The Prophet's Birthplace

THE PROPHET'S BIRTHPLACE. BY JUNIUS F. WELLS. The purpose of the Latter-day Saints in purchasing and im- proving the birthplace of Joseph Smith the Prophet, is already be- ginning to be realized. That purpose I have expressed to hundreds of visitors since the dedication of the monument, in language about as follows: "In the beginning of Joseph Smith's heavenly visions an angel— the angel who revealed and delivered the plates of the Book of Mor- mon — told him that he was to become a servant of the Lord that ; there was a great work for him to do; that he should be employed in establishing the work of the Lord upon the earth, preparatory to the coming of the Redeemer; and that his name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues; that it should be spoken for good and evil among all people . It is there- fore for us who owe our existence as a Church and community to his life and ministry —who have thrived and prospered and are happy by reason of our faith revealed to us through him, to speak his name for good — to employ every proper means in our power to fulfil that part of the angel's prediction, leaving you Gentiles to speak it for evil, thereby fulfiling the other part of the angel's prediction that it shonld be had for both good and evil among all men. We felt that the least we could do in this respect was to acquire possession of the place where he was born and to mark it with a suitable memorial, in honor of his one hundredth anniver- sary. Our people are nearly four hundred thousand in numbers they are contented and satisfied upon the matter of religion. You never saw a 'Mormon,' who lives his religion, that has an atom of

.. 134 IMPROVEMENT ERA. doubt as to his soul's salvation. There have been over a million and a quarter converts to the faith that Joseph Smith revealed, and we think any man, of whom such a testimony can be borne as we bear concerning him, deserves to be honored by his followers, no matter what their faith may be. We feel that this is right, and so com- mend this expression of our faith to the consideration of mankind We are making this place as beautiful as we think it should be, to fully express our respect for the memory of this man, to whom we owe everything that distinguishes us as a Church and people among the inhabitants of the earth ; a man whom we love and revere as a Prophet and who was called by the voice of God himself, just as Moses was called, to perform an important mission to mankind." I have, in stating the above, without an exception, been re- spectfully heard by our visitors, who in turn have expressed their pleasure at the appearance of the monument and the memorial cot- tage, together with the improvements we are making. Many have desired further information concerning our faith, and have asked for our literature.All have seemed to enjoy their visit and have gone away with minds enlightened, and I think with hearts soft- ened towards our people. The respect they have shown for the place and the influence it exerts over them is well illustrated by the fact that, though we have received between seven and eight thousand visitors, there is not so much as a scratch of a pencil to defile the premises, nor has a flower been plucked without per- mission. I say this with infinite comfort and pleasure, as a just trib- ute to the intelligence and kindheartedness of these visitors, who came here with more or less prejudice, but went away with less than they brought. Not only have we this evidence of respect from actual visitors. The name and fame of the place is coming to receive attention by many people who have not yet been there While it is true there was a good deal of opposition manifested and expressed by the public press, from the sectarian pulpits and vari- ous societies, at the beginning of our work, there is a notable change in the tone and character of those expressions now. Many who thought at first they could not tolerate the presence of such a representative of our people in the state, are looking forward to a visit here, and appointments for such visits are made far in ad- vance, by leading men in public life, merchants, bankers, farmers

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136 IMPROVEMENT ERA. and others, who are interested and wish to see what we "Mormons" are doing. What now shall I say as to the influence of the birthplace upon those (all too few) of our own people who have visited it since the dedication. Let me try to make it plain. To those who know the spirit and heavenly influence of the temples, I may say the same spirit pervades the cottage and its surroundings. The monument and the house, and all pertaining to them were dedicated in a memorable prayer, offered by President Joseph F. Smith, on the 23rd December, 1905. This consecration by the highest authority of the Church on earth has been approved in the heavens. You feel it. You who have faith in the gospel cannot help knowing that the blessing and favor of the Lord is here. I am a witness to it in many ways. Our work has prospered. The thousands of trees and shrubs and plants that we have set out, have nearly all lived and thrived. The workmen have enjoyed lab- oring here. We have had few accidents, none serious. I have never heard a word of profanity nor witnessed an improper act upon the premises. There has been no spirit here but one of peace. I have received quite a number of missionaries, sometimes two or four, and as many as twenty at a time. We have said our prayers, have held sacrament and testimony meetings in the living room, (in which is the old hearthstone) or upstairs in the sitting or prayer room, and a delightful spirit has always come upon us. We have felt that we were drawn near to the Lord and that he was near to us. Our hearts have been melted. We have been moved to tears and I am sure I do not exaggerate when I say that our joy has been ex- quisite, and our testimonies increased far beyond our expectations. It has been an advantage to young missionaries, starting out into their fields of labor to call here and partake of the spirit, to feel the pride and satisfaction that beholding the monument and reading its inscriptions give. This is an object lesson to them. They go away with something to talk about, and in several nstances with testimonies of tie divinity of the wcik and of Joseph the Prophet's calling. Thus they have come at once to efficiency as missionaries, without the delay of six months or a year; which too often is the case with young elders in getting faith and knowledge enough to enable them to speak with assurance and con-

. — THE PROPHETS BIRTHPLACE. 137 viction to the people to whom they are sent. I hope the time will come when every elder sent abroad or to the Eastern states shall have the privilege of visiting the monument, on his way to his field of labor. It will save him many a day, and perhaps weeks and months of preparation, if he goes there seeking a testimony that, he may be the more quickly qualified for his duties as a mission- ary. I speak with perfect confidence when I declare that there is a blessing for every such elder, who will take the trouble to visit the birthplace of the Prophet, and thus honor his memory and contribute his personal testimony to the great aggregate of testi- mony that the monument and its surroundings are intended to bear to mankind. I am upheld by those who have been there in this statement, and I have no doubt this will continue to be so, until it shall become the rule and not the exception for outgoing missionaries to go by way of Sharon, taking from there, where God ordained that his prophet should be born, an additional mes- sage and a sure testimony of the truth The place itself will be maintained and improved and made glorious, that it may indeed speak his name for good and not evil; and so long as there are Latter-day Saints, it will declare their faith and uphold the doctrines and testify to the vitality and progress and eternal truth of the work of the Lord committed to them, through the Prophet Joseph whose birthplace it is. Sharon, Vermont.