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JOSEPH SMITH early VISIONS smithis EMUY

A

thesis

submitted to the faculty of the department of graduate studies in

religious instruction brigham P

young youn

university

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the deduc tion educ degree of master of religious education

fj al

by

paul

R

cheeswn

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BI F OF CONTENTS TABLE

page

CHAPTER

1 io I

introduction

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a

9

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1

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23

survey of the problem time lapse aspect secrecy aspect problem of secondary sources environment of joseph smith

religious doctrines taught

lle lie 11 IIs II

visitation

FATHER AND SON

gge josephs age

one personage or two

an explanation of some obscure statements summary

ili

111 III

MORONIIS MORONIS

visitation

0

0

9

0

0

0

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43

I s vis moronis visit moroni it 1

moroni

nephi issue

analysis of Moro moronis nils visit summary

IV

conclusion

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

introduction to the appendix

0

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conclusion environment importance of the story number of visitations claimed secondary accounts teachings of joseph smith testimonies of joseph smiths associates summary

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62







































pao page C e

appendices

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76

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appendix

A

1 anu script history joseph smithes original manuscript

77

appendix

B

grakt pearl of grafrb frakt price account

9 95

tp appendix pendix

C

orson

appendix

D

undated manuscript

1

1

prates pratts

publish account

112 126

letter

appendix E

wentworth

appendix F

Cow derys ts account cowderyts Cowdery oliver cowderys

138

appendix

G

orson hydes account

157

appendix

H

wi williann

appendix

1 I

comparative chart

SELECTED SEISC

references

0

0

0

133

smiths account

0

0

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0

9

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168

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172

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179







































CHAPTER

ONE

introduction survey of the problem

joseph smith snith prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of

latterday latter day saints stated that ceived a son

visitation

when he was

fourteen years old he had re-

from two members of the godhead

he was alone when he went

into the

the father and the

to pray and

woods

manifestatio station n of these personages the only witness to the manife

that

when he was seventeen

moroni

again he

was

he

also declared

years old he was visited by an angel

without witnesses

two experiences we must

therefore

was

rely

on a

for

a

single source

firsthand first hand

named

account of these

joseph smith

ali all

other

sources of the story of his visions of moroni and the father and son are secondary since they have been retold

after the authors

had hear

josephss josepht

story members

of the church of jesus christ of latterday latter day saints rely upon

fait ith h the story of joseph smith as a foundation of their fa

deta de tail ilss left

by

joseph himsel himself hinselfp however are only sketchy in nature making a historical .9 .9 9

alysis of theerents rents highly the theeevents

other writers

who knew

also sometimes present and problems

difficult

further problems arise

joseph smith not only some

fill

conflicting details

when

an-

accounts by

in a few missing details detailsp but A

survey of these sources

together with an analysis of joseph smiths several efforts

to re tell the story would retell determining in deter

be

what consistent

cormons alike mormons imormons Mormons and non mormons helpful to cormons

thready threadst might run through

pin pointing what historical problems as well as pinpointing

may

still

all

the stories

remain in







































2

correlating various accounts

all

doubt

this thesis is not an effort to prove beyond telling that joseph smith was tell lne the truth for this cannot be done ina ine teli teil tellina

by empirical methods

it is

simply an

effort to analyze as objectively

as possible the various sources and to suggest possible reasons for some

was

of the problems and conflicts

it

also

shows

that joseph smith

consistent in his recitation of the major aspects of his story over

the years

for the mornip mornia and morni

main

aspects of the visitations of the father and the son

the following narrative is in joseph smiths

owns words

as

it

appears in the original written account

after aher I1

1 had previously designed had retired into the place where I me having finding looked around myself alone 1I kneeled to and down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to god 1 I had sop scarcely done so soj when immediately I1 was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me and had such astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that 1 I could not speak thick darkness gathered around me and it seemed to me for a time as if I1 were doomed to sudden destruction but exerting all my powert to call upon god to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me and at the very moment when I1 was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction not to an imaginary ruin but to the power of word some actual being from the unseen world who had unclear words unclear znclear any being 1 had never before felt in anybeinge odis just at ioas power as I loas ofis marvelofis marvelous marvelods marvel lods such marve wore wort saw word 1 moment a bun fun funclear pillar of light unclear clear of great I this my brightness above of over head the sun which descended the exactly alay gradually grsdually ally until it fell upon me it no sooner appeared than I1 found gaually myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound when the light worx wojd nojd me 1I saw two personages 4whose whose brightfmideor rested upon &clear wor7 mclear

go

gau giu

ness and glory defy all description standing above me in the air call1mg me by name and said pointing to the one of them spake unto me calling other this is my beloved son hear him 911 my object in going to therefore join joiu inquire of the lord was to know which to jorl joil no sooner boiu did 1I get possession of myself so as to be able to speak than I1 febove hbove me in the light which of all the personages es who stood above asked the persona sects was right for at this time it had never entered into my heart

ird

wrongf join I1 was answered that 1I wrong and which 1 I could joins that all were wrongs parsonage who must join none of them for they were all wrong and the personage addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight that their professors were all corrupt that they draw near to me with their lips but their hearts are far from me they teach for

men nen having a form of godliness but they mena of menp doctrines the commandments tj deny the power thereof fl he again forbade me to join with any of them

this







































3

en the evening of the above mentioned twenty first of september n3399 ht I1 betook myself to prayer after 1I had retired to my bed for the night and supplication to almighty god for forgiveness of all my sins and gid follies and also for a manifestation to me that 1I night now might khow k know how fit my nor I1 had fully confidence in obtaining state and standing before ain him ahn ror kor a devine sic manifestation as I1 had previously had one 14hile ivhile I1 was thus in the act of calling upon god godp goda 1 I discovered a light appearing in the room which continued to increase untill sic the room was lighter than at noonday when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside standing in the air for his feet did not touch the floor he had hd on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness it was a whiteness beyond any earthly I1 had ever seenp seen seena nor do I1 believe that any earthly appear made thing could be so exceedingly white and brilliant to his so also hands were naked and his arms also a little above the wrist were his feet naked as were his leggs a little above the angies angles aankles es his 1 were head and neck also bare I could discover that he had no oth other er col on 1 clothing open was so as robe ciothul clo but could see thui into his this that I it bosom not only was his robe exceedingly white but his whole person was glorious beyohd beyofad beyond description uld his countenance truly like nid aid was room exceedingly idght but no so very bright as lightning the ly idlght exceeding immediately around his person when I1 first looked upon him I1 was afraid but the fear soon left me he called me by name and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of god to me and .9 .9 9

that his

name was

moroni1 moronic Moroni

1

aaspect sipect timelsbse abse sipert

teme

one of the problems

time is the tine

14apse between lbapse

in connection with the storys authenticity the events and the written accounts

first vision took place in 1820 of his visions was first published in the

smith reported that the

journal story

the churchs official publication march

this story

was

i shed was publ published

and

is

known

dictated

just

may ap epy 2 2p

two weeks

1

80 858

15p 1842 15

A much

letter

some

1840 9 and .9 .9

appendix

dictate

will

it is

be

treated in the

seasonssp times and Season

the narration

showup showsp shows

ap 2p 2 1842

in the

same

paper

accounts authored by those

other than joseph smith were published prior to

to

joseph smiths

shorter account by joseph

lyp march previously previous

Vl as the entworth wentworth

As

joseph

body of the

1842 p

thesis

although not prior and

listed in the

also notable that joseph smith evidently attempted to

an account of these experiences as early as approximately 1833









































4

this D

was never

corrected

completed

it is

or published

found in appendix

of this thesis john ao A wid Mid stoe widstoe uld

a biographer of joseph smith and an apostle of the

church of jesus

christ of latterday latter day sints saints garding the timelapse time lapse problem

made

wina wlna the following follo wima

comment

re-

wes not published by the prophet in printed was this first vision mas until after the prophet began his history in 1838 the conclusion has been offered that the whole story is a fabrication that tint fiat flat

because form

1842 182

it

did not occur P that it was invented to bolster up the pro p hets prophet bets claims to revelation reveiationo it is much the same as to say that the doings revel gospels ls recou recounting nting them were not writof jesus are fiction because the gospe jesus or that abraham lincoln was not a ten until after the de jesusa deat ath h of jesusp sputter because the story of his youth was not printed until he railsplitter rali splitter rall rail was a mature man dictum2 dictum 2 it is a new and astonishing historical dictums

secrecy aspect pokable poaable posible reasons

josephas why josephts joseph ts

story

was

until eighteen years after its occurrence years later require attention only possible ing are mily mains

it is

ronn rom not put into written fonn

and then not published

recognized however

though logical

explanations explanationso

preparing peepari ng prepari 1 I

some

of them for publication as early

ments which came from mand mandments

tions and

it is

the press in

1833

1831

still

happened

reeven

the book of com-

contained many of these revela-

a question for speculation whether or not joseph smith

apparently intended to publish the account which he apparent

that year

that the follow-

the fact

that joseph smith recorded other revelations as they

until four

began to

dictate about









































5

semi annual conference of the at kt the semiannual

kest missouri october far west

thee cl th cler erk k of the conference paraphrased joseph smiths remarks

1831 131

25. 2 25

church at

it

an

tell

was not intended to thu world ari all ail coming forth of the book of mormon and also hgs4 pedient for him to relate these taj fags tbj thifags thihags thl As ks a

