{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_46243/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_46243","id":"gutenberg_46243","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46243","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Religion/Spirituality","Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines","Latter Day Saints","Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844"],"text":"DIVINE AUTHORITY;\n\nOR THE QUESTION,\n\nWAS JOSEPH SMITH SENT OF GOD?\n\n****\n\nBY ORSON PRATT,\n\nONE OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY\nSAINTS.\n\n****\n\nA few days since, Mrs. Pratt and myself, together with some others,\nwere kindly invited to take tea with a very respectable gentleman of\nthis town (Liverpool), who, though not connected with our church, yet\nwas, with his family, sincerely enquiring after the truth. They seemed\nto be fully convinced in relation to the most important features of\nour doctrine, and were desirous of extending their investigations\nstill further. We hope that their researches may happily result in a\nfull conviction of the truth, and that they may obtain that certainty,\nso much to be desired, as to the _divine_ authority of the great and\nimportant message _now_ revealed from heaven--a message which must\nassuredly prove a savor of _life_ or _death_ to the generation now\nliving. This message is beginning to awake the attention of the honest,\nvirtuous, and upright among all classes of society. They seem to be\naroused from the slumber of ages.\n\nA message of simple truth, when sent from God--when published by divine\nauthority, through divinely inspired men, penetrates the mind like a\nsharp two-edged sword, and cuts asunder the deeply-rooted prejudices,\nthe iron-bound sinews of ancient error and tradition, made sacred by\nage and rendered popular by human wisdom. It severs with undeviating\nexactness between truth and falsehood--between the doctrine of Christ\nand the doctrines of men; it levels with the most perfect ease every\nargument that human learning may array against it. Opinions, creeds\ninvented by uninspired men, and doctrines originated in schools of\ndivinity, all vanish like the morning dew--all sink into insignificance\nwhen compared with a message direct from heaven. Such a message shines\nupon the understanding like the splendors of the noon-day sun; it\nwhispers in the ears of mortals, saying, \"this is the way, walk ye\nin it.\" Certainty and assurance are its constant companions; it is\nentirely unlike all plans or systems ever invented by human authority;\nit has no alliance, connexion, or fellowship with any of them; it\nspeaks with divine authority, and all nations, without an exception,\nare required to obey. He that receives the message and endures to the\nend will be saved; he that rejects it will be damned. It matters not\nwhat his former righteousness may have been--none can be excused.\n\nAs a specimen of the anxious inquiry which now pervades the minds of\nmany in relation to this church, we publish the following extract from\na letter, which was kindly read to us during our afore-mentioned visit,\nby the gentleman who received it from his friend in London. We were\nstruck with the apparent candor, the sound judgment, and the correct\nconclusions of the author of the letter, and earnestly solicited the\nprivilege of publishing it. Permission was granted on condition that\nwe would withhold names. We here present it to our readers, and shall\nendeavor, in the same spirit of candor, to answer the all-important\ninquiries contained in it.\n\n _July_ 15_th_.\n\n MY DEAR SIR,--I have been expecting, time after time, to be able to\n return you the \"Letters\" you so kindly left with me. As I informed you\n in my last, I cursorily read through the letters, and then handed the\n book to Mr. --. With him it is at the present time. The impression made\n thereby on his mind is very remarkable, and he requests me to inform\n you, that if you will allow him, he means to keep the book, if you\n will please to let him know the price thereof. He and I concur in our\n view of Mormonism at present. Do you enquire what that view is? I will\n then proceed to state it. We consider that the proofs which Mormonism\n gives of the apostasy are, without question, clear and demonstrative;\n we entirely concur also in the personal appearance and reign of our\n Lord; we are persuaded that all the preachers and teachers of the day\n are without _authority_--that their teachings and interpretations are\n uncertain as to the truth--that the translations of the scripture,\n being done without inspiration, are also uncertain. All is uncertain!\n melancholy thought! a deplorable picture but a true one!--the\n different teachers doing the best they can!--all jarring--all\n contending! The result--division, multiplied division! And they have a\n right if they think proper to divide from an authority _merely human_.\n But their multiplied division is a multiplied proof that they are\n wrong--that they are without that spirit who guides into truth, _and\n truth is_ ONE!\n\n My dear sir, the \"Saints\" have made out a strong and irrefragable case\n to show that \"_authority to teach_\" is no where, if not with them;\n but the proposition that _they have authority to teach, interpret\n &c._, is one that at present does not create a conviction in Mr. --\n or my mind. We admit that it is very reasonable to suppose that,\n under such circumstances, God would raise up and send _one invested\n with authority_. Whether Joseph Smith was such an one is the all\n important question. I also admit, that so far as I am acquainted with\n his history, there is something very remarkable about him; perhaps\n I should be fully convinced if I were more fully read in writings\n relating to him. I wish I lived near to you, and then I would read\n more fully on the subject I confess my mind is much concerned to\n arrive at a clear conclusion upon the point.\n\n Mr. -- wishes you, if you will be so good, to select a few books that\n you think clearly prove the divine mission of Joseph Smith, and send\n them in a parcel to him with the prices; he will feel much obliged,\n and will send you a post-office order for the amount; he believes\n your selection will be a judicious one. I have heard Mr. Banks twice\n since I saw you, and other individual teachers also. There is much in\n their public services I approve. I am struck with the simplicity of\n their celebration of the ordinances. Mr. Banks and the others _assert\n strongly_ the divinity of Joseph Smith's mission; this is, however,\n not enough: the church of the early saints had proofs to give by\n inspired apostles like Peter, inspired deacons like Stephen, inspired\n evangelists like Philip, inspired prophets like Agabus, and inspired\n prophetesses like Philip's daughters. All this was the result of the\n _Spirit_ being in and with them _in authority and power_. The church\n of the latter day ought to be the same, if having the _same spirit of\n authority and power_. The sects are without these proofs, therefore\n they are sects groping in the dark, and hoping, and thinking, and\n guessing they are right, and all this convinces that they are not\n \"the Church, the body of Christ;\" bodies they are of their doctors\n and founders sure enough! Now I think the Church of the Latter-day\n Saints must resemble the original, or it is at once proved only a\n sect. One result of my conversation with you and Banks, and perusing\n the Letters, is, that I can be no longer connected with any sect. So\n far as I see, I can without difficulty confound in argument--plain\n scriptural argument--any into whose company I am at any time thrown.\n The Methodist _system_ I am convinced is the worst, because its\n pretensions are highest. I stand, therefore, fully alone. I declare\n I should be glad to be convinced that Mormonism is what it professes\n to be; I would join it to-day if my mind could be convinced that its\n elders had _authority to baptize me for the remission of sins, and lay\n hands on me for the gift of the Holy Ghost_. These sacred ordinances I\n would obey gladly, if I knew men having authority to administer them!\n To have these ordinances administered without divine authority is mere\n child's play. Thus you see my position. A Methodist leader, an old\n friend, said to me the other day, \"Are you connected with the church\n of Christ now?--I hear you are not with us now.\" I answered, \"Where\n is the church of Christ?\" He replied it is found among the different\n sects. I then inquired, \"Are you in the church of Christ? for if you\n are, you must be a member of all the sects.\" This rather puzzled him.\n I then asked him \"Shew me the sect that resembled the church at the\n beginning; does any one of them, or do they all put together resemble\n the church at the beginning?\" He said certainly not. I enquired why\n not? He was shrewd enough to be silent and to see that his own mouth\n must condemn his sect and all the sects. Observe, in the absence of\n the spirit, men must do as well as they can. This I am trying to do,\n only I confess that I am poor, and blind, and naked, bereft of the\n glory of the _certainty of the authority and truth of the church of\n Christ_. The sects, however, are satisfied, though \"poor, blind,\n and naked,\" to boast of increase of goods, chapels, rich friends,\n preachers, &c., &c. So much for my present views and standing. I\n suppose by this time you have acted on your convictions, and are\n joined to the Saints; in all honesty you ought, I confess. The moment\n the conviction that _divine authority and certainty of teaching_ is\n with them, that moment will I join them. ***\n\n Farewell. My respectful regards to Mrs. --, and ever believe me, my\n dear sir, yours very truly,\n\n\nFirst.--The author of the above letter has carefully examined the\npresent state of the world, and declares himself fully convinced of the\nawful apostacy which now so universally prevails. He unhesitatingly\nadmits that all authority to teach--to administer ordinances--to build\nup the church of Christ, has entirely ceased from the earth--that\n\"all is uncertain.