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THE BOOK of MORMON”
AN ACCOUNT OF ITS ORIGIN, WITH EVIDENCES OF
ITS GENUIN ENESS AND AUTHENTICITY.
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T VVO LECT U Hv E. S
DR. JAMES E. TALMAGE.
PREPARED BY APPOINTMENT: AND PUBLISHED BY THE
CHUHCH, OF, JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER–DAY SAINTS.
THE DESERET NEWS.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTA H.





1899.
“THE BOOK of MORMON”
AN ACCOUNT OF ITS ORIGIN, WITH EVIDENCES OF
ITS GIFNUINENESS AND AUTHENTICITY.
TVVO LECT U RES
\
BY *
. Nº
§ *
DR. JAMES E}TALMAGE.
PREPARED BY APPOINTMENT: AND PUBLISHED BY THE
CHURCH, OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
THE DESERET NEws,
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH,
1899.
COPYRIGHTED,
As Lectures XIV and XV, in “THE ARTICLES OF FAITH;” published by
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1899.
Tº X
3 & 2, 7
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PREFATORY.
The matter presented in the following pages is pub-
lished as Lectures XIV and XV, in the series entitled “The
Articles of Faith,” dealing with the principal doctrines of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, prepared
and delivered by Dr. James E. Talmage, and published by
the Church, 1899. The two Lectures are presented in this
separate form for the use and benefit of investigators and
students, who desire to learn something of the most noted
and characteristic volume among the Standard Works of
the Church.
From the “Articles of Faith” of the Church of Jesus Christ,
of Latter-Day Saints:
Article 8:-‘‘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.”
*
“THE BOOK OF MORMON.”
*
LECTURE I.
DESCRIPTION AND ORIGIN.
1. What is the Book of Mormon?—The claims made for
the Book of Mormon affirm it to be a divinely inspired rec-
ord, made by the prophets of the ancient peoples who inhab-
ited the American continent for centuries before and imme-
diately after the time of Christ; which record has been
translated in the present generation through the gift of
God and by His special appointment. The authorized and
inspired translator of these sacred scriptures, through whose
instrumentality they have been given to the world in mod-
ern language, is Joseph Smith, whose first acquaintance with
the plates was mentioned in a preceding lecture." As stated,
on the 21st of September, 1823, Joseph Smith received, in
answer to fervent prayer, a visitation from an angelic
personage, who gave his name as Moroni; subsequent rev-
elations showed him to be the last of a long line of prophets
whose translated writings constitute the Book of Mormon;
by him the ancient records had been closed; by him the
graven plates had been deposited in the earth; and through
his ministration they were brought into the possession of
the modern prophet and seer whose work of translation is
now before us.
2. On the occasion of Moroni’s first visit to Joseph
Smith, the angelic visitor declared the existence of the
record, which, he said, was engraved on plates of gold,
a See No. 1 of the Lectures on “The Articles of Faith;” published by the
Church, Salt Lake City, 1899.
6 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
at that time lying buried in the side of a hill near Joseph's
home. The hill, which was known by one division of the
ancient peoples as Cumorah, by another as Ramah, is situ-
ated near Palmyra in the county of Wayne, State of New
York. The precise spot where the plates lay was shown to
Joseph in vision; and he had no difficulty in finding it on
the day following the visitation referred to. Joseph's state-
ment of Moroni’s declaration concerning the plates is as fol-
lows:—“He said there was a book deposited, written upon
gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of
this continent, and the source from which they sprang.
He also said that the fulness of the everlasting gospel was
contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient
inhabitants. Also, that there were two stones in silver bows,
(and these stones, fastened to a breast-plate, constituted
what is called the Urim and Thummim), deposited with the
plates; and the possession and use of these stones was what
constituted Seers in ancient or former times; and that God
had prepared them for the purpose of translating the
book.”
3. Joseph found a large stone at the indicated spot on
thé hill Cumorah; beneath the stone was a box, also of
stone; the lid of this he raised by means of a lever; then he
saw within the box the plates, and the breastplate with the
Urim and Thummim, as described by the angel. As he was
about to remove the contents of the box, Moroni again ap-
peared before him, and forbade him taking the sacred things
at that time, saying that four years must pass before they
would be committed to his personal care; and that in the
meantime, Joseph would be required to visit the place at
yearly intervals; this the youthful revelator did, receiving
on each occasion additional instruction concerning the
record and God’s purposes with it. On the 22nd of Septem-
b Pearl of Great Price, p. 94 (1888 ed.)
DESCRIPTION AND ORIGIN. 7
ber, 1827, Joseph received from the angel Moroni, the
plates, and the Urim and Thummim with the breastplate.
He was instructed to guard them with strict care, and was
promised that if he used his best efforts to protect them,
they would be preserved inviolate in his hands; and that on
the completion of the labor of translation, Moroni would
visit him again, and receive the plates.
4. The reason prompting the angelic caution regarding
Joseph’s care of the treasures soon appeared; thrice in the
course of his brief journey homeward with the sacred relics,
he was attacked; but by Divine aid he was enabled to with-
stand his assailants; and finally reached his home with the
plates and other articles unharmed. These attacks were but
the beginning of a siege of persecution which was relent-
lessly waged against him by the powers of evil as long as the
plates remained in his custody. News that he had the
golden record in his possession soon spread; and numerous
attempts, many of them violent, were made to wrest the
plates from his hands. But they were preserved; and,
slowly, with many hindrances incident to persecution by
the wicked, and to the conditions of his own poverty which
made it necessary for him to toil and left little leisure for
the appointed labor, Joseph proceeded with the translation;
and in 1830, the Book of Mormon was first published to the
world.
5. The Title Page of the Book of Mormon:-Our best
answer to the question: What is the Book of Mormon? is
found on the title page to the volume. Thereon we read:
“The Book of Mormon: an account written by the hand of
Mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of Nephi.
Wherefore it is an abridgment of the record of the people of
Nephi, and also of the Lamanites; written to the Lamanites
who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew
and Gentile: written by way of commandment, and also by
8 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
the spirit of prophecy and of revelation. Written and
sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not
be destroyed; to come forth by the gift and power of God
unto the interpretation thereof: sealed by the hand of
Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due
time by the way of Gentile; the interpretation thereof by
the gift of God. -
“An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also;
which is a record of the people of Jared; who were scattered
at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people
when they were building a tower to get to heaven;
which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel
what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and
that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they
are not cast off forever; and also to the convincing of the
Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God,
manifesting Himself unto all nations. And now, if there
are faults, they are the mistakes of men: wherefore condemn
not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at
the judgment seat of Christ.”
This combined title and preface is a translation from the
last page of the plates, and was presumably written by
Moroni, who, as before stated, sealed and hid up the book
in former days.” *
6. Main Divisions of the Book:-From the title page, we
learn that in the Book of Mormon we have to deal with the
histories of two great nations, who flourished in America as
the descendants of small colonies brought hither from the
eastern continent by Divine direction. Of these we may
conveniently speak as the Nephites and the Jaredites.
7. The Nephite Nation was the later, and in point of the
fulness of the records, the more important. The progen-
itors of this nation were led from Jerusalem 600 B. C., by
Lehi, a Jewish prophet of the tribe of Manasseh. His im-
mediate family, at the time of their departure from Jerusa-
lem, comprised his wife Sariah, and their sons Laman,
c See note 1, p. 22.
DESCRIPTION AND ORIGIN. 9
Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi; at a later stage of the history,
daughters are mentioned, but whether any of these were
born before the family exodus we are not told. Beside his
own family, the colony of Lehi included Zoram, and Ish-
mael, the latter an Israelite of the tribe of Ephraim. Ish-
mael, with his family, joined Lehi in the wilderness; and
his descendants were numbered with the nation of whom
we are speaking. The company journeyed somewhat east
of south, keeping near the borders of the Red Sea; then,
changing their course to the eastward, crossed the penin-
sula of Arabia; and there on the shores of the Arabian Sea,
built and provisioned a vessel in which they committed
themselves to Divine care upon the waters. Their voyage
carried them eastward across the Indian Ocean, then over
the south Pacific Ocean to the western coast of South
America, whereon they landed (590 B. C.) probably some-
where near the site of the present city of Valparaiso in
Chile.
8. The people established themselves on what to them
was the land of promise; many children were born, and in
the course of a few generations a numerous posterity held
possession of the land. After the death of Lehi, a division
occurred, some of the people accepting as their leader,
Nephi, who had been duly appointed to the prophetic office;
while the rest proclaimed Laman, the eldest of Lehi's
sons, as their chief. Henceforth the divided people were
known as Nephites and Lamanites respectively. At times
they observed toward each other fairly friendly relations;
but generally they were opposed, the Lamanites manifesting
implacable hatred and hostility toward their Nephite kin-
dred. The Nephites advanced in the arts of civilization,
built large cities, and established prosperous common-
wealths; yet they often fell into transgression; and the
Lord chastened them by making their foes victorious. They
10 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
spread northward, occupying the northern part of South
America; then, crossing the Isthmus, they extended their
domain over the southern, central, and eastern portions of
what is now the United States of America. The Lamanites,
while increasing in numbers, fell under the curse of dark-
ness; they became dark in skin and benighted in spirit,
forgot the God of their fathers, lived a wild nomadic life,
and degenerated into the fallen state in which the American
Indians,—their lineal descendants, were found by those
who re-discovered the western continent in later times.
9. The final struggles between Nephites and La-
manites were waged in the vicinity of the hill Cumorah,
in what is now the state of New York, resulting in the
entire destruction of the Nephites, about 400 A. D. The last
Nephite representative was Moroni, who, wandering for
safety from place to place, daily expecting death from the
victorious Lamanites who had decreed the absolute extinc-
tion of their white kindred, wrote the concluding parts of
the Book of Mormon, hid the record in Cumorah, and
soon there-after died. It was this same Moroni, who, as a
resurrected being, gave the records into the hands of Joseph
Smith in the present dispensation.
10. The Jaredite Nation:-Of the two nations whose
histories constitute the Book of Mormon, the first in order
of time consisted of the people of Jared, who followed their
leader from the Tower of Babel at the time of the confusion
of tongues. Their history was written on twenty-four
plates of gold, by Ether the last of their prophets, who,
fore-seeing the destruction of his people because of their
wickedness, hid away the historical plates. They were
afterward found, B. C. 123, by an expedition sent out by
King Limhi, a Nephite ruler. The record engraved on
these plates was subsequently abridged by Moroni, and the
condensed account was attached by him to the Book of
DESCRIPTION AND ORIGIN. 11
Mormon record; it appears in the modern translation under
the name of the Book of Ether.
11. The first and chief prophet of the Jaredites is not
mentioned by name in the record as we have it; he is known
only as the brother of Jared. Of the people, we learn that
amid the confusion of Babel, Jared and his brother im-
portuned the Lord that He would spare them and their
associates from the impending disruption. Their prayer
was heard, and the Lord led them with a considerable com-
pany, who, like themselves, were free from the taint of
idolatry, away from their homes, promising to conduct them
to a land choice above all other lands. Their course of
travel is not given with exactness; we learn only that they
reached the ocean, and there constructed eight vessels,
called barges, in which they set out upon the waters. These
vessels were small and dark within; but the Lord made
luminous certain stones, which gave light to the imprisoned
voyagers. After a passage of three hundred and forty-four
days, the colony landed on the western shore of North
America, probably at a place south of the Gulf of California,
and north of the Isthmus of Panama.
12. Here they became a flourishing nation; but, giving
way in time to internal dissensions, they divided into fac-
tions, which warred with one another until the people were
totally destroyed. This destruction, which occurred near
the hill Ramah, afterward known among the Nephites as
Cumorah, probably took place at about the time of Lehi's
landing in South America, 590 B.C. The last representa-
tive of the ill-fated race was Coriantumr, the former king,
concerning whom Ether had prophesied that he should
survive all his subjects, and live to see another people in
possession of the land. This prediction was fulfilled in that
the king, whose people had become extinct, came, in the
course of his solitary wanderings, to a region occupied by
12 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
the people of Mulek, who are to be mentioned here as the
third ancient colony of emigrants from the eastern continent.
13. Mulek, we are told, was the son of Zedekiah king of
Judah, an infant at the time of his brothers’ violent deaths
and his father's cruel torture at the hands of the king of .
Babylon.” Eleven years after Lehi's departure from Jeru-
salem, another colony was led from the city, amongst whom
was Mulek. His name has been given to the people, prob-
ably on account of his recognized rights of leadership by
virtue of his lineage. The Book of Mormon record con-
cerning Mulek and his people is scanty; we learn, however,
that the colony was brought across the waters, to a landing
on the northern part of the continent. The descendants of
this colony were discovered by the Nephites under Mosiah;
they had grown numerous, but, having had no scriptures for
their guidance, had fallen into a condition of spiritual dark-
ness. They joined the Nephites, and their history is
merged into that of the greater nation.” The Nephites
gave to North America the name, Land of Mulek.
THE ANCIENT PLATES AND THE MODERN TRAN'S LATION.
14. The Plates of the Book of Mormon as delivered by
the angel Moroni to Joseph Smith, according to the descrip-
tion given by the modern prophet, were of gold, of uniform
size, each about seven inches wide by eight inches long; in
thickness, a little less than ordinary sheet tin; they were
fastened together by three rings running through the plates
near one edge; together they formed a book nearly six
inches in thickness, but not all has been translated, a part
being sealed. Both sides of the plates were engraved with
small and beautiful characters, described by those who ex-
sº
d See II PCings xxv, 7.
e Omni i, 12-19.
THE PLATES. 13
amined them as of curious workmanship, with the appear-
ance of ancient origin. -
15. Three classes of plates are mentioned on the title
page of the Book of Mormon, viz:—
(1.) The Plates of Nephi; which, as will be shown, were
of two kinds:–(a) the larger plates; (b) the smaller plates.
(2.) The Plates of Mormon, containing an abridgment
from the plates of Nephi, with additions made by Mormon
and his son Moroni.
(3.) The Plates of Ether, containing as we have seen,
the history of the Jaredites.
To these may be added another set of plates, as being
mentioned in the Book of Mormon, viz:
(4.) The Brass Plates of Laban, brought by Lehi's
people from Jerusalem, and containing Jewish scriptures
and genealogies; many extracts from which appear in the
Nephite records. We have now to consider more particu-
larly the plates of Nephi, and Mormon’s abridgment thereof.
16. The Plates of Nephi are so named from the fact that
they were prepared, and their record was begun, by Nephi,
the son of Lehi. These plates were of two kinds," which
may be distinguished as the “larger plates,” and the
“smaller plates.” Nephi began his labors as a recorder by
engraving on plates of gold a historical account of his
people, from the time his father left Jerusalem. This
account recited the story of their wanderings, their pros-
perity, and their distress, the reigns of their kings, and the
wars and contentions of the people; the record was in the
nature of a secular history. These plates were handed
from one recorder to another throughout the generations of
the Nephite people; so that at the time they were abridged
by Mormon, the record covered a period of about a thou-
sand years, dating from 600 B. C., the time of Lehi's
f I Nephi ix: xix, 1–5; II Nephi v, 30; Jacob i. 1-4; Words of Mormon i, 3–7.
14 TELE BOOK OF MORM ON.
exodus from Jerusalem. Although these plates bore the
name of their maker, who was also the first of the writers,
the separate work of each recorder is known in general by
his specific name, so that the record is made up of many
distinct books.
17. By command of the Lord, Nephi made other plates,
upon which he recorded particularly the ecclesiastical his-
tory of his people, citing only such instances of other events
as seemed necessary to the proper sequence of the narrative.
“I have received a commandment of the Lord,” says Nephi,
“that I should make these plates for the special purpose
that there should be an account engraven of the ministry of
my people.” The object of this double line of history was
unknown to Nephi, it was enough for him that the Lord
required the labor; that it was for a wise purpose will be
shown. *
18. Mormon's Abridgment:-In the course of time, the
records that had accumulated as the history of the people
grew, fell into the hands of Mormon," and he undertook to
make an abridgment of these extensive works, upon plates
made with his own hands.” By such a course, a record was
prepared more concise and more nearly uniform in style,
language, and treatment, than could possibly be the case
with the varied writings of so many authors as had contrib-
uted to the great history during the thousand years of its
growth. Mormon recognizes and testifies to the inspiration
of God by which he was moved to undertake the great
labor.” In preparing this shorter history, Mormon preserved
the same division of the record into books according to the
arrangement of the originals; and thus, though the lan-
guage may be that of Mormon, except in cases of quotations
g I Nephi ix, 3.
h, Words of Mormon i, 11; Mormon i, 1-4; iv, 23.
ă III Nephi v, 8-11.
j III Nephiv, 14419.
THE PLATES. 15
from the plates of Nephi, which are indeed numerous, we
find the Books of Nephi, the Book of Alma, the Book of
Helaman, etc., the form of speech known as the first person
being generally preserved.
19. When Mormon, in the course of his abridgment, had
reached the time of King Benjamin’s reign, he was deeply
impressed with the record engraved on the smaller plates of
Nephi,~the history of God’s dealings with the people
during the period of about four centuries, extending from
the time of Lehi's exodus from Jerusalem down to the time
of King Benjamin. This record, comprising so much of
prophecy concerning the mission of the Savior, was regarded
by Mormon with more than ordinary favor. Of these plates
he attempted no transcript, but included the originals with
his own abridgment of the larger plates, making of the
two one book. The record as compiled by Mormon, con-
tained, therefore, a double account of the descendants of
Lehi for the first four hundred years of their history, the
brief secular history condensed from the larger plates, and
the full text on the smaller plates. In solemn language, and
with an emphasis which subsequent events have shown to be
significant, Mormon declares the hidden wisdom of the
Divine purpose in this duplication:—“And I do this for a
wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the
workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And
now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all
things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to
do according to his will.” -
20. The Lord's Purpose in the matter of preparing and of
preserving the smaller plates as testified of by Mormon, and
also by Nephi,’ is rendered plain from certain circumstances
in this dispensation attending the translation of the rec-
k Words of Mormon i, 7.
! I Nephi ix, 5.
16 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
ords by Joseph Smith. When the prophet had prepared a
translation of the first part of the writings of Mormon, the
manuscript was won from his care through the unrighteous
solicitations of Martin Harris, to whom he considered him-
self in a degree indebted for fianancial assistance in the
work of publication. This manuscript, in all 116 pages,
was never returned to Joseph, but, through the dark
schemes of evil powers, it fell into the hands of enemies,
who straightway laid a wicked plan to ridiculé the transla-
tor, and thwart the purposes of God. This evil design was
that they wait until Joseph had re-translated the missing
matter, when the stolen manuscript, which in the meantime
had been altered so that the words were made to express the
contrary from the true record, would be set forth as a proof
that the prophet was unable to translate the same passages
twice alike. But the Lord’s wisdom interposed to bring to
naught these dark designs.
21. Having chastened the Prophet by depriving him for
a season of his gift to translate, as also of the custody of
the sacred records, and this for his dereliction in permitting
the writings to pass into unappointed hands, the Lord
graciously restored His penitent servant to favor, and re-
vealed to him the designs of his enemies;" at the same time
showing how these evil machinations should be made to fail.
Joseph was instructed, therefore, not to attempt a re-transla-
tion of that part of Mormon’s abridgment, the first transla-
tion of which had been stolen; but instead, to translate the
record of the same events from the plates of Nephi,-the set
of smaller plates which Mormon had incorporated with his
own writings. The translation so made was therefore pub-
lished as the record of Nephi, and not as the writing of
Mormon; and thus no second translation was made of the
parts from which the stolen manuscript had been prepared.
7m Doctrine and CovenantS, X.
ITS TRAN SLATION. 17
22. The Translation of the Book of Mormon was effected
through the power of God manifested in the bestowal of the
gift of revelation. The book professes not to be dependent
upon the wisdom or learning of man; its translator was not
versed in linguistics; his qualifications were of a different
and of a far more efficient order. With the plates, Joseph
Smith received from the angel other sacred treasures, in-
cluding a breastplate, to which were attached the Urim and
Thummim,” called by the Nephites, Interpreters; and by the
use of these he was enabled to render the ancient records in
our modern tongue. The details of the work of translation
have not been recorded, beyond the statement that the
translator examined the engraved characters by means of
the sacred instruments, and then dictated to the scribe the
|Bnglish sentences.
23, Joseph began his work with the plates by patiently
copying a number of characters, adding to some of the pages
thus prepared, the translations. The prophet's first assist-
ant in the labor, Martin Harris, obtained permission to take
away some of these transcripts, with the purpose of sub-
mitting them to the examination of men learned in ancient
languages. He placed some of the sheets before Professor
Charles Anthon, of Columbia College, who, after careful
examination, certified that the characters were in general of
the ancient Egyptian order, and that the accompanying
translations appeared to be correct. Hearing how this
ancient record came into Joseph’s hands, Professor Anthon
requested Mr. Harris to bring the original book for examina-
tion, stating that he would undertake the translation of the
entire work; then, learning that a part of the book was sealed,
he remarked, “I cannot read a sealed book;” and thus un-
wittingly did this man fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah concern-
ing the coming forth of the volume:–“And the vision of all
n Doc. and Cov. x, 1; xvii, 1 ; czXx, 8, 9; Mos. viii, 13-19; Ether iii, 23-28.