the particulars of the it was not ex-

part of the dictated history of the beginning of the church joseph .1 .1 1

also stated

in the

meantime we were forced to keep secret the circumstances of hairing received the priesthood and our having been baptized owing fairing haftng to a spirit of persecution which had already manifested itself in the neighborhood5 neighborhoods neighborhood 5 c

catlon cation li

by iimplication lication libation

this

might also include other

spiritual manifestations

bv his mother includes her the history of jsseph smith written by

story of the vision precisely as son sons account

ming following is the foilb accordinglv accordingly according lv by

he recorded

comment concerning

it

at the

end of ac

the importance of secrecy

sunset the nezu next day we were all seated and joseph commenced telling us the great and glorious things which god wob to mob not bot had manifested to him but before proceeding he charged us mot was say us he out to which as about to of the family that mention vdlcked acked that when they came to a knowledge of these the world was so ached things they would try to take our lives and that when we should obtain hence names would ld be cast as evil by all people bames piates our aames the plates banes wou until the necessity of suppressing these things as much as possible pogsiblej 0 the time should come for them to go forth to the world 0

counseej pertain to experiences other than the visicours these things of course

tation of the father

and

smiths smith the son but they illustrate joseph smithts

apparent conviction that personal spiritual experiences should be kept

this

possible explanation for his









































6

appearance of the an fn ther and the son father

it is he

possible that joseph smith kept this vision a secret because

felt that

communications of this nature were

not to be made public at tobe june

18420 15 150 1842

on

first

to

be

treated as sacred

this thought is reflected in

the subject of the holy ghost in which the

an

and

article dated

mormon

prophet

mans discussed his ideas on gods methods of communication between god and man nan

the manifestations of the gift of the holy ghost the ministering of angels or the development of the power majesty or glory of god were very seldom manifested publicly and that generally when angels have come or god has revealed himself him self it haw haa has been to individuals in private or their chamber in the wilderness or fields and that generally without noise or tumult the angel delivered peter out of prison in the dead of night came to paul unobserved by the rest of the crew appeared to mary and elizabeth without the knowledge of others spoke to john the kihen elisha saw nhen baptist whilst the people around were ignorant of it when the chariots of israel and the horsemen thereof it was unknown to others when the lord appeared to abraham it was ivas at his tent door when the case knew person no went them but himself which was the ccase to angels lot moses probably with abraham and his wife when the lord appeared to it was in the burning bush in the tabernacle or in the mountain top elijah was taken in a chariot of fire it was unobserved by the world bras loud thunder but the rock there vias and when he was in a cleft of a rocka rock2 the lord was lord was not in the thunder there was an earthquake but bhe volce which was voice not in the earthquake and then there was a still small voicep voiced ifwhat doest thou heer heqrp elijah heqr jah the lord eiljah the voice of the lord saying what cannot always be known by the thunder of his voice by the display of his glory or by the manifestation of his power and those are the least prepared to meet them and were the lord to manifest his power as he ters would be the first to say characters charadters did to the children of israel such charad 7 anyromre lest we his people die 117 fflet filet let not the lord speak anymmrep

there are also

some who

interpret certain biblical passages to suggest

the importance of secrecy about

some

things

to you

it is

given to know

disciples









































7

after eighteen years joseph secrecy had passed on

the visitations

no

effort I1

it is

felt that the

smith apparently

was made from

conceivable

the visions were never intended to be

that time forth to

toop that too

made

some

need for keep

silent ilent

S

of the details of

public and remained secret secretp secreta

known

only to joseph problem of secondary sources

an interesting note found in joseph smiths dictated writings under

date of may 30 1838 states

the

dency presidency first pesl Pesi

were engaged

in writing

the church history and in recitation of grammar lessons which recitations

at this period

it

were usually attended each morning before writing

ijith appears that men other than joseph smith had something to do ath 1th iw T

V

with writing the history of the church dency and the clerk having written known

1110

the counselors in the

first presi-

part of the church history and having

visions the story of the visionsp visionsp would be in a position to correct any error

that might

have crept

joseph smith at 1837 1841 18371841

into the record

time this tine

the

men who

were sidney rigdon

the clerk was george

W

served as counselors to

1833 1844 18331844

robinson

1838 1840 18381840

and hyrum smith

there is

no

evidence to indicate that these men varied from the story as published by nephi moroni problem which joseph smith except in the case of the nephimoroni

is treated

in chapter 111 III lii of this thesis

josephs account

was

dictated to his scribe

on may 2

1838

after









































8 me

about

the it zhe

till visioqp7 visions 1111

As may be expected some

in the case of all retold stories there are

discrepancies in the various narrations

interesting since

some

these secondary sources are

of them contain details which joseph smith

did not incorporate into his

own

that these details are either 0

1

must be assumed

additional facts that joseph told orally

but did not incorporate into his written account by the authors which were

it

written account

embe sements or 2 embellishments shments

original with the them m and not necessarily what

joseph related

skeptics have tried to sonages

who

show

that the

appeared were not made bade clear in the reports and accused joseph

and his family and friends of

fabricating the story

various detailed ad-

ditions in the secondary sources have been classified changes

some

by some

accounts have been described as confusing

joseph claim that josephs imagination

of the per-

names and number

many

writers

dxperience experience was a result of environment and his youthful

accusations of fraud based acusations

dreams dreans and pure

as intentional

on hypnosis

prevarications havehbeen hurled at

hallucinations him

on the other hand

joseph smith never seemed to have changed the essential elements of his

story during his lifetime and

was

martyrs called upon to die a martyr

death to

seal his witness the contr contributio ibutio

j

veny veny very valu ven tealuable taluablee ablee ver talu verj of these secondary accounts are very











































9

sources add much valuable detail

IN

for the believer they

make

the story

more complete

in attempt will smiths story pointed ointed hinted P

be made

in this thesis to prove or dispr disprove ove joseph

an analysis will be made of the visions and

out that the

ry jyjgry

it

will

ddgtvay in telling

source 9 joseph smith sid eld not va eid

his account and died without refuting or denying the association heavenly messengers

As

be

he had with

to the secondary accounts the analysis will ex-

tend to comparing the retold fetonies fetories btories stories tories with the primary source pointing out torles sements embellishments shments and additions the differences differencesp apparent embe

to determine

if the story is

this

should help

supported by adequate testimony

enviornment of joseph smith members

of the church of jesus christ of latterday latter day saints interpret

the following words of joel as pertaining to the environment of this day and age when he maids saids said sald

your old

shall see visions

and 1I

men

will

shall

dream dreams

shew wonders

your young men

in the heavens

and

in the











































10

although less than fifteen percent of the population actually belohged belonged to any church

the religious atmosphere became exciting and

cus cussions sions resulted

in the flaring of tempers

and even more

some

of the dis-

violent outbursts

in the words of joseph smiths smith

in the second year after our removal to manchester there was place vie livedp where we lived livedo an unusual excitement on the subject of in the religion it commenced with the methodists Methodistsp but soon became general among all the sects in that region indeed 0 the whole district of our country seemed affected by ltv great multitudes united themselves it and esp which created no small stir and dito the different religious parties vision amongst the people some crying 10lo here and others 10 lo some were contending for the methodist faith there falth some for the sometime

vre

.0 .0

partl parti

for the baptist for notwithstanding the great love which the converts to these different faiths expressed at the time of their conversion and the great zeal manifested by the respective clergy who were active in getting up and promoting this extraordinary scene of religious elous sious rious feeling neil alous nell relisious reli edp as they were pleased to call it converted in order to have everybody convert ghen when en the converts began to them join what sect they pleased yet wh let then yet when join they pleased what sect the converts began to let them therp it was seen that another off some to one party and some to ano offa file offp good feelings of both the priests and the converts were goodfeelings the seemingly tood pretended pretendedthan confusion and bad feelings more nore moreretgnded than real for a scene of great confusioh mr torr prtests rem dffd bhe eboth priests tboth the converts were more pretended than ren bot the ppretests real for riests anfltthe priest contending a scene of great confusion and bad feelihgensued against convert that all their good against priest and convert presbyterian and p

some











































nI

1 I 1

were other

portions of the northeast

gustive larson a prominent

mormon

1 14

an observes in his rehistorian historic

cording of mormon beginnings that competition between religious denominations

resulted in

country sides countrysides

numerous camp meet meetings 3mg s

which drew thousands from the

attended out of curiosity but

some

many came

charged with

excitement expecting divine manifestations 15 lowry nelson

boci sociologist soci ologist and historian describes the purpose of

these reivials reivials the essential idea in these revivals was the millennium and the second coming along with the restoration of pentecostal manifestations emotional instability literal acceptance of the bible as revelation renewed interest in the prophecies of the old and new testement testaments Testamentsp new york and chios ohio in which characterized the peoples of the sections of ohios 16 years mormonism had its formative

