The Book of Mormon Published--the Church Organized.
[Sidenote: Price for Publishing Book of Mormon.]
Meantime, our translation drawing to a close, we went to Palmyra, Wayne
county, New York, secured the copyright, and agreed with Mr. Egbert B.
Grandin to print five thousand copies for the sum of three thousand
dollars.
[Sidenote: The Title Page.]
I wish to mention here that the title-page of the Book of Mormon is a
literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand
side of the collection or book of plates, which contained the record
which has been translated, the language of the whole running the same
as all Hebrew writing in general; [1] and that said title page is not
by any means a modern composition, either of mine or of any other man
who has lived or does live in this generation. Therefore, in order to
correct an error which generally exists concerning it, I give below
that part of the title-page of the English version of the Book of
Mormon, which is a genuine and literal translation of the title-page of
the original Book of Mormon as recorded on the plates:
The Book of Mormon.
_An account written by the hand of Mormon, upon Plates, taken from
the Plates of Nephi._
Wherefore it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi,
and also of the Lamanites; written to the Lamanites, who are a
{72} remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile;
written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy
and of revelation. Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord,
that they might not be destroyed--To come forth by the gift and
power of God unto the interpretation thereof--Sealed by the hand of
Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by the
way of Gentile--The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.
An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether, also, which is a record
of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord
confounded the language of the people when they were building a
tower to get to heaven; which is to show unto the remnant of the
house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their
fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that
they are not cast off forever; and also to the convincing of the
Jew and Gentile that _Jesus_ is the _Christ_, the _Eternal God_,
manifesting Himself unto all nations. And now, if there are faults,
they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of
God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.
The remainder of the title-page is, of course, modern.
_A Commandment of God and not of man, to Martin Harris, given
(Manchester, New York, March, 1830) by Him who is Eternal_. [2]
1. I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea even I am He, the
beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world.
2. I, having accomplished and finished the will of Him, whose I
am, even the Father, concerning me--having done this that I might
subdue all things unto myself--
3. Retaining all power, even to the destroying of Satan and his
works at the end of the world, and the last great day of judgment,
which I shall pass upon the inhabitants thereof, judging every man
according to his works and deeds which he hath done.
4. And surely every man must repent or suffer, for I, God, am
endless;
5. Wherefore, I revoke not the judgments which I shall pass, but
woes shall go forth, weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, yea,
to those who are found on my left hand;
{73} 6. Nevertheless it is not written that there shall be no end
to this torment, but it is written endless torment.
7. Again, it is written eternal damnation; wherefore it is more
express than other Scriptures, that it might work among the hearts
of the children of men, altogether for my name's glory.
8. Wherefore I will explain unto you this mystery, for it is meet
unto you to know even as mine Apostles.
9. I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one,
that you may enter into my rest;
10. For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For
behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my
hand, is endless punishment, for endless is my name: wherefore--
11. Eternal punishment is God's punishment.
12. Endless punishment is God's punishment.
13. Wherefore I command you to repent, and keep the commandments
which you have received by the hand of my servant Joseph Smith,
Jun., in my name;
14. And it is by my almighty power that you have received them;
15. Therefore I command you to repent--repent, lest I smite you by
the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your
sufferings be sore--how sore you know not, how exquisite you know
not, yea, how hard to bear you know not!
16. For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that
they might not suffer if they would repent;
17. But if they would not repent, they must suffer even as I,
18. Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all,
to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to
suffer, both body and spirit: and would that I might not drink the
bitter cup, and shrink--
19. Nevertheless glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished
my preparations unto the children of men;
20. Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you
with my almighty power, and that you confess your sins, lest you
suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, of which in the
smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have tasted at the time
I withdrew my Spirit.
21. And I command you, that you preach naught but repentance, and
show not these things unto the world until it is wisdom in me.
22. For they cannot bear meat now, but milk they must receive;
wherefore, they must not know these things, lest they perish.
23. Learn of me and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my
Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.
24. I am Jesus Christ; I came by the will of the Father, and I do
His will,
{74} 25. And again, I command thee that thou shalt not covet thy
neighbor's wife; nor seek thy neighbor's life.