2
18 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed,
which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, read
this, I pray thee, and he saith, I cannot, for it is sealed.” An-
other linguist, a Dr. Mitchell, of New York, having exam-
ined the characters, gave concerning them a testimony in all
important respects corresponding to that of Prof. Anthon.
24. Arrangement of the Book of Mormon:-The Book of
Mormon comprises fifteen separate parts, commonly called
books, distinguished by the names of their principal authors.
Of these, the first six books, viz., I and II Nephi, Jacob,
Enos, Jarom, and Omni, are literal translations from corre-
sponding portions of the smaller plates of Nephi. The
body of the volume, from the Book of Mosiah to Mormon,
chapter vii, inclusive, is the translation of Mormon's
abridgment of the larger plates of Nephi. Between the
books of Jarom and Mosiah, “The Words of Mormon”
occur, connecting the record of Nephi as engraved on the
smaller plates, with Mormon’s abridgment of the larger
plates for the periods following. The Words of Mormon
may be regarded as a brief explanation of the preceding
portions of the work, and an announcement of the parts
then to follow. The last part of the Book of Mormon,
from the beginning of Mormon viii, to the end of the
volume, is in the language of Moroni, the son of Mormon,
who first proceeds to finish the record of his father, and then
adds an abridgment of a set of plates which contained an
account of the Jaredites; this appears as the Book of Ether.
25. At the time of Moroni’s writing, he stood alone,—
the sole surviving representative of his people. The last of
the terrible wars between Nephites and Lamanites had
resulted in the annihilation of the former as a people; and
Moroni supposed that his abridgment of the Book of Ether
would be his last literary work; but, finding himself mirac-
a Isaiah xxix, 11
ITS GIFNUIN ENIESS. w 19
ulously preserved at the conclusion of that undertaking, he
added the parts known to us as the Book of Moroni, con-
taining accounts of the ceremonies of ordination, baptism,
administration of the sacrament, etc., and a record of cer-
tain utterances and writings of his father Mormon.
THE GENUIN ENESS OF THE BOOK OF MORMON.
26. The earnest student of the Book of Mormon will be
most concerned in his consideration of the reliability of the
great record; and this subject may be conveniently consid-
ered under two headings: 1st, the genuineness and integ-
rity of the Book of Mormon, i. e., the evidence that the
book is what it professes to be, an actual translation of
ancient records; 2nd, the authenticity of the original writ-
ings, as shown by internal and external evidence.
27. The Genuineness of the Book will appear to anyone
who undertakes an impartial investigation into the circum-
stances attending its coming forth. The many so-called
theories of its origin, advanced by prejudiced opponents to
the work of God, are in general too inconsistent, and in
most instances too thoroughly puerile, to merit serious con-
sideration. Such fancies as are set forth in representations
of the Book of Mormon as the production of a single author
or of men working in collusion, as a work of fiction, or in
any manner as a modern composition, are their own refuta-
tion.” The sacred character of the plates forbade their dis-
play as a means of gratifying personal curiosity; nevertheless
a number of reputable witnesses examined them, and these
men have given to the world their solemn testimony of the
fact. In June, 1829, the prophecies respecting the wit-
nesses by whose testimony the word of God as set forth
in the Book of Mormon was to be established,” saw its
mºmºmºmºmºs ºmºmºm.
O See Note 2.
p II Nephi xi, 3; xxvii, 12-13; Ether v, 3-4; see also Doc. and Cov. v., 11-15;
xvii, 1-9.
20 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
fulfilment in a manifestation of Divine power, demonstrating
the genuineness of the record to three men, whose affirma-
tions accompany all editions of the book.
28. The Testimony of Three Witnesses:–Be it known
unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people unto whom
this work shall come, that we, through the grace of God
the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates
which contain this record, which is a record of the people
of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and
also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of
which hath been spoken; and we also know that they have
been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice
hath declared it unto us,” wherefore we know of a surety
that the work is true. And we also testify that we have
seen the engravings" which are upon the plates; and they have
been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man.
And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of
God came down from heaven,” and he brought and laid be-
fore our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the
engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of
God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld
and bear record that these things are true; and it is mar-
welous in our eyes, nevertheless the voice of the Lord com-
manded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to
be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testi-
mony of these things. And we know that if we are faithful
in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all
men, and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of
Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens.
And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
OLIVER Cow DERY,
DAVID WHITMER,
MARTIN HARRIS.
29. The testimony so declared was never revoked, or even
modified by any one of the witnesses whose names are sub-
- *-
g Doc. and Cov. xvii, 6; xx, 8.
* II Nephi V, 32; Alma lxiii, 12; Mormon i, 3.
& See History of Joseph Smith, June, 1829.
ITS GIENTUINENESS. 21
scribed to the foregoing,” though all of them withdrew
from the Church, and indulged in feelings amounting
almost to hatred toward Joseph Smith. To the last of their
lives, they maintained the same solemn declaration of the
angelic visit, and the testimony that had been implanted in
their hearts. Shortly after the witnessing of the plates by
the three, other eight persons were permitted to see and
handle the ancient records; and in this also was prophecy
fulfilled, in that it was of old declared, that beside the
three, “God sendeth more witnesses,” whose testimony
shall be added to that of the three. It was presumably
in July, 1829, that Joseph Smith showed the plates to the
eight whose names are attached to the following certificate.
30. The Testimony of Eight Witnesses:–Be it known
unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people unto whom
this work shall come, that Joseph Smith, Jun., the trans-
lator of this work, has shown unto us the plates of which
hath been spoken, which have the appearance of gold; and
as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated, we
did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings
thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work,
and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record with
words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us,
for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety that the
said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken.
And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the
world that which we have seen; and we lie not, God bearing
witness of it.
CHRISTIAN WHITMER, HIRAM PAGE,
JACOB WHITMER, JOSEPH SMITH, SEN.,
PETER WHITMER, JUN., HYRUM SMITH,
JoBN WHITMER, SAMUEL H. SMITH.
31. Three of the eight witnesses died out of the Church,
yet not one of the whole number ever was known to deny
& See Note 3.
w II Nephi xi, 3
22 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
his testimony concerning the Book of Mormon.” Here
then are proofs of varied kinds regarding the reliability of
this volume. Learned linguists pronounce the characters
genuine; eleven men of honest report make solemn oath of
the appearance of the plates; and the nature of the book
itself sustains the claim that it is nothing more nor less than
a translation of ancient records.
NOTES.
1. Book of Mormon Title Page:—“I wish to mention here that the title
page of the Book of Mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last
leaf on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates, which contained the
record Which has been translated, the language of the Whole running the same
a.S all Hebrew Writing in general; and that said title page is not by any means a
modern composition, either of mine or any other man who has lived or does live
in this generation.”—Joseph Smith.
2. Theories concerning the Origin of the Book of Mormon: The
Spaulding Story:—The true account of the origin of the Book of Mormon
was rejected by the public in general, who thus assumed the responsibility of
eXplaining in some plausible way the Source of the record. Many vague theories,
based on the incredible assumption that the book was the work of a single
author, were put forward; of these, the most famous, and, indeed, the only one
that lived long enough in public favor to be discussed, is the so-called “Spauld-
ing Story.” Solomon Spaulding, a clergyman of Amity, Pa., wrote a romance, to
which no title other than “Manuscript Story” was prefixed. Twenty years after
the author’s death, One Hurlburt, an apostate from the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, announced a resemblance between the story and the Book of
Mormon, and expressed his conviction that the work presented to the world by
Joseph Smith was nothing, but Spaulding's romance revised and amplified. The
manuscript was lost for a time, and, in the absence of proof to the contrary,
stories of the parallelism between the two works multiplied. But, by a fortu-
nate circumstance, in 1884, President James H. Fairchild of Oberlin College,
Ohio, and a literary friend, one Mr. Rice, in examining a heterogeneous collec-
tion of old papers that had been purchased by Mr. Rice, found the original story.
The gentlemen made a careful comparison of the manuscript and the Book of
Mormon; and, with the sole desire of subserving the purposes of truth, made
public their results. Pres. Fairchild published an article in the Wew York
Observer, Feb. 5, 1885, in which he said:—“The theory of the origin of the Book
of Mormon in the traditional manuscript of Solomon Spaulding will probably
have to be relinquished. * * * Mr. Rice, myself and others compared it [the
Spaulding manuscript] with the Book of Mormon and could detect no resem-
blance between the two. * * * Some other explanation of the Book of Mormon
must be found, if any explanation is required.”
grº-mºm amm-m.
2) See Note 4.
NOTES. 23
The manuscript was deposited in the library of Oberlin College where it now ,
reposes. Still, the theory of the “Manuscript Found,” as Spaulding’s story has
Come to be known, is occasionally pressed into Service in the cause of anti-‘‘Mor-
mon” zeal, by some whom we will charitably believe to be ignorant of the facts
Set forth by Pres. Fairchild. A letter of more recent date, written by that
honorable gentleman in reply to an enquiring correspondent, was published in
the Millennial Star, Liverpool, Nov. 3, 1898, and is as follows:
OBERLIN COLLEGE, OHIO,
October 17, 1895.
J. R. Hindley, Esq.,
DEAR SIR:—We have in our College Library,an original manuscript. Of Solomon
Spaulding—unguestionably genuine.
I found it in 1884 in the hands of Hon. L. L. Rice of Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands.
He was formerly State Printer at Columbus, O., and before that, publisher of a
paper in Painesville, whose preceding publisher had visited Mrs. Spaulding and
obtained the manuscript from her. It had lain among his old papers forty years
or more, and was brought out by my asking him to look up anti-Slavery docu-
ments among his papers.
The manuscript has upon it the signatures of several men of Conneaut, O.,
who had heard Spaulding read it and knew it to be his. No One can See it and
question its genuineness. The manuscript has been printed twice at least—
once by the Mormons of Salt Lake City, and once by the Josephite Mormons of
Iowa. The Utah Mormons obtained the copy of Mr. Rice at IBonolulu, and the
Josephites got it of me after it came into my possession.
This manuscript is not the original of the Book of Mormon.
Yours very truly,
JAS. H. FAIRCHILD.
Printed copies, of the “Manuscript Found” are obtainable, and any enquirer
may examine for himself. For further information see “The Myth of the
Manuscript Found” by Elder George Reynolds, Salt Lake City; Whitney’s
History of Utah, Vol. I, pp. 46–56; Elder George Reynolds’ preface to the story as
issued by the Deseret News Company, Salt Lake City, 1886; and the story itself.
3. The Three Witnesses:–Oliver Cowdery;-Born at Wells, Rutland Co.,
Vermont, October, 1805; baptized May 15, 1829; died at Richmond, Mo., March 3,
1850.
David Whitmer:—Born near Harrisburg, Pa., January 7, 1805; baptized June,
1829; excommunicated from the Church, April 13, 1838; died at Richmond, Mo.,
January 25, 1888.
Martin Harris:–Born at East-town, Saratoga Co., New York, May 18, 1783;
baptized 1830; removed to Utah, August, 1870, and died at Clarkston, Cache Co.,
Utah, July 10, 1875.
4. The Eight Witnesses:–Christian Whitmer: —Born January 18, 1798;
baptized April 11, 1830; died in full fellowship in the Church, Clay County, Mis-
souri, November 27, 1835. He was the eldest son of Peter Whitmer. . .
Jacob Whitmer:—Second son of Peter Whitmer; born in Pennsylvania,
January 27, 1800; baptized April, 11, 1830; died April 21, 1856, having previously
Withdrawn from the Church.
24 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
Peter Whitmer, Jr.:—Born September 27, 1809; fifth son of Peter Whitmer;
baptized June, 1829; died a faithful member of the Church, at or near Liberty,
Clay Co., Missouri, September 22, 1836.
John Whitmer:—Third son of Peter Whitmer; born August 27, 1802; bap-
tized June, 1829; excommunicated from the Church March 10, 1838; died at Far
West, Missouri, July 11, 1878.
Hiram Page:—Born in Vermont, 1800; baptized April 11, 1830; withdrew from
the Church, 1838; died in Ray Co., Missouri, August 12, 1852.
Joseph Smith, Sen.:—The Prophet Joseph’s father; born at Topsfield, Essex
Co., Mass., July 12, 1771; baptized April 6, 1830; ordained Patriarch to the
Church, December 18, 1833; died in full fellowship in the Church at Nauvoo, Ill.,
Sept. 14, 1840.
Hyrum Smith:–Second son of Joseph Smith, Sen., born at Tunbridge, Vt.
February 9, 1800; baptized June, 1829; appointed one of the First Presidency of
the Church November 7, 1837; Patriarch to the Church January 19, 1841; mar-
tyred with his brother, the Prophet, at Carthage, Ill., June 27, 1844.
Samuel Harrison Smith:—Born Tunbridge, Vt., March 13, 1808; fourth son of
Joseph Smith, Sen., baptized May 15, 1829; died July 30, 1844.
ITS Alu THENTICITY. 25
LECTURE II.
AUTHIENTICITY OF THE BOOK OF MORMON.
1. The Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon con-
stitutes our most important consideration of the work. This
subject is one of vital interest to every earnest investigator
of the ways of God, to every sincere searcher after truth.
Claiming to be, as far as the present dispensation is con-
concerned, a new scripture; presenting prophecies and reve-
lations not heretofore recognized in modern theology; an-
nouncing to the world the message of a departed people;
written by way of commandment, and by the spirit of
prophecy and revelation; this volume is entitled to the most
thorough and impartial examination. Nay, more, not alone
does the Book of Mormon merit such consideration, it
claims, even demands the same; for surely no one professing
the most cursory belief in the power and authority of God
can receive with unconcern the announcement of a new
commandment, having the seal of Divine authority upon it.
The question of the authenticity of the Book of Mormon is
therefore one in which the world is interested.
2. The Latter-day Saints base their belief in the authen-
ticity and genuineness of the book on the following proofs:—
I. The general agreement of the Book of Mormon with
the Bible.
II. The fulfilment of ancient prophecies accomplished
by the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon.
III. The strict agreement and consistency of the Book
of Mormon with itself.
26 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
IV. The evident truth of its contained prophecies.
To these may be added certain external, or extra-scriptural
evidences, amongst which are:—
V. The strongly corroborative evidence furnished by
modern discoveries in the field of archeological and ethno-
logical science.
I. THE BOOK OF MORMON AND THE BIBLE.
3. The Nephite and the Jewish Scriptures are found to
agree in all matters of tradition, history, doctrine, and
prophecy upon which both the separate records treat. These
two volumes of scripture were prepared on opposite hemi-
spheres, under conditions and circumstances widely diverse;
yet between them there exists a surprising harmony, con-
firmatory of Divine inspiration in both. The Book of
Mormon contains a number of quotations from the ancient
Jewish scriptures, a copy of which, as far as they had been
compiled at the time of Lehi's exodus from Jerusalem, was
brought to the western continent, as part of the record en-
graved on the plates of Laban. In the case of such pas-
sages, there is no essential difference between Bible and
Book of Mormon versions, except in instances of probable
error in translation,-usually apparent through inconsist-
ency or lack of clearness in the biblical reading. There
are, however, numerous minor variations in corresponding
parts of the two volumes; and between such, examination
usually demonstrates the superior perspicuity of the Nephite
scripture.
4. In a careful comparison of the prophecies of the Bible
with corresponding predictions contained in the Book of
Mormon, e. g. those relating to the birth, earthly ministry,
sacrificial death, and second coming of Christ Jesus; others
ITS ALTHENTICITY. 27
jºr
referring to the scattering and subsequent gathering of
Israel; and such as relate to the establishment of Zion and
the re-building of Jerusalem in the last days, each of the
records will be seen to be corroborative of the other. True,
there are many predictions in one which are not found in
the other; but in no instance has a contradiction or an in-
consistency between the two been pointed out. Between the
doctrinal parts of the two volumes of scripture the same
perfect harmony is found to prevail.
5. Of the agreement of the Book of Mormon with the
Bible and with other standards of comparison, Apostle
Orson Pratt has forcefully and truthfully written:-“If the
miracles of the Book of Mormon be compared with the mir-
acles of the Bible, there cannot be found in the former any-
thing that would be more difficult to believe, than what we
find in the latter. If we compare the historical, prophet-
ical, and doctrinal parts of the Book of Mormon with the
great truths of science and nature, we find no contradic-
tions, no absurdities, nothing unreasonable. The most per-
fect harmony, therefore, exists between the great truths
revealed in the Book of Mormon, and all other known
truths, whether religious, historical, or scientific.”
II. AMCIENT PROPHECY REGARDING THE BOOK OF MORMON.
6. Ancient Prophecy has been literally fulfilled in the
coming forth of the Book of Mormon. One of the earliest
prophetic utterances directly bearing upon this subject is
that of Enoch, the ante-diluvian prophet, unto whom the
Lord revealed His purposes for all time. Witnessing in
vision the corruption of mankind, after the ascension of the
Son of Man, Enoch cried unto his God, “Wilt thou not come
again on the earth?” “And the Lord said unto Enoch,
a “Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon,” Orson Pratt's, Works, p. 236,
(1891, Utah ed.)
28 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
As I live, even so will I come in the last days. * * *
And the day shall come that the earth shall rest, but before
that day the heavens shall be darkened, and a veil of dark-
ness shall cover the earth, and the heavens shall shake and
also the earth, and great tribulations shall be among the
children of men; but my people will I preserve, and right-
eousness will I send down out of heaven, and truth will I
send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of Mine Only
Begotten. * * * and righteousness and truth will I
cause to sweep the earth as with a flood to gather out mine
own elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place
which I shall prepare.” The Latter-day Saints regard
the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, together with the
restoration of the Priesthood by the direct ministration of
heavenly messengers, as a fulfilment of this prophecy, and
of similar predictions contained in the Bible.
7. Biblical Prophecies and their Fulfilment:-David, who
sang his psalms over a thousand years before the “Meridian
of Time,” declared, “Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and righteousness shall look down from heaven.” And so
also declared Isaiah.” Ezekiel saw in vision” the coming
together of the stick of Judah, and the stick of Joseph,
signifying, as the Latter-day Saints affirm, the Bible and
the Book of Mormon. The passage last referred to reads,
in the words of Ezekiel:—“The word of the Lord came
again unto me, saying, Moreover, thou son of man, take
thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for 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
b Pearl of Great Price. Writings of Moses, p. 44. (1888 ed.)
C Psalms lxxxv, 11.
d Isa. xlv, 8.
é Ezek. xxxvii, particularly verses 15–20.
ITS ATITHENTICITY. 29
one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in
thine hand.”
8. When we call to mind the ancient custom in the mak-
ing of books,—that of writing on long strips of parchment
and rolling the same on rods or sticks, the use of the word
“stick” as equivalent to “book” in the passage becomes at
once apparent.’ At the time of this utterance, the Israel-
ites had divided into two nations known as the people of
Judah, and that of Israel, or Ephraim. There would seem
to be little room for doubt that the records of Judah and of
Joseph are here referred to.” Now, as we have seen, the
Nephite nation comprised the descendants of Lehi of the
tribe of Manasseh, of Ishmael an Ephraimite, and of Zoram
whose tribal relation is not definitely stated. The Nephites
were then of the tribes of Joseph; and their record or
“stick” is as truly represented by the Book of Mormon as
is the “stick” of Judah by the Bible.
9. That the coming forth of the record of Joseph or
Ephraim is to be accomplished through the direct power of
God is evident from the Lord’s interpretation of the vision
of Ezekiel, wherein He says:—“Behold, I will take the stick
of Joseph * * * and will put them with him, even with
the stick of Judah.” And that this union of the two records
is to be a characteristic of the latter days is evident from the
prediction of an event which is to follow immediately, viz.,
the gathering of the tribes from the nations among which they
had been dispersed.* Comparison with other prophecies re-
lating to the gathering will conclusively prove that the
great event is to take place in the latter times, preparatory
to the second coming of Christ.”
f See a corresponding use of the word “roll” in Jeremiah xxxvi, 1, 2; and its
synonym “book” in verses 8, 10, 11, and 13.
g Compare with Lehi's prediction made to his son Joseph, II Nephi iii, 12.
h Ezek. xxxvii, 19.
i Verse 21.
j See lecture on “Gathering” in connection with Article 10, “Articles of Faith.”
30 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
10. Reverting to the writings of Isaiah, we find that
prophet voicing the Lord’s threatenings against Ariel, or
Jerusalem, “the city where David dwelt.” Ariel was to be
distressed, burdened with heaviness and Sorrow; then the
prophet refers to some people, other than Judah who occupied
Jerusalem, for he makes comparison with the latter, saying
“And it shall be unto me as Ariel.” As to the fate decreed
against this other people we read:—“And thou shalt be
brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy
speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be,
as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and
thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.”
