Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-12-05

passed through the beautiful little town
OF Manchester, which is about hive miles
from the Hill Cumorah. We arrived at
the Hill about S:Is a. m.
We called on a gentleman by the
name Of Gerrie Like, who farm runs
hall way up the hill His house is on
the west side OF the main road that
goes to the town OF Palmyra, which is
i've miles north of the Hill Cumorah.
Mr.. Like is very free, kind.hearted
man and told us to put up at his place.
We thanked him and passed on. We
came to the town OF Palmyra, which is
very beautiful place, and where the
first copy OF the Book Of Mormon was
printed. Elder Richards had learned
that this book was in the possession OF
MIR. Pliny I. Sexton, president OF the
First National bank Of Palmyra, SO we
went to the bank and enquired for Mr..
Sexton, who received us. Brother
Richards told him who we were and
where we came from, and that we under.
stood that he had the first copy OF the
Book Of Mormon that was ever printed,
and we would be very pleased to see it.
He took US TO his private office, and
told us to be seated, and he would 90
and get 1t. Mr.. Sexton returned and very
carefully untied pasteboard box, opened
1t and gave the book into our hands 1t
is in pamphlet form, as it came from
the press in 1880 1t was never bound,
nor were the pages cut open. We
handled the different sections oil it.
| The first section was loaned to man
and he had cut few leaves, otherwise
D., 1t is as 1t came from the press aud folder.
Mr. Sexton prizes 1t very much, tor he
gave $500 for it; he asked quite num-
Der OF questions about the Book of
Mormon, and one was. il there was any
chronology TO the Book Of Mormon.
answered yes, and took out my Com
pendium and showed him dates. He
looked over it, and asked me to send
: him one when 1t would be convenient.
| did so and have sent him Voice Of
Warning also. After a very pleasant
conversation with him we bade him
good bye, and he invited us to call
| again whenever we came that way. Ne
thSn left, and it was not long before we
were on the road vending our way to-
wards the Smith farm, which is about
two miles and half from Palmyra,
southwest, and about the same dis
lance from the Hill Cumorah northwest.
| We reached the Smith farm about II a.
M, and Elder Mcfarland went 10 the
house and told the lady, Miss S. +.
Chapman. that there was party from
Salt Lake City and friends who would
wish 10 eat their lunch in the room
where the Prophet Joseph Smith lived.
| We we're all invited into the house while
| Brother Mcfarland went to the barn to
see Miss Chapman's brother. We went
| in and met for the first time the noble
hearted young man, William A. Chap.
man, who lives with his aged mother,
Clara E. Chapman, who is rs years old
and still quite lively. In place OF letting
US eat our own lunch, Miss Chapman and
her mother cooked us all good dinner,
| and in the room where the Prophet
Joseph Smith had lived, and where the
plates had been, we were all invited.
| Elder Richards asked blessing upon
the food, and we all ate; we stayed there
for about two hours and half, convers-
ing and talking on many things about
the Smith family and the farm. The
farm is OF 40 acres, aud is well taken
care OF by Mr.. Chapman. With hearty
shake OF the hand with the Chapman
family, we parted, and in few minutes
were on the road back towards the Hill
Cumorah, where we arrived about $3.50
p. m.
Elder Richards and myself went to the
house OF Mr.. Samson. who owns the
part OF the hill where the plates of the
Book OF Mormon were laid. Mr. Sam.
son not being home, his son came to us
and we asked and received permission
to go on the Hill. We went to the place
where the plates were delivered by the
| Angel Moroni to the Prophet Joseph
Smith, September 22nd, 1897. After
visiting around the hill while, we start
ed back, went through the little town OF
Manchester, and arrived at the Harring-
ton house at 4:45 p. m. We put up there
tor the night, Brother M. II. Cooley
wanting to make US all as comfortable
as possible. After good nights rest,
on October 3rd we started at 7:Io. The
morning was damp and foggy, and a
little cold, but we landed all safe at
COLLECTION at $50 p. M, at the home OF
our esteemed brother,M. H. Cooley who
| am very pleased to say, did not spare
any means TO make our trip pleasant
| and successful one, for he administer.
-. r.