1823.
THE MORNING VISION--JOSEPH TELLS HIS FATHER--VISITS CUMORAH--THE PLATES
FOUND--MORONI'S COMMAND.
Joseph went to work with his father that morning as if nothing had
happened. He did not speak of the vision, though that doubtless was
uppermost in his mind. Perhaps he thought that new persecution might be
aroused and he would not spread the news of this visit of a heavenly
being unless necessary. He could not work with his usual vigor,
however, for his strength seemed to be gone. His father noticed that he
was unwell and sent him home. Joseph set out, but in trying to cross
the fence around the field, he fainted and fell to the ground.
When he became conscious, the angel Moroni in glory was again at his
side, and for the fourth time the entire vision was passed over. The
angel then directed Joseph to go and tell his father all that had
happened, and disappeared. Joseph returned and did so.
The father was probably much surprised to hear of the angel's visits
and of his message. He had little dreamed that at the surface of the
high hill within his sight were hidden sacred objects of priceless
value, that among them were writings which the wisest men could but
imperfectly understand, and that his unlearned son should be the
guardian of these and by the power of God was to bring forth a perfect
translation of them. But the father knew his boy and believed him. The
inspiration of the Holy Spirit rested on him and he told Joseph that
the vision was of God and that he should go and do as the angel had
commanded him.
Joseph's strength returned somewhat and he set out for the hill to find
the sacred record. The distance was only two and a half miles, so that
the walk was not very long, but on the way he was sorely tempted to
take the plates and use them for himself. The promptings of the Holy
Spirit were still with him, however, and he overcame this evil thought.
On the west side of the hill, near the summit, he found the rounded top
of a stone above the ground, and when he dug away the earth he saw that
it was the cover of the box. This stone was somewhat in the shape of a
shield with the outside upward, and when the earth covered the edges it
looked like the top of an ordinary bowlder. Joseph had seen this exact
spot in the vision and did not doubt that he would find the plates
below, but his heart beat fast when he put his lever under and began to
pry up the cover. He raised it without great difficulty and worked it
off, and then within his reach he beheld the hidden treasures of gold.
Perhaps this boy had never read of the wondrous caves of Aladdin and
Ali Baba or of the secret treasures of Monte Cristo Island, but every
boy has dreams of treasure-trove and of becoming rich and powerful.
Whether Joseph was dazzled by the rich prize before him and for the
moment thought this was just a dream come true, or whether he merely
wished to examine these beautiful strange things, we do not know, but
he reached forth to draw them out. Immediately their guardian appeared
and prevented him. The angel told him the time had not yet come for
him to receive them. He must return on that same day, the 22nd of
September, every year for four years, when if he should be faithful,
they would be given over into his care. This conversation occurred
September 22nd, 1823. Until the four years were passed they should
remain secure in their stone box.
Moroni told Joseph that he had hidden up the records four centuries
after the birth of Jesus, while he was living on the earth. He said
that the Nephites, the people to which he belonged, called the hill
where they stood Cumorah, and that a still earlier people, the
Jaredites, called it Ramah. This was a very important hill in the
history of both these peoples.
Joseph learned many other things that were new to him, and how strange
he must have felt when he realized that he was the only person on earth
to know them! While Moroni was still present, Joseph saw in vision the
glory of God's kingdom and the horror of Satan's. The angel told him
these had been shown that he might know the good from the evil and
never be influenced or overcome by Satan's power.
When the vision was ended Joseph replaced the stone, covered it as
before and returned home. That night when he retired to bed, he thanked
the Lord for what He had taught him, and prayed humbly that he might
keep himself pure and faithful. During the last twenty-four hours he
had been visited five times by an angel of light, he had seen a great
golden book, the history of the peoples that had passed away, and with
the book the holy seer-stone and the breastplate of gold. Besides all
this his life-work had been shown him, and he now knew something of
what he must suffer and what he must do.