The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1851-06-27
NJ MISCELLANEOUS.
Joe Smith and the MOrmons.
BY pkoF. JAMES F. W. JoHNsToN.

=
In the future history of mankind, il: present
appearances are to be trusted, the counties OF
WAYNE and Ontario, N. y, are likely to derive
an interest and importance, in the eyes Of "a nu-
merons body of people, from a circumstance
wholly unconnected either with their social pro-
gress, or with their natural productions or capa-
biities. In these counties lie,the scenes OF the
early passages in the life Of Joe Smith,'the foun
der of the sect ofsthe. Morfnons.
Born in December, 1905, in Sharon, Windsor
County, State of Vermont, he removed with his
father, abou. 1915, TO small farm in Palmyra,
w ayne County, New York, and assisted him on
the farm till 1926. He received little education,
read indlfferently, wrote and sPelt badly, knew
little of arithmetic, and, in all other branches OF
learning be was. to the day OF his death, exceeds
ingly ignorant.
His own account of his religious progress is.
that as early as fifteen. years OF age he began to
have serious ideas regarding the future state,
that he got into occasional ecstases, and that ID
1923, during one of these ecstasIes, he was VS.
tied bvs an anpeL who told him that his sins were
foroiyen--tf1at the time was at hand when the
oospeI in its. ftilness was to be preached to ali
9ations-that the American Indians were a rem
nant sof Isreal, who, when they first emigrated
TO America, were an enlightened people, possess
/ inc knowledge Of the true God, and enjoying
his fayor-that the prophets and inspired writers
amono them had kept history or record OF their
Inroceedinos-that these records were safely de-
j nosited-and that, if faithful, he was TO be the
/ favored instrument for bringing them to lIght.
/ On the following day, according to instruc-
4 tions from the angel, he went to hill which ne
! calls Cumorat, in Palmyra township, Wayne
LCountV. and there, in stone chest, alter little
diooing. he saw the records; but it was not ull
fonr Years after, in September 1927 THAT "the
ANGEL Of the Lord delivered the records into his
hands,
.sThese records were engraved on plates
which had the appearance of gold, were seven
bv eioht inches in size, and thinner than COM
n1on fin. and were covered on both sides with
Fgvntian characters, small and beautifully en-
grgaved They were bound together in volume
lI;La tbe leaves of a book, and we're fastened a
ore edge with three rings running through the
whole The volume was about six inches II
lth;cknessl bore MANY marks of antiquity, ant
nart q. II was sealed. With the records wa'
, Foand curious instrument, called by the an
: clients ,Jrim and Thummim, which consisted Q
two transparent stones, clear as crystal, and Sc
81 tsvo rims Of bow'-a pair Of pebble spec
tacles. in other words, or helps to read un
known tongues.
The report Of his discovery having got abroad
his house was beset. he was mobbed, ana ~
!. life life was endangered by persons who wished
: uossess themselves Of the plates. lie therefor
hacked snp his goods, concealed the plates fr
: boryel If beans. and proceeded across the countr
to the northern part Of Pennsy ylyanla, near tn
], Susouehannah river, where bis saihef;ln sw Z 6
sided Here, .by the gilt and power e.. q 90
through the means S ss he u5@ 1soor spa aa ahf@m psng
y ~ oo, SSriter he employed scribe to write z
It v Translation asit came from his mouth In lSs
I. J large edition oil the Book Of Mormon was pn
iished, 1t processes to be an abr,dgment o. o. :, =
,,se,9 rscords made BY the prophet Mormon' o. q
assnle of the Nephites. and left to bis son Nero
: finish. Il is regarded by the Laster.day sam
Nth i.i. the same generaton as the New Iestame
is among Christlans.
a. Tbe Ehurch.ef the Latter-day Saints was
say;ae5 on the 9TH Of April, 1880, az Mancne
ssr" in Outarie County, New York Its nn9pe
At Srst were few, but they rapidly increases =