who warned them by the spirit of prophecy of approaching disasters2 and who held continually before them the hope of ,israel1 the advent of the ,messiah1 who1 by his suffering and death on the cross1 would redeem mankind4 ,it was much in this manner and for the same purpose that ,god dealt with his people in the eastern world2 and the fact that his course with the people on the western hemisphere was substantially the same as that followed with those of the east1 establishes at once his justice and mercy towards his children1 and bears testimony to the great truths that ,god indeed is no respecter of persons1 and that in every land he raises up for himself witnesses of his power and goodness4 #aa ,fifth3 ,it is not alone as a witness for the authenticity and credibility of the ,bible that the ,book of ,mormon is valuable4 ,great as is its value in that particular1 it is still more valuable as a witness for the truth of the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ4 ,previous to the coming of ,messiah to the ,nephites1 #ab prophets testified of his coming2 predicted the time thereof and the signs that would accompany his advent4 ,the signs of his birth were1 first1 that on the night of his nativity there would be no darkness upon the lands inhabited by the ,nephites2 that is1 in the western hemisphere4 ,there shall be one day and a night and a day1 said one of the prophets1 as if it were one day and there were no night2 and this shall be unto you for a sign2 for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting2 therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night2 nevertheless the night shall not be darkened2 and it shall be the night before he is born4 #ac ,second3 ,a new star was to rise1 such an one as ye never have beheld1 said the prophet to the ,nephites1 and this also shall be a sign unto you4 #ad ,third3 ,many signs and wonders were to be seen in heaven1 but the nature of which is not stated by the prophet4 #ae4 ,signs of ,messiah's death were predicted4 ,first1 on the day he suffered death1 the sun would be darkened and refuse to give his light1 and also the moon and the stars2 and darkness would cover the whole face of the ,nephite lands1 from the time that he suffered death until his resurrection from the dead4 ,second1 at the time of his dying there would be thundering and lightnings2 earthquakes would rend the rocks1 lay mountains low1 and cast up valleys into mountains2 the highways would be broken up1 and many cities be made desolate4 ,third1 many graves would be opened and yield up their dead1 and many ,saints would be raised from the dead and appear unto the living1 who had not been destroyed in these judgments4 ,these were the signs that were to give evidence to the people of the western world of the birth of the promised ,christ1 and of his death1 and his resurrection2 all of which things1 in due time1 came to pass1 even as they had been predicted4 ,but what is better still1 after the ,christ's resurrection from the dead1 and after these terrible judgments had swept over the western land1 destroying the more wicked part of the inhabitants1 ,jesus himself appeared unto the ,nephite people1 and this in fulfilment of his own declaration to his disciples at ,jerusalem1 when he said3 ,other sheep ,i have1 which are not of this fold3 them also ,i must bring1 and they shall hear my voice2 and there shall be one fold1 and one shepherd4 #af ,the ,christ's appearance to the ,nephites was first made to a multitude gathered about the temple in what was called the land ,bountiful4 ,he descended out of heaven and stood in their midst1 announcing himself to be ,jesus ,christ1 whom the prophets had testified would come into the world4 ,i am the light and the life of the world1 said he1 and ,i have drunk out of that bitter cup which the ,father hath given me1 and have glorified the ,father in taking upon me the sins of the world1 in which ,i have suffered the will of the ,father in all things from the beginning4 ,and it came to pass that when ,jesus had spoken these words1 the whole multitude fell to the earth1 for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that ,christ would show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven4 ,at the commandment of ,jesus1 the multitude arose and came to him1 and beheld the wounds in his side and in his hands4 ,when they had all gone forth and witnessed for themselves that he was indeed the ,christ1 they cried out with one accord1 ,hosanna1 hosanna1 blessed be the name of the most high ,god4 ,and they did fall down at the feet of ,jesus and worshiped him4 ,thus ,jesus continued ministering among them for some time4 ,just how long he remained or how many times he appeared to them cannot be determined from the ,book of ,mormon4 ,neither is that a matter of any great importance1 but it is important that he chose twelve disciples and conferred upon them divine authority to administer the ordinances of the gospel4 ,he proclaimed himself to be1 as will be seen from what has been said1 the ,son of ,god4 ,he also taught that his ,father1 ,himself1 and the ,holy ,ghost constituted one ,god-head2 that men to be saved must believe in ,god1 repent of their sins1 receive baptism for the remission of sins1 and the baptism of the ,holy ,ghost in order to establish complete fellowship and oneness between themselves and ,god and his ,christ4 ,the twelve were authorized to call to their assistance subordinate officers and organize those who accepted the gospel into the holy ,church of ,christ4 ,in addition to these doctrinal instructions ,jesus delivered also the highly moral and spiritual precepts of the gospel1 delivered them1 as might be expected1 much in the same form as they are to be found in our ,new ,testament scriptures4 ,what is found in the ,book of ,mormon of his teaching so nearly conforms to the doctrines and moral precepts of the ,new ,testament1 that it becomes a mighty witness for the substantial correctness of what is recorded in the ,new ,testament1 so that the ,book of ,mormon is a witness of the truth not only of the ,old ,testament but very largely also of the ,new4 ,among other things of importance which ,jesus declared to the ,nephites was the fact that it was his intention to visit the lost tribes of the house of ,israel1 reveal himself to them1 and proclaim the same gospel he had delivered to the ,nephites1 and spoke of the time when the testimonies of the ,nephites and the lost tribes of the house of ,israel1 with the testimonies of those among whom he had labored in ,judea1 should be brought together in one4 ,jesus also administered to the sick1 the maimed and the blind among the ,nephites1 and showed forth the great power of ,god in his ministrations1 falling behind in nothing1 in these respects1 to the miraculous powers that were displayed in his ministry in ,judea2 but on the contrary1 in consequence of the greater faith of the ,nephite people1 and their righteousness1 the display of almighty power went beyond the marvelous works wrought in ,judea2 for the greater part of the wicked among the ,nephites had been destroyed by the judgments of ,god which preceded ,messiah's coming1 leaving only the more righteous part of the people to meet with him1 at this his glorious advent among them2 and hence they were prepared to receive greater blessings at the hands of ,god than were the people in ,judea4 ,the ,church of ,christ1 thus founded by the ,messiah and the twelve disciples he had chosen1 reaped a rich harvest in the salvation of souls in the western world4 ,for nearly two centuries the truth of ,god was almost universally accepted4 ,a reign of righteousness was enjoyed4 ,peace1 prosperity1 fraternity and happiness prevailed1 and ,god was worshiped in spirit and in truth3 ,but man is frail1 and can but ill sustain ,a long immunity from grief and pain2 ,and after all the ,joys which ,plenty leads1 ,with tip-toe step1 ,vice silently succeeds4 ,and so it was in the experience of the ,nephites4 ,wickedness reared its head among them2 pride1 born of self-love1 took possession of the souls of some1 and inroads were made in the unity and peace of the ,church4 ,these evils continued to spread until at last the spirit of apostasy was rampant1 in the western world1 as in the eastern2 men departed from ,god and his ways until rebellion1 disunion1 and anarchy everywhere prevailed2 civilization was overwhelmed2 and people descended to barbarism1 and1 at last1 for the most part1 to savagery4 ,in this condition they were discovered by the ,europeans1 near the close of the fifteenth century4 ,but notwithstanding this decline from the religion of ,jesus ,christ and a high state of civilization1 what had been accomplished through the revelation of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ to the western world was of great importance4 ,as already stared1 the harvest of souls in the periods when righteousness prevailed1 was very great2 and the records which had been written by prophets and holy men1 and preserved with great care by the commandment of ,god1 were destined to be of immense importance in future ages4 ,they would proclaim with trumpet tongue the justice and the mercy of ,god2 they would demonstrate that the ,lord has in mind the salvation of all races and nations of men2 they would stand forth as the most important witness for the authenticity and general truth of the ,jewish scriptures1 both of the ,old and the ,new testaments2 they would be the voice of sleeping nations testifying that ,moses did write the ,pentateuch2 they would bear witness that ,isaiah is the author of the prophecies ascribed to him2 that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the very eternal ,god1 #ag that he suffered for the sins of the sins of the world1 therein glorifying the ,father1 and accomplishing the purposes of ,god with reference to the salvation of men2 they would bear witness that there is no name given under heaven whereby men can be saved but the name of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god2 and finally1 those ,nephite records1 in the ,book of ,mormon1 would establish the great and supreme truths that ,god is a reality--that he lives2 that man is the child of ,god2 that he is immortal1 and accountable to ,god for his actions2 that he may be saved through acceptance of and continued obedience to the gospel4 ,a writer held much in esteem by the orthodox ,christian world--and deservedly so--in a noble work but recently issued from the press1 said3 ,were a parchment discovered in an ,egyptian mound1 six inches square1 containing fifty words which were certainly spoken by ,jesus1 this utterance would count more than all the books which have been published since the first century4 ,if a veritable picture of the ,lord could be unearthed from a catacomb1 and the world could see with its own eyes what like he was1 it would not matter that its colors were faded1 and that it was roughly drawn1 that picture would have at once a solitary place amid the treasures of art4 #ah ,if this be true1 and ,i think no one will question it1 then how valuable indeed must be this whole volume of scripture1 the ,book of ,mormon6 ,containing not fifty1 but many hundred words spoken by ,jesus6 ,containing also an account of the hand dealings of ,god with the people inhabiting the western hemisphere1 from earliest times to the fourth century after ,christ4 ,wherein also are found his revelations to those peoples2 his messages by angels sent directly from his presence to declare his word to them2 his instructions1 admonitions1 reproofs1 and warnings to them through men inspired by his ,holy ,spirit2 and last of all1 the account of ,messiah's appearance and ministry among the people1 his very words repeated1 and rightly divided for us 7as we shall see later71 that we may the better understand what of his teaching is general1 and what special2 what universal and permanent1 and what local and transcient4 ,how insignificant all the discoveries in ,egypt1 in ancient ,babylon1 ,palestine1 and the ,sinaitic ,peninsula are in comparison with this ,new ,witness of the western world8 ,how paltry1 valuable though they are in themselves1 seem the ,rosetta stone1 the ,moabite stone1 and the library of brick tablets from old ,nineveh1 in comparison with this ,nephite record--this volume of scripture6 ,how feeble the voice of the testimony of those monuments of the east to the authenticity and credibility of the ,bible and the truth of the gospel1 in comparison with the testimony found in the ,book of ,mormon--the voice of departed nations and empires of people speaking through their records for the truth of ,god--for the verity of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ--a voice sufficient to overwhelm unbelief and forever make sure the foundations of faith6 ,it was mainly for this purpose that the ,nephite records were written1 preserved1 and finally brought forth to the world1 as we shall see in the following chapter4 ,footnotes #a4 ,acts #ag3bf-bh4 #b4 ,i ,nephi #ai3bb-bd4 #c4 ,,ii ,nephi1 chapters #f1 #g1 #h4 ,mosiah #ad4 ,,iii ,nephi #bb4 #d4 ,,ii ,nephi1 chapters #ab-bd inclusive4 #e4 ,i ,nephi1 chapter #d3b4 #f4 ,i ,nephi #ag3bc-db4 #g4 ,,ii ,nephi #c4 #h4 ,helaman #h4 #i4 ,i ,nephi #bb3bj1 #ba4 #aj4 ,mosiah #ab1 #ac4 #aa4 ,see reflections on the course of the ,lord with reference to giving revelations to all nations and races of men1 chapter #da1 this work4 #ab4 ,the ,nephites were the followers of the first ,nephi1 the righteous son of ,lehi1 who led the colony from ,jerusalem six hundred years ,b4 ,c42 and the ,lamanites were the followers of ,laman1 the oldest and wicked son of the same ,lehi4 #ac4 ,helaman1 chapter #ad4 #ad4 ,helaman1 chapter #ad4 #ae4 ,this was ,samuel1 a prophet whom ,god raised up from among the ,lamanites4 ,the above prophecies were uttered about five or six years ,b4 ,c4 #af4 ,john #aj3af4 ,for a somewhat extended discussion of this prophecy and its fulfilment see ,part ,,iii this work1 chapter #ce4 #ag4 ,see preface in title page of the ,book of ,mormon4 #ah4 ,life of the ,master1 ,prologue1 ,rev4 ,john ,watson1 7,ian ,maclaren74 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,the ,,purposes ,,for ,,which ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,mormon ,,was ,,written4 ,the several purposes for which the ,book of ,mormon was written are to be learned from the writers of the book itself1 and from the revelations of ,god to ,joseph ,smith4 ,first ,i introduce the statement of ,moroni1 into whose hands ,mormon's abridgment of the larger records of the ,nephites1 called the ,book of ,mormon1 was given4 ,on the last plate of the collection given to ,moroni by his father1 on the left hand side of the collection1 the language of the whole book running as in the ,hebrew1 from right to left1 ,moroni engraved the following explanatory title to the record he sealed up1 and therein also stated the reasons why the record was written4 ,this ,joseph ,smith translated and made the title page of his translation of the ,book of ,mormon3 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,mormon ,an ,account ,written by the ,hand of ,mormon1 ,upon ,plates ,taken ,from the ,plates of ,nephi4 ,wherefore1 it is an abridgment of the record of the people of ,nephi1 and also of the ,lamanites--,written to the ,lamanites who are a remnant of the house of ,israel2 and also to ,jew and ,gentile--,written by way of commandment1 and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation--,written and sealed up1 and hid up unto the ,lord1 that they might not be destroyed--,to come forth by the gift and power of ,god unto the interpretation thereof--,sealed by the hand of ,moroni1 and hid up unto the ,lord1 to come forth in due time by way of ,gentile--,the interpretation thereof by the gift of ,god4 ,an abridgment taken from the ,book of ,ether also1 which is a record of the people of ,jared1 who were scattered at the time the ,lord confounded the language of the people1 when they were building a tower to get to heaven--which is to show unto the remnant of the house of ,israel what great things the ,lord hath done for their fathers2 and that they may know the covenants of the ,lord1 that they are not cast off forever--and also to the convincing of the ,jew and ,gentile that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,eternal ,god1 manifesting1 himself unto all nations--,and now if there are faults they are the mistakes of men2 wherefore1 condemn not the things of ,god1 that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of ,christ4 ,in the above1 three reasons are given why the ,book of ,mormon was written and preserved to come forth among men in the last days3 ,first1 to show unto the remnant of the ,house of ,israel what great things the ,lord has done for their fathers4 ,second1 to teach them the covenants of the ,lord made with their fathers1 that the remnants may know that they are not cast off forever4 ,third1 that this record may convince both ,jew and gentile that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,eternal ,god1 and that he manifests himself to all nations4 ,in a revelation given to ,joseph ,smith in ,july1 #ahbh1 on the occasion of the ,urim and ,thummim being restored to him after it had been taken from him in consequence of allowing ,martin ,harris to have a portion of the manuscript of the ,book of ,mormon1 contrary to the will of ,god1 the ,lord said to him3 ,my work shall go forth1 for inasmuch as the knowledge of a ,savior has come unto the world1 through the testimony of the ,jews1 even so shall the knowledge of a ,savior come unto my people--and to the ,nephites1 and the ,jacobites1 and the ,josephites1 and the ,zoramites1 through the testimony of their fathers--,and this testimony shall come to the knowledge of the ,lamanites1 and the ,lemuelites1 and ,ishmaelites who dwindled in unbelief because of the iniquity of their fathers1 whom the ,lord has suffered to destroy their brethren the ,nephites1 because of their iniquities and their abominations4 ,and for this very purpose are these plates preserved1 which contain these records--that the promise of the ,lord might be fulfilled1 which he made to his people2 and that the ,lamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers1 and that they might know the promises of the ,lord1 and that they may believe the gospel and rely upon the merits of ,jesus ,christ1 and be glorified through faith in his name1 and that through their repentance they might be saved4 #a ,in this passage we have substantially the same reasons given why the ,book of ,mormon was written1 though not stated in the same order1 but as follows3 ,first1 that a knowledge of a ,savior might come unto the remnants of the house of ,israel in the western hemisphere1 who are called ,nephites1 ,jacobites1 ,josephites1 ,lamanites1 etc4 ,second1 that the ,lamanites might come to a knowledge of their fathers4 ,third1 that the ,lamanites might know the promises of the ,lord1 both to their fathers and to themselves4 ,mormon also left upon record his testimony as to why the book which bears his name was written1 and why it would be preserved and come forth in the last days4 ,in his own book1 by which ,i mean that book in which he wrote the things which he saw in his own day1 ,mormon says3 ,now these things are written unto the remnant of the house of ,jacob2 99 99 99 and behold1 they shall come forth according to the commandment of the ,lord1 when he shall see fit1 in his wisdom4 ,and behold1 they shall go unto the unbelieving of the ,jews2 and for this intent shall they go--that they may be persuaded that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of the living ,god2 that the ,father may bring about1 through his most ,beloved1 his great and eternal purpose1 in restoring the ,jews1 or all the house of ,israel1 to the land of their inheritance1 which the ,lord their ,god hath given them1 unto the fulfilling of his covenant2 and also that the seed of this people #b may more fully believe his gospel1 which shall go forth unto them from the ,gentiles4 #c ,again1 this same writer1 ,mormon1 addressing himself to the remnants of the ,lamanites to whom1 in the future1 his record would come1 says3 ,know ye that ye must come to a knowledge of your fathers1 and repent of all your sins and iniquities1 and believe in ,jesus ,christ1 that he is the ,son of ,god1 and that he was slain by the ,jews1 and by the power of the ,father he hath risen again1 whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave2 and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up4 ,and he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead1 whereby man must be raised to stand before his judgment-seat4 ,and he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world1 whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of ,god in his ,kingdom1 to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above1 unto the ,father1 and unto the ,son1 and unto the ,holy ,ghost1 which are one ,god1 in a state of happiness which hath no end4 ,therefore repent1 and be baptized in the name of ,jesus1 and lay hold upon the gospel of ,christ1 which shall be set before you1 not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the ,gentiles from the ,jews1 #d which record shall come from the ,gentiles unto you4 ,for behold1 this #e is written for the intent that ye may believe that2 #f and if ye believe that ye will believe this also2 and if ye believe this1 ye will know concerning your fathers1 and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of ,god among them4 ,and ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of ,jacob2 therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant4 7,mormon #g3e-aj47 ,this passage is important because that in addition to assigning substantially the same reasons for the writing and coming forth of the ,book of ,mormon1 as those before enumerated1 it brings out the fact that the ,book of ,mormon was written also to be a witness for the ,bible1 to prove it true1 for the language in the above passage makes plain reference to the ,bible1 the record which comes from the ,jews to the ,gentiles1 and from the ,gentiles to the remnant of the ,lamanites to whom ,mormon makes reference4 ,this is also the testimony of the first ,nephi4 ,in vision he saw the advent of the ,gentile races upon the western hemisphere4 ,he saw their victories over the remnant of the seed of his brethren1 the ,lamanites4 ,he then proceeds3 ,and ,i beheld the ,spirit of the ,lord1 that it was upon the ,gentiles1 and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance2 and ,i beheld that they were white1 and exceeding fair and beautiful1 like unto my people before they were slain4 ,and it came to pass that ,i1 ,nephi1 beheld that the ,gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the ,lord2 and the power of the ,lord was with them4 ,and ,i beheld that their mother ,gentiles were gathered together upon the waters1 and upon the land also1 to battle against them4 ,and ,i beheld that the power of ,god was with them1 and also that the wrath of ,god was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle4 ,and ,i1 ,nephi1 beheld that the ,gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of ,god out of the hands of all other nations4 ,and it came to pass that ,i1 ,nephi1 beheld that they did prosper in the land2 and ,i beheld a book1 and it was carried forth among them4 ,and the angel said unto me3 ,knowest thou the meaning of the book8 ,and ,i said unto him3 ,i know not4 ,and he said3 ,behold it proceedeth out of the mouth of a ,jew4 ,and ,i1 ,nephi1 beheld it2 and he said unto me3 ,the book that thou beholdest1 is a record of the ,jews1 which contains the covenants of the ,lord1 which he hath made unto the house of ,israel and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy prophets2 and it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass1 #g save there are not so many2 nevertheless1 they contain the covenants of the ,lord1 which he hath made unto the house of ,israel2 wherefore1 they are of great worth unto the ,gentiles4 ,and the angel of the ,lord said unto me3 ,thou hast beheld that the book proceeded forth from the mouth of a ,jew2 and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a ,jew it contained the plainness of the gospel of the ,lord1 of whom the twelve apostles bear record2 and they bear record according to the truth which is in the ,lamb of ,god4 ,wherefore1 these things go forth from the ,jews in purity unto the ,gentiles1 according to the truth which is in ,god4 ,and after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the ,lamb1 from the ,jews unto the ,gentiles1 thou seest the foundation of a great and abominable church1 which is most abominable above all other churches2 for behold1 they have taken away from the gospel of the ,lamb many parts which are plain and most precious2 and also many covenants of the ,lord have they taken away4 ,and all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the ,lord1 that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men4 ,wherefore1 thou seest that after the book had gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church1 that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book1 which is the book of the ,lamb of ,god4 ,and after these plain and precious things were taken away it goeth forth unto all the nations of the ,gentiles2 and after it goeth forth unto all the nations of the ,gentiles1 yea1 even across the many waters which thou hast seen with the ,gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity1 thou seest--because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book1 which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men1 according to the plainness which is in the ,lamb of ,god--because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the ,lamb1 an exceeding great many do stumble1 yea1 insomuch that ,satan hath great power over them4 99 99 99 ,and it came to pass that the angel of the ,lord spoke unto me1 saying3 ,behold1 saith the ,lamb of ,god1 after ,i have visited the remnant of the house of ,israel--and this remnant of whom ,i speak is the seed of thy father #hmm after ,i have visited them in judgment1 and smitten them by the hand of the ,gentiles1 and after the ,gentiles do stumble exceedingly1 because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the ,lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church1 which is the mother of harlots1 saith the ,lamb--,i will be merciful unto the ,gentiles in that day1 insomuch that ,i will bring forth unto them1 in mine own power1 much of my gospel1 which shall be plain and precious saith the ,lamb4 ,for1 behold1 saith the ,lamb3 ,i will manifest myself unto thy seed1 #i that they shall write many things which ,i shall minister unto them1 which shall be plain and precious2 and after thy seed shall be destroyed1 and dwindle in unbelief1 and also the seed of thy brethren1 behold1 these things shall be hid up1 to come forth unto the ,gentiles1 by the gift and power of the ,lamb4 ,and in them shall be written my gospel1 saith the ,lamb1 and my rock and my salvation4 99 99 99 ,and it came to pass that ,i beheld the remnant of the seed of my brethren1 and also the book of the ,lamb of ,god1 which had proceeded forth from the mouth of the ,jew1 that it came forth from the ,gentiles unto the remnant of the seed of my brethren4 ,and after it had come forth unto them ,i beheld other books1 which came forth by the power of the ,lamb1 from the ,gentiles unto them1 unto the convincing of the ,gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren1 and also the ,jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth1 that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the ,lamb are true4 ,and the angel spake unto me1 saying3 ,these last records which thou hast seen among the ,gentiles1 shall establish the truth of the first1 which are of the twelve apostles of ,lamb1 and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them2 and shall make known to all kindreds1 tongues1 and people1 that the ,lamb of ,god is the ,son of the ,eternal ,father1 and the ,savior of the world2 and that all men must come unto him1 or they cannot be saved4 ,and they must come according to the words which shall be established by the mouth of the ,lamb2 and the words of the ,lamb shall be made known in the records of thy seed1 as well as in the records of the twelve apostles of the ,lamb2 wherefore they both shall be established in one2 for there is one ,god and one ,shepherd over all the earth4 #aj ,the reference here made to the book of the ,lamb of ,god1 which had proceeded forth from the mouth of a ,jew1 is beyond all question the ,bible2 while the other books1 which came forth by the power of the ,lamb1 from the ,gentiles unto the remnant of ,lehi's descendants1 and which records are to establish the truth of the first records1 or the ,bible1 is in plain allusion to the ,book of ,mormon and other scriptures to be brought forth by the power of ,god in the last days4 ,from all this1 then1 it is very evident that the purposes for which the ,book of ,mormon were written1 counting in this summary both those reasons already enumerated and those stated in the passages last quoted1 are3 ,first1 to show unto the remnant of the house of ,israel what great things the ,lord has done for their fathers4 ,second1 to teach them the covenants of the ,lord made with their fathers1 that the remnants may know that they are not cast off forever4 ,third1 to convince both ,jews and ,gentiles that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,eternal ,god1 and that he manifests himself to all nations4 ,fourth1 to bring the knowledge of a ,savior to the remnants of the house of ,israel on the western hemisphere1 through the testimony of the ,nephites and ,lamanites as well as through the testimony of the ,jews1 that they might more fully believe the gospel4 ,fifth1 to bring to the ,jews the testimony of the ,nephites that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of the living ,god2 that they might have the testimony of the ,nephites as well as that of their fathers that ,jesus is their ,messiah4 ,sixth1 to be a witness for the truth of the ,bible1 to establish its authenticity1 and its credibility by bringing other witnesses than those of the ,eastern world to testify to the same great truths that are contained in the sacred pages of the ,bible4 ,seventh1 to restore to the knowledge of mankind many plain and precious truths concerning the gospel which men have taken out of the ,jewish ,scriptures1 or obscured by their interpretations2 by the absence of which passages1 or misleading interpretations1 many have stumbled and fallen into unbelief4 ,in a word1 it is the mission of the ,book of ,mormon to be a witness for ,jesus1 the ,christ2 for the truth of the gospel as the power of ,god unto salvation2 for that purpose it was written1 preserved from destruction1 and has now come forth to the children of men through the goodness and mercy and power of ,god4 ,footnotes #a4 ,doc4 ,cov4 #c3 #af-bj4 #b4 ,mormon here refers to the ,lamanites1 that is1 that the seed of the ,lamanites1 the present ,indians of the western hemisphere1 might more fully believe the gospel1 etc4 #c4 ,book of ,mormon #e3ab-ae4 #d4 ,the ,bible4 #e4 ,the ,book of ,mormon4 #f4 ,the ,bible4 #g4 ,the record upon the plates of brass is the record containing the ,jewish ,scripture which the colony of ,lehi brought with them from ,jerusalem1 to which reference is here made4 #h4 ,the descendants of ,lehi4 #i4 ,the ,nephites4 #aj4 ,i ,nephi #ac4 ,,part ,,ii4 ,the ,discovery of the ,book of ,mormon and its ,translation4 ,the ,migrations1 ,lands1 ,inter-,continental ,movements1 ,civilizations1 ,governments1 and ,religions of its ,peoples4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,how ,,joseph ,,smith ,,obtained ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,mormon ,the ,book of ,mormon was published in the town of ,palmyra1 ,wayne ,county1 ,state of ,new ,york4 ,it issued from the press of ,mr4 ,egbert ,b4 ,grandin2 and was published for ,joseph ,smith1 the ,prophet4 ,the exact date on which the book issued from the press cannot be ascertained4 ,most likely1 however1 it was some time in the month of ,march or of ,april1 #ahcj2 for in the ,prophet's history we have him saying that1 ,during this month of ,april1 ,i went on a visit to the residence of ,mr4 ,joseph ,knight1 of ,colesville1 ,broome county1 ,new ,york4 ,this ,mr4 ,knight had been acquainted with the ,smith family for some time4 ,he had visited them at their home near ,manchester1 ,new ,york1 on several occasions2 #a and during the period occupied in translating the ,book of ,mormon1 had rendered some material assistance to the ,prophet by supplying him and ,oliver ,cowdery with provisions4 #b ,soon after this visit the ,prophet informs us that he returned to ,fayette1 ,seneca county1--evidently in the same month of ,april--and then adds3 ,the ,book of ,mormon 99 99 99 had now been published for some time1 and as the ancient prophets predicted of it1 'it was accounted a strange thing4' #c ,in the ,evening and ,morning ,star for ,april1 #ahcc1 published at ,independence1 ,missouri--the first periodical published by the ,church--occurs the following3 ,soon after the ,book of ,mormon came forth1 containing the fulness of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,church was organized1 on the #fth of ,april1 #ahcj4 #d ,this fixes approximately the date for the publication of the book4 ,it issued from the press either very early in ,april or in the month of ,march1 #ahcj2 most likely some time in ,march4 ,the first edition was five thousand copies4 ,naturally enough the book was accounted a strange thing4 ,joseph ,smith1 for whom it was published1 was an unlettered young man1 who from the time he was ten years of age until the ,book of ,mormon was published--when he was twenty-four--had lived in the vicinity of ,palmyra and ,manchester townships4 ,his father having met with a series of misfortunes in business ventures and land purchases1 the family was in straitened circumstances through all these years1 and ,joseph had been under the necessity of working among the farmers in and around ,manchester to aid his parents in the support of their large family4 ,about the last thing to be expected of a young man reared under such circumstances would be that he become the publisher of a book4 ,the fact that he had published one was of itself sufficient cause for astonishment2 but it was not the fact that an unlettered youth1 who had spent his life in toil among them1 had published a book that was regarded as so strange a thing by the people4 ,it was the account he gave of the book's origin1 and the nature of the book itself that constituted it such a marvel and a wonder4 ,joseph ,smith disclaimed being its author #e in any other sense than that he was the translator of it by miraculous means4 ,the original ,book of ,mormon1 the translation of which he had published1 was written1 or rather engraven1 upon gold plates1 according to his representations2 which plates had come into his possession in the following manner3 ,early in the spring of #ahbj ,joseph ,smith received a revelation from ,god in which the apostate condition of ,christendom was made known to him1 coupled with a promise that at some future time the gospel of ,jesus ,christ would be restored to the earth2 and that he1 if faithful1 would be an instrument in the hands of ,god in accomplishing some of his great purposes in the last days4 #f ,after this first revelation1 ,joseph ,smith was left for three years without any further direct manifestation from ,god4 ,at the expiration of that time1 however1 being oppressed with a sense of loneliness and longing for further communication with the heavens1 and burdened with an anxious desire to know of his standing before the ,lord1 on the evening of the #bast of ,september1 #ahbc1 after having retired for the night1 he betook himself to prayer that he might receive once more a manifestation from ,god4 ,the rest of the narrative is best told in his own words3 ,while ,i was thus in the act of calling upon ,god1 ,i discovered a light appearing in my room1 which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noon day1 when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside1 standing in the air1 for his feet did not touch the floor4 ,he had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness4 ,it was a whiteness beyond anything earthly ,i had ever seen2 nor do ,i believe that any earthly thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant4 ,his hands were naked and his arms also1 a little above the wrist2 so1 also1 were his feet naked1 as were his legs1 a little above the ankles4 ,his neck and head were also bare4 ,i could discover that he had no other clothing on but this robe1 as it was open1 so that ,i could see into his bosom4 ,not only was his robe exceedingly white1 but his whole person was glorious beyond description1 and his countenance truly like lightning4 ,the room was exceedingly light1 but not so very bright as immediately around his person4 ,when ,i first looked upon him1 ,i was afraid2 but the fear soon left me4 ,he called me by name1 and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of ,god to me1 and that his name was ,moroni2 that ,god had a work for me to do2 and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations1 kindreds1 and tongues1 or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people4 ,he said there was a book deposited1 written upon gold plates1 giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent1 #g and the source from whence they sprang4 ,he also said that the fulness of the everlasting gospel was contained in it1 as delivered by the ,savior to the ancient inhabitants of ,america2 also that there were two stones in silver bows--and these stones1 fastened to a breastplate1 constituted what is called the ,urim and ,thummim--deposited with the plates2 and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted seers in ancient or former times2 and that ,god had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book4 ,after telling me these things1 he commenced quoting the prophecies of the ,old ,testament4 ,he first quoted part of the third chapter of ,malachi1 #h and he quoted also the fourth or last chapter of the same prophecy1 though with a little variation from the way it reads in our ,bible the ,english authorized version of the ,jewish ,scriptures4 ,instead of quoting the first verse as it reads in our books he quoted it thus3 ,for behold1 the day cometh that shall burn as an oven1 and all the proud1 yea1 and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble2 for they that come shall burn them saith the ,lord of hosts2 that it shall leave them neither root nor branch4 ,and again1 he quoted the fifth verse thus3 ,behold1 ,i will reveal unto you the ,priesthood1 by the hand of ,elijah1 the prophet1 before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the ,lord4 ,he also quoted the next verse differently3 ,and he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers1 and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers4 ,if it were not so1 the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming4 ,in addition to these1 he quoted the eleventh chapter of ,isaiah1 saying that it was about to be fulfilled4 ,he quoted also the third chapter of ,acts1 twenty-second and twenty-third verses1 precisely as they stand in our ,new ,testament4 #i ,he said that that prophet was ,christ2 but the day had not yet come when they who would not hear his voice should be cut off from among the people1 but soon would come4 ,he also quoted the second chapter of ,joel1 from the twenty-eighth verse to the last4 ,he also said that this was not yet fulfilled1 but was soon to be4 ,and he further stated1 the fulness of the ,gentiles was soon to come in4 ,he quoted many other passages of scripture1 and offered many explanations which cannot be mentioned here4 ,again1 he told me1 that when ,i got the plates of which he had spoken--for the time that they should be obtained was not yet fulfilled--,i should not show them to any person2 neither the breastplate with the ,urim and ,thummim2 only to those to whom ,i should be commanded to show them2 if ,i did ,i should be destroyed4 ,while he was conversing with me about the plates1 the vision was opened to my mind that ,i could see the place where the plates were deposited1 and that so clearly and distinctly that ,i knew the place again when ,i visited it4 ,after this communication1 ,i saw the light in the room begin to gather immediately around the person of him who had been speaking to me1 and it continued to do so1 until the room was again left dark1 except just around him1 when instantly ,i saw1 as it were1 a conduit open right up into heaven1 and he ascended until he entirely disappeared1 and the room was left as it had been before this heavenly light had made its appearance4 ,i lay musing on the singularity of the scene1 and marveling greatly at what had been told me by this extraordinary messenger2 when1 in the midst of my meditation1 ,i suddenly discovered that my room was again beginning to get lighted1 and in an instant1 as it were1 the same heavenly messenger was again by my bedside4 ,he commenced1 and again related the very same things which he had done at his first visit1 without the least variation2 which having done1 he informed me of great judgments which were coming upon the earth1 with great desolations by famine1 sword1 and pestilence2 and that these grievous judgments would come on the earth in this generation4 ,having related these things1 he again ascended as he had done before4 ,by this time1 so deep were the impressions made on my mind1 that sleep had fled from my eyes1 and ,i lay overwhelmed in astonishment at what ,i had both seen and heard4 ,but what was my surprise when again ,i beheld the same messenger at my bedside1 and heard him rehearse or repeat over again to me the same things as before2 and added a caution to me1 telling me that ,satan would try to tempt me1 7in consequence of the indigent circumstances of my father's family7 to get the plates for the purpose of getting rich4 ,this he forbade me1 saying that ,i must have no other object in view in getting the plates but to glorify ,god1 and must not be influenced by any other motive than that of building his kingdom2 otherwise ,i could not get them4 ,after this third visit1 he again ascended into heaven as before1 and ,i was again left to ponder on the strangeness of what ,i had just experienced2 when almost immediately after the heavenly messenger had ascended from me the third time1 the cock crowed1 and ,i found that day was approaching1 so that our interviews must have occupied the whole of that night4 ,i shortly after arose from my bed1 and1 as usual1 went to the necessary labors of the day2 but in attempting to work as at other times1 ,i found my strength so exhausted as to render me entirely unable4 ,my father1 who was laboring along with me1 discovered something to be wrong with me1 and told me to go home4 ,i started with the intention of going to the house2 but in attempting to cross the fence out of the field where we were1 my strength entirely failed me1 and ,i fell helpless on the ground1 and for a time was quite unconscious of anything4 ,the first thing that ,i can recollect was a voice speaking unto me1 calling me by name3 ,i looked up and beheld the same messenger standing over my head1 surrounded by light as before4 ,he then again related unto me all that he had related to me the previous night1 and commanded me to go to my father and tell him of the vision and commandments which ,i had received4 ,i obeyed2 ,i returned to my father in the field1 and rehearsed the whole matter to him4 ,he replied to me that it was of ,god1 and told me to go and do as commanded by the messenger4 #aj ,i left the field and went to the place where the messenger had told me the plates were deposited2 and owing to the distinctness of the vision which ,i had had concerning it1 ,i knew the place the instant that ,i arrived there4 ,convenient to the village of ,manchester1 ,ontario county1 ,new ,york1 stands a hill of considerable size1 and the most elevated of any in the neighborhood4 ,on the west side of this hill1 not far from the top1 under a stone of considerable size lay the plates1 deposited in a stone box4 ,this stone was thick and rounding in the middle on the upper side1 and thinner towards the edges1 so that the middle part of it was visible above the ground1 but the edge all round was covered with earth4 ,having removed the earth ,i obtained a lever1 which ,i got fixed under the edge of the stone1 and with a little exertion raised it up4 ,i looked in1 and there indeed did ,i behold the plates1 the ,urim and ,thummim1 and the breastplate as stated by the messenger4 ,the box in which they lay was formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement4 ,in the bottom of the box were laid two stones crossways of the box1 and on these stones lay the plates and the other things with them4 ,i made an attempt to take them out1 but was forbidden by the messenger1 and was again informed that the time for bringing them forth had not yet arrived1 neither would it1 until four years from that time2 but he told me that ,i should come to that place precisely in one year from that time1 and that he would there meet with me1 and that ,i should continue to do so until the time should come for obtaining the plates4 #aa ,accordingly1 as ,i had been commanded1 ,i went at the end of each year1 and at each time ,i found the same messenger there1 and received instruction and intelligence from him at each of our interviews1 respecting what the ,lord was going to do1 and how and in what manner his kingdom was to be conducted in the last days4 99 99 99 ,at length the time arrived for obtaining the plates1 the ,urim and ,thummim and the breast-plate4 ,on the #bbnd day of ,september1 #ahbg1 having gone as usual at the end of another year to the place where they were deposited1 the same heavenly messenger delivered them up to me with this charge2 that ,i should be responsible for them2 that if ,i should let them go carelessly1 or through any neglect of mine1 ,i should be cut off2 but that if ,i would use all my endeavors to preserve them1 until he1 the messenger1 should call for them1 they would be protected4 #ab ,i soon found out the reason why ,i had received such strict charges to keep them safe1 and why it was that the messenger had said that when ,i had done what was required at my hands1 he would call for them4 ,for no sooner was it known that ,i had them1 than the most strenuous exertions were used to get them from me2 every stratagem that could be invented1 was resorted to for that purpose4 ,the persecution became more bitter and severe than before1 and multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if possible4 ,but by the wisdom of ,god they remained safe in my hands1 until ,i accomplished by them what was required at my hands2 when1 according to arrangements1 the messenger called for them1 and ,i delivered them up to him2 and he has them in his charge until this day1 being the #bnd of ,may1 #ahch4 #ac ,such in ,joseph ,smith's account of the origin of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,this is the account of its origin accepted by those who believe it to be a divine record1 a volume of scripture1 containing the word of ,god1 and a history--though a brief one--of the hand-dealings of ,god with the people of the western hemisphere4 ,this is the account of its origin to be maintained by those who speak or write in the defense of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,this the account to be maintained as true in these pages4 ,it will readily be observed that the history given by ,joseph ,smith concerning his finding the ,nephite record is very concise2 that details are omitted4 ,this is especially noticeable in regard to the efforts of his enemies to get the plates from him2 he merely makes general reference to that subject2 as also in the matter as to what passed between himself and the angel ,moroni at the annual meetings between #ahbc and #ahbg4 ,of these visits1 so interesting and instructive to ,joseph ,smith1 he only says3 ,i went at the end of each year1 and at each time ,i found the same messenger there1 and received instructions and intelligence from him at each of our interviews1 respecting what the ,lord was going to do1 and how and in what manner his kingdom was to be conducted in the last days4 ,doubtless1 however1 the instructions then received but only so casually mentioned by the prophet1 bore fruit in the progress of the work1 in the things which the prophet said and did4 ,the fact that much more happened than is stated in the narrative here quoted is evident2 and not only is it evident from what the prophet himself says1 but from what has been written by others who were associated with him in the work1 and who must have received their information from the ,prophet ,joseph himself4 ,among these is ,oliver ,cowdery1 who was the second ,elder of the ,church1 and the first to give to the world any account in detail of these early events connected with the coming forth of the great work of ,god4 ,this he did in #ahcd-e1 in a series of nine letters to the ,saints ,messenger and ,advocate1 published at ,kirtland1 ,ohio1 under the caption1 ,early ,scenes and ,incidents in the ,church4 ,and as these letters were published in the lifetime of the prophet1 with his sanction and in a periodical published by the ,church1 it cannot be doubted that the statements contained in them are reliable4 ,in these letters ,oliver ,cowdery gives an account of the young ,prophet's first visit to ,cumorah that is much more circumstantial than the description of that event by the ,prophet1 and which ,oliver ,cowdery could only have learned from ,joseph himself4 ,it will be remembered that in the account already quoted from the personal history of the ,prophet ,joseph that he said the angel ,moroni had warned him that ,satan would tempt him1 on account of his father's indigent circumstances1 to obtain the plates for the purpose of getting rich2 but this he must not do1 nor have any other object in view than that of glorifying ,god2 and he must be influenced by no other consideration than that of building up ,god's kingdom4 ,otherwise1 he could not get possession of the plates4 ,and now ,cowdery's account of the young ,prophet's first visit to ,cumorah4 ,after quoting the instructions of the angel1 directing ,joseph to go to the hill ,cumorah1 ,cowdery says3 ,accordingly he repaired to the place which had thus been described4 ,but it is necessary to give you more fully the express instructions of the angel with regard to the object of this work in which our brother meaning1 of course1 ,joseph ,smith had now engaged4 ,he was to remember that it was the work of the ,lord1 to fulfill certain promises previously made to a branch of the house of ,israel of the tribe of ,joseph1 and when it was brought forth it must be done expressly with an eye1 as ,i have said before1 single to the glory of ,god1 and the welfare and restoration of the house of ,israel4 ,you will understand1 then1 that no motive of a pecuniary or earthly nature1 was to be suffered to take the lead in the heart of the man thus favored4 ,the allurements of vice1 the contaminating influences of wealth1 without the direct guidance of the ,holy ,spirit1 must have no place in his heart nor be suffered to take from it that warm desire for the glory and kingdom of the ,lord1 or1 instead of obtaining1 disappointment and reproof would most assuredly follow4 ,such was the instruction and the caution4 ,alternately1 as we would naturally expect1 the thought of the previous vision was ruminating in his mind1 with a reflection of the brightness and glory of the heavenly messenger2 but again a thought would start across the mind on the prospects of obtaining so desirable a treasure--one in all human probability sufficient to raise him above the level of the common earthly fortunes of his fellow men1 and relieve his family from want1 in which by misfortune and sickness they were placed4 99 99 99 ,here was a struggle indeed2 for when he calmly reflected upon his errand1 he knew that if ,god did not give1 he could not obtain2 and again1 with the thought or hope of obtaining1 his mind would be carried back to its former reflections of poverty1 abuse1 wealth1 grandeur and ease1 until before arriving at the place described1 this wholly occupied his desire2 and when he thought upon the fact of what was previously shown him1 it was only with an assurance that he should obtain1 and accomplish his desire in relieving himself and friends from want4 99 99 99 ,you will have wondered1 perhaps1 that the mind of our brother should be so occupied with the thoughts of the goods of this world1 at the time of arriving at ,cumorah1 on the morning of the #bbnd of ,september1 #ahbc1 after having been wrapt in the visions of heaven1 during the night1 and also seeing and hearing in open day2 but the mind of man is easily turned if it is not held by the power of ,god through the prayer of faith1 and you will remember that ,i have said that two invisible powers were operating upon his mind during his walk from his residence to ,cumorah1 and that the one urging the certainty of wealth and ease in this life1 had so powerfully wrought upon him that the great object so carefully and impressively named by the angel1 had entirely gone from his recollection that only a fixed determination to obtain now urged him forward4 ,in this1 which occasioned a failure to obtain1 at that time1 the record1 do not understand me to attach blame to our brother2 he was young1 and his mind easily turned from correct principles1 unless he could be favored with a certain round of experience4 ,and yet1 while young1 untraditioned and untaught in the systems of the world1 he was in a situation to be led into the great work of ,god1 and be qualified to perform it in due time4 ,after arriving at the repository1 a little exertion in removing the soil from the edges of the top of the box1 and a light pry1 brought to his natural vision its contents4 ,no sooner did he behold this sacred treasure than his hopes were renewed1 and he supposed his success certain and1 without first attempting to take it from its place of long deposit1 he thought1 perhaps1 there might be something more1 equally as valuable1 and to take only the plates might give others an opportunity of obtaining the remainder1 which could he secure1 would still add to his store of wealth4 ,these1 in short1 were his reflections1 without once thinking of the solemn instruction of the heavenly messenger1 and that all must be done with an express view of glorifying ,god4 ,on attempting to take possession of the record a shock was produced upon his system1 by an invisible power1 which deprived him1 in a measure1 of his natural strength4 ,he desisted1 for an instant1 and then made another attempt1 but was more sensibly shocked than before4 ,what was the occasion of this he knew not--there was the pure unsullied record1 as has been described--he had heard of the powers of enchantment1 and a thousand like stories1 which held the hidden treasures of the earth1 and supposed that physical exertion and personal strength was only necessary to enable him to yet obtain the object of his wish4 ,he therefore made the third attempt with an increased exertion1 when his strength failed him more than at either of the former times1 and without premeditating he exclaimed1 ,why can ,i not obtain this book8 ,because you have not kept the commandments of the ,lord1 answered a voice1 within a seeming short distance4 ,he looked and to his astonishment there stood the angel who had previously given him the directions concerning this matter4 ,in an instant1 all the former instructions1 the great intelligence concerning ,israel and the last days were brought to his mind2 he thought of the time when his heart was fervently engaged in prayer to the ,lord1 when his spirit was contrite1 and when this holy messenger from the skies unfolded the wonderful things connected with this record4 ,he had come to be sure1 and found the word of the angel fulfilled concerning the reality of the records1 but he had failed to remember the great end for which they had been kept1 and in consequence could not have power to take them into his possession and bear them away4 ,at that instant he looked to the ,lord in prayer1 and as he prayed1 darkness began to disperse from his mind and his soul was lit up as it was the evening before1 and he was filled with the ,holy ,spirit2 and again did the ,lord manifest his condescension and mercy2 the heavens were opened and the glory of the ,lord shone around about and rested upon him4 ,while thus he stood gazing and admiring1 the angel said1 ,look6 and as he thus spake he beheld the prince of darkness1 surrounded by his innumerable train of associates4 ,all this passed before him1 and the heavenly messenger said1 ,all this is shown1 the good and the evil1 the holy and impure1 the glory of ,god and the power of darkness1 that you may know hereafter the two powers and never be influenced or overcome by that wicked one4 ,behold1 whatever entices and leads to good and to do good1 is of ,god1 and whatever does not is of that wicked one3 it is he that fills the hearts of men with evil1 to walk in darkness and blaspheme ,god2 and you may learn from henceforth1 that his ways are to destruction1 but the way of holiness is peace and rest4 ,you now see why you could not obtain this record2 that the commandment was strict1 and that if ever these sacred things are obtained they must be by prayer and faithfulness in obeying the ,lord4 ,they are not deposited here for the sake of accumulating gain and wealth for the glory of this world3 they were sealed by the prayer of faith1 and because of the knowledge which they contain they are of no worth among the children of men1 only for their knowledge4 ,on them is contained the fulness of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ1 as it was given to his people on this land1 and when it shall be brought forth by the power of ,god it shall be carried to the ,gentiles1 of whom many will receive it1 and after will the seed of ,israel be brought into the fold of their ,redeemer by obeying it also4 ,those who kept the commandments of the ,lord on this land1 through the prayer of faith obtained the promise1 that if their descendants should transgress and fall away1 a record should be kept and in the last days come to their children4 ,these things are sacred1 and must be kept so1 for the promise of the ,lord concerning them must be fulfilled4 ,no man can obtain them if his heart is impure1 because they contain that which is sacred2 and besides1 should they be entrusted in unholy hands the knowledge could not come to the world1 because they cannot be interpreted by the learning of this generation3 consequently they would be considered of no worth1 only as precious metal4 ,therefore1 remember1 that they are to be translated by the gift and power of ,god4 ,by them will the ,lord work a great and a marvelous work3 the wisdom of the wise shall become as naught1 and the understanding of the prudent shall be hid1 and because the power of ,god shall be displayed those who profess to know the truth but walk in deceit1 shall tremble with anger2 but with signs and with wonders1 with gifts and with healings1 with the manifestations of the power of ,god1 and with the ,holy ,ghost1 shall the hearts of the faithful be comforted4 ,you have now beheld the power of ,god manifested and the power of satan3 you see that there is nothing that is desirable in works of darkness2 that they cannot bring happiness3 that those who are overcome therewith are miserable1 while on the other hand the righteous are blessed with a peace in the kingdom of ,god where joy unspeakable surrounds them4 ,there they rest beyond the power of the enemy of truth1 where no evil can disturb them4 ,the glory of ,god crowns them1 and they continually feast upon his goodness and enjoy his smiles4 ,behold1 notwithstanding you have seen this great display of power1 by which you may ever be able to detect the evil one1 yet ,i give unto you another sign1 and when it comes to pass then know that the ,lord is ,god and that he will fulfill his purposes1 and that the knowledge which this record contains will go to every nation1 and kindred1 and tongue1 and people under the whole heaven4 ,this is the sign3 ,when these things begin to be known1 that is1 when it is known that the ,lord has shown you these things1 the workers of iniquity will seek your overthrow2 they will circulate falsehoods to destroy your reputation1 and also will seek to take your life2 but remember this1 if you are faithful1 and shall hereafter continue to keep the commandments of the ,lord1 you shall be preserved to bring these things forth2 for in due time he will again give you a commandment to come and take them4 ,when they are interpreted the ,lord will give the ,holy ,priesthood to some1 and they shall begin to proclaim this gospel and baptize by water1 and after they shall have power to give the ,holy ,ghost by the laying on of their hands4 ,then will persecution rage more and more2 for the iniquities of men shall be revealed1 and those who are not built upon the rock will seek to overthrow this ,church2 but it will increase the more opposed1 and spread farther and farther1 increasing in knowledge till the ,saints shall be sanctified and receive an inheritance where the glory of ,god shall rest upon them2 and when this takes place1 and all things are prepared1 the ,ten ,tribes of ,israel will be revealed in the north country1 whither they have been for a long season2 and when this is fulfilled will be brought to pass that saying of the prophet--,and the ,redeemer shall come to ,zion1 and unto them that turn from transgression in ,jacob1 saith the ,lord4 ,but1 notwithstanding the workers of iniquity shall seek your destruction1 the arm of the ,lord will be extended and you will be borne off conqueror1 if you keep all his commandments4 ,your name shall be known among the nations1 for the work which the ,lord will perform by your hands shall cause the righteous to rejoice and the wicked to rage2 with one it shall be had in honor1 and the other in reproach2 yet1 with these it shall be a terror because of the great and marvelous work which shall follow the coming forth of this fulness of the gospel4 ,now1 go thy way1 remember what the ,lord has done for thee1 and be diligent in keeping his commandments1 and he will deliver thee from temptations1 and all the arts and devices of the wicked one4 ,forget not to pray1 that thy mind may become strong1 that when he shall manifest unto thee1 thou mayest have power to escape the evil1 and obtain these precious things4 #ad ,such the events which took place on the occasion of the ,prophet's first visit to ,cumorah4 ,it is unfortunate that we do not have a more circumstantial account of the subsequent annual interviews from #ahbc to #ahbg2 and likewise a more detailed account of the ,prophet's early movements connected with his obtaining the plates1 and caring for them4 ,the place where the ,nephite record was deposited must ever be of interest to those who believe that record to be true1 and therefore a description of the hill ,cumorah will not be out of place in concluding this chapter4 ,joseph ,smith's brief description of it has already been given4 #ae ,the writer visited the hill ,cumorah on the #bbnd of ,february1 #ahig1 and the same day wrote out the following description of it3 ,the hill ,cumorah is on the road between ,manchester and the town of ,palmyra1 in ,wayne county1 ,new ,york1 about four miles directly south of the latter place4 ,approaching it from the north1 you are confronted by the bold face of the hill1 which rises quite abruptly from the common level of the surrounding country2 and as the east and west slopes of the hill1 as viewed from the north1 are about equal and regular1 it looks from a distance as if it might be a huge conical-shaped mound4 ,ascending its steep north side to the summit dispels the illusion1 for one finds that he has but climbed the abrupt north end of a ridge of hill having its greatest extent from north to south1 and which from its very narrow summit broadens and slopes gently to the southward until it sinks to the level of the common country4 ,the east side of the hill is now ploughed1 but the west side is untouched by the husbandman2 and about two or three hundred yards from the north end there is on the west side a small grove of young trees1 with here and there a decaying stump of a large tree to bear witness that the hill was once covered with a heavy growth of timber4 ,in fact it was so covered by timber when the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith first visited the place in #ahbc1 as indeed much of the surrounding country was at that time4 ,unquestionably ,cumorah is the most distinct land mark in all that section of country1 the highest hill1 and the most commanding in what ,i should describe as an extensive plain sloping northward filled with numerous irregular hills1 but which in the main have their greatest extent1 like ,cumorah1 from north to south2 and which1 also like ,cumorah1 are generally highest at the north end4 ,i observed this to be the case all the way from ,syracuse to ,palmyra4 ,it is worthy of note1 too1 that the lakes of central and western ,new ,york1 also have their greatest extent from north to south4 ,indeed1 for the most part1 they are but long strips of water left in their narrow beds when the great body of water1 which in ages long gone by once covered this whole region1 receded northward and gave the same general form both to the lakes and to the hills on this northern slope of the water shed which runs from east to west through ,new ,york1 north ,pennsylvania1 ,ohio and ,indiana2 and which separates the basin of the great lakes and the valley of the ,st4 ,lawrence from the valley of the ,ohio and ,mississippi4 ,west of ,cumorah the country is more open than on the south or east4 ,the hills common to the country are fewer and the plain more expansive4 ,though the country south and east is broken1 and the numerous hills higher than on the west1 yet such is the commanding height of ,cumorah that the view is unobstructed for many miles4 ,northward some miles the hills are most thickly clustered2 between them and ,cumorah is located the town of ,palmyra1 and beyond that1 at the foot of the thickly clustered hills referred to1 runs what is now called ,canagrie creek1 really one of the tributaries of the ,clyde river1 into which it empties at no great distance4 ,such is the hill ,cumorah and its surroundings2 the hill ,ramah of the ,jaredites2 ,mormon ,hill1 or ,mormon ,bible ,hill1 as it is called by the people about ,palmyra4 ,on the west side of this hill1 not far from the top1 under a stone of considerable size1 lay the plates of the ,book of ,mormon1 deposited in a stone box4 #af ,footnotes #a4 ,history of the ,prophet ,joseph1 by ,lucy ,smith1 chapters #ba1 #bc4 #b4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #dg4 #c4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #hd4 #d4 ,evening and ,morning ,star for ,april1 #ahcc1 p4 #afg4 #e4 ,the fact that on the title page of the first edition1 ,joseph ,smith is called the ,author and ,proprietor1 is considered in ,part ,,iv of this work4 #f4 ,see ,new ,witnesses for ,god1 vol4 ,i1 chapters #aj and #aa1 for a full account of this revelation4 ,see also ,wentworth letter1 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,,iv1 ch4 #ca4 #g4 ,america4 #h4 ,this undoubtedly would be the first part of the third chapter of ,malachi1 as that part of the chapter has undoubtedly a direct bearing on the coming forth of ,god's work in the last days4 ,it reads as follows3 ,behold1 ,i will send my messenger1 and he shall prepare the way before me3 and the ,lord1 whom ye seek1 shall suddenly come to his temple1 even the messenger of the covenant1 whom ye delight in3 behold1 he shall come1 saith the ,lord of hosts4 ,but who may abide the day of his coming8 and who shall stand when he appeareth4 ,for he is like a refiner's fire1 and like fuller's soap3 and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver3 and he shall purify the sons of ,levi1 and purge them as gold and silver1 that they may offer unto the ,lord an offering in righteousness4 ,then shall the offering of ,judah and ,jerusalem be pleasant unto the ,lord1 as in the days of old and as in former years4 #i4 ,for ,moses truly said unto the fathers1 ,a prophet shall the ,lord your ,god raise up unto you of your brethren1 like unto me2 him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you4 ,and it shall come to pass1 that every soul1 which will not hear that prophet1 shall be destroyed from among the people4--,acts #c3 #bb1 #bc4 #aj4 ,relative to the circumstances of the young ,prophet's vision on the #bbnd of ,september1 when he was on his way from the field to his father's house1 before his first visit to ,cumorah1 his mother in her ,history of the ,prophet ,joseph gives the following interesting details which the prophet does not record4 ,it would seem1 according to ,lucy ,smith's statement1 that during the interviews with the angel ,moroni the night before--,september #ba1 #ahbc--the young ,prophet had been instructed to inform his father of what he had seen and heard2 but this ,joseph failed to do4 ,the next day1 says ,lucy ,smith's account1 my husband1 ,alvin1 and ,joseph1 were reaping together in the field1 and as they were reaping ,joseph stopped quite suddenly1 and seemed to be in a deep study4 ,alvin this was an elder brother--died a little more than a year later1 observing it1 hurried him1 saying1 ',we must not slacken our hands1 or we will not be able to complete our task4' ,upon this ,joseph went to work again1 and after laboring a short time1 he stopped just as he had done before4 ,this being quite unusual and strange1 it attracted the attention of his father1 upon which he discovered that ,joseph was very pale4 ,my husband1 supposing that he was sick1 told him to go to the house1 and have his mother doctor him4 ,he accordingly ceased his work1 and started2 but on coming to a beautiful green1 under an apple tree1 he stopped and laid down1 for he was so weak he could proceed no further4 ,he was there but a short time1 when the messenger whom he saw the previous night1 visited him again1 and the first thing he said was1 ',why did you not tell your father that which ,i commanded you to tell him8 ,joseph replied1 ',i was afraid my father would not believe me4' ,the angel rejoined1 ',he will believe every word you say to him4' ,joseph then promised the angel that he would do as he had been commanded4 ,upon this the messenger departed1 and ,joseph returned to the field where he had left my husband and ,alvin2 but when he got there his father had just gone to the house1 as he was somewhat unwell4 ,joseph then desired ,alvin to go straightway and see his father1 and inform him that he had something of great importance to communicate to him1 and that he wanted him to come out into the field where they were at work4 ,alvin did as he was requested1 and when my husband got there1 ,joseph related to him all that had passed between him and the angel the previous night and that morning4 ,having heard this account1 his father charged him not to fail in attending strictly to the instructions which he had received from this heavenly messenger4 7,history of the ,prophet ,joseph1 by his mother1 chap4 #ai47 #aa4 ,lucy ,smith has a very interesting account in her ,history of the ,prophet concerning his report of this interview at ,cumorah with ,moroni1 she says3 ,the ensuing evening1 when the family were all together1 ,joseph made known to them all that he had communicated to his father in the field1 and also of his finding the record1 as well as what passed between him and the angel while he was at the place where the plates were deposited4 ,sitting up late that evening in order to converse upon these things1 together with overexertion of mind1 had much fatigued ,joseph2 and when ,alvin observed it1 he said1 ',now1 brother1 let us go to bed1 and rise early in the morning in order to finish our day's work at an hour before sunset1 then if mother will get our supper early1 we will have a fine long evening1 and we will all sit down for the purpose of listening to you while you tell us the great things which ,god has revealed to you4' ,accordingly1 by sunset the next day 7,sept4 #bcrd71 we were all seated1 and ,joseph commenced telling us the great and glorious things which ,god had manifested unto him2 but before proceeding he charged us not to mention out of the family that which he was about to say unto us1 as the world was so wicked that when they came to a knowledge of these things they would try to take our lives2 and that when he should obtain the plates1 our names would be cast out as evil by all people4 ,hence the necessity of suppressing these things as much as possible1 until the time should come for them to go forth to the world4 ,after giving us this charge1 he proceeded to relate further particulars concerning the work which he was appointed to do1 and we received them joyfully1 never mentioning them except among ourselves1 agreeable to the instructions which we had received from him4 7,history of the ,prophet ,joseph1 by his mother1 chap4 #ai47 #ab4 ,in relation to the matter of the ,prophet ,joseph obtaining the ,nephite record on the morning of the #bbnd of ,september1 #ahbg1 his mother gives a number of interesting details in her ,history of the ,prophet4 ,it appears that both ,joseph ,knight of ,broome county1 ,new ,york1 and also a ,mr4 ,josiah ,stoal were present at the ,smith homestead on the night of ,september the #bast1 #ahbg4 ,and now ,lucy ,smith3 ,on the night of the #bast1 ,i sat up very late as my work rather pressed upon my hands4 ,i did not retire until #ab o'clock at night4 ,about #ab o'clock1 ,joseph came to me1 and asked me if ,i had a chest with a lock and key4 ,i knew in an instant what he wanted it for1 and not having one1 ,i was greatly alarmed1 as ,i thought it might be a matter of considerable moment4 ,but ,joseph discovering my anxiety1 said1 ',never mind1 mother1 ,i can do very well for the present without it--be calm--all is right4' ,shortly after this ,joseph's wife passed through the room with her bonnet and riding dress and in a few minutes they left together taking ,mr4 ,knight's horse and wagon4 ,i spent the night in prayer and supplication to ,god1 for the anxiety of my mind would not permit me to sleep4 ,at the usual hour1 ,i commenced preparing breakfast1 my heart fluttered at every footstep1 as ,i now expected ,joseph and ,emma momentarily1 and feared lest ,joseph might meet with another disappointment4 ,when the male portion of the family were seated at breakfast table1 ,mr4 ,smith inquired for ,joseph1 for he was not aware that he had left home4 ,i requested my husband not to call him1 for ,i would like to have him take breakfast with his wife that morning4 ',no1 no1' said my husband1 ',i must have ,joseph eat with me4' ',well now1 ,mr4 ,smith1' ,i continued1 'do let him eat with his wife this morning2 he almost always takes breakfast with you4' ,his father finally consented and ate without him1 and no further inquiries were made concerning his absence1 but in a few minutes ,mr4 ,knight came in quite disturbed4 ',why1 ,mr4 ,smith1' he exclaimed1 'my horse is gone1 and ,i can't find him on the premises1 and ,i wish to start for home in half an hour4' ',never mind the horse1' said ,i1 ',mr4 ,knight does not know all the nooks and corners in the pastures2 ,i will call ,william1 he will bring the horse immediately4' ,this satisfied him for the time being2 but he soon made another discovery4 ,his wagon also was gone4 ,he then concluded that a rogue had stolen them both4 ',mr4 ,knight1' said ,i1 'do be quiet2 ,i would be ashamed to have you go about waiting upon yourself--just go out and talk to ,mr4 ,smith until ,william comes1 and if you really must go home your horse shall be brought and you shall be waited upon like a gentleman4' ,he accordingly went out and while he was absent ,joseph returned4 ,i trembled so with fear1 lest all might be lost in consequence of some failure in keeping the commandments of ,god1 that ,i was under the necessity of leaving the room in order to conceal my feelings4 ,joseph saw this1 and said1 ',do not be uneasy1 mother1 all is right1 see here1 ,i have got a key4' ,i knew not what he meant but took the article of which he spoke into my hands1 and examined it4 ,he took it again and left me1 but said nothing respecting the record4 99 99 99 ,that of which ,i spoke1 which ,joseph termed a key1 was indeed nothing more nor less than the ,urim and ,thummim4 7,history of the ,prophet ,joseph1 by ,lucy ,smith1 chap4 #bc47 #ac4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #aa-ai2 also ,pearl of ,great ,price 7#aijb edition7 pp4 #hh-if4 #ad4 ,it will be observed by the reader that in the reported interview between ,joseph ,smith and ,moroni1 as given by ,oliver ,cowdery above1 there are a number of very remarkable predictions both concerning ,joseph ,smith and the work he is bringing forth1 all of which are considered in vol4 ,i of this work1 chapter #bj4 #ae4 ,p4 #ef4 #af4 ,joseph ,smith1 see ante4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,the ,,translation ,,of ,,the ,,record4--,,martin ,,harris ,,as ,,amanuensis4 ,following the account of how ,joseph ,smith obtained the ,book of ,mormon it should be known how he translated it1 and what difficulties attended that work4 ,i would remind the reader1 in passing1 that ,i am to deal with a remarkable narrative1 one in which strange things occur1 and one in which many who deny or doubt the power of ,god will be inclined to have little faith4 ,to such ,i would say1 judge nothing hastily1 dismiss nothing petulantly1 patient investigation1 and sometimes suspension of judgment in relation to matters difficult of belief are necessary to the ascertainment of truth1 and in such manner wise men1 anxious to know the truth1 proceed4 ,the ,prophet1 in his narrative1 quoted in the preceding chapter1 tells us that he soon found out the reason why he had received such a strict injunction to carefully guard the ,nephite record and the ,urim and ,thummim2 and why it was that ,moroni has said that after he 7,joseph7 had done what was required at his hands1 he 7,moroni7 would call for them4 ,for no sooner was it known1 says ,joseph1 that ,i had them1 the ,nephite plates than the most strenuous exertions were used to get them from me2 every stratagem that could be invented was resorted to for that purpose2 the persecution became more bitter and severe than before1 and multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if possible4 #a ,rumor1 with her thousand tongues1 he informs us1 was all the time employed circulating tales about his father's family1 and about himself2 and doubtless much of that misrepresentation which followed the prophet and his father's family throughout his life had its origin about this time4 ,so intolerable at last became the persecution about ,manchester that ,joseph decided to move with his wife to the home of her parents in ,harmony1 ,susquehannah county1 ,pennsylvania4 ,susquehannah county is one of the northern counties of ,pennsylvania1 and joins ,broome county1 in the state of ,new ,york2 and ,harmony is a distance of from one hundred to one hundred and fifty miles from ,manchester1 ,new ,york4 ,the young ,prophet was in very straitened circumstances when he resolved upon removing to ,pennsylvania2 but about that time a ,mr4 ,martin ,harris1 a respectable and well-to-do farmer of ,palmyra1 ,new ,york1 called upon the ,smith family and gave ,joseph fifty dollars to enable him to make the proposed journey4 ,a team and wagon was fitted out1 and in company with his wife the ,prophet started for ,pennsylvania4 ,enroute he was twice stopped by officers of the law1 who1 under the power of a search warrant1 ransacked his wagon in search of the plates1 but in each case they were disappointed1 as they did not find them1 though the prophet had them concealed among his effects4 ,arriving in ,pennsylvania in the month of ,december1 the ,prophet began an examination of the characters engraven upon the plates and copied a considerable number of them4 ,some of them he translated by means of the ,urim and ,thummim4 ,in this desultory work he spent the time until the month of ,february1 #ahbh1 when ,martin ,harris1 the gentleman who had befriended him on the eve of his departure from ,manchester1 arrived at his home in ,harmony4 ,this man had become interested in the ,prophet and his work and believed him to be in possession of the plates4 ,some of the characters which ,joseph had copied from the plates1 ,martin ,harris determined to submit to ,professor ,charles ,anthon1 a gentleman of the highest reputation1 both in ,america and ,europe1 and well known for his valuable and correct edition of the classics4 #b ,for this purpose ,harris made the journey from ,harmony1 ,pennsylvania1 to the city of ,new ,york4 ,some of the ,nephite characters given into the custody of ,mr4 ,harris were translated while others were not4 ,following is a facsimile of some of the characters handed to ,professor ,anthon in fulfilment of the words of ,isaiah3 ,the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed1 which men deliver to one that is learned1 saying1 ,read this1 ,i pray thee3 and he saith1 ,i cannot2 for it is sealed3 and the book is delivered to one that is not learned1 saying1 ,read this1 ,i pray thee3 and he saith ,i am not learned4 7,isaiah #bi3aa1 #ab47 ,facsimile of characters shown to ,prof4 ,anton4 #c ,whether or not these are the characters to which a translation was appended by the ,prophet1 cannot now be determined4 ,with the printer's copy of the manuscript of the ,book of ,mormon1 now in the hands of the descendants of ,joseph ,smith1 is also a transcript of characters consisting of seven lines1 the first three of which are very similar to those copied from ,the ,prophet4 ,they were also handed1 it is claimed1 to ,doctor ,mitchell and ,professor ,anthon by ,martin ,harris4 ,whether this seven-line transcript was the translated or untranslated part of the characters handed to these learned men for their inspection may not now be determined2 but ,i present them herewith in order that as many of the ,nephite characters as have been transcribed from the plates may be before the reader3 ,caractors facsimile4 ,the latter transcript is taken from a pamphlet by the late ,elder ,edward ,stevenson1 of the ,first ,council of ,seventy1 entitled ,reminiscences of ,joseph the ,prophet1 and the ,coming ,forth of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,of this transcript ,elder ,stevenson says3 ,i will vouch for the correctness of the characters1 as ,i have compared them with the original copy1 which is still in existence1 intact1 just as it was when ,martin ,harris1 as a messenger1 took it with the translation ,joseph ,smith had made1 to ,professor ,anthon of ,new ,york4 ,the copy here presented was traced from the original copy1 and is an exact reproduction of it4 #d ,of both these transcripts it should be said that doubtless inaccuracies exist in them1 for the reason that the ,prophet who made the fac simile was unskillful in such work1 but for all that the fac simile of the characters will be of interest and may be of very great importance yet as evidence for the truth of the claims of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,on the return of ,martin ,harris to ,harmony1 he made the following statement to ,joseph ,smith as to what took place between himself and ,professor ,anthon3 ,i went to the city of ,new ,york1 and presented the characters which had been translated1 with the translation thereof1 to ,professor ,charles ,anthon1 a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments4 ,professor ,anthon stated that the translation was correct1 more so than any he had before seen translated from the ,egyptian4 #e ,i then showed him those which were not translated1 and he said that they were ,egyptian1 ,chaldaic1 ,assyriac1 and ,arabic1 and he said that they were the true characters4 ,he gave me a certificate1 certifying to the people of ,palmyra that they were true characters1 and that the translation of such of them as had been translated was also correct4 ,i took the certificate and put it into my pocket1 and was just leaving the house1 when ,mr4 ,anthon called me back1 and asked me how the young man found out that there were gold plates in the place where he found them4 ,i answered that an angel of ,god had revealed it unto him4 ,he then said to me1 ',let me see that certificate4' ,i accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him1 when he took it and tore it to pieces1 saying1 that there was no such thing now as ministering angels1 and that if ,i would bring the plates to him1 he would translate them4 ,i informed him that part of the plates were sealed1 and that ,i was forbidden to bring them4 ,he replied1 ',i cannot read a sealed book4' ,i left him and went to ,dr4 ,mitchell1 who sanctioned what ,professor ,anthon had said respecting both the characters and the translation4 #f ,some years after this1 viz41 in #ahcd1 ,professor ,anthon1 in a letter to ,mr4 ,e4 ,d4 ,howe1 of ,painesville1 ,ohio1 made a statement as to what took place on the occasion of ,martin ,harris' visit to him1 and ,i give that statement below4 ,by way of introduction it should be said1 however1 that ,mr4 ,e4 ,d4 ,howe at the time 7#ahcd7 was connected with a ,dr4 ,hurlburt in the production of an anti-,mormon book1 and the report of ,harris' interview with the learned professor having become known1 ,mr4 ,howe wrote to ,professor ,anthon making inquiries about it1 hoping1 perhaps1 that the fact of the interview might be denied4 ,this is the letter he received in reply to his inquiries3 ,new ,york1 ,february #ag1 #ahcd4 ,dear ,sir3 ,i received your letter of the #ith1 and lose no time in making a reply4 ,the whole story about my pronouncing the ,mormon inscription to be reformed ,egyptian hieroglyphics is perfectly false4 ,some years ago1 a plain1 apparently simple-hearted farmer called on me with a note from ,dr4 ,mitchell1 of our city1 now dead1 requesting me to decipher1 if possible1 the paper which the farmer would hand me4 ,upon examining the paper in question1 ,i soon came to the conclusion that it was all a trick--perhaps a hoax4 ,when ,i asked the person who brought it how he obtained the writing1 he gave me the following account3 ,a gold book consisting of a number of plates1 fastened together by wires of the same material1 had been dug up in the northern part of the state of ,new ,york1 and along with it an enormous pair of spectacles4 ,these spectacles were so large that if a person attempted to look through them1 his two eyes would look through one glass only the spectacles in question being altogether too large for the human face4 ,whoever1 he said1 examined the plates through the glasses was enabled not only to read them1 but fully to understand their meaning4 ,all this knowledge1 however1 was confined to a young man1 who had the trunk containing the book and spectacles in his sole possession4 ,this young man was placed behind a curtain in a garret in a farmhouse1 and being thus concealed from view1 he put on the spectacles occasionally1 or rather looked through one of the glasses1 deciphered the characters in the book1 and having committed some of them to paper1 handed copies from behind the curtain to those who stood outside4 ,not a word was said about their being deciphered by the gift of ,god4 ,everything in this way was effected by the large pair of spectacles4 ,the farmer added that he had been requested to contribute a sum of money toward the publication of the golden book1 the contents of which would1 as he was told1 produce an entire change in the world1 and save it from ruin4 ,so urgent had been these solicitations1 that he intended selling his farm and giving the amount to those who wished to publish the plates4 ,as a last precautionary step1 he had resolved to come to ,new ,york1 and obtain the opinion of the learned about the meaning of the paper which he brought with him1 and which had been given him as a part of the contents of the book1 although no translation had at that time been made by the young man with spectacles4 ,on hearing this odd story1 ,i changed my opinion about the paper1 and instead of viewing it any longer as a hoax1 ,i began to regard it as part of a scheme to cheat the farmer of his money1 and ,i communicated my suspicions to him to beware of rogues4 ,he requested an opinion from me in writing1 which1 of course1 ,i declined to give1 and he then took his leave1 taking his paper with him4 ,this paper in question was1 in fact1 a singular scroll4 ,it consisted of all kinds of singular characters disposed in columns1 and had evidently been prepared by some person who had before him at the time a book containing various alphabets1 ,greek and ,hebrew letters1 crosses and flourishes2 ,roman letters inverted or placed sideways were arranged and placed in perpendicular columns1 and the whole ended in a rude delineation of a circle1 divided into various compartments1 arched with various strange marks1 and evidently copied after the ,mexican calendar by ,humboldt1 but copied in such a way as not to betray the source whence it was derived4 ,i am thus particular as to the contents of the paper1 inasmuch as ,i have frequently conversed with friends on the subject since the ,mormon excitement began1 and well remember that the paper contained anything else but ,egyptian hieroglyphics4 ,some time after1 the farmer paid me a second visit4 ,he brought with him the gold book in print1 and offered it to me for sale4 ,i declined purchasing4 ,he then asked permission to leave the book with me for examination4 ,i declined receiving it1 although his manner was strangely urgent4 ,i adverted once more to the roguery which1 in my opinion1 had been practiced upon him1 and asked him what had become of the gold plates4 ,he informed me they were in a trunk with the spectacles4 ,i advised him to go to a magistrate and have the trunk examined4 ,he said the curse of ,god would come upon him if he did4 ,on my pressing him1 however1 to go to a magistrate1 he told me he would open the trunk if ,i would take the curse of ,god upon myself4 ,i replied that ,i would do so with the greatest willingness1 and would incur every risk of that nature1 provided ,i could only extricate him from the grasp of the rogues4 ,he then left me4 ,i have given you a full statement of all that ,i know respecting the origin of ,mormonism and must beg of you as a personal favor1 to publish this letter immediately1 should you find my name mentioned again by these wretched fanatics4 ,yours respectfully1 ,,chas4 ,,anthon4 ,in addition to this acknowledgement of the visit of ,martin ,harris to him with the transcript of the ,nephite characters1 ,professor ,anthon subsequently made another acknowledgement of ,martin ,harris' visit in a letter written to ,rev4 ,t4 ,w4 ,coit1 in answer to a note of inquiry from that gentleman concerning the professor's connection with the ,book of ,mormon4 ,the letter was published in ,the ,church ,record1 vol4 ,i1 no4 #bb2 and is frequently quoted1 in parts1 at least1 in various anti--,mormon works4 ,the ,church ,record was published in ,new ,york1 ,i think2 but not having access to that volume ,i am under the necessity of copying the parts of ,anthon's second letter from anti--,mormon books4 ,none of these anti--,mormon works publish the letter in full1 and doubtless for the reason that in this second letter ,mr4 ,anthon contradicts several statements that he makes in his letter to ,e4 ,d4 ,howe4 ,following is his letter to ,rev4 ,coit3 ,new ,york1 ,april #c1 #ahda4 ,rev4 and ,dear ,sir3 ,i have often heard that the ,mormons claimed me for an auxiliary1 but as no one until the present time has even requested from me a statement in writing1 ,i have not deemed it worth while to say anything publicly on the subject4 ,what ,i do know of the sect relates to some of the early movements2 and as the facts may amuse you1 while they will furnish a satisfactory answer to the charge of my being a ,mormon proselyte1 ,i proceed to lay them before you in detail4 ,many years ago1--the precise date ,i do not now recollect1--a plain-looking countryman called upon me with a letter from ,dr4 ,samuel ,l4 ,mitchell1 requesting me to examine1 and give my opinion upon a certain paper1 marked with various characters1 which the doctor confessed he could not decipher1 and which the bearer of the note was very anxious to have explained4 ,a very brief examination of the paper1 convinced me that it was a mere hoax1 and a very clumsy one too4 ,the characters were arranged in columns1 like the ,chinese mode of writing1 and presented the most singular medley that ,i ever beheld4 ,greek1 ,hebrew and all sorts of letters1 more or less distorted1 either through unskilfulness or from actual design1 were intermingled with sundry delineations of half moons1 stars1 and other natural objects1 and the whole ended in a rude representation of the ,mexican zodiac4 ,the conclusion was irresistible1 that some cunning fellow had prepared the paper in question for the purpose of imposing upon the countryman who brought it1 and ,i told the man so without any hesitation4 ,he then proceeded to give me the history of the whole affair1 which convinced me that he had fallen into the hands of some sharper1 while it left me in great astonishment at his simplicity4 ,on my telling the bearer of the paper that an attempt had been made to impose on him and defraud him of his property1 he requested me to give him my opinion in writing about the paper which he had shown to me4 ,i did so without hesitation1 partly for the man's sake1 and partly to let the individual behind the curtain see that his trick was discovered4 ,the import of what ,i wrote was1 as far as ,i can now recollect1 simply this1 that the marks in the paper appeared to be merely an imitation of various alphabetical characters1 and had1 in my opinion1 no meaning at all connected with them4 ,the countryman then took his leave1 with many thanks1 and with the express declaration that he would in no shape part with his farm1 or embark in the speculation of printing the golden book4 #g ,the matter rested here for a considerable time1 until one day1 when ,i had ceased entirely to think of the countryman and his paper1 he paid me a second visit4 ,he now brought with him a duodecimo volume1 which he said was a translation into ,english of the ,golden ,bible4 ,he also stated1 that notwithstanding his original determination1 he had been induced evidently to sell his farm1 and apply the money to the publication of the book1 and received the golden plates as a security for payment4 ,he begged my acceptance of the volume1 assuring me that it would be found extremely interesting1 and that it was already making great noise in the upper part of the state4 ,suspecting now1 that some serious trick was on foot1 and that my plain-looking visitor might be in fact a very cunning fellow1 ,i declined his present1 and merely contended myself with a slight examination of the volume while he stood by4 ,the more ,i declined receiving it1 however1 the more urgent the man became in offering the book1 until at last ,i told him plainly that if he left the volume1 as he said he intended to do1 ,i should most assuredly throw it after him as he departed4 ,i then asked him how he could be so foolish as to sell his farm and engage in this affair2 and requested him to tell me if the plates were really of gold4 ,in answer to this latter inquiry1 he said1 that he had not seen the plates himself1 which were carefully locked up in a trunk1 but that he had the trunk in his possession4 ,i advised him by all means to open the trunk and examine its contents1 and if the plates proved to be of gold1 which ,i did not believe at all1 to sell them immediately4 ,his reply was1 that if he opened the trunk1 the curse of ,heaven would descend upon him and his children4 ,however1 added he1 ,i will agree to open it1 provided you take the 'curse of ,heaven' upon yourself1 for having advised me to the step4 ,i told him ,i was perfectly willing to do so1 and begged him to hasten home and examine the trunk1 for he would find that he had been cheated4 ,he promised to do as ,i recommended1 and left me1 taking his book with him4 ,i have never seen him since4 ,such is a plain statement of all ,i know respecting the ,mormons4 ,my impression now is1 that the plain-looking countryman was none other than the ,prophet ,smith himself1 who assumed an appearance of great simplicity in order to entrap me1 if possible1 into some recommendation of his book4 ,that the ,prophet aided me1 by his inspiration1 in interpreting the volume1 is only one of the many amusing falsehoods which the ,mormonites utter1 relative to my participation in their doctrines4 ,of these doctrines ,i know nothing whatever1 nor have ,i ever heard a single discourse from any of their preachers1 although ,i have often felt a strong curiosity to become an auditor1 since my friends tell me that they frequently name me in their sermons1 and even go so far as to say that ,i am alluded to in the prophecies of scripture6 ,if what ,i have here written shall prove of any service in opening the eyes of some of their deluded followers to the real designs of those who profess to be the apostles of ,mormonism1 it will afford me satisfaction equalled1 ,i have no doubt1 only by that which yourself will feel on this subject4 ,i remain1 very respectfully and truly1 ,your friend1 ,,chas4 ,,anthon4 ,rev4 ,dr4 ,t4 ,w4 ,coit1 ,new ,rochelle1 ,n4 ,y4 #h ,it will be observed that there is a discrepancy between the letter written by ,professor ,anthon to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,coit and the one he sent to ,e4 ,d4 ,howe4 ,in the latter he states that he refused to give his opinion in writing on the characters submitted to him2 but in his letter to ,rev4 ,coit he says that he gave a written opinion to ,harris without hesitation1 and to the effect that the marks on the paper appeared to be merely an imitation of various alphabetical characters that had no meaning at all connected with them4 ,according to ,martin ,harris' statement he gave him a certificate to the effect that the characters submitted were genuine1 and that the translation accompanying them was correct2 but upon hearing that the existence of the ,nephite plates was made known to ,joseph ,smith by a heavenly messenger1 he requested the return of the paper he had given ,martin ,harris1 and he destroyed it1 saying that the visitation of angels had ceased1 etc41 ,i shall leave it for the anti--,mormon friends of ,mr4 ,anthon to reconcile the contradiction that occurs in his statements1 merely remarking that since the doctor in one letter declares that he refused to give ,martin ,harris a written opinion on the characters2 and in the other that he gave him a written opinion1 increases very much one's faith in ,martin ,harris' statement as against that of ,professor ,anthon's upon this point2 namely1 that the ,professor gave ,harris a written statement1 but afterwards recalled and destroyed it4 ,the reader should observe also that in his letter to ,rev4 ,coit1 written in #ahda1 the ,professor says that no one until that time had ever requested from him a statement in writing on the subject of his connection with the ,book of ,mormon4 ,yet as a matter of fact ,e4 ,d4 ,howe had addressed him a letter on the subject1 asking him for a statement1 in #ahcd1 to which request the professor responded1 telling substantially the same story as in this letter to ,rev4 ,coit1 excepting as to the written opinion furnished to ,harris4 ,the contradictions in ,anthon's letters leave him in a most unenviable situation2 and doubtless accounts for anti-,mormons publishing extracts only from his letters4 ,the statements of ,professor ,anthon and ,martin ,harris are very contradictory1 but the sequence will show that there is much that supports the statement of ,martin ,harris in the main as true2 while the anxiety of the professor to disconnect himself as far as possible from any association with these wretched fanatics1 will account for his version of the incident4 ,the object of ,mr4 ,harris in presenting these transcribed characters to the learned professor was1 undoubtedly1 to learn if they were true characters1 or only the idle invention of ,joseph ,smith4 ,that the answer of ,professor ,anthon and ,dr4 ,mitchell was in favor of their being true characters is evidenced by the fact that ,martin ,harris returned immediately to ,joseph ,smith1 in ,harmony1 made his report1 and thence went to ,palmyra1 in ,new ,york1 to arrange his business affairs that he might hasten back to ,pennsylvania to become the amanuensis of the young ,prophet in the work of translation4 ,this ,martin ,harris would not likely have done if ,professor ,anthon's answer had been what that gentleman represents it to have been in his letters to ,mr4 ,howe and ,rev4 ,coit2 nor would ,martin ,harris have ventured1 subsequently1 to have furnished the money to pay for the publication of the first edition of the book1 had he been assured by the professor that the whole thing was a hoax or a scheme to cheat him out of his money4 ,as stated above1 ,martin ,harris returned to ,palmyra after this interview with ,professor ,anthon1 arranged his affairs1 and joined the ,prophet in ,harmony1 about the #abth of ,april1 #ahbh1 when he commenced writing as ,joseph translated4 ,this work he continued until the #adth of ,june following--two months1 by which time they had translated enough to make one hundred and sixteen pages of manuscript1 of large sheets--usually called fool's cap paper4 ,soon after ,mr4 ,harris commenced to write for the ,prophet he began to importune him for the privilege of showing so much of the translation as they had made to a number of his friends4 ,this request the ,prophet refused to grant4 ,nothing daunted by this refusal1 ,harris asked the ,prophet to inquire of the ,lord through the ,urim and ,thummim if he might not have that privilege4 ,this ,joseph did1 and ,harris' request was denied4 ,he importuned him to ask again1 with the like result1 and yet again did he implore that the ,prophet would ask the ,lord for his permission4 ,after much solicitation1 says the ,prophet1 in his account of this affair1 ,i again inquired of the ,lord1 and permission was granted him to have the writings on certain conditions2 which were1 that he should show them only to his brother1 ,preserved ,harris1 his own wife1 his father and his mother1 and a ,mrs4 ,cobb1 a sister of his wife4 ,in accordance with this last answer1 ,i required of him that he should bind himself in a covenant to me in the most solemn manner that he would not do otherwise than had been directed4 ,he did so4 ,he bound himself as ,i required of him1 took the writings1 and went his way2 #i and the ,prophet took advantage of the absence of ,harris1 who had acted as his scribe1 to visit his parents at ,manchester4 ,the solemn engagement which ,martin ,harris made with the ,prophet he broke4 ,he showed the writings to other persons than those named in his agreement with the ,prophet1 and these stole the precious manuscript from him1 and he was never able to recover it4 ,this circumstance also went hard with ,joseph as to his standing with the ,lord4 ,he had allowed himself to be over-persuaded by the importunities of ,martin ,harris1 and that after he had twice learned that it was not the will of the ,lord that ,harris should have the manuscript4 ,he learned that ,harris had lost the one hundred and sixteen pages of manuscript while he was yet in ,manchester visiting with his parents2 and immediately returned to ,harmony1 where he humbled himself in prayer before ,god that he might obtain forgiveness for his error2 but apparently to no immediate purpose1 for ,moroni appeared to him and demanded the plates and also the ,urim and ,thummim4 ,these were surrendered1 with what anguish of soul one may readily understand4 ,exactly what length of time they were withheld from him cannot be determined1 but evidently not long2 for in ,july of the same year the angel guardian of the record1 ,moroni1 appeared to him again and presented the plates and ,urim and ,thummim to him4 ,the ,prophet1 through the medium of the holy instrument1 obtained the following revelation which bears the date of ,july1 #ahbh3 #aj ,the works1 and the designs1 and the purposes of ,god cannot be frustrated1 neither can they come to naught4 ,for ,god doth not walk in crooked paths1 neither doth he turn to the right hand1 nor to the left1 neither doth he vary from that which he hath said1 therefore his paths are straight1 and his course is one eternal round4 ,remember1 remember1 that it is not the work of ,god that is frustrated1 but the work of men2 for although a man may have many revelations1 and have power to do many mighty works1 yet if he boasts in his own strength1 and sets at naught the counsels of ,god1 and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires1 he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just ,god upon him4 ,behold1 you have been entrusted with these things1 but how strict were your commandments2 and remember also the promises which were made to you1 if you did not transgress them4 ,and behold1 how oft you have transgressed the commandments and the laws of ,god1 and have gone on in the persuasions of men4 ,for1 behold1 you should not have feared man more than ,god4 ,although men set at naught the counsels of ,god1 and despise his words--yet you should have been faithful2 and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary2 and he would have been with you in every time of trouble4 ,behold1 thou art ,joseph1 and thou wast chosen to do the work of the ,lord1 but because of transgression1 if thou art not aware thou wilt fall4 ,but remember1 ,god is merciful2 therefore1 repent of that which thou hast done1 which is contrary to the commandment which ,i gave you1 and thou art still chosen1 and art again called to the work2 except thou do this1 thou shalt be delivered up and become as other men1 and have no more gift4 ,and when thou deliveredst up that which ,god had given thee sight and power to translate1 thou deliveredst up that which was sacred into the hands of a wicked man1 who has set at naught the counsels of ,god1 and has broken the most sacred promises which were made before ,god1 and has depended upon his own judgment and boasted in his own wisdom4 ,and this is the reason that thou hast lost thy privileges for a season--for thou hast suffered the counsel of thy director to be trampled upon from the beginning4 ,nevertheless1 my work shall go forth1 for inasmuch as the knowledge of a ,savior has come unto the world1 through the testimony of the ,jews1 even so shall the knowledge of a ,savior come unto my people--and to the ,nephites1 and the ,jacobites1 and the ,josephites1 and the ,zoramites1 #aa through the testimony of their fathers--and this testimony shall come to the knowledge of the ,lamanites1 and the ,lemuelites1 and the ,ishmaelites1 who dwindled in unbelief because of the iniquity of their fathers1 whom the ,lord has suffered to destroy their brethren1 the ,nephites1 because of their iniquities and their abominations4 ,and for this very purpose are these plates preserved1 which contain these records--that the promises of the ,lord might be fulfilled1 which he made to his people2 and that the ,lamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers1 and that they might know the promises of the ,lord1 and that they may believe the gospel1 and rely upon the merits of ,jesus ,christ1 and be glorified through faith in his name1 and that through their repentance they might be saved4 ,amen4 ,the ,prophet informs us that after receiving this revelation1 the ,urim and ,thummim and also the plates were taken from him1 but in a few days they were returned to him1 whereupon he again inquired of the ,lord and received the following very important revelation3 #ab ,now1 behold1 ,i say unto you1 that because you delivered up those writings1 which you had power given unto you to translate by the means of the ,urim and ,thummim1 into the hands of a wicked man1 you have lost them4 ,and you also lost your gift at the same time1 and your mind became darkened4 ,nevertheless1 it is now restored unto you again2 therefore see that you are faithful and continue on unto the finishing of the remainder of the work of translation as you have begun4 ,do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided to enable you to translate2 but be diligent unto the end4 ,pray always1 that you may come off conqueror2 yea1 that you may conquer ,satan1 and that you may escape the hands of the servants of ,satan that do uphold his work4 ,behold1 they have sought to destroy you2 yea1 even the man in whom you have trusted has sought to destroy you4 ,and for this cause ,i said that he is a wicked man1 for1 he has sought to take away the things wherewith you have been entrusted2 and he has also sought to destroy your gift4 ,and because you have delivered the writings into his hands1 behold1 wicked men have taken them from you4 ,therefore1 you have delivered them up1 yea1 that which was sacred1 unto wickedness4 ,and1 behold1 ,satan hath put into their hearts to alter the words which you have caused to be written1 or which you have translated1 which have gone out of your hands4 ,and behold1 ,i say unto you1 that because they have altered the words1 they read contrary from that which you translated and caused to be written2 and1 on this wise1 the devil has sought to lay a cunning plan1 that he may destroy this work2 for he hath put it into their hearts to do this1 that by lying they may say they have caught you in the words which you have pretended to translate4 ,verily1 ,i say unto you1 that ,i will not suffer that ,satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing4 ,for behold1 he has put it into their hearts to get thee to tempt the ,lord they ,god1 in asking to translate it over again4 ,and then1 behold1 they say and think in their hearts--,we will see if ,god has given him power to translate2 if so1 he will also give him power again2 and if ,god giveth him power again1 or if he translates again1 or1 in other words1 if he bringeth forth the same words1 behold1 we have the same with us1 and we have altered them2 therefore they will not agree1 and we will say that he has lied in his words1 and that he has no gift1 and that he has no power2 therefore we will destroy him1 and also the work2 and we will do this that we may not be ashamed in the end1 and that we may get glory of the world4 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 that ,satan has great hold upon their hearts1 he stirreth them up to iniquity against that which is good2 and their hearts are corrupt1 and full of wickedness and abominations2 and they love darkness rather than light1 because their deeds are evil2 therefore they will not ask of me4 ,satan stirreth them up1 that he may lead their souls to destruction4 ,and thus he has laid a cunning plan1 thinking to destroy the work of ,god2 but ,i will require this at their hands1 and it shall turn to their shame and condemnation in the day of judgment4 ,yea1 he stirreth up their hearts to anger against this work4 ,yea1 he saith unto them3 ,deceive1 and lie in wait to catch1 that ye may destroy2 behold1 this is no harm2 and thus he flattereth them1 and telleth them that it is no sin to lie that they may catch a man in a lie1 that they may destroy him4 ,and thus he flattereth them1 and leadeth them along until he draggeth their souls down to hell2 and thus he causeth them to catch themselves in their own snare4 ,and thus he goeth up and down1 to and fro in the earth1 seeking to destroy the souls of men4 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 woe be unto him that lieth to deceive because he supposeth that another lieth to deceive1 for such are not exempt from the justice of ,god4 ,now1 behold1 they have altered these words1 because ,satan saith unto them3 ,he hath deceived you--and thus he flattereth them away to do iniquity1 to get thee to tempt the ,lord thy ,god4 ,behold1 ,i say unto you1 that you shall not translate again those words which have gone forth out of your hands2 for1 behold1 they shall not accomplish their evil designs in lying against those words4 ,for1 behold1 if you should bring forth the same words they will say that you have lied that you have pretended to translate1 but that you have contradicted yourself4 ,and1 behold1 they will publish this1 and ,satan will harden the hearts of the people to stir them up to anger against you1 that they will not believe my words4 ,thus ,satan thinketh to overpower your testimony in this generation1 that the work may not come forth in this generation4 ,but behold1 here is wisdom1 and because ,i show unto you wisdom1 and give you commandments concerning these things1 what you shall do1 show it not unto the world until you have accomplished the work of translation4 ,marvel not that ,i said unto you3 here is wisdom1 show it not unto the world--for ,i said1 show it not unto the world1 that you may be preserved4 ,behold1 ,i do not say that you shall not show it unto the righteous2 but as you cannot always judge the righteous1 or as you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous1 therefore ,i say unto you1 hold your peace until ,i shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter4 ,and now1 verily ,i say unto you1 that an account of those things that you have written1 which have gone out of your hands1 is engraven upon the plates of ,nephi2 yea1 and you remember it was said in those writings that a more particular account was given of these things upon the plates of ,nephi4 ,and now1 because the account which is engraven upon the plates of ,nephi is more particular concerning the things which1 in my wisdom1 ,i would bring to the knowledge of the people in this account therefore1 you shall translate the engravings which are on the plates of ,nephi1 down even till you come to the reign of ,king ,benjamin1 or until you come to that which you have translated1 which you have retained2 and behold1 you shall publish it as the record of ,nephi2 and thus ,i will confound those who have altered my words4 ,i will not suffer that they shall destroy my work2 yea1 ,i will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil4 ,behold1 they have only got a part1 or an abridgment of the account of ,nephi4 ,behold1 there are many things engraven upon the plates of ,nephi which do throw greater views upon my gospel2 therefore1 it is wisdom in me that you should translate this first part of the engravings of ,nephi1 and send forth in this work4 ,and1 behold1 all the remainder of this work does contain all those parts of my gospel which my holy prophets1 yea1 and also my disciples1 desired in their prayers should come forth unto this people4 ,and ,i said unto them1 that it should be granted unto them according to their faith in their prayers2 yea1 and this was their faith--that my gospel1 which ,i gave unto them that they might preach in their days1 might come unto their brethren the ,lamanites1 and also all that had become ,lamanites because of their dissensions4 ,now1 this is not all--their faith in their prayers was that this gospel should be made known also1 if it were possible that other nations should possess this land2 and thus they did leave a blessing upon this land in their prayers1 that whosoever should believe in this gospel in this land might have eternal life2 yea1 that it might be free unto all of whatsoever nation1 kindred1 tongue1 or people they may be4 ,and now1 behold1 according to their faith in their prayers will ,i bring this part of my gospel to the knowledge of my people ,behold1 ,i do not bring it to destroy that which they have received1 but to build it up4 ,and for this cause have ,i said3 if this generation harden not their hearts1 ,i will establish my church among them4 ,now ,i do not say this to destroy my church1 but ,i say this to build up my church2 therefore1 whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear1 for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven4 ,but it is they who do not fear me1 neither keep my commandments but build up churches unto themselves to get gain1 yea1 and all those that do wickedly and build up the kingdom of the devil--yea1 verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 that it is they that ,i will disturb1 and cause to tremble and shake to the center4 ,behold1 ,i am ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god4 ,i came unto my own and my own received me not4 ,i am the light which shineth in darkness1 and the darkness comprehendeth it not4 ,i am he who said--,other sheep have ,i which are not of this fold1 unto my disciples1 and many there were that understood me not4 ,and ,i will show unto this people that ,i had other sheep1 and that they were a branch of the house of ,jacob2 and ,i will bring to light their marvelous works1 which they did in my name2 yea1 and ,i will also bring to light my gospel which was ministered unto them1 and1 behold1 they shall not deny that which you have received1 but they shall build it up1 and shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine1 yea1 and the only doctrine which is in me2 and this ,i do that ,i may establish my gospel1 that there may not be so much contention2 yea1 ,satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine2 and in these things they do err1 for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them4 ,therefore1 ,i will unfold unto them this great mystery2 for1 behold1 ,i will gather them as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings1 if they will not harden their hearts2 yea1 if they will come1 they may1 and partake of the waters of life freely4 ,behold1 this is my doctrine--whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me1 the same is my church4 ,whosoever declareth more or less than this1 the same is not of me1 but is against me2 therefore he is not of my church4 ,and now1 behold1 whosoever is of my church1 and endureth of my church to the end1 him will ,i establish upon my rock1 and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them4 ,and now1 remember the words of him who is the life and the light of the world1 your ,redeemer1 your ,lord and your ,god4 ,amen4 #ac ,encouraged to be moderate in his exertions at translating by the admonition in the foregoing revelation not to run faster1 or labor more than he had strength and means provided to enable him to proceed1 the ,prophet did not immediately attempt to resume the work of translation1 but worked upon a small farm which he had purchased of his wife's father4 ,as this episode of losing the one hundred and sixteen pages of manuscript1 together with the loss for a season of the gift to translate1 and being required to surrender all the sacred things which had been entrusted to his keeping1 was unquestionably a cause of deep sorrow to the young ,prophet1 so the restoration of the plates and ,urim and ,thummim to him must have been a joy unspeakable4 ,how ,martin ,harris felt--what anguish of heart--what sense of chagrin1 or how deeply he repented his folly is not recorded2 but as he was not a man of keen sensibilities1 it may be that his sufferings were not intense4 ,at any rate we next hear of him in ,march1 #ahbi1 and he is still clamoring for a witness from the ,lord that ,joseph ,smith had the plates1 of which the ,prophet had testified4 ,the ,prophet inquired of the ,lord and obtained a revelation of which the following is the part that has reference to ,martin ,harris' request3 ,behold1 ,i say unto you1 that as my servant ,martin ,harris has desired a witness at my hand1 that you1 my servant ,joseph ,smith1 ,jun41 have got the plates of which you have testified and borne record that you have received of me2 and now1 behold1 this shall you say unto him--he who spake unto you1 said unto you3 ,i1 the ,lord1 am ,god1 and have given these things unto you1 my servant ,joseph ,smith1 ,jun41 and have commanded you that you should stand as a witness of these things2 and ,i have caused you that you should enter into a covenant with me1 that you should not show them except to those persons to whom ,i commanded you2 and you have no power over them except ,i grant it unto you4 99 99 99 ,behold1 verily ,i say unto you1 ,i have reserved those things which ,i have entrusted unto you1 my servant ,joseph1 for a wise purpose in me1 and it shall be made known unto future generations2 but this generation shall have my word through you2 and in addition to your testimony1 the testimony of three of my servants1 whom ,i shall call and ordain1 unto whom ,i will show these things1 and they shall go forth with my words that are given through you4 ,yea1 they shall know of a surety that these things are true1 for from heaven will ,i declare it unto them4 ,i will give them power that they may behold and view these things as they are2 and to none else will ,i grant this power1 to receive this same testimony among this generation1 in this the beginning of the rising up and the coming forth of my church out of the wilderness4 99 99 99 ,and the testimony of three witnesses will ,i send forth of my word4 ,and behold1 whosoever believeth on my words1 them will ,i visit with the manifestation of my ,spirit2 and they shall be born of me1 even of water and of the spirit4 99 99 99 ,and their testimony shall also go forth unto the condemnation of this generation if they harden their hearts against them2 for a desolating scourge shall go forth among the inhabitants of the earth1 and shall continue to be poured out from time to time1 if they repent not1 until the earth is empty1 and the inhabitants thereof are consumed away and utterly destroyed by the brightness of my coming4 ,behold1 ,i tell you these things1 even as ,i also told the people of the destruction of ,jerusalem2 and my word shall be verified at this time as it hath hitherto been verified4 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,and now1 again ,i speak unto you1 my servant ,joseph1 concerning the man that desires the witness--behold1 ,i say unto him1 he exalts himself1 and does not humble himself sufficiently before me2 but if he will bow down before me1 and humble himself in mighty prayer and faith1 in the sincerity of his heart1 then will ,i grant unto him a view of the things which he desires to see4 ,and then he shall say unto the people of this generation3 ,behold1 ,i have seen the things which the ,lord has shown unto ,joseph ,smith1 ,jun41 and ,i know of a surety that they are true1 for ,i have seen them1 for they have been shown unto me by the power of ,god and not of man4 ,and ,i the ,lord command him1 my servant ,martin ,harris1 that he shall say no more unto them concerning these things1 except he shall say3 ,i have seen them1 and they have been shown unto me by the power of ,god2 and these are the words which he shall say4 ,but if he deny this he will break the covenant which he has before covenanted with me1 and behold1 he is condemned4 ,and now1 except he humble himself and acknowledge unto me the things that he has done which are wrong1 #ad and covenant with me that he will keep my commandments1 and exercise faith in me1 behold1 ,i say unto him1 he shall have no such views1 for ,i will grant unto him no views of the things of which ,i have spoken4 ,and if this be the case1 ,i command you1 my servant ,joseph1 that you shall say unto him1 that he shall do no more1 nor trouble me any more concerning this matter4 ,and if this be the case1 behold1 ,i say unto thee ,joseph1 when thou hast translated a few more pages #ae thou shalt stop for a season1 even until ,i command thee again2 then thou mayest translate again4 ,and except thou do this1 behold1 thou shalt have no more gift1 and ,i will take away the things which ,i have entrusted with thee4 ,and now1 because ,i foresee the lying in wait to destroy thee1 yea1 ,i foresee that if my servant ,martin ,harris humbleth not himself and receive a witness from my hand1 that he will fall into transgression2 and there are many that lie in wait to destroy thee from off the face of the earth2 and for this cause1 that thy days may be prolonged1 ,i have given unto thee these commandments4 ,yea1 for this cause ,i have said3 ,stop1 and stand still until ,i command thee1 and ,i will provide means whereby thou mayest accomplish the thing which ,i have commanded thee4 ,and if thou art faithful in keeping my commandments1 thou shalt be lifted up at the last day4 ,amen4 #af ,it will be observed here that the language of this revelation takes on a sternness of tone and an independence in respect to ,martin ,harris and his future connection with the work that is suitable to the conduct of that vacillating man2 and in effect gives him sharply to understand that there must be repentance deep and sincere1 and humiliation before ,god1 or he may go his way and have no further lot nor part in the great work of the ,lord then coming forth4 ,footnotes #a4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #ah4 #b4 ,this upon the authority of ,samuel ,m4 ,smucker1 author of a ,history of the ,mormons1 p4 #cg4--;,hurst ,co41 ,n4 ,y4 #c4 ,this fac simile of ,nephite characters is copied from ,the ,prophet of ,december #ba1 #ahdd 7vol4 ,i1 no4 #ca74 #d4 ,stevenson's ,reminiscences1 p4 #cc4 #e4 ,the writer is of the opinion that there is in this statement too wide a scope given to what ,professor ,anthon said of the translation of the ,egyptian-,nephite characters4 ,of course1 in the transcripts the professor would doubtless recognize some ,egyptian characters of the hieratic ,egyptian1 and in the translation would also find a right interpretation of those characters1 as it will be seen by his letters1 quoted later in the body of the work4 ,he may have acknowledged that the characters submitted to him were true characters1 but beyond this ,i do not think he could give confirmation as to the correctness of the translation2 for1 according to the writers of the ,book of ,mormon1 they had changed somewhat the characters in both languages in which they made records1 both in the ,egyptian1 and also in the ,hebrew 7,see ,mormon #i3cb1 #dc72 and ,moroni adds3 ,the ,lord knoweth the things which we have written1 and also that none other people knoweth our language1 therefore he hath prepared means for the interpretation thereof 7,mormon #i3cd71 referring to the ,urim and ,thummim or ,interpreters1 as the ,nephites call that instrument4 ,it follows from this that neither ,professor ,anthon nor any one else could have confirmed the translation beyond perhaps saying that some one or more of the ,egyptian characters1 which he recognized in the transcript1 had been assigned their true significance4 #f4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #bj #g4 ,to this point the ,letter of ,professor ,anthon is copied from ,early ,days of ,mormonism1 by ,j4 ,h4 ,kennedy1 ,scribners ,sons1 #ahhh1 p4 #bfh4 ,the remainder of the letter is copied from ,gregg's ,prophet of ,palmyra1 pp4 #fj-fb4 #h4 ,prophet of ,palmyra1 7,gregg7 pp4 #fj-fb4 #i4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #ba4 #aj4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 pp4 #ba1 #bb2 also ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 #c4 #aa4 ,the reader will of course understand that reference is here made to the descendants of these ancient ,american peoples4 #ab4 ,the revelation1 here quoted in the ,history of ,joseph ,smith--,millennial ,star1 vol4 #ad 7,supplement7 p4 #h2 and also in some of the earlier editions of the ,doctrine and ,covenants 7sec4 #aj71 bears the date of ,may1 #ahbi4 ,this date1 however1 must be wrong1 because contradictory of the language of the prophet who in speaking of this revelation says that after the plates and ,urim and ,thummim were taken from him1 after he had received the revelation dated ,july1 #ahbh1 7just quoted7--,in a few days they were returned to me1 when ,i inquired of the ,lord1 and the ,lord said thus to me4 ,then follows the revelation1 the date of which is under consideration4 ,if the date of the revelation given ,july1 #ahbh1 in which the ,prophet is reproved for importuning the ,lord to allow ,martin ,harris to have one hundred and sixteen pages of translation from the ,book of ,mormon1 is correct--then it could scarcely be said1 in a few days the ,urim and ,thummim was returned to the ,prophet2 that he inquired and then received the revelation in question if that revelation was received in ,may1 #ahbi4 ,that would make nine or ten months' time between these two revelations instead of a few days4 ,moreover1 the matter of the revelation is more in keeping with the events of a few days after ,july1 #ahbh1 than with ,may1 #ahbi4 ,oliver ,cowdery came to ,joseph ,smith on the #eth of ,april1 #ahbi2 and on the #gth began to assist him in the translation4 ,this was before ,may1 #ahbi1 the alleged date of the revelation in question1 and it is scarcely likely that the work of translation was resumed after the loss of the manuscript by ,harris1 before the revelation given informing the prophet of the intention of those who had stolen it4 ,my conclusion is that the revelation erroneously dated ,may1 #ahbi1 was given a few days after the one bearing date of ,july1 #ahbh4 #ac4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 #aj4 #ad4 ,doubtless an allusion to his breaking the covenant with ,joseph respecting the manuscript which was lost4 #ae4 ,most likely ,emma ,smith1 the ,prophet's wife1 wrote for him during these days when he was evidently translating occasionally4 #af4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #bh2 also ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 #e4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,translation ,,of ,,the ,,record--7,,continued7 ,,oliver ,,cowdery1 ,,amanuensis4 ,on the #eth day of ,april1 #a as if in fulfilment of the promise made to ,joseph ,smith in the revelation concerning ,martin ,harris1 just quoted1 namely1 that the ,lord would provide means whereby the prophet might accomplish the thing which the ,lord had commanded him to do--,oliver ,cowdery came to the young ,prophet's house1 at ,harmony1 ,pennsylvania4 ,this was the first meeting of these two men4 ,oliver ,cowdery1 a native of ,vermont1 and now twenty-four years of age1 had moved into the state of ,new ,york about four years previous to this1 and for a time had been employed as a clerk in a store4 ,in the winter of #ahbh-i he left the store and taught the district school in the town of ,manchester1 which was only some nine miles from his father's home4 ,at ,manchester he became acquainted with the ,smith family1 ,joseph ,smith1 ,sen41 being a patron of the school he taught4 ,according to the ,american custom of those days1 the school teacher boarded round in turn with the families of the neighborhood4 ,this brought ,oliver ,cowdery into immediate contact with the ,smith family1 and while he was boarding at their home the parents of the ,prophet related to him the circumstances of their son obtaining the ,nephite record4 ,young ,cowdery became intensely interested in the story related to him4 ,meantime he met ,david ,whitmer in ,palmyra1 a young man about his own age1 who lived with his father's family some twenty-five miles from ,palmyra1 near the town of ,waterloo1 in the township called ,fayette1 ,seneca county1 at the north end of ,seneca ,lake4 ,in his conversation with young ,whitmer1 ,oliver told him of his acquaintance with the ,smith family and expressed himself to the effect that there must be something in the story of finding the plates1 and he announced his intention to investigate the matter4 #b ,later1 when ,oliver started for ,harmony1 where the ,prophet was living1 he passed the ,whitmer home at ,fayette1 and promised ,david that he would report his findings to him concerning ,joseph having the plates4 ,oliver became convinced that ,joseph's story was true1 and being informed by the ,prophet that it was the will of ,god that he should remain and act as his scribe in the work of translation1 he did so1 and on the #gth of ,april1 #ahbi1 commenced to write as the prophet indited the translation obtained by means of the ,urim and ,thummim4 ,oliver1 in a few days1 became anxious to learn more largely the will of the ,lord concerning himself and his connection with the work then coming forth1 and the ,prophet1 through the ,urim and ,thummim obtained a revelation for him in which occur the passages3 ,a great and marvelous work is about to come forth unto the children of men4 ,behold1 ,i am ,god2 give heed unto my word1 which is quick and powerful4 99 99 99 ,behold1 the field is white already to harvest2 therefore1 whoso desireth to reap1 let him thrust in his sickle with his might1 and reap while the day lasts1 that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of ,god4 99 99 99 ,now as you have asked1 behold1 ,i say unto you1 keep my commandments1 and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of ,zion2 seek not for riches but for wisdom1 and behold1 the mysteries of ,god shall be unfolded unto you1 and then shall you be made rich4 ,behold1 he that hath eternal life is rich4 99 99 99 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto thee1 blessed art thou for what thou hast done2 for thou hast inquired of me1 and behold1 as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my ,spirit4 ,if it had not been so1 thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time4 ,behold1 thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and ,i did enlighten thy mind2 and now ,i tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the ,spirit of truth2 yea1 ,i tell thee1 that thou mayest know that there is none else save ,god that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart4 ,i tell thee these things as a witness unto thee--that the words of the work which thou hast been writing are true4 ,therefore be diligent2 stand by my servant ,joseph1 faithfully1 in whatsoever difficult circumstances he may be for the word's sake4 ,admonish him in his faults1 and also receive admonition of him4 ,be patient2 be sober2 be temperate2 have patience1 faith1 hope and charity4 ,behold1 thou art ,oliver1 and ,i have spoken unto thee because of thy desires2 therefore treasure up these words in thy heart4 ,be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of ,god1 and ,i will encircle thee in the arms of my love4 99 99 99 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 if you desire a further witness1 cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart1 that you might know concerning the truth of these things4 ,did ,i not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter8 99 99 99 ,and now1 behold1 you have received a witness2 for if ,i have told you things which no man knoweth have ye not received a witness8 #c ,these revelations1 it should be observed1 contain sharp reproofs for the transgressor4 ,they do not flatter ,joseph ,smith any more than they do ,martin ,harris1 though ,joseph is the one through whom they were given4 ,each is reproved and evidently without respect of person4 ,they represent the ,lord as holding out no promise either to the ,prophet or his associates of immunity from difficulty1 from trial4 ,they are redolent rather of warning4 ,the ,prophet is plainly told of the many that were lying in wait to destroy him4 ,deep humility and repentance is required when a wrong is committed2 and if that is not forthcoming then behold the self-willed1 the proud1 are told to go their way1 and trouble the ,lord no further concerning their future connection with this work4 ,look1 in passing1 at this revelation to ,oliver ,cowdery4 ,there is no flattering promise of a worldly character in it4 ,a great and a marvelous work is about to come forth2 thrust in your sickle and reap2 keep my commandments1 is almost sternly said2 seek to bring forth and establish the cause of ,zion2 seek not for riches1 but for wisdom2 be diligent2 stand by my servant ,joseph in whatsoever difficult circumstances he may be for the word's sake4 ,then there are to be difficult circumstances8 ,admonish him in his faults4 ,what1 the ,prophet6 ,yes1 the ,prophet--he is not to be above admonition4 ,what humility in the ,prophet is here6 ,this smacks of the ,spirit of ,christ4 ,receive admonition of him4 ,be patient4 ,be sober4 ,be temperate4 ,have patience1 faith1 hope and charity4 ,this is admirable4 ,false prophets have no such basic principles as these4 ,they build not with such stones4 ,and ,oliver's reward8 ,not riches of this world4 ,not greatness in the eyes of men4 ,not the honors and applause of the world4 ,if thou wilt do good1 yea and hold out faithful to the end1 thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of ,god4 ,that is to be his reward4 ,there is nothing worldly in all this4 ,this spirit is worthy the great work these young men are1 under ,god1 bringing forth4 ,this is the kind of atmosphere one would expect to find surrounding men engaged in such a work4 ,but it is time to return to the narrative4 ,when ,oliver found that the secret meditations of his heart were thus revealed through ,joseph ,smith2 when his secret prayers were revealed and the answer of ,god's ,spirit to those prayers made known1 he could no longer doubt that his new-found friend was a prophet of ,god4 ,it must have been with renewed zeal that he took up again his work as a scribe4 ,it was of these days that he afterwards wrote3 ,these were days never to be forgotten--to sit under the sound of a voice dictated by the inspiration of heaven1 awakened the utmost gratitude of this bosom4 ,day after day ,i continued uninterrupted to write from his mouth1 as he translated with the ,urim and ,thummim1 or1 as the ,nephites would have said1 ,interpreters1 the history or record called the ,book of ,mormon4 #d ,soon after this1 namely1 on the #aeth day of ,may1 #ahbi1 ,oliver ,cowdery himself became a witness to the ministration of an angel1 for it was upon that date that ,john the ,baptist appeared to him and ,joseph ,smith while they were engaged in prayer in the woods1 near ,harmony4 ,john ordained them to the ,aaronic priesthood and instructed them upon the subject of baptism1 a full account of which is given in ,new ,witnesses for ,god1 vol4 ,i4 #e ,subsequently he1 with ,joseph1 received another visitation of angels some time in the month of ,june following1 when ,peter1 ,james and ,john conferred upon them the ,melchizedek priesthood on the banks of the ,susquehanna river1 a full account of which is also given in vol4 ,i1 of ,new ,witnesses for ,god4 #f ,meantime ,oliver was writing his friend1 ,david ,whitmer1 his findings as to the truth of the ,prophet ,joseph having the plates4 ,he wrote soon after his arrival in ,harmony that he was convinced that ,joseph ,smith had the records4 #g ,shortly after this1 doubtless immediately after ,joseph received the revelation in which the secret meditations and prayers of ,oliver respecting the work before he saw the ,prophet were made known1 ,oliver wrote a second letter to ,david1 in which he enclosed a few lines of what had been translated1 and assured him that he knew of a surety that ,joseph ,smith had a record of a people that inhabited the ,american continents in the ancient times3 and that the plates they were translating gave a history of these people2 he moreover assured ,david that he had revealed knowledge concerning the truth of what he affirmed4 ,these letters young ,whitmer showed to his parents1 and to his brothers and sisters4 ,mr4 ,joseph ,knight1 ,sen41 of ,colesville1 ,broome county1 ,new ,york1 several times brought the young men provisions--food--which enabled them to continue the work of translation without interruption4 ,but for this timely assistance the work of translation must have been relinquished from time to time in order to secure supplies4 ,mr4 ,knight knew the ,smith family and had called upon them a number of times at their home in ,manchester4 ,he evidently had considerable faith in the claims of ,joseph concerning the ,book of ,mormon2 for on the occasion of his visit to him in ,may1 #ahbi1 he desired to know what his duty was with reference to the work that the ,lord was about to bring forth4 ,the prophet inquired of the ,lord and1 as in the case of ,oliver ,cowdery1 after declaring that a great and marvelous work was about to come forth1 the revelation said3 ,keep my commandments1 and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of ,zion4 ,behold1 ,i speak unto you1 and also to all those who have desires to bring forth and establish this work2 and no one can assist in this work1 except he shall be humble and full of love1 having faith1 hope and charity1 being temperate in all things whatsoever shall be entrusted in his care4 #h ,for a time the ,prophet had been permitted to pursue the work of translation at ,harmony without interference4 ,but now there began to be mutterings of an approaching storm of persecution4 ,threats were frequent1 and the young men were only preserved from actual violence by the blessing of the ,lord and the influence of ,mr4 ,isaac ,hale1 father of the ,prophet's wife2 who1 though he had no faith in the ,prophet's work1 and in the past had manifested some hostility towards him1 still believed in law and order2 was opposed to mob violence2 and was willing that ,joseph and his associates should be permitted to complete their work without interference4 #i ,on account of the manifestation of this unfriendly spirit in the community1 however1 ,joseph and ,oliver kept secret for a time the circumstance of their ordination to the priesthood and their baptism4 ,they could not1 however1 long continue silent on such a subject1 and in a few days1 under a sense of duty1 they commenced to reason out of the scriptures with their friends and acquaintances concerning the work of ,god4 ,but ,joseph was evidently uneasy concerning their safety at ,harmony1 and under his direction ,oliver wrote to ,david ,whitmer at ,fayette1 asking him to come down to ,harmony and take them to the elder ,whitmer's home1 giving as a reason for their rather strange request that they had received a commandment from ,god to that effect4 #aj ,this request found ,david ,whitmer in the midst of his spring work4 ,he had some twenty acres of land to plow and concluded to do that and then go4 ,i got up one morning to go to work as usual1 he says1 and on going to the field1 found that between five and seven acres of my land had been plowed under during the night4 ,i don't know who did it2 but it was done just as ,i would have done it myself1 and the plow was left standing in the furrow4 ,this enabled me to start sooner4 #aa ,nor was this the only assistance of like character given to him4 ,while harrowing in a field of wheat before starting on his journey he found to his surprise that he had accomplished more in a few hours than was usual to do in two or three days4 ,the day following this circumstance he went out to spread plaster over a field1 according to the custom of the farmers in that locality1 when1 to his surprise1 he found the work had been done1 and well done4 ,david ,whitmer's sister1 who lived near the field1 told him that three strangers had appeared in the field the day before and spread the plaster with remarkable skill4 ,she at the time presumed that they were men whom ,david had hired to do the work4 #ab ,this assistance1 provided through some divine agency--it can be accounted for in no other way1 enabled ,david ,whitmer to respond sooner than he otherwise could have done to the call to go and bring the ,prophet and his associate from ,harmony1 where mob violence was impending1 to the home of his father1 ,peter ,whitmer1 where the work of translation could be finished in peace and security4 ,when ,david ,whitmer was approaching the little village of ,harmony with his two-horse team and wagon1 he was met some distance from it by the ,prophet and ,oliver4 ,oliver told me1 says ,david ,whitmer1 in relating the circumstance1 that ,joseph had informed him when ,i started from home1 where ,i had stopped the first night1 how ,i read the sign at the tavern2 where ,i stopped the next night1 etc42 and that ,i would be there that day before dinner1 and this was why they had come out to meet me2 all of which was exactly as ,joseph had told ,oliver1 at which ,i was greatly astonished4 #ac ,the day following ,david ,whitmer's arrival at ,harmony the plates were packed up and delivered into the care of the ,angel ,moroni1 that they might be safely conveyed to ,fayette4 ,when ,i was returning to ,fayette1 says ,david ,whitmer1 with ,joseph and ,oliver1 all of us riding in the wagon1 ,oliver and ,i on an old fashioned1 wooden spring-seat1 and ,joseph behind us1 when traveling along in a clear1 open place1 a very pleasant1 nice looking old man suddenly appeared by the side of our wagon and saluted us with1 ',good morning2 it is very warm2' at the same time wiping his face or forehead with his hand4 ,we returned the salutation1 and by a sign from ,joseph1 ,i invited him to ride if he was going our way4 ,but he said very pleasantly1 ',no1 ,i am going to ,cumorah4' ,this name was somewhat new to me1 and ,i did not know what ',cumorah' meant4 ,we all gazed at him and at each other1 and as ,i looked round inquiringly of ,joseph1 the old man instantly disappeared1 so that ,i did not see him again4 ,replying to the question1 ,did you notice his appearance8 ,david ,whitmer replied3 ,i should think ,i did4 ,he was1 ,i should think1 about five feet eight or nine inches tall and heavy set1 about such a man as ,james ,cleve there 7a gentleman present at the ,whitmer1 ,pratt and ,smith interview71 but heavier4 ,his face was as large2 he was dressed in a suit of brown woolen clothes1 his hair and beard were white1 like ,brother ,pratt's1 but his beard was not so heavy4 ,i also remember that he had on his back a sort of knapsack with something in it shaped like a book4 ,it was the messenger who had the plates1 who had taken them from ,joseph just prior to our starting from ,harmony4 #ad ,soon after the arrival at the ,whitmer residence1 in the garden near by1 ,moroni once more delivered the sacred record to ,joseph1 and the work of translation was renewed with even greater vigor than at ,harmony2 for when ,oliver would tire of writing1 one of the ,whitmers or ,emma ,smith would relieve him4 ,david ,whitmer says that soon after the installment of ,joseph1 his wife1 and ,oliver ,cowdery in the ,whitmer household1 he saw something which led him to believe that the plates were concealed in his father's barn1 and frankly asked the prophet if it were so4 ,joseph replied that it was4 ,some time after this1 ,david adds1 my mother was going to milk the cows1 when she was met out near the yard by the same old man meaning the one who had saluted his party on the way from ,harmony2 at least1 ,david judged him to be the same1 doubtless from his mother's description of him1 who said to her3 ',you have been very faithful and diligent in your labors1 but you are tired because of the increase of your toil2 it is proper1 therefore1 that you should receive a witness1 that your faith may be strengthened4' ,thereupon he showed her the plates4 ,my father and mother had a large family of their own1 the addition to it1 therefore1 of ,joseph1 his wife ,emma1 and ,oliver1 very greatly increased the toil and anxiety of my mother4 ,and although she had never complained she had sometimes felt that her labor was too much1 or1 at least1 she was perhaps beginning to feel so4 ,this circumstance1 however1 completely removed all such feelings1 and nerved her up for her increased responsibilities4 #ae ,footnotes #a4 ,this date in the prophet's history1 published in the ,millennial ,star 7,supplement71 vol4 #ad1 p4 #ab1 is set down as the #aeth of ,april1 and the day ,oliver began writing as ,joseph translated is said to be the #agth of ,april4 ,the #aeth and #agth1 however1 are typographical errors4 ,in the original manuscript of the ,history of the ,church1 in the ,historian's ,office1 the dates are written the #eth and #gth2 see also ,times and ,seasons1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #bja1 where ,oliver ,cowdery gives the dates #eth and #gth of ,april1 #ahbi4 #b4 ,statement of ,david ,whitmer1 in ,kansas ,city ,journal1 ,june #e1 #ahha4 #c4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 #f4 ,the reader may think ,i am quoting over copiously from these revelations given while the translation of the ,book of ,mormon was in progress2 and he may think that these incidents have little or nothing to do with the story of the translation1 and the story of the translation itself but little to do with the object of this work4 ,i would suggest1 however1 that this history of the translation is necessary to future arguments to be made when ,i come to the considerations of the objections to the ,book of ,mormon1 in part ,,iv1 where ,i shall examine other theories for the origin of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,besides1 ,i want the reader to know the atmosphere in which this work of translation was done2 and for that purpose call especial attention to the spirit of the several revelations that have been quoted4 #d4 ,times and ,seasons1 vol4 ,,ii1 p4 #bja4 #e4 ,chapter #ad4 #f4 ,chapter #ad4 #g4 ,whitmer's statement1 ,kansas ,city ,journal1 ,june #e1 #ahha4 #h4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #dg4 #i4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #dd4 #aj4 ,whitmer's statement1 ,kansas ,city ,journal1 ,june #e1 #ahha4 ,also report of visit to ,david ,whitmer1 by ,orson ,pratt and ,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #dj1 pp4 #gfi-ggd4 #aa4 ,statement of ,david ,whitmer1 ,pratt and ,smith ,report1 ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #dj1 pp4 #gfi-ggd4 ,let it be observed that this reported conversation was published during the life time of ,david ,whitmer4 ,it took place on the #gth of ,sept41 #ahgh2 and ,whitmer did not die until #beth ,jan41 #ahhh4 #ab4 ,cannon's ,life of ,joseph ,smith1 pp4 #fg1 #fh4 #ac4 ,statement of ,david ,whitmer1 ,pratt and ,smith ,report1 ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #dj1 pp4 #gfi-ggd4 ,another instance that in like manner illustrates the seership of the prophet ,joseph is related in the church history1 and which occurred while making a journey from ,independence1 ,missouri1 to ,ohio1 in company with ,bishop ,newel ,k4 ,whitney4 ,near ,new ,albany their horses took fright and while they were running at full speed ,bishop ,whitney attempted to jump out of the conveyance1 but caught his foot in the wheel and had his leg and foot broken in several places4 ,this occasioned delay of several weeks among a not very friendly people2 for besides their manifest coldness an attempt was made to poison the ,prophet4 ,and now the ,prophet's statement3 ,brother ,whitney had not had his foot moved from the bed for nearly four weeks1 when ,i went into his room1 after a walk in the grove1 and told him if he would agree to start for home in the morning1 we would take a wagon to the river1 about four miles1 and there would be a ferry boat in waiting which would take us quickly across1 where we would find a hack which would take us directly to the landing1 where we should find a boat1 in waiting1 and we would be going up the river before #aj o'clock1 and have a prosperous journey home4 ,he took courage and told me he would go4 ,we started next morning1 and found everything as ,i had told him1 for we were passing rapidly up the river before #aj o'clock1 and landing at ,wellsville1 took stage coach to ,chardon1 from thence in a wagon to ,kirtland1 where we arrived some time in ,june4 7,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #bgb47 #ad4 ,whitmer's statement1 ,pratt and ,smith ,report1 ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #dj1 pp4 #gfi-ggd4 #ae4 ,pratt and ,smith ,report1 ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #dj1 p4 #ggb4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,the ,,manner ,,of ,,translating ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,mormon4 ,relative to the manner of translating the ,book of ,mormon the ,prophet himself has said but little4 ,through the medium of the ,urim and ,thummim ,i translated the record by the gift and power of ,god1 #a is the most extended published statement made by him upon the subject4 ,of the ,urim and ,thummim he says3 ,with the record was found a curious instrument which the ancients called a ,urim and ,thummim1 which consisted of two transparent stones set in a rim of a bow fastened to a breastplate4 #b ,oliver ,cowdery1 one of the ,three ,witnesses of the ,book of ,mormon1 and the ,prophet's chief amanuensis1 says of the work of translation in which he assisted3 ,i wrote with my own pen the entire ,book of ,mormon 7save a few pages71 as it fell from the lips of the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 as he translated by the gift and power of ,god1 by the means of the ,urim and ,thummim1 or1 as it is called by that book1 ',holy ,interpreters4' #c ,this is all he has left on record on the manner of translating the book4 #d ,david ,whitmer1 another of the ,three ,witnesses1 is more specific on this subject4 ,after describing the means the ,prophet employed to exclude the light from the ,seer ,stone1 he says3 ,in the darkness the spiritual light would shine4 ,a piece of something resembling parchment would appear1 and under it was the interpretation in ,english4 ,brother ,joseph would read off the ,english to ,oliver ,cowdery1 who was his principal scribe1 and when it was written down and repeated to ,brother ,joseph to see if it was correct1 then it would disappear1 and another character with the interpretation would appear4 ,thus the ,book of ,mormon was translated by the gift and power of ,god1 and not by any power of man4 #e ,there will appear between this statement of ,david ,whitmer's and what is said both by ,joseph ,smith and ,oliver ,cowdery a seeming contradiction4 ,joseph and ,oliver both say the translation was done by means of the ,urim and ,thummim1 which is described by ,joseph as being two transparent stones set in a rim of a bow fastened to a breastplate2 while ,david ,whitmer says that the translation was made by means of a ,seer ,stone4 ,the apparent contradiction is cleared up1 however1 by a statement made by ,martin ,harris1 another of the ,three ,witnesses4 ,he said that the ,prophet possessed a ,seer ,stone1 by which he was enabled to translate as well as from the ,urim and ,thummim1 and for convenience he then 7i4 e41 at the time ,harris was acting as his scribe7 used the ,seer ,stone4 99 99 99 ,martin said further that the ,seer ,stone differed in appearance entirely from the ,urim and ,thummim that was obtained with the plates1 which were two clear stones set in two rims1 very much resembling spectacles1 only they were larger4 #f ,the ,seer ,stone referred to here was a chocolate-colored1 somewhat egg-shaped stone which the ,prophet found while digging a well in company with his brother ,hyrum4 #g ,it possessed the qualities of ,urim and ,thummim1 since by means of it--as described above--as well as by means of the ,interpreters found with the ,nephite record1 ,joseph was able to translate the characters engraven on the plates4 #h ,another account of the manner of translating the record purporting to have been given by ,david ,whitmer1 and published in the ,kansas ,city ,journal of ,june #e1 #ahha1 says3 ,he meaning ,joseph ,smith had two small stones of a chocolate color1 nearly egg-shape1 and perfectly smooth1 but not transparent1 called interpreters1 which were given him with the plates4 ,he did not see the plates in translation1 but would hold the interpreters to his eyes and cover his face with a hat1 excluding all light1 and before his eyes would appear what seemed to be parchment on which would appear the characters of the plates in a line at the top1 and immediately below would appear the translation in ,english1 which ,smith would read to his scribe1 who wrote it down exactly as it fell from his lips4 ,the scribe would then read the sentence written1 and if any mistakes had been made1 the characters would remain visible to ,smith until corrected1 when they would fade from sight to be replaced by another line4 ,it is evident that there are inaccuracies in the above statement1 due1 doubtless1 to the carelessness of the reporter of the ,journal1 who has confused what ,mr4 ,whitmer said of the ,seer ,stone and ,urim and ,thummim4 ,if he meant to describe the ,urim and ,thummim or ,interpreters given to ,joseph ,smith with the plates--as seems to be the case--then the reporter is wrong in saying that they were chocolate color and not transparent2 for the ,interpreters1 given to the ,prophet with the plates1 as we have seen by his own description1 were two transparent stones4 ,if the reporter meant to describe the ,seer ,stone--which is not likely--he would be right in saying it was of a chocolate color1 and egg-shaped1 but wrong in saying there were two of them4 ,martin ,harris' description of the manner of translating while he was the amanuensis of the ,prophet is as follows3 ,by aid of the ,seer ,stone1 sentences would appear and were read by the ,prophet and written by ,martin1 and when finished he would say written1 and if correctly written1 that sentence would disappear and another appear in its place1 but if not written correctly it remained until corrected1 so that the translation was just as it was engraven on the plates1 precisely in the language then used4 #i ,on one occasion ,harris sought to test the genuineness of the ,prophet's procedure in the matter of translation1 as follows3 ,martin said that after continued translation they would become weary and would go down to the river and exercise in throwing stones out on the river1 etc4 ,while so doing on one occasion1 ,martin found a stone very much resembling the one used for translating1 and on resuming their labors of translation ,martin put in place of the ,seer ,stone the stone that he had found4 ,he said that the ,prophet remained silent unusually long and intently gazing in darkness1 no trace of the usual sentence appearing4 ,much surprised ,joseph exclaimed3 ,martin6 what is the matter8 all is as dark as ,egypt4 ,martin's countenance betrayed him1 and the ,prophet asked ,martin why he had done so4 ,martin said1 to stop the mouths of fools1 who had told him that the ,prophet had learned those sentences and was merely repeating them4 #aj ,the sum of the whole matter1 then1 concerning the manner of translating the sacred record of the ,nephites1 according to the testimony of the only witnesses competent to testify in the matter is3 ,with the ,nephite record was deposited a curious instrument1 consisting of two transparent stones1 set in the rim of a bow1 somewhat resembling spectacles1 but larger1 called by the ancient ,hebrews ,urim and ,thummim1 but by the ,nephites ,interpreters4 ,in addition to these ,interpreters the ,prophet ,joseph had a ,seer ,stone1 which to him was a ,urim and ,thummim2 that the ,prophet sometimes used one and sometimes the other of these sacred instruments in the work of translation2 that whether the ,interpreters or the ,seer ,stone was used1 the ,nephite characters with the ,english interpretation appeared in the sacred instrument2 that the ,prophet would pronounce the ,english translation to his scribe1 which1 when correctly written1 would disappear and the other characters with their interpretation take their place1 and so on until the work was completed4 ,it should not be supposed1 however1 that this translation1 though accomplished by means of the ,interpreters and ,seer ,stone1 as stated above1 was merely a mechanical procedure2 that no faith1 or mental or spiritual effort was required on the ,prophet's part2 that the instruments did all1 while he who used them did nothing but look and repeat mechanically what he saw there reflected4 ,much has been written upon this manner of translating the ,nephite record1 by those who have opposed the ,book of ,mormon1 and chiefly in a sneering way4 ,on the manner of translation they have bottomed much1 not of their argument but their ridicule--against the record2 and as in another part of this volume ,i am to meet what they consider their argument1 and what ,i know to be their ridicule1 ,i consider here a few other facts connected with the manner of translating the ,book of ,mormon1 which are extremely important1 as they furnish a basis upon which can be successfully answered all the objections that are urged1 based on the manner in which the translation was accomplished1 and also as to errors in grammar1 the use of modern words1 western ,new ,york phrases1 and other defects of language which it is admitted are to be found in the ,book of ,mormon1 especially in the first edition4 ,i repeat1 then1 that the translation of the ,book of ,mormon by means of the ,interpreters and ,seer ,stone1 was not merely a mechanical process1 but required the utmost concentration of mental and spiritual force possessed by the ,prophet1 in order to exercise the gift of translation through the means of the sacred instruments provided for that work4 ,fortunately we have the most perfect evidence of the fact1 though it could be inferred from the general truth that ,god sets no premium upon mental or spiritual laziness2 for whatever means ,god may have provided to assist man to arrive at the truth1 he has always made it necessary for man to couple with those means his utmost endeavor of mind and heart4 ,so much in the way of reflection2 now as to the facts referred to4 ,in his ,address to ,all ,believers in ,christ1 ,david ,whitmer says3 ,at times when ,brother ,joseph would attempt to translate he would look into the hat in which the stone was placed1 he found he was spiritually blind and could not translate4 ,he told us that his mind dwelt too much on earthly things1 and various causes would make him incapable of proceeding with the translation4 ,when in this condition he would go out and pray1 and when he became sufficiently humble before ,god1 he could then proceed with the translation4 ,now we see how very strict the ,lord is1 and how he requires the heart of man to be just right in his sight before he can receive revelation from him4 #aa ,in a statement to ,wm4 ,h4 ,kelley1 ,g4 ,a4 ,blakeslee1 of ,gallen1 ,michigan1 under date of ,september #ae1 #ahhb1 ,david ,whitmer said of ,joseph ,smith and the necessity of his humility and faithfulness while translating the ,book of ,mormon3 ,he was a religious and straight-forward man4 ,he had to be2 for he was illiterate and he could do nothing himself4 ,he had to trust in ,god4 ,he could not translate unless he was humble and possessed the right feelings towards everyone4 ,to illustrate so you can see3 ,one morning when he was getting ready to continue the translation1 something went wrong about the house and he was put out about it4 ,something that ,emma1 his wife1 had done4 ,oliver and ,i went up stairs and ,joseph came up soon after to continue the translation1 but he could not do anything4 ,he could not translate a single syllable4 ,he went down stairs1 out into the orchard1 and made supplication to the ,lord2 was gone about an hour--came back to the house1 and asked ,emma's forgiveness and then came up stairs where we were1 and then the translation went on all right4 ,he could do nothing save he was humble and faithful4 #ab ,the manner of translation is so far described by ,david ,whitmer and ,martin ,harris1 who received their information necessarily from ,joseph ,smith1 and doubtless it is substantially correct1 except in so far as their statements may have created the impression that the translation was a mere mechanical process2 and this is certainly corrected in part at least by what ,david ,whitmer has said relative to the frame of mind ,joseph must be in before he could translate4 ,but we have more important evidence to consider on this subject of translation than these statements of ,david ,whitmer4 ,in the course of the work of translation ,oliver ,cowdery desired the gift of translation to be conferred upon him1 and ,god promised to grant it to him in the following terms3 ,oliver ,cowdery1 verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 that assuredly as the ,lord liveth1 who is your ,god and your ,redeemer1 even so surely shall you receive a knowledge of whatsoever things you shall ask in faith1 with an honest heart1 believing that you shall receive a knowledge concerning the engravings of old records1 which are ancient1 which contain those parts of my scripture of which has been spoken by the manifestation of my ,spirit4 ,yea1 behold1 ,i will tell you in your mind and in your heart1 by the ,holy ,ghost1 which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart4 ,now1 behold1 this is the spirit of revelation2 behold this is the spirit by which ,moses brought the children of ,israel through the ,red ,sea on dry ground4 99 99 99 ,ask that you may know the mysteries of ,god1 and that you may translate and receive knowledge from all those ancient records which have been hid up1 that are sacred2 and according to your faith shall it be done unto you4 #ac ,in attempting to exercise this gift of translation1 however1 ,oliver ,cowdery failed2 and in a revelation upon the subject the ,lord explained the cause of his failure to translate3 ,behold1 you have not understood2 you have supposed that ,i would give it i4 e4 the gift of translation unto you1 when you took no thought save it was to ask me4 ,but1 behold1 ,i say unto you1 that you must study it out in your mind2 then you must ask me if it be right1 and if it is right ,i will cause that your bosom shall burn within you2 therefore1 you shall feel that it is right4 ,but if it be not right you shall have no such feelings1 but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong2 therefore you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me4 #ad ,while this is not a description of the manner in which ,joseph ,smith translated the ,book of ,mormon1 it is1 nevertheless1 the ,lord's description of how another man was to exercise the gift of translation2 and doubtless it is substantially the manner in which ,joseph ,smith did exercise it1 and the manner in which he translated the ,book of ,mormon4 ,that is1 the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith looked into the ,interpreters or ,seer ,stone1 saw there by the power of ,god and the gift of ,god to him1 the ancient ,nephite characters1 and by bending every power of his mind to know the meaning thereof1 the interpretation wrought out in his mind by this effort--by studying it out in his mind1 to use the ,lord's phrase--was reflected in the sacred instrument1 there to remain until correctly written by the scribe4 ,we see something akin to this also in the manner in which the ,nephites used ,liahona1 their ,urim and ,thummim--the instrument through means of which they were directed of the ,lord upon their journey to the promised land of ,america--it worked according to the faith and diligence and heed they gave unto it4 7,i ,nephi #af3bh47 ,in further proof that translation was not a merely mechanical process with the ,prophet ,joseph1 ,i call attention to the evident thought and study he later bestowed upon the work of translating the rolls of papyrus found with the ,egyptian mummies1 purchased by the ,saints in ,kirtland1 of ,michael ,h4 ,chandler1 about the #fth of ,july1 #ahce4 ,soon after this1 says the ,prophet1 with ,w4 ,w4 ,phelps and ,oliver ,cowdery as scribes1 ,i commenced the translation of some of the characters or hieroglyphics1 and much to our joy found that one of the rolls contained the writings of ,abraham1 another the writings of ,joseph of ,egypt1 etc4 ,speaking in his history of the latter part of ,july1 he says3 ,the remainder of this month ,i was continually engaged in translating an alphabet to the ,book of ,abraham and arranging a grammar of the ,egyptian language4 ,in his journal entry for ,november #bf1 #ahce1 is the following3 ,spent the day in translating the ,egyptian characters from the papyrus1 though suffering with a severe cold4 ,under date of ,december #ae1 this3 ,i exhibited and explained the ,egyptian characters to them 7,elders ,m',lellin and ,young71 and explained many things concerning the dealings of ,god with the ancients1 and the formation of the planetary system4 ,thus he continued from time to time to work upon this translation1 which was not published until #ahdb1 in the ,times and ,seasons1 beginning in number nine of volume three4 ,it should be remembered in connection with this preparing an alphabet and arranging a grammar of the ,egyptian language that the ,prophet still had in his possession the ,seer ,stone 7or at least ,oliver ,cowdery had it1 for on completing the translation of the ,book of ,mormon the ,prophet gave the ,seer ,stone into ,oliver ,cowdery's keeping4--,david ,whitmer's ,address to ,all ,believers1 p4 #cb71--which he had used sometimes in the translation of the ,book of ,mormon1 yet it seems from the circumstances named that he had to bend all the energies of his intellectual powers to obtain a translation of the ,egyptian characters4 ,there can be no doubt1 either1 that the interpretation thus obtained was expressed in such language as the ,prophet could command1 in such phraseology as he was master of1 and common to the time and locality where he lived2 modified1 of course1 by the application of that phraseology to facts and ideas new to him in many respects1 and above the ordinary level of the ,prophet's thoughts and language1 because of the inspiration of ,god that was upon him4 ,this view of the translation of the ,nephite record accounts for the fact that the ,book of ,mormon1 though a translation of an ancient record1 is1 nevertheless1 given in ,english idiom of the period and locality in which the ,prophet lived2 and in the faulty ,english1 moreover1 both as to composition1 phraseology1 and grammar1 of a person of ,joseph ,smith's limited education2 and also accounts for the sameness of phraseology and literary style which runs through the whole volume4 ,nor are we without authority of high value in these views for the verbal style of inspired writers4 ,in ,the ,annotated ,bible1 published by the ,religious ,tract ,society1 ,london1 #ahei1 the following occurs in relation to the explanation of the words prophet and prophecy3 ,that the prophets were more than foretellers of things future is apparent from their history as well as from their writings4 ,it must also be remembered that1 although prophecy contains many very circumstantial allusions to particular facts and individuals1 yet these are referred to chiefly on account of their revelation of those great1 general principles with which it has to do4 ,prophecy is ,god's voice1 speaking to us respecting that great struggle which has been and is going on in this world between good and evil4 ,the divine communications were made to the prophets in divers manners2 ,god seems sometimes to have spoken to them in audible voice2 occasionally appearing in human form4 ,at other times he employed the ministry of angels1 or made known his purposes by dreams4 ,but he most frequently revealed his truth to the prophets by producing that supernatural state of the sentiment1 intellectual1 and moral faculties which the scriptures call vision4 ,hence prophetic announcements are often called visions1 i4 e4 things seen2 and the prophets themselves are called seers4 ,although the visions which the prophet beheld and the predictions of the future which he announced were wholly announced by the divine ,spirit1 yet the form of the communication1 the imagery in which it is clothed1 the illustration by which it is cleared up and impressed1 the symbols employed to bring it more graphically before the mind--in short1 all that may be considered as its garb and dress1 depends upon the education1 habits1 association1 feelings and the whole mental intellectual and spiritual character of the prophet4 ,hence the style of some is purer1 more sententious1 more ornate1 or more sublime than others4 ,the author of ,moral and ,metaphysical ,philosophy1 ,frederick ,denison ,maurice1 sometime ,professor of ,casuistry and ,modern ,philosophy in the ,university of ,cambridge1 in discussing the philosophers of the last half of the seventeenth century1 has an excellent passage on the views of ,spinoza respecting the ,hebrew prophets1 and in what manner they and their work are to be regarded4 ,the passage is so apropos the matter here discussed that ,i quote the essential parts of it3 ,what do the sacred books impart when they affirm the ,spirit of ,god to have been infused into the prophets--that the prophets spoke by the ,spirit of ,god8 7,spinoza47 ,the result at which our author arrives upon a long examination into the different uses of the word ,spirit is1 that these expressions respecting the infusion of the ,spirit signify nothing more than that the prophets had a singular and extraordinary virtue and cultivated piety1 with very great constancy of mind1 and thereby they had a perception of the mind or judgment of ,god2 for we shall find that the ,spirit of ,god denotes in ,hebrew as well the mind as the judgment or sentence of ,god1 and therefore that the law of ,god1 because it unfolded the mind of ,god1 is called the mind or ,spirit of ,god2 therefore the imagination of the prophets might1 with equal justice1 be said to be the mind of ,god1 and the prophets be said to have had the mind of ,god1 inasmuch as through their imagination the decrees of ,god were revealed4 99 99 99 ,the question how the prophets acquired a sense of certainty respecting their revelations gives rise to a long discussion4 ,their imagination being the main instrument of their discoveries1 they cannot have the same security as we have for those truths which are discovered by scientific insight or natural light4 ,it is1 says ,spinoza1 very characteristically1 a moral1 not a mathematical security4 ,it is derived 7#a7 from the great strength of their phantasy1 which brings objects before them as clearly as we see them when we are awake4 7#b7 ,from some divine sign4 7#c7 ,from their minds being disposed to the right and just1 ,spinoza affirms the last to be the principal secret of their certainty4 99 99 99 ,nevertheless1 he affirms that the revelations to the prophet depended upon his temperament and upon his own opinions4 ,these he brought with him--these varied not only his style of writing1 but his understanding of any communication that was made to him4 ,his joy1 his sorrow1 all the different moods of his mind and body1 were continually affecting his judgments and his teachings4 99 99 99 ,every thoughtful reader will perceive that in these statements ,spinoza has an evident advantage over those who treat the personal feelings1 experiences1 struggles of the prophets1 as if they were nothing--who forget that they were human beings--who look upon them merely as utterers of certain divine dogmas1 or as foretelling certain future events4 ,he has a right to say that such persons overlook the letter of the books1 while they profess to honor the letter2 that they change their substance1 while they think that they are taking them just as they are4 ,but no real devout reader of the prophets ever forgets that they are men4 ,their human feelings1 sufferings1 rejoicings1 are parts to him of the divine revelation4 ,the struggles of the prophet with his own evil--the consciousness and confession that the vile is mixed with the precious--help more than all formal teaching to show him and us how the higher mind is distinct from the lower1 as well as how the one is related to the other4 ,we see how the prophet arrived at a certainty about the divine will and purpose through the very doubts and contradictions in himself4 #ae ,also the ,reverend ,joseph ,armitage ,robinson1 ,d4 ,d41 dean of ,westminster and chaplain of ,king ,edward ,,vii of ,england1 respecting the manner in which the message of the ,old ,testament was received and communicated to man1 as late as #aije1 said3 ,the message of the ,old ,testament was not written by the divine hand1 nor dictated by an outward compulsion2 it was planted in the hearts of men1 and made to grow in a fruitful soil4 ,and then they were required to express it in their own language1 after their natural methods1 and in accordance with the stage of knowledge which their time had reached4 ,their human faculties were purified and quickened by the divine ,spirit2 but they spoke to their time in the language of their time1 they spoke a spiritual message1 accommodated to the experience of their age1 a message of faith in ,god1 and of righteousness as demanded by a righteous ,god4 #af ,i take occasion at this point to observe that because a writer or speaker claims to be under the inspiration of ,god it does not follow that in giving expression to what the ,lord puts into his heart he will always do so in grammatical terms1 any more than the orthography of an inspired writer will always be accurate4 ,we have many illustrations of this fact among the inspired men that we have known in the ,church of ,jesus ,christ in these last days4 ,those of us who have listened to the utterances of prophets and apostles cannot doubt of their inspiration1 and at the same time some of those who have been most inspired have been inaccurate in the use of our ,english language4 ,the same seems true of the ancient apostles1 also4 ,the writer of the ,acts1 at the conclusion of a synopsis of a discourse which he ascribes to ,peter1 says1 ,now1 when they the ,jews saw the boldness of ,peter and ,john1 and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men1 they marvelled4 #ag ,the commentators upon this passage say that the listening ,jews perceived that ,peter and ,john were uninstructed in the learning of the ,jewish schools1 and were of the common sort of men1 untrained in teaching4 #ah ,and again1 ,their language and arguments prove that they were untaught in the ,rabbinical learning of the ,jewish schools4 #ai ,but in what way could the ,jews have discerned the ignorance and absence of learning in ,peter and ,john except through the imperfections of their language8 ,and yet those imperfections in language may not be urged in evidence of the absence of inspiration in the two apostles4 ,surely with ,god it must be that the matter is of more consequence than the form in which it is expressed2 the thought of more moment than the word2 it is the ,spirit that giveth life1 not the letter4 ,he that hath my word1 let him speak my word faithfully4 ,what is the chaff to the wheat8 saith the ,lord4 #bj ,the view of the manner of translating the ,book of ,mormon here set forth furnishes the basis of justification for those verbal changes and grammatical corrections which have been made since the first edition issued from the press2 and would furnish justification for making many more verbal and grammatical corrections in the book2 for if1 as here set forth1 the meaning of the ,nephite characters was given to ,joseph ,smith in such faulty ,english as he1 an uneducated man1 could command1 while every detail and shade of thought should be strictly preserved1 there can be no reasonable ground for objection to the correction of mere verbal errors and grammatical construction4 ,there can be no reasonable doubt that had ,joseph ,smith been a finished ,english scholar and the facts and ideas represented by the ,nephite characters upon the plates had been given him by the inspiration of ,god through the ,urim and ,thummim1 those ideas would have been expressed in correct ,english2 but as he was not a finished ,english scholar1 he had to give expression to those facts and ideas in such language as he could command1 and that was faulty ,english1 which the ,prophet himself and those who have succeeded him as custodians of the word of ,god have had1 and now have1 a perfect right to correct4 #ba ,footnotes #a4 ,wentworth letter1 ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #ai1 p4 #aah4 #b4 ,wentworth letter1 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,,iv1 ch4 #ca4 #c4 ,book of ,mosiah #h3ac4 #d4 ,the above statement was made by ,oliver ,cowdery1 at a special conference held at ,kanesville1 ,iowa1 ,oct4 #ba1 #ahdh4 ,it was first published in the ,deseret ,news of ,april #ac1 #ahei3 ,bishop ,reuben ,miller1 who was present at the meeting1 reported ,cowdery's remarks4 #e4 ,from ,an ,address to all ,believers in ,christ1 by ,david ,whitmer1 ,a ,witness to the ,divine ,authenticity of the ,book of ,mormon1 published at ,richmond1 ,missouri1 #ahhg1 p4 #ab4 #f4 ,harris' ,statement to ,edward ,stevenson1 ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #dd1 p4 #hg4 #g4 ,cannon's ,life of ,joseph ,smith1 p4 #ef4 #h4 ,nearly all the anti-,mormon works dealing with the coming forth of the ,book of ,mormon speak of the ,seer ,stone and reiterate the falsehood that the ,prophet stole it from the children of ,willard ,chase1 for whom ,joseph and ,hyrum were digging a well4 #i4 ,statement of ,martin ,harris1 to ,edward ,stevenson1 ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #dd1 pp4 #hf1 #hg4 #aj4 ,harris' ,statement to ,edward ,stevenson1 ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #dd1 pp4 #gh1 #gi2 #hf1 #hg4 #aa4 ,address to ,all ,believers in ,christ1 p4 #cj4 #ab4 ,braden and ,kelley1 ,debate on ,divine ,origin of ,book of ,mormon1 p4 #ahf4 ,the above debate took place in #ahhd1 several years before the death of ,david ,whitmer1 and the statement from which the above is taken was quoted in full4 #ac4 ,d4 ,c41 sec4 #h3a-c1 #aa4 #ad4 ,d4 ,c41 sec4 #i3g-i4 #ae4 ,moral and ,metaphysical ,philosophy1 vol4 ,,ii1 pp4 #cig-cii4 #af4 ,st4 ,louis ,globe-,democrat1 ,sunday1 ,march #ai1 #aije--,the discourse is published at length4 #ag4 ,acts #d3ac4 #ah4 ,jamieson1 ,fausset and ,brown1 ,commentary1 ,acts #d3ac4 #ai4 ,international ,commentary of the ,new ,testament1 ,acts #d4 #bj4 ,jeremiah #bc3bh4 #ba4 ,the manner of translating the ,book of ,mormon above set forth1 gave rise to considerable discussion within the ,church1 and led to the publication of a number of papers in the ,improvement ,era1 a monthly magazine published in ,utah1 in defense of the views here advocated4 ,these papers were finally collected and published in the author's ,defense of the ,faith and the ,saints1 vol4 ,i1 pp4 #bee-caa1 to which the reader is referred for a more exhaustive consideration of the question above discussed4 ,moreover1 this whole question was subsequently reviewed at a meeting of the ,first ,presidency and the ,twelve ,apostles1 and accepted as the most reasonable explanation that had been offered on the subject of the translation of the ,book of ,mormon1 and its publication approved4--,roberts4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,publication ,,of ,,the ,,record4 ,the exact time when the translation of the ,book of ,mormon was completed cannot be ascertained4 ,according to the history of the ,prophet it was early in ,june1 #ahbi1 when ,david ,whitmer1 took ,joseph and his wife and ,oliver ,cowdery to his father's home near ,waterloo1 at the north end of ,seneca ,lake1 to the neighborhood called ,fayette4 #a ,there the ,prophet remained until the translation was completed and the copyright secured4 ,since ,david ,whitmer arrived at ,harmony in the beginning of ,june1 to take the ,prophet and his wife and ,oliver ,cowdery to his father's home1 and as ,mr4 ,john ,h4 ,gilbert 7the chief compositor on the ,book of ,mormon71 says in a signed statement #b that he commenced the work of setting the type for the ,book of ,mormon in ,august1 #ahbi1 the translation was completed between those dates1 that is1 between the early part of ,june1 #ahbi1 and ,august of the same year1 as the work of translation was completed before the work of printing began4 ,the contract for printing was made with ,mr4 ,egbert ,b4 ,grandin1 of ,palmyra1 the edition to be five thousand copies1 and the price #c1jjj1 ,martin ,harris guaranteeing the payment of that sum to the publisher4 ,as soon as arrangements were completed for publishing the ,book of ,mormon1 the ,prophet ,joseph started for ,harmony1 ,pennsylvania1 but before his departure he left the following directions to be followed respecting the work of printing3 ,first1 that ,oliver ,cowdery should transcribe the whole manuscript4 ,second1 that he should take but one copy at a time to the office1 so that if one copy should get destroyed there would still be a copy remaining4 ,third1 that in going to and from the printing office1 he should always have a guard to attend him1 for the purpose of protecting the manuscript4 ,fourth1 that a guard should be kept constantly on the watch1 both night and day1 about the house1 to protect the manuscript from malicious persons1 who would infest the house for the purpose of destroying the manuscript4 ,all these things were strictly attended to as the ,lord commanded ,joseph4 #c ,these precautions1 at first glance1 may seem excessive1 and under ordinary circumstances would be totally unnecessary2 yet the following communication to the ,signs of the ,times1 by ,j4 ,n4 ,t4 ,tucker1 who was employed in the printing establishment of the ,wayne ,sentinel1 in the establishment at which the ,book of ,mormon was printed1 in ,palmyra1 will demonstrate that the precaution in this case was necessary2 and incidentally tends to prove true the statement of the revelation in which the ,prophet ,joseph is warned that the #aaf pages of manuscript stolen from ,martin ,harris were changed by those into whose hands they had fallen1 with the intention to make them conflict with the reproduction of them1 should the ,prophet again translate that part of the work4 ,with these preliminary remarks the following letter will be self-explanatory3 ,,mormonism--,,some ,,curious ,,facts ,messrs4 ,editors3--,having noticed in a late number of the ,signs of the ,times1 a notice of a work1 entitled1 ,mormon ,delusions and ,monstrosities1 it occurred to me that it might1 perhaps1 be a service to the cause of truth1 to state one circumstance in relation to the authenticity of the ,book of ,mormon1 which occurred during its publication1 at which time ,i was a practical printer and engaged in the office where it was printed1 and became familiar with the men and their principles1 through whose agency it was got up4 ,the circumstance alluded to was as follows3 ,we had heard much said by ,martin ,harris1 the man who paid for the printing1 and the only one in the concern worth any property1 about the wonderful wisdom of the translators of the mysterious plates1 and resolved to test their wisdom4 ,accordingly1 after putting one sheet in type1 we laid it aside1 and told ,martin ,harris it was lost1 and there would be serious defection in the book in consequence1 unless another sheet like the original could be produced4 ,the announcement threw the old gentleman into quite an excitement4 ,but after a few moments' reflection1 he said he would try to obtain another4 ,after two or three weeks1 another sheet was produced1 but no more like the original than any other sheet of paper would have been1 written over by a common schoolboy1 after having read1 as they did1 the manuscript preceding and succeeding the lost sheet4 ,as might be expected1 the disclosure of the plan greatly annoyed the authors1 and caused no little merriment among those who were acquainted with the circumstances4 ,as we were none of us ,christians1 and only labored for the gold that perisheth1 we did not care for the delusion1 only so far as to be careful to avoid it ourselves1 and enjoy the hoax4 ,not one of the hands in the office where the wonderful book was printed ever became a convert to the system1 although the writer of this was often assured by ,martin ,harris1 if he did not he would be destroyed in #ahcb4 ,yours in the gospel of ,christ1 ,j4 ,n4 ,,tucker4 ,gorton1 ,may #bc1 #ahdb4 ,signs of the ,times1 ,june #h1 #ahdb4 ,the description in this letter of ,martin ,harris' excitement from the loss of the sheet mentioned1 and the claim that the reproduced manuscript did not fill the blank created through their hiding that one sheet of type-set matter1 will appear at once as a fabrication when it is remembered that ,martin ,harris must have known that the original manuscript of the ,book of ,mormon had never left the hands of those having the work in charge1 and they were by that precaution prepared against just such emergencies as this whether practiced playfully or in dead earnest to bring the work into disrepute4 #d ,these several precautions relative to the manuscript of the ,book of ,mormon stated by ,lucy ,smith in the work quoted1 account for several circumstances regarded as peculiar in connection with the publication of the ,book of ,mormon3 ,the almost entire absence of ,joseph ,smith the prophet from the printing establishment of ,mr4 ,grandin while the book was being set up and printed2 the presence of two persons always when a portion of manuscript was carried to the printers1 one of whom was always ,hyrum ,smith2 the guard constantly upon the watch at the ,smith homestead2 and the existence of two manuscript copies of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,oliver ,cowdery during the time that the type setting and printing was going on made a copy from the original manuscript for the use of the printer2 carefully keeping the original 7which1 too1 in the main1 he had written as the prophet ,joseph translated from the ,nephite plates7 in his possession at the home of the ,smiths1 that if peradventure the copy sent to the printer should be destroyed or stolen it could be copied again from the original4 ,it is said by ,mr4 ,gilbert that the manuscript as sent to him was neither capitalized nor punctuated1 and that the capitalization and punctuation in the first edition was done by him4 ,this statement1 however1 can only be true in part1 as an examination of the printer's manuscript will prove2 for that manuscript is very well capitalized and in the main in the handwriting of ,oliver ,cowdery4 ,mr4 ,gilbert may have capitalized and punctuated to some extent1 but it is clear that he did not do all of it1 or even the main part of it4 #e ,the printer's manuscript1 after it had served its purpose1 was evidently taken possession of by ,oliver ,cowdery1 while the original manuscript remained in the possession of the ,prophet ,joseph4 ,in #ahej ,oliver ,cowdery1 a little before his death1 which occurred at ,richmond1 ,ray county1 ,missouri1 on the #crd of ,march of that year--gave into the possession of ,david ,whitmer1 his brother-in-law and fellow witness of the truth of the ,book of ,mormon1 his printer's manuscript of that book1 and the descendants of ,david ,whitmer have it in their possession to this day 7#aijc72 regarding it--though in that they are mistaken--as the original manuscript4 #f ,the original manuscript having been preserved by the ,prophet ,joseph1 it was1 on the #bnd of ,october1 #ahda1 in the presence of a number of elders1 deposited by him in the northwest cornerstone of the ,nauvoo ,house1 with a number of coins1 papers and books1 in a cavity made in the corner stone for that purpose4 ,among those who were present at the time the original manuscript of the ,book of ,mormon was thus deposited in the corner stone of the ,nauvoo ,house1 was ,elder ,warren ,foote1 of ,glendale1 ,kane county1 ,utah1 who quotes from his journal as follows3 ,october #b1 #ahda4 ,the semi-annual conference commenced today4 ,after meeting was dismissed a deposit was made in the southeast corner of the ,nauvoo house4 ,a square hole had been chisseled in the large corner stone like a box4 ,an invitation was given for any who wished to put in any little memento they desired to4 ,i was standing very near the corner stone1 when ,joseph ,smith came up with the manuscript of the ,book of ,mormon1 and said he wanted to put that in there1 as he had had trouble enough with it4 ,it appeared to be written on fools' cap paper1 and was about three inches in thickness4 ,there was also deposited a ,book of ,doctrine and ,covenants1 five cents1 ten cents1 twenty-five cents1 fifty cents1 and one dollar pieces of ,american coin1 besides other articles4 ,a close-fitting stone cover was laid in cement1 and the wall built over it4 ,i was standing within three feet of the ,prophet when he handed in the manuscript1 and saw it very plainly4 ,he intimated in his remarks1 that in after generations the walls might be thrown down1 and these things discovered1 from which the people could learn the doctrines and principles and faith of the ,latter-day ,saints4 #g ,in a rather curious manner a portion of this original manuscript came into the possession of ,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 ,president of the ,church1 and nephew of the ,prophet ,joseph4 ,the ,nauvoo ,house1 begun in the ,prophet1 was never completed4 ,mr4 ,lewis ,c4 ,bidamon1 who married ,emma ,smith1 widow of the ,prophet1 came into possession of the unfinished ,nauvoo ,house1 and tore down the walls and took up the extensive foundations of the house in order to sell the building stone in them4 ,in the course of tearing out the foundations the southeast corner stone was taken out and the treasures it contained discovered and taken in charge by ,mr4 ,bidamon4 ,some years later1 namely1 in the ,summer of #ahhd1 ,mrs4 ,sarah ,m4 ,kimball visited ,nauvoo1 and among other landmarks went to the site of the ,nauvoo ,house1 the walls and foundation of which were not yet all taken away4 ,she called upon ,mr4 ,bidamon1 then living in a temporary four-roomed building erected on the southwest corner of the foundation laid for the ,nauvoo ,house4 ,and now ,mrs4 ,kimball's story1 as related in her letter to ,elder ,george ,reynolds1 dated #aith ,july1 #ahhd3 ,i asked why the heavy and extensive foundations around him were being torn up2 he ,mr4 ,bidamon replied that he had bought the premises1 and the rock was torn up to sell1 as he was poor and otherwise would not have been able to build4 ,i said1 ,i am interested in this foundation1 because ,i remember there were treasures deposited under the chief corner stone4 ,he said1 yes1 ,i took up the stone box and sold it to ,mr4 -- 7,i do not remember the name47 ,it had been so long exposed to the wet and weather that its contents were nearly ruined1 ,i gave the coin to ,joe ,joseph #h and told him he could have the pile of paper4 ,he said it was the manuscript of the ,book of ,mormon2 but it was so much injured that he did not care for it4 ,while we were talking1 ,mr4 ,bidamon's wife brought a large pasteboard box and placed it on my lap4 ,it contained a stack of faded and fast decaying paper1 the bottom layers for several inches were uniform in size1 they seemed to me larger than common fools' cap1 the paper was coarse in texture and had the appearance of having lain a long time in water1 as the ink seemed almost entirely soaked into the paper4 ,when ,i handled it1 it would fall to pieces4 ,i could only read a few words here and there1 just enough to learn that it was the language of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,above this were some sheets of finer texture folded and sewed together1 this was better preserved and more easily read4 ,i held it up1 and said3 ,mr4 ,b41 how much for this relic8 ,he said3 ,nothing from you1 you are welcome to anything you like from the box4 ,i appreciated the kindness1 took the leaves that were folded and sewed together1 also took two fragments of the ,times and ,seasons1 published by ,don ,carlos ,smith4 #i ,i send with this a fragment dated ,january1 #ahdj1 for your acceptance1 containing the prophetic lamentation of ,p4 ,p4 ,pratt1 while chained in prison4 ,very respectfully1 7,signed7 ,,sarah ,m4 ,,kimball4 #aj ,this fragment of the manuscript1 now in the possession of ,president ,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 is thus described by ,elder ,george ,reynolds1 in his ,history of the ,book of ,mormon3 ,it consists of twenty-two pages of somewhat rough1 unruled writing paper1 more resembling narrow bill-cap than any other size of paper now made1 being a little less than fifteen and a half inches long and full six and a half inches wide4 ,the paper is now tinged brown or yellow by time and damp1 and the writing in some places is undecipherable4 ,the pages are numbered #c to #bb1 pages #a and #b having been lost4 ,the manuscript commences at the second verse of the second chapter of the ,first ,book of ,nephi1 and continues to the thirty-fifth verse of the thirteenth chapter of the same book4 99 99 99 ,the manuscript is in two1 if not three1 handwritings4 ,pages #g to #ah1 inclusive1 appear to have been written by ,oliver ,cowdery4 ,pages #c to #f are written in what looks like a woman's hand1 possibly that of ,emma ,smith2 while the handwriting on pages #ai to #bb1 if not the same1 very much resembles that of pages #c to #f4 ,the only division made in the manuscript is into chapters2 the sentences are not divided by punctuation marks and are seldom commenced with capital letters4 ,it may be thought that the care of the manuscript during the process of printing was not only extraordinary but unnecessary4 ,the experiences of the prophet1 however1 in the matter of keeping possession of the plates of the ,book of ,mormon1 and the efforts that were made to take them from him1 together with the loss of the one hundred and sixteen pages of manuscript he had for a short time entrusted to the care of ,martin ,harris1 taught him caution4 ,it is well it did1 for having failed in their efforts to wrest the plates from him1 several conspiracies were formed by his enemies to obtain the manuscript of the book and prevent its publication4 #aa ,and notwithstanding all the precautions taken an enemy nearly succeeded in publishing the ,book of ,mormon in garbled form before the printing of the book was completed4 ,an ex-justice of the peace by the name of ,cole started to publish a weekly periodical which he called ,dogberry ,paper on ,winter ,hill4 ,in his prospectus he promised his subscribers to publish one form of ,joe ,smith's ,gold ,bible each week1 and thus furnish them with the principal part of the book without their being obliged to purchase it from the ,smiths4 ,the ,dogberry ,paper was printed at ,mr4 ,grandin's establishment1 where the ,book of ,mormon was being printed1 and as the press was employed all the time except at night and on ,sundays1 ,mr4 ,cole printed his paper at those times4 ,the arrangement also enabled him to keep what he was doing from the knowledge of the ,prophet and his associates2 and it is said that several numbers of his paper containing portions from the ,book of ,mormon which he had pilfered1 were published before his rascality was found out4 ,joseph1 who was at ,harmony1 in ,pennsylvania1 was sent for1 and on arriving at ,palmyra quietly but firmly asserted his copyrights which he had been careful to secure1 and ,mr4 ,cole gave up his attempt to publish the book or any portion of it4 ,after settling this difficulty ,joseph again returned to ,pennsylvania1 only to be again summoned to ,palmyra to quiet the fears of his publisher1 ,mr4 ,grandin1 who had been made fearful that the ,prophet would not be able to meet his obligations for printing the book4 ,the people in the vicinity of ,palmyra had held public meetings and passed resolutions not to purchase the ,book of ,mormon1 if it ever issued from the press4 ,they appointed a committee to wait upon ,mr4 ,grandin and explain to him the evil consequences which would result to him because of the resolutions they had passed not to buy the books when published1 which would render it impossible for the ,smiths to meet their obligations to him4 ,they persuaded him to stop printing1 and ,joseph was again sent for4 ,on the ,prophet's arrival he called upon ,mr4 ,grandin in company with ,martin ,harris1 and together they gave the frightened publisher such assurance of their ability to meet their obligation to him that printing was resumed2 #ab and finally1 in the spring of #ahcj1 the book issued from the press4 ,thus1 from start to finish1 difficulty and danger beset the coming forth of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,but at last every obstacle was surmounted2 every difficulty overcome2 every device of the enemy thwarted2 every danger to the record of the ,nephites past4 ,it was published--a five thousand edition of it4 ,henceforth1 thanks to the great art preservative--printing--it would be indestructible4 ,to the world was given the testimony of sleeping nations that the ,lord is ,god2 that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,redeemer of the world2 that the gospel is the power of ,god unto salvation4 ,the fervent prayers of the prophets and other righteous men among the ancient inhabitants of ,america were answered4 ,the ,gentile nations which1 by the spirit of prophecy1 they knew would at some time occupy their land1 would become informed as to them2 of their origin2 of the promises of ,god to the remnant of their seed1 which the ,gentiles would find upon the land4 ,so1 too1 would the ,jews know of the ancient inhabitants of the land2 and would know of the decrees of ,god respecting the land and the inhabitants thereof2 and would have the testimony of these ancient nations of ,israelites in ,america that ,jesus of ,nazareth1 whom the ,jews had crucified1 was indeed the ,messiah1 the hope of ,israel1 and the world's ,savior4 ,but what was of more immediate interest to these ancient worthies of the western hemisphere1 their descendants remaining in the land would1 through their record1 be brought to a knowledge of their forefathers1 and of the goodness and favor and severity of ,god towards them4 ,they would be brought to a knowledge of how their fathers had departed from the ways of the ,lord2 why the disfavor of ,god was upon them2 and how they might return into his favor through obedience to that gospel which their fathers had rejected4 ,for these several things righteous men among the ,nephites earnestly prayed2 and obtained a promise from the ,lord that he would preserve their records and at the last bring them to the remnant of their seed1 to the ,jews and to the ,gentiles that their testimonies to the truth of ,god might not be lost to the world4 #ac ,and now the hopes and promises were fulfilled4 ,their record was published and was destined to be read in all the languages spoken by the children of men1 and stand as a ,witness for ,god to all the world4 ,footnotes #a4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 pp4 #dh1 #di4 #b4 ,the ,statement referred to was given to ,elder ,francis ,m4 ,lyman1 of the ,council of the ,twelve ,apostles1 who called upon ,mr4 ,gilbert at ,palmyra on ,october #bc1 #ahig4 ,mr4 ,gilbert wrote with his own hand in ,elder ,lyman's ,journal1 and signed the following3 ,palmyra1 ,n4 ,y41 ,oct4 #bc1 #ahig4 ,at the request of ,elder ,f4 ,m4 ,lyman of ,utah1 ,i make the following certificate3 ,i was born in the town of ,richmond1 ,ontario county1 ,april #ac1 #ahjb4 ,i assisted ,e4 ,b4 ,grandin in estimating the expense of printing #e1jjj copies of the ,mormon ,bible1 and the price agreed upon--#c1jjj4 ,i was the principal compositor of said ,bible1 commencing on the same in ,august1 #ahbi1 and finishing the same in ,march1 #ahcj4 7,signed7 ,john ,h4 ,gilbert4 ,i am indebted to ,elder ,lyman for access to his ,journal for the above statement4 #c4 ,history of the ,prophet ,joseph1 by his mother1 chap4 #ca4 #d4 ,tucker's letter is produced in ,bennett's ,mormonism ,exposed1 7#ahdb71 pages #aab1 #abc4 #e4 ,the writer saw and examined the printer's manuscript in the possession of ,david ,whitmer in #ahhd1 and speaks from personal knowledge on this point in the text4 #f4 ,it has since been deposited with the ,president of the ,reorganized ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 son of the ,prophet ,joseph1 by the grandson of ,david ,whitmer1 ,george ,schwiech4 #g4 ,the above excerpt from ,elder ,foote's ,journal is published by ,george ,reynolds in a series of articles under the title ,history of the ,book of ,mormon1 in the ,contributor1 for #ahhd4 #h4 i4 e4 ,joseph ,smith1 son of the ,prophet4 #i4 ,the ,prophet's brother1 and for a time editor of the ,times and ,seasons4 #aj4 ,mrs4 ,kimball's letter is published by ,elder ,geo4 ,reynolds in his articles on the ,history of the ,book of ,mormon1 ,contributor1 vol4 ,v1 ,no4 #aj4 #aa4 ,history of the ,prophet ,joseph1 by ,lucy ,smith1 chaps4 #cb and #cc4 #ab4 ,history of the ,prophet ,joseph1 by ,lucy ,smith1 chap4 #cc4 #ac4 ,see ,book of ,mormon1 ,book of ,enos1 chap4 #a3ab-ah2 ,mormon #h3bd-bf2 and #i3cf1 #cg2 and #e3i-bd2 ,i ,nephi #ac3cj-db4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,an ,,analysis ,,of ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,mormon4 ,with reference to its construction the ,book of ,mormon separates into three divisions3 #a4 ,the small plates of ,nephi1 a record kept upon gold plates made by the first ,nephi upon which he purposed to record and have recorded more especially the work of the holy ministry among the ,nephites1 the prophecies of the coming of the ,messiah in the flesh1 and the exhortations to righteousness by the prophets who should arise among his people4 ,as compared with his plates on which he designed to have recorded the secular history of his people1 they were small1 and doubtless comparatively few in number1 hence their name--,the ,smaller ,plates of ,nephi4 ,the historical data contained in these small plates of ,nephi extends over a period of about four hundred years1 or from the departure of ,lehi from ,jerusalem to the reign of ,king ,benjamin1 the second king of the ,nephite-,zarahemla nation4 ,but chiefly these plates were filled with prophecies and exhortations to righteousness1 and many transcriptions from the writings of ,isaiah1 and other prophets1 while historical data--though sufficient to give a general idea of the movement of ,lehi's colony1 and the subsequent march of events among the peoples that sprang from that colony--are meager4 ,the translation of these small plates1 in current editions1 occupies the first one hundred and fifty-seven #a pages of the ,book of ,mormon1 fractional pages aside2 and with two pages of explanatory matter by ,mormon1 under the title ,words of ,mormon1 make #acc pages of the book4 ,the books of this first division of the ,book of ,mormon are six in number1 viz3 ,i4 ,nephi1 ,,ii4 ,nephi1 ,book of ,jacob1 ,book of ,enos1 ,book of ,jarom1 ,book of ,omni4 ,though there are but six books in this division1 there are nine writers1 as follows3 ,the first ,nephi1 who writes one hundred and twenty-seven and a half pages #b of the one hundred and fifty seven in this division4 ,jacob1 brother of ,nephi1 twenty-one and a half pages4 ,zenos1 son of the above ,jacob1 two and one-half pages4 ,jarom1 son of the above ,zenos1 two pages4 ,in the ,book of ,omni there are but three and one half pages1 but there are five writers1 each of whom records merely a few lines3 ,omni1 son of the above ,jarom2 ,amaron1 son of the above ,omni2 ,chemish1 brother of the above ,amaron2 ,abinadom1 son of ,chemish2 ,amaleki1 son of the above ,abinadom4 ,amaleki writes about two pages out of the three pages and a half comprising the ,book of ,omni1 and gives the important information concerning the second hegira of the righteous ,nephites1 their union with the people of ,zarahemla and the formation of the ,nephite-,zarahemla nation4 ,although there are nine writers in this division of the ,book of ,mormon1 the writing is chiefly done by the first two1 ,nephi and ,jacob1 of which the first writes #abg #a_/b pages2 and the second #ba #a_/b pages1 leaving but eight pages to be written by the other seven writers4 #b4 ,mormon's abridgment of the ,large ,plates of ,nephi comprises the second division of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,this is a condensed record made from the various books written or engraved upon the ,large ,plates of ,nephi1 which plates1 it will be remembered1 were made by the first ,nephi1 as well as the ,smaller ,plates of ,nephi1 that upon them might be recorded the secular history of the people1 their wars and contentions1 their affairs of government and the migrations of their people4 ,this part of the ,book of ,mormon--the abridgment--is the work of one man1 ,mormon1 from whom this whole record of the ,nephites takes its name1 and yet the abridgment of ,mormon occupies but #cij #a_/b out of the #fcb pages2 his own book1 bearing his own name1 makes #ae #a_/b pages making in all #djf out of the #fbc pages which comprise the whole book4 ,the style of ,mormon's abridgment is very complicated4 ,it consists mainly of his condensation of the various books which he found engraven upon the ,larger ,plates of ,nephi--the ,book of ,mosiah1 ,book of ,alma1 ,helaman1 ,,iii4 ,nephi1 ,,iv4 ,nephi1 etc4 ,because ,mormon retained the names of these respective books in his condensation or abridgment of them1 many readers of the ,book of ,mormon have been led to suppose that there was a separate writer for each book1 overlooking the fact that these books1 so-called1 in the ,book of ,mormon1 are but brief abridgments of the original books bearing those names4 ,occasionally1 however1 ,mormon came upon passages in the original annals that pleased him so well that he transcribed them verbatim in the record he was writing4 ,an example of this is to be found beginning at page #afc 7current edition71 in the second line of the ninth paragraph1 and ending with page #afi--the words of ,king ,benjamin to his people4 ,the modern method of writing would be1 of course1 to make the abridgment of ,mormon the regular text of the book1 put the verbatim quotations from the old ,nephite books that were being abridged within quotation marks1 and throw the occasional remarks or comments of the abridger into foot notes4 ,but these devices in literary work were not known1 apparently1 among the ,nephites4 ,after completing his abridgment of the books written upon the ,larger ,plates of ,nephi1 down to this own day1 ,mormon made a record of the things which came under his own observation1 and engraved them upon the ,larger ,plates of ,nephi1 and called that the ,book of ,mormon2 but upon the plates on which he had engraven his abridgment of all the books found in the ,larger ,plates of ,nephi1 and which he had made with his own hands1 he recorded but a brief account of the things which he had witnessed among his people1 and that1 too1 he called the ,book of ,mormon4 #c it occupies fourteen and a half pages2 which1 with the other three hundred and ninety and one half pages1 as above stated1 makes four hundred and five pages of the ,book of ,mormon written by the hand of ,mormon4 #c4 ,the third division of the ,book of ,mormon is made up of writings of ,moroni1 the son of ,mormon4 ,he finishes the record of his father1 ,mormon1 in which he occupies seven and a half pages4 ,after that he abridges the history of the people of ,jared1 who were led from the ,tower of ,babel to the north continent of the western hemisphere1 and whose record was found by a branch of the ,nephite people4 #d ,this abridged history of the ,jaredites occupies thirty-eight pages2 and in character of composition is much like the complex style of ,mormon's abridgment of the ,nephite records4 ,it was modeled doubtless after that work4 ,then follows his own book1 the ,book of ,moroni1 which occupies fifteen and a half pages1 making in all sixty-one pages written by ,moroni4 ,the following is a summary of the three divisions3 ,i4 ,direct translation from the ,small ,plates of ,nephi1 nine writers 7of whom two write #adi of the #aeg pages7444#aeg pages ,,ii4 ,mormon's abridgment of the various books written upon the ,large ,plates of ,nephi444#cij #a_/b pages ,,iii4 ,mormon's personal account of events that occurred in this own day444#ad #a_/b pages ,,iv4 ,moroni's writings--completion of this father's record1 abridgment of the ,jaredite ,history1 his own book1 called the ,book of ,moroni444#fa pages ,total444#fbc pages ,the total number of writers in the ,book of ,mormon is eleven1 of whom four do the principal part of the writing1 these are the ,first ,nephi1 ,jacob1 ,mormon and ,moroni4 ,of these four1 ,mormon does the major part4 ,for purposes of reference ,i make the following summary3 ,mormon writes444#dje pages ,moroni444#fa pages ,nephi444#abg #a_/b pages ,jacob444#ba #a_/b pages ,the other seven writers444#h pages ,total444#fbc pages ,such is the ,book of ,mormon as to its construction--the number of its writers1 and the style employed in the parts that are abridgments from the larger records of the ,nephites and ,jaredites4 ,all this may now seem unimportant to the reader1 but he will find when ,i come to the argument for the truth of the ,book of ,mormon1 and the consideration of the objections urged against it1 this analysis will become an important factor in that work4 ,footnotes #a4 ,one hundred and fifty-one in the first edition4 #b4 ,that is of the current editions of the book4 ,the references in the analysis throughout are to current editions4 #c4 ,mormon was born about the year #caa ,a4 ,d41 and was killed by the ,lamanites after delivering his writings to his son ,moroni1 about #che ,a4 ,d4 #d4 ,see p4 #adb ,chapter ,x--,transcriber4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,migrations ,,to ,,the ,,western ,,hemisphere ,,and ,,the ,,nations ,,that ,,arose ,,from ,,them4 #a ,according to the ,book of ,mormon there have been three migrations from the old world to the new4 ,these1 in their chronological order1 are1 first1 the colony of ,jared2 second1 the colony of ,lehi2 and third1 the colony of ,mulek4 ,it is necessary to the completeness of this work to give a brief account of each of these colonies1 together with their development into great nations in the western world1 a summary of their history1 and a brief description of their civilization4 ,i4 ,,the ,,jaredites4 ,migration and ,place of ,landing4 ,the colony of ,jared1 according to the ,book of ,mormon1 departed from the ,tower of ,babel about the time of the confusion of languages2 which1 if the ,hebrew chronology of the ,bible be accepted1 was an event that took place #b1bdg ,b4 ,c4 ,through a special favor to the family of ,jared and his brother1 ,moriancumr1 #b the language of these families1 and that of a few of their friends was not confounded4 ,under divine direction they departed from ,babel northward into a valley called ,nimrod1 and thence were led by the ,lord across the continent of ,asia #c eastward until they came to the shore of the great sea--,pacific ,ocean--which divided the lands4 ,here they remained four years2 and then by divine appointment constructed eight barges in which to cross the mighty ocean to a land of promise1 to which ,god had covenanted to bring them2 to a land which was choice above all other lands1 which the ,lord ,god had reserved for a righteous people4 ,after a severely stormy passage--continuing for #cdd days1 the colony landed on the western coast of ,north ,america1 probably south of the ,gulf of ,california4 #d ,soon after their arrival the people of the colony began to scatter out upon the face of the land1 and multiply1 and till the earth2 and they did wax strong in the land4 #e ,previous to the demise of ,moriancumr and ,jared1 the people were called together and a kingly government founded1 ,orihah1 the youngest son of ,jared1 being anointed king4 ,capital and ,centres of ,civilization4 ,the capital of the kingdom was doubtless the city of ,moron1 in a province or land of the same name1 the location of which is unknown except that it was near the land called by the ,nephites ,desolation4 ,now1 says ,moroni1 the land of ,moron1 where the king dwelt1 was near the land which is called ',desolation' by the ,nephites2 #f and later he informs us that this land of ,moron was the land of the first inheritance of the ,jaredites4 #g ,this locates the land of ,moron near the land called by the ,nephites ,desolation1 and the land ,desolation1 according to the ,nephite records1 bordered on the north of the land ,bountiful1 at that point where it was but a day and a half's journey for a ,nephite from the sea east to the sea west4 #h ,this would bring the southern borders of the land ,desolation well down towards the continent of ,south ,america1 perhaps to some point on that narrow neck of land known to us as the ,isthmus of ,panama4 ,the northern limits of what the ,nephites called the land ,desolation may not be so easily ascertained4 ,whether it extended north and westward beyond the peninsula of ,yucatan or ended south and east of that peninsula may not be definitely determined2 but from the general tenor of the references to it in the ,book of ,mormon1 it was1 when compared with the whole country1 occupied by the ,nephites1 a small division of the country1 a local province1 and bounded on the north by what the ,jaredites called the land of ,moron1 the land of the ,jaredites' first inheritance4 #i ,according to the late ,elder ,orson ,pratt the place of the ,jaredites' first inheritance1 or landing1 was on the western coast1 and probably south of the ,gulf of ,california1 #aj though he gives no reason for his statement4 ,elder ,george ,reynolds1 speaking of the land of ,moron1 where the ,jaredites made their first settlement1 says3 ,it was north of the land called ,desolation by the ,nephites1 and consequently in some part of the region which we know as ,central ,america4 #aa ,this conclusion1 of course1 is based upon the idea that the land ,desolation was comparatively but a small ,nephite province1 an idea that1 as already remarked1 is forced upon the mind from the general tenor of the ,book of ,mormon references to it4 ,this land ,desolation1 so named by the ,nephites because of the evidence of ruin and destruction that everywhere abounded in it1 when first discovered by them1 not because its lands were not fertile1 was evidently a great centre of population in ,jaredite times4 ,about #abc ,b4 ,c4 a company of ,nephites--forty-three in number--sent out by one ,limhi1 came into the land afterwards called ,desolation and described it as a land which was covered with dry bones1 yea1 a land which had been peopled1 and which had been destroyed4 #ab ,another description of the land found by ,limhi's expedition is that they discovered a land which was covered with bones of men1 and of beasts1 and was also covered with the ruins of buildings of every kind2 99 99 99 a land which had been peopled with a people who were as numerous as the hosts of ,israel4 #ac ,and for a testimony that the things they said were true1 they brought from the land twenty-four plates which were filled with engravings1 and the plates were of pure gold4 ,and behold1 also1 they brought breast plates1 which were large1 and they were of brass and of copper1 and perfectly sound4 ,and again1 they brought swords1 the hilts of which had perished1 and the blades were cankered with rust2 but no one in the land could interpret the language or the engravings that were on the plates4 #ad ,it is evident that the land of ,moron1 north of ,desolation1 was the chief centre of ,jaredite civilization1 and the principal seat of government from the time of their first landing in ,america--some twenty-two centuries ,b4 ,c4--to the last civil war which ended in the destruction of the nation1 in the sixth century ,b4 ,c4 ,the evidence of the foregoing statement is seen in the fact that ,moron is the land of their first inheritance2 and also that nearly all their great civil wars throughout their national existence1 down to and including the last1 raged in and about the land of ,moron #ae--;except the last great battles of the last war which were fought about the ,hill ,ramah1 the ,hill ,cumorah of the ,nephites4 ,this fixes the center of ,jaredite civilization for a period of some sixteen centuries in ,central ,america4 ,true1 there is evidence that the ,jaredites occupied at one time very much of the north continent2 #af but the land ,moron1 in ,central ,america1 was the seat of government and the center of civilization of the great empire4 ,in the reign of the fourth king of the ,jaredites1 ,omer1 a conspiracy overthrew his authority2 and would doubtless have ended in his assassination2 but1 warned of ,god in a dream1 he departed out of the land with his family1 and traveled many days1 and came over by the place where the ,nephites were destroyed--that is1 by the ,hill ,cumorah1 south of ,lake ,ontario1 in the state of ,new ,york--and from thence eastward1 and came to a place that was called ,ablom1 by the sea shore1 and there he pitched his tent4 #ag ,here he was joined later by others who fled from the tyranny of those who had usurped the kingdom4 #ah ,this land of ,ablom1 the late ,elder ,orson ,pratt suggested1 was probably on the shore of the ,new ,england states4 #ai ,so far as known this marks the northern limits of ,jaredite occupancy of the north continent4 ,in the reign of the sixteenth king--in whose days the whole face of the land northward was covered with inhabitants1 #bj a great city was founded at the narrow neck of land1 that is1 at some point on the ,isthmus of ,panama4 ,that city marked the southern limits of the ,jaredite empire4 ,they never entered ,south ,america for the purpose of colonization1 but preserved it for a wilderness1 in which to get game4 #ba ,the width of the empire east and west1 north of the ,gulf of ,mexico1 may not be determined4 ,whether it extended from ocean to ocean1 or was confined to the ,missouri-,mississippi valleys1 and thence eastward south of the great lakes to the ,atlantic1 may not be positively asserted2 but personally ,i incline to the latter opinion1 notwithstanding the statement of the ,book of ,mormon to the effect that the whole face of the land northward was covered with inhabitants4 ,this ,i believe to be merely a general expression meant to convey the idea of a very extensive occupancy of the north continent by the ,jaredites2 but as it does not compel us to believe that the writer had in mind ,labrador1 the regions of ,hudson's ,bay and ,alaska1 so ,i do not think it requires us to believe that the ,jaredites occupied the ,rocky mountains1 and regions westward of them4 ,my principal reason for thinking that the ,jaredite empire was limited northward to the great lakes1 eastward from the ,rocky mountain slopes--northward of the ,gulf of ,mexico--to the ,atlantic1 and southward to the ,isthmus of ,panama1 is because--as will appear later--to that territory1 magnificent in its extent1 are more strictly confined what ,i regard as the evidences of ,jaredite occupancy4 ,extent and ,nature of ,civilization4 ,the extent of ,jaredite civilization would be coextensive with the territory they occupied1 the limits of which have already been considered4 ,of its nature one may judge somewhat when it is remembered that they were colonists from the ,euphrates valley1 shortly after the flood2 and very likely the nature of their buildings1 especially of their public buildings1 temples and other places of worship1 would take on the general features of the buildings in ancient ,babel modified in time1 of course1 by their own advancement in architecture4 ,that they were a prosperous and civilized race in their new home in the western hemisphere is quite clear4 ,in the reign of the fifth monarch1 ,emer1 the people had become strong and prosperous1 insomuch that they became exceeding rich1 having all manner of fruit1 and of grain1 and of silks1 and of fine linen1 and of gold1 and of silver1 and of precious things2 and also all manner of cattle1 of oxen1 and cows1 and of sheep and of swine1 and of goats1 and also many other kinds of animals which were useful for the food of man4 ,they also had horses1 and asses1 and there were elephants and cureloms and cumoms2 all of which were useful unto man2 99 99 99 and thus the ,lord did pour out his blessings upon this land ,north ,america1 which was choice above all other lands4 #bb ,in the reigns of ,riplakish and ,morianton1 their tenth and eleventh monarch respectively--there were twenty-eight legitimate kings in all1 besides a number of usurpers who held authority for a season in the ,jaredite nation--many spacious buildings were erected and many cities were built2 and the people became exceeding rich under those reigns2 while in the reign of the sixteenth monarch1 ,lib1 they seemed to have reached a very high state of civilization1 which extended over the whole face of the land northward3-- ,they were exceedingly industrious1 and they did buy and sell and traffic one with another1 that they might get gain4 ,and they did work in all manner of ore1 and they did make gold1 and silver1 and iron1 and brass1 and all manner of metals2 and they did dig it out of the earth2 wherefore1 they did cast up mighty heaps of earth to get ore1 of gold1 and of silver1 and of iron1 and of copper4 ,and they did work all manner of fine work4 ,and they did have silks1 and fine-twined linen2 and they did work all manner of cloth1 that they might clothe themselves from their nakedness4 ,and they did make all manner of tools to till the earth4 99 99 99 ,and they did make all manner of tools with which they did work their beasts4 ,and they did make all manner of weapons of war4 ,and they did work all manner of work of exceedingly curious workmanship4 ,and never could be a people more blessed than were they1 and more prospered by the hand of the ,lord4 #bc ,this represents a people far advanced in civilization1 in agriculture1 in mining1 in manufactures1 and in the arts4 ,this blessed condition was in fulfilment of the promise of the ,lord2 for when he called out of ,babel ,jared and his brother1 ,moriancumr1 the ,lord promised the latter that he would lead them into a land which is choice above all the lands of the earth4 ,and there will ,i bless thee and thy seed1 said the ,lord1 and raise up unto me of thy seed1 and of the seed of thy brother1 and they who shall go with thee1 a great nation4 ,and there shall be none greater than the nation which ,i will raise up unto me of thy seed1 upon all the face of the earth4 #bd ,if we take this brief glimpse of the civilization of the ,jaredite nation quoted above1 and couple it with the promise of ,god to ,moriancumr1 we have every reason to believe that the ,jaredites became a very great1 prosperous1 and powerful people4 ,their occupancy of the western world1 however1 was confined to the northern continent4 ,here their civilization rose1 and here it fell1 after enduring between fifteen and sixteen hundred years1 if we accept the ,hebrew chronology for the date of the confounding of language at ,babel4 ,numbers4 ,the number of ,jaredites1 of course1 varied at different periods of their long national existence4 ,in the reign of the fourth king1 ,omer1 a grievous civil war broke out among them which lasted for the space of many years1 and led to the destruction of nearly all the people of the kingdom4 #be ,from time to time they were subject to these civil wars which very naturally checked the increase in their population4 ,still they became very numerous1 sufficiently so1 as already shown1 to occupy an immense empire of country1 extending from the ,isthmus of ,panama northward1 including ,central ,america1 ,mexico1 thence northward to the great lakes1 and from the eastern slopes of the ,rocky mountains to the ,atlantic ,ocean4 ,in their last great civil war1 after it had raged many years1 we are informed by the sacred historian that there had been slain by the sword two millions of mighty men1 and also their wives and their children4 #bf ,upon which the late ,orson ,pratt remarks1 in a foot note on the passage1 that including the wives and children of the two millions of men who were slain1 the numbers would probably have been from ten to fifteen millions4 ,their numbers may have been even greater than this at other periods of their history4 ,literature4 ,the ,jaredites also had a literature4 ,when the ,nephite king ,mosiah translated some of their records--the twenty-four plates of ,ether1 brought by ,limhi's expedition from the land ,desolation--it is stated that they gave an account not only of the people who were destroyed 7the ,jaredites7 from the time they were destroyed back to the building of the great ,tower at the time the ,lord confounded the language of the people and scattered them abroad upon the face of the earth1 but they also gave an account of events beyond that time even up to the creation of ,adam4 ,it is only reasonable to conclude that the record engraven on gold plates by the last ,jaredite historian1 the prophet ,ether1 was but one of many such records among the ,jaredites2 for since they came from the ,euphrates valley with a knowledge of letters1 there is nothing in their history which would lead us to suppose they lost that knowledge2 but on the contrary everything to establish the fact that they continued in possession thereof2 for not only was ,ether1 the last of their prophets1 able to keep a record1 but the last of their kings1 ,coriantumer1 was able to write2 for in the days of the ,nephite king1 ,mosiah ,i1 a large stone was brought to him with engravings on it which he interpreted by means of ,urim and ,thummim2 and the record on the stone gave an account of ,coriantumer1 written by himself1 and the slain of his people2 and it also recorded a few words concerning his fathers and how his first parents came out from the ,tower at the time the ,lord confounded the language of the people4 ,so that1 from first to last1 the ,jaredites had a literature4 ,government4 ,before the demise of the two brothers1 ,moriancumr and ,jared1 who led the ,jaredite colony to the western hemisphere1 the people were called together and a kingly government founded4 ,monarchial government was not established without remonstrance from ,moriancumr1 who declared that such government would lead to the destruction of liberty4 #bg ,but ,jared pleaded that the people might have the kind of government they desired1 and proposed that they choose from among his own or his brother's sons the man they would have for king4 ,the first choice of the people was ,pagag1 the eldest son of ,moriancumr2 but influenced1 doubtless by the desire of his father that some other form of government should be established1 ,pagag declined the kingly honor4 ,so also several of the sons of ,jared declined to serve in that office1 perhaps for the same reason4 ,finally1 however1 one of the sons of ,jared1 ,orihah1 accepted and was anointed king4 ,the choice seems to have been a fortunate one1 for it is said that ,orihah walked humbly before the ,lord and he remembered the great things the ,lord had done for his fathers1 as also did his people2 and he executed judgment upon the land in righteousness all his days1 and his days were many4 #bh ,orihah was succeeded by his son ,kib1 in whose reign the first rebellion took place2 for the son of ,kib rebelled against him1 and even imprisoned the king until another son born in the old age of the captive monarch gathered sufficient strength to reinstate his father upon his throne4 ,this was the commencement of a long series of such rebellions in the ,jaredite dynasty4 ,of the nature of ,jaredite government little can be learned beyond the fact that after the election of the first king1 ,orihah1 the hereditary principle was recognized2 and although there were frequent contestants for the throne1 and occasional usurpations of the kingly authority1 the legitimate line of hereditary monarchs seems to have been reasonably well maintained4 ,it appears not to have been part of the constitution of the government1 however1 that the rights of heredity in the royal house should descend to the eldest son4 ,it frequently happened that the son born in the old age of the reigning monarch succeeded to the kingly power1 a course which perhaps accounts for the occasional rebellions of their brothers1 though the rights of the first born are never urged as the cause of the quarrels4 ,of the subordinate officers of the kingdom nothing is said2 by what means judicial powers were exercised we are not informed2 what the nature of the military organization was1 or what system of taxation was adopted1 we do not know4 ,on all these matters ,moroni's abridgment of the record of ,ether is silent4 ,religion4 ,relative to the religion that obtained among the ,jaredites1 we are left in well-nigh as much ignorance as we are concerning the nature of the subordinate feature of their government4 ,the two brothers1 ,moriancumr and ,jared1 seem to have been among the righteous people of ,babel2 so much so in fact that ,moriancumr was a very great prophet of ,god1 and had direct access to the source of revelation2 for by revelation he learned of ,god's intention to confound the language of the people1 and thus stop the impious work in which they were engaged1 when building the city of ,babel and its tower4 ,it is in consequence of their high favor with ,god that the language of these brothers and that of their friends was preserved2 and they with their families and friends1 led away to a land which was choice above all other lands1 where ,god fulfilled his promise to make of them a great nation4 ,it is doubtful if a prophet ever lived in ancient times who held more direct communion with ,god than did this prophet ,moriancumr4 ,it will be remembered that he took into the mountain sixteen transparent stones1 which he had prepared1 and asked ,god to make them luminous2 that in the journey of the colony across the great deep in the eight barges that had been prepared1 they might not be in darkness4 ,as the ,lord stretched forth his hand to touch the stones1 in compliance with the prophet's request1 the veil was taken from the eyes of ,moriancumr1 and he saw the finger of ,god1 and fell prostrate before him in fear4 ,but even his fear could not crush his faith4 ,he so far prevailed with ,god through faith that he beheld him face to face1 and talked with him as a man speaks with his friend4 ,that is1 he saw and talked with the pre-existent spirit of the ,lord ,jesus1 for the ,lord said to him3 ,this body which ye now behold is the body of my spirit1 99 99 99 and even as ,i appear unto thee to be in the spirit will ,i appear unto my people in the flesh4 ,a greater revelation of ,god than this1 previous to the coming of the ,lord ,jesus in the flesh1 no other prophet ever received4 ,moreover ,jesus said to him3 ,because of thy faith thou hast seen that ,i shall take upon me flesh and blood4 99 99 99 ,behold1 ,i am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people4 ,behold1 ,i am ,jesus ,christ4 99 99 99 ,in me shall all mankind have light1 and that eternally1 even those who shall believe on my name2 and they shall become my sons and my daughters4 99 99 99 ,seest thou that ye are created after mine image8 ,yea1 even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image4 #bi ,moriancumr was commanded not to suffer the things he had seen and heard to be revealed to the world until the ,lord ,jesus should have lived in the flesh4 ,he was commanded1 however1 to write what he had both seen and heard1 and seal it up that it might be preserved to come forth in due time to the children of men4 ,in addition to the revelation of his own person to him1 the ,lord revealed to the prophet ,moriancumr all the inhabitants of the earth which had been1 and also all that would be2 and he withheld them not from his sight1 even unto the ends of the earth4 ,while ,moriancumr was prohibited from making known to his people the great things thus revealed to him1 his knowledge of the things of ,god must have given him wonderful power and influence in teaching his people the righteous truths which are fundamental and universal4 ,this confidence and strength must also have been imparted to others1 for certain it is that the ,jaredites had prophets of great power sent to them from time to time to teach and reprove them2 and even some of their monarchs were shining examples of spiritual power and righteousness4 ,the fifth monarch1 ,emer1 possessed such faith that he1 like ,moriancumr1 had the blessed privilege of seeing the ,son of ,righteousness1 and did rejoice and glory in his day4 #cj ,and of the whole people it is said1 never could there be a people more blessed than were they1 and more prospered by the hand of the ,lord4 #ca ,all of which is good evidence that the ,jaredites at this time 7in the reign of ,lib1 the sixteenth monarch7 were a righteous people2 and this righteousness was doubtless brought about by the preaching of faith in ,god and his laws as only ,moriancumr and other prophets whom ,god raised up to the ,jaredite nation could preach it4 ,but it was with the ,jaredites as with other nations4 ,their righteousness was not continuous1 and it is more than likely that their faith ebbed and flowed as the faith of all people seems to ebb and flow4 ,there were times when the prophets of ,god were rejected2 when their severest warnings of coming calamities seemed to produce no effect4 ,in the reign of ,com and ,shiblom1 #cb the twenty-first and twenty-second monarchs of the ,jaredites1 respectively1 a great calamity befell the people1 and the prophets seized upon this circumstance to declare that even greater destruction should befall them1 and predicted that the bones of the ,jaredites should become a heap of earth upon the face of the land except they should repent of their wickedness4 ,this declaration1 so far from bringing the people to repentance1 filled them with rage against the prophets1 and they sought to destroy them4 ,even the priesthood itself seems at times to have become corrupted2 for in the closing years of the monarchy1 in the reign of ,coriantumr1 the high priest is charged with murdering one ,gilead as the latter sat upon his throne4 ,beyond these few facts nothing can be learned from the abridged record of the ,jaredites concerning the religion of that people1 except that unto some of their prophets1 just previous to the destruction of both the nation and the people1 was revealed the fact that1 unless the ,jaredites repented1 the ,lord ,god would execute judgment against them to their utter destruction1 and that he would bring forth another people to possess the land1 after the manner in which he had brought forth their fathers from ,babel4 ,unto ,ether1 the last of the ,jaredite prophets1 the son of ,coriantor1 the last king but one of the ,jaredites1 the same truth was revealed4 ,to him1 also1 was shown the days of ,christ2 and it was revealed to him that upon this blessed land of the western hemisphere would be built up to the remnant of the house of ,joseph1 a ,holy ,city1 to be called ,new ,jerusalem1 #cc or ,zion2 a city of refuge for the righteous in the last days4 ,these prophecies1 ,i am aware1 throw no light upon the nature of the ,jaredite religion1 but they do establish the fact that ,god sent forth inspired men among them1 to warn them of the calamities that were decreed against them because of their decline from righteousness2 and that fact is an important religious truth4 ,history4 ,we have in the ,book of ,mormon but the merest outline of the history of the ,jaredites2 and this outline is learned from the abridgment made by ,moroni1 of the ,book of ,ether4 ,ether was the last of the ,jaredite prophets1 and witnessed the destruction of the race4 ,his record1 the ,book of ,ether1 was engraven upon twenty-four plates of gold1 found by the ,nephites in the second century ,b4 ,c41 and finally abridged by ,moroni1 and made a part of the ,book of ,mormon1 which abridgment ,joseph ,smith translated into the ,english language4 ,it stands to reason that the record of ,ether1 even if we had it in full1 since it consisted of but twenty-four plates1 could be but a very incomplete and imperfect history of so great a people and of so long a period of time--extending through sixteen centuries4 ,yet in the ,book of ,mormon there is but an abridgment of ,ether's record2 and that abridgment so brief that ,moroni1 in speaking of it1 says that he had not written an hundredth part of it4 #cd ,so it is not to be wondered at that the description of the ,jaredite government and civilization is so very unsatisfactory4 ,but while all this is admitted1 the fact is revealed1 in ,moroni's abridgment of ,ether's record1 that from something like twenty-two hundred years before ,christ1 to some six hundred years before ,christ1 the ,north continent of the western world was occupied by a civilized race of people1 and that a mighty nation dwelt upon that land through all these centuries2 a nation at times highly favored of ,god1 and this because of their righteousness2 and then again reduced well nigh to anarchy1 with their civilization bordering upon dissolution in consequence of great wickedness and misrule2 emphasizing the great truth1 to which the history of all nations bears witness1 that righteousness exalteth a nation1 while sin is a reproach to any people4 ,and this is much1 and perhaps the sum-total to be learned from the history of nations4 ,naturally one is tempted to draw a parallel between this old ,american nation and various other nations in the old world which paralleled its existence4 ,surely it is interesting to think that while empires were founding in ,assyria and ,egypt and ,babylon2 that while ,greece was passing through her heroic ages1 in the western world also an enlightened race was building up a national existence and struggling with those problems which through all times and among all people engage the intelligent attention of mankind4 ,also it would be interesting to note that about the time of the capture of ,nineveh1 which marked the fall of the ,assyrian empire1 and but a little before the destruction of the kingdom of ,judah1 here in our western world an empire which had endured the storms of ages was passing away4 ,still the main fact to be kept in mind in this work is that such a nation1 coeval with the old empires of the eastern world1 and with a civilization no less magnificent1 existed according to the ,book of ,mormon in our great northern continent1 with its center of civilization in that part of the continent we call ,central ,america4 ,proof of the existence of such an empire1 of such a civilization1 and having such a location1 will be strong collateral evidence for the truth of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,,ii4 ,,the ,,nephites4 ,lehi's ,colony4 ,lehi was one of the many prophets at ,jerusalem who predicted the calamities which befell the ,jewish nation on the second invasion of ,judea by ,king ,nebuchadnezzar1 early in the sixth century ,b4 ,c4 #ce ,lehi incurred the wrath of that ungodly people and was warned of ,god in a vision to depart from ,jerusalem with his family1 and was also promised that inasmuch as he would keep the commandments of ,god he should be led to a land of promise4 #cf ,from the wilderness where ,lehi temporarily dwelt1 two expeditions to the fated city were made by his sons3 one to obtain a genealogy of his fathers1 and the ,jewish scriptures 7which resulted also in adding one more to the colony in the person of ,zoram1 a servant of ,laban1 a keeper of the ,jewish records72 the second1 to induce one ,ishmael and his family to join ,lehi's colony in their exodus from ,jerusalem and journey to the promised land4 ,in both of these expeditions they were successful in achieving their object4 ,the colony now consisted of some eighteen adult persons and a number of children4 #cg ,from the ,book of ,mormon and the word of the ,lord to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith it is learned that ,lehi's colony traversed from ,jerusalem1 nearly a southeast direction1 until they came to the nineteenth degree north latitude2 thence nearly east to the sea of ,arabia4 #ch ,here the colony built a ship in which to cross the great waters1 which separated them from the land of promise4 ,they sailed in a southeasterly direction1 and landed on the continent of ,south ,america1 in about thirty degrees south latitude4 #ci ,from ,jerusalem their journey to the promised land is supposed to have occupied about twelve years4 #dj ,on their arrival at the land of promise1 the colony went forth upon it1 and began to till the earth4 ,the seeds brought from the land of ,jerusalem were planted and thrived exceedingly well4 ,the colony also found the land of promise well furnished with beasts of every kind2 with the cow1 the ass1 the horse1 the goat1 and all manner of wild animals which were for the use of man4 ,they also found all manner of ore1 especially gold1 silver1 and copper4 ,here they dwelt for some time in prosperity1 but scarcely in peace2 for there were dissensions in the colony4 ,the elder sons of ,lehi1 ,laman and ,lemuel1 were of a jealous and skeptical turn of mind2 and from the beginning had little faith in the visions of their father1 and the prophecies concerning the destruction of ,jerusalem4 ,nephi1 the younger brother1 on the other hand1 was a man of profound faith in his father's revelations1 and in the things of ,god1 and sought for a personal knowledge of the things revealed4 ,this knowledge he received through the revelations of ,god1 which1 coupled with the native qualities that go to the making of a leader of men1 he became1 even before the death of his father1 the real head of the community4 ,this aroused the displeasure and even hatred of the elder brothers1 who1 on various occasions sought his overthrow and even his life4 ,this division between the sons of ,lehi extended also to the community1 and made a division of the colony ultimately inevitable4 ,accordingly1 after some years spent upon the promised land1 ,nephi was warned by the ,lord to depart from his elder brothers into the wilderness1 with all those whom he could persuade to go with him4 ,neither the distance nor the direction of this first remove of the righteous part of the colony from the more wicked part1 can be definitely determined from the ,book of ,mormon1 except from the location of the people of ,nephi in subsequent times2 and as this location was far northward from their first place of landing1 it is generally supposed that this first remove was northward4 ,perhaps at the first the partisans of the elder brothers were well contented to be relieved of the presence of the younger brother and his following2 but for no great length of time2 for they followed in their wake1 and before forty years had passed away 7supposedly from the time that ,lehi's colony left ,jerusalem2 and if so then twenty-eight years from their landing in the western hemisphere7 the two divisions of the colony had wars and contentions with each other4 #da ,nephi1 as would reasonably be expected1 took with him the ,jewish scriptures which had been brought from ,jerusalem1 the genealogy of his fathers1 together with all the records kept upon the journey to the promised land4 ,nephi's policy tended to civilization2 for he taught his people to erect buildings1 and to work all manner of wood and of iron and of copper and of brass and of steel and of gold and of silver and of precious ores1 which were in great abundance4 ,he also built a temple1 somewhat after the pattern of the temple of ,solomon1 and ordained as priests his two younger brothers1 ,jacob and ,joseph1 born to ,lehi in the wilderness1 after the departure of the colony from ,jerusalem4 ,notwithstanding the protests of ,nephi against such a proceeding his people insisted upon his becoming their king1 an office he discharged all his days purely in the interest of his people4 ,his policy inculcated industry and encouragement of arts and civilization4 ,knowing1 however1 the implacable hatred of his elder brothers1 ,nephi did not fail to make preparations for vigorous defense in the event of war1 and accordingly manufactured both arms and armor for his people4 ,in consequence of the high esteem in which ,nephi was held1 the kings of the ,nephites thereafter took the name of ,nephi1 as their official or regal name1 and were distinguished by being called ,,ii ,nephi1 ,,iii ,nephi1 ,,iv ,nephi1 and so following4 ,while the course of ,nephi and his people tended to the establishment of civilization1 the course of the elder brothers and their following tended to barbarism4 ,they delighted in idleness2 and as they did not like to retain ,god in their knowledge1 ,god gave them over to a reprobate mind2 and a curse fell upon them1 even the curse of a dark skin1 so that they became loathsome in appearance as in habits4 ,as the followers of ,nephi took upon them the name of their leader and were called ,nephites1 so1 in course of time1 the followers of the elder brothers took the name of their leader and were called ,lamanites1 after ,laman1 the eldest son of ,lehi2 hence two people from ,lehi's colony1 ,nephites and ,lamanites4 ,the ,lamanites lived upon the fruits of the chase1 hence were nomadic and predatory in their habits4 ,they were full of envy1 strife1 malice2 they were fierce1 warlike1 murderous4 ,between these two peoples there was almost constant warfare4 ,the ,lamanites the more fierce and numerous2 the ,nephites fewer in number1 but better armed1 and protected by armor2 the former were the aggressors1 the latter acted on the defensive1 and usually were conscious of the better cause4 ,at times1 however1 the ,nephites lapsed into wickedness and on such occasion the ,lamanites truly were a scourge unto them1 in fulfilment of ,god's word to that effect4 #db ,a particularly severe judgment is said to have overtaken the ,nephites in the first quarter of the fourth century from the time ,lehi left ,jerusalem1 in which the more wicked part of the people were destroyed4 #dc ,some time in the fourth century from the time ,lehi left ,jerusalem occurred also a second great removal of righteous ,nephites from the midst of their brethren and the ,lamanites4 ,the first separation in ,lehi's colony1 it will be remembered1 was made under the ,i ,nephi4 ,the second was made under the prophet-king known as ,i ,mosiah1 and resulted in the ,nephites finding the people of ,zarahemla1 of which more hereafter4 ,it is supposed that the first remove of the ,nephites from their brethren covered no great distance2 as only a few years passed before they were in contact with one another again1 at least in warfare4 ,indeed ,elder ,george ,reynolds1 in his ,dictionary of the ,book of ,mormon1 holds to the theory that there may have been several removals of the ,nephites between their first separation from the ,lamanites under the ,first ,nephi1 and the very noted hegira under ,mosiah ,i1 about the fourth century of the ,nephite annals4 #dd ,the author of the ,dictionary urges as the reasons for his theory that it would be inconsistent with the story of the record 7,book of ,mormon71 and with good judgment1 to believe that in their first journey the ,nephites traveled as far north as they were found four hundred years later1 #de when the very noted remove was made under ,mosiah ,i4 ,i believe the reasons of ,elder ,reynolds are quite sufficient for his theory4 ,the movements of the ,nephites were most probably as follows3 ,whatever of conquest was made by the ,lamanites upon ,nephite possessions1 during the first four centuries of their occupancy of the promised land1 was made upon their southern borders4 ,on the other hand the ,nephite settlements were extended on that side of their possessions least likely to be assailed by their enemies1 where there was least danger1 that is1 on the north4 ,these two circumstances combined to give their colonization movement a northerly direction2 until about the close of the fourth ,nephite century they are supposed to have been in possession of that part of the continent of ,south ,america corresponding to the country now called ,ecuador4 #df ,this country that the ,nephites occupied at the close of the fourth century of their annals1 as also that which they had slowly colonized1 and from time to time abandoned to their enemies--the whole distance from the place selected by the ,first ,nephi after separating from his brothers to the place they occupied at the close of the fourth century of their annals--this whole country--the ,nephites called the ,land of ,nephi1 or the ,land of their father's first inheritance4 #dg ,the story of the second great hegira of righteous ,nephites from their less righteous brethren is a very brief one4 ,it was undertaken in response to a warning and commandment of ,god to one ,mosiah1 who is celebrated in ,nephite history as the first king of what ,i shall call the ,nephite-,zarahemla nation--,mosiah ,i4 ,how great the distance covered in this second great hegira of the ,nephites may not be definitely determined2 but later a colony under conditions somewhat similar1 that is1 encumbered with women and children1 flocks1 herds1 and quantities of grain1 etc41 covered practically the same journey in about twenty-two days1 in two separate stages2 one of eight and the other of fourteen days4 #dh ,mosiah's people1 when they reached the great and beautiful valley drained by what was subsequently called among the ,nephites the river ,sidon1 #di found it inhabited by a numerous people1 whose chief city was named 7at least from that time forth7 ,zarahemla4 ,at this point it becomes necessary to suspend the account of ,mosiah's people in order to say a word of the people inhabiting the valley of the ,sidon1 for they are the descendants of the third colony which1 according to the ,book of ,mormon1 came to the land of promise4 ,mulek's ,colony4 ,according to the ,bible narrative of ,king ,zedekiah's reign1 when ,jerusalem fell into the hands of the king of ,babylon 7#ehh ,b4 ,c471 ,king ,zedekiah himself well-nigh made his escape4 ,for when the city was broken up1 and all the men of war fled by night1 by the way of the gate between two walls1 which is by the king's garden1 the king went the way toward the plain4 ,but his flight being betrayed by an enemy among his own people1 #ej the army of the ,chaldeans pursued ,zedekiah early in the morning and overtook him in the plain near ,jericho4 ,the king's army was scattered from him at the time he was captured2 for those friends and captains of ,zedekiah who had fled out of the city with him1 when they saw their enemies near them1 they left him1 and dispersed themselves1 some one way and some another1 and every one resolved to save himself2 so the enemy took ,zedekiah alive1 when he was deserted by all but a few1 with his children and his wives4 #ea ,the unfortunate king was taken before the king of ,babylon1 whose headquarters were then at ,riblah1 in ,syria1 where they gave judgment upon him4 ,the sons of ,zedekiah were slain in his presence2 after which his eyes were put out2 he was bound in fetters and carried to ,babylon1 where subsequently he died4 ,but among the king's friends who escaped were a number who carried with them one of ,zedekiah's sons1 named ,mulek2 and according to the ,book of ,mormon1 this company journeyed in the wilderness and were brought by the hand of the ,lord across the great waters1 #eb into the western hemisphere4 ,it is learned by an incidental remark in the ,book of ,mormon that the colony of ,mulek landed somewhere in the north continent of the western hemisphere2 and for that reason the north continent was called ,mulek1 by the ,nephites2 and the south continent1 ,lehi2 and this for the reason that the ,lord brought the colonies bearing these names to the north and south land #ec respectively4 ,how many years the colony of ,mulek traveled1 and in what direction1 cannot be learned from the ,book of ,mormon4 ,but it is quite evident that they landed in the north continent of the western world1 most likely in the southern part of that continent1 say in the region of what is known in modern times as ,central ,america4 #ed ,thence they drifted southward to the valley of the ,sidon1 where they were found by the migrating hosts of ,nephites under ,mosiah4 ,it was a ,nephite custom to call their cities and even their villages after the name of him who founded them4 #ee ,thus the first city founded by the first ,nephi1 was called ,nephi1 or the ,city of ,nephi2 the city founded by ,melek was called the ,city of ,melek2 and so following4 ,from this custom arose another1 that of naming large districts of country after the chief city therein3 thus the country in which the city of ,nephi was located was called the land of ,nephi2 the country surrounding the city of ,melek was called the land of ,melek2 see also the land of ,gideon2 the land of ,ammonihah1 etc4 ,following this custom1 when the migrating ,nephites under ,mosiah came into the valley of ,sidon1 and found the chief man of its principal city to be named ,zarahemla1 they straightway called the city ,the ,city of ,zarahemla2 and ever afterwards among them the surrounding country was called the land of ,zarahemla4 ,mulek's colony--the name is derived from that of the young prince it carried with it1 not because he was really the leader of the colony1 but doubtless out of a sense of loyalty and national pride on the part of those who would regard themselves as being entrusted by ,providence with the fortunes of a prince of ,israel--,mulek's colony1 ,i repeat1 in their hurried flight from ,judea brought no records with them1 no scriptures1 no genealogies4 ,the circumstances under which they made their escape from the ,babylonians considered1 it is not difficult to understand that records1 scriptures1 concerned them not at all4 ,flight1 escape alone occupied their thoughts4 ,in consequence of having no records1 no written language of any kind1 their language was much changed in the course of the centuries that had elapsed since their departure from ,judea4 ,so much so1 in fact1 that the ,nephites could not understand them2 neither could the people of ,zarahemla understand the ,nephites1 until instructed by the latter in the ,nephite tongue4 ,moreover1 having been without both written scriptures and a living priesthood for centuries1 ,zarahemla's people not only no longer believed in ,god1 but denied even the existence of a ,creator4 ,in a word1 through ignorance and the demoralizing influence of contentions and internecine wars1 they had deteriorated to semi-civilized and irreligious conditions4 ,all this1 however1 in the course of time was changed4 ,the people of ,zarahemla soon learned the ,nephite language1 it being a language akin1 of course1 to their own4 ,they were also taught in the ,nephite faith2 and instructed in the scriptures which ,lehi's colony had brought with them from ,jerusalem1 and which ,mosiah had brought with him in his northward journey4 ,the happiest results followed this union of the two peoples4 ,the people of ,mosiah were so augmented in numbers by the addition of their new found friends that they could feel secure from aggressions of the ,lamanites1 who1 in time1 might follow them2 and1 on the other hand1 to the people of ,zarahemla1 the ,nephites brought the knowledge of ,god2 a true priesthood2 the scriptures of their forefathers2 government2 civilization4 ,these two peoples1 really of the same race1 be it remembered1 readily united under the ,nephite form of government1 a limited1 and at times elective1 monarchy2 ,mosiah1 the ,nephite leader1 notwithstanding the people of ,zarahemla were the more numerous1 being chosen king4 ,the colony of ,mulek previous to their removal southward from the place of their first landing1 were visited by the sole survivor of the ,jaredite race1 ,coriantumr1 who resided some nine months with them before his demise4 ,shortly after the arrival of the ,nephites under ,mosiah in ,zarahemla1 a large stone with engravings upon it was brought to the king2 and ,mosiah ,i1 being a ,seer1 translated the engravings upon the stone and learned that they gave an account of ,coriantumr1 whom ,mulek's colony found2 and of his forefathers who came from the tower of ,babel1 at the confusion of languages2 and of the goodness and severity of ,god upon them2 and of the destruction that befell them because of their wickedness4 #ef ,afterwards a more perfect knowledge of the ,jaredites was obtained through the twenty-four plates of ,ether1 found by ,limhi's expedition into the north land 7noted before72 #eg and which were translated by ,king ,mosiah ,,ii1 who was also a seer4 ,the colony of ,mulek was touched by the other two peoples who had been brought by the providences of ,god to the western hemisphere2 the ,jaredite race1 through its sole survivor1 ,coriantumr2 and the ,nephite race1 through the people of ,mosiah ,i4 ,it should be remarked of these three peoples that they were really of a common race4 ,the two brothers who had led the colony from the ,tower of ,babel1 ,jared and ,moriancumr1 were doubtless descendants of ,shem1 the son of ,noah4 #eh ,the colony of ,mulek was unquestionably made up of ,jews1 hence descendants of ,shem2 ,lehi's colony was made up of descendants of ,manasseh and ,ephraim1 #ei sons of ,joseph1 the son of ,jacob1 the son of ,isaac1 the son of ,abraham1 who was a direct descendant of ,shem4 #fj ,thus eventually the races which1 according to the ,book of ,mormon1 have been brought to the western hemisphere under the providences of ,god1 are traceable to one source1 to one race2 and may be expected to possess certain qualities which will be in harmony with the fact of racial unity4 ,footnotes #a4 ,it is to be understood that in this chapter ,i deal merely with the migrations spoken of in the ,book of ,mormon2 and by no means enter upon consideration of the migrations to the western hemisphere during the last two thousand years4 #b4 ,see sixth letter of ,oliver ,cowdery on ,early ,scenes and ,incidents in the ,church1 ,messenger and ,advocate1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #aab1 #ahce1 where the above name is given as the name of the ,brother of ,jared4 #c4 ,such is the theory of the late ,orson ,pratt4 ,see foot note h ,book of ,ether1 chap4 #b4 ,there is nothing in the ,book of ,ether which positively determines the course of their travels1 but as there is some reason for believing that the ,jaredite colony landed on the western shores of ,north ,america1 there seems to be some grounds for the belief that they were led eastward across the continent of ,asia to the shores of what is to us the ,pacific ,ocean4 #d4 ,according to ,orson ,pratt4 ,see foot note h1 ,book of ,ether1 chap4 #f3ab4 ,also ,book of ,ether1 chap4 #g3f4 #e4 ,ether #f3ah4 #f4 ,ether #g3f4 #g4 ,ether #g3af4 #h4 ,alma #bb3cb4 #i4 ,ether #g3f1 #af1 #ag4 #aj4 ,note h on ,ether #f3ab4 #aa4 ,dictionary of the ,book of ,mormon1 ,art4 ,mormon1 p4 #bde4 #ab4 ,mosiah #ba3be1 #bf4 #ac4 ,mosiah #h3h-aa1 also ,helaman #c3f4 #ad4 ,mosiah #g3h-aa4 ,these plates were afterwards translated by the ,nephite ,king1 ,mosiah1 who was a seer2 that is1 one who could use ,urim and ,thummim4 ,the record which he translated gave an account of the people who were destroyed1 from the time they were destroyed back to the building of the great ,tower1 at the time the ,lord confounded the language of the people4 99 99 99 ,yea1 and even from that time until the creation of ,adam4 7,mosiah #bh3aa1 #ag74 ,subsequently ,moroni gave an abridged translation of the same record which he called the ,book of ,ether1 ,ether being the name of the prophet who wrote the book so translated4 #ae4 ,see the whole ,book of ,ether4 #af4 ,ether #aj3ba4 #ag4 ,ether #i3a-c4 #ah4 ,ether #i3i4 #ai4 ,see foot note to ,ether #i3c4 #bj4 ,ether #aj3ba4 #ba4 ,ether #aj3ba4 #bb4 ,ether #i3af-bj4 #bc4 ,ether #aj3bb-bh4 #bd4 ,ether #a3db1 #dc4 #be4 ,ether #i4 #bf4 ,ether #ae and foot note b p4 #fjf4 #bg4 ,ether #f3bc4 #bh4 ,ether #f and #g4 #bi4 ,ether #c3i-af4 #cj4 ,ether #i3bb4 #ca4 ,ibid4 #aj3bh4 #cb4 ,the orthography of the word cannot be determined1 it is spelled ,shiblom in the passage above1 and ,shiblon in another4 #cc4 ,ether #ac4 #cd4 ,ether #ae3cc4 #ce4 ,the story of ,zedekiah's reign in ,jerusalem1 the conditions that obtained among the people1 and the warnings which ,god sent by many prophets 7,lehi among the rest7 is thus told in ,,ii ,chronicles1 chapter #cf3 ,zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign1 and reigned eleven years in ,jerusalem4 ,and he did that which was evil in the sight of the ,lord his ,god1 and humbled not himself before ,jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the ,lord4 ,and he also rebelled against king ,nebuchadnezzar1 who had made him swear by ,god3 but he stiffened his neck1 and hardened his heart from turning unto the ,lord ,god of ,israel4 ,moreover all the chief of the priests1 and the people1 transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen2 and polluted the house of the ,lord which he had hallowed in ,jerusalem4 ,and the ,lord ,god of their fathers sent to them by his messengers1 rising up betimes1 and sending2 because he had compassion on his people1 and on his dwelling place3 but they mocked the messengers of ,god1 and despised his words1 and misused his prophets1 until the wrath of the ,lord arose against his people1 till there was no remedy4 #cf4 ,nephi #b3bj4 #cg4 ,see synopsis ,first ,book ,nephi1 heading chapter #a4 #ch4 ,richards' and ,little's ,compendium1 p4 #bgc2 ,i ,nephi #af3ac1 #ad1 #dc4 ,also chapter #ag3a4 #ci4 ,richards' and ,little's ,compendium1 p4 #bgb-bgc4 ,the accuracy of this is questioned4 #dj4 ,reynolds1 ,b4 ,m4 ,chronology1 ,richards' and ,little's ,compendium1 p4 #bgc4 #da4 ,,ii ,nephi #e4 #db4 ,,ii ,nephi #e3bb-be4 #dc4 ,book of ,omni #d3g4 #dd4 ,that is1 four hundred years from the time ,lehi left ,jerusalem the latter event being #fjj ,b4 ,c4 #de4 ,dict4 of ,b4 of ,m41 ,art4 ,nephi1 ,land of p4 #bie4 #df4 ,such is the theory of ,orson ,pratt--see note g1 ,book of ,omni1 old edition ,book of ,mormon4 #dg4 ,,ii ,nephi #e3h1 ,omni #a3ab1 #bg4 ,mos4 #g4 ,mos4 #i3a4 ,see collection of ref4 under b4 ,,ii ,nephi #e4 #dh4 ,see ,mosiah #bc3a-e1 #ai4 ,also ,mos4 #bd3bj1 #bd4 ,also foot note t in ch4 #bd1 by ,orson ,pratt2 and ,dict4 of ,b4 of ,m41 pp4 #aih1 #aii4 #di4 ,it is supposed by some that this ,river ,sidon is identical with the ,river ,magdalena in the northern part of ,south ,america4 7,see ,dictionary of ,book of ,mormon1 p4 #cci1 and ,orson ,pratt's note g1 ,alma #b3ae old edition47 #ej4 ,josephus1 ,antiq41 bk4 #aj3h4 #ea4 ,josephus1 ,antiq41 bk4 #aj1 ch4 #h4 ,see also ,,ii ,kings1 ch4 #be4 #eb4 ,omni #a3ad-ag4 #ec4 ,helaman #f3aj4 #ed4 ,this is upon the supposition that what is known among the ,nephites especially as the land ,desolation1 in contradistinction to the ,nephite land ,bountiful1 is identical with the region known to moderns as ,central ,america2 and the consideration of ,alma #bb3bi-cc4 ,see also ,dict4 ,b4 of ,m41 p4 #aaj4 #ee4 ,alma #h3g4 #ef4 ,omni #a3bj-bb4 #eg4 ,mosiah #bh3g-ad and ,mosiah #bh4 #eh4 ,sec ,dictionary of ,b4 of ,m4 7,reynolds71 p4 #afe et seq4 #ei4 ,lehi is plainly declared to be of the stock of ,manasseh1 7,alma #aj3c72 and it is supposed that ,ishmael and his family1 who joined ,lehi and his family in the journey to the promised land1 were of the tribe of ,ephraim 7,see ,dict4 ,book of ,mormon1 p4 #aee1 ,art4 ,ishmael74 ,there are promises respecting ,ephraim which cannot be realized except through the seed of ,ephraim dwelling upon the land of ,america4 ,see ,orson ,pratt's ,prophetic ,evidences of the ,book of ,mormon4 #fj4 ,see ,gen4 #aa4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,book ,,of ,,mormon ,,lands4 #a ,the location of many cities mentioned in the ,book of ,mormon1 and the districts of ,nephite lands that would correspond to departments and provinces in the political nomenclature of modern times1 may not now be definitely fixed upon4 ,this circumstance arises largely out of the fact that the ,nephite historians have said nothing explicitly as to the extent of those mighty changes which were wrought in the form of ,book of ,mormon countries by the awful convulsions of nature at the time of ,messiah's crucifixion4 ,that the changes were considerable no one can question2 for while certain allowances must always be made for language used in describing such events as then took place1 the very definite statements of the ,book of ,mormon with reference to these events leave no room for doubt as to the great transformations wrought in the physical aspects of the land by those great cataclysms4 ,three different writers make mention of the physical changes wrought at ,messiah's crucifixion1 two prophetically1 and one gives two descriptions of the physical changes that took place through the convulsions of nature4 ,i remark1 in passing1 that it must be remembered that the prophetic descriptions must be accounted as real as the historical descriptions2 for as the prophets saw it1 so indeed it came to pass4 ,the first ,nephi1 in his description of the great catacylsms1 says3 ,i saw a mist of darkness on the face of the land of promise2 and ,i saw lightnings1 and ,i heard thunderings1 and earthquakes1 and all manner of tumultuous noises2 and ,i saw the earth and the rocks1 that they rent2 and ,i saw mountains tumbling into pieces2 and ,i saw the plains of the earth1 that they were broken up2 and ,i saw many cities that they were sunk2 and ,i saw many that they were burned with fire2 and ,i saw many that did tumble to the earth1 because of the quaking thereof4 #b ,the following is the prophet ,samuel's description of the physical changes in the western hemisphere at the crucifixion of ,christ3 ,behold1 in that day that he shall suffer death1 the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you2 and also the moon and the stars2 and there shall be no light upon the face of this land1 even from the time that he shall suffer death1 for the space of three days1 to the time that he shall rise again from the dead4 ,yea1 at the time that he shall yield up the ghost there shall be thunderings and lightnings for the space of many hours1 and the earth shall shake and tremble2 and the rocks which are upon the face of this earth1 which are both above the earth surface and beneath1 which ye know at this time are solid1 or the more part of it is one solid mass1 shall be broken up2 yea1 they shall be rent in twain1 and shall ever after be found in seams and in cracks1 and in broken fragments upon the face of the whole earth1 yea1 both above the earth and beneath4 ,and behold1 there shall be great tempests1 and there shall be many mountains laid low1 like unto a valley1 and there shall be many places which are now called valleys which shall become mountains1 whose height is great4 ,and many highways shall be broken up1 and many cities shall become desolate4 99 99 99 ,and behold1 thus hath the angel spoken unto me2 for he said unto me that there should be thunderings and lightnings for the space of many hours4 ,and he said unto me that while the thunder and the lightning lasted1 and the tempests1 that these things should be1 and that darkness should cover the face of the whole earth for the space of three days4 #c ,mormon's abridged description of the great cataclysms1 after they had occurred1 taken from the book of ,,iii ,nephi1 is as follows3 ,and it came to pass in the thirty and fourth year1 in the first month1 on the fourth day of the month1 there arose a great storm1 such an one as never had been known in all the land4 ,and there was also a great and terrible tempest2 and there was terrible thunder1 insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder4 99 99 99 ,and the city of ,zarahemla did take fire4 ,and the city of ,moroni did sink into the depths of the sea1 and the inhabitants thereof were drowned4 ,and the earth was carried up upon the city of ,moronihah that in the place of the city there became a great mountain4 ,and there was a great and terrible destruction in the land southward4 ,but behold1 there was a more great and terrible destruction in the land northward2 for behold1 the whole face of the land was changed1 because of the tempest and the whirlwinds1 and the thunderings and the lightnings1 and the exceeding great quaking of the whole earth2 and the highways were broken up1 and the level roads were spoiled1 and many smooth places became rough4 ,and many great and notable cities were sunk1 and many were burned1 and many were shaken till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth1 and the inhabitants thereof were slain1 and the places were left desolate4 ,and there were some cities which remained2 but the damage thereof was exceeding great1 and there were many in them who were slain4 99 99 99 ,and thus the face of the whole earth became deformed1 because of the tempests1 and the thunderings1 and the lightnings1 and the quaking of the earth4 ,and behold1 the rocks were rent in twain2 they were broken up upon the face of the whole earth1 insomuch that they were found in broken fragments1 and in seams and in cracks1 upon all the face of the land4 #d ,the second description of these truly awful occurrences in ,,iii ,nephi is one that is attributed to the voice of ,god heard throughout the land by the survivors of that dreadful time3 ,and it came to pass that there was a voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth1 upon all the face of this land1 crying3 ,wo1 wo1 wo unto this people2 wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth except they shall repent2 for the devil laugheth1 and his angels rejoice1 because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my people2 and it is because of their iniquity and abominations that they are fallen6 ,behold1 that great city of ,zarahemla have ,i burned with fire1 and the inhabitants thereof4 ,and behold1 that great city of ,moroni have ,i caused to be sunk in the depths of the sea1 and the inhabitants thereof to be drowned4 ,and behold1 that great city ,moronihah have ,i covered with earth1 and the inhabitants thereof1 to hide their iniquities and their abominations from before my face1 that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against them4 ,and behold1 the city of ,gilgal have ,i caused to be sunk1 and the inhabitants thereof to be buried up in the depths of the earth2 yea1 and the city of ,onihah and the inhabitants thereof1 and the city of ,mocum and the inhabitants thereof1 and the city of ,jerusalem and the inhabitants thereof1 and waters have ,i caused to come up in the stead thereof1 to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face1 that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come up any more unto me against them4 ,and behold1 the city of ,gadiandi1 and the city of ,gadiomnah1 and the city of ,jacob1 and the city of ,gimgimno1 all these have ,i caused to be sunk1 and made hills and valleys in the places thereof2 and the inhabitants thereof have ,i buried up in the depths of the earth1 to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face1 that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up any more unto me against them4 99 99 99 ,and many great destructions have ,i caused to come upon this land1 and upon this people1 because of their wickedness and their abominations4 #e ,but notwithstanding all that is said in these passages about the mighty changes which took place in the land1 nothing is set down that helps us to determine definitely the nature of the physical changes as affecting ,nephite lands4 ,i believe1 however1 those changes were considerable2 enough at least to render worthless1 except in a very general way1 the conjectures sometimes made respecting ,nephite lands and cities4 ,i am aware that the science of geology1 while clearly granting the instability of our earth's crust1 quite generally insists that the uplifting of continents and mountain ranges from the ocean's bed1 and the subsidence of islands and continents into the ocean bottom is accomplished so slowly that long geological periods are required for the changes effected2 and that the periods of time are so great that it is useless to measure them in time of which years shall be regarded as units4 #f ,but notwithstanding the very sound reasons1 in the main1 which are advanced for the slowness of this work1 there is evidence of the fact1 and also respectable authority for it1 that sometimes very great changes of wide extent are made quite suddenly4 ,sir ,charles ,lyell says3 ,while these proofs of continental elevation and subsidence1 by slow and insensible movements1 have been recently brought to light1 the evidence has been daily strengthened of continued changes of level effected by violent convulsions in countries where earthquakes are frequent4 ,there the rocks are rent from time to time1 and heaved up or thrown down several feet at once1 and disturbed in such a manner1 that the original position of strata may1 in the course of centuries1 be modified to any amount4 #g ,our modern world is fast coming to recognize ,plato's story of the subsidence of the island-continent of ,atlantis as something more than a fable4 ,the story of that so-called island which by the ,egyptian priest who related the tradition to ,solon was represented as larger than ,lybia and ,asia put together1 is told in ,plato's ,timaeus1 #h as follows3 ,in those days the ,atlantic was navigable2 and there was an island situated in front of the straits which you call the columns of ,heracles2 the island was larger than ,lybia and ,asia put together1 and was the way to other islands1 and from the islands you might pass through the whole of the opposite continent which surrounded the true ocean2 for this sea which is within the straits of ,heracles is only a harbor1 having a narrow entrance1 but the other is a real sea1 and the surrounding land may be most truly called a continent4 #i ,plato represents that in this land there was a great and wonderful empire which had dominion over the whole island and its armies attempted to subjugate ,egypt and ,europe to its authority4 ,in this conflict the very ancient ,greeks won the applause of ,europe and ,egypt by withstanding well nigh alone the aggressions of the ,atlantic empire4 ,the ,greeks are represented as having defeated and triumphed over the invaders1 and now ,plato3 ,but afterwards there occurred violent earthquakes and floods2 and in a single day and night of rain all your warlike men in a body sank into the earth1 and the island of ,atlantis in like manner disappeared1 and was sunk beneath the sea4 ,and that is the reason why the sea in those parts is impassable and impenetrable1 because there is such a quantity of shallow mud in the way2 and this was caused by the subsidence of the island4 #aj ,on the acceptance of ,plato's story of ,atlantis1 both by ancient and modern writers1 ,p4 ,de ,roo1 in his ,history of ,america ,before ,columbus1 has an interesting chapter1 from which ,i quote the following3 ,not to speak of other ancient authors to whom we shall refer in the sequel1 we may remark that the ,jewish writer ,philo 7#bj ,b4 ,c4--#ed ,a4 ,d471 and the ,platonist ,crantor1 were inclined to admit the literal interpretation of ,plato's ,atlantidic description4 ,tertullian 7second century ,a4 ,d47 and ,arnobius 7fourth century ,a4 ,d47 agreed with the pagan savant ,ammianus of ,plato's island1 ,atlantis2 and we have noticed that ,cosmas ,indicopleustes believed our continent ,america to be the cradle of the human race4 ,it would not be difficult to find several authors of the first ,christian centuries and of the middle ages who relied on ,plato's narrative in their prophecies of discoveries in the mysterious west1 and ,christopher ,columbus himself was undoubtedly encouraged by his belief in the objective truth of ,plato's ,timaeus and ,critias2 but after our continent was again discovered at the end of the fifteenth century1 almost every ,european scientist accepted the literal interpretation of the ,athenian philosopher's description of countries in and beyond the ,atlantic ,ocean4 #aa ,this passage is followed by a number of pages on the same subject1 and many authorities are quoted in the margin1 to which ,i commend the reader4 ,elisee ,reclus1 author of ,the ,earth1 a ,descriptive ,history of the ,phenomena of the ,life of the ,globe1 and one of the highest authorities on physical geography1 in speaking of an isthmus which once connected the few clumps of mountains which formed1 as it were1 the rudiments of our ,europe1 with the ,american coast1 also says3 ,this isthmus was the ,atlantis1 and the traditions which ,plato speaks of about this vanished land were perhaps based upon authentic testimony4 ,it is possible that man may have witnessed the submergence of this ancient continent1 and that the ,gunches of the ,canary ,islands were the direct descendants of the earliest inhabitants of this primeval land4 #ab ,i also commend to the reader a recent volume on the subject by ,ignatius ,donnelly1 published by ,harpers1 #ahih1 under the title ,atlantis1 and while ,i do not accept all the theories advanced by the author with reference to ,atlantis1 ,i recognize the fact that he has collected a great amount of evidence tending to establish the existence and the subsidence of ,plato's island-continent4 ,of course1 for many ages ,plato's story has been regarded as a fable1 but1 as ,donnelly remarks1 there is an unbelief which grows out of ignorance1 as well as a skepticism which is born of intelligence1 and then he adds3 ,for a thousand years it was believed that the legends of the buried cities of ,pompeii and ,herculaneum were myths3 they were spoken of as the fabulous cities4 ,for a thousand years the educated world did not credit the accounts given by ,herodotus of the wonders of the ancient civilizations of the ,nile and the ,chaldae4 ,he was called the father of liars4 ,even ,plutarch sneered at him4 ,now1 in the language of ,frederick ,schlegal1 the deeper and more comprehensive the researches of the moderns have been1 the more their regard and esteem for ,herodotus has increased4 ,buckle says1 ,his minute information about ,egypt and ,asia ,minor is admitted by all geographers4 ,there was a time when the expedition sent out by ,pharaoh ,necho to circumnavigate ,africa was doubted1 because the sun was north of them2 this circumstance1 which then aroused suspicion1 now proves to us that the ,egyptian navigators had really passed the equator1 and anticipated by #b1ajj years ,vasquez de ,gama in his discovery of the ,cape of ,good ,hope4 #ac ,it is not1 however1 upon the probability of the elevation and subsidence of this island-continent that ,i depend for support of my views with reference to the changes being considerable that have taken place in the western continents in comparatively modern times4 ,there is enough evidence that is matter of record within recent years to establish the possibility of such changes having taken place4 ,le ,conte1 in his ,compendium of ,geology1 says3 ,but great earthquakes are oftener associated with bodily movements of extensive areas of earth-crust4 ,thus1 for example1 in #ahce1 after a severe earthquake on the western coast of ,south ,america1 it was found that the whole coast-line of ,chili and ,patagonia were raised from two to ten feet above sea-level4 ,again1 in #ahbb1 the same phenomenon was observed in the same region after a great earthquake4 ,again1 in #ahai1 after a severe earthquake which shook the delta of the ,indus1 a tract of land fifty miles long and sixteen miles wide was raised ten feet1 and an adjacent area of #b1jjj square miles was sunk1 and became a lagoon4 ,in commemoration of the wonderful event the elevated tract was called ,ullah ,bund1 or mound of ,god4 ,again1 in #ahaa1 a severe earthquake--perhaps the severest ever felt in the ,united ,states--shook the valley of the ,mississippi4 ,coincidently with the shock1 large areas of the river-swamp sank bodily1 and have ever since been covered with water4 ,in commemoration of the event1 this area is still called the sunken country4 ,in all these cases1 probably1 and in the last two certainly1 there was a great fissure of the earth-crust1 and a slipping of one side on the other4 #ad ,passing a number of descriptions of land elevations and subsidences which ,sir ,charles ,lyell relates as occurring in ,chili1 in the nineteenth century1 in order that ,i may give more attention to the lands supposed to have been occupied by the ,nephites1 ,i quote the following statement of this eminent geologist concerning the earthquake at ,bogota1 in #ahbg3 ,on the #afth of ,november1 #ahbg1 the plain of ,bogota1 in ,new ,granada1 or ,colombia1 was convulsed by an earthquake1 and a great number of towns were thrown down4 ,torrents of rain swelled the ,magdalena1 sweeping along vast quantities of mud and other substances1 which emitted a sulphurous vapor and destroyed the fish4 ,popayan1 which is distant two hundred geographical miles south-southwest of ,bogota1 suffered greatly4 ,wide crevices appeared in the road of ,guanacas1 leaving no doubt that the whole of the cordilleras sustained a powerful shock4 ,other fissures opened near ,costa in the plains of ,bogota1 into which the river ,tunza immediately began to flow4 ,it is worthy of remark1 that in all such cases the ancient gravel bed of a river is deserted and a new one formed at a lower level2 so that a want of relation in the position of alluvial beds of the existing water-courses may be no test of the high antiquity of such deposits1 at least in countries habitually convulsed by earthquakes4 ,extraordinary rain accompanied the shocks before mentioned2 and two volcanoes are said to have been in eruption in the mountain chain nearest to ,bogota4 #ae ,the ,encyclopedia ,britannica1 referring to the geographical formation of ,colombia1 also says3 ,the fundamental formations throughout ,colombia are igneous and metamorphic1 the great mass of the cordilleras consisting of gneiss1 granite1 porphyry and basalt4 ,in many places the carboniferous strata have attained considerable development1 though they have been thrown into strange confusion by some unknown disturbance4 #af ,the writer in ,chamber's ,encyclopedia1 in speaking of ,colombia1 also says3 ,the geology of the country is very extraordinary4 ,everywhere1 we are told1 are found traces of stupendous cataclysms and a disarrangement and intermixture of primitive and sedimentary rocks1 which assume to put all classification at defiance4 #ag ,professor ,winchell says3 ,we are in the midst of great changes1 and are scarcely conscious of it4 ,we have seen worlds in flames1 and have felt a comet strike the earth4 ,we have seen the whole coast of ,south ,america lifted up bodily ten or fifteen feet and let down again in an hour4 ,we have seen the ,andes sink #bbj feet in seventy years4 99 99 99 ,vast transpositions have taken place in the coastline of ,china4 ,the ancient capital1 located1 in all probability1 in an accessible position near the centre of the empire1 has now become nearly surrounded by water1 and its site is on the peninsula of ,corea4 99 99 99 ,there was a time when the rocky barriers of the ,thracian ,bosphorus gave way and the ,black ,sea subsided4 ,it had covered a vast area in the north and east4 ,now this area became drained and was known as the ancient ,lectonia3 it is now the prairie region of ,russia1 and the granary of ,europe4 #ah ,referring to ,donnelly again3 ,the earthquake of #aghc in ,iceland destroyed #i1jjj people out of a population of #ej1jjj2 twenty villages were consumed by fire or inundated by water1 and a mass of lava thrown out greater than the bulk of ,mont ,blanc4 #ai ,professor ,lyell1 referring to the great earthquake which occurred on the island of ,java1 near the mountain of ,galung ,gung1 on the #hth of ,october1 #ahbb1 says3 ,a loud explosion was heard1 the earth shook1 and immense columns of hot water and boiling mud1 mixed with burning brimstone1 ashes1 and lapilli1 of the size of nuts1 were projected from the mountain like a water-spout1 with such prodigious violence that large quantities fell beyond the river ,tandoi1 which is forty miles distant4 99 99 99 ,the first eruption lasted nearly five hours2 and on the following days the rain fell in torrents1 and the rivers densely charged with mud1 deluged the country far and wide4 ,at the end of four days 7,october #ab71 a second eruption occurred1 more violent than the first1 in which hot water and mud were again vomited1 and great blocks of basalt were thrown to the distance of seven miles from the volcano4 ,there was at the same time a violent earthquake1 the face of the mountain was utterly changed1 its summits broken down1 and one side1 which had been covered with trees1 became an enormous gulf in the form of a semicircle4 ,over #d1jjj persons were killed and #aad villages destroyed4 #bj ,the following account of seismic disturbances is taken from ,donnelley's work ,atlantis4 ,the ,gulf of ,santorin1 in the ,grecian ,archipelago1 has been for two thousand years a scene of active volcanic operations4 ,pliny informs us that in the year #ahf ,b4 ,c4 the island of ,old ,kaimeni1 or the ,sacred ,isle1 was lifted up from the sea2 and in ,a4 ,d4 #ai the island of ,thia 7the ,divine7 made its appearance4 ,in ,a4 ,d4 #aegc another island was created1 called the small sunburnt island4 99 99 99 ,a recent examination of these islands shows that the whole mass of ,santorin has sunk1 since its projection from the sea1 over #a1bjj feet4 #ba ,the fort and villages of ,sindree1 on the eastern arm of the ,indus1 above ,luckput1 was submerged in #ahai by an earthquake1 together with a tract of country #b1jjj square miles in extent4 #bb ,in ,april1 #ahae1 one of the most frightful eruptions recorded in history occurred in the province of ,tomboro1 in the island of ,sumbawa1 about two hundred miles from the eastern extremity of ,java4 ,it lasted from ,april #e to ,july of that year2 but was most violent on the #aath and #abth of ,july4 ,the sound of the explosion was heard nearly one thousand miles4 ,out of a population of #ab1jjj in the province of ,tomboro1 only twenty-six individuals escaped4 ,violent whirlwinds carried up men1 horses1 and cattle into the air1 tore up the largest trees by the roots1 and covered the whole sea with floating timber4 7,raffles' ,history of ,java1 vol4 ,i1 #ch47 ,the ashes darkened the air2 the floating cinders to the westward of ,sumatra formed1 on the #abth of ,april1 a mass two feet thick and several miles in extent1 through which ships with difficulty forced their way4 ,the darkness in daytime was more profound than the blackest night4 ,the town called ,tomboro1 on the west side of ,sumbawa1 was overflowed by the sea1 which encroached upon the shore1 so that the water remained permanently eighteen feet deep in places where there was land before4 ,the area covered by the convulsion was #a1jjj ,english miles in circumference4 ,in the island of ,amboyna1 in the same month and year1 the ground opened1 threw out water1 and then closed again4 7,raffles' ,history of ,java1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #eb47 ,but it is at the point of the ,european coast nearest to the site of ,atlantis at ,lisbon that the most tremendous earhquake of modern times has occurred4 ,on the #ast of ,november1 #agge1 a sound was heard underground1 and immediately afterward a violent shock threw down the greater part of the city4 ,in six minutes #fj1jjj persons perished4 ,a great concourse of people had collected for safety upon a new quay1 built entirely of marble2 but suddenly it sank down with all the people on it1 and not one of the dead bodies ever floated to the surface4 99 99 99 ,the water where the quay went down is now #fjj feet deep4 ,the area covered by this earthquake was very great4 ,humboldt says that a portion of the earth's surface1 four times as great as the size of ,europe1 was simultaneously shaken4 ,it extended from the ,baltic to the ,west ,indies1 and from ,canada to ,algiers4 ,at eighty leagues from ,morocco the ground opened and swallowed a village of #aj1jjj inhabitants1 and closed again over them4 #bc ,although ,mr4 ,charles ,darwin1 one of the most conservative of scientists1 usually insists that the elevation and subsidence of the earth's crust is accomplished by slow degrees and continues through long geological periods of time1 yet in the report of his ,geological ,observations1 he records some very important evidences of recent elevations and subsidences as having taken place quite suddenly4 ,one instance is in connection with an elevation on the ,island of ,san ,lorenzo1 off the coast of ,peru near ,lima1 in which he reaches the conclusion that the beach on that island has been raised #he feet since ,indian men inhabited ,peru4 #bd ,he gives another instance of a recent elevation of land on the ,island of ,chiloe2 #be and still another on the ,island of ,lemus4 #bf ,in speaking in a general way of the elevation on the western side of the ,south ,american continent1 ,mr4 ,darwin also says3 ,on the shores of the ,pacific1 upraised shells of recent species1 generally1 though not always1 in the same proportional numbers as in the adjoining sea1 have actually been found over a north and south space of #b1jge miles1 and there is reason to believe that they occur over a space of #b1dhj miles4 ,the elevation on this western side of the continent has not been equable2 at ,valparaiso1 within the period during which upraised shells have remained undecayed on the surface1 it has been #a1cjj feet1 whilst at ,coquimbo1 #bjj miles northward1 it has been within this same period only #beb feet4 ,at ,lima1 the land has been uplifted at least eighty feet since ,indian man inhabited that district2 but the level within historical times apparently has subsided4 #bg ,coming to more recent seismic disturbances ,i call attention to the one which occurred in #ahhc1 on an island in the straits of ,sunda3 ,a great cloud was seen to rise above the island1 and spreading out obscured the sun1 while ash fell from the air4 ,upon the neighboring land the ground was shaken1 while upon the low coasts1 a great water wave rushed1 destroying thousands of lives4 ,krakatoa1 which had not been in eruption in this century1 had again broken forth1 with the most terrific explosion that man had recorded4 ,ash rose miles in the air1 and spreading out1 fell on the surrounding land and water1 and for a while it was so thick upon the surface of the sea1 in the ,straits of ,sunda1 that the progress of vessels was impeded4 ,so high did it rise that the light ash1 floating about by the upper winds1 staid suspended in the air for months1 some of it falling in ,america and ,europe4 ,a great water wave1 generated by the explosion1 crossed the ,pacific to the ,california coast1 and it was observed on the shores of ,africa and ,australia4 ,when the eruption had ceased it was found that ,krakatoa had been split into two parts1 one of which had disappeared into the air1 leaving ocean water where there had been dry land4 ,the part of the island that remained was covered with a deep coating of ash1 and not a living thing was left1 neither plant nor animal4 #bh ,speaking of the same event ,w4 ,j4 ,mc,gee1 vice-president of the ,national ,geographical ,society1 and ethnologist in charge of the ,bureau of ,american ,ethnology1 says3 ,this stupendous outburst cast up a cloud of gas and dust to a height of seventeen miles or more which darkened the sun for #aej miles in every direction1 raised a sea wave reaching #ace feet in height on adjacent coasts1 resounded in every direction for a thousand miles1 and in one direction for #b1ifh miles 7if not indeed to the ,antipodes71 and sent out a series of great atmospheric waves rolling in both directions three times around the globe4 #bi ,the authority last quoted also says that the ,new ,madrid earthquake of #ahaa-ab shook an area of a million and a quarter square miles2 and that the ,charleston earthquake of #ahhf was felt over nearly one-half million square miles of land1 and far out at sea4 ,he gives at length also a description of the recent earthquake in the island of ,st4 ,vincent1 ,west ,indies1 which shook all ,martinique by the force of its explosion4 ,the magnetic disturbances swept in swift undulations for thousands of miles1 passed ,maryland and ,kansas in a few seconds1 and reached ,honolulu a minute or two later2 while the ensuing rain of rock-dust stretched eastward a hundred miles beyond ,barbadoes1 westward to ,jamaica1 northward to ,texas1 and to the ,south ,american continent4 #cj ,the conclusions to be reached from the facts here presented are1 first1 that while elevations and subsidences of the earth's crust are usually accomplished by slow degrees and through long periods of time1 it is also true that very extensive changes are effected by internal forces of the earth in a very short period of time2 and second1 that there is reason for the belief that the seismic disturbances described in the ,book of ,mormon as taking place at the crucifixion of ,messiah1 effected very great changes in the physical character of the land occupied by the ,nephites4 ,if it should be contended that while the cases of earthquake disturbances cited in this chapter tell of widespread areas of country being suddenly and greatly effected1 yet nowhere 7except in the case of ,atlantis7 do those changes approach the magnitude of the physical changes called for in the views here set forth1 the answer would be that nowhere else in the records kept by men is there an account of such terrible1 such long-continued1 and such widespread cataclysms in the earth as those described in the ,book of ,mormon4 ,the terrible seismic disturbances which at the time of ,messiah's crucifixion took place in the western hemisphere continued through three hours of time 7instead of a few minutes1 as in the case of some of the most noted earthquake instances cited above72 and affected the western continents from end to end1 and were followed by three days of total darkness4 #ca ,and as the forces then operative surpass in their magnitude and time of continuance all other known instances of the kind1 so too1 may it be reasonably argued that the changes would be correspondingly greater than those effected by similar instances of less magnitude and continued through briefer periods of time4 ,in concluding this chapter--even though ,i have not yet arrived at the argumentative stage of my treatise--,i would suggest that the cases of seismic disturbances here cited are sufficient both in their character and extent to warrant belief in the possibility of the terrible catacylsms described in the ,book of ,mormon1 and that they effected great physical changes in the continents of ,america4 ,footnotes #a4 ,my treatment of the subject here has simply to do with the physical character of the great divisions of the western hemisphere in ,book of ,mormon times4 ,i make no attempt to definitely locate particular lands mentioned in the ,book of ,mormon1 for the reason that the plan of my treatise does not require the consideration of that subject1 except in a very general way3 and however interesting it might be to know definitely the location of particular ,jaredite and ,nephite lands--the extent of their kingdoms1 empires and republics2 the location of special provinces and other political districts or divisions therein1 together with a knowledge of the exact location of their capitals1 and metropolises1 ,i do not believe those things can be learned with any degree of certainty1 for reasons set forth in the text of this chapter4 #b4 ,i ,nephi #ab3d4 #c4 ,helaman #ad3bj-bg4 #d4 ,,iii ,nephi #h3e-ah4 #e4 ,,iii ,nephi #i3a-h1 #ab4 #f4 ,with regard to the ages necessary for the accomplishment of the immense geological processes1 the history of which is disclosed to us in the earth's strata1 they certainly must have been of prodigious duration2 for all the annals of humanity are but as a passing moment compared with the cycles of the globe4 99 99 99 ,professor ,haughton1 a mathematician1 has endeavored to establish1 according to the formula of ,dulong and ,petit1 that the mere fall in the temperature of #be1 occurring previously to the present epoch of our planet1 would require about #ah million of years4 ,in the same way1 the formation of each of the strata1 which constitutes the sum-total of the geological records of the earth's surface must have taken up a long series of centuries before which the mind recoils in perplexity4 ,the ,earth1 ,reclus1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #cb4 #g4 ,manual of ,elementary ,geology1 p4 #df1 #aheb edition4 #h4 ,reference is also made to ,atlantis in his ,critias4 7,jowett's ,trans1 vol4 ,,ii47 #i4 ,dialogues of ,plato 7,jowett's translation71 vol4 ,,ii1 p4 #ebj4 #aj4 ,ibid41 p4 #eba4 #aa4 ,history of ,america before ,columbus1 p4 #abg1 7,lippincott ,co41 pubs41 #aijj74 #ab4 ,the ,earth1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #cf4 #ac4 ,atlantis1 ,donnelly1 p4 #c4 #ad4 ,compend4 of ,geology1 ,joseph ,le ,conte1 pp4 #ade and #adf4 ,see also p4 #aec4 ,the disturbance in the ,mississippi valley is also mentioned by ,lyell 7,principles of ,geology1 #ahef edition p4 #ddf74 ,he adds1 that the ground on which ,new ,madrid stood1 and the river bank for fifteen miles above1 sank eight feet below their former level4 #ae4 ,principles of ,geology1 ,lyell1 p4 #deg1 #ahef edition4 #af4 ,art4 ,colombia4 #ag4 ,chamber's ,ency41 ,art4 ,colombia4 #ah4 ,the pre-,adamites1 p4 #dcg4 #ai4 ,atlantis1 p4 #ce4 #bj4 ,principles of ,geology1 p4 #dcj4 #ba4 ,atlantis1 p4 #cg4 #bb4 p4 #ch4 #bc4 ,atlantis1 p4 #dj4 #bd4 ,geological ,observations1 third edition1 pp4 #bfh1 #bfi4 #be4 ,geological ,observations1 p4 #bcc4 #bf4 ,ibid41 pp4 #bcb1 #bcc4 #bg4 ,ibid41 p4 #eii4 ,also ,the ,earth1 vol4 ,,ii1 pp4 #fdf1 #fdg4 #bh4 ,first ,book of ,physical ,geography1 ,r4 ,s4 ,tarr1 pp4 #cdg1 #cdh4 #bi4 ,the ,world ,today1 7,magazine71 vol4 ,,ii1 no4 #a1 ,july1 #aijb4 #cj4 ,for full description see the magazine entitled ,the ,world ,to ,today1 ,vol ,,iii41 ,no1 #a1 ,july #aijb4 #ca4 ,it should be noted that the darkness accompanied some of the seismic disturbances cited in the foregoing accounts of earthquakes1 notably in that of ,april1 #ahae1 in the island of ,sumbawa1 see page #baa1 where the darkness in the day time is described as being more profound than the blackest night4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,inter-,,continental ,,movements ,,of ,,book ,,of ,,mormon ,,people4 ,the inter-continental movements of the ,book of ,mormon peoples must next be considered4 ,of the movements of the ,jaredites and the people of ,mulek but little can be learned4 ,the center of ,jaredite civilization and national power was in that part of the north continent known to the ,nephites as the land ,desolation1 a country which corresponds1 as we have seen1 to modern ,central ,america1 #a and of which ,moron was the capital4 ,from this point the ,jaredites evidently colonized in great part the north continent2 for it is said in the reign of ,king ,lib that the whole face of the land northward was covered with inhabitants4 #b ,but this is the widest extent of their colonization1 as they confined themselves to occupancy of the north continent1 and nothing more than hunting excursions ever carried them into the south continent4 ,of the movements of ,mulek's colony we have nothing more definite than that having landed first at some point in the south part of the north continent1 they afterwards removed into the north part of the south continent--to the valley of the ,sidon1 and were permanently settled there when they were found by the migrating ,nephites under ,mosiah ,i4 ,as for the movements of the ,nephites we have already traced them from ,lehi's landing place to the valley of the ,sidon1 where they joined the people of ,zarahemla1 the descendants of ,mulek's colony1 and formed the ,nephite-,zarahemla monarchy under ,mosiah ,i4 ,hereafter we shall find their movements tending chiefly in two directions3 to the southward1 and into the north4 ,,nephite ,,movements ,,southward4 ,the movements of the ,nephites southward were prompted by two chief incentives3 first1 by a desire on the part of some restless1 over-zealous spirits1 who came with ,mosiah to the valley of the ,sidon1 to regain possession of the ,land of ,nephi--the land of their forefathers2 a choice land in itself1 and made dear to some of them1 doubtless1 by many tender and sacred recollections2 second1 by a pious desire on the part of zealous missionaries to convert their brethren1 the ,lamanites1 to the truth of their fathers' faith in ,god1 and the truth of their fathers' traditions concerning the future coming of the ,christ to bring to pass the redemption of the world4 ,the first1 and perhaps the largest of these movements1 having in contemplation the re-occupancy of the land of ,nephi1 was made under ,zeniff1 a man who describes himself as overzealous to inherit the land of his fathers4 #c ,this expedition was most likely undertaken during the reign of