11. Of the fulfilment of these and associated prophecies,
a modern apostle has written:-“These predictions of Isaiah
could not refer to Ariel, or Jerusalem, because their speech
has not been ‘out of the ground,” or “low out of the dust;’
but it refers to the remnant of Joseph who were destroyed
in America upwards of fourteen hundred years ago. The
Book of Mormon describes their downfall, and truly it was
great and terrible. At the crucifixion of Christ, ‘the mul-
titude of their terrible ones,” as Isaiah predicted, ‘became as
chaff that passeth away,’ and it took place as he further
predicts, “at an instant suddenly.' * * * This remnant
of Joseph in their distress and destruction became as Ariel.
As the Roman army lay siege to Ariel, and brought upon
her great distress and sorrow, so did the contending nations
of ancient America bring upon each other the most direful
scenes of blood and carnage. Therefore, the Lord could,
with the greatest propriety, when speaking in reference to
this event, declare that, “It shall be unto me as Ariel.’”
12. Isaiah’s striking prediction that the nation thus
k Isaiah xxix, 4–1'ead verses 1-6.
l Orson Pratt, Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, p. p. 293-294 (Utah ed.
1891). For details of fulfilment of part of the prophecy, see III Nephi viii-1x.
ITS AUTHENTICITY. 31
brought down should “speak out of the ground,” with
speech “low out of the dust” was literally fulfilled in the
bringing forth of the Book of Mormon, the original of which
was taken out of the ground, and the voice of the record is
as that of one speaking from the dust. In continuation of
the same prophecy we read:—“And the vision of all is be-
come unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which
men deliver unto one that is learned, saying, Read this, I
pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And
the book is delivered unto him that is not learned, saying,
Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.”
The fulfilment of this prediction is claimed in the presenta-
tion of the transcript from the plates, “the words of a
book,” not the book itself, to the learned Prof. Anthon,
whose reply almost in the words of the text has been
cited;" and in the delivery of the book itself to the un-
lettered lad, Joseph Smith.
III. CONSISTENCY OF STYLE AND MATTER IN THE BOOK
OF MORMON.
13. The Consistency of the Book of Mormon sustains
belief in its Divine origin. The parts bear evidence of having
been written at different times, and under widely varying
conditions. The style of the component books is in har-
mony with the times and circumstances of their production.
The portions which were transcribed from the plates bearing
Mormon’s abridgment contain numerous interpolations as
comments and explanations of the transcriber; but in the
first six books, which, as already explained, are the verbatim
record of the smaller plates of Nephi, no such interpola-
tions occur. The book maintains strict consistency through-
7m. Isaiah xxix, 11-12.
m. See p. 273-274.
32 THE BOQ K OF MORMON.
out all its parts; no contradictions, no disagreements have
been pointed out.
14. A Marked Diversity of Style characterizes the several
parts.” From what has been said regarding the classes of
plates which constitute the original records of the Book of
Mormon, it is evident that the volume contains the com-
piled writings of a long line of inspired scribes extending
through a thousand years, this time-range being exclusive of
the earlier years of Jaredite history. Unity of style is not
to be expected under such conditions, and indeed, did such
occur, it would be fatal to the claims made for the volume.
IV. TEIE BOOK OF MORMON SUSTAIN ED BY THE FULFIL-
MENT OF ITS CONTAINTED PROPHECIES.
15. Book of Mormon Predictions are numerous and im-
portant. Amongst the most conclusive proofs of the
authenticity of the book is that furnished by the demon-
strated truth of its contained prophecies. Prophecy is
best proved in the light of its own fulfilment. The pre-
dictions contained within the Book of Mormon may be
classed as (a) Prophecies relating to the time covered by
the book itself, the fulfilment of which is recorded therein;
and, (b) Prophecies relating to times beyond the limits of
the history chronicled in the book.
16. Prophecies of the First Class named, the fulfilment
of which is attested by the Book of Mormon record, are of
but minor value as proof of the authenticity of the work;
for, had the book been written according to a plot devised
by man, both prediction and fulfilment would have been
provided for with equal care and ingenuity. Nevertheless,
to the studious and conscientious reader, the genuineness
of the book will be apparent; and the account of the
literal realization of the numerous and varied predictions
O See Note 1.
ITS ALJTEIENTICITY. 33
relating to the fate then future of the people whose history
is given in the record, as also of those concerning the de-
tails of the birth and death of the Savior, and of His
appearing in a resurrected state, must, by their accuracy
and consistency, appeal with force as evidence of inspira-
tion and authority in the record.
17. Prophecies of the Second Class, relating to a time
which to the writers was far future, are numerous and ex-
plicit: many of them have special reference to the last days,
—the dispensation of the fulness of times, and of these,
some have been already strictly accomplished, others are
now in process of actual realization, while yet others are
awaiting fulfilment under specified conditions which seem
now to be rapidly approaching. Among the most remark-
able of the Book of Mormon predictions incident to the last
dispensation are those that relate to its own coming forth
and the effect of its publication amongst mankind. Eze-
kiel’s biblical prophecy concerning the coming together of
the “sticks,” or records, of Judah and of Ephraim has
received attention; consider a like prediction pronounced as
a blessing by Lehi upon the head of his son Joseph, which
couples the prophecy concerning the book with that of the
seer through whose instrumentality the miracle was to be
accomplished:—“But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit
of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth
my word unto the seed of thy loins; and not to the bringing
forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing
them of my word, which shall have already gone forth
among them. Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write;
and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that
which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also
that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of
Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false
doctrines, and laying down of contentions, and establishing
34 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to
the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days; and also to
the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord. And out
of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my
work shall commence among all my people, unto the restor-
ing thee, 0 house of Israel, saith the Lord.” The literal
fulfilment of these utterances in the bringing forth of the
Book of Mormon through Joseph Smith is of itself appar-
ent.
18. Unto Nephi the Lord showed the effect of the new
publication; declaring that in the day of Israel’s gathering,
—plainly then the day of the fulness of times, as attested
by the Jewish scriptures,-the words of the Nephites should
be given to the world, and should “hiss forth unto the ends
of the earth, for a standard” unto the house of Israel; and
that then the Gentiles, forgetting even their debt to the
Jews from whom they have received the Bible in which they
profess such faith, would revile and curse that branch of the
covenant people, and would reject the new scripture, ex-
claiming, “A Bible ! a Bible! we have got a Bible, and there
cannot be any more Bible.” Is this not the burden of the
frenzied objections raised by the Gentile world against the
Book of Mormon, that it is of necessity void because new
revelation is not to be expected?
19. Now, in olden times, two witnesses were required to
establish the truth of any allegation; and, says the Lord
concerning the dual records witnessing of Himself:-“Where-
fore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my
word?' Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a
witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation
like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto
one nation like unto another. And when the two nations
p II Nephi iii, 11-13.
g II Nephi xxix, 3; read the chapter,
EXTERNAL EVIDENCES. 35
shall run together, the testimony of the two nations shall
run together also.”
20. Associated with these predictions of the joint testi-
mony of Jewish and Nephite scriptures, is another prophecy,
the consummation of which is now eagerly awaited by the
faithful. Other scriptures are promised; note this word of
God:—“Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible, ye need
not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye.
suppose that I have not caused more to be written: * *
* * * For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews, and they
shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites, and
they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other
tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and
they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations
of the earth, and they shall write it. And it shall come to
pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and
the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the
Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost
tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the
words of the Nephites and the Jews.”
W. CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE FURNISHED BY MODERN
DISCOVERIES.
21. The Archeology and Ethnology of the western con-
timent contribute valuable corroborative evidence in support
of the Book of Mormon. These sciences are confessedly
unable to explain in any decisive manner the origin of the
native American races; nevertheless, investigation in this
field has yielded some results that are fairly definite, and
with the most important of these the Book of Mormon
account is in general accord. Among the most prominent
7" Verse 8.
8 Verses 10 and 12.
36 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
of the discoveries respecting the aboriginal inhabitants, are
the following:—
I. That America was inhabited in very ancient times,
probably soon after the building of the Tower of Babel.
II. That the continent has been successively occupied
by different peoples, at least by two classes, or so-called
“races” at widely separated periods.
III. That the aboriginal inhabitants came from the east,
probably from Asia, and that the later occupants, or those
of the second period, were closely allied to, if not identical
with, the Israelites.
IV. . That the existing native races of America have
sprung from a common stock.
22. From the outline already given of the historical part
of the Book of Mormon, it is seen that each of these dis-
coveries is fully attested by that record. Thus it is stated
therein:—
I. That America was settled by the Jaredites, who
came direct from the scenes of Babel.
II. That the Jaredites occupied the land for about
eighteen hundred and fifty years, during which time they
spread over a great part of North and South America;
and that at about the time of their extinction (near 590 B.
C.), Lehi and his company came to this continent where
they developed into the segregated nations Nephites and
Lamanites; the former becoming extinct near 385 A. D.,
about a thousand years after Lehi's arrival on these shores;
the latter continuing in a degenerate condition until the
present, being represented by the Indian tribes of today.
III. That Lehi, Ishmael, and Zoram, the progenitors
of both Nephites and Lamanites, were undoubtedly Israel-
ites, Lehi being of the tribe of Manasseh while Ishmael was
an Ephraimite; and that the colony came direct from Jeru-
salem, in Asia.
IV. That the existing Indian tribes are all direct de-
EXTERNAL EVIDENCES. 37
scendants of Lehi and his company, and that therefore they
have sprung from men all of whom were of the house of
Israel.
Now let us examine some of the evidence bearing on
these points presented by individual investigators, most of
whom knew nothing of the Book of Mormon, and none of
whom accept the book as authentic.”
23. I. Concerning the very Ancient Period at which
America was Inhabited:—A recognized authority on Amer-
ican antiquities gives the following evidence and inference:–
“One of the arts known to the builders of Babel was that
of brick making. This art was also known to the people
who built the works in the west. The knowledge of copper
was known to the people of the plains of Shinar; for Noah
must have communicated it, as he lived a hundred and fifty
years among them after the flood. Also copper was known
to the ante-diluvians. Copper was also known to the
authors of the western monuments. Iron was known to the
ante-diluvians. It was also known to the ancients of the
west. However, it is evident that very little iron was among
them, as very few instances of its discovery in their works
have occurred; and for this very reason we draw a conclu-
sion that they came to this country soon after the disper-
Sion.”
24. Lowry, in his “Reply to official inquiries respecting
the Aborigines of America,” concludes concerning the
peopling of the western continent, “that the first settlement
t Acknowledgments:–Many of the citations which follow, used in con-
nection with the extra-Scriptural evidence supporting the Book of Mormon,
have been brought together by writers among our people, particularly by Elder
George Reynolds; (see his lectures as specified where quoted); also series of
articles entitled “American Antiquities,” in Millennial Star, Liverpool, vol. xxi.;
by Moses Thatcher, (See a series of articles on “The Divine Origin of the Book
of Mormon,” in Contributor, Salt Lake City, vol. II;) and by Elder Edwin F.
Parry; (see tract, “A Prophet of Latter-days;” Liverpool, 1898.)
w Priest, American Antiquities. (1833).
38 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
was made shortly after the confusion of tongues at the
building of the Tower of Babel.”
25. Prof. Waterman of Boston says of the progenitors of
the American Indians:—“When and whence did they come?
Albert Galatin, one of the profoundest philologists of the
age, concluded, that, so far as language afforded any clue,
the time of their arrival could not have been long after the
dispersion of the human family.”
26. Pritchard says of America's ancient inhabitants,
that, “the era of their existence as a distinct and isolated
race must probably be dated as far back as that time which
separated into nations the inhabitants of the old world, and
gave to each branch of the human family its primitive lan-
guage and individuality.”
27. A native Mexican author, Ixtilxochitl, “fixes the
date of the first peopling of America about the year 2000
B. C.; this closely accords with that given by the Book of
Mormon, which positively declares that it occurred at the
time of the dispersion, when God in His anger scattered
the people upon the face of the whole earth.” “Referring
to the quotations from Ixtilxochitl, seventeen hundred and
sixteen years are said to have elapsed from the creation to
the flood. Moses places it sixteen hundred and fifty-six, a
difference of only sixty years.” They agree exactly as to
the number of cubits, fifteen, which the waters prevailed
over the highest mountains. Such a coincidence can lead
to but one conclusion, the identity of origin of the two
accounts.”
v Schoolcraft's Ethnological Researches, vol. iii, (1853.)
w Extract from lecture by Prof. Waterman, delivered in Bristol, England,
1849; quoted in pamphlet by Edwin F. Parry “A Prophet of Latter Days,” (Liver-
pool, 1898.)
a; Pritchard, Wational History of Man, (London, 1845.)
gy Moses Thatcher, Contributor, vol. ii, p. 227, Salt Lake City, 1881.
2 See Note 2.
a Moses Thatcher, Contributor, vol. ii, p. 228.
EXTERNAL EVIDENCES. 39
28. Prof. Short, quoting from Clavigero, says, “The
Chiapanese have been the first peoplers of the New World,
if we give credit to their traditions. They say that Wotan,
the grandson of that respectable old man who built the
great ark to save himself and family from the deluge, and
one of those who undertook the building of that lofty
edifice, which was to reach up to heaven, went by express
command of the Lord to people that land. They say
also that the first people came from the quarter of the
north, and that when they arrived at Soconusco, they separ-
ated, some going to inhabit the country of Nicaragua, and
others remaining at Chiapas.” t
29. HI. Concerning the Successive Occupation of America
by Different Peoples in Ancient Times:–It has been declared
by eminent students of American archeology, that two dis-
tinct classes, by some designated as separate races, of man-
kind inhabited this continent in early times: Prof. F. W.
Putnam" is even more definite in his assertion that one of
these ancient races spread from the north, the other from
the south. This is in agreement with the Book of Mormon
record, which describes the occupation of the continent by
the Jaredites and the Nephites in turn, the former having
established themselves first in North America, the latter in
South America. H. C. Walsh, in an article entitled
“Copan, a City of the Dead,” gives many interesting de-
tails of excavation and other work prosecuted by Gordon
under the auspices of the Peabody expedition; and adds,
“All this points to successive periods of occupation, of
which there are other evidences.”
a John T. Short, North Americans of Antiquity, p. 204. (Harper Bros., New
York; 2nd ed. 1888.) See also Contributor, (Salt Lake City; vol. II, p. 259).
by IPutnam. “Prehistoric Remains in the Ohio Valley,” Century Magazine, March,
1890.
* c See Harper's Weekly, (New York,) October, 1897; article by Henry C.
Walsh.
d. See note 3
40 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
30. III. Concerning the Advent of at least One Division
of the Ancient Americans from the East, probably from Asia;
and their Israelitish Origin:-Comfirmatory evidence of
the belief that the aboriginal Americans sprang from the
peoples of the eastern hemisphere is found in the similarity
of record and tradition on the two continents, regarding the
creation, the deluge, and other great events of history.
Boturini'ſ who is quoted by most writers on American arch-
eology says, “There is no Gentile nation that refers to prim-
itive events with such certainty as the Indians do. They
give us an account of the creation of the world, of the
deluge," of the confusion of languages at the Tower of
Babel, and of all other periods and ages of the world, and
of the long peregrinations which their people had in Asia,
representing the specific years by their characters; and in
the seven Conejos (rabbits) they tell us of the great eclipse
that occurred at the death of Christ, our Lord.”
31. Similar evidence of the common source of eastern
and western traditions of great events in primitive times is
furnished in the writings of Short, already quoted, and by
Baldwin,” Clavigero,” Kingsborough, Sahagun,” Prescott,’
Schoolcraft,” Squiers,” Adair,” and others.”
32. Prof. Short adds his testimony to the evidence of the
smºsºme sºme
f Chevalier Boturini; he spent several years investigating the antiquities of
Mexico and Central America, and collected many valuable records, of most of
which he was despoiled by the Spanish; he published a work on the Subject of
His studies in 1746.
g See Note 4.
/. Baldwin, “Ancient America,” (Harper Bros., New York, 1871.)
à Clavigero, quoted by Prof. Short in “Worth American 8 of Antiquity.”
j Lord Kingsborough, “Mearican Antiquities” (1830-37.)
k; Bernardo de Sahagun, “Historia Universal de Nueva Espana.”
! W. H. Prescott, “Conquest of Mea:ico” (see pp. 463-4.)
m. Schoolcraft, “Ethnological Researches,” (1851); see vol. i.
n Squiers, “Antiquities of the State of Wew York,” 1851.
o Adair, “History of the American Indians,” London, 1775.
p See Bancroft’s “Native Races,” etc, vols. iii and v.; Donelly’s “Aflantis,” p
391, (1882.)
EXTERNAL EVIDENCES. 41
aboriginal inhabitants of America being of “Old World
origin,” but admits his inability to determine when or
whence they came to this continent." Waterman, before
cited, says: “This people could not have been created in
Africa, for its inhabitants were widely dissimilar from those
of America; nor in Europe, which was without a native
people agreeing at all with American races; then to Asia
alone could they look for the origin of the Americans.”
33. It has been demonstrated that the aboriginal tribes
were accustomed to practice under certain conditions the
rites of circumcision,” baptism, and animal sacrifice.’ Her-
rera, a Spanish writer of three centuries ago, states that
among the primitive inhabitants of Yucatan baptism was
known by a name that meant to be born again." An inter-
esting discovery of an engraved stone presenting a record of
the ten commandments has been reported from the Indian
mounds of Ohio.”
34. But it is not alone in the matter of custom and tradi-
tion relating to pre-Christian times that so marked a resem-
blance is found between the peoples of the old and the new
world. Many traditions and some records, telling of the
pre-destined Christ and His atoning death, were current
among the native races of this continent long prior to the
advent of Christian discoverers in recent centuries. Indeed,
when the Spaniards first invaded Mexico, their Catholic
priests found a native knowledge of Christ and the God-
head, so closely corresponding with the doctrines of ortho-
- *-*.
q John T. Short, Worth Americans of Antiquity, (1888.)
r Extract from lecture by Prof. Waterman, delivered in Bristol, England,
1849; quoted in pamphlet by Edwin F. Parry, “A Prophet of Latter-days,” Llver-
pool, 1898.
8 Lord Kingsborough.
t Donelly’s “Atlantis,” p. 144.
w Tract “A Prophet of Latter-days,” by Edwin F. Parry, p. 106.
v See an article by Elder George Reynolds, in “Contributor” (Salt Lake City),
xvii, pp. 233.
42 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
dox Christianity, that they, in their inability to account for
the same, invented the theory that Satan had planted among
the natives of the country, an imitation gospel for the pur-
pose of deluding the people. A rival theory held that
Thomas, the apostle, had visited the western continent, and
had taught the gospel of Christ.”
35. Lord Kingsborough, in his comprehensive and
standard work, refers to a manuscript by Las Casas the
Spanish Bishop of Chiapa, which writing is preserved in
the convent of St. Dominic; in this the Bishop states that a
very accurate knowledge of the Godhead was found to exist
among the natives of Yucatan. One of the bishop's emissaries
wrote that “he had met with a principal lord, who informed
him that they believed in God, who resided in heaven, even
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father was
named Yeona, the Son Bahab, who was born of a vir-
gin, named Chibirias, and that the Holy Spirit was
called Euach. Bahab, the Son, they said, was put to death
by Eupuro, who scourged Him, and put on his head a crown
of thorns, and placed Him with His arms stretched upon a
beam of wood; and that, on the third day, He came to life,
and ascended into heaven, where He is with the Father;
that immediately after, the Euach came as a merchant,
bringing precious merchandise, filling those who would
with gifts and graces, abundant and divine.”
36. Rosales affirms a tradition among the Chileans to
the effect that their forefathers were visited by a wonderful
personage, full of grace and power, who wrought many
miracles among them, and taught them of the Creator who
dwelt in heaven in the midst of glorified hosts.” Prescott
refers to the symbol of the cross which was found by the
w See Pres. John Taylor's Mediation and Atonement, p. 201.
a; Ringsborough's Antiquities of Mexico.
gy Rosales. History of Chile. See Prest. Taylor's Mediation and Atonement, p.
202.
EXTERNAL EVIDENCES. 43
Catholics who accompanied Cortez, to be common among
the natives of Mexico and Central America. In addition
to this sign of a belief in Christ, a ceremony akin to that
of the Lord’s Supper was witnessed with astonishment by
the invaders. The Aztec priests were seen to prepare a
cake of flour, mixed with blood, which they consecrated
and distributed among the people, who as they ate, “showed
signs of humiliation and sorrow, declaring it was the flesh
of Deity.”
37. The Mexicans recognize a Deity in Quetzalcoatl,
the traditional account of whose life and death is closely
akin to our history of the Christ, so that, says President
John Taylor, “we can come to no other conclusion than
that Quetzalcoatl and Christ are the same being.” Lord
Kingsborough speaks of a painting of Quetzalcoatl, “in the
attitude of a person crucified, with the impression of nails
in his hands and feet, but not actually upon the cross.”
The same authority further says, “The seventy-third plate
of the Borgian MS. is the most remarkable of all, for Quetz-
alcoatl is not only represented there as crucified upon a
cross of Greek form, but his burial and descent into hell
are also depicted in a very curious manner.” And again:—
“The Mexicans believe that Quetzalcoatl took human nature
upon him, partaking of all the infirmities of man, and was
not exempt from sorrow, pain or death, which he suffered
voluntarily to atone for the sins of man.”
