--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Whitney, Orson F. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 30 number: 11 published: 1927-09 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Orson F. Whitney, “The Book of Mormon: Historical and Prophetic Phases,” *Improvement Era* 30, no. 11 (September 1927): 941–954." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera30011unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera30011unse start_page: 941 end_page: 954 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1927-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera30011unse publication_year: 1927 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1927, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Book of Mormon: Historical and Prophetic Phases Improvement Era Vol. XXX SEPTEMBER, 1927 No. 1 1 THE BOOK OF MORMON Historical and Prophetic Phases By Elder Orson F. Whitney, of the Council of the Twelve In the summer of 1914 it fell to my lot to visit some of the scenes made memorable by the early experiences of the Latter-day Saints. One object of surpassing interest was the Hill Cumorah, called "Mor- mon Hill" by the inhabitants of the region in which it is situated — namely, Western New York state, about midway between the towns of Palmyra and Manchester. Palmyra is where the Book of Mormon — its first edition — was printed; and Manchester, is the place nearest the rural home of Joseph Smith's parents, when he was but a boy. A Visit to Palmyra I bore a letter of introduction to a prominent citizen of Palmyra, Mr. P. T. Sexton, a wealthy lawyer and banker, who owned the Hill Cumorah and the old printing office in which the Book of Mormon went to press. Mr. Sexton received me courteously, and showed me, not only a copy of the first edition of the book, but also the corrected proofs of that edition, kept by him in a glass case and treasured as a re- lic of great worth. The proofs, he told me, were originally the prop- erty of one Major Gilbert, printer for E. B. Grandin, who had the publishing contract from Joseph Smith, and his associates. Gilbert had been a tenant of Sexton's, and in his old age, broken down, impe- cunious, and unable to pay his rent, had surrendered to his landlord these proofs, in liquidation of the debt. At the close of a very pleasant interview with Mr. Sexton, he called for his car, and directed the chauf- feur to take me to the Hill Cumorah, "and wherever else Mr. Whitney would like to go." This commission was faithfully executed. At the Smith Farm Two and a half miles south of Palmyra, we halted at the Smith Entered at the Post Office, Salt Lake City, Utah, as second class matter. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in Section 1 103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 2, 1918, $2 per annum. Address Room 40 6, Church Office Building, Salt Lake City, Utah. 942 IMPROVEMENT ERA Farm (then as now the property of the Church) and entered "The Sacred Grove," the scene of the Prophet Joseph's first vision. I also stepped inside the house, a comparatively new structure built upon the site of a humbler dwelling in which the youthful Seer had his earliest interviews with the Angel Moroni. We then sped on to "Mormon Hill." The Hill Cumorah Before leaving my home among the mountains — whose towering tops seem to challenge the attention of the inhabitants of Mars — I had been told by friends who had seen the famous Hill, that it would dis- appoint me, being "not much of a hill, after all." But I felt no dis- appointment on beholding it. Cumorah is not a mountain, but it certainly is a hill, and the most considerable one in all that beautiful rolling country. It is of the variety known as "hog's back," the high- est part, a bold bluff facing north, rising abruptly from a lane, and gradually receding southward until lost in the more level plain beyond. I would say that the Hill Cumorah about equals in height the Salt Lake Assembly Hall, exclusive of the towers. A climb up the grassy eastern slope on a hot day was sufficient, I found, to start a healthy prespira- tion. On the West side, a little below the hill-top, and overlooking the road running toward Manchester, grew a rose bush, planted by some unknown hand, to mark the spot where was taken out, one hundred years ago, the stone box containing the record plates of the Book of Mormon. To be there, upon that sacred summit, was to dream of the past and ponder upon the future, as I do now, while preparing this sketch. Joseph Smith's First Vision It was early in the spring of 1820 that Joseph Smith, then a lad between fourteen and fifteen years of age, had his glorious vision of the Father and the Son; the first known instance of the exercise by the "Choice Seer," of his matchless gift. And it was three years and some months later, when, during the night of September 21-22, he first beheld the angel messenger who revealed to him the existence of the golden plates. The Angel Moroni The angel gave his name as Moroni, and stated that while in mor- tal life he had ministered as a prophet to an ancient people called Ne- phites, a branch of the house of Israel not the Lost Tribes, as is fre- quently asserted by the uninformed, but a remnant of the tribe of Jo- seph, mixed with a remnant of the tribe of Judah. The former had crossed over from Jerusalem about the year 600 