the second king of the ,nephite-,zarahemla nation1 viz41 ,king ,benjamin1 who succeeded ,mosiah ,i4 ,in ,king ,benjamin's reign there was a serious war between the ,lamanites and the newly formed ,nephite-,zarahemla nation4 ,the ,lamanites invaded the land of ,zarahemla bent on ravaging the country1 and the subjugation of the people4 ,they were repulsed and driven back to their own lands1 but not without much bloodshed4 #d ,during the war1 but likely after the repulse of the ,lamanites1 ,zeniff1 with others1 was sent among the ,lamanites to locate their forces and ascertain their strength1 that the ,nephite-,zarahemla army might destroy them4 ,but ,zeniff1 impressed with the many virtues of the ,lamanites1 desired that they might not be destroyed1 and urged upon the leader of the ,nephite expedition to enter into a friendly treaty with them4 ,this1 however1 was so far from the mind of the ,nephite leader that he ordered ,zeniff to be slain1 doubtless upon the charge of treason1 or insubordination2 whereupon there was a revolt in the expedition4 ,the leader himself was killed2 and ,zeniff was rescued after much bloodshed4 ,fifty of the expedition--all that survived the unhappy conflict--returned to ,zarahemla to relate the sad event that had befallen them4 ,zeniff now gathered a company about him who were desirous of repossessing the land of their forefathers1 and with them he departed from ,zarahemla4 ,on the journey they suffered from famine1 which much reduced their numbers2 but finally they reached the land of ,lehi-,nephi1 and of ,shilom1 which was the place from which the ,nephites under ,mosiah departed northward in their second great hegira4 #e ,the ,lamanites received the expedition of ,zeniff with favor1 entered into treaty relations with them1 and vacated the land of ,lehi-,nephi and ,shilom1 that ,zeniff and his people might possess it4 ,it must not be thought1 however1 that the action of the king of the ,lamanites was altogether disinterested2 his ulterior motive was plunder of the ,nephites as soon as their well-known industry should bear fruit4 ,he allowed them to take possession of the cities and lands of their fathers only that he might bring them into bondage1 and make their industry a source of revenue to himself and people4 ,the people of ,zeniff rebuilt the walls of the ancient ,nephite cities in the land of ,nephi1 as also the cities themselves1 and brought the fruitful lands of their fathers again under cultivation2 for under ,lamanite occupancy they had been neglected4 ,the cities also had fallen into decay1 and the walls thereof had partly crumbled into ruins4 ,as soon1 however1 as ,nephite industry began to redeem the waste places and produce prosperity in the land1 the ,lamanites attempted their subjugation2 but though they suffered some from their conflicts with the ,lamanites1 the ,nephites1 so long as ,zeniff lived1 maintained their independence4 ,so also they did during part of the reign of their second king1 ,noah1 son of ,zeniff4 ,during the reign of this second king1 though he himself was a dissolute1 unrighteous man1 he greatly beautified the city of ,lehi-,nephi1 embellished the temple1 and also built for himself a magnificent palace4 ,he also erected many and magnificent buildings in the land of ,shilom4 #f ,to carry out these improvements ,king ,noah taxed his people to the extent of one-fifth of all their possessions1 and of their income4 ,he surrounded his dissolute court with a corrupt priesthood1 and in every way demoralized his people and made his reign infamous4 ,still he successfully expelled the predatory bands of ,lamanites which invaded his territory from the south1 and who had for a time preyed upon his people4 ,about this time ,god sent a prophet among ,king ,noah's people to warn them of impending calamity4 ,him they burned1 not heeding his warning4 ,but the mission of ,abinadi1 for such was the prophet's name1 was not wholly in vain1 for the heart of one priest1 ,alma1 was touched2 and he1 repenting of his own wickedness1 brought others to repentance4 ,as might be expected1 this course displeased ,king ,noah1 and he sought to destroy young ,alma and his people4 ,but ,alma being warned of ,god of the king's intentions1 fled with his people 7numbering about four hundred and fifty souls7 into the wilderness1 some eight days' journey1 where they founded a city which they called ,helam4 #g ,here they dwelt in security for a number of years4 ,finally1 however1 they were discovered by the ,lamanites1 who placed them under bondage1 and appointed task masters over them4 ,from this thraldom they were finally released by the interposition of the ,lord1 who directed ,alma to take his flight in the direction of ,zarahemla1 which is reached in twelve days from ,helam1 where he was most heartily received by ,king ,mosiah ,,ii1 who made him ,high ,priest over the ,church throughout ,zarahemla4 ,meantime a large army of ,lamanites invaded the land of ,lehi-,nephi1 before whom ,king ,noah and his people fled2 but being encumbered with their wives and children they were soon overtaken4 ,noah ordered an abandonment of the women and children2 but this order part of the men of his army refused to obey1 choosing rather to die with their wives and children4 ,the remainder followed the king4 ,when the ,lamanites saw the helplessness of the ,nephites1 and being moved with compassion by the pleading of their women1 they abandoned the slaughter of them1 and permitted them to return to their cities1 under covenant that they would deliver up one-half of their property1 and thereafter pay annually one-half of the products of their labors4 ,these hard conditions were accepted2 and the people returned to their possessions2 one ,limhi1 son of ,noah1 was chosen to be their ruler--their king1 if such a title1 under the circumstances1 be not mockery4 ,the ,nephite men who obeyed the orders of ,king ,noah in the matter of abandoning their wives and children soon repented of their cowardice1 and resolved to return and share their fate or avenge their death2 and when ,king ,noah opposed their manly resolutions they burned him at the stake4 ,on returning to ,lehi-,nephi it was to find1 of course1 that their people had gone into bondage to the ,lamanites1 under the circumstances already detailed--a bondage these returning fugitives readily shared4 ,hard1 indeed1 was the fate of the ,nephites under ,lamanite bondage4 ,the treaty stipulation prevented the ,lamanites from making open war upon them2 but the one-half of the products of their labor due their masters under the treaty they had formed was collected under every circumstance of cruelty1 and the ,lamanites themselves directed the labors of the unfortunate ,nephites1 placing task masters over them1 who in every way insulted and oppressed them1 even to the binding of heavy burdens upon their backs1 and the application of the lash on the slightest provocation4 ,under these circumstances it can be easily understood that the ,nephites were restive and anxious for deliverance4 ,naturally their eyes and hearts turned to ,zarahemla1 where the great body of their brethren dwelt in security4 ,once ,king ,limhi fitted out a small expedition of forty-three men and sent them to find ,zarahemla1 and bring deliverance4 ,the expedition was a failure as far as its immediate object was concerned4 ,it was lost in the wilderness1 passed by the land of ,zarahemla--evidently on the west of it1 and went into the land northward1 where it found the ruins of the ,jaredite race--destroyed cities1 ruined temples1 fallen walls1 a land covered with the bones of men and beasts4 ,they also found breast-plates of brass and copper2 swords1 the hilts of which had perished2 and the blades of which were cankered with rust4 ,but what was of more importance they found what afterwards proved to be the record of ,ether1 consisting of twenty-four plates of gold1 on which the last prophet of the ,jaredite race had engraved an outline history of his people1 and which subsequently ,king ,mosiah1 by use of the ,urim and ,thummim1 translated into the ,nephite language2 so that the ,nephites at ,zarahemla were acquainted with the history of the people who had preceded them in the occupancy of the western hemisphere4 #h ,it would naturally be expected that the people of ,zarahemla would feel an interest in their brethren who went up to re-occupy the land of ,nephi2 and when1 year after year passed away and no word came of their fate or fortunes1 there were those who petitioned the king of ,zarahemla to send an expedition in search of them4 ,the repeated petitions at last met with favorable action1 and one ,ammon1 a descendant of ,zarahemla1 with fifteen others started for the land of ,nephi4 ,after forty days' journey they reached ,shilom1 at which place ,king ,limhi was sojourning at the time of their arrival4 ,the joy of the meeting was mutual4 ,ammon and his associates rejoiced that their mission had such a happy termination2 ,limhi and his people1 that they could now hope for deliverance from ,lamanite bondage2 and also they had joy in the proof which ,ammon brought them that the ,nephites of ,zarahemla were not destroyed2 for when ,limhi's expedition returned from the land northward1 where they found the ruins and bones of an extinct people1 they supposed they had found ,zarahemla1 but that the ,lamanites had destroyed that people4 ,soon after the arrival of ,ammon in the land of ,nephi the people of ,limhi devised plans for their escape from their ,lamanite oppressors4 ,the plans were successfully carried into effect1 and ,limhi and his people were welcomed to ,zarahemla by ,king ,mosiah ,,ii4 ,thus ended the most notable effort of the ,nephites to repossess the land of their fathers' first inheritance1 the land of ,nephi4 ,the occupancy of that land by ,zeniff's people extended over a period of about eighty years4 ,of the missionary expeditions that ventured into the land of ,nephi for the conversion of the ,lamanites1 one of the most notable1 as also one of the most successful1 was begun and carried to its successful termination under the leadership of the four sons of ,king ,mosiah ,,ii1 named respectively1 ,ammon1 ,aaron1 ,omner1 and ,himni4 ,these young men1 and ,alma1 son of the ,high ,priest of the same name1 in their youthful days were unbelievers in the traditions of their fathers2 and they sought to destroy the ,church of ,god which the elder ,alma with so much toil had established through a faithful ministry4 ,no parental authority1 no persuasion of preaching1 prevailed against the pride and skepticism of these young princes and the younger ,alma4 ,gifted with eloquence1 politic1 large-minded1 generous in word and deed1 gracious and condescending to the people1 ,absalomlike he was rapidly stealing the hearts of the ,nephites1 threatening the very existence of the ,church of ,god4 ,at this juncture1 out of respect for the prayers of the elder ,alma1 ,god visited these young men by sending an angel to reprove them1 and warn them of impending calamities4 ,the manifestation of ,god's power in this visitation was such that the young men were over-whelmed4 ,their conviction of sin was such that they repented thoroughly2 and1 ,paul-like1 from being persecutors of those who served ,god1 they became zealous teachers of the truth1 and sought with all their power to undo the wretched mischief they had done in seeking the destruction of the ,church4 ,this accomplished1 so far as was possible1 in the land of ,zarahemla1 their thoughts turned to the hosts of unbelieving ,lamanites in the land of ,nephi1 more numerous than the ,nephites and the people of ,zarahemla combined4 ,a holy desire took possession of them to preach salvation through the gospel to those hosts of ,lamanites4 ,renouncing1 therefore1 all their claims as princes1 and abdicating all rights of succession to the throne of their father1 ,mosiah ,,ii1 these' princes headed the aforesaid missionary expedition to the ,lamanites4 ,in the midst of many afflictions1 attended with much persecution1 the sons of ,mosiah and their companions preached the gospel extensively throughout ,lamanite lands1 and had a rich harvest of souls for their hire4 ,they established a ,church among the ,lamanites2 but such was the oppression practiced by the unconverted ,lamanites upon those who accepted the teachings of the ,nephites1 that1 under divine direction and to preserve their people from destruction1 the young princes conducted an exodus of the ,church from the land of ,nephi1 then in possession of the ,lamanites1 to ,zarahemla1 where they were welcomed by the ,nephites1 especially by ,alma the ,high ,priest2 and a land--the land of ,jershon1 north of ,zarahemla--was set apart for the home #i of this body of ,lamanite converts4 ,,nephite ,,movement ,,northward ,the ,nephites in the land of ,zarahemla early appreciated the strategic importance of holding possession of the narrow neck of land--the isthmus which connected the southland with the northland4 ,they perceived that if hard-pressed by their ,lamanite enemies1 who out-numbered them to the extent of two for one1 #aj the narrow neck of land afforded them a means of escape into the great land northward1 while by fortifying the narrow passage their enemies1 however numerous1 could be held in check1 while they themselves would have a whole continent behind them in which to expand4 ,the ,lamanites also saw the strategic importance of this isthmus1 and in some of the great wars in the last half of the century immediately preceding the coming of the ,messiah1 they sought to possess it1 and the ,nephites as strenuously sought to prevent them from taking possession of it4 #aa ,the first extensive migration of ,nephites into the north continent occurred in the thirty-seventh and thirty-eighth year of the reign of the ,nephite judges1 a period which corresponds to fifty-five ,b4 ,c4 ,that year five thousand four hundred men1 together with their wives and children1 left the land of ,zarahemla for the northland4 ,that same year one ,hagoth1 spoken of in ,nephite annals as a curious man1 established ship-building yards on the borders of the land ,bountiful1 on the west side of the isthmus connecting the two continents4 ,here he constructed a number of large vessels1 in which great bodies of immigrants were carried northward1 to found new homes4 ,two of ,hagoth's vessels that started northward never returned1 nor was anything ever afterwards heard of them4 ,the ,nephites believed them to have been wrecked at sea4 ,it is supposed by some that these ,nephite vessels may have drifted westward and that their occupants may have peopled some of the islands of the ,pacific4 ,about ten years after this first great migration northward the movement of population in that direction received a fresh impetus2 for great numbers went from ,zarahemla and extended their journey farther northward than heretofore4 ,contentions in the land of ,zarahemla--contentions born of pride1 seem to have been responsible in some way for this movement4 ,doubtless in the old centers of ,nephite civilization the possession of large wealth led to class distinctions1 and inequalities1 most distasteful to a people who from the first arrival of their fathers on the promised land had been taught to look upon each other as equals4 ,migration from the land where distinctions based upon the possession of wealth1 and the pride it fosters1 presented itself perhaps as the easiest solution of the difficulty1 and hence the impetus to the northward movement in this year #df ,b4 ,c4 #ab ,the ,nephite historian1 ,mormon1 in speaking of conditions that obtained about this time1 gives one of those rare glimpses of ,nephite civilization that ,i consider of sufficient importance to quote at length3 ,and it came to pass in the forty and sixth year1 99 99 99 there was much contention and many dissensions2 in the which there were an exceeding great many who departed out of the land of ,zarahemla1 and went forth unto the land northward to inherit the land4 ,and they did travel to an exceeding great distance1 insomuch that they came to large bodies of water and many rivers4 ,yea1 and even they did spread forth into all parts of the land1 into whatever parts it had not been rendered desolate1 and without timber1 because of the many inhabitants who had before inherited the land4 ,and now no part of the land was desolate1 save it were for timber2 but because of the greatness of the destruction of the people who had before inhabited the land it was called desolate4 ,and there being but little timber upon the face of the land1 nevertheless the people who went forth1 became exceeding expert in the working of cement2 therefore they did build houses of cement1 in the which they did dwell4 99 99 99 ,and it came to pass that they did multiply and spread1 and did go forth from the land southward to the land northward1 and did spread insomuch that they began to cover the face of the whole earth1 from the sea south to the sea north1 from the sea west to the sea east4 ,and the people who were in the land northward did dwell in tents1 and in houses of cement1 and they did suffer whatsoever tree should spring up upon the face of the land that it should grow up1 that in time they might have timber to build their houses1 yea1 their cities1 and their temples1 and their synagogues1 and their sanctuaries1 and all manner of their buildings4 ,and it came to pass as timber was exceeding scarce in the land northward1 they did send forth much by the way of shipping4 ,and thus they did enable the people in the land northward1 that they might build many cities1 both of wood and of cement4 ,and it came to pass that there were many of the people of ,ammon who were ,lamanites by birth1 did also go forth into this land4 ,and now there are many records kept of the proceedings of this people1 by many of this people1 which are particular and very large1 concerning them4 ,but behold1 a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people1 yea1 the account of the ,lamanites and of the ,nephites1 and their wars1 and contentions1 and dissensions1 and their preaching1 and their prophecies1 and their shipping and their building of ships1 and the building of temples1 and of synagogues and their sanctuaries1 and their righteousness1 and their wickedness1 and their murders1 and their robbings1 and their plundering1 and all manner of abominations and whoredoms1 cannot be contained in this work4 #ac ,here it will be proper to dispel what ,i regard as a misapprehension of the extent of ,nephite occupancy of the north continent1 at this period of ,nephite history4 ,from the fact that in the foregoing quotation it is said that the ,nephites removing from ,zarahemla traveled to an exceeding great distance1 insomuch that they came to large bodies of water1 and many rivers1 some have supposed that the ,nephites at this time extended their colonization movements as far north as the great lakes in the eastern part of ,north ,america2 #ad and from the fact that it is also said that they began to cover the face of the whole earth1 from the sea south1 to the sea north1 from the sea west1 to the sea east1 it has been supposed that these expressions meant to convey the idea that the ,nephites at this time had extended their settlements over both continents2 and that from the sea south to the sea north meant from the sea at the southern extremity of ,south ,america 7south of ,cape ,horn71 to the ,arctic ,ocean1 north of ,north ,america4 #ae ,there is no evidence1 however1 in the ,book of ,mormon that warrants such a conclusion as to the extent of ,nephite occupancy of the western hemisphere in #df ,b4 ,c4 ,allowance for hyperbole must be made in the expression1 ,they began to cover the face of the whole earth1 since the facts set forth in the whole history of the ,nephites in the ,book of ,mormon are against the reasonableness of such an expression if taken literally4 ,from the landing of ,lehi's colony early in the sixth century ,b4 ,c41 to the date corresponding to the year #ee ,b4 ,c41 when the first considerable migration into the north land took place1 ,nephite occupancy of the promised land was confined to portions of the west and the extreme north part of what is now the south continent of ,america2 and as compared with the rest of ,south ,america1 as now known to us1 the extent of country occupied was but a very small part of the continent4 ,the migrations from ,zarahemla1 from the year #ee ,b4 ,c41 to #df ,b4 ,c41 though considerable1 are not sufficient to warrant the belief that the ,nephites spread over and occupied the whole face of the north continent4 ,by reference to the map the reader1 if he will consider the parts of the country now known as the south part of ,mexico and ,central ,america1 will there find all the conditions that answer to the terms of the description in the passage quoted complied with as to the sea south1 and the sea north2 the sea east and the sea west2 while the physical character of the same land1 even now1 will answer the requirements of the description of its being a land of large bodies of water and many rivers2 #af and more abundantly may have been so before the convulsions of nature which took place in ,nephite lands at ,messiah's crucifixion4 ,i conclude1 therefore1 that this migration of ,nephites at this time extended no further northward than southern parts of ,mexico1 say about the twenty-second degree north latitude2 in other words1 the ,nephites were occupying the old seat of ,jaredite empire and civilization1 and the land of ,moron which the ,nephites called desolate1 not because of its barrenness--save for the absence of forests of timber--but because of the greatness of the destruction of the people who had before inhabited the land2 that is1 the ,jaredites4 ,the next important event affecting the movement of population and the possession of the land north and south was a war between the ,nephites and ,lamanites1 that began with the invasion of ,nephite lands by the ,lamanites in #ce ,b4 ,c4 ,owing to dissensions among the ,nephites1 many of that people had deserted to the ,lamanites4 ,it is quite possible that this was owing to the resentment felt by the dissenting ,nephites because of the class distinctions which arose on account of wealth and pride2 and instead of the dissatisfied joining in the movement northward1 as many did1 some of them went southward1 joined their fortunes with the barbarous ,lamanites1 and fomented the spirit of war against their brethren4 ,in this war the ,nephites were destined to meet with a new experience4 ,hitherto in their wars with the ,lamanites1 since uniting with the people of ,zarahemla1 at least1 the ,nephites had been able to hold their lands against the ,lamanite invasion2 and though they had lost here and there a battle1 they were uniformly successful in their wars4 ,in the war of #ce-cb ,b4 ,c41 however1 the ,lamanites drove the ,nephites from all their lands in the south continent4 ,even ,zarahemla was taken1 and the cities in the land ,bountiful1 extending1 be it remembered1 northward from the land of ,zarahemla to the isthmus connecting the two continents4 ,the ,nephites were thrown wholly on the defensive4 ,they concentrated their forces at the narrow neck of land2 hastily fortified it1 and by that means prevented the invasion of the north continent4 #ag ,in the year #cb-ca ,b4 ,c4 the fortunes of war changed somewhat1 and the invading hosts of ,lamanites were forced out of the most northern cities of the ,nephites in the land ,bountiful and ,zarahemla2 but the city ,zarahemla1 so long the capital of the ,nephite-,zarahemla nation1 remained in possession of the ,lamanites2 nor could the ,nephites further prevail by force of arms than to win back and hold about one-half of their possessions in the south4 ,at this point still another event1 important in ,nephite history1 occurred4 ,the ,chief ,judge of the land1 whose name was ,nephi1 resigned his office in order to join his younger brother1 ,lehi1 in the work of preaching the gospel4 ,unrighteousness is assigned as the cause of ,nephite failure in the war of #ce-cb ,b4 ,c42 wealth1 love of luxury1 pride1 injustice to the poor1 internal dissensions1 manifold treasons1 and civil strife are enumerated as among ,nephite sins and afflictions4 ,if unrighteousness was the cause of ,nephite weakness and failure--and it was--then clearly the logical thing to do was to bring the people to repentance1 re-establish them in righteousness1 and by these steps restore them to the favor of ,god4 ,evidently so reasoned these two priests and prophets of ,god1 ,nephi and ,lehi2 and to the achievement of this end they bent their energies4 ,they were successful2 but successful in a direction least to be expected1 viz1 successful in converting the ,lamanites4 ,partially successful in converting the ,nephites1 in the northern cities of the southland1 they went into the land of ,zarahemla1 still held by the ,lamanites1 and so far convinced the ,lamanites of the error and wickedness of the traditions of their fathers that eight thousand were baptized in the land of ,zarahemla and the regions round about4 ,thence the two prophets went further southward into the land of ,nephi2 and though they met with some persecutions1 such was the marvelous display of ,god's power in their deliverance1 that the greater part of the ,lamanites were converted2 and restored to the ,nephites the cities and lands they had taken in the recent war4 ,many of the ,lamanites themselves engaged in the work of the ministry1 and preached to the ,nephites both in ,zarahemla and in the north continent4 ,nephi and ,lehi also preached in the northland1 but with no great success4 ,still peace prevailed2 and for the first time since the separation of the ,nephites from the ,lamanites1 in the first half of the sixth century ,b4 ,c41 there was unrestricted intercourse between the two peoples3 ,and behold1 there was peace in all the land1 insomuch that the ,nephites did go into whatsoever part of the land they would1 whether among the ,nephites or the ,lamanites4 ,and it came to pass that the ,lamanites did also go whithersoever they would1 whether it were among the ,lamanites or among the ,nephites2 and thus they did have free intercourse one with another1 to buy and to sell1 and to get gain1 according to their desire4 ,and it came to pass that they became exceeding rich1 both the ,lamanites and the ,nephites2 and they did have an exceeding plenty of gold1 and of silver1 and of all manner of precious metals1 both in the land south and in the land north4 ,now the land south was called ,lehi1 and the land north was called ,mulek1 which was after the son of ,zedekiah2 for the ,lord did bring ,mulek into the land north1 and ,lehi into the land south4 ,and behold1 there was all manner of gold in both these lands1 and of silver1 and of precious ore of every kind2 and there were also curious workmen1 who did work all kinds of ore and did refine it2 and thus they did become rich4 ,they did raise grain in abundance1 both in the north and in the south2 and they did flourish exceedingly1 both in the north and in the south4 ,and they did multiply and wax exceedingly strong in the land4 ,and they did raise many flocks and herds1 yea1 many fatlings4 ,behold their women did toil and spin1 and did make all manner of cloth1 of fine-twined linen and cloth of every kind1 to clothe their nakedness4 ,the next event which affected ,nephite occupancy of the land north and south was one of their many robber wars4 ,by the sixteenth year from the time the sign #ah of the birth of ,christ #ai had been given 7therefore #af ,a4,d47 wickedness had so far increased among the people of the western world1 and there had been so many dissensions from those who once had favored law and order1 that the robber bands which infested the country considered themselves so powerful that they called upon the ,chief ,judge of the land to abdicate government and accept the order of things that obtained in their societies4 ,this demand led to a serious war between the supporters of the government on the one hand1 and the outlaws on the other4 ,the ,nephite leaders gathered their people both from the north and the south into the central part of their country--into the land ,bountiful1 and the land ,zarahemla2 and the cities of these lands the ,nephites and the ,lamanites standing for law1 order1 and the maintenance of government1 fortified and stocked with an abundance of provisions against the opening of the impending war4 ,the war began in the year #ah ,a4 ,d41 and lasted for more than two years4 ,in it the robber bands were not only defeated1 but annihilated1 by being destroyed in battle1 executed under the provisions of the law1 or by being compelled to enter into covenant to abandon their robberies and murders4 ,this war1 in some respects the most terrible in ,nephite history1 was followed by an era of prosperity4 ,in the course of a few years the ,nephites had moved back upon their lands whence they had been called by the exigencies of the recent war4 ,and it came to pass that there were many cities built anew1 and there were many old cities repaired4 ,and there were many highways cast up1 and many roads made1 which led from city to city1 and from land to land4 #bj ,no sooner were the terrors of war removed1 however1 than the people who had been so marvelously delivered from their enemies lapsed again into unrighteousness4 ,for there were many merchants in the land1 and also many lawyers1 and many officers4 ,and the people began to be distinguished by ranks1 according to their riches and their chances for learning2 yea1 some were ignorant because of their poverty1 and others did receive great learning because of their riches4 ,some were lifted up in pride1 and others were exceedingly humble2 some did return railing for railing1 while others would receive railing and persecution1 and all manner of afflictions1 and would not turn and revile again1 but were humble and penitent before ,god4 ,and thus there became a great inequality in all the land1 insomuch that the church began to be broken up2 yea1 insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the ,lamanites who were converted unto the true faith2 and they would not depart from it1 for they were firm1 and steadfast1 and immovable1 willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the ,lord4 ,now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this1 ,satan had great power1 unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity1 and to the puffing them up with pride1 tempting them to seek for power1 and authority1 and riches1 and the vain things of the world4 99 99 99 99 ,now they did not sin ignorantly1 for they knew the will of ,god concerning them1 for it had been taught unto them2 therefore they did wilfully rebel against ,god4 #ba ,the people of the western world1 in brief1 had entered upon that final stage of their wickedness which was to terminate in those awful convulsions of nature that should make their lands desolate1 and well-nigh destroy the inhabitants thereof4 ,the government itself had become corrupt2 so1 too1 had the priesthood1 save a few faithful ones--men of ,god1 who testified that the ,messiah had come1 and that the time of his passion and resurrection approached4 ,these were secretly haled before the judges1 and both priests and lawyers leagued against them for their destruction4 ,when it was feared that the ,chief ,judge would not sign their death warrants--a thing needful under the ,nephite law to make executions legal--they privily put them to death1 and thus were guilty of judicial murders4 ,an attempt to overthrow the commonwealth1 now perpetuated through more than a hundred and twenty years1 ended in anarchy2 and thence to the establishment of a sort of tribal government1 which maintained an uncertain peace by means of mutual fears rather than by any inherent strength in the system--if system1 indeed1 it could be called4 ,such were the conditions that obtained among the people of the western world when those mighty cataclysms occurred which destroyed so many ,nephite cities1 effaced so much of ,nephite civilization1 and so greatly changed in some places the physical character of the continents of the western hemisphere1 of which the ,book of ,mormon account has been already given4 ,shortly after these great cataclysms the ,savior made his appearance among the ,nephites and established his ,church1 which event was followed by a long period of righteousness and the loss of all race and party distinctions1 such as ,nephite and ,lamanite1 etc42 and the people occupied the lands north and south without restraint according to their good pleasure4 ,true1 in the year #cej1 ,a4 ,d41 when wickedness had again made its appearance among the people1 and old distinctions were received1 a treaty was made in which it was stipulated that those calling themselves ,lamanites and ,gadianton robbers would possess the south land4 ,the treaty1 however1 was not long respected by the ,lamanities1 for at the end of ten years they violated it by attempting to invade the north and war was renewed4 ,back and forth surged the tide of armed conflict1 but raged chiefly in what was known to the ,nephites as the land of ,desolation1 the old seat of ,jaredite empire and civilization4 ,the ,nephites at last having been driven from their southern strongholds in the north continent1 proposed through their leader1 ,mormon1 ,mormon1 #bb that they be permitted to gather their people at ,cumorah--the ,ramah of the ,jaredites--that they might trust their fate to the dreadful arbitrament of one great conflict4 ,the request was granted2 the hosts were gathered1 the armies which fought under the ,nephite name were destroyed1 save such as were mingled with the ,lamanites4 ,anarchy followed1 and then savagery for ages claimed the western hemisphere as its own4 ,footnotes #a4 ,see ,ether #g3f and ,dict4 ,b4 of ,m41 ,art4 ,desolation4 #b4 ,ether #aj3ba4 #c4 ,mosiah #i3a-d4 #d4 ,omni #a3bd4 #e4 ,for the authority of the foregoing narrative compare ,omni #a3bf-cj1 ,mosiah #i3a-f1 and ,words of ,mormon between the ,books of ,omni and ,mosiah4 ,also ,mosiah #aa3ac4 #f4 ,mosiah #aa4 #g4 ,the city of ,helam and the surrounding country which was called the land of ,helam1 was doubtless named from ,helam1 who was the first to receive baptism at the hands of ,alma4 ,mos4 #ah4 #h4 ,compare ,mosiah #h1 with ,mosiah #ba1 and ,mosiah #bh4 #i4 ,elder ,reynolds suggests that this land north of ,zarahemla was set apart to them because it would place ,zarahemla between them and the ,lamanites who might attempt pursuit4--,dict4 ,book of ,mormon1 p4 #agb4 #aj4 ,mosiah #be3b1 #c4 #aa4 ,alma #ea1 #eb4 ,helaman #a4 #ab4 ,forty and sixth year of the reign of the judges2 corresponding to the year forty-six ,b4 ,c4 7,reynolds' ,b4 of ,m4 ,chronology1 ,richards' ,compendium1 p4 #aie47 #ac4 ,book of ,helaman1 #c3c-ae4 #ad4 ,to ,lakes ,superior1 ,michigan1 ,huron1 ,erie1 ,ontario4 #ae4 ,see ,orson ,pratt's notes i and j ,helaman ,,iii4 #af4 ,the land visited by ,limhi's expeditions in search of ,zarahemla1 and who went to the land desolation1 on their return described that as a land among many waters1 ,mosiah #h3h4 #ag4 ,helaman #d4 #ah4 ,a ,lamanite prophet five years ,b4 ,c41 declared that a sign of ,messiah's birth would be given to the people of the western hemisphere1 which he described as follows3 ,this will ,i give unto you for a sign at the time of his 7,messiah's7 coming2 for behold1 there shall be great lights in heaven1 insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness1 insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day4 ,therefore1 there shall be one day and a night and a day1 as if it were one day and there were no night1 and this shall be unto you for a sign4 99 99 ,and behold1 there shall a new star arise1 such an one as ye never have beheld2 and this also shall be a sign unto you 7of ,messiah's birth74 ,all of which came to pass as predicted4 7,see ,helaman #ad3c-f2 also ,,iii ,nephi #a3ae-ba47 #ai4 ,the ,nephites began to reckon their time from the sign of ,messiah's birth in the ninth year from that event4 ,see ,,iii ,nephi #b4 ,compare verses #c-g with verses #h-aj4 #bj4 ,,iii ,nephi #f4 #ba4 ,,iii ,nephi #f3aa-ae1 #ah4 #bb4 ,mormon was born in the north land about #caa ,a4 ,d4 ,to him was entrusted the ,nephite records by one ,ammaron2 and while they were in his possession he made the abridgment which bears his name1 ,the ,book of ,mormon4 ,all the sacred ,nephite records he did away except his abridgment of those records2 and that he delivered to his son ,moroni4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,government ,,and ,,religion ,,among ,,the ,,nephites4 ,nephite ,government4 ,some twelve or fifteen years after ,lehi's colony arrived in the new world1 ,nephi with that part of the colony which he could influence--the more righteous part1 by the way--separated from the elder sons of ,lehi and their following1 and established a separate community4 ,such was the esteem in which ,nephi was held by his following that his people besought him to be their king4 ,nephi appears not to have favored the establishment of this kind of government1 but yielded to the desire of his people4 ,perhaps he had inherited the prejudices of the ,hebrew prophets against the kingly form of government1 #a and would gladly have seen his people live under an administration of government by judges1 as in ancient ,israel4 ,this1 however1 is but an inference drawn from the fact of ,nephi's expressed desire that his people would have no king4 ,succession to the kingly dignity was made hereditary in ,nephi's family1 #b and the kings on their accession to the kingly power took the title of ,nephi ,i1 ,nephi ,,ii1 ,nephi ,,iii1 ,nephi ,,iv1 etc4 #c ,what the nature of this kingly government was1 what secondary officers existed in it1 and what means were employed for the administration of its laws cannot be learned from the ,nephite record4 ,for some time the community over which the established government held sway was but a small one1 hence the kingly office had no such dignity as attaches to it in more extensive governments2 but was most likely akin to the petty kingdoms which existed in ,judea #d at various times and with which ,nephi and some few of those who had accompanied him from ,jerusalem were acquainted4 ,the ,nephites had the scriptures containing the law of ,moses1 and were taught to some extent in some of the customs of the ,jews1 but not in all of them4 #e ,and these customs1 and the law of ,moses administered with no very great amount of machinery1 ,i apprehend1 constituted the character of the ,nephite government4 ,under it the ,nephites lived for a period of more than four hundred and fifty years4 ,the transition from a kingly form of government to what may be called a democracy was made at the death of ,mosiah ,,ii1 #eji years from the time ,lehi left ,jerusalem1 or #ia years ,b4 ,c4 ,the ,israelitish genius in matters of government inclines them to the acceptance of what men commonly call a theocracy1 which is defined as meaning literally a state governed in the name of ,god4 ,the election of this form of government by ,israelities as most desirable1 grows out of the fact of the ,mosaic legislation2 for ,moses received the law by which ,israel was governed direct from ,jehovah2 its regulations were carried out in ,jehovah's name1 by the administration of judges1 both during the life time of ,israel's great prophet and also after his demise4 ,living thus under the divine law1 administered in the name of ,jehovah by judges divinely appointed1 was to be governed of ,god4 ,and so completely was this form of government recognized as the government of ,god1 that to reject it was held to be rejecting ,god as the ruler of the state1 as witness the words of the ,lord himself in the closing years of the prophet ,samuel's life when ,israel clamored for a king4 ,the ,lord said unto ,samuel3 ,hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee3 for they have not rejected thee1 but they have rejected me1 that ,i should not reign over them4 #f ,no one1 it appears to me1 could have a clearer conception of the evils that grow out of kingly government than the ,nephite king1 ,mosiah ,,ii4 ,nor a clearer conception of the strength and advantages of that form of government4 ,i give a summary of his reasoning upon two sides of this question3 ,it is better that a man be judged of ,god than of man2 for the judgments of ,god are always just1 but the judgments of men are not always just4 ,this is said in support of the old ,israelitish idea of government--a theocracy3 ,if it were possible that you could have just men to be your kings1 who would establish the laws of ,god and judge this people according to his commandments1 99 99 99 99 then it would be expedient that you always have kings to rule over you2 but because all men are not just1 it is not expedient that you should have a king or kings to rule over you4 99 99 99 99 ,behold1 how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed1 yea and what destruction6 ,moreover ,mosiah understood the strength of those forces behind which an ungodly king could intrench himself4 ,behold1 99 99 99 99 ye cannot dethrone an iniquitous king1 save it be through much contention1 and the shedding of much blood2 for behold1 he has his friends in iniquity1 and keepeth his guards about him1 99 99 99 99 and he enacteth laws1 and sendeth them forth among his people2 yea1 laws after the manner of his own wickedness2 and whosoever does not obey his laws1 he causeth to be destroyed2 and whosoever doth rebel against him1 he will send his armies against them to war1 and if he can1 he will destroy them3 and thus an unrighteous king doth pervert the ways of all righteousness4 ,behold1 ,i say unto you the sins of many people have been caused by the iniquities of their kings4 ,these were the considerations which led him to recommend the abandonment of kingly government and establish a reign of judges chosen by the voice of the people4 ,by this arrangement ,mosiah held that the people would bear the responsibility of the government4 ,it is not common1 he reasons1 that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right2 but it is common for the smaller part of the people to desire that which is not right2 therefore this shall ye observe1 and make it your law1 to do your business by the voice of the people2 and if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity1 then is the time that the judgment of ,god will come upon you2 yea1 then is the time he will visit you with great destruction1 even as he has hitherto visited this land4 ,all of which is a clear setting forth of the responsibilities of self-governing communities4 ,it should be pointed out1 however1 that there were some other events which led to the consideration of the propriety of changing the form of the ,nephite government1 at this time4 ,the sons of ,mosiah1 who were heirs to the ,nephite throne1 were miraculously converted to the gospel1 and so thoroughly imbued had they become with the importance of the work of the ministry of the ,church that they abandoned their rights of succession to the kingly dignity1 and departed from the land of ,zarahemla to perform missions among the ,lamanites4 ,in consequence of the action of these young princes1 ,mosiah ,,ii was confronted with the problem of succession to the ,nephite throne1 since those to whom belonged the right refused to accept the honor4 ,he feared that if another were appointed instead of one who had constitutional claims to the throne1 there might arise contentions over the question of succession4 ,and who knoweth1 said he1 but what my son to whom the kingdom doth belong1 shall turn to be angry1 and draw part of this people after him1 which would cause wars and contentions among you1 which would be the cause of shedding much blood8 ,he therefore recommended the election of a chief judge or president of the theocratic-democracy1 who would be possessed of both administrative and judicial powers1 in the hope that such action1 taken by the people themselves1 would obviate all difficulty or question about the legitimacy of the government about to be established4 ,it is difficult to determine with precision the entire character of the constitution of the ,nephite democracy4 ,but from what is written in the ,book of ,mormon this much may be learned3 ,the chief judge1 elected by the people1 was the supreme governor of the land1 the chief executive4 #g ,his oath of office bound him to judge righteously1 and to keep the peace and the freedom of the people1 and grant unto them the sacred privileges to worship the ,lord their ,god2 to support and maintain the laws of ,god all his days1 and to bring the wicked to justice1 according to their crimes4 ,a similar oath was doubtless administered to the inferior judges4 ,to a limited extent also legislative powers were granted to the chief judge1 but these powers appear to have been limited to framing laws1 which were not of force until ratified by the voice of the people4 ,no limit seems to have been set to the term of office of the chief judge1 but as the voice of the people placed him in office1 the same power could also dismiss him from it2 and it may be that the power of impeachment1 vested in a certain number of inferior judges--as explained later--extended to deposing even the chief judge4 ,in any event it may be concluded that he held his position only during good behavior4 ,just how the inferior judges were graded cannot be ascertained1 but that they were graded is evident1 since ,mosiah ,,ii1 in explaining the character of the constitution of the democracy he proposed to his people1 said3 ,and now if ye have judges1 and they do not judge you according to the law which has been given1 ye can cause that they may be judged of a higher judge4 ,if your higher judges do not judge righteous judgments1 ye shall cause that a small number of your lower judges should be gathered together1 and they shall judge your higher judges1 according to the voice of the people4 #h ,a salutary provision this1 for it made all amenable to the law1 but the manner in which the judges were graded is unknown1 as well as what number of inferior judges were designated to try the superior judges4 ,these administrators of the law were paid for their services according to the time which they labored to judge those who were brought before them to be judged1 99 99 99 a senine of gold for a day1 or its equivalent in silver--a senum of silver4 #i ,it is1 of course1 impossible to determine the value of these denominations of ,nephite coins1 and therefore impossible to determine the value of the per diem of the judges4 ,the nearest approach that can be made to an estimate is that a senine of gold or a senum of silver was equal in value to a measure of barley and also for a measure of any kind of grain4 #aj ,this is again indefinite1 as neither the bulk nor the weight of a measure of grain is known2 but it does convey the idea that it was no very great amount2 and1 indeed1 in all that is said upon the subject of compensation for public service in the state1 it is manifest that the ,nephite government was administered on the strictest lines of economy4 #aa4 ,the organization of the military forces among the ,nephites would be a subject of great interest1 since1 by reason of the constant aggressions of the ,lamanites1 they were often forced into war1 and would be classed as a defensively warlike state4 ,of their military organization1 however1 but little can be definitely known4 ,two items1 however1 connected with the commander-in-chief of the armies1 are quite clear3 ,first1 that he was nominated for his position by the ,chief ,judge of the land1 #ab which nomination had to be ratified by the voice of the people2 second1 that on occasions the people delegated to him absolute power1 created him military dictator in fact4 ,this has ever been the means by which republics have sought to remedy one of the chief defects of their system1 viz41 ineffectiveness of administration--a tardiness in executing the law1 or meeting an emergency not technically provided for in the constitution or law4 ,in order to obviate this difficulty democracies have not infrequently adopted the plan of creating trusted leaders dictators2 clothing them with all the authority of an absolute monarch during periods of special peril to the government4 ,thus did the ,romans a number of times during the existence of their republic1 when occasions arose that required prompt executive action1 and by an authority that would be unquestioned4 ,and such1 ,i believe1 was the power conferred upon the commander-in-chief of the ,nephite armies1 when occasion arose for it4 ,relative to the body of the laws that obtained among the ,nephites1 whether under the monarchy or the republic1 ,i apprehend that it was made up of the ,mosaic legislation1 #ac with some slight modification1 and some especial enactments of their kings4 ,as for instance it was enacted in the law of ,mosiah 7most likely ,mosiah ,,ii7 that the judges should receive wages according to the time they devoted to their office4 #ad ,so doubtless other special acts obtained1 which1 with the general laws of the ,mosaic legislation formed the ,nephite jurisprudence4 #ae ,and in the transition from the monarchy to the republic1 ,mosiah was careful to stipulate for this body of jurisprudence3 ,let us appoint judges to judge this people according to our law4 #af--;i4 e41 the law which had obtained under the monarchy1 the law of ,god4 ,we will appoint wise men to be judges1 that will judge this people according to the commandments of ,god4 #ag ,so the body of the law that obtained under the reign of the kings went over into the jurisprudence of the republic4 ,from the ,nephite record it appears that murder was punished with death2 robbery1 theft1 and adultery were also punished1 but with what penalties is not stated4 ,but the law provided that men should be judged--and therefore punished--according to their crimes4 #ah ,one thing stood out unique in the ,nephite policy3 that was the recognition of the right of the subject to the enjoyment of religious liberty4 ,the scripture--choose ye this day whom ye will serve #ai--seems to have impressed the ,nephites with the idea that the right of choice in the matter of worship was left with the individual2 and hence if a man desired to serve ,god1 it was his privilege2 but if he did not believe in him ,god1 there was no law to punish him #bj--;hence religious liberty4 ,the history of the ,nephite republic was a stormy one1 especially during the first quarter century of its existence4 ,it was assailed by traitors from within1 who sought to re-establish a monarchy2 and by the ,lamanites from without1 who often joined with the royalists to overthrow the republic4 ,but if traitors assailed1 patriots defended2 and the republic was preserved for about one hundred and twenty years1 from #ia ,b4 ,c4 to #cj ,a4 ,d4 ,an attempt then made to displace the republic by a monarchy1 ended in anarchy for a time1 followed by the establishment of a sort of tribal government1 which conditions prevailed at the time the land was visited with that terrible destruction which took place at the crucifixion of ,messiah1 and well nigh swept out of existence the entire population4 ,what form of government obtained among the people of the western hemisphere after the appearance of the risen ,messiah among them must be left largely to conjecture1 since the ,nephite records now in our hands are silent upon that subject4 ,neither monarchy nor republic is referred to2 and the most reasonable conclusion is that the people1 after the establishment of the ,church of ,christ among them1 found its institutions and authority sufficient as well in secular as in ecclesiastical affairs2 for the entire people were converted to the gospel1 and were members of the ,church4 ,a righteous people have small need of government4 ,the necessity for government is born of men's vices and wickedness1 that lead to the disorders of society1 which government must needs be called upon to regulate1 and1 if possible1 suppress4 ,for two centuries the people of the western world were most righteous1 prosperous and happy4 ,there were no envyings1 says their chronicler1 nor strifes1 nor tumults1 nor whoredoms1 nor lyings1 nor murders1 nor any manner of lasciviousness2 and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of ,god4 #ba ,in consequence of these conditions nothing is said of government1 and nothing may be learned of its nature beyond what has been suggested in the foregoing4 ,as to what was done in the matter of government when this period of general righteousness drew to its close1 and pride and wickedness hastened the disintegration of the ,church2 and pushed society headlong into disorders1 may not be known1 as our present ,nephite records on this subject are again silent4 ,we only know that secret organizations sapped the foundations of society2 that security of person and property vanished2 that anarchy and tribal relations usurped the place of orderly government2 and that darkness spread over the land and gross darkness over the minds of the people4 ,religion4 ,religion among the ,nephites consisted in the worship of the true and living ,god1 the ,jehovah of the ,jews1 whose revelations to the children of ,israel through ,moses and all the prophets to ,jeremiah were brought with them into the new world4 ,they therefore accepted into their faith all the ,bible truths1 and in its historical parts they had before them the valuable lessons which ,bible history teaches4 ,it furnished also a foundation for literature among them4 ,for not only by the ,bible were their prophets instructed in the law of ,god1 but copies of some parts of it were multiplied and read by the people4 #bb ,what is more they were possessed of some other books not now in our so-called canon of the ,old ,testament1 such as the books of the ,prophets ,zenock1 ,neum and ,zenos2 all referred to by the first ,nephi1 who quotes some of their prophecies concerning the coming of ,messiah in the flesh1 and of three days of darkness to be given unto some of the inhabitants of the isles of the sea as a sign of the ,christ's death4 #bc ,the ,nephites also had the writings of ,ezias referred to by one of the ,nephite prophets in the ,book of ,helaman4 #bd ,elder ,orson ,pratt1 in a foot note on the passage1 suggests that ,ezias may have been identical with ,esaias1 who lived contemporary with ,abraham4 #be ,these books contained very precious truths concerning the coming and mission of the ,messiah2 and when information on this subject was lacking in the books which the ,nephites brought with them from ,jerusalem1 it was abundantly made up to them by the things which the ,lord revealed directly to their own prophets2 for in the clearest manner possible the ,lord made known to this branch of the house of ,israel in the western world1 the future coming and mission of the ,messiah1 together with the effectiveness of the atonement which he was appointed to make for mankind4 ,while the ,nephites kept the law of ,moses previous to the advent of ,messiah1 as to its sacrifices and ordinances1 yet they understood that these things but shadowed forth the real sacrifice to be made for them by the ,savior of the world2 and that these ordinances in which they administered were only of virtue by reason of the things which were to be done by ,messiah afterwards4 ,in order to offer sacrifices and administer in the other ordinances of the law of ,moses 7which the ,nephites were commanded to observe71 #bf it was necessary1 of course1 that they have a priesthood1 and this they had2 but not the priesthood after the order of ,aaron2 for that was a priesthood that could only properly be held by ,aaron's family and the tribe of ,levi2 while ,lehi was of the tribe of ,manasseh4 #bg ,lehi held the priesthood1 however1 the higher priesthood1 which was after the order of ,melchizedek1 and was a prophet and minister of righteousness4 ,this ,lehi conferred upon his son ,nephi2 and ,nephi1 shortly after his separation from his elder brothers on the land of promise1 consecrated his two younger brothers1 ,jacob and ,joseph1 to be priests and teachers unto his people4 #bh ,jacob1 when explaining his calling to his brethren1 states that he had been called of ,god1 and ordained after the manner of his holy order4 #bi ,what the significance of the phrase ,his holy order means1 is learned very distinctly from other parts of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,alma1 for instance1 before giving up the chief judgeship of the land1 is represented as confining himself wholly to the priesthood of the holy order of ,god1 to the testimony of the word1 according to the ,spirit of revelation and prophecy4 #cj ,again ,alma explains1 ,i am called 99 99 99 according to the holy order of ,god1 which is in ,christ ,jesus2 yea1 ,i am commanded to stand and testify unto this people4 #ca ,all of which is made still clearer by what ,alma says later4 ,having given an explanation of the plan of redemption which was laid for man's salvation1 and which he represents as having been understood from earliest times1 ,alma adds3 ,i would that ye should remember that the ,lord ,god ordained priests after his holy order1 which was after the order of his ,son meaning ,jesus ,christ1 to teach these things unto the people4 99 99 99 ,this holy priesthood1 being after the order of his ,son1 which order was from the foundation of the world1 or in other words1 being without beginning of days or end of years1 being prepared from eternity to all eternity4 99 99 99 ,thus they become the high priests forever after the order of the ,son1 the only begotten of the ,father1 who is full of grace1 equity and truth4 ,alma then admonishes his people to be humble1 even as the people in the days of ,melchisedek1 who was also a high priest after the same order of which he had spoken4 99 99 99 ,and he was the same ,melchisedek to whom ,abraham paid tithes4 ,the ,nephite priesthood1 then1 was not a priesthood after ,aaron's order1 but of a higher order1 even the priesthood after the order of the ,son of ,god2 the same kind of priesthood held by ,melchizedek1 by ,moses1 by ,lehi1 and many other prophets in ,israel4 ,that this higher priesthood was competent to act in administering the ordinances under what is known as the law of ,moses1 is evident from the fact that it so administered before the ,aaronic or ,levitical priesthood proper was given2 and the fact that there was given to the household of ,aaron and the tribe of ,levi a special priesthood1 by no means detracts from the right and power of the higher or ,melchizedek priesthood to officiate in the ordinances of the law of ,moses2 for certainly the higher order of priesthood may officiate in the functions of the lower1 when necessity requires it4 ,all the sacrifices and ordinances under the law of ,moses1 administered by the ,nephite priesthood1 ,i say again1 were observed with due appreciation of the fact that they were of virtue only as they shadowed forth the things to be done by ,messiah when he should come to earth1 in the flesh1 on his great mission of atonement4 ,and in order that the reader may see how full ,nephite knowledge was of the ,messiah and of his life on earth1 through the prophecies uttered concerning him--and prophecies1 of course1 are but history reversed--,i present herewith a statement of the items known to them1 collected by the patient labors of ,elder ,george ,reynolds1 to whom ,i am indebted for the following passage3 ,one of the most remarkable things connected with the history of the ,nephites is the great plainness and detail with which the coming of the ,redeemer and the events of his life in ,judea were revealed to their prophets1 who lived before the time of his advent4 ,among other things connected with his mortal existence it was declared of him that3 ,god himself should come down from heaven among the children of men and should redeem his people4 ,he should take upon him flesh and blood4 ,he should be born in the land of ,jerusalem1 the name given by the ,nephites to the land of their forefathers1 whence they came4 ,his mother's name should be ,mary4 ,she should be a virgin of the city of ,nazareth2 very fair and beautiful1 a precious and chosen vessel4 ,she should be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,he should be called ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god4 ,at his birth a new star should appear in the heavens4 ,he should be baptized by ,john at ,bethabara1 beyond ,jordan4 ,john should testify that he had baptized the ,lamb of ,god1 who should take away the sins of the world4 ,after his baptism1 the ,holy ,ghost should come down upon him out of heaven1 99 99 99 99 and abide upon him4 ,he should call twelve men as his special witnesses1 to minister in his name4 ,he should go forth among the people1 ministering in power and great glory1 casting out devils1 healing the sick1 raising the dead1 and performing many mighty miracles4 ,he should take upon him the infirmities of his people4 ,he should suffer temptation1 pain of body1 hunger1 thirst and fatigue2 blood should come from every pore of his body by reason of his anguish because of the abominations of his people4 ,he should be cast out and rejected by the ,jews2 be taken and scourged1 and be judged of the world4 ,he should be lifted upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world4 ,he should be buried in a sepulchre1 where he should remain three days4 ,after he was slain he should rise from the dead and should make himself manifest by the ,holy ,ghost1 unto the ,gentiles4 ,he should lay down his life according to the flesh and take it up again by the power of the ,spirit1 that he might bring to pass the resurrection of the dead1 being the first that should rise4 ,at his resurrection many graves should be opened and should yield up their dead2 and many of the saints1 who had beforetime passed away1 should appear unto the living4 ,he should redeem all mankind who would believe on his name4 ,in the above we have not mentioned the sayings of ,isaiah and other ,jewish prophets1 which are inserted in the ,book of ,mormon1 but which also appear in the ,bible4 #cb ,after the resurrection1 in fulfilment of many predictions of ,nephite prophets that he would appear among the people of the western world1 #cc ,jesus ,christ made his advent among the ,nephites4 ,the great event occurred some time after those awful cataclysms1 which so changed the face of the western world1 had ceased4 ,it appears that a number of ,nephites had gathered together near a temple in the land ,bountiful1 and were contemplating the changes that had been wrought in the land by the aforesaid cataclysms1 and conversing about the ,messiah1 the signs of whose death had been so marvelously given--,i quote the account of the appearing of ,jesus unto this multitude1 as it is found in the ,nephite record3 ,and it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another1 they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven2 and they cast their eyes round about1 for they understood not the voice which they heard2 and it was not a harsh voice1 neither was it a loud voice2 nevertheless1 and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center1 insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake2 yea1 it did pierce them to the very soul1 and did cause their hearts to burn4 ,and it came to pass that again they heard the voice1 and they understood it not4 ,and again the third time they did hear the voice1 and did open their ears to hear it2 and their eyes were towards the sound thereof2 and they did look steadfastly towards heaven1 from whence the sound came4 ,and behold1 the third time they did understand the voice which they heard2 and it said unto them3 ,behold my ,beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased1 in whom ,i have glorified my name--hear ye him4 ,and it came to pass1 as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven2 and behold1 they saw a ,man descending out of heaven2 and he was clothed in a white robe2 and he came down and stood in the midst of them2 and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him1 and they durst not open their mouths1 even one to another1 and wist not what it meant1 for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them4 ,and it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people1 saying3 ,behold1 ,i am ,jesus ,christ1 whom the prophets testified shall come into the world4 ,and behold1 ,i am the light and the life of the world2 and ,i have drunk out of that bitter cup which the ,father hath given me1 and have glorified the ,father in taking upon me the sins of the world1 in the which ,i have suffered the will of the ,father in all things from the beginning4 ,and it came to pass that when ,jesus had spoken these words1 the whole multitude fell to the earth2 for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that ,christ should shew himself unto them after his ascension into heaven4 #cd ,after thus manifesting himself to the ,nephites in this most palpable manner1 ,messiah continued his ministry by teaching them the gospel1 and instituting baptism for the remission of sins1 and the sacrament of the ,lord's ,supper1 as symbolizing the sacrifice and atonement he had made4 ,he also authorized the organization of a ,church among them--himself conferring divine authority to do all these things upon twelve disciples1 who held power similar to that of the twelve whom he had chosen at ,jerusalem4 ,he also taught them the moral law of the gospel2 informed them of his work among their brethren1 the ,jews2 declared to them also his intention of visiting and ministering to those who are called the ,lost ,tribes of ,israel1 declaring that in this personal appearing to them 7the ,nephites71 and to the ,lost ,tribes of the house of ,israel1 he was but fulfilling his own words to the twelve at ,jerusalem as found in the testimony of ,john1 wherein he said3 ,and other sheep ,i have1 which are not of this fold3 #ce them also ,i must bring1 and they shall hear my voice2 and there shall be one fold and one shepherd4 #cf ,thus the gospel was proclaimed among the ,nephites1 by ,jesus ,christ1 in person1 and by divinely inspired men1 directly called and appointed by ,jesus to the holy office of the ministry4 ,the ,church of ,christ was established among the ,nephites1 to teach the truth1 and perfect the lives of those who accepted it--for such is the mission of the ,church of ,christ in all ages of the world4 ,how successful it was through the first two ,christian centuries1 and how1 after the expiration of that time1 the ,nephite race began to decline in righteousness1 deny the faith once delivered to them1 until they lost favor with ,god and were left to degenerate into anarchy and barbarism1 has already been stated4 ,,the ,,people ,,of ,,mulek4 ,government and ,religion4 ,of the government and religion of the people of ,mulek in the western hemisphere we know even less than of the ,jaredites or the ,nephites4 ,mulek himself was of royal lineage1 being the son of ,king ,zedekiah of ,jerusalem2 but whether the prerogatives of prince and king were enjoyed and exercised by him in the new world we cannot learn1 nor is there any glimpse afforded us in the ,nephite records of the nature of government among their people4 ,still1 government of some sort must have subsisted among them1 for when found by the ,nephites in the valley of the ,sidon they lived in association--chiefly in the great city of ,zarahemla--a thing inconceivable apart from government of some sort4 ,the gregarious instincts of man impel him to live in society1 but the experience of the race is warrant for the truth of the fact that government is necessary to the perpetuity of that society4 ,hence when society of any permanent character is found1 there1 it may be taken for granted1 government of some sort also exists4 ,hence the people of ,mulek1 since it is evident that they lived in a permanent society1 had a government1 but the nature of it is unknown4 ,the people of ,mulek came from the old world without scriptures or records of any kind4 ,that is no matter of surprise1 however1 since they were fugitives escaping from the wrath of the king of ,babylon4 ,their anxiety looked not to the future1 but to the present4 ,to them was committed the protection of one of the princes of ,judah4 ,to reach a place of safety for him would be their one1 absorbing thought4 ,but the experience of this colony illustrates the value of the written word of ,god4 ,by reason of having no records or books1 and no opportunity1 or inclination1 perhaps1 to teach letters1 the language they spoke--the language prevalent in ,judea in the sixth century ,b4 ,c4--in course of time very much deteriorated4 #cg ,but that was not the worst consequence of their being without the written word4 ,by the time the descendants of ,mulek's colony were discovered by the migrating hosts of ,nephites under ,mosiah ,i--four hundred years from the time they left ,judea--they were so far sunk in unbelief as to deny the being of their ,creator4 ,their condition of unbelief sustains the views on the value of the written word expressed by ,king ,benjamin--son of ,mosiah ,i--when teaching his people the importance of the records brought by ,lehi's colony from ,jerusalem4 ,he held that had it not been for these sacred writings1 the ,nephites themselves would have been in ignorance of the mysteries of ,god2 that it would have been impossible for ,lehi to have taught all the things of ,god1 but for the help he received from the written word2 that but for this1 their fathers would have dwindled in unbelief4 #ch ,it may be taken for granted also that with a people who had no religion--who denied the being of their ,creator--their morality was of a very low order2 for it is a truth1 attested over and over again in the history of nations1 that national morality cannot prevail in exclusion of religion1 which teaches the recognition of moral duties as commandments of ,god4 ,but these observations are based upon the universal experience of man1 rather than upon anything in the ,nephite record2 for that is silent upon the matters of government1 religion1 and morality of the people of ,mulek1 except in so far as stated in the foregoing4 ,,the ,,lamanites4 ,civilization1 ,government1 ,religion4 ,civilization1 government and religion among the ,lamanites should not be overlooked4 ,it is true that they were idle2 that they loved the wilderness and1 for the most part1 dwelt in tents2 that they depended upon the fruits of the chase and such products of the earth as the rich lands they occupied produced without the labor of man1 as the principal means of their sustenance2 still they came in contact now and then with ,nephite civilization1 which must have modified somewhat their inclination to utter barbarism4 ,it must be remembered that the ,lamanites frequently invaded ,nephite lands and prospered by the fruits of war4 ,moreover1 as the ,nephites repeatedly removed from their possession to escape ,lamanite aggression1 the latter took possession of their deserted cities and country1 and dwelt in their habitations4 ,when the righteous ,nephites under ,mosiah ,i departed northward from the ,land of ,nephi1 in which land was located the great cities of ,lehi-,nephi1 ,shilom1 and doubtless many other cities of less importance1 these fell into the hands of the ,lamanites4 ,when a colony from ,zarahemla returned under ,zeniff to re-occupy these lands of their fathers1 they were tricked into bondage to the ,lamanites1 who laid heavy tribute upon their labor1 and flourished for a period of well nigh eighty years upon the industry of the practically enslaved ,nephites4 ,this occasional contact with ,nephite civilization must have had a modifying effect upon ,lamanite life and ,lamanite character4 ,that there was some system and regularity in ,lamanite government must be apparent from the degree of efficiency with which that people conducted the protracted wars with the ,nephites4 ,the largeness of their armies1 the length of the wars1 and the extensive scale on which they were projected and prosecuted1 would indicate the existence of some strong1 central government capable of making its authority respected4 ,that such a government existed among the ,lamanites is disclosed through the facts that are brought to light by the mission of the young ,nephite princes1 the sons of ,mosiah ,,ii1 in the century preceding the birth of ,messiah4 ,it appears that at that time what ,i shall venture to call the ,lamanite empire was divided into a number of petty kingdoms whose kings1 as is always the case among semi-civilized peoples1 were possessed of great and arbitrary power2 but these in turn seem to have been subject to a central ruler whose dominion extended over all1 and whose power in his large sphere was as absolute as that of the petty kings in the smaller states4 ,the religion of the ,lamanites is more difficult to determine than their government4 ,it is chiefly the absence of religion and of its influence that must be spoken of4 ,taught to believe that the traditions of their fathers respecting ,god1 the promised ,messiah1 and the belief in a future life were untrue2 persuaded to believe that their fathers had been induced to leave fatherland1 and their rich possessions therein because of the dreams of the visionary ,lehi2 firm in their conviction that the elder sons of ,lehi had been defrauded of their right to govern the colony by the younger son1 ,nephi2 and that through the force of the religious influence he learned to wield by following the spiritual example 7to them1 perhaps1 the trickery7 of his father--it was in the spirit of hatred of religion that the ,lamanites waged war upon the ,nephites1 to subvert religion and free men from its restraints4 ,but the ,lamanites were true to human instincts4 #ci ,they freed themselves1 as they supposed1 from one superstition1 only to plunge into others that were really contemptible--the superstition of idolatry2 for they were an idolatrous people4 #dj ,this remark1 however1 must be understood in a general sense1 and as applying to the ,lamanites proper1 previous to the coming of ,messiah--of the followers1 and the descendants of the followers1 of the elder brothers of the first ,nephi1 ,laman and ,lemuel4 ,after the coming of ,messiah1 when in the third century ,a4 ,d41 the old distinctions of ,nephite and ,lamanite were revived1 after the long period of peace and righteousness following the advent of ,christ1 said distinctions could have no reference to race or family1 as they had when first employed2 but were strictly party distinctions2 used1 when adopted again in the period named1 to indicate the ,church or religious party1 and the anti-religious party1 respectively4 ,but even this significance passed away in time1 in the latter phase of the history of the people of the western hemisphere2 for the ,nephites went into transgression as well as the ,lamanite party1 and no longer stood as the champions of religion and the ,church3 and hence the names then stood for the respective parties1 strangely bent on each other's destruction4 ,it must also be understood that the term idolatrous people does not apply to all the ,lamanites previous to the coming of ,messiah1 through the whole period of their history2 for at times there were very widespread conversions among them to faith in the true ,god1 as at the time of the mission of ,king ,mosiah's sons among them1 three-quarters of a century ,b4 ,c42 and again as the result of the labors of ,nephi1 the son of ,helaman1 and his brother ,lehi 7#ca ,b4 ,c4 to #b ,b4 ,c474 ,in this last named successful ministry1 the ,lamanites reversed for a time the historic relations of the two parties1 the ,lamanites more universally accepting the faith taught by the prophets of ,god than the ,nephites1 exceeding them in righteousness of life and in zeal as champions of the cause of ,god and truth4 ,but1 speaking broadly1 after noting the foregoing limitations and exceptions1 from the first separation of the ,nephites from the ,lamanites1 down to the coming of ,messiah1 the ,lamanites were an idolatrous people4 ,and again from the time of the destruction of the ,nephite party1 about #djj ,a4 ,d41 to the coming of the ,europeans1 near the close of the fifteenth century1 superstition and the darkness of idolatry 7enlightened here and there1 perhaps1 with a fragment of truth cherished in the traditions of the people7 held the inhabitants of the western world under its dominion4 ,by way of recapitulation1 allow me here to say1 in closing this second division of my treatise1 that ,i have now considered the value of the ,book of ,mormon as a witness for ,god2 the purposes for which it was written2 the manner of its coming forth through the agency of ,joseph ,smith2 the manner of its translation1 and the account of its publication2 the migrations of its people to the western world2 the lands they occupied2 the intercontinental movements of its peoples2 their government1 literature and religion4 ,all this1 it is hoped1 sets forth what the ,book of ,mormon is1 and its value as a volume of history and scripture2 and naturally leads up to the great questions to be considered in this treatise1 viz43 ,is the ,book of ,mormon what it purports to be8 ,is it an abridged history of the ancient people who inhabited the western hemisphere8 ,does it really give an account of ,god's hand-dealing with them8 ,is it the voice of sleeping nations testifying to the truth of ,god's existence1 to the verity of ,messiah's mission1 to the power of salvation in the gospel of ,jesus ,christ8 ,is it verily a volume of scripture8 ,is it true8 ,these are the solemn questions to be considered in the next division2 and it is believed by the writer that in the presentation of the evidence then to be considered1 and the argument there to be made1 that the importance of this merely preliminary part of the work will become more apparent4 ,footnotes #a4 ,i ,samuel #h3a-i and #ai-bb2 ,,ii ,nephi #e3ag1 #ah4 #b4 ,mosiah #be3ac4 #c4 ,book of ,jacob #a3i-aa4 #d4 ,gen4 #ad4 ,in many cases these ,judean kings ruled but a single city4 #e4 ,,ii ,nephi #be3b4 #f4 ,i ,samuel #h3g4 #g4 ,mosiah #bi4 ,alma #d3af4 ,alma #cj3bi4 #h4 ,mosiah #bi3bh1 #bi #i4 ,alma #aa3a-d4 #aj4 ,ibid4 #aa3g4 #aa4 ,this is true not only with reference to the republic1 but also with reference to the monarchy4 ,mosiah #bi3dj4 ,mosiah #b3ab-ad4 ,compare ,alma #cj3cb1 #cc4 #ab4 ,alma #df3cd1 #ce4 ,also ,alma #ea3ae-ba4 #ac4 ,alma #cj3c4 #ad4 ,ibid4 #aa3a4 #ae4 ,ibid4 #cj3c2 ,,ii ,nephi #e3aj2 ,,ii ,nephi #be3d1 #be2 ,jacob #d3d1 #e2 ,jarom #a3e2 ,mos4 #b3c2 ,mos4 #ac3bg1 #ce2 #af3ad1 #ae2 ,alma #be3ad1 #af;et seq4 #af4 ,mos4 #bi3aa4 #ag4 ,mos4 #bi3aa4 #ah4 ,alma #cj3aj1 #aa4 #ai4 ,joshua #bd3ae4 #bj4 ,alma #cj3g-i4 #ba4 ,,iv ,nephi #a3af4 #bb4 ,alma #ac3ab4 ,helaman #c3ac-ae4 ,commenting on this passage ,elder ,orson ,pratt says3 ,these numerous copies of the sacred books were undoubtedly transcribed directly from1 or compared with1 the records on the original metallic plates4 #bc4 ,i ,nephi #i3aj-ag4 ,reference is made to these same prophets in ,alma #cc3ae1 ,alma #cd3g1 ,helaman #h3bj1 ,,iii ,nephi #aj3af4 #bd4 ,helaman #h3bj4 #be4 ,elder ,pratt quotes ,doc4 and ,cov41 #hd3aa-ac in evidence4 #bf4 ,alma #cj3c4 #bg4 ,ibid4 #aj3c4 #bh4 ,,ii ,nephi #e3bf4 #bi4 ,,ii ,nephi #f3b4 #cj4 ,alma #d3bj4 #ca4 ,ibid4 #e3dd4 #cb4 ,dict4 ,b4 of ,m41 ,reynolds1 ,art4 ,jesus ,christ1 pp4 #afh-afi4 #cc4 ,i ,nephi #ab3f2 ,,ii ,nephi #bf3a1 #i2 ,alma #af3bj4 #cd4 ,,iii ,nephi #aa3c-ab4 #ce4 ,that is1 not of this fold in ,palestine4 #cf4 ,john #aj3af4 #cg4 ,omni #a3ag4 #ch4 ,mosiah #a4 #ci4 ,we know1 and it is our pride to know1 that man by his constitution is a religious animal2 that atheism is against not only our reason1 but our instincts2 and that it cannot prevail long4 ,but if1 in the moment of riot1 and in a drunken delirium from the hot spirit drawn out of the alemic of hell1 99 99 99 99 we should uncover our nakedness by throwing off that ,christian religion which has hitherto been our boast and comfort1 and one great source of civilization amongst us1 and among many other nations1 we are apprehensive 7being well aware that the mind will not endure a void7 that some uncouth1 pernicious1 and degrading superstition might take the place of it4 7,edmund ,burke1 ,works1 vol4 ,,iii1 p4 #cea47 #dj4 ,enos #a3bj4 ,,part ,,iii4 ,the ,evidences of the ,truth of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,classification ,,of ,,evidences4 ,the evidences to be presented for the truth of the ,book of ,mormon naturally separate into two great divisions1 each of which will admit of a number of subdivisions4 ,the two great divisions of the evidence are3 #a4 ,external ,evidences4 #b4 ,internal ,evidences4 ,of course1 by evidences in general ,i mean those facts or things which either directly or indirectly1 considered separately or collectively1 constitute proof of the truth to be contended for in these pages--the truth of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,by external evidences ,i mean those facts outside the book itself1 which tend to establish its truth2 such as the testimony of the ,special ,witnesses whom ,god raised up and qualified by direct revelation to testify of the truth of the book4 ,also the testimony of those who by reason of seeing and handling the ,nephite plates1 were made competent to testify of their existence and appearance4 ,this evidence will include the agreement between the ,book of ,mormon location of ancient ,american centers of civilization and the existence of the ruins of temples1 pyramids1 mounds1 works of old fortifications1 roadways and cities--in a word1 the evidence of ,american archaeology4 ,the evidences of the traditions and customs of the inhabitants of ,america found in possession of the land at the advent of the ,europeans1 and who are in large part the descendants of the enlightened people of whom the ,book of ,mormon is an abridged history4 ,the evidences to be found in the revelations1 prophecies1 and promises of the ,hebrew scriptures--the evidence of the ,bible1 in other words1 to the truth of the book4 ,the institutions to which the book may be said to have given birth--the testimony which the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints bears to its truth4 ,by ,internal ,evidence ,i mean those facts which may be gathered from the book itself1 from its structure1 and its consistency with the theory of its construction2 from its doctrines and their agreement with the revelations of ,god in the ,jewish scriptures2 from its moral tone and spiritual influence2 from the manner in which it interlocks with the history of the past1 and is entwined with the future purposes of ,god as made known in the revelations of ,god to man2 from the fulfilment of its prophecies and promises2 from the general character of its contents1 the truths it emphasizes1 and the importance of its message to mankind4 ,i shall have occasion to speak of direct and indirect evidences2 of positive and presumptive evidences2 but all this will be developed as the statement of the evidences and the argument proceed4 ,i would say1 however1 before closing these preliminary remarks1 that it is not my intention to rely upon any one branch of the evidence to establish the truth of the ,book of ,mormon2 it is intended that the evidence shall be cumulative2 and ,i certainly hope1 by a careful consideration of all the evidence1 external and internal1 direct and indirect1 under each division1 to so establish the truth of the ,book of ,mormon that all fair-minded people will see reasonable grounds for faith in it as an additional volume of ,holy ,scripture1 another ,witness for the ,truth as it is in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,direct ,,external ,,evidences4 ,,the ,,testimony ,,of ,,the ,,three ,,witnesses4 ,in the mouth of two or three ,witnesses shall every word be established4--,paul4 ,of the external evidences to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon1 the testimony of the ,three ,witnesses is of first importance4 ,speaking in the way of prophecy the first ,nephi says3 ,at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom ,i have spoken1 #a the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world1 that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that ,three ,witnesses shall behold it1 by the power of ,god1 besides him to whom the book shall be delivered2 #b and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein4 ,and there is none other which shall view it1 save it be a few according to the will of ,god1 to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men2 for the ,lord ,god hath said1 that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were from the dead4 ,wherefore1 the ,lord ,god will proceed to bring forth the words of the book2 and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good will he establish his word2 and wo be unto him that rejecteth the word of ,god6 #c ,moroni1 who had in his care the ,book of ,mormon1 who was ,god's messenger to ,joseph ,smith1 and gave into his possession the gold plates from which the book was translated1 says1 in his abridgment of the book of ,ether1 addressing the one who should be commissioned to translate the ,nephite ,record3 ,and behold1 ye may be privileged that ye may show the plates unto those who shall assist to bring forth this work2 and unto three shall they be shown by the power of ,god2 wherefore they shall know of a surety that these things are true4 ,and in the mouth of three witnesses shall these things be established2 and the testimony of three1 and this work1 in the which shall be shown forth the power of ,god and also his word1 of which the ,father1 and the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost bear record--and all this shall stand as a testimony against the world at the last day4 #d ,from these passages in the ,book of ,mormon itself1 it appears that there are to be two classes of special ,witnesses to its truth1 besides the one who shall bring forth the book3 ,i4 ,three ,witnesses who shall behold the plates of the record by the power of ,god4 ,,ii4 ,a ,few others1 according to the will of ,god1 shall behold them1 that they may bear testimony to the word of ,god unto the children of men4 ,there seems to be indicated this distinction between the first and second class of these ,witnesses--between the ,three and the other ,few3 the first are to see the plates under some circumstance attended by a demonstration of the power of ,god2 while no promise of such a demonstration is given to the second class4 ,as these special ,witnesses1 according to the prophecy1 were to be chosen from among those who would assist in bringing forth the work1 meaning the ,book of ,mormon1 it is not surprising that ,oliver ,cowdery1 ,david ,whitmer and ,martin ,harris desired to be the ,three ,special ,witnesses1 as they were most prominent in assisting to bring forth the work4 ,they besought the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 therefore1 to inquire of the ,lord if they might attain unto this honor1 and for an answer the following revelation was received for them3 ,behold1 ,i say unto you1 that you must rely upon my word1 which if you do with full purpose of heart1 you shall have a view of the plates1 and also of the breast plate1 the sword of ,laban1 the ,urim and ,thummim1 which were given to the brother of ,jared #e upon the mount1 when he talked with the ,lord face to face1 and the miraculous directors #f which were given to ,lehi while in the wilderness1 on the borders of the ,red ,sea4 ,and it is by your faith that you shall obtain a view of them1 even by that faith which was had by the prophets of old4 ,and after that you have obtained faith1 and have seen them with your eyes1 you shall testify of them1 by the power of ,god2 and this you shall do that my servant ,joseph ,smith1 ,jr41 may not be destroyed1 that ,i may bring about my righteous purposes unto the children of men in this work4 ,and ye shall testify that you have seen them1 even as my servant ,joseph ,smith1 ,jr41 has seen them2 for it is by my power that he has seen them1 and it is because he had faith4 ,and he has translated the book1 even that part which ,i have commanded him1 and as your ,lord and your ,god liveth it is true4 ,wherefore1 you have received the same power1 and the same faith1 and the same gift like unto him2 and if you do these last commandments of mine1 which ,i have given you1 the gates of hell shall not prevail against you2 for my grace is sufficient for you1 and you shall be lifted up at the last day4 ,and ,i1 ,jesus ,christ1 your ,lord and your ,god1 have spoken it unto you1 that ,i might bring about my righteous purposes unto the children of men4 #g ,as soon as the translation of the book was completed the ,prophet ,joseph dispatched a messenger from the home of the ,whitmers1 at ,fayette1 near ,waterloo1 in ,seneca country1 to his parents1 still living at ,manchester1 with the pleasing intelligence that the work of translation was completed1 and asked them to come to him4 ,this information they conveyed to ,martin ,harris1 who determined to accompany the ,prophet's parents to the home of the ,whitmers4 ,accordingly the little party started the next morning1 and before sunset met with the ,prophet and ,oliver at the residence of ,peter ,whitmer1 the father of ,david4 #h ,according to the statement of ,lucy ,smith1 mother of the ,prophet1 it was the day following the arrival of the above party from ,manchester that the ,three ,witnesses obtained their view of the plates1 but neither in her work nor in any of our annals is the date of the occurrence given4 #i ,lucy ,smith1 however1 relates the following circumstance connected with ,martin ,harris becoming one of the ,three ,witnesses3 ,the next morning 7i4 e4 following the arrival of the party from ,manchester township71 after attending to the usual services1 namely1 reading1 singing1 and praying1 ,joseph arose from his knees1 and approaching ,martin ,harris with a solemnity that thrills through my veins to this day1 when it occurs to my recollection1 said3 ,martin ,harris1 you have got to humble yourself before your ,god this day1 that you may obtain a forgiveness of your sins4 ,if you do1 it is the will of ,god that you should look upon the plates1 in company with ,oliver ,cowdery and ,david ,whitmer4 #aj ,when the pride1 egotism1 and stubbornness of ,martin ,harris is taken into account1 this preliminary admonition of the ,prophet to him is eminently fitting and necessary and in harmony with all the circumstances of ,martin's character and the subsequent facts to be related4 ,lucy ,smith1 continuing her narrative1 says3 ,in a few minutes after this1 ,joseph1 ,martin1 ,oliver1 and ,david1 repaired to a grove1 a short distance from the house1 where they commenced calling upon the ,lord1 and continued in earnest supplication1 until he permitted an angel to come down from his presence1 and declare to them1 that all which ,joseph had testified of concerning the plates was true4 ,when they returned to the house1 it was between three and four o'clock p4 m4 ,mrs4 ,whitmer1 ,mr4 ,smith and myself1 were sitting in a bedroom at the time4 ,on coming in ,joseph threw himself down beside me1 and exclaimed3 ,father1 mother1 you do not know how happy ,i am2 the ,lord has now caused the plates to be shown to three more besides myself4 ,they have seen an angel1 who has testified to them1 and they will have to bear witness to the truth of what ,i have said1 for now they know for themselves that ,i do not go about to deceive the people1 and ,i feel as if ,i was relieved of a burden which was almost too heavy for me to bear1 and it rejoices my soul1 that ,i am no longer to be entirely alone in the work4 ,upon this1 ,martin ,harris came in3 he seemed almost overcome with joy1 and testified boldly to what he had both seen and heard4 ,and so did ,david and ,oliver1 adding1 that no tongue could express the joy of their hearts1 and the greatness of the things which they had both seen and heard4 #aa ,from this statement it will be seen that the ,prophet and the ,three ,witnesses were from some time in the morning until three or four o'clock in the afternoon in obtaining the testimonies4 ,the ,prophet's own account of the circumstances attendant upon the revelation to the ,three ,witnesses1 is both interesting and important4 ,after making reference to the revelation already quoted1 which promised the three men named1 ,cowdery1 ,whitmer and ,harris1 that they should view the plates of the ,book of ,mormon1 and the other sacred things named the ,prophet in his history says3 ,not many days after the above commandment was given1 we four1 viz41 ,martin ,harris1 ,david ,whitmer1 ,oliver ,cowdery and myself1 agreed to retire into the woods1 and try to obtain by fervent and humble prayer1 the fulfilment of the promises given in the revelation--that they should have a view of the plates4 ,we accordingly made choice of a piece of woods convenient to ,mr4 ,whitmer's house1 to which we retired1 and having knelt down we began to pray in much faith to ,almighty ,god to bestow upon us a realization of these promises4 ,according to previous arrangements1 ,i commenced by vocal prayer to our heavenly ,father1 and was followed by each of the others in succession4 ,we did not1 at the first trial1 however1 obtain any answer or manifestation of divine favor in our behalf4 ,we again observed the same order of prayer1 each calling on and praying fervently to ,god in rotation1 but with the same result as before4 ,upon this our second failure1 ,martin ,harris proposed that he should withdraw himself from us1 believing1 as he expressed himself1 that his presence was the cause of our not obtaining what we wished for4 ,he accordingly withdrew from us1 and we knelt down again1 and had not been many minutes engaged in prayer1 when presently we beheld a light above us in the air1 of exceeding brightness2 and behold1 an angel stood before us4 ,in his hands he held the plates which we had been praying for these to have a view of1 he turned over the leaves one by one1 so that we could see them1 and discover the engravings thereon distinctly4 ,he then addressed himself to ,david ,whitmer1 and said1 ,david1 blessed is the ,lord1 and he that keeps his commandments4 ,when1 immediately afterwards1 we heard a voice from out of the bright light above us1 saying3 ,these plates have been revealed by the power of ,god1 and they have been translated by the power of ,god4 ,the translation of them which you have seen is correct1 and ,i command you to bear record of what you now see and hear4 ,i now left ,david and ,oliver1 and went in pursuit of ,martin ,harris1 whom ,i found at a considerable distance fervently engaged in prayer4 ,he soon told me1 however1 that he had not yet prevailed with the ,lord1 and earnestly requested me to join him in prayer1 that he also might realize the same blessings which we had just received4 ,we accordingly joined in prayer1 and ultimately obtained our desires1 for before we had yet finished1 the same vision was opened to our view1 at least it was again opened to me1 and ,i once more beheld and heard the same things1 whilst at the same moment ,martin ,harris cried out1 apparently in an ecstasy of joy1 ',tis enough2 'tis enough2 mine eyes have beheld2 mine eyes have beheld2 and jumping up1 he shouted1 ,hosannah1 blessing ,god and otherwise rejoiced exceedingly4 #ab ,concerning the manner in which the plates and other sacred things were shown to him1 beyond what is stated in the testimony of the ,three ,witnesses published in the first and every subsequent edition of the ,book of ,mormon1 ,oliver ,cowdery1 so far as ,i know1 has left nothing on record further than to say3 ,i beheld with my eyes and handled with my hands the gold plates from which it 7the ,book of ,mormon7 was transcribed4 ,i also saw with my eyes and handled with my hands the holy interpreters 7the ,urim and ,thummim74 #ac ,martin ,harris1 so far as any direct personal statement is concerned1 is silent as to the manner in which the plates were shown to him2 but ,elder ,edward ,stevenson1 of the ,first ,council of the ,seventy of the ,church1 who was much interested in ,mr4 ,harris during the closing years of that gentleman's life1 states that at a gathering of friends at his 7,stevenson's7 house1 in ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,harris was asked to explain the manner in which the plates containing the characters of the ,book of ,mormon were exhibited4 ,the response he made is thus described3 ,brother ,harris1 said that the angel stood on the opposite side of the table on which were the plates1 the interpreters1 etc41 and took the plates in his hand and turned them over4 ,to more fully illustrate this to them1 ,brother ,martin took up a book and turned the leaves over one by one4 ,the angel declared that the ,book of ,mormon1 was correctly translated by the power of ,god1 and not of man1 and that it contained the fullness of the gospel of ,jesus ,christ to the ,nephites1 who were a branch of the ,house of ,israel and had come from the land of ,jerusalem to ,america4 ,the ,witnesses were required to bear their testimony of these things1 and of this open vision1 to all people1 and he ,harris testified not only to those present1 but to all the world1 that these things were true1 and before ,god1 whom he expected to meet in the day of judgment1 he lied not4 #ad ,david ,whitmer made a statement to ,elders ,orson ,pratt and ,joseph ,f4 ,smith in the course of an interview at ,richmond1 ,missouri1 on the #gth of ,september1 #ahgh1 in which he gives quite a minute description of the manner in which the plates and the other sacred things were shown to himself and ,oliver ,cowdery in the presence of ,joseph ,smith4 ,mr4 ,whitmer's account of the event as related by ,elders ,pratt and ,smith is as follows3 ,elder ,orson ,pratt3 ,do you remember what time you saw the plates8 ,david ,whitmer3 ,it was in ,june1 #ahbi--the latter part of the month1 and the ,eight ,witnesses saw them1 ,i think1 the next day or the day after 7i4 e4 one or two days after74 ,joseph showed them the plates himself1 but the angel showed us 7the ,three ,witnesses7 the plates1 as ,i suppose to fulfill the words of the book itself4 ,martin ,harris was not with us at this time2 he obtained a view of them afterwards 7the same day74 ,joseph1 ,oliver and myself were together when ,i saw them4 ,we not only saw the plates of the ,book of ,mormon1 but also the brass plates1 the plates of the ,book of ,ether1 the plates containing the records of the wickedness and secret combinations of the people of the world down to the time of their being engraved1 and many other plates4 ,the fact is1 it was just as though ,joseph1 ,oliver and ,i were sitting just here on a log1 when we were overshadowed by a light4 ,it was not like the light of the sun nor like that of a fire1 but more glorious and beautiful4 ,it extended away round us1 ,i cannot tell how far1 but in the midst of this light about as far off as he sits 7pointing to ,john ,c4 ,whitmer1 sitting a few feet from him71 there appeared1 as it were1 a table with many records or plates upon it1 besides the plates of the ,book of ,mormon1 also the sword of ,laban1 the directors--i4 e41 the ball which ,lehi had1 and the interpreters4 ,i saw them just as plain as ,i see this bed 7striking the bed beside him with his hand71 and ,i heard the voice of the ,lord1 as distinctly as ,i ever heard anything in my life1 declaring that the records of the plates of the ,book of ,mormon were translated by the gift and power of ,god4 ,elder ,orson ,pratt3 ,did you see the angel at this time8 ,david ,whitmer3 ,yes1 he stood before us4 ,our testimony as recorded in the ,book of ,mormon is strictly and absolutely true just as it is there written4 #ae ,as a result of this revelation1 given under such remarkable circumstances and demonstrations of the power of ,god1 the ,three ,witnesses who had viewed the plates and the engravings thereon1 and who had heard the voice of ,god from the midst of the glorious light surrounding them at the time1 declare that the plates had been translated by the gift and power of ,god--published the following statement to the world3 ,,the ,,testimony ,,of ,,three ,,witnesses ,,be ,,it ,,known unto all nations1 kindreds1 tongues1 and people1 unto whom this work shall come3 ,that we1 through the grace of ,god the ,father1 and our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 have seen the plates which contain this record1 which is a record of the people of ,nephi1 and also of the ,lamanites1 their brethren1 and also of the people of ,jared1 who came from the tower of which hath been spoken4 ,and we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of ,god1 for his voice hath declared it unto us2 wherefore we know of a surety that the work is true4 ,and we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates2 and they have been shown unto us by the power of ,god1 and not of man4 ,and we declare with words of soberness1 that an angel of ,god came down from heaven1 and he brought and laid before our eyes1 that we beheld and saw the plates1 and the engravings thereon2 and we know that it is by the grace of ,god the ,father1 and our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that we beheld and bear record that these things are true4 ,and it is marvelous in our eyes4 ,nevertheless1 the voice of the ,lord commanded us that we should bear record of it2 wherefore1 to be obedient unto the commandments of ,god1 we bear testimony of these things4 ,and we know that if we are faithful in ,christ1 we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men1 