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CORNELL UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARIES 
 
 ITHACA iv Y. 14583 
 
 JOHN M. OLIN 
 LIBRARY < 
 
The original of tliis book is in 
 tlie Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924010309445 
 
Cornell University Library 
 BX 8645.H23 
 
 Mormonism exposed.Joseph Smith an impost 
 
 3 1924 010 309 445 
 
Copyright Applied For 
 
 1902. 
 
 G. B. Hancock. 
 
G. B. Hancock. 
 
Mormon ism Exposed. 
 
 JOSEPH SMITH AN IMPOSTOR AND THE BOOK OF 
 MORMON A FRAUD. 
 
 EV ELDER G. B. HANCOCK. 
 
 1802! 
 A. I>OGrGETX, Printer. 
 
 MliRIOWVII.I-EI, IHO. 
 
To AI,!,, EVERYWHERE, WHO I.OVE_THE TRUTH OF GOD, 
 THIS BOOK IS I,OVINGI,Y DEDICATED 
 
 BY IT'S Author. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 It is truly said, custom governs practice, fashion rules the 
 day. ' This is almost invariably true. It is so common for those 
 who write books to open their pages with a preface that the 
 author's work would be considered very incomplete should he 
 fail to write one also. The preface is intended, as a rule, to 
 give the reasons for the book's appearance and an introdudlion 
 to the line of thought contained in the book. 
 
 "We had no idea of writing a book in order to expose Mor- 
 monism till after the debate we held with them at Fayette City, 
 Pa. We had been challenged for such debate many times but 
 never could'succeed in getting them to discuss such proposi- 
 tions as we were willing to debate. For years we had been 
 satisfied that those who had debated with Mormons had given 
 them unnecessary advantage in the way of propositions. They 
 invariably sought propositions that gave them opportunity to 
 play upon side issues and give simply a rehash of matter that 
 they had delivered in ledtures and preached in sermons till they 
 had it by heart. We determined that they should not have this 
 opportunity in the Fayette City debate. Besides we felt that 
 if they were taken from their stereotyped course of presenting 
 their doctrines, they would be utterly at a loss, and manifest 
 clearly their inability to sustain their system. Our conjecture 
 proved to be true. The proposition as we affirmed was: Joseph 
 Smith, the reputed prophet and the author of the Book of Mor- 
 mon, was as imposter and the Book of Mormon is a fraud. It 
 took some time to get them to agree to discuss the difference as 
 stated in our affirmative. They wanted to divide the burden of 
 proof. Finally we notified them that we would be at Fayette City 
 the first of March, 1900, prepared to meet any Mormon cham- 
 
pion in debate that mig-ht be selected by that fraternity, or in 
 case we had no opponent we were prepared to expose their sys- 
 tem in a series of lectures. This they could not allow. We 
 found an opponent on the ground, but he proved himself incap- 
 able of grappling with systems. Our line of thought was new 
 to all. It was readily seen that the discussion was one between 
 th^ Bible'and the Book of Mormon. All that heard and all that 
 have seen our arrangement of matter are unanimous in the con- 
 clusion that the interests of Truth demanded that we publish 
 what we presented in that debate. To this request we have 
 consented. Therefore we send this book forth, hoping that it 
 may do much good, and believing that it will stand as a Gibral- 
 tar in behalf of Truth. 
 
 G. B. Hancock, 
 Scholten, Mo. 
 
MORMONISM VIEWED IN IT'S 
 TRUE LIGHT. 
 
 Joseph Smith an Imposter and the , Book of Mormon 
 A Fraud. 
 
 CHAPTER ONE. 
 
 The people known as Mormons, or Latter Day Saints, are 
 among the most aggressive religionists of the present time. 
 Their missionaries are to be met with in all parts, and manifest 
 a zeal that is certainly worthy of a better cause. We say 
 ' 'better cause, ' ' because we feel their cause is not good, and we are 
 as conscious of our ability to demonstrate the truthfulness of the 
 propositions embodied in our caption as we are of our ability to 
 move the pencil with which we are now writing. 
 
 It has been said that knowledge and thought govern the 
 world. As to whether this is true may be a question, but the 
 thinking part of humanity will agree that such should be the 
 case. Religiously, however, the majority seem to move 
 without thought. It is a fact that most religionists give the 
 subject of religion but little thought, and as a consequence, 
 what ideas they have are in the main, second hand. Upon the 
 part of those who think, and presume to think for the people, 
 there is but little independence of mind, for they do not allow 
 themselves to think outside of certain paths marked' out by 
 predecessors. 
 
 It being conceded that man should be governed by thought, 
 it should not be a diflEicult matter to decide as to whose thoughts 
 should govern him. Thought designed for the government of 
 
 S 
 
man should be such as to tend wholly to the betterment of 
 man's estate. In order to a proper conception of the thought 
 necessary in order to the desired end, we need to enquire for the 
 purpose of religion. The word means "a binding back," 
 carrying the idea of reuniting severed ties. Worship is designed 
 to bring the worshipper into conformity to the objedt worshipped. 
 Thought, hence, to accomplish the desired end, must lead to 
 and give a truer knowledge of God. Man cannot, however, 
 by searching, find out God. Therefore, no line of finite 
 thought can answer the purpose. A knowledge of God 
 can not come from man but must come from God. 
 
 The purpose of religion is an infinite one. The design is to 
 prepare man for the ser\dce of the Infinite Being, in the infinite 
 beyond. If thought is to govern man, in view of the end 
 purposed in religion, it must be infinite thought, for finite means 
 cannot accomplish an infinite purpose. In order to the desired 
 end a finite being can do nothing but lay hold of infinite 
 provisions. All the provisions from God in man's behalf, are 
 throiigh Christ. He must, therefore, be an Infinite Being or the 
 claims of the Bible are not true. 
 
 God says to man, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 
 neither are yovir ways my ways, saith the Lord. Kor as the 
 heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than 
 your ways, and my thoughts than j-our thoughts. " Isaiah 55: 
 8, 9. If we ask, where are the thoughts of the Almight3- in 
 man 's behalf to be found? the answer is in the context, and 
 assures us that his thoughts are in the words that he has 
 spoken to man. 
 
 Man's words give man's thoughts, andean give nothing 
 beyond. Therefore God's words alone can give God's thoughts. 
 If the glory of God is involved in the matters of religion his 
 thoughts alone should govern man in these matters. One to 
 give to man the thoughts of God must be one that knows the 
 mind of God. Christ afiirms that he is the only teacher of the 
 human family that knew God. He is, hence, of these matters, 
 the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and 
 the last. 
 
 6 
 
If God is interested in the eternal welfare of the creature 
 man, and his thoughts are essential in order to that welfare, it 
 is reasonable that he should not only reveal those thoughts, but 
 also guard them against perversion. This we find he purposed 
 t6 do. To the Jews he said. ' 'Ye shall not add unto the word 
 which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught 
 from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your 
 God which I command you. " Deut. 4: 2. Again, "What thing 
 soever I command you, observe to do it; thou shaft not add 
 thereto, nor diminish from it." Deut. 12: 32. These 
 prohibitions are repeated in the New Testament, with the 
 assurance that the anathamas of heaven will rest upon all who 
 disregard them. 
 
 The thoughts of God could not be known but by revelation, 
 and this revelation could not be but by the inspiration of the 
 Almighty. Therefore, the inspiration essential in order to the 
 desired end was afforded and no more. As the glory of God 
 and the eternal interests of humanity were involved in these 
 matters, man could not decide as to the amount of revelation 
 required. The will of man, hence, never governed the adtion 
 of inspiration; or, in other words, no inspiration was ever 
 afforded at the mere suggestion of man. We are assured that 
 no prophecy ever came at any time by the will of man, but holy 
 men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 
 II. Peter i: 20, 21. As to the purpose or extent of his working 
 God never counseled man, but worketh all things after the 
 counsel of his own will. Eph. i: 11. If we can ascertain the 
 decision of God as to the amount of inspiration and revelation 
 essential in order to the desired end it will be satisfactory to all 
 who desire simply the truth. 
 
 There are different books that claim to exist by virtue of 
 inspiration, and claim, hence, to be revelations from God. By 
 way of introduction to a proper course of inquiry, we place 
 certain of these books before us. First, we take the book called 
 the Bible. If the claims of this book to inspiration cannot be 
 sustained, no other book need put up such claim. The Bible is 
 
composed of two parts, the Old and New Testaments. If we ask, 
 What do we have when we have the Old Testament? the answer 
 is, We have Moses and the prophets. In the New Testament 
 we have Jesus and his apostles. These two books, the Old and 
 New Testaments, are a unit. They were both essential in order 
 to the end in view, the eternal interests of man. In the first 
 the mind of man was directed forward, in expectation of the 
 second. In the first they were taught to expect perfection in the 
 second. The two, hence, make one book. When the disciples 
 accepted Jesus they could truthfully say, ' 'We have found him 
 of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write. " 
 
 We have before us another book that claims to exist by 
 virtue of inspiration from God. It is called the Book of Mormon. 
 What have we in it? What purpose does it answer in the 
 ECONOMY OF Heaven? Inspiration, as we have seen, is not at 
 the option of man but governed wholly by the will of God. If 
 the Book of Mormon be an inspired production there must be a 
 purpose in the economy of grace that it was designed to 
 accomplish — a purpose above and beyond what could be 
 accomplished by the inspiration afforded Christ and the apostle! 
 
 The working of inspiration and revelation was in or(^er to 
 God's glory and man's eternal interest. If the Book of Mormon 
 answers no specific purpose in order to the glory of God and the 
 eternal interests of humanity the propositions embodied in the 
 heading under which we write are true, incontrovertibly true. 
 If the Book of Mormon answers any purpose in the Divine 
 economy, it must connect at some point with the bible, 
 and at that point there must be an incompi^eteness, a 
 vacuum, that could not have been filled without its 
 APPEARANCE. If there be such point it must be found in the 
 New Testament, for there is not a prophecy, an allegory or type 
 in the Old Testament, that directs the mind of man beyond what 
 we have in Christ. The purpose of the inspiration and 
 revelation that gave the Old Testament was reached in its 
 fulness, by the bringing in of the hope that is afforded in Christ 
 Jesus. "On the one hand, an old commandment is annulled. 
 
because it was weak and profitless (for the law perfected nothing) 
 and on the other hand, a better hope is brought in whereby we 
 draw near unto God." Heb. 7: 18, 19. Conybeare. When 
 this better hope was brought in the full purpose of the Jewish 
 economy was reached. Where in the New Testament economy, 
 the economy that has the "provisions for that better hope, IS 
 THERE A VACUOM TO BE FILLED BY A PRODUCTION THROUGH 
 
 Joseph Smith? Echo answers — where ! 
 