it good

should be noted that these revivals at times resulted in some many

excellent

guished them through verp became howe verj however

men have

life to

traced their sincere piety which distinsuch an origin

many

revival enthusiasts

affected only during the life of the current meetings and











































12

right willard bean a historian york

tried to gain

people living at

an

who

lived

many

years in

new vern lew

insight into the environmental conditions of the

this time

he wrote

the revival started the latter part of april before the rural people could get onto their land to begin spring plo wingo which gave the kingo plowing pio farmers a chance to attend the mee nee meeting tinga even business and professional men neglected their work and all but shut up shop by the first of may the revival was well under way with scores of people confessing religion and each new convert becoming a selfappointed self appointed missionary to neigh neighbors born the prevailing question among people of solicit friend and neighborn savedg ifwhat shall 1 was what the neighborhood waso saved I do to be savedn may during the second week in the revival began to show signs of up and the many converts were solicited by the different breaking upo preachers to join their respective churches this caused considerable rivalry and contention among the ministers so warm did this contention become that harsh accusations were hurled by certain of their numbers tiat one of the methodist ministers took his tint it was during this stage that text from the first chapter of james fifth and sixth verses which reads as follows if any of you lack wisdom let him ask of god that upbraidetiti et 2 not and it shall be given upbraider giveth to all men liberally and upbraid upbraidet vering unto him but let him ask in faith nothing waivering wai waitering the minister made a special appeal to those who were yet undecided those who could nisrfc abt lup lap tip their minds and were procrastinating the day of the renbt make trp pentance pen tance it was rather effective and found ready response with a young he felt more convlas vias 0 lad named joseph smith jr who was rias present











































13

and earnestly nkind and many

revolution

the people became excited over the sinful condition of maof their souls yearned for religious satisfaction

to

seemed

be

in the air

A

recent

work

A

religious

I states in american history

the following mens minds had become unsettled visions of a come down dowg dawg upon udon them terors 197

derors

tradition

had

new moral world had

lost its hold

and

transition its

I s mother recorded in her writings that the smith family joseph smiths smith 1

for

many

generations back had had independent natures which led them

nstantly to seek

truth

joseph smiths paternal grandfather asael smith

topsfield tapsfield of Tops field massachusetts was very liberal in his views

asael could

not reconcile the conflicting creeds of the sects with scripture

to his family

was

co-

to search the scriptures and consult

his advice

soha sofa sound rea reasofa reasoh reasch

cey despite cep joseph smiths mother likewise maint independen maintained ained her independence

the efforts of the ministers

she refused to acknowledge any

spiritual

authority greater than the scripture and her private convictions

she also













































14

for our souas soul bouas Is salvation she prevailed on us to attend the meetings and almost the whole family became interested inthe meeting matter matler malter in the natter natler and seekers after tmrhh tmzfah extraordinary this excitement prevailed not only in our neighbor neighborhood oodp oodo but throughout the whole country great 2 numbers were converted

it is difficult joseph smith it is were made

to determine the

amount of

quite obvious from his

own

according to his mother nother joseph was

influence

and mature beyond

his years

he was

was he vaas aas ras iras i

much

less inclined to the

he was vias bias more

inclined

notjo rbidp but rahter cheerful botjo notjrorbid 1

neither terrified

revivalists into an acceptance of their

had on

story that deep impressions

reading of books than any of the other children fetudy towards meditation and deep study ttudy

all this

dogmas nor

by

the threats of

driven by their divi eions divisions













































15

these environmental influences must have had their affect upon youn young youne joseph smith in his impressionable years

religious doctrines taught in the religious excitement of the age punded funded

As

george

S

tanner tamer points out

many

some

doctrines were ex

religious issues later

developed into mormon theology were major points of discussion

among

re-

ligious leaders among mormon ideas which had their counterparts in other religious movements was the desire to restore the ancient organization and practices

of the church of christ even roger wi williamss had recognized the need and d ha had d stated that until god set them there would not of apostles an be the authority of god upon the earth the separate baptists in the













































16

additional scripture scri jure bibie organization of the church bible biblel fure other than the bibiel cept of zion

gospel taught prior to christ were

con-

all singular features

of the doctrine of joseph smith

the elaboration and clarification that joseph smith doctrines then expounded couldp could of course pared but that

is not the

purpose of

summarise by suggesting that to summarise summarist

deal of revelation from god to search for truth and

be

listed

this treatise

mormons acknowledge man comes

made on

all

the

documented

and com-

it

sufficient

would be

the idea that a great reat

mans majs in response to nans kajs mais nais needs and his

majrs since factors in the environment influence maars mants needs manf

interests certainly revelatioh revelation

come would ccmep cone

in

many

instances instanceso as a re-













































17

orson pratt

a convert to the church and one

who knew

joseph smith

intimately describes jgsephs josephs j8sephs situation situationo0 sliu what were the circumstances that enabled him to have manifestations he was very anxious from heaven at that early period of his life as most of mankind are to be saved and he was also very anxious ardrdous to po how on was understand to be saved but at a loss he did this point int he ranner boy he was not understand the way to be saved he was a fanner farmers farmer not brought up and educated in high schools academies or colleges he I 27 boy27 was merely a poor farmer s boy farmers J

CD

farner 1

under

all

of these environmental influences joseph records that

was he wes hes moved to go into the woods to pray for an answer to his

problems by god

religious

en whether natural or created fironments certainly joseph smiths environment became an important

influence in establishing the

mormon

faith













































18

the dispensation of the meridian of time

earth

waas was

characterized

instructing in person

by many examples of

when

christ

the

was upon

inspiring

the lord speaking

his birth and that of his cousin john the

ba-

ptist ristp were prefaced by visitations from heavenly messengers tistp As

they review

all

of the communications that have been recorded

between god and man in the existing

that the experience

histories there are

tion

state

which joseph smith reported could be considered one

of the greatest and most outstanding scriptural stories us examine the

some who

siutiatoh to see

if there is

any

known

to

man

let

credibility to hhis chis asserthis















































19

confirmed ih most details in each gospel was

the savior of the world

baptized in ln the water the voice of the father das vas eus kus heard and a symbol

dovep the dove dovea gave representation of the holy ghost

of the godhead were represented

leled in scriptural history

this event

was traas

cl

aall i re e members since threemembers sinceall ali three ail

also unique and unparal-















































20

the savior to

some

of the ancient inhabitants of the american continent

ent of promises in fulfi fulfirbnent fulci

land of bountiful

three times twice behold

fl flbehold

my

christ appeared to the npehites in the

made

just prior to jesus1 jesusa jesus appearance pas i jas it jes

beloved son

ges gas

a

voice was heard

unintelligible the third trune time tine

in

I

arn whom 1 am ard

well pleased in

it

was

I

whom 1

distinct

have

glori-















































21 2

11

enemy which

kihen jhen held me bound llihen ihen the light rested upon me I 1 saw two perso personages nages pOrso whose brightness and glory defy all description standing above me in the air one of them spake unto me calling me by name nane naine and said saidp sald 46 saida pointing to the other hime 1146 this is my beloved son hear him hin

following this

.9 .9 9

tions to joseph smith

the other personage jesus christ gave instrucjoseph claimed that this

was hnas

the

first

event in















































22

maintained that the knowledge obtained in the

portant Ynformation information

lord and that

it

man

became

first vision is

the most im-

has received from god since the resurredtjon resurredtion of the resurrection

the foundation of all the ordinances

and blessings of former ages which were subsequently restored

commandments

in this age

joseph account suggests that the certainty he had of the reality of the















































ewo wro CHAPTER TOD TW THE

josephs

age xge i2ge

1I

joseph

visitation

AMD THE SON OF THE FATHM FATHER AND

































































































































































































27

















































28











































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































59 1

ness

I

would have take themy them theny bhan ll rejoined then I1 had been in your plade

his father with

11

if

Irvi why irvilyp lyP

11

much

earnest-

you ivyon do not ivyou returned joseph in quite a subdued toner tone jou you say 1 iwhat get not could them I for the angel of the lord hat

know

would not

11

let

me

joseph then related the circumstance in full which gave us much uneasiness as we were afraid that he might utterly fail of obtaining on his part in the record through some neglect an 0

0

0

0

0

0

0

9

0

0

0

0

0

O 0

0

f

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

10

fioseph jioseph smitch smitjh7 smit2h smiled and said tjni have taken the presently he joseph severest chastisement that I1 have ever had in my life

husband supposing that it was from some of the neighbors quite angry and observed 1 I would like to know what business anybody has to find fault with youl you my

was

stop father said n said joseph it was the angel of the lord As 1 ane the angel are I passed by the hill of cumorah where the plates arel met me and said that I 1 had not been engaged enough in the work of the me come for the record to be brought f had ta lord that the time forth orth and that I1 must be up and doing and set myself about the things which god had commanded me to do but father give yourself no uneasiness concerning the reprimand which 1I have received for 1I now know the course tart viell the well thl t I1 am to pursue so all will be veil veli t1rt 1

