gold; each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long, and
not quite so thick as common tin. They were filled with
engravings, in Egyptian characters, and bound together in a
volume, as the leaves of a book, with three rings running through
the whole. The volume was something near six inches in thickness,
a part of which was sealed. The characters on the unsealed part
were small, and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited
many marks of antiquity in its construction, and much skill in the
art of engraving. With the records was found a curious instrument,
which the ancients called ‘Urim and Thummim,’ which consisted of
two transparent stones set in the rim of a bow fastened to a
breastplate.
“Through the medium of the Urim and Thummim I translated the
record, by the gift and power of God.
“In this important and interesting book the history of ancient
America is unfolded, from its first settlement by a colony that
came from the tower of Babel, at the confusion of languages, to
the beginning of the fifth century of the Christian era. We are
informed by these records that America, in ancient times, has been
inhabited by two distinct races of people. The first were called
Jaredites, and came directly from the tower of Babel. The second
race came directly from the city of Jerusalem, about six hundred
years before Christ. They were principally Israelites, of the
descendants of Joseph. The Jaredites were destroyed about the time
that the Israelites came from Jerusalem, who succeeded them in the
inheritance of the country. The principal nation of the second
race fell in battle towards the close of the fourth century. The
remnant are the Indians that now inhabit this country. This book
also tells us that our Savior made his appearance upon this
continent after his resurrection, that he planted the gospel here
in all its fulness, and richness, and power, and blessing; that
they had apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists;
the same order, the same priesthood, the same ordinances, gifts,
powers, and blessing, as were enjoyed on the eastern continent;
that the people were cut off in consequence of their
transgressions; that the last of their prophets who existed among
them was commanded to write an abridgment of their prophecies,
history, &c., and to hide it up in the earth, and that it should
come forth, and be united with the Bible, for the accomplishment
of the purposes of God in the last days. For a more particular
account, I would refer to the Book of Mormon, which can be
purchased at Nauvoo, or from any of our travelling elders.
“As soon as the news of this discovery was made known, false
reports, misrepresentation, and slander flew, as on the wings of
the wind, in every direction; the house was frequently beset by
mobs and evil-designing persons; several times I was shot at, and
very narrowly escaped, and every device was made use of to get the
plates away from me; but the power and blessing of God attended
me, and several began to believe my testimony.
“On the 6th of April, 1830, the ‘Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints’ was first organized in the town of Manchester,
Ontario county, state of New York. Some few were called and
ordained by the spirit of revelation and prophecy, and began to
preach as the Spirit gave them utterance; and though weak, yet
were they strengthened by the power of God, and many were brought
to repentance, were immersed in the water, and were filled with
the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. They saw visions and
prophesied: devils were cast out, and the sick healed by the
laying on of hands. From that time, the work rolled forth with
astonishing rapidity, and churches were soon formed in the states
of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri.
In the last-named state, a considerable settlement was formed in
Jackson county; numbers joined the church, and we were increasing
rapidly; we made large purchases of land, our farms teemed with
plenty, and peace and happiness were enjoyed in our domestic
circle and throughout our neighborhood; but we could not associate
with our neighbors, who were many of them of the basest of men.”
After giving an account of their removal from Jackson to Clay, and from
Clay to Caldwell and Davies counties, Missouri, with a relation of their
persecutions and consequent distresses, the prophet proceeds:—
“We arrived in the state of Illinois in 1839, where we found a
hospitable people and a friendly home; a people who were willing
to be governed by the principles of law and humanity. We have
commenced to build a city, called ‘Nauvoo,’ in Hancock county. We
number from six to eight thousand here, besides vast numbers in
the county around, and in almost every county of the state. We
have a city charter granted us, and a charter for a legion, the
troops of which now number fifteen hundred. We have also a charter
for a university, for an agricultural and manufacturing society,
have our own laws and administrators, and possess all the
privileges that other free and enlightened citizens enjoy.
