THE BOOK OF MORMON--ORIGIN OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS, ETC.
Ye gloomy scenes, far hence, intrude no more!
Sublimer themes invite the muse to soar
In loftier strains, while scenes both strange and new
Burst on the sight, and open to the view.
Lo! from the opening heavens, in bright array
An angel comes--to earth he bends his way:
Reveals to man, in power, as at the first,
The fulness of the Gospel long since lost.
See earth, obedient, from its bosom yield
The sacred truth it faithfully concealed.
The wise, confounded, startle at the sight,
The proud and haughty tremble with affright.
The hireling priests against the truth engage,
While hell beneath stands trembling, filled with rage;
False are their hopes, and all their struggles vain;
Their craft must fall, and with it all their gain;
The deaf must hear, the meek their joy increase;
The poor be glad, and their oppression cease.
While darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people, every
man walking in his own way, and looking for gain from his quarter, the
Lord having for a long time held His peace, and the people having
fondly flattered themselves that the voice of inspiration would never
again sound in the ears of mortals, to disturb or molest them in their
sinful career; while a few were looking for the consolation of Israel,
and crying to God for the ushering in of that long-expected day, when
an angel should fly through the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth--
suddenly, a voice is heard from the wilderness, a cry salutes the ears
of mortals, a testimony is heard among them, piercing to the inmost
recesses of their hearts, when all at once the heathen begin to rage,
and the people to imagine a vain thing; the clergy lift a warning
voice, crying impostor, false prophets, beware of delusion, etc.;
while the professor of religion, the drunkard, the swearer, the
learned, and the ignorant soon catch the sound and reiterate it again
and again. Thus it re-echoes from one end of our country to the other,
for a long time, and if any one should be so fortunate as to retain
his sober senses, and should candidly inquire, "What is the matter?"
the reply is: "We hardly know anything about it, but suffice it to
say, some fellows have made their appearance, Paul like, who testify
something about the ministering of angels, or some revelation or
inspiration, just as though the religion of ancient days, and the
faith once delivered to the saints, were returning to the earth in
this enlightened age; so that not only this our craft is in danger,
but our modern systems of religion, built upon the wisdom and learning
of men, without direct inspiration, are like to be spoken against, and
their great magnificence despised, though worshiped by all the world."
And then all again cry with a loud voice, saying: "Great is the wisdom
of man; great are the systems of modern divinity; great is the wisdom
of uninspired priests, who come unto us with excellency of speech, and
with man's wisdom, determined to know nothing among us save opinions
and creeds of their own; and their speech, and their preaching, are
with enticing words of man's wisdom, not in demonstration of the
Spirit, and of power, for that is done away, that our faith should not
stand in the power of God, but in the wisdom of man."
In the midst of the noise and clamor, and prejudice of an opposing
world, it is difficult to get the people to understand the facts of
the case, in relation to one of the most important subjects ever
presented to the consideration of mankind.
The Book of Mormon has perhaps been less understood, and more
misrepresented, by the world at large, than any other publication
which has ever appeared.
America and England have, as it were, been flooded with publications
against the said book; and many of them written by those who had never
seen the book, or by those who had only read a page or two in it, or
slightly looked it through with a biased mind, and a determination
to find fault. By some of these it has been represented as a romance;
by others, as a new Bible, calculated to displace the Bible, or do
away with it. Some have pronounced it a "silly mess of stuff," not
worth the perusal; and others, the most ingenious literary work ever
put together. Some have found fault with it for being so much like the
Bible, and agreeing with it; and others have condemned it for not
being sufficiently like the Bible, and for disagreeing with it. Some
have denounced it as notoriously corrupt, immoral, and blasphemous in
its principles; and others have condemned it for being so exceedingly
pure and moral in its principles, as to be just calculated to deceive.
One clergyman, in particular, in a tract of sixty pages on this book,
condemns it for being "a strange mixture of _faith_ and _works_, of
the _mercy_ of God and the obedience of the _creature_." Some literary
persons have pronounced it as altogether _ancient_ in its _style_,
_language_, and _subjects_, and as bearing great internal evidence of
its own antiquity; while others have condemned it, as bearing every
mark of being a modern production. Some have said that there were no
definite predictions of the future contained in it, by the fulfilment
or failure of which its prophetic merits might be tested; and others
have quoted largely from its most plain and pointed predictions, which
relate to circumstances about to be fulfilled, and have condemned it
on account of its plainness.
In the midst of all these jarring statements, it now becomes our duty
to show, as far as possible, what the Book of Mormon really is.
When the Lord confounded the languages at Babel, he led forth a colony
from thence to the Western Continent, which is now called America.
This colony, after crossing the ocean in eight vessels, and landing in
that country, became, in process of time, a great nation--they
inhabited America for some fifteen hundred years. They were at length
destroyed for their wickedness, about six hundred years before Christ.
A prophet by the name of Ether wrote their history, and an account of
their destruction.
Ether lived to witness their entire destruction, and deposited his
record where it was afterwards found by a colony of Israelites, who
came from Jerusalem six hundred years before Christ, and re-peopled
America. This last colony were the descendants of the tribe of Joseph;
they grew and multiplied, and finally gave rise to two mighty nations.
One of these nations was called Nephites--one Nephi being their
founder; the other was called Lamanites, after a leader of the name
Laman.
The Lamanites became a dark and benighted people, of whom the American
Indians are still a remnant. The Nephites were an enlightened and
civilized people, they were a people highly favored of the Lord, they
had visions, angels, and the gift of prophecy among them from age to
age; and finally, they were blessed with a personal appearance of
Jesus Christ after his resurrection, from whose mouth they received
the doctrine of the Gospel, and a knowledge of the future down through
all succeeding ages. But after all the blessings and privileges
conferred upon them, they fell into great wickedness in the third and
fourth centuries of the Christian era, and finally were destroyed by
the hands of the Lamanites. This destruction took place about four
hundred years after Christ.
