CHAPTER VII.
THE BOOK OF HELAMAN.

-- Helaman, the son of Helaman, is the next writer of a book, which commences
with the fortieth year of the reign of the Judges and reaches down to the
ninetieth, and is the year preceding the nativity of Jesus Christ.
In the commencement of this book, we are presented with the account of mighty
wars and battles, with great slaughter -- next, with multitudes of holy prophets,
prophecying of the coming of the Messiah. Thousands were baptised unto
repentance and for the remission of sins. "And the Holy Spirit of God did come
down from heaven, and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as with
fire, and they could speak forth marvelous words," p. 421. Freemasonry is here
introduced and is said to have originated with a band of highwaymen. This
institution is spoken of in very reproachful terms, in consequence of the members
having bound themselves by secret oaths to protect each other in all things from
the justice of the law. The Nephites are represented as being Anti-masons and
Christians, which carries with it some evidence that the writer foresaw the
politics of New York in 1828-29, or that work was revised at or about that time.
Nephi, who is the son of Helaman, now receives the sacred charge of keeping the
plates, &c. together with the power of loosing and sealing in Heaven, and the gift
of working miracles. He invokes a famine, which follows, as a matter in course,
in order to bring the people to the remembrance of their religion. The distress and
suffering occasioned by the famine is beyond description, without the aid of
Mormon inspiration.
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The Nephites, notwithstanding all their wars and difficulties, were not idle -- they
made progress in the sciences: their arts were not confined to the building of
temples, houses and large ships, &c., but they understood astronomy, of which
any one will be convinced after reading the following elegant extract: "If he saith
unto the earth thou shalt go back that it lengthen out the day for many hours,
and it is done; and thus according to his word the earth goeth back, and it
appeareth unto men that the sun standeth still; yea, and behold, this is so; for
sure it is the earth that moveth, and not the sun." If the prophet Elijah had
taken the same precaution when he commanded the sun to stand still, and
explained it in such a clear and astronomical manner as did our Nephite prophet,
the infidel caviling of Hume, Gibbon, and others, would doubtless have been
avoided upon the subject of that miracle. But we perceive that the prophets of
the Old Testament were of the minor class or were only satellites, when
compared to an inspired Nephite.
The events of our history are growing more and more important -- the heathen
or the Lamanites send forth a prophet, (in what way it is brought about after all
their curses we cannot see, but such is the fact) among the Christians: his name
is Samuel, and he foretells the coming of Christ, and says the night before he will
be born, will be as light as day, but in order that the people may distinguish the
two periods of time, they shall see the sun rise and set, but the light would not
be extinguished but remain as bright as day all night, p. 445. The crucifixion and
death of our Savior is also foretold and described in the following poetic style:
"The sun shall be darkened and refuse to give light unto you; and also the moon
and stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this land, for the space
of three days," and he adds that great earthquakes and convulsions, hills
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and mountains shall be leveled, and valleys shall become mountains; and divers
atmospherical phenomena, such as thunder and lightning, tempests, &c. will take
place, p. 446-7.
Samuel likewise prophecies of the restoration of the Lamanites, to the true
religion of the Redeemer, and that they finally would be numbered among his
sheep. Samuel is persecuted as usual among the Nephites, by the infidels, but he
is represented as having so much of the spirit of God, that he was invulnerable
to their missiles and other weapons.
"THE BOOK OF NEPHI,
the Son of Nephi, which was the son of Helaman," p. 452.
-- The great and notable year has at length arrived, "and it was six hundred
years from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem." This is the year in which the
Savior must be born, and the event is consequently brought about by our author,
accordingly. During this year the infidels rallied all their forces, and towards the
close they had rejoicings and festivities because they fancied that Samuel had
prophecied falsely. They not only rejoiced, but sent forth threatenings against the
Christians! But Nephi prayed to God for protection, who informed him that the
time was at hand, that, that very night the sign should be given -- and lo! the
sun set, and the brightness of the day continued, to the discomfiture and
confounding of the infidels. A star appeared, which every body saw even in the
bright light of day. By what kind of vision it could be seen, we cannot conjecture,
unless through the medium of those huge magic spectacles. The power of seeing
stars in a bright light day was never heard of previous, nor since that time, unless
through the medium of optical instruments; but whether the spectacles were
used, or whether the star was as large and as bright as the sun, we cannot
determine.
