{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_44907/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_44907","id":"gutenberg_44907","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/44907","summary":null,"tags":["Book of Mormon -- History","Category: Biographies","Category: History - Religious","Category: Religion/Spirituality","Latter Day Saints","Latter Day Saints -- History","Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844"],"text":"AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF SEVERAL REMARKABLE VISIONS,\nAND OF THE LATE DISCOVERY OF ANCIENT AMERICAN RECORDS.\n\nBy O. PRATT, MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL.\n\nTHIRD AMERICAN EDITION.\n\nNEW-YORK:\nJOSEPH W. HARRISON, PRINTER,\nNo. 465 PEARL-STREET. 1842.\n\n\nTRANSCRIBER'S NOTE\n\nThis edition was based off scans of the above-noted edition,\navailable at Archive.org. The original uses some slightly odd English\northography--for example, unusual comma placement and an instance of\nusing 'was' where 'were' appears to be correct. In such cases, the\noriginal has been maintained. Obvious printer's errors (intructed for\ninstructed, brethern for brethren, and perhaps three similar errors)\nand some unmatched quotation marks have been corrected as seemed\nreasonable. Email tomnysetvold@gmail.com with corrections or to\nparticipate in proofreading of similar early books of The Church of\nJesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.\n\n\nFACTS IN RELATION TO THE LATE DISCOVERY OF ANCIENT AMERICAN RECORDS.\n\nMr. Joseph Smith, jun. who made the following important discovery,\nwas born in the town of Sharon, Windsor county, Vermont, on the 23d\nDecember, a. d. 1805. When ten years old, his parents, with their\nfamily, moved to Palmyra, New-York; in the vicinity of which he\nresided for about eleven years, the latter part in the town of\nManchester. Cultivating the earth for a livelihood was his\noccupation, in which he employed the most of his time. His advantages\nfor acquiring literary knowledge, were exceedingly small; hence, his\neducation was limited to a slight acquaintance with two or three of\nthe common branches of learning. He could read without much\ndifficulty, and write a very imperfect hand; and had a very limited\nunderstanding of the ground rules of arithmetic. These were his\nhighest and only attainments; while the rest of those branches, so\nuniversally taught in the common schools, throughout the United\nStates, were entirely unknown to him. When somewhere about fourteen\nor fifteen years old, he began seriously to reflect upon the\nnecessity of being prepared for a future state of existence; but how,\nor in what way, to prepare himself, was a question, as yet,\nundetermined in his own mind. He perceived that it was a question of\ninfinite importance, and that the salvation of his soul depended upon\na correct understanding of the same. He saw, that if he understood\nnot the way, it would be impossible to walk in it, except by chance;\nand the thought of resting his hopes of eternal life upon chance, or\nuncertainties, was more than he could endure. If he went to the\nreligious denominations to seek information, each one pointed to its\nparticular tenets, saying--\"This is the way, walk ye in it;\" while,\nat the same time, the doctrines of each were in many respects, in\ndirect opposition to one another, It also occurred to his mind that\nGod was the author of but one doctrine, and therefore could\nacknowledge but one denomination as his church, and that such\ndenomination must be a people, who believe and teach that one\ndoctrine, (whatever it may be,) and build upon the same. He then\nreflected upon the immense number of doctrines, now in the world,\nwhich had given rise to many hundreds of different denominations. The\ngreat question to be decided in his mind, was--if any one of these\ndenominations be the Church of Christ, which one is it? Until he\ncould become satisfied in relation to this question, he could not\nrest contented. To trust to the decisions of fallible man, and build\nhis hopes upon the same, without any certainty, and knowledge of his\nown, would not satisfy the anxious desires that pervaded his breast.\nTo decide, without any positive and definite evidence, on which he\ncould rely, upon a subject involving the future welfare of his soul,\nwas revolting to his feelings. The only alternative, that seemed to\nbe left him, was to read the Scriptures, and endeavor to follow their\ndirections. He, accordingly commenced perusing the sacred pages of\nthe Bible, with sincerity, believing the things that he read. His\nmind soon caught hold of the following passage;--\"If any of you lack\nwisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and\nupbraideth not; and it shall be given him.\"--James i. 5. From this\npromise he learned, that it was the privilege of all men to ask God\nfor wisdom, with the sure and certain expectation of receiving\nliberally; without being upbraided for so doing. This was cheering\ninformation to him; tidings that gave him great joy. It was like a\nlight shining forth in a dark place, to guide him to the path in\nwhich he should walk. He now saw that if he inquired of God, there\nwas not only a possibility, but a probability; yea, more, a\ncertainty, that he should obtain a knowledge, which, of all the\ndoctrines, was the doctrine of Christ; and, which, of all the\nchurches, was the church of Christ. He therefore, retired to a secret\nplace in a grove, but a short distance from his father's house, and\nknelt down, and began to call upon the Lord. At first, he was\nseverely tempted by the powers of darkness, which endeavored to\novercome him; but he continued to seek for deliverance, until\ndarkness gave way from his mind; and he was enabled to pray in\nfervency of the spirit, and in faith. And while thus pouring out his\nsoul, anxiously desiring an answer from God, he, at length, saw a\nvery bright and glorious light in the heavens above; which, at first,\nseemed to be at a considerable distance. He continued praying, while\nthe light appeared to be gradually descending towards him; and as it\ndrew nearer, it increased in brightness and magnitude, so that, by\nthe time that it reached the tops of the trees, the whole wilderness,\nfor some distance around was illuminated in a most glorious and\nbrilliant manner. He expected to have seen the leaves and boughs of\nthe trees consumed, as soon as the light came in contact with them;\nbut, perceiving that it did not produce that effect, he was\nencouraged with the hope of being able to endure its presence. It\ncontinued descending slowly, until it rested upon the earth, and he\nwas enveloped in the midst of it. When it first came upon him, it\nproduced a peculiar sensation throughout his whole system; and\nimmediately, his mind was caught away, from the natural objects with\nwhich he was surrounded; and he was enwrapped in a heavenly vision,\nand saw two glorious personages, who exactly resembled each other in\ntheir features or likeness. He was informed that his sins were\nforgiven, He was also informed upon the subjects, which had for some\ntime previously agitated his mind, viz.--that all the religious\ndenominations were believing in incorrect doctrines; and\nconsequently, that none of them was acknowledged of God, as his\nchurch and kingdom. And he was expressly commanded to go not after\nthem; and he received a promise that the true doctrine--the fulness\nof the gospel, should, at some future time, be made known to him;\nafter which, the vision withdrew, leaving his mind in a state of\ncalmness and peace, indescribable. Some time after having received\nthis glorious manifestation, being young, he was again entangled in\nthe vanities of the world, of which he afterwards sincerely and truly\nrepented.\n\nAnd it pleased God, on the evening of the 21st of September, a. d.\n1823, to again hear his prayers. For he had retired to rest, as\nusual, only that his mind was drawn out in fervent prayer, and his\nsoul was filled with the most earnest desire, \"to commune with some\nkind messenger, who could communicate to him the desired information\nof his acceptance with God,\" and also unfold the principles of the\ndoctrine of Christ, according to the promise which he had received in\nthe former vision. While he thus continued to pour out his desires\nbefore the Father of all good, endeavouring to exercise faith in his\nprecious promises; \"on a sudden, a light, like that of day, only of a\npurer and far more glorious appearance and brightness, burst into the\nroom. Indeed, the first sight was as though the house was filled with\nconsuming fire. This sudden appearance of a light so bright, as must\nnaturally be expected, occasioned a shock or sensation visible to the\nextremities of the body. It was, however, followed with a calmness\nand serenity of mind, and an overwhelming rapture of joy, that\nsurpassed understanding, and, in a moment, a personage stood before\nhim.