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Thomas Gregg
(1808-1892)
The Prophet of Palmyra
(NYC: J. B. Alden, 1890)
  • Title Page    Preface    Contents
  • Chapter 1  pp. 01-08
  • Chapter 2  pp. 09-24
  • Chapter 3  pp. 25-33
  • Chapter 4  pp. 34-44
  • Chapter 5  pp. 45-56
  • Chapter 6  pp. 57-62
  • Chapter 7  pp. 63-74
  • Chapter 8  pp. 75-84
  • Chapter 9  pp. 85-95


    •
    Chps.  10-21  |  Chps.  22-33  |  Chps.  34-45  |  Chps.  46-50 & Appendix  |  Comments

     





    T H E


    PROPHET  OF  PALMYRA


    M O R M O N I S M

    Reviewed and Examined in the Life, Character, and Career of its Founder,
    from "Cumorah Hill" to Carthage Jail and the Desert


    TOGETHER  WITH  A  COMPLETE

    HISTORY  OF  THE  MORMON  ERA

    In Illinois, and an Exhaustive Investigation of the "Spalding Manuscript"
    Theory of the Origin of the Book of Mormon.


    BY

    T H O M A S   G R E G G






    NEW  YORK
    JOHN  B.  ALDEN,  PUBLISHER
    1890







     


        J O S E P H   S M I T H.
     









    [ iv ]





    Copyright 1890,

    BY
    T H O M A S   G R E G G.




     




    [ v ]





    TO   THE   READER.



    MRS. PADDOCK, in the Preface to one of her remarkable portrayals of the inner life of Mormonism, has the following paragraph:

    "Surely, to-day, whoever inflicts an additional volume upon a long-suffering public, ought to be able to set up an unassailable plea in justification thereof.

    While this is true in a general sense, it is doubly so in its relation to that bond of people -- knaves and fanatics -- who, more than fifty years ago began a scheme of deception in New York, which, in its progress since, has caused so much misery and crime in many of the States, and now aims at insubordination and independence in Utah.

    Many books have been written on the subject of Mormonism; some of them honest, trustworthy, and valuable; others sensational and unreliable; and still more utterly unworthy. Yet, notwithstanding all this, the great Christian public in America and abroad remains to-day strangely indifferent to, and ignorant of, the origin, character, and purposes of the miserable fraud.


     



    vi                                            TO  THE  READER.                                            


    The undersigned offers no apology for the matter of the following pages. Content with his purpose to add to the mass of credible history, and to aid in expanding a most silly and dangerous delusion, he leaves it with an intelligent and discerning public, hoping neither to escape censure nor disarm criticism.

    TH. GREGG            

    Hamilton, Illinois, 1889.






     



    [ vii ]





    C O N T E N T S.



    CHAPTER  I.
    INTRODUCTORY.

    001   Solomon Spalding -- False Prophets in All Ages -- Joseph Smith, the Founder of Mormonism -- Compared to Mahomet -- His Character and Aims -- Origin of Mormonism -- An Overshadowing Question.


    CHAPTER  II.
    THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOSTURE.

    009   Disagreeing Statements -- Impossible Claims -- The Smith Family -- Ignorance and Superstition -- The Prophet's Own Story -- "History of Joseph Smith" -- The Angel Nephu -- Plates Revealed -- The Urim and Thummim -- Second, Third, and Fourth Visions -- Hill of Cumorah -- Stone Box -- The Prophet's Marriage -- "Persecutions" -- After Four Years -- Martin Harris and the Translation.


    CHAPTER  III.
    AS TOLD BY OTHERS.

    025   David Whitmer, One of the Eleven Witnesses -- Interviewed by the Kansas City Journal.


    CHAPTER  IV.
    HIGHLY INTERESTING LETTER.

    034   Letter from Hon. Stephen S. Harding, former Governor of Utah Territory -- His Boyhood Acquaintance with the Smith Family.


    CHAPTER  V.
    EX-GOVERNOR HARDING'S LETTER CONTINUED.

    045   Curious Developments -- Harris's Frenzy -- An Incident in Indians -- In Utah -- Reflections, Suggestions, etc.


    CHAPTER  VI.
    PROFESSOR ANTHON'S STORY

    057   A Plain Statement which Everybody Can Believe.




     



    viii                                            CONTENTS.                                           



    CHAPTER  VII.
    A TERRIBLE DILEMMA.

    063   Two Revelations and their Causes -- Harris and Satan Unjustly Accused -- The Real Culprit Unknown -- A Happy Ruse Solves the Difficulty.


    CHAPTER  VIII.
    THE STORY AND THE BOOK EXAMINED.

    075   Evidences of Falsity -- The Record -- Its Title -- "Confounding of Language" -- The Nephite-Lamanite Americans -- Metal Mariner's Compass -- To Work by Faith.


    CHAPTER  IX.
    EXAMINATION CONTINUED.

    085   A Story for Ship-Builders -- A Year's Voyage -- Eight Wonderful Barges -- An Electric Light -- The Land of Promise -- War a Pastime -- A Great Battle -- Words of Isaiah -- Beasts in the Promised Land -- Remarkable Translation.


    CHAPTER  X.
    REVIEW CONTINUED.

    096   Testimony of Three Witnesses -- Also of Eight Witnesses -- "What More Need be Said?" -- Death to Behold the Plates -- A Box of Brickbats -- Testimony Analyzed -- Smith's Ipse Dixit -- Collusion or Deception -- Testimony Invalid -- Strang's Failure -- Laban's Sword and Lehi's Directors.


    CHAPTER  XI.
    FURTHER REVELATIONS AND LABORS.

    107   The World's Redemption at Hand -- Harris Obstinate, but Yields -- He Sees Money in It -- Revelations Continue -- Church Discipline -- Sidney Rigdon's Hand Manifest -- A New Statement Concerning Him -- Church Organized -- Calvin Stoddard's Conversion -- "Support" for the prophet -- No. 1 Provided For -- The Elect Lady -- Rigdon Converted -- Takes High Rank -- P.P Pratt -- Zion Established -- Fanatical Excesses -- Smith and Cowdery Baptized.


    CHAPTER  XII.
    STAKE PLANTING.

    121   Translation of the Scriptures -- Reasons for It -- Translation Suspended -- The First Hegira -- Cowdery's Mission a Failure -- The Stake at Kirtland -- Another in Missouri -- Expedition Thither -- Erza Booth's Secession -- Zion Located -- An Organ Established -- The Expulsion -- A Crusade and its Termination.




     



                                               CONTENTS.                                             ix



    CHAPTER  XIII.
    AN ANTI-BANKING BANK.

    132   Rigdon President, Smith Cashier -- Notes Issued -- No Redemption -- Pittsburgh Bankers -- Bank Breaks -- Flight of Its Officers -- The Kirtland Stake Abandoned.


    CHAPTER  XIV.
    FURTHER STAKE PLANTING.

    138   Adam-ondi-Ahmon, Far West, and Others -- Apostasy Shows its Head -- The Danites -- War and Violence -- Mobs and Banishment.


    CHAPTER  XV.
    ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI EASTWARD.

    149   Exodus from Missouri and First Appearance in Illinois -- Remarks -- The Situation.


    CHAPTER  XVI.
    IMMIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT.

    156   Status in Illinois -- The New City -- Mission to Washington -- Governor Lucas's Letter -- Great Church Conference -- Mission to the Jews in Europe and Asia -- Call to the Faithful.


    CHAPTER  XVII.
    PROGRESS AND POLITICS.

    164   First Great Error -- Presidential Election of 1840 -- How Will the Prophet Vote? -- Whig Convention -- Nominations -- A Disgraceful Act -- Little and Douglas -- Dr. Charles -- The Charters -- Their Character -- Organizations -- John C. Bennett -- The Warsaw Signal -- Smith Offended -- His Characteristic Letter -- The Times and Seasons.


    CHAPTER  XVIII.
    AN ANTI-MORMON PARTY.

    175   Unworthy Sycophancy -- A Growing Apprehension -- Public Meetings -- An Anti-Mormon Party -- Its Candidates Elected -- Thomas Ford for Governor -- The Wasp.


    CHAPTER  XIX.
    THE NAUVOO TEMPLE.

    181   Temple Building -- At Nauvoo -- Corner-Stone Laid -- Revelation Demanding It -- Also a "Boarding House" -- The "Nauvoo House" Unfinished -- Stockholders Named by Revelation.


    CHAPTER  XX.
    MUCH ADO ABOUT THEFT.

    189   Hyrum Smith's Affidavit -- And the Twelve -- Brother Joseph's Affidavit and Proclamation -- The Court-Martial and all the Generals.




     



    x                                            CONTENTS.                                            



    CHAPTER  XXI.
    THE GAME OF HABEAS CORPUS.

    196   Arrest of Smith at Quincy, 1841 -- Trial Before Judge Douglas -- Discharge -- Attempted Assassination of Governor Boggs of Missouri -- O.P. Rockwell Charged with the Crime -- New Demand for Smith and Rockwell -- Arrest in Nauvoo -- Habeus Corpus Applied by the Municipal Court -- Ford's Statement -- Re-arrest and Trial Before Judge Pope and Gischarge -- The Writs, etc.


    CHAPTER  XXII.
    MORE HABEUS CORPUS WORK.

    206   Another Indictment and Demand -- Congressional Canvass -- Walker and Hoge -- Arrest Near Dixon -- Great Excitement -- The Officers Prisoners -- The Prophet Triumphant -- A Strange Cavalcade -- Another Habeas Corpus -- Lawyer Southwick's Statement -- Result of the Canvass -- "Brother Hyrum's" Revelation -- Walker Defeated.


    CHAPTER  XXIII.
    TWO WAYS OF TELLING A STORY.

    218   Story of the Arrest, as Told by Two -- The Prophet's Story -- The Officer's Story.


    CHAPTER  XXIV.
    A STORM CLOUD RISES.

    223   Quarrel Between the Chiefs -- General Bennett's Defection -- Charges and Denials -- Bennett Accepts the "Buffetings" and Leaves -- His Letters to the Sangamo Journal -- Testimonials Pro and Con.


    CHAPTER  XXV.
    A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

    232   For President of the United States, General Joseph Smith, of Illinois -- For Vice President, Sidney Rigdon, of Pennsylvania.


    CHAPTER  XXVI.
    AN IMPENDING CRISIS.

