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From the History of Joseph Smith:
"...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; 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 said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants..." Joseph Smith
The New York Sun - September 1843 wrote about the Prophet Joseph Smith:
"It is no small thing, in the blaze of this
nineteenth century, to give to men a new revelation, found a new religion,
establish new forms of worship, to build a city, with new laws,
institutions, and orders of architecture, to establish ecclesiastic, civil
and military jurisdiction, found colleges, send out missionaries, and make
proselytes in two hemispheres: yet all this has been done by Joseph Smith,
and that against every sort of opposition, ridicule and persecution."
The New York Herald - April 3, 1842 observed:
"...Joseph Smith is undoubtedly one of the greatest characters of the age. He indicates as
much talent,
originality, and moral courage as Mahomet, Odin, or any of the great spirits that have
hitherto produced
the revolutions of past ages. In the present infidel, irreligious, material, ideal,
geological, animal-magnetic
age of the world, some such singular prophet as Joseph Smith is required to preserve the
principle of faith,
and to plant some new germs of civilization that may come to maturity in a thousand years.
While modern
philosophy, which believes in nothing but what you can touch, is overspreading the Atlantic
States,
Joseph Smith is creating a spiritual system, combined also with morals and industry, that may
change
the destiny of the race.
Joseph believes himself divinely inspired and a worker of miracles. He cures the sick of diseases –
so it is said… Joseph Smith is a mighty man of God – possessing large stores of human nature, great
shrewdness, and as he has taken the management of the Mormon newspaper organ, the “Times and
Seasons”
into his hand, we look for many revelations, and some curious ones too, pretty soon.
We certainly want some such prophet to start up, take a big hold of the public mind and stop the
torrent of materialism that is hurrying the world into infidelity, immorality, licentiousness, and
crime. Professor Lyell, Richard Adams Locke, Dr. Brisband, Master Emmerson, Prophet Brownson, Horace
Greely, and all the materialists of the age, ought to take a leaf of common sense out of Joseph's book.
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Dr. Richard Hughes, Pepperdine University:
Other people could point to scripture. Or they could point to their interpretation of
scripture.
Or they could point to their particular creeds or confessions of faith. Joseph said: "I spoke
with God.
God spoke with me in the woods." That's power and authority, and it spoke to a lot of Americans
very powerfully in the early nineteenth century. |
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The prophet Moroni buries
the gold plates in Ancient America (circa 421 AD).
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Dr. Jan Shipps, Indiana University:
This is the key to understanding Joseph Smith and to understanding Mormonism, I am convinced:
It is the literalness, the experiencing the same things that are described in the scriptures.
Mormonism takes the scriptures and brings them into life. Literally recapitulates the scriptures. Now, if
you get that understanding of Joseph Smith's understanding of what was going on, then you begin to see
that this could not have been just somebody making it up as he went along.
The Testimony of Three Witnesses
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come: That we,
through the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this
record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of
the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken. And we also know that they have
been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know
of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the engravings which are upon
the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with
words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes,
that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God
the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true. And it
is marvelous in our eyes. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of
it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know
that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless
before the judgment-seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to
the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
Signed: Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Martin Harris
The Testimony Of Eight Witnesses
BE IT KNOWN unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come:
That Joseph Smith, Jun., the translator of this work, has shown unto us the plates of which hath
been spoken, which have the appearance of gold ; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has
translated we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereon, all of which has
the appearance of ancient work, and of curious workmanship. And this we bear record with words of
soberness, that the said Smith has shown unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a surety
that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And we give our names unto the world,
to witness unto the world that which we have seen. And we lie not, God bearing witness of it.
Signed: Christian Whitmer, Hiram Page, Jacob Whitmer, Joseph Smith, Sen., Peter Whitmer, Jun., Hyrum Smith,
John Whitmer, Samuel H. Smith
The
complete history of the Prophet Joseph Smith can be found
here
The
Book of Mormon--Another Testament of Jesus Christ is a companion volume
of scripture to the Holy Bible and contains the account of the Savior's
appearance in ancient America following his resurrection. To learn more
click here.
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