THE MORMON, OR GOLDEN BIBLE.
The origin of the Book of Mormon--The statement of Mr.
Isaac Hall, father in law of the Mormon Prophet--Rev.
Mr. Spaulding's Historical Romance--Mrs. Davison's
statement--The blindness of Martin Harris--Testimony of
the three witnesses--The eight witnesses.
The communication which follows is the second in the series of letters
referred to in a former chapter.
_Fairfield, August 31, 1840._
According to the intimation given in my last, I proceed to furnish you with
some further facts in relation to the origin and history of Mormonism. In
developing the history of this imposture, and showing the several steps by
which it has won its way to the regard, and gained the confidence of
thousands, it may seem desirable to furnish some account of what is
denominated THE BOOK OF MORMON--a volume containing 588 duodecimo pages,
consisting of fifteen different books, purporting to be written at
different times, and by different authors, whose names they respectively
bear. The period of time which these historical records profess to cover,
is about a thousand years--commencing with the time of Zedekiah, king of
Judah, and terminating with the year of our Lord 420.
This volume, as I have already intimated, has exerted a most important
influence in giving some plausibility to the claims set up by the
originators of the Mormon imposture. I am quite confident there never would
have been any permanent converts to Mormonism, had not this volume been
ushered into existence. The story of the GOLDEN BIBLE, like a thousand
previous and no less marvellous tales told by Jo Smith, would have long
since sunk into oblivion but for the publication of this book. The origin
of this volume--how it came into being--is a grave question. The general
impression is that neither Jo Smith nor Martin Harris had intelligence or
literary qualification adequate to the production of a work of this sort.
Of the correctness of this impression, however, I am not quite confident.
The subsequent career of Smith has shown that he possesses great tact, and
cunning. The authorship of this volume is a question of some interest. The
Mormons say that it is a revelation from God. They claim for it a divine
character. They say that the successive narratives spread upon the pages of
this volume, are the identical records engraven upon the metallic plates to
which we have already referred, and which, like the leaves of a book, were
deposited in a box and hid in the earth; that the writing on these plates
was in "_the Reformed Egyptian language_:" that Joseph Smith was directed
by an angel to the spot where this sacred deposit lay; and subsequently
inspired to interpret the writing, by putting two smooth flat stones, which
he found in the box, into a hat, and then putting his face therein. This is
the claim set up for the BOOK OF MORMON, and which has seduced many
unstable souls.
Had the originator of this fabulous history, called the BOOK OF MORMON,
kept entirely behind the scenes up to the present period, and had there
been no clue by which the authorship of this figment of the imagination
could be traced, it would still have been abundantly evident to every
intelligent person, that it was the product of some shrewd and designing
mind, who calculated to find his advantage in gulling the credulous and
superstitious. The people of Palmyra, at the commencement of the printing
of this book, only laughed at the ridiculousness of the thing, and wondered
at the credulity of Harris. As the publication progressed, and the contents
of the book began to be known, the conviction became general that there was
an actor behind the scene, moving the machinery, of far higher intellectual
qualifications than Smith or Harris. Suspicion in some degree rested upon a
man by the name of Cowdery, who had formerly been a school teacher, if I
mistake not, and was now known to be in some way connected with Smith in
preparing this volume for the press.
I will here insert a document which I have in my hands, and which may tend
to throw some light upon the origin and authorship of the Book of Mormon,
which I found in a little work, entitled "RELIGIOUS CREEDS AND STATISTICS."
The author gives a brief sketch of Mormonism, and among other things
inserts a letter or statement written by Isaac Hale, the father-in-law of
Jo Smith, giving some account of his first acquaintance with Smith. I had,
previously to meeting with this letter, felt anxious to obtain some facts
in relation to Smith's marriage, in order to ascertain how those facts
would agree with the statements made by him to Martin Harris, which I
noticed in my last letter. While at Palmyra, I met with a respectable
clergyman of the Episcopal Church, who had formerly belonged to the
Methodist connection, that was acquainted with Mr. Hale. He represented him
to be a distinguished hunter, living near the _Great Bend_ in Pennsylvania.
