personage appeared to him and said that his name was Moroni. This
angel told Mr. Smith one thing concerning his own future, that, since
that time, 1823, has had a remarkable fulfilment. This was that his
name "should be had for good or evil among all nations, kindreds and
tongues."
He also informed him that there was a record on gold plates, deposited
in the earth, which gave an account of the ancient inhabitants of this
continent, and of the source from which they sprang.
A book containing such information, as the angel said, was engraven on
the plates, was produced by Mr. Smith, with competent witnesses that it
was a translation from certain plates of gold which were shown to them
by an angel. (_See Book of Mormon for the historical account, and the
third page for the testimony of the witnesses_.)
The angel Moroni further stated, that the record contained the fulness
of the everlasting Gospel. Here we have all the conditions necessary
for the fulfilment of the prophetic vision of St. John, regarding the
restoration of the Gospel in the latter times.
The angel repeated to Mr. Smith the fifth verse of the last chapter of
Malachi, thus: "Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the
hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful
day of the Lord." In _Doc. & Cov_., 110. 13, 14, we find an account of
the fulfilment of this prophecy, by the appearance of Elijah to Mr.
Smith. He stated that he had come in fulfilment of this prediction of
Malachi's.
The angel Moroni quoted the sixth verse as follows: "And he shall
plant in the hearts of the children, the promises made to the fathers,
and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers; if it
were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming."
"Therefore," said the prophet Elijah to Joseph Smith, "The keys of this
dispensation are committed into your hands."
After receiving authority from the prophet Elijah, Mr. Smith made it
the business of his life to lay the foundation for accomplishing the
great work committed to him. He has left the world most important
instructions on this subject, in _Doc. & Cov. sec_. 128.
After referring to the prophecy of Malachi, he says "It is sufficient
to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a curse,
unless there is a welding link of some kind or other, between the
fathers and the children, upon some subject or other, and behold, what
is that subject? It is baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot
be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. Neither
can they nor we, be made perfect, without those who have died in the
Gospel also;" _verse_ 18. It is necessary that all things be connected
and welded together in one glorious and complete union, from Adam down
to the present time.
To accomplish this it is necessary that the hearts of the fathers and
children be turned towards each other, by understanding the promises
made in the Gospel. We have no information that the Christian world
has had any knowledge of these glorious principles for the universal
redemption of man, from the time of the primitive church until they
were revealed through Joseph Smith, Jun.
In the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon, through the agency of an
angel, we find the fulfilment of _Psalm_ 85. 11, "Truth shall spring
out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven;"
and also of a parallel prophecy of Enoch's, _P. of G. P. page_ 21.
"Righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send
forth out of the earth." What for? "To bear testimony of mine Only
Begotten."
Truth came forth out of the earth, in the Book of Mormon, through the
ministration of the angel Moroni, and righteousness came down out of
heaven through the blessings and ordinances of the holy Priesthood,
as restored to the earth by John the Baptist, when he appeared to J.
Smith, Jun., and O. Cowdery, and conferred upon them the Priesthood of
Aaron, "Which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the
Gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of
sins;" _Doc. & Cov_. 13.
And by Peter, James and John, who were sent to Jos. Smith, Jun., and
others, and who ordained them to be apostles and especial witnesses of
Christ. 27. 12. Through these ordinances and blessings came the power
to work righteousness on the earth.
Here we have all the conditions for the fulfilment of the prophecies
of Enoch and David, through the agency of Mr. Smith. We find, by
comparison, that there is no antagonism in doctrine between the Book
of Mormon and Bible. Christ said, "This Gospel of the kingdom shall
be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then
shall the end come;" _Matt_. 24. 14.
Joseph Smith, Jun., reiterates this prediction of our Savior's nearly
1800 years after its utterance: "For verily the voice of the Lord is
unto all men;" _Doc. & Cov_. 1. 2; "And the voice of warning shall be
unto all people;" _verse_ 4. "Wherefore the voice of the Lord is unto
the ends of the earth;" _verse_ 11.