    235   Ramblings of a Volcano -- A Seccession Organized -- An Opposition Church -- A Newspaper "Nuisance" Abated.


    CHAPTER  XXVII.
    A STRANGE DOCUMENT.

    245   Showing the Reasons Why -- Nauvoo Neighbor Extra -- Reciting Action of the City Council Regarding the Expositor Nuisance -- Official.




     



                                               CONTENTS.                                             xi



    CHAPTER  XXVIII.
    THE ATONEMENT.

    269   Great Excitement -- Write Procured -- Public Meetings -- Citizens Arming -- The Governor Appealed to -- Arrives at Carthage and Takes Command -- Mayor and Council of Nauvoo Summoned -- Arrested, but Fail to Appear -- Finally Came in and Surrendered -- Released on Bail -- Rearrested for Treason -- Governor's Definition of Treason -- Marches with a Small Force to the City -- The Smiths Killed in Jail == Great Consternation.


    CHAPTER  XXIX.
    HOW THE DEED WAS DONE.

    281   Effect of the Panic -- Governor Ford's Plan Revealed -- Attack on the Jail by the Mob -- The Prophet and His Brother Killed -- How it was Done -- Purposes of the Mob -- Willard Richard's Statement.


    CHAPTER  XXX.
    ARRESTS, INDICTMENTS, AND TRIALS.

    293   Military Encampment Called -- The Wolf Hunt -- Governor Ford's Interferes -- Brings Another Force -- March to Nauvoo -- To Warsaw -- Joseph H. Jackson -- Indictments -- Trials of the Prisoners -- Found Not Guilty.


    CHAPTER  XXXI.
    STRUGGLE FOR THE SUCCESSION.

    303   Sidney Rigdon -- Brigham Young -- Parley P. Pratt -- Orson Pratt -- William Smith -- Orson Hyde -- James J. Strang -- An Ecclesiastical Trial -- Hyde on Rigdon.


    CHAPTER  XXXII.
    A NEW PROPHET -- JAMES J. STRANG.

    312   Strang's Claim to the Succession -- His Revelation -- Sets up at Voree - He, too, Finds Plates -- His Arrogance and Pretensions -- Arrested for Treason -- Tried and Acquitted -- A Polygamist -- His Violent Death -- Fate of Mormon Prophets.


    CHAPTER  XXXIII.
    MORE VIOLENCE AND BLOODSHED.

    320   Three Obnoxious Officials -- Arrest of Senator Davis -- Nauvoo Charter Repealed -- Increase of Crime -- Murder of Miller and Leiza -- Of Irvine -- Of Colonel Davenport -- Of Dr. Marshall -- Death of Sheriff Deming -- Burning of Morley-Town -- Killing of Lieutenant Worrell -- Of McBratney -- Of Wilcox and Daubenheyer -- Incidents of the Burning -- Arrival of Colonel Hardin with State Troops.




     



    xii                                            CONTENTS.                                            



    CHAPTER  XXXIV.
    NINE COUNTIES INTERFERE -- THE END APPROACHING.

    334   Colonel Hardin and His Advisors -- Major Warren Left in Command -- Convention of Nine Counties -- Browning's Resolutions -- Action of the Convention -- Correspondence with the Mormon Leaders -- The Inevitable Accepted.


    CHAPTER  XXXV.
    THE EXODUS BEGINS.

    342   Active Preparations for Leaving -- Crossing into Iowa -- Major Warren and His Force -- Disbanded and Re-mustered -- O.P. Rockwell -- Arrest, Trial, and Acquittal -- Dr. Pickett -- Posse Called Out -- Major Parker's Force -- War of Proclamations -- Posse under Carlin -- Singleton's Peace -- Resigns the Command -- Major Brookman Succeeds -- Advance toward the City.


    CHAPTER  XXXVI.
    A BATTLE -- A TREATY -- AND THE END.

    353   Warsaw Signal's Report of the Battle -- Quincy Committes of One Hundred -- A Truce -- The City Surrenders -- The Treaty -- The Killed and Wounded -- More Trouble and More Troops -- Reflections.


    CHAPTER  XXXVII.
    THE EXODUS -- THE DESERT AND WILDERNESS.

    363   Brigham Young's Choice -- En-route Westward -- Kanesville -- "Winter Quarters" -- Colonel Kane's Description -- Missouri Republican Correspondent -- The Mormon Battalion -- Brigham Assumes Supreme Power -- Pushes on to Salt Lake and Returns -- Main Body Reaches the Valley -- Stake Planted -- State of Deseret.


    CHAPTER  XXXVIII.
    THE MORMON TEMPLES.

    380   The Kirtland Temple -- In Missouri -- At Nauvoo -- Its Destruction by Fire -- The Baptismal Font -- Important Decision in Ohio.


    CHAPTER  XXXIX.
    388                  THE "RECONSTRUCTED" MORMON CHURCH.                             


    CHAPTER  XL.
    POLYGAMY AND THE BLOOD ATONEMENT.

    394   The Twin Evils of Mormonism -- Polygamy in Utah -- Denounced by the "Reconstructed" -- Originated by the Prophet -- Proofs Adduced -- Blood Atonement Defined by Young -- Known in Missouri and Illinois -- Smith and Rigdon Its Authors.




     



                                                 CONTENTS.                                              xiii



    CHAPTER  XLI.
    THE SPALDING ROMANCE.

    408   Review of the Situation -- Dr. Hurlbut and E. D. Howe -- Their Book Mormonism Unveiled -- Solomon Spalding's Manuscript Found -- Efforts to Obtain It -- Recent Statements Concerning It.


    CHAPTER  XLII.
    STATEMENTS OF THE SPALDING FAMILY.

    417   Mrs. Davison's Statement -- Denied by the Mormons -- Mrs. Dickinson's Publication in Scribner's Magazine -- J. E. Johnson in Deseret News -- Disagreeing Statements.


    CHAPTER  XLIII.
    THE SPALDING WITNESSES.

    431   Statement of John Spalding -- Of Martha Spalding -- Of Henry Lake -- John N. Miller -- Aaron Wright -- Oliver Smith -- Nahum Howard -- Artemus Cunningham.


    CHAPTER  XLIV.
    LATER TESTIMONY.

    441   Mr. Cooper in Cincinnati Gazette -- Joseph Miller's Letter -- Abner Jackson's Narrative -- "Mere Supposition" vs. "God-Given Testimony" -- Resume of Testimony -- The Book's Proper Title -- Mr. Patterson -- Rev. J. Winter -- Rigdon's Hand Manifest.


    CHAPTER  XLV.
    AFTER FIFTY YEARS

    458   A Strange Discovery -- A Spalding Manuscript Found in Honolulu -- A God-Send to the Mormons -- False Impression -- Not the Manuscript Found -- Of No Historic Value -- Description and Comments on MS at Oberlin College -- Eloquent Reference to Spalding's Work.


    CHAPTER  XLVI.
    463                                THE NAUVOO CHARTER.                              


    CHAPTER  XLVII.
    472                        SOME OF THE CITY ORDINANCES.                       


    CHAPTER  XLVIII.
    478             CELEBRATED "CELESTIAL MARRIAGE" REVELATION.     


    CHAPTER  XLIX.
    MISCELLANEOUS AND ANECDOTAL.

    489   The Kinderhook Plates -- Titles of the Twelve -- The Prophet as a Linguist -- Some Mormon Methods -- The Prophet and Church as Land Speculators -- A Story from Stenhouse -- Bishop John D. Lee -- The "Corrected" Holy Scriptures.




     



    xiv                                              CONTENTS.                                              



    APPENDIX.


    503   The Leaders in the Revolt at Nauvoo

    518   Governor West and the Polygamists

    528   A Characteristic Document

    537   Mrs. Emma Smith's Letter

    539   The Mormons or Latter-Day Saints








    [ xv ]





    LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS




    Fr.   Joseph Smith

    98   Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Martin Harris

    116   P. P. Pratt

    181   The Temple at Nauvoo

    189   Hyrum Smith

    224   Major-General John C. Bennett

    284   The Scene of Smith's Death

    304   Brigham Young

    382   Baptismal Font

    384   Ruins of the Temple at Nauvoo

    492   Facsimile from the so-called Book of Abraham

     



    [ 1 ]





    The Prophet of Palmyra.

    _____________

    CHAPTER I.

    INTRODUCTORY

    Solomon Spalding -- False Prophets in All Ages -- Joseph Smith, the Founder of Mormonism -- Compared to Mahomet -- His Character and Aims -- Origin of Mormonism -- An Overshadowing Question.

    POOR, unfortunate, somewhat unbalanced, yet honest and well-meaning SOLOMON SPALDING! His name will go down to posterity as the innocent originator of one of the most stupendous and wicked frauds ever perpetrated upon the world. Had he lived to witness the result of his work -- work in which he took so much delight and spent so many days of his life -- his gray head would have been bowed down with sorrow. But he was kindly spared the infliction. He died in 1816, and the fraud perpetrated upon his work and his good name was not commenced till some ten or twelve years after he had been laid peacefully in his grave. The story of his connection with the Mormon scheme will be fully told in future chapters of this work.


     



    2                                     THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                   


    Prophets have flourished ever since the world was peopled. But, unfortunately for the world, many of them have been false prophets; and prophesying, instead of being a vehicle of God's will to man, has been used for base and selfish ends and purposes, and to impose on the credulous and unwary. People of every age have been prone to run after false prophets. Hence the boldest, most daring and unscrupulous among them -- he who has put on the most sanctity and arrogated to himself the highest authority -- has generally been the most successful. As a rule, their careers have been short and their influence limited. The claims and pretensions of a few, however, have wrought great evil upon the world, and added many dark and bloody pages to its history. One, and not the least of these, will be the subject of these pages. That such a career as was his, with such remarkable results following, could be run in this enlightened Nineteenth Century, and in a land where Christianity and Civilization have shed their benign rays, is a mystery which the writer prefers to leave his readers to solve.

    On the 27th of June, 1844, was killed by a mob at the jail in Carthage, Hancock County, Illinois, JOSEPH SMITH, the founder of the sect of Latter-Day Saints, and who claimed to have been divinely commissioned as a "Prophet, Seer, and Revelator."


     



                                               INTRODUCTORY.                                           3


    Born in the State of Vermont, reared in Western New York, residing three or four years in Ohio, about as long in Missouri, and over five years in Illinois, he had adopted a policy which made him inimical to the people everywhere, and finally brought him to a violent and bloody death.