B. C; the others a few years afterward. These blended colonies had inhabited the Americas down to about the beginning of the fourth century of the Christian era, THE BOOK OF MORMON 943 when the civilized but degenerate Nephites were destroyed by a savage faction known as Lamanites, ancestors of the present-day American Indians. The Nephite Record The Angel further stated that a record of the Nephites had been hidden in a hill not far from Joseph's home — a hill anciently called Cumorah; and upon that spot, four years later (September 22, 1827), Moroni delivered the record into his hands. It was a book of metallic plates "having the appearance of gold," covered with strange charac- ters, "small and beautifully engraved" — characters known to the Ne- phites as "the reformed Egyptian" (Mormon 9: 32). By means of "interpreters," discovered with the plates, and consisting of "two stones in silver bows," the youth translated the unsealed portion of the record, and with the assistance of a few friends published to the world the Book of Mormon. It was so named for its compiler, the Nephite prophet Mormon, whose son and survivor, Moroni, had buried the plates where Joseph Smith found them. History and Prophecy The Book of Mormon is a sacred history of pre-historic America, and a prophecy of the wondrous future of this chosen land. It tells not only of the Nephites and Lamanites, but also of a more ancient people, the Jaredites, who came from the Tower of Babel at the time of the confusion of tongues. Becoming extinct, the Jaredites were succeeded by the Israelitish colony, led from Jerusalem by a prophet named Lehi, whose sons Nephi and Laman became, respectively, the heads of the two nations called after them. The Jewish remnant that mixed with the descendants of Lehi was headed by Mulek, one of the sons of Zedekiah, king of Judah, whom the Babylonian conqueror, Nebuchadnezzar, overthrew. The Land of Zion The Jaredites, as well as the Nephites, had a knowledge of the Christ and of the principles of his Gospel, revealed to them prior to his advent. To both these nations it was made known that America is the Land of Zion, the place for the New Jerusalem, a holy city to be built "unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph" (3 Nephi 21:23, 24; Ether 13:3-8). Likewise it was shown to them that the Old Jerusa- lem would be rebuilt "unto the house of Israel" in the last days, before the Savior's second toming. A Nursing Mother Among the many interesting features of the Book of Mormon, is a prophecy relating to the discovery of America by Columbus; the migration of the Pilgrim Fathers and others to these western shores; the war for American Independence, and the founding of the republic of the United States, a nation destined long before its birth to play 944 ■ IMPROVEMENT ERA the part of nursing mother to the restored Church of Christ ( 1 Nephi 13:10-19; 22: 7, 8). And here let me interject, that whatever may be said of the per- secutions suffered by the Latter-day Saints in various states of the Union — persecutions inflicted, not because of the Constitution or the genius of the American government, but in spite of them — persecu- tions by lawless force, mob violence, ever to be execrated and con- demned by every true patriot — whatever may be said of such deplorable happenings, still must our noble Nation be credited with what it has done in the direction, of fulfiling its God-given mission. It.is extremely doubtful that in any other land, or in any other nation upon this land, would the Lord's people have been treated with the same degree of consideration. In no other country on earth, without special divine interposition in its behalf, would this marvelous work and wonder have been permitted to come forth. A Land of Liberty America, according to Nephite prophecy, based upon divine reve- lation, is to be a land of liberty to the Gentiles — modern peoples, not of Israel, now possessing it — provided they serve the God of the Land, who is Jesus Christ. So long as they shall follow righteousness and maintain the pure principles upon which this Government was found- ed, just so long will they prosper and enjoy the favor of Heaven. America, if true to her mission, is promised divine protection, and will be invulnerable to every foe. God "will fortify this land against all other nations," and they who "fight against Zion shall perish" (2 Nephi 10:11-13). If, however, the Gentiles, lifted up in pride, shall harden their hearts and reject the fulness of the Gospel, Liberty's perfect law, an- other destiny, and a sad one, awaits them. No king but Christ shall reign upon Zion's Land. No people occupying it can practice evil with impunity. The nation fostered here must be a righteous nation, or like the Jaredites and the Nephites, who perished because of their wickedness, it will be swept from off the face of the land when the cup of its iniquity is full. So the God of Heaven hath decreed (Ether 2:8- 12). Joseph's Blessing Another name for America, authorized by the Book of Mormon, is the Land of Joseph, referred to by the Patriarch Jacob in blessing his twelve sons (Gen. 49:22-26), and by the Prophet Moses in his farewell benediction upon the twelve tribes of Israel (Deut. 33:13- 15). Jacob's allusion to Joseph as "a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall," was fulfilled in the migration