The Book of Avahr

The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon

Preface, Etc.

Preface, Etc.

Dedication

To everyone in the Latter Day Saint Movement, may we be one, even as the Father and the Son are one; Amen.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to everyone that contributed for their work and encouragement. And, special thanks to the families and friends of those involved for the time taken to accomplish this sacred work.

2018 Preface

“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.’” – Revelation 14: 6-7 KJV 
The history of the Latter Day Saints, a collective of restorational Christian denominations, begins with the shared history found within the Book of Avahr. “Avahr” is Hebrew for “past.” This book tells the story of Joseph Smith Jr.; his birth, obtaining, and “translating” (divining) the Gold Plates into the sacred text we know today as the Everlasting Gospel: The Book of Mormon. And, it includes the revelations he received prior to the formation of the original Church of Christ. 
The story of the restoration as found in the Book of Avahr explains why young Joseph went to the Lord, how through sin he lost the Book of Lehi, and how he divined the rest of these new scriptures using a seer stone. This is not meant to be a fully accurate historical narrative yet does attempt to preserve the words of those involved as best as possible. It includes all of the revelations Joseph received that we have access to, in order, as recorded in the original handwritten copies, with minor grammatical changes. These are placed with journal entries and other historical books and records for clearer perspective. When there were no records, the narrative is created through prayer, and inspired guidance. The Book of Avahr ends with the printing of the Book of Mormon. 
The Book of Avahr was not compiled to hide Joseph’s magical past. Yet it does not go into his treasure seeking, nor does it hide it (though it should be noted that Joseph does in at least one point attempt to do so, and we do not change his words). Items like Joseph’s seer stones, Oliver Cowdery’s divining rods, etc. are not hidden. At the same time, his beliefs that angels guarded treasures, etc. are not explored either. It is not as if his world view did not lead him to his sacred experiences. Nor is it that these truths are not clearly recorded. It is simply that, at this time, they are not directly relevant to the purpose of this work. The purpose of the Book of Avahr is show the Book of Mormon coming forth, and to guide others to follow the prophet Joseph in seeking the Lord and gaining their own sacred experiences. 
Like the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon, the Book of Avahr is not perfect and should not always be taken literally. Though Joseph Smith Jr. on at least one occasion declared the Book of Mormon to be the “most correct book,” no one ever declared it perfect. The book itself admits that is has flaws as it was compiled by men. Likewise, the Book of Avahr is not a perfect record. As the title page of the Book of Mormon states: “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.” We echo Moroni’s words, and encourage all to read this book prayerfully that the Spirit may speak to mankind through it, just as we would the Holy Bible and any other work of scripture. 
For more information on the subject of magic in Joseph Smith Jr.’s world, it is recommended that one read D. Michael Quinn’s work, “Early Mormonism and the Magic World View” in addition to the Book of Avahr.

2019 Edition

After completing this work, I felt the Spirit prompting me, telling me it was incomplete. After prayer and inspiration, an additional three chapters have been added. 
These chapters offer visions from the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr.’s parents, giving understanding of the spiritual environment in which, he was raised and further light and knowledge for the Saints of the branches of Zion.

List of Abbreviations

*BoC&R* – Book of Commandments and Revelations Book One 
*BoC* – Book of Commandments 
*CoC* – Community of Christ Doctrine and Covenants 
*CJCLdS* – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Doctrine and Covenants 
*OPV* – The Orson Pratt Version of the Book of Mormon, used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and many other Latter Day Saint denominations 
*RAV* – Revised Authorized Version used by Community of Christ and other denominations from the RLDS tradition; it is the same chapter and verse as the AV (Authorized Version), and other variations used in this tradition 
An asterisk (*) placed before one of the above denotes from where the text of a revelation originated.

The Book of Avahr

The coming Forth of the Book of Mormon

A Book of Sacred History; Commandments and Revelations of the Lord given to Joseph Smith Jr. the Seer and others by the inspiration of God and gift and power of the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost, which is one God, infinite and eternal, worlds without end. Amen.

Chapter 1

A vision of Mother Smith. The following is from “History of the Prophet Joseph Smith by his mother Lucy Mack Smith,” Chapter 13, “The Author’s Dream.”

While we were living in the town of Tunbridge, my mind became deeply impressed with the subject of religion; which, probably, was occasioned by my singular experience during my sickness at Randolph. 
I commenced attending Methodist meetings, and in order to oblige me, my husband accompanied me; 
But when this came to the ears of his oldest brother, he was so displeased, and said so much in regard to the matter, that my husband thought it best to desist. 
He said that he considered it hardly worth our while to attend the meetings any longer, as it would prove of but little advantage to us; 
Besides this, it gave our friends such disagreeable feelings. 
I was considerably hurt by this, yet I made no reply. 
I retired to a grove not far distant, where I prayed to the Lord in behalf of my husband—that the true gospel might be presented to him, and that his heart might be softened so as to receive it, or, that he might become more religiously inclined. 
After praying some time in this manner, I returned to the house, much depressed in spirit, which state of feeling continued until I retired to my bed. 
I soon fell asleep, and had the following dream: 
¶ I thought that I stood in a large and beautiful meadow, which lay a short distance from the house in which we lived, and that everything around me wore an aspect of peculiar pleasantness. 
The first thing that attracted my special attention in this magnificent meadow, was a very pure and clear stream of water, which ran through the midst of it; 
And as I traced this stream, I discovered two trees standing upon its margin, both of which were on the same side of the stream. 
These trees were very beautiful, they were well proportioned, and towered with majestic beauty to a great height. 
Their branches, which added to their symmetry and glory, commenced near the top, and spread themselves in luxurious grandeur around. 
I gazed upon them with wonder and admiration; 
And after beholding them a short time, I saw one of them was surrounded with a bright belt, that shone like burnished gold, but far more brilliantly. 
Presently, a gentle breeze passed by, and the tree encircled with this golden zone, bent gracefully before the wind, and waved its beautiful branches in the light air. 
As the wind increased, this tree assumed the most lively and animated appearance, and seemed to express in its motions the utmost joy and happiness. 
If it had been an intelligent creature, it could not have conveyed, by the power of language, the idea of joy and gratitude so perfectly as it did; 
And even the stream that rolled beneath it, shared, apparently, every sensation felt by the tree, 
For, as the branches danced over the stream, it would swell gently, then recede again with a motion as soft as the breathing of an infant, but as lively as the dancing of a sunbeam. 
The belt also partook of the same influence, and, as it moved in unison with the motion of the stream and of the tree, it increased continually in refulgence and magnitude, until it became exceedingly glorious. 
¶ I turned my eyes upon its fellow, which stood opposite; but it was not surrounded with the belt of light as the former, and it stood erect and fixed as a pillar of marble. 
No matter how strong the wind blew over it, not a leaf was stirred, not a bough was bent; but obstinately stiff it stood, scorning alike the zephyr's breath, or the power of the mighty storm. 
¶ I wondered at what I saw, and said in my heart: What can be the meaning of all this? 
And the interpretation given me was, that these personated my husband and his oldest brother, Jesse Smith; 
That the stubborn and unyielding tree was like Jesse; that the other, more pliant and flexible, was like Joseph, my husband; 
That the breath of heaven which passed over them, was the pure and undefiled gospel of the Son of God, 
Which gospel Jesse would always resist, but which Joseph, when he was more advanced in life, would hear and receive with his whole heart, and rejoice therein; 
And unto him would be added intelligence, happiness, glory, and everlasting life.

Chapter 2

A vision of Father Smith. The following is from “History of the Prophet Joseph Smith by his mother Lucy Mack Smith,” Chapter 14, “The Box.”

After selling the farm at Tunbridge, we moved only a short distance, to the town of Royalton. 
Here we resided a few months, then moved again to Sharon, Windsor county, Vermont. 
In the latter place, my husband rented a farm of my father, which he cultivated in the summer, teaching school in the winter. 
In this way, my husband continued laboring for a few years, during which time our circumstances gradually improved, until we found ourselves quite comfortable again. 
In the meantime, we had a son whom we called Joseph, after the name of his father; he was born December 23, 1805; I shall speak of him more particularly by and by. 
¶ We moved to Tunbridge; here we had another son, whom we named Samuel Harrison, born March 13, 1808. 
We lived in this place a short time, then moved to Royalton, where Ephraim was born, March 13, 1810. 
We continued here until we had another son, born March 13, 1811, whom we called William. 
¶ About this time my husband's mind became much excited upon the subject of religion; 
Yet he would not subscribe to any particular system of faith, but contended for the ancient order, as established by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and his Apostles. 
¶ One night my husband retired to his bed, in a very thoughtful state of mind, contemplating the situation of the Christian religion, or the confusion and discord that were extant. 
He soon fell into a sleep, and before waking had the following vision, which I shall relate in his own words, just as he told it to me the next morning: 
¶ I seemed to be traveling in an open, barren field, and as I was traveling, 
I turned my eyes towards the east, the west, the north and the south, but could see nothing save dead, fallen timber. 
Not a vestige of life, either animal or vegetable, could be seen; 
Besides, to render the scene still more dreary, the most deathlike silence prevailed; no sound of anything animate could be heard in all the field. 
I was alone in this gloomy desert, with the exception of an attendant spirit, who kept constantly by my side. 
Of him I inquired the meaning of what I saw, and why I was thus traveling in such a dismal place. 
He answered thus: This field is the world, which now lieth inanimate and dumb, regarding the true religion, or plan of salvation; 
But travel on, and by the wayside you will find on a certain log a box, the contents of which, if you eat thereof, will make you wise, and give unto you wisdom and understanding. 
I carefully observed what was told me by my guide, and proceeding a short distance, I came to the box. 
I immediately took it up, and placed it under my left arm; then with eagerness I raised the lid, and began to taste of its contents; 
Upon which all manner of beasts, horned cattle, and roaring animals, rose up on every side in the most threatening manner possible, tearing the earth, tossing their horns, and bellowing most terrifically all around me, 
And they finally came so close upon me, that I was compelled to drop the box, and fly for my life. 
Yet, in the midst, of all this I was perfectly happy though I awoke trembling. 
¶ From this forward, my husband seemed more confirmed than ever, in the opinion that there was no order or class of religionists that knew any more concerning the Kingdom of God, than those of the world, or such as made no profession of religion whatever.

Chapter 3

A vision of Father Smith. The following is from “History of the Prophet Joseph Smith by his mother Lucy Mack Smith,” Chapter 14, “The Tree and the Spacious Building.”

In 1811, we moved from Royalton, Vermont, to the town of Lebanon, New Hampshire. 
Soon after arriving here, my husband received another very singular vision, which I will relate: 
¶ I thought, said he, I was traveling in an open, desolate field, which appeared to be very barren. 
As I was thus traveling, the thought suddenly came into my mind that I had better stop and reflect upon what I was doing, before I went any further. 
So I asked myself, What motive can I have in traveling here, and what place can this be? 
My guide, who was by my side, as before, said: This is the desolate world; but travel on. 
The road was so broad and barren, that I wondered why I should travel in it; 
For, said I to myself: Broad is the road, and wide is the gate that leads to death, and many there be that walk therein; 
But narrow is the way, and strait is the gate that leads to everlasting life, and few there be that go in there at. 
¶ Traveling a short distance further, I came to a narrow path. 
This path I entered, and, when I had traveled a little way in it, I beheld a beautiful stream of water, which ran from the east to the west. 
Of this stream, I could see neither the source nor yet the mouth; 
But as far as my eyes could extend, I could see a rope, running along the bank of it, about as high as a man could reach, 
And beyond me, was a low, but very pleasant valley, in which stood a tree, such as I had never seen before. 
It was exceedingly handsome, insomuch that I looked upon it with wonder and admiration. 
Its beautiful branches spread themselves somewhat like an umbrella, 
And it bore a kind of fruit, in shape much like a chestnut bur, and as white as snow, or, if possible, whiter. 
I gazed upon the same with considerable interest, 
And as I was doing so, the burs or shells commenced opening and shedding their particles, or the fruit which they contained, which was of dazzling whiteness. 
I drew near, and began to eat of it, and I found it delicious beyond description. 
As I was eating, I said in my heart, I cannot eat this alone, I must bring my wife and children, that they may partake with me. 
Accordingly, I went and brought my family, which consisted of a wife and seven children, 
And we all commenced eating, and praising God for this blessing. 
We were exceedingly happy, insomuch that our joy could not easily be expressed. 
While thus engaged, I beheld a spacious building standing opposite the valley which we were in, and it appeared to reach to the very heavens. 
It was full of doors and windows, and they were all filled with people, who were very finely dressed. 
¶ When these people observed us in the low valley, under the tree, they pointed the finger of scorn at us, and treated us with all manner of disrespect and contempt. 
But their contumely we utterly disregarded. 
I presently turned to my guide and inquired of him the meaning of the fruit that was so delicious. 
He told me it was the pure love of God, shed abroad in the hearts of all those who love him and keep his commandments. 
He then commanded me to go and bring the rest of my children. 
I told him that we were all there. 
No! he replied, Look yonder, you have two more, and you must bring them also. 
Upon raising my eyes, I saw two small children, standing some distance off. 
I immediately went to them and brought them to the tree; upon which they commenced eating with the rest, and we all rejoiced together. 
The more we ate, the more we seemed to desire, until we even got down upon our knees, and scooped it up, eating it by double handfuls. 
After feasting in this manner, a short time, I asked my guide what was the meaning of the spacious building which I saw. 
He replied: It is Babylon, it is Babylon, and it must fall. 
The people in the doors and windows are the inhabitants thereof, who scorn and despise the Saints of God, because of their humility. 
I soon awoke, clapping my hands together for joy.

Chapter 4

Joseph Smith Jr.’s birth and lineage, and the turmoil that lead to the prophet’s first vision.

Owing to the many reports which had been put in circulation by evil-disposed and designing persons, in relation to the rise and progress of the Church of Christ, 
All of which have been designed by the authors thereof to militate against its character as a Church and its progress in the world, 
I have been induced to write this history, to ease the public mind, and put all inquirers after truth into possession of the facts, as they have transpired, in relation both to myself and the Church, so far as I have such facts in my possession. 
In this history I shall present the various events in relation to this Church, in truth and righteousness, as they have transpired, or as they at present exist, being now the eighth year since the organization of said Church. 
¶ I was born in the town of Sharon in the State of Vermont North America on the 23rd day of December, AD 1805 of goodly parents who spared no pains to instruct me in the Christian religion. 
At the age of about ten years my father, Joseph Smith Sr., moved to Palmyra Ontario County in the State of New York. 
Being in indigent circumstances, we were obliged to labor hard for the support of a large Family having nine children. 
As it required the exertions of all that were able to render any assistance for the support of the family, we were therefore deprived of the benefit of an education. 
Suffice it to say I was merely instructed in reading and writing and the ground rules of Arithmetic which constituted my whole literary acquirements. 
¶ Sometime in the second year after our removal to Manchester, at about the age of twelve years, there was in the place where we lived unusual excitement on the subject of religion. 
It commenced with the Methodists, but soon became general among all the sects in that region of country. 
Indeed, the whole district of country seemed affected by it, and great multitudes united themselves to the different religious parties, which created no small stir and division amongst the people, some crying, Lo here! and others, Lo, there! 
Some were contending for the Methodist faith, some for the Presbyterian, and some for the Baptist. 
For notwithstanding the great love which the converts to these different faiths expressed at the time of their conversion, and the great zeal manifested by the respective clergy, who were active in getting up and promoting this extraordinary scene of religious feeling, in order to have everybody converted, as they were pleased to call it, let them join what sect they pleased. 
Yet when the converts began to file off, some to one party and some to another, it was seen that the seemingly good feelings of both the priests and the converts were more pretended than real; 
For a scene of great confusion and bad feeling ensued, priest contending against priest and convert against convert; 
So that all their good feelings one for another, if they ever had any, were entirely lost in a strife of words and a contest about opinions. 
¶ During this time of great excitement, my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; 
But though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit. 
I was at this time in my fifteenth year. 
My father’s family was proselyted to the Presbyterian faith, and four of them joined that church, namely my mother Lucy; my brothers Hyrum, and Samuel Harrison; and my sister Sophronia. 
In process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the Methodist sect, and I felt some desire to be united with them; 
But so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things, to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong. 
My mind at times was greatly excited, the cry and tumult were so great and incessant. 
The Presbyterians were most decided against the Baptists and Methodists and used all the powers of both reason and sophistry to prove their errors, or, at least, to make the people think they were in error. 
On the other hand, the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others. 
In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions I said to myself, what is to be done? 
Which of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it? 
¶ My mind had now become seriously impressed with regard to the all-important concerns of for the well fare of my immortal Soul; which led me to search the scriptures, believing as I was taught, that they contained the Word of God. 
Thus, applying myself to them and my intimate acquaintance with those of different denominations led me to marvel exceedingly; 
For I discovered that these professors of religion were not adorning their profession by a holy walk and Godly conversations agreeable to what I found contained in that sacred depository. 
This was a grief to my Soul. 
¶ Thus, from the age of twelve years to fifteen I pondered many things in my heart concerning the situation of the world of mankind, the contentions and divisions, the wickedness and abominations, and the darkness which pervaded the minds of mankind. 
My mind become exceedingly distressed, for I become convinced of my sins. 
By searching the scriptures, I found that mankind did not come unto the Lord; but that they had apostatized from the true and living faith. 
There was no society or denomination that built upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament. 
I felt to mourn for my own sins and for the sins of the world; 
For I learned in the scriptures that God was the same yesterday to day and forever, that He was no respecter to persons; for He was God. 
I looked upon the sun, the glorious luminary of the earth, and also the moon, rolling in their majesty through the heavens, and also the stars shining in their courses; 
And the earth also upon which I stood, and the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and the fish of the waters, and also man walking forth upon the face of the earth in majesty; 
And in the strength of beauty whose power and intelligence in governing the things which are so exceedingly great and marvelous even in the likeness of him who created them. 
And when I considered upon these things my heart exclaimed: Well hath the wise man said: ‘It is a fool that saith in his heart there is no God. 
My heart exclaimed, All these bear testimony and bespeak an omnipotent and omnipresent power, a being who maketh Laws and decrees, and bindeth all things in their bounds, who filleth Eternity, who was and is and will be from all Eternity to Eternity. 
And when I considered all these things and that that being seeketh such to worship him as worship him in Spirit and in Truth. 
¶ While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: 
¶ If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 
¶ Never did any passage of Scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. 
It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. 
I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; 
For how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; 
For the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passage of Scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible. 
At length I game to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God.