\" He also admits that \"it is very reasonable to\nsuppose, that under such circumstances, God would raise up and send\none _invested with authority_. Whether Joseph Smith was such a one is\nthe all-important question.\" Yes, indeed, it is an important question,\nand one that involves the fate of the present generation. If Joseph\nSmith was not sent of God, this church cannot be the church of God,\nand the tens of thousands who have been baptized into this church\nare yet in their sins, and no better off than the millions that have\ngone before them. _The form_, without the power and authority, is no\nbetter than the hundreds of human forms that have no resemblance to\nthe ancient pattern; indeed, it is more dangerous, because better\ncalculated to deceive. Other churches do not profess to have inspired\napostles, prophets, prophetesses, evangelists, &c., hence we _know_,\nif the New Testament be true, that they cannot be the church of God.\nBut the Latter-day Saints profess to have all these officers and gifts\namong them, and profess to have authority to administer in every form,\nordinance, and blessing of the ancient church; hence we know, that\nso far as the officers, doctrines, ordinances, and ceremonies are\nevidence, this Church can exhibit a perfect pattern. In these things,\nthen, both ancient and modern Saints are exactly alike. By the New\nTestament then we cannot be condemned.\n\nIf the Latter-day Saints are not what they profess to be, one thing is\ncertain, that no one ever will be able to confute their doctrine by\nthe scriptures; however imperfect the people may be, their doctrine is\n_infallible_. Can this be said of any other people who have existed on\nthe eastern hemisphere during the last 1700 years? No. Their doctrines\nhave been a heterogenous mixture of truth and error, that would not\nstand the test one moment when measured by a pattern of inspiration;\nsome disparity could be seen and pointed out--some deviation either in\nthe organization or in the ordinances of the gospel could be shown to\nexist. And now after so many centuries have elapsed, and when human\nwisdom has been exerted to its utmost strength, and the most exalted\nand gigantic talents displayed to lay a stable foundation whereon to\nbuild, we awake and behold all an empty bubble--a vain show--a phantom\nof man's creation, with scarcely a vestige of the ancient _form_, to\nsay nothing of the _power_. In the midst of all this thick darkness, a\nyoung, illiterate, obscure, and inexperienced man announces a message\nfrom heaven, before which darkness flees away; human dogmas are\noverturned; the traditions of ages are uprooted; all forms of church\ngovernment tremble like an aspen leaf at its approach, and the mighty\nfabric of popular sectarianism is convulsed and shaken to its very\nfoundation. How happens all this? If Joseph Smith were an impostor,\nwhence his superior wisdom? What power enervated his mind in laying\nthe foundation of a church according to the ancient order? How could\nan impostor so far surpass the combined wisdom of seventeen centuries\nas to originate a system diverse from every other system under heaven,\nand yet harmonise with the system of Jesus and his apostles in every\nparticular? What! an impostor discover the gross darkness of ages,\nand publish a doctrine perfect in every respect, against which not\none scriptural argument can be adduced! The idea is preposterous! The\n_purity_ and _infallibility_ of the doctrine of this great modern\nprophet is a presumptive evidence of no small moment in favor of his\ndivine mission.\n\nWe do not pretend that a _perfect doctrine_ is an _infallible_ evidence\nin favour of the _divine authority_ of the one who teaches it. We\ncan conceive it possible, though not probable, for a man to teach a\ndoctrine unmixed with error, and yet be without authority to administer\nits ordinances. Swedenborg, Irving, and many others taught doctrines\nin some respects true, in other respects false; hence their authority\nshould be rejected, even though they should perform miracles. We have\nno examples on the records of history, of a doctrine perfect in every\nrespect, being taught by any person or persons, unless they were\ninspired with divine authority. If Joseph Smith taught a doctrine in\nany respect false, he should be rejected as an impostor, though he\nshould, like the magicians of Egypt, turn rivers of water into blood,\nor create frogs in abundance, or even raise the dead like the witch of\nEndor. On the other hand, if he taught a true and perfect doctrine, he\nmight be sent of God, though he himself should perform no miracle, like\nJohn the Baptist, or the Prophet Noah, or many other prophets of the\nOld Testament.\n\nIn ancient times, many great prophets were sent of God, and we have no\nrecord of their doing miracles, yet their respective messages were of\ninfinite importance, and could not be rejected without condemnation.\nWhere is there a man, no matter how great his attainments, that can\nshow Mr. Smith's doctrine to be false? Did the ancient saints teach\nbaptism to the penitent believer for the remission of sins? So did\nMr. S. Did they teach the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy\nSpirit? So did Mr. S. Did the Former-day Saints teach that apostles,\nprophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, deacons, bishops, elders,\n&c., all inspired of God, were necessary in the church? So did Mr. S.\nDid the ancient Saints teach that dreams, visions, new revelations,\nministering of angels, healings, tongues, interpretations, and all\nother spiritual gifts were necessary in the church? So did this modern\nprophet. Where then is the discrepancy between the ancient and modern\nteachings? No where. The teaching of the one is as perfect as the\nother; and we again assert that this perfect coincidence in teaching,\nin every point, is a strong presumptive evidence that _Mr. Smith was\nsent of God_.\n\nSecond.--In what manner does Joseph Smith declare that a dispensation\nof the gospel was committed unto him? He testifies that an angel of\nGod, whose name was Moroni, appeared unto him; that this angel was\nformerly an ancient prophet among a remnant of the tribe of Joseph\non the continent of America. He testifies that Moroni revealed unto\nhim where he deposited the sacred records of his nation some fourteen\nhundred years ago; that these records contained the \"everlasting\ngospel\" as it was anciently taught and recorded by this branch of\nIsrael. He gave Mr. Smith power to reveal the contents of those records\nto the nations of the earth. Now, how does this testimony of Joseph\nSmith agree with the book of John's prophecy given on the Isle of\nPatmos? John testifies that when the dispensation of the gospel is\nagain committed to the nations, it shall be through the medium of an\n_angel_ from heaven. J. Smith testifies that a dispensation of the\ngospel for all nations has been committed to him by an _angel_. The one\nuttered the prediction; the other testifies its fulfillment. Though\nMr. Smith had taught a perfect doctrine, yet if he had testified that\nhis doctrine was not restored by an angel, all would at once have\nknown him to be an impostor. How came Mr. Smith, if an impostor, to\nnot only discover a perfect doctrine, but also to discover the precise\nmedium through which that doctrine should be restored to the earth?\nDid Swedenborg, Irving, Wesley, or any other persons, not only teach\na pure system, but at the same time did they declare that it was\ncommitted to them by an angel from heaven? If not, however pure and\nholy their teaching, they were not divinely authorised to administer in\nordinances. If Mr. Smith had professed to have accidentally discovered\nthose records, and that he was inspired to reveal their contents\nthrough the Urim and Thummim; or if he had professed to have received\na message of the gospel through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, or\nthe Urim and Thummim, or in any other way but that of the ministering\nof an angel, we should, without further inquiry, have known him to be\nwithout authority. How came Mr. Smith, if a deceiver, to think of all\nthis? Did Martin Luther, Wesley, Whitfield, Swedenborg, or Irving think\nof this? Whence his superior intellect--his depth of understanding--his\nextensive foresight--that he should so far surpass all former impostors\nfor 1700 years? John testifies that when the everlasting gospel is\nrestored to the earth it shall be by an _angel_. Smith testifies that\nit was restored by an _angel_, and in no other way. _This is another\npresumptive evidence that he was sent of God_.\n\nThird.--A revelation and restoration to the earth of the \"_everlasting\ngospel_\" through the angel Moroni would be of no benefit to the\nnations, unless some one should be ordained with authority to preach it\nand administer its ordinances. Moroni might reveal a book containing\na beautiful and glorious system of salvation, but no one could obey\neven its first principles without a legally authorized administrator,\nordained to preach, baptize, lay on hands for the gift of the Holy\nGhost, &c. Did Moroni ordain Mr. Smith to the apostleship, and command\nhim to administer ordinances? No, he did not. But why not confer\nauthority by ordination, as well as reveal the everlasting gospel?\nBecause in all probability he had not the right so to do. All angels\nhave not the same authority--they do not all hold the same keys. Moroni\nwas a prophet, but we have no account of his holding the office of an\napostle; and if not, he had no right to ordain Mr. Smith to an office\nwhich he himself never possessed. He no doubt went as far as he was\nauthorized, and that was to reveal the \"_stick of Ephraim_\"--the record\nof his fathers containing the \"_everlasting gospel_.