Joseph Smith, Jun., spent the labors of his life, for the
accomplishment of the great work of preaching the Gospel to all the
world, and it has been the great object of the labors of the Latter-day
Saints for more than fifty years. Considering the magnitude of the work
it is being rapidly accomplished.
Jesus called the Gospel, the "Gospel of the kingdom." Of what kingdom
did he speak, unless of a kingdom of God on the earth which this Gospel
was to establish? Even the kingdom which Daniel speaks of: "And in the
days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which
shall never be destroyed: * * and it shall stand forever;" _Dan_. 2.
44. "And there was given him (the Son of Man) dominion, and glory, and
a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him;"
7. 14; "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom
under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the Saints of
the Most High;" _verse_ 27. The kingdom which this Gospel was to build
up, is the great object for which all Latter-day Saints labor.
One of the great burdens of the ancient prophets was the gathering of
Israel in the latter days, that Jerusalem might be established, and
Zion built up, that the law might go forth from Zion, "And the word of
the Lord from Jerusalem;" _Isa_. 2. 3.
It is evident from the tenor of the inspired writings, that this
kingdom is to consist of gathered Israel, and therefore the gathering
of Israel must be a part of "This Gospel of the kingdom." Some one must
receive authority to organize the means for accomplishing this great
gathering of the latter days.
The former great gatherer and deliverer of Israel was Moses, and he,
very naturally, was the one to restore that authority to the earth
after the fulness of the Gentiles should come in.
Through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, Jos. Smith, Jun., understood
this, and had the faith to receive the administrations of Moses, and
he has left the fact on record. "And Moses appeared before us, and
committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four
parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of
the north;" _Doc. & Cov_. 110. 11.
He preached "This Gospel of the kingdom," the obedient received the
Holy Ghost, and it moved them to gather together, and Israel, for over
fifty years, has been gathering to form that kingdom in fulfilment of
the predictions of the ancient prophets.
Joseph Smith, Jun., is the first man of whom we have any record, for
some 1800 years, that has labored for the fulfilment of the predictions
of the ancient prophets; _Doc. & Cov_. 1. 18.
The Lord said, through his prophet Micah, "In the last days it shall
come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be
established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above
the hills; * * and many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let
us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of
Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths:
for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from
Jerusalem;" _Mic_. 4. 1, 2.
For many years there has been a "House of the Lord" in Salt Lake City,
in the top of the mountains, and for more than thirty years, the
people of many nations have been saying, "Come and let us go up to the
mountain of the Lord."
That there will be a place called Zion from which "The law shall go
forth," distinct from Jerusalem, is evident from Isaiah, "When the Lord
of Hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem;" 24. 23.
How is it that Joseph Smith, Jun., first organized the means for the
partial fulfilment of this prophecy, and left, at his death, the
authority and instructions necessary to complete its fulfilment, by the
building of a great city to be called Zion, in the state of Missouri,
which in fulfilment of the prophecy, shall become the capital of this
western hemisphere, if he did not obtain his knowledge of the whole
matter through Divine inspiration?
The Jaredite prophet, Ether, some 2500 years ago, foretold "That a New
Jerusalem should be built up upon this land (America), unto the seed of
Joseph;" _Ether_ 13. 4, 6.
There is a wonderful connection between this passage in the Book of
Mormon, and the prophecies of Isaiah and Micah, the result of one
spirit of inspiration, acting upon different men, in countries, long
distances apart, and at different periods of time.
It is quite as unaccountable on any other grounds than that of
inspiration, that Joseph Smith, Jun., after many centuries had elapsed
since these predictions of the prophets, should declare to the world
that the time was at hand for their fulfilment, and that he should have
the confidence to indicate the identical spot, on this great land of
North America, where this city of Zion is to be built. "This is the
land of promise, and the place for the city of Zion. * * * Behold, the
place which is now called Independence, is the center place, and a spot
for the temple is lying westward;" _Doc. & Cov_. 57. 2, 3.