\"\n\nNotwithstanding the brightness of the light which previously\nilluminated the room, \"yet there seemed to be an additional glory\nsurrounding or accompanying this personage, which shone with an\nincreased degree of brilliancy, of which he was in the midst; and\nthough his countenance was as lightning, yet it was of a pleasing,\ninnocent, and glorious appearance; so much so, that every fear was\nbanished from the heart, and nothing but calmness pervaded the soul.\"\n\n\"The stature of this personage was a little above the common size of\nmen in this age; his garments was perfectly white, and had the\nappearance of being without seam.\"\n\nThis glorious being declared himself to be an Angel of God, sent\nforth, by commandment, to communicate to him that his sins were\nforgiven, and that his prayers were heard; and also, to bring the\njoyful tidings, that the covenant which God made with ancient Israel\nconcerning their posterity, was at hand to be fulfilled; that the\ngreat preparatory work for the second coming of the Messiah, was\nspeedily to commence; that the time was at hand for the gospel, in\nits fulness, to be preached in power to all nations, that a people\nmight be prepared with faith and righteousness, for the Millennial\nreign of universal peace and joy.\n\nHe was informed, that he was called and chosen to be an instrument in\nthe hands of God, to bring about some of his marvellous purposes in\nthis glorious dispensation. It was also made manifest to him, that\nthe \"American Indians\" were a remnant of Israel; that when they first\nemigrated to America, they were an enlightened people, possessing a\nknowledge of the true God, enjoying his favor, and peculiar blessings\nfrom his hand; that the prophets, and inspired writers among them,\nwere required to keep a sacred history of the most important events\ntranspiring among them; which history was handed down for many\ngenerations, till at length they fell into great wickedness; the most\npart of them were destroyed, and the records, (by commandment of God,\nto one of the last prophets among them,) were safely deposited, to\npreserve them from the hands of the wicked, who sought to destroy\nthem. He was informed, that these records contained many sacred\nrevelations pertaining to the gospel of the kingdom, as well as\nprophecies relating to the great events of the last days; and that to\nfulfil his promises to the ancients, who wrote the records, and to\naccomplish his purposes, in the restitution of their children, &c.\nthey were to come forth to the knowledge of the people. If faithful,\nhe was to be the instrument, who should be thus highly favored in\nbringing these sacred things to light; at the same time, being\nexpressly informed, that it must be done with an eye single to the\nglory of God, that no one could be entrusted with those sacred\nwritings, who should endeavor to aggrandize himself, by converting\nsacred things to unrighteous and speculative purposes. After giving\nhim many instructions concerning things past and to come, which would\nbe foreign to our purpose to mention here, he disappeared, and the\nlight and glory of God withdrew, leaving his mind in perfect peace,\nwhile a calmness and serenity indescribable pervaded the soul. But,\nbefore morning, the vision was twice renewed, instructing him\nfurther, and still further, concerning the great work of God, about\nto be performed on the earth. In the morning he went out to his\nlabour as usual; but soon the vision was renewed--the Angel again\nappeared; and having been informed by the previous visions of the\nnight, concerning the place where those records were deposited, he\nwas instructed to go immediately and view them.\n\nAccordingly, he repaired to the place, a brief description of which\nshall be given, in the words of a gentleman, by the name of Oliver\nCowdery, who has visited the spot.\n\n\"As you go on the mail-road from Palmyra, Wayne county, to\nCanandaigua, Ontario county, New-York, before arriving at the little\nvillage of Manchester, say from three to four, or about four miles\nfrom Palmyra, you pass a large hill on the east side of the\nroad.--Why I say large, is because it is as large, perhaps, as any in\nthat country.\"\n\n\"The north end rises quite suddenly until it assumes a level with the\nmore southerly extremity; and I think I may say, an elevation higher\nthan at the south, a short distance, say half or three-fourths of a\nmile. As you pass towards Canandaigua, it lessens gradually, until\nthe surface assumes its common level, or is broken by other smaller\nhills or ridges, water-courses and ravines. I think I am justified in\nsaying, that this is the highest hill for some distance round, and I\nam certain that its appearance, as it rises so suddenly from a plain\non the north, must attract the notice of the traveller as he passes\nby.\"--\"The north end,\" which has been described as rising suddenly\nfrom the plain, forms \"a promontory without timber, but covered with\ngrass. As you pass to the south, you soon come to scattering timber,\nthe surface having been cleared by art or wind, and a short distance\nfurther left, you are surrounded with the common forest of the\ncountry. It is necessary to observe, that even the part cleared, was\nonly occupied for pasturage; its steep ascent, and narrow summit not\nadmitting the plough of the husbandman, with any degree of ease or\nprofit. It was at the second mentioned place, where the record was\nfound to be deposited, on the west side of the hill, not far from the\ntop down its side; and when myself visited the place in the year\n1830, there were several trees standing--enough to cause a shade in\nsummer, but not so much as to prevent the surface being covered with\ngrass--which was also the case when the record was first found.\"\n\n\"How far below the surface these records were (anciently) placed, I\nam unable to say: but from the fact that they have been some fourteen\nhundred years buried, and that, too, on the side of a hill so steep,\none is ready to conclude, that they were some feet below, as the\nearth would naturally wear, more or less, in that length of time. But\nthey, being placed towards the top of the hill, the ground would not\nremove as much as at two-thirds, perhaps. Another circumstance would\nprevent a wearing of the earth; in all probability, as soon as timber\nhad time to grow, the hill was covered, and the roots of the same\nwould hold the surface. However, on this point, I shall leave every\nman to draw his own conclusion, and form his own speculation.\" But\nsuffice to say, a hole of sufficient depth was dug. At the bottom of\nthis was laid a stone of suitable size, the upper surface being\nsmooth. At each edge was placed a large quantity of cement, and into\nthis cement, at the four edges of the stone, were placed erect four\nothers; _their_ bottom edges resting _in_ the cement, at the outer\nedges of the first stone. The four last named, when placed erect,\nformed a box; the corners, or where the edges of the four came in\ncontact, were also cemented so firmly that the moisture from without\nwas prevented from entering. It is to be observed, also, that the\ninner surfaces of the four erect or side stones, were smooth. This\nbox was sufficiently large to admit a breastplate, such as was used\nby the ancients, to defend the chest, &c., from the arrows and\nweapons of their enemy. From the bottom of the box, or from the\nbreastplate, arose three small pillars, composed of the same\ndescription of cement used on the edges; and \"upon these three\npillars were placed the records.\"--\"This box, containing the records,\nwas covered with another stone, the bottom surface being flat, and\nthe upper crowning.\" When it was first visited by Mr. Smith on the\nmorning of the 22d of September, 1823, \"a part of the crowning stone\nwas visible above the surface, while the edges were concealed by the\nsoil and grass,\" from which circumstance it may be seen, \"that\nhowever deep this box might have been placed at first, the time had\nbeen sufficient to wear the earth, so that it was easily discovered,\nwhen Once directed, and yet, not enough to make a perceivable\ndifference to the passer-by.\"--After arriving at the repository, a\nlittle exertion in removing the soil from the edges of the top of the\nbox, and a light pry, brought to his natural vision, its contents.\nWhile viewing and contemplating this sacred treasure with wonder and\nastonishment, behold! the Angel of the Lord, who had previously\nvisited him, again stood in his presence, and his soul was again\nenlightened as it was the evening before, and he was filled with the\nHoly Spirit, and the heavens were opened, and the glory of the Lord\nshone round about and rested upon him. While he thus stood gazing and\nadmiring, the Angel said, \"Look!