The Hill Cumorah, where the Plates of the Book of Mormon were Concealed
by Moroni and afterwards Delivered by him to Joseph Smith.--Some
Valuable History Pertaining to this Thrice-named Hill.
A beautiful picture of the Hill Cumorah is presented on the opposite
page. The hill is situated in the northwestern part of New York, about
thirty miles south of Rochester. It is also near the New York Central
Railroad, and only three and a half miles from Palmyra station to the
south, and on the Canandaigua turnpike.
This noted hill has been three times named and by three distinct and
great nations. For particulars concerning its historical importance
we begin our study in the year 1823. At that time there was found in
the side of this historic hill, by an obscure boy, a number of gold
plates. These plates were very ingeniously concealed in a stone box
and, bearing a record and being now translated, supply us with all the
earlier information contained on them.
There is a vast amount of valuable history pertaining to this hill,
which is far more picturesque than the hills which surround it. There
is an extensive valley on the east, as well as one on the west side
of the hill, where the turnpike runs south, passing through the town
of Manchester in the rear of the hill about two miles. Manchester, as
well as the Hill Cumorah, is situated in the township of Manchester.
The most prominent view of the hill is its north front. It extends
south nearly a mile, where it terminates into a more level plateau,
which is occupied as an agricultural district. From the highest point
of the hill, which is the northern end, where the writer has stood a
number of times, is one of the most lovely sights imaginable. To the
east is the New York Central Railroad, about four miles north is a most
lovely town named Palmyra, and two miles northwest is where the father
of Joseph Smith located a farm when the latter was only twelve years
of age. Finally, the whole country surrounding the hill from the most
elevated spot, as far as the natural vision can grasp, is indeed a most
charming scene of farms, orchards, houses, barns and rolling hills,
with occasional forests, and in the proper season, fields of golden
grain, barns well-filled, orchard trees laden with apples, peaches
and pears, with here and there patches of strawberries, raspberries,
blackberries, cherries, currants and garden vegetables in variety. All
of these beautiful scenes have engraven upon my mind a picture which
defies the artist's brush to place on canvas.
[Image: The Hill Cumorah.]
The first name given to this hill (and by a lost nation who left the
Tower of Babel 2000 B.C.) was Ramah, as found in their history, page
606, new edition. This history is called the Book of Mormon, and this
portion is written by a historian named Ether.
It was named the second time by an entirely different people, and
called Cumorah, as found on page 559, new edition, of the same book, by
the historian whose name was Mormon.
The third name is Bible Hill, or Mormon Hill, and was given in the year
1829.
Having studied the history of these lost nations, I felt very much
inclined to gratify the desires awakened in my bosom to visit the
place. Impelled by these aspiration, I undertook the journey and soon
found myself at a pleasant and commodious hotel in Palmyra.
Early on a summer's morning in the year 1870, after a gentle shower
during the night, with just sufficient rainfall to lay the dust, I
set out to walk to the hill. Never can I forget the lovely scenery of
that lonely but interesting walk down the most excellent Canandaigua
turnpike. Among the objects passed on the way was the former home of
Joseph Smith, and the very old and comely schoolhouse where he learned
some of his early lessons.
Arriving near the object of my morning's walk, I set bout inquiring for
the Hill Cumorah. But not one could I find in all the country round who
could give me the desired information; until one, and the right one
too, who was made to comprehend my mind and wish, said, "Is it Mormon
Hill that you want, or what is more familiarly known among us in this
country as 'Bible Hill,' where old Joe Smith found the Mormon Bible? Is
it this place you wish to find?"
Having answered affirmatively the question, I was not only enabled,
by my friend's direction, to learn the third and last name given to
this hill, but to find myself standing upon the summit of one of the
most interesting objects of my 100,000 miles' travel. It appeared more
like a dream than a stern reality. Could it be possible that here was
the identical spot of ground where stood a being who had lived in
the fourth century, some fourteen hundred and fifty years prior to
my occupying this position? Indeed, it was verily true. But, oh! the
wonderful contrast between the two views, and the changes of scenery
in that time! Now a beautiful landscape: such a one as delights the
vision, until the mind becomes swallowed up and absorbed in deep
reflection. There are beauties of hills and dales, orchards and farms,
lawns and gardens on every side, more especially to the north, east and
west. Just for a moment cast your eye on the engraving, which is the
one of my choice, exhibiting, as it does, a north front, and to my mind
the most lovely view of all. There are differing pictures of this hill,
some real and some imaginary. The one presented is from a painting made
from a photograph which Apostle F. D. Richards had taken while on a
visit to this historic hill and country.