“Persecution has not stopped the progress of truth, but has only
added fuel to the flame; it has spread with increasing rapidity.
Proud of the cause which they have espoused, and conscious of
their innocence, and of the truth of their system, amidst calumny
and reproach have the elders of this church gone forth, and
planted the gospel in almost every state in the Union; it has
penetrated our cities, it has spread over our villages, and has
caused thousands of our intelligent, noble, and patriotic citizens
to obey its divine mandates, and be governed by its sacred truths.
It has also spread into England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. In
the year 1839, where a few of our missionaries were sent, over
five thousand joined the standard of truth. There are numbers now
joining in every land.
“Our missionaries are going forth to different nations; and in
Germany, Palestine, New Holland, the East Indies, and other
places, the standard of truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand
can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs
may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the
truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it
has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every
country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall
be accomplished, and the great Jehovah shall say, ‘The work is
done!’
“We believe in God, the eternal Father, and in his Son Jesus Christ, and
in the Holy Ghost.
“We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for
Adam’s transgression.
“We believe that, through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be
saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
“We believe that these ordinances are, 1. faith in the Lord Jesus Christ;
2. repentance; 3. baptism, by immersion, for the remission of sins; 4.
laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
“We believe that a man must be called of God by ‘prophecy, and by laying
on of hands,’ by those who are in authority to preach the gospel, and
administer in the ordinances thereof.
“We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church,
viz., apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, &c.
“We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions,
healing, interpretation of tongues, &c.
“We believe the Bible to be the word of God, as far as it is translated
correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
“We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we
believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining
to the kingdom of God.
“We believe in the literal gathering of Israel, and in the restoration of
the ten tribes; that Zion will be built upon this continent; that Christ
will reign personally upon the earth; and that the earth will be renewed
and receive its paradisaic glory.
“We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the
dictates of our conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them
worship how, where, or what, they may.
“We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and
magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent virtuous, and in
doing good to _all men_. Indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition
of Paul,—we ’believe all things, we hope all things;’—we have endured many
things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is any thing
virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these
things.”
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From the _Gospel Reflector_, a volume edited by B. Winchester, presiding
elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Philadelphia, we
extract the following.
“History Of The Ancients Of America, And Also Of The Book Of
Mormon.
“Six hundred years B. C, according to the Book of Mormon, Lehi,
who was a righteous man, was forewarned of the destruction of
Jerusalem and the Babylonish captivity, who was commanded by the
Lord, took his family and fled into the wilderness. He pitched his
tent in the wilderness, near the Red Sea, and sent back his sons
to Jerusalem, who persuaded one Ishmael and his family to
accompany them to their father Lehi. The Lord promised to lead
them to a choice land above all lands; therefore they set out on
their journey for this land. After a long and tedious journey,
they came to the great waters, or the ocean. Nephi, the son of
Lehi, who was also a prophet, and their pilot, or leader, in the
wilderness, was commanded and instructed to build a ship
sufficiently large to transport them over the sea. This work was
accomplished in eight years from the time they left Jerusalem.
They set sail, and in a proper time they landed, as we infer from
their record, somewhere on the western coast of South America.
They immediately commenced tilling the earth, and erecting
mansions for dwelling-places.
“Lehi had six sons, Laman, Lemuel, Nephi, Sam, Jacob, and Joseph.
Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, rebelled against God, and
would not keep his commandments; for this they were cursed. Their
posterity, in process of time, became a powerful nation, but
extremely wicked; and their chief occupations were hunting,
plundering, and roving about from place to place. In the Book of
Mormon, they are called Lamanites. The other sons of Lehi were
obedient to the commands of God. Their posterity, also, in the
course of time, became a great nation, and were called Nephites.
