The Nephite Record Delivered to Joseph--the Angel's Warning--the Work
of Translation.
[Sidenote: The Prophet Receives the Plates.]
At length the time arrived for obtaining the plates, the Urim and
Thummim, and the Breastplate. On the twenty-second day of September,
one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, having gone as usual at
the end of another year to the place where they were deposited, the
same heavenly messenger delivered them up to me with this charge:
that I should be responsible for them; that if I should let them go
carelessly, or through any neglect of mine, I should be cut off; but
that if I would use all my endeavors to preserve them, until he, the
messenger, should call for them, they should be protected.
[Sidenote: Efforts of Enemies to Get the Plates.]
I soon found out the reason why I had received such strict charges to
keep them safe, and why it was that the messenger had said that when I
had done what was required at my hand, he would call for them. For no
sooner was it known that I had them, than the most strenuous exertions
were used to get them from me. Every stratagem that could be invented
was resorted to for that purpose. The persecution became more bitter
and severe than before, and multitudes were on the alert continually to
get them from me if possible. But by the wisdom of God, they remained
safe in my hands, until I had accomplished by them what was required
at my hand. When, according to arrangements, the messenger called for
them, I delivered them up to him; and he has them in his charge {19}
until this day, being the second day of May, one thousand eight hundred
and thirty-eight. [1]
[Sidenote: Misrepresentations.]
The excitement, however, still continued, and rumor with her thousand
tongues was all the time employed in circulating falsehoods about my
father's family, and about myself. If I were to relate a thousandth
part of them, it would fill up volumes. The persecution, however,
became so intolerable that I was under the necessity of leaving
Manchester, and going with my wife to Susquehanna county, in the state
of Pennsylvania.
[Sidenote: Removal to Pennsylvania.]
While preparing to start,--being very poor, and the persecution so
heavy upon us that there was no probability that we would ever be
otherwise,--in the midst of our afflictions we found a friend in a
gentleman by the name of Martin Harris, [2] who came to us and gave me
fifty dollars to assist us on our journey. Mr. Harris was a resident of
Palmyra township, Wayne county, in the state of New York, and a farmer
of respectability. By this timely aid was I enabled to reach the place
of my destination in Pennsylvania; and immediately after my arrival
there I commenced copying the characters off the plates. I copied a
considerable number of them, and by means of the Urim and Thummim I
translated some of them, which I did between the time I arrived at the
house of my wife's father, in the month of December, and the February
following.
[Sidenote: Words of the Book Given to the Learned.]
Some time in this month of February, the aforementioned Mr. Martin
Harris came to our place, got the characters which I had drawn off
the plates, and started with them to the city of New York. For what
took place relative to him and the {20} characters, I refer to his
own account of the circumstances, as he related them to me after his
return, which was as follows:
I went to the city of New York, and presented the characters
which had been translated, with the translation thereof, to
Professor Charles Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his literary
attainments. Professor Anthon stated that the translation was
correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the
Egyptian. I then showed him those which were not yet translated,
and he said that they were Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyriac, and
Arabic; and he said they were true characters. He gave me a
certificate, certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were
true characters, and that the translation of such of them as had
been translated was also correct. I took the certificate and put
it into my pocket, and was just leaving the house, when Mr. Anthon
called me back, and asked me how the young man found out that there
were gold plates in the place where he found them. I answered that
an angel of God had revealed it unto him.
He then said to me, "Let me see that certificate." I accordingly
took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and
tore it to pieces, saying, that there was no such thing now as
ministering of angels, and that if I would bring the plates to him,
he would translate them. I informed him that part of the plates
were sealed, and that I was forbidden to bring them. He replied, "I
cannot read a sealed book." I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell,
who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said respecting both the
characters and the translation. [3]
[Sidenote: The Loss of 116 Pages of Manuscript.]