JOSEPH SMITH AS A FULFILLER OF BOOK OF MORMON PROPHECIES.
The first Nephi, 2400 years before the days of Joseph Smith, the
Prophet, had a vision of the discovery and colonization of America by
Europeans. He also saw the record of the Jews (the Bible) come forth
from the Gentiles to the remnant of the seed of his brethren (the
American Indians). He says, "After it had come forth unto them, I
beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the
Gentiles unto them:" 1 _Nephi_ 13. 38, 39.
Admitting that this prophecy has been partly fulfilled, by Christian
denominations who have sent missionaries and the Bible among the
Indians, it remained for Joseph Smith, Jun., to initiate the fulfilment
of the second part of the prophecy, that other books, besides the
Bible, should come forth to the children of Lehi, which should bear
testimony of the truth of the Bible.
The Book of Mormon was the first of this series of books, which were
to be carried forth among the American Indians, after the Bible. It
has been followed by the book of Doctrine and Covenants, containing
revelations and instructions concerning the latter-day work, and by
inspired translations from the writings of Enoch, Abraham and Moses,
which all bear record of the truth of the Jewish prophets, and of the
teachings of Jesus and his apostles, as foretold they would do by the
prophet Nephi.
This same prophet further says, "There is nothing which is secret, save
it shall be revealed; * * * there is nothing which is sealed upon the
earth, save it shall be loosed. Wherefore, all things which have been
revealed unto the children of men, shall at that day be revealed;" 2
_Nephi_ 30. 17, 18. The context of this passage shows that it speaks of
the latter days.
The following is nearly a parallel passage in meaning: "And he shall
send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven
must receive until the times of restitution of _all things_, which God
hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets _since the world
began_;" _Acts_ 3. 20, 21.
That is, all the knowledge that has ever been revealed to man will
be restored to the earth. All that was revealed to Adam and the
ante-diluvian prophets; to Noah and the Jaredite prophets; to Abraham;
to Moses and the Jewish prophets; to the Nephite prophets; to the
primitive apostles of our Savior, and many others, to whom the Lord has
shewn all things from the beginning of the world to the end thereof.
After many centuries had passed, in which man's wisdom had failed to
comprehend the meaning of the phrase, "The restitution of all things,"
or the grand fulfilment of prophecy comprehended in a "Dispensation
of the fulness of times"--a time in which all the knowledge and power
of all times will be gathered into one--Jos. Smith, Jun., appears in
the United States of America, and claims that the Lord has authorized
him to open up this grand dispensation of a fulness, and that for this
purpose he has bestowed upon him first, and then through him upon
others, all the keys and powers of the Priesthood which had been held
in former dispensations.
"For unto you, (the twelve) and those (the first presidency) who
are appointed with you, to be your counselors and your leaders, is
the power of this Priesthood given, for the last days and for the
last time, in the which is the dispensation of the fulness of times,
which power you hold in connection with all those who have received a
dispensation at any time from the beginning of creation;" _Doc. & Cov_.
112. 30-32.
In _sec_. 110 we are informed that Jesus Christ, Elias, Moses, and
Elijah the prophet, appeared to Jos. Smith, Jun., and others, and
bestowed upon them the keys of the holy Priesthood, held in other
dispensations, that they might be concentrated in this.
In these last two quotations, from _Doc. & Cov_., we have an account of
the bestowal of the necessary authority upon certain persons, for the
opening up of the gathering dispensation of the latter times, that is
perfectly consistent with the Book of Mormon and the Bible.
No man, unless endowed by Divine inspiration, could have conceived of
such a sacramental feast as is represented in the following, to which
will be gathered in the latter times, the great dignitaries of all
dispensations, with Jesus Christ at their head, together holding all
the keys, authority and powers of the holy Priesthood, pertaining to
the redemption of man and of the earth.