38. The source of this knowledge of Christ and the God-
head, to account for which gave such trouble to the Catholic
invaders and caused them to resort to extreme and un-
founded theory, is plainly apparent to the student of the
Book of Mormon. We learn from that sacred scripture,
****
2 Prescott, Conquest of Mea:ico, p. 465.
a Mediation and Atonement, p. 201; See Note 5.
b Lord Ringsborough, Antiguities of Mearico; see quotations by Pres. John
Taylor, Mediation and Atonement, p. 202.
44 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
that the progenitors of the native American races, for cen-
turies prior to the time of Christ's birth, lived in the light
of direct revelation, which, coming to them through their
authorized prophets, showed the purposes of God respecting
the redemption of mankind; and, moreover, that the risen
Redeemer ministered unto them in person, and established
His Church among them with all its essential ordinances.
The people have fallen into a state of spiritual degeneracy;
many of their traditions are sadly distorted, and disfigured
by admixture of superstition and human invention; yet the
origin of their knowledge is plainly authentic.
39. IV. Concerning the Common Origin of the Native
Races on this Continent:-That the many tribes and nations
among the Indians and other “native races” of America
are of common parentage is very generally admitted; the
conclusion is based on the evident close relationship in
their languages, traditions, and customs. “Mr. Lewis H.
Morgan finds evidence that the American aborigines had a
common origin in what he calls ‘their system of consan-
guinity and affinity.” He says, “The Indian nations from
the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains, and from the Arctic
sea to the Gulf of Mexico, with the exception of the
Esquimaux, have the same system. It is elaborate and
complicated in its general form and details; and, while
deviations from uniformity occur in the systems of different
stocks, the radical feature, are in the main constant. This
identity in the essential characteristics of a system so re-
markable tends to show that it must have been transmitted
with the blood to each stock from a common original
source. It affords the strongest evidence yet obtained of
unity in origin of the Indian nations within the regions
defined.’”
c Baldwin’s “Ancient America,” p. 56; see citations of conclusions regarding
the characteristics of aboriginal Americans by Bradford, in the same work.
IXTERNAL EVIDENCES. 45
40. Baldwin further quotes Bradford's summary of con-
clusions regarding the origin and characteristics of the
ancient Americans, amongst which we read:—“That they
were all of the same origin, branches of the same race, and
possessed of similar customs and institutions.” Adair
writes:—“All the various nations of Indians seem to be of
one descent;” and, in support of this conclusion he pre-
sents abundant evidence of similarity of language, habits,
and customs; religious ceremonies; modes of administering
justice, etc.”
41. Written Language of the Ancient Americans:—To
these secular, or extra-scriptural, evidences of the authenti-
city of the Book of Mormon, may be added the agreement
of the record with recent discoveries regarding the written
language of these ancient peoples. The prophet Nephi
states that he made his record on the plates in “the language
of the Egyptians,” and we are further told that the brazen
plates of Laban were inscribed in the same.” Mormon, who
abridged the voluminous writings of his predecessors, and
prepared the plates from which the modern translation was
made, employed also the Egyptian characters. His son
Moroni, who completed the record, declares this fact; but,
recognizing a difference between the writing of his day and
that on the earlier plates, he attributed the change to the
natural mutation through time, and speaks of his own
record and that of his father, Mormon, as being written in
the “reformed Egyptian.”
42. Now consider the testimony of Dr. Le Plongeon,
announcing his discovery of a sacred alphabet among the
Mayas of Central America, which he declares to be practi-
d The Same.
e Adair’s “History of the American Indian8,” London, 1775.
f I Nephi i, 2.
g Mosiah i, 4.
J. Mormon ix, 32.
46 THE BOOK OF MORM ON .
cally identical with the Egyptian alphabet. He states that
the structure of the Maya sacred language closely resembles
that of the Egyptians; and he boldly proclaims his convic-
tion that the two nations derived their written language
from the same source.” Another authority says:—“The eye
of the antiquarian cannot fail to be both attracted and fixed
by evidence of the existence of two great branches of the
hieroglyphical language, both having striking affinities
with the Egyptian, and yet distinguished from it by char-
acteristics perfectly American.”
43. But the Egyptian is not the only eastern language
found to be represented in the relics of American anti-
quities; the Hebrew occurs in this connection with at least
equal significance. That the Hebrew tongue should have
been used by Lehi's descendents is most natural, inasmuch
as they were of the House of Israel, transferred to the
western continent directly from Jerusalem. That the abil-
ity to read and write in that language continued with the
Nephites until the time of their extinction, is evident from
Moroni’s statement regarding the language used on the
plates of Mormon:-‘‘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.” Many discoveries of engravings and writings in
changed Hebrew characters have been reported from various
American localities; and a corrupted form of Hebrew has
been recognized among the spoken language of some of the
native races.
& Dr. August Le Plongeon, in Review of Review8, July, 1895.
j “Quarterly Review,” October, 1836; abstracted in “Millennial Star,” vol.
xxi, p. 467.
k Mormon ix. 32–33.
EXTERN AL EV IIDENCES. 47
44. The following instances are taken from an instructive
array of such, brought together by Elder George Reynolds.”
Several of the early Spanish writers claim that the natives
of some portions of the land were found speaking a corrupt
Hebrew. “Las Casas so affirms with regard to the inhabit-
ants of the island of Hayti. Lafitu wrote a history wherein
he maintained that the Carribee language was radically
Hebrew. Isaac Nasci, a learned Jew of Surinam, says of
the language of the people of Guiana, that all their sub-
stantives are Hebrew.” Spanish historians record the
early discovery of Hebrew characters on the western con-
timent. “Malvenda says that the natives of St. Michael
had tombstones, which the Spaniards digged up, with sev-
eral ancient Hebrew inscriptions upon them.” Between
1860 and 1865, four stones engraved with Hebrew inscrip-
tions were found in different parts of Ohio. One of these
bore an engraved inscription in Hebrew of the Ten Com-
mandments in an abridged form.” Parchments have also
been found, bearing in Hebrew characters texts from the
ancient scriptures.
45. In all such writings, the characters and the language
are allied to the most ancient form of Hebrew, and show
none of the vowel signs and terminal letters which were in-
troduced into the Hebrew of the eastern continent after the
return of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity. This is
consistent with the fact that Lehi and his people left Jeru-
salem shortly before the captivity, and therefore prior to the
introduction of the changes in the written language.
46. Another Test:—Let not the reader of the Book of
Mormon content himself with such evidences as have been
cited concerning the Divine authenticity of this reputed
scripture. There is promised a surer and a more effectual
l Reynolds' lecture, “The Language of the Book of Mormon.”
7m See page 297.
48 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
means of ascertaining the truth or falsity of this marvelous
volume. Like other scriptures, the Book of Mormon is to
be comprehended through the spirit of the scriptures, and
this is obtainable only as a gift from God. But this gift,
priceless though it be, is promised unto all who would seek
for it. Then to all let us commend the counsel of the
last writer in the volume, Moroni, the solitary scribe
who sealed the book, afterward the angel of the
record who brought it forth:-‘‘And when ye shall re-
ceive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask
God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these
things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart,
with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest
the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost;
and by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the
truth of all things.”
NOTES :
1. Diversity of Literary Style in the Book of Mormon:—“There is
a marked difference in the literary style of Nephi and some of the other earlier
prophets from that of Mormon and Moroni. Mormon and his son are more direct
and take fewer words to express their ideas than did the earlier writers, at least
their manner is, to most readers, the more pleasing. Amos, the son of Jacob,
has also a style peculiar to himself. There is another noticable fact that when
original records or discourses, such as the record of Limhi, the sermons of Alma,
Amulek, etc., the epistles of Helaman, and Others, are introduced into Mormon's
abridgment, words and expressions are used that appear nowhere else in the
Book of Mormon. This diversity of style, expression, and wording is a very
pleasing incidental testimony to the truth of the claim made for the Book of
Mormon, that it is a compilation of the Work of many writers.”—From Lec-
tures on the Book of Mormon, by Elder George Reynolds.
2. Mexican Date of the Deluge:–In speaking of the time of the Deluge
as given by the Mexican author, Ixtilxochitl, Elder George Reynolds says: —
“There is a remarkable agreement between this Writer’s statements and the
Book of Genesis. The time from the Fall to the Flood only differs sixty,
possibly only five years, if the following statement in the Book of Doctrine and
Covenants (cvii, 49) regarding Enoch lengthens the chronology: “And he saw the
Lord, and he walked with him, and was before his face continually; and he
walked with God 365 years, making him 430 years old when he was translated.”
The same statement is made in the Pearl of Great Price, page 45, (1888 ed.)—
70. Moroni X, 4-5.
NOTES. 49
º
From lecture on “Easternal Evidences of the Book of Mormon,” by Elder Geo.
Reynolds.
3. Ancient Civilization in America:—“That a civilization once flourished
in these regions [Central America and Mexico] much higher than any the Span-
ish conquerors found upon their arrival, there can be no doubt. By far the most
important work that has been done among the remains of the old Maya civiliza-
tion has been carried on by the Peabody Museum of Harvard College, through a
Series of expeditions it has sent to the buried city now called Copan, in Spanish
Honduras. In a beautiful Valley near the borderland of Guatemala, Surrounded
by steep mountains and watered by a winding river, the hoary city lies wrapped
in the sleep of ages. The ruins at Copan, although in a more advanced State of
destruction than those of the Maya cities of Yucatan, have a general similarity
to the latter in the design of the buildings, and in the sculptures, while the char-
acters in the inscriptions are essentially the same. It would seem, therefore,
that Copan was a city of the Mayas; but if so it must have been one of their
most ancient settlements, fallen into decay long before the cities of Yucatán
reached their prime. The Maya civilization was totally distinct from the Aztec
or Mexican; it was an older and also a much higher civilization.”—Henry C
Walsh, in article “Copan, a City of the Dead,” Harpers' Weekly, October, 1897.
Baldwin, in his valuable work “Ancient America” incorporates the conclusions
announced by Bradford in regard to the ancient occupants of North America, as
follows:–
“That they were all of the same origin, branches of the same race, and pos-
sessed of similar customs and institutions.
“That they were populous, and occupied a great extent of territory.
“That they had arrived at a considerable degree of civilization, were associated
in large communities, and lived in extensive cities.
“That they possessed the use of many of the metals, such as lead, copper,
gold, and silver, and probably the art of working in them.
“That they sculptured in stone, and sometimes used that material in the con-
Struction of their edifices.
“That they had the knowledge of the arch of receding steps; of the art of
pottery, producing urns and utensils formed with taste, and constructed upon the
principles of chemical composition; and the art of brick-making.
“That they worked the Salt Springs, and manufactured salt.
“That they were an agricultural people, living under the influence and pro-
tection of regular forms of governments.
“That they possessed a decided System of religion, and a mythology connected
with astronomy, which, with its sister Science, geometry, was in the hands of the
priesthood.
“That they were skilled in the art of fortification.
“That the epoch of their original settlement in the United States is of great
antiquity; and that the only indications of their origin to be gathered from the
locality of their ruined monuments, point toward Mexico.”—Baldwin, Ancient
America, p. 56.
4. American Traditions Concerning the Deluge:– “Don Francisco
Munoz de la Vega, the Bishop of that diocese (Chiapas), certifies in the prologue to
his ‘Diocesan Constitutions,’ declaring that an ancient manuscript of the primi-
tive Indians of that province, who had learned the art of writing, was in his
record office, who retained the constant tradition that the father and founder of
*
50 THE BOOK OF MORMON.
their nation was named Teponahuale, which signifies lord of the hollow piece of
wood: and that he was present at the building of the Great Wall, for so they
named the Tower of Babel; and beheld with his own eyes the confusion of
language; after which event, God, the Creator, commanded him to come to
these extensive regions, and to divide them amongst mankind.—Lord Kings-
borough, Mea:ican Antiguities, vol. viii, p. 25. -
“It is found in the histories of the Toltecs that this age and first world, as they
call it, lasted 1716 years: that men were destroyed by tremendous rains and
lightnings from the sky, and even all the land, without the exception of any-
thing, and the highest mountains, were covered up and submerged in water fif-
teen cubits (caxtolmolatli); and here they added other fables of how men came.
to multiply from the few who escaped from this destruction in a ‘toptlipetlocali;"
that this word nearly signifies a close chest; and how, after men had multiplied,
they erected a very high ‘zacuali,' which is today a tower of great height, in order
to take refuge in it should the second world (age) be destroyed. Presently their
languages were COmfused, and, not being able to understand each other, they
went to different parts of the earth.”—The same, vol. ix, p. 321.
“The most important among the American traditions are the Mexican, for
they appear to have been definitely fixed by Symbolic and mnemonic paintings
before any contact with Europeans. According to these documents, the Noah of
the Mexican cataclysm was Coxcox, called by certain people Teocipact.li or
Tezpi. He had saved himself, together with his wife Xochiquetzal, in a bark,
Or, according to other traditions, on a raft made of cypress-wood, (Cypressus
disticha). Paintings retracing the deluge of Coxcox have been discovered
among the Aztecs, Miztecs, Zapotecs, Tlascaltecs, and Mechoacaneses. The
tradition of the latter is still more strikingly in conformity with the story as we
have it in Genesis, and in Chaldean sources. It tells how Tezpi embarked in a
spacious vessel with his wife, his children, and several animals, and grain,
whose preservation was essential to the subsistence of the human race. When
the great god Tezcatlipoca decreed that the waters should retire, Tezpi sent a
vulture from the bark. The bird, feeding on the carcases with which the earth.
was laden, did not return. Tezpi sent out other birds, of which the humming
bird only came back, with a leafy branch in its beak. Then Tezpi, seeing that
the country began to vegetate, left his bark on the mountain of Colhuacan.”
—Donelly’s Atlantis, p. 99. - - -
The tradition of a Deluge, “was the received notion under some form or other,
of the most civilized people in the Old World, and of the barbarians of the New.
The Aztecs combined with this some particular circumstances of a more arbi-
trary character, resembling the accounts of the east. They believed that two
persons survived the Deluge, a man named Coxcox and his wife. Their heads
are represented in ancient painting, together with a boat floating On the waters
at the foot of a mountain. A dove is also depicted, with a hieroglyphical emblem
of language in his mouth; which he is distributing to the children of Coxcox,
who were born dumb. The neighboring people of Michoacan, inhabiting the
same high plains of the Andes, had a still further tradition, that the boat in
which Tegpi, their Noah, escaped, was filled with various kinds of animals and
birds. After some time a vulture was sent out from it, but remained feeding on
the dead bodies of the giants which had been left on the earth as the waters
Subsided. The little humming bird, huitzitzilin, was then sent forth, and
returned with a twig in his mouth. The coincidence of both these accounts
-
t NOTES. 51
with the Hebrew and Chaldean narratives is obvious.”—Prescott, Conquest of
Meacico, pp. 463-4.
5. Mexican Tradition Concerning the Savior:—“The story of the life
of the Mexican divinity, Quetzalcoatl, closely resembles that of the Savior; so
closely, indeed, that we can come to no other conclusion than that Quetzalcoatl
and Christ are the same being. But the history of the former has been handed
down to us through an impure Lamanitish Source, which has sadly disfigured and
perverted the original incidents and teachings of the Savior’s life and ministry.
Regarding this god, Humboldt writes, ‘Eſow truly surprising is it to find that the
Mexicans, who seem to have been unacquainted with the doctrine of the migra-
tion of the soul and the Metempsychosis 8hould have believed in the incarnation of
the only Son of the supreme God, Tomacateuct!?. For Mexican mythology, speaking
of no other Son of God except Quetzalcoatl, who was born of Chimelman, the
virgin of Tula (without man), by His breath alone, by which may be signified
His word or will, when it was announced to Chimelman, by the celestial mes-
senger whom He despatched to inform her that she should conceive a son, it
must be presumed this was Quetzalcoatl, who was the only son. Other authors
might be adduced to show that the Mexicans believe that this Quetzalcoatl was
both God and man; that He had, previously to His incarnation, existed from
eternity, and that He had been the Creator both of the world and man; and that
He had descended to reform the world by endurance, and being Bºing of Tula, was
crucified for the sins of mankind, etc., as is plainly declared in the tradition of
Yucatan, and mysteriously represented in the Mexican paintings.’ ”—Pres.
John Taylor, Mediation and Atonement, p. 201.
6. Discoveries of Hebrew Inscriptions on Stone:—“Between 1860 and
1865, four different stones with Hebrew inscriptions upon them were found in
Licking County, Ohio, though not all in the same neighborhood. On one, which
some suppose had been worn as an amulet, was a Hebrew inscription, which was
translated, “May the Lord have mercy On him a nephel;" that is, one of untimely
birth. Elder Orson Pratt, however, was of the Opinion that the final letter was
a ‘t,’and that the legend should read, ‘May the Lord have mercy on him a Nephite.' .
“Another of the Stones bears a Hebrew inscription. On each of its four sides.
These inscriptions when translated read: “The King of the Earth; The Law of
the Lord: The Word of the Lord; The Holy of Holies.” It would be difficult to
conceive that such an inscription would be put upon a Stone by persons not
acquainted with the law and with the word of the Lord; or who had not some
idea regarding temple ordinances, and what the Holy of Holies implies. But a.
people like the Nephites would in all respects answer the requirements, as they
were trained in both the law and the gospel.”—Elder Geo. Reynolds, in his lec-
ture, “The Language of the Book of Mormon.”
7. Survival of the Hebrew Language among Armerican Tribes:—“It
is claimed that such survivals are numerous in the religious songs and cere-
monies of many of the tribes. A number of writers who visited or resided among
the tribes of the northern Continent, assert that the Words Yehovah, Yah, Ale,
and Hallelujah, could be distinctly heard in these exercises. Laet and Escar-
botus assure us that they often heard the South American Indians repeat the
sacred word Hallelujah.”—Elder George Reynolds: “The Language of the Book
of Mormon.”
Boudinot (see Voice of Warning, by Parley P. Pratt, 9th ed.) says concerning
the language of the native American peoples:—“Their language, in its roots.
352 THE BOOK OF MORM ON . .
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, especially those in which it differs
from most other languages.” Adair (History of the American Indians, London.
$1775,) has written:—“The Indian language and dialects appear to have the very
idiom and genius of the Hebrew. Their words and sentences are expressive.
concise, emphatical, Sonorous, and bold; and often, both in letters and significa-
tion, synonymous with the Hebrew language.”
8. Tradition of an Ancient Record annong the Natives of
America :—“It was well known to the Lamanites of this continent, at the time
of the discovery of America, by Europeans, that a book, such as is the Book of
Mormon, existed among their remote ancestors; and that they themselves pos-
sessed fragments of the record, though possibly in an altered form. The existence
•of these fragments was well known to the Spanish ecclesiastics who came to
America; and, as they claimed to believe that the existence of such was a
hindrance to the spread of Catholicism amongst the natives, they inflicted out-
rageously cruel penalties upon any Who attempted to conceal them. A very
faint idea of what might have been published, had the Spaniards not pre-
vented, may be surmised from the statement made by one author, that, “They
[the American aborigines] assert that a book was once in possession of their
ancestors; and along With this recognition, they have traditions that the ‘Great
:Spirit” used to foretell to their fathers future events; that he controlled nature in
ttheir favor; that angels once talked with them; that all the Indian tribes
, descended from one man who had twelve Sons; that this man was a notable and
renowned prince, having great dominions; and that the Indians, his posterity,
will yet recover the same dominion and influence. They believe, by tradition,
that the spirit of prophecy and miraculous interposition, once enjoyed by their
..ancestors, will yet be restored to them, and that they Will recover the book, all
of which has been so long lost." [Colton, Origin of the American Indians,
London, 1833. Could any one who has read the Book of Mormon give a better
description of its contents than this extract does?” Reynolds,-Language of the
Book of Mormon. Boudinot remarks of the Indians and their traditions:–“It is
said among their principal or beloved men, that they have it handed down from
1 their ancestors, that the book which the White people have was once theirs; that
while they had it they prospered exceedingly,” etc.
Boturini (p. 129) states that in Tula, about 660 A.D., “Huimatzin, a celebrated
rastronomer of the Toltecs, called together all the Wise men, with the approval of
- the monarch, and painted that great book Which they called Teoamoxtli, that is,
"divine book,” in which with distinct figures, account was given of the origin of
the Indians; of the time of the separation of the people at the confusion of the
language; of their peregrinations in Asia; of their first cities and towns that
they had in America,” etc., etc. We learn from the Book of Mormon, how that
record, itself the original sacred or “divine book” of the Lamanites, was lost
to them, inasmuch as the ancient plates Were buried by Moroni about 420 A.D.
The compilation of the “Teoamoxtli” or divine book of the Toltecs, was probably
an attempt to recover through tradition and such fragmental records as existed,
those ancient scriptures.—(See article by Moses Thatcher, Contributor, li,
223-224.)