Mormon lived in that age of the world, and was a Nephite, and a
Prophet of the Lord. He, by the commandment of the Lord, made an
abridgment of the sacred records, which contained the history of his
forefathers, and the Prophecies and Gospel which had been revealed
among them; to which he added a sketch of the history of his own time,
and the destruction of his nation. Previous to his death, the abridged
records fell into the hands of his son Moroni, who continued them down
to A. D. 420; at which time he deposited them carefully in the earth,
on a hill which was then called Cumorah, but is situated in Ontario
County, township of Manchester, and State of New York, North America.
This he did in order to preserve them from the Lamanites, who overran
the country, and sought to destroy them and all the records pertaining
to the Nephites. This record lay concealed, or sealed up, from A. D.
420 to September 22, 1827, at which time it was found by Mr. Joseph
Smith, jun., he being directed thither by an angel of the Lord.
The following account of the discovery and translation of this record
is extracted from a tract by Elder Orson Pratt, published at
Edinburgh, in 1840, entitled, "Remarkable Visions," etc., to which our
readers are referred for further particulars:--
"'How far below the surface these records were placed by Moroni, I am
unable to say; but from the fact that they had been some fourteen
hundred years buried, and that, too, on the side of a hill so steep,
one is ready to conclude that they were some feet below, as the earth
would naturally wear, more or less, in that length of time; but they
being placed toward the top of the hill, the ground would not remove
as much as at two-thirds, perhaps. Another circumstance would prevent
a wearing of the earth; in all probability, as soon as timber had time
to grow, the hill was covered, after the Nephites were destroyed, and
the roots of the same would hold the surface: however, on this point,
I shall leave every man to draw his own conclusion, and form his own
speculation.' But suffice it to say, 'a hole of sufficient depth was
dug; at the bottom of this was laid a stone of suitable size, the
upper surface being smooth; at each edge was placed a large quantity
of cement, and into this cement, at the four edges of this stone, were
placed erect four others; their bottom edges resting in the cement, at
the outer edges of the first stone. The four last named, when placed
erect, formed a box; the corners, or where the edges of the four came
in contact, were also cemented so firmly, that the moisture from
without was prevented from entering. It is to be observed, also, that
the inner surface of the four erect or side stones was smooth. This
box was sufficiently large to admit a breastplate, such as was used by
the ancients to defend the chest, etc., from the arrows and weapons of
their enemy. From the bottom of the box, or from the breastplate,
arose three small pillars, composed of the same description of cement
used on the edges; and upon these three pillars was placed the record.
* * * This box containing the record was covered with another stone,
the bottom surface being flat, and the upper crowning.' When it was
first visited by Mr. Smith, on the morning of the twenty-second of
September, 1823, 'a part of the crowning stone was visible above the
surface, while the edges were concealed by the soil and grass. From
which circumstance, it may be seen, that however deep this box might
have been placed by Moroni at first, the time had been sufficient to
wear the earth, so that it was easily discovered, when once directed,
and yet not enough to make a perceivable difference to the passer by.
* * * After arriving at the repository, a little exertion in removing
the soil from the edges of the top of the box, and a light pry,
brought to his natural vision its contents.'
"While viewing and contemplating this sacred treasure with wonder and
astonishment, behold! the angel of the Lord, who had previously
visited him, again stood in his presence, and his soul was again
enlightened as it was the evening before, and he was filled with the
Holy Spirit, and the heavens were opened, and the glory of the Lord
shone round about and rested upon him. 'While he thus stood, gazing
and admiring, the angel said, Look!' And as he thus spake, he beheld
the Prince of Darkness, surrounded by his innumerable train of
associates. All this passed before him, and the heavenly messenger
said: 'All this is shown, the good and the evil, the holy and impure,
the glory of God, and the power of darkness, that you may know
hereafter, the two powers, and never be influenced or overcome by that
wicked one. Behold, whatever entices and leads to good, and to do
good, is of God, and whatever does not, is of that wicked one. It is
he that fills the hearts of men with evil to walk in darkness, and
blaspheme God; and you may learn from henceforth, that his ways are to
destruction; but the way of holiness is peace and rest. You now see
why you could not obtain this record, that the commandment was strict,
and that if ever these sacred things are obtained, they must be by
prayer and faithfulness in obeying the Lord. They are not deposited
here for the sake of accumulating gain and wealth, for the glory of
this world; they were sealed by the prayer of faith, and because of
the knowledge which they contain, they are of no worth among the
children of men, only for their knowledge. On them is contained the
fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as it was given to His people
on this land; and when it shall be brought forth by the power of God,
it shall be carried to the Gentiles, of whom many will receive it, and
after, will the seed of Israel be brought into the fold of their
Redeemer by obeying it also. Those who kept the commandments of the
Lord on this land, desired this at His hand, and through the prayer of
faith obtained the promise, that if their descendants should
transgress and fall away, a record might be kept, and in the last
days, come to their children. These things are sacred, and must be
kept so, for the promise of the Lord concerning them must be
fulfilled. No man can obtain them if his heart is impure, because they
contain that which is sacred. * * * By them will the Lord work a great
and marvelous work; the wisdom of the wise shall become as naught, and
the understanding of the prudent shall be hid, and because the power
of God shall be displayed, those who profess to know the truth, but
walk in deceit, shall tremble with anger; but with signs and with
wonders, with gifts and with healings, with the manifestations of the
power of God, and with the Holy Ghost, shall the hearts of the
faithful be comforted. You have now beheld the power of God
manifested, and the power of Satan; you see that there is nothing that
is desirable in the works of darkness; that they cannot bring
happiness; that those who are overcome therewith are miserable; while,
on the other hand, the righteous are blessed with a place in the
kingdom of God, where joy unspeakable surrounds them; there they rest
beyond the power of the enemy of truth, where no evil can disturb
them: the glory of God crowns them, and they continually feast upon
His goodness, and enjoy His smiles. Behold, notwithstanding you have
seen this great display of power, by which you may ever be able to
detect the evil one, yet I give unto you another sign, and when it
comes to pass, then know that the Lord is God, and that He will fulfil
His purposes, and that the knowledge which this record contains, will
go to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people under the
whole heaven. This is the sign: when these things begin to be known,
that is, when it is known that the Lord has shown you these things,
the workers of iniquity will seek your overthrow; they will circulate
falsehoods to destroy your reputation; and also will seek to take your
life! but remember this, if you are faithful, and shall hereafter
continue to keep the commandments of the Lord, you shall be preserved
to bring these things forth; for in due time He will again give you a
commandment to come and take them. When they are interpreted, the Lord
will give the Holy Priesthood to some, and they shall begin to
proclaim this Gospel and baptize by water, and after that, they shall
have power to give the Holy Ghost by the laying on of their hands.
