The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-06-06
The Beginning of Mormonism.

beginning with page 81, gives the following account
of the first revelation Mormonism. This is part
of the doctrine of the Mormon faith, as the book
referred to is of the standard works. according
to the late testimony of the president of the church
The extracts from the book, given below, con-
stitute portion of sketch of the life of Joseph
Smith, Jr founder of the cult and first prophet of the
Mormon church,
Owing to the many reports which have been put in
circulation by evil disposed and designing persons,
in relation the rise and progress of the church OF
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, all of which have
been designed by the authors thereof to initiate
against its character church and its progress IN
the world have been induced to write this history
to disabuse the public mind, and put all inqulrers
after truth in possession of the facts, as they have
TRANSFERRED in relation both to myself and to the
church, so far as | have such IN my possession
In this history shall present the various events III
relation to this church, in truth and righteousness, as
they have transpired, or as they at present exist
being now the eighth year since the organization OF
the said church.
l was born in the year of our Lord 1905, on the
23rd day of December, in the town OF Sharon, WIND
sor county, state of Vermont. My father, Joseph
Smith, Senior, left the state of Vermont and moved
to Palmyra, Ontario (now Wayne) county III the
state of New York, when | in my tenth year or
whereabouts. In about four years after my father
arrival in Palmyra he moved with his family into
Manchester, in the same county OF Ontario.
His family consisted of eleven souls, namely
my father Joseph Smith; my mother, Lucy Smith
(whose name previous to her marriage was Mack,
daughter of Solomon Mack) my brothers, ALVIN,
(who died November 9th, 1924, IN the 27th year OF
his age), Hyrum, myself Samuel Harrison William,
Don Carlos, and my sisters Sophrona, catherine ana
Lucy.
Sometime in the second year after removal to
Manchester, there was in the place where we lived
an UNUSUAL excitement the subj ect of religion 1t
commenced with the Methodists but soon became
general among all the in that region of country
Indeed the whole district of country seemed affected
by it, and great multitudes united themselves to the
different religious parties, which created no small
stir and division amongst the people some crying,
10 here" and Others 10 there" Some were con-
tending for the Methodist faith, some for the Pres
byterian, and some for the Baptist.
For notwithstanding the great love which the con-
verts to these different faiths expressed at the time
of their conversion, and the great zeal manifested
by the respected clergy, who were active III gettlng
up and promoting this extradornary scene OF re-
ligious feeling IN order to have everybody converted
as they were pleased to call it, let them join what
sect they pleaSed-yet when the converts began to
file off, some to party and some to another
it was seen that the seemingly good feelings OF
of both priests and the converts were more pretended
than real; for scene of great confusion and bad
feeling ensued priest contendng against priest and
convert against convert SO that all their good feel-
ings for another, if they ever had any, were en-
tirely lost in strife of words and contest about
opinions.
| was at this time in my fifteenth year My
fathers family proseyted to the Presbyterian
faith and four of them joined that church, namely
my mother Lucy, my brothers Hyrum and Samuel
Harrison and my sister Sophronla.
During this time of great excitement my mind
was called up to serious reflection and great uneasi
ness; but though my feelings were deep and often
poignant still | kept myself aloof from all these
parties though attended their several meetings as
often as occasion would permit In the progress of
time my mind became somewhat partial to the Meth
odist Sect and I felt some desire to be united with
them but so great the confusion and strife
among the different denominations, that it inn
possible for a person young | was, and SO unac-
uuanted with and things, to come to any certain
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