\" And as he thus spake, he beheld the\nPrince of Darkness, surrounded by his innumerable train of\nassociates. All this passed before him, and the heavenly messenger\nsaid, \"All this is shown, the good and the evil, the holy and impure,\nthe glory of God, and the power of darkness, that you may know\nhereafter the two powers, and never be influenced or overcome by that\nwicked one. Behold, whatsoever enticeth and leadeth to good and to do\ngood, is of God, and whatsoever doth not, is of that wicked one. It\nis he that filleth the hearts of men with evil, to walk in darkness,\nand blaspheme God; and you may learn from henceforth, that his ways\nare to destruction, but the way of holiness is peace and rest. You\ncannot at this time obtain this record, for the commandment of God is\nstrict, and if ever these sacred things are obtained, they must be by\nprayer and faithfulness in obeying the Lord. They are not deposited\nhere for the sake of accumulating gain and wealth for the glory of\nthis world; they were sealed by the prayer of faith, and because of\nthe knowledge which they contain, they are of no worth among the\nchildren of men, only for their knowledge. On them is contained the\nfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as it was given to his people\non this land; and when it shall be brought forth by the power of God,\nit shall be carried to the Gentiles, of whom many will receive it,\nand after will the seed of Israel be brought into the fold of their\nRedeemer by obeying it also. Those who kept the commandments of the\nLord on this land, desired this at his hand, and through the prayer\nof faith obtained the promise, that if their descendants should\ntransgress and fall away, a record should be kept, and in the last\ndays come to their children. These things are sacred, and must be\nkept so, for the promise of the Lord concerning them must be\nfulfilled. No man can obtain them if his heart is impure, because\nthey contain that which is sacred.\" * * * \"By them will the Lord\nwork a great and marvellous work; the wisdom of the wise shall become\nas nought, and the understanding of the prudent shall be hid, and\nbecause the power of God shall be displayed, those who profess to\nknow the truth, but walk in deceit, shall tremble with anger; but\nwith signs and with wonders, with gifts and with healings, with the\nmanifestations of the power of God, and with the Holy Ghost, shall\nthe hearts of the faithful be comforted. You have now beheld the\npower of God manifested, and the power of Satan; you see that there\nis nothing desirable in the works of darkness; that they cannot bring\nhappiness; that those who are overcome therewith are miserable;\nwhile, on the other hand, the righteous are blessed with a place in\nthe kingdom of God, where joy unspeakable surrounds them. There they\nrest beyond the power of the enemy of truth, where no evil can\ndisturb them. The glory of God crowns them, and they continually\nfeast upon his goodness, and enjoy his smiles. Behold, notwithstanding\nyou have seen this great display of power, by which you may ever\nbe able to detect the evil one, yet I give unto you another sign,\nand when it comes to pass then know that the Lord is God, and that\nhe will fulfil his purposes, and that the knowledge which this record\ncontains will go to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people\nunder the whole heaven. This is the sign; when these things begin to\nbe known, that is, when it is known that the Lord has shown you\nthese things, the workers of iniquity will seek your overthrow.\nThey will circulate falsehoods to destroy your reputation; and\nalso will seek to take your life; but remember this, if you are\nfaithful, and shall hereafter continue to keep the commandments\nof the Lord, you shall be preserved to bring these things forth;\nfor in due time he will give you a commandment to come and take\nthem. When they are interpreted, the Lord will give the holy\npriesthood to some, and they shall begin to proclaim this gospel and\nbaptize by water, and after that they shall have power to give the\nHoly Ghost by the laying on of their hands. Then will persecution\nrage more and more; for the iniquities of men shall be revealed, and\nthose who are not built upon the Rock will seek to overthrow the\nchurch; but it will increase the more opposed, and spread farther and\nfarther, increasing in knowledge till they shall be sanctified, and\nreceive an inheritance where the glory of God will rest upon them;\nand when this takes place, and all things are prepared, the ten\ntribes of Israel will be revealed in the north country, whither they\nhave been for a long season; and when this is fulfilled will be\nbrought to pass that saying of the prophet,--\"and the Redeemer shall\ncome to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob,\nsaith the Lord.\" But, notwithstanding the workers of iniquity shall\nseek your destruction, the arm of the Lord will be extended, and you\nwill be borne off conqueror if you keep all his commandments. Your\nname shall be known among the nations, for the work which the Lord\nwill perform by your hands shall cause the righteous to rejoice and\nthe wicked to rage; with the one it shall be had in honour, and with\nthe other in reproach; yet, with these it shall be a terror, because\nof the great and marvellous work which shall follow the coming forth\nof this fulness of the gospel. Now, go thy way, remembering what the\nLord has done for thee, and be diligent in keeping his commandments,\nand he will deliver thee from temptations and all the arts and\ndevices of the wicked one. Forget not to pray, that thy mind may\nbecome strong, that when he shall manifest unto thee, thou mayest\nhave power to escape the evil, and obtain these precious things.\"\n\nWe here remark, that the above quotation is an extract from a letter\nwritten by Elder Oliver Cowdery, which was published in one of the\nnumbers of the \"Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate.\"\n\nAlthough many more instructions were given by the mouth of the angel\nto Mr. Smith, which we do not write in this book, yet the most\nimportant items are contained in the foregoing relation. During the\nperiod of the four following years, he frequently received\ninstruction from the mouth of the heavenly messenger. And on the\nmorning of September 22, a. d., 1827 the angel of the Lord delivered\nthe records into his hands.\n\nThese records were engraved on plates, which had the appearance of\ngold. Each plate was not far from seven by eight inches in width and\nlength, being not quite as thick as common tin. They were filled on\nboth sides with engravings, in Egyptian characters, and bound\ntogether in a volume, as the leaves of a book, and fastened at one\nedge with three rings running through the whole. This volume was\nsomething near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed.\nThe characters or letters upon the unsealed part were small and\nbeautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many marks of\nantiquity in its construction, as well as much skill in the art of\nengraving. With the records was found \"a curious instrument, called\nby the ancients the Urim and Thummim, which consisted of two\ntransparent stones, clear as crystal, set in the two rims of a bow.\nThis was in use, in ancient times, by persons called seers. It was an\ninstrument, by the use of which, they received revelations of things\ndistant, or of things past or future.\"\n\nIn the mean time, the inhabitants of that vicinity, having been\ninformed that Mr. Smith had seen heavenly visions, and that he had\ndiscovered sacred records, began to ridicule and mock at those\nthings. And after having obtained the records, while proceeding home\nthrough the wilderness and fields, he was waylaid by two ruffians,\nwho had secreted themselves for the purpose of robbing him of the\nsame. One of them struck him with a club before he perceived them;\nbut being a strong man, and large in stature, with great exertion he\ncleared himself from them, and ran towards home, being closely\npursued until he came near his father's house, when his pursuers, for\nfear of being detected, turned and fled.\n\nSoon the news of his discoveries spread abroad throughout all those\nparts. False reports, misrepresentations, and base slanders, flew, as\nif upon the wings of the wind in every direction. The house was\nfrequently beset by mobs and evil-designing persons. Several times he\nwas shot at, and very narrowly escaped. Every device was used to get\nthe plates away from him. And being continually in danger of his\nlife, from a gang of abandoned wretches, he at length concluded to\nleave the place, and go to Pennsylvania; and, accordingly, packed up\nhis goods, putting the plates into a barrel of beans, and proceeded\nupon his journey. He had not gone far, before he was overtaken by an\nofficer with a search-warrant, who flattered himself with the idea,\nthat he should surely obtain the plates; after searching very\ndiligently, he was sadly disappointed at not finding them. Mr. Smith\nthen drove on, but before he got to his journey's end, he was again\novertaken by an officer on the same business, and after ransacking\nthe waggon very carefully, he went his way, as much chagrined as the\nfirst, at not being able to discover the object of his research.