11

it

to him at this interview that he should twenty second of make another effort to obtain the plates piates on the twentysecond following not he mention to us at that did september but this the was

also

made known

timejtt timea time0

it

josephs should be noted here that joseph

sbory tory than bory thedbory thesbory thed thes jory different aspect of the

bs that states stat staths

visits do

this

told joseph to

moroni had

and joseph had

we have

failed to

when he appeared

do so

tell

mother brings

from received yran fron joseph fran

moroni admonished him again to

in his day visit

also there is mrs

he could not

was published

a

she

his father of the night

we ibie ifie itle

story to verify verity this phase and because joseph story

to light a

substantiate

rrs only have mrs rrb was not

smiths

when her alive ihen

it

difference with respect to obtaining the plates

joseph expected to receive the plates when he smith implies that jsseph 32lucy smithp lucy mack smith snith

ope op

cit

j1 ja

pp ap

79 85 7985

100 101 100101

9







































60

went

to the hill

cumorah a year

after the first visit

is clear in stating that the angel told

account he

in josephs

him

the time for

receiving the plates would not be until four years from the time of the

first visit 33 although the point of difference is how w so some me aspects in a retold story is an example of ho re unlike the original tics which aare

it

not so important assume

characteris-

summary

in analyzing josephs account of moronis visit out problems 1

from the testimonies cited

2

an angel who

others the three witnesses

oliver

ates35 ces of d dates feren ferences

possible that

also testified that they

34 .134 134 identified as moroni 134

cowdery

3

saw

there exist dif-

ircumstances336 60 plus problems of proper recording and c circumstances0 circumstances

nephi moroni issue seemed to be a clerical error substantiated the nephimoroni

by subsequent on occasion

ment made

5

confirm 1 several persons conf I rm that joseph stated

book

momon prophets besides moroni appeared of mormon

writings P

that other

further thought son

seems

u are not with with-

joseph story of mornoi was believed by his family and close as-

tes socia sociates

A 4

it

we

on

these experiences must also confirm the state-

in this thesis concerning the visitation of the father

end the and

bep lep lej iep that an experience such as joseph claims can be verified

ie

only by a human

spiritual experience

on

the part of the investigator

error existing in the mistakes of memory and

a

with kith ith VJ

natural tendency

bestp isp at best besta a confirmation of only the to embellish the retold story asp is 33see appendix

A

16

p

34 34messenger messenger and advocate Advocatep 35

see appendix

D dp

36lucy lucy mack smith

pp ap op

VI letter up

1835

po 112

4 455

city

pp ap

101 1001010 1010 100 loo lois loi 85s 100101 79 85 7985







































61

oints of a story basic ppoints eints

The mesic basic oint tesic ppoint thebasic thetesic

v

of josephs story

ft

is that the

hijn angel moroni appeared to fijn messa eri vered a message nessa gend nd gave him ac record slivered elivered eli eti messagend himttelivered

of a group of people joseoh

all

sources seem to have confirmed this point and

himself remained consistent in his referral quotations







































CHAPTER

FOUR

conclusion

introduction to the appendix apperidix appendix of this thesis the appeddix

first vision accounts

was

made up

visits of the angel

and of the

attention

is

of several accounts of the moroni

in selecting these

given to their authenticity the date of publi-

cation and the authors proximity proCUnity to the primary source prok

joseph smith

nu script history as dictated by joseph smith to manuscript first is the nuscript next is the story as it appears today in a clerk who wrote in longhand twpearl next exfc is erub peari qgreat price an accepted scripture of the church exic tre priceo trs pearl f great pricco

included

included the earliest account which appears to have been dictated by joseph to a scribe but never finished

sion which

vms was

next

is listed

opson orson

5

england published in Di wentworth Tent worth glando then the 1ientworth tentworth

prates

r

letter oliver

wil account cowdery s acco ryde s pamphlet and the story by william hydes unto orson hyde lan smith ian ull I1 iam uil I s brother prophets the prophet 1

the appendix ends with a comparative chart of the

most commonly used published accounts

appendix As

A

joseph dictated and the scribe wrote in longhand

words were not

clear and

some

several

typewritten form presented here an effort has been

made

to

show

etails and footnotes have been added to explain any additions notes that appeared

this thesis

on

in the

handwritten corrections appeared

the manuscript

d-

changes 2 or

only those notes that pertain to

were analyzed and considered 62

these







































63 Kp appendix pendix

B

the pearl of great price version of this story is perhaps the one

it

Iilch which with w lich members of the church are most familiar 1

changes from the

original

contains certain

document which changes were made by the

presidency for the sake of clarification

some

first

of these are shown in the

comparative chart of appendix 1I

appendix

C

orson ppatt opatt pratt published a pamphlet in 1840 which became the

separately published account of the

first vision

it

it

the first published account

was

appendix

account of the

is

placed next in the appendix

D

which appears to be the

earliest written

first vision there is certain additional

not diredtly directly related to the thesis

information given

is nevertheless historically

but

in this particular narrative josephs scribe wrote

important

and then wrote over

it

to the writer

and others

it

down a number

looks like a

first vision in his

cating the year in which joseph had the As he

because

D

in discussing appendix

which

was

and

first moronis visit

16

indi-

16th year

writes briefly of the vision he does not mention the father as being

present

however

this

does not indicate

of the appearance of the angel moroni

that

he was not

is given as the

this date of course could or could not

1822

be an

present

the date

september 22nd day of Sept emberl

error since the

vision is later recorded as lasting from the evening of the 21st day of sepmorning of the 22nd

and again

in the afternoon of the

tember

until the

22nd

the year does disagree with the account written by joseph smith at a

later date joseph also related in

this early

account that the lord appeared to









































64 appec appeared lred to oliver cowdery with appelaalred ilith instructions and a vision

another smithy snithy smith snith

new

item of history revealed by this document

at 4t thc that is jhc

samuel

josephs younger brother iras mas was iras used as an assistant in the translaimas

tion of the

book of mormon

adcount this account

was never

published or referred to by any of the au

thiD lAties thidlaties thidrities latles of the church as far as the writer has been able to determine

from the lack of recognition and importance given

evident that ished

it

ca ca was a

draft which

was

it

docioment docioment document docement cEment this do

seems

started but never corrected or fin-

instead of gong back over and revising joseph smith evidently

dictated the story later as

we

have

it

in appendix

A

appendix E

this account is of the origin every ever

is

commonly

given in the beginning pages of appendix

this account also contained

church of jesus

what

is

published account of the

appendix

to the

itself

how-

members of

the

wgntworth the wintworth tntworth Tnt antworth int worth

first vision

letter

became

11

a

the

from joseph smith

F

this is oliver more

known

explanation

ith christ of latterday latter day saints as the articles of fa falth faith

statement of thriteen doctrinal beliefs

first

letter

ientworth worth called the vint lint

cowderyls ls version of moronis cowdery moronic

detailed than any of the other accounts

olivers writing this particular story is

visitation

and

is

much

that joseph approved of

shown by

hiss of hi offer fer of assistance









































65

apostle and a close associate of jpseph he should have heard the story

directly

josephas from josephts joseph ts

lips

is highly it ishighly

possible that he would have had

a copy of the times and seasons account of the uentwroth 11rentwroth wentwroth

history that

was bras

in the

same

letter

or the

ath ith

publication

on march 15th 1th of 1842

published his account to be used as a missionary tool

among

orson hyde

the german peo-

ple appendix

H

jm smithp smith william snith brother to joseph Millia

years of age and has con confus fused ed

some

wrote his story when he was 72

of the details of the account

but some

of his contri contributions butions are nevertheless valuable kp appendix pendix 1I

this final sources of the

appendix gives us a comparison of the five most

first vision

tions there are errors or printer

As

these

is the

case in most

may be on

utilized

if not all

ca piabli publica-

the part of the writer published

chan gese or they may be intentional changes

in the chart the writer

soon of the differences which appear in these publications canions scon lons ions cations merely points out son pull cat SOB scob

those

who made

these changes did not explain their reason

conclusion sonp and the account of soap the story of the visit of the father and the son

b6rmairopfeotbie throughout the the visit of moroni have caught the interest bermagyoptopike

attention









































6

the story

mmllie while uhlie

may ha have ve be been en

it is

agreed that the secondary sources add details that

rented in private

counts

the story must stand or

ter

integrity

and

and the

left

and

fall

on

out of

josephs published ac-

the absis abbis of joseph smiths charac 0

validity of the major claims

made by him

dr hugh nibley professor of history and religion at brigham young univebsity university compiled a series of articles

first vision throughly erst analyzing the antimormon ts significant claims writers1 writerst ersi criticism of josephs writers anti mormon writ Joseph publishedin published uiny these articles were publish in the improvement era periodically from Jjuly edin uly on

the

1

1

to

in his

november 1961

without exception the

fessing to follow

summary

dr nibley states chatin thatin every case

critic distorted joseph smiths

account

it

.1 .1 1

.9 .9 9

while pro4

in appraising the remarks of various people associated with joseph smith

it

is important that careful analysis

it

be made of

the meaning of

should be remembered that in presenting

certain frequently used

words

discouases discoubses discourses as these

did they did not use forms from which they read

men

guided by

their

sermons

their

weaknesses as finished speakers

critized

by

these

men were

their feelings

therefore

if their

remarks are to be

skeptics they should be read carefully and in context with

the particular topic of the sermon or publication which were accepted

true

and acknowledged

meaning of

in that time should

certain remarks

A

definition of words

dd be considered consider

case in point

in determining the

is the

ch which term ft angel whi









































67

as an angel

therefore Thereforep the use of any term such as angel cannot be defined

by using statements out of context

the reader must

know what

the writer of

speaker means by his use of the word

in regard to the issue of how again should use the primary source sources which substantiate the effoipt ten in an effort effott to

