THE MORMON PROPHET AND HIS THREE WITNESSES.
An interesting public document--The Danite
band--Testimony of Dr. Avard--Paper drafted by Rigdon.
We insert the following communications, published in a most highly
respectable religious journal.
From the New York Baptist Advocate.
MORMONISM.
MR. EDITOR:
A rare public document of a most interesting character having fallen into
my hands, I propose to furnish you several communications in reference to
it, and likewise in relation to the people to whom it relates.
The Mormons have been generally regarded as a harmless sect of deluded
fanatics, unworthy of any particular notice; and the common impression
seems to be, that they have been wronged and persecuted by the state of
Missouri. For my own part, having had occasion to become better acquainted
with their principles and history than many others, I have for a long time
been endeavouring, as opportunity offered, to open the eyes of the
community to their character, and to show that mischief lurks beneath this
cover of apparent insignificance, and that there are two sides to the story
of the Mormon war in Missouri.
Near the close of the recent session of Congress, a pamphlet was printed by
order of the United States' Senate, for the use of the members of Congress,
entitled a "Document showing the testimony given before the judge of the
fifth judicial circuit of the state of Missouri, at the court-house in
Richmond, in a criminal court of inquiry, begun November 12th, 1838." A
list of fifty-three individuals is given, as being charged with the crimes
of high treason against the state, murder, burglary, arson, robbery, and
larceny. Among the number are Joseph Smith, jr., Hiram Smith, Sidney
Rigdon, and Parley P. Pratt. A copy of this document I succeeded in
obtaining, after considerable difficulty, it not having been printed for
general distribution.
The first witness produced on behalf of the state was Dr. Sampson Avard,
who had been a special teacher among the Mormons. He testifies that a band
at first denominated the Daughters of Zion, but afterwards the Danite band,
was formed by the members of the Mormon church, the original object of
which was, to drive from the county of Caldwell all who dissented from the
Mormon church. Joseph Smith, jr., blessed them, and prophesied over them,
declaring that they should be the means, in the hands of God, of bringing
forth the millenial kingdom. The covenant taken by this band was as
follows, (holding up the right hand:) "In the name of Jesus Christ, the Son
of God, I do solemnly obligate myself ever to conceal, and never to reveal
the secret purposes of this Society, called the Daughters of Zion. Should I
ever do the same, I hold my life as the forfeiture." This band felt
themselves as much bound to obey Joseph Smith, jr., and his two
counsellers, Hiram Smith and Sidney Rigdon, as to obey the supreme God.
Joseph Smith, jr., in a public address, told them that they should stand by
each other, right or wrong. He declared on another occasion, that all who
did not take up arms in defence of the Mormons of Daviess, should be
considered as tories, and should take their exit from the county. In
reference to taking the property of others, in their expeditions to Daviess
county, he told them that the children of God did not go to war at their
own expense. He said it was high time they should be up, as the saints of
the most high God, and protect themselves, and take the kingdom. On some
occasions, he said, that one should chase a thousand, and two put ten
thousand to flight; that he considered the United States rotten; that the
Mormon church was the little stone spoken of by the prophet Daniel; and
that the dissenters first, and the state next, was part of the image that
should be destroyed by the little stone. In an address to the forces at Far
West, about the time that Gen. Lucas appeared in that quarter with the
militia, Smith told them, that for every one they lacked in number of those
that came out against them, the Lord would send angels, who would fight for
them, and that they should be victorious.
This witness (Dr. Avard) received orders from Smith and his counsellors to
destroy the paper containing the constitution of the Danite Society,
inasmuch as if it should be discovered, it would be considered treasonable.
This order he did not obey, but kept the paper in his possession; and after
he was made prisoner by General Clark, he delivered it up to him. The
Mormon preachers and apostles were directed to instruct their followers to
come up to the state called Far West, and to possess the kingdom, and that
the Lord would give it to them.
A paper was draughted by Sidney Rigdon against the dissenters from
Mormonism, and signed by eighty-four Mormons. It was addressed to Oliver
Cowdery, David Whitmer, William W. Phelps and Lyman E. Johnson. Of these,
Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were two of the three witnesses that
testified to the truth of the Book of Mormon. This will therefore serve to
show how much credit is to be attached to their testimony. These
eighty-four Mormons, in the letter, say to the dissenters, (Cowdery,
Whitmer, &c.) that they had violated their promise, and disregarded their
covenant; that Oliver Cowdery had been taken by a state warrant for
stealing, and the stolen property was found in the house of William W.
