Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-07-18

ivsted Of all holy looks or Bibles
may 20 further and say that lis the only
Bible that Is attesiei at all, except per-
haps the Koran. ] must explain.
Joseph Smith, the founder OF the
Church Of the Lattet.dly Saints, was
born in 1905 and murdered by bis Chris
tan contemporaries IN 1884. His history
Is as full of interest as that Of any relig.
ious leader ever known, and the success
Of his movement is one Of the most re-
markable facts IN the worlds history.
Joseph was born in Sharon, Windsor
County, Vermont, u. S. 75td Deeem'
Der, 1895. Ills father was farmer and
Joseph was reared to the same oecupa-
ton. When about fourteen the boy re-
Elected upon the importance Of prepara-
ton for a future life. Finding so much
disagreement amongst religious secis as
to the plan OF salvation, he reflected
that all could not be right, that God
could not be the author Of confusion;
and so resolved to investigate the mat.
ter. lie relied upon the passage 10
James, III any man lack wisdom, let
him ask OF God, who giyeth to all men
literally, and upbradieth not"
Here Is the first result Of his resolve,
40 penned by himself; 81 retired to a
secret place in a grove. and began to
call upon the Lord. While ierven,ly
engaged In duplication my mind was
taken away from the objects with which
/ was surrounded, and / was enwrapt
In heavenly vision. and saw two glorious
personages, who exactly resembled each
other In feature and likeness, surround.
ed with briIlian, light which ecIipSed
the sun at noon day. They told me that
all the religious seets were believing in
incorrect doctrines. and that none of
them was acknowledged OF God as His
Church aud kingdom. And / was ex.
presSly commanded to 20 not alter
them at the same time receiving a
promise that the fulness OF the Gospel
should at some future time be made
known to me-"
The "iulness OF the Gospel" came TO
Joseph Smith some years later In the
shape OF the Book Of Mormon. and here
is his own account OF II: "On the even
ing OF the sIst OF September, a. ID.
IS74, while | was praying unto God and
endeavoring to exercise faith In the
precious promises OF Scripture, on a
sudden light like that oil day, only OF
far purer and more glorious appear.
ance, burst into the room; indeed, the
first sight was as though the house was
filled with consuming fire. The appear
ance produced a shock that Affected the
whole body. In moment a parsonage
stood before me with a glory greater
than that with which was already sur
rounded. The messenger proclaimed
himself to be an angel Of God, sent to
bring the joyful tidings thatthc covenant
which God made to ancient Israel was
at hand to be fulfilled; that the prepare
tory work Tor the second coming OF the
Messiah was speedily TO commence.
| also was told where
there were deposited lsome plates, on
which were engraven an abridgement OF
the records OF the ancient prophets that
had existed on this continent The
angel appeared TO ME three times the
same night, and uniolded the same
things. After having received many
visits from the angels Of God, unfolding
the majesty and glory OF the events that
should tTanspire IN the last days, ON the
morning Of the 22nd OF September, 1917,
the angel OF the LORD delivered the
records into my hands.
These records were engraven on
plates which had the appearance Vi
gold; each plate was six inches wide
and eight inches long, and not quite 80
thick IA common tin, They were filled
with engravings in Egyptian characters,
aud bound together IN q volume, as the
leaves oi book, with three rings run
ming through the whole. The volume
was something near six inches Ia thick
ness, part OF which was sealed. The
characters ON the unsealed part were
small and beautifully engraved. The
whole book exhibited many marks OF
antiquity IN It's construction, and much
skill IN the art vi engraving. with the
records was found a curious instrument
which the ancients called 'Urim and
Thummim,' which consisted OF two
transparent stones set In the rim on a
bow fastened to brcastplaie. Through
the medium OF the Trim and Ihummim
translated the record by the gift and
power OF Cod"
Such is Mr.. Joseph Smiths own &C.
count OF the sources ifom which he
derived the Book OF Mormon aud the
means By which he rendered IL into
English. II Is not my purpose now to
deal with the contents OF that curious
book or Bible, but 10 note the external
evidence m It's favor.
1, The story told above Is thoroughly
consistent with ITSELF and iu perfect
keeping with the leading doctrines OF
the Bible. No Christian can consistently
refuse to credit IT,
2. II Is quite as likely that Cod
should reveal himself on plates OF metal
as on tablets Of stone, to Joseph Smith
AS to Moses; In America AS iu Western
Asa, Here the plates are desCflbed
the stones Moses received are nowhere
described, Here dates are given; IN tine
Bible important anu necessary dates are
never given.
3 As no one knows what the Trim
and Thummim was, no one can prove
that Joseph Smiths description and use
Of Il are Incorrect or Improbable. To
his positive and detailed statement,
what can the Christian oppHel
Z. Ii must be admitted that the world
required a divine revelation 10 Smiwa
day quite as much ds II ever did; and
therefore a compassionate God was as
likely 10 reveal himself 10 Mr., Smith as
10 Mr., Moses. Mr.. Isaiah, etc.
lu the next place. let us see what
others relate us TO Mr.. Smiths book
The Book " Mormon was publish ed lr