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We have heretofore mentioned that free-masonry originated with a band of
robbers, and at the present period of our history, that class of men are the most
formidable foes of the Nephites. They inhabited the mountains and lurked in
secret caverns of the rocks, and could not be ferreted out. The only safe-guard
which the Nephites possessed, was, to appoint such men as were filled with the
spirit of prophecy and revelation for their chief captains and generals; and by this
means they could not be surprised and destroyed by the mountain robbers
We do object to this mode of making rulers over the people; but we cannot see
why, when God appointed and anointed Joseph Smith his high priest on earth, and
ruler over his people, He did not give him sufficient prophetic knowledge so that
he might have avoided the disturbances in Missouri and his own tom fool's errand,
together with about three hundred deluded followers, to reinstate the disinherited
from the "promised land"?
Mighty battles are fought between the Nephites and their mountain enemies, but
the former are always successful, on account of their inspired rulers and generals.
"And thus they did put an end to all those wicked, and secret, and abominable
combinations, in the which there were so much wickedness, and so many
murders committed," p. 463.
The writer says his name is Mormon, and is a "pure descendant of Lehi," p. 464.
He assures us that his record is true, but complains of the impoverished condition
of their language, and that many things cannot be written in consequence of it.
This is the first instance of any complaint that we have ever met with, where an
inspired writer could not convey divine history, for want of language. In this case,
the Almighty is represented as forestalling himself by undertaking to make a
history of important events without language, through the medium of a brass
plate engraver. -- Preposterous!!
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In the thirty-fourth year of the reign of the Judges, Samuel's prophecies are
realized. A great and terrible tempest is described, which lasted three hours;
thunder and lightning, such as were never before witnesses. The great city of
Zarahemla took fire, and the city of Moroni sunk into the depths of the sea, cities
which were in vallies were destroyed & their location became mountains, the
rocks were split asunder and the face of the whole earth became "deformed," p.
470-1.
After the terrible tempest, then came on darkness, which was so intense that it
could be felt -- candles, nor torches, nor fires, however dry the fuel, would not
give the least scintillation of light -- all was darkness; "the sun, nor the moon,
nor the stars," were any more useful. In this terrible period, sixteen cities were
destroyed, together with their inhabitants; some were burned, and others sunk
into the depths of the sea!! p. 471-2.
The troubles of the Nephites and the destruction at this time, is represented by
our author as surpassing all other events, and even if the description was truth,
we should not differ with him in the least. But let us see how it compares with the
words of our Savior, as recorded in St. Matthew's gospel -- "For there shall be
great tribulation, such as was not, nor ever shall be." Here our blasphemer is a t
direct issue with the Son of God.
After the description of the great signs which were seen and heard during the
three days of darkness and trouble, the people gather themselves in a great
multitude about the temple, which was situate in the land Bountiful, and were
expressing their astonishment of the past events, and conversing about Jesus
Christ, when they heard a voice from heaven, which "caused their hearts to
burn" -- they cast their eyes toward Heaven, and they saw a man descend,
clothed in a white robe. Fear came upon all for they thought
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it was an angel. The whole multitude are called upon to thrust their hands into
his side and examine the points of the nails, and they did so, one by one, which
satisfied them that it was the Son of God. After having authorized Nephi and a
number of others to baptize, the Savior issues the following explicit command in
relation to receiving members into the church: "Behold, ye shall go down and
stand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptise them. And now behold,
these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying -- Having
authority given me by Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen. And then shall ye immerse them in the water,
and come forth again out of the water." It seems to us that the instructions here
given are wholly gratuitous, for this mode, precisely, has already been practiced
by the Nephites, for about four hundred years, or since King Noah was baptized,
in the river Mormon.
The number which were authorized to administer and preach, were twelve, which
were afterwards called apostles. After every thing is organized the beatitudes are
repeated to them in a translation corresponding with that found in the 5th Chap.
of St. Matthew's Gospel, together with the sermon on the mount, somewhat
transposed, but the variations are inconsiderable. The Savior is represented as
continuing to address the multitude with almost precisely the same sentences
which are recorded by the evangelists, somewhat picked up, and not very
judiciously arranged.
The preaching is finally finished, and Christ departs into Heaven, and we are then
presented with apostolic writing, from which we extract the following beautiful,
descriptive sentence: "And after this manner do they bear records; the eye hath
never seen, neither hath the ear heard before, so great and marvelous things
as we saw and heard Jesus
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speak unto the Father; and no tongue can speak, neither can the hearts of men
conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak;
and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the same time we
heard him pray for us unto the Father." p. 489.