\" How then did\nMr. Smith obtain the office of an apostle, if Moroni had no authority\nto ordain him to such office? Mr. Smith testifies that Peter, James,\nand John came to him in the capacity of ministering angels, and by\nthe laying on of hands ordained him an apostle, and commanded him to\npreach, baptize, lay on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and\nadminister all other ordinances of the gospel as they themselves did in\nancient days. Did Swedenborg--did Irving's apostles--or did any other\nimposters during the long age of darkness--profess that the apostleship\nwas conferred upon them by those who held it last--by an angel who\nheld the office himself? No; and therefore they are not apostles, but\ndeceivers. If Mr. Smith had pretended that he received the apostleship\nby the revelation of the Holy Ghost, without an ordination under the\nhands of an apostle, we should at once know that his pretensions were\nvain, and that he was a deceiver. If an impostor, how came Mr. Smith\nto discover this? Why did he not, like the Irvingites, assume the\napostleship without an apostle to ordain him? How came he to possess so\nmuch more wisdom than Irving, as to discover that he could not be an\napostle without being ordained under the hands of an apostle? If Mr.\nSmith be a false apostle, it must be confessed that he has exhibited\nfar more judgment than all the false apostles who have preceded him,\nlearned and talented as they were. Is not this another presumptive\nevidence of _Joseph Smith's divine mission?_ Such a correctness upon\nmatters of so great a moment, and upon subjects on which millions have\nheretofore erred, indicates something more than _human_--it indicates\ninspiration of the Almighty. The purity of Mr. Smith's doctrine--the\nperfect coincidence of his testimony with that of John's, in relation\nto the manner of the restoration of the everlasting Gospel to the\nearth, and the consistency of his testimony in relation to the manner\nof the restoration of the apostleship, are strong presumptive evidences\nthat beautifully harmonize with and strengthen each other; the evidence\nis therefore accumulative, and increases with every additional\ncondition or circumstance in a multiplied ratio, and seems almost\nirresistibly to force conviction upon the mind.\n\nFourth.--Joseph Smith not only professes, through the medium of angels,\nto have received a dispensation of the gospel, and the power and\nauthority of the apostleship, but he also professes to have received,\nthrough _revelation_ and _commandment_ from God, a dispensation for\nthe gathering of the Saints from all nations. Now the doctrine of the\ngathering of the Saints in the last days must either be _false_ or\n_true;_ if false, then J. Smith must be an impostor. It matters not\nhow correct he may have been in all other points of his system, if\nthis one point--the doctrine of the gathering--be false, he _must_ be\na deceiver. Why? Because he professes to have received _this doctrine_\nby direct _revelation_ and _commandment_. On the other hand, if the\ndoctrine of the gathering of the Saints be a _true_ doctrine and\nscriptural, this will be another presumptive evidence that Mr. Smith\nwas sent of God.\n\nNow a doctrine may be _true_ and not be _scriptural;_ as for example,\nNewton's doctrine or law of universal gravitation is a _true_ doctrine,\nbut not a _scriptural_ one; that is, it can neither be proved nor\ndisproved by the scriptures. So, Noah's doctrine of gathering into\nan ark--Lot's doctrine of fleeing out of Sodom--Christ's doctrine\nto depart out of Jerusalem and flee to the mountains to escape\ndestruction, were all _true;_ but neither of them could be proved\nor disproved by any scripture given to any of the former prophets.\nSo likewise Mr. Smith's doctrine of the gathering of the Saints in\nthe last days might be _true_, even though there should be no former\nscripture that predicted such an event; but in this case such a\ndoctrine would be no evidence that Mr. Smith, who advocated it, was\nsent of God; but if such a doctrine can be proved to be a _scriptural_\ndoctrine, that is, if the gathering of the Saints was predicted in\nancient scriptures as an event to take place in a certain age, in a\ncertain way, and through certain means, and Mr. Smith comes in _that\nage_, professing to have a message to gather the Saints in _such way_,\nand by _such means_ as the scriptures have foretold, then the exact and\nperfect agreement between the professed message of Mr. Smith, and the\nscriptural predictions relating to such a message or work, would be a\npresumptive evidence of great weight in favor of his divine mission.\n\nThe doctrine of the gathering of the people of God, including Israel,\nis one so clearly predicted by the inspired writers, that it seems\nalmost superfluous to refer to the numerous passages relating to it.\nThe dispensation in which the people of God were to be gathered in\none, is called by the apostle Paul, \"_the dispensation of the fulness\nof times_; which he represents as being an event then in the future.\nJohn, nearly one hundred years after the birth of our Saviour, saw\nthe wonderful events and sceneries of unborn generations displayed in\nmajestic and awful grandeur before him. He saw the churches of Asia,\nthen under his own personal watch-care, lukewarm, corrupted, and about\nready to be moved out of their place. He saw the universal apostacy\n[sic] that was soon to succeed and hold dominion for ages over all\nkindred and tongues, under the name of the Mother of Harlots--the\ngreat Babylon that should make all nations drunk with her wickedness.\nHe saw that after the nations had been thus overwhelmed in thick\ndarkness for ages, without the church of God, without apostles, without\nprophets, without the ministering of angels, without one cheering\nmessage from heaven, that there would be one more proclamation of\nmercy made to all people--one more dispensation of glad tidings from\nthe heavens, to be ushered in by an angel restoring the everlasting\ngospel, which was to receive a universal proclamation to all the\ninhabitants of the earth, accompanied with a loud cry, that \"_the\nhour of God's judgment is come_\". He saw the universal proclamation\nof this warning message immediately followed by another angel,\nproclaiming the complete overthrow and downfall of Babylon. Between\nthe interval of the flying of these two angels, he \"heard another\n_voice from heaven_, saying, COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE, that ye be\nnot partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues;\nfor her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her\niniquities.\" Remember, that this voice, commanding the people to come\nout of Babylon, was to be a \"_voice from heaven_.\" It was not to be\na cunningly devised plan of uninspired man, brought about by human\ningenuity, but it was to be a voice from heaven--a message sent from\nGod--a new revelation, commanding the Saints to come out of Babylon\nprevious to its downfall. How came Mr. Smith, if an impostor, to get,\nnot only all the other particulars which we have mentioned, perfectly\nexact, but also to discover that there must be a gathering of the\nSaints out of Babylon, and that that work must immediately follow\nthe introduction of the gospel by an angel? Why did he not say, My\ndoctrine is true, and if you will embrace it, you can be saved, and\nstill remain where you are? It matters not how correct his doctrine\nmight have been in all other points, if he had told his disciples to\nremain among the corrupt nations, and not gather together--this alone\nwould have exposed the cloven foot, and proved him to be a deceiver.\nSwedenborg, Wesley, Irving, and a numerous host of others, during the\nlast seventeen hundred years, have entirely neglected the gathering,\nwhich proves that they were without authority--that a dispensation of\nthe gospel was never committed to them--that the voice from heaven\nto come out of Babylon had never saluted their ears. Previous to the\nrestoration of the _gospel_ by an angel, God had no people in Babylon,\nand therefore could not call them out. An unauthorised, uninspired\npriesthood, preaching a perverted gospel, never could raise up a\npeople of God in Babylon; for they themselves are Babylon, and all\ntheir converts or children are begotten after their own likeness\nwith Babylonish inscriptions upon their foreheads. It is only when\nthe gospel, apostleship, and power are again restored in the way and\nmanner predicted, that a people of God can be raised up among the\nnations. It is then, and not till then, that the voice is heard from\nheaven, calling that people out from among the nations. Mr. Smith did\nnot forget this. It is marvellously strange, indeed, that he should\nbe an impostor, and yet embrace in his system every particular that\nwas to characterize the great dispensation of the latter times. It\nmatters not how diverse the points of his doctrine were to the popular\ncurrent among the great modern systems of religion. He seems to have\nintroduced his system without paying the least regard as to what would\nbe popular or unpopular--as to whether it would suit the learned or the\nunlearned--as to whether it would suit the temporal circumstances of\nman or not. He did not stop to make the inquiry whether the gathering\nof the Saints would be congenial to the feelings of those who occupied\nsplendid mansions, upon fine farms, surrounded with every luxury of\nlife. He did not stop to consider any of those things, but spoke as one\nhaving authority; saying, \"_thus saith the Lord_,\" upon every point of\ndoctrine which he promulgated. Now, for a young man, inexperienced and\nilliterate, to profess to give the word of the Lord upon subjects of so\ngreat a moment--to reveal doctrines which were directly opposed, not\nonly to his own traditions, but to the teachings and doctrines of the\nmost popular, numerous, and powerful sects of the day, and at the same\ntime have those doctrines exactly accord, not only with the ancient\ngospel, but with every minute prediction relative to the dispensation\nof the last days--is an evidence that carries TRUTH upon the face of\nit, and leaves a deep and lasting impression upon every reflecting\nmind, and we can hardly refrain from assenting in our hearts, that\nsurely _he must have been sent of God_.\n\nFifth.