Scholars Disagree · Improvement Era

"JOSEPH SMITH, JR., AS A TRANSLATOR" 339

purification. Suppose that it is rec- to be finally adjudged upon the outognized that autointoxication may re- come of only one point. It asks, it desult from intestinal putrifaction. mands, a complete investigation. Suppose that scientists insist that Anything short of this would result the proteids contained in meat givs unfairly. To illustrate. Suppose that rise to this autointoxication. Suppose the first inquiry result in proving that that it is quite generally agreed among Joseph Smith was, in that instance, scientists that the American people wrong. Or suppose that chance deare eating altogether too much meat. signed that in the first instance he was Suppose that it is shown that the in- found to be right. These facts prove gestion of large quantities of meat is two things only; in the first instance responsible for numerous ailments. he was wrong, and in the second in- Suppose that it is declared by author- stance he was right, nothing more. ities that meat is more obnoxious in They prove absolutely nothing with warm weather than in cold. Suppose respect to other of his operations. It that is shown in the experience of is true, however, that if he be found

the United States army that the death increased through eating much meat in warm weather. Suppose that it is announced by the acknowledged great- est bacteriologist in the world that purification in the intestines is large- ly responsible for old age and that through the elimination of this in- testinal purification old age may very In a word let it be assumed that scientists have completely vindicated the claims of the Word of Wisdom. What then will be the duty of the The method employed by Dr. Spald- ing would require that mankind not only accept the Word of Wisdom but everything else which Joseph Smith claimed to have received through rev- elation. And, furthermore, those who did not join in this general acceptance would, by him, be classed among the thoughtless and dishonest. With this singular reasoning adopted by our reverend friend the Latter-day Saints are forced to have nothing inground into their na- of the Apostle Paul, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good," "Mor- monism" does rot feel that in justice it can ask the world to accept all of its claims because a single point has biased investigation. wrong in instance after instance, inrate among soldiers is very greatly ferential evidence would lead one to believethat he was wrong in the majority of cases. (This rule will work both ways). But in order to prove that he was entirely wrong and that the "whole body of belief" should be repudiated, every case must be examined upon its own merits. In the opinion of the writer, the Latmaterially be deferred. ter-day Saints should not, and for that matter do not, maintain that Joseph Smith was infallible. He was human and possessed human weaknesses and human faults. Being such, he was unworld with respect to Joseph Smith? doubtedly here and there mistaken. His followers claim, however, that his weaknesses were few and his virtues many. According to Christian belief, the Son of God was the only perfect man to grace the earth by his presence. If then, because of his weaknesses, we dismiss Joseph Smith, the prophets of ancient times must likewise go. Shall it be argmd that because a man receives divine help at one time that he is always inspired? or the disagree. They converse, that because he may at one time have been led by Satanic intures more deeply than the statement fluences that he is always evil? If so, the virtues of Christianity are at an end. Does it follow that because a man thinks that he is right at one time, and so proclaims himself, but is later shown to be wrong, that he is invariateen demonstrated. Some individuals bly wrong? We do not judge temrequire more evidence than others. AH poral things In that manner. No Christhat "Mormonism" can ask is an un- tian ever lived who was guided in every It does not want act of his life by divine effulgence. And

340 IMPROVEMENT ERA occasionally he was wrong when he And so we ask the question, "What thought that he was right. has Dr. Spalding's inquiry shown?" If through future investigation, there- The incompleteness of the inquiry was fore, it can be shown that Joseph Smith pointed out early in this paper, but if was absolutely wrong in his transla- the argument be accepted as complete tion of the characters reproduced in and final, what then does it show? It the Pearl of Great Price, shall we say gives an illustration of ONE case in that his other works of translation are which Joseph Smith was wrong. It wholly wrong? Or shall we be justified shows that he was not infallible, a in going so far as to state that the re- condition long held by the Latter-day maining part of the Book of Abraham Saints. He was mortal and his followis wrong? In the judgment of the writ- ers knew it. They asserted, however, er, reason scoffs at the intimation of an that his strength very greatly predomaffirmative reply. inated over his weaknesses. If this The best men the world has ever case proves to be one in which Joseph known have here and there made mis- Smith was mistaken the Latter-day takes. There have been no exceptions. Saints want to know it, and further- Scientists, philosophers and religionists more they will assist in investigating alike have all erred. Would it not be it. They have not thought of this parsuicidal to repudiate the work of man- ticular instance as being a mistake, kind because of these occasional mis- but if final investigation so proves it, takes? Yet the method of sweeping they can accept the conclusion without denunciation advanced by Dr. Spald- in any way disturbing their confidence