 It is now, we think, at this early stage in our investigation, 
 perceptible to our readers, that in meeting the claims of 
 Mormonism our task is simply to defend the claims of the Bible. 
 We now and here unhesitatingly afiirm. If the claims of 
 Mormonism be true, the claims of the Bible are false. The 
 truthfulness of this will appear as we proceed with our 
 investigation. 
 
 CHAPTER TWO. 
 
 A proper view of the development of the remedial system 
 will give us the decision of the Almighty as to the amount of 
 revelation essential in order to the one great purpose regarding 
 the human family. Time was divided into three periods called 
 dispensations. These are known as the Patriarchal, the Jewish, 
 and the Christian. These have been beautifully represented as 
 the starlight period, the moonlight period, and the daylight 
 period of Christianity. During the first period of time, a period 
 of darkness, because of the exceeding corruptness of the race, 
 a man would appear here and there, who would shine as a 
 bright star in the moral heavens. Of these we may mention 
 Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Melchisedec and Job. This period was 
 divided into two parts, the antediluvian and the postdiluvian. 
 Yet the two constituted one period. This period continued till 
 the giving of the law of Moses, hence, till the establishing of 
 the first covenant in the development of the remedial system. 
 With the establishing of that covenant a new and superior 
 period was ushered in. The patriarchs had now as it 
 
 9 
 
were, surrendered their commission at the feet of 
 Moses, the mediator of that covenant. Thfe theocracy that was 
 established with the giving of the law continued till the time 
 was at hand for the ushering in of the period known as "The 
 fulness of times, ' ' — ^the establishing" of the new, the everlasting 
 covenant. When this covenant wa* to be established Moses and 
 the prophets surrendered their commission at the feet of Jesus. 
 From that time the command from God is Hear My Son. 
 
 Revelation was progressive, never retrogressive. The inferior 
 surrendered to and was followed bj' the superior. Mormons 
 claim that a new development was made through Joseph Smith; 
 hence that with him a new period began. This being so it must 
 be a progressive, a superior one. This being true God's will 
 did not reach it's perfection in Christ. There are no retrogressive 
 steps in inspiration neither does it do any work of supererogation. 
 Can it be that God had something in resei-vation for man, to be 
 made known through Joseph Smith, that was to be superior to 
 what he gave through his Son.-" Is Mormonism superior to 
 Christianity-, and Joseph Smith above Jesus Christ? Such are 
 the legitimate and blasphemous claims of this modernism! ! 
 For a revelation that had no superior claims over a former one, 
 and that had no advantages over what had preceded it, no 
 excuse could be given. Therefore, if with the appearing of the 
 Book of Mormon a new period was to be ushered in, giving new 
 advantages, advantages superior to any through previous 
 revelations; then it follows, necessarily, that Jesus must 
 surrender his commission at the feet of Smith! Was it 
 for such purpose that God brought His Son to earth and 
 introduced him to Smith? 
 
 That the Book of Mormon claims to be above the Bible is 
 shown by the following: 
 
 ' 'Wherefore, thou seest that after the book [that is, the 
 Bible] hath gone forth through the hands of the great and 
 abominable church [the church of Rome] that there are many 
 plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is 
 the book of the Lamb of God, and these plain and precious 
 things were taken away, it goeth forth unto all the nations of 
 
 10 
 
Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast 
 
 seen with the Gentiles which have gone forth out ot captivity 
 
 [that is, the Protestants] ; thou seest because of the many plain 
 
 and precious things which have been taken out of the book, 
 
 which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men, 
 
 according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God; because 
 
 of these things which are taken away out of the Gospel of the 
 
 Lamb, an exceeding great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that 
 
 Satan hath great power over them." — B. op M. p. 22; 119. 
 
 [Note.— All the quotations from the Book of Mormon found la this 
 boofc, are found in the Book of Mormon as published at Lamoal, Iowa. 
 
 From this we learn that the Bible is not the Book of God ! 
 No, it's just a skeleton, minus all the essentials of life! The 
 many plain and precious things of the gospel are not in the 
 Bible ! It is just as good a thing as the devil wants; for it being 
 destitute of the gospel of Christ it is minus the power of God 
 for salvation. Therefore, without the appearing of Joseph 
 Smith none could be saved. When we challenge Mormon 
 leaders to specify a single item in the gospel of Christ that is 
 not in the New Testament they are mum. We will see how 
 completely Mormonism breaks its own neck at this point. 
 Mormons admit that the new Testament is an inspired book. 
 It claims, however to contain the fulness of the gospel. Its 
 claims in this are false. Therefore, the New Testament is an 
 inspired falsehood ! The fact is, the statement concerning the 
 Bible in the quotation we gave is as base a falsehood as was ever 
 uttered. This is strong language. But we have a severe case, 
 and strong medicine is needed. The statement concerning the 
 Bible as made in the quotation made from the Book of Mormon 
 gives, in substance, an old infidel objection to the Bible that 
 had been made many, very many years before Joe Smith was 
 born. We will now and here give it the needed attention. We 
 give this objection as presented in the language of Orson Pratt. 
 He says: 
 
 "The gathering together of the few scattered manuscripts 
 which compose what is termed the Bible was the work of 
 uninspired men, which took place centuries after John had 
 finished his manuscript. Among the vast number of professedly 
 inspired manuscripts, scattered through the world, man, poor 
 
weak, ignorant man, assumed the authority to select a few, 
 which, according to his frail judgment, he believed or 
 conjected were of God; but the balance not agreeing, perhaps, 
 with his peculiar notion of divine inspiration, were rejected as 
 spurious. The few selected from the abundance were finally 
 arranged into one volume, divided into chapter and verse, and 
 named the Bible." 
 
 Again: 
 
 ' 'How does the Protestant world know that the compilers of 
 the Bible, in hunting up the sacred manuscripts which were 
 widely scattered over the world, one in one place, and another 
 in another, found all that were of divine origin? How do they 
 know that the compilers of the Bible found even the one 
 hundredth part of the manuscripts that were sacred ? " — ' 'Divine 
 Authenticity of the Book of Mormon. " p. 130. 
 
 As Orson Pratt was one of Smith's chosen apostles his 
 utterances show the true spirit of Mormon inspiration. Why 
 should Mormons make such attacks upon the Bible ? The 
 answer is, Unless the Bible can be brought into disrepute there 
 can be no room for the Book of Mormon. We will first see what 
 foundation there is for such infidel attacks upon the Old 
 Testament. In the days of Christ and the apostles that book 
 existed in two languages. The Hebrew and the Greek. We 
 have a copy of the Septuagint version. It was a translation 
 from the Hebrew, made in Alexandria, Egypt, about 200 years 
 before Christ. It contains the books of the Old Testament, from 
 Genesis to Malachi. This shows that the Hebrew version 
 contained the same. Christ and his apostles used them, and 
 endorsed them as the word of God. They were such, or Christ 
 and his apostles were false teachers. In this we have the 
 inspiration of Jesus, versus Mormon inspiration. They cannot 
 both be true. 
 
 ' 'Suppose a merchant in San Francisco receive a large order 
 from a firm in Liverpool for several cargoes of wheat. He goes 
 to the Merchant's Intelligence Office and satisfies himself that 
 the Liverpool house is perfectly solvent. But he has never had 
 any correspondence with that house before, and so does not 
 certainly know that the signature is genuine. Just then one of 
 his neighbors whom he knows to be a true man, and who has 
 
recently returned from England, steps in with a strange 
 gentleman, and introduces him as a son of the senior partner, 
 and himself a member of the firm. The San Francisco merchant 
 shows the letter to the young Englishman . " Yes ! " he says ' 'that 
 is all right; that is my father's signature. ' ' Then he proceeds to 
 explain the letter. There is no longer any doubt or delay in 
 filling the order. Now, can we authenticate the Bible in any 
 such way ? We can authenticate the Bible in this very way. 
 The Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, has visited our world as 
 the Word of God, on this very business, to declare God's 
 Word to us. He has read the Bible carefully, as much of it as 
 was then written, and he has directed the writing of the 
 remainder. He has given us his opinion of it repeatedly in 
 direct statements; has quoted many passages from it and 
 explained them, and exposed and reprobated the additions which 
 the scribes and Pharisees would have made to the Bible by their 
 traditions. We can trust the testimony of Jesus unhesitatingly. 
 All Christians acknowledge Him as the Truth, and no infidel 
 has dared to charge Him with falsehood." — "The Testimony of 
 Christ to the Truth of the Old Testament, ' ' by Robert Patterson. 
 
 Touching the authenticity of the New Testament, we give 
 the following: 
 
 "I was dining some time ago with a literary party at old 
 Mr. Abercrombie's, father of General Abercrombie, who was 
 slain in Egypt at the head of the British army, and spending 
 the evening together. A gentleman present put a question 
 which puzzled the whole company. It was this: Supposing all 
 the New Testaments in the world had been destroyed at the 
 end of the third century, could their contents have been 
 recovered from the writings of the first three centuries ? ' ' The 
 question was novel to all, and no one even hazarded a guess in 
 answer to the inquiry. About two months after this meeting, I 
 received a note from Lord Hailes inviting me to breakfast with 
 him next morning. He had been one of the party. During 
 breakfast he asked me if I recolledted the curious question 
 about the possibility of recovering the contents of the New 
 Testament from the writings of the first three centuries. 'I 
 remember it well, ' said I, 'and have thought of it often, without 
 being able to form any opinion or conjecture on the subject. ' 
 'Well, ' said Lord Hailes, 'that question quite accorded with the 
 turn or taste of my antiquarian mind. On returning home, as 
 I knew I had all the writings of those centuries, I began 
 immediately to collect them, that I might set to work on the 
 
 13 
 
arduous tatk as soon as possible. ' Pointing to a table,' covered 
 with papers, lie said, 'There have I been busy for these two 
 months, searching for chapters, half chapters, and sentences of 
 the New Testament, and have marked down what I have found, 
 and where I have found it, so that any person may examine and 
 see for himself. I have actually discovered the whole New 
 Testament from those writings except seven (or eleven) verses, 
 (I forget which) which satisfied me that I could discover them 
 also. ' 'Now, ' said he, 'here was a way in which God concealed 
 or hid the treasure of His Word, that Julian, the apostate 
 emperor, and other enemies of Christ who tried to extirpate the 
 gospels from the world, never would have thought of; and 
 though they had they never could have effected their destruction . ' 
 The labor of effecting this feat must have been immense; for the 
 Gospels and Epistles would not be divided into chapters and 
 verses as they are now. Much must have been effected by help 
 of a concordance. And having been a judge for many years, a 
 habit of minute investigation must have been formed in his 
 mind. The facilities for investigating this question are ample 
 and easily accessible to any intelligent student. The Ante- 
 Nicene Library, published by T. and T. Clark, of Edinburg, 
 comprises some twenty-four octavo volumes, averaging about 
 five hundred pages each. In these twelve thousand octavo 
 pages of printed matter are comprised nearly all the extant 
 writings of some fifteen or twenty of the most eminent Christian 
 authors who lived before the year A. D. 325, when the council 
 of Nice was convened. One of the volumes also contains such 
 remains of those spurious, uncanonical and ficticious, gospels. 
 Acts, etc., as have come down to us from early ages. In these 
 twelve thousand pages, all of which are accessible to skeptics in 
 English translations, which can be compared with the originals 
 by those who are competent to do so, will be found an 
 overwhelming avalanche of evidence upon the question of the 
 origin of the New Testament Scriptures. These men, some of 
 whom were contemporary with the apostles, and others who, as 
 their immediate successors, were well acquainted with their 
 associates and contemporaries, give in these writings the most 
 positive and unmistakable evidence as to the New Testament 
 books which they received, and as to the estimation in which 
 those books were held. They quote passage after passage, and 
 page after page, of the same Scriptures that are quoted today 
 and read in every Christian assembly. They quoted the books 
 which we quote; they quoted them as we quote them; they 
 received them as we receive them; and this long before the 
 
 14 
 
Council of Nice or any other council had anything to say about 
 the canon of the Scriptures." — Who made the New Testament, 
 by Hastings. 
 