and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of ,christ1 and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens4 ,and the honor be to the ,father1 and to the ,son1 and to the ,holy ,ghost1 which is one ,god4 ,amen4 ,,oliver ,,cowdery1 ,,david ,,whitmer1 ,,martin ,,harris4 ,this testimony was published in the first and in every subsequent edition of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,it has never been refuted2 and1 of course1 from the very nature of the testimony it cannot be refuted4 ,no one can rise up and say these men did not receive this revelation2 that they did not see an angel from heaven2 that he did not show to them the plates2 that they did not see the glorious light in which the angel stood2 that they did not hear the voice of ,god saying that the translation of the record was true1 and was accomplished through the gift and power of ,god4 ,no one can say any one of these things4 ,an argument may be formulated against the probability of such an occurrence4 ,it may be alleged that they were ignorant1 uncritical1 incompetent and therefore unworthy of belief4 ,all this may be done1 nay1 it has been done2 but no one can stand up and say that he knows what they say is not true1 that what they say they saw1 they did not see4 ,footnotes #a4 ,having reference to the man who should bring forth the ,nephite ,record to the world1 that is1 to ,joseph ,smith4 #b4 ,that is to ,joseph ,smith4 #c4 ,,ii ,nephi #bg3ab-ad4 #d4 ,ether #e3b-d4 #e4 ,the great prophet who led a colony from the ,tower of ,babel to the western hemisphere4 #f4 ,this was a curious instrument called by the ,nephites ,liahona4 ,it was found by the prophet ,lehi at the door of his tent one morning1 in the wilderness1 not long after the departure of his colony from ,jerusalem4 ,it was a round ball of fine brass with two spindles in it1 one of which indicated the course to be traveled by the colony4 ,but the instrument worked according to the faith and diligence with which the colony gave heed to it4 ,from time to time also there appeared upon it written instructions or reproofs according as the colony required the one or the other4 #g4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #ec1 and also ,doc4 and ,cov4 ,sec4 #ag4 #h4 ,joseph ,smith the ,prophet1 by ,lucy ,smith1 ch4 #ca4 #i4 ,ibid4 #aj4 ,joseph ,smith the ,prophet1 by ,lucy ,smith1 ch4 #ca4 #aa4 ,joseph ,smith the ,prophet1 by ,lucy ,smith1 ch4 #ca4 #ab4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 pp4 #ed1 #ee4 #ac4 ,statement by ,oliver ,cowdery1 ,deseret ,news of #acth ,april1 #ahei4 #ad4 ,letters of ,edward ,stevenson to ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #dh1 pp4 #cfg-chi4 #ae4 ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #dj1 nos4 #di1 #ej1 report of ,pratt and ,smith1 is signed by them and bears date of ,sept4 #ag1 #ahgh4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,direct ,,external ,,evidences--,,the ,,three ,,witnesses--,,subsequent ,,life ,,and ,,testimonies4 ,,oliver ,,cowdery4 ,the ,witnesses themselves always adhered to the truth of their testimony4 ,they never denied what they in their now celebrated testimony so solemnly affirmed4 ,it was reported at different times during their life time that they had denied their testimony1 and such statements are to be found in the earlier editions of such standard works as the ,american ,encyclopedia and in the ,encyclopedia ,britannica4 ,it is evident that the reports about ,oliver ,cowdery denying his testimony obtained some credence even among the ,saints at ,nauvoo2 for in the ,times and ,seasons1 published by the ,church at ,nauvoo1 one ,j4 ,h4 ,johnson1 in some verses written by him maintaining the fact that the truth stands fast though men may be untrue to it1 says3 --,or prove that ,christ was not the ,lord ,because that ,peter cursed and swore1 ,or ,book of ,mormon not his word1 ,because denied by ,oliver4 #a ,but notwithstanding all this1 the fact remains that ,oliver ,cowdery never denied his testimony to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,whatever his delinquencies in other respects2 whatever his grievances1 real or imagined2 in the ,church1 and even while out of it1 he was true1 to his honor be it said1 to his testimony to the ,book of ,mormon4 ,living he affirmed it1 and when dying he renewed the affirmation4 ,it must be said of him that notwithstanding the high favors which ,god granted him--the favor of being one of these ,three ,special ,witnesses1 blessed to see the ,nephite plates and the sacred things connected with them under such a remarkable display of ,god's presence and power2 favored to receive with the ,prophet the ministration of angels who ordained them both to the ,aaronic and to the ,melchizedek priesthood2 #b and favored afterwards to behold in open vision in the ,kirtland ,temple the ,savior himself1 and a number of angels who came on that occasion to restore to earth through these men the keys of authority and power which they held2 #c favored to be the ,second ,elder of the ,church of ,christ1 and the first to make public proclamation of the restored gospel--notwithstanding all this1 ,i repeat1 it must be said of him that he possessed defects of character #d which enabled the adversary of men's souls to so far prevail against him that he transgressed some of the laws of ,god and lost his high station4 ,he was excommunicated from the ,church for his sins1 #e and for a time stood as a stranger to the ,saints1 an outcast from ,israel2 but in those dark days he still remained true to his testimony4 ,in ,october1 #ahdh1 after an absence of about eleven years1 ,oliver ,cowdery returned to the ,church4 ,at that time the movement of the ,church to the ,rocky ,mountains was under way4 ,a large number of the ,saints were temporarily located at ,kanesville 7now ,council ,bluffs71 ,iowa1 and on the #bast of ,october of the year above given1 a special conference was called1 presided over by ,elder ,orson ,hyde1 of the ,council of the ,apostles1 in which the case of ,oliver ,cowdery was considered4 ,before that conference1 at which some two thousand ,saints were present1 #f ,oliver ,cowdery said3 ,friends and ,brethren--,my name is ,cowdery1 ,oliver ,cowdery4 ,in the early history of this ,church ,i stood identified with her1 and one in her councils4 ,true it is that the gifts and callings of ,god are without repentance2 not because ,i was better than the rest of mankind was ,i called2 but1 to fulfil the purposes of ,god1 he called me to a high and holy calling4 ,i wrote1 with my own pen1 the entire ,book of ,mormon 7save a few pages7 as it fell from the lips of the ,prophet ,joseph1 as he translated it by the gift and power of ,god1 by the means of the ,urim and ,thummim1 or1 as it is called by the book1 ,holy ,interpreters4 ,i beheld with my eyes1 and handled with my hands1 the gold plates from which it was transcribed4 ,i also saw with my eyes and handled with my hands the holy interpreters4 ,that book is true4 ,sidney ,rigdon did not write it4 ,mr4 ,spaulding did not write it4 ,i wrote it myself as it fell from the lips of the ,prophet4 ,it contains the everlasting gospel1 and came forth to the children of men in fulfilment of the revelations of ,john1 where he says he saw an angel come with the everlasting gospel to preach to every nation1 kindred1 tongue and people4 ,it contains principles of salvation2 and if you1 my hearers1 will walk by its light and obey its precepts1 you will be saved with an everlasting salvation in the kingdom of ,god on high4 ,brother ,hyde has just said that it is very important that we keep and walk in the true channel1 in order to avoid the sand-bars4 ,this is true4 ,the channel is here4 ,the holy priesthood is here4 ,i was present with ,joseph when an holy angel from ,god came down from heaven and conferred on us1 or restored the ,lesser or ,aaronic priesthood1 and said to us1 at the same time1 that it should remain upon the earth while the earth stands4 ,i was also present with ,joseph when the higher or ,melchizedek priesthood was conferred by holy angels from on high4 ,this priesthood we conferred on each other1 by the will and commandment of ,god4 ,this priesthood1 as was then declared1 is also to remain upon the earth until the last remnant of time4 ,this holy priesthood1 or authority1 we then conferred upon many1 and is just as good and valid as though ,god had done it in person4 ,i laid my hands upon that man--yes1 ,i laid my right hand upon his head 7pointing to ,brother ,hyde71 and ,i conferred upon him the priesthood1 and he holds that priesthood now4 ,he was also called through me1 by the prayer of faith1 an ,apostle of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,this speech was reported by ,bishop ,reuben ,miller1 who was present at the meeting where ,cowdery spoke1 and noted down in his journal at the time what was said1 though his notes1 it must be remarked1 were not published until several years later4 #g ,the circumstance of ,cowdery's return and the spirit of his speech is also supported by other testimony4 ,in a letter dated at ,cambridge ,port1 ,u4 ,s4 ,a41 ,december #bf1 #ahdh1 ,wilford ,woodruff--at the time one of the ,twelve ,apostles1 and subsequently ,president of the ,church--writing to ,orson ,pratt1 then president of the ,british ,mission1 said3 ,dear ,brother ,pratt--,i received a letter from ,elder ,hyde saying that ,oliver ,cowdery had come to the ,bluffs with his family2 and made satisfaction to the ,church who had voted to receive him into the ,church by baptism2 and ,elder ,hyde expected to baptize him the next day4 ,he was assisting ,elder ,hyde to put the press in operation for printing1 expected to send forth the ,frontier ,guardian soon4 ,i was truly glad to hear this1 as ,oliver ,cowdery was the first person baptized into this ,church under the hands of ,joseph1 and is capable of doing good in the kingdom of ,god2 ,i was truly glad to hear he had returned to the fold4 #h ,the ,star which published this letter was issued ,february #a1 #ahdi4 ,george ,a4 ,smith1 writing from ,council ,bluffs1 under date of ,october #cast1 #ahdh1 ten days after ,cowdery's speech before the conference1 writes to ,orson ,pratt of this meeting3 ,oliver ,cowdery1 who had just arrived from ,wisconsin with his family1 on being invited1 addressed the meeting4 ,he bore testimony in the most positive terms of the truth of the ,book of ,mormon--the restoration of the priesthood to the earth1 and the mission of ,joseph ,smith as the ,prophet of the last days2 and told the people if they wanted to follow the right path1 to keep the main channel of the stream--where the body of the ,church goes1 there is the authority2 and all these lo here's and lo there's have no authority2 but this people have the true and holy priesthood2 for the angel said unto ,joseph ,smith1 ,jr41 in my hearing1 that this priesthood shall remain on the earth unto the end4 ,his testimony produced quite a sensation among the gentlemen present1 who did not belong to the ,church1 and it was gratefully received1 by all the ,saints4 ,last evening 7,oct4 #cjth71 ,president ,hyde and myself spent the evening with ,brother ,cowdery4 ,he had been cut off from the ,church by a council2 had withdrawn himself from it2 stayed away eleven years2 and now came back1 not expecting to be a leader1 but wished to be a member and have part among us4 ,he considered that he ought to be baptized2 and did not expect to return without it4 ,he said that ,joseph ,smith had fulfilled his mission faithfully before ,god until death2 he was determined to rise with the ,church1 and if it went down he was willing to go down with it4 ,i saw him today1 told him ,i was going to write to you4 ,he sends his respects to you2 he says1 tell ,brother ,orson ,i am advised by the brethren to remain here this winter1 and assist ,brother ,hyde in the printing office1 and as soon as ,i get settled ,i will write him a letter4 ,i remain1 as ever1 your brother in the kingdom of patience4 7,signed7 ,,george ,a4 ,,smith4 #i ,the ,star in which this letter was published was issued ,january #ast1 #ahdi1 a little more than two months after ,cowdery's speech already quoted4 ,oliver ,cowdery had been excommunicated by the action of a ,high ,council of the ,church some ten years before1 and it was held by some that he could only be restored by the action of a ,high ,council4 #aj ,such a council was therefore called4 ,in the course of its proceedings ,oliver said3 ,brethren1 for a number of years ,i have been separated from you4 ,i now desire to come back4 ,i wish to come humbly and to be one in your midst4 ,i seek no station4 ,i only wish to be identified with you4 ,i am out of the ,church4 ,i am not a member of the ,church1 but ,i wish to become a member of it4 ,i wish to come in at the door4 ,i know the door4 ,i have not come here to seek precedence1 ,i come humbly1 and throw myself upon the decisions of this body1 knowing1 as ,i do1 that its decisions are right1 and should be obeyed4 #aa ,on motion of ,elder ,orson ,hyde1 ,oliver ,cowdery was received into the ,church by baptism4 ,it was the intention of this ,witness of the ,book of ,mormon to go with the body of the ,church to the ,salt ,lake ,valley1 but while visiting with his fellow witness1 ,david ,whitmer1 at ,richmond1 ,missouri1 he was taken ill and died1 ,march #c1 #ahej4 ,previous to going to ,richmond1 for the purpose of meeting ,david ,whitmer1 his wife's brother1 ,oliver was detained by snow storms some two weeks at the temporary home of ,samuel ,w4 ,richards--just then returned from his first mission to the ,british ,isles4 ,of his interesting association with ,oliver1 during this time1 ,elder ,richards says3 ,to hear him describe in his pleasant but earnest manner the personality of those heavenly messengers1 with whom he and the ,prophet had so freely had converse1 was enchanting to my soul4 ,their heavenly appearance1 clothed in robes of purity1 the influence of their presence so lovely and serene2 their eyes that seemed to penetrate to the very depths of the soul1 together with the color of the eyes that gazed upon them1 were all so beautifully related as to almost make one feel that they were then present3 and as ,i placed my hands upon his head where these angels had placed theirs1 a divine influence filled the soul to that degree that one could truly feel to be in the presence of something that was more than earthly2 and from that day to this--almost fifty years ago--the interest of those glorious truths upon the mind has never been lost1 but as a beacon light ever guiding to the home of their glory for a like inheritance4 ,but before taking his departure he wrote and left with the writer of this the following statement1 which we believe to be his last living testimony1 though oft repeated1 of the wonderful manifestations which brought the authority of ,god to men on earth3 ,,testimony ,while darkness covered the earth and gross darkness the people2 long after the authority to administer in holy things had been taken away1 the ,lord opened the heavens and sent forth his word for the salvation of ,israel4 ,in fulfilment of the sacred scriptures1 the everlasting gospel was proclaimed by the mighty angel 7,moroni7 who1 clothed with the authority of his mission1 gave glory to ,god in the highest4 ,this gospel is the stone taken from the mountain without hands4 ,john the ,baptist1 holding the keys of the ,aaronic priesthood2 ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john1 holding the keys of the ,melchizedek priesthood1 have also ministered for those who shall be heirs of salvation1 and with these administrations ordained men to the same priesthood4 ,these priesthoods1 with their authority1 are now1 and must continue to be1 in the body of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,blessed is the elder who has received the same1 and thrice blessed and holy is he who shall endure to the end4 ,accept assurances1 dear brother1 of the unfeigned prayer of him who1 in connection with ,joseph the ,seer1 was blessed with the above ministration and who earnestly and devoutly hopes to meet you in the celestial glory4 7,signed7 ,,oliver ,,cowdery4 ,to ,elder ,samuel ,w4 ,richards1 ,january #acth1 #ahdi4 ,phineas ,h4 ,young1 a brother of ,president ,brigham ,young1 was present at ,oliver's death1 at ,richmond1 ,missouri1 and of that event said3 ,his last moments were spent in bearing testimony of the truth of the gospel revealed through ,joseph ,smith1 and the power of the holy priesthood which he had received through his administrations4 ,david ,whitmer1 speaking to ,orson ,pratt and ,joseph ,f4 ,smith1 of ,oliver ,cowdery's death1 said3 ,oliver ,cowdery died the happiest man ,i ever saw4 ,after shaking hands with the family and kissing his wife and daughter1 he said1 ,now ,i lay me down for the last time2 ,i am going to my ,savior2 and he died immediately1 with a smile on his face4 #ab ,this statement also agrees with the one ,david ,whitmer published in his ,address to all ,believers in ,christ3 ,neither ,oliver ,cowdery nor ,martin ,harris ever at any time denied his testimony4 ,they both died reaffirming the truth of the divine authenticity of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,i was present at the death bed of ,oliver ,cowdery1 and his last words were1 ,brother ,david1 be true to your testimony to the ,book of ,mormon4 ,he died here in ,richmond1 ,missouri1 on the #crd of ,march1 #ahej4 ,many witnesses yet live #ac in ,richmond1 who will testify to the truth of these facts1 as well as to the good character of ,oliver ,cowdery4 #ad ,footnotes #a4 ,times and ,seasons1 vol4 ,,ii1 p4 #dhb4 #b4 ,see ,new ,witnesses for ,god1 vol4 ,i1 ch4 #aa4 #c4 ,see ,new ,witnesses for ,god1 vol4 ,i1 ch4 #aa2 also ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 #aaj4 #d4 ,that the ,prophet ,joseph understood the defects in the character of ,oliver ,cowdery is evident from some remarks he records in his journal concerning him1 under date of ,december #ah1 #ahcc4 ,they are as follows3 ,blessed of the ,lord is brother ,oliver1 nevertheless there are two evils in him that he must needs forsake or he cannot altogether escape the buffetings of the adversary4 ,if he forsake these evils he shall be forgiven1 and shall be made like unto the bow which the ,lord hath set in the heavens2 he shall be a sign and an ensign unto the nations4 ,behold he is blessed of the ,lord for his constancy and steadfastness in the work of the ,lord2 wherefore1 he shall be blessed in his generation1 and they shall never be cut off1 and he shall be helped out of many troubles2 and if he keep the commandments1 and hearken unto the counsel of the ,lord1 his rest shall be glorious4 7,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #dfe74 ,it will be observed that the promises herein made to ,oliver ,cowdery are based upon the conditions specified in the above passage4 ,that the conditions were not at least altogether complied with is well known1 and is further witnessed by the fact that ,oliver did not escape the buffetings to which the ,prophet alludes4 ,still from out of this mist of human frailty1 stands clear and strong the virtue which constituted him so dauntless a witness for the truth of ,god4 ,behold he is blessed of the ,lord for his constancy and steadfastness in the work of the ,lord4 ,still he lost his station in the ,church1 and that which had been conferred upon him was finally given to ,hyrum ,smith1 brother of the ,prophet4 ,see ,doc4 and ,cov4 #abd3ie4 #e4 ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #af1 p4 #acc4 #f4 ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #aa1 p4 #ad4 #g4 ,namely1 #acth of ,april1 #ahei4 ,see ,deseret ,news of that date4 #h4 ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #aa1 p4 #dc4 #i4 ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #aa1 p4 #ad4 #aj4 ,fearing that silence as to the specific offenses of ,oliver ,cowdery might leave the reader to fancy that his wrong doing was more serious than it really was1 ,i here state the charges against him sustained before the ,high ,council at ,far ,west1 in #ahch3 #ast4 ,persecuting the brethren by urging on vexatious law suits against them1 and thus distressing the innocent4 #bnd4 ,seeking to destroy the character of ,joseph ,smith1 ,jr41 by falsely insinuating that he was guilty of adultery4 #crd4 ,treating the ,church with contempt by not attending meetings4 #dth4 ,leaving his calling1 to which ,god had appointed him by revelation1 for the sake of filthy lucre1 and turning to the practice of law4 #eth4 ,disgracing the ,church by being connected in the 'bogus' business1 as common report says4 7,see ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #af1 p4 #acc2 also ,missouri ,persecutions1 p4 #agi47 ,it should be observed that upper ,missouri in #ahch was infested with a gang of sharpers engaged in counterfeiting the ,united ,states currency1 and rumor1 for a time1 connected ,oliver ,cowdery with them3 but whether he was1 or was not1 guilty of such connection was not proven before the council1 it was merely proven that rumors connected him with those criminals4 ,it should also be said that ,oliver ,cowdery was not present at the council which acted on his case2 though of course an opportunity was given him to be present4 ,how many of the charges brought against him would have failed had he been there to oppose them1 one may not conjecture4 ,it was a general time of turbulence in the affairs of the ,church4 ,a wave of wild land speculation swept through the country1 and the ,saints and some leading elders became entangled in it4 ,charges and counter charges were made2 brethren misunderstood one another and became estranged in their feelings1 and pride and bitterness prevented reconciliations4 ,it was under such circumstances that ,oliver ,cowdery for a time was lost in the mists4 #aa4 ,deseret ,news of ,april #ac1 #ahei4 #ab4 ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #dj1 p4 #ggd1 ,pratt and ,smith statement4 #ac4 ,this was said in #ahhg4 #ad4 ,address ,to ,all ,believers in ,christ1 p4 #h4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,direct ,,external ,,evidences--,,the ,,testimony ,,of ,,the ,,three ,,witnesses--,,subsequent ,,life ,,and ,,testimonies4 ,continued4 ,,david ,,whitmer4 ,david ,whitmer continued to repeat his testimony to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon up to and including the very day of his death4 ,living for many years at ,richmond1 ,missouri--from #ahch to #ahhh1 half a century--he was frequently visited by all sorts of people1 and in the latter years of his life by newspaper representatives especially1 who came to inquire concerning the testimony he had given to the world to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,for all these parties he had but one answer3 ,my testimony written in the ,book of ,mormon is true4 ,it was sometimes elaborated by the addition of a description of the circumstances under which the great revelation was given1 but there was never any deviation from the main facts published in his testimony which accompanies the ,book of ,mormon4 ,he was not always fairly treated by those whose questions he answered2 his statements were sometimes misrepresented1 much to his annoyance2 and having been taught the necessity for it by sad experience1 in the later years of his life1 he always took the precaution to have one or more of his personal friends present at interviews he granted to strangers4 ,referring to these acts of misrepresentation concerning his testimony1 in his pamphlet1 ,address to all ,believers in ,christ1 he makes the following refutation of the charges of denial3 ,it is recorded in the ,american ,cyclopaedia and the ,encyclopaedia ,britannica1 that ,i1 ,david ,whitmer1 have denied my testimony as one of the ,three ,witnesses to the divinity of the ,book of ,mormon2 and that the other two ,witnesses1 ,oliver ,cowdery and ,martin ,harris1 denied their testimony to that book4 ,i will say once more to all mankind1 that ,i have never at any time denied that testimony or any part thereof4 ,i also testify to the world1 that neither ,oliver ,cowdery nor ,martin ,harris ever at any time denied their testimony4 ,they both died reaffirming the truth of the divine authenticity of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,i was present at the death bed of ,oliver ,cowdery1 and his last words were1 ,brother ,david1 be true to your testimony to the ,book of ,mormon4 ,he died here in ,richmond1 ,missouri1 on ,march #c1 #ahej4 ,many witnesses yet live in ,richmond1 who will testify to the truth of these facts1 as well as to the good character of ,oliver ,cowdery4 ,the very powers of darkness have combined against the ,book of ,mormon1 to prove that it is not the word of ,god1 and this should go to prove to men of spiritual understanding1 that the ,book is true4 ,to show the reader what ,i have had to contend with1 ,i give you below a copy of a leaflet which ,i had printed and distributed in ,march1 #ahha3 ,a ,,proclamation ,unto all nations1 kindred1 tongues1 and people1 unto whom these presents shall come3 ,it having been represented by one ,john ,murphy1 of ,polo1 ,caldwell county1 ,missouri1 that ,i1 in a conversation with him last ,summer1 denied my testimony as one of the ,three ,witnesses to the ,book of ,mormon4 ,to the end1 therefore1 that he may understand me now1 if he did not then2 and that the world may know the truth1 ,i wish now1 standing as it were1 in the very sunset of life1 and in the fear of ,god1 once for all to make this public statement3 ,that ,i never have at any time denied that testimony or any part thereof which has so long since been published with that book1 as one of the ,three ,witnesses4 ,those who know me best well know that ,i have always adhered to that testimony4 ,and that no man may be misled or doubt my present views in regard to the same1 ,i do again affirm the truth of all my statements1 as then made and published4 ,he that hath an ear to hear1 let him hear2 it was no delusion4 ,what is written is written1 and he that readeth let him understand4 99 99 99 ,i do not indorse any of the teachings of the so-called ,mormons1 or ,latter-day ,saints1 which are in conflict with the gospel of our ,lord and ,savior ,jesus ,christ1 as taught in the ,bible and ,book of ,mormon2 for the same gospel is plainly taught in both these books as ,i understand the word of ,god4 ,and if any man doubt1 should he not carefully and honestly read and understand the same1 before presuming to sit in judgment and condemn the light1 which shineth in darkness1 and showeth the way of eternal life as pointed out by the unerring hand of ,god8 ,in the ,spirit of ,christ who hath said3 ,follow thou me1 for ,i am the life1 the light and the way1 ,i submit this statement to the world4 ,god in whom ,i trust1 being my judge as to the sincerity of my motives and the faith and hope that is in me of eternal life4 ,my sincere desire is that the world may be benefited by this plain and simple statement of the truth4 ,and all the honor be to the ,father1 the ,son and the ,holy ,ghost1 which is one ,god4 ,amen4 7,signed7 ,,david ,,whitmer4 ,richmond1 ,missouri1 ,march #ai1 #ahha4 ,we the undersigned citizens of ,richmond1 ,ray county1 ,missouri1 where ,david ,whitmer has resided since the year ,a4 ,d4 #ahch1 certify that we have been long and intimately acquainted with him and know him to be a man of the highest integrity1 and of undoubted truth and veracity4 ,given at ,richmond1 ,missouri1 this ,march #ai1 ,a4 ,d4 #ahha3 ,gen4 ,alexander ,w4 ,doniphan4 ,hon4 ,george ,w4 ,dunn1 ,judge of the ,fifth ,judicial ,circuit4 ,thomas ,d4 ,woodson1 ,president of ,ray ,co4 ,savings ,bank4 ,j4 ,t4 ,child1 editor of ,conservator4 ,h4 ,c4 ,garner1 ,cashier of ,ray ,co4 ,savings ,bank4 ,w4 ,a4 ,holman1 ,county ,treasurer4 ,j4 ,s4 ,hughes1 ,banker1 ,richmond4 ,james ,hughes1 ,banker1 ,richmond4 ,d4 ,p4 ,whitmer1 ,attorney-at-,law4 ,hon4 ,jas4 ,w4 ,black1 ,attorney-at-,law4 ,l4 ,c4 ,cantwell1 ,postmaster1 ,richmond4 ,george ,i4 ,wasson1 ,mayor4 ,jas4 ,a4 ,davis1 ,county ,collector4 ,c4 ,j4 ,hughes1 ,probate ,judge and ,presiding ,justice of ,ray ,county ,court4 ,geo4 ,w4 ,trigg1 ,county ,clerk4 ,w4 ,w4 ,mosby1 ,m4 ,d4 ,thos4 ,mc,ginnis1 ex-,sheriff ,ray ,county4 ,j4 ,p4 ,quesenberry1 ,merchant4 ,w4 ,r4 ,holman1 ,furniture ,merchant4 ,lewis ,slaughter1 ,recorder of ,deeds4 ,geo4 ,w4 ,buchanan1 ,m4 ,d4 ,a4 ,k4 ,reyburn4 ,at the same time the ,richmond ,conservator of ,march #bd1 #ahha1 said1 editorially3 ,,an ,,explanation ,elsewhere we publish a letter from ,david ,whitmer1 an old and well known citizen of ,ray1 county as well as an indorsement of his standing as a man1 signed by a number of the leading citizens of this community1 in reply to some unwarranted aspersions made upon him4 ,there is no doubt that ,mr4 ,whitmer1 who was one of the ,three ,witnesses of the authenticity of the gold plates1 from which he asserts that ,joseph ,smith translated the ,book of ,mormon 7a fac simile of the characters he now has in his possession with the original records71 is firmly convinced of its divine origin1 and while he makes no effort to obtrude his views or beliefs1 he simply wants the world to know that so far as he is concerned there is no variableness or shadow of turning4 ,having resided here for near a half a century1 it is with no little pride that he points to his past record with the consciousness that he has done nothing derogatory to his character as a citizen and a believer in the ,son of ,mary1 to warrant such an attack on him1 come from what source it may1 and now with the lillies of seventy-five winters crowning him like an aureole1 and his pilgrimage on earth well nigh ended1 he reiterates his former statements1 and will leave futurity to solve the problem that he was but a passing witness to its fulfilment4 ,david ,whitmer died at his home in ,richmond1 on the #beth of ,january1 #ahhh1 in the eighty-fourth year of his life4 ,his final testimony was given under the following circumstances3 ,on the evening of ,sunday1 ,january #bb1 at half past five o'clock1 ,mr4 ,whitmer called his family and a number of his friends to his bedside1 and to them delivered his dying testimony4 ,addressing his attendant physician he said3 ,dr4 ,buchanan1 ,i want you to say whether or not ,i am in my right mind before ,i give my last testimony4 ,the doctor answered3 ,yes1 you are in your right mind1 for ,i have just had a conversation with you4 ,he then directed his words to all who surrounded him1 saying3 ,now1 you must all be faithful in ,christ4 ,i want to say to you all that the ,bible and the record of the ,nephites 7,book of ,mormon71 are true1 so you can say that you have heard me bear my testimony on my death bed4 ,all be faithful in ,christ and your reward will be according to your works4 ,god bless you all4 ,my trust is in ,christ for ever1 worlds without end4 ,amen4 99 99 99 99 ,on ,monday last 7,jan4 #bcrd71 at #aj o'clock a4 m41 after awaking from a short slumber he said he had seen beyond the veil and had seen ,christ on the other side4 ,his friends who were constantly at his bedside claim that he had many manifestations of the truths of the great beyond1 which confirmed their faith beyond all shadow of doubt4 ,he bore his long illness with great patience and fortitude1 his faith1 never for a moment wavering1 and when the summons came1 he sank peacefully to rest with a smile on his countenance1 just as if he was being lulled to sleep by secret music4 ,just before his breath left his body1 he opened his eyes1 which glistened with the brightness of early manhood4 ,he then turned them toward heaven1 and a wonderful light came over his countenance1 which remained several moments1 when the eyes gradually closed and ,david ,whitmer had gone to his rest4 #a ,in the same issue of the paper from which this account of his death is taken1 occurs the following description of ,whitmer's connection with the coming forth of the ,book of ,mormon1 and his being a ,witness of its truth4 ,some inaccuracies as to details must be allowed for here1 such as the omission of ,martin ,harris' name as one of the ,three ,witnesses1 and the time of day that ,oliver ,cowdery and ,joseph ,smith called upon him in the field to go with them to become a witness to the ,book of ,mormon4 ,other accounts state that they came to him in the morning instead of the afternoon4 #b ,and it should be remembered that what follows is not given in the language of ,david ,whitmer3 ,when he was twenty-four years of age and worked on his father's farm near ,palmyra1 ,new ,york1 all that section of the country was more or less excited over the reported discovery by ,joseph ,smith of the gold plates from which the ,book of ,mormon was translated4 ,oliver ,cowdery1 the village school teacher1 mentioned the matter to him and announced his determination to visit ,smith and investigate the matter for himself1 promising ,mr4 ,whitmer1 at the latter's request1 to advise him of the result4 ,a few days later he ,whitmer received a letter from ,cowdery1 urging him to join him1 which he did1 being received by the ,prophet with open arms4 ,after remaining long enough to satisfy himself of the divine inspiration of ,smith1 the three returned to ,whitmer's home1 where it was agreed that the work of translation should be prosecuted4 ,shortly after his return1 and while he was plowing in the field one afternoon1 he was visited by ,smith and ,cowdery1 who requested that he should accompany them into the woods on the hill across the road for the purpose of witnessing a manifestation that should qualify him and ,cowdery to bear witness to the divine authenticity of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,smith explaining that such procedure was in accordance with explicit instructions he had received from an angel of the ,lord4 ,repairing to the woods they engaged in prayer for a short time1 when suddenly a great light shone around about them1 far brighter and more dazzling than the brilliancy of the noon day sun1 seemingly enveloping the wood for a considerable distance4 ,a spirit of elevation seized him as of joy indescribable and a strange influence stole over him1 which so entranced him that he felt that he was chained to the spot4 ,a moment later and a divine personage1 clothed in white raiment1 appeared unto them1 and immediately in front of the personage stood a table on which lay a number of gold plates1 some brass plates1 the ,urim and ,thummim and the sword of ,laban4 ,all of these they were directed to examine carefully1 and after their examination they were told that the ,lord would demand that they bear witness thereof to all the world4 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,while describing this vision to us1 all traces of a severe cold from which he was suffering disappeared for the time being1 his form straightened1 his countenance assumed almost a beautiful expression1 and his tones became strangely eloquent4 ,although evidently no studied effort1 the description was a magnificent piece of word painting1 and he carried his hearers with him to that lonely hill by the old farm1 and they stood there with him awed in the divine presence4 ,skeptics may laugh and scoff if they will1 but no man could listen to ,mr4 ,whitmer as he talks of his interview with the angel of the ,lord1 without being most forcibly convinced that he has heard an honest man tell what he honestly believes to be true4 #c4 ,david ,whitmer1 like ,oliver ,cowdery1 was excommunicated from the ,church1 and at about the same time4 #d ,but unlike ,oliver ,cowdery1 he never returned1 but remained estranged from the ,church to the last day of his life4 ,still he always manifested a friendly disposition towards all believers in the ,book of ,mormon1 however mistaken he may have considered them to be in the matter of ,church affiliation4 ,but while out of the ,church as when in it1 and certainly having no worldly purpose to serve by continuing in such a course1 he steadfastly1 as we have seen1 adhered to his testimony to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,footnotes #a4 ,this account of ,david ,whitmer's death is from the ,richmond ,democrat1 of the #bfth of ,january1 #ahhh1 a paper published in the town where his death occurred4 ,it is copied into the ,deseret ,news of the #hth of ,february1 #ahhh2 and in the ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #ej1 p4 #aci4 #b4 ,see statement of ,david ,whitmer to ,william ,h4 ,kelley1 ,g4 ,a4 ,blakeslee1 ,sept4 #ae1 #ahhb4 ,braden and ,kelley ,debate1 p4 #ahg4 #c4 ,richmond ,democrat1 issue of ,jan4 #bf1 #ahhh4 #d4 ,for the same reasons that were given in the foot note explaining the case of ,oliver ,cowdery1 ,i here give the charges brought against ,david ,whitmer and sustained before the ,high ,council3 #ast4 ,not observing the ,word of ,wisdom1 7,see ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 #hi74 #bnd4 ,unchristianlike conduct in neglecting to attend meetings1 and uniting with and possessing the same spirit as the dissenters4 #crd4 ,writing letters to the dissenters in ,kirtland1 unfavorable to the cause and character of ,joseph ,smith1 ,jr4 #dth4 ,neglecting the duties of his calling1 and separating himself from the ,church4 #eth4 ,signing himself president of the ,church of ,christ in an insulting letter to the ,high ,council1 after he had been cut off from the presidency4 ,the presidency of the ,church alluded to was a local presidency over the ,church in ,missouri1 in which position the ,saints1 some time before his arraignment before the ,high ,council1 refused to sustain him4 7,see ,mill4 ,star1 vol4 #af1 pp4 #acc1 #acd1 also ,missouri ,persecutions1 pp4 #ahj-a47 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,external1 ,,evidences--,,testimony ,,of ,,the ,,three ,,witnesses--,,subsequent ,,life ,,and ,,testimonies4 ,,martin ,,harris4 ,the experience of ,martin ,harris1 with reference to his relations with the ,church was somewhat different from that of ,oliver ,cowdery and ,david ,whitmer4 ,he was never excommunicated from the ,church as they were1 but when there was a general movement of the ,church from ,kirtland to ,missouri1 early in the summer of #ahch--;at which time the ,saints may be said to have abandoned ,kirtland--,martin ,harris remained behind to live in ,ohio1 separated from the ,church4 ,it is evident1 too1 that his mind became somewhat darkened2 for after the martyrdom of the ,prophet ,joseph1 in #ahdd1 when various persons arose claiming the right of leadership in the ,church1 ,martin ,harris for a time supported the claims of ,james ,j4 ,strang1 and under the auspices of the latter's pseudo-church organization1 went to ,england on a mission1 in #ahdf2 but he did not become very active in his missionary efforts1 and soon returned to ,kirtland1 where he resided for many years1 up to #ahgj1 in fact4 ,during all these years that he was separated from the ,church1 years of much spiritual darkness for him respecting many things pertaining to the great work of ,god1 he nevertheless steadfastly held to the truth of his testimony to the ,book of ,mormon4 ,however vascillating in other matters1 in this he was firm and immovable4 ,he did see the angel2 he did see the plates1 and the attendant sacred things2 he was overshadowed by a glorious light1 from the midst of which he heard the voice of ,god saying that the record had been translated by the gift and power of ,god4 ,this testimony he never denied1 but reaffirmed it over and over again4 ,finally1 like ,oliver ,cowdery1 he joined the ,church and died in the faith4 ,the circumstances surrounding this last event of his life1 briefly told1 are as follows3 ,elder ,edward ,stevenson1 for many years a prominent traveling ,elder of the ,church1 and who a few years before his death was made a member of the ,first ,council of the ,seventy--the third general quorum of the ,church--became especially interested in ,martin ,harris4 ,elder ,stevenson1 when a boy in ,michigan1 in #ahcc1 heard ,martin ,harris1 who was on a mission at that time1 testify to the appearance of the angel and his having seen the plates of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,the testimony had great effect on young ,stevenson's mind2 and when1 in #ahfi--thirty-six years later--he found ,martin ,harris living at ,kirtland1 naturally his interest in the ,witness revived4 ,after ,elder ,stevenson returned to ,utah1 from his eastern mission1 he kept up a correspondence with ,martin ,harris1 and the latter finally expressed a wish to visit ,utah and rejoin his former associates4 ,elder ,stevenson raised the means by subscription1 went east and brought back with him ,mr4 ,harris1 arriving in ,salt ,lake on the #cjth of ,august1 #ahgj4 #a ,mr4 ,harris addressed a large gathering of ,saints in ,salt ,lake ,city on the ,sunday following1 ,september the #dth1 reaffirming his testimony to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon1 a thing he did repeatedly1 both before public assemblies and in private conversation4 ,he was received into the ,church on renewing his covenants in baptism and reconfirmation4 ,after spending some time in ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,mr4 ,harris moved to ,smithfield1 in ,cache county1 ,utah2 and subsequently he moved to ,clarkston1 where he continued to live at the home of his son1 ,martin ,harris1 ,jr41 until his death1 which occurred on the #ajth of ,july1 #ahge4 ,in these later years of his life he continued to reaffirm his testimony to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,it was the one theme above all others which occupied his mind and of which he loved to speak4 ,a few hours before his death the bishop of ,clarkston1 ,simon ,smith1 called upon him1 and as the bishop drew near his bed the now aged ,witness 7he was in his ninety-third year71 stretched out his hand with the remark3 ,bishop1 ,i am going4 ,the ,bishop1 in answer1 said he had something of importance to tell him about the ,book of ,mormon1 viz41 that at the request of ,indians in ,central ,america the ,book of ,mormon was about to be published in the ,spanish language4 ,upon hearing this1 says his son1 ,martin ,harris1 ,jr41 in his letter describing the incident to ,george ,a4 ,smith1 the ,church historian--,upon hearing this1 father brightened up1 his pulsation improved1 and1 although very weak1 he began to talk as he formerly had done previous to his sickness4 ,he conversed for about two hours1 and it seemed that the mere mention of the ,book of ,mormon put new life into him4 ,speaking of his condition a little later--the day before his death1 in fact--his son says3 ,he has continued to talk about and testify to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon1 and was in his happiest mood when he could get somebody to listen to his testimony2 if he felt dull and weary at times1 and some one would come in and open up a conversation and give him an opportunity of talking1 he would immediately revive and feel like a young man1 for a little while4 ,we begin to think he has borne his last testimony4 ,the last audible words he has spoken were something about the ,witnesses of the ,book of ,mormon1 but we could not understand what it was4 #b ,the next day1 ,july #ajth1 #ahge1 he died4 ,footnotes #a4 ,see ,stevenson's account of ,harris' return to the ,church1 ,millennial ,star1 vol4 #dd1 pp4 #gh1 #hf1 #hg4 #b4 ,deseret ,news 7weekly7 for ,july #bh1 #ahge4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,direct ,,external ,,evidences--,,reflections ,,upon ,,the ,,testimonies ,,of ,,the ,,three ,,witnesses4 ,the direct evidence of the truth of the ,book of ,mormon found in the testimony of the ,three ,witnesses is now before the reader4 ,the trying circumstances under which the ,witnesses persisted in maintaining the truth of that testimony is also known4 ,neither separation from ,joseph ,smith as a companion and associate1 nor excommunication from the body religious1 brought into existence as a sequence1 one may say1 of the coming forth of the ,nephite ,record1 affected them as ,witnesses4 ,in the ,church and while out of it they steadfastly maintained what they first published to the world respecting the ,book of ,mormon4 ,the plates existed1 they saw them1 and the engravings upon them4 ,an angel of ,god appeared before them1 and laid the records before their eyes4 ,the record was translated by the gift and power of ,god2 for his voice had declared it unto them1 hence they knew it4 ,no evidence exists that they ever denied that testimony4 ,they never attempted to resolve the appearance of the angel1 the exhibition of the plates1 or hearing the voice of ,god into hallucination of the mind2 nor did they ever attempt to refer this really great event to some jugglery on the part of ,joseph ,smith4 ,they never allowed even the possibility of their being mistaken in the matter4 ,they saw2 they heard2 the splendor of ,god shone about them2 they felt his presence4 ,joseph ,smith could never have produced such a scene as that which they beheld4 ,they were not deluded4 ,the several incidents making up this great revelation were too palpable to the strongest senses of the mind to admit of any doubt as to their reality4 ,the great revelation was not given in a dream or vision of the night4 ,there was no mysticism about it4 ,nothing unseemly or occult4 ,it was a simple1 straightforward fact that had taken place before their eyes4 ,the visitation of the angel was in the broad light of day4 ,moreover it occurred after such religious exercises as were worthy to attend upon such an event1 viz43 after morning devotional exercises common to all really ,christian families of that period--the reading of a scripture lesson1 singing a hymn1 and prayer2 and after arriving at the scene of the revelation1 devout prayer again by the ,prophet and each of the then-to-be ,witnesses4 ,the revelation then followed under the circumstances already detailed1 which circumstances were of such a nature that the ,witnesses could not be mistaken4 ,there exists no possibility of resolving their testimony into delusion or mistake4 ,either they spoke the truth in their published ,testimony to the world1 or they were wilful1 conscious liars1 bent upon a wicked scheme of deception relative to a subject--religion--which1 as it is the most sacred1 so should it also be the furthest removed from the practice of deceptions4 ,since1 then1 the possibility of mistake or delusion1 is eliminated from the revelation to the ,three ,witnesses1 let us consider the likelihood of conscious1 intentional fraud2 a deliberately planned deception1 through the collusion of ,joseph ,smith and the ,three ,witnesses1 by which the ,book of ,mormon was to be palmed off upon mankind as a volume of ancient scripture1 and a new ,church organization brought into existence4 ,first4 ,it must occur to every unbiased reflector upon the subject that every circumstance is against the likelihood of collusion4 ,the very youthfulness of the men1 the ,prophet and the ,three ,witnesses1 is against such a hypothesis4 ,joseph ,smith1 at the time of the publication of the ,book of ,mormon1 was about twenty-five years old2 ,oliver ,cowdery and ,david ,whitmer were also of that age1 all having been born in the year #ahje-f4 ,martin ,harris was older1 it is true1 having been born in the year #aghc2 but he1 as an exception to the youthfulness of the group1 will not affect the argument based on this score of youthfulness1 as his influence with the rest held no proportion to the difference of age between himself with the other members of the group4 ,indeed1 though the oldest1 he was the least influential of the number2 and withal so simple-minded in his honesty1 that the world1 if it knew him1 would acquit him of guile1 and regard him as a wholly impossible factor in practicing such a monumental delusion upon mankind as foisting the ,book of ,mormon upon the world as a revelation from ,god would have been had not the book been true4 ,i would not argue that young men are incapable of practicing deception1 or formulating delusions4 ,my argument is1 merely1 that they are less likely to be guilty of it than older men4 ,youth is essentially the period of honesty in men's lives4 ,youth is not hardened in sin2 is not so capable of the grosser wickedness1 especially such wickedness as would be involved in the deliberate deception of their fellows4 ,neither has unholy ambitions fired the soul in youth4 ,the hopes1 the aspirations1 the ambitions of youth are generally pure and noble4 ,unholy ambitions as a rule come later4 ,the practice of religious deception is one of the grossest forms of wickedness1 and requires the deepest depravity of the human heart to make one capable of it3 and since youth is the period of men's lives in which they are least desperately wicked1 it follows that the very youthfulness of this group of men we are considering stands against the likelihood of their combining to deceive mankind in this matter of the revelations of ,god to them about the ,book of ,mormon4 ,second4 ,the persistence of these ,witnesses in adhering to their testimony after their connection with ,joseph ,smith and the ,church was severed is strong evidence against the presumption of collusion among these young men to deceive the world4 ,suppose1 for a moment1 however1 that such a collusion did exist4 ,in that event1 if the ,three ,witnesses fell into transgression--as they evidently did--and violated ,church discipline ever so flagrantly1 would ,joseph ,smith dare to break friendship with them by excommunicating them8 ,would he not1 on the contrary1 say in his heart3 ,it matters not what these men may do1 ,i dare not raise my hand against them2 for if ,i do they will divulge our secret compact1 and ,i shall be execrated as a vile imposter by the whole world1 ,i shall be repudiated by my own people1 and driven out from all society a vagabond4 ,at whatever cost ,i must cover up their iniquity1 lest ,i myself by them be exposed to shame4 ,such1 doubtless1 would have been his course of reasoning2 and had he with them conspired to deceive mankind1 such1 doubtless1 is what would have taken place2 for ,i maintain that men who would be base enough to concoct such a deception would also be base enough to expose it and become traitors when they became disaffected towards each other4 ,but nothing of the kind took place4 ,when these men violated the law of ,god and would not repent and forsake the evil they did1 neither ,joseph ,smith nor the ,church would any longer fellowship them1 but boldly excommunicated them4 ,by the act of excommunication1 ,joseph ,smith virtually said to the ,three ,witnesses3 ,gentlemen1 ,god has made you witnesses for himself in this age of spiritual darkness and unbelief1 but you refuse to keep his laws1 therefore we must withdraw the hand of fellowship from you4 ,this may fill you with anger and malice2 you may raise your hand against me and the work of ,god to destroy it2 ,satan may put it into your hearts to deny the testimony you have borne2 but ,i know you received that witness from ,god1 ,i was with you when you received it1 ,i saw the glorious messenger from heaven show you the plates2 ,i1 myself heard the voice of ,god bear record to you that the translation was correct and the work true--now deny that testimony if you dare--this work is of ,god1 and he can sustain it even if you should turn against it2 therefore we will not fellowship you in your wickedness--you are cut off from our association--do your worst6 ,that is what1 in effect1 that action said2 but though ,oliver ,cowdery and ,david ,whitmer became the pronounced enemies of ,joseph ,smith1 and sought his overthrow1 yet they never denied the testimony they bore to the truthfulness of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,through all the vicissitudes of life they remained true to that trust committed to them of ,god4 ,in my opinion they dared not deny that which ,god had revealed2 it drew with it consequences too weighty for them to meet4 ,nor should it be matter for wonderment that the ,three ,witnesses1 after receiving such a marvelous revelation from ,god1 and beholding the demonstration of such almighty power1 turned away from the ,church1 and lost their places4 ,their case does not stand alone4 ,they are not the first servants and witnesses for ,god that wandered from the path direct1 and fell into error and perhaps sin4 ,seeing a heavenly messenger or hearing the voice of ,god1 by no means places men beyond the power to do evil1 nor does it give them immunity from the temptations of the adversary4 ,noah received revelations from ,god1 and yet after being preserved from the flood1 and enjoying other special favors1 he so far forgot himself as to get drunk4 ,david1 a man after ,god's own heart1 after enjoying sweet communion with ,god1 and receiving many revelations from him1 was at last guilty of the heinous sin of defiling another man's wife1 and deliberately planning the injured man's murder6 ,peter1 after going into the mountain and witnessing the glorious ministrations of ,moses and ,elias to the ,messiah1 and hearing the voice of ,god declare that ,jesus was his beloved ,son1 was so weak1 under the influence of fear1 that he denied having any knowledge of him1 and emphasized his denial by cursing and swearing4 ,i do not refer to these incidents in the lives of these characters to weaken the esteem any one may have for them1 but to show that neither a revelation from ,god nor the visitation of angels takes from man the power of doing wrong4 ,it was so in the case of ,oliver ,cowdery1 and his fellow witnesses4 ,they transgressed the laws of ,god1 and the ,church was in duty bound to withdraw fellowship from them1 and did so1 confident that ,god was able to preserve his work though these men should turn traitors1 and deny the truth4 ,i repeat that this circumstance--the fact that the ,three ,witnesses persisted in their testimony1 though excommunicated from the ,church1 and their relations with ,joseph ,smith disrupted1 is strong presumptive evidence that there was no collusion among these men to deceive the world by their solemn testimony to the ,book of ,mormon4 ,third4 ,the fact that two of the ,witnesses1 ,oliver ,cowdery and ,martin ,harris1 returned to the ,church after long years of separation from it--the former eleven1 the latter thirty-three years--is another evidence against the theory of collusion among the witnesses4 ,surely had they been parties to a wicked scheme of deception in their youth1 after separating themselves from it for years1 they would not return to it in old age4 ,this suggestion is strengthened when it is remembered that the religious organization which may be said to have come into existence as a consequence of the coming forth of the ,book of ,mormon--the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints--neither did nor could hold out to them any worldly advantage as a reward for their returning to the body religious4 ,when ,oliver ,cowdery returned to the ,church1 in #ahdh1 the great body of the ,latter-day ,saints were enroute for the west4 ,they were a people scattered and peeled4 ,they were but recently expatriated from their country4 ,they were exiled for conscience sake from a country that boasts of its guarantees of religious freedom4 ,they were wandering in the wilderness1 in a solitary way--hungry and thirsty1 their souls fainting in them1 and they had as yet no certain abiding place4 ,surely a people thus situated was not a people to come to for worldly advantage4 ,yet such was the condition of the ,church when ,oliver ,cowdery once more cast his fortune with theirs1 humbly confessing all his errors that he might have fellowship with them4 ,when ,martin ,harris returned to the ,church in #ahgj1 the condition of the ,saints had improved somewhat when compared with what the conditions were when ,oliver ,cowdery returned1 but even then the ,saints were under the ban of the world's displeasure2 as of old1 they were the people everywhere spoken against2 while throughout the ,united ,states1 of which the lands the ,saints had redeemed from desert wastes was now an integral part1 there was arising that storm of vexation which subsequently crystalized into congressional enactments which not only menaced but disturbed the peace of the ,saints4 ,to become once more connected with such a people surely promised no worldly advantage2 and besides1 when ,martin ,harris returned to the ,church the sands of his life had so well nigh run their course--he was then eighty-seven years of age--that worldly considerations could have but little or no effect upon his actions4 ,thus the return of these men to the ,church1 the circumstances considered under which they returned1 is certainly strong evidence against the theory of collusion or deception among these ,witnesses4 ,fourth4 ,there is a harmony in things bad as well as in things that are good4 ,as men do not work righteousness that evil may come2 so they do not plan evil that good may come4 ,now1 these young men who bear witness to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon spent the greater part of their lives--especially when actively promulgating the ,book of ,mormon and the principles it teaches--in bringing to pass righteousness4 ,they were exhorting men to keep the commandments of ,god2 to cease doing evil and to learn to do well4 ,it is admitted on all sides of the controversy that the ,book of ,mormon is not a bad book in the sense that it approves evil deeds1 canonizes the vicious1 lauds immorality1 or in any way gives countenance or sanction to sin4 ,no2 its bitterest enemies are forced to admit that it stands for righteousness absolutely1 that everywhere1 and in all men it condemns sin4 ,what motive1 then1 prompted these ,witnesses to enter into a wicked collusion to deceive mankind in a matter so grave8 ,did they become villains that they might preach righteousness8 ,did they wickedly conspire to deceive mankind in order that they might spend their lives in toil1 and suffering2 and invite the opposition of the world as expressed in ridicule1 scorn1 vituperation1 to say nothing of actual violence through malicious prosecutions before courts1 illegal imprisonment1 repeated acts of mob violence1 ending in house-burning1 in drivings1 in cruel whippings1 in other brutal assaults1 and often in outright murder--if not of the ,witnesses themselves1 then of their dearest friends and neighbors2 and1 of course1 with reference to the ,prophet ,joseph and his brother ,hyrum 7who must have been necessarily members of the conspiracy1 if one existed71 their persecutions ended in their martyrdom4 #a ,i refer to the well-known history of these men and to the history of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints for proof that the results just enumerated followed the testimony of the ,three ,witnesses2 that they endured all these things in consequence of their testimony4 ,i refer to the whole body of doctrine held by the ,church1 brought into existence1 under ,god1 by ,joseph ,smith and these ,witnesses2 to the ,book of ,mormon in particular2 to the periodicals published by the ,church1 and to the letters and other writings of these men1 in proof of the facts that their motives were pure1 their purposes honest1 their efforts praiseworthy1 and having for their sole object the attainment of righteousness by themselves and by their fellowmen4 ,why1 ,i ask again1 should they become rogues and villains only to pursue a course that makes for righteousness1 for a more exalted morality1 for a higher spiritual life than at the time was known among men8 ,it is incumbent upon those who insist that there was a collusion among these ,witnesses to deceive mankind1 to prove that the subsequent career of these men was in harmony with that theory2 for men do not become rogues that they may establish virtue2 nor do wicked men become candidates for martyrdom that righteousness might be established3 the harmony existing in things evil1 as in things good1 forbids us believing such a theory4 #b ,it will be no valid answer to this contention to say that if the ,three ,witnesses cannot be proven to be conscious frauds and deceivers they may yet be relegated to that very large class known as the mistaken4 ,we have already seen that such was the nature of the revelation vouchsafed to these ,witnesses in attestation of the truth of the ,book of ,mormon that it cannot possibly be resolved into delusion or mistake1 and it is not necessary to further discuss that proposition here4 ,there is no middle ground on which one may place these ,witnesses2 inexcusable liars or true witnesses they must be2 they never can be classed among the mistaken4 ,the possibility of their being mistaken set aside1 every circumstance connected with their relationship to the ,book of ,mormon favors the theory of their being true witnesses1 their testimony standing not only unimpeached but unimpeachable2 it must follow that they are ,god's solemn ,witnesses of a great truth--the verity of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,footnotes #a4 ,the argument in this paragraph is suggested by a similar one in ,paley's ,evidences for ,christianity2 and indeed it may be said to be for the most part1 a paraphrase of it4 #b4 ,for a fuller treatise of the ideas and the force of the argument here presented the reader is referred to vol4 ,i of ,new ,witnesses1 ch4 #ag4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,direct ,,external ,,evidences--,,testimony ,,of ,,the ,,eight ,,witnesses4 ,the exact time when the ,eight ,witnesses obtained their view of the ,nephite plates is not known1 but it was evidently a few days after the ,three ,witnesses received their testimony4 ,all the ,prophet has seen proper to say upon the subject in his own history is--alluding to the testimony that had been received by the ,three ,witnesses--soon after these things had transpired1 the following additional testimony was obtained4 #a ,then follows the testimony of the ,eight ,witnesses4 ,according to the ,history of the ,prophet ,joseph by ,lucy ,smith1 #b the event happened a few days after the ,three ,witnesses obtained their testimony4 ,the latter1 be it remembered1 received their view of the plates near the ,whitmer residence1 in ,fayette township1 ,new ,york2 while the ,eight ,witnesses obtained their view of the plates near the ,smith residence in ,manchester4 ,on the completion of the translation of the ,book of ,mormon1 ,joseph sent word to his parents of the joyful event1 as we have already seen1 and they1 in company with ,martin ,harris1 immediately set out for ,fayette1 and during their brief stay at the place the vision of the ,three ,witnesses was given4 ,the day following ,father and ,mother ,smith returned to ,manchester1 and now the latter's statement3 ,in a few days we were followed by ,joseph1 ,oliver and the ,whitmers1 who came to make us a visit1 and make some arrangements about getting the book printed4 ,soon after they came1 all the male part of the company1 with my husband1 ,samuel and ,hyrum1 retired to a place where the family were in the habit of offering up their secret devotions to ,god4 ,they went to this place because it had been revealed to ,joseph that the plates would be carried thither by one of the ancient ,nephites4 #c ,here it was that those ,eight ,witnesses1 whose names are recorded in the ,book of ,mormon1 looked upon them and handled them4 99 99 99 ,after these ,witnesses returned to the house1 the angel again made his appearance to ,joseph2 at which time ,joseph delivered up the plates into the angel's hands4 #d ,this narrative is confirmed by the statement of ,joseph himself with respect to delivering up the record to the angel4 ,at the time the plates were first given into the ,prophet's keeping he was informed that the heavenly messenger would call for them4 ,he then recounts the efforts made to wrest the plates from him by his enemies1 and adds3 ,but by the wisdom of ,god1 they remained safe in my hands1 until ,i had accomplished by them what was required at my hands4 ,when1 according to arrangements1 the messenger 7the angel ,moroni7 called for them1 ,i delivered them up to him2 and he has them in his charge until this day1 being the #bnd day of ,may1 #ahch4 #e ,in the evening of the day that the ,eight ,witnesses saw and examined the ,nephite plates1 according to ,lucy ,smith1 the ,witnesses held meeting at the ,smith residence1 in which all the ,witnesses bore testimony to the facts as stated above2 #f that is1 to the facts stated in their testimony as here given and which appeared in the first and in all subsequent editions of the ,book of ,mormon3 ,,the ,,testimony ,,of ,,eight ,,witnesses ,,be ,,it ,,known unto all nations1 kindreds1 tongues1 and people1 unto whom this work shall come3 ,that ,joseph ,smith1 ,jr41 the translator of this work1 has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken1 which have the appearance of gold2 and as many of the leaves as the said ,smith has translated we did handle with our hands2 and we also saw the engravings thereon1 all of which has the appearance of ancient work1 and of curious workmanship4 ,and this we bear record with words of soberness1 that the said ,smith has shown unto us1 for we have seen and hefted1 and know of a surety that the said ,smith has got the plates of which we have spoken4 ,and we give our names unto the world1 to witness unto the world that which we have seen4 ,and we lie not1 ,god bearing witness of it4 ,,christian ,,whitmer1 ,,jacob ,,whitmer1 ,,peter ,,whitmer1 ,,jr41 ,,john ,,whitmer1 ,,hiram ,,page1 ,,joseph ,,smith1 ,,sr4 ,,hyrum ,,smith1 ,,samuel ,h4 ,,smith4 ,the testimony of the ,eight ,witnesses differs from that of the ,three ,witnesses in that the view of the plates by the latter was attended by a remarkable display of the glory and power of ,god and the ministration of an angel4 ,the glory of ,god shone about them2 the angel turned the gold leaves of the ancient record2 he spoke to them1 or at least to ,david ,whitmer1 saying3 ,david1 blessed is the ,lord1 and he that keeps his commandments2 and the very voice of ,god was heard out of the bright light shining about them1 saying3 ,these plates have been revealed by the power of ,god1 and they have been translated by the power of ,god4 ,the translation of them which you have seen is correct1 and ,i command you to bear record of what you now see and hear4 #g ,no such remarkable display of ,god's splendor and power was attendant upon the exhibition of the plates to the ,eight ,witnesses4 ,on the contrary it was just a plain1 matter-of-fact exhibition of the plates by the ,prophet himself to his friends4 ,they saw the plates2 they handled them2 they turned the leaves of the old ,nephite record1 and saw and marveled at its curious workmanship4 ,no brilliant light illuminated the forest or dazzled their vision2 no angel was there to awe them by the splendor of his presence2 no piercing voice of ,god from a glory to make them tremble by its power4 ,all these supernatural circumstances present at the view of the plates by the ,three ,witnesses were absent at the time when the ,eight ,witnesses saw them4 ,here all was natural1 matter-of-fact1 plain4 ,nothing to inspire awe1 or fear1 or dread2 nothing uncanny or overwhelming1 but just a plain1 straightforward proceeding that leaves men in possession of all their faculties1 and self-consciousness2 all of which renders such a thing as deception1 or imposition entirely out of the question4 ,they could pass the plates from hand to hand1 guess at their weight--doubtless considerable1 that idea being conveyed1 we have seen and hefted1 and know of a surety1 that the said ,smith has got the plates4 ,they could look upon the engravings1 and observe calmly how different they were from everything modern in the way of record-making known to them1 and hence the conclusion that the workmanship was not only curious but ancient4 ,i now proceed to consider the course pursued by these ,eight ,witnesses with reference to their testimony4 ,i shall take them in the order they seemed to have signed the testimony4 #h ,,christian ,,whitmer4 ,this ,witness was thirty-one years old when he beheld the plates1 having been born on the #ahth of ,january1 #agih4 ,the young man was among the first to embrace the gospel1 being baptized on the #aath of ,april1 #ahcj4 ,he removed with the ,church from ,new ,york to ,ohio in #ahca1 thence to ,jackson county1 ,missouri4 ,he witnessed the storms of persecution rise against the ,saints in the land of ,zion2 and shared the hardship and despoliation of the ,saints incident to their expulsion from ,jackson county4 ,he died while in exile for conscience sake1 in ,clay county1 ,missouri1 on the #bgth of ,november1 #ahce4 ,he held first the office of ,teacher in the ,church2 and then successively rose to the office of ,elder1 ,high ,priest1 and member of the ,high ,council of the ,church in ,missouri4 ,few and troubled were the years of ,christian ,whitmer's life after he became a ,witness for the existence of the plates from which the ,book of ,mormon was translated2 but few and troubled as the years were1 they were glorious for the steadfastness of ,christian's faith4 ,he had seen his crops wasted by the wanton destructiveness of a mob1 while he himself was seized and threatened with instant death if he did not make known the hiding place of brethren who were escaping from the mob4 ,christian ,whitmer1 however1 did not betray his friends1 notwithstanding the guns of the mob were leveled at him when their threats were made4 ,he remained true to his testimony and died a consistent member of the ,church of ,christ4 ,,jacob ,,whitmer4 ,jacob ,whitmer was thirty years of age when he saw the plates1 having been born on the #bgth of ,january1 #ahjj4 ,he1 too1 passed through the trying scenes incident to the expulsion of the ,latter-day ,saints from ,jackson county4 ,but after enduring well for a season he left the ,church1 in #ahch1 making his home near ,richmond1 in ,ray county1 ,missouri4 ,here he lived a quiet1 retired life1 and reared his family in respectability2 his eldest son1 ,david ,p4 ,whitmer1 rising to some local prominence as a lawyer1 and serving one or two terms as mayor of ,richmond4 ,to the day of his death--which occurred ,april #ba1 #ahef--;,jacob ,whitmer was true to his testimony of the truth of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,though he severed his relations with the ,church1 because he did not agree with the policy of the leading elders1 he continued true to the special trust ,god had committed to him--an actual knowledge of the existence of the ,nephite record--as long as he lived4 ,,peter ,,whitmer1 ,,jr4 ,this ,witness for the existence of the ,nephite ,record was in his twentieth year at the time he examined the plates and held them in his hands4 ,on meeting with the ,prophet ,joseph1 on the occasion of the latter coming to reside at the home of his father1 ,peter ,whitmer1 ,sen41 in ,fayette township1 #ahbi1 a firm friendship immediately sprang up between them4 ,peter ,whitmer1 ,jr41 seems to have been one of those gentle1 loving natures that finds its greatest enjoyment and usefulness in giving its allegiance to some more rugged character on whose strength it can lean1 in whose courage it can find strength4 ,he entered with enthusiasm into the work of ,god coming forth under the inspired words and movements of his friend ,joseph1 the ,prophet4 ,he was among the first to join the ,church1 and when1 in ,september1 #ahcj1 a mission was appointed to the ,lamanites 7,american ,indians71 under the leadership of ,oliver ,cowdery1 young ,whitmer was especially appointed to accompany him1 and commanded to be afflicted in all his 7,oliver's7 afflictions1 ever lifting up your heart unto me in prayer1 and faith for his and your deliverance4 #i ,the missionaries to the ,lamanites traveled on foot from central ,new ,york to the western borders of ,missouri1 a distance of more than one thousand miles1 and that chiefly in winter time1 when storms and mud and cold had to be encountered4 ,peter ,whitmer1 ,jr41 remained in western ,missouri1 and assisted the ,saints in settling ,jackson county 7#ahca-ahcc71 where1 in common with the ,saints who gathered from the east1 he saw the rise of that persecution which culminated in the expulsion of the ,saints from that country4 ,with many of his exiled co-religionists he found a temporary home near ,liberty1 ,clay county1 ,missouri1 where he died on the #bbnd of ,september1 #ahcf2 and was buried by the side of his brother ,christian1 who had died in the same neighborhood less than a year before4 ,consumption was the immediate cause of his death1 which was doubtless hastened by exposure1 in the course of his missionary labors and the hardships he was forced to endure by reason of his expulsion from ,jackson county4 ,this young man--he was but twenty-seven when he died--remained true to his testimony through the seven years of toil and suffering that he lived after ,god called him to be a ,witness for the truth of the ,book of ,mormon2 and his fidelity to his trust under all circumstances1 adds weight to the solemn words of testimony to which he signed his name in ,june1 #ahbi4 ,,john ,,whitmer4 ,the fourth of the ,eight ,witnesses1 ,john ,whitmer1 was twenty-seven years of age when he beheld the plates of the ,nephite record4 ,he was a young man of considerable promise1 and upon the coming of ,joseph ,smith to his father's house1 became not only his enthusiastic friend1 but rendered him considerable assistance in writing as the ,prophet dictated the translation of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,john ,whitmer was ,church ,historian for a number of years2 for a time editor of the ,messenger and ,advocate1 the second periodical published by the ,church 7,kirtland1 ,ohio1 #ahcd-ahcg74 ,he was also prominent in the affairs of the ,church in ,missouri1 being one of the assistant presidents of the ,church1 his brother ,david and ,william ,w4 ,phelps being the president and other assistant respectively4 ,he endured the hardships incident to the persecutions of the ,saints in that land4 ,when settlements were being formed in the new county of ,caldwell1 ,john ,whitmer was prominently connected with the land purchases made4 ,indeed it was largely owing to some irregularities connected with the business1 and some misunderstanding with the ,prophet and other leading brethren in the ,church1 that finally resulted in his excommunication1 in ,march1 #ahch4 ,after the expulsion of the ,church from ,missouri1 in the winter of #ahch-i1 ,john ,whitmer purchased the greater part of the townsite of ,far ,west1 which soon reverted to farming lands2 and here ,john ,whitmer continued to live1 making farming his principal occupation1 until his death in ,july1 #ahgh4 ,though his relations with the ,church were severed ,john ,whitmer1 up to the very close of his life1 continued to bear witness that his testimony published in connection with the ,book of ,mormon was true4 ,from it he never deviated4 ,it was his testimony when living2 it remains his testimony now that he is dead1 unimpaired in its force by any word of his1 though he was much offended at the ,prophet ,joseph1 and for forty years had no standing in the ,church4 ,one can but regret the events which resulted in his severance from the ,church1 but one is compelled to admire his fidelity to the trust imposed in him by the ,prophet when he made him a ,witness for the existence of the ,nephite record1 in the presence of temptation to take a different course in the hour of his great darkness4 ,,hiram ,,page4 ,this is the only ,witness of the ,eight not either a ,whitmer or a ,smith4 ,he was a son-in-law1 however1 to ,peter ,whitmer1 ,sen41 having married ,catherine ,whitmer1 in #ahbe4 ,he was but a young man when he became a ,witness to the existence of the ,nephite plates1 having been born in the year #ahjj1 in the state of ,vermont4 ,he was living at ,fayette1 with the ,whitmers when the ,prophet and ,oliver ,cowdery arrived there in the spring of #ahbi4 ,he entered into the work with enthusiasm1 and for some years was a faithful member of the ,church4 ,he followed the westward movement of the ,saints from ,new ,york to ,ohio and thence to ,missouri4 ,he shared in the persecutions of the ,church in ,jackson county2 in common with his co-religionists he fled to ,clay county2 and subsequently settled in ,caldwell county4 ,when the trouble arose in the ,church at ,far ,west1 in #ahch1 ,hiram ,page followed the fortune of the ,whitmers1 severed his relations with the ,church and finally made his home near ,excelsior ,springs1 some fourteen miles north and a little west of ,richmond1 ,missouri1 where he died in ,august1 #aheb4 ,like his fellow ,witnesses he remained true to his testimony4 ,his oldest son1 ,philander ,page1 in #ahhh1 said to ,elder ,andrew ,jenson3 ,i knew my father to be true and faithful to his testimony of the divinity of the ,book of ,mormon until the very last4 ,whenever he had an opportunity to bear his testimony to this effect1 he would always do so1 and seemed to rejoice exceedingly in having been privileged to see the plates and thus become one of the ,eight ,witnesses4 ,i can also testify that ,jacob1 ,john and ,david ,whitmer and ,oliver ,cowdery died in full faith in the divinity of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,i was with all these ,witnesses on their death-beds and heard each of them bear his testimony4 ,john ,c4 ,whitmer1 a nephew of ,hiram ,page by marriage1 also testified in the presence of ,elder ,jenson3 ,i was closely connected with ,hiram ,page in business transactions and other matters1 he being married to my aunt4 ,i knew him at all times and under all circumstances to be true to his testimony concerning the divinity of the ,book of ,mormon4 #aj ,,joseph ,,smith1 ,,sen4 ,the sixth of the ,eight ,witnesses is ,joseph ,smith1 ,sen41 the ,prophet's father4 ,he was the first to whom the ,prophet confided the fact of ,moroni's visit1 and the existence of the ,nephite record2 and this by direct commandment of the angel ,moroni himself4 ,the ,prophet hesitated to make known the vision he had received and the existence of the record1 even to his father2 but doubtless the integrity of the heart of ,joseph ,smith1 ,sen41 was known in the heavens1 and the ,prophet was taken sharply to task for hesitating to trust him with the knowledge that ,god had imparted through ,moroni4 ,when asked why he had not confided the knowledge of his vision to his father1 the ,prophet expressed a fear that he would not be believed1 whereupon ,moroni said3 ,he will believe every word you say to him4 #aa ,upon this the ,prophet went to his father1 who was working in a field near their home1 and related the whole revelation to him4 ,the father assured his son that the great revelation was of ,god1 and told him to go and do as commanded by the messenger4 #ab ,from that time on the youthful ,prophet of the ,dispensation of the ,fulness of ,times had no truer1 or more constant or faithful friend than his father4 ,joseph ,smith1 ,sen41 was #ei years of age when he handled and examined the ,nephite plates1 and gave his testimony of their existence to the world4 ,he became thoroughly identified with the work which the ,lord brought forth through his gifted son4 ,he was ordained a ,priest of the ,most ,high ,god1 and became the first ,presiding ,patriarch in the ,church1 traveling in that capacity among the branches of the ,church1 especially in the ,eastern ,states1 administering comfort to the widow and fatherless1 bestowing benedictions wherever he went4 ,in #ahch1 under the pressure of that severe persecution which arose against adherents of the ,prophet in ,ohio1 the ,patriarch moved to ,caldwell county1 ,missouri1 where he saw his sons ,joseph and ,hyrum taken by ruthless hands1 dragged from their families and cast into prison for the word of ,god and the testimony of ,jesus1 while he himself1 with the remainder of the faithful ,saints1 was banished from the state of ,missouri under the exterminating order of ,governor ,boggs4 ,in midwinter of #ahch-i1 ,father ,smith1 as the ,saints loved to call him1 arrived in ,quincy1 ,illinois1 and thence removed to ,nauvoo and assisted in founding that city4 ,the toils and exposure of his life 7he had been a pioneer all his days71 and the hardships attendant upon his flight from ,missouri proved too much even for his sturdy frame1 and on the #adth of ,september1 #ahdj1 ,joseph ,smith1 ,sen41 in the seventieth year of his life1 died at ,nauvoo4 ,his was one of those simple1 guileless natures who know naught but truth and honor and fidelity4 ,amidst all circumstances of discouragement and trials he kept the faith1 never wavering one moment in his adherence to the truth which ,god had made known to him4 ,having seen and handled and examined the plates from which the ,book of ,mormon was written1 he remained true and steadfast to that testimony1 and if an unbelieving generation shall undertake to condemn the testimony of some of these ,witnesses because they turned from the ,church1 they must not forget that they will have to meet the force of this righteous man's testimony1 and as in prayer so in testimony1 the words of a righteous man availeth much4 ,,hyrum ,,smith4 ,the seventh of the ,eight ,witnesses was ,hyrum ,smith1 an elder brother to the ,prophet ,joseph1 born ,february #i1 #ahjj1 and hence was thirty years of age at the time the plates were shown to him4 ,from the beginning of the great work of the last days he was a consistent believer in it1 and assisted his brother in the preservation of the plates from the hands of those who sought to wrest them from him4 ,he early sought to know the will of the ,lord concerning his relations to the great work then coming forth1 and was given to understand 7,may1 #ahbi7 that he was to have part and lot in it2 and that he was called of ,god to be a preacher of righteousness to this generation4 #ac ,from that time forth he labored continuously and faithfully by the side of his prophet-brother in the work of ,god4 ,in #ahcg he was made a counselor in the ,first ,presidency of the ,church1 then assembling in ,caldwell county1 ,missouri1 a position he held until ,january1 #ahda1 when he was called by revelation to take the office of ,presiding ,patriarch in the ,church1 an office left vacant by the death of his father1 ,joseph ,smith1 ,sen42 and which office he held at the time he met a martyr's fate4 ,hyrum ,smith was a brother in very deed to the ,prophet2 for he shared in all the trials throughout the latter's troubled career2 and indeed throughout his life he was never separated from ,joseph longer than six months at a time4 ,the ,prophet held him in most tender regard4 ,speaking of him in his journal 7,december1 #ahce71 he said3 ,i could pray in my heart that all men were like my brother ,hyrum1 who possesses the mildness of a lamb1 and the integrity of a ,job2 and1 in short1 the meekness and humility of ,christ2 and ,i love him with that love that is stronger than death1 for ,i never had occasion to rebuke him1 nor he me4 #ad ,of ,hyrum ,smith the late ,president ,john ,taylor also said1 speaking of him as he saw him stretched a martyr upon the floor of ,carthage prison3 ,there he lay as ,i had left him4 ,he had not moved a limb2 he lay placid and calm1 a monument of greatness even in death2 but his noble spirit had left his tenement and had gone to dwell in regions more congenial to its exalted nature4 ,poor ,hyrum6 ,he was a great and good man1 and my soul was cemented to his4 ,if ever there was an exemplary1 honest and virtuous man1 an embodiment of all that is noble in the human form1 ,hyrum ,smith was its representative4 ,such was the character of this witness to the existence of the ,nephite record4 ,he not only never denied the testimony that he received through seeing and handling the plates of the ,nephite record1 but he consecrated his life to the great work of ,god which in a way may be said to have had its origin in the coming forth of the ,book of ,mormon2 and finally sealed his testimony with his blood1 and it is in force upon all succeeding generations of men4 ,he loved the ,book of ,mormon1 and from it more frequently than others took the texts which formed the central thought of the discourses he delivered to the ,saints4 ,in it also he doubtless saw foreshadowed1 near the close of his career1 his own impending martyrdom1 and the justification also of his life4 ,on the morning of his departure from ,nauvoo to ,carthage1 where he met his martyrdom1 he read the following passage in the presence of his family1 and turned down the leaf upon it3 ,and it came to pass that ,i prayed unto the ,lord that he would give unto the ,gentiles grace1 that they might have charity4 ,and it came to pass that the ,lord said unto me3 ,if they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee1 thou hast been faithful2 wherefore1 thy garments shall be made clean4 ,and because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong1 even unto the sitting down in the place which ,i have prepared in the mansions of my ,father4 ,and now ,i1 ,moroni1 bid farewell unto the ,gentiles1 yea1 and also unto my brethren whom ,i love1 until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of ,christ1 where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood4 #ae ,,samuel ,,harrison ,,smith4 ,the last of the ,eight ,witnesses was a younger brother of the ,prophet's4 ,he was born in the year #ahjh1 hence was twenty-two years of age when he beheld and handled the ,nephite plates4 ,he was of a serious1 religious nature1 even in his youth2 and with three others of his father's family joined the ,presbyterian church4 ,while ,joseph the ,prophet was engaged with ,oliver ,cowdery in translating the ,nephite record1 in ,harmony1 ,pennsylvania1 ,samuel paid him a visit in the month of ,may1 #ahbi1 about the time that the ,aaronic ,priesthood was conferred upon the ,prophet and ,oliver by the ministration of ,john the ,baptist4 ,samuel had come to inquire about the work and ,joseph bore testimony of its truth and showed him some of the translation of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,samuel seems not to have been easily converted1 but after much inquiry he retired to the woods and sought1 by secret and fervent prayer1 for wisdom to enable him to judge for himself concerning the things of which his brother had testified4 ,the result was that he obtained a revelation for himself sufficient to convince him of the truth1 and on the #beth day of ,may1 #ahbi1 he was baptized by ,oliver ,cowdery and returned to his father's house1 in ,manchester1 ,new ,york1 greatly glorifying and praising ,god4 ,he was the third person baptized by divine authority in the new dispensation1 ,joseph ,smith and ,oliver ,cowdery being the first two4 ,he was also one of the six members by whom the organization of the ,church was effected on the #fth day of ,april1 #ahcj4 ,as soon as the ,book of ,mormon was published ,samuel was among the most zealous of the brethren in proclaiming it to the world1 and seeking to dispose of it for the enlightenment of mankind4 ,he shared in all the fortunes of the ,church from the commencement of its existence to the time of his death1 which occurred on the #cjth of ,july1 #ahdd1 when he was but thirty-six years of age4 ,he endured many hardships for the gospel's sake1 in his extensive travels1 meeting with insult and harsh treatment at the hands of scoffers and unbelievers4 ,he witnessed also many demonstrations of the power of ,god and judgments which befell those who rejected his testimony4 ,samuel passed through many trying ordeals of persecution4 ,in the expulsion of the ,saints from ,missouri1 in #ahch-i1 a special effort was made to capture him and some others for participating in what is known as ,crooked ,river ,battle1 for particulars of which see the ,church ,history4 ,he was ordained a ,high ,priest in the ,church1 made a member of the ,high ,council in ,kirtland1 ,ohio1 and was noted for the mingled qualities of justice and mercy he exercised in his office4 ,he was among the founders of ,nauvoo1 and though rising to no great prominence1 was known for his steadfastness in adhering to the truth4 ,at the time of the martyrdom of his brothers1 ,joseph and ,hyrum1 he was living at ,plymouth1 in the eastern part of ,hancock county1 but frequently visited ,nauvoo4 ,hearing of the arrest of his brothers and their imprisonment at ,carthage1 he immediately went to the latter place1 but only to find that the martyr's fate had already overtaken them1 and in sadness he accompanied their bodies to ,nauvoo4 ,he survived them but a few weeks1 his death being produced by a severe billious fever1 doubtless brought on by physical and mental strain produced by the sudden death of his brothers4 ,samuel ,smith1 like his father1 ,joseph ,smith1 ,sen41 and his brother ,hyrum1 not only remained true to the testimony to which he subscribed in the first edition of the ,book of ,mormon1 but consecrated his life to the work which its coming forth may be said to have commenced2 and like them he lived and died a martyr to that holy cause2 and his testimony1 as theirs1 is in force in all the world4 ,it will be observed from the foregoing account of the lives of the ,eight ,witnesses1 with reference to their testimony to the existence of the ,nephite plates1 that five of them1 viz43 ,christian ,whitmer1 ,peter ,whitmer1 ,jun41 ,joseph ,smith1 ,sen41 ,hyrum ,smith1 and ,samuel ,h4 ,smith1 all remained true throughout their lives1 not only to their testimony1 but faithful to the ,church also1 and were honorable1 righteous men4 ,while the three of the ,eight ,witnesses who left the ,church1 or were excommunicated from it1 not one of them ever denied the truth of his testimony3 a circumstance of some weight in helping one to determine the value of the testimony to which1 with those who remained faithful to the ,church1 they subscribed their names when the ,book of ,mormon was first given to the world4 ,footnotes #a4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #eg4 #b4 ,chapter #ca4 #c4 ,this was doubtless ,moroni1 as he was the custodian of the plates4 #d4 ,history of the ,prophet ,joseph1 by ,lucy ,smith1 ch4 #ca4 #e4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 pp4 #ah1 #ai4 #f4 ,history of the ,prophet ,joseph1 by ,lucy ,smith1 ch4 #ca4 #g4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 pp4 #ed1 #ee4 #h4 ,in the first edition of the ,book of ,mormon where the ,testimony appears at the close of the volume instead of at the beginning of the work1 as in the current editions1 the names stand thus2 7second edition the same73-- ,christian ,whitmer1 ,jacob ,whitmer1 ,peter ,whitmer1 ,jr41 ,john ,whitmer1 ,hiram ,page1 ,joseph ,smith1 ,sr41 ,hyrum ,smith1 ,samuel ,h4 ,smith2 instead of in a double column as in our current editions4 ,by the way1 in passing1 it may not be amiss to state that some importance is attached to the arrangement of the names in our current edition1 for the reason that if read across the page instead of down the columns1 then ,page and the members of the ,smith family alternate with the ,witnesses1 supposedly to divert attention from the fact that the witnesses1 excepting ,hiram ,page1 were of but two families6 ,such is the conclusion at least of one profound 767 critic of the ,book of ,mormon4 #i4 ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 #cj4 #aj4 ,latter-day ,saints ,biographical ,encyclopaedia1 p4 #bgh4 #aa4 ,history of the ,prophet ,joseph1 by ,lucy ,smith1 ch4 #ai4 #ab4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #ae4 #ac4 ,see ,doc4 and ,cov41 sec4 #aa4 #ad4 ,rise and ,fall of ,nauvoo1 p4 #adf2 also ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,,ii1 p4 #cch4 #ae4 ,book of ,mormon1 ,ether #ab3cf-ch4 ,also ,doc4 and ,cov4 #ace3e4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,direct ,,external ,,evidence--,,reflections ,,on ,,the ,,testimony ,,of ,,the ,,eleven ,,witnesses4 ,doubtless the ,lord had his own purpose to subserve in giving different kinds of testimony--divine and human--to the same truth4 ,the testimony of the ,three ,witnesses1 attended as it was by such remarkable displays of supernatural power1 he knew would be opposed from the very circumstance of its being supernatural4 ,it cannot be but that ,god fore-knew of the rise of that so-called ,rational ,criticism of divine things which would resolve inspired dreams1 visions1 revelations and the administration of angels into hallucinations1 brought about first by an inclination to believe in the miraculous1 7and ordinarily1 argue the ,rational ,critics1 expectation is the father of its object47 #a supplemented by the theory of self-deception1 self-hypnosis or hypnotic influence of others4 ,this particular school of philosophers took its rise in the last century1 and in the twentieth is much in vogue4 ,it will be remembered that the starting point with ,rational ,criticism 7and in that term is included the so-called ,higher ,criticism7 is unbelief in what is commonly called the miraculous1 and if the followers of that school do not deny the possibility of the miraculous1 they at least say that it has never been proven2 and further1 they hold that a supernatural relation--such as the testimony of the ,three ,witnesses to the ,book of ,mormon1 for instance--cannot be accepted as such1 that it always implies credulity or imposture4 #b ,what chance1 then1 would the testimony of the ,three ,witnesses have with those who regard it as an absolute rule of criticism to deny a place in history to narratives of miraculous circumstances8 ,this1 they hold1 is simply the dictation of observation4 ,such facts have never been really proved4 ,all the pretended miracles near enough to be examined are referable to illusion or imposture6 #c ,nor is this the climax of their absurdity1 but they hold that the very honesty and sincerity of those who testify to the miraculous make them all the more untrustworthy as witnesses6 ,i know this seems incredible2 but what will be thought when ,i set down my authority for the statement1 and it is learned that ,i quote no mere blatant declaimer against religion1 nor any one of the many careless1 or ill-informed writers of the so-called ,rational ,school of ,critics1 but the sober-minded1 and earnest man of science1 the late ,professor ,huxley8 ,the statement quoted is from his paper on ,the ,value of ,witnesses to the ,miraculous4 #d ,in the course of treating upon some statements made by one ,eginhard 7eighth century ,a4,d471 concerning miraculous events connected with ,,ss4 ,marcellinus and ,petrus1 the professor takes occasion to bear testimony to the high character1 acute intelligence1 large instruction and sincerity of ,eginhard2 then speaking of him as a witness to the miraculous1 makes this astonishing statement3 ,it is hard upon ,eginhard to say1 but it is exactly the honesty and sincerity of the man which are his undoing as a witness to the miraculous4 ,he himself makes it quite obvious that when his profound piety comes on the stage1 his goodness and even his perception of right and wrong make their exit4 ,in another paper to the same magazine1 three months later1 the professor1 writing practically on the same subject1 says3 ,where the miraculous is concerned1 neither undoubted honesty1 nor knowledge of the world1 nor proved faithfulness as civil historians1 nor profound piety1 on the part of eye witnesses and contemporaries affords any guarantee of the objective truth of their statements1 when we know that a firm belief in the miraculous was ingrained in their minds1 and was the presupposition of their observations and reasonings4 #e ,this school of critics--and its following is much larger than is generally admitted--in this arbitrary way gets rid of the miracles of both the ,old and the ,new ,testament4 ,the resurrection of ,jesus1 to them1 is but a figment of the over-wrought minds of his disciples2 and has no better foundation than the dreams and light visions of women1 foremost among whom is ,mary of ,magdala1 #f the once possessed4 ,the glorious departure of ,jesus from the midst of his disciples1 on ,mount ,olivet--after the resurrection--is merely a collective hallucination1 an illusion--the air on these mountain tops is full of strange mirages6 #g ,the display of ,god's power on the day of ,pentecost as revealed in the ,acts of the ,apostles1 is a thunderstorm4 #h ,the speaking in tongues by the apostles on the same occasion and thereafter in the ,church1 is but the ecstatic utterance of incoherent sounds mistaken for a foreign language2 while prophecy is but the fruit of mental excitement1 a sort of ecstatic frenzy4 #i ,with views such as these quite prevalent in ,christendom1 relative to miraculous events1 it is but to be expected that the testimony of the ,three ,witnesses would be accounted for on some similar hypothesis4 ,the early anti-,mormon writers generally assumed a conspiracy between ,joseph ,smith and the ,witnesses to the ,book of ,mormon1 and hence accorded no importance #aj to the testimony of either group--the ,three or the ,eight4 ,later1 however1 the force of the testimony of the ,witnesses persisting1 and pressing for an explanation which the theory of conspiracy and collusion did not satisfy1 there began to be advanced the theory that probably ,joseph ,smith had in some way deceived the ,witnesses and thus brought them to give their testimony to the world4 ,either these ,witnesses were grossly deceived by a lying prophet1 says ,daniel ,p4 ,kidder1 who wrote an unfriendly book against the ,church in #ahdc1 or else they wickedly and wilfully perjured themselves1 by swearing to what they knew to be false4 ,the former1 he adds1 although not very creditable to their good sense1 is yet the more charitable opinion1 and is rendered probable by the fact1 that hundreds have been deceived in the same way4 ,it is confirmed1 moreover1 by the well-known mental phenomenon1 that to individuals accustomed to disregard the laws of veracity1 truth and falsehood are alike4 ,they can as easily persuade themselves of the one as of the other4 #aa ,also the ,rev4 ,henry ,caswell1 professor of divinity in ,kemper ,college1 ,missouri1 writing in #ahdc1 said3 ,he ,joseph ,smith then persuaded ,martin ,harris to believe1 that in some sense he actually beheld the wonderful plates4 ,there was a worthless fellow named ,oliver ,cowdery1 residing in the neighborhood1 a school teacher by profession1 and also a ,baptist preacher1 who1 together with one ,david ,whitmer1 was similarly persuaded by our ingenious ,prophet4 #ab ,professor ,j4 ,b4 ,turner1 of ,illinois ,college1 ,jacksonville1 ,illinois1 in his ,mormonism in ,all ,ages 7#ahdb71 takes practically the same position1 but goes a step further and undertakes to explain how the ,prophet deceived the ,witnesses1 or how he persuaded them to believe1 in some sense1 that they had actually beheld the wonderful plates4 ,in doing this the professor quotes the revelation given through the ,prophet1 in ,june1 #ahbi1 to ,oliver ,cowdery1 ,david ,whitmer1 and ,martin ,harris1 previous to their viewing the ,nephite plates4 #ac ,also the revelation to ,martin ,harris in which he is promised that he shall be a witness to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon4 #ad ,in the revelations cited the ,lord promises these men that they shall view the ,nephite record2 and directs what they shall say after they have seen and heard the things promised4 ,because some of the phraseology of these revelations is found also in the testimony of the ,three ,witnesses1 the professor rushes to the conclusion that the ,witnesses never really saw the vision1 nor heard the voice of ,god as promised1 but were persuaded to accept these revelations through ,joseph ,smith as their witness to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,in other words ,professor ,turner's theory is that the ,witnesses had no other evidence than the word of ,joseph ,smith for the existence of the plates and other sacred things connected with them6 ,and he triumphantly exclaims3 ,here1 then1 is the mighty power of ,god1 the angel1 and voice of the ,lord1 which revealed such marvels in #ahcj1 all concentrated in the person1 and pouring from the mouth of the ,lord's ,prophet in #ahbi4 99 99 99 99 ,the whole1 then1 of this mighty array of bombast1 nonsense1 and blasphemy1 resolves itself into this3 ,joe ,smith is not only 'author and proprietor' of the ,book of ,mormon1 as both he and his ,witnesses declare1 but he is also 'power of god1' 'angel1' 'voice1' 'faith1' 'eyes1' 'ears1' and 'hands' for the ,witnesses themselves2 that is1 all the evidence the world has for the ,book of ,mormon1 after all this bluster1 is ',joe ,smith's say so4' ,he says that ,god instructs him1 he instructs the ,witnesses and the ,witnesses instruct the world4 ,quod erat demonstradum6 7p4 #agi47 ,undoubtedly the ,illinois ,college of the great ,state of ,illinois was to be congratulated upon having as its chief professor1 in #ahdb1 a man of such acuteness of intelligence and profoundness of wisdom6 ,nor was ,governor ,thomas ,ford1 when1 some years later1 he wrote the history of ,illinois1 to be out-done by a mere professor of ,illinois ,college2 and therefore advanced what he had heard concerning the manner in which the testimony of the ,witnesses was obtained4 ,the ,governor's peculiar relation to ,mormonism1 no less than his exalted political station in ,illinois1 as also the fact that he is one of the principal historians of that very great state of the ,american ,union1 justifies me in setting down what he has said upon the subject in hand3 ,it is related that the ,prophet's early followers were anxious to see the plates2 the ,prophet had always given out that they could not