show

first

many

personages appeared and when

first

coupled with other reliable

the body of this work has been writ-

that the various accounts of the appearance of the

father and the son plus the visit of moroni and number

we

and others

agree in timep time tilep tine place

it

even though some accounts present certain inconsistencies

has hopefully been shown how these may have crept in

reconciled with the basic tenets of the story

and

that they

may be

joseph smithp smith snith at least

was

sttry stbry and only consistent in the retelling of the essential items of his sabry nor discrepancies are found in the narratives of his associa minor associates tes environment

certainly Certainlyp in

most

envivvnment plays envidonment situations situationsp the environment

part in the sequence of events lord

worked

it

seems

an important

in analyzing the consistency with

which the

pian in most instances to reveal his will to be his plan

nans nas mas being ready mas request along with the necessity of mans in response to mans

to receive this revealed word

the message which joseph smith claimed

was

given to him by jesus christ could not have been given to the people of the world unless the environment of their day had conditioned

their

minds to









































68

importance of story

that this story is true tween god and man allowsp allows

we

may be

greatest communication be-

and stands as the

disputed

have no other story

but as far as our present history

to equall this in all ulli aaspects lill ali ail C

the story

declares that god the eternal father and his son jesus christ appeared to a Q

young man

two personages of the godhead appeared

gether in their glory and both spoke messages

telling that

even some writings

wer seen totogether wero werb

to the believ believer er there are

such a specific experience was forg forte fortetold foretold told forttold fort

in

2

prophecfefes propheclis prophecy plus other prophe chis clis foretelling the restoration of the gospel in

the last days number

3Q

of visitations claimed

sfetory in 1838 joseph smith ddictated his sabry stbry

place between

1820 and 1836

and was seemingly was hias vias

all

trusting to his

he could do

were more than

had

memory

1838

but

chrity third year in his thrity being the only witness

in addition to the father the son

this there

and moroni

ten personages involved in the manifestations according to

joseph smith moses and

baptist

he was then

the events having taken

jah eiljah elijah

among the were prophets adlong

israelites

john the 0

the dig distinction dit tinction of introducing the christian dispensation and of

baptizing christ peter james and john were chosen to head that particular lowing christs allowing dispensations Ol christ

resurrection

moroni and nephi were great











































69

satisfy the curios curiosity ity of the recipient

joseph smith sneith declared that the snith

father and the son appeared to enlighten the world as to the being character and

a butes autes attr attributes altr

of god which knowledge had been lost 4 moroni and his asL

socia tes bridged the gap existing between the two continents and gave to sociates lff mormon pure scripture ure necessary to mans salthe world the book of Iff lormon additional scrippure scrip scri scriure

vation

the

mormon

leader also testified that this work was the beginning

of the dispensation of the fulness falness of time secondary accounts which h have been reproduced in the appendices confirm the accounts whic

first told

and enlarge upon the basic aspects of the story as

careful analytis of all sources quoted allowing for

smith

ror manifested in certain of the conflicts the testimonial evidence in sincere

coherent

john taylor expressed his feelings in

if god

shows

if the

this

by joseph human

er-

r4uslity of that the basic quality

and

consistent

way

angel of god has not appeared smith and if these things are not true of which we speak to0 joseph smithp 9

and

has not spoken











































70

joseph smith had no witnesses in the sacred grove yet have

testified that they

know

his story to be true

the

saw and

felt the

thous nds thousands ads

visit of moroni oroni 141

1

taht book of mormon were substantiated by witnesses the resultant atit result resuit resul tant

that they

many

who

and

testified

evidence

teachings of joseph smith As mormon

a result of these experiences

the teachings expounded by this

leader regarding mans salvation apparently revolutionized the re-

tjose ligious thinking of biose viose were new

who

many were answers

joined his

many

movement

to existing problems

of the doctrines

and questions

many

of

these problems developed from partlyknown partly known truths then in existence

most

mas of people associated with joseph never thought that this new doctrine was

his

own making

or

that

joseph seemed to be the when he

father

and

left the

he was capable of such

first to

himself hin invention of and by him selfo seife selfe

god acknowledge godts

annonnedd nedd woods and annon anno annoedd edd

that

he had a

sonp son describing their personages he the soap

until his

part and influence vision of the

was immediately besieged

at atre atte

of











































71

orson pratt pratta pratt3 another close compan companion on of joseph smith

testifies

that

god had again spoken from the heavens and that by holy doval from heaven he had again revealed the everlasting angels sent down fuljiess gospel in all its fulness falness and for forty years past we have declared ivie this to the world 1igie e have also testified that many of the servants of god have been ordained by holy angels and sent forth to publish these tidings among the inhabitants of the earth and that others have been by those who received their ordination from heavenly messenorda ordained qed ked f .9 .9 9

gers

in

1853

parley P pratt gave a discourse

communication catlon with the heavens cation tion comuni

the salvation of man

on

the doctrine of revela-

and the necessity of this contact in

he said

is it that first disturbed the

it

world or any part of or called og system people now giving towards to the the attention the rise was the ministration of angels to certain indi called mormonism vidualsj dualssj or in other words certain individuals in this age enjoyed open vidual vi viduals visuals

what

it

it

visions

patriarchs but where can we read under the government of the patr archs aichs moses or after him before christ before the flood or after it 5 before 0 we can where or after christ read in sacred history of a people of god by whom the doctrine of visions and ministering of angels would be diserroneous 8 carded or be considered erroneous8 edward stevenson was present on one occasion when joseph

told the











































72

almighty had organized the true church on the earth after the exact pattern of the organized by god through jesus christ eighteen hundred oy6anized 10 years before we have

recited testimonies of men

the story from his edward stevenson

own

the prophet and heard

in this conclusion let us quote further

now

not only

who

tions but describes

lips

who knew

testifies

from

concerning the heavenly manifesta-

so well the char character acter of joseph smith

he

stated

1 I am a

fioseph joseph pero nally heard this young prophet jioseph personally living witness that 1I peronally stoity testily in 1834 that jesusi words were true and that god had smit2h testify smitch tro re feo called upon him by heavenly vision tio reestablish this same order establish

although 1I was then only one year old in the church and felt as though we were highly honored by entertaining a prophet of god who had stood in the presence of god the father and jesus christo christ his only bewe gotten upon the earth and while heard him tell in his plain simple way about this open vision and also of the visit of moroni the angel or the spirit of god witnessed or to him 1I had a testimony of the truth f for ghost me cords and the holy sealed upon his truthful words 0

9

a

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

joseph smith 1 I have been with men of god joseph

mortal

life in

michigan

in missouri

and

0

&

0

0

0

0

0

jh hyrum smit smitj snit

in illinois

and

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

in the their ir to me it has

0

1 proved that to know them well has proven to love them dearly I have 1 have witdoings as sayings and much concerning I joseph of his written cousee with them I1 testify that I1 nessed them and in all my intercoursel intercousee inter coursel have not either been taught anything or heard them publicly teach any











































73

import inport to the church that orson

3

was

at least

one

W

1

instance where rejection of a vision

for an excommunication charles

pratt relates that as early as 133 83 3 there was bras one

of the reasons

13

panrose p one of the members of the

first

presidency of

the church has declared joseph F smith spoke

sixth president of the church in this dispensation

in the assembly hall july

8

1917

in salt lake delivering this

testimonial the greatest event that has ever occurred in the world since the resurrection of the son of god from the tomb and his ascension on high was the coming of the father and of the son to that boy joseph smith to not 6 the foundation of his kingdom prepare the way for the laying 66 the kingdom of man never more to cease nor be overturned having truthp accepted this trutha truth 1I find it easy to accept of every other truth that enunffi&ated and declared during his mission of fourteen years in the he enurubitated t1 he never taught a doctrine ta world that at was not true he never practiet ticed a doctrine that he was not commanded to practice he never adraas he saaw he heard he did as he he was baas not deceived vocated error god was commanded to do and therefore is responsible for the work not joseph smith the lord is responsiaccomplished by joseph amith smith lith ble for it and not man .9 .9 9













































74

place

joseph smith had no witnesses to the

first manifestations

although

as was pointed out in later ex experiences oeriences he did

the thesis has been rather detailed in quoting people

ally acquainted with joseph smith in the appendix the main

in using these sources

theme involved

is

who

were person-

and the accounts

whether joseph was consistent

in his story

if the

investigator will analyze all the sources quoted in their

contexts s and take into consideration the apparent intention of their authors context

it

would seem

that there

storye joseph smith story

would be no question as

t will

be noted

that

to the consistency of the

most of the statements and ac-













































75

confirming his claims

to the

man

history

a

himself

the authenticity of his subry s ubry must be traced back

without Ilith out witness illth

visitation of the father the integrity of this

both of them

test

during his lifetime he

timesp times tine ti ness

afte af terr beatings

his story

through

was

and abuses

it all

he made a claim unequalled

and the son and communication with mormon n

prophet seems to have stood the

persecuted to such an extent that he was

he remained

he received heavenly manifestations

heaped upon him

in all

yet his story remains

left for

dead

many

yet he never refuted

consisten cons istentt in his declaration that

criticism members

and

insults

have been

of the church of jesus

christ of latterday latter day saints bear testimony that they

have received a

spiritual

























































































77

APP APPENDIX ix A

joseph smiths smithts original manuscript history joseph smith realized the importance of record keeping he did

we

have a

series of seven volumes of church history the first six of

which were taken from his journals which were kept

lahb lahl

one of

josephs

scribes and those

because

many problems was

who were

until his death in

the unreliability of

some

of his

appointed to be historians in the early period













































78 76

general church recorder and clerk to the . under the date of april 22.227

1838

first

presidency

joseph smith recorded in his journal

this day 1I chiefly spent in writing a history of the date3 earliest period of its eexistence date 3 ds tence up to this dated dstence immediately following