of Lehi and his companions from Asia to America over the Pacific Ocean. It is hardly necessary to add, that one of the main features of these western continents are those mighty mountain ranges, the Andes and the Rock- THE BOOK OF MORMON 945 ies, well termed by the Hebrew Patriarch "the everlasting hills," na- ture's depositories for "the precious things of the earth" — gold, silver, and other minerals — and for "the precious things of heaven" — the" sacred records already discovered, and others that are yet to come forth. Joseph and Judah The Book of Mormon has a divine mission in connection with the Hebrew Scriptures, "unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions" (2 Nephi 3:12). It is "The Stick of Joseph," mentioned by the Prophet Ezekiel, that was to be one with "The Stick of Judah" (The Bible) "in the hand of Ephraim." They were also to be one in the hand of Jehovah, symbolizing the reunion of the two great branches of the Israelitish race, after many centuries of separation. "And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel," saith the Lord, "and David my servant shall be king over them" (Ezek. 37:16-24). The king here spoken of is not David, son of Jesse, but "another by the name of David" who is to be "raised up out of his lineage" (History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 253). David's empire, which parted in twain, forming the Kingdom of Judah and the Kingdom of Israel, may have been a foreshadowing of God's greater empire of the last days, which will consist of two grand divisions — two in one. Here, upon the "land choice above all other lands" (Ether 2:10), the children of Joseph, descended through Eph- raim, are even now assembling to prepare for Messiah's advent. The Jews will greet Him at Jerusalem. Christ's Kingdom will have two capitals, one in the Old World, one in the New; one in America, the other in Palestine. "For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem" (Isa 2:3). Jesus Christ in America The main fact for which the Book of Mormon stands is the visi- tation of the Savior, after his resurrection at Jerusalem, to the right- eous remnant of the Nephites, who had survived the awful cataclysm of destruction coincident with his crucifixion. Some might think the great wars of the Jaredites, Nephites and Lamanites, with the mighty political changes and geographic convulsions, preceding or succeeding the rise and downfall of cities and empires founded by those ancient peoples, whose wonderful civilizations are .now the study of the arch- aeologist and the antiquarian — some might think these the more conse- quential features of the Book of Mormon. I did, when I was a boy, and looked at all things through boyish eyes. When reading that sacred record — and I read it very early, by the advice and persusasion of my sainted mother — I would skip over the prophecies and preach- ings, which meant little to me then, and feast upon battles, victories and defeats, acts of courage and heriosm, with which the book abounds; and which had for me, a romantic fascination. 946 IMPROVEMENT ERA As I grew older and "put away childish things," I became a de- vout student of the Gospel, and learned to appreciate the sublime doc- trines set forth in the Nephite record; for I had developed a testimony of the truth, and as a young missionary was out preaching it to people in the world. Not until my mind was matured however, did I grasp with anything like a full and clear comprehension, the significance of the risen Savior's appearance upon the Land of Zion — this land, where the New Jerusalem will yet rise, and the way be prepared for the glorious coming of the King of kings. TRANSLATION AND PUBLICATION OF THE BOOK OF MORMON By Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, of the Council of the Twelve, and Church Historian The idea seems to prevail quite generally among members of the Church that the Prophet Joseph Smith spent the greater part of his time between September, 1823, when he received the plates, and the fall of 1829, translating the Book of Mormon. As to the Length of Time Because of lack of dates it is impossible to tell exactly how long it took him to complete the translation, but we know from the his- torical information at hand that there were many days spent in other work, when no attempt was made to translate after that labor had been undertaken. There were times when the Lord commanded him to cease translating. For instance, the Lord said on one occasion (Doc. and Cov. 5:30) : "I say unto thee Joseph, when thou hast translated a few more pages thou shalt stop for a season, even until I command thee again." The reason given for this is that his enemies were lying in wait to destroy him and the work. Again the Lord said: "Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided to enable you to translate; but be diligent unto the end." (Doc. and Cov. 10:4). Time fot Study and Practice Joseph Smith received the plates and the Urim and Thummim September 22, 1827. Because of persecution, poverty, and the neces- sity of "laboring with his hands" for a living, nothing was done to- wards translating the record that year. However, he was busy study- ing the characters and making himself familiar with them and the use of the Urim and Thummim. He had a great deal more to do than merely to sit down and with the use of the instrument