To them God committed his divine oracles, (the holy priesthood,)
and they had prophets and inspired men among them. They also kept
a record of their prophecies and revelations, and the proceedings
of their nation. When they left Jerusalem, they brought with them
the law of Moses, and the writings of the former prophets, down to
the days of Jeremiah. This accounts for the quotations from Isaiah
and others, which are found in the Book of Mormon.
“The Nephites tilled the land, built cities, and erected temples
for places of worship; but the Lamanites lived a more indolent
life, although, in some instances, they built cities. The Nephites
were at times faithful to God; at other times they were
indifferent, and would not be faithful. They frequently had long
and tedious wars with the Lamanites, and were often driven before
them. They were constantly emigrating to the north. At length they
commenced settlements in the region of country not far from the
Isthmus of Darien; and, while in those parts, they advanced
further in science and arts than at any time previous, and built
more spacious cities and buildings than they did before.
“Six hundred and thirty odd years from the time Lehi left
Jerusalem, Christ, after his resurrection, appeared unto many of
the Nephites, and established his church, chose disciples, and
sent them throughout the land to preach his gospel, thus
fulfilling the saying, ‘Other sheep I have, which are not of this
fold; them I must go and bring also.’
“Individuals of the Lamanites, at times, were obedient to the
faith. The Nephites, after Christ’s appearance, were faithful for
many years; but, in the third or fourth century, iniquity began to
abound, and their love began to wax cold. Some dissented, and
raised up churches for the sake of gain; and thus they were
troubled with the spirit of pride and haughtiness. God commanded
Mormon, who lived in the fourth century, to preach repentance to
them, and foretell their destruction if they would not repent. The
Lord, foreseeing that they would not repent, commanded Mormon to
collect the writings of his forefathers,—their revelations and
prophecies, &c.,—and make an abridgment of them, and engrave them
upon new plates, (their manner of keeping records was to engrave
them on metallic plates.) But in consequence of their wars, and
their flight to the north, to escape the Lamanites, he did not
live to finish this work; and, when the final destruction of the
Nephites drew near, he gave the records to his son Moroni, who
lived to see their final extermination, or destruction, by the
hands of the Lamanites, and they, with his father, left to moulder
on the plain.
“Thus a powerful nation, whose fathers were the favorites of
Heaven, were cut off, and their names have faded into oblivion!
“The Indians of America are the descendants of the Lamanites, and,
according to predictions that are in the Book of Mormon, they will
yet lay down their weapons of war, and be converted unto the Lord.
“Moroni finished compiling and abridging the records of his
fathers, which he engraved upon new plates, for that purpose, to
use his own words, as follows:—‘And now, behold, we have written
this record, according to our knowledge, in the characters which
are called among us _the reformed Egyptian_; being handed down and
altered by us, according to our manner of speech. And, if our
plates had been sufficiently large, we should have written in
Hebrew; but the Hebrew hath been altered by us also; and, if we
could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would have had no
imperfection in our record. But the Lord knoweth the things which
we have written, and also that none other people knoweth our
language; therefore he hath prepared means for the interpretation
thereof.’
“He also engraved on them an account, called the ‘Book of Ether’
of a people who left the old world, and came to this continent at
the time the language was confounded at Babel, which was a partial
fulfilment of the saying, ‘So the Lord scattered them abroad from
thence upon the face of all the earth.’ (Gen. 11:8.)
“Moroni was then commanded to deposit this record in the earth,
together with the _Urim and Thummim_, or, as the Nephites would
have said, _Interpreters_, which were instruments to assist in the
work of the translation, with a promise from the Lord that it
should be brought to light by means of a Gentile nation that
should possess the land, and be published to the world, and go
forth to the Lamanites, and be one of the instruments in the hands
of God for their conversion. It remained safe in the place where
it was deposited, till it was brought to light by the
administration of angels, and translated by the gift and power of
God.”