    Parallels in this man's remarkable career have been sought in history. It has been likened to that of Mahomet. When at Meccam in Arabia, the great founder of Islamism began his eventful career, he was doubtless honest in his purposes, which were to reform and improve the idolatrous worship of his people. But he was an enthusiast and a fanatic. With an ardent temperament and a restless and uneasy spirit, he could not brook opposition. His efforts met first with neglect, then ridicule and contumely, and finally with resistance and violence. Friends and neighbors turned to enemies, and their opposition increased till he was compelled to fly from his native city to save his life. The vindictive persecution and violence to which he was subjected, changed the character of the man, and henceforth revenge and ambition became his ruling passions.

    But his career, in whatever light it may be regarded, was a most remarkable one. Living amongst the idolatries of the Pagan, Jewish, and Christian systems, in one of the darkest of the


     



    4                                     THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                   


    Dark Ages of the world, he built up a system, which, to say the least, was superior to, and an improvement upon, anything by which he was surrounded. His successes were unprecedented in the world's history. During his own lifetime and that of his faithful friend and co-worker, Abou-Bekir, his creed, through his zeal -- aided by the sword and scimiter, potent agents in the work of propagandism in all ages -- had become the recognized faith through all Arabia, and was fast undermining all the other systems about him.

    The curious career of the Prophet of Mormonism has sometimes been contrasted with that of this great leader. But the contrast affords but slight parallel. When "Joe Smith" -- as the Mormon Prophet was always designated in his youth (a title which stuck to him through life) -- began his career at Palmyra in the State of New York, his motives were not honest, nor was he prompted by either revenge or ambition. His untutored and feeble intellect had not yet grasped at anything beyond mere toying with mysterious things. It is evident that he had at first no higher purpose in view. He was one of those indolent and illiterate young men, too numerous in all communities, who hope to shun honest labor, and who have imbibed the pernicious doctrine embraced in the phrase: "The world owes me a living." Any means that would enable


     



                                               INTRODUCTORY.                                           5


    him to obtain that living he was ready to employ. Hence, we find him at an early age, trying his skill at little tricks to impose on the credulity of his ignorant associates. As he grew in years, searching for lost treasure became one of his favorite employments; for was it not better, he reasoned, to obtain the golden thousands from the nooks and crevices of the earth, where Captain Kidd and the pirates and robbers had secreted them, and live in ease and idleness, than to obtain a small competency by the slow and uncertain processes of honest labor? And thus he plodded on, till accident opened a new career for him. A petty theft, by himself or one of his co-workers, placed the Spalding "Manuscript Found" in his hands; and then it was that the idea of a new sect, a new creed, a new and deeper play upon popular ignorance and credulity, and consequent power, and place, and fortune, were gradually developed and boldly and persistently and most wickedly carried forward -- aided by confederates as bad as himself and with similar purposes in view.

    No; the character and aims of these two false prophets afford but slight parallel; in their successful career, a stronger resemblance is to be traced.

    MORMONISM had its origin and incipient growth in Western New York, where it attracted little attention


     



    6                                     THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                   


    beyond the ridicule of sensible people and the gaping wonder of a few seekers after the new and the marvelous -- and it sought fresh fields. In Northern Ohio it gained strength by contact with the world; and there, too, its leaders made the discovery that the way to notoriety and success was to create opposition; and an aggressive policy was boldly adopted, and aggressive tenets engrafted into the creed. In North Missouri it increased greatly in strength; but in its violent contests with its neighbors and the authorities, it became dismembered and broken, and was finally violently expelled from the State. Poor, disheartened, and scattered -- its prophet and some other leaders in prison -- all of its members who could muster courage and means made their way eastward across the State to Illinois, where their forlorn condition attracted the sympathy and aid of all classes of people. Settling in the latter State, at Commerce, in Hancock county, in time the same aggressive policy was pursued; and after eight years of arrogant pretension, active proselytism, and stupendous folly, it met the fate it had encountered in Missouri, together with the loss of its daring prophet and leader. Later, under an equally daring and more able successor, it sought isolation and a home among the rugged crags and mountains and fertile valleys of Utah -- where it


     



                                               INTRODUCTORY.                                           7


    has for more than a third of a century increased in an astonishing degree, and developed into what it now is, an ugly and troublesome excrescence on the body politic, and a disgrace to the nation and to civilization.

    While the "Latter-Day Saints" remained in Ohio, Missouri, or Illinois, the "Mormon Question" was only one of local or State concern. But since they have withdrawn to the wilderness, and there within the territory and under the jurisdiction and flag of the United States, have assumed an independent position and arrayed themselves in open hostility to the government, the matter takes a new shape. From a State problem it has advanced to a National one, and one that is daily becoming of greater magnitude, now seriously agitating the minds of the best statesmen of our country.

    It bids fair to overshadow all other social questions. It is therefore highly important and necessary that the reading public should be fully informed, not only as to what Mormonism now is, but made acquainted with the origin, history and development of this the most wicked and dangerous folly of the Nineteenth Century, and with the life, character, and purposes of its founders. Such is the task before us, and to which these efforts are directed.

    The term "Mormonism" is a coinage of the


     



    8                                     THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                   


    present century. It is derived from the name of one of the chief writers of the so-called Book of Mormon (though why after Mormon, rather than Nephi, Moroni, Alma, Enos, or Lehi, it would be hard to tell) -- a silly and little worthy, but in the eyes of its deluded believers, the most sacred of all books. It is less interesting and far feebler than the Koran, the holy book of Islam. Its chief ingredients are ignorance and arrogance, and it abounds in blasphemy; it is full of falsehood, injustice toward man and impiety toward God. To accept the claims and adopt the teachings of its chief adherents, is to eschew holiness and goodness, and to dethrone the Almighty.








                      THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOSTURE.                     9







    CHAPTER II.

    THE  BEGINNINGS  OF  THE  IMPOSTURE.

    Disagreeing Statements -- Impossible Claims -- The Smith Family -- Ignorance and Superstition -- The Prophet's Own Story -- "History of Joseph Smith" -- The Angel Nephu -- Plates Revealed -- The Urim and Thummim -- Second, Third, and Fourth Visions -- Hill of Cumorah -- Stone Box -- The Prophet's Marriage -- "Persecutions" -- After Four Years -- Martin Harris and the Translation.

    IN the matter of the early life of JOSEPH SMITH there is great contrariety of statement. The testimony of the Smith family, and of his faithful believers, goes to show that he was a most exemplary youth, truthful, without guile, and ever seeking for the highest religious truth. As this is the testimony of interested witnesses only, we are bound to reject it for that of his neighbors, who, with great unanimity, tell a far different story -- that he was indolent, ignorant, intruthful, and superstitious.

    This counter-testimony has been obtained from a great many sources -- people in several sections of the country where he was best known, and some of whom, in high standing, are still living to re-affirm statements made long ago by themselves and


     



    10                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 


    others, and who could have no reason for falsifying or traducing his character. Coupled with much of his conduct after he had reached years of mature manhood, it furnishes irresistible proof that his youth was such as would render it preposterous and impossible that he should have been selected through divine agency to carry a God-given revelation to mankind and lead in a great reformation. To adopt any other theory would require that we should accept entirely new ideas of God's providence and of divine things.

    The Smith family to which he belonged was of Yankee origin; Joseph, the elder, having removed from Vermont to Western New York when that country was new and sparsely settled. He is said to have been a soldier of the Revolution. Ignorance and superstition seem to have been traits in the family. The district in which they had resided in Vermont, had for several years been the home of an arrant pretender to supernatural things, living upon the credulity of the people, and who had committed gross crimes under the plea of religious inspiration -- crimes which he afterwards expiated in the State's prison. * Some of the practices of the Mormon Prophet in after years, in New York and elsewhere, show a remarkable resemblance to the doings of this Vermont pretender, leading to

    ____________
    * Stephen Burrows.


     



                      THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOSTURE.                    11


    the conclusion that he must have been at least familiar with them.

    Mr. E. D. Howe, in his valuable work, Mormonism Unveiled (Painesville, Ohio, 1834), presents the testimonials of eighty-one persons, neighbors and acquaintances of the Smith family, all attesting to their illiteracy and generally worthless and disreputable character, especially that of the son " Joe," as he was called. Among the most damaging of these statements, perhaps, is that of Isaac Hale, of Harmony, Pa., whose daughter the would-be prophet married. These testimonials, it will be remembered, were obtained in 1833, only three years after the Book of Mormon appeared, and after the Smiths had left Palmyra and Manchester, where most of these certifiers resided.

    The prophet's own story of his early life, and the manner in which he was called to the high position he claimed to occupy, is to be found in the third volume of the Times and Seasons, the organ of the Mormon Church at Nauvoo, of which he was editor -- page 706. It purported to have been prepared at the request of Hon. John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat. A few of the leading paragraphs were also contributed to, and are to be found in, a volume entitled, History of Religious Denominations of the United States,


     



    12                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 


    published in Philadelphia. The more important portions are herewith given:

    JOSEPH SMlTH'S STATEMENT.

    "I was born in the town of Sharon, Windsor county, Vermont, on the 23d of December, 1805. When ten years old my parents removed to Palmyra, N. Y., where we resided about four years, and from there we removed to the town of Manchester, a distance of six miles.

    "My father was a farmer, and taught me the art of husbandry. When about fourteen years of age, I began to reflect upon the importance of being prepared for a future state, and upon inquiring the plan of salvation, I found there was a great clash in religious sentiment; if I went to one society they referred me to one plan, and another to another, each one pointing to his own particular creed as the summum bonum of perfection. Considering that all could not be right, and that God could not be the author of so much confusion, I determined to investigate the subject more fully, believing that if God had a church it would not be split up into factions, and that if He taught one society to worship one way, and administer in one set of ordinances, He would not teach another principles which were diametrically opposed. Believing the word of God, I had confidence in the declaration of James: 'If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.'

    "I retired to a secret place in a grove, and began to call upon the Lord. While fervently engaged in supplication, my mind was taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded, and I was enrapt in a heavenly vision, and saw two glorious personages who exactly resembled each other in features and likeness, surrounded by a brilliant


     



                      THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOSTURE.                  13


    light which eclipsed the sun at noon-day. They told me that all the religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines, and that none of them were acknowledged of God as His Church and Kingdom. And I was expressly commanded 'to go not after them,' at the same time receiving a promise that the fulness of the gospel should at some future time be made known to me.

