History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

OLIVER COWDERY. 57
the golden plates is hereafter known, and that he also
shall bear witness to the truth.
Two days after the arrival of Oliver, 16 Joseph and he
begin the work systematically, the former translating
17
while the latter writes for Oliver ;
has a vision, mean-
Times and Seasons, ii. 305-6; Pratt's Pamphlets, i. to vi. 1-96; Hyde's Mormonism,
210-83; Olshausen Gesck. der Mormen, 15-29; Howe's Mormonism
Unveiled, 17-123; Salt Lake City Tribune, Apr. 11, June 5 and 6, and Nov.
5, 1879; Juvenile Instructor, xiv. 2-3; Reynolds' Myth of the Manuscript
Found, passim; Lee's Mormonism, 119-26; Clements' Roughing It, 127-35;
Pop. Science Monthly, lvi. 165-73; Bennett's Mormonism Exposed, 103-40.
See letter from Tlmrlow Weed, also statement by Mrs Matilda Spaulding
McKinstry in Scribner's Mag., Aug. 1880, 613-16.
16 ' Oliver Cowdery is a blacksmith by trade, and sustained a fair reputation
until his intimacy commenced with the money digger. He was one of
the many in the world who always find time to study out ways and means to
live without work. He accordingly quit the blacksmithiDg business, and is
now the editor of a small monthly publication issued under the directions of
the prophet, and principally filled with accounts of the spread of Mormonism,
their persecutions, and the fabled visions and commands of Smith.' He was
'chief scribe to the prophet, while transcribing, after Martin had lost 116
pages of the precious document by interference of the devil. An angel
also has shown him the plates from which the book of Mormon proceeded,
as he says.' Howe's Mormonism Unveiled, 15, 265; see also Pearl of Great
Price, xiii. 54; Smuclcer's Hist. Mor., 28; Taylder's Mormons, xxxii.
17 ' Instead of looking at the characters inscribed upon the plates, the
prophet was obliged to resort to the old peep-stone which he formerly used in
money digging. This he placed in a hat, or box, into which he also thrust
his face. . .Another account they give of the transaction is, that it was performed
with the big spectacles,' which enabled 'Smith to translate the plates
' without looking at them.' Howe's Mormonism Unveiled, 17-18. These were
days never to be forgotten,' Oliver remarks, 'to sit under the sound of a voice
dictated by the inspiration of heaven, awakened the utmost gratitude of this
bosom! Day after day I continued, uninterrupted, to write from his mouth,
as he translated with the urim and thummim, or, as the Nephites would
have said, ."interpreters," the history or record called the "Book of Mormon,"'
Pearl of Great Price, 55. See also Machay's The Mormons, 30-31;
Millennial Star, iii. 148; Smucker's Hist. Mormons, 35; Pratt's Pamphlets, iv.
58-9; Ferris' Utah and the Mormons, 61-2. In relation to the peep-stone alluded
to, Williard Chase says in his sworn testimony that he discovered a
singular stone while digging a well in the year 1822. Joseph Smith was assisting
him, and borrowed the stone from him, alleging that he could see into
it. After he obtained the stone Smith published abroad the wonders that
he could see in the stone, and made much disturbance among the credulous
members of the community. See Howe's Mormonism Unveiled, 241. 'This
stone attracted particular notice on account of its peculiar shape, resembling
that of a child's foot. It was of a whitish, glassy appearance, though opaque,
resembling quartz . . . He (Joseph Jr) manifested a special fancy for this geological
curiosity; and he carried it home with him, though this act of plunder
was against the strenuous protestations of Mr Chase's children, who claimed
to be its rightful owners. Joseph kept this stone, and ever afterward refused
its restoration to the claimants. Very soon the pretension transpired that he
could see wonderful things by its aid. The idea was rapidly enlarged upon
from day to day, and in a short time his spiritual endowment was so developed
that he asserted the gift and power (with the stone at his eyes) of revealing
both things existing and things to come.' Tucker's Mormonism, 19-20.