--What else besides the \"everlasting gospel\" does the Book of\nMormon profess to contain? It professes to contain a brief but faithful\nhistory of a small branch of the _tribe of Joseph_, and the revelations\ngiven to them both before and after Christ, written by a succession of\nprophets who were the literal descendants of Joseph; hence it professes\nto be, in the full sense of the word, the _writings or records of\nthe tribe of Joseph_. It contains numerous and pointed predictions,\nshewing expressly that the age in which their records should, by the\npower of God, be revealed to the nations, should also be the day in\nwhich Israel should be gathered; and that their records, in conjunction\nwith the records of the Jews, should be the powerful instruments in\nthe hands of the servants of God in bringing about that great work.\nNow, how does this accord with the word of the Lord to Ezekiel upon\nthe same subject? Ezekiel was commanded to write upon two sticks, one\nfor Judah, and the other for Joseph; after which he was commanded to\njoin them together into one. And when the children of Israel should\nmake enquiry what these two united writings of Judah and Joseph meant,\nhe was to say unto them, that the Lord God would join the writings of\nJoseph with those of Judah; immediately after which he would take the\nchildren of Israel from among the heathen, whither they were gone, and\nwould gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:\nand that he would make them one nation in the land upon the mountains\nof Israel; and that one king should be king to them all; and that they\nshould no more be two nations or kingdoms. Ezekiel testifies that the\n_writings of Joseph_ should be joined with the _writings of Judah_.\nMr. Smith presents this generation with a book, consisting of several\nhundred pages, professing to be the sacred writings of the inspired\nprophets of the tribe of Joseph, who anciently inhabited the great\nwestern hemisphere. Ezekiel testifies that Israel should be gathered,\nnever again to be scattered, immediately after the union of these\ntwo records. The professed record of Joseph, brought to light by Mr.\nSmith, testifies in the most positive language, that this is the age\nin which Israel shall be gathered through the instrumentality of the\nword and power of God, contained in the two records. Ezekiel uttered\nthe prediction. Mr. Smith presents a professed fulfilment. This is\nanother presumptive evidence in favor of the divine authority of his\nmission; for if the gathering of Israel had not been included in the\nmission of Mr. Smith, as an important part of the great work of the\nlast dispensation, all would have had good reason for rejecting him\nwithout further inquiry. The ministering of an angel--the restoration\nof the gospel--the conferring of the apostleship--the setting up\nof the kingdom of God--the gathering of the Saints--the revelation\nof the record of Joseph, and its union with the Jewish record--and\nthe restoration of all the house of Israel to their own lands, are\nthe wonderful events to be fulfilled in the great \"dispensation of\nthe fullness of times.\" Whatever person or persons are divinely\ncommissioned to usher in that dispensation, must have the keys of\nauthority to perform every work pertaining thereunto. If Joseph Smith\nhad included all these remarkable events in his mission, _excepting\none;_ then that _one_ exception would be sufficient to prove him to be\nacting without authority. But where, we ask, is there one exception?\nWhat particular event or circumstance pertaining to the dispensation,\nof which he professed to hold the keys, has he excluded from his\nsystem? Did John predict the restoration of the gospel by an angel? It\nis included in Mr. Smith's system. Did John predict that the Saints\nshould receive a message from heaven, commanding them to come out of\nBabylon? It also is included in the system of Joseph Smith, and the\nSaints are now obeying it. Did Ezekiel predict the final gathering\nof Israel as an immediate result of the union of the two records of\nJoseph and Judah? Mr. Smith also includes this in his system. The two\nrecords are already united in their testimony, and will soon accomplish\nthe purpose for which they were sent forth. What then is lacking? Is\nthere any of the prophets, or inspired writers of ancient times, who\nhave pointed out some other way for the latter day dispensation to be\nbrought about? Can any man show that the gospel will not be restored\nby an angel, or that the Saints will not be called out of Babylon\nby a message from heaven? or that the record of the tribe of Joseph\nwill not be joined with the Jewish record--the Bible? or that Israel\nwill not be gathered to their own lands through the instrumentality\nof more revelation? or that the kingdom of God will not be set up\nin the latter days to break in pieces all other kingdoms? or that\napostles and prophets will not be restored to the earth as in ancient\ntimes? If all these things are possible, probable, and scriptural--if\nall these events must come to pass in their time, and in the manner\npredicted--can any one show that this is not the time? that the Book\nof Mormon is not the record of Joseph, about which Ezekiel prophesied?\nCan any one show any cause why Joseph Smith should not receive the\nministering of an angel? why he should not be ordained an apostle,\nor prophet, or receive revelations and commandments from God? If the\ngospel is to be restored by an angel, it must be restored at the first\nto some person. Why not that person be Mr. Smith? If the records of\ntwo different tribes are to be joined in one, why not the Book of\nMormon and the Bible be the two records? and why not Mr. Smith be the\ninstrument in the hands of God in fulfilling this prophecy? If these\nthings are not not the fulfillment of those ancient predictions,\nwill the generation that lives when they do come to pass be any more\nbelieving than they are at present in this work? Will they be any\nmore ready to receive new revelations, visions, angels, or ancient\nsacred records than they are now? When God sets up his kingdom, will\nmankind be any more willing to receive the apostles, prophets, and\ninspired officers of that kingdom, than they are now? One thing is\ncertain; if the angel has not come--if the gospel is not restored--if\nthe records of Joseph are not revealed--then there is no kingdom of\nGod on the earth, no authority to preach or administer the ordinances\namong men; all is gross darkness--all is uncertainty--and our only\nalternative is to wait till the voice of the angel is heard, till the\ngreat work of the last dispensation is ushered in. But will we then\nreceive it? Will not our prejudices be as great then as they are now\nagainst Mr. Smith? Are there any qualifications that Mr. Smith should\npossess that he did not possess? Were there any doctrines which he\nadvocated adverse to scriptural doctrine? Were there any principles\nconnected with his system inconsistent with the prophecies? If then\nperfection characterizes every doctrine embraced in the great scheme\nof this modern prophet, who can say that he was not sent of God? Who\ndare oppose so great and perfect a system, without the least shadow of\nevidence to prove its falsity? Who so lost to every sense of reason and\nsound judgment, as not to perceive an overwhelming evidence flowing in\nfrom every quarter to establish the divine mission of Joseph Smith? Who\nthat has examined his mission or system impartially, can bring even\none evidence against it? Are we not bound then to yield, at least, our\nfaith on the side of evidence? What excuse then can the learned, and\ngreat, and wise of the earth, render for opposing a work of so great\nimportance with nought but ridicule, and slander, and vile reproaches?\nLet them bring forth their strong reasonings, or else let them hear,\nand say, it is TRUTH.\n\nSixth.--The perfect agreement between the prediction of Isaiah (chap.\nxxix) and Mr. Smith's account of the finding and translation of the\nBook of Mormon, is another collateral proof that he was divinely\ncommissioned. Mr. Smith testifies that the plates from which that book\nwas translated were taken _out of the ground_, from where they were\noriginally deposited by the prophet Moroni; that the box containing\nthem was composed of stone, so constructed as to exclude, in a great\ndegree, the moisture of the soil; that with the plates he discovered a\nUrim and Thummim, through the aid of which he afterwards was enabled to\ntranslate the book into the English language. Soon after obtaining the\nplates, a quantity of the characters were correctly transcribed, and\nsent to some of the most learned individuals in the United States, to\nsee if they could translate them. Among the rest, they were presented\nto Professor Anthon, of New York city. But no man was found able to\nread them by his own learning or wisdom. Mr. Smith, though an unlearned\nman, testifies that he was commanded to translate them, through the\ninspiration of the Holy Ghost, by the aid of the Urim and Thummim,\nand that the Book of Mormon is that translation. Now, Isaiah says\nto Israel, \"_Thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the\nground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice\nshall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and\nthy speech shall whisper out of the dust_.\"\n\nWho cannot perceive the perfect harmony between Isaiah's prediction\nand Mr. Smith's testimony? Isaiah, as if to impress it upon the\nminds of those who should live in future generations, gives no less\nthan four repetitions of the same prediction in the same passage,\ninforming us, in the most definite language, that after Israel should\nbe brought down, they should speak in a very familiar manner \"_out of\nthe ground_,\" and whisper \"low out of the dust.\" Mr. Smith has been an\ninstrument in the hands of God of fulfilling this prediction to the\nvery letter. He has taken \"_out of the ground_\" the ancient history\nof one half of our globe--the sacred records of a great nation of\nIsrael--the writings of a remnant of the tribe of Joseph, who once\nflourished as a powerful and great nation on the western hemisphere.