N. B.-The items presented on this page are additional to the “Notes” which
, are appended to the “Book of Mormon” lectures as published in the “Articles of
Faith.”

THE BOOK ()K MORMON
An Account of Its Origin, With Evidences
of Its Genuineness and Authenticity
\
33.
TW() LECTURES
By
DR. JAMES E. TALMAGE
33.
Prepared by Appointment, and Published
by the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints
3:3:
Deseret News Press
Salt Lake City, Utah
Printed in U.S.A.
-
COPYRIGHTED
As Chapters 14 and 15, in “The Articles of Faith”
published by the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints.
PREFATORY
The matter presented in the following pages is published as Chap-
ters 14 and 15, in the series entitled “The Articles of Faith,” dealing
with the principal doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints, prepared and delivered by Dr. James E. Talmage. The two
lectures are presented in this separate form for the use and benefit of
investigators and students who desire to learn something of the most
noted and characteristic volume among the standard works of the Church.
From the Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints
Article 8—"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.”
THE B00K ()P MORMON
LECTURE 1
Description and Origin
What is the Book of Mormon?—The Book of Mormon
is a divinely inspired record, made by the prophets of the
ancient peoples who inhabited the American continent for
centuries before and after the time of Christ, which record
has been translated in the present generation through the
gift of God and by His special appointment. The author-
ized and inspired translator of these sacred scriptures,
through whose instrumentality they have been given to the
world in modern language, is Joseph Smith, whose first ac-
quaintance with the plates was mentioned in a preceding lec-
ture. As stated, during the night of September 21-22, 1823,
Joseph Smith received, in answer to fervent prayer, a visi-
tation from a resurrected personagea who gave his name as
Moroni. Subsequent revelations showed him to be the last of
a long line of prophets whose translated writings constitute
the Book of Mormon; by him the ancient records had been
closed; by him the engraved plates had been deposited in the
earth; and through his ministration they were brought into
the possession of the latter-day prophet and seer whose work
of translation is before us.
On the occasion of his first visit to Joseph Smith, Moroni
told of the existence of the record, which, he said, was en-
graved on plates of gold, at that time lying buried in the
side of a hill near Joseph’s home. The hill, which was known
by one division of the ancient peoples as Cumorah, by an-
other as Ramah, is situated near Palmyra in the State of
New York. The precise spot where the plates lay was shown
*See statement of Joseph Smith, Hist. of the Church, vol. 3, p. 28.
4 THE BOOK OF MORMON
to Joseph in vision; and he had no difficulty in finding it on
the day following the visitation referred to. Joseph Smith's
statement of Moroni’s declaration concerning the plates is as
follows: “He said there was a book deposited, written upon
gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of
this continent, and the source from which they sprang. He
also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was con-
tained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabi-
tants; also that there were two stones in silver bows—and
these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is
called the Urim and Thummim—deposited with the plates;
and the possession and use of these stones were what con-
stituted ‘seers’ in ancient or former times; and that God had
prepared them for the purpose of translating the book”b
Joseph found a large stone at the indicated spot on the
Hill Cumorah; beneath the stone was a box, also of stone;
the lid of this he raised by means of a lever; then he saw
within the box the plates and the breastplate with the Urim
and Thummim, as described by the angel. As he was about
to remove the contents of the box, Moroni again appeared
before him and forbade him taking the sacred things at that
time, saying that four years must pass before they would
be committed to his personal care; and that, in the mean-
time, Joseph would be required to visit the place at yearly
intervals. This the youthful revelator did, receiving on
each occasion additional instruction concerning the record
and God’s purposes with regard to it. On September 22,
1827, Joseph received from the angel Moroni the plates and
the Urim and Thummim with the breastplate. He was in-
structed to guard them with strict care, and was promised
that if he used his best efforts to protect them they would
be preserved inviolate in his hands, and that on the com-
pletion of the labor of translation Moroni would visit him
again and receive the plates.
The reason prompting the caution regarding Joseph’s
care of the plates and the other objects soon appeared, for in
the course of his short journey homeward with the sacred
relics he was attacked; but by divine aid he was enabled to
*P. of G. P., pp. 50-56; see also Hist. of Church, vol. 1, chap. 2.
See further chaps. 8-11 of Essentials in Church History, by Joseph Fielding
Smith, Church Historian, Salt Lake City, 1922.
DESCRIPTION AND ORIGIN 5
withstand his assailants and finally reached his home with
the plates and other articles unharmed. These assaults were
but the beginning of a siege of persecution which was re-
lentlessly waged against him as long as the plates remained
in his custody. News that he had the plates in his possession
soon spread; and numerous attempts, many of them violent,
were made to wrest them from his hands. But they were
preserved; and, slowly, with many hindrances incident to
persecution by the wicked, and to the conditions of his own
poverty, which made it necessary for him to toil and left
little leisure for the appointed labor, Joseph proceeded with
the translation; and in 1830 the Book of Mormon was first
published to the world. *
The Title Page of the Book of Mormon — Our best
answer to the question — What is the Book of Mormon 2 — is
found on the title page of the volume. Thereon we read:
THE
BOOK OF MORMON
An Account Written by
THE HAND OF MORMON
UPON PLATES
Taken from the Plates of Nephi
Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the
people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites—Written to the
Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and
also to Jew and Gentile—Written by way of commandment,
and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation—Written
and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not
be destroyed—To come forth by the gift and power of God
unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of
Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time
by way of the Gentile—The interpretation thereof by the
gift of God.
6 THE BOOK OF MORMON
An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also,
which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered
at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people,
when they were building a tower to get to heaven—Which is
to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great
things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they
may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast
off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gen-
tile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, mani-
festing himself unto all nations—And now, if there are faults
they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the
things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-
seat of Christ.
This combined title and preface is a translation from the
last page of the plates, and was presumably written by
Moroni, who, as before stated, sealed and hid up the record
in former days."
Main Divisions of the Book—From the title page, we
learn that in the Book of Mormon we have to deal with the
histories of two nations, who flourished in America as the
descendants of small colonies brought hither from the eastern
continent by divine direction. Of these we may conveniently
speak as the Nephites and the Jaredites.
The Nephite Nation was the later, and in point of the
fulness of the records, the more important. The progeni-
tors of this people were led from Jerusalem in the year
600 B.C., by Lehi, a Jewish prophet of the tribe of Manas-
seh. His immediate family, at the time of their departure
from Jerusalem, comprised his wife, Sariah, and their sons
Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi; at a later stage of the
history daughters are mentioned, but whether any of these
were born before the family exodus we are not told. Be-
side his own household, the colony of Lehi included Zoram
and Ishmael, the latter an Israelite of the tribe of Ephraim.d
Ishmael, with his family, joined Lehi's company in the wil-
derness, and his descendants were numbered with the nation
of whom we are speaking. It appears that the company
journeyed somewhat east of south, keeping near the borders
*See Appendix 1:1. “See Appendix 2:1.
DESCRIPTION AND ORIGIN 7
of the Red Sea; then, changing their course to the eastward,
crossed the peninsula of Arabia; and there, on the shores of
the Arabian Sea, built and provisioned a vessel in which
they committed themselves to divine care upon the waters.
It is believed that their voyage must have carried them east-
ward across the Indian Ocean, then over the Pacific to
the Western coast of America, whereon they landed about
590 B.C. The landing place is not described in the book it-
self with such detail as to warrant definite conclusions.
The people established themselves on what to them was
the land of promise; many children were born, and in the
course of a few generations a numerous posterity held pos-
session of the land. After the death of Lehi a division oc-
curred, some of the people accepting as their leader, Nephi,
who had been duly appointed to the prophetic office; while
the rest proclaimed Laman, the eldest of Lehi's sons, as their
chief. Thenceforth the divided people were known as Ne-
phites and Lamanites respectively. At times they observed
toward each other a semblance of friendly relations; but gen-
erally they were opposed, the Lamanites manifesting implac-
able hatred and hostility toward their Nephite kindred. The
Nephites advanced in the arts of civilization, built large cities,
and established prosperous commonwealths; yet they often
fell into transgression, and the Lord chastened them by per-
mitting their hereditary enemies to be victorious. It is
traditionally believed that they spread northward, occupying
a considerable area in Central America, and then expanded
eastward and northward over part of what is now the United
States of America. The Lamanites, while increasing in
numbers, fell under the curse of divine displeasure; they be-
came dark in skin and benighted in spirit, forgot the God of
their fathers, lived a wild nomadic life, and degenerated into
the fallen state in which the American Indians—their lineal
descendants—were found by those who rediscovered the west-
ern continent in later times.
The final struggles between Nephites and Lamanites
were waged in the vicinity of the Hill Cumorah, in what
is now the State of New York, resulting in the destruction
of the Nephites as a nation, about 400 A.D. The last Ne-
phite representative was Moroni, who, wandering for safety
8 THE BOOK OF MORMON
from place to place, daily expecting death from the vic-
torious Lamanites, wrote the concluding parts of the Book
of Mormon, and hid the record in Cumorah. It was this
same Moroni who, as a resurrected being, gave the records
into the hands of Joseph Smith in the present dispensation.
The Jaredite Nation—Of the two nations whose his-
tories constitute the Book of Mormon, the first in order of
time consisted of the people of Jared, who followed their
leader from the Tower of Babel at the time of the confusion
of tongues. Their history was written on twenty-four plates
of gold by Ether, the last of their prophets, who, foreseeing
the destruction of his people because of their wickedness, hid
away the historic plates. They were afterward found, about
B. C. 122, by an expedition sent out by King Limhi, a Ne-
phite ruler. The record engraved on these plates was sub-
sequently abridged by Moroni, and the condensed account
was attached by him to the Book of Mormon record; it ap-
pears in the modern translation under the name of the Book
of Ether.
The first and chief prophet of the Jaredites is not speci-
fied by name in the record as we have it; he is known only
as the brother of Jared. Of this people we learn that, amidst
the confusion of Babel, Jared and his brother importuned
the Lord that they and their associates be spared from the
impending disruption. Their prayer was heard, and the Lord
led them with a considerable company, who, like themselves,
were free from the taint of idolatry, away from their homes,
promising to conduct them to a land choice above all other
lands. Their course of travel is not given with exactness;
we learn only that they reached the ocean and there con-
structed eight vessels, called barges, in which they set out
upon the waters. These vessels were small and dark within;
but the Lord made certain stones luminous, and these gave
light to the imprisoned voyagers. After a passage of three
hundred and forty-four days, the colony landed on the
American shores.
Here they became a flourishing nation; but, giving way
in time to internal dissensions, they divided into factions,
which warred with one another until the people were to-
tally destroyed. This destruction, which occurred near the
THE PLATES 9
Hill Ramah, afterward known among the Nephites as Cu-
morah, probably took place at about the time of Lehi's land-
ing, near 590 B.C. The last representative of the ill-fated
race was Coriantumr, the king, concerning whom Ether had
prophesied that he should survive all his subjects and live to
See another people in possession of the land. This predic-
tion was fulfilled in that the king, whose people had been
exterminated, came, in the course of his solitary wanderings,
to a region occupied by the people of Mulek, who are to be
mentioned here as the third ancient colony of emigrants from
the eastern continent.
Mulek was the son of Zedekiah, king of Judah, an
infant at the time of his brothers’ violent deaths and his
father's cruel torture at the hands of the king of Babylon.”
Eleven years after Lehi's departure from Jerusalem, an-
other colony was led from the city, amongst whom was
Mulek. The colony took his name, probably on account of
his recognized rights of leadership by virtue of lineage. The
Book of Mormon record concerning Mulek and his people is
scant; we learn, however, that the coſony was brought across
the waters to a landing, probably on the northern part of
the American continent. The descendants of this colony
were discovered by the Nephites under Mosiah; they had
grown numerous, but, having had no scriptures for their
guidance had fallen into a condition of spiritual darkness.
They joined the Nephites and their history is merged into
that of the greater nation." The Nephites gave to a part
of North America the name Land of Mulek.
THE ANCIENT PLATES AND THE TRANSLATION
The Plates of the Book of Mormon as delivered by the
angel Moroni to Joseph Smith, according to the description
given by the latter-day prophet, were, as far as he knew, of
gold, of uniform size, each about seven inches wide by eight
inches long, and in thickness a little less than that of ordi-
nary sheet tin. They were fastened together by three rings
running through the plates near one edge; together they
formed a book nearly six inches in thickness, but not all has
eSee 2 Kings 25:7.
fSee Omni 12-19
10 THE BOOK OF MORMON
been translated, a part having been sealed. Both sides of
the plates were engraved with small characters, described by
those who examined them as of curious workmanship, with
the appearance of ancient origin.
Three classes of plates are mentioned on the title page
of the Book of Mormon:
1. The Plates of Nephi, which, as will be shown, were
of two kinds: (a) the larger plates; (b) the smaller plates.
2. The Plates of Mormon, containing an abridgment
from the plates of Nephi, with additions made by Mormon
and his son Moroni.
3. The Plates of Ether, containing the history of the
Jaredites.
To these may be added another set of plates, as being
mentioned in the Book of Mormon, and in point of time the
oldest of all:
4. The Brass Plates of Laban, brought by Lehi's people
from Jerusalem, and containing Jewish scriptures and gen-
ealogies, many extracts from which appear in the Nephite
records. We have now to consider more particularly the
plates of Nephi and Mormon’s abridgment thereof.
The Plates of Nephi are so named from the fact that
they were prepared and their record was begun by Nephi,
son of Lehi. These plates were of two kinds,8 which may be
distinguished as the larger plates and the smaller plates.
Nephi began his labors as a recorder by engraving on his
plates a historical account of his people from the time his
father left Jerusalem. This account recited the story of their
wanderings, their prosperity and distress, the reigns of their
kings and the wars and contentions of the people; the record
was in the nature of a secular history. These plates were
handed from one recorder to another throughout the genera-
tions of the Nephite people, so "that, at the time of their
abridgment by Mormon, the record covered a period of about
a thousand years, dating from 600 B. C., the time of Lehi's
gSee 1 Nephi, chap. 9; 19:1–5; 2 Nephi 5:30; Jacob 1:1-4; Words of
Mormon 3-7.
THE PLATES 11
exodus from Jerusalem. Although these plates bore the
name of the first of the writers thereon, the separate work
of each recorder is known in general by his specific name,
so that the record is made up of several distinct books.
By command of the Lord, Nephi made other plates, upon
which he recorded particularly what may be called in a
broad sense the ecclesiastical history of his people, citing
only such instances of other events as seemed necessary to
the proper sequence of the narrative. “I have received a
commandment of the Lord,” says Nephi, “that I should make
these plates, for the special purpose that there should be an
account engraven of the ministry of my people.”h The ob-
ject of this double line of history was unknown to Nephi; it
was enough for him that the Lord required the labor; that
it was for a wise purpose will be shown.
Mormon’s Abridgement—In the course of time the rec-
ords that had accumulated passed into the hands of Mormon,
who undertook to make an abridgment of these extensive
works upon plates made with his own hands.j By such a
course a record was prepared more concise and more nearly
uniform in style, language, and treatment than could possibly
have been the case with the varied writings of so many
authors as had contributed to the great history during the
many centuries of its growth. Mormon recognizes and testi-
fies to the inspiration of God by which he was moved to
undertake the great labor.” In preparing this shorter his-
tory, Mormon preserved the division of the record into books
according to the arrangement of the originals and thus,
though the language may be that of Mormon, except in cases
of quotations from the plates of Nephi, which are indeed
numerous, we find the Books of Nephi, the Book of Alma,
the Book of Helaman, etc., the form of speech known as the
first person being generally preserved.
When Mormon, in the course of his work of abridging
the voluminous records, had reached the time of King Ben-
jamin’s reign, he was deeply impressed with the account
engraved on the smaller plates of Nephi-the history of God's
b1 Nephi 9:3.
5 1. Words of Mormon 11 ; 1:1-4; 4–23. jSee 3 Nephi 5:8-11. kSco
12 THE BOOK OF MORMON
dealings with the people during the period of about four
centuries extending from the time of Lehi's exodus from
Jerusalem down to the time of King Benjamin. This rec-
ord, comprising so much of prophecy concerning the mission
of the Savior, was regarded by Mormon with great reverence.
Of these plates he attempted no transcript, but included the
originals with his own abridgment of the larger plates, mak-
ing of the two one book. The record as compiled by Mormon
contained, therefore, a double account of the descendants of
Lehi for the first four hundred years of their history—the
brief secular history condensed from the larger plates, and
the full text on the smaller plates. In solemn language, and
with an emphasis that subsequent events have shown to be
significant, Mormon declares the hidden wisdom of the
Lord’s purpose in this duplication: “And I do this for a wise
purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the work-
ings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do
not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which
are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according
to his will.”!
The Lord’s Purpose in the matter of preparing and pre-
serving the smaller plates as testified of by Mormon and
also by Nephi,” is rendered plain from certain circumstances
in this latter-day dispensation attending the translation of
the records by Joseph Smith. After the prophet had prepared
a translation of the first part of the writings of Mormon, the
manuscript was won from his custody through the unright-
eous solicitations of Martin Harris, to whom he considered
himself indebted for material assistance while he was de-
voting his time to the work. This manuscript, in all one
hundred and sixteen pages, was never returned to Joseph;
but, through the dark schemes of evil powers, it fell into
the hands of enemies, who straightway laid a wicked plan to
ridicule the translator and thwart the purposes of God. This
design was that the conspirators wait until Joseph had re-
translated the missing matter, then the stolen manuscript,
which in the meantime had been altered so that the words
were made to express the contrary of the true record, would
be set forth as a proof that the prophet was unable to trans-
| Words of Morniºn 7.
mSce 1 Nephi 9:5.
TRANSLATION 13
late the same passages twice alike. But the Lord’s wisdom
interposed to bring to naught these dark designs.
Having chastened the prophet by depriving him for a
season of his gift to translate, as also of the custody of the
sacred records, and this for his dereliction in permitting the
writings to pass into unappointed hands, the Lord graciously
restored His penitent servant to favor, and revealed to him
the designs of his enemies," at the same time showing how
these evil machinations should be made to fail. Joseph was
instructed not to attempt a retranslation of that part of
Mormon’s abridgment, the first translation of which had been
stolen; but instead to translate from the plates of Nephi
the record of the same period—the set of smaller plates which
Mormon had incorporated with his own writings. The trans-
lation so made was therefore published as the record of
Nephi, and not as the writing of Mormon; and thus no second
translation was made of the parts from which the stolen
manuscript had been prepared.
The Translation of the Book of Mormon was effected
through the power of God manifested in the bestowal of the
gift of revelation. The book professes not to be dependent
upon the wisdom or learning of man; its translator was not
versed in linguistics; his qualifications were of a different
and of a more efficient order. With the plates, Joseph Smith
received from the angel other sacred treasures, including a
breastplate, to which was attached the Urim and Thummim,0
called by the Nephites Interpreters; and by the use of these
he was enabled to translate the ancient records into our mod-
ern tongue. The details of the work of translation have not
been recorded, beyond the statement that the translator ex-
amined the engraved characters by means of the sacred in-
struments, and then dictated to the scribe the English
sentences.
Joseph began his work with the plates by patiently
copying a number of characters, adding his translation to
some of the pages thus prepared. The prophet’s first assist-
ant in the labor, Martin Harris, obtained permission to take
"See D. & C., sec. 10; also Hist. of Church, vol. 1, chap. 3.
vSee D. & C., 10:1; 17:1; 130 :8, 9; Mos. 9:18-19; Ether 3:23-28.
14 THE BOOK OF MORMON
away some of these transcripts, with the purpose of sub-
mitting them to the examination of men learned in ancient
languages. He placed some of the sheets before Professor
Charles Anthon, of Columbia College, who, after examination,
certified that the characters were in general of the ancient
Egyptian order, and that the accompanying translations ap-
peared to be correct. Hearing how this ancient record canne
into Joseph’s hands, Professor Anthon requested Mr. Harris
to bring the original book for examination, stating that he
would undertake the translation of the work; then, learning
that a part of the book was sealed, he remarked, “I cannot
read a sealed book”; and thus unwittingly did this man fulfill
the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the coming forth of the
volume: “And the vision of all is become unto you as the
words of a book that is sealed, which men delivered to one that
is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I
cannot; for it is sealed.”P Another linguist, a Doctor Mitchell,
of New York, having examined the characters, gave con-
cerning them a testimony in all important respects corre-
sponding to that of Professor Anthon.
Arrangement of the Book of Mormon—The Book of
Mormon comprises fifteen separate parts, which with a
single exception are called books, and are distinguished by
the names of their principal authors. Of these, the first six
books, viz., First and Second Nephi, Jacob, Enos, Jarom, and
Omni, are literal translations from corresponding portions
of the smaller plates of Nephi. The body of the volume,
from the book of Mosiah to Mormon, chapter 7, inclusive,
is the translation of Mormon’s abridgment of the larger
plates of Nephi. Between the books of Omni and Mosiah,
the “Words of Mormon” occur, connecting the record of
Nephi, as engraved on the smaller plates, with Mormon's
abridgment of the larger plates for the periods following.