Then will persecution rage more and more; for the iniquities of men
shall be revealed, and those who are not built upon the Rock will seek
to overthrow this Church; but it will increase the more opposed, and
spread farther and farther, increasing in knowledge, till they shall
be sanctified, and receive an inheritance where the glory of God will
rest upon them; and when this takes place, and all things are
prepared, the ten tribes of Israel will be revealed in the north
country, whither they have been for a long season; and when this is
fulfilled, will be brought to pass that saying of the Prophet, 'And
the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from
transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord.' But, notwithstanding the
workers of iniquity shall seek your destruction, the arm of the Lord
will be extended, and you will be borne off conqueror, if you keep all
His commandments. Your name shall be known among the nations, for the
work which the Lord will perform by your hands shall cause the
righteous to rejoice and the wicked to rage; with the one it shall be
had in honor, and with the other in reproach; yet, with these it shall
be a terror, because of the great and marvelous work which shall
follow the coming forth of this fulness of the Gospel. Now, go thy
way, remembering what the Lord has done for thee, and be diligent in
keeping His commandments, and He will deliver thee from temptations,
and all the arts and devices of the wicked one. Forget not to pray,
that thy mind may become strong, that when he shall manifest unto
thee, thou mayest have power to escape the evil, and obtain these
precious things."
We here remark, that the above quotation is an extract from a letter
written by Elder Oliver Cowdery, which was published in one of the
numbers of the "Latter-day Saints' Messenger and Advocate."
Although many more instructions were given by the mouth of the angel
to Mr. Smith, which we do not write in this book, yet the most
important items are contained in the foregoing relation. During the
period of the four following years, he frequently received instruction
from the mouth of the heavenly messenger, and on the morning of the
twenty-second of September, A. D. 1827, the angel of the Lord
delivered the records into his hands.
These records were engraved on plates which had the appearance of
gold. Each plate was not far from seven inches in width by eight
inches in length, being not quite as thick as common tin. They were
filled on both sides with engravings, in Egyptian characters, and
bound together in a volume, as the leaves of a book, and fastened at
one edge with three rings running through the whole. This volume was
something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed.
The characters of letters upon the unsealed part were small, and
beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity
in its construction, as well as much skill in the art of engraving.
With the records was found a curious instrument, called by the
ancients the Urim and Thummim, which consisted of two transparent
stones, clear as crystal, set in the two rims of a bow. This was in
use in ancient times by persons called Seers. It was an instrument by
the use of which they received revelation of things distant, or of
things past or future.
In the mean time the inhabitants of that vicinity, having been
informed that Mr. Smith had seen heavenly visions, and that he had
discovered sacred records, began to ridicule and mock at those things.
And after having obtained those sacred things, while proceeding home
through the wilderness and fields, he was waylaid by two ruffians, who
had secreted themselves for the purpose of robbing him of the records.
One of them struck him with a club before he perceived them; but being
a strong man, and large in stature, with great exertion he cleared
himself from them, and ran towards home, being closely pursued until
he came near his father's house, when his pursuers, for fear of being
detected, turned and fled the other way.
Soon the news of his discoveries spread abroad throughout all those
parts. False reports, misrepresentations, and base slanders flew as if
upon the wings of the wind in every direction. The house was
frequently beset by mobs and evil designing persons. Several times he
was shot at, and very narrowly escaped. Every device was used to get
the plates away from him. And being continually in danger of his life,
from a gang of abandoned wretches, he at length concluded to leave the
place, and go to Pennsylvania; and accordingly packed up his goods,
putting the plates into a barrel of beans, and proceeded upon his
journey. He had not gone far, before he was overtaken by an officer
with a search warrant, who flattered himself with the idea that he
should surely obtain the plates; after searching very diligently, ho
was sadly disappointed at not finding them. Mr. Smith then drove on;
but before he got to his journey's end, he was again overtaken by an
officer on the same business, and after ransacking the wagon very
carefully, he went his way, as much chagrined as the first at not
being able to discover the object of his research. Without any further
molestation, he pursued his journey until he came into the northern
part of Pennsylvania, near the Susquehanna River, in which part his
father-in-law resided.
Having provided himself with a home, ho commenced translating the
record, by the gift and power of God, through the means of the Urim
and Thummim; and being a poor writer, he was under the necessity of
employing a scribe, to write the translation as it tame from his
mouth.
In the meantime, a few of the original characters were accurately
transcribed and translated by Mr. Smith, which, with the translation,
were taken by a gentleman named Martin Harris to the city of New York,
where they were presented to a learned gentleman named Anthon, who
professed to be extensively acquainted with many languages, both
ancient and modern. He examined them, but was unable to decipher them
correctly; but he presumed, that if the original records could be
brought, he could assist in translating them.