\nWithout any further molestation, he pursued his journey until he came\nto the northern part of Pennsylvania, near the Susquehannah river, in\nwhich part his father-in-law resided.\n\nHaving provided himself with a home, he commenced translating the\nrecord, by the gift and power of God, thro' the means of the Urim and\nThummim; and being a poor writer, he was under the necessity of\nemploying a scribe, to write the translation as it came from his\nmouth.\n\nIn the mean time, a few of the original characters were accurately\ntranscribed, and translated by Mr. Smith, which, with the\ntranslation, were taken by a gentleman by the name of Martin Harris,\nto the city of New-York, where they were presented to a learned\ngentleman, by the name of Anthon, who professed to be extensively\nacquainted with many languages, both ancient and modern. He examined\nthem; but was unable to decipher them correctly; but he presumed that\nif the original records could be brought, he could assist in\ntranslating them.\n\nBut to return. Mr. Smith continued the work of translation, as his\npecuniary circumstances would permit, until he finished the unsealed\npart of the records. The part translated is entitled the \"Book of\nMormon,\" which contains nearly as much reading as the Old Testament.\n\nIn this important and most interesting book, we can read the history\nof ancient America, from its early settlement by a colony who came\nfrom the tower of Babel, at the confusion of languages, to the\nbeginning of the fifth century of the Christian era. By these records\nwe are informed, that America, in ancient times, has been inhabited by\ntwo distinct races of people. The first, or more ancient race, came\ndirectly from the great tower, being called Jaredites. The second\nrace came directly from the city of Jerusalem, about six hundred\nyears before Christ, being Israelites, principally the descendants of\nJoseph. The first nation, or Jaredites, were destroyed about the time\nthat the Israelites came from Jerusalem who succeeded them in the\ninheritance of the country. The principal nation of the second race,\nfell in battle towards the close of the fourth century. The remaining\nremnant, having dwindled into an uncivilized state, still continue to\ninhabit the land, although divided into a 'multitude of nations,' and\nare called by Europeans, the \"American Indians.\"\n\nWe learn from this very ancient history, that at the confusion of\nlanguages, when the Lord scattered the people upon all the face of\nthe earth, the Jaredites being a righteous people, obtained favour in\nthe sight of the Lord, and were not confounded. And because of their\nrighteousness, the Lord miraculously led them from the tower to the\ngreat ocean, where they were commanded to build vessels, in which\nthey were marvellously brought across the great deep to the shores of\nNorth America.\n\nAnd the Lord God promised to give them America, which was a very\nchoice land in his sight, for an inheritance. And He swore unto them\nin his wrath, that whoso should possess this land of promise, from\nthat time henceforth and forever, should serve him, the true and only\nGod, or they should be swept off when the fulness of his wrath should\ncome upon them, and they were fully ripened in iniquity. Moreover he\npromised to make them a great and powerful nation, so that there\nshould be no greater nation upon all the face of the earth.\n\nAccordingly, in process of time, they became a very numerous and\npowerful people, occupying principally North America; building large\ncities in all quarters of the land; being a civilized and enlightened\nnation. Agriculture and machinery were carried on to a great extent.\nCommercial and manufacturing business flourished on every hand; yet\nin consequence of wickedness, they were often visited with terrible\njudgments. Many prophets were raised up among them from generation to\ngeneration, who testified against the wickedness of the people, and\nprophesied of judgments and calamities which awaited them, if they\ndid not repent, &c. Sometimes they were visited by pestilence and\nplagues, and sometimes by famine and war, until at length (having\noccupied the land some fifteen or sixteen hundred years,) their\nwickedness became so great that the Lord threatened, by the mouth of\nhis prophets, to utterly destroy them from the face of the land. But\nthey gave no heed to these warnings; therefore the word of the Lord\nwas fulfilled; and they were entirely destroyed; leaving their\nhouses, their cities, and their land desolate; and their sacred\nrecords also, which were kept on gold plates, were left by one of\ntheir last prophets, whose name was Ether, in such a situation, that\nthey were discovered by the remnant of Joseph, who soon afterwards\nwere brought from Jerusalem to inherit the land.\n\nThis remnant of Joseph were also led in a miraculous manner from\nJerusalem, in the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah.\nThey were first led to the eastern borders of the Red Sea; then they\njourneyed for some time along the borders thereof, nearly in a\nsouth-east direction; after which they altered their course nearly\neastward, until they came to the great waters, where, by the\ncommandment of God, they built a vessel, in which they were safely\nbrought across the great Pacific Ocean, and landed upon the western\ncoast of South America.\n\nIn the eleventh year of the reign of Zedekiah, at the time the Jews\nwere carried away captive into Babylon, another remnant were brought\nout of Jerusalem, some of whom were descendants of Judah. They landed\nin North America, soon after which they emigrated, into the northern\nparts of South America, at which place they were discovered by the\nremnant of Joseph, something like four hundred years after.\n\nFrom these ancient records, we learn that this remnant of Joseph,\nsoon after they landed, separated themselves into two distinct\nnations. This division was caused by a certain portion of them being\ngreatly persecuted, because of their righteousness, by the remainder.\nThe persecuted nation emigrated towards the northern parts of South\nAmerica, leaving the wicked nation in possession of the middle and\nsouthern parts of the same. The former were called Nephites, being\nled by a prophet whose name was Nephi. The latter were called\nLamanites, being led by a very wicked man, whose name was Laman. The\nNephites had in their possession a copy of the Holy Scriptures, viz.\nthe five books of Moses, and the prophecies of the holy prophets,\ndown to Jeremiah, in whose days they left Jerusalem. These scriptures\nwere engraved on plates of brass, in the Egyptian language. They\nthemselves also made plates, soon after their landing, on which they\nbegan to engrave their own history, prophecies, visions, and\nrevelations. All these sacred records were kept by holy and righteous\nmen, who were inspired by the Holy Ghost; and were carefully\npreserved and handed down from generation to generation.\n\nAnd the Lord gave unto them the whole continent, for a land of\npromise, and promised, that they, and their children after them,\nshould inherit it, on condition of their obedience to his\ncommandments; but if they were disobedient, they should be cut off\nfrom his presence. And the Nephites began to prosper in the land,\naccording to their righteousness, and multiplied and spread forth to\nthe east, west, and north; building large villages, cities,\nsynagogues, and temples, together with forts, towers, and\nfortifications, to defend themselves against their enemies. And they\ncultivated the earth, and raised various kinds of grain in abundance.\nThey also raised numerous flocks of domestic animals, and became a\nvery wealthy people; having in abundance gold, silver, copper, tin,\niron, &c. Arts and sciences flourished to a great extent. Various\nkinds of machinery were in use. Cloths of various kinds were\nmanufactured. Swords, scimitars, axes, and various implements of war\nwere made, together with head-shields, arm-shields, and breastplates,\nto defend themselves in battle with their enemies. And in the days of\ntheir righteousness, they were a civilized, enlightened, and happy\npeople.\n\nBut, on the other hand, the Lamanites, because of the hardness of\ntheir hearts, brought down many judgments upon their own heads;\nnevertheless, they were not destroyed as a nation; but the Lord God\nsent forth a curse upon them, and they became a dark, loathsome, and\nfilthy people. Before their rebellion, they were white and\nexceedingly fair, like the Nephites; but the Lord God cursed them in\ntheir complexions, and they were changed to a dark color, and they\nbecame a wild, savage, and ferocious people; being great enemies to\nthe Nephites, whom they sought by every means to destroy, and many\ntimes came against them, with their numerous hosts to battle, but\nwere repulsed and driven back to their own possession, not, however,\ngenerally speaking, without great loss on both sides; for tens of\nthousands were very frequently slain, after which they were piled\ntogether in great heaps upon the face of the ground, and covered with\na shallow covering of earth, which will satisfactorily account for\nthose ancient mounds filled with human bones, so numerous at the\npresent day, both in North and South America.