Some cows and other additions have been made to the picture, such as
the carriage conveying the visitors along the roadway by the fence,
to the house, where the owner of the hill and surroundings lives. But
the main features of the hill are true representations of it, so much
so that J. W. Fox, Jr., also Bishop G. H. Taylor, both of whom visited
the place some years before, say it is the best picture of it that they
have ever seen presented.
Brother Edward Hold, of South Jordan Ward had a vision of the hill
(similar to the one the prophet Joseph Smith had), and described it
very minutely before seeing the picture of it. He said, just above
where he saw a portion of the top of the stone box there was a tree,
and upon this point I interrogated him closely, stating that only two
years previous Bishop Black, Brother Andrew Jenson and I had visited
the spot of ground, and there was no tree there; but he insisted that
there was a tree just above the stone box, a clumpy tree, for he saw
one there. It became necessary for an explanation before he should see
the picture.
At the period of discovery of the gold plates, there stood upon the
side of the hill, about fifteen feet above where the stone box had so
long reposed, a lone, solitary, sugar maple tree, and there continued
to grow until twenty-two years ago, just as described by Brother Holt,
who was so highly favored of God as to see the whole scene in a vision
or dream.
What made Brother Holt's vision all the more deeply interesting to me
was that in 1871 I had enjoyed the great privilege and pleasure of
visiting the hill in person, and of seeing the very identical spot of
ground where Mormon concealed the stone box and its precious records
and where Moroni, his son, finished the writing and sealed up these
records. But there was no tree standing there as was described in the
vision, for it had been cut down shortly before and was lying on the
ground, not having as yet been removed. It was a clumpy sort of a
tree, about two feet in diameter. For a long time it had stood there
like a solitary sentinel guarding the sacred spot which contained
the book that was to shape the destinies of thousands upon thousands
of the human race, and people the heavens with the true sons and
daughters of God. I have always regretted the removal of that tree,
for it was a conspicuous mark on the northwest point of the now almost
treeless hill. After satisfying Brother Hold as to the absence of the
tree, which he had seen in his vision, he very readily recognized the
painting as being a correct and accurate representation of the deeply
interesting Hill Cumorah as he had seen it in his vision forty years
before.
Brother Holt, with respect to his vision, stated that he "had retired
to bed, after reading the Book of Mormon, and that he had entertained
some doubts regarding the vision Joseph Smith had of the hill, and of
his finding the stone box containing the plates. But the vision which
he had himself received concerning the matter served to remove every
shadow of a doubt from his mind, for all future time. In the last
chapter, written by Moroni just before closing or sealing up the box,
he engraved upon the plates the following words: "And I seal up these
records, after I have spoken a few words, by way of exhortation, unto
you; behold, I would exhort you, that when ye shall read these things,
if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember
how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the
creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these
things. I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the eternal Father,
in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall
ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ,
he will manifest the truth of it unto you." Brother Holt, as well
as hundreds of others, can testify that these words are true and in
consonance with the words of Jesus Christ himself, "Ask and it shall be
given unto you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened
unto you," and also in accordance with the words of James, who says,
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men
liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him," but "let him
ask in faith, nothing wavering."
The boy Joseph did not ask in vain, neither will any other person ask
in vain who asks in faith for the word of the Lord faileth not but
endureth forever. My guide who accompanied me on my visit in 1871,
pointed out to me many places of interest, and also entertained me
hospitably at his table, where a number of harvesters had assembled.
The covered carriage represented in the picture is conveying our party
on my second visit to the house in which we all dined together, which
is situated to the left of the painting. The dinner party to me was
highly interesting, and all the more so as we sat conversing about
the things of God right in the shadow of the Hill Cumorah. All spoke
freely, and asked many questions, which I felt it a great pleasure
to answer. They were anxious to hear something of the spread of the
work since the gold plates were discovered in that remarkable hill,
and I very gladly gratified them with a short account of the rise and
progress of this "marvelous work and a wonder," from the day the angel
visited Cumorah and gave the plates to Joseph, the boy-prophet, down to
the present time, when the work has gathered into its cause some two
hundred and fifty thousand Saints, and founded the Territory of Utah
in the west. The conclusion come to by this party of harvesters was
that the subject of our conversation was indeed a "marvellous work and
wonder." Still, like many other time-servers and worldly-wise people,
they felt their spirits weakening within them, and they exclaimed, "But
Mormonism is so very unpopular!"