But to return. Mr. Smith continued the work of translation, as his
pecuniary circumstances would permit, until he had finished the
unsealed part of the records. The part translated is entitled the
"Book of Mormon," which contains nearly as much reading as the Old
Testament.
"Well," says the objector, "if it were not for the marvellous, the
book would be considered one of the greatest discoveries the world
ever witnessed. If you had been ploughing, or digging a well or cellar
and accidentally dug up a record containing some account of the
ancient history of the American continent, and of its original
inhabitants, together with the origin of the Indian tribes who now
inhabit it; had this record had nothing to do with God, or angels, or
inspiration, it would have been hailed by all the learned of America
and Europe, as one of the greatest and most important discoveries of
modern times, unfolding a mystery which had, until then, bid defiance
to all the researches of the learned world. Every newspaper would have
been filled with the glad tidings, while its contents would have
poured upon the world a flood of light, on subjects before concealed
in the labyrinth of uncertainty and doubt. But who can stoop, and so
humble himself as to receive anything, in this enlightened age,
renowned for its religion and learning, from the ministering of
angels, and from inspiration? This is too much: away with such things,
it comes in contact with the wisdom and popularity of the day." To
this I reply, The Lord knew that before He revealed it; this was one
principal object He had in view; it is just the manner of His dealing
with the children of men; He always takes a different course from the
one marked out for Him by the wisdom of the world, in order to
"confound the wise, and bring to naught the understanding of the
prudent;" He chooses men of low degree, even the simple and the
unlearned, and those who are despised, to do His work and to bring
about His purposes, that no flesh shall glory in His presence. O ye
wise, and ye learned, who despise the wisdom that comes from above!
Know ye not, that it was impossible for the world by wisdom to find
out God? Know ye not that all your wisdom is foolishness with God?
Know ye not that ye must become as a little child, and be willing to
learn wisdom, from the least of His servants, or you will perish in
your ignorance?
But what are the evidences which we gather from Scripture, concerning
the coming forth of this glorious work? We shall attempt to prove:
first, that America is a land promised to the seed of Joseph; second,
that the Lord would reveal to them His truth as well as to the Jews;
and third, that their record should come forth, and unite its
testimony, with the record of the Jews, in time for the restoration of
Israel, in the last days.
First, Genesis, xlviii, Jacob, while blessing the two sons of Joseph,
says: "Let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." In
the same blessing, it is said of Ephraim, "His seed shall become a
multitude of nations." Now put the sense of these sayings together,
and it makes Ephraim a multitude of nations in the midst of the earth.
In Genesis, xlix, it is prophesied concerning Joseph, while Jacob was
blessing him, that he should be "a fruitful bough by a well, whose
branches run over the wall: the archers have sorely grieved him, and
shot at him, and hated him, but his bow abode in strength." Again, he
further says: "The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the
blessings of my progenitors, unto the utmost bound of the everlasting
hills; they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the
head of him that was separate from his brethren." Now I ask, Who were
Jacob's progenitors, and what was the blessing conferred upon him?
Abraham and Isaac were his progenitors, and the land of Canaan was the
blessing they conferred upon him, or that God promised them he should
possess. Recollect that Jacob confers on Joseph a much greater land
than that of Canaan; even greater than his fathers had conferred upon
him, for Joseph's blessing was to extend to the uttermost bound of the
everlasting hills. Now, reader, stand in Egypt, where Jacob then
stood, and measure to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills, and
you will land somewhere in the central part of America. Again, one of
the Prophets says, in speaking of Ephraim: "When the Lord shall roar,
the children of Ephraim shall tremble from the west." Now let us sum
up these sayings, and what have we gained? First, that Ephraim was to
grow into a multitude of nations in the midst of the earth; second,
Joseph was to be greatly blessed in a large inheritance, as far off as
America; third, this was to be on the west of Egypt or Jerusalem.
Now let the world search from pole to pole, and they will not find a
multitude of nations in the midst of the earth, who can possibly have
sprung from Ephraim, unless they find them in America; for the midst
of all other parts of the earth is inhabited by mixed races, who have
sprung from various sources; while here an almost boundless country
was secluded from the rest of the world, and inhabited by a race of
men, evidently of the same origin, although as evidently divided into
many nations. Now, the Scriptures cannot be broken; therefore, these
Scriptures must apply to America, for the plainest of reasons: they
can apply to no other place.
Now, secondly, we are to prove that God revealed himself to the seed
of Joseph or Ephraim--their location we have already proved--dwelling
in America. For this, we quote Hosea, viii, 12; speaking of Ephraim,
he says by the spirit of prophecy: "I have written to him the great
things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing." This is
proof positive and needs no comment, that the great truths of Heaven
were revealed unto Ephraim, and were counted as a strange thing.
Third: Were these writings to come forth just previously to the
gathering of Israel? Answer: They were, according to Ezekiel,
thirty-seventh chapter, where God commanded him to "Take one stick,
and write upon it For Judah, and the children of Israel his
companions; then take another stick, and write upon it For Joseph, the
stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions; and
join them one to another, into one stick, and they shall become one in
thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee,
saying, Wilt not thou show us what thou meanest by these? say unto
them, Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will take the stick of
Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his
fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and
make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand; and the
sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.
And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will take the
children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and
will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land;
and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of
Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no
more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any
more at all."
Now, nothing can be more plain than the above prophecy; there are
presented two writings, the one to Ephraim, the other to Judah; that
of Ephraim is to be brought forth by the Lord, and put with that of
Judah, and they are to become one in their testimony, and grow
together in this manner, in order to bring about the gathering of
Israel. The eighty-fifth Psalm is very plain on the subject: speaking
of the restoration of Israel to their own land, it says, "Mercy and
Truth are met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each
other. _Truth shall spring out of the earth:_ and Righteousness shall
look down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good;
and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before
Him, and shall set us in the way of His steps." Now the Savior, while
praying for His disciples, said: "Sanctify them through Thy
_truth_--Thy _word_ is _truth_." From these passages we learn, that
His word is to spring out of the earth, while Righteousness looks down
from heaven. And the next thing that follows is, that Israel are set
in the way of His steps, and partaking of the fruit of their own land.