 Such is a mere inkling of what might be given. This, 
 however, shows the statement of Orson Pratt to be utterly false. 
 God save the people from a system of religion that demands an 
 infidel stand in order to find a plea for its existence. 
 
 CHAPTER THREE. 
 
 As we have heard something of the deficiency, uncertainty 
 and incompleteness of the Bible, first from the Book of Mormon, 
 and second from the chief apostle of original Mormonism, we 
 will now hear something from the chief apostle of the reorganized 
 branch of the Mormon family. Mr. Kelh', who, of course, like 
 Mr. Pratt and the Book of Mormon, speaks with the infallibility 
 of Mormon inspiration. Mr. Kelly would tell all how infallibly 
 to identify the true church. He says: 
 
 "To avoid imposition in finance, there is put in circulation 
 a money test, by which the holder of money is enabled to 
 determine whether there is tendered to him a true or false coin. 
 "When every mark or figure on a coin or bill tendered in 
 exchange harmonizes with the detector, it is pronounced good 
 money. But if there is anything found on the coin or in the 
 bill, not to be found in the detector, or if there is something 
 left out of the coin or bill that is found in the detector, it is 
 rejected as spurious. The New Testament contains the history 
 of the formation of the primitive church; hence it is the test or 
 detector by which all church organizations, claiming to be the 
 true, are to be tried. " 
 
 We now have a medley in Mormon inspiration ! 
 
 1. "The New Testament is an unreliable production, for it is 
 composed of writings gathered by uninspired men, who just 
 selected them because they suited their notion of inspiration. 
 No one can know that the writings of which it is composed 
 were inspired productions. — Pratt. 
 
 2. The New Testament does not contain the many plain 
 and precious parts of the gospel. — Book of Mormon. 
 
 3. The New Testament was given by the government of 
 
 IS 
 
Heaven. It is an infallible test or detector, by which theological 
 systems, creeds and churches are to be tried. — Kelley. 
 
 I wonder how long it would take Mormon apostles to 
 reconcile these statements of Mormon inspiration? Mr, Kelley 
 would evidently tell us that he does not endorse Mr. Pratt. Mr. 
 Pratt, however, is with the Book of Mormon. If he rejects the 
 one he must reject the other. Let us try Mr. Kelley 's logic: 
 
 1. The New Testament is an infallible detector. All in 
 theological matters that it leaves out is spurious. 
 
 2. But the New Testament leaves out intoto the Mormon 
 system. 
 
 3. Therefore, the Mormon system is intoto spurious. 
 
 As the New Testament, according to the Book of Mormon, 
 is void, the gospel of Jesus Christ, where are we to find that 
 Gospel? 
 
 ' 'For behold, saith the Lamb, I will manifest myself unto 
 thy seed [that is, the Nephites] that they shall write many 
 things which I shall minister unto them, which shall be plain 
 and precious; and after thy seed shall be destroyed and dwindle 
 in unbelief, and also the seed of thy brethren; behold, these 
 things shall be hid up, to come forth unto the Gentiles by the 
 gift and power of the Lamb; and in them shall be written my 
 gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation. " — B. of 
 M. pages 22, 23 and 123. 
 
 The quotations made from the Book of Mormon being 
 true, the Bible is false and the wise course would be to throw 
 the Bible away and hold to the Book of Mormon. If the Bible 
 be void the plain and precious parts of the gospel its claims 
 are not true. The two books can never be reconciled. If the 
 one be true, the other is. false. 
 
 Orson Pratt, speaking of course by the genuine inspiration 
 of original Mormonism, says: 
 
 ' 'The nature of the message in the Book of Mormon is such 
 that, if true, no one can possibly be saved and reject it, if false 
 no one can possibly be saved and receive it." — ^Divine 
 Authenticity, p. 124. 
 
 This gives us the whole thing in a nutshell. If the Bible be 
 true the Mormons are doomed to damnation. On the other 
 
 16 
 
hand, if the Book of Mormon be true all who reject it and hold 
 to the Bible are doomed. 
 
 From a Mormon standpoint, one may believe the Bible, 
 obey its commands and trust its promises, but it will be of no 
 avail without, the saving power of the gospel of Mormonism ! 
 In harmony with this we have the following from Joe Smith: 
 
 "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most 
 corredt of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, 
 and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts 
 than by any other book. " — Compendium, p. 273. 
 
 The fact is, from a Mormon standpoint, Joe Smith and the 
 book of Mormon are above Jesut Christ and the New Testament! 
 
 This matter of inspiration needs to be closely studied. We 
 invite strict attention to the following: There are two sources 
 of inspiration in matters religious. The one is in order to the 
 glory of God and the salvation of man. The other is designed 
 to thwart the purpose of God, and so prevent the salvation of 
 man. ' Therefore, two minds have figured in the history of man, 
 and two wisdoms have been brought to bear upon man. Upon 
 the one hand God is represented, and the inspiration from him 
 gives his counsel in order to man's eternal welfare. The 
 wisdom in this counsel being from above is "first pure, then 
 peacable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good 
 fruits, withotit partiality, and without hipocrisy. ' ' The other 
 wisdom is from beneath, and is earthly, sensual, devilish. It is 
 the source of strife, envying, confusion, and every evil work. 
 This wisdom leads from the counsel of God. By the wisdom 
 from above we have the doctrine of Jesus Christ. By the wisdom 
 that is from beneath we have the doctrines of men and devils. 
 No one knows the mind of God save the Spirit of God. 
 Therefore, no one could know the doctrine of God but by the 
 inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The inspiration of the Holy 
 Spirit never gave any doctrine except the doctrine of Jesus 
 Christ. In this the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are one. 
 They agree in one testimony — the testimony of Jesus Christ. 
 Therefore, he who has the doctrine of Christ has both the Father 
 
 17 
 
and the Son. By virtue of the inspiration from the infernal 
 regions we have all other systems of doctrines. 
 
 The first that the wisdotn from beneath was brought tQ bear 
 upon man, was when, through the agency of the serpent, man 
 in Eden was led to transgress the command of God. If any be 
 deceived by this wisdom it must be a matter of choice, for God 
 has provided a safeguard for all that will trust in Him, having 
 carefully marked the bounds of Divine inspiration and revelation. 
 
 The fall of man called for the remedial system. And in the 
 development of that system two covenants were established, and 
 in the development of the two covenants that that was essential 
 ill order to enable man to lay hold on eternal life was placed 
 within his reach. If we accept Jesus as the one great teacher 
 for the human family — the one to guide man in the way of 
 eternal life, the question as to the extent of the work of 
 inspiration and revelation in order to the desired end will be 
 easily settled. Jesus says, ' 'And this is life eternal, that they 
 might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom 
 thou hast sent." — John 17: 3. This statement is true or the idea 
 of inspiration and revelation from God is a delusion. It being 
 true a knowledge of the one true God, and of -Jesus Christ is the 
 condition of eternal life. Therefore the work of inspiration and 
 revelation was solely for the purpose of placing tJie necessary 
 knowledge within the reach of man. This being done the 
 limitation of inspiration and revelation was reached, for to go 
 beyond that would be a work of supererogation, a work that God 
 never does. 
 
 In order to the possession of the required knowledge by 
 man, two grand demonstrations were necessary. 
 
 1. The unity of the Godhead must be established. 
 
 2. The claims of Jesus must be vindicated. 
 
 In the Jewish Scriptures the first demonstration is given, 
 and they all being essential to one great purpose they are all 
 counted as one book, the Old Testament. — Diatheke, covenant. 
 
 In that book the proposition that the God of Abraham, of 
 Isaac and of Jacob is the one true and living God is proven. 
 
 18 
 
The revelation necessary to afford man this knowledge is 
 contained in the Old Testament. That special inspiration and 
 revelations were granted individuals for specific purposes during 
 the period covered by the books of the Old Testament will not 
 be denied. They, however, not being essential to the purpose 
 of that Book, were not preserved. The periods covered by the 
 books of the Old Testament were preparatory periods, and the 
 demonstration given in that Book was preparatory to a second 
 demonstration, which was to bring to humanit}^ the full purpose 
 of God, and so place within the reach of man the knowledge 
 essential to the end in view. The first demonstration could not 
 reach its fulness — could not answer the purpose in view till the 
 second should be given. Hence inspiration and revelation was 
 to reach its perfection and accomplish its full purpose in Christ 
 Jesus. It is therefore, that, of inspiration and revelation, Christ 
 is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning 
 and the end. It is universally admitted that Christ was 
 the first, but people have arisen at different times denying that 
 he is the last. There is hence, a square issue before us; for if it 
 be so that inspiration and revelation did not reach its perfection 
 in and end with Christ, the teaching of the Bible cannot be true. 
 If we accept the statement of Christ that a knowledge of the 
 Father and the Son was all that was necessary in order to the 
 desired end, we accept, necessarly, the conclusion that with the 
 perfection of that knowledge, the work of inspiration and 
 revelation ceased. If Christ did not reveal the Father; and if 
 the New Testament does not properly present Christ as the 
 Savoir of Man, we will have to surrender the claims of the Bible. 
 Surely no one thinking aright would contend that inspiration 
 and revelation beyond the purpose of God were ever vouchsafed 
 to any man. Neither God's glory nor man's eternal interest is 
 involved in anything beyond the eternal purpose of God in 
 Christ Jesus. 
 