2

this entry

church from the

under date of april 28

1838

was

v recorded the minutes of the high council which were attended by joseph

smith and sidney rigdon by george

M

the

first

presidency

pubbinson44 rmbinsons robinsons

josephas joseph ts journal continuing in josephts ap 1p 2 1

these minutes were signed

ap 4p 183816 3p 1838 3 and ap 4

we

date te of may find recorded under da















































79

history which the prophet kept which resulted in seven printed volumes

is called the

documentary history of the church

and















































80

owing

to the

many

reports which have been put in circulation

by

evil disposed

and designing ipersons persons in relation to the rise and progress jesus christ of ori of the church of latter day saints all of which have been de-

signed by the authors thereof to militate against

its

character as a















































81

the second year gafter ilanchester er there gfter our removal to msinchest yfter where we corm commenced nenced fenced

lived an unusual excitement

on

was

in the

the subject of religion

1

A

bace lace

it

lia ila

methodisty Metho dista but soon became with the methodista becane general among cail call cali all the ali ail

sects in that

wor2d fun unclear funclear wor7 of country indeed the whole district clear wore

of country seemed affected by

it

and

unclear fun funclear clear worz multitudes















































82

puggent deep and often pungent puggent

though 1I attended mit

but in process of time tilvlie tii tine

was

kept myself aloof from

all these parties

their several meetings as often as occasion

methodist sect and I1

great

still 1I

felt

my

some

mind became becane ie somewhat becar

desire to

be

would per-

partial to the

united with them but so

the confusion and strife amongst the different denominations















































62 83 da

erent sects understood the sme erent different diff same passagee of scripture sane passaly as to destroy

to the bible

0

all

so

differently erently diff brently

confidence in settling the question by an an appeal CL

carne kt came length 1I carre calne to the conclusion that 1 I must either p

remain in darkness and confusion or else

as james direct directssp that

is

ask of god

e

1 I

nun worjz 1I must go fun mclear wortz funclear 40 clear

at last

came

to the determina de 4 determine termina

















































61 84 04

















































85

































































































87

















































88











































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































199

which shall shail be given shali shan shau

oliver

cowdery

who

As you pass on

canandaiguap canandaigua

in the words of a gentleman by the has

name

of

spota spoto visited the spot

the mail road from palmyra

to

wayne county

little

ontaiao ontafto county new york before arriving at the

terp say from village of Manches manchester fram three to four frcm fourp foun fron foura or about four miles rap from palmyra Palmy raj you pass a large 1 I say

large is because

it is

hill

east side of the road

on the

as large perhaps

the north and rises quite suddenly until

why

as any in that country

it

with the more southerly extremity and 1I think 1I

level

assumes a may say

an elevation

cep higher than at the mouths south a short distance three fourths of cej say half or threefourths souths distan

ue a mile mlle

As you

surface assumes or ridges

its

common

endp end enda

rak&es raknes rles it rues

a promontory without timber southp south southa you soon come to toy loy by

art or

wind

so suddenly from a

even the

part klea cleared reds

justified in saying plain

on

am

certain

north the northp northa

the north bythe

from the

but covered with grass

plain forms

As you

.9 .9 9

pass to the

scattering timber the surface having been cleared

forest of the country

common

hills

he passed by

rising suddenly

and a short distance

with the

am

distance round and 1I

some

attract the notice of the traveller as which ha hass be been en described as

sm leha by other smal smallefa lefa smallela scallela allela

I1 think 1I

water courses and ravines watercourses

that its appearance as

lyp until the lessens gradually gradual

level or is broken

hial for the that this is highest hhi&l must

it

canandaiguap pass towards canandaigua

urther left you are surrounded

dT

it is

was only occupied

necessary to observe

that

ascentp ascent for pasturage its steep ascenti







































120 summer sumner sunner p sumer

but no so

grassy grassywhich grasst which how

was

much

as to prevent the surface being covered with

also the case

the record

was

first

found

car below the surface these records flmir ear bif anciently placed olt far wir bit

1 ain unable I am

to say but from the fact that they had been sone some fourteen

years buried 9 and hundred yearsburied .9 .9

is

when

ready to conclude

wearp rAturally wear naturally niturally raturally nitu

that too

on

the side of a

hill

so steep

ome one feet below as the earth sone that they were ssome

more or

lessp less lessa in that length of time

two

thirds perhaps

would

they being

but

placed toward the top of the hillp fillp the ground would not remove as hill

at

one

much

as

another circumstance would prevent a wearing

.9 .9 9

all probability as soon as timber had time to grow ffand fiand the roots of the same would hold the surface cove redt and coveredt the hill was coverett however on this point 1 I shall leave every man to draw his own conclusion of the earth in

p

speculation spectilation and form his own spect spectlation lation mas depth was meb wab dug web

at the

and

suffice to siffice

say

a hole of

sufficient

bottom of this was laid size laidaa laidala stone of suitable slee sizes

surface being the upper surrace of cement

but

11

into this

at

smooth

cement 0

.0 .0

each edge was placed a large quantity

at the four

atone edges of this btone

were

cementp cements at the placed erect four others their bottom edges resting in the cement

outer edges of the formed a box

first

shohe stohe

named

when

comers the corn cornerss erss or where the edges of the four

fearly were also cemented so fiarlyp fiarly from entering

the four last

it

is to

that the moisture

be observed

placed erect

came

in contact

from without1was without 1 was prevented

sur races of suf races sufraces also that the inner su fraces







































121

these three pillars were placed the record recordsollsell soll seli records

the records

flat on was

p

was covered with

ming JI ng and the upper crown crowning jing jing

and grass

lt

boxp boap box

containing

stone the bottom surface being another stoner ff

when

it

was

the morning of the 22nd of september

visible

anthis nthis this

first visited ila ita a

1823.9 18239 1823

by mr

smith

part of the crowning stone

above the surfacep edges es wer weree concealed by the surface whie whle surfacep while surfaced I1 the edg

from which circumstance

it

on

may beb ben seenp bee seen seena

that

soil

however deep

the box might have been placed at firsta firstp tine had been sufficient to first the time

it

wear th thee ea earth rthp so

that

yet s not enough to

make a

was eas aas easily 1 Ily

discovered

when once

directed and

perceivable differende passer by difference differ ende to the passerby

after arriving at the repository

a

little

baxp and a babp from the edges of the top of the box

exertion in removing the soil edg4d light pry brought the edgd edge

its

of the top of the box and a light pry brought to his natural vision contents

contemplating while viewing and contemplatingthis

astonighments wonder and astonighment astonishment

visited as

it

him

was

this sacred treasure with

beholds lordp lorap beholdl the angel of the lord beholdt

who had

previously

again stood in his presence and his soul was again enlightened

the evening before and he

was

filled with the

holy

spirit

and

weree ope opened ned and the glory of the lord the heavens wer ird shone round about and

rested upon lookt looft

him

while he thus stood gazing and admiring the angel said

spakes and as he thus spake

by his innumerable

darkness he beheld the prince of dankness

associatesv all this passed before train of associates

saidp bald if ali baid said all this is the heavenly messenger saida

shown showns

god and the the holy and impure the glory of gods

hereafter the

and

unc surrounc surrounded surro surround bunro burro

him

and

evil the good and the evilp evila

power of dankness darkness be influenced

that







































122 ways

are to destruction but the

you cannot

way

of holiness

is

peace and

at this time tine obtain this record for the

and if ever these is strict strict andif by prayer and

rest

commandment

of god

obta&ned sacred things are obtaimedp obtained they must be

faithfulness in obeying the lord

they are not desposited des posited

here for the sake of accumulating gain and wealth for the glory of

this

world they were sealed by the prayer of faith

knowledge which they contain menp men mena

only for

their

knowledge

on them onthem anthem then

it

was given

gospel of jesus christ whun

it

shall

they are of no worth

as

be brought

to the gentiles of whom .9 .9 9

forth many

is

and because of the

among

contained the fulness falness of the

to his poeple doeple

it

and

on

it

gods by the power of god

will receive

the chi childr ldren en of

this landd

shall be carried

after will the

of israel be brought into the fold of their redeemer by obeying those

who

at his

seed

it

also

landj kept the commandments of the lord on this land landa desired this

handj hand and through handa

if their

and

the prayer of faith obtained the promise that

descendants should transgress and

should be kept

and

in the last

days come

fall

away

that a record

to their children

these

so for the promise of the lord consoo things are sacred and must be kept soj

cerning them must be impure

fulfilled

N NO

man can

because they contain that which

sac sacrest sacredt sacred redt1 is sacred1

the lord ird work a great a marevllous work the become

obtain them

wisdom

his if hs

heart is

by them

will

of the wise shall

tn bwee of the prudent shall be hid and understn as nought and the understanding unders