Jeremiah, xxxiii, 6, speaking of the final return from captivity of
both Judah and Israel, says: "I will reveal unto them the abundance of
peace and truth." And Isaiah, speaking of the everlasting covenant,
which should gather them, makes this extraordinary and very remarkable
expression: "Their seed shall be known amongst the Gentiles, and their
offspring among the people." Now, reader, let me ask, can any one tell
whether the Indians of America are of Israel, unless by revelation
from God? Therefore this was a hidden mystery, which it was necessary
to reveal in time for their gathering.
So much, then, we have produced from the Scriptures, in proof of a
work, like the book of Mormon, making its appearance in these days; to
say nothing of Isaiah, xxix. But says one, "What is the use of the
Book of Mormon, even if it be true?" I answer: First, it brings to
light an important history, before unknown to man. Second, it reveals
the origin of the American Indians, which was before a mystery. Third,
it contains important prophecies, yet to be fulfilled, which
immediately concern the present generation. Fourth, it contains much
plainness in regard to points of doctrine, insomuch that all may
understand, and see eye to eye, if they take pains to read it.
"But what are its proofs, as to chosen witnesses who testify to its
translation by inspiration?" For this testimony, I refer the reader to
the testimony of the witnesses in the first page of the Book of
Mormon; he will there find as positive testimony as has ever been
found in the other Scriptures concerning any truth which God ever
revealed. Men there testify, not only that they have seen and handled
the plates, but that an angel of God came down from heaven, and
presented the plates before them, while the glory of God shone round
about them, and the voice of God spoke from heaven, and told them that
these things were true, and had been translated by the gift and power
of God, and commanded them to bear record of the same to all people.
Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers! He has visited His people, and
the dayspring from on high has dawned upon our benighted world once
more; for no sooner had the Book been translated, and men begun to
bear record of the same, than the Angel of the Lord came down from
heaven again, and commissioned men to preach the Gospel to every
creature, and to baptize with water for the remission of sins. No
sooner did the people begin to believe their testimony, and be
baptized, than the Holy Ghost fell upon them, through the laying on of
hands in the name of Jesus; and the heavens were opened: and while
some had the ministering of angels, others began to speak in other
tongues, and prophesy. From that time forth, many of them were healed
by the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus; and thus mightily grew
the word of God, and prevailed. And thus, thousands have been raised
up to testify that they do know for themselves, and are not dependent
on the testimony of any man, for the truth of these things, for these
signs follow them that believe. And when a man believes the truth,
through the testimony of God's witnesses, and then these signs follow,
not only them, but him also; if he has the ministering of angels, if
he has been healed, or heals others, by the laying on of hands in the
name of Jesus, or if he speaks in other tongues, or prophesies, he
knows it for himself; and thus is fulfilled the saying of Scripture,
"If any man do my will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be
of God." Thus faith comes by hearing, and knowledge by obeying; but
hearing comes by preaching, and preaching comes by sending; as it is
written--"How shall they preach, except they be sent?"
But there are many who say--"Show us a sign, and we will believe."
Remember, faith comes not by signs, but signs come by faith. Gifts
were not given to make men believe; but what saith the Scripture?
"Gifts are for the edifying of the Church." If otherwise, why was it
not written--"Faith comes by miracles," instead of "Faith comes by
hearing?" I always take it for granted, that a man or woman who comes
demanding a sign in order to make them believe, belongs to a wicked
and adulterous generation, at least, to say no worse; for any person
who will go to Jesus, with a pure heart, desiring and praying in
faith, that he may know the truth concerning these things, the Lord
will reveal it to him, and he shall know, and shall bear testimony,
for by the Spirit of God they shall know truth from error: as it is
written--"My sheep hear my voice." And he that will not come unto
Jesus by faith, shall never know the truth, until, too late, he finds
the harvest is over, and the summer is ended, and his soul not saved.
Thus the religion of Jesus, unlike all other religious systems, bears
its own weight, and brings certainty and knowledge, leaving no room
for imposition. And now I say unto all people, Come unto the Father in
the name of Jesus; doubt not, but be believing, as in days of old, and
ask in faith for whatsoever you stand in need of; ask not that you may
consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness not to be shaken,
that you will yield to no temptation, but that you will keep His
commandments, as fast as He makes them manifest unto you; and if ye do
this, and He reveals to you that He has sent us with a new and
everlasting covenant, and commanded us to preach, and baptize, and
build up His Church as in days of old, then come forward and obey the
truth; but if you do not know, or are not satisfied that He has sent
us, then do not embrace the doctrine we preach. Thus to your own
master you shall stand or fall; and one day you shall know, yea, in
that great day, when every knee shall bow, then shall you know that
God has sent us with the truth, to prune His vineyard for the last
time, with a mighty pruning.
We shall now introduce much circumstantial evidence, from American
antiquities, and from the traditions of the natives, etc.
First, says Mr. Boudinot: "It is said among their principal or beloved
men, that they have it handed down from their ancestors, that the book
which the white people have, was once theirs: that while they had it
they prospered exceedingly, etc. They also say, that their fathers
were possessed of an extraordinary Divine Spirit, by which they
foretold future events, and controlled the common course of nature;
and this they transmitted to their offspring, on condition of their
obeying the sacred laws; that they did, by these means, bring down
showers of blessings upon their beloved people; but that this power,
for a long time past, had entirely ceased." Colonel James Smith, in
his journal, while a prisoner among the natives, says: "They have a
tradition, that in the beginning of this continent, the angels or
heavenly inhabitants, as they call them, frequently visited the
people, and talked with their forefathers, and gave directions how to
pray."