Chapter 5

Joseph Smith Jr.’s first vision.

I at length came to the determination to ask of God, concluding that if He gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture. 
So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. 
It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of 1820. 
It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally. 
¶ After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, 
I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God, calling upon the Lord for the first time with a fixed determination to obtain wisdom. 
I had scarcely done so, or in other words I made a fruitless attempt to pray, my tongue seemed to be swollen in my mouth, so that I could not utter. 
I heard a noise behind me like some person walking towards me, I strove again to pray, but could not. 
The noise of walking seemed to draw nearer, I sprung up on my feet, and looked around, but saw no person or thing that was calculated to produce the noise of walking. 
Immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. 
Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction. 
¶ I kneeled again my mouth was opened, and my tongue liberated, and I called on the Lord in mighty prayer; 
I cried unto the Lord for mercy, for there was none else to whom I could go and to obtain mercy and the Lord heard my cry in the wilderness. 
Exerting all my powers I called upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction, 
Not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being. 
¶ Just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun. 
This pillar of fire appeared above my head and descended gradually until it fell upon me, it rested down upon my head, and filled me with joy unspeakable. 
It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound when the light rested upon me, 
A personage appeared in the midst of this pillar of flame which was spread all around, and yet nothing consumed. 
Then another personage soon appeared like unto the first. 
Before me I saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. 
¶ One of them spoke unto me, calling me by name, and said: Thy sins are forgiven thee. 
He testified unto me that Jesus Christ is the son of God; 
He said, pointing to the other: This is my beloved Son, hear Him. 
My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. 
No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, then I asked the personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right, and which I should join. 
I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, 
And the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in His sight: that those professors were all corrupt; 
He said: They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; 
They teach for doctrines the commandments of men: having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof. 
He again forbade me to join with any of them. 
And I saw many angels in this vision; 
And many other things did He say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. 
¶ When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. 
When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. 
And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. 
I replied: Never mind, all is well; I am well enough off. 
I then said to my mother: I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.

Chapter 6

Joseph Smith Jr. suffers persecutions, he granted another vision of the Lord for comfort.

It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; 
Else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? 
Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy? 
Some few days after I had this vision, I happened to be in company with one of the Methodist preachers, who was very active in the before mentioned religious excitement, 
And, conversing with him on the subject of religion, I took occasion to give him an account of the vision which I had had. 
I was greatly surprised at his behavior; he treated my communication not only lightly, but with great contempt, saying it was all of the devil, 
That there were no such things as visions or revelations in these days; that all such things had ceased with the Apostles, and that there would never be any more of them. 
¶ I soon found that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion, and was the cause of great persecution, which continued to increase; 
And though I was an obscure boy, and my circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world, 
Yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against me, and create a bitter persecution; 
And this was common among all the sects—all united to persecute me. 
However, it was nevertheless a fact that had beheld a vision. 
¶ I have thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before King Agrippa (Acts 26), and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light, and heard a voice; 
But still there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and reviled. 
But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. 
He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise; 
And though they should persecute him unto death, yet he knew, and would know to the last breath, 
That he had both seen a light, and heard a voice speaking unto him, and all the world could not make him think or believe otherwise. 
And so it was with me; I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two personages, and they did in reality speak to me. 
And though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true. 
¶ And while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying; 
I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? 
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 knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, 
Neither dared I do it, at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God and come under condemnation. 
I had now got my mind satisfied so far as the sectarian world was concerned; 
That it was not my duty to join with any of them, but to continue as I was until further directed. 
I had found the testimony of James to be true, that a man who lacked wisdom might ask of God, and obtain, and not be upbraided. 
¶ So it was, and it was often the cause of great sorrow to myself. 
And while in the attitude of calling upon the Lord in the 16th year of my age, a pillar of fire or light above the brightness of the sun at noonday came down from above and rested upon me; 
And I was filled with the Spirit of God, and the Lord opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord. 
¶ And he spoke unto me saying: Joseph, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee, go thy way walk in my statutes and keep my commandments; 
Behold I am the Lord of glory, I was crucified for the world that all those who believe on my name may have eternal life. 
Behold, the world lieth in sin and at this time and none doeth good no not one, 
They have turned aside from the Gospel and keep not my commandments; 
They draw near to me with their lips while their hearts are far from me. 
And mine anger is kindling against the inhabitants of the earth to visit them according to their ungodliness, 
And to bring to pass that which hath been spoken by the mouth of the prophets and Apostles. 
Behold and lo, I come quickly as it is written of me; in the cloud clothed in the glory of my Father. 
¶ And my soul was filled with love, and for many days I could rejoice with great joy, and the Lord was with me, but I could find none that would believe the heavenly vision; 
Nevertheless, I pondered these things in my heart.

Chapter 7

The visitation of the angel Moroni, and the existence of the Gold Plates made known.

I continued to pursue my common vocation in life until the twenty-first 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. 
After many days I fell into transgressions and sinned in many things which brought a wound upon my soul. 
There were many things which transpired that cannot be written. 
My father’s family had suffered many persecutions and afflictions; I was left to all kinds of temptations; and mingling with all kinds of society. 
During this time, as is common to most, or all youths, I fell into many vices and follies; 
But as my accusers are and have been forward to accuse me of being guilty of gross and outrageous violations of the peace and good order of the community. 
I take the occasion to remark that, I have not, neither can it be sustained, in truth, been guilty of wronging or injuring any man or society of men; 
And those imperfections to which I allude, and which I have often had occasion to lament, were light, and too often, vain mind, exhibiting a foolish and trifling conversation. 
¶ I only add that I do not, nor ever have, pretended to be any other than a man subject to passion and liable, without the assisting grace of the Savior, to deviate from that perfect path in which all men are commanded to walk. 
But this will not seem very strange to anyone who recollects my youth and is acquainted with my native cheery temperament. 
¶ And it came to pass when I was seventeen years of age I called again upon the Lord and he shewed unto me a heavenly vision. 
In consequence of my weaknesses, I often felt condemned for my weakness and imperfections; 
And, on the evening of the above mentioned twenty-first of September, after I had retired to my bed for the night, 
I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God for forgiveness of all my sins and follies, and also for a manifestation to me, that I might know of my state and standing before Him; 
For I had full confidence in obtaining a divine manifestation, as I previously had done. 
For behold, an angel of the Lord came and stood before me. 
While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor. 
He had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness. 
It was a whiteness beyond anything earthly I had ever seen; nor do I believe that any earthly thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant. 
His hands were naked and his arms also, a little above the wrist, so, also were his feet naked, as were his legs, a little above the ankles. 
His head and neck were also bare; I could discover that he had no other clothing on but this robe, as it was open, so that I could see into his bosom. 
Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning. 
The room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around his person. 
¶ When first I looked upon him, I was afraid; but the fear soon left me. 
And it was by night, and 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 Moroni; 
He said the Lord had forgiven me my sins, and 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, 
Or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people. 
He revealed unto me that in the Town of Manchester, Ontario County New York, there were plates of gold upon which there were engravings which were engraved by Moroni and his fathers; 
The servants of the living God in ancient days, and deposited by the commandments of God, and kept by the power thereof, and that I should go and get them. 
And he revealed unto me many things concerning the inhabitants of the earth which since have been revealed in commandments and revelations. 
He also said that the fullness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants; 
Also that there were two stones in silver bows, and these stones, fastened to a breast-plate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim, deposited with the plates; 
And the possession and use of these stones were what constituted Seers in ancient or former times; 
And that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book. 
¶ After telling me these things, he commenced quoting the prophecies of the Old Testament. 
He first quoted part of the third chapter of Malachi, and he quoted also the fourth or last chapter of the same prophecy, though with a little variation from the way it reads in our Bibles. 
Instead of quoting the first verse as it reads in our books, he quoted it thus: 
For behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble: for they that come shall burn them, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 
And again, he quoted the fifth verse thus: Behold I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. 
He also quoted the next verse differently: And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers; if it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming. 
In addition to these, he quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, saying that it was about to be fulfilled. 
He quoted also the third chapter of Acts, twenty-second and twenty-third verses, precisely as they stand in our New Testament. 
He said that that Prophet was Christ; but the day had not yet come when they who would not hear his voice should be cut off from among the people, but that it soon would come. 
He also quoted the second chapter of Joel, from the twentyeighth verse to the last. 
He also said that this was not yet fulfilled but was soon to be. 
And he further stated that the fullness of the Gentiles was soon to come in. 
He quoted many other passages of Scripture and offered many explanations which cannot be mentioned here. 
¶ Again, he told me, that when I got those plates of which he had spoken, for the time that they should be obtained was not yet fulfilled, I should not show them to any person; 
Neither the breast plate with the Urim and Thummim; only to those to whom I should be commanded to show them; if I did, I should be destroyed. 
While he was conversing with me about the plates, the vision was opened to my mind that I could see the place where the plates were deposited, and that so clearly and distinctly that I knew the place again when I visited it. 
¶ After this communication, I saw the light in the room began to gather immediately around the person of him who had been speaking to me; 
And it continued to do so, until the room was again left dark, except just around me, when instantly I saw, as it were, a conduit open right up into heaven; 
And he ascended until he entirely disappeared, and the room was left as it had been before this heavenly light had made its appearance. 
I lay musing on the singularity of the scene and marveling greatly at what had been told to me by this extraordinary messenger; 
When in the midst of my meditation, I suddenly discovered that my room was again beginning to get lighted, and in an instant, as it were, the same heavenly messenger was again by my bedside. 
He commenced, and again related the very same things which he had done at the first visit, without the least variation; 
Which having done, he informed me of great judgments which were coming upon the earth, with great desolations by famine, sword, and pestilence; 
And, that these grievous judgments would come on the earth in this generation. 
Having related these things, he again ascended as he had done before. 
¶ By this time, so deep were the impressions made on my mind, that sleep had fled from my eyes, and I lay overwhelmed in astonishment at what I had both seen and heard. 
But what was my surprise when again I beheld the same messenger at my bedside, and heard him rehearse or repeat over again to me the same things as before; 
And he added a caution to me, telling me that Satan would try to tempt me, (in consequence of the indigent circumstances of my father’s family), to get the plates for the purpose of getting rich. 
This he forbade me, saying that I must have no other object in view in getting the plates but to glorify God; 
And that I must not be influenced by any other motive than that of building His kingdom; otherwise I could not get them. 
After this third visit, he again ascended into heaven as before, and I was again left to ponder on the strangeness of what I had just experienced; 
When almost immediately after the heavenly messenger had ascended from me the third time, the cock crowed, and I found that day was approaching, so that our interviews must have occupied the whole of that night. 
Note: Some of the rumors of Joseph’s “outrageous violations” were due to his work using peep stones to enable his gift of prophecy to find things, and some of his accusers saw this as fraud or the work of the devil, rather than as the gift from God that it was.

Chapter 8

Moroni allows Joseph Smith to see the Gold Plates. Verse 8-11 from “Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845,” book 3, pages 11 & 12.

I shortly after arose from my bed, and, as usual, went to the necessary labors of the day; 
But, in attempting to work as at other times, I found my strength so exhausted as to render me entirely unable. 
My father, who was laboring along with me, discovered something to be wrong with me, and told me to go home. 
I started with the intention of going to the house; but, in attempting to cross the fence out of the field where we were, my strength entirely failed me, and I fell helpless on the ground, and for a time was quite unconscious of anything. 
The first thing that I can recollect was a voice speaking unto me, calling me by name. 
I looked up, and beheld the same messenger standing over my head, sur-rounded by light as before. 
He then again related unto me all that he had related to me the previous night; 
And the angel said: Now I will show you the difference between light and darkness, and the operation of a good Spirit and an evil one; 
An evil spirit will try to crowd your mind with every evil and wicked thing to keep every good thought and feeling out of your mind; 
But, you must keep your mind always staid upon God, that no evil may come into your heart. 
And he commanded me to go to my father and tell him of the vision and commandments which I had received. 
¶ And it was on the twenty-second day of September, AD 1822, and thus he appeared unto me three times in one night and once on the next day. 13 I obeyed; I returned to my father in the field and rehearsed the whole matter to him. 
He replied to me that it was of God and told me to go and do as commanded by the messenger. 
I left the field, and then I immediately went to the place and found where the plates that were deposited as the angel of the Lord had commanded me. 
¶ Convenient to the village of Manchester, 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 the middle part of it was visible above the ground, but the edge all round was covered with earth. 
Having removed the earth, I obtained a lever, which I got fixed under the edge of the stone, and with a little excursion 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 crosswise of the box, and on these stones lay the plates and the other things with them. 
¶ Straightway I made three attempts to get them. 
Then, being exceedingly frightened, I supposed it had been a dream or vision; 
But, when I considered I knew that it was not, therefore I cried unto the Lord in the agony of my soul: Why can I not obtain them? 
Behold the angel appeared unto me again and said unto me: You have not kept the commandments of the Lord which I gave unto you, therefore you cannot now obtain them, for the time is not yet fulfilled. 
Therefore, thou wast left unto temptation that thou mightest be made acquainted of with the power of the adversary; 
Therefore, repent and call on the Lord, thou shalt be forgiven and in his own due time thou shalt obtain them. 
Therefore, I was chastened, and sought diligently to obtain the plates, and obtained them not until I was twenty-one years of age. 
For I had been tempted of the adversary and sought the Plates to obtain riches and kept not the commandment that I should have an eye single to the Glory of God. 
Thus, being forbidden by the messenger, I 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. 
¶ As my father’s worldly circumstances were very limited, we were under the necessity of laboring with our hands, hiring out by day’s work and otherwise, as we could get opportunity. 
Sometimes we were at home, and sometimes abroad, and by continued labor, were enabled to get a comfortable maintenance. 
¶ In the year 1824 my father’s family met with a great affliction by the death of my eldest brother, Alvin. 
¶ In the month of October 1825, I was hired by an old gentleman by the name of Josiah Stoal, who lived in Chenango county, state of New York. 
He had heard something of a silver mine having been opened by the Spaniards in Harmony, Susquehanna county, state of Pennsylvania, 
And had, previous to my hiring to him, been digging, in order, if possible, to discover the mine. 
After I went to live with him, he took me, with the rest of his hands, to dig for the silver mine, at which I continued to work for nearly a month, without success in our undertaking, 
And finally, I prevailed with the old gentleman to cease digging after it. 
During the time that I was thus employed, I was put to board with a Mr. Isaac Hale, of that place; it was there I first saw my wife (his daughter), Emma Hale. 
And in that year, I was married to Emma Hale on the 18th January, AD 1827, while I was yet employed in the service of Mr. Stoal. 
Owing to my continuing to assert that I had seen a vision, persecution still followed me, and my wife’s father’s family were very much opposed to our being married. 
I was, therefore, under the necessity of taking her elsewhere; 
So, we went and were married at the house of Squire Tarbill, in South Bainbridge, Chenango county, New York. 
Immediately after my marriage, I left Mr. Stoal’s and went to my father’s and farmed with him that season. 
On the 22nd day of September of this same year, I obtained the plates.

Chapter 9

The Nephite records are delivered to Joseph Smith Jr. and the angel Moroni’s warning.

At length, the time arrived for obtaining the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the Breastplate. 
On the twenty-second day of September 1827, having gone as usual at the end of another year to the place where they were deposited, the same heavenly messenger delivered them up to me with this charge: 
That I should be responsible for them; that if I should let them go carelessly, or through any neglect of mine, I should be cut off; 
But that if I would use all my endeavors to preserve them, until he, the messenger, should call for them, they should be protected. 
¶ I soon found out the reason why I had 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, then 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 1838. 
¶ The excitement, however, still continued, and rumor with her thousand tongues was all the time employed in circulating falsehoods about my father’s family, and about myself. 
If I were to relate a thousandth part of them, it would fill up volumes. 
The persecution, however, became so intolerable that I was under the necessity of leaving Manchester, and going with my wife to Susquehanna county, in the state of Pennsylvania. 
In December, while preparing to start, being very poor, and the persecution so heavy upon us that there was no probability that we would ever be otherwise, 
We found a friend in a gentleman by the name of Martin Harris, who became convinced of the vision, or of my visionary abilities, came to us and gave me fifty dollars to bear my expenses and assist us on our journey. 
Mr. Harris was a resident of Palmyra township, Wayne county, in the state of New York, and a farmer of respectability. 
By this timely aid was I enabled to reach the place of my destination in Pennsylvania; and immediately after my arrival there I commenced copying the characters off the plates. 
I copied a considerable number of them, and by means of the Urim and Thummim I translated some of them, which I did between the time I arrived at the house of my wife’s father, in the month of December, and the February following. 
And because of his faith, and this righteous deed, the Lord appeared unto him in a vision and shewed unto him his marvelous work which he was about to do. 
And he immediately came to Susquehanna and said the Lord had shown him that he must go to New York City with some of the characters. 
We proceeded to copy some of them sometime in the month of February, and he took his Journey to the Eastern Cities; 
And to the Learned saying: Read this I pray thee, and the learned said I cannot but if he would bring the plates, they would read it. 
But the Lord had forbidden it and he returned to me and gave them to me to translate, and I said I cannot for I am not learned. 
But the Lord had prepared spectacles for to read the book therefore I commenced translating the characters. 
And thus, the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled which is written in the twenty-ninth chapter concerning the book. 
For what took place relative to him and the characters, I refer to his own account of the circumstances, as he related them to me after his return.