\nThe mouldering ruins of their ancient forts, and towers, and cities\nproclaim their former greatness, in mournful contrast with their\npresent sad condition. They have been brought down like all the rest\nof Israel; but the words of their ancient prophets \"_speak out of the\nground_,\" and \"whisper out of the dust\" to the ears of the present\ngeneration, revealing in a very \"_familiar_\" manner the history of\nancient America, which before was entirely unknown to the nations.\nIsaiah says, that Israel should \"_speak out of the ground_.\" Mr.\nSmith says, that he obtained the writings of Joseph from \"_out of the\nground_.\" Now, if Mr. Smith had professed that he had got his book as\nSwedenborg obtained his, or as the Shakers obtained theirs; that is,\nif he had professed to have obtained this book to usher in this last\ndispensation in any other way but \"_out of the ground_,\" we should have\nhad reason to suppose him a deceiver, like Swedenborg and thousands\nof others. Again, Isaiah says, that \"the vision of all is become\nunto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to\none that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I\ncannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is\nnot learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not\nlearned. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near\nme with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed\ntheir heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the\nprecepts of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous\nwork among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the\nwisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their\nprudent men shall be hid.\" All this was fulfilled before Mr. Smith was\naware that it had been so clearly predicted by Isaiah. He sent the\n\"WORDS _of a book_\" which he found, as before stated, to Professor\nAnthon. But it was a sealed writing to the learned professor--the\naboriginal language of ancient America could not be deciphered by him.\nHe was as much puzzled as the wise men of Babylon were to interpret\nthe unknown writing upon the wall. Human wisdom and learning, in this\ncase, were altogether insufficient. It required another Daniel, who\nwas found in the person of Mr. Smith. What a marvellous work! What\na wonder! How the wisdom of the wise and learned was made to perish\nby the gift of interpretation given to the unlearned! If the Book of\nMormon is what it professes to be--a sacred record--then it must be the\nvery book mentioned in Isaiah's prediction; for the Prophet Nephi, one\nof the writers of the Book of Mormon, who lived upwards of 2400 years\nago, informs us that their writings should be brought to light in the\nlast days, in fulfillment of Isaiah's prediction; he also delivers a\nprophecy in relation to the same book, and predicts many events in\nconnexion therewith, which are not mentioned by Isaiah. We here give an\nextract from his prediction, as also his quotations from Isaiah:\n\n Behold, in the last days, or in the days of the Gentiles; yea, behold\n all the nations of the Gentiles, and also the Jews, both those who\n shall come upon this land, and those who shall be upon other lands;\n yea, even upon all the lands of the earth; behold, they will be drunk\n with iniquity, and all manner of abominations; and when that day\n shall come, they shall be visited of the Lord of Hosts, with thunder,\n and with earthquake, and with a great noise, and with storm and with\n tempest, and with the flame of devouring fire; and all the nations\n that fight against Zion, and that distress her, shall be as a dream\n of a night vision; yea, it shall be unto them, even as unto a hungry\n man, which dreameth, and behold he eateth, but he awaketh and his soul\n is empty; or like unto a thirsty man, which dreameth, and behold he\n drinketh, but he awaketh, and behold he is faint, and his soul hath\n appetite: yea, even so shall the multitude of all the nations be that\n fight against mount Zion: for behold, all ye that do iniquity, stay\n yourselves and wonder, for ye shall cry out, and cry, yea, ye shall\n be drunken, but not with wine; ye shall stagger, but not with strong\n drink: for behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you, the spirit of\n deep sleep. For behold, ye have closed your eyes, and ye have rejected\n the prophets, and your rulers, and the seers hath he covered because\n of your iniquity.\n\n And it shall come to pass, that the Lord God shall bring forth unto\n you the words of a book, and they shall be the words of them who have\n slumbered. And behold the book shall be sealed: and in the book shall\n be a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the\n ending thereof. Wherefore, because of the things which are sealed up,\n the things which are sealed shall not be delivered in the day of the\n wickedness and abominations of the people. Wherefore the book shall\n be kept from them. But the book shall be delivered unto a man, and\n he shall deliver the words of the book, which are the words of those\n who have slumbered in the dust; and he shall deliver these words unto\n another; but the words which are sealed, he shall not deliver, neither\n shall he deliver the book. For the book shall be sealed by the power\n of God, and the revelation which was sealed, shall be kept in the\n book until the own due time of the Lord, that they may come forth:\n for, behold, they reveal all things from the foundation of the world\n unto the end thereof. And the day cometh that the words of the book\n which were sealed, shall be read upon the house-tops; and they shall\n be read by the power of Christ: and all things shall be revealed unto\n the children of men which ever have been among the children of men,\n and which ever will be, even unto the end of the earth. Wherefore, at\n that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have\n spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the\n eyes of none shall behold it, save it be that three witnesses shall\n behold it, by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall be\n delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book, and the\n things therein. And there is none other which shall view it, save it\n be a few, according to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word\n unto the children of men: for the Lord God hath said, that the words\n of the faithful should speak as if it were from the dead. Wherefore,\n the Lord God will proceed to bring forth the words of the book; and in\n the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good, will he establish\n his word; and wo be unto him that rejecteth the word of God.\n\n But behold, it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall say unto\n him to whom he shall deliver the book, take these words which are not\n sealed, and deliver them to another, that he may show them unto the\n learned, saying: read this, I pray thee. And the learned shall say,\n bring hither the book, and I will read them: and now, because of the\n glory of the world, and to get gain, will they say this, and not for\n the glory of God. And the man shall say, I cannot bring the book, for\n it is sealed. Then shall the learned say, I cannot read it. Wherefore\n it shall come to pass, that the Lord God will deliver again the book\n and the words thereof to him that is not learned; and the man that\n is not learned, shall say, I am not learned. Then shall the Lord God\n say unto him, the learned shall not read them, for they have rejected\n them, and I am able to do mine own work; wherefore, thou shalt read\n the words which I shall give unto thee. Touch not the things which are\n sealed, for I will bring them forth in my own due time: for I will\n shew unto the children of men that I am able to do mine own work.\n Wherefore, when thou hast read the words which I have commanded thee,\n and obtained the witnesses which I have promised unto thee, then\n shalt thou seal up the book again, and hide it up unto me, that I may\n preserve the words which thou hast not read, until I shall see fit in\n mine own wisdom, to reveal all things unto the children of men. For\n behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will shew unto the\n world that I am the same yesterday, to day, and for ever; and I work\n not among the children of men, save it be according to their faith.\n\n And again it shall come to pass, that the Lord shall say unto him that\n shall read the words that shall be delivered him, forasmuch as this\n people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do\n honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear\n towards me is taught by the precepts of men, therefore, I will proceed\n to do a marvellous work among this people; yea, a marvellous work and\n a wonder: for the wisdom of the wise and learned shall perish, and\n the understanding of their prudent shall be hid. And wo unto them\n that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord. And their works\n are in the dark; and they say, who seeth us; and who knoweth us? And\n they also say, surely, your turning of things upside down, shall be\n esteemed as the potter's clay. But behold, I will shew unto them,\n saith the Lord of Hosts, that I know all their works. For shall the\n work say of him that made it, he made me not? Or shall the thing\n framed say of him that framed it, he had no understanding? But behold,\n saith the Lord of Hosts, I swill shew unto the children of men, that\n it is not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a\n fruitful field; and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest.\n And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book; and the\n eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness; and\n the meek also shall increase, and their joy shall be in the Lord;\n and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. For\n assuredly as the Lord liveth, they shall see that the terrible one is\n brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch\n for iniquity are cut off; and they that make a man an offender for a\n word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn\n aside the just for a thing of nought. Therefore thus saith the Lord,\n who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not\n now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale. But when he\n seeth his children, the work of my hands, in the midst of him, they\n shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall\n fear the God of Israel. They also that erred in spirit shall come to\n understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.