26. And again, I command thee that thou shalt not covet thine own
property, but impart it freely to the printing of the Book of
Mormon, which contains the truth and the word of God.
27. Which is my word to the Gentiles, that soon it may go to the
Jew, of whom the Lamanites are a remnant, that they may believe the
Gospel, and look not for a Messiah to come who has already come.
28. And again, I command thee that thou shalt pray vocally as well
as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in
public as well as in private.
29. And thou shalt declare glad tidings, yea, publish it upon the
mountains, and upon every high place, and among every people that
thou shalt be permitted to see.
30. And thou shalt do it with all humility, trusting in me,
reviling not against revilers.
31. And of tenets thou shalt not talk, but thou shalt declare
repentance and faith on the Savior and remission of sins by baptism
and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost.
32. Behold this is a great and the last commandment which I shall
give unto you concerning this matter; for this shall suffice for
thy daily walk, even unto the end of thy life.
33. And misery thou shalt receive if thou wilt slight these
counsels: yea even the destruction of thyself and property.
34. Impart a portion of thy property; yea, even part of thy lands,
and all save the support of thy family.
35. Pay the debt thou hast contracted with the printer. Release
thyself from bondage.
36. Leave thy house and home, except when thou shalt desire to see
thy family:
37. And speak freely to all: yea, preach, exhort, declare the
truth, even with a loud voice, with a sound of rejoicing,
crying--Hosanna, hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Lord God!
38. Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great
shall be your blessing; yea, even more than if you should obtain
treasures of earth and corruptibleness to the extent thereof.
39. Behold canst thou read this without rejoicing and lifting up
thy heart for gladness?
40. Or canst thou run about longer as a blind guide?
41. Or canst thou be humble and meek, and conduct thyself wisely
before me? yea, come unto me thy Savior. Amen.
[Sidenote: Procedure in the Organization of the Church. Joseph Smith,
Jun., Appointed a Prophet, Seer and Revelator to the Church.]
Whilst the Book of Mormon was in the hands of the {75} printer, [3]
we still continued to bear testimony and give information, as far as
we had opportunity; and also made known to our brethren that we had
received a commandment to organize the Church; and accordingly we met
together for that purpose, {76} at the house of Mr. Peter Whitmer,
Sen., (being six in number,) [4] on Tuesday, the sixth day of April,
{77} A. D., one thousand eight hundred and thirty. Having opened
the meeting by solemn prayer to our Heavenly Father, we proceeded,
according to previous commandment, to call on our brethren to know
whether they accepted us as their teachers in the things of the Kingdom
of God, and whether they were satisfied that we should proceed and
be organized as a Church according to said commandment which we had
received. To these several propositions they consented by a unanimous
vote. I then laid my hands upon Oliver Cowdery, and ordained him an
Elder of the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints;" after {78}
which, he ordained me also to the office of an Elder of said Church. We
then took bread, blessed it, and brake it with them; also wine, blessed
it, and drank it with them. We then laid our hands on each individual
member of the Church present, that they might receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost, and be confirmed members of the Church of Christ. The Holy
Ghost was poured out upon us to a very great degree--some prophesied,
whilst we all praised the Lord, and rejoiced exceedingly. Whilst yet
together, I received the following commandment:
_Revelation to Joseph Smith, Jun., given at Fayette, Seneca County,
New York, April 6th, 1830._ [5]
1. Behold, there shall be a record kept among you, and in it thou
shall be called a Seer, a Translator, a Prophet, an Apostle of
Jesus Christ, an Elder of the Church through the will of God the
Father and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ,
2. Being inspired of the Holy Ghost to lay the foundation thereof,
and to build it up unto the most holy faith,
3. Which Church was organized and established in the year of our
Lord eighteen hundred and thirty, in the fourth month, and on the
sixth day of the month, which is called April.
4. Wherefore, meaning the Church, thou shalt give heed unto all his
words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth
them, walking in all holiness before me;
5. For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all
patience and faith;
6. For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail
against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of
darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your
good, and His name's glory.
7. For thus saith the Lord God, Him have I inspired to move the
cause of Zion in mighty power for good, and his diligence I know,
and his prayers I have heard.
8. Yea, his weeping for Zion I have seen, and I will cause that
he shall mourn for her no longer; for his days of rejoicing are
come unto the remission of his sins, and the manifestations of my
blessings upon his works.
