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The Wentworth
Letter
by
Joseph Smith
In March, 1842 Joseph Smith wrote a letter to the
editor of the Chicago Democrat wherein he related the his story of
"The First
Vision," the vision of Moroni and subsequent historical events.
The letter was published in the LDS publication, The
Times and Seasons, Vol. III (No. 9) in Nauvoo, IL. Many specifics
are detailed. It is an inspiring story to
those who have "ears to hear" and "eyes to see."
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CHURCH HISTORY.
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. Bastow, 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 |
P. 707
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.
On the evening of the
21st of 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 fulness 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 also informed
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 were engraven an
abridgement 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 22d of September A. D. 1827, the angel of the Lord delivered the
records into my hands.
These records were
engraven 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 of 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 that 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 fulness, and richness, and power,
and blessing; that they had apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers
and evangelists; the same order, the same priesthood, the |
P. 708
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 prophesies,
history &c., 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, the
house was frequently beset by mobs, and evil designing persons,
several tunes 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.
On the 61h of April,
1830, the "Church of Jesus Christ of Littler-Day Saints,"
was first organized in the town of Manchester, Ontario co., state of
New York. Some few were called and ordained by the spirit of
revelation, and prophesy, and began to preach as the spirit gave
them utterance, and though weak, yet were they strengthened by the
power of God, and many were brought to repentance, were immersed in
the water, and were filled with the Holy Ghost by the laying on of
hands. They saw visions and prophesied, devils were cast out and the
sick healed by the laying on of hands: From that time the work
rolled forth with astonishing rapidity, and churches were soon
formed in the states of New York. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois and Missouri; in the last named state a considerable
settlement was formed in Jackson co.; numbers joined the church and
we were increasing rapidly; we made large purchases of land, our
farms teemed with plenty, and peace and happiness was enjoyed in our
domestic circle and throughout our neighborhood; but as we could not
associate with our neighbors who were many of them of the basest of
men and had fled from the face of civilized society, to the frontier
country to escape the hand of justice, in their midnight revels,
their sabbath breaking, horseracing. and gambling, they commenced at
first ridicule, then to persecute, and finally an organized mob
assembled and burned our houses, tarred, and feathered, and whipped
many of our brethren and finally drove them from their habitations;
who houseless, and homeless, contrary to law, justice and humanity,
had to wander on the bleak prairies till the children left the
tracks of their blood on the prairie, this took place in the month
of November, and they had no other covering but the canopy of
heaven, in this inclement season of the year; this proceeding was
winked at by the government and although we had warrantee deeds for
our land, and had violated no law we could obtain no redress.
There were many sick,
who were thus inhumanly driven from their houses, and had to endure
all this abuse and to seek homes where they could be found. The
result was, that a great many of them being deprived of the comforts
of life, and the necessary attendances, died; many children. were
left orphans; wives, widows; and husbands widowers.—Our farms were
taken possession of by the mob, many thousands of cattle, sheep,
horses, and hogs, were taken and our household goods, store goods,
and printing press, and type were broken, taken, or otherwise
destroyed.
Many of our brethren
removed to Clay where they continued until 1836, three years; there
was no violence offered but there were threatnings of violence. But
in the summer of 1836, these threatnings began to assume a more
serious form; from threats, public meetings were called, resolutions
were passed, vengeance and destruction were threatened, and affairs
again assumed a fearful attitude, Jackson county was a sufficient
precedent, and as the authorities in that county did not interfere,
they boasted that they would not in this, which on application to
the authorities we found to be too true, and after much violence,
privation and loss of property we were again driven from our homes.