Chapter 10

Martin Harris’ account of taking the characters from the Gold Plates to Professor Charles Anthon in the city of New York.

I went to the city of New York, and presented the characters which had been translated, with the translation thereof, to Professor Charles Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments. 
Professor Anthon 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 that they were Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyriac, and Arabic; and he said they were 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 Professor Anthon 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, whence 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 was 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, who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said respecting both the characters and the translation.

Chapter 11

The translation of the Book of Lehi, and the lost 116 pages.

Mr. Harris, having returned from his tour, left me and went home to Palmyra, arranged his affairs, and returned again to my house about the 12th of April 1829. 
He commenced writing for me while I translated from the plates, which we continued until the 14th of June following, by which time he had written one hundred and sixteen pages of manuscript on foolscap paper. 
¶ And it came to pass that sometime after Mr. Harris had begun to write for me, after we had translated 116 pages, he began to importune me to give him liberty to carry the writings home and show them. 
He desired to carry them to read to his friends that peradventure he might convince them of the truth. 
He desired of me that I would inquire of the Lord, through the Urim and Thummim, if he might not do so. 
Therefore, I inquired of the Lord; and the Lord said unto me that he must not take them. 
And I spoke unto Martin the Word of the Lord, and he was not satisfied with this answer; and he said inquire again. 
And I inquired, and the answer was as before. 
Still he could not be contented, but insisted that I should inquire once more; 
And the third time the Lord said unto me: Let him go with them only he shall covenant with me that he will not shew them to only but five persons which are his brother, Preserved Harris, his own wife, his father and his mother, and a Mrs. Cobb, a sister to his wife. 
In accordance with this last answer, I required of him that he should bind himself in a covenant to me in a most solemn manner that he would not do otherwise than had been directed. 
And he covenanted with the Lord that he would do according to the Word of the Lord; therefore, he took them and took his journey unto his friends to Palmyra, Wayne County, State of New York. 
Notwithstanding, however, the great restrictions which he had been laid under, and the solemnity of the covenant which he had made with me, he did show them to others; 
And by stratagem they got them away from him, and he broke the covenant which he made before the Lord; and the Lord suffered the writings to fall into the hands of wicked men. 
Martin was chastened for his transgression and I also was chastened also for my transgression for asking the Lord the third time; 
Wherefore, the Plates were taken from me by the power of God and I was not able to obtain them for a season. 
And the 116 pages, they never have been recovered even unto this day.

Chapter 12

Revelation given to Joseph the Seer after he had lost certain writings which he had translated by the gift & power of God. July 1828.

(*BoC&R 1-2, BoC 2, CoC 2, CJCLdS 3)

In the meantime, while Martin Harris was gone with the writings, I went to visit my father’s family at Manchester. 
I continued there for a short season, and then returned to my place in Pennsylvania. 
Immediately after my return home, I was walking out a little distance, when, behold, the former heavenly messenger appeared and handed to me the seer stone again; 
For it too had been taken from me in consequence of my having wearied the Lord in asking for the privilege of letting Martin Harris take the writings, which he lost by transgression; 
And I inquired of the Lord through it, and obtained the following: 
¶ The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught, for God doth not walk in crooked paths; 
Neither doth He turn to the right hand nor to the left; neither doth He vary from that which He hath said; 
Therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round. 
¶ Remember, remember, that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men. 
For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, 
Yet, if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will, and carnal desires, he must fall to the earth and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him. 
¶ Behold, you have been entrusted with these things, but strict were your commandments; 
And remember, also, the promises which were made to you, if you transgressed them; 
And behold, how oft you have transgressed the them and have gone on in the persuasions of men. 
For behold, you should not have feared man more than God. 
Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words, yet you should have been faithful, 
And he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary, and he would have been with you in every time of trouble. 
¶ Behold thou art Joseph, and thou wast chosen to do the work of the Lord, but because of transgression thou mayest fall. 
But remember God is merciful; 
Therefore, repent of that which thou hast done, and he will only cause thee to be afflicted for a season, and thou art still chosen, and will again be called to the work; 
And except thou doest this, thou shalt be delivered up and become as other men and have no more gift. 
¶ And when thou didst deliver up that which God had given thee the right to translate, thou didst deliver up that which was sacred, into the hands of a wicked man, who has set at naught the counsels of God; 
And hath broken the most sacred promises, which were made before God, and has depended upon his own judgment, and boasted in his own wisdom; 
And this is the reason that thou hast lost thy privileges for a season, for thou hast suffered that the counsel of thy directors to be trampled upon from the beginning. 
¶ For as the knowledge of a Savior hath come to the world, so shall the knowledge of my people, the Nephites, and the Jacobites, and the Josephites, and the Lamanites, come to the knowledge of the Lamanites; and the Lamanites and the Ishmaelites; 
Which dwindled in unbelief, because of the iniquities of their fathers, who hath been suffered to destroy their brethren, because of their iniquities, and their abominations. 
And for this very purpose are these plates prepared which contain these records, and that the promises of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to his people; 
And that the Lamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers; 
And that they may know the Promises of the Lord, that they may believe the Gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ; 
And that they might be glorified through faith in his name; 
And that they might, through faith in his name, repent and be saved; Amen.

Chapter 13

Revelation given to Joseph Smith Sr., the father of the Seer. He desired to know what the Lord had for him to do. Harmony, Pennsylvania, February 1829.

(*BoC&R 2-3, BoC 3, CoC 4, CJCLdS 4)

I did not, however, go immediately to translating (or divining), but went to laboring with my hands upon a small farm which I had purchased of my wife’s father in order to provide for my family. 
In the month of February 1829, my father came to visit us, at which time I received the following revelation for him: 
¶ Saying now: Behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men; 
Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day. 
Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work, 
For behold, the field is white already to harvest, and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perish not, but bringeth salvation to his soul; 
And faith, hope, charity, and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualifies him for the work. 
¶ Remember temperance, patience, humility, diligence, and the rest; ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you; Amen.

Chapter 14

Revelation given to Joseph Smith Jr. informing him of the alteration of the Manuscript of the 116 pages. The two stones on the silver bows and breastplate were not returned to Joseph, and from this point he called one of his seer stones “Urim and Thummim.” Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 1829.

(*BoC 9:1-8, CoC 3:1-3:7c, CJCLdS 10:1-37)

After I had obtained the above revelation, both the plates and the seer stone were taken from me again; but in a few days they were returned to me. 
When I later inquired of the Lord, the Lord said thus unto me: 
¶ Now, behold I say unto you, that because you delivered up so many writings, which you had power to translate, into the hands of a wicked man, you have lost them, and you also lost your gift at the same time, 
Nevertheless it has been restored unto you again: therefore, see that you are faithful and go on unto the finishing of the remainder of the work as you have begun. 
Do not run faster than you have strength and means provided to translate, but be diligent unto the end, that you may come off conqueror; 
Yea, that you may conquer Satan, and those that do uphold his work. 
¶ Behold they have sought to destroy you; yea even the man in whom you have trusted; 
And for this cause said I, that he is a wicked man, for he has sought to take away the things wherewith you have been entrusted, and he has also sought to destroy your gift; 
And because you have delivered the writings into his hands, behold they have taken them from you: 
Therefore, you have delivered them up; yea, that which was sacred unto wickedness. 
And behold, Satan has put it into their hearts to alter the words which you have caused to be written, or which you have translated, which have gone out of your hands; 
And behold I say unto you, that because they have altered the words, they read contrary from that which you translated and caused to be written; 
And on this wise the devil has sought to lay a cunning plan, that he may destroy this work; 
For he has put it into their hearts to do this, that by lying they may say they have caught you in the words which you have pretended to translate. 
¶ Verily I say unto you, that I will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design in this thing, for behold he has put it into their hearts to tempt the Lord their God; 
For behold they say in their hearts: We will see if God has given him power to translate, if so, he will also give him power again; 
And if God giveth him power again, or if he translates again, or in other words, if he bringeth forth the same words, behold we have the same with us, and we have altered them. 
Therefore, they will not agree, and we will say that he has lied in his words, and that he has no gift, and that he has no power. 
Therefore, we will destroy him, and also the work, and we will do this that we may not be ashamed in the end, and that we may get glory of the world. 
¶ Verily, verily I say unto you, that Satan has great hold upon their hearts; he stirreth them up to do iniquity against that which is good, that he may lead their souls to destruction; 
And thus he has laid a cunning plan to destroy the work of God; yea, he stirreth up their hearts to anger against this work. 
Yea, he saith unto them: Deceive and lie in wait to catch, that ye may destroy, behold this is no harm, 
And thus he flattereth them and telleth them that it is no sin to lie, that they may catch a man in a lie, that they may destroy him. 
And thus he flattereth them, and leadeth them along until he draggeth their souls down to hell; 
And thus he causeth them to catch themselves in their own snare; and thus, he goeth up and down, to and fro in the earth, seeking to destroy the souls of men. 
¶ Verily, verily I say unto you: Wo be unto him that lieth to deceive, because he supposeth that another lieth to deceive, for such are not exempt from the justice of God. 
¶ “Now, behold they have altered those words, because Satan saith unto them: He hath deceived you,’ and thus he flattereth them away to do iniquity, to tempt the Lord their God. 
¶ Behold I say unto you, that you shall not translate again those words which have gone forth out of your hands; 
For behold, they shall not lie any more against those words; 
For behold, if you should bring forth the same words, they would say that you have lied; that you have pretended to translate, but that you have contradicted your words. 
And behold, they would publish this, and Satan would harden the hearts of the people, to stir them up to anger against you, that they might not believe my words. 
Thus Satan would overpower this generation, that the work might not come forth in this generation. 
But behold here is wisdom, and because I show unto you wisdom and give you commandments concerning these things, what you shall do, show it not unto the world until you have accomplished the work. 
¶ Marvel not that I said unto you: Here is wisdom, show it not unto the world; 
For I said: Show it not unto the world, that you may be preserved. 
Behold I do not say that you shall not show it unto the righteous; 
But as you cannot always judge the righteous, or as you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous. 
Therefore, I say unto you, hold your peace until I shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter. laboring with my hands upon a small farm which I had purchased of my wife’s father.

Chapter 15

A Revelation given to Joseph Smith Jr. and Martin Harris when Martin desired of the Lord to know whether Joseph had, in his possession, the record of the Nephites. Harmony, Pennsylvania, March 1829.

(*BoC 4, CoC 5, CJCLdS 5)

The following I applied for and obtained, at the request of Martin Harris. 
¶ Behold, I say unto you, that my servant Martin has desired a witness from my hand, that my servant Joseph has got the things of which he has testified and borne record that he has received of me. 
¶ And now, behold, this shall you say unto him: I the Lord am God, and I have given these things unto my servant Joseph, 
And I have commanded him that he should stand as a witness of these things; 
Nevertheless I have caused him that he should enter into a covenant with me, that he should not show them except I command him; 
And he has no power over them except I grant it unto him. 
And he has a gift to translate the book, and I have commanded him that he shall pretend to no other gift, for I will grant him no other gift. 
¶ And verily I say unto you, that wo shall come unto the inhabitants of the earth, if they will not hearken unto my words; 
For, behold, if they will not believe my words, they would not believe my servant Joseph, if it were possible that he could show them all things. 
O ye unbelieving, ye stiffnecked generation, mine anger is kindled against you! 
¶ Behold, verily I say, I have reserved the things of which I have spoken, which I have entrusted to my servant, for a wise purpose in me, 
And it shall be made known unto future generations. 
But this generation shall have my words, yea and the testimony of three of my servants shall go forth with my words unto this generation. 
Yea, three shall know of a surety that these things are true, for I will give them power, that they may behold and view these things as they are, 
And to none else will I grant this power, to receive this same testimony among this generation. 
And the testimony of three witnesses will I send forth and my Word, 
And behold, whosoever believeth in my Word, them will I visit with the manifestation of my Spirit, and they shall be born of me, and their testimony shall also go forth. 
¶ And thus, if the people of this generation harden not their hearts, I will work a reformation among them, 
And I will put down all lying, and deceiving, and priestcraft, and envying, and strife, and idolatries, and sorceries, 
And I will establish my Church, like unto the Church which was taught by my disciples in the days of old. 
¶ And now, if this generation do harden their hearts against my Word, behold I will deliver them up unto Satan, 
For he reigneth, and hath much power at this time, 
For he hath got great hold upon the hearts of the people of this generation. 
And not far from the iniquities of Sodom and Gomorrah do they come at this time. 
And behold, the sword of justice hangeth over their heads, 
And if they persist in the hardness of their hearts, the time cometh that it must fall upon them. 
Behold I tell you these things even as I also told the people of the destruction of Jerusalem, 
And my Word shall be verified at this time as it hath hitherto been verified. 
¶ And now, I command my servant Joseph to repent, and walk more uprightly before me, and yield to the persuasions of men no more; 
And that he be firm in keeping the commandments wherewith I have commanded him; 
And if he doeth this, behold I grant unto him eternal life, even if he should be slain. 
¶ And now I speak again concerning the man that desireth a witness: 
Behold I say unto him, he exalteth himself and doth not humble himself sufficiently before me, 
But if he will go out and bow down before me, and humble himself in mighty prayer and faith, in the sincerity of his heart, then will I grant unto him a view of the things which he desireth to know. 
And then he shall say unto the people of this generation: 
Behold, I have seen the things and I know of a surety that they are true, for I have seen them, and they have been shown unto me by the power of God and not of man. 
And I command him that he shall say no more unto them concerning these things, except he shall say, 
I have seen them, and they have been shown unto me by the power of God. 
¶ And these are the words which he shall say; 
But if he deny this, he will break the covenant which he has before covenanted with me, and behold he is condemned. 
And now except he humble himself and acknowledge unto me the things that he has done, which are wrong, 
And covenant with me that he will keep my commandments, and exercise faith in me, 
Behold, I say unto him, he shall have no such views, for I will grant unto him no views of the things of which I have spoken. 
And if this be the case, I command him that he shall do no more, nor trouble me any more concerning this matter. 
¶ And if this be the case, behold I say unto you, Joseph, when thou hast translated a few more pages, thou shalt stop for a season, even until I command thee again; then thou mayest translate again. 
And except thou do this, behold thou shalt have no more gift, and I will take away the things which I have entrusted thee with. 
¶ And now, because I foresee them lying in wait to destroy thee; 
Yea, I foresee that if my servant humbleth not himself, and receive a witness from my hand, that he will fall into transgression; 
And there are many that lie in wait to destroy thee from off the face of the earth. 
And for this cause, that thy days may be prolonged, I have given unto thee these commandments; 
Yea, for this cause I have said: ‘Stop and stand still until I command thee, and I will provide means whereby thou mayest accomplish the thing which I have commanded thee. 
And if thou art faithful in keeping my commandments, thou shalt be lifted up at the last day; Amen.

Chapter 16

A revelation to Oliver Cowdery, when employed a scribe for Joseph, while translating the book of Mormon. Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 1829.