    "On the evening of the 21st of September, A.D. 1823, while I was praying unto God, and endeavoring to exercise faith in the precious promises of Scripture, on a sudden a light like that of day, only of a far purer and more glorious appearance and brightness, burst into the room; indeed, the first sight was as though the house was filled with consuming fire. The appearance produced a shock that affected the whole body. In a moment a personage stood before me, surrounded with a glory yet greater than that with which I was already surrounded. The messenger proclaimed himself to be an angel of God, sent to bring the joyful tidings that the covenant which God made with ancient Israel was at hand to be fulfilled; that the preparatory work for the second coming of the Messiah was speedily to commence; that the time was at hand for the gospel in all its fulness, to be preached in power unto all nations, that the people might be prepared for the millennial reign.

    "I was informed that I was chosen to. be an instrument in the hands of God to bring about some of his purposes in this glorious dispensation.

    "I was informed, also' concerning the aboriginal inhabitants of this country, and shown who they were and from whence they came; a brief sketch of their origin, progress, civilization, laws, governments, of their righteousness and iniquity, and the blessings of God being finally withdrawn from them as a people, was made known to me. I was also .


     



    14                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 


    told where there was deposited some plates, on which was engraved an abridgment of the records of the ancient prophets that had existed on this continent. The angel appeared to me three times the same night, and unfolded the same things. After having received many visits from the angel of God, unfolding the, majesty and glory of the events that should transpire in the last days, on the morning of the 22d of September, A. D. 1827, the angel of the Lord delivered the records into my hands.

    "These records were engraven on plates, which had the appearance of gold; each plate was six inches wide and eight inches long, and not quite so thick as common tin. They were filled with engravings in Egyptian characters, and bound together in a volume as the leaves of a book, with three rings running through the whole. The volume was something near six inches in thickness, a part of which was sealed. The characters in the unsealed part were small and beautifully engraved. The whole book exhibited many marks of antiquity in its construction, and much skill in the art of engraving. With the records was found a curious instrument, which the ancients called 'Urim and Thummim,' which consisted of two transparent stones set in the rim of a bow fastened to a breast-plate.

    "Through the medium of the 'Urim and Thummim' I translated the records, by the gift and power of God.

    "In this important and interesting book, the history of ancient America is unfolded, from its first settlement by a colony that came from the tower of Babel, at the confusion of languages, to the beginning of the fifth century of the Christian era. We are informed by these records that America in ancient times has been inhabited by two distinct races of people. The first were called Jaredites, and came directly from the tower of Babel. The


     



                      THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOSTURE.                    15


    second race came directly from the city of Jerusalem, about six hundred years before Christ. They were principally Israelites, of the descendants of Joseph. The Jaredites were destroyed about the time that the Israelites came from Jerusalem, who succeeded them in the inheritance of the country. The principal nation of the second race fell in battle toward the close of the fourth century. The remnant are the Indians that now inhabit this country. This book also tells us that our Saviour made his appearance upon this continent after his resurrection, that he planted the gospel here in all its fulness, and riches, and power, and blessing; that they had apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists; the same order, the same priesthood, the same ordinances, gifts, powers, and blessing, as was enjoyed on the eastern continent; that the people were cut off in consequence of their transgressions; that the last of their prophets who existed among them was commanded to write an abridgment of their prophecies, history, etc., and to hide it up in the earth, and that it should come forth and be united with the Bible for the accomplishment of the purposes of God in the last days. For a more particular account, I would refer to the Book of Mormon, which can be purchased at Nauvoo, or from any of our traveling elders."

    The account goes on to say that the Church was organized on the 6th day of April, 1830; that the work "rolled forth with astonishing rapidity," and churches were soon formed in the States of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri; that in the latter, large settlements were made, where they suffered divers persecutions and were finally, in 1839, driven out to find a home in


     



    16                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 


    Illinois. To the good character of the people of Illinois, we have the prophet's own testimony in the following paragraph:

    "In the situation before alluded to, we arrived in the State of Illinois in 1839, where we found a hospitable people and a friendly home; a people who were willing to be governed by the principles of law and humanity. We have commenced to build a city called NAUVOO, in Hancock county; we number from six to eight thousand here, besides vast numbers in the country around, and in almost every county in the State. We have a city charter granted us, and a charter for a Legion, the troops of which now number fifteen hundred. We have also a charter for a university, for an agricultural and manufacturing society, have our own laws and administrators, and possess all the privileges that other free and enlightened citizens enjoy.

    "... It (the Gospel of Mormonism) has penetrated our cities, it has spread over our villages, and has caused thousands of our intelligent, noble, and patriotic citizens to obey its divine mandates, and be governed by its sacred truths. It has also spread in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales,... and in Germany, Palestine, New Holland, the East Indies, and other places, the standard of truth has been erected."

    Exaggeration, in its earlier days, as now, was a marked characteristic of Mormonism. All the foregoing statements, except those relating to the charters and the possession of unusual laws and privileges, were grossly untrue at the time they were written.

    In corroboration of his claim to a divine calling,


     



                      THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOSTURE.                    17


    we find in the Times and Seasons, the organ before 'mentioned, an extended "History of Joseph Smith," written in the first person, and running through many issues of that journal. The earliest of these numbers is lost, the first one before us opening with an account of his first adventure with the angel. It is to be noted that, in all this account, he speaks of it as a "vision."

    "I have actually seen a vision, and 'who am I, that I can withstand God,' or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? for I had seen a vision."

    "... I continued to pursue my common avocations in life until the 21st of September, 1823, all the time suffering severe persecution at the hands of all classes of men, both religious and irreligious, because I continued to affirm that I had seen a vision."

    And on that evening he retired to his bed in full confidence that another similar manifestation was to be vouchsafed to him. -- Vol. iii., p. 749, Times and Seasons.

    And sure enough, the expected "vision" came -- in the form of a light, "until the room was lighter than at noon-day" -- and in that light a personage appeared and stood by his bedside; he was unearthly white, as were his robes; and his hands and wrists, and feet and ankles, were naked, and he stood on nothing, "for his feet did not touch the floor."


     



    18                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 


    He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Nephi. * That God had a work for me to do, and that my name should be had for good and evil, among all nations, kindreds and tongues."

    We can well believe that this vision was, at least, partly true; for his name has been had for "evil" among many nations.

    And then the angel Nephi went on to reveal to him the existence of the "golden plates," the "Urim and Thummim," and the "breastplates," and "silver bows," and that the possession and use of these was what constituted seers in olden times, and that God had prepared these for his use. Then Nephi read to him long chapters from Scripture: third chapter of Malachi, the fourth with variations, the eleventh of Isaiah, the third of Acts, the second of Joel, and many others "too numerous to mention." But -- he so charged him -- when these golden plates were obtained, and the breastplate, and the Urim and Thummim, he was not to show them to any person on pain of utter destruction. And while the angel was still talking, his vision caused him to behold the exact spot where these wonderful things were deposited -- in "Cumorah hill," two miles away. The angel appeared to him twice more

    __________
    * For the character of this Messenger from God, see other pages of this history.


     



                      THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOSTURE.                    19


    that night, relating "the very same things which be had done at the first visit, without the least variation," and adding more concerning the judgments to come upon this generation. And this not being enough, on the next day, in the field, he had another vision in which the angel appeared as before, and repeated the whole story. -- Times and Seasons, vol. iii., 753.

    What may have been the acquirements of Nephi when in the flesh, according to the Book of Mormon, he certainly exhibited great volubility as an angel, in the presence of our vision-seeing prophet; for here we find him reading five chapters from Scripture, "and many others," three times in one night, besides much other talk, "without the least variation."

    The next thing to be done was to verify this four-fold vision. How this was done, we are thus informed:

    "I left the field, and went to the place where the messenger had told me the plates were deposited; and owing to the distinctness of the vision which I had had concerning it, I knew the place the instant I arrived there. Convenient to the village of Manchester, Ontario (county, New York, stands a hill of considerable size, and the most elevated of any in the neighborhood; on the west side of this hill not far from the top, under a stone of considerable size, lay the plates deposited in a stone box; this stone was thick and rounding in the middle on the upper side, and thinner towards the edges, so that


     



    20                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 


    the middle part of it was visible above the ground, but the edge all around was covered with earth. Having removed the earth and obtained a lever, which I got fixed under the edge of the stone, and with a little exertion raised it up, I looked in, and there, indeed, did I behold the plates, the Urim and Thummim and the breastplate, as stated by the messenger. The box in which they lay was formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement; in the bottom of the box were laid two stones, crossways of the box, and on these stones lay the plates and the other things with them. I made an attempt to take them out, but was forbidden by the messenger, and was again informed that the time for bringing them forth had not yet arrived, neither would it until four years from that time; but he told me that I should come to that place precisely in one year from that time, and that he would there meet with me, and that I should continue to do so, until the time should come for obtaining the plates. Accordingly, as I had been commanded, I went at the end of each year, and at each time I found the same messenger there, and received instruction and intelligence from him at each of our interviews, respecting what the Lord was going to do, and how and in what manner His Kingdom was to be conducted in the last days."

    And the long four years rolled on; long and tedious they must have seemed to one who had so great and important a commission placed upon him. Ignorant and ill-prepared, as he confessedly was for such a work, he made no special effort to qualify himself, but continued to perform his usual daily labors, sometimes about home and sometimes abroad; part of the time (in the month of October,


     



                      THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOSTURE.                     21


    1825), with an old gentleman named "Stoal," who lived in Chenango County, but was searching for a Spanish silver mine at Harmony, in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. With this gentleman he worked for a month, and --

    "Hence arose the very prevalent story of my having been a money-digger."

    How digging for a Spanish silver mine on the Susquehanna river in Pennsylvania, would cause excavations all about Palmyra and Manchester, in New York, is left unexplained. We have it from present residents of Palmyra, made to the writer of these pages recently, that, though mostly obliterated by time, some of these excavations are still to be seen.

    Within this period of four years, waiting, he was also married to Miss Emma Hale, daughter of Isaac Hale, of Harmony, with whom he boarded while at work for Mr. Stowell. This marriage took place clandestinely, being much opposed by Mr. Hale, who believed his daughter was joining her fortunes with a worthless and undeserving young man.