Mr. Harris, having returned from his tour, left me and went home to
Palmyra, arranged his affairs, and returned again to my house about the
12th of April, 1828, and commenced writing for me while I translated
from the plates, which we continued until the 14th of June following,
by which time he {21} had written one hundred and sixteen pages of
manuscript on foolscap paper. Some time after Mr. Harris had begun to
write for me, he began to importune me to give him liberty to carry the
writings home and show them; and desired of me that I would inquire
of the Lord, through the Urim and Thummim, if he might not do so. I
did inquire, and the answer was that he must not. However, he was not
satisfied with this answer, and desired that I should inquire again. I
did so, and the answer was as before. Still he could not be contented,
but insisted that I should inquire once more. After much solicitation
I again inquired of the Lord, and permission was granted him to have
the writings on certain conditions; which were, that he show them
only to his brother, Preserved Harris, his own wife, his father and
his mother, and a Mrs. Cobb, a sister to his wife. In accordance with
this last answer, I required of him that he should bind himself in a
covenant to me in a most solemn manner that he would not do otherwise
than had been directed. He did so. He bound himself as I required of
him, took the writings, and went his way. Notwithstanding, however,
the great restrictions which he had been laid under, and the solemnity
of the covenant which he had made with me, he did show them to others,
and by stratagem they got them away from him, and they never have been
recovered unto this day.
[Sidenote: Prophet's Journey to Manchester and Return to Pennsylvania.]
In the meantime, while Martin Harris was gone with the writings, I
went to visit my father's family at Manchester. I continued there
for a short season, and then returned to my place in Pennsylvania.
Immediately after my return home, I was walking out a little
distance, when, behold, the former heavenly messenger appeared and
handed to me the Urim and Thummim again--for it had been taken from
me in consequence of my having wearied the Lord in asking for the
privilege of letting Martin Harris take the writings, which he lost by
transgression--and I {22} inquired of the Lord through it, and obtained
the following:
_Revelation to Joseph Smith, Jun., given July, 1828, concerning
certain manuscripts of the first part of the Book of Mormon, which
had been taken from the possession of Martin Harris._ [4]
1. The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be
frustrated, neither can they come to naught.
2. For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn
to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth He vary from that
which He hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and His
course is one eternal round.
3. Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is
frustrated, but the work of men;
4. For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to
do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and
sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates
of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the
vengeance of a just God upon him.
5. Behold, you have been entrusted with these things, but how
strict were your commandments; and remember, also, the promises
which were made to you, if you did not transgress them.
6. And behold, how oft you have transgressed the commandments and
the laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men;
7. For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God,
although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise His
works;
8. Yet you should have been faithful and He would have extended His
arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary;
and He would have been with you in every time of trouble.
9. Behold, thou art Joseph, and thou wast chosen to do the work of
the Lord, but because of transgression, if thou art not aware thou
wilt fall.
10. But remember God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which
thou hast done which is contrary to the commandment which I gave
you, and thou art still chosen, and art again called to the work;
11. Except thou do this, thou shalt be delivered up and become as
other men and have no more gift.
12. And when thou deliveredst up that which God had given thee
sight and power to translate, thou deliveredst up that which was
sacred into the hands of a wicked man,
13. Who has set at naught the counsels of God, and has broken the
{23} most sacred promises which were made before God, and has
depended upon his own judgment and boasted in his own wisdom;
14. And this is the reason that thou hast lost thy privileges for a
season;
15. For thou hast suffered the counsel of thy director to be
trampled upon from the beginning.
16. Nevertheless, my work shall go forth, for inasmuch as the
knowledge of a Savior has come into the world, through the
testimony of the Jews, even so shall the knowledge of a Savior come
unto my people,
17. And to the Nephites, and the Jacobites, and the Josephites, and
the Zoramites, through the testimony of their fathers--
18. And this testimony shall come to the knowledge of the
Lamanites, and the Lemuelites, and the Ishmaelites, who dwindled in
unbelief because of the iniquity of their fathers, whom the Lord
has suffered to destroy their brethren the Nephites, because of
their iniquities and their abominations;
19. And for this very purpose are these plates preserved which
contain these records, that the promises of the Lord might be
fulfilled, which He made to His people;
20. And that the Lamanites might come to the knowledge of their
fathers, and that they might know the promises of the Lord, and
that they may believe the Gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus
Christ, and be glorified through faith in his name, and that
through their repentance they might be saved. Amen.