(*BoC 5, CoC 6, CJCLdS 6)

And it came to pass after much humility and affliction of soul, I obtained the Gold Plates again. 
The Lord appeared unto a young man by the name of Oliver Cowdery and shewed unto him the plates in a vision, and also the truth of the work and what the Lord was about to do through me his unworthy Servant. 
Therefore, he was desirous to come and write for me and to translate. 
¶ On the 5th day of April, 1829, Oliver Cowdery came to my house, until which time I had never seen him. 
He stated to me that having been teaching school in the neighborhood where my father resided, and my father being one of those who sent to the school, he went to board for a season at his house. 
And while there the family related to him the circumstance of my having received the plates, and accordingly he had come to make inquiries of me. 
Two days after the arrival of Mr. Cowdery (being the 7th of April), I commenced to translate the Book of Mormon, and he began to write for me, which having continued for some time, I inquired of the Lord through the seer stone, and obtained the following: 
¶ A great and marvelous work is about to come forth unto the children of men: 
Behold I am God, and give heed unto my Word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; 
Therefore give heed unto my words. 
¶ Behold the field is white already to harvest, 
Therefore whoso desireth to reap, let him thrust in his sickle with his might and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God. 
Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God; 
Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you. 
¶ Now as you have asked, behold I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion. 
Seek not for riches, but for wisdom, and behold the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. 
Behold he that hath eternal life is rich. 
¶ Verily, verily I say unto you, even as you desire of me, so shall it be unto you; 
And, if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation. 
Say nothing but repentance unto this generation; keep my commandments and assist to bring forth my work according to my commandments, and you shall be blessed. 
¶ Behold thou hast a gift, and blessed art thou because of thy gift. 
Remember, it is sacred and cometh from above; and if thou wilt inquire, thou shalt know mysteries which are great and marvelous. 
Therefore, thou shalt exercise thy gift, that thou mayest find out mysteries, that thou mayest bring many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, convince them of the error of their ways. 
Make not thy gift known unto any, save it be those which are of thy faith. 
Trifle not with sacred things. 
If thou wilt do good, yea and hold out faithful to the end, thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God; for there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation. 
¶ Verily, verily I say unto thee, blessed art thou for what thou hast done, for thou hast inquired of me, 
And behold, as often as thou hast inquired, thou hast received instruction of my Spirit. 
If it had not been so, thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time. 
¶ Behold thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me, and I did enlighten thy mind; 
And now I tell thee these things, that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of truth; 
Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God, that knowest thy thoughts and the in tents of thy heart. 
I tell thee these things as a witness unto thee, that the words or the work which thou hast been writing is true. 
¶ Therefore be diligent, stand by my servant Joseph faithfully in whatsoever difficult circumstances he may be, for the Word’s sake. 
Admonish him in his faults, and also receive admonition of him. 
Be patient; be sober; be temperate; have patience, faith, hope and charity. 
¶ Behold thou art Oliver, and I have spoken unto thee because of thy desires, therefore, treasure up these words in thy heart. 
Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love. 
¶ Behold I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 
I am the same that came unto my own and my own received me not. 
I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not. 
¶ Verily, verily I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things; 
Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? 
What greater witness can you have than from God? 
And now behold, you have received a witness, for if I have told you things which no man knoweth, have you not received a witness? 
And behold I grant unto you a gift if you desire of me, to translate even as my servant Joseph. 
¶ Verily, verily I say unto you, that there are records which contain much of my Gospel, which have been kept back because of the wickedness of the people; 
And now I command you, that if you have good desires, a desire to lay up treasures for yourself in heaven, 
Then shall you assist in bringing to light, with your gift, those parts of my scriptures which have been hidden because of iniquity. 
¶ And now behold I give unto you, and also unto my servant Joseph, the keys of this gift, which shall bring to light this ministry; 
And in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. 
¶ Verily, verily I say unto you, if they reject my words, and this part of my Gospel and ministry, blessed are ye, for they can do no more unto you than unto me; 
And if they do unto you, even as they have done unto me, blessed are ye, for you shall dwell with me in glory. 
But if they reject not my words, which shall be established by the testimony which shall be given, blessed are they; and then shall ye have joy in the fruit of your labors. 
¶ Verily, verily I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples; 
Where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold there will I be in the midst of them. 
Even so am I in the midst of you. 
Fear not to do good my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap. 
Therefore, if ye sow good, ye shall also reap good for your reward. 
¶ Therefore fear not little flock, do good, let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built up on my rock, they cannot prevail. 
Behold I do not condemn you, go your ways and sin no more. 
Perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you. 
Look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not. 
Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet. 
Be faithful; keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen. 
¶ After we had received this revelation, Oliver Cowdery stated to me that after he had gone to my father’s to board, and after the family had communicated to me concerning my having obtained the plates; 
That one night after he had retired to bed lie called upon the Lord to know if these things were so, 
And the Lord manifested to him that they were true, but he had kept the circumstance entirely secret, and had mentioned it to no one; 
So that after this revelation was given, he knew that the work was true, because no being living knew of the thing alluded to in the revelation, but God and himself.

Chapter 17

Revelation given to Joseph Smith Jr. and Oliver Cowdery. Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 1829.

(*BoC&R 11-12, *BoC 9:9-19, CoC 3:8a-18, CJCLdS 10:38-70)

I continued to translate, and Oliver to write, with little cessation, during which time we received several revelations, the following in regards to the lost pages. 
¶ And now, verily I say unto you, that an account of those things that you have written, which have gone out of your hands, are engraven upon the plates of Nephi; 
Yea, and you remember, it was said in those writings, that a more particular account was given of these things upon the plates of Nephi. 
¶ And now, because the account which is engraven upon the plates of Nephi, is more particular concerning the things, which in my wisdom I would bring to the knowledge of the people in this account. 
Therefore, you shall translate the engravings which are on the plates of Nephi, down even until you come to the reign of king Benjamin, or until you come to that which you have translated, which you have retained; 
And behold, you shall publish it as the record of Nephi, and thus I will confound those which have altered my words. 
I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil. 
¶ Behold, they have only got a part, or an abridgment of the account of Nephi. 
Behold, there are many things engraven on the plates of Nephi, which do throw greater views upon my Gospel. 
Therefore, it is wisdom in me, that ye should translate this first part of the engravings of Nephi and send forth in this work. 
And behold, all the remainder of this work, does contain all those parts of my Gospel which my holy prophets; 
Yea, and also my disciples desired in their prayers, should come forth unto this people. 
And I said unto them, that it should be granted unto them according to their faith in their prayers; 
Yea, and this is their faith, that my Gospel which I gave unto them, that they might preach in their days, might come unto their brethren, the Lamanites, and also, all that had become Lamanites, because of their dissensions. 
¶ Now this is not all; but their faith in their prayers were, that this Gospel should be made known also, if it were possible that other nations should possess this land; 
And thus they did leave a blessing upon this land in their prayers, that whosoever should believe in this Gospel, in this land, might have eternal life; 
Yea, that it might be free unto all of whatsoever nation, kindred, tongue, or people, they may be. 
1/1052a:]. ¶ And now, behold; according to their faith in their prayers will I bring this part of my Gospel to the knowledge of my people. 
2/10:52b]. Behold, I do not bring it to destroy that which they have received, but to build it up. 
¶ And for this cause have I said: If this generation harden not their hearts, I will establish my Church among them. 
Now, I do not say this to destroy my Church, but I say this to build up my Church; 
Therefore, whosoever belongeth to my Church need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. 
But, it is they who do not fear me, neither keep my commandments, but buildeth up churches unto themselves, to get gain; 
Yea, and all those that do wickedly, and buildeth up the kingdom of the devil; 
Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, that it is they that I will disturb, and cause to tremble and shake to the center. 
¶ Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God: I came unto my own, and my own received me not. 
“I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not. 
I am he who said other sheep have I which are not of this fold, unto my disciples, and many there were which understood me not. 
¶ And I will show unto this people, that I had other sheep, and that they were a branch of the house of Jacob; 
And I will bring to light their marvelous works, which they did in my name. 
Yea, and I will also bring to light my Gospel, which was ministered unto them; 
And behold, they shall not deny that which ye have received, but they shall build it up, and shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine: yea, and the only doctrine which is in me. 
And this I do, that I establish my Gospel, that there may not be so much contention. 
Yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine; 
And in these things they do err, for they do arrest the Scriptures, and do not understand them. 
Therefore, I will unfold unto them this great mystery. 
For behold, I will gather them as a hen gathereth her chicks under her wings, if they will not harden their hearts; 
Yea, if they will come, they may, and partake of the waters of life freely. 
¶ Behold this is my doctrine: Whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me the same is my Church; 
Whosoever declareth more or less than this is not of me, but is against me; therefore, he is not of my Church 
¶ Now behold, whosoever is of my Church and endureth in my Church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against them. 
¶ And now, remember the words of he who has the life and the light of the world; your redeemer your Lord and your God. Amen.

Chapter 18

Revelation given to Oliver Cowdery, he being desirous to know whether the Lord would grant him the gift of Revelation & Translation. Oliver is told to use his divining rod, originally “sprout.” Harmony, Pennsylvania, April, 1829.

(*BoC&R 12-13, BoC 7, CoC 8, CJCLdS 8)

Whilst continuing the work of translation, during the month of April, Oliver Cowdery became exceedingly anxious to have the power to translate bestowed upon him, and in relation to this desire the following revelation was obtained: 
¶ Oliver: verily, verily I say unto you, that assuredly as the Lord liveth, which is your God and your Redeemer; 
Even so sure shall ye receive a knowledge of whatsoever things ye shall ask in faith, with an honest heart; 
Believing that ye shall receive a knowledge concerning the engravings of old, records which are ancient, 
Which contain those parts of my Scriptures of which have been spoken by the manifestation of my Spirit. 
Yea, behold I will tell you in your mind and in your heart by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. 
¶ Now, behold this is the Spirit of revelation: 
Behold this is the Spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground; 
Therefore, this is thy gift. 
Apply unto it and blessed art thou, for it shall deliver you out of the hands of your enemies, when, if it were not so, they would slay thee and bring thy soul to destruction. 
¶ O remember these words and keep my commandments. 
Remember, this is thy gift. 
Now this is not all, for thou hast another gift, which is the gift of working with the sprout or divining rod; 
Behold it has told you things. 
Behold there is no other power save God, that can cause this thing of nature to work in your hands, for it is the work of God; 
And therefore, whatsoever ye shall ask me to tell you by that means, that will I grant unto you, that ye shall know. 
¶ Remember that without faith ye can do nothing. 
Trifle not with these things; 
Do not ask for that which ye ought not ask; 
But ask that you may know the mysteries of God, and that ye may translate all those ancient records, which have been hid up, which are sacred, and according to your faith shall it be done unto you. 
¶ Behold it is I that have spoken it, and I am the same which spake unto you from the beginning. Amen.

Chapter 19

A Revelation given to Joseph Smith Jr. and Oliver Cowdery concerning John, the Beloved Disciple who leaned on his savior’s breast. Translated from a vision of parchment, written and hid up by himself. Harmony, Pennsylvania, April, 1829.

(*BoC&R 13-14, BoC 6, CoC 7, CJCLdS 7)

I continued to translate, and Oliver to write, with little cessation, during which time we received several revelations. 
A difference of opinion arising between us about the account of John the Apostle, mentioned in the New Testament, as to whether he died or continued to live. 
We mutually agreed to settle it by the seer stone and the following is the word which we received: 
¶ And the Lord said unto me, John my beloved, what desirest thou? 
And I said: Lord, give unto me power that I may bring souls unto thee. 
And the Lord said unto me: Verily, verily I say unto thee, because thou desirest this, thou shalt tarry till I come in my glory. 
¶ And for this cause, the Lord said unto Peter: If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? 
For he desirest of me that he might bring souls unto me: but thou desirest that thou might speedily come unto me in my kingdom. 
I say unto thee, Peter; this was a good desire, but my beloved has undertaken a greater work. 
¶ Verily I say unto you, ye shall both have according to your desires, for ye both joy in that which ye have desired.

Chapter 20

A Revelation given to Oliver Cowdery, he desiring to know why he could not translate he is told that revelations come from the Lord, through the Holy Spirit.

Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 1829.

(*BoC&R 14-15, BoC 8, CoC 9, CJCLdS 9)

During this time, Oliver Cowdery attempted to translate the plates, but he struggled and could not. 
To determine the cause, the following revelation was received. 
¶ Behold, I say unto you, my son, that, because ye did not translate according to that which ye desired of me, and did commence again to write for my servant Joseph; 
Even so I would that ye should continue until you have finished this record, which I have entrusted unto you. 
And then behold, other records have I, that I will give unto you power that ye may assist to translate. 
¶ Be patient my son, for it is wisdom in me, and it is not expedient that ye should translate at this time. 
Behold this is the work which ye are called to do; to write for my servant Joseph; 
And behold it is because ye did not continue as ye commenced, when ye commenced to translate, that I have taken away this privilege from you. 
Do not murmur my son, for it is wisdom in me that I have dealt with you in this manner. 
¶ Behold ye have not understood, ye have supposed that I would give it unto you, when ye took no thought, save it was to ask me. 
But behold I say unto you, that ye must study it out in your mind; 
Then ye must ask me if it be right, and if it is right, I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you: therefore, ye shall feel that it is right; 
But if it be not right, ye shall have no such feelings, but ye shall have a stupor of thought, that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong. 
Therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred, save it be given you from me. 
¶ Now if you had known this, you could have translated: nevertheless, it is not expedient that you should translate now. 
Behold it was expedient when you commenced; but you feared, and the time is past; it is not expedient now. 
For do you not behold that I have given unto my servant Joseph sufficient strength, whereby it is made up? And neither of you have I condemned. 
¶ Do this thing which I have commanded you, and you shall prosper. 
Be faithful, and yield to no temptation. 
Stand fast in the work wherewith I have called you, and a hair of your head shall not be lost, and you shall be lifted up at the last day; Amen.

Chapter 21

The restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood by John the Baptist, and the first baptisms. May 15, 1829.

(CJCLdS 13)

We still continued the work of translation, when, in the ensuing month we, on a certain day, went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins, that we found mentioned in the translation of the plates. 
While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us, saying: 
¶ Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, 
Which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the Gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; 
And this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness. 
¶ He said this Aaronic Priesthood had not the power of laying on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, but that this should be conferred on us hereafter; 
And he commanded us to go and be baptized, and gave us directions that I should baptize Oliver Cowdery, and afterwards that he should baptize me. 
Accordingly, we went and were baptized. 
I baptized him first, and afterwards he baptized me, after which I laid my hands upon his head and ordained him to the Aaronic Priesthood; 
And afterwards he laid his hands on me and ordained me to the same Priesthood, for so we were commanded. 
¶ The messenger who visited us on this occasion, and conferred this Priesthood upon us, said that his name was John, the same that is called John the Baptist in the New Testament; 
And that he acted under the direction of Peter, James and John, who held the keys of the Priesthood of Melchizedek, which Priesthood he said would in due time be conferred on us; 
And that I should be called the First Elder of the Church, and he, Oliver Cowdery, the Second. 
It was on the 15th day of May, 1829, that we were ordained under the hand of this messenger and baptized. 
¶ Immediately upon coming up out of the water, after we had been baptized, we experienced great and glorious blessings from our Heavenly Father. 
No sooner had I baptized Oliver Cowdery, then the Holy Ghost fell upon him, and he stood up and prophesied many things which should shortly come to pass. 
And again, so soon as I had been baptized by him, I also had the Spirit of Prophecy, when, standing up, I prophesied concerning the rise of this Church, and many other things connected with the Church, and this generation of the children of men. 
We were filled with the Holy Ghost and rejoiced in the God of our salvation. 
¶ Our minds being now enlightened, we began to have the Scriptures laid open to our understandings, and the true meaning and intention of their more mysterious passages revealed unto us in a manner which we never could attain to previously, nor ever before had thought of. 
¶ In the meantime, we were told to keep secret the circumstances of having received the Priesthood and our having been baptized, owing to a spirit of persecution which had already manifested itself in the neighborhood. 
We had been threatened with being mobbed from time to time, and this, too, by professors of religion. 
And their intentions of mobbing us were only counteracted by the influence of my wife’s father’s family (under Divine providence), who had become very friendly to me, and who were opposed to mobs, and were willing that I should be allowed to continue the work of translation without interruption; 
And therefore offered and promised us protection from all unlawful proceedings as far as in them lay.

Chapter 22

Revelation given to Hyrum Smith. Harmony, Pennsylvania, May 1829.

(*BoC 10, CoC 10, CJCLdS 11)

After a few days, feeling it to be our duty, we commenced to reason out of the Scriptures with our acquaintances and friends, as we happened to meet with them. 
About this time my brother Samuel H. Smith came to visit us. 
We informed him of what the Lord was about to do for the children of men and began to reason with him out of the Bible. 
We also showed him that part of the work which we had translated and labored to persuade him concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which was now about to be revealed in its fullness. 
He was not, however, very easily persuaded of these things, 
But after much inquiry and explanation he retired to the woods, in order that by secret and fervent prayer he might obtain of a merciful God wisdom to enable him to judge for himself. 
The result was that he obtained revelation for himself sufficient to convince him of the truth of our assertions to him; 
And on the twenty-fifth day of that same month in which we had been baptized and ordained, Oliver Cowdery baptized him; 
And he returned to his father’s house, greatly glorifying and praising God, being filled with the Holy Spirit. 
¶ Not many days afterwards, my brother Hyrum Smith came to us to inquire concerning these things, when at his earnest request, I inquired of the Lord through the seer stone and received for him the following: 
¶ A great and marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. 
Behold, I am God, give heed unto my Word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow: therefore, give heed unto my Word. 
¶ Behold the field is white already to harvest, therefore, whoso desireth to reap, let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God; 
Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God. 
Therefore, if you will ask of me, you shall receive; if you will knock, it shall be opened unto you. 
¶ Now as you have asked, behold I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion. 
Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich; 
Behold he that hath eternal life is rich. 
¶ Verily, verily I say unto you: Even as you desire of me, so shall it be done unto you; 
And, if you desire you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation. 
Say nothing but repentance unto this generation. 
Keep my commandments and assist to bring forth my work according to my commandments, and you shall be blessed. 
¶ Behold thou hast a gift, or thou shalt have a gift, if thou wilt desire of me in faith, with an honest heart, believing in the power of Jesus Christ, or in my power which speaketh unto thee. 
For behold, it is I that speaketh: Behold I am the light which shineth in darkness, and by my power I give these words unto thee. 
1/11:12a]. ¶ And now, verily, verily I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good. 
2/11:12b]. Yea, to do justly; to walk humbly; to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit. 
¶ Verily, verily I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy, 
And then shall you know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which is pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive. 
¶ Behold I command you, that you need not suppose that you are called to preach until you are called. 
Wait a little longer, until you shall have my Word, my Rock, my Church, and my Gospel, that you may know of a surety my doctrine; 
And then behold, according to your desires, yea, even according to your faith, shall it be done unto you. 
¶ Keep my commandments; hold your peace; appeal unto my Spirit. 
Yea, cleave unto me with all your heart, that you may assist in bringing to light those things of which have been spoken; Yea, the translation of my work. 
Be patient until you shall accomplish it. 
¶ Behold this is your work, to keep my commandments: Yea, with all your might, mind, and strength; 
Seek not to declare my Word, but first seek to obtain my Word, and then shall your tongues be loosed; 
Then, if you desire you shall have my Spirit, and my Word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men; but now hold your peace. 
Study my Word which hath gone forth among the children of men; 
And also study my Word which shall come forth among the children of men, or that which you are translating, 
Yea, until you have obtained all which I shall grant unto the children of men in this generation; and then shall all things be added thereunto. 
¶ Behold thou art Hyrum, my son; seek the kingdom of God and all things shall be added according to that which is just. 
Build upon my Rock, which is my Gospel; deny not the Spirit of Revelation, nor the Spirit of Prophecy, for wo unto him that denieth these things. 
Therefore, treasure up in your hearts until the time which is in my wisdom, that you shall go forth. 
Behold I speak unto all who have good desires and have thrust in their sickles to reap. 
¶ Behold I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God: I am the life and the light of the world; 
I AM, the same which came unto my own, and my own received me not. 
But verily, verily I say unto you, that as many as receive me, unto them will I give power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on my name; Amen.