\n\nThe second colony, which left Jerusalem eleven years after the\nremnant of Joseph left that city, landed in North America, and\nemigrated from thence, to the northern parts of South America; and\nabout four hundred years after, they were discovered by the Nephites,\nas we stated in the foregoing.\n\nThey were called the people of Zarahemla. They had been perplexed\nwith many wars among themselves; and having brought no records with\nthem, their language had become corrupted, and they denied the being\nof God; and at the time they were discovered by the Nephites they\nwere very numerous, and only in a partial state of civilization; but\nthe Nephites united with them, and taught them the Holy Scriptures,\nand they were restored to civilization, and became one nation with\nthem. And in process of time, the Nephites began to build ships near\nthe Isthmus of Darien, and launch them forth into the western ocean,\nin which great numbers sailed a great distance to the northward, and\nbegan to colonize North America. Other colonies emigrated by land,\nand in a few centuries the whole continent became peopled. North\nAmerica at that time, was almost entirely destitute of timber, it\nhaving been cut off by the more ancient race, who came from the great\ntower, at the confusion of languages; but the Nephites became very\nskilful in building houses of cement; also much timber was carried by\nthe way of shipping from South to North America. They also planted\ngroves and began to raise timber, that in time their wants might be\nsupplied. Large cities were built in various parts of the continent,\nboth among the Lamanites and Nephites. The law of Moses was observed\nby the latter. Numerous prophets were raised up from time to time\nthroughout their generations. Many records, both historical and\nprophetical, which were of great size, were kept among them; some on\nplates of gold and other metals, and some on other materials. The\nsacred records, also of the more ancient race who had been destroyed,\nwere found by them. These were engraved on plates of gold. They\ntranslated them into their own language, by the gift and power of\nGod, through the means of the Urim and Thummim. They contained an\nhistorical account from the creation down to the Tower of Babel, and\nfrom that time down until they were destroyed, comprising a period of\nabout thirty-four hundred, or thirty-five hundred years. They also\ncontained many prophecies, great and marvellous, reaching forward to\nthe final end and consummation of all things, and the creation of the\nnew heaven and new earth.\n\nThe prophets also among the Nephites prophesied of great things. They\nopened the secrets of futurity--saw the coming of Messiah in the\nflesh--prophesied of the blessings to come upon their descendants in\nthe latter times--made known the history of unborn generations--\nunfolded the great events of ages to come--viewed the power, glory,\nand majesty of Messiah's second advent--beheld the establishment of\nthe kingdom of peace--gazed upon the glories of the day of\nrighteousness--saw creation redeemed from the curse, and all the\nrighteous filled with songs of everlasting joy.\n\nThe Nephites knew of the birth and crucifixion of Christ, by certain\ncelestial and terrestrial phenomena, which, at those times, were\nshown forth in fulfilment of the predictions of many of their\nprophets. Notwithstanding the many blessings with which they had been\nblessed, they had fallen into great wickedness, and had cast out the\nsaints and the prophets, and stoned and killed them. Therefore, at\nthe time of the crucifixion of Christ, they were visited in great\njudgment. Thick darkness covered the whole continent. The earth was\nterribly convulsed. The rocks were rent into broken fragments, and\nafterwards found in seams and cracks upon all the face of the land.\nMountains were sunk into valleys, and valleys raised into mountains.\nThe highways and level roads were broken up and spoiled. Many cities\nwere laid in ruins. Others were buried up in the depths of the earth,\nand mountains occupied their place. While others were sunk, and\nwaters came up in their stead, and others still were burned by fire\nfrom heaven.\n\nThus, the predictions of their prophets were fulfilled upon their\nheads. Thus, the more wicked part, both of the Nephites and Lamanites\nwere destroyed. Thus, the Almighty executed vengeance and fury upon\nthem, that the blood of the saints and prophets might no longer cry\nfrom the ground against them.\n\nThose who survived these terrible judgments, were favoured with the\npersonal ministry of Christ. For after He arose from the\ndead--finished his ministry at Jerusalem, and ascended to heaven, he\ndescended in the presence of the Nephites, who were assembled round\nabout their temples in the northern parts of South America He\nexhibited to them his wounded hands, side, and feet--commanded the\nlaw of Moses to be abolished--introduced and established the Gospel\nin its stead--chose twelve disciples from among them to administer\nthe same--instituted the sacrament--prayed for and blessed their\nlittle children--healed their sick, blind, lame, deaf, and those who\nwere afflicted in any way--raised a man from the dead--showed forth\nhis power in their midst--expounded the scriptures which had been\ngiven from the beginning down to that time, and made known unto them\nall things which should take place down until He should come in his\nglory, and from that time down to the end, when all people, nations,\nand languages shall stand before God to be judged, and the heaven,\nand the earth should pass away, and there should be a new heaven and\nnew earth. These teachings of Jesus were engraved upon plates, some\nof which are contained in the book of Mormon; but the greater part\nare not revealed in that book, but are hereafter to be made manifest\nto the saints.\n\nAfter Jesus had finished ministering unto them, he ascended into\nheaven; and the twelve disciples whom he had chosen, went forth upon\nall the face of the land, preaching the gospel; baptizing those who\nrepented, for the remission of sins, after which they laid their\nhands upon them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. Mighty\nmiracles were wrought by them, and also by many of the church. The\nNephites and Lamanites were all converted unto the Lord, both in\nSouth and North America; and they dwelt in righteousness above three\nhundred years; but towards the close of the fourth century of the\nChristian era, they had so far apostatized from God, that he suffered\ngreat judgments to fall upon them. The Lamanites, at that time, dwelt\nin South America, and the Nephites in North America.\n\nA great and terrible war commenced between them, which lasted for\nmany years, and resulted in the complete overthrow and destruction of\nthe Nephites. This war commenced at the Isthmus of Darien, and was\nvery destructive to both nations for many years. At length, the\nNephites were driven before their enemies, a great distance to the\nNorth, and North-east; and having gathered their whole nation\ntogether, both men women, and children, they encamped on and round\nabout the hill Cumorah, where the records were found, which is in the\nState of New-York, about two hundred miles west of the city of\nAlbany. Here they were met by the numerous hosts of the Lamanites,\nand were slain, and hewn down, and slaughtered, both male and\nfemale--the aged, middle-aged, and children. Hundreds of thousands\nwere slain on both sides; and the nation of the Nephites were\ndestroyed, excepting a few who had deserted over to the Lamanites,\nand a few who escaped into the south country, and a few who fell\nwounded, and were left by the Lamanites on the field of battle for\ndead, among whom were Mormon and his son Moroni, who were righteous\nmen.