because the power of god shall be displayed those

who

professsto profess sto

know

the







































123

of darkness that they cannot bring happiness that those come

who

are over-

therewith are miserable while on the other handj hand the righteous handa

are blessed with a place in the

there they rest beyond the power of the

theme thene surrounds them then

where no

evil

of god where joy unspeakable

kingdom

can

disturb them

of truth

enemy

shemp themp the glory of god crowns them then and they

continually feast upon his goodness and enjoy his smiless

beholdp behold notbeholds

withstanding you have seen this great dispaly of power power by whi which ch you

may

ever be able to detect the evil onepyet one yet 1 I give unto you another sign 9 and .9 .9

when

it

to pass pabs then

comes

purposespsp purposes fulfil his purpose

will

go

this is the sign

when

it

known

workers of iniquity hoods

that the

and

that

he

will

this record contains

knowledge which

when

but remember

these things begin to be

that the lord has

shown you

will seek your overthrow

to destroy your reputation

and

fulp ralth fuis faith raith this if you are faithful ruis

wolen woien when toien

these things the

they will ci rc te falsecirculate

and

shall hereafter continue to

shall

be preserved

tune things for tine he will give you a orth th fo forr in due time them take takethem ethem tak ethen

known

also will seek to take your life

lordp you lorap keep the commandments of the lord

ood to

god

esp and people under the kindred tongu to every nat nation kindredp and tongues ioni and kindreds loni

whole heaven

isj that is isa

and

that the lord is

know

to bring these

commandment

to

come

and

edp the lord will give the holy priesththey are interpreted interpret

some scmep bone and schep

proc ikin iain they shall begin to proclaim liin this gospel and baptized by

waterp walterp water and

thaap that they shall after thatp

the laying

on of

their

hands

have power

to give the holy ghost

by

then will persecution rage more and more









































Xt duf daf A

ew 124

te

u ings are prep prepare things s rc acad the ten tribes of prepacad alad 01 1 Iisr ol

coon coun countr north country tr

they ither the

I iwhither 1

is fulfilled fulfillcd will

t

gres slon egression gression sionn Jinn jacob

sarith th srith

v

b be

zi

ill

orm h e lo perform orn tthe 10 lii perr lorda iwill vri cked ari aked lind the wicked and

V

when he

it

go

all his

commancornim nd cornia

for the iwork ork iwhich

hc d in had sheill ln honor shall be ha shali shail

shall

be a

terror

t6niptoations and from temptations

i

all the arts

shali manifest unto thee thou mayest shail shall 1

of

hat the lord

us cormliendrient keeping his commandments

forget not to pray that thy mind

and obtain these precious things

because 0 ccl3use of

1

follow the coming rom foznthfl

way thy uay ircy remembering remeraberin

gent diligent zent in dili

oano ano lith and with

7

with lith these

V

be

L

11

and be

hc ns tlfaans

C use the rirditeous righteous to rejoice shali ccause shail shall

JT

now nov noi

and

U

it jonk shc wonk marv work vrhich i narv iaich marveubous marcellous marvellous ellous jork shali shail shall hich jhc ll

n 11 vali vail vall ll deliver thee

wicked one

one

t

U

onquerero you keep borne off conquerenifyou

b by hands bvv your hand

falness of the gospel this fulness

this

J

I en 1hen

il on the arn arm adm of the lord will destruction destructil destruct

to rage vlith race alith iith the lith

has done for theeb theec

r

notij fotij notwithstanding workers thstanding th theJ worker torker i standing

but

x

jhb yet thfe re thb other in reporach Y et porach

the great and

end mlci

C

your among the nations sit 11 be ieknovn sll knoon shail shell lour name shali noin anong

ment dments nent dments

evil

season seaon long shaon

p ss bhat oc o J saying to pass that saving of the prophet savine

the lord

ill

vail kull kuil

a

1

d M n the tile tlle

U

ali

and you

J or for

rill brctl ill bbretl

1 i

IT dint 0 the to zion and b f roa them tthat urnn from bur burn fro m fron nd unto ro1 eol

r- ur inqukity sseek inqmity shall ck your sh iii shali shail

eextended xt end e d at

1

be brought brouel brauel

ta t1 thee redeemer she 11 come

0 of f

C 6n ha c Cocen ceen

1

T

dtf

and he

and devices of the

may become becane

have power

that strong tho tha thott that

to escape the









































121k 12

hisa hands hi these records were engraved each plate

of gold

and length

piates which had the appearance plates

yar not f ar from seven by eight inches in width ar far

being not quite as thick as

common

volumep volume volumes

this

upon

much

ious instrument

was an

this

its

with

the characters or

was

instrument

the

construction as well

te records was

arim and called by the ancients the urim

nsisted of two transparent stones

it

sealed

antiquity in

skill in the art of engraving

bow

was

the unsealed part were ssmall saali and beautifully engraved

whole book exhibited many marks of

of a

filled

vo volumee was something near

six inches in thickness a part of which

as

they were

bookap as the leaves of a bookp book and fastened at one edge with three

rings running through the whole

letters

tin

engravingssp in egytpian character sides with engraving characterssp and bound together

on both

in a

was

on

thummimp Thummim mimp thummim min

stalp set in the crystal clear as cry

found naa curwhich

co-

two r rimss

times by persons called seers in use in ancient ttmesp by the use of whichpthey which they received whichthey

past or future 0 of things distant or ofthings things

0

9 0

e 0

revelation of









































126

APPENDIX D APFENDIX

undated manuscript

this account

was found

office salt lake city

in a journal ledger in the church historiants historians historian ts

the pages had been cut out but were matched

with edge of the journal to prove location

this

was done

in the

presence and with agreement of earl olsen and laub laufcitz laut ite peterson of itz historiants churda historians the churdh historian ts office

the

first

page of this ledger

identified

williams as the scr frederick G william scribe ibe and bore the date of 1833 quent pages in the journal contained copies of smithy hyrum smithy joseph smith william smith wi

sidney rigdon and john murdock 1829

the latest august 4 there

was not

is

phel ph elps ps re reyn ynol olds ds cahoon jared clark dank dark

the earliest letter

was

14p dated june 14

1835

the information provided in the above state-

was vad written near to suggest that this account vas

recorded in the

cowdery

date nor indication of scribe of the account of the

manuscript which follows ments seem

W

letters of oliver

subse-

first

person

this

would

1833

since

also suggest either that

it









































127 A

history of joseph smith jr jre an account of his

mar marvilous marcilous vilous experiences and of all the mighty acts which he doeth boeth in the name

of jesus christ the son of the living god of whom he beareth bearett record

and also an account of the

rise of the

church of christ in the

gaven g1ven ven

of

time according as the lord brought forth and established by his hand

firstly

he

receiving the testimony from

by

zuunclear worjd worx wore the nelear wor7 he law and

letter of the gospel 0

stering the ministering

Sn zunclear Zun snclear 7angels lun wor langels unclear angels to aadminister 7 andels clear word nister the

theministering of the ministering

were given unto him hin

nonea none&

.7 7 the holy priesthunclear word worl.7 fxnclear

of angels thirdly the reception of

ood

on high secondly

commandments

nun unclear fun funclear clear worz and the ordinances

as they

forthy

a

confirmation and reception of thehigh shehigh the high priesthood after the holy order

of the son of the living god power and ordinance from

on high

to preach

st the gospel in the aadministrations strations stratiots and demonstrations of the spirit the rations key of the kingdom of god conf conferee confered ered upon him and the continuation of the ered

blessings of god to

him ecco etco

s

e

.7 7 1 gorji 5unclear unclear worji word.7 I

was born

in the town

vercuont vemmnt north america on the twenty third day of sharon in the state of vemont

of december m me e

AD

1805

of goodly parents

who

spared no pains to instructing

in the christian religion at the age of about ten years

my

father









































128

soul which led

me

to searching the scriptures believing as I1

that they contained the

word of god

was baught taught

they applying myself to them and

intimate acquaintance with those of different denominations led

me

my

to

a marvel exceedingly for 1I discovered that they did not cadorn their prof

bession by a holy walk and godly conversatio fession conversation n agreea agreeable ble to what 1I found contained in that sacred depository this was a grief to from the age twelve years

to fifteen 1I pondered

many

my

souls thus

things in

my

heart

concerning the sittuations of the world of mankindd the contentions and divi-

sions the wickedness and and abominations and the darkness which pervaded

the minds of mankind

my

mind become indedingly incedingly inde dingly

becanie became becane distressed for 1I beganie

convicted of my sins and by searching the scriptures 1I found that mankind

did not

come

unto the lord but that they had apostatised from the

true and living faith and there

was no

society or denomination that

the gospel of jesus christ as recorded in the

built

upon

and 1I

felt to

mean

for

my own

new

testament

sins and for the sins of the

th6t god was the same yesterday world for 1I learned in the scriptures that ttet

to

day and forever

that

he was no

hae fhe fae respecter to persons for he

was god

for 1I looked upon the sun the glorious luminary of the earth and also the











































129

and bespeak an omnipotent potent and 0 nd omnipreasant power a being who maketh mabeth laws and de decreeth bendeth creeth and bindeth