The only additional commandments which were given to the American apostles on
this special visit of the Savior, were -- "Pray in your families unto the Father,
always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed" -- "meet
often, and forbid no man from coming unto you, when you shall meet together,"
p. 492.
Nephi, our present hero, was the archbishop -- he baptized himself, and then
baptized the eleven, whose names were Timothy, Jonas, Mathoni, Mathonihag,
Kumen, Kumenonhi, Jeremiah, Shemnon, Jonas, Zedekiah, and Isaiah -- "They
were baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost." -- Many marvelous sayings are
represented to have been uttered, but not one of them could either be spoken
or written, although he spoke for many days!!
The plates of Nephi were critically examined, and only one omission could be
found which was, that no mention was made of the resurrection of the saints
which were raised in America at the time of the great tempest, who were very
numerous!!
"THE BOOK OF NEPHI, THE SON OF NEPHI,"
-- This book includes only four pages, and contains the whole history of three
hundred and twenty years after Christ. -- Events appear to be unimportant, or
otherwise they are of that character which cannot be written nor spoken.
In the thirty-sixth year, all the inhabitants of the land were converted and
baptized, and a perfect community of peace was the result. This condition of
Millennial happiness, continued for one hundred and seventy years. Three of the
apostles were immortalized and were seen four hundred
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years after their induction into the sacred office by the Savior. Where they are
at this time, has not been revealed, but it is conjectured by some that the three
witnesses appended to the Book of Mormon, to establish the truth of the
brass-plate revelation, are the identical immortal three.
We cannot be dismissed by our author until we are told that sectarianism
commenced among the Christians, which terminated in wars and bloodshed, and
almost a total extinction of vital religion, which happened in the year, A.D. 320.
All the events, from the time when Amaleki delivered the plates to king Benjamin
up to the present period of our history; have been written by Mormon, who is the
recording angel of the whole matter. And he now keeps the record under his own
observation; and commences a book in the following sublime language; "And now
I, Mormon, make a record of the things which I have both seen and heard, and
call it the Book of Mormon." We have never read of so great a general, nor so
great a Christian as was our hero Mormon. He commanded in one engagement
against the Lamanites, 42,000 men, all with splendid equipage, and under
complete martial discipline. The terrible battle was fought, and Mormon came off
victorious, as a matter of course, A.D. 330.
A definitive treaty was concluded, after the great battle between the two hostile
powers; and the Lamanites took South America and the Nephites North America;
there being only a small remnant left of either side. Mormon exhorts the people
to obey the commands of Christ, and laments over the slain, and represents that
thousands of females had fallen in the great battle, p. 530.
Moroni is the next on the stage, and finishes what his father left undone, and
continues the history down to A.D. 400. He complains that the plates are so
small, (the art
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of manufacturing the sacred brass leaves we suppose is lost) he is obliged to
make the record in "Reformed Egyptian," otherwise he would have written or
engraved the whole matter in Hebrew. The whole record "being handed down and
altered according to our manner of speech." p. 538. -- He says that no one shall
disbelieve his record, because of its imperfections! and declares that all who
receive it, will not condemn it for that reason, and promises to those who believe,
not doubting, shall know far greater things, p. 532. "He that condemneth it shall
be in danger of hell fire." We are told by Moroni, in a lamentable manner, that
Free-masonry will be very prevalent in the days that the unlearned man shall find
the plates; and establishes the doctrine that miracles will never cease unless it
be through unbelief.
Previous to baptism each applicant must relate his religious experience, as being
a duty and satisfaction to the church, and be sure not to partake of the
sacrament unworthily.
THE "BOOK OF ETHER,"
which commences, "And now I, Moroni, proceed to give an account of the
ancient inhabitants which were destroyed by the hand of the Lord, upon the face
of this north country." The privilege of recording the great events of the people
of Jared, has been reserved for our hero, Moroni. The people of Jared are those
who were not confounded in their language at the destruction of Babel, but built
ships, eight in number, and came to America, nearly 4000 years ago. The record
is taken as we are told, from the gold plates which were found by the forty men
whom king Limhi despatched to make discoveries.
One Ether is the reputed author of the engravings on the gold plates, and in the
translation by Moroni, alias Smith, we are presented with a genealogy of the
fathers down to Jared, who left the great Tower, together with sundry other
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families and embarked for America. The genealogy is somewhat amusing; he gives
us TWENTY-NINE generations down to the time of Jared, and the time when the
Lord confounded the languages. According to the writings of Moses, the Tower
was built in the days of Shem, the son of the patriarch Noah, and agreeably to
the evangelist Luke, there were only TEN generations between Shem and Adam!!
