Mormon had made an abridgment from the records of his forefathers upon plates, Avhich abridgment he entitled the Book of Mormon ; and (being command- ed of God) he hid ia the hill Cumorah ail the sacred
records of his forefathers which were in his ; except the abridgment called the Book of Mormon, which he gave to his son Moroni to finish. Moroni survived his nation a few years, and continued the writings, in which he informs us that the Lamanites hunted tliose few Nephites who escaped* the great and tremendous battle of Cumorah until they were all de- stroyed, excepting those who were mingled with the Lamanites, and that he was left alone, and kept himself hid, for they sought to destroy every Nephite who would not deny the Christ. He furthermore states that the Lamanites were at war one with another, and that the whole face of the land was one continual scene of murdering, robbing, and plundering. He continued' the history until the four hundred and twentieth year of the Christian sera, when (by the commandment of (iod) he hid the records in the hill Cumorah, where they remained concealed until by the ministrj' of an angel they were discovered to Mr. Smith, who, by the gift and power of God, translated them into the English language by the means of the Urim and Thummim, as stated in the foregoing. (See editorial criticisms below.) After the book was translated the Lord raised up witnesses to bear testimony to the nations of its truth, who at the close of the volume send forth their testi- mony, which reads as follows ;
"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 fiom 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 nnd s.iw the plates and the ensrravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ that we beheld and bear rec- ord that these things are true, and it is marvellous in our eyes ; nevertheless^the voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it ; wherefore, to be obedi- ent unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if ^^ e are faithful in Chi-ist we shall rid our garments of the blnoil of all men, and be found spotless before the jud^niient-seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, aud"to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
"Oliver Cowdert, David Whitmer, Martin Harris."
Then follows the testimony of eight witnesses : "Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people nnto whom this work shall come, that Joseph Smith, Jr., 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 ancieut 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 heft- ed, 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 nnto the world that which we have seen ; and we lie not, God bearing witness of it.
"Christian \\uitmek, Jacob Wuitmer, Peter Wuitmer, Jr.,
JOUN WUITJIEU,
Hii'.A.M Page, Joseph Smith, Sr., Hyuum Saiiiu, Sam. H. Smith."'
In the year 1829, Mr. Smith and Mr. Cowdcry, hav- ing learned the correct mode of baptism from the teach- ings of the Saviour to the ancient Nephites, as re- corded in the Book of Mormon, had a desire to be bap- tized; but knowing that no one had authority to ad- minister that sacred ordinance in any denomination, they were at a loss to know how the authority was to be restored ; and while calling upon the Lord with a
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deare to be informed on the subject, a bolv angel ap- peare^l and stood before them, and laid his hands upon their heads, and ordained them priests of the order of Aaron, and commanded them to baptize each other, which they accordingly dii In the year 1830 a large edition of the Boji or'Moruwn drst appeared in print. "As some began to peruse its sacred pages, the spirit of the Loni bore record to them that it was true ; and they were obedient to its requirements, by coming forth humbly repenting before the Loni. and being immersed in water for the remission of sins, after which, by the commandment of God. hands were laid upon them in the name of the Lord for the gift of the Holy Spirit. And on the 6th of .\pril, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hnndred and thirty, the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' was organized in the town of Fayette, Seneca County, State of New York. North America. Some few were called and ordained by the spirit of revelation and prophecy, and l>egan to preach and bear testimony, as the spirit gave them ut- terance: and although they were the weak things of the eanh. yet they were strengthened by the Holy Ghost, and grave forth their testimony in great power. by which means many were brought to repentance, and came forward ^vith biuken hearts and contrite spiritii. and were immersed in water confessing their sins, and were filled with the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and saw visions and prophesied. Devils were cast our, and the sick were healed by the prayer of faith and the laying on of hands. Thus was the word confirmed unto the faithful by the signs following. Thus the Loni raised up witnesses to bear testimony of his name, and laid the foundation of his kingdom in the last days. And thus the hearts of the saints were comforted and filled with great joy."