9. For, behold, I will bless all those who labor in my vineyard
with a mighty blessing, and they shall believe on his words, which
are given {79} him through me by the Comforter, which manifesteth
that Jesus was crucified by sinful men for the sins of the world,
yea, for the remission of sins unto the contrite heart.
10. Wherefore it behoveth me that he should be ordained by you,
Oliver Cowdery, mine Apostle;
11. This being an ordinance unto you, that you are an Elder under
his hand, he being the first unto you, that you might be an Elder
unto this Church of Christ, bearing my name,
12. And the first preacher of this Church unto the Church, and
before the world, yea, before the Gentiles; yea, and thus saith the
Lord God, lo, lo! to the Jews also. Amen.
[Sidenote: The Church of Jesus Christ Begins its Career.]
We now proceeded to call out and ordain some others of the brethren to
different offices of the Priesthood, according as the Spirit manifested
unto us: and after a happy time spent in witnessing and feeling for
ourselves the powers and blessings of the Holy Ghost, through the grace
of God bestowed upon us, we dismissed with the pleasing knowledge that
we were now individually members of, and acknowledged of God, "The
Church of Jesus Christ," organized in accordance with commandments and
revelations given by Him to ourselves in these last days, as well as
according to the order of the Church as recorded in the New Testament.
Several persons who had attended the above meeting, became convinced of
the truth and came forward shortly after, and were received into the
Church; among the rest, my own father and mother were baptized, to my
great joy and consolation; and about the same time, Martin Harris and
Orrin Porter Rockwell.
_Revelation to the Church of Christ which was established in these
last days, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and
thirty. Given at Manchester, New York, April, 1830, in consequence
of some desiring to unite with the Church without re-baptism, who
had previously been baptized._ [6]
1. Behold, I say unto you that all old covenants have I caused to
be done away in this thing; and this is a new and an everlasting
covenant, even that which was from the beginning.
{80} 2. Wherefore, although a man should be baptized an hundred
times, it availeth him nothing, for you cannot enter in at the
strait gate by the law of Moses, neither by your dead works;
3. For it is because of your dead works, that I have caused this
last covenant and this Church to be built up unto me, even as in
days of old.
4. Wherefore, enter ye in at the gate, as I have commanded, and
seek not to counsel your God. Amen.
[Sidenote: Word of the Lord to Several Persons.]
The following persons being anxious to know of the Lord what might be
their respective duties in relation to this work, I inquired of the
Lord, and received for them the following:
_Revelation to Oliver Cowdery, Hyrum Smith, Samuel H. Smith, Joseph
Smith, Sen., and Joseph Knight, Sen. Given at Manchester, New York,
April, 1830._ [7]
1. Behold, I speak unto you, Oliver, a few words. Behold, thou art
blessed, and art under no condemnation. But beware of pride, lest
thou shouldst enter into temptation.
2. Make known thy calling unto the Church, and also before the
world, and thy heart shall be opened to preach the truth from
henceforth and forever. Amen.
3. Behold, I speak unto you, Hyrum, a few words: for thou also art
under no condemnation, and thy heart is opened, and thy tongue
loosed; and thy calling is to exhortation, and to strengthen the
Church continually. Wherefore thy duty is unto the Church forever,
and this because of thy family. Amen.
4. Behold, I speak a few words unto you, Samuel, for thou also art
under no condemnation, and thy calling is to exhortation, and to
strengthen the Church, and thou art not as yet called to preach
before the world. Amen.
5. Behold I speak a few words unto you, Joseph, for thou also art
under no condemnation, and thy calling also is to exhortation, and
to strengthen the Church, and this is thy duty from henceforth and
forever. Amen.
6. Behold, I manifest unto you, Joseph Knight, by these words, that
you must take up your cross, in the which you must pray vocally
before the world as well as in secret, and in your family, and
among your friends, and in all places.
7. And, behold, it is your duty to unite with the true Church, and
give your language to exhortation continually, that you may receive
the reward of the laborer. Amen.