    At length the auspicious 27th of September, 1827, arrived, and our vision-seer went to the already opened stone box, where he met the messenger, as promised, and received the ancient relics at his hands. He was admonished that he would be


     



    22                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 


    held responsible for them, that if he let them go in any way through neglect, he would be cut off -- and if at any time he (the messenger) should call for them, they must be delivered up.

    During all the years previous to his receiving the plates, so the story runs, he had been the subject of violent and cruel persecution, because of his declaration and continued protestation that he "had seen a vision." And now, that the promised precious relics were in his possession, this persecution increased with redoubled force. And this explains the conduct of the angel:

    "I soon found out the reason why I received such strict charges to keep them safe, and why it was that the messenger had said that when I had done what was required at my hand, he would call for them; for no sooner was it known that I had them than the most strenuous exertions were used to get them from me; every stratagem that could be invented was resorted to for that purpose; the persecution became more bitter and severe than before, and multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if possible; but by the wisdom of God they remained safe in my hands, until I had accomplished by them what was required at my hand, when, according to arrangements, the messenger called for them, I delivered them up to him, and he has them in his charge until this day, being the second day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight."

    Martin Harris, of Palmyra, who is declared to be "a gentleman and a farmer of respectability," became


     



                      THE BEGINNINGS OF THE IMPOSTURE.                    23


    interested in the matter, and to him Smith confided some of the characters which he had drawn from the plates. Harris took them to the city of New York for the purpose of having them tested by literary men. The following is given by Smith as Harris's statement on his return:

    "I went to the city of New York (said Harris) and presented the characters which had been translated, with the translation thereof, to Professor Anthony, a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments; Professor Anthony stated that the translation was correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the Egyptian. I then showed him those which were not yet translated, and he said they were Egyptian, Chaldeac, Assyriac, and Arabac, and he said that they were the true characters. He gave me a certificate certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were true characters, and that the translation of such of them as had been translated, was also correct. I took the certificate and put it into my pocket, and was just leaving the house, when Mr. Anthony called me back, and asked me how the young man found out that there were gold plates in the place where he found them. I answered that an angel of God had revealed it unto him.

    "He then said to me, let me see that certificate. I accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and tore it to pieces, saying that there was no such thing now as ministering of angels, and that if I would bring the plates to him, he would translate them. I informed him that part of the plates were sealed, and that I was forbidden to bring them, he replied, 'I cannot read a sealed book.' I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell,


     



    24                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 


    who sanctioned what Professor Anthony had said respecting both the characters and the translation."

    It is evident that the foregoing is a sheer fabrication, concocted by either Harris or the prophet, most probably the latter. Professor Anthon's statement, made some time afterwards' shows in what light he regarded the story told him by Harris.

    It is a curious fact, and furnishes another evidence of the true character of Mormonism, that four years before this statement was printed in Nauvoo, this same Martin Harris -- the "gentleman and farmer of respectability" -- was publicly denounced by the prophet through his newspaper organ, as "a liar and swindler." -- See Elders' Journal, August, 1838.









                                   THE AS TOLD BY OTHERS.                           25







    CHAPTER III.

    AS  TOLD  BY  OTHERS.

    David Whitmer, One of the Eleven Witnesses -- His Statement in His Old Age -- Interviewed by the Kansas City Journal.

    AS will be shown, David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, and Martin Harris, were the three first certifiers to the miraculous character and divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon, and the most zealous fanatics in bringing it before the world. Yet, strange to say, every one of them in future years, and during the prophet's lifetime, were either denounced by him or seceded from the sect of which he was the head.

    Mr. Whitmer, after following the fortunes of his chief into Ohio,, and thence to Northwest Missouri, finally left the sect for good, for reasons which will herein be shown. He died only a few years since at Richmond, Ray County, Missouri, at an advanced age. A year or two previous to his death he was interviewed by an attache of the Kansas City Journal, on the subject of Mormonism and his previous connection with it, a lengthy report of which is published in that paper. It is well


     



    26                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 


    written and interesting throughout; but we can only make room for a condensed synopsis, quoting only certain portions entire. Mr. Whitmer's statements, made in his serene old age, and many years after having left the church, are important as to his admissions regarding the wickedness and evil designs of the man whom he had so long regarded as the vicegerent of the Almighty.

    Eight other witnesses had followed the three in certifying to the Book of Mormon -- making eleven in all -- and the Journal introduces Mr. Whitmer as "the last of the eleven" -- all the others, with Smith and Rigdon, the principals, having preceded him to their final reckoning.

    Mr. Whitmer stated that he was born in Pennsylvania, but at an early age removed with his father's family to Western New York. In Palmyra he became acquainted with Oliver Cowdery, and there first heard of Mormonism, in 1828. Cowdery seems to have led all the Whitmers into Mormonism, and afterwards married into the family.

    The manner of the translation of the plates, as told by Whitmer, is so interesting that it is given here in his own words.

    Said he:

    "He had two small stones of a chocolate color, nearly egg-shaped and perfectly smooth, but not transparent, called interpreters, which were given


     



                                    AS  TOLD  BY  OTHERS.                                27


    him with the plates. He did not use the plates in the translation, but would hold the interpreters to his eyes and cover his face with a hat, excluding all light, and before his eyes would appear what seemed to be parchment, on which would appear the characters of the plates in a line at the top, and immediately below would appear the translation in English, which Smith would read to his scribe, who wrote it down exactly as it fell from his lips. The scribe would then read the sentence written, and if any mistake had been made the characters would remain visible to Smith until corrected, when they faded from sight to be replaced by another line. The translation at my father's occupied about one month, that is from June 1 to July 1, 1829."

    "Were the plates under the immediate control of Smith all the time?"

    "No, they were not. I will explain how that was. When Joseph first received the plates he translated 116 pages of the book of 'Lehi,' with Martin Harris as scribe. When this had been completed, they rested for a time, and Harris wanted to take the manuscript home with him to show to his family and friends. To this Joseph demurred, but finally asked the Lord if Harris might be allowed to take it. The answer was ;No.' Harris teased Joseph for a long time, and finally persuaded him to ask the Lord a second time, pledging himself to be responsible for its safe keeping. To this second inquiry the Lord told Joseph Harris might take the manuscript, which he did, showing it to a great many people, but through some carelessness allowed it to be stolen from him. This incurred the Lord's displeasure, and he sent an angel to Joseph, demanding the plates, and until Joseph had thoroughly repented of his transgressions would not allow him to have


     



    28                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 


    the use of them again. When Joseph was again allowed to resume the translation, the plates were taken care of by a messenger of God, and when Joseph wanted to see the plates this messenger was always at hand. The 116 pages of the book of 'Lehi,' which were stolen, were never recovered, nor would the Lord permit Joseph to make a second translation of it."

    Continuing the interview, Mr. Whitmer is asked:

    "When did you see the plates?"

    "It was in the latter part of June, 1829. Joseph, Oliver Cowdery and myself were together, and the angel showed them to us. We not only saw the plates of the Book of Mormon, but he also showed us the brass plates of the book of Ether and many others. They were shown to us in this way. Joseph and Oliver and I were sitting on a log when we were overshadowed by a light more glorious than that of the sun. In the midst of this light, but a few feet from us, appeared a table, upon which were many golden plates, also the sword of Laban and the directors. I saw them as plain as I see you now, and distinctly heard the voice of the Lord declaiming that the records of the plates of the Book of Mormon were translated by the gift and the power of God."

    "Who else saw the plates at this time?"

    "No one. Martin Harris, the other witness, saw them the same day, and the eight witnesses, Christian Whitmer, Hiram Page, Jacob Whitmer, Joseph Smith, Sr., Peter Whitmer, Jr., Hyram Smith, Jno. Whitmer, and Samuel H. Smith, saw them next day."

    "Did you see the angel?"

    "Yes; he stood before us. Our testimony as recorded in the Book of Mormon is absolutely true, just as it is written there."


     



                                    AS  TOLD  BY  OTHERS.                                 29


    "Can you describe the plates?"

    They appeared to be of gold, about six by nine inches in size, about as thick as parchment, a great many in number, and bound together like the leaves of a book by massive rings passing through the back edges. The engraving upon them was very plain and of very curious appearance. Smith made fac-similes of some of the plates, and sent them by Martin Harris to Professors Anson and Mitchell, of New York City, for examination. They pronounced the characters reformed Egyptian, but were unable to read them."

    As before stated, Mr. Whitmer continued with his chief and their people in their several attempts at settlement in Missouri, and it was while there that the events occurred which separated him from the leaders. This personal history we prefer to give in his own words -- as illustrating a peculiar phase of human character:

    "In 1835 W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer, accompanied by a large number of our people, went to Far West, Caldwell County, and established a church. They lived there, and multiplied very rapidly until 1838, when Elders Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon came out from Ohio and were dissatisfied with the church, and gave new laws, revelations, etc. The leaders of the Far West church refused to conform to the new laws of Smith and Rigdon, and they issued a decree organizing what was termed the 'Danites, or Destroying Angels,' who were bound by the most fearful oaths to obey the commandments of the leaders of the church. The Danites consisted only of those selected by Smith and Rigdon. They threatened myself, John Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery and Lyman


     



    30                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 


    Johnson with the vengeance of the Danites unless we took the same oath, but we refused, and fled for our lives to Clay County, and since that time I have had nothing to do with the so-called 'Latter-Day Saints' church, but I still hold to the truth of the original Church of Christ, as organized in New York. During the fall of 1838 the church of Far West became very violent towards the citizens of Caldwell County, which terminated in an uprising similar to that in Jackson County, and they were driven from the State. Smith and Rigdon were arrested and kept prisoners for some time, but finally escaped and went to Nauvoo, Illinois, followed by the saints from Far West, and established a church and built a fine temple. They remained in Nauvoo until 1844, when they became very corrupt, upheld polygamy, established an endowment house, etc., which occasioned an uprising of the people, and Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum and John Taylor, the present head of the church in Salt Lake, were arrested and cast into prison, and the two Smiths afterwards shot and killed through the windows of the jail. The temple was destroyed and the church scattered, a portion going to Salt Lake under the leadership of Brigham Young and John Taylor, where they have remained ever since, practicing the vile system of polygamy and spiritual wifeism.

    "I belong to the original church, organized 1n 1829, and have never associated myself with any other, and never upheld the reorganization or change of name to 'Latter-Day Saints,' at Kirtland, Ohio."

