The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-03-13

manner OF their alleged translation
oy Joseph Smith, who is universally
conceded 10 have necessarily been the
only living witness to all tho facts In
the case The writer adds:
furthermore. not only has tho
Book oil Mormon been officially ac-
credited by the sworn affidavits OF
these three 'eye-witnesses' upon the
ttle-page OF every volume, but the
system OF Mormonism itself has ever
been conceded by the Mormon church
TO stand or fall upon the validity or
the testimony OF these witnesses TO
tne lact and the mode OF It's miracul-
GUS translation by the mere mechani-
cal use OF, the Seer Stone, and the
urim and Thummim Tor Holy inter
prctationO hidden with the golden
plates, and transmitted for this pur-
pose to Joseph Smith. For seventy
I'VE years or more the civilized world,
outside OF the Mormon church, has re-
fused TO believe In the alleged exist
eDce OF the golden plates tas well as
IN the manner and the fact or their
translatlon). SO persistent and ef-
1ective has been this universal unbe-
leI, and so successful has been the
arraignment OF the 'eye-witnesses' ana
their testimony, tnat the Mormon
church. by the authority of its first
presidency. has at length officially de-
clared that the 'mccnanical theory or
translation of these original eye
witnesses must not only be apan-
doned as being all that the civilized
world has declared TO be Cabsurd.
ridiculous and 'contemptible.) but
that there must be substituted for II
theory which their modern official
theologian and apologize. Brigham H.
Roberts. has devised and published In
the last edition OF the textbook for
the instruction and guidance OF their
missionaries, known as the Senior
Manual This theory has been deslg-
mated as the manual theory and de-
clared by its author to have been orr
glnatcd merely TO ascertain the truth
respecting the matter, and with view
of finding basis from which the
work Book OF Mormon; its transla-
tion, etc. may be successfully ad-
'vocated and defended!-
The substance OF the manual the
ory" Is given in these words:
Joseph Smith, by great mental
effort, the exercise OF faith, and the
gifts OF power OF God, was enabled TO
Gee Tin the Urim ano Thummim, or in
tue Seer Stone) not the mechanicai
and infallible translation of the Egyp-
tian hieroglyphics into the English
language; but the conception" or
thought" Of the hieroglyphics. which
he thereupon formulated into the best
form and use of the English language,
Of which he was master, and that,
too. the best at his command, In view
of his limited opportunities and en-
vironmenti, This is the infallible
substitute for the former, inspired.
original theory 1t scarcely needs be
added that so widespread and fran
tic has been the upheaval and com
motion produced by this manual the
ory' that It's author and publisher has
been bitterly assailed by both tne
Mormon priesthood and laity. and so
strenuously caStigated and eXulting-
ly ridiculed by the non-Mormon peo-
pie in all parts OF the land and world,
that he has been held in constant de-
mand by the first presidency as the
official exponent and apologize oil tins
latest revelation upon the manner
or the golden-plate translation. BY
voice and pen alike. he is vainly en-
deavoring to still the tempestand stay
the wrath of his offended and bewild-
cred brethren"