\n\nMormon had made an abridgment, from the records, of his forefathers,\nupon plates, which abridgment he entitled the \"Book of Mormon,\" and,\n(being commanded of God,) he hid up in the hill Cumorah, all the\nsacred records of his forefathers which were in his possession,\nexcept the abridgment called the \"Book of Mormon,\" which he gave to\nhis son Moroni to finish. Moroni survived his nation a few years, and\ncontinued the writings, in which he informs us, that the Lamanites\nhunted those few Nephites who escaped the great and tremendous battle\nof Cumorah, until they were all destroyed, excepting those who were\nmingled with the Lamanites, and that he was left alone, and kept\nhimself hid, for they sought to destroy every Nephite who would not\ndeny Christ. He furthermore states, that the Lamanites were at war\none with another, and that the whole face of the land was one\ncontinual scene of murdering, robbing, and plundering. He continued\nthe history until the four hundred and twentieth year of the\nChristian era; when, (by the commandment of God,) he hid up the\nrecords in the hill Cumorah, where they remained concealed, until by\nthe ministry of an angel they were discovered to Mr. Smith, who, by\nthe gift and power of God, translated them into the English language,\nby the means of the Urim and Thummim, as stated in the foregoing.\n\nAfter the book was translated, the Lord raised up witnesses to bear\ntestimony to the nations of its truth, who, at the close of the\nvolume, send forth their testimony, which reads as follows:\n\n   TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES.\n\n   Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto\n   whom this work shall come, that we, through the grace of God the\n   Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain\n   this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of\n   the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who\n   came from the tower of which hath been spoken; and we also know that\n   they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice\n   hath declared it unto us, wherefore, we know of a surety, that the\n   work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings\n   which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the\n   power of God, and not of man. And we declare, with words of\n   soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought\n   and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the\n   engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the\n   Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we behold and bear record\n   that these things are true; and it is marvellous in our eyes,\n   nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear\n   record of it; wherefore, to be obedient to the commandments of God,\n   we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are\n   faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men\n   and be found spotless before the judgment seat of Christ, and shall\n   dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honour be to the\n   Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.\n\n   OLIVER COWDERY,\n   DAVID WHITMER,\n   MARTIN HARRIS.\n\n   AND ALSO THE TESTIMONY OF EIGHT WITNESSES.\n\n   Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto\n   whom this work shall come, that Joseph Smith, Jr., the translator of\n   this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken,\n   which have the appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the\n   said Smith has translated, we did handle with our hands; and we also\n   saw the engravings thereon, all of which has the appearance of\n   ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record\n   with words of soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for\n   we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety, that the said Smith\n   has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names\n   unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we have seen;\n   and we lie not, God bearing witness of it.\n\n   CHRISTIAN WHITMER,\n   JACOB WHITMER,\n   PETER WHITMER, Jr.\n   JOHN WHITMER,\n   HIRAM PAGE,\n   JOSEPH SMITH, Sen.\n   HYRUM SMITH,\n   SAMUEL H. SMITH.\n\nAlso, in the year 1829, Mr. Smith and Mr. Cowdery, having learned the\ncorrect mode of baptism, from the teachings of the Saviour to the\nancient Nephites, as recorded in the \"Book of Mormon,\" had a desire\nto be baptized; but knowing that no one had authority to administer\nthat sacred ordinance in any denomination, they were at a loss to\nknow how the authority was to be restored, and while calling upon the\nLord with a desire to be informed upon the subject, a holy angel\nappeared--stood before them--laid his hands upon their heads--ordained\nthem--and commanded them to baptize each other, which they accordingly\ndid.\n\nIn the year 1830, a large edition of the \"Book of Mormon\" first\nappeared in print. And as some began to peruse its sacred pages, the\nspirit of the Lord bore record to them that it was true, and they\nwere obedient to its requirements, by coming forth, humbly repenting\nbefore the Lord, and being immersed in water, for the remission of\nsins, after which, by the commandment of God, hands were laid upon\nthem in the name of the Lord, for the gift of the Holy Spirit.\n\nAnd on the sixth of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight\nhundred and thirty, the \"Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day\nSaints,\" was organized, in the town of Manchester, Ontario County,\nState of New-York. Some few were called and ordained by the spirit of\nrevelation and prophecy, and began to preach and bear testimony, as\nthe spirit gave them utterance; and although they were the weak\nthings of the earth, yet they were strengthened by the Holy Ghost,\nand gave forth their testimony in great power, by which means many\nwere brought to repentance, and came forward with broken hearts and\ncontrite spirits, and were immersed in water confessing their sins,\nand were filled with the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands; and\nsaw visions and prophesied. Devils were cast out, and the sick were\nhealed by the prayer of faith, and laying on of hands. Thus was the\nword confirmed unto the faithful by signs following. Thus the Lord\nraised up witnesses, to bear testimony of his name, and lay the\nfoundation of his kingdom in the last days. And thus the hearts of\nthe saints were comforted, and filled with great joy.\n\nIn the foregoing, we have related the most important facts concerning\nthe visions and the ministry of the angel to Mr. Smith; the discovery\nof the records; their translation into the English language, and the\nwitnesses raised up to bear testimony of the same: we have also\nstated when, and by whom they were written; that they contain the\nhistory of nearly one half of the globe, from the earliest ages after\nthe flood, until the beginning of the fifth century of the Christian\nera; that this history is interspersed with many important\nprophecies, which unfold the great events of the last days, and that\nin it also is recorded the gospel in its fulness and plainness, as it\nwas revealed by the personal ministry of Christ to the ancient\nNephites, We have also given an account of the restoration of the\nauthority in these days, to administer in the ordinances of the\ngospel; and of the time of the organization of the church; and of the\nblessings poured out upon the same while yet in its infancy.\n\nWe now proceed to give a sketch of the faith and doctrine of this\nChurch.\n\nFirst, we believe in God the Eternal Father, and in his Son, Jesus\nChrist, and in the Holy Ghost, who bears record of them, the same\nthroughout all ages and for ever.\n\nWe believe that all mankind by the transgression of their first\nparents, and not by their own sins, were brought under the curse and\npenalty of that transgression, which consigned them to an eternal\nbanishment from the presence of God, and their bodies to an endless\nsleep in the dust, never more to rise, and their spirits to endless\nmisery under the power of Satan; and that, in this awful condition,\nthey were utterly lost and fallen, and had no power of their own to\nextricate themselves therefrom.\n\nWe believe, that through the sufferings, death and atonement of Jesus\nChrist, all mankind, without one exception, are to be completely and\nfully redeemed, both body and spirit, from the endless banishment and\ncurse to which they were consigned, by Adam's transgression, and that\nthis universal salvation and redemption of the whole human family\nfrom the endless penalty of the original sin, is effected, without\nany conditions whatsoever on their part; that is, that they are not\nrequired to believe, or repent, or be baptized, or do any thing else,\nin order to be redeemed from that penalty; for whether they believe\nor disbelieve, whether they repent or remain impenitent, whether they\nare baptized or unbaptized, whether they keep the commandments or\nbreak them, whether they are righteous or unrighteous, it will make\nno difference in relation to their redemption, both soul and body,\nfrom the penalty of Adam's transgression. The most righteous man that\never lived on the earth, and the most wicked wretch of the whole\nhuman family, were both placed under the same curse, without any\ntransgression or agency of their own, and they both, alike, will be\nredeemed from that curse, without any agency or conditions on their\npart. Paul says, Rom. v. 28, \"Therefore, as by the offence of one,\njudgment came upon ALL men to condemnation; even so, by the\nrighteousness of one, the free gift came upon ALL men unto the\njustification of life.