The Words of Mormon may be regarded as a brief explana-
tion of the preceding portions of the work and a preface of
the parts then to follow. The last part of the Book of Mor-
mon, from the beginning of Mormon, chapter 8, to the end of
the volume, is in the language of Moroni, son of Mormon,
who first proceeds to finish the record of his father, and
PIsa. 29:11.
THE TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES 15
then adds an abridgment of a set of plates which contained
an account of the Jaredites; this appears as the book of
Ether.
At the time of Moroni’s writing he stood alone—the sole
Surviving representative of his people, excepting the many
who had identified themselves with the Lamanites. The last
of the fratricidal wars between Nephites and Lamanites had
resulted in the annihilation of the former as a people; and
Moroni supposed that his abridgment of the book of Ether
would be his last literary work; but, finding himself mi-
raculously preserved at the conclusion of that undertaking,
he added the part known to us as the book of Moroni, con-
taining accounts of procedure in ordination, baptism, and
administration of the sacrament, and a record of certain
utterances and writings of his father Mormon.
The Genuineness of the Book of Mormon will appear as
a result of impartial investigation into the circumstances at-
tending its coming forth. The fanciful theories of its origin,
advanced by prejudiced opponents, are in general too incon-
sistent, and in most instances too thoroughly puerile, to
merit serious consideration. Assumptions that the Book of
Mormon is the production of a single author or of men work-
ing in collusion, a work of fiction, or in any manner a mod-
ern composition, are their own refutation.9 The sacred char-
acter of the plates forbade their display as a means of grati-
fying personal curiosity; nevertheless a number of reputable
witnesses examined them, and these men have given to the
world their solemn testimony of the facts. In June, 1829, the
prophecies respecting the witnesses by whose testimony the
word of God as set forth in the Book of Mormon was to be
established,” saw its fulfillment in a manifestation of divine
power, demonstrating the genuineness of the record to three
men, whose affirmations accompany all editions of the book.
THE TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES
BE IT KNOWN unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and
people, unto whom this work shall come: That we, through
‘See Appendix 1:2.
"Sec 2 Nephi 11:3, 27:12, 13; Ether 5:3, 4 ; sec also D. & C. 5:11-15 ;
sec. 17.
16 THE BOOK OF MORMON
the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,
have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a
record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites,
their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who came
from the tower of which hath been spoken. And we also
know that they have been translated by the gift and power
of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we
know of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify
that we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates;
and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and
not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that
an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and
laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and
the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace
of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld
and bear record that these things are true. And it is mar-
velous in our eyes. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord com-
manded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be
obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony
of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in
Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men,
and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ,
and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the
honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,
which is one God. Amen.
Oliver Cowdery
David Whitmer
Martin Harris
The testimony so declared was never revoked, nor even
modified by any one of the witnesses whose names are sub-
scribed to the foregoing," though all of them withdrew from
the Church, and developed feelings amounting almost to
hatred toward Joseph Smith. To the last of their lives they
maintained the same solemn declaration of the angelic visit,
and of the testimony that had been implanted in their hearts.
Shortly after the witnessing of the plates by the three, other
eight persons were permitted to see and handle the ancient
records; and in this also was prophecy fulfilled, in that it
was of old declared, that beside the three, “God sendeth more
*See Appendix 1:3.
THE TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES 17
witnesses,”t whose testimony would be added to that of the
three. Joseph Smith showed the plates to the eight whose
names are attached to the following certificate, presumably
in July, 1829.
THE TESTIMONY OF EIGHT WITNESSES
BE IT KNOWN unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and
people, unto whom this work shall come: That Joseph Smith,
Jun., the translator of this work, has shown unto us the plates
of which hath been spoken, which have the appearance of
gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has trans-
lated we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the en-
gravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient
work, and of curious workmanship. And this we bear rec-
ord with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown
unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety
that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have
spoken. And we give our names unto the world, to witness
unto the world that which we have seen. And we lie not,
God bearing witness of it.
Christian Whitmer Hiram Page
Jacob Whitmer Joseph Smith, Sen.
Peter Whitmer, Jun. Hyrum Smith
John Whitmer Samuel H. Smith
Three of the eight witnesses died out of the Church,
yet not one of the whole number ever was known to deny
his testimony concerning the Book of Mormon."
Here, then, are proofs of varied kinds regarding the re-
liability of this volume. The translator gives simple and
circumstantial account of the bringing forth of the ancient
plates, and avers that the translation was effected by the
power of God; learned linguists pronounce the engraved
characters genuine; eleven men of honest report, beside the
translator, make solemn affirmation as to the appearance of
the plates; and the nature of the booky itself sustains the
claim that it is nothing other than a translation of ancient
records.W
*2 Nephi. 11:3; also Appendix 1:4. "See Appendix 1:4. "See Appendix
1:5. "See Vitality of “Mormonism,” articles “A Messenger from the
Presence of God” and “Scriptures of the American Continent,” pp. 128-137.
18 THE BOOK OF MORMON
LECTURE II
THE BOOK OF MORMON.—Continued
ITS AUTHENTICITY
The Authenticity of the Book of Mormon constitutes our
most important consideration of the work. This subject is
one of vital interest to every earnest investigator of the word
of God, to every sincere searcher after truth. Claiming to
be, as far as the present dispensation is concerned, a new
scripture, presenting prophecies and revelations not hereto-
fore recognized in modern theology, announcing to the world
the message of a departed people, written by way of com-
mandment, and by the spirit of prophecy and revelation—
this book is entitled to the most thorough and impartial ex-
amination. Not only does the Book of Mormon merit such
consideration, it claims, even demands the same; for no one
professing belief in the power and authority of God can re-
ceive with unconcern the announcement of a new revelation,
professedly bearing the seal of divine authority. The ques-
tion of the authenticity of the Book of Mormon is therefore
one in which the world is concerned.
The Latter-day Saints base their belief in the authen-
ticity of the book on the following proofs:
1. The general agreement of the Book of Mormon with
the Bible in all related matters.
2. The fulfillment of ancient prophecies accomplished
by the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon.
3. The strict agreement and consistency of the Book of
Mormon with itself.
4. The evident truth of its contained prophecies.
To these may be added certain external, or extra-scrip-
tural evidences, amongst which are:
5. Corroborative testimony furnished by archeology and
ethnology.
ITS AUTHENTICITY 19
1. THE BOOK OF MORMON AND THE BIBLE
The Nephite and the Jewish Scriptures are found to
agree in matters of tradition, history, doctrine, and prophecy
which the separate records treat. These two volumes of
scripture were prepared on opposite hemispheres, under wide-
ly diverse conditions; yet between them there exists surpris-
ing harmony, confirmatory of divine inspiration in both. The
Book of Mormon contains a number of quotations from the
ancient Jewish scriptures, a copy of which, as far as they
had been compiled at the time of Lehi's exodus from Jeru-
salem, was brought to the western continent as part of the
record engraved on the plates of Laban. In the case of such
passages there is no essential difference between Biblical
and Book of Mormon versions, except in instances of prob-
able error in translation—usually apparent through incon-
sistency or lack of clearness in the Biblical reading. There
are, however, numerous minor variations in corresponding
parts of the two volumes; and between such, examination
usually demonstrates the superior clearness of the Nephite
scripture.
In a careful comparison of the prophecies of the Bible
with corresponding predictions contained in the Book of Mor-
mon, e. g., those relating to the birth, earthly ministry, sacri-
ficial death, and second coming of Christ Jesus; with others
referring to the scattering and subsequent gathering of
Israel; and with such as relate to the establishment of Zion
and the rebuilding of Jerusalem in the last days, each of the
records is corroborative of the other. True, there are many
predictions in one that are not found in both, but in no in-
stance has contradiction or inconsistency been pointed out.
Between the doctrinal parts of the two volumes of scripture
the same perfect harmony is found to prevail.a
2. PROPHECIES REGARDING THE BOOK OF MORMON
Ancient Prophecy has been literally fulfilled in the com-
ing forth of the Book of Mormon. One of the earliest utter-
ances directly bearing upon this subject is that of Enoch,
*See Appendix 1:5.
20 THE BOOK OF MORMON
an antediluvian prophet unto whom the Lord revealed His
purposes for all time. Witnessing in vision the corruption
of mankind, after the ascension of the Son of Man, Enoch
cried unto his God: “Wilt thou not come again upon the
earth 2 * * * And the Lord said unto Enoch: As I live, even
so will I come in the last days. * * * And the day shall come
that the earth shall rest, but before that day the heavens
Shall be darkened, and a veil of darkness shall cover the
earth; and the heavens shall shake, and also the earth; and
great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my
people will I preserve; And righteousness will I send down
out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to
bear testimony of mine Only Begotten. * * * And righteous-
ness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a
flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the
earth, unto a place which I shall prepare.” The Latter-day
Saints regard the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, to-
gether with the restoration of the Priesthood by the direct
ministration of heavenly messengers, as a fulfillment of this
prophecy, and of similar predictions contained in the Bible.
David, who sang his psalms over a thousand years be-
fore the “meridian of time,” predicted: “Truth shall spring
out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from
heaven." And so also declared Isaiah.d Ezekiel saw in
visione the coming together of the stick of Judah, and the
stick of Joseph, signifying the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
The passage last referred to reads, in the words of Ezekiel:
“The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, More-
over, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon
it, For Judah, and for 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 com-
panions: And join them one to another into one stick; and
they shall become one in thine hand.”
When we call to mind the ancient custom in the making
of books—that of writing on long strips of parchment, and
rolling the same on rods or sticks, the use of the word “stick”
bP. of G. P., Moses 7:59-62. ‘Ps. 85:11. "See Isa. 45:8. *See Ezek.,
chap. 37, particularly verses 15-20.
ITS AUTHENTICITY 21
as equivalent to “book” in the passage becomes apparent."
At the time of this utterance, the Israelites had divided into
two nations known as the kingdom of Judah and that of
Israel, or Ephraim. Plainly the separate records of Judah
and Joseph are here referred to.B Now, as we have seen, the
Nephite nation comprised the descendants of Lehi who be-
longed to the tribe of Manasseh, or Ishmael who was an
Ephraimite,h and of Zoram whose tribal relation is not def-
initely stated. The Nephites were then of the tribes of
Joseph; and their record or “stick” is as truly represented by
the Book of Mormon as in the “stick” of Judah by the Bible.
That the bringing forth of the record of Joseph or
Ephraim was to be accomplished through the direct power
of God is evident from the Lord’s exposition of the vision of
Ezekiel, wherein He says: “Behold, I will take the stick of
Joseph * * * and will put them with him, even with the stick
of Judah.” That this union of the two records was to be a
characteristic of the latter days, is evident from the predic-
tion of an event which was to follow immediately, viz., the
gathering of the tribes from the nations among which they
had been dispersed.j Comparison with other prophecies re-
lating to the gathering will conclusively prove that the great
event was predicted to take place in the latter times, prepara-
tory to the second coming of Christ.l.
Reverting to the writings of Isaiah we find that prophet
voicing the Lord’s threatenings against Ariel, or Jerusalem,
“the city where David dwelt.” Ariel was to be distressed,
burdened with heaviness and sorrow; then the prophet refers
to some people, other than Judah who occupied Jerusalem,
for he makes comparison with the latter, saying: “And it
shall be unto me as Ariel.” Concerning the fate decreed
against this other people we read: “And thou shalt be
brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy
speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be,
as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and
thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.”
*See a corresponding use of the word “roll” in Jeremiah 36:1, 2; and
its synonym “book” in verses 8, 10, 11, and 13. gCompare with Lahi's
prediction made to his son Joseph, 2 Nephi 3:12. hSee Appendix 2:1.
'Ezek. 37:19. JSame, verse 21. *See chap. 18 herein. Isa, 29:4—read
verses 1-6.
22 THE BOOK OF MORMON
Of the fulfillment of these and associated prophecies, a
latter-day apostle has written: “These predictions of Isaiah
could not refer to Ariel, or Jerusalem, because their speech
has not been ‘out of the ground,” or “low out of the dust’;
but it refers to the remnant of Joseph who were destroyed in
America upwards of fourteen hundred years ago. The Book
of Mormon describes their downfall, and truly it was great
and terrible. At the crucifixion of Christ, ‘the multitude of
their terrible ones,’ as Isaiah predicted, “became as chaff that
passeth away,’ and it took place as he further predicts, “at
an instant suddenly.' * * * This remnant of Joseph in their
distress and destruction became as Ariel. As the Roman army
lay siege to Ariel, and broughf upon her great distress and
sorrow so did the contending nations of ancient America
bring upon each other the most direful scenes of blood and
carnage. Therefore the Lord could, with the greatest pro-
priety, when speaking in reference to this event, declare
that, “It shall be unto me as Ariel.’”m
Isaiah’s striking prediction that the nation thus brought
down should “speak out of the ground,” with speech “low
out of the dust” was literally fulfilled in the bringing forth
of the Book of Mormon, the original of which was taken out
of the ground, and the voice of the record is as that of one
speaking from the dust. In continuation of the same proph-
ecy we read: “And the vision of all is become unto you
as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to
one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he
saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered
to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and
he saith, I am not learned.”n The fulfillment of this predic-
tion is claimed in the presentation of the transcript from the
plates—“the words of a book,” not the book itself—to the
learned Professor Charles Anthon, whose reply, almost in
the words of the text, has been cited in the last chapter; and
in the delivery of the book itself to the unlettered youth,
Joseph Smith.
*Orson Pratt, Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, pp. 293,
294 (Utah ed., 1891). For details of fulfillment of part of the prophecy,
See 3 Nephi, chaps. 8, 9.
*Isa. 29:11, 12.
EXTERNAL EVIDENCES 23
3. CONSISTENCY OF THE BOOK OF MORMON
The Internal Consistency of the Book of Mormon sus-
tains belief in its divine origin. The parts bear evidence of
having been written at different times and under widely
varying conditions. The style of the component books is in
harmony with the times and circumstances of their produc-
tion. The portions that were transcribed from the plates
bearing Mormon’s abridgment contain numerous interpola-
tions as comments and explanations of the transcriber; but
in the first six books, which, as already explained, are the
verbatim record of the smaller plates of Nephi, no such in-
terpolations occur. The book maintains consistency through-
out; no contradiction, no disagreements have been pointed
out.
Diversity of Style characterizes the different books.o
From what has been said regarding the several sets of plates
that constitute the original accumulation of records from
which the Book of Mormon was translated, it is evident that
the volume contains the compiled writings of a long line of
inspired scribes extending through a thousand years, this
time-range being exclusive of the earlier years of Jaredite
history. Unity of style is not to be expected under such con-
ditions.
4. THE BOOK OF MORMON SUSTAINED BY THE FUL-
FILLMENT OF ITS CONTAINED PROPHECIES
Book of Mormon Predictions are numerous and impor-
tant. Amongst the most conclusive proofs of the authenticity
of the book is that furnished by the demonstrated truth of
its contained prophecies. Prophecy is best proved in the
light of its own fulfillment. The predictions contained within
the Book of Mormon may be classed as (1) Prophecies relat-
ing to the time covered by the book itself, the fulfillment of
which is recorded therein; and (2) Prophecies relating to
times beyond the limits of the history chronicled in the book.
Prophecies of the First Class named, the fulfillment of
which is attested by the Book of Mormon record, are of minor
.*See Appendix 2:2. See especially four articles by Elder J. M. Sjodahl,
entitled “Authenticity of the Book of Mormon,” in Millennial Star, Liver-
pool, vol. 77 (1915), beginning on pages 465, 481, 497, and 513.
24 THE BOOK OF MORMON
value as proof of the authenticity of the work; for, had the
book been written by human design as fiction, both prediction
and fulfillment would have been provided for with equal care
and ingenuity. Nevertheless, to the studious and conscien-
tious reader the genuineness of the book will be apparent;
and the literal realization of the numerous and varied predic-
tions relating to the fate, then future, of the people whose
history is given in the record, as also of prophecies concern-
ing details of the birth and death of the Savior, and of His
appearing to that people in a resurrected state, must, by
their accuracy and consistency, appeal with force as evidence
of inspiration and authority in the record.
Prophecies of the Second Class, relating to a time
which to the writers was far future, are numerous and ex-
plicit. Many of them have special reference to the last
days—the dispensation of the fulness of times—and of these,
some have been already literally accomplished, others are
now in process of actual realization, while yet others are
awaiting fulfillment under specified conditions that seem now
to be rapidly approaching. Among the most remarkable of
the Book of Mormon predictions incident to the last dis-
pensation are those that relate to its own coming forth and
the effect of its publication amongst mankind. Ezekiel’s
prophecy concerning the coming together of the “sticks,” or
records, of Judah and of Ephraim has received attention.
Consider the promise made to Joseph who was sold into
Egypt, repeated by Lehi to his son Joseph—a prediction that
couples the prophecy concerning the book with that of the
seer through whose instrumentality the miracle was to be
accomplished: “But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit
of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth
my word unto the seed of thy loins—and not to the bringing
forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing
them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among
them. Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and
the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which
shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that
which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall
grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and
laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among
the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of
EXTERNAL EVIDENCES 25
their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of
my covenants, saith the Lord. And out of weakness he
shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall com-
mence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house
of Israel, saith the Lord.”p The literal fulfillment of these
utterances in the bringing forth of the Book of Mormon
through Joseph Smith is apparent.
Unto Nephi the Lord showed what would be an effect
of the new publication, declaring that in the day of Israel’s
gathering—plainly then the day of the fulness of times, as
attested by the Jewish scriptures—the words of the Nephites
should be given to the world, and should “hiss forth unto
the ends of the earth, for a standard” unto the house of
Israel; and that then the Gentiles, forgetting even their debt
to the Jews from whom they had received the Bible in which
they profess such faith, would revile and curse that branch of
the covenant people, and would reject the new scriptures, ex-
claiming: “A Bible! a Bible! we have got a Bible, and
there cannot be any more Bible,”“l Is this not the burden of
the frenzied objections raised by the Gentile world against
the Book of Mormon—that it is of necessity void because
new revelation is not to be expected ?
Now, in olden times, two witnesses were required to es-
tablish the truth of an allegation; and, said the Lord concern-
ing the dual records witnessing of Himself: “Wherefore
murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word 2
Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness
unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like
unto another ? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one
nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall
run together the testimony of the two nations shall run to-
gether also.” 4.
Associated with these predictions of the joint testimony
of Jewish and Nephite scriptures is another prophecy, the
consummation of which is now expectantly yet patiently
awaited by the faithful. Additional scriptures are promised,
specifically the records of the Lost Tribes. Note this word
of promise: “Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye
need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need
P2 Nephi 3:11-13. “12 Nephi 29:3; read the chapter. F2 Nephi 29:8.
26 THE BOOK OF MORMON
ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written. * * *
For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write
it; and I shall speak unto the Nephites and they shall write
it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house
of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it;
and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they
shall write it. And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall
have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have
the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall
have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost
tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the
Jews.”s
5. CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE FURNISHED BY
MODERN DISCOVERIES
The Archeology and Ethnology of the western continent
contribute some corroborative evidence in support of the
Book of Mormon. These sciences are confessedly unable to
explain in any decisive manner the origin of the native
American races; nevertheless, investigation in this field has
yielded results that are fairly definite, and with the most im-
portant of these the Book of Mormon account is in general
accord. No exhaustive treatment will be attempted here, as
such would require space far beyond present limitations. For
detailed consideration of the subject the student should con-
sult works especially devoted thereto.t Among the most
significant of the discoveries respecting the aboriginal in-
habitants, are the following:
1. That America was peopled in very ancient times,
probably soon after the building of the Tower of Babel.
2. That the continent has been successively occupied
by different peoples, at least by two classes, or so-called
races, at widely separated periods.
3. That the aboriginal inhabitants came from the East,
probably from Asia, and that the latter occupants, or those
s2 Nephi 29:10, 12. tThe student is especially referred to the com-
prehensive work by Elder B. H. Roberts, New Witnesses for God; vol. 2,
chaps. 24 to 29 inclusive; and vol. 3, chap. 20 to 34 inclusive.
EXTERNAL EVIDENCES 27
of the second period, were closely allied to, if not identical
with, the Israelites.
4. That the existing native races of America form a
common stock.
From the outline already given of the historical part
of the Book of Mormon, it is seen that each of these dis-
coveries is fully sustained by that record. Thus it is stated
therein:
1. That America was settled by the Jaredites, who
came direct from the scenes of Babel.
2. That the Jaredites occupied the land for about eight-
een hundred and fifty years, and that at about the time of
their extinction, near 590 B. C., Lehi and his company came
to this continent, where they developed into the segregated
nations Nephites and Lamanites. The former becoming ex-
tinct near 385 A. D.—about a thousand years after Lehi's ar-
rival on these shores—the latter continuing in a degenerate
condition until the present, and being represented by the
Indian tribes.
3. That Lehi, Ishmael, and Zoram, the progenitors of
both Nephites and Lamanites, were undoubtedly Israelites,
Lehi being of the tribe of Manasseh while Ishmael was an
Ephraimite, and that the colony came direct from Jerusalem,
in Asia.
