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diff --git a/59951-0.txt b/59951-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3557b99 --- /dev/null +++ b/59951-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,19435 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59951 *** + + + + + + + + + + +NEW WITNESSES FOR GOD + +II. + +THE BOOK OF MORMON + +By B. H. Roberts, + +Author of "The Gospel," "Outlines of Ecclesiastical History," "Mormon +Doctrine of Deity," "Defense of the Faith and the Saints," "The +Prophet-Teacher," etc., etc. IN THREE VOLUMES + +VOL. III. + +THE DESERET NEWS + +Salt Lake City + +1909 + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + +PART III. (Continued). + +THE EVIDENCES OF THE TRUTH OF THE BOOK OF MORMON, (CONTINUED) + +CHAPTER XXX. + +Indirect External Evidences (Continued).--American Traditions 3 + +I. The Signs of Messiah's Birth + +II. The Signs of Messiah's Death + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +Indirect External Evidences--American Traditions (Continued) + +I. Messiah in the Western Hemisphere + +II. The Culture-Heroes of America + +III. The Peruvian Tradition of the Messiah + +IV. Topilitzen Quetzalcohuatl + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +External Evidences--The Hebrew Origin of the Native American +Races--Hebrew Relics + +I. Garcia + +II. Lord Kingsborough's Views + +III. Adair's Evidences + +The Discovery of Hebrew Relics + +I. The Pittsfield Hebrew Parchment + +11. The Newark Hebrew Tablet + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +The Discovery of Relics Other Than Hebrew + +I. Cincinnati Gold Plate + +II. The Kinderhook Plates + +III. The Tuccabatchey Plates + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +External Evidence--Minor Coincidences--Race Unity + +I. Central and Western New York an Ancient Battle Field + +II. Miscellaneous Book of Mormon Historical Incidents and Nephite +Customs Found in the Native American Traditions + +III. Human Sacrifices. Cannibalism + +IV. Burying the Hatchet + +V. Hagoth's Marine Migrations Preserved in Native Legends + +VI. Native American Race Unity + +VII. Did the Book of Mormon Antedate Works in English on American +Antiquities Accessible to Joseph Smith and His Associates + +VIII. The Value of the Evidence Supplied by American Antiquities + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +External Evidences (Continued).--Evidence of the Bible + +I. The Place of the Patriarch Joseph in Israel.--The Promises to Him +and His Seed + +II. The Prophecies of Isaiah on the Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon +109 + +III. The Prophecy of Messiah in Relation to "Other Sheep" than Those in +Palestine that Must Hear His Voice + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +External Evidences (Continued.)--The Evidence of the Church to the Book + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +Internal Evidences--The Book of Mormon, in Style and Language, is +Consistent with the Theory of its Construction + +I. Of the Unity and Diversity of Style + +II. Characteristics of an Abridgement + +III. Originality in Book of Mormon Names + +IV. Of the Nephite Custom in Naming Cities and Provinces Being Ancient +139 + +V. Of the Nephites, Like the Jews, Being a Mononymous People + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +Internal Evidences (Continued).--The Book of Mormon Forms of Government +Consistent with the Times and Circumstances under which they Existed + +I. Monarchies + +II. Reign of the Judges--Republic + +III. Ecclesiastical Government + +IV. The Events to which Importance is Given in the Book of Mormon are +in Harmony with the Character of the Writers + +V. Complexity in the Structure of the Book of Mormon in Harmony with +the Theory of its Origin + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +Internal Evidences (Continued).--The Originality of the Book of Mormon +an Evidence in Support of its Claims + +I. Originality of Structure + +II. Originality in Names + +III. In the Manner of its Coming Forth + +IV. Its Accounting for the Peopling of America + +V. The Nativity of Ancient American Peoples + +VI. Accounting for the Existence of Christian Ideas in America + +CHAPTER XL. + +Internal Evidences (Continued).--The Originality of the Book of Mormon +an Evidence in Support of its Claims. (Continued) + +VII. The Fall of Adam--The Purpose of Man's Earth Existence--Adam fell +that men might be; Man an Immortal Spirit; Men are that they might have +joy... + +VIII. The Agency of Man + +IX. The Atonement + +X. The Doctrine of Opposite Existences + +CHAPTER XLI. + +Internal Evidences (Continued).--The Evidence of Prophecy: + +I. A Testimony Shall be Given by the Holy Ghost.... + +II. "They Shall Have the Gift and Power of the Holy Ghost." + +III. "Three Witnesses" Shall Behold the Book "By the Gift and Power of +God." + +IV. The Blood of Saints Shall Cry from the Ground + +V "Because My Word Shall Hiss Forth, Many Shall say 'A Bible! A Bible'" +153 + +VI. The Lost Books of the Bible + +VII. No Gentile Kings in America + +CHAPTER XLII. + +Internal Evidences (Continued.)--The Evidence of Prophecy (Continued) +281 + +I. Many Shall Believe the Words of the Book + +II. The Book of Mormon to be Taken to the American Indians + +III. The Jews Shall Begin to Believe in Christ, and to Gather to Their +Lands + +IV. The Work of the Lord to Commence Among all Nations to Bring About +'the Restoration of His People Israel, and a Universal Reign of Peace +and Righteousness + +V. The Sign of the Modern World's Awakening + +VI. Conditional Prophecies--The Evidence of Things Worthy of God to +Reveal + +CHAPTER XLIII + +Internal Evidences (Continued).--The Spirit of the Book + +I. The Poetry the Book of Mormon has Inspired + +II. Summary of Internal Evidences + +PART IV. + +OBJECTIONS TO THE BOOK OF MORMON. + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +Counter Theories of Origin + +I. Alexander Campbell's Theory + +II. The Spaulding Theory of Origin + +III. The Sidney Rigdon Theory + +IV. I. Woodbridge Riley's Theory of the Origin of the Book of Mormon + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +(Erratum.--The numeral II is repeated in this chapter, as also in this +table in order to correspond with the number in the chapter.) + +Objections to the Book of Mormon + +I. Errors in Style and Grammar + +II. Objections Based Upon the Existence of Passages in the Book of +Mormon Which Follow King James' Translation + +II. Miscellaneous Objections Based on Literary Style and Language + +III. The Difficulty of Passages from Isaiah Being Quoted by Nephite +Writers, that Modern Bible Criticism Holds were not Written Until the +Time of the Babylonian Captivity--and not Written by Isaiah at all + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +(Erratum.--After using numerals in this chapter from IV to VII, by an +error, the printer began again at V and ran to X. There is no break in +the order of the subjects, however, in the chapter, and the numerals in +this table are made to correspond with those in the text.) + +Objections to the Book of Mormon (Continued) + +IV. Pre-Christian Era Knowledge of the Gospel + +V. The Unlawfulness of Establishing the Priesthood with Others than the +Tribe of Levi + +VI. Nephite Knowledge of the "Call of the Gentiles." + +VII. The Difficulty of the Three Days of Darkness + +V. The Birth of Jesus "at Jerusalem." + +VI. The Settlement of Modern Controversies + +VII. The Book Contains Nothing New + +VIII. Modern Astronomy in the Book + +IX. The Geography of the Book + +X. Of the Objection that the Transcript of Characters Made from +the Nephite Plates by Joseph Smith, Bear no Resemblance to the +Hieroglyphics and Language Characters Discovered in Central America on +Stone Tablets, Maya Books and Mexican Picture Writing + +CHAPTER XLVIII + +Objections to the Book of Mormon (Continued) + +I. Alleged Plagiarisms of Historical and Biblical Events. + +II. The Absence of Book of Mormon Names Both of Places and Persons in +Native American Language + +III. Nephi's Temple + +IV. The Difficulty of Iron and Steel Among the Nephites + +V. The Horse and Other Domestic Animals of the Book of Mormon + +VI. The Barges of the Jaredite Colony + +VII. The Marvels of Liahona--"Compass." + +VIII. The Weight of the Plates + +VIII. The Death of Shiz + +IX. Concluding Reflections + + + +PART III. + +The Evidences of the Truth of the Book of Mormon, Continued. + + + +NEW WITNESSES FOR GOD + +II. + +THE BOOK OF MORMON. + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +INDIRECT EXTERNAL EVIDENCES (Continued)--AMERICAN TRADITIONS. + +I. + +_The Signs of Messiah's Birth._ + +The impressive signs given in the western world, according to the Book +of Mormon, of the birth and death of Messiah were of such a character +that they would doubtless obtain a fixed place in the traditions of +the native American people, though, as in the case of all legends, the +events are more or less distorted. + +The signs of Messiah's birth, both as prophetically promised and +historically described, are as follows: + + And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of + his (Messiah's) coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in + heaven insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be + no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it were + day, therefore there shall be one day and a night, and a day as if + it were one day, and there were no night; and this shall be unto + you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun, and + also if its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that + there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall + not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born. And + behold there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have + beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you. [1] + + And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were + fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold at the + going down of the sun, there was no darkness; and the people began + to be astonished, because there was no darkness when the night + came. * * * * * * And it came to pass also, that a new star did + appear, according to the word. [2] + +And now the native legends on this subject. From the native Central +American documents compiled and followed by Fuentes y Guzman, quoted by +Juarrors, whom Bancroft follows, it is learned that a certain Quiche +prince, Acxopil, the son of Nimaquiche, observing that his people had +greatly increased in number and influence, divided his empire into +three kingdoms. And now Bancroft, who is quoting Juarrors: + + Retaining for himself the first, he gave the second to his oldest + son, Jiutemal, and the third to his second son, Acxiquat; and this + division was made on a day when three suns were seen, which has + caused some to think that it took place on the day of the birth of + our Redeemer, a day on which it is commonly believed that such a + meteor was observed. [3] + +The "day when three suns were seen"--"the day of the birth of our +Redeemer"--easily accords with the two days and a night of the +continuous light of the Book of Mormon, especially when considered in +connection with the appearance of a "new star" (the "meteor" of the +quotation) as a sign to the Nephites of the birth of Messiah. + +Referring to the traditions of the primitive Nahua period, after +dealing with the events of the first age, which treats of the creation, +flood, dispersion of mankind, the migration of a colony of seven +families to a new land, etc., Bancroft, following the native writer +Ixtilxochiti, deals with the second Nahua age, as follows: + + The second age, the "sun and air," terminated with a great + hurricane which swept away trees, rocks, houses and people, + although many men and women escaped, chiefly such as took refuge + in caves which the hurricane could not reach. After several days + the survivors came out to find a multitude of apes living in the + land; and all this time they were in darkness, seeing neither the + sun nor the moon. The next event recorded, although Veytia makes it + precede the hurricane, is the stopping of the sun for a whole day + in his course, as at the command of Joshua as recorded in the Old + Testament, [4] + +Let no one confound these cataclysms attended with darkness to the +flood period of the first Nahua age--which is identical with Noah's +flood; they relate to disasters subsequent to that period; they +correspond in time and character to the disasters described in the Book +of Mormon as taking place in the western hemisphere during the time of +the crucifixion and interment of Messiah in Judea. This, I believe, +will be established as reasonably clear as we proceed. + +Concerning the foregoing passage, I also call attention to the fact +that Veytia is said to place before the tempest and the darkness of +the tradition the stopping of the sun for a whole day in his course, +as at the command of Joshua. Instead of having reference to the Joshua +incident, however, may not the incident of the American tradition have +reference to the Book of Mormon sign of Messiah's birth, these two days +and a night through which there was continuous light? [5] The apparent +"stopping of the sun a whole day in his course" would certainly give +the period of uninterrupted light required by the Book of Mormon sign +of Messiah's birth; and the fact that so noted an authority as Veytia + [6] places that singular event before the fierce tempest attended by +darkness, restores the order of the events required by the Book of +Mormon account of those matters. + +De Roo, quoting Bastian, [7] says: + + Another circumstance of the Savior's death seems to be remembered + in Mexico, for it is related in its traditions that, at the + disappearance of Topiltzin or Quetzalcohuatl, [a native culture + hero most nearly resembling, as we shall see, the appearance and + character of Messiah in the western world], both sun and moon were + covered in darkness, while a single star appeared in the heavens. + [8] + +Here, clear enough, is allusion to the darkness that covered the land +at Messiah's death; may not the star, which here appears out of order, +according to Book of Mormon statements, really have been the one which +appeared to the Nephites as the sign of Messiah's birth? + +II. + +_The Signs of Messiah's Death._ + +The signs which were to be given to the inhabitants of the western +hemisphere of Messiah's death were foretold by a Lamanite prophet as +follows: + + Behold, in that day that he shall suffer death, the sun shall be + darkened and refuse to give his light unto you; and also the moon, + and the stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this + land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space + of three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead; + yea, at the time that he shall yield up the ghost, there shall be + thunderings and lightnings for the space of many hours, and the + earth shall shake and tremble, and the rocks which are upon the + face of this earth; which are both above the earth and beneath, + which ye know at this time are solid, or the more part of it is + one solid mass, shall be broken up; yea, they shall be rent in + twain, and shall ever after be found in seams and in cracks, and in + broken fragments upon the face of the whole earth; yea, both above + the earth and beneath. And behold, there shall be great tempests, + and there shall be many mountains laid low, like unto a valley, + and there shall be many places which are now called valleys, which + shall become mountains, whose height is great. And many highways + shall be broken up, and many cities shall become desolate, and many + graves shall be opened, and shall yield up many of their dead; + and many saints shall appear unto many. And behold thus hath the + angel spoken unto me; for he said unto me, that there should be + thunderings and lightnings for the space of many hours; and he + said unto me that while the thunder and the lightning lasted and + the tempest, that these things should be, and that darkness should + cover the face of the whole earth [9] for the space of three days. + [10] + +This prediction was literally and awfully fulfilled. Mormon's condensed +account of it being as follows: + + And it came to pass in the thirty and fourth year, in the first + month, in the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, + such an one as never had been known in all the land; and there was + also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, + insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to + divide asunder; and there were exceeding sharp lightnings, such as + never had been known in all the land. And the city of Zarahemla + did take fire; and the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of + the sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned; and the earth + was carried up upon the city of Moronihah, that in the place of + the city there became a great mountain; and there was a great and + terrible destruction in the land southward. But behold, there + was a more great and terrible destruction in the land northward; + for behold, the whole face of the land was changed, because of + the tempest, and the whirlwinds, and the thunderings, and the + lightnings, and the exceeding great quaking of the whole earth; + and the highways were broken up, and the level roads were spoiled, + and many smooth places became rough, and many great and notable + cities were sunk, and many were burned, and many were shaken till + the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants + thereof were slain; and the places were left desolate; and there + were some cities which remained; but the damage thereof was + exceeding great, and there were many in them who were slain; and + there was some who were carried away in the whirlwind; and whither + they went, no man knoweth, save they know that they were carried + away; and thus the face of the whole earth became deformed, because + of the tempests, and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the + quaking of the earth. And behold, the rocks were rent in twain; + they were broken up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch, + that they were found in broken fragments, and in seams, and in + cracks, upon all the face of the land. And it came to pass that + when the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the storm, and the + tempest, and the quakings of the earth did cease--for behold, they + did last for about the space of three hours; and it was said by + some that the time was greater; nevertheless, all these great and + terrible things were done in about the space of three hours; and + then behold, there was darkness upon the face of the land. And it + came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the + land, insomuch, that the inhabitants thereof who had not fallen, + could feel the vapour of darkness; and there could be no light + because of the darkness; neither candles, neither torches; neither + could there be fire kindled with their fine and exceedingly dry wood, + so that there could not be any light at all; and there was not any + light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the + moon, nor the stars, so great were the mists of darkness which were + upon the face of the land. And it came to pass that it did last for + the space of three days, that there was no light seen; and there + was great mourning, and howling, and weeping among all the people + continually; yea, great were the groanings of the people, because + of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them. + [11] + +From the Book of Mormon we learn that it was in the morning that these +terrible cataclysms began, and then were followed by the three days of +darkness: for in giving an account of the passing away of this terrible +calamity, Mormon says: "Thus did the the three days pass away. And it +was in the morning, and the darkness dispersed from all the face of the +earth and the earth did cease to tremble." [12] On this matter of the +signs of Messiah's crucifixion taking place "in the morning," according +to American time, the late Orson Pratt made the following valuable +comment: + + This book, the Book of Mormon, informs us that the time of day + at which Jesus was crucified, I mean the time of day here in + America, was in the morning; the New Testament tells us that + Jesus was crucified in Asia in the afternoon, between the sixth + and ninth hour according to the Jews' reckoning. They commenced + their reckoning at six o'clock in the morning, and consequently + the sixth hour would be twelve o'clock at noon, and the ninth hour + three o'clock in the afternoon. Jesus, from the sixth to the ninth + hour, in other words from twelve o'clock to three, was hanging + on the cross. Now the Book of Mormon, or the historians whose + records it contains, when relating the incidents that transpired + at the time of the crucifixion--the darkness that was spread over + the face of the land, the earthquakes, the rending of rocks, the + sinking of cities and the whirlwinds--say these events occurred + in the morning; they also say that darkness was spread over the + face of the land for the space of three days. In Jerusalem it was + only three hours. But the Lord gave them a special sign in this + country and the darkness lasted three days, and at the expiration + of three days, and three nights of darkness, it cleared off, and it + was in the morning. That shows that, according to the time of this + country, [America] the crucifixion must have taken place in the + morning. + +Says one, "Is not this a contradiction between the Book of Mormon +and the New Testament?" To an unlearned person it would really be a +contradiction, for the four Evangelists place it [the time during which +Jesus was on the cross] from twelve to three in the afternoon, while +the Book of Mormon says in the morning. An unlearned person, seeing +this discrepancy, would say, of course, that both books cannot be true. + +If the Book of Mormon be true the Bible cannot be; and if the Bible be +true the Book of Mormon cannot be. + +I do not known that anybody ever brought up this objection, for I do +not think they ever thought of it. I do not think that the Prophet +Joseph, who translated the book, ever thought of this apparent +discrepancy. "But," says one, "how do you account for it being in +the morning in America and in the afternoon in Jerusalem?" Simply by +the difference in longitude. This would make a difference of time of +several hours; for when it would be twelve at noon in Jerusalem it +would only be half-past four in the morning in the north-west part +of South America, where the Book of Mormon was then being written. +Seven and a half hours difference in longitude would account for +this apparent discrepancy; and if the Book of Mormon had said the +crucifixion took place in the afternoon we should have known at once +that it could not be true. This is incidental proof to learned or +scientific men that they cannot very well reason away, and especially +when the instrument [i. e. Joseph Smith] who brought forth the Book of +Mormon is considered. It must be remembered that he was but a youth, +and unlearned; and, when he translated this work, I presume that he was +unaware that there was any difference in the time of day, according to +the longitude, in different parts of the earth. I do not suppose that +Joseph ever thought about it to the day of his death. I never heard him +or any other person bring forth this as confirmatory evidence of the +divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon. I never thought of it myself +until years after Joseph's death; but when I did reflect upon it, I +could see the reason why the Lord, through his servants, has said in +the Book of Mormon, that the crucifixion took place in the morning. [13] + +In addition to the passages already quoted, giving the native +traditions which, doubtless contain references to the cataclysms at the +death of Messiah, as well as to the signs of his birth, Bancroft gives +a Toltec tradition directly bearing on the subject, as follows: + + The sun and moon were eclipsed, the earth shook, and the rocks were + rent asunder, and many other things and signs happened, though + there was no loss of life. This was in the year Ce Calli, which, + the chronology being reduced to our system, proves to be the same + date when Christ our Lord suffered, 33 A. D. [14] + +The statement in the foregoing that there was no loss of life resulting +from this cataclysm is the only item that mars its perfect agreement +with the Book of Mormon incident. + + Bouturini, commending the exact chronology of the ancient Mexicans + says: "No pagan nation refers primitive events to fixed creation of + the world, of the deluge, of the confusion of tongues at the time + of the Tower of Babel, of the other epochs and ages of the world, + of their ancestors' long travel in Asia, with the years precisely + distinguished by their corresponding characters. They record in + the year of Seven Rabbits the great eclipse which happened at the + crucifixion of Christ our Lord. [15] + +The date assigned for this eclipse of sun and moon (darkness), and the +attendant earthquakes in the foregoing quotations, is corroborated in +a very remarkable manner by the native Peruvian historian Montesinos, +quoted by Rivero and Tschudi. In giving a list of the Peruvian +monarchs, when reaching the sixtieth, Manco-Capac III., our authors say: + + According to the Amautas [Peruvian "wise men," or philosophers] + this prince reigned in the year two thousand nine hundred and fifty + after the deluge, and consequently at the birth of Jesus Christ, an + epoch when Peru had reached her highest elevation and extension. + [16] + +Following this sixtieth monarch came Cayo-Manco-Capec III., who reigned +twenty years. He was followed by Sinchi-Ayar-Manco, who reigned seven +years. He, by Huamantaco-Amauta, who reigned five years; which brings +us to the year thirty-two A. D., and then follows this statement by +our authors, which corroborates the date cited by Bancroft for the +cataclysm under consideration, viz: + + During his reign [thirty-two or thirty-three A. D.], [17] they + experienced earthquakes that lasted several months. [18] + +Brasseur de Bourbourg, [19] to whom Bancroft gives high praise as an +authority on the languages and traditions of Central America, speaks +of physical cataclysms which, according to the native traditions, took +place in that part of America, and which are undoubtedly the imperfect +accounts of those cataclysms which occurred at the death of Messiah, +as recorded in the Book of Mormon. Brasseur became infatuated with the +Atlantis theory, and regarded the native American traditions concerning +the physical convulsions in nature as describing the submergence of +the ancient Atlantis. With the theory of the learned Frenchman I have +nothing to do. He may have made a wrong application of the facts of +the native traditions. I think he did. But what I am interested in +is the fact that so highly commended an authority draws from native +sources the tradition of physical cataclysms which so nearly accord +with the statements of fact in the Book of Mormon. [20] After relating +Brasseur's connection with the Atlantis theory, Baldwin says: + + In the first place, Brasseur de Bourbourg claims that there is in + the old Central American books a constant tradition of an immense + catastrophe of the character supposed [i. e., the convulsions which + submerged Atlantis]; that this tradition existed every where among + the people when they first became known to Europeans; and that + recollections of the catastrophe were preserved in some of their + festivals, especially in one celebrated in the month of Izcalli, + which was instituted to commemorate this frightful destruction + of land and people, and in which "princes and people humbled + themselves before the divinity, and besought him to withhold a + return of such terrible calamities." This tradition affirms that + a part of the continent extending into the Atlantic was destroyed + in the manner supposed, [submerged] and appear to indicate that + the destruction was accomplished by a succession of frightful + convulsions. Three are constantly mentioned, and sometimes there + is mention of one or two others. "The land was shaken by frightful + earthquakes, and the waves of the sea combined with volcanic fires + to overwhelm and ingulf it." Each convulsion swept away portions + of the land, until the whole disappeared, leaving the line of the + coast as it is now. Most of the inhabitants, overtaken amid their + regular employments, were destroyed; but some escaped in ships, + and some fled for safety to the summits of high mountains, or + to portions of the land which, for the time, escaped immediate + destruction. Quotations are made from the old books in which this + tradition is recorded which appear to verify his report of what is + found in them. To criticise intelligently his interpretation of + their significance, one needs to have a knowledge of those books + and tradition equal at least to his own. [21] + +Nadaillac also refers to the native traditions collected by Brasseur on +this subject and quotes him as follows: + + If I may judge from allusions in the documents that I have been + fortunate enough to collect, there were in these regions, at that + remote date, convulsions of nature, deluges, terrible inundations, + followed by the upheaval of mountains, accompanied by volcanic + eruptions. These traditions, traces of which are also met with in + Mexico, Central America, Peru, and Bolivia, point to the conclusion + that man existed in these various countries at the time of the + upheaval of the Cordilleras, and that the memory of that upheaval + has been preserved: [22] + +Treating of a number of old Central American traditions on his own +account, Nadaillac says: + + Other traditions allude to convulsions of nature, to inundations, + and profound disturbances, to terrible deluges, in the midst of + which mountains and volcanoes suddenly rose up. [23] + +Nothing, perhaps, connected with the signs of Messiah's death would +be more impressive than the awful fact of the three days' darkness, +and nothing would be more likely to be preserved in the traditions of +the people than this singular fact. From generation to generation it +would be remembered with terror. It is beyond question the traditional +remembrance of that event which so terrorized the native Americans +at every recurrence of an eclipse of the sun. Of this fact Bancroft +remarks: + + The Mexicans were much troubled and distressed by an eclipse of + the sun. They thought that he was much disturbed and tossed about + by something, and that he was becoming seriously jaundiced. This + was the occasion of a general panic, women weeping aloud, and men + howling and shouting and striking the hand upon the mouth. There + was an immediate search for men with white hair and white faces, + and these were sacrificed to the sun, amid the din and tumult of + singing and musical instruments. It was thought that should the + eclipse become once total, there would be an end of the light, and + that in the darkness the demons would come down to the devouring of + the people. [24] + +It was also the traditional remembrance of the terror of darkness, +connected with the death of Messiah, which undoubtedly created the +anxiety concerning the renewal of fire at the conclusion of each cycle +of fifty-two years recognized in the Mexican chronology. The Mexicans, +as represented in some of the notes we have quoted from different +authors, hold the tradition of the destruction of the world at four +successive epochs. And, says, Prescott: + + They looked forward confidently to another such catastrophy, to + take place like the preceding, at the close of a cycle, when the + sun was to be effaced from the heavens, the human race from the + earth, and when darkness of chaos was to settle on the habitable + globe. The cycle would end in the latter part of December, and, + as the dreary season of the winter solstice approached, and the + diminished light of day gave melancholy presage of its speedy + extinction their apprehensions increased; and on the arrival + of the five unlucky days which close the year, they abandoned + themselves to despair. They broke in pieces the little images of + their household gods, in whom they no longer trusted. The holy + fires were suffered to go out in the temples, and none were lighted + in their own dwellings. Their furniture and domestic utensils + were destroyed; their garments torn in pieces; and everything + was thrown into disorder, for the coming of the evil genii who + were to descend on the desolate earth. On the evening of the last + day, a procession of priests, assuming the dress and ornaments of + their gods, moved from the capital towards a lofty mountain, about + two leagues distant. They carried with them a noble victim, the + flower of their captivities, and an apparatus for kindling the + new fire, the success of which was an augury of the renewal of + the cycle. On reaching the summit of the mountain, the procession + paused till midnight; when, as the constellation of the Pleiades + approached the zenith, the new fire was kindled by the friction of + the sticks placed on the wounded breast of the victim. The flame + was soon communicated to a funeral pile, on which the body of the + slaughtered captive was thrown. As the light streamed up towards + heaven, shouts of joy and triumph burst forth from the countless + multitudes who covered the hills, the terraces of the temples and + the house-tops, with eyes anxiously bent on the mount of sacrifice. + Couriers, with torches lighted at the blazing beacon, rapidly bore + them over every part of the country; and the cheering element was + seen brightening on altar and hearthstone, for the circuit of many + a league, long before the sun, rising on his accustomed track, + gave assurance that a new cycle had commenced its march, and that + the laws of nature were not to be reversed for the Aztecs. The + following thirteen days were given up to festivity. [25] + +Whence this terror of the darkness? Whence this rejoicing at the +assurance of continued light, unless back of both terror and rejoicing +somewhere in the history of the people there was some such circumstance +as described in the Book of Mormon which gave cause for this terror +of darkness on the one hand, and the rejoicing at the assurance of a +continuation of light on the other? + +Footnotes + +1. Helaman xiv: 3, 5. + +2. III. Nephi i: 15, 21. + +3. Native Races, Bancroft, Vol. V., p. 566. + +4. Native Races, Bancroft, Vol. V., pp. 209, 210. + +5. See Helaman xiv: 3, 4, 5; and III. Nephi 1: 15-21. + +6. Don Mariano Veytia was born of an ancient and highly respected +family at Puebli, Mexico, 1718. After finishing his academic education +he went to Spain where he was kindly received at court. He visited +several other countries of Europe, made himself acquainted with +their languages and returned home and devoted the rest of his life +chiefly to the illustration of the national history and antiquities +of his country. He composed various works, but his "Antiquities of +Mexico" is the only one which went to press. His history covers the +whole period from the first occupation of Aauhuac to the middle of +the fifteenth century, at which time his labors were unfortunately +terminated by his death, which occurred in 1780. In the early portion +of his "Antiquities" he endeavored to trace the migratory movements +and historic annals of the race who entered the country. "Every page," +remarks Prescott, "bears testimony of the extent and fidelity of his +researches." (Conquest of Mexico, Vol. I., p. 40.) The author of the +history of the "Antiquities of Mexico," tom. I., chapter ii, dates +the first migration of the Nahuas from the year 2,237, after the +creation" quoted by Nadaillac "Prehistoric America," p. 261. This date +is somewhat in agreement with the time at which the Book of Mormon +represents the Jaredites as arriving in the western world. + +7. Adolf Bastian was born in June, 1826. He was a Prussian ethnologist +of note, being professor of that science at Berlin, and demonstrator +of the ethnological museum. He succeeded Virchow as president of the +Berlin Anthropological society. He traveled in Peru, Columbia and +Central America in 1851-66. It is from his works that De Roo quotes the +above tradition. + +8. History of America Before Columbus, p. 431. + +9. "Darkness cover the face of the whole earth," etc. This expression +should be understood as limited by one that precedes it in the +quotation, viz., "there should be no light upon the face of this land," +meaning America. Nothwithstanding the "face of the whole earth" the +darkness was limited to the western hemisphere. + +10. Helaman xiv: 20-27. + +11. III. Nephi viii: 5-23. + +12. III. Nephi x: 9 and note 'f.' + +13. Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, Vol. XIII., pp. 128, 129. + +14. Native Races, Vol. V., p. 210. + +15. Kingsborough's Mexican Antiquities, Vol. VI., p. 176, note. +Bouturini is an authority frequently quoted by Prescott, who has an +extended note upon the valuable collection of native memorials of +primitive civilization of America made by Bouturini. (See "Conquest +of Mexico" Vol. I., p. 126). He was a Milanese by birth, and came to +America in 1735 on some business of the Countess Santibanez, a lineal +descendant of Montezuma. While in America he traveled extensively in +Mexico and Central America, and made the before mentioned collection +of memorials. Baldwin also mentions him with approval. (See "Ancient +America," p. 195.) + +16. Peruvian Antiquities, Tschudi, p. 59. + +17. Peruvian Antiquities, Tschudi, p. 60. Compare III. Nephi, chap. +viii. + +18. I say the year A. D. 32, or 33, for the reason that we do not +know how long the reign of Manco-Capac III--who is represented in +the foregoing quotation as reigning "at the time of the birth of +Christ"--continued after the birth of Messiah; not long evidently; but +sufficiently long to make up the difference between A. D. 32 and the +time of Messiah's death. Baldwin also refers to the same event, Ancient +America, p. 266. + +19. Born in France, 1814. Died at Nice, 1874. A French clergyman, +ethnologist and author. He was teacher and priest in Canada and the +United States 1845-48. From 1854-1863 he traveled extensively in Mexico +and Central America studying Indian antiquities and ancient manuscripts. + +20. Native Races, Vol. V., pp. 127, 129. + +21. Ancient America, pp. 176, 177. + +22. Pre-Historic America, pp. 16, 17. + +23. Pre-Historic America, p. 527. + +24. Native Races, Vol. III., p. 110. + +25. Conquest of Mexico, Vol. I., pp. 105, 106. + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +INDIRECT EXTERNAL EVIDENCES--AMERICAN TRADITIONS. (Continued.) + +I. + +_Messiah in the Western Hemisphere._ + +The appearance of Messiah in the western hemisphere, no less than the +signs of his birth and death, is a circumstance that would undoubtedly +find lodgment in the tradition of the native Americans. The manner of +it, as described in the Book of Mormon, was as follows: It appears that +a short time after the cataclysms which were the sign to the western +world of Messiah's death, a number of people in the land Bountiful--a +district of country in South America where the isthmus of Panama joins +the south continent, and most likely including some part of that +isthmus--were in the vicinity of a temple that had escaped destruction, +and were conversing upon the many physical changes which had taken +place in the land, and also of this same Jesus, of whose death they had +received such appalling evidences, when--but let me quote the account +of the event from the Book of Mormon: + + And it came to pass that while they were conversing one with + another, they heard a voice as it came out of heaven; and they cast + their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which + they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud + voice; and notwithstanding it being a small voice, it did pierce + them that did hear to the centre, insomuch that there was no part + of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce + them to the very soul and did cause their hearts to burn. And it + came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood + it not; and again the third time they did hear the voice, and did + open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound + thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence + the sound came; and behold the third time they did understand the + voice which they heard; and it said unto them, "Behold my beloved + son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name: + hear ye him." And it came to pass as they understood, they cast + their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a man + descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe, and + he came down and stood in the midst of them, and the eyes of the + whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their + mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they + thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them. And it came to + pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, + saying, Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified + should come into the world; and behold, I am the light and the life + of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the + Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon + me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of + the Father in all things from the beginning. And it came to pass + that when Jesus had spoken these words, the whole multitude fell to + the earth, for they remembered that it had been prophesied among + them that Christ should shew himself unto them after his ascension + into heaven. [1] + +The task before us now is to ascertain if there is anything in the +native American traditions which sustain the probability of this +historical incident. Of course the reader must not be surprised if he +finds the native traditions on such a subject very much confused. All +such traditions, as I have before remarked, are so confused. Besides +it must be remembered that there were several great characters among +the inhabitants of the western world, according to the Book of Mormon, +who would likely be confounded with Messiah in the native traditions; +such as Moriancumr and Coriantumr among the Jaredites, the first and +the last great leaders, respectively, of that ancient people. Then +there is the first Nephi, Mulek, the first Mosiah, and several of the +Lord's apostles chosen from among the Nephites that are likely to be +confounded with Messiah and their mission with his ministry among +the people. But notwithstanding this confusion, I think evidences +of this advent of Messiah in the western world are traceable in the +native traditions; and I should be much disappointed if I had found it +otherwise, for of all incidents in Book of Mormon history, the advent +of Messiah is the most important. + +II. + +_Of the Culture-Heroes of America._ + +Speaking of American "culture-heroes" in general, Bancroft says: + + Although bearing various names and appearing in different + countries, the American culture-heroes all present the same general + characteristics. They are all described as white, bearded men, + generally clad in long robes; appearing suddenly and mysteriously + upon the scene of their labors, they at once set about improving + the people by instructing them in useful and ornamental arts, + giving them laws, exhorting them to practice brotherly love and + other Christian virtues, and introducing a milder and better form + of religion; having accomplished their mission, they disappear + as mysteriously and unexpectedly as they came; and finally, + they are apotheosized and held in great reverence by a grateful + posterity. In such guise or on such mission did Quetzalcohuatl + appear in Cholula, Votan in Chiapas, Wixepecocha in Ojaca, Zamna, + and Cukulcan with his nineteen disciples, in Yucatan, Gucumatz in + Guatemala, Viracocha in Peru, Sume and Paye-Tome in Brazil, the + mysterious apostle mentioned by Rosales, in Chili, and Bochica in + Colombia. Peruvian legends speak of a nation of giants who came by + sea, waged war with the natives, and erected splendid edifices, + the ruins of many of which still remain. Besides these, there are + numerous vague traditions of settlements or nations of white men, + who lived apart from the other people of the country, and were + possessed of an advanced civilization. [2] + +I suggest, in passing, that the part of the tradition which relates to +the existence "of settlements or nations of white men who lived apart +from the other people of the country, and were possessed of an advanced +civilization," refers to those conditions that prevailed when the +Nephites and Lamanites occupied the land; the former an industrious, +civilized race, the latter an idle, savage race, conditions frequently +referred to in the Book of Mormon, in describing the status of the +Nephites and Lamanites, respectively. + +Observe also that Bancroft, in the foregoing statement, says of some +of the characters that, having accomplished their mission, they +mysteriously disappeared. There are several such characters spoken +of in the Book of Mormon. Such was the case with the second Alma, a +noted Nephite character of the first half of the century immediately +preceding the advent of Messiah. He was the first president or "judge" +of the Nephite republic, also high priest of the Church, uniting in his +person the two offices--a thing not unusual among the Nephites, [3] +nor among the native Americans, if their annals may be trusted. [4] +After completing his life's mission, and making a remarkable prediction +concerning the destruction of the Nephite people, Alma departed out +of the land, "and it came to pass that he was never heard of more; as +to his death or burial we know not of. Behold, this we know, that he +was a righteous man; and the saying went abroad in the church that +he was taken by the Spirit, or buried by the hand of the Lord." [5] +In a similar manner, Nephi, the father of Nephi, the apostle, a very +noted Nephite leader and prophet, departed out of the land in the same +mysterious manner. [6] + +The quotation just made from Bancroft on the culture-heroes of +America represents them as quite numerous; we shall see, however, as +we proceed, that a number of them are the same person remembered in +different countries under different names and titles, and that in +the character and mission of each there is much similarity. Because +of this similarity, however, it must not be supposed that it is my +intention to claim each of these "culture heroes" as a more or less +tradition-distorted representation of Messiah; and the life and +mission of the culture-hero a distorted account of Messiah's advent +and mission among the Nephites. Quite to the contrary, I believe that +the traditions concerning some of these "culture-heroes" more nearly +represent other Book of Mormon characters than they do Messiah. Such, +for instance, is Votan, the supposed founder of the Maya confederation. +Some things in his character and career make him more nearly resemble +Moriancumr, the leader of the Jaredite colony, than Messiah. Bancroft, +in one summary of the legends respecting him, says: + + Votan, another mysterious personage, closely resembling + Quetzalcohuatl in many points, was the supposed founder of the + Maya civilization. He is said to have been a descendant of Noah and + to have assisted at the building of the Tower of Babel. After the + confusion of tongues he led a portion of the dispersed people to + America. There he established the kingdom of Xibalba and built the + city of Palenque. [7] + +Then again, in some respects, Votan resembles the first Nephi. He +is said to have come to America one thousand years B. C.; [8] Nephi +came early in the sixth century B. C.; Votan brought with him seven +families; the Nephite colony, as nearly as may be estimated, on +reaching America, consisted of eight families. [9] Votan came to +America by divine commandment; so, too, did the Nephite colony. [10] +Votan wrote a book, in which he inscribed a complete record of all he +had done; [11] so, also, did Nephi. [12] Votan united in his person the +qualities of high priest and king; so, also, did Nephi. + +After saying all this, however, it has to be admitted that there are +some things in the legends concerning Votan which do not run parallel +with the career of Nephi. Such, for instance, as his alleged visit to +Spain, Rome, Jerusalem, where, in the latter place, he saw the temple +of Solomon building; also his visit to the Euphrates valley, where +he saw the unfinished Tower of Babel. The part of his story which +describes his finding in America a colony of the same race as his +own people, reminds one of the first Mosiah, who found the people of +Zarahemla, in the valley of the Sidon. It will be remembered that these +people came from Jerusalem, were Jews, and are known as the colony of +Mulek. These varied legends concerning Votan resembling in the respects +here pointed out the several Book of Mormon characters, lead one to +regard as reasonable the supposition advanced by nearly all writers who +speak of him, that Votan is a generic name; and that the legends which +center about this name represent the exploits of several of America's +culture-heroes, [13] and, as I believe, of several Book of Mormon +characters. + +III. + +_The Peruvian Tradition of the Messiah._ + +The natives of Chili have the following tradition concerning one +of their culture-heroes, which closely resembles Messiah as he was +revealed to the Nephites: + + Rosales, in his inedited (i. e. unpublished) History of Chili, + declares that the inhabitants of that extremely southern portion + of America, situated at the distance of so many thousand miles + from New Spain, and who did not employ paintings to record + events, accounted for their knowledge of some of the doctrines of + Christianity by saying, "that in former times, as they had heard + their fathers say, a wonderful man had come to that country, + wearing a long beard, with shoes, and a mantle such as the Indians + carry on their shoulders, who performed many miracles, cured the + sick with water, caused it to rain, and their crops and grain + to grow, kindled fire at a breath, and wrought other marvels, + healing at once the sick, and giving sight to the blind; and that + he spoke with as much propriety and elegance in the language of + their country as if he had always resided in it, addressing them + in words very sweet and new to them, telling them that the Creator + of the universe resided in the highest place of heaven, and that + many men and women who were resplendent as the sun dwelt with him. + They say that he shortly afterwards went to Peru, and that many, in + imitation of the habit and shoes which that man used, introduced + among themselves the fashion of wearing shoes, and the loose mantle + over the shoulders, either fastened with a clasp at the breast, or + knotted at the corners, whence it may be inferred that this man was + some apostle whose name they do not know." [14] + +The points of comparison between the character referred to in the +foregoing quotation and the Messiah in his ministry among the Nephites, +are: + +First: In personal appearance, if due allowance be made for the +imperfect description in the legend. + +Second: In the character of the work performed, especially in +the matter of healing of the sick. While in their midst Jesus is +represented as saying to the Nephites: + + Have ye any that are sick among you, bring them hither. Have ye + any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or + that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in + any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have + compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy; for I + perceive that ye desire that I shew unto you what I have done unto + your brethren at Jerusalem, for I see that your faith is sufficient + that I should heal you. And it came to pass that when he had thus + spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their + sick, and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, + and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any + manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth + unto him. [15] + +Third: In relation to the graciousness of his language, the third Nephi +represents the Savior as praying for the Nephites in this manner: + + And the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude + did bear record who heard him. And after this manner did they + bear record: "The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard + before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus + speak unto the Father, and no tongue can speak, neither can there + be written by any man, neither can the heart of man conceive so + great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; + and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the + time we heard him pray for us unto the Father." [16] + +Fourth: Relative to teaching the people, that many men and women were +resplendent in their glory and were already dwelling with God, the Book +of Mormon mentions the circumstance of Jesus taking very great pains to +have recorded in the Nephite annals the fact that many of the ancient +Saints arose from the dead and appeared unto many and ministered +unto them; [17] and from the whole tenor of his instructions to the +Nephites, as found in III. Nephi, it is clear that there was ever +present in his thought the fact of redeemed and glorified immortals +dwelling with God in his kingdom. + +Fifth: The reference in the quotation to the departure of the man-God +for another land is paralleled in the Book of Mormon account of Jesus, +where he is represented as declaring the existence of the lost tribes +of the house of Israel, and the declaration of his intention to visit +them. "Now," said he, "I go unto the Father, and also to show myself +unto the lost tribes of Israel, for they are not lost unto the Father, +for he knoweth whither he hath taken them." [18] + +IV. + +_Topilitzen Quetzalcohuatl._ + +This personage appears under different names in the native traditions +of various countries of America. In the Popol Vuh of the Quiches he is +known under the title of Gucumatz; [19] in Yucatan he appears under +the name of Cukulcan; [20] in Oajaca (despite some difficulties and +contradictions) as Huemac; and in Mexico, par excellence, as Toplitzin +Quetzalcohuatl. Respecting this character, various opinions are held. +By some he is regarded as the Apostle St. Thomas, whom they credit with +coming to America and preaching the Christian religion. "In support +of their opinion," says Bancroft, "that he [Quetzalcohuatl] was no +other than the apostle, they allege that the hero-god's proper name, +Topilitzen Quetzalcohuatl, closely resembles in sound and signification +that of 'Thomas, surnamed Didymus;' for 'to' in the Mexican name, +is an abbreviation of Thomas, to which 'pilcin,' meaning 'son' or +'disciple,' is added; while the meaning of Quetzalcohuatl (in the Aztec +language) is exactly the same as that of the Greek name 'Didymus,' 'a +twin,' being compounded of 'quetzalli,' a 'plume of green feathers,' +metaphorically signifying anything precious, and 'coatl,' a serpent, +metaphorically meaning one of two twins." [21] + +Lord Kingsborough, it is well known, is the foremost among those who +have identified this traditionary personage (Quetzalcohuatl) with the +Hebrew Messiah--Jesus of Nazareth; and to this subject he devoted +an incredible amount of labor and research. [22] As Kingsborough's +interpretation of the name, Topilitzin Quetzalcohuatl, as also the +substance of his argument will appear in quotations from his works, +it is not necessary to make a statement of them here. Let it suffice, +at this point, to say that native American traditions assign too many +of the qualities of Deity to Quetzalcohuatl to regard him merely as +a man; and while many things are ascribed to him that are not in +harmony with the character and mission of Messiah as set forth in +the Book of Mormon, still one may trace the outlines of Messiah's +advent and labors among the Nephites in the career of Quetzalcohuatl, +as also the qualities of his divinity in what tradition ascribes to +the Aztec deity. As for those adventures and human qualities found +in Quetzalcohuatl not properly ascribable to Messiah, they arise, +doubtless, out of the fact that the native traditions have confounded +some of the exploits and characteristics of other great personages who +have figured in their history with those of Messiah. + +In order that the reader may have a fairly full account of what is said +of this American man-divinity, I shall quote what several reliable +authorities have said of him, beginning with Prescott: + + A far more interesting personage in their [i. e. the Mexicans] + mythology was Quetzalcohuatl, god of the air, a divinity, during + his residence on earth, instructed the natives in the use of + metals, in agriculture, and in the arts of government. He was one + of those benefactors of their species, doubtless, who have been + deified by gratitude of posterity. Under him, the earth teemed + with fruits and flowers, without the pains of culture. An ear of + Indian corn was as much as a single man could carry. The cotton, + as it grew took of its own accord, the rich dyes of human art. The + air was filled with intoxicating perfumes and the sweet melody of + birds. In short, these were the halcyon days, which find a place + in the mythic systems of so many nations in the Old World. It + was the golden age of Anahuac. From some cause, not explained, + Quetzalcohuatl, incurred the wrath of one of the principal gods, + and was compelled to abandon the country. On his way, he stopped at + the city of Cholula, where a temple was dedicated to his worship, + the massy ruins of which still form one of the most interesting + relics of antiquity in Mexico. When he reached the shores of the + Mexican Gulf, he took leave of his followers, promising that he and + his descendants would visit them hereafter, and then, entering his + wizard skiff, made of serpents' skins, embarked on the great ocean + for the fabled land of Tlapallan. He was said to have been tall in + stature, with a white skin, long, dark hair, and a flowing beard. + The Mexicans looked confidently to the return of the benevolent + deity; and this remarkable tradition, deeply cherished in their + hearts, prepared the way. * * * * * * for the future success of the + Spaniards. [23] + +After referring to the numerous, lengthy, intricate and even +contradictory legendary statements of the American aborigines which +in full may only be learned from the elaborate works of Brasseur de +Bourbourg, Lord Kingsborough, and H. H. Bancroft--P. De Roo remarks: + + It is the universal opinion of the learned that Quetzalcohuatl is + identically the same personage with the contemporary religious and + civil reformer whom various nations have deified under different + names; that he is the same with Huemac or Vemac, as the Mexicans + also called him; with Topilitzin, as he was more anciently known + in Tulla by the Toltecs; with Wixipecocha, under whose name he was + venerated by the Zapotecs; with Zamna, Cozas, or Cukulcan, the + theocratic ruler of Yucatan; nay, with Bochica, the civilizer of + Cundinamarca of New Granada, and with Viracocha of Peru. + +In the remainder of the quotation from our author, he speaks of this +one person under his various names and titles: + + Quetzalcohuatl arrived at Tulla, the Toltec capital, from Panuco, + a small place on the Gulf of Mexico, where he had first landed. + Duran likewise relates that Topilitzin was a foreigner, but could + not learn from what parts he had come. His name, given him by the + natives, signified "Beautiful feathered serpent." Culkulcan, his + Maya or Yucatec appellation, had exactly the same meaning. It was + the name of princes and Toltec kings, and probably designates + some honorable title, which, if we should make a few learned + considerations, might be found to be the Great or the Glorious + man of the country. * * * * * * The Indians remembered well that + their god Quetzalcohuatl had not been like one of themselves. They + described him as a white or pale faced man, of portly person, with + broad forehead, great eyes, long black hair, and a heavy rounded + beard. The Zapotecan Wixipecocha was also a white-skinned apostle, + and the Toltecan Topilitzin is described as having all the same + features, to which Duran adds that his beard was of a fair color + and his nose rather large. He was very reserved in his manners, + plain and meek with those who approached him, passing most of his + time in meditation and prayer in his cell, and showing himself but + seldom to the people. * * * * * * * * Very abstemious at all times, + Topilitzen often observed long and rigorous fasts, practicing + severe penances and even bloody self-chastisements, as is likewise + stated of the homologous Quetzalcohuatl. + + De las Casas testifies that Quetzalcohuatl lived a most honest and + chaste life; Sahagun, that he never married nor ever was in the + company of a woman, except in the act of auricular confession. + While, according to traditional report, he was born of a virgin + mother. Herrea states that he remained a virgin himself. The + Yucatec legends also notice the celibacy of Cukulcan and his + general purity of morals. * * * Quetzalcohuatl is described as + having worn during life, for the sake of modesty, a garment that + reached down to his feet. * * * * * For shoes, Cukulcan wore + sandals, walked along bare-headed; nor is it said that his mantle + was, like that of his equivalent Wexipecocha, provided with a + monk's cowl for head-gear. From the Mexican traditions we learn + that Quetzalcohuatl, also, wore a cloak, which Bancroft calls a + blanket over all, in one place, and a long white robe, in another; + adding that, according to Gormara, it was decorated with crosses. + [24] + +It would be impossible within the proposed limits of this work to +quote at length what has been written of this mysterious personage of +the western world; whose character and career in so many respects are +like that of the Hebrew Messiah, as he appeared in the western world. +From this point I can only summarize and quote briefly respecting him, +leaving the reader interested in the subject to make larger research in +the works cited in the margins. [25] + +And now first as to the personal appearance of Quetzalcohuatl: + + He was a white man, of portly person, broad brow, great eyes, long + black hair, and large round head, or exceedingly chaste, and quiet + life, and of great moderation in all things. [26] * * * * * * * * + Quetzalcohuatl is said to be a white man (some gave him a bright, + red face), with a strong formation of body, broad forehead, large + eyes, black hair, and a heavy beard. He always wore a long white + robe; which, according to Gomara, was decorated with crosses. (J. + G. Muller quoted by Bancroft, Native Races, Vol. III., pp. 273, + 274.) + +In the Book of Mormon account of the advent of Messiah among the +Nephites there is no description given of his features or person. This, +upon first thought, may seem singular; and yet it is in strictest +harmony with human conduct in the presence of such an event. Over-awed +by the fact of the presence of a heavenly personage men are liable to +take no note of features or color of the eyes or hair or any details +of personal appearance. It is not until men are removed from the +awe-inspiring circumstance itself that they begin to think of details +connected with a heavenly apparition. I think it probable, therefore, +that not until after the Nephite accounts were written of the personal +ministrations of Jesus did those who beheld him begin to think out the +details of his personal appearance; hence we have no description of him +in their written annals, but we find it preserved--but perhaps with +more or less of error in it--in the traditions of the people. + +As to his general character while on earth the following is of +importance: + + This Quetzalcohuatl was god of the air, and as such had his temple, + of a round shape and very magnificent. He was made god of the air + for the mildness and gentleness of all his ways, not liking the + sharp and harsh measures to which the other gods were so strongly + inclined. It is to be said further that his life on earth was + marked by intensely religious characteristics; not only was he + devoted to the careful observance of all the old customary forms + of worship, but he himself ordained and appointed many new rites, + ceremonies, and festivals [27] for the adoration of the gods; + [28] and it is held for certain that he made the calendar. [29] + He had priests who were called Quequetzalcohua, that is to say + "priests of the order of Quetzalcohuatl." [30] The memory of him + was engraved deeply upon the minds of the people, and it is said + that when barren women prayed and made sacrifices to him, children + were given them. [31] He was, as we have said, god of the winds, + and the power of causing them to blow was attributed to him as well + as the power of calming or causing their fury to cease. It was said + further that he swept the road, so that the gods called Tlaloques + could rain; this the people imagined because ordinarily a month + or more before the rains began there blew strong winds throughout + all New Spain. Quetzalcohuatl is described as having worn during + life, for the sake of modesty, garments that reached down to the + feet, with a blanket over all, sown with red crosses. The Cholulans + preserved certain green stones that had belonged to him, regarding + them with great veneration and esteeming them as relics. * * * * + * * He also arranged the calendar, and taught his subjects fit + religious ceremonies; preaching specially against human sacrifices, + and ordering offerings of fruits and flowers only. He would have + nothing to do with the wars, even covering his ears when the + subject was mentioned. His was a veritable golden age, as in the + time of Saturn; animals and even men lived in peace, the soil + produced the richest harvests without cultivation, and the grain + grew so large that a man found it trouble enough to carry one ear; + no cotton was dyed, as it grew of all colors, and fruits of all + kinds abounded. Everybody was rich and Quetzalcohuatl owned whole + palaces of gold, silver and precious stones. The air was filled + with the most pleasant aromas, and a host of finely feathered birds + filled the world with melody. [32] + +So, too, the following: + + Only Quetzalcohuatl among all the gods was pre-eminently called + Lord; in such sort, that when any one swore, saying, By our Lord, + he meant Quetzalcohuatl and no other; though there were many other + highly esteemed gods. For indeed the service of this god was + gentle, neither did he demand hard things, but light; and he taught + only virtue, abhorring all evil and hurt. Twenty years this good + deity remained in Cholula, then he passed away by the road he had + come, carrying with him four of the principal and most virtuous + youths of that city. He journeyed for a hundred and fifty leagues, + till he came to the sea, in a distant province called Goatzacoalco. + Here he took leave of his companions and sent them back to their + city, instructing them to tell their fellow citizens that a day + should come in which the white men would land upon their coasts, + by the way of the sea in which the sun rises; brethren of his and + having beards like his; and that they should rule that land. [33] + The Mexicans always waited for the accomplishment of this prophecy, + and when the Spaniards came they took them for the descendants of + their meek and gentle prophet, although, as Mendieta remarks with + some sarcasm, when they came to know them and to experience their + works, they thought otherwise. [34] + +Relative to Quetzalcohuatl in his capacity of Deity I shall quote the +following passage from Lord Kingsborough's great work as representing +the sum of his extensive research upon the subject and its elaborate +presentation: + + How truly surprising it is to find the Mexicans, who seem to + have been quite unacquainted with the doctrines of the migration + of the soul and the metempsychosis, should have believed in the + incarnation of the only son of their supreme god Tonacatecutle. + For Mexican mythology speaking of no other son of that God except + Quetzalcohuatl, who was born of Chimalman, the virgin of Tula, + without connection with man, and by his breath alone, (by which + may be signified his word or his will, announced to Chimalman by + word of mouth of the celestial messenger, whom he dispatched to + inform her that she should conceive a son), it must be presumed + that Quetzalcohuatl was his only son. [35] Other arguments might + be adduced to show, that the Mexicans believed that Quetzalcohuatl + was both god and man, that he had previously to his incarnation, + existed from all eternity, [36] that he had created both the world + and man, [37] that he descended from heaven to reform the world by + penance, that he was born with the perfect use of reason, that he + preached a new law, and, being king of Tula, was crucified for the + sins of mankind, as is obscurely insinuated by the interpreter of + the Vatican Codex, plainly declared in the traditions of Yucatan, + and mysteriously represented in the Mexican paintings. [38] + + It would be a useless repetition of facts already stated in the + preceding pages of the present volume, to undertake separately to + prove all these points; and we shall confine ourselves in this + place to the three first very important articles. The reflection + must have suggested itself to those who have perused the New + Testament, that Christ is as frequently distinguished there by + the appellation of the "Son of Man," as by that of the "Son of + God," in reference no doubt to his humanity, and to the famous + prophecy contained in the ninth verse of the ninth chapter of + Isaiah: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:" + which Christians, on the authority of many passages in the four + Gospels, apply to Christ, although the Jews some times interpret + it of the Messiah, and some times of King Hezekiah. The Mexicans + bestowed the appellation of Topilitzin on Quetzalcohuatl, the + literal signification of which is "our son," or "our child," + the proper name being compounded of "to," "our," and "piltzin," + defined by Alonso de Molina in his rare and copious vocabulary of + the Mexican and Spanish languages to be mino o nina, "a boy or a + girl," and associated by him with the cognate terms of "piltontli" + and "pilzintia;" and it may not be unreasonably assumed, since + analogies, which are numerous and not isolated, as their number + increases, increase also their ratio of probability, not only that + the Mexicans were acquainted with Isaiah's famous prophecy, but to + mark their belief of the accomplishment of that prophecy, in the + person of Quetzalcohuatl, that they named him Topiltzin; no less + account of his having been born from a virgin of the daughters of + men, then because another equally celebrated prediction of the + same prophet declared that he should receive a name from that very + circumstance: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign, + Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his + name Immanuel." And the proper name Topilitzin does in fact bear + a signification corresponding, if not literally, yet entirely in + substance with that of Immanuel: since "God with us," which is the + interpretation of the Hebrew name, means God domiciliated amongst + men; and the full force of the expression is preserved in the term + Topilitzin, which might be interpreted the Son of Man, or God on a + level with men; for the Mexicans believed that Quetzalcohuatl took + human nature upon him, partaking of all infirmities of man, and + was not exempt from sorrow, pain, or death, and that he suffered + voluntarily to atone for the sins of mankind. [39] + +As already remarked, there is much attributed to this Deity of native +American tradition that seems incompatible with the character of +Messiah, and with his labors while in the western hemisphere; but for +all that one may see in outline here the leading truths respecting the +Son of God as made known to the Nephites through prophecies and the +Christ's advent among them, all of which is set forth in the Book of +Mormon; while that which is not congruous to Messiah and his mission to +the Nephites, results--as already pointed out--from the confusion of +a number of traditions concerning several other great characters who +have figured in native American history, and of whom the Book of Mormon +speaks. But, in the foregoing excerpts from the works of those skilled +in the lore of ancient America, we have the account of "The great or +the glorious Man of the country," [40] that can be no other than the +Hebrew Messiah--the Jesus Christ of the Book of Mormon. There are the +signs of his birth: the signs of his death; his sudden advent among the +people; his personal appearance--not incompatible with the personal +appearance of Messiah, but rather in harmony with it; his birth of a +virgin; his being the only son of God; his name signifying "God with +man;" his being the creator of heaven and earth; his crucifixion for +the sins of the world; his being peculiarly "the Lord" to whom men +prayed; his love of peace, his hatred of war; his respect for existing +religion, yet his enlargement of it and the addition of religious +rites and ceremonies; his teaching the people perfectly in their own +tongue, yet also in new and honied words; his compassion for the sick, +and healing them; his choosing special disciples to teach his religion +and making them priests of the same order as himself; the beauty and +gentleness of his religion that stands in such marked contrast to the +subsequent harsh and sanguinary superstition that darkened the lives of +the natives; his instructions as to historical records; his taking with +him on his departure from the country four of the principal and most +virtuous youths of the city of Cholula to the sea where he separated +from them and sent back messages to his followers by them, promising +to return; [41] his prediction of other and white races to come and +occupy the western world and rule it; his mysterious departure from the +land, and his promise to return. All this, which so perfectly agrees +both with the character and ministry of Messiah among the Nephites, +as described in the Book of Mormon, is set forth in such clearness +that it cannot be discredited because of some evident fantasies and +incongruities in other parts of the traditions. + +Footnotes + +1. III. Nephi xi: 3-12. + +2. Native Races, Bancroft, Vol. V., pp. 23, 24. + +3. Such was the case with I Nephi and also Mosiah II. (Omni v: 12-22). +Also King Benjamin, (Mosiah i: 2). In fact all the Nephite kings seem +to have performed priestly functions; while under the Republic Alma +was made president of the state and high priest of the Church, (Mosiah +xxix: 42), and in the fifty-third year of the Republic Nephi, the son +of Helaman, was, for a time, both president of the Republic and high +priest of the Church. (Helaman iii: 37 and chapter iv.) + +4. The Mexicans believed that Quetzalcohuatl united in his own person +the character of king, priest and prophet. (Kingsborough, Vol. VI., +p. 213). Prescott speaking of Montezuma says: "He had been elected +to the regal dignity in preference to his brothers for his several +qualification both as a ruler and a priest, a combination of offices +sometimes found in the Mexican candidates, as it was, more frequently, +in the Egyptian." (Conquest of Mexico, Vol. I., p. 215). The same +author speaking of the Incas of Peru says: "As the representative of +the sun he stood at the head of the priesthood and presided at the +most important of the religious festivals." (Conquest of Peru, Vol. +I., p. 41). In a note on this passage Mr. Prescott takes exception to +what he calls the "sweeping assertion" of Carli to the effect that +the royal and sacerdotal authority were blended together in Peru; yet +in another passage Prescott himself compares the ancient Peruvian +government with that of the Jews and says: "The Inca was both the law +giver and the law. He was not merely the representative of divinity, or +like the pope, its vicegerant, but he was divinity itself." (Conquest +of Peru, Vol. I., p. 135). Tschudi emphatically states the union of +king and priest in the Incas as follows: "Moreover, the monarchs of +Peru, as children of the sun, and descendants, in a direct line, from +Manco-Capac, were the high priests and oracles in religious matters. +Thus uniting the legislative and executive power, the supreme command +in war, absolute sovereignity in peace, and a venerated high priesthood +in religious feasts, they exercised the highest power ever known to +man--realized in their persons the famous union of the pope and the +emperor, and more reasonably than Louis XIV., might have exclaimed: "I +am the state!" (Peruvian Antiquities, Tschudi, pp. 74, 75). + +5. Alma xlv: 18, 19. + +6. III. Nephi i: 1-3. + +7. Native Races, Vol. V., pp. 27, 28. Our author here follows Claviergo. + +8. The chronology of legends, or even traditions, is very uncertain; +and the variation of a few hundred years or so is not serious. The main +point in the above case is that Votan came to America some hundreds of +years B. C. + +9. Of Lehi's family there were himself and wife, and four sons. Zoram, +the servant of Laban; he married one of the daughters of Ishmael. Of +Ishmael's family there was himself and wife, two married sons and five +daughters. If, as it is supposed, the four sons of Lehi married the +four daughters of Ishmael then there were nine families that formed +the colony. Ishmael, however, died during the colony's wanderings in +Arabia, and hence there were eight families that reached America in the +Nephite colony. (For above facts see I. Nephi ii, vi, vii, xvi: 34). + +10. I. Nephi ii. + +11. Bancroft, Native Races, Vol. V., p. 166. + +12. I. Nephi i, and I. Nephi ii. + +13. Those who would have further information concerning Votan are +referred to Bancroft's Native Races, Vol. III., pp. 450, 455. Also Vol. +V., pp. 159, 160. Also to Donnelley's Atlantis, chapter iv, and the +past notes in these several works. + +14. Mexican Antiquities, Kingsborough, Vol. VI., p. 419. + +15. III. Nephi xvii: 7, 9. + +16. III. Nephi xvii: 15-17. + +17. III. Nephi xxiii. + +18. III. Nephi xvii: 4, see also chapter xvi: 1-3. + +19. Bancroft, Native Races, Vol. V., p. 621. + +20. Bancroft, Native Races, Vol. III., pp. 135, 260, 451 + +21. Bancroft, Native Races, Vol. V., p. 25 + +22. Those who desire to follow the researches of the noble author on +this point can do so by consulting Vol. VIII. of his elaborate work, +pp. 5-51; also his explanations of plates 3, 10, 41 of the Vatican +Codex with accompanying notes, Vol. VI. This is by no means all that +his lordship writes upon the subject, but from these passages one +may learn the substance of his theory, and the argument by which he +sustains it. + +23. Conquest of Mexico, Prescott, Vol. I., p. 64. + +24. History of America Before Columbus, P. De Roo, Vol. I., pp. 540-544. + +25. Perhaps the fullest and most accessible work on the subject is +Bancroft's Native Races, Vol. III., pp. 248, 287; and P. De Roo's +America Before Columbus, Vol. I., chapters xxii, xxiii. + +26. Native Races, Bancroft, Vol. III., p. 250. + +27. See II. Nephi xv: 2, 10. + +28. See III. Nephi xi: 21, 28, also III. Nephi xviii: 1, 25. Compare +these several passages from Nephi with the statement in the text. + +29. This may simply be the traditional remembrance of the fact that the +sign of the birth of Jesus was made an epoch from which the Nephites +thenceforward reckoned their time. See III. Nephi ii: 4-8. + +30. "Priests after the order of Quetzalcohuatl." The Book of Mormon +teaches that the Nephites had the high Melchizedek priesthood among +them. That is to say, the priesthood of their high priests was after +the same order of priesthood as that held by the son of God. Hence +we have Alma saying: "I am called to speak after this manner [he was +preaching obedience to the people] according to the holy order of God, +which is in Christ Jesus. * * * * * And now I say unto you that this +is the order after which I am called, yea to preach unto my beloved +brethren." (Alma v: 44, 49). "I would that ye should remember that the +Lord God ordained priests after his holy order, which was after the +order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people." (Alma xii: +1). The whole chapter deals with this subject of the priesthood, and +should be considered as part of the reference. Jesus when instructing +the twelve he had chosen from among the Nephites, said to them: "Ye +shall be judges of this people according to the judgement which I shall +give unto you, which shall be just; therefore what manner of men ought +ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am." (III. Nephi xxvii: +27). It is fairly clear, that Jesus appointed priests after his own +order even as the traditions of the Mexicans teach that their deity +Quetzalcohuatl appointed priests after his own order. The coincident of +the tradition and the Nephite record is remarkable, and affords an item +of incidental evidence of considerable importance. + +31. Compare this statement with the following passage: "Behold, verily, +verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always, lest ye enter +into temptation. * * * * * Therefore ye must always pray unto the +Father in my name; and whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, +which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be +given unto you. Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my +name, that your wives and your children may be blessed." (III. Nephi +xviii: 12, 21). + +32. Native Races, Bancroft, Vol. III., pp. 259, 260, 274. For a +description of the Nephite "golden age," whence comes this "golden age" +of the tradition, see III. Nephi, chapter xxiv, xxviii. + +33. With this statement compare III. Nephi xvi: 6, 16; also III. Nephi +xx: 14, 20, 27, 28; also III. Nephi xxi: 12, 25. Where the Savior +predicts the coming of the Gentiles to the promised land, and their +privileges and responsibilities respecting it. + +34. Bancroft, Native Races, Vol. III., p. 251. + +35. Compare I. Nephi xi: 12-21; I. Nephi x: 4-6. Also I. Nephi xi: 21; +Ether iii: 6-16. + +36. Mosiah iii: 4, 5. + +37. Helaman xiv: 12; Ether iii: 14-16. + +38. III Nephi xi: 6-12. + +39. Kingsborough's Mexican Antiquities, Vol. VI., p. 507. + +40. The happy suggestion of title is De Roo's Ante, p. 298. + +41. Readers of the Book of Mormon will find in this circumstance a +resemblance to the fact of Jesus granting to three of the twelve +disciples chosen from among the Nephites the privilege of remaining on +earth without tasting death until he should return in glory. And when +it is remembered that in granting this request to the three Nephites +Jesus coupled the name of John, the beloved disciple, in Judea, to whom +had been granted the same privilege (St. John xxi), sufficient ground +work was laid for the tradition of the "four" "most virtuous youths" +who were given a special mission by Quetzalcohuatl to his followers. +The incident concerning the three Nephite disciples and the mention of +John in connection with them will be found in III. Nephi xxviii. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +EXTERNAL EVIDENCES--THE HEBREW ORIGIN OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN +RACES--HEBREW RELICS. + +I next call attention to the evidences of the Hebrew origin of the +native Americans, which origin, of course, if established beyond +reasonable doubt, will be one more item of evidence--one, too, of very +great weight in the volume of cumulative evidence here being compiled, +since the Hebrew origin of the native American races is fundamental +as testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon. The Hebrew origin of +those races in our book is so unequivocally stated and so emphasized +that if the said American races could be proven beyond doubt to be of +other than Hebrew origin, the claims of the Book of Mormon would be +shattered. + +The chief sources of information on this subject are the writings of +Gregoria Garcia, Edward King (Lord Kingsborough), and James Adair. The +first is a Spanish Dominican author, born about 1560; he died 1627. He +spent some twelve years in Central American countries as a missionary +among the natives, during which time he gathered his materials for his +chiefest work, "Origin de los Indios." While contending for the theory +that the Indians are descendants of the Ten Tribes, Garcia collected +evidences on both sides of the question, though both his evidences and +arguments tend to prove the theory of Hebrew origin. + +Lord Kingsborough was born in 1795, and died at Dublin in 1837. His +"Antiquities of Mexico," ten volumes, imperial folio, were published in +London between 1830-48, consequently, since he died in 1837, some of +the volumes were issued after his death. His theory is that the Indians +are descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel, and to the establishment +of this view he bends all his energies. He is open to the charge of +being over zealous for his theory, and doubtless has been somewhat +extravagant in his assumptions of proofs--in matters of detail, at +least; but, after all proper discount is made for the over-zeal of an +enthusiast--fanatic, if you will,--there remains a body of evidence +in his works for the Hebrew origin of native American races which has +never been successfully disposed of by those who dispute his theory. +Even Bancroft, who holds his theory in contempt, is forced to admit +that his "enthusiasm is never offensive," and further says of him, +"There is a scholarly dignity about his work which has never been +attained by those who have jeered and railed at him." [1] + +Adair's work, "History of the North American Indians," is included in +the eighth volume of Kingsborough's works. James Adair was an English +trader among the North American Indians from 1735 to 1775--forty years. +It was in 1775 that his work was published. His observations were +confined to the North American Indians; hence these three authors may +be said to cover the entire field of our investigation. I shall give +extracts from all these writers, making use of Bancroft's abridgment of +their works as being at once accurate and most accessible to the reader. + +I. + +_Garcia._ + +I begin with Garcia: + + The opinion that the Americans are of Hebrew origin is supported by + similarities in character, dress, religion, physical peculiarities, + condition, and customs. The Americans are at heart cowardly, and + so are the Jews; the history of both nations proves this. The Jews + did not believe in the miracles of Christ, and for their unbelief + were scattered over the face of the earth, and despised of all + men; in like manner the people of the New World did not readily + receive the true faith as preached by Christ's Catholic disciples, + and are therefore persecuted and being rapidly exterminated. + Another analogy presents itself in the ingratitude of the Jews for + the many blessings and special favors bestowed on them by God. + * * * * * * Both Jews and Americans are noted for their want of + charity and kindness to the poor, sick and unfortunate; both are + naturally given to idolatry; many customs are common to both such + as raising the hands to heaven when making a solemn affirmation, + calling all near relatives brothers, showing great respect and + humility before superiors, burying their dead on hills and high + places without the city, tearing their clothing on the reception + of bad tidings, giving a kiss on the cheek as a token of peace, + celebrating a victory with songs and dances, casting out of the + place of worship women who are barren, drowning dogs in a well, + practicing crucifixion. * * * * * * * * The dress of the Hebrew + was in many points like that of the Americans. * * * * * * The + Jews preferred the flesh-pots of Egypt and a life of bondage to + heavenly manna and the promised land; the Americans liked a life of + freedom and a diet of roots and herbs, better than the service of + the Spaniards with good food. The Jews were famous for fine work + in stone, as is shown by the buildings of Jerusalem, and a similar + excellence in this art is seen in the American ruins. The Mexicans + have a tradition of a journey undertaken at the command of a god, + and continued for a long time under the direction of certain high + priests, who miraculously obtained supplies for their support, this + bears a striking resemblance to the Hebrew story of the wandering + in the desert. [2] * * * * Moreover, many traces of their old laws + and ceremonies are to be found among them at the present day. + For instance, both Jews and Americans gave their temple into the + charge of priests, burned incense, anointed the body, practiced + circumcision, kept perpetual fires on their altars, forbade women + to enter the temple immediately after giving birth, and husbands + to sleep with their wives for seven days during the period of + menstruation, prohibiting marriage or sexual intercourse between + relatives within the second degree, made fornication with a slave + punishable, slew the adulterer, made it unlawful for a man to dress + like a woman, or a woman like a man, put away their brides if they + prove to have lost their virginity, kept the ten commandments. + +Answering the objection that the American Indians do not speak Hebrew, +Garcia says: + + But the reason for this is that the language has gradually changed, + as has been the case with all tongues. Witness the Hebrew spoken + by the Jews at the present time, which is much corrupted and very + different from what is originally was. There do actually exist, + besides, many Hebraic traces in the American languages. [3] + +II. + +_Lord Kingsborough's Views._ + +The main items of Lord Kingsborough's evidences and arguments are thus +summarized by Bancroft: + + The religion of the Mexicans strongly resembled that of the Jews, + in many minor details, as will be presently seen, and the two were + practically alike, to a certain extent in their very foundation; + for, as the Jews acknowledged a multitude of angels, arch-angels, + principalities, thrones, dominions, and powers, as the subordinate + personages of their hierarchy, so did the Mexicans acknowledge + the unity of the deity in the person of Tezcatlipoca, and at the + same time worship a great number of other imaginary beings. Both + believed in a plurality of devils subordinate to one head, who was + called by the Mexicans Mictlantecutli, and by the Jews Satan. * * + * * * * It is probable that the Toltecs were acquainted with the + sin of the first man committed at the suggestion of the woman, + herself deceived by the serpent, who tempted her with the fruit of + the forbidden tree, who was the origin of all our calamities, and + by whom death came into the world. We have seen in this chapter + that Kingsborough supposes the Messiah and his story to have + been familiar to the Mexicans. There is reason to believe that + the Mexicans, like the Jews, offered meat and drink offerings + to stones. There are striking similarities between the Babel, + flood, and creation myths of the Hebrews and the Americans. Both + Jews and Mexicans were fond of appealing in their adjurations to + the heaven and the earth. Both were extremely superstitious, and + firm believers in prodigies. * * * * It is very probable that the + Sabbath of the seventh day was known in some parts of America. + The Mexicans applied the blood of sacrifices to the same uses as + the Jews; they poured it upon the earth, they sprinkled it, they + marked persons with it, and they smeared it upon walls and other + inanimate things. No one but the Jewish high priest might enter the + Holy of Holies. A similar custom obtained in Peru. Both Mexicans + and Jews regarded certain animals as unclean and unfit for food. + Some of the Americans believed with some of the Talmudists in a + plurality of souls. That man was created in the image of God was + a part of the Mexican belief. It was customary among the Mexicans + to eat the flesh of sacrifices of atonement. There are many points + of resemblance between Tezcatlipoca and Jehovah. Ablutions formed + an essential part of the ceremonial law of the Jews and Mexicans. + The opinions of the Mexicans with regard to the resurrection of the + body, accorded with those of the Jews. The Mexican temple, like the + Jewish, faced the east. "As amongst the Jews the ark was a sort of + portable temple in which the deity was supposed to be continually + present, and which was accordingly borne on the shoulders of the + priests as a sure refuge and defense from their enemies, so amongst + the Mexicans and the Indians of Michoacan and Honduras an ark was + held in the highest veneration, and was considered an object too + sacred to be touched by any but the priests. * * * * * The Yucatec + conception of a trinity resembles the Hebrews. It is probable that + Quetzalcohuatl whose proper name signifies "feathered serpent," + was so called after the brazen serpent which Moses lifted up in + the wilderness, the feathers perhaps alluding to the rabbinical + tradition that the fiery serpents which god sent against the + Israelites were of a winged species. The Mexicans, like the Jews, + saluted the four cardinal points, in their worship. There was much + in connection with sacrifices that was common to Mexicans and Jews. + * * * * * * In various religious rites and observances, such as + circumcision, confession, and communion, there was much similarity. + Salt was an article highly esteemed by the Mexicans, and the Jews + always offered it in their oblations. Among the Jews, the firstling + of an ass had to be redeemed with a lamb, or if unredeemed, its + neck was broken. This command of Moses should be considered in + reference to the custom of sacrificing children which existed in + Mexico and Peru. The spectacle of a king performing a dance as an + act of religion was witnessed by the Jews as well as by Mexicans. + As the Israelites were conducted from Egypt by Moses and Aaron who + were accompanied by their sister Miriam, so the Aztecs departed + from Astlan under the guidance of Huitziton and Tecpatzin, the + former of whom is named by Acosta and Herrera, Mexi, attended + likewise by their sister Quilaztli, or, as she is otherwise named, + Chimalman or Malinalli, both of which latter names have some + resemblance to Miriam, as Mexi has to Moses. * * * * * * * It is + impossible, on reading what Mexican mythology records of the war + in heaven and of the fall of Tzontemoc and the other rebellious + spirits; of the creation of light by the word of Tonacatecutli, and + of the division of the waters; of the sin of Ytztlacoliuhqui, and + his blindness and nakedness; of the temptation of Suchiquecal, and + her disobedience in gathering roses from a tree, and the consequent + misery and disgrace of herself and her posterity--not to recognize + scriptural analogies. Other Hebrew analogies Lord Kingsborough + finds in America, in the dress, insignia, and duties of priests; + in innumerable superstitions concerning dreams, apparitions, + eclipses, and other more common-place events; in certain festivals + for rain; in burial and mourning ceremonies; in the diseases most + common among the people; in certain regularly observed festivals; + in the dress of certain nations; in established laws; in physical + features; in architecture; in various minor observances, such as + offering water to a stranger that he might wash his feet, eating + dust in token of humility, anointing with oil, and so forth; in + the sacrifice of prisoners; in manner and style of oratory; in + the stories of giants; in respect paid to God's name; in games + of chance; in marriage relations; in childbirth ceremonies; in + religious ideas of all sorts; in respect paid to kings; in uses of + metals; in treatment of criminals, and punishment of crimes; in + charitable practices; in social customs; and in a vast number of + other particulars. [4] + +III. + +_Adair's Evidences._ + +Following is the summary of Adair's evidences and arguments: + + The Israelites were divided into tribes and had chiefs over them, + so the Indians divided themselves: each tribe forming a little + community within the nation. And as the nation hath its particular + symbol, so from nation to nation among them we shall not find one + individual who doth not distinguish himself by his family name. + Every town has a state house or synedrion, the same as the Jewish + Sanhedrim, where almost every night the head men meet to discuss + public business. The Hebrew nation were ordered to worship Jehovah + the true and living God, who by the Indians is styled Yohewah. The + ancient heathens, it is well known worshiped a plurality of gods: + but these American Indians pay their religious devoir to Loak + Ishtohoollo Aba, The Great Beneficent Supreme Holy Spirit of Fire. + They do not pay the least perceptible adoration to images. Their + ceremonies in their religious worship accord more nearly with the + Mosaic institutions, which could not be if they were of heathen + descent. * * * * * Their opinion that God chose them out of all the + rest of mankind as his peculiar and beloved people, fills both the + white Jew and the red American, with that steady hatred against + all the world, which renders them hated and despised by all. We + have abundant evidence of the Jews believing in the ministration + of angels, during the Old Testament dispensation, their frequent + appearances and their services on earth, are recorded in the + oracles, which the Jews themselves receive as given by divine + inspiration, and St. Paul in his epistle addressed to the Hebrews + speaks of it as their general opinion that "angels are ministering + spirits to the good and righteous on earth." The Indian sentiments + and traditions are the same. They believe the higher regions to + be inhabited by good spirits, relations to the Great Holy One, + and that these spirits attend and favor the virtuous. The Indian + language and dialects appear to have the very idiom and genius of + the Hebrew. Their words and sentences are expressive, concise, + emphatical, sonorous, and bold, and often both in letters and + signification synonymous with the Hebrew language. They count time + after the manner of the Hebrews, reckoning years by lunar months + like the Israelites who counted by moons. The religious ceremonies + of the Indian Americans are in conformity with those of the Jews, + they having their prophets, high priest, and others of religious + order. As the Jews had a sanctorum or most holy place, so have all + the Indian nations. The dress also of their high priests is similar + in character to that of the Hebrews. The festivals, feasts, and + religious rites of the Indian Americans have also great resemblance + to that of the Hebrews. The Indian imitates the Israelite in + his religious offerings. The Hebrews had various ablutions and + anointings according to the Mosaic ritual--and all the Indian + nations constantly observe similar customs from religious motives. + Their frequent bathing, or dipping themselves and their children + in rivers, even in the severest weather, seems to be as truly + Jewish as the other rites and ceremonies which have been mentioned. + The Indian laws of uncleanliness and purification, and also the + abstaining from things deemed unclean are the same as those of + the Hebrews. The Indian marriages, divorces and punishments of + adultery, still retain a strong likeness to the Jewish laws and + customs on these points. Many of the Indian punishments resemble + those of the Jews. Whoever attentively views the features of the + Indian, and his eye and reflects on his fickle, obstinate, and + cruel disposition will naturally think of the Jews. The ceremonies + performed by the Indians before going to war, such as purification + and fasting, are similar to those of the Hebrew nation. The + Israelites were fond of wearing beads and other ornaments, even as + early as the patriarchal age and in resemblance to these customs + the Indian females continually wear the same, believing it to be + a preventive against many evils. The Indian manner of curing the + sick is very similar to that of the Jews. Like the Hebrews, they + firmly believe that diseases and wounds are occasioned by divine + anger, in proportion to some violation of the old beloved speech. + The Hebrews carefully buried their dead, so on any accident they + gathered their bones, and laid them in tombs of their forefathers; + thus all the numerous nations of Indians perform the like friendly + office to every deceased person of their respective tribes. The + Jewish records tell us that the women mourned for the loss of their + deceased husbands, and were reckoned vile by the civil law if they + married in the space of at least ten months after their death. In + the same manner all the Indian widows, by an established strict + penal law, mourn for the loss of their deceased husbands; and among + some tribes for the space of three or four years. The surviving + brother by the Mosaic law, was to raise seed to a deceased brother, + who left a widow childless, to perpetuate his name and family. The + American law enforces the same rule. When the Israelites gave names + to their children or others they chose such appellatives as suited + best their circumstances and the times. This custom is a standing + rule with the Indians." [5] + +There are writers upon the subject of American Antiquities who hold, +first: that not all the foregoing points of comparison between native +American races and the Hebrews are clearly established; and second: +that if they were all clearly established it would not necessarily +prove identity of race. This much, however, can be insisted upon by +those who accept the Book of Mormon as true; namely, that since no +counter theory of origin for our native American races has yet been +conclusively proven, (and as matters now stand, seems impossible of +being proven), and as the Book of Mormon makes bold to so definitely +announce the Hebrew origin of the people whose history in outline +it gives, so much in the foregoing summary of points of comparison +between the American races and the Hebrews as may not be successfully +contradicted stands as evidence of no mean order for the truth of our +Nephite record. + +The Discovery of Hebrew Relics. + +In addition to these summaries of evidence on the Hebrew origin of the +native American races there are several special discoveries bearing on +the subject that I think should be mentioned. One is related by Ethan +Smith, author of "Views of the Hebrews," a work in which he undertakes +to prove that the American Indians are descendants of the Ten Lost +Tribes of Israel. While preparing his work for a second edition, he +heard of the discovery in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, of a parchment, +supposed to be of native American origin, covered with Hebrew +characters. Mr. Smith went to Pittsfield to investigate the matter, and +found the facts to be as follows, the information being given by the +man who found the parchment: + +I. + +_The Pittsfield Hebrew Parchment._ + + This [the discoverer of the parchment] was Joseph Merrick, Esq., + a highly respectable character in the church of Pittsfield, and + in the county, as the minister of the place informed [me]. Mr. + Merrick gave the following account; that in 1815, he was leveling + some ground under and near an old wood shed standing on a place of + his, situated on Indian Hill, (a place in Pittsfield, so called, + and lying, as the writer was afterward informed, at some distance + from the middle of the town where Mr. Merrick is now [about 1825] + living). He ploughed and conveyed away old chips and earth, to + some depth, as the surface of the earth appeared uneven. After the + work was done, walking over the place, he discovered, near where + the earth had been dug the deepest, a kind of black strap, about + six inches in length, and one and a half in breadth, and something + thicker than a draw leather [tug] of a harness. He perceived it had + at each end a loop of some hard substance, probably for the purpose + of carrying it. He conveyed it into his house, and threw it in an + old tool box. He afterward found it thrown out of doors, and again + conveyed it to the box. He attempted to cut it open, and found it + was formed of pieces of thick raw hide, sewed and made water tight + with the sinews of some animal; and in the fold it contained four + folded leaves of old parchment. These leaves were of a dark yellow, + and contained some kind of writing. Some of the neighbors saw and + examined them. One of these parchments they tore in pieces; the + other three he saved, and delivered them to Mr. Sylvester Larned, + a graduate then in town, who took them to Cambridge, and had them + examined. They were written in Hebrew with a pen, in plain and + intelligible writing. The following is an extract of a letter sent + to Mr. Merrick by Mr. Larned, upon this subject: + + Sir:--I have examined the parchment manuscript, which you had the + goodnesss to give me. After some time and with much difficulty and + assistance I have ascertained their meaning, which is as follows: + (I have numbered the manuscripts.) + + No. 1, is translated by Duet. vi: 4-9 verses inclusive. + + No. 2, by Deut, xi: 13-21 verses inclusive. + + No. 3, Exod. xiii: 11-16 verses inclusive. + + I am, etc. [Signed] SYLVESTER LARNED. [6] + +II. + +_The Newark Hebrew Tablet._ + +Another discovery of Hebrew writing--the Ten Commandments engraved on a +stone tablet--was made in Ohio; and was seen by Mr. A. A. Bancroft, the +father of H. H. Bancroft, author of "Native Races." The latter relates +the circumstances of finding this relic as follows: + + About eight miles southeast of Newark there was formerly a large + mound composed of masses of free stone, which had been brought from + some distance and thrown into a heap without much placing or care. + In early days, stone being scarce in that region, the settlers + carried away the mound piece by piece to use for building purposes, + so that in a few years there was little more than a large flattened + heap of rubbish remaining. Some fifteen years ago, the county + surveyor (I have forgotten his name), who had for some time been + searching ancient works, turned his attention to this particular + pile. He employed a number of men and proceeded at once to open + it. Before long he was rewarded by finding in the centre and near + the surface a bed of the tough clay generally known as pipe-clay, + which must have been brought from a distance of some twelve miles. + Imbedded in the clay was a coffin, dug out of a burr-oak log, + and in a pretty good state of preservation. In the coffin was a + skeleton, with quite a number of stone ornaments and emblems, and + some open brass rings, suitable for bracelets or anklets. These + being removed, they dug down deeper, and soon discovered a stone + dressed to an oblong shape, about eighteen inches long and twelve + wide, which proved to be a casket, neatly fitted and completely + water-tight, containing a slab of stone of hard and fine quality, + and an inch and a half thick, eight inches long, four inches wide + at one end, and tapering to three inches at the other. Upon the + face of the slab was the figure of a man, apparently a priest with + a long flowing beard, and a robe reaching to his feet. Over his + head was a curved line of characters, and upon the edges and back + of the stone closely and neatly carved letters. The slab, which I + saw myself, was shown to the Episcopalian clergyman of Newark, and + he pronounced the writings to be the Ten Commandments in ancient + Hebrew. [7] + +Mr. Bancroft, referring to these circumstances, says that in neither of +them "is it certain or even probable that the relic existed in America +before the conquest," though he gives no reason for the rather dogmatic +statement. For my own part, and especially in the latter case, I see +no reason to doubt the existence of these relics in America before the +advent of the Spaniards. According to the Book of Mormon the ancient +inhabitants of America, the Nephites, had the writings of Moses. The +Ten Commandments were regarded as the summing up, the crystallization +of the law of God [8] to the people, pending the advent of Messiah +with the more perfect law of the gospel. What could be more natural +than that they should multiply copies of these scriptures, or parts +of them, especially such parts as related to particular promises or +warnings to Israelites, as do the passages on the parchment found +in Pittsfield, Massachusetts? Or such summaries of the law of Moses +as the Ten Commandments constitute? That the Nephites did multiply +copies of the scriptures they had in their possession (and doubtless +also copies of striking passages of those scriptures) is evident from +what is said upon the subject by Mormon when giving an account of +the transfer of the Nephite records from one Shiblon to Helaman, the +son of Helaman: "Now, behold, all those engravings which were in the +possession of Helaman, were written and sent forth among the children +of men throughout all the land, save it were those parts which had been +commanded by Alma should not go forth." [9] + +The part here prohibited transcription and circulation related to the +oaths and constitutions of the secret societies from the record of the +Jaredites; [10] but for the rest, there was perfect liberty to multiply +copies of the scriptures, and that it was done is further evidenced +from the fact that missionaries from the Nephites to the Lamanites are +found to be in possession of copies of the scriptures which Lehi's +colony brought with them from Jerusalem, and from which they read for +the instruction of their hearers. [11] It is not difficult to believe, +in the light of these facts, that noted personages among native +Americans should have engraved on stone or parchment in Hebrew or in +other characters passages of the holy scriptures; nor is it incredible +that these should be buried with them--since to bury one's personal +effects with him was a custom of the natives--and that afterwards the +relics should be discovered as in the two instances cited. The fact +of the discoveries is beyond question: the nature of them is strong +incidental proof of the claims of the Book of Mormon. + +Of this Newark discovery, the late Orson Pratt, who examined the +engraved stone in the city of New York, and which at the time was +in possession of the "Ethnological Society" of that city, makes +the following very valuable and convincing statement and argument +respecting the find. It should also be remembered that Elder Pratt's +knowledge of the Hebrew language makes his comments all the more +conclusive; while the fact that he points out in his statement that +there is in this Newark Tablet none of the modern "points" and +"characters" that have been introduced into the Hebrew "during the last +two thousand four hundred years," proves conclusively that the Newark +Tablet is an ancient, not a modern production. + + Thirty years after the Book of Mormon was put in print, giving the + history of the settlement of this country, one of the great mounds + south of the great lakes near Newark, in Ohio, was opened. What + was found in it? A great many curiosities, among which were some + copper pieces, supposed to be money. After digging down many feet, + and carrying off many thousand loads of stone, they at length found + a coffin in the midst of a hard kind of fire clay. Underneath this + they found a large stone that appeared to be hollow; something + seemed to rattle inside of it. The stone was cemented together + in the middle, but with some little exertion they broke it open, + when another stone was found inside of it, of a different nature + entirely from its covering. On the stone taken from the inside was + carved the figure of a man with a priestly robe flowing from his + shoulders; and over the head of this man were the Hebrew characters + for "Moshe," the ancient name of Moses; while on each side of this + likeness, and on different sides of the stone, above, beneath, and + around about were the Ten Commandments that were received on Mount + Sinai, written in the ancient Hebrew characters. Now recollect + that the Book of Mormon had been in print thirty years before this + discovery. And what does this discovery prove? It proves that + the builders of these mounds, south of the great lakes in the + great Mississippi Valley in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, New York, + etc., must have understood the Hebrew characters; [12] and not + only that, but they must also have understood the law of Moses. + Otherwise how happened it that they should write on this stone + the Ten Commandments almost verbatim as they are now contained in + King James's translation of the Bible. It proves that the builders + of these mounds were Israelites, and that their illustrious dead, + buried in these mounds, had these commandments buried with them + in accordance with the custom of many of the ancient nations, + especially the Egyptians, who were in the habit of consigning their + written sacred papyrus to their great tombs. In Egypt many of these + ancient manuscripts have been exhumed and, in many instances, + pretended to be translated. So the Israelites followed the customs + of these Eastern nations, and buried that which they considered + most sacred, namely, the Ten Commandments, thundered by the voice + of the Almighty in the midst of flaming fire on Mount Sinai in the + ears of all the congregation of Israel. + + I have seen that sacred stone. It is not a hatched up story. I + heard tell of it [the stone] as being in the Antiquarian Society, + or rather, as it is now called, the Ethnological Society, in the + City of New York. I went to the Secretary of that Society, and he + kindly showed me this stone, of which I have been speaking, and + being acquainted with modern Hebrew, I could form some kind of + an estimate of the ancient Hebrew, for some of the modern Hebrew + characters do not vary much in form from the ancient Hebrew. At + any rate we have enough of ancient Hebrew, that has been dug up in + Palestine and taken from among the ruins of the Israelites east + of the Miditerranean Sea, to form some kind of an estimate of the + characters, and comparing them, I could see and understand the + nature of the writings upon these records. They were also taken to + the most learned men of our country, who, as soon as they looked at + them, were able to pronounce them to be not only ancient Hebrew, + but they were also able to translate them and pronounced them to be + the Ten Commandments. This, then, is external proof, independent of + the Scriptural proofs to which I have alluded, in testimony of the + divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon. + + Now, our modern Hebrew has many points; it has also many + additional characters that have been made since these colonies + left Jerusalem. Do you find on these ancient writings any of these + modern characters that have been introduced during the last two + thousand four hundred years? Not one. Do you find any Hebrew points + representing vowels? Not one; and all the new consonants that have + been introduced during the last two thousand four hundred years + were not found upon this stone to which I have referred, showing + plainly that it must have been of very ancient date. [13] + +In connection with his comments on this Newark Tablet Elder Pratt also +makes the following statement: + +"HAVE MERCY ON ME A NEPHITE." + + Five years after the discovery of this remarkable memento of the + ancient Israelites on the American continent, [the Newark Tablet], + and thirty-five years after the Book of Mormon was in print, + several other mounds in the same vicinity of Newark were opened, + in several of which Hebrew characters were found. Among them was + this beautiful expression, buried with one of their ancient dead, + "May the Lord have mercy on me a Nephite." It was translated a + little differently, viz., "Nephel." Now we well know that Nephi, + who came out of Jerusalem six hundred years before Christ, was + the leader of the first Jewish [Israelitish--Lehi's colony was + made up of families from the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim. See + Vol. I., pages 167-8.] colony across to this land, and the people, + ever afterwards, were called "Nephites," after their inspired + prophet and leader. The Nephites were a righteous people and had + many prophets among them; and when they were burying one of their + brethren in these ancient mounds, they introduced the Hebrew + characters signifying "May the Lord have mercy on me, a Nephite." + This is another direct evidence of the divine authenticity of + the Book of Mormon, which was brought forth and translated by + inspiration some thirty-five years before this inscription was + found. [14] + +Footnotes + +1. Native Races, Vol. V., p. 84. + +2. But, it might be suggested, more closely resembles the story of +Lehi's colony at its departure from Jerusalem and its journey to +America. + +3. Bancroft, Native Races, Vol. V., pp. 79-83. + +4. Native Races, Vol. V., pp. 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90, 91. + +5. Bancroft, Native Races, Vol. V., pp. 91, 92, 93 and notes. + +6. View of the Hebrews; or the Tribes of Israel in America, pp. 219, +220. The above account is also quoted by Josiah Priest, American +Antiquities, pp. 68, 69. Also by Bancroft, Native Races, Vol. V., pp. +93, 94. + +7. Bancroft, Native Races, Vol. V., pp. 94, 95. + +8. See especially the teachings of the prophet Abinadi in Mosiah, +chapter xii and xiii, where the Ten Commandments are expounded as the +sum of the law of Moses, and its relation to the whole plan of God for +the salvation of men defined. + +9. Alma lxiii: 12. Orson Pratt in a foot note on the passage suggests: +"Those innumerous copies of sacred books were undoubtedly transcribed +directly from or compared with, the records on the original metallic +plates." + +10. See Alma xxxvii. + +11. Alma xii: 12-15; xxiii: 4-5; xxxiii: 12-15. + +12. It may be objected that this Newark Tablet with the Ten +Commandments written upon it in ancient Hebrew, can be of no value +as evidence for the Book of Mormon, since that book was engraved in +characters called "reformed Egyptian." That is to say, it was written +in Egyptian characters somewhat altered by the Nephites in the course +of time--such changes take place in all written languages. But the +Nephites also wrote, to a limited extent, at least (and it would +most probably be in such cases as making a transcript of the Ten +Commandments), in Hebrew (See Mormon ix, 32, 33). Hence the importance +of the Newark Tablet as an ancient Nephite relic. + +13. Journal of Discourses, Vol. XIII., p. 131, the discourse was +delivered April 10th, 1870, Salt Lake City. + +14. Journal of Discourses, Vol. XIII., p. 131. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +OF THE DISCOVERY OF RELICS OTHER THAN HEBREW. + +I. + +_The Cincinnati Gold Plate._ + +Other discoveries of ancient American records, though evidently not +of Hebrew origin, should also be recorded, since they bear important +testimony to the fact that the ancient Americans did engrave records +on metallic plates. One of these records was found in the state of +Ohio, the other in Illinois. The first is the discovery of a gold plate +with raised characters engraven upon it, near Cincinnati, under the +following circumstances: + + Mr. Benjamin E. Styles of Cincinnati, Ohio, while excavating the + earth for a cistern, in the year 1847, found, a few feet above + high water mark on the Ohio river, a gold plate. It was thrown + out with the loose earth while excavating about nine feet beneath + the surface. Said plate is of fine gold, three or four inches in + length, averaging about three-fourths of an inch in width, about + one-eighth of an inch in thickness, with the edges scolloped. In + the face of which was beautifully set another plate of the same + material, and fastened together by two pins, running through both. + This latter plate is full of ancient raised characters, beautifully + engraved upon its surface; the whole exhibiting fine workmanship. + The plate was examined by Dr. Wise, a very learned Rabbi of the + Jewish synagogue in Cincinnati, and editor of a Hebrew paper there, + who pronounced the characters to be mostly ancient Egyptian. + +Such was the description of the circumstances under which the discovery +was made, and of the plate itself, by Elder Parley P. Pratt, to whom +Mr. Styles exhibited the plate, and related the circumstances of +its discovery. Elder Pratt communicated the facts to the "Mormon," +published in New York, in a letter bearing date of January 1st, 1857. + [1] A cut of the relic was afterwards made and published by Drake and +Co., of St. Louis, printers, and with it the following certificate was +given: + + We do hereby certify that we did print from a gold plate, the above + fac-simile, handed to us by Mr. Benjamin Styles, which he said he + found while digging for a cistern in Cincinnati, Ohio. + + No. 1 is a frame of gold containing a thin plate, No. 2, and + appears to have been executed by a very superior workman. + + DRAKE AND CO., PRINTERS, + + Saint Louis, Missouri. [2] + +II. + +_The Kinderhook Plates._ + +The Illinois discovery is summarized as follows from the "Quincy Whig," +a paper published in Quincy, Illinois: + + SINGULAR DISCOVERY. MATERIAL FOR ANOTHER MORMON BOOK. + + A young man by the name of Wiley, a resident in Kinderhook, Pike + county, went by himself and labored diligently one day in pursuit + of a supposed treasure, by sinking a hole in the centre of a + mound. Finding it quite laborious, he invited others to assist + him. A company of ten or twelve repaired to the mound and assisted + in digging out the shaft commenced by Wiley. After penetrating + the mound about eleven feet, they came to a bed of limestone + that had been subjected to the action of fire. They removed the + stones, which were small and easy to handle, to the depth of two + feet more, when they found six brass plates, secured and fastened + together by two iron wires, but which were so decayed that they + readily crumbled to dust upon being handled. The plates were so + completely covered with rust as almost to obliterate the characters + inscribed upon them, but, after undergoing a chemical process, + the inscriptions were brought out plain and distinct. There were + six plates, four inches in length, one inch and three-quarters + wide at the top and two inches and three-quarters wide at the + bottom, flaring out to points. There are four lines of characters + or hieroglyphics on each. On one side of the plates are parallel + lines running lengthways. By whom these plates were deposited there + must ever remain a secret, unless some one skilled in deciphering + hieroglyphics may be found to unravel the mystery. Some pretend to + say that Smith, the Mormon leader, has the ability to read them. + If he has, he will confer a great favor on the public by removing + the mystery which hangs over them. A person present when the plates + were found remarked that it would go to prove the authenticity of + the Book of Mormon, which it undoubtedly will. In the place where + these plates were deposited were also found human bones in the last + stage of decomposition. There were but a few bones found; and it is + believed that it was but the burial place of a person or family of + distinction in ages long gone by, and that these plates contain the + history of the times, or of a people that existed far, far beyond + the memory of the present race. But we will not conjecture anything + about discovery, as it is one which the plates alone can reveal. + The plates above alluded to were exhibited in this city last week, + and are now, we understand, in Nauvoo, subject to the inspection of + the Mormon Prophet. The public curiosity is greatly excited; and if + Smith can decipher the hieroglyphics on the plates, he will do more + towards throwing light on the early history of this continent than + any man now living. [3] + +In a communication to the "Times and Seasons" (Nauvoo, Illinois), the +following testimony concerning the discovery was given: + + On the 16th of April last, a respectable merchant, by the name of + Robert Wiley, commenced digging in a large mound near this place: + He excavated to the depth of ten feet and came to rock. About that + time the rain began to fall, and he abandoned the work. On the + 23rd, he and quite a number of the citizens, with myself, repaired + to the mound; and after making ample opening, we found plenty of + rock the most of which appeared as though it had been strongly + burned; and after removing full two feet of said rock, we found + plenty of charcoal and ashes; also human bones that appeared as + though they had been burned; and near the encophalon a bundle was + found that consisted of six plates of brass of a bell shape, each + having a hole near the small end, and a ring through them all, and + clasped with two clasps. The rings and clasps appeared to be iron + very much oxydated. The plates appeared first to be copper, and + had the appearance of being covered with characters. It was agreed + by the company that I should cleanse the plates. Accordingly I + took them to my house washed them with soap and water and a woolen + cloth, but, finding them not yet cleansed, I treated them with + dilute sulphuric acid, which made them perfectly clean, on which it + appeared that they were completely covered with hieroglyphics that + none as yet have been able to read. Wishing that the world might + know the hidden things as fast as they come to light, I was induced + to state the facts, hoping that you would give it an insertion in + your excellent paper; we feel anxious to know the true meaning + of the plates, and publishing the facts might lead to the true + translation. + + They were found, I judged, more than twelve feet below the surface + of the top of the mound. I am, most respectfully, a citizen of + Kinderhook. + + W. P. HARRIS, M. D. + + We the citizens of Kinderhook, whose names are annexed, do certify + and declare that on the 23rd of April, 1843, while excavating a + large mound in this vicinity, Mr. R. Wiley took from said mound six + brass plates of a bell shape, covered with ancient characters. Said + plates were very much oxydated. The bands and rings on said plates + mouldered into dust on a slight pressure. + + ROBERT WILEY, GEORGE DECKENSON, + + W. LONGNECKER, G. W. F. WARD, + + J. R. SHARP, IRA A. CURTIS, + + FAYETTE GRUBB, W. P. HARRIS, + + W. FUGATE. [4] + +Since these plates were sent to Nauvoo for the inspection of the +Prophet Joseph, it will be of interest to know what view he took of +them. The following occurs in his journal under date of Monday, May +1st, 1843: + + I insert fac-simile of the six brass plates found near Kinderhook, + in Pike county, Illinois, on April 23, by Mr. R. Wiley and others, + while excavating a large mound. They found a skeleton about six + feet from the surface of the earth, which must have stood nine feet + high. The plates were found on the breast of the skeleton, and were + covered on both sides with ancient characters. I have translated a + portion of them, and find they contain the history of the person + with whom they were found. He was a descendant of Ham, through the + loins of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and that he received his kingdom + from the ruler of heaven and earth. [5] + +It is proper here to call attention to the fact that the genuineness +of this discovery of the Kinderhook plates is questioned by some +anti-Mormon writers, among them Professor William A. Linn, in his late +work, "The Story of Mormonism," where he says: + + But the true story of the Kinderhook plates was disclosed by + an affidavit made by W. Fugate of Mound station, Brown county, + Illinois, before Jay Brown justice of the peace, on June 30, + 1879. In this he stated that the plates were a humbug, gotten up + by Robert Wiley, Bridge Whitton, and myself. Whitton (who was a + blacksmith) cut the plates out of some pieces of copper; Wiley + and I made the hieroglyphics by making impressions on beeswax + and filling them with acid, and putting it on the plates. When + they were finished, we put them together with rust made of nitric + acid, old iron and lead, and bound them with a piece of hoop iron, + covering them completely with rust. He describes the burial of the + plates and the digging up, among the spectators of the latter being + two Mormon Elders, Marsh and Sharp. Sharp declared that the Lord + had directed them to witness the digging. The plates were borrowed + and shown to Smith, and were finally given to one Professor + McDowell of St. Louis, for his museum. [6] + +Of this presentation of the matter it is only necessary to say that it +is a little singular that Mr. Fugate alone out of the three said to be +in collusion in perpetrating the fraud should disclose it, and that he +should wait from 1843 to 1879--a period of thirty-six years--before +doing so, when he and those said to be associated with him had such an +excellent opportunity to expose the vain pretensions of the Prophet-- +if Fugate's tale be true? For while the statement in the text of the +Prophet's Journal to the effect that the find was genuine, and that he +had translated some of the characters and learned certain historical +facts concerning the person with whose remains the plates were found, +may not have been known at the time to the alleged conspirators to +deceive him, still the editor of the _Times and Seasons_--John Taylor, +the close personal friend of the Prophet--took the find seriously, and +expressed at once explicit confidence in an editorial in the _Times and +Seasons_, of May 1st, 1843, that the Prophet could give a translation +of the plates. And this attitude the Church, continued to maintain; for +in _The Prophet_, (a Mormon weekly periodical, published in New York) +of the 15th of February, 1845, there was published a _fac-simile_ of +the Kinderhook plates, together with the _Times and Seasons_ editorial +and all the above matter of the text. How easy to have covered Joseph +Smith and his followers with ridicule by proclaiming the hoax as soon +as they accepted the Kinderhook plates as genuine! Why was it not done? +The fact that Fugate's story was not told until thirty-six years after +the event, and that he alone of all those who were connected with the +event gives that version of it, is rather strong evidence that his +story is the hoax, not the discovery of the plates, nor the engravings +upon them. + +III. + +_The Tuccabatchey Plates._ + +In further evidence that the native Americans engraved records on +metallic plates I quote the following from Adair's "History of the +North American Indians." The passage is a footnote on the custom of the +Indians burying a dead person's treasures with him: + + In the Tuccabatches on the Tallapoose river, thirty miles above the + Allabahamah garrison are two brazen tables, and five of copper. + They (the Indians) esteem them so sacred as to keep them constantly + in their holy of holies, without touching them in the least, only + in the time of their compounded first-fruit offering, and annual + expiation of sins; at which season, their magus carries one under + his arm, ahead of the people, dancing round in sacred armor; next + to him their head warrior carries another; and those warriors who + choose it carry the rest after the manner of the high priest; + all the other carry white canes with swan-feathers at the top. + Hearing accidentally of these important monuments of antiquity, + and inquiring pretty much about them, I was certified of the + truth of the report by four of the southern traders, at the most + eminent Indian trading house of all English America. One of the + gentlemen informed me, that at my request he endeavored to get the + liberty of viewing the aforesaid tables, but it could not possibly + be obtained, only in the time of the yearly grand sacrifice, for + fear of polluting their holy things, at which time gentlemen of + curiosity may see them. Old Bracket, an Indian, of perhaps one + hundred years old, lives in that old beloved town, who gave the + following description of them: + + The shape of the five copper plates: One is a foot and a half long + and seven inches wide, the other four are shorter and narrower. + + The shape of the two brass plates was circular, about a foot and a + half in diameter. + + He [Bracket] said that he was told by his forefathers that those + plates were given to them by the man we call God; that there had + been many more of other shapes, some as long as he could stretch + with both his arms, and some had writing upon them which are buried + with particular men; and that they had instructions given with + them, viz., they must only be handled by particular people, and + those feasting [fasting?]; and no unclean woman must be suffered to + come near them or the place, where they are deposited. He said none + but his own town's people had any such plates given them, and that + they were a different people from the Creeks. He only remembered + three more which were buried with three of his family and he was + the only man of the family now left. He said, there were two copper + plates under the king's cabin which laid there from the first + settling of the town. + + This account was taken in the Tuccabatchey square, 27th July, 1759, + per Will. Bolsover. [7] + +The foregoing account of engraven records on gold and copper plates +is important as evidence to the truth of the Book of Mormon only this +far; the Book of Mormon repeatedly declares that such was the manner +of keeping records among the Nephites and the Jaredites, Mormon's +abridgment of the larger Nephite records being engraven in this manner +on plates of gold. And the discoveries related above, all of which were +unknown to Joseph Smith, prove that in ancient America records were so +kept, and constitutes at least important incidental evidence to the +truth of that part of the Book of Mormon statement. + +Footnotes + +1. Mill. Star, Vol. XIX., p. 103. + +2. A fac-simile of the plate is to be found in Mill. Star, Vol. XIX., +p. 632. + +3. Mill. Star, Vol. XXI., p. 44. + +4. Mill. Star, Vol. XXI., p. 44. + +5. Mill. Star, Vol. XXI., p. 40. + +6. "The Story of the Mormons," Linn, p. 87. + +7. Lord Kingsborough's Mexican Antiquities, Vol. VIII., pp. 356, 358. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +EXTERNAL EVIDENCE--MINOR COINCIDENCES--RACE UNITY + +I. + +_Central and Western New York an Ancient Battle Field._ + +According to the Book of Mormon the Hill Cumorah of the Nephites--the +Ramah of the Jaredites--must be regarded as a natural monument +overlooking ancient and extensive battle fields. Around it early in +the sixth century B. C., the Jaredites were destroyed. Here, also, a +thousand years later, at the close of the fourth century A. D., the +Nephites met with practical annihilation in a battle which, whether +judged by the importance of the changes it wrought in the affairs of +one of the world's continents, or the number slain, [1] ranks as one of +the world's great battles. In view of these Book of Mormon facts one +would naturally expect to find some evidences in this section of the +country for such wonderful historical events. Here one has a right to +expect the evidences of military fortifications; for, though a thousand +years had elapsed between the destruction of the Nephites and the +discovery of America by the Europeans, still some military monuments +would doubtless survive that length of time. Fortunately we are not +without kind of evidences that may be reasonably expected. We find such +historical monuments described in the "American Antiquities" of Josiah +Priest, published in Albany, New York. Before quoting, however, I call +attention to the fact that Mr. Priest regarded the fortifications +and other evidences of great battles fought south of lake Ontario as +marking the struggle between the descendants of Tartar races (our +American Indians, in his view) and Scandinavians, whom he assumes had +penetrated into middle New York during the first half of the tenth +century A. D. Of course, I am of the opinion that both the Tartar +theory of the origin of some of our American Indians, and Mr. Priest's +assumption that Scandinavians had pushed their way into the interior +of New York, are both improbable; but his theories do not vitiate the +facts of which he is the compiler and witness; but these facts, I am +sure, better fit the statements of the Book of Mormon than they do his +speculations. The reader will therefore bear in mind that it is the +facts of Mr. Priest that are of value to us, not his theories; and here +are the facts: [2] + + There are the remains of one of those efforts of Scandinavian + defense, situated on a hill of singular form, on the great + sandplain between the Susquehannah and Chemung rivers, near their + junction. The hill is entirely isolated, about three-fourths of + a mile in circumference, and more than one hundred feet high. It + has been supposed to be artificial, and to belong to the ancient + nations to which all works of this sort generally belong. In the + surrounding plain are many deep holes, of twenty or thirty rods + in circumference, and twenty feet deep--favoring a belief that + from these the earth was scooped out, to form the hill with. It + is four acres large on its top, and perfectly level, beautifully + situated to overlook the country to a great distance, up and down + both rivers; there is on its top the remains of a wall, formed of + earth, stone and wood, which runs round the whole, exactly on the + brow. The wood is decayed and turned to mould, yet it is traceable, + and easily distinguished from the natural earth: within is a deep + ditch or entrenchment, running around the whole summit. [3] From + this it is evident that a war was once waged here; and were we to + conjecture between whom, we should say between the Indians and + Scandinavians, and that this fortification, so advantageously + chosen, is of the same class of defensive works with those about + Onondaga, [4] Auburn, [5] and the lakes Ontario, Cayuga, Seneca, + Oneida [6] and Erie. * * * * * * * In Pompey, [Onondaga county] + [7] on lot No. 14, is the site of an ancient burying ground, + upon which, when the country was first settled, was found timber + growing, apparently of the second growth, judging from the old + timber reduced to mould, lying round, which was one hundred years + old, ascertained by counting the concentric grains. In one of these + graves was found a glass bottle about the size of a common junk + bottle, having a stopple in its nozzle, and in the bottle was a + liquid of some sort, but was tasteless. But is it possible that the + Scandinavians could have had glass in their possession at so early + a period as the year 950 and thereabout, so as to have brought it + with them from Europe when their first settlements were made in + this country? We see no good reason why not, as glass had been + known three hundred years in Europe before the northern Europeans + are reputed to have found this country, the art of making glass + having been discovered in A. D. 664. But in other parts of the + world, glass had been known from time immemorial, even from the + flood, as it has been found in the Tower of Babel [8] * * * * * + * In the same grave with the bottle was found an iron hatchet, + edged with steel. The eye, or place for the helve, was round, and + extended or projected out, like the ancient Swiss or German axe. + On lot No. 9, in the same town, [Pompey] was another aboriginal + burying ground, covered with forest trees, as the other. In the + same town, on lot No. 17, were found the remains of a blacksmith's + forge; at this spot have been ploughed up crucibles, such as + mineralogists use in refining metals. These axes are similar, and + correspond in character with those found in the nitrous caves on + the Gasconade river, which empties into the Missouri, as mentioned + by Professor Beck's Gazetteer of that country. In the same town + [Pompey] are the remains of two ancient forts or fortifications, + with redoubts of a very extensive and formidable character. + Within the range of these works have been found pieces of cast + iron, broken from some vessel of considerable thickness. These + articles cannot well be ascribed to the era of the French war, as + time enough since, then, till the region round about Onondaga was + commenced to be cultivated, had not elapsed to give the growth of + timber found on the spot, of the age above noticed; and, added to + this, it is said that the Indians occupying that tract of country + had no tradition of their authors. [9] * * * * * * The hatchets or + iron axes found here were likely of the same origin with the pieces + of cast iron. In ploughing the earth, digging wells, canals, or + excavating for salt waters, about the lakes, new discoveries are + frequently made, which as clearly show the operations of ancient + civilization here, as the works of the present race would do, were + they left to the operations of time for five or six hundred years; + especially were this country totally to be overrun by the whole + consolidated savage tribes of the west, exterminating both the + worker and his works, as appears to have been done in ages past. In + Scipio, [10] on Salmon creek, a Mr. Halsted has, from time to time + during ten years past, ploughed up, on a certain extent of land on + his farm, seven or eight hundred pounds of brass, which appeared to + have once been formed into various implements, both of husbandry + and war; helmets and working utensils mingled together. The finder + of this brass, we are informed as he discovered it carried it to + Auburn, and sold it by the pound, where it was worked up, with as + little curiosity attending as though it had been but an ordinary + article of the country's produce: when, if it had been announced + in some public manner, the finder would have doubtless been highly + rewarded by some scientific individual or society, and preserved it + in the cabinets of the antiquarian, as a relic of by-gone ages of + the highest interest. On this field, where it was found, the forest + timber was growing as abundantly, and had attained to as great age + and size, as elsewhere in the heavy timbered country of the lakes. + [11] * * * * * * In Pompey, [12] Onondago county, are the remains, + or outlines, of a town, including more than 500 acres. It appeared + protected by three circular or eliptical forts, eight miles distant + from each other; placed in such relative positions as to form a + triangle round about the town, at those distances. It is thought, + from appearances, that this stronghold was stormed and taken on the + line of the north side. In Camillus, [13] in the same county, are + the remains of two forts, one covering about three acres, on a very + high hill; it had gateways, one opening to the east, and the other + to the west, toward a spring, some rods from the works. Its shape + is eliptical; it has a wall, in some places ten feet high, with a + deep ditch. Not far from this is another, exactly like it, only + half as large. There are many of these ancient works hereabouts; + one in Scipio, two near Auburn, three near Canandaigua, [14] and + several between the Seneca and Cayuga lakes. [15] A number of such + fortifications and burial places have been discovered in Ridgeway, + [16] on the southern shore of lake Ontraio. There is evidence + enough that long bloody wars were waged among the inhabitants. * + * * * * * From the known ferocity of the ancient Scandinavians, + who with other Europeans of ancient times we suppose to be the + authors of the vast works about the region of Onondaga, dreadful + wars with infinite butcheries, must have crimsoned every hill and + dale of this now happy country. [17] * * * * * * In the fourteenth + township; fourth range of the Holland Company's lands in the state + of New York, near the Ridge road leading from Buffalo to Niagara + Falls [18] is an ancient fort, situated in a large swamp; it covers + about five acres of ground; large trees are standing upon it. The + earth which forms this fort was evidently brought from a distance, + as the soil of the marsh is quite another kind, wet and miry, while + the site of the fort is dry gravel and loam. The site of this + fortification is singular, unless we suppose it to have been a last + resort or hiding place from an enemy. The distance to the margin + of the marsh is about half a mile, where large quantities of human + bones have been found, on opening the earth, of an extraordinary + size: the thigh bones, about two inches longer than a common + sized man's; the jaw or chin bone will cover a large man's face; + the skull bones are of an enormous thickness; the breast and hip + bones are also very large. On being exposed to the air they soon + moulder away, which denotes the great length of time since their + interment. The disorderly manner in which these bones were found + to lie, being crosswise, commixed and mingled with every trait of + confusion, show them to have been deposited by a conquering enemy, + and not by friends, who would have laid them, as the custom of + all nations always has been, in a more deferential mode. There + was no appearance of a bullet having been the instrument of their + destruction, the evidence of which would have been broken limbs. + Smaller works of the same kind abound in the country about lake + Ontraio. [19] But the one of which we have just spoken is the most + remarkable. * * * * * * North of the mountain, or great slope + towards the lake, [Ontraio], there are no remains of ancient works + or tumuli, which strongly argues, that the mountain or ridgeway + once was the southern boundary or shore of lake Ontario; the waters + having receded from three to seven miles from its ancient shore, + nearly the whole length of the lake, occasioned by some strange + convulsion in nature, [20] redeeming much of the lands of the west + from the water that had covered it from the time of the deluge." + [21] + +These described fortifications and burial mounds make it clear that +Central and Western New York at some time have been the scenes of +destructive battles; and the fact constitutes strong presumptive +evidence of the statements of the Book of Mormon that great battles +were fought there. The only thing which leads modern writers to ascribe +a comparatively recent date to the wars whereof central and western +New York was the battlefields is the discovery of glass, iron and +brass within these fortifications. It is assumed that these metals and +glass were unknown to the ancient Americans, hence Mr. Priest sets +forth the theory that the battles were fought between wild tribes of +Indians and Scandinavians. Instead of taking this view of the case, +however, I shall rely in part upon the finding of these implements made +of iron and brass as sustaining the statement of the Book of Mormon +that the Nephites were acquainted with and used these metals; but of +this I shall have more to say later, when considering the objections +urged against the Book of Mormon. Meantime I merely call attention to +the fact which here concerns me, namely, that central and western New +York constitute the great battle fields described in the Book of Mormon +as being the place where two nations met practical annihilation, the +Jaredites and Nephites; and of which the military fortifications and +monuments described by Mr. Priest are the silent witnesses. + +II. + +_Miscellaneous Book of Mormon Historical Incidents and Nephite_ +Customs Found in the Native American Traditions. + +Besides what has already been set forth on the confirmation of Nephite +historical incidents in native American traditions and mythologies, +there remains several other Lamanite and Nephite historical incidents +and customs, mentioned in the Book of Mormon, that are preserved in +the traditions of the native Americans, and which ought to receive +consideration here. + +_Blood Drinking._ + +One of the customs of the Lamanites, in the matter of eating raw flesh +and drinking the blood of animals, is mentioned in the book of Enos, +where a description is given of the barbarity of the Lamanites as +follows: + + And I bear record that the people of Nephi did seek diligently to + restore the Lamanites unto the true faith in God. But our labors + were vain; their hatred was fixed, and they were led by their evil + nature that they became wild, and ferocious, and a bloodthirsty + people; full of idolatry and filthiness: feeding upon beasts of + prey; dwelling in tents, and wandering about in the wilderness with + a short skin girdle about their loins and their heads shaven, and + their skill was in the bow, and in the cimeter, and the axe. And + many of them did eat nothing save it were raw meat. [22] + +Jarom mentions substantially the same thing: + + And they were scattered upon much of the face of the land; and the + Lamanites also. And they were exceeding more numerous than were + they of the Nephites; and they loved murder and would drink the + blood of beasts. [23] + +Such the statement of the Book of Mormon. And now the native American +tradition bearing on this from Bancroft. Speaking of the Toltecs as an +enlightened race of native Americans, who are credited with the first +introduction of agriculture in America, our author says: + + But even during this Toltec period hunting tribes, both of + Nahua and other blood, were pursuing their game in the forests + and mountains, especially in the northern region. Despised by + their more civilized, corn-eating brethren, they were known as + barbarians, dogs, Chichimecs, "suckers of blood," from the custom + attributed to them of drinking blood and eating raw flesh. [24] + +III. + +__Human Sacrifices. Cannibalism.__ + +Another statement in the Book of Mormon with reference to a Lamanite +custom concerning their treatment of prisoners taken in war is as +follows. Speaking of an invasion of the Lamanites into Nephite +territory the Book of Mormon says: + + And they did also march forward against the city of Teancum, + and did drive the inhabitants forth out of her, and did take + many prisoners both women and children, and did offer them up + as sacrifices unto their idol gods. And it came to pass that + in the three hundred and sixty and seventh years, [A. D.], the + Nephites being angry because the Lamanites had scattered their + women and their children, that they did go against the Lamanites + with exceeding great anger, insomuch that they did beat again the + Lamanites, and drive them out of their lands. [25] + +Later, referring to a second invasion of the Nephite lands, Mormon also +says: + + And when they had come the second time, the Nephites were driven + and slaughtered with an exceeding great slaughter; their women and + their children were again sacrificed unto idols. [26] + +Some years later, Mormon, in an epistle to his son Moroni, speaking of +the awful depravity which characterized both Nephites and Lamanites, +says of them: "They thirst after blood and revenge continually." [27] +Of the treatment of certain prisoners taken from one of the cities he +also says: + + And the husbands and fathers of those women and children they have + slain; and they feed the women upon the flesh of their husbands, + and the children upon the flesh of their fathers; and no water, + save a little, do they give unto them. [28] + +He describes how the Nephites defiled the daughters of Lamanite +prisoners, and then continues: + + And after they had done this thing, they did murder them in a most + cruel manner, torturing their bodies, even unto death; and after + they have done this, they devour their flesh like unto wild beasts, + because of the hardness of their hearts; and they do it for a token + of bravery. [29] + +This, doubtless, was the beginning--in the later part of the fourth +century A. D., "not early in the fourteenth century," as held by +Prescott [30]--of those horrible human sacrifices and acts of +cannibalism found among the Aztecs at the time of the Spanish invasion +of Mexico, and which so shocked even the cruel Spaniards. Bancroft, in +telling of the treatment of prisoners taken in war among the Aztecs, +describes an unequal battle for life that was sometimes accorded the +male prisoners, and then adds: + + Those who were too faint-hearted to attempt this hopless combat, + had their hearts torn out at once, whilst the others were + sacrificed only after having been subdued by the braves. The + bleeding and quivering heart was held up to the sun and then thrown + into a bowl, prepared for its reception. An assistant priest sucked + the blood from the gash in the chest through a hollow cane, the + end of which he elevated towards the sun, and then discharged + its contents into a plume-bordered cup held by the captor of the + prisoner just slain. This cup was carried round to all the idols in + the temples and chapels, before whom another blood-filled tube was + held up as if to give them a taste of the contents; this ceremony + performed, the cup was left at the Palace. The corpse was taken + to the chapel where the captive had watched and there flayed, the + flesh being consumed at a banquet as before. The skin was given to + certain priests, or college youths, who went from house to house + dressed in the ghastly garb, with the arms swinging, singing, + dancing, and asking for contributions; those who refused to give + anything received a stroke in the face from the dangling arm. [31] + +Prescott, referring to the chief object of war among the Aztecs, and +the treatment of prisoners taken, says: + + The tutelary deity of the Aztecs was the god of war. A great object + of their military expeditions was, to gather hecatombs of captives + for his altars. * * * * * * At the head of all, [i. e., all the + Aztec deities] stood the terrible Huitzilopotchli. * * * * * * * + This was the patron deity of the nation. His fantastic image was + loaded with costly ornaments. His temples were the most stately + and august of the public edifices; and his altars reeked with the + blood of human hecatombs in every city of the empire. * * * * * The + most loathsome part of the story--the manner in which the body of + the sacrificed captive was disposed of--remains yet to be told. It + was delivered to the warrior who had taken him in battle, and by + him, after being dressed, was served up in an entertainment to his + friends. This was not the coarse repast of famished cannibals, but + a banquet teeming with delicious beverages and delicate viands, + prepared with art, and attended by both sexes, who, as we shall see + hereafter, conducted themselves with all the decorum of civilized + life. Surely, never were refinement and the extreme of barbarism + brought so closely in contact with each other. [32] + +Such are the depths of depravity to which a people may sink when +once the Spirit of God is withdrawn from them. It is not to excite +reflections upon this condition of refined barbarism, however, that +these quotations are made. I am interested here only in pointing out +the fact that these revolting customs found among the native Americans +confirms the statement made in the Book of Mormon, that such horrible +customs had their origin among their Nephite and Lamanite ancestors. + +IV. + +_Burying the Hatchet._ + +Doubtless the native American custom of "burying the hatchet" (that +is, in concluding a war, it is the native custom, as a testimony +that hostilities have ceased, and as a sign of peace, to bury the +war-hatchet or other weapons of war), had its origin in the following +Book of Mormon incident: Early in the first century B. C., a number of +Nephites, sons of King Mosiah II., succeeded in converting a number of +Lamanites to the Christian religion; and such became their abhorrence +of war, which aforetime had been one of their chief delights, that they +entered into a covenant of peace and determined no more to shed the +blood of their fellow men. In token of this covenant they buried their +weapons of war, their leader saying: + + And now, my brethren, if our brethren seek to destroy us, behold, + we will hide away our swords, yea, even we will bury them deep in + the earth, that they may be kept bright. * * * * And now it came + to pass that when the king had made an end of these sayings, and + all the people were assembled together, they took their swords, and + all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man's blood, + and they did bury them up deep in the earth; and this they did, it + being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that they + never would use weapons again for shedding a man's blood. [33] + +This circumstance of burying weapons of war in token of peace is +several times afterwards alluded to in the Book of Mormon. + +V. + +_Hagoth's Marine Migrations Preserved in Native Legend._ + +Another historical event very apt to live in the native traditions is +the first Nephite migration in ships after their landing in the western +hemisphere. This event took place in the latter half of the century +immediately preceding the birth of Christ. One Hagoth, described in the +Book of Mormon as "an exceedingly curious man," + + Went forth and built a large ship on the borders of the land + Bountiful, by the land Desolation, and launched it forth in the + west sea, by the narrow neck which led into the land northward. + And behold, there were many of the Nephites who did enter therein + and did sail forth with much provisions, and also many women and + children; and they took their course northward. [34] + +Subsequently other ships were built and the first returned, and +migration by this method of travel was kept up for some time. Finally +two of the vessels conducting this migration by the way of the west +sea, were lost; and the Nephites supposed them to have been wrecked +in the depths of the sea. [35] So marked a circumstance as this, I +repeat, occurring as it did among a people that can not be considered +as a sea-faring people, would be apt to live in the traditions of their +descendants. Such a tradition, I believe, exists. Bancroft, speaking +of a war of conquest waged by the Miztec and Zapotec kings against +a people inhabiting the southern shores of Tehuantepec, called the +Huaves, says: + + The Huaves are said to have come from the south, from Nicaragua, + or Peru, say some authors. The causes that led to their migrations + are unknown; but the story goes that after coasting northward, and + attempting to disembark at several places, they finally effected + a landing at Tehuantepec. Here they found the Mijes, the original + possessors of the country; but these they drove out, or, as some + say, mingled with them, and soon made themselves masters of the + soil. * * * * * * * But the easy life they led in this beautiful + and fertile region soon destroyed their ancient energy, and they + subsequently fell an unresisting prey to the Zapotec kings. [36] + +A tradition which locates the landing of a similar maritime expedition +still further north is related by Nadaillac. Speaking of the +"Kitchen-Middens" or shell-heaps found here and there on the Pacific +coast, and which our author takes as indicating the location of the +former homes of numerous tribes, says: + + When the Indians were questioned about them [the shell-heaps] + they generally answered that they are very old, and are the work + of people unknown to them or to their fathers. As an exception to + this rule, however, the Californians attributed a large shell heap + formed of mussel shells and the bones of animals, on Point St. + George, near San Francisco, to the Hohgates, the name they give to + seven mythical strangers who arrived in the country from the sea, + and who were the first to build and live in houses. The Hohgates + killed deer, sea-lions, and seals; they collected the mussels + which were very abundant on the neighboring rocks, and the refuse + of their meals became piled up about their homes. One day when + fishing, they saw a gigantic seal; they managed to drive a harpoon + into it, but the wounded animal fled seaward, dragging the boat + rapidly with it toward the fathomless abysses of the Charekwin. + At the moment when the Hohgates were about to be engulfed in the + depths, where those go who are to endure eternal cold, the rope + broke the seal disappeared, and the boat was flung up into the air. + Since then the Hohgates, changed into brilliant stars, return no + more to earth, where the shell heaps remain as witness of their + former residence. [37] + +The word "Hohgates," I believe is but a variation of the word "Hagoth," +the name of the man who started these maritime expeditions, and it +would be altogether in keeping with Nephite customs [38] for those who +sailed away in his vessels to be called "Hagothites" or "Hohgates." +The vessel of this tradition may be one of those lost to the Nephites, +which finally found its way to the Californian coast where its +occupants landed with their ideas of Nephite civilization, and lived +as described in the tradition. One is tempted to smile at the childish +ending of the tradition; but under it may not one see that it is but +the legendary account of the fact that the vessel sailed away from the +California shores and was lost, or, at least, was heard of no more by +the natives of those shores. + +VI. + +_Native American Race Unity._ + +The subject of American antiquities should not be closed without a +brief reference, at least, to the unity of the American race. Barring +such migrations of other races to America as may have taken place since +the fall of the Nephites at Cumorah, at the close of the fourth century +A. D., and such as to a limited extent may have been going on in the +extreme north via Behring Strait at an earlier date, the Book of Mormon +requires substantial unity of race in the later native American people. +That is to say, they ought to be of Israelitish descent, a mixture of +the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Judah--but chiefly, if not all, of +Hebrew descent; and even the Jaredites were but a more ancient branch +of the same stock. [39] + +On this subject, as upon all others pertaining to American antiquities +and peoples, writers are divided; yet it is not difficult to marshal in +support of race unity for native Americans the very highest authority; +and what is of most importance is the facts are beyond question behind +their theory. + +Citing the facts on which certain authors rely to establish the unity +of the American race, Bancroft says: + + It was obvious to the Europeans when they first beheld the natives + of America, that these were unlike the intellectual white-skinned + race of Europe, the barbarous blacks of Africa, or any nation or + people which they had hitherto encountered, yet were strikingly + like each other. Into whatsoever part of the newly discovered + lands they penetrated, they found a people seemingly one in color, + physiognomy, customs, and in mental and social traits. Their + vestiges of antiquity and their languages presented a coincidence + which was generally observed by early travelers. Hence physical + and psychological comparisons are advanced to prove ethnological + resemblances among all the peoples of America. * * * * * * Morton + and his confreres, the originators of the American homogeneity + theory, even go so far as to claim for the American man an origin + as indigenous as that of the fauna and flora. They classify all the + tribes of America, excepting only the Esquimaux who wandered over + from Asia, as the American race, and divided it into the American + family and the Toltecan family. Blumenbach classifies the Americans + as a distinct species. The American Mongolidae of Dr. Latham are + divided into Esquimaux and American Indians. Dr. Morton perceives + the same characteristic lineaments on the face of the Fuegian and + the Mexican, and in tribes inhabiting the Rocky mountains, the + Mississippi valley, and Florida. The same osteological structure, + swarthy color, straight hair, meagre beard, obliquely cornered + eyes, prominent cheek bones, and thick lips, are common to them + all. * * * * * * Humboldt characterizes the nations of America + as one race, by their straight glossy hair, thin beard, swarthy + complexion and cranial formation. [40] + +Dr. Daniel G. Brinton, professor of American archaeology and +linguistics in the University of Pennsylvania--than whom no higher +authority upon the subject can be quoted--says: + + On the whole, the race is singularly uniform in its physical + traits, and individuals taken from any part of the continent could + easily be mistaken for inhabitants of numerous other parts. * * * * + * * The culture of the native Americans strongly attests the ethnic + unity of the race. This applies equally to the ruins and relics of + its vanished nations, as to the institutions of existing tribes. + Nowhere do we find any trace of foreign influence or instruction, + nowhere any arts or social systems to explain which we must evoke + the aid of teachers from the eastern hemisphere. * * * * American + culture, wherever examined, presents a family likeness which the + more careful observers of late years have taken pains to put in a + strong light. This was accomplished for governmental institutions + and domestic architecture by Lewis H. Morgan, for property rights + and the laws of war by A. F. Bandelier, for the social condition + of Mexico and Peru by Dr. Gustav Bruhl, and I may add for the + myths and other expressions of the religious sentiment by myself. + * * * The psychic identity of the Americans is well illustrated + in their languages. There are indeed indefinite discrepancies in + their lexicography and in their surface marphology; but in their + logical sub-structure, in what Willhelm von Humboldt called the + "inner form," they are strikingly like. The points in which this is + especially apparent are in the development of pronominal forms, in + the abundance of generic particles, in the overweening preference + for concepts of action (verbs) rather than concepts of existence + (nouns), and in the consequent subordination of the latter to the + former in the proposition. [41] + +Following the same general line of thought Nadaillac says: + + The Indians, who were successively conquered by foreign invaders, + spoke hundreds of different dialects. Bancroft estimates that there + were six hundred between Alaska and Panama. Ameghino speaks of + eight hundred in South America. Most of these, however, are mere + derivatives from a single mother tongue like the Aymara and the + Guarani. We quote these figures for what they are worth. Philology + has no precise definition of what constitutes a language, and + any one can add to or deduct from the numbers given according + to the point of view from which he considers the matter. As an + illustration of this, it may be mentioned that some philologists + estimate the languages of North America at no less than thirteen + hundred, whilst Squier would reduce those of both continents to + four hundred. These dialects present a complete disparity in + their vocabulary side by side with great similarity of structure. + "In America," says Humboldt, "from the country of the Esquimaux + to the banks of the Orinoco, and thence to the frozen shores + of the Straits of Magellan, languages differing entirely in + their derivation have, if we may use the expression, the same + physiognomy. Striking analogies in grammatical construction have + been recognized, not only in the more perfect languages, such as + those of the Incas, the Aymara, the Guarani, and the Mexicans, but + also in languages which are extremely crude. Dialects, the roots + of which do not resemble each other more than the roots of the + Slavonian and Biscayan, show resemblances in structure similar to + those which are found between the Sanscrit, the Persian, the Greek, + and the Germanic languages." [42] + +The fact that the different dialects, or languages, as some call them, +"are mere derivatives from a single mother tongue," argues strongly, of +course, for ultimate race unity. + +The following summary of evidences on the substantial unity of race in +American peoples is from Marcus Wilson, and will be found valuable: + + Nor indeed is there any proof that the semi-civilized inhabitants + of Mexico, Yucatan, and Central America, were a race different + from the more savage tribes by which they were surrounded; but, + on the contrary, there is much evidence in favor of their common + origin, and in proof that the present tribes, or at least many of + them, are but the dismembered fragments of former nations. The + present natives of Yucatan and Central America, after a remove of + only three centuries from their more civilized ancestors, present + no diversities, in their natural capacities, to distinguish them + from the race of the common Indian. And if the Mexicans and the + Peruvians could have arisen from the savage state, it is not + impossible that the present rude tribes may have remained in it; + or, if the latter were once more civilized than at present, as + they have relapsed into barbarism, so others may have done. The + anatomical structure of the skeletons found within the ancient + mounds of the United States, does not differ more from that of + the present Indians than tribes of the latter, admitted to be of + the same race, differ from each other. In the physical appearance + of all the American aborigines, embracing the semi-civilized + Mexicans, the Peruvians, and the wandering savage tribes, there is + a striking uniformity; nor can any distinction of races here be + made. In their languages there is a general unity of structure, and + a great similarity in grammatical forms, which prove their common + origin; while the great diversity in the words of the different + languages, shows the great antiquity of the period of peopling + America. In the generally uniform character of their religious + opinions and rites, we discover original unity and an identity of + origin; while the diversities here found, likewise indicate the + very early period of the separation and dispersion of the tribes. + Throughout most of the American tribes have been found traces of + the pictorial delineations, and hieroglyphical symbols, by which + the Mexicans and the Peruvians communicated ideas, and preserved + the memory of events. The mythological traditions of the savage + tribes, and the semi-civilized nations, have general features + of resemblance--generally implying a migration from some other + country--containing distinct allusions to a deluge--and attributing + their knowledge of the arts to some fabulous teacher in remote + ages. Throughout nearly the whole continent, the dead were buried + in a sitting posture; the smoking of tobacco was a prevalent + custom, and the calumet, or pipe of peace, was everywhere deemed + sacred. And, in fine, the numerous and striking analogies between + the barbarous and the cultivated tribes, are sufficient to justify + the belief in their primitive relationship and common origin. * * * + * * * With regard to the opinion entertained by some, that colonies + from different European nations, and at different times, have been + established here, we remark, [43] that, if so, no distinctive + traces of them have ever been discovered; and there is a uniformity + in the physical appearance of all the American tribes, which + forbids the supposition of a mingling of different races. [44] + +The well established fact, of race unity, is one more evidence for the +truth of the Book of Mormon to be added to that cumulative mass of +evidence we are here compiling, since unity of race is what the Book of +Mormon requires for the peoples of America. + +VII. + +_Did the Book of Mormon Antedate Works in English on American_ +Antiquities, Accessible to Joseph Smith and His Associates. + +In the presence of so many resemblances between native American +traditions and Book of Mormon historical incidents and Nephite customs, +I can understand how the question naturally arises in some minds +whether the ancient historical incidents, and the customs of American +peoples--purported to be recorded in the Book of Mormon,--whence the +traditions come, or is it from the native American traditions that the +alleged historical incidents and customs of the Book of Mormon come. +That is to say, was it possible for Joseph Smith or those associated +with him in bringing forth the Book of Mormon to have possessed such +a knowledge of American antiquities and traditions that they could +make their book's alleged historical incidents, and the customs of +its peoples, conform to the antiquities and traditions of the native +Americans? The question may appear foolish to those acquainted with the +character and environment of the Prophet; but to those not acquainted +with him or his environment the question may be of some force, and for +that reason it is considered here. + +In the first place, then, it must be remembered how great the task +would be to become sufficiently acquainted with American antiquities +and traditions to make the Book of Mormon story and the alleged customs +of its people agree with the antiquities and traditions of the American +natives, in the striking manner in which we have found them to agree. +In the second place the youthfulness of the Prophet must be taken into +account--he was but twenty-five years of age when the Book of Mormon +was published, and it is the concensus of opinion on the part of all +those competent to speak upon the subject, that he was not a student of +books. But what is most important of all, and what settles the question +on this point (whether Joseph Smith, Solomon Spaulding, or Sidney +Rigdon be regarded as the author) is the fact that the means through +which to obtain the necessary knowledge of American antiquities, the +body of literature in English now at one's command on the subject, was +not then (1823-1830) in existence. The Spanish and native American +writers previous to 1830 may be dismissed from consideration at +once, since their works could not be available to Joseph Smith and +his associates because written in a language unknown to them, and +such fragmentary translations of them as existed were so rare as to +be inaccessible to men of western New York and Ohio. About the only +works to which Joseph Smith could possibly have had access before the +publication of the Book of Mormon would have been: + +First, the publications of the "American Antiquarian Society, +Translations and Collections," published in the "Archaeoligia +Americana," Worcester, Massachusetts, 1820; but this information was +so fragmentary in character that it could not possibly have supplied +the historical incidents of the Book of Mormon, or the customs of its +peoples, even could it be proven that Joseph Smith had been familiar +with that collection. + +Second, the little work of Ethan Smith, published in Vermont--second +edition 1825--in which the author holds the native American Indian +tribes to be descendants of the ten lost tribes of Israel. In fact his +work bears the title, "View of the Hebrews; or the Tribes of Israel in +America." + +Third, "The History of the American Indians," by James Adair, published +in England, 1775. Mr. Adair confines the scope of his work to the North +American Indians. + +Fourth. The translation of some parts of Humboldt's works on New Spain, +published first in America and England between the years 1806 and 1809, +and later Black's enlarged translation of them in New York, 1811. + +These are the only works, so far as I can ascertain, that could at +all be accessible to Joseph Smith or any of his associates; and there +is no evidence that the Prophet or his associates ever saw any one +of them. Moreover, notwithstanding some of these writers advance the +theory that the native Americans are descendants of the ten lost +tribes of Israel, and their books contain fragmentary and disconnected +information concerning American antiquities--no one acquainted with +these works could possibly regard them as being the source whence Book +of Mormon incidents or customs of Book of Mormon peoples were drawn, +a fact which will be more apparent after we have considered--as we +shall later consider--the originality of the Book of Mormon. Since, +therefore, from the very nature of all the circumstances surrounding +the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, neither Joseph Smith nor his +associates could possibly have become acquainted with the location of +the chief centers of ancient American civilizations, nor with native +American traditions and customs, it must be evident that Book of Mormon +historical incidents and the customs of Book of Mormon peoples were not +derived from works on American antiquities and traditions. + +VIII. + +_The Value of the Evidence Supplied by American Antiquities_ + +The evidence I have to offer from American antiquities is now before +the reader. Not all the evidence that could be massed upon the subject, +but all that my space in this work will permit me to present. I do not +claim that the evidence is either as full or perfect as one could wish +it to be, nor that it is free from what some will regard as serious +difficulties; but this much I feel can be insisted upon: + +The evidence establishes the fact of the existence of ancient +civilizations in America; that the said civilizations are successive; +that their monuments, overlay each other, and are confused by a +subsequent period of barbarism; that the monuments of the chief centers +of American civilizations are found where the Book of Mormon requires +them to be located; that the traditions of the native Americans +concerning ancient Bible facts, such as relate to the creation, the +flood, the Tower of Babel, and the dispersion of mankind, etc., sustain +the likelihood of the forefathers of our American aborigines, in +very ancient times, being cognizant of such facts either by personal +contact with them, or by having a knowledge of them through the Hebrew +scriptures, or perhaps through both means. All this is in harmony with +what the Book of Mormon makes known concerning the Jaredite and Nephite +peoples; for the forefathers of the former people were in personal +contact with the building of Babel, the confusion of languages and +the dispersion of mankind; while the Nephites had knowledge of these +and many other ancient historical facts through the Hebrew scriptures +which they brought with them to America. The evidences presented +also disclose the fact that the native American traditions preserve +the leading historical events of the Book of Mormon. That is, the +facts of the Jaredite and Nephite migrations; of the intercontinental +movements of Book of Mormon peoples; of the advent and character of +Messiah, and his ministrations among the people; of the signs of his +birth and of his death; of the fact of the Hebrew origin and unity of +the race. All these facts so strong in the support of the claims of +the Book of Mormon--whatever else of confusion may exist in American +antiquities--I feel sure can not be moved. It should be remembered, in +this connection, that it is not insisted upon in these pages that the +evidences which American antiquities afford are absolute proofs of the +claims of the Book of Mormon. I go no further than to say there is a +tendency of external proof in them; and when this tendency of proof +is united with the positive, direct external testimony which God has +provided in those Witnesses that he himself has ordained to establish +the truth of the Book of Mormon, the Three Witnesses and the Eight, +this tendency of proof becomes very strong, and is worthy of most +serious attention on the part of those who would investigate the claims +of this American volume of scripture. + +Footnotes + +1. There were slain of the Nephites alone 230,000; see Mosiah vi: 10-15. + +2. I quote from the 1838 edition. Mr. Josiah Priest's work, "American +Antiquities," first edition, was published A. D. 1833, three years +after the publication of the Book of Mormon. See Charles Tompson's +"Evidence and Proof of the Book of Mormon," also I. Woodbridge Riley's +"Founder of Mormonism," page 126, where in foot note 32 he says of +Priest's work: "the first edition appeared in 1833, two other editions +followed in that year." + +3. The hill here described near the junction of the Susquehannah and +Chemung river is about ninety-five miles in a direct line southeast of +Cumorah. + +4. Onondaga, about fifty-five miles due east of Cumorah. + +5. Auburn, thirty miles east of Cumorah. + +6. The lakes Cayuga, Seneca and Oneida, as is well known, lie a little +to the south and east of Cumorah. Ontraio is a short distance to the +north and Erie to the west. + +7. Sixty miles east of Cumorah. + +8. From this showing, then, there can be no objection to saying that +the glass vessel was of Jaredite origin. In describing how the brother +of Jared melted from the rock sixteen small stones it is said they were +white and clear "even as transparent glass" of which the late Orson +Pratt in a foot note says: "From this it is evident that the art of +making glass was known at that early period." Ether iii: 1, and note +"a." + +9. The absence of traditions among the natives concerning these +monuments rather inclines one to the belief that they must have been +earlier than any possible Scandinavian occupancy of the country. + +10. Scipio in Cayuga country, about forty-five miles east of Cumorah. + +11. American Antiquities, pp. 259, 260, 261, 262. + +12. Pompey between sixty and seventy miles east of Cumorah. + +13. Less than fifty miles east of Cumorah. + +14. Canandaigua, some ten or twelve miles south of Cumorah. + +15. Both bodies of water but a short distance from Cumorah. + +16. Less than seventy miles northwest from Cumorah. + +17. The desperate ferocity of Nephite and Lamanite as described in +the Book of Mormon is as good and even better explanation of the +"infinite butcheries" here alluded to. See this volume, pp. 74-76, for +description of this ferocity. + +18. Less than one hundred miles due west from Cumorah. + +19. The southern shore of lake Ontario runs due east and west about ten +to twelve miles north of Cumorah for a distance of one hundred miles. + +20. Was this convulsion in nature which changed the shore along +lake Ontraio connected with those mighty cataclysms which shook the +continent during the crucifixion of Messiah? + +21. American Antiquities, Josiah Priest, pp. 324, 327, 328. + +22. Enos i: 20. + +23. Jarom i: 6. + +24. Native Races, Bancroft, Vol. II., p. 344. + +25. Mormon iv: 14, 15. + +26. Mormon iv: 21. + +27. Moroni ix: 5. + +28. Moroni ix: 8. + +29. Moroni ix: 10. + +30. Conquest of Mexico, Vol. I., p. 73. + +31. Native Races, Vol. II., pp. 310, 311. + +32. Conquest of Mexico, Prescott, Vol. I., pp. 54, 63, 75, 76. + +33. Alma xxiv: 16-18. + +34. Alma lxiii: 5, 6. + +35. Alma lxiii: 8. + +36. Native Races, Vol. V., pp. 529, 530. + +37. Pre-Historic America, pp. 64, 65. + +38. Those who followed Nephi were called Nephites; those who followed +Laman, Lamanites; Zoram, Zoramites, the people of Jared, Jaredites; and +so on throughout the Book of Mormon. + +39. See Vol. I., pp. 167, 168 and note. + +40. Bancroft, Native Races, Vol. I., pp. 20-21. + +41. The American Race, Daniel G. Brinton, pp. 41, 43, 44, 45, 55, 56. + +42. Pre-Historic America, pp. 5, 6. + +43. The remark of Mr. Wilson against the probability of colonies from +different European nations at different times having established +colonies in America may raise the question for a moment, "Is not +such a contention against the Book of Mormon theory of the origin of +American peoples, since that book distinctly accounts for the peopling +of America by migration of colonies, from the eastern hemisphere?" The +seeming difficulty is overcome at once when it is remembered that the +several colonies of the Book of Mormon migrations are all of one race. +Lehi's colony was made up of two families and the man Zoram, servant +of Laban. Lehi, it is well know, was an Israelite of the tribe of +Manasseh; Ishmael, the head of the other family, was an Israelite of +the tribe of Ephraim. Zoram was an Israelite, but his tribe is unknown. +Mulek's colony were undoubtedly Jews. So that from the repeopling of +America after the destruction of the Jaredites early in the sixth +century B. C.--so far as Book of Mormon migrations are concerned--the +colonies were all of one race. And we have also seen that even the +Jaredites were an earlier branch of the same race. + +44. History of the United States (Marcus Wilson) Book I chapter iii. + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +EXTERNAL EVIDENCES (CONTINUED.)--EVIDENCE OF THE BIBLE. + +I. + +_The Place of the Patriarch Joseph in Israel.--The Promises to Him_ +and His Seed. + +It is no part of my purpose to deal at length with any argument that +may be based upon Bible evidences to the truth of the Book of Mormon. +That field is already occupied by others. Indeed from the commencement +it has been one of the chief sources drawn upon by the Elders of the +Church in proof of the claims of the Book of Mormon. [1] I shall treat +that evidence, however, in merely an incidental way, and as deriving +its importance chiefly from the circumstances of its blending in with +the enlarged and general scheme of things pertaining to Israel, and the +work of Messiah brought to light by the Book of Mormon. + +In pursuance of this treatment I call attention to the blessing of +Jacob upon the head of his grand sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. It should +be remembered that to Joseph, the son of Jacob, a double portion of +honor was granted in Israel. While no tribe is especially called by +his name, yet two tribes are his through his sons, viz., the tribe of +Ephraim and the tribe of Manasseh. This came about in the following +manner: Reuben, the first born of Jacob, defiled his father's wife, +Bilhah. For which awful crime he lost his place as a prince in the +house of Israel, which place was given indirectly to Joseph. Why I say +indirectly, is because Ephraim, Joseph's younger son, was the one who +received the blessing of the first born, and was placed as the first of +the tribes of Israel. It is for this reason that the Lord was wont to +say, "I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first born." [2] In +proof of the things here set forth I quote the following: + + Now the sons of Reuben, the first born of Israel, (for he was the + firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his + birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel: + and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. For + Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief + ruler, but the birthright was Joseph's. [3] + +That is, not after the natural birthright, but after the birthright +appointment made by the patriarch Jacob to Ephraim. Ephraim, then, will +take the place of Reuben--the place of the firstborn. But there was +also a tribe of Manasseh in Israel, as well as of Ephraim, and thus +was a double portion given unto Joseph in that from him are two tribes +in Israel. And now as to further blessings conferred upon Joseph and +his sons. When Jacob and his son Joseph were restored to each other +in Egypt, the old patriarch rejoiced to see the two sons of Joseph, +Ephraim and Manasseh--and now the Bible narrative: + + And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed + himself with his face to the earth. And Joseph took them both, + Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh + in his left hand towards Israel's right hand, and brought them near + unto him. And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it + upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon + Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the + firstborn. + + And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers + Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long + unto this day, the angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the + lads and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers + Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst + of the earth. And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right + hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; and he held up + his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's + head. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father; for + this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. And his + father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it; he also + shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his + younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become + a multitude of nations. And he blessed them that day, saying, In + thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as + Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. [4] + +Again when the patriarch Jacob gave his final blessing to his sons, of +Joseph he said: + + Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose + branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, + and shot at him, and hated him: but his bow abode in strength, and + the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mightily + God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel): + Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the + Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, + blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, + and of the womb; the blessings of thy father have prevailed above + the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bounds of the + everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the + crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. [5] + +Moses also seems to have been impressed with the idea that Joseph was +to receive a portion above his brethren; for in blessing the tribes of +Israel, when coming to Joseph, he said: + + Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, + for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, and for the + precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious + things put forth by the moon, and for the chief things of the + ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting + hills, and for the precious things of the earth and fullness + thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let + the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the + head of him that was separated from his brethren. His glory is like + the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of + unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends + of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they + are the thousands of Manasseh. [6] + +A comparison of the blessings of the other tribes with the blessings of +Joseph's will convince him who makes it how much greater are to be the +blessings of Joseph than those of his brethren, especially in respect +of the extent and the fruitfulness of the lands that his descendants +shall occupy. Furthermore, in view of all that is said in these +prophetic utterances, there can be no question but what the descendants +of Joseph, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, are to be very prominent +in the affairs of Israel and take an important part in God's great +drama in which he will work out the restoration of his people, Israel, +and the redemption of the world. + +Summarizing these prophetic blessings we may say, that to the tribe of +Ephraim is given the place and honor of the first born in Israel; that +to him pertains the "pushing of the people together"--Ephraim's part +in the gathering of Israel in the last days; that the seed of Manasseh +is to become a great people, while Ephraim is to become a multitude +of nations--greater than Manasseh, as is becoming to the tribe of the +first born--"they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the +thousands of Manasseh;" that the land possessed by Joseph's posterity +is to be peculiarly great and fruitful, blessed with the precious +things of heaven, with the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, +for the chief things of the ancient mountains, for the precious things +of the lasting hills, and for the precious things of the earth and the +fullness thereof; that Joseph is as a fruitful bough whose branches run +over the wall (i. e., his possessions extend in some way beyond the +recognized boundaries of Israel's Palestine inheritance); that Joseph's +arms and hands shall be made strong by the hands of the mighty God of +Jacob; that the God of Israel shall help Joseph and bless him with the +blessings of heaven above, of the deep, of the breasts, and of the womb +(i. e., he shall be blessed in his posterity); that the blessings of +Jacob had prevailed above the blessings of his progenitors, "unto the +utmost bounds of the everlasting hills," (perhaps a greater territorial +inheritance); that these blessings of Jacob which had "prevailed" above +(i. e., exceeded) the blessings of his progenitors, should be realized +by Joseph. + +These are the promises of God to Joseph. But where are the evidences +either from the Bible history or from secular history that the +descendants of Joseph have ever attained to the fulfillment of these +very gracious and very remarkable promises? As a matter of fact are not +Joseph's tribes and descendants practically lost in Israel, so far as +any knowledge is obtainable from the Bible, or other Hebrew literature, +or general history? The tribe of Judah became the dominating power in +the history of Israel in Palestine, and is the only tribe in Israel +that has retained any distinctive existence in modern times. What, +then, have the promises of God to Joseph, uttered by Jacob, in his +inspired patriarchal blessings, and solemnly repeated by the great +prophet Moses, failed of their fulfillment? If not, where is the +evidence of their fulfillment? It is not to be found unless men turn +to and receive it from Joseph's record, the Book of Mormon. But the +Book of Mormon once accepted--a book that is a history, in the main, +of the descendants of Joseph, [7] behold what a fulfilment of the +prophetic blessings upon Joseph's seed is there revealed! Here in +America Joseph's descendants indeed became a multitude of nations; +here, indeed, they possessed a land blessed with the precious things +of heaven, for through Nephite prophets was made known the mind and +will of God, the coming of Messiah, and the redemption of man that +should be wrought out by Him; nay, the Son of God, in person, came +in his glorious resurrected state and taught them at first hand and +face to face the great things concerning man's salvation; inspired +apostles took up the same great theme and for centuries held a great +people closely to the path of both truth and righteousness, until the +harvest of souls in America exceeded such harvests among any other +people whatsoever. In America Joseph's descendants indeed possessed a +land noted for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for +the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things +of the lasting hills--the gold, the silver, the iron, the coal fields, +the oil fields, and all things else of which the mountains and hills of +America yield their rich store; a land noted for the precious things of +the earth and the fullness thereof--a land embracing all the climates +from earth's torrid equatorial regions, thence shading off both toward +the north and the south through temperate climates into the frigid +zones; a land of wonderous wealth in fertile plains and valleys, and +extensive forest tracts; a land that produces all vegetables and fruits +and fiberous growths essential to the feeding and clothing of man; a +land whose grandeur and very beauty holds the senses entranced with +its magnificence; a land sufficient for empires surrounded by fruitful +seas; a land consecrated to free institutions and to righteousness--in +a word, _the land of Joseph_. + +By the descendants of Joseph migrating to this land, Joseph is truly +a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well whose branches +run over the wall; and while his descendants in this land had their +varied fortunes, dark days in which sin, both individual and national, +made dark their annals, still they had also remarkable periods of +righteousness, during which periods there were added many names to the +world's great list of warriors, statesmen and prophets, that deserve +to be remembered with the world's greatest and best characters. Of +warriors, such names as Alma, [8] Moroni, the hero of the Nephite +republic [9] (100 B. C. 56 B. C.), Mormon, Helaman, Teancum; and +though engaged in a bad cause, Amlici and Amalickiah, and many others +among the Lamanites. Of statesmen such names as the first Nephi, King +Benjamin, Mosiah II, Alma the younger, Nephihah, and Pahoran. Of the +prophets, Lehi, the first Nephi, Jacob, Mosiah I, Abinadi, Ammon, the +son of Mosiah, Alma the elder, also Alma the younger, Samuel, the +Lamanite, Nephi, the son of Helaman (last half of the century preceding +the Christian era), Nephi, the chief of Messiah's apostles, Mormon, the +author of the abridged record known as the Book of Mormon, Moroni, the +son of Mormon, and others. + +Joseph's descendants in America established and maintained for a +thousand years what may be properly called a Christian civilization; +for, instructed by their prophets during the six hundred years that +they occupied the land of America, preceding the coming of Messiah, +they believed implicitly in the Christ that was to come, and looked +forward to the redemption of the human race through his atonement, +holding the reasonable view that there was as much virtue in looking +forward to the atonement of Christ and accepting in their faith his +redeeming power, as looking back upon it would have after it had become +an accomplished fact [10] For four centuries following the advent of +Christ the Nephites had, of course, the evidence of his appearing among +them and his personal instructions in the gospel, which affected the +character of their civilization. + +During the time range mentioned, kingdoms, republics and Christian +ecclesiastical governments obtained. Such science and arts as might +naturally develop from a colony of enlightened Hebrews migrating from +Palestine to America six hundred years B. C., flourished; and the +ruined monuments of civilization seen in America were reared in part +by their hands; the extent of these monuments of civilization, and the +degree of civilization they represent are questions that have already +been considered. [11] + +The Book of Mormon is also big with the promise of future events +concerning the redemption and glorification of the descendants of +Joseph in this promised land of America--the land of Joseph, for so +it is declared to be by the Lord Jesus himself. Addressing the twelve +disciples whom he had called to the ministry in the western world he +said: + + Ye are my disciples; and ye are a light unto this people, who are + a remnant of the house of Joseph. And behold, this is the land of + your inheritance; and the Father hath given it unto you. [12] + +The Book of Mormon makes known the fact that upon this land of Joseph +is to be founded a great city called Zion, or a New Jerusalem. The +risen Messiah, while still teaching the gospel in person to the +Nephites, and speaking upon this subject, said: + + And it shall come to pass that I will establish my people, O house + of Israel. And behold, this people will I establish in this land, + [referring to the continents of America], unto the fulfilling of + the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be + a New Jerusalem. And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of + this people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you. [13] + +Continuing his discourse he said: + + For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at that day + whosoever will not repent and come unto my beloved Son, them will I + cut off from among my people, O house of Israel; and I will execute + vengeance and fury upon them, even as upon the heathen, such as + they have not heard. But if they repent, and hearken unto my words, + they shall come in unto the covenant, and be numbered among this + the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their + inheritance, and they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, + and also, as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they + may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem; and then + shall they assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are + scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem. + And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I will + also be in their midst. [14] + +Moroni, however, is still more explicit. He represents that the +Jaredite prophet Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake concerning +a new Jerusalem upon the land of America. + + And he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and the Jerusalem + from whence Lehi should come; after it should be destroyed, it + should be built up again a holy city unto the Lord, wherefore it + could not be a New Jerusalem, for it had been in a time of old, but + it should be built up again, and become a holy city of the Lord; + and it should be built unto the house of Israel; and that a New + Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of + the seed of Joseph, for which things there has been a type; for + as Joseph brought his father down into the land of Egypt, even so + he died there; wherefore the Lord brought a remnant of the seed + of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that he might be merciful + unto the seed of Joseph, that they should perish not, even as he + was merciful unto the father of Joseph, that he should perish not; + wherefore the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built upon + this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they + shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem + of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come, + when the earth shall pass away. [15] + +The continents of America, then, according to this passage, are the +inheritance of Joseph, and here a holy city is to be built unto +the Lord that shall be the capital of the western world, a New +Jerusalem--Zion. This city is to be founded and glorified by the +multitudinous descendants of Joseph, who will be gathered into the +land, and also those who will unite with them in righteousness--in so +great a work--especially the Gentile races; and together they shall +be established in peaceful possession of the land to the end of the +world. The exaltation and glory of this predicted future empire for +the descendants of Joseph and the Gentile races--the grandeur of its +civilization and the security of its righteousness; the brilliancy +of its achievements; the excellence of its physical comforts and the +beauty and simplicity of both its individual and community life, may +not yet be apprehended, though they may be partly seen in the light +of modern civilized life; sufficiently seen by aid of that light to +establish confidence that realization will outrun the dreams of the +ancient prophets, all glorious as they seem. + +The Book of Mormon throughout is true to this Josephic idea; it is +impregnated with it. Joseph is the central figure throughout. His +spirit runs through the whole scheme of the book. We learn from +the Book of Mormon of a great Seer that is to arise from among the +descendants of this Patriarch Joseph, to bring forth the word of the +Lord to them, a thing quite in keeping with the important part to be +taken by Joseph and his seed in the affairs of the western world in +the last days. The matter is mentioned by Lehi in connection with a +blessing he was giving his own son Joseph, born to him while in the +wilderness, enroute from Palestine to America: + + And now, Joseph, my last born, whom I have brought out of the + wilderness of mine afflictions, may the Lord bless thee forever, + for thy seed shall not utterly be destroyed. For behold, thou art + the fruit of my loins; and I am a descendant of Joseph, who was + carried captive into Egypt. And great were the covenants of the + Lord, which he made unto Joseph; wherefore, Joseph truly saw our + day. And he obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit + of his loins, the Lord God would raise up a righteous branch unto + the house of Israel; not the Messiah, but a branch which was to + be broken off; nevertheless to be remembered in the covenants of + the Lord, that the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in + the latter days, in the spirit of power, unto the bringing of them + out of darkness unto light; yea, out of hidden darkness and out of + captivity unto freedom. For Joseph truly testified, saying: a Seer + shall the Lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice Seer unto the + fruit of my loins. Yea, Joseph truly said, Thus saith the Lord unto + me: A choice Seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; + and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. And + unto him will I give commandment, that he shall do a work for the + fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth + unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the + covenants which I have made with thy fathers. And I will give unto + him a commandment, that he shall do none other work, save the work + which I shall command him. And I will make him great in mine eyes; + for he shall do my work. And he shall be great like unto Moses, + whom I have said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O + house of Israel. And Moses will I raise up out of the fruit of thy + loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto + the seed of thy loins; and not to the bringing forth my word only, + saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall + have already gone forth among them. Wherefore, the fruit of thy + loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; + and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also + that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, + shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines, and + laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit + of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers + in the latter days; and also to the knowledge of my covenants, + saith the Lord. And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in + that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the + restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord. + + And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that Seer will the Lord + bless; and they, that seek to destroy him, shall be confounded; for + this promise, which I have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of my + loins, shall be fulfilled. Behold, I am sure of the fulfilling of + this promise. And his name shall be called after me; and it shall + be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for + the things which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the + power of the Lord shall bring forth my people unto salvation. [16] + +The reader will observe that this ancient prophecy is fulfilled in +the person of the Prophet Joseph Smith, who, both in his name, his +character and his work, meets completely the terms of the prophecy. [17] + +One other matter in connection with the Patriarch Joseph I would +mention, insignificant perhaps in comparison of the greater things we +have been considering, yet really important for that it is made up of +those details so apt to be overlooked by an imposter who would attempt +to palm off upon the world, as a revelation, such a work as the Book of +Mormon. + +It will be remembered that after Lehi's colony had journeyed some days +in the wilderness, the prophet-leader sent his sons back to Jerusalem +to obtain a copy of the Hebrew scriptures, and the genealogies of his +fathers. This copy of the scriptures and genealogies the sons of Lehi +obtained from one Laban, a man evidently of some considerable influence +in Jerusalem. This record was written in Egyptian characters. And now +to the point where these facts touch the Josephic idea of the Book of +Mormon. + +Joseph, it must be remembered, attained the position of a prince in +Egypt, when that nation was doubtless the first political power of +the world, and in the kingdom was made second only to the Pharaoh +himself, so that he was a man of very high dignity, a fact not likely +to be forgotten by his posterity. He unquestionably was deeply learned +in all things Egyptian, including the written language, most likely +that form of it called the hieratic,--which, as well as the old +hieroglyphics, was used in the Egyptian sacerdotal style of writing. +I think I am justified in the conclusion that Joseph was learned in +this writing since he took to wife Asenath, daughter of the high +priest of Heliopolis, or On, and thus became closely associated with, +if not actually identified with, the priestly caste of Egypt. The +deeply religious character of the Patriarch and of his race would +also naturally interest him in the religious lore of so profoundly a +religious country as Egypt. Is it not possible that these facts would +be an incentive to his posterity to keep alive among them this Egyptian +learning of their great ancestor? + +To Joseph, be it remembered, was given the birthright in Israel, +through Ephraim. Laban, of whom the sons of Lehi obtained the Egyptian +records, was a descendant of Joseph, [18] doubtless in line of the +elder sons since he kept the genealogies and also this Egyptian copy of +the holy writings. + +Lehi was an Egyptian scholar [19] and was enabled to read this version +of the Hebrew scriptures and his genealogy recorded in Egyptian +characters. + +This Egyptian record became the foundation of Nephite sacred +literature, that is, for the most part, their sacred records were +engraven in Egyptian characters, modified somewhat by them and called +the "reformed Egyptian." [20] + +Let us consider these facts in condensed and succinct form:-- + +(1) Joseph, son of Jacob, he becomes a prince in Egypt, marries a +daughter of the prince On, doubtless becomes learned in Egyptian lore. + +(2) Undoubtedly these facts would prove an incentive to his posterity +to perpetuate among them the Egyptian learning of their great ancestor. + +(3) To Joseph is given the birthright in Israel through his younger +son, Ephraim. + +(4) Laban, of whom the sons of Lehi obtained the Egyptian copy of the +Hebrew scriptures and genealogies was a descendant of Joseph, doubtless +in the line of the elder sons since he kept the genealogies and the +Egyptian copy of the holy writings. + +(5) Lehi is an Egyptian scholar and is able to read this version of the +Hebrew scriptures. + +(6) This Egyptian copy of the Hebrew scriptures becomes the foundation +of the Nephite literature. + +Thus we have a series of facts that coalesce remarkably with the claims +made for the Nephite record, that it was written in "reformed," that +is, changed, Egyptian character, yet these circumstances are only +mentioned in an obscure, incidental way. They would never be worked out +by an imposter; and were never referred to by Joseph Smith or any of +his immediate associates as being valuable evidences in support of the +claims of the book. I cannot help thinking, however, that they are so, +and for that reason call attention to them here. + +II. + +_The prophecies of Isaiah on the Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon._ + +In the Book of Isaiah's prophecy is found the following remarkable +prediction: + + Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken + but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For the + Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath + closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he + covered. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of + a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, + saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it + is sealed: and the book is delivered to him that is not leaned, + saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I am not learned. + Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with + their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed + their hearts far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the + precept of men: therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous + work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for + the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding + of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe unto them that seek deep + to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the + dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? Surely your + turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's + clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? + or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had not + understanding? Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall + be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be a + forest? And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, + and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of + darkness. The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and + the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. For the + terrible one is brought to naught, and the scorner is consumed, + and all that watch for iniquity are cut off: that make a man an + offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the + gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of naught. Therefore + thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of + Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now + wax pale. But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, + in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the + Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. They also that + erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured + shall learn doctrine. [21] + +In the Book of Mormon we have a Nephite version of this prophecy taken +from the writings of Isaiah which, it will be remembered, were included +in those scriptures which Lehi's colony brought from Jerusalem. The +first Nephi applies this prophecy to the record of his own people, the +Book of Mormon, and the circumstance attendant upon its coming forth in +the last days; all of which will be found in the 27th chapter of second +Nephi. In the Nephite version of the prophecy it is made clear that the +reasons for keeping the original book from the world is the fact that +a portion of it was sealed. The opening verses of the 27th chapter of +II Nephi shift the scene of this prophecy to the land inhabited by the +Nephites, that is, to America, and describes the spiritual darkness +both in that land and in all the nations of the earth, after which the +record says: + + And it shall come to pass, that the Lord shall bring forth unto you + the words of a book, and they shall be the words of them which have + slumbered. And behold the book shall be sealed: and in the book + shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to + the end thereof. Wherefore, because of the things which are sealed + up, the things which are sealed shall not be delivered in the day + of the wickedness and abominations of the people. Wherefore the + book shall be kept from them. But the book shall be delivered unto + a man, and he shall deliver the words of the book, which are the + words of those who have slumbered in the dust; and he shall deliver + these words unto another; but the words which are sealed he shall + not deliver, neither shall he deliver the book. For the book shall + be sealed by the power of God, and the revelation which was sealed + shall be kept in the book until the own due time of the Lord, that + they may come forth; for behold, they reveal all things from the + foundation of the world unto the end thereof. And the day cometh + that the words of the book which are sealed shall be read upon the + house tops; and they shall be read by the power of Christ: and all + things shall be revealed unto the children of men, and which ever + will be, even unto the end of the earth. [22] + +Then follows the declaration that there shall be Three Special +Witnesses to behold the book by the power of God, and a Few other +Witnesses that shall view it according to the will of God. Following +the description of the coming forth of this book is a description +also of the spiritual awakening among men in much the same order and +phraseology as the latter part of Isaiah's prophecy. + +Of course this prophecy was fulfilled in the several events we have +already noted which resulted in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon +and the accompanying testimony of the Witnesses thereof. [23] That is +to say, it was fulfilled in the Nephite record being brought forth, +after so many ages, and becoming, to those who receive it, as the words +of those who have slumbered--the speech out of the ground--the familiar +voice from the dust; by Joseph Smith and Martin Harris delivering the +transcript of characters from the Nephite record to Dr. Samuel Mitchell +and Professor Anthon, "the words of the book that was sealed" were +delivered by men to those that were learned, saying, read this, I pray +you; by the answer of these learned men to the effect--mockingly, on +incidentally learning that the book was sealed--that they could not +read a sealed book; by the book being delivered to the one that was +not learned, Joseph Smith, who marveled that one not learned should be +required to translate the book; by the Lord disdaining those who draw +near to him with their mouths, and with their lips honored him, while +their hearts were far removed from him, and their fear toward him was +taught by the precepts of men; by the Lord proceeding to do a marvelous +work and a wonder, by which the wisdom of the world's wise men became +as naught; by exalting the wisdom of God above the wisdom of men; by +making the deaf to hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the +blind to see out of obscurity; by increasing the joy of the meek in +the Lord, and making the poor among men to rejoice in the Holy One of +Israel; by expressing his scorn for those who make a man an offender +for a word--(does he have in mind those who would reject the Book of +Mormon because of the imperfections of its language?); by declaring the +speedy redemption of the House of Israel--by the return of the favor of +the Lord to Jacob, whose face shall no more wax pale; by making those +who erred in spirit come to understanding, and they that murmured to +learning doctrine--all of which events have followed or are in process +of developing as a sequence to the coming forth of this American +volume of scripture, the record of Joseph, by which the world is being +enlightened upon the enlarged glory of Israel, both passed and that +which is yet to be. + +The great difficulty concerning this prophecy being made to apply to +the Nephite record and its coming forth will be in the transference of +its scenes from Palestine to America. The opening verse of the chapter +begins with a reference to Jerusalem: + + Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year + to year; let them kill sacrifices. Yet I will distress Ariel, and + there shall be heaviness and sorrow. [24] + +"Ariel, the city where David dwelt," too plainly designates Jerusalem +to admit of any doubt; and it would seem that all that immediately +follows would be related to David's city, Jerusalem, that is, the +siege--the destruction--the humiliation--the speaking low out of the +dust--the terrible ones that shall become as chaff--and the destruction +that shall come upon those nations that fight against "Ariel"--all +this, I say, at first glance seems to relate to Jerusalem, or "Ariel," +and makes the transference of the remaining prophetic parts of the +chapter to America and the coming forth of the Nephite record somewhat +difficult. Still, in the second verse of the chapter there is a sudden +transition from "Ariel" to another place that shall be unto the Lord +"_as_" Ariel; and on this point the late Orson Pratt was wont to say: + + The prophet [Isaiah] predicts, first, the distress that should come + upon Ariel, and, secondly, predicts another event that should be + unto the Lord "as Ariel." This last event is expressed in these + words, "And it shall be unto me AS Ariel." How was it with Ariel? + Her people was to be distressed and afflicted with "heaviness and + sorrow." How was it to be with the people or nations who should be + "as Ariel," is clearly portrayed in the 3rd and 4th verses: "And + I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against + thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee; and thou + shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy + speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be as of + one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech + shall whisper out of the dust." Now, we ask, What nation upon the + earth has been visited with a distress resembling that of Ariel + or Jerusalem? We answer that the Book of Mormon informs us that + the nation of Nephites who were a remnant of Joseph inhabited + ancient America, were brought down to the ground by their enemies. + Hundreds of thousands were slaughtered in their terrible wars. + Their distress truly may be said to be "as Ariel." Ariel was sorely + distressed from time to time, and forts and other fortifications + raised against her--similar judgments happened to the remnant of + Joseph. Isaiah does not say that Ariel shall speak out of the + ground, but he clearly shows that the nation which should be + distressed "as Ariel," after being brought down, should speak out + of the ground. The words of the prophets of Jerusalem or Ariel, + never spoke from the ground, their speech was never "low out of + the dust." But the words of the prophets among the remnant of + Joseph have spoken from the ground, and their written "speech" has + whispered out of the dust. [25] + +To this also may be added the further reflection that the coming forth +of the Nephite record, the circumstances attendant upon that event, the +results of enlarged knowledge concerning doctrine and the enlightenment +of the world concerning Israel in America, and the future glory that +will attend upon the restoration of that ancient people--all this +blends with the remaining prophecies of Issiah's 29th chapter, and of +which, nowhere else, have we any account of their fulfillment. We must, +therefore, say either that these remarkable prophecies of Isaiah have +not yet been fulfilled, or that they are fulfilled in connection with +the experiences of the Nephites in America, and the coming forth of +their abridged scriptures, the Book of Mormon. + +III. + +_The Prophecy of Messiah in Relation to the_ "_Other Sheep_"_ than_ +Those in Palestine that Must Hear His Voice. + +In St. John's gospel we have the following statement and prophecy from +the lips of Messiah himself: + + I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As + the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down my + life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this + fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and + there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. [26] + +The usual explanation of the prophetic part of this passage is that +Jesus here makes reference to the Gentiles as being the other sheep. +One great commentary says: + + He means the perishing gentiles already his "sheep" in the love of + his heart and the purpose of his grace to "bring them" in due time. + +Then again the phrase "they shall hear my voice" is explained to mean: + + This is not the language of mere foresight that they [the Gentiles] + would believe, but the expression of a purpose to draw them to + himself by an inward and efficacious call, which would infallibly + issue in their spontaneous accession to him. [27] + +Against this exposition, however, there stands out the fact that +when Jesus was importuned by his apostles to heed the prayers of the +Cananitish woman, in the coasts of Tyre, he said to them: "I am not +sent but unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel." [28] Therefore, +when he says in John, "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; +them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice and there shall +be one fold and one shepherd," he certainly had reference to some +branch of the House of Israel and not to the Gentiles. When the Messiah +appeared among the Nephites who, it will be remembered, were a branch +of the House of Israel, and a very great branch, too, as we have seen +since they are descendants of Joseph,--Messiah declared that it was in +that visit to the Nephites that the terms of his New Testament prophecy +were fulfilled. The occasion of his making known this truth to the +Nephites was when he chose the Twelve Disciples in the western world, +and gave them their commission. The passage follows: + + And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words, he + said unto those twelve whom he had chosen, ye are my disciples; + and ye are a light unto this people, who are a remnant of the + house of Joseph. And behold, this is the land of your inheritance; + and the Father hath given it unto you. And not at any time hath + the Father given me commandment that I should tell it unto your + brethren at Jerusalem; neither at any time hath the Father given + me commandment, that I should tell unto them concerning the other + tribes of the house of Israel, whom the Father hath led away out + of the land. This much did the Father command me, that I should + tell unto them, that other sheep I have, which are not of this + fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; + and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. And now because + of stiffneckedness and unbelief, they understood not my word: + therefore I was commanded to say no more of the Father concerning + this thing unto them. But, verily, I say unto you, that the Father + hath commanded me, and I tell it unto you, that ye were separated + from among them because of their iniquity; therefore it is because + of their iniquity, that they know not of you. And verily, I say + unto you again, that the other tribes hath the Father separated + from them; and it is because of their [the Jews'] iniquity, that + they knew not of them. And verily, I say unto you, that ye are they + of whom I said, other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them + also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be + one fold, and one shepherd. [29] + +In view of the fact already pointed out that Jesus could not have had +reference to the Gentiles in this prophecy concerning "other sheep," +I may say of this prophecy as I did of those in the 29th chapter of +Isaiah, that either we must say that we have no knowledge of the +fulfillment of this very remarkable New Testament prediction, or else +we must say that it had its fulfillment as the Book of Mormon teaches, +in the advent and ministry of Jesus to the branch of the House of +Israel in America. + +I have pursued the matter of evidence and argument from the Jewish +scriptures to the truth of the Book of Mormon as far as it was my +original purpose to do so, referring those who care to enter more +minutely into this branch of the subject to the treatment of other +Elders who have devoted their works to it. [30] + +Footnotes + +1. One of the earliest writers in the Church in support of the claims +of the Book of Mormon was Elder Charles Thompson. He published a work +at Batavia, N. Y., in 1841 consisting of 250 pages. The title of the +book was "Evidences in Proof of the Book of Mormon Being a Divinely +Inspired Record, Written by the Forefathers of the Natives Whom we Call +Indians." It dwells at length on the scripture proofs of the divine +authenticity of the book, the nature of which may be judged from the +following statement of what the author expects to prove: + +"In treating on this subject, I shall observe the following order, viz: +I shall first prove by the Prophets, that God will literally gather +Israel, the literal seed of Jacob, from all nations, unto their own +land, which God gave unto their fathers, by promise. + +"Second: When he shall set his hand to bring to pass this gathering, +he will first lift up an ensign on the mountains for the nations--set +up his standard to the people, and set a sign among them. And then +immediately he will commission officers and send them to the nations, +bearing this ensign, to declare his glory among the Gentiles, and to +fish out and hunt up Israel, and bring them to their own land for an +offering unto the Lord. + +"Third: The ensign, standard, and sign, consists of a book--a record of +the tribe of Joseph, taken by the Lord and put with the Bible (that is, +published to the nations as the Bible now is). + +"Fourth: This record of Joseph is to come out of the earth in America +because Ephraim's seed dwell there. + +"Fifth: America is a promised land to Joseph, and God brought a remnant +of his seed here to possess it. + +"Sixth: God will make use of men as instruments in bringing this book +forth. + +"Seventh: This generation is the time when this gathering is to take +place; consequently the time when this book is to come forth. + +"Eighth: The Book of Mormon is this book, and the Elders of the Church +of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the officers commissioned to +bear this sign to the nations, and to declare God's glory among the +gentiles and gather Israel." (Evidences in Proof of the Book of Mormon, +pp. 7, 8). + +The writings of Elders Parley P. Pratt (who preceded Elder Thompson in +this field by three or four years), and Orson Pratt upon this subject, +the first in the Voice of Warning, 1837; the second in his work on +Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, England, 1850-1, are too +well known to require any summary as their works are still current. + +2. Jeremiah xxxi: 9. + +3. I. Chronicles v: 1, 2. + +4. Genesis xlviii: 12-20. + +5. Genesis xlix: 22-26. + +6. Deut. xxxiii: 13-18. + +7. I have already, at pages 167-8, and note, called attention to the +fact that the colony of Lehi was made up of families from the tribes of +Ephraim and Manasseh respectively. Orson Pratt also says, "The American +Indians are partly of the children of Manasseh though many of them are +of Ephraim through the two sons of Ishmael who came out of Jerusalem +600 B. C., and some of Judah through the loins of David and the kings +that reigned over Jerusalem." Pratt's Works, pp. 92; see also chapter +XXXIX and footnotes. + +8. The reason that Alma, born late in the second century B. C., is +the first one mentioned of the Nephite warriors is not because he +was the first distinguished member of that class among the Nephites, +but because the secular history of the Nephites for the first four +centuries of their annals was lost through the criminal carelessness of +Martin Harris when he lost the 116 pages of manuscript which was the +translation of the first part of Mormon's abridgment of that Nephite +secular history. We have its place occupied by the translation of the +Smaller Plates of Nephi which record gives prominence to spiritual +things and to spiritual characters. (I. Nephi xix: 3, 4). But as +"there were brave men before Aggamemnon," so also doubtless there were +warriors among the Nephites before Alma, but in consequence of not +having a translation of the part of the record which dealt with the +affairs of government and of wars, they remain for the present, unknown +to us. + +9. Not Moroni, the son of Mormon. + +10. Alma xxxix: 17-19, I. Nephi xxv: 23-26, Mosiah iii: 13. + +11. Chapters xxvi and xxvii. + +12. III. Nephi xv: 12, 13. + +13. III. Nephi xx: 21, 22. + +14. III. Nephi xxi: 20-25. + +15. Ether xiii: 5-8. + +16. II. Nephi iii: 3-15. + +I am not unmindful of the fact that the objector, with some show of +reason, could say that it would be an easy matter for an imposter to +set down such a prophecy as this--one that would coalesce with the +facts of his own life and claim it as a fulfillment of prophecy, and +hence an evidence of his calling. The shallowness of such a position +is, of course, apparent, but it is not in this way that I refer to the +circumstance, but to call attention to the fact that it is in harmony +with this Josephic idea of the Book of Mormon, and I am not at all +relying upon it in my argument as being a fulfillment of prophecy. + +17. Compare I. Nephi i: 1-2. Mosiah i: 1-4. Mormon ix: 32-33. + +18. "And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his +fathers; and Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, wherefore he and +his fathers had kept the records." I. Nephi v: 16. + +19. I. Nephi i: 2. Mosiah i: 4. + +20. Mormon ix: 32, 33. + +21. Isaiah xxix: 9-24. + +22. II. Nephi xxvii: 6-11. + +23. See Vol. II, chapters iv and v. + +24. Isaiah xxix: 1-2. + +25. Orson Pratt's Works, p. 11. + +26. St. John x: 14-16. + +27. Commentary, Critical and Explanatory of the Old and New Testaments, +by Rev. Jamieson, Fausett and Brown, on St. John, ch. x. See also +Eidersheim's Life of Jesus, Vol. II., p. 192, where substantially the +same view is held. + +28. Matt. xv: 24. + +29. III. Nephi xv: 11-21. + +30. For reference to such works see footnote, pp. 93-94. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +EXTERNAL EVIDENCES.--THE EVIDENCE OF THE CHURCH. + +The evidence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the +Book of Mormon grows out of the relation of the book to the Church. +That is to say, the Church is a sequence of the coming forth of the +book. Not that a description of the Church organization as we known it +is found in the book, or that its officers or their functions are named +in it, much less that the extent and limitations of their authority +are pointed out in it. All that pertains to the Church organization, +and largely to the development of its doctrines, all that pertains +to the Church, in fact, comes of a series of direct revelations to +Joseph Smith subsequent to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. +These revelations were given for the specific purpose of bringing +into existence the Church as it now exists, the depository of the +divine authority, in the new dispensation, and the instrumentality +for proclaiming the truth to the world, and perfecting the lives of +those who receive it. The Church, in other words, is the after-work +of the inspired Prophet who translated the Nephite record into the +English language. Bringing into existence the Church and developing +its doctrines was the continuation of the work that began with the +first vision of Joseph Smith, the visitation of the angel Moroni, +and the translation and publication of the Nephite record. Does this +continuation of the work as seen in the organization of the Church and +the development of its doctrines justify the expectations awakened by +the Book of Mormon, and the manner of its coming forth? Has anything +worth while come because of the revelation of the Book of Mormon? +The principle, "By their fruits ye shall know them" may have a wider +application than making it a mere test of ethical systems or of +religious teachers. It may be applied as a test to anything claiming to +be a truth. So that what has resulted from the coming forth of the Book +of Mormon, is a question of importance. The answer to that question +may do much either for the book's vindication or its condemnation; may +establish its truth or prove it to be utterly unworthy of its claim to +divine origin. I hold it to be a self-evident truth that a revelation +from God must not only contain matter within itself that concerns +men to know and that is worthy of God to reveal, but it must lead to +results worthy of revelation and worthy of God. It is here therefore +that the Church becomes a witness to the truth of the Book of Mormon; +for while neither the Church organization nor all its doctrines come +immediately from a description of either of these in the book's pages, +yet the Church is an outgrowth of that movement of which the Book of +Mormon may be said to be an important factor. The Book of Mormon cannot +be true and the Church of Christ fail to come into existence as an +accompanying fact. Indeed, several predictions in the Book of Mormon +clearly indicate the establishment of the Church as a sequence to the +coming forth of that record, as witness the following: + + And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall commence his work + among all nations, kindred, tongues and people, to bring about the + restoration of his people upon the earth. [1] + +The Savior, also, in predicting the accomplishment of his work in the +last days, when the Nephite record should come forth, in speaking of +the Gentiles among whom it should be brought forth, says: + + If they will repent, and hearken unto my words, I will establish my + church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant, and be + numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given + this land for their inheritance. [2] + +To the first Nephi, also, it was given to behold the establishment of +the church of Christ in the last days, for he said: + + I beheld the church of the Lamp of God, and its numbers were few. * + * * * nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were + the Saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and + their dominions were small, because of the wickedness of the great + whore whom I saw. [3] + +Moreover, side by side with the unfolding of the successive facts +which brought the Book of Mormon into existence, there was a series +of revelations given predicting and making for the establishment of +a Church organization. In evidence of which statement I refer to the +first visions of Joseph Smith as described by the Prophet himself in +the first volume of the Church History, [4] and especially as related +by him in the letter written to Mr. John Wentworth in 1842; also the +Prophet's account of the several visits of Moroni to him, and the +prophecies of that angel concerning the coming forth of the work of +the Lord, "and how and in what manner his kingdom was to be conducted +in the last days;" [5] also the eighteen sections of the Doctrine and +Covenants from the 2nd section to the 20th, inclusive, being those +revelations given between September, 1823, to the fore part of April, +1830--the period during which the Book of Mormon was being revealed +and translated--and in which prophetic declarations concerning the +coming forth of the Church are frequently made. The last revelation of +the series--section twenty--is the one in which the first practical +directions are given towards effecting the organization of the Church. + +Who ever will look through these writings, to say nothing of frequent +allusions to the same matter throughout the Book of Mormon itself, will +be convinced that the coming forth of the book must result in bringing +into existence the Church. + +The Church so brought into existence, cannot be true and the Book of +Mormon false. If the book be not true, Joseph Smith is an imposter, +a false prophet, and an imposter and false prophet cannot found a +true Church of Christ; therefore, if the Church be the true Church of +Christ, it is evidence quite conclusive that the book so inseparably +connected with it, so vitally related to it, is also true. Of course, +the conception is possible that both the Church and the book may +be false, but it is inconceivable that one could be true and the +other false. It follows therefore that whatever facts exist in the +organization and doctrines of the Church which tend to establish it as +being of divine origin, tend also to establish the divine authenticity +of the Book of Mormon. + +Here we have a field of evidence and argument well nigh inexhaustible; +but much of it, I may say all of it with which I care to deal, has +already been used in volume one of New Witnesses, as follows: + +Chapter XIV: "Fitness in the Development of the New Dispensation." + +Chapter XV: "The Evidence of Scriptural and Perfect Doctrine." + +Chapter XXIV: "The Church Founded by Joseph Smith, a Monument to His +Inspiration." + +Chapters XXV-XXVI: "Testimony of the Inspiration and Divine Calling +of Joseph Smith, Derived from the Comprehensiveness of the Work He +Introduced." + +Chapter XXVII: "Evidence of Inspiration Derived from the Wisdom in the +Plan Proposed for the Betterment of the Temporal Condition of Mankind." + +Chapters XXVIII, XXIX, XXX: "Evidence of Divine Inspiration in Joseph +Smith Derived from the Prophet's Doctrines in Regard to the Extent of +the Universe, Man's Place in It, and His Doctrine Respecting God." + +The evidences and the arguments in all these chapters, then, must be +considered as appropriated here, and made part of my argument for the +truth of the Book of Mormon, as well as for the divine origin of the +Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After thus appropriating +all this body of evidence and argument from these chapters in the first +volume of New Witnesses, I feel justified in saying: It is the Church +that bears witness to the truth of the Book of Mormon rather than the +Book of Mormon which bears witness to the Church. Nor is this said in +disparagement of the Book of Mormon. It is only saying that what comes +of the book is greater than the book itself, that the stately oak is +greater than the acorn from which it grew--a giant tree; that the whole +is greater than a part; that the work in all its fullness is greater +than one of the incidents in which that work had its origin. + +Footnotes + +1. II. Nephi xxx: 8. + +2. III. Nephi xxi: 22. + +3. I. Nephi xiv: 12. + +4. Chapter i. + +5. History of the Church, Vol. I., ch. ii. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +INTERNAL EVIDENCES.--THE BOOK OF MORMON, IN STYLE AND LANGUAGE, IS +CONSISTENT WITH THE THEORY OF ITS CONSTRUCTION. + +I. + +_Of the Unity and Diversity of Style._ + +As already set forth in previous pages, the Book of Mormon, with +reference to the original documents from which it was translated, is +made up of two classes of writings: + +1. Original, unabridged Nephite records; + +2. Mormon and Moroni's abridgment of Nephite and Jaredite records. + +The translation of the unabridged Nephite records comprises the first +157 pages of current editions of the Book of Mormon. The rest of the +623 pages--except where we have the words of Mormon and Moroni at +first hand, or here and there direct quotations by them from older +records--are Mormon's abridgment of other Nephite records, and Moroni's +abridgment of a Jaredite record. It is quite evident that there would +be a marked difference in the construction of these two divisions of +the book. How there came to be unabridged and abridged records in +Mormon's collection of plates has been explained at length in previous +pages, [1] so that it is now only necessary to say that when Joseph +Smith lost his translation of the first part of Mormon's abridgment of +the Nephite records, comprised in the 116 pages of manuscript which he +entrusted to Martin Harris, he replaced the lost part by translating +the smaller plates of Nephi which make up the first 157 pages of the +Book of Mormon before referred to. Now, if there is no difference in +the style between this part of the Book of Mormon translated from +the small plates of Nephi, and Mormon's abridgment of the larger +plates, that fact would constitute very strong evidence against the +claims of the Book of Mormon. On the other hand, if one finds the +necessary change in style between these two divisions of the book, +it will be important incidental evidence in its support. Especially +will this be conceded when the likelihood that neither Joseph Smith +nor his associates would have sufficient knowledge of things literary +to appreciate the importance of the difference of style demanded in +the two parts of the record. Fortunately the evidence on this point +is all that can be desired. The writers whose works were engraven on +the smaller plates of Nephi employ the most direct style, and state +what they have to say in the first person, without explanation or +interpolations by editors or commentators or any evidence of abridgment +whatsoever, though, of course, they now and then make quotations from +the Hebrew scriptures which the Nephite colony brought with them from +Jerusalem. The following passages illustrate their style. + + THE FIRST BOOK OF NEPHI. + + CHAPTER I. + + 1. I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was + taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen + many afflictions in the course of my days--nevertheless, having + been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having a great + knowledge of the goodnesss and the mysteries of God, therefore I + make a record of my proceedings in my days. + + 2. Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which + consists of the learning of the Jews, and the language of the + Egyptians. + + 3. And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it + with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge. etc. + + THE BOOK OF JACOB. [The brother of Nephi.] + + CHAPTER I. + + 1. For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed + away, from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; wherefore, Nephi gave + me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which + these things are engraven. + + 2. And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon + these plates, a few of the things which I considered to be most + precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning + the history of this people which are called the people of Nephi, + etc. + + THE BOOK OF ENOS. + + CHAPTER I. + + 1. Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my father that he + was a just man: for he taught me in his language, and also in the + nurture and admonition of the Lord. And blessed be the name of God + for it. + + 2. And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, + before I received a remission of my sins: + + 3. Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forest; and the words which + I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the + joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart, etc. + + And so it continues with each of the nine writers in this division + of the Book of Mormon. But now note how marked the difference is + when we come to Mormon's abridgment of the Nephite record which + begins with the book of Mosiah: + + THE BOOK OF MOSIAH. + + CHAPTER I. + + 1. And now there was no more contention in all the land of + Zarahemla, among all the people who belonged to King Benjamin, so + that king Benjamin had continual peace all the remainder of his + days. + + 2. And it came to pass that he had three sons; and he called their + names Mosiah, and Helorum, and Helaman. And he caused that they + should be taught in all the language of his fathers, that thereby + they might become men of understanding; and that they might know + concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of + their fathers, which were delivered them by the hand of the Lord. + + So also in the abridgment of the book of Alma: + + THE BOOK OF ALMA. + + CHAPTER I. + + 1. Now it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of the + judges over the people of Nephi, from this time forward, king + Mosiah having gone the way of all the earth, having warred a good + warfare, walking uprightly before God, leaving none to reign in his + stead; nevertheless he established laws, and they were acknowledged + by the people; therefore they were obliged to abide by the laws he + had made. + + 2. And it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of Alma + in the judgment seat, there was a man brought before him to be + judged; a man who was large, and was noted for his much strength, + etc. + +And so throughout the abridgment this style continues as pointed out +in chapter IX of this work. Had the style which is followed in the +abridgment found its way into the translation of the unabridged part +of the record, the reader can readily see how strong an objection it +would have constituted against the claims of the Book of Mormon. As to +style in other respects there is marked uniformity in the translation. +I have already pointed out the fact that the style of the translation +of the Book of Mormon is influenced, of course, by the translator; the +statements and ideas of the Nephite writers being set forth in such +English and in such literary style as Joseph Smith, with his limited +knowledge of language, could command; he, in his turn, of course, being +influenced in his expressions by the facts and ideas made known to him +from the Nephite record through Urim and Thummim, and the inspiration +of God under which he worked. It is useless to assert a diversity of +style where it does not exist, and that it does not exist in the Book +of Mormon except as to the matter of a distinction between Jaredite +and Nephite proper names, hereafter to be noted, and the distinction +between the abridged records and those unabridged--to the extent just +pointed out--it would be easy, though unnecessary, to demonstrate; +since any one may satisfy himself by even a casual inspection of the +Book of Mormon itself. + +The demand for diversity of style in the various parts of the +translation of the Book of Mormon is urged too strongly. It is +sometimes represented, even by believers in the Book of Mormon, that +the volume contains the compiled writings of a long line of inspired +scribes extending through a thousand years, written not only at +different times but under varying conditions, and that unity of style +under such circumstances is not to be expected, and did it occur it +would be fatal to the claims made for the Book of Mormon! Now, as a +matter of fact, there is great unity of style in the translation of +the Book of Mormon which any one can verify who will read it; and +properly so, I insist; for the reason that general unity of style +is not incompatible with the theory of the work's construction and +translation. First of all this long line of inspired writers that +should give to us diversity of style in their writings is reduced +really to a very small matter when the facts in the case are +considered. We have already seen, in chapter IX, that all told there +are but eleven writers in the Book of Mormon. The work of nine of these +runs through only 400 years of Nephite history--from the time Lehi's +colony left Jerusalem to the time when the Nephites, under Mosiah I., +joined the people of Mulek, some 200 years B. C. Then we have the works +of no Nephite writer until we come to Mormon, who makes his abridgment +of the Nephite records in the closing years of the 4th century A. D. +So that 600 years of the 1,000 through which the long line of Nephite +writers is supposed to run is lifted bodily from the "time range." I +say we have no Nephite writings between the works of the first group +of nine Nephite writers (600-200 B. C.) to the writings of Mormon +(400 A. D.) I should say, we have no such writings except where here +and there Mormon, in his abridgment, makes a direct quotation from +some intervening writer between those two periods. Such quotations, +however, are neither numerous nor long, and in many instances one is +left in doubt as to whether supposed quotations are verbatim or merely +the substance of the original documents given by Mormon. What has led +to confusion in these matters is that the books of "Mosiah," "Alma," +"Helaman," "III Nephi," etc., are not really the books of these men +whose names respectively they bear, but are Mormon's abridgment of +those books to which abridgment he has given the name of the book he +abridged. Then, again, of these eleven writers we have already shown +(chapter IX) that the first group of nine writers supplied but 157 +pages of the book. Of these Nephi writes 127 1/2 pages; and his brother, +Jacob, 21 1/2; making in all 149 of the 157; leaving but 8 pages for +the other seven writers; and as Enos, who follows Jacob, writes 2 1/2 +pages of the remaining 8, there is left but 5 1/2 pages for the remaining +six writers. It should be kept in mind, too, that the whole nine +authors were writing in the first 400 years of Nephite times; that +Jacob and Nephi lived much of their lives together, therefore, in the +same period of time, under similar conditions, with the same little +colony of people. Hence there was not much to give diversity of style +to their writings, and the few paragraphs left for the remaining seven +writers could not be sufficient to develop very much diversity of style +in composition. So that the diversity of style clamored for, so far as +this group of nine writers is concerned, is not very insistent. + +Turning now to the writers of the Book of Mormon who come six hundred +years later, Mormon and Moroni, they are contemporaries, father and +son. They lived in the same age. One abridged the history of the +Nephites, the other a brief history of the Jaredites. So that their +work is similar in character, is wrought in the same age, and hence +great diversity of style is not to be expected. + +Another factor in the question of style is that in the "time range" of +1,000 years through which it is assumed the Book of Mormon is being +composed, there is not much change in the manners or customs of the +people--not very widely varying conditions. It must be remembered that +the colonies which came to America in the sixth century B. C. were +made up of men and women who were civilized. They brought with them a +knowledge of the civilization in the midst of which they had lived. +They also had some Hebrew literature with them, although written in +Egyptian characters; also the Hebrews ideas of government and law, +and these ideas were promulgated among the people as they increased +in numbers and grew into a nation. The before mentioned "time range" +of 1,000 years was a period in the world's history when there was no +such revolutions taking place in manners, customs, and progress in +civilization as is known to our own age. In the western world, as in +the eastern, in the period under consideration, human affairs in the +matter of developing civilization, were well nigh stationary. The same +methods and implements of warfare were employed at the close of the +period as were used at its beginning. So in agriculture, commerce, and +in the sciences and arts. Not nearly so many changes took place in +that thousand years as have taken place within the last hundred years. +Hence, so far as changing conditions affecting style of composition +during the time limit of 1,000 years is concerned, there is nothing +which demands great diversity of style. + +Another item at this point should be considered with reference to a +misapprehension of the character of the Book of Mormon. It has been +frequently urged by writers against the Book of Mormon that it pretends +to be the national or racial literature of the peoples of the western +hemisphere, and that in the light of such pretentions it is utterly +contemptible. Such a conception of the Book of Mormon, however, is +entirely unwarranted, since no such claims are made for it by those +at all acquainted with its character. No one acquainted with the book +could for a moment hold it up as the national literature of either the +Jaredite empire or of the Nephite monarchy or republic, any more than +he could regard the single work of Josephus on the "Antiquities of +the Jews" as the national literature of the Hebrew race or nation; or +Doctor William Smith's "Condensed History of England" (less than four +hundred pages) as the national literature of the British empire. + +The Book of Mormon was constructed in this manner: Let us suppose +that a writer has before him the national literature of the old Roman +empire; the works of Livy, Sallust, Virgil, Caesar, Terrance, Cicero, +and the rest. The account of the chief events mentioned in these +several volumes he condenses in his own style into a single volume. +Coming to the annals of Tacitus, however, he is so well pleased with +some portions of them that notwithstanding the events Tacitus narrates +parallel some parts of his own abridgment of the history, he places +them, without editing or changing them in the least, with his own +writings. This work, upon his death, falls into the hands of his son, +who is also a writer. In the course of the second writer's researches +he accidentally, or providentially, as you will, discovers the works +of the Greek historian, Xenophon. He considers this writer's history +of Greece of such importance--especially his history of the "Retreat +of the Ten Thousand"--that he condenses into a few pages the events +related by Xenophon and binds them in with his father's work, with such +comments of his own as he considers necessary. As the first writer's +abridgment of some of the Roman books would not be the national +literature of Rome, so also the abridgment of Xenophon's writings +would not be the national literature of Greece; and as this supposed +case exactly illustrates the manner in which the Book of Mormon was +constructed by Mormon and Moroni, the absurdity of regarding the book +so produced as the national or racial literature of the peoples who +have inhabited the western world, will be apparent. + +II. + +_Characteristics of an Abridgment._ + +In addition to the changes from the first to the third person already +noted between the first group of Nephite authors, whose writings are +unabridged, and Mormon and Moroni's abridgment, there is one other item +which further exhibits the consistency between the style and language +of the book with the theory of its construction, viz: The style of +Mormon and Moroni's part of the work is pronouncedly the style of an +abridgment. Its general characteristics have already been considered in +chapter ix., and it only remains here to say that the body of the work +is Mormon's abridgment of the chief events from the Nephite annals, +with occasional verbatim quotations from those works, and his own +running comments upon the same. In the progress of the work one may +almost see the writer with a number of the Nephite records about him +engaged at his task. He has just recorded the thrilling events of a few +years rich in historical instances, and in closing says: + + "And thus endeth the 5th year of the reign of the Judges." + +Then he strikes a period where there are but few important events in +the annals, so he passes over them lightly in this manner: + + Now it came to pass in the sixth year of the reign of the Judges + over the people of Nephi, there were no contentions nor wars in the + land of Zarahemla. * * * * * And it came to pass in the seventh + year of the reign of the Judges, there were about three thousand + five hundred souls that united themselves to the Church of God, and + were baptized. And thus endeth the seventh year of the reign of the + Judges over the people of Nephi; and there was continual peace in + all that time. [2] + +He closes another eventful period, in a similar manner: + + But behold there never was a happier time among the people of + Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni; yea, + even at this time, in the twenty and first year of the reign of the + Judges. And it came to pass that the twenty and second year of the + reign of the Judges also ended in peace; yea, and also the twenty + and third year. [3] + +The following is a similar example: + + And it came to pass that there was peace and exceeding great joy + in the remainder of the forty and ninth year; yea, and also there + was continual peace and great joy in the fiftieth year of the reign + of the Judges. And in the fifty and first year of the reign of the + Judges there was peace also, save it were the pride which began to + enter into the church. [4] + +Again in Helaman: + + And it came to pass that the seventy and sixth year did end in + peace. And the seventy and seventh year began in peace; and the + church did spread throughout the face of all the land; and the + more part of the people, both the Nephites and the Lamanites, did + belong to the church; and they did have exceeding great peace in + the land, and thus ended the seventy and seventh year. And also + they had peace in the seventy and eighth year, save it were a few + contentions concerning the points of doctrine which had been laid + down by the prophets. [5] * * * * * * * And thus ended the eighty + and first year of the reign of the Judges. And in the eighty and + second year, they began again to forget the Lord their God. And in + the eighty and third year they began to wax strong in iniquity. And + the eighty and fourth year, they did not mend their ways. And it + came to pass in the eighty and fifth year, they did wax stronger + and stronger in their pride, and in their wickedness; and thus they + were ripened again for destruction. And thus ended the eighty and + fifth year. [6] + +Moroni's abridgment of the Jaredite record--the Book of Ether--fails +to exhibit this particular characteristic of an abridgment, owing +doubtless to the brevity of the original record he abridged--there +were but twenty-four plates in the record of Ether, and "the hundredth +part," says Moroni, "I have not written;" [7] but otherwise that book +of Ether bears all the marks of being an abridgment that the work of +Mormon does, except perhaps that the running comments of Moroni are +more frequent than Mormon's. + +III. + +_Originality in Book of Mormon Names._ + +There is another gratifying distinction between Mormon's abridgment of +the Nephite record and Moroni's abridgment of the Jaredite record that +is also of first rate importance as an evidence of consistency in the +work. That is the quite marked distinction between Nephite and Jaredite +proper names as given in these respective parts of the record. Take for +instance the list of names of Jaredite leaders and kings and compare it +with a list of prominent Nephite leaders. + + JAREDITE NAMES. + + Jared + Pagag + Jacom + Gilgah + Mahah + Oriah + Esrom + Corihor + Shim + Cohor + Corom + Noah + Nimrah + Nimrod + Kib + Shule + Omer + Coriantumr + Emer + Com + Heth + Shez + Lib + Hearthom + Aaron + Amnigaddah + Shiblom + Seth + Ahah + Ethem + Moron + Coriantor + Shared + Gilead + Shiz + Ether + Riplakish + Morianton + Kim + Levi + Corum + Kish + + NEPHITE NAMES. + + Nephi + Lehi + Laman + Zoram + Chemish + Abinadom + Amaleki + Mosiah + Benjamin + Ammon + Alma + Amlici + Nephihah + Gideon + Amulek + Giddonali + Giddianhi + Aminadi + Zeniff + Zeezrom + Lamoni + Aaron + Helaman + Limhi + Heloram + Mormon + Moroni + Aminadab + Moronihah + Ammoron + Pacumeni + Gadianton + Kishkumen + Shiblon + Pahoran + Paanchi + Pachus + Cezoram + Limher + Limhah + Mathoni + Mathonihah + Lehonti + Gidgiddonah + Muloki + Abinadi + Corihor + Gidgiddon + Amalickiah + Zemnarihah + Hagoth + Helam + Hearthom + Sherrizah + +An inspection of these two lists of names discloses the fact that the +Jaredite names, with the single exception of "Shule" and "Levi," end +in consonants, while very many of the Nephite names end in a vowel; +and while many of the Nephite names also end in consonants, yet the +preponderance of Nephite names that end in vowels over Jaredite names +is considerable. I am not able to say what value attaches to this +distinction, I can only point it out as a marked distinction, and it +may be an important one. + +Another distinction may be discerned in the fact that there are +more simple, and evidently root-words among the Jaredite names than +among the Nephite names; that is, there are not so many derivatives +in the former as in the latter, though in the former there are a +few. "Corihor," may have come from "Cohor;" "Coriantumr," from +"Coriantor," though it may be merely a variation of the more ancient +name "Moriancumer." "Nimarah" may have come from "Nimrod;" and "Akish" +from "Kish." But this about exhausts the derivatives among the +Jaredite names. As illustrations merely of the Nephite derivatives, +and not with a view of exhausting the list, I give the following: +"Nephihah," evidently comes from "Nephi," "Amalickiah," from "Amaleki," +"Gidgiddoni," "Gidgiddonah," "Giddonah," and "Gideon," from "Gid," +"Helaman" from "Helam;" "Ammoron," from "Ammon;" "Moronihah," +from "Moroni;" "Mathonihah," from "Mathoni." This is enough for +illustration, and inspection will show the percentage of derivatives +in the Nephite names of the Book of Mormon to be not only greatly but +very greatly in excess of derivatives in the Jaredite names. And this +is what consistency demands of the Book of Mormon. The more ancient +people the simpler and fewer compound names--more root names, fewer +derivatives. William A. Wright, M. A., Librarian of Trinity College, +Cambridge, writing for the Hackett edition of Smith's Dictionary of the +Bible, says: + + Glancing a moment at the history of names and name-giving among + the Hebrews, we readily distinguish many of those changes which + characterize popular customs and habits in this particular among + all peoples. In their first or ruder age their names are simple + and "smell of nature." In the period of their highest national and + religious development we find more compound and more allusions to + artificial refinements. [8] + +That law is found operating at least between the more ancient people +of the Book of Mormon, the Jaredites, and the more modern people, the +Nephites. While the list of names obtainable from the abridgment of the +very small fragment of a Jaredite record of the Book of Mormon does +not give sufficient data to warrant a positive conclusion, yet I think +there is discernable a tendency even in that list from the more simple +to derivative names; [9] while as between the earlier and later Nephite +times the translation from the simple to an increase of compound names +is quite marked. [10] I do not mean by this that the simpler names are +not found throughout the whole Nephite period, but that the percentage +of derivative names greatly increase in the latter times. + +Referring again to the marked distinction between Jaredite and Nephite +names, I desire to call attention to the fact that the demands for this +distinction are imperative, since these peoples though they occupied +the same continent did so successively and at periods of time widely +separated. The Jaredites occupied the north continent from soon after +the dispersion of mankind from Babel until the opening of the 6th +century B. C. About the time the Jaredites were destroyed the Nephite +colony arrived in South America, and Mulek's colony in North America. +But the only person connecting the two peoples was Coriantumr (the last +of the Jaredites) through some nine months of association with the +colony of Mulek. Whether or not his race was perpetuated by marriage +into Mulek's colony is merely a matter of conjecture. [11] So far as +the Nephite connection with the Jaredites is concerned it exists only +through the Jaredite records discovered by the people of Zeniff (B. C. +123), and translated soon afterwards by Mosiah II. This translation of +the Jaredite record making known, in outline merely, the history of the +Jaredites to the Nephites, might give to the Nephites some Jaredite +names, as in the case of the noted warrior among the Nephites bearing +the name Coriantumr. [12] Still from the fact that the connection +between the Nephites and the Jaredites is so slight; and the occupancy +of the North Continent by the respective peoples separated by so long +a period of time, it could not be otherwise than that there would +be a marked distinction in proper names between the two peoples, a +distinction that will be quite apparent to the reader when he compares +the respective lists of Jaredite and Nephite names here presented +at radom; and which, had it been wanting, would have been a serious +objection to the consistency, and consequently to the claims, of the +Book of Mormon. + +When the general unity of style found in the Book of Mormon is taken +into account, this distinction in proper names becomes all the more +remarkable. But it is a case where the circumstances emphatically +demand a distinction; just as the circumstances emphatically demand +a marked distinction at the transition from the unabridged writings +of the Nephite authors--written in the first person, and in so simple +and direct a style--to the abridged record of Mormon--written in the +third person and in so complex, not to say confusing, a style. Had +the Prophet Joseph's translation of the Book of Mormon failed to have +shown the distinctions at these points where such distinctions are so +imperatively demanded--in a word, had the style and language of the +book failed to be consistent with the theory of its construction--how +serious an objection the failure would have been considered! But since +the consistency of the style and language of the book with the theory +of the work's construction is established, how strong the evidence is +which that fact constitutes! And more especially when it is remembered +that neither Joseph Smith nor his associates had sufficient knowledge +of literature, to cause them to appreciate the importance of such a +consistency. The evidence that they were unconscious of the point here +made is to be found in the fact that they never alluded to it in their +life time, nor was the foregoing argument ever made by any one else +within their life time. + +IV. + +_Of the Nephite Custom in Naming Cities and Provinces Being Ancient._ + +It should be remarked that both Jaredites and Nephites named cities, +plains, valleys, mountains and provinces after the names of prominent +men, especially the men who were identified in some way with the +settlement or history of said places; so that it often happens that +names of places take on the names of men or some variation of their +names; and hence the frequent identity and more frequently the likeness +between the names of places and the names of men. Both people also +followed the custom of ancient nations, not only in naming cities +after the men who founded them or who were prominently connected with +their history, but also in giving the district of country surrounding +a city the same name as the city. Thus among the Jaredites there is +Nehor the city, and "the land [or province] of Nehor," meaning the +district of country surrounding the city of Nehor. [13] I believe +also that there was a Jaredite city of Moron, as well as a land of +Moron, although there is no specific reference to a city of that name, +but frequent references to the "land of Moron," [14] which I take to +mean the district of country surrounding the city of Moron. [15] That +this custom obtained among the Nephites is so commonly understood +that illustration is scarcely necessary, yet by way of illustration I +instance the following: The city of Bountiful, [16] and the land of +Bountiful; [17] the city of Zarahemla, [18] and the land of Zarahemla; + [19] the city of Moroni; [20] and the land of Moroni; [21] the city of +Nephihah, [22] and the land of Nephihah; [23] the city of Manti, and +the land of Manti. [24] + +That the customs here referred to are in harmony with the customs of +ancient nations I cite the following as illustrations of my statement: +Nineveh takes its name from Ninus, the son of Nimrod. Nimrod founded +the city and gave to it a variation of his son's name. [25] M. Rollin +also identifies Nimrod with Belus, the first king whom the "people +deified for his great actions," and after whom, some authorities +affirm, the noted temple of Belus within the city of Babylon was named; +and from which the city itself, as some affirm, took its name. [26] Of +course we have the statement of holy writ that Babylon received its +name from the circumstances of the Lord confounding the language of the +builders of the city, [27] "Babel" in the Hebrew meaning confusion. +Professor Hackett, however, in his contribution on the subject to +Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, while nothing the statement in +Genesis, says: "But the native (i. e. Chaldean) etymology is Ba-il 'the +gate of the god 'Il;' or perhaps more simple, 'the gate of god;' and +this no doubt was the original intention of the appellation as given +by Nimrod, though the other sense (i. e. the Bible sense) came to be +attached to it after the confusion of tongues." Hence one may say that +"Babylon" has taken its name from both circumstances. That is, from +the "Nimrod" of the Chaldeans it takes its name from its founder, +"Belus," who is Nimrod, while to the Hebrew mind it owes its name to +the circumstance of the confusion of languages. + +Professor Campbell, according to Osborn, thinks that the name "Jebez," +of Chronicles ii: 55, is "Thebes;" which originally was "Tei Jabez," +the city named from "Jabez," and which is written without the "T" in +the hieroglyphics, that letter being only the article. [28] + +Plato in his Timaeus, where he introduces the story of Atlantis, says: +"At the head of the Egyptian Delta, where the river Nile divides, +there is a certain district which is called the district of Sais, +and the great city of the district is also called Sais, and is the +city from which Amasis the king was sprung." [29] This is an incident +where the district of country takes its name from the city. Other +instances in support of the ancient custom here referred to will be +found in the case of "Rome," so called after "Romulus;" "Alexandria; +after Alexander;" "Constantinople," after "Constantine." The names of +countries and sections of country," says Professor W. A. Wright, "are +almost universally derived from the name of their first settlers or +earliest historic populations." [30] + +V. + +_Of the Nephites, Like the Jews Being a Mononymous People._ + +Still another singular and fortunate circumstance for the claims of the +Book of Mormon with reference to names should be noted. "Unlike the +Romans," says Professor Wright, already quoted, "but like the Greeks, +the Hebrews were a mononymous people. That is, each person received but +a single name. [31] The Nephites, it must be remembered, were Hebrews, +and therefore would very likely follow the custom of their race with +reference to this practice of giving but one name to a person. This +they did; for throughout the Nephite part of the Book of Mormon, there +is not a single instance where a person receives more than one name. +In other words, the Nephites, like the whole Hebrew race, were a +mononymous people. So, too, the Jaredites, a more ancient branch of the +same race, are a mononymous people. + +Now, as neither Joseph Smith nor his associates would likely be +acquainted with this singular custom of the Hebrew race, I take the +fact of agreement of Nephite practice with this Hebrew custom, as an +incidental evidence of some weight in favor of the claims of the Book +of Mormon. To appreciate the value of it, I will ask the reader to +think what importance would be given to an objection based upon the +violation of this custom by a branch of the Hebrew race. That is, +suppose the Book of Mormon had been full of double names, applied to +the same person, what then? Could it not be claimed with some force +that here would be the violation of a very universal custom of the +Hebrew people? I think such a claim, if the facts warranted it, would +be both forceful and consistent. Instead of the violation of the Hebrew +custom, however, there is a singular accordance with it; and the fact +of agreement, I suggest, is entitled to as much weight in favor of the +book as the supposed disagreement would have been against it. + +This circumstance also sustains the claims of the Book of Mormon to +being an ancient record; for if it was of modern origin, having for its +authors Joseph Smith and his associates, it would not very likely have +followed so absolutely this ancient Hebrew custom, since Joseph Smith +and his associates lived in a time and among a people where it was +common at least, if not actually customary, to give to persons double +names, a custom that would likely have influenced them in any creation +of names which they would have attempted. + +But very few Jaredite and Nephite proper names with their +interpretation, and but few original common names, with their +interpretation have found their way into the translation of the +Jaredite and Nephite records. Of the first class--proper names with +interpretations--I instance the Jaredite word "Ripliancum," [32] which +by interpretation means "large," or "to exceed all." It is employed in +connection with describing the arrival of the army of Coriantumr in +the region of the great lakes, between the present countries of Canada +and the United States. It is most probably a proper name carrying with +it the signification equivalent to the phrase we use in describing the +same waters, viz: "the Great Lakes," or, as the implied Book of Mormon +interpretation stands, bodies of water that exceed in size all others +of their kind. + +Then there is the Jaredite common name "deseret," meaning honey bee. + [33] In passing I call attention to the fact that the Hebrew proper +name, "Deborah" also means "bee," that is, honey bee; [34] and it is +quite likely that the proper name "Deborah" is derived from the same +root whence comes "Deseret." The only other common names from the +Jaredites are the words "cureloms" and "cumoms." [35] These are the +names of domestic animals said to have been especially useful to the +Jaredites, hence most likely used either for draft or pack animals, or +perhaps both. + +Turning to the Nephite record we have the name of "Irreantum," [36] +meaning the sea, or "many waters." Also the word "Liahona," [37] +meaning "compass," or perhaps more properly, "director," since, unlike +the modern compass, it indicated a variant direction rather than a +permanent one; and was made useful to the person possessing it through +the principle of faith rather than the magnetic polar force; hence +it could only be explained by the term "compass" in that it was an +"indicator," or "director." The word "Gazelem" is also a Nephite word, +meaning "a stone," that is, a seer stone, since it is spoken of as +a means of ascertaining knowledge through it by revelation. [38] In +addition to these words we have also a number of names of Nephite coins +and the names of fractional values of coins, as follows: + +The names of the gold coins, commencing with the one of lowest value, +are: a senine, a seon, a shum and a limnah. + +A seon was twice the value of a senine; a shum was twice the value of a +seon; and a limnah was equal to the value of all the other gold coins. + +The silver coins were, a senum, an amnor, an ezrom and an onti. + +Their relative value is stated as follows: an amnor of silver was twice +the value of a senum; an ezrom four times the value of a senum; an onti +was equal in value to all the other silver coins. + +The fractional values are represented as follows: A shiblom is half a +senum; a shiblum is one half a shiblom; a leah is one half of a shiblum. + +We have no means of obtaining specifically the value of these coins in +modern terms, nor am I interested in that matter here. I only desire to +call attention to the fact that these are Nephite names brought over +into our language by the translation of the Nephite records, though +reference to the passage [39] where the tables are given will plainly +indicate to the interested enquirer that there is stated a system of +relative values in these coins that bears evidence of its being genuine. + +Alluding to this matter of names in a general way I suggest that there +is nothing more difficult in literature than to originate new names. +As a matter of fact names do not suggest things, but things suggest +names. Men do not bring into existence names and then fasten them upon +things, but they see an object, they hear a sound, or become acquainted +with an idea, and the object, the sound or the idea suggests a name. So +that names, speaking generally, arise from things already existing and +are not formed arbitrarily. The names in the Book of Mormon could come +into existence in one of two ways only. Either Joseph Smith arbitrarily +created them, or else he found them in the Nephite record. Since +originating new names is so extremely difficult, the probability in +the case lies on the side of Joseph Smith finding them in the Nephite +record. If any one should doubt of the difficulty of originating new +names I would invite him to make the experiment. In this connection I +remember with what ease an old teacher of mine in English put down a +somewhat presumptuous class mate. The teacher had expatiated on the +excellence of the Proverbs of Solomon, when the aforesaid class mate +expressed his contempt of things so simple. "Proverbs," exclaimed he, +to those sitting near him, "why, it's easy enough to write proverbs." +The good Doctor who was our teacher happened to overhear the remark +and said to the speaker, "Suppose you write us a few." My class mate +tried: and the more he tried the farther from proverbs he got. He had +not learned that proverbs were the "pure literature of reason:" the +statement of "absolute truths without qualification;" "the sanctuary +of the intuitions of humanity." And so with this matter of originating +names. It may seem a simple thing, but those who entertain such an idea +let them give us a few new names. Now, the Book of Mormon has a number +of proper names that are not new. These are chiefly Bible names and are +found in Nephite writings because the Nephites brought with them to the +western hemisphere copies of so many of the sacred books of the Jews +as were in existence at the time of their departure from Judea, 600 B. +C., parts of which were multiplied by copying and helped form part of +the Nephite literature; hence they sometimes used Bible names. But the +Book of Mormon also gives us a long list of absolutely new names, both +of men and of places, though in many in stances, as already pointed +out, the names of cities and the districts or country surrounding them +took the name of some noted person in some way or other prominently +connected with the history of the place. I have already pointed out +that a marked distinction exists between Nephite names and Jaredite +names, so that we may see that the Book of Mormon gives us two lists of +new names, one Jaredite, the other Nephite, which fact, when coupled +with the well recognized difficulty of originating names, renders the +performance all the more remarkable. It not only demonstrates the +originality of the Book of Mormon, but must be admitted to be either a +striking demonstration of wonderful genius on the part of the Prophet +Joseph Smith, or else a very strong evidence in support of the claims +of the Book of Mormon. And since the list of new names is quite too +large to refer to the genius of one single writer for their origin, I +think the latter conclusion represents the truth in the case. + +Footnotes + +1. Vol. II., chapter viii. + +2. Alma iv: 1-5. + +3. Alma i: 23, 24. + +4. Helaman iii: 32, 33. + +5. Helaman iii: 32, 33. + +6. Helaman xi: 21-24 + +7. Ether xiv: 33. + +8. Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, Hackett edition Vol. III., p. 2062. + +9. In the first chapter of Ether there is given a list of names of +Jaredite kings, twenty-six in all. In the first thirteen names--half +of the number--representing the most ancient Jaredite times, there +are only four that could possibly be derivatives; these are Oriah, +Coriantumr, Riplakish, Morianton, while in the latter half of the list +of names there are at least six derivatives. Beginning with the most +ancient they are--Hearthom, Amnigaddah, Coriantumr, Shiblon, Ethem, +Coriantor. + +10. It is not until we reach the middle and later period of Nephite +times that we meet with such names as Amlici, Antiomno, Amalickiah, +Nephiah, Moronihah, Kishkuman, Pecumeni, Lachoneus, Giddianhi, +Gidgiddoni, Zemnarihah, Ammaron, Ammonihah, and many others that are +plainly derivative names. + +11. While there can be no more than conjecture upon this point the +likelihood of the thing, I am inclined to believe, is all on the side +of his marriage and the perpetuation of his race. Coriantumr had +doubtless every reason to believe that he was the sole survivor of his +people, and he could have no greater anxiety than that his race should +be perpetuated. In support of this theory it may be urged that in the +Nephite history, about 41 B. C., we learn of a very strong and mighty +leader in war, bearing the name "Coriantumr," who was a descendant of +Zarahemla (Helaman i: 15: 32), the leader of the descendants of Mulek's +colony when discovered by Mosiah I, about 200 B. C. It was Mulek's +colony, it will be remembered, who found Coriantumr, the Jaredite, +and with whom he lived some nine months. May it not be reasonably +supposed that this noted man among the Nephites, bearing the name of +the old Jaredite chieftain was a descendant of his, since we find that +chieftain's name strangely appearing among the Nephites? And may it +not be urged that here we have one of those obscure instances in the +history of a great people unlikely to be provided for by conspirators +constructing a book to be imposed up the world as a revelation from God? + +12. It is quite possible also that the word Shiblon among the Nephites +came from the Jaredites. Unfortunately the orthography of this name +is given in two ways in the translation of the Jaredite abridgment, +"Shiblom" and "Shiblon;" but if the Jaredite name is Shiblon, it may +be that the name among the Nephites was taken from the Jaredites as +suggested. + +13. Ether vii: 4-9. + +14. Ether vii: 6, 16, 17; also xiv: 6-11. + +15. Helaman v: 14. + +16. Alma li: 30. + +17. Helaman i: 22. + +18. Helaman i: 23. + +19. Alma l: 14. + +20. Alma lxii: 32. + +21. Alma lxii: 30. + +22. Alma lxii: 30. + +23. Alma lvi: 14. + +24. Alma lvi: 14. + +25. Rollin's Ancient History, Vol. I., pp. 266, 227. + +26. Ibid. + +27. Genesis xi: 9. + +28. Osborn, Ancient Egypt and the light of Modern Discoveries, p. 205. + +29. Plato (Jowett), Vol. II., p. 517. + +30. Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, Hackett Ed., Vol. III., p. 2060. + +31. Ibid. + +32. Ether xv: 8. + +33. Ether ii: 3. + +34. Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, article "Names," Vol. III., p. +2061. + +35. Ether ix: 19. + +36. I. Nephi xvii: 5. + +37. Alma xxxvii: 38-40. I. Nephi xvi: 10-30. I. Nephi xviii: 12-21. II. +Nephi v: 12. + +38. Alma xxxvii: 23. + +39. Alma xi. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +INTERNAL EVIDENCES--THE BOOK OF MORMON FORMS OF GOVERNMENT CONSISTENT +WITH THE TIMES AND CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THEY EXISTED. + +In the Book of Mormon three forms of government are said to have +existed among the various peoples inhabiting the western world. These +are, first, a Monarchial form; second, a sort of Republic or rule of +Judges; third, an Ecclesiastical government, or rule of priests, ending +finally in the rule of military chieftains. The Book of Mormon giving +as it does, though only in an incidental way, a description of these +several forms of government, presents a crucial test of its claims to +being a translation of an ancient record. For if in describing any +one of these forms of government it should be out of harmony with +well known facts concerning ancient forms of government, or if it +ascribes to them qualities or powers out of harmony with the times +or circumstances under which they existed, then doubt is thrown upon +the claims of the book to being a translation of an ancient record. +To illustrate the proposition now laid down: It is well known that to +the ancients the only form of monarchy was what we call a "simple" or +"absolute" monarchy; that is, a form of government in which all powers +of government are centered in one person. Such a thing as a division of +the powers of government into co-ordinate branches, relegating several +functions to distinct persons or groups of persons, was unknown to +the ancients. The ideas prevailing in modern times which have brought +into existence our "mixed" or "constitutional monarchies" had not +as yet been discovered by the ancients; hence if such modern ideas +concerning monarchy should be found in the Book of Mormon governments, +involving the existence of cabinets, parliaments or distinct judiciary +departments it would at least be very prejudical to the claims of the +book to being an ancient record. + +Again in respect of democratic forms of government: the only form +known to the ancient was "simple" democracy. The form of government +by which the people acted directly upon governmental affairs. The +principle of representation in democracies was not as yet discovered +in times contemporary with the Book of Mormon republic, therefore +if in the Nephite republic, or the "reign of the Judges," as that +form of government is sometimes called in the Book of Mormon, there +should be found the representative principle, which is really a modern +refinement in government, that fact too would be prejudicial to its +claims being an ancient record. Per contra, if these modern ideas +respecting monarchial and democratic forms of government are absent +from the kingdoms and republics described in the book, then it would +be at least presumptive evidence of the genuineness of its claims; +for if the Book of Mormon had been the product of a modern author, or +authors, there would very likely be found in it some of the modern +ideas of government, both in its monarchies and in its republics, and +especially would this be probable if its authors were illiterate men +and not acquainted with these facts concerning government among ancient +peoples. Under those circumstances the ancient and modern forms would +inevitably be confounded because modern illiterate authors would not +possess sufficient discretion to keep them separated. + +Monarchies. + +I am aware that the Book of Mormon account of the Jaredite monarchy +is so very limited that we can form but little idea as to its nature; +but the little there is said of it is strictly in harmony with the +ancient forms of monarchy. That is, the kings were absolute, the source +of all law and the center of all political power. They were inducted +into their office by formal anointing, according to ancient custom. + [1] They are sometimes associated with them on the throne the son who +had been selected to succeed in the kingly authority, which is also in +accordance with ancient custom. [2] + +Respecting the nature of the Nephite kingdom also but little can be +learned from the Book of Mormon because matters concerning government +are only mentioned in an incidental way, but from what little is said +we are justified in forming the same conclusions regarding it as in +regard to the Jaredite Monarchy. That is, it was "simple" or "absolute" +monarchy. The remarks of Mosiah II in relation to the power of a king +for good or evil leads to the conclusion that the power of a Nephite +king was most absolute; and that with the Nephite monarch as with the +Jaredite, the king was the source of all laws and the center of all +political authority. The remarks referred to are as follows: + + And behold, now I say unto you, ye cannot dethrone an iniquitous + king, save it be through much contention, and the shedding of much + blood. For behold, he has his friends in iniquity, and he keepeth + his guards about him; and he teareth up the laws of those who have + reigned in righteousness before him; and he trampleth under his + feet the commandments of God; and he enacteth laws, and sendeth + them forth among his people; yea, laws after the manner of his + own wickedness; and whosoever does not obey his laws, he causeth + to be destroyed; and whosoever doth rebel against him, he will + send his armies against them to war, and if he can he will destroy + them; and thus an unrighteous king doth pervert the ways of all + righteousness. [3] + +This certainly is a description of arbitrary powers vested in the +king. And what is true of the Nephite monarchy is equally true of the +Lamanite kingdoms--judging from those rare and brief glimpses one +gets of Lamanite governments in the Book of Mormon. Among all three +peoples--Jaredites, Nephites, Lamanites--wherever kingly government +is described it is the same--it is "simple," "absolute," "ancient" +monarchy. [4] There is no indication anywhere of the existence of +cabinets or parliaments; or of the division of political authority into +executive, legislative or judicial co-ordinate branches. Nor is there +any indication that there was ever an attempt to blend the various +primary forms of government--monarchy, aristocracy, democracy--into +a mixed government, a government embracing elements from all three +of these recognized primary forms. Such mixed governments are modern +creations; refinements in the science of government unattempted by +the ancients. The ancients, in fact, held them to be impossible, mere +visionary whims, solecisms. Even a man of the excellent understanding +of Tacitus declared that if such a government were formed it could +never be lasting or secure. + +Reign of the Judges--Republic. + +It is however in the matter of the Nephite "reign of the Judges" or the +"Nephite Republic" that an illiterate, modern writer would most likely +have betrayed himself. Especially an American writer strongly imbued +with the excellence, to say nothing of the sanctity, of the American +form of government. + +That Joseph Smith, as also his early and later associates, were imbued +with such opinions concerning the American system of government is +notorious. Joseph Smith declared the constitution of the United States +to have resulted from the inspiration of God: "And again I say unto +you, those who have been scattered by their enemies, it is my will +that they should continue to importune for redress, and redemption, by +the hands of those who are placed as rulers, and are in authority over +you, according to the laws and constitution of the people which I have +suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and +protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles, that +every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, +according to the moral agency which I have given unto them, that every +man be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment. Therefore, +it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another. And +for this purpose have I established the constitution of this land, by +the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and +redeemed the land by the shedding of blood." [5] + +On another occasion the Prophet said: "Hence we say, that the +constitution of the United States is a glorious standard; it is founded +in the wisdom of God. It is a heavenly banner; it is to all those who +are privileged with the sweets of its liberty, like the cooling shades +and refreshing waters of a great rock in a thirsty and weary land. It +is like a great tree under whose branches men from every clime can be +shielded from the burning rays of [oppression's] sun." [6] + +Still more especially would an illiterate modern writer be likely to +betray himself if the American system of government was practically +the only one of which he had any definite knowledge. If then his +description of a "reign of judges," based upon democratic principles, +among an ancient people, escape not only some but all modern +refinements of democratic government--some of which were unknown until +employed in the establishment of the republic of the United States + [7]--then indeed are we well within the realm of the marvelous. And +this we may claim for the Book of Mormon description of the "reign of +the judges," viz. that while it outlines a government based upon the +central principle of democracy--government by the people [8]--yet there +is nothing modern in that republic. The principle of representation +no where appears; a division of the political power into co-ordinate +and independent departments no where appears; there is no indication +of a federation even, much less any of those modern refinements which +distinguish modern federated republics from more ancient federated +republics. + +Of course democratic government existed from very ancient times +and there have also been from of old confederated republics, but +the government of the United States rests upon some principles +that are recognized as entirely modern. The principal differences +between the modern republics and the ancient are these: first, the +modern republics recognize the principle of representation: that is, +masses of the people delegate authority to act for them to selected +representatives; second, the powers of government are lodged in three +distinct co-ordinate departments, the law making, the law executing, +and the law determining departments; third, the federal government +has the same division of political power as the respective states, +viz., legislative, executive and judicial; and also has conferred upon +it power, within the limits prescribed by the constitution, to act +directly through its own instrumentalities upon the citizens of the +respective states. The last item the French philosopher De Tocqueville, +in speaking of the republic of the United States, declared to be a +wholly novel theory which he characterizes as a great discovery in +modern political science. "In all the confederations which precede +the American constitution of 1789," he says, "the allied states, +for a common object, agree to obey the injunctions of a federal +government; but they [the respective states] reserve to themselves +the right of ordaining and enforcing the execution of the laws of the +union. The American states which combined in 1789, agreed that the +federal government should not only dictate but should execute its own +enactments. In both cases the right is the same but the exercise of the +right is different; and this difference produced the most momentous +consequences. The new word which ought to express this novel thing does +not yet exist." (De Tocqueville, U. S. Constitution, Vol. I.) + +Ecclesiastical Government. + +The government which obtained in the era following the advent of +Messiah in the western world was also in harmony with the conditions +prevailing in those days. That is, the ecclesiastical government +supplied by the Church founded by Messiah appears to have superseded +all other form of government through the two hundred years which +succeeded that event; nor, indeed, up to the close of the Book of +Mormon period, 420 A. D., except here and there a reference made +to "kings" among that division of the people who styled themselves +Lamanites; but I take it that even these "kings" among the Lamanites +more nearly resembled military chieftains than monarchs at the head +of settled governments. In the division of the people called Nephites +there is no reference either to a reign of judges or of kings or other +form of government than this Church or Ecclesiastical government, so +that what I have previously said upon this subject [9] will be found +correct, viz., the people after the establishment of the Church of +Christ among them found its institutions and authority sufficient, as +well in secular as in spiritual affairs. That such a government as +this should take the place of governments formerly existing, I repeat, +was in harmony with conditions that obtained after the advent of +Messiah. I have already called attention to the fact that government +becomes necessary because of the vices and injustice of men. That +its chief function is to restrain men from injuring one another and +thus give security to society. When all the people are righteous +government becomes well nigh unnecessary, or operates at least in a +very limited sphere, and the form of government becomes a matter of +more or less indifference. Now it will be remembered that in the awful +judgments of God which had swept over the western world at Messiah's +crucifixion the more ungodly part of the people were destroyed, and +those who survived were afterwards thoroughly converted to the gospel +of Jesus Christ by his advent and the ministry of his servants, so +that there was inaugurated an era of peace and perfect righteousness. +For two centuries at least there was a veritable golden age in the +American continents, during which time the simple laws of righteousness +promulgated by the gospel were all sufficient as a rule of conduct, and +men practically forgot the reign of kings and the reign of judges. When +wickedness once more began to stalk through the land it may be that the +hitherto prevailing ecclesiastical governments gave way to the rule +of military chieftains, both among the Nephites and Lamanites, though +among the later such chieftains were sometimes called "kings." + +That the monarchial and republican forms of government described in +the Book of Mormon should be in harmony with the principles of those +ancient political systems, and that the kind of government which +obtained after the advent of Messiah among the Nephites should be in +such perfect harmony with the conditions that obtained in that period, +is internal evidence of marked significance in support of the claims +of the Book of Mormon. To see it in its full strength one should ask +himself what would be the state of the case if the descriptions of +monarchial and democratic government were not in harmony with the +restricted ideas of ancient governments, but were full of modern ideas +and refinements of government; and if the facts existing after the +advent of Messiah and the introduction of the Nephite golden age were +utterly at variance with the kind of government that we are ready to +believe then obtained. It should be remembered that if inconsistencies +in the Book of Mormon forms of government would be so damaging against +its claims to being an ancient record, then consistency in its forms of +government should be allowed equal weight in support of its claims to +being an ancient record. + +The Events to which Importance is Given in the Book of Mormon are in +Harmony with the Character of the Writers. + +In considering this subject we must bear in mind the purposes for which +the Book of Mormon was written. The purposes are set forth in detail in +chapter III. + +Here it will be sufficient to say that the main purpose of the Book of +Mormon is to be a witness for Jesus, the Christ; for the truth of the +Gospel as the power of God unto salvation. + +Notwithstanding these purposes are adhered to throughout the work it +is very noticeable, and indeed one cause of complaint against the +book, that it gives great prominence, at least in the parts made up +of Mormon and Moroni's abridgments, to wars; to minute descriptions +of battles, the construction of fortifications, and the affairs of +war in general. This doubtless arises from the fact that Mormon and +Moroni were both military chieftains, and notwithstanding their general +purpose was to make prominent the religious events which happened +among the Nephites and Jaredites, and the hand-dealings of God with +those peoples, yet when these writers came to give an account of wars, +it is but to be expected, by the very nature of things, that they +could not refrain from recording those events which would have such +a powerful attraction for them. Involuntarily they were drawn into a +description of those events, and unconsciously gave them prominence in +their narratives. So I say the events to which importance is given in +the Book of Mormon are in harmony with the character of the writers, +a fact which is still further emphasized by the nature of the first +part of the volume. We have seen that 149 of the 157 pages constituting +that first part is written by the first Nephi and his brother Jacob, +prophets and priests of God. In their writings wars are mentioned only +in the most incidental way, but there is an abundance of religious +teaching, and prominence is given to visions, dreams and revelations, +and that because those writers were, in the main, prophets and priests +of God. It should also be noted, of course, that the time in which +these earlier writers lived was not so much a period of warfare as +subsequent centuries among the Nephites. It is to be observed, then, +in conclusion upon this point, that the very prominence given to wars +and battle-movements in Mormon's and Moroni's part of the volume is +but in keeping with the nature of things--an additional evidence of +consistency in the work--the events to which importance is given are in +harmony with the character of the writers. + +_Complexity in the Structure of the Book of Mormon in Harmony with +the Theory of its Origin._ + +I hesitated some time before adopting the above as a heading for this +division of the subject, because I was aware, and am still aware of the +fact that it scarcely presents the thought I would have considered; +and I know how easily, by a slight variation, it could be made subject +to the smart retort that the complexity of the structure of the Book +of Mormon is in harmony with the theory of its merely human origin +since it is simplicity, not complexity, which is the sign manual of +things divine. Still, for all that, I have concluded to make use of +this faulty title, for want of a better, confident that when my whole +thought under it is developed it will result in producing evidence for +the truth of the claims of the book. + +That the structure of the Book of Mormon is complex all who read it +know. The first part of it is made up of the translation of unabridged +records, the small plates of Nephi. The second part is made up of the +translation of abridged books (Mormon's abridgment), Mormon, however, +retaining for the several parts of his abridgment the title of the +respective books he abridged. + +I have already pointed out the fact [10] that Mormon's condensed +narrative from the original Nephite records makes up the body of his +work; with occasional direct quotations from the original records, and +the whole more or less confused by his running comments, unseparated +from the body of his work save by the sense of the text. All this is +complex enough surely, but the end is not yet; for within the old +Nephite records Mormon had at hand while doing the work of abridgment, +there were still other books. That is, books within books; as, for +instance, the Book of Zeniff within the Book of Mosiah, which see. + [11] Also the account of the church founded by the first Alma, +likewise within the book of Mosiah. Also the account of the missionary +expedition to the Lamanites by the young Nephite princes, sons of +King Mosiah II., within the book of Alma, which see. [12] Mormon, +coming to these books within books, followed that order also in his +abridgment; so that as in the original Nephite records, we have books +within books, so within Mormon's abridgment we have abridged records +within abridged records. Then, as if to cap the climax of complexity +in structure, Mormon writes a book of his own to which he gives his +own name. That is, calls it the Book of Mormon; the last two chapters +of which, however, are written by Moroni. Then follows what may be +called the third part of the Book of Mormon--Moroni's abridgment of the +twenty-four plates of Ether, which gives us so much of the history as +we have of the Jaredites. By this arrangement the history of the first +people to occupy the western hemisphere, (after the flood), comes last +in the Book of Mormon; and Moroni's abridgment of the Jaredite record +has much of the complexity of his father's abridgment of the Nephite +records. + +Now, with all this before the mind of the reader--whether he regards +Joseph Smith, Solomon Spaulding, or Sidney Rigdon as the author of the +Book of Mormon--I submit to him the question: Would either ingenuity or +stupidity in a modern author suggest such complexity in the structure +of a book as this? Can a parallel case be pointed to in the modern +making of books? + +If the Book of Mormon were modern in structure and its author or +authors had the conception that this western world was peopled by a +colony coming from the Euphrates valley, in very ancient times, and +subsequently by two other colonies from Judea, one leaving 600 B. +C. and the other shortly afterwards, in giving the history of those +people, would not the modern author have begun with the most ancient +colony and treated the history of the respective peoples in the order +of their occupancy of the western continents? Then, again: If the Book +of Mormon is mere fiction, the idle coinage of an inventive, modern +author, why three migrations? + +If the object of the modern author was merely to convey an idea how +a civilized race in ancient times occupied the western world, why +would not the first migration--the Jaredite--have answered all his +purposes? Or why not take the second migration--the Nephite--for the +accomplishment of such a purpose? Why complicate it by bringing in the +migration of Mulek's colony, when the simple treatment of developing +the Nephite colony into national proportions would have been sufficient +for the purpose of a work of fiction? One other question I would submit +relative to the Jaredite record and the strange place it occupies in +the Book of Mormon. The plates of Ether were found by an expedition +sent out from Zeniff's colony about 123 B. C., and were translated +shortly afterwards by Mosiah II., who was a seer; that is, he was able +to use Urim and Thummim in the translation of strange languages. Now, +why did not Mormon include an abridgment of Mosiah's translation of +the plates of Ether in his abridgment of Nephite records, allowing it +to stand in his collection of plates as his abridgment of the Book of +Zeniff stands within his abridgment of the Book of Mosiah, instead +of passing the matter by and leaving it for his son Moroni to make a +translation direct from the Book of Ether, thus throwing the history +of the first inhabitants of the western world, after the flood, to the +very last part of the record? Candidly, does the complex structure of +the Book of Mormon appeal to one as at all modern in its arrangement? +Are modern books so constructed? And yet, notwithstanding all the +complexity in the structure of the book, each part is so in harmony +with every other part, and with the whole, that really, after all, it +is a very simple book, and one readily understood. It is clear that the +very peculiar circumstances under which the Book of Mormon was compiled +by the original Nephite writers, and that neither the ingenuity nor +the stupidity of Joseph Smith, nor of any other modern writer, is +responsible for this peculiar structure of the book. And, moreover, +since the book in its details retains harmonious consistency with +the plan of its structure, must not such a fact be conceded to be an +incidental evidence in favor of its claims? + +Footnotes + +1. Ether vi: 27. Ibid. ix: 15-22. Ibid. x: 10 et. seq. + +2. Ether ix: 14, 15, 21, 22. Ibid. x: 13. + +3. Mosiah xxix: 21-23. See also remarks, chapters x, and xiii. + +4. Perhaps it may be thought that an exception should be made in the +matter of Lamanite kingdoms, of which I have spoken (chapter xiii) as +constituting at one period of Lamanite history, a sort of confederacy +of kingdoms; but this does not affect the statement of the text which +is dealing with the form of government. I believe myself justified in +saying that whether reference is made to the petty Lamanite kingdoms +or the central kingdom to which they were tributary, the principle +in government will be found the same--the king is the source of all +political power, the monarchy is "simple," the kingly power absolute. + +5. Doc. & Cov., Sec. ci: 76-80. + +6. Letters of Joseph Smith, from Liberty Prison, under date of March +25, 1839--to the Church of the Latter-day Saints. History of the +Church, Vol. III., p. 304. + +7. See De Tocqueville's Constitution of the U. S., Vol. I. + +8. See Chapter xiii. + +9. Ante pp. 216-7. + +10. See Ante Chapter xxxvii. + +11. Book of Mosiah, p. 181 (current edition). + +12. Book of Mormon, p 283 (current edition). + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +INTERNAL EVIDENCES--THE ORIGINALITY OF THE BOOK OF MORMON AN EVIDENCE +IN SUPPORT OF ITS CLAIMS. + +How far originality may be insisted upon as a necessary element in a +book avowedly containing a revelation from God is an open question; +just as how far originality in a prophet may be insisted upon is. +In both cases, however, it cannot be doubted but that originality +would be regarded as evidence of considerable weight in favor of the +divinity of the message of either prophet or book. Somehow men look for +originality in any thing that purports to be a revelation from God, +come how it will. They look for a word "from the inner fact of things" +in a revelation. A new word that shall add somewhat to the sum of known +things, and spoken in a way to attract anew the attention of men. And +yet it must not be forgotten that "every scribe which is instructed +unto the kingdom of heaven * * * bringeth forth out of his treasure +things new and old" [1]--the old, mark you, as well as the new--and one +of olden time doubted even if there really was any new thing under the +sun. "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that +which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing +under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, see, this is +new? It hath been already of old time, which was before us." [2] + +From all which I conclude that while in a way originality may be +regarded as affording some evidence in favor of the claims of a prophet +and his message, or of a book and its revelation, still originality is +not an indispensable quality in either prophet or book. Contemporary +prophets, or prophets living in succession, may come burdened with the +same word of the Lord, with the same divine message; but the one who +speaks secondly or thirdly, and hence with all claim to originality +gone, is none the less God's messenger; and the word he speaks may not +with safety be rejected for that it lacks the quality of originality. +So, too, with books. It would be a senseless manner of handling the +scriptures to reject the books called first and second Chronicles +because they chiefly duplicate the matter of the books called first +and second Kings, and have little originality to commend them to our +acceptance. So with the books of the New Testament. Accepting for our +purpose here the order in which they stand in the commonly received +versions of the New Testament, as the order in which the books were +written, shall the book of Mark be rejected because in the main it +deals with the same matter that engages the attention of Matthew, +and there is but little on the score of its originality of matter to +commend it as an inspired book? The same question could be asked in +relation to the book of Luke. The truth is that God in books as in +prophets sometimes requires more than one for a witness to his message, +and hence repeats the revelation in a number of inspired books, in +which case the books merely repeating the revelation are as truly +inspired, as truly scripture as the one in which the message first +appeared, although it could be said that the quality of originality is +wholly wanting. + +Since the Book of Mormon feigns the introduction of no new religion, +but gives merely an account of the introduction of the Christian +religion in the western hemisphere, by inspired teachers, both before +and after the coming of Messiah, and by the personal ministry of +Messiah after his resurrection; and as the Christian religion is always +the same, in all times and in all lands, it must have been the same +when introduced into America as when taught in Judea--where is room +for originality? Is not originality by the very nature of the claims +of the Book of Mormon excluded? The reader, I believe, will recognize +the force of the question; and I take occasion here to remark that +the point in the question exhibits the weakness of those objections +that are sometimes urged against the Book of Mormon on the score of +sameness of matter in it and the New Testament; and also it exhibits +how senseless is the clamor for the existence of some new moral or +religious truth [3] in the Book of Mormon, not to be found in the Old +or New Testaments. + +Since, then, the Book of Mormon, so far as it treats of religion, +treats of the Christian religion, it is comparison not contrast that +should be made; sameness, not difference that should be looked for; +identity of moral and religious truths, not differences; accordance +with old truths, rather than the existence of new ones. The Christian +religion may not be contrasted with itself; and as the fullness of the +gospel was revealed in the proclamation of it in Judea, it would be +sufficient if a dispensation of the same gospel proclaimed in America +is in strict accordance with that taught in Judea. In fact this is +all that the nature of the case strictly requires. Still, after the +reasonableness of all this is established, there may be claimed for the +Book of Mormon an originality in the fact of the existence of new and +important Christian truths in its pages; as, also an originality of +emphasis placed on certain other Christian truths. + +This much that a proper estimate may be formed of the value of +originality as an evidence of the divine authenticity or inspiration of +a book; neither giving an exaggerated value to it on the one hand, nor +accounting it of little or no importance on the other. + +I. + +_Originality of Structure._ + +In enumerating the several particulars in which the Book of Mormon +manifests originality, I would name its peculiar structure--so at +variance with all modern ideas of book making--pointed out in the +treatment of the last subdivision of chapter xxxviii, and ask the +reader to consider that treatise brought over into this subdivision, +and the peculiar structure of the Book of Mormon made one, and the +first, of the evidences of its originality. + +II. + +_Originality in Names._ + +So also as to names; so far as they are original, I would have that +fact considered as another, the second, evidence of the originality +of the Book of Mormon; and so much of that treatise as deals with the +originality of the names, (see chapter xxxvii) considered as brought +over into this subdivision. + +III. + +_In the Manner of its Coming Forth._ + +In the manner of its coming forth no less than in its structure and +its names, the Book of Mormon is original. It must be remembered that +at the time of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon such a thing +as a new revelation from God was utterly unlooked for. Indeed it was +the consensus of Christian opinion and teaching that the time of +revelation had passed; that the days of miracles were over; that God +in the Christian dispensation to mankind (the dispensation in which +Messiah ministered in person) spoke the final word; that no more divine +communication would be given. Speculating upon this very subject in +connection with the desirability for knowledge respecting the ancient +inhabitants of America, Ethan Smith, in his "View of the Hebrews; or +the Tribes of Israel in America," says, most emphatically: + + We are to expect no new revelation from heaven, and the days of + miracles are thought to be past. We probably must look for just + such evidence to exhibit to the world that people so long lost [as + the ten Tribes of Israel], as is in fact exhibited by the natives + of America. [4] + +It is well to remember that this was said some years before the +Book of Mormon was published, and I repeat that it represents the +generally accepted Christian idea concerning revelation and miracles. +Furthermore, it is notorious that the prime objection urged against +the Book of Mormon was the fact that it claimed to be a new revelation +from God; and the arguments found in the discourses and writings of +the early Elders of the Church clearly prove that the chief contention +over the Book of Mormon in those early days was on this point. [5] It +follows, therefore, that Joseph Smith's account of the manner in which +the Book of Mormon was brought forth and translated was a very original +one; for it involved a revelation from God to make known its existence, +and what men call a miracle to secure its translation. Here, then, was +not only originality, but a bold contradiction of what was supposed to +be the most completely settled doctrine of modern Christendom, _viz_. +that the age of revelations and miracles had forever passed away. It +is scarcely probable that imposters would move along such lines as +these. The proclamation of a new revelation making known the existence +of a new volume of scripture was the most remarkable innovation upon +Christian opinion that the world had ever witnessed. Orthodoxy stood +aghast at the presumption as they called it; and seemed for a time to +forget all other points of controversy in order to concentrate their +attack upon this innovation of their most cherished idea. They thought +the very claim that the Book of Mormon involved a new revelation from +God was sufficient to justify its rejection. Yet never was opposition +so completely demolished in controversy as this sectarian argument +against new and continual revelation. So completely was it overthrown +that we to-day scarcely ever hear it mentioned. With this, however, I +have nothing further to do. My only point at present is that there was +a bold originality in Joseph Smith's account of the coming forth and +translation of the Book of Mormon, which, in addition to contravening +the accepted Christian opinion of the times on the subject of +revelation and miracles, carried with it much weight in support of the +claims made for this American volume of scripture; for surely imposters +seeking to foist a book upon the world either for obtaining fame or +money would never be found moving along lines so diametrically opposite +to accepted opinions. + +IV. + +_Its Accounting for the Peopling of America._ + +In its account of peopling America no less than in its structure and +the manner in which its existence was made known and its translation +accomplished, the Book of Mormon is original. All the books on +American antiquities that could possibly have been accessible to +Joseph Smith and his associates favored the theory of migrations from +northeastern Asia by way of Behring Straits where the Asiatic and +American continents approach each other. See Josiah Priest's American +Antiquities, preface. Ethan Smith, referring to the authorities that he +was acquainted with on this subject, says: + + All seem to agree that the Indians came from the northwest, and + overspread the continent to the south. * * * * * I forbear to + offer any further remarks upon these testimonies incidentally + afforded by this most celebrated author, [meaning Humboldt]. Let + them be duly weighed by the judicious reader; and he surely cannot + doubt but that the natives of America came from the north over + Behring's Straits; and descended from a people of as great mental + cultivation, as were the ancient family of Israel. [6] + +Not only were such the prevailing views at the time Ethan Smith wrote, +1825, but even to this day the same general opinion prevails among +authorities; [7] that is, that America was peopled from Asia by way +of Behring Straits. The migrations of the Book of Mormon, however, +contravene this quite generally accepted theory. While it is supposed +that the Jaredites passed out of the Euphrates valley and wandered +several years eastwardly through Asia, they crossed the Pacific and +landed in the south part of the north continent of America and settled +in a district of country they afterwards called Moron, near what was +afterwards the Nephite province called Desolation, which was in the +region of country known to us as the Central American States. [8] +The Nephite colony, as we have seen [9], landed on the west coast of +South America about thirty degrees south latitude; and Mulek's colony +is supposed to have landed somewhere in the south part of the North +American continent. These Book of Mormon accounts of migrations to +the American continents constitute the widest possible departure from +usually accepted theories upon the subject. + +V. + +_The Nativity of Ancient American Peoples._ + +The Book of Mormon is original with reference to the facts it presents +respecting the nativity of its peoples. On this point, more is +sometimes claimed by believers in the Book of Mormon than is warranted +by the facts in the case. For example, it is sometimes stated that the +Israelitish origin of the native Americans was first asserted by the +Book of Mormon. That is not true. Long before the advent of the Book +of Mormon James Adair, whose work was published in 1775, advanced the +theory that the native American Indians were the Lost Ten Tribes of +Israel, and argued for the truth of his theory at great length. [10] +Ethan Smith, in his work we have several times quoted, advances the +theory that the native Indians were the "Ten Lost Tribes of Israel," +the very title of his book--"View of the Hebrews; or the Tribes of +Israel in America"--is the evidence of his holding that theory. + +It is therefore a mistake to say that the idea of Israelitish descent +of the native American Indians originated with the Book of Mormon. +Indeed the theory that the native Americans were the Ten Lost Tribes +of Israel found many advocates both in Europe and the United States, +especially, I may say, in the New England states, before 1830. Wherein +the Book of Mormon is original in respect of this matter is that while +declaring the Israelitish descent of the ancient people of America, +it directly contravenes the idea that the native Americans, are the +Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, by incidentally declaring those tribes to +be in another part of the world, and Jesus announcing to the Nephites +his intention to appear unto them, and administer among them. [11] Of +course reference to Israelitish descent is here made to the two last +migrations only, that is, to the colony of Lehi, and the colony of +Mulek. The colony of Jared were doubtless of the same race, but of +earlier ancestors, among whom the patriarch Shem. The Book of Mormon +refers to Lehi's colony as made up of descendants of Manasseh [Lehi] +and Ephraim [Ishmael] [12] while the colony of Mulek were Jews. + +From this it appears that the Book of Mormon is as boldly original +in declaring the nativity of these colonies that peopled America +with teeming millions of their descendants, as it is in its account +of the course of their migrations or the manner in which the Book of +Mormon came forth. For, in limiting the nativity of these colonies to +the descendants of Joseph and of Judah, it as radically contravenes +existing opinions upon the subject as it does in respect of the manner +in which the book came forth, and the course of migration. + +VI. + +_Accounting for the Existence of Christian Ideas in America._ + +The Book of Mormon is original in the matter of accounting for the +existence of Christian ideas and doctrines among the native Americans. +I would have this statement so understood as to include all Bible +ideas, since right conceptions of Christianity in its fullness includes +the Old Testament and the dispensation of God to the children of men +described therein as part of the Christian heritage, as well as the +specific Christian dispensation which is described in the New Testament. + +The manner in which the Book of Mormon accounts for Christian ideas +and doctrines among native Americans is, first, by detailing the facts +of direct revelation of Christian truths to the ancient inhabitants +of America, as, for instance, in the case of the Prophet Moriancumer +among the Jaredites, where that great prophet is represented as being +permitted to stand in the revealed presence of the preexisting spirit +of Jesus Christ, and to hear the proclamation that in him should all +mankind have life and that eternally; and that as he appeared unto +that prophet in the spirit, so would he appear unto his people in the +flesh; and that those who would believe on his name should become +his sons and daughters. [13] Also the revelation of Christian truths +vouchsafed to the first Nephi; who, in vision, some hundreds of years +before the advent of Christ, was permitted to foresee the birth of +the Redeemer, the labors of his forerunner, John the Baptist, who +prepared the way before him, and much of the Judean ministry of Christ, +including his crucifixion, his resurrection, and the establishment +of his ministry through twelve Apostles; so also his advent and +ministry among the inhabitants of the western world, [14] ending in +the establishment of the Christian sacraments, and of the Christian +Church, as the sacred depository of Christian truths. Secondly, the +Book of Mormon accounts for the existence of Christian ideas and +doctrines among native American races by declaring the Nephites to be +in possession of the Hebrew scriptures extant among that people from +the beginning up to 600 B. C., including the five books of Moses, some +of the writings of Isaiah and Jeremiah. [15] And also ascribing to +the Jaredites the knowledge of most ancient events through scriptures +in their possession, dealing with events from the Tower of Babel back +to the very days of Adam. [16] It is, then, by most direct means of +the revelations of God to the ancient inhabitants of America and the +personal ministration of Jesus Christ among them and the knowledge +imparted by these several volumes of very ancient scripture that the +Book of Mormon accounts for the existence of Christian ideas and +Christian truths among the native Americans. + +There is nothing like this in the theories of men to account for the +existence of these truths in America. In the first place let the +reader be assured that it is quite generally conceded by the very best +authorities that ideas closely analogous to Christian truths are found +in the traditions of the native Americans. "Most ancient and modern +authors," says De Roo, "agree in saying that the Christian religion +has been taught on our [the American] continent at an epoch not so +very much anterior to the Columbian discovery. Bastian establishes the +latter opinion by the numerous analogies he points out between the +religious belief and practices of the Christians and those of American +aborigines. Von Humboldt admits the parity to be so striking as to +have given the Spanish missionaries a fine opportunity to deceive the +natives by making them believe that their own was none other than the +Christian religion. 'Not a single American missionary who has, until +this day, left any writing has forgotten to notice the evident vestiges +of Christianity which has in former time penetrated even among the most +savage tribes,' says Dr. de Mier, commenting on Sahagun's History. +Quite a number of ancient writers, such as Garcilasso de la Vega, +Solorzano, Acosta, and others are equally explicit in asserting that +several Christian tenets and practices were found among our aborigines; +but they deny their introduction by Christian teachers, giving, strange +to say, to the devil the honor of spreading the light of Christianity, +in spite of his hatred of it." [17] Later he says: + + No modern student of American antiquity fails to notice the close + and striking resemblances between several leading particulars + of Christian faith, morals, and ceremonies and those of ancient + American religions. Sahagun, who wrote in Mexico about the middle + of the sixteenth century, and took such great pains to be correctly + informed in regard to all religious rites of our aborigines, states + already that all the Spanish missionaries who wrote in America + before him had pointed out the numerous vestiges of Christianity to + be found even among the savage Indian tribes. [18] + +Devil propaganda of Christianity was quite a favorite theory with many +of the early Spanish writers, while others advanced the theory that +Christian apostles had evangelized the western hemisphere. Among the +latter was the Archbishop of San Domingo, Davilla Padilli, a royal +chronicler who wrote a book to prove that Christian apostles had +formerly preached in the West Indies. So also Torquemada holds the same +opinion, although he admits of the possibility of the devil teaching +Christianity. More modern writers seek to account for the existence of +these Christian analogies in other ways. Prescott for instance, in his +Conquest of Peru, says: + + In the distribution of bread and wine at this high festival, [the + feast of Raymi] the orthodox Spaniards who first came into the + country saw a striking resemblance to the Christian communion; + as in the practice of confession and penance, which, in a most + irregular form indeed, seems to have been used by the Peruvians, + they discerned a coincidence with another of the sacraments of the + Church. The good fathers were fond of tracing such coincidences, + which they considered as the contrivance of Satan, who thus + endeavored to delude his victims by counterfeiting the blessed + rites of Christianity. Others, in a different vein, imagined that + they saw in such analogies the evidence that some of the primitive + teachers of the gospel, perhaps an apostle himself, had paid a + visit to these distant regions and scattered over them the seeds of + religious truth. But it seems hardly necessary to invoke the Prince + of Darkness, or the intervention of the blessed saints to account + for coincidences which have existed in countries far removed from + the light of Christianity, and in ages, indeed, when its light had + not yet risen on the world. It is much more reasonable to refer + such casual points of resemblance to the general constitution of + man and the necessities of his moral nature. [19] + +Of which I think De Roo very justly remarks: "The Christian mysteries +admitted by the ancient Peruvians and Mexicans could hardly find +their origin in man's constitution; nor are religious practices, like +baptism, fasting, celibacy, and a cloistered life, to be considered +as necessities of man's moral, yet corrupt nature. More reasonable and +better historical causes should be found to account for the presence of +Christian faith and Christian rites in ancient America." [20] + +H. H. Bancroft also concedes the existence of rites among native +Americans analogous to those existing among Jews and Christians, but +regards them as mere coincidences. He says: + + Many rites and ceremonies were found to exist among the civilized + nations of America that were very similar to certain others + observed by the Jews and Christians in the old world. The + innumerable speculators on the origin of the aboriginal inhabitants + of the new world, or at least on the origin of their civilization, + have not neglected to bring forward these coincidences--there is + no good reason to suppose them anything else--in support of their + various theories. [21] + +On which De Roo remarks: "Coincidences, so many, so striking, in faith, +in morals, and liturgy! Coincidences, indeed, little short of wonders!" + +Nadaillac also would refer these "coincidences" to natural causes. He +says "No dissemination of merely Christian ideas, since the conquest +[by the Spaniards] is sufficient to account for these myths [having +in mind the traditions of the creation, flood, migrations, Christian +analogies, etc.], which appear to have their root in the natural +tendencies of the human mind in its evolution from a savage state." [22] + +And so in these various ways men would account for the existence of +Christian ideas and doctrines; but it was reserved for Joseph Smith, +the Prophet of the dispensation of the fullness of times, through the +Book of Mormon, to announce the boldly original idea that knowledge +of Christian truths and doctrines had their origin among native +American peoples in direct revelation to them from God; in the personal +ministration of the Lord Jesus Christ, after his resurrection from +the dead; and from being in possession of ancient scriptures which +to the Nephites, no less than to the Jews, made known God's plan of +redemption for mankind through the personal suffering and resurrection +of his Son Jesus Christ. I hold that the very originality and boldness +of these assertions respecting the direct means by which the people of +America in ancient times received their knowledge of Christian truths, +and which so far transcend the timid and tentative speculations of +men, even of the most intelligent and courageous, have about them an +atmosphere of truth that is most convincing; moreover, I cannot help +but believe that originality in respect of such things as are here set +down; structure, names, the manner of coming forth, in its account of +peopling America, the nativity of American people, and lastly this +accounting for the existence of Christian ideas among native American +races, is of a vastly greater importance than originality in mere +phraseology or style of composition. + +Footnotes + +1. Matt. xiii: 52. + +2. Ecclesiastes i: 9, 10. + +3. For this clamor see a brief discussion on the Book of Mormon +between the writer and an "Unknown" writer in "The Salt Lake Tribune," +impressions of Nov. 22, 29; and December 6, 13, 1903. See also "The +Golden Bible" (Lamb), Edition of 1887, p. 207-213. Also the views of +the Rev. Dr. Wm. M. Paden, of the First Presbyterian Church; Salt Lake +City, quoted by the writer in a discourse on "The Fifth Gospel"--Third +Nephi--"Defense of the Faith and the Saints," Vol. I, pp. 373-399. + +4. View of the Hebrews, 2nd Edition, (1825) pp. 168, 169. + +5. See the works of Orson and Parley P. Pratt; John Taylor's Discussion +with three ministers in France; early volumes of Millennial Star, +Spencer's Letters--in fact all the early Church literature. Of late +opponents of the Book of Mormon have not pressed this point of +controversy, since the sectarian arguments respecting it have been +utterly demolished. For a brief consideration of the various points of +that argument see "New Witnesses for God," Vol. I., Ch. viii. + +6. View of the Hebrews, pp. 187, 188 + +7. See chapter xxix, especially taking account of foot note references. + +8. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, Reynolds, p. 168. And Vol. II, pp. +139-40. + +9. Vol. II, pp. 157-8. + +10. See this volume, pp. 46-48. + +11. See III. Nephi xv, xvi, xvii. + +12. The statement here that Ishmael was of Ephraim is set down upon +the authority, first, of inference. The inference is based upon the +fact as already stated that there are promises in the Hebrew scriptures +respecting Ephraim which cannot be realized so far as we know, except +through the seed of Ephraim dwelling upon the land of America, as +we have seen in considering the evidence of the Bible for the truth +of the Book of Mormon; and as Lehi and his family were of the tribe +of Manasseh, and Mulek's colony being Jews, it leaves the family of +Ishmael, and perhaps Zoram, the servant of Laban to introduce the +descendants of Ephraim into the western world. Second, a number of +Latter-day Saints, familiarly acquainted with the Prophet Joseph +Smith, declare that in conversation they had known him to say that in +Mormon's abridgment of the book of Lehi (which supplied the 116 pages +of manuscript lost by Martin Harris) it was plainly stated that Ishmael +was of the tribe of Ephraim. Among those who heard such remarks was +the late Elder Franklin D. Richards, of the Council of the Apostles +and Church Historian, who records his recollection of the Prophet's +statement in the following manner: + +"One day in the autumn of that year, (1843) as I was passing near, +(the "Nauvoo Mansion") it being in warm weather, I observed the door +standing open and the Prophet Joseph inside conversing with one of +the brethren, leaning against the counter. It being a public house, I +ventured to walk in, and scarcely had more than time to exchange usual +civilities, when this brother said: 'Brother Joseph, how is it that we +call the Book of Mormon the Stick of Joseph, in the hands of Ephraim, +when the book itself tells us that Lehi was of the lineage of Manasseh? +I cannot find in it about the seed of Ephraim dwelling on this land at +all.' Joseph replied: 'You will recollect that when Lehi and his family +had gone from Jerusalem out into the wilderness, he sent his son Nephi +back to the city to get the plates which contained the law of Moses and +many prophecies of the prophets, and that he also brought out Ishmael +and his family, which were mostly daughters. This Ishmael and his +family were of the lineage of Ephraim, and Lehi's sons took Ishmael's +daughters for wives, and this is how they have grown together, 'a +multitude of nations in the midst of the earth.' + +"'If we had those one hundred and sixteen pages of manuscript which +Martin Harris got away with, you would know all about it, for Ishmael's +ancestry is made very plain therein. The Lord told me not to translate +it over again, but to take from Nephi's other plates until I came to +the period of time where the other translation was broken off, and +then go on with Mormon's abridgment again. That is how it came about +that Ishmael's lineage was not given in the Book of Mormon, as well as +Lehi's."'--Frankling D. Richards, "The Contributor," Vol. XVII, p. 425. + +13. Ether iii. + +14. I. Nephi x: 11, 12. + +15. See I. Nephi v: 11. + +16. Ether i: 3-6. + +17. History of America Before Columbus, P. De Roo, Vol. I., 423, 424. + +18. Ibid. p. 517. + +19. Conquest of Peru, Vol. I., pp. 96, 97. + +20. History of America Before Columbus, Vol. I., pp. 523-4. + +21. Native Races, Vol. III., pp. 438-9 + +22. Prehistoric America, p.531. + + + +CHAPTER XL + +INTERNAL EVIDENCES.--THE ORIGINALITY OF THE BOOK OF MORMON AN EVIDENCE +IN SUPPORT OF ITS CLAIMS. (Continued.) + +VII. + +_The Fall of Adam--The Purpose of Man's Earth Existence._ + +In the matter of some Christian truths, it sets forth, as well as in +some it emphasizes, the Book of Mormon is original; and in none more so +than in dealing with the doctrine of Adam's fall, and the purpose of +man's existence. + +In the second book of Nephi, chapter ii, occurs the following direct, +explicit statement: + + Adam fell that men might be: and men are that they might have joy. + +This sentence is the summing up of a somewhat lengthy discussion +on the atonement, by the prophet Lehi. It is a most excellent and +important generalization, and is worthy to be classed with the +great generalizations of the Jewish scriptures, such for instance +as that in the closing chapter of Ecclesiastes, "Fear God and keep +his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man;" Paul's famous +generalization: "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be +made alive:" or the Apostle James' summing up of religion: "Pure +religion, and undefiled before God and the Father, is this, To visit +the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep one's self +unspotted from the world." Or of Messiah's great summing up of the +whole law and gospel; "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy +heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first +and great commandment, and the second is like unto it, Thou shalt +love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the +law and all the prophets." I care not whether you regard the literary +excellence of this Book of Mormon generalization or the importance of +the great truths which it announces, I repeat, it is worthy in every +way to stand with the great generalizations quoted above. It deals with +two of the mightiest problems of theology: + +1st, The reason for Adam's fall; + +2nd, The purpose of man's existence. + +Before entering into a consideration of these doctrines, however, +I must establish the fact of their Book of Mormon originality; for +I fancy there will be many who at first glance will be disposed to +question their being original with that book. It must be conceded, of +course, that the fact of man's fall is frequently mentioned in the +Bible. The story of it is told at length in Genesis. [1] It is the +subject of some of Paul's discourses; [2] and, indeed, it underlies the +whole Christian scheme for the redemption and salvation of mankind. +Yet, strange to say, there is not to be found a direct, explicit, and +adequate statement in all the Jewish scriptures as to _why_ Adam fell. +The same may be said with reference to the second part of this passage. +That is, there is nowhere in Jewish scriptures a direct, explicit, +adequate statement as to the _object_ of man's existence. + +These statements with reference to the absence of anything in Holy +scripture on these two important points, will, I know, be regarded as +extremely bold; and especially when made with reference to so large a +body of literature as is comprised in the Bible. Yet I make them with +confidence; and am helped to that conclusion from the fact that nowhere +in the creeds of men, based upon Jewish and Christian scripture, is +there to be found a direct statement upon these two subjects that has +in it the warrant of explicit, scriptural authority. Nowhere in the +creeds of men--the creeds of men! those generalizations of Christian +truths as men have conceived those truths to be; those deductions from +the teachings of Holy scripture--nowhere in them, I repeat are these +two great theological questions disposed of on scriptural authority. + +The Westminister Confession of Faith, which embodies the accepted +doctrine of one of the largest sects of Protestant Christendom, while +it indeed has a word, in fact several sections on the subject of Adam's +fall and its consequences, it contents itself with stating the fact of +it, the manner of it, as also, that God permitted it, "having purposed +to order it to his own glory," yet in such manner as himself not to be +chargeable with the responsibility of the sin; but nowhere is there +an explanation of _why_ Adam fell. With reference to the purpose of +man's creation--included in the treatment of the purpose of creation in +general--the creed ascribes the purpose of all the creative acts of God +to be "The manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom and +goodness." [3] and in an authoritative explanation of this part of the +creed it is said, "The design of God in creation was the manifestation +of his own glory." And again: "Our confession very explicitly takes the +position that the chief end of God in his eternal purposes and in their +temporal execution in creation and providence is the manifestation of +his own glory. The scriptures explicity assert that this is the chief +end of God in creation. [4]. * * * * * The manifestation of his own +glory is intrinsically the highest and worthiest end that God could +purpose to Himself." [5] + +The only business I have here with this declaration of the purpose of +God in creation--including the creation of man, of course--is simply to +call attention to the fact that it nowhere has the direct warrant of +scripture. + +The creed of the "Episcopalian Church," whose chief doctrines are +embodied in "The Book of Common Prayer," is silent upon the two +subjects in question, viz., "why" Adam fell; the "object" of man's +existence. The "Articles of Faith," it is true, speak of the "fall" of +Adam, and its effects upon the human race, but nowhere is it said "why" +Adam fell; or a "reason" given for man's existence. The creed proclaims +faith in God, "the Maker and Preserver of all things, both visible and +invisible;" but nowhere declares the purpose of that creation, and +consequently has no word as to the "object" of man's existence. + +The exposition of the Catholic creed on the same points, as set forth +in the Douay Catechism is as follows--and first as to the fall: + +Man was created in "the state of original justice, and perfection +of all natural gifts;" this "original justice" was lost "by Adam's +disobedience to God in eating the for-bidden fruit;" but nowhere is +there anything said as to the reason for this fall from the state of +"original justice." + +As to the purpose of man's creation, the Catechism has the following: + + Ques. What signify the words creation of heaven and earth? + + Ans. They signify that God made heaven and earth and all creatures + in them of nothing, by his word only. + + Ques. What moved God to make them? + + Ans. His own goodnesss, so that he may communicate himself to angels + and to man for whom he made all other creatures. [6] + +Speaking of the creation of the angels, the same work continues: + + Ques. For what end did God create them (the angels). + + Ans. To be partakers of his glory and to be our guardians. + +Referring again to man's creation the following occurs: + + Ques. Do we owe much to God for creation? + + Ans. Very much, because he made us in such a perfect state, + creating us for himself, and all things else for us. [7] + +From all which it may be summarized that the purposes of God in the +creation of man and angels, according to Catholic theology, is-- + +First, that God might communicate himself to them; Second, that they +might be partakers of his glory. + +Third, that he created them for himself, and all things else for them. + +While this may be in part the truth, and so far excellent, it has no +higher warrant of authority than human deduction, based on conjecture, +not scripture; and it certainly falls far short of giving to man--as +we shall see--that "pride of place" in existence to which his higher +nature and his dignity as a son of God entitles him. + +If in these creeds of the greater divisions of Christendom there is +found no clear and adequate explanation of the reason of Adam's fall, +or the purpose of man's existence, it may be taken for granted that +none of the minor divisions of Christendom have succeeded where these +have failed, since these larger divisions of Christendom embody in +their creeds the hived theological wisdom and the highest scholarship +of the Christian ages. + +The originality of these two Book of Mormon Doctrines established, let +us now consider if they are true and of what value they are, and what +effect they will probably have upon the ideas of men. I shall treat +them separately first, and in relation afterwards. + +"Adam fell that men might be." + +I think it cannot be doubted when the whole story of man's fall is +taken into account that in some way--however hidden it may be under +allegory--his fall was closely associated with the propagation of the +race. Before the fall we are told that Adam and Eve were in a state of +innocence; [8] but after the fall "The eyes of them both were opened +and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together +and made themselves aprons," [9] and also hid from the presence of the +Lord. + +In an incidental way Paul gives us to understand that Adam in the +matter of the first transgression "was not deceived," but that the +woman was. [10] It therefore follows that Adam must have sinned +knowingly, and perhaps deliberately; making choice of obedience between +two laws pressing upon him. With his spouse, Eve, he had received a +commandment from God to be fruitful, to perpetuate his race in the +earth. He had also been told not to partake of a certain fruit of +the Garden of Eden; but according to the story of Genesis, as also +according to the assertion of Paul, Eve, who with Adam received +the commandment to multiply in the earth, was deceived, and by the +persuasion of Lucifer induced to partake of the forbidden fruit. She, +therefore, was in transgression, and subject to the penalty of that +law which from the scriptures we learn included banishment from Eden, +banishment from the presence of God, and also the death of the body. +This meant, if Eve were permitted to stand alone in her transgression, +that she must be alone also in suffering the penalty. In that event +she would have been separated from Adam, which necessarily would have +prevented obedience to the commandment given to them conjointly to +multiply in the earth. In the presence of this situation, therefore, +it is to be believed that Adam was not deceived, either by the cunning +of Lucifer or the blandishments of the woman, deliberately, and with a +full knowledge of his act and its consequences, and in order to carry +out the purpose of God in the existence of man in the earth, shared +alike the woman's transgression and its effects, and this in order +that the first great commandment he had received from God, viz.--"Be +fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it"--might +not fail of fulfillment. Hence "Adam fell that man might be." + +The effect of this doctrine upon the ideas of men concerning the great +Patriarch of our race will be revolutionary. It seems to be the fashion +of those who assume to teach the Christian religion to denounce Adam +in unmeasured terms; as if the fall of man had surprised, if, indeed, +it did altogether thwart, the original plan of God respecting the +existence of man in the earth. The creeds of the churches generally +fail to consider the "fall" as part of God's purpose regarding this +world, and, in its way, as essential to the accomplishment of that +purpose as the "redemption" through Jesus Christ. Certainly there would +have been no occasion for the "redemption" had there been no "fall;" +and hence no occasion for the display of all that wealth of grace and +mercy and justice and love--all that richness of experience involved +in the gospel of Jesus Christ, had there been no "fall." It cannot be +but that it was part of God's purpose to display these qualities in +their true relation, for the benefit and blessing and experience and +enlargement and ultimate uplifting of man; and since there would have +been no occasion for displaying them but for the "fall," it logically +follows that the "fall," no less than the "redemption," must have been +part of God's original plan respecting the earth-probation of man. The +"fall," undoubtedly was a fact as much present to the fore-knowledge +of God as was the "redemption;" and the act which encompassed it must +be regarded as more praise-worthy than blame-worthy, since it was +essential to the accomplishment of the divine purpose. Yet, as I say, +those who assume to teach Christianity roundly denounce Adam for his +transgression. An accepted teacher of Catholic doctrine says: + + The Catholic Church teaches that Adam, by his sin, has not only + caused harm to himself, but to the whole human race; that by it + he lost the supernatural justice and holiness which he received + gratuitously from God, and lost it, not only for himself, but also + for all of us; and that he, having stained himself with the sin of + disobedience, has transmitted not only death and other bodily pains + and infirmities to the whole human race, but also sin, which is the + death of the soul. [11] + +And again: + + Unhappily, Adam, by his sin of disobedience, which was also a sin + of pride, disbelief, and ambition, forfeited, or, more properly + speaking, rejected that original justice; and we, as members of the + human family, of which he was the head, are also implicated in that + guilt of self-spoliation, or rejection and deprivation of those + supernatural gifts; not, indeed, on account of our having willed + it with our personal will, but by having willed it with the will + of our first parent, to whom we are linked by nature as members to + their head. [12] + +Still again, and this from the Catholic Douay Catechism: + + Q. How did we lose original justice? + + A. By Adam's disobedience to God in eating the forbidden fruit. + + Q. How do you prove that? + + A. Out of Rom. v: 12, "By one man sin entered into the world, and + by sin death; and so into all men death did pass, in whom all have + sinned." + + Q. Had man ever died if he had never sinned? + + A. He would not, but would live in a state of justice and at length + would be translated alive to the fellowship of the angels. [13] + +From a Protestant source I quote the following: + + In the fall of man we may observe: (1) The greatest infidelity. (2) + Prodigious pride. (3) Horrid ingratitude. (4) Visible contempt of + God's majesty and justice. (5) Unaccountable folly. (6) A cruelty + to himself and to all his posterity. [14] + +Another Protestant authority says: + + The tree of knowledge of good and evil revealed to those who ate + its fruit secrets of which they had better have remained ignorant; + for the purity of man's happiness consisted in doing and loving + good without even knowing evil. [15] + +From these several passages as also indeed from the whole tenor of +Christian writings upon this subject, the fall of Adam is quite +generally deplored and upon him is laid a very heavy burden of +responsibility. It was he, they complain, who, + + Brought death into the world, and all our woe. + +One great division of Christendom in its creed, it is true, in dealing +with the fall, concedes that "God was pleased according to his wise and +holy counsel, to permit [the fall] having purposed to order it to his +own glory." [16] + +And in an authoritative explanation of this section they say, "That +this sin [the fall] was permissively embraced in the sovereign purpose +of God." And still further in explanation: + + Its purpose [i. e., of the fall] being God's general plan, and one + eminently wise and righteous, to introduce all the new created + subjects of moral government into a state of probation for a time + in which he makes their permanent character and destiny depend upon + their own action. + +Still, this sin, described as being permissively embraced in the +sovereign purpose of Deity, God designed "to order it to his own +glory;" but it nowhere appears according to this confession of faith +that the results of the fall are to be of any benefit to man. The +only thing consulted in the theory of this creed seems to be the +manifestation of the glory of God--a thing which represents God as a +most selfish being--but just how the glory of God can be manifested +by the "fall" which, according to this creed, results in the eternal +damnation of the overwhelming majority of his "creatures," is not quite +apparent. + +Those who made this Westminister Confession, as also the large +following which accept it, concede that their theory involves them at +least in two difficulties which they confess it is impossible for them +to overcome. These are, respectively: First, "How could sinful desires +or volitions originate in the soul of mortal agents created holy like +Adam and Eve;" and, second, "how can sin be permissively embraced in +the eternal purpose of God and not involve him as responsible for the +sin?" "If it be asked," say they, "why God, who abhors sin, and who +benevolently desires the excellence and happiness of his creatures, +should sovereignly determine to permit such a fountain of pollution, +degradation, and misery to be opened, we can only say, with profound +reverence, 'Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight."' [17] + +These difficulties, however, are the creed's and those who accept it, +not ours, and do not further concern our discussion at this point. + +Infidels--under which general term (and I do not use it offensively) +I mean all those who do not accept the Christian creeds, nor believe +the Bible to be a revelation--infidels, I say, quite generally deride +the fall of man as represented both in the creeds of Christendom and +in the Bible. They regard the tremendous consequences attendant upon +eating the forbidden fruit as altogether out of proportion with the act +itself, and universally hold that a moral economy which would either +design or permit such a calamity as the fall is generally supposed to +be, as altogether unworthy of an all-merciful and just Deity. Thomas +Paine referring to it says: + + "Putting aside everything that might excite laughter by its + absurdity, or detestation by its profaneness, and confining + ourselves merely to an examination of the parts, it is impossible + to conceive a story more derogatory to the Almighty, more + inconsistent with his wisdom, more contradictory to his power, than + this story is. [18] + +In their contentions against the story of Genesis, no less than in +their war upon "the fall" and "original sin" in the men made creeds of +Christendom, infidels have denounced God in most blasphemous terms as +the author of all the evil in this world by permitting, through not +preventing, the fall; and they as soundly ridicule and abuse Adam for +the part he took in the affair. He has been held up by them as weak and +cowardly, because he referred his partaking of the forbidden fruit to +the fact that the woman gave to him and he did eat; a circumstance into +which they read an effort on the part of the man to escape censure, +perhaps punishment, and to cast the blame for his transgression upon +the woman. These scoffers proclaim their preference for the variations +of this story of a "fall of man" as found in the mythologies of various +peoples, say those of Greece or India. [19] But all this aside. The +truth is that nothing could be more courageous, sympathetic, or nobly +honorable than the course of our world's great Patriarch in his +relations to his wife Eve and the "fall." The woman by deception is +led into transgression, and stands under the penalty of a broken law. +Banishment from the presence of God; banishment from the presence +of her husband, if he partakes not with her in the transgression; +dissolution of spirit and body--physical death--all await her! +Thereupon, the man, not deceived, but knowingly (as we are assured by +Paul), also transgresses. Why? In one aspect of the case in order that +he might share the woman's banishment from the dear presence of God, +and with her die--than which no higher proof of love could be given--no +nobler act of chivalry performed. But primarily he transgressed that +"Man might be." He transgressed a less important law that he might +comply with one more important, if one may so speak of any of God's +laws. The facts are, as we shall presently see, that the conditions +which confronted Adam in his earth-life were afore time known to him; +that of his own volition he accepted them, and came to earth to meet +them. + +Man an Immortal Spirit. + +Man is an immortal spirit. By saying that, I mean not only a never +ending existence for the "soul" of man in the future, through the +resurrection, but a proper immortality that means the eternal existence +of the "ego"--interchangeably called "mind," "spirit," "soul," +"intelligence." I mean existence before birth as well as existence +after death. I believe that an "immortality" which refers to continued +existence after death only is but half a truth. A real immortality is +forever immortal, and includes an existence before life on earth as +surely as an existence after death. [20] This view of the intelligence +or spirit of man is supported by the Bible. Without going into the +subject at length I call attention to the fact that Jesus himself had +very clear conceptions of his own spirit-existence before his birth +into this world; a fact which is evident from the declaration he made +to the Jews when he said, "Verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, +I am." [21] (i. e. existed). And again, in his prayer in Gethsemane, "O +Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had +with thee before the world was." [22] This spirit pre-existence extends +also to all the children of men; who, in their physical structure +and even in faculties of mind, so nearly resembled Jesus, though, of +course, immeasurably below him in the developed excellence of those +qualities. We read of the "sons of God shouting for joy" in heaven +when the foundations of the earth were laid; [23] of the war in heaven +when Michael and his angels fought against the dragon (Satan), and the +dragon and his angels fought, and he with them was cast out into the +earth. [24] These were the angels which kept not their first estate, +but left their own habitation, and who are reserved in everlasting +chains unto the judgment of the last days. [25] "Before I formed thee +in the belly I knew thee," said the Lord to Jeremiah, "and sanctified +thee and ordained thee a prophet unto the nations;" [26] "We have had +fathers of the flesh, and we give them reverence," said Paul to the +Hebrews, "Shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the father of +spirits and live?" [27] All of which passages tend to prove that not +only Jesus but the spirits of all men existed before they tabernacled +in the flesh. This of course is but a brief glance at the question as +supported by the Jewish scriptures. [28] + +The Book of Mormon while not in any formal manner teaching this +doctrine of the pre-existence of the spirits of men, does so very +effectually in an incidental way. For example: the Lord Jesus, long +ages before his advent into earth-life, revealed himself to the Book of +Mormon character known as the Brother of Jared, and in doing so he said: + + Behold I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world + to redeem my people; * * * and never have I showed myself unto man + whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast. + Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image [likeness]? + Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own + image. Behold this body which ye now behold, is the body of my + spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and + even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit, will I appear unto + my people in the flesh. [29] + +Here a great doctrine is revealed. Not only the fact of the +pre-existence of the spirit of Jesus, the Christ, that is, the +existence of his spirit in tangible, human form before his earthly +existence, but a like existence for the spirits of all men is +proclaimed. Moreover, it is made known that as Jesus appeared in the +spirit to this Jaredite prophet, so would he appear unto his people +in the flesh. That is to say, the bodily form of flesh and bone would +conform in appearance to the spirit form; the earthly would be like +unto the heavenly, the human, to the divine. And so with all men. + +Christian theologians are thought to have discovered a great truth +when in the preface of St. John's Gospel they found the doctrine of +the co-eternity and co-divinity of the Father and the Son in the holy +trinity; namely, + + In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the + Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. * * * And the + Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, + the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and + truth. [30] + +The identity between the "Word" of this passage and Jesus--the +"Word made flesh" is complete. And he was in the beginning with +God--co-eternal with him; and the "Word was God."--that is, he was +divine, he was more, he was Divinity--he was Deity. + +In a revelation to Joseph Smith this same truth is repeated and more is +added to it, as follows: + + Verily, I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, + and am the first-born. * * * Ye [referring to the Elders in whose + presence the revelation was given] were also in the beginning with + the Father; that which is spirit [that is, that part of man which + is spirit, that was in the beginning with the Father]. * * Man [i. + e., the race, the term is generic] was also in the beginning with + God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, + neither indeed can be. [31] + +The doctrine in the foregoing quotation is in harmony with the Book of +Mormon and with the Bible; but goes beyond them in that it gives us +the understanding "that intelligence was not created or made, neither +indeed can be." That is to say, the individual intelligence in all men +was not created, or made, "neither indeed can be"--it is not only not +created but is _uncreatable_. + +There is something in man, then, that is eternal, uncreate. Just what +that is, the form of it, or the mode of its existence, we may not know, +since it has not pleased God so far to reveal these aspects of it. But +he has revealed the fact of its existence, the fact of its eternity, +the fact that it is an intelligence. One must needs think, too, that +the name of this eternal entity--what God calls him--conveys to the +mind some idea of his nature. He is called an "Intelligence;" and this +I believe is descriptive of him. That is, intelligence is the entity's +chief characteristic. If this be a true deduction, then the entity must +be conscious; conscious of self and of other things than self. He must +have the power to distinguish himself from other things--the "me" from +the "not me." He must have power of deliberation, by which he sets over +one thing against another; with power also to form a judgment that this +or that is a better thing or state than some other thing or state. +Also there goes with this idea of intelligence a power of choosing one +thing instead of another, one state rather than another--the power to +will to do this or that, else existence is meaningless, worthless, +mockery. These powers are inseparably connected with any idea that may +be formed of an intelligence. One cannot conceive of an intelligence +existing without these qualities any more than he can conceive of an +object existing in space without dimensions. The phrase, "the light of +truth." is given in the revelation above quoted as the equivalent of an +"Intelligence" here discussed; by which it is meant to be understood, +as I think, that intelligent entities perceive truth, are conscious of +truth, they know that which is, hence "the light of truth," that which +cognizes truth--"intelligences." These intelligences are begotten [32] +spirits that exist in human form. They exist so before they tabernacle +in the flesh. In this manner, first, and eternally, as an individual +intelligence, and secondly as a begotten spirit in human form, Jesus +existed; so the spirits of all men existed; so Adam existed, a Son of +God, for so the scriptures declare him to be. [33] + +In addition to teaching the doctrine of the pre-existence of man's +spirit, the Book of Mormon teaches also the indestructibility of the +spirit. The prophet Alma expressly says, that "the soul would never +die;" [34] which, according to Orson Pratt, in a foot note on the +passage, means that the "soul" could "never be dissolved, or its +parts be separated so as to disorganize the spiritual personage;" and +since the Book of Mormon teaches the pre-existence of this "soul," +or "spirit," and also teaches its continued existence between death +and the resurrection, [35] as also its indestructibility after the +resurrection, [36] it is very clear that the Book of Mormon teaches +what I have called "proper immortality of the soul;" an immortality +that extends pastward as well as foreward in time; or, in other words, +declares its essential, its eternal existence; hence its necessary +existence, hence that it is a self-existing entity. + +In thinking then upon this earth career of Adam's, it must be thought +of in connection with that pre-existence of his, of that eternal +existence of his, and of his knowledge of what would befall him when +he came to the earth. He came on no fool's errand, to be betrayed by +chance happenings. If redemption through Jesus Christ was a foreknown +circumstance,--and it was--and he was appointed as the "Lamb slain from +the foundation of the world," [37] to bring to pass man's redemption, +then surely the circumstance of man's fall was known, doubtless +pre-determined upon, and in some way essential to the accomplishment of +the purposes of God; not an accidental or even a temporary thwarting +of them; but as much a part of God's plan with reference to man's +earth-existence, as any circumstance whatsoever connected with that +existence. + +Let us now consider the second part of Lehi's Generalization: + +Men are that they might have joy. + +That is to say, the purpose of man's earth-life is in some way to be +made to contribute to his "joy," which is but another way of saying, +that man's earth-life is to eventuate in his advantage. + +"Men are that they might have joy!" What is meant by that? Have we +here the reappearance of the old Epicurean doctrine, "pleasure is the +supreme good, and chief end of life?" No, verily! Nor any other form of +old "hedonism" [38]--the Greek ethics of gross self-interest. For mark, +in the first place, the different words "joy" and "pleasure." They are +not synonymous. The first does not necessarily arise from the second, +"joy" may arise from quite other sources than "pleasure," from pain, +even, when the endurance of pain is to eventuate in the achievement +of some good: such as the travail of a mother in bringing forth her +offspring; the weariness and pain and danger of toil by a father, to +secure comforts for loved ones. Moreover, whatever apologists may say, +it is very clear that the "pleasure" of the Epicurean philosophy, +hailed as "the supreme good and chief end in life," was to arise from +agreeable sensations, or what ever gratified the senses, and hence +was, in the last analysis of it--in its roots and branches--in its +theory and in its practice--"sensualism." It was to result in physical +ease and comfort, and mental inactivity--other than a conscious, +self-complacence--being regarded as "the supreme good and chief end +of life." I judge this to be the net result of this philosophy since +these are the very conditions in which Epicureans describe even the +gods to exist; [39] and surely men could not hope for more "pleasure," +or greater happiness than that possessed by their gods. Cicero even +charges that the sensualism of Epicurus was so gross that he represents +him as blaming his brother, Timocrates, "because he would not allow +that everything which had any reference to a happy life was to be +measured by the belly; nor has he," continues Cicero, "said this once +only, but often." + +This is not the "joy," it is needles to say, contemplated in the Book +of Mormon. Nor is the "joy" there contemplated the "joy" of mere +innocence--mere innocence, which say what you will of it, is but a +negative sort of virtue. A virtue that is colorless, never quite +sure of itself, always more or less uncertain, because untried. [40] +Such a virtue--if mere absence of vice may be called virtue--would +be unproductive of that "joy" the attainment of which is set forth +in the Book of Mormon as the purpose of man's existence; for in the +context it is written, "They [Adam and Eve] would have remained in a +state of 'innocence.' Having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing +no good, for they knew no sin." From which it appears that the "joy" +contemplated in our Book of Mormon passage is to arise from something +more than mere innocence, which is, impliedly, unproductive of "joy." +The "joy" contemplated in the Book of Mormon passage is to arise out +of man's rough and thorough knowledge of evil, of sin; through knowing +misery, sorrow, pain and suffering; through seeing good and evil +locked in awful conflict; through a consciousness of having chosen +in that conflict the better part, the good; and not only in having +chosen it, but in having wedded it by eternal compact; made it his +by right of conquest over evil. It is a "joy" that will arise from a +consciousness of having "fought the good fight," of having "kept the +faith." It will arise from a consciousness of moral, spiritual and +physical strength. Of strength gained in conflict. The strength that +comes from experience; from having sounded the depths of the soul; from +experiencing all emotions of which mind is susceptible; from testing +all the qualities and strength of the intellect. A "joy" that will come +to man from a contemplation of the universe, and a consciousness that +he is an heir to all that is--a joint heir with Jesus Christ and God; +from knowing that he is an essential part of all that is. It is a joy +that will be born of the consciousness of existence itself--that will +revel in existence--in thoughts of and realizations of existence's +limitless possibilities. A "joy" born of the consciousness of the +power of eternal increase. A "joy" arising from association with the +Intelligences of innumerable heavens--the Gods of all eternities. A +"joy," born of a consciousness of being, of intelligence, of faith, +knowledge, light, truth, mercy, justice, love, glory, dominion, wisdom, +power; all feelings, affections, emotions, passions; all heights and +all depths! "Men are that they might have joy;" and that "joy" is based +upon and contemplates all that is here set down. + +We may now consider the "fall of man" and the "purpose of his +existence" as related subjects--as standing somewhat in the +relationship of means to an end. We shall now be able to regard the +"fall of man," not as an accident, not as surprising, and all but +thwarting, God's purposes, but as part of the divinely appointed +program of man's earth-existence. + +Here, then, stands the truth so far as it may be gathered from God's +word and the nature of things: There is in man an eternal, uncreate, +self-existing entity, call it "intelligence," "mind," "spirit," +"soul"--what you will, so long as you recognize it, and regard its +nature as eternal. There came a time when in the progress of things, +(which is only another way of saying in the "nature of things") an +earth career, or earth existence, because of the things it has to +teach, was necessary to the enlargement, to the advancement of these +"intelligences," these "spirits," "souls." Hence an earth is prepared; +and one sufficiently advanced and able, by the nature of him to bring +to pass the events, is chosen, through whom this earth-existence, +with all its train of events--its mingled miseries and comforts, its +sorrows and joys, its pains and pleasures, its good, and its evil--may +be brought to pass. He comes to earth with his appointed spouse. He +comes primarily to bring to pass man's earth life. He comes to the earth +with the solemn injunction upon him: "Be fruitful and multiply, and +replenish the earth, and subdue it." But he comes with the knowledge +that this earth-existence of eternal "Intelligences" is to be lived +under circumstances that will contribute to their enlargement, to their +advancement. They are to experience joy and sorrow, pain and pleasure; +witness the effect of good and evil, and exercise their agency in the +choice of good or of evil. To accomplish this end, the local, or earth +harmony of things must be broken. Evil to be seen, and experienced, +must enter the world, which can only come to pass through the violation +of law. The law is given--"of the tree of the knowledge of good and +evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day thou eatest of it thou +shalt surely die." The woman forgetful of the purpose of the earth +mission of herself and spouse is led by flattery and deceit into the +violation of that law, and becomes subject to its penalties--merely +another name for its effect. But the man, not deceived, but discerning +clearly the path of duty, and in order that earth-existence may be +provided for the great hosts of spirits to come to earth under the +conditions prescribed--he also transgresses the law, not only that +men might be, but that they might have that being under the very +circumstances deemed essential to the enlargement, to the progress of +eternal Intelligences. Adam did not sin because deceived by another. +He did not sin maliciously, or with evil intent; or to gratify an +inclination to rebellion against God, or to thwart the Divine purposes, +or to manifest his own pride. Had his act of sin involved the taking +of life rather than eating a forbidden fruit, it would be regarded +as a "sacrifice" rather than a "murder." This to show the nature of +Adam's transgression. It was a transgression of the law--"for sin is +the transgression of the law" [41]--that conditions deemed necessary to +the progress of eternal Intelligences might obtain. Adam sinned that +men might be, and not only "be," but "be" under conditions essential +to progress. But Adam did sin. He did break the law; and violation +of law involves the violator in its penalties, as surely as effect +follows cause. Upon this principle depends the dignity and majesty of +law. Take this fact away from moral government and your moral laws +become mere nullities. Therefore, notwithstanding Adam fell that men +might be, in his transgression there was at bottom a really exalted +motive--a motive that contemplated nothing less than bringing to pass +the highly necessary purposes of God with respect to man's existence +in the earth--yet his transgression of law was followed by certain +moral effects in the nature of men and in the world. The harmony of +things was broken; discord ruled; changed relations between God and +men took place, darkness, sin and death stalked through the world, +and conditions were brought to pass in the midst of which the eternal +Intelligences might gain those experiences that such conditions have to +teach. + +Now as to the second part of the great truth--"men are that they might +have joy"--viewed also in the light of the "Intelligence" or "spirit" +in man being an eternal, uncreated, self-existing entity. Remembering +what I have already said in these pages as to the nature of this "joy" +which it is the purpose of earth-existence to secure, remembering +from what it is to arise--from the highest possible development--the +highest conceivable enlargement of physical, intellectual, moral +and spiritual power--what other conceivable purpose for existence +in earth-life could there be for eternal Intelligences than this +attainment of "joy" springing from progress? Man's existence for the +manifestation alone of God's glory, as taught by the creeds of men, +is not equal to it. That view represents man as but a thing created, +and God as selfish and vain of glory. True, the Book of Mormon idea of +the purpose of man's existence, is accompanied by a manifestation of +God's glory; for with the progress of Intelligences there must be an +ever widening manifestation of the glory of God. It is written that +the "glory of God is Intelligence;" and it must follow, as clearly as +the day follows night, that with the enlargement, with the progress +of Intelligences, there must ever be a constantly increasing splendor +in the manifestation of the glory of God. But in the Book of Mormon +doctrine, the manifestation of that glory is incidental. The primary +purpose is not in that manifestation, but in the "joy" arising from the +progress of Intelligences. And yet that fact adds to the glory of God, +but our book represents the Lord as seeking the enlargement and "joy" +of kindred Intelligences, rather than the mere selfish manifestation +of his own, personal glory. "This is my work and my glory," says the +Lord, in another "Mormon" scripture, "to bring to pass the immortality +and eternal life of man, as man;" [42] and therein is God's "joy." A +"joy" that grows from the progress of others; from bringing to pass +the immortality and eternal life of "man." Not the immortality of the +"spirit" of man, mark you, for that immortality already exists, but to +bring to pass the immortality of the spirit and body in their united +condition, and which together constitutes "man." [43] And the purpose +for which man is, is that he might have "joy;" that "joy" which, in +the last analysis of things, should be even as God's "joy," and God's +glory, namely, the bringing to pass the progress, enlargement, and +"joy" of others. + +It is gratifying to know that this Book of Mormon definition of life +and its purpose, so far as it affects the human race, is receiving +unconscious support from some of the first philosophers of modern +days, among whom I may mention Lester F. Ward, author of "Outlines of +Sociology" and other scientific and philosophical works; a Lecturer +in the School of Sociology of the Hartford Society for Education +Extension. His "Outlines of Sociology" was published in 1904, and +in the chapter of that work, in which he discusses the relation of +sociology to psychology, (chapter v), he deals with the question of +life and its object. For the purpose of clearly setting forth his +thought, he says: + +"The biological [i. e. that which pertains merely to the life] must be +clearly marked off from the psychological [i. e. as here used, that +which pertains to feeling] standpoint. The former," he continues, +"is that of function, the latter that of feeling. It is convenient, +and almost necessary, in order to gain a correct conception of these +relations to personify Nature, as it were, and bring her into strong +contrast with the sentient [one capable of perception is here meant] +creature. Thus viewed, each may be conceived to have its own special +end. The end of Nature is function, i. e. life. It is biological. +The end of the creature is feeling, i. e. it is psychic. From the +standpoint of Nature, feeling is a means to function. From the +standpoint of the organism, function is a means to feeling. Pleasure +and pain came into existence in order that a certain class of beings +might live, but those beings, having been given existence, now live in +order to enjoy." + +Throughout the chapter he maintains that the purpose of man's existence +is for pleasure, but of course, holds that this pleasure is that of +the highest order, and not merely sensual pleasure. Finally, applying +the principles he lays down to the human race, its existence, the +purpose of that existence, and the means through which the end is to be +obtained--he adopts the following formula: + + The object of nature is function [i. e., life]. + + The object of man is happiness. + + The object of society is effort. + +Now, with very slight modifications, this formula may be made to +express the doctrine of Lehi in the Book of Mormon, as representing the +divine economy respecting man: + + Earth-life became essential to the progress of intelligences. + + Adam fell that man's earth-life might be realized. + + The purpose of man's existence is that he might have joy. + + The purpose of the gospel is to bring to pass that joy. + +In condensed form it may be made to stand as follows: + + The object of God in man's earth-life is progress. + + The object of man's existence is joy. + + The object of the gospel and the church is effort. + +A formula which so closely resembles this philosopher's--and his +philosophy is that of many other advanced modern thinkers--that it +justifies me in making the claim that the trend of the best modern +thought on these lines is coming into harmony with the truths stated in +the Book of Mormon. + +VIII. + +_The Agency of Man._ + +Respecting the "free agency" of man the Book of Mormon is quite +pronounced as to the fact of it, as the following quotations attest: + + I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether + it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto + men, according to their wills; whether they be unto salvation or + unto destruction. [44] + +Again, + + The Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Men are + free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which + are expedient unto man. And they are free to chose liberty and + eternal life, through the great mediation of all men, or to choose + captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the + devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto + himself. [45] + +The doctrine of the free agency of man could scarcely be more strongly +set forth than it is in these passages. + +A word in relation to this question of free agency. Of course it is +recognized as one of the great theological questions that has puzzled +mankind. By the phrase, free agency is here meant to represent that +power or capacity of the mind or spirit to act freely and of its own +volition, with reference to these matters, that are within the power +of its achievement. That is to say, it is not meant that by an act of +will man may overcome the force we call gravitation, and leave the +earth at his pleasure; or that he can pluck down the moon by an act of +will; or influence a mass of people at his will and against theirs; or +create two mountains without a valley between them; but what is meant +is, that man possesses the quality of determining his own actions, his +own course with reference to things that are within the realm of the +possibility of his achievement, and more especially, with reference to +moral questions; that man has the power to take a course in harmony +with those moral ideals that he has created by his own intellectual +force or that have been created for him by his education, or the +environment in which he has lived; that he can decide for himself to +walk in harmony with these ideals, or that wontingly, and against all +that he conceives to be to his best interest, he can violate them and +walk contrary to what in his heart he knows to be right and true. This +constitutes his freedom, his agency, and it is because of this fact +that he is morally responsible for his conduct. + +I have nowhere else found a statement of the facts involved in free +agency so clearly set forth as in Guizot's "History of Civilization," +from which I summarize the following: + + 1. _Power of Deliberation_--The mind is conscious of a power of + deliberation. Before the intellect passes the different motives + of action, interests, passions, opinions, etc. The intellect + considers, compares, estimates, and finally judges them. This is a + preparatory work which precedes the act of will. + + 2. _Liberty, Free Agency or Will_--When deliberation has taken + place--when man has taken full cognizance of the motives which + present themselves to him, he takes a resolution, of which he looks + upon himself as the author, which arises because he wishes it and + which would not arise unless he did wish it--here the fact of + agency is shown; it resides in the resolution which man makes after + deliberation; it is the resolution which is the proper act of man, + which subsists by him alone; a simple fact independent of all the + facts which precede it or surround it. + + 3. _Free Will, or Agency Modified_--At the same time that man + feels himself free, he recognizes the fact that his freedom is not + arbitrary, that it is placed under the dominion of a law which will + preside over it and influence it. What that law is will depend upon + the education of each individual, upon his surroundings, etc. To + act in harmony with that law is what man recognizes as his duty; it + will be the task of his liberty. He will soon see, however, that he + never fully acquits himself of his task, never acts in full harmony + with his moral law. Morally capable of conforming himself to his + law, he falls short of doing it. He does not accomplish all that he + ought, nor all that he can. This fact is evident, one of which all + may give witness; and it often happens that the best men, that is, + those who have best conformed their will to reason, have often been + the most struck with their insufficience. + + 4. _Necessity of External Assistance_--This weakness in man leads + him to feel the necessity of an external support to operate as + a fulcrum for the human will, a power that may be added to its + present power and sustain it at need. Man seeks this fulcrum on + all sides; he demands it in the encouragement of friends, in the + councils of the wise; but as the visible world, the human society, + do not always answer to his desires, the soul goes beyond the + visible world, above human relations, to seek this fulcrum of which + it has need. Hence the religious sentiment develops itself; man + addresses himself to God, and invokes his aid through prayer. + + 5. _Man Finds the Help He Seeks_--Such is the nature of man that + when he sincerely asks this support he obtains it; that is, seeking + it is almost sufficient to secure it. Whosoever, feeling his will + weak, invokes the encouragement of a friend, the influence of wise + councils, the support of public opinion, or who addresses himself + to God by prayer, soon feels his will fortified in a certain + measure and for a certain time. + + 6. _Influence of the Spiritual World on Liberty_--There are + spiritual influences at work on man--the empire of the spiritual + world upon liberty. There are certain changes, certain moral events + which manifest themselves in man without his being able to refer + their origin to an act of his will, or being able to recognize the + author. Certain facts occur in the interior of the human soul which + it does not refer to itself, which it does not recognize as the + work of its own will. There are certain days, certain moments in + which it finds itself in a different moral state from that which + it was last conscious of under the operations of its own will. In + other words, the moral man does not wholly create himself; he is + conscious that causes, that powers external to himself, act upon + and modify him imperceptibly--this fact has been called the grace + of God, which helps the will of man. + +After giving full weight to all the facts here set forth--and certainly +each one enters as a factor into the question of man's freedom--the +Book of Mormon doctrine stands true. There is such a quality of man's +mind. He is conscious of it. Conscious of the power of deliberation; +conscious of the existence of moral obligation pressing upon him; +conscious of his own weakness that makes him feel unable to rise to +the high level of his full duty; conscious of his need of external +assistance; conscious of his will being made stronger by appealing +to the counsel of his friends, and appealing to God for help through +prayer; conscious of the fact that he is in different states of moral +feeling at different times, owing, doubtless, to this appeal that he +makes to external aids--yet, in the last analysis of it all, he remains +conscious of the fact that what he does, not only can be, but is, a +self-determining act, and he remains conscious of the power that he +could do otherwise if he would. This consciousness and this freedom +are the most stupendous facts in human existence, and upon their +reality--upon their truth--depends all the glory of that existence. +Arriving here the outlook concerning man's possibilities for the future +is immense. Sir Oliver Lodge speaking of man, after arriving at this +point in his development, the attainment of consciousness and free +will, recently said: + + On this planet man is the highest outcome of the process so far (i. + e., the process of development), and is, therefore, the highest + representation of Deity that here exists. Terribly imperfect as + yet, because so recently evolved, he is nevertheless a being which + has at length attained to consciousness and free-will, a being + unable to be coerced by the whole force of the universe, against + his will; a spark of the divine Spirit, therefore, never more to be + quenched. Open still to awful horrors, to agonies of remorse, but + to floods of joy also, he persists, and his destiny is largely in + his own hands; he may proceed up or down, he may advance towards + a magnificent ascendency, he may recede towards depths of infamy. + He is not coerced: he is guided and influenced, but he is free to + choose. The evil and the good are necessary correlatives; freedom + to choose the one involves freedom to choose the other. [46] + +This is the doctrine then of the Book of Mormon: the existence in +man as a quality of his mind or spirit freedom and power to will, to +determine for himself his course. He may choose good or evil. The +freedom of righteousness, or the bondage of sin. If man finds his will +strengthened in favor of choosing the good by appealing for help to +external aids, to God through prayer, and that help comes in the form +of the grace of God, and becomes a factor in helping man into a state +of righteousness, it should be remembered that the act of appealing for +external help was the exercise of man's free agency. He willed to do +good and sought help to carry out his determination; and the assistance +of the grace of God so obtained in no way operates to destroy the +freedom of man's will. In concluding this subject, it may be said that +the Book of Mormon in an authoritative way settles conclusively the +great theological question of the free agency of man. + +W. H. Mallack, in his work on "The Reconstruction of Religious Belief" +(1905), has a most fascinating chapter on human freedom [47] in +which he illustrates on broad lines the universal though unconscious +assumption of the fact of human freedom in both literature and history. +Of the characters created by the great poets, he remarks: "They +interest us as born to freedom, and not naturally slaves, and they pass +before us like kings in a Roman triumph. Once let us suppose these +characters to be mere puppets of heredity and circumstance, and they and +the works that deal with them lose all intelligible content, and we +find ourselves confused and wearied with the fury of an idiot's tale." +On the criticism of historical characters he says: "All this praising +and blaming is based on the assumption that the person praised or +blamed is the originator of his own actions, and not a mere transmitter +of forces." And further, all debating on the value of historical +characters would be meaningless, "if it were not for the inveterate +belief that a man's significance for men resides primarily in what he +makes of himself, not in what he has been made by an organism derived +from his parents, and the various external stimuli to which it has +automatically responded." Our author also points out the truth that +forgiveness itself among men (and he might well have extended his +argument to the forgiveness God imparts to men also) assumes the fact +of human freedom--else what is there to be forgiven! The believer in +freedom says to the offending party, "I forgive you for the offense of +not having done your best." The assumption is that the offender could +have refrained from giving one offense--he had freedom and power to +have done otherwise. One not believing in human freedom would say to +the offending party: "I neither forgive nor blame you; for, although +you have done your worst, your worst was your best also" & having +no freedom, he was under no obligation; his action was indifferent, +neither good nor bad; there was no blame or praise possible; he is +neither a subject for mercy nor justice to act upon. + +In the course of the discussion to which attention is called, our +author has contributed an idea worthy of all acceptation and is +valuable for the reason that it goes outside the beaten paths followed +in the free will controversy: "When most people talk of believing in +moral freedom, they mean by freedom a power which exhausts itself in +acts of choice between a series of alternative courses; but, important +though such choice, as a function of freedom is, the root idea of +freedom lies deeper still. It consists in the idea, not that a man is, +as a personality, the first and the sole cause of his choice between +alternative courses, but that he is, in a true, even if in a qualified +sense, the first cause of what he does, or feels, or is, whether +this involves an act of choice, or consists of an unimpeded impulse. +Freedom of choice between alternatives is the consequence of this +primary faculty. It is the form in which the faculty is most noticeably +manifested; but it is not the primary faculty of personal freedom +itself." + +I believe this fact in relation to man's freedom; that it is a quality +capable of manifesting itself in other modes than choice between +alternatives; that it may project an unimpeded line of conduct, and yet +in this world its chief manifestations are in a choice between things +opposite and we shall see later, according to the Book of Mormon, +that conditions in this world are so ordained in the existence of +opposites--antinomies--that man may exercise this quality of freedom in +the choice of alternatives. + +IX. + +_The Atonement._ + +After giving an account of the fall of man, substantially as found in +Genesis, the Nephite prophet Alma, is represented in the Book of Mormon +as teaching his son Corianton the doctrine of the atonement, as follows: + + ###_Alma's Doctrine of Atonement_. + + And now we see by this, that our first parents were cut off, both + temporally and spiritually, from the presence of the Lord; and thus + we see they became subjects to follow after their own will. + + Now, behold, it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed + from this temporal death, for that would destroy the great plan of + happiness; + + Therefore, as the soul could never die, and the fall had brought + upon all mankind a spiritual death as well as a temporal; that is, + they were cut off from the presence of the Lord, it was expedient + that mankind should be reclaimed from this spiritual death; + + Therefore, as they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish, by + nature, this probationary state became a state for them [in which] + to prepare; it became a preparatory state. + + And now remember, my son, if it were not for the plan of redemption + (laying it aside), as soon as they were dead, their souls were + miserable, being cut off from the presence of the Lord. + + And now there was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state + which man had brought upon himself, because of his own disobedience; + + Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not + be brought about, only on conditions, of repentance of men in this + probationary state; yea, this preparatory state; for except it were + for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should + destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be + destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God. + + And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the + grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them + forever to be cut off from his presence. + + And now the plan of mercy could not be brought about, except an + atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the + sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the + demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a + merciful God also. + + Now repentance could not come unto men, except there were a + punishment, which also was eternal as the life of the soul should + be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal + also as the life of the soul. + + Now, how could a man repent, except he should sin? How could he + sin, if there was no law, how could there be a law, save there was + a punishment? + + Now there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which + brought remorse of conscience unto man. + + Now, if there was no law given--if a man murdered he should die, + would he be afraid he would die if he should murder? + + And also, if there was no law given against sin, men would not be + afraid to sin. + + And if there was no law given if men sinned, what could justice do, + or mercy either; for they would have no claim upon the creature? + + But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a + repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise + justice claimeth the creature, and executeth the law, and the law + inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be + destroyed, and God would cease to be God. + + But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and + mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth + to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the + dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are + restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works; + according to the law and justice; + + For, behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy + claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly + penitent are saved. + + What! do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, + nay! Not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God. + + And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal purposes, which + were prepared from the foundation of the world. And thus cometh + about the salvation and the redemption of men, and also their + destruction and misery; + + Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come, may come, and partake of + the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come, the same is + not compelled to come; but in the last day, it shall be restored + unto him, according to his deeds. [48] + +Summarizing the foregoing we have the following as the result: The +effect of Adam's transgression was to destroy the harmony of things +in this world. As a consequence of his fall man is banished from the +presence of God--a spiritual death takes place and man becomes sensual, +devilish, unholy, is cursed, we say, with a strong inclination to +sinfulness. Man is also made subject to a temporal death, a separation +of the spirit and body. Much might have been gained by this union of +his spirit with his body of flesh and bone could it have been immortal, +but that is now lost, by this temporal death, this separation of +spirit and body. These conditions would have remained eternally fixed +as the result of the operation of law--inexorable law, called "the +justice of God," admitting of nothing else; for the law was given to +eternal beings and by them violated, and man is left in the grasp of +eternal justice, with all its consequences upon his head and the head +of his progeny. And the justice of the law admitted the conditions, +admitted that the penalties affixed should be effective, but this is +justice--stern, unrelenting justice; justice untempered by mercy. +But mercy must in some way be made to reach man, yet in a way also +that will not destroy justice; for justice must be maintained, else +all is confusion--ruin. If justice be destroyed--if justice be not +maintained--. "God will cease to be God." Hence mercy may not be +introduced into the divine economy of this world without a vindication +of the broken law by some means or other, for divine laws as well as +human ones are mere nullities if their penalties be not in force. + +The penalty of the law then, transgressed by Adam, must be executed, +or else an adequate atonement must be made for man's transgression. +This the work of the Christ. He makes the atonement. He comes to earth +and assumes responsibility for this transgression of law, and gathers +up into his own soul all the suffering due to the transgression of +the law by Adam. All the suffering due to individual transgression of +law--the direct consequences of the original transgression--from Adam +to the end of the world. The burden of us all is laid upon him. He +will bear our griefs and carry our sorrows. He will be wounded for our +transgressions, and be bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of +our peace will be upon him; on him is laid the iniquity of us all; by +his stripes shall we be healed. [49] That is to say, having gathered +into himself all the suffering and sorrows due to all the sinning that +shall be in the world, he is able to dictate the terms upon which man +may lay hold of mercy--by which mercy may heal his wounds--and these +terms he names in the conditions of the gospel, the acceptance of which +brings complete redemption. The Christ brings to pass the resurrection +of the dead. The spirit and the body are eternally re-united; the +temporal death--one of the effects of Adam's trangression--is overcome. +There is no more physical death; the "soul" [50]--the eternally united +spirit and body are now to be immortal as spirit alone before was +immortal. The man so immortal is brought back into the presence of God, +and if he has accepted the terms of the gospel by which he is redeemed +from the effects of his own, as well as from Adam's transgression, his +spiritual death is ended, and henceforth he may be spiritually immortal +as well as physically immortal--eternally with God in an atmosphere of +righteousness--the spiritual death is overcome. + +Such I make out to be the Book of Mormon doctrine of the atonement, and +the redemption of man through the gospel. + +X. + +__The Doctrine of Opposite Existences_._ + +Closely connected with the doctrine of the agency of man, the purpose +of his existence and his redemption from the fallen state, is what I +shall call the Book of Mormon doctrine of "opposite existences," what +the scholastics would call "antinomies." The doctrine as stated in +the Book of Mormon--the time of its publication--1830--remembered, +especially when taken in connection with the consequences it supposes +in the event of abolishing the existence of evil, is strikingly +original and philosophically profound; and reaches a depth of thought +beyond all that could be imagined as possible with Joseph Smith or any +of those associated with him in bringing forth the Book of Mormon. + +The statement of the doctrine in question occurs in a discourse of +Lehi's on the subject of the atonement. The aged prophet represents +happiness or misery as growing out of the acceptance or rejection of +the atonement of the Christ, and adds that the misery consequent upon +its rejection is in opposition to the happiness which is affixed to its +acceptance: + + For it must needs be [he continues] that there is an opposition + in all things. If [it were] not so * * * righteousness could not + be brought to pass; neither wickedness; neither holiness nor + misery; neither good nor bad. Wherefore [that is, if this fact + of opposites did not exist] all things must needs be a compound + in one; wherefore, if it [the sum of things] should be one body, + it must needs remain as dead, having no life, neither death, nor + corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense + nor insensibility. Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a + thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the + end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing [i. e., the absence of + opposite existences which Lehi is supposing] must needs destroy the + wisdom of God, and his eternal purposes; and also the power, and + the mercy, and the justice of God. [51] + +The inspired man even goes beyond this, and makes existences themselves +depend upon this law of opposites: + + And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no + sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is + no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness, there is no + happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness, there + be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is + no God. And if there is no God, we are not, neither the earth: for + there could have been no creation of things; neither to act nor to + be acted upon, wherefore, all things must have vanished away. [52] + +This may be regarded as a very bold setting forth of the doctrine of +antinomies, and yet I think the logic of it, and the inevitableness of +the conclusion unassailable. In his work, "Origin and Development of +Religious Beliefs" S. Baring-Gould says: + + The world presents us with a picture of unity and distinction; + unity without uniformity, and distinction without antagonism. * * * + Everywhere, around us and within us, we see that radical antinomy. + The whole astronomic order resolves itself into attraction and + repulsion--a centripetal and a centrifugal force; the chemical + order into the antinomy of positive and negative electricity, + decomposing substances and recomposing them. The whole visible + universe presents the antinomy of light and darkness, movement and + repose, force and matter, heat and cold, the one and the multiple. + The order of life is resumed in the antinomy of the individual + and the species, the particular and the general; the order of our + sentiments in that of happiness and sorrow, pleasure and pain; that + of our conceptions in the antinomy of the ideal and the real; that + of our will in the conditions of activity and passivity. [53] + +The existence of evil in the world has ever been a vexed problem +for both theologians and philosophers, and has led to the wildest +speculations imaginable. It will be sufficient here, however, if I +note the recognition by high authority of the difficulties involved in +the problem. Of those who have felt and expressed these difficulties, +I know of no one who has done so in better terms than Henry L. Mansel +in his contribution to the celebrated course of "Bampton Lecturers," +in "The Limits of Religious Thought" (1858), in the course of which he +says: + + The real riddle of existence--the problem which confounds all + philosophy, aye, and all religion, too, so far as religion is a + thing of man's reason, is the fact that evil exists at all; not + that it exists for a longer or a shorter duration. Is not God + infinitely wise and holy and powerful now? and does not sin exist + along with that infinite holiness and wisdom and power? Is God to + become more holy, more wise, more powerful hereafter; and must evil + be annihilated to make room for his perfections to expand? Does the + infinity of his eternal nature ebb and flow with every increase + or diminution in the sum of human guilt and misery? Against this + immovable barrier of the existence of evil, the waves of philosophy + have dashed themselves unceasingly since the birthday of human + thought, and have retired broken and powerless, without displacing + the minutest fragment of the stubborn rock, without softening one + feature of its dark and rugged surface. [54] + +This writer then proceeds by plain implication to make it clear +that religion no more than philosophy has solved the problem of the +existence of evil: + + But this mystery [i. e., the existence of evil], vast and + inscrutable as it is, is but one aspect of a more general + problem; it is but the moral form of the ever-recurring secret + of the Infinite. How the Infinite and the finite, in any form of + antagonism or other relation, can exist together; how infinite + power can coexist with finite activity; how infinite wisdom can + coexist with finite contingency; how infinite goodnesss can coexist + with finite evil; how the Infinite can exist in any manner without + exhausting the universe of reality--this is the riddle which + Infinite Wisdom alone can solve, the problem whose very conception + belongs only to that Universal Knowledge which fills and embraces + the Universe of Being. [55] + +In the presence of these reflections it cannot be doubted, then, that +the existence of moral evil is one of the world's serious difficulties; +and any solution which the Book of Mormon may give of it that is really +helpful, will be a valuable contribution to the world's enlightenment, +a real revelation--a ray of light from the "inner fact of things." Let +us consider if it does this. + +In view of the utterances of the Book of Mormon already quoted I am +justified in saying that evil as well as good is among the eternal +things. Its existence did not begin with its appearance on our earth. +Evil existed even in heaven; for Lucifer and many other spirits sinned +there; "rebelled against heaven's matchless King," waged war, and were +thrust out into the earth for their transgression. [56] + +Evil is not a created quality. [57] It has always existed as the +back ground of good. It is as eternal as goodnesss; it is as eternal +as law; it is as eternal as the agency of intelligence. Sin, which +is evil active, is transgression of law; [58] and so long as the +agency of intelligences and law have existed, the possibility of the +transgression of law has existed; and as the agency of intelligences +and law have eternally existed, so, too, evil has existed eternally, +either potentially or active and will always so exist. + +Evil may not be referred to God for its origin. He is not its creator, +it is one of those independent existences that is _uncreate_, and +stands in the category of qualities of eternal things. While not +prepared to accept the doctrine of some philosophers that "good and +evil are two sides of one thing." [59] I am prepared to believe +that evil is a necessary antithesis to good, and essential to the +realization of the harmony of the universe. "The good cannot exist +without the antithesis of the evil--the foil on which it produces +itself and becomes known." [60] As remarked by Orlando J. Smith, "Evil +exists in the balance of natural forces. * * * * * * It is also the +background of good, the incentive to good, and the trial of good, +without which good could not be. As the virtue of courage could not +exist without the evil of danger, and as the virtue of sympathy could +not exist without the evil of suffering, so no other virtue could +exist without its corresponding evil. In a world without evil--if such +a world be really conceivable, all men would have perfect health, +perfect intelligence, and perfect morals. No one could gain or impart +information, each one's cup of knowledge being full. The temperature +would stand forever at seventy degrees, both heat and cold being +evil. There could be no progress, since progress is the _overcoming +of evil_. A world without evil would be as toil without exertion, as +light without darkness, as a battle with no antagonist. It would be a +world without meaning." [61] Or, as Lehi puts it, in still stronger +terms--after describing what conditions would be without the existence +of opposites:-- + + Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, + if it [i. e. the sum of things] should be one body [i. e., + of one character--so called good without evil] it must needs + remain as dead, having no life, neither death, nor corruption, + nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor + insensibility. Wherefore, it [the sum of things] must needs have + been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been + no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing [the + absence of opposites] must needs destroy the wisdom of God, and + his eternal purposes; and also, the power, and the mercy, and the + justice of God. [62] + +As there can be no good without the antinomy of evil, so there can be +no evil without its antinomy, or antithesis--good. The existence of one +implies the existence of the other; and, conversely, the non-existence +of the latter would imply the non-existence of the former. It is from +this basis that Lehi reached the conclusion that either his doctrine of +antinomies, or the existence of opposites, is true, or else there are +no existences. That is to say--to use his own words-- + + If ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no + sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is + no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness, there be no + happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness, there + be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not, there is + no God, and if there is no God, we are not, neither the earth; for + there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to + be acted upon: wherefore, all things must have vanished away. [63] + +But as things have not vanished away, as there are real existences, +the whole series of things for which he contends are verities. "For +there is a God," he declares, "and he hath created all things, both the +heavens and the earth, and all things that in them is; both things to +act, and things to be acted upon." [64] + +After arriving at this conclusion, Lehi, proceeding from the general to +the particular, deals with the introduction of this universal antinomy +into our world as follows: + + To bring about his [God's] eternal purposes in the end of man, + after he had created our first parents * * * it must needs be that + there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition + to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter; + Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for + himself. Wherefore man could not act for himself, save it should + be that he was enticed by the one or the other. [65] And I, Lehi, + according to the things which I have read, must needs suppose that + an angel of God, according to that which is written, had fallen + from heaven; wherefore he became a devil, having sought that which + was evil before God. And because he had fallen from heaven, and + had become miserable forever, he said unto Eve, yea, even that old + serpent, who is the devil, who is the father of all lies; wherefore + he said, Partake of the forbidden fruit, and ye shall not die, but + ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil. And after Adam and Eve + had partaken of the forbidden fruit they were driven out of the + garden of Eden, to till the earth. And they have brought forth + children; yea, even the family of all the earth. + +Then follows Lehi's treatise upon the reason for the fall, the purpose +of man's existence, which have already been noticed. + +Summary of the Foregoing Doctrines. + +This then is the order of things--(though in this summary the order +in which the various doctrines have been presented is not strictly +followed, but one more in harmony with the proper order of the related +things; but which order could not well be set forth until the foregoing +discussion of them was had):-- + +1. The intelligent "Ego" in man, which we have called an +"Intelligence," meaning, however, not a quality but the "Ego" itself, +is an eternal entity; uncreate and uncreatable--an essential, a +necessary, self-existent being. + +2. These "Intelligences" the begotten of God, spirits; so that men are +of the same race with God, are of the same "essence" or "substance," +and are the sons of God by virtue of an actual relationship. + +3. There came a time in the course of the existence of these spiritual +personages when an earth-existence, a union of the spiritual personage +with a body of flesh and bone, became necessary for his further +development, for his enlargement; an existence where good and evil were +in actual conflict, where the mighty and perhaps awful lessons which +such conditions have to teach could be learned. + +4. There are eternal opposites in existences, light--darkness; +joy--sorrow; pleasure--pain; sweet--bitter; good--evil; and so +following. Evil is an eternal existence, the necessary co-relative of +the good, uncreate and may not be referred to God for its origin. + +5. The spirits of men came to earth primarily to obtain bodies through +which their spirits may act through all eternity. They came to effect a +union of spirit and element essential to all their future development +and their joy and their glory; [66] secondly they came to obtain such +experiences as this earth-life has to give--to be taught by the things +which they suffer; learning the lessons that sorrow and sin and death +have to teach, finding both the strength and weakness of their own +natures--proving the fidelity, valor and honor of their own spirits; +making proof of their worthiness for that exceeding great and eternal +weight of glory which God has designed for those who overcome and in +all things prove faithful. + +6. To lead the way in this great work, one sufficiently developed for +such a task--Adam--is appointed to come to earth to open the series +of dispensations designed of God for man in his earth-probation. He +introduced those changes in the harmony of things necessary to the +accomplishment of the purposes of God in the earth-life of man--he fell +that man might be; and not only "be," but have that being, under the +very conditions that have since prevailed. + +7. Evil was introduced into this world through the transgression of +Adam, and man falls under the censure of eternal and inexorable justice. + +8. Through the Atonement of Christ, however, man is freed from the +effects of Adam's trangression. The resurrection redeems him from +the temporal death--the separation of the spirit and body, and he is +brought back into the presence of God. + +9. Through the Atonement of Christ mercy also has been brought into +the world's moral economy; and, as well as justice, operates upon +man. God's righteous law has been given to man. Man is a free moral +agent and may choose to obey the law, or may choose to follow after +wickedness. If he choose the latter, he falls under the justice of the +law. + +10. Through the Atonement the privilege of repentance is granted, +and mercy claims the truly penitent, rescuing him from the otherwise +inexhorable claims of the law, and setting him in the way of salvation +through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. + +Such, in brief is the outline of the gospel of Christ in the Book of +Mormon so far as it relates to the nature and eternal existence of +man, the purpose of his earth-existence, the fall, the atonement, the +existence of good and evil, and the development that shall come of +contact with these forces. + +In concluding this chapter, apart from the matter of originality in +the doctrines set forth, which originality, be it remembered is one of +the evidences here sought to be established as a sort of proof for the +divinity of the book, I desire to call attention to another argument +which these doctrines are capable of bearing; namely the nature of +the doctrines themselves, the order in which they are set forth, and +their deep philosophical character; and to the candid reader I submit +this question: Was the unaided native intelligence of Joseph Smith, or +the intelligence or learning of any of those associated with him in +bringing forth the Book of Mormon, equal to the task of formulating +the principles of moral philosophy and theology that are found in that +book and discussed in this chapter? Was the intelligence or learning of +Solomon Spaulding, or any other person to whom the origin of the book +is ascribed, equal to such a task? There can be but one answer to that +question, and the nature of it is obvious. + +Beyond controversy neither the native intelligence nor learning of +Joseph Smith can possibly be regarded as equal to such a performance +as bringing forth the knowledge which the Book of Mormon imparts upon +these profound subjects; nor can the intelligence or learning of those +who assisted him in translating the book be regarded as sufficient +for such a task. Nor was the intelligence and learning of any one +to whom the origin of the book has ever been ascribed equal to such +an achievement. Indeed the book sounds depths on these subjects not +only beyond the intelligence and learning of this small group of men +referred to, but beyond the intelligence and learning of the age +itself in which it came forth. Therefore it is useless to ascribe +the knowledge it imparts on these subjects to human intelligence or +learning at all. What is said by it on these subjects, so full of +interest to mankind, is a word truly from the "inner fact of things"--a +message written by ancient prophets of America inspired of God to bear +witness to the truth of these great things which it most concerns man +to know. + +Footnotes + +1. Genesis iii. + +2. I. Cor. xv: 21, 22; Romans v: 12-17. + +3. Westminster Confession, chapter iv--of Creation--Section i. + +4. In proof of this last declaration the expounder cites Col. i: 16: +"All things were created by him [Christ] and for him." + +Also Proverbs xvi: 4: 'The Lord hath made all things for himself; yea, +even the wicked for the day of evil.' + +Also Rev. iv: 11: "For thou [the Lord] hast created all things, and +for thy pleasure they are and were created;" and Rom. xi: 36: "For of +him, and through him, and to him are all things." See Commentary on +the "Confession of Faith," with questions for theological students and +Bible classes, by the Reverend A. A. Hodge, D. D., Chapter iv. The +reading of the passages will convince any one that if this is all the +scripture proof that may be adduced in the way of an explanation of the +purposes of God in creation, that what I have said in the text, that +there is no direct, explicit, and adequate statement of the object of +man's existence in holy writ is sufficiently vindicated. + +5. Commentary on the Confession (Hodge), chapter iv. + +6. Douay Catechism, chapter iii. + +7. Ibid. + +8. Gen. ii: 25. + +9. Ibid iii: 7. + +10. "Adam was not deceived, but the woman, being deceived, was in the +transgression."--Tim. ii: 14. + +11. Catholic Belief, p. 6. (Joseph Faa Di Bruno is the author.) + +12. Catholic Belief, p. 330. + +13. Douay Catechism, p. 13. + +14. Buck's Theological Dictionary, p. 182. + +15. Old Testament History (William Smith, LL. D.), chapter ii. + +16. Westminster Confession, chapter vi, section 1. + +17. Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A. A. Hodge), pp. 105-108. + +18. Paine's Theological Works, "Age of Reason," p. 12. + +19. See Ingersoll's Lectures, "Liberty of Man, Woman and Child," where +the great orator, contrasts the story of the Fall given in the Bible +with that of Brahma in the Hindoo mythology, and extravagantly praises +the latter to the disparagement of the former. + +20. See "A Short View of Great Questions" (Orlando J. Smith), chapter +10; also his work on "Eternalism." + +21. John viii: 58. + +22. John xvii. + +23. Job xxxiii: 4-7. + +24. Revelation xii. + +25. Jude vi. + +26. Jeremiah i: 5. + +27. Heb. xii. + +28. Those who wish to extend their investigation on the subject are +referred to the author's work on "The Gospel," especially the section +of Man's Relationship to Deity, found in both the second and third +edition. + +29. Ether iii. + +30. John i: 2-14. + +31. Doc. & Cov., section xciii. + +32. I use the term "begotten" instead of "create" advisedly. I do +not believe the spirit of man is "created" by God; I believe it is +"begotten" of him, and in addition to its own native, underived +inherent qualities, partakes also somewhat of the qualities or nature +of him who begets it, hence an intelligence begotten of a spirit is a +son of God by being begotten by a divine parent; by the nature of it +also, since somewhat of the nature of the parent has been imparted to +it. The distinction between a "created" thing and a being begotten is +thus very clearly set forth by the Christian Father Athanasius: Let it +be repeated that a created thing is external to the nature of the being +who creates; but a generation (a begetting, as a Father begets a son) +is the proper offspring of the nature. (Footnote, Shedd's "History of +Christian Doctrine," Vol. I, p. 322.) + +33. Luke iii: 38. + +34. Alma xiii: 9. + +35. Alma xi. + +36. Alma xi: 9. + +37. Rev. viii: 80. What means the scripture here: "The Lamb slain from +the foundations of the world"--if it does not mean that the Savior's +mission and work of atonement, and the mode of it, were known before +the foundation of the world? + +38. "Hedonism is the form of eudemonism that regards pleasure (including +avoidance of pain) as the only conceivable object in life, and teaches +that as between the lower pleasures of sense and the higher enjoyments +of reason, or satisfied self-respect, there is no difference except +in degree, duration, and hedonic value of the experience, there being +in strictness, no such thing as ethical or moral value."--Standard +Dictionary. + +39. In Cicero's description of the Epicurean conception of the gods +he says: "That which is truly happy cannot be burdened with any +labor itself, nor can it impose any labor on another, nor can it be +influenced by resentment or favor, because things which are liable to +such failings must be weak and frail. * * * Their life [i. e., of the +gods] is most happy and the most abounding with all kinds of blessings +which can be conceived. They do nothing. They are embarrassed with no +business; nor do they perform any work. They rejoice in the possession +of their own wisdom and virtue. They are satisfied that they shall ever +enjoy the fulness of eternal pleasure. * * * Nothing can be happy that +is not at ease." (Tusculan Disputations, The Nature of the Gods.) + +40. II. Nephi ii: 23. + +41. I. John iii: 4. + +42. Pearl of Great Price, Book of Moses, ch. i: 39. + +43. Or "the soul;" for, in the revelations of God in this last +dispensation, the spirit and the body are called the "soul." +"Through the redemption which is made for you is brought to pass the +resurrection from the dead. And the spirit and the body is the soul of +man. And the resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul." +(Doc. & Cov. Sec. 88: 14-16.) + +44. Alma xxix: 4. + +45. II. Nephi. ii: 27. + +46. Hibbert Journal, April, 1906, p. 656. + +47. Chapter iv. + +48. Alma 42. The same subject is treated in II. Nephi ii. + +49. Isaiah liii. + +50. Doc. & Cov., Sec. xxxviii: 15. + +51. II. Nephi ii. It is a pleasure to note that this process of +reasoning, remarkable as it is, and startling as it is in its +conclusion, is in harmony with modern thought. Mr. Lester F. Ward, +whose works I have already quoted in this chapter, by a closely +analogous order of reasoning, reaches the same conclusion. This the +passage: "The pleasure of 'doing good' is among the most delicious +of which the human faculties are capable, and becomes the permanent +stimulus to thousands of worthy lives. It is usually looked upon as +the highest of all motives, and by some as the ultimate goal toward +which all action should aspire. It should first be observed that the +very act of doing good presupposes evil, i. e., pain. Doing good is +necessarily either increasing pleasure or diminishing pain. Now, if all +devoted themselves to doing good, it is maintained that the sufferings +of the world would be chiefly abolished. Admitting that there are +some evils that no human efforts could remove, and supposing that by +united altruism all removable evils were done away, there would be +nothing left for altruists to do. By their own acts they would have +deprived themselves of a calling. They must be miserable since the +only enjoyment they deemed worthy of experiencing could be no longer +possible, and this suffering from ennui would be among those which +lie beyond human power to alleviate. An altruistic act would then +alone consist in inflicting pain on one's self for the sole purpose +of affording others an opportunity to derive pleasure from the act of +relieving it. I do not put the matter in this light for the purpose +of discouraging altruism, but simply to show how short sighted most +ethical reasoning is." + +52. II. Nephi ii. + +53. "Origin and Development of Religious Belief," Vol. II., pp. 22, 23. + +54. Limits of Religious Thought, Mansel, p. 197. + +55. Ibid. pp. 197-8. + +56. See Rev. xii: 7. Jude 6. + +57. Lest some text-proofer should retort upon me and cite the words +of Isaiah--"I make peace and create evil"--the only text of scripture +ascribing the creation of evil to God--I will anticipate so far as to +say that it is quite generally agreed that no reference is made in +the words of Isaiah to "moral evil;" but to such evils as may come +as judgments upon people for their correction, such as famine or +tempest or war; such an "evil" as would stand in natural antithesis to +"peace," which word precedes, "I create evil," in the text--"I make +peace and create"--the opposite to peace, "The evil of afflictions +and punishments, but not the evil of sin" (Catholic Comment on Isaiah +45:7). Meantime we have the clearest scriptural evidence that moral +evil is not a product of God's: "Let no man say when he is tempted, +I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither +tempteth he any man." That is to say, God has nothing to do with the +creation of moral evil; "But every man is tempted when he is drawn +away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, +it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth +death." (James i: 13-15). "The evil and the good are necessary +co-relatives." (Sir Oliver Lodge in Hibbert Journal, April, 1906, p. +657.) + +58. I. John iii: 4. + +59. Eternalism, Orlando J. Smith, p. 205-6. + +60. Scotus Erigena, quoted by Neander, "Hist. Christian Religion and +Church," Vol. III. p. 465. + +61. Eternalism, pp. 30, 31. + +62. II. Nephi ii: 11. + +63. II. Nephi ii: 13. + +64. Ibid. ii: 14. + +65. On such a proposition Dr. Jacob Cooper, of Rutgers College, at +the head of an article on "Theodicy" (the justification of the divine +providence by the attempt to reconcile the existence of evil with the +goodnesss and sovereignty of God), says (August, 1903), "There must be +an alternative to any line of conduct, in order to give it a moral +quality. We have to deal with, not an imaginary, but a real world; not +with a state of things wholly different from those by which character +is developed. If there are to be such qualities as righteousness, +virtue, merit, as the result of good action, there must be a condition +by which these things are possible. And this can only be where there +is an alternative which may be embraced by a free choice. If the +work of man on earth is to build up character, if his experience is +disciplinary, by which he constantly becomes better fitted for greater +good and a wider sphere of action, then he must have the responsibility +of choosing for himself a course different from one which appeals to +the lower qualities in his nature." + +66. Doc. & Cov., Sec. xciii: 33, 35. + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +INTERNAL EVIDENCES,--THE EVIDENCE OF PROPHECY. + +I have already, in volume one of the New Witnesses, called attention +to the value of fulfilled prophecies as evidence of a prophet's being +divinely commissioned with a message to the world. [1] It is there +pointed out that fulfilled prophecy has ever been regarded as a species +of miracle; that the Lord himself refers to it as a test by which true +prophets may be distinguished from false ones; that, therefore, the +power to foresee and foretell future events is a power that God has +reserved to himself and to those whom he especially inspires--hence +the power of prophecy is the surest sign of divine inspiration--of +divine authority. [2] Consequently it is only necessary here to say that +such evidence is equally strong in support of a book claiming a divine +origin; provided, of course, that it contains prophecies by which it +may be tested. The Book of Mormon contains such prophecies. Here it +is necessary to explain, however, that many of the prophetic parts of +the Book of Mormon are not available as such a test, for the reason +that very many of its prophecies relate to matters that had their +fulfillment in ancient times. For example: the Jaredites, who preceded +the Nephites in occupying North America, were told by their prophets +that except they repented the Lord would bring another people, as he +had their fathers, to occupy the land in their stead. The Jaredites +did not repent; and in due time the colony of Lehi was brought to +America much as the original Jaredite colony had been; and thus the +prophecy was fulfilled; but such is the nature of the prophecy and its +fulfillment that it affords us no means by which we can test the divine +inspiration of the book containing it, the prediction and the account +of its fulfillment being found within the book itself; and we are in +possession of no outside means independent of the Book of Mormon by +which to test this prophecy or its fulfillment. Of like nature is the +prediction that Ether made to Coriantumr, to the effect that except he +repented his people should be destroyed and he alone should survive +them, but only to see another people come upon the goodly land to +possess it. [3] All this came to pass in due time [4]--since Coriantumr +did not repent; but this affords us no means by which we may test the +prophetic claims of the book containing such a prophecy, because both +prophecy and the account of its fulfillment are within the book itself. +So also with the prediction concerning the advent of the Messiah on +the American continent; the signs at his birth and death and his +ministry, all of which events were foretold in great clearness to the +Nephites; but these like the other prophecies alluded to, are of such +a nature that they afford us no means of testing the prophetic claims +of the book. Only those prophecies in the Book of Mormon which have +had their fulfillment since the book was published, or that are yet to +be fulfilled, are available--at least they are the only ones that will +appeal to unbelievers--as evidence of the book's claims to a divine +authenticity. Of these, fortunately, there are enough for a test such +as is proposed; a test, which as it is among the most crucial that +can be applied, so also is it among the most valuable of the internal +evidences of the book's divine origin. + +Here the reader should be reminded [5] that several conditions +should exist respecting prophecies to be used as evidence of divine +inspiration either in book or prophet: first, that prediction antedates +the events which fulfill it; second, that the events must be of a +nature that no merely human foresight, or judgment, unaided by divine +inspiration or revelation, could have foretold them; third, the events +that fulfill the prophecy must be of a nature that they cannot be +brought about by the natural powers of the prophet himself, or agencies +under his control. Such conditions unquestionably prevail in respect of +all the prophecies here adduced in evidence. + +I begin by reference to two prophetic passages in which the Holy +Ghost must necessarily be the agency through which the fulfillment is +realized. I start with these because it must be evident that if the +predictions are fulfilled through the agency of the Holy Ghost there +can be no deception charged or doubt remain either of the genuineness +of the prophecies or of the reality of their fulfillment. + +I. + +_A Testimony Shall be Given by the Holy Ghost._ + +First, then, the prophecy that a testimony to the truth of the Book +of Mormon shall be given by the Holy Ghost. In closing up the Nephite +record which had been given into his charge by his father Mormon, +Moroni in a final word to those to whom the work in after ages would +come, says: + + And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye + would ask God, the eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these + things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with + real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of + them unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost; and by the power of + the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. [6] + +I do not hesitate to pronounce this one of the boldest prophecies of +Holy Writ, and certainly one which no imposter would dare place in +a book he was palming off upon the world as a revelation from God, +since it affords such immediate means of testing the truth of his +pretentions. It is the same character of test as that boldly supplied +by the Son of God himself for testing the truth of the whole Christian +scheme when he said: + + My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do + his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or + whether I speak of myself. [7] + +There can be no question as to the prophetic character of the passage +from the Book of Mormon--When you receive this record, ask God in +the name of Christ, if it be true, and he will manifest the truth of +it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost. The only question to be +considered after this is, has the prophecy of a promised testimony +been fulfilled. Hundreds of thousands are ready to answer in the +affirmative; scores of thousands who have died in the faith have left +on record their testimony that the prophecy has been fulfilled in their +experience; and back of the testimony of these thousands is their +life of sacrifice, toil, suffering; together with the contumely and +persecution which they have endured for that testimony. Some of the +witnesses to the fulfillment of this prophecy have even sealed their +testimony with their blood--can evidence of a higher or more solemn +character be pointed to in attestation of any truth? [8] + +In passing it may be well to call attention to the fact that the Book +of Mormon in this prophetic promise that its truth shall be made known +by the power of the Holy Ghost, as also its assertion "that by the +power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things"--hits +upon a great general, spiritual truth, viz., that the Holy Ghost is +God's especial witness of revealed truth. It was the Holy Ghost in its +beautiful sign of a dove that bore witness to John that the peasant +Nazarene was indeed the Christ. [9] Paul says that "no man speaking by +the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed, and that no man can say that +Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost." [10] John represents Jesus as +saying, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from +the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, +he shall testify of me." [11] Again, the Comforter is called the very +"Spirit of Truth," and of it Jesus says: "The Comforter, which is the +Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you +all things." [12] Also: "When the Spirit of Truth [the Holy Ghost] is +come, he will guide you into all truth." [13] And so one might continue +to multiply passages to the same effect, but enough is here set, down +to establish the point suggested, viz., that the Book of Mormon hits +upon a very beautiful and universal principle to establish its own +truth by a Divine Witness, viz., the Holy Ghost. Observe also that this +great doctrine is not introduced by way of argument nor as a deduction. +It is mentioned, one might say, in a purely incidental manner. Nothing +especially is made of it by Moroni who sets it down. No appeal is made +to its strength or reasonableness. One feels that it is the statement +of a great truth purely as a matter of fact that has been verified in +the experience of Moroni, without any special consciousness of how it +interlocks with and is supported by all the scriptures that treat of +the same subject. On the theory of the Book of Mormon not being what it +claims to be, but regarding it for a moment as the work of "imposters," +I ask the upholders of that theory this question: How comes it that in +speaking of the chief source of evidence for its truth, the "imposters" +hit upon this universal principle by which revealed truths can be +known? And, indeed, desiring to cover the whole subject involved in +this prophetic promise of a Divine Witness to the truth of the Book of +Mormon, I ask how dare they promise a Divine Witness to an "imposture" +at all? + +II. + +_"They Shall Have the Gift and Power of the Holy Ghost_." + +The second prophecy to which reference has been made, and which must +necessarily be filled through the agency of the Holy Spirit, was +given under these circumstances: The Lord made it known to the first +Nephi that many precious truths of the gospel would be subverted by +the wickedness of men-made churches in the last days, but the Lord +gives a promise that he would manifest himself unto the descendants +of Nephi, and that they should write many things which he, the Lord, +would minister unto them. Things which would be plain and precious: +"And after thy seed shall be destroyed and dwindle in unbelief," said +the Lord, "behold these things shall be hid up to come forth unto +the Gentiles by the gift and power of the Lamb; and in them shall be +written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation:"-- + + And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that + day, for they shall have the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. [14] + +In the presence of this prophecy I stand perplexed, not however for +want of material to prove the prophecy true. A volume might be compiled +of instances from the experiences of Elders who have sought to bring +forth the Zion of God in the last days, who have clearly worked under +the power and influence of the Holy Ghost; but this is out of the +question here. All that can be done is to select instances of a typical +character that will illustrate what is meant by the prophecy, and also +prove its fulfillment. I shall select these quite at random, beginning +with some related by the late President Wilford Woodruff, describing +the circumstances under which he first heard of Mormonism, 1833. + + The whisperings of the Spirit of the Lord for a space of three + years taught me that the Lord was about to set up his Church and + Kingdom in the earth in the last days, in fulfillment of promises + made by ancient prophets, and apostles, who spoke as they were + moved upon by the inspiration of Almighty God. While in this state + of mind I went with my brother Azmon to Richland, Oswego county, + New York. We bought a farm and commenced business. In December, + 1833, two Mormon Elders, viz., Ezra Pulsipher and Elijah Cheney, + came into our town and stopped at our house. Elder Pulsipher said + he was commanded by the spirit of the Lord to go into the north + country, and he and Elder Cheney had walked from Favins, via + Syracuse, nearly sixty miles, through deep snows, and our house was + the first place he felt impelled to stop at. He appointed a meeting + at the school house which I attended, and on hearing him preach I + felt that his sermon was the first gospel sermon I had ever heard + in my life. I invited these Elders home and spent the night in + conversation and in reading the Book of Mormon. I was thoroughly + convinced it was a true record of the word of God. My brother Azmon + and myself offered ourselves for baptism, and on the thirty-first + day of December, 1833, Elder Pulsipher went with us to the creek + and baptized us. + +The circumstances under which he was called to the ministry he gives as +follows: + + I was still holding the office of a Teacher, and knowing for myself + that the fulness of the Gospel of Christ, which God had revealed + to Joseph Smith, was true, I had a great desire to preach it to + the inhabitants of the earth, but as a Teacher I had no authority + to preach the gospel to the world. I went into the forest near + Lyman Wight's [in Daviess county, Missouri, to which place Brother + Woodruff had meantime removed] one Sunday morning, aside from the + abodes of men, and made my desire known unto the Lord. I prayed + that the Lord would open my way and give me the privilege of + preaching the gospel. I did not make my request expecting any honor + from man, for I knew that the preaching of the gospel was attended + with hard labor and persecution. While I was praying, the Spirit + of the Lord rested upon me, and testified to me that my prayer was + heard, and that my request would be granted. I arose to my feet + and walked some three hundred yards into a broad road, rejoicing. + As I came into the road I saw Judge Elias Higbee standing before + me. As I walked up to him he said, "Wilford, the Lord has revealed + to me that it is your duty to go into the vineyard of the Lord and + preach the gospel." I told him if that was the will of the Lord I + was ready to go. I did not tell him that I had been praying for + that privilege. I had been boarding at Lyman Wight's with Judge + Higbee for months, and it was the first time he had ever named such + a thing to me. + +Soon after this Elder Woodruff was ordained a Priest, and sent on a +mission to Arkansas and Tennessee. + +During the ministry of Elder Woodruff in England, after he had become +an Apostle in the Church, he records the following item of his +experience, which was published by him in a little work called "Leaves +from My Journal:" + + March 1st, 1840, was my birthday [anniversary], when I was + thirty-three years of age. It being Sunday, I preached twice + through the day to a large assembly in the City Hall, in the town + of Hanley, and administered the sacrament unto the Saints. In + the evening I again met with a large assembly of the Saints and + strangers, and while singing the first hymn the Spirit of the + Lord rested upon me, and the voice of God said to me: "This is + the last meeting that you will hold with people for many days." + I was astonished at this, as I had many appointments out in that + district. When I arose to speak to the people, I told them that it + was the last meeting I should hold with them for many days. They + were as much astonished as I was. At the close of the meeting four + persons came forward for baptism, and we went down into the water + and baptized them. In the morning I went in secret before the Lord, + and asked him what his will was concerning me. The answer I got + was, that I should go to the south, for the Lord had a great work + for me to perform there, as many souls were awaiting for the word + of the Lord. [15] + +Obedient to the instructions of the Spirit, Elder Woodruff went south +into Herefordshire, where he "found a society called 'United Brethren,' +numbering about six hundred members and fifty preachers. They were +prepared for the reception of the Gospel, so that upon hearing Elder +Woodruff's testimony, they came forward and in thirty days he baptized +one hundred and sixty persons, forty-eight of whom were preachers, +including their presiding Elder, Thomas Kingston. Three clerks of +the Church of England were sent by their ministers to see what he +was doing, and he baptized them; also a constable who came to arrest +him." [16] Subsequently the field of labor widened and through the +blessings of God Elder Woodruff was enabled in the course of eight +months to bring into the Church over eight hundred souls, including all +of the six hundred United Brethren; also some two hundred preachers of +various denominations. [17] + +Elder Woodruff also relates the following incident, among many others, +as illustrating the operations of the Spirit of the Lord upon his mind +for his bodily preservation: + + In 1848, after my return to Winter Quarters from our pioneer + journey, I was appointed by the Presidency of the Church to take my + family and go to Boston to gather up the remnant of the Latter-day + Saints and lead them to the valleys of the mountains. While on my + way east I put my carriage into the yard of one of the brethren in + Indiana, and Brother Orson Hyde set his wagon by the side of mine, + and not more than two feet from it. Dominicus Carter, of Provo, + and my wife and four children were with me. My wife, one child and + I went to bed in the carriage, the rest sleeping in the house. I + had been in bed but a short time when a voice said to me: "Get + up, and move your carriage." It was not thunder, lightning nor an + earthquake, but the still, small voice of the Spirit of God--the + Holy Ghost. I told my wife I must get up and move my carriage. + She asked, "What for?" I told her I did not know, only the Spirit + told me to do it. I got up and moved my carriage several rods, and + set it by the side of the house. As I was returning to bed the + same Spirit said to me, "Go and move your mules away from that oak + tree," which was about one hundred yards, north of our carriage. I + moved them to a young hickory grove and tied them up. I then went + to bed. In thirty minutes a whirlwind caught the tree to which my + mules had been fastened, broke it off near the ground, and carried + it one hundred yards, sweeping away two fences in its course, and + laid it prostrate through that yard where my carriage stood, and + the top limbs hit my carriage as it was. In the morning I measured + the trunk of the tree which fell where my carriage had stood, and + found it five feet in diameter. It came within a foot of Brother + Hyde's wagon, but did not touch it. Thus, by obeying the revelation + of the Spirit of God to me I saved my life and the lives of my wife + and child, as well as my animals. In the morning I went on my way + rejoicing. [18] + +The following is a statement from the biography of Elder Heber C. +Kimball, one of the members of the first quorum of the Twelve in this +latter-day dispensation, and afterwards for some years Counselor to +President Brigham Young, speaking of the time when he first heard the +gospel preached, in 1831: + + The glorious news of a restored gospel and a living priesthood, + commissioned of and communicating with the heavens; the promise + of the Holy Ghost, with signs following the believer, as in days + of old; the wondrous declaration of angels revisiting the earth, + breaking the silence of ages, bringing messages from another + world--all this fell upon the heart of this God-fearing man, and + on the hearts of his friends and companions, like dew upon thirsty + ground. As the voice of a familiar spirit, it seemed an echo from + the far past--something they had known before. Both Heber [C. + Kimball] and Brigham [Young] received the word gladly, and were + impelled to testify of its divinity. Then the power of God fell + upon them. "On one occasion," says Heber, "Father John Young, + Brigham Young, Joseph Young and myself had come together to get up + some wood for Phineas H. Young. While we were thus engaged we were + pondering upon those things which had been told us by the Elders, + and upon the Saints gathering to Zion, when the glory of God shone + upon us, and we saw the gathering of the Saints to Zion, and the + glory that would rest upon them; and many more things connected + with the great event, such as the sufferings and persecutions that + would come upon the people of God, and the calamities and judgments + that would come upon the world." [19] + +The year 1848 in Utah--the year following the advent of the pioneers +into Salt Lake Valley--was a very trying one. The people were +threatened with famine, and it was only by the exercise of the most +rigid economy and putting the people on scant rations that they could +hope to make the meager supplies of provisions last until the next +harvest. The settlers were but half clad as well as half fed, and such +clothing as they had was in tatters, and in many cases consisted of the +skins of wild animals. It was in the midst of these conditions that +Heber C. Kimball in a congregation of the saints made the following +remarkable prophecy: + + It will be but a little while, brethren, before you shall have food + and raiment in abundance, and shall buy it cheaper than it can be + bought in the cities of the United States. + +"I do not believe a word of it," said Elder Charles C. Rich, a member +of the Council of the Apostles; and perhaps nine-tenths of those who +had heard the astounding declaration were of the same opinion. Even +the prophet Heber himself was heard to say "that he was afraid he had +missed it this time." His biographer, however, relates the fulfillment +of the prophecy in the following passage: + + The occasion for the fulfillment of this remarkable prediction + was the unexpected advent of the gold-hunters, on their way to + California. The discovery of gold in that land had set on fire, as + it were, the civilized world, and hundreds of richly laden trains + now began pouring across the continent on their way to the new + Eldorado. Salt Lake Valley became the resting-place, or "halfway + house" of the nation, and before the Saints had had time to recover + from their surprise at Heber's temerity in making such a prophecy, + the still more wonderful fulfillment was brought to their very + doors. The gold-hunters were actuated by but one desire: to reach + the Pacific Coast; the thirst for mammon having absorbed, for the + time, all other sentiments and desires. Impatient at their slow + progress, in order to lighten their loads, they threw away or "sold + for a song" the valuable merchandise with which they had stored + their wagons to cross the plains. Their choice, blooded, though + now jaded stock, they eagerly exchanged for the fresh mules and + horses of the pioneers, and bartered off, at almost any sacrifice, + dry goods, groceries, provisions, tools, clothing, etc., for the + most primitive outfits, with barely enough provisions to enable + them to reach their journey's end. Thus, as the Prophet Heber had + predicted, "States goods" were actually sold in the streets of + Great Salt Lake City cheaper than they could have been purchased in + the City of New York. [20] + +It has already been pointed out that the gift of prophecy, involving as +it does the power to foresee future events, is peculiarly the power of +God's inspired servants. It is the direct influence of the Holy Ghost +upon the human mind that enables men to foretell future events. "How +be it when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come [i. e. the Holy Ghost], he +will guide you unto all truth. * * * * * * And he will show you things +to come." [21] + +So that man possessed of the spirit of prophecy as this man, Elder +Heber C. Kimball was possessed of it, has, in fulfillment of God's +promise to his servants in the last days, the "gift and power of the +Holy Ghost." + +The late Elder George Q. Cannon relates the following as his experience +when on a mission to the Hawaiian Islands. The company of missionaries +of which he was a member had become disheartened in their labors, but +Elder Cannon had resolved to stay there, "master the language and warn +the people of those Islands if he had to do it alone." And now his own +account of the incident: + + My desire to learn to speak [the Hawaiian language] was very + strong; it was present with me night and day, and I never permitted + an opportunity of talking with the natives to pass without + improving it. I also tried to exercise faith before the Lord to + obtain the gift of talking and understanding the language. One + evening, while sitting on the mat conversing with some neighbors + who had dropped in, I felt an uncommonly great desire to understand + what they said. All at once I felt a peculiar sensation in my ears; + I jumped to my feet, with my hands at the side of my head, and + exclaimed to Elders Bigler and Keeler who sat at the table, that + I believed I had received the gift of interpretation! And it was + so. From that time forward I had but little, if any, difficulty in + understanding what the people said. I might not be able at once to + separate every word which they spoke from every other word in the + sentence; but I could tell the general meaning of the whole. This + was a great aid to me in learning to speak the language, and I felt + very thankful for this gift from the Lord. [22] + +A similar instance is related by President Joseph F. Smith, also +connected with the Hawaiian mission, to which he was called in 1854. +The following is his own narrative: + + I * * * was set apart * * * under the hands of Parley P. Pratt and + Orson Hyde, Parley being mouth. He declared that I should obtain a + knowledge of the Hawaiian language "by the gift of God, as well as + by study." Up to this time my schooling had been extremely limited. + My mother taught me to read and write, by the camp fires, and + subsequently by the greater luxury of the primeval tallow-candle in + the covered wagon and the old log cabin, 10x12 feet in size, when + first the soles of our feet found rest, after the weary months of + travel across the plains. When I say, therefore, that within four + months after my arrival on the Sandwich Islands--two weeks of which + time were consumed by the most severe sickness I had ever known--I + was prepared to enter upon the duties of my ministry, and did so + with a native companion, with whom I made a tour of the Island of + Maui, visiting, holding meetings, blessing children, administering + the sacrament, etc., all in the Hawaiian language, it may be + inferred that Parley's promise upon my head was literally fulfilled. + +As remarked at the outset of this subdivision it would be no difficult +matter to compile a volume of incidents of such manifestations of +the spirit and power of God from the experiences of Elders of the +Church in illustration of, and in proof of, this Book of Mormon +prophetic-promise; but the foregoing must be relied upon as typical +incidents, and I shall trust to them also to indicate what the force +would be of a very large volume of such evidence, which, I am sure, +from personal experience, from observation and knowledge of our Church +annals, could be compiled. + +I shall ask the reader, however, to consider in this connection, +the very great body of religious truth which is developed in the +revelations given in these latter days to the Church of Christ (chiefly +compiled in the book called The Doctrine and Covenants), in which +"Mormonism," so called, had its origin, and all of which are the result +of the inspired visions to Joseph Smith, or due to the operations of +the Holy Spirit upon the mind of that prophet. I therefore invoke this +body of doctrine as demonstrating the truth of the prophecy-promise-- + + Blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that + day, for they shall have the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. + +I invoke in its support the chapter on "the Manner of the Prophet's +Teaching" in volume I of the New Witnesses; [23] I invoke the chapter +on "Miracles--the Evidence of Fulfilled Promises;" [24] also the +chapters on "The Evidence of Prophecy;" [25] as also the chapter on "The +Church Founded by Joseph Smith a Monument to His Inspiration;" [26] +let all this in the mind of the reader, be brought in at this point +and made part of the argument in support of the fulfillment of the +prophecy that those who seek to bring forth the Zion of God in the +last days, shall have the gift and power of the Holy Ghost; and he +will begin to see how invincibly strong the argument must be upon this +head. In addition to all this, however, I also call attention to the +evidence of inspiration that may be found in the operation of Church +leaders since the martyrdom of the first Prophet of the Church. The +evidence of inspiration in Brigham Young and his associates in the +matter of conducting that marvelous Exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois, +through a thousand miles of wilderness to the Rocky Mountains. The +evidence of Divine inspiration manifested also in the establishment of +settlements in the inter-Rocky Mountain region--which in time grew into +commonwealths of the American Union. The evident inspiration in the +policies adopted by these leaders--all essential to the preservation of +the Saints in their organized capacity--necessary to the preservation +of the Church of Christ, and now too universally recognized and +applauded to need particularization. Men assign these achievements +to the genius of Brigham Young; they establish his reputation in the +eyes of the world as a leader of men. He is recognized as among the +most remarkable men of the age, and is ranked as being among the first +Americans. But to the Saints, these achievements merely establish the +truth of one of the predictions of the Book of Mormon, viz., + + Blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that + day, for they shall have the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. + +III. + +_Three Witnesses Shall Behold the Book "By the Gift and Power of God_." + +In the writings of the first Nephi the following prediction with +reference to Three Witnesses who should testify to the truth of the +Book of Mormon is found: + + Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the + man of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of + the world, that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that + Three Witnesses shall behold it, by the power of God, besides him + to whom the book shall be delivered; and they shall testify to the + truth of the book and the things therein. And there is none other + which shall view it, save it be a few, according to the will of + God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men. [27] + +A similiar prediction is made in Ether: + + And unto three shall they [the Nephite plates] be shown by the + power of God; wherefore they shall known of a surety that these + things are true. [28] + +Of course I am prepared to hear it said that it would be an easy matter +for an imposter to make such a prophecy as this with reference to a +work which he was bringing forth; but would it be within the power of +an imposter to cause an angel to come from heaven and stand before +these Witnesses in the broad light of day and exhibit the Nephite +plates and the Urim and Thummim? Could he cause the glory of God more +brilliant than the light of the sun at noon-day to shine about them? +Could he cause the voice of God to be heard from the midst of the glory +saying that the work was true, the translation correct, and commanding +these witnesses to bear testimony to the world of its truth? Certainly +all this would be beyond the power of an imposter to achieve however +cunning he might be. Yet this is what the Three Witnesses declare was +done. Of course it could still be urged that the Three Witnesses were +in collusion with the Prophet, but all probabilities of that matter +have been considered at great length in volume II., chapters fourteen +to twenty-two inclusive, and the weight of evidence is against any such +theory, and therefore their testimony bears witness to the fulfillment +of the remarkable prophecy here considered. + +IV. + +_The Blood of Saints Shall Cry From the Ground to be Avenged When +the Book of Mormon Shall Come Forth_. + +The first Nephi, fifth century B. C., writing of the conditions which +would obtain when the Nephite record should come forth to the world +says: + + The things which shall be written out of the book shall be of great + worth unto the children of men and especially unto our seed, which + is a remnant of the house of Israel. For it shall come to pass in + that day, that the churches which are built up, and not unto the + Lord, when the one shall say unto the other, Behold I, I am the + Lord's; and the others shall say, I, I am the Lord's. And thus + shall every one say that hath built up churches, and not unto the + Lord. And they shall contend one with another; and their priests + shall contend one with another, and they shall teach with their + learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance. And they + deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel: and they say unto + the people, Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept; for behold + there is no God today for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his + work, and he hath given his power unto men. Behold, hearken ye unto + my precept; if they shall say, There is a miracle wrought, by the + hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this day he is not a God of + miracles; he hath done his work. Yea, and there shall be many which + shall say, Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it + shall be well with us. There shall also be many which shall say, + Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God, he will justify + in committing a little sin, yea, lie a little, take the advantage + of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is + no harm in this. And do all these things, for tomorrow we die: + and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few + stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Yea, + and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false, + and vain, and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their + hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; + _and their works shall be in the dark, and the blood of the Saints + shall cry from the ground against them_. [29] + +This prophecy in substance is repeated by Mormon, including the +singular prediction that the Book of Mormon should come forth, "In a +day when the blood of the saints shall cry unto the Lord, because of +secret combinations and works of darkness." [30] + +A more vivid description of Christendom in the early part of the 19th +century could scarcely be written than that given in these passages. +I shall be told, however, that it is a description which even an +imposter could easily give circumstanced as was Joseph Smith. His +experience through announcing his first revelation was sufficient +to test the manner in which Christendom was prepared to receive an +alleged new revelation, and he was sufficiently familiar with the +prevailing "Christian" notion that the days of miracles were past, +to formulate the part of the foregoing arraignment dealing with that +subject. He also knew something of the pride and haughtiness of +Christian sects, and with this knowledge as a foundation it can with +some reason be urged that he could easily write the description of +Christendom found in these quotations from the Book of Mormon. There +is one item within the prophecy, however, both in the first Nephi's +writings and also Mormon's that Joseph Smith could not know except +through the inspiration of God, viz., that "the blood of the Saints +shall cry from the ground" against this corrupted Christendom. The +people of the great American Republic, would as soon have been brought +to believe in the return of the age of miracles as to believe that the +time would come when the blood of Saints would cry from their soil to +the God of Sabaoth for vengeance against any of them. Had not the day +of religious persecution, at least within the enlightened republic +of the new world, forever passed away? Had not the great government +of the United States, destined to dominate by its influence the +American continents--had it not been founded upon the broad principles +of religious and civil freedom? Were not the rights of conscience +guaranteed by specific provisions both in the national constitution and +in the state constitutions? Was not America in those days especially +heralded as the asylum for the oppressed of every land? Was it not the +boast of our statesmen that a nation had at last been founded where +religious freedom was recognized as the chief corner stone in the +temple of liberty? How bold indeed must that man be who would--while +the people were yet enjoying this very feast of liberty--rise up +and say that the blood of Saints should cry from American ground to +God for vengeance! Yet such is the prediction of these old Nephite +writers, whose words were translated into the English language by +Joseph Smith. And the only question to be considered here is--since +the reality of the prophecy cannot be questioned--has the prophecy +been fulfilled? Let the blood of those Saints who were killed and who +died from the effects of exposure during the expulsion from Jackson +county, in 1833, answer. [31] Let the blood of David W. Patten, one of +the twelve Apostles in this last dispensation, together with the blood +of young Patrick O'Banion and Gideon Carter, slain at Crooked River, +Missouri, in 1838, answer. [32] Let the blood of the innocent men, and +children martyred at Haun's Mills, in Missouri, answer; [33] let the +innocent blood of all those whose lives were sacrificed at DeWitt and +in and about Far West and during the expulsion of some twelve thousand +Latter-day Saints from the state of Missouri in 1839, answer. Let the +innocent blood of the Prophet Joseph Smith himself and that of his +brother Hyrum slain at Carthage prison, in June, 1844--while under the +plighted faith of the state of Illinois for their protection--let their +blood answer. Let the blood of many others that were slain in Nauvoo +and vicinity during the two years following, and also the martyrdom of +many who died from exposure and want in the enforced exodus from Nauvoo +to the Rocky mountains--the victims of "Christian" tolerance--answer. +Let the blood of Elder Joseph Standing, killed by a mob in the state +of Georgia, 1879,--answer. Let the blood of Elders John F. Gibbs and +William Berry who were murdered in Tennessee while in the very act of +opening a meeting for the preaching of the gospel, answer; as also the +blood of their two friends, the Condor brothers, who were shot down in +their father's house while trying to protect these Elders from their +assailants. Let all these instances of martyrdom testify of the truth +of this prophecy of the Book of Mormon; for these martyrdoms were +endured for the word of God which it contains, and not for any crime +alleged against those who suffered. Nay, in nearly all these cases +crime was not even alleged. + +A singular thing connected with these martyrdoms is the fact that in +no instance have the perpetrators of these murders been brought to +justice. Perhaps it is fitting that it should be so. It seems to make +the martyrdom more complete; and more fully meets the terms of the +prophecy since, according to that prophecy, the blood of Saints in the +day when the Nephite scriptures should be brought to light, was to cry +unto the Lord from the ground for vengeance, clearly foreshadowing the +fact that man would not avenge it. + +V. + +_Because my Word Shall Hiss Forth, Many Shall say "A Bible! A +Bible_!" + +Another item of interest in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon is +the predicted clamor that should be raised against it. Here follows the +prophecy--the Lord is speaking to the first Nephi: + + Behold, there shall be many at that day when I shall proceed to + do a marvelous work among them; * * * when I shall remember the + promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi; * * * that the words + of your seed shall proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; + and because my words shall hiss forth many of the Gentiles shall + say, A Bible, A Bible, we have got a Bible, and there cannot be any + more Bible. [34] + +It is notorious that this cry was raised--and even now is raised at +times--against the Book of Mormon. It was relied upon not only as +the chief but also the all-sufficient argument against accepting the +book, as is abundantly proved by reference to the arguments of the +Elders in answer to the objections urged against it. [35] For example +in Orson Pratt's most excellent work, "Divine Authenticity of the Book +of Mormon," there are such headings as these--and in the body of this +work under the respective topics he meets and entirely overthrows all +sectarian argument that the Book of Mormon ought to be rejected because +it claims to be a new revelation: "To Expect More Revelation is not +Unscriptural;" "To Expect More Revelation is not Unreasonable;" "More +Revelation is Indispensably Necessary."--(a) for Calling the Officers +of the Church--(b) To Point out the Duties of the Officers in the +Church--(c) To Comfort, Reprove and Teach the Church--(d) To Unfold +to the Church the Future; "The Bible and Traditions Without Further +Revelation an Insufficient Guide." From these topics may be gathered +the class of objections urged against the Book of Mormon; and as Elder +Pratt so admirably treats that subject, I do not deem it necessary to +enter into that field, since all may inform themselves how complete +the victory of the Elders has been in that controversy by reference to +Elder Pratt's works. I am interested in the matter here only to the +extent of pointing out the fact that the prophecy that the Book of +Mormon would be met with the cry--"A Bible, a Bible, we have a Bible +and there cannot be any more Bible," has been fulfilled. [36] + +Closely associated with the sectarian notion of the cessation of +revelation and miracles is also the idea that the Hebrew scriptures +comprised all the records in which God had vouchedsafed a revelation +to man. That is, the Hebrew volume comprised the whole of sacred +scripture. In 1829 at the city of Cincinnati, during the very great +debate which there took place between Alexander Campbell and Robert +Owen--an unbeliever in the Bible,--on the Evidences of Christianity, +the following very positive question was submitted in writing to Mr. +Campbell: + + Are the books composing the Old and New Testaments the only books + of divine authority in the world? + +To this question Mr. Campbell gave this very emphatic answer--and up +to that time at least, I do not hesitate to say that he voiced the +sentiments of all Christendom; and this was the answer of Mr. Campbell: + + "I answer, emphatically yes." [37] + +The "yes" Mr. Campbell writes in italics. + +The foreging should be modified by this explanation, viz: all divisions +of Christendom are not agreed upon all the books that comprise what +is called the Bible. It is well known that the Catholics regard as +canonical some books which the Protestants hold to be apocryphal, +and in addition to the written word of God, I am mindful that the +great Roman Catholic church adds the unwritten word of God. In other +words, the traditions of the church are regarded as the word of God. +The Protestants generally accept the books of the English authorized +version of the Holy Scriptures, translated in 1611, and known as +King James' Translation, pointing out by name those books which were +regarded as of doubtful origin and which for that reason they call the +apocrypha. The Roman Catholic church accepts the books enumerated in +what is known as the Douay edition of the Bible, of 1609; revised and +corrected in 1750. It would therefore be proper to say that each of +these great divisions of Christendom would claim that the list of books +comprised within the respective editions of the Bible which they accept +are the only books of divine authority in the world. + +The answer which the Lord in the Book of Mormon is represented as +making to this sectarian view of revelation; as also to this clamor +against the Book of Mormon, is in every way worthy of him: + + Thou fool, that shall say, a Bible, we have got a Bible, and we + need no more Bible. * * * Know ye not that there are more nations + than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all + men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; + and that I rule in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath; + and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon + all the nations of the earth? Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye + shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of + two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember + one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words + unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall + run together, the testimony of the two nations shall run together + also. + + And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same + yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words + according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one + word, ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work + is not yet finished; neither shall it be, until the end of man; + neither from that time henceforth and forever. Wherefore, because + that ye have a Bible, ye need not suppose that it contains all my + words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be + written; for I command all men, both in the east and in the west, + and in the north and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, + that they shall write the words which I speak unto them: for out + of the books which shall be written, I will judge the world, every + man according to his works, according to that which is written. For + behold, I shall speak unto the Jews, and they shall write it; and + I shall also speak unto the Nephites, and they shall write it; and + I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, + which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also + speak unto all nations of the earth, and they shall write it. And + it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the + Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and + the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes + of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of + the Nephites and the Jews. And it shall come to pass that my people + which are of the house of Israel shall be gathered home unto the + lands of their possession; and my word also shall be gathered in + one. [38] + +I say this answer is worthy of God to utter, and worthy of man to heed. +It lifts us entirely out of narrow, sectarian views of revelation, +and breathes a universal spirit of interest and love for mankind. It +carries within itself the evidence of a divine inspiration. Its very +worthiness of God is a testimony of its truth. How petty and unworthy +in contrast with it is that sectarian Christian view that would limit +God's revealed word to the few books contained in the Bible! How +partial and unjust does that same sectarian view of revelation make +God appear! If there is one doctrine more emphasized in the teachings +of the New Testament that another, it is that God is no respecter +of persons; "but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh +righteousness, is accepted with him." [39] With this fact in mind let us +test the two conceptions of God's dealings with man in the matter of +revelation. The narrow, sectarian, "Christian" view, and the Book of +Mormon view; and this for the purpose of ascertaining which would be +the more worthy of God, which most like him. + +We have learned in the previous chapters of this work that America +was inhabited by highly civilized races before the discovery of it by +Europeans; that in the western world there flourished civilizations +equal to those of the same period in the eastern hemisphere; cities +that, judging from their ruins, equalled in greatness Tyre and Sidon +and Nineveh and Babylon; and empires that rivalled in power and extent, +Egypt, Persia and Macedonia. Millions of God's children through +successive generations lived in them and died and were buried. The +sectarian view of revelation would ask us to believe that God sent +prophets and holy men to teach and instruct his children in the eastern +hemisphere; that he revealed to them something of his own character +and attributes; that by revelation direct from heaven, accompanied +by demonstrations of his own marvelous power, he made known to them +something of the object of their existence, and gave them the hope of +eternal life; that in the meridian of time he sent his Only Begotten +Son among them, in order that life and immortality might be more +clearly brought to light; that the matchless Son of God by example as +well as by precept taught the inhabitants of the old world the way of +life--the divine will--in a word, taught the Gospel--organized a Church +to perpetuate his doctrines--commissioned apostles and others to carry +on the work of salvation; and thus made ample provisions for carrying +the Gospel throughout Asia, Africa and Europe--for the Church of +Christ in the East was organized where these natural divisions of the +old world center--yet, while the Lord made all these efforts for the +instruction and salvation of his children in the eastern hemisphere, +this sectarian idea that the Bible contains all the revelation God has +ever given would compel us to believe that he altogether neglected +his children of the western world! No prophet was sent to them with a +message to explain the mystery of existence, to let them know whence +their origin, the object of their existence, or bid them indulge the +pleasing hope of immortality. No angel from the bright worlds on high +came to reveal the splendor of heaven, or show the path which leads +to endless bliss; no messenger came even from the wilderness crying +repentance to them, and making the announcement that the kingdom of +heaven was at hand; no Messiah of gentle mien, yet of serene majesty, +taught them the mystery of the divine love which works out man's +redemption, healed their sick, raised their dead, or even so much +as blessed their children. No; according to the sectarian Christian +theory of the extent of revelation, God neglected them entirely--left +them to perish in darkness and ignorance and unbelief; unknowing and +unknown! Is such a view as this worthy of God? Does it comport with +the attributes of impartial love towards his children? Is it not a +travesty upon the qualities of justice and mercy as we believe those +qualities to exist in God? Does it not smack rather of man's bigotry +and narrowness, and above all, of human ignorance? + +Turn now to the Book of Mormon theory of revelation as set forth in the +words just quoted from the writings of the first Nephi, and couple with +them the words of another Nephite prophet: + + Behold, the Lord doth grant upon all nations, of their own nation + and tongue, to teach his word; yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth + fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth + counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true. + +What a contrast in the sectarian and Book of Mormon view of revelation! +The one so narrow, and so contracted to limits unworthy of God! The +other so world-embracing, noble, generous, and worthy of God! The one +so exclusive as to limit divine inspiration to the prophets of the +Hebrew race; the other so broad as to include all the great teachers of +mankind-- + + "The Bactrian, Samian Sage, and all who taught the right." + +In these Book of Mormon passages we have the grandest conception +respecting God's dispensations of his word found in human speech. They +recognize God's obligation--born of his Fatherhood and love--to make +known his word and will in some form to all nations and races of men. +They recognize as constituting a noble brotherhood of God-inspired +men, the sages of all races and ages, who have taught their fellow men +better things than they knew before. The wise men among Assyrians and +Egyptians as well as the shepherd-patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, +are to be regarded as inspired of God. Jethro, the priest of Midian, +though not of Israel, as well as Moses, possessed divine wisdom; and +even counseled the Hebrew prophet-prince, to the latter's advantage. +The sages of Greece, from Thales to Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, +belong to the same glorious band. So also the great teacher of India, +Siddhartha, Buddah--the enlightened; Kongfutse, the teacher of God's +children in China; Mohammed, the prophet of Arabia; the teachers of +philosophy and reformers of Europe--some professed Christians, some +not, some even making war upon apostate Christendom; but I include all +those within the honored band of the God-inspired who have come with +some measure of the truth to bless mankind, to alleviate somewhat the +hard conditions in which men struggle, and who have raised the thoughts +and hopes of man to higher and better things. "The path of sensuality +and darkness," says a profound modern teacher of moral philosophy, "is +that which most men tread; a few have been led along the upward path; +a few in all countries and generations have been wisdom-seekers or +seekers of God; they have been so because the Divine Word of wisdom +has looked upon them, choosing them for the knowledge and service of +himself." [40] Not that these teachers, sages, prophets have each come +with a fullness of truth; or that they possessed the gospel of Jesus +Christ with divine authority to administer its sacred ordinances; not +so. Such truths as they possessed were often fragmentary, and mingled +with them was much that was human, hence imperfect, and confusing. +But so much of truth as they possessed was God-given, and they but +instruments of God to set it free that the truth might bless mankind. +Our Book of Mormon passages only require us to believe concerning this +world-band of inspired teachers, that they come with that measure of +God's word which in the divine wisdom it is fitting that men among whom +they are called to labor should receive; and this doctrine in relation +to the dispensation of God's word to man is so generous and noble +in its scope, so far above the narrow, sectarian conceptions of the +age and vicinity where the Book of Mormon was brought forth, that it +constitutes a striking evidence in support of its claims. + +VI. + +THE LOST BOOKS OF THE BIBLE. + +Closely connected with this matter of the world's clamor against the +Book of Mormon, and their protestations in favor of the Bible, is +the declaration of I Nephi as to the treatment of that same Bible by +Christendom. In one of the great visions granted to this Nephi, and +expounded by an angel, he beholds a book, the Bible, go forth from the +Jews to the Gentiles. Now Nephi's account of the matter: + + And the angel of the Lord said unto me, Thou hast beheld that the + book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded + forth from the mouth of a Jew, it contained the plainness of the + gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and + they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of + God; wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity, unto + the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God; and after + they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from + the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the foundation of a great + and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other + churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the + Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many + covenants of the Lord have they taken away; and all this have they + done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord; that + they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children + of men; wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth + through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there + are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which + is the book of the Lamb of God: and after these plain and precious + things were taken away, it goeth forth unto all the nations of the + Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen + with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity: thou + seest because of the many plain and precious things which have been + taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of + the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the + Lamb of God; because of these things which are taken away out of + the gospel of the Lamb, an exceeding great many do stumble, yea, + insomuch that Satan hath great power over them. [41] + +It is disputed, by some, that any such thing as here described has +taken place with reference to the Bible, and labored arguments are made +to prove that contention. [42] + +Into that contention it is not necessary to enter at length. It will be +sufficient to show that there are many books referred to in the several +books comprising the Old and New Testaments that are not to be found in +that collection. Books that are spoken of as containing revelations; +books written by prophets and apostles, and evidently as much entitled +to a place in the canon of scriptures as those that are now there. What +has become of them? Who is responsible for their absence? Pointing +to the excellence of those books we have is no compensation for the +absence of those we have not. So long as the books of scripture we +hold in reverence, as containing the word of God, speak of other books +and epistles that contained revelations from the Spirit of God that +are not in the Bible, it is useless to contend that our collection of +sacred books, called the Bible, contains the whole word of God. These +absent books may, as Nephi declares they do, contain many precious and +plain parts of God's truth, which would have preserved the Christian +world from many of the doctrinal errors into which it has been plunged +for want of knowledge. Again I ask, who is responsible for the absence +of these books? Nephi declares that "a great and abominable church" +is responsible for their absence, that that church took them away. I +do not believe that Nephi here had reference to any one of the many +divisions of Christendom. Nephi, in fact, recognized the existence of +two churches only. One he styles, "the church of the Lamb of God;" and +the other he bluntly calls "the church of the devil." [43] "And whoso +belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God, belongeth to that +great church which is the mother of abominations; the whore of all the +earth." [44] + +The church then that withheld from the world the part of the word of +God, as developed in the teachings and writings of the apostles, was +undoubtedly apostate Christendom; massed under the general title of +the "great and abominable church," without reference to any of its +divisions of sub-divisions; and that is the power that withheld and +destroyed some parts of the scriptures. In proof of which I cite the +following references to sacred books and writings both in the Old and +New Testaments, which are not to be found in it. + +First, books of the Old Testament: + +The scriptures that existed in the days of Abraham, older than the five +books of Moses, for Abraham was before Moses. These scriptures are +referred to by Paul as follows: "And the scriptures foreseeing that God +would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the Gospel +unto Abraham." (Gal. iii: 8). + +The book of the covenant, through which Moses instructed Israel. (Exo. +xxiv: 7). + +The book of the wars of the Lord. (Num. xxi: 14). + +The book of Jasher. (Josh. x: 13, and Sam. i: 18). + +The book of the manner of the kingdom. (Sam. x: 25). + +Books containing three thousand proverbs, a thousand and five songs, a +treatise on natural history by Solomon. (I. Kings iv: 32, 33). + +The acts of Solomon. (I. Kings xi: 41). + +The book of Nathan the prophet. (I. Chron. xxix: 29). + +The book of Gad the Seer. (I. Chron. xxix: 29). + +The book of Nathan the prophet. (I. Chron. xxix: 29 and II. Chron. ix: +29). + +The prophecy of Ahijah, the Shilonite. (II. Chron. ix: 29). + +The visions of Iddo the Seer. (II. Chron. ix: 29). + +The book of Shemaiah the prophet. (II. Chron. xii: 15). + +The story of the prophet Iddo. (II. Chron. xiii: 22). + +The book of Jehu. (Chron. xx: 34). + +Second, books of the New Testament. + +It is evident from the preface of St. Luke's Gospel, that "many" +who were eye witnesses of the things most surely believed among the +Christians, took it in hand by means of writing books to set them forth +in order. (Luke 5: 1-4). But of the writings of those eye witnesses, it +can scarcely be said that we have the works of "many" of them. + +Jude, speaking of some characters which he likens unto "raging waves +of the sea foaming out their own shame," says, "And Enoch, the seventh +from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with +ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to +convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds +which they have ungodly committed, and all of their hard speeches which +ungodly sinners have spoken against him." (Jude 15, 16). From this it +appears that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, was favored with a vision +even of the second coming of the Son of God, and prophesied of judgment +overtaking the ungodly at that coming. This prophecy of Enoch's was +in existence in the days of Jude, "the servant of Christ," or else he +would not be able to quote from it. May not this prophecy of Enoch's +have been among the "scripture" with which Abraham was acquainted, +mentioned above? + +There should also be another epistle of Jude. That writer says, "When +I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it +was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should +earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints." (Jude +3). We have but one epistle of Jude yet he wrote another epistle to +the saints on a very important subject, "The common salvation," and he +"gave all diligence" in writing upon it. Would not the epistle on the +"common salvation" be as important as that one we have from Jude's pen? + +Paul, in writing to the Ephesians, states that God made known unto him, +by revelation, a certain mystery; "as," says he, "I wrote afore in +few words whereby when ye read ye may understand my knowledge in the +mystery of Christ." (Eph. iii: 3, 4). Here Paul evidently refers to +another epistle which he had written to the Ephesians, but of which the +world today has no knowledge. This epistle contained a revelation from +God. + +When the great apostle to the Gentiles wrote to the Colossians, he +gave them these directions: "When this epistle is read among you, cause +that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that ye +likewise read the epistle from Loadicea." (Col. iv: 16). Here, then, +is another epistle of Paul's, the Epistle to the Laodiceans, which he +himself refers to, but of which the world knows nothing, except this +reference to it--it is not in the Bible. + +In the first letter to the Corinthians you find this statement: "I +wrote unto you in an epistle, not to keep company with fornicators." +(Cor. v: 9). That book, then, which the world has so long regarded as +the first epistle to the Corinthians, is not really the first epistle +which Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, for in the quotation given +above, taken from the so-called First Epistle to the Corinthians, the +writer speaks of an epistle which he previously had written to them, +in which he counseled them "not to keep company with fornicators." +Doubtless many other instructions and important principles were +contained in this other Epistle to the Corinthians. + +How many other books and epistles, written by inspired men of those +days, were suppressed by "the great and abominable church"--apostate +Christendom--we may not know, but these here incidentally mentioned +have certainly been suppressed. Moreover, I have not mentioned all that +are spoken of. I have carefully avoided referring to any about which +doubts can be entertained, or which could be said to form parts of the +books we have. Deeming it better that the list of absent books should +be shorter than to mention any of which it could be said they are to +be found as fragments, or portions of the books now in the Bible, but +known by other names. [45] + +It may be urged, with reference to the Old Testament at least, that +it came from the Jews to the Gentiles in its present form, and that +it was not the Gentiles, not the apostate church of the third and +fourth century of the Christian Era that mutilated in any form the +Old Testament scriptures. But let us not take too narrow a view of +Nephi's vision-prophecy, concerning the corruption of the word of God, +or the power which he saw corrupting it. It may be that he had in +mind in his vision as much the apostate Jewish church as the apostate +Christian church, and looking upon the question from that view point +we know this: that a century or two before the advent of Christ the +Jews apparently had grown weary of the honorable mission which God had +given to them; namely, that of being his witnesses among the nations +of the earth; and their leading teachers, especially in the two +centuries preceding the coming of the Messiah, were taking every step +that their ingenuity could devise for harmonizing the truths which God +had made known to them with the more fashionable conceptions of God +as entertained by one or the other of the great sects of philosophy +among the Romans. The way had been prepared for the achievement of this +end, in the first place, by the translation of the Hebrew scriptures +into the Greek language (the first great instance of the "Book that +proceedeth forth from the mouth of a Jew" going to the Gentiles), which +version of the Old Testament is usually called the Septuagint, or the +LXX. This latter name is given to it because of a tradition that the +translation was accomplished by seventy, or about seventy, elders of +the Jews. The most generally accepted theory concerning it, however, +is that it was a work accomplished at various time between 280 B. C. +and 150 B. C. The books of Moses being first translated as early as the +time of Ptolemy Philadelphus, 284-264 B. C., while the Prophets and +Psalms were translated somewhat later. It is not, however, the time or +manner in which the translation was accomplished that we are interested +in, but the character of the translation itself; and of this, Alfred +Edersheim, in his "Life and Times of Jesus, the Messiah," in the +division of his work which treats of the preparation for the Gospel, +says of this Greek translation: + + Putting aside clerical mistakes and misreadings, and making + allowance for errors of translation, ignorance, and haste, we note + certain outstanding facts as characteristic of the Greek version. + It bears evident marks of its origin in Egypt, in its use of + Egyptian works and references, and equally evident traces of its + Jewish composition. By the side of slavish and false literalism + there is great liberty, if not license, in handling the original; + gross mistakes occur along with happy renderings of very difficult + passages, suggesting the aid of some able scholars. Distinct + Jewish elements are undeniably there, which can only be explained + by reference to Jewish tradition, although they are much fewer + than some critics have supposed. This we can easily understand, + since only those traditions would find a place which at the early + time were not only received, but in general circulation. The + distinctly Grecian elements, however, are at present of chief + interest to us. They consist of allusion to Greek mythological + terms, and adaptations of Greek philosophical ideas. However few, + even one well-authenticated instance would lead us to suspect + others, and in general give to the version the character of Jewish + Hellenising. In the same class we reckon what constitutes the + prominent characteristics of the LXX version, which, for want of + better terms, we would designate as rationalistic and apologetic. + Difficulties--or what seemed such--are removed by the most bold + methods, and by free handling of the text; it need scarcely be + said, often very unsatisfactorily. More especially, a strenuous + effort is made to banish all anthropomorphisms, as inconsistent + with their ideas of the Deity. [46] + +Later the same authority points out the fact that the Septuagint +version of the Hebrew scriptures became really the people's Bible to +that large Jewish world through which Christianity was afterwards to +address itself to mankind. "It was part of the case," he adds, "that +this translation should be regarded by the Hellenists as inspired like +the original. Otherwise it would have been impossible to make final +appeal to the very words of the Greek; still less to find in them a +mystical and allegorical meaning." [47] + +The foundation thus laid for a superstructure of false philosophy there +was not wanting builders who were anxious to place a pagan structure +upon it. About the middle of the second century B. C., one Aristobulus, +a Hellenist Jew of Alexandria, sought to so explain the Hebrew +scriptures as "to bring the Peripatetic philosophy out of the law of +Moses, and out of the other Prophets." Following is a sample according +to Edersheim, of his allegorizing: + + Thus, when we read that God stood, it meant the stable order of + the world; that he created the world in six days, the orderly + succession of time; the rest of the Sabbath, the preservation of + what was created. And in such manner could the whole system of + Aristotle be found in the Bible. But how was this to be accounted + for? Of course, the Bible had not learned of Aristotle, but he and + all other philosophers had learned from the Bible. Thus, according + to Aristobulus, Phythagoras, Plato, and all the other sages, had + really learned from Moses, and the broken rays found in their + writings were united in all their glory in the Torah. [48] + +Following Aristobulus in the same kind of philosophy was Philo, the +learned Jew of Alexandria, born about the year 20 B. C. He was supposed +to be a descendant of Aaron, and belonged to one of the wealthiest +and most influential families among the merchant Jews of Egypt; and +he is said to have united a large share of Greek learning with Jewish +enthusiasm. He followed most earnestly in the footsteps of Aristobulus. +According to him, all the Greek sages had learned their philosophy from +Moses, in whom alone was all truth to be found. "Not indeed, in the +letter," says Edersheim, "but under the letter of Holy Scripture. If in +Numbers xxiii: 19 we read 'God is not a man,' and in Deut. i:31 that +the Lord was 'as a man,' did it not imply on the one hand revelation +of absolute truth by God, and on the other, accommodation to those who +were weak? Here then, was the principle of a two-fold interpretation +of the word of God--the literal and the allegorical. * * * * * * To +begin with the former: the literal sense must be wholly set aside, +when it implies anything unworthy of the Deity--anything unmeaning, +impossible, or contrary to reason. Manifestly this canon, if strictly +applied, would do away not only with all anthropomorphisms, but cut the +knot where difficulties seemed insuperable. Again, Philo would find an +allegorical, along with the literal, interpretation indicated in the +reduplication of a word, and in seemingly superfluous words, particles, +or expressions. These could, of course, only bear such a meaning on +Philo's assumption of the actual inspiration of the Septuagint version." + +When one thinks of the mischief that may arise from such perversions of +scripture by the application of Philo's principles of interpretation, +we do not marvel that some of the Jews regarded the translation of the +Seventy "to have been as great a calamity to Israel as the making of +the golden calf." "The Jews who remained faithful to the traditions +of their race," says Andrew D. White, "regarded this Greek version +as profanation, and therefore there grew up the legend that on the +completion of the work there was darkness over the whole earth during +three days. This showed clearly Jehovah's disapproval." [49] + +Referring to the Talmudic canon of interpretation of the Greek +versions, Edersheim says, "they were comparatively sober rules of +exegesis." But "not so," he remarks, "the license which Philo claimed, +of freely altering the punctuation of sentences and his notion that, if +one from among several synonymous words was chosen in a passage, this +pointed to some special meaning attaching to it. Even more extravagant +was the idea that a word which occurred in the Septuagint might be +interpreted according to every shade of meaning which it bore in the +Greek, and that even another meaning might be given it by slightly +altering the letters." + +In all this one may see only too plainly the effort to harmonize Jewish +theology with Greek philosophy--an effort to be rid of the plain +anthropomorphism of the Hebrew scriptures, for the incomprehensible +"being" of Greek metaphysics. + +Thus not only is it evident that books are omitted from the Hebrew +scriptures, but by faulty translations and by false interpretations the +pure stream of God's revelation has been corrupted. In pointing out the +purposes for which the Book of Mormon was written, I said, among other +things, that its purpose was to restore to the knowledge of mankind +plain and precious truths concerning the Gospel which men have taken +out of the Jewish scriptures, or obscured by their interpretations. +And this I insist it does, and in proof of the assertion refer to the +many great truths mentioned in the preceding chapter; those truths +concerning the purpose of Adam's fall; the object of man's earth-life, +the doctrine of opposite existences and the whole scheme of the +Gospel. To these I may add, also, that the Book of Mormon reaffirms +and by reaffirming authoritatively restores the great truth of the +anthropomorphism of God. That is, it affirms that in form God is like +man; or, in other words, and in a better form of the comparison man was +created in the image or likeness of God. It restores also the great +truth of the anthropopathy of God. That is to say, in mental, moral, +and spiritual attributes God is like man; or, more correctly speaking, +man is the offspring of Deity, and possesses the mind attributes of +God, differing only in the degree of their development. Man is of the +same race as God--the offspring of Deity. This is not taught in any +formal manner, but is to be learned from the whole tenor of the book. + +With reference to the form of God, the Book of Mormon has two very +important and very emphatic passages on the subject. The first Nephi, +in a great vision given to him of the future, was attended by a spirit +who gave him explanations, as the several parts of his vision passed +before him. And now Nephi's account: + + And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me, Look! and I + looked, and beheld a tree; * * * and the beauty thereof was far + beyond, yea, exceeding all beauty, and the whiteness thereof did + exceed the whiteness of the driven snow. And it came to pass after + I had seen the tree, I said unto the Spirit, I behold thou hast + shown unto me the tree, which is precious above all. And he said + unto me: What desirest thou? And I said unto him: To know the + interpretation thereof; for I spake unto him as a man speaketh; for + I beheld that he was in the form of a man; yet, nevertheless, I + knew that it was the Spirit of the Lord; and he spake unto me as a + man speaketh with another. [50] + +The second passage alluded to is found in the book of Ether. The +prophet Moriancumr, the brother of Jared, when about to depart with his +colony in barges across the great deep, had prepared certain stones +which he prayed the Lord to make luminous, that they might have light +in the barges while on their journey. He had approached the Lord with +great faith, and expressed full confidence in the power of God to do +the thing for which he prayed; and now the Book of Mormon statement of +the matter: + + And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these + words, behold the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the + stones, one by one with his finger; and the veil was taken from + off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the + Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; + and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was + struck with fear. * * * And the Lord said unto him, Arise, why hast + thou fallen? And he said unto the Lord, I saw the finger of the + Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the + Lord had flesh and blood. And the Lord said unto him, Because of + thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; + and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as + thou hast; for were it not so, you could not have seen my finger. + * * * And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord shewed + himself unto him, and said, Because thou knowest these things you + are redeemed from the fall; therefore you are brought back into my + presence; therefore I shew myself unto you. Behold, I am he who + was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. + Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall + all mankind have light, and that eternally, even they who shall + believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters. + And never have I shewed myself unto man whom I have created, for + never has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that thou art + created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in + the beginning, after mine own image. Behold, this body, which you + now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after + the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the + spirit, will I appear unto my people in the flesh. [51] + +The following passages, when combined, may be regarded as a further +revelation of the truth here set forth: III. Nephi xi: 24, 25, xxvii: +27, xxviii: 10, I. Nephi xi: 8-11, and Ether iii: 6-16. [52] + +VII. + +_No Gentile Kings in America_. + +The prophet Jacob, brother of the first Nephi, addressing himself to +the Nephites, said: + + Behold, this land, saith God, shall be a land of thine inheritance, + and the Gentiles shall be blessed upon the land. And this land + shall be a land of liberty unto the Gentiles, and there shall be + no kings upon the land, who shall raise up unto the Gentiles; + and I will fortify this land against all other nations; and he + that fighteth against Zion shall perish, saith God; for he that + raiseth up a king against me shall perish, for I, the Lord, the + King of heaven, will be their king, and I will be a light unto them + forever, that hear my words. [53] + +There are many decrees of God concerning America as a choice +land, which will be noted in the place I have assigned for their +consideration, but here I am concerned only with this remarkable +prophecy, viz., that the land of America (both continents) is +consecrated to liberty, and there shall be no kings upon the land "who +shall rise up unto the Gentiles." Note the limits of the prophecy. It +is not extended to the native races of America, but to the Gentiles who +shall inhabit the land. That is to say, there shall be no kings upon +the land "who shall rise up unto the Gentiles." + +A rather bold prediction this, whether the utterances he accredited to +Jacob, in the first half of the 5th century B. C., or to Joseph Smith +in 1830. In any event the prophecy, so far, has been fulfilled; and +today from the frozen north, Alaska, to the straits of Magellan in the +south continent, the "new world" under the consecration of God, is +blessed with freedom, and republican, not monarchial, institutions, +obtain. + +It may be objected that this prophecy has failed because of two +notable attempts to establish monarchies in the New World by European +governments, one in Brazil, the other in Mexico. Let us investigate +these two attempts. + +By an accidental discovery along the east shore of South America, by +Cabral, a Portuguese navigator, (1500 A. D.,) that section of the south +continent now known to us as Brazil, became a colony of the kingdom of +Portugal. It remained so until 1822, when Dom Pedro, the son of King +John VI., of Portugal, sided with the people of Brazil in declaring the +independence of the country, and was crowned Emperor under the title of +Dom Pedro I. + +His rule, however, was tyrranical, and the people at length rose against +him, in 1831, dragged him to the public square of Rio de Janeiro and +forced him to remove from his head the imperial crown, and thus his +reign ended in public disgrace. + +His son became emperor under the title of Dom Pedro II. As he was a +child of but six years when his father abdicated in his favor, Brazil +was governed by regents until 1841, when the Prince, having attained +his majority, was proclaimed emperor. It is said of him that from the +first he proved himself an intelligent, liberal and humane ruler, and +during his reign Brazil made great advancement in civilization and +material prosperity. He was so strongly attached to constitutional +forms, and governed so entirely through his ministers, that he can +scarcely be regarded as a monarch at all. In November, 1889, he +acquiesced in the wishes of the people, abdicated his throne in favor +of a republican form of government, and retired to Portugal. Since that +time Brazil has remained a republic. + +The attempts to establish monarchy in Mexico arose under the following +circumstances: In 1862, France, Great Britain, and Spain sent a joint +military expedition to Mexico to enforce payment of certain claims. +When their ostensible object was attained Great Britain and Spain +withdrew; but Napoleon III, Emperor of France, confident that the war +between the states of the American Union would end in dissolution of +the Union, regarded the conditions as favorable to the establishment +of a Latin empire in the Western world which he hoped would be a +counterpoise to the Anglo Saxon republics; and invited Archduke +Maximilian, brother of the Austrian Emperor, to accept the crown of +the proposed new government, Napoleon promising to maintain an army +of twenty-five thousand French soldiers for his protection. This +proposition the Archduke accepted, and was hailed emperor of Mexico. + +Meantime the United States government refused to recognize any +authority in Mexico except that of the deposed President of the +Republic, Juarez; but in consequence of the civil war then at its +heighth was unable to resist this flagrant violation of the Monroe +Doctrine. [54] The civil war closed, however, notice was served upon the +French emperor that his soldiers must be withdrawn from Mexico, and +he judged it expedient to comply, though it was a dastardly desertion +of Maximilian, whose situation at once became precarious. In vain his +faithful consort, Carlotta, journeyed from court to court in Europe +intreating assistance for her husband, and denouncing Napoleon's +dissertion of him. Her successive disappointments finally overthrew her +reason. No hand in Europe was raised to maintain monarchy in Mexico. +Juarez, the deposed President of the republic of Mexico, made short +work of the empire. He captured Maximilian, and had him shot as a +usurper, June 19, 1867. The event cast a gloom over all Europe, but no +king nor potentate sought to avenge the execution. May it not be that +those nations were as much awed, though unconsciously, by the spirit of +the decree of God concerning the land of America, as by the policy of +the government of the United States laid down in the Monroe Doctrine? +And, indeed, may not the Monroe Doctrine itself be regarded as a +heaven-inspired decree by a competent national agency to make of effect +the old Nephite prophecy, "there shall be no kings on this land?" +"The French empire," says Ekwin A. Grosvenor, professor of European +History in Amherst College, and author of "Contemporary History of +the World"--"The French empire never recovered from the shock of this +Mexican failure." + +The Emperor, Napoleon III, engaged in a war with Germany in 1870, in +which himself and France suffered the most humiliating defeat ever +inflicted on a modern state or its ruler. He himself was captured at +the surrender of Sedan and imprisoned for sometime at Wilhelmshohe, +near Cassel. Meantime he was deposed by the French people who +established a Republican form of government, in place of the Empire. +Some two years after his imprisonment he died an exile at Chiselhurst, +England. The Empress, Eugenie, was also forced into exile and was for +same years the guest of England. On June 1, 1879, Napoleon's son, +Imperial, the only son of the Emperor, was killed by the Zulus in south +Africa, thus blotting out, we may say, the entire family of the French +Monarch, and fulfilling in a marked manner the terms of this prophecy: +"And he that raiseth up a King against me shall perish." + +The foregoing attempts in Brazil and Mexico to found monarchies in the +New World cannot properly be regarded as proving the failure of the +Book of Mormon prophecy. The monarchies existed for a short time only, +and were so precarious while they lasted, and ended so disastrously +for those making the attempt to establish them, that they emphasize +the force of the prophecy rather than prove its failure. They are as +slight exceptions tending to prove a rule. It is not said in the Book +of Mormon that attempts would not be made to set up kings, but that +such attempts should end disastrously for those making them; and that +no kings should be established, that is permanently established, in the +new world. Surely no candid mind will read this prophecy and consider +all the facts involved in the attempts to establish monarchies in +America, but will say that they have ended disastrously, and that this +prophecy has been verily fulfilled. + +Footnotes + +1. Vol. I, Chapter xx. + +2. "There is more solid proof in favor of a prophet being divinely sent +when his words are fulfilled than in all the miracles he can work." +(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. X., 194.) "Prophecies +are permanent miracles, whose authority is sufficiently confirmed by +their completion, and are therefore solid proofs of the supernatural +origin of a religion, of whose truth they were intended to testify: +such are those to be found in various parts of the scriptures relative +to the coming of the Messiah, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the +unexampled state in which the Jews have ever since continued--all +so circumstantially descriptive of the events that they seem rather +histories of past than predictions of future transactions," Soame +Jenyns, "A View of the Internal Evidence of the Christian Religion," p. +313. + +3. Ether xiii. + +4. Omni i: 19-22. + +5. The matter is dealt with more at length in Volume I., Chapter xx. + +6. Moroni x: 4, 5. + +7. John vii: 16, 17. + +8. So confident was President Brigham Young in the matter of the Holy +Spirit bearing witness to the truth of the Book of Mormon that on one +ocassion he said: "Nothing short of the Holy Ghost will do us any +lasting good. I told you, in the beginning of my remarks, the truth as +it is in heaven and on earth, as it is with angels, and with prophets, +with all good people, and with every sinner that dwells upon the earth. +There is not a man or woman who on hearing the report of the Book of +Mormon but the spirit of the Almighty has testified to them of its +truth; neither have they heard the name of Joseph Smith but the spirit +has whispered to them, 'He is the true Prophet.' It is the spirit +which is invisible to the natural mind of man, that produces effects +apparently without causes, and creates mysteries, marvels, and wonders +in the earth. These things we behold, but we cannot with the natural +mind account for them, nor divine their ultimate end." (A discourse by +President Young, delivered in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, June 13, +1852, "Deseret News." Vol. 4, No. 6.) + +9. Matt. iii: 16; John i: 32-34. + +10. I. Cor. xii: 3. + +11. John xv: 26. + +12. John xiv. + +13. John xvi. + +14. I. Nephi xiii: 35-37. + +15. "Leaves from My Journal," Edition of 1909, pp. 84, 85. + +16. F. D. Richards, Church Historian, in a sketch of the life of +Wilford Woodruff, "Improvement Era," Vol. I, p. 871. + +17. "Leaves from My Journal," Edition of 1909, pp. 88, 89. + +18. "Leaves from My Journal," Edition of 1909, pp. 95, 96. + +19. "Life of Heber C. Kimball," Orson F. Whitney, p. 402, 403. + +20. "Life of Heber C. Kimball" (Whitney), pp. 34, 35. + +21. St. John xvi: 13. + +22. "My First Mission," p. 23. + +23. Chapter xvi. + +24. Ibid, chapter xviii. + +25. Ibid, chapters xx, xxi, xxii, xxiii of "New Witnesses," Vol. I. + +26. Ibid, chapter xxiv. + +27. II. Nephi xxvii: 12, 13. + +28. Ether v: 3. + +29. II. Nephi xxviii: 2-14. + +30. Mormon viii. + +31. Church History, Vol. I, chapter xxxi. + +32. History of the Church, Vol. III, chapter xii. + +33. Ibid, chapter xiii. Seventeen were killed outright, twelve were +savagely wounded. All that were killed had to be hurriedly thrown into +an old well and buried without ceremony. + +34. II. Nephi xxix: 1-3. + +35. See New Witnesses, Vol. I, chapter viii; also Vol. II., ch. xxxvii, +and notes. + +36. Those who would have further evidence upon the subject are +referred to all the early controversial literature of the Church, and +especially to a Public Discussion between Elder John Taylor and three +sectarian ministers in France, which "Discussion" is published with +the early editions of Orson Pratt's works, and in which, among other +similar passages occurs the following: "Rev. Mr. Carter. But the great +consideration is, that these persons (Mormon Elders) pretend to add to; +and supercede the Word of God. Now the Bible is the sheet-anchor of +Christians, and it neither needs the Book of Mormon nor any other book, +nor the assistance of Joe Smith or any other Joe. The awful voice of +prophecy has spoken for the last time, and the cause of inspiration is +closed." + +37. Evidences of Christianity, p. 352. + +38. II. Nephi xxix: 7-14. + +39. Acts x: 34, 35. + +40. The teacher alluded to is Frederick Denison Maurice, Professor of +Modern Philosophy in the University of Cambridge. I feel much indebted +to this teacher myself, and cannot recommend too highly, I am sure, his +"History of Moral and Metaphysical Philosophy," two volumes, London, +Macmillan & Co., 1872. + +41. I. Nephi xiii: 24-29. + +42. See "Golden Bible" (Lamb), Appendix "A," pp. 323-340. + +43. I. Nephi xiv: 10. + +44. Upon this subject I have elsewhere said: "The church of the +devil" here alluded to, I understand to mean not any particular +church among men, or any one sect of religion, but something larger +than that--something that includes within its boundaries all evil +wherever it may be found; as well in schools of philosophy as in +Christian sects; as well in systems of ethics as in systems of +religion--something that includes the whole empire of Satan--what I +shall call "The Kingdom of Evil." * * The question was once submitted +to me, "Is the Catholic church the church here referred to--the church +of the devil?" "Well," said I, in answer, "I would not like to take +that position, because it would leave me with a lot of churches on +my hands that I might not then be able to classify." So far as the +Catholic church is concerned, I believe that there is just as much +truth, nay, personally I believe she has retained even more truth +than other divisions of so-called Christendom; and there is just as +much virtue in the Roman Catholic church as there is in Protestant +Christendom; and I am sure there is more strength. I would not like, +therefore, to designate the Catholic church as the church of the +devil. Neither would I like to designate any one or all of the various +divisions and subdivisions of Protestant Christendom combined as such +church; nor the Greek Catholic church; nor the Buddhist sects; nor the +followers of Confucius; nor the followers of Mohammed; nor would I +like to designate even the societies formed by deists and atheists as +constituting the church of the devil. The Book of Mormon text ought to +be read in connection with its context--with the chapter that precedes +it and the remaining portions of the chapter in which the expression is +found--then, I think, those who study it in that manner will be forced +to the conclusion that the prophet here has in mind no particular +church, no particular division of Christendom, but he has in mind, as +just stated, the whole empire of Satan, and perhaps the thought of the +passage would be more nearly expressed if we use the term "the Kingdom +of Evil" as constituting the church of the devil. "(Defense of the +Faith and the Saints," Vol. I, pp. 30-31.) + +45. Such is Lamb's argument on this point. "Golden Bible," p. 325. + +46. "Jesus, the Messiah," By Edersheim, Vol. I., pp. 27-8, eighth +edition. + +47. Ibid, p. 29. + +48. Ibid, p. 36. + +49. "A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology," Vol. II, pp. +289, 290. By the way, may not this tradition about the three days' +darkness over the whole earth at the completion of this regarded +profanation of the Jewish scriptures, when they thus went forth for the +first time to the Gentiles, be a misapplication of the prediction which +Nephi declares was spoken of by the old Jewish prophet Zenos--whose +works Lehi's colony carried with them into the wilderness--whom Nephi +declares "spake concerning the three days of darkness which should +be a sign of his [Messiah's] death unto those who should inhabit the +isles of the sea" (I. Nephi xix: 10)? May not the matter referred to +by Professor White be an interpretation of this old Jewish prophecy +concerning the three days of darkness? + +50. I. Nephi xi: 8-11. + +51. Ether iii: 6-16. + +52. See collection of passages in the author's "Mormon Doctrine of +Deity," pp. 213-217. + +53. II. Nephi x: 10-14. + +54. This "Monroe Doctrine" derives its name from a message sent to +Congress by President James Monroe, in 1823, in the course of which he +said: "The American continents, by the free and independent condition +which they had assumed and maintained, are henceforth not to be +considered as subjects for future colonization by any European power." +He further declared that any attempt by a European power to oppress +or control an independent American nation would be regarded as "the +manifestation of an unfriendly disposition towards the United states." + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +INTERNAL EVIDENCES--THE EVIDENCE OF PROPHECY, (Continued.) + +The first Nephi, speaking of his people in the fifth century B. C., +makes a number of prophecies respecting things that shall take place +in the last days, following the coming forth of the scriptures of his +people [i. e. the Book of Mormon] to the Gentiles. These predictions +are found on one page of the Book of Mormon; and are at once so +numerous and of such high import as to make that page unique in +prophetic literature. With one exception, viz., the vision of Daniel, +recorded in the second chapter of his prophecies, which deals with the +succession of the several great earth-empires, I do not believe an +equal number of prophecies of such high importance can be found within +the whole range of prophetic literature in the same amount of space, +and I here reproduce that page as it stands in the current editions of +the Book of Mormon: + +II NEPHI. + + 3. And now, I would prophesy somewhat more concerning the Jews and + the Gentiles. For after the book of which I have spoken shall come + forth, and be written unto the Gentiles and sealed up again unto + the Lord, there shall be many which shall believe the words which + are written; and they shall carry them forth unto the remnant of + our seed. + + 4. And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how + that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of + the Jews. + + 5. And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; + wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their + fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had + among their fathers. + + 6. And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is + a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales + of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and not many + generations shall pass away among them, save they shall be a white + and a delightsome people. + + 7. And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered, + also shall begin to believe in Christ; and they shall begin to + gather in upon the face of the land; and as many as shall believe + in Christ shall also become a delightsome people. + + 8. And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall commence his + work among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples, to bring + about the restoration of his people upon the earth. + + 9. And with righteousness shall the Lord God judge the poor, and + reprove with equity, for the meek of the earth. And he shall smite + the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his + lips shall he slay the wicked; + + 10. For the time speedily cometh, that the Lord God shall cause a + great division among the people; and the wicked will he destroy: + and he will spare his people, yea, even if it so be that he must + destroy the wicked by fire. + + 11. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and + faithfulness the girdle of his reins. [1] + +A few lines extending on the next page completes the picture of peace +and happiness that shall ultimately be diffused over the earth in that +day: + + 12. And then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb, and the leopard + shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and + the fatling, together; and a little child shall lead them. + + 13. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie + down together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. + + 14. And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp, and + the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den. + + 15. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for + the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters + cover the sea. [2] + +Let us now consider this prophetic page item by item. + +I. + +_Many Shall Believe the Words of the Book_. + + For after the book of which I have spoken [i. e. the Book of + Mormon] shall come forth and be written unto the Gentiles and + sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall + believe the words which are written. + +Whether this declaration be accredited to the first Nephi, five hundred +years B. C., or allowed no other authorship than Joseph Smith, and no +greater antiquity than 1830, when the Book of Mormon was published, +it is equally prophetic in character. And if it be insisted upon that +it had no earlier origin than Joseph Smith's utterance of it, then +it becomes all the more remarkable as a prophecy; for by the time it +was put forth by him, he had very good reason--human reason--to doubt +if the Book of Mormon would be extensively believed, or believed in +at all; for by this time such opposition had appeared against it, +and such ridicule and derision heaped upon himself and associates; +and everywhere there had been such a manifestation of opposition to +the forth-coming book, that naturally one would wonder if it would +be overwhelmed by a universal ignoring of it. Still there stands the +prediction: + + There shall be many which shall believe the words which are written. + +The only question is, Has it been fulfilled? In answer we have only +to point to the present membership of the Church in all the world, +say three hundred thousand people. But to the number of those who now +believe it, and hold it to be a volume of sacred scripture, there must +be added all those who have died in the faith; and again those who once +accepted it in their faith and afterwards, by transgression, lost the +spirit of the work and departed from the Church; but who, singularly +enough, in the majority of cases, still continued to assert their faith +in the truth of the Book of Mormon. And then to all those numbers there +must be added that still greater number of people who have been brought +to a belief in the Book of Mormon, but who have not had sufficient +moral courage to forfeit their good standing among their fellows, and +make other sacrifices involved in a public profession of their faith. + +Let the numbers of these several classes be added together and beyond +question the prophecy has been fulfilled. Many have believed in the +Nephite scriptures. + +As a further instance of the wide acceptation of the Book of Mormon, +it should be mentioned that it has passed through many editions in +the English language, both in America and England; and has also been +translated into and published in the following languages: French, +German, Danish, Italian, Dutch, Welch, Swedish, Spanish, Hawaiian, +Maori, Greek and Japanese. + +II. + +_The Book of Mormon to be Taken to the American Indians--"and They +Shall Rejoice_." + +Following the declaration that "many shall believe the words which are +written" is the statement, "and they shall carry them forth [the words +of the ancient Nephites] unto the remnant of our seed." That is to the +remnant of the seed of Lehi, the American Indians. And then follows +this: + + And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that + we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the + Jews. [3] + + And the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be declared among them, + wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their + fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had + among their fathers. + + And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a + blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of + darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations + shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and + delightsome people. + +Here we stand in the midst of prophecies. By which I mean that some of +the predictions have been fulfilled, and others are yet to be fulfilled +in the future, and involve the coming to pass of very remarkable +events. Before calling attention to the parts that have been fulfilled +I cite the prophecies under this subdivision as evidence against the +claim that is sometimes made against the Book of Mormon, that all its +prophetic parts end about the time the Book of Mormon came forth, viz., +in 1830. The prophecies that many shall believe the book; that they +shall carry its messages to the American Indians; that the Indians +shall rejoice in the things the book makes known to them; that not +many generations from that time the Indians shall become "a white and +delightsome people"--as also indeed the prophecies relating to the +Jews--all concern events that are to take place subsequent to the year +1830. + +But now to take up the several prophecies being treated together under +this sub-title II. + +The "many" who believe the Book of Mormon, according to the prophecy, +are to carry it forth unto the remnant of Lehi's people, the American +Indians. It is notorious that they have done so. The Church had been +organized but six months when in fulfillment of a divine appointment [4] +a mission was sent to the Lamanites consisting of Oliver Cowdery, Peter +Whitmer, Jun., Parley P. Pratt, and Ziba Peterson. On returning from +that mission Elder Pratt, after recounting their travels through the +western states of the American Union, gives the following summary of +what was done: "Thus ended our first mission in which we had preached +the Gospel in its fulness and distributed the records of their +forefathers among three tribes, viz., the Catteraugus Indians, near +Buffalo, N. Y.; the Wyandots, of Ohio; and the Delawares, west of the +Missouri." [5] + +Since that time numerous missions have been undertaken among the +Indians which have met with more or less success. Since the Church +has been located in the Rocky Mountains various tribes have been +visited by the Apostles and other Elders, and some success has been +attained in colonizing Indians and teaching them the ways and arts +of civilization. Some success has also attended the preaching of the +Gospel among the natives in Mexico; and similar efforts, though as yet +unfruitful, have been made in some of the states of Central America. +It is more than likely that the Sandwich Islanders are descendants of +Nephite colonists who went from America to the Hawaiian Islands, about +the time of Hagoth's migrations in ships from the shores of the land +Bountiful--near where the isthmus of Panama joins the South American +continent. Their traditions and racial peculiarities all favor this +view; and if our supposition be true, then the success of preaching +the gospel to the descendants of the Nephites has been considerably +augmented, for a number of thousands of these islanders have embraced +the gospel, some of whom have gathered to the stakes of Zion, and +others have been established in a prosperous colony in their own land. + +While success in bringing the native American race to a knowledge of +their forefathers and an acceptance of the written work of God revealed +to their forefathers has been limited, yet it has been sufficiently +extensive to fulfill the terms of the Book of Mormon prophecies, and +certainly sufficient to create the most sanguine belief in a further +fulfillment of it. + +"Then shall they rejoice." This declaration, of course, indicates that +the native American races would believe the message of the Book of +Mormon; and so indeed they have, as is witnessed by the fact of many of +them joining the Church of the Latter-day Saints. + +In his account of the first mission to the Indians, Elder Parley P. +Pratt gives the substance of an address of Oliver Cowdery's to the +chief of the Delaware tribe of Indians, and the leading men of the +tribe, who had assembled to hear the message which the missionaries had +to deliver; Elder Pratt also gives the substance of the chief's reply, +in which the latter especially expresses his gladness [6] at the message +delivered to them. Elder Pratt represents the Chief as saying: + + We feel truly thankful to our white friends who have come so far + and been at such pains to tell us good news, and especially this + new news concerning the Book of our forefathers; it makes us glad + in here"--placing his hand on his heart. "It is now winter; we + are new settlers in this place; the snow is deep; our cattle and + horses are dying; our wigwams are poor; we have much to do in the + spring--to build houses and fence and make farms; but we will build + a council house and meet together, and you shall read to us and + teach us more concerning the Book of our fathers, and the will of + the Great Spirit. [7] + +During the sojourn of the Church at Nauvoo representatives of several +tribes of Indians called upon the Prophet Joseph from time to time. One +notable instance was the visit of a number of Pottawatamie chiefs in +the summer of 1843, of which visit the Prophet in his journal gives the +following brief account: + + I had an interview with several Pottawatamie chiefs, who came to + see me during my absence. [8] + +Elder Woodruff's journal gives the following more elaborate account of +this event: + + The Indian chiefs remained at Nauvoo until the Prophet returned + and had his trial. During their stay they had a talk with Hyrum + Smith, in the basement of the Nauvoo House. Wilford Woodruff and + some others were present. They were not free to talk, and did not + wish to communicate their feelings until they could see the great + Prophet. + + At length, on the 2nd day of July, 1843, President Joseph Smith + and several of the Twelve met those chiefs in the courtroom with + about thirty of the Elders. The following is a synopsis of the + conversation which took place as given by the interpreter: + + The Indian orator arose and asked the Prophet if the men who were + present were all his friends. Answer, "Yes." + + He then said: "As a people we have long been distressed and + oppressed. We have been driven from our lands many times. We have + been wasted away by wars, until there are but few of us left. The + white man has hated us and shed our blood, until it has appeared + as though there would soon be no Indians left. We have talked with + the Great Spirit, and the Great Spirit has talked with us. We have + asked the Great Spirit to save us and let us live, and the Great + Spirit has told us that he had raised up a great Prophet, chief, + and friend, who would do us great good and tell us what to do; and + the Great Spirit has told us that you are the man (pointing to the + Prophet Joseph). We have now come a great way to see you, and hear + your words, and to have you tell us what to do. Our horses have + become poor traveling, and we are hungry. We will now wait and hear + your words." + + The Spirit of God rested upon the Lamanites, especially [upon] + the orator. Joseph was much affected and shed tears. He arose and + said unto them: "I have heard your words. They are true. The Great + Spirit has told you the truth. I am your friend and brother, and I + wish to do you good. Your fathers were once a great people. They + worshiped the Great Spirit. The Great Spirit did them good. He was + their friend; but they left the Great Spirit, and would not hear + his words or keep them. The Great Spirit left them, and they began + to kill one another, and they have been poor and afflicted until + now. + + "The Great Spirit has given me a book, and told me that you will + soon be blessed again. The Great Spirit will soon begin to talk + with you and your children. This is the book which your fathers + made. I wrote upon it (showing them the Book of Mormon). This tells + me what you will have to do. I now want you to begin to pray to the + Great Spirit. I want you to make peace with one another, and do not + kill any more Indians; it is not good. Do not kill white men; it is + not good; but ask the Great Spirit for what you want, and it will + not be long before the Great Spirit will bless you, and you will + cultivate the earth and build good houses, like white men. We will + give you something to eat and [something] to take home with you." + + When the Prophet's words were interpreted to the chiefs, they all + said it was good. The chief asked, "How many moons it would be + before the Great Spirit would bless them?" He [the Prophet] told + them, "Not a great many." + + At the close of the interview, Joseph had an ox killed for them, + and they were furnished with some more horses, and they went home + satisfied and contented. [9] + +One other thing in these several prophecies should be observed, the +very emphatic implication that the native American race will persist. +The prevailing idea, however, is quite to the contrary. I may say +it is the universal opinion that the native American race is doomed +to extinction; and, in fact, that it is now on the high way to that +finality. Against such general opinion, however, the Book of Mormon +utters the surprising declaration not only that the American race shall +not become extinct, but that fallen as its fortunes are, and degraded +as it is, yet shall it become, and that before many generations pass +away, "a white and delightsome people!" Than this declaration I can +think of nothing more boldly prophetic, nor of any inspired utterance +which so squarely sets itself against all that is accepted as the +probabilities in the case. But with complete confidence we await the +time of the fulfillment of God's decree; of its signal triumph over the +opinions of men. + +III. + +_The Jews Shall Begin to Believe in Christ, and to Gather_. + + And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered also + shall begin to believe in Christ; and they shall begin to gather in + upon the face of the land; and as many as shall believe in Christ + shall also become a delightsome people. + +There was nothing in the affairs of the Jews in the early decades of +the 19th century that would lead any one to suppose that there was to +be any marked change in the sentiments of that people towards Jesus of +Nazareth; or that the time had come when there would be any disposition +on their part to assemble upon the land of their forefathers--which is +evidently meant by part of the prophecy just quoted. Yet the prophecy +immediately before us makes both these astounding predictions; and, +what is more to the point, both are now in progress of fulfillment. +First let us consider the change which the Jewish mind is undergoing +respecting Jesus of Nazareth. + +To show the sentiment quite prevalent among the Jews during the life +time of the Prophet Joseph, and to show that he was quite aware of its +existence, I quote an entry from his journal under date of May, 1839. + +"Tuesday, May 21, 1839.--To show the feeling of that long scattered +branch of the House of Israel, the Jews, I here quote a letter +written by one of their number, on hearing that his son had embraced +Christianity: + + RABBI LANDAU'S LETTERS TO HIS SON. + + Breslau, May 21st, 1839. My Dear Son--I received the letter of the + Berlin Rabbi, and when I read it there ran tears out of my eyes in + torrents; my inward parts shook, my heart became as a stone! Now do + you not know that the Lord sent me already many hard tribulations? + That many sorrows do vex me? But this new harm which you are about + to inflict makes me forget all the former, does horribly surpass + them; as well respecting its sharpness as its stings! I write you + lying on my bed, because my body is embraced not less than my + soul, at the report that you were about to do something which I had + not expected from you. I fainted; my nerves and feelings sank, and + only by the help of a physician, for whom I sent immediately, am I + able to write these lines to you with a trembling hand. + + Alas! you, my son, whom I have bred, nourished and fostered; whom I + have strengthened spiritually as well as bodily, you will commit a + crime on me! Do not shed the innocent blood of your parents, for no + harm have we inflicted upon you; we are not conscious of any guilt + against you, but at all times we thought it our duty to show to + you, our first born, all love and goodnesss. I though I should have + some cheering account of you, but, alas! how terribly I have been + disappointed! + + But to be short; your outward circumstances are such that you + may finish your study or [suffer] pain. Do you think that the + Christians, to whom you will go over by changing your religion, + will support you and fill up the place of our fellow believers? Do + not imagine that your outward reasons, therefore, if you have any, + are nothing. But out of true persuasion, you will, as I think, not + change our true and holy doctrine, for that deceitful, untrue and + perverse doctrine of Christianity. + + What! will you give us a pearl for that which is nothing, which + is of no value in itself? But you are light-minded; think of the + last judgment; of that day when the books will be opened and hidden + things will be made manifest; of that day when death will approach + you in a narrow pass; when you cannot go out of the way! Think of + your death bed, from which you will not rise any more, but from + which you be called before the judgment seat of the Lord! + + Do you not know, have you not heard, that there is over you an + all-hearing ear and an all-seeing eye? That all your deeds will be + written in a book and judged hereafter? Who shall then assist you + when the Lord will ask you with a thundering voice, Why hast thou + forsaken that holy law which shall have an eternal value; which was + given by my servant Moses, and no man shall change it? Why hast + thou forsaken that law, and accepted instead of it lying and vanity? + + Come, therefore, again to yourself, my son! remove your bad and + wicked counselors; follow my advice, and the Lord will be with you! + Your tender father must conclude because of weeping. + + A. L. LANDAU, Rabbi. + +That the sentiments of this letter respecting Jesus and Christianity +are not peculiar to Rabbi Landau, but are representative of the +sentiments of the Hebrew race at that time, I may quote the words of +Dr. Isadore Singer, editor of the "Jewish Encyclopaedia," written in a +letter to George Croly, author of "Tarry Thou Till I Come"--a version +really of the legend of the "Wandering Jew" published in 1901. The +letter here quoted was received from Dr. Singer in reply to one from +the author of "Tarry Thou," asking the question, "What is the Jewish +thought today of Jesus of Nazareth?" Dr. Singer, answered: + + I regard Jesus of Nazareth as a Jew of the Jews, one whom all + Jewish people are learning to love. His teaching has been an + immense service to the world in bringing Israel's God to the + knowledge of hundreds of millions of mankind. The great change + in Jewish thought concerning Jesus of Nazareth, I cannot better + illustrate than by this fact: + + When I was a boy, had my father, who was a very pious man, heard + the name of Jesus uttered from the pulpit of our synagogue, he and + every other man in the congregation would have left the building, + and the rabbi would have been dismissed at once. Now, it is not + strange, in many synagogues, to hear sermons preached eulogistic of + this Jesus, and nobody thinks of protesting--in fact, we are all + glad to claim Jesus as one of our people. + + ISADORE SINGER. New York, March 25, 1901. + +The question submitted by Mr. Croly to Jewish theologians, historians +and orientalists resulted in quite a large collection of Jewish +opinions of Christ, all of which are published in the appendix of +"Tarry Thou;" and of which the following communications are thoroughly +characteristic: + + The Jew of today beholds in Jesus an inspiring ideal of matchless + beauty. While he lacks the element of stern justice expressed + so forcibly in the law and in the Old Testament characters, the + firmness of self-assertion so necessary to the full development of + manhood, all those social qualities which build up the home and + society, industry and worldly progress, he is the unique exponent + of the principle of redeeming love. His name as helper of the poor, + as sympathizing friend of the fallen, as brother of every fellow + sufferer, as lover of man and redeemer of woman, has become the + inspiration, the symbol and the watchword for the world's greatest + achievements in the field of benevolence. While continuing the work + of the synagogue, the Christian church with the larger means at her + disposal created those institutions of charity and redeeming love + that accomplished wondrous things. The very sign of the cross has + lent a new meaning, a holier pathos to suffering, sickness and sin, + so as to offer new practical solutions for the great problems of + evil which fill the human heart with new joys of self-sacrificing + love. + + KAUFMAN KOHLER, Ph. D., Rabbi of Temple Beth-El. + + If the Jews up to the present time have not publicly rendered + homage to the sublime beauty of the figure of Jesus, it is because + their tormentors have always persecuted, tortured, assassinated + them in his name. The Jews have drawn their conclusions from the + disciples as to the Master, which was wrong, a wrong pardonable + in the eternal victims of the implacable, cruel hatred of those + who called themselves Christians. Every time that a Jew mounted to + the sources and contemplated Christ alone, without his pretended + faithful, he cried with tenderness and admiration: "Putting aside + the Messianic mission, this man is ours. He honors our race and we + claim him as we claim the gospels--flowers of Jewish literature and + only Jewish." + + MAX NORDAU, M. D., Critic and Philosopher. Paris, France. + + The Jews of every shade of religious belief do not regard Jesus + in the light of Paul's theology. But the gospel of Jesus, the + Jesus who teaches so superbly the principles of Jewish ethics, is + revered by all the expounders of Judaism. His words are studied; + the New Testament forms a part of Jewish literature. Among the + great preceptors that have worded the truths of which Judaism is + the historical guardian, none, in our estimation and esteem, takes + precedence of the rabbi of Nazareth. To impute to us suspicious + sentiments concerning him does us gross injustice. We know him to + be among our greatest and purest. + + EMIL G. HIRSCH, Ph. D., LL. D., L. H. D. Rabbi of Sinai + Congregation, Professor of Rabbinical Literature in Chicago + University, Chicago, Ill., January 26, 1901. + +Later, viz. 1905, Dr. Isadore Singer, himself made such a collection of +Jewish opinions on Jesus, which were published by the "New York Sun," +and of which the following are typical: + + It is commonly said that the Jews reject Jesus. They did so + in the sense in which they rejected the teachings of their + earlier prophets, but the question may be pertinently asked, Has + Christianity accepted Jesus? The long hoped-for reconciliation + between Judaism and Christianity will come when once the teachings + of Jesus shall have become the axioms of human conduct. + + DR. MORRIS JASTROW, Professor of Semitic Languages in the + University of Pennsylvania. + + I look upon him as a great teacher and reformer, one who aimed + at the uplifting of suffering humanity, whose every motive was + kindness, mercy, charity, and justice, and if his wise teaching and + example have not always been followed the blame should not be his, + but rather those who have claimed to be his followers. + + SIMON WOLF, President of the Independent Order B'nia B'rith. + + If he had added to their [the Jewish prophets'] spiritual bequests + new jewels of religious truth, and spoken words which are words of + life because they touch the deepest springs of the human heart, why + should we Jews not glory in him? The crown of thorns on his head + makes him only the more our brother, for to this day it is borne by + his people. Were he alive today who, think you, would be nearer his + heart--the persecuted or the persecutors? + + DR. GUSTAV GOTTHEIL + +The foregoing sentiments do not indicate the acceptance of Jesus by the +Jews at his full value as the Messiah, or as the express revelation +of God to man, or as God manifested in the flesh; but they do give +evidence of a very marked change of sentiment among the Jews toward +Jesus of Nazareth--and surely mark a "beginning" of belief in Christ, +which has but to enlarge to become an acceptance of him as Messiah, +so long expected by their race; and surely they indicate in quite a +remarkable manner the _beginning_ of the fulfillment of the part of the +prophecy here being considered, that declares that "the Jews which are +scattered shall also _begin_ to believe in Christ." + +Moreover some few families of Jews have believed the gospel as +presented by the elders of the Church in this dispensation, and are +identified with the Latter-day Saints; among them Alexander Neibaur, +who joined the Church in England in 1840. He afterwards emigrated to +Nauvoo, and the family came with the saints to Utah. Several of his +sons and grand-sons have filled honorable missions for the Church in +preaching the gospel. He is the author of the following well known +hymn, published in the "Times and Seasons," in May, 1841: + + Come, thou glorious day of promise, + Come and spread thy cheerful ray; + When the scattered sheep of Israel + Shall no longer go astray; + When Hosannas + With united voice they cry. + + Lord, how long wilt thou be angry? + Shall thy wrath for ever burn? + Rise, redeem thine ancient people, + Their transgressions from them turn. + King of Israel, + Come and set thy people free. + + O that soon thou would'st to Jacob + Thine enliv'ning spirit send; + Of their unbelief and misery + Make, O Lord, a speedy end. + Lord, Messiah, + Prince of Peace, o'er Israel reign. + + Glory, honour, praise and power, + Be unto the Lamb for ever; + Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, + Hallelujah! Hallelujah! + Praise ye the Lord! + Hallelujah! Praise the Lord. + + Again: + + And the Jews which are scattered * * * shall begin to gather in + upon the face of the land. + +Of course the idea that the Jews will sometime be gathered to the lands +possessed by their forefathers is no new thought. It is not presented +here as such. The Old Testament scriptures are full of predictions +concerning the return of the Jews to Palestine of which the following +are samples: + + And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and + they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them. [10] + + The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. [11] + + For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God; the Lord they + God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all + people that are upon the face of the earth. [12] + + The Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and + shall choose Jerusalem again. [13] + + For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob and will yet choose Israel, + and set them in their own land. [14] + + Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will take the children of Israel + from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them + on every side, and bring them into their own land; and I will + make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; + and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more + two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any + more at all: * * * and David, my servant, shall be king over them; + and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my + judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. * * * Moreover I + will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting + covenant with them: and I will place them and multiply them, + and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My + tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and + they shall be my people. [15] + +The fulfillment of these predictions has been the hope of scattered +Israel, and from time to time societies have been formed to keep +alive such hope as the promises inspired. It may be thought that said +Jewish societies have accomplished but little. But really that little +was much. They nourished in secret and through ages of darkness that +spark of hope, the fire of which, when touched by the breath of God +shall burst forth into a flame that not all the world shall be able to +stay. These efforts in the past have made possible a larger movement +which is now attracting the attention of the world, known as the +"Zionite Movement." In reality this is but the federation of all Jewish +societies that have had for their purpose the realization of the hopes +of scattered Israel. + +The Zionite movement proper, however, may be said to have arisen within +very recent years, since it was in 1896 that it held its first general +conference. This at Basel, Switzerland, in August 1896. Since then its +conferences have been held annually and have steadily increased both +in interest and the number of delegates representing various Jewish +societies until now (1905) it takes on the appearance of one of the +world's great movements. It is not so much a religious movement as a +racial one; for prominent Jews of all shades of both political and +religious opinions have participated in it. After saying through so +many centuries at the feast of the Pass Over, "May we celebrate the +next Pass Over in Jerusalem," the thought seemed to have occurred +to some Jewish minds that if that hope was ever to be realized some +practical steps must be taken looking to the actual achievement of the +possibility--hence the "Zionite Movement." + +The keynotes of that movement are heard in the following utterances of +some of the Jewish leaders in explanation of it: + + We want to resume the broken thread of our national existence; we + want to show to the world the moral strength, the intellectual + power of the Jewish people. We want a place where the race can be + centralized. + + LEON ZOLTOKOFF. + + It tries to restore the old solidarity, the old unity, of Israel; + not with a view to any mere monetary aggrandizement, but for the + purpose of securing the right and the opportunity for the Jews to + live and to develop. It believes that this is possible only if + there is some spot on earth which the Jews can call their own, and + which can be a place of refuge, legally secured by international + obligations, to which the oppressed of Israel may flee whenever + necessity arises. + + RICHARD J. H. GOTTHEIL. + + It is for these Jews (of Russia, Roumania and Galicia) that the + name of their country (Palestine) spells "Hope." I should not be a + man if I did not realize that for these persecuted Jews, Jerusalem + spells reason, justice, manhood and liberty. + + RABBI EMIL G. HIRSCH. + + Jewish nationalism on a modern basis in Palestine, the old home of + the people. + + MAX NORDAU. + + Palestine needs a people; Israel needs a country. Give the country + without a people to the people without a country. + + ISRAEL ZANGWILL. + + To find for the Jews a legally established home in Palestine. + + BASEL PLATFORM. + +In a word, it is the purpose of "Zionism" to redeem Palestine, and give +it back to Jewish control, create, in fact, a Jewish state in the land +promised to their fathers. + +A few years ago negotiations were entered into with the Sultan of +Turkey, within whose political dominions Palestine is included, for +the purchase of the Holy Land for the Jews, and some announcements in +the press by Dr. Herzel, of Austria, just previous to the assembling +of the Zion conference in 1902, for a time justified the high hopes +that were entertained of securing the promised land by purchase. These +hopes, however, were doomed to disappointment by reason of a sudden +change coming over the ruler of Turkey with reference to the matter. +It is more than likely that his advisors persuaded him that the +establishment of a Jewish state under his suzerainty would be adding +one more perplexing feature in the administration of that heterogeneous +collection of such states which already constitute the loose-jointed +empire over which the Sultan presides, by the sufferance of the +European powers. The matter of the Sultan's present refusal to grant, +or sell Palestine to Jews is not a serious difficulty in the progress +of such a wide spread movement as Zionism, however, for ere now the +Lord has changed the hearts of rulers in order to bring to pass his +great purposes, and may do so again. So Israel Zangwill, one of the +most enthusiastic leaders in the movement, views that subject; and in +like spirit also he views the difficulty of obtaining the necessary +millions to purchase the land. On this subject he says: + + It matters little that the Zionists could not pay the millions, + if suddenly called upon. They have collected not two and a half + million dollars. But there are millions enough to come to the + rescue once the charter was dangled before the Zionists. It is + not likely that the Rothschilds would see themselves ousted from + their family headship in authority and well-doing. Nor would the + millions left by Baron Hirsch be altogether withheld. The sultan's + present refusal is equally unimportant, because a national policy + is independent of transcient moods and transcient rulers. The only + aspect that really matters is whether Israel's face be or be not + set steadily Zionward--for decades, and even for centuries. + +An interesting feature at the last Zion conference held in August of +1904, was the tender by the British foreign minister, Lord Landsdowne, +on behalf of the British government of a tract of fertile territory +in Uganda, British East Africa, for the establishment of the Jewish +colony. It is an elevated tract of country extending some two hundred +miles along the Uganda railway, between Man and Nairobi. It is said +to be well watered, fertile, cool, covered with noble forests, almost +uninhabited and as healthful for Europeans as Great Britain. This +tender on the part of the British government was a cause of some +confusion in the Basle conference, and is now a cause of great anxiety +to the Zionists. It is a Jewish state in Palestine, not a colony in +East Africa that the great body of Zionists are looking forward to; +and when it was moved in the conference that a commission of nine be +appointed to look into details and decide upon the advisability of +sending an expedition to investigate the proposed site of the colony, +even this preliminary step was so opposed by the Russian delegates +that they arose en masse and left the conference hall, in protest +against such a movement. The commission, however, was appointed and the +investigation is in progress. Since the close of the Basel conference +many of those interested in the proposition have been searching their +scriptures and some claim to have found prophetic warrant for such a +movement and come to regard the settlement in Africa as a preliminary +to the final movement into Palestine. The prophecies supposed to +justify this view are to be found in the following from Isaiah: + + In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the + language of Canaan, and swear to the Lord of Hosts; and shall be + called, the city of destruction. + + In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the + land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord. + + And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts + in the land of Egypt; for they shall cry unto the Lord because of + the oppressors, and he shall send them a savior, and a great one, + and he shall deliver them. + + And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know + the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, + they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it. [16] + +Whatever many come of this proposed colony scheme in Africa it can +never be regarded as more than an incident in progress of this great +movement among the Jews. [17] The land of their final inheritance is +Palestine, not Africa, nor Egypt; and if the Jews shall halt for a +time in the land of Uganda, under the benign protection of the British +government, it will be only a temporary abiding place, where, however, +they may obtain a very necessary experience in controlling a state and +bringing their people to a unity of faith and practice under the old +law of Israel. + +What I am concerned with in this strange movement among the Jews, +however, is not the details of it, but the fact of it; and the further +fact that "Zionism" is doubtless the inauguration of a series of +movements that shall culminate in the complete fulfillment of this +great Book of Mormon prophecy. + +In addition to the prediction of the Book of Mormon which brought the +subject of the gathering of the Jews to their land vividly before the +Prophet Joseph's mind, he claims that in the Kirtland Temple, in 1836, +Moses, the great Hebrew prophet, appeared to himself and Oliver Cowdery +and conferred upon them the keys of the gathering of Israel, and the +power of restoring the tribes to the lands of their fathers. [18] Acting +under the divine authority thus received, Joseph Smith sent an apostle +of the Lord Jesus Christ to the land of Palestine to bless it and +dedicate it to the Lord for the return of his people. This apostle was +Orson Hyde, and he performed his mission in 1840-2. Again in 1872 an +apostolic delegation consisting of the late President George A. Smith +(cousin of the Prophet) and the late President Lorenzo Snow were sent +to Palestine. The purpose of their mission in part is thus stated in +President Young's letter of appointment to George A. Smith. + + When you get to the land of Palestine we wish you to dedicate + and consecrate that land to the Lord that it may be blessed with + fruitfulness preparatory to the return of the Jews in fulfillment + of prophecy and the accomplishment of the purposes of our heavenly + Father. [19] + +Acting, then, under the divine authority restored to earth by the +Prophet Moses, this Apostolic delegation--as well as the Apostle first +sent--from the summit of Mount Olivet blessed the land, and dedicated +it for the return of the Jews. It is not strange, therefore, to those +who look upon such a movement as Zionism with faith in God's great +latter-day work to see the spirit now moving upon the minds of the Jews +prompting their return to the land of their fathers. To them it is but +the operation of the Spirit of God in their souls, turning their hearts +to the promises made to the fathers. + +Meantime, and quite apart from the Zionite movement, changes are taking +place in the promised land that augur well for the fulfillment of this +Book of Mormon prophecy. For instance, the British Consul reports +for 1876 give the number of Jews in Judea at from fifteen to twenty +thousand. Twenty years later, viz. in 1896, the same authority gives +the number of Jews at from sixty to seventy thousand; and what was more +promising for the future both for the people and the country inhabited, +this new Jewish population was turning its attention to the cultivation +of the soil, which but requires the blessings of God unto it to restore +it to its ancient fruitfulness, and which will make it possible for it +to sustain once more a numerous population. [20] + +Thus in the preparations evidently being made for the return of the +Jews to the land of their forefathers, and their beginning to believe +in Jesus, this remarkable Book of Mormon prophecy is in the way of +fulfillment. + +IV. + +_The Work of the Lord to Commence Among all Nations to Bring About +the Restoration of His People Israel, and a Universal Reign of Peace +and Righteousness_. + + And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall commence his work + among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, to bring about + the restoration of his people upon the earth. + +The 19th century of the Christian era, especially the last three +quarters of it, will be regarded as a most wonderful period of human +progress. [21] An age of inventions and discoveries in all departments +of human knowledge and human activities. During that time, through +human invention, machinery was so multiplied and made to serve the +industrial requirements of man that we may say that the race was +emancipated from the drudgery under which it had sweltered for ages. In +field and factory machinery was made to perform the labor which in ages +hitherto had been done by human hands. Husbandry, by reason of so much +machinery being applied to agricultural pursuits, became a gentlemanly +occupation as compared with the farm drudgery of former years. The +increased product in all lines of manufactures multiplied comforts and +placed them within the reach of all, so that the standard of living +among the common people was immensely improved. + +This period also witnessed great advancement in the matter of +transportation. On land it developed from the ox team and horse +carriage to the automobile and lightning express train, capable of +covering from fifty to seventy and now ninety miles per hour. It saw +Europe and America converted into a net work of railroads, binding all +parts of the respective continents together with easy, safe, and swift +means of traffic, and carried to the markets of every city the various +products of all the countries of the globe. + +Water transportation within the same period developed from the slow +sailing vessel, dependent on the winds and ocean currents to the modern +"ocean greyhound" capable of making its way against both ocean current +and winds at a speed never realized by the sailing vessel with both +wind and ocean currents in its favor. The stormy Atlantic, to cross +which in the early years of the century was a tedious and dangerous +journey of many weeks, by the close of the 19th century was a matter +of five days pleasure trip. All mystery and dread of "old ocean" had +disappeared, and men no longer mourned the fate of "those who go +down to the sea in ships," since ocean travel is far less dangerous +than overland travel, and the oceans so far from being regarded any +longer with the old time awe and mystery are now looked upon as merely +convenient highways for the commerce of the world. By the speed of +ocean travel we may say that all the continents and islands of the +globe are married. + +Running parallel with this development of transportation on land and +sea, is what may be called the growth of our instantaneous means of +communication. At the opening of the period we are considering the pony +express and mail coach were our most rapid means of communication, +and looking back to those days such means of communication seem +marvellously inadequate to civilized life. At the close of the century, +however, by means of ocean cables and telegraph lines, and telephone +instrumentalities--to say nothing of the more wonderful wireless +telegraphy now coming into use--we are in instant communication with +all the great centers of civilization, and each morning may read the +world's daily history gathered by these agencies for our instruction. + +In the same period, in the matter of illumination, we went from the +tallow dip and farthing rush light to gas and electricity. From the +slow working hand press to the lightning Hoe multicolor printing press, +capable of printing, in different colors, folding, pasting and counting +from twenty-four thousand to one hundred thousand impressions per hour! +Within our period improvements in telescopes have revealed new wonders +of the universe. Improvement in microscopes have revealed wonders +undreamed of in former times both in organic and inorganic nature. +In the laboratories of the world new mysteries of light and heat and +other elementary forces of nature were revealed. Substances which +aforetime had been regarded as opaque were found in some lights to be +transparent. Indeed in all the arts and sciences such progress was +made as had not before been made in a period of a thousand years. [22] +There seemed to have come an awakening of intellectual power in men, +and the whole world was transformed by means of it. Political liberties +were enlarged, old tyrannies were rendered for the present and future +impossible in many countries, because of the consciousness of inherent +power in the people. + +Our period witnessed also the rise and progress of the peace movement. +A movement whose chief purpose is to substitute peaceful arbitration +as a method of settling international differences for the dreadful +arbitrament of war. The first peace society was formed in America +early in the century--1815--and while not attracting much attention at +first, the movement gradually increased in importance until at last it +arose from a merely national movement to an international one, as is +evidenced from the fact that at its great conference at the Hague in +1899 there were accredited representatives from the following nations: +United States, Great Britain, Russia, Germany, France, Austria-Hungary, +Belgium, China, Denmark, Holland, Italy, Japan, Sweden, Norway, Persia, +Portugal, Roumania, Servia, Siam, Switzerland, and Turkey. It was this +conference of 1899 that finally established the world's permanent court +of arbitration at the Hague, to which several important international +questions have already been referred and settled. And while the peace +movement and arbitration has not yet relieved the world from recurrence +of dreadful wars, still the establishment of the permanent court for +international arbitration is a mighty stride in the interest of the +world's peace. It gives more than hope. It establishes confidence that +the time will come when there will be a disarmament of the nations, +and the old prophet's dream figured forth in his vision of the nations +beating their spears into pruning hooks and their swords into plow +shares will be realized, and the nations shall learn war no more. + +It cannot be that this wonderful transformation of the world within our +period has no significance. A new era has certainly dawned upon the +world. Old things are passing away. All things are becoming new. Surely +such changing conditions in material things prophesy corresponding +changes in men as individuals and in their community life. These +material improvements will doubtless be met by corresponding +improvements in moral and spiritual wellbeing. There is undoubtedly +a close connection between this influx of intellectual light and +the splendid opening of the great new dispensation of the gospel of +Jesus Christ. When the Lord renewed divine communication to man in +the visions and revelations granted to Joseph Smith, there seemed +to have accompanied this influx of spiritual light the intellectual +light of which I have been speaking, and which has accomplished such +transformations in the affairs of men and nations as are here noted. To +the spirit which is in man the Spirit of the Lord has given inspiration +to some purpose. It is not difficult to believe--nay to conceive the +contrary seems impossible--that the Lord, according to the Book of +Mormon prophecy, has commenced to bring about the restoration of his +people Israel upon the earth, and to usher into the world that blessed +reign of truth, peace and righteousness so long hoped for; so long the +theme of poets, sages, statesmen and prophets; when with righteousness +the Lord shall judge the pure and reprove with equity for the meek of +the earth; when the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard +shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion, and the +fatling together, and a little child shall lead them; when the cow and +the bear shall feed, and their young ones shall lie down together; when +the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and the suckling child shall +play on the hole of the cockatrice's den; when they shall not hurt nor +destroy in all God's holy mountain; when the earth shall be full of +the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea; when man shall +know how sweet and pleasant it is for men to dwell together in unity +and peace; and when, to correspond with these moral and spiritual +conditions of the world, the material forces and resources of the earth +shall be developed; distance annihilated; all the ends of the earth +brought together in instant communication; poverty and crime banished; +when labor shall have its own and the idler shall not sit in the lap +of luxury, a burden to labor, but all shall contribute by intelligent +industry to an enlightened world's necessities. The realization of the +dream has long been deferred, but we are taught by scripture that if +the vision tarry, wait for it, for it will come. Surely we may wait in +confidence when in such a marked manner as here indicated the hand of +God is to be seen fashioning and directing those events which shall +culminate in the perfect realization of all the good that has been +decreed for the earth and the inhabitants thereof. + +V. + +_The Sign of the Modern World's Awakening_. + +An interesting feature in the awakening of the world, considered in the +last subdivision of this chapter, is the fact that not only did this +awakening begin about the time the Book of Mormon was published to the +world, but it is one of the prophecies of the book that it should be +so. That is to say, the spiritual and intellectual awakening of the +modern world, and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon were to be +contemporaneous events. + +In the course of his ministry among the Nephites, the Messiah directed +especial attention to, and laid great stress upon one of the prophecies +of Isaiah, which follows: + + Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall + they sing, for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring + again Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of + Jerusalem, for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed + Jerusalem. The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all + the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation + of God. + +Later in Messiah's ministry, when referring again to this prophecy, he +remarked: + + When they [the foregoing words of Isaiah] shall be fulfilled, + then is the fulfilling of the covenant which the Father hath made + unto his people, O house of Israel. And then shall the remnants + which shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be + gathered in from the east, and from the west, and from the south, + and from the north; and they shall be brought to the knowledge of + the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them. * * * And behold, this + people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the + covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a New + Jerusalem. And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this + people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you. Behold, I am he of + whom Moses spake, saying, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise + up unto you of your brethren, like unto me, him shall ye hear in + all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to + pass that every soul who will not hear that prophet shall be cut + off from among the people. * * * And I will remember the covenant + which I have made with my people, and I have covenanted with them + that I would gather them together in mine own due time, that I + would give unto them again the land of their fathers, for their + inheritance, which is the land of Jerusalem, which is the promised + land unto them forever, saith the Father. And it shall come to + pass that the time cometh when the fulness of my gospel shall be + preached unto them. And they shall believe in me, that I am Jesus + Christ, the Son of God, and shall pray unto the Father in my name. + Then [referring to Isaiah] shall their watchmen lift up their + voice, and with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall + see eye to eye. [23] + +And now as to the sign which he gave by which the branch of the +house of Israel in the American continents might know that this work +of restoring the house of Israel to the land of their inheritance, +together with the spiritual and intellectual awakening that should +attend upon that event--of this Jesus said: + + And, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you a sign, that ye may + know the time when these things shall be about to take place, that + I shall gather in from their long dispersion my people, O house of + Israel, and shall establish again among them my Zion. And behold, + this is the thing which I will give unto you for a sign, for verily + I say unto you, that when these things which I declare unto you, + and which I shall declare unto you hereafter of myself, and by + the power of the Holy Ghost, which shall be given unto you of the + Father--[when these things] shall be made known unto the Gentiles, + that they may know concerning this people who are a remnant of + the house of Jacob, and concerning this my people who shall be + scattered by them.--Verily, verily, I say unto you, when these + things shall be made known unto them of the Father, and shall come + forth of the Father, from them unto you--* * when these works, + and the works which shall be wrought among you hereafter, shall + come forth from the Gentiles, unto your seed [through publishing + the Book of Mormon] * * * it shall be a sign unto them that they + may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto + the fulfilling of the covenant which he [God] hath made unto the + people who are of the house of Israel. * * * And then shall the + work of the Father commence at that day, even when this gospel + shall be preached among the remnant of this people--verily I say + unto you, at that day shall the work of the Father commence among + all the dispersed of my people; yea, even the tribes which have + been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem. Yea, + the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people * + * * to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me, that they + may call on the Father in my name; yea, and then shall the work + commence, with the Father, among all nations, in preparing the + way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their + inheritance. [24] + +That is to say, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon was to be +the signal for this modern world awakening; and the "sign" of the +commencement of the work of the Lord among all nations, kindreds, +tongues, and people, to bring to pass the restoration of his people and +the accomplishment of his purposes in all the earth. The facts already +set forth establish the fulfillment of this no less venturesome--i. e. +venturesome for an imposter to make--than remarkable prophecy. + +VI. + +_Conditional Prophecies--The Evidence of Things Worthy of God to +Reveal_. + +In closing these chapters on the prophecies of the Book of Mormon, I +direct attention to what I shall call conditional prophecies. Not for +the purpose of referring to their fulfillment, either accomplished or +prospective, as evidence of the truth of the book, but as exhibiting +the fact that the Book of Mormon has a prophetic message for the +present generation worthy of God to reveal, and one that it concerns +the Gentile races now occupying the continents of America to know. +These prophecies deal with the terms upon which the Gentile races +may maintain for themselves and perpetuate to their posterity the +inheritance they have secured in the goodly land of Joseph--the +American continents. First let it be remembered that these continents, +according to the Book of Mormon, are a promised land, especially to the +seed of Joseph, son of the Patriarch Jacob, and also to the Gentiles +whom God shall lead hither. To the leader of the Nephite colony the +Lord said: + + And in as much as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper, + and shall be led to the land of promise. Yea, even a land which I + have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other + lands. + +Subsequently, as is well known, the Nephite colony arrived in America, +repeatedly referred to by them and their descendants as "the land of +promise." + +Before his demise the prophet Lehi, who lived to arrive with his colony +upon the promised land, made the following prophecy concerning the +occupancy of the land by his people: + + Notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of + promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which + the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the + inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land + unto me, and to my children forever; and also all those who should + be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord. Wherefore, + I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which + is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they + shall be brought by the hand of the Lord. Wherefore, this land is + consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that + they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath + given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they + shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be + because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound, cursed shall + be the land for their sakes; but unto the righteous it shall be + blessed forever. And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be + kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations; for behold, many + nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for + an inheritance. Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that + inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of + Jerusalem shall keep his commandments they shall prosper upon the + face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, + that they may possess this land unto themselves. And if it so be + that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon + the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor + to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell + safely forever. But, behold, when the time cometh that they shall + dwindle in unbelief, after they have received so great blessings + from the hand of the Lord; having a knowledge of the creation of + the earth, and all men, knowing the great and marvelous works of + the Lord from the creation of the world; having power given them + to do all things by faith; having all the commandments from the + beginning, and having been brought by his infinite goodnesss into + this precious land of promise; behold, I say, if the day shall come + that they will reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, + their Redeemer and their God, behold the judgment of him that is + just shall rest upon them; yea, he will bring other nations unto + them, and he will give unto them [the incoming nations] power, and + he will take away from them [the remnants of the Nephites] the + lands of their possessions; and he will cause them to be scattered + and smitten. Yea, as one generation passeth to another, there shall + be bloodshed, and great visitations among them. [25] + +This prophecy was fulfilled in the experiences of Lehi's descendants. +Though in the course of their history they had some long periods, and +some intermittent seasons of righteousness, they eventually, even after +the personal ministrations of the Son of God among them, departed from +righteousness, rejected Jesus Christ, and the decreed judgment fell +upon them to the uttermost. The Gentile races finally came to the land, +and took possession of it, while the descendants of the once favored +race that occupied it were dispossessed and broken, and scattered. + +The promises made to the Nephites had also been given to the Jaredites +who preceded them in possession of the land. To the brother of Jared, +the leader of the Jaredite colony, the Lord said: "I will go before thee +into a land which is choice above all the lands of the earth." [26] + +Moroni, while abridging the records of the Jaredites, which give an +account of that people's migration to America, refers to the decrees of +God concerning the land in the following passage: + + And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the + sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth + even unto the land of promise, which was choice above all other + lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people; and + he had sworn in his wrath unto the brother of Jared, that whoso + should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and + forever, should serve him, the true and only God, or they should + be swept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them. + And now we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, + that it is a land of promise, and whatsoever nation shall possess + it, shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness + of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath + cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity; for, behold, + this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore + he that doth possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept + off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until + the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they + are swept off. And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye + may know the decrees of God, that ye may repent, and not continue + in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring + down the fulness of the wrath of God upon you, as the inhabitants + of the land hath hitherto done. Behold, this is a choice land, and + whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and + from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they + will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath + been manifested by the things which we have written. + +Jesus also in the course of his ministry among the Nephites refers to +these same decrees concerning the land; or, better say, makes them, +since he is the "God of the land." His words follow: + + The Father hath commanded me that I should give unto you [the + Nephites] this land, for your inheritance. And I say unto you that + if the Gentiles do not repent, after the blessing which they shall + receive after they have scattered my people, then shall ye who are + a remnant of the house of Jacob go forth among them; and ye shall + be in the midst of them, who shall be many; and ye shall be among + them, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, and as a young lion + among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through, both treadeth + down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. Thy hand shall be + lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be + cut off. And I will gather my people together, as a man gathereth + his sheaves into the floor, for I will make my people with whom the + Father hath covenanted, yea, I will make thy horn iron, and I will + make thy hoofs brass. And thou shalt beat in pieces many people; + and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance + unto the Lord of the whole earth. And behold, I am he who doeth it. + And it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that the sword of my + justice shall hang over them at that day; and except they repent, + it shall fall upon them, saith the Father, yea, even upon all the + nations of the Gentiles. [27] + +Then follows an explanation of how, through the seed of Abraham, all +the kindreds of the earth are blessed: + + Unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me [Jesus Christ] + upon the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles shall make + them mighty above all, unto the scattering of my people, O house + of Israel; and they shall be a scourge unto the people of this + land. Nevertheless, when they shall have received the fulness of my + gospel, then if they shall harden their hearts against me, I will + return their iniquities upon their own heads, saith the Father. [28] + +Speaking further of the "great and marvelous work" which the Lord +should bring forth in the last days, he again refers to the Gentiles +upon the promised land, in the following words: + + Therefore it shall come to pass that whosoever will not believe in + my words, who am Jesus Christ, whom the Father shall cause him to + bring forth unto the Gentiles, and shall give unto him power that + he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles, (it shall be done + even as Moses said), they shall be cut off from among my people + who are of the covenant. And my people who are a remnant of Jacob + shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them as a lion + among the beasts of the forest, as the young lion among the flock + of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth to + pieces, and none can deliver. Their hand shall be lifted up upon + their adversaries, and all their enemies shall be cut off. Yea, wo + be unto the Gentiles, except they repent, for it shall come to pass + in that day, saith the Father, that I will cut off thy horses out + of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots, and I will + cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strongholds; + and I will cut off witchcrafts out of thy hand, and thou shalt + have no more soothsayers; thy graven images I will also cut off, + and thy standing images out of the midst of thee, and thou shalt + no more worship the works of thy hands; and I will pluck up thy + groves out of the midst of thee; so will I destroy thy cities. And + it shall come to pass that all lying, and deceiving, and envying, + and strifes, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, shall be done away. + For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at that day + whosoever will not repent and come unto my beloved Son, them will + I cut off from among my people. O house of Israel; and I will + execute vengeance and fury upon them, even as upon the heathen, + such as they have not heard. But if they [the Gentiles] will + repent, and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I + will establish my church among them and they shall come in unto the + covenant, and be numbered among this remnant of Jacob, unto whom I + have given this land for their inheritance. And they shall assist + my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also, as many of the house of + Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be + called the New Jerusalem; and then shall they assist my people that + they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the + land, in unto the New Jerusalem. And then shall the power of heaven + come down among them; and I also will be in the midst. [29] + +Here then is the conditional prophecy that it concerns the proud +Gentile races now inhabiting the American continents to know. These +continents are a promised land; they are given primarily to the +descendants of the Patriarch Joseph as an inheritance, but the Gentile +races are also given an inheritance in them with the descendants +of Joseph. The whole land, however, is dedicated to righteousness +and liberty, and the people who possess it, whether of the house of +Israel or Gentiles, must be a righteous people, and worship the "God +of the land, who is Jesus Christ." In that event God stands pledged +to preserve the land and the people thereof from all other nations, +and to bless them with very great and peculiar blessings guaranteeing +to them freedom and peaceful possession of the land forever. If the +Gentile races shall observe these conditions they and their children +are to share in the blessings of the land in connection with the +descendants of the Patriarch Joseph. If they depart from justice, +reject righteousness and Jesus Christ, then the judgments decreed will +overtake them until they are wasted away. This is the decree of God +respecting the Western hemisphere, and is one of the important messages +that the Book of Mormon has to deliver to the present generation. + +Nor is it the Book of Mormon alone that bears this message. So far as +the people of the United States are concerned, I might say, if not +one of their own prophets, at least their greatest statesman, gave +substantially the same warning to the people of that nation, and I +believe his utterances are equally applicable to the people occupying +the other parts of the American continents. Read the following +quotation from the speech delivered a few months before its author's +death, and tell me if the American statesman, Daniel Webster, did not +catch the same glow of inspiration when predicting the terms upon which +the people now occupying our country may hold their heritage, as that +which warmed the hearts of the Book of Mormon writers and speakers, +whose words are quoted in the preceding passages. Mr. Webster's speech +was delivered before the "New York Historical Society," on February +22nd--Washington's birthday--1852; as the great American died in +October following, the address was one of his last speeches. + + Unborn ages and visions of glory crowd upon my soul, the + realization of all which, however, is in the hands and good + pleasure of Almighty God; but, under his divine blessing, it will + be dependent on the character and the virtues of ourselves, and of + our posterity. If classical history has been found to be, is now, + and shall continue to be, the concomitant of free institutions, and + of popular eloquence, what a field is opening to us for another + Herodotus, another Thucydides, and another Livy! + + And let me say, gentlemen, that if we and our posterity shall be + true to the Christian religion--if we and they shall live always + in the fear of God, and shall respect his commandments, if we and + they shall maintain just, moral sentiments, and such conscientious + convictions of duty as shall control the heart and life--we may + have the highest hopes of the future fortunes of our country; + and if we maintain those institutions of government and that + political union, exceeding all praise as much as it exceeds all + former examples of political associations, we may be sure of one + thing--that, while our country furnishing materials for a thousand + masters of the historic art, it will afford no topic for a Gibbon. + It will have no Decline and Fall. It will go on prospering and to + prosper. + + But, if we and our posterity reject religious instruction and + authority, violate the rules of eternal justice, trifle with the + injunctions of morality, and recklessly destroy the political + constitution which holds us together, no man can tell how sudden + a catastrophe may overwhelm us, that shall bury all our glory in + profound obscurity. Should that catastrophe happen, let it have no + history! Let the horrible narrative never be written! Let its fate + be like that of the lost books of Livy, which no human eye shall + ever read; or the missing Pleiad, of which no man can ever know + more, than that it is lost, and lost forever! + +I think my statement will be within reasonable limits when I say that +this sublime doctrine and warning of Mr. Webster's has the same source +of inspiration as the utterances of the Book of Mormon writers. I +believe that all who read and compare these passages will conclude +there is something more than mere coincidence in their agreement. + +As before stated, it is not my purpose in calling attention to +these conditional prophecies to point to their fulfillment, either +accomplished or prospective, in evidence of the truth of the Book of +Mormon. Their worth as evidence to the truth of the book rests solely +upon the importance of the matter with which they deal. The demand +of the world is, and it is a reasonable one, that a book purporting +to be a revelation from God should deal with subjects that it is +important for men to know, and I regard the terms that constitute +the conditions upon which the American continents may be securely +held by the people who possess them, as a matter of the highest +importance for the people to know, and hence worthy to be found in a +book purporting to be a revelation from God. Such knowledge is no less +important than to know the source whence the continents of America are +peopled; the providences of God in dealing with them; and the fact +that the Son of God visited the western hemisphere, and taught to the +inhabitants thereof the gospel, and established here his church for the +perpetuation of the truth and for the salvation of men. All this is +revealed in the Book of Mormon, and makes up a mass of knowledge that +it concerns mankind to know, and hence is worthy of God to reveal. Had +the Book of Mormon dealt with light or trivial things--things unworthy +of God to reveal, mankind would require no further evidence that its +claims to a divine origin were baseless; and conversely: if the book +reveals a mass of knowledge--worthy of God to reveal and important for +man to know--then it is evidence of considerable weight that the book +is of God. + +Footnotes + +1. II. Nephi xxx: 3-11. + +2. II. Nephi xxx: 12-15. + +3. "Descendants of the Jews." This expression, I believe, is used in +this instance as equivalent to "Descendants of the house of Israel." +That is, the American Indians will know they are Israelites. This sense +of the phrase "the Jews" is used in other parts of the Book of Mormon: +for instance, "That the father may bring about * * * his great and +eternal purposes, in restoring the Jews, or all the House of Israel, +to the land of their inheritance." We have already pointed out in +previous foot notes that according to the Book of Mormon the American +Indians are a mixture of the tribes of Manasseh, Ephraim and Judah (see +pp. 95, 325-6); and therefore we think the phrase "descendants of the +Jews," does not mean to confine native American race descent to the +Jews alone, but merely to say that they are descendants of the House of +Israel, for which "Jews" here stands as equivalent. + +4. See Doc. & Cov. Section xxix and Section xxxii. + +5. History of the Church, Vol. I, p. 185, note. Aut. P. P. Pratt, pp. +56-61. + +6. It may be suspected that Elder Pratt colored his account of this +speech to fit the prophecy of the Book of Mormon, but if that were so +some reference to its fulfillment of the prediction--"then shall they +rejoice"--would naturally be looked for; but it is a singular thing +that nowhere in the early literature of the Church is reference made to +this prophetic page. The full account of this first Indian mission will +be found in the "History of the Church," Vol. I, pp. 111-120, and pages +182-185. + +7. "History of the Church," Vol. I, pp. 184-5. + +8. "History of the Church," Vol. V., Chapters xxiv and xxv. The prophet +had been visiting relatives in Dixon, and while there fell into the +hands of his enemies, who sought to take him to Missouri. He escaped +them, however, by a writ of habeas corpus, on which he was tried and +acquitted at Nauvoo. + +9. "Millennial Star," Vol. XXI, pp. 634-5. + +10. Amos ix: 14. + +11. Obadiah i: 17. + +12. Deut. vii: 6. + +13. Zechariah ii: 12. + +14. Isaiah xiv: 1. + +15. Ezekiel xxxvii: 21-27. + +16. Isaiah xix: 21. + +17. "In the opinion of some, it may become a training-ground for those +who are eventually to go to Zion. * * * Whatever solution the East +African scheme may find, it can be but a temporary one. The eye of the +people's soul cannot be turned from the object upon which it has rested +for centuries and centuries. * * * The soul of Israel has always felt, +and when occasion offered has always said, that such a concentration at +such a rallying-point, can be induced only in the ancient home of the +children of Israel, in Palestine."--Richard J. H. Gottheil. + +18. See Doc. & Cov., Sec. 110. + +19. "Biography of Lorenzo Snow," p. 496. + +20. Since the foregoing was written the following press dispatch from +Jerusalem, under date of July 28th, 1906, appeared in the daily papers +of the United States: Jerusalem, July 28--The Zionist movement--the +return of the Jews to Palestine--is being carried actively on, and +during the last few months there has been a remarkable influx of +Israelites into the Holy Land. + +A fertile region, east of the Jordan, toward Kerak, has been inspected +by a party of Jewish financiers, with the idea of colonizing it. * * +* * * * The intending colonists are negotiating with the government +for the purchase of land and for guarantees of protection against the +Bedouins. Five thousand Jewish emigrants from Russia and the Balkan +States recently landed at Jaffa. They will be distributed among the +various Jewish colonies, which are to be found in all the fertile +districts of Palestine. It looks as if the Chosen People are literally +coming to their own again. + +21. "A mighty dawn of ideas is peculiar to our own age (nineteenth +century)."--Victor Hugo. + +22. "No previous century ever saw anything approaching to the increase +in social complexity which has been wrought in America and Europe +since 1789. In science and in the industrial arts the change has been +greater than in the ten preceding centuries taken together. Contrast +the seventeen centuries which it took to remodel the astronomy of +Hipparchus with the forty years which it has taken to remodel the +chemistry of Berzelius and the biology of Cuvier. * * * How small +the difference between the clumsy wagons of the Tudor period and the +mailcoach in which our grandfathers rode, compared to the difference +between the mail-coach and the railway train! How rapid the changes +in philosophic thinking since the time of the Encyclopedistes, in +comparison with the slow though important changes which occurred +between the epoch of Aristotle and the epoch of Descartes! In morality, +both individual and national, and in general humanity of disposition +and refinement of manners, the increased rapidity of change has been no +less marked."--Cosmic Philosophy (Fiske), Vol. IV., p. 54, 55. + +23. III. Nephi 20. + +24. III. Nephi, chapter 21. + +25. II. Nephi i: 5-12. + +26. Ether i: 42. + +27. III. Nephi 20: 14-20. + +28. III. Nephi 20: 27, 28. + +29. III. Nephi xxi: 11-25. + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +INTERNAL EVIDENCES.--THE SPIRIT OF THE BOOK. + +"I can no more remember the books I have read than the meals I have +eaten," said Emerson, "but they have made me." In this way the American +philosopher recognizes the simple truth that the reading of books +has something to do with the making of a man--that they affect the +mind. A book has a spirit as distinctly as a painting or of a piece +of sculpture has "feeling"--of course I mean a real work of art into +which something from the soul of the artist has passed. The best +thing about a painting or piece of sculpture is said to be that which +cannot be described; so also the best part of a book is the spirit of +it, which may not always be describable. And that elusive, mysterious +quality we call its spirit may arise from something quite apart from +its rhetoric, or logic or diction. It may be even as the voice of God: +not in the strong wind, that rends the mountains and breaks in pieces +the rocks before the Lord; not in the earthquake nor in the fire; but +in the still, small voice which follows the wind and earthquake and +fire. [1] So with a book: its spirit may owe its existence to its simple +truth--to the spirit of truth in them that made it. + +"Do you ever think," said a writer in one of our popular magazines--"Do +you ever think what is the effect of a book on your mind? * * * * Is +your mind purer for it, or clearer? Has it filled your mind with good +or bad images? Has it raised your standard or lowered it? * * * * * +Every book you read and understand affects you for better or worse. It +has some effect upon you, and if you are sane you are bound to find out +what that is." + +In common with all books the Book of Mormon has its spirit, produces +its effects upon the minds of men; and as it claims to be a work +originally written and also translated through the inspiration of God, +and deals primarily with sacred things, it is to be expected that +the spirit of this book will have not only a good, but even a divine +influence; that it will be of a faith-promoting, doubt-dispersing, +comfort-bringing character. Its effects upon the minds of men, +therefore, may be another test of its claims to a divine origin; and to +that test I now submit it. + +In his work entitled "My First Mission," the late President George +Q. Cannon makes the following statement respecting the influence +exerted over his spirit by reading the Book of Mormon under the trying +conditions in which he was placed while serving as a missionary in the +Hawaiian Islands: + + Some of my readers may be placed in circumstances similar to those + which surrounded me a part of the time on the Sandwich Islands, and + it may be profitable to tell them how I kept from losing courage + and becoming home-sick. My love for home is naturally very strong. + For the first year after I left home I could scarcely think about + it without my feelings getting the better of me. But here I was + in a distant land, among a people whose language and habits were + strange to me. Their very food was foreign to me, and unlike + anything I had ever before seen or tasted. I was much of the time + separated from my companions, the Elders. Until I mastered the + language and commenced preaching and baptizing the people, I was + indeed a stranger among them. + + Before I commenced holding regular meetings I had plenty of time + for meditation and to review all the events of my short life, and + to think of the beloved home from which I was so far separated. It + was then I found the value of the Book of Mormon. It was a book + which I always loved. If I felt inclined to be lonely, to be low + spirited, or home-sick, I had only to turn to its sacred pages to + receive consolation, new strength and a rich outpouring of the + Spirit. Scarcely a page that did not contain encouragement for + such as I was. The salvation of man was the great theme upon which + its writers dwelt and for this they were willing to undergo every + privation and make every sacrifice. + + What were my petty difficulties compared with those afflictions + which they had to endure? If I expected to share the glory for + which they contended, I could see that I must labor in the same + Spirit. If the sons of King Mosiah could relinquish their high + estate, and go forth among the degraded Lamanites to labor as they + did, should not I labor with patience and devoted zeal for the + salvation of these poor red men, heirs of the same promise? + + Let me recommend this book, therefore, to young and old, if they + need comfort and encouragement. Especially can I recommend it to + those who are away from home on missions. No man can read it, + partake of its spirit and obey its teachings, without being filled + with a deep love for the souls of men and a burning zeal to do all + in his power to save them. + +In the experience and sentiments expressed in the foregoing passage, +Elder Cannon but voices the experience and sentiments of very many +Latter-day Saints, including thousands of missionaries who have felt +all that he has described with reference to the effects of the Book of +Mormon upon his spirit. The experiences of this host of believers may +be properly appealed to as evidence for the effect of the book upon +their minds; and I cannot believe but that it is also an evidence of +its truth. Men have gone to the Book of Mormon in despondency, and +have come away cheered; they have gone to it in sorrow, and have come +away comforted; they have gone to it at times when overwhelmed for the +moment by the mists which the speculations of men sometimes throw over +truth, and have come away from it enlightened--with faith and hope +and charity renewed. It created for them a firmer faith in God. In +the presence of its spirit doubt took wings. Its moral and spiritual +standards they find to be the highest and noblest. Indeed so perfect is +its morality that no one has yet been able to bring a complaint against +it on the ground of moral defect; and it was doubtless a consciousness +of its moral excellence that led the Prophet Joseph Smith himself to +declare on one occasion, when in council with the Twelve Apostles, +that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and +that a man could get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by +following any other book whatsoever. [2] If in its historical parts +believers find it dealing with events that exhibit selfishness, unholy +ambitions, and all the follies and crimes common to all times and all +nations and races of men, they never find its treatment of such things +of the kind that blazons evil deeds, or consecrates crime, much less +of the kind that cannonizes the vicious. In its pages they see things +in their true light. There is no shuffling, but evil deeds receive +their proper condemnation in the simple, straightforward language of +its inspired men. For believers the Book of Mormon differs from the +books of men, as the works of nature differ from the works of men. And +with what relief men of deep spiritual natures turn from the works of +men to the works of nature! From artistic parks, to nature's jumbled +wilderness; from well kept gardens, to even desert plains or wild +valleys; from grass-lined, men-made lakelets to some huge waterbody, +mountain rimmed, of unknown depths and wonderous coloring; from crowded +cities with their din and strife to mountain tops, or lonely ocean's +shore, where the freed soul in solitude can hold communion with his +God--where deep may call to deep, and inspiration gather for life's +battles! + +All this and more believers find in the pages of the Book of Mormon, +and the book that breathes such a spirit must surely have somewhat of +divinity in it; and the existence of the divine spirit in the book must +be somewhat of evidence that its claims are honest, and its contents +true. This, or else we must believe that men gather grapes of thorns, +and figs of thistles; that impure fountains send forth pure streams! + +I shall be told, however, that the class of witnesses here appealed +to, viz., those believers in the Book of Mormon who receive from its +pages this spiritual comfort, are for the most part simple folk, who +bring little or nothing in the way of scholarship to the examination +of the book; and few of them ever stop to consider it in a thoroughly +analytical manner at all. I shall not deny the charge, in truth, +I rather rejoice in the fact; and I think I am justified in such +rejoicing since I must needs think it takes on some of the coloring of +that joy which Jesus expressed when he said, on the occasion of some +of his simple minded disciples exulting in the possession of certain +spiritual graces--"I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, +that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast +revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in +thy sight." [3] The fact that this spiritual grace and comfort from the +volume of American scripture is enjoyed chiefly by people of humble +spirit, is an evidence to me that a certain truth expressed by ancient +apostles is universal in its nature--good in all ages and among all +people, viz. "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the +humble." [4] + +When men speak of pride, their hearers have in mind, chiefly, the +"purse-proud"--the pride of the rich made haughty by the power which +wealth gives; or else they think of "birth-pride"--the distinction that +comes from the accident of birth; or of "political-pride," that comes +from civic position; or perhaps the "pride of the brave and strong," +gratified by recognition in high martial stations. But there is another +pride more offensive to God perhaps, than pride in any one of the +forms mentioned. I mean "intellectual pride," the pride of knowledge, +of opinion, the pride which so often attends upon the worldly learned +man who has not as yet progressed so far in learning as to bring to +the mind that humility of spirit which rightly belongs to, and will +at last be found with, profound learning. For my own part I can think +of nothing that could be a greater offense against the majesty of God +than for a man with his limited intellectual power presuming to pass +judgment upon and reject the things of God, because, forsooth, these +things do not conform to his opinion of what the things of God should +be like; or because the way in which they are revealed does not conform +to the manner in which he thinks God should impart his truths. Such +pride always has and always will separate men from receiving knowledge +by divine communication. While the meek and humble of spirit, borne +down with the sense of their own limitations, find grace and spiritual +enlightenment and comfort in the things which God reveals; and often +arrive at hidden treasures of knowledge, and even of wisdom, unknown to +the intellectually proud whom God resisteth. + +In this connection, too, it should be remembered the class of people +for whom the Book of Mormon was especially prepared. While a revelation +to all the world, and containing profound truths the depths of which +man by human wisdom has not yet sounded, it is primarily designed +for the benighted, native American races, fallen from the high +station their forefathers once held in God's favor; and its simple +plainness and faith-promoting power will yet constitute it a mighty +instrumentality in bringing those races to a knowledge of God, and a +true understanding of their relationship to him. Hence I say, it is +pre-eminently fitting that this book should be of such character as to +appeal to the understanding of the simple, and those who are willing +and happy to be taught of God. And then, in any event, religion is +and ought to be a simple business, since among even highly civilized +nations there are many unlearned people who can understand only that +which is simple, and religion concerns alike the ignorant and the +learned, the poor and the rich. But plain to the point of being simple +as the Book of Mormon is, when men are made aware of its power to +rest the mind, to cheer the heart, to uplift the soul, they go to its +pages for help as the lame and blind and sick were wont to go to old +Bethsaida's pool, to whose waters an angel's touch had imparted healing +virtues. + +The spirit of the Book of Mormon, then, its beneficent influence upon +men's minds, are among the strongest evidences of its truth. This will +appear all the more if the reader will call to mind the fact that this +influence does not arise from the cleverness of its construction; for +its structure, as men view books, is complex, confusing and clumsy. Its +spirit and influence do not arise from its strictly logical treatment +of historical events, much less from its philosophical treatment of +them; compared in these particulars with the works of Hume, Macaulay, +Gibbon, Hallan or George Bancroft, it could be esteemed contemptible. +Nor do the beneficent effects of the book upon the minds of men arise +from its rhetoric, its beauty of diction, or the pleasing correctness +of its language; in all these particulars it is admitted to be faulty; +it has few or none of these merely human excellencies for which it may +be desired. Whatever power it possesses to cheer, comfort and encourage +men; whatever power to build up hope, create faith or promote charity, +exists not by virtue of its human excellencies, but in spite of their +absence; therefore such influence for good as it possesses must be +attributed to the Spirit of God in which it was written, and by which +it is permeated; and by reason of the presence of that spirit in it, +the book itself must be accorded a divine origin. + +_The Poetry the Book of Mormon has Inspired_. + +As might be expected, the Book of Mormon has inspired considerable +poetry among those who have accepted it as a revelation from God; and +as some idea of its influence upon minds of poetic temperament may be +revealed by these effusions, I present some of them. + +I first quote Parley P. Pratt, one of the earliest poets of the New +Dispensation, and one of its most zealous Apostles. In his Key to +Theology, one of the most luminous works yet published by the Church, +when treating of the "Rise, Progress and Decline of the Science of +Theology in the Western Hemisphere"--he opens that chapter with the +following: + + The spirit world is moved, the silence broken, + The ancient Seers from out the ground have spoken. + The appointed years on time's fleet wings have fled, + And voices whisper from the ancient dead. + Volumes of truth the sacred archives yield, + The past, the glorious future, stand revealed. + +It was the revelation of the Book of Mormon and the historical truths +which it reveals respecting the blessings of the Lord upon Israel that +inspired the following hymn: + + The morning breaks, the shadows flee; + Lo! Zion's standard is unfurled! + The dawning of a brighter day + Majestic rises on the world. + + The clouds of error disappear + Before the rays of truth divine; + The glory, bursting from afar, + Wide o'er the nations soon will shine. + + The Gentile fulness now comes in, + And Israel's blessings are at hand; + Lo! Judah's remnant, cleansed from sin, + Shall in their promised Canaan stand. + + Jehovah speaks! let earth give ear, + And Gentile nations turn and live; + His mighty arm is making bare, + His cov'nant people to receive. + + Angels from heaven and truth from earth + Have met, and both have record borne; + Thus Zion's light is bursting forth, + To cheer her children's glad return. + +The following hymn was also inspired by the Book of Mormon: + + An angel from on high, + The long, long silence broke, + Descending from the sky, + These gracious words he spoke: + Lo! in Cumorah's lonely hill, + A sacred record lies concealed. + + Sealed by Moroni's hand, + It has for ages lain, + To wait the Lord's command, + From dust to speak again. + It shall again to light come forth, + To usher in Christ's reign on earth. + + It speaks of Joseph's seed, + And makes the remnant known + Of nations long since dead, + Who once had dwelt alone. + The fulness of the gospel, too, + Its pages will reveal to view. + + The time is now fulfilled, + The long expected day; + Let earth obedient yield. + And darkness flee away; + Open the seals, be wide unfurled + Its light and glory to the world. + + Lo, Israel filled with joy, + Shall now be gathered home, + Their wealth and means employ + To build Jerusalem; + While Zion shall arise and shine, + And fill the earth with truth divine. + +Also the following on the destruction of the Nephites and the glory +that is yet to come to their posterity. + + O, who that has seen o'er the wide spreading plain, + And read o'er the last scenes of woe? + Four-and-twenty with Mormon were left to behold + Their nation lie mould'ring below. + + The Nephites destroyed, the Lamanites dwelt + For ages in sorrow unknown, + Generations have passed till the Gentiles at last, + Have divided their lands as their own. + + O, who that has seen o'er the wide spreading plain, + The Lamanites wander forlorn, + While the Gentiles in pride and oppression divide + The land they could once call their own; + + And who that believes does not long for the hour + When sin and oppression shall cease, + And truth, like the rainbow, display through the shower, + That bright written promise of peace? + + O, thou sore afflicted and sorrowful race, + The days of thy sorrow shall end! + The Lord has pronounced you a remnant of His, + Descended from Abra'm His friend. + + Thy stones with fair colors most glorious shall stand. + And sapphires all shining around, + Thy windows of agates, in this glorious land, + And thy gates with carbuncles abound. + + With songs of rejoicing to Zion return, + And sorrow and sighing shall flee, + The powers of heaven among you come down, + And Christ in the centre will be. + + And then all the watchmen shall see eye to eye, + When the Lord shall bring Zion again, + The wolf and the kid down together shall lie, + And the lion shall dwell with the lamb. + + The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God, + And nothing shall hurt nor destroy, + And these are the tidings we have to proclaim, + Glad tidings abounding with joy. + +After Elder Pratt the most prolific of the early poets in the Church, +and one who perhaps caught most truly the genius of the work and +reduced it to poetic expression, was W. W. Phelps. He contributes the +following inspired by the Book of Mormon. + + O, stop and tell me, Red Man, + Who are you, why you roam, + And how you get your living; + Have you no God, no home? + + With stature straight and portly, + And decked in native pride, + With feathers, paints and brooches, + He willingly replied: + + "I once was pleasant Ephraim, + When Jacob for me prayed, + But O, how blessings vanish, + When man from God has strayed! + + Before your nation knew us, + Some thousand moons ago, + Our fathers fell in darkness, + And wandered to and fro. + + And long they've lived by hunting + Instead of work and arts, + And so our race has dwindled + To idle Indian hearts. + + Yet hope within us lingers, + As if the Spirit spoke, + He'll come for your redemption, + And break your Gentile yoke, + + And all your captive brothers, + From every clime shall come, + And quit their savage customs, + To live with God at home. + + Then joy will fill our bosoms, + And blessings crown our days, + To live in pure religion, + And sing our Maker's praise." + +Of our later poets Elder Orson F. Whitney, of the Council of the +Twelve, has most celebrated the Nephite volume of scripture in his +great poem "Elias." One canto (VI) is wholly devoted to the Book of +Mormon under the caption "From Out the Dust." In this Canto Elder +Whitney treats the whole theme of America as a land of promise-- + + The Old World, not the New,--this soil misnamed; + Cradle of man and grave of nations vast, + Whose glory, wealth, and wisdom had outfamed + The mightiest of known empires, present, past; + The land where Adam dwelt, where Eden cast + Forth from her flaming gate the fateful pair + Who fell that man might be; a fall still chaste, + Albeit they sinned, descending death's dread stair + To fling life's ladder down, Love's work and way prepare. + +Of the decrees of God respecting the land, he writes. + + The God of freedom, God of justice, swore + No tyrant should this chosen land defile; + And nations here, that for a season bore + The palm of power, must righteous be the while, + Or ruin's avalanche ruin on ruin pile. + * * * * * * * * * * * * * * + + Race upon race has perished in its pride, + And nations lustrous as the lights of heaven + Have sinned and sunk, in reckless suicide, + Upon this soil, since that dread word was given. + Realms battle-rent and regions tempest-riven; + The wrath-swept land for ages desolate; + A wretched remnant blasted, crust, and driven + Forth by the furies of revengeful fate; + Till wonder asks in vain, What of their former state? + + Wouldst know the cause, the upas-tree that bore + The blight of desolation? 