prepared for that purpose translate the characters on the plates. Nothing worth while comes to us merely for the asking. All knowledge and skill are ob- TRANSLATION OF THE BOOK OF MORMON 947 tained by consistent and determined study and practice, and so the Prophet found it to be the case in the translating of the Book of Mor- mon. It will be remembered that the Lord said to Oliver Cowdery when he desired to translate: "But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind." Oliver thought it would be easy, but found it difficult and therefore was content to accept the advice from the Lord and continue as scribe to Joseph Smith. The Lost Pages It was between December, 1827, and February, 1828, that the Prophet copied the characters from the plates; and, in the month of February, Martin Harris carried them to New York to Professor Charles Anthon (History of the Church, vol. 1, p. 19.) April 12, 1828, Mar- tin Harris commenced to write, and the Prophet to translate the abridg- ment giving the history of Lehi and down to the days of King Ben- jamin. These pages Martin Harris lost, and because of his disobedience he was not permitted to act again as scribe and the Prophet Joseph lost his gift for a season. • Oliver Cowdery Appears Oliver Cowdery came to the Prophet at Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 5, 1829, and two days later commenced to write at Joseph Smith's dictation. It must be remembered that they had to commence once more at the beginning and cover the same ground that had been covered in the lost manuscript, but in more detail, for they were now translating the small plates of Nephi. The translating with Oliver Cowdery as scribe, continued without interruption (History of the Church, vol. 1, p. 35) until May 15, 1829, when these two men hav- ing a desire to know something more about baptism went into the woods to pray and received the Aaronic Priesthood from John the Bap- tist. Following this important event, it became necessary for Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to change their place of residence because of opposition, and they therefore moved from Harmony, Pennsylvania, to Fayette, Seneca county, New York, to the home of the Whitmers. The Witnesses are Shown the Plates It was early in June, 1829, that Oliver Cowdery, David Whit- mer and Martin Harris, with Joseph Smith retired to the woods and sought the Lord in prayer and were visited by the angel who revealed to them the plates. It was also on this occasion that they heard the voice of the Lord declaring unto them that the record had been trans- lated by the gift and power of God. Copyright Secured About this time Joseph Smith also writes: "Meantime, our trans- lation drawing to a close, we went to Palmyra, Wayne county, New York, secured the copyright, and agreed with Mr. Egbert B. Grandin 948 IMPROVEMENT ERA to print five thousand copies for the sum of three thousand dollars." I think we may conclude that the copyright was not secured un- til the translation was completed, and these words of the Prophet Jo- seph indicate that this is the case. The copyright bears the date of June 11, 1829. Book Ready for Distribution After completing the translation it took some time to make ar- rangements with Mr. Grandin and to raise the sum required to print the book, the funds being furnished by Martin Harris through the sale of his personal property. In the meantime Oliver Cowdery, at the re- quest of Joseph Smith, made a complete copy of the manuscript, and it was this manuscript copy that was taken to the printer, sheet at a time, until the Book of Mormon was printed. Mr. Grandin commenced the printing in August, 1829, and the Book of Mormon was ready for distribution about the first of March, 1830. We may conclude from the evidence that the actual time of trans- lating the record, as we have it in the Book of Mormon, was between April 7, 1829, and the first week of June of that same year, or.not to exceed two full months. TESTIMONIES OF THE WITNESSES TO THE BOOK OF MORMON By Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, of the Council of the Twelve, and Church Historian The question has been asked many times of our Elders: Where are the Plates? "Does the Church have in its possession the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated by Joseph Smith?" When the answer is given that the plates were received again by the Angel Moroni, who through the centuries since they were "hid up unto the Lord" has been their special guardian, the reply is generally made: "What a wonderful aid it would be to your people in convincing the world of the truth of your story if you could show the plates to prove that Jo- seeph Smith really had them." Perhaps it is natural for a man who hears for the first time the story of Joseph Smith and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon to propound such a question, and to think that the plates, if they had been placed in some museum where the public could examine them, would have added much to prove the authenticity of the Prophet's story. With deeper reflection we discover that this would not have been the case, for, it is not the way the Lord proves his truth, now or at any other time. However, in surprise, and in some cases with an THE TESTIMONY OF THE WITNESSES 949 incredulous smile, the propounder of this question turns away feeling