\" This is the reason why ALL men are redeemed\nfrom the grave. This is the reason that the spirits of all men are\nrestored to their bodies. This is the reason that all men are\nredeemed from their first banishment, and restored into the presence\nof God, and this is the reason that the Saviour said, John xii. 32,\n\"If I be lifted up from the earth I will, draw ALL men unto me.\"\nAfter this full, complete and universal redemption, restoration and\nsalvation of the whole of Adam's race, through the atonement of Jesus\nChrist, without faith, repentance, baptism or any other works, then\nall and every one of them, will enjoy eternal life and happiness,\nnever more to be banished from the presence of God, IF _they\nthemselves have committed no sin_: for the penalty of the original\nsin can have no more power over them at all, for Jesus hath destroyed\nits power--broken the bands of the first death--obtained the victory\nover the grave,--delivered all its captives, and restored them from\ntheir first banishment into the presence of his Father, hence eternal\nlife will then be theirs, IF _they themselves are not found\ntransgressors of some law_.\n\nWe believe that all mankind, in their infant state are incapable of\nknowing good and evil, and of obeying or disobeying a law, and that,\ntherefore, there is no law given to them, and that where there is no\nlaw, there is no transgression; hence they are innocent, and if they\nshould all die in their infant state, they would enjoy eternal life,\nnot being transgressors themselves, neither accountable for Adam's\nsin.\n\nWe believe that all mankind, in consequence of the fall, after they\ngrow up from their infant state, and come to the years of\nunderstanding, know good and evil, and are capable of obeying and\ndisobeying a law, and that a law is given against doing evil, and\nthat the penalty affixed is a second banishment from the presence of\nGod, both body and spirit, _after_ they have been redeemed from the\nFIRST _banishment_ and restored into his presence.\n\nWe believe that the penalty of this second law can have no effect\nupon persons who have not had the privilege, in this life, of\nbecoming acquainted therewith; for although the light that is in them\nteaches them good and evil, yet that light does not teach them the\nlaw against doing evil, nor the penalty thereof. And although they\nhave done things worthy of many stripes, yet the law cannot be\nbrought to bear against them, and its penalty be inflicted, because\nthey can plead ignorance thereof. Therefore they will be judged, not\nby the revealed law which they have been ignorant of, but by the law\nof their conscience, the penalty thereof being a few stripes.\n\nWe believe that all who have done evil, having a knowledge of the\nlaw, or afterwards, in this life, coming to the knowledge thereof,\nare under its penalty, which is not inflicted in this world, but in\nthe world to come. Therefore, such, in this world, are prisoners,\nshut up under the sentence of the law, awaiting, with awful fear, for\nthe time of judgment, when the penalty shall be inflicted, consigning\nthem to a _second banishment_ from the presence of their Redeemer,\nwho had redeemed them from the penalty of the FIRST law. But,\nenquires the sinner, is there no way for my escape? Is my case\nhopeless? Can I not devise some way by which I can extricate myself\nfrom the penalty of this SECOND _law_, and escape this SECOND\n_banishment_? The answer is, if thou canst hide thyself from the\nall-searching eye of an Omnipresent God, that he shall not find thee,\nor if thou canst prevail with him to deny justice its claim, or if\nthou canst clothe thyself with power, and contend with the Almighty,\nand prevent him from executing the sentence of the law, then thou\ncanst escape. If thou canst cause repentance, or baptism in water, or\nany of thine own works, to _atone_ for the least of thy\ntransgressions, then thou canst deliver thyself from the awful\npenalty that awaits thee. But, be assured, O sinner, that thou canst\nnot devise any way of thine own to escape, nor do any thing that will\n_atone_ for thy sins. Therefore, thy case is hopeless, unless God\nhath devised some way for thy deliverance; but do not let despair\nseize upon thee; for though thou art under the sentence of a broken\nlaw, and hast no power to atone for thy sins, and redeem thyself\ntherefrom, yet there is hope in thy case; for he, who gave the law,\nhas devised a way for thy deliverance. That same Jesus, who hath\natoned for the original sin, and will redeem all mankind from the\npenalty thereof, hath also atoned for thy sins, and offereth\nsalvation and deliverance to thee, on certain conditions to be\ncomplied with on thy part.\n\nWe believe that the first condition to be complied with on the part\nof sinners, is, to _believe_ in God, and in the sufferings and death\nof his Son Jesus Christ, to atone for the sins of the whole world,\nand in his resurrection and ascension on high, to appear in the\npresence of his Father, to make intercessions for the children of\nmen, and in the Holy Ghost, which is given to all who obey the gospel.\n\nThat the second condition is, to _repent_, that is, all who believe,\naccording to the first condition, are required to come humbly before\nGod, and confess their sins with a broken heart and contrite spirit,\nand turn away from them, and cease from all their _evil deeds_ and\nmake restitution to all whom they have in any way injured, as far as\nit is in their power.\n\nThat the third condition is, to be _baptized_ by immersion in water,\nin the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, _for remission of\nsins_; and that this ordinance is to be administered by one who is\ncalled and authorized of Jesus Christ to baptize, otherwise it is\nillegal and of no advantage, and not accepted by him; and that it is\nto be administered only to those persons, who believe and repent,\naccording to the two preceding conditions.\n\nAnd that the fourth condition is, to receive the _laying on of\nhands_, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the gift of the Holy Ghost;\nand that this ordinance is to be administered by the apostles or\nelders, whom the Lord Jesus hath called and authorized to lay on\nhands, otherwise it is of no advantage, being illegal in the sight of\nGod; and that it is to be administered only to those persons who\nbelieve, repent, and are baptized into this church, according to the\nthree preceding conditions. These are the first conditions of the\ngospel. All who comply with them receive forgiveness of sins, and are\nmade partakers of the Holy Ghost. Through these conditions, they\nbecome the adopted sons and daughters of God. Through this process,\nthey are born again, first of water, and then of the spirit, and\nbecome children of the kingdom--heirs of God---saints of the most\nHigh--the church of the first-born--the elect people, and heirs to a\ncelestial inheritance, eternal in the presence of God. After\ncomplying with these principles, their names are enrolled in the book\nof the names of the righteous.\n\nThey are then required to be humble, to be meek and lowly in heart,\nto watch and pray, to deal justly; and inasmuch as they have the\nriches of this world, to feed the hungry, and clothe the naked,\naccording to the dictates of wisdom and prudence; to comfort the\nafflicted, to bind up the broken-hearted, and to do all the good that\nis in their power; and besides all these things, they are required to\nmeet together as often as circumstances will admit, and partake of\nbread and wine, in remembrance of the broken body, and shed blood of\nthe Lord Jesus; and, in short, to continue faithful to the end, in\nall the duties enjoined upon them by the word and spirit of Christ.\n\n\"It is the duty and privilege of the saints thus organized upon the\neverlasting gospel, to believe in and enjoy, all the gifts, powers,\nand blessings which flow from the Holy Spirit. Such, for instance, as\nthe gifts of revelation, prophecy, visions, the ministry of angels\nhealing the sick by the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus, the\nworking of miracles, and, in short, all the gifts as mentioned in\nScripture, or as enjoyed, by the ancient saints.\" We believe that\ninspired apostles and prophets, together with all the officers as\nmentioned in the new Testament, are necessary to be in the church in\nthese days.\n\nWe believe that there has been a general and awful apostacy from the\nreligion of the New Testament, so that all the known world have been\nleft for centuries without the Church of Christ among them; without a\npriesthood authorized of God to administer ordinances; that every one\nof the churches has perverted the gospel; some in one way, and some\nin another. For instance, almost every church has done away\n\"_immersion for remission of sins_.