be seen by the carnal eye1 but must be spiritually discerned2 that the power to see them depended upon faith1 and was the gift of ,god to be obtained by fasting1 prayer1 mortification of the flesh1 and exercise of the spirit2 that so soon as he could see the evidence of a strong and lively faith in any of his followers1 they should be gratified in their holy curiosity4 ,he set them to continual prayer1 and other spiritual exercises1 to acquire this lively faith by means of which the hidden things of ,god could be spiritually discerned2 and at last1 when he could delay them no longer1 he assembled them in a room1 and produced a box1 which he said contained the precious treasure4 ,the lid was opened2 the ,witnesses peeped into it1 but making no discovery1 for the box was empty1 they said1 ,brother ,joseph1 we do not see the plates4 ,the ,prophet answered them1 ,o ye of little faith6 ,how long will ,god bear with this wicked and perverse generation8 ,down on your knees1 brethren1 every one of you1 and pray ,god for the forgiveness of your sins2 and for a holy and living faith which cometh down from heaven4 ,the disciples dropped to their knees1 and began to pray in the fervency of their spirit1 supplicating ,god for more than two hours with fanatical earnestness2 at the end of which time1 looking again into the box1 they were now persuaded that they saw the plates4 ,the governor then very sagely remarks1 with a modesty so worthy to keep company with the exalted intelligence that could stoop to detail such mere drivel as above3 ,i leave it to philosophers to determine whether the fumes of an enthusiastic and fanatical imagination are thus capable of binding the mind and deceiving the senses by so absurd a delusion4 #ae ,inadequate as these theories are to account for the testimony of the ,three ,witnesses1 and contemptible as they are for their childishness1 they do not fail of more modern advocates4 ,in #ahii a work published by the ,appletons1 which1 while it was a work of fiction1 was nevertheless an earnest effort to account for ,joseph ,smith on some other basis than that of his being a conscious fraud1 wickedly bent on deceiving mankind1 adopted the theory that ,smith was genuinely deluded by the automatic freaks of a vigorous but undisciplined brain1 and that yielding to these he became confirmed in the hysterical temperament1 which always adds to delusion1 self-deception1 and to self-deception half-conscious fraud4 ,in his day it was necessary to reject a marvel or admit its spiritual significance2 granting an honest delusion as to his visions and his book1 his only choice lay between counting himself the sport of devils or the agent of heaven2 an optimistic temperament cast the die4 #af ,it remained1 however1 for the year of grace #aijb to witness the setting forth of these theories under the learned formulas of a scientific treatise1 in which the testimony of the ,witnesses received special consideration4 ,mr4 ,i4 ,woodbridge ,riley1 the author of the work referred to1 after quoting the account of the exhibition of the plates by the angel to the ,three ,witnesses1 as related in the ,history of ,joseph ,smith1 #ag regards the duty before him to be to find to what degree the manifestations are explicable on the grounds of subjective hallucination1 induced by hypnotic suggestion4 #ah ,mr4 ,riley proceeds to show that the ,prophet possessed magnetic power1 and that the ,witnesses were sensitive subjects1 and then says3 ,given1 then1 such an influence1 and sensitive subjects1 and mental suggestion could produce anything in the way of illusion4 ,thus the explanation is subjective1 not objective2 it was captivation but not fascination2 there was leader and led1 and the former succeeded in inducing in the latter all the phantasmagoria of religious ardor4 99 99 99 99 ,again1 the vision of the plates may be related in a larger way with what has gone before4 ,of the three classes of hallucinations1 two have already been explicated4 ,joseph's father had the ordinary hallucination of dream2 his grandfather that which persists into the waking state4 ,the vision of the ,three ,witnesses is that form of hallucination which may occur either in the normal state1 or be induced in the state of light hypnosis4 ,the former is exemplified in day dreams2 it is largely self-induced and implies some capacity or visualizing4 ,the latter may also occur with the eyes open1 but it is induced by the positive suggestion of another4 99 99 99 99 99 ,as the hypnotized soldier will hear the voice of his old commander1 or the devout ,french peasant see his patron ,saint1 so was it in these manifestations4 ,the ideas and interest which were uppermost in the mind were projected outwards4 ,harris had received the first transcription of the gold plates2 ,whitmer had been saturated with notions of ancient engravings2 ,cowdery1 for weeks at a time1 had listened to the sound of a voice translating the record of the ,nephites4 ,when the voice was again heard in the grove1 when the four sought by fervent and humble prayer to have a view of the plates1 there is little wonder that there arose a psychic mirage1 complete in every detail4 ,furthermore1 the rotation in prayer1 the failure of the first two attempts1 the repeated workings of the ,prophet over the doubting ,harris1 but served to bring out the additional incentives to the hypnotic hallucination4 #ai ,thus ,rational ,criticism would explain away the testimony given by the ,three ,witnesses4 ,the vision of the plates1 of the angel1 the glory of ,god that shone about the ,witnesses1 the voice of ,god from the midst of the glory--all was illusion1 hallucination produced by mental suggestion1 on the part of the ,prophet4 ,all was chimerical1 a mental mirage6 ,but what of the testimony of the ,eight ,witnesses--all so plain1 matter-of-fact1 straight-forward and real8 ,how shall that be accounted for8 ,here all the miraculous is absent4 ,it is a man to man transaction4 ,neither superstition1 nor expectation of the supernatural can play any part in working up an illusion or mental mirage respecting what the ,eight ,witnesses saw and handled4 ,their testimony must be accounted for on some other hypothesis than that of hallucination4 ,and indeed it is4 ,some regard it as a mere fabrication of interested parties to the general scheme of deception4 ,this1 however1 is an arbitrary proceeding1 not warranted by a just treatment of the facts involved4 ,others1 impressed with the evident honesty of the ,witnesses1 or not being able to account for the matter in any other way1 admit that ,joseph ,smith must have had plates which he exhibited to the ,eight ,witnesses1 but deceived them as to the manner in which he came in possession of them4 ,of the latter class is ,pomeroy ,tucker1 whose home during the coming forth of the ,book of ,mormon was at ,palmyra1 where the book was printed1 and who claims a personal acquaintance with the ,prophet and all his associates in the work at ,palmyra4 ,he refers to the fact of metallic plates covered with hieroglyphics having been discovered in various parts of the country1 making special mention of some found in ,mexico by ,professor ,rafinesque1 and mentioned by the ,professor in his ,asiatic ,journal for #ahcb2 and some others found in ,pike ,county1 ,illinois1 a cleansing of which by sulphuric acid brought out the characters engraven upon them very distinctly4 ,mr4 ,tucker then says3 ,smith may have obtained through ,rigdon 7the literary genius behind the screen7 one of these glyphs1 which resemble so nearly his description of the book he pretended to find on ,mormon ,hill ,cumorah4 ,for the credit of human character1 it is better at any rate to presume this1 and that the eleven ignorant ,witnesses were deceived1 by appearances1 than to conclude that they wilfully committed such gross moral perjury before high heaven as their solemn averments imply4 #bj ,rev4 ,william ,harris1 writing in #ahda1 while not admitting the honesty of the ,witnesses himself1 suggests1 nevertheless1 the possibility of ,joseph ,smith deceiving the ,eight ,witnesses by presenting to them plates of his own manufacture3 ,now1 even admitting1 for the sake of argument1 that these ,witnesses are all honest and credible men1 yet what would be easier than for ,smith to deceive them8 ,could he not easily procure plates to be made1 and inscribe thereon a set of characters1 no matter what1 and then exhibit them to his intended ,witnesses as genuine8 ,what would be easier than thus to impose on their credulity and weakness8 ,and if it were necessary to give them the appearance of antiquity1 a chemical process could easily effect the matter4 #ba ,so ,daniel ,p4 ,kidder1 writing in #ahdb1 says1 in commenting on the testimony of the ,witnesses3 ,that these men may have seen plates is very possible4 99 99 99 99 99 ,that ,smith showed them plates1 which to ignorant men had the appearance of gold1 is easy enough to be believed2 and if he had manufactured the same1 it would have been no great stretch of ingenuity4 #bb ,professor ,j4,b4 ,turner1 writing in #ahdb1 adopts the same theory with reference to the testimony of the ,eight ,witnesses3 ,we are not only willing1 but anxious to admit that ,smith did show some plates of some sort2 and that they the ,eight ,witnesses actually testify to the truth1 so far as they are capable of knowing it4 #bc ,so ,john ,hyde1 #bd #aheg3 ,every careful reader must be compelled to admit that ,smith did have some plates of some kind4 ,smith's antecedents and subsequents1 show that he did not have genius sufficient to originate the whole conception1 without some palpable suggestion4 ,the having chanced to have found some plates in a mound1 as ,wiley found his1 or as ,chase discovered ,smith's ,peepstone1 would be just such an event as would suggest every peculiar statement ,smith made about his plates1 at the same time account for what is known2 and1 therefore1 it is more than reasonable to conclude that ,smith found his plates while digging gold4 ,this entirely destroys all the shadow of argument so laboriously compiled by the ,mormon apologists1 which1 even without this1 although their strongest argument1 only proves that he had some plates1 but at the same time has no force of proof as to ,smith's obtaining them from an angel4 #be ,professor ,riley1 with some other anti-,mormon writers1 suggests the possibility of collective hypnotization in the case of the ,eight as well as in that of the ,three ,witnesses3 and hypnotization produced both visual and sense illusion2 but it is only a suggestion4 ,while maintaining1 with the utmost confidence the mental mirage theory1 induced by hypnotic suggestion1 as an adequate accounting for the testimony of the ,three ,witnesses1 he can only suggest it as a possible solution of the testimony of the ,eight ,witnesses1 and inclines rather to the theory of pure fabrication4 ,it is a document1 he remarks1 due to the affidavit habit4 #bf ,as for the rest of the anti-,mormon critics on this point1 they adopt the pure fabrication theory1 or admit that the ,prophet ,joseph had in his possession some kind of plates which he either manufactured or accidentally discovered in his alleged searching after hidden treasures for some of his employers1 and which he really exhibited to the ,eight ,witnesses4 ,but why have the pure fabrication theory to account for the testimony of the ,eight ,witnesses1 and the mental hallucination theory to account for the testimony of the ,three8 ,if the testimony of the ,eight is pure fabrication is not the testimony of the ,three pure fabrication also8 ,or1 at least1 is it not most likely to be so8 ,for if conscious fraud1 and pure fabrication lurks anywhere in ,joseph ,smith's and the ,eleven ,witnesses' account of the coming forth of the ,book of ,mormon1 would it not exist throughout the whole proceeding8 ,professor ,turner1 already twice quoted1 in admitting that the ,prophet had in his possession some sort of plates1 which he showed the ,eight ,witnesses1 says that he is anxious to make the admission in order to keep up the just and charitable equilibrium between the knaves and fools in ',mormonism' and the world at large4 ,three to ,eight is at once a happy and reasonable proportion4 ,we will not disturb it4 ,it is gratifying to human philanthropy to be able to account for all the facts in the case by this charitable solution4 ,this sarcasm1 however1 is not a solution2 nor is it refutation of the testimony of the ,witnesses2 nor is it argument2 nor anything but the fuming of a small mind2 yet it is the only reason ,i have ever heard advanced for adopting the hallucination theory in the case of the ,three ,witnesses1 and either the pure fabrication or deception theory in the case of the ,eight ,witnesses4 ,the testimony of the ,three and the ,eight ,witnesses1 respectively1 stands or falls together4 ,if the pure fabrication theory is adopted to explain away the testimony of the ,eight ,witnesses1 there is no reason why it should not be adopted to explain away the testimony of the ,three4 ,but every circumstance connected with the testimony of all these ,witnesses1 as we have seen1 cries out against the theory of pure fabrication4 ,it is in recognition of the evident honesty of the ,three ,witnesses that the theory of mental hallucination is invented to account for their testimony2 as it is also the evident honesty of the ,eight ,witnesses that leads to the admission by many anti-,mormon writers that ,joseph ,smith must have had some kind of plates which he exhibited to the ,eight ,witnesses1 though he may not have obtained them through supernatural means4 ,the theory of pure fabrication of the testimony of the ,witnesses is absolutely overwhelmed by the evidence of their honesty4 ,the hallucination theory breaks down under the force of the matter-of-fact testimony of the ,eight ,witnesses1 from which all possible elements of hallucination are absent4 ,the manifestation of the divine power1 through which the ,three ,witnesses received their testimony1 destroys the theory of deception alleged to have been practiced by the ,prophet on the credulity of the ,eight ,witnesses by exhibiting plates either manufactured by himself or accidentally discovered4 ,such1 then1 is the force of this direct testimony of the ,eleven ,witnesses to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon--the testimony of the ,three and the ,eight when considered together4 ,it is so palpably true that it cannot be resolved into illusion or mistake4 ,it is so evidently honest that it cannot be resolved into pure fabrication4 ,it is of such a nature that it could not possibly have been the result of deception wrought by the cunning of ,joseph ,smith4 ,there remains after these but one other theory3 ,the ,witnesses were honest4 ,they saw and heard and handled what they say they saw1 and heard1 and handled4 ,their testimony stands not only unimpeached1 but unimpeachable4 ,footnotes #a4 ,renan1 ,the ,apostles1 p4 #fg and note #df4 #b4 ,renan1 ,life of ,jesus1 introduction1 p4 #ad2 also ,new ,witnesses1 vol4 ,i1 chapter #a4 #c4 ,renan1 ,the ,apostles1 p4 #cg4 #d4 ,the ,nineteenth ,century1 ,march1 #ahhi4 #e4 ,the ,nineteenth ,century1 ,june1 #ahhi4 ,professor ,huxley's papers quoted here will also be found in ,agnosticism and ,christianity1 pp4 #hd1 et seq4 and #if et seq4 #f4 ,renan closes his treatise upon this subject as follows3 ,the glory of the resurrection1 then1 belongs to ,mary of ,magdala4 ,after ,jesus it is ,mary who had done most of the foundation of ,christianity4 ,the shadow created by the delicate sensibility of ,magdalene wanders still on the earth4 ,queen and patroness of idealists1 ,magdalene knew better than any one how to assert her dream1 and impose on every one the vision of her passionate soul4 ,her great womanly vision3 ',he has risen1' has been the basis of the faith of humanity4 ,away1 impotent reason6 ,apply no cold analysis to this chef d'oeuvre of idealism and of love4 ,if wisdom refuses to console this poor human race1 betrayed by fate1 let folly attempt the enterprise4 ,where is the sage who has given to the world as much joy as the possessed ,mary of ,magdala8--,the ,apostles1 p4 #fa4 #g4 ,renan4 ,he thus tells the story of the appearing of ,jesus to the five hundred brethren at once3 ,more than five hundred persons were already devoted to the memory of ,jesus4 ,in the absence of the lost ,master1 they obeyed the chief of the disciples1 and above all1 ,peter4 ,one day when following their spiritual chiefs1 the ,galileans had climbed one of the mountains to which ,jesus had often led them1 they fancied they saw him again4 ,the air on these mountain tops is full of strange mirages4 ,the same illusion which had previously taken place in behalf of the more intimate of the apostles he refers to the transfiguration1 ,matt4 #ag was produced again4 ,the whole assembly imagined that they saw the divine spectre displayed in the clouds2 they fell upon their faces and worshiped4 ,the ,apostles1 p4 #gf4 #h4 ,renan4 ,this is his rational 767 conception of the event3 ,one day when they were assembled together a thunder storm arose4 ,a violent wind burst the windows open--the sky seemed on fire4 ,thunder storms in those countries are accompanied by wonderful illuminations2 the atmosphere is furrowed1 as it were1 on every side with garbs of flame4 ,whether the electric fluid had penetrated into the very chamber itself or whether a dazzling flash of lightning had suddenly illuminated all their faces1 they were convinced that the spirit had entered1 and that he was poured out upon the head of each one of them under the form of tongues of fire4 ,the ,apostles1 p4 #ie4 #i4 ,renan1 ,the ,apostles1 p4 #ih et seq4 #aj4 ,thus ,alexander ,campbell in ,millennial ,harbinger1 vol4 ,,ii1 7#ahca7 pp4 #hf-if4 ,also ,howe's ,mormonism 7#ahcd74 ,he thinks the ,witnesses incompetent1 ,nor will any one disagree with us1 when we shall have proven that the ,book of ,mormon was a joint speculation between the ',author and ,proprietor4' ,joseph ,smith is alluded to and the ,witnesses1 ch4 #g4 #aa4 ,mormonism and the ,mormons1 by ,daniel ,p4 ,kidder1 pp4 #ed1 #ee4 #ab4 ,prophet of the ,nineteenth ,century1 p4 #df4 #ac4 ,doc4 and ,cov4 sec4 #ag4 #ad4 ,doc4 and ,cov4 #e3bd-bf4 #ae4 ,hist4 ,illinois1 7,ford7 pp4 #beg-h4 #af4 ,the ,mormon ,prophet1 by ,lily ,dougall1 preface1 p4 #g4 #ag4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 pp4 #ed1 #ee4 #ah4 ,the ,founder of ,mormonism4 ,a ,psychological ,study of ,joseph ,smith1 ,jr41 by ,i4 ,woodbridge ,riley1 one time instructor in ,english1 ,new ,york ,university1 7,dodd1 ,mead ,company1 ,new ,york1 #aijb74 ,it cannot be denied that ,mr4 ,riley's book is an ingenious work1 and bears evidence of wide erudition1 and an intimate knowledge of the subject4 ,mr4 ,riley's treatise1 a book of #dbf pages1 was offered to the ,philosophical ,faculty of ,yale ,university as a thesis for the degree of ,doctor of ,philosophy4 ,his materials were also used in #ahih for a ,master of ,art thesis on the ,metaphysics of ,mormonism4 ,the book has an introductory1 preface1 by ,professor ,george ,trumbull ,ladd1 of ,yale ,university1 commending the work by laudatory praise of it4 ,the author himself explains that his aim is to examine ,joseph ,smith's character and achievements from the standpoint of recent psychology4 ,he makes a careful pathological study of the ancestors of the ,prophet1 and reaches the conclusion that ,joseph ,smith's abnormal experiences 7meaning his visions1 revelations and visitations of angels7 are the result of epilepsy4 ,this is his working hypothesis in accounting for ,joseph ,smith1 supplemented by what he considers is the ,prophet's unconscious liability to self-hypnosis1 and his hypnotic power over others sufficient to make them partakers in his own vivid hallucinations4 ,the hypothesis is an adroitly conceived one1 and worked out on lines of sophistry that by many will be mistaken for sound reasoning4 ,the whole theory is overthrown1 however1 by the work the ,prophet achieved1 the institution he founded1 the ,church1 the religion he established1 the philosophy he planted2 all of which to madness would be impossible2 besides1 as remarked by ,m4 ,renan1 ,hitherto it has never been given to aberration of mind to produce a serious effect upon the progress of humanity4 ,life of ,jesus1 p4 #aje4 ,an extended review of ,mr4 ,riley's book will be found in the author's work1 ,defense of the ,faith and the ,saints1 pp4 #ci-fa4 #ai4 ,the ,founder of ,mormonism1 by ,i4 ,woodbridge ,riley1 pp4 #bbf1 #bbg1 #bbh4 #bj4 ,origin1 ,rise1 and ,progress of ,mormonism1 by ,pomeroy ,tucker1 p4 #ge4 #ba4 ,mormonism ,portrayed1 by ,rev4 ,william ,harris1 pp4 #daj4 #bb4 ,mormonism1 ,kidder1 pp4 #eb1 #ec4 #bc4 ,mormonism in all ,ages1 ,turner1 p4 #agh4 #bd4 ,mormonism1 ,its ,leaders and ,designs1 by ,john ,hyde1 ,jr41 pp4 #bfi1 #bgj4 #be4 ,mormonism1 ,its ,leaders and ,designs1 by ,john ,hyde1 ,jr41 pp4 #bfi1 #bgj4 #bf4 ,the ,founder of ,mormonism1 pp4 #bbh-bca4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,the ,,testimony ,,of ,,incidental ,,witnesses4 ,in addition to the testimony of the ,three ,witnesses and the testimony of the ,eight ,witnesses to the fact that ,joseph ,smith was in possession of the ,nephite plates1 the ,urim and ,thummim and the breast plate1 ,i present also the testimony of persons who may be said to have become acquainted with these facts in an incidental way4 ,when the strong sympathy and mutual confidence subsisting between the ,prophet and his mother1 ,lucy ,smith1 is taken into account1 it would be more than passing strange if she did not in some substantial way have personal knowledge of her son being in possession of the ,nephite plates1 and the things found with them4 ,that she had this knowledge appears in the sequel4 ,in #ahde1 while residing at ,nauvoo ,mother ,smith1 as she was affectionately called by the ,saints1 dictated her memoirs to ,mrs4 ,martha ,jane ,knowlton ,coray1 which are now published under the title ,history of the ,prophet ,joseph1 by his ,mother1 ,lucy ,smith4 #a ,in her account of her son's movements on the night of the #bast1 and the morning of the #bbnd of ,september1 #ahbg--the day ,joseph ,smith obtained possession of the ,nephite record--,lucy ,smith states that in consequence of having visitors at their home--these visitors were ,mr4 ,joseph ,knight and ,mr4 ,josiah ,stoal--she was detained until past midnight of the #bast1 in her domestic duties2 that while so engaged ,joseph came to her and asked if she had a chest with a lock and key4 ,she surmised instantly for what use he wanted it1 for evidently the family knew the appointed time had come to secure the plates4 ,a few minutes after this ,emma ,smith1 the ,prophet's wife1 passed through the room1 dressed for riding1 and a few minutes later she and ,joseph departed with the horse and wagon of one of their guests1 ,mr4 ,joseph ,knight4 ,the family was astir early in the morning and ,mr4 ,knight was somewhat exercised on finding his horse gone1 and ,mother ,smith did not feel at liberty to say who had taken him4 ,meantime the ,prophet ,joseph returned with the horse and wagon4 ,and now the statement of the ,prophet's mother3 ,i trembled so with fear1 lest all might be lost in consequence of some failure in keeping the commandments of ,god1 that ,i was under the necessity of leaving the room in order to conceal my feelings4 ,joseph saw this1 and said1 ,do not be uneasy1 mother1 all is right--see here ,i have got a key4 ,i knew not what he meant1 but took the article of which he spoke into my hands1 and examined it4 ,he took it again and left me1 but said nothing respecting the record4 99 99 99 99 ,that of which ,i spoke1 which ,joseph termed a key1 was indeed1 nothing more nor less than the ,urim and ,thummim1 and it was by this that the angel showed him many things which he saw in vision2 by which also he could ascertain1 at any time1 the approach of danger1 either to himself or the record1 and on account of which he always kept the ,urim and ,thummim about his person4 #b ,after relating the particulars about the ,prophet bringing home the plates and securing them1 she makes the following statement3 ,soon after this1 he came in from work1 one afternoon1 and after remaining a short time1 he put on his great coat1 and left the house4 ,i was engaged at the time1 in an upper room1 in preparing some oilcloths for painting4 #c ,when he returned1 he requested me to come down stairs4 ,i told him that ,i could not leave my work just then2 yet1 upon his urgent request1 ,i finally concluded to go down and see what he wanted1 upon which he handed me the breast plate spoken of in his history4 ,it was wrapped in a thin muslin handkerchief1 so thin that ,i could feel its proportions without any difficulty4 ,it was concave on one side and convex on the other1 and extended from the neck downwards1 so far as the center of the stomach of a man of extraordinary size4 ,it had four straps of the same material1 for the purpose of fastening it to the breast1 two of which ran back to go over the shoulders1 and the other two were designed to fasten to the hips4 ,they were just the width of two of my fingers1 7for ,i measured them71 and they had holes in the end of them1 to be convenient in fastening4 ,after ,i had examined it1 ,joseph placed it in the chest with the ,urim and ,thummim4 #d ,i next call attention to a statement made by ,parley ,p4 ,pratt concerning an item of experience when performing a brief mission among some branches of the ,church in western ,new ,york1 in company with the ,prophet ,joseph4 ,he says3 ,arriving in ,geneseo1 we met with the other elders who had started from ,kirtland on the same mission1 and with others who were local1 and held a general conference4 ,among those whose hospitality we shared in that vicinity 7,geneseo7 was old ,father ,beaman and his amiable1 interesting family4 ,he was a good singer1 and so were his three daughters2 we were much edified and comforted in their society1 and were deeply interested in hearing the old gentleman and ,brother ,joseph converse on their early acquaintance and history4 ,he ,beaman had been intimate with ,joseph before the first organization of the ,church2 and assisted him in preserving the plates of the ,book of ,mormon from the enemy1 and had at one time had them concealed under his own hearth4 #e ,in consequence of the worldly circumstances of his father1 the ,prophet was under the necessity1 at times1 of finding employment away from home4 ,in the month of ,october1 #ahbe1 he hired with an old gentleman by the name of ,josiah ,stoal1 who lived in ,chenango county1 in the state of ,new ,york1 and was put to work1 with other hands1 by the old gentleman1 to search for a silver mine which the traditions of the neighborhood said had been opened by the ,spaniards near ,harmony1 ,susquehanna county1 state of ,pennsylvania4 ,it was here that the ,prophet made the acquaintance of the ,knights1 who were well-to-do-farmers and millers in that neighborhood4 ,it appears from all the circumstances that the ,prophet took ,josiah ,stoal and ,joseph ,knight into his confidence1 #f as to the time when he was to receive the plates of the ,book of ,mormon1 and hence their presence at the ,smith residence on the morning of the #bbnd of ,september1 #ahbg4 ,messrs4 ,knight and ,stoal had business at ,rochester1 ,new ,york1 and in leaving their home in ,chenango county1 so timed their journey that they arrived at the ,smith residence on the #bjth of ,september and remained there for a number of days2 #g and were not only present when ,joseph ,smith obtained the records1 but were there when he brought them to the house a day or two later4 ,and now the testimony of ,mr4 ,stoal4 ,under date of ,december #ai1 #ahdc1 a ,mrs4 ,martha ,l4 ,campbell1 writing to the ,prophet ,joseph ,smith1 at the request of ,mr4 ,stoal1 and for him1 says3 ,brother ,smith3-- ,by request of ,brother ,stoal ,i now sit down to write you4 ,he is quite unwell1 and is sometimes fearful that he cannot stand it through the winter1 and wishes me to say to you that he wants your prayers and the prayers of all the ,saints for the recovery of his health to enable him to gather among the ,saints2 and he also wishes to know if you could receive him as a brother4 ,he says he shall come out to ,nauvoo next spring if he lives and has health to endure the journey4 ,he says if he remains as well as at present he shall venture to start4 ,he says he has never staggered at the foundation of the work1 for he knew too much concerning it4 ,if ,i understood him right he was the first person that took the plates out of your hands the morning you brought them in1 and he observed1 ,blessed is he that sees and believeth1 and more blessed is he that believeth without seeing1 and he says he has seen and believeth4 ,he seems anxious to get there to ,nauvoo to renew his covenants with the ,lord4 #h ,the whole letter is of interest1 but this is the only part bearing upon the ,book of ,mormon1 and is referred to as testimony for this reason3 ,it is a wholly undesigned incident in connection with the coming forth of the work1 and is one which occurs under circumstances that render it of first rate importance as testimony4 ,it is a fact directly stated in the history of ,mother ,lucy ,smith that ,josiah ,stoal and ,joseph ,knight were guests at the homestead of the ,smiths from the #bjth to the #bdth1 or #beth of ,september1 #ahbg2 and now a letter written on ,december #ai1 #ahdc1 sixteen years later1 without any design whatever of corroborating the fact of ,lucy ,smith's statement1 also says that ,josiah ,stoal was at the ,smith residence1 and that he received the plates from the hands of the ,prophet1 on the occasion of his bringing them home1 remarking at the time1 ,blessed is he that seeth and believeth1 and more blessed is he that believeth without seeing4 ,so there can be no question but what ,josiah ,stoal had the most palpable evidence that ,joseph ,smith had the ,nephite record2 and sixteen years afterwards1 though he had neglected his privileges as a member of the ,church1 and had not followed her fortunes1 yet he reaffirms his faith in the work which the ,book of ,mormon may be said to have inaugurated1 and declares that he has never staggered at the foundation of the work1 for he knew too much concerning it4 ,that is1 he had too strong evidence of the reality of those facts in which the work had its origin to doubt their truth4 ,i have laid much stress1 but not without good reason1 upon the direct testimony of the ,three ,witnesses and the ,eight ,witnesses to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon2 and1 of course1 their testimony must forever stand as of first importance in the direct external evidences of the book1 but ,i confess also that this incidental testimony appeals strongly to me1 and when ,i think how in harmony it all is with the circumstances surrounding the coming forth of the ,book of ,mormon1 to my mind it wonderfully strengthens the direct statements of the other ,witnesses4 ,footnotes #a4 ,see ,improvement ,era1 vol4 ,v4 ,mother ,smith's ,memoirs were first published by ,orson ,pratt in ,liverpool1 ,england1 in #ahec1 under the title ,biographical ,sketches of ,joseph ,smith1 the ,prophet1 and ,his ,progenitors for ,many ,generations4 ,as ,mother ,smith dictated chiefly from memory1 there were some inaccuracies in her work1 as first published by ,elder ,orson ,pratt4 ,afterwards the work was corrected by a committee of which the late ,george ,a4 ,smith1 ,church ,historian1 was chairman4 ,it is this revised copy from which the ,era edition was published in #aijb1 and which is cited in these notes4 #b4 ,history of the ,prophet ,joseph1 by ,lucy ,smith1 ch4 #bc4 #c4 ,lucy ,smith followed the business of hand painting oilcloth covers for tables1 stands1 etc41 see her ,history of the ,prophet ,joseph1 ch4 #ag4 #d4 ,history of the ,prophet ,joseph1 by ,lucy ,smith1 ch4 #bd4 #e4 ,autobiography of ,parley ,p4 ,pratt1 p4 #aag4 #f4 ,the fact that the ,prophet took these two men into his confidence is supported by the testimony of ,mr4 ,john ,reid1 ,esq41 in a speech before the state convention held in ,nauvoo1 at which ,joseph ,smith was nominated to be president of the ,united ,states4 ,mr4 ,reid had known the ,prophet in an early day when he was working for ,mr4 ,stoal in ,chenango county1 and thus speaks of him3 ,after living in that neighborhood about three years1 enjoying the good feelings of his acquaintances1 as a worthy youth1 he told his particular friends that he had had a revelation from ,god to go to the west about eighty miles1 to his father's1 in which neighborhood he would find hid in the earth an old history written on golden plates1 which would give great light and knowledge concerning the destiny of all nations1 kindreds1 and tongues2 he said that he distinctly heard the voice of him that spoke4 ,joseph ,knight1 one of the fathers of your church1 a worthy man and my intimate friend1 went with him4 99 99 99 ,in a few days his friends returned with the glad news that ,joseph had found the plates and had gone down to his father-in-law's for the purpose of translating them4 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #id4 #g4 ,history of the ,prophet ,joseph1 by ,lucy ,smith1 ch4 #bc4 #h4 ,the original of ,mrs4 ,campbell's letter is on file at the ,church ,historian's ,office1 package #d4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,the ,,probability ,,of ,,joseph ,,smith',s ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,origin1 ,,translation ,,and ,,final ,,disposition ,,of ,,the ,,plates ,,of ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,mormon4 ,i4 ,the ,ministration of ,angels is ,neither ,unscriptural nor ,unreasonable4 ,by the probability of ,joseph ,smith's story1 ,i mean1 of course1 the probability of ,moroni revealing the existence of the ,book of ,mormon to him2 of ,moroni's delivering to him the plates and the ,urim and ,thummim2 of the ,prophet's translating the record by the gift and power of ,god1 by means of the ,urim and ,thummim2 of his returning the plates to ,moroni1 who to this day1 doubtless1 has them under his guardianship4 ,i am aware of the fact that the miraculous is usually regarded with suspicion2 that such a thing as the ministration of angels in what are called these hard and scientific times is generally scouted by most of those who make any pretensions to science2 that a school of writers has arisen whose main slogan in the search of truth is that the miraculous is the impossible1 and that all narratives which include the miraculous are to be rigidly rejected1 as implying credulity or imposture2 #a that even professed believers in the ,bible1 who accept as historically true the ,bible account of the ministration of angels1 insists that the age in which such things occurred has long since passed away1 and that such ministrations are not to be expected now4 ,but on this subject the word of ,god stands sure4 ,according to that word there have been ministrations of angels in times past2 and there will be such ministrations to the last day of recorded time4 ,as to the ministration of angels in the past1 according to holy scripture1 the reader will remember the circumstance of angels1 together with the ,lord1 visiting ,abraham at his tent-home in the plains of ,mamre1 and partaking of his hospitality2 of the appearance of angels to direct the flight of ,lot from one of the doomed cities of the plain2 of ,jacob's physical contact with the angel with whom he wrestled until the breaking of the day2 of the angel who went before the camp of ,israel in their march from bondage2 and scores of other instances recorded in the ,old ,testament where heavenly personages co-operated with men on earth to bring to pass the holy purposes of ,god4 ,of instances in the ,new ,testament1 the reader will recall the ministration of the angel ,gabriel to ,zacharias1 announcing the future birth of ,john the ,baptist2 of the angel who appeared to ,mary to make known the high honor bestowed upon her in becoming the mother of our ,lord ,jesus2 of the appearance of ,moses and ,elias to the ,savior and three of his disciples1 to whom they ministered2 of the angel who rolled away the stone from the mouth of the sepulchre1 and announced the resurrection of the ,savior2 of the men in white 7angels71 who were present at the ascension of ,jesus from the midst of his disciples1 and announced the fact that the time would come when that same ,jesus should come again to the earth in like manner as they had seen him go into heaven2 of the angel who delivered ,peter from prison1 and a dozen other instances where angels co-operated with men in bringing to pass the purposes of ,god in the dispensation of the meridian of time4 ,with reference to the angels who in ages future from that in which the apostles lived ministering to men and co-operating to bring to pass future purposes of ,god1 the reader will recall the saying of the ,savior concerning the gathering together of the elect in the hour of ,god's judgment3 ,and he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet1 and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds1 from one end of heaven to the other4 #b ,he will recall1 also1 the promise in ,malachi concerning the same times3 ,behold1 ,i will send you ,elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the ,lord3 and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children1 and the heart of the children to their fathers1 lest ,i come and smite the earth with a curse4 #c ,he will recollect the promised coming of the angel to restore the gospel in the hour of ,god's judgment1 concerning whom ,john says3 ,and ,i saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven1 having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth1 and to every nation1 and kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 saying with a loud voice1 ,fear ,god1 and give glory to him3 for the hour of his judgment is come3 and worship him that made heaven1 and earth1 and the sea1 and the fountains of water4 #d ,also the angel who will declare the fall of ,babylon3 ,and there followed another angel1 saying1 ,babylon is fallen1 is fallen1 that great city1 because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication4 ,and the third angel followed them1 saying with a loud voice1 if any man worship the beast and his image1 and receive his mark in his forehead1 or in his hand1 the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of ,god4 #e ,and after these things ,i saw another angel come down from heaven1 having great power2 and the earth was lighted with his glory4 ,and he cried mightily with a strong voice1 saying1 ,babylon the great is fallen1 is fallen1 and is become the habitation of devils1 and the hold of every foul spirit4 #f ,the reader of the scriptures1 ,i say1 will readily recall all these ministrations of angels1 future from the time in which the sacred writer recorded them1 as also the promise of the ministration of many other angels1 in bringing to pass the great things of ,god in the last days1 even to the gathering together in one all things in ,christ4 #g ,it cannot be held to be unscriptural1 then1 when ,joseph ,smith claimed that by the ministration of angels he received a revelation from ,god--a dispensation of the gospel4 ,but what shall we say to that very large number of people who do not believe the ,bible8 ,how shall we so appeal to them as to secure their attention in these matters8 ,addressing himself to those who questioned at least the likelihood of the resurrection1 ,paul asked3 ,why should it be thought a thing incredible with you1 that ,god should raise the dead8 ,so say ,i respecting those who do not believe in the ,bible1 but pride themselves on accepting and believing all those things established by the researches of men--by science4--,why should it be thought a thing incredible by them that angels should visit our earth in order to communicate knowledge not otherwise1 perhaps1 obtainable8 ,our scientists live in the midst of ascertained facts respecting the universe1 so that interplanetary communication ought to be looked upon as a thing so rational that to doubt its probability would be esteemed as folly8 ,a word as to this proposition3 ,of the change of view respecting our own earth and its relations in the universe1 ,i have already spoken #h in some detail4 ,i have considered the transition from the conception of the earth as the center of the universe1 with the sun1 the moon and all the stars brought into existence for its convenience1 or beauty1 or glory1 to the conception of the earth as one of the smaller planets of a group moving regularly about the sun as their center1 and the probability of each fixed star being the center of such a group of planets4 ,the ascertained existence of millions of other suns than ours1 evidently the centers of planetary systems1 being granted1 the view that these planets are the habitation of sentient beings seems a concomitant fact so probable that one is astonished1 if not a little provoked1 at that conservatism which hesitates to accept a hypothesis so reasonable in itself1 and so well sustained by the analogy of the existence of sentient beings on our own planet4 ,the astronomers tell us some of these fixed stars--these suns that are probably the centers of planetary systems--have existed for hundreds of thousands of years1 for so distant are they from us in space that it would require that period of time for their light to reach our earth1 hence they must have existed all that time4 ,it is evident1 then1 that some of them may be many times older than our sun2 so1 too1 are the planets that encircle them4 ,from this conclusion to the one that the sentient beings that doubtless dwell upon these planets are far in advance of the inhabitants of our earth1 intellectually1 morally1 spiritually and in everything that makes for higher development1 and more perfect civilization1 is but a little step1 and rests on strong probability4 ,from these conclusions1 again1 to the conceived likelihood of the presiding ,intelligences on some of these worlds to which our earth may sustain peculiar relations of order or affinity--having both the power and the inclination to communicate from time to time by personal messengers1 or other means1 to chosen men of our own race--is another step1 not so large as the others1 by which we have been led to this point1 and one that rests also upon a basis of strong probability4 ,and this is the phenomena of the visitation of angels and revelation testified of in the scriptures4 ,such phenomena are mistakenly considered supernatural4 ,they are not so really4 ,they are very matter of fact realities2 perfectly natural1 and in harmony with the intellectual order or economy of a universe where intelligence and goodness govern1 and love unites the brotherhood of the universe in bonds of sympathetic interest and kinship4 ,in view of these reflections1 why1 ,i ask1 should it be thought a thing incredible with scientific men that there should be such phenomena as the visitation of angels1 or other means of interplanetary communication among the many planets and planetary systems which make up the universe8 ,surely it will not be argued that it is impossible for sentient beings to pass from world to world1 because man in his present state is bound to earth by the force of gravitation1 and that the same force would doubtless operate upon the inhabitants of other worlds1 and bind them to their local habitation as we are bound to ours4 ,the beings whom we call angels1 though of the same race and nature with ourselves1 may have passed through such physical changes as to render them quite independent of the clogging force called gravitation4 ,we may not1 therefore1 place the same limitations upon their powers in this kind as upon man's in his present physical state4 ,as for other means of communication from intelligences of other worlds to our own1 they will not be regarded as impossible in the presence of the achievements of men in such matters4 ,by means of magnetic telegraph systems1 man has established instant communication with all parts of the world4 ,not the highest mountain ranges1 not deserts1 not even ocean's wide expanse1 have been sufficient to bar his way4 ,he has made the earth a net-work of his cables and telegraph lines1 until nearly every part of the earth is within the radius of instant communication4 ,in #ahif1 the ,national ,electric ,light association celebrated the triumphs of electricity by holding a national electrical exposition in ,new ,york ,city4 ,the occasion was the completion of the electric works at ,niagara ,falls4 ,for ages1 that great cataract had thundered out the evidence of its mighty power to heedless savages and frontiersmen2 but modern man looked upon it1 and by the expenditure of five million dollars1 harnessed it1 applied its forces to his contrivances1 made it generate electric force which lights the cities1 drives the street cars1 and turns the wheels of industry for many miles around2 and even transmitted its force to ,new ,york ,city1 four hundred and sixty miles distant6 ,it was on that occasion that ,governor ,levi ,p4 ,morton1 upon the declaration being made that the exposition was open1 turned a golden key by which four cannons were instantaneously fired in the four quarters of the republic1 one in ,augusta1 ,maine1 one in ,san ,francisco1 one in front of the public building at ,st4 ,paul1 another in the public ,park in ,new ,orleans4 ,this discharge of cannon was accomplished by a current of electricity generated at ,niagara1 and transmitted over the lines of the ,postal ,telegraph ,cable ,company4 ,later1 in the course of the exposition1 a message was sent all over the world1 and returned to ,new ,york within fifty minutes4 ,the message read3 ,god created nature's treasuries2 science utilizes electric power for the grandeur of the nations and peace of the world4 ,the reply1 also sent over the world1 was3 ,mighty ,niagara1 nature's wonder1 serving men through the world's electric circuit1 proclaims to all people science triumphant and the beneficent ,creator4 ,the distance traversed by each of these messages was about twenty-seven thousand five hundred miles1 touching nearly all the great centers of population in the world1 and that within the almost incredible time of fifty minutes6 ,again1 in #ahih1 on the occasion of ,california's ,golden ,jubilee1 that is1 her semi-centennial celebration of the discovery of gold in the state1 ,william ,mc,kinley1 then president of the ,united ,states1 seated in his office at the ,white ,house1 in ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 pressed an electric button which rang a bell in the ,mechanic's ,pavilion in ,san ,francisco1 and formally opened the mining exposition1 though the president was distant about three thousand miles6 ,the press dispatches1 at the time of the advent1 gave the following graphic description of the event just related3 ,by an electric sensation1 as indescribable as the thrill of the discoverer's cry of gold1 the president of the nation sent from ,washington the signal which announced the opening of the fair4 ,as the bell clanged its clear note1 and the ,great ,west was for an instant connected with the distant ,east1 a hush fell on the gathered thousands2 then1 moved by a common impulse1 the vast throng burst into cheers4 ,close following on the touch which sounded the sweet-toned bell came the greeting of ,president ,mc,kinley1 announcing the marking of a mighty epoch in the history of ,california4 ,about him1 over three thousand miles away1 stood the representatives of the state in ,congress1 their thoughts flying quicker even than telegraphic message to the people gathered in the great pavilion4 ,and so1 united by the material ties of the electric wire1 and the subtle powers of thought1 the ,east and the ,west were held for a few brief moments by a community of good wishes4 ,wonderful as all this is1 it is now eclipsed by wireless telegraphy--now passed beyond its experimental stages1 and rapidly coming into the practical commerce of the nations4 ,man is no longer dependent upon a network of wires and cables for means of communication4 ,the atmosphere enveloping the world affords sufficient means for conducting vibrations made intelligible by the instrument of man's invention2 and today1 even across the surface of the broad ,atlantic1 messages are transmitted by this means as easily as by means of the cable lines4 ,so delicate and perfect are the receiving instruments1 that from the roar of our great cities' traffic1 the message is picked out of the confusion and faithfully registered4 ,the argument based on all these facts1 is this3 ,if man with his limited intelligence1 and his limited experience1 has contrived means by which he stands in instant communication with all parts of the world1 why should it be thought a thing incredible that ,god1 from the midst of his glory1 from the heart of the universe1 is within instant means of communication1 with all parts of his creations8 ,especially since it is quite generally conceded1 by scientists1 that all the fixed stars and all the planetary systems encircling them1 float in and are connected by the ether1 a substance more subtle and sensitive to vibrations than the atmosphere which surrounds our planet1 and suggests the media of communication4 ,to all this1 however1 ,i fancy that ,i hear the reply of the men of science3 ,we do not deny the possibility or even the probability of communication from superior ,intelligences of other planets1 we simply say that up to the present time there is no convincing testimony that such communications have been received4 ,this1 however1 is a miserable begging of the whole question2 and an unwarranted repudiation of the testimony of those who have borne witness to the verity of such communications4 ,the testimony of ,moses and the prophets1 of ,jesus and the apostles1 of ,joseph ,smith and his associates1 may not thus be put out of the reckoning4 ,the character of these witnesses1 their service to mankind1 what they suffered and sacrificed for their testimonies1 make them worthy of belief2 and1 since in the nature of things there is nothing which makes their testimony improbable1 but1 on the contrary1 much that makes it very probable1 is it not beneath the dignity of scientists to refuse to accord to their statements a patient investigation and belief8 ,,ii4 ,to ,believe in ,media for ,ascertaining ,divine ,knowledge is ,neither ,unscriptural nor ,unreasonable4 ,whatever the position of unbelievers in the ,bible may be with reference to ,joseph ,smith translating the ,book of ,mormon by means of ,urim and ,thummim1 or ,interpreters1 as they were called by the ,nephites1 surely believers in the ,bible cannot regard such a claim as impossible or improbable1 since it is matter of common knowledge that the ,high ,priest in ancient ,israel possessed ,urim and ,thummim1 and by means of them received divine communications4 ,i am not unmindful of the fact that a diversity of opinion obtains respecting ,urim and ,thummim of the scriptures1 of what they consisted1 and the exact use of them1 but this ,i think may be set down as ascertained fact2 they were precious and doubtless transparent stones placed in the breast plate of the ,high ,priest1 and were a means through which ,god communicated to him divine knowledge--the divine will4 #i ,josephus' description of ,urim and ,thummim is as follows3 ,i will now treat of what ,i before omitted1 the garment of the high priest3 for he ,moses left no room for the evil practices of false prophets2 but if some of that sort should attempt to abuse the divine authority1 he left it to ,god to be present at his sacrifices when he pleased1 and when he pleased to be absent4 ,and he was willing this should be known1 not to the ,hebrews only1 but to those foreigners also who were there4 ,for as to these stones1 which we told you before1 the high priest bore on his shoulders1 which were sardonyxes1 7and ,i think it needless to describe their nature1 they being known to everybody7 the one of them shined out when ,god was present at their sacrifices2 ,i mean that which was in the nature of a button on his right shoulder1 bright rays darting out thence1 and being seen even by those that were most remote2 which splendor yet was not before natural to the stone4 ,this has appeared a wonderful thing to such as have not so far indulged themselves in philosophy1 as to despise divine revelation4 ,yet will ,i mention what is still more wonderful than this3 for ,god declared beforehand1 by those twelve stones which the high priest bore on his breast1 and which were inserted into his breastplate1 when they should be victorious in battle2 for so great a splendor shone forth from them before the army began to march1 that all the people were sensible of ,god's being present for their assistance4 ,whence it came to pass that those ,greeks who had a veneration for our laws1 because they could not possibly contradict this1 called that breast plate the ,oracle4 ,now this breast plate1 and this sardonyx1 left off shining two hundred years before ,i composed this book1 ,god having been displeased at the transgressions of his laws4 #aj ,since this kind of media1 then1 was used by prophets in ancient ,israel1 through which to obtain divine knowledge1 it should not be matter of astonishment1 much less of ridicule1 or regarded as improbable that when a colony of ,israelites were led away from the main body of the people1 a similar media for obtaining the will of the ,lord1 and for translating records not otherwise translatable1 should be found with them4 ,so also respecting ,joseph ,smith's claim to having found what he called a ,seer ,stone1 by means of which he could translate4 ,that cannot be regarded as an impossibility or even an improbability by those who believe the ,bible2 for1 in addition to the ,hebrew literature giving an account of ,urim and ,thummim in the breast plate of the high priest1 it is well known that other means were used by inspired men of ,israel for obtaining the word of the ,lord4 ,that most excellent of ,bible characters1 ,joseph1 the son of ,jacob1 blessed in his boyhood with prophetic dreams1 and possessed of the divine gift of interpreting dreams1 the savior of ,israel in a time of famine1 and a wise ruler for a time of ,egypt's destinies1 used such media4 ,when ,joseph's cup was found in the mouth of ,benjamin's sack1 ,joseph's steward said to him3 ,is not this it in which my lord drinketh1 and whereby1 indeed1 he divineth8 ,joseph himself said1 when his perplexed brethren stood before him1 ,what deed is this that ye have done8 ,wot ye not that such a man as ,i can certainly divine4 #aa ,the fact of ascertaining the word of the ,lord by means of this divining cup cannot be explained away by suggesting that ,joseph merely referred to an ,egyptian custom of divining2 or that the steward repeated the words which ,joseph had spoken to him merely in jest4 #ab ,as remarked by a learned writer on this subject3 ,we need not think of ,joseph1 the pure1 the heaven-taught1 the blameless one1 as adopting1 still less as basely pretending to adopt1 the dark arts of a system of imposture4 #ac ,i agree with the view4 ,it is a reality sustained by ,bible authority that there exists media through which divine revelation may be obtained1 and hence to the ,bible believers the claim of ,joseph ,smith concerning ,urim and ,thummim1 and the ,seer ,stone1 by means of which1 through the inspiration of ,god1 he translated the record of the ,nephites1 is not impossible nor even improbable4 ,as in the matter of the visitation of angels1 so also in relation to ,urim and ,thummim and also the ,seer ,stone1 ,i may say that our scientific skeptics in such things live in the midst of such achievements of man's ingenuity1 and in the daily use of such marvelous instruments invented by men for the ascertainment of truth1 that men of science ought not to stumble at accepting1 at least as possible1 and even as probable1 the existence of such media4 ,take for instance the telescope4 ,for ages1 men believed that the whole of the universe consisted of sun1 moon1 earth1 and the few fixed stars within the radius of man's unaided vision4 ,finally1 however1 a genius converted a handful of sand into a lens1 adjusted it in a tube1 and turned it to the heavens when1 lo6 the frontiers of the universe were pushed back to an infinite distance1 and millions of suns heretofore never seen by human eyes were brought within the range of man's vision and consciousness4 ,this first telescope has been improved upon from time to time1 until now we have instruments of that kind so large and so perfect that our own planets are brought comparatively near for our inspection1 while the number of fixed stars now within the range of our vision1 by means of these instruments1 is quite generally conceded to be from forty to fifty millions4 ,while viewing the starry heavens by the aid of the telescope1 in search of new facts1 astronomers beheld at enormous distances from us hazy patches of light1 concerning the nature of which they could form no definite idea4 ,an improved telescope1 however1 at last resolved some of these mists into groups of separate stars2 then it was supposed that all such mists were star groups1 and that it only required stronger telescopes to demonstrate the truth of that theory4 ,meantime1 however1 another wonderful instrument was invented1 the spectroscope1 an instrument which forms and analyzes the spectra of the rays emitted by bodies or substances4 ,meantime ,fraunhofer made the discovery that the spectrum of an ignited gaseous body is non-continuous1 and has interrupting lines4 ,later1 ,professor ,john ,william ,draper discovered that the spectrum of an ignited solid is continuous with no interrupting lines4 ,with these facts established1 the spectroscope was turned upon the distant patches of nebulae and it was discovered that some of them were positively of a gaseous nature and not congeries of stars4 ,thus was another great truth concerning the universe discovered by means of an instrument invented by man4 ,nor is the end yet4 ,the eye of man1 perhaps1 is the most wonderful organ known2 wonderful in its powers when unaided by instruments of man's invention1 but rendered infinitely more powerful and wonderful when aided by telescope and microscope4 ,indeed1 by these instruments new and unthought of worlds are brought to the consciousness of man1 and his knowledge infinitely extended4 ,yet wonderful as is this organ of man1 and great as are its achievements when aided by the instruments of man's invention1 man's ingenuity has produced a more powerful eye than man's6 ,one that can look longer and see farther than the human eye1 even when aided by the most powerful telescope2 and registers upon its retina truths otherwise unattainable by man4 ,this instrument ,camille ,flammarion1 the ,french astronomer and writer1 calls ,the ,wonderful ,new ,eye of ,science4 ,it is merely a lens connected with a photographic apparatus1 and of it the writer just named says3 ,this giant eye is endowed with four considerable advantages over ours2 it sees more quickly1 farther1 longer2 and1 wonderful faculty1 it receives and retains the impress of what it sees4 ,it sees more quickly3 in the half-thousandth of a second1 it photographs the sun1 its spots1 its vortexes1 its fires1 its flaming mountains1 and on an imperishable document4 ,it sees farther3 ,directed towards any point of the heavens on the darkest night1 it discerns stars in the depths of infinite space--worlds1 universes1 creations1 that our eye could never see by the aid of any telescope4 ,it sees longer3 ,that which we cannot succeed in seeing in a few seconds of observation we shall never see4 ,the photographic eyes has but to look long enough in order to see2 at the end of half an hour it distinguishes what was before invisible to it2 at the end of an hour it will see better still1 and the longer it remains directed towards the unknown object1 the better and more distinctly it will see it--and this without fatigue4 ,and it retains on the retinal plate all that it has seen4 #ad ,this photographic eye1 used in what is called the kinetograph1 photographs the spokes of the sulky driven at full speed--which cannot be discerned at all by the human eye--as if standing still4 ,the bullet discharged from the most powerful gun of modern invention1 which the human eye cannot follow in its flight1 this instrument seems to arrest in mid-air4 ,the ripple waves on the surface of mercury1 which no human eye has ever seen--even when assisted by the most powerful microscopes--it faithfully registers1 and by its testimony alone we know of the existence of mercury waves4 ,this instrument registers on sensitized tin foil1 birds in their flight1 express trains at full speed1 moving throngs on crowded streets1 athletes at their sports1 the restless waves of ocean1 the tempest's progress1 the lightning's flash--all of which1 by means of another instrument called the kinetoscope are reproduced to the life1 though the actors in the scenes represented may be dead1 and rotting in their graves4 ,as these named instruments photograph and reproduce actions1 so the phonograph registers the intonations1 inflections1 and all the peculiarities of voice entrusted to it1 and as faithfully reproduces them1 once1 twice1 or a thousand times1 so that friends may recognize the intonations and all the peculiarities of inflection and voice1 though he who thus speaks has long since been dead or removed to other lands4 ,what more shall ,i say8 ,is not enough here presented concerning the instruments of man's invention to justify a reasonable belief in the probability of the existence of media that can accomplish all that is ascribed to ,urim and ,thummim and ,seer ,stone by ,joseph ,smith2 especially when it is remembered how far the knowledge1 skill and wisdom of ,god surpass the skill and ingenuity of man8 ,,iii4 ,of ,returning the ,plates of the ,book of ,mormon to ,moroni ,the question is often asked--and it bears upon the probability of ,joseph ,smith's statements respecting the ,book of ,mormon1 because the answer that has to be made gives rise to doubts1 and sometimes to sneers on the part of those receiving it--the question is often asked1 ,i repeat1 ,what became of the gold plates from which ,joseph ,smith claims to have translated the ,book of ,mormon--can they be seen now8 ,is the ,church in possession of them8 ,the answer is1 ,no2 the ,prophet returned them to the angel ,moroni1 and he1 doubtless1 now has possession of them1 and is their guardian4 #ae ,this answer is declared to be unsatisfactory1 and often ridiculed2 for worldly wisdom fancies that the ,prophet had a most direct means of establishing the truth as to the existence and character of the plates1 if only he had retained them in his possession1 or deposited them in some state or national institution of learning or archaeology4 ,joseph ,smith acted under the direction of ,moroni in the matter of the plates of the ,book of ,mormon2 why he was not permitted to keep the book of plates is not1 perhaps1 positively known4 ,part of the record was sealed1 as the ,prophet himself informs us2 #af and as the time had not come for that part of it to be translated1 it may be that that was one reason why it should be still kept in the custody of the angel4 ,moreover1 in this life we are required by divine wisdom to walk by faith1 not by sight4 ,it is part of our education that we learn to act with reference to sacred things on probabilities4 ,a veil of oblivion is stretched over our past spirit-existence4 ,the future is hidden largely from our view1 and we are required to perform this life's journey from the cradle to the grave in the midst of uncertainties1 except as we increase our faith and establish assurance by the development of spiritual strength from within4 ,why this should be so may not always seem clear to us2 but of the fact of it there can be no doubt4 ,nor can there be any doubt as to the wisdom of it1 and the benefit of it to mankind1 since our ,father-,god has so ordered it4 ,nor is it in ,mormonism alone that certain direct material evidences are denied to men concerning divine things4 ,infidels refer to the opportunities which they think the impudent challenges of the persecutors of the ,son of ,god afforded him to demonstrate his divine power1 and prove the truth of his mission1 when they said1 ,if thou be the ,son of ,god1 come down from the cross4 99 99 9999 ,if he be the ,king of ,israel1 let him now come down from the cross1 and we will believe him4 #ag ,what an opportunity was afforded him here to respond to their challenges and cover them with confusion and fear6 ,but the ,son of ,god heeded them not1 and infidels everywhere entertain the opinion that he here missed the opportunity of his career if1 indeed1 he was the ,son of ,god--the ,lord of ,life--the ,master of ,death4 ,moses gave out the statement that the ,law of ,israel1 the ,ten ,commandments1 were written by the finger of ,god on tables of stone4 #ah ,these1 in his anger1 ,moses broke to pieces in their presence1 when he found that during his brief absence in the ,mount1 obtaining the law1 ,israel had turned to the folly of idolatry4 ,but a second set of tables was prepared1 and again on these ,god carved with his own hands the ,ten ,commandments4 ,moses placed them in the ark of shittim wood1 which1 by divine appointment1 he provided1 and this constituted the ,ark of the ,covenant4 #ai ,again1 when the children of ,israel were disposed to rebel against the priesthood of ,god's appointing1 under divine direction1 ,moses called upon each of the twelve princes of the house of ,israel to present before the ,lord a rod with the name of his tribe upon it4 ,among these was ,aaron's rod1 representing the tribe of ,levi4 ,all were placed in the ,tabernacle of ,witness before the ,lord4 ,on the morrow1 when ,moses went into the ,tabernacle of ,witness behold the rod of ,aaron1 of the house of ,levi1 had brought forth buds1 and yielded almonds1 all in a single night6 ,thus the ,lord gave a palpable evidence to ,israel of his choosing the house of ,aaron and the tribe of ,levi to stand before him in the priest's office2 and the ,lord said unto ,moses1 ,bring ,aaron's rod again before the testimony1 to be kept for a token against the rebels4 #bj ,the unbelieving world to whom ,israel's message was afterwards sent1 might demand that the tables of stone and ,aaron's rod that budded and bore fruit should be displayed for their inspection1 that faith might take hold of the unbelieving2 but there is no record that these sacred things were ever exhibited for such a purpose4 #ba ,the infidels of our own day frequently remark that the prayer of ,dives to ,abraham ought to have been graciously granted1 and ,lazarus sent to bear witness to the relatives of the tortured nobleman that they might escape his sad fate2 but ,abraham's answer was1 ,they have ,moses and the prophets2 let them hear them6 ,nay1 ,father ,abraham1 answered ,dives1 but if one went unto them from the dead1 they will repent4 ,but ,abraham said3 ,if they hear not ,moses and the prophets1 neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead4 #bb ,referring again to the ,savior3 unbelievers marvel that ,jesus confined his visitations after his resurrection to a few of his faithful followers only--to those who already believed on him4 ,why did he not appear in all the majesty of his immortal life1 after his resurrection1 before the high priests and the ,sanhedrim of the ,jews8 ,before the court of ,pilate8 ,before the rabble who had impiously clamored in the streets for his blood to be upon them and upon their children--,why8 ,the only answer to this question exists in the fact apparent from the whole course of ,god's dealings with the world in relation to sacred things3 viz41 ,god has chosen certain witnesses for himself in relation to sacred matters1 and demands that his children shall walk by faith on the words which his chosen servants declare unto them4 ,thus ,peter1 on the matter of ,christ showing himself to the world1 says3 ,him ,god raised up the third day1 and showed him openly2 not to all the people1 but unto witnesses chosen before of ,god1 even to us who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead4 ,and he commanded us to preach unto the people1 and to testify that it is he which was ordained of ,god to be the judge of quick and dead4 #bc ,judas 7one of the twelve1 not ,iscariot1 but the brother of ,james7 on one occasion asked the same question that infidels have been asking for many generations1 ,how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us1 and not unto the world8 ,jesus answered and said unto him1 ,if a man love me1 he will keep my words3 and my ,father will love him1 and we will come unto him1 and make our abode with him4 ,he that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings3 and the word which ye hear is not mine1 but the ,father's which sent me4 ,these things have ,i spoken unto you1 being yet present with you4 ,but the ,comforter1 which is the ,holy ,ghost1 whom the ,father will send in my name1 he shall teach you all things4 99 99 99 99 ,when the ,comforter is come1 whom ,i will send unto you from the ,father1 even the ,spirit of truth1 which proceedeth from the ,father1 he shall testify of me3 and ye also shall bear witness because ye have been with me from the beginning4 #bd ,such the statement of ,peter2 such the doctrine of ,jesus2 and when coupled together one sees that in addition to the special witnesses1 the prophets1 ,god has ordained that the ,holy ,spirit shall be his universal witness for things divine4 ,god1 in his wisdom1 and for the accomplishment of his own wise purposes with reference to us1 has ordained that his children in this world's probation shall walk by faith1 not by sight4 ,to produce the faith1 he sends forth special chosen servants1 prophets1 apostles1 his own ,son1 and through them announces the divine will4 ,then when drawn to ,god by faith1 when love-inspired towards ,god1 the ,lord gives the witness of the ,holy ,spirit1 by and through which man may know the truth1 for he becomes possessed by the very ,spirit of divine intelligence and of truth1 by which power he is made to know the truth4 ,these principles obtain in this last dispensation of the gospel4 ,joseph ,smith comes as did ,noah1 ,enoch1 ,moses1 the ,prophets1 ,christ and the ,apostles--he comes with a message from ,god--with a new volume of scripture1 whose express purpose is to enlarge the foundations of faith4 ,he and his associates bear witness of its truth1 and those who will give heed to that testimony1 and will seek to ,god for further knowledge1 are expressly promised in the ,book of ,mormon itself1 that they shall receive a manifestation of its truth by the power of the ,holy ,ghost2 ,and by the power of the ,holy ,ghost1 says this ,nephite record1 ye may know the truth of all things4 #be ,throughout1 it will be seen that in this matter of the ,book of ,mormon1 the divine power is acting in harmony with those great principles which have been operating in the spiritual economy of this world from the beginning2 which fact1 in reality1 is at least an incidental testimony of the truth of the work4 ,in the light of all these reflections1 then1 together with the fact that part of the ,book of ,mormon was sealed1 the time not then having arrived for its translation1 there is nothing remarkable in the circumstance of the ,nephite plates being returned to the care of the angel-guardian of them4 ,certainly there is nothing unreasonable in such a procedure1 and surely nothing in the circumstance that warrants the ridicule with which that statement has sometimes been received4 ,moreover1 human guardianship of such things is by no means as secure as some may conceive it to be4 ,take1 for example1 the fate which befell the ,egyptian papyrus from which the ,prophet translated the ,book of ,abraham4 ,it is an item of ,church history that in #ahce the ,saints in ,kirtland purchased1 of one ,michael ,h4 ,chandler1 some ,egyptian mummies2 in the sarcophagus they occupied certain rolls of papyrus were found1 beautifully engraved with ,egyptian characters4 ,upon examination1 ,joseph ,smith found the papyrus to be the writings of ,abraham and of ,joseph1 the son of ,jacob1 who was sold into ,egypt4 ,portions of these records the ,prophet translated into the ,english language1 and the translation was published in the ,times and ,seasons1 vol4 ,,iii1 and subsequently made part of the ,pearl of ,great ,price4 ,after the death of the ,prophet the mummies1 together with the records on papyrus1 were left in charge of his mother1 ,lucy ,smith4 ,she afterwards parted with them1 under what circumstances is not positively known4 ,finally1 the records and mummies found their way into ,wood's ,museum1 in ,chicago1 where1 according to the statement of the editors of the ,plano edition of ,biographical ,sketches of ,joseph ,smith and his ,progenitors1 by ,lucy ,smith1 they were destroyed in the ,chicago fire of #ahga4 #bf ,thus the writings of ,abraham1 after being preserved for many generations in the linen wrappings of ,egyptian mummies1 were consumed by fire in a modern city1 a circumstance which illustrates the uncertainty of human means to preserve important documents1 and justifies the angel-guardianship of a record as sacred as are the plates from which the ,book of ,mormon was translated4 ,,iv4 ,on the ,loss of one ,hundred and ,sixteen ,pages of ,manuscript1 ,being the ,translation of the ,first ,part of ,mormon's ,abridgment of the ,nephite ,records4 ,another incident connected with the probability of ,joseph ,smith's story concerning the ,book of ,mormon1 and which1 like the circumstance of the ,prophet's returning the plates to the angel1 meets with ridicule--is the loss of the #aaf pages of manuscript1 through the unfaithfulness of ,martin ,harris1 a subject detailed at length in chapter v4 ,this incident lost to ,joseph ,smith1 for a time1 the gift of translation1 and also possession of the plates and ,urim and ,thummim2 but through sincere repentance1 he was received again into the favor of the ,lord1 and resumed his work4 ,on being permitted to resume the translation1 however1 the ,prophet was informed through divine communication that those who had stolen the manuscript from ,harris designed to hold it until he should translate again that part which had fallen into their hands4 ,if the ,prophet's second translation should be like the first1 then it was the intention of the conspirators to change the manuscript in their possession1 and claim that the translation was not obtained by divine aid1 else the second would be like the first2 but since it would by this trick be proved to be different1 the claim of divine inspiration in the translation of the book must fall to the ground1 and ,joseph ,smith's pretension to being a ,seer and ,prophet of ,god would fall with it2 and thus the work ,god designed to accomplish through him would be destroyed4 ,the ,lord revealed this plot to ,joseph ,smith1 and warned him not to translate again ,moroni's abridgment of the ,book of ,lehi--which comprised so much of the manuscript as had been entrusted to ,harris4 #bg ,on the contrary1 he was commanded to translate what are called in the ,book of ,mormon the ,smaller ,plates of ,nephi1 and let that stand in the place of the translation of the ,book of ,lehi which ,harris had lost4 ,a word of explanation here3 ,two sets of plates were kept for a time by the first ,nephi and his successors4 ,one set might be called the secular1 the other the sacred record of the ,nephite people4 ,they1 however1 called them the ,smaller and ,larger ,plates of ,nephi4 ,on the former was recorded the ministry of the prophets1 the word of the ,lord to them1 and much of their teaching and preaching2 on the latter1 the reigns of the kings1 their wars and contentions1 and the secular affairs of the people generally4 ,still1 even on the ,smaller ,plates of ,nephi there was a reasonably succinct account of the principal events of ,nephite history1 from the time ,lehi left ,jerusalem until four hundred years had passed away4 ,when ,mormon found among the records delivered into his keeping the ,smaller ,plates of ,nephi1 he was so well pleased with their contents that he placed the whole of them with the abridgment he had made from the larger ,nephite records4 ,and ,i do this1 he informs us1 for a wise purpose2 for thus it whispereth me according to the workings of the ,spirit of the ,lord which is in me4 ,and now1 ,i do not know all things2 but the ,lord knoweth all things which are to come2 wherefore1 he worketh in me to do according to his will4 #bh ,by the addition of the ,smaller ,plates of ,nephi to ,mormon's abridgment of the ,larger ,plates1 it will be observed that there was a double line of history for a period of about #djj years4 ,therefore1 when1 through carelessness and breaking his agreement with the ,prophet1 ,martin ,harris lost the translation of the first part of ,mormon's abridgment1 and those into whose hands the manuscript had fallen designed to change it and destroy the claims of the ,prophet to inspiration in translating it--under divine direction he translated the ,smaller ,plates of ,nephi1 and let that translation take the place of the one which had been stolen1 and thus the plan of the conspirators against the work was thwarted4 ,this statement of the ,prophet1 however1 comes in for its share of ridicule1 and is generally spoken of as a very clever escape for the ,prophet out of what is called a rather perplexing dilemma4 ,the ,prophet's statement of the incident was published at the time the first edition of the ,book of ,mormon issued from the press1 and1 in fact1 stands as the preface to the book1 which ,i reproduce here3 ,,preface4 ,to the ,reader-- ,as many false reports have been circulated respecting the following work1 and also many unlawful measures taken by evil designing persons to destroy me1 and also the work1 ,i would inform you that ,i translated1 by gift and power of ,god1 and caused to be written1 one hundred and sixteen pages1 the which ,i took from the ,book of ,lehi1 which was an account abridged from the plates of ,lehi1 by the hand of ,mormon2 which said account1 some person or persons have stolen and kept from me1 notwithstanding my utmost exertions to recover it again--and being commanded of the ,lord that ,i should not translate the same over again1 for ,satan had put it into their hearts to tempt the ,lord their ,god1 by altering the words1 that they did read contrary from that which ,i translated and caused to be written2 and if ,i should bring forth the same words again1 or1 in other words1 if ,i should translate the same over again1 they would publish that which they had stolen1 and ,satan would stir up the hearts of this generation1 that they might not receive this work2 but behold1 the ,lord saith unto me1 ,i will not suffer that ,satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing3 therefore thou shalt translate from the plates of ,nephi1 until ye come to that which ye have translated1 which ye have retained2 and behold ye shall publish it as the record of ,nephi2 and thus ,i will confound those who have altered my words4 ,i will not suffer that they shall destroy my work2 yea1 ,i will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the ,devil4 ,wherefore1 to be obedient unto the commandments of ,god1 ,i have1 through his grace and mercy1 accomplished that which he hath commanded me respecting this thing4 ,i would also inform you that the plates of which hath been spoken1 were found in the township of ,manchester1 ,ontario country1 ,new ,york4 ,,the ,,author4 ,thus from the beginning the ,prophet boldly declared that which the ,lord had revealed to him concerning this effort on the part of the conspirators to destroy the work2 and there was not one who rose to contradict his statement1 at the time1 although some anti-,mormon writers of later years assert--but without any warrant of proof--that1 enraged at the part her husband was taking in bringing forth the ,book of ,mormon1 ,mrs4 ,martin ,harris burned the manuscript4 ,this1 however1 she always denied4 ,the first publication referring to this subject1 aside from what the ,prophet published in the above preface1 is ,howe's ,history of ,mormonism1 published at ,painsville1 ,ohio1 #ahcd4 ,this is an anti-,mormon book1 and of the manuscript incident it says3 ,the facts respecting the lost manuscripts we have not been able to ascertain4 ,they sometimes charged the wife of ,harris with having burnt it1 but this is denied by her4 #bi ,meantime1 attention is called to the fact that there is nothing improbable in the statement of ,joseph ,smith2 but on the contrary all the conditions obtaining in the neighborhood where he resided while bringing forth the work favor the probability of such a conspiracy as he charges3 the unwarranted but repeated efforts made by his enemies to wrest the plates from his possession2 the home of his parents repeatedly beset by mobs2 the issue of warrants by justices of the peace for searching his wagon for the plates2 and subsequently the actions of ,mr4 ,grandin1 his printer1 who1 after entering into contract to print the book was certainly in honor bound to render him all the assistance in his power in getting out the work in the best order possible1 and protecting him in his copyrights--the actions1 ,i say1 of ,mr4 ,grandin1 in permitting ,squire ,cole #cj the use of his press on nights and ,sundays in order to secretly publish his ,dogberry ,papers1 in which was to appear a garbled edition of the ,book of ,mormon in weekly installments2 the mass meetings held in ,palmyra and vicinity in which resolutions were passed not to purchase the book should it ever issue from the press 7which action caused ,mr4 ,grandin to suspend the work of printing until the ,prophet could be brought from ,harmony1 in ,pennsylvania1 to give renewed assurance of his ability to meet the price of printing72 the confession of ,j4 ,n4 ,tucker1 one of the employees of ,grandin's printing establishment1 that after setting up a sheet in type1 it was secreted and the story given out that it was lost1 and that manuscript for another sheet would have to be produced1 which when done is alleged to have been unlike the first #ca--these well-attested circumstances establish the fact of a wide-spread and bitter opposition to the coming forth of the ,book of ,mormon2 and1 failing in that1 then a determination to prevent its acceptance as revelation from ,god4 ,all these things make it very easy to believe that such a conspiracy as the ,prophet describes existed against the work4 ,footnotes #a4 ,see ,life of ,jesus1 ,renan4 7,e4,t47 ,introduction2 also ,new ,witnesses1 vol4 ,i1 ch4 #a4 #b4 ,matt4 #bd3ca4 #c4 ,malachi #d3e1 #f4 #d4 ,revelation #ad3f1 #g4 #e4 ,rev4 #ad3h1 #i1 #aj4 #f4 ,rev4 #ah3a-c4 #g4 ,ephesians #a3i1 #aj4 #h4 ,new ,witnesses1 ,vol4 ,i41 chs4 xxviii1 xxix1 xxx4 #i4 ,the reader will find the data for the foregoing view concerning ,urim and ,thummim in the following passages3 ,exodus #bh3 #bi1 #cj2 ,leviticus #h3h2 ,numbers #bg3ba2 ,deuteronomy #cc3h2 ,i ,samuel #bh3f2 ,ezra #b3fc2 ,nehemiah #g3fe4 ,he will also find an excellent article on the subject in ,smith's ,dictionary of the ,bible1 7,hackett edition71 vol4 ,,iv1 pp4 #c1cef-c1cfc2 also in ,kitto's ,encyclopaedia of ,biblical ,literature1 vol4 ,,ii1 pp4 #ijj-ijc4 #aj4 ,antiquities of the ,jews1 bk4 ,,iii1 ch4 #h4 #aa4 ,genesis #dd3e-ae4 #ab4 ,such is the ,roman ,catholic explanation of the matter2 see note on passage1 ,gen4 #dd3e-ae in ,douay ,bible4 #ac4 ,smith's ,dictionary of the ,bible1 ,art4 ,urim and ,thummim4 #ad4 ,the ,cosmopolitan ,magazine for ,september1 #ahif4 #ae4 ,i soon found out the reason why ,i had received such strict charges to keep them safe1 and why it was that the messenger had said that when ,i had done what was required at my hand1 he would call for them4 ,for no sooner was it known that ,i had them1 than the most strenuous exertions were used to get them from me4 ,every stratagem that could be invented was resorted to for that purpose4 ,the persecution became more bitter and severe than before1 and multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if possible4 ,but by the wisdom of ,god they remained safe in my hands1 until ,i had accomplished by them what was required at my hand4 ,when1 according to arrangements1 the messenger called for them1 ,i delivered them up to him2 and he has them in his charge until this day1 being the second day of ,may1 one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight4 7,church ,history1 vol4 ,i1 pp4 #ah1 #ai47 #af4 ,these records were engraven on plates which had the appearance of gold1 each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long1 and not quite so thick as common tin4 ,they were filled with engravings1 in ,egyptian characters1 and bound together in a volume as the leaves of a book1 with three rings running through the whole4 ,the volume was something near six inches in thickness1 a part of which was sealed4 ,the characters on the unsealed part were small1 and beautifully engraved4 ,the whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity in its construction1 and much skill in the art of engraving4 ,wentworth ,letter1 ,history of the ,church1 vol4 ,,iv1 p4 #ecg4 #ag4 ,matt4 #bg3dj1 #db4 #ah4 ,deut4 #i3h-aa4 #ai4 ,deut4 #aj3a-e4 #bj4 ,numbers #ag4 #ba4 ,the late ,robert ,g4 ,ingersoll1 for instance1 asks where now the sword is with which the angel guarded the tree of life in ,paradise2 and then sarcastically answers his own question as follows3 ,some angel has it in heaven6 ,works1 vol4 #e1 #cgb4 #bb4 ,luke #af3ac1 #ca4 #bc4 ,acts #aj3dj-db4 #bd4 ,john #ae3bf1 #bg4 #be4 ,behold ,i would exhort you that when ye shall read these things1 if it be wisdom in ,god that ye should read them1 that ye would remember how merciful the ,lord hath been unto the children of men1 from the creation of ,adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things1 and ponder it in your hearts4 ,and when ye shall receive these things1 ,i would exhort you that ye would ask ,god1 the eternal ,father1 in the name of ,christ1 if these things are not true2 and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart1 with real intent1 having faith in ,christ1 he will manifest the truth of it unto you1 by the power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,and by the power of the ,holy ,ghost ye may know the truth of all things4 7,moroni #aj3c-e47 #bf4 ,see ,plano edition of the above named work1 #ahhj1 note on page #ia4 #bg4 ,see preface to first edition of the ,book of ,mormon4 #bh4 ,words of ,mormon1 p4 #aeh4 #bi4 ,i quote from the first 7#ahcd7 edition of ,howe's work1 page #bb4 #cj4 ,see pp4 #gg1 #gh of part ,i1 ,y4 ,m4 ,m4 ,i4 ,a4 ,manual for #aijc-d4 ,it is unthinkable that this effort to publish a garbled edition of the ,book of ,mormon was unknown to ,grandin and those employed in his establishment4 #ca4 ,see chapter ,,viii1 where this incident is treated and the fact pointed out that the ,prophet's precautions had protected the work from the effects of such tricks as this described by ,tucker4 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,,indirect ,,external ,,evidences--,,american ,,antiquities4 ,,preliminary ,,considerations4 ,in dealing with the indirect external evidences to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon supplied by ,american antiquities1 embracing in that term archaeology1 mythology1 traditions1 ethnology1 languages1 etc41 it should be observed that the ,book of ,mormon is not a specific work upon any of these subjects4 ,nor is it a work on physical geography2 nor even a history1 in the modern sense of that term4 ,furthermore1 while the purpose of the book is mainly religious1 it is not a formal treatise even upon religion4 ,but while the ,book of ,mormon has limitations in all the directions noted1 it is a fact that ,american antiquities1 mythologies1 traditions1 etc41 may be of great importance in sustaining its truth4 ,i therefore begin the consideration of this branch of evidence by inquiring what conditions respecting the location and nature of ,american monuments of civilization the ,book of ,mormon demands4 ,i4 ,what the ,book of ,mormon ,requires as to the ,location and ,character of the ,jaredite ,civilization4 ,it has been shown in a preceding chapter #a that the first people who inhabited ,north ,america after the flood were a colony that came from the ,euphrates ,valley1 about the time of the confusion of languages at ,babel1 under the leadership of a prophet of the name of ,moriancumr1 and his brother ,jared2 that this colony made their first settlement somewhere in the region of country known in modern times as ,central ,america2 that they called their first city ,moron1 which from the time of its establishment1 with brief1 intermittent periods1 remained the seat of government and the chief center of the civilization of the great ,jaredite nation1 up to the time of the latter's destruction1 in the early part of the sixth century ,b4 ,c4--a period of sixteen hundred years4 ,from the ,city of ,moron the ,jaredites extended their colonization schemes southward along the isthmus to ,south ,america1 and northward to the great lakes4 ,their greatest activities1 however1 and the centers of their civilization were in ,central ,america2 and it is there we must look for the most extensive and enduring monuments of civilization in the western world2 and expect the monuments to have some of the characteristics of the monuments of the ancient civilization of the ,euphrates ,valley4 #b ,,ii4 ,what the ,book of ,mormon ,requires as to the ,location1 ,extent and ,nature of the ,nephite ,civilization4 ,in considering this subject ,i shall take no account of the colony of ,mulek beyond noting the fact that previous to the union of their descendants1 with the ,nephites under ,mosiah ,i1 about two hundred years ,b4 ,c41 they did not affect to any considerable extent the civilization of the country1 and hence ,i shall consider them under the same head as the ,nephites4 ,concerning the ,nephites and their civilization1 the ,book of ,mormon requires the proof that a colony of ,israelites left ,jerusalem about six hundred years ,b4 ,c41 carrying with them the ,hebrew ,scriptures2 that they made a voyage from thence to the west coast of ,america2 that there were four brothers in the colony1 among whom there was a contention about leadership2 that the younger brother had the greater weight of influence with the colony1 and became practically its leader2 that they were directed in their journey by miraculous means--an instrument consisting of a ball of brass with spindles in it which indicated the direction of their travels1 receiving upon its burnished surface from time to time instructions for their guidance--called by them ,liahona2 that because of jealousies among the four brothers the colony was divided1 #c the younger brother leading away northward the more righteous part of the colony from which separation arose two people1 one civilized1 the other1 in comparison with the first1 barbarous2 that the civilized people1 those following the younger brother1 removed gradually northward because of the repeated depredations of their relentless enemies1 the ,lamanites2 that during the period of some four hundred years they removed from the place of their first landing to a region of country northward2 that in this land about two hundred ,b4 ,c4 the more righteous part of the people again separated from the rest and made their way still further northward to the great valley of what they called the ,sidon river1 and there united with the descendants of ,mulek's colony and formed the ,nephite-,zarahemla nation1 but they were called ,nephites2 that this people extended their cities and provinces throughout the northern part of the north continent1 colonizing even a portion of the narrow neck of land connecting the two continents2 that they were in frequent conflict1 and waged great wars with the barbarous people who still pressed upon them from the south2 that in the year #ee ,b4 ,c4 they began migrating northward from ,central ,america2 that ship building was inaugurated by one ,hagoth on the west side of ,central ,america2 that the people moved northward in great numbers by means of these vessels as well as by land2 that two of these vessels going far northward1 drifted out into the great ocean and were lost--at least to the ,nephites2 that there were frequent wars between the civilized people and the barbarians2 that the birth of ,messiah was evidenced by the appearance of a new star in the heavens1 and by a night which continued brilliant as day from the setting of the sun to the rising thereof2 that at the crucifixion of ,messiah1 during the three hours that he hung upon the cross at ,jerusalem1 the western world was visited by an unparalleled series of cataclysms which convulsed the whole land1 destroying many cities1 some being buried by mountains that were thrown up by convulsions of the earth1 and others being sunk in the depths of the sea2 that these dreadful convulsions of the earth were followed by three days of total darkness2 that some time after these awful cataclysms the risen ,messiah appeared in person to a multitude in the region of country in ,south ,america east and south of the ,isthmus of ,panama and including part of that ,isthmus1 #d that he proclaimed his relationship to ,god1 held himself forth as the ,son of ,god1 taught the doctrine of the ,atonement1 instituted the ,christian sacraments of baptism and the ,lord's supper1 chose twelve disciples and authorized the organization of a church to teach the doctrine of ,christ and perfect1 by its watchful care1 those who accepted it2 that this introduction of the gospel of ,christ was followed by a period of universal peace and prosperity--a veritable golden age--through nearly three centuries2 that after this the people declined in moral and spiritual excellence until they were in complete apostasy2 that a series of civil wars and the rise of robber bands undermined government1 and that about the close of the fourth century1 ,a4 ,d41 the government was destroyed1 the people divided into small bands or tribes and anarchy prevailed4 ,only two other remarks are necessary to complete the consideration of what the ,book of ,mormon ,nephite period requires of ,american antiquities in order to derive from them evidence in support of its truth4 ,the first of these is the fact that ,nephite occupancy of the western world is confined for the most part1 at least1 to the north continent2 that while it is true that their settlements in the north became somewhat extensive1 the progress of them was checked by frequent wars between ,nephites and ,lamanites1 and also by the depredations of robber bands which infested the land up to the time of the crucifixion of ,messiah2 that at the crucifixion of ,messiah occurred these tremendous cataclysms which convulsed the whole land resulted in the destruction of so many of the people that during this period of some eighty-eight years--from #ee ,b4 ,c4 to #cc ,a4 ,d4--the period of time the ,nephites spread out over the north continent1 previous to the advent of ,messiah1 they could not have erected many monuments of civilization that would survive the ravages of ages4 ,after the destruction which swept over both western continents during the crucifixion of ,messiah1 the people were so reduced in numbers that it would be some time before they could begin to occupy the land to any great extent1 still1 during the more than two hundred years of righteousness and peace which followed ,messiah's advent among them1 the ,nephites doubtless became very numerous and the arts of peace would very greatly develop4 ,at the close of this period1 however1 civil wars again checked their progress1 and they entered upon that period of rapid decline in all that makes for the stability of government and permanency of civilization1 until at the close of the fourth century ,a4 ,d41 anarchy prevailed only to be followed by ,lamanite barbarism1 which exerted its every effort to destroy government1 overthrow civilization1 and destroy every monument and vestige of that religion against which chiefly the ,lamanites had waged war4 #e ,in the second remark referred to a moment since1 ,i would call attention to the fact that there exists evidence which leads one to believe that the ,nephites constructed their buildings of perishable material2 chiefly1 ,i think1 of wood1 a circumstance which will go far towards accounting for the fact that there is but little evidence of the existence of a great civilized nation possessing temples1 synagogues1 palaces1 etc41 in the northern part of ,north ,america4 ,the ,nephite civilization rose to its highest development previous to the coming of the ,messiah in the south part of the north continent4 ,the reasons for this conclusion are to be found in several passages of the ,book of ,mormon1 where the specific statement is made that the people were taught to work in all manner of wood1 iron1 copper1 etc42 but no mention is made of their being skilled in the working of stone4 ,for example1 the first ,nephi says3 ,and ,i did teach my people to build buildings2 and to work in all manner of wood1 and of iron1 and of copper1 and of brass1 and of steel1 and of gold1 and of silver1 and of precious ores1 which were in great abundance4 #f ,again1 in the book of ,jarom1 it is written3 ,and we multiplied exceedingly1 and spread upon the face of the land1 and became exceeding rich in gold1 and in silver1 and in precious things1 and in fine workmanship of wood1 in buildings1 and in machinery1 and also in iron and copper1 and brass and steel1 making all manner of tools of every kind to till the ground1 and weapons of war4 #g ,after migrations into the north continent began1 one of the things which seemed to be a cause of regret on the part of the ,nephites was the lack of timber in that land4 ,referring to this1 ,mormon1 in his abridgment of ,helaman's reference to it1 says3 ,and now no part of the land was desolate1 save it were for timber4 99 99 99 ,and there being but little timber upon the face of the land northward1 nevertheless the people who went forth became exceedingly expert in the working of cement2 therefore they did build houses of cement in the which they did dwell2 but this period brings them into the south part of the north continent4 ,and the people who were in the land northward did dwell in tents1 and in houses of cement1 and they did suffer whatsoever tree should spring up upon the face of the land that it should grow up1 that in time they might have timber to build their houses1 yea1 their cities1 and their temples1 and their synagogues1 and their sanctuaries1 and all manner of their buildings4 ,and it came to pass as timber was exceeding scare in the land northward1 they did send forth much by the way of shipping2 and thus they did enable the people in the land northward that they might build many cities1 both of wood and of cement4 #h ,these statements1 ,i believe1 justify the conclusion that the ,nephites1 in the main1 used timber--perishable material--for building purposes1 and hence the monuments of their civilization so far as architectural remains are concerned in the most northern parts occupied by them have very largely perished1 as well in the north as in the south1 except perhaps to the extent that they may have rebuilt and reoccupied some of the old ,jaredite cities in the north continent4 ,an ,israelitish origin1 then1 is what is required for the second race inhabiting ,america2 a landing in ,south ,america2 a gradual movement northward until they took possession of the north as well as the south continent2 their civilization of a lighter order so far as expressed in solidity of buildings or the number of cities1 and spread over a more extensive area than that of the ,jaredites2 an intermixture of the monuments of the one1 with the ruins of the other2 knowledge of the ,mosaic institutions and history of the ancient world1 through the ,hebrew scriptures2 special signs at ,messiah's birth1 and appalling cataclysms throughout the land at his crucifixion2 the appearing of ,messiah to them and the establishment of a ,christian church2 the overthrow of the ,nephite government and civilization about the opening of the fifth century ,a4 ,d4 ,these are the main facts for which we seek proofs in ,american antiquities1 so far as the ,nephite period of the ,book of ,mormon is concerned4 ,of course it may be possible that in the present state of knowledge of ,american antiquities evidences for all these facts may not now be obtainable2 but if evidences tending to prove them can be pointed out at all1 it will be so much in favor of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,meantime the reader should be cautioned not to expect too much from the character of the evidence now to be considered1 nor should he be discouraged if in quantity and clearness it falls below his expectations4 ,it must be remembered that examination of our ,american antiquities1 especially in ,central ,america1 has not yet been made as thoroughly as it will be2 there are many buried cities and other monuments yet to be heard from1 #i as also1 a better understanding of those monuments of ancient ,american civilization already brought to light4 ,moreover1 it should be remembered that for many ages the ,bible stood practically without the advantages of monumental testimony in its support4 ,not until modern times have learned men penetrated the eastern countries to return ladened with exact knowledge of monumental testimony to the truth