He was professedly a religious man and a very zealous member of the
Methodist Church. The letter to which I have referred, is accompanied with
a statement, declaring that Mr. Hale resides in Harmony, Penn.: appended to
the letter also is Mr. Hale's affirmation or affidavit of the truth of the
statement there made, taken before _Charles Dimon, Justice of the Peace_;
and there is also subjoined the certificate of William Thompson and Davis
Dimock, Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in the County of
Susquehanna, declaring that "they have for many years been personally
acquainted with Isaac Hale of Harmony Township, who has attested the
foregoing statement, or letter, and that he is a man of excellent moral
character, and of undoubted veracity."
The letter or statement above referred to, is as follows:
"I first became acquainted with Joseph Smith, Jr., in Nov. 1825. He was at
that time in the employ of a set of men who were called "_money-diggers_;"
and his occupation was that of seeing, or pretending to see, by means of a
stone placed in his hat, and his hat closed over his face. In this way he
pretended to discover minerals and hidden treasure. His appearance at this
time, was that of a careless young man, not very well educated, and very
saucy and insolent to his father. Smith and his father, with several other
"money-diggers," boarded at my house while they were employed in digging
for a mine that they supposed had been opened and worked by the Spaniards,
many years since. Young Smith gave the "money-diggers" great encouragement
at first, but when they had arrived in digging to near the place where he
had stated an immense treasure would be found, he said the enchantment was
so powerful that he could not see. They then became discouraged, and soon
after dispersed.
"After these occurrences, young Smith made several visits at my house, and
at length asked my consent to marry my daughter Emma. This I refused, and
gave him my reasons for so doing; some of which were, that he was a
stranger, and followed a business that I could not approve. He then left
the place. Not long after this, he returned: and while I was absent from
home, carried off my daughter into the State of New York, where they were
married without my approbation, or consent. After they had arrived at
Palmyra, N. Y., Emma wrote to me, inquiring whether she could have her
property, consisting of clothing, &c. I replied that her property was safe,
and, at her disposal. In a short time they returned, bringing with them a
Peter Ingersol, and subsequently came to the conclusion that they would
move out, and reside upon a place near my residence.
"Smith stated to me that he had given up what he called "glass-looking,"
and that he expected to work hard for a living, and was willing to do so.
Soon after this, I was informed they had brought a wonderful book of plates
down with them. I was shown a box, in which it is said they were contained,
which had, to all appearance, been used as a glass box, of the common sized
window glass. I was allowed to feel the weight of the box, and they gave me
to understand, that the book of plates was then in the box: into which,
however, I was not allowed to look. I inquired of Joseph Smith, Jr., who
was to be the first that would be allowed to see the book of plates? He
said, it was a young child.
"After this, I became dissatisfied, and informed him, that if there was any
thing in my house of that description, which I could not be allowed to see,
he must take it away; if he did not, I was determined to see it. After
that, the plates were said to be hid in the woods.
"About this time, Martin Harris made his appearance upon the stage: and
Smith began to interpret the characters or hieroglyphics, which he said
were engraven upon the plates, while Harris wrote down the interpretation.
"It was said that Harris wrote down one hundred and sixteen pages, and lost
them. Soon after this happened, Martin Harris informed me that he must have
a _greater witness_, and said that he had talked with Joseph about it;
Joseph informed him that he could not or durst not show him the plates, but
that he, (Joseph,) would go into the woods where the book of plates was,
and that after he came back, Harris should follow his track in the snow,
and find the book, and examine it for himself. Harris informed me
afterwards, that he followed Smith's directions, and could not find the
plates, and was still dissatisfied.