Chapter 23

A Revelation given to Joseph Knight Sr. informing him how he must do to be worthy to assist in the work of the Lord. Harmony, Pennsylvania, May 1829.

(*BoC 11, CoC 11, CJCLdS 12)

About the same time, an old gentleman came to visit us of whose name I wish to make honorable mention; 
Mr. Joseph Knight, Sr. of Colesville, Broome county, New York, who, having heard of the manner in which we were occupying our time, very kindly and considerately brought us a quantity of provisions, in order that we might not be interrupted in the work of translation by the want of such necessities of life; 
And I would just mention here, as in duty bound, that he several times brought us supplies, a distance of at least thirty miles, which enabled us to continue the work when otherwise we must have relinquished it for a season. 
Being very anxious to know his duty as to this work, I inquired of the Lord for him, and obtained the following: 
¶ A great and marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men. 
Behold I am God: Give heed unto my Word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; 
Therefore, give heed unto my Word. 
¶ Behold the field is white already to harvest; 
Therefore, whoso desireth to reap, let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God. 
Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God; 11 {11:2c/12:5] Therefore if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you. 
¶ Now as you have asked, behold I say unto you: Keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion. 
¶ Behold I speak unto you, and also to all those who have desires to bring forth and establish this work; 
And no one can assist in this work, except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care. 
¶ Behold I am the light and the life of the world, that speaketh these words; 
Therefore give heed with your might, and then you are called; Amen.

Chapter 24

Revelations given to David, John and Peter Whitmer Jr. Fayette, New York. June 1829.

(*BoC 12, 13 & 14; CoC 12, 13, &14; CJCLdS 14, 15 & 16)

Shortly after commencing to translate, I became acquainted with Mr. Peter Whitmer, of Fayette, Seneca county, New York, and also with some of his family. 
In the beginning of the month of June, his son, David Whitmer, came to the place where we were residing, and brought with him a two-horse wagon, for the purpose of having us accompany him to his father’s place, and there remain until we should finish the work. 
Now, my wife had written some for me and also my Brother Samuel H Smith, 
But we had become reduced in property and my wife’s father was about to turn me out of doors. 
I had not where to go, and I cried unto the Lord that he would provide for me to accomplish the work whereunto he had commanded me. 
¶ It was arranged that we should have our board free of charge, and the assistance of one of his brothers to write for me, and also his own assistance when convenient. 
Having much need of such timely aid in an undertaking so arduous, and being informed that the people in the neighborhood of the Whitmers were anxiously awaiting the opportunity to inquire into these things, 
We accepted the invitation, and accompanied Mr. Whitmer to his father’s house, and there resided until the translation was finished and the copyright secured. 
Upon our arrival, we found Mr. Whitmer’s family very anxious concerning the work, and very friendly toward ourselves. 
They continued so, boarded and lodged us according to arrangements; John Whitmer in particular assisted us very much in writing during the remainder of the work. 
¶ We found the people of Seneca county in general friendly and disposed to enquire into the truth of these strange matters which now began to be noised abroad. 
Many opened their houses to us, in order that we might have an opportunity of meeting with our friends for the purpose of instruction and explanation. 
We met with many from time to time who were willing to hear us, and who desired to find out the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, and apparently willing to obey the Gospel, when once fairly convinced and satisfied in their own minds; 
And in this same month of June, my brother Hyrum Smith, David Whitmer, and Peter Whitmer, Junior, were baptized in Seneca lake, the two formers by myself the latter by Oliver Cowdery. 
From this time forth many became believers, and some were baptized whilst we continued to instruct and persuade as many as applied for information. 
¶ In the meantime, David, John and Peter Whitmer, Junior became our zealous friends and assistants in the work. 
And being anxious to know their respective duties, and having desired with much earnestness that I should inquire of the Lord concerning them, 
I did so, through the means of the seer stone, or as we called it the Urim and Thummim, and obtained for them in succession the following revelations: A Revelation given to David Whitmer: 
¶ A great and marvelous work is about to come forth unto the children of men. 
Behold I am God, give heed unto my Word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; 
Therefore, give heed unto my Word. 
¶ Behold the field is white already to harvest, 
Therefore, whoso desireth to reap, let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God. 
Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God; 
Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive, if you will knock it shall be opened unto you. 
¶ Seek to bring forth and establish my Zion. 
Keep my commandments in all things, 
And if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God. 
¶ And it shall come to pass, that if you shall ask the Father in my name, in faith believing, you shall receive the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance, that you may stand as a witness of the things of which you shall both hear and see; 
And also, that ye may declare repentance unto this generation. 
¶ Behold I am Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, which created the heavens and the earth; 
A light which cannot be hid in darkness: 
Wherefore, I must bring forth the fullness of my Gospel from the Gentiles unto the house of Israel. 
And behold thou art David, and thou art called to assist, 
Which thing if ye do, and are faithful, ye shall be blessed both spiritually and temporally, and great shall be your reward; Amen.

A Revelation given to John Whitmer:

¶ Hearken my servant John, and listen to the words of Jesus Christ, your Lord and your Redeemer; 
For behold, I speak unto you with sharpness and with power, for mine arm is over all the earth; 
And I will tell you that which no man knoweth save me and thee alone. 
For many times ye have desired of me to know that which would be of the most worth unto you. 
¶ Behold, blessed are you for this thing, and for speaking my words which I have given you, according to my commandments. 
1/15:6a]. ¶ And now behold I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you, will be to declare repentance unto this people, 
2/15:6b]. That you may bring souls unto me, that ye may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father; Amen.

A Revelation given to Peter Whitmer Junior:

¶ Hearken my servant Peter, and listen to the words of Jesus Christ, your Lord and your Redeemer; 
For behold, I speak unto you with sharpness and with power, for mine arm is over all the earth; 
And I will tell you that which no man knoweth save me and thee alone; 
For many times ye have desired of me to know that which would be of the most worth unto you. 
¶ Behold, blessed are you for this thing, and for speaking my words which I have given you, according to my commandments. 
1/16:6a]. ¶ And now behold I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you, will be to declare repentance unto this people; 
2/16:6b]. That you may bring souls unto me, that ye may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father; Amen.

Chapter 25

A Revelation to Joseph Smith Jr., Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer making known the calling of twelve disciples in these last days, and, instructions relative to building up the Church of Christ, according to the fullness of the Gospel. Fayette New York, June 1829.

(*BoC 15, CoC 16, CJCLDS 18)

We now became anxious to have that promise realized, which the angel that conferred upon us the Aaronic Priesthood had given us, viz., that provided we continued faithful, we should also have the Melchizedek Priesthood, which holds the authority of the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
We had for some time made this matter a subject of humble prayer, and at length we got together in the chamber of Mr. Whitmer’s house, in order more particularly to seek of the Lord what we now so earnestly desired; 
And here, to our unspeakable satisfaction, did we realize the truth of the Savior’s promise: 
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 
For we had not long been engaged in solemn and fervent prayer, when the Word of the Lord, by the angel Gabriel, came unto us in the chamber. 
And then, there before us stood three heavenly messengers who identified themselves as Peter, James, and John; the very same that were the apostles of Jesus, as recorded in the New Testament. 
They placed their hands upon our heads and ordained us to the office of Elder, bestowing upon us the Melchizedek Priesthood, as had been promised before by John the Baptist. 
Then too came Raphael, giving us the keys to the office of High Priest, that we might have the keys to organize this Church, when the time came. 
They then commanded us that I should ordain Oliver Cowdery to be an Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ; 
And that he also should ordain me to the same office; and then to ordain others, as it should be made known unto us from time to time. 
We were, however, commanded to defer this our ordination until such times as it should be practicable to have our brethren, who had been and who should be baptized, assembled together, 
When we must have their sanction to our thus proceeding to ordain each other and have them decide by vote whether they were willing to accept us as spiritual teachers or not. 
Then we were also commanded to bless bread and break it with them, and to take wine, bless it, and drink it with them; 
Afterward we proceed to ordain each other according to commandment; then call out such men as the Spirit should dictate, and ordain them; 
And then attend to the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, upon all those whom we had previously baptized, doing all things in the name of the Lord. 
¶ The following commandment or revelation was received to further illustrate the nature of our calling to this Priesthood, as well as that of others who were yet to be sought after: 
¶ Now behold, because of the thing which you have desired to know of me, I give unto you these words: 
Behold I have manifested unto you, by my Spirit in many instances, that the things which you have written are true. 
Wherefore you know that they are true; and if you know that they are true, behold I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are written; 
For in them are all things written, concerning my Church, my Gospel, and my Rock. 
Wherefore if you shall build up my Church, and my Gospel, and my Rock, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you. 
¶ Behold the world is ripening in iniquity, and it must needs be that the children of men are stirred up unto repentance, both the Gentiles, and also the house of Israel; 
Wherefore thou hast been baptized by the hand of my servant, according to that which I have commanded him. 
Wherefore he hath fulfilled the thing which I commanded him. 
¶ And now, marvel not that I have called him unto mine own purpose, which purpose is known in me. 
Wherefore if he shall be diligent in keeping my commandments, he shall be blessed unto eternal life, and his name is Joseph. 
¶ And now Oliver, I speak unto you, and also unto David, by the way of commandment; 
For behold, I command all men everywhere to repent, and I speak unto you, even as unto Paul mine apostle, for you are called even with that same calling with which he was called. 
Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. 
For behold the Lord your God suffered death in the flesh, wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. 
And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him on conditions of repentance. 
And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth. 
Wherefore you are called to cry repentance unto this people. 
And if it so be that you should labor in all your days, in crying repentance unto this people, and bring save it be one soul only unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! 
¶ And now if your joy will be great with one soul, that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy, if you should bring many souls unto me? 
Behold you shall have my Gospel before you, and my rock, and my salvation; 
Ask the Father in my name in faith believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost which manifesteth all things, which is expedient unto the children of men. 
And if you have not faith, hope and charity, you can do nothing. 
Contend against no church, save it be the church of the devil. 
Take upon you the name of Christ, and speak the truth in soberness, and as many as repent, and are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved. 
¶ Behold Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved; 
Wherefore all men must take upon them the name which is given of the Father, for in that name shall they be called at the last day. 
Wherefore if they know not the name by which they are called, they cannot have place in the kingdom of my Father. 
¶ And now behold, there are others which are called to declare my Gospel, both unto Gentile and unto Jew; yea, even unto twelve. 
And the twelve shall be my disciples, and they shall take upon them my name. 
And the twelve are they which shall desire to take upon them my name, with full purpose of heart; 
And if they desire to take upon them my name, with full purpose of heart, they are called to go into all the world to preach my Gospel unto every creature. 
And they are they which are ordained of me to baptize in my name, according to that which is written; and you have that which is written before you. 
Wherefore you must perform it according to the words which are written. 
¶ And now I speak unto the twelve: Behold my grace is sufficient for you, you must walk uprightly before me and sin not. 
And behold you are they which are ordained of me to ordain Priests and Teachers, to declare my Gospel, according to the power of the Holy Ghost which is in you, and according to the callings and gifts of God unto men. 
And I Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, have spoken it. 
These words are not of men, nor of man, but of me; 
Wherefore you shall testify they are of me, and not of man; for it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; 
For they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; 
And save it were by my power, you could not have them. 
Wherefore ye can testify that ye have heard my voice and know my words. 
¶ And now behold I give unto you, Oliver, and also unto David, that you shall search out the twelve which shall have the desires of which I have spoken; 
And by their desires and their works, you shall know them. 
And when you have found them you shall show these things unto them; 
And you shall fall down and worship the Father in my name. 
And you must preach unto the world, saying: You must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 
For all men must repent and be baptized; and not only men, but women and children, which have arrived at the years of accountability. 
¶ And now, after that you have received this, you must keep my commandments in all things. 
And by your hands I will work a marvelous work among the children of men, unto the convincing of many of their sins, 
That they may come unto repentance; and that they may come unto the kingdom of my Father; 
Wherefore the blessings which I give unto you are above all things. 
And after that you have received this, if you keep not my commandments, you cannot be saved in the kingdom of my Father. 
Behold I, Jesus Christ; your Lord, and your God, and your Redeemer; by the power of my Spirit have spoken it; Amen. 
In this manner did the Lord continue to give us instructions from time to time, concerning the duties of the Church which were now devolved upon us; 71 And among many other things of the kind, which we obtained of Him. 
Note: The exact date and circumstances of the ordination of Joseph Smith Jr. and Oliver Cowdery to the Melchizedek is unknow. The information provided here is given by inspiration, not revelation.

Chapter 26

A Revelation to Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, given previous to them having viewed the plates. Fayette New York, June 1829.

(CoC 15, CJCLDS 17)

In the course of the work of translation, we ascertained that three special witnesses were to be provided by the Lord, to whom he would grant that they should see the plates from which this work (the Book of Mormon) should be translated; 
And that these witnesses should bear record of the same. 
Almost immediately after we had made this discovery, it occurred to Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and the aforementioned Martin Harris, 4 (Who had come to inquire after our progress in the work) 
That they would have me inquire of the Lord to know if they might not obtain of Him the privilege to be these three special witnesses; 
And finally they became so very solicitous and urged me so much to inquire that at length I complied. 
And through the seer tone, I obtained of the Lord for them the following: 
¶ Behold, I say unto you that you must rely upon my Word, 
Which if you do, with full purpose of heart, you shall have a view of the plates, the breastplate, and the sword of Laban; 
And also the Urim and Thummim, which was given to the brother of Jared upon the mount, when he talked with the Lord face to face; 
And the marvelous directors which was given to Lehi while in the wilderness on the borders of the red sea. 
And it is by your faith that you shall obtain a view of them, even by that faith which was had by the prophets of old. 
¶ And after that you have obtained faith, and have seen them with your eyes, you shall testify of them by the power of God; 
And this you shall do that my servant Joseph Smith Jr. may not be destroyed, 
That I may bring about my righteous purposes unto the children of men, in this work. 
And ye shall testify that ye have seen them, even as my servant Joseph Smith Jr. has seen them; 
For it is by my power that he has seen them, and it is because he had faith and he has translated them—even that part which I have commanded him; 
And as your Lord and your God liveth, it is true. 
¶ Wherefore, you have received the same power, and the same faith, and the same gift like unto him. 
And, if ye do these last commandments of mine which I have given you, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; 
For my grace is sufficient for you, and ye shall be lifted up at the Last Day. 
And I, Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, have spoken it unto you that I might bring about my righteous purposes unto the children of men; Amen.

Chapter 27

Martin Harris, David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery witness the Gold Plates. June 1829.

(Verses 1-5 from “History of the Prophet Joseph,” by Lucy Smith, Ch. 31; rewritten in the first-person narrative of Joseph Smith Jr.)