The Mormon Bible contains five hundred and eighty-eight duodecimo pages,
and purports to have been written at different times, and by the different
authors, whose names the parts respectively bear. The following are the
names of the different books, in the order in which they occur:—
1. First Book of Nephi.
2. Second Book of Nephi.
3. Book of Jacob, brother of Nephi.
4. Book of Enos, son of Jacob.
5. Book of Jarom, son of Enos.
6. Book of Omni, son of Jarom.
7. Words of Mormon.
8. Book of Mosiah.
9. Book of Alma.
10. Book of Helaman.
11. Book of Nephi, son of Nephi, son of Helaman.
12. Book of Nephi, son of Nephi, one of the disciples of Christ.
13. Book of Mormon.
14. Book of Ether.
15. Book of Moroni.
Two new books have recently been published,—the Prophecies of Enoch, in
the _Morning and Evening Star_, and the Book of Abraham, in the _Times and
Seasons_.
The Mormons seem to think that revelations from Heaven and miracles
wrought, are as necessary now, and as important to the salvation of the
present generation, as they were to any generation in any preceding age or
period.
In a volume entitled “Doctrine and Covenants,” are a great number of
revelations, purporting to be from Jesus Christ to Smith and his
coadjutors. The following extracts from a revelation given on the 22d and
23d of September, 1832, convey, it is believed, a fair specimen of the
whole. We copy _verbatim_.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, It is expedient that every man
who goes forth to proclaim mine everlasting gospel, that, inasmuch
as they have families, and receive moneys by gift, that they
should send it unto them, or make use of it for their benefit, as
the Lord shall direct them; for thus it seemeth me good. And let
all those who have not families, who receive moneys, send it up
unto the bishop in Zion, or unto the bishop in Ohio, that it may
be consecrated for the bringing forth of the revelations, and the
printing thereof, and for establishing Zion.
“And if any man shall give unto any of you a coat, or a suit, take
the old and cast it unto the poor, and go your way rejoicing. And
if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with
him he that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that
he may become strong also.
“And the bishop, also, should travel round about and among all the
churches, searching after the poor, to administer to their wants
by humbling the rich and the proud; he should, also, employ an
agent to take charge and to do his secular business, as he shall
direct; nevertheless, let the bishop go unto the city of New York,
and also to the city of Albany, and also to the city of Boston,
and warn the people of those cities with the sound of the gospel,
with a loud voice, of the desolation and utter abolishment which
awaits them if they do reject these things; for if they do reject
these things, the hour of their judgment is nigh, and their house
shall be left unto them desolate. Let him trust in me, and he
shall not be confounded, and a hair of his head shall not fall to
the ground unnoticed.
“And verily I say unto you, the rest of my servants, Go ye forth,
as your circumstances shall permit, in your several callings, unto
the great and notable cities and villages, reproving the world, in
righteousness, of all their unrighteous and ungodly deeds, setting
forth clearly and understandingly the desolation of abomination in
the last days; for with you, saith the Lord Almighty, I will rend
their kingdoms; I will not only shake the earth, but the starry
heavens shall tremble; for I the Lord have put forth my hand to
exert the powers of heaven: ye cannot see it now; yet a little
while and ye shall see it, and know that I am, and that I will
come and reign with my people. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning
and the end. Amen.”
Joseph Smith is the son of a farmer, and was born in Sharon, Vermont, 23d
December, 1805. His father removed to the state of New York about the year
1815, and resided in Palmyra, and afterwards in Manchester.
Smith has many enemies, and his doctrines are warmly opposed; still, it
must be acknowledged that, by his talents, or the magic influence his
scheme of religion has on the minds of men, or by a union of both, he has
acquired an imposing station in the world. He is styled _Prophet and High
Priest of Jesus Christ, President of the Council of the Church of the
Latter-Day Saints,_ and _Lieutenant-General of the Nauvoo Legion_. He
sends his elders, bishops, priests, and teachers, by scores, into all
lands, and more than _seventy-five thousand people_ bow, with willing
subjection, to his mandates.