Footnotes
1. That is, from right to left.
2. Doctrine and Covenants, section 19. No words of the Prophet
introduce this revelation in his History. Nothing is known of the
circumstances which called it forth. And yet there are few revelations
that have been given in the present dispensation of the Gospel more
important than this one. The doctrine of the atonement of the Lord
Jesus, as directly applying to the individual, and God's exposition
of "Eternal Punishment," as here set forth, give it a place of first
importance in the doctrinal development of the Church.
3. Nothing is said by the Prophet in his History of the difficulties
that arose "whilst the Book of Mormon was in the hands of the printer;"
nor of the care that was taken to prevent the manuscript falling
into the hands of enemies of the work. It is proper, however, that
these matters should be stated at this point. It appears that when
the arrangements was completed with Mr. Grandin for printing the Book
of Mormon, the Prophet went down to Harmony, in Pennsylvania. Before
taking his departure, however, it was arranged:_First_: that Oliver
Cowdery transcribe the whole manuscript; hence it came about that there
were two manuscript copies of the Book of Mormon, the original, which
was taken in charge by the Prophet after the publication of the book,
and the copy made by Oliver Cowdery for the printer's use, and which
finally was given by him into the custody of David Whitmer, with whose
family it remains to this day (1901)._Second_: that the copy made by
Oliver Cowdery from the original manuscript only should be taken to
the printers, so that if that should be destroyed the original would
remain in the hands of the Prophet and his associates from which it
could be replaced; and even this copy was supplied the printer in small
quantities at a time, usually enough only for a single day's work of
the printer.
_Third_: that in going to and from the office whoever carried the
manuscript--usually it was Oliver Cowdery--should always have a guard
to attend him.
_Fourth_: that a guard should be kept constantly upon the watch,
both night and day, about the house, to protect the manuscript from
malicious persons, who might seek to destroy it. (The authorities for
the above are: Lucy Smith's _History of the Prophet Joseph_, ch 31;
the statements of Stephen S. Harding, who a number of times visited
Grandin's establishment while the Book of Mormon was being printed; His
statement is published in _The Prophet of Palmyra,_ by Thomas Gregg,
pg. 34-56--this is that same Stephen S. Harding who was governor of
Utah Territory from July, 1862 to July, 1863; also the statement of
J. H. Gilbert, the principal compositor on the Book of Mormon. The
extreme care in allowing the printer to have but a small amount of copy
at a time is subject of ridicule in nearly all anti-"Mormon" books
that treat of this period. In addition to all this is the evidence
of the manuscript in the hands of the Whitmer family, nearly every
page of which is in the handwriting of Oliver Cowdery, and by being
divided into "takes" clearly bears evidence of having passed through
the printers hands. The evidence also in the existence of portions of
the original manuscript, now in the possession of President Joseph
F. Smith, which was taken from its depository in one of the corner
stones of the Nauvoo House, where it was placed by the hands of Joseph
the Prophet, with other relics, on the occasion of laying the corner
stone of that building on the 2nd of October, 1841. Unfortunately a
great part of the manuscript was destroyed by dampness, but enough is
preserved to establish the fact that it is the original).
Notwithstanding all the precautions taken by the little group of
brethren engaged in publishing the book, the Nephite record, mutilated
by interlineations of human invention, omissions, and added vulgarisms
intended to destroy the work, came nearly being given to the world
before the Book of Mormon itself was published. This was the work of
one Esquire Cole, ex-justice of the peace, who undertook to publish the
Book of Mormon, in instalments, in a weekly periodical called _Dogberry
Paper on Winter Hill_. He obtained the use of Grandin's press nights
and on Sundays, and surely must have obtained the advance sheets of
the printed forms of the Book of Mormon, which he was using, with the
knowledge of Mr. Grandin; at least it is difficult to conceive how he
could obtain and use them without his knowledge. Hyrum Smith, feeling
uneasy concerning the security of that part of the Book of Mormon in
the hands of the printer, induced Oliver Cowdery one Sunday to go with
him to the printer's to see if all was well, and there they found
Squire Cole at work on his _Dogberry Paper_, and publishing mutilated
extracts from the Book of Mormon. He refused to desist from his
unlawful course; but Joseph was sent for and came up during the week
from Harmony, and by firmly asserting his rights under the copyright
law and by threatening to prosecute those who infringed them, Cole was
induced to abandon his intention of publishing the Book of Mormon in
his paper.