4. That the existing Indian tribes are descendants of
the immigrants whose history is contained in the Book of
Mormon, and that therefore they have sprung from progen-
itors who were of the house of Israel.
Now let us examine some of the evidence bearing on
these points presented by investigators, most of whom knew
nothing of the Book of Mormon, and none of whom accept
the book as authentic."
"Many of the citations which follow, used in connection with the extra-
scriptural evidence supporting the Book of Mormon, have been brought
together by writers among our people, particularly by Elder George
Reynolds; see also series of articles entitled “American Antiquities,” in
Millennial Star, Liverpool, vol. 21 ; a series of articles on “The Divine
Origin of the Book of Mormon,” in Contributor, Salt Lake City, vol. 2, by
Moses. Thatcher; and a tract, A Prophet of Latter Days, Liverpool, 1898,
by Edwin F. Parry.
28 THE BOOK OF MORMON
1. Concerning the Ancient Colonization of America—
A recognized authority on American antiquities gives the
following evidence and inference: “One of the arts known
to the builders of Babel was that of brick-making. This art
was also known to the people who built the works in the
west. The knowledge of copper was known to the people of
the plains of Shinar; for Noah must have communicated it,
as he lived three hundred and fifty (350) years among them
after the flood. Also copper was known to the antediluvians.
Copper was also known to the authors of the western monu-
ments. Iron was known to the antediluvians. It was also
known to the ancients of the west. However, it is evident
that very little iron was among them, as very few instances
of its discovery in their works have occurred; and for this
very reason we draw a conclusion that they came to this
country soon after the dispersion.”y
Lowry, in his “Reply to official inquiries respecting the
Aborigines of America,” concludes concerning the peopling
of the western continent, “that the first settlement was made
shortly after the confusion of tongues at the building of the
Tower of Babel.”w
Professor Waterman of Boston says of the progenitors
of the American Indians: “When and whence did they come 2
Albert Galatin, one of the profoundest philologists of the age,
concluded that, so far as language afforded any clues, the
time of their arrival could not have been long after the dis-
persion of the human family.”Y
Pritchard writes of America’s ancient inhabitants, that
“the era of their existence as a distinct and isolated race
must probably be dated as far back as that time which sep-
arated into nations the inhabitants of the old world, and
gave to each branch of the human family its primitive lan-
guage and individuality.”y
A native Mexican author, Ixtilxochitl, “fixes the date of
the first peopling of America about the year 2000 B. C.; this
VPriest, American Antiquities, 1934, p. 219. WSchoolcraft's Ethnologi-
cal Researches, vol. 3 (1853). *Extracts from lecture by Prof. Waterman,
delivered in Bristol, England, 1849; quoted in pamphlet by Edwin F.
Parry, A Prophet of Latter. Days (Liverpool, 1898). yPritchard, National
History of Man (London, 1845).
EXTERNAL EVIDENCES 29
closely accords with that given by the Book of Mormon,
which positively declares that it occurred at the time of the
dispersion, when God in His anger scattered the people upon
the face of the whole earth.” “Referring to the quotations
from Ixtilxochitl, seventeen hundred and sixteen years are
said to have elapsed from the creation to the flood. Moses
places it sixteen hundred and fifty-six, a difference of only
sixty years." They agree exactly as to the number of cubits,
fifteen, which the waters prevailed over the highest moun-
tains. Such a coincidence can lead to but one conclusion, the
identity of origin of the two accounts.”
John T. Short, quoting from Clavigero, says: “The
Chiapanese have been the first peoplers Óf the New World,
if we give credit to their traditions. They say that Votan,
the grandson of that respectable old man who built the great
ark to save himself and family from the deluge, and one of
those who undertook the building of that lofty edifice, which
was to reach up to heaven, went by express command to the
Lord to people that land. They say also that the first people
came from the quarter of the north, and that when they ar-
rived at Soconusco, they separated, some going to inhabit
the country of Nicaragua, and others remaining at Chiapas.”
2. Concerning the Successive Occupation of America by
Different Peoples in Ancient Times—It has been stated by
eminent students of American archeology that two distinct
classes, by some designated as separate races of mankind, in-
habited this continent in early times. Professor F. W. Put-
namº is even more definite in his assertion that one of these
ancient races spread from the north, the other from the south.
Henry C. Walsh, in an article entitled “Copan, a City of the
Dead,” gives many interesting details of excavation and
other work prosecuted by Gordon under the auspices of the
Peabody expedition; and adds, “All this points to successive
periods of occupation, of which there are other evidences.”f
*Moses Thatcher, Contributor, vol. 2, p. 227, Salt Lake City, 1881.
*See Appendix 2:3.
bMoses Thatcher, Contributor, vol. 2, p. 228.
e.John T. Short, North Americans of Antiquity, p. 204; Harper Bros.,
New York, 2nd ed. 1888. See also Contributor, Salt Lake City, vol. 2, p. 259.
dSee Putnam, “Pre-historic Remains in the Ohio Valley,” Century
Magazine, March, 1890.
eSee Harper’s Weekly (New York), September, 1897, p. 879; article by
Henry C. Walsh. (See Appendix 2:4.
30 THE BOOK OF MORMON
3. Concerning the Advent of at Least One Division of
the Ancient Americans from the East, Probably from Asia,
and Their Israelitish Origin—Confirmatory evidence of the
belief that the aboriginal Americans sprang from the peoples
of the eastern hermisphere is found in the similarity of record
and tradition on the two continents, regarding the creation,
the deluge, and other great events of history. Boturini,” who
is quoted by writers on American archeology, says: “There
is no Gentile nation that refers to primitive events with
Such certainty as the Indians do. They give us an account
of the creation of the world, of the deluge,h of the confusion
of languages at the Tower of Babel, and of all other periods
and ages of the world, and of the long peregrinations which
their people had in Asia representing the specific years by
their characters; and in the seven Conejos (rabbits) they tell
us of the great eclipse that occurred at the death of Christ,
Our Lord. - -
Similar evidence of the common source of eastern and
western traditions of great events in primitive times is fur-
nished in the writings of Short, already quoted, and by Bald-
win," Clavigero, Kingsborough, Sahagun, Prescott, m School-
craft," Squierso, and others.p -- -
John T. Short adds his testimony to the evidence of the
aboriginal inhabitants of America being of “Old World
origin,” but admits his inability to determine when or whence
they came to this continent." Waterman, before cited, says:
“This people could not have been created in Africa, for its
gChevalier Boturini; he spent several years investigating the antiquities
of Mexico and Central America, and collected many valuable records of
most of which he was despoiled by the Spanish ; he published a work on
the subject of his studies in 1746. His mention of a “great eclipse” at the
time of the crucifixion has reference to the “darkness over all the land”
(Matt. 27:45), which could not have been due to a solar eclipse, as this
phenomenon is possible only at new moon, and the Jewish Passover, in the
time of which the crucifixion occurred, came at full moon.
hSee Appendix 2:5. Baldwin, Ancient America, Harper Bros., New
York, 1871. jQlavigero, quoted by Prof. Short in North Americans of
Antiquity, p. 140. KLord Kingsborough, Mexican Antiquities of the State
of New York, 1851. See Bancroft’s Native versal de Nueva Espana.
mW. H. Prescott, Conquest of Mexico. "Schoolcraft, Ethnological Re-
searches (1851), see vol. 1. oSquiers, Antiquities of the State of New
York, 185i. PSee Bancroft's Native Races, etc., vols. 3 and 5; Donnelly's
Atlantis, p. 391, 1882; see also Appendix 2:7. qJohn T. Short, North
Americans of Antiquity, p. 517 (1879).
EXTERNAL EVIDENCES 31
inhabitants were widely dissimilar from those of America;
nor in Europe, which was without a native people agreeing
at all with American races; then to Asia alone could they look
for the origin of the Americans.”r
Lord Kingsborough, in his comprehensive and standard
work, refers to a manuscript by Las Casas, the Spanish
Bishop of Chiapa, which writing is preserved in the convent
of St. Dominic, Mexico; in this the bishop states that a knowl-
edge of the Godhead was found to exist among the natives
of Yucatan. One of the bishop’s emissaries wrote: “He had
met with a principal lord who, on his questioning him re-
specting the faith and ancient religion which prevailed in
that country, informed him that they know and believed in
God who resided in heaven; and that this God was the Father,
Son and Holy Ghost; and that the Father was named Yeona,
who had created men and all things, and that the Son was
called Bacab, who was born of a virgin named Chilirias, who
was in heaven with God; and that the name of the mother
of Chibirias was Ischel; and that the Holy Ghost was called
Echuah. Bacab, the Son, they said, was put to death by
Eopuco, who scourged him and put a crown of thorns upon
his head, and placed him with his arms stretched out upon a
beam of wood, to which they believed that he had not been
nailed but tied, and that he died there, and remained during
three days dead; and that on the third day he came to life
and ascended into heaven, where he is with his Father; and
immediately afterwards Echuah came, who is the Holy Ghost,
and filled the earth with whatever it stood in need of.”s
Rosales affirms a tradition among the Chileans to the
effect that their forefathers were visited by a wonderful per-
sonage, full of grace and power, who wrought many miracles
among them, and taught them of the Creator who dwelt in
heaven in the midst of glorified hosts.t. Prescott refers to
the symbol of the cross, which was found by the followers
of Cortez to be common among the natives of Mexico and
Central America. In addition to this sign of a belief in
rExtract from lecture by Prof. Waterman, delivered in Bristol, England,
1849; quoted by Edwin F. Parry in pamphlet, A Prophet of Latter Days,
Liverpool, 1898.
*Kingsborough's Antiquities of Mexico, vol. 6, pp. 160, 161. ‘Rosales
History of Chile; see Pres. Taylor's Mediation and Atonement, pp. 200-202.
32 THE BOOK OF MORMON
Christ, a ceremony suggestive of analogy to the Sacrament
of the communion was witnessed with astonishment by the
invaders. Aztec priests were seen to prepare a cake of
flour, mixed with blood, which they consecrated and gave to
the people, who, as they ate, “showed signs of humiliation
and sorrow, declaring it was the flesh of Deity.”u
The Mexicans recognize a Deity in Quetzalcoatl, the tra-
ditional account of whose life and death is closely akin to
our history of the Christ, so that, says President John Taylor,
“we can come to no other conclusion than that Quetzalcoatl
and Christ are the same being.”v Lord Kingsborough speaks
of a painting of Quetzalcoatl, “in the attitude of a person
crucified, with the impression of nails in his hands and feet,
but not actually upon the cross.” The same authority fur-
ther says, “The seventy-third plate of the Borgian MS. is
the most remarkable of all, of Quetzalcoatl is not only rep-
resented there as crucified upon a cross of Greek form, but
his burial and descent into hell are also depicted in a very
curious manner.” And again: “The Mexicans believe that
Quetzalcoatl took human nature upon him, partaking of all
the infirmities of man, and was not exempt from sorrow,
pain, or death, which he suffered voluntarily to atone for
the sins of man.”w
The source of this knowledge of Christ and the Godhead
is apparent to the student of the Book of Mormon. We learn
from that scripture that the progenitors of the native Amer-
ican races, for centuries prior to the time of Christ’s birth,
lived in the light of direct revelation, which, coming to them
through their authorized prophets, showed the purposes of
God respecting the redemption of mankind; and, moreover,
that the risen Redeemer ministered unto them in person, and
established His Church among them with all its essential
ordinances. The people have fallen into a state of spiritual
degeneracy; many of their traditions are sadly distorted and
disfigured by a mixture of superstition and human inven-
tion; yet the origin of their knowledge is plainly authentic.
"Presscott, Conquest of Mexico, vol. 2; Appendix, part 1, page 389.
*Mediation and Atonement, p. 201.
* Lord Kingsborough, Antiquities of Mexico; see quotations by Pres.
John Taylor, Mediation and Atonement, p. 202.
EXTERNAL EVIDENCES 33
4. Concerning a Common Origin of Native American
Races—That the many tribes and nations among the Indians
are of common parentage is generally admitted; the con-
clusion is based on the evident close relationship in their
languages, traditions and customs. “Mr. Lewis H. Morgan
finds evidence that the American aborigines had a common
origin in what he calls ‘their system of consanguinity and
affinity.’ He says, “The Indian nations from the Atlantic to
the Rocky Mountains, and from the Arctic Sea to the Gulf
of Mexico, with the exception of the Eskimo, have the
Same System. It is elaborate and complicated in its general
form and details; and, while deviations from uniformity
occur in the systems of different stocks, the radical features
are in the main constant. This identity in the essential char-
acteristics of a system so remarkable tends to show that it
must have been transmitted with the blood to each stock
from a common original source. It affords the strongest
evidence yet obtained of unity in origin of the Indian nations
within the regions defined.’”x
Bradford's summary of conclusions regarding the origin
and characteristics of the ancient Americans sets forth:
“That they were all of the same origin, branches of the
same race, and possessed of similar customs and institu-
tions.”y
Written Language of the Ancient Americans—To these
secular, or extra-scriptural, evidences of the authenticity of
the Book of Mormon may be added the agreement of the
record with discoveries regarding the written language of
these ancient peoples. The prophet Nephi states that he
made his record on the plates in “the language of the Egyp-
tians,” and we are further told that the brazen plates of
Laban were inscribed in the same.a. Mormon, who abridged
the voluminous writings of his predecessors, and prepared
the plates from which the modern translation was made,
also employed Egyptian characters. His son Moroni, who
completed the record, declares this fact; but, recognizing a
difference between the writing of his day and that on the
*Baldwin's Ancient America, p. 66. Bradford's American Antiquities
under title “Conclusions,” p. 431, 1841.
* 1 Nephi I:2. "See Mosiah 1:4.
34 THE BOOK OF MORMON
earlier plates, he attributed the change to the natural muta-
tion through time, and speaks of his own record and that
of his father, Mormon, as being written in the “reformed
Egyptian.”h
But the Egyptian is not the only eastern language found
to be represented in the relics of American antiquities; the
Hebrew occurs in this connection with at least equal sig-
nificance. That the Hebrew tongue should have been used
by Lehi's descendants is most natural, inasmuch as they were
of the House of Israel, transferred to the western continent
directly from Jerusalem. That the ability to read and write
in that language continued with the Nephites until the time
of their extinction is evident from Moroni’s statement re-
garding the language used on the plates of Mormon: “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.”
The following instances are taken from an instructive
array brought together by Elder George Reynolds.” Several
of the early Spanish writers claim that the natives of some
portions of the land were found speaking a corrupt Hebrew.
“Las Casas so affirms with regard to the inhabitants of the
island of Hayti. Lafitu wrote a history wherein he main-
tained that the Caribee language was radically Hebrew.
Isaac Nasci, a learned Jew of Surinam, says of the language
of the people of Guiana, that all their substantives are
Hebrew.” Spanish historians record the early discovery of
Hebrew characters on the western continent. “Malvenda
says that the natives of St. Michael had tombstones, which
the Spaniards digged up, with several ancient Hebrew in-
scriptions upon them.”
bMormon 9:32.
“Mormon 9:32, 33. See especially articles entitled “Føyptology and
the Book of Mormon,” by Robert C. Webb, in Improvement Era. vol. 26,
Salt Lake City, February, March, April, 1923; also article “The Book
of Mornion Platos,” loy J. M. Sjodahl in the April issue same volume; and
Appendix 2:6. "Reynolds, “The Language of the Book of Mormon,” in
The Contributor, Salt Lake City, vol. 17, p. 236
EXTERNAL EVIDENCES 35
In all such writings, the characters and the language
are allied to the most ancient form of Hebrew, and show none
of the vowel signs and terminal letters which were introduced
into the Hebrew of the eastern continent after the return
of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity. This is consistent
with the fact that Lehi and his people left Jerusalem shortly
before the captivity, and therefore prior to the introduction
of the changes in the written language.e
Another Test—Let not the reader of the Book of Mormon
content himself with such evidences as have been cited con-
cerning the authenticity of this reputed scripture. There is
promised a surer and more effectual means of ascertaining
the truth or falsity of this volume. Like other scriptures,
the Book of Mormon is to be comprehended through the
spirit of scripture, and this is obtainable only as a gift from
God. But this gift is promised unto all who shall seek for
it. Then to all let us commend the counsel of the last writer
in the volume, Moroni, the solitary scribe who sealed the
book, afterward the angel of the record who brought it
forth: “And when ye shall receive these things, I would
exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in
the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye
shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith
in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the
power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy
Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”ſ
*See an instructive series of articles in Improvement Era, Salt Lake
City, vol. 17, by Thomas W. Brookbank, entitled “Hebrew Idioms and
Analogies in the Book of Mormon.”
fMoroni 10:4, 5.
36 THE BOOK OF MORMON
REFERENCES
BIBLICAL ALLUSIONS TO THE BOOK OF MORMON
For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape
* Mount Zion : the zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall do this—2 Kings
19:31.
"The vision of all is become as the words of a book that is sealed; this
is delivered to the learned and the unlearned—Isa. 29:11, 12.
Note that at the foretold time of the coming forth of this book people
would be led away from the doctrines of God by the precepts of
men—Isa. 29:13 ; compare the words of the Lord Jesus Christ to
Joseph Smith : They teach for doctrines the commandments of men.—
P. of G. P., p. 48.
The people spoken of in the book were to be brought down and their
speech was to be low out of the dust—Isa. 39:4. Compare: Truth shall
spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from
heaven—Ps. 85 :11.
The stick or record of Judah and the children of Israel his compan-
ions; also the stick of Joseph, called also the stick of Ephraim,
and for all the house of Israel his companions, these to be one in
the Lord's hands—Ezek. 37:16-19.
And other sheep I have which are not of this fold: they shall hear
my voice—John 10:16. Compare the words of the resurrected Lord
to the Nephites that they were the other sheep of another fold—
3 Nephi 15:17-24.
BOOK OF MORMON TESTIMONY RELATING TO ITSELF
The words of the Lord to Nephi, son of Lehi, relating to the bringing
forth of scriptures other than the Holy Bible; Unto the Gentiles in
this day, much of the gospel, plain and precious, to be given:
the Nephites to write many things, which, after the destruction
of the people as a nation, were to be hidden up, later to come
forth unto the Gentiles; these writings to contain the record of
the gospel—1 Nephi 13:34-37.
Nephi, who had kept the records of his people, was commanded by
the Lord to make other plates and to engrave upon them as directed
—2 Nephi 5:29-33.
The word of the Lord through Nephi, son of Lehi, that those who are
to be destroyed shall yet speak out of the ground, with speech low
out of the dust; their book to be brought forth in a day when the
Gentiles had built up many churches—2 Nephi 29:16-22.
Compare Ps. 85:10-13 cited above.
The prayer of Enos that the Lord would prepare a record of his people
and bring it forth in due time—Enos 13-18.
Mormon, who abridged and compiled the ancient records, predicts their
coming forth—Mormon 5:12-15.
Moroni, son of Mormon, completes his father's record, and testifies to
its coming forth—Mormon 8:18-17, 25–32.
REFERENCES 37
Nephi, son of Lehi, predicts the bringing forth of a book which contains
the words of them that have slumbered; the one appointed to bring
it forth is to deliver the words of the book, but not the book, to
another—2 Nephi 27:6-11.
The book itself to be hid from the world, but to be shown to three
witnesses, and afterward to a few according to the will of God.
The unsealed part to be translated, the sealed part to remain for a
reason—2 Nephi 27:12-25.
The book to come forth among the Gentiles shall establish the truth of
the first, or the Holy Bible; and both shall be established in one—
1 Nephi 13:39-42.
Concerning him who was appointed to bring forth the book in the
last days—2 Nephi 3:6-16; 27:9-12; 15, 19; Mormon 8:14-16.
Many of the Gentiles reject the book, saying: A Bible : A Bible ! We
have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible—2 Nephi,
chap. 29. Note that the Gentile world has derisively called the Book
of Mormon the “Mormon Bible.”
The resurrected Christ commanded the Nephites to write the words he
had given unto them—3 Nephi 16:4; read the entire chapter.
LATTER-DAY REVELATION CONCERNING THE BOOK OF
MORMON
To Joseph Smith was given the power to translate the ancient records
constituting the Book of Mormon—D. & C. 1:29; see also 20:8–12 ;
135-3.
Concerning the loss of certain manuscripts containing the translation
of parts of the writings of Mormon—D. & C., sec. 3. Compare 2 Nephi
5:30; 1 Nephi, chap. 9; Words of Mormon 7.
Concerning the testimony of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon—
D. C. 5:1-18.
Joseph Smith called and chosen to bring forth the Book of Mormon--
D. & C. 24 :1
And with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the Book of
Mormon—D. & C. 27:5.
Elders of the Church to teach the principles of the gospel contained
in the Bible and the Book of Mormon--D. & C. 42:12.
Account of the revelation to Joseph Smith. concerning the existence of
the ancient records, and incidents relating to its translation—P. of
G. P. pp. 50-56. -
And he has translated the book, even that part which I have com-
manded him, and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true—
D. & C. 17:6; read the entire section, which is directed to the
three witnesses prior to their reviewing the plates.
