Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-08-01

l
directed by Moroni to wait four years
ere the treasure was delivered to him
| he being instructed TO appear once
year at the spot for instructions and
| admonitions. President Morris com
pared this probation period with ihe
periods spent In the deserts by Chris
! by st Paul and Moses So after IN
! four years Of prayer and probationary
! cXpercnce on Sept, %, 1897, the ANGEL
| delivered the golden plates into his
| hands, with strictest Instructions rot
| To allow them to pass into the hands
| ~ another. BY the Ufim and Thum-
| min, Joseph translated the plates. since
| which time tho Book Of Mormon has
| been translated into the language OF
| nearly all tho nations under heaven.
| This fulfilled the vision OF the angel
| Tying In midhcaven ~ detailed IN tn
! revelation Of 81. John the Divine Pas
sagcs from Isaiah were also cited In
support OF the speakers contention.
THE BOOK OF MORMON.
President Morris then detailed how
the Pook OF Mormon contained his
tory Of two mighty nations-a voice
coming from the dust whispering from
the ground, TO quote Isaiah At Babel
two men, Jared and his brother were
given divine communication. direct
ing them to the American continent
whore their descendants became
great nation, hut which became extinct
through intornecine wars Then a sec
ond Asiatic colonization PARTY starte
from Jerusalem 800 r. C., under the
leadership Of I.ehl with his wife their
destination being the west shores Of
South America. Here they d scovered
the records Of the previous race To this
latter colony and their descendants
came Jesus after his resurrection. leav-
Ing In their possession the truc gospel
contained IN the narratives Of the gold
on plates. So the Book Of Mormon CON
tains true account or these two great
peoples. The hook is different I'm stvl.
from tho Bible as might he expected
from two narratives written I'm 50 d.
verse sectlans Of the world and IN such
different environments, There Ia no
room for bubble over the book, II a.
so simple and direct in lts style.
The speaker then took up the matter
Of the three Witnesses to the authen-
ticity OF the Book of Mormon. whose
testimony was accepted through revela-
tion from God Then an angel appeared
to them commanding that thew bear
witness as to the truth OF this book
to all the world. Martin Harris was
one Of the three, hut he had felt con
strained to withdraw from their coun-
sells with Joseph because Of lack %
faith. But this was re-establishcd
through enlightenment from above. SO
that he rejoined the others CRYING out
IN his eXutation. "Hosannahl" The
Biographies OF Oliver Cowdery. David
Whltmer and Martin Harris were then
recited at some length particularly IN
refuta ton Of charges so often made
against them that their testimony was
untrustworthy. oliver Cowdery dill
subsequently 50 demean himself
I'm matters Of this world. that the
Church found II necessary 10 excom-
municate him. However, he recovered
his faith, and retestined 40 the sacred
ness Of the Book OF Mormon before
the Saints and the nigh council re-
stored him to his offices in the
Church. David Whitmer also DEPART
ed for a time from the faith remain
ing in the east while the Church
moved west TO these valleys IN the
mountains But he never denied his
testimony As to the truth Of the Book
OF Mormon, because God revealed IL
to him and commanded that he give
his testimony to the world. Whitmer
denied in March, 1881, before his
death that he had ever denied his
testimony President Morris read ar
ndavits from distinguished Missouri
citizens In support Of the worthy
character Of Mn Whitmer.
SCIENTISTS BEARS WITNESS.
Martin Harris submitted inscriptions
from the golden plates TO Prof. Anthon
OF Columbia college, who assented 70
their gouuincncSs as Tar as he could
decipher them. Harris contributed
$4,000 toward the expense of publish
ing the Book Of Mormon in reality
laid his fortune at the feet OF the
apostles, In 1870 Martin Harris died
in Utah, whore he bore his testimony
to the Book Of Mormon, and lies
buried in Cache county. The speaker
made extended argument osta blishing
the validity, truth and inspiration 81
the Book Of Mormon He denied the
contention that angels no longer re-
visited this earth, or that revelatory
messages were no longer made 10 men.
God could reveal himself to Joseph
Smith as well as to Moses. as well
reveal his viii on golden pates az on
rock and parchment The Trim and
Thummin can be used now as then.
II they were used in the times OF the
prophets. they could be used later.
Why no revelation In the days or !
Joseph smith as well a. In the DAYS ~ |
Isaiah and Moses The speaker made |
extended comparison between the |
Book OF Mormon and the old Testa- |
ment claiming greater clarity and |
authenticity for the former. especially |
I'm tho matter Of authorship. He clos |
ed with an argument on the nature Of |
the testimony Of the three witnesses. 1
az proving the accuracy, historical or
otherwise, Of the book. The Witnesses |
sought neither fame or money; neither |
were they dcudcd. or impostors. They |
the key by which It's truth or fnlslty |
may be manifested
The service closed with an anthem 1
from the choir, Lift ur the voice /
singing" Elder A. NJ Cannon pro-
nounced the benediction.
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FOR INDIGESTION