Improvement Era, September 1927

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.