Mr. Boudinot, in his able work, remarks concerning their language:
"Their language, in its roots, idiom, and particular construction,
appears to have the _whole genius_ of the Hebrew; and what is very
remarkable, and well worthy of serious attention, has most of the
peculiarities of that language." There is a tradition related by an
aged Indian, of the Stockbridge tribe, that their fathers were once in
possession of a "Sacred Book," which was handed down from generation
to generation; and at last hid in the earth, since which time they had
been under the feet of their enemies. But these oracles were to be
restored to them again; and _then_ they would triumph over their
enemies, and regain their rights and privileges. Mr. Boudinot, after
recording many traditions similar to the above, at length remarks:
"Can any man read this short account of Indian traditions, drawn from
tribes of various nations; from the west to the east, and from the
south to the north, wholly separated from each other, written by
different authors of the best character, both for knowledge and
integrity, possessing the best means of information, at various and
distant times, without any possible communication with each other; and
yet suppose that all this is the effect of chance, accident, or
design, from a love of the marvelous, or a premeditated intention of
deceiving, and thereby ruining their well established reputation? Can
any one carefully, and with deep reflection, consider and compare
these traditions and nations with the position and circumstances of
the long lost ten tribes of Israel, without at least drawing some
presumptive inferences in favor of these wandering natives being
descended from the ten tribes of Israel?"
"Joseph Merrick, Esq., a highly respectable character in Pitsfield,
Mass., gave the following account: That in 1815, he was leveling some
ground under and near an old wood-shed standing on a place of his,
situated on _Indian Hill_. He ploughed and conveyed away old chips and
earth to some depth. After the work was done, walking over the place,
he discovered, near where the earth had been dug the deepest, a black
strap, as it appeared, about six inches in length, and one and a half
in breadth, and about the thickness of a leather trace to a harness.
He perceived it had, at each end, a loop of some hard substance,
probably for the purpose of carrying it. He conveyed it to his house,
and threw it into an old tool box. He afterwards found it thrown out
at the door, and again conveyed it to the box.
"After some time, he thought he would examine it; but in attempting to
cut it, found it as hard as bone; he succeeded, however, in getting it
open, and found it was formed of two pieces of thick rawhide, sewed
and made water-tight with the sinews of some animal, and gummed over;
and in the fold was contained _four_ folded pieces of parchment. They
were of a dark yellow hue, and contained some kind of writing. The
neighbors coming in to see the strange discovery, tore one of the
pieces to atoms, in the true Hun and Vandal style. The other three
pieces Mr. Merrick saved, and sent them to Cambridge, where they were
examined, and discovered to have been written with a pen, in _Hebrew_,
plain and legible. The writing on the three remaining pieces of
parchment, was quotations from the Old Testament. See Deut., vi, from
4--9; also xi, 13--21; and Exodus, xiii, 11--16, to which the reader
can refer, if he has the curiosity to read this most interesting
discovery.
"On the banks of White River, in Arkansas Territory, have been found
ruins erected no doubt by an enlightened population, of the most
extraordinary character, on account of their dimensions, and the
materials of which they were erected. One of these works is a wall of
earth, which encloses an area of six hundred and forty acres, equal to
a mile square, and having, in its centre, the foundation of a large
circular building, or temple. Another, yet more strange, and more
extensive, consists of the foundations of a great city, whose streets,
crossing each other at right angles, are easily traced through the
mighty forest. And besides these are found the foundations of
_houses_, made of _burnt_ bricks, like the bricks of the present time.
These have been traced to the extent of a mile."
The foregoing is taken from Priest's American Antiquities, and from
the same work we extract the following, page 246:
"_Ruins of the City of Otolum, discovered in North America_.--In a
letter of C. S. Rafinesque, whom we have before quoted, to a
correspondent in Europe, we find the following: 'Some years ago, the
Society of Geography, in Paris, offered a large premium for a voyage
to Guatemala, and for a new survey of the antiquities of Yucatan and
Chiapa, chiefly those fifteen miles from Palenque.'"
"I have," says this author, "restored to them the true name of
_Otolum_, which is yet the name of the stream running through the
ruins. They were surveyed by Captain Del Rio, in 1787, an account of
which was published in English, in 1822. This account describes partly
the ruins of a _stone_ city, of no less dimensions than seventy-five
miles in circuit; length, thirty-two, and breadth twelve miles, full
of palaces, monuments, statues, and inscriptions: one of the earliest
seats of American civilization; about equal to Thebes of ancient
Egypt."
It is stated in the _Family Magazine_, No. 34, p. 266, for 1833, as
follows: "Public attention has been recently excited, respecting the
ruins of an ancient city, found in Guatemala. It would seem that these
ruins are now being explored, and much curious and valuable matter, in
a literary and historical point of view, is anticipated. We deem the
present a most auspicious moment, now that the public attention is
turned to the subject, to spread its contents before our readers, as
an introduction to future discoveries, during the researches now in
progress."