If we are not allowed the Bible to prove the Book of Mormon false, we must resort
to the reasonableness of the story and positions taken.
To rescue Jared and his people, God marched before them in a cloud, and after
reaching the sea he directed them to construct eight barges, in which to cross
the seas. The whole eight are finally built, after the directions given by the Lord,
and when finished they were air tight! The Lord directs them how to remedy the
evil -- they are commanded to make a hole in the top to admit air, and one in the
bottom to admit water; in each whole was put a molten stone, which, when
touched by the finger of Jesus, becomes as transparent as any glass, and gave
them light under the "mountain waves," as well as above water. He that touched
these stones appeared unto the brother Jared, and said, "Behold I am Jesus
Christ, I am the Father and the Son." Two of these stones were sealed up with
the plates, according to a prediction before Abraham was born. How, and in what
manner they became set in the "two rims of a bow." and fell into the hands of
the Nephites, has not been explained, nor what has become of the remaining
fourteen molten stones, is likewise hidden in mystery.
Moroni says, in his Book of Ether, that he that should find the plates, should have
the privilege of shewing them unto those who should assist him in publishing the
book, "and unto these shall they be shewen by the power of God; wherefore they
shall of a surety know that these things are true," p. 548.
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Those barges or ships are literally described on page 57 of this work as it is found
on p. 542. The barges are represented air tight, and after diving and swimming
three hundred and forty four days, they all safely arrive at the land of promise.
The people of Jared had the gospel of Jesus Christ revealed and preached to them
-- and in the lapse of ages and generations, they became very numerous, and
wars and contentions ensue. Two renowned generals take the command of the
two hostile forces; one is named Coriantumr and the other Shiz. Shiz pursues
Coriantumr to the sea shore, where a battle is fought; with unparalleled
slaughter, which lasted three days -- three battles more are fought, and
Coriantumr is represented as successful in every rencountre, but on the fifth
attack, Shiz comes off conqueror.
Coriantumr now remembers the prophecies of Ether, and he counts his slain, and
they amount to nearly TWO MILLION!! How many Shiz lost, is not computed.
However, the cessation of hostilities did not last long; the two generals
commenced rallying together their troops, which occupied four years; and every
person was enrolled that was in all the land -- "MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN," --
on one side or the other, except Ether, who was then the recording angel and
prophet. "And it came to pass that when they were all gathered together, every
one to the army which he would, with their wives and children; both men,
women and Children, being armed with weapons of war, having shields, and
breast-plates, and head-plates, and being clothed after the manner of war, they
did march forth, one against another, to battle," p. 572.
They fought five successive days without conquering, and the slain could not be
numbered; but the remains of Coriantumr's army were fifty-two, and those of
Shiz, sixty-nine. The next day the forces met again, and the soldiers of
Coriantumr
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were reduced to twenty-seven and those of Shiz to thirty-two; and on the next
day they fought again -- they were all killed except the two generals. Coriantumr
took advantage of Shiz, and cut off his head, and then he "fell to the earth and
became as if he had no life," p. 573. This story cannot be doubted, for Ether
went forth and saw it, and finished his record; and adds, that he is uncertain
whether he shall be translated or not, and concludes by saying that it is no
matter if he can be saved in the kingdom of God. Thus ends the Book of Ether,
giving an account of the people of Jared, who were of a different race from the
lineage of Adam, because we have their genealogy, which embraces twenty-nine
generations, and begins to count back from the days of Shem. Neither Noah nor
any other of the antediluvian patriarchs are mentioned, consequently others must
have been preserved from the flood than Noah and his family, if this history be
true. Besides the inspiration of Moses is not only contradicted in this particular,
but in the plain declaration that the Lord confounded the language of the whole
human race, Gen. XI:9.
"THE BOOK OF MORONI,"
-- Moroni is the last of the Nephites! He has survived his whole race, amidst wars
and carnage, for this important purpose of "abridging" the records of the people
of Jared and of sealing up the plates of Nephi, which is done, A.D. 420.
Contrary to his expectations, he lives, and concludes to write a book for the
benefit of his brethren the Lamanites, which he hopes will ultimately convert
them. To avoid discovery, by the Lamanites, he remains incognito;* he expressed
great fear of assassination by them, if discovered,
____________
* Moroni, however, has been seen by Smith, as he says, in Susquehannah Co.,
Pa., since the plates were translated. A more particular account of this interview
will be found in a subsequent part of this work.