Phelps, Oliver Cowdery having stolen and conveyed it; that these dissenters
had endeavoured to destroy the characters of Smith and Rigdon by every
artifice they could invent, not even excepting the basest lying; that they
had disturbed the Mormon meetings of worship; that Cowdery and Whitmer had
united with a gang of counterfeiters, thieves, liars and blacklegs of the
deepest dye, to deceive, cheat and defraud the Mormons out of their
property, by every art and stratagem which wickedness could invent,
stealing not excepted; that they had attempted to raise mobs against the
Mormons; that Cowdery attempted to pass notes on which he had received pay;
that Cowdery, Whitmer and others, were guilty of perjury, cheating, selling
bogus money, (base coin,) and even stones and sand for bogus! that they
had opened, read and destroyed letters in the post-office: and that they
were engaged with a gang of counterfeiters, coiners, and blacklegs.
There, Mr. Editor, is the character of two of the three witnesses who
testified that they had seen the plates of the Book of Mormon; that God's
voice declared to them that they had been translated by his gift and power;
that an angel of God laid the plates and engravings before their eyes; and
that the voice of the Lord commanded them that they should bear record of
it. This is the character of two of the three witnesses, according to the
testimony of eighty-four _Mormons_, and not _opposers_ of Mormonism. To how
much credit these two witnesses are entitled, you can judge for yourself.
In the course of my communications on this subject, I shall exhibit the
character of the other witness, (Martin Harris,) and likewise of Prophet
Smith himself.
From the Baptist Advocate.
FROM OUR LATE WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT.
MR. EDITOR:
In my first communication on the subject of the Mormon war in Missouri, I
showed, by Mormon evidence itself, that two of the three witnesses that
testified to the truth of the Book of Mormon, viz: Oliver Cowdery and David
Whitmer, are utterly unworthy of any credit whatever. In pursuance of my
proposal in the same letter, I now proceed to exhibit the character of the
remaining witness, Martin Harris; and likewise the character of Smith
himself, over and above what has already been shown in relation to him.
STATEMENT OF LUCY HARRIS, WIFE OF MARTIN HARRIS.
_Palmyra, Nov. 29, 1833._
Martin Harris is naturally quick in his temper. At different times while I
lived with him, he has whipped, kicked, and turned me out of the house. In
one of his fits of rage, he struck me with the butt end of a whip, which I
think had been used for driving oxen, and was about the size of my thumb.
He beat me on the head four or five times, and the next day turned me out
of doors twice, and beat me in a shameful manner. His main complaint
against me was, that I was always trying to hinder his making money. One
day, while at Peter Harris's house, I told him he had better leave the
company of the Smith's, as their religion was false; to which he replied:
"If you would let me alone, I could make money by it."
There is the character of the third witness of the trio, on whose testimony
the Book of Mormon depends for support. Let us now look a little further at
the character of Prophet Smith himself.
Fifty-one of Smith's old acquaintances in Palmyra, declare him destitute of
that moral character which ought to entitle him to the confidence of any
community, spending much of his time in money digging, and being addicted
to vicious habits.
Peter Ingersol, of Palmyra, testifies, that Smith acknowledged that he
could not see in a stone, as he had pretended.
William Chace, of Manchester, Ontario county, N. Y., testifies, that Smith
acknowledged he had no Book of Mormon, and never had any.
Parley Chace, of Manchester, states, that Smith was entitled to no credit
whatever; that he was lazy, intemperate, worthless, and very much addicted
to lying, boasting of his skill in it, digging for money, and scarcely ever
telling two stories alike in relation to the Golden Bible matter.
David Stafford, of Wayne county, testifies, that Smith used to get
intoxicated, on which occasions he would quarrel and fight.
Barton Stafford, of Manchester, testifies, that Smith was very much
addicted to intemperance, even after he professed to be a prophet; and when
intoxicated, he frequently made his religion his theme.
Henry Harris, of Cuyahoga county, Ohio, testifies, that such was Smith's
character for lying, that the jury did not believe him when under oath.
Rev. Nathaniel C. Lewis, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a relative
of Smith's wife, testifies, that Smith's general character was that of an
impostor, hypocrite, and liar.
Alva Hale, brother-in-law of Smith, testifies, that Smith told him, that
his gift in seeing with a stone and a hat, was a gift from God; but at
another time he told him, that this "_peeping_" was all nonsense. He
further testifies, that he knows Smith to be an impostor and liar.
Levi Lewis testifies, that he has heard Smith and Harris both say, that
adultery was no crime. Lewis further testifies, that he knows Smith to be a
liar; that he saw him intoxicated at three different times, while composing
the Book of Mormon; that he has heard him use the most profane language;
that he has heard him say he was as good as Jesus Christ; that it was as
bad to injure him as it was to injure Jesus Christ; and that God had
deceived him with regard to the plates, which was the reason he did not
show them.
Let this suffice on this point. And now we have before us the character of
this false prophet, and of his three supporters, on whose credibility the
fate of the Book of Mormon depends. Not one word of commentary is
necessary, after such an exhibition of their worthlessness and vileness;
and I shall, therefore, leave it as it is to speak for itself.