Chapter IV. The Prophet's first visit to the Hill Cumorah

He attempts to take the Records, but is prevented by the Angel. Moroni appears to him. Great vision of the Powers of Darkness and of Light. The Angel's Charge and Instruction. Description of Mount Cumorah.

INSTRUCTION — DESCRIPTION OF MOUNT CUMORAH.

The first visit of the youthful prophet to the hill Cumorah, where the angels of the Western Hemisphere guarded the records of their ancient nations, was a circumstance that well might awe the imagination of the reader. To Joseph, with his quickened spiritual sense, it was an actual visit to the solemn domain of the mighty dead, who, whether visible or invisible, he knew would meet him there.

Having been charged by his father to obey the heavenly messenger, Joseph left the field and wended his way to the hill Cumorah, where the angel awaited him. During his walk of from two to three miles, — the distance from his father's house to this spot around which such a volume of ancient history clusters, — it seemed, to use Joseph's own words, as though two invisible powers were striving to obtain the controlling influence over him.

The hour of temptation had come !

The one power sought to allure his mind with worldly ambitions and prospect of gain, through possession of the golden plates upon which was written the history of the ancient races of America; for very naturally he thought that the world would be astonished at the coming to light of so great a treasure, and by his instrumentality. The other power strove to bring his youthful mind to the integrity and comprehension of the mission opening before him, and to a realization that the sacred book could only be obtained for the glory of God and the special purposes of which the angel had spoken.

Thus contended the invisible powers, and such the conflicting state of Joseph's mind as he wended his way to the sacred hill.

Arriving at the spot where the records had been buried, ages before, by Moroni, he recognized it at the instant, " owing," he says, " to the distinctness of the vision which I had concerning it."

"On the west side of this hill Cumorah," he continues, " not far from the top, under a stone of considerable size, lay the plates, deposited in a stone box; this stone was thick and rounding in the middle on the upper side, and thinner towards the edges, so that the middle part of it was visible above the ground, but the edge all round was covered with earth. Having removed the earth and obtained a lever, which I fixed under the edge of the stone, with a little exertion I raised it up. I looked in, and there indeed did I behold the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate, as stated by the messenger. The box in which they

lay was formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement. In the bottom of the box were laid two stones crossways, and on these stones lay the plates and the other things with them."

The famous letters of Oliver Cowdery, on the rise of the church, give the most graphic and circumstantial account of Joseph's first visit to the hill Cumorah. From the point above given Mr. Cowdery says :

" On attempting to take possession of the record, a shock was produced upon his system, by an invisible power, which deprived him, in a measure, of his natural strength. He desisted, for an instant, and then made another attempt, but was more sensibly shocked than before. He made a third attempt, with increased exertion, when his strength failed him more than at either of the former times, and without premeditation he exclaimed, ' Why can I not obtain this book?' 'Because you have not kept the commandments of the Lord,' answered a voice, within a seeming short distance. He looked, and to his astonishment, there stood the angel who had previously given him the directions concerning this matter. * * * * At that instant he looked to the Lord in prayer, and as he prayed darkness began to disperse from his mind, and his soul was lit up as it was the evening before, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit; and again did the Lord manifest his condescension and mercy: the heavens were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone roundabout and rested upon him. While he thus stood gazing and admiring, the angel said/' Look !' and as he thus spoke he beheld the Prince of Darkness

, surrounded by his innumerable train of associates! As this passed before him the heavenly messenger said,' All this is shown, the good and the evil, the holy and the impure, the glory of God and the power of darkness, that you may know hereafter the two powers and never be influenced or overcome by that wicked one. * * * You now see why you could not obtain this record ; that the commandment was strict, and that if ever these sacred things are obtained, they must be by prayer and faithfulness in obeying the Lord. They are not deposited here for the sake of accumulating gain and wealth for the glory of this world : they were seaVjd by the prayer of faith and because of the Knowledge which they contain th v i re of no worth among the children of men, only for their knowledge. On them is contained the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as it was given to his people on this land. * * * They cannot be interpreted by the learning of this generation ; consequently they would be considered of no worth, except as precious metal. Therefore, remember, they are to be translated by the gift and power of God. By them will the Lord work a great and a marvelous work. * * * If you are faithful, and shall hereafter continue to keep the commandments of the Lord, you shall be preserved to bring these things forth; for in due time he will again give you a command to come and take them.'" i