ing would require that it be done, and in the multitude of cases in which they

that all who would refuse to follow in know that he was right. They have apthis senseless slaughter would be pealed to the world to investigate the branded as ignorant and dishonest. claims of their religion, and stand From the writer's point of view it Is ready to accept the results. But, mark not only probable but possible that the you, these results must not be based world's greatest prophets have now and upon the kind of reasoning employed again made mistakes. Prophets are by Dr. Spalding. human beings whose minds are illum- The inquiry ends, therefore, with the inated by divine intelligence, the de-- case in hand. It cannot be considered as applying to the text of the gree of illumination varying with the responsiveness of the human spirit. Book of Abraham, to say noth- Some prophets have approached perfec- ing of the Book of Moses also contion much closer than others, but abso- tained in the Pearl of Great Price. The lute perfection for a lite time is never absurdity of making sweeping conclurealized in the flesh. sions has already been pointed out. The And so it should not only be con- hope of testing the translation of the ceded but urged that Joseph Smith may Book of Mormon by this particular inhave made mistakes. (Whether mis* quiry has led Dr. Spalding far afield. takes were made in the translation of It would be a very grep. t source of

the Egyptian characters as reproduced pleasure to the Latter day Saints if in the Pearl of Great Price is not un- the world would appoint a committee der discussion here.) Any other atti- consisting of wisa and honest men tude would argue for his infallibility, a whose duty would be prayerfully and condition which the present writer does impartially to investigate the claims not accept, either for Joseph Smith or of "Mormonism." The committee for the prophets of old. If the works of could pass on each claim independent- ly, until the list was exhausted. Then Joseph Smith were being investigated with fairness equal to that employed summaries could be made and the verby the examiner in the college, or the dict rendered. The Latter-day Sainfs, jury in the court, he would not be I am convinced, would be more than adjudged a failure or convicted because willing to submit their religion to a single error might have been found. such a test. They would not, how-

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"JOSEPH SMITH, JR., AS A TRANSLATOR" 341

ever, be willing to have It. declared the author stated that if it could be wholly wrong because of a very small shown that Napoleon had made a misnumber of errors. (Exists there a take in one battle all other claims rereligious body who would?) No just lating to his generalship would thereand impartial judge would require it by be destroyed. To the pamphlet of them. They themselv-js do not were appended the statements of a look upon it as being faultless. It has number of competent officers to the cr me from God through human hands. effect that Napoleon had made a mis- They claim that it came as a revela- take at Waterloo. The author then tion of God to man, and that here called upon all men to repudiate Naand there within it there are probably poleon not only at "Waterloo but elsethe finger prints of mortality. If man, where, and Anally branded all who the medium through which it came, would not do so as ignorant and dishad been perfect, the religion would honest. have been perfect. The Latter-day Reader, what would be the nature Saints do claim, however, that "Mor- of the reception of this pamphlet? monism" is the most nearly perfect' Would the reasoning of its author religion upon the face of the earth, convince mankind that Napoleon was far from excepting that espoused by not a general in any sense of the term the writer of the pamphlet under ques- and should be repudiated, or would the tion. author of the pamphlet be regarded The reader is now asked to imagine with some degree of pity and quickly the publication of a pamphlet bearing forgotten? the title "Napoleon Bonaparte, as a (Note: The present writer is by no General; an Inquiry." The first pages means convinced that Joseph Smith told of the sincerity of the general and incorrectly translated the Book of the devotion of his followers. It also Abraham. An article dealing with spoke of their fairness and integrity. this phase of the subject will follow And near the close of the argument later.)

Scholars Disagree.

BY JUNIUS F. WELLS

[On December 19 the following a ppeared in the Deseret News, which the author has permitted the Era to reprin t. The Editors.] Editor Deseret News: tigators in the field of archaeological — Dear Sir I read with deep interest research, and who took a keen the editorial review in Tuesday's paper interest in matter, the I had the of Bishop Spalding's treatise upon the Pearl of Great Price, containing cuts of the original drawings of the these cuts and Joseph Smith, the Book of Abraham and was particularly Prophet's interpretation of t hem pleased with your wise and clever com- sent first to Sir Flinders Petrie, who, ments upon the discrepancies and dif- however, being away from London, ferences of the world's eminent savants could not then be reached, and secondin their respective interpretations of ly to Dr. Henry Woodward, F.R.S., the Egyptian hieroglyphics and hypo- who, after examining it himself, passed cephali that have been so variously it on to the very celebrated Dr. E. A.

and learnedly deciphered by them. W. Budge, head of the Department of It reminded me of an inquiry I had Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities of the opportunity of instituting while in the British Museum for many years; London in 1903. Through the favor of the author of a voluminous History of Hon. James W. Barclay, M.P., a publi- Egypt; of the Dictionary of the Book cist of considerable note and friend of the Dead, and of numerous works of many of England's foremost inves- upon the language, religion, poetry and