Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-09-19
fCommunicated.l
1.-THE BEDROCK OF NOR
MOyISu.-

EDITOR SENTINEL: The above is the
heading OF a recent editorial IN the SEN
TISEL. Many Of the views presented
in the article are correct; others I wish
to refute. The Book of Mormon is a
difficult work for the natural mind to
comprehend. 1t sets at naught human
learning, and defies learned criticism.
1t is not to be judged by the rules that
apply to any other book in the domain
OF literature or revelation, for the reason
that its history, its %pretentions and
purpose are different. 1t was written
Tor a special purpose, under special
conditions, and was brought forth in a
way that no other book was ever pro
mulgated i'm all the history of the
world. One must need survey it from
a prophetic standpoint look at
its origin and translation as Isaiah
looked at them in his forecast of the
future. (See Isaiah, Chapter 49, As
Ezekiel looked at it, when he foretold
its subject matter and purpose.
80 Taking this comprehensive
view, one need not question human
authority. Yet of the three witnesses
who attested the of its promul-
CATION, two of them died reIterating
their testimony TO the last, and the
third, still, with uplifted hand, pro-
claims to all who inquire, tina an angel
showed him the plates and engravinxs.
Sidney Rigdon died quite recently, a
firm believer in the Book of Mormon,
and an acquaintance of mine who knew
Rigdon in early life, and who made in
quiries at the printing office where
Spaulding's manuscript" was de-
posted for printing, asserts that Rigdon
never had any connection with that of.
flee. Rigdon knew nothing of the book
till it vas presented to him in Ohio. |
His whole congregation became be- |
levers in ii, and they had a right TO
know whether or not he was the
author Of it. Many OF Spaulding's
neighbors and acquamtances accept
the book as divinely inspired. Joseph
Smith was infinitely superior to Rig
don and to Spaulding, and after
many years of study OF the book, |
confidently affirm that, eve he could
no more have invented a chapter OF it
than he could have reared the mount
ain chain on either side of this plain.
The truth is that there was from the
first and still is, a great deal of per
sistent and diabolical misrepresenta-
ton about the matter. There is no
crookedness on the affirmative side.
The prophetic testimony is over
whelming. The evidence of the a>so-
ciates of Joseph Smith is clear, full
and complete, and since the great
actors in the great drama have fallen
asleep. the very ground Is cry
ing out their sincerity, their constancy
and truthfulness. Hebrew inscrip ions
dug from the mounds of \ exark, Ohio.
(See Bancroft's Native Races of the
Pacific Coast y are a kind of evidence
that scientific aud philosophical men
can not disregard. Every department
of human research attesls hat The
translator of the Book OF Mormon was
what he claimed to be, an humble in
strument in the hands of Almighty
God TO bring about His righteous
purposes concerning scattered Israel,
and the nations must oon acknowl-
edge Gods right and power or perish
under His Judgments.
The morality of the Book of Nor
mon is not that of the false shepherds
of Utah. 1t is as pure as the eternal
burnings about the throne. 1t has
fallen into evil hands, but will be res
In due time; for there is a rem
nant who has not "bowed the knee
To Baal." and one has arisen, accord
ing to promise, who is mighty and
strong " "to set in order the house of
God.'' :. +. WALKER.
JUNCTION, Nye county, Nevada, Sep
TENDER 10.