\n\nHere it will at once be perceived that the Book of Mormon is actually\nthe book predicted by Isaiah, or else it must be an imposture. The\nbook mentioned by Isaiah was to have every characteristic which seems\nto accompany the Book of Mormon. Did Isaiah predict that the \"deaf\nshould hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind see out\nof obscurity, and out of darkness?\" It has been fulfilled by the\ncoming forth of the Book of Mormon. Did Isaiah say that in the day his\npredicted book should speak out of the ground, then those who \"erred\nin spirit should come to understanding, and they that murmured should\nlearn doctrine?\" It has been fulfilled to the very letter through the\ninstrumentality of the Book of Mormon. Tens of thousands of honest\nmen, who erred in spirit because of the doctrines and precepts of men,\nhave come to understanding. Many points of doctrine which had been in\ncontroversy for ages are made perfectly plain in the Book of Mormon;\nhence those who have murmured because of the darkness and obscurity\nthrown over the scriptures by human wisdom and learning, have \"_learned\ndoctrine_.\" Did Isaiah prophecy that when the predicted book should\nmake its appearance, that then \"the house of Jacob should no longer be\nmade ashamed, neither should the face of Jacob any more wax pale?\" The\nBook of Mormon has come, declaring that the time is at hand for the\ngathering of the house of Jacob, no more to be scattered. Did Isaiah\npredict that in the day of the revelation of a certain book, \"the\nterrible one should be brought to nought, the scorner be consumed, and\nall that watch for iniquity be cut off;\" and finally that \"all the\nnations who should fight against Mount Zion, should pass away as the\ndream of a night vision, and be destroyed by earthquake and the flame\nof devouring fire?\" The Book of Mormon comes testifying that the hour\nof these judgments is at hand. And finally, there is no circumstance\nmentioned by Isaiah, connected with the revelation and translation of\nthe book he mentions, but what is connected with the Book of Mormon.\nIf Joseph Smith was an impostor and wished to palm himself off upon\nthe world as the great prophet who was to usher in the preparatory\ndispensation for the coming of the Lord, how came he to discover all\nthese minute particulars contained in Isaiah's prophecy, so as to so\nexactly and perfectly incorporate in his great scheme of imposture\neach and every one of them? If this illiterate youth was a deceiver,\nhe has far outstretched all the learned divines or impostors of the\nlast eighteen hundred years--he has made his great and extended scheme\nto harmonize in every particular, not only with the ancient gospel\nbut with the ancient prophecies, and this, too, so perfectly, that no\none can detect the delusion. Reader, does not such a scheme savour\nvery strongly of the truth? Does it not require a greater effort of\nmind to disbelieve such a scheme than it does to believe it? If such a\nscheme can not be credited, where is there a scheme or system in the\nwhole world that can be credited? Can you find a scheme more perfect\nthan the one introduced by Mr. Smith? Can you find one equal to it in\nperfection? Can you find one that contains the one-twentieth part of\nthe truth which his system contains? If, then, you doubt the authority\nof Mr. Smith, how much more ought you to doubt the authority of every\nother man now on the earth? If Mr. Smith's perfect scheme should be\nrejected, surely all other schemes or doctrines, which can be shown to\nbe ten times more imperfect, should also be rejected. If any are to be\nreceived, surely that one should be received which seems to contain\nall the elements of a true doctrine, and in which there cannot be\ndetected the least evidence of imposture. To invent a scheme apparently\nevery way suited to the last dispensation or preparatory work for\nthe second advent of our Lord--to have that scheme agree in every\nminute particular with the endless circumstances and numberless events\npredicted by the ancient prophets, bespeaks a wisdom far superior to\nthat of man: it bespeaks the wisdom of God. This endless train of\ncircumstances--all harmonizing--all combining--all concentrating as\nit were into one focus--carries with it such irresistible evidence of\ntruth that it is almost impossible for the careful investigator to\nreject the divinity of Joseph Smith's mission. Like investigating the\nworks of nature, the more he examines the more he perceives the wisdom\nof the Deity enstamped upon every sentence.\n\nSeventh.--According to the Book of Mormon, all of the great western\ncontinent, with all the valleys, hills, and mountains, riches and\nresources pertaining thereunto, was given to the remnant of Joseph,\nas their \"_land of promise_.\" The Almighty sealed this covenant and\npromise by an oath, saying, that the land should be given unto them\nfor ever. The western world, including both North and South America,\nis the \"_land of promise_,\" to the remnant of Joseph, in the same\nsense that the land of Palestine is a promised land unto the twelve\ntribes of Israel. Now this testimony of the Book of Mormon agrees most\nperfectly with the prophetic blessing placed upon the head of Joseph by\nthe patriarch Jacob; who, just previous to his death, called together\nhis sons and predicted upon each what should befall them or their\ntribes \"_in the last days_.\" The blessing upon the tribe of Joseph is\nas follows:--(Genesis xlix chap.) \"Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a\nfruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall: the archers\nhave sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him; but his bow\nabode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the\nhands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the\nstone of Israel:) even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee;\nand by the Almighty who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven\nabove, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts\nand of the womb: _the blessings of thy father have prevailed above the\nblessings of my progenitors, unto the utmost bound of the everlasting\nhills_: they shall be the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head\nof him that was separate from his brethren.\" In the preceeding chapter,\nwhen blessing the two sons of Joseph, he says, \"let them grow into a\nmultitude in the midst of the earth.\" And again, \"his seed shall become\na multitude of nations.\" From these predictions it will be perceived\nthat Jacob prevailed with God, and obtained a greater blessing in\nbehalf of the tribe of Joseph than what Abraham and Isaac, his\nprogenitors, had obtained. While the blessing of Jacob's progenitors\nwas limited to the land of Palestine, Joseph had confirmed upon him a\nblessing or country above, or far greater than Palestine--a country\nat a distance, represented by \"_the utmost bounds of the everlasting\nhills_.\" Some of the \"_branches_\" of the \"_fruitful bough_\" of Joseph\nwere to spread far abroad from the parent tree--they were to \"_run over\nthe wall_\" of the mighty ocean--they were to \"_become a multitude of\nnations in the midst of the earth_.\" There, among the \"_everlasting\nhills_,\" they were to be \"_made strong by the hands of the mighty God\nof Jacob_.\" It was to be there, among the \"_multitude of nations_\" of\nthe posterity of Joseph, that the \"_Shepherd--the stone of Israel_\"\nwas to establish a kingdom, which should break in pieces all other\nkingdoms, and \"_fill the whole earth_.\"\n\nIn America there is a \"_multitude of nations_,\" called by us\n\"_Indians_.\" These Indians evidently sprang from the same source as\nis indicated by their color, features, customs, dialects, traditions,\n&c.; that they are of Israelitish origin is also evident from their\nreligious ceremonies, their language, their traditions, and the\ndiscovery of Hebrew inscriptions, &c. If America is not the land given\nto a branch of Joseph, where, or in what part of the globe shall that\ntribe receive the fulfillment of Jacob's prediction? where, if not\nin America, has a land been peopled by a multitude of the nations of\nJoseph? Can a multitude of the nations of Joseph be found in Europe,\nAsia, or Africa, or in any of the adjoining islands? If not, then\nAmerica seems to be the only place where that great prediction could\nreceive its accomplishment. The Book of Mormon testifies that America\nis \"_the land of Joseph_,\" given to them by promise. Is not this an\nadditional evidence that _Mr. Smith was sent of God?_ If Mr. Smith was\nan impostor, how came he to discover that the tribe of Joseph was to be\nfavored so much above all the other tribes of Israel? Perhaps it may\nbe replied, that it was easy to discover _that_ from the scriptures;\nbut, we ask, why did not Swedenborg, Wesley, Irving, or some of the\nother impostors of former times, make this scriptural discovery, and\nincorporate it in their pretended dispensations? It would be, at\nfirst, thought far more natural to suppose the American Indians to be\nthe ten lost tribes of Israel; indeed, this is the opinion of many\nof the learned at the present day. Why did not this modern prophet,\nif a deceiver, form his deceptive scheme more in accordance with the\nopinions of the learned? or why should he choose a remnant of the\ntribe of Joseph to people ancient America? Out of the twelve tribes of\nIsrael, why did he select only a branch of one tribe to people this\nvast continent? All can _now_ perceive why the Book of Mormon should\nprofess to be the history of a remnant of one tribe, instead of being\nthe history of the ten tribes. All can see, why America should be\nrepresented as a promised land to Joseph, instead of being given to\nReuben, Simeon, or any of the other tribes. All can _now_ see, though\nit was not seen at the first, that if the Book of Mormon was different\nfrom what it now is; that is, if it professed to contain a history of\nthe ten lost tribes; or if it had given the great western continent\nto any other people, or to any other tribe than that of Joseph, that\nit would have proved itself false--it would not have been the book or\nrecord which the prophets predicted should come forth to usher in the\ngreat work of the last days. An impostor would be obliged to take into\nconsideration all these minute circumstances, many of which are in\ndirect opposition to the established traditions of the day; yet none of\nthem could be neglected without proving fatal to his scheme. But Mr.