[Sidenote: Interpreters and Plates Returned to the Prophet.]
After I had obtained the above revelation, both the plates and the
Urim and Thummim were taken from me again; but in a few days they were
returned to me, when I inquired of the Lord, and the Lord said thus
unto me: [5]
_Revelation, given to Joseph Smith, Jun., informing him of the
alteration of the manuscript of the fore part of the Book of
Mormon._ [6]
1. Now, behold, I say unto you, that because you delivered up those
writings which you had power given unto you to translate by the
means of the {24} Urim and Thummim, into the hands of a wicked man,
you have lost them.
2. And you also lost your gift at the same time, and your mind
became darkened.
3. Nevertheless, it is now restored unto you again; therefore see
that you are faithful and continue on unto the finishing of the
remainder of the work of translation as you have begun;
4. Do not run faster, or labor more than you have strength and
means provided to enable you to translate; but be diligent unto the
end:
5. Pray always that you may come off conqueror: yea, that you may
conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of
Satan that do uphold his work.
6. Behold, they have sought to destroy you; yea, even the man in
whom you have trusted has sought to destroy you.
7. And for this cause I said that he is a wicked man, for he has
sought to take away the things wherewith you have been entrusted;
and he has also sought to destroy your gift;
8. And because you have delivered the writings into his hands,
behold wicked men have taken them from you:
9. Therefore, you have delivered them up, yea, that which was
sacred, unto wickedness.
10. And, behold, Satan hath put it into their hearts to alter
the words which you have caused to be written, or which you have
translated, which have gone out of your hands.
11. And behold, I say unto you, that because they have altered the
words, they read contrary from that which you translated and caused
to be written;
12. And, on this wise, the devil has sought to lay a cunning plan,
that he may destroy this work;
13. For he hath put it into their hearts to do this, that by lying
they may say they have caught you in the words which you have
pretended to translate.
14. Verily, I say unto you, that I will not suffer that Satan shall
accomplish his evil design in this thing.
15. For, behold, he has put it into their hearts to get thee to
tempt the Lord thy God in asking to translate it over again;
16. And then, behold, they say and think in their hearts, We will
see if God has given him power to translate; if so, he will also
give him power again;
17. And if God giveth him power again, or if he translates again,
or, in other words, if he bringeth forth the same words, behold, we
have the same with us, and we have altered them:
18. Therefore, they will not agree, and we will say that he has
lied in his words, and that he has no gift, and that he has no
power:
{25} 19. Therefore we will destroy him, and also the work, and we
will do this that we may not be ashamed in the end, and that we may
get glory of the world.
20. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that Satan has great hold upon
their hearts; he stirreth them up to iniquity against that which is
good,
21. And their hearts are corrupt, and full of wickedness and
abominations, and they love darkness rather than light, because
their deeds are evil: therefore they will not ask of me.
22. Satan stirreth them up, that he may lead their souls to
destruction.
23. And thus he has laid a cunning plan, thinking to destroy the
work of God; but I will require this at their hands, and it shall
turn to their shame and condemnation in the day of judgment.
24. Yea, he stirreth up their hearts to anger against this work;
25. Yea, he saith unto them, Deceive and lie in wait to catch, that
ye may destroy--behold, this is no harm; And thus he flattereth
them, and telleth them that it is no sin to lie, that they may
catch a man in a lie, that they may destroy him;
26. And thus he flattereth them, and leadeth them along until he
draggeth their souls down to hell; and thus he causeth them to
catch themselves in their own snare;
27. And thus he goeth up and down, to and fro in the earth, seeking
to destroy the souls of men.
28. Verily, verily, I say unto you, woe be unto him that lieth to
deceive, because he supposeth that another lieth to deceive, for
such are not exempt from the justice of God.
29. Now, behold, they have altered these words, because Satan saith
unto them, He hath deceived you, and thus he flattereth them away
to do iniquity, to get thee to tempt the Lord thy God.