"The next day after this happened, I went to the house where Joseph Smith,
jr., lived, and where he and Harris were engaged in their translation of
the book. Each of them had a written piece of paper which they were
comparing; and some of the words were--"My servant seeketh a greater
witness, but no greater witness can be given to him." There was also
something said about "three that were to see the thing;" meaning, I
supposed, the book of plates; and that "if the three did not go exactly
according to orders, the thing would be taken from them." I inquired whose
words they were, and was informed by Joseph or Emma, (I rather think it was
the former,) that they were the words of Jesus Christ. I told them then,
that I considered the whole of it a delusion, and advised them to abandon
it. The manner in which he pretended to read and interpret, was the same as
when he looked for the money-diggers, with the stone in his hat, and his
hat over his face, while the book of plates was at the same time hid in the
woods!
"After this, Martin Harris went away, and Oliver Cowdery came and wrote for
Smith, while he interpreted, as above described. This is the same Oliver
Cowdery whose name may be found in the book of Mormon. Cowdery continued a
scribe for Smith, until the book of Mormon was completed, as I supposed,
and understood.
"Joseph Smith, jr., resided near me for some time after this, and I had a
good opportunity of becoming acquainted with him, and somewhat acquainted
with his associates; and I conscientiously believe, from the facts I have
detailed, and from many other circumstances, which I do not deem it
necessary to relate, that the whole "Book of Mormon," (so called,) is a
silly fabrication of falsehood and wickedness, got up for speculation, and
with a design to dupe the credulous and unwary, and in order that its
fabricators might live upon the spoils of those who swallowed the
deception.
"ISAAC HALE."
I shall have occasion hereafter to refer to the loss of the one hundred and
sixteen pages mentioned in the preceding letter, and to the manner in which
they were lost; as this fact will not only tend to illustrate Harris'
character, but to throw some farther light upon the sinuous track which
was pursued to palm off the BOOK OF MORMON as a divine revelation. Whether
Smith and Cowdery were acting alone at the time referred to by Mr. Hale, or
were then deriving their illumination from Rigdon, I have no means of
determining. It is highly probable, however, that they then had access to a
copy of the manuscript written by Mr. Spaulding, of which we shall soon
speak, and this copy was undoubtedly obtained through the agency of Rigdon.
The true authorship of what constitutes the basis of the BOOK OF MORMON,
unquestionably belongs to Mr. Spaulding. I cannot think, however, that the
Book of Mormon is an exact copy of Mr. Spaulding's "_Historical Romance_,"
as Mrs. Davison very properly denominates it. No intelligent or well
educated man would have been guilty of so many anachronisms and gross
grammatical errors as characterise every part of the Book of Mormon. While
Mr. Spaulding's _Historical Romance_ is unquestionably the ground-work of
this volume, the christianized character of the work--the hortatory clauses
about salvation through the blood of Christ--and the adaptation of the
whole to meet the peculiar religious views of Martin Harris, and to tally
with the pretended discovery of Jo Smith, are evidently parts of the work
added to Mr. Spaulding's manuscript. In farther corroboration of this idea,
I will just advert to two facts. _First_, in this record, some portions of
which were professedly written six hundred years before the appearance of
our Saviour, the various _dramatis personae_ seem as familiar with the
events of the New Testament and all the doctrines of the gospel, as any
preacher of the present day. Now no intelligent and well educated man
would be guilty of such a solecism as that of putting into the mouth of a
Jew who lived four hundred years before the birth of Christ, a flippant
discourse about things as though they were then familiarly known, when they
did not occur till some five hundred years afterwards. Hence I infer that
these parts were added to the original document of Mr. Spaulding by Jo
Smith, Cowdery, Rigdon, or some of the fraternity.--_Another_ reason,
leading me to the opinion that considerable alterations were made in the
document referred to, stands in connection with the fact to which I have
already adverted--the loss of the one hundred and sixteen pages, which were
never replaced. These pages were lost in the following way. Harris brought
home the manuscript pages and locked them up in his house thinking them
quite safe. But his wife, who was not then, nor ever afterwards became a
convert to Mormonism, took the opportunity, when he was out, to seize the
manuscript and put it into the hands of one of her neighbours for safer
keeping. When the manuscript was discovered to be missing, suspicion
immediately fastened upon Mrs. Harris. She, however, refused to give any
information in relation to the matter, but simply replied: "If this be a
divine communication, the same being who revealed it to you can easily
replace it." Mrs. H. believed the whole thing to be a gross deception, and
she had formed a plan to expose the deception in the following manner.