 19 
 
CHAPTER FOUR. 
 
 As previously said, the inspiration and revelation afforded 
 in order to the development of the old covenant, while it gave 
 the proposed demonstration, could not afford the necessary 
 knowledge of God. The apostle says, ' 'For if that first covenant 
 had been faultless, then should no place have been sought 
 for the second. " — Heb. 8: 7. The first covenant being faulty 
 from the fact that the inspiration and Irevelation necessary to 
 the fulness of its purpose did not give the required knowledge, 
 there was a demand for a second — -a demand, hence, for 
 inspiration and revelation in order to the full development of the 
 second. Therefore, "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, 
 that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and 
 with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant that I 
 made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the 
 hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant 
 they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord; 
 but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house 
 of Israel: After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in 
 their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their 
 God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no 
 more everj' man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying 
 Know the Lord; for they shall all know me, from the least of 
 them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord; for I will forgive 
 their iniquity, and I will remember their sins no more. ' ' — ^Jer. 
 31: 31-34. Here is the promise of a new covenant, and one that 
 would afford the necessary knowledge, for through it all would 
 be enabled to know God. There would, hence, be no need of 
 further teaching. This amounts to the affirmation that, when 
 the new covenant should be given there would be no need for 
 further revelation from God. The mediator of this new covenant 
 was to be the anointed One of the Most High, the one Teacher 
 who alone could give a true knowledge of God, and through 
 whom everlasting righteousness should be brought in. When 
 a knowledge of the true God, as revealed through Christ, was 
 
given, and all the necessary provisions to enable man to, lay 
 hold on eternal life were complete the revelation from God was 
 perfected. Christ said, ' 'All things are delivered unto me of my 
 Father; and no man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither 
 knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to 
 whomsoever the Son will reveal him." Matt, ii: 27. This 
 again affirms perfection on the part of the mediator of the new 
 covenant. In the langiiage of Paul we say, If the second 
 covenant be faultless there could be no place for a third — no 
 demand, hence, for inspiration and revelation in order to the 
 development of a third. From a Mormon standpoint one might, 
 with all propriety, have approached the Savoir with the question, 
 ' 'Art thou sufficient or shall we look for another ? ' ' From 
 that same standpoint, John 17:3, should read, "And this is life 
 enternal, that they might know the only true and living God, 
 Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent, and from whence the 
 Aboriginese of America came. ' ' Unhesitatingly do we say. If 
 the origin of the American Indians be not a gospel idea there is 
 not a gospel idea in the Book of Mormon but what was 
 borrowed from the Bible. Take the professed account of the 
 first settling of America out of the Book of Mormon and the 
 remainder is a game of plagiarism, from beginning to end. The 
 Book of Mormon could not contain any information concerning 
 God, or His Son jesus Christ, without borrowing such from the 
 Bible. It is, hence, that Jesus warns all against any claims to 
 inspiration this side of the completion of the New Testament. 
 Matt. II; 27 contains such warning.! The statement of Christ 
 being true the prophet of Mormonism did not know either the 
 Father or the Son. He, like all others, since the completion of 
 the New Testament, was limited to the Bible for saving 
 
 knowledge. 
 
 Inspiration and revelation were never afforded for the mere 
 gratification of man 's curiosity. It had no purpose except the 
 glory of God and the salvation of man. It's purpose being to 
 impart knowledge, when the knowledge essential to its purpose 
 wa5 afforded, it's work was done. A knowledge of God and of 
 
Christ is all that is tiecessary iri order to the desired end. With 
 the imjjartioti, hence, of that knowledge, the work of inspiration 
 and revelation ceased. With the revelation given through 
 Christ, as recorded in the New Testament, that knowledge was 
 perfected. Therefore, with the completion of the New 
 Testament revelation from God ceased. This being so, all 
 pretended revelation since the completion of the New Testament 
 are fraudulent. That such is the case we now purpose to 
 demonstrate. 
 
 What man needed in his fallen and benighted condition 
 was light. Christ is the light of the world. He is to the people 
 of God what the luminary of day is to the inhabitants of eartji. 
 One enjoying the fullness of the noon day sun does not need a 
 jack o lantern to enable him to see his way. To deny that 
 Christ brought the needed light to man is to surrender the 
 claims of the Bible. Surely, those who enjoy fellowship with 
 the Father and the Son are heirs of eternal life, and have the 
 needed light. The apostle says, "That which we have seen 
 and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellow- 
 ship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and 
 with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto 
 you that yovir joy may be full." — I. John i: 3, 4, Here it is 
 affimed that through what was delived by the apostles, we have 
 thecessary knowledge in order to Fellowship with the Father 
 and the Son, and in order to fulness of joy. The trouble has 
 ever been and ever will be: — "And this is the condmnation, that 
 light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather 
 than light, because their deeds were evil." John 3; 19. To 
 reveal is to bring to light. The inspiration and revelation from 
 heaven were designed to bring man the light of God. That 
 light could only be afforded by bringing to man the true 
 knowledge of God. As to the amount of light necessary man 
 could not know. It was, hence, a matter to be decided by the 
 Almighty. God having decided this matter, would, of necessity, 
 be governed by his own decision or acknowledge that he made 
 
 22 
 
a mistake. As we cannot think of the Almighty making a 
 mistake and having to repent of his error, we know that he 
 having decided as to the amount of revelation necessary has 
 never afforded any beyond that. 
 
 In the ninth chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews, the 
 apostle treats of the tabernacle that was erected by Moses in the 
 wilderness, and tells us emphatically that it was a typical 
 institution, giving us, hence, in prophetical representation the 
 provisions of God in the Church of Jesus Christ. The tabernacle 
 proper was divided into two apartments, the holy and the most 
 holy places. The first of these, the holy place, represented the 
 Church of Christ on earth. That tabernacle was so securely 
 enclosed that no light entered from without. The light for the 
 priests in their ministrations was provided within, and all the 
 light, hence, that they could have was that afforded by the 
 seven lights of the golden candlestick. Paul's statement being 
 true, that the tabernacle was a type of the heavenly institution, 
 the institution of which Jesus Christ is the head, the golden 
 candlestick was a type of that which was to afford the light for 
 the people of God under Christ. The type being a true one the 
 church was to have no light beyond what was represented by the 
 golden candlestick. There is no light from God beyond what 
 was therein represented. Therefore if we can know what was 
 represented by the goldeu candlestick we can know the 
 limitation of the light afforded the Church of Christ — can know, 
 hence, the bounds of inspiration and revelation in order to the 
 glory of God, and the eternal interests of humanity. As we 
 have said, God has thrown a safe guard around these matters, 
 and his lessons are a guarantee to all that will accept them, 
 against the possibility of deception. 
 
 In the fourth chapter of Zechariah we have a record of his 
 vision of the golden candlestick. There were two olive trees by 
 the candlestick, one upon the right side, and the other upon 
 the left side. There were seven pipes, one for ea.ch division of 
 the candlestick, and they furnished the golden oil for each 
 
 23 
 
bowl. Of the candlestick, the angel said to Zechariah, "This 
 is the word of God. " And of the olive tree it is said, "These 
 are the two anointed ones [Marginal and R. V. Sons of Oil] 
 that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." In the eleventh 
 chapter of Revelations we are told that these are the two 
 witnesses. The type being true and the vision correct, we have 
 certain facts, i . The word of God is the only light that He 
 affords His people. 2. That word would be in two grand 
 divisions, standing as two witnesses for the great Jehovah. 
 
 3. That word as a whole was to be given in seven divisions. 
 
 4. The inspiration, represented by the golden oil, was to be by 
 virtue of two olive trees. 5. In consequence of these there 
 were to be, in man's behalf, two sons of oil. This gives just 
 what we have in the Bible. The two divisions are the Old and 
 the New Testaments, in other words, the two covenants. These 
 properly viewed would give ns seven subdivisions, one division 
 answering as a center stem, with three divisions on either side. 
 Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were written for one purpose, 
 namely, to give the demonstration that Jesus of Nazareth is the 
 Christ, the Son of the living God. This being the central idea 
 in the canon of revelation, those four books constitute the center 
 stem. Jesus gives the entire Old Testament in three divisions, 
 namely, "The law, the psalms, and the prophets. " This gives 
 the three divisions on the one side. On the other side we have 
 just three divisions, namely, Acts of Apostles, the Epistles to 
 the churches, and the Book of Revelations. The olive trees 
 represent the two covenants. Moses was the mediator in the 
 first; was, hence, the revelator — the law giver for the people of 
 that covenant. Jesus is the mediator in the New; is, hence, the 
 revelator — the law giver for the people of the new covenant. 
 We have, hence, in Jesus and Moses the two sons of oil. God 
 in his providential workings has guarded the counsel that he 
 designed for man. We have in the Book called the Bible, in its 
 present arrangement, just what was represented by the golden 
 candlestick. We have, hence, a demonstration of the fact that 
 
 24 
 

 
no light of inspiration is afforded beyond what we have in the 
 development of the two covenants. There is no third olive tree, 
 no third son of oil, no golden pipe for an eighth division, no 
 golden oil for any book except what we have in the Bible. In 
 view of the facts now before us we unhesitatingly say: If such 
 as Mohammed, Swedenborg, Jo. Smith, Ellen G. White, et al., 
 have been favored with inspiration it was from the infernal 
 regions, not from above. 
 
 , CHAPTER FIVE. 
 
 We have briefly noticed the candlestick in the light of 
 Zechariah's vision. The lessons gleaned, however, demonstrate 
 the fact that God providentially guarded and directed the 
 preservation of his revelations to man, till the Bible, in its 
 matter and arrangement, gives just what God foretold should 
 be given his people, pertaining to inspiration and revelation. 
 It is readily seen that the statement of Orson fratt relative to 
 the colledtion of the manuscripts to constitute the Bible is 
 utterly false — shown, hence, that the inspiration directing the 
 first propagators of Mormonism was from a lying spirit. The 
 lesson learned also shows the infidelity in what, by modern 
 scribes, is called Higher Criticism. 
 