"Yes," I replied, "it has been so since the Jews and Gentiles murdered
the Chief Shepherd."
Our pleasant entertainment and agreeable conversation here terminated,
after bearing my testimony to the divinity of the restored gospel,
and to the fact that more than fourteen hundred years ago the gold
plates, that contained the same, were sealed up and deposited in this
very hill, destined to come forth and revolutionize the world, in
these latter days. Cordially bidding good-day to my hospitable host, I
proceeded on my way, and found an old gentleman who lived west of the
hill and who was quite agreeable and conversational on the subject of
my visit to Cumorah. He was well-acquainted with some of the history of
the coming forth of the book which was to "speak out of the ground,"
although spiritually, he did not seem to have greatly benefited by this
"marvelous work and a wonder." Still, from him I gleaned some useful
information. He pointed out the spot of ground where the stone box was
placed, near the summit, and on the west side of the point of the hill.
He likewise stated that soon after the rumor so widely spread regarding
"Joe" Smith finding a gold bible, that there was great excitement
throughout the whole country, and that it was about this time the
Rochester Company located and searched for hidden treasure.
Questioning him closely he stated that he had seen some good-sized flat
stones that had rolled down and lay near the bottom of the hill. This
had occurred after the contents of the box had been removed and these
stones were doubtless the ones that formerly composed the box. I felt a
strong desire to see these ancient relics and told him I would be much
pleased to have him inform me where they were to be found. He stated
that they had long since been taken away. He further said that he knew
"Joe" Smith as a "money digger" and a "visionary man" and Martin Harris
as an honest reliable farmer. Joseph in his history says that he worked
in a mine for Mr. Stowel, hunting for hidden treasures, at fourteen
dollars per month, hence his name as a money-digger. I then inquired
if he ever knew Joseph Smith to be convicted of crime. He replied
that he had not known him as having been convicted. The surrounding
scenery, which embraced a young grove of beech, sugar maple, hickory,
oak, bass-wood, etc., covering about five acres of ground, was very
beautiful. The grove is about 200 yards southwest of where the plates
were found. There was a fine, well-cultivated field of grain on the
hillside. My loquacious guide showed me another and much deeper cavity
made on the east side of the hill by the above-named Rochester treasure
seekers, a company of prospectors. They said that science aided by
mineral rods did not lie and that most assuredly there were rich
treasures concealed in the hill, and they were determined to have them.
But with all their science and laborious excavations they failed to get
a glimpse of the coveted treasures and returned to their homes if not
richer, at least it is to be hoped wiser men, for the only results of
their efforts were the holes they left on the hillside. Notwithstanding
this, there are strong and feasible reasons for believing that there is
abundance of treasure hid up in Cumorah, but it is guarded by the hand
of the Lord and none shall ever possess it until made known in the due
time of the Lord. The great and mighty nation of the Jaredites, having
departed from God and shed the blood of the prophets, became divided
into bloodthirsty factions, who waged relentless and merciless wars
against each other for many years; finally, after millions were slain,
they arrayed themselves into two mighty opposing armies and mutually
agreed to give each other four years in which to gather their entire
forces of men, women and children around Ramah, and there make one last
appalling death struggle for victory, but so well were these colossal
armies matched in numbers, valor, fury and hatred that they continued
to fight day after day till both sides were completely destroyed from
the face of the land. One man of all these great and mighty armies
alone remained alive. Ere they begin the dreadful carnage, they made
excavations and hid up in Ramah their immense treasures.
The Lord again peopled the land and they too became haughty and lifted
up in the pride of their hearts, renounced God and slew his prophets,
and division, war and bloodshed again filled the land with horror.