'Tis a theme + To melt Earth's heart, and move all Heaven to pour + With sorrow's heaving flood, as when supreme + O'er fallen Lucifer, the generous stream + Of grief half quenched the joy of victory. + Mark how the annals of the ages teem + With repetition? Time, eternity, + The same have taught; but, few, alas! the moral see. + + There is a sin called self, which binds the world + In fetters fell, than all save truth more strong; + A sin most serpentine, round all men curled, + And in its fatal fold earth writhes full long; + Crime's great first cause, the primal root of wrong, + Parent of pride and tree of tyranny. + To lay the axe doth unto thee belong. + Strike, that the world may know of liberty, + And Zion's land indeed a land of Zion be! + +The poet treats successively the Jaredite and Nephite occupancy of +the western world in the same noble strain of poetry. He closes the +Jaredite period with these verses, celebrating the last acts of the two +survivors of the Jaredite nation, Ether the Prophet, and Coriantumr the +last of the Jaredite kings. + + Usurping treason seized the civic helm, + Wrong trampled right, and justice, judgment, fled. + Then strife, division, hosts to battle led; + The prophets, mocked, lift warning voice in vain; + A blood-soaked continent, a sea, of dead, + And of that mighty nation, fallen, self-slain. + A prophet and a king, a solitary twain. + + That prophet saw the coming of the Lord + Unto the Old, the New, Jerusalem; + Saw Israel returning at His word + From wheresoever His will had scattered them; + The realm's wide ruin saw, and strove to stem. + That king, sole scion of a slaughtered race, + Casting his blood-stained sword and diadem, + Lived but to see another nation place + Firm foot upon the soil, then vanished from its face. + +The advent of the Nephite colony is told in the following manner. + + Again athwart the wilderness of waves, + Surging old East and older West between, + Where the lone sea the flowery Southland laves, + And crowns o'er many climes the Chilean queen, + Braving the swell, a storm-tossed bark is seen. + From doomed Jerusalem, to Jacob dear, + Albeit a leper, groping, blind, unclean, + Goes forth Manasseh's prophet pioneer, + Predestined to unveil the hidden hemisphere. + + His lot to reap and plant on this far shore + The promise of his fathers. Joseph's bough, + From Jacob's well, the billowy wall runs o'er. + Abides in strength the archer-stricken bow, + Unto the utmost bound prevailing now, + Of Hesper's heaven-inviting hills. Bend sheaves + Of Israel, as branches bend with snow, + Unto his sheaf as mightiest; and as leaves + For multitude, the son the great sire's glory weaves. + +The cataclysms which took place in this western world during the +crucifixion and entombment of Messiah and His subsequent advent in the +western world, His teaching the gospel here, and the establishment of +His Church is told by our poet in the following strains. + + All this and more the prescient monarch saw; + Messiah's self, Jehovah, Him beheld; + The Lamb of God, in whom was found no flaw, + Though Hate's black billows round Him surged and + swelled; + Life's deathless tree--deathless, though demon-felled; + The crash resounding to this far-off shore, + Whose winnowed remnant welcomed Him revealed + In risen glory, when had ceased the roar + And raging of the tempest heralds sent before. + + At whose rebuke the haughty mountains bowed, + Shorn by the whirlwind, sunk, or swept away, + No more their frown the lowly valleys cowed, + Rising like billows 'mid the wrathful fray, + And dashing 'gainst the skies their dusty spray. + Rocks, boulders, hills, no Titan strength could lift, + Hurtle as pebbles in the storm-fiend's play. + Earth opes her jaws, and through the yawning rift, + Cities, peoples, vanish, of hope, of life, bereft. + + Three hours of tempest and three days of night; + Thick darkness, thunder-burst, and lightning flash; + Millions engulfed, millions in prostrate plight, + Grovelling as slaves that feel or fear the lash, + Mingling their groans and cries with grind and crash + Of crags the cyclone's catapult impels, + Whose shrieking flails the fields and forests thrash. + Wild o'er the land roused Ocean's anger swells; + Fierce Flame's prophetic tongue the final doom foretells. + + Three hours of stormful strife;--then all is still. + Save for a Voice that universe might hear, + Proclaiming what hath happed as Heaven's high will, + Dispensing pardon and dispelling fear, + Drawing the righteous nearer and more near. + Anon He lifts the curtain of the sky! + The midday sun no more their minister; + Greater hath arisen; and glories multiply + As angels in their gaze earthward and heavenward fly. + + He greets them as a shepherd greets his flock; + Shows them His wounded side, His hands, His feet; + Then builds His Church upon the stricken Rock, + Where flow life's healing waters, limpid, sweet, + As infant innocence, that joys to meet + Its great Original. With holy hand + He ministers, bids death and hell retreat, + And singles twelve from out the sainted band + To sow with gospel light the furrowed, tear-worn land. + +Then follows the story of the Nephite golden age, and this by a period +of apostasy from God and the final overthrow of the people, concluding +with the coming of the Gentile races to the promised land and the +advent of the Seer, Joseph Smith, who shall make known through the Book +of Mormon the otherwise unknown history of the western world. + + The Gentile comes, as destiny decrees, + To Joseph's land of wonders held in store. + Freedom his watchword, sons of Freedom these, + Like to the favored bands that long before + A refuge found upon this sheltering shore. + But champions of right oft wrong the right; + Oppressed become oppressors in an hour; + And now, as day that pushes back the night, + The strong the weak assail, enslave, and put to flight. + + Nor yet can fate forsake them. Japheth's hand + 'Gainst Jacob's wrath-doomed remnant still prevails. + Tyrants oppress him from the motherland; + The Lord of hosts a champion arms and mails, + To match whose might no human power avails; + Nor grander cause or chieftain e'er came forth. + Him as its sire a new-born nation hails, + And fain would crown him, spite his will, his birth, + Did Heaven vouchsafe such king to shame most kings + of earth-- + + Real though oft recreant sons of Deity, + Builders, o'erthrowers, of imperial thrones, + In wrongful act of rightful agency + Drenching with blood, paving with human bones + The path to power, gruesome with tears and groans. + Their lives a failure? God a failure? Nay; + What'er betide, the soul that sins atones; + And He who casts the parts all mortals play, + Succeeds He ever, His the night, and His the day. + + Thine antecedents, thy forerunners, these, + Prophet of Ephraim, Joseph's namesake seer! + More than those ancient bridgers of the seas, + Unveiler of the long-hid hemisphere, + Whose secret 'tis lies booked and buried here. + Bring forth that word of Joseph, now to join + With Judah's word, Messiah's throne to rear; + That high may rise and holily may shine + God's house, the pure-in-heart, kingdom of King divine. + +The whole Canto, and indeed the whole poem, should be read in order to +get the full beauty and power of the poet's theme, in which the Book of +Mormon is so large a factor of inspiration. + +_Summary of Internal Evidences_. + +This is all I intend to say directly on the subject of the Internal +Evidences of the truth of the Book of Mormon; what else remains that +could properly fall under this division of the subject will be said in +connection with the answers to objections to the claims of the book. +Before leaving the subject, however, I ask the reader to recall in one +view the various internal evidences considered up to this time, that it +may be remembered how numerous they are, and how strong and conclusive +they are when massed. + +The Internal Evidences of the Book of Mormon consist in the following +facts: + +The book in style and language is consistent with the theory of its +construction; + +It responds to the demands both of unity and diversity in its style, +under the theory of its structure; + +It has all the characteristics of an abridgment; + +It meets all the requirements of the circumstances in the matter of +names, originality in names, differences between Jaredite and Nephite +names, and the custom of Hebrew peoples with reference to names; + +Its governments are in harmony with the political principles of the age +in which those governments are said to have existed; + +The events to which importance is given are such as would be expected +from the character of its writers; + +The complexity of its structure is in harmony with the theory of its +origin; + +It meets the requirements in originality of structure, manner of +coming forth, theory of peopling America, the nativity of its peoples, +accounting for Christian truths in America, and in its doctrines; + +Its prophecies, so many and important, so far as the wheels of time +have brought them due, are fulfilled, and others are in course of +fulfillment; + +It deals with subjects worthy of God to reveal, and important for man +to know; + +It has an atmosphere about it, a spirit, that bears witness of its +truth. + +Footnotes + +1. See I. Kings xix. + +2. The Prophet's Journal, November 28, 1841. + +3. Luke x: 21. + +4. James iv: 6. Peter v: 5. + + + +PART IV. + +Objections to the Book of Mormon + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +COUNTER THEORIES OF ORIGIN. + +"_No sane man dreams of maintaining that a religion is true because of +the difficulties which it involves; the utmost that can reasonably be +maintained is that it may be true in spite of them_." [1] + +The necessity for a counter theory of the origin of the Book of Mormon +was early recognized. Sectarian Christendom felt that Joseph Smith's +story of the book's origin must be overthrown, else what would come +of this new revelation, this new dispensation of God's word? Joseph +Smith's account of the origin of the book was a direct challenge to +the teachings of modern Christendom that revelation had ceased; that +the awful voice of prophecy would no more be heard; that the volume of +scripture was completed and forever closed; and that the Bible was the +only volume of scripture. Hence Christendom must find some other origin +for this book than that given by Joseph Smith. The first objection then +to be considered is the objection to the book's origin by examining the +counter theories. + +I. + +_Alexander Campbell's Theory_: + +Alexander Campbell, founder of the sect of the "Disciples," or +"Campbellites," as they are more commonly called, was the first who in +any formal, public manner assailed the Book of Mormon, and proposed a +counter theory of its origin than that given by Joseph Smith. + +Alexander Campbell was born in Ireland, 1788, but educated at Glasgow +University, Scotland, where he graduated with the title of Doctor of +Divinity. He came to the United States in 1809, settling in Bethany, +Virginia, and for some time filled the position of pastor of the +Presbyterian church at that place. He soon parted from this communion, +however, and began religious work on independent lines; and organized +a society whose doctrine was that the Bible should be the sole creed +of the church. This led to the establishment of a "Reformed Baptist +Church," which finally took the name of "Disciples" or "Christians." +Mr. Campbell has generally been accounted--and indeed was--one of the +most learned divines of the country and century in which he lived. He +founded a college at Bethany, Virginia; and was also the founder of the +"Christian Baptist," which finally merged (1830) into the "Millennial +Harbinger," both as their titles indicate being religious periodicals. +He was the author of a number of works on religious subjects, but is +generally remembered through his public debates with Robert Owen, the +celebrated English Deist and social reformer; Archbishop Purcell, of +the Roman Catholic Church, whose diocese was Cincinnati and vicinity; +Rev. N. L. Rice, of the Presbyterian Church; and the Rev. William +McCalla. + +It will be seen from the foregoing sketch of this celebrated man, that +so far as scholarship and trained ability in religious controversy is +concerned, he was competent to analyze and make a severe criticism of +the Book of Mormon. Before going into that, however, I think there +is one other fact bearing on his career that should be noted. It +will perhaps be remembered that Walter Scott and Sidney Rigdon were +associated with Mr. Campbell in his reform operations in the state +of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Up to 1830, the last named gentleman was +as energetic in the interests of the "Disciples" as Mr. Scott or Mr. +Campbell. + +Cardinal points in the reformation proposed by these gentlemen were, +first: the recognition of the Bible as the only creed of the church; +and after that faith in God and Christ, and the Holy Spirit; repentance +of sin, and baptism in water by immersion for the remission of sins. +It will be seen at once that in these doctrines the reformers were +really preaching a number of the first principles and ordinances of +the gospel; and when Sidney Rigdon became interested in Mormonism and +visited the Prophet Joseph in New York, December, 1830, a revelation +was given through the Prophet to Sidney Rigdon, in which the Lord +claimed this reform work, in a way, as his: + + Behold, verily, verily, I say unto my servant Sidney, I have looked + upon thee and thy works. I have heard thy prayers and prepared + thee for a greater work. Thou art blessed, for thou shalt do great + things. Behold, thou wast sent forth, even as John, to prepare + the way before me, and before Elijah which should come, and thou + knewest it not. Thou didst baptize by water unto repentance, + but they received not the Holy Ghost. But now I give unto thee + a commandment, that thou shalt baptize by water, and they shall + receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, even as the + apostles of old. [2] + +From this it appears that Sidney Rigdon was unconsciously inspired of +God in teaching faith, repentance, and baptism for the remission of +sins. In evidence that the work of these reformers was a preparatory +work to the coming forth of the fullness of the gospel, I may say that +perhaps more people joined the Church in an early day from this sect of +"Disciples" than from any other denomination whatsoever. But if Sidney +Rigdon was inspired of God in this work, and was sent forth even as +John the Baptist to prepare the way for the incoming of a still greater +work, may it not also be true that Alexander Campbell was inspired of +God, and in like manner sent forth to prepare the way for the coming +forth of the greater work? Undoubtedly; for if Sidney Rigdon could be +thus sent forth, one could easily believe that Alexander Campbell, +with his larger knowledge and greater capacity, would more likely be +sent forth on such a mission. When, however, the new dispensation of +the gospel was brought to his attention, and he came in contact with +the Book of Mormon, instead of accepting it, as Sidney Rigdon did, he +rejected it; pride of opinion, pride of intellectual attainments, pride +as a leader of men, and the founder of a sect are doubtless the causes +which induced the spiritual darkness that prevented him from seeing the +truth; or, if he saw it, prevented him from accepting it; and hence he +chose to reject it, and assail it, and for a number of years was its +most pronounced antagonist. + +I have already remarked upon the educational and intellectual abilities +of Mr. Campbell as fitting him for the work of thorough analysis and +criticism of the Book of Mormon; but when one compares his criticism +of the book with his debate with Robert Owen, in which he makes a most +masterful defense of historic Christianity; or with his debate with +Archbishop Purcell which, at the time it took place, was called "The +Battle of the Giants"--one can but feel that his performance with +reference to the Book of Mormon was wholly unworthy of him. Unworthy +both of his great intellect and high character. In his assault upon +that book there is a bitterness, and even a vulgarity, entirely +absent from his other works, and utterly unaccountable for, unless +one can think that in the background of his consciousness there was a +realization that the work he assailed was true, and hence his assault +is tinged with a bitterness likely to result from such a circumstance. + +I shall have occasion to refer to several, in fact to all of Mr. +Campbell's objections, in the course of this division of my treatise, +but at present I shall confine myself to his theory of the Book of +Mormon's origin. + +His theory respecting the origin of the book was that Joseph Smith was +its author. This he repeats at various places in his criticism. + +"Smith," he says, "its real author, as ignorant and as impudent a knave +as ever wrote a book, betrays the cloven foot in basing his whole book +upon a false fact, or a pretended fact, which makes God a lair," etc. + +Again: + + The book proposes to be written at intervals and by different + persons during the long period of 1020 years, and yet for + uniformity of style, there never was a book more evidently written + by one set of fingers, nor more certainly conceived in one cranium + since the first book appeared in human language, than this same + book. If I could swear to any man's voice, face, or person, + assuming different names, I could swear that this book was written + by one man. And as Joseph Smith is a very ignorant man, and is + called the "author" on the title page, I cannot doubt for a single + moment but that he is sole author and proprietor of it. [3] + +From this it appears that the reasons which induced Alexander Campbell +to conclude that Joseph Smith was the "sole author and proprietor" of +the Book of Mormon, are, + +First: that he is called the Author and Proprietor of it on the title +page, [4] and + +Second: that there is a uniformity of style throughout the book. + +The reason for Joseph Smith calling himself "Author and Proprietor" +of the Book of Mormon is easily accounted for. The copyright law of +the United States, in force at the time of the publication of the +Book of Mormon, secured the rights to copies of maps, charts, and +books, "to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the +times therein mentioned," but the law said nothing respecting the +rights of translators of books, hence Joseph Smith adopted the legal +phraseology of the law, and secured the copyright to the Book of Mormon +as "author and proprietor," since he could not obtain the copyright as +"translator." [5] + +That Joseph Smith from the first claimed only to be the translator of +the Book of Mormon is evident from the preface to the first edition, +where he says: + +"I would inform you that I '_translated_' by the gift and power of God, +and caused to be written 116 pages [of manuscript] which I took from +the Book of Lehi, which was an account abridged from the plates of Lehi +by the hand of Mormon," etc. + +Throughout the preface he speaks of his work as a "translation." So +that it cannot be said that Joseph Smith claimed at any time to be +other than a translator of the work, hence any argument based upon +Joseph Smith announcing himself as "author and proprietor" of the Book +of Mormon merely to comply with the phraseology of the copyright law, +is technical and without force. [6] + +As to the argument based upon the uniformity of literary style +throughout the book, I have already called attention to the +requirements both of unity and diversity of style, resulting in the +conclusion that the construction of the book does not require a wide +diversity of literary style, because of the fact that it is composed +chiefly of four writers, two living in the sixth century B. C., and the +other two living 400 A. D. [7] + +Moreover, it is conceded in these pages that the translation by Joseph +Smith was made in such language and literary style as he was competent +to execute, and hence uniformity in literary style is to be looked for +in the translation since the English is his. [8] + +Campbell's theory of the origin of the Book of Mormon, nothwithstanding +his learning and acknowledged literary ability, failed to be +convincing; the evidence of the fact is seen in this that his theory +was soon abandoned for another, hence it can be concluded that it was +entirely unsatisfactory--that is, failed. Indeed Mr. Campbell himself, +as soon as the "Spaulding Theory" of the book's origin was launched, +abandoned his own and gave to that his support. [9] + +II. + +_The Spaulding Theory of the Origin of the Book of Mormon._ + +Taking its source in Erie county, Pennsylvania, and flowing generally +in a north-westerly course into Ohio, thence northward through +Ashtabula county, Ohio, until it empties into Lake Erie, is Conneaut +Creek. It meanders through a country somewhat rich in mounds and other +evidences of the existence of civilized races that anciently inhabited +America. Very naturally the people inhabiting that section of the +country were interested in these subjects. Here resided in the early +years of the nineteenth century one Solomon Spaulding, a graduate, +it is said, of Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. According +to those who have recorded his history, he was born in Ashford, +Connecticut, 1761, and graduated at Dartmouth in 1785 with the degree +of A. B. He subsequently studied theology, and began preaching in 1800, +but on account of failing health he went into the merchandise business +at Cherry Valley, New York. He failed in merchandising, and moved to +New Salem, Ashtabula county, Ohio, 1807 or 1808. + +New Salem is on the banks of the Conneaut Creek, and sometimes is +called "Conneaut." Here Spaulding went into the iron foundry business, +but failed in that also. In 1809 he began writing a religious romance, +incited to the undertaking by reason of the numerous evidences of the +civilized races by which he was surrounded at Conneaut. This work, +from the concensus of the recollections of those who claimed to have +heard portions of it read, he called the "Manuscript Found," from the +circumstance of his romance being based upon the pretended finding of +the manuscript of it in a cave in the vicinity of New Salem. It feigned +also to give an account of the migration of a colony to America in +ancient times. + +Mr. Spaulding continued to live in New Salem until 1812, when he +removed from that place to Pittsburg, Penn., where it is supposed that +he resided some two years. It is claimed that while living here Mr. +Spaulding placed his manuscript story in the hands of a Mr. Patterson, +a printer and publisher of Pittsburg, who retained it for some time; +read it and urged Mr. Spaulding to write a title page and preface for +it, saying that he would publish it, and that it might be "a source of +profit." This, for some unaccountable reason, Mr. Spaulding refused +to do. At length the manuscript was returned to its author, "and soon +after," said Mrs. Spaulding in a narrative attributed to her, "we moved +to Amity, Washington county, Penn., where Mr. Spaulding in 1816 died." + +It is claimed, by the advocates of this Spaulding theory of the origin +of the Book of Mormon, that Sidney Rigdon, through a Mr. Lambdin, an +employe of Patterson's publishing establishment, became acquainted +with this manuscript story; "borrowed" it and copied it, as some say; +"stole" it according to the theory of others. Afterwards by some +means unexplained, and as I think unexplainable, Sidney Rigdon, it +is claimed, became associated with Joseph Smith living in Manchester +Township, New York, or in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania--from 250 +to 300 miles distant from any point where Sidney Rigdon resided during +those years when the Book of Mormon was coming forth,--collaborated +with him, and published Spaulding's romance, with religious doctrinal +matter added by Rigdon, as the Book of Mormon. This is the theory +most generally accepted by those who recognize the importance of +overthrowing the account of the book's origin given by Joseph Smith. + +I wish now to call attention to the circumstance under which this +theory came to be substituted for the much more tenable, though +inadequate one, advanced some years earlier by Alexander Campbell. + +This settlement on Conneaut Creek, called New Salem, was on the route +usually traveled by the Saints and Elders in their journey from New +York to Kirtland, Ohio, and from Kirtland, Ohio, to the branches of the +Church, established in Canada, New York, and Pennsylvania, hence the +people of that neighborhood were frequently brought in contact with +Mormonism, and the story of its origin was often before them. + +In the fall of 1833, a number of affidavits were taken from the +former neighbors and friends of Solomon Spaulding, and one was given +by his brother, John Spaulding, and one by the latter's wife, Martha +Spaulding. They at the time were residing at Crawford, Pennsylvania, +and both testified they had "recently read the Book of Mormon," and +recognized in it the general outlines of Solomon Spaulding's story, +claiming especially to remember the names "Nephi and Lehi;" the words +"Nephites and Lamanites;" and also the ancient scriptural style and the +frequent use of the phrase "and it came to pass;" and that the American +Indians are descendants of the Jews, or "lost tribes of Israel." + +Mr. Henry Lake, an associate in business with Mr. Spaulding, living +at Conneaut in the fall of 1833, in connection with others that will +be named, living in the same neighborhood, testified that Solomon +Spaulding read to him the "Manuscript Found;" that it represented the +American Indians as the descendants of the "lost tribes" of Israel, and +that he suggested to Mr. Spaulding that the frequent use of the phrase +"and it came to pass" rendered the book ridiculous. + +John N. Miller testified substantially to the same things saying in +addition that Spaulding's story landed his colony near the "Straits of +Darien," which he was confident he called "Zarahemla." + +Aaron Wright testified to substantially the same things as the +foregoing. That the American Indians, according to Spaulding's story, +were descendants of the "lost tribes" of Israel, and claims especially +that the historical part of the Book of Mormon is substantially what he +heard read from the "Manuscript Found," though he excepts out of the +work, as not being Spaulding's, the religious matter. + +Oliver Smith testified substantially to the same things, saying in +effect that on reading the Book of Mormon he at once recognized it as +the writings of Solomon Spaulding. + +Nahum Howard, testified that he had recently read the Book of Mormon, +and believed that all but the religious part of it was the same as that +written by Spaulding. + +Artemas Cunningham, living in Perry, Geauga county, Ohio, testified +that in 1811 he waited upon Solomon Spaulding at his home in New Salem, +to collect debts, and that the latter read to him on that occasion some +parts of his manuscript story, partially examining the Book of Mormon +he became convinced that Spaulding had written its outlines before he +left Conneaut. [10] + +It is upon the testimony of these parties that the Spaulding theory +rests. Subsequently many others claimed to have information upon the +subject, and gave statements to newspapers almost _ad infinitum_, +constantly varying the claims and adding items that so burdened the +theory with inconsistencies and contradictions that it breaks down, as +we shall see, under the accumulation. But now as to the manner in which +this theory came to be exploited. + +As in former dispensations of the gospel, so in this last dispensation, +the gospel net gathers of all kinds. Some are fit for the Master's +use, and some fit only to be cast back into the world, as worthless +fish are cast back into the sea. Of such was one "Doctor" Philastus +Hurlburt. He made his first appearance in Kirtland in the early +spring of 1833, where, after investigating Mormonism, he accepted +it, and on the 18th of March of that year was ordained an Elder. +Soon afterwards he went on a brief mission to the east, where he was +guilty of unchristianlike conduct in his deportment with women. On +his return to Kirtland he was confronted with this charge, and at a +conference of High Priests was deprived of his license as an Elder, +and excommunicated from the Church. From this decision he appealed to +the Council of the First Presidency, and because of his confession and +apparent repentance he was restored. Shortly afterwards, however, he +boasted of having deceived both the Prophet and the council, and he was +again excommunicated from the Church, after which he avowed himself the +enemy of the Prophet Joseph and of Mormonism, and sought by all means +within his power to destroy both. His threats against the Prophet's +life became so violent that he was arraigned before the court in +Chardon, the county seat of Geauga county, and bound over in the sum of +two hundred dollar bonds, to keep the peace, and to pay the cost of the +proceedings. [11] + +The title of "Doctor" given to this man, and which when rightfully held +gives evidence of respectability as well as of professional standing, +did not grow out of the fact that he was a physician, nor was it a +little of honor at all with him, but was given to him because he was +the "seventh son" in his family, who, according to the old folklore, +should be made a physician, hence he was called "Doc" or "Doctor." +According to the statement of Joseph E. Johnson, who was acquainted +with him at Kirtland, Hurlburt was a man of fine physique, very good +looking but pompous and ambitious, which lead him to seek position in +the Church and solicit marriage with the "first families;" but his evil +character thwarted all such efforts. + +It is this man who is chiefly responsible for the Spaulding theory +of the origin of the Book of Mormon. Having heard of Spaulding's +"Manuscript Found" on Conneaut Creek, he immediately entered into +negotiations with the Prophet's enemies in and about Kirtland, and by +them was employed to gather up the statements to which reference has +been made, as also, if possible, to secure the Spaulding manuscript for +the purpose of comparing it with the Book of Mormon. He also went to +the former home of the Prophet, for the purpose of collecting all the +scandal and rumors that could be gathered up or manufactured against +the Smith family; as also all the stories and neighborhood gossip which +became current about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. Meantime, +however, the true character of Hurlburt became so generally known +and was so unsavory, that those who had employed him to gather this +material for the contemplated anti-Mormon book found it necessary to +drop Hurlburt, and leave the publication in the hands of others. + +Among those who had interested themselves in these plans for the +destruction of the Book of Mormon and the Church, was E. D. Howe, of +Painsville, Ohio. Painsville is but a few miles distant northwest of +Kirtland. One of Mr. Howe's reasons for anger against the Church was +the fact that both his wife and sister had become converts to the new +faith. He purchased the materials that had been gathered for Hurlburt's +Anti-Mormon book, and published them under the title of "Mormonism +Unveiled," (1834). It is the first Anti-Mormon book of any pretentions, +and has been the chief source of "information" for all the Anti-Mormon +publications which have followed it, that pretend to relate at all the +early events connected with the coming forth of the great latter-day +work. It took some six years to dispose of the first edition, as the +second edition was not issued until 1840. So little influence, however, +did "Mormonism Unveiled" have that many people in the very region of +its origin continued to accept the Book of Mormon, and became members +of the Church of the Latter-day Saints. + +After the publication of Howe's book in 1834, there were no further +developments in the Spaulding Theory until May, 1839, when attention +was again called to it through the publication of what purported to be +either an affidavit or signed statement [12] by Mrs. Matilda Davison. +This lady was formerly Solomon Spaulding's wife, and lived with him +until his death in 1816. Four years later she married Mr. Davison, +and at the time of the publication of the signed statement here +referred to, was living with her daughter, Mrs. M'Kenstry, at Monson, +Massachusetts. Her statement follows: + + ALLEGED STATEMENT OF MRS. DAVISON, FORMERLY THE WIFE OF SOLOMON + SPAULDING. + + As the Book of Mormon, or Golden Bible (as it was originally + called) has excited much attention, and is deemed by a certain new + sect of equal authority with the Sacred Scriptures, I think it a + duty which I owe to the public to state what I know touching its + origin. + + That its claims to a divine origin are wholly unfounded needs no + proof to a mind unperverted by the grossest illusions. That any + sane person should rank it higher than any other merely human + composition is a matter of the greatest astonishment; yet it is + received as divine by some who dwell in enlightened New England, + and even by those who have sustained the character of devoted + Christians. Learning recently that Mormonism had found its way + into a church in Massachusetts, and has impregnated some with its + gross delusions, so that excommunication has been necessary, I am + determined to delay no longer in doing what I can to strip the mask + from this mother of sin, and to lay open this pit of abominations. + + Solomon Spaulding, to whom I was united in marriage in early life, + was a graduate of Dartmouth College, and was distinguished for a + lively imagination, and a great fondness for history. At the time + of our marriage he resided in Cherry Valley, New York. From this + place we removed to New Salem, Ashtabula county, Ohio, sometimes + called Conneaut, as it is situated on Conneaut Creek. Shortly after + our removal to this place, his health sunk, and he was laid aside + from active labors. In the town of New Salem there are numerous + mounds and forts supposed by many to be the dilapidated dwellings + and fortifications of a race now extinct. These ancient relics + arrest the attention of the new settlers, and become objects of + research for the curious. Numerous implements were found, and + other articles evincing great skill in the arts. Mr. Spaulding + being an educated man, and passionately fond of history, took a + lively interest in these developments of antiquity; and in order + to beguile the hours of retirement and furnish employment for his + lively imagination, he conceived the idea of giving an historical + sketch of this long lost race. Their extreme antiquity led him to + write in the most ancient style, and as the Old Testament is the + most ancient book in the world, he imitated its style as nearly as + possible. His sole object in writing this imaginary history was + to amuse himself and his neighbors. This was about the year 1812. + Hull's surrender at Detroit occurred near the same time, and I + recollect the date well from that circumstance. As he progressed + in his narrative the neighbors would come in from time to time to + hear portions read, and a great interest in the work was excited + among them. It claimed to have been written by one of the lost + nation, and to have been recovered from the earth, and assumed the + title of "Manuscript Found." The neighbors would often inquire + how Mr. Spaulding progressed in deciphering the manuscript; and + when he had sufficient portion prepared, he would inform them, + and they would assemble to hear it read. He was enabled, from his + acquaintance with the classics and ancient history, to introduce + many singular names, which were particularly noticed by the people, + and could be easily recognized by them. Mr. Solomon Spaulding had + a brother, Mr. John Spaulding, residing in the place at the time, + who was perfectly familiar with the work, and repeatedly heard + the whole of it read. From New Salem we removed to Pittsburg, in + Pennsylvania. Here Mr. Spaulding found a friend and acquaintance, in + the person of Mr. Patterson, an editor of a newspaper. He exhibited + his manuscript to Mr. Patterson, who was very much pleased with it, + and borrowed it for perusal. He retained it for a long time, and + informed Mr. Spaulding that if he would make out a title page and + preface, he would publish it, and it might be a source of profit. + This Mr. Spaulding refused to do. Sidney Rigdon, who has figured so + largely in the history of the Mormons, was at that time connected + with the printing office of Mr. Patterson, as is well known in + that region, and as Rigdon himself has frequently stated, became + acquainted with Mr. Spaulding's manuscript, and copied it. It was a + matter of notoriety and interest to all connected with the printing + establishment. At length the manuscript was returned to its author, + and soon after we removed to Amity, Washington county, etc., where + Mr. Spaulding deceased in 1816. The manuscript then fell into my + hands, and was carefully preserved. It has frequently been examined + by my daughter, Mrs. M'Kenstry, of Monson, Mass., with whom I now + reside, and by other friends. + + After the Book of Mormon came out, a copy of it was taken to New + Salem, the place of Mr. Spaulding's former residence, and the very + place where the "Manuscript Found" was written. A woman preacher + appointed a meeting there; and in the meeting read and repeated + copious extracts from the Book of Mormon. The historical part + was immediately recognized by all the older inhabitants, as the + identical work of Mr. Spaulding, in which they had all been so + deeply interested years before. Mr. John Spaulding was present + and recognized perfectly the work of his brother. He was amazed + and afflicted that it should have been perverted to so wicked a + purpose. His grief found vent in a flood of tears, and he arose + on the spot, and expressed to the meeting his sorrow and regret + that the writings of his deceased brother should be used for a + purpose so vile and shocking. The excitement in New Salem became so + great that the inhabitants had a meeting and deputed Dr. Philastus + Hurlburt, one of their number, to repair to this place and to + obtain from me the original manuscript of Mr. Spaulding, for the + purpose of comparing it with the Mormon Bible, to satisfy their + own minds, and to prevent their friends from embracing an error so + delusive. This was in the year 1834. Dr. Hurlburt brought with him + an introduction and request for the manuscript, which was signed + by Messrs. Henry Lake, Aaron Wright, and others, with all of whom + I was acquainted, as they were my neighbors when I resided at + New Salem. I am sure that nothing would grieve my husband more, + were he living, than the use which has been made of his work. + The air of antiquity which was thrown about the composition, + doubtless suggested the idea of converting it to the purposes of + delusion. Thus an historical romance, with the addition of a few + pious expressions, and extracts from the sacred Scriptures, has + been construed into a new Bible, and palmed off upon a company of + poor deluded fanatics as divine. I have given the previous brief + narration that this work of deep deception and wickedness may be + searched to the foundation and the authors exposed to the contempt + and execration they so justly deserve. + + (Signed) MATILDA DAVISON. + +This statement was published at the instance of Dr. John Storrs, a +Congregational minister of Holliston, Massachusetts. The incentive for +his action was the fact that a number of his congregation had become +converts to the Mormon faith and he was angry. [13] Mrs. Davison, +however, denied ever having given such a signed statement, as appears +from the following communication published in the "Quincy Whig," at +Quincy, Illinois. It was published in the Illinois paper shortly after +the "Davison Statement" appeared in the "Boston Recorder," under the +following title: + + A CUNNING DEVICE DETECTED. + + It will be recollected that a few months since an article appeared + in several of the papers, purporting to give an account of the + origin of the Book of Mormon. How far the writer of that piece has + effected his purposes, or what his purposes were in pursuing the + course he has, I shall not attempt to say at this time, but shall + call upon every candid man to judge in this matter for himself, and + shall content myself by presenting before the public the other side + of the question in the form of a letter, as follows: + + Copy of a letter written by Mr. John Haven, of Holliston, Middlesex + Co., Massachusetts, to his daughter, Elizabeth Haven, of Quincy, + Adams Co., Illinois. + + Your brother Jesse passed through Monson where he saw Mrs. Davison + and her daughter Mrs. McKenstry and also Dr. Ely and spent several + hours with them, during which time he asked them the following + questions, viz.: + + "Question.--Did you, Mrs. Davison, write a letter to John Storrs, + giving an account of the origin of the Book of Mormon? + + Answer.--I did not. + + Q.--Did you sign your name to it? + + A.--I did not, neither did I ever see the letter until I saw it in + the "Boston Recorder," the letter was never brought to me to sign. + + Q.--What agency had you in having this letter sent to Mr. Storrs? + + A.--D. R. Austin came to my house and asked me some questions, took + some minutes on paper, and from these minutes wrote that letter. + + Q.--Is what is written in the letter true? + + A.--In the main it is. + + Q. Have you read the Book of Mormon? + + A.--I have read some in it. + + Q.--Does Mr. Spaulding's manuscript and the Book of Mormon agree? + + A.--I think some few of the names are alike. + + Q.--Does the manuscript describe an idolatrous or a religious + people? + + A.--An idolatrous people? + + Q.--Where is the manuscript? + + A.--D. P. Hurlburt came here and took it, said he would get it + printed and let me have one-half the profits. + + Q.--Has D. P. Hurlburt got the manuscript printed? + + A.--I received a letter stating that it did not read as he + expected, and he should not print it. + + Q.--How large is Mr. Spaulding's manuscript? + + A.--About one-third as large as the Book of Mormon. + + Q.--To Mrs. McKinstry: How old were you when your father wrote the + manuscript? + + A.--About five years of age. + + Q.--Did you ever read the manuscript? + + A.--When I was about twelve years old I used to read it for + diversion. + + Q.--Did the manuscript describe an idolatrous or a religious people? + + A.--An idolatrous people. + + Q.--Does the manuscript and the Book of Mormon agree? + + A.--I think some of the names agree. + + Q.--Are you certain that some of the names agree? + + A.--I am not. + + Q.--Have you read any in the Book of Mormon? + + A.--I have not. + + Q.--Was your name attached to that letter, which was sent to Mr. + John Storrs, by your order? + + A.--No, I never meant that my name should be there. + + You see by the above questions and answers, that Mr. Austin, in his + great zeal to destroy the Latter-day Saints, has asked Mrs. Davison + a few questions, then wrote a letter to Mr. Storrs, in his own + language. I do not say that the above questions and answers were + given in the form that I have written them, but these questions + were asked, and these answers given. Mrs. Davison is about seventy + years of age, and somewhat broke." + + This may certify that I am personally acquainted with Mr. Haven, + his son and daughter, and am satisfied they are persons of truth. + I have also read Mr. Haven's letter to his daughter, which has + induced me to copy it for publication, and I further say, the above + is a correct copy of Mr. Haven's letter. + + (Signed) A. BADLAM. [14] + +The foregoing statement from the "Quincy Whig" is considerably +strengthened by a work published by "Funk & Wagnalls" (1885), by Mrs. +Ellen E. Dickinson, a grand daughter of Willian H. Sabine, a brother +of Mrs. (Spaulding) Davison. Mrs. Dickenson, whose work is called +"New Light on Mormonism," devotes a number of her chapters to the +elaboration of the Spaulding theory, and in an appendix publishes +twenty-seven documents bearing upon the subject of the Spaulding +manuscript; but nowhere, either in the body of her work or in this +appendix, publishes the alleged statement of Mrs. Davison, which is +pretty clear evidence that the statement was never given by Mrs. +Davison nor authorized by her. Mrs. Dickinson from the amount of +research she devoted to the subject could not have been ignorant of +its existence, and more especially as she was a relative of Mrs. +Davison--grand-niece--and wrote her book as the representative of the +Spaulding relatives to set forth the Spaulding theory in its proper +light. [15] Of course had Mrs. Davison done her full duty in the +premises as an author, she would have made reference to this forged +statement credited to her grand-aunt and repudiated it in her name; +but this she failed to do. However, her silence with reference to this +statement and her failure to place it in her collection of documents on +the subject, amounts to the same thing--a repudiation of it. + +But even if Mrs. Davison's repudiation of the article, to which her +name was attached by others, did not exist, and if the repudiation of +it by her grand-niece by refusing it admission into her collection of +documents on the Spaulding theory did not exist, there is enough in the +statement itself to establish its utter unreliability. These are: + +First: The description of the manner in which John Spaulding, brother +of Solomon Spaulding, learned of the identity between the Book of +Mormon and his brother's "Manuscript Found." According to the "Davison +statement," he was at New Salem when a public speaker read excerpts +from the Book of Mormon, and immediately recognized the work of his +brother. Whereupon, his amazement and grief found vent in "a flood +of tears," and he rose "on the spot" and expressed his sorrow and +regrets that his brother's writings should be used for a purpose so +"vile and shocking." In the statement of John Spaulding, published in +Howe's "Mormonism Unveiled," there is nothing of all this dramatic +circumstance. In that statement [16] there is no agony of grief; no +flood of tears; no denunciation on the spot; no reference to a purpose +"vile and shocking;" just a plain statement that he had "recently +read the Book of Mormon;" and the claim that he found nearly the same +historical matter in it as in his brother's writings; some names that +were alike, and that the "Manuscript Found" held to the theory that the +American Indians were descendants of the "lost tribes;" and evidently +supposes that the Book of Mormon held the same theory. Had any such +circumstance as described in the "Davison Statement" occurred, it would +undoubtedly have appeared in John Spaulding's statement published by +Howe five years before this second version was put forth. Had such +incidents really taken place, they would have been too rich in dramatic +incident to have escaped the publishers of "Mormonism Unveiled." + +Second: The "Davison Statement" represents that it was through a "woman +preacher" that the Book of Mormon was represented at the public meeting +at New Salem, where John Spaulding denounced it on the spot. It is well +known that the Church of the Latter-day Saints at that time had no +"woman preacher," hence no such circumstance could have occurred. [17] + +Third: The "Davison Statement" represents Sidney Rigdon as being +connected with the printing office of Mr. Patterson, of Pittsburg, but +strangest of all it represents that gentleman as having frequently +admitted that connection, whereas, as we shall see later, Sidney Rigdon +every where and at all times expressly denied any such connection. + +These inconsistencies of the "Davison Statement" with the well known +facts in the case reveal its utterly fraudulent character; and here +we may pause just long enough to remark the desperate straits the +opponents of the Book of Mormon were driven to in those days, when they +must needs resort to such methods of opposition as are apparent in this +bogus statement. Does it not cast suspicion upon the whole Spaulding +theory? A suspicion which not all the supposed respectability that goes +with titles of "Doctor of Divinity," "Reverend," "Ministers of the +Gospel," etc., can remove? + +After this attempt to galvanize into life the Spaulding theory by the +Reverend John Storrs,--by methods, as we have seen, that were infamous!--it +slumbered until the year 1880, when Mrs. Ellen E. Dickinson, the +grand-niece of Mrs. Davison, again revived it by the publication of an +article in "_Scribner's Magazine_" for August of that year. The chief +item of interest in Mrs. Dickenson's publication was an affidavit by +Mrs. M. S. McKenstry, the daughter of Solomon Spaulding, who claimed to +have some childhood recollections of her father's manuscript story. Her +affidavit follows: + + MRS. MATILDA (SPAULDING) M'KENSTRY'S STATEMENT REGARDING "THE + MANUSCRIPT FOUND." + + Washington, D. C., April 3, 1880. + + So much has been published that is erroneous concerning "The + Manuscript Found," written by my father, the Rev. Solomon + Spaulding, and its supposed connection with the book called the + Mormon Bible, I have willingly consented to make the following + statement regarding it, repeating all that I remember personally + of this manuscript, and all that is of importance which my mother + related to me in connection with it, at the same time affirming + that I am in tolerable health and vigor, and that my memory, in + common with elderly people, is clearer in regard to the events of + my earlier years rather than those of my maturer life. + + During the war of 1812 I was residing with my parents in a little + town in Ohio called Conneaut. I was then in my sixth year. My + father was in business there, and I remember his iron foundry and + the men he had at work, but that he remained at home most of the + time, and was reading and writing a great deal. He frequently + wrote little stories, which he read to me. There were some round + mounds of earth near our house which greatly interested him, and + he said a tree on the top of one of them was a thousand years old. + He set some of his men to work digging into one of these mounds, + and I vividly remember how excited he became when he heard that + they had exhumed some human bones, portions of gigantic skeletons, + and various relics. He talked with my mother of these discoveries + in the mound, and was writing every day as the work progressed. + Afterwards he read the manuscript which I had seen him writing, + to the neighbors, and to the clergyman, a friend of his who came + to see him. Some of the names that he mentioned while reading to + these people I have never forgotten. They are as fresh to me today + as though I heard them yesterday. They were "Mormon," "Maroni," + "Lamenite," [18] "Nephi." + + We removed from Conneaut to Pittsburg while I was still very young, + but every circumstance of this removal is distinct in my memory. In + that city my father had an intimate friend named Patterson, and I + frequently visited Mr. Patterson's library with him, and heard my + father talk about books with him. In 1816 my father died at Amity, + Penn., and directly after his death my mother and myself went to + visit at the residence of my mother's brother, William H. Sabine, + at Onondaga Valley, Onondaga Co., N. Y. Mr. Sabine was a lawyer of + distinction and wealth, and greatly respected. We carried all our + personal effects with us, and one of these was an old trunk, in + which my mother had placed all my father's writings which had been + preserved. I perfectly remember the appearance of this trunk, and + of looking at its contents. There were sermons and other papers, + and I saw a manuscript about an inch thick, closely written, tied + with some of the stories my father had written for me, one of which + he called "The Frogs of Wyndham." On the outside of this manuscript + were written the words, "Manuscript Found." I did not read it, + but looked through it, and had it in my hands many times, and saw + the names I had heard at Conneaut, when my father read it to his + friends. I was about eleven years of age at this time. + + After we had been at my uncle's for some time my mother left me + there and went to her father's house at Pomfret, Conn., but did + not take her furniture nor the old trunk of manuscripts with + her. In 1820 she married Mr. Davison, of Hartwicks, a village + near Cooperstown, N. Y., and sent for the things she had left + at Onondaga Valley, and I remember that the old trunk with its + contents, reached her in safety. In 1828 I was married to Dr. A. + McKinstry, of Monson, Hampden Co., Mass., and went there to reside. + Very soon after my mother joined me there, and was with me most of + the time until her death, in 1844. We heard, not long after she + came to live with me--I do not remember just how long--something of + Mormonism, and the report that it had been taken from my father's + "Manuscript Found;" and then came to us direct an account of the + Mormon meeting at Conneaut, Ohio, and that, on one occasion, when + the Mormon Bible was read there in public, my father's brother, + John Spaulding, Mr. Lake and many other persons who were present, + at once recognized its similarity to "The Manuscript Found," which + they had heard read years before by my father in the same town. + There was a great deal of talk and a great deal published at this + time about Mormonism all over the country. I believe it was in 1834 + that a man named Hurlburt came to my house at Monson to see my + mother, who told us that he had been sent by a committee to procure + "The Manuscript Found," written by the Rev. Solomon Spaulding, so + as to compare it with the Mormon Bible. He presented a letter to + my mother from my uncle, William H. Sabine, of Onondaga Valley, + in which he requested her to loan this manuscript to Hurlburt, as + he (my uncle) was desirous "to uproot" (as he expressed it) "this + Mormon fraud." Hurlburt represented that he had been a convert + to Mormonism, but had given it up, and through "The Manuscript + Found" wished to expose its wickedness. My mother was careful to + have me with her in all the conversations she had with Hurlburt, + who spent a day at my house. She did not like his appearance, and + mistrusted his motives; but having great respect for her brother's + wishes and opinions, she reluctantly consented to his request. + The old trunk, containing the desired "Manuscript Found," she had + placed in the care of Mr. Jerome Clark, of Hartwicks, when she came + to Monson, intending to send for it. On the repeated promise of + Hurlburt to return the manuscript to us, she gave him a letter to + Mr. Clark to open the trunk and deliver it to him. We afterwards + heard that he did receive it from Mr. Clark at Hartwicks, but from + that time we have never had it in our possession, and I have no + present knowledge of its existence, Hurlburt never returning it or + answering letters requesting him to do so. Two years ago I heard + he was still living in Ohio, and with my consent he was asked for + "The Manuscript Found." He made no response, although we have + evidence that he received the letter containing the request. So far + I have stated facts within my own knowledge. My mother mentioned + many other circumstances to me in connection with this subject + which are interesting, of my father's literary tastes, his fine + education, and peculiar temperament. She stated to me that she had + heard the manuscript alluded to read by my father, was familiar + with its contents, and she deeply regretted that her husband, as + she believed, had innocently been the means of furnishing matter + for a religious delusion. She said that my father loaned this + "Manuscript Found" to Mr. Patterson, of Pittsburg, and that, when + he returned it to my father, he said: "Polish it up, finish it, and + you will make money out of it." My mother confirmed my remembrances + of my father's fondness for history, and told me of his frequent + conversations regarding a theory which he had of a prehistoric + race which had inhabited this continent, etc., all showing that + his mind dwelt on this subject. "The Manuscript Found," she said, + was a romance written in Biblical style, and that while she heard + it read she had no especial admiration for it more than for other + romances he wrote and read to her. We never, either of us, ever + saw, or in any way communicated with the Mormons, save Hurlburt, as + above described; and while we had no personal knowledge that the + Mormon Bible was taken from "The Manuscript Found," there were many + evidences to us that it was, and that Hurlburt and others at the + time thought so. A convincing proof to us of this belief was that + my uncle, William H. Sabine, had undoubtedly read the manuscript + which was in his house, and his faith that its production would + show to the world that the Mormon Bible had been taken from it, or + was the same with slight alterations. I have frequently answered + questions which have been asked me by different persons regarding + "The Manuscript Found," but until now have never made a statement + at length for publication. + + (Signed) M. S. McKENSTRY. + + Sworn and subscribed to before me this 3rd day of April, A. D. + 1880, at the city of Washington, D. C. CHARLES WALTER, Notary + Public. + +The items to be noted in this affidavit are: First: That Mrs. McKenstry +was in her sixth year (i. e., five years old) in 1812, the year that +the Spaulding family left Conneaut, Ohio, for Pennsylvania. Four years +later, in 1816, her father died, so that she was in her tenth year +when that event took place, hence all her recollections concerning the +matter were those of a child between the ages of five and nine years. +When it is remembered how the half recollections of childhood blend +in with, and are modified by--or half made up--of things that one +hears about such days, no very great importance can be attached to the +statements she makes from personal knowledge of what "Manuscript Found" +contained. + +Second: When about eleven years of age, when living at her uncle's in +Onondaga Valley, New York, (to which place she had removed with her +mother) she finds in an old trunk the writings of her father, and among +them a manucript about an inch thick, closely written, and entitled +"Manuscript Found." She did not read it, but had it in her hands many +times, and saw the names she claims to have heard at Conneaut. + +Third: The visit of Hurlburt many years later, 1834, to herself and +mother then residing at Monson, Massachusetts, who presented a letter +from her uncle, W. H. Sabine, in which he requested Mrs. Davison +(formerly wife of Spaulding, it will be remembered) to loan the +manuscript of Spaulding's to Hurlburt for the purpose of "uprooting +Mormonism." + +Fourth: That Mrs. Davison gave an order to Hurlburt on Mr. Jerome Clark +of Hartwicks, New York, with whom she had left the trunk containing the +manuscript. + +Fifth: That Hurlburt obtained "Manuscript Found" upon this order, and +that Mrs. Davison could never afterwards obtain any information from +him concerning it. + +The interest created by Mrs. Dickenson's article in Scribner's, lead to +her making a more ambitious effort, and in 1885 she published a book +of some 275 pages under the title, "New Light on Mormonism," (which by +the way, is a sad misnomer, since it is but a rehash of all the stale, +Anti-Mormon stories in existence) which failed of making any great stir +in the world, just as all Anti-Mormon books up to date, by the way, +have failed. + +The last phase in the development of the Spaulding theory is a +denouement; namely, the discovery and publication of Spaulding's +"Manucript Found," which determines forever the fact that it was not +the source whence the Book of Mormon was derived. + +In 1839 or 1840, a Mr. L. L. Rice purchased the "Painesville +Telegraph," a newspaper, of Mr. E. D. Howe, the publisher of "Mormonism +Unveiled." The transfer of the printing department, types, press, etc., +was accompanied with a large collection of books and manuscripts, and +undoubtedly the Spaulding manuscript, which Hurlburt had delivered to +Howe, was with the rest. Some years afterwards, Mr. Rice closed up his +business affairs in Painesville and finally made his home in Honolulu, +Sandwich Islands, taking with him his books, papers, etc. In 1884 Mr. +James H. Fairchild, President of Oberlin College, Ohio, visited Mr. +Rice, and suggested that the latter look through his numerous papers +for the purpose of finding among them anti-slavery documents (slavery +being a subject in which Mr. Rice had been much interested when living +in Ohio) that might be of value. Mr. Rice accepted the suggestions and, +in his search discovered a package marked in pencil on the outside +"Manuscript Story, Conneaut Creek;" and on the last page of the +manuscript the following inscription: + + The Writings of Solomon Spaulding Proved by Aaron Wright, Oliver + Smith, John Miller and Others, the Testimonies of the Above + Gentlemen are Now in My Possession. + + D. P. HURLBURT. + +This document proved to be the long lost romance of Solomon Spaulding. +President Fairchild gave the following account of the document and its +discovery in the January number, 1885, of the "Bibliotheca Sacra," +published at Oberlin, Ohio: + + The theory of the origin of the Book of Mormon in the traditional + manuscript of Solomon Spaulding will probably have to be + relinquished. That manuscript is doubtless now in the possession + of Mr. L. L. Rice, of Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, formerly an + anti-slavery editor in Ohio, and for many years state printer at + Columbus. During a recent visit to Honolulu, I suggested to Mr. + Rice that he might have valuable anti-slavery documents in his + possession which he would be willing to contribute to the rich + collection already in the Oberlin College library. In pursuance of + this suggestion Mr. Rice began looking over his old pamphlets and + papers, and at length came upon an old, worn, and faded manuscript + of about one hundred and seventy-five pages, small quarto, + purporting to be a history of the migrations and conflicts of the + ancient Indian tribes which occupied the territory now belonging + to the states of New York, Ohio, and Kentucky. On the last page of + this manuscript is a certificate and signature giving the names of + several persons known to the signer, who have assured him that, + to their personal knowledge, the manuscript was the writing of + Solomon Spaulding. Mr. Rice has no recollection how or when this + manuscript came into his possession. It was enveloped in a coarse + piece of wrapping paper and endorsed in Mr. Rice's handwriting, "A + Manuscript Story." + + There seems to be no reason to doubt that this is the long-lost + story. Mr. Rice himself and others compared it with the Book of + Mormon and could detect no resemblance between the two, in general + or in detail. There seems to be no name or incident common to the + two. The solemn style of the Book of Mormon, in imitation of the + English scriptures, does not appear in the manuscript. The only + resemblance is the fact that both profess to set forth the history + of lost tribes. Some other explanation of the origin of the Book of + Mormon must be found if any explanation is required. + + JAMES H. FAIRCHILD. + +The means now of ascertaining whether the Book of Mormon came from +Spaulding's manuscript was completed. A _verbatim et literatim_ +transcript was obtained from Mr. L. L. Rice by President Joseph F. +Smith, who in 1884 and 1885 was residing in the Sandwich Islands. +This, in 1886, was published by the "Deseret News" exactly according +to the transcript, with all its errors of grammar and orthography, as +also with all the alterations, erasures, etc., made by its author, +indicated. After a careful examination of it, I think everybody will +come to the same conclusion that President Fairchild did: namely, that +there is "no resemblance between the two, in general or in detail. +There seems to be no name or incident common to the two--a fact that +completely explodes the theory that Spaulding's manuscript was the +origin of the Book of Mormon. Mr. Rice is of the same opinion as +President Fairchild, though more emphatic in the expression of it. He +says: + + I should as soon think the Book of Revelation was written by the + author of "Don Quixote," as that the writer of this manuscript was + the author of the Book of Mormon. + +Then in a postscript to the letter from which the above is a quotation, +he says: + + Upon reflection, since writing the foregoing, I am of the opinion + that no one who reads this manuscript will give credit to the story + that Solomon Spaulding was in any wise the author of the Book of + Mormon. It is unlikely that any one who wrote so elaborate a work + as the Mormon Bible would spend his time in getting up so shallow + a story as this, which at best is but a feeble imitation of the + other. Finally I am more than half convinced that this is his only + writing of the sort, and that any pretense that Spaulding was in + any sense the author of the other is a sheer fabrication. It was + easy for anybody who may have seen this, or heard anything of its + contents, to get up the story that they were identical. + +Subsequently and in another letter he said: + + My opinion is, from all I have seen and learned, that this is the + only writing of Spaulding, and there is no foundation for the + statement of Deming and others that Spaulding made another story, + more elaborate, of which several copies were written, one of which + Rigdon stole from a printing office in Pittsburg, etc. [19] + +Mr. Rice finally deposited the original Spaulding manuscript with the +Oberlin College, where it now lies secure for the inspection of the +curious, and a standing refutation to the extravagant claims that have +been made respecting the part it played in the origin of the Book of +Mormon. + +Let us now review the course of those who originated this Spaulding +theory, and foister it upon the world. It was evidently conceived +by "Doctor" Philastus Hurlburt, the enemy of the Prophet Joseph and +of Mormonism. He had heard of Spaulding's writings in Pennsylvania, +also at Conneaut, Ohio, and in his hatred of Mormonism determined to +show some connection between the writings of Spaulding and the Book +of Mormon, in the hope of destroying faith in the divine origin of +the latter. He appealed to other enemies of the Prophet, and with +their financial assistance started out to collect affidavits and +statements that would prove his theory. Hurlburt, under Mrs. Davison's +order, as already seen, obtained Spaulding's story "The Manuscript +Found," undoubtedly the identical story which Spaulding had read to +his neighbors on Conneaut Creek. This is proved by the fact that the +document which Hurlburt turned over to Howe [20] corresponds with every +description that is given concerning the size and character of the +manuscript. + +Mrs. Davison, in her conversation with Jesse Haven, declares that +the manuscript would be "about one-third as large as the Book of +Mormon" [21] (that is, would produce about one-third of the printed +matter in that book.) + +Mrs. McKinstry, in describing "Manuscript Found" which she had in +her hands many times, says that the manuscript was "about one inch +thick, and closely written." This agrees closely with the statement +of Mrs. Davison on the subject. Mr. Howe, in his book, declares that +the "Manuscript Found" in Mrs. Spaulding Davison's trunk was "in +Spaulding's hand writing, containing about one quire of paper." [22] + +All witnesses who came in contact with this manuscript story declare +that the title of it was "The Manuscript Found;" or "Manuscript Found." +This is the statement of nearly all the witnesses on Conneaut Creek, +whose testimony appears in Howe's "Mormonism," and that it contained +the names of "Nephi," "Lehi," "Mormon," "Lamanites," etc., and was +based on the theory that the American Indians were the "Lost tribes +of Israel." But when Hurlburt returned to Conneaut with this precious +"Manuscript Found," according to Howe's own statement, it was not at +all what it had been represented to be. Howe says of the manuscript: + + This is a romance purporting to have been translated from the + Latin found on 24 rolls of parchment in a cave on the banks of + Conneaut Creek, but written in modern style, and giving a fabulous + account of a ship's being driven upon the American coast while + proceeding from Rome to Britain a short time previous to the + Christian era; this country then being inhabited by the Indians. + This old manuscript has been shown to several of the foregoing + witnesses, [23] who recognize it as Spaulding's. + +The foregoing accurately describes the "Manuscript Found," since +obtained of Mr. L. L. Rice and published; and by both its title and +its size is identified to be the manuscript read by Spaulding to his +neighbors. + +This manuscript must have been a very great disappointment to the +conspirators against the Book of Mormon. They had staked their all on +the fact of Spaulding's "Manuscript Found" being the foundation matter +of the Book of Mormon, but when found it proved to be so dissimilar +that they could not, with any face, undertake to maintain that this +manuscript was the source whence the Book of Mormon was derived. What +must be done to meet this dilemma? That those who had gone this far in +opposing the work of God would repent of their folly, and admit their +defeat would be too much to expect. No; instead of doing that they +resorted to the following subterfuge. I quote Howe: + + This manuscript has been shown to several of the foregoing + witnesses who recognize it as Spaulding's, he having told them that + he had altered his first plan of writing, by going farther back + with dates, and writing in the old scripture style, in order that + it might appear more ancient. They say that it bears no resemblance + to the "Manuscript Found." [24] + +Two things, in this statement, are extremely unfortunate for the +reputation of Mr. Howe, and those who have been beguiled into accepting +the theory of his book respecting the origin of the Book of Mormon: + +First: The fact that in none of the statements of the witnesses who +heard Mr. Spaulding read his manuscript is there any account of his +having made two drafts of his story, one which he found too modern +to suit the antiquities of America, and written in modern style; and +the other going farther back in time and written in the old scripture +style, in order to make it appear more ancient. All this seems to have +been an after thought, a subterfuge, when it was learned that "The +Manuscript Found" did not warrant the theory that it was the foundation +of the Book of Mormon. The things it is here claimed were said by these +Conneaut witnesses concerning a second Spaulding Manuscript on American +antiquities, are not said _by_ them, but _for_ them by Mr. Howe. + +Second: That Mr. Howe himself wickedly conceals the fact that this +old Roman story of Spaulding's was labeled "Manuscript Found;" and in +addition to concealing that fact declares that the witnesses say "that +it bears no resemblance to the "Manuscript Found," when, as a matter of +fact, this Roman story itself was the "Manuscript Found." Comment is +unnecessary; a bare statement of the facts expose the villainy of these +conspirators. [25] + +Relative to the manner in which it is supposed the Spaulding manuscript +came into the hands of Joseph Smith, the theories differ. Howe supposes +that Lambdin, alleged partner of Patterson in the printing business at +Pittsburg, placed in the hands of Sidney Rigdon the "Manuscript Found," +to be "embellished, altered, and added to as he might think expedient" +to transform it into what is now the Book of Mormon. [26] When Howe put +forth this theory, Lambdin had been dead some eight years. [27] + +Query: Did Howe select this dead man as the medium through which the +Spaulding manuscript reached the hands of Sidney Rigdon, and thence +to Joseph Smith, for the reason that the dead man could not arise to +contradict it? We shall see that Patterson contradicted it when that +gentleman was appealed to in order to confirm his connection with +Sidney Rigdon. + +The Rev. John Storrs, in the bogus signed statement he put forth as +coming from Mrs. Davison, represents her as saying that Rigdon became +acquainted with Spaulding's manuscript "and copied it," and that this +was a "matter of notoriety and interest to all connected with the +printing establishment." According to this "Davison Statement," the +manuscript was returned to Mr. Spaulding before he left Pittsburg +for Amity (where he died), and that the manuscript after this was +"carefully preserved" by Mrs. Spaulding, until delivered to Hurlburt, +in 1834. + +Rev. Clark Braden, a Campbellite minister, in a protracted debate on +the Book of Mormon in Kirtland, 1884, declares that Sidney Rigdon stole +the Spaulding manuscript and that Mrs. (Spaulding) Davison--he should +have said rather the Rev. John Storrs, the real author of the "Davison +Statement"--was mistaken in saying that Rigdon "copied it" and returned +the original to Mr. Spaulding. [28] + +Mrs. McKenstry's affidavit on the subject, published in Scribner's for +August, 1880, says he (Solomon Spaulding) loaned the manuscript to Mr. +Patterson; that he read it and returned it to its author, with the +suggestion that he "polish it up and finish it," and that he might make +money out of it; but when Mr. Patterson was appealed to for information +on the subject he said he had "no recollection of any such manuscript +being brought there (i. e., to his establishment in Pittsburg) for +publication." [29] + +Mrs. Ellen E. Dickinson, grand-niece of Solomon Spaulding and the +author of "New Light on Mormonism," holds that the Spaulding manuscript +remained safely in the hands of the family until turned over to +Hurlburt. At this point she thinks several things may have befallen +the manuscript. One, that Hurlburt "sold the manuscript to the Mormons +for a sum of money which he used in purchasing a farm near Gibonsburg, +Ohio, where he now [1880] resides; and that the Mormons burned the +manuscript at Conneaut." Another, that "Hurlburt sold it with a sworn +agreement that it should not be given to the world until after his +death." Then she concludes: + + There are circumstances which support both theories; but the + author's opinion, after a careful study of the matter, is, that + Hurlburt made a copy of the original manuscript, which he sold to + E. D. Howe, of Painsville, to use in writing the book "Mormonism + Unveiled," and sold the original to the Mormons, who destroyed it. + The life of Hurlburt since his return from his errand of duplicity + to Munson shows conclusively that he wishes to hide himself from + the world, and that he is burdened with a secret which he does not + intend shall come to light through any act or revelation of his + own. [30] * * * Beyond a shadow of doubt Hurlburt, after getting + the genuine Spaulding romance at Munson, destroyed it or saw it + destroyed by the Mormons at Conneaut, in 1834, after his being paid + for his share of this transaction. [31] + +This theory Mrs. Davison maintains throughout her book with something +more than a half hysterical style meant to be very sensational. + +Thus these originators and promulgators of the Spaulding theory, +having started with conjecture and falsehood, go on varying, changing, +and patching up their story until they are involved in innumerable +inconsistencies and contradictions, which constantly makes more +apparent the absurdity of this attempt to construct a counter theory +for the origin of the Book of Mormon to that given by Joseph Smith. +The theory, however, fails by dint of its own inconsistencies, and +by the discovery and publication of the manuscript with which the +theory started; and that in another way, and in addition to the fact +that there is no incident, or name, or set of ideas, common to the +two productions. The publication of the "Manuscript Found" not only +demonstrates that this particular manuscript was not the foundation +of the Book of Mormon, but it demonstrates, also, that no other +writings of Solomon Spaulding's could possibly be the Book of Mormon. +Spaulding's manuscript, as published, makes a pamphlet of some 112 +pages, of about 350 words to the page, enough matter to give a clear +idea of his literary style. I am sure that no person, having any +literary judgment will think it possible for the author of "Manuscript +Found" to be the author of the Book of Mormon. Composition in writers +becomes individualized as distinctly as the looks, or appearance, or +character, of separate individuals; and they can no more write in +several styles than individuals can impersonate different characters. +True, by special efforts this latter may be done to a limited extent +by a change of tone, costume and the like, but underneath these +impersonations is to be seen the real individual; and so with authors. +One may sometimes affect a light, and sometimes a serious vein, in +prose and poetry. He may imitate a solemn scriptural style or the +diction of some Greek or Roman author, but underneath it all will be +seen the individuality of the writer from which he cannot separate +himself any more than he can separate himself from his true form, +features, or character. Since we have in this "Manuscript Found" enough +of Mr. Spaulding's style to determine its nature, if this manuscript of +his was used either as the foundation or the complete work of the Book +of Mormon, we should be able to detect Spauldingisms in it; identity +of style would be apparent; but these things are entirely absent from +every page of the Book of Mormon. Mr. Rice does not overstate the +matter when he says: "I should as soon think the Book of Revelation +was written by the author of "Don Quixote," as that the writer of this +manuscript was the author of the Book of Mormon." And again, he is +right when he says: "It is unlikely that any one who wrote so elaborate +a work as the Mormon Bible would spend his time in getting up so +shallow a story as this"--the Spaulding Story. + +Another point at which the Spaulding theory goes to pieces is in the +utter inability of its advocates to bring together the parties to +the conspiracy in which the Book of Mormon is supposed to have had +its origin. They fail even to bring Joseph Smith in contact with the +Spaulding manuscript; they also fail to connect Sidney Rigdon with +the manuscript; they fail to bring together Joseph Smith and Sidney +Rigdon, previous to the publication of the Book of Mormon. In all these +things, vital to the maintenance of their theory, they fail. Joseph +Smith and Sidney Rigdon, until after the publication of the Book of +Mormon, are from 200 to 300 miles apart, with no means of communication +or of collaboration, which would be necessary if the Spaulding theory +were correct. Of the necessary extent and greatness of this conspiracy, +Elder George Reynolds justly remarks: + + Whole families must have been engaged in it. Men of all ages and + various conditions in life, and living in widely separate portions + of the country must have been connected with it. First, we must + include in the catalogue of conspirators the whole of the Smith + family, then the Whitmers, Martin Harris and Oliver Cowdery; + further, to carry out this absurd idea, Sidney Rigdon and Parley + P. Pratt must have been their active fellow-conspirators in + arranging, carrying out and consummating their iniquitous fraud. + To do this they must have traveled thousands of miles and spent + months, perhaps years, to accomplish--what? That is the unsolved + problem. Was it for the purpose of duping the world? They, at any + rate the great majority of them, were of all men most unlikely to + be engaged in such a folly. Their habits, surroundings, station + in life, youth and inexperience all forbid such a thought. What + could they gain, in any light that could be then presented to + their minds, by palming such a deception upon the world? This is + another unanswerable question. Then comes the staggering fact, + if the book be a falsity, that all these families, all these + diverse characters, in all the trouble, perplexity, persecution + and suffering through which they passed, never wavered in their + testimony, never changed their statements, never "went back" on + their original declarations, but continued unto death, and they + have all passed away (save a very few), proclaiming that the Book + of Mormon was a divine revelation, and that its record was true. + Was there ever such an exhibition in the history of the world of + such continued, such unabating, such undeviating falsehood if + falsehood it was? We cannot find a place in the annals of their + lives where they wavered, and what makes the matter more remarkable + is that it can be said of most of them, as is elsewhere said of + the three witnesses, they became offended with the Prophet Joseph, + and a number of them openly rebelled against him; but they never + retracted one word with regard to the genuineness of Mormon's + inspired record. Whether they were friends or foes to Joseph, + whether they regarded him as God's continued mouthpiece or as a + fallen Prophet, they still persisted in their statements with + regard to the book and the veracity of their earlier testimonies. + How can we possibly, with our knowledge of human nature, make + this undeviating, unchanging, unwavering course, continuing + over fifty years consistent with a deliberate, premeditated and + cunningly-devised and executed fraud! [32] + +III. + +_The Sidney Rigdon Theory_. + +It will be seen, by those who have followed us through the treatise on +the Spaulding Theory, that Sidney Rigdon is considered a factor in that +supposed scheme. It is generally thought that it was he who supplied +the religious matter of the book, and who determined the parts of the +Hebrew scripture that should be interwoven in its alleged historical +parts. Such prominence, in fact, is given to Sidney Rigdon in bringing +forth the Book of Mormon that I decided to consider his connection with +it under this separate heading. + +Mr. Sidney Rigdon always, and most emphatically, denied the story of +his connection with Patterson and his printing establishment. In the +January number (1836) of the "Latter-day Saints Messenger and Advocate" +he denounces Howe's book and those who advocated it. Referring to Mr. +Scott, Mr. Campbell and other professed ministers of the gospel, he +said: + + In order to avoid investigation this brotherhood will condescend + to mean, low subterfuges, to which a noble-minded man would never + condescend; no, he would suffer martyrdom first. Witness Mr. + Campbell's recommendation of Howe's book, while he knows, as well + as every person who reads it, that it is a batch of falsehoods. + +Later, in a letter to Messrs. Bartlett and Sullivan, written from +Commerce (afterwards Nauvoo), May 27, 1839, in a communication called +forth by the publication of the bogus statement purporting to come from +Mrs. Davison and published by the Rev. John Storrs, Elder Rigdon said: + + Commerce, May 27, 1839. Messrs. Bartlett and Sullivan:--In your + paper of the 18th instant, I see a letter signed my somebody + calling herself Matilda Davison, pretending to give the origin of + Mormonism, as she is pleased to call it, by relating a moonshine + story about a certain Solomon Spaulding, a creature with the + knowledge of whose earthly existence I am entirely indebted to this + production; for, surely, until Dr. Philastus Hurlburt informed + me that such a being lived, at some former period, I had not the + most distant knowledge of his existence; and all I know about his + character is the opinion I form from what is attributed to his wife + in obtruding my name upon the public in the manner in which she is + said to have done, by trying to make the public believe that I had + knowledge of the ignorant, and, according to her own testimony, the + lying scribblings of her deceased husband; for if her testimony is + to be credited, her pious husband, in his lifetime, wrote a bundle + of lies for the righteous purpose of getting money. How many lies + he had told for the same purpose, while he was preaching, she has + not so kindly informed us; but we are at liberty to draw our own + conclusions, for he that would write lies to get money, would also + preach lies for the same object. This being the only information + which I have, or ever had, of the said Rev. Solomon Spaulding, I, + of necessity, have but a very light opinion of him as a gentleman, + a scholar, or a man of piety, for had he been either, he certainly + would have taught his pious wife not to lie, nor unite herself with + adulterers, liars, and the basest of mankind. + + It is only necessary to say, in relation to the whole story about + Spaulding's writings being in the hands of Mr. Patterson, who was + in Pittsburg, and who is said to have kept a printing office, and + my saying that I was concerned in the said office, etc., is the + most base of lies, without even a shadow of truth. There was no man + by the name of Patterson, during my residence at Pittsburg, who had + a printing office; what might have been before I lived there I know + not. Mr. Robert Patterson, I was told, had owned a printing office + before I lived in that city, but had been unfortunate in business, + and failed before my residence there. This Mr. Patterson, who was a + Presbyterian preacher, I had a very slight acquaintance with during + my residence in Pittsburg. He was then acting under an agency, in + the book and stationery business, and was the owner of no property + of any kind, printing office or anything else, during the time I + resided in the city. [33] + +One can but regret the tone and coarseness of this letter of Sidney +Rigdon's, but it cannot be denied but that it is a very emphatic +contradiction of the charge that he was connected with the Spaulding +manuscript theory of the Book of Mormon's origin, and it is very +natural that a man of the nervous, irritable temperament of Sidney +Rigdon would be very much vexed at connecting him with such a theory. + +On the matter of Sidney Rigdon not being connected with the origin +of the Book of Mormon we have also the statement of Oliver Cowdery, +made on his return to the Church at Kanesville (now Council Bluffs), +in October, 1848, a statement that was made in the presence of 2,000 +Saints. In the course of his remarks, Oliver Cowdery then said: + + I wrote, with my own pen, the entire Book of Mormon (save a few + pages) as it fell from the lips of the Prophet Joseph Smith, as he + translated it by the gift and power of God, by means of the Urim + and Thummim, or, as it is called by that book, "Holy Interpreters." + I beheld with my eyes, and handled with my hands the gold plates + from which it was transcribed. I also saw with my eyes and handled + with my hands the "holy interpreters." That book is true. Sidney + Rigdon did not write it. Mr. Spaulding did not write it. I wrote it + myself as it fell from the lips of the Prophet. [34] + +Parley P. Pratt, who, with Oliver Cowdery, was the first to present the +Book of Mormon to Sidney Rigdon some six months after its publication, +is also on record as denying the story of Sidney Rigdon's connection +with the origin of the Book of Mormon. When the "Davison Statement" +was copied from the "Boston Recorder" into the "New York Era," Elder +Pratt promptly denied the falsehood. The "Era" published the "Davison +Statement" on the 20th, and in its issue of the 27th Elder Pratt +published a somewhat exhaustive treatise in which the following occurs: + + The piece in your paper states that "Sidney Rigdon was connected + in the printing office of Mr. Patterson" (in Pittsburg), and that + this is a fact well known in that region, and as Rigdon himself + has frequently stated. Here he had ample opportunity to become + acquainted with Mr. Spaulding's manuscript (romance) and to copy + it if he chose. This statement is utterly and entirely false. Mr. + Rigdon was never connected with the said printing establishment, + either directly or indirectly, and we defy the world to bring proof + of any such connection. * * The statement that Sidney Rigdon is one + of the founders of the said religious sect is also incorrect. + + The sect was founded in the state of New York, while Mr. Rigdon + resided in Ohio, several hundred miles distant. Mr. Rigdon embraced + the doctrine through my instrumentality. I first presented the Book + of Mormon to him. I stood upon the bank of the stream while he + was baptized, and assisted to officiate in his ordination, and I + myself was unacquainted with the system until some months after its + organization, which was on the 6th of April, 1830, and I embraced + it in September following. + +Again, in 1840, in a work entitled "Late Persecutions of the Church of +Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints," referring to the persecutions in +Missouri, in the course of which he also gave an account of the rise +and progress of the doctrine of the Church, Elder Pratt says, relative +to this Spaulding story: + + There is one story, however, which I will notice, because some + religious journals have given some credit to it. It is the story + of Solomon Spaulding writing a romance of the ancient inhabitants + of America which is said to be converted by Mr. Sidney Rigdon into + the Book of Mormon. This is another base fabrication got up by the + devil and his servants to deceive the world. Mr. Sidney Rigdon + never saw the Book of Mormon until it had been published more than + six months; it was then presented to him by the author of this + history. [35] + +From another source there is also an emphatic denial of Sidney Rigdon's +connection with the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. This is the +statement of Mr. Rigdon's son, John W. Rigdon. This gentleman wrote +a somewhat extended biography of his father, Sidney Rigdon, which he +placed in its manuscript form in the Church Historian's office, at +Salt Lake City, where it is now on file. Mr. John W. Rigdon's account +of his father's connection with the Book of Mormon agrees with the +statement of Elder Pratt; and then, near the close of his narrative, +he relates his own experience in connection with Mormonism, and his +attempt to learn the truth from his father respecting the latter's +early connection with the Book of Mormon. John W. Rigdon tells of his +own visit to Utah, in 1863, where he spent the winter among the Mormon +people. He was not favorably impressed with their religious life, and +came to the conclusion that the Book of Mormon itself was a fraud. He +determined in his own heart that if ever he returned home and found +his father, Sidney Rigdon, alive, he would try and find out what he +knew of the origin of the Book of Mormon. "Although," he adds, "he had +never told but one story about it, and that was that Parley P. Pratt +and Oliver Cowdery presented him with a bound volume of that book in +the year 1830, while he (Sidney Rigdon) was preaching Campbellism +at Mentor, Ohio." What John W. Rigdon claims to have seen in Utah, +however, together with the fact that Sidney Rigdon had been charged +with writing the Book of Mormon, made him suspicious; and he remarks: + + I concluded I would make an investigation for my own satisfaction + and find out, if I could, if he had all these years been deceiving + his family and the world, by telling that which was not true, + and I was in earnest about it. If Sidney Rigdon, my father, had + thrown his life away by telling a falsehood and bringing sorrow and + disgrace upon his family, I wanted to know it and was determined + to find out the facts, no matter what the consequences might be. I + reached home in the fall of 1865, found my father in good health + and (he) was very much pleased to see me. As he had not heard + anything from me for some time, he was afraid that I had been + killed by the Indians. Shortly after I had arrived home, I went to + my father's room; he was there and alone, and now was the time for + me to commence my inquiries in regard to the origin of the Book + of Mormon, and as to the truth of the Mormon religion. I told him + what I had seen at Salt Lake City, and I said to him that what I + had seen at Salt Lake had not impressed me very favorably toward + the Mormon Church, "and as to the origin of the Book of Mormon I + had some doubts." "You have been charged with writing that book + and giving it to Joseph Smith to introduce to the world. You have + always told me one story; that you never saw the book until it was + presented to you by Parley P. Pratt and Oliver Cowdery; and all you + ever knew of the origin of that book was what they told you and + what Joseph Smith and the witnesses who claimed to have seen the + plates had told you. Is this true? If so, all right; if it is not, + you owe it to me and to your family to tell it. You are an old man + and you will soon pass away, and I wish to know if Joseph Smith, in + your intimacy with him for fourteen years, has not said something + to you that led you to believe he obtained that book in some other + way than what he had told you. Give me all you know about it, that + I may know the truth." My father, after I had finished saying what + I have repeated above, looked at me a moment, raised his hand + above his head and slowly said, with tears glistening in his eyes: + "My son, I can swear before high heaven that what I have told you + about the origin of that book is true. Your mother and sister, + Mrs. Athalia Robinson, were present when that book was handed to + me in Mentor, Ohio, and all I ever knew about the origin of that + book was what Parley P. Pratt, Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Smith and + the witnesses who claimed they saw the plates have told me, and in + all of my intimacy with Joseph Smith he never told me but the one + story, and that was that he found it engraved upon gold plates in + a hill near Palmyra, New York, and that an angel had appeared to + him and directed him where to find it; and I have never, to you or + to any one else, told but the one story, and that I now repeat to + you." I believed him, and now believe he told me the truth. He also + said to me after that that Mormonism was true; that Joseph Smith + was a Prophet, and this world would find it out some day. [36] + +In addition to these solemn denials of Sidney Rigdon's connection with +this Spaulding theory, we have another means of testing whether or +not Sidney Rigdon was the author of the Book of Mormon. That test is +the one already referred to when considering the difference of style +between Spaulding's manuscript story, and the Book of Mormon. We have +enough of Sidney Rigdon's writings before us to determine his literary +style; namely, in the Historian's office we have in manuscript his +description of the land of Zion, Jackson County, which he was commanded +of the Lord to write. We have a number of his communications published +in the "Evening and Morning Star," and also the "Messenger and +Advocate." In these two publications also there are thirteen articles +on the subject of the "Millennium" from his pen, and after careful +comparison of his style with that of the Book of Mormon, I do not +hesitate to say that Sidney Rigdon, not only never did, but never could +have written the Book of Mormon. There are no phrases or conceptions +in the Book of Mormon that are Sidney Rigdon's. There is nothing in +common between his style and that of the Book of Mormon. There can be +no doubt about it; Sidney Rigdon as the author of the Book of Mormon is +impossible. + +IV. + +_The "Joachim" fragment of the Spaulding-Rigdon Theory_. + +It was reserved for William Linn, author of the "Story of the +Mormons," [37] a pretentious work of nearly 650 pages, to go "a far +way" for an additional item which, in the full pride of an author who +has made a new discovery, he adds to the Spaulding-Rigdon theory of +the Book of Mormon's origin. This new item I have called the "Joachim +Fragment of the Spaulding-Rigdon Theory." Mr. Linn, with evident pride, +makes this mention of it in the preface of his book: "The probable +service of Joachim's 'Everlasting Gospel,' as suggesting the story of +the revelation of the plates, has been hitherto overlooked." [38] In the +body of his work he thus sets forth his idea of the part played by the +"Everlasting Gospel," sometimes called by other writers, "The Eternal +Gospel," and in the thirteenth century, when it was supposed to be in +circulation among the Franciscan order of monks, it is spoken of as +"The Book of Joachim." + + That the idea of the revelation (i. e., of the existence of the + Book of Mormon) as described by Smith in his autobiography was + not original is shown by the fact that a similar divine message, + engraved on plates, was announced to have been received from an + angel nearly six hundred years before the alleged visit of an angel + to Smith. These original plates were described as a copper, and + the recipient was a monk named Cyril, from whom their contents + passed into the possession of the Abbot Joachim, whose "Everlasting + Gospel," founded thereon, was offered to the church as supplanting + the New Testament, just as the New Testament had supplanted the + Old, and caused so serious a schism that Pope Alexander IV took the + severest measures against it. [39] + +This description of the origin of Joachim's "Everlasting Gospel" +rests upon the respectable authority of Draper, in his "Intellectual +Development of Europe." [40] + +Linn's argument is to the effect that this origin of the "Everlasting +Gospel" suggested the origin of the Book of Mormon because of the +resemblance between the celestial announcement of both, and also +because that both, according to his idea of them, were declared to +have the same purport--each was to be "a forerunner of the end of the +world." He also urges the frequent use of the phrase, "Everlasting +Gospel," in the discourses of the early Elders of the Church as +evidence that there was some connection between these two things, +the Book of Mormon and "The Book of Joachim." He further holds that +Sidney Rigdon, in the course of his ecclesiastical reading would come +in contact with the story of Joachim's "Everlasting Gospel;" that it +would be just such a story as would be attractive to one of Sidney +Rigdon's temperament. Linn throughout his work assumes a connection +and collaboration between Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, and claims +that the latter suggested the story of the "Book of Joachim," as the +ground-work of Joseph Smith's account of the origin of the Book of +Mormon. Our author thinks that Rigdon may even have found sufficient +matter in relation to Joachim's "Everlasting Gospel," in Mosheim's +"Ecclesiastical History," to suggest the account he induced Joseph +Smith to give of the origin of the Book of Mormon, and makes the +following quotation from Mosheim in proof of his contention: + + About the commencement of this [the thirteenth] century there were + handed about in Italy several pretended prophecies of the famous + Joachim, Abbot of Sora, in Calabria, whom the multitude revered + as a person divinely inspired, and equal to the most illustrious + prophets of ancient times. The greatest part of these predictions + were contained in a certain book entitled, "The Everlasting + Gospel," and which was also commonly called the Book of Joachim. + This Joachim, whether a real or fictitious person we shall not + pretend to determine, among many other future events, foretold the + destruction of the Church of Rome, whose corruptions he censured + with the greatest severity, and the promulgation of a new and more + perfect gospel in the age of the Holy Ghost, by the set of poor and + austere ministers, whom God was to raise up and employ for that + purpose + +It is to be observed of this passage, as indeed of all that is said by +Mosheim upon the subject, that there is no account here of an angel +revealing the existence of the Book of Joachim to Cyril, or to any one +else, which is the chief item of resemblance between Joseph Smith's +story of the origin of the Book of Mormon and the alleged origin of +"The Everlasting Gospel," as related by Draper and Linn. Indeed, in the +closing lines of the very paragraph from Mosheim which Linn quotes as +being the possible source of Sidney Rigdon's knowledge of the "Book of +Joachim," it is stated that the Franciscans who accepted Joachim's book +maintained that Saint Francis, the founder of their Order, had "spoken +to mankind the true gospel, and that he was the angel whom Saint John +saw flying in the midst of heaven;" which is quite a different account +of this matter than that given by Draper. Whether or not Sidney Rigdon +had access to the same source of information as Draper had, is, of +course, not known; but certainly Draper did not obtain the account of +the angel appearing to Cyril from Mosheim. As a matter of fact, there +is much confusion and uncertainty among authorities respecting the +origin of this "Everlasting Gospel," and some question whether such a +book was ever put forth by Joachim. The work used at the time it was +current in the thirteenth century was very often confounded with an +introduction to the so-called "Everlasting Gospel," written, as Draper +says, by John of Parma; and as others say by Gerhard, a Franciscan +friar. The celebrated Dr. Augustus Neander, in his "General History of +the Christian Religion and Church," holds to this same theory. He says: + + A great sensation was now created by a commentary on the "eternal + gospel," which after the middle of the thirteenth century the + Franciscan Gerhard, who, by his zeal for Joachim's doctrines, + involved himself in many persecutions and incurred an eighteen + years' imprisonment, published under the title of "Introduction + to the Eternal Gospel." Many vague notions were entertained about + the "eternal gospel" of the Franciscans, arising from superficial + views, or a superficial understanding of Joachim's writings, and + the offspring of mere rumor of the heresy-hunting spirit. Men spoke + of the "eternal gospel" as of a book composed under this title, + and circulated among the Franciscans. Occasionally, also, this + "eternal gospel" was confounded perhaps with the above-mentioned + "Introduction." In reality, there was no book existing under this + title of the "Eternal Gospel;" but all that is said about it + relates simply to the writings of Joachim. * * * The whole matter + of this work also seems to have consisted in an explanation of the + fundamental ideas of the Abbot Joachim, and in the application of + them to the genuine Franciscan order. [41] + +This exhibits much confusion and uncertainty concerning the story of +Joachim and his book. Of course, it may be argued that this story of +the Book of Joachim, as told by Draper and repeated by Linn, would +furnish equally well the suggestion of the origin of the Book of +Mormon, whether it was the statement of an historical fact or only the +wild invention of a fanatical Franciscan, but it would be incumbent +upon those who make such an argument to prove that Sidney Rigdon had +knowledge of such a story. + +Another suggestion may be argued that would tend to break down the +probability of the origin of the "Everlasting Gospel" suggesting the +origin of the Book of Mormon; and that is: Had Sidney Rigdon or any +one else taken the story of the revelation of the Book of Joachim to +Cyril and from it invented the account of the coming forth of the Book +of Mormon, he would very likely have taken other ideas attributed to +this very worthy but over-zealous and weak-minded man of the thirteenth +century. As, for example, Linn himself declares that the "Everlasting +Gospel was offered to the Church as supplanting the New Testament, +just as the New Testament had supplanted the Old," etc., a theory that +would very likely have caught the fancy of such a man as Linn conceives +Rigdon to have been. Yet Mormonism is as far removed from any such +conception as this, as the east is from the west; for Mormonism gives +full force to the present authority of both the Old and New Testaments +as containing the word of God, and the Book of Mormon nowhere supplants +these existing scriptures. Neander presents a more elaborate view of +some of the theories of this same Joachim, and represents him as +teaching the following: + + The times of the Old Testament belong especially to God the + Father; in it, God revealed himself as the Almighty, by signs + and wonders; next, followed the times of the New Testament, in + which God, as the Word, revealed himself in his wisdom, where + the striving after a comprehensible knowledge of mysteries + predominates; the last times belong to the Holy Spirit, when the + first of love in contemplation will predominate. As the letter + of the Old Testament answers to God the Father, the letter of + the New Testament more especially to the Son, so the spiritual + understanding, which proceeds from both, answers to the Holy + Spirit. As all things were created by the Father through the Son; + so in the Holy Spirit, as love, all were to find their completion. + To the working of the Father--power, fear, faith, more especially + correspond; to the working of the Son--humility, truth, and wisdom; + to the working of the Holy Spirit--love, joy, and freedom. [42] + +In like manner he takes up the Apostles Peter, James, and John as in +a way representing in the earth, respectively, the three periods in +the process of the development of the Church. I insist that if Sidney +Rigdon had become acquainted with that story of the "Everlasting +Gospel," as it is told by Draper, he would unquestionably also have +come to the knowledge of these theories of Joachim's; and if Sidney +Rigdon was the kind of character that Linn represents him to be, he +would unquestionably have taken up some of these vagaries and exploited +them, either in the Book of Mormon or in the subsequent development +of the Church and its system of doctrine. It is scarcely necessary to +say that none of these ideas of the thirteenth century man is to be +found in Mormonism, nor are any other of Joachim's ideas found in the +Latter-day dispensation of the Gospel. The mere matter of using the +phrase, "Everlasting Gospel," by the early Elders of the Church--and +for matter of that by the present ministry of the Church--in their +discourses and books, scarcely rises to dignity of a coincidence, +since we have the phrase suggested in the remarkable prophecy on the +restoration of the Gospel in the Revelations of St. John, [43] without +referring to any circumstance of the thirteenth century and the obscure +literature concerning the Book of Joachim. + +This whole theory of the suggested origin of the Book of Mormon +from the story of the Book of Joachim, however ingenious it may be +regarded, breaks down as the Spaulding-Rigdon theory does, under the +absolute inability of all these speculators to show any connection, +or collaboration, between Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon previous to +the publication of the Book of Mormon. Their inventions fail; their +speculations amount to nothing. It is impossible to show any contact +between Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon before the Book of Mormon was +published, therefore, whatever opportunity Sidney Rigdon may have had +to become acquainted with the story of Joachim's "Everlasting Gospel," +that knowledge could play no part whatever in the coming forth of the +Book of Mormon. + +V. + +_Woodbridge Riley's Theory of the Origin of the Book of Mormon_. + +This theory may be said, in a way, to be a reversion to that of +Alexander Campbell's; that is, a return to the theory that Joseph +Smith was the "author" of the Book of Mormon. Mr. Riley's book, of 446 +pages, is a well written thesis on the "Founder of Mormonism." It was +published by Dodd, Mead & Company, 1902. It is a psychological study of +Joseph Smith the Prophet. The purpose of the work is set forth in the +author's preface, as follows: + + The aim of this work is to examine Joseph Smith's character and + achievements from the standpoint of recent psychology. Sectarians + and phrenologists, spiritualists and mesmerists have variously + interpreted his more or less abnormal performances--it now remains + for the psychologist to have a try at them. + +The work also has an introductory preface by Professor George Trumbull +Ladd, of Yale University, in which Mr. Riley's essay is very highly +praised. Indeed the work was offered to the Philosophical Faculty of +Yale University as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, and +before this the matter of the essay had been utilized in 1898 for a +Master of Arts thesis, under the title of "Metaphysics of Mormonism," +so that from these circumstances we may venture the remark that Mr. +Riley's book is of highly scientific character, at least in its +literary structure, and has already attracted some considerable notice +in the world. + +To the Latter-day Saints it will be interesting, and of value at least +in this, that they may accept it as one of many manifestations that +the other theories accounting for the origin of the Book of Mormon are +regarded as inadequate, if not exploded, since the learned find it +necessary to set forth now a new theory, both for the origin of the +Book of Mormon, and the life work of the Prophet Joseph. + +Mr. Riley's conclusions, after patient consideration of what he regards +as the elements entering into the composition of the Book of Mormon, +are thus stated: + + In spite of a continuous stream of conjectural literature, it is + as yet impossible to pick out any special document as an original + source of the Book of Mormon. In particular the commonly-accepted + Spaulding theory is insoluble from external evidence and disproved + by internal evidence. Joseph Smith's "Record of the Indians" is a + product indigenous to the New York "Wilderness," and the authentic + work of its "author and proprietor." Outwardly, it reflects the + local color of Palmyra and Manchester, inwardly, its complexity + of thought is a replica of Smith's muddled brain. This monument + of misplaced energy was possible to the impressionable youth + constituted and circumstanced as he was. [44] + +As for the process by which the book was produced, our author conceives +it thus: + + It was in western New York that the son of an obscure farmer gazed + in his magic crystal, automatically wrote "a transcription of gold + plates," dictated the Book of Mormon, and after strange signs and + wonders, started his communistic sect. [45] + +Our author makes an extended pathological study of the prophet's +ancestry, and arrives at the conclusion that their mental peculiarities +and defects, culminate in epilepsy in Joseph Smith the Prophet. So +that we may say, roughly speaking, that Mr. Riley's explanation of +the origin of the Book of Mormon, and Mormonism, is that it has its +source in an epileptic, whose-hallucinations are honestly mistaken +for inspired visions, and who possesses partly conscious and partly +unconscious hypnotic power over others. And this theory is presented +seriously to one of the first institutions of learning in America as a +rational explanation of "Mormonism!" + +Unfortunately for Mr. Riley's theory, however, another writer, an +authority in his chosen field of investigation, a writer of text books +for higher institutions of learning on this very subject, has spoken +with marked emphasis not only with reference to epilepsy in general and +the milder forms of its manifestation under the head of Paranoia, but +has spoken of it with special reference to Joseph Smith, and distinctly +separates him from such class of persons. Following are passages from +Mr. Dana's works upon the subject: + + A certain rather small per centage of epileptics become either + demented or insane. True epilepsy is not compatible with + extraordinary intellectual endowments. Caesar, Napoleon, Peter the + Great and other geniuses may have had some symptomatic fits, but + not idispathic [primary] epilepsy. [46] + +Again: + + Paranoia is a chronic psychosis characterized by the development + gradually and soon after maturity of systematized delusion, + without other serious disturbances of the mind and without much + tendency to dementia. * * * With some the systematized idea takes a + religious turn, and the patient thinks he has some divine mission, + or has received some inspiration from God; or the idea may take + a devotional turn and the patient become an acetic. It is not, + however, to be assumed that all promoters of new religious and + novel social ideas are paranoics. Many of these are simply the + natural developments of ignorance and a somewhat emotional and + unbalanced temperament. The characteristics of the paranoic is + that his work is ineffective, his influence brief and trivial, his + ideas really too absurd and impractical for even ignorant men to + receive. _I do not class successful prophets and organizers like + Joseph Smith, or great apostles of social reforms like Rousseau as + paranoics_. Insane minds are not creative, but are weak and lack + persistence in purpose or power of execution. [47] + +It is not possible in this writing to enter into an extended +consideration of this theory. Neither indeed is it necessary. One +consideration alone is sufficient to overthrow these fanciful +speculations of Mr. Riley. "Hitherto," says Renan in his Life of +Christ, "it has never been given to aberration of mind to produce a +serious effect upon the progress of humanity." [48] As stated by Dana, +the work of the paranoic is ineffective, his influence brief and +trivial, his ideas impractical and absurd. I believe that doctrine. +The dreams and hallucinations of the epileptic end in mere dreams and +hallucinations; they never crystallize into great systems of philosophy +or into rational religious institutions. They never result in great +organizations capable of perpetuating that philosophy and that religion +in the world. No matter how nearly genius may be allied to madness, it +must remain genius and not degenerate to madness if it exercises any +permanent influence over the minds of men, such as Mormonism has done +over a large body of people, and resulted in permanent institutions. +There is much glamor of sophistry, which may be taken by some for +profound reason and argument, in Mr. Riley's book, but one word answers +this so called philosophical accounting for our Prophet: The work +accomplished by him, the institutions he founded, destroy the whole +fabric of premises and argument on which this theory is based. Great +as was the Prophet Joseph Smith--and he was great; to him more than to +any other man of modern times was it given to look deep into the things +that are; to comprehend the heavens, and the laws that obtain there; to +understand the earth, its history, and its mission. He looked into the +deep things of God, and out of the rich treasure of divine knowledge +there, he brought forth things both new and old for the instruction +of our race, the like of which, in some respects, had not been known +in previous dispensations. But great as Joseph Smith was, rising up +and towering far above him is the work that he accomplished through +divine guidance; that work is infinitely greater than the Prophet, +greater than all the prophets connected with it. Its consistency, its +permanency, its institutions, contradict the hallucination theory +advanced to account for its origin. [49] + +This theory of Mr. Riley's may be said to now occupy the attention of +men, but as the theories of Campbell, the Spaulding theory, and the +Rigdon theory of origin have one by one been discarded as untenable, +and inadequate for the purposes for which they were invoked, so, +too, will this epilepsy and hallucination theory of Mr. Riley's be +discarded, since it will fail to give an adequate accounting for +the Book of Mormon, which, so long as the truth respecting it is +unbelieved, will remain to the world an enigma, a veritable literary +Sphinx, challenging the inquiry and speculations of the learned. But to +those who in simple faith will accept it for what it is, a revelation +from God, it will minister spiritual consolation, and by its plainness +and truth draw men into closer communion with God. + +Footnotes + +1. "Limits of Religious Thought," Mansel, Preface. + +2. Doctrine and Covenants, Sec. 35. + +3. Mr. Campbell's criticism of the Book of Mormon was published in the +"Millennial Harbinger," Vol. II, pp. 86-96, February, 1831. + +4. The same phrase appears in the testimony of the Eight Witnesses, as +published in the first edition of the Book of Mormon, and the preface +published in the first edition, but omitted in all other editions, is +signed "The Author." + +5. See announcement of copyright privileges in first edition of the +Book of Mormon 1830. It is also copied into the History of the Church, +Vol. I, pp. 58, 59. + +6. Yet, in a work as late as 1902, on the subject of Mormonism, +published by Dodd, Mead & Co., great importance is attached to this +"author and proprietor" phrase, and indeed much of the force of the +author's argument is based upon it. See "Founder of Mormonism" I, +Woodbridge Riley, chapter iv. + +7. See Vol. II., chapter ix. + +8. See Vol. II., chapter vii. + +9. See "Latter-day Saints Messenger and Advocate," Vol. II, p. 242, +where Mr. Campbell is represented as recommending Howe's "Mormonism +Unveiled," which first set forth and was mainly devoted to the +Spaulding theory of the origin of the Book of Mormon. + +10. Mormonism Unveiled, (Howe), pp. 278-287. + +11. See Church History, Vol. I., chapter xxv; Vol. II., chapter iv. + +12. By some, it is claimed that Mrs. Davison's statement was put forth in +the "Boston Recorder" as an affidavit, but I have never seen it in the +form of an affidavit. All versions of it that have fallen into my hands +are merely in the form of a signed statement. + +13. See Thompson's "Evidences," pp. 176-7. + +14. Times and Seasons, Vol. I., p. 47. + +15. See Preface to "New Light on Mormonism." + +16. See "Mormonism Unveiled," pp. 278-280. + +17. When this fact was brought to light in the early controversy over +the subject, it was claimed by Messrs. Austin--Storrs--Clark, who +were responsible for this forgery, that "Woman" in the text was a +typographical error and should be "Mormon." See Clark's Gleanings "By +the Way." + +18. The orthography is the affidavit's. + +19. See letters of Mr. Rice to Mr. Joseph Smith, President of the +"Reorganized Church," "History of the Church of Jesus Christ," +[Reorganized] Vol. IV., pp. 471-473. + +20. This is confirmed by a letter written by Hurlburt himself, in 1881, +at the request of Mrs. Ellen E. Dickenson, as follows: + +Gibsonburg, Ohio, January 10, 1881. + +To all whom it may concern: + +In the year eighteen hundred and thirty-four (1834) I went from Geauga +Co., Ohio, to Munson, Hampden Co., Mass., where I found Mrs. Davison, +late widow of the Rev. Solomon Spaulding, late of Conneaut, Ashtabula +Co., Ohio. Of her I obtained a manuscript, supposing it to be the +manuscript of the romance written by the said Solomon Spaulding, called +"The Manuscript Found," which was reported to be the foundation of the +"Book of Mormon." I did not examine the manuscript until I got home, +when, upon examination, I found it to contain nothing of the kind, but +being a manuscript upon an entirely different subject. This manuscript +I left with E. D. Howe, of Painsville, Geauga Co., Ohio, now Lake Co., +Ohio., with the understanding that when he had examined it he should +return it to the widow. Said Howe says the manuscript was destroyed by +fire, and further the deponent saith not. + +(Signed) D. P. HURLBURT. + +21. "New Light on Mormonism," p. 245. + +22. Howe's "Mormonism," p. 288. + +23. He refers to the witnesses living at Conneaut Creek, the substance +of whose testimony is previously quoted in his book, pp. 357-8. + +24. Howe's "Mormonism," p. 288, (first edition, 1834). + +25. Howe's "Mormonism," pp. 289, 290. "This manuscript received by +Hurlburt and by him given to Howe is the only Spaulding manuscript +written by Spaulding, making any reference to the antiquities of +America. It is the simon-pure and only "Manuscript Found." Against +this it is urged by our opponents that "no such title is discoverable +anywhere upon or in the body of the manuscript in the Oberlin library. +(American Historical Magazine, Sept. 1906, p. 386). And yet with +strange inconsistency the writer himself a few pages further on +admits--"It is even possible that this first manuscript [meaning the +one now at Oberlin], may at sometime have been labeled "Manuscript +Found." But what is better than any "label" on the manuscript inside +or outside; better than any admission of our opponent, is the fact +that this manuscript is the one Mr. Spaulding feigned to have found, +and that he pretended to translate into English. It is the "found" +manuscript, and the only one that Spaulding pretended or feigned to +have found. It is the one that Mrs. McKenstry says she had in her +hands "many times" at Sabine's after 1816; and that "on the outside of +this manuscript were written the words, "Manuscript Found." (American +Historical Magazine, March, 1909, pp. 190, 191.) + +26. Howe's "Mormonism," pp. 289-290. + +27. Ibid p. 289. Lambdin died 1826. + +28. "Braden and Kelly Debate," p. 44. + +29. Howe's "Mormonism," p. 289. + +30. "New Light on Mormonism," p. 62. + +31. Ibid p. 71. + +32. Myth of the "Manuscript Found" (1883), pp. 35, 36. See also an +exhaustive treatise on the "Origin of the Book of Mormon", in the +"American Historical Magazine," published in New York by the American +Historical Society, during the years 1906-7; 1908-9. The articles in +support of the Spaulding theory are by Mr. Theodore Schroeder; and +the answer to these papers are by the author of this work, who hopes +to publish the discussion in his second volume on the "Defense of the +Faith and the Saints," now in course of preparation. + +33. "Boston Journal." See also Smucker's "History of the Mormons," +where the letter is given in full, pp. 45-8. + +34. New Witnesses, Vol. II., pp. 250, 251. + +35. "Late Persecutions," etc., Introduction, p. xi, xii. + +36. "Church History," Vol. I., p. 122, 123. + +37. Published by McMillan Co., 1902. + +38. "The Story of the Mormons," Preface, p. vi. + +39. "Story of the Mormons," Chapter ix, p. 74. + +40. Vol. II, chapter iii. + +41. Neander's "General History of the Christian Religion and Church," +Vol. IV, pp. 618-20. + +42. Neander's "General History of the Christian Religion and Church," +Vol. IV, p. 227. + +43. Revelations xiv: 6,7. + +44. "The Founder of Mormonism," p. 172. + +45. Ibid, p. 11. + +46. "Nervous Diseases, Text Book on" (third edition), p. 408. + +47. "Text Book of Nervous Diseases and Psychiatry" (sixth edition), pp. +649-50. + +48. "Life of Christ," p. 105. + +49. During the October conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of +Latter-day Saints, held in Salt Lake City, October, 1903, this writer +then made some remarks in criticism of Mr. Riley's book, at the close +of which remarks President Joseph F. Smith said: + +"I have been delighted with the most excellent discourse that we have +listened to; but I desire to say that it is a wonderful revelation to +the Latter-day Saints, and especially to those who were familiar with +the Prophet Joseph Smith, to learn in these latter days that he was +an epileptic! I will simply remark, God be praised, that there are so +many still living who knew the Prophet Joseph well, and who are in a +position to bear testimony to the truth that no such condition ever +existed in the man." + +See also "Defense of the Faith and the Saints." pp. 42-61. + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +OBJECTIONS TO THE BOOK OF MORMON (Continued). + +I. + +_Errors of Style and Grammar_. + +One of the chief objections to the Book of Mormon from the first has +been the uniformity of its literary style, and the defects in its +language--errors in grammar, New York Yankee localisms, and the use +of modern words--unwarranted, it is claimed, in the translation of an +ancient record. Alexander Campbell, in his attack upon the Book of +Mormon, 1831, on this subject, said: + + The book proposes to be written at intervals and by different + persons during the long period of 1020 years, and yet for + uniformity of style there never was a book more evidently written + by one set of fingers, nor more certainly conceived in one cranium + since the first book appeared in human language, than this same + book. If I could swear to any man's voice, face, or person, + assuming different names, I could swear that this book was written + by one man. And as Joseph Smith is a very ignorant man and is + called the "Author," on the title page, I cannot doubt for a single + moment but that he is sole "Author and Proprietor" of it. + +He then proceeds to point out the same idioms of speech in the preface +to the first edition--the Prophet's own composition, of course--in +the testimony of the witnesses, and in various parts of the Book of +Mormon proving, as he claims, unity of style and identity of authorship +for the various books that make up the volume. He points out a large +number of errors in grammar, also, a number of supposed anachronisms, +modernism, etc., giving the pages where the defects occur. Indeed, so +ample was Mr. Campbell's criticism on this point, that he has furnished +the materials for this argument against the Book of Mormon which has +been repeated by nearly all subsequent writers. Howe, for instance, +takes up the refrain in this manner: + + The style of the Book of Mormon is _sui generis_, and whoever + peruses it will not have doubt but that the whole was framed and + written by the same individual hand. [1] + +Then follows quotations which he regards as justifying the conclusion. + +Professor J. B. Turner of Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois, in +his "Mormonism in All Ages" follows in the same strain and uses like +illustrations. [2] + +So also John Hyde in his "Mormonism." He perhaps is more elaborate in +his criticism on this point than any other Anti-Mormon writer excepting +Campbell. [3] + +Samuel M. Smucker, also criticises in the same kind. [4] + +So also Rev. M. T. Lamb devotes a chapter to the same kind of +criticism. [5] + +Linn, adopts the same argument, and with some manifestations of glee, +quite unbecoming in a sober historian who professes to write at least a +serious history of Mormonism; but who, while he points to these defects +in grammatical construction, etc., he nowhere considers in any spirit +of fairness the evidences that tend to support the truth of the Book of +Mormon. [6] + +The things to be considered in these objections, are: + +First: does the uniformity of style exist: do the errors in grammar +exist; are there modernisms and localisms in the book, and more +especially in the first edition, since it was with this edition +that this criticism began? These questions must be answered in the +affirmative. The existence of uniformity of style, errors in grammar, +modernisms and localisms cannot be denied, as all know who have +investigated the matter. A comparison of current editions with the +first edition will disclose the fact that many of the most flagrant +verbal and grammatical errors have been corrected, besides many +unimportant changes, such as "which" and "that," to "who" and "whom," +and vice verse, to conform to modern usage; [7] and many more such +corrections, without changing the slightest shade of statement or +thought, could still be made to advantage. + +Many of these changes, perhaps most of them, were effected under the +supervision of the Prophet Joseph himself. In the preface to the second +edition published in Kirtland, 1837, the following occurs: + + Individuals acquainted with book printing are aware of the numerous + typographical errors which always occur in manuscript editions. + It is only necessary to say, that the whole has been carefully + re-examined and compared with the original manuscript by Elder + Joseph Smith, Jr., the translator of the Book of Mormon, assisted + by the present printer, Brother Cowdery, who formerly wrote the + greatest portion of the same as dictated by Brother Smith. + +In the third edition published at Nauvoo, 1840, this occurs on the +title page: + + "_Carefully Revised by the Translator_." + +Of course the fact that the Book of Mormon was published in a country +town, on a hand press, and by persons unfamiliar with book making, and +the proofs read by Oliver Cowdery, who was entirely without experience +in such work, will account for many errors verbal and grammatical. The +further fact that the employees at the printing establishment where the +book was published, where unfriendly to it, and were more anxious to +make it appear ridiculous than to turn out a good job, may account for +other errors that appear in the first edition. But after due allowance +is made for all these conditions, the errors are too numerous, and +of such a constitutional nature, that they cannot be explained away +by these unfavorable conditions under which the work was published. +Besides, examination of the fragment of the original manuscript, now +(1909) in possession of President Joseph F. Smith, discloses the fact +that many of the verbal errors in grammar are in the manuscript, +written as the Prophet dictated it. + +Second: How are these errors in language to be accounted for? How is +it that errors in grammar are found in a work said to be translated +by the "gift and power of God, through the medium of the Urim and +Thummim?" Are these errors in language to be assigned to the Urim and +Thummim, or to God? Is it true, as stated by Professor Turner, that +such is the description of the manner in which the Book of Mormon was +translated, that all accounts "agree in making the Lord responsible not +only for the thought, but also for the language of the book, from the +necessity of the case, for they [those who have described the manner +of translation] all claim that the words passed before Smith's eyes +while looking through the pellucid stones?" [8] Must we remember, as the +professor admonishes us to "remember," that according to Smith's story +"the Lord is responsible not only for the thought, but also for the +language of this new translation? The words of the translation being +read off through the stone spectacles?" [9] + +For one, I refuse to accept this statement of the case. I do not +believe that the Lord is responsible for any defect of language that +occurs in the Book of Mormon, or any other revelation. On the contrary, +I stand with Moroni here: "And now, if there be faults [i.e. in the +Nephite record], they are the mistakes of men." [10] Also with Mormon: +"If there be faults, they be the faults of a man." [11] + +If the Lord should speak directly to man without any intermediary +whatsoever, it is reasonable to conclude that his language would +be perfect in whatever tongue he spoke. If, however, he elected an +intermediary through whom to communicate his message to the world, the +language in which that message would be couched might, or might not, be +perfect, according as the intermediary was learned or unlearned in the +language through which the Lord communicated the revelation. + +Third: Can these verbal errors, and errors in grammar, these modernisms +and localisms arise from equivalent defects in the original Nephite +records? That is to say, can these errors have been transferred from +the ancient Nephite language into our English idioms? I know how +unreasonable such a proposition as that will seem to readers in any +way familiar with translations. I speak of it, however, because there +are those friendly to the Book of Mormon who contend that such is the +case. Those who take this view believe that because the Prophet used +Urim and Thummim in the translation of the Nephite record, therefore, +the process of translation was a word for word bringing over from +the Nephite language into the English; that the instrument did the +translating rather than the Prophet, the latter merely looking into +Urim and Thummim as one may look into a mirror and tell what he sees +there reflected; and that, therefore, the translation was really an +absolutely "verbatim et literatim" translation of the record. They +further believe that since the instrument was of divine appointing it +could make no mistakes, and therefore if errors in the translation into +English occur it is because these errors were in the Nephite language +as recorded by Mormon. + +As already remarked, to those at all acquainted with translation, this +will be recognized as impossible. They know that such a thing as an +absolute literal translation, or word for word bringing over from one +language into another is out of the question; that for the most part +such a literal translation would be meaningless, I give as examples the +following from the Latin: + + 1. "_Aversum hostem-videre_"--original. "Turned away--foe--to + see"--word for word. "To see a foe in flight"--translation. 2. + "_Non satis commode_"--original. "Not--enough--conveniently"--word + for word. "Not very conveniently"--translation. 3. "_Ad eas se + applicant_"--original. "To--these--themselves--attach"--word + for word. "They lean up against these"--translation. 4. "_Impii + est virtutem parvi estimare_"--original. "Of an impious man--it + is--virtue little--to value" word for word. "It is the mark + of an impious man to think little of virtue"--translation. + 5. "_Christiani est quam plurimis prodesse_"--original. "Of + a Christian--it is--as very many--to do good" word for word. + "It is the duty of a Christian to do good to as many as + possible"--translation. + +Fourth: Granting, as preforce we must, that there are verbal and +grammatical errors, together with modernisms and localisms, in the +English translation of the Nephite record; that the thought is +expressed not only in English idioms, but also, at times, in Western +New York localisms; that the whole body of phraseology is of the time +and place where the work of translation was done; and all the errors +are such as would be made by one circumstanced as Joseph Smith was as +to knowledge of the English language; and that these local idioms and +errors in grammar were not found in equivalent terms in the Nephite +language and brought over into English by a process of word for word +bring over--granting all these things, is there any way by which this +criticism, based upon the faulty English of the translation, may be +effectually met, and the truth still maintained that the translation of +the Book of Mormon was made by a man inspired of God, and aided by an +instrument of divine appointment? + +I firmly believe that all these requirements can be met; that, as +a matter of fact, the defects in English in the Book of Mormon +constitute no real difficulty; that the difficulties, so far as they +exist, are of our own creation (I speak of those who accept the +Book of Mormon as a divine record); that our trouble arises through +having accepted too literally the necessarily second-hand accounting, +given by Martin Harris and David Whitmer, of the manner in which the +translation was done. Because it has been said that the Prophet saw +the Nephite characters in the Urim and Thummim; that the translation +would appear in English under these characters; that the Prophet +would read the translation to the scribe and that both characters and +translation would remain in Urim and Thummim until written--because +of this description of the manner of translation, our opponents have +insisted--and we by our silence have conceded to some extent--that +Joseph Smith had nothing to do with the translation except to see what +the instrument revealed and parrot-like repeat it; therefore it has +been concluded by our opponents that the translation must be attributed +entirely to the Urim and Thummim; and as it is unreasonable to think +that God, or a divine instrument provided by him for the purpose of +translating unknown languages--that is, that God directly or indirectly +could be charged with these errors in English--they have argued that +the translation was not inspired; that God had nothing to do with it; +that Joseph Smith's pretentions were blasphemous, and the Book of +Mormon untrue. + +To this contention of our opponents we have either made no reply, being +quite generally of the opinion that there was little or no force in the +argument (a mistake in my judgment), or else have lamely and vainly +argued that the errors were in the original Nephite records, and were +brought over bodily into the translation, which is an absurdity. + +The foundation for the answer to this objection and the argument by +which it is sustained was laid in Vol. I, chapter VII of this work, +where it is argued that the translation of the Book of Mormon was not +merely a mechanical process in which the instrument Urim and Thummim +did all and the Prophet nothing, except to give out to the scribe the +translation said to have appeared in the divine instrument. The Lord's +description of the manner of translating, by means of Urim and Thummim, +is cited there in proof that the translation was not mechanical; that +on the contrary it required deep thought, the employment, in fact, of +all the mental and spiritual powers of the translator; that it was +necessary for him to be in an exalted state of mind to get the meaning +of the Nephite characters at all. The thought, however, and the ideas +he obtained by concentrated mental effort, under the inspiration of +God; but the language in which the translation was thought out was +in such words and forms of expression as Joseph Smith could use; and +this mental translation in language was doubtless reflected in the +Urim and Thummim, where it remained until written by the scribe. And +now, as the Prophet Joseph was uneducated at the time of translating +the Nephite record, the language of his translation was in the faulty +English of one circumstanced as he was, and was of the period and place +when and where the translation took place. This I regard as a complete +answer to all the objections that can be urged upon the score of the +Book of Mormon's faulty English, and it is the only answer that can be +successfully made to it. Such faults as exist are the faults of men, +not of God. Such is the answer to this class of objections wherever +made against the scriptures, for this sort of objection is not confined +to the Book of Mormon. It has been urged with well nigh equal force +against the Bible. In fact, there are not wanting those who claim that +human speech, oral or written, is inadequate to convey a revelation +from God. [12] + +"The human language," says one of these, "whether in speech or in +print, cannot be the vehicle of the word of God. The word of God exists +in something else. Did the book called the Bible excel in purity of +ideas and expression all the books now extant in the world, I would not +take it for my rule of faith, as being the word of God, because the +possibility would nevertheless exist of my being imposed upon." [13] + +Again, the same author says: + + Human language, more especially as there is not an universal + language, is incapable of being used as an universal means of + unchangeable and uniform information, and therefore it is not the + means that God useth in manifesting himself universally to man. It + is only in the Creation that all our ideas and conceptions of a + word of God can unite. The creation speaketh an universal language, + independently of human speech or human language, multiplied and + various as they be. It is an ever-existing original, which every + man can read. [14] + +This writer may be objected to on account of the ribald nature of his +criticism of the Bible, but nevertheless, in the foregoing paragraph he +represents the views of a very large class of people--a class that I +fear is increasing rather than diminishing in numbers. + +This author attacks the Book of Isaiah in the following fashion: + + Whoever will take the trouble of reading the book ascribed + to Isaiah will find it one of the most wild and disorderly + compositions ever put together; it has neither beginning, middle, + nor end; and, except a short historical part, and a few sketches of + history in two or three of the first chapters, is one continued, + incoherent, bombastical rant, full of extravagant metaphor without + application, and destitute of meaning; a school-boy would scarcely + have been excusable for writing such stuff; it is (at least in + translation) that kind of composition and false taste that is + properly called prose run mad. [15] + +Referring to the entire volume of Hebrew scripture our author says: + + For my own part, my belief in the perfection of the Deity will not + permit me to believe that a book so manifestly obscure, disorderly, + and contradictory can be his work. I can write a better book + myself! [16] + +Other authors of the same school, and in like spirit attack the Hebrew +scriptures. What is the reply to such attacks? Fortunately, on this +point, I have at hand the views recently set forth of a very learned +man, and one of high character, the Reverend Joseph Armitage Robinson, +D. D., Dean of Westminister and Chaplain to King Edward VII of England. +In a recent lecture delivered in Westminster Abby on the subject, "How +the Bible Was Written," he says: + + The message of the Old Testament was not written by the Divine + hand, nor dictated by an outward compulsion; it was planted in the + hearts of men, and made to grow in a fruitful soil. And then they + were required to express it in their own language, after their + natural methods, and in accordance with the stage of knowledge + which their time had reached. Their human faculties were purified + and quickened by the Divine Spirit; but they spoke to their time + in the language of their time; they spoke a spiritual message, + accommodated to the experience of their age, a message of faith in + God, and of righteousness as demanded by a righteous God. [17] + +So, also, Lyman Abbot, in a series of lectures on "The Bible as +Literature:" + + Neither in ancient nor in modern theology is there a simpler, a + more comprehensive statement of the origin and character of the + Bible than in the single sentence with which the Second Epistle + of Peter describes it: "Holy men of God spake, moved by the Holy + Ghost." * * * According to this definition the Bible is written + by good men, and it is written by good men under the inspiration + or on-breathing of the Spirit of God. * * * * These men are not + amanuenses who write by dictation; they embody in their writings + their own experience, their own thought, their own life. Thus, + we should expect to find in the Bible the personal equation of + the writers strongly marked. We should expect, as the sunshine + developes each seed after its kind, so the shining of God on the + human soul would develop each germinant soul after its kind * * * + We see not men writing as clerks write, embodying only the work + of a dictator; we find in each one the stream, the current, the + color of his own personality. We shall expect, also, to find all + these men writing as Paul says he wrote: "We know in part, and we + prophesy in part," and "We see in a glass darkly." [18] + +Views similar to those were entertained by the late Henry Drummond, +the author of "Natural Law in the Spiritual World." Referring to the +writers of the Hebrew scripture he said: + + These men when they spoke were not typewriters. They were authors. + They were not pens. They were men; and their individuality comes + out in every page they wrote. Sometimes they write a better style + than they do at other times. Sometimes their minds are clearer and + their arguments more condensed and consecutive and logical. [19] + Look at some of the envolved theological statements in the + New Testament, and contrast them with the absolutely pellucid + utterances of the same author written on a different occasion, when + he was in a different mood. Those men were not mere pens, I repeat; + they were authors, and it is not the book that is inspired, so much + as the men. God inspired men to make an inspired book. * * * Just + as a scientific man in communication with nature reads its secrets, + drinks in its spirit, and writes it down, so a man who walks with + God catches the mind of God and gets revelations from God and + writes them down; religion is not the result of this, but the cause + of it. [20] + +Jenyns in his treatise on the "Internal Evidences of the Christian +Religion" says: + + Others there are who allow that a revelation from God may be + both necessary and credible; but allege that the Scriptures, + that is, the books of the Old and New Testament, cannot be + that revelation--because in them are to be found errors and + inconsistencies, fabulous stories, false facts, and false + philosophy; which can never be derived from the fountain of all + wisdom and truth. To this I reply that I readily acknowledge that + the Scriptures are not revelations from God, but the history of + them [i.e., the history of the revelations]. The revelation itself + is derived from God; but the history of it is the production of + men, and therefore the truth of it is not in the least affected + by their fallibility, but depends on the internal evidence of its + own supernatural excellence. If in these books such a religion as + has been here described actually exists, no seeming or even real + defects to be found in them can disprove the divine origin of this + revelation, or invalidate my argument. * * * If any one could show + that these books were never written by their pretended authors, but + were posterior impositions on illiterate and credulous ages--all + these wonderful discoveries would prove no more than this, that + God, for reasons to us unknown, had thought proper to permit a + revelation by him communicated to mankind, to be mixed with their + ignorance, and corrupted by their frauds from its earliest infancy, + in the same manner in which he has visibly permitted it to be + mixed and corrupted from that period to the present hour. If in + these books a religion superior to all human imagination actually + exists, it is of no consequence to the proof of its divine origin, + by what means it was there introduced, or with what human errors + and imperfections it is blended. A diamond, though found in a bed + of mud, is still a diamond, nor can the dirt which surrounds it + depreciate its value or destroy its lustre. + +The point of Jenyns' argument is, that both in doctrine and ethics +the New Testament is so far superior, so far surpasses in sublimity +of idea and beauty of moral precept, all that is known amongst men +outside of the New Testament, and is so far removed from the uninspired +utterances of men that he claims the conclusion to be irresistible that +the Christian Scriptures derive their origin immediately from God; that +the knowledge which they teach is divine, no matter what faults may be +charged to the expression of this knowledge. From this view point he +becomes almost reckless in the admission of errors and defects in the +writers of the New Testament. He has been much criticized, in fact, +by the professional Christian ministry--for he was a layman as to his +relation with the church, a member of the British parliament--for the +admission of errors in the New Testament in the passage I have quoted +above, but I think unjustly so. What is needed, both as to the New +Testament scriptures and the Nephite scriptures, is a thoroughgoing +recognition of the fact that the truth is of more consequence than the +form in which it is expressed. The wheat is of more importance than the +chaff in which it grows, and which holds it until the thrashing and the +winnowing. The question is not so much is all the mine-ledge gold, but +is there gold in the ledge. [21] + +The inspiration of God falls upon a prophet as a white ray of light +may fall upon a prism, which separates the white ray of which it is +composed--blue, orange, red, green, etc. The clearness of these several +rays and the sharpness with which they are defined will depend upon +the purity, and perhaps the position, of the prism through which the +white ray passes. So with the white ray of God's inspiration falling +upon men. It receives different colorings or expressions through them +according to their personal characteristics. While it is true that the +inspiration of God may be so overwhelming in its force at times that +the prophet may well nigh lose his individuality, and become merely +the mouth-piece of God, the organ through which the Divine speaks, yet +the personality of the prophet is not usually so overwhelmed; hence +each prophet preserves even under the inspiration of God his agency +and his personal idiosyncrasies. Thus Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Amos, +Nephi, Mormon, Moroni, all preserve their individuality in conception +of ideas and in the expression of them, though inspired by the same +spirit. So also Joseph Smith imparted certain characteristics to his +translation of the Nephite record, notwithstanding the use of Urim +and Thummim and the inspiration of the Lord that rested upon him. +Just in what manner the Urim and Thummim was of assistance to him may +be beyond human power to at present explain, but of this we may be +certain, it was by no means the principal factor in the work; its place +must forever be regarded as secondary; it was an aid to the Prophet, +not he an aid to it; wonderful as it may be as a divine instrument +it could not be so marvelous as the mind of man, especially as the +mind of this man, Joseph Smith, this Seer, by way of pre-eminence; it +is Joseph the "Seer" who translated the Book of Mormon aided by Urim +and Thummim. This his statement: "Through the medium of the Urim and +Thummim I translated the record by the gift and power of God." [22] Mark +these words--"_I_ translated the record,"--not the Urim and Thummim. Of +course the Prophet recognizes in this, as he did in all his prophetic +work and his seership work, his obligation to the inspiration of +God, and surely I do not wish to detract from the inspiration of God +as a factor in his work. I merely desire to emphasize here that it +was the Prophet under the inspiration of God that did the work, and +that the divine instrument, Urim and Thummim, however wonderful, +was merely an aid to the Prophet, as "glasses" may be an aid to the +dim-sighted. But notwithstanding this aid provided by man's ingenuity, +it is the eye after all that does the seeing, though this contrivance +called "spectacles" helps the vision, and makes it more perfect. So, +analogously, but in some way unknown to us, the Urim and Thummim aided +the Prophet in his work of translation. + +The defense of written revelation then against the existence of human +elements in it--evident limitations in the knowledge of prophets +concerning things other than the immediate matters on which they are +inspired of God; unequal expression of ideas, falling sometimes from +the sublime to the commonplace; lack of clearness and directness in +expression, circumlocution; [23] grammatical blunders; tautology; +sometimes long suspension of thought (a frequent fault of both Old and +New Testament writers), and some thought never completed at all--all +these and many other faults of mere construction,--disarrangement of +the mere garments of thought--are to be attributed to the weaknesses +of men and their limitations in knowledge, rather than to any fault +in the inspiration supplied of God. It is the body that is defective, +not the soul; the expression that is defective, not the inspired truth +struggling for utterance through the faulty diction of prophets, +ancient or modern--"If there be faults, they are the faults of men; +therefore, condemn not the things of God because of the faults of men," +will yet come to be regarded as a golden text in defense of written +revelation. + +II. + +_Objections Based Upon the Existence of Passages in the Book of +Mormon Which Follow King James' Translation of the Bible Verbatim_. + +It is objected to the Book of Mormon that there are found in it whole +chapters, besides many minor quotations, from King James' English +translation of the Bible. Since these chapters and passages in some +cases follow the "authorized English version" verbatim, and closely +resemble it in others; and as it is well known that in translating +from one language into another almost infinite variety of expression +is possible, the question arises, how is it that Joseph Smith in +translating from the Nephite plates by divine assistance follows so +closely an independent translation made in the ordinary way, by dint +of scholarship and patient labor, and by diligent comparison of former +translations. [24] This King James' translation was made by scholars of +the sixteenth century. It is well known that no two translations of the +same matter from one language to another, by different scholars, would +ever be alike, hence these passages from the Hebrew scriptures found +in the Book of Mormon, so closely resembling and in places following +word for word the language of the King James' translation, constitute a +difficulty, and what is regarded by some as an insurmountable objection +to the claims of the Book of Mormon. Nearly all the Anti-Mormon writers +raise this objection, though perhaps John Hyde, [25] 1857, makes the +most of it. Following him the Rev. M. T. Lamb, [26] 1887, and last, but +not least, Linn, [27] 1902. + +This objection was most carefully and intelligently stated recently +(October 22, 1903), by Mr. H. Chamberlain, of Spencer, Iowa, U. S. A., +in a letter of inquiry on the subject to President Joseph F. Smith, of +Salt Lake City, in the course of which he said: + + I find that Christ in quoting to the people on this side of the + water, the third and fourth chapters of Malachi, quotes, according + to the Book of Mormon, in the identical text of King James' + version, not missing a word. I find chapters of Isaiah quoted + practically in the same way. I find that in many instances, in + his talks with the people, and to his disciples here, he used + the identical language of King James' version, not omitting the + words supplied by the translators. Now, I know that no two parties + will take the same manuscript and make translations of a matter + contained therein, and the language of the two translators be + alike; indeed, the language employed by the two parties will widely + differ. These translations are from different manuscripts, and from + different languages, and still it appears in the Book of Mormon as + King James' translation. I can conceive of no other way in which + such a coincidence could have occurred, within the range of human + experience, except where one writing is copied from another, and + then it takes the utmost care to get them exactly alike, word + for word, and letter for letter as this is. * * * Now, what I + want to know is, how do you as a Church account for these things + appearing in the Book of Mormon in the identical language of King + James' version, when we know his version is faulty, and the same + translators could not have made it twice alike themselves? Did + Joseph copy it from the Bible, or did the Lord adopt this identical + language in revealing it to Joseph? [28] + +This communication was referred to the writer by President Smith for an +answer, which was written, and from which I quote: + +"The difficulty which you point out of course has been recognized by +believers in the Book of Mormon, but I do not know that I can say that +the Church as yet has settled upon any explanation which could be +regarded as an authoritative view on the subject. Each one has been +left to settle the matter upon the lines which seem most reasonable +to him. As a matter of fact, though our opponents have frequently +called attention to the difficulty in question, it has not occasioned +any particular anxiety in the minds of our own people. Accepting the +overwhelming evidences that exist for the truth of the Book of Mormon, +we have regarded that difficulty, with some others, as of minor +importance, which would in time be satisfactorily settled. Still, I +realize the reasonableness of the objection that may be urged against +the Book of Mormon from the point of view from which you present the +subject, and realize that it constitutes a real difficulty; and one, +too, in which we have no word from the Prophet Joseph Smith, or those +who were immediately associated with him in bringing forth the Nephite +record, to aid us in a solution of the matter. We are left, therefore, +very largely to conjecture, based on the facts in the case, which facts +are most tersely put in your esteemed communication, viz: + +"First. It is a fact that a number of passages in the Book of Mormon, +verses and whole chapters, run closely parallel in matter and +phraseology with passages in Isaiah, Malachi, and some parts of the New +Testament. + +"Second. It is a fact that no two persons will make translations of the +same matter from one language into another, and the language of the two +translations be alike. + +"Third. It is a fact that the translations of the words of Isaiah, +of Malachi, and the words of the Savior, in the Book of Mormon, are +generally supposed to be independent translations from different +manuscripts or records and from different languages. + +"Then, of course, comes your question: how can the strange fact be +accounted for, viz., that the translations in the Book of Mormon +corresponding to Isaiah, Malachi and the words of the Savior, are in +the language of King James' translation? + +"Of course, you will remember that according to the Book of Mormon, +the Nephite colony carried with them to America so much of the Old +Testament as was in existence at the time of their departure from +Jerusalem (600 years B. C.). The prophecy of Malachi, chapters 3 and 4 +quoted in the Book of Mormon was supplied by the Savior. The Nephites +engraved portions of these scriptures in their records, and this +both in the Hebrew, and what the Nephites called the reformed--i.e., +altered--Egyptian. I simply mention this in passing, that you may +remember afresh how these passages came to be in the Nephite record, +and that you may remember that the Nephites had the Jewish scriptures +in much the same form as they were to be found in Judea, 600 B. C. When +the Savior came to the western world and appeared to the Nephites, +he had the same message to present to them that he had presented in +Palestine; the same ordinances of the gospel to establish, a similar +church organization to found, and the same ethical principles to +teach. The manner of the Savior's teaching would doubtless lead him to +present these great truths in the same forms of expression he had used +in teaching the Jews, so that in substance what he had taught as his +doctrines in Judea he would repeat in America. This is mentioned also, +by the way, that it may appear reasonable to you that in a general +manner the Savior must have taught the people in the western hemisphere +substantially the same things that he taught the people in Palestine. +With this remembered, I think we find a solution of the difficulty you +present in the following way: When Joseph Smith saw that the Nephite +record was quoting the prophecies of Isaiah, of Malachi, or the words +of the Savior, he took the English Bible and compared these passages as +far as they paralled each other, and finding that in substance, they +were alike, he adopted our English translation; and hence, we have the +sameness to which you refer. + +"It should be understood also, in this connection, that while Joseph +Smith obtained the facts and ideas from the Nephite characters through +the inspiration of God, he was left to express those facts and ideas, +in the main, in such language as he could command; and when he found +that parts of the Nephite record closely parallel passages in the +Bible, and being conscious that the language of our English Bible +was superior to his own, he adopted it, except for those differences +indicated in the Nephite original which here and there made the Book of +Mormon version of passages superior in sense and clearness. Of course, +I recognize the fact that this is but a conjecture; but I believe it +to be a reasonable one; and indeed the only one which satisfactorily +disposes of the difficulty you point out. + +"There exists, however, another difficulty; and that is, while the +foreging explanation may account for the sameness in phraseology +between these Book of Mormon passages and King James' translation, +there remains to be accounted for the differences that exist between +these Book of Mormon passages and those which parallel them in King +James' translation. I am led to believe that you have been so absorbed, +perhaps, in tracing out the sameness in the expression that you have +failed to note the differences to which I allude, for you make the +claim of strict identity between the Book of Mormon and King James' +translation too strong when you say that there is used the "identical +language of King James' [29] version, not even omitting the words +supplied by the translators." Throughout the parallel passages, there +are here and there differences (with the single exception, perhaps, in +the chapters from Malachi, and even in these is a slight difference), +and a close comparison of these differences will show that in the +matter of supplied words by King James' translators, there are very +frequent changes, and in all the changes that appear, the Book of +Mormon passages are far superior in sense and clearness. I quote you a +few passages in illustration: + + BOOK OF MORMON. BIBLE. + + Thou hast multiplied the nation Thou hast multiplied the nation + and increased the joy; _and not_ increased the joy: + they joy before thee according they joy before thee according + to the joy in harvest, and to the joy in harvest, and + as men rejoice when they divide as men rejoice when they divide + the spoils!