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on account of his great belief in Christ, which he asserts, roundly, he will not
renounce, p. 574.
The manner of ordaining priests and teachers, and of "administering the flesh and
blood of Christ" is the first subject explained; after which, the particular
qualifications for admission into Christ's visible church is described, together with
the ordinance of baptism, which must be done by immersing the candidate under
water.
Moroni notices the manner in which the ancient Nephites worshipped, and says
they met often to converse about the welfare of their souls, and met often to
partake of the bread and wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus. It was
customary to forgive their members for their transgressions, as often as they
required it, and the confessions were made before the Elders of the church.
Previous to the death of Mormon, he wrote a few espistles to his son Moroni,
which he inserts, and then concludes to write something which seems good to
him. Spiritual gifts, he assures us, will never cease, only through unbelief and
want of faith. And when the plates of Nephi should be dug up out of the earth,
Moroni "exhorts you that ye should ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of
Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with
real intent, having faith in Christ, and he will manifest the truth of it unto you by
the power of the Holy Ghost," p. 586.
Here we are directed how we can all become Mormons, to wit: first believe all the
fooleries, and forgeries, and lies of Jo Smith's translation of the brass plates; and
then pray to be convinced of its divine authenticity, not doubting, and then, by
the power of the Holy Ghost, it will all be made manifest!!
We have now gone through with the new revelation, or the Bible of the
Mormonites, the analysis of which we present to our readers. The task has been
a laborious one, and we acknowledge but little has been effected, and would
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cheerfully make an apology to our readers for the uninteresting results, if the
forest through which we have traveled had furnished better materials for our
review. We should have abandoned the task, were it not that so many of our
worthy fellow citizens have been seduced by the witcheries and mysterious
necromances of Smith and his colleagues, from the paths of wisdom and truth,
into folly and madness. We anticipate the bitter vituperation and sneers of the
Mormon leaders, and their influence over their already numerous followers, and do
not expect to accomplish a reformation amongst them; but if we shall serve to
enlighten any, who are not already the slaves of Mormon madness, alias the Devil,
we will feel richly compensated.
The next subject is the testimony of the "three witnesses," Oliver Cowdery, David
Whitmer and Martin Harris, which is appended to the Book of Mormon, to establish
its divine authenticity. It is as follows:
THE TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES.
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto
whom this work shall come: That we, through the grace of God the
Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which
contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and
also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of
Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken. And
we also know that they have been translated by the gift and
power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we
know of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that
we have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they
have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man.
And we declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God
came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes,
that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon;
and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our
Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these
things are true. And it is marvelous in our eyes. Nevertheless, the
voice of the
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Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore,
to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony
of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we
shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found
spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ, and shall dwell with
him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God.
OLIVER COWDERY DAVID WHITMER MARTIN HARRIS
The solemnity of an oath has been regarded sacred in all ages of the world, both
by the pagan and the Christian. In all civil communities, like ours, when an
individual calls the searcher of all hearts to whom he expects and firmly believes
he must render a final account in a future state of existence, to bear him witness
by the solemn truth of his ascertions, we are irresistibly led to give full credit to
his testimony. But experience has taught us, that sometimes individuals have
purjured themselves, however revolting it may seem at first view; yet suspicions
as to the credibility of a witness might be well grounded.
There are many circumstances which go to destroy the credibility of a witness,
and his competency. By the common law, no person can be a witness, who does
not entertain a just sense of the obligation of an oath, and disbelieves in a God,
and a future state of accountability. Nor can any person be a witness who is
interested in the event of a suit, that is, when he may gain or lose by the
verdict.
These rules are taken, and are well founded, together with many others equally
well established.
It is unnecessary for us, in this place, to give the reasons for the above rules of
the common law; but the long application of them in our municipal courts, and the
justice which has uniformily resulted from their operations upon the rights of
individuals and communities, are sufficient arguments
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in favor of their equitable claim for the continuance in all our civil tribunals.
At the end of the Book of Mormon the names of Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer
and Martin Harris, are affixed under a most solemn oath, testifying to the divine
exhibition of the plates to them, and of their having been translated by the power
of God!!
Here are positive declarations, under the solemnities of an oath, with
circumstances that will justify us in an examination, as to the credibility and
competency of the witnesses.
In the first place, do each of these witnesses entertain a just sense of the
obligation of an oath? do they believe in a future state of existence and
accountability? We think the rational answers are in the negative; nor will any
one disagree with us, when we shall have proven that the Book of Mormon was
a joint speculation vetween the "author and proprietor" and the witnesses.