30. Behold, I say unto you, that you shall not translate again
those words which have gone forth out of your hands;
31. For, behold, they shall not accomplish their evil designs in
lying against those words. For, behold, if you should bring forth
the same words, they will say that you have lied, and that you have
pretended to translate, but that you have contradicted yourself:
32. And, behold they will publish this, and Satan will harden the
hearts of the people to stir them up to anger against you, that
they will not believe my words.
33. Thus Satan thinketh to overpower your testimony in this
generation, that the work may not come forth in this generation;
34. But behold, here is wisdom, and because I show unto you wisdom,
and give you commandments concerning these things, what you shall
do, show it not unto the world until you have accomplished the work
of translation.
35. Marvel not that I said unto you, Here is wisdom, show it not
{26} unto the world, for I said, show it not unto the world, that
you may be preserved.
36. Behold, I do not say that you shall not show it unto the
righteous;
37. But as you cannot always judge the righteous, or as you cannot
always tell the wicked from the righteous, therefore I say unto
you, hold your peace until I shall see fit to make all things known
unto the world concerning the matter.
38. And now, verily, I say unto you, that an account of those
things that you have written, which have gone out of your hands, is
engraven upon the plates of Nephi;
39. Yea, and you remember it was said in those writings that a more
particular account was given of these things upon the plates of
Nephi.
40. And now, because the account which is engraven upon the plates
of Nephi is more particular concerning the things which, in my
wisdom, I would bring to the knowledge of the people in this
account;
41. Therefore, you shall translate the engravings which are on
the plates of Nephi, down even till you come to the reign of King
Benjamin, or until you come to that which you have translated,
which you have retained.
42. And behold, you shall publish it as the record of Nephi, and
thus I will confound those who have altered my words.
43. I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will
show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the
devil.
44. Behold, they have only got a part or an abridgment of the
account of Nephi.
45. Behold, there are many things engraven upon the plates of
Nephi which do throw greater views upon my Gospel; therefore, it
is wisdom in me that you should translate this first part of the
engravings of Nephi, and send forth in this work.
46. And behold, all the remainder of this work does contain all
those parts of my Gospel which my holy prophets, yea, and also my
disciples, desired in their prayers should come forth unto this
people.
47. And I said unto them, that it should be granted unto them
according to their faith in their prayers;
48. Yea, and this was their faith, that my gospel, which I gave
unto them, that they might preach in their days, might come
unto their brethren the Lamanites, and also all that had become
Lamanites, because of their dissensions.
49. Now, this is not all--their faith in their prayers was, that
this gospel should be made known also, if it were possible, that
other nations should possess this land;
{27} 50. And thus they did leave a blessing upon this land in their
prayers, that whosoever should believe in this Gospel in this land,
might have eternal life;
51. Yea, that it might be free unto all of whatsoever nation,
kindred, tongue, or people they may be.
52. And now, behold, according to their faith in their prayers
will I bring this part of my Gospel to the knowledge of my people.
Behold, I do not bring it to destroy that which they have received,
but to build it up.
53. And for this cause have I said, If this generation harden not
their hearts, I will establish my Church among them.
54. Now I do not say this to destroy my Church, but I say this to
build up my Church;
55. Therefore, whosoever belongeth to my Church need not fear, for
such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven;
56. But it is they who do not fear me, neither keep my
commandments, but build up churches unto themselves to get gain,
yea, and all those that do wickedly and build up the kingdom of the
devil; yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, that it is they that I
will disturb, and cause to tremble and shake to the center.
57. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I came unto my own,
and my own received me not.
58. I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness
comprehendeth it not.
59. I am He who said, Other sheep have I which are not of this
fold, unto my disciples, and many there were that understood me not.
60. And I will show unto this people that I had other sheep, and
that they were a branch of the house of Jacob;
61. And I will bring to light their marvelous works, which they did
in my name;
62. Yea, and I will also bring to light my Gospel which was
ministered unto them, and, behold, they shall not deny that which
you have received, but they shall build it up, and shall bring to
light the true points of my doctrine, yea, and the only doctrine
which is in me;
63. And this I do that I may establish my Gospel, that there may
not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of
the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine; and
in these things they do err, for they do wrest the Scriptures and
do not understand them;
64. Therefore, I will unfold unto them this great mystery;
65. For, behold, I will gather them as a hen gathereth her chickens
under her wings, if they will not harden their hearts.