    The original manuscript of the Book of Mormon is thus referred to by Mr. Whitmer:

    (He produced about five hundred pages of manuscript, yellow with age, of large, old-fashioned,


     



                                    AS  TOLD  BY  OTHERS.                                 31


    unruled foolscap paper, closely written upon both sides with ink, and fastened together in sections with yarn strings. It very plainly showed that it had been through the hands of the printer, the 'take' marks being still upon it.) "This," continued he, "was kept by Oliver Cowdery, and when he came to die he placed them in my care, charging me to preserve them so long as I ]lived. When I die I will leave them to my nephew, David Whitmer, my namesake. J. F. Smith and Orson Pratt, of Salt Lake City, were here three years ago, and offered me a fabulous price for them, but I would not part with them for all the money in the universe."

    "Are you not afraid they will be destroyed or stolen?"

    "No, the Lord will take care of his own. When this house was destroyed by the cyclone three years ago to-day (June 1, 1878), nothing in the room where this manuscript was kept was harmed. Everything else was completely destroyed."

    It is difficult to see wherein such value is attached to this relic, when it is remembered that it is merely the manuscript in Oliver Cowdery's handwriting, made while the prophet was peeping at the little stones in his hat, and pretending to translate from the "Reformed Egyptian." The compositor who set up the type for the Book of Mormon, in the office of the Wayne Sentinel, at Palmyra, retains the proof-sheets of that grand work, to which he, also, attaches much value. They are relics, to be sure; but relics of a miserable, wicked, and blasphemous fraud, which should have


     



    32                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 


    brought the blush of shame to the faces of all its originators and abettors.

    Since this interview, Mr. Whitmer has died -- his friends say, a full believer in the faith in which he had so long lived, and cherishing as a precious jewel the manuscript copy of the Book of Mormon, left in his hands by his brother-in-law, Oliver Cowdery. A believer in the story of Mormonism, he refused, ever since his affront fifty years ago, to hold any intercourse with its founder.

    These statements of Mr. Whitmer are valuable as showing how easily a man may be deluded into a belief of supernatural things. Some men's minds, are so constituted as to accept anything of a marvelous nature, rather than plain, simple truth. They are more valuable still, as establishing the oft-denied charges of the existence of an organized "Danite Band" -- organized for the purpose, as Mr. Whitmer states, of working murder and destruction upon enemies and apostates. No recognized leader in the church has heretofore ever been found, but who would deny the existence of any such organization for any such purpose. And yet here is an adherent and believer in the story, and co-worker through all the earlier years, and who came near becoming a victim of its author's vengeance -- who certifies to its truth, and charges that Smith and Rigdon were the organizers and


     



                                    AS  TOLD  BY  OTHERS.                                33


    directors of the band. Mr. Whitmer also gives credence to and affirms the charges so long made, and so persistently denied, of the practice of polygamy by the prophet and his leaders at Nauvoo.

    Was not this aged and venerable man, standing on the verge of the grave, a valuable witness to the truth and divine origin of the story?









    34                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 





    CHAPTER IV.

    AS  TOLD  BY  OTHERS. -- Continued.

    A Highly Interesting Letter from Hon. S. S. Harding, ex-Governor of Utah Territory -- His Boyhood Acquaintance with the Smith Family.

    KNOWING that ex-Governor Harding, later a judge in Indiana, had been in his early life a resident of Palmyra, N. Y., and acquainted with the Smith family and the other originators of the Book of Mormon, we addressed him on the subject, and received the following lengthy and interesting reply.

    At the date of this letter -- February, 1882 -- and several years later, Judge Harding was residing in Indiana, an octogenarian in age and feeble health, but with a remarkable memory of the events of his long and distinguished life. His recollection and statements concerning the ignorant and superstitious character of young Smith and his father's family, and most of the early adherents to Mormonism, are strongly corroborative of those made by all the citizens of Palmyra from 1830 down to the present time. Human testimony could scarcely be made stronger or more convincing.

    "MILAN, IND., Feb., 1882.      

    "DEAR SIR: -- Yours of 9th January duly received, and I send you this reply. The incidents


     



                                    AS  TOLD  BY  OTHERS.                                 35


    I am about to relate would not be worth repeating only as illustrative of the wild fanaticism, superstition, and credulity of persons upon whose veracity mainly depends the authenticity of the Book of Mormon. That such a book, replete with self-evident plagiarisms and humbuggery, that sink it below the dignity of criticism, should find tens of thousands of persons of ordinary intelligence throughout Christendom, who have accepted it as a revelation from God to man, is indeed a moral phenomenon unparalleled in the nineteenth century. In view of these things it is not strange that some daring iconoclast should go forth with his merciless sledge, breaking in fragments the shrines and idols that for thousands of years have struck with reverential awe the hearts of untold millions of men, and leading captive the human will.

    "In the summer of 1829, I resolved to return to the place of my nativity, in the vicinity of Palmyra, N. Y. It was from this place that my father had emigrated in the spring of 1820, with his large family, to the newly admitted State of Indiana. This was before the days of railroads, and I took stage from Cincinnati for Cleveland, from Cleveland down the lake shore for Buffalo, where I saw, for the first time, the great canal, only recently completed. On this I took passage for Palmyra.

    "In these nine years of transition from boyhood to manhood, most striking changes had taken place. My old-time playmates were no longer little boys and girls, but grown-up men and women; some of whom had taken their positions in society as husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. Others had gone down to early graves that had

    'Hidden from the living
    The full-blown promise of life that was.'


     



    36                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 


    "When I left my home in the West, I had never heard of Mormonism, by that name. When I was a student at Brookville, in the fall of 1827, the Brookville Enquirer was laid upon my table, when my eye fell upon a paragraph, credited to some Eastern paper, of the finding of a book of metallic plates, called the 'Golden Bible.' It was found by a young man by the name of Joe Smith, who had spent his time for several years in telling fortunes and digging for hidden treasures, and especially for pots and iron chests of money, supposed to have been buried by Captain Kidd. This paragraph interested me more at the time from the fact that all this had happened near the village of Palmyra, N. Y. I had at the time no certain recollection as to who this 'Joe Smith' was; but remembering having seen a long-legged, tow-headed boy of that name, who was generally fishing in the mill-pond at Durfee's grist-mill on Mud Creek, when my elder brother and I went to the mill. This boy was about three years older than myself, and it turned out that he was the veritable finder of the 'Golden Bible.'

    "Of course the paragraph in the Enquirer passed without further notice at the time, and the whole subject was forgotten, until I found myself in the very neighborhood where the thing had happened. At that time the Book of Mormon had not been printed, and no Mormon church had been organized. I do not believe that such a thing as the latter had even been seriously contemplated, and that the publication of the Book of Mormon had for its object only the making of money, by publishing and putting on sale a book that could be readily sold as a curiosity at a high profit. Nevertheless, there was something so unusual in the affair, that it excited a good deal of curiosity and comment. The fact that such a man as Martin Harris should mortgage


     



                                    AS  TOLD  BY  OTHERS.                                 37


    his farm for a large sum, to secure the publisher for printing the book, should abandon the cultivation of one of the best farms in the neighborhood, and change all his habits of life from industry to indolence and general shiftlessness, was truly phenomenal. He, at the same time, was the only man among all the primitive Mormons who was responsible in a pecuniary sense for a single dollar. Nevertheless, he had become absolutely infatuated, and believed that an immense fortune could be made out of the enterprise. The misfortune that attended Harris from that day did not consist in the loss of money merely, and the general breaking up of his business as a farmer; but the blight and ruin fell upon all his domestic relations -- causing his separation from his wife and family forever. In early life he had been brought up a Quaker, then took to Methodism as more congenial to his nature. He was noted as one who could quote more Scripture than any man in the neighborhood; and as a general thing could give the chapter and verse where some important passage could be found. If one passage more than another seemed to be in his mind, it was this: 'God has chosen the weak things of this world to confound the wise,' His eccentricities and idiosyncrasies had been charitably passed over by all who knew him, until his separation from his wife and family, when he was looked upon as utterly infatuated and crazy. I had been acquainted with this man when a little boy, until my father emigrated from that neighborhood in 1820. He was intimately acquainted with my father's family, and on several occasions had visited our house, in company with Mrs. Harris. None in all that neighborhood were more promising in their future prospects than they.


     



    38                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 


    "Upon my return to Palmyra, and learning that Martin Harris was the only man of any account, as we say in the West, among all of his near associates, it was but natural that I should seek an early interview with him. I found him at the printing office of the Wayne Sentinel in Palmyra, where the Book of Mormon was being printed. He had heard several days before of my arrival in the neighborhood, and expressed great pleasure at seeing me. A moment or two after, I was introduced to Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Smith, Sen., and then to the young 'Prophet' himself.

    "Here was a most remarkable quartette of persons. I soon learned that at least three of them were in daily attendance at the printing-office, and that they came and went as regularly as the rising and setting of the sun. I have the authority of Martin Harris himself, who stated that some one hundred and fifty pages, more or less, of the original manuscript of the Book of Mormon had been stolen, lost, or destroyed, by some evil-minded person, and that the angel of the Lord had appeared to young Joseph and informed him that the devil had appeared in the form of a man or woman, and had possessed himself of the sacred MS.; andJoseph had been commanded by the angel to thenceforth always have at least three witnesses to watch over it when in the hands of the printers. This was the reason given me at the time by Harris, why at least three persons should bring the MS. to the office immediately after sunrise, and take it away before sunset in the evening.

    "After my introduction to Cowdery and the Smiths, I entered into conversation with them -- especially with Cowdery and the father of the prophet. But young Joe was hard to be approached. He was very taciturn, and sat most of the time as silent as a Sphynx, seeming to have no


     



                                    AS  TOLD  BY  OTHERS.                                 39


    recollection of ever having seen me when fishing in Durfee's mill-pond. This young man was by no means of an ordinary type. He had hardly ever been known to laugh in his childhood; and would never work or labor like other boys; and was noted as never having had a fight or quarrel with any other person. But notwithstanding this last redeeming trait, he was hard on birds' nests, and in telling what had happened would exaggerate to such an extent, that it was a common saying in the neighborhood: 'That is as big a lie as young Joe ever told.'

    "He was about six feet high, what might be termed long-legged, and with big feet. His hair had turned from tow-color to light auburn, large eyes of a bluish gray, a prominent nose, and a mouth that of itself was a study. His face seemed almost colorless, and with little or no beard.