How stands the matter? Martin Harris was the scribe for Smith, for a considerable
part of the work, and then mortgaged his farm to the publisher as collateral
security for the payment of $3000, and after the book was completed he claimed
the whole profits of the sale, until he should be reimbursed. These are facts
which can be substantiated in a court of justice. Then, was he not a partner?
would not the law consider him connected with Smith and make him jointly liable.
Oliver Cowdery was the principal amanuensis, probably better qualified for the
task, than his predecessor Harris. -- How, and in what way he was connected we
can only infer from circumstances. His pecuniary situation was very low, and the
labor of writing, if he charged common wages, would ammount to no
inconsiderable sum, and Smith was wholly irresponsible to pay him, nor can we
learn that Harris
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had indemnified him in any manner whatever. Then, the rational inference is, that
after having the plot disclosed to him, he was willing to risk his chance for a
fortune. He is now associated with the leaders, and appears in easy
circumstances.
David Whitmer is a very inconsiderable person, but is in high standing, as a leader,
among the Mormons. We know but little about him, only that he has been known
as a man of small capacity, an anxious dupe to the marvwlous, and a firm believer
in witches. Whether he was suborned or deceived by the impostor we are unable
to determine.
So far as it relates to Smith, Cowdery and Harris, we have clearly shown that
they were connected in the outset as the result has proven; a failure of which,
would have reduced Harris to beggary, and blasted the fond hopes of Smith and
Cowdery, and brought down upon them everlasting contempt and disgrace.
In addition to the joint speculation, we may connect the attempt to institute a
new religion, contrary to the revelations of Jesus Christ, as revealed in the Bible
-- which we claim to have clearly shown in our analysis of the Book of Mormon.
And he who would be guilty of so gross a sacrilege, necessarily disbelieves in
accountability to God, and therefore would perjure himself, with impunity.
We contend, therefore, that no credit ought to be given to those witnesses, nor
are they competent, firstly, because they were under no conscientious restraint,
and secondly, their worldly prospects depended upon the issue.
Above, we have copied the solemn testimony of "the three witnesses,"
accompanied with circumstances which renders it proper for us to critically
examine and analyze it. They call God to witness, that they have seen the plates
from which the Book of Mormon is translated; and that the translation was
accomplished by the power of God, for his
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voice had declared it unto them!! At what time this special revelation was made,
is not specified; but we infer that the voice of God declared the fact to them in
relation to the translation, at one time, and that they saw the plates at another;
and they were severally chosen, and no others, to bear the testimony to the
world. Nor could any others have seen and heard as they did, had they been
present.
If an individual swears to a particular fact or facts, in order that the testimony
may be believed -- time, place nd other circumstances must be mentioned,
without which others might be prejudiced, by not giving them an opportunity to
rebut. If the time and the place had been mentioned, when and where the plates
were seen, it is not impossible but that testimony of equal credibility might be
produced, to show that there was no such place; and that the witnesses were
hundreds of miles from the country in which they testified they saw them. Then
the testimony is vague and uncertain, and not entitled to credit upon that
ground. If the subscribing witnesses saw the plates and heard the voice of God;
they themselves must have been in some place or places when the
communications were made; and it is not unreasonable to enquire into it.
But this is not all. Testimony must be of such a nature that others, if they were
present, could have testified to the same facts. But in the testimony, the three
would have us believe that they were specially chosen to testify to the truth of
the Book of Mormon, and no others, according to the predictions of the Mormon
prophets, made over two thousand years ago. Besides all the transactions which
have been and will be shown in the course of this work, in relation to the getting
up of the Book of Mormon, the testimony carries strong suspicions upon the face
of it; and were it disconnected from all other circumstances of fraud and
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deception, it would not be believed, however solemnly declared, in a court of
justice.
We have, likewise, the testimony of eight other witnesses subjoined, consisting
of four Whitmers, Hiram Page, Joseph Smith, Sen., (the father of the prophet,)
and two of his brothers.
They testify that Joseph Smith, Jun., showed them the plates, and that they
looked like gold, and that they saw the engravings and hefted them.
Who are the witnesses? four Whitmers of the same family with the one who
sunscribed to the miraculous exhibition of them, and three Smiths, the father and
two brothers of the prophet. And what is their testimony? Why, that Jo Smith
showed them some plates, that were yellow and had engravings upon them,
which they could not read nor understand; but Jo probably told them that he had
translated a part of them, and intended to continue the work until he had finished
them. So much for the eight witnesses.
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