 If the inspiration and revelation afforded in order to the 
 full development of the two covenants did not bring to man the 
 necessary knowledge, did not, hence, afford the required light, 
 we cannot claim inspiration for the Bible. Accepting, however, 
 the statement of Christ, that a knowledge of the Father and the 
 Son was all that was necessary in order to the desired end, we 
 accept necessarily, the conclusion that with the perfedtion of 
 that knowledge the work of inspiration and revelation ceased. 
 Such is the lesson taught by the candlestick. Therefore, in the 
 New Testament we have the true light of God. Christ is the 
 true light of God, and as that light cannot be supplemented 
 there has been no inspiration and revelation from God since the 
 
 25 
 
completion of the New Testament. In the light of that book 
 we are in the light of God. Hence, Christ could truthfully say: 
 "All things are delivered unto me of my Father." Surely, in 
 the Ai,L THINGS OF GOD is given the knowledge essential in order 
 to the desired end. Therefore Paul could say: "In Him are hid 
 all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." — Col. 2: 3. There 
 could be no demand for inspiration and revelation in addition to 
 what was given through Christ, unless there could be a demand 
 for something beyond all the treasures of God's wisdom and 
 knowledge. 
 
 Christ is, hence, of inspiration and revelation, the Alpha 
 and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. 
 We give the following: 
 
 1. Inspiration and revelation ending with Christ, all 
 pretended inspiration and revelations since His were false. 
 
 2. But the pretended inspiration and revelation of Joseph 
 Smith were since Christ. 
 
 3. Therefore, the pretended inspiration and revelations of 
 Joseph Smith were false. 
 
 We have seen that the Bible as it is, with its seven divisions, 
 is just what God's people were to have under the reign of 
 Christ. Yet the Book of Mormon says it is minus the gospel of 
 Christ.- This being true it is minus the power of God; and 
 hence, minus the light of God. This makes a positive 
 contradiction between the Bible and the Book of Mormon. If 
 the one be true the other is false. But the Bible is true. 
 Therefore the Book of Mormon is false. 
 
 Christ said to His disciples: "And you shall know the 
 truth and the truth shall make you free. ' ' The truth that was 
 essential to the freedom of the human soul was in the treasures 
 of wisdom and knowledge that are hid in Christ, and it could 
 not come from any other source. It is, hence, that Christ could 
 say: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. " The truth is in 
 the word that Christ delivered unto the apostles, and that 
 jvas by them made known to all nations. Hence said: "Now 
 
 26 
 
they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given 
 me are of Thee. For I have given unto them the words which 
 Thou gavest Me. " — John 17: 7, 8. To His apostles the Christ 
 said: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the 
 Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, 
 and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have 
 said unto you." — John 14: 26. Again, "Howbeit when He, the 
 Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for 
 He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, 
 that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come. 
 He shall glorify me; for He shall receive of mine, and shall 
 show it unto you . All things that the Father hath are mine; 
 therefore said I that He shall take of Mine, and shall shew it 
 unto you. " — John 16: 13-15. In these Scriptures it is positively 
 affirmed that all that the Father had for man, in the way of 
 knowledge in order to eternal life, was given to the Son, and to 
 be made known to the apostles, and the apos.tles were to make 
 these things known, and to record them, that they might answer 
 the purpose of man till the conclusion of time. We submit 
 the following: 
 
 1. The Holy Spirit giiided the apostles into all truth. 
 
 2. But the Holy Spirit did not guide the apostles into 
 Mormonism. 
 
 3. Therefore, Mormonism is not of the truth. 
 
 The statements of Christ that we have quoted from John 
 authorize the following: 
 
 1. All that is from the Father was given by the Son unto 
 the apostles. 
 
 2. But the Son did not give the Book of Mormon unto His 
 apostles. 
 
 3. Therefore, the Book of Mormon was not from the 
 Father. 
 
 Paul said to Timothy: "From a child thou hast known the 
 Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto 
 salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. " — 2 Tim. 3: 15. 
 
 27 
 
Man does not need anything beyond the knowledge that makes 
 wise unto salvation. Hence, with the bringing of that 
 knowledge to man the work of inspiration and revelation was 
 perfedted. The revelation contained in the New Testament 
 thoroughly supplies that knowledge. It is therefore that the 
 apostle Peter could say: "According as His divine Power hath 
 given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through 
 the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue. ' ' 
 — II. Peter 1:3. These scriptures authorize the following: 
 
 1. The revelation of God's will as made known by the 
 apostles of Jesus Christ contained all things that pertain to life 
 and godliness. 
 
 2. But that revelation did not contain the Book of Mormon. 
 
 3. Therefore, the Book of Mormon does not pertain to life 
 and godliness. 
 
 Christ having delivered to the apostles the truth that 
 involved the glory, of God and the eternal destiny of humanity, 
 promised, in man 's behalf, to be with that truth to the end of 
 the world. He said, ' 'All power is given unto me in heaven 
 and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing 
 them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
 Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have 
 commanded you: And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the 
 end of the world. " — Matt. 28: 18, ig, 20. This authorizes the 
 following: 
 
 1. Christ is, in man's behalf, with what was delivered by 
 the apostles. 
 
 2. But the IBook of Mormon was not delivered by the 
 apostles. 
 
 3. Therefore, Christ is not with the Book of Mormon. 
 This suggests the following: 
 
 1. Any religious production that Christ is not with is a 
 godless produdlion. 
 
 2. But Christ is not with the Book of Mormon. 
 
 3. Therefore, the Book of Mormon is a godless production. 
 To bring man into the freedom of sonship — into the 
 
 28 
 
enjoyment of soul liberty, the highest relation and enjoyment 
 possible on earth, was the purpose for which inspiration and 
 revelation were vouchsafed to man. When the means that were 
 necessary to the desired end were placed within the reach of 
 man, the end for which they were given being reached, there 
 was no demand for their further continuance. Christ said: 
 ' 'And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you 
 free." — John 8: 32. "When that truth was brought to man the 
 purpose of inspiration and revelation was accomplished. Paul 
 said to the Galatians: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty 
 wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled 
 again with the yoke of bondage. " — Gal. 5:1. This affirms that 
 the desired liberty was attained through the truth as delivered 
 by Jesus Christ. Beyond the delivering of that truth to man 
 there was no demand for the work of inspiration and revelation. 
 We now give the following: 
 
 1 . The purpose for which man was favored with inspiration 
 and revelation from God being reached, that work was complete. 
 
 2. But that purpose was reached through the inspiration 
 and revelation granted the apostles of Jesus Christ. 
 
 T,.'''-' Therefore, with the apostles of Jesus Christ the work of 
 inspiration and revelation reached its completeness. 
 
 As the will of God given by Christ and recorded in the 
 New Testament, involves His own glory and the eternal 
 interests Jl of man, it is sacredly guarded by the authority of 
 heaven. We invite attention to the following scriptures: "For 
 I testify^unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy 
 of this book.^f any man shall add unto these things, God shall 
 add unto^him the plagues that are written in this book; and if 
 any man shall take away from the words of the book of this 
 prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, 
 and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written 
 in this book." — Rev. 22: 18, 19. Again, "I marvel that ye are 
 so soon removed from him that called you into -the grace of 
 Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be 
 
 29 
 
some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 
 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other 
 gospel unto you than that we have preached unto you, let him 
 be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again. If any 
 man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have 
 received, let him be accursed." — Gal. i: 6-9. 
 These scriptures authorize the following: 
 
 1. As the inspiration from God, gave through the apostles 
 of Christ the truth of God, an inspiration that would give 
 anything different or additional thereto would be from the 
 infernal regions. 
 
 2. But the Book of Mormon is something additional to and 
 different from wtat the apostles of Christ gave. 
 
 3. Therefore, the Book of Mormon was given bj' inspiration 
 from the infernal regions. 
 
 The pure gospel of Christ was delivered by the apostles 
 and recorded in the New Testament. We are assured, however, 
 that any production giving anything different from or 
 additional to what the apostles gave would be a perverted 
 gospel — would be in the sight of God as another gospel. Upon 
 such, we are assured, the curse of God would rest. These facts 
 authorize the following: 
 
 1. The curse of God rests upon any produdlion that 
 contains another gospel. 
 
 2. But the Book of Mormon contains another gospel. 
 
 3. Therefore, the curse of God rests upon the Book of 
 Mormon. 
 
 When a boy, like other boys, we would often have a bow 
 and arrow, and we always wanted a string that would be secure, 
 one that would not break. We would, hence, get a strong line, 
 then double and twist it. Then we knew that no boy could 
 break it. We aim to pursue that course with this line of 
 argument against modern inspirations. We do not purpose 
 simply to give a strong line of argument, but we expect to 
 double and twist it, and thus give a line of argument that will 
 
 30 
 
never be broken. Our task is to vindicate the claims of the 
 Bible, and we expect to do so in a manner that will be 
 satisfactory to all who can be reached by the force of reasoning. 
 
 CHAPTER SIX. 
 
 Man as a being has wants beyond those of the mere animal. 
 The secret of this we find in the fact that man possesses 
 conscious moral responsibility, something that no mere animal 
 possesses. Man, is hence, an accountable being. If we enquire 
 for the'extent of man's responsibility, it is just to the extent of 
 his obligations. We state, but do not purpose to argue the 
 proposition now, Man is responsible to his Creator. There is 
 however, but one way for man to meet that responsibility, and 
 that is by making the will of God his rule of adtion. Had God, 
 hence, withheld that will from man he could not justly have 
 held him responsible, in case he failed to meet that responsibility. 
 The principle of justice demanded that God 's will, in its fullness 
 and perfedlion, should be revealed unto man. This being done 
 man would be left without excuse. It is, hence, that in this 
 the honor and glory of God, and the eternal interests of 
 humanity are involved. The Bible containing the perfect will 
 of God to man, which it does or its claims are false, an effort to 
 lead man to the adoption of any other produ(5tion as a rule of 
 action is only an effort to thrust something between God's will 
 and man. In so far as man might be led to the adoption of 
 something thrust between him and God 's will he would be led 
 away from that will, and in so far as man is led away from 
 that will he is led away from God. An effort, hence, to thrust 
 something between God's will and man is an effort, virtually, 
 to thwart the purpose of God and prevent the salvation of man. 
 This gives the secret of the severe anathemas of God resting 
 upon any that pervert His will, either by addition, subtraction 
 or alteration. If man is saved it must be by the grace of God. 
 Man can never find a substitute for that grace, and God will 
 
 31 
 
never direct his creatures to a substitute for his own true grace. 
 The apostle Peter writing to the saints of his day said, "By 
 Sylvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have 
 written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true 
 grace of God wherein ye stand. " — I. Pet. 5: 12. If we would 
 know what the true grace of God is we only need to learn what 
 the saints of the apostles' day stood in. Paulsaid: "Moreover, 
 brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto 
 you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand, by 
 which also ye are saved." — I. Cor. 15: i, 2. 
 