that such an answer as he has received is an admission that Joseph Smith never had the plates and practiced a fraud upon the public. It is well in considering this matter to remember the words of the Lord to Isaiah: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55 :8-9. If the Lord had followed the thoughts of men and had command- ed Joseph Smith to place the plates in some repository where they could have been inspected by the curious public, it would have led to endless disputations. Enemies of the Church would not have been con- vinced and would have contended most bitterly that the plates were spurious. No one could have read them for the characters engraved on them are unknown to the savants of the present age. The Lord does not convince men of his truth by placing before their eyes and in their hands tangible evidence, as a lawyer may do be- fore the court, marking it "exhibit A" and "exhibit B," and then ex- pect it to be accepted. The Lord expects the searcher after truth to approach him with a contrite spirit and with sincerity of purpose; if he will do this and keep the commandments of the Lord he shall re- ceive the witness through the Holy Spirit, and shall know the truth. This testimony will come with such force and clearness that it cannot be denied. For this reason the Lord said, "Whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speak- eth against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." All truth connected with the Plan of Salvation is reasonable and comprehensible. At least it may be comprehended by those who trust in the Lord and put themselves in an attitude to receive the revelation he may give them. The Lord does not leave man to discover truth without any guidance. Never has he performed any important work for the salvation of the people without first sending among them his specially appointed witnesses who are empowered to speak in authority and with knowledge of the things of which they testify. "Surely the Lord God will do nothing until he revealeth the secret unto his servants the prophets," said Amos many centuries ago. This does not mean that the prophets of old have prophesied and predicted everything to be revealed concerning our times; but prophets and witnesses are always raised up at the time of the important event, or just preceding it, to give proper instruction and warning to the people. Moses, Isaiah, Jere- miah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and many other prophets, predicted events that were to take place in these last days; among other things they prophe- sied of the making of new covenants by the Lord with his people, and the coming of messengers to instruct and warn them, preparing the way before the second coming of the Savior. 950 IMPROVEMENT ERA Testimony and the Appointment of Witnesses There is a law definitely stated in the scriptures governing testi- mony and the appointment of witnesses. This law the Lord has always followed in granting new revelation to the people. The Jews under- stood this law very well, but in their blindness of soul failed to apply it to the ministry of the Son of God. One day as our Lord was en- deavoring to teach them, they challenged him by saying: "Thou bear- est record of thyself; thy record is not true!" As much as to say, "Since you are the only one who testifies of your mission, we do not have to accept what you say for you do not fulfil the requirements of the law pertaining to witnesses." The Lord has declared to them previously that he is the bread of life and the water of life, which would bring them eternal life if they would receive him. He had confessed to them that he is the Son of God; but they rejected all that he said and did among them, manifesting a spirit of murderous opposition. On this occasion when they challenged his authority he answered them: ''Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. "Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. "It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. "I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me." "Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father?" "Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also." The point to be considered here is this: The Jews as well as Jesus recognized the law given by our Father governing his witnesses and their testimony to the world. The Savior tried to convince these hard- ened Jews that he had complied with this law. There could be no greater witnesses than his Father and himself to testify of his mission. And why should not the Son be entitled to have his Father as his wit- ness? The Father had acknowledged his Son on several occasions, in the presence of witnesses, not always .openly to the world, although the appearance of the New Star was a general sign. Jesus had freely declared himself among the Jews to be the Son of God. He had per- formed many mighty miracles and wonderful works and had spoken in authority, but his words and deeds failed to penetrate the stony hearts and the calloused, brains of the sons of Judah. He made no effort to teach the Gentile world, declaring that he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel, but finally he did send his specially appointed witnesses unto all the world, carrying the message of the gospel to every creature. Joseph Followed the Divine Plan Presenting the Book of Mormon to