Taking it for granted that they would attempt to re-produce the part she
had concealed, and that they could not possibly do it verbatim, she
intended to keep the manuscript until the book was published, and then put
these one hundred and sixteen pages into the hands of some one who would
publish them, and show how they varied from those published in the Book of
Mormon. But she had to deal with persons standing behind the scene, and
moving the machinery that were too wily thus to be caught. Harris was
indignant at his wife beyond measure--he raved most violently, and it is
said actually beat Mrs. H. with a rod--but she remained firm, and would not
give up the manuscript. The authors of this imposture did not dare to
attempt to re-produce this part of the work; but Jo Smith immediately had a
revelation about it which is inserted in the preface of the Book of Mormon
as follows: "As many false reports have been circulated respecting the
following work, and also many unlawful measures taken by evil designing
persons to destroy me, and also the work; I would inform you that I
translated, by the gift and power of God, and caused to be written _one
hundred and sixteen pages_, the which I took from the book of Lehi, which
was an account abridged from the plates of Lehi, by the hand of Mormon;
which said account, some person, or persons, have stolen and kept from me,
notwithstanding my utmost exertions to recover it again: And being
commanded of the Lord that I should not translate the same over again, for
Satan had put it into their hearts to tempt the Lord their God, by altering
the words, that they did read contrary from that which I translated and
caused to be written, and if I should bring forth the same words again, or,
in other words, if I should translate the same over again they would
publish that which they had stolen, and Satan would stir up the hearts of
this generation that they might not receive this work: but behold, the Lord
said unto me, I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design
in this thing: therefore thou shalt translate from the plates of Nephi,
until ye come to that which ye have translated, which ye have retained;
and behold ye shall publish it as the record of Nephi: and thus I will
confound those who have altered my words. I will not suffer that they shall
destroy my work: yea I will shew unto them that my wisdom is greater than
the cunning of the devil."
This was the expedient to which they resorted in order to avoid replacing
the lost pages. Had those pages, however, been transcribed verbatim from
Mr. Spaulding's manuscript, they would undoubtedly have re-produced them,
and urged the fact of their being able to do so as a still further proof of
their divine inspiration. But on the supposition that there was
considerable new matter mingled up with Mr. Spaulding's sketches, it would
be impossible for them to produce the one hundred and sixteen pages just as
they were before, and they would therefore naturally devise some expedient
to relieve themselves from the necessity of re-producing those pages. In
all probability Cowdery, and Smith, and Rigdon, had all more or less to do
in combining these additional parts with Mr. Spaulding's work.
The origin of this work of Mr. Spaulding, to which I refer, and which
unquestionably forms the entire ground-work of the BOOK OF MORMON, is thus
described by Mrs. Davison, formerly the wife of Mr. Spaulding. This
statement of Mrs. Davison was published some time last winter in the Boston
Recorder, to the editors of which it was sent by the Rev. John Storrs, the
Congregational minister in Hollistown, accompanied with a certificate from
two highly respectable clergymen, the Rev. Mr. Austin and the Rev. A. Ely,
D. D., residing in Monson, Mass., the present place of residence of Mrs.
Davison,--stating that Mrs. Davison, the narrator of the following
history, was formerly the wife of Rev. Solomon Spaulding, and that since
his decease she had been married to a second husband by the name of
Davison, and that she was a woman of irreproachable character, and a humble
Christian, and that her testimony was worthy of implicit confidence.
