The Prophet of the nineteenth century was directed by the angel of God
to the spot where the records of the history of the former inhabitants
of this continent were deposited. He obtained and translated a portion
of them into the English language. It is called the Book of Mormon,
because the Prophet Mormon made an abridgment of more ancient records
than his own, and inscribed them upon metallic plates in hieroglyphics
reformed from the Egyptian.
That book has since been translated into other languages. It gives the
history of two races. The first springing from a colony brought upon
this land at the time of the dispersion from the Tower of Babel. The
second descending from the families directed to this continent from
Jerusalem six hundred {34} years before the Christian era, at the
time when Zedekiah was king of Judea. It relates the wars, travels,
religion, progress and decadence of those races-the progenitors of
the American Indians, describes their cities, temples, forts, etc.,
and contains an account of the visit to this land of Jesus Christ,
after His resurrection and ascension, with particulars of His ministry
in establishing His Church here with the same principles, precepts,
ordinances, Priesthood and blessings as in the Church on the Asiatic
continent. It also speaks of the gradual apostasy of the people and the
woes that came upon them through transgression.
The Book of Mormon does not take the place of the Bible, but is
auxiliary to it and corroborates and supports it. The Bible is the
record of God's dealings with His people in the eastern world; the
Book of Mormon is the record of his dealings with His people on this
western land, separated from the other hemisphere, and then unknown to
its inhabitants. They, with the book of Doctrine and Covenants and the
Pearl of Great Price, are the standards of doctrine and discipline of
the Church.
Inspiration by the Holy Ghost as bestowed upon the ancient Hebrew
prophets, is viewed as revelation by the Latter-day Saints. It conveys
the word and will of God. Every individual in the Church is entitled
to it for his or her own guidance. The President of the Church, who is
a prophet, a seer and a revelator, is entitled to divine communication
by any of the means which God chooses to use for this purpose. But
revelation does not come by the will of man. It is God who reveals His
word at the time and in the manner which He selects. Revelation for the
whole Church comes through the head alone, and thus order is preserved
and conflicting doctrines excluded.