\nSmith, with all the accuracy of a profound mathematician, has combined\nall the minute elements of both doctrine and prophecy in his grand and\nwonderful scheme--nothing is wanting. Whatever department of his system\nis examined it will be found invulnerable. What an invaluable amount of\nevidence to establish the _divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith!_\n\nEighth.--In the Book of Mormon are given the names and locations of\nnumerous cities of great magnitude, which once flourished among the\nancient nations of America. The northern portions of South America,\nand also Central America, were the most densely populated. Splendid\nedifices, palaces, towers, forts, and cities, were reared in all\ndirections. A careful reader of that interesting book, can trace the\nrelative bearings and distances of many of these cities from each\nother; and if acquainted with the present geographical features of the\ncountry, he can, by the descriptions given in that book, determine,\nvery nearly, the precise spot of ground they once occupied. Now since\nthat invaluable book made its appearance in print, it is a remarkable\nfact, that the mouldering ruins of many splendid edifices and towers,\nand magnificent cities of great extent, have been discovered by\nCatherwood and Stephens in the interior wilds of Central America, in\nthe very region where the ancient cities described in the Book of\nMormon were said to exist. Here then, is _a certain and indisputable\nevidence_ that this illiterate youth--the translator of the Book of\nMormon, was inspired of God. Mr. Smith's translation describes the\nregion of country where great and populous cities anciently existed,\ntogether with their relative bearings and approximate distances from\neach other. Years after, Messrs. Catherwood and Stephens discovered\nthe ruins of forty-four of these very cities and in the very place\ndescribed. What, but the power of God, could have revealed beforehand\nthis unknown fact, demonstrated years after by actual discovery?\n\n\nNinth.--The fulfillment of a vast number of prophecies delivered by Mr.\nSmith is another infallible evidence of his divine mission. Out of the\nmany hundreds of fulfilled predictions uttered by him, we select the\nfollowing as examples.\n\n1. Soon after Mr. Smith found the plates, he commenced translating\nthem. He had not proceeded far before he discovered from his own\ntranslation of the prophecy of Nephi, as before quoted, that \"THREE\nWITNESSES,\" besides himself, should behold the book by the power of\nGod, and should know and testify of its truth. Some length of time\nafter this, or in the month of June, A.D. 1829, the Lord gave a\nrevelation, through Mr. Smith, to Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and\nMartin Harris, promising them that if they would exercise faith, they\nshould have a view of the plates, and also of the Urim and Thummim.\nThis prediction was afterwards fulfilled; and these three persons send\nforth their written testimony, in connexion with the Book of Mormon,\nto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, declaring that an\nangel of God descended from heaven, and took the plates and exhibited\nthem before their eyes; and that, at the same time, the voice of the\nLord from the heavens testified to them of the truth contained in Mr.\nSmith's translation of these records. Now an impostor might indeed\npredict the raising of \"THREE WITNESSES,\" but he could never call down\nan angel from heaven, in the presence of these \"WITNESSES,\" to fulfill\nhis prediction.\n\n2. Before the \"Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints\" had any\nexistence upon the earth, the prophecy of Moroni was translated and\nprinted in the Book of Mormon. It is expressly predicted in this\nprophecy, that in the day that that book should be revealed, \"_the\nblood of the Saints should cry unto the Lord from the ground_,\" because\nof the wickedness of the people, and that the \"_time should soon come\nwhen_,\" because of the cries and mourning of \"_widows and orphans_\"\nwhose husbands and fathers should be slain by wicked hands, \"_the Lord\nshould avenge the blood of his Saints_.\" And again, in August, 1831,\nthe word of the Lord came to Mr. Smith, saying that \"_the Saints should\nbe scourged from city to city, and from synagogue to synagogue_,\" and\nthat but \"FEW\" of those then in the Church should \"_stand to receive\nan inheritance_.\"--(See Book of Doctrine and Covenants, page 151 [sec.\n63.]) The blood of many hundreds of Saints who have been slain and\nmartyred in this church, is an incontrovertible evidence of the truth\nof the prediction. Surely Mr Smith must have been a prophet of God to\nhave foreseen not only the rise of the church of the Saints, but that\ntheir blood should cry aloud from the ground for vengeance upon the\nnation who should perpetrate these bloody deeds. No human foresight\ncould have seen the bloody sceneries that were to take place after the\nrise of the church. All natural appearances in the United States were\nagainst the fulfillment of this dreadful prediction. Every religious\nsociety throughout the whole country was strongly guarded against\npersecution and religious intolerance by the strong arm of the civil\nlaw. The glorious constitution of this great and free people proclaimed\nreligious freedom to every son and daughter of Columbia's soil: yet,\nin the midst of this boasted land of freedom and religious rights,\nwhere universal peace seemed to have selected her quiet dwelling\nplace, the voice of the great prophet is heard predicting the rise of\nthe Latter-day Church, and the bloody persecutions that should follow\nher \"from city to city, and from synagogue to synagogue.\" Never were\nthere any prophecies more literally and palpably fulfilled since the\ncreation of the earth. If the foretelling of future events that could\nnot possibly have been foreseen by human wisdom--events, too, that to\nall outward appearances were very unlikely to come to pass: if the\npredicting of such events and their subsequent fulfillment constitute a\ntrue prophet, then Joseph Smith must have been a true prophet, and, if\na true prophet, _he must have been sent of God_.\n\nTenth.--There are many thousands of living witnesses who testify\nthat God has _revealed_ unto them the truth of the Book of Mormon,\nby dreams, by visions, by the revelations of the Holy Ghost, by the\nministering of angels, and by his own voice. Now, if Mr. Smith is an\nimpostor, all these witnesses must be impostors also. Perhaps it may\nbe said, that these witnesses are not impostors, but are deceived\nthemselves. But, we ask, can any man testify that he KNOWS a false\ndoctrine to be true, and still not be an impostor? Men frequently are\ndeceived when they testify their _opinions_, but never deceived when\nthey testify they have a _knowledge_. Such must either be impostors,\nor else their doctrine must be true. Now, would it not be marvellously\nstrange indeed, if even three or four men who were entirely\ndisconnected, being strangers to each other, should all undertake\nto deceive mankind by testifying that an angel of God had descended\nbefore them, or that an heavenly vision had been shown to them, or that\nGod had in some other marvellous way manifested to them the divine\nauthenticity of the Book of Mormon? If the testimony of three or four\nimpostors would appear marvellous, how infinitely more marvellous would\nappear the testimony of tens of thousands of impostors in different\ncountries, widely separated from each other, and who never saw each\nother's faces, and yet all endeavouring to palm upon the world the same\ngreat imposition! If many thousands of witnesses do testify boldly,\nwith words of soberness, that God has revealed to them that this is his\nchurch or kingdom that was to be set up in the last days, then we have\nan overwhelming flood of collateral evidence to establish the divine\nmission of Joseph Smith.\n\nEleventh.--The miracles wrought by Joseph Smith are evidences of no\nsmall moment to establish his divine authority. In the name of the\nLord he cast out devils, healed the sick, spoke with new tongues,\ninterpreted ancient languages, and predicted future events. Many\nof these miracles were wrought before numerous multitudes of both\nbelievers and unbelievers, and upon persons not connected with\nour church. And again, the numerous miracles wrought through the\ninstrumentality of thousands of the officers and members of this\nchurch, are additional evidences that the man who was instrumental in\nfounding the church _must have been sent of God_. The thousands of sick\nthat have been miraculously healed in all parts of the world where\nthis gospel is preached, give forth a strong and almost irresistible\ntestimony that Mr. Smith's authority is \"_from heaven_.\" Although the\ngreat majority of mankind consider miracles to be an _infallible_\nevidence in favor of the divine authority of the one who performs\nthem, yet we do most distinctly dissent from this idea. If miracles be\nadmitted as an _infallible_ evidence, then all that have ever wrought\nmiracles must have been sent of God. The magicians of Egypt wrought\nsome splendid miracles before that nation; they created serpents and\nfrogs, and turned rivers of water into blood. If miraculous evidence\nis _infallible_, the Egyptians were bound to receive the contradictory\nmessages of both Moses and the magicians as of divine authority.