Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-08-18
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

Il is q volume Of six hundred pages,
printed on good paper and in beautiful
clear type. and excellently bound IN
cloth, half morocco with marble paper
sides, and full morocco. In any OF
these bindings It is a handsome volume
As for the history itself, II is scarcely
necessary to speak. II is subject OF
such high Importance, it deals with
events SO thrilling that It cannot fail
to be intensely interesting, especially
when those events are narrated by the
chief actor in them, the Prophet Jo-
seph Smith.
Some Of our readers viii remember
that many years ago In the early NJ
ties, the Deseret News published the
History Of Joseph Smith" as written
by himself, or under his immediate
supervision. The history for the most
part was written in Journal form, and
very largely partook Of the nature OF
annals. Subsequently the Millennial
Star published this same history, in It's
current issues, through twelve volumes,
from volume fourteen to twenty-five In
elusive; and this History of the
Prophet" has been the chief source of
all historical information concerning
Church history, and the final court Of
appeal on all historical and many doc
trinal questions. The wish has often
been expressed. especially by students
OF the great Latter-day Dispensation,
that this History Of the Prophet might
be published In volume or series OF
volumes, as 1t would be valuable as a
work Of reference. This wish is now
10 be gratied, for the body OF the work
consists of the Prophets narrative; and
this first volume covers the period OF
time from the Prophets birth TO the
expulsion OF the Saints from Jackson
county, in 1888. II may rightfully be re-
garded therefore, as the book par
excellence on the origin Of Mormon
ISM" and as such, Of itself, and even
apart from It's relation to the volumes |
that are to follow, will always be of |
the highest historical value.
Another thing that will make this
first volume OF the Church History es-
pecially valuable, is the fact that the
greater number OF the revelations re-
corded and published by the Prophet
Joseph are to be found In lt-one hun
dred and one out OF one hundred and
thIrty-seyen found In the Doctrine and
Covenants; and as these revelations
are here published in connection with
the circumstances which brought them
forth, a better opportunity Is afforded
for rightly understanding them than
when studied apart from such clrcum-
stances.
As before stated the body Of the work
consists Of the narrative OF the Prophet
Joseph Smith. but when that narrative
does not include all the facts known
upon the subject, II is enlarged upon
by means OF marginal notes, and the
here and there Of documents
relating to the subject; and when this
$ considered together with the fact
hat in the Prophets narrative are in
reduced very many documents--im-
'ortant letters and articles from cur
'ent Periodicals OF the times. as well as
he revelations received--the history
nay properly be considered the Docu-
nentary History OF the Church.
This book is prepared under the su.
'erylslon Of the Church Historian and
lis assistants. and is published by the
'hurch. Every care is being taken to
ave 1t as accurate as possible The
manuscript has been read TO the
'hurch Historian, President Anthem II.
.und. with constant reference to the
rlginal Manuscript History now In
he Historians office. and all copies
{ It published in the Times and Sea-
ons and the Millennial Star; and also
he various editions Of the Doctrine
nd Covenants, and the Book OF COM
published at Independence,
lissouri, in 1888
There Is an introduction TO the work
several pages. by b. H. Roberts,
hitch forms a fitting background to
he great events recorded In the his
Dry proper. II Is pointed out in The
production Itself that the History OF
he Church Of Jesus Christ OF Latter
ay Saints Is also the history Of the
pening and progress Of the dispense
on OF the fulness OF times. And as
lat dispensation bears an important
'lation to all dispensations that have
receded IT, the introduction IS written
, point out that relation, and put the
arratlon OF events In the great dis
snsation OF the fulness Of times In
Istorical harmony with all other dis
Relative TO the whole work--which
III consist OF some FIVE or six volumes
hen brought down to say 1850 the
rst half century OF the Church's ex
is proper to say that the
hurch Is performing q solemn duty.
9TH TO the Saints and to the world in I
lbllshing this history, So much has
zen written that is false by the enc
les OF the Church, and there has been O
lch food Of Misrepresentation that I
Is not only fitting but an imperative a
lty that the Church owes 10 herself