Not many days after the above commandment was given, we four—Martin Harris, David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery and myself—agreed to retire into the woods, and try to obtain, by fervent and humble prayer, the fulfillment of the promises given in the above revelation—that they should have a view of the plates. 
The day began with the usual morning family service held at the Whitmer residence, namely, scripture reading, singing, and prayer. 
Besides the Whitmer family, my wife and myself, and Oliver Cowdery, there were present my father and mother, and Martin Harris. 
As soon as I rose from my knees, I approached Martin Harris and said: With a solemnity that thrills through my veins to this day, Martin Harris, you have got to humble yourself before your God this day, that you may obtain a forgiveness of your sins. 
If you do, it is the will of God that you should look upon the plates in company with Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer. 
We accordingly made choice of a piece of woods convenient to Mr. Whitmer’s house, to which we retired, and having knelt down, we began to pray in much faith to Almighty God to bestow upon us a realization of these promises. 
¶ According to previous arrangement, I commenced by The Order of Vocal Prayer to our Heavenly Father and was followed by each of the others in succession. 
We did not at the first trial, however, obtain any answer or manifestation of divine favor in our behalf. 
We again observed the same order of prayer, each calling on and praying fervently to God in rotation, but with the same result as before. 
¶ Upon this, our second failure, Martin Harris proposed that he should withdraw himself from us, believing, as he expressed himself, that his presence was the cause of our not obtaining what we wished for. 
He accordingly withdrew from us, and we knelt down again, and had not been many minutes engaged in prayer, when presently we beheld a light above us in the air, of exceeding brightness; and behold, an angel stood before us. 
In his hands he held the plates which we had been praying for these to have a view of. 
He turned over the leaves one by one, so that we could see them, and discern the engravings thereon distinctly. 
He then addressed himself to David Whitmer, and said: David, blessed is the Lord, and he that keeps His commandments. 
Then, immediately afterwards, we heard a voice from out of the bright light above us, saying: These plates have been revealed by the power of God, and they have been translated by the power of God. 
The translation of them which you have seen is correct, and I command you to bear record of what you now see and hear. 
I now left David and Oliver, and went in pursuit of Martin Harris, whom I found at a considerable distance, fervently engaged in prayer. 
He soon told me, however, that he had not yet prevailed with the Lord, and earnestly requested me to join him in prayer, that he also might realize the same blessings which we had just received. 
We accordingly joined in prayer, and ultimately obtained our desires, for before we had yet finished, the same vision was opened to our view, at least it was again opened to me, and I once more beheld and heard the same things, 
Whilst at the same moment, Martin Harris cried out, apparently in an ecstasy of joy: ‘Tis enough; ‘tis enough; mine eyes have beheld; mine eyes have beheld! 
And, jumping up, he shouted: Hosanna! blessing God, and otherwise rejoiced exceedingly. 
¶ Having thus, through the mercy of God, obtained these glorious manifestations, it now remained for the Witnesses, these three individuals, to fulfill the commandment which they had received: 
To bear record of these things; in order to accomplish which, they drew up and subscribed with their own hands. 
Returning to the house, I threw myself down beside my mother, and exclaimed, Father, mother, you do not know how happy I am; 
The Lord has now caused the plates to be shown to three more besides myself. 
They have seen an angel, who has testified to them, and they will have to bear witness to the truth of what I have said; 
For now they know for themselves that I do not go about to deceive the people. 
I feel as if I was relieved of a burden which was almost too heavy for me to bear, and it rejoices my soul that I am not any longer to be entirely alone in the world. 
Upon this, Martin Harris came in, he seemed almost overcome with joy, and testified boldly to what he had both seen and heard. 
And so did David and Oliver, adding that no tongue could express the joy of their hearts and the greatness of the things which they had both seen and heard.

Chapter 28

The testimony of Oliver Cowdery on the method and translation of the Book of Mormon.

(1-16 from a letter published in the “Messenger and Advocate,” at Kirtland, Ohio, 1834 and a court testimony provided by the affidavit of Judge C. M. Nielson of Utah, December 3, 1909. 17-23 from liver Cowdery to Phineas Young, February 14, 1847.)

Near the time of the setting of the sun, Sabbath evening, April 5, 1829, my natural eyes, for the first time, beheld this brother. 
He then resided in Harmony, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania. 
On Monday, the sixth, I assisted him in arranging some business of a temporal nature, and on Tuesday, the seventh, commenced to write the Book of Mormon. 
These were days never to be forgotten: 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 Thummin, 
Or, as the Nephites would have said, “Interpreters,” the history or record called the Book of Mormon. 
¶ During the progress of this translation, that is from the beginning of April until sometime in June, it was discovered, in the work itself, that there were to be three witnesses to whom the Gold Plates should be shown, 
And who were to testify concerning their origin and translation by inspiration, or, as it was expressed: By the gift and power of God. 
Joseph Smith Jr. stated that he had been forbidden to show the plates to anyone except as thus provided. 
¶ I must admit to you that I am the very Oliver Cowdery whose name is attached to the testimony, with others, as to the appearance of the Angel Moroni; 
And as I cannot now avoid the responsibility, let me tell you that it is not because of my good deeds that I am here, away from the body of the Mormon Church, 
But because I have broken the covenants I once made, and I was cut off from the Church, 
But I have never denied my testimony, which is attached to the Book of Mormon, 
And I declare to you here that these eyes saw the angel, and these ears of mine heard the voice of the angel, and he told us his name was Moroni; 
That the book was true, and contained the fullness of the Gospel, 
And we were also told that if we ever denied what we had heard and seen that there would be no forgiveness for us, neither in this world nor in the world to come. 
¶ I do not, I have never asked, to be excused, or exempted from an acknowledgment of any actual fault or wrong—for of these there are many, which it always was my pleasure to confess— 
I have cherished a hope, and that one of my fondest, that I might leave such a character as those who might believe in my testimony, after I should be called hence, might do so, 
Not only for the sake of the truth but might not blush for the private character of the man who bore that testimony. 
I have been sensitive on this subject, I admit, but I ought to so be, 
You would be under the circumstances, had you stood in the presence of John with our departed Brother Joseph, to receive the lesser priesthood, 
And in the presence of Peter, to receive the greater, and looked down through time, and witness the effects these two must produce— 
You would feel what you have never felt, were wicked men conspiring to lessen the effects of your testimony on man, after you should have gone to your long sought rest. 
Note: Oliver never saw Joseph with the Urim and Thummim, as they were not returned by Moroni, thus what he called the Urim and Thummim was actually one of Joseph’s seer stones.

Chapter 29

The testimony of David Whitmer on the method and translation of the Book of Mormon. The order in which this testimony was given has been altered here, to create a better flowing narrative.

(Verses 1-11 from “An Address to All Believers of Christ,” 1887, An Explanation, paragraphs 10-12; verses 12-32 from Unpublished Revelations of the Prophets and Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Vol 11, vs 12 from part 30:17d, vs 13-21 from 24-29, vs 22 from 33, 23-32 from 19-22.)

I will now give you a description of the manner in which the Book of Mormon was translated. 
Joseph Smith Jr. would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. 
A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. 
One character at a time would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. 
Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, 
Then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. 
Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God, and not by any power of man. 
¶ The characters I speak of are the engravings on the golden plates from which the book was translated. 
They were engraved thereon by the hand of a holy prophet of God whose name was Mormon, who lived upon this land four hundred years after Christ. 
Mormon’s son, Moroni, after witnessing the destruction of his brethren, the Nephites, deposited the golden plates in the ground, according to a command of God. 
An angel of the Lord directed Brother Joseph to them. 
¶ My mission is to testify concerning the truth of the coming forth of the work of God. 
¶ I was plowing in the field one morning, and Joseph and Oliver came along with a revelation stating that I was to be one of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon. 
I got over the fence and we went out into the woods, nearby, and sat down on a log and talked awhile. 
We then kneeled down and prayed; Joseph prayed. 
We then got up and sat on the log and were talking, when all at once a light came down from above us and encircled us for quite a little distance around; and the angel stood before us. 
He was dressed in white and spoke and called me by name and said: Blessed is he that keepeth His commandments. 
This is all that I heard the angel say. 
A table was set before us and on it the records were placed. 
The records of the Nephites, from which the Book of Mormon was translated, the brass plates, the Ball of Directors, the sword of Laban and other plates. 
While we were viewing them the voice of God spoke out of heaven saying that the book was true and the translation correct. 
¶ We knew it was the voice of God; I knew it was the voice of God just as well as I knew anything. 
¶ Joseph Smith Jr. was a religious and straightforward man. 
He had to be; for he was illiterate, and he could do nothing of himself. 
He had to trust in God; he could not translate unless he was humble and possessed the right feelings towards everyone. 
To illustrate, so you can see: One morning when he was getting ready to continue the translation, something went wrong about the house and he was put out about it. 
Something that Emma, his wife, had done. 
Oliver and I went upstairs, and Joseph came up soon after to continue the translation, but he could not do anything; he could not translate a single syllable. 
He went downstairs, out into the orchard, and made supplication to the Lord; 
He was gone about an hour; came back to the house, asked Emma’s forgiveness, and then came upstairs where we were, and the translation went on all right. 
He could do nothing save he was humble and faithful.

Chapter 30

The testimony of Martin Harris of the Book of Mormon. (Recorded by Ole A. Jensen in Clarkston, Utah, July 1875.)

Brothers, I believe there is an angel here to hear what I am going to say to you and you will never forget what I say. 
¶ I will tell you of the most wonderful thing that happened, after Joseph received the plates. 
Three of us, myself and two more, took some tools and went to the hill to dig for more plates of gold or something and indeed we found a stone box. 
We got quite excited and dug around it very carefully, and just when we were ready to lift it up out of the hole, some unseen power slid it back into the hill. 
We stood and looked at it and one of us tried to drive a crowbar through the lid to hold it, but the crowbar glanced off and the corner of the lid was chipped off. 
¶ Sometime that box will be found, and you will find one corner of the lid broken, and you will know that I have spoken the truth. 
Brothers, just as sure as you are standing here and see me, just so sure did we see the Angel with the golden plates in his hand. 
He showed them to me, and I promised I would bear witness of this truth both here and hereafter. 
¶ The Prophet Joseph Smith Jr., Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and I went into a small grove to pray to obtain a promise that we should behold with our own eyes that we could testify to the whole world. 
At length the angel stood before Oliver and David with the plates in his hand. 
I had gone a little apart to pray, and in my desperation, I asked the prophet to kneel and pray with me. 
He did so and immediately the angel stood before me and said: Look. 
When I glanced at him, I fell to the ground, but immediately got up and saw the angel turn the leaves of the golden plates over and I said: It is enough, my Lord and my God! 
I then heard the voice of God say, The Book of Mormon is true, and translated correctly. 
Note: The order in which this testimony was given has been altered here to create a better flowing narrative.

Chapter 31

The testimony of Emma Smith on the method and translation of the Book of Mormon.

(From correspondence to Emma Pilgrim, 1870 and “Saints Herald,” 1879.)

I know Mormonism to be the truth; and believe the Church to have been established by divine direction; I have complete faith in it. 
In writing for your father I frequently wrote day after day, often sitting at the table close by him, he sitting with his face buried in his hat, with the stone in it, and dictating hour after hour with nothing between us. 
¶ Now, the first part my husband translated, was translated by the use of Urim and Thummim, and that was the part that Martin Harris lost. 
After that he used a small stone, not exactly black, but was rather a dark color. 
¶ When my husband was translating the Book of Mormon, I wrote a part of it, as he dictated each sentence, word for word, 
And when he came to proper names he could not pronounce, or long words, he spelled them out, and while I was writing them, 
If I made any mistake in spelling, he would stop me and correct my spelling although it was impossible for him to see how I was writing them down at the time. 
Even the word Sarah he could not pronounce at first, but had to spell it, and I would pronounce it for him. 
¶ When he stopped for any purpose at any time he would, when he commenced again, begin where he left off without any hesitation, 
And one time while he was translating, he stopped suddenly, pale as a sheet, and said: Emma, did Jerusalem have walls around it? 
When I answered: Yes, he replied: Oh! I was afraid I had been deceived. 
He had such a limited knowledge of history at that time that he did not even know that Jerusalem was surrounded by walls. 
¶ The plates often lay on the table without any attempt at concealment, wrapped in a small linen tablecloth, which I had given him to fold them in. 
I once felt of the plates as they thus lay on the table, tracing their outline and shape. 
They seemed to be pliable like thick paper and would rustle with a metallic sound when the edges were moved by the thumb, as one does sometimes thumb the edges of a book. 
¶ My belief is that the Book of Mormon is of divine authenticity; I have not the slightest doubt of it. 
I am satisfied that no man could have dictated the writing of the manuscripts unless he was inspired; 
For, when acting as his scribe, your father would dictate to me hour after hour; 
And when returning after meals, or after interruptions, he could at once begin where he had left off, without either seeing the manuscript or having any portion of it read to him. 
This was a usual thing for him to do. 
It would have been improbable that a learned man could do this; and, for one so ignorant and unlearned as he was, it was simply impossible.

Chapter 32

The testimony of Elizabeth Ann Whitmer Cowdery on the method and translation of the Book of Mormon.

(William E. McLellin to "My Dear Friends," February 1870, Miscellaneous Letters and Papers, Community of Christ Library Archives, Independence, Missouri.)

I cheerfully certify that I was familiar with the manner of Joseph Smith Jr.'s translating the book of Mormon. 
He translated the most of it at my father's house. 
And I often sat by and saw and heard them translate and write for hours together. 
Joseph never had a curtain drawn between him and his scribe while he was translating. 
He would place the director in his hat, and then place his face in his hat, so as to exclude the light, and then read to his scribe the words as they appeared before him.

Chapter 33

The testimony of the eight witnesses is obtained and the translation continues; 1829.

We continued to translate, at intervals, when not under the necessity of attending to the numerous inquirers who now began to visit us; 
Some for the sake of finding the truth others for the purpose of putting hard questions and trying to confound us. 
Among the latter class were several learned priests, who generally came for the purpose of disputation. 
However, the Lord continued to pour out upon us His Holy Spirit, and as often as we had need, He gave us in that moment what to say; 
So that although unlearned and inexperienced in religious controversies, yet we were able to confound those learned priests of the day; 
Whilst at the same time we were enabled to convince the honest in heart that we had obtained, through the mercy of God, the true and everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ; 
And occasionally we administered the ordinance of baptism for the remission of sins to such as believed. 
¶ While seeking to make arrangement to print the Book of Mormon, the additional testimony of eight others was obtained from Christian Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, Peter Whitmer Junior, John Whitmer, Hiram Page, Joseph Smith, Sr., Hyrum Smith, and Samuel H. Smith. 
These eight witnesses obtained a view of the plates near the Smith residence at Manchester. 
After arriving at the Smith residence, Joseph Smith, Sen., Hyrum Smith, and Samuel H. Smith, joined Joseph’s company from Fayette, 
And together they repaired to a place in the woods where members of the Smith family were wont to hold secret prayer, and there the plates were shown to these eight witnesses. 
These eight were not attended by an angel, but rather this was a plain, matter-of-fact exhibition of the plates; 
And they not only saw the plates but handled them and examined the engravings upon them.

Chapter 34

A commandment from God unto Oliver, written in response to the revelation commanding him to gain revelation on how he should build up Christ’s Church & the manner thereof; a true copy of the articles of the Church of Christ. June 1829.

(Appendix 3: “Articles of the Church of Christ” and BoC&R 1 pgs. 23-26.)

Oliver, listen to the voice of Christ; your Lord and your God, and your Redeemer, and write the words which I shall command you concerning my Church, my Gospel, my Rock, and my Salvation. 
Behold, the world is ripening in iniquity and it must needs be that the children of men are stirred up unto repentance, both the Gentiles and also the House of Israel. 
For behold, I command all men everywhere to repent, and I speak unto you even as unto Paul mine apostle; 
For ye are called even with that same calling with which he was called. 
Now therefore, whosoever repenteth and humbleth himself before me and desireth to be baptized in my name shall ye baptize them. 
And after this manner did he command me that I should baptize them: Behold ye shall go down and stand in the water and in my name shall ye baptize them. 
And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name saying: 
Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of 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, and after this manner shall ye baptize in my name. 
For behold, verily I say unto you: That the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; 
And I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one. 
¶ And ye are also called to ordain Priests and Teachers according to the gifts and callings of God unto men. 
And after this manner shall ye ordain them: Ye shall pray unto the Father in my name, and then shall ye lay your hands upon them, and say: 
In the name of Jesus Christ, I ordain you to be a Priest (or if he be a Teacher, I ordain you to be a Teacher) to preach repentance, and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end; Amen. 
And this shall be the duty of the Priest: 
He shall kneel down, and the members of the Church shall kneel also, which Church shall be called The Church of Christ. 
And he shall pray to the Father in my name for the Church, and if it so be that it be built upon my Rock, I will bless it. 
And after that ye have prayed to the Father in my name, ye shall preach the truth in soberness, casting out none from among you, but rather inviting them to come. 
And the Church shall oft partake of bread and wine, and after this manner shall ye partake of it: 
The Elder or Priest shall minister it, and after this manner shall he do: He shall kneel with the Church and pray to the Father in the name of Christ, and then shall ye say: 
O God the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments, which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them; Amen. 
¶ And then shall ye take the cup and say: 
O God the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them, that they may witness unto thee, O God the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them; Amen. 
¶ And now behold, I give unto you a commandment that ye shall not suffer anyone knowingly to partake of my flesh and blood unworthily when ye shall minister it; 
For whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh and blood unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul. 
Therefore, if ye know that a man or woman is unworthy to eat and drink of my flesh and blood, ye shall forbid them. 
Nevertheless, ye shall not cast them out from among you, but ye shall minister unto them, and shall pray for them unto the Father in my name; 
And if it so be that they repenteth and are baptized in my name, then shall ye receive them, and shall minister unto them of my flesh and blood; 
But if they repenteth not, they shall not be numbered among my people, that they may not destroy my people; 
For behold I know my sheep, and they are numbered; 
Nevertheless, ye shall not cast them out of your Synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; 
For ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them, and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them. 
Therefore, keep these sayings which I have commanded you, that ye come not under condemnation, for wo unto him whom the Father condemneth. 
¶ And the Church shall meet together oft for prayer and supplication, casting out none from your places of worship; but rather, inviting them to come. 
And each member shall speak and tell the Church of their progress in the way to Eternal life. 
¶ And there shall be no pride, nor envying, nor strife, nor malice, nor idolatry, nor witchcrafts, nor whoredoms, nor fornications, nor covetousness, nor lying, nor deceits, nor any manner of iniquity; 
And, if anyone is guilty of any or the least of these, and doth not repent, and shew fruits meets for repentance, they shall not be numbered among my people, that they may not destroy my people. 
¶ And now I speak unto the Church: Repent all ye ends of the Earth; come unto me, and be baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and, endure to the end, and ye shall be saved. 
Behold, Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is no other name given whereby man can be saved. 
Therefore, all men must take upon them the name which is given of the Father, for in that name shall they be called at the last day. 
Therefore, if they know not the name by which they are called, they cannot have place in the Kingdom of my Father. 
Behold, ye must walk uprightly before me and sin not, and if ye do walk uprightly before me and sin not, my grace is sufficient for you, that ye shall be lifted up at the last day. 
Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God; 
I am the same which came unto my own, and my own received me not; 
I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not. 
These words are not of men, nor of man; but of me. 
Now remember the words of him who is the first and the last, the light and the life of the world. 
And I, Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, and your Redeemer; by the power of my Spirit hath spoken it; Amen. 
¶ And now if I have not authority to write these things, judge ye. 
Behold, ye shall know that I have authority when you and I shall be brought to stand before the judgement seat of Christ. 
Now may the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ be and abide with you all, and finally save you eternally in his Kingdom, through the infinite atonement which is in Jesus Christ, Amen. 
Behold I am Oliver, I am an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ Behold I have written the things which he hath commanded me; 
For behold, his Word was unto me as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing and I could forbear no longer; Amen.

