The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-07
NEWS VERSUS SMITH.

The Rev. d. NJ Helmick has issued
| challenge to the Deseret News which
we dare say will not be accepted in it's
| letter and spirit, DR., Helmick finds a
contradiction in the Mormon church ac-
| counts of the manner of translating the
Book Of Mormon by the original
prophet, Joseph Smith, ,Jr,, "Author
and Proprietor" "Author and Trans"
lator" and Translator,' of the inn
portant book.
AS a matter Of proof of authenticity
and more as a matter of yeracity this
question rises to great dignity in pole
mics. If the new version by Roberts
and tho other Mormon pundits is to be
accepted-if, indeed Joseph Smith did
not sec the exact phrases which are
transcribed, but if only general idea
Of them were transmitted to his brain
by the Divine message, and if he were
permitted to dictate a translation
thereof into his untutored English;
very many Of the pcculiarities Of the
Book of Mormon, and notably the
sages and even chapters may be ac-
counted for. But Immediately upon es-
Gaping one pit the excusers fall into a
deeper one; for they have held the Book
Of Mormon to be superior work to that
of the Bible in this respect at least,
that it was translated by the gift and
power Of God, word for word, with alb
solute correctness, while the Bible was
subject to those errors which the finite
mind might commit In transmitting the
celestial thought into comprehensive
words for human understanding, And
now this new version, upon which Dr.
Helmick makes his pertinent challenge,
places the Book Of Mormon exactly
where the Mormon prelates formerly
claimed the Bible to be-a work sub
ject to the errors Of the human mind
in its translation.
For the edi6cation Of Mormons, for
the enlightenment Of those who take
the interminable parade of words in
the Book OF Mormon as being of divine
inspiration, it would be well il this
challenge might be accepted and if a
debate on this subject might be had
in Salt Lake City, to be published in
full to all the world,
The grounds for the debate are
ample, although the wording is mar
row-the News being simply chal
lenged to produce proof from it's own
prophet of its own assertion.
However, The Tribune cannot allow
this OCCASION to pass without recurring
to an idea more than once presented
in its columns. Discussions of how the
Book Of Mormon was produced to the
world are Of far less value than con-
siderations Of the claims of the Book
itself as an authentic history Of race
or races of people who once inhabited
this continent. Discussions might con-
tinue through generations concerning
the methods adopted by the translator
or the lack of methods adopted by the
vine inspiration; but a few scientific
facts easily determinable, would settle
at once and forever all claims Of the
book as an historical recital, The Book of
Mormon affects to tell the story of two
separate peoples who dwelt in America;
who had their own separate epochs and
careers; who rose to power and who
perished, leaving only remnant of
one of the peoples cursed with tawny
skin for their sins, as a reminder Of the
high civilizations which had fourished.
The Mormon church has been so far dis
inclined, for some reason, to pursue
such archaeological study as would set
tie the great question whether this con-
tinent ever had such peoples; and other
folk seem 80 little interested that they
will expend neither the time nor treas
ure necessary for the elucidation IT is
we'll known that there - richer field
for archaeological research on earth
than in the Americas Here the ancient
Mormons, if any there were, left traces
Of their daily life, their language, their
practice of law, their religion, their
learning, and all things which pertain
to them. If the modern Mormons de-
sire to prove the truth of the book
upon which, as Roberts says their whole
religion relies and must stand or fall,
one.tenth part Of the annual tithes
would afford ample money and all the
time necessary for this practical eluci-
dation.
We have, by logical argument.
prima facie condemnation Of the Nor
mon claim-for they, above all other