 Peter testifies that the saints of the apostles' day stood in 
 the true grace of God. Paul testifies that they stood in the 
 gospel of Christ, as he preached it, as recorded in his epistles. 
 Peter saw Paul's statement and approved of what he said. 
 II. Pet. 3: 15, 16. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall 
 everything be established. Therefore, by Peter and Paul we 
 prove that the gospel of Christ as recorded in the epistles of 
 P aul is the true grace of God. Paul testifies that grace had 
 appeared unto all men. Titus 2: 11. In proving the above 
 facts by Peter and Paul we prove the book of Mormon to have 
 been dictated by a lying spirit, for, as we have seen, that book 
 testifies that the true gospel of Christ is not contained in the 
 New Testament. 
 
 We give the following: 
 
 1 . The true grace of God in order to the salvation of pian 
 was made known by the apostles of Christ. 
 
 2. But the Book of Mormon was not made known by the 
 apostles of Christ. 
 
 3. Therefore, the Book of Mormon is not of the grace 
 of God. 
 
 Again: 
 
 1 . Any book claiming inspiration is proven to be a lyino- 
 document is the production of a deceiver. 
 
 2. But it is proven that the Book of Mormon is a lying 
 document. 
 
 3. Therefore, the Book of Mormon is the production of a 
 
 32 
 
deceiver. This places Joseph Smith in his true light, and 
 shows him to be an imposter. 
 
 Some things are impossible with God. As we are told that 
 it is impossible for God to lie, it is impossible for Him to 
 sancftion a Ij'ing document. We have, however proven by 
 the testimony of Peter and Paul, that the Book of Mormon 
 ' is a lying document. Therefore we prove by Peter and Paul 
 that it is impossible for God to endorse the Book of Mormon. 
 This proves by the testimony of Almighty God that the 
 Book of Mormon is a fraud. This shows beyond the 
 possibility of a doubt that if there was any inspiration at work 
 in producing the Book of Mormon it was from the infernal 
 regions. It may be said that we use strong language. We 
 replj', we have a severe case, and the demand is for strong 
 medicine. I want these things to be seen in their true light. 
 The claims of the Bible are involved. For that man who would 
 approach me as a pretended friend, but while imparting a kiss 
 would stab me under the fifth rib, honorable people can have 
 no respect. When God had established the remedial system, 
 brought to man his true grace, and provided for His people to 
 enjoy His fulness, there was no demand for anything farther, 
 nor could there be, unless there could be a demand for 
 something beyond the true grace and fulness of God. To the 
 Ephesians Paul said: "And hath put all things under his feet, 
 and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 
 which is his body, the fulness of him that fiUeth all in all. " — 
 Eph. i: 22, 23. The testimony of Peter and Paul being true, a 
 congregation of believers planted in the gospel of Jesus Christ 
 as revealed in the New Testament enjoys the fulness of God 
 and stands in His grace. The work of inspiration and revelation 
 was in order to bring man to the enjoyment of these. That 
 done and its work was complete. God said to Paul: "My 
 grace is sufficient for thee. ' ' His grace as provided in Christ, 
 which is enjoyed by being in the New Testament arrangement 
 is sufficient for all, otherwise the whole thing is a failure. 
 
 33 • 
 
As in the revelation given in the New Testament we have 
 the perfection of God, we have in that book, of necessity, the 
 perfect will of God beyond which revelation could not go. To 
 the Romans Paul said, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by 
 the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice 
 holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 
 And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by 
 the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that 
 good and acceptable, and perfect will of God." — Rom. 12: i, 2. 
 In another place that same apostle says: "By the which will 
 we are all sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus 
 Christ once for all. " Heb. 10: 10. That this perfect will is in 
 the truth into which the Holy Spirit guided the apostles is 
 affirmed in the following: "Sanctify them through thy truth; 
 thy word is truth. " — -John 17: 17. 
 
 It would be folly in man to think of limiting the Almighty, 
 but the Infinite One is limited to and within his own perfections. 
 Beyond those perfections the Almighty does not go. The 
 apostle again says speaking of Christ: "In whom also we have 
 obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the 
 purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His 
 own will. " — Eph. i: 11. Those who obtain this inheritance are 
 those that were predestinated thereto according to the 
 foreknowledge of God. If we would know who it was that God 
 foreordained to this inheritance, Paul tells in the following, 
 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 
 P'or as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put 
 on [been clothed with] Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, 
 there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; 
 for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then 
 are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. " — 
 Gal. 3: 26-29. 
 
 When God made promise to Abraham he had foreordained 
 that all, whether Jew or Greek, that would obey the gospel of 
 Christ .should be His heirs — should, hence, enjoy His fulness 
 
 . 34 
 
in the Beloved. Therefore Paul says: "And being made 
 perfedl, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them 
 that obey Him." — Heb. 5: 9. 
 
 Nothing short of the perfection of God in Christ could 
 bring man into the enjoyment of eternal salvation. And just 
 so certain as that the Bible is true that perfection is in the New 
 Testament arrangement. To that arrangement, hence, all 
 heaven is limited. If man, therefore, would be with God he 
 must be *ithin the limitations of that one arrangement. 
 
 God has nothing for man beyond His own perfect will, 
 neither could he have unless He could have something for man 
 beyond His own perfection. Neither can He be found, in man's 
 behalf, out of that will, unless He could be found out of His own 
 perfection. We submit the following :j 
 
 1 . Any production beyond the perfection of God in Christ, 
 that claims inspiration, is of the devil. 
 
 2. But the Book of Mormon is a production beyond the 
 perfection of God in Christ, that claims inspiration. 
 
 3. Therefore the Book of Mormon is a production from 
 the devil. 
 
 As the perfection of God, in man's behalf is in Christ, He 
 combines in Himself, in their perfection, the prophetic, the 
 priestly, and the kinglj- offices. Christ combining in himself, 
 in their perfection, the prophetic, the priestly, and the kingly 
 offices. He is the antitype of all former prophets, priests and 
 kings, that were by the authority of God. In Christ, as the 
 Messiah of God, the prophetic, the . priestly, and the kingly 
 offices reached their perfection, with Him they cease. As 
 perfection in these is only found in Christ, and as perfection 
 cannot be supplemented, Christ can have no successor in any of 
 these functions. To argue the necessity of a successor to Christ, 
 in any of these offices, is to argue His deficiency as the Messiah! 
 
 The apostle says: "Love shall never pass away; though 
 the gift of prophecy, shall vanish, and the gift of tongues shall 
 cease, and the gift of knowledge shall come to nought. For 
 
 35 
 
our knowledge is imperfect, and our prophesying is imperfect. 
 But when the fulness of perfection is come, then all that is 
 imperfect shall pass away." — I. Cor. 13: 8. Conybeare. If 
 perfection was not reached in -Christ we are without a perfect 
 Savoir. But in Christ we have a perfect Savoir. Therefore in 
 Him perfection was reached. Previous to the coming of the 
 great Propket the representative of God on earth, and the giving 
 of the perfect will of God through Him, all prophecj' and 
 miraculous impartations of knowledge were imperfect, for none 
 of them nor all of them together could answer the purpose in 
 view. They were all preparatory to one great end. The one 
 great purpose being accomplished, preparatory means were no 
 longer needed. We submit: 
 
 1. When the fulness of perfection in Christ should be 
 reached prophesying was to cease. 
 
 2. But the fulness of perfection in Christ was reached in 
 the New Testament arrangement. 
 
 3. Therefore, with the completion of the New Testament 
 all prophesying ceased. Again: 
 
 1 . All pretended prophets since the fulness of perfection 
 in Christ was reached were imposters. 
 
 2. But Joseph Smith was a pretended prophet since the 
 fulness of perfection in Christ was reached. 
 
 3. Therefore Joseph Smith was an imposter. 
 
 CHAPTER SEVEN. 
 
 We are not controlled in the least by a spirit of vindicative- 
 ness in what we have to say in these articles. As the claims of 
 Mormonism, as what has been presented abundantly shows, 
 antagonize the claims of the Bible, we could not clear ourself in 
 the sight of God, meet our obligations to truth, nor do justice 
 to our fellow creatures were we not in earnest. When it comes 
 to the discussion of issues that involve the glory of God and the 
 eternal interests of man the fear of man is not before our eyes. 
 
 36 
 
We have no party interest to serve, but write wholly in behalf 
 of truth. We firmly believe the propositions embodied in the 
 heading of which we write. Believing those propositions we 
 can have no feeling toward the originators of Mormonism except 
 one of mingled pity and contempt. It is evident, whatever else 
 they may have believed, they certainly did not believe in a just 
 judgment to' come. As to the Book of Mormon, its claims place 
 it on a level with the Koran. If it had no claims but that of a 
 novel we could think more of it, but then one possessed of 
 a refined literary taste could not have patience to read it. Its 
 uncouth, illiterate, bunglesome manner would place it in the 
 lowest grade. It gives evidence of being designed as a bait for 
 the unwary, unthinking, reckless part of humanit}-. For such 
 a book to claim to be given bj- the inspiration of heaven — to 
 claim superiority- over the Bible — to claim, hence, to be the 
 proper guide for a man, in view of his present and eternal 
 interests, is enough to make the domons blush and hang their 
 heads in shame, if there could be blushes and shame in the 
 infernal regions. But imptidence and falsehood are the chief 
 characteristics of those religions. That such are really the 
 characteristics of Mormonisn has been, and will be abundantly 
 shown. 
 
 The book of Mormon submits as the basis of its claims as 
 base a falsehood as it would be possible to utter, namely, that 
 the New Testament does not contain the gospel of Jesus Christ. 
 According to the book of Mormon, the people with whom it had 
 its origin, and who are introduced to us as the especial favorites 
 of heaven, began their career in lying, deception, robbery and 
 murder, and ended the same in rapine and cannibalism. Lehi, 
 the father of the Nephites and I,amanites, we are told was a 
 Jew, born and raised in the city of Jerusalem, born of ' 'goodly 
 parents, " and, of course, trained strictly in the righteousness of 
 the law of Moses. This man, we are assured, was so upright in 
 life that he was despised by the wicked Jews. Such a man, of 
 course, carefully taught his children all the precepts of the law. 
 