the world, Joseph Smith, un- der the direction of the Lord, followed strictly the plan that had been THE TESTIMONY OF THE WITNESSES 951 divinely adopted; and that is in sending authorized witnesses who could testify with him of the sacred message he had to deliver to the unbe- lieving world. Joseph Smith translated but a portion of the golden record, for part of it was sealed, and he was commanded not to break the seals, for that part of the record was not to be given to the world until some future time. Nephi said nearly six hundred years B. C, of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon: "And behold the book shall be sealed; and, in the book shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof. "Wherefore, because of the things which are sealed up, the things which are sealed shall not be delivered in the day of the wickedness and abominations of the people. Wherefore the book shall be kept from them." II Nephi 27:7-8. We learn more of the reason for this from Mormon, four cen- turies after Christ, when he was compiling the record, when he said: "And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people; and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles, according to the •words which Jesus hath spoken. "And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try 'their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them. "And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation." Ill Nephi 26:8-10. Purpose of the Book of Mormon The purpose of the Book of Mormon is that it may be a wit- ness! for the Hebrew Scriptures — the Bible — and a means of convincing both the Jews and the Gentiles that Jesus is the Christ who manifests himself to all nations; also to bring back to a knowledge of God the remnant of the House of Israel on this American Continent. As a vol- ume of scripture containing the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon is of the greatest value to the world. For this reason the Lord said he would establish its truth by the mouth of witnesses: "Wherefore, at that, day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they shall testiify to the truth of the book and the things therein. "And there is none other which shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men ; for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were from the dead. "Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to bring forth the words of the book; and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good will he establish his word; and woe be unto him that rejecteth the word of God!" It was essential that other witnesses should be called to stand 952 IMPROVEMENT ERA with Joseph Smith in testifying of the restoration of the Church and the coming forth of this new revelation from God. Had he testified alone of these important things the world could have called him in question, and properly so, for he would not have fulfilled the require- ments of the law. It is doubtful that Joseph Smith in his early youth, while translating the Book of Mormon, had any idea of what is written in the Bible concerning witnesses, yet he followed it faithfully. Moreover, in a revelation he received in March, 1829, the Lord said to him: "But this generation shall have my word through you; "And in addition to your testimony, the testimony of three of my servants, whom I shall call and ordain, unto whom I will show these things, and they shall go forth with my words that are given through you. "Yea, they shall know of a surety that these things are true, for from heaven will I declare it unto them." D. and C. 5:10-12. The Three Witnesses The three men called to serve as special witnesses of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon by the power of God, are Oliver Cow- dery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris. It is not the puropse of this article to enter into the biographies of these men, it is enough to state that they were associated with Joseph Smith in the establishing of this marvelous work in this dispensation. Later all three witnesses became estranged and left the Church. Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris came back humbly seeking membership in the Church and both died in full fellowship. David Whitmer remained out of the Church; how- ever, all three of these men remained faithful to the testimony they gave to the world which is found in each copy of the Book of Mormon. Their testimony is that they received a visitation of an angel from the presence of the Lord, who laid before them the golden record from whence the Book of Mormon was translated and instructed them. They beheld the engravings upon the plates as the leaves were turned one by one before them, and the voice of God was heard by them declaring from the heavens that the translation was by the gift and power of God, and commanding them to bear record of it to all the world. These three witnesses, through adversity, persecution, and all the vicissitudes of life, always remained true to their testimony that they beheld the plates in the presence of an angel and heard the voice of God speak- ing to them from the heavens. The Eight Witnesses -There were eight other witnesses who also beheld the plates, handled them, examined carefully the engravings upon, them as they were shown them by Joseph Smith. Their testimony is also given to the