The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-06-01

he communed with the heavenly messenger.
each time gaLed upon the precious records
each time received Instructions that ex-
banded his intellect and gave him a mcse
perfect conception OF the marvellous work
which God was about 10 found
The period which now followed, when
he was between is and %. WAS to BE- tie
iuost important in his life FOR ;he Shaping
OF his character 1t was probation. In
It he passed through the prepare, DRY
course in which the Lord fitted the iu,dTe
prophet for the responsibilities lcidCnt TO
the establishment Of his church upon the
earth which should endure loreyernore.
Joseph toiled upon his fathers farm
until his brothers were old enough &c at
tend to the duties there at home. Al he
age OF 20 he sough, employment at ais
lance He went to Harmony. Susaaeheuna
county, Pennsylvania. where he was EN-
ployed by Mr.. Josiah Steal In digging for n
silver mine which his employer Iuag n ed
existed In that region. The nina was a
failure and Joseph prevailed upon his en-
plover TO abandon ii. While wording IN
the mine Joseph boarded a. the huil. of N.r
Isaac Hale. with whose daughter Ginma
lie became ennmored. His love WIS eOp-
rocated, but the parents. being prejudietd
against the youth by the st3rics OF his
enemies. circulated to injure HIM because
he continued to assert that he had seen a
vision. would not consent TO the union
devout. they acted without Conaen. nrd
y GRE married in South Bainbyilse Chtr-
anzo county. by Squire Tarbill, on the 18th
day Of January 1927 He took his wiia 10
his fathers home, where he worl: ID on tie
farm to obtain means for his family and
his mission.
The end Of the four years probation was
rLrldly approaching. Joseph had 'etn
faithful 10 his trust. He had visited the
sacred spot regularly and had kept t..
couGsels OF his heavenly mes senger at
lcrgtf the promised day arr u / for the
fifth time the youth stood rnun tine spot
where the sacred records we're concealed
Il was the morning of the 22i day of Sep
tcmber 1891. With prayer that he might
uvcye faithful TO his trust, he removed thu
cover OF the box, stretching fnrtl his hands
u the angels command. took from heir
hiding place the treasure there safely hid
den for fourteen centuries. Lifting them
70 the surface. he examined their beauty.
THE Trim and Shummin were two preci-
Gus stones, set in an arch OF silver, which
was fastened 10 an ancient brepstplate Of
pure gold, curiousiy wrought. The breast
plate was concave on one side and convex
on tho other. and seemed 10 have been
made for a man CT greater stature than is
ordinary in modern days. -Four golden
bands We're fastened 10 It, for the pur-
pose OF attaching it to the person OF it's
wearer--two OF the bands for the Shoulders
tho other two for the waist or hips. The
plates also OF gold tat FIRST these plates
were said 10 be Of stone. then later OF cop
per or brass. now they are changed to gold
Z. C. b.: were OF uniform size; each
was slightly less IN thickness than com
mon sheet Of tin and was about ) inches in
width. and all were bound together by
three rings running through one edge OF
the plates. Thus secured. they formed
book about six inches in thickness. a part
of the volume. about one-third, was scaled;
the other leaves Joseph turned with his
hand. They We're covered on both sides
with strange characters. small and beauti-
fully engraved. - Then II was that the
angel charged him 10 shield the records
from profano sight and touch, to guard
them as sacr5dly as he would his life. lie
was now alone responsible. If. through
any neglect. he should suffer then care
lessy to be destroyed or 20 go. sreat should
be his chastisement, and he should finally
be cut off. but. If he should use all care
TO preserve them until they should be
called for again by the messenger they
should be protected from the efforts that
would be made to rch him OF them, and he
should have The support OF heaven ana
come of triumphant
"Moroni disappeared. and the Prophet Of
the Last DispensRtion stood aluro upon
Cumorah. clasping to his bosom priceless
trust "
Tho translation Of the records and ,ho
ORGANIZATION OF the church. with It's Various
branches OF priesthood. Will have tn lie
-eated minutcly. as ! did this. as he
whole Mormon religion evolves from these
points. hope 10 give you full his
tory in three letters. 1t is hard to I'M
dttstand the Mormon religion. II you ask
them what they believe II they viii te.'
you: Faith. repent anee Of sin. S7pt'sm
and the laying on Of hanls." No moral,
whether jew or Gentle. can ever enter any
Of their temples Their ritual wor. is pc-
crot they bind You by oath never 10 re-
veal ANYTHING. Several spo.tate Mormons
have told men their ritual IS similar to
the Masonic and the man ~ n. tabcrn5clc
does not deny this The Mormons are a
great people. They stand by each other
like brothers, and while thc"a are some
things about them that IAN be severely
e. iticised. there are many thai deserve The
fullest appreciation. At-er having read
their history and seeing the wonderful
works they have accompi.3hco In this city
ana State in the fifty years. you viii I'M
dersland the devotion to thei- church
Mrs