History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

52 THE STORY OF MORMONISM.
the wicked Lamanites. The greatest prophet of tho
Nephites, in the period of their declension, was Mormon,
their historian, who after having completed his
abridgment of the records of his nation, committed it
to his son Moroni, and he, that they might not fall
into the hands of the Lamanites, deposited them in
the hill of Cumorah, where they were found by Joseph
Smith.
On the 5th of April, 1829, there comes to Joseph
Smith a school-teacher, Oliver Cowdery by name,
to whom the Lord had revealed himself at the house
of the elder Smith, where the teacher had been
boarding. Inquiring of the Lord, Joseph is told that
to Oliver shall be given the same power to translate
the book of Mormon, 15 by which term the writing on
15 The Book of Mormon; an account written by The Hand of Mormon, upon
plates taken from the plates of Nephi. Wherefore it is an abridgment of the.
record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, who are a remnant oj
the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile; written by way of commandment,
and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation. Written and sealed
up, and hid up unto the Lord, thai they might not be destroyed; to come forth
by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof; sealed by the hand
of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by the way of
Gentile; the interpretation thereof by the gift of God. An abridgment taken
from the Book of Ether also; which is a record of the people of Jarad; who were
scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people when they
were building a tower to get to heaven; which is to shew unto the remnant of the
House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and
that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast offforever;
and also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the
Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations. And now if there are
faults, they are the mistakes of men; wherefore condemn not the things of God,
that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ. By Joseph Smith,
Jun.\ Author and Proprietor. (Printed by E. B. Grandin, for the author,
Palmyra, New York, 1830.) Several editions followed. This first edition
has 588 pages, and is prefaced among other things by an account of 117
pages, which Mrs Harris burned. This preface is omitted in subsequent
editions. The testimony of three witnesses, and also of eight witnesses
which in subsequent editions is placed at the beginning, is here at the end.
The testimony of witnesses affirms that the signers saw the plates and the
engravings thereon, having been shown them by an angel from heaven; they
knew of the translation, that it had been done by the gift and power of God,
and was therefore true. The book was reprinted at Nauvoo, at New York,
at Salt Lake City, and in Europe. An edition printed by Jas 0. Wright &
Co., evidently by way of speculation, contains eight pages of introduction,
and an advertisement asserting that it is a reprint from the third American
edition, and that the work was originally published at Nauvoo, which latter
statement is incorrect. The publishers further claim that at the time of this
printing, 1848, the book was out of print, notwithstanding the several pre-