We next settled in
Caldwell, and Davies counties, where we made large and extensive
settlements, thinking to free ourselves from the power of
oppression, by settling in new counties, with very few inhabitants
in them; but here we were not allowed to live in peace, but in 1838
we were again attacked by mobs |
P. 709
an exterminating order was issued by
Gov. Boggs, and under the sanction of law an organized banditti
ranged through the country, robbed us of our cattle, sheep, horses,
hogs &c., many of our people were murdered in cold blood, the
chastity of our women was violated, and we were forced to sign away
our property at the point of the sword, and after enduring every
indignity that could be heaped upon us by an inhuman, ungodly band
of maurauders, from twelve to fifteen thousand souls men, women, and
children were driven from their own fire sides, and from lands that
they had warrantee deeds of, houseless, friendless, and homeless (in
the depth of winter,) to wander as exiles on the earth or to seek an
asylum in a more genial clime, and among a less barbarous people.
Many sickened and died, in
consequence of the cold, and hardships they had to endure; many
wives were left widows, and children orphans, and destitute. It
would take more time than is allotted me here to describe the
injustice, the wrongs, the murders, the bloodshed, the theft, misery
and woe that has been caused by the. barbarous, inhuman, and
lawless, proceedings of the state of Missouri.
In the situation before alluded to we
arrived in the state of Illinois in 1839, where we found a
hospitable people and a friendly home; a people who were willing to
be governed by the principles of law and humanity. We have commenced
to build a city called "Nauvoo" in Hancock co., we number
from six to eight thousand here besides vast numbers in the county
around and in almost every county of the state. We have a city
charter granted us and a charter for a legion the troops of which
now number 1500. We have also a charter for a university, for an
agricultural and manufacturing society, have our own laws and
administrators, and possess all the privileges that other free and
enlightened citizens enjoy.
Persecution has not stopped the
progress of truth, but has only added fuel to, the flame, it has
spread with increasing rapidity, proud of the cause which they have
espoused and conscious of their innocence and of the truth of their
system amidst calumny and reproach have the elders of this church
gone forth, and planted the gospel in almost every state in the
Union; it has penetrated our cities, it has spread over our
villages, and has caused thousands of our intelligent, noble, and
patriotic citizens to obey its divine mandates, and be governed by
its sacred truths. It has also spread into England, Ireland,
Scotland and Wales: in the year of 1839 where a few of our
missionaries were sent over five thousand joined the standard of
truth, there are numbers row joining in every land.
Our missionaries are going forth to
different nations, and in Germany, Palestine, New Holland, the East
Indies, and other places, the standard of truth has been erected: no
unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing, persecutions may
rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but
the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent till
it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every
country, and sounded in every car, till the purposes of God shall be
accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done.
We believe in God the Eternal Father,
and in his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
We believe that men will be punished
for their own sins and not for Adam's transgression.
We believe that through the atonement
of Christ all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and
ordinances of the Gospel.
We believe that these ordinances are
1st, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; 2d, Repentance; 3d, Baptism by
immersion for the remission of sins; 4th, Laying on of hands. for
the gift of the Holy Ghost.
We believe that a man must be called
of God by "prophesy, and by laying on of hands" by those
who are in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the
ordinances thereof.
We believe in the same organization
that existed in the primitive church, viz: apostles, prophets,
pastors, teachers, evangelists & c.
We believe in the gift of tongues,
prophesy, revelation,, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues
&c.
We believe the bible to be the word
of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the
Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
We believe all that God has revealed,
all that he does now reveal, and we be- |
P. 710
lieve that he will yet reveal many
great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
We believe in the literal gathering
of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes. That Zion will
be built upon this continent. That Christ will rein personally upon
the earth, and that the earth will be renewed and receive its
paradasaic glory.
We claim the privilege of worshipping
Almighty God according to the dictates of our conscience, and allow
all men the same privilege let them worship how, where, or what they
may.
We believe in being subject to kings,
presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring and
sustaining the law.
We believe in being honest, true,
chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed
we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul "we believe
all things we hope all things," we have endured many things and
hope to be able to endure all things. If there is any thing
virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praise worthy we seek after
these things. Respectfully &c.
JOSEPH SMITH. |
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