--II. Nephi xxix: 3. the spoil!--Isaiah ix: 3. + +Here you will find the Book of Mormon passage more in harmony with the +facts in the case. How inconsistent the passage is in Isaiah, "Thou +has multiplied the nation and not increased the joy!" And yet that +statement is followed by this one--"they joy before thee according to +the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil!" +But in the Book of Mormon it is perfectly consistent, for there it +says "Thou hast multiplied the nation, _and increased the joy_." The +following passages also indicate the superiority of the Book of Mormon +version: + + BOOK OF MORMON. BIBLE. + + And when they shall say unto And when they shall say unto + you, Seek unto them that you, Seek unto them that + have familiar spirits, and unto have familiar spirits, and unto + wizards that peep and mutter; wizards that peep and mutter; + should not a people seek unto should not a people seek unto + their God, for the living to their God? for the living to + hear from the the dead.--Isaiah viii: 19. + dead?--II. Nephi xvii: 19. + +As an illustration of my statement that Book of Mormon version of +passages is sometimes markedly different from our common English +version in the matter of supplied words, I quote you the following +passages. The supplied words in the Bible text are written in _italics_. + + BOOK OF MORMON. BIBLE. + + Say unto the righteous Say unto the righteous that + that it is well with them; for _it shall be_ well _with him_: for + they shall eat the fruit of their they shall eat the fruit of their + doings. doings. + + Woe unto the wicked! for Woe unto the wicked! _it shall + they shall perish; for the reward be_ well _with him_: for the reward + of their hands shall be upon of his hands shall be + them.--II. Nephi xxiii: 10, 11. given him.--Isaiah iii: 10, 11. + +If you will carefully compare the passages in the Book of Mormon, +and some of the chapters in Matthew, say the 12th chapter of III. +Nephi, with Matthew v; the 13th chapter of III. Nephi with Matthew 6th +chapter; the 14th chapter of III. Nephi, with Matthew 7th chapter, you +will also find throughout that there are differences between the two, +as much so as between the Catholic Bible (generally called the Douay +Bible) and King James' translation, which, of course, are independent +translations by different scholars. I give the following passages by +way of illustration: + + KING JAMES' BIBLE. BOOK OF MORMON. DOUAY BIBLE. + Matt. ch. v: verse 3. III. Nephi ch. xii: Matt. ch. v: verse 3. + verse 3. + Blessed are the Yea, blessed are Blessed are the + poor in spirit: for the poor in spirit poor in spirit; for + theirs is the kingdom who come unto me [30] theirs is the kingdom + of heaven. for theirs is the of heaven. + kingdom of heaven. + + KING JAMES' BIBLE. BOOK OF MORMON. DOUAY BIBLE. + Verse 4. Verse 4. Verse 5. [31] + Blessed are they And again, blessed Blessed are they + that mourn: for they are they that mourn, that mourn: for + shall be comforted. for they shall be they shall be comforted. + comforted. + + Verse 6. Verse 6. Verse 6. + Blessed are they And blessed are all Blessed are they + which do hunger and they who do hunger that hunger and + thirst after and thirst after thirst after justice: + righteousness: for righteousness, for for they shall have + they shall be filled. they shall be filled their fill. + with the + Holy Ghost. [32] + + Verse 7. Verse 7. Verse 7. + Blessed are the And blessed are Blessed are the + merciful for they the merciful, for merciful for they + shall obtain mercy. they shall obtain shall obtain mercy. + mercy. + + Verse 10. Verse 10. Verse 10. + Blessed are they And blessed are Blessed are they + which are persecuted all they who are that suffer persecution + for righteousness persecuted for my for justice's + sake: for theirs is name's sake, for sake: for theirs is + the kingdom of theirs is the the kingdom of + heaven. kingdom of heaven. heaven. + + KING JAMES' BIBLE. BOOK OF MORMON. DOUAY BIBLE. + Verse 12. Verse 12. Verse 12. + Rejoice, and be For ye shall have Be glad and rejoice, + exceeding glad: for great joy and be for your reward + great is your reward exceeding glad, for is very great + in heaven: for so great shall be your in heaven; for so + persecuted they the reward in heaven, they persecuted the + prophets which were for so persecuted prophets that were + before you. they the prophets before you. + who were before you. + + Chapter vi: verse 25. Chapter xiii: verse 25. Chapter vi: verse 25. + Therefore I say And now it came Therefore I say + unto you, take no to pass that when unto you, be not solicitous + thought for your Jesus had spoken for your + life, what ye shall these words, he life, what you shall + eat, or what ye shall looked upon the eat nor for your + drink; nor yet for twelve whom he had body what you shall + your body, what ye chosen, and said unto put on. Is not the + shall put on. Is them, [33] Remember life more than the + not the life more the words which meat: and the body + than meat, and the I have spoken. For more than raiment? + body than raiment? behold, ye are they + whom I have chosen + to minister unto + unto this people. + Therefore I say unto + you, take no thought + for your life, what ye + shall eat, or what ye + shall drink; nor yet + for your body, what + ye shall put on. Is + not the life more + than meat, and the + body than raiment? + + KING JAMES' BIBLE. BOOK OF MORMON. DOUAY BIBLE. + Verse 26. Verse 26. Verse 26. + Behold the fowls Behold the fowls Behold the birds + of the air: for they of the air, for they of the air, for they + sow not, neither do sow not, neither do neither sow nor do + they reap, nor gather they reap, nor gather they reap, nor gather + in barns; yet your into barns; yet into barns; and + heavenly Father your heavenly Father your heavenly Father + feedeth them. Are feedeth them. Are feedeth them. + ye not much better ye not much better Are not you of + than they? than they? much more value + than they? + + KING JAMES' BIBLE. BOOK OF MORMON. DOUAY BIBLE. + Verse 27. Verse 27. Verse 27. + Which of you by Which of you by Which of you by + taking thought can taking thought can taking thought can + add one cubit unto add one cubit unto add to his stature + his stature? his stature? one cubit? + + Verses 28, 29. Verses 28, 29. Verses 28, 29. + And why take ye And why take ye And for raiment + thought for raiment? thought for raiment? why are you solicitous + Consider the lilies Consider the lilies Consider the + of the field, how of the field, how lilies of the field, + they grow; they they grow; they toil how they grow; they + toil not, neither do not, neither do they labor not, neither + they spin: and yet spin; and yet I say do they spin. But I + I say unto you, that unto you, that even say unto you, that + even Solomon in all Solomon, in all his not even Solomon, + his glory was not glory was not arrayed in all his glory, was + arrayed like one of like one of arrayed as one of + these. these. these. + + Verse 30. Verse 30. Verse 30. + Wherefore, if God Wherefore, if God And if the grass + so clothe the grass so clothe the grass of the field, which is + of the field, which of the field, which today, and tomorrow + today is, and tomorrow today is, and tomorrow is cast into the + is cast into the is cast into the oven, God doth so + oven, _shall he_ not oven, even so will clothe: how much + much more _clothe_ he clothe you, if you more you, O ye of + you, O ye of little are not of little little faith? + faith? faith? + + KING JAMES' BIBLE. BOOK OF MORMON. DOUAY BIBLE. + Verses 31, 32, 33. Verses 31, 32, 33. Verses 31, 32, 33. + Therefore take no Therefore, take no Be not solicitous + thought, saying thought, saying therefore, saying: + What shall we eat? What shall we eat? What shall we eat: + or, what shall we or, what shall we or what shall we + drink? or Wherewith drink, or wherewith drink, or wherewith + shall we be shall we be clothed? shall we be clothed? + clothed? for after For your heavenly For after all these + all these things do Father knoweth that things do the heathens + the Gentiles seek: ye have need of all seek. For your + For your heavenly these things. But Father knoweth that + Father knoweth that seek ye first the you have need of all + ye have need of all kingdom of God and these things. Seek + these things. But his righteousness, ye therefore first the + seek ye first the and all these things kingdom of God, + kingdom of God and shall be added unto and his justice: and + his righteousness, you. all these things shall + and all these things be added unto you. + shall be added unto + you. + + Verse 34. Verse 34. Verse 34. + Take therefore no Take therefore no Be not therefore + thought for the thought for the solicitous for tomorrow. + morrow: For the morrow, for the For the morrow + morrow shall take morrow shall take will be solicitous + thought for the thought for the for itself; sufficient + things of itself. things of itself. for the day is + Sufficient unto the Sufficient is the day the evil thereof. + day is the evil unto the evil + thereof. thereof. [34] + +But how are these differences to be accounted for? They unquestionably +arise from the fact that the Prophet compared the King James' +translation with the parallel passages in the Nephite records, and when +he found the sense of the passage of the Nephite plates [35] superior +to that in the English version he made such changes as would give +the superior sense and clearness. This view is sustained by the fact +of uniform superiority of the Book of Mormon version wherever such +differences occur. It is also a significant fact that these changes +occur quite generally in the case of supplied words of the English +translators, and which in order to indicate that they are supplied +words, are printed in Italics. * * * * * I fancy to all this, however, +another inquiry will arise in your mind and that is since Joseph +Smith translated the Book of Mormon by means of the Urim and Thummim, +why is it that he did not give throughout a translation direct from +the Nephite plates, instead of following our English Bible, where +it paralleled passages on the plates, since translation by means of +the Urim and Thummim must have been so simple and so easy? It is at +this particular point where, in my opinion, a very great mistake is +made, both by our own people, and our friends in the world. That is, +translation by the Urim and Thummim is not so simple and easy a thing +as it might at first glance appear. Many have supposed that the Prophet +Joseph had merely to look into the Urim and Thummim, and there see, +without any thought or effort on his part, both the Nephite characters +and the translation in English. In other words, the instrument did +everything and the Prophet nothing, except merely to look in the Urim +and Thummim as one might look into a mirror, and then give out what he +saw there. Such a view of the work of the Urim and Thummim I believe to +be altogether incorrect. I think it caused the Prophet the exercise of +all his intellectual and spiritual forces to obtain the translation; +that it was an exhausting work, one that taxed even his great powers to +their uttermost limit; and hence, when he could ease himself of those +labors by adopting a reasonably good translation already existing, I +think he was justified in doing so." + +Such was the answer made to Mr. Chamberlain's inquiries, and as the +reader will doubtless be interested to know how this answer was +received by this unprejudiced gentleman, I quote the following from his +letter in response to the explanation. [36] + + Of course, I realize that if the Book of Mormon was not just what + it purported to be, the whole fabric [of Mormonism] must fall + to the ground, so far as being an inspired religion, and would + then only be worth what good one could get out of it as the best + organization or controlled religion on earth. * * * Upon studying + the Book of Mormon, I, of course, found these portions of King + James' version of our Bible, and judging it by the applied law of + human experience, as we lawyers learn to judge everything, I could + account for it in on other way, than that Joseph Smith copied it + therefrom, and I am free to say that your reasons for his so doing + are not only probable, but the only solution that can be given. * * + * I believe and think that your suggestion is the only theory upon + which it is possible to advocate its divine character. It seems to + me that God, so far as I know, has never supplied man with what he + already possessed, and Joseph Smith already had language with which + to express his ideas, and all that was required in addition from + God was, that he furnish him with the thought, and then let him + express it in his own language. I never could for a moment believe + that God is interested in placing his approval on King James' + translators' style of translating, nor upon the composition of the + English language therein adopted. I do not see wherein your theory + detracts in any manner from the value of the Book of Mormon, as + an inspired work acknowledged by God as authentic, nor makes more + impracticable the manner of its introduction. + +II. + +_Miscellaneous Objections Based on Literary Style and Language_. + +The theory established that the language of the translation of the +Book of Mormon is Joseph Smith's, and that at least for extended +quotations from Isaiah and the New Testament writers he turned to the +common English version of the Bible and adopted it, the answer to all +objections based upon errors in literary style and grammar, and the +finding of many passages from the Hebrew prophets and New Testament +writers transcribed from King James' translation--is obvious: + +(1) The language is Joseph Smith's; the errors in style and grammar are +due to his very limited education, for which the lack of educational +opportunities alone is responsible. + +(2) To relieve himself somewhat of the mental strain in the work of +translation when he came to matter transcribed from the Hebrew prophets +into the Nephite record, or to instructions of the Messiah that +paralled his teachings to the people of Judea--of which there already +existed a reasonably good English translation--the Prophet adopted that +translation. [37] + +The ideas underlying this explanation once adopted, it is equally easy +to meet the objections to the Book of Mormon based on the existence of +modern words and phraseology found in it; of provincialisms of the time +and place in which the translation was wrought; of phrases and words +from modern poets and religious exhorters. These words and phrases +made up the vocabulary of Joseph Smith; and his mode of expressing his +thought is that of the period and place in which he lived; and hence +the ideas obtained from the Nephite plates he couched in those modern +words, phrases and modes of expression familiar to him. + +Sometimes, however, more is claimed for the existence of these +modern words, phrases and alleged quotations from modern poets than +is warranted. [38] For example: Campbell, Hyde, Lamb, Linn, and many +others, sarcastically remark that the words of Shakespeare are quoted +in a passage in the Book of Mormon accredited to Lehi, 2200 years +before Shakespeare was born! Linn puts it in this form: + + Shakespeare is proved a plagiarist by comparing his words with + those of the second Nephi, who, speaking twenty-two hundred years + before Shakespeare was born, said, "Hear the words of a trembling + parent, whose limbs you must soon lay down in the cold and silent + grave, from whence no traveler can return." [39] + +The theory already advanced as an explanation of the existence of +modern words and phraseology in Joseph Smith's translation of the +Nephite record is adequate as an explanation of such instances of +modernisms as this. [40] Through school books extant, or through +listening to itinerant preachers, the Prophet might have become +acquainted with such phraseology as this alleged quotation from +Shakespeare, and employed it where it would express some Nephite idea +or thought found in the Nephite record. Still, this alleged quotation +from the British poet, at least, is susceptible of another explanation. + +In the book of Job I find two passages either of which, and surely both +of them combined, would furnish the complete thought, and for that +matter largely, the phraseology to both Lehi and Shakespeare. I quote +Job's language, and afterwards that of Lehi's and Shakespeare's, that +the reader may compare them: + + 1. _Job_, "Let me alone that I may take comfort a little before I + go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the + shadow of death." [41] + + "When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall + not return." [42] + + 2. _Lehi_, "Hear the words of a parent whose limbs you must soon + lay down in the cold and silent grave, from whence no traveler can + return." + + 3. _Shakespeare_, "That undiscovered country from whose bourne no + traveler returns." + +It will be observed that the passage from the Book of Mormon follows +Job more closely than it does Shakespeare, both in thought and diction; +and this for the reason, doubtless, that Lehi had been impressed with +Job's idea [43] of going to a land whence he would not return; and +Joseph Smith being familiar with Job, and very likely not familiar with +Shakespeare, when he came to Lehi's thought he expressed it nearly in +Job's phraseology; and undoubtedly Shakespeare paraphrased his now +celebrated passage from Job. + +It is also objected that many of the prophecies of the Book of Mormon +respecting the earth-career of Messiah, especially the prophecies found +in first Nephi, are given sometimes in the language of accomplished +fact. [44] "Lehi," says Campbell, "was a greater Prophet than any of the +Jewish prophets, and uttered all the events of the Christian Era and +developed the records of Matthew, Luke, and John 600 years before John +the Baptist was born." He follows the general statement with a number +of passages illustrative of it. + +This circumstance of writing prophecy in the language of accomplished +fact, however, ought not to appeal to orthodox Christians as a very +serious objection to the prophecies in the Book of Mormon, since they +have on their hands the fifty third chapter of Isaiah to account +for. This chapter by a consensus of opinion of orthodox Christian +scholarship is regarded as a wonderful prophecy, outlining the earth +life, character and redemptive mission of the Christ; and for the most +part this prophecy is given in the language of accomplished fact. I +quote part of the chapter conceded to refer to the Christ: + + He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is + no beauty that we should desire him. + + He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and + acquainted with grief, and we hid as it were our faces from him; he + was despised, and we esteemed him not. + + Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we did + esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. + + But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our + iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with + his stripes we are healed. + + All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his + own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. + + He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his + mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep + before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. + + He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare + his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: + for the transgression of my people was he stricken. + + And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his + death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in + his mouth. (Isaiah, LIII: 2-10.) + +Surely after this it is not worth while for orthodox Christians to be +objecting to prophecies in the Book of Mormon on the ground that they +are written in the language of accomplished fact. So far from this +peculiarity of Isaiah's having brought him into disrepute as a prophet, +it seems to have added to his glory, because so writing his prophecy, +it is claimed, has given a vividness to his predictions, an exactness +that made the messianic prophecies all the more valuable. "The +prophecies regarding the Messiah's birth, passion, glory, rejection by +the Jews, and acceptance by the Gentiles are so exact as to have earned +him the name of the 'Gospel Prophet.' "--(Oxford Bible Helps--Isaiah). +It should be remembered, too, in this connection, that the Book of +Isaiah's prophecies carried by the colony of Lehi into the Western +hemisphere with them became a powerful influence among the Nephite +writers. His book is quoted from more extensively than any other book +of the Jewish scriptures possessed by the Nephites; and that because +of the plainness with which Isaiah spoke of the coming and mission of +Messiah. The first Nephi, commenting upon Isaiah and the esteem in +which he held his writing, said: + + And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul + delighteth in his words. For I will liken [apply] his words unto + my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he + verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him. And my brother + Jacob also has seen him as I have seen him, wherefore I will send + their words forth unto my children, to prove unto them that my + words are true. + +Small wonder then if a prophet held in such large esteem, as was +Isaiah, and so extensively quoted, influenced prophetic Nephite +literature, and led to the habit of writing prophecies referring to the +Christ in the language of accomplished fact. + +The Rev. M. T. Lamb, in his "Golden Bible" makes practically the +same charges as Mr. Campbell, saying, in addition that many of the +quotations from the Jewish scriptures found in the Book of Mormon, are +written "in the exact language of the New Testament." + +It is sufficient to say to this objection that Joseph Smith having a +full knowledge of the facts of the Christian story, as related in the +New Testament, clothed the ideas caught from the Nephite record in New +Testament phraseology; and it has been suggested that he may have done +so in places in stronger terms than a rigidly strict translation might +have warranted. [45] + +It is not necessary to go into detail in considering this +objection, [46] or of objections of similar nature, for the reason +that this whole class of objections is met completely by the theory +suggested in these pages concerning the translation of the Book of +Mormon. + +III. + +_The Difficulty of Passages from Isaiah Being Quoted by Nephite +Writers, that Modern Bible Criticism (Higher Criticism) Holds Were Not +Written Until the Time of the Babylonian Captivity--586-538 B. C., and +not Written by Isaiah at all_. + +It is held that Isaiah's historical period--the period of his +ministry--runs through the reign of four kings of Judah--Uzziah, +Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. Some extend his ministry over into the reign +of Manasseh, by whose edict, it is said, he was sawn asunder. In any +event Isaiah would be a very aged man at the close of the reign of +Hezekiah, 698 B. C.; and he would have been between eighty and ninety +at the accession of Manesseh. So that it is safe to say that life +ended soon after the close of Hezekiah's reign. Now if it be true that +the latter part of the Book of Isaiah, from chapter forty to chapter +sixty-six, inclusive, was not written until and during the Babylonian +Captivity, 586-538 B. C.--as assumed by modern criticism--then of +course the prophet Isaiah did not write that part of the book which +bears his name as author. + +Again: If it be true that these chapters 40-66 were not written until +and during the Babylonian captivity, then Lehi could not have taken +that part of the book of Isaiah with him into the wilderness and +subsequently brought it with him to America, where his son Nephi copied +passages and whole chapters into the record he engraved upon plates +called the plates of Nephi, [47] since Lehi left Jerusalem 600 years B. +C. + +The difficulty presented by the Higher Criticism is obvious, viz: If +Joseph Smith is representing the first Nephi as transcribing into his +Nephite records passages and whole chapters purporting to have been +written by Isaiah, when as a matter of fact those chapters were not +written until a hundred and twenty-five or a hundred and fifty years +after Isaiah's death; and not until fifty years after Lehi's colony +had departed from Jerusalem, then Joseph Smith is representing Nephi +as doing that which is impossible, and throws the whole Book of Mormon +under suspicion of being fraudulent. This, therefore, becomes a very +interesting as well as a very important objection; and many among the +Higher Critics will say a fatal one. Here it can only be treated in +outline; it is undoubtedly worthy of exhaustive analysis. + +The Book of Isaiah divides into two parts: first, chapters 1-39, +universally allowed to be the work of the prophet Isaiah, whose +ministry extended through the reigns of the four kings mentioned +in Isaiah i:1; second, chapters 40-66, written by an unknown +author, nearly one hundred and fifty years after Isaiah, sometimes +called Isaiah II. It is claimed that these chapters 40-66; "form a +continuous prophecy, dealing throughout with a common theme, viz, +Israel's restoration from exile in Babylon. * * Jerusalem and the +temple have been for long in ruins--the 'old waste places;' Israel +is in exile." [48] It is to these conditions that the unknown prophet +addresses himself. His object is to awaken faith in the certainty of an +approaching restoration. + +Three independent lines of argument are said to establish this theory +of the authorship of chapters 40-66 in the Book of Isaiah: + + (1) The internal evidence supplied by the prophecy itself points + to this period [time of the captivity] as that at which it + was written. It alludes repeatedly to Jerusalem as ruined and + deserted; to the sufferings which the Jews have experienced, or + are experiencing, at the hands of the Chaldaeans; to the prospect + of return, which, as the prophet speaks, is imminent. Those whom + the prophet addresses, and, moreover, addresses in person--arguing + with them, appealing to them, striving to win their assent by + his warm and impassioned rhetoric--are not the men of Jerusalem, + contemporaries of Ahaz and Hezekiah, or even of Manasseh, they are + the exiles in Babylonia. Judged by the analogy of prophecy, this + constitutes the strongest possible presumption that the author + actually lived in the period which he thus describes, and is not + merely (as has been supposed) Isaiah immersed in spirit in the + future, and holding converse, as it were, with the generations + yet unborn. Such an immersion, in the future would be not only + with parallel in the O. T., it would be contrary to the nature of + prophecy. The prophet speaks always, in the first instance, to his + own contemporaries: the message which he brings intimately related + with the circumstances of his time; his promises and predictions, + however far they reach into the future, nevertheless rest upon the + basis of the history of his own age, and correspond to the needs + which are then felt. The prophet never abandons his own historical + position, but speaks from it. [49] + + (2) The argument derived from the historic function of prophecy + is confirmed by the literary style of c. 40-66, which is very + different from that of Isaiah 1-39. Isaiah 1-39 shows strongly + marked individualities of style; he is fond of particular images + and phrases, many of which are used by no other writer of the O. + T. Now, in the chapters which contain evident allusions to the + age of Isaiah himself, these expressions occur repeatedly; in the + chapters which are without such allusions, and which thus authorize + prima facie the inference that they belong to a different, age, + they are absent, and new images and phrases appear instead. This + coincidence cannot be accidental. The subject of c. 40-66 is not + so different from that of Isaiah's prophecies (e.g.) against the + Assyrians, as to necessitate a new phraseology and rhetorical form. + The differences can only be reasonably explained by the supposition + of a change of author. [50] + + (3) The theological ideas of c. 40-66 (in so far as they are + not of that fundamental kind common to the prophets generally) + differ remarkably from those which appear, from c. 1-39, to be + distinctive of Isaiah. Thus, on the nature of God generally, the + ideas expressed are much larger and fuller. Isaiah, for instance, + depicts the majesty of Jehovah: in c. 40-66 the prophet emphasizes + his infinitude; He is the Creator, the Sustainer of the universe, + the Life-Giver, the Author of history, the First and the Last, the + Incomparable One. This is a real difference. And yet it cannot + be argued that opportunities for such assertions of Jehovah's + power and Godhead would not have presented themselves naturally + to Isaiah whilst he was engaged in defying the armies of Assyria. + But, in truth, c. 40-66 show an advance upon Isaiah, not only in + the substance of their theology, but also in the form in which it + is presented; truths which are merely affirmed in Isaiah being here + made the subject of reflection and argument. [51] + +These arguments when expressed in these general terms seem quite +formidable; but they are much stronger in general statement than when +one follows the advocates of them through all the references cited by +them in support of the theory; for then one is impressed with the very +heavy weights which the Higher Criticism hangs on very slender threads. +As before remarked, however, I may not go beyond outline treatment of +the matter here. + +The first thing those of us who believe Isaiah to be the author of +the whole book through so many ages accredited to him, both by Jews +and Christians--the first thing we have a right to demand of these +innovators is: If Isaiah the prophet is not the author of the last +twenty-seven chapters of the book that bears his name, who is the +author? Confessedly chapters 40-66 of Isaiah are the most important +part of the book. How is it that chapters 1-39 can be assigned an +author, but the more important chapters 40-66 have to be assigned to +an "unknown" author? Was knowledge in those antique times so imperfect +that the author of such a remarkable production as Isaiah 40-66 could +not be ascertained? + +Second, there is no heading to this second division of Isaiah 40-66; +and it is not true that this second part is unconnected with the first +part. Allowing something to the spirit of prophecy in Isaiah, by which +I mean a power to foresee events, which carries with it a power in the +prophet to project himself into the midst of those things foreseen, and +to speak from the midst of them as if they were present--as indeed they +were to his consciousness--and there is an immediate connection between +the two parts. Chapter 39 predicts the Babylonian captivity. Hezekiah +has just been made to hear the word of the Lord-- + + Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that + which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be + carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. + + And thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, + shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of + the king of Babylon. (Isaiah 39:6-7.) + +In the opening chapter of the supposed second division of Isaiah, +chapter 40, the prophet launches out upon that series of prophecies +that treat, first, of the deliverance of Israel from this captivity +just spoken of through Cyrus, king of Persia; and, second, a larger +deliverance of Israel through the redemption brought to pass by the +Christ. Because of this close and logical connection between the +supposed divisions of the book, one is justified in holding that the +inscription of chapter i:1, applies to the whole book, and implies that +Isaiah is the author of the second part, 40-66, as well as of the first +part, 1-39. "Nor do the words concerning Judah and Jerusalem," says an +eminent authority, "oppose the idea that the inscription applied to the +whole; for whatever he [Isaiah] says against other nations, he says on +account of their relation to Judah." [52] + +Second, the Higher Critics must deal with some facts of history before +their claims can be allowed. According to Josephus, the Jews showed +the prophecies of Isaiah (chapter 44:28; 45:1-13)to Cyrus the king, to +induce him to return the Jews to Jerusalem and order the building of +the temple, upon which Cyrus issued the following decree: + + Thus saith Cyrus the king, Since God Almighty hath appointed me + to be king of the habitable earth, I believe that he is that God + which the nation of the Israelites worship, for indeed he foretold + my name by the prophets, and that I should build him a house at + Jerusalem, in the country of Judea. + + This was known to Cyrus by his reading the book which Isaiah left + behind him of his prophecies; for this prophet said, that God had + spoken thus to him in a secret vision; "My will is, that Cyrus, + whom I have appointed to be king over many and great nations, send + back my people to their own land, and build my temple." This was + foretold by Isaiah one hundred and forty years before the temple + was demolished. Accordingly, when Cyrus read this, and admired the + divine power, an earnest desire and ambition seized upon him, to + fulfill what was so written. [53] + +The above is confirmed also by Ezra i:2. Now the value of this +exhibition of the word of the Lord to Cyrus grew out of the +circumstance that it was a prophecy uttered by Isaiah one hundred and +fifty years before it came to the knowledge of Cyrus. It was the fact +that it was "foreknowledge" that caused Cyrus to admire the divine +power thus displayed; it was this that stirred him with the ambition to +fulfill what was so written. Now either we must believe that the pious +Jews, anxious to return to the land of their fathers, rebuild their +temple and resume the thread of their national existence, deceived by +a wretched subterfuge the king of Persia, and induced him to make this +proclamation by such means; or else they really exhibited to him the +writings of Isaiah, and this real prophecy respecting himself, fraught +with such mighty consequences to a people chosen of God to stand as his +witness among the nations of the earth. I cannot think that this action +so important in the development of God's purposes respecting his people +was founded in fraud; nor do I believe such mighty results were brought +about by disclosing the prognostications of some "unknown" contemporary +whose "eye had marked Cyrus in the distance as the coming deliverer of +his nation;" such cause would be inadequate to the results. + +Again, Luke represents the Christ as reading a passage from this second +division of Isaiah (chapter 61:1, 2), and reading it as coming from +Isaiah; and also as being fulfilled in his own person: + + And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and as his + custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and + stood up for to read. + + And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias + [Isaiah]. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where + it was written. + + The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed + me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal + the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and + recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are + bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. + + And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and + sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were + fastened on him. + + And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled + in your ears. + + And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which + proceeded out of his mouth. (Luke iv: 16-22). + +One can scarcely think of Jesus being mistaken in respect of the +authorship of the scripture from which he read, especially respecting +a prophecy relating to himself. Furthermore, whoever wrote Isaiah 61: +1, 2, whether Isaiah, the admitted author of Isaiah chapters 1-39, or +some other author a hundred and fifty or two hundred years later, and +in the midst of the scenes of the Babylonian captivity, this much is +true: he projected himself forward some several hundreds of years into +the times of the beginning of the Christ's mission, (if we may believe +the Christ when he applies the prophecy to himself and proclaims the +fulfillment of it in the happenings of that day), speaks in the present +tense, as if pleading with the men of his own day. So that if this +power is admitted as being possessed by the supposed "unknown" author +of chapters 40-66, it might as well be accorded to Isaiah as to him; +and if that power be accorded to a prophetic writer, then all the +difficulties conjured up by our modern critics, and to overcome which +their theories were invoked, meet with easy solution. + +As to the difference of literary style between the first and second +division of Isaiah's book, urging as necessary the belief in different +authors for the two parts. I am disposed to give considerable weight +to such evidence, since I know how strong the tendency in expression +towards individuation is, but those more competent to judge of that +subject than I am, hold that of all the prophetic writers, Isaiah +possesses the widest range of literary style, the largest richness in +coloring and forms of expression. And this when the view of his style +is confined to that part of his book of which all allow he is the +author. As for example, the one author most assured that Isaiah did not +write chapters 40-66 of the book that bears his name, the author of +"An Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament," speaking of +Isaiah, and of course limiting his comment to the author of chapters +1-39, says: + + Isaiah's poetical genius is superb. His characteristics are + grandeur and beauty of conception, wealth of imagination, vividness + of illustration, compressed energy and splendor of diction. * * * + * * * Examples of picturesque and impressive imagery are indeed + so abundant that selection is difficult. These may be instanced, + however: the banner raised aloft upon the mountains; the restless + roar of the sea; the waters rising with irresistible might; the + forest consumed rapidly in the circling flames, or stripped of + its foliage by an unseen hand; the raised way; the rushing of + many waters; the storm driving or beating down all before it; the + monster funeral pyre; Jehovah's hand "stretched out," or "swung," + over the earth, and bearing consternation with it. Especially + grand are the figures under which he conceives Jehovah as "rising + up," being "exalted," or otherwise asserting His majesty against + those who would treat it with disregard or disdain. * * * * * The + brilliancy and power of Isaiah's genius appear further in the + sudden contrasts, and pointed antitheses and retorts, in which he + delights. + + Isaiah's literary style shows similar characteristics. It is + chaste and dignified: the language is choice, but devoid of + all artificiality or stiffness, every sentence is compact and + forcible; the rhythm is stately; the periods are finely rounded; + Isaiah indulges occasionally--in the manner of his people--in + tone-painting, and sometimes enforces his meaning by an effective + assonance, but never to excess, or as a meretricious ornament. + His style is never diffuse: even his longest discourses are not + monotonous or prolix; he knows how to treat his subject fruitfully, + and, as he moves along, to bring before his reader new and varied + aspects of it; thus he seizes a number of salient points, and + presents each singly in a vivid picture. * * * * No prophet has + Isaiah's power either of conception or of expression; none has the + same command of noble thoughts, or can present them in the same + noble and attractive language. + +Immerse such a writer as this into the spirit of the future, give him +the theme of Israel's deliverance from Babylonian captivity, or the +larger deliverance of Israel and the world from sin and death through +the mission of the Christ; and what new coloring may he not give to +his style? What greater depths of truth respecting God and man may he +not sound, calling for new phraseology, new words and combinations to +express the deeper knowledge of the enlarged "vision?" This I believe +is what happened to the prophet. He was so immersed; and his style +under the inspiration of God rose to meet the new environment and the +enlarged views given by the wider vision. + +One of the most forceful passages on this subject that I have yet +found is one written by Professor Daniel Smith Talcott, D. D., of the +Theological Seminary, Bangor, Maine. He contributes the Article on +"Isaiah" to Hackett's edition of Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, and +in the course of his treatise, referring to the diversity of style +between the two alleged parts of Isaiah, says: + + The array of linguistic evidence in proof of a diversity of + authorship, which has gradually grown within the last century into + the formidable proportions in which it meets us in the pages of + Knobel and others, rests very largely upon an assumption which + none of these critics have the hardihood distinctly to vindicate, + namely, that within the narrow compass of the Hebrew literature + that has come down to us from any given period, we have the means + for arriving at an accurate estimate of all the resources which the + language at that time possessed. When we have eliminated from the + list of words and phrases relied upon to prove a later date than + the time of Isaiah, everything the value of which to the argument + must stand or fall with this assumption, there remains absolutely + nothing which may not be reasonably referred to the reign of + Hezekiah. Indeed, considering all the circumstances of the times, + it might justly have been expected that the traces of foreign + influence upon the language would be far more conspicuous in a + writing of this date than they actually are in the controverted + portions. + + It is to be remembered that the ministry of the prophet must have + extended through a period, at the lowest calculation, of nearly + fifty years; a period signalized, especially during the reigns + of Ahaz and Hezekiah, by constant and growing intercourse with + foreign nations, thus involving continually new influences for + the corruption of public morals and new dangers to the state, and + making it incumbent upon him who had been divinely constituted at + once the political adviser of the nation and its religious guide, + to be habitually and intimately conversant among the people, so as + to descry upon the instant every additional step taken in their + downward course and the first approach of each new peril from + abroad, and to be able to meet each successive phase of their + necessities with forms of instruction, admonition, and warning, not + only in their general purport, but in their very style and diction, + accommodated to conditions hitherto unknown, and that were still + perpetually changing. + + Now when we take all this into the account, and then imagine to + ourselves the prophet, toward the close of this long period, + entering upon what was in some respects a novel kind of labor, + and writing out, with a special view to the benefit of a remote + posterity, the suggestions of that mysterious _Theopneustia_ + to which his lips had been for so many years the channel of + communication with his contemporaries, far from finding any + difficulty in the diversities of style perceptible to the different + portions of his prophecy, we shall only see fresh occasion to + admire that native strength and grandeur of intellect, which have + still left upon productions so widely remote from each other, + in the time and circumstances of their composition, so plain an + impress of one and the same overmastering individuality.--Smith's + Bible Dictionary, Vol. II., p. 1165. + +Believers in the Book of Mormon have no occasion of uneasiness because +passages from the latter part of Isaiah's book are found transcribed +into the Nephite record. The theories of modern critics have not +destroyed the integrity and unity of the Book of Isaiah. And after the +overwhelming evidences for the truth of the Book of Mormon are taken +into account; and it is found that on the plates of Nephi there were +transcripts from the latter part of Isaiah's writings, taken from a +copy of his prophecies carried by a colony of Jews from Jerusalem to +the western hemisphere, six hundred years before Christ--men will +discern in this discovery new evidence for the Isaiah authorship of the +whole book of Isaiah. + +Footnotes + +1. Howe's "Mormonism," p. 56. + +2. "Mormonism in All Ages" (1842), p. 200. + +3. See Hyde's "Mormonism" (1857), chapters 9, 10. + +4. Smucker's "History of the Mormons" (1881 edition), p. 49. + +5. "The Golden Bible" (1887), chapter 7. + +6. "The Story of the Mormons" (1902), chapter 11. + +7. Linn says that there are more than 3,000 such changes. + +This, I think, is an exaggeration. "Story of the Mormons," p. 89. In +1889, Lamoni Call, formerly a Mormon, published a treatise on the +subject which he entitled "Two Thousand Changes in the Book of Mormon," +even this I think is an exaggeration; but there have been many changes +as conceded in the text. + +8. "Mormonism in All Ages," p. 19. + +9. Ibid, p. 200. + +10. Moroni's Preface, title page Book of Mormon. + +11. Mormon viii: 17. + +12. There is some justification for such a view as this, if we have in +mind the idea of God making a full and perfect revelation to man. When +God gives a revelation it necessarily has to be such an one as man can +comprehend, and in terms with which he is familiar--in man's language; +and as man's language is inadequate to express truth in its perfection, +it follows that any revelation which God deigns to give to the children +of men will fall somewhat below the perfect truth, hence the Apostle +of the Gentiles declared, notwithstanding the existence of revelations +in the scriptures which were extant in Paul's time, "We know in part, +and we prophesy in part; we see [as] through a glass, darkly." This +condition arises not out of any lack of power on the part of God to +make a perfect revelation of truth, but out of man's inability to +comprehend such a revelation; and hence God graciously condescends to +meet man's somewhat narrow limitations by giving such a revelation of +truth in the scriptures, as man by faith and diligence may comprehend. + +13. "The Age of Reason," Paine, p. 19. + +14. Ibid, p. 25. + +15. "The Age of Reason," Part II, p. 98. + +That Joseph Smith appreciated how inadequate human language is to +express divine thought is evident from the following prayer of his, +uttered when writing to his friend, W. W. Phelps: "Oh Lord God, deliver +us in due time from the little, narrow prison, almost, as it were, +total darkness of paper, pen and ink--and a crooked, broken, scattered +and imperfect language."--History of the Church, Vol. I, pp. 227-8. + +16. Ibid p. 252. + +17. The lecture was published in the "St. Louis Globe-Democrat," of +Sunday, March 19, 1905. + +18. Dr. Abbott delivered these lectures in Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, +during the winter of 1896. + +19. This is also true of the translation of the Book of Mormon. Some of +its passages rise to heights of sublimity, and then again descending to +levels that are commonplace and labored. + +20. "The Evolution of Bible Study" (Henry Drummond, 1901). + +21. Replying to this criticism of the Book of Mormon some time ago +(June, 1904), wherein the critic insisted that the question concerning +the Book of Mormon was not where men say they got it, but "is it +gold"--he insisted that the "assay test" must be applied--to which the +writer made the following reply: + +"I declare my willingness, as one of the believers in the Book of +Mormon to see it submitted, as perforce it must be, to the 'assay +test.' Is it gold? Are these important truths we have been considering +this evening, wherein the welfare of half the world is concerned, gold +or dross? Is the light which the Book of Mormon throws upon the word of +God contained in the four (New Testament) Gospels of importance? (See +this Vol. ch. 42: vi for the items here referred to). Is the fact that +Jesus visited this western world and announced the saving power of his +Gospel in such a manner that millions finally came to the knowledge of +salvation a golden truth? Is the solemn warning to the Gentile nations +inhabiting the western world (See chapter 42.) Worth while considering? +May not these prophecies be golden, especially if needed? I shall +leave you to answer that. But I want to suggest an improvement on the +gentleman's simile--to this 'assay test.' I think it could be improved. +The question is not so much as to whether in the four (New Testament) +Gospels or in the fifth (i.e., the Book of III Nephi in the Book of +Mormon) all is gold, but is there gold in them. I do not think the +four Gospels are without alloy. In other words I do not think the four +Gospels are perfect. I believe there are imperfections in them in forms +of expressions and in the fact that they do not convey all that Jesus +both taught and did; at best they are but fragmentary. St. John informs +us in his Gospel that if all the things that Jesus had done were +written, the world itself would hardly contain the books. We have not +the full reports of Messiah's discourses. The full and absolutely pure +world of God just as it fell from the lips of the Savior, is not in the +four Gospels. For the most part we have but the recollections of the +evangelists of what Jesus said and did. Only those who read the Greek, +and unfortunately they are very few, may read even the four Gospels in +the language in which the Apostles wrote them. We have translations of +these records, and each time they are translated dilution takes place. +The force of what is said becomes in the translation somewhat abated. * +* * So with the book of III Nephi, that comes to us in abridged form. +It is not the original book of Nephi; it is Mormon's abridgment of +that book. He has condensed it, and in doing so has doubtless given us +less perfect accounts of Christ's mission to the Nephites [than would +have been found in the unabridged book of III Nephi]. That is to say, +we have not all the surrounding circumstances or all the utterances +of the Savior, or of the men the book represents as speaking. Then we +have not even Mormon's original abridgment of Nephi's book--the real +fifth Gospel--but only the Prophet Joseph's translation of Mormon's +abridgment, and that it is admitted in his imperfect English. So that +the whole five Gospels are fragmentary and tainted with imperfections +and limitations, as all things are that pass through human hands; but +they contain nevertheless, God's precious truths [the gold of the +mine]; and some of these are found in the fifth Gospel as well as in +the four Hebrew Gospels; and to me the truths of the fifth or Nephite +Gospel are as precious and important as are those of the other four +Gospels." (Discourse by the writer, "The Fifth Gospel," "Deseret +Evening News," June 11, 1904). The whole discourse will be found in +"Defense of the Faith and the Saints," Vol. I, pp. 373-399. + +22. "Millennial Star," Vol. XIX, p. 118. + +23. One Anti-Mormon writer--the Rev. M. T. Lamb--devotes two chapters +to this subject of circumlocution alone--"The Golden Bible," chapters +i and ii. He brings into contrast passages from the Book of Mormon, +lacking in directness of expression, with passages from the Bible +celebrated for their directness, and thereby is most unfair in his +argument; because he compares the best of the Bible with the worst +of the Book of Mormon, a proceeding which might be reversed with +disastrous results to the Bible, if the comparison were to end with +this comparison of the worst in the one with the best in the other. +Now let it be understood that I am not contending that the English +translation of the Book of Mormon compares as literature with the +English translation of the Hebrew scriptures. The latter is a +translation by the most finished scholarship of the time in which it +was accomplished--I refer to the authorized version, the translation +completed 1611 A. D.--while the Book of Mormon is translated by an +unlearned youth limited in educational opportunities, without even the +advantage of a common school education. True, it is claimed for him +that he was assisted by a divine inspiration. That, however, insures +only the accuracy of the facts, the statement of the truth as contained +in the Nephite record, not directness, accuracy, or charm of literary +style. As for circumlocution in the expression of thought, that is but +natural to one possessed of only a limited vocabulary. The existence +of circumlocution, therefore, in the Book of Mormon is in harmony with +and helps to illustrate what in these pages has been contended for, as +to the manner in which the Book of Mormon was translated, and the fact +that the Prophet Joseph was left to express the thought he received +from the Nephite record in such language as he could command; which +theory of translation once accepted, I here repeat, makes easy an +answer to all the objections urged upon the ground of literary defects +in the Book of Mormon. + +24. See translator's preface and title page of the "Authorized English +Version." + +25. Hyde's "Mormonism," chapters ix, x, xi. + +26. "Golden Bible," chapter vii. + +27. Linn's "Story of the Mormons," chapter xi. + +28. "Improvement Era," Vol. VIII (1904), pp. 180, 181. + +29. When the translators of our English Bible found it necessary to +supply words to make clear the meaning in English, they printed those +words in italics, and it is to these words that reference is made in +the above. + +30. The addition of the words in this verse, "who come unto me," are +important. Surely, it is not enough for man to be merely poor in +spirit. Not on that hinges salvation. A man can be poor in spirit and +still fail of salvation; but "blessed are the poor in spirit 'who +come unto me,' for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," is a reasonable +doctrine. + +31. Verses four and five in the "Douay" version are transposed, hence +verse 5 here. + +32. The addition of the words, "with the Holy Ghost" are important to +this passage, for they make the statement of Messiah more definite, and +take the passage out of all controversy as to what those who hunger and +thirst after righteousness shall be filled with. They shall be filled +with the Holy Ghost, the spiritual power that makes for righteousness. + +33. Observe that this and the remaining passages quoted from the Book +of Mormon are addressed directly to the Twelve Apostles, to whom +especially they apply, not to the multitude. May it not be that when +Jesus gave the same instructions in Judea he made a like distinction? +If so, it was to the Twelve that he said: "Take no thought for the +morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. +Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof." That is a passage of +scripture against which infidels have leveled their sarcasms ever +since it was written. They have denounced it as instruction utterly +impractical; as false in theory, as it would be impossible to practice; +and as giving the evidence that Jesus was a mere idle dreamer, not a +practical reformer. For, say they, this doctrine of taking no thought +of the morrow, and taking no thought respecting food and raiment, if +applied to the world's affairs, would turn the wheels of progress +backward, and plunge the world into a state of barbarism. There could +be no civilization under such conditions, they argue; and man would go +back to the condition of the savage. I have never heard a Christian +argument against that assault that has been an answer to it. But I find +the key to the situation in this Book of Mormon version of the passage. +It throws a flood of light upon this matter that makes the defense of +the doctrine of Christ not only possible but easy against the assaults +of the infidel world. This instruction about taking no thought for the +morrow was not addressed to the multitude, nor is it to be followed +generally by the members of the Church, nor by the people of the world +at large. Jesus confines his instructions on this head, according to +this Book of Mormon version, to the twelve men whom he chose among his +disciples, and especially commissioned to go and preach the gospel; he +admonishes them to so completely dedicate themselves unto the Lord that +they would give no thought to these temporal things, but put heart, and +soul into the work of their ministry; and promises that their Father +in heaven, who knew they had need of food and raiment, would open the +way for them; and by his bounty and grace would clothe them even as he +clothed the lilies of the field; and care for them as he cared for the +birds of the air. Thus limited to the twelve men especially dedicated +to God's service, the doctrine is reasonable and practical, and subject +to no objection that may not be successfully answered. + +34. "Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof." I suggest a +comparison here to that found in the other two versions, the +Protestant, the Catholic. The Protestant: "Sufficient unto the day is +the evil thereof;" the Catholic: "Sufficient for the day is the evil +thereof." In the Protestant and Catholic versions you will observe that +the evil is made sufficient for the day; in the Book of Mormon version +the day is made sufficient for the evil. Three learned commentators +in collaboration--Jamieson, Fausett, Brown--say of that sentence as +it stands in the Protestant version: "An admirable, practical maxim, +better rendered in our version than in any other, not excepting +the preceding English ones. Every day brings its own cares, and to +anticipate is only to doubt them." If these learned commentators can +thus speak in high praise of the saying of the Savior as it stands in +Matthew, how much more reason they would have for praising it as it is +found in the Book of Mormon! + +35. Or it may be that the changes occurred to the inspired mind of the +Prophet when reading the English version, without referring to the +Nephite plates. In this connection it is to be remembered that the +Prophet, 1831-1833, was engaged in such an inspired "revision" of the +Old and New Testament, sometimes miscalled a "New Translation" of the +Bible. It is more proper, however, to speak of it as a "revision," +as the Prophet did not at any time pretend to the knowledge of the +ancient languages that would enable him to translate from the Hebrew +or Greek, as translation is commonly understood. What he did was to +revise the English text of the Bible under the inspiration of God, and +that led him not only to give different renderings of various passages, +but also to supply missing parts made known to him by the inspiration +of God. The fact that he thus made a "revision" of the scriptures +rather inclines one to the belief that when he turned from the Nephite +records, to what must have been substantially parallel passages in the +English version, the changes were suggested to him in this manner; +that is, by the inspiration of the Lord operating in his mind when +reading the English text. And indeed, may it not be possible that these +changes suggested by the Spirit when reading the English text, during +the translation of the Book of Mormon, led him finally to attempt the +revision of the whole body of the Hebrew scriptures from the English +text? It is interesting to note that it was by such an inspiration in +relation to the 29th verse of the 5th chapter of John's Gospel, that +led not only to a different reading of the text, but also to that +marvelous vision of the future state of man, and the different degrees +of glory that he will inherit. The text in the English version stands, +"And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection +of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of +damnation." To the Prophet it was given, "and shall come forth, they +who have done good in the resurrection of the just; and they who have +done evil in the resurrection of the unjust;" then followed the vision. + +36. The correspondence in full is to be found in the "Improvement Era" +for January, 1904, pp. 179-196. + +37. For confirmation of the likelihood of his taking such a course, see +his letter to the saints in Nauvoo on the subject of baptism for the +dead (Doc. & Cov., Sec. 128: 17, 18). He quotes the 5th and 6th verses +of the last chapter of Malachi, precisely as it reads in the authorized +English version, and then adds: "I might have rendered a plainer +translation to this, but it is sufficiently plain to suit my purpose as +it stands." Long before Moroni had given him a different rendition as +follows: + + BIBLE. MORONI. + + "Behold I will send you Elijah, "Behold, I will reveal unto + the prophet, before the you the Priesthood by the hand + coming of the great and terrible of Elijah, the prophet, before + day of the Lord; the coming of the great and + dreadful day of the Lord. + + "And he shall turn the heart "And he shall plant in the + of the fathers to the children, hearts of the children the + and the heart of the children promises made to the fathers, + to their fathers, lest I come and and the hearts of the children + smite the earth with a curse. shall turn to their fathers; if + it were not so, the whole earth + would be utterly wasted at his + coming." + +And yet the prophet used the passage as it is found in Malachi, since +it suited the prophet's purpose as it stood. + +38. The Rev. M. T. Lamb, author of the "Golden Bible, or the Book of +Mormon. Is it from God," delivering a lecture in the town of Coalville, +Utah, had the following experience: In the course of his remarks the +reverend gentleman related how he had sat down to read the Book of +Mormon for the purpose of really ascertaining for himself if it were +true or false. He related how he found on the very first page of the +book the statement that Lehi's family consisted of his wife Sariah, +and his four sons, Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi. "Sam, Sam," said he, +"that sounds familiar! Sam, it occurs to me that I have heard that +name somewhere before! Sam! Oh, yes, I remember, 'Sam' is the Yankee +nickname for Samuel! Right then and there," said the speaker, "I had +my doubts as to this book being a genuine, ancient record, since I +found a modern Yankee contraction of a proper name given as the name of +an ancient personage!" At the conclusion of his remarks the reverend +gentleman gave opportunity for questions on the subject of his lecture. +Whereupon, Elder W. W. Cluff of the "Mormon" faith, arose, and in the +course of a good-natured and informal discussion he asked the Rev. +Mr. Lamb what he would think of a person who would sit down and begin +an examination of the pentateuch--the books accredited to Moses, and +the most ancient of the Hebrew scriptures (except, perhaps, the book +of Job), to ascertain its truth, and coming to the enumeration of the +names of the sons of Jacob finds one of them named "Dan." "Dan, Dan," +says this supposed investigator, "Dan, why it seems to me that I have +heard that name before! sounds familiar! Oh, I remember now, 'Dan' +is the Yankee nickname for 'Daniel.' Therefore the writings of Moses +cannot be genuine, because here is a Yankee nickname given as the +name of a very ancient personage, therefore these alleged writings of +Moses must be modern; hence, not what they have claimed to be, ancient +inspired scriptures!" It is needless to say that the Rev. M. T. Lamb +had nothing further to say on this point. The simple parallel was too +much for him. + +39. Linn's "Story of the Mormons," p. 96. + +40. "Through nature to nature's God" is another instance referred to +by many anti-Mormon writers as being in the Book of Mormon (although +this writer has failed to find it), and is also in Pope's Essay on man. +"The God of nature suffers" (First Nephi 19: 11-12), an expression used +by the first Nephi, quoting the words of the prophet Zenos; this, be +it remembered, several hundred years before Christ. This expression +is accredited to Dionysius, the areopagite, supposed to be living at +the time of the Savior's death on the cross, and who, as he beheld the +sun hide its face, and witnessed the bursting of the rocks and felt +the earth tremble, exclaimed: "Either the God of Nature suffers or the +universe is falling apart." And it is sneeringly urged that "Nephi, +2400 years ago, hears the saying of a pagan who lives 634 years after +him!" (Campbell.) + +41. Job x: 20-21. + +42. Job xvi: 22. + +43. It must be remembered that Lehi's colony carried with them, in +their journey to the western hemisphere, the Jewish scriptures extant +up to 600 B. C., which scriptures doubtless included the book of Job; +hence my remark that Lehi was doubtless familiar with Job's reflection +concerning death--of his going whence he would not return. + +44. I Nephi 22: 21. II Nephi 31: 5-10. + +45. Such, substantially, is a suggestion made by Mr. H. Chamberlain, +Esq., whom I have quoted before in this chapter. + +46. In the course of a brief discussion of the Book of Mormon, carried +on through one of the leading journals of Salt Lake City, with an +"Unknown" writer, the following rule of criticism, on the objection +discussed in the text, was laid down: + +"Any book which professes to have been written in ancient times and yet +quotes from authors not born until centuries afterwards, is a spurious +book." + +To which the writer made the following reply: + +"This canon of criticism, however serviceable when applied to books +in general, can in no sense be made to do service against the Book of +Mormon. When he formulated his canon of criticism, as throughout the +discussion, the 'Unknown' failed to recognize the fact that, while +the Book of Mormon is an ancient book, it is largely a prophetic +book; and the strongest complaint that can be made against it along +the line of the 'Unknown's' criticism is that some of its prophecies +are here and there translated in phraseology somewhat similar to that +of writers living subsequent to the period in which it was written. +In explanation of this fact I have urged that the translator, Joseph +Smith, being acquainted with the New Testament [and to a limited extent +with the popular phrases of some modern writers] and his diction being +influenced by the phraseology of those writers, sometimes expressed the +thoughts and predictions of the ancient writers in the New Testament +phrases. So that the question at issue at this point of the discussion +is, first, whether the ancient writers in the Book of Mormon could have +been acquainted with the events, to them then future, found recorded in +the Book of Mormon, and is the theory reasonable that in translating +their statement of these events Joseph Smith's diction would be +influenced by the phraseology of the New Testament? In dealing with +the question of the New Testament phraseology in the Book of Mormon it +is Joseph Smith that has to be dealt with, not Nephi [or other Book of +Mormon writers], the translator, not the original writers." + +The whole controversy, consisting of four papers, will be found in the +writer's "Defense of the Faith and the Saints." Vol. I. pp. 313-354. + +47. Isaiah chapter 48 is found in I. Nephi, chapter 20; Isaiah 49 in I. +Nephi 21; Isaiah 50 in II. Nephi, 7; Isaiah 51 in II. Nephi, 8; Isaiah +53 in Mosiah 14; Isaiah 52:9, 10; in III. Nephi 18-20; Isaiah 54 in +III. Nephi 22. + +48. Driver's Introduction to the Literature of the Old +Testament--Isaiah, p. 230. + +49. Driver's Introduction, pp. 336, 337. + +50. Ibid. p. 238. + +51. Ibid., p. 242. + +52. Jamieson-Faussett-Brown Commentary, Introduction to Isaiah. + +53. Antiquities of the Jews, Book XI., chapter I. + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +OBJECTIONS TO THE BOOK OF MORMON (Continued). + +IV. + +_Pre-Christian Era Knowledge of the Gospel_. + +Among the early objections to the Book of Mormon, supposed to be +unanswerable, was that based upon the fact that the Nephites hundreds +of years before the birth of Christ had knowledge of him and the +redemption he would bring to pass for man, and the means of grace +through which salvation would be accomplished. In fact, that they had +knowledge of the Christian institution. "He," (Joseph Smith) "represents +the Christian institution," says Alexander Campbell, "as practiced +among his Israelites before Christ was born! And his Jews are called +'Christians' while keeping the law of Moses, the Holy Sabbath, and +worship in their temple, at their altars, and by their High Priest!" + +Of late, however, not so much importance has been attached to this +objection. It is becoming more and more recognized as a truth that the +gospel of Christ was known from very ancient times, from before the +foundations of the world in fact. Jesus, in scripture, is known as the +"Lamb slain from before the foundations of the world," and certain ones +are spoken of as having their names written in the "Book of Life" from +the foundation of the world. [1] + +Paul speaks of the hope of "eternal life, which God that cannot lie, +promised before the world began." [2] Men were not left in ignorance of +the plan of their redemption until the coming of the Messiah in the +flesh, even in the old world. Our annals are imperfect on that head, +doubtless, but enough evidence exists even in the Jewish scriptures to +indicate the existence of the knowledge of the fact of the Atonement +and of the redemption of man through that means. Abel, the son of +Adam, offered the firstlings of his flock as a sacrifice unto God. How +came he to make such an offering, except that behind the sacrifice, +as behind similar offerings in subsequent ages, stood the fact of the +Christ's Atonement? In such sacrifice, was figured forth the means of +man's redemption--through a sacrifice, and that the sacrifice of the +first-born. Paul also refers to the sacrifices and other things of the +law of Moses as "having a shadow of good things to come." [3] But where +learned Abel to offer sacrifices if not from his father, Adam? It is +reasonably certain that Adam as well as Abel offered sacrifices, in +like manner and for the same intent. Paul bears unmistakable testimony +to the fact that the gospel was preached unto Abraham; and also +that it was offered to Israel under Moses before "the law of carnal +commandments" was given. "I would not that ye should be ignorant," he +says, "how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed +through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in +the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink +the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that +followed them, and that Rock was Christ." [4] + +Paul's great controversy with the Christian Jews was in relation to the +superiority of the gospel to the law of Moses. Many of the Christian +Jews, while accepting Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah, still +held to the law with something like superstitious reverence, and could +not be persuaded that the gospel superseded the law, and was, in fact, +a fulfillment of all its types and symbols. This controversy culminated +in Paul's now celebrated letter to the Galatians, wherein he says: + + Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the + children of Abraham. And the scriptures, foreseeing that God would + justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto + Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. Now to + Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He sayeth not And to + seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. + And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of + God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years + after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none + effect. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of + transgression, till the seed should come to whom the promise was + made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. + Wherefore the law was our school-master to bring us unto Christ, + that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, + we are no longer under a school-master. For ye are all the children + of God by faith in Christ Jesus. + +After this testimony to the knowledge of the gospel existing among +the ancients, it is useless for modern critics of the Book of Mormon +to complain of the knowledge of the Christian institution possessed +by the Nephites, and the fact that the Book of Mormon proclaims the +existence of that knowledge. If it shall be said that the Nephites had +clearer conceptions of it than the people inhabiting the old world, +that fact would arise not out of God's unwillingness to make known the +great truth, but to the fact that the Nephites succeeded in living more +nearly within his favor; and hence their clearer knowledge of the truth. + +It should be remembered that prophecy is but history reversed. Known +unto God are all his works and words from the beginning to the end; and +at various times he has made known future events in the clearest manner +to his prophets who, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, have +recorded them. The Prophet Isaiah, 150 years before the birth of Cyrus, +foretold his name; declared that he should subdue kingdoms, including +Babylon, set free the people of God held in bondage there, and rebuild +the House of the Lord at Jerusalem. And all this as clearly as the +historians could write it after the events themselves took place. To +Daniel he revealed the rise, fall and succession of the leading empires +and nations of the world, even to the time of the establishment of +God's Kingdom in power to hold universal sway in the latter days, an +event not yet fulfilled. + +It is clearer even from the Hebrew scriptures that the Lord has +been willing, and even anxious, that a knowledge of the Christian +institution should be had among men from the beginning. To the prophets +of Israel, in fact, nearly every important event in the life of the +Savior was made known. They foretold that he would be born of a virgin; +that his name would signify "God with us;" that Bethlehem would be the +place of his birth; that he would sojourn in Egypt with his parents; +that he would reside in Nazareth, for "He shall be called a Nazarene;" +that a messenger would prepare the way before him; that he should +ride in triumph into Jerusalem upon a colt, the foal of an ass; that +he would be afflicted and despised; that he would be a man of sorrows +and acquainted with grief; that he would be despised and rejected of +men; that men would turn their faces from him in his affliction; that +he would be esteemed as stricken and smitten of God; that he would be +wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities; that the +chastisement of us men would be laid upon him, and by his stripes would +be healed; that upon him would God lay the iniquity of us all; that +for the transgressions of God's peoples would he be stricken; that he +would be oppressed and afflicted, yet open not his mouth; that as a +sheep before her shearers is dumb, so would he be silent before his +judges; that he would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver; that men +would divide his raiment and cast lots for his vesture; that they would +give to him gall and vinegar to drink; that not a bone of him should +be broken; that he should be taken from prison and from judgment, and +be cut out of the land of the living; that he would make his grave +with the wicked and the rich in his death; but notwithstanding this +he should not see corruption (i. e., his body decay), and that on the +third day following his death he should rise triumphant from the grave. +All this and much more was foretold by the ancient Hebrew prophets +concerning the Messiah. This is prophetic history. + +In like manner to the Nephites his prophetic history was made known, +and is found in the Book of Mormon in some instances in greater +plainness than in the Old Testament, because, for one thing--in +addition to the suggestion made that the Nephites may have lived nearer +to the Lord than other branches of the house of Israel--the Nephite +scriptures have not passed through the hands of an Aristobulus, a Philo +and other rabbis, who by interpretation or elimination have taken away +some of the plain and precious parts of the Jewish scriptures. Surely +if the Lord revealed to the Jewish prophets these leading events in the +history of the Savior ages before the Messiah's birth, it ought not to +be thought a strange thing if God imparted the same knowledge to the +Nephite prophets. Nor can the fact that he did so, and that in plainer +terms than in the revelations to the Jews, be held as valid objections +to the Book of Mormon. + +V. + +_The Unlawfulness of Establishing the Priesthood With Other Than the +Tribe of Levi_. + +Somewhat akin to the objections last considered is one based upon the +claim that it would be unlawful to establish a Priesthood other than +that founded by Moses, when he chose the tribe of Levi to officiate in +holy ordinances. In order that this objection, however, may be stated +in its full force I quote it as set forth by Alexander Campbell, not +even omitting the unfortunate coarseness of his language which was so +unworthy of his character, and which I assign to the spirit of those +times when coarseness was so often mistaken for forcefulness. + + Smith, its real author [i. e., of the Book of Mormon], as ignorant + and as impudent a knave as ever wrote a book, betrays the cloven + foot in basing his whole book upon a false fact, or a pretended + fact, which makes God a liar. It is this: with the Jews God made a + covenant at Mount Sinai, and instituted a priesthood, he separated + Levi, and covenanted to give him this office irrevocably while + ever the temple stood, or till the Messiah came. "Then," says God, + "Moses shall appoint Aaron and his sons and they shall wait on the + priest's office, and the stranger (the person of another family) + who cometh nigh shall be put to death." (Numbers iii: 10.) "And + the priests and sons of Levi shall come near; for them the Lord + thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name + of the Lord, and by their word shall every controversy and every + stroke be tried." (Deut. xxi: 5). Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, with + 250 men of renown, rebelled against a part of the institution of + the Priesthood, and the Lord destroyed them in the presence of the + whole congregation. This was to be a memorial that no stranger + invade any part of the office of the Priesthood. (Numbers xvi: 40). + Fourteen thousand and seven hundred of the people were destroyed by + a plague for murmuring against the memorial. + + In the 18th chapter of Numbers the Levites are again given to Aaron + and his sons, and of the priesthood confirmed to them with this + threat--"The stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death." + "Even Jesus," says Paul, "were he on earth, could not be a priest; + for he was of a tribe concerning which Moses spake nothing of + priesthood." (Heb. vii: 13). So irrevocable was the grant of the + priesthood to Levi, and of the high priesthood to Aaron, that no + stranger dare approach the altar of God which Moses established. + Hence Jesus himself was excluded from officiating as priest on + earth according to the law. + + This Joseph Smith overlooked in his impious fraud, and makes his + hero, Lehi, spring from Joseph. And just as soon as his sons return + from the roll of his lineage, ascertaining that he was of the + tribe of Joseph, he and his sons acceptably "offer sacrifices and + burnt offerings to the Lord." (p. 15, first edition.) [5] Also it + is repeated (p. 18)--Nephi became chief artificer, shipbuilder, + and mariner; was scribe, prophet, priest, and king unto his own + people, and "consecrated Jacob and Joseph, the sons of his father, + priests to God and teachers--almost 600 years before the fulness + of the times of the Jewish economy was completed. (p. 72.) Nephi + represents himself withal "as under the law of Moses" (p. 105). + They built a new temple in the new world, and in 55 years after + they leave Jerusalem, make a new priesthood which God approbates. + A high priest is also consecrated and yet they are all the while + "teaching the law of Moses, and exhorting the people to keep it!" + (pp. 146, 209.) Thus God is represented as instituting, approbating + and blessing a new priesthood from the tribe of Joseph, concerning + which Moses gave no commandment concerning priesthood. Although God + had promised in the law of Moses that if any man, not of the tribe + and family of Levi and Aaron should approach the office of priest, + he would surely die; he is represented by Smith as blessing, + approbating, and sustaining another family in this appropriated + office. The God of Abraham or Joseph Smith must, then, be a liar! + And who will hesitate to pronounce him an imposter? This lie runs + through his record for the first 600 years of his history. + +I have stated this objection, at length, because much importance has +been attached to it and many have regarded it as unanswerable. I +consider its importance has been exaggerated, and the whole objection +based upon conceptions of the right and power of God and his freedom of +action, as altogether too narrow and dogmatic. + +It is to be observed, first of all, that the inhibitions against others +being appointed to the priesthood that was given to Aaron and the +Levites, are inhibitions against "men" assuming the right to institute +any other order of priesthood in Israel, or to grant the rights of +this priesthood to any other tribe than that appointed by the Lord. +Because of these inhibitions against "men" presuming to change the +order which God has established, to therefore assume that God, to meet +other conditions--such as these, for instance in the establishment of +a branch of the house of Israel in the new world--the case of Lehi +and his colony--that God cannot make such changes in the matter of +establishing a priesthood as seemeth him good, is preposterous. + +I think the argument of this point might be closed here, for surely no +one would be so unreasonable as to contend that the inhibitions which +God imposes upon men are to be made operative upon himself. + +In the treatment of the objection preceding the one now under +consideration I pointed out the fact of the antiquity of the gospel, +showing that even unto Abraham the gospel had been preached, and that +the law of Moses, usually called the law of carnal commandments, had +been "added" to the gospel because of the transgressions of Israel, +from which fact it is evident that the gospel was administered in those +ancient, patriarchial times. It was a higher law than the law of Moses. +It was the everlasting covenant of God with man and the blood of Christ +is spoken of as being the blood of that everlasting covenant. [6] There +was a priesthood that administered the ordinances of that gospel, and +as the gospel was a higher law than the law of Moses, it is reasonable +to conclude that the priesthood which administered in those ordinances +was a higher order of priesthood than that conferred upon Aaron and +the tribe of Levi, and undoubtedly the higher priesthood could, on +occasion, administer in the ordinances of the inferior law. It was, +doubtless, this higher order of Priesthood that such characters as +Abraham, Melchizedek, and other prophets in Israel held, and by which +they administered in sacred things. It was this order of priesthood +that was held by Lehi and Nephi, and which the latter conferred upon +his brothers, Jacob, and Joseph. [7] The former referring to his +priesthood says, that he had been "ordained after the manner of this +(the Lord's) holy order," that being the way in which this higher +priesthood, of which I am speaking, is designated throughout the Book +of Mormon. [8] Called also a priesthood "after the order of the Son of +God." It was this priesthood, therefore, that was conferred upon the +Nephites--not the Aaronic priesthood--and by which they officiated in +sacred things; of things pertaining to the gospel as well as to the +law given of Moses. The justification for administering in the things +of the law by this priesthood consist in the fact that the superior +authority includes all the rights and powers of the inferior authority, +and certainly possesses the power to do what the inferior authority +could do. + +It may be claimed that the inconsistency of the Book of Mormon, +relative to this matter, consists in this: It claims that the Nephites +were living according to the law of Moses, and the law of Moses +provided that the house of Aaron and the tribe of Levi alone should +exercise the priesthood; whereas, among the Nephites others than +the Levites held and exercised the priesthood; technically, that +inconsistency exists, but it is a technicality and is capable of +bearing no such weight of argument as Mr. Campbell puts upon it. In +Lehi's colony there was no representative of the tribe of Levi so far +as known, and hence others had to be chosen to officiate before the +Lord in the priest's office. + +That the Lord in making his covenant with the house of Aaron and the +tribe of Levi concerning the priesthood reserved to himself the right +on occasion to appoint others to perform priestly functions, even in +Israel, in Palestine, is evident from the case of Gideon, the fifth +judge in Israel after Moses. Gideon was of the tribe of Manasseh, [9] +and when the Lord would deliver Israel from the oppression of the +Midianites he sent his angel to this man, and though he was not of the +tribe to whom the priesthood had been given by covenant, nevertheless, +the Lord commanded him to build an altar, and he did so, and called +it Jehovah-shalom. He also threw down the altar of Baal and built an +altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings, all of which were +priestly functions. [10] Shall these acts be denounced as a violation +of the covenant of the Lord with Aaron and the tribe of Levi? Shall +the angel of the Lord, who commanded Gideon in these priestly things, +be declared a spirit of evil, a violator of God's covenant? Shall +the book of Judges be rejected as a spurious book, and unworthy of +being accepted as part of the scriptures because it relates these +circumstances? In a word, shall we employ against it all the thunder +of Mr. Campbell's criticism of the Book of Mormon? His criticism would +be just as effective against the book of Judges as it is against the +Book of Mormon, but as a matter of fact it would amount to nothing in +either case, since the action of Gideon, and also of Lehi and Nephi, +were of the Lord's appointing, and the Lord had certainly reserved to +himself the right to appoint men other than members of the tribe of +Levi when occasion should require, though he had forbidden "men" to +appoint priests other than from that tribe. This was to avoid confusion +and the bringing into existence rival priesthoods among God's people, +but certainly when the Lord conferred a higher order of priesthood upon +the Nephites, under which they were to operate in the New World, there +was no infringement of the rights of the tribe of Levi. It was no more +a violation of the covenant the Lord made with the tribe of Levi, than +it would be for the Lord to appoint an inhabitant of Mars to that order +of priesthood and give him the right of administration in that distant +world. + +The whole objection is captious, and manifests the weakness of the +objections urged against the Book of Mormon, since so great stress must +needs be laid upon this supposed contradiction of the Bible covenant. + +In his objections to the Book of Mormon, in addition to those already +noted, Mr. Campbell also lays stress upon the departure of Lehi from +Jerusalem, and also the establishment of a temple and its service in +the New World, as a great violation of God's covenant with Israel. "To +represent God," he says, "as inspiring a devout Jew [Lehi was not a +Jew, by the way, but of the tribe of Manasseh] and a prophet, such as +Lehi and Nephi are represented by Smith, with resolution to forsake +Jerusalem and God's own house, and to depart from the land which God +gave to their fathers so long as they were obedient; and to guide by +miracle and bless by prodigies a good man in forsaking God's covenant +and worship, is so monstrous an error that language fails to afford a +name for it." + +One can scarce refrain from characterizing this sort of criticism as +nonsense. Nor does it represent the facts in the case. Lehi was not +forsaking God's covenant nor worship; he was leaving Jerusalem by the +Lord's own commandment at a time when God's judgment was about to +fall and shortly afterwards did fall upon the place, so that it was +no great calamity that was happening to Lehi's righteous colony to be +taken from such a place and brought to the great American continents, +agreeable to the covenants of the Lord with the house of Joseph, +Lehi's ancestor. [11] The establishment of a temple in the New World +was a necessity to this colony, but Mr. Campbell, together with all +who have followed him in this and similar objections, seem determined +to so limit the power of God that they will not allow of him making +provisions to meet such occasions. + +VI. + +_Nephite Knowledge of the "Call of the Gentiles."_ + +Much stress is laid by Mr Campbell and others upon what Paul says +respecting the "call" of the Gentiles to the grace of the gospel of +Christ, "which in other ages," says Paul, "was not made know unto the +sons of men as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets +by the Spirit: that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the +same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel." [12] + +The making this truth known to the world, according to Mr. Campbell's +views of Paul's declaration was reserved to Paul and his fellow +apostles of that dispensation. "But Smith," remarks Mr. Campbell, +"makes his pious hero Nephi 600 years before the Messiah began to +preach, disclose these secrets concerning the calling of the Gentiles, +and blessings flowing through the Messiah to Jews and Gentiles, which +Paul says was hid from ages and generations." [13] + +This objection could be disposed of in several ways. First, it could +be held that when Paul, and the other apostles of the old world, spoke +concerning the development of the work of the Lord in that land, they +were limited by their knowledge of the world. They did not speak with +reference to the people inhabiting the American continents who were +unknown to them. For example, when Paul said: + + Be not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye have heard, + and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; + whereof I Paul am made a minister. [14] + +No one for a moment thinks Paul had in mind the inhabitants of the +western hemisphere when he said, "the Gospel was preached to every +creature which is under heaven." He had reference to the world with +which he was acquainted, as he knew the world. + +Second, it could be held that the knowledge of this mystery revealed to +the Nephites by no means interfered with the purposes of God in keeping +that matter hidden from the Gentiles and the world. The fact made known +to the Nephites never reached the Gentiles until after the publication +of the Book of Mormon, in 1830, long ages after Paul had published the +fact to the Gentile world. What was revealed to the Nephites in no way +detracted from the glory of Paul and the other apostles, making known +the mystery of God's grace to the Gentiles. + +Third. It could be held that Paul meant that himself and fellow +apostles knew in a different way that the Gentiles were to be fellow +heirs with the house of Israel in the privileges of the gospel. Indeed, +I think this must be the solution of the matter, for Mr. Campbell's +version of it would bring Paul and Isaiah into pronounced conflict +with each other, and prove that one or the other of them did not speak +by the inspiration of God. That it was revealed to the ancients that +the Gentiles were to partake of the advantages of Christ's atonement, +and have part in the salvation that is possible though it is evident +from the following passages, which all allow makes direct reference to +Christ and his mission. + + I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine + hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the + people, for a light of the Gentiles. [15] + +Again: + + And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant + to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of + Israel; I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that + thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. [16] + +In the light of these revelations, concerning the part the Gentiles +were to have in the salvation that comes through Christ, it can +scarcely be said that this "mystery," was not revealed in ages previous +to the days of Paul; but it could be said, and this I contend is what +Paul meant, that it was not as fully known in former ages that the +Gentiles were "to be fellow heirs and of the same body, and partakers +of his promise in Christ by the gospel." Before Paul's time it was only +in prophecy that this was known; but after his day it was known both in +prophecy and as accomplished fact. + +VII. + +_The Difficulty of the Three Days Darkness_. + +An effort is sometimes made to bring the Book of Mormon into +contradiction with the New Testament in the matter of "three days +darkness," connected with the death of Jesus. The objection was +recently stated in these terms: + + In Helaman xiv: 20-27, and in I. Nephi xix: 10, we read about three + days of darkness which should cover "all the earth," and the isles + of the sea at the crucifixion of the Savior. Neither the Bible nor + history speaks of three days of darkness on the eastern hemisphere, + hence it did not cover "all the earth" as we understand it. + +The objection as here stated, and the argument to be inferred from it, +is: the Book of Mormon says that at the crucifixion of Messiah there +will be three days of darkness that will cover all the face of the +earth and the isles of the sea. History and the Bible are silent about +such an event; therefore, the Book of Mormon makes a false statement +and must itself be untrue, and consequently uninspired, and is not at +all what it claims to be, viz., a record of the ancient inhabitants of +America, and brought forth by the power of God for the enlightenment +and instruction of the world. + +This statement of the objection differs a little from the ordinary +manner in which the objection is made. Objectors usually try to make +it appear that the Book of Mormon's statement that there were three +days darkness in the Western World during the time Messiah was in the +tomb is in conflict with the New Testament's statement that there were +three hours darkness during the crucifixion; but the fact that the New +Testament refers to an event that took place while Jesus hung upon the +cross in Judea, and the Book of Mormon statement refers to an event +that took place after his crucifixion, while he was lying in the tomb, +and in the western hemisphere, instead of at Jerusalem, it must be +apparent that there is no conflict between the two accounts. + +But now to meet the objection as here presented. All that is necessary +will be to present just exactly what the Book of Mormon does say with +reference to the three days of darkness: + + The God of our fathers * * * * yieldeth himself, according to the + words of the angel, as a man into the hands of wicked men to be + lifted up according to the words of Zenock, and to be crucified + according to the words of Neum, and to be buried in a sepulchre, + according to the words of Zenos, which he spake, concerning the + three days of darkness which should be a sign given of his death, + unto those who should inhabit the isles of the sea, more especially + given unto those who are of the House of Israel. [17] + +This is one of the passages referred to in the objection, but there +is nothing here about the three days of darkness extending over "the +whole face of the earth." It speaks of it as extending to the isles +of the sea; i. e. to lands distant from Jerusalem beyond the seas--to +those more especially inhabited by the house of Israel. In passing, and +merely by the way, it may be interesting to call attention to the fact +that here are three Hebrew prophets referred to by Nephi--Zenock, Neum, +and Zenos--each of whom had recorded an important prophecy respecting +the coming and mission of Christ; and had not the Jews eliminated the +books of these prophets from their collection of scriptures, it could +not have then been said, as it is now said, that the Bible is silent +respecting these three days of darkness, which were to be a sign of the +Messiah's death; for then they would have had the words of Zenos that +there was to be such a sign given in the isles of the sea, inhabited by +the house of Israel. + + Behold, as I said unto you concerning another sign, a sign of his + death, behold in that day that he shall suffer death, the sun shall + be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you, and also the + moon, and the stars also; and there shall be no light upon the + face of this land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, + for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise again + from the dead. * * * And behold thus hath the angel * * said unto + me, that these things should be, and that darkness shall cover the + face of the whole earth for the space of three days. And the angel + said unto me, that many shall see greater things than these, to the + intent that they might believe that these signs and these wonders + come to pass upon all the face of this land. (Helaman, 20:28.) + +This is the other passage quoted, and in it is found the phrase, "that +darkness shall cover the face of the whole earth for the space of three +days." But it should be remembered that this is preceded by a statement +concerning the three days darkness that limits this otherwise general +statement, namely, "and there shall be no light upon the face of this +land"--meaning America--"for the space of three days." This clearly +limits the particular sign under consideration to America and the +adjacent islands of the sea, in other words, to the western hemisphere. +Moreover, the phrase, "that darkness shall cover the face of the whole +earth," is followed as well as preceded by the limiting clause--"these +signs and these wonders"--namely, the three hours of tempest and of +earthquake followed by the three days of darkness--"shall come to pass +upon all the face of this land"--meaning of course, America. + +Then again, when the prophecy is left and you turn to the history +of its fulfillment, the whole of the thrilling narrative is clearly +confined to the statement of events that occurred in the lands occupied +by the Nephites--that is, to the western hemisphere. Yet in that +narrative is found the same form of expression as in the prophecy of +Samuel, the Lamanite. While describing events that are clearly confined +to Nephite lands, Mormon says: "and thus the face of the whole earth +became deformed because of the tempests and the thunderings and the +lightnings. * * * And behold the rocks were rent in twain; they were +broken up upon all the face of the whole earth."--(III. Nephi, 8: +17, 18). Now did the prophet really mean that the convulsions he was +describing extended to Europe and Asia and Africa because he said "the +rocks were broken upon the face of the whole earth?" No; you limit the +general expression here by the facts of the whole circumstance under +consideration, so that "broken up upon the face of the whole earth," +means upon the face of the whole earth so far as the Nephite lands are +concerned--that is the limitation of the general phrase. + +As an example of this kind of interpretation, I introduce a passage or +two from the Bible. Daniel, in giving the interpretation of the king of +Babylon's dream, says: + + Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given + thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the + children of men dwell the beasts of the field and the fowls of the + heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over + them all. Thou art this head of gold. + +Does this prophecy really mean "wheresoever the children of men dwell," +there, too, was the rule and dominion of Nebuchadnezzar? Did he rule +all of Europe and Africa? Did his dominion extend to the western +hemisphere, for there the children of men dwelt as well as in Asia? +It is a matter of common information that Nebuchadnezzar's dominion +was not thus extended, but really was quite limited. What, then? Shall +we reject the prophecies of Daniel because a strict and technical +construction of his language does not meet the facts? + +Again he says, speaking of the political powers that would succeed +Babylon: + + And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and + another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the + earth. + +This third kingdom is generally agreed to have reference to the kingdom +of Alexander; but did Alexander "bear rule over all the earth?" Did +he bear rule over the western hemisphere? No; nor did he know of its +existence. What, then, shall we do with this inspired prophet who +says he "shall bear rule over all the earth?" Shall we reject him and +his book? Or say that his statements do not agree with the facts? +That would be absurd. The particular phrase is limited by the general +circumstances under which the prophet was speaking. That is of course +taken by all who believe the book of Daniel, and it is a course amply +justified by reason. + +Again, it is recorded in Luke, speaking of the events which happened +during the crucifixion of the Savior: + + And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all + the earth until the ninth hour. + +Did this inspired writer really have in mind the whole round earth, or +was he speaking with reference to what happened right there in Judea +where the main event occurred? Undoubtedly he had reference to what +had been stated to him by the eye witnesses of the scene, who merely +related what appeared to them; namely, that a darkness settled down +over the land, but they were not thinking of the face of the whole +earth when they told the story to Luke, nor was he when he wrote his +statement of the event. + +One other example: + + Be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, + and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; + whereof I Paul am made a minister. (Col. i: 23.) + +Is this statement of Paul's literally true? Had the gospel at that +time, or, for matter of that, has it at any time since then, been +preached unto every creature under heaven? Certainly not. And when Paul +wrote his letter to the Colossians there were millions of the children +of men, as there are to this day, who never had heard of Messiah or +the gospel. Paul could only have meant by this over-statement of the +matter, that the gospel had been generally preached in the kingdoms and +provinces with which himself and the Colossians were acquainted; and +no one thinks of rejecting Paul or his books because of such seeming +inaccuracies. His use of such broad-sweeping phrases are interpreted +in the light of reason, and limited by the well known circumstances +under which he wrote. It should be remembered in this connection, +that hyperbole is a habit of speech with oriental peoples, to whom +the Jews belonged; and indirectly, too, the Nephites are descendents +of the same people, and have retained to a large extent the same +habits of expression; all of which should be taken into account in the +interpretation of the Nephite records as it always is in exegeses of +the Hebrew scriptures. + +V. + +_The Birth of Jesus "at Jerusalem."_ + +The following prediction concerning the birth place of Jesus is found +in the book of Alma. + + And behold he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem, which is the + land of our forefathers. + +Jesus, it is well known, was born at Bethlehem, Judea, between four +and five miles south of Jerusalem, really a suburb of the larger city. +Nearly all objectors point to this prophecy as being in contradiction +of the well attested historical fact of Christ's birth at Bethlehem. +The objection is seldom fairly stated. It is charged that the Book of +Mormon says that Jesus was born "at Jerusalem," and Alexander Campbell +quotes it as being "in Jerusalem," and all omit the qualifying clause +"the land of our fathers," which clearly indicates that it is not the +"city" which the Nephite historian gives, but the "land" in which Jesus +would be born. + +This explanation of the supposed difficulty is further strengthened +when it is remembered that it was a custom of the Nephites to name +large districts of country--such as might correspond to provinces and +principalities in other nations--after the chief city of the land: + + Now it was the custom of the people of Nephi, to call their lands, + and their cities, and their villages, yea, even all their small + villages, after the name of him who first possessed them; and thus + it was with the land of Ammonihah. [18] + +And hence, too, came the practice of calling large districts of country +after the chief city therein. In this same book of Alma--as throughout +the Book of Mormon--we have the city named after the man who founded +it, and the district of country named from the chief city, thus: "The +Land of Zarahemla," "the land of Melek;" "the land of Ammonihah;" "the +land of Gideon;" "the land of Lehi-Nephi, or the city of Lehi-Nephi;" +and so on ad infinitum. It became a habit of speech with them, +especially with reference to Jerusalem, whence their forefathers came, +as witness the following few out of many such quotations that could be +given: + + I shall give this people a name, that thereby they may be + distinguished above all the people which the Lord God hath brought + out of the land of Jerusalem. (Mosiah 1: 11.) + + That same God has brought our fathers out of the land of + Jerusalem. (Mosiah 7: 20.) + + Why will he not show himself in this land, as well as in the land + of Jerusalem? (Helaman 16: 19). + +Hence when it is said that Jesus should be born "at Jerusalem, which is +the land of our forefathers," the Nephite writer merely conformed to a +habit of speech, and meant the "land" of Jerusalem, not the "city." + +VI. + +_The Settlement of Modern Controversies_. + + This prophet Smith * * * * wrote on the plates of Nephi, in his + Book of Mormon, every error and almost every truth discussed + in New York for the last ten years. He decides all the great + controversies;--infant baptism, ordination, the trinity, + regeneration, repentance, justification, the fall of man, the + atonement, transubstantiation, fasting, penance, church government, + religious experience, the call to the ministry and general + resurrection, eternal punishment, who may baptize, and even the + question of free masonry, republican government, and the rights of + man. All these topics are repeatedly alluded to. + +Then in mockery: + + How much more benevolent and intelligent this American Apostle + than the Holy Twelve and Paul to assist them! He prophesied of all + these topics, and of the apostasy, and infallibly decides by his + authority every question. How easy to prophecy of the past or of + the present time! + +Such the statement of Alexander Campbell in the criticism so often +quoted in these pages. Some critics of the Book of Mormon have charged +that it contained nothing of importance on such matters; [19] nothing +that was really worth while considering, but if it considers this long +list of subjects enumerated by Mr. Campbell, the charge of not dealing +with questions of importance must surely be set aside. As a matter of +fact, the Book of Mormon deals with at least the most of the subjects +enumerated, not, however, as they were discussed in New York between +1820 and 1830, but as they arose in the experience of the ancient +inhabitants of America, or as the Nephite prophets moved upon by the +Holy Spirit saw what would arise within the experience of the Gentiles +who would inhabit the land. The chief complaint against Mr. Campbell's +objection on these points consist in the spirit in which he makes it. +For example, the Book of Mormon says nothing of "free masonry," but +throughout the work it does discuss the question of secret societies +that existed both among the Jaredites and Nephites, which societies +were factors in bringing about the overthrow of both these nations; and +it contains also prophetic warning to the Gentiles against such secret +combinations. + +If in the treatment of theological questions and difficulties +enumerated by Mr. Campbell there appears in the Book of Mormon the +same difficulties that have agitated the eastern world, it must be +remembered that the source of error is the same--the limitation of +human knowledge, reason and judgment; the ever present inclination in +man to follow after his own devices; and that the same tempter to evil +operated in the western hemisphere as in the eastern hemisphere, and +evidently has reproduced the same theological difficulties and led men +into the same errors. + +Take for example the matter of infant baptism, which Mr. Campbell says +the Book of Mormon settles, and indeed it does, by most emphatically +pointing out the error and wickedness of it when the doctrine is made +to teach the salvation of one innocent child because it is baptized, +and the eternal damnation of another innocent child because it was +not baptized; [20] but the Book of Mormon condemnation of that wicked +doctrine was not recorded in its pages because of any controversy +existing on the subject in New York, as Mr. Campbell pretends, but +because the Nephite prophets were aroused against this doctrine by +reason of their people running into the same error--the doctrine of +eternal damnation of unbaptized infants--which burdened the teachings +of so called Christian Churches. The proof of this statement is in the +fact that the native Americans at the time of the Spanish invasion +of their country were practicing infant baptism. The fact is related +by all the authorities, varying slightly in their description of it, +according as they get the tradition from this, that, or the other +section of the country. Perhaps, however, Sahagun's description is the +most minute and covers the subject more completely than any other of +the writers, and hence I give at length the passage on the subject as +quoted by Prescott in his appendix to the "Conquest of Mexico." + + When every thing necessary for the baptism had been made ready, all + the relations of the child were assembled, and the midwife, who + was the person that performed the rite of baptism, was summoned. + At early dawn they met together in the court-yard of the house. + When the sun had arisen, the midwife, taking the child in her arms, + called for a little earthen vessel of water, while those about her + placed the ornaments which had been prepared for the baptism in + the midst of the court. To perform the rite of baptism, she placed + herself with her face towards the west, and immediately began to + go through certain ceremonies. * * * * After this she sprinkled + water on the head of the infant, saying, "O, my child! take and + receive the water of the Lord of the world, which is our life, and + is given for the increasing and renewing of our body. It is to wash + and purify. I pray that these heavenly drops may enter into your + body, and dwell there; that they may destroy and remove from you + all the evil and sin which was given to you before the beginning + of the world; since all of us are under its power, being all the + children of Chalchivitlycue" (the goddess of water), She then + washed the body of the child with water, and spoke in this manner: + "whencesoever thou comest, thou that are hurtful to this child; + leave him and depart from him, for he now liveth anew, and is + born anew; now he is purified and cleansed afresh, and our mother + Chalchivitycue again bringeth him into the world." Having thus + prayed, the midwife took the child in both hands, and, lifting him + towards heaven, said, "O Lord, thou seest here thy creature, whom + thou hast sent into this world, this place of sorrow, suffering, + and penitence. Grant him, O Lord, thy gifts, and thine inspiration, + for thou art the Great God, and with thee is the great goddess." + Torches of pine were kept burning during the performance of these + ceremonies. When these things were ended, they gave the child the + name of some one of his ancestors, in the hope that he might shed + a new lustre over it. The name was given by the same midwife, or + priestess, who baptized him. + +This is a perverted form of baptism preserved in the customs of the +native Americans. The Nephites, in the days of Mormon--and how much +before that is not known--fell into this error of infant baptism and +were evidently teaching the damnation of those infants who did not +receive that ordinance. When young Moroni was called to the ministry, +his father, Mormon, charged him strictly against this error and +sharply proclaimed against the iniquity of it. Yet it seems to have +persisted in the customs of the native Americans until we see it in +the form represented by Sahagun, though of course it may have received +modifications--such for instance as being administered by women--since +the period with which the Book of Mormon closes. + +It is in this manner that the Book of Mormon settles the question +of infant baptism, not, as Mr. Campbell insinuates, viz., that the +question of infant baptism being under discussion in western New York +Joseph Smith inserted a decision on the controversy in the Book of +Mormon. + +Further in relation to this matter of baptism in the Book of Mormon, +it does settle the question of the manner of baptism through the +instructions which Jesus is represented as giving to the Nephites--and +was there a subject in relation to the gospel on which Christians +needed instructions more than upon this? And now Jesus to the Nephites: + + Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his sins through + your words, and desireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise + shall ye baptize them; behold, ye shall go down and stand in the + water, and in my name ye shall baptize them. And now behold; these + are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying. + "Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the + name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." + And then shall ye immerse them in the water and come forth again + out of the water. + +There can be no doubt as to the manner of Christian baptism after these +instructions from the Master, by those who accept the Book of Mormon +as an authority. How much wrangling and idle disputation would have +been saved the Christian world if something as definite as this had +been found in the Christian annals of the eastern world! In passing, +and in proof of the divinity of this ceremonial, I call attention to +the simplicity and yet comprehensiveness of it; to the directness of +it. Place the simplicity and directness of this formula of baptism +in contrast with Sahagun's description of baptism among the native +Americans, or contrast it with the same ceremony as practiced among +the paganized Christians of the old world, [21] and the simplicity and +dignity of the ordinance as given by the Savior to the Nephites will +not only appear, but will strongly plead for its divine origin. + +I also call attention to the settlement of what Mr. Campbell calls +"transubstantiation," this is, to the Christian memorial known as the +Lord's supper, about which gathers some of the most vexed questions of +Christian controversy. For the manner in which this simple memorial of +Christ's atonement was changed to what was considered a magnificent +spiritual, yet real sacrifice, the reader is referred to what is said +in volume I of the New Witness, chapter v. Here I only wish to call +attention to the simple beauty and comprehensiveness of the prayer +which consecrated the emblems of the body and blood of Christ, found in +the Book of Mormon. Trusting to the presence of qualities of simplicity +and appropriateness to establish the divine origin of said formula, +which result, if accomplished by the citation, will tend also to prove +the general claims of the Book of Mormon. + +Now the prayer of consecration: + + O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son Jesus + Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those + who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of + thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that + they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always + remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, + that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen. + +"The manner of administering the wine. Behold, they took the cup, and +said: + + O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son + Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all + those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the + blood of thy Son, which was shed for them, that they may witness + unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember + him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen. + +Of this formula I have already said what Archdeacon Paley has said of +the Lord's prayer, when appealing to its excellence as evidence of its +divine origin--"For a succession of solemn thoughts, for fixing the +attention on a few great points, for suitableness, for sufficiency, +for conciseness without obscurity, for the weight and real importance +of its petitions, this prayer is without an equal." Its composition +in excellence arises far above any performance that Joseph Smith +could be considered equal to, and, in a word, carries within itself +the evidence of a divine authorship. Such passages as these need no +argument in support of their divine origin. We may trust entirely to +the self-evidence which breathes through every sentence. A Campbell's +mockery against such passages amounts to nothing. + +VII. + +_The Book Contains Nothing New_. + +Relative to the objections urged against the Book of Mormon that it +reveals nothing new, that it adds nothing to our Christian treasury of +knowledge, in other words, the charge that it contains no revelation--I +refer for answer to all that, to what I have said concerning the +knowledge which the Book of Mormon imparts on so many great and +important subjects in chapters xxxix and xl. + +Moreover, objections based upon this plea that the Book of Mormon +reveals no new moral or religious truth, is a position not well taken +by Christians at least. It must be conceded that the things which +Christians would be compelled to allow as the important things for men +to know--the existence of God the Father; the relationship of Jesus +Christ to him, and the latter's relationship to men in effecting their +redemption; the means by which that redemption is achieved; the final +coming and universal reign of God's kingdom on earth, etc.,--all these +important truths are repeated in Christ's ministry among the Nephites. + +When Messiah came to the new world he had the same announcement to make +concerning himself and his relations to the world, the same ethical +and spiritual doctrines to teach; and as he had been accustomed to +state these doctrines in brief, aphoristic sentences while in Judea, +it is not strange that the same things were given to the Nephites in +their language much in the same form. In a word, he not only had the +same revelation to make to the inhabitants in the western hemisphere +as to those in the eastern hemisphere, the same religion to teach, and +therefore, as I have already remarked, it is sameness of doctrine, +identity of construction, that should be looked for rather than +something new in religion and ethics. + +I would also remind the Christian reader of the fact that this same +alleged want of originality, this alleged lacking of that which is new, +is charged against the Lord Jesus Christ both by infidels and Jews. +They demand to know what moral and religious truth Jesus taught the +world that was not already taught by Buddha and the Jewish Rabbis. Not +only is it claimed that Christ's moral truths were borrowed from more +ancient teachers, but that the principle events of his life, also, from +his birth of a virgin to his crucifixion and resurrection as a God, +were stolen from myths concerning old world heroes and teachers. + +One writer devotes a volume to the subject in which he traces in +the heathen mythologies sixteen crucified Saviors; the traditions +concerning whom more or less bear some resemblance to chief events in +the life of Messiah. + +Perhaps one of the most elaborate and carefully prepared comparisons +of the teachings of the Messiah as recorded in the New Testament, and +the Rabbis in the Talmud appear in "The Open Court" for October, 1903, +(Vol. 17). Of the long parallel I can only give samples: + + New Testament. Talmud. + "More acceptable to the + "Blessed are the poor in spirit". Lord than sacrifice is the humble + spirit." + + "Let this be thy short form + "Thy kingdom come. Thy of prayer: Thy will be done + will be done on earth as it is in in heaven, and may peace of + heaven." heart be the reward of them + that reverence thee on earth." + + "Lead us not into temptation, "Lead me not into sin, even + but deliver us from evil." from its temptations deliver + thou me." + + "For with what judgment ye "Whoso judges his neighbor + judge, ye shall be judged." charitably, shall himself be + charitably judged." + + "How wilt thou say to thy "Do they say: Take the + brother, let me pull out the splinter out of thine eye? He + mote out of thine eye; and behold will answer: Remove the beam + a beam is in thine own out of thine own eye." + eye." + + "All things whatsoever ye + would that men should do to "What is hateful unto thee, + you, do you even so to them, that do not unto another. This + for this is the Law and the is the whole Law, all the rest + Prophets." is commentary." + + "Freely ye have received, "As freely as God has taught + freely give." you, so freely shall ye teach." + + "The Sabbath was made for "The Sabbath has been delivered + man, not man for the Sabbath." into your power, not + you into the power of the Sabbath." + + "It is enough for the disciple "It is enough for the servant + that he be as his master." that he be as his master." + +A parallel somewhat similar, though neither so closely identical nor +so extended, can be drawn between the teachings of Buddha and Christ, +which any one may verify for himself by consulting Max Muller's lecture +on _Dhammapada_, or The Path of Virtue. [22] + +To a limited extent, also, a similar parallel might be drawn between +the teachings of Christ and Confucius, and even of other moral +philosophers. To illustrate what I mean, take the "Golden Rule," for so +long, and even now, by a great many people, regarded as an exclusively +Christian utterance, and you will find the substance of it in the +utterance of many teachers before the time of Christ: + + 1. Golden Rule by Confucius, 500 B. C. + + "Do unto another what you would have him do unto you, and do not to + another what you would not have him do unto you. Thou needest this + law alone. It is the foundation of all the rest." + + 2. Golden Rule by Aristotle, 385 B. C. + + "We should conduct ourselves toward others as we would have them + act toward us." + + 3. Golden Rule by Pittacus, 650 B. C. + + "Do not to your neighbor what you would take ill from him." + + 4. Golden Rule by Thales, 464 B. C. + + "Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing." + + 5. Golden Rule by Isocrates, 338 B. C. + + "Act toward others as you desire them to act toward you." + + 6. Golden Rule by Aristippus, 365 B. C. + + "Cherish reciprocal benevolence, which will make you as anxious for + another's welfare as your own." + + 7. Golden Rule by Sextus, a Pithagorean, 406 B. C. + + "What you wish your neighbors to be to you, such be also to them." + + 8. Golden Rule by Hillel, 50 B. C. + + "Do not to others what you would not like others to do to you." [23] + +Though perhaps not properly belonging to my treatment of this objection +to the Book of Mormon, I may say in passing--and to keep those who +read these pages in the presence of the full truth--I may say that +the presence of ethical and religious truths, in what we call heathen +mythology, is easily accounted for. The gospel was taught in very +ancient times, in fact from the beginning--a dispensation of it was +given to Adam--and although men departed from it in large measure +as a system of truth, still fragments of it were preserved in the +mythologies of all people. So that as a matter of fact Christianity, as +taught by Jesus, derived nothing from heathen mythology, but heathen +mythologies were made rich by fragmentary truths from the early +dispensations of the gospel of Jesus Christ. + +VIII. + +_Modern Astronomy in the Book_. + +From a remark of the younger Alma's (first century B. C.), and from one +of Mormon's (fourth century A. D.), it is evident that the Nephites had +knowledge of the movement of the earth and of the planets. Alma, in his +remark, appeals to the earth's motion, "yea, and also of the planets +which move in their regular form," as being evidence of the existence +of the Creator. [24] + +Mormon's remark comes in course of some reflections of his upon the +power of God, when abridging the Book of Helaman, in which he says: + + Yea, and if he say unto the earth, move, it is moved; yea, if he + say unto the earth, thou shalt go back, that it lengthen out the + day for many hours, it is done; and thus according to his word, the + earth goeth back, and it appeareth unto man that the sun standeth + still; yea, and behold, this is so; for sure it is the earth that + moveth, and not the sun. [25] + +Both these passages are referred to by Lamb [26] as evidence of the Book +of Mormon being modern, and the second passage he sarcastically refers +to as "a modern scientist attempting to explain Joshua's miracle;" to +which I might say: Why not an ancient Nephite's explanation of Joshua's +miracle, since the Nephites were acquainted with that same miracle, +having with them the book of Joshua with other Hebrew scriptures? +Moreover, the knowledge of the movement of the earth and of the planets +is not modern knowledge. It is quite generally conceded that the +ancients had the knowledge of these facts, and that the discoveries +by Copernicus, Kepler and others are but a revival or restoration of +ancient knowledge concerning the movement of the earth and planetary +system. [27] + +The Holy Inquisition in passing sentence on Galileo took ocassion +to say something of the Copernican system, teaching which was the +philosopher's offense, and denounced it as "that false Pythagorean +doctrine utterly contrary to the Holy Scriptures." ("Intellectual +Development of Europe," Draper, Vol. II., p. 263). + +Again: Because the inhabitants of the eastern hemisphere were fallen +into ignorance concerning the facts of astronomy, it does not +necessarily follow that the inhabitants of the western hemisphere were +without correct knowledge on that subject. Indeed, the authorities on +American antiquities agree that the ancient native Americans were well +advanced in knowledge on that subject. Priest, for instance, has the +following passage on the subject: + + As it respects the scientific acquirements of the builders of the + works in the west, now in ruins, [the mounds], Mr. Atwater, says, + "when thoroughly examined, have furnished matter of admiration to + all intelligent persons who have attended to the subject. Nearly + all the lines of ancient works found in the whole country, where + the form of the ground admits of it, are right ones, pointing + to the four cardinal points. Where there are mounds enclosed, + the gateways are most frequently on the east side of the works, + towards the rising sun. Where the situation admits of it, in their + military works, the openings are generally towards one or more of + the cardinal points. From which it is supposed they must have had + some knowledge of astronomy, or their structures would not, it is + imagined, have been thus arranged. From these circumstances also, + we draw the conclusion that the first inhabitants of America, + emigrated from Asia, at a period coeval with that of Babylon, for + there it was that astronomical calculations were first made, 2,234 + years before Christ." [28] + +"These things could never have so happened, with such invariable +exactness, in almost all cases, without design. 