Once more were immense hosts arrayed into two great armies, the one
called the Nephites, the other the Lamanites, and strange to say they
also marshalled their forces, and undertook to make one last death
struggle for victory or death. The battle ceased when the Nephites
were destroyed, and again millions lay dead upon the fatal ground. The
Jaredites' Ramah was the Nephites' Cumorah, and their ashes commingle
and repose in death. Ere this last horrid conflict commenced, they,
too, hid their untold treasures in this HIll Cumorah, and it was said
by President Young at Farmington, Davis Co., Utah, June 17, 1877, just
two months and twelve days before his death:
"There were a great many treasures hid up by the Nephites. * * * I
lived right in the country where the plates were found from which
the Book of Mormon was translated, and I know a great many things
pertaining to that country. I believe I will take the liberty to tell
you of another circumstance that will be as marvelous as anything can
be. This is an incident in the life of Oliver Cowdery, but he did not
take the liberty of telling such things in meeting as I take. I tell
these things to you, and I have a motive for doing so. I want to carry
them to the ears of my brethren and sisters, and the children also,
that they may grow to an understanding of some things that seem to
be entirely hidden from the human family. Oliver Cowdery went with
the Prophet Joseph when he deposited these plates. Joseph did not
translate all of the plates: there was a portion of these sealed which
you can learn from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. When Joseph got
the plates, the angel instructed him to carry them back to the Hill
Cumorah, which he did. Oliver says that when Joseph and Oliver went
there, the hill opened, and they walked into a cave, in which there was
a large and spacious room. * * * They laid the plates on a table; it
was a large table that stood in the room. Under this table there was a
pile of plates as much as two feet high, and there were altogether in
this room more plates than probably many wagon loads; they were piled
up in the corners and along the walls. * * * I tell you this as coming
not only from Oliver Cowdery, but others who were familiar with it. *
* * I relate this to you, and I want you to understand it. I take this
liberty of referring to these things so that they will not be forgotten
and lost.
"Carlos Smith was a young man of as much veracity as any young man
we had, and he was a witness to these things. Samuel Smith saw some
things, Hyrum saw a good many things, but Joseph was the leader. Now,
you may think I am unwise in publicly telling these things, thinking
perhaps I should preserve them in my own breast; but such is not my
mind. I would like the people called Latter-day Saints to understand
some little things with regard to the workings and dealings of the Lord
with his people here upon the earth."_--Journal of Discourses, Vol. 19,
p. 36._
It was likewise stated to me by David Whitmer in the year 1877 that
Oliver Cowdery told him that the Prophet Joseph and himself had seen
this room and that it was filled with treasure, and on a table therein
were the breastplate and the sword of Laban, as well as the portion of
gold plates not yet translated, and that these plates were bound by
three small gold rings, and would also be translated, as was the first
portion in the days of Joseph. When they are translated much useful
information will be brought to light. But till that day arrives, no
Rochester adventurers shall ever see them or the treasures, although
science and mineral rods testify that they are there. At the proper
time when greed, selfishness and corruption shall cease to reign in the
hearts of the people, these vast hoards of hidden treasure shall be
brought forth to be used for the cause and kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Changing the scene once more another prophet, whose name was
Mormon, stood on the summit of this hill. At that time a great and
fierce battle was fought. After the conclusion of the battle, which
occurred about 1472 years ago, Mormon's grief was expressed on this
heart-rending and doleful scene as found on page 560 of their history
in the Book of Mormon. We will here again refer to the great battle of
the Lamanites and Nephites:
"And when they had gone through and hewn down all my people save it
were twenty and four of us, (among whom was my son Moroni) and we
having survived the dead of our people, did behold on the morrow, * * *
from the top of the hill Cumorah, the ten thousand of my people who
were hewn down, being led in the front by me. And we also beheld the
ten thousand of my people who were led by my son Moroni." (Mormon
6:11-12)
And other generals are named who led each their ten thousand until we
reach the enormous number of two hundred and thirty thousand men, with
their wives and children, who were strewn around this most marvelous
hill:
"And their flesh, and bones, and blood lay upon the face of the earth,
* * * to moulder upon the land, and to crumble and to return to their
mother earth. And my soul was rent with anguish, because of the slain
of my people, and I cried: O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed
from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected
that _Jesus,_ who stood with open arms to receive you! Behold, if
ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are
fallen, and I mourn your loss. O ye fair sons and daughters, ye
fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it
that ye could have fallen! But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows
cannot bring your return. And the day soon cometh that your mortal
must put on immortality, and these bodies which are now mouldering in
corruption must soon become incorruptible bodies; and then ye must
stand before the judgment seat of Christ, to be judged according to
your works; and if it so be that ye are righteous, then are ye blessed
with your fathers who have gone before you. O that ye had repented
before this great destruction had come upon you. But behold, ye are
gone, and the Father of heaven knoweth your state, and He doeth with
you according to His justice and mercy."