66. Yea, if they will come, they may, and partake of the waters of
life freely.
{28} 67. Behold, this is my doctrine: whosoever repenteth and
cometh unto me, the same is my Church.
68. Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of
me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my Church.
69. And now, behold, whosoever is of my Church, and endureth of my
Church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against him.
70. And now, remember the words of him who is the life and light of
the world, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Amen.
[Sidenote: Interval in the Work of Translation.]
I did not, however, go immediately to translating, but went to laboring
with my hands upon a small farm which I had purchased of my wife's
father, in order to provide for my family. In the month of February,
1829, my father came to visit us, at which time I received the
following revelation for him:
_Revelation to Joseph Smith, Sen., given February, 1829._ [7]
1. Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the
children of men;
2. Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye
serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye
may stand blameless before God at the last day;
3. Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the
work,
4. For behold the field is white already to harvest, and lo, he
that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in
store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;
5. And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the
glory of God, qualify him for the work.
6. Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience,
brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.
7. Ask, and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto
you. Amen.
[Sidenote: Three Witnesses Promised.]
The following I applied for and obtained, at the request of the
aforementioned Martin Harris:
_Revelation, given March, 1829._ [8]
1. Behold, I say unto you, that as my servant Martin Harris has
{29} desired a witness at my hand, that you, my servant Joseph
Smith, Jun., have got the plates of which you have testified and
borne record that you have received of me;
2. And now, behold, this shall you say unto him, He who spake unto
you, said unto you, I, the Lord, am God, and have given these
things unto you, my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and have commanded
you that you should stand as a witness of these things,
3. And I have caused you that you should enter into a covenant with
me, that you should not show them except to those persons to whom
I commanded you; and you have no power over them except I grant it
unto you.
4. And you have a gift to translate the plates; and this is the
first gift that I bestowed upon you, and I have commanded that you
should pretend to no other gift, until my purpose is fulfilled in
this; for I will grant unto you no other gift until it is finished.
5. Verily, I say unto you, that woe shall come unto the inhabitants
of the earth if they will not hearken unto my words;
6. For hereafter you shall be ordained and go forth and deliver my
words unto the children of men.
7. Behold, if they will not believe my words, they would not
believe you, my servant Joseph, if it were possible that you should
show them all these things which I have committed unto you.
8. Oh, this unbelieving and stiffnecked generation, mine anger is
kindled against them!
9. Behold, verily I say unto you, I have reserved those things
which I have entrusted unto you, my servant Joseph, for a wise
purpose in me, and it shall be made known unto future generations;
10. But this generation shall have my word through you;
11. And in addition to your testimony, the testimony of three of
my servants, whom I shall call and ordain, unto whom I will show
these things, and they shall go forth with my words that are given
through you:
12. Yea, they shall know of a surety that these things are true,
for from heaven will I declare it unto them.
13. I will give them power that they may behold and view these
things as they are;
14. And to none else will I grant this power, to receive this same
testimony among this generation, in this the beginning of the
rising up and the coming forth of my Church out of the wilderness;
clear as the moon, and fair as the sun, and terrible as an army
with banners.
15. And the testimony of three witnesses will I send forth of my
word;
16. And behold, whosoever believeth on my words, them will I visit
with the manifestation of my Spirit, and they shall be born of me,
even of water and of the Spirit.
{30} 17. And you must wait yet a little while, for ye are not yet
ordained;
18. And their testimony shall also go forth unto the condemnation
of this generation if they harden their hearts against them;
19. For a desolating scourge shall go forth among the inhabitants
of the earth, and shall continue to be poured out from time
to time, if they repent not until the earth is empty, and the
inhabitants thereof are consumed away and utterly destroyed by the
brightness of my coming.
20. Behold, I tell you these things, even as I also told the people
of the destruction of Jerusalem, and my word shall be verified at
this time as it hath hitherto been verified.