The following are some of the particulars, as related by Captain Del
Rio, who partially examined them, as above related, in 1787: "From
Palenque, the last town northward in the province of _Ciudad Real de
Chiapa_, taking a southwesterly direction, and ascending a ridge of
high land, that divides the kingdom of Guatemala from Yucatan, at the
distance of six miles, is the little river _Micol_, whose waters flow
in a westerly direction, and unite with the great river _Tulijah_,
which bends its course towards the province of _Tobasco_. Having
passed Micol, the ascent begins, and at half a league, or a mile and a
half, the traveler crosses a little stream called Otolum; from this
point heaps of stone ruins are discovered, which render the roads very
difficult for another half league, when you gain the height whereon
the stone houses are situated, being still fourteen in number in one
place, some more dilapidated than others, yet still having many of
their apartments perfectly discernible. These stand on a rectangular
area, three hundred yards in breadth by four hundred and fifty in
length, which is a fraction over fifty-six rods wide, and eighty-four
rods long, being in the whole circuit, two hundred and eighty rods,
which is three fourths of a mile, and a trifle over. This area
presents a plain at the base of the highest mountain forming the
ridge. In the centre of this plain is situated the largest of the
structures which has been, as yet, discovered among these ruins. It
stands on a mound, or pyramid, twenty yards high, which is sixty feet,
or nearly four rods, in perpendicular altitude, which gives it a lofty
and beautiful majesty, as if it were a temple suspended in the sky.
This is surrounded by other edifices, namely, five to the northward,
four to the southward, one to the southwest, and three to the
eastward, fourteen in all.
"In all directions, the fragments of other fallen buildings are seen
extending along the mountain, that stretches east and west either way
from these buildings, as if it were the great temple of worship, or
their government-house, around which they built their city, and where
dwelt their kings and officers of state. At this place was found a
subterranean stone aqueduct, of great solidity and durability, which
in its course passes beneath the largest building."
Let it be understood, this city of Otolum, the ruins of which are so
immense, is in North, not South America, in the same latitude with the
island of Jamaica, which is about eighteen degrees north of the
equator, being on the highest ground between the northern end of the
Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, where the continent narrows
towards the Isthmus of Darien, and is about eight hundred miles south
of New Orleans.
The discovery of these ruins, and also of many others, equally
wonderful, in the same country, is just commencing to arouse the
attention of the schools of Europe, which hitherto have denied that
America could boast of her antiquities. But these immense ruins are
now being explored under the direction of scientific persons, a
history of which, in detail, will, doubtless, be forthcoming in due
time; two volumes of which, in manuscript, we are informed, have
already been written, and cannot but be received with enthusiasm by
Americans.
A gentleman who was living near the town of Cincinnati, in 1826, on
the upper level, had occasion to sink a well for his accommodation; he
persevered in digging to the depth of eighty feet, without finding
water; but still persisting in the attempt, his workmen found
themselves obstructed by a substance, which resisted their labor,
though evidently not stone. They cleared the surface and sides from
the earth bedded around it, when there appeared the stump of a tree,
three feet in diameter, and two feet high, which had been cut down
with an ax. The blows of the ax were yet visible. It was nearly of the
color and apparent character of coal, but had not the friable and
fusible quality of that substance. Ten feet below, the water sprang
up, and the well is now in constant supply and high repute.
In Morse's Universal Geography, first volume, p. 142, the discovery of
the stump is corroborated: "In digging a well in Cincinnati, the stump
of a tree was found in a sound state, ninety feet below the surface;
and in digging another well, at the same place, another stump was
found, at ninety four feet below the surface, which had evident marks
of the ax; and on its top there appeared as if some iron tool had been
consumed by rust."
We might fill a volume with accounts of American antiquities, all
going to show that this country has been inhabited by a people who
possessed a knowledge of the arts and sciences, who built cities,
cultivated the earth, and who were in possession of a written
language. But the things which we have here introduced are abundantly
sufficient for our purpose. If a few characters in Hebrew have been
found in the earth in America, written on parchment, then it is just
as easy to admit that a whole volume has been found in the earth in
America, written on plates, in Egyptian characters. The astonishing
facts of the stumps found eighty or ninety feet under ground at
Cincinnati, and similar discoveries in many other parts of North and
South America, such as buried cities, and other antiquities, all go to
prove that there has been a mighty convulsion and revolution, not only
of nations, but of nature; and such a convulsion as is nowhere else so
reasonably accounted for, as in the following extraordinary and
wonderful account of events, which transpired in this country, during
the crucifixion of Messiah, which we extract from the Book of Mormon,
Nephi, v, 2-11:
"And it came to pass, in the thirty and fourth year, in the first
month, in the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such
an one as never had been known in all the land; and there was also a
great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch
that it did shake the whole earth, as if it was about to divide
asunder; and there were exceeding sharp lightnings, such as never had
been known in all the land. And the city of Zarahemla did take fire;
and the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of the sea, and the
inhabitants thereof were drowned; and the earth was carried up upon
the city of Moronihah, that, in the place of the city thereof, there
became a great mountain; and there was a great and terrible
destruction in the land southward. But, behold, there was a more great
and terrible destruction in the land northward; for, behold, the whole
face of the land was changed, because of the tempest, and the
whirlwinds, and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the exceeding
great quaking of the whole earth; and the highways were broken up, and
the level roads were spoiled, and many smooth places became rough, and
many great and notable cities were sunk, and many were burned, and
many were shook till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth,
and the inhabitants thereof were slain, and the places were left
desolate; and there were some cities which remained, but the damage
thereof was exceeding great, and there were many in them who were
slain, and there were some who were carried away in the whirlwind, and
whither they went, no man knoweth, save they know that they were
carried away; and thus the face of the whole earth became deformed,
because of the tempests, and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and
the quaking of the earth. And, behold, the rocks were rent in twain;
they were broken up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that
they were found in broken fragments, and in seams, and in cracks, upon
all the face of the land.
"And it came to pass, that when the thunderings, and the lightnings,
and the storm, and the tempest, and the quakings of the earth did
cease--for, behold, they did last for about the space of three hours:
and it was said by some that the time was greater; nevertheless, all
these great and terrible things were done in about the space of three
hours; and then, behold, there was darkness upon the face of the land.
"And it came to pass that there was a thick darkness upon all the face
of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof, who had not
fallen, could feel the vapor of darkness; and there could be no light
because of the darkness, neither candles, neither torches; neither
could there be fire kindled with their fine and exceeding dry wood, so
that there could not be any light at all; and there was not any light
seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor
the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the
face of the land.