"For the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with
you on the earth, and with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal
the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting Gospel, *
* * and also with Elias, to whom I have committed the keys of bringing
to pass the restoration of all things," and with John the Baptist,
"whom I have sent unto you, my servants, Jos. Smith, Jun., and Oliver
Cowdery, to ordain you unto this first Priesthood which you have
received. * *
"And also Elijah, unto whom I have committed the keys of the power
of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, * * * and also
with Joseph and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, your fathers, * * and
also with Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the
ancient of days.
"And also with Peter, and James, and John, * * * by whom I have
ordained you and confirmed you to be Apostles, and especial witnesses
of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry, and of the same things
which I have revealed unto them: unto whom I have committed the keys of
my kingdom, and a dispensation of the Gospel for the last times; and
for the fulness of times, in the which I will gather together in one
all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth;" 27. 5-13.
On a certain occasion, when the Nephite disciples of our Savior were
engaged "in mighty prayer and fasting," he appeared in their midst and
asked them, "What will ye that I shall give unto you? And they said
unto him, Lord, we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we
shall call this church; for there are disputations among the people
concerning this matter.
"And the Lord said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, why is it
that the people should murmur and dispute because of this thing? Have
they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name
of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the
last day. * * * Therefore whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my
name; therefore ye shall call the church in my name;" 3 _Nephi_ 27. 2-7.
In the above Jesus plainly told his disciples that his name was Christ,
and that his church should be called Christ's Church, not Christian,
Catholic, Campbellite or Episcopalian.
When Jos. Smith, Jun., organized this church, on the 6th of April,
1830, it was organized as the Church of Jesus Christ, in obedience to
the instructions of Jesus Christ, some 1800 years before.
The prophet Nephi, speaking of the gathering of Israel, says, that
the Lord "Will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be
gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be
brought out of obscurity, and out of darkness;" 1 _Nephi_ 22. 12.
The Book of Mormon, brought forth through the agency of Jos. Smith,
Jun., reveals to the world the fact that the millions of aboriginal
Americans scattered over the American continent, from Cape Horn to the
Arctic Ocean, are of the house of Israel.
The keys of the Patriarchial Priesthood enable those on whom they are
bestowed, to know, by revelation, the lineage of the Latter-day Saints,
and tens of thousands of Ephraim, and thousands of Manasseh, are being
gathered, who were not known before the days of Jos. Smith, Jun., as
portions of the house of Israel. Thus the great work of bringing the
tribes of Israel, out of obscurity and darkness, and of developing
their existence to themselves, and to the world, has been inaugurated
by Jos. Smith, Jun. The work must continue until they are gathered from
all parts of the earth, in fulfilment of the words of the prophets, and
of the promises made to their fathers.
The following promise was made to Joseph who was sold into Egypt,
"The fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of
Judah shall write;" and that which shall be written, "Shall grow
together, unto the confounding of false doctrines, and laying down of
contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and
bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter-days; and
also the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord;" 2 _Nephi_ 3. 12.
Jos. Smith, Jun., has brought forth the Book of Mormon, the writing of
the fruit of the loins of Joseph through Ephraim and Manasseh, and has
placed it, side by side, with the writing of the fruit of the loins of
Judah--the Bible--the one establishing the truth of the other, and thus
has literally fulfilled this prophecy.
The Lord further said to Joseph who was sold into Egypt, "I will raise
up unto the fruit of thy loins; and I will make for him a spokesman.
And I, behold, I will give unto him, that he shall write the writing of
the fruit of thy loins (the Nephites), unto the fruit of thy loins (the
American Indians); and the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it;"
_verse_ 18.
In _Doc. & Cov_., we are informed of the fulfilment of this prophecy.
The Lord said to Joseph the prophet and S. Rigdon, "It is expedient
in me that you, my servant Sidney, should be a spokesman unto this
people; yea, verily, I will ordain you unto this calling, even to be a
spokesman unto my servant Joseph;" 100. 9.
"And it shall be as if the fruit of thy loins had cried unto them
from the dust;" 2 _Nephi_ 3. 19. Jos. Smith, Jun., was of the lineage
of Joseph who was sold into Egypt, to whom these promises were made.