'On the whole.' says +Atwater, 'I am convinced from an attention to many hundreds of these +works, in every part of the west which I have visited, that their +authors had a knowledge of astronomy.'" + +Baldwin has the following passage on what he regards as a telescopic +device, discovered in an ancient mound: + + Mr. Schoolcraft gives this account of a discovery made in West + Virginia: "Antique tube: telescopic device. In the course of + excavations made in 1842 in the eastern-most of the three mounds + of the Elizabethtown group, several tubes of stone were disclosed, + the precise object of which has been the subject of various + opinions. The longest measured twelve inches, the shortest eight. + Three of them were carved out of steatite, being skilfully cut and + polished. The diameter of the tube externally was one inch and + four tenths; the bore, eight tenths of an inch. This calibre was + continued till within three eighths of an inch of the sight end, + when it diminishes to two tenths of an inch. By placing the eye + at the diminished end, the extraneous light is shut out from the + pupil, and distant objects are more clearly discerned.' He points + out that the carving and workmanship generally are very superior + to Indian pipe carvings, and adds, if this article was a work of + the Mound-Builders, 'intended for a telescopic tube, it is a most + interesting relic.' An ancient Peruvian relic, found a few years + since, shows the figure of a man wrought in silver, in the act of + studying the heavens through such a tube. Similar tubes have been + found among relics of the Mound-Builders in Ohio and elsewhere. In + Mexico, Captain Dupaix saw sculptured on a peculiar stone structure + the figure of a man making use of one. Astronomical devices were + sculptured below the figure. This structure he supposed to have + been used for observation of the stars." [29] + +Later, referring to the Dupaix Mexican observatory, Baldwin says: + + "In this part of Mexico Captain Dupaix examined a peculiar ruin, + of which he gave the following account: "Near the road from the + village of Tlalmanalco to that called Mecamecan, about three miles + east of the latter, there is an isolated granite rock, which was + artificially formed into a kind of pyramid with six hewn steps + facing the east. The summit of this structure is a platform, or + horizontal plane, well adapted to observation of the stars on + every side of the hemisphere. It is almost demonstratable that + this very ancient monument was exclusively devoted to astronomical + observations, for on the south side of the rock are sculptured + several hieroglyphical figures having relation to astronomy. The + most striking figure in the group is that of a man in profile, + standing erect, and directing his view to the rising stars in + the sky. He holds to his eye a tube or optical instrument. Below + his feet is a frieze divided into six compartments, with as many + celestial signs carved on its surface." It has been already stated + that finely-wrought "telescopic tubes" have been found among + remains of the Mound-Builders. They were used, it seems, by the + ancient people of Mexico and Central America, and they were known + also in ancient Peru, where a silver figure of a man in the act of + using such a tube has been discovered in one of the old tombs. [30] + +Even Prescott, who is inclined to be sceptical of the statements made +concerning astronomical instruments among the Aztecs, and ridicules +Dupaix's assertion of the existence of an astronomical observatory, +nevertheless says: + + We know little further of the astronomical attainments of the + Aztecs. That they were acquainted with the cause of eclipses is + evident from the representation, on their maps, of the disk of the + moon projecting on that of the sun. Whether they had arranged a + system of constellations is uncertain; though, that they recognized + some of the most obvious, as the Pleiades, for example, is evident + from the fact that they regulated their festivals by them. [31] + +Nadaillac, always conservative concerning the civilization and +knowledge of the native Americans, on this point says: + + The various races which occupied Central America had some knowledge + of astronomy. They were acquainted with divisions of time founded + on the motion of the sun, and long before the conquest they + possessed a regular system. [32] + +Bancroft, on the same subject, remarks: + + Perhaps the strongest proof of the advanced civilization of the + Nahuas was their method of computing time, which, for ingenuity and + correctness, equaled, if it did not surpass, the systems adopted + by contemporaneous European and Asiatic nations. The Nahuas were + well acquainted with the movements of the sun and moon, and even of + some of the planets, while celestial phenomena, such as eclipses, + although attributed to unnatural causes, were nevertheless + carefully observed and recorded. They had, moreover, an accurate + system of dividing the day into fixed periods, corresponding + somewhat to our hours; indeed, as the learned Sr. Leony Gama has + shown, the Aztec calendar-stone which was found in the plaza of the + city of Mexico, was used not only as a durable register, but also + as a sundial. [33] + +IX. + +_The Geography of the Book_. + +It is objected to the Book of Mormon that it lacks "local coloring" and +definiteness in respect of its geography; and it is usually contrasted +to its disadvantage with the Bible in this respect. "I have not been +able to find an edition of the Book of Mormon with maps in it," says +one objector, "nor have I been able to find with perfect surety the +location of the land in which Christ is supposed to have appeared to +the Nephites." [34] + +"We find almost nothing," continues Dr. Paden, "which would fit with +the tropical climate; in fact, the general description would better +coincide with Pennsylvania or New York." [35] "The grandest mountains in +the world, and the highest table lands," says another objector, "are +as entirely ignored as is the general shape of the two continents and +other physical facts. While the physical characteristics of Palestine +are woven as a web into almost every page of Bible history, the +Book of Mormon is unable to appeal to a single geographical fact in +confirmation of its pretended histories, except the general one that +there was a 'land south' and a 'land north.'" [36] + +This is an exaggerated statement of the supposed difficulty, and so +also is it an exaggerated statement concerning the geography of the +Bible. Suppose, for instance, you separate the Book of Isaiah from +the rest of the library of books comprising the Bible, and how much +of a figure does geography cut in that book? The same may be said of +the book of Psalms, the book of Proverbs, and, separating the preface +from it, the same could be said of the book of Deuteronomy. Mistakes +in criticism of the Book of Mormon are continually made through +entertaining the idea that the Book of Mormon in its structure is the +same as the Bible; that it is the translation of a people's original +literature, and that the books of Mosiah, Alma, Helaman, etc., are the +books written by the men bearing those names. Whereas, what we have +is but Mormon's abridgment of the writings of those men. The Book of +Mormon, in other words, save for the writings of Nephi and Jacob (149 +pages), and seven other writers [37]--whose entries upon the small +plates of Nephi make but about eight pages--is an abridged record +throughout. Historical events, doctrines, prophecies, not geographical +descriptions, the location of cities, the course of rivers, the +grandeur of mountains or the extent of valleys, will be the objective +of Mormon's research through the larger Nephite records. I may say, +therefore, in answer to this criticism of the Book of Mormon, while by +no means granting all that is claimed in respect of its geographical +defects--its imperfections in geography arise from the very nature +of the book's construction. In such a work you do not look for +geographical knowledge. + +I may say also that as these pages go to press the question of Book +of Mormon geography is more than ever recognized as an open one by +students of the book. That is to say, it is a question if Mormon views +hitherto entertained respecting Book of Mormon lands have not been a +misconception by reason of premises forced upon its students by the +declaration of an alleged revelation. In a compendium of doctrinal +subjects, published by the late Elders Franklin D. Richards and James +A. Little, the following item appears: + + _Lehi's Travels.--Revelation to Joseph the Seer:_ The course that + Lehi and his company traveled from Jerusalem to the place of their + destination: They traveled nearly a south, southeast direction + until they came to the nineteenth degree of north latitude; then, + nearly east of the Sea of Arabia, then sailed in a southeast + direction, and landed on the continent of South America, in Chili, + thirty degrees south latitude. [38] + +The only reason so far discovered for regarding the above as a +revelation is that it is found written on a loose sheet of paper in the +hand writing of Frederick G. Williams, for some years second Counselor +in the First Presidency of the Church in the Kirtland period of its +history; and follows the body of the revelation contained in Doctrine +and Covenants, Section vii., relating to John the beloved disciple, +remaining on earth, until the glorious coming of Jesus to reign with +his Saints. The hand-writing is certified to be that of Frederick G. +Williams, by his son, Ezra G. Williams, of Ogden; and endorsed on +the back of the sheet of paper containing the above passage and the +revelation pertaining to John. The indorsement is dated April the 11th, +1864. The revelation pertaining to John has this introductory line: +"_A Revelation Concerning John, the Beloved Disciple_." But there is no +heading to the passage relating to the passage about Lehi's travels. +The words "Lehi's Travels;" and the words "Revelation to Joseph the +Seer," are added by the publishers, justified as they supposed, +doubtless, by the fact that the paragraph is in the hand writing of +Frederick G. Williams, Counselor to the Prophet, and on the same +page with the body of an undoubted revelation, which was published +repeatedly as such in the life time of the Prophet, first in 1833, at +Independence, Missouri, in the "Book of Commandments," and subsequently +in every edition of the Doctrine and Covenants until now. But the one +relating to Lehi's travels was never published in the life-time of +the Prophet, and was published no where else until published in the +Richards-Little's Compendium as noted above. Now, if no more evidence +can be found to establish this passage in Richards and Little's +Compendium as a "revelation to Joseph, the Seer," than the fact that it +is found in the hand writing of Frederick G. Williams, and on the same +sheet of paper with the body of the revelation about John, the beloved +disciple, the evidence of its being a "revelation to Joseph, the Seer," +rests on a very unsatisfactory basis. + +Yet this alleged "revelation" has dominated all our thinking, and +influenced all our conclusions upon the subject of Book of Mormon +geography. Whereas, if this is not a revelation, the physical +description relative to the contour of the lands occupied by the +Jaredites and Nephites, that being principally that two large bodies +of land were joined by a narrow neck of land--can be found between +Mexico and Yucatan with the isthmus of Tehuantepec between. If the +investigation now going on shall result in relieving us of the +necessity of considering ourselves bound to uphold as a revelation the +passage in Richards and Little's Compendium, here considered, many of +our difficulties as to the geography of the Book of Mormon--if not all +of them in fact, will have passed away. In that event much found in +this treatise of the Book of Mormon relative to the Nephites being in +South America--written under the impression that the passage in the +above named Compendium was, as is there set forth, a revelation--will +have to be modified. + +And let me here say a word in relation to new discoveries in our +knowledge of the Book of Mormon, and for matter of that in relation +to all subjects connected with the work of the Lord in the earth. We +need not follow our researches in any spirit of fear and trembling. We +desire only to ascertain the truth; nothing but the truth will endure; +and the ascertainment of the truth and the proclamation of the truth +in any given case, or upon any subject, will do no harm to the work of +the Lord which is itself truth. Nor need we be surprised if now and +then we find our predecessors, many of whom bear honored names and +deserve our respect and gratitude for what they achieved in making +clear the truth, as they conceived it to be--we need not be surprised +if we sometimes find them mistaken in their conceptions and deductions; +just as the generations who succeed us in unfolding in a larger way +some of the yet unlearned truths of the Gospel, will find that we have +had some misconceptions and made some wrong deductions in our day +and time. The book of knowledge is never a sealed book. It is never +"completed and forever closed;" rather it is an eternally open book, +in which one may go on constantly discovering new truths and modifying +our knowledge of old ones. The generation which preceded us did not +exhaust by their knowledge all the truth, so that nothing was left for +us in its unfolding; no, not even in respect of the Book of Mormon; any +more than we shall exhaust all discovery in relation to that book and +leave nothing for the generation following us to develop. All which is +submitted, especially to the membership of the Church, that they may +be prepared to find and receive new truths both in the Book of Mormon +itself and about it; and that they may also rejoice in the fact that +knowledge of truth is inexhaustible, and will forever go on developing. + +X. + +_Of the Objection that the Transcript of Characters Made from +the Nephite Plates by Joseph Smith, a Few Lines of which have been +Preserved, Bear no Resemblance to the Hieroglyphics and Language +Characters Discovered in Central America on Stone Tablets, Maya Books +and Mexican Picture Writing_. + +This is an objection most vehemently urged by Rev. M. T. Lamb, author +of "The Golden Bible," already several times quoted in this division +of my treatise. Mr. Lamb takes the three lines of characters of Joseph +Smith's transcript, and confronts them with a _fac simile_ of Landa's +Maya Alphabet, and also engravings from some of the stone tablets from +Palenque and Copan, and then triumphantly invites comparison in the +following passages: + + We ask the candid reader carefully to examine these characters, + and then look back again to page 261. Those [Joseph's transcript + from the plates] are the characters Joseph Smith tells us were + universally used in Central America 1,500 and 2,000 years + ago--while the ruins, the engraved stones, the chiselled marble, + tell us that these [Mr. Lamb's reproduction of Landau's Maya + Alphabet] were the characters actually used in that locality, and + at that time. Look at the two attentively--see if you can discover + any likeness whatever between them. A woeful fatality, is it + not? that there should not happen to be even one of Mr. Smith's + characters that bears a family likeness, or the least particle + of resemblance to the characters actually used by the ancient + inhabitants of Central America! [39] + +Commenting again upon the characters of Joseph Smith's transcript, Mr. +Lamb says: + + The longer you look at them the more modern and familiar they will + become until Professor Anthon's designation, a "hoax" will not seem + at all surprising even to a candid Mormon. And if that word is not + the proper one, this certainly must be acknowledged, that they are + the most unfortunate specimen of ancient characters that have ever + been exhibited; for they have a fearfully suspicious look, and + it would take the clearest possible evidence to drive away that + suspicion from any intelligent and unprejudiced mind. [40] + +These are rather formidable conclusions to force upon us from a basis +of comparison so narrow as that furnished by the three lines of Joseph +Smith's transcript. This preserved scrap, published first in the +"Prophet," New York, December 21st, 1844 [41] of three lines, or even +that of seven lines preserved with the Whitmer Manuscript, are evidently +not all that were submitted to Professor Anthon [42] by Martin Harris. +Professor Anthon in describing the characters submitted to him as a +transcript from the plates, says: + + This paper in question was, in fact, a singular scroll. It + consisted of all kinds of singular characters disposed in columns, + and had evidently been prepared by some person who had before him + at the time a book containing various alphabets, Greek and Hebrew + letters, crosses and flourishes; Roman letters inverted or placed + sideways were arranged and placed in perpendicular columns, and the + whole ended in a rude delineation of a circle, divided into various + compartments, arched with various strange marks, and evidently + copied after the Mexican calendar by Humboldt, but copied in such a + way as not to betray the source whence it was derived. + +Neither the three lined transcript, [43] nor the seven, meets this +description of Anthon's though they may have constituted a part, and +doubtless were a part of what was submitted to Professors Anthon and +Mitchell. But neither of the two transcripts furnishes data for the +conclusions of Mr. Lamb, since we have in them so few of the Nephite +characters as a basis of comparison. But even from data so meagre as +that furnished by these transcripts, it is possible to show that Mr. +Lamb and others who have made like objection are too hasty in their +conclusions. On a separate page, I give a photographic reproduction +of the ancient Maya Alphabet as engraved by Dr. Augustus Le Plongeon, +from the mural inscriptions of the Mayas, and the Egyptian Hieratic +Alphabet according to Messrs. Champollion, Le Jeune and Bunsen. The +whole page is a photograph reproduction of a page from the preface of +Le Plongeon's Work, "Sacred Mysteries Among the Mayas and the Quiches," +page xii. + +[Tables of characters captioned "Ancient Maya Hieratic alphabet according +to mural inscriptions." and "Egyptian Hieratic alphabet according to Messrs. +Champollion, Le Jeune and Bunsen."] + +[Image captioned _"Transcript of Ancient Egyptian characters from +Rawlinson's History of Egypt_.] + +[Image captioned _Transcript from Nephite plates, by Joseph Smith_.] + +Two things are to be observed with reference to these two alphabets: +First, the strong resemblance between many of the American and Egyptian +characters; second, the resemblance of some of the characters in +the transcript from the Nephite plates to some of the characters in +both the so-called Maya and the Egyptian Alphabet. And although the +Nephite characters are so few, and some allowance must be made for +unskilfulness in making the transcriptions, yet there is to be seen a +strong family likeness between the characters of all three productions +here presented, Mr. Lamb and others to the contrary notwithstanding. +And that family likeness between the Nephite characters and Egyptian +writing is made more impressive by the second page of _fac similies_ +herewith presented, consisting first of a photographic reproduction of +a transcript, of the three kinds of writing employed by the Egyptians +in ancient times, from the work of George Rawlinson, compared with +Joseph Smith's transcript of Nephite characters. The first line from +Rawlinson's work is the Hieroglyphic form of Egyptian writing, the +second the Hieratic, the third the Demotic. [44] + +It will be observed, as Mr. Rawlinson himself points out, that "there +is not much difference between the hieratic and the demotic." The +former is the earlier of the two. And now, notwithstanding the fact +that the Nephites wrote in characters that they called "Reformed +Egyptian"--which I understand to mean, in altered or changed Egyptian +characters yet, I submit, that when the transcript of Nephite +characters made by Joseph Smith is compared with the transcript from +the works of Mr. Rawlinson, there is a strong family likeness very +gratifying to believers in the Book of Mormon, and the force of +Mr. Lamb's objection on this head is destroyed by these submitted +facts, viz., the few Nephite characters preserved from Joseph Smith's +transcripts, disclose a strong family resemblance to the ancient forms +of Egyptian writing, and even some similarities to the ancient Maya +Alphabet published by Le Plongeon. + +Footnotes + +1. I Peter i: 18-25. Rev. xiii: 8. + +2. Titus i: 1, 2. + +3. Heb. x: 1. + +4. I. Cor. x: 1-4. + +5. Mr. Campbell cites the first edition throughout. + +6. Heb. xiii: 20. + +7. II. Nephi v: 26. II. Nephi vi: 2. + +8. Alma v: 44. Alma xiii. + +9. Judges vi: 15. + +10. Judges vi. + +11. See this Vol. chapter xxxv. + +12. Ephesians iii: 5, 6. + +13. I. Nephi x; also book of Jacob, chapter v. + +14. Col. i: 2, 3. + +15. Isaiah xlii: 6, 7. + +16. Isaiah xlix: 6-9 et seq., specially verses 20-22. Paul himself +quotes Isaiah xlix: 6; see Acts xiii: 47. Simeon in the temple quotes +Isaiah; see Luke ii: 30, 32. + +17. I. Nephi xix: 10. + +18. Alma viii: 7. + +19. So Hyde: "He [Joseph Smith, through the Book of Mormon] determines +none of the great questions pending in the world at large, but only +the minor difficulties that would have been likely to have reached a +western village." Hyde's "Mormonism," p. 281. + +20. Moroni viii. + +21. Following is Mosheim's description of baptism in the third century: +"Baptism was publicly administered twice a year, to such candidates +as had gone through a long preparation and trial; and none were +present as spectators, but such as had been themselves baptized. * +* * None were admitted to the sacred font until the exorcist, by a +solemn menacing formula, had declared them free from bondage to the +prince of darkness and now servants of God. * * * The persons baptized +returned home, decorated with a crown and white robe; the first being +indicative of their victory over the world and their lusts, the latter +of their acquired innocence." (Mosheim's Institute, Century Three, +chapter iv.) In describing baptism in the century previous--and the +same things accompanied it in the third and fourth--he tells how "the +baptized were signed with the cross, anointed, commended to God by +prayer and imposition of hands, and finally directed to taste some +milk and honey;" also how "Sponsors, or Godfathers, were employed for +adults, and afterwards for children likewise." All of which mummeries +were additions to the sublimely beautiful and simple ordinance of the +baptism of the gospel. + +22. See Science of Religion, p. 193-300. + +23. "The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors." (Graves), pp. 303-4. + +24. Alma xxx: 44. + +25. Helaman xii: 13-15. + +26. "Golden Bible," p. 336. + +27. "In the sixth century before our era," remarks Andrew D. White +("History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom," Vol. +I, pp. 120, 121), "Pythagoras, and after him Philolaus, had suggested +the movement of the earth and planets about a central fire; and, +three centuries later, Aristarchus had restated the main truth with +striking precision. Here comes in a proof that the antagonism between +theological and scientific methods is not confined to Christianity; for +this statement brought upon Aristarchus the charge of blasphemy, and +drew after it a cloud of prejudice which hid the truth for six hundred +years. Not until the fifth century of our era did it timidly appear +in the thoughts of Martianus Capella; then it was again lost to sight +for a thousand years, until in the fifteenth century, distorted and +imperfect, it appeared in the writings of Cardinal Nicholas de Cusa." + +28. "American Antiquities" (Priest), p. 272. + +29. "Ancient America," (Baldwin), p. 42. + +30. "Ancient America," (Baldwin), pp. 122, 123. + +31. "Conquest of Mexico," (Prescott), Vol. I., p. 103. + +32. "Pre-Historic America," (Nadaillac), p. 305. + +33. Bancroft's Works, Vol. II., p. 502. + +34. Dr. W. M. Paden, Pastor of the first Presbyterian Church, Salt Lake +City, Utah, in a Discourse against the Book of Mormon, March 21, 1904. + +35. Ibid. + +36. Golden Bible, pp. 308, 309. + +37. This work Vol. II., p. 138. + +38. Compendium, p. 289. + +39. "The Golden Bible," p. 265. I quote from the 1887 edition, which I +understand to be the revised and enlarged one. [45] + +40. Ibid., p. 260. + +41. "The Prophet" was a Mormon weekly periodical, published by S. +Brannan from May, 1844, to May 24, 1845. + +42. A fac simile of which is given in Vol. II., p. 72. + +43. Volume II., this work p. 76. This is from his letter to E. D. Howe; +in a second letter to Rev. Coit, Anthon gives a similar description. +(Ibid., pp. 79, 78.) + +44. Boston 1882, two volumes. The photographed transcript will be found +in Vol. I. of Rawlinson, p. 120. + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +OBJECTIONS TO THE BOOK OF MORMON (Continued). + +I. + +_Alleged Plagiarisms of Historical and Biblical Events_. + +It is charged against the Book of Mormon that many of its historical +incidents are mere plagiarisms of historical and Biblical events. I +shall only be able to indicate a few of these charges, and point out +the means by which they may be fairly met. I call attention to the +fact, in the first place, that some of the charges are absolutely +false; that they are based on misquotations and misstated incidents. +In other cases the comparison is very much strained to get the result +of likeness, and throughout the likelihood of similarity in human +experience is entirely overlooked. + +Mr. John Hyde declares that Nephi's description of the rise of a great +and abominable church immediately after the days of the Messiah on +earth, together with his description of her pride, power, and cruelty, +is a quotation from the book of Revelations, "A description of the +Church of Rome;" [1] the abduction of the daughters of the Lamanites +by the Priests of King Noah; [2] the martyrdom of Alma's converts in +the land of Ammonihah; [3] and the slaughter of the converts of Ammon +among the Lamanites, [4] are events "borrowed from the history of Nero, +Caligula, and Fox's book of Martyrs." + +In Alma's conversion, he sees "an imitation of Paul's miraculous +conversion" with this difference; that Paul was struck with blindness +for three days, and Alma is struck dumb for two days! [5] In the remarks +of King Mosiah on the advantages of a government by the people as +against the rule of absolute monarchs, our author sees the doctrine +of "Vox populi vox Dei," [6] although that idea nowhere occurs in the +passage to which he gives reference, and in fact, in no passage of the +Book of Mormon. These citations from the long list that our author +makes out will perhaps be sufficient from him. Those who wish to trace +out this class of objections, as he makes them, may consult his work. [7] + +A more recent writer enters into the same line of argument in greater +detail. [8] His theory is that the author of the Book of Mormon set +out to "beat the Bible" in the matter of wonderful things recorded. +Thus in the "eight barges" of the Jaredites he sees an attempt to +outdo the Bible account of Noah's "one ark." In a complete vision +granted to the brother of Jared of the pre-existent spirit-personage +of the Messiah, he sees the partial view of the same personage granted +to Moses outdone. In the fact that the Nephite prophet, Abinadi, +interpreted certain writings upon the wall of a temple, he sees an +imitation of Daniel's exploit of reading the writing on the wall of +Belshazzar's palace. In Ether's expressed doubt as to his own fate, +whether he would be granted the privilege of translation or be required +to pass through the ordeal of death, he sees the counterpart of the +story of Elijah's ascent into heaven. In the retention of three of +the Nephite apostles on earth until Messiah shall come in his glory, +he sees the New Testament intimation and the early Christian notion +that the apostle John might be granted such a privilege--if such it +could be regarded--outdone. In the signs of Messiah's birth, granted +to the Nephites--the night of continuous light and the appearance of +a new star in the heavens; as also in the signs of his crucifixion +and burial--three hours of tempest and earthquake while the Son of +Man was on the cross, and three days of darkness while he lay in the +tomb [9]--our author sees again an effort to outdo the Bible signs +accompanying Messiah's birth and death. + +In the account given in III Nephi [10] of the multitude being permitted +to come in personal contact with the Savior one by one, and touch the +scars of the wounds he had received in crucifixion, Rev. Lamb sees an +effort to outdo the New Testament story of Thomas thrusting his hands +in the wounds of our Savior, that he might be convinced of the reality +of his resurrection. Indeed, the Reverend gentleman makes very much of +this circumstance. He supposes the multitude granted this privilege +numbered 2,500; and allowing that five persons would pass the Savior +every minute, giving each one twelve seconds to thrust his hand into +Messiah's side, and feel the print of the nails, would require "eight +hours and twenty minutes of time!" [11] The Reverend Gentleman, however, +neglected to give the matter due consideration. The number of the +multitude, 2,500, is given at the close of the first day's visit of +Messiah to the Nephites; whereas, the circumstance of the people being +allowed to personally come in contact with the Savior, is an event +that took place early in the day, almost immediately upon the Christ's +appearance in fact, and when the "multitude" was much smaller than +at the close of the day. Two circumstances lead to the belief that +the crowd was greatly augmented through the day. For instance, after +some considerable time had elapsed after his appearing, and after the +multitude had gone forth and felt the wounds in his hands and feet, +Jesus called for their sick and afflicted, that he might heal them. It +is unreasonable to suppose that the blind and halt and sick were with +the "multitude" when Jesus first appeared, as the latter were a party +strolling about the temple viewing the changes wrought in the land by +the recent cataclysms, while the sick and maimed with their attendants +would doubtless be at their homes. Therefore, many of the people +departed from the presence of Jesus to bring to him these afflicted +ones; and as they went on this errand of mercy they doubtless spread +the news of Christ's presence among them, with the result that the +people were gathered together throughout the day. + +Again, after blessing their afflicted ones, the Lord Jesus caused +their children to be gathered together, that he might bless them; +which doubtless in many cases caused parents to hasten again to their +homes and ever as they went the news spread further and further of the +Messiah's presence, until finally, at the close of the day's gathering, +2,500 were found to be present. It by no means follows, however, that +all this number thrust their hands into the wounds of Messiah; but only +the very much smaller number that was gathered about the temple in the +land of Bountiful earlier in the day, when Messiah appeared to them. + +Our author sees in these things I have quoted and some others that +he details, plagiarisms of Bible events; and concludes that the Book +of Mormon, instead of being what it claims to be, is largely but a +collection of Bible events distorted by Joseph Smith's inventions. + +It places a Christian minister, believing as he does in the divinity +of both the Old and New Testament, at a very great disadvantage to +make this kind of an argument. Suppose we were to apply it as a test +of the New Testament? We could then say that the ascension of Jesus, +recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, is but an imitation of the +glorious ascension of Elijah into heaven in the presence of a host of +angels. [12] We could say that the special miracles wrought by the hands +of Paul so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs +and aprons to the afflicted, and "the diseases departed from them and +the evil spirits went out of them," is but an imitation of what Elijah +did when he sent his staff by the hands of his servant, commanding him +to lay it on the face of the dead child of his Shunammite friend to +restore him to life. [13] + +"It might be said, also, that in the subsequent conduct of Elijah in +restoring this same child to life, we have the original of the New +Testament story of Jarius's daughter. [14] In this same chapter of +Kings we have the following story of Elisha's miraculously feeding a +multitude: + + And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God + bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears + of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, + that they may eat. And his servitor said, What, should I set this + before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they + may eat: for thus saith the Lord, They shall eat, and shall leave + thereof. So he set before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, + according to the word of the Lord. + +"Who can doubt," the Biblical sceptic might ask, "but what this story +inspired that of the Evangelists concerning the miraculous feeding of +five thousand people, in a desert place, from five loaves, and two +fishes. [15] The excess of people mentioned in the New Testament--five +thousand thus miraculously fed as against Elijah's one hundred--"could +be pointed to as an effort of the New Testament writer to merely +"outdo" in the marvelous the miracles of the Old Testament. + +Again, it might be continued that the story of tenth Revelations, where +a little book is given to John the apostle to eat, one that should +be bitter in his belly, but in his mouth sweet as honey, is but a +plagiarism of a very similar story told in Ezekiel where that prophet +is commanded to eat the roll of the book, and it was in his mouth "as +the honey for sweetness." [16] + +Thus we might continue in drawing such parallels, but there would be +neither profit nor argument in doing so. Such procedure is scarcely +worthy the name of criticism. It reminds one of Shakespeare's Rosalind +finding the doggerel verses of the love-sick swain, Orlando, hanging +upon the trees of the forest of Arden, and of Rosalind reading them-- + + From the east to the western Ind, + No Jewel is like Rosalind. + All the pictures fairest lined, + Are but black to Rosalind. + Let no fair be kept in mind, + But the fair of Rosalind. + +Which doggerel the more sensible Touchstone, listening to--and +impatient at withal--finally breaks in upon the fair reader with: + + "I'll rhyme you so eight years together, dinners and suppers and + sleepin-hours excepted:--for a taste-- + + If a hart do lack a hind, + Let him seek out Rosalind. + If the cat will after kind, + So be sure will Rosalind. + Winter garments must be lined, + So must slendor Rosalind. + They that reap must sheef and bind, + Then to cart with Rosalind. + Sweetest nut hath sourest rind, + Such a nut is Rosalind. + +So with like result one might run on with this kind of argument +based upon the Book of Mormon's alleged plagiarisms from the Hebrew +scriptures. + +II. + +_The Absence of Book of Mormon Names Both of Place and Persons in +Native American Language_. + +It is objected to the Book of Mormon that there nowhere appears in +native American languages Book of Mormon names. "During the one +thousand years of their recorded history," says one, "as given in +the Book of Mormon, the old familiar names of Lehi, Nephi, Laman, +Lemuel and others are constantly recurring; they held on to them with +reverential pertinacity. If the Book of Mormon were a true record +we should find these names in abundance among various Indian races +scattered over both continents." The absence of Book of Mormon names in +the native language, is held to be fatal testimony against the claims +of the Book of Mormon by this writer. [17] + +One recognizes here a real difficulty, and one for which it is quite +hard to account. It must be remembered, however, that from the close of +the Nephite period, 420 A. D., to the coming of the Spaniards in the +sixteenth century, we have a period of over one thousand years; and we +have the triumph also of the Lamanites over the Nephites bent on the +destruction of every vestige of Nephite traditions and institutions. +May it not be that they recognized as one of the means of achieving +such destruction the abrogation of the old familiar names of things +and persons? Besides there is the probable influx of other tribes and +peoples into America in that one thousand years whose names may have +largely taken the place of Nephite and Lamanite names. + +I have already suggested that the name "Nahuas" and the adjective +derived from it, "Nahuatl," are probably variations of the names +"Nephi" and "Nephite," derived, it may be, together with the Bible +names "Nepheg," "Nephish," "Nephishesim," and "Naphtali" from a common +Hebrew root. [18] Also, that the name "Hohgates," by which names the +seven mythical strangers were called who in ancient times settled at +Point St. George on the Pacific coast near San Francisco, is a survival +of the Book of Mormon name "Hagoth," who is prominent in the Book of +Mormon narrative as the man who first started maritime migrations from +South America, northward along the Pacific coast of North America. [19] + +Mr. Priest, the author of "American Antiquities," declares that the +word "Amazon," the name of the chief river of South America, is an +Indian word. [20] Early in the century in which Messiah was born, four +of the sons of the Nephite king, Mosiah II, departed from Zarahemla on +a mission to the Lamanites. At that time the Lamanites occupied the +lands formerly possessed by the Nephites, previous to the migration of +the more righteous part of that people to Zarahemla--the old "land of +Nephi." This land, so far as can be determined, corresponds somewhat +to the modern country of Ecuador and perhaps the northern part of +Peru. [21] In this region, it will be remembered, the river Amazon takes +its rise. The leader of the Nephite missionary expedition referred +to was Ammon, doubtless the oldest son of King Mosiah II. [22] Such +were the achievements of this man; such his rank, and such his high +character that it is not difficult or unreasonable to believe that his +name was given by the people to the principal stream of the land, and +that it has survived under the modern variation of the name Amazon. + +Again, the word "Andes," the name of the chief mountain range in South +America, is quite generally supposed, if not conceded by the best +authorities, to come from the native Peruvian word "Anti," meaning +copper. [23] + +The Peruvians, in order to cultivate some mountainous parts of their +country, terraced the mountain sides, facing the same with stone. These +terraces the Spaniards called "Andenes," whence some suppose the name +"Andes." "But the name," says Prescott, "is older than the Conquest, +according to Varcilasso, who traces it to 'Anti,' the name of a +province that lay east of Cuzco. 'Anta,' the word for copper, which was +found abundant in certain quarters of the country, may have suggested +the name of the province, if not immediately that of the mountains." [24] + +In any event we have the words "Anti" and "Anta" established as native +American words, and the word "Anti" is of frequent use in the Book of +Mormon in a number of compound words, such as "Anti-Nephi-Lehi," the +name of a Lamanite king or chief about B. C. 83. [25] The same name was +given to his people, that is, they were called "Anti-Nephi-Lehi's," [26] +and possibly it may have been given to the land they occupied. If so +it accounts for the word "Anti" surviving as the name of a province, +according to Garcilasso, lying east of Cuzco. + +We also have the word "Antiomno," [27] the name of a Lamanite king; +"Antionah," the name of a chief; "Antionum," both the name of a +man, [28] and also the name of a city; [29] also the word "Antiparah," a +Nephite city; [30] "Antipas," the name of a mountain; [31] and "Antipus," +the name of a Nephite military leader. [32] + +It is true these words in the Book of Mormon, are written as simple +words, but they are susceptible of being regarded as compound words, as +follows: "Anti-Omno," "Anti-Pas," "Anti-Parah," and so following. If +the Peruvian terraces derived their name from this native word "Anti," +then when applied to Nephite lands Anti-Onum would doubtless mean the +terraced lands of Onum, and Anti-Parah, the name of a city, would +doubtless be the terraced city of Parah, and so following. + +But after all this is said it is still a matter of regret that more of +the Nephite names, both of men and countries, have not survived in the +native American languages. Still the field of knowledge of American +antiquities has not yet been thoroughly explored, and when its buried +cities and monuments shall be more thoroughly known all the evidences +that can be demanded along these lines will doubtless be produced. + +III. + +_Nephi's Temple_. + +First Nephi gives the following account of building a temple in the New +World: + + And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after + the manner of the temple of Solomon, save it were not built of so + many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land; + wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon's temple. But + the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; + and the workmanship thereof was exceeding fine. [33] + +This statement is unfairly dealt with by objectors. They generally +represent it as saying that Nephi, in this description, holds out the +idea that he duplicated Solomon's temple, excepting as to the richness +of the materials employed in its construction. Then an elaborate +description of the greatness and architectural grandeur of Solomon's +temple is given. Attention is also called to the fact that the Hebrew +nation bent all their energies through seven years of activity in +constructing the temple of Solomon; that they were aided by surrounding +peoples, notably by King Hiram and the Tyrians. + +After all this is explained then comes what is supposed to be an +insurmountable difficulty, namely: Lehi's colony that came from +Jerusalem to America was a very small one, consisting of two families +only, Lehi's and Ishmael's, and in addition the man Zoram, perhaps not +exceeding a score of adult persons on their arrival in the promised +land. Then after some time this colony is divided; the more righteous +branch following Nephi, and the wicked following his elder brothers +Laman and Lemuel. So that it is safe to conclude that during the +lifetime of the first Nephi the colony remained a very small one; +and since this temple was built about thirty years after the colony +departed from Jerusalem, the Nephite division of it could not have +included more than one hundred adults. How, then, it is triumphantly +asked, could this small colony duplicate Solomon's temple, renowned for +its architectural beauty and greatness, and which required seven years +for the nation of the Hebrews to construct, assisted by surrounding +people and the great treasuries which David, in his reign, had +accumulated for that sacred purpose? + +The answer to the objection is to be found in a denial of the +construction put upon Nephi's description of his temple. That +description does not warrant the conclusion that Nephi's temple was a +duplicate of Solomon's, except as to the "manner of the construction," +from which it is to be inferred that the general plan of the structure +followed that of Solomon's, but it does not follow that it was anything +like Solomon's in the extent or largeness of it; but in the arrangement +of its courts; its several divisions and subdivisions were built +"after the manner" and for the purposes for which Solomon's temple was +constructed. So that the labored argument as to the inability of so +small a colony as Lehi's duplicating Solomon's temple is merely so much +wasted energy, since no one is bound to hold that in its dimensions +and greatness the Nephite Temple equaled Solomon's temple. It was only +like unto Solomon's temple in its arrangement and uses, but doubtless +by this colony was regarded as a very great achievement, as undoubtedly +it was, and they would likely speak of it in the superlative degree of +admiration in describing it. + +IV. + +_The Difficulty of Iron and Steel Among the Nephites_. + +The Book of Mormon repeatedly affirms the Nephite knowledge of the +fusion of metals, and their knowledge and use of both iron and steel. +As many writers on American Antiquities deny the knowledge and use of +these metals by the ancient Americans, their alleged existence in the +Book of Mormon is generally regarded as a capital objection to that +record. Not all the influential writers, however, are on that side of +the question. + + "There is no evidence," says Bancroft, "that the use of iron was + known except the extreme difficulty of clearing forests and carving + stone with implements of stone and soft copper." [34] + +Referring to some of the stones in the ruins of Peruvian buildings, +Prescott remarks: + + Many of these stones were of vast size; some of them being full + thirty-eight feet long, by eighteen broad, and six feet thick. We + are filled with astonishment when we consider that these enormous + masses were hewn from their native bed and fashioned into shape by + a people ignorant of the use of iron. [35] + +But why could not the argument of Wilkinson be followed when confronted +with a similar problem respecting the ancient Egyptian works in stone? +He allowed that the achievements of that ancient people in quarrying +and shaping huge blocks of stone to be an evidence of their knowledge +and use of iron, but that its tendency to decomposition and oxidation +prevented any specimens of it from being preserved. [36] + +Later, notwithstanding Prescott's disagreement with the argument, some +of the best authorities sustained the conclusions of Wilkinson. George +Rawlinson, for instance, in his "History of Ancient Egypt," says: + + In metals Egypt was deficient. * * * * Copper, iron, and lead do, + however, exist in portions of the eastern desert, and one iron mine + shows signs of having been anciently worked. + +"Then," he remarks, "the metal is found in form of specular and red +iron ore. Still, none of these metals seem to have been obtained by the +Egyptians from their own land in any considerable quantity. In a foot +note he says this mine lies in the eastern desert between the Nile and +Red Sea, at a place called Hammami." [37] Later, he says: + + It has been much questioned whether iron was employed at all by + the Egyptians until the time of the Greek conquest. The weapons + and implements and ornaments of iron which have been found in + the ancient cities are so few, while those of bronze are so + numerous, and the date of the few iron objects discovered is so + uncertain that there is strong temptation to embrace the simple + theory that iron was first introduced into Egypt by the Ptolemies. + Difficulties, however, stand in the way of a complete adoption of + this view. A fragment of a thin plate of iron was found by Col. + Vyse imbedded in the masonry of the great pyramid. [38] + +Continuing, he says: + + Some iron implements and ornaments have been found in the tombs + with nothing about them indicative of their belonging to the late + period. The paucity of such instances is partially, if not wholly + accounted for, by the rapid decay of iron in the nitrous earth + of Egypt, or when oxidized by exposure to the air. It seems very + improbable that the Hebrew and Canaanites should for centuries have + been well acquainted with the use of iron, and their neighbors + of Egypt, whose civilization was far more advanced, have been + ignorant of it. On these grounds the most judicious of modern + Egyptologists seem to hold, that while the use of iron by the + Egyptians in Pharaonic times was at the best rare and occasional, + it was not wholely unknown, though less appreciated than we should + have expected. Iron spear-heads, iron cycles, iron gimlets, iron + bracelets, iron keys, iron wire were occasionally made use of, + but the Egyptians on the whole were contented with their bronze + implements and weapons, which were more easily produced and which + they found to answer every purpose. [39] + +May it not be argued with equal reason, that the Lamanites, after the +conquest of the Nephites, found themselves in the same condition, that +is, it was easier for them to convert copper into such implements as +they desired than iron, until finally the use of iron was discontinued +and the art of manufacturing it lost. + +Baldwin says of the Peruvians: + + Iron was unknown to them in the time of the Incas, although some + maintain that they had it in the previous ages, to which belong the + ruins of Lake Titicaca. Iron ore was and still is very abundant in + Peru. It is impossible to conceive how the Peruvians were able to + cut and work stone in such a masterly way, or to construct their + great roads and aqueducts without the use of iron tools. Some + of the languages of the country, and perhaps all, had names for + iron; in official Peruvian it was called "quillay," and in the old + Chilian tongue "panilic." "It is remarkable," observes Molina, "that + iron, which has been thought unknown to the ancient Americans, + has particular names in some of their tongues." It is not easy to + understand why they had names for this metal, if they never at any + time had knowledge of the metal itself. In the "Mercurio Peruano," + (tome i., p. 201, 1791), it is stated that, anciently, the Peruvian + sovereigns, "worked magnificent iron mines at Ancoriames, on the west + shore of Lake Titicaca;" but I can not give the evidence used in + support of this statement. [40]. + +DeRoo says: + + Iron seems to have been unknown in America at the time of the + Spanish discovery, but the Mound-Builders' graveyards, afford proof + that they not only knew it, but manufactured it into tools and + implements. In the sepulchral mound at Marietta (Ohio) there was + found in the year 1819 a little lump of iron ore that had almost + the specific gravity of pure iron, and presented the appearance of + being partially smelted, while in the mound at Circleville oxidized + iron was unearthed in the shape of a plate. [41] + +Referring again to what was found in the mound at Marietta, he says: + + In June of 1819, upon opening a mound at Marietta, some very + remarkable objects were discovered, consisting of three large + circular copper bosses thickly overlaid with silver, and apparently + intended as ornaments for a buckler or a sword-belt. On the reverse + were two plates fastened by a copper rivet or nail, around which + was a flaxen thread, while between the plates were two small pieces + of leather. The copper showed much signs of decay; it was almost + reduced to an oxide; but the silver, though much corroded, resumed + its natural brilliancy on being burnished. In the same tumulus was + also found a hollow silver plate six inches long and two broad, + intended apparently as the upper part of a sword-scabbard. The + scabbard itself seems to have perished in the course of time, as no + other portion of it was found, with the exception of a few broken, + rust-eaten pieces of a copper tube, which was likely intended for + the reception of the point of the weapon. [42] + +Josiah Priest has the following passages on the subject of the +discoveries of iron in the mounds of America: + + We have examined the blade of a sword found in Philadelphia, now + in Peel's Museum, in New York, which was taken out of the ground + something more than sixty feet below the surface. The blade is + about twenty inches in length, is sharp on one edge, with a thick + back, a little turned up at the point, with a shank drawn out + three or four inches long, on which was doubtless, inserted in + the handle, and clenched at the end. It is known that the swords + of all ancient nations were very short, on which account, their + wars on the field of battle, were but an immense number of single + combats. [43] + +Describing what was found in one of the mounds at Circleville, in Ohio, +upon the authority of Mr. Atwater, who was present when the mound was +opened, he says: + + The handle, either of a small sword, or a large knife, made of an + elk's horn; around the end where the blade had been inserted, was + a ferule of silver, which, though black, was not much injured by + time; though the handle showed the hole where the blade had been + inserted, yet no iron was found, but an oxide or rust remained, + of similiar shape and size. The swords of the ancient nations of + the old world, it is known, were very short. Charcoal, and wood + ashes, on which these articles lay, were surrounded by several + bricks, very well burnt. The skeleton appeared to have been burnt + in a large and very hot fire. * * About twenty feet to the north of + it (i. e. the skeleton) was another, with which was found a large + mirror. * * * On this mirror was a plate of iron, which had become + an oxide, but before it was disturbed by the spade, resembled a + plate of cast iron. The mirror answered the purpose very well for + which it was intended. [44] + + Iron was known to the antediluvians; it was also known to the + ancients of the west. Copper ore is very abundant, in many places + of the west; and, therefore, as they had a knowledge of it when + they first came here they knew how to work it, and form it into + tools and ornaments. This is the reason why so many articles + of this metal are found in their works; and even if they had a + knowledge of iron ore, and knew how to work it, all articles made + of it must have become oxidized as appears from what few specimens + have been found, while those of copper are more imperishable. [45] + +Quoting Mr. Atwater again, Priest says: + + There is a tradition (among the Indians) that Florida had once been + inhabited by white people, who had the use of iron tools; their + oldest Indians say, when children, they had often heard it spoken + of by the old people of the tribe, that anciently, stumps of trees + covered with earth, were frequently found, which had been cut + down by edged tools. Whoever they were, or from whatever country + they may have originated, the account, as given by Morse, the + geographer, of the subterranean wall found in North Carolina, goes + very far to show they had a knowledge of iron ore; and consequently + knew how to work it, or they could not have had iron tools, as the + Shawanese Indians relate. [46] + +Again: + + On the river Gasconade, which empties into the Missouri, on the + southern side, (about 70 miles west of St. Louis) are found the + traces of ancient works, similar to those in North Carolina. In + the saltpetre caves of that region, the Gasconade country, in + particular, were discovered, when they were first visited, axes + and hammers made of iron; which led to the belief that they had + formerly worked those caves for the sake of the nitre. Dr. Beck, + from whose Gazetteer of Missouri and Illinois, (p. 234), we have + this account, remarks, however, that "it is difficult to decide + whether these tools were left there by the present race of Indians, + or a more civilized race of people. * * * * This author considers + the circumstance of finding those tools in the nitre caves, as + furnishing a degree of evidence that the country of Gasconade river + was formerly settled by a race of men who were acquainted with + the use of iron, and exceeded the Indians in civilization and a + knowledge of the arts. [47] + +In the town of Pompey, Onondaga county, New York, in one of the mounds +where Mr. Priest describes the finding of glass, he also says: + + In the same grave with the bottle was found an iron hatchet, + edged with steel. The eye, or place for the helve, was round, and + extended or projected out, like the ancient Swiss or German axe. * + * * * In the same town, on lot No. 17, were found the remains of a + blacksmith's forge; at this spot have been ploughed up crucibles, + such as mineralogists use in refining metals. + + These axes are similar, and correspond in character with those + found in the nitrous caves on the Gasconade river, which empties + into the Missouri, as mentioned in Professor Beck's Gazatteer of + that country. * * * * * Within the range of these works have been + found pieces of cast iron, broken from some vessel of considerable + thickness. These articles cannot well be ascribed to the era of the + French war, as time enough since then till the region around about + Onondaga was commenced to be cultivated, had not elapsed to give + the growth of timber found on the spot, of the age above noticed; + and, added to this, it is said that the Indians occupying that + tract of country had no tradition of their authors. [48] + +Again he states: + + Anv'ls of iron have been found in Pompey, (Onondaga county) in + the same quarter of the country with the other discoveries, as + above related; which we should naturally expect to find, or it + might be inquired how could axes, and the iron works of wagons, be + manufactured? [49] + +As I have before remarked, it has been contended that the ancient +Americans knew nothing of the fusion of metals, but the presence +of these materials for such purpose goes far towards dispelling +that opinion. It is true that Mr. Priest advances the opinion that +this forge and these crucibles found in New York, may have been of +Scandinavian origin; still that is but a conjecture, and here I wish to +introduce the testimony of Columbus, quoted by Nadaillac, who says: + + The Mayas knew nothing of iron; copper and gold were the only + metals they used, and it is doubtful whether they understood + smelting metals. Christopher Columbus is said, however, to have + seen, off the coast Honduras, a boat laden with crucibles, filled + with ingots of metal and hatchets made of copper which had been + fetched from a distance. ("Prehistoric America," p. 269). + +Speaking again of discoveries in the ancient tumuli of America, Priest +says: + + A vast many instances of articles made of copper and sometimes + plated with silver, have been met with on opening their works. + Circular pieces of copper, intended either as medals or breast + plates, have been found, several inches in diameter, very much + injured by time. In several tumuli the remains of knives, and even + of swords, in the form of rust, have been discovered. * * * * * But + besides, there have been found very well manufactured swords and + knives of iron, and possibly steel, says Mr. Atwater; from which + we are to conclude that the primitive people of America, either + discovered the use of iron themselves, as the Greeks did, * * * * + or that they carried a knowledge of this ore with them at the time + of their dispersion. [50] + +Speaking of the discovery of a skeleton of a man in one of the mounds +of Merrietta, Ohio, he says: + + Two or three pieces of a copper tube were also found with this + body, filled with iron rust. The pieces from their appearance + composed the lower end of the scabbard near the point of the sword, + but no sign of the sword itself, except a streak of rust its whole + length. [51] + +A. J. Connant, A. M., member of the St. Louis Academy of Science, and +of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, published +the following, in 1879: + + From an interesting account of certain mounds in Utah, communicated + by Mr. Amasa Potter to the Eureka Sentinel, of Nevada, as copied by + The Western Review of Science and Industry, I make the following + extracts: The mounds are situated on what is known as the Payson + Farm, and are six in number, covering twenty acres of ground. They + are from ten to eighteen feet in height, and from 500 to 1,000 feet + in circumference. "The explorations divulged no hidden treasure so + far, but have proved to us that there once undoubtedly existed here + a more enlightened race of human beings that that of the Indian who + inhabited this country, and whose records have been traced back + hundreds of years." While engaged in excavating one of the larger + mounds, we discovered the feet of a large skeleton, and carefully + removing the hardened earth in which it was embedded, we succeeded + in unearthing a large skeleton without injury. The human framework + measured six feet, six inches in length, and from appearances it + was undoubtedly that of a male. In the right hand was a large + iron or steel weapon, which had been buried with the body, but + which crumbled to pieces on handling. Near the skeleton we also + found pieces of cedar wood, cut in various fantastic shapes, and + in a state of perfect preservation; the carving showing that the + people of this unknown race were acquainted with the use of edged + tools. [52] + +Mr. Conant also refers with approval to several passages I have already +quoted from Dr. Priest's works, and adds on his own account: + + There are certain facts which have been quoted from time to time, + which fit into none of the popular theories concerning the state + of the arts of the Mound-builders. It has been stated, and often + repeated, that they had no knowledge of smelting or casting + metals, yet the recent discoveries in Wisconsin of implements of + copper cast in molds--as well as the moulds themselves, of various + patterns, and wrought with much skill--prove that the age of + metallurgical arts had dawned in that region at least. + + And again: what shall be said concerning the traces of iron + implements which have been discovered from time to time in the + mounds, but more frequently at great depths below the surface of + the soil. Though accounts of such discoveries are generally from + reliable sources, they have latterly received no attention, and + always have been considered as so much perilous ware which no one + cared to handle. [53] + +After referring to their stupendous works in stone, and their skill in +the fine arts, involving the most delicate carving, Mr. Conant remarks +of the old American race who wrought them: + + And it is difficult to conceive how, without cutting implements + equal, at least, to our own in hardness, such delicate and such + stupendous works could have been executed. And to the question + whether they possessed a knowledge of working iron, the wise + man will hesitate long before he answers in the negative. It + should be remembered, too, how quickly--unless under most + favoring conditions--iron corrodes to dust and leaves scarcely a + trace behind. The piles of the Swiss lake-dwellings, the cedar + posts of the mounds, may endure for ages, while iron--so hard, + and more precious than gold in the advancement of the world's + civilization,--speedily melts away before the gentle dews and air + of heaven. [54] + +There is more to the same effect, but our limits will admit of no +further quotations. + +V. + +_The Horse and Other Domestic Animals of the Book of Mormon_. + +It has to be conceded that the weight of assertion on the part of +writers on American antiquities, is against the existence of the horse, +cow, ass, goat, sheep, etc., in America within historical times, and +before the advent of Europeans. There is no evidence developed so far +that satisfactorily proves that any of the native races of America, +wild or civilized, had any knowledge of the horse and other domestic +animals named at the time of the discovery of America by the Europeans. +The Book of Mormon, however, repeatedly and most positively declares +that all these animals existed in great numbers. The first Nephi, for +instance, says: + + We did find upon the land of promise, as we journeyed in the + wilderness, that there were beasts in the forest of every kind, + both the cow and the ox, and the ass and the horse, and the goat + and the wild goat, and all manner of wild animals, which were for + the use of men. [55] + +The same animals, with others, are enumerated as existing also in +Jaredite times, and in the reign of King Emer--the fifth of the +Jaredite line of kings--that people are said to have had-- + + All manner of cattle, of oxen, and cows, and of sheep, and of + swine, and of goats, and also many other kind of animals which + were useful for the food of man; and they also had horses, and + asses, and there were elephants and cureloms, and cummoms; all of + which were useful unto man, and more especially the elephants, and + cureloms, and cummoms. [56] + +It is to be observed, curiously enough, that elephants are spoken of +as being in use for domestic purposes in connection with the horse and +cattle, etc., and it is rather a striking circumstance that the remains +of these animals, together with those of man, have been unearthed in +various parts of the American continent, though their existence is +accredited to very ancient times--to ages long prior to either Nephite +or Jaredite times. [57] + +It is held, of course, by opponents of the Book of Mormon that this +apparent conflict between the book and the supposed facts, as they are +declared to be by the writers on such subjects, constitutes a grave +objection to the claims of the Book of Mormon. And, indeed, in the +present state of our knowledge upon the subject, it has to be admitted +that it constitutes one of our most embarrassing difficulties. Still +it should be remembered that there is a wide difference between a +difficulty for which one has not at hand an adequate explanation, and +one that would be fatal to the claims made for the Book of Mormon. The +fact has to be admitted that the native Americans seemed to have had +no knowledge of the horse at the time of the discovery of America, but +that does not necessarily carry with it the conclusion that he did not +exist and was not used a thousand years before that time. His apparent +extinction may be and is sarcastically referred to as "a very strange +thing," still, "strange things" do sometimes happen; and the extinction +of species of animals is not an unknown thing in the history of our +earth. Indeed our scientists are confronted by just such--nay, with +the identical "strange occurrence;" namely, the sudden and complete +disappearance of the horse from the American continents. First let me +explain that the result of recent long continued investigation upon the +subject leads our scientists to the conclusion that North America was +the original home of the horse--the place of his "evolution." In the +Century Magazine, for November, 1904, is a very elaborate and very able +article on "The Evolution of the Horse in America," really a study of +the "Fossil Wonders of the West," by Henry Fairfield Osborn, Professor +of Zoology in Columbia University, and Curator in the American Museum +of Natural History. Speaking of the migration of the horse from America +to Europe, he says: + + About the early or mid-Pliocene period there apparently occurred + the long journey of the true American breed horses into Asia and + Europe and over the newly made land-bridge of Panama or of the + Antilles into South America. That the true Old World horse actually + came from America is inferred because of the sudden appearance + in the Upper Pliocene of the Siwalik Hills of northern India, in + northern Italy, and in England, of five species of the true horse, + of which no ancestors have been found in either Europe or Asia. + Another strong argument for their American origin is found in + the simultaneous appearance in the same countries of the camel, + which we positively know to have been an exclusively American-bred + animal. It is possible, however, that in unexplored portions + of northern Asia the evolution of true horses may have been + progressing. I am sanguine that traces of this great exodus and + migration of the horses will be discovered in the rocks of northern + Asia, and that this great problem in the history of the horse will + be solved in favor of America. + +Speaking further of the horse in America in very ancient times, our +author says: + + The preglacial or earliest Plieistocene times in America, as in + Europe were of temperate climate with increasing coldness. The + country was covered from north to south with three noble species + of elephants, namely, the northern mammoth, the Columbian mammoth, + and the imperial mammoth or elephant of Texas; there were also + large and small camels, and a variety of large ground-sloths which + had recently made their way over the new land bridge from South + America. The great number and variety of our preglacial horses + speak for favorable conditions, and constitute an additional + proof of the American-origin theory. In 1826 Mitchell aroused + wide-spread interest by the discovery of the first true fossil + horse of America, found near the Navesink Highlands of New Jersey. + This was seventy-eight years ago; it antedated by a quarter of a + century Leidy's discoveries in Nebraska. The wide geographical + range, as well as the great variety in size and breed of the + American preglacial horses, is indicated by the following facts. + One animal (Equus complicatus), about the size of a small western + broncho, originally found near Natchez, has been traced all + over the Southern States from the isles of the Gulf of Mexico + to South Carolina. A larger horse with very elaborate grinding + teeth has been found in the Northeastern and Middle States. On + the extreme western coasts of California and in Oregon occurs the + large "Pacific horse" perhaps closest to the existing species of + horse. In Nebraska we quarried a whole season, securing remains of + hundreds of horses belonging to another species. In a portion of + this quarry all the larger limb bones were found broken in two. + This suggested to me the possibility that these larger bones, the + only ones known to have contained marrow, had been broken by man, + who was primitively a great marrow eater, but we searched in vain + for any collateral evidence of this hypothesis. To my knowledge, + no human remains have been found associated with those of the + fossil horse in North America; but I confidently expect that such + association will be discovered, as it has been in South America. By + far the largest species of either wild or domesticated horse known + has been determined by Mr. Gidley in Texas, and has appropriately + been called the "giant horse." The grinding teeth exceed those of + the Percheron draft-horse by one third. At the other extreme is + a diminutive horse, discovered both in Florida and in the valley + of Mexico.* * * * * * A more welcome discovery could hardly be + imagined, therefore, than that by our party, in 1899, on the + eastern edge of the Llana Estacado of Texas. It was no less than a + small herd of six or seven preglacial horses. * * * * * * This true + American horse was certainly rather ungainly-looking, proportioned + like the larger primitive horses of Europe, with long body, short + limbs, sloping sides, and quarters like those of some of the + zebras. Like the early cave-horses of Europe, it had a large head, + convex forehead, stout limbs, spreading hoofs and splint-bones + which represent the last of the lateral toes. + +Then, coming to the strange circumstance of the total "elimination of +the horse from the American continents," the professor says: + + When we look back upon the enormous antiquity of our horse, upon + the ceaseless trials of nature by which it was produced, and upon + the splendid varities of breeds which roamed over the country in + preglacial times, we cannot but regard the total elimination of + this race as a calamity for the North American continent. * * * * + There is no doubt that we supplied South America with the horses + which under the peculiar conditions there began to separate into + a number of distinct breeds. The extremely short-limbed Hippidium + of the pampas of Argentina was contrasted with the more normal + long-limbed horses found in various parts of South America. The + horse also persisted in South America until the advent of man; + during the Upper Pleistocene lake formations its remains are found + associated with chipped stone implements, with pottery and fire + refuse, proving that it was both hunted and eaten. The evidence, + however, for the total extinction of the horse is as strong in + South as it is in North America, and it is generally accepted that + in 1530 Mendoza reintroduced the horse into the La Plata region, + just as the Spaniards reintroduced it into our Southern States. + The rapid spread of several breeds of horses in South America + and of the mustangs in North America bespeak highly favorable + conditions of life. Many of these horses have reverted to a very + primitive condition, notably the striped yellow duns of Mexico. + The increasing cold and the advancing ice sheet of the glacial + period are commonly assigned as the cause of the extinction of + American horses. The fact that most of our native fauna became + extinct at the same time lends probability to this theory. But + this does not explain the elimination which also occurred to the + south in Central and South America, and for other reasons it seems + to me that the temperature theory is not adequate to explain all + the facts. The great herds of kiangs, or wild asses, and other + breeds which subsist under the extreme conditions of the northern + winters, as well as the survival of the horse through the glacial + period in Europe, demonstrate the capacity of this family to endure + cold. Another class of causes which should certainly be taken into + consideration is the occurrence of a wide-spread epidemic among + the quadrupeds, such as the rinderpest of Africa, or that which is + spread by the tsetse-fly. In certain parts of South America the + puma is an animal especially destructive to horses. + +May not the last named class of causes be as confidently relied upon to +explain the apparent extinction of the horse in America since the close +of the Nephite period, as to explain his extinction in the more ancient +preglacial times? + +What is more embarrassing than the apparent absence of knowledge of the +horse by the natives at the time of the European discovery of America, +is the absence of any positive and abundant evidence of the remains +of the horse in the tumuli or other ruins of the land; and an absence +also of any drawing or other representation of the horse in the native +picture writing or sculpture, while many other animals and birds and +fish are frequently represented both in picture writing and sculpture. + +Kitto notes the fact, however, that from the account of the burial of +Jacob, [58] and from the Song of Moses, [59] it is clear that horsemen +were a part of the Egyptian army, and yet there is but one solitary +specimen of a man on horseback amongst the infinite variety of +sculptured representations of their manner and customs. [60] + +Daniel G. Brinton, one of the most competent writers upon the subject, +says: + + There is no doubt but that the horse existed on the continent + contemporaneously with post-glacial man; and some palaeontologists + are of opinion that the European and Asian horses were descendants + of the American species; [61] but for some mysterious reason the + genus became extinct in the New World many generations before its + discovery. [62] + +May it not be possible that a too great antiquity is claimed for most +of the evidences of the existence of these animals in the western +world? The convictions of Nadaillac, concerning the non-existence of +the horse in America within historical times (and previous to the +Spanish invasion), was well nigh shaken by some of the discoveries of +Charnay. The latter, "in the execution of a mission entrusted to him +by the French government, superintended the excavation of some tumuli, +mountains of rubbish probably, which had covered for many centuries +the relics of the ancient Toltecs"--the native Americans who most +resemble the Nephites, judging from their traditions. One dwelling, +which Charnay unearthed, "consisted of twenty-four rooms, two cisterns, +twelve corridors, and fifteen little staircases of extraordinary +architecture and thrilling interest." + +"This is not all," continues Charnay. "In the midst of fragments of +pottery of all kinds, from the coarsest used in building, such as +bricks, tiles, water-pipes, to the most delicate for domestic use, +I have picked up enamels, fragments of crockery and porcelain, and +more extraordinary still, the neck of a glass bottle iridescent like +ancient Roman glass." + + "Amongst the debris," says Nadaillac, "lays the bones of some + gigantic ruminants (perhaps bisons?), the tibia of which were about + one foot three inches long by four inches thick, the femur at the + upper end about six inches by four inches. Admitting that there + is no mistake, these facts are absolutely new, for previously it + was considered that the early Americans did not know how to make + either glass or porcelain, and that before the arrival of the + Conquistadors (the Conquerors, the Spaniards) none of our domestic + animals were known in America, but that of the oxen, horses, and + sheep living there at the present day are all descended from + ancestors imported from Europe." + + "The excavations have also yielded some little chariots that + Charnay thinks were the toys of children. Now, supposing these toys + to have been a reproduction in miniature of objects used by men, we + must conclude that the Toltecs employed carriages, and that their + use was not only given up, but absolutely unknown on the arrival + of Cortes. These discoveries, we can but repeat, greatly modify + the conclusions hitherto accepted. But are these really original + productions? May they not have been imported? This is after all + doubtful, and new proofs are needed to establish certainly that + the objects discovered really date from the pre-Columbian period + before we can admit that in the eleventh century the Toltecs + possessed domestic animals, that they knew how to make and fashion + porcelain, glass, perhaps even iron, for Charnay also collected in + his excavations several iron implements. [63] + +Priest, in his "American Antiquities," speaks of "a great number of +tracks, as turkeys, bears, horses, and human beings, as perfect as they +could be made on snow or sand," found impressed in the surface of a +solid rock on a certain mountain in the State of Tennessee, situated a +few miles south of Braystown. He says, "that these are the real tracks +of the animals they represent, appears from the circumstance of this +horse's foot having slipped several inches, and recovered again; the +figures having all the same direction, like the trail of a company on a +journey." [64] Referring later to this subject, he says: + + The horse, it is said, was not known in America till the Spaniards + introduced it from Europe, after the time of its discovery by + Columbus, which has multiplied prodigiously on the innumerable + wilds and prairies of both South and North America; yet the track + of a horse is found on a mountain of Tennessee, in a rock of the + enchanted mountain, as before related, and shows that horses were + known in America in the earliest ages after the flood. [65] + +The question, then, for the present may be stated thus: The Book of +Mormon positively testifies to the existence, in America, of these +animals in both Jaredite and Nephite times. There have been discovered, +by the researches of men, abundant evidences of the horse's existence +in America, but they claim a very much greater antiquity for that +existence than Book of Mormon times. It must be admitted that the +weight of evidence, though not all the evidence, as it stands at +present, is with those who make such claims; still it may be reasonably +claimed, as for instance in the evidence found by Charnay and referred +to in the passage I have quoted from Nadaillac, that some of the +evidence points to a more recent existence of the horse on the American +continents. Very much more evidence may yet be hoped for on the subject +as explorations shall become more perfect and more extensive. + +Relative to other domestic animals, Bancroft says, speaking of those in +Central America: + + Turkeys, ducks, geese, and other fowl were domesticated; and pigs, + rabbits, and hares are mentioned as having been bred. Multitudes of + bees were kept for their honey and wax, and hives are spoken o, by + Las Casas without description. Gomera says the bees were small and + the honey somewhat bitter. [66] + +It has sometimes been questioned whether bees were found in America; +and their supposed non-existence has sometimes been urged as an +objection to the Book of Mormon, which positively states that the +Jaredites brought with them to the northern continent "deseret," which +by interpretation is "honey bee." [67] + +The foregoing passage from Bancroft, and very much more evidence that +might be quoted, sets that question at rest. + +Relative to other domestic animals referred to, the cow, goat, sheep, +etc., is a subject much more easily disposed of, for the mountain +sheep and great herds of buffaloes may be the domesticated animals of +ancients gone wild. + +VI. + +_The Barges of the Jaredite Colony_. + +The story of the migration of the Jaredite colony from the coast of +Asia to America in eight barges, driven across the seas by strong +winds, has been an incident ridiculed by nearly every writer against +the Book of Mormon from the beginning. Rev. Alexander Campbell +especially makes merry over it, and disgraces himself by the garbled +and unfair manner in which he relates the story. [68] But it was +reserved for Rev. M. T. Lamb to make the most of such objections as may +be urged against these barges. [69] + +Omitting all reference to his silly ridicule and "smartness," in which +he but mimics the methods among infidel writers when dealing with the +story of "Noah's deluge," the objection against the Jaredite migration +and barges may be stated thus: + +1. The barges are too small and too few in number to carry Jared's +colony, the animals they are said to have taken with them, and the +necessary provisions. + +2. Each barge had an opening in the top of it for the admission of air +into the vessel, which could be closed at will in the event of there +being danger of submersion. A similar opening made in the bottom of the +barge but capable of being kept closed--and when closed water tight--at +the will of the occupants--is regarded as unnecessary and ridiculous. + +3. The provisions made for lighting the interior of the barges by means +of transparent stones made luminous by the touch of God's finger, is +unusual and just subject for ridicule. + +4. The length of the voyage (344 days), being propelled by furious +winds, the eight barges keeping together till their arrival at the +promised land--is all regarded as too wonderful for belief. + +Let us now consider these several objections one by one. + +1. The barges are inadequate to convey the colony to America. They are +said to have been small and light on the water. But how small? The +length is described as "the length of a tree." [70] But of what tree? A +tree one hundred feet long, or one two hundred feet long, or longer? +Who may tell? Small; but small in comparison of what? Perhaps small in +comparison of the ark, the traditions concerning which were well known +to Jared and his brother, for they lived but a few generations removed +from the time of its construction. The size of the ark is variously +given because of the variations in the length of the cubit, by means of +which its dimensions are described. The one usually accepted, however, +omitting fractions of feet, is as follows: 525 feet in length; 87 feet +in breadth; 52 feet in height. [71] + +If this vessel was in the mind of the Jaredite who described the barges +as "small," and he meant they were small in comparison of the ark, they +could still be good-sized vessels, notwithstanding the descriptive term +"small;" as they also could be good sized vessels notwithstanding the +length of them is described as the length of a tree, since they could +be, if some trees were in the mind of the writer, from one to three +hundred feet in length. The breadth and depth of them is not given, +but doubtless those dimensions would be in good proportion of their +length, for their safety, and not at all as the width of a tree is to +its length. + +As to their being inadequate for the colony of Jared and the animals +they brought with them to the New World, it should be remarked, in the +first place, that the colony of Jared was small. A number of years +after the arrival of the colony in America, the two principal families, +that of the Prophet Moriancumr and of Jared, are given as follows: +The former had of sons and daughters twenty-two, while the number of +sons and daughters of the latter were twelve. How many of these sons +and daughters were born after the colonies arrived in America is not +known, but the numbers are given in connection with the statement that +the brother of Jared--Moriancumr--was become old and was anxious to +make some provisions for the settled government of the people. The +"friends of Jared and his brother" at the time of the departure of the +colony from Babel are set down as "twenty-two souls," but how many +were born of these after the colony arrived in America is not known; +but certainly these figures make it clear that the colony of Jared was +small. + +Secondly, it should be remarked that the number of animals the colony +brought with them in the barges may not be determined, but most likely +the number was few, and mainly for breeding purposes in the new home to +which the people were being led. + +In view of these reflections, the writer is of the opinion that the +candid reader will find no insuperable difficulties in the way of +accepting the barges as adequate to the conveyance of the colony from +one land to another. + +I know there is no particular progress made in the matter of removing +one difficulty by pointing to another of like nature, especially such +difficulties as Mormon believers of the Bible, as well as sectarian +believers of it, are equally under obligations to explain as best they +may. Still I think it proper to remark that sectarian ministers, who +are confronted with the difficulties which infidels present concerning +the inadequacy of Noah's ark to house Noah and his family and all +the animals that they were to take into the ark with them, with the +necessary food supplies for the five months through which the flood +prevailed, (the very lowest estimate of the time) cut a sorry figure +when making mouths at Jared's barges. + +2. Relative to the openings in the top and bottom of the barges which +has been so fruitful a source of merriment for reverend opponents +of the Book of Mormon, it is only necessary to say that the opening +provided for at the bottom of the barges was doubtless some merely +emergency provision. + +3. There is nothing in the matter of the transparent stones made +luminous by being touched by the finger of God that is too much for +a reasonable credulity in one who believes in God and his power. The +stones, called Urim and Thummim, in the breast-plate of the Jewish High +Priest were made luminous under the power of God, and through them in +some mysterious way the will of God was communicated to a prophet. +It is no more marvelous that God, at the solicitation of one prophet +should make transparent stones luminous, by touching them with his +finger, than that he should write his law upon the tablets of stone +with his own finger for another prophet; [72] or that he should make +a bush luminous, for that matter, or cause it to burn and yet not be +consumed. [73] + +Especially is belief in the possibility of making these stones luminous +easy since the recent discovery of radium by those eminent French +chemists, M. and Mme. Curie. Radium is a substance procured from +pitchblende, which has not only the peculiar power of radiating light, +but which has the power also of imparting to certain other substances, +for a time at least, the same property. These eminent chemists were +also the first to isolate from other substances, another metal which +they called "polonium," after Poland, the native country of Mme. Curie. + +Speaking of this latter metal before the Chemical Congress at Berlin, +in 1903, W. Markwald said of it: + + In a much higher degree even than radium it possesses the + property of shining in the dark, and although it is known that + actual particles infinitesimally small are being shot out from it + continually--a fact which is proved by magnetic experiments--this + strange substance does not seem to exhaust itself, nor to lose + its luminous power with the passage of time. Here, therefore, is + a hint, at least, of the future possibility of a constant and + brilliant illuminant generated without heat or combustion. + +An editorial writer of "The Medical News," commenting on Professor +Markwald's paper, said: + + Professor Markwald's demonstrations at Berlin make it clear that + polonium is capable of communicating its radiant energy to many + other substances in a very marked way. + +In the presence of this knowledge concerning the qualities of these +newly discovered metals, it is becoming for even supposedly hardheaded +scientists to stop ridiculing the "luminous stones" of Jared's barges, +while sectarian ministers, professing to believe in the omnipotence of +God. [Text unreadable] splendidly displayed according to accounts given +in the Hebrew scriptures, never had any case against the "luminous +stones," and their ridicule from first to last has been unbecoming. + +4. The adequacy of the eight barges to carry the colony of Jared, +together with the seeds and animals they brought with them to the +New World is established the moment it was proved that they may have +been and doubtless were of considerable size; and by the same fact +the difficulty of the length of the voyage was overcome; while the +matter of keeping the barges together is a marvel of our opponent's own +creation. + +While it is true that no direct mention is made of any steering +apparatus, it does not follow from this silence that there was no means +for steering provided, [74] and an "outlook" from the opening in the +upper side of the barge was not impossible. Indirectly, the matter +of "steering" is mentioned as a factor in preparing the barges. For +Moriancumr (the brother of Jared), the prophet leader, in praying that +some means of light might be provided, also said: "O Lord, in them +there is no light, whither shall we [by which we shall?] steer?" + +Some provision evidently had been made for steering the barges which +needed only the convenience of light to render it adequate. + +These considerations dispose of the difficulties of the barges keeping +together. + +_The Marvels of Liahona--"Compass."_ + +This divine instrument, found by Lehi at his tent door, while still in +the wilderness of Arabia, and which he describes as a "round ball of +curious workmanship" of fine brass, within which were two spindles, of +which Nephi says: "and one pointed the way whither we should go into +the wilderness, and * * * I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in +the ball; that they did work according to the faith and diligence and +heed which we did give unto them." [75] + +This curious instrument in an incidental way is called a "compass" +in several passages. [76] Whereupon, our opponents seek to bring the +Book of Mormon in conflict with supposed historical facts by insisting +that the Book of Mormon speaks of the people being in possession of "a +mariner's compass, long before the invention of such an instrument!" [77] + +The director of the Nephites makes no pretentions to being a "Mariner's +compass" of man's invention, and surely the description given +above, supplemented as it is by a fuller description in the Book of +Alma, where it is called "Liahona," must dispel all thought of this +instrument being considered as an ordinary compass, such as is invented +by men for navigating purposes; and which, as everybody knows, has +but this one quality, namely, its needle constantly points northward +because of the magnetic pole force, and mariners knowing one direction +may ascertain others. The silliness of argument, which even supposedly +grave and reverend historians and essayists descend to on such a +point, is illustrated by an alleged incident with which Linn stoops to +render his pages luminous, by pretending to quote the manner in which +"Mormons in Utah" are supposed to explain the alleged anachronism of +the "compass." He says: + + The ease with which such an error could be explained is shown in an + anecdote of a Utah Mormon, who, when told that the compass was not + known in Bible times, responded by quoting Acts xxvii: 13, where + Paul says: "And from thence we fetched a compass!" + +That is, to quote the passage in full--"From thence we fetched a +compass, and came to Rhegium." + +This is merely the repetition of an old, silly story told against the +Mormons long before they arrived in Utah, and was invented by the Rev. +Henry Caswell, author of "The Prophet of the Nineteenth Century," +published in 1843. It is of that order of stuff as the tales about the +Prophet Joseph attempting to walk on the water, and his pretending to +raise the simulated dead. + +The antiquity of the compass really, of course, is of no importance in +this discussion, since it is not claimed that "Liahona" is a compass, +but an entirely different instrument, "and the Lord prepared it;" +still, in passing, it may be well to point out that those who have +attempted to make capital out of this supposed anachronism have not +stated the whole truth concerning the compass. + + "The directive power of the magnet," says a respectable authority + "seems to have been unknown in Europe till late in the 12th + century. It appears, however, on very good authority, that it was + known in China, and throughout the east generally, at a very remote + period. The Chinese annals indeed assign its discovery to the year + 2634 B. C., when, they say, an instrument for indicating the sun + was constructed by the emperor Hou-angti. At first, they would + appear to have used it exclusively for guidance in traveling by + land." [78] + +VII. + +_The Weight of the Plates_. + +An objection is urged against the credibility of Joseph Smith's account +of carrying the plates of the Book of Mormon home from the Hill +Cumorah. It is claimed that on account of their great weight it would +be impossible for him to carry them a distance of some two miles and +repel successfully the three assaults which he alleges were made upon +him enroute. + +Hyde estimates that a mass of gold plates of the dimensions given, 7x8 +inches and 6 inches thick, would weigh 200 pounds. [79] Many others +have echoed this objection, and have adopted Hyde's data upon which it +is founded. To increase the difficulties they also say, that "besides +these plates he had, according to his third story, a breast-plate of +brass, Laban's sword, the crystal interpreters, the 'brass ball with +spindles,' the director of Lehi. Yet he packs his horse load, keeps +these large and awkward shaped things completely concealed, and, at the +same time, beat off and outruns two empty-handed men a distance of two +miles! Statements must be probable, and, therefore, these ought to be +rejected." [80] + +This is a misrepresentation. The Prophet did not carry these "awkward +shaped things" with him at the time he carried home the plates and +repelled the attacks of his assailants. He carried with him the plates +only on that occasion. The other articles, or as many of them as he +had--I have nowhere found in any narrative of Joseph Smith's, or one +by any responsible person associated with him, that he took possession +of the sword of Laban or Lehi's director--he carried home at other +times. [81] + +In passing, I call attention to the fact that nearly every +objection urged against the Book of Mormon has in it the element of +misrepresentation. If the main fact contended for in the foregoing +objection is true, namely, that the plates weighed 200 pounds, and +therefore were too heavy for Joseph Smith to carry two miles and at +the same time repel his assailants, why add the untruths of the rest +of the statement? If the conclusion as to the weight be true, would +not that be difficulty enough to present? It may be a little apart +from the main question here to call attention to this tendency of +misrepresentation in all the objections urged, yet the very strangeness +of the circumstance tempts one to notice it, and it reveals the fact +that those who are making objections to the Book of Mormon are not +quite certain of the strength of such objections as may be urged while +rigidly adhering to the facts in the case. + +Without accepting or rejecting the conclusions relative to the probable +weight of the plates--for it is largely matter of speculation in any +case, and the conclusions urged may or may not be near the truth; and, +moreover, ground for the difficulty presented would exist if it could +be established that the plates weighed 90 or even 50 pounds, wo we will +not haggle about the number of pounds in weight--it is conceded that +the weight was considerable. In fact, I have already urged that it was +a matter which impressed itself upon the minds of the Eight Witnesses, +who incidentally say that they saw and "hefted" them. [82] + +Replying to this objection it is to be urged, first of all, that Joseph +Smith was a strong, athletic young man; and aroused as he was under the +stress of the excitement of the occasion, he would be wrought up to his +highest physical tension, and when so aroused the limits of what may be +done by men in the way of feats of strength and agility have not yet +been found. Of course there is yet to be reckoned with the power which +God could, and which perhaps he did impart to the young Prophet. If +that be accepted as a factor in the event, the objection based on the +weight of the plates is swept aside. It matters not, then, whether the +weight be 50 or 200 pounds. The difficulty is as easily overcome in the +one case as in the other. But when a natural, ordinary source can be +appealed to for explanation of such a circumstance as is before us, I +do not care to appeal to the supernatural, to the miraculous; and I am +of opinion that when the unusual personal strength of Joseph Smith is +taken into account, and that the young man was aroused to his highest +physical tension by the excitement of the circumstances under which he +was acting, I think he could accomplish the things he claims to have +performed though the weight of the plates be conceded as considerable. + +In conclusion, on this head, I call the attention of the many sectarian +"Reverends" who make much of the apostate Hyde's objection, and use his +data for arriving at the weight of the plates, to the fact that it ill +becomes them to urge this objection, while they have to account to an +unbelieving world for the marvelous feats of strength and endurance of +many Bible characters, and especially of Samson, for twenty years Judge +of Israel. What of this man, bare handed, meeting a lion and overcoming +him? What of one lone man, with so poor a weapon as the jaw bone of an +ass, slaying a thousand men of a war-like people? What of his carrying +away bodily, together with the posts and iron bar which fastened them, +the huge gates of the city of Gaza? And finally of his pulling down the +great central pillars of the temple of Dagon, so that the temple fell, +slaying himself and a host of the Philistines? + +If these "Reverend" gentlemen shall say in reply to this that each of +these feats of strength and others accredited to Samson is in every +case preceded by the statement, "the Spirit of the Lord began to move +him," or "the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him;" and that +when at last he was caught weakly in the lap of the false Delilah, +and in accounting for that weakness it is said, "he wisted not that +the Lord was departed from him"--in a word, if his strength is to be +accounted for by referring its origin to the Spirit of God resting upon +the man, wayward though he was in some respects, that argument must +count as much in explaining Joseph Smith's feat of carrying the Nephite +plates home and repelling his assailants as in accounting for Samson's +exploits. + +_The Death of Shiz_. + +The description given in the Book of Mormon of the death of Shiz, the +Jaredite leader who fought Coriantumr, "the last of the Jaredites," is +regarded as an objection to the Book of Mormon. The description follows: + + And it came to pass that when Coriantumr had leaned upon his sword, + that he rested a little, he smote off the head of Shiz that Shiz + raised upon his hands and fell; and after that he had struggled for + breath, he died. [83] + +It is claimed that this represents an impossible thing--a man with his +head stricken off rising upon his hands! And yet equally marvelous +things of this nature have occurred, and are matters of record. + +Mr. G. W. Wightman, of the Seventeenth Lancers of the British Light +Brigade, and a survivor of the wild charge at Balaclava, relates, in +the "Electric Magazine" for June, 1892, the incident of Captain Nolan's +death during that charge. Captain Nolan was of the Fifteenth Hussars, +and he met his fate, according to Wightman, as follows: + + We had ridden barely two hundred yards and were still at the + "trot," when poor Nolan's fate came to him. I did not see him + cross Cardigan's front, but I did see the shell explode, of which + a fragment struck him. From his raised sword-hand dropped the + sword, but the arm remained erect. Kinglake writes that "what had + once been Nolan' maintained the strong military seat until the + 'erect form dropped out of the saddle;' but this was not so. The + sword-hand indeed remained upraised and rigid, but all other limbs + so curled in on the contorted trunk as by a spasm, that we wondered + how for the moment the huddled form kept the saddle." + +It is quite as remarkable that a man stricken unto death by the +fragment of a shell should continue erect in the saddle, with sword-arm +upraised and rigid, while the other limbs so curled in on the contorted +trunk that those who saw him "wondered how the huddled form kept the +saddle," as that a man as his head is stricken off should momentarily +rise on his hands. + +Mr. Wightman, in the same article, relates the still more remarkable +case of Sergeant Talbot's death: + + It was about this time that Sergeant Talbot had his head clean + carried off by a round shot, yet for about thirty yards farther + the headless body kept the saddle, the lance at the charge firmly + gripped under the right arm. [84] + +After this well attested fact, and many others of a similar nature +that might be cited, it is not worth while being skeptical about Shiz +convulsively rising on his hands for a moment after his head was +stricken off. + +_Concluding Reflections_. + +The foregoing are not all the objections urged against the Book of +Mormon, but they are the chief ones and the only ones I consider worthy +or necessary of notice here; and even some of these scarce pass muster +on the score of being worthy of consideration. I have already called +attention to the tendency of misrepresentation in these objections; +it is a characteristic of all objections that I have ever seen urged +against the Book of Mormon. Why it is so I shall leave those to +explain who make the objections. The arguments made against the Book +of Mormon, especially those made by professed ministers of the Gospel, +are wonderfully similar in spirit to those made by skeptics against +the Hebrew scriptures, and in fact against all written revelation. The +same scoffing at miracles; if they differ from those of the Bible--and +sometimes when this difference is one only of degree--then it is +argued that they cannot be true, because of said differences; if the +miracles resemble those of the Bible--however remotely--then they are +plagiarisms of the Bible, and are idle imitations unworthy of belief. +The same old complaint of skeptics is made against the inadequacy +and imperfections of the language--the language is not that of an +All-Perfect Deity--it is unlike what might be expected of God, the +human elements are all too apparent. And so one might continue through +the whole gamut of criticism against the Book of Mormon. + +Sectarian divines who would complain bitterly of such arguments if +used against the Bible, do not hesitate to employ them and couple +with them all the bitterness, ridicule, sarcasm, ribaldry, inuendo, +and even misrepresentation that a certain class of skeptics have +employed against the Bible. I do not mention these things in the way of +complaint; I only want to point to the fact of them, that the reader, +with me, may wonder at them and ask himself the question, why is this +the case? + +And now a final word as to these objections. Are all the objections +to the Book of Mormon satisfactorily answered? Are all difficulties +which they represent removed? Frankly, no; they are not. Every one +must feel that. But, on the other hand, do these objections that are +not entirely and satisfactorily answered constitute an insuperable +difficulty in the way of a rational faith in the Book of Mormon? My +answer is, they do not. Nor does incompleteness of evidence on any +particular point necessarily mean error as to the general result of +the evidence. But a little more time, a little more research, a little +more certain knowledge, which such research will bring forth, will +undoubtedly result in the ascertainment of facts that will supply the +data necessary for a complete and satisfactory solution of all the +difficulties which objectors now emphasize, and on which they claim a +verdict against the Book of Mormon. + +Meantime, do not our opponents recognize the fact that some +responsibility devolves upon them in the controversy? What of the +positive evidences and arguments advanced in favor of the Book of +Mormon? Have we not a clear right to expect and demand a recognition of +these, or else a clear confutation of them? It is nugatory, as George +Stanley Faber successfully contended respecting infidel arguments +against the Christian religion--it is nugatory to say that the +evidences in favor of the Book of Mormon are weak and unsatisfactory, +while yet no regular confutation or that evidence, and those arguments +are brought forward. To state difficulties, paraphrasing Faber, [85] +is one thing; to refute evidence and answer argument is another. The +work which we have the right to demand of our opponents is a work in +which they shall go regularly through the treatise, say of Charles +Thompson, of Orson Pratt, or Parley P. Pratt, or George Reynolds, [86] +and last, and perhaps least, the less worthy treatise of these +pages, taking argument after argument, necessarily showing its utter +inconclusiveness, and the inconclusiveness of the whole cumulative +evidence and argument, bringing out the triumphant conclusion that the +evidences in support of the claims of the Book of Mormon are too weak +and unsatisfactory to command reasonable assent. + +This is what is incumbent upon the opponents of the Book of Mormon. The +mere statement of difficulties is not sufficient; for be it remembered +that mere difficulties though unanswered, or even unanswerable, cannot +set aside direct and positive evidence. "A negative presumption," says +John Fiske, "is not created by the absence of proof in cases where, +in the nature of things, proof is inaccessible," [87] as is the case +in respect of some proof to meet objections urged against the Book of +Mormon. Again our author says: "No amount of negative evidence can +outweigh a single well-established item of positive evidence." [88] And +again: "Negative evidence, as every one knows, is a very unsafe basis +of argument. A single item of positive evidence will always outweigh +any amount of negative evidence." [89] The positive evidence that stands +for the claims of the Book of Mormon become the difficulties that our +opponents must overcome before they can hope to overthrow the claims +made for the Nephite record. Until this is done, I shall hold that the +mass of evidence which it has been the effort of the writer through +these pages to set somewhat in order, is sufficient, both in quality +and quantity, to fill the mind who pays attention to it with a rational +faith in the Book of Mormon--THE AMERICAN VOLUME OF SCRIPTURE. + +THE END. + +Footnotes + +1. Nephi xiii: 14. + +2. Mosiah xx. + +3. Alma xiv. + +4. Alma xxiv. + +5. Mosiah xxvii: 18-23. + +6. Mosiah xxix. + +7. "Mormonism" (1857) pp. 280-282. + +8. "The Golden Bible," Rev. M. T. Lamb, (1887), chapter v. + +9. Elsewhere on the subject of these signs given to the Nephites, I +have said: "I think I see something very beautiful and appropriate +in these marvelous signs. I think it is fitting that he who is +described in the four Gospels as well as in the fifth (III. Nephi, +Book of Mormon) as the 'Light and Life of the world,' should have his +entrance into earth life proclaimed by a night in which there should +be no darkness, and that a new star for a season should appear in the +heavens, to be a witness to the people that 'the Life and Light' of +mankind had indeed come into the world. And equally appropriate is it +that when he who is described as the 'Life and Light of the world' +is laid low in death, the world should have the testimony of light +eclipsed. I see a beautiful appropriateness in these signs, and in them +I see added pictures in the life and career of the Lord Jesus Christ." +("The Fifth Gospel," a Discourse by the writer replying to criticisms +of Dr. W. M. Paden on III. Nephi, Defense of the Faith and the Saints, +pp. 381-2.) + +10. III. Nephi xi. + +11. "The Golden Bible," p. 162. + +12. Compare II. Kings ii: 7-13 and Acts i: 4-9. + +13. Compare Acts xix: 11, 12, Acts v: 15 with II. Kings iv: 29. + +14. Compare Matthew ix: 18-26 with II. Kings iv: 32-37. + +15. Matthew xiv: 15-21. + +16. Compare Rev. x: with Ezekiel ii and iii. + +17. See "The Golden Bible," pp. 273-283. + +18. Chapter xxxvi this work. + +19. See Ibid, chapter xxxiv. + +20. "American Antiquities," p. 355. + +21. Dictionary of Book of Mormon (Reynolds) p. 223, also Mos. xxviii. + +22. Mosiah xxvii: 34. I take it that the sons of the king are named in +the order of their ages and Ammon is named first. + +23. Century Dictionary, word Andes. The Encyclopaedia Britannica gives +the word "Anti" as the probable origin of the word "Andes;" also "Anta" +or "Tapir;" and "Antis" the name of a tribe resident in the mountains +of Peru. + +24. Conquest of Peru, Vol. I., p. 113, note. + +25. Alma xxiv: 3-5. + +26. Alma xxiii: 17. + +27. Alma xx: 4. + +28. Mormon vi: 14. + +29. Alma xxxi: 3. + +30. Alma 56: 4. + +31. Alma xxxvii: 7. + +32. Alma 56: 9. + +33. II. Nephi v: 16. + +34. "Native Races," (Bancroft), Vol., IV, p. 779. + +35. "Conquest of Peru," (Prescott), Vol. I., p. 37. + +36. The argument is briefly stated by Prescott, and he cites +Wilkinson's "Ancient Egypt," Vol. III., pp. 246-254. + +37. "History of Ancient Egypt," George Rawlinson, M. A., Vol. I., p. 97. + +38. In a note he cites the fact that the British museum possesses +several specimens of Egyptian iron, but three of these seven or eight +specimens he declares to be of modern date. Vol. I., p. 519. + +39. "History of Ancient Egypt," Vol. I, pp. 519, 520. + +40. "Ancient America," (Baldwin), pp. 248, 249. + +41. "History of America before Columbus," (DeRoo) Vol. I., p. 67. + +42. Ibid. p. 68, 69. + +43. "American Antiquities," p. 141. + +44. Ibid. p. 185. + +45. Ibid. p. 225. + +46. Ibid. pp. 238, 239. + +47. "American Antiquities," pp. 241, 242. + +48. "American Antiquities," pp. 260, 261. + +49. Ibid. p. 263. + +50. Ibid. p. 265. + +51. Ibid. p. 269. + +52. "Foot-prints of Vanished Races in the Mississippi Valley," pp. 67, +68. + +53. Ibid. p. 108, 109. + +54. Ibid. pp. 109, 110. + +55. I. Nephi xviii: 25. The animals named in this passage are +repeatedly referred to in all parts of the Book of Mormon. + +56. Ether ix: 18, 19. + +57. Pre-Historic America, (Nadaillac), pp. 15-28. + +58. Gen. i: 9. + +59. Exod. xv: 1, and xiv: 26. + +60. "Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature," (Kitto), Vol. II., p. 973. He +quotes Wilkinson as the authority for the above. Vol. I., p. 289. + +61. This opinion is defended by Max Schlosser in the "Archiv fur +Anthropologie," 1889, s. 132. + +62. "The American Race," (Brinton), p. 51. + +63. "Pre-Historic America," (Nadaillac), p. 357. + +64. "American Antiquities," p. 157. + +65. Ibid. p. 263. + +66. "Native Races," Vol. II., pp. 721-722. + +67. Ether ii:3. + +68. Following is Campbell's account of the barges: "Moroni writes +the Book of Ether, containing an account of the people of Jared, who +escaped from the building of the tower of Babel unconfounded in his +language. These people of Jared God marched before in a cloud, and +directed them through the wilderness, and instructed them to build +barges to cross the sea; and finally they built eight barges, air +tight, and were commanded to make a hole in the top to admit air, and +one in the bottom to admit water;(!) and in them were put sixteen +windows of molten stone,(!) which when touched by the finger of Jesus, +became as transparent as any glass, and gave them light under 'the +mountain waves' and when above the water.(!) * * * * And the eight +barges after swimming 344 days, arrived on the coast of the land of +promise!" + +69. "Golden Bible," (Lamb), p. 3. + +70. Ether 2: 17. + +71. Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, (Hackett's edition) Vol. III., p. +2178. + +72. Exodus xxxi: 18. + +73. Ibid. iii: 2. + +74. I have usually found in personal controversies on this point, that +our opponents depended upon the statement in the Book of Mormon to +the effect that these "barges" should be as a "whale in the midst of +the sea." (Ether ii: 24). To which the answer is obvious; namely, it +does not follow that they were to be like a "tailless," that is to say +"redderless," whale. + +75. I. Nephi xvi, II. Nephi v: 12. + +76. I. Nephi xviii: 12-21. + +77. "Story of the Mormons," (Linn) p. 97. This writer attributes the +possession of the "compass" to the Jaredites. Whether it is the slip +of a careless writer or an effort on his part to make the matter of +the "compass" in the Book of Mormon more ancient, is a question for +him or his friends to explain. Many other writers in their anxiety to +find anachronisms in the Book of Mormon refer to this "compass." Lamb +is positively dishonest in the matter, since he assumes the existence +of two instruments. One he calls the "Director," and applies to it +the description given above in the text, and the other he calls the +"Compass," though clearly this latter word is used in an incidental way +in describing the "Director." This is the only way he could create the +longed for anachronism, and hence he adopted it. This may secure his +fame for ingenuity, but what of his honesty? (See "The Golden Bible" +Chapter III., Subdivisions "C" and "D"). + +78. "Universal Knowledge," (Chambers) p. 203. + +79. Following is the method by which he arrives at this conclusion: +"The plates of gold measure 7x8 inches, and six inches thick, and are +fastened through the back edge with three rings. A box of tin, 10x14, +and 3 inches deep, weighs about 125 lbs. gross. The box may weigh 10 lbs., +leaving the net weight of tin 115 lbs. Now 10x14x3: 115 :: 7x8x6 : 92 lbs. +Had these gold plates been tin, they would have weighed about 90 lbs. +But the relative weight of tin and gold is as 19.25 to 7.58. So that +7.58 : 19.25 :: 92 : 220.44. Hence, this mass of gold plates, as they +were not so compactly pressed as boxed tin, would have weighed nearly +200 lbs." (Hyde's "Mormonism," p. 244). + +80. Hyde's "Mormonism," p. 244. + +81. See this Work, Vol. II, ch. iv. + +82. This Work, Vol. II, p. 281. + +83. Ether xv: 30-31. + +84. I am indebted to the kindness of the late Joseph Rich, son of +the late Apostle Charles C. Rich, for these two items. He was kind +enough to mark the passages and send me the article from the "Electric +Magazine," June, 1892. + +85. "Difficulties of Infidelity," Sec. I. + +86. It is a pleasure to note the work of this my brother, and fellow +President in the First Council of the Seventies in this field of Book +of Mormon labor. I feel myself much indebted to him because of his +great achievements in this field of research. + +First, for his excellent Book of Mormon Chronological Table, published +now for many years in connection with the late Elder F. D. Richards' +"Compendium." + +Second, for his "Myth of the Manuscript Found." + +Third, for his "Dictionary of the Book of Mormon." + +Fourth, for a series of articles in the "Contributor," (Vol. 5) on the +History of the Book of Mormon. + +Fifth, for a second series of articles in the "Contributor" (Vol. 17) +under the title "Evidences of the Book of Mormon; Some External Proofs +of its Divinity." + +Sixth, and last, and greatest achievement of all, I thank him for his +"Complete Concordance of the Book of Mormon." The amount of patient, +pains-taking labor required for the production of this magnificent work +will never be known to the general reader. Only the close student of +the Nephite Scriptures will ever really appreciate it. What Cruden and +Young have done for Bible students, Elder Reynolds has more abundantly +done for Book of Mormon students. The Elders of the Church through all +generations to come will, I am sure, feel deeply grateful to Elder +Reynolds for his great work which will stand as a monument to his +pains-taking habits of thorough application to a task; but what is +better still, the work will stand as a monument of his love for the +Book of Mormon. + +87. Studies in Religion, p. 78. + +88. Cosmic Philosophy, Vol. I., p. 81. + +89. Ibid. Vol. III., p. 60.1. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of New Witnesses for God (Volume 3 of 3), by +B. H. Roberts + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 59951 *** |