Before leaving the prophet Mormon standing on the hill in his
lamentation, let us still extend the vision over the great
battlefield, calling to mind that the 230,000 men were all soldiers,
then were their wives, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, which
we will multiply by five, making 1,150,000 souls; then extend the
vision over and around the enemy's camp, and at least double the
number of slain, increasing the sad scene to the enormous total of
2,300,000 souls. Only for a moment imagine that we see the camp just
before that great battle: twenty-three camps each of 10,000, with a
general at their head, would be required for the 230,000 soldiers.
While I was standing upon this same spot of ground about three years
ago, my mind contrasted the various changes of the present with the
past and I fancied that I could review, as did Mormon, the sad and
gloomy picture of his time, 1472 years ago.
The fathers of those who fell around this historic hill came from
Jerusalem 600 years B.C. They were warned of God to flee from the
land, because of the terrible calamities that were about to befall the
inhabitants of that once Holy City, for killing the prophets of God
and for their wickedness.
The decrees of God were fulfilled in the destruction of the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, after they crucified the Saviour and his
disciples, and became fully ripe in iniquity. But 600 years before
these disasters, the colony, who were directed by revelation, crossed
the sea, landing in South America, building up cities, migrating
northward, and leaving in their tracks northward many cities, temples,
massive walls, and fortifications, some of which have been discovered
by Catherwood and Stevens, as well as by many other historians; and
new discoveries are still being brought to light. Among the many
remarkable ruined aboriginal cities of the continent of America,
Palenque is one of the most noted. It is situated on the Rio Chacamas,
a branch of the great river Usumasinta, on the borders of Yucatan. It
is in latitude 17 degrees 30 minutes north, longitude 92 degrees 25
minutes west. In this old city of ruins is a temple--no doubt one of
the Nephite temples. The picture shows it as restored from the relics
that are left. It is built of stone and is at the base 310 feet long,
180 feet deep, and 25 feet high. Ranges of stone steps 30 feet broad
lead up to it, flanked with gigantic statues nine feet high, carved
in stone. There are numerous hieroglyphics engraven but considerably
defaced.
[Image: Palenque Restored.]
The Book of Mormon speaks of many temples and cities which were built
by the people of this time, and no doubt this is one of them in
ruins. But who is there that is able to tell the story of those mound
builders, excepting their own revealed history?
It must be remembered that this last nation, called Nephites, became
a very numerous people, and their history, which they were commanded
of the Lord to keep on thin plates of gold, informs us that while
they lived lives of purity, serving God prayerfully, they prospered
exceedingly.
The precious metals abounded on this new and promised land, so
beautifully described by the ancient prophet Moses. This man of God,
just before his death, blessed the children of Israel, and of Joseph,
he said:
"Blessed of the Lord be this land, for the precious things of heaven,
for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, and for the
precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things
put forth by the moon, and for the chief things of the ancient
mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, and for
the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good
will of him that dwelt in the bush let the blessing come upon the head
of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated
from his brethren. His glory is like the firstling of his bullock,
and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push
the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten
thousands of Ephraim, and the thousands of Manasseh."
Now, if we can successfully establish this continent of America as
being the land spoken of by Moses--which is verily true--then we shall
find not only those lost nations but the present generation dwelling on
this land abounding in the good things found even in the lasting hills,
and a choice land above all others.
As evidence I will introduce the words of our famed patriarch, Father
Jacob:
"Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose
branches [children] run over the wall [the ocean]. The archers have
sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him, but his bow abode
in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands
of the mighty God of Jacob; from thence is the Shepherd, the stone of
Israel. Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by
the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above,
blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts,
and of the womb: The blessings of thy father have prevailed above
the blessings of my progenitors [Abraham and Isaac, whose land was
Jerusalem] unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills [Rocky
Mountains;] they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of
the head of him that was separate from his brethren [which was Joseph,
sold by his brethren into Egypt]."
Father Lehi and his son Nephi and others, just before crossing the sea,
or wall of waters, to this choice land of Jacob, searched the records
which were brought from Jerusalem and these are the words which they
found recorded:
"And my father Lehi also found upon the plates of brass, a genealogy
of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph,
yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into
Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might
preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with
famine. And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of
Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them. And thus my Father,
Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his fathers."