The Nephites were also his descendants, and they wrote and hid up the
plates of the Book of Mormon, with the assurance that, in after years,
the writing should be brought forth to their descendants and others
of the house of Israel; _Mormon_ 8. 14-16. The record was engraved on
plates in a language known only to the Nephites; _Mormon_ 9. 34.
Of necessity there were some means provided for interpreting and
re-writing the record in a modern language, before it could benefit
those for whom it was designed. With the plates of the Book of Mormon
was found a Urim and Thummim, by means of which, through the power of
God, Jos. Smith, Jun., was enabled to translate the Nephite record for
the benefit of the descendants of Lehi, and any others of the human
family who would receive it; _Doc. & Cov_. 10. 1. "And it shall be
as if the fruit of thy loins had cried to them from the dust," was
fulfilled in taking the writing out of the earth, where it had been
deposited for 1400 years.
In _Mormon_ 8. 13, 14, we are informed that the record was hid up in
the earth by Moroni, the son of Mormon, and it remained under his care
until he delivered it to Joseph Smith, Jun., _P. of G. P. page_ 49.
The Lord said, "And it shall come to pass that my people which are of
the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their
possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one;" 2 _Nephi_ 29.
14.
In fulfilment of this prophecy, Jos. Smith, Jun., during the short
period of his ministry, not only inaugurated the great work of
gathering Israel, but also of gathering together sacred writings, which
at this time consist of the unsealed portion of the record of Mormon;
the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and of important portions of the
writings of Enoch, of Abraham, and of Moses. He also declared that more
sacred writings would come forth, as fast as the people were prepared
to receive them.
Moroni, who completed and hid up the record of Mormon in the earth,
says, of the plates, "Unto three shall they be shown by the power of
God; wherefore they shall know of a surety that these things are true.
And in the mouth of three witnesses shall these things be established;"
_Ether_ 5. 3, 4. We find that the Lord repeated this prediction to Jos.
Smith, Jun.; _Doc. & Cov_. 5. 11-15. On the second page, after the
title page of the Book of Mormon, we find the testimony of three men,
Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris, that an angel appeared
to them and showed them the plates, "Which is a record of the people of
Nephi, and also of the Lamanites their brethren, and also of the people
of Jared, who came from the tower" of Babel.
It was made manifest to them that they had been translated by the gift
and power of God, and the voice of the Lord commanded that they should
bear record of the things that had been shown them.
JOSEPH SMITH, JUN., AS A PROPHET, AND FULFILLER OF HIS OWN PROPHECIES.
"And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of
my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days;" _Doc. & Cov_.
1. 4. This was one of the first prophetic commandments given to the
Latter-day Saints, through Jos. Smith, Jun.
Many hundreds of the Elders of the Church have traveled to and fro in
the earth, regardless of exposure to the elements, of fatigue, or of
pecuniary considerations, warning the people to repent of their sins,
for the day of the Lord was near.
There are now but few nations who are prepared to receive the word,
that have not had the Gospel of this dispensation preached to them.
With a constantly increasing number of Elders, the labor will continue
until the Gospel is preached "as a witness to all nations." The quorums
of the Priesthood were organized and set in order, by Jos. Smith, Jun.,
with this great work especially in view.
In _sec_. 3. 16-20, it is predicted that a knowledge of the Savior,
and also of their fathers, should come to the descendants of Lehi, the
American Indians. Through the ministry and teachings of Jos. Smith,
Jun., thousands of the Lamanites have come to a knowledge of their
fathers, and many "Believe the Gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus
Christ," of which many of the Latter-day Saints are witnesses.
"Behold, a marvellous work is about to come forth among the children
of men;" 4. 1. This declaration was made in February, 1829; before
the organization of the Church. The organization of the Church, the
teachings, unity, energy, and progress of the Latter-day Saints, have
ever been a marvel to the world, and are daily becoming more so, in
fulfilment of this often repeated prediction in the book of _Doc. &
Cov_.