"And it came to pass, that it did last for the space of three days,
that there was no light seen; and there was great mourning and
howling, and weeping among all the people continually; yea, great were
the groanings of the people, because of the darkness and great
destruction which had come upon them. And in one place they were heard
to cry, saying, O that we had repented before this great and terrible
day, and then would our brethren have been spared, and they would not
have been burned in that great city of Zarahemla! And in another place
they were heard to cry and mourn, saying, O that we had repented
before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and Stoned the
prophets and cast them out; then would our mothers, and our fair
daughters, and our children have been spared, and not have been buried
up in that great city Moronihah; and thus were the howlings of the
people great and terrible.
"And it came to pass, that there was a voice heard among all the
inhabitants of the earth upon the face of this land, crying, Wo, wo,
wo unto this people; wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth,
except they shall repent, for the devil laugheth, and his angels
rejoice, because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my
people; and it is because of their iniquity and abominations that they
are fallen. Behold, that great city of Zarahemla have I burned with
fire, and the inhabitants thereof. And behold, that great city Moroni
have I caused to be sunk in the depth of the sea, and the inhabitants
thereof to be drowned. And behold, that great city Moronihah have I
covered with earth, and the inhabitants thereof, to hide their
iniquities and their abominations from before my face, that the blood
of the prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against
them. And behold the city of Gilgal have I caused to be sunk, and the
inhabitants thereof to be buried up in the depths of the earth: yea,
and the city of Onihah and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of
Mocum and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Jerusalem and the
inhabitants thereof, and waters have I caused to come up in the stead
thereof, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my
face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come up
any more unto me against them. And behold the city of Gadiandi, and
the city of Gadiomnah, and the city of Jacob, and the city of
Gimgimno, all these have I caused to be sunk, and made hills and
valleys in the places thereof; and the inhabitants thereof have I
buried up in the depths of the earth, to hide their wickedness and
abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and
saints should not come up anymore unto me against them. And behold
that great city of Jacobugath, which was inhabited by the people of
the king of Jacob, have I caused to be burned with fire, because of
their sins and their wickedness, which was above all the wickedness of
the whole earth, because of their secret murders and combinations; for
it was they that did destroy the peace of my people and the government
of the land: therefore I did cause them to be burned, to destroy them
from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints
should not come up unto me any more against them. And behold, the city
of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and tho city of
Kishkumen, have I caused to be burned with fire, and the inhabitants
thereof, because of their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and
stoning those whom I did send to declare unto them concerning their
wickedness and their abominations; and because they did cast them all
out, that there were none righteous among them, I did send down fire
and destroy them, that their wickedness and abominations might be hid
from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints
whom I sent among them might not cry unto me from the ground against
them; and many great destructions have I caused to come upon this land
and upon this people, because of their wickedness and their
abominations.
"O, all ye that are spared, because ye were more righteous than they,
will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be
converted, that I may heal you? Yea, verily, I say unto you, if ye
will come unto me, ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of
mercy is extended towards you, and whomsoever will come, him will I
receive; and blessed are those who come unto me. Behold, I am Jesus
Christ, the son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all
things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I
am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father
glorified his name. I came unto my own, and my own received me not.
And the Scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled. And as many as
have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and
even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name; for, behold, by
me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled. I am
the light and life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning
and the end. And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of
blood: yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done
away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt
offerings; and ye shall offer, for a sacrifice unto me, a broken heart
and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart
and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy
Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me, at the
time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy
Ghost, and they knew it not. Behold, I have come unto the world to
bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin:
therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him
will I receive; for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I
have laid down my life, and have taken it up again: therefore, repent
and come unto me, ye ends of the earth, and be saved.
"And now, behold it came to pass, that all the people of the land did
hear these sayings; and did witness of it. And after these sayings,
there was silence in the land for the space of many hours: for so
great was the astonishment of the people that they did cease lamenting
and howling for the loss of their kindred which had been slain;
therefore there was silence in all the land for the space of many
hours.
"And it came to pass, that there came a voice again unto the people,
and all the people did hear, and did witness of it, saying, O ye
people of these great cities which have fallen, who are descendants of
Jacob; yea, who are of the house of Israel, how oft have I gathered
you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have
nourished you. And again, how oft would I have gathered you, as a hen
gathereth her chickens under her wings; yea, O ye people of the house
of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel;
ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would
I have gathered you, as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would
not. O, ye house of Israel, whom I have spared, how oft will I gather
you, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will
repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart. But if not, O
house of Israel, the places of your dwellings shall become desolate,
until the time of the fulfilling of the covenant to your fathers.
"And now it came to pass, that after the people had heard these words,
behold, they began to weep and howl again, because of the loss of
their kindred and friends. And it came to pass that thus did three
days pass away. And it was in the morning, and the darkness dispersed
from off the face of the land, and the earth did cease to tremble, and
the rocks did cease to rend, and the dreadful groanings did cease, and
all the tumultuous noises did pass away, and the earth did cleave
together again, that it stood; and the mourning, and the weeping, and
the wailing of the people who were spared alive, did cease, and their
mourning was turned into joy, and their lamentations into the praise
and thanksgiving unto the Lord Jesus Christ, their Redeemer. And thus
far were the Scriptures fulfilled, which had been spoken by the
prophets."
Here, then, is an account which shows, clearly and definitely, how and
when the American antiquities became buried; how the stumps of trees
were placed eighty or ninety feet under ground; how cities were sunk,
and overwhelmed; how mountains fell and valleys rose; how the rocks
were rent, and how the whole face of the continent became altered and
deformed. We now close this subject by saying to all the people, if
you wish information on the antiquities of America; if you wish
historical, prophetical, or doctrinal information of the highest
importance, read carefully the Book of Mormon.