# Utah and the Mormons/Chapter 16

CHAPTER XVI.
* Book of Mormon.
* Proofs of its modern Origin.
* Its Style.
* Arguments in Favor of the System.
The Book of Mormon claims to be "the history of the inhabitants of America, who are a branch of the house of Israel, of the tribe of Joseph, of whom the Indians are still a remnant; but the principal nation of them having fallen in battle in the fourth or fifth century, one of their prophets, whose name was Moroni, saw fit to make an abridgment of their history, their prophecies, and their doctrines, which he engraved on plates, and afterward being slain, the records fell into the hands of his son Moroni, who, being hunted by his enemies, was directed to deposit them safely in the earth," &c. In other words, the Book of Mormon professes to be the Bible of this ancient people, which has been exhumed by Joseph Smith for the use of "these last days," and it is upon this foundation that the whole Mormon structure has been built.
​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/273 ​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/274 ​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/275 ​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/276 ​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/277 ​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/278 ​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/279 ​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/280 ​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/281 ​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/282 ​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/283 ​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/284 ​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/285 ​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/286 ​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/287 ​followers. Decidedly the most bold feature of Mormonism, and one which shows how strongly the originators must have relied upon popular credulity, is the pretense of possessing the miraculous signs following truc discipleship, as described in the following passage from Mark:
"And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
The claims in favor of the marvelous skill possessed by the celebrated Doctor Caustic, of whom it was said,
do not exceed those of the Latter-day Saints in miraculous gifts.
The leaders have literally performed some of these prodigies, to the entire conviction of all true Saints. As may be readily supposed, the mass of Mormon miracles consist in healing diseases; and, in proof of theso notable performances, they have a string of certificates as long as the tail of a kite—almost as long, indeed, as the vender of a quack medicine appends to his universal panacea. Every one is familiar with the powerful agency of the imagination in the curing or amelioration of disease, and hence it is less difficult to impose upon the credulity of the multitude by extraordinary ​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/289 ​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/290 ​Page:Utah-and-the-Mormons.djvu/291 ​ground; because he has found three witnesses; because Mr. Anthon could not translate the strange characters submitted to his inspection; because Smith has copied after ancient forms in his machinery of apostles, elders, &c.; because he and they pretend to the gift of prophecy; and because they also pretend to the performance of miracles, and have annexed the usual certificates!