"As the 'BOOK OF MORMON' or 'GOLDEN BIBLE' has excited much attention, and
has been put by a certain new sect in the place of the Sacred Scriptures, I
deem it a duty which I owe to the public, to state what I know touching its
origin. That its claims to a divine origin are wholly unfounded, needs no
proof to a mind unperverted by the grossest delusions. That any sane person
should rank it higher than any other merely human composition, is a matter
of the greatest astonishment; yet it is received as divine by some who
dwell in enlightened New England, and by those who have sustained the
character of devoted Christians. Learning recently that Mormonism had found
its way into a church in Massachusetts, and has impregnated some with its
gross delusions, so that excommunication has been necessary, I am
determined to delay no longer in doing what I can to strip the mask from
this mother of sin, and to lay open this pit of abominations.
"Rev. Solomon Spaulding, to whom I was united in marriage in early life,
was a graduate of Dartmouth College, and was distinguished for a lively
imagination and a great fondness for history. At the time of our marriage
he resided in Cherry Valley, N. Y. From this place we removed to New Salem,
Ashtabula county, Ohio; sometimes called Conneaut, as it is situated on
Conneaut creek. Shortly after our removal to this place his health sunk,
and he was laid aside from active labors. In the town of New Salem there
are numerous mounds and forts, supposed by many to be the dilapidated
dwellings and fortifications of a race now extinct. These ancient relics
arrest the attention of the new settlers and become objects of research for
the curious. Numerous implements were found, and other articles evincing
great skill in the arts. Mr. Spaulding being an educated man and
passionately fond of history, took a lively interest in these developments
of antiquity; and in order to beguile the hours of retirement, and furnish
employment for his lively imagination, he conceived the idea of giving a
_historical sketch of this long lost race_. Their extreme antiquity of
course would lead him to write in _the most ancient style_, and as the Old
Testament is the most ancient book in the world, he imitated its style as
nearly as possible. His sole object in writing this _historical romance_
was to amuse himself and his neighbours. This was about the year 1812.
Hull's surrender at Detroit occurred near the same time, and I recollect
the date well from that circumstance. As he progressed in his narrative the
neighbours would come in from time to time to hear portions read, and a
great interest in the work was excited amongst them. It claimed to have
been written by _one of the lost nation_, and to have been _recovered from
the earth_, and assumed the title of "Manuscript Found." The neighbours
would often enquire how Mr. Spaulding progressed in deciphering "the
manuscript," and when he had a sufficient portion prepared he would inform
them, and they would assemble to hear it read. He was enabled from his
acquaintance with the classics and ancient history, to introduce _many
singular names_, which were particularly noticed by the people, and could
be easily recognised by them. Mr. Solomon Spaulding had a brother, Mr. John
Spaulding, residing in the place at the time, who was perfectly familiar
with the work, and repeatedly heard the whole of it read.
"From New Salem we removed to Pittsburgh, Pa. Here Mr. Spaulding found a
friend and acquaintance, in the person of Mr. Patterson, an editor of a
newspaper. He exhibited his manuscript to Mr. Patterson, who was very much
pleased with it, and borrowed it for perusal. He retained it for a long
time, and informed Mr. Spaulding that if he would make out a title page and
preface, he would publish it, and it might be a source of profit. This Mr.
Spaulding refused to do, for reasons which I cannot now state. Sidney
Rigdon, who has figured so largely in the history of the Mormons, was at
that time connected with the printing office of Mr. Patterson, as is well
known in that region, and as Rigdon himself has frequently stated. Here he
had ample opportunity to become acquainted with Mr. Spaulding's manuscript,
and copy it if he chose. It was a matter of notoriety and interest to all
connected with the printing establishment. At length the manuscript was
returned to its author, and soon after we removed to Amity, Washington
county, Pa., where Mr. Spaulding deceased in 1816. The manuscript then fell
into my hands and was carefully preserved. It has frequently been examined
by my daughter, Mrs. McKenstry, of Monson, Mass., with whom I now reside,
and by other friends. After the "Book of Mormon" came out, a copy of it was
taken to New Salem, the place of Mr. Spaulding's former residence, and the
very place where the "Manuscript Found" was written. A Mormon preacher
appointed a meeting there, and in the meeting read and repeated copious
extracts from the "Book of Mormon." The historical part was immediately
recognised by all the older inhabitants, as the identical work of Mr.