    "Indeed (in the language of Martin Harris): 'What change a few years will make in everything!' And what a demonstration of this truth was afforded in the life and career of the man before me. At that time his weight was about one hundred and fifty pounds, he had not a dollar in the world, and his character was such that credit was impossible. Let the mind pass over the career of this man to the date of his marriage with Emma Hale; his banking and temple-building at Kirtland; his flight as a fugitive from that place to Independence and Far West, Missouri; his forcible expulsion from that State to Nauvoo; the springing up of a city of 20,000 people as if by magic; and where, beside his divine appointment as 'Prophet, Seer, and Revelator,' he became Lieut.-General of a Legion that would make a respectable standing army, mounted on a blooded charger in all the military trappings, that filled with awe the thousands of his followers, and even the outside


     



    40                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 


    Gentiles. He had now reached the zenith of his glory; and fifteen years from the time I met him at the printing-office, he had become a millionaire, notwithstanding his harem of numerous spiritual wives and concubines.

    "In the neighborhood of Palmyra there lived another prophet, older and wiser than the Mormon prophet. This was old George Crane, who had been born and brought up a Quaker. On one occasion Smith and Cowdery had gone to the house of George, who had manifested some interest in the pretended translation. It was in the evening, and when several chapters had been read, Mr. Crane, who had been an attentive listener, in his straightforward, Quaker soberness said: 'Joseph, thy book is blasphemous; and I counsel thee to mend thy ways, or thee will come to some bad end.' George Crane lived to see the fulfilment of that prophecy, when this greatest of all modern deceivers fell out of the back window of the Carthage jail riddled with bullets.

    "I had arrived at the printing-office about nine in the morning, and after my interview with Harris, and introduction, as aforesaid, I spent an hour or two with E. B. Grandin and Pomeroy Tucker, proprietor and foreman of the Sentinel. From these gentlemen I learned many particulars that were new to me. I expressed a desire to read the manuscript then in process of being printed; but was informed by them that that was hardly possible, inasmuch as a few sheets only at a time were used as copy in the hands of the printers; and that probably Cowdery and Smith would have no objection to reading it to me, if I would give them an opportunity without interfering with their duties at the office.

    "It was now noon, and I went home with my cousin (Mr. Tucker) to dinner. On returning to


     



                                    AS  TOLD  BY  OTHERS.                                 41


    the office, I found Harris, Cowdery, and the Smiths had remained, substituting a lunch for a regular dinner. My intimacy with them was renewed, and Harris talked incessantly to me on the subject of dreams, and the fearful omens and signs he had seen in the heavens. Of course I became greatly interested, and manifested a desire to hear the miraculous MS. read; and it was agreed that I should go out with them to the house of the elder Smith, and remain over night. In the mean time, I remarked that but one at a time left the printing office, even for a short period.

    "The sun had now got down to he roofs of the houses, and the typos had laid by their work. Each page of the MS. that had been used as copy was delivered to Cowdery, and we prepared to return to Smith's. We arrived at our destination a few minutes before sunset. The Smith residence consisted of a log house, not exactly a cabin. Upon our arrival, I was ushered into the best room in company with the others. In a few moments I was left alone, my companions having gone out on pnvate business. An interview with the family was being held by them in the other part of the house. It was not long before they returned, accompanied by Lucy Smith, the prophet's mother. She came close to me, and taking me by the hand, said:

    "'I've seed you before. You are the same young man that had on the nice clothes, that I seed in my dream. You had on this nice ruffled shirt, with the same gold breast-pin in it that you have now. Yes, jest ezactly sich a one as this!' -- suiting the action to the word, taking hold of the ruffle, and scrutinizing the pin closely. It was not long till she left the room, and I, following to the door, saw two stout, bare-footed girls, each with a tin bucket of red raspberries. Soon after, the old


     



    42                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 


    man announced that supper was ready. We went into the other part of the house, where supper was waiting, consisting of brown bread, milk, and abundance of fine raspberries before mentioned. There was no lack of these, and if any left the table without a really good supper, it was not the fault of the hostess. She, good soul -- full sister to all her sex -- began to make excuses, saying:

    "'If I had only known what a nice visitor I was goin' to have, I would have put on the table flour bread, and not ryn' Injun.'

    "I remarked that it needed no excuses; that the supper was good enough for a king, and that the berries on the table were better than could be bought in any city in America. Beside being true, this had the effect of quieting the feelings of the old lady.

    "It was now time to begin the reading of the manuscript, and we retired to the room we had occupied. This was before the days of lucifer matches, and there being no fire, it took some time before a light could be brought into the room. This was done by our good hostess, who set upon the table a tin candlestick with a tallow dip in it, remarking: 'This is the only candle I can find in the house; I thought I had two, but mabby the rats has eat it up.'

    "Cowdery commenced his task of reading at the table, the others sitting around. The reading had proceeded for some time, when the candle began to spit and splutter, sometimes almost going out, and flashing up with a red-blue blaze. Here was a phenomenon that could not be mistaken. To say that the blaze had been interrupted by the flax shives that remained in the tow wicking, would not do; but Martin Harris arrived at a conclusion 'across lots:' 'Do you see that,' said he, directing his remark to me and the old lady, who sat beside him. 'I know what that means; it is the


     



                                    AS  TOLD  BY  OTHERS.                                 43


    Devil trying to put out the light, so that we can't read any more.' 'Yes,' replied the old lady; 'I seed 'im! I seed 'im! as he tried to put out the burnin' wick, when the blaze turned blue.'

    "The tallow dip shortened at such a fearful rate that the further reading had to be abandoned. It was now past ten, and the other members of the family retired. The MS. was carefully put away, and directions given as to where we were to sleep. In the mean time Mother Smith loaded a clay pipe with tobacco, which she ground up in her hands; a broom splint was lighted in the candle, and the delicious fumes issued in clouds from the old lady's mouth.

    "She now began to talk incessantly for the little time that remained, and told me at some length the dream that she had, when I appeared before her, 'in the nice suit of clothes and ruffled shirt,' as she expressed it; and continued: 'You'll have visions and dreams, mebby, to-night; but don't git skeered; the angel of the Lord will protect you.'

    "After breakfast, in the morning, Mother Smith followed me as I arose from the table, and plied me with questions as to whether I had had dreams, and whether I had seen a vision that 'skeered' me. I told her I had a dream, but so strange that I could not tell it to her or any one else. The fact was communicated to Harris and the rest. All saw that I looked sober, and I determined to leave them in doubt and wonder.

    "We started back to Palmyra, Cowdery bearing in his hand the sacred scroll. Martin was exceedingly anxious that I should give him at least some glimpse of the strange things I had seen in my dream. I told him that was impossible, and I began to doubt whether I ought to tell it to any human being. They all became interested in my


     



    44                                   THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                                 


    reply; and the prophet himself forgetting his taciturnity, said: 'I can tell you what it was. I have felt just as you do. Wait, and the angel of the Lord will open your eyes.' Here we parted, and I returned to the home of my brother."








                      EX-GOVERNOR HARDING'S LETTER.                  45







    CHAPTER V.

    EX-GOVERNOR  HARDING'S  LETTER. -- Continued.

    Curious Developments -- Harris's Frenzy -- An Incident in Indiana -- In Utah -- Reflections, Suggestions, Etc.

    "ABOUT two weeks after this I met Martin Harris. He was glad to see me; inquired how I felt since my dream. He told me that since he saw me at Mr. Smith's, he had seen fearful signs in the heavens. That he was standing alone one night, and saw a fiery sword let down out of heaven, and pointing to the east, west, north, and south, then to the hill of Cumorah, where the plates of Nephi were found. At another time, he said, as he was passing with his wagon and horses from town, his horses suddenly stopped and would not budge an inch. When he plied them with his whip, they commenced snorting and pawing the earth as they had never done before. He then commenced smelling brimstone, and knew the Devil was in the road, and saw him plainly as he walked up the hill and disappeared. I said,'What did he look like?'

    "He replied: 'Stephen, I will give you the best description that I can. Imagine a greyhound as big as a horse, without any tail, walking upright on his hind legs.'*

    "I looked at him with perfect astonishment. 'Now, Stephen,' continued he, 'do tell me your dream.' I dropped my head and answered: 'I am almost afraid to undertake it.' He encouraged me, and said it was revealed to him that another

    ____________
    * Mr. Harris ought to have known that creature could not have been the Devil, as his majesty most surely has a tail. -- T. G.


     



    46                           THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                         


    vessel was to be chosen, and that Joseph had the gift of interpreting dreams the same as Daniel, who was cast into the lion's den. I said, 'Mr. Harris, after considering the matter, I conclude that I ought not to repeat my dreams to you, only on one condition: that you will pledge your honor not to tell it to any one.' 'Oh, do let me tell it to Joseph. He can tell all about what it means,' 'Well,' said I, 'What I mean is, you may tell it to whom you please, only you shall not connect my name with it,; 'I'll do it! I'll do it!' said he, hastily. 'Joseph will be able to tell who it was, the same as if I told the name.'"

    (Here the narrator proceeded to relate a wonderdul dream that never was dreamed, during the course of which, he took occasion to describe some characters that had appeared to him on a scroll -- presenting some of them with a pencil, a micture of stenographic characters and the Greek alphabet, rudely imitated. These were handed to Mr Harris.)

    "Speechless with amazement, he looked at them for a moment, and then springing to his feet, and turning his eyes toward heaven, with uplifted hands, cried out:

    "'O Lord, God! the very characters that are upon the plates of Nephi!'

    "He looked again at the characters, and then at me, with perfect astonishment. His excitement was such that I became positively alarmed, for it seemed to me that he was going crazy. I began to have some compunctions of conscience for the fraud that I had practiced upon him; for I might as well say just here, as well as anywhere, that the dream had beem improvised for the occasion. He suggested that we go to the house of old Man Smith and there relate my dream. I told him that I would never repeat it again to anybody. He bade me good-bye, saying: 'You are a chosen vessel of the Lord.'


     




                      EX-GOVERNOR HARDING'S LETTER.                  47


    "There is but one excuse for my conduct on this occasion; that was, to fathom the depth of his credulity.