 37 
 
But in a dream he was commanded to leave Jerusalem. Being 
 obedient he left Jerusalem, he left his inheritance, his gold, his 
 silver, and his precious things and went three days journey into 
 the wilderness. There he built an altar and worshipped. But 
 the Lord now reminded him that he had no copy of the law, nor 
 family record. It was necessary that he should have these, not 
 only that they might teach their descendants the law, but also 
 preserve the language of their forefathers. One Laban, a 
 prominent man, a drunken, wicked wretch, but, of course, a 
 member of the church, had Lehi's family record, and the Jewish 
 Scriptures, engraven on brass plates, and in the language of the 
 Jewish fathers, that is the Egyptian language! How the 
 learned world have been fooled! lyaban did not want to give 
 up his record, and there was, of course, no way by the use of 
 riches to have them copied. They must have Laban 's records 
 though he has to be murdered in order to get them. Nephi was 
 a beardless youth, but he was sufficient for the undertaking. 
 Starting to Laban's residence he found the man in a drunken 
 stupor. With the sword of his victim he decapitated him. The 
 man being dead he stripped hiin, and put the clothing on 
 himself, every whit of them, and so dressed in Laban's clothes 
 and armed with his sword he went to the residence. He 
 assuming L,aban's voice gave command. The faithful servant, 
 as a faithful servant wotild do, scrutinized him closely. He saw 
 that it was Laban's clothes and sword, and of course, he could 
 not tell the boyish face from the bearded face of his master. 
 The clothes were not even stained, much less clotted with blood! 
 We are, hence, to understand that Laban 's body was a bloodless 
 one! They cross the ocean, and in a few daj'S two men and a 
 few boys built a temple like unto the one that Solomon built, 
 and some boys of the tribe of Joseph were duly consecrated to 
 the priesthood according to the laws of Moses. Wonderful 
 people, and wonderful respect for the law of Moses. They that 
 credit such as being from heaven need not talk about the 
 credulity of any religious people under the sun. 
 
 ' 38 
 
With this digression we now return to our line of thought. 
 The claims of Mormonism must all rest upon the claims of 
 Joseph Smith as a prophet of God. If Smith was an inspired 
 man of God Mormonism is true. Upon the other hand, if Smith 
 was an imposter Mormonism is false. As we have seen, the 
 claims of the Bible are involved; for if Smith was a true prophet 
 Jesus Christ was not. This is putting the matter in strong 
 terms, and gives us the whole issue in a nutshell. 
 
 I know that Mormonism claims to honor Christ. But, 
 whilst it would embrace with its left hand, and give the 
 professed kiss of affection, with the right hand the concealed 
 dagger would be used, and it would give the fatal stab under 
 the fifth rib. We are told in the New Testament that Jesus said 
 that Paul was His chosen vessel (messenger) to the Gentile 
 world. In His chosen ministry Christ claimed to execute the 
 will of God. If, therefore, Paul was a false prophet he was an 
 imposter. This being so, Christ was not the true Messiah, and 
 as a consequence the New Testament is a fraud. Bttt, as we 
 have seen, Paul testiiied that prophecies would cease when 
 perfection in Christ should be reached. With the completion 
 of the arrangement in Christ, and the giving of the perfect will 
 of God as revealed in the New Testament, perfection for the 
 people of God was reached, otherwise Paul was a false prophet. 
 Paul was, however, a true prophet. Therefore, with the 
 completion of the New Testament perfection was reached, and 
 with the completion of that book all miraculous endowments 
 ceased. 
 
 We now invite attention to the following: "And God hath 
 set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, 
 thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, 
 governments, diversities of tongues." — I. Cor. 12: 28. Of this 
 ministry and its specific purpose, Paul speaks more fully in the 
 Ephesian epistle. There he says that after Christ had ascended 
 upon high He gave certain gifts. He says: "And He gave 
 some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and 
 
 39 
 
some pastors and teachers. ' ' These were given for a specific 
 purpose, and for a specified time. They were given, hence, 
 "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, 
 for the edifying of the body of Christ. ' ' Thus we are told the 
 purpose for which the ministry that Christ established in His 
 church was given. To this ministry belonged certain gifts, 
 essential to their work. Paul says: "For to one is given by 
 the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge 
 by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to 
 another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to 
 another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; 
 to another the interpretation of tongues." These gifts, be it 
 remembered, belonged to the New Testament ministry. That 
 the apostles constituted that ministry is aflSnned in the following: 
 "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for 
 that He counted me worthy, putting me into the ministry." 
 Christ put Paul into the apostleship. Therefore, ministry and 
 apostleship were, by inspiration, interchangeable terms. The 
 seven deacons were 'chosen that the apostles might give 
 themselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word. 
 As helps in this ministry the Lord gave prophets, evangelists, 
 pastors and teachers. The miraculous endowments belonged to 
 this ministry. So long, hence, as this ministry continued 
 miracles continued. If this ministry was to be perpetual, 
 miracles would necessarily be perpetual. If however, this 
 ministry was for a specified time, then it would cease and 
 miracles would disappear. If we ask for the purpose of these 
 apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, Paul says: 
 "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, 
 for the edifying of the body of Christ. " If we ask, How long 
 was this special ministry to continue? Paul says: "Till we all 
 come- in (into) the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of 
 the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the 
 stature of the fulness of Christ." See Eph. 4: 8-13. 
 
 40 
 
Tlie work of the apostolic ministry was to prepare for all to 
 have the one faith — to possess the necessary knowledge in order 
 to eternal life — to conie, hence, to the manhood in Christ. 
 Coming to this, perfection in Christ would be reached. With 
 this the work of that special ministry was done and would be 
 no longer called for. With the cessation of this ministry 
 miracles were to cease. If the apostolic ministry did not 
 accomplish the purpose for which it was given it was a failure. 
 This being the case the New Testament is not true. The New 
 Testament, however, is true; the apostolic ministry accomplished 
 the work for which it was given, and as a consequence there 
 has not been a ministry as a special class, in the church of 
 Christ since the apostles' day. There being no demand for a 
 special ministry in the church of Christ since the apostles' day 
 there has been no call for miracle working power. No miracle 
 working power, hence, has been given since the apostolic 
 ministry completed its work. As that ministry perfected the 
 work for which it was given, and as perfection cannot be 
 supplemented there was none appointed to take the place of 
 those that constituted that ministry. They had no sliccessors. 
 The apostles were witnesses for Jesus Christ. One to be 
 such must be a man that had seen Jesus Christ after His 
 resurrection. Paul says that he was the last of all to be blessed 
 with that privilege; the last, hence, to be placed in that ministry. 
 All modern orders of ministry are humanly constituted, and as 
 God never authorized them he has no special favors for them. 
 
 CHAPTER EIGHT. 
 
 The apostolic ministry being God's especial ministry, 
 established for the specific purpose of delivering the faith for 
 the people of God no one could have any part in that ministry 
 only such as were specially called of God for that purpose. I 
 could as easily credit the claims of all the Mormon factions to 
 miracle working power as I could the claims of the various 
 
 41 
 
sectarian parties of the present time, that God specially calls 
 men to their ministries. 
 
 The New Testament ministry was an inspired ministry, 
 and to it, of necessity, belonged the miracle working power. 
 The Holy Spirit was not only with them as the Spirit of 
 inspiration, but also as the Spirit of confirmation. 
 Inspiration was ever for the purpose of ■ giving the counsel of 
 God to man. It was not only necessary for that counsel to be 
 revealed, but highly essential that it be confirmed. The 
 inspired messengers of heaven, hence, were always prepared to 
 demonstrate the truthfulness of their message by miraculous 
 attestation. Thus Paul could say: "And my speech and my 
 preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in 
 demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should 
 not stand in the wisdomof men, but in the power of God. " — 
 I. Cor. 2: 4, 5. 
 
 We are here told the purpose of all miracle working power. 
 It was to demonstrate the source and truthfulness of the 
 heavenly message. The faith of God's people resting in the 
 word thus confirmed rests in the power of God. Man's faith 
 resting in anything else it rests in the mechanism of men and 
 demons. Of the apostles it is said: "And they went forth and 
 preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and 
 confirming the word with signs following. " — Mark 16:20. Not 
 a man since the apostles' day could say as Paul said to the 
 Corinthians, neither can it be said of any set of men since that 
 day as was said of the apostles in Mark 16: 20. It would have 
 been ridiculous, in the extreme, for an apostle to have gone to 
 Asia, Africa or Europe, and, as proof of what he preached, told 
 the people that a certain miracle was wrought in Judea, and one 
 in Samaria. The ridiculousness of these modern pretenders to 
 apostolic power beggars description! They are false apostles, 
 deceitful workers. "We need not be surprised that such are at 
 work, for Satan, we are told, is transformed into an angel of 
 light. If we could get all these modern pretenders to miracle 
 
 42 
 
working power together they could not give a demonstration of 
 a single genuine miracle, if it was to save them from the infernal 
 regions. Some time back I was in a neighborhood where Smith 
 and his associates spent considerable time. An elderly gentleman 
 whose word was at par with all that knew him, told me of his 
 associations with Smith. Upon a certain occasion Smith was 
 to preach, and there was to be an exhibition of their power to 
 speak with tongues. Although Smith was out of humor on 
 account of some things that had occurred in the neighborhood, 
 he preached, but language he used I would not dare give. It 
 could only be relished by the vulgar in the lowest circles. 
 After the sermon Smith and other leading ones stood up before 
 the crowd to show their gift of tongues. As their utterances 
 were not rapid, a gentleman present wrote them, so as to 
 examine them afterwards, and it was shown that they had 
 repeated a certain chapter in the book of Genesis backwards! 
 That gentleman did not need inspiration in order to interpret 
 their tongues! Neither does any thinking man need inspiration in 
 order to tell from what source the inspiration of Smith & Co. 
 came. My informant was not in sympath}' with what I taught. 
 There was, however, a company there that believed in Smith. 
 Among the questions that were given us to answer during our 
 series of meetings there, was the following: "Do the signs 
 mentioned in the latter part of the eixteenth chapter of Mark 
 follow today? " My reply was: "It is not necessary for me to 
 answv that question, for my answer would not, doubtless be 
 satisfactory to those who propounded the question . You can 
 settle that question. It will not cost you much to do so. Just 
 get all in the Mormon family that claim, miraculous power 
 together, set them a dinner, and give each a dose of ' 'Rough on 
 Rats," and if it don't hurt them you may know that those 
 signs follow, but if the dose hurts them you will know that they 
 don't follow. I can give you my opinion and it is just what 
 you are doubtful it would be. You would have an entire new 
 set of officials to select. The apostles of Christ were poison 
 
 43 
 
proof, and if your officials are what they claim to be they are 
 poison proof. If they are imposters the people ought to know 
 it. 
 
 Regarding the purpose of miracles the following is pointed: 
 "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His 
 disciples which are not written in this book; but these are written 
 that ye might believe. " — John 20: 30, 31. This affirms that 
 miracles were for the purpose of confirming the testimony of God. 
 This being done the purpose for which they were granted was 
 accomplished, and they ceased. We now invite attention to the 
 following: "For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, 
 and every transgression and disobedience received a just 
 recompense of reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great 
 salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, 
 and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him; God also 
 bearing them witness, both by signs and wonders, and with 
 divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His 
 own will. — Heb. 2: 2, 3, 4. 
 