of the ,bible4 ,not until the discovery and translation of the ,rosetta ,stone1 early in the last century1 was an impetus given to explorations in ,egypt1 the ,sinaitic ,peninsula1 ,palestine and the ,euphrates valley--,bible lands--resulting in that collection of collateral evidence for the truth of the ,bible noted in a former chapter4 ,one should not be impatient1 then1 if the ,book of ,mormon has to wait some time yet for the development of that fulness of monumental testimony to its truth which ,i am sure lies hidden in the1 as yet1 imperfectly known1 and still less perfectly understood1 antiquities of the western hemisphere4 ,footnotes #a4 ,see chapter ,x4 #b4 ,see chapter ,x4 #c4 ,,ii ,nephi #e3a-ac4 #d4 ,the ,nephite land of ,bountiful4 #e4 ,mormon #h3a-aj4 #f4 ,,ii ,nephi #e3ae4 #g4 ,jarom #a3h4 #h4 ,helaman #c3f-aa4 #i4 ,on this point ,mr4 ,baldwin says3 ,to understand the situation of most of the old ruins in ,central ,america1 one must know something of the wild condition of the country4 ,mr4 ,squier says3 ',by far the greater proportion of the country is in its primeval state1 and covered with dense1 tangled1 and almost impenetrable tropical forests1 rendering fruitless all attempts at systematic investigation4 ,there are vast tracts untrodden by human feet1 or traversed only by ,indians who have a superstitious reverence for the moss-covered1 and crumbling monuments hidden in the depths of the wilderness4 99 99 99 ,for these and other reasons1 it will be long before the treasures of the past1 in ,central ,america1 can become fully known4' ,a great forest of this character covers the southern half of ,yucatan1 and extends far into ,guatemala1 which is half covered by it4 ,it extends also into ,chiapa and ,tabasco1 and reaches into ,honduras4 ,the ruins known as ,copan and ,palenque are in this forest1 not far from its southern edge4 ,its vast depths have never been much explored4 ,there are ruins in it which none but wandering natives have ever seen1 and some1 perhaps1 which no human foot has approached for ages4 ,it is believed that ruins exist in nearly every part of this vast wilderness4 ,ancient ,america1 pp4 #id1 #ie4 ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,,indirect ,,external ,,evidences--,,american ,,antiquities4 ,,preliminary ,,considerations4--,continued4 ,,iii4 ,of the ,probability of ,intercourse ,between the ,eastern and ,western ,hemispheres ,during ,jaredite and ,nephite ,times4 ,another remark should be made in these preliminary observations1 viz43 ,it cannot possibly be in conflict with the ,book of ,mormon to concede that the northeastern coast of ,america may have been visited by ,norsemen in the tenth century2 or that ,celtic adventurers came to ,america even at an earlier date1 but subsequent to the close of the ,nephite period4 ,it might even be possible that migrations came by way of the ,pacific ,islands to the western shores of ,america4 ,i think it indisputable that there have been migrations from northeastern ,asia into the extreme north parts of ,north ,america1 by way of ,behring straits1 where the continents of ,asia and ,north ,america are separated by a distance of but thirty-six miles of ocean4 ,the reasons for this belief are first1 a positive identity of race between the ,esquimaux of ,north ,america and the ,esquimaux of northern ,asia2 and1 second1 a very clear distinction of race between the ,esquimaux and the ,american ,indians of all other parts of ,north ,america4 #a ,none of these migrations are impossible or even improbable1 though it must be stated in passing that the proofs for at least some of them rest on no historical evidence4 ,whether the theory that in ancient times the ,phoenicians and their colonists1 the ,carthagenians1 had intercourse with the shores of ,america is true or not ,i cannot determine4 ,the historical evidence is insufficient to justify a positive opinion2 neither does my treatise on the subject in hand require an extended consideration of this question4 ,it will be enough to say that if there were such intercourse1 both ,nephite and ,jaredite records in the ,book of ,mormon are silent with reference to it4 ,yet it must be conceded that the records now in hand1 especially that of the ,jaredites1 are but very limited histories of these people4 ,all we can say is that no mention of such intercourse is made in these records1 and yet it is possible that ,phoenician vessels might have visited some parts of the extended coasts of the western world1 and such events receive no mention in the ,jaredite or ,nephite records known to us4 #b ,equally unnecessary is it for me to inquire whether or not the ancient inhabitants of ,america discovered ,europe1 as some contend they did4 #c ,it is not impossible that between the close of the ,nephite period and the discovery of the western world by ,columbus1 ,american craft made their way to ,european shores4 ,and even should further investigation prove that in ,nephite or even in ,jaredite times such voyages were made1 it would not affect the ,book of ,mormon and the inquiry we are making concerning it4 ,as stated in respect of ,phoenicians and other people making their way to ,america's extended coasts1 so it may be said1 with reference to this other theory that ,americans discovered ,europe1 no mention is made of such an event in the ,book of ,mormon4 ,but it should be remembered that for the history of the ,jaredites we have but ,moroni's abridgment of ,ether's twenty-four plates4 ,had we ,ether's history of the ,jaredites in full1 it could be but a very limited history of so great a people1 and for so long a period--sixteen centuries--barely an outline1 and wholly inadequate to give one any clear conception of their national greatness1 the extent of their migrations1 or the grandeur of their civilization4 ,and yet1 even of this brief history we have but an abridgment1 of which ,moroni informs us he has not written a hundredth part4 #d ,hence our very limited knowledge of the ,jaredites and their movements4 ,while our knowledge of the ,nephites is more extensive than our knowledge of the ,jaredites1 we have to confess its narrow limits also4 ,the ,book of ,mormon is1 in the main1 but an abridgment of the larger ,nephite records2 and at the point where ,nephite civilization reached its fullest development1 ,mormon informs us that a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people1 yea1 the account of the ,lamanites and of the ,nephites1 and their wars1 and contentions1 and dissensions1 and their preaching1 and their prophecies1 and their shipping1 and their building of ships1 and their building of temples1 and of synagogues and their sanctuaries1 and their righteousness1 and their wickedness1 and their murders1 and their robbings1 and their plunderings1 and all manner of abominations and whoredoms1 cannot be contained in this work4 #e ,i repeat1 then1 even in ,jaredite and ,nephite times voyages could have been made from ,america to the shores of ,europe1 and yet no mention of it be made in ,nephite and ,jaredite records now known4 ,i know of but one utterance in the ,book of ,mormon that would in any respect be against the probability of intercourse between the old world and the new1 in ,nephite times2 and that is found in the following passage3 ,and behold1 it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations2 for behold1 many nations would overrun the land1 that there would be no place for an inheritance4 ,wherefore1 ,i1 ,lehi1 have obtained a promise1 that inasmuch as those whom the ,lord ,god shall bring out of the land of ,jerusalem shall keep his commandments1 they shall prosper upon the face of this land2 and they shall be kept from all other nations1 that they may possess this land unto themselves4 ,and if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land1 and there shall be none to molest them1 nor to take away the land of their inheritance2 and they shall dwell safely forever4 #f ,this was uttered in the first half of the sixth century ,b4 ,c4 ,it will be observed1 however1 that the covenant with ,lehi was based upon the condition that those whom the ,lord led to the land of ,america must keep his commandments2 a condition which was complied with only in part1 even during ,nephite supremacy2 and at the last it was wholly violated on the part of both ,nephites and ,lamanites1 and therefore may be eliminated as a substantial objection to the idea of intercourse between the old and the new world even during ,nephite times4 ,still1 in a general way1 this land was preserved unto the descendants of ,lehi until the coming of the ,spaniards in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries4 ,,iv4 ,the ,western ,world ,since the ,close of the ,nephite ,period--,the ,lamanite ,civilization4 ,other considerations that may affect the evidences of ,american antiquities to the ,book of ,mormon arise out of the conditions which have obtained in the western world since the close of the ,nephite period4 ,what ,i have called the ,nephite period closes with the commencement of the fifth century ,a4 ,d41 and as it was towards the close of the fifteenth century before ,america was discovered by the ,spaniards and made known to ,europeans1 there is a thousand years during which time many things may have happened to affect conditions in ,america by the time it was discovered by ,columbus2 and which1 at the time of that discovery1 and now1 influence1 not to say confuse1 our knowledge of ,american antiquities1 by indiscriminately mingling the modern with the ancient1 confounding local movements with more ancient and general migrations1 and mixing merely tribal events with the national affairs of more ancient times1 until things are rendered in some respects well nigh unintelligible4 ,when the ,nephites were overthrown in those last great battles about ,cumorah1 it appears that the victorious ,lamanites were possessed with the most frenzied determination to destroy the last vestige of civilization1 government1 and religion2 but when they had destroyed their enemies1 the ,nephites1 they continued the fighting among themselves1 until the whole face of the land was one continual scene of intestine wars4 #g ,how long such conditions continued no one knows1 since the ,book of ,mormon closes with its sad story of the overthrow of the ,nephites1 and there is nothing beyond this point--the early part of the fifth century ,a4 ,d4--by which we can be guided4 ,it is probable1 however1 that even anarchy at last spent its force2 something like tribal relations may have been brought into existence to take the place of the more elaborate and complex forms of government which had been overthrown1 and from these may have arisen confederacies of tribes as interest or fortune1 good or ill1 may have dictated1 until at last something like semi-civilization begun to arise out of the chaos which followed the destruction of the ,nephites4 ,the maddened ,lamanites might succeed in destroying every vestige of government1 religion and that order of society which had prevailed in former times1 but the memory of those things1 and the advantages of them1 could not be obliterated2 and the memory of them would be an incentive to strong minds to re-establish a settled order of things4 ,it should be remembered in this connection--as lending probability to what is said here--that when the ancient distinctions of ,nephite and ,lamanite were revived in #bca ,a4 ,d4 they no longer stood the former for the descendants of ,nephi and his following and the latter for the descendants of ,laman and his following1 as in earlier times2 nor did the former name now stand for a civilized people1 and the latter for a barbarous one1 as they had done in some parts of former ages4 ,in civilization the two parties stood equal1 and remained so through the one hundred and seventy troubled years which followed4 ,for more than two centuries following the appearance of the ,messiah in the western world1 there had been but one people on the land1 and these followers of the ,messiah--,christians4 ,this was the ,american golden age--the age of peace1 of prosperity1 of expansion1 until the lands1 both in the north and in the south were inhabited by a numerous and happy people4 ,then came pride which follows wealth2 and corruption which follows ease4 ,sects arose within the church1 schism followed schism4 ,then the wicked1 schismatical sects persecuted the true followers of ,christ4 ,the old distinctions of ,lamanite and ,nephite were revived2 and under these names an internecine war was begun4 ,the true followers of ,christ1 who had taken the name of ,nephites1 unhappily fell away from righteousness--were no longer ,christians1 in fact1 but fought on under the name the ,christians had assumed until the series of wars between the two parties ended in anarchy4 ,this much to remind the reader that there was no distinction in the matter of civilization during this period between ,lamanites and ,nephites4 ,after the fall of the ,nephite party--more proper than to say ,nephite people--followed the ,lamanite wars and anarchy2 from which1 however1 ,i have ventured the conjecture that there was a revolt1 and an effort made to return to settled orders of government1 and to some sort of civilization4 ,the last battles of the great and long continued war which ended in the destruction of the ,nephite party1 took place south of the great lake region1 about ,cumorah2 and to this part of the land had been drawn if not the bulk1 then certainly a very large proportion of the inhabitants of the land4 #h ,these moved southward in time1 tribe pressing upon tribe1 as ocean wave presses on ocean wave towards the shore2 and doubtless this movement of population southward after the disaster at ,cumorah1 accounts for those universal traditions found among the natives of ,mexico and ,central ,america of successive migrations from the north of powerful tribes or races who so much affected the political history of those countries4 #i ,as these tribes from the north reached the old centers of population and civilization they revived settled orders of government1 fastened themselves upon the weaker inhabitants as their rulers1 compelled industry among the lower orders1 gave encouragement to the arts that ministered to their ease and vanity1 encouraged learning at least among the sacerdotal orders1 and received the credit of founding a new order of civilization1 when in reality it was but a partial reviving of a former civilization1 upon which they fastened the dark and loathsome ,lamanite superstitiuous idolatry1 with its horrors of human sacrifice and cannibalism4 ,i believe these conjectures to be warranted by the fact that in several parts of the ,american continents1 viz43 in ,mexico1 ,central ,america1 and ,peru1 a civilization of no mean degree of advancement was found to exist at the time of the arrival of the ,spaniards2 and1 indeed1 there are not wanting authorities who assert that the civilization found in ,america by the ,spaniards1 both in ,mexico and ,peru1 was equal to their own4 ,such is the assertion of ,dr4 ,john ,w4 ,draper who says1 in speaking of the crimes of ,spain3 ,from ,mexico and ,peru a civilization that might have instructed ,europe was crushed out4 99 99 99 99 ,it has been her ,spain's evil destiny to ruin two civilizations1 ,oriental and ,occidental4 99 99 99 ,in ,america she destroyed races more civilized than herself4 #aj ,nadaillac remarks3 ,to sum up1 every thing goes to prove that the ancient races of ,central ,america possessed an advanced culture1 exact ideas on certain arts and sciences1 and remarkable technical knowledge4 ,as pointed out in #ahfi1 by ,morgan1 in the ,north ,american ,review1 the ,spanish succeeded in destroying in a few years a civilization undoubtedly superior in many respects to that which they endeavored to substitute for it4 #aa ,prescott places scarcely less value upon it4 ,he says3 ,enough has been said1 however1 to show that the ,aztec and ,tezcucan races were advanced in civilization very far beyond the wandering tribes of ,north ,america4 ,the degree of civilization which they reached1 as inferred by their political institutions1 may be considered1 perhaps1 not much short of that enjoyed by our ,saxon ancestors1 under ,alfred #hdi-ija ,a4 ,d44 ,in respect to the nature of it1 they may be better compared with the ,egyptians2 and the examination of their social relations and culture may suggest still stronger points of resemblance to that ancient people4 #ab ,h4 ,h4 ,bancroft says3 ,this1 however1 ,i may safely claim2 if the preceding pages inform us aright1 then were the ,nahuas1 the ,mayas1 and the subordinate and lesser civilization surrounding these1 but little lower than the contemporaneous civilization of ,europe and ,asia1 and not nearly so low as we have hitherto been led to suppose4 #ac ,john ,d4 ,baldwin1 writing in #ahga1 says3 ,we are told repeatedly that the ,spaniards employed ,mexican masons and found them very expert in the arts of building and plastering4 ,there is no good reason to doubt that the civilized condition of the country when the ,spaniards found it was superior to what it has been at any time since the conquest4 #ad ,tezcuco and ,mexico are both known to be comparatively modern cities1 ,mexico itself being founded no earlier than #acbe ,a4 ,d41 and ,prescott1 in speaking of an era of prosperity which followed the triple alliance of the states of ,mexico1 ,tezcuco1 and ,tlacopan says3 ,the ,aztec capital1 ,mexico gave evidence of public prosperity4 ,its frail tenements were supplanted by solid structures of stone and lime4 99 99 99 99 ,the dimensions of which1 covering the same ground1 were much larger than those of the modern capital of ,mexico4 #ae ,his description of the valley of ,mexico1 and its cities1 fields and orchards1 when first beheld by the invading ,spaniards under ,cortez1 is as follows3 ,stretching far away at their feet1 were seen noble forests of oak1 sycamore1 and cedar1 and beyond1 yellow fields of maize and the towering maguey1 intermingled with orchards and blooming gardens2 for flowers1 in such demand for their religious festivals1 were even more abundant in this populous valley than in other parts of ,anahuac4 ,in the center of the great basin were beheld the lakes1 occupying then a much larger portion of its surface than at present2 their borders thickly studded with towns and hamlets1 and1 in the midst--like some ,indian empress with her coronal of pearls--the fair ,city of ,mexico1 with her white towers and pyramidal temples1 reposing1 as it were1 on the bosom of the waters--the far-famed ,venice of the ,aztecs4 ,high over all rose the royal hill of ,chapoltepec1 the residence of the ,mexican monarchs1 crowned with the same grove of gigantic cypresses1 which at this day fling their broad shadows over the land4 ,in the distance beyond the blue waters of the lake1 and nearly screened by intervening foliage1 was seen a shining speck1 the rival capital of ,tezcuco1 and1 still further on1 the dark belt of porphyry1 girdling the valley around1 like a rich setting which nature had devised for the fairest of her jewels4 #af ,from the statements of ,bernal ,diaz we are also justified in believing that a somewhat similar state of civilization obtained in ,yucatan and other parts of ,central ,america4 ,while the well-known works of ,squier1 #ag ,baldwin1 ,rivero and ,tschudi1 #ah and the very excellent and popular volumes of ,prescott on ,peru1 justify us in the belief that while differing somewhat in its character1 the civilization of ,peru was equal and even superior in some respects--to that of ,mexico at the time of the conquest2 and the empire of the ,incas was even more extensive than that of the ,montezumas4 ,the civilization in ,america upon the advent of the ,spaniards--since there is no substantial historical evidence of foreign migrations in which it could have had its origin--must have arisen1 as already suggested1 from among the ,lamanites after the fall of the ,nephites at ,cumorah--it was ,lamanite civilization4 ,i would not have the reader form too exalted an opinion of that civilization1 however4 ,it found its chief expression1 where it attained its highest development1 in the existence of numerous cities1 palaces1 and temples2 in the existence of regular pursuits of industry1 of agriculture1 and manufactures2 in a settled order of society1 a regular order of government1 and a fixed establishment of religion4 ,so far as these conditions make for civilization1 ,mexico1 some parts of ,central ,america1 and ,peru1 can be said to be civilized4 ,but after this is said it must be claimed that much was lacking in the conditions existing in those parts of ,america in order to make them conform to the generally accepted idea of civilization4 ,the governments were cruel despotisms2 the industrial system reduced the masses to conditions scarcely removed from abject slavery2 the religion of ,mexico and ,central ,america1 at least1 was the darkest1 the most sanguinary1 and repulsive described in the annals of human history2 while the revolting practice of refined cannibalism was more widespread and horrible than among any other people whatsoever4 ,these and many other considerations1 too numerous to mention in detail1 must forbid our entertaining exalted notions of this ,lamanite civilization4 ,we shall see as we proceed with the unfoldment of our evidences1 that these horrible conditions were but the natural outgrowth of ,lamanite tendencies through all the course of their history4 ,v4 ,of the ,writers on ,american ,antiquities4 ,still another remark is necessary in these preliminary observations4 ,the authorities upon which we have to depend for our knowledge of ,american antiquities are widely conflicting4 ,there is not one that may be followed unreservedly1 and it is impossible to say with any degree of exactness what is even the concensus of opinion of authorities upon very many subjects1 so widely divergent and conflicting are their views4 ,this conflict of opinion extends to such important subjects as the following3 ,who were the first inhabitants of ,america8 ,were they indigenous races1 or is their presence in ,america due to migration8 ,if due to migration1 from what lands did they come8 ,was there one or several migrations8 ,what was the course of their migration8 ,are they of one or a number of distinct races8 ,are the monuments of civilization found in ,america ancient or comparatively modern8 ,do they represent the civilization of vanished races1 or are they the work of the not very remote ancestors of the ,indians8 ,is the civilization represented by these monuments really of a very high order1 or was it but a step or two removed from savagery8 ,in support of any one of these conflicting opinions about ,america's ancient inhabitants and their civilization one need not be at a loss to find respectable authorities4 ,one may support with honored names in this field of research the ,lost ,tribes of ,israel theory of the origin of the ,american ,indians2 the ,malay theory of origin2 the ,phoenician theory2 the ,egyptian1 the ,atlantic1 and a number of other minor theories4 #ai ,one can array a formidable list of authors in favor of the indigenous theory of origin for ancient ,american civilization2 and perhaps a still longer and equally learned list of authorities in favor of an exotic origin4 ,all of which makes it evident that writers upon the subject are to be weighed as well as counted2 and also warns us that in the presence of such a diversity of opinions many things pertaining to ,american antiquities must remain open questions4 ,it must be remembered that as yet1 so far as man's researches are concerned1 but little is really known about ancient ,america4 ,that1 as a ,frenchman remarks1 has yet to be discovered4 ,true1 many of her ancient monuments have been located1 but they seem to tell a different story to each explorer who looks upon them4 ,there are not wanting stone tablets of hieroglyphics1 and ancient documents written on skins and paper2 #bj but up to the present time they are sealed books even to the learned4 ,meantime no ,rosetta ,stone is discovered #ba to furnish the key to their decipherment1 and no learned ,american ,champollion as yet #bb comes forward to reveal their mystery4 ,in considering authorities upon ,american antiquities1 one thing should be especially observed3 one should be upon his guard against the credulity and bias of the early writers2 and equally upon his guard against the skepticism and bias of the more modern ones4 ,the former1 living in an age of superstition and credulity1 and having special interests to serve1 would have us believe too much2 the latter1 living in an age super-critical and doubting1 would have us believe too little4 ,there is no doubt but what the ,spanish writers connected with the conquest of ,america colored their narratives to give importance in the eyes of their countrymen in ,europe to the events with which they were associated2 and they likely exaggerated whatever had such a tendency4 ,hence greater empires1 more formidable armies1 and more imposing civilizations than really existed in ,america at the time of the conquest1 were described4 ,so with the missionaries who accompanied the first ,european expeditions and those who immediately followed them4 ,they sometimes very likely saw analogies between the ,christian faith and some of the traditions and superstitions of the natives where none existed4 ,so closely did some of the native traditions and ceremonies resemble ,catholic ,christian dogma and rites that the over-zealous priests came to the conclusion that the devil had in ,america counterfeited some parts of the ,christian religion and intermixed it with the native paganism1 the better to encompass the damnation of the natives and hinder the progress of the ,christian religion4 ,this led to the destruction of many ,aztec manuscripts which were regarded by some of the priests as works on magic1 and in other ways were supposed to uphold the idolatry of the natives4 ,this idea strongly impressed the first archbishop of ,mexico1 ,don ,juan de ,zumarraga1 #bc who from a number of cities caused large quantities of the native manuscripts to be collected and destroyed4 ,the collection from ,tezcuco was especially large1 since--as ,prescott describes it--,tezcuco was the great depository of the national archives4 ,the archbishop caused these collected manuscripts to be piled up in a 'mountainlike heap1'--as it is called by the ,spanish writers themselves--in the market place at ,tlateloco and reduced them all to ashes4 99 99 99 ,the unlettered soldiery were not slow in imitating the example of their prelate4 ,every chart and volume which fell into their hands was wantonly destroyed3 so that when the scholars of a later and more enlightened age anxiously sought to recover some of these memorials of civilization1 nearly all had perished1 and the few surviving were jealously hidden by the natives4 #bd ,and thus was destroyed materials which might have gone far towards solving the mystery that enshrouds the people and civilization of ancient ,america4 ,these native records were more numerous than they are generally thought to be4 ,baldwin1 in speaking of the people of ,central ,america and ,mexico1 says3 ,the ruins show that they had the art of writing1 and that at the south this art was more developed1 more like a phonetic system of writing1 than we find in use among the ,aztecs4 ,the inscriptions of ,palenque1 and the characters used in some of the manuscript books that have been preserved1 are not the same as the ,mexican picture writing4 ,it is known that books of manuscript writings were abundant among them in the ages previous to the ,aztec period4 99 99 99 ,las ,casas wrote on this point as follows3 ',it should be known that in all the commonwealths of these countries1 in the kingdoms of ,new ,spain and elsewhere1 among other professions duly filled by suitable persons1 was that of chronicler and historian4 ,these chroniclers had knowledge of the origin of the kingdoms1 and of whatever relates to religion and the gods1 as well as to the founders of towns and cities4 ,they recorded the history of kings1 and of the modes of their election and succession2 of their labors1 actions1 wars1 and memorable deeds1 good and bad2 of the virtuous men or heroes of former days1 their great deeds1 the wars they had waged1 and how they had distinguished themselves2 who had been the earliest settlers1 what had been their ancient customs1 their triumphs and defeats4 ,they knew1 in fact whatever pertained to history1 and were able to give an account of all past events4 99 99 99 ,our priests have seen those books1 and ,i myself have seen them likewise1 though many were burned at the instigation of the monks1 who were afraid they might impede the work of conversion4' ,books such as those here described by ,las ,casas must have contained important historical information4 ,the older books1 belonging to the ages of ,copan and ,palenque1 went to decay doubtless long previous to his time1 in the wars and revolutions of the ,toltec period1 or by the wear of time4 ,the later books1 not otherwise lost1 were destroyed by ,aztec and ,spanish vandalism4 #be ,respecting native writers following the conquest1 they were men who acquired the ,spanish language and wrote on the history of their people either in ,spanish1 or1 if in their own language they employed the ,spanish alphabet--of them it is said1 and one may readily admit the reasonableness of the statement--most of them were thoroughly imbued with the spirit of their converters1 and their writings as a class are subject to the same criticism4 #bf ,naturally these native writers would emphasize that which would glorify their own country and exalt the character of its civilization2 belonging to a conquered race--the soreness of the conflict past--they would be but too prone to please1 in order to stand in favor with1 their conquerors2 while their religious zeal would prompt them to find as many analogies as possible between their old faith and the one to which they were converted4 ,all of which would tend to exaggeration in the same general direction as that followed by the early ,spanish writers4 ,but because of these tendencies to exaggeration it does not follow that all the works of early ,spanish or native writers on ,america are to be described as of no value or even as of little value4 ,as justly remarked by ,h4 ,h4 ,bancroft1 ,do we reject all the events of ,greek and ,roman history1 because the historians believed that the sun revolved about the earth1 and attributed the ordinary phenomena of nature to the actions of the imaginary gods8 99 99 99 ,and finally1 can we reject the statements of able and conscientious men--many of whom devoted their lives to the study of aboriginal character and history1 from an honest desire to do the natives good--because they deem themselves bound by their priestly vows and the fear of the inquisition to draw scriptural conclusions from each native tradition8 ,the same remarks apply to the writings of converted and educated natives1 influenced1 to a great degree1 by their teachers2 more prone1 perhaps1 to exaggeration through national pride1 but at the same time better acquainted with the native hieroglyphics4 ,to pronounce all these works deliberately executed forgeries1 as a few modern writers have done1 is too absurd to require refutation4 #bg ,and to this ,i would add a protest against that spirit of skepticism which in these same modern writers1 when they do not pronounce the works referred to by ,bancroft as forgeries1 insist upon so far discrediting them by their sophistries of criticism that they might as well pronounce them outright forgeries4 ,undoubtedly the trend of modern writers is in support of the theory both of an indigenous people and civilization for ,america1 and the latter of no very high order4 ,in support of this theory they do not hesitate to discredit most of the native traditions recorded by the earlier writers1 which tell of migrations of their ancestors from distant countries2 of golden ages of prosperity and peace1 and of an ancient1 splendid civilization4 ,it is difficult to determine always which is most to be discounted1 the writers through whom the traditions of the glorious past are transmitted to us1 or those who would dismantle that part of its glory and present us with an ancient ,america undeveloped beyond the point of middle savagery4 ,perhaps in this1 as in so many other things where man's prejudices are involved1 the truth will be found at about an equal distance between the two extremes2 and even under this adjustment of the conflicting claims of authorities1 ,i am sure we shall find much that will in an incidental way support the claims of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,footnotes #a4 ,vivier de ,saint ,martin1 in the new ,dictionary of ,universal ,geography1 article ,american ,ethnology1 states that the tribes all along the ,arctic ,ocean known as the ,esquimaux are a race absolutely distinct from all other ,american natives1 7,de ,roo1 ,history of ,america ,before ,columbus1 vol4 ,i1 pp4 #cje1 #cji47 #b4 ,all these theories are considered at length in ,h4 ,h4 ,bancrofts' ,native ,races1 vol4 ,v1 ch4 #a1 and also in the ,history of ,america ,before ,columbus1 by ,p4 ,de ,roo1 vol4 ,i1 chs4 #f and #h4 #c4 ,the question is considered at length by ,de ,roo in his ,history of ,america ,before ,columbus1 vol4 ,i1 ch4 #g1 in support of which theory he quotes many authorities4 #d4 ,ether #ae3cc4 #e4 ,helaman #c3ad4 #f4 ,,ii ,nephi #a3h-i4 #g4 ,see ,mormon4 ch4 #h3 #a-aa4 #h4 ,see ,mormon #f4 #i4 ,very naturally there is much confusion on the subject of migratory movements among the ancient native inhabitants of ,america1 and this owing to the confounding of migrations from the old world with later intercontinental movements4 ,also there is a great division of opinion among authorities upon the subject1 some alleging1 for instance1 that the tribes who established the civilization1 found in ,mexico by the ,spaniards1 came from the north--some from the northeast1 others from the northwest while others insist that the movement was from ,central ,america northward4 ,the controversy waged on this subject is too extensive to be introduced into this note or even into this work4 ,but ,i may here say that the disagreement among so many writers worthy of our respect grows out of the fact that there were movements both north and south which leads to their confusion4 ,we know from the ,book of ,mormon that the general migratory movement of the ,nephites at an early date--#ee ,b4 ,c4--was from the south northward2 while during the period of peace which followed ,messiah's advent1 there was unrestricted movements of population north and south4 ,then came the period of gathering in the north1 south of the great lakes1 ending in the disaster about ,cumorah2 then the movement of the people from the north southward to the old centers of population1 and the reviving of partially civilized conditions4 ,one class of writers seized upon the fragmentary tradition concerning this northward movement for their conclusions1 while another class seizes upon the tradition of the southward movement for their authority1 and hence the conflict4 ,of the traditions of the northern origin of the ,aztecs1 ,prescott remarks3 ,traditions of the western1 or northwestern1 origin were found among the more barbarous tribes1 and by the ,mexicans were preserved both orally and in their hieroglyphical maps1 where the different stages of their migrations are carefully noted4 ,but who1 at this day1 shall read them8 ,they are admitted to agree1 however1 in representing the populous north as the prolific hive of the ,american races4 ,in this quarter were placed their ,aztlan1 and their ,huehuetapallan1 the bright abode of their ancestors1 whose warlike exploits rivalled those which the ,teutonic nations have recorded of ,odin and the mythic heroes of ,scandanavia4 ,from this quarter the ,toltecs1 the ,chichemecs1 and the kindred races of the ,nahuatlacs1 came successively up the great plateau of the ,andes1 spreading over its hills and valleys1 down to the ,gulf of ,mexico4 7,conquest of ,mexico1 vol4 ,,ii1 pp4 #cig1 #cih1 ,burt ,co41 ,n4 ,y47 ,also ,nadaillac speaking of the invaders of the valley of ,mexico says3 ,all these men1 whether ,toltecs1 ,chichimecs1 or ,aztecs1 believed that their people came from the north1 and migrated southward1 seeking more fertile lands1 more genial climates1 or perhaps driven before a more warlike race2 one wave of emigration succeeding another4 ,we must1 according to this tradition1 seek in more northern regions the cradle of the ,nahuatl race4 7,pre-,historic ,america1 p4 #ac47 ,baldwin1 quoting ,brasseus de ,bourbourg and ,sahagun allows a northeast migration for the ,toltecs 7,ancient ,america1 pp4 #bjj1 #bjb71 but insists that the ,aztecs who succeeded these races in the occupation of the valley of ,mexico came from the south 7pp4 #bag1 #bah74 ,this view of the southern origin for the ,aztecs is also maintained at some length and by an extensive citation of authorities by ,bancroft4 7,native ,races1 vol4 ,v1 ch4 #c47 #aj4 ,intellectual ,development of ,europe1 vol4 ,,ii4 pp4 #aff-afg4 #aa4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 p4 #chf4 #ab4 ,conquest of ,mexico1 vol4 ,i1 pp4 #eg1 #eh4 #ac4 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,ii1 pp4 #hjd1 #hje4 #ad4 ,ancient ,america1 7,baldwin7 p4 #bae4 #ae4 ,conquest of ,mexico1 7,prescott7 vol4 ,i1 p4 #ci4 #af4 ,conquest of ,mexico1 7,prescott7 vol4 ,i1 p4 #ced4 #ag4 ,peru1 ,incidents of ,travel and ,exploration of the ,land of the ,incas1 ,e4 ,george ,squier1 ,m4 ,a4 ,f4 ,s4 ,a4 #ah4 ,peruvian ,antiquities1 by ,rivero and ,tschudi2 the former director of the ,national ,museum at ,lima1 the latter a doctor of philosophy and medicine4 #ai4 ,under the broad range allowed by a descent from the sons of ,noah1 says ,mr4 ,john ,l4 ,stephens1 to whom we are indebted for most excellent works on ,american antiquities1 the ,jews1 the ,canaanites1 the ,phoenicians1 the ,carthaginians1 the ,greeks1 the ,scythians in ancient times2 the ,chinese1 the ,swedes1 the ,norwegians1 the ,welsh1 and the ,spaniards in modern times1 have had ascribed to them the honor of peopling ,america4 ,central ,america1 vol4 ,i1 pp4 #if1 #ig4 #bj4 ,there are eight or ten such collections4 ,their contents for the most part1 are published in ,lord ,kingsborough's monumental work4 ,a list of them and a description will also be found in ,bancroft's ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,ii1 ch4 #ag4 #ba4 ,see chapter #a1 p4 #cc4 #bb4 ,it was the ,french linguist and archaeologist1 ,jean ,francois ,champollion1 who discovered from the ,rosetta ,stone the key to the ,egyptian hieroglyphics4 #bc4 ,born #adhf1 died #aedi4 #bd4 ,conquest of ,mexico1 vol4 ,i1 pp4 #hi1 #ij4 #be4 ,ancient ,america1 pp4 #ahg1 #ahh1 ,j4 ,d4 ,baldwin4 #bf4 ,native ,races1 ,bancroft1 vol4 ,v1 p4 #adg4 #bg4 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,v1 pp4 #ade1 #adf4 ,the whole chapter from which the above passage is quoted deals with the subject of the early writers on ancient ,america1 and could with profit be considered by the reader4 ,w4 ,h4 ,prescott also has a very choice set of notes on the subject of the same class of writers in his first book on the conquest of ,mexico1 especially those notes following each chapter on some special authority on whom he mainly relies for the statements in his text4 ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,,indirect ,,external ,,evidences--,,american ,,antiquities--,continued4 ,the ,book of ,mormon1 as already stated1 requires the evidence of the existence of a very ancient civilization in the north continent of ,america1 with its central and most enduring monuments in our ,central ,american states4 ,also the evidences of a later civilization somewhat overlaying and intermixed with the former2 the monuments of these two civilizations1 however1 may be somewhat confused by the rise of another1 though inferior civilization1 during the thousand years immediately preceding the advent of the ,spaniards in ,america1 which had begun to raise itself out of that chaos of confusion into which things were thrown by the destruction of the ,nephites and their government4 ,under these circumstances it may be extremely difficult to separate these antiquities and assign each group to its proper division4 ,but this much we feel confident can be done2 evidence can be adduced that such ancient civilizations did exist2 that the monuments of one has overlaid and intermixed with the others2 that the central location of the first was in our ,central ,states of ,america1 and so far as such evidence is adduced1 to that extent the claims of the ,book of ,mormon will be sustained4 ,in the presentation of such evidence ,i can only take the humble part of compiler of it from the writings of others1 since ,i lay no claim to original investigation of the matter2 and even in the work of presenting the utterances of conceded authorities upon the subject1 one stands momentarily confused1 not because of the lack of matter to present to the reader1 but in the matter of selecting from the great mass those passages suitable for our limited space1 and which shall be most direct and convincing4 ,with so much by way of introduction1 then1 ,i present first of all3-- ,i4 ,the ,evidence of the ,existence of ,ancient ,civilizations in ,america4 ,considering the vast extent of these remains1 i4 e4 of ancient cities1 pyramids and temples spreading over more than half the continent1 and that in ,mexico1 and ,south ,america1 after the lapse of an unknown series of ages1 they still retain much of ancient grandeur which ,time's effacing fingers have failed to obliterate4 ,it is certainly no wild flight of the imagination to conjecture that in ancient times1 even coeval with the spread of science in the east1 empires may have flourished here that would vie in power and extent with the ,babylonian1 the ,median1 or the ,persian2 and cities that might have rivaled ,nineveh1 and ,tyre1 and ,sidon2 for of these empires and these cities1 the plains of ,asia now exhibit fewer1 and even less imposing relics1 than are found of the former inhabitants of this country4 #a ,we venture to say that the aboriginal inhabitants of our hemisphere have not till this day received their meed for ancient bravery1 nautical skill1 and wonderful attainments in geography and in every branch of material advancement and of civilization generally4 ,ancient prehistoric ,america was1 indeed1 a civilized world4 99 99 99 99 99 ,proceeding from north to south1 we find from distance to distance unmistakable traces of mighty1 skilful1 and learned nations that had either wholly disappeared from the face of the earth1 or had become degenerated and degraded to such an extent as to be irrecognizable at the time of not only the ,spanish1 but even of the ,northman tenth century discoveries4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,mayas ,central ,america were intellectual giants1 indeed4 ,the ruins of their vast public works1 of their costly edifices1 of their sculptures and paintings1 and of their finely carved symbolic writings attest the height of a civilization of which we might well be proud today4 ,and yet all these evidences of a glorious past lay buried for long centuries before ,columbus' discovery in the virgin forests of ,yucatan4 ,palenque1 ,uxmal1 ,copan1 and several other ruined cities of ,central ,america are as grand and beautiful monuments on the cemeteries of the ,new ,world as are ,troy1 ,babylon1 and ,thebes on those of the ,old2 and their antiquity does not seem to be less venerable4 ,they certainly pertain to ,america's remotest period4 ,they were ruins more than they are now1 in the sixteenth century2 the native of the neighboring region knew nothing of their origin1 and no notice whatever of the existence of such cities appears in the annals of the surrounding civilized nations during the eight or nine centuries preceding the ,spanish conquest4 ,bancroft is even of the opinion that the ,maya grandeur was already at its height several centuries before ,christ4 #b ,after speaking of various evidences of civilization in ,america1 ,nadaillac remarks3 ,but we need not give any further account of these great discoveries4 ,we must return to the companions of ,cortez to tell of the new wonders which awaited them4 ,even in the most remote districts in the primeval forests covering ,chiapas1 ,guatemala1 ,honduras1 and ,yucatan1 where1 through the dense undergrowth a passage had often to be forced1 axe in hand1 statues1 columns1 hieroglyphics1 unoccupied villages1 abandoned palaces1 and stately ruins1 rose on every side1 mute witnesses of past ages and of vanished races4 ,everywhere the conquerors were met by tokens1 not only of a civilization even more ancient and probably more advanced than that of the races they subjugated1 but also of struggles and wars1 those scourges of humanity in every race and every clime4 #c ,continuing further on in his admirable work1 the same writer says3 ,undoubtedly ,america bears witness to a venerable past2 and without admitting the claims of some recent authors who are of opinion that when ,europe was inhabited by wandering savages1 whose only weapons were roughly hewn of stone1 ,america was already peopled by men who built cities1 raised monuments1 and had attained to a high degree of culture1 we must admit that their civilization and social organization can only have become what it was by degrees4 99 99 99 ,to erect the monuments of ,mexico and ,peru1 the yet more ancient ones of ,central ,america--the singular resemblance of which1 in some particulars1 to the temples and palaces of ,egypt1 strike the archaeologist--must have required skilled labor1 a numerous population1 and an established priesthood1 such as could have developed only during the lapse of centuries4 99 99 99 ,to sum up3 multitudes of races and nations have arisen upon the ,american continent and have disappeared1 leaving no trace1 but ruins1 mounds1 a few wrought stones1 or fragments of pottery4 #d ,in the ,new ,world1 mysterious mounds and gigantic earth-works arrest our attention4 ,here we find deserted mines1 and there we can trace the sites of ancient camps and fortifications4 ,the ,indians of the prairies seem to be intruders on a fairer civilization4 ,we find here evidences of a teeming population4 ,in the presence of their imposing ruins1 we can not think that nomadic savages built them4 ,they give evidences rather of a people having fixed habitations1 and seem to imply the possession of a higher civilization than that of the ,indians4 ,these questions demand solution2 but how shall we solve the problem8 ,save here and there a deserted camp1 or a burial mound1 containing perhaps articles of use or adornment1 all traces have vanished4 ,their earth-works and mounds are being rapidly leveled by the plow of modern times1 and the scholar of the future can only learn from books of their mysterious builders4 ,in ,mexico1 and further south1 we find the ruins of great cities4 ,to the student of antiquity1 these far surpass in interest the ruined cities of the ,nile or ,euphrates valley4 ,babylon of old1 with its walls1 towers1 and pleasure resorts1 was indeed wonderful4 ,in our own land cities1 if not as ancient1 yet fallen in more picturesque ruin1 reward the labors of the explorer4 ,uxmal1 ,copan1 and ,palenque1 invite our attention4 ,here are hieroglyphics in abundance1 but no ,rosetta ,stone supplies the key by whose aid a ,champollion can unravel the mystery4 #e ,closely enveloped in the dense forests of ,chiapas1 ,guatemala1 ,yucatan1 and ,honduras1 the ruins of several ancient cities have been discovered1 which are far superior in extent and magnificence to any seen in ,aztec territory4 99 99 99 ,most of these cities were abandoned and more or less unknown at the time of the conquest4 ,they bear hieroglyphic inscriptions apparently identical in character2 in other respects they resemble each other more than they resemble the ,aztec ruins--or even other and apparently later works in ,guatemala1 and ,honduras4 ,all these remains bear evident marks of great antiquity4 ,their existence and similarity1 the occupation of the whole country at some remote period by nations far advanced in civilization1 and closely allied in manners and customs1 if not in blood and language4 ,furthermore1 the traditions of several of the most advanced nations point to a widespread civilization introduced among a numerous and powerful people by ,votan and ,zamna1 who1 or their successors1 built the cities referred to1 and founded great allied empires in ,chiapas1 ,yucatan1 and ,guatemala2 and moreover1 the tradition is confirmed by the universality of one family of languages or dialects spoken among the civilized nations1 and among their descendants to this day4 #f ,that the population of ,central ,america 7and in this term ,i include ,mexico7 was at one time very dense1 and had attained to a high degree of civilization1 higher even than that of ,europe in the time of ,columbus1 there can be no question2 and it is also probable1 as ,i have shown1 that they originally belonged to the white race4 #g ,finally1 from all we can gather from this momentous subject1 we are compelled from the overwhelming amount of evidence to admit that mighty nations1 with almost unbounded empire1 with various degrees of improvement1 have occupied the continent1 and that1 as in the old world1 empire has succeed empire1 rising one out of the other1 from the jarring interests of the unwieldly and the ferocious mass--so also in this4 #h ,the foregoing is perhaps sufficient for the purpose of establishing the mere fact of the existence of extensive and highly developed civilization in ,america1 especially as many of the quotations on some of the other divisions of the subject will also bear upon this point4 ,i now take up the matter of the chief centers of those old civilizations4 ,,ii4 ,chief ,centers of ,ancient ,american ,civilization4 ,the following is from ,baldwin's ,ancient ,america3 ,it has been said1 not without reason1 that the civilization found in ,mexico by ,spanish conquerors consisted1 to a large extent1 of fragments from the wreck that befell the ,american civilization of antiquity4 ,to find the chief seats and most abundant remains of the most remarkable civilization of this old ,american race1 we must go still farther south into ,central ,america and some of the more southern states of ,mexico4 ,here ruins of many ancient cities have been discovered1 cities which must have been deserted and left to decay in ages previous to the beginning of the ,aztec supremacy4 ,most of these ruins were found buried in dense forests1 where1 at the time of the ,spanish conquest1 they had been long hidden from observation4 #i ,marcus ,wilson1 in speaking of the central location of the ancient ,american civilization and its probable radiating points1 says3 ,it is believed that the western shores of this continent1 and perhaps both ,mexico and ,peru--equally distant from the equator1 and in regions the most favorable for the increase and the support of human life1 were the radiating points of early ,american civilization2 from which1 as from the hearts of empire1 pulsation after pulsation sent forth their streams of life throughout the whole continent4 ,but the spread of civilization appears to have been restricted1 as we might reasonably expect to find it1 to those portions of the continent where the rewards of agriculture would support a numerous population4 ,hence1 following the course of the civilization1 by the remains it has left us1 we find it limited by the barren regions of upper ,mexico1 and the snows of ,canada on the north1 and the frosts of ,patagonia on the south2 and while in ,mexico and ,peru are found its grandest and most numerous monuments1 on the outskirts they dwindle away in numbers and in importance4 #aj ,in the ,central ,american region of the western continent are found ruins of what are pronounced by all scholars to be the highest civilization1 and the most ancient in time1 of any in the ,new ,world4 ,there it arose1 flourished1 and tottered to its fall4 ,its ,glory had departed1 its cities were a desolation1 before the coming of the ,spaniards4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the most important ruins are in the modern states of ,honduras1 ,guatemala1 ,chiapas1 and especially ,yucatan1 the northern portion of this peninsula being literally studded with them4 ,the river ,usumacinta1 and its numerous tributaries flowing in a northern direction through ,chiapas1 is regarded as the original home of the civilization whose ruins we are now to describe4 ,from whence the tribes came that first settled in this valley is as yet an unsettled point4 ,we notice that we have here another instance of the influence that fertile river valleys exert upon tribes settling therein4 ,the stories told us of the civilization that flourished in primitive times in the valley of the ,euphrates and the ,nile are not more wonderful--the ruins perhaps not more impressive--than are the traditions still extant1 or the material remains fallen in picturesque ruins1 of the civilization that once on a time held sway in the ,usumacinta valley4 #aa ,wherever there was a center of civilization1 that is1 wherever the surroundings favored the development of culture1 tribes of different stocks enjoyed it to nearly an equal degree1 as in central ,mexico and ,peru4 ,by them it was distributed1 and thus shaded off in all directions4 #ab ,a brief description of some of these ruins of ,central ,america cannot fail at this point to be both instructive and interesting4 ,i begin with the description of ,copan which1 by mutual consent of authorities1 we may regard as one of the most famous1 as also the most ancient1 of ,american ruins4 #ac ,,copan4 ,the ruins are situated in the west part of the modern state of ,honduras1 on the left bank of the ,copan river1 which empties into the ,montague4 ,the name ,copan is applied to the ruins because of their vicinity to an adjoining hamlet of that name1 so that ,copan is not to be regarded as the true name of the ancient city4 ,and now ,i quote the description from the works of ,john ,l4 ,stephens to whom the world is chiefly indebted for its knowledge of ,central ,american ruins4 ,i omit1 however1 the references to plans and engravings which occur in his excellent work3 ,the extent along the river1 as ascertained by monuments still found1 is more than two miles4 ,there is one monument on the opposite side of the river1 at the distance of a mile1 on the top of a mountain two thousand feet high4 ,whether the city ever crossed the river1 and extended to that monument1 it is impossible to say4 ,i believe not4 ,at the rear is an unexplored forest1 in which there may be ruins4 ,there are no remains of palaces or private buildings1 and the principal part is that which stands on the bank of the river1 and may1 perhaps1 with propriety be called the ,temple4 ,the temple is an oblong enclosure4 ,the front or river wall extends on a right line north and south six hundred and twenty-four feet1 and it is from sixty to ninety feet in height4 ,it is made of cut stones1 from three to six feet in length1 and a foot and a half in breadth4 ,in many places the stones have been thrown down by bushes growing out of the crevices1 and in one place there is a small opening1 from which the ruins are sometimes called by the ,indians1 ,las ,ventanas1 or the windows4 ,the other three sides consist of ranges of steps and pyramidal structures1 rising from thirty to one hundred and forty feet in height on the slope4 ,the whole line survey is two thousand eight hundred and sixty-six feet1 which1 though gigantic and extraordinary for a ruined structure of the aborigines1 that the reader's imagination may not mislead him1 ,i consider it necessary to say1 is not so large as the base of the great pyramid of ,ghizeh4 99 99 ,near the southwest corner of the river wall and the south wall is a recess1 which was probably once occupied by a colossal monument fronting the water1 no part of which is now visible2 probably it has fallen and been broken1 and the fragments have been buried or washed away by the floods in the rainy season4 ,beyond are the ruins of two small pyramidal structures1 to the largest of which is attached a wall running along the west bank of the river2 this appears to have been one of the principal walls of the city2 and between the two pyramids there seems to have been a gateway or principal entrance from the water4 ,the south wall runs at right angles to the river1 beginning with a range of steps about thirty feet high1 and each step about eighteen inches square4 ,at the southeast corner is a massive pyramidal structure one hundred and twenty feet high on the slope4 ,on the right are other remains of terraces and pyramidal buildings2 and here also was probably a gateway1 by a passage about twenty feet wide1 into a quadrangular area two hundred and fifty feet square1 two sides of which are massive pyramids one hundred and twenty feet high on the slope4 ,at the foot of these structures1 and in different parts of the quadrangular area1 are numerous remains of sculpture4 ,at one point is a colossal monument richly sculptured1 fallen1 and ruined4 ,behind it fragments of sculpture1 thrown from their place by trees1 are strewn and lying loose on the side of the pyramid1 from the base to the top2 and among them our attention was forcibly arrested by rows of death's heads of gigantic proportions1 still standing in their places about half way up the side of the pyramid2 the effect was extraordinary4 ,here follows the description of the gigantic stone monuments or carved images which were doubtless the idols of the ancient inhabitants of ,copan4 ,resuming his general description1 ,mr4 ,stephens says3 ,the whole quadrangle is overgrown with trees1 and interspersed with fragments of fine sculpture2 particularly on the east side1 and at the northwest corner is a narrow passage1 which was probably a third gateway4 ,on the right is a confused range of terraces running off into the forest1 ornamented with death's heads1 some of which are still in position1 and others lying about as they have fallen or been thrown down4 ,turning northward1 the range on the left hand continues a high1 massive pyramidal structure1 with trees growing out of it to the very top4 ,at a short distance is a detached pyramid1 tolerably perfect1 about fifty feet square and thirty feet high4 ,the range continues for a distance of about four hundred feet1 decreasing somewhat in height1 and along this there are but few remains of sculpture4 ,the range of structures turn at right angles to the left1 and runs to the river1 joining the other extremity of the wall1 at which we began our survey4 ,the bank was elevated about thirty feet above the river1 and had been protected by a wall of stone1 most of which had fallen down4 ,the plan was complicated1 and the whole ground1 being overgrown with trees1 difficult to make out4 ,there was no entire pyramid1 but at most1 two or three pyramidal sides1 and these joined on the terraces or other structures of the same kind4 ,beyond the wall or enclosure were walls1 terraces1 and pyramidal elevations running off into the forest1 which sometimes confused us4 ,probably the whole was not erected at the same time1 but additions were made and statues erected by different kings1 or1 perhaps in commemoration of important events in the history of the city4 ,along the whole line were ranges of steps with pyramidal elevations1 probably crowned on the top with buildings or altars now ruined4 ,all these steps of the pyramidal sides were painted and the reader may imagine the effect when the whole country was clear of forest and priest and people were ascending from the outside to the terraces1 and thence to the holy places within to pay their adoration in the temple4 ,then follows a description of pyramids and stone monuments and altars1 together with stone tablets of hieroglyphics which1 without the accompanying engravings of ,mr4 ,stephens' work1 would be unintelligible4 ,mr4 ,stephens visited the stone quarries which supplied the material for this magnificent city1 ruins of whose public buildings doubtless alone remain1 and if these extensive ruins but mark the site and grandeur of the public buildings1 as is most probable1 then how extensive indeed must have been the old city whose ruins we call ,copan6 ,while at the quarry1 some two miles distant from the ruins1 ,mr4 ,stephens indulged in the following reflections3 ,the range lies about two miles north from the river1 and runs east and west4 ,at the foot of it we crossed a wild stream4 ,the side of the mountain was overgrown with bushes and trees4 ,the top was bare1 and commanded a magnificent view of a dense forest broken only by the winding of the ,copan river1 and the clearings for the haciendas of ,don ,gregorio and ,don ,miguel4 #ad ,the city was buried in forest and entirely hidden from sight4 ,imagination peopled the quarry with workmen1 and laid bare the city to their view4 ,here1 as the sculptor worked1 he turned to the theatre of his glory1 as the ,greek did to the ,acropolis of ,athens1 and dreamed of immortal fame4 ,little did he imagine that the time would come when his works would perish1 his race be extinct1 his city a desolation and abode for reptiles1 for strangers to gaze at and wonder by what race it had once been inhabited4 ,relative to the antiquity and probable cause of the desertion of ,copan1 ,mr4 ,stephens writes3 ,in regard to the age of the desolate city ,i will not at present offer any conjecture4 ,some idea might perhaps be formed from the accumulations of earth1 and the gigantic trees growing on the top of the ruined structures1 but it would be uncertain and unsatisfactory4 ,nor shall ,i at this moment offer any conjecture in regard to the people who built it1 or to the time when or the means by which it was depopulated1 and became a desolation and ruin2 whether it fell by the sword1 or famine1 or pestilence4 ,the trees which shroud it may have sprung from the blood of its slaughtered inhabitants2 they may have perished howling with hunger2 or pestilence1 like the cholera1 may have piled its streets with dead1 and driven forever the feeble remnants from their homes2 of which dire calamities to other cities we have authentic accounts1 in eras both prior and subsequent to the discovery of the country by the ,spaniards4 ,one thing ,i believe1 that its history is graven on its monuments4 ,no ,champollion has yet brought to them the energies of his inquiring mind4 ,who shall read them8 ',chaos of ruins6 who shall trace the void1 ,o'er the dim fragments cast a lunar light1 ,and say 'here was or is1' where all is doubly night8' #ae ,,palenque ,i next call attention to the ruins of ,palenque1 situated about two hundred and sixty miles northwest from ,copan in the modern state of ,chiapas in the valley of the ,usumacinta river4 ,our space will not admit of the elaborate and detailed description given of this ancient city by the writers who have visited it1 and whose descriptions are usually attended with references to numerous cuts of pyramids1 temples1 ruined walls1 statuary1 tablets1 etc4 ,i have therefore decided to abridge the description of this city and its chief monuments from the admirable work of ,nadaillac3 ,the monuments of ,palenque are justly reckoned amongst the most remarkable in ,chiapas4 #af ,the town stands in the region watered by the ,usumacinta1 where settled the first immigrants of whom it has been possible to distinguish traces4 ,the position of ,palenque1 at the foot of the first buttresses of the mountain chain1 on the banks of the little river ,otolum1 one of the tributaries of the ,tulija1 was admirably chosen4 ,the streets extended for a length of from six to eight leagues1 7from eighteen to twenty-four miles7 irregularly following the course of the streams which descend from the mountains and furnish the inhabitants with an abundant supply of water necessary to them4 ,at the present day the ruins rise in solitude1 which adds to the effect produced by them4 ,they were long altogether unknown2 ,cortez1 in one of his expeditions1 passed within a few miles of ,palenque without suspecting its existence2 and it was not till #agdf1 that chance led to its discovery by a cure of the neighborhood4 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,among the best preserved ruins may be mentioned the palace1 the temple of the three tablets1 the temple of the bas-reliefs1 the temple of the cross1 and the temple of the sun4 ,we keep the names given by various explorers in the absence of better ones4 ,there are others1 but of less importance4 ,dupaix speaks of eleven buildings still standing1 and a few years before ,a4 ,del ,rio mentioned twenty2 ,waldeck says eighteen1 and ,maler1 who visited the ruins of ,palenque in #ahgg1 fixes the number of the temples or palaces at twelve4 ,these contradictions are more apparent than real1 and are explained by the different impressions of each traveler1 and the divisions he thought it necessary to adopt4 ,the palace1 the most important building of ,palenque1 rests on a truncated pyramid about forty feet high1 the base of which measures from three hundred and ten feet by two hundred and sixty4 ,the inside of this pyramid is of earth2 the external faces are covered with large slabs2 steps lead up to the principal building1 which forms a quadrilateral of two hundred and twenty-eight feet by one hundred and eighty2 the walls1 which are two or three feet thick1 are of rubble1 crowned by a frieze framed between two double cornices4 ,inside as well as outside they are covered with a very fine and durable stucco1 painted red or blue1 black or white4 ,the principal front faces the east2 it includes fourteen entrances about nine feet wide1 separated by pilasters ornamented with figures4 ,these figures measure more than six feet high1 and are full of movement2 while above the head of each are hieroglyphics inlaid in the stucco4 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,the inside of the palace corresponds with the magnificence of the outside2 there are galleries forming a peristyle all around the court2 and the rooms are decorated with granite bas-reliefs1 grotesque figures1 some thirteen feet high4 99 99 99 99 ,the expression of the figures speaks well for the skill of the artist2 but the execution is weak1 suggesting an art in decadence rather than the ruggedness of one in its infancy4 ,these rooms were united by corridors4 99 99 99 ,the architects of ,palenque were ignorant of the arch1 and their vaults were formed of oversailing courses1 one above the other1 as in the cyclopean monuments of ,greece and ,italy4 ,the building is finished off with a tower of three stories1 measuring thirty feet square at the base4 ,here1 too1 we find symbolical decorations1 which are very rich and in a very good state of preservation4 ,our author1 after excusing himself from mentioning many of the monuments of ,palenque1 for want of space1 says3 ,we must1 however1 mention one of them1 situated on the other bank of the ,otolum1 and known under the name of the ,temple of the ,cross4 ,it rises from a truncated pyramid and forms a quadrilateral with three openings in each face1 separated by massive pilasters1 some ornamented with hieroglyphics and some ornamented with human figures4 ,the frieze is also covered with human figures1 and amongst those still visible ,stephens mentions a head and two torsos1 which1 in their perfection of form1 recall ,greek art4 ,the openings1 all at right angles1 lead into an inside gallery communicating with three little rooms4 ,the central one of these rooms contains an altar1 which fairly represents an open chest1 ornamented with a little frieze with a margin4 ,from the two upper extremities of this frieze springs two wings1 recalling the mode of ornamentation so often employed in the pediments of ,egyptian monuments4 ,above the altar was originally placed the tablet of the cross1 which was afterward torn from its position by the hand of a fanatic1 who chose to see in it the sacred sign of the ,christian faith1 miraculously preserved by the ancient inhabitants of the palace4 ,the tablet was taken down and then abandoned1 we know not why1 in the midst of the forest covering part of the ruins4 ,here it was that the ,americans discovered part of it1 took possession of it1 and carried it to ,washington1 where it forms part of the collection of the ,national ,museum4 ,the center represents a cross1 resting upon a hideous figure1 and surmounted by a grotesque bird4 ,on the right1 a figure on foot is offering presents2 on the left1 another figure1 in a stiff attitude seems to be praying to the divinity4 ,the costume of these two persons is unlike any that is now in use2 and above their heads we can make out several hieroglyphical characters4 ,a slab on the right is also covered with them4 ,in the present state of knowledge it is impossible to make out whether these inscriptions are prayers to the gods1 the history of the country or that of the temple1 the name or the dedication of the founders4 ,at the end of the sanctuary recently discovered near ,palenque by ,maler1 are three slabs of sculptured stone in low relief4 ,on the right and left are hieroglyphics2 in the center a cross1 surmounted by a head of strange appearance1 wearing around the neck a collar with a medallion2 above this head is a bird1 and on either side are figures exactly like those of the temple of the cross4 ,evidently this was a hieratic type1 from which the artist was not allowed to depart4 99 99 99 ,we cannot leave the ruins of ,palenque without mentioning a statue1 remarkable for more than one reason4 ,the calm and smiling expression of the face resembles that of some of the ,egyptian statues2 the head-dress is a little like that of the ,assyrians2 there is a necklace around the neck2 the figure presses upon its bosom an instrument and rests its left hand upon an ornament1 the meaning of both of which it is difficult to imagine4 ,the plinth of the statue has a cartouch with a hieroglyphical inscription1 probably giving the name of the god or hero to whom it was dedicated4 ,there is a very distinct resemblance in some of these hieroglyphics to those of ,egypt4 #ag ,in concluding an extended description of the ruins of ,palenque1 ,bancroft says3 ,i close my account of ,maya antiquities with the following brief quotations respecting ,palenque1 and the degree of art exhibited in her ruined monuments3 ,these sculptured figures are not caricatures1 but display an ability on the part of the artists to represent the human form in every posture1 and with anatomical fidelity4 ,nor are the people in human life here delineated4 ,the figures are royal or priestly2 some are engaged in offering up sacrifices1 or are in an attitude of devotion2 many hold a sceptre1 or token baton of authority1 their apparel is gorgeous2 their head-dresses are elaborately arrayed1 and decorated with long feathers4 #ah ,many of the reliefs exhibit the finest and most beautiful outlines1 and the neatest combinations which remind one of the best ,indian works of art4 ,the ruins of ,palenque have been perhaps overrated2 these remains are fine1 doubtless1 in their antique rudeness2 they breathe out in the midst of their solitude a certain imposing grandeur2 but it must be affirmed1 without disputing their architectural importance1 that they do not justify in their details the enthusiasm of archaeologists4 ,the lines which make up the ornamentation are faulty in rectitude2 the designs in symmetry2 the sculpture in finish2 ,i except1 however1 the symbolic tablets1 the sculpture of which seemed to me very correct4 ,i admire the bas-reliefs of ,palenque on the facades of her old palaces2 they interest me1 move me1 and fill my imagination2 but let them be taken to the ,louvre1 and ,i see nothing but rude sketches which leave me cold and indifferent4 ,the most remarkable remains of an advanced ancient civilization hitherto discovered on our continent4 ,their general characteristics are simplicity1 gravity1 and solidity4 #ai ,while superior in the execution of the details1 the ,palenque artist was far inferior to the ,egyptian in the number and variety of the objects displayed by him4 #bj ,mr4 ,john ,l4 ,stephens1 whose comments upon the cities he visited in ,central ,america1 are always interesting1 remarks of the ruins of ,palenque3 ,what we had before our eyes was grand1 curious1 and remarkable enough4 ,here were the remains of a cultivated1 polished1 and peculiar people1 who had passed through all the stages incident to the rise and fall of nations2 reached their golden age1 and perished1 entirely unknown4 ,the links which connected them with the human family were severed and lost1 and these were the only memorials of their footsteps upon earth4 ,we lived in the ruined palaces of their kings2 we went up to their desolate temples and fallen altars2 and wherever we moved we saw the evidences of their taste1 their skill in arts1 their wealth and power4 ,in the midst of desolation and ruin we looked back to the past1 cleared away the gloomy forest1 and fancied every building perfect1 with its terraces and pyramids1 its sculptured1 and painted ornaments1 grand1 lofty1 and imposing1 and overlooking an immense inhabited plain2 we called back into life the strange people who gazed at us in sadness from the walls2 pictured them1 in fanciful costumes and adorned with plumes of feathers1 ascending the terraces of the palace and the steps leading to the temples2 and often we imagined a scene of unique and gorgeous beauty and magnificence1 realizing the creations of ,oriental poets1 the very spot which fancy would have selected for the ,happy ,valley of ,rasselas4 ,in the romance of the world's history nothing ever impressed me more forcibly than the spectacle of this once great and lovely city1 overturned1 desolate1 and lost2 discovered by accident1 overgrown with trees for miles around1 and without even a name to distinguish it4 ,apart from everything else1 it was a mourning witness to the world's mutations3-- 99 99 99 99 99 99 ',nations melt ,from power's high pinnacle1 when they have felt ,the sunshine for a while1 and downward go4' #ba ,footnotes #a4 ,history of ,united ,states1 ,marcus ,wilson1 ,book ,i1 ,american ,antiquities1 p4 #id4 #b4 ,history of ,america ,before ,columbus1 ,p4 ,de ,roo1 vol ,i1 pp4 #agc1 #agf1 #agg1 #agh4 #c4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 pp4 #aj1 #aa4 #d4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 pp4 #ac1 #ad #e4 ,the ,pre-,historic ,world1 or ,vanished ,races1 ,e4 ,a4 ,allen1 introduction1 pp4 #bc1 #bd4 #f4 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,ii1 pp4 #aaf1 #aag1 ,bancroft4 #g4 ,atlantis1 7,donnely7 p4 #cdi4 #h4 ,american ,antiquities1 ,priest1 p4 #ahf4 #i4 ,ancient ,america1 7,baldwin7 pp4 #ib1 #ic4 #aj4 ,history of the ,united ,states1 ,book ,i1 ,american ,antiquities1 pp4 #ic1 #id4 #aa4 ,the ,pre-,historic ,world1 or ,vanished ,races1 by ,e4 ,a4 ,allen 7#ahhe71 pp4 #efd1 #eff4 ,i quote this passage upon the location1 extent and grandeur of the ancient ruins of ,central ,america with the greater pleasure because ,mr4 ,allen is one of the authors who1 as far as possible1 discount the extent1 greatness and very remote antiquity of the civilization represented by ,american ruins2 though for all this his work is one of the most conscientious and valuable upon the subject4 #ab4 ,the ,american ,races1 ,daniel ,g4 ,brinton1 p4 #dd4 #ac4 ,bancroft1 ,native ,races1 p4 #ha1 also pp4 #hb1 #ajd4 #ad4 ,modern plantations near the ruins4 #ae4 ,incidents of ,travel in ,central ,america1 ,chiapas1 and ,yucatan1 ,stephens 7#ahda71 vol4 ,i1 ch4 #g4 ,those who would become further acquainted with the ruins of ,copan will find elaborate descriptions in ,bancroft's ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,iv1 ch4 #c4 ,his foot notes citing various authorities on the subject are especially valuable4 #af4 ,and for matter of that in ,central ,america4 #ag4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 ,nadaillac1 ch4 #g4 #ah4 ,foster's ,pre-,historic ,races1 pp4 #cch1 #cci4 ,klemm1 ,cultur-,geschichte1 tom4 #e1 pp4 #afa-c4 #ai4 ,morelet1 ,voyage1 tom4 #a1 pp4 #bgc1 #bgd4 ,mayer's ,mex4 ,aztec1 etc41 vol4 ,,ii1 p4 #agb2 ,brasseur de ,bourbourg1 ,hist4 ,nat4 ,civ4 tom4 #a1 p4 #he4 #bj4 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,iv1 pp4 #cfd1 #cfe1 and notes4 #ba4 ,incidents of ,travel in ,central ,america1 ,chiapas1 and ,yucatan1 ,john ,l4 ,stephens1 vol4 ,,ii1 pp4 #cef1 #ceg4 ,,chapter ,,xxvii4 ,,indirect ,,external ,,evidences--,,american ,,antiquities4 ,continued4 ,i4 ,antiquity of ,american ,ruins ,we have now before us a subject on which the authorities on ,american ,antiquities are most divided1 and ,i shall not attempt in this writing to reconcile them or dispute the position of either class2 but after a few quotations from these authorities shall leave the question of the antiquity of ,american ruins found in ,central ,america and elsewhere as ,i find it1 an open question4 ,there is nothing in the buildings to indicate the date of their erection--that they were or were not standing at the commencement of the ,christian era1 says ,h4 ,h4 ,bancroft1 in speaking of the cities and other monuments of ,yucatan--and it is a remark which could with equal propriety be made of nearly all the ruined cities of ,america4 ,we may see now1 abandoned and uncared for1 he continues1 they may have resisted the ravages of the elements for three or four centuries4 ,how many centuries they may have stood guarded and kept in repair by the builders and their descendants1 we can only conjecture4 #a ,later1 in the same work1 our author discusses the question of the age of ,palenque and other ruins in the following manner3 ,i confess my inability to judge from the degree of art displayed respectively in the peninsular ruins and those of ,palenque1 which are the older2 ,i will go further1 and while in a confessional mood1 confess to a shade of skepticism the ability of other writers to form a well-founded judgment in the matter4 ,authors are1 however1 unanimous in the opinion that ,palenque was founded before any of the cities of ,yucatan1 an opinion which is supported to a certain extent by traditional history1 which represents ,votan's empire in ,chiapas and ,tabasco as preceding chronologically the allied ,maya empire in the peninsula4 ,if the ,yucatan cities flourished1 as ,i have conjectured1 between the third and tenth centuries1 ,palenque may be conjecturally referred to a period between the first and eighth centuries4 ,i regard the theory that ,palenque was built by the ,toltecs after their expulsion from ,anahuac in the tenth century as wholly without foundation2 and ,i believe that it would be equally impossible to prove or disprove that the palace was standing at the birth of ,christ4 #b ,following this passage1 ,mr4 ,bancroft gives a valuable collection of opinions in his notes where he represents ,m4 ,violett-le-,duc as expressing the belief that ,palenque was built probably some centuries before ,christ by a people in which yellow blood predominated1 although with some ,aryan intermixture2 but that the ,yucatan cities owe their foundation to the same people at a later epoch and under a much stronger influence of the white races4 ,dupaix he represents as believing that the buildings were reared by a flatheaded race that has become extinct1 and who1 after writing his narrative1 made up his mind that ,palenque was antediluvian or at least that a floor had covered it4 ,lenoir he represents as saying that1 according to all voyagers and students1 the ruins of ,palenque are not less than three thousand years old2 while ,catlin1 a ,french writer1 in a ,french periodical for ,march1 #ahfg1 he represents as asserting that the ruined cities of ,palenque and ,uxmal have within themselves the evidence that the ocean has been their bed for thousands of years1 but the material is soft limestone and presents no water lines4 ,foster1 the author of ,pre-,historic ,races 7pp4 #cih-i71 is represented as regarding the ruins of ,palenque as the work of an extinct race1 and then he proceeds with a number of citations for a more modern origin4 ,the valuable notes will be found in ,bancroft's ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,iv1 pp4 #bfb-c4 ,prescott1 in his treatise on the origin of ,mexican civilization1 offers the following reflections on the antiquity of ,american ruins3 ,it is impossible to contemplate these mysterious monuments of a lost civilization1 without a strong feeling of curiosity as to who were their architects1 and what is their probable age4 ,the data on which to rest our conjectures of their age1 are not very substantial2 although some find in them a warrant for an antiquity of thousands of years1 coeval with the architecture of ,egypt and ,hindostan4 ,but the interpretation of hieroglyphics1 and the apparent duration of trees1 are vague and unsatisfactory4 ,and how far can we derive an argument from the discoloration and dilapidated condition of the ruins1 when we find so many structures of the ,middle ,ages dark and mouldering with decay1 while the marbles of the ,acropolis1 and the gray stone of ,paestum1 still shine in their primitive splendor8 ,there are1 however1 undoubted proofs of considerable age to be found there4 ,trees have shot up in the midst of the buildings1 which measure1 it is said1 more than nine feet in diameter4 ,a still more striking face is the accumulation of vegetable mould in one of the courts1 to the depth of nine feet above the pavement4 ,this in our latitude would be decisive of a very great antiquity4 ,but1 in the rich soil of ,yucatan1 and under the ardent sun of the tropics1 vegetation bursts forth with irrepressible exuberence1 and generations of plants succeed each other without intermission1 leaving an accumulation of deposits1 that would have perished under the northern winter4 ,another evidence of their age is afforded by the circumstance1 that1 in one of the courts of ,uxmal1 the granite pavement1 on which the figures of tortoises were raised in relief1 is worn nearly smooth by the feet of the crowds who have passed over it2 a curious fact1 suggesting inferences both in regard to the age and population of the place4 ,lastly1 we have authority for carrying back the date of many of these ruins to a certain period1 since they were found in a deserted1 and probably dilapidated state by the first ,spaniards who entered the country4 ,their notices1 indeed1 are brief and casual1 for the old conquerors had little respect for works of art2 and it is fortunate for these structures1 that they had ceased to be the living temples of the gods1 since no merit of architecture1 probably1 would have availed to save them from the general doom of the monuments of ,mexico4 #c ,it is proper1 to say1 however1 that ,mr4 ,prescott declares that some of the remarks in the above paragraph would have been omitted had he enjoyed the benefit of ,mr4 ,stephens' researches when it was originally written4 ,mr4 ,stephens1 it should be remembered1 is among those who grant no great antiquity to the ruins4 ,on this subject1 however1 ,i find the fairest treatment in the profound reflections of ,mr4 ,baldwin3 ,the ,mexican and ,central ,american ruins make it certain that in ancient times an important civilization existed in that part of the continent1 which must have begun at a remote period in the past4 ,if they have any significance1 this must be accepted as an ascertained fact4 ,a large portion of them had been forgotten in the forests1 or became mythical and mysterious1 long before the arrival of the ,spaniards4 ,in #aebj1 three hundred and fifty years ago1 the forest which so largely covers ,yucatan1 ,guatemala1 and ,chiapa was growing as it grows now4 99 99 99 99 ,how many additional centuries it had existed no one can tell4 ,if its age could be told1 it would still be necessary to consider that the ruins hidden in it are much older than the forest1 and that the period of civilization they represent closed long before it was established4 ,in the ages previous to the beginning of this immense forest1 the region it covers was the seat of civilization which grew up to a high degree of development1 flourished a long time1 and finally declined1 until its cities were deserted1 and its cultivated fields left to the wild influences of nature1 it may be safely assumed that both the forest-covered ruins and the forest itself are far older than the ,aztec period2 but who can tell how much older8 ,copan1 first discovered and described three hundred years ago1 was then as strange to the natives dwelling near it as the old ,chaldean ruins are to the ,arabs who wander over the wasted plains of ,lower ,mesopotamia4 ,native tradition had forgotten its history and become silent in regard to it4 ,how long had ruined ,copan been in this condition8 ,no one can tell4 ,manifestly it was forgotten1 left buried in the forest without recollection of its history1 long before ,montezuma's people1 the ,aztecs1 rose to power2 and it is easily understood that this old city had an important history previous to that unknown time in the past when war1 revolution or some other agency of destruction1 put an end to its career and left it to become what it is now4 ,moreover1 these old ruins1 in all cases1 show us only the cities last occupied in the period to which they belong4 ,doubtless others still older preceded them2 and1 besides1 it can be seen that some of the ruined cities which can now be traced were several times renewed by reconstructions4 ,we must consider1 also1 that building magnificent cities is not the first work of an original civilization4 ,the development was necessarily gradual4 ,its first period was more or less rude4 ,the art of building and ornamenting such edifices arose slowly4 ,many ages must have been required to develop such admirable skill in masonry and ornamentation4 ,therefore the period between the beginning of this mysterious development of civilized life and the first builders who used cut stone laid in mortar and cement1 and covered their work with beautifully sculptured ornaments and inscriptions1 must have been very long4 ,we have no measure of the time1 no clew to the old dates1 nothing whatever1 beyond such considerations as ,i have stated1 to warrant even a vague hypothesis4 ,it can be seen clearly that the beginning of this old civilization was much older than the earliest great cities1 and1 also1 that these were much more ancient than the time when any of the later built or reconstructed cities whose relics still exist1 were left to decay4 ,if we suppose ,palenque to have been deserted some six hundred years previous to the ,spanish conquest1 this date will carry us back only to the last days of its history as an inhabited city4 ,beyond it1 in the distant past1 is a vast period in which the civilization represented by ,palenque was developed1 made capable of building such cities1 and then carried on through the many ages during which cities became numerous1 flourished1 grew old1 and gave place to others1 until the long history of ,palenque itself began4 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,no well considered theory of these ruins can avoid the conclusion that most of them are very ancient1 and that1 to find the origin of the civilization they represent1 we must go far back into the deep of antiquity4 99 99 99 99 ,nevertheless1 some of them must be very old4 ,the forest established since the ruin began1 the entire disappearance of every thing more perishable than stone1 the utter oblivion which veiled their history in the time of ,montezuma1 and probably long previous to his time1 all these facts bear witness to their great antiquity4 ,in many of them1 as at ,quirigua and ,kabah1 the stone structures have become masses of debris2 and even at ,copan1 ,palenque1 and ,mitla1 only a few of them are sufficiently well preserved to show us what they were in the great days of their history4 ,meanwhile1 keep in mind that the ruined cities did not begin their present condition until the civilization that created them had declined2 and1 also1 that if we could determine exactly the date when they were deserted and left to decay1 we should only reach that point in the past where their history as inhabited cities was brought to a close4 ,take ,copan1 for instance4 ,this city may have become a ruin during the time of the ,toltecs1 which began long before the ,christian era and ended some five or six centuries probably before the country was invaded by ,cortez4 ,it was built before their time1 for the style of writing1 and many features of the architecture and ornamentation1 show the workmanship of their predecessors1 judging by the historical intimation found in the old books and traditions4 ,we may suppose it to have been an old city at the time of the ,toltec invasion1 although not one of the first cities built by that more ancient and more cultivated people by whom this old ,american civilization was originated4 #d ,from the foregoing it will be apparent how unsatisfactory are the conclusions respecting the age of ,america's ruined cities and monuments of antiquity2 and since1 as ,mr4 ,h4 ,h4 ,bancroft remarks1 there is nothing in the ruins themselves by which their age may be determined1 it is clear that all the authorities are merely dealing in conjecture concerning them4 ,the value of that conjecture will1 of course1 depend upon the general breadth of knowledge and judgment of the individual expressing it4 ,this much may be safely claimed1 so far as the ,book of ,mormon is concerned1 in the question3 there is nothing as to the age of ,american ruins that contradicts its statements1 nor can ,i conceive of the rising of any circumstance in connection with the age of ,american ruined cities that would conflict with its claims4 ,if it should turn out eventually that all the monuments of ,american ruins are of comparatively modern origin1 that is1 suppose they have arisen within that thousand years preceding the advent of the ,spaniards1 who came early in the sixteenth century1 it could then be claimed that they were the monuments of ,lamanite civilization merely2 and that the monuments of the ,jaredite and ,nephite civilization had passed away1 or that the monuments of ,lamanite civilization were built in the midst of the monuments of the earlier civilizations1 and so intermingled as to confuse everything and render classification impossible4 ,if investigation1 however1 should finally establish the fact that the ruined cities of ,america are the monuments of very ancient and perhaps of successive civilizations1 it would tend in a positive way to establish the truth of the ,book of ,mormon more clearly1 and ,i now proceed to the consideration of that branch of the subject4 ,,ii4 ,successive ,civilizations4 ,scattered over the southern plateaus are heaps of architectural remains and monumental piles4 ,furthermore1 native traditions1 both orally transmitted and hieroglyphically recorded by means of legible picture-writings1 afford us a tolerably clear view of the civilized nations during a period of several centuries preceding the ,spanish conquest1 together with passing glances1 through momentary clearings in mythologic clouds1 at historical epochs much more remote4 ,here we have as aids to this analysis--aids almost wholly wanting among the so-called savage tribes--antiquities1 traditions1 history1 carrying the student far back into the mysterious ,new ,world past2 and hence it is that from its simultaneous revelation and eclipse1 ,american civilization would otherwise offer a more limited field for investigation than ,american savagism1 yet by the introduction of this new element the field is widely extended4 ,nor have we even yet reached the limits of our resources for the investigation of this ,new ,world civilization4 ,in these relics of architecture and literature1 of mythology and tradition1 there are clear indications of an older and higher type of culture than that brought immediately to the knowledge of the invaders2 of a type that had temporarily deteriorated1 perhaps through the influence of long-continued and bloody conflicts1 civil and foreign1 by which the more warlike rather than the more highly cultured nations had been brought into prominence and power4 ,but this anterior and superior civilization1 resting largely as it does on vague tradition1 and preserved to our knowledge in general allusions rather than in detail1 may1 like the native condition since the conquest1 be utilized to the best advantage here as illustrative of the later and better-known1 if somewhat inferior civilization of the sixteenth century1 described by the conqueror1 the missionary1 and the ,spanish historian4 #e ,in addition to the passing glances through momentary clearings in the mythological clouds at historical epochs much more remote than those several centuries preceding the ,spanish conquest1 there is also the evidence afforded by the different ages in which the cities of ,america now in ruins were built2 the difference being so marked in some instances as to suggest not only different ages for their construction1 but their construction by different races4 ,that a long time must have passed between the erection of ,copan and ,utatlan1 #f the civilization of the builders meantime undergoing great modification1 involving probably the introduction of new elements from foreign sources1 is a theory supported by a careful study of the two classes of ruins4 #g 99 99 99 ,then we have the strong differences noticeable between ,uxmal #h and ,palenque1 which lead us to conclude that these cities must have been built either at widely different epochs1 or by branches of the ,maya race which have long been separated2 or by branches1 which1 under the influence of foreign tribes1 lived under greatly modified institutions4 #i ,speaking of the ruins at ,quiche1 ,mr4 ,stephens says3 ,the point to which we directed our attention was to discover some resemblance to the ruins of ,copan and ,quirigua2 but we did not find statues1 or carved figures1 or hieroglyphics1 nor could we learn that any had ever been found there4 ,if there had been such evidences we should have considered these ruins the works of the same race of people1 but in the absence of such evidences we believed that ,copan and ,quirigua were cities of another race and of a much older date4 #aj ,on this point of distinct eras in ,american civilization1 ,baldwin says3 ,it is a point of no little interest that these old constructions belong to different periods in the past1 and represent somewhat different phases of civilization4 ,uxmal1 which is supposed to have been partly inhabited when the ,spaniards arrived in the country1 is plainly much more modern than ,copan or ,palenque4 ,this is easily traced in the ruins4 ,its edifices were finished in a different style1 and show fewer inscriptions4 ,round pillars1 somewhat in the ,doric style1 are found at ,uxmal1 but none like the square1 richly carved pillars1 bearing inscriptions1 discovered in some of the other ruins4 ,copan and ,palenque1 and even ,kabah1 in ,yucatan1 may have been very old cities1 if not already old ruins1 when ,uxmal was built4 ,accepting the reports of explorers as correct1 there is evidence in the ruins that ,quirigua is older than ,copan1 and that ,copan is older than ,palenque4 ,the old monuments in ,yucatan represent several distinct epochs in the ancient history of that peninsula4 ,some of them are kindred to those hidden in the great forest1 and reminded us more of ,palenque than of ,uxmal4 ,among those described1 the most modern1 or most of these1 are in ,yucatan2 they belong to the time when the kingdom of the ,mayas flourished4 ,many of the others belong to ages previous to the rise of this kingdom2 and in ages still earlier1 ages older than the great forest1 there were other cities1 doubtless1 whose remains have perished utterly1 or were long ago removed from us in the later constructions4 ,the evidence of repeated reconstructions in some of the cities before they were deserted has been pointed out by explorers4 ,i have quoted what ,charnay says of it in his description of ,mitla4 ,at ,palenque1 as at ,mitla1 the oldest work is the most artistic and admirable4 ,over this feature of the monuments1 and the manifest signs of their difference in age1 the attention of investigators lingered in speculation4 ,they find in them a significance which is stated as follows by ,brasseur de ,bourbourg3 ,among the edifices forgotten by time in the forests of ,mexico and ,central ,america1 we find architectural characteristics so different from each other1 that it is impossible to attribute them all to the same people as to believe they were all built at the same epoch4 ,in his view1 the substruction at ,mayapan1 some of those at ,tulha1 and a great part of those at ,palenque1 are among the older remains4 ,these are not the oldest cities whose remains are still visible1 but they may have been built1 in part1 upon the foundation of cities much more ancient4 ,no well considered theory of these ruins can avoid the conclusion that most of them are very ancient1 and that1 to find the origin of the civilization they represent1 we must go far back into the 'deeps of antiquity4' #aa ,further on1 in speaking of the ,aztecs and their civilization1 ,mr4 ,baldwin says3 ,they were less advanced in many things than their predecessors4 ,their skill in architecture and architectural ornamentation did not enable them to build such cities as ,mitla and ,palenque1 and their picture writing was a much ruder form of the graphic art than the phonetic system of the ,mayas and ,quiches4 ,it does not appear that they ever went so far in literary improvements as to adopt this simpler and more complete system for any purpose whatever4 ,if the country had never1 in the previous ages1 felt the influence of a higher culture than that of the ,aztecs1 it would not have now1 and never could have had1 ruined cities like ,mitla1 ,copan and ,palenque4 ,not only was the system of writing shown by the countless inscriptions quite beyond the attainments of ,aztec art1 but also the abundant sculptures and the whole system of decoration found in the old ruins4 #ab ,two distinct classes of ruins appear to have been observed in ,central ,america1 says ,nadaillac4 #ac ,and then later1 ,all the ,central ,american tribes do not seem to have lived in an equally degraded condition before the period of the ,mayas4 ,ruins of considerable extent are met with in ,guatemala4 ,these consist of undressed stones similar to those used in the cyclopean buildings of ,greece and ,syria2 but no tradition refers to their origin4 ,they are1 however1 attributed with some reason to a race driven back by conquest1 and superior in culture to the people overcome by the ,maya invasion of ,central ,america4 #ad ,nor is it alone in the differences that exist between some of these ancient ruins1 proclaiming for them at least erection in different ages1 and perhaps by different races1 that the idea of successive civilizations in ,ancient ,america is established4 ,in the matter of language no less than in ruins is this fact proclaimed4 ,traces are also supposed to have been met with of a more ancient language than the ,maya1 ,nahuac or their derivatives1 remarks ,nadaillac1 in a footnote to page #bfd of his ,pre-,historic ,america1 and cites ,humboldt's ,views of the ,cordilleras in support of his statement4 ,this1 however1 is a subject which is too extensive to be considered here4 ,closely connected with the subject of successive civilizations is also that of ancient migrations1 but that is a matter ,i shall treat in another chapter1 and more especially for another reason than maintaining successive civilizations1 as ,i esteem what is here set down as sufficient proof for the existence of successive civilizations in ancient ,america4 ,,iii4 ,peruvian ,antiquities4 ,it will be observed that thus far1 in dealing with ,american antiquities1 ,i have said nothing concerning ,peru and the monuments of its civilization4 ,still1 as ,book of ,mormon peoples inhabited ,south ,america as well as ,north ,america1 some attention should be paid to the monuments of ,peruvian civilization4 ,for the general description of ,south ,american antiquities ,i find what ,professor ,baldwin says to be most acceptable3 ,the ruins of ,ancient ,peru are found chiefly on the elevated tablelands of the ,andes1 between ,quito and ,lake ,titicaca2 but they can be traced five hundred miles farther south1 to ,chili1 and throughout the region connecting these high plateaus with the ,pacific coast4 ,the great district to which they belong extends north and south about two thousand miles4 ,when the marauding ,spaniards arrived in the country1 this whole region was the seat of a populous and prosperous empire1 complete in its civil organization1 supported by an efficient system of industry1 and presenting a very notable development of some of the more important arts of civilized life4 ,these ruins differ from those in ,mexico and ,central ,america4 ,no inscriptions are found in ,peru2 there is no longer a marvelous abundance of decorations2 nothing is seen like the monoliths of ,copan1 or the bas-reliefs of ,palenque4 ,the method of building is different2 the ,peruvian ruins show us remains of cities1 temples1 palaces1 other edifices of various kinds1 fortresses1 aqueducts 7one of them four hundred and fifty miles long71 great roads 7extending through the whole length of the empire71 and terraces on the sides of mountains4 ,for all these constructions the