    "For the next two or three weeks I did not meet Harris or any of the Smiths or Cowdery. About four weeks afterwards I again visited Palmyra, and spent part of the day in the printing-office, where I found the prophet, Cowdery, and Harris again. The latter took me by the hand with a grip and a shake that were full of meaning; even the prophet himself shook hands with me, looking me steadily in the eye as if new ideas possessed him in regard to myself; and it was evident that my dream had been repeated to these people, and that it was a puzzle to them all.

    "In the meantime the printing of the Book of Mormon was proceeding. There was abundant evidence that the proof sheets had been carefully corrected. The printing was done on a lever press of that period; and when a suffcient number of pages for the entire edition of five thousand copies had been completed, the type had to be distributed. This was a slow process in comparison with what is done in a jobbing office of to-day. Mr. Tucker, the foreman, had just received from Albany a font of new type, and had set up with his own hands the title page of the Book of Mormon, and preparations were now ready for the first impression. About this time the prophet's father also came in. He, too, had evidently heard of my dream, and shook my hand most cordially. Mr. Grandin and two or three typos were present, as if curious in seeing the first impression of the title page. Tucker took up the ink-balls and made the form ready; then laying the blank sheet upon it, with one pull at the lever the work was done; then taking the impression, looked at it a moment, passed it to Cowdery, who scanned it carefully, and passed it to the


     



    48                           THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                         


    prophet himself, who seemed to be examining every letter, and without speaking gave it into the hands of his father and Harris. It was then returned to Tucker. Of course we all looked at it with more or less curiosity, and the work was pronounced excellent. Tucker, who was my cousin, then handed it to me, saying: 'Here, Steve, I'll give this to you. You may keep it as a curiosity.' I thanked him, and put it carefully in my pocket.

    "It was not long until rumors of the dream had reached the ears of many persons. Upon hearing this I felt some concerned, for I did not want to be mixed up or identified with this thing in the least. But all of my apprehension soon vanished, when I found my name had no connection with it, and that the dream had been a real vision of the prophet himsef! Of course this relieved me of all apprehension, and greatly increased my desire to make further experiments in this wild fanaticism.

    "My next subject was Calvin Stoddard, a very clever man, who had been a kind of exhorter among the Methodists. He was a married man, and lived with his wife in a frame house with unpainted weather-boarding, that had become loose from age and exposure to wind and weather. I had met Mr. Stoddard on several occasions, and his conversation generally turned on the subject of the new revelation. He said that we were living in the latter days spoken of in the Bible, and that wonderful things would come to pass on the earth; that he had seen signs in the heavens that would satisfy any one that a new dispensation was coming. That young Joseph had had a dream that was more wonderful than anything he had ever read in the book of Daniel, and that if the village of Palmyra did not repent it would meet the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah.

    "Mr. Tucker, in his book, has referred to the


     




                      EX-GOVERNOR HARDING'S LETTER.                  49


    call that was given on one occasion, to preach the new gospel. In the main, his statement is substantially true; nevertheless, it does great injustice to the dramatic effect of the call that was given. Suffice it to say, that Stoddard and his wife were among the primitive members of the Mormon Church, and in obedience to the call, continued to preach the best that he could to the close of his life. * Requiscat in pace.

    "It was now getting about time for me to return West, and in the month of September, 1829, I took passage on a canal packet for Buffalo. In the meantime marvellous stories were being circulated throughout the neighborhood, in regard to the strange dream of the prophet, and the celestial call of Calvin Stoddard to preach the new gospel. I had received from Harris and Cowdery the first and second chapters of the Book of Mormon. These, with the title page before mentioned, were carefully put away in my trunk. Three or four days before my embarkation, Martin Harris, in company with Cowdery, met me at the village, manifesting a great deal of concern at my intended departure, informing me that young Joseph had been having visions. The day was fixed when I was to leave, and we separated, and the reader may judge of my astonishment when Harris and Cowdery came on board the boat at the first lock below the village, and approached me very much excited, Martin particularly. He wanted to know if I was really starting West. I informed him that I was going directly home to Indiana. He said that the night before the angel of the Lord had visited Joseph, and informed him that I was a

    ____________
    * For the particulars of this remarkable conversation, the reader is referred to the account to be found in another chapter. Mr. Stoddard was married to one of the prophet's sisters, and lived and died in the faith in Illinois -- EDITOR.


     



    50                           THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                         


    chosen vessel of the Lord, and they must pursue me at least as far as Rochester, and inform me of the commands of the angel, and that I must remain in Palmyra until the printing of the Book of Mormon was completed; after which I must go to the city of London and there remain until the Lord would inform me what to do. This, I confess, was a new phase in this wild fanaticism, and I felt very much puzzled and confounded. The first I said was: 'Where is the money to come from to pay my passage to London?' 'Oh,' said Martin, 'the Lord will find the money. The Book of Mormon will sell for thousands and thousands of dollars, and I can furnish the money any day, f necessary.'

    "I confess that for a time I felt very much confused. I had bidden all my friends good-bye, and could not have returned to Palmyra in company with these men without seriously compromising myself. And yet, what a temptation was here presented to me to play the role of the hypocrite and villain! I had no complications, either of love or business, and was as free as the winds that sweep over the prairies. Many times, since Mormonism has become a most dangerous proselytism throughout all Christendom, have I asked myself: What if I had accepted the apple plucked from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, crucified my own sense of honor and manhood, and sold myself to the devil of ambition! It is hardly probable, notwithstanding all this, that the Dead Sea fruit would have turned to ashes on my lips.

    "They continued with me until we arrived at Rochester, where we parted. In the mean time it seemed as if these messengers sent to intercept me would hardly take 'No' for an answer. Martin, with great earnestness, dwelt upon the danger of disobeying the commands of the Lord, and prophesied that I would soon be removed from the earth,


     




                      EX-GOVERNOR HARDING'S LETTER.                  51


    and most probably before I reached my destination, quoting several passages of Scripture fitting my case. On leaving, they shook me by the hand most heartily, Martin warning me of the dangers ahead. The whole scene was worthy of the profoundest study. Here were two men, whose names will go down through the ages as witnesses to the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon, whose superstition and credulity were such as to unseat all confidence in what are termed miracles; and yet, at that time, the evidence of Martin Harris would have been received in a court of justice against all of the Smiths, Pages, and Whitmers, who have published to the world, in the presence of God, that they had 'seen and hefted' the miraculous plates! This, it will be remembered, was before Brigham Young, Heber Kimball, or John Taylor had ever heard of the new dispensation.

    "In 1847, after the expulsion of the Mormons from Nauvoo, I came home one Saturday night from court, and found a stranger at my house. This was not remarkable, for it was generally understood that my doors had never been shut in the face of any human being in distress, black or white. He was a middle-aged man, an Englishman, named Campbell. He told me that he had come from the city of Nauvoo, and was going to some place in Ohio; had heard of me before he left Nauvoo, and hoped I would not consider it an intrusion if he stayed over until Monday morning. He was really an inoffensive-looking person, and was possessed of considerable intelligence. He had emigrated from England a few years before, and was, by trade, a copper-plate engraver. During his stay in my house, I informed him that I had the first title page of the Book of Mormon, that was ever printed, and briefly related to him how it came into my possession. I produced it, and as he examined the strange


     



    52                           THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                         


    relic it was evident that a feeling of awe and veneration had come over him. 'Is it possible! Is it possible!' exclaimed he, his eyes still fixed upon it. 'The hand of the Lord is in it.' He continued to examine it with so much fascination, I said: 'You take so much interest in this that I will give it to you.'

    "'Will you let me take it away?' said he.

    "'Oh, yes, sir, you may keep it as your own,' I said.

    "'Thank you, sir! God bless you. The angel of the Lord must have directed me to this house.' He said it would add greatly to the value of the relic, if I would write something over my own name. I told him I would do so, and wrote the following:

    "'This is the first title page of the Book of Mormon that was ever printed. It was printed in the presence of Joseph Smith, Jr., Joseph Smith, Sr., Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, and myself, at the office of the Wayne Sentinel, Palmyra, New York, August, 1829, -- and which was examined and handled by all the persons above named, and the same is hereby respectfully presented to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. STEPHEN S. HARDING, of Milan, Ind.'

    "It will be seen, hereafter, how a little crumb of bread cast upon the waters will be returned. This man was evidently as honest and sincere in his belief as any member of the most orthodox church. When I went to the territory of Utah as Governor, in 1862, Mr. Campbell was almost the first one to meet me. He held a clerkship in Salt Lake City. He was really glad to see me, and shaking my hand, said:

    "'Governor, the hand of the Lord is in it. This is revelation.' The deep grief that was settled upon him was unexplained, until he informed me


     




                      EX-GOVERNOR HARDING'S LETTER.                  53


    that his eldest son, a young man of promise, had been drowned a day before in the river Jordan, and his body had just been recovered, and was then lying at his house; that he and his wife were nearly overwhelmed with sorrow; but upon hearing of my arrival, he had left her in tears and came to pay his respects to me, and bid me welcome. Poor fellow! It would have been a hard heart that would not have gone out in sympathy for him.

    "I soon learned that the first title page had been well preserved in the Historical Society and Museum. It had been placed between two panes of window glass in a stout frame. By this means it could be carefully handled and examined without danger of defacement. It has been examined by thousands and thousands; and after my arrival the number increased. I looked upon it one day myself, in company with a gentleman from San Francisco. I was soon surrounded by a large company of simple-minded people, who, after my appointment as Governor was known, had heard a thousand times from bishops and elders, that the hand of the Lord was in it. But, alas! the faces that I had known in Palmyra could not be seen. The prophet had been overtaken by retributive justice. Hyrum, his brother, had also paid the penalty. The father and mother had disappeared, and poor Martin Harris had been expelled, trampled upon, and insulted by the prophet himself in the zenith of his power, and was now a wanderer and a vagabond. Cowdery had fared little better. Sidney Rigdon was exiled. Unseen hands had been turning the wheel of fortune. 'My hand-maiden, Emma Smith' (referred to in the revelation that cost the prophet his life), was the wife of a Gentile and the third Joseph Smith, eldest son of the prophet, had to appeal to the Governor, asking for protection, before he dared enter the dominions of


     



    54                           THE PROPHET OF PALMYRA.                         


    the new hierarch. The whole thing seemed to me more like a romance than a reality.

    "In your second letter you ask me certain questions, which I will now briefly answer. Oliver Cowdery, the scribe of the prophet, was a young man of about twenty-four or twenty-five, about