While Father Lehi and those who were with him encamped on the borders
of the Red Sea, by a command of the Lord the sons of Lehi returned to
Jerusalem and succeeded in bringing Ishmael (a righteous Israelite of
the "tribe of Ephraim") with his five marriageable daughters, to join
the colony. They finally emigrated to America, literally fulfilling
the words of Jacob with regard to Joseph's promised inheritance of the
choice land that was to reach to the everlasting hills. By this new
acquisition, the sons of Lehi were provided with wives, and that, too,
of Ephraimitish blood, making the remnants of their line, who were
discovered in the year 1492 by Christopher Columbus, of the lineage
of Ephraim and Manassah, whose descendants are the American Indians.
Thus are we provided with a history which every one should read and
become acquainted with the origin of the natives of America, and find
an explanation of the ruins found in North, South and Central America.
Their history, translated from the gold plates, is now called the Book
of Mormon. This book also gives a brief account of a previous nation,
which left the Tower of Babel 2,000 years B. C., landing near the Gulf
of California. They were 344 days in crossing the ocean. In process of
time, they emigrated northward and finally became a great nation and
people.
Here follows a few words as recorded in their history on page 571,
chapter first, thirty-third verse:
"Jared came forth with his brother and their families, with some
others and their families, from the great Tower, at the time the Lord
confounded the language of the people and swore in his wrath that they
should be scattered upon all the face of the earth."
In addition to these words we will add the seventh and eighth verses of
the eleventh chapter of Genesis:
"Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they
may not understand one another's speech. So the Lord scattered them
abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth."
I think America is a pretty large portion of the earth, and comes in
for its share of people. According to the word of the Lord the people
_were_ scattered. Those who wish to follow this colony closely can read
their history as found in the Book of Mormon until they had built up
cities, etc., which have been and are being constantly discovered. In
process of time they numbered about 15,000,000 people and became rich,
wicked and ripe for destruction.
At one time a fierce battle was fought near where Buffalo, N. Y., now
stands, wherein two million were lying strewn upon the earth, slain in
battle and no one to bury them, till the stench drove them southward
to the Hill Ramah, which was called Cumorah by the Nephite race. A
contract was entered into between Kings Coriantumr and Shiz, giving
Coriantumr four years to gather together all who were on the side of
Coriantumr, and all for King Shiz were gathered together unto his camp.
Ether has recorded in the Book of Mormon that:
"The army of Coriantumr did pitch their tents by the hill Ramah. And
it was that same hill where my Father Mormon did hide up the records
unto the Lord, which were sacred. * * * When they were all gathered
together, every one to the army which he would, with their wives and
their children, both men, women and children being armed with weapons
of war, having shields, and breast-plates, and head-plates, and being
clothed after the manner of war, they did march forth one against the
other to battle; and they fought all that day, and conquered not, and
when it was night they were weary, and retired to their camps; and
after they had retired to their camps, they took up a howling and a
lamentation for the loss of their people who were slain; their howling
and lamentation did rend the air exceedingly."
A continuation of this lamentable slaughter, with weeping and howling,
was kept up for six successive days, till only thirty-two of the people
of Shiz and twenty-seven of Coriantumr's were left, and on the seventh
day Coriantumr with his twenty-seven retreated, which gave the opposing
King Shiz fresh courage. He said, "I will slay Coriantumr or perish by
the sword," and indeed his words were fulfilled after a severe battle,
in which all were slain, excepting King Shiz, who had fallen faint and
weak, and Coriantumr, who leaned upon his sword to rest, after which he
smote off the head of Shiz and fell to the ground as if he was dead.
Here the history leaves this, the only survivor of those two mighty
armies, around this historic Hill Cumorah, thus bringing to pass the
words of the prophet Ether, who prophecied to King Coriantumr that
unless he and his people should repent, every one of them should be
slain except himself and he should live to see a strange people possess
the land and be buried by them. Now, in order to verify the prophet's
words, I will refer you to the book of Omni, Book of Mormon, which says:
"And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he
dwelt with them for the space of nine moons" (months).
Coriantumr, weak, wounded and alone, had to wend his way about 3,000
miles to Zarahemla, where he remained until his death and was buried by
this strange people.
Thus ended two great nations around this historic hill, in fulfillment
of God's word, as found in the Book of Mormon, page 474:
"Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it
[and this will apply to all people in every age] shall be free from
bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven,
if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ. I
will forgive thee and thy brethren of their sins, but thou shalt not
sin any more, for ye shall remember that my spirit shall not always
strive with man; wherefore if ye will sin until ye are fully ripe, ye
shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord."
This has been fulfilled to the very letter with both nations.