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Nauvoo, Illinois, formerly Commerce, is situated on the east side of the
Mississippi River, at the head of Des Moines Rapids, about two hundred and
ten miles (by the river) above St. Louis, thirteen hundred and fifty miles
above New Orleans, and about three hundred miles below Dubuque, in Iowa.
It comprises two miles square of fertile land. The city of Nauvoo, which
was incorporated in 1841, is delightfully located, on rising ground, near
the bank of the river. It contains many handsome buildings of brick and
stone, among which are the Nauvoo House, a large stone building for the
accommodation of travellers, and the Mormon Temple, likewise of stone,
measuring on the ground one hundred by one hundred and twenty feet,
exclusive of the wings of the building. This place has one of the best
landings on the river, and its trade is considerable. The number of
inhabitants, at the present time, is about eight thousand, chiefly
Mormons. _Nauvoo_ is said to signify, THE CITY OF GOD.
DALEITES.
The followers of David Dale, a very industrious manufacturer, a most
benevolent Christian, and the humble pastor of an Independent congregation
at Glasgow. At first, he formed a connection with the _Glassites_, in many
of whose opinions he concurred, but was disgusted by their narrow and
worldly spirit: he therefore separated from them, chiefly on the ground of
preferring practical to speculative religion, and Christian charity to
severity of church discipline. As he grew rich by industry, he devoted all
his property to doing good, and ranks high among the philanthropists of
his age. He was founder of the celebrated institution of New Lanark, now
under Mr. Robert Owen, his son-in-law. The Daleites now form the second
class of Independents in Scotland.
EMANCIPATORS.
This body of Christians was formed in Kentucky, in 1805, by the
association of a number of ministers and churches of the Baptist
denomination. They differ in no respect from the regular Baptists, except
in the decided stand they have taken against slavery, in every branch of
it, both in principle and practice, as being a sinful and abominable
system, fraught with peculiar evils and miseries, which every good man
ought to abandon and bear his testimony against. Their desires and
endeavors are, to effect, as soon as it can be done, and in the most
prudent and advantageous manner, both to the slaves and to their owners,
the general and complete emancipation of this numerous race of enslaved,
ignorant, and degraded beings, who are now, by the laws and customs of the
land, exposed to hereditary and perpetual bondage. (See Exod. 3:7, 9;
10:3; 6:2; 21:2, 16. Levit. 19:18. Deut. 15:12, 18; 23:15; 24:7. Job 6:14;
29:11. Ps. 12:5; 103:6. Prov. 16:8; 22:16. Eccl. 4:1; 5:8. Isa. 1:16;
33:15; 58:6. Jer. 5:26; 21:12; 22:13; 34:10, 11, 17; 50:33, 34. Ezek.
18:5, 9; 22:29; 27:13. Dan. 4:27. Joel 3:3, 6. Mal. 2:10. Matt. 5:7; 7:12.
Luke 4:18; 6:36. Rom. 12:9. 1 Cor. 7:23. Gal. 5:13. Col. 4:1. 1 Tim. 1:10.
Heb. 13:3. James 2:13; 5:4. 2 Pet. 2:2. 1 John 4:20. Rev. 18:11, 13.)
The Emancipators say to Christians of all denominations in the United
States, in the words of an eloquent philanthropist, “Banish from your land
the remains of slavery. Be consistent with your congressional declaration
of rights. Remember, there never was, nor will be, a period when justice
should not be done. Do what is just, and leave the event with God. Justice
is the pillar that upholds the whole fabric of human society, and mercy is
the genial ray which cheers and warms the habitations of men. The
perfection of our social character consists in properly tempering the two
with one another; in holding that middle course which admits of our being
just without being rigid, and allows us to be generous without being
unjust. May all the citizens of America be found in the performance of
such social duties as will secure them peace and happiness in this world,
and in the world to come life everlasting!”
PERFECTIONISTS.