world and appears in each issue of the Book of Mormon. All of these eight men remained true to this testimony until death. These twelve witnesses, four of whom beheld angels and had heavenly visions, and eight who beheld the record a.s it was shown to THE TESTIMONY OF THE WITNESSES 953 them by Joseph Smith, are all, it appears, that the Lord deemed nec- essary to establish the truth of the Book of Mormon, as he promised through Nephi thatvhe would do. "And wo be unto him that re- jecteth the word of God!" • The testimonies of these men more than satisfy the law. Other Witnesses by the Thousands These are not all the witnesses who can speak of the divine mis- sion of Joseph Smith, or of the truth of the Book of Mormon. The promise is made in the Book of Mormon that all who desire to know whether it is true and contains the word of the Lord may know that it is true if they will ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, for he will reveal it to them by the power of the Holy Ghost. There are hundreds of thousands who have put this promise to the test and can in all sincerity say that they have received that knowledge. Methods of the Prophet in Harmony with the Ways of the Savior We see then, that the methods adopted by Joseph Smith — and that by revelation — in bringing forth the Book of Mormon and in organizing the Church, are in perfect harmony with the work of the Lord in all other generations. We can easily imagine some prominent scribe, lawyer, or Pharisee, saying to Peter and the apostles when they declared that they were witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ: "If what you say is true, why did not Jesus show himself to us and to the world? What a wonderful thing it would be in convincing people of your story if you could only show him to the people that they might know that he is risen from the dead!" In fact, the contemptuous cry of the chief priests and scribes to the Savior when he was on the cross was: He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. They knew he saved others. They had been witnesses that he raised the dead, healed the sick and was a benefactor to the afflicted, but they sought a great sign, and how true are the words of the Lord: "A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign." Our Savior after his resurrection, did not appear to the non- believing Jews, to Herod, or Pilate; he did not go before the Sanhedrin in triumph to convince them that he had risen. It was only to his disciples to whom he appeared, and then he sent them into all the world as witnesses declaring to every nation that he was in very deed the Resurrection and the Life. Said he to the apostles, "But ye shall re- ceive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Again he said as he 9 54 IMPROVEMENT ERA appeared to them in his glorified body: "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and ye are witnesses of these things." Does it not appear that when Peter and the other disciples went forth, as they had been commanded, as witnesses having the perfect knowledge that Jesus Christ was risen from the dead and is verily the Son of God, that the people who heard their testimony and rejected it were under condemnation? Moreover, was it not sufficient for these disciples to testify to the world of this truth, to leave men without ex- cuse w.ho would not believe, without the Lord giving a direct manifes- tation, or making a personal appearance to each individual upon the face of the earth? The course taken by Joseph Smith is in perfect harmony with this course adopted by our Savior. In truth it is the only consistent course that could be taken. In this, life we are expected to walk by faith and not by sight, and yet the Lord sends among us witnesses who have seen and heard and who can speak with direct knowledge to en- courage us to seek and find the truth, as Paul says: "That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might find him, though he be not far from every one of us." It is the duty of all men to heed the message of the divinely appointed witnesses of the Lord and to prove their words1 by obeying the will of God which will be the means, through the guidance of the Spirit of the Lord, in convincing us of the truth. Yet, how many accepted the story told by Pater, James and John, while they lived and testified? How many have accepted the testimony of Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Martin Harris and other witnesses who have testified in this generation? The world today, like the world in the day of our Lord's ministry, have before them Moses and the prophets whom, if they will not hear, "neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." Sonnet To Autumn Through hazy mists the mountains now are seen, Their snow-capped steeples rising in the blue. The valleys that so late were bright and green Have changed their color to a darker hue. The Autumn wind's forlorn and mournful sound Is like a sad farewell to Summer days. The leaves have spread their carpet on the ground, No more to murmur in the breezes gay. No more we hear the Summer bird's sweet song; No more, their song of gladness and of cheer. For, to the sunny South they now have flown, To escape Winter blasts so cold and drear. But soon the snow will cover, all the earth, And air resound with Christmas joy and mirth. Ridgedale, Idaho RUTH BURTON PIERCE