This difficulty past, another arose. The people of Palmyra and vicinity
held a mass meeting and passed a resolution pledging themselves not to
purchase the Book of Mormon when published, and to use their influence
to prevent others from purchasing it. This had the effect of causing
Mr. Grandin to suspend printing until he could obtain renewed assurance
of receiving the amount agreed upon for printing the edition of five
thousand. Again the Prophet was sent for, and again he made the journey
from Harmony to Palmyra, quieted the fears of Mr. Grandin by renewed
assurance on the part of himself and Martin Harris that the amount
agreed upon would be paid. The work proceeded, and at last issued from
the press, notwithstanding all the difficulties it had encountered (see
Lucy Smith's _History of the Prophet Joseph_, ch. 33).
4. The following statement is interesting as furnishing the names
of these six: Names of the six members of the Church as they were
organized April 6, 1830--Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Smith, Jun., Hyrum
Smith, Peter Whitmer, Jun., Samuel H. Smith, David Whitmer. Some of
these had been baptized previously; but were all baptized on the day of
organization. These names were given to Joseph Knight by Oliver Cowdery.
(signed) Joseph Knight.
G. S. L. City
Aug. 11th, 1862.
Witnesses
G. A. Smith,
Robt. L. Campbell,
Thos. Bullock,
John V. Long.
(_Copy_)
There has been some question as to the number that had been baptized
previous to the organization of the Church on the 6th day of April,
1830. David Whitmer in his "Address to All Believers in Christ," a
pamphlet of seventy-five pages, published in 1887, says that there were
six Elders and about seventy members before April 6th, 1830. Others
have estimated the number at thirty, thirty-five, and forty. These
estimates, however, are beyond all question too large. In the minutes
of the second conference of the Church, held at Fayette, New York, on
the 26th of September, 1830, this statement is made: "Number of the
several members uniting to this Church, since the last conference,
thirty-five: making in whole now belonging to this Church, sixty-two."
"The last conference," referred to was one held on the 9th of June,
1830. If there were but sixty-two members in September, 1830, and
thirty-five of them were added since the conference of the Church held
on the 9th of June of that year, then there were but twenty-seven in
the Church on the said 9th of June. In the last week of May, 1830,
Newel Knight was baptized--_one_; on the 18th of April, 1830, Oliver
Cowdery baptized _seven_, (the names are given on p. 81), on the 11th
of April, Oliver baptized _six_ persons (their names are also given
on p. 81); on the 6th of April, 1830, the same day that the Church
was organized, there were _four_ persons baptized, two of whom were
the father and mother of the Prophet (see p. 79). This makes a total
of eighteen baptized between the 9th of June conference and the 6th
of April meeting; and as there were but _twenty-seven_ in the Church
on the 9th of June, the number that had been baptized up to the 6th
of April, 1830, must have been but _nine_. _The Far West Record_,
containing the minutes of the conferences of the 9th of June, and
the 26th of September, was kept by the clerks of the High Council in
Missouri, and the minutes of the two conferences above referred to,
and which give the information here set forth, occupy pages _one_ and
_two_ of that record. The accuracy of the minutes of the conference of
the 26th of September, 1830, which fix the membership of the Church
at that time at _sixty-two_, is confirmed by the following remark
of the Prophet, to be found in his history in December of that same
year, which remark immediately precedes extracts from the prophecy
of Enoch in this volume (ch. 12): "To the joy of the little flock,
which in all, from Colesville to Canandaigua, New York, numbered
about _seventy members_, did the Lord reveal the following," etc.
When it is remembered that the Prophet is here speaking of conditions
existing in December, 1830, and the figures given are exclusive of
the additions which had been made in Kirtland, Ohio, it strongly
sustains the correctness of the minutes of the conference of September
26th, which record the membership of the Church at that time to be
but _sixty-two_. The correctness of this number is also still further
confirmed by a brief historical sketch of "The Rise and Progress of the
Church of Christ," published in the _Evening and Morning Star_ under
date of April, 1833, where it is said: "In October 1830, the number of
disciples had increased to between seventy and eighty." (p.169.)
5. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 21.
6. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 22.
7. Doctrine and Covenants, sec. 23.
{81}