eternity when 1 I iworship

who ijas was lias and

considered

is

all things in their

and

will

be from

all these things

him as worship him hin

and

in spirit

attitude of calling

upon the

my

seebeth that that being seeketh

me

and 1 I was

i

my

such to

I

whom 1

could go and to

cry in the wilderness and while in the

lord in the 16th year of my age a pillar come down from above

filled with the spirit of god

opened the heavens upon me and 1 I saw the

ing joseph

and

therefore 1I cired aired unto

and untruth intruth

of light above the brightness of the sun at noon day and rested upon

falleth filleth

all eternity to eternity

the lord for mercy for there was none else to obtain mercy and the lord hear

bounds who

and the lord

lord and he spake unto

son thy sins are forgiven thee

go

thy

SI statutes and keep my commandments behold 1I am the

way walk

say-

me

in

lord of glory 1I

my

was











































130

family have suffered many persecutions and afflictions and

it

came cane caine

to

pass when I1 was seventeen years of age 1I called again alain upon the lord and he showed unto

me

a heavenly vision for behold an angel of the lord came

and stood before me and he the

it

forgived forgived lord lrd ard had forgiven

was by

me my

night and he called

there

by name and

sins and he revealed unto that in

the town of manchester ontaior county upon which

me

ye n no No ye Y

there

was

plates of gold

was engravings which was engraved by moroni and

his father

1ivuxi9 god in ancient days and deposited by the the servant of the living ai ments mand mandments

com-

of god and kept by the power thereof and that 1I should go and

get them and he revealed unto

many

things concerning the inhabitants

commandments comand ments and revila of the earth which since have been revealed in comandments

lions and me

it

was on

the

22 day

of step

three times in one night and once

on

AD

1822 and

thus he appeared unto

nezu day and then 1 the next immdiate I juoabbdiate











































131

obtain the plates and obtained them not until age and

lived in

who AD

in thisyear this year I1

1827

on

was

man by

and gave and

me

harmony susquehanna susquehana county pennsylvania on

the 22nd day of sept of this

the

name

rrighteous this ndlghteous

we moved

of martin harris

deed the

his marvelous

city with

some sone

same

the 18th euh january 1

year 1I obtained the

susquehanna to susquehana

who became

uoito lord appeared unto u0to ulto

by

the assistance

convinced of the vision

him

in

work which he was about

to susquehanna andsaid and said sald the lord andraid

new york

years of

mye expenses and because of this faith bear myeexpenses

rs to fifty do dollars

showed unto him hin came

twty

twaaty one was awty

emma ruma runa hale daughter of isaach hale married to enma

plates and in december following of a

I1

had shown him

of the characters so

we

a

to

that

vision and do and immediately

he must go

proceeded to copy proceided

to

some

and d he took his journey to the eastern city and to the lea learne rned d of them an ng read say saying

this 1I pray thee

and the 1 learned earned said 1I cannot but

bring the plates they would read

it

but the lord had forbid orbid f

it

if he would and he











































132

palmra journey unto his friend to pa palera ra wayne county and state of new york and he brake the covenant which he made before the

suffered the writings to was chastened

for

my

fall into the me

them able to obtain themfor then for a season and

affliction of soul I1 obtained the

young man by

name

me

write for

late

it

by the power of god and iwas not came

work and what

to translate

and also

property and

my my

now my

brother samuel

the lord

was

humility

piates a platea the plates

was ayoutt aboutt about

t0

me

to trans-

smith but we had become reduced in

wives father was about to turn

me

do

come cane and desirous to cone

wife had written some for H

much

lord urd appeared unto a

showed unto him

his unworthy servant therefore he

me

pasw to pasv masv arter after basw

them againvwhen again when

of oliver cowdry and

and also the truth of the vision visionand visionand

through

hands of wicked men and martin

tune transgression for asking the lord the third time

wherefore the plates was taken from

and

lord and the lord

out of doors 1I had

not whereto go and 1I cried unto the lord and he would provide for

me











































133

APPENDIX APPMIX E

wentworth

letter

ng to joseph smith mr according accorda accarda

democrats requested him to write a of the chicago democrat sep nise sej rise ri

progress greaso persecution and faith of the pro

worth was to furnish a mr

ls summary to mr

went Vent worth as the wentworth

letter

summary

latterday latter day saints

which mr

wgntworbh has become wntworth antworth

it is

dated march

bastow was known

1 ap 1p 1842 j

letter

was

first

mr

went-

to publish

in church history

although there

come off the press until march aj 2j 2 cation that id did not cone

worth

history of the

bastow his fiiendj friend with a copy of this summary

nw hampshire to be used in a history of new smalt Stait joseph smiths

editor and proprietor

hohn wentworth

the went-

1842

published in church literature in number

is indi-

9

of volume













































134

1 I was born

in the

the 23d of december

palmy paian palay

D do 1805

new yorko york where we

we removed my

A

town of sharon sharonp sharone windsor county

to the

father

town

ten years old

when

ven vermont Vermonto on vermonto vermonte

my

parents removed to

hbout four years and from bbout resided bbott fron thence

of manchester

was a farmer and

taught

me

the art of husbandry

wolen woien when toien

about fourteen years of age 1I began to reelect importance of rellect upon the impartance rehect

being prepared for a future state states and upon enquiring the plan of salvafound that there round tion 1I foundthat went

to

one

was a

great clash in religious sentiment

society they refercd 6d ad refercd

me

to

plans one plan pian

and another

if I1

to another













































135

at the at

same saine

some sone

time tine receiving a promise that the fulness falness of the gospel should Is

future time be

made known unto me

on the evening of the 21 JL Do 1823 stepemberp penber As st of stepember 21st d do Stepember was praying unto god

and endeavoring

while 1I

to exercise faith in the precious

promises of scripture scriptuneo tureo on a sudden a light like that of day

far purer and

more

room roomi indeed the com suming consuming

body

in a

glorious appearance and brightness

first sight

fire the moment a

was

only of a

burst into the

as though the house was filled with

appearance produced a shock that affected khe the whole personage sbod ethod before sthod

me

surrounded with a glory













































136 13

unfolded the same saine things

after

having rede ived many received

from visits fran

he angels of god unfolding the majesty and glory of the events that the

should transpire in the abda AJD aada add

18270 1827

last

days

the morning of the 22d of september

the angel of the lord delivered the records into

engraven graven these records were en engraved

gold of golds

on

each

plate

quite so thick as

was

common

on

my

hands

plates which had the appearance

wide and eight inches long and not six inches wise

thin

they were

filled

with engravings

in

egyptian characters and bound together in a volumes volume as the leaves of a book with

three rings running through the whole

the volume

scme was acme som-













































137

about the time that the them

jersualem came from jersualemp

in the inheritance of oi the country

sedond redond race

fell in battle

remnant are the indians

tells

israelites

towards the close of the fourth century

that

he

succeeded

the principal nation of the

now

inhabit this country

us that our savior made his appearance upon

resurrections that his resurrection

who

this

book

the

also

this continent after

planted the gospel here in

ness fulness fui ful falness all its fulnesss

and

richness and power and blessing that they had apost lesp prophets pastors apostles teachers and evangelists the ordinances ordinancesp

gifts

powerss powers

same

order the same priesthood the orders

blessings and blessing

as

was enjoyed on

same

the eastern













































138

APPENDIX APPEMIX F Cowderys account oliver cowderys

oliver in

cowdery had

the distinction of being the

any medium the story of moronis appearance

intimately telp acquainted with the prophet than tely int spent day second

after

day with joseph when he was

first to

oliver

any of

visitors

cane caine

probably more

his associates associateso he

translating

elder of the churchy an anassistant assistant president and

heavenly

was

publish

becajne becrime he beccime

the

was with joseph when

including the angel moroni















































139

suppi ied suppl supplied led him with

some

details

2















































140 LETTER

111 III ili

in part MESSENGER AND ADVOCATE NESSENGER ADVOUTE

december

1834















































141 NESSIMIGER AND ADVOCATE MESSENGER

february you will mentp ment menta

in

1835

recollect that 1I mentioned the time alme of a religious excitetlme

palmyna and

vicinity to

have been

to the 15th year of our brother















































142

on the evening of the 21st of september

our

brothers

mind was unusually wrought up on

long agitated his mind whole soul was so

had

1823

ts lost its

his heart

previous to retiring to rest

the subject which had so

was drawn out

in fervent prayer and his

lost to every things of a temporal

ail ali all

natuvem natucem

that earths earth to















































143

brightness of the sun as 1I have before described yet there

seemed

to

be an 1

additional glory surrounding or accompanying this personage which shone with an increased degree of

brilliancy brillian cyp of which

his countenance

lightning yet

glorious

was as

it

he was

was of a

in the midst

and though

pleasing innocent and

















































144





































145









































































147





































148

























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































ccot17: AN ebi ebl

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