THE PRINTING IS BEGUN--A MEETING OF THE CITIZENS HELD IN REFERENCE TO
THE BOOK.
Oliver Cowdery commenced the work immediately after Joseph left,
and the printing went on very well for a season, but the clouds of
persecution again began to gather. The rabble, and a party of restless
religionists, began to counsel together, as to the most efficient means
of putting a stop to our proceedings.
About the first council of this kind was held in a room adjoining that
in which Oliver and a young man by the name of Robinson were printing.
Mr. Robinson being curious to know what they were doing in the next
room, applied his ear to a hole in the partition wall, and by this
means overheard several persons expressing their fears in reference to
the Book of Mormon. One said, "it was destined to break down everything
before it, if not put a stop to," and, "that it was likely to injure
the prospects of their ministers," and then inquired, whether they
should endure it. "No, no," was the unanimous reply. It was then
asked "How shall we prevent the printing of this book?" Upon which it
was resolved by the meeting, that three of their company should be
appointed to go to the house of Mr. Smith, on the following Tuesday
or Wednesday, while the men were gone to their work, and request Mrs.
Smith to read the manuscript to them; that, after she had done reading
it, two of the company should endeavor to divert her attention from it
to some other object, while the third, seizing the opportunity, should
snatch it from the drawer, or where-ever it should be kept, and commit
it immediately to the flames.
"Again," said the speaker, "suppose we fail in this, and the book be
printed in defiance of all that we can do to the contrary, what means
shall we then adopt? Shall we buy their books and allow our families to
read them?" They all responded, "No." They then entered into a solemn
covenant, never to purchase even a single copy of the work, or permit
one member of their families to buy or read one, that they might thus
avert the awful calamity which threatened them.
Oliver Cowdery came home that evening, and, after relating the whole
affair with much solemnity, he said, "Mother, what shall I do with the
manuscript? where shall I put it to keep it away from them?"
"Oliver," said I, "I do not think the matter so serious after all, for
there is a watch kept constantly about the house, and I need not take
out the manuscript to read it to them unless I choose, and for its
present safety I can have it deposited in a chest, under the head of
my bed, in such a way that it never will be disturbed." I then placed
it in a chest, which was so high that when placed under the bed, the
whole weight of the bedstead rested upon the lid. Having made this
arrangement, we felt quite at rest, and that night, the family retired
to rest at the usual hour, all save Peter Whitmer, who spent the night
on guard. But as for myself, soon after I went to bed I fell into a
train of reflections which occupied my mind, and which caused sleep to
forsake my eyelids till the day dawned, for, when I meditated upon the
days of toil, and nights of anxiety, through which we had all passed
for years previous, in order to obtain the treasure that then lay
beneath my head; when I thought upon the hours of fearful apprehensions
which we had all suffered on the same account, and that the object was
at last accomplished, I could truly say that my soul did magnify the
Lord, and my spirit rejoiced in God my Savior. I felt that the heavens
were moved in our behalf, and that the angels who had power to put down
the mighty from their seats, and to exalt those who were of low degree,
were watching over us; that those would be filled who hungered and
thirsted after righteousness, when the rich would be sent empty away;
that God had helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his promised
mercy, and in bringing forth a Record, by which is made known the seed
of Abraham, our father. Therefore, we could safely put our trust in
him, as he was able to help in every time of need.
On the fourth day subsequent to the afore-mentioned council, soon after
my husband left the house to go to his work, those three delegates
appointed by the council, came to accomplish the work assigned to them.
Soon after they entered, one of them began thus:--
"Mrs. Smith, we hear that you have a gold bible; we have come to see if
you will be so kind as to show it to us?"
"No, gentlemen," said I, "we have no gold bible, but we have a
translation of some gold plates, which have been brought forth for
the purpose of making known to the world the plainness of the gospel,
and also to give a history of the people which formerly inhabited
this continent." I then proceeded to relate the substance of what
is contained in the Book of Mormon, dwelling particularly upon the
principles of religion therein contained. I endeavored to show them
the similarity between these principles, and the simplicity of the
gospel taught by Jesus Christ in the New Testament. "Notwithstanding
all this," said I, "the different denominations are very much opposed
to us. The Universalists are alarmed lest their religion should suffer
loss, the Presbyterians tremble for their salaries, the Methodists also
come, and they rage, for they worship a God without body or parts, and
they know that our faith comes in contact with this principle."
After hearing me through, the gentlemen said, "Can we see the
manuscript, then?"
"No, sir," replied I, "you cannot see it. I have told you what it
contains, and that must suffice."
He made no reply to this, but said, "Mrs. Smith, you and the most of
your children have belonged to our church for some length of time,
and we respect you very highly. You say a good deal about the Book of
Mormon, which your son has found, and you believe much of what he tells
you, yet we cannot bear the thoughts of losing you, and they do wish--I
wish, that if you do believe those things, you would not say anything
more upon the subject--I do wish you would not."
"Deacon Beckwith," said I, "if you should stick my flesh full of
faggots, and even burn me at the stake, I would declare, as long as God
should give me breath, that Joseph has got that Record, and that I know
it to be true."
At this, he observed to his companions, "You see it is of no use to say
anything more to her, for we cannot change her mind." Then, turning to
me, he said, "Mrs. Smith, I see that it is not possible to persuade you
out of your belief, therefore I deem it unnecessary to say anything
more upon the subject."
"No, sir," said I, "it is not worth your while."
He then bade me farewell, and went out to see Hyrum, when the following
conversation took place between them:
Deacon Beckwith: "Mr. Smith, do you not think that you may be deceived
about that Record, which your brother pretends to have found?"
Hyrum: "No, sir, I do not."
Deacon Beckwith: "Well, now, Mr. Smith, if you find that you are
deceived, and that he has not got the Record, will you confess the fact
to me?"
Hyrum: "Will you, Deacon Beckwith, take one of the books, when they are
printed, and read it, asking God to give you an evidence that you may
know whether it is true?"
Deacon Beckwith; "I think it beneath me to take so much trouble,
however, if you will promise that you will confess to me that Joseph
never had the plates, I will ask for a witness whether the book is
true."
Hyrum: "I will tell you what I will do, Mr. Beckwith, if you do get a
testimony from God, that the book is not true, I will confess to you
that it is not true."
Upon this they parted, and the Deacon next went to Samuel, who quoted
to him, Isaiah, lvi: 9-11:
All ye beasts of the field, come to devour; yea, all ye beasts in
the forest. His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are
all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to
slumber; yea, they are greedy dogs, which can never have enough,
and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to
their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
Here Samuel ended the quotation, and the three gentlemen left without
ceremony.