A knowledge of the Savior attested by both the Bible and the Book of
Mormon—D. & C. 3:16-20.
38 THE BOOK OF MORMON
APPENDIX 1 — Notes Relating to Lecture 1.
1. BOOK OF MORMON TITLE PAGE-- “I wish to mention here
that the title page of the Book of Mormon is a literal translation, taken
from the very last leaf on the left hand side of the collection or book
of plates, which contained the record which has been translated, the
language of the whole running the same as all Hebrew writing in gen-
eral: and that said title page is not by any means a modern composi-
tion, either of mine or any other man who has lived or does live in
this generation.”—Joseph Smith, Hist. of the Church, vol 1, p. 71.
2. THEORIES conCERNING THE ORIGIN OF THE BOOK OF
MORMON. THE SPAULDING STORY-The true account of the origin
of the Book of Mormon was rejected by the public in general, who
thus assumed the responsibility of explaining in some plausible way
the source of the record. Many vague theories, based on the incredible
assumption that the book was the work of a single author, were put
forward: of these the most famous, and indeed, the only one that
lived long enough in public favor to be discussed, is the so-called
“Spaulding story.” Solomon Spaulding, a clergyman of Amity, Pa.,
wrote a romance to which no title other than Manuscript. Story was
prefixed. Twenty years after the author’s death, a Mr. Hurlburt, an
apostate from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an-
nounced a resemblance between the story and the Book of Mormon,
and expressed as his opinion that the work presented to the world by
Joseph Smith was nothing but Spaulding’s romance revised and am-
plified. The manuscript was lost for a time, and, in the absence of
proof to the contrary, stories of the parallelism between the two works
multiplied. But, in 1884, President James H. Fairchild of Oberlin
College, Ohio, and a literary friend, a Mr. Rice, in examining a hetero-
geneous collection of old papers that had been purchased by the latter,
found the original story. The gentlemen made a careful comparison of
the manuscript and the Book of Mormon, and, with the sole desire
of subserving the purposes of truth, made public their results. President
Fairchild published an article in the New York Observer, Feb. 5, 1885,
in which he said: “The theory of the origin of the Book of Mormon in
the traditional manuscript of Solomon Spaulding will probably have to
be relinquished. * * * Mr. Rice, myself and others compared it (the
Spaulding manuscript) with the Book of Mormon and could detect no
resemblance between the two. * * * Some other explanation of the Book
of Mormon must be found, if any explanation is required.”
The manuscript was deposited in the library of Oberlin College,
Ohio, where it now reposes. Still, the theory of the Manuscript Found,
as Spaulding's story has come to be known, is occasionally pressed into
service in the cause of anti-‘‘Mormon” zeal by some whom we will
charitably believe to be ignorant of the facts set forth by President
Fairchild. A letter of more recent date, written by that gentleman in
reply to an inquiring correspondent, was published in the Millennial
Star, I.iverpool, Nov. 3, 1898, and is as follows:
OBERLIN COLLEGE, OHIO
October 17, 1895
J. R. HINDLEY, Esq.,
Dear Sir 3–We have in our College Library an original manuscript
of Solomon Spaulding unquestionably genuine.
APPENDIX 1. 39
I found it in 1884 in the hands of Hon. L. L. Rice of Honolulu,
Hawaiian Islands. He was formerly State Printer at Columbus, Ohio,
and before that, publisher of a paper in Painesville, whose preceding
publisher had visited Mr. Spaulding and obtained the manuscript from
her. It had lain among his old papers forty years or more, and was
º: out by my asking him to look up anti-slavery documents among
18 paper's. .
The manuscript has upon it the signatures of several men of
Conneaut, Ohio, who had heard Spaulding read it and knew it to be his.
No one can see it and question its genuineness. The manuscript has been
printed twice at least—once by the Mormons of Salt Lake City, and once
by the Josephite Mormons of Iowa. The Utah Mormons obtained the
copy of Mr. Rice at Honolulu, and the Josephites got it of me after it
came into my possession.
This manuscript is not the original of the Book of Mormon.
Yours very truly,
JAS. H. FAIRCHILD
Printed copies of the Manuscript Found are obtainable, and any
inquirer may examine for himself. For further information see The
Myth of the Manuscript Found, by Elder George Reynolds, Salt Lake
City; Whitney’s History of Utah, vol. 1, pp. 46-56; Elder George
Reynolds, preface to the story as issued by the Deseret News Company,
Salt Lake City, 1886; and the story itself. See also three articles by
President Joseph F. Smith in Improvement Era, vol. 3, pp. 241, 377, 451.
See critical treatment in The Real Mormonism, chap. 3, . by Robert C.
Webb, New York, 1916.
3. THE THREE WITNESSES — Oliver Cowdery — born at Wells,
Rutland County, Vt., October, 1805; baptized May 15, 1829; died at
Richmond, Mo., March 3, 1850.
David Whitmer—Born near Harrisburg, Pa., January 7, 1805; bap-
tized.June, 1829; excommunicated from the Church, April 13, 1838; died
at Richmond, Mo., January 25, 1888.
Martin Harris-Born at Easttown, Saratoga County, N. Y., May 18,
1783; baptized, 1830; removed to Utah, August, 1870, and died at Clarks-
ton, Cache County, Utah, July 10, 1875.
4. THE EIGHT WITNESSES — Christian Whitmer — Born January
18, 1798; baptized April 11, 1830; died in full fellowship in the Church,
Clay County, Mo., November 27, 1835. He was the eldest son of Peter
Whitmer.
Jacob Whitmer—Second son of Peter Whitmer ; born in Pennsyl-
vania, January 27, 1800; baptized April 11, 1830; died April 21, 1856,
having previously withdrawn from the Church.
Peter Whitmer, Jr.—Born September 27, 1809; fifth son of Peter
Whitmer; baptized June, 1829; died a faithful member of the Church,
at or near Liberty, Clay County, Mo., September 22, 1836.
John Whitmer—Third son of Peter Whitmer; born August 27, 1802;
baptized June, 1829; excommunicated from the Church March 10, 1838;
died at Far West, Mo., July 11, 1878.
Hiram Page—Born in Vermont, 1800; baptized April 11, 1830;
withdrew from the Church, 1838; died in Ray County, Mo., August 12,
1852.
40 THE BOOK OF MORMON
Joseph Smith, Sr.—The Prophet Joseph's father, born at Topsfield,
Essex Co., Mass., July 12, 1771 : baptized April 6, 1830; ordained
Patriarch to the Church December 18, 1833; died in full fellowship in
the Church at Nauvoo, Ill., Sept. 14, 1840.
Hyrum Smith—Second son of Joseph Smith, Sr., born at Tun-
bridge, Vt., February 9, 1800; baptized June, 1829; appointed one
of the First Presidency of the Church November 7, 1837; Patriarch
to the Church January 19, 1841; martyred with his brother the
Prophet, at Carthage, Ill., June 27, 1844.
Samuel Harrison Smith—Born Tunbridge, Vt., March 13, 1808;
fourth son of Joseph Smith, Sr., baptized May 25, 1829; died July
30, 1844. -
5. CONSISTENCY OF THE BOOK OF MORMON.—“If the his-
torical parts of the Book of Mormon be compared with what little is
known from other sources, concerning the history of ancient America,
there will be found much evidence to substantiate its truth ; but there
cannot be found one truth among all the gleanings of antiquity that
clashes with the historical truths of the Book of Mormon. If the
prophetical part of this wonderful book be compared with the prophetical
declarations of the Bible, there will be found much evidence in the
latter to establish the truth of the former. But though there are
many predictions in the Book of Mormon, relating to the great events
of the last days, which the Bible gives us no information about, yet
there is nothing in the predictions of the Bible that contradicts in the
least the predictions of the Book of Mormon. If the doctrinal part of
the Book of Mormon be compared with the doctrines of the Bible, there
will be found the same perfect harmony which we find on the com-
parison of the prophetical parts of the two books. Although there are
many points of the doctrine of Christ that are far more plain and
definite in the Book of Mormon than in the Bible, and many things re-
vealed in relation to doctrine that never could be fully learned from
the Bible, yet there are not any items of doctrine in the two sacred
books that contradict each other or clash in the least. If the various
books which enter into the collection called the Book of Mormon be
carefully compared with each other, there will be found nothing con-
tradictory in history, in prophecy, or in doctrine. * * * If we compare
the historical, prophetical and doctrinal parts of the Book of Mormon
with the great truths of science and nature, we find no contradictions—
no absurdities — nothing unreasonable. The most perfect harmony
therefore exists between the great truths revealed in the Book of
Mormon and all other known truths, whether religious, historical or
scientific.”—Apostle Orson Pratt in Divine Authenticity of the Book
of Mormon, p. 56.
APPENDIX 2 41
APPENDIX 2 – Notes Relating to Lecture 2.
1. ISHMAEL AN EPHRAIMITE– “The Prophet Joseph informed
us that the record of Lehi was contained on the one hundred six-
teen pages that were first translated and subsequently stolen, and
of which an abridgment is given us in the First Book of Nephi, which
is the record of Nephi individually, he himself being of the lineage of
Manasseh ; but that Ishmael was of the lineage of Ephraim, and that
his sons married into Lehi's family, and Lehi's sons married Ish-
mael’s daughters, thus fulfilling the words of Jacob upon Ephraim
and Manasseh in the 48th chapter of Genesis (verse 16) which
says: “And let my name be named on them, and the name of my
fathers Abraham and Isaac ; and let them grow into a multitude in the
midst of the earth.” Thus these descendants of Manasseh and Ephraim
grew together upon this American continent, with a sprinkling from
the house of Judah, from whom Mulek descended, who left Jerusalem
eleven years after Lehi, and founded the colony afterwards known as
Zarahemla and found by Mosiah—thus making a combination, an inter-
mixture of Ephraim and Manasseh with the remnants of Judah, and
for aught we know, the remnants. of some other tribes that might have
accompanied Mulek. And such have grown up upon the American con-
tinent.”—From “Discourse by Apostle Erastus Snow,” at Logan, Utah,
May 6, 1882; see Journal of Discourses, vol. 23, pp. 184, 185.
2. DIVERSITY OF LITERARY STYLE IN THE BOOK OF MOR-
MON−“There is a marked difference in the literary style of Nephi and
some of the other earlier prophets from that of Mormon and Moroni.
Mormon and his son are more direct and take fewer words to express
their ideas than did the earlier writers; at least their manner is, to most
readers, the more pleasing. Amos, the son of Jacob, has also a style
peculiar to himself. There is another noticeable fact that when original
records or discourses, such as the record of Limhi, the sermons of Alma,
Amulek, etc., the epistles of Helaman, and others, are introduced into
Mormon's abridgment, words and expressions are used that appear no-
where else in the Book of Mormon. This diversity of style, expression,
and wording is a very pleasing incidental testimony to the truth of the
claim made for the Book of Mormon—that it is a compilation of the
work of many writers.”—From Lectures on the Book of Mormon by
Elder George Reynolds.
3. MEXICAN DATE OF THE DELUGE–In speaking of the time
of the Deluge as given by the Mexican author, Ixtilxochitl, Elder George
Reynolds says: “There is a remarkable agreement between this writer’s
statements and the Book of Genesis. The time from the fall to the flood
only differs sixty, possibly only five years, if the following statement
in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants (107:49) regarding Enoch lengthens
the chronology: “And he saw the Lord and he walked with him, and was
before his face continually; and he walked with God three hundred and
sixty-five years, making him four hundred and thirty years old when he
was translated.’” The same statement is made in the Pearl of Great
Price (Moses 7:68).-‘‘External Evidences of the Book of Mormon,” by
Elder George Reynolds in Contributor, vol. 17, p. 274.
4. ANCIENT CIVILIZATION IN AMERICA—“That a civilization
once flourished in these regions (Central America and Mexico, much
higher than any the Spanish conquerors found upon their arrival, there
42 THE BOOK OF MORMON
can be no doubt. By far the most important work that has been done
among the remains of the old Maya civilization has been carried on by
the Peabody Museum of Harvard College, through a series of expeditions
it has sent to the buried city now called Copan, in Spanish Honduras. In
a beautiful valley near the borderland of Guatemala, surrounded by steep
mountains and watered by a winding river, the hoary city lies wrapped
in the sleep of ages. The ruins of Copan, although in a more advanced
state of destruction than those of the Maya cities of Yucatan, have a
general similarity to the latter in the design of the buildings, and in the
sculptures, while the characters in the inscriptions are essentially the
same. It would seem, therefore, that Copan was a city of the Mayas;
but if so it must have been one of their most ancient settlements, fallen
into decay long before the cities of Yucatan reached their prime. The
Maya civilization was totally distinct from the Aztec or Mexican; it
was an older and also a much higher civilization.” Henry C. Walsh, in
article, “Copan—a City of the Dead.” Harper's Weekly, September, 1897.
The following statements are derived from Bradford’s “Conclusions,”
p. 431, in his American Antiquities, published in 1841, relating to the
ancient inhabitants of America:
“That they were all of the same origin, branches of the same race,
and possessed of similar customs and institutions.
“That they were populous, and occupied a great extent of territory.
“That , they had arrived at a considerable degree of civilization,
were associated in large communities, and lived in extensive cities.
“That they possessed the use of many of the metals, such as lead,
copper, gold and silver, and probably the art of working in them.
- “That they sculptured in stone, and sometimes used that material
in the construction of their edifices.
“That they had the knowledge of the arch of receding steps; of the
art of pottery producing urns and utensils formed with taste and con-
structed upon the principles of chemical composition; and the art of
brickmaking.
“That they worked the salt springs and manufactured salt.
“That they were an agricultural people, living under the influence
and protection of regular forms of governments.
“That they possessed a decided system of religion, and a mythology
connected with astronomy, which, with its sister science, geometry was
in the hands of the priesthood.
“That they were skilled in the art of fortification.
“That the epoch of their original settlement in the United States
is of great antiquity; and that the only indications of their origin to
be gathered from the locality of their ruined monuments, point toward
Mexico.”
5. AMERICAN TRADITIONS CONCERNING THE DELUGE–
“Don Francisco Munoz de la Vega, the Bishop of that diocese (Chiapas),
certifies in the prologue to his Diocesan Constitutions, declaring that
an ancient manuscript of the primitive Indians of that province, who
had learned the art of writing, was in his record office, who retained
the constant tradition that the father and founder of their nation was
APPENDIX 2 43
named Teponahuale, which signifies lord of the hollow piece of wood:
and that he was present at the building of the Great Wall, for so they
named the Tower of Babel ; and beheld with his own eyes the confusion
of language; after which event, God, the Creator, commanded him to
come to these extensive regions, and to divide them amongst mankind.”
—Lord Kingsborough, Mexican Antiquities, vol. 8, p. 25.
“It is found in the histories of the Toltecs that this age and first
world as they call it, lasted 1,716 years; that men were destroyed by
tremendous rains and lightnings from the sky, and even all the land,
without the exception of anything, and the highest mountains were covered
up and submerged in water fifteen cubits (caxtolmolatli); and here they
added other fables of how men came to multiply from the few who escaped
from this destruction in a ‘toptlipetlocali’; that this word nearly signifies
a closed chest; and how, after men had multiplied, they erected a
very high ‘zacuali,” which is today a tower of great height, in order to
take refuge in it should the second world (age) be destroyed. Presently
their languages were confused, and not being able to understand each other,
they went to different parts of the earth.”—The same, vol. 9, p. 321.
“The most important among the American traditions are the Mexican,
for they appear to have been definitely fixed by symbolic and mnemonic
paintings before any contact with Europeans. According to these
documents, the Noah of the Mexican cataclysm was Coxcox, called by
certain people Teocipactli or Tezpi. He had saved himself, together with
his wife Xochiquetzal, in a bark, or, according to other traditions, on a
raft made of cypress wood (Cypressus disticha). Paintings retracing the
deluge of Coxcox had been discovered among the Aztecs, Miztecs, Zapotecs,
Tlascaltecs, and Mechoacaneses. The tradition of the latter is still more
strikingly in conformity with the story as we have it in Genesis, and in
Chaldean sources. It tells how Tezpi embarked in a spacious vessel with
his wife, his children, and several animals and grain, whose preservation
was essential to the subsistence of the human race. When the great
god Tezcatlipoca decreed the waters should retire; Tezpi sent a vulture
from the bark. The bird, feeding on the carcasses with which the earth
was laden, did not return. Tezpi sent out other birds, of which the hum-
ming bird only came back, with a leafy branch in its beak. Then Tezpi,
seeing that the country began to vegetate, left his bark on the mountain of
Colhuacan.”—Donnelley's Atlantis, p. 99.
The tradition of a Deluge “was the received notion, under sqme form
or other, of the most civilized people in the Old World, and of the
barbarians of the New. The Aztecs combined with this some particular
circumstances of a more arbitrary character, resembling the accounts
of the east. They believed that two persons survived the deluge, a man
named Coxcox and his wife. Their heads are represented in ancient paint-
ing, together with a boat floating on the waters at the foot of a moun-
tain. A dove is also depicted, with a hieroglyphical emblem of language
in his mouth, which he is distributing to the children of Coxcox, who
were born dumb. The neighboring people of Michoacan, inhabiting the
same high plains of the Andes had a still further tradition, that the boat
in which Tezpi, their Noah, escaped, was filled with various kinds of
animals and birds. After some time a vulture was sent out from it,
but remained feeding on the dead bodies of the giants which had been
left on the earth as the waters subsided. The little humming bird,
huitzitzilin, was then sent forth, and returned with a twig in his mouth.
The coincidence of both these accounts with the Hebrew and Chaldean
narratives is obvious.”—Prescott, Conquest of Mexico, Appendix, part 1.
p. 836.
44 THE BOOK OF MORMON
6. SURVIVAL OF THE HEBREW LANGUAGE AMONG AMERI-
CAN TRIBES-“It is claimed that such survivals are numerous in the
religious songs and ceremonies of many of the tribes. A number of
writers who visited or resided among the tribes of the northern conti-
nent, assert that the words, Yehovah, Yah, Ale, and Hallelujah, could
be distinctly heard in these exercises. Laet and Escarbotus assure us
that they often hear the South American Indians repeat the sacred
word Hallelujah.”—Elder George Reynolds, “The Language of the Book
of Mormon,” Contributor, Salt Lake City, vol. 17, p. 236.
7. “THE ORIGIN OF THE PRE-COLUMBIAN CIVILIZATION
OF AMERICA”—Under this title an instructive article by G. Elliot
Smith appeared in Science, vol. 44, pp. 190-195 (August 11, 1916). As
to the interest accorded to the subject, the author says: “In the whole
range of ethnological discussion perhaps no theme has evoked livelier
controversies and excited more widespread interest than the problems in-
volved in the mysteries of the wonderful civilization that revealed itself
to the astonished Spaniards on their first arrival in America.
“During the last century, which can be regarded as covering the
whole period of scientific investigation in anthropology, the opinions of
those who have devoted attention to such inquiries have undergone the
strangest fluctuations. If one delves into the anthropological journals of
forty or fifty years ago they will be found to abound in careful studies
on the part of many of the leading ethnologists of the time, demonstrating,
apparently in a convincing and unquestionable manner, the spread of
curious customs or beliefs from the Old World to the New.” The writer
decries the fallacy of assuming that similarities in customs and culture
of widely separated peoples can be explained on any other basis than
that of a common origin, and proceeds as follows: “Why, then, it will
be asked, in the face of the overwhelming mass of definite and well
authenticated evidence clearly pointing to the sources of the Old World
from which American civilization sprung, do so many ethnologists refuse
to accept the clear and obvious meaning of the facts and resort to such
childish subterfuges as I have mentioned ? Putting aside the influence of
Darwin’s work, the misunderstanding of which, as Huxley remarked, “led
shallow persons to talk nonsense in the name of anthropological science,”
the main factor in binding so many investigators to appreciate the
significance of the data they themselves so laboriously collect results from
a defect incidental to the nature of their researches. * * * The failure
to recognize the fact, recently demonstrated so convincingly by Dr. Rivers,
that useful arts are often lost is another, and perhaps the chief difficulty
that has stood in the way of an adequate appreciation of the history of the
spread of civilization.” Dr. Smith presents an impressive array of evidence
pointing to the Old World and specifically to Egypt, as the source of many
of the customs by which the American aborigines are distinguished. The
article is accompanied by a map showing probable routes of travel from
the Old World to the New and two landing places on the west coast,
one in Mexico and another near the boundary common to Peru and Chile,
from which places the immigrants spread.
ARTICLES OF FAITH 45
ARTICLES OF FAITH
OF THE
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus
Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not
for Adam's transgression.
3. We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may
be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel
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.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and
by the laying on of hands, by those who are in authority, to preach the
Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive
Church, viz: Apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions,
healing, interpretation of tongues, etc.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restora-
tion of the Ten Tribes; that Zion will be built upon this (the American)
continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the
earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to
the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege,
let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and
magistrates, in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and
in doing good to all men ; indeed, we may say that we follow the ad-
monition 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 anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek
after these things.-JOSEPH SMITH.
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