Chapter 35

A commandment of God and not of man to Martin Harris. Manchester, New York, summer 1829.

(*BoC&R 25-28, BoC 16, CoC 18, CJCLdS 19)

Our translation drawing to a close, we went to Palmyra, Wayne County, New York, secured the copyright, and agreed with Mr. Egbert B. Grandin to print five thousand copies for the sum of three thousand dollars. 
It was around this time, that I received the following revelation by means of the seer stone: 
¶ Yea, even I, I am he, the beginning and the end; Yea, Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord, the Redeemer of the world. 
I, having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father. 
Having done this, that I might subdue all things unto myself; 
Retaining all power, even to the destroying of Satan and his works at the end of the world, and the last great day of judgment, which I shall pass upon the inhabitants thereof, every man according to his works, and the deeds which he hath done. 
And surely every man must repent or suffer, for I, God, am endless. 
Wherefore, I revoke not the judgments which I shall pass, but woes shall go forth, weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, yea, to those who are found on my left hand; 
Nevertheless, it is not written, that there shall be no end to this torment; but it is written endless torment. 
¶ Again, it is written eternal damnation: wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men, altogether for my name’s glory. 
Wherefore, I will explain unto you, this mystery, for it is mete unto you to know, even as mine apostles. 
I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest. 
For behold, the mystery of Godliness: how great is it? 
For behold I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand, is endless punishment, for endless is my name. 
Wherefore eternal punishment is God’s punishment: endless punishment is God’s punishment. 
Wherefore, I command you by my name, and by My Almighty power, that you repent. 
Repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore. 
How sore you know not! 
How exquisite you know not! 
Yea, how hard to bear you know not! 
For behold, I God have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer, if they would repent, 
But if they would not repent, they must suffer even as I, which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, both body and spirit. 
And would that I might not drink the bitter cup and shrink; 
Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men. 
Wherefore, I command you again by my Almighty power that ye confess your sins lest ye suffer these punishments of which I have spoken of in the smallest; 
Yea, in the least degree, ye have tasted at a time I withdrew my Spirit. 
¶ I command you that ye preach naught but repentance; and shew not these things, neither speak these things, unto the world; 
For they cannot bear meat but milk they must receive. 
Wherefore, they must not know these things lest they perish; 
Wherefore, learn of me and listen to my words, walk in the meekness of my Spirit and ye shall have peace in me, by the will of the Father. 
¶ And again, I command you that thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife; 
Nor seek thy neighbor’s life. 
¶ And again, I command you that thou shalt not covet thine own property but impart it freely to the printing of the Book of Mormon, which contains of the Word of God, which is my Word to Gentile. 
Soon it may go to the Jew, of which the Lamanites of are a remnant, that they may believe the Gospel and look not for a Messiah to come, which has already come. 
¶ And again, I command that thou shalt pray vocally, as well as to thyself; 
Yea before the world as well as in secret; 
In public as well as in private. 
And thou shalt declare glad tidings; 
Yea publish it upon the mountains, and upon every high place, and among every people which thou shalt be permitted to see. 
And thou shalt do it with all humility trusting in me, reviling not against revilers. 
And of tenets thou shalt not talk; 
But thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior and remissions of sins by baptism and by fire, yea even the Holy Ghost. 
¶ Behold this is a great and last commandment which I shall give unto you; 
For this shall suffice for thy daily walk, even unto the end of thy life; 
And misery shalt thou receive if thou wilt slight these councils, yea even destruction of thyself and property. 
Impart a portion of thy property, yea even a part of thy lands and all, save the support of thy family; 
Pay the printers debt, release thyself from bondage. 
Leave thy house and home, except when thou shalt desire to see them; 
And, speak freely to all: Yea; preach, exhort, declare the truth, even with a loud voice; 
With a sound of rejoicing crying: Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Lord God! 
¶ Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing; 
Yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness, to the extent thereof. 
Behold, canst thou read this without rejoicing and lifting up thy heart for gladness? 
And canst thou run about longer as a blind guide? or canst thou be humble, and meek, and conduct thyself wisely before me? 
Yea come unto me, thy Savior; Amen.

Chapter 36

A Revelation given to Joseph Smith Jr., Oliver Cowdery, Hiram Page, Josiah Stowell, and Joseph Knight Sr. Given at Manchester New York, sometime in or between January and March 1830.

(*BoC&R 30-31; excluded from the Original BoC, the CoC DaC, & the CJCLdS DaC)

My brother Hyrum suggesting that the copyright for the Book of Mormon might be sold for considerable money in Canada, and we, not knowing what the Lord would have us do next, I inquired of the Lord and received the following revelation: 
Behold, I the Lord am God; I created the heavens, and the earth, and all things that in them are; 
Wherefore, they are mine, and I sway my scepter over all the earth; 
And ye are in my hands to will, and to do, that I can deliver you out of every difficulty and affliction, according to your faith, and diligence, and uprightness before me. 
And I have covenanted with my servant that earth nor Hell combined against him shall not take the blessing out of his hands which I have prepared for him, if he walketh uprightly before me; neither the spiritual nor the temporal blessings. 
And behold I also covenanted with those who have assisted him in my work, that I will do unto them even the same, because they have done that which is pleasing in my sight, yea even all save it be one only. 
¶ Wherefore, be diligent in securing the copyright of my work upon all the face of the earth, of which is known by you unto my servant Joseph, and unto him whom he willeth, according as I shall command him; 
That the faithful and the righteous may retain the temporal blessing, as well as the spiritual, and also that my work be not destroyed by the workers of iniquity to their own destruction and damnation when they are fully ripe. 
¶ And now behold, I say unto you that I have covenanted, and it pleaseth me, that Oliver Cowdery, Hiram Page, and Josiah Stowell shall do my work in this thing; yea even in securing the copyright; 
And they shall do it with an eye single to my glory, that it may be the means of bringing souls unto salvation, through mine Only Begotten. 
¶ Behold I am God, I have spoken it, and it is expedient in me. 
Wherefore, I say unto you that ye shall go forward, seeking me continually, through mine only Begotten; 
And if ye do this, ye shall have my Spirit to go with you, and ye shall have an addition of all things which are expedient in me. 
And I grant unto my servant a privilege that he may sell a copyright through you, speaking after the manner of men, for the four provinces, if the people harden not their hearts against the enticings of my Spirit and my Word. 
For behold, it lieth in themselves to their condemnation, or to their salvation. 
¶ Behold my way is before you, and the means I will prepare, and the blessing I hold in mine own hand; 
And, if ye are faithful, I will pour out upon you even as much as ye are able to bear, and thus it shall be. 
¶ Behold, I am the Father, and it is through mine Only Begotten, which is Jesus Christ your Redeemer; Amen. 
These men were not faithful in their task having abandoned their duty to the Lord, did not secure the copyright in the four provinces of Canada, as commanded. 
However, by this time the Lord had us beginning to forward his works here in the United States.

Appendix 1

Joseph Smith's First Vision

A collection of the various recordings of the First Vision narrative. Spelling has been touched up, otherwise any corrections made have been placed in brackets.

Record 1

CA. summer 1832; handwriting of Frederick G. Williams and JS; six pages; in Joseph Smith Jr. Letterbook 1 pages 1-3, JS Collection, CHL.

A History of the life of Joseph Smith Jr. an account of his marvelous experience1 and of all the mighty acts which he doeth in the name of Jesus Christ the son of the living God of whom he beareth record and also an account of the rise of the church of Christ in the eve of time according as the Lord brought forth and established by his hand firstly he receiving the testimony from on high secondly the ministering of Angels thirdly the reception of the holy Priesthood by the ministering of—Angels to administer the letter of the Gospel—the Law and commandments as they were given unto him—and the ordinances, fourthly a confirmation and reception of the high Priesthood after the holy order of the son of the living God power and ordinance from on high to preach the Gospel in the administration and demonstration of the spirit the Keys of the Kingdom of God conferred upon him3 and the continuation of the blessings of God to him &c—— 
I was born in the town of Charon in the State of Vermont North America on the twenty third day of December AD 1805. of goodly Parents who spared no pains to instructing me in the Christian religion at the age of about ten years my Father Joseph Smith Seignior moved to Palmyra Ontario County in the State of New York and being in indigent circumstances were obliged to labor hard for the support of a large Family having nine children and as it required the exertions of all that were able to render any assistance for the support of the Family therefore we were deprived of the benefit of an education suffice it to say I was merely instructed in reading writing and the ground rules of Arithmetic which constituted my whole literary acquirements. At about the age of twelve years my mind become seriously impressed with regard to the all important concerns of for the welfare of my immortal Soul which led me to searching the scriptures believing as I was taught, that they contained the word of God thus applying myself to them and my intimate acquaintance with those of different denominations led me to marvel exceedingly for I discovered that they did not adorn their profession by a holy walk and Godly conversation agreeable to what I found contained in that sacred depository this was a grief to my Soul thus from the age of twelve years to fifteen I pondered many things in my heart concerning the situation of the world of mankind the contentions and divisions the wickedness and abominations and the darkness which pervaded the of the minds of mankind my mind become exceedingly distressed for I become convicted of my sins and by searching the scriptures I found that mankind did not come unto the Lord but that they had apostatized from the true and living faith and there was no society or denomination that built upon the gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded in the new testament and I felt to mourn for my own sins and for the sins of the world for I learned in the scriptures that God was the same yesterday to day and forever11 that he was no respecter to persons for he was God for I looked upon the sun the glorious luminary of the earth and also the moon rolling in their majesty through the heavens and also the stars shining in their courses and the earth also upon which I stood and the beast of the field and the fowls of heaven and the fish of the waters and also man walking forth upon the face of the earth in majesty and in the strength of beauty whose power and intelligence in governing the things which are so exceeding great and marvelous even in the likeness of him who created them and when I considered upon these things my heart exclaimed well hath the wise man said it is a fool that saith in his heart there is no God my heart exclaimed all these bear testimony and bespeak an omnipotent and omnipresent power a being who maketh Laws and decreeth and bindeth all things in their bounds who filleth Eternity who was and is and will be from all Eternity to Eternity and when I considered all these things and that that being seeketh such to worship him as worship him in spirit and in truth therefore I cried unto the Lord for mercy for there was none else to whom I could go and to obtain mercy and the Lord heard my cry in the wilderness and while in the attitude of calling upon the Lord in the 16th year of my age a pillar of light above the brightness of the sun at noon day come down from above and rested upon me and I was filled with the spirit of god and the Lord opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord and he spake unto me saying Joseph my son thy sins are forgiven thee. go thy way walk in my statutes and keep my commandments behold I am the Lord of glory I was crucified for the world that all those who believe on my name may have Eternal life behold the world lieth in sin and at this time and none doeth good no not one they have turned aside from the gospel and keep not my commandments they draw near to me with their lips while their hearts are far from me and mine anger is kindling against the inhabitants of the earth to visit them according to their ungodliness and to bring to pass that which hath been spoken by the mouth of the prophets and Apostles behold and lo I come quickly as it was written of me in the cloud clothed in the glory of my Father and my soul was filled with love and for many days I could rejoice with great Joy and the Lord was with me but could find none that would believe the heavenly vision nevertheless I pondered these things in my heart.

Record 2

“Sketch Book for the use of Joseph Smith, Jr.,” Journal, Sept. 1835–Apr. 1836 pages 23-24; handwriting of Warren Parrish, an unidentified scribe, Sylvester Smith, Frederick G. Williams, Warren Cowdery, JS, and Oliver Cowdery. Recorded as given to Robert Matthews.

…we soon commenced talking upon the subject of religion and after I had made some remarks concerning the bible I commenced giving him a relation of the circumstances connected with the coming forth of the book of Mormon, as follows— being wrought up in my mind, respecting the subject of religion and looking at the different systems taught the children of men, I knew not who was right or who was wrong and considering it of the first importance that I should be right, in matters that involve eternal consequences; being thus perplexed in mind I retired to the silent grove and bowed down before the Lord, under a realizing sense that he had said (if the bible be true) ask and you shall receive knock and it shall be opened seek and you shall find and again, if any man lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbradeth not; information was what I most desired at this time, and with a fixed determination I to obtain it, I called upon the Lord for the first time, in the place above stated or in other words I made a fruitless attempt to pray, my tongue seemed to be swollen in my mouth, so that I could not utter I heard a noise behind me like some person walking towards me, I strove again to pray, but could not, the noise of walking seemed to draw nearer, I sprung up on my feet, and looked around, but saw no person or thing that was calculated to produce the noise of walking, I kneeled again my mouth was opened and my tongue liberated, and I called on the Lord in mighty prayer, a pillar of fire appeared above my head, it presently rested down upon me, and filled me with joy unspeakable, a personage appeared in the midst, of this pillar of flame which was spread all around, and yet nothing consumed, another personage soon appeared like unto the first, he said unto me thy sins are forgiven thee, he testified unto me that Jesus Christ is the son of God; and I saw many angels in this vision I was about 14. years old when I received this first communication…

Record 3

Joseph Smith Jr., History 1838; handwriting of James Mulholland and Robert B. Thompson; pages 2-4.

I was at this time in my fifteenth year. My Fathers family was proselyted to the Presbyterian faith and four of them joined that Church, Namely, My Mother Lucy, My Brothers Hyrum, Samuel Harrison, and my Sister Sophonia. 
During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness, but though my feelings were deep and often pungent, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties though I attended their several meetings as occasion would permit. But in process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the Methodist sect, and I felt some desire to be united with them, but so great was the confusion and strife amongst the different denominations that it was impossible for a person young as I was and so unacquainted with men and things to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong. 
My mind at different times was greatly excited for the cry and tumult were so great and incessant. The Presbyterians were most decided against the Baptists and Methodists, and used all their powers of either reason or sophistry to prove their errors, or at least to make the people think they were in error. On the other hand the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally Zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others. 
In the midst of this war of words, and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself, what is to be done? Who of all these parties are right? Or are they all wrong together? and if any one of them be right which is it? And how shall I know it? While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, First Chapter and fifth verse which reads, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.” Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man that this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did, for how to act I did not know and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had I would never know, for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passage of Scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible. At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion or else I must do as James directs, that is, Ask of God. I at last came to the determination to ask of God, concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally and not upbraid, I might venture. So in accordance with this my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful clear day early in the spring of Eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally. 
After I had retired into the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God, I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me and had such astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction. But exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction, not to an imaginary ruin but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world who had such a marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being. Just at this moment of great alarm I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two personages (whose brightness and glory defy all description) standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me calling me by name and said (pointing to the other) “This is my beloved Son, Hear him.” My object in going to enquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner therefore did I get possession of myself so as to be able to speak, than I asked the personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right, (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong) and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong, and the Personage who addressed me said that all their Creeds were an abomination in his sight, that those professors were all corrupt, that “they draw near to me with their lips but their hearts are far from me, They teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of Godliness but they deny the power thereof.” He again forbade me to join with any of them and many other things did he say unto me which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again I found myself lying on my back looking up into Heaven. Some few days after I had this vision I happened to be in company with one of the Methodist Preachers who was very active in the before mentioned religious excitement and conversing with him on the subject of religion I took occasion to give him an account of the vision which I had had. I was greatly surprised at his behavior, he treated my communication not only lightly but with great contempt, saying it was all of the Devil, that there was no such thing as visions or revelations in these days, that all such things had ceased with the apostles and that there never would be any more of them.

Record 4

Joseph Smith Jr., “Church History,” in Times and Seasons, Nauvoo, IL, 1 Mar. 1842, vol. 3, no. 9, pp. 706–707; edited by JS; includes typeset signature. Also known more commonly as the Wentworth Letter.

At the request of Mr. John Wentworth, Editor, and Proprietor of the “Chicago Democrat,” I have written the following sketch of the rise, progress, persecution, and faith of the Latter Day Saints, of which I have the honor, under God, of being the founder. Mr. Wentworth says, that he wishes to furnish Mr. [George] Ba[r]stow, a friend of his, who is writing the history of New Hampshire, with this document. 
As Mr. Bastow has taken the proper steps to obtain correct information all that I shall ask at his hands, is, that he publish the account entire, ungarnished, and without misrepresentation. 
I was born in the town of Sharon Windsor co., Vermont, on the 23d of December, A. D. 1805. When ten years old my parents removed to Palmyra New York, where we resided about four years, and from thence we removed to the town of Manchester. 
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 enquiring the plan of salvation I found that 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 enwrapped in a heavenly vision and saw two glorious personages who exactly resembled each other in features, and likeness, surrounded with a brilliant light which eclipsed the sun at noon-day. They told me that all religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines, and that none of them was 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 unto me.