builders used cut stone laid in mortar or cement1 and their work was done admirably1 but it is everywhere seen that the masonry1 although sometimes ornamented1 was generally plain in style and always massive4 ,the antiquities in this region have not been as much explored and described as those north of the isthmus1 but their general character is known1 and particular descriptions of some of them have been published4 #ae ,the chief thing to be noted with reference to ,south ,american monuments of ancient civilization is the fact that1 if the theory of the first landing of the ,nephite colony from ,jerusalem was in ,south ,america1 and within modern ,chili--then they are located along the line of supposed ,nephite movement from thirty degrees south latitude northward along the western plateau of ,south ,america1 though it must be confessed that during their movements northward the ,nephites were not sufficiently numerous nor did they stay sufficiently long in the southern part of the region now covered with ancient ruins to erect such permanent monuments of civilization as are now to be found there in ruins4 ,in their alleged occupancy of the northern section of the region it is different4 ,there1 in the land of ,nephi and the land of ,anti-,lehi-,nephi--supposed to embrace say the northern part of ,peru and ,ecuador1--we have reason to believe they stayed a sufficient length of time and were also sufficiently numerous to leave enduring monuments of their sojourn in that country4 ,for the existence of the more southern monuments we must suppose one of two things1 or perhaps both of them united1 viz43 ,first3 ,lamanites who remained in the far south paid more attention to civilized pursuits than has usually been accredited to them1 and the remarks of the ,book of ,mormon concerning the ,lamanites being an idle people1 living upon the fruits of the chase1 and their marauding excursions into ,nephite lands are to be more especially applied to those ,lamanites more immediately in contact with the ,nephites1 while further southward they were pursuing the arts of peace4 ,or1 second3 that after the fall of the ,nephites at ,cumorah there were strong colonies of ,lamanites that pushed their way through ,central ,america down into ,peru1 subdued the inhabitants who had remained there and established themselves as the ruling class1 constituting1 in fact1 the invasion of the ,incas1 under whom arose the monuments of civilization found in the land by the ,spaniards when they invaded it4 ,the difference between the monuments found in ,peru and those found in ,mexico and ,central ,america arises1 in my judgment1 from the fact that there was not present in ,south ,america the monuments of the great ,jaredite civilization to crop up through and become intermingled with the ,nephite and ,lamanite monuments of civilization4 ,the whole subject of ,book of ,mormon peoples being the authors of very ancient ,peruvian civilization is full of difficulty4 ,,iv4 ,the ,mound ,builders4 ,as ,i have noted ,south ,american antiquities1 so also ,i think it necessary to note the more northern antiquities of ,north ,america--the works of the ,mound ,builders of the valleys of the ,mississippi and its tributaries4 ,it is matter of common knowledge that throughout the region of country just named there exists in great number artificial hillocks of earth1 nearly always constructed1 says ,nadaillac1 with a good deal of precision4 ,they are of various forms1 round1 oval1 square1 very rarely polygonal or triangular4 ,their height varies from a few inches to more than ninety feet1 and their diameter varies from three to about a thousand feet4 #af ,evidently the mounds were erected for a variety of purposes1 and the author last quoted1 following ,mr4 ,squier #ag and ,mr4 ,short1 #ah makes the following classification3 #a1 defensive works2 #b1 sacred enclosures2 #c1 temples2 #d1 altar mounds2 #e1 sepulchral mounds1 and #f1 mounds representing animals4 ,short 7,north ,americans1 p4 #ha7 gives slightly different classifications1 as follows3 ,i41 ,enclosures3 for defense2 for religious purposes2 miscellaneous4 ,,ii41 ,mounds of sacrifice3 for temple sites2 of sepulchre2 of observation4 #ai ,on the subject of the mounds being erected for purposes of fortification1 ,nadaillac says3 ,the whole of the space separating the ,alleghanies from the ,rocky ,mountains affords a succession of entrenched camps1 fortifications generally made of earth4 ,there were used ramparts1 stockade1 and trenches near many eminences1 and nearly every junction of two large rivers4 ,these works bear witness to the intelligence of the race1 which has so long been looked upon as completely barbarous and wild1 and an actual system of defences in connection with each other can in some cases be made out with observatories on adjacent heights1 and concentric ridges of earth for the protection of the entrances4 ,war was evidently an important subject of thought with the ,mound ,builders4 ,all the defensive remains occur in the neighborhood of water courses1 and the best proof of the skill shown in the choice of sites is shown by the number of flourishing cities1 such as ,cincinnati1 ,st4 ,louis1 ,newark1 ,portsmouth1 ,frankfort1 ,new ,madrid1 and many others1 which have risen in the same situations in modern times4 #bj ,concerning the matter of the ,mound ,builders in general we are again in the presence of a subject concerning which there is very great diversity of opinions on the part of authorities4 ,learned opinion is divided as to whether the mounds represent an indigenous or exotic civilization2 whether they were built by the ancestors of the near or remote ,indian tribes of ,north ,america1 or by a race now extinct1 or by some mysterious process or other1 vanished4 ,also they differ as to the antiquity of the mounds1 some ascribing to them quite a recent origin1 and others ascribing to them an antiquity of thousands of years4 ,it must be obvious that ,i cannot enter into a consideration of all these questions1 and hence content myself with a few quotations from those whose information and judgment ,i most esteem4 #ba ,upon the subject of ,mound ,builders1 as upon so many subjects in ,american antiquities1 ,i find what ,mr4 ,baldwin has said--except wherein his remarks are against migrations from other continents for very ancient ,american peoples--most acceptable3 #bb ,that appears to me the most reasonable suggestion which assumes that the ,mound ,builders came originally from ,mexico and ,central ,america4 ,it explains many facts connected with their remains4 ,in the ,great ,valley their most populous settlements were at the south4 ,coming from ,mexico and ,central ,america1 they would begin their settlements on the gulf coast1 and afterwards advance gradually up the river to the ,ohio valley4 ,it seems evident that they came by this route2 and their remains show that their only connection with the coast was at the south4 ,their settlements did not reach the coast at any other point4 ,their constructions were similar in design and arrangement to those found in ,mexico and ,central ,america4 ,like the ,mexicans and ,central ,americans1 they had many of the smaller structures known as teocallis1 and also large1 high mounds1 with level summits1 reached by great flights of steps4 ,pyramidal platforms or foundations for important edifices appear in both regions1 and are very much alike4 ,in ,central ,america important edifices were built of hewn stone1 and can still be examined in their ruins4 ,the ,mound ,builders1 like some of the ancient people of ,mexico and ,yucatan1 used wood1 sun-dried brick1 or some other material that could not resist decay4 ,there is evidence that they used timber for building purposes4 ,in one of the mounds opened in the ,ohio valley two chambers were found with remains of the timber of which the walls were made1 and with arched ceilings precisely like those in ,central ,america1 even to the overlapping stones4 ,chambers have been found in some of the ,central ,american and ,mexican mounds1 but there hewn stones were used for the walls4 ,in both regions the elevated and terraced foundations remain1 and can be compared4 ,i have already called attention to the close resemblance between them1 but the fact is so important in any endeavor to explain the ,mound ,builders that ,i must bring it to view here4 ,consider1 then1 that elevated and terraced foundations for important buildings are peculiar to the ancient ,mexicans and ,central ,americans2 that this method of construction1 which1 with them1 was the rule1 is found nowhere else1 save that terraced elevations1 carefully constructed1 and precisely like theirs in form and appearance1 occupy a chief place among the remaining works of the ,mound ,builders4 ,the use made of these foundations at ,palenque1 ,uxmal and ,chichen-,itza1 shows the purpose for which they were constructed in the ,mississippi valley4 ,the resemblance is not due to chance4 ,the explanation appears to me very manifest4 ,this method of construction was brought to the ,mississippi valley from ,mexico and ,central ,america1 the ancient inhabitants of that region and the ,mound ,builders being the same people in race1 and also in civilization1 when it was brought here4 ,a very large proportion of the old structures in ,ohio and farther south called mounds1 namely1 those which are low in proportion to their horizontal extent1 are terraced foundations for buildings1 and if they were situated in ,yucatan1 ,guatemala1 and ,mexico1 they would never be mistaken for anything else4 ,the high mounds also in the two regions are remarkably alike4 ,in both cases they are pyramidal in shape1 and have level summits of considerable extent1 which were reached by means of stairways on the outside4 ,the great mound at ,chichen-,itza is #ge feet high1 and has on its summit a ruined stone edifice2 that at ,uxmal is #fj feet high1 and has a similar ruin on its summit2 that at ,mayapan is #fj feet high2 the edifice placed on its summit has disappeared4 ,the great mound at ,miamisburg1 ,ohio1 is #fh feet high2 and that at ,grave ,creek1 ,west ,virginia1 is #ge feet high4 ,both had level summits1 and stairways on the outside1 but no trace of any structure remains on them4 ,all these mounds were constructed for religious uses1 and they are1 in their way1 as much alike as any five ,gothic churches4 ,could these works of the ,mound ,builders be restored to the condition in which they were when the country was filled with their busy communities1 we should doubtless see great edifices1 similar in style to those in ,yucatan1 standing on the upper terraces of all the low and extended mounds1 and smaller structures on the high mounds1 such as those above named4 ,there would seem to be an extension of ancient ,mexico and ,central ,america through ,texas into the ,mississippi and ,ohio valleys2 and so1 if there were no massive stone work in the old ruins of those countries1 it might seem that the ,mound ,builders' works were anciently extended into them by way of ,texas4 ,the fact that the settlements and works of the ,mound ,builders extended through ,texas and across the ,rio ,grande indicates very plainly their connection with the people of ,mexico1 and goes far to explain their origin4 ,we have other evidence of intercourse between the two peoples2 for the obsidian dug from the mounds1 and perhaps the porphyry also1 can be explained only by supposing commercial relations between them4 ,we can not suppose the ,mound ,builders to have come from any other part of ,north ,america1 for nowhere else north of the ,isthmus was there any other people capable of producing such works as they left in the places where they dwelt4 ,beyond the relics of the ,mound ,builders1 no traces of the former existence of such a people have been discovered in any part of ,north ,america save ,mexico1 and ,central ,america1 and districts immediately connected with them4 ,at the same time it is not unreasonable to suppose the civilized people of these regions extended their settlements through ,texas1 and also migrated across the gulf into the ,mississippi valley4 ,in fact1 the connection of settlements by way of ,texas appears to have been unbroken from ,ohio to ,mexico4 ,this colonizing extension of the old ,mexican race must have taken place at a remote period in the past2 for what has been said of the antiquity of the ,mound ,builders shows that a very long period1 far more than two thousand years1 it may be1 must have elapsed since they left the valley of the ,ohio4 ,perhaps they found the country mostly unoccupied1 and saw there but little of any other people until an eruption of warlike barbarians came upon them from the northwest4 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,the supposition that the ,toltecs and the ,mound ,builders were the same people seems to me not improbable4 ,the reasons for it will be stated when we come to a discussion of the antiquities1 books1 and traditions of ,central ,america4 ,i will only say here that1 according to dates given in the ,central ,american books1 the ,toltecs came from ,huehue-,tlapalan1 a distant country in the northeast1 long previous to the ,christian era4 ,they played a great part and had a long career in ,mexico previous to the rise of their successors in power1 the ,aztecs1 who were overthrown by the ,spaniards4 #bc ,bancroft1 in a general way1 coincides with the views of ,mr4 ,baldwin4 ,discussing several theories respecting the ,mound ,builders1 he speaks of this as the most reasonable hypothesis1 and best supported by monumental and traditional evidence4 ,the temple-mounds strongly resemble1 in their principal features1 the southern pyramids2 at least they imply a likeness of religious ideas in the builders4 ,the use of obsidian implements shows a connection1 either through origin1 war1 or commerce1 with the ,mexican nations1 or at least with nations who came in contact with the ,nahuas4 ,there are1 moreover1 several ,nahua traditions respecting the arrival on their coasts from the northeast1 of civilized strangers4 #bd ,he further says3 ,i am inclined to believe that the most plausible conjecture respecting the origin of the ,mound ,builders is that which makes them a colony of the ancient ,mayas who settled in the north during the continuance of the great ,maya empire of ,xibalba1 in ,central ,america1 several centuries before ,christ4 #be ,it will be observed that these views harmonize almost to completeness with the requirements of the ,book of ,mormon for such evidences4 ,whether the ,jaredites built some of these mounds or not does not so much matter1 though ,i am inclined to think they did4 ,if some of the earlier monuments of ,central ,america1 such as ,copan1 ,quirigua and ,palenque1 represent ,jaredite ruins1 as ,i am inclined to believe1 then it is most likely that the truncated mounds in the north--which so much resemble the stone-faced pyramids of the south--were also built by them4 ,undoubtedly1 during the two centuries following the advent of ,messiah the ,nephites also extended their occupancy of the continent into the valleys of the ,mississippi and its tributaries1 and then during the next two hundred years of troubled warfare1 erected the numerous fortifications throughout that land which now are so distinctly recognized and spoken of by the authorities which ,i have here quoted4 ,in any event it is to be seen that the ,book of ,mormon requires that the civilization of the ,mississippi valley should find its origin in ,central ,america1 and the fact that such distinguished authorities recognize ,central ,america as its source1 is a strong presumptive evidence for the truth of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,summary4 ,i have now presented to the reader all the matter on that part of ,american antiquities pertaining to the extent and location of the ruined cities and other monuments of ancient ,american civilization that my space will allow1 and ,i only pause before closing this chapter to summarize the ground covered4 ,beyond question we have established the following facts3 7#a7 ,there existed in ancient times civilized races in both of the ,american continents4 7#b7 ,the monuments of these civilizations are located chiefly through ,central ,america1 and in the ,mississippi valley--lands occupied by the ,jaredites and ,nephites respectively2 that is to say1 the monuments of these ancient civilizations are found where the ,book of ,mormon requires them to be located4 7#c7 ,successive civilizations have existed in ,america in ancient times2 and the older civilization was the most advanced4 7#d7 ,the chief center of this ancient ,american civilization1 and its oldest and most enduring monuments are in ,central ,america1 where the ,book of ,mormon locates its oldest race of people1 and where civilization longest prevailed and built its most enduring monuments2 and is the center from which civilization1 beyond question1 extended into the north continent4 ,in making these claims ,i am not unmindful of the fact that there are authorities who hold somewhat different views from those whose works ,i have so extensively quoted2 but ,i do not believe that the conclusions here summarized can be disturbed either by facts or theories of those other authorities4 ,and however divergent the views of authorities may be1 this much can be absolutely claimed1 that there is nothing in their works which1 on the matters so far considered1 directly conflicts with the claims of the ,book of ,mormon2 while so much as is here stated is certainly very strong evidence in its favor4 ,footnotes #a4 ,bancroft1 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,iv1 p4 #bhe4 #b4 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,iv1 pp4 #cfa-b4 #c4 ,conquest of ,mexico1 vol4 ,,ii1 pp4 #dje1 #djf4 #d4 ,ancient ,america1 ,j4 ,d4 ,baldwin1 ch4 #f4 #e4 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,ii1 pp4 #hc1 #hd4 #f4 ,one of the old ,american cities located in ,central ,guatemala4 #g4 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,iv1 p4 #abh4 #h4 ,one of the old cities of northern ,yucatan4 #i4 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,iv1 p4 #cfa4 #aj4 ,central ,america1 vol4 ,,ii1 p4 #ahf4 #aa4 ,ancient ,america1 pp4 #aee1 #aef4 #ab4 ,ancient ,america1 p4 #bba4 #ac4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 p4 #aef4 #ad4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 p4 #afe4 #ae4 ,ancient ,america1 pp4 #bbb1 #bbc4 #af4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 p4 #ha4 #ag4 ,ancient ,monuments of the ,mississippi ,valley4 #ah4 ,footprints of ,vanished ,races4 #ai4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 pp4 #hg1 #hh4 #bj4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 p4 #hh4 #ba4 ,those desiring to enter upon a further inquiry of this subject will find it somewhat elaborately treated in ,allen's ,pre-,historic ,world or ,vanished ,races1 chapter #aj2 also ,nadaillac's ,pre-,historic ,america1 chapter #c2 ,history of ,america ,before ,columbus1 ,p4 ,de ,roo1 chapter #c2 and in ,ancient ,monuments of the ,mississippi ,valley1 by ,e4 ,george ,squier4 #bb4 ,throughout this writing ,i have often felt the need of some sort of compendious work to guide me in my researches1 and in all the collection of my works upon the subject ,i have found ,mr4 ,baldwin's ,ancient ,america the most useful2 and should the readers of these chapters desire a special work upon the subject of ,american antiquities ,i do not think they could find a single book on the subject which would be more satisfactory than the little work 7#bic pages7 here referred to2 and since ,i have quoted so extensively from it1 ,i cite the following to show in what esteem ,mr4 ,baldwin is held by one who is the author of the most elaborate work on the subject of ,american antiquities3 ,mr4 ,baldwin's most excellent little book on ,ancient ,america is the only comprehensive work treating of this subject now before the public4 ,as a popular treatise1 compressing within a small duodecimo volume the whole subject of archaeology1 including1 besides material relics1 tradition1 and speculation concerning origin and history as well1 this book cannot be too highly praised4 ,bancroft's ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,iv1 #b4 #bc4 ,ancient ,america1 pp4 #bj-bd4 ,rev4 ,j4 ,g4 ,fish speaking of some of these ,north ,american mounds declares that the summit level of some of them contains more than twelve acres4 ,at their base they appear like walls stretching up to heaven and it requires but a stretch of the imagination to fancy them mouldering bastions and ramparts of some ancient fortress4 ,bible in the ,balance1 p4 #bcg4 #bd4 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,iv1 pp4 #ghh1 #ghi4 #be4 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,v1 p4 #eci4 ,,chapter ,,xxviii4 ,,external ,,evidences--,,american ,,traditions ,,and ,,mythologies4 ,turning from that branch of ,american antiquities which deals with the extent and location of ruined cities and monuments of the ancient ,american civilizations to the consideration of ,american traditions concerning the origin1 migrations1 cosmogony1 and the religion of the people of the western world1 we by no means leave behind us the difficulty of divided authorities1 and varying opinions4 ,one could not hope1 even in an extended work on the subject1 to bring order out of the chaos which obtains concerning ,american traditions and mythologies2 therefore1 ,i need say nothing of the futility of attempting it in the few brief chapters which ,i have resolved to devote to these traditions4 ,but this much must be evident respecting the relationship of the ,book of ,mormon to ,american traditions and mythologies1 viz41 that several epoch-making incidents in the ,book of ,mormon must have made such indelible impressions upon the mind of the ancient peoples of ,america that they would be perpetuated in various forms in their traditions4 ,such incidents1 for example1 as the ,jaredite and ,nephite migrations from the old world to the western hemisphere2 and since the former colony came directly from the ,tower of ,babel1 it is to be expected that they would bring with them a knowledge of the creation1 the fall of man1 the flood1 the escape of ,noah and his family by means of the ark1 and the building of the ,tower of ,babel4 ,lehi's colony came from ,jerusalem1 bringing with them the ,jewish scriptures1 which speak so clearly of the creation1 the flood1 the escape of ,noah1 the building of ,babel and the confusion of tongues1 hence it would be expected that they1 too1 would have a knowledge of these chief events in the history of man down to this last named event1 and a knowledge also of the chief events in the history of ,israel down to the time of the departure of ,lehi's colony from ,jerusalem--six hundred years ,b4 ,c4 ,it is but a reasonable expectation1 ,i say1 that these things would be perpetuated in ,american traditions and mythologies4 ,are traces of them to be found there8 ,so also as to the signs given on the ,american continent of ,messiah's birth2 and certainly as to the signs of his crucifixion1 witnessed by the terrible cataclysms which continued in the western hemisphere during three hours1 followed by three days of awful darkness4 ,also some trace in their traditions would be found of ,messiah's personal advent on the ,american continent to the survivors of those events4 ,so1 too1 would the recollection of the golden age of peace and plenty which followed ,messiah's advent1 and the promise of ,messiah's return at some future time--some memory of all this would most likely be perpetuated in native traditions4 ,and while both traditions and mythologies may be regarded as troubled pools which1 like mirrors shattered into a thousand fragments1 distort into fantastic shapes the objects on their banks1 still there is a basis of truth in them2 and ,american traditions and mythologies may yield up something of value in the way of evidence to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,surely we would be greatly disappointed if this turned out not to be the case1 for the historical incidents referred to in the ,book of ,mormon are so impressive that they would be found to live in the traditions of the people1 whatever became of their written records4 ,as remarked by ,h4 ,h4 ,bancroft3 ,every trace of the circumstances that give rise to a tradition is soon lost1 although the tradition itself in curiously modified forms is long preserved4 ,natural convulsions1 like floods and earthquakes1 famines1 wars1 tribal migrations1 naturally leave an impression on the savage mind which is not easily effaced1 but the fable in which the record is embodied may have assumed a form so changed and childish that we pass over it today as having no historical value1 seeking information only in an apparently more consistent tale1 which may have originated at a recent date from some very trivial circumstances4 99 99 99 99 99 ,but the traditions of savages1 valueless by themselves for a time more remote than one or two generations1 begin to assume importance when the events narrated have been otherwise ascertained by the records of some contemporary nation1 throwing indirectly much light on history which they were powerless to reveal4 #a ,accepting as reasonable these reflections1 ,i wish to add that having in part the written records of the people among whom the events happened of which the traditions treat1 we are in possession of that which makes these traditions assume the importance to which our author alludes4 ,and while the record referred to--the ,book of ,mormon--gives the necessary importance to the traditions1 the traditions bear testimony to the truth of the record at many points4 ,it should be remembered1 however1 that such were the conditions existing among the ,lamanites after their triumph at ,cumorah1 that everything is confused and distorted into most fantastic shapes and relations by the idle speculations and vain imaginings of half1 and sometimes wholly1 barbarous minds1 often bent on concealing or supplanting the truth by their fabulous inventions4 ,the limits of this work will not permit anything like an extended investigation of the field proposed4 ,i shall merely take up the most important facts and historical events of the ,book of ,mormon1 and seek confirmation of them in ,american traditions and myths4 ,i4 ,the ,creation4 ,i begin with the creation2 and select upon that subject a passage from the book of the ,quiches #b of ,guatemala called ,popol ,vuh1 which1 ,i believe1 exhibits the fact that the ancient ,americans held in their traditions conceptions of creation found in the ,jewish scriptures4 ,a word upon the ,popol ,vuh will be necessary4 ,this is one of the most important of the native ,american books translated into modern languages4 ,it was found by ,dr4 ,scherzer1 in #ahed1 among the manuscripts of ,francisco ,ximenez1 a ,dominican father of great repute for his learning and his love of truth1 who1 while fulfilling the duties of his office of curate1 in a small ,indian town in the highlands of ,guatemala1 translated this native book into the ,spanish language4 ,it was written by one or more ,quiches in the ,quiche language1 but in ,roman letters1 some time after the ,spaniards had occupied ,gautemala4 ,the meaning of ,popol ,vuh is ,national ,book1 or ,book of the ,people1 but the real original ,national ,book had been lost1 and this was written to replace it4 ,the title of the book1 however1 is that given to it by the ,abbe ,brasseur de ,bourbourg1 who translated it into ,french2 and by ,ximenez1 who translated it into ,spanish4 ,this name1 ,max ,muller says1 is not claimed for it by its author4 ,he the native author says that the wrote when the ,popol ,vuh that is1 the real original ,national ,book of the ,quiches1 and which this book in question was written to replace was no longer to be seen4 ,now1 ,popol ,vuh means the ,book of the ,people1 and referred to the traditional literature in which all that was known about the early history of the nation1 their religion and ceremonies1 was handed down from age to age4 #c ,nadaillac1 however1 says that ,popol ,vuh may be translated ,collection of ,leaves4 #d ,in the conclusion of a long note on the subject ,bancroft says1 ,we seem justified1 then1 in taking this document for what ,ximenez and its own evidence declare it to be1 viz41 a reproduction of an older work or body of ,quiche traditional history1 written because the older work had been lost and was likely to be forgotten2 and written by a ,quiche not long after the ,spanish conquest4 #e ,as the passage ,i quote is from ,bancroft's abridgment of the ,popol ,vuh1 ,i give also his brief explanation of the book3 ,of all ,american peoples the ,quiches1 of ,guatemala1 have left us the richest mythological legacy4 ,their description of the creation as given in the ,popol ,vuh1 which may be called the national book of the ,quiches1 is in its rude1 strange eloquence and poetic originality1 one of the rarest relics of aboriginal thought4 ,although obliged in reproducing it to condense somewhat1 ,i have endeavored to give not only the substance1 but also1 as far as possible1 the peculiar style and phraseology of the original4 ,it is with this primeval picture1 whose simple1 silent sublimity is that of the inscrutable past1 that we begin3 #f ,and now the passage on the creation3 ,and the heaven was formed1 and all the signs thereof set in their angle and alignment1 and its boundaries fixed toward the four winds by the ,creator and ,former1 and ,mother and ,father of life and existence--he by whom all move and breathe1 the ,father and ,cherisher of the peace of nations and of the civilization of his people--he whose wisdom has projected the excellence of all that is on the earth1 or in the lakes1 or in the sea4 ,behold the first word and the first discourse4 ,there was as yet no man1 nor any animal1 nor bird1 nor fish1 nor crawfish1 nor any pit1 nor ravine1 nor green herb1 nor any tree2 nothing was but the firmament4 ,the face of the earth had not yet appeared1 only the peaceful sea and all the space of heaven4 ,there was nothing yet joined together1 nothing that clung to anything else2 nothing that balanced itself1 that made the least rustling1 that made a sound in the heaven4 ,there was nothing that stood up2 nothing but the quiet water1 but the sea1 calm and alone in its boundaries2 nothing existed2 nothing but immobility and silence1 in the darkness1 in the night4 ,alone also the ,creator1 the ,former1 the ,dominator1 the ,feathered ,serpent1 those that engender1 those that give being1 they are upon the water1 like growing light4 ,they are enveloped in green and blue2 and therefore their name is ,gucumatz4 ,lo1 now how the heavens exist1 how exists also the ,heart of ,heaven2 such is the name of ,god2 it is thus that he is called4 ,and they speak2 they consulted together and meditated2 they mingled their words and their opinion4 ,and the creation was verily after this wise3 ,earth1 they said1 and on the instant it was formed2 like a cloud or a fog was its beginning4 ,then the mountains rose over the water like great lobsters2 in an instant the mountains and the plains were visible1 and the cypress and the pine appeared4 ,then was the ,gucumatz filled with joy1 crying out3 ,blessed be thy coming1 ,o ,heart of ,heaven1 ,hurakan1 ,thunderbolt4 ,our work and our labor has accomplished its end4 ,the earth and its vegetation having thus appeared1 it was peopled with the various forms of animal life4 ,and the ,makers said to the animals3 ,speak now our name1 honor us1 as your mother and father2 invoke ,hurakan1 the ,lightning-flash1 the ,thunderbolt1 that strikes1 the ,heart of ,heaven1 the ,heart of the ,earth1 the ,creator and ,former1 him who begets1 and him who gives being1 speak1 call on us1 salute us6 ,so was it said to the animals4 ,but the animals could not answer2 they could not speak at all after the manner of men2 they could only cluck1 and croak1 each murmuring after his kind in a different manner4 ,this displeased the ,creators1 and they said to the animals3 ,inasmuch as ye can not praise us1 neither call upon our names1 your flesh shall be humiliated2 it shall be broken with teeth2 ye shall be killed and eaten4 ,again the gods took counsel together2 they determined to make man4 ,so they made a man of clay2 and when they had made him1 they saw that it was not good4 ,he was without cohesion1 without consistence1 motionless1 strengthless1 inept1 watery1 he could not move his head1 his face looked but one way2 his sight was restricted1 he could not look behind him2 he had been endowed with language1 but he had no intelligence1 so he was consumed in the water4 ,again is there counsel in heaven3 ,let us make an intelligent being who shall adore and invoke us4 ,it was decided that a man should be made of wood and a woman of a kind of pith4 ,they were made2 but the result was in no wise satisfactory4 ,they moved about perfectly well1 it is true2 they increased and multiplied2 they peopled the world with sons and daughters1 little wooden mannikins like themselves2 but still the heart and the intelligence were wanting2 they held no memory of their ,maker and ,former2 they led a useless existence1 they lived as the beasts lived2 they forgot the ,heart of ,heaven4 ,they were but an essay1 an attempt at men2 they had neither blood1 nor substance1 nor moisture1 nor fat2 their cheeks were shrivelled1 their feet and hands dried up2 their flesh languished4 ,then was the ,heart of ,heaven wroth2 and he sent ruin and destruction upon those ingrates2 he rained upon them night and day from heaven with a thick resin2 and the earth was darkened4 ,and the men went mad with terror2 they tried to mount upon the roofs and the houses fell2 they tried to climb the trees and the trees shook them far from their branches2 they tried to hide in the caves and the dens of the earth1 but these closed their holes against them4 ,the bird ,xecotcovach came to tear out their eyes2 and the ,camalotz cut off their head2 and the ,cotzbalam devoured their flesh2 and the ,tecumbalam broke and bruised their bones to powder4 ,thus were they all devoted to chastisement and destruction1 save only a few who were preserved as memorials of the wooden men that had been2 and these now exist in the woods as little apes4 ,once more are the gods in council2 in the darkness1 in the night of a desolate universe do they commune together1 of what shall we make man8 ,and the ,creator and ,former made four perfect men2 and wholly of yellow and white maize was their flesh composed4 ,these were the names of the four men that were made3 the name of the first was ,balam-,quitz2 of the second1 ,balam-,agab2 of the third1 ,muhucutah2 and the fourth1 ,iqi-,balam4 ,they had neither father nor mother1 neither were they made by the ordinary agents in the work of creation2 but their coming into existence was a miracle extraordinary wrought by the special intervention of him who is preeminently the ,creator4 ,verily1 at last1 were there found men worthy of their origin and their destiny2 verily1 at last1 did the gods look on beings who could see with their eyes1 and handle with their hands1 and understand with their hearts4 ,grand of countenance and broad of limb the four sires of our race stood up under the white rays of the morning star4 ,sole light as yet of the primeval world--stood up and looked4 ,their great clear eyes swept rapidly over all2 they saw the woods and the rocks1 the lakes and the sea1 the mountains and the valleys1 and the heavens that were above all2 and they comprehended all and admired exceeding4 ,then they returned thanks to those who had made the world and all that therein was3 ,we offer up our thanks1 twice--yea verily1 thrice6 ,we have received life2 we speak1 we walk1 we taste2 we hear and understand2 we know1 both that which is near and that which is far off2 we see all things1 great and small1 in all the heaven and earth4 ,thanks1 then1 ,maker and ,former1 ,father and ,mother of our life6 we have been created2 we are4 ,but the gods were not wholly pleased with this thing2 ,heaven they thought had overshot its mark2 these men were too perfect2 knew1 understood1 and saw too much4 ,therefore there was council again in heaven3 ,what shall we do with man now8 ,it is not good1 this that we see2 these are as gods2 they would make themselves equal with us2 lo1 they know all things1 great and small4 ,let us now contract their sight1 so that they may see only a little of the surface of the earth and be content4 ,thereupon the ,heart of ,heaven breathed a cloud over the pupil of the eyes of men1 and a veil came over it as when one breathes on the face of a mirror1 thus was the globe of the eye darkened2 neither was that which was far off clear to it any more1 but only that which was near4 ,then the four men slept1 and there was council in heaven3 and four women were made1 to ,balam-,quitze was allotted ,caha-,paluma to wife2 to ,balam-,agab1 ,chomiha2 to ,muhucutah1 ,tzununiha2 and to ,iqi-,balam1 ,cakixaha4 ,now the women were exceedingly fair to look upon2 and when the men awoke1 their hearts were glad because of the women4 ,notwithstanding some incongruities in the foregoing passage a comparison of it with the account of creation in ,genesis will not fail to convince the thoughtful reader that the ,quiche story of the creation1 and that of ,genesis doubtless had the same origin1 and after reading it again and again1 as suggested by ,max ,muller1 one must come to the conclusion that some salient features standing out more distinctly1 make us feel that there was a ground work of noble conceptions which has been covered and distorted by an aftergrowth of fantastic nonsense4 #g ,indeed1 so startling1 as ,muller further remarks1 are some of the coincidences between the ,old ,testament and the ,quiche manuscripts that it has been suspected by some authors #h that the ,quiche writers followed rather the ,spanish1 ,christian teachings than the ,quiche tradition in that part of their work2 yet even if a ,christian influence has to be admitted1 remarks our author1 much remains in these ,american traditions which is so different from anything else in the national literature of other countries that we may safely treat it as the genuine growth of the intellectual soil of ,america4 #i ,in the light which the ,book of ,mormon throws upon the subject1 however1 we are not under the necessity of admitting the ,christian influence referred to by ,muller2 that is1 that the natives arrived at the ,biblical knowledge of the creation facts after the advent of the ,christians among them1 since the ,jaredites brought with them a knowledge of creation as held by antediluvians1 and the ,nephites brought with them a knowledge of that same account of creation as crystallized in the writings of ,moses1 which undoubtedly became permanently fixed both in the written records and traditions of the native inhabitants of ,america2 and which are reflected in this old ,quiche book1 ,popol ,vuh4 ,there is a quotation from another authority that ,i wish to add to the statement of ,professor ,max ,muller in the foregoing1 relative to the creation ideas of the ,quiches1 being a groundwork of noble conceptions which has been covered and distorted by an aftergrowth of fantastic nonsense4 ,that additional authority--though the remark ,i quote has reference to another people1 the ,aztecs1 is in the same line of thought as that which ,professor ,muller suggests1 but applied to the whole religion of the natives--is from ,prescott3 ,in contemplating the religious system of the ,aztecs1 one is struck with its apparent incongruity1 as if some portion of it had emanated from a comparatively refined people1 open to gentle influences1 while the rest breathes a spirit of unmitigated ferocity4 ,it naturally suggests the idea of two distinct sources1 and authorities the belief that the ,aztecs had inherited from their predecessors a milder faith1 on which was afterwards engrafted their own mythology4 ,the latter soon became dominant1 and gave its dark coloring to the creeds of the conquered nations--which the ,mexicans1 like the ancient ,romans1 seem willingly to have incorporated into their own1 until the same funereal superstitions settled over the farthest borders of ,anahuac4 #aj ,if the noted ,german and ,american authors respectively had been writing with full knowledge of what the ,book of ,mormon reveals on this subject1 they could not more exactly have stated the case than they have here done1 though enlightened only by the facts they discovered in the religion of the natives2 for surely the ,book of ,mormon gives us the information that both the ,jaredite and the ,nephite people had knowledge of the true ,god1 and the latter1 especially1 a full knowledge of the mild and gentle religion taught by ,jesus ,christ2 which religion1 however1 was subverted in the western world1 and overlaid by the revolting superstition and horribly ferocious idolatry1 attended by human sacrifice and cannibalism of the ,lamanites or ,aztecs4 ,another point of the coincidence between native ,american traditions and the ,bible is found in the goddess ,cioacoatl1 our lady and mother2 the first goddess who brought forth2 who bequeathed the suffering of childbirth to women1 as the tribute of death2 by whom sin came into the world4 ,such was the remarkable language applied by the ,aztecs to this venerated deity4 ,she was usually represented with a serpent near her2 and her name signified the serpent-woman4 ,in all this we see much to remind us of the mother of the human family1 the ,eve of the ,hebrew and ,syrian nations4 #aa ,on this passage ,prescott also has the following note3 ,torquemada1 not content with the honest record of his predecessor1 whose manuscripts lay before him1 tells us1 that the ,mexican ,eve had two sons1 ,cain and ,abel4 #ab ,the ancient interpreters of the ,vatican and ,tellerian ,codices add the further tradition1 of her bringing sin and sorrow into the world by plucking the forbidden rose2 7,antiquities of ,mexico1 vol4 ,,vi1 explan4 of ,plate4 #g1 #bj72 and ,veytia remembers to have seen a ,toltec or ,aztec map1 representing a garden with a single tree in it1 round which was coiled the serpent with a human face6 7,hist4 ,antiq41 lib4 #a1 ch4 #a74 #ac ,after this1 continues ,prescott1 sarcastically1 we may be prepared for ,lord ,kingsborough's deliberate confession that the ,aztecs had a clear knowledge of the ,old ,testament and most probably of the ,new1 though somewhat corrupted by time and hieroglyphics6 ,i see no occasion for the sarcasm on the part of the admirable author of the ,conquest of ,mexico1 since he himself furnishes much of the material that would warrant a conclusion similar to that of ,kingsborough4 #ad ,kingsborough's conclusion comes in his note two1 #ae in which he deals with ,american traditions which appear to be derived from a ,hebrew source2 and as the passage referred to by ,prescott is of great value as material in proof not only of his lordship's position that the ancient ,americans were acquainted with portions1 at least1 of the ,old ,testament1 but also sustains the truth of the ,book of ,mormon at a number of points--which will be noted later--,i give it in extenso3 ,it is unnecessary to attempt in this place to trace out any further scriptural analogies in the traditions and mythology of the ,new ,world1 since the coincidences which have been already mentioned are sufficiently strong to warrant the conclusion that the ,indians1 at a period long antecedent to the arrival of the ,spaniards in ,america1 were acquainted with a portion at least of the ,old ,testament1 although time1 superstition1 and above all1 such an imperfect mode of transmitting to posterity the memory of the past events as that of painting1 had greatly corrupted their ancient traditions4 ,we shall close these observations with the following curious extract from ,torquemada1 from which it might appear that even the ,new ,testament had been known to the ,indians3 ,another ecclesiastic1 named ,brother ,diege de ,mercado1 a grave father1 who has been definer of this province of the ,holy ,gospel1 and one of the most exemplary men and greatest doers of penance of his time1 relates1 and authenticates this relation with his signature1 that some years ago conversing with an aged ,indian of the ,otomies1 above seventy years old1 respecting matters concerning our faith1 the ,indian told him that they in ancient times had been in possession of a book which was handed down successively from father to son1 in the person of the eldest1 who was dedicated to the safe custody of it and to instruct others in its doctrines4 ,these doctrines were written in two columns1 and between column and column ,christ was painted crucified1 with a countenance as of anger4 ,they accordingly said that ,god was offended2 and out of reverence did not turn over the leaves with their hands1 but with a small bar which they had made for that purpose1 which they kept along with the book4 ,on this ecclesiastic's questioning the ,indian as to the contents of that book and its doctrines1 he was unable to give him further information1 but simply replied that if the book had not been lost1 he would have seen that the doctrine which he taught and preached to them1 and those which the book contained1 were the same2 that the book had rotted in the earth1 where the persons who kept it had buried it on the arrival of the ,spaniards4 ,he likewise informed him that they knew the world had been destroyed by the deluge1 and that only seven persons had escaped in the ark1 and that all the rest had perished1 together with the animals and birds1 excepting those which had been saved therein4 ,they were also acquainted with the embassy of the angel of ,our ,lady1 under a figure1 relating that something very white1 like the feather of a bird1 fell from heaven1 and that a virgin stooped down and took it up and put it in her bosom and became pregnant2 but what she brought forth they could not tell4 ,what they said of the deluge1 is attested likewise in ,guatemala by the ,indians named ,achies1 who assert that they possessed paintings recording the event1 with other matters of antiquity1 all of which the ,brothers1 ,spanish ,catholic priests with the spirit and zeal with which they were animated for the destruction of idolatry1 took from them and burnt1 holding them to be suspicious4 #af ,,ii4 ,the ,flood4 ,i next call attention to the native ,american traditions concerning the flood1 consulting those passages1 however1 let me say1 which most nearly resemble the account of our ,hebrew scriptures2 and without pretending to enter into an exhaustive consideration of native flood myths4 ,my purpose is accomplished in this1 as in the matter of the traditions concerning the creation1 if ,i produce those proofs which1 in my judgment1 establish the fact that the native ,americans have been made acquainted with the facts of the creation and the flood1 found in our ,jewish scriptures2 and ,i am not at all concerned here with the variations that native traditions have given to the main truths4 ,the following is from ,prescott3 ,no tradition has been more widely spread among nations than that of a ,deluge4 ,independently of tradition1 indeed1 it would seem to be naturally suggested by the interior structure of the earth1 and by the elevated places on which marine substances are found to be deposited4 ,it was the received notion under some form or other1 of the most civilized people in the ,old ,world1 and of the barbarians of the new4 ,the ,aztecs combine with this some particular circumstances of a more arbitrary character1 resembling the accounts of the east4 ,they believed that two persons survived the deluge1 a man1 named ,coxcox and his wife4 ,their heads are represented in ancient paintings1 together with a boat floating on the waters1 at the foot of a mountain4 ,a dove is also depicted1 with the hieroglyphical emblem of languages in his mouth1 which he is distributing to the children of ,coxcox1 who were born dumb4 ,the neighboring people of ,michuacan1 inhabiting the same high plains of the ,andes1 had a still further tradition1 that the boat1 in which ,tezpi1 their ,noah1 escaped1 was filled with various kinds of animals and birds4 ,after some time1 a vulture was sent out from it1 but remained feeding on the dead bodies of the giants1 which had been left on the earth1 as the waters subsided4 ,the little humming-bird1 huititzilin1 was then sent forth1 and returned with a twig in its mouth4 ,the coincidence of both these accounts with the ,hebrew and ,chaldean narratives is obvious4 #ag ,this is from ,bancroft3 ,in ,nicaragua1 a country where the principal language was a ,mexican dialect1 it was believed that ages ago the world was destroyed by a flood in which the most part of mankind perished4 ,afterward the teotes1 or gods1 restocked the earth as at the beginning4 #ah ,connected with the great flood of water1 there is a ,mexican tradition presenting some analogies to the story of ,noah and his ark4 ,in most of the painted manuscripts supposed to relate to this event1 a kind of boat is represented floating over the waste of water and containing a man and a woman4 ,even the ,tlascaltecs1 and ,zapotecs1 the ,miztecs1 and the people of ,michoacan are said to have had such pictures4 ,the man is variously called ,coxcox1 ,teocipactli1 ,tezpi1 and ,nata2 the woman ,xochiquetzal and ,nena4 ,the following has been usually accepted as the ordinary ,mexican version of this myth3 ,in ,atonatiuh1 the ,age of water1 a great flood covered all the face of the earth1 and the inhabitants thereof were turned into fishes4 ,only one man and one woman escaped1 saving themselves in the hollow trunk of an ahahuete or bald cypress2 the name of the man being ,coxcox1 and that of his wife ,zochiquetzal4 ,on the waters abating a little they grounded their ark on the ,peak of ,colhuacan1 the ,ararat of ,mexico4 ,here they increased and multiplied1 and children began to gather about them1 children who were all born dumb4 ,and a dove came and gave them tongues1 innumerable languages4 ,only fifteen of the descendants of ,coxcox1 who afterward became heads of families1 spake the same language or could at all understand each other2 and from these fifteen are descended the ,toltecs1 the ,aztecs1 and the ,acolhuas4 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,in ,michoacan a tradition was preserved1 following which the name of the ,mexican ,noah was ,tezpi4 ,with better fortune than that ascribed to ,coxcox1 he was able to save1 in a spacious vessel1 not only himself and his wife1 but also his children1 several animals1 and a quantity of grain for the common use4 ,when the waters began to subside1 he sent out a vulture that it might go to and fro on the earth and bring him word again when dry land began to appear4 ,but the vulture fed upon the carcasses that were strewn in every part1 and never returned4 ,then ,tezpi sent out other birds1 and among these was a humming-bird4 ,and when the sun began to cover the earth with a new verdure1 the humming-bird returned to its old refuge bearing green leaves4 ,and ,tezpi saw that his vessel was aground near the mountain of ,colhuacan and he landed there4 #ai ,the ,peruvians had several flood-myths4 ,one of them relates that the whole face of the earth was changed by a great deluge1 attended by an extraordinary eclipse of the sun which lasted five days4 ,all living things were destroyed except one man1 a shepherd1 with his family and flocks4 99 99 99 99 ,according to another ,peruvian legend1 two brothers escaped from a great deluge which overwhelmed the world in much the same manner1 by ascending a mountain which floated upon the flood4 ,when the waters had retired1 they found themselves alone in the world2 and having consumed all their provisions1 they went down into the valleys to seek for more food4 #bj ,the following is from ,lord ,kingsborough's works3 ,the ,peruvians were acquainted with the deluge1 and believed that the rainbow was the sign that the earth would not again be destroyed by water4 ,this is plain from the speech which ,mango ,capac1 the reported founder of the ,peruvian empire1 addressed to his companions on beholding the rainbow rising from a hill2 which is thus recorded by ,balboa in the ninth chapter of the third part of his ,miscellanea ,antarctica3 ,they traveled on until a mountain1 at present named ,guanacauri1 presented itself to their view1 when1 on a certain morning1 they beheld the rainbow rising above the mountain1 with one extremity resting upon it1 when ,mango ,capac exclaimed to his companions1 ,this is a propitious sign that the world will not be again destroyed by water2 follow me1 let us climb to the summit of this mountain1 that we may thence have a view of the place which is destined for our future habitation4 ,having cast lots and performed various superstitious ceremonies1 after this manner1 they directed their course towards the mountain4 ,it is scarcely necessary to observe1 that to draw omens or to determine chances by throwing lots1 was an ancient ,hebrew custom1 resorted to on the most solemn1 as well as the most trivial occasions4 ,proof having been afforded in the passage quoted from the history of ,balboa1 that the ,peruvians were acquainted with the history of the rainbow1 as given in the ninth chapter of ,genesis1 it may be interesting to add1 that according to the account of an anonymous writer1 they believed that the rainbow was not only a passive sign that the earth would not be destroyed by a second deluge1 but an active instrument to prevent the recurrence of such a catastrophe3 the latter curious notion proceeded upon the assumption that as the water of the sea 7which1 like the ,jews1 they believe to encircle the whole earth7 would have a tendency to rise after excessive falls of rain1 so the pressure of the extremities of the rainbow upon its surface would prevent its exceeding its proper level4 #ba ,nadaillac calls attention to the fact of a general belief in a deluge or a flood among the ,american races and comments upon the fact that we are dependent upon writers for our account of the traditions who are not always free from mental bias and who have derived their information from individuals who had been subjected to missionary teachings and who were more or less familiar with what he calls the myths and legends of the ,christians4 ,notwithstanding these disadvantages1 he remarks1 however1 it will be seen that a general belief1 for instance1 of a deluge or flood is widely spread among ,american races1 and can hardly be attributed to ,christian teachings4 #bb ,one might continue quoting passages of the foregoing character indefinitely1 but ,i consider what has been set down on these matters sufficient4 #bc ,footnotes #a4 ,the reader will find preceding the table of contents in this volume a pronunciation of the principal ,spanish and ,mexican proper names found in this work4 #b4 ,chips from a ,german ,workshop1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #cbe4 #c4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 p4 #add1 note4 #d4 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,iii1 pp4 #db1 #dc4 #e4 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,iii1 pp4 #db1 #dc4 #bd #f4 ,chips from a ,german ,workshop1 vol4 ,i1 pp4 #cbh-i4 #g4 ,nadaillac ,pre-,historic ,america1 p4 #add1 note4 ,this writer says of the book in question4 ,it contains several details strangely resembling those of ,genesis1 and some have seen in them an adaptation by a pious fraud of ,indian mythology to the dogmas of ,christianity4 #h4 ,chips from a ,german ,workshop1 p4 #abh4 #i4 ,conquest of ,mexico1 vol4 ,i1 ,prescott1 p4 #fb4 #aj4 ,conquest of ,mexico1 ,prescott1 vol4 ,,ii1 p4 #chg4 #aa4 ,morarch ,ind41 lib4 #f1 chap4 #ca4 #ab4 ,prescott1 ,conquest of ,mexico1 vol4 ,,ii1 pp4 #chg1 #chh1 note4 #ac4 ,see ,appendix no4 #a1 vol4 ,,ii1 of ,prescott's ,conquest of ,mexico4 #ad4 ,vol4 ,,vi1 ,kingsborough's ,antiquities of ,mexico1 pp4 #dja-dji4 #ae4 ,antiquities of ,mexico1 ,kingsborough1 vol4 ,,xi1 p4 #dji4 #af4 ,conquest of ,mexico1 ,prescott1 vol4 ,,ii1 appendix pp4 #che1 #chf4 #ag4 ,native ,races1 ,bancroft1 vol4 ,,iii1 p4 #ge4 #ah4 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,iii1 pp4 #fe-fg4 #ai4 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,v1 pp4 #ad1 #af4 #bj4 ,kingsborough's ,mexican ,antiquities1 vol4 ,,viii1 p4 #be1 note4 #ba4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 p4 #ebe4 #bb4 ,whoever desires to pursue the subject further may do so by consulting ,bancroft's ,native ,races1 vol4 ,v1 chapter one1 and vol4 ,,iii1 chapter two2 as also the works of ,prescott1 the monumental volumes of ,kingsborough1 7the latter can be accessible to but few1 however71 and chapter #e of ,ignatius ,donnelley's ,atlantis4 ,also ,pre-,historic ,america 7,nadaillac71 chapter #aj1 and ,the ,history of ,america ,before ,columbus1 7,de ,roo7 vol4 ,i1 chapter sixteen4 #bc4 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,v1 pp4 #acg1 #ach4 ,,chapter ,,xxix4 ,,indirect ,,external ,,evidences--,,american ,,traditions4 ,continued4 ,always closely allied with the native ,american traditions of a deluge are those which bear close analogy to the ,bible account of the existence of giants in the earth1 #a of the ,tower of ,babel1 #b the confusion of languages1 #c the dispersion of mankind throughout the earth1 #d including migrations to this western hemisphere4 ,the first four items above enumerated will be recognized as ,bible events2 while the last will be remembered as a very important ,book of ,mormon event fulfilled in the migration of the ,jaredite colony from the ,tower of ,babel to the western hemisphere4 #e ,but as the ,nephite migration1 as also that of ,mulek's colony1 is committed to the traditions of the native ,americans1 one must not be surprised if these several migrations are sometimes confounded1 resulting in confusion that is quite perplexing4 ,,iii4 ,tradition of the ,tower of ,babel ,on the way between ,vera ,cruz and the capital not far from the modern city of ,puebla1 stands the venerable relic1 with which the reader has become familiar in the course of this narrative--called the temple of ,cholulua4 ,it is1 as he will remember1 a pyramidal mound1 built1 or rather cased1 with unburnt brick1 rising to the height of nearly one hundred and eighty feet4 ,the popular tradition of the natives is that it was erected by a family of giants1 who had escaped the great inundation1 and designed to raise the building to the clouds2 but the gods1 offended with their presumption1 sent fires from heaven on the pyramid1 and compelled them to abandon the attempt4 ,the partial coincidence of this legend with the ,hebrew account of the ,tower of ,babel1 received also by other nations of the east1 cannot be denied4 #f ,prescott also has a footnote on this passage1 from which ,i make the following quotation3 ,a tradition1 very similar to the ,hebrew one1 existed among the ,chaldeans and the ,hindoos4 7,asiatic ,researches1 vol4 ,,iii1 mem4 #af47 ,the natives of ,chiapa1 also1 according to the bishop ,nuez de la ,vega1 had a story1 cited as genuine by ,humboldt 7,vues des ,cordilleres1 p4 #adh71 which not only agrees with the scripture account of the manner in which ,babel was built1 but with that of the subsequent dispersion1 and the confusion of tongues4 #g ,ixtlilxochitl the ,christian descendant of the ancient rulers of ,anahuac1 relates that after the dispersion of the human race which succeeded the attempt at building the ,tower of ,babel 7which he had learned from his ,catholic instructors7 #h seven ,toltecs reached ,america and became the parents of a numerous race4 ,the ,quiches speak of white men who came from the land of the sun4 ,the people of ,yucatan believe that their ancestors had come from the east1 across a great body of water that ,god had dried up to let them pass over4 #i ,the ,mexicans round ,cholula had a special legend1 connecting the escape of a remnant from the great deluge with the often mentioned story of the origin of the people of ,anahuac from ,chicomoztoc1 or the ,seven ,caves4 ,at the time of the cataclysm1 i4 e4 the flood the country1 according to ,pedro de los ,rios1 was inhabited by giants4 ,some of these perished utterly2 others were changed into fishes2 while seven brothers of them found safety by closing themselves into certain caves in a mountain called ,tlaloc4 ,when the waters were assuaged1 one of the giants1 ,xelhua1 surnamed the architect1 went to ,cholula and began to build an artificial mountain1 as a monument and a memorial of the ,tlaloc that had sheltered him and his when the angry waters swept through all the land4 ,the bricks were made in ,tlamanalco1 at the foot of the ,sierra de ,cocotl1 and passed to ,chulua from hand to hand along a file of men--whence these came is not said--stretching between the two places4 ,then were the jealousy and the anger of the gods aroused1 as the huge pyramid arose slowly up1 threatening to reach the clouds and the great heaven itself2 and the gods launched their fire upon the builders and slew many1 so that the work was stopped4 ,but the half-finished structure1 afterwards dedicated by the ,cholultecs to ,quetzalcoatl1 still remains to show how well ,xelhua1 the giant1 deserved his surname of the ,architect4 #aj ,the ,tower of ,babel is1 indeed1 clearly remembered by several aboriginal nations of our continent1 says ,p4 ,de,roo1 especially of ,central ,america1 and then he adds3 ,ixtlilxochitl relates the tradition of the ,toltecs1 according to which the few men who escaped the deluge1 after multiplying again1 built a zacuali or tower of great height1 in which to take refuge when the world should be destroyed a second time4 ,after this their tongues became confused and1 not understanding one another any longer1 they went to different parts of the world4 ,the ,toltecs1 seven in number1 and their wives1 who understood one another's speech1 after crossing great lands and seas and undergoing many hardships1 finally arrived in ,america1 which they found to be a good land and fit for habitation4 ,when ,coxcox and his wife ,xochiquetzal had landed on the peak of ,calhuacan they increased and multiplied1 and children began to gather about them2 but these were all born dumb4 ,a dove came1 however1 and gave them tongues1 innumerable languages4 ,on an ancient hieroglyphical map1 first published by ,carreri1 who was vindicated from suspicion as to his integrity by ,boturini1 ,clavigero1 and von ,humboldt1 there is also depicted a dove with the hieroglyphic emblem of languages1 which it is distributing to the children of ,coxcox4 ,only fifteen of the descendants of ,coxcox could not all understand one another1 and these were the ancestors of the ,nahua nations4 ,thus runs the ,mexican tradition1 which the learned ,von ,humboldt further relates when he says1 ,wodan1 one of the fifteen ancestors of the ,american nations1 was a grandson of the venerable old man1 who with his family escaped the fury of the flood1 and was one of those who1 according to the ,chiapan legend1 had helped in building the monument that was to reach heaven but remained unfinished through the anger of the gods4 ,after each family had received a different language1 ,teotl ordered ,wodan to go and settle ,anahuac #aa--7the ,mexican table land74 ,the ,cholulan tradition1 as told by ,duran1 differs somewhat from the foregoing version4 ,i inquired1 he says1 about the ancient ,mexican legends1 from a native of ,cholula who was a hundred years old1 and well versed in the antiquities of his tribe4 ',take pen and paper1' he answered me1 'because you could not remember all that ,i am to tell you3 ,at first1 there was nothing but a dark world1 without any creature in it2 but as soon as light was made with the sun rising in the east1 gigantic men with ugly features made their appearance and took possession of this earth4 ,desirous of knowing the rising and the setting of the sun1 they divided themselves into two groups1 those of one group traveling east on their search1 and the others west1 until the ocean prevented them from going any further4 ,they returned1 therefore1 and1 unable to get at the sun by his rising or sinking1 whilst1 however1 they were enamoured with his light and beauty1 they decided to build a tower tall enough to reach him in his course4 ,they set out gathering materials1 found clay and a very sticky bitumen1 and they hurried on to erect the tower1 and raised it so high that1 they say1 it seemed to attain to the sky4 ,and the ,lord above1 annoyed at their work1 spoke to the inhabitants of heaven3 ',you have noticed how those of the world have built a high and superb tower to climb up higher1 after the beauty and light of the sun2 come and let us confound them1 for it is not right that those of the world living in the flesh1 should mix up with us4' ,the inhabitants of heaven sallied forth at once1 like thunderbolts1 by the four corners of the earth and demolished the monument4 ,terrified and trembling1 the giants fled in every direction4' #ab ,passages of like description to these might be multiplied1 but the foregoing are sufficient for our purpose here4 #ac ,i have already called attention to the fact that authorities upon the subject of traditions and legends of the new world are as much divided and as irreconcilable as they are upon the origin and antiquity of ,american ruins4 ,a number of writers1 especially those of recent date1 seek to discount the value of the analogy which is plainly evident between these native ,american accounts of the creation1 the flood1 the building of the ,tower of ,babel1 the confusion of tongues1 the dispersion of mankind1 and the ,bible accounts of the same events2 but ,i fail to find any reason advanced sufficiently strong to discredit the obvious analogy1 and the significance there is in such analogy1 viz41 that the native ,americans in ancient times were acquainted with the ,bible facts concerning these several things4 ,those who accept the ,book of ,mormon know by what means and how the ancient ,americans became acquainted with these scriptural truths4 ,those writers who seek to discredit the native traditions resort in the main to the theory that these so-called creation1 flood1 and tower legends have not escaped the renovating touch of the ,spanish priests and chroniclers1 who1 throughout their writings1 seem to think it their bounden duty to make the ideas of the history of the new world correspond to those of the old2 #ad while others see in them an adaptation by pious fraud of ,indian mythologies to ,bible statements4 #ae ,such ,nadaillac represents the theories of some other writers to be2 but he himself1 in speaking of a number of traditions which resemble ,bible historical incidents1 disclaims the necessity of accrediting them to ,christian origin3 ,a general belief 99 99 99 99 in a deluge or flood is widely spread among the ,american races1 and can hardly be attributed to ,christian teachings4 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,it is probable that all these traditions have some foundations in truth4 99 99 99 99 ,no dissemination of merely ,christian ideas since the conquest is sufficient to account for these myths4 #af ,with the ,book of ,mormon in hand1 however1 one does not need to accept these strained explanations nor this wholesale repudiation of the writings of respectable authorities on the validity of these legends among native ,americans1 derived--not as some would have us believe1 from picture-paintings of the natives alone1 but from these1 supplemented by the oral traditions of the natives4 ,the source of traditions here referred to is made clear by the ,book of ,mormon4 ,,iv4 ,migrations4 ,as already stated1 some confusion exists in native ,american traditions relative to migrations4 ,this doubtless arises from the fact that the native traditions confound the three great migrations of which the ,book of ,mormon speaks1 viz41 the ,jaredite1 ,nephite and ,mulek migrations1 and also the subsequent intercontinental movements among both ,nephites and ,lamanites1 especially those following the disaster at ,cumorah1 with the general migrations from the old world4 ,this confusion in the native traditions results in dividing the writers on ,american antiquities1 both in respect of the number of migrations and the direction whence they came1 as also the time of them4 ,it should be stated that there are some respectable authorities who doubt ancient migrations at all1 holding the native population of ,america1 and also its civilization1 to be indigenous4 ,migration passages already quoted in connection with the ,tower of ,babel matter1 are as follows3 ,the ,toltecs reached ,america from the ,tower and became the founders of a numerous race4 ,the ,quiches speak of white men who came from the land of the sun4 ,the people of ,yucatan believe that their ancestors had come from the east across a great body of water that ,god had dried up to let them pass over4 #ag ,here it will be observed that with these traditions of the migration from the east has been coupled the ,bible story of the ,israelites crossing the ,red ,sea1 through which ,god opened a way to let them pass4 #ah ,it is also to be observed that in some instances the ,american traditions fix the building of the notable tower to escape floods in the western world4 #ai ,not a surprising variation when one considers how oral tradition1 unchecked by written annals1 distorts facts4 ,from another passage already given1 #bj after referring to the facts of the confusion of languages1 it is stated that the people went to different parts of the world2 then1 the ,toltecs1 seven in number1 and their wives1 who understood one another's speech1 after crossing great lands and seas and undergoing great hardships1 finally arrived in ,america1 which they found to be good land and fit for habitation4 99 99 99 ,only fifteen of the descendants of ,coxcox could at all understand one another1 and these were the ancestors of the ,nahuac nations4 #ba ,in this last quotation one perceives very clearly in outline the story of the ,jaredite migration as follows3 ,first1 the number of the colony is small4 ,the ,book of ,ether represents that the ,jaredite colony crossed the great waters between their native land and ,america in eight barges2 #bb and they were small4 #bc ,the two principal families of this colony1 that of ,moriancumr and ,jared1 some time after reaching ,america1 are set down as follows3 ,the former had of sons and daughters twenty-two2 while the number of sons and daughters of the latter were twelve1 he having four sons4 ,some of these sons and daughters may1 of course1 have been born en route to1 and after the arrival in1 ,america--that1 at least1 is a very great probability--and hence the original colony would be cut down by as many as were so born4 #bd ,the number of friends of ,jared and his brother who accompanied them from ,babel to ,america are set down at about twenty and two souls1 and they also begat sons and daughters before they came to the promised land4 #be ,this may mean that the twenty-two friends were all adults1 while the number of children is not given2 or it may mean that they numbered twenty-two including children4 ,in any event the ,jaredite colony was not large1 and it is quite possible that the families were not more than seven in number as held in the native tradition before us4 ,second1 the ,american traditions represent that the colony which came from the tower and peopled ,america all understood each other's language1 and the number of them was fifteen2 which1 if this number represents the adult members of the colony1 we have again about the seven families indicated in the foregoing passage2 and it will be remembered that when the ,lord made known to the prophet ,moriancumr that he was about to confound the languages of the people1 his brother ,jared suggested to him that he ask the ,lord not to confound their language2 and it came to pass that the brother of ,jared did cry unto the ,lord1 and the ,lord had compassion upon ,jared1 therefore he did not confound the language of ,jared4 #bf ,a second appeal was made in behalf of their friends 7who we have already learned numbered twenty-two7 that their language might not be confounded2 and the ,lord had compassion upon their friends1 and upon their families also1 that they were not confounded4 #bg ,third1 this colony1 of the ,american traditions1 crossed great lands and seas and underwent many hardships before finally arriving in ,america4 ,now ,ether's account of the ,jaredite journey3 ,and it came to pass that they did travel in the wilderness1 and did build barges1 in which they did cross many waters1 being directed continually by the hand of the ,lord4 ,and the ,lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness1 but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise--,america4 #bh ,arriving on the shores of the great ocean which separated them from the land of their destination they received a commandment to build barges for crossing this ocean4 ,and it came to pass that when they had done all these things they got aboard of their vessels or barges and set forth into the sea1 commending themselves unto the ,lord their ,god4 ,and it came to pass that the ,lord ,god caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters1 towards the promised land2 and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind4 #bi ,this journey continued three hundred and forty-four days upon the water4 ,this surely was crossing great lands and seas and undergoing many hardships4 ,fourth1 the ,american tradition says that the ,toltec colony finally arrived in ,america1 which they found to be a good land1 and fit for habitation4 ,concerning the land to which the ,jaredite colony came ,ether says that it is a land of promise1 which is choice above all other lands which the ,lord had preserved for a righteous people4 #cj ,in other words1 to use the language of the native ,american tradition1 it was a land fit for habitation4 ,other passages on the fact of ancient migrations to ,america follow2 but ,i caution the reader again concerning the confusion existing in the traditions on this subject1 which arises1 as ,i believe1 from the traditions mingling indiscriminately together the three migrations of the ,book of ,mormon1 and later movements of native tribes since the overthrow of the ,nephites at ,cumorah4 ,one fact appears probable1 and that is that there was a tendency of population extending over a long period from the north toward the south1 one driving another before it as one wave of the sea follows that in advance of it4 ,we cannot do better than compare these successive invasions1 with those of the barbarous races that quarreled over the parts of the dismembered ,roman empire1 or with that of the ,aryans1 who from the farther end of ,asia fell in hordes first upon ,india and ,persia and then upon the different countries of ,europe1 giving to the vanquished as the price of their defeat a culture undoubtedly superior to that they had formerly possessed4 #ca ,that successive waves of migration occurred there is no reason to doubt1 and that these successive bodies of immigrants differed to some extent in culture and in race is highly probable4 #cb 99 99 99 ,the ancient ,american races preserved the tradition of distinct migrations1 in their hieroglyphics and pictographs4 #cc ,that ,america was peopled from ,asia1 the cradle of the human race1 can no longer be doubted1 but how and when they came is a problem that cannot be solved4 #cd ,the testimony of migration to the western coast of ,america from the eastern coast of ,asia1 ,rivero and ,tschudi hold to be strong and conclusive2 and further that it explains many facts in ,america1 which long perplexed our archaeologists2 but it by no means aids us in determining the origin of our earliest population4 #ce ,on the same subject ,gallatin remarks3 ,after making every proper allowance1 ,i can see no possible reason that should have prevented those who1 after the dispersion of mankind1 moved towards the east and northeast from having reached the extremities of ,asia and passed over to ,america within five hundred years after the flood4 ,however small may have been the number of those first emigrants1 an equal number of years would have been more than sufficient to occupy in their own way every part of ,america4 #cf ,bancroft1 quoting the substance of a passage from ,sahagun1 whom he pronounces one of the best of authorities1 says3 ,countless years ago the first settlers arrived in ,new ,spain4 ,coming in ships by sea1 they approached a northern port and because they disembarked there it was called ,panutla1 or ,panoaia1 place where they arrived who came by sea1 now corruptly called ,pantlan 7,panuco72 and from this port they began to follow the coast1 beholding the snowy ,sierras and the volcanoes1 until they reached the province of ,guatemala2 being guided by a priest carrying their god1 with whom he continually took counsel respecting what they ought to do4 ,they came to settle in ,tamoanchan #cg where they remained a long time1 and never ceased to have their wise men1 or prophets1 called amoxoaque1 which means men learned in the ancient paintings1 books1 who1 although they came at the same time1 did not remain with the rest in ,tamoanchan2 since leaving them there1 they re-embarked and carried away with them all the paintings books which they had brought relating to religious rites and mechanical arts4 #ch ,speaking of the traditions of the migration of the ,nahuatl nations ,bancroft says3 ,in its ancient center--not in ,anahuac1 whether it was in the north or south--the primitive ,nahua power was overthrown1 or from that center it was transferred to be re-established by exiled princes and their descendants on the ,mexican plateaux4 ,this transfer1 whose nature we may vaguely comprehend1 but of whose details we know nothing1 is the event or series of events referred to by various migration-traditions4 ,the recollections of these events assumed different forms in the traditions of different tribes until each nation claimed1 or were deemed by the ,spaniards to claim1 a distinct migration from its former home4 #ci ,after the creation of the first men ,balam-,quitze1 ,balam-,agab1 ,machucutah and ,iqui-,balam1 wives were given to them1 and these were the parents of the ,quiche nation4 99 99 99 99 ,all seem to have spoken one language and to have lived in great peace1 black men and white men together4 ,here they awaited the rising of the sun and prayed to the ,heart of ,heaven4 ,the tribes were already very numerous including that of the ,yaqui 7,nahuas74 ,at the advice of ,balam-,quitze and his companions they departed in search of gods to worship1 and came to ,tulan-,zuiva and seven caves where gods were given4 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,tohil was also the god of ,tamub and ,ilocab and the three tribes or families kept together1 for their god was the same4 ,here arrived all the tribes2 99 99 99 99 99 and here their language was confounded4 ,they could no longer understand each other and they separated1 going to the east1 and many coming hither 7to ,guatemala74 ,they dressed in skins and were poor1 but they were wonderful men1 and when they reached ,tulan-,zuiva long had been their journey1 as the ancient histories tell us4 #dj ,bancroft condenses the foregoing from ,popol ,vuh1 of which work ,i have already given a description1 #da and in it may be observed the essential facts of the ,jaredite migrations to the new world4 ,that is1 some time after the creation men are represented as living together and speaking one language4 ,later comes the confusion of tongues4 ,certain families adhere together because they speak the same language4 ,there is a general dispersion and after a very long journey one of the groups reaches ,gautemala2 i4 e41 ,central ,america4 ,concluding the primitive period of ,gautemala history1 ,bancroft quotes a striking passage from the ,spanish writer ,juarros2 who1 he says1 follows the manuscript writings of ,fuentes y ,guzman1 founded1 as is claimed1 on native documents1 but full of inconsistencies1 he adds1 and doubtless also of errors4 ,there is1 it is true1 some confusion in the story told in this quotation2 yet1 making allowance for the imperfections of oral traditions1 and confusion likely to occur in them1 one may see in it something akin to the ,nephite migration recounted in the ,book of ,mormon4 ,and now the story3 ,the ,toltecs referred to were of the house of ,israel1 and the great prophet ,moses freed them from the captivity in which they were held by ,pharaoh2 but1 having passed the ,red ,sea1 they gave themselves up to idolatry1 and persisting in it notwithstanding the warnings of ,moses1 either to escape the chidings of his law-giver1 or for fear of punishment1 they left him and their kindred and crossed the sea to a place called the ,seven ,caves on the shores of the ,mar ,bermejo 7,gulf of ,california7 now a part of the ,mexican kingdom1 where they founded the celebrated city of ,tula4 ,the first chief who ruled and conducted this great band from one continent to the other1 was ,tamub1 ancestor of the royal families of ,tula and of ,quiche1 and first king of the ,toltecs4 ,the second was ,capichoch2 the third ,calel ,ahus2 the fourth ,ahpop2 the fifth ,nimaquiche1 who1 being the best beloved and most distinguished of all1 at the order of his oracle1 led those people away from ,tulan1 where they had greatly increased in numbers1 guided them from the ,mexican kingdom to this of ,guatemala4 ,in this migration they spent many years1 suffered unspeakable hardships1 and journeyed in their wanderings for many leagues over an immense tract of country1 until1 beholding a lake 7that of ,atitan71 they determined to fix their habitation at a certain place not far from the lake1 which they named ,quiche1 in memory of the king ,nimaquiche 7or1 the great ,quiche71 who had died during their long wanderings4 ,there came with ,nimaquiche three of his brothers1 and by an agreement between the four they divided the region4 #db ,in some respects--in the matter of the seven caves and the name of the leader of the colony1 ,tamub--the story touches the tradition which doubtless refers to the advent of the ,jaredites2 and also1 perhaps1 some of the later migrations of native tribes in ,central ,america4 ,but one has1 in the foregoing tradition1 the ,hebrew origin of the colony plainly declared2 their departure from their kindred and the journey across the sea2 their leader becomes the first king1 as did ,nephi2 #dc he founds a royal line--becomes1 in fact1 the ancestor of the royal families of ,tula and ,quiche1 as ,nephi founded the royal line among his people2 #dd the fifth king1 greatly beloved1 instructed by his oracle--,god--led part of the people away from an old place of settlement1 where they had greatly increased1 and led them to another land4 ,both character and achievement corresponds admirably with the first ,mosiah of the ,book of ,mormon1 and his leading the more righteous part of the ,nephites from the land of ,lehi-,nephi to ,zarahemla2 #de and there is also the ,nephite custom of naming lands after distinguished leaders who first settled them2 #df while one may see in the fact that with ,nimaquiche there came three brothers in his migration1 a close resemblance to the fact of three brothers being associated with ,nephi in the ,nephite colony led from ,jerusalem4 #dg ,let it be remembered also that this is a tradition concerning the ,nahuatl tribes4 ,is this very name ,nahuatl but a variation of the ,hebrew root whence the word ,nephi is derived1 as undoubtedly the following words are3 ,nepheg1 #dh ,nephish1 #di ,nephishesim1 #ej ,nephusim1 #ea ,naphtali2 #eb and ,nephtoah8 #ec ,this ,nahuatl tradition very much resembles one among the ,peruvians concerning their migration to ,peru2 but which still more closely resembles some of the facts of the ,nephite migration1 except as to the matter of the time of it1 which is placed at five hundred years after the deluge4 ,the tradition is thus related by ,rivero and ,tschudi1 following ,montesinos3 ,peru1 says ,montesinos1 was populated five hundred years after the deluge4 ,its first inhabitants flowed in abundantly towards the valley of ,cuzco1 conducted by four brothers4 99 99 99 ,the eldest of the brothers mounted to the summit of a ridge1 and threw with his sling a stone to each of the four quarters of the world1 thus taking possession of the soil for himself and his family4 ,he afterward gave a name to each one of the quarters which he reached with his sling1 calling that beyond the south1 ,colla2 beyond the north1 ,tahua2 beyond the east1 ,antisuyu2 beyond the west1 ,contisuyu1 and for that reason the ,indians called their kings ,tahuantin-,suyu-,capac1 i4 e41 lords of the four quarters of the globe4 ,the younger of the brothers1 who1 according to tradition1 was at the same time the most skilful and hardy1 wishing to enjoy alone the plenitude of power1 rid himself of two of his brothers1 by enclosing one of them in a cave1 and throwing the other into a deep hole and thus caused the third to fly to a distant province4 ,the fratricide consoled his sisters1 and told them that they must consider him as the only child1 or son of the sun1 and obey him as such4 ,he commanded his kinsmen to level the ground and make houses of stone2 such was the origin of the city of ,cuzco4 99 99 99 ,for sixty years did this first king govern 7whom ,indian tradition also called ,puhua-,manco71 leaving the throne to his eldest son4 #ed ,here we have undoubted reference to historical events1 but the tradition in which they are held has assumed a form somewhat childish4 ,that1 however1 does not prevent one from seeing in the tradition some of the main facts of the ,nephite migration4 ,the migration is conducted by four brothers1 as was the ,nephite migration--for ,lehi1 the patriarchal head of the ,nephite colony1 seems to have influenced the migration after its departure into the wilderness of ,arabia but very little2 the eldest of the brothers seeks for the leadership on arrival in the new world1 by asserting his dominion over the four quarters of the land1 in which one may see reflected the claims which the unworthy ,laman1 the eldest of the four ,nephite brothers1 made to leadership over the ,nephite colony4 ,in the younger brother of the ,peruvian tradition being the more worthy of leadership1 and finally attaining it1 one may see the ,book of ,mormon historical fact of the youngest of the four sons of ,lehi1 taking his leadership of the colony1 though arriving at undisputed leadership of his people not by the means described in the ,peruvian tradition1 but by the blessing and favor of ,god1 and by separating from his brothers and their following1 and removing his people a long distance from the place of the first landing of the colony in ,america4 ,in that part of the tradition where the youngest brother is represented as commanding his kinsmen to level the ground and make houses of stone1 we have the evidence that he taught them the arts of civilization2 a circumstance which corroborates the ,book of ,mormon fact that the first ,nephi did the same thing4 ,it is thus recorded by him3 ,and ,i did teach my people to build buildings1 and to work in all manner of wood1 and of iron1 and of copper1 and of brass1 and of steel1 and of gold1 and of silver1 and of precious ores1 which were in great abundance4 99 99 99 99 ,and it came to pass that ,i1 ,nephi1 did cause my people to be industrious1 and to labor with their hands4 #ee ,this youngest brother of the tradition--after reigning sixty years1 7the first ,nephi's reign was also long1 but the exact number of years may not be ascertained1 #ef7 bequeathed his throne to his eldest son2 so also did ,nephi4 ,at least that he did so is a most reasonable conclusion from the ,book of ,mormon data4 ,in his old age1 seeing death approaching1 ,nephi anointed a man to be a king 99 99 99 over his people1 according to the reign of kings4 #eg ,being anxious to revere the name of this first ruler1 the people provided that those who came to the throne should be called ,first ,nephi1 ,second ,nephi1 ,third ,nephi1 #eh etc4 ,of course this does not prove that ,nephi chose his eldest son to succeed him2 but a later writer than ,jacob1 speaking of the ,nephite kingdom1 makes the statement that the kingdom had been conferred upon none but those who were descendants of ,nephi4 #ei ,hence it must have been that the man whom ,nephi anointed king when his own career was closing1 was his own son1 and most likely his eldest son4 ,thus every item of the native ,peruvian tradition under consideration1 is met by the facts of the ,book of ,mormon2 and the tradition gives strong presumptive evidence of the truth of the ,book of ,mormon statement1 and hence also to the book itself4 ,nadaillac has a passage which wonderfully confirms the possibility of the ,nephites being able to make the journey from the coast of ,arabia to ,south ,america4 ,after discussing the probability of migrations from ,asia via ,behring ,strait1 he says3 ,on the other hand1 a knowledge of navigation no better than that possessed at present by the lowest people of ,melanesia would have enabled a migration on the line of the thirtieth parallel1 south1 to reach the coast of ,south ,america1 and1 in time1 to give it a considerable population4 ,a different distribution of land and water from that at present existing1 is a possible factor in the problem1 but of which it is too early in ocean exploration to avail ourselves4 ,squier1 ,gibbs1 and numerous other ,american ethnologists believed in a migration from the west to ,south ,america4 #fj ,an item of interest connected with the ,nephite migration1 and one very likely to fasten itself in the traditions of the natives1 would be the ,nephite ,director or ,liahona as the ,nephites called it4 ,this ,director was found by ,lehi1 early in the ,nephite migrations1 at his tent door1 and is described as a round ball of curious workmanship2 and it was of fine brass4 ,and within the ball were two spindles2 and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness4 99 99 99 ,and we did follow the directions of the ball1 which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness4 #fa ,later1 when the prophet ,alma refers to it1 after informing his son ,helaman that it was called1 by their fathers1 ,liahona1 he adds3 ,and behold1 it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness4 ,and it did work for them according to their faith in ,god2 therefore1 if they had faith to believe that ,god could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go1 behold1 it was done4 #fb ,in the traditional account of how the first ,inca and his sister-wife were directed to ,peru1 one may see the distorted account of this ,book of ,mormon fact4 ,the tradition is thus related by ,prescott3 ,the celestial pair1 brother and sister1 husband and wife1 advanced along the high plains in the neighborhood of ,lake ,titicaca to about the sixteenth degree south4 ,they bore with them a golden wedge1 and were directed to take up their residence on the spot where the sacred emblem should without effort sink into the ground4 ,they proceeded accordingly but a short distance1 as far as the valley of ,cuzco1 the spot indicated by the performance of the miracle1 since there the wedge speedily sank into the earth and disappeared forever4 ,here the children of the ,sun established their residence1 and soon entered upon their beneficent mission among the rude inhabitants of the country2 ,manco ,capac teaching the men the arts of agriculture1 and ,mama ,oello initiating her own sex in the mysteries of weaving and spinning4 #fc ,squiers relates the tradition substantially in the same manner1 except that in place of a golden wedge1 he represents the celestial pair as being divinely guided by a golden rod1 which sinks into the earth on reaching the divinely appointed place of their destination4 #fd ,the student of the ,book of ,mormon will at once recognize how well the ,nephite and ,lamanite religious wars1 at some periods of their history1 are described in the following passage3 ,there appear to have been very hotly contested religious disputes2 constant wars broke out between the sectarians following the god ,votan and those who worshiped ,quetzalcohuatl1 and the vanquished on either side perished under horrible tortures1 or were compelled to fly their country #fe ,much confusion exists among authorities concerning the ,toltecs4 ,because of their clear knowledge of the creation1 flood1 tower of ,babel1 confusion of languages and dispersion of mankind1 #ff they are thought to have commenced their wanderings at the dispersion of mankind from ,babel4 ,but if a people had in their possession a version of the ,hebrew scriptures1 as the ,nephites had1 for instance1 it is not difficult to understand how these ,bible facts could be incorporated in their traditions1 without insisting that they were immediately connected with those very ancient ,bible events4 ,in whatever way the controversies about the ,toltecs may terminate1 the following description of them could well stand for a description of the ,nephites1 barring the items of cruelty1 revengefulness1 and sanguinary nature of their religion1 and their ignorance of iron4 #fg ,in spite of wars and discord the time of the ,toltec domination is enshrined in the memory of the ,nahuas as their golden age4 ,the ,toltecs1 they tell us1 were tall1 well proportioned1 with clear1 yellow complexions2 their eyes were black1 their teeth very white2 their hair was black and glossy2 their lips were thick2 their noses were aquiline1 and their foreheads were receding4 ,their beards1 were thin1 and they had very little hair on their bodies2 the expression of their mouths was sweet1 but that of the upper part of their faces severe4 ,they were brave1 but cruel1 eager for revenge1 and the religious rites practiced by them were sanguinary4 ,intelligent and ready to learn1 they were the first to make roads and aqueducts2 they knew how to utilize certain metals2 they could spin1 weave and dye cloth1 cut precious stones1 build solid houses of stone cemented with lime mortar1 found regular towns2 and1 lastly1 build mounds which may justly be compared with those of the ,mississippi valley4 ,to them popular gratitude attributes the invention of medicine1 and the vapor bath 7temazcalli74 ,certain plants to which curative properties were attributed were the remedies mostly used4 #fh ,in the towns we are told1 were hospitals where the poor were received and cared for gratuitously4 ,our information respecting the commerce of the ,toltecs is very vague4 ,we know1 however1 that it was important4 ,at certain periods of the year regular fairs were held at ,toltan and ,cholula2 the products of the regions washed by both oceans were seen side by side with numerous objects made by the ,toltecs themselves4 ,these objects were of great variety1 for though iron was unknown to them1 the ,toltecs worked in gold1 silver1 copper1 tin and lead4 ,their jewelry is celebrated1 and the few valuable ornaments which escaped the rapacity of the ,conquistadores are still justly admired4 ,the ,toltecs cut down trees with copper hatchets1 and sculptured bas-reliefs and hieroglyphics with stone implements4 ,for this purpose flint1 porphyry1 basalt1 and above all obsidian1 the istlie of the ,mexicans1 were used4 ,emeralds1 turquoises1 amethysts1 of which large deposits were found in various places1 were sought after for making jewelry for both men and women4 ,at ,cholula a famous kind of pottery was made1 including vases and the utensils in daily use1 censers1 and idols for the temples of the gods and common ornaments for the people4 #fi ,let this description be compared with that which ,helaman #gj gives of the ,nephites in the sixty-fourth year of the ,nephite republic--a date corresponding with the year #bg ,b4 ,c4--and it will be seen that either one might stand for the other4 ,these traditions concerning the ,toltecs1 reflecting as they do the state of their civilization1 which so nearly resembles that of the ,nephites in so many particulars2 as also all the traditions and mythologies dealt with in this and the preceding chapter respecting the creation1 the flood1 the great tower1 the confusion of language1 the dispersion of the people1 the migrations to a new home1 the strife for power among the leaders of these colonies--usually brothers1 and most strikingly four brothers1 as also the status and nature of their civilization--all these things constitute strong testimony to the truth of the ,book of ,mormon4 ,footnotes #a4 ,gen4 #f3d4 #b4 ,gen4 #aa4 #c4 ,gen4 #aa3i4 #d4 ,gen4 #aa3h4 #e4 ,see ,book of ,ether1 chs4 #a1 #b1 #c1 #d4 #f4 ,conquest of ,mexico1 vol4 ,,ii1 pp4 #chf1 #chg1 ,prescott4 #g4 ,conquest of ,mexico1 vol4 ,,ii1 p4 #ahg1 note1 ,prescott4 #h4 ,the suggestion of ,nadaillac in this clause in parenthesis to the effect that this tradition of the ,tower of ,babel had its origin in the ,christian teachings imparted to ,ixtlilxochitl1 will receive consideration at the conclusion of this series of quotations on the subject of the ,tower of ,babel1 etc4 #i4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 ,nadaillac1 p4 #ebf4 #aj4 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,iii1 pp4 #fg1 #fh4 ,for this statement ,bancroft in a foot note quotes the following authorities3 ,boturini1 ,idea de una ,hist41 pp4 #aac1 #aad2 id41 ,catalogo1 pp4 #ci1 #dj2 ,clavigero1 ,storia ,ant4 del ,messico1 tom4 #a1 pp4 #abi1 #acj1 tom4 #b1 p4 #af2 ,spiegazione delle ,tavole del ,codice ,mexicano 7,v cano7 tav4 #g1 in ,kingsborough's ,mex4 ,ant41 vol4 ,v1 pp4 #afd1 #afe2 ,gemelli ,carreri1 in ,churchill's ,col4 ,voy41 vol4 ,,iv1 p4 #dha2 ,humboldt1 ,vues des ,cordilleres1 tom4 #a1 pp4 #aad1 #aae1 tom4 #b1 pp4 #age-h2 ,tylor's ,anahuac1 pp4 #bgf1 #bgg2 ,gondra1 in ,prescott1 ,conquesta de ,mexico1 tom4 #c1 pp4 #a-aj4 ,the remainder of ,bancroft's note following this citation of authorities1 wherein he seeks to discredit the force of these native traditions concerning the ,tower1 the confusion of tongues and the dispersion of mankind1 as in the case of ,nadaillac's effort of a similar character1 remarked in a previous note1 will receive consideration at the close of this series of quotations concerning the ,tower1 etc41 p4 #bgc4 #aa4 ,america ,before ,columbus1 ,p4 ,de ,roo1 vol4 ,i1 pp4 #dae1 #daf4 #ab4 ,america ,before ,columbus1 ,p4 ,de ,roo1 vol4 ,i1 pp4 #dag1 #dah4 #ac4 ,should any one desire to make a larger collection ,i refer him to the authorities already referred to in a previous note on a passage from ,bancroft2 as also ,nadaillac's ,pre-,historic ,america1 ch4 #aj2 ,p4 ,de ,roo1 ,america ,before ,columbus1 vol4 ,i1 chapters sixteen to twenty inclusive2 and ,rivero ,tschudi's ,peruvian ,antiquities1 chapter ,,vii4 #ad4 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,v1 p4 #ab4 #ae4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 p4 #ecj4 ,for the objections of the agnostic ,bancroft see ,native ,races1 vol4 ,,iii1 #fh1 #fi1 note2 and for the objections urged by ,prescott see ,conquest of ,mexico1 vol4 ,,ii1 appendix1 p4 #chg4 #af4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 pp4 #ebe1 #eca4 #ag4 ,ante41 p4 #dcf4 #ah4 ,exodus1 #ad4 #ai4 ,ante41 pp4 #dce1 #dcf4 #bj4 ,ante41 p4 #dcf4 #ba4 ,ante41 p4 #dcf4 ,ibid4 #bb4 ,ether #c3a4 #bc4 ,ether #b3af4 #bd4 ,ether #f3bj4 #be4 ,ether #f3af4 #bf4 ,ether #a3ce4 #bg4 ,ether #a3cg4 #bh4 ,ether #f3d1 #e4 #bi4 ,ether #f3d1 #e4 #cj4 ,ether #b3f1 #g4 #ca4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 ,nadaillac1 p4 #bfa4 #cb4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 ,nadaillac1 p4 #ebc4 #cc4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 ,nadaillac1 p4 #bgb4 #cd4 ,dupaix1 quoted by ,bancroft1 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,v1 p4 #ca4 #ce4 ,peruvian ,antiquities1 ,tschudi1 p4 #bd4 #cf4 ,american ,ethnology and ,sociology1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #agi4 #cg4 ,this place1 according to ,sahagun1 is the first home of the ,nahua nation4 ,it is definitely located1 says ,bancroft1 7,native ,races1 vol4 ,v1 p4 #aia7 down the coast from ,panuco1 in the province of ,guatemala4 #ch4 ,native ,races1 ,bancroft1 vol4 ,v1 p4 #ahi4 #ci4 ,native ,races1 ,bancroft1 vol4 ,v1 p4 #bbj4 #dj4 ,native ,races1 ,bancroft1 vol4 ,v1 pp4 #edf1 #edg4 #da4 ,ante41 p4 #dfc1 et seq4 #db4 ,native ,races1 ,bancroft1 vol4 ,v1 pp4 #efd1 #eff4 ,stephens also relates this tradition at length1 see ,central ,america1 vol4 ,,ii1 pp4 #agb1 #agc4 #dc4 ,,ii ,nephi #e3 #ah4 #dd4 ,jacob #a3aa2 ,mosiah #be3ac4 #de4 ,omni #a3a-bc4 #df4 ,alma #h3g4 #dg4 ,i ,nephi #b3e4 #dh4 ,exod4 #f3ba4 #di4 ,i ,chronicles #e3ai4 #ej4 ,nehemiah #g3eb1 see also margin4 #ea4 ,ezra #b3ej4 #eb4 ,gen4 #cj3h4 #ec4 ,joshua #ae3i4 #ed4 ,peruvian ,antiquities1 ,tschudi1 pp4 #eb1 #ec4 ,see also ,baldwin1 ,ancient ,america1 p4 #bfd4 #ee4 ,,ii ,nephi #e3ae1 #ag4 #ef4 ,jacob #a3aa4 #eg4 ,jacob #a3i4 #eh4 ,jacob #a3aa4 #ei4 ,mosiah #be3ac4 #fj4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 ,nadaillac1 p4 #ebc4 #fa4 ,i ,nephi #af3aj1 #af4 #fb4 ,alma #cg3ci1 #dj4 #fc4 ,conquest of ,peru1 vol4 ,i1 p4 #ca4 #fd4 ,peru1 ,travel and ,exploration in the ,lands of the ,incas1 pp4 #cja1 #cca4 #fe4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 ,nadaillac1 p4 #agd4 #ff4 ,see their associations with the events as given by ,ixtlilxochitl1 quoted by ,bancroft1 ,native ,races1 vol4 ,v1 pp4 #ai1 #ba1 and #bjh-bah4 #fg4 ,concerning which more later4 #fh4 ,see ,book of ,alma #df3dj4 #fi4 ,pre-,historic ,america1 ,nadaillac1 pp4 #bge1 #bgg4 #gj4 ,see ,helaman #f3g-ac1 see also p4 #abd4 ,,end ,,of ,,volume ,,ii4