\nAccording to this idea, the witch of Endor must have established her\ndivine mission beyond all controversy by calling forth a dead man from\nthe grave in the presence of Saul, king of Israel. A certain wicked\npower described by John (Rev. viii chap.) was to do \"great _wonders_\"\nand \"_miracles_,\" and cause \"_fire to come down from heaven on the\nearth in the sight of men_.\" If miracles were infallible evidences,\nsurely no one should reject the divine authority of John's beast. Again\n(in Rev. chapter xvi) John \"_saw three unclean spirits like frogs_,\"\nwhich he expressly says, \"_are the_ SPIRITS OF DEVILS WORKING MIRACLES,\n_which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world to\ngather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty_.\" The\nlearned divines and clergy of the nineteenth century boldly declare\nthat \"_miracles are an_ INFALLIBLE _evidence of the divine mission\nof the one who performs them_.\" If so, who can blame \"_the kings of\nthe earth_,\" and these learned divines, and all their followers for\nembracing the message of these divinely inspired devils? For according\nto their argument, they should in no wise reject them, for they\nprove their mission by evidences which they say are infallible. We\nshall expect in a few years, to see an innumerable host of sectarian\nministers as well as kings, taking up their line of march for the\ngreat valley of \"Armageddon,\" near Jerusalem, and thus prove by their\nworks that they do really believe in the _infallibility of miraculous\nevidence_. Devils can work miracles as well as God, and as they have\nalready persuaded the religious world that miracles are infallible\nevidences of divine authority, they will not have much difficulty among\nthe followers of modern christianity in establishing the divinity\nof their mission. But the \"Latter-day Saints\" do not believe in the\ninfallibility of miraculous evidence. We believe that miraculous gifts\nare absolutely necessary in the church of Christ, without which it\ncannot exist on the earth. Miracles, when taken in connexion with a\npure, holy, and perfect doctrine, reasonable and scriptural, is a very\nstrong collateral evidence in favour of that doctrine, and of the\ndivine authority of those who preach it. But abstract miracles alone,\nunconnected with other evidences, instead of being _infallible_ proofs\nare no proofs at all: they are as likely to be _false_ as true. So\nbaptism \"_for the remission of sins_\" is essential in the church of\nChrist, and when taken in connexion with all other points of doctrine\nembraced in the gospel, is a presumptive evidence for the divine\nauthority of the person who preaches it. But baptism \"for the remission\nof sins,\" unconnected with other parts of the doctrine of Christ, would\nbe no evidence either for or against the divine authority of any man.\nThe many thousands of miracles wrought in this church, being connected\nas they are with an infallible doctrine, and with a vast number of\nother proofs, have carried an almost irresistible conviction to the\nminds of vast multitudes, who have, in consequence, yielded obedience\nto the message, and become in their turn the happy recipients of the\nsame power of God, by which they themselves can also heal the sick and\nwork by faith in the name of the Lord; thus demonstrating to themselves\nthe truth of the Saviour's promise, viz:--that certain miraculous\n\"_signs shall follow them that believe_.\" (See Mark, chap. xvi.)\n\nThere is one thing connected with Joseph Smith's message which will\nat once prove him to be an impostor or else a true prophet. It is a\ncertain promise contained in a revelation which was given through him\nto the apostles of this Church in the year 1832. It reads as follows:\n\"Go ye into all the world, and whatsoever place ye cannot go into,\nye shall send, that the testimony may go from you into all the world\nunto every creature. And as I said unto mine apostles, even so I say\nunto you, for you are mine apostles, even God's high priests; ye are\nthey whom my Father hath given me--ye are my friends; therefore, as\nI said unto mine apostles, I say unto you again, that every soul who\nbelieveth on your words, and is baptized by water for the remission of\nsins, shall receive the Holy Ghost. And these signs shall follow them\nthat believe. In my name they shall do many wonderful works; in my name\nthey shall cast out devils; in my name they shall heal the sick; in\nmy name they shall open the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears of\nthe deaf; and the tongue of the dumb shall speak; and if any man shall\nadminister poison unto them it shall not hurt them; and the poison of\na serpent shall not have power to harm them. * * * Verily, verily, I\nsay unto you, they who believe not on your words, and are not baptized\nin water in my name, for the remission of their sins, that they may\nreceive the Holy Ghost, shall be damned, and shall not come into my\nFather's kingdom, where my Father and I am. And this revelation unto\nyou, and commandment, is in force from this very hour upon all the\nworld.\" (Doctrine and Covenants, page 86. [Sec. 84:62-75]) Here, then,\nthis great modern prophet has presented himself before the whole world\nwith a bold unequivocal promise to every soul who would believe on\nhis message--a promise, too, that no impostor would dare to make with\nthe most distant hope of success. An impostor might indeed make such\na promise to his followers, but they never would realize a fulfilment\nof it. If these miraculous signs have not followed according to the\nabove promise, then the tens of thousands who have complied with the\nconditions would know Joseph Smith to be an impostor, and with one\naccord would turn away, and that would be the end of the imposition.\nBut the very fact that vast multitudes are annually being added to\nthe Church, and continue therein year after year, is a demonstrative\nevidence that the promise is fulfilled--that the Holy Ghost is given,\nand the miraculous signs also. Dare any other societies in all the\nworld make such a promise unto the believers in their respective\nsystems? No, they dare not; they know full well that it would be the\nspeedy downfall and utter overthrow of their vain, unauthorized, and\npowerless religions. O, what a wide and marked difference between\nthe religion of Joseph Smith and that of Protestant and Catholic\nreligion--between his authority and that of sectarian divines! The one\npromises all the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost to his followers,\nthe other is as powerless as the dry stubble prepared for the burning.\nWhile the followers of this great prophet cast out devils, speak with\nnew tongues, heal the sick, open the eyes of the blind, cause the\nlame to walk, obtain heavenly visions, and converse with angels, the\nfollowers of those unauthorized, deluded, and crafty sects not only\ndeny these great and glorious gifts, or impute them in these days to\nthe power of the devil, but they grasp the sword, and fire-arms, and\ndeadly weapons, to kill off the Saints, and drive them from the face\nof what they call civilized society. While the one class are suffering\nmartyrdom by scores for their testimony, the other class are rolling in\nall the luxuries and splendors of Great Babylon, with fat salaries of\nfrom ten to twenty-seven thousand pounds sterling per annum.\n\nAs we have briefly examined into the nature of the evidences in favour\nof Joseph Smith's divine mission, it may be well at the close of this\nnumber to give a short summary of the proofs and arguments contained in\nthe foregoing.\n\n1. Joseph Smith's doctrine is reasonable, scriptural, perfect, and\ninfallible in all its precepts, commands, ordinances, promises,\nblessings and gifts. In his organization of the church, no officer\nmentioned in the New Testament organization is omitted. Inspired\napostles and prophets are considered as necessary as pastors, teachers,\nor any other officer.\n\n2. Joseph Smith's account of the restoration of the gospel by an\nangel--of his taking out of the ground the sacred records of the tribe\nof Joseph--of their subsequent translation by the gift of God--and of\nthe great western continent's being given to a remnant of Joseph, where\nthey have grown into a multitude of nations, are all events clearly\npredicted by the ancient Jewish apostles and prophets, together with\nthe minute circumstancess connected therewith. The times and season\nin which these events should transpire, and the purposes which they\nshould accomplish are also all plainly foretold. Joseph Smith presents\nthe world with the fulfilment at the predicted time--in the predicted\nmanner--and for the predicted purpose as anciently specified.\n\n3. Joseph Smith incorporates in his mission the gathering of the\nSaints out of Babylon, and every other predicted event that was to\ncharacterise the great preparatory dispensation for the second advent\nof our Lord.\n\n4. The revelation in the Book of Mormon, pointing out the location\nof man [sic] ancient cities, the ruins of which were subsequently\ndiscovered by Catherwood and Stephens--the direct and palpable\nfulfilment of many of the prophecies of Joseph Smith, which no human\nsagacity could have foreseen, all natural appearances and circumstances\nbeing entirely against their expected fulfillment--the raising up\nof numerous other witnesses who also testify to the ministering of\nangels and the manifestations of the power of God confirmatory of this\nmessage--the performance of many splendid miracles by Mr. Smith and his\nfollowers, and the bold unequivocal promise of the miraculous gifts to\nall who should believe and embrace this message, are all evidences such\nas no impostor ever has given, or ever can give. They are evidences\nsuch as will prove the salvation of every creature that receives the\nmessage, and the damnation of every soul that rejects it.\n\n\n15, Wilton Street, Liverpool, September 30th, 1848.\n\n****\n\nR. James, Printer, 39, South Castle Street, Liverpool","title":"Divine Authority; Or, the Question: Was Joseph Smith Sent of God?","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":13938}