Mount Cumorah, the scene of the above occurrence, is thus described by Mr. Cowdery:

"As you pass on the mail-road from Palmyra, Wayne Co., to Canandaigua, Ontario Co., N. Y.,

before arriving at the little village of Manchester, say from three to four miles from Palmyra, you pass a large hill on the east side of the road. Why I say large is because it is as large, perhaps, as any in that country. The north end rises quite suddenly until it assumes a level with the more southerly extremity, and I think I may say an elevation higher than at the south a short distance, say half'or threefourths of a mile. As you pass towards Canandaigua it lessens gradually until the surface assumes its common level, or is broken by other smaller hills or ridges, water courses and ravines. I think I am justified in saying that this is the highest hill for some distance round, and I am certain that its appearance, as it rises so suddenly from a plain on the north, must attract the notice of the traveler as he passes by.

" At about one mile westward rises another ridge of less height, running parallel with the former, leaving- a beautiful vale between. The soil is of the first quality for the country, and under a state of cultivation which gives a prospect at once imposing, when one reflects on the fact, that here between these hills, the entire power and national strength of both the Jaredites and Nephites perished.

" This hill, by the Jaredites was called Ramah ; by the Nephites, Cumorah. Around it pitched the famous army of Coriantumr their tents. Coriantumr was the last king of the Jaredites. The opposing army was in the west ; and in this same valley and near by, from day to day, did that mighty race spill their blood, in wrath contending,

as it were, brother against brother, and father against son. In this same spot, in full view from the top of this same hill, one may gaze with astonishment upon the ground which was twice covered with the dead and dying. Here may be seen where once sunk to naught the pride and strength of two mighty nations.

"The hill Cumorah, at the time of my visit presented a varied appearance. The north end rose suddenly from the plain, forming a promontory without timber, but covered with grass. As you pass to the south you soon come to scattered timber, the surface having been cleared by 'irt or by wind ; and at a short distance farther to the left, you are surrounded by the common forest of the country. It is necessary to observe that even the part cleared was only occupied by pasturage, its steep ascent and. narrow summit not admitting the plow of the husbandman with any degree of ease or profit. It was the second mentioned place where the record was found deposited, on the west side of the hill, not far from the top down its side ; and when I visited the place in 1830, there were several trees standing *. enough to cause a shade in Summer, but not so much as to prevent the surface being covered with grass — which was also the case when the record was found. * * * How far below the surface these records were placed by iMoroni I am unable to say ; but from the fact that they had been some fourteen hundred years buried, jand that too on the side of a hill so steep, one is ready to conclude that they were some feet below,

as the earth would naturally wear more or less in that time; but being placed toward the top of the hill, the ground would not remove as much as at two-thirds perhaps. * * * The manner in which the plates were deposited: first a hole of sufficient depth was dug ; at the bottom of this was laid a stone of sufficient size, the upper surface being smooth. At each edge was placed a large quantity of cement, and into this cement, at the four edges of the stone, were placed erect four others ; their bottom edges resting in the cement at the outer edees of the first stone. The four last named when placed eiect, formed a box; the corners, or where the edges came in contact, were also cemented so firmly that the moisture from without was prevented from entering. It is to be observed, also, that the inner surface of the four erect, or side, stones were smooth. This box was sufficiently large to admit a breastplate such as was used by the ancients. From the bottom of the box, or from the breastplate, arose three small pillars of the cement, and upon these three pillars were placed the records. This box was covered with another stone, the bottom surface being flat and the upper crowning. * * * * Whatever may be the feelings of men on the reflection of past acts, which have been performed on certain portions or spots of the earth, I know not : neither does it add to nor diminish from the reality of my subject. When Moses heard the voice of* God, at the foot of Mount Horeb, out of the burning bush, he was commanded to take his shoes off his feet, for the ground on which he stood was holy.

The same may be observed when Joshua beheld the Captain of the Lord's Host, by Jericho ; and I confess that my mind was filled with many reflections ; and though I did not then loose my shoes, yet with gratitude to God did I offer up the sacrifice of my heart."