Record 5

Papers of Joseph Smith July 1843 1:446-458. Daniel Rupp (Philadelphia, 1844), pp. 404-10.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was founded upon direct revelation, as the true church of God has ever been, according to the scriptures (Amos 3:7, and Acts 1:2). And through the will and blessings of God, I have been an instrument in His hands, thus far, to move forward the cause of Zion. Therefore, in order to fulfill the solicitation of your letter of July last, I shall commence with my life. 
I was born in the town of Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, on the 23rd of December, A. D. 1805. When ten years old, my parents removed to Palmyra, New York, where we resided about four years, and from thence 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 place of salvation, I found that there was a great clash in religious sentiment; if I went to one society they referred me to one place, and another to another; each one pointing to his 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 with a brilliant light, which eclipsed the sun at noonday. They told me that all the religious denominations were believing in incorrect doctrines, and that none of them was 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 fullness of the gospel should at some future time be made known unto me. 
On the evening of the 21st 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. This 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 fullness to be preached in power, unto all nations, that a 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 unto me. 
I was also 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 angels of God, unfolding the majesty and glory of the events that should transpire in the last days, on the morning of the 22nd of September A.D. 1827, the angel of the Lord delivered the records into my hands. These records were engraved 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 on 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 on a bow fastened to a breastplate. Through the medium of the Urim and Thummim I translated the record, 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 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 towards the close of the fourth century. The remnant are the Indians who 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 fullness, and richness, 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 abridgement of their prophecies, history, and, 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 travelling elders. 
As soon as the news of this discovery was made known, false reports, misrepresentation and slander flew, as on the wings of the wind, in every direction. My house was frequently beset by mobs, and evil designing persons; several times I was shot at, and very narrowly escaped, and every device was made use of to get the plates away from me but the power and blessing of God attended me, and several began to believe my testimony.

Record 6

Interview of Joseph Smith Jr. by David Nye White, Nauvoo, IL, 21 Aug. 1843; in David Nye White’s “The Prairies, Nauvoo, Joe Smith, the Temple, the Mormons, &c.” Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette, 15 Sept. 1843, p.3.

The Lord does reveal himself to me. I know it. He revealed himself to me first when I was about fourteen years old, a mere boy. I will tell you about it. There was a reformation among the different religious denominations in the neighborhood where I lived, and I became serious, and was desirous to know what Church to join. While thinking of this matter, I opened the Testament promiscuously on these words, in James, ‘Ask of the Lord who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not.’ I just determined I’d ask him. I immediately went out into the woods where my father had a clearing, and went to the stump where I had stuck my axe when I had quit work, and I kneeled down, and prayed, saying, ‘O Lord, what Church shall I join.’ Directly I saw a light, and then a glorious personage in the light, and then another personage, and the first personage said to the second, “Behold my beloved Son, hear him.” I then, addressed this second person, saying, “O Lord, what Church shall I join.” He replied, “don’t join any of them, they are all corrupt.” The vision then vanished, and when I come to myself, I was sprawling on my back; and it was sometime before my strength returned. When I went home and told the people that I had a revelation, and that all the churches were corrupt, they persecuted me, and they have persecuted me ever since. They thought to put me down, but they haven’t succeeded, and they can’t do it. When I have proved that I am right, and get all the world subdued under me, I think I shall deserve something.

Record 7

Alexander Neibaur, Journal 24 May 1844; in Alexander Neibaur, Journal, 5. pp. 23–24; handwriting of Alexander Neibaur.

May 24 called at J Smith 10 o’clock… called at Br J= S met Mr Bonnie= Br Joseph tolt us the first call he had a Revival Meeting his Mother & Br & Sister got Religion, he wanted to get Religion too wanted to feel & shout like the Rest but could feel nothing, opened his Bible the first Passage that struck him was if any man lack Wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all Men liberallity & upbraidet not went into the Wood to pray knelt himself down his tongue was closet cleavet to his roof— could utter not a word, felt easier after a while= saw a fire towards heaven came near & nearer saw a personage in the fire light complexion blue eyes a piece of white cloth drawn over his shoulders his right arm bear after a while a other person came to the side of the first Mr Smith then asked must I join the Methodist Church= No= they are not my People, th all have gone astray there is none that doeth good no not one, but this is my Beloved son harken ye him, the fire drew nigher Rested upon the tree enveloped him [illegible] comforted Indevoured to arise but felt uncomen feeble= got into the house told the Methodist priest, said this was not a age for God to Reveal himself in Vision Revelation has ◊ ceased with the New Testament.

Record 8

Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845; handwriting of Martha Jane Knowlton Coray and Howard Coray; pp. 3-4.

I shall change my theme for the present but let not my reader suppose that because I shall pursue another topic for a season that we stopped our labor and went at trying to win the faculty of Abrac drawing Magic circles or sooth saying to the neglect of all kinds of business[.] We never during our lives suffered one important interest to swallow up every other obligation but whilst we worked with our hands we endeavored to remember the service of & the welfare of our souls. 
The harvest time had now arrived since we opened our new farm and all our sons were actively employed in assisting their Father to cut down the grain and storing it away in order, One evening we were sitting till quite late conversing upon the subject of the diversity of churches that had risen up in the world and the many thousand opinions in existence as to the truths contained in scripture Joseph never said many words upon any subject but always seemed to reflect more deeply than common persons of his age upon everything of a religious nature After we ceased conversation he went to bed and was pondering in his mind which of the churches were the true one. but he had not laid there long till he saw a bright light entered the room where he lay he looked up and saw an angel of the Lord by him The angel spoke I perceive that you are enquiring in your mind which is the true church there is not a true church on Earth No not one and has not been since Peter took the Keys of the Melchesidec priesthood after the order of God into the Kingdom of Heaven the churches that are now upon the Earth are all man made churches. There is a record for you and Joseph but you cannot get it until you learn to keep the commandments of God.

Appendix 2

Seer, Seer Stones, and Urim & Thummim

Glossary

A short glossary of terms explaining Seer, Seer Stones, and the Urim and Thummim.

Seer

Webster's Dictionary 1828 defines “seer” first as “One who sees; as a seer of visions.” And second as “A prophet; a person who forsees future events.” 1 Samuel 9:9 says: “(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)” The Book of Mosiah states: “And Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of God, which no man can; yet a man may have great power given him from God. 
But a seer can know of things which have passed and also of things which are to come; and by them shall all things be revealed, or rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them; and also, things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known.” -5:77-80 RLDS Edition, 8:16-17 LDS Edition

Seer Stone

A seer stone is a rock used for divination. Joseph Smith Jr. owned a minimum of two seer stones. He began using a seer stone as early as at least 1819. It was common at that time to use seer stones in attempts to gain revelations from God. They were also used in attempts to find buried treasure. Both Joseph Smith Sr. and Jr. were known to use seer stones and had reputations of doing so. Some say they did so successfully, others claim they were conning people out of money. Joseph Smith Jr. would place a seer stone in a white stovepipe hat, then put his face in the hat to block the light to "see" or divine information as a form of revelation from God. Seer stones were used for “scrying,” a form of divination. Scrying was used by Biblical figures such as Joseph of Egypt (see Genesis 44:1-5), Miriam (see Sefer Ha Aggadah), the sister of Moses, and the High Priests that wore the Urim and Thummim.

Urim and Thummim

(Hebrew: יםִ מֻּתַהְ ו יםִ ורּאָה )A set of two objects used by the High Priest in the Old Testament to answer a question or reveal the will of God. The meaning of these terms is uncertain, possibly Urim from the root word "Lights” and Thummim from the root “Innocents” is generally taken to mean “Perfections." The terms together may also mean “revelation and truth.” The Urim and Thummim are mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as a part of the breastplate worn by the High Priest. They were somehow attached to the ephod. They were believed to be used for divination and cleromancy. The Urim and Thummim used to divine the translation of the lost 116 pages of Book of Lehi were not identical to the Urim and Thummim of the Old Testament. 
According to page 101 of Lucy Mack Smith, mother or Joseph Smith Jr.’s 1853 "Biographical sketches of Joseph Smith the prophet, and his progenitors for many generations" they were “two smooth three-cornered diamonds.” These “diamonds” were said to have been placed in silver bows that were fastened to a breastplate. The “Urim and Thummim” actually used to divine the translation of the Book of Mormon  available to readers today was given to Joseph Smith Jr. by placing his brown seer stone into a hat.

Revelation on the Urim and Thummim

Jan 8, 2024 Revelation through David Ferriman

On the morning of Saturday January 5, 2024, David was awoken around 4:30am and before falling back to sleep, he prayed, asking the Lord to teach him of His ways. He was then given a dream in which Raphael showed him an urim and thummim attached to a short wooden rod. In the dream, he was instructed on how to use the instrument. Upon awakening, he prayed to the Lord for understanding about the dream and was told to speak to Kristine, his wife. After doing so on the morning of January 6th, he prayed to the Lord for further light and knowledge about this tool. On January 8, 2024, he was given the following revelation.

¶ Question: Is there only one or only one type of urim and thummim? 
¶ Answer: No, there have been many upon the earth: Adam and Eve were given an urim and thummim when they left the garden, and this was passed down to Enoch who took it with his city to the heavens when they were taken. 
Noah and Na’amah were commanded to make an urim and thummim called the tzohar, and was passed down to Abraham; and I did teach Abram how to use it, for his fathers had forgotten how to use it in their apostasy. 
And Moses and Zipporah were given an urim and thummim, and they did teach my Israel to make the urim and thummim for themselves, and were instructed on its uses: 
And Aaron the High Priest did place an urim and thummim in a pouch to be worn over the heart that it should sit between him and the breastplate; 
And so too did they make an urim and thummim for Miriam, the High Priestess, and these did rest upon her shoulders; the urim upon the right shoulder and thummim upon the left. 
¶ And these are but a few of the urim and thummim given unto mankind, for I did give unto the brother of Jared also interpreters, being two stones; and these were a type of urim and thummim. 
And these were given unto my servant, Mosiah, that he too did seek light and truth from them. 
And these were connected to a chest plate that they should be near unto the heart of any I should give to wear them. 
And behold, Moroni did give these unto my servant Joseph Smith Jr., and he did wear them at times to translate the portions of the plates he was given to translate, even that which contained the Book of Lehi, the very pages that were taken and kept hidden from him. 
¶ Question: What then of the brown seer stone, and seer stones in general, are these also a type of urim and thummim? 
¶ Answer: A seer stone is a stone used to help the seer, and an urim and thummim is given to any that desire to know. 
I say unto thee: Any that are called to see may be given a seer stone, even as my servant Joseph was given stones to see and to interpret. 
And this the Latter Day Saints did call an urim and thummim, but Joseph’s brown stone was a seer stone and not an urim and thummim; 
Yet his seer stones he did use, and I did grant him power from on high, and this power came from me and not from any earthly powers. 
And the seer stones were as an urim, being gazelem, bringing light in the darkness, and as a thummim that they did give Joseph voice to speak my words unto the congregation; 
But a true urim and thummim, these do represent the bond between the heavens and the earth, even the unity of that which is above and that which is below, for they do speak unto the earth the wisdom of the Heavens. 
¶ Question: Can anyone use a seer stone, how do they work? 
¶ Answer: Behold, I have said before: I will prepare unto my servant gazelem, a stone, which shall shine forth in darkness unto light, that I may discover unto my people who serve me, that I may discover unto them the works of their brethren; yea, their secret works, their works of darkness, and their wickedness and abominations. 
And what then is this gazelem? 
¶ Behold, I shall tell thee: Gazelem is my servant and gazelem is the stone, for the stone can do nothing of itself, and my servants will only do my works through my power; therefore, gazelem is both the servant and the seer stone. 
And even as I did say through my servant, Moses: And unto the seer shall be given the gazelem, which shall shine forth in darkness unto light; and any who are instructed to look into the stone, the same is a seer; for my gazelem is a bridge between the earth and the heavens. 
¶ And what can a rock do without the seer? and what can the seer see without the power of my Spirit? 
Therefore, know this: The seer that uses the stone filled with my Spirit and my power is gazelem, and the stone too is gazelem, for there is life in all of my creation. 
And the stone and the seer may only work through the gifts of my power, and these gifts are given of my Holy Spirit. 
¶ Question: Can anyone make a seer stone or an urim and thummim? 
¶ Answer: The seer stone cannot be made, but might be awakened by the seer; and this after the seer is called and awakened in me. 
And I did teach the earth many of the secrets of her creation through my servants, Moses and Zipporah; therefore, study their words and ye shall learn of these, the seer stone and the gazelem. 
The urim and thummim may only be made and used by those I call to do so; some are called to be seers, and some prophets, and some apostles in my name. 
¶ The urim is a stone of quartz, and the thummim of onyx. 
The urim and thummim I gave unto the brother of Jarod was made of translucent quartz for the right eye, and translucent onyx for the left. 
The urim and thummim made for the seed of Levi were of white quartz for the urim and black onyx for the thummim; 
And these are but two types of urim and thummim. 
¶ And the urim and thummim are the manifestation and truth: urim is aleph or the alpha, thummim the tav or omega; 
Yet these are not in opposition of one another, for they do show my oneness: Hear O Israel: YHVH is your Elohim, YHVH is One; 
Therefore, the urim and thummim represent the oneness of the heavens and the earth, the Creator and His creation, the light penetrating the darkness, and the indivisible whole. 
¶ Question: What is the relationship between the urim and thummim and the breastplates of the High Priest and High Priestess? 
¶ Answer: These are given power by my hand through the urim and thummim. 
Behold, the stones and their rods: behold a son, he has heard my suffering; he will unite Israel, and Israel will praise YHVH; YHVH shall bring justice for Israel through the struggle of Israel; the fortune of YHVH is the blessing of Israel, and the reward of Israel; the Honor of Israel shall be the  indication of Israel, and YHVH shall add to Israel, even the right hand of Israel. 
¶ These stones, they do speak of me and of my love for my Israel; and in the hands of the High Priest, they do speak truth unto all my peoples by the power given of my Spirit. 
These stones, they do represent the rods to be cast when they that wish to know should cast their lots; and in them shall my people know, and be warned, and be comforted, and be blessed. 
And behold, it was by this casting of lots that mine apostle, Matthias was chosen, after Judas had left them. 
¶ And on the breastplates of the High Priestess sits carnelian and onyx with a pearl between them; carnelian for redemption, onyx for truth, and pearl for wisdom: 
For behold, when the daughters of Israel were told of my salvation from the hands of Egypt, they did not seek a sign as did my sons, they heard my truth and in wisdom they did believe. 
And therefore, carnelian is a help unto women, and onyx a shield, and the pearl wisdom granted by faith unto all they that do believe. 
¶ And this breastplate too is given power by my Spirit through that urim and thummim that does rest upon their shoulders. 
And together, the breastplate of judgment and breastplate of mercy become the tablet of truth, or the tablet of goral: 
For when the High Priest and the High Priestess do work as one in my name, to prepare the earth for the heavens and to bring the heavens to the earth, then they shall know by my Spirit what has been assigned, apported, and allotted unto my Israel. 
When the High Priest wears the breastplate, the urim and thummim is worn over the heart, for it is by thy heart that I, the Lord, do judge mankind; 
And when the High Priestess wears the breastplate, the urim and thummim is worn on the shoulders, for by your works shall the world know that you are mine. 
¶ Question: In my dream, I was given a rod with the urim at the head and the thummim at the tail of a rod, what does this mean? am I to make or use this tool in your name? 
¶ Answer: Should you make a rod with the urim and thummim or have such made for thee, even as in your dream, it shall only have power as all tools fashioned and used in my name, and that is power given unto the earth from upon high. 
I do seek to teach the earth of my mysteries, for they are mine, and I do give them freely unto all they that would learn of them. 
¶ And behold, Satan doth teach the children of men of these things to corrupt them and to use them in pride, for their undoing. 
And I say unto thee: All that is necessary between thee and me is our covenant, made by your broken heart and contrite spirit; 
Yet in these last days, Satan shall and does move upon the whole face of the earth with his priestcraft to deceive even the very elect; and what does this mean? 
It doth mean that Satan will give signs unto the children of men that shall please their egos yet shall wound their pride, teaching mankind that they should not seek my mercy nor my face. 
¶ What then of the urim and thummim and the seer stone, and the breastplates? 
These are symbols of truth and the power of my priesthood, and these tools work only through my righteousness; therefore, all they that seek my face, and seek to call all mankind unto teshuvah, unto such do I give my priesthood. 
And this that they might use these gifts to bring souls unto me, for the earth, she is mine, and all they that love me are given power to heal the earth. 
¶ And all these things are given as signs and as tokens unto they that do believe, and all they that will believe in my name; for I am the Lord, YHVH, your Elohim, and I do watch over Israel, even unto this day. 
And I do give my outstretched hand unto all they that will take it, for salvation both spiritual and temporal; therefore, when you read these words, know that I do speak unto thee and unto all the world of things both spiritual and temporal. 
¶ And all my words shall be fulfilled, and all my truths shall be known, from the beginning of days even until the end of days, for I am Alpha and Omega, Aleph-Tav. 
And you are mine, for I have called thy name, and you did hear me, and in this I am well pleased. 
Now, go and do, even all the works that I have called thee to be engaged in; for your works are mine, for I did give them unto thee, my good and faithful servant; even so, amen.