21. And now I command you, my servant Joseph, to repent and walk
more uprightly before me, and to yield to the persuasions of men no
more;
22. And that you be firm in keeping the commandments wherewith I
have commanded you, and if you do this, behold I grant unto you
eternal life, even if you should be slain.
23. And now, again, I speak unto you, my servant Joseph concerning
the man that desires the witness.
24. Behold, I say unto him, he exalts himself and does not humble
himself sufficiently before me; but if he will bow down before me,
and humble himself in mighty prayer and faith, in the sincerity of
his heart, then will I grant unto him a view of the things which he
desires to see.
25. And then he shall say unto the people of this generation,
Behold, I have seen the things which the Lord hath shown unto
Joseph Smith, Jun., and I know of a surety that they are true for
I have seen them, for they have been shown unto me by the power of
God and not of man.
26. And I, the Lord, commanded him, my servant Martin Harris, that
he shall say no more unto them concerning these things, except he
shall say, I have seen them, and they have been shown unto me by
the power of God, and these are the words which he shall say;
27. But if he deny this, he will break the covenant which he has
before covenanted with me, and behold he is condemned.
28. And now, except he humble himself and acknowledge unto me the
things that he has done which are wrong, and covenant with me that
he will keep my commandments, and exercise faith in me, behold, I
say unto him, he shall have no such views, for I will grant unto
him no views of the things of which I have spoken.
29. And if this be the case, I command you, my servant Joseph that
you shall say unto him, that he shall do no more, nor trouble me
any more concerning this matter.
30. And if this be the case, behold, I say unto thee Joseph, when
{31} thou hast translated a few more pages, thou shalt stop for a
season, even until I command thee again; then thou mayest translate
again.
31. And except thou do this, behold, thou shalt have no more gift,
and I will take away the things which I have entrusted with thee.
32. And now, because I forsee the lying in wait to destroy thee,
yea, I forsee that if my servant Martin Harris humbleth not
himself, and receive a witness from my hand, that he will fall into
transgression;
33. And there are many that lie in wait to destroy thee from off
the face of the earth, and for this cause, that thy days may be
prolonged, I have given unto thee these commandments;
34. Yea, for this cause I have said, Stop and stand still until
I command thee, and I will provide means whereby thou mayest
accomplish the thing which I have commanded thee.
35. And if thou art faithful in keeping my commandments, thou shalt
be lifted up at the last day. Amen.
Footnotes
1. See footnote page 2.
2. Martin Harris, who subsequently became one of the Three Witnesses
to the Book of Mormon, was born in East-town, Saratoga county, New
York, on the 18th of May, 1783. When in his ninth year his father moved
with his family into Palmyra, Wayne county, so that man and boy Martin
Harris had lived in Palmyra some thirty-six years. He had amassed a
considerable property in lands, and had established a reputation for
business reliability.
3. In a letter to E. D. Howe, of Painesville, Ohio, who published a
book against the Church in 1834, Professor Anthon acknowledged the
visit of Martin Harris to him and the presentation of the characters
in question. He states, however, that Harris, whom he describes as "a
plain, apparently simple-hearted farmer," presented him with a note
from Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell, of New York, requesting him (Anthon) to
decipher, if possible, a paper which the "farmer" would hand to him.
The call on Dr. Mitchell, alluded to in Martin Harris' statement above,
must, therefore, have referred to a second visit to Dr. Mitchell, after
his adventure with Professor Anthon. The latter's communication to Howe
bears the date of February 17th, 1834, and is published in _extenso_ in
Smucker's _History of the Mormons_, pp. 37-39.
4. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 3.
5. This revelation, which appears as section 10 in the Doctrine and Covenants is there dated May, 1829. This is clearly an error. The Prophet's words in the text above can lead to but one conclusion, namely, that this was the first revelation he received after the plates and the Urim and Thummim were finally restored to him and this, he says, was only "a few days" after he had received the previous revelation, which, indeed, refers to the same subject as this one. The latter was, therefore, in all probability, received in August or September, 1828.
6. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 10.
7. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 4.
8. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 5.
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