\" Those few who have practised it\nfor remission of sins, have done away the ordinance of the \"_laying\non of hands_,\" upon baptized believers for the gift of the Holy\nGhost. Again, the few who have practised this last ordinance, have\nperverted the first, or have done away the ancient gifts, powers, and\nblessings, which flow from the Holy Spirit, or have said to inspired\napostles and prophets, we have no need of you in the body in these\ndays. Those few, again, who have believed in and contended for the\nmiraculous gifts and powers of the Holy Spirit, have perverted the\nordinances, or done them away. Thus all the churches preach false\ndoctrines and pervert the gospel, and instead of having authority\nfrom God to administer its ordinances, they are under the curse of\nGod for perverting it. Paul says, Gal. i, 8, \"Though we, or an angel\nfrom Heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have\npreached unto you, let him be accursed.\"\n\nWe believe that there are a few sincere, honest, and humble persons,\nwho are striving to do according to the best of their understanding;\nbut, in many respects, they err in doctrine, because of false\nteachers and the precepts of men, and that they will receive the\nfulness of the gospel with gladness, as soon as they hear it.\n\nThe gospel in the \"Book of Mormon,\" is the same as that in the New\nTestament, and is revealed in great plainness, so that no one that\nreads it can misunderstand its principles. It has been revealed by\nthe angel, to be preached as a witness to all nations, first to the\nGentiles, and then to the Jews, then cometh the downfall of Babylon.\nThus fulfilling the vision of John, which he beheld on the Isle of\nPatmos, Rev. xiv, 6, 7, 8, \"And I saw,\" says John, \"another angel fly\nin the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto\nthem that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and\ntongue, and people, saying, with a loud voice, Fear God, and give\nglory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship him\nthat made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of\nwaters. And there followed another angel, saying Babylon is fallen,\nis fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the\nwine of the wrath of her fornication.\"\n\nMany revelations and prophecies have been given to this church since\nits rise, which have been printed and sent forth to the world. They\nalso contain the gospel in great plainness, and instructions of\ninfinite importance to the saints. They also unfold the great events\nthat await this generation; the terrible judgments to be poured forth\nupon the wicked, and the blessings and glories to be given to the\nrighteous. We believe that God will continue to give revelations by\nvisions, by the ministry of angels, and by the inspiration of the\nHoly Ghost, until the saints are guided into all truth, that is,\nuntil they come in possession of all the truth there is in existence,\nand are made perfect in knowledge. So long, therefore, as they are\nignorant of any thing past, present, or to come, so long, we believe\nthey will enjoy the gift of revelation. And when in their immortal\nand perfect state--when they enjoy the measure of the stature of the\nfulness of Christ--when they are made perfect in one, and become\nlike their Saviour, then they will be in possession of all knowledge,\nwisdom, and intelligence: then all things will be theirs, whether\nprincipalities or powers, thrones or dominions; and, in short, then\nthey will be filled with all the fulness of God. And what more can\nthey learn? What more can they know? What more can they enjoy? Then\nthey will no longer need revelation.\n\nWe believe that wherever the people enjoy the religion of the New\nTestament, there they enjoy visions, revelations, the ministry of\nangels, &c. And that wherever these blessings cease to be enjoyed,\nthere they also cease to enjoy the religion of the New Testament.\n\nWe believe that God has raised up this church, in order to prepare a\npeople for his second coming in the clouds of heaven, in power, and\ngreat glory; and that then the saints who are asleep in their graves\nwill be raised, and reign with him on earth a thousand years.\n\nWe believe that the nations are fast ripening in wickedness, and that\njudgments, fearful, and terrible, speedily await them. For the signs\nof the times clearly betoken a general and universal convulsion. The\nripening of the harvest--the decay of vegetables--the withering\nleaves, never indicated more clearly the approaching winter, than the\nsigns of the times betoken approaching judgment. The awful apostacy\nof the Christian World--the great corruptions that pervade all\ngovernments, and the alarming wickedness of the present generation,\nhave engraved UNIVERSAL JUDGMENT, RUIN, and OVERTHROW upon all the\nkingdoms of this world. A dreadful storm is gathering in every\nregion, find will, ere long, break forth with inconceivable fury upon\nthis guilty generation. Already the fearful tempest begins to rage.\nThe calm repose of ages is disturbed. Ancient and powerful monarchies\nwhich have stood the test of centuries, unmoved and unaltered, are\nnow fast crumbling to ruin. Kingdoms are in terrible commotion,\ndivided among themselves, and each distracted with internal broils,\ndisorder, and confusion. The fountains of the nations seem to be\nbroken up. The whole frame work of government is loosened and torn\nasunder. Every nation is alarmed and in consternation. Fearful\nforebodings have seized upon Politicians and Statesman, Kings and\nRulers. All are perplexed with dreadful anxieties, looking after\nthose things which are coming on the earth.\n\nIn the midst of all these commotions, just as every government seems\nto be on the very eve of crumbling to pieces, and just as a thick\ncloud of judgment seems to hang frightfully over all nations, ready\nto burst with awful fury upon their guilty heads--a voice of mercy\nis heard. An angel is sent forth from the eternal worlds. Truth\nsprings forth from the earth clothed with her native simplicity and\nbeauty. Messengers are called of God, and sent forth with a\nproclamation to all people, requiring them to repent and obey the\nsame. A way of safety for the meek of the earth is clearly pointed\nout. The kingdom of God is re-organized upon the earth, which alone\nwill stand secure and triumphant in the midst of the dissolution of\nall earthly governments.\n\nThus, dear reader, we have laid before you a brief narrative of some\nof the most important things transpiring in this generation--things\nmost firmly believed by the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day\nSaints--things which have already been embraced by many tens of\nthousands in our own native country. Thousands also among other\nnations are rejoicing in these tidings, having received this message\nwith gladness. Never were mankind visited with a more important\nmessage than the one which has now saluted the ears of mortals. It is\na message that deeply concerns all people, and calls for their most\ncandid and sincere investigation. It is a message from the great\nJehovah committed into the hands of mortals by holy angels sent forth\nfrom his presence. It is a message that will speedily penetrate the\ndarkest corners of the earth, and enter into the palaces of Kings,\nwhile proud and haughty monarchs shall tremble at its power. It is a\nmessage which unveils the secrets of futurity, and draws aside the\ncurtains which hide the destinies of all countries and governments.\n\nBy the proclamation of this message, Judah shall be gathered from\ntheir long dispersion--the tribes of Israel be restored, with power\nand glory to their own lands--the remnant of Joseph, or the American\nIndians, become civilized and enlightened, and the Millennial reign\nof universal peace and joy be ushered in.\n\nAnd we now bear testimony to all, both small and great, that the Lord\nof Hosts hath sent us with a message of glad tidings--the everlasting\ngospel, to cry repentance to the nations, and prepare the way of his\nsecond coming. Therefore, _repent_, O ye nations, both Gentiles and\nJews, and cease from all your _evil deeds_, and come forth with\nbroken hearts and contrite spirits, and be _baptized_ in water, in\nthe name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for remission of sins,\nand ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit by the _laying on of\nthe hands_ of the Apostles, or Elders of this church; and signs shall\nfollow them that believe, and if they continue faithful to the end,\nthey shall be saved. But woe unto them who hearken not to the message\nwhich God has now sent, for the day of vengeance and burning is at\nhand, and they shall not escape. Therefore, REMEMBER, O reader, and\n_perish not_!","title":"An Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions: And of the Late Discovery of Ancient American Records","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":12199}