The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-21
regions and with that he turned the converse

REGIONS and with that he turned the converpa-
For three or four years Smith. Rigdon and
Harris worked for converts to the new faith;
They MI became from ON s sp,,aS To Practice nt ahst t sine
been lazy and careless. The three men travelled
down the Erie Canal. They were rotten egged
in some places, hooted and howled into silence
m%unities.. Thcir meetings Sdi were generally poorly
attended, and people regarded the men as fools,
whose cause would soon die out. / attended
Counties. Smith would always tell with some
effect how the angel sS had appeared to him p: h hey
and how he heard celestial music and tho chant
ing of q heavenly host az he drew the golden
lie became so proficient in his description of
the ~ecstatic- joy in heaven whom ho found the
hold its breath as the sentences roiicd from
Smiths mouth. I have seen some farmers
wives become powerless and almost unconscious
In tho spell of religious enthusiasm that Smith
and Rigdon had created. Tho latter told In
scores OF meetings, and to every one with whom
Transported to celestial spheres ut night, while
his body lay on his bed at home; how he had
he actually walked in fowery folds and down
golden streets on some far-oH, planet; and he
would repeat Instructions that he pretended ho
have n particularly. keen recollection. Smith
Sna the fs,Sn nsW n BIb nsrp smith SMITH e tol az me- rs bins sSf0 that
the world was 80 wicked and perverse that 1t
to print the Bible. and that as soon as that was
q done nsm the eC MS y T9 Dams BE- RRT na4Pswss w y nIsi1 III
erty for 5000 to start the printing. The Wayne
Sentinel, published at Palmyra did the york on
store where / worked, and WAS one Of the few
=" helped to read proof on many pages. of the
was about half ready for the printer when there
Sa%e 81 2 M sHit In H the Rr9SS ss hssnm for NJ Mr diI harris,
with her husbands conversion to the new re-
ligion and his abandonment Of his fno farm for
preaching Mormonism that she one morning
1t was weeks before Joe Smith and Rigdon re- |
went down into his pockets for $500 to repay the
loss caused by his wife's destruction of the
"The copy for the Book of Mormon was pre-
pared In a cave that Smith and others dug near
the scene of the finding Of the golden plates on
Sunday walk during the process Of the transla-
ton Of the plates and the printing OF the book. |
the entrance to the cave, and no one but Smith
and Alvin Cowdry, a school teacher there. who
through the door OF the cave. Rigdon had some
hopes OF converting me, and i was permitted to !
near the door. but not 80 much as to peep in J
side. Smith. told me later that no ono had eve=
wore the glasses found with the plates and was
heaven to the people. He read aloud. and Cow
Try, who was seated on the other side of a screen
Or partition IN the cave, wrote down the words
The pcnmanship of the copy furnished was
rood but the grammar, spelling, and punctua-
'hief compositor in the office. have heard him
wear many a time at the syntax and orthog-
et another line OF type. The copy came in one
mass, and there were no paragraphs on punctua-
office, and what a time there used to be
n strengthening sentences out, too!
y. During the work Of printing the book I re-
te was wanted several times at the printing
flee to explain some obscure sentences and APP
anne near the printers. He sent word by his
rother Hyrum that the work Of translating abb
orbed his mind and functions SO that he could
ng hyrum smith appeared at the office with
oned up in his vest, and came 'o reenpi aEeS o ond
for them at night,
The publication Of the book of 53s pages was
ushed with spirit. but until it was completed
OF a copy was allowed to leave the office. Ev-
~ volume was packed in an upper room, and
as since been wildly in my mind. as compar-
,E IN size and shape with a cord of wood. and I
,as finished in the spring OF 1880. Not long q
ftcr the publication was completed Smith and
and ere long the parties, with their con- t
erts. packed up all their belongings and left for o
.lrtland, u. n
This removal was not on compulsion' from .
ny complaints of their neighbors, like those l
ley were subsequently, compelled to make from a
.irtland and Nauvoo. but all seemed to enter !
ito 1t readily and with the utmost cheerfulness, =
many abandoned homes of great com }
'rt and comparative wealth. In the exodus q
were farmers who werc customers Of the '
RIM where l was employed that sold their farms .
tho amount OF SIS. 600, all OF which was com =
TO the care and tender mercy OF Joe
NTH, and the votarics committed themselves T
his care and guidance" .