Spaulding, in which they had all been so deeply interested years before.
Mr. John Spaulding was present, who is an eminently pious man, and
_recognised perfectly_ the work of his brother. He was amazed and afflicted
that it should have been perverted to so wicked a purpose. His grief found
vent in a flood of tears, and he arose on the spot, and expressed in the
meeting his sorrow and regret that the writings of his sainted brother
should be used for a purpose so vile and shocking. The excitement in New
Salem became so great that the inhabitants had a meeting, and deputed Dr.
Philastus Hurlbut, one of their number, to repair to this place, and to
obtain from me the original manuscript of Mr. Spaulding, for the purpose of
comparing it with the Mormon Bible, to satisfy their own minds, and to
prevent their friends from embracing an error so delusive. This was in the
year 1834. Dr. Hurlbut brought with him an introduction, and request for
the manuscript, which was signed by Messrs. Henry Lake, Aaron Wright, and
others, with all whom I was acquainted, as they were my neighbours when I
resided at New Salem. I am sure that nothing would grieve my husband more,
were he living, than the use which has been made of his work. The air of
antiquity which was thrown about the composition, doubtless suggested the
idea of converting it to purposes of delusion. Thus an historical romance,
with the addition of a few pious expressions and extracts from the sacred
Scriptures, has been construed into a new Bible, and palmed off upon a
company of poor, deluded fanatics as divine. I have given the previous
brief narration, that this work of deep deception and wickedness may be
searched to the foundation, and the author exposed to the contempt and
execration he so justly deserves.
"MATILDA DAVISON."
The whole mystery of the origin of this book seems to be cleared up by this
statement, and I have seen no attempt made to gainsay or deny its truth.
The farther, however, Martin Harris went into this delusion, the more he
seemed to become infatuated. He had already embarked a large portion of his
property in bringing out the publication of the book of Mormon, and though
many things had occurred that we should think would have convinced any
rational man that he had been made the subject of a deep laid scheme of
deception, he still seems to have shut his eyes, and gone on in the dark.
As I have already mentioned, at first, Martin Harris was assured that the
golden plates, on which this record was engraven, would be his, and that it
would be perfectly lawful to subject them to public inspection,--but as the
managers of this imposture proceeded they found it necessary to advance
with more caution, lest they should put into the hands of others the very
elements which would contribute to their own utter explosion. Hence it was
revealed to Jo Smith, that he would be authorized to show them only to
three individuals who should assist in bringing forward this work, this was
a lure to secure the continued co-operation of Harris. To convince Harris
that he would be highly privileged, it was foretold in the book of Ether,
written by Moroni,[3] that he that should find the plates should have the
privilege of showing them to three persons. The passage referred to is as
follows, "Behold ye may be privileged that ye may shew the plates unto
those who shall assist to bring forth this work; and unto three shall they
be shewn by the power of God; wherefore they shall know of a surety that
these things are true. And in the mouth of three witnesses shall these
things be established; and the testimony of three and this work, in the
which shall be shewn forth the power of God, and also his word, of which
the Father and the Son, and the Holy Ghost beareth record; and all this
shall stand as a testimony against the world, at the last day."
In order to satisfy Harris, and those whom they hoped to delude, it became
necessary that three witnesses should see the plates. And accordingly we
find appended to the book of Mormon the following certificate, headed with
this caption:--
THE TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES.
"Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and
people, unto whom this work shall come, that we,
through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus
Christ, have seen the plates which contain the record
which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of
the Lamanites, his brethren, and also of the people of
Jared, which came from the tower, of which hath been
spoken; and we also know that they have been translated
by the gift and power of God, for his voice has
declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a surety,
that the work is true. And we also testify that we have
seen the engravings which are upon the plates, and
they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and
not of man. And we declare with words of soberness that
an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought
and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the
plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it
is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus
Christ, that we beheld, and bear record that these
things are true; and it is marvellous in our eyes:
nevertheless the voice of the Lord commanded us that we
should bear record of it; wherefore to be obedient unto
the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these
things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ,
we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and
be found spotless before the Judgment seat of Christ,
and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And
the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Ghost, which is one God.--Amen.
"OLIVER COWDERY,
DAVID WHITMER,
MARTIN HARRIS."
To know how much this testimony is worth I will state one fact. A gentleman
in Palmyra, bred to the law, a professor of religion, and of undoubted
veracity, told me that on one occasion, he appealed to Harris and asked him
directly,--"Did you see those plates?" Harris replied, he did. "Did you see
the plates, and the engravings on them with your bodily eyes?" Harris
replied, "Yes, I saw them with my eyes,--they were shown unto me by the
power of God and not of man." "But did you see them with your
natural,--your bodily eyes, just as you see this pencil-case in my hand?
Now say _no_ or _yes_ to this." Harris replied,--"Why I did not see them as
I do that pencil-case, yet I saw them with the eye of faith; I saw them
just as distinctly as I see any thing around me,--though at the time they
were covered over with a cloth."
This was the way that Harris saw the plates, Cowdery, another of the
witnesses, was one of the prime actors in getting up this "cunningly
devised fable." Whether Whitmer, the third witness, was a deceiver, or one
of the deceived, I am unable to say, but he and four of his brothers were
among the earliest avowed converts to Mormonism. And as he was thus
privileged because he assisted to bring forth the work, there can be but
little doubt that he bore the same relation to it that Cowdery did. The
declaration in the testimony "that an angel of God came down from heaven,
and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates,
and the engravings thereon," show but too well what sort of jugglery to
blind people's eyes, this certificate is. They seem themselves not to have
been satisfied with the testimony; and therefore, although it was expressly
revealed that only three should see the plates, and that it should be
established by the witness of three,[4] yet they immediately subjoin the
testimony of eight additional witnesses in the following words: "Be it
known unto all nations, kindreds and tongues, and people, unto whom this
work shall come, that Joseph Smith Jr., the author and proprietor of this
work has shewn unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the
appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has
translated, we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engraving
thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work and of curious
workmanship. And thus we bear record, with words of soberness, that the
said Smith have shown unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a
surety, that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And
we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we
have seen: and we lie not, God bearing witness of it." This is signed by
Hiram Page, Jo Smith's father,--two of his brothers, and four of the
Whitmers, brothers of the Whitmer, who was one of the three witnesses. They
were all persons deeply interested in the success of this imposture, and
expecting to make their fortunes by it. As I have before taken occasion to
remark, Harris was ready to be duped by any thing which these jugglers were
disposed to tell him. He seemed to think at length that he himself was
inspired, and that revelations from heaven were made to him in reference to
the most minute affairs in life. After the BOOK OF MORMON was published it
was revealed to him that he should sell it for one dollar and fifty cents
per copy. But as it did not sell very briskly at that price, he declared
that another revelation was made to him from heaven, and that he was
ordered to sell the book for one dollar per copy. No matter where he went,
he saw visions and supernatural appearances all around him. He told a
gentleman in Palmyra, after one of his excursions to Pennsylvania, while
the translation of the Book of Mormon was going on, that on the way he met
the Lord Jesus Christ, who walked along by the side of him in the shape of
a deer for two or three miles, talking with him as familiarly as one man
talks with another. With a knowledge of the facts that have now been
stated, the existence of the Book of Mormon can well be accounted for, and
also the success of this imposture.
FOOTNOTES:
[3] See Book of Mormon, page 548.
[4] See Book of Mormon, page 548.