 If language can settle any point, this settles the purpose of 
 all signs, wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost that 
 were granted the New Testament ministry. They were for the 
 ] uipose of confirming unto the people of God the word that 
 was spoken by the Lord. With the full revelation of that word 
 God pronounced His work in order to man 's redemption perfedt. 
 With the reaching of that perfection Paul affirmed that miracles 
 would cease. I. Cor. 13: 8-1 1. In the Ephesian epigtle it 
 affirmed that with the delivering of the one faith the church 
 would reach its manhood. We give the following: 
 
 1. When the church reached its manhood in Christ all 
 miraculous endowments were to cease. 
 
 2. But the church reached its manhood with the perfection 
 of the revelation through Christ. 
 
 3. Therefore, with the perfection of the revelation through 
 Christ all miraculous endowment ceased. 
 
 This authorizes the following: 
 
 44 
 
1. All miraculous endo-wments were to cease with the 
 perfection of the revelation through Christ. 
 
 2. But the perfection of the'revelation through Christ was 
 reached with the ministr3' of the apostles of Christ. 
 
 3. Therefore since the ministry of the apostles of Christ 
 no miraculous endowments have been granted. 
 
 If any man undertakes a work and in that work reaches 
 his own ideal, unless convinced of a mistake, and that an 
 improvement can be miade by an addition, subtraction or 
 alteration at some point, he will not make any change in that 
 work. That the Almighty, in the development as revealed in 
 the New Testament, reached His own ideal in order to man's 
 redemption is just so certain as that there is meaning in the 
 language He used. "All Scripture is given by the inspiration 
 of Gcd, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, 
 for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be 
 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." — II. Tim. 
 3: 16, 17. Paul's "All Scripture" includes the Old and New 
 Testament, no more, no less. Here we have perfection aiSrmed 
 in point of revelation. Of the one instittition of God, the 
 church, the same apostle says: "And hath put all things under 
 His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the 
 church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all 
 in all." — Eph. i: 22, 23. Again, "Unto me, who am less than 
 the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach 
 among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to 
 make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which 
 from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who 
 created all things by Jesus Christ; to the intent that now unto 
 the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known 
 by the church the manifold wisdom of God." — Eph. 3:8, 9, to. 
 In these Scriptures it is affirmed that in the Bible we have 
 perfection in revelation, and in the gospel as recorded in the 
 New Testament we have the revelation of the unsearchable 
 riches of Christ, that in the New Testament institution we have 
 
 45 
 
the fulness of God and the manifold wisdom of God. In the 
 one institution of the New Testament and the revelation 
 contained in the Bible, we have God's ideal in order to man's 
 redemption. Did God make a mistake? Has anyone 
 convinced Him of an error? If not He has given no additional 
 revelation or made any change in His institution either by 
 addition, subtraction or alteration. 
 
 1. God had nothing for man beyond his own perfection. 
 
 2. But the perfection of God is embodied in what is 
 revealed in the Bible. 
 
 3. Therefore, beyond what is revealed in the Bible God 
 had nothing for man. 
 
 It is strange, remarkably strange, that man should seek 
 anything beyond the perfection of the Almighty! 
 
 1 . Any production beyond the perfection of God that 
 claims inspiration is a fraud. 
 
 2. But the Book of Mormon is a production beyond the 
 perfection of God that claims inspiration. 
 
 3. Therefore, the Book of Mormon is a fraud. 
 
 There is no security nor favor for any creature outside of 
 the truth of God. If all the creatures of God had abode in His 
 truth there would have been no rebellion in the universe, and 
 sin would not have been known. But Satan left the truth of 
 God and became the author of sin. 
 
 The Savior gave to man the truth that was essential in 
 order to the freedom of the human soul, essential to the 
 sanctification and preparation of man for the association of his 
 Creator. By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that truth was 
 delivered by the apostles of Christ. Within that truth man is 
 in the light of God. So thorough and complete are God's 
 arrangements in that truth there is no demand for the 
 revelation of a single idea, on any point, since the completion 
 of the apostles' work. 
 
 46 
 
CHAPTER NINE. 
 
 As we have seen, the Divine arrangements are that our 
 faith should rest in the power of God, by resting in the word 
 that the apostles delivered. If it should rest in anything else 
 it cannot rest in God's power. God has ■ arranged for His 
 people to have the strongest consolation possible. The promise 
 to Abraham, "In thee shall all the families of the earth be 
 blessed, " is the foundation promise in the gospel of Christ. 
 We are told that, in order to our having a strong consolation, 
 God confirmed that promise with an oath, thus giving His 
 promise upon oath. The apostle says: "For God, when he 
 made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no 
 greater, swear by himself, saying, ' 'Verily blessing, I will bless 
 thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee;" and so, having 
 steadfastly endured, he obtained the promise. For men, indeed, 
 swear by the greater; and their oath establisheth their word, so 
 that they cannot gainsay it. Therefore God, willing more 
 abundantly to , show unto the heirs of the promise the 
 im.mutability of His counsel, set an oath between Himself and 
 them; that by two immutable things, wherein it is impossible 
 for God to lie, we that have iled [to Him] for refuge might have 
 a strong encouragement to hold fast the hope set before us. " — 
 Heb. 6: 13-18. Conybeare. The Christian resting his faith in 
 the word delivered by the apostles, and confirmed, as recorded 
 in the New Testament rests in the power of God, and has as his 
 surety the two immutable things, the promise and oath of God. 
 His promise should be sufiicient, but in our behalf He backed 
 His promise by His oath, that our consolation might be doubly 
 strong. How strange it is that people claim to have faith in 
 God, but refuse to take His testimony on oath! How the 
 warnings of God, though given in Infinite mercy, are unheeded! ! 
 The first Christians, we are assured, continued steadfastly in 
 
 47 
 
the apostles' doctrine. Acts 2: 42. Through John the IvOrd 
 says to His people: Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not 
 in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the 
 doctrine of Christ, hath both the Father and the Son. . If there 
 come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him 
 not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that 
 biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. " II. John 
 9-1 1. That doctrine being designed for God's people till the 
 end of the world, since it was delivered by heaven 's chosen 
 ministry, the apostles of Christ, not a single revelation has been 
 granted to man, and not a miracle has been wrought by the 
 authoritj' of heaven. That God never granted a miracle in 
 attestation of any other doctrine is just so certain as that 
 the Bible is true. And that He never granted a revelation of 
 acceptance to anyone who refused to rely on His testimony is 
 just as certain as that the Bible is true. We give the following: 
 
 1. The doctrine for the people of God is recorded in the 
 New Testament, and God warns them against the reception of 
 any other doctrine. 
 
 2. But the Mormon doctrine not being recorded in the 
 New Testament it is another doctrine. 
 
 3. Therefore, God warns His people against the reception 
 of the Mormon doctrine. 
 
 That some have, and may yet receive an inspiration; and 
 that apparitions, signs and wonders have been, and may yet be, 
 will not be denied. But that these, any of them, are by the 
 authority of heaven is positively denied. But, upon the other 
 hand, that they are all by the working of his Satanic Majesty's 
 power, in so far as there is anything beyond an epileptic 
 affection or an excited imagination, we positively affirm. We 
 invite attention to the following scriptures. "And then shall 
 that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with 
 the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of 
 His coming; even him whose coming is after the working of 
 Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all 
 
 48 
 
deceivableness . of unrighteousness in them that perish; because 
 they receive not the love of the truth [the apostles ' doctrine] , 
 that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send 
 them strong delusion; that they should believe a lie; that they 
 all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had 
 pleasure in unrighteousness." — 11. Thess. 2: 8-12. Again, "For 
 there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and show 
 great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, 
 they shall deceive the very elect. " — Matt. 24: 24. Once more, 
 "And the beast was taken and with him the false prophet that 
 wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that 
 had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped 
 his image." — Rev. 19: 20. 
 
 Is it to be wondered at that after God had done so much for 
 man, when he will not accept his Creator's counsel, will not 
 rely upon His testimony though backed by His oath, but 
 prefers his own imaginations to the testimony of God, that 
 delusions from the infernal regions should be permitted to come 
 upon him? That Joseph Smith's commission, if he had any, 
 was from beneath is just as certain- as that the Bible is true. 
 By virtue of his commission, we are told; he was to restore the 
 TRUE priesthood. Well, what was done to accomplish this? 
 John the Baptist came down from heaven to ordain Joseph 
 Smith and Oliver Cowdery to the true priesthood! What 
 priesthood? The Aaronic! So, the Baptist laying his hands 
 upon them said, "Upon you, my fellow-servants, in the name '' 
 of the Messiah, I confer upon you the priesthood of Aaron." 
 Such unblushing impudence and downright lying might be 
 equaled by the devil, but could not be surpassed. God had a 
 controversy, through Moses, with some of his ancient people 
 upon one question, namely, Was the Aaronic priesthood to be 
 limited to the tribe of Levi, and to the familj' of Aaron? The 
 Almighty thought that by the sinking into the pit the company 
 of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, the destruction of the fourteen 
 thousand, and the budding of Aaron 's rod the controversy was 
 
 49 
 
settled. See Numbers sixteenth and seventeenth chapters. 
 Such angels, however, as visited the prophet of Mormonism 
 could readily show the mistakes of the God of the Bible! 
 
 The author of the Hebrew epistle, g-overned in his 
 utterances by the inspiration that was from the God of the 
 Bible, gives us to understand that the tabernacle established by 
 Moses was, in its priesthood, its furniture, and its service, 
 shadowy, hence, temporal, and, as a consequence, to be 
 abolished in order to the establishing of the new, the perfect 
 tabernacle, the true priesthood, and the spiritual service in 
 Christ. But, it is said, "Authors differ. " 
 
 The truthfulness of this is shown by the Bible and the 
 Book of Mormon; for their authors contradict each other, from 
 beginning to end. While Christ was on earth we are told, Heb. 
 8: 4, He could not be a priest, for He was of the tribe of Judah. 
 Heb. 7: 13, 14. The law was abrogated, the shadowy priesthood 
 was abolished and the true priesthood was established. Christ 
 was made priest, "Not after the law of a carnal commandment, 
 but after the power of an endless life. ' ' The shadowy being 
 abolished Christ was consecrated priest by the oath of God. 
 Thus, the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessitj' 
 a change also of the law." Heb. 7: 12. The Aaronic, the 
 temporal, was abolished, the true and everlasting was 
 established. No, gentle reader, Christ the Son of God, because 
 He was of the tribe of judah, could not be admitted to the 
 Aaronic priesthood. But these uncircumcised Gentiles, Joseph 
 and Oliver, by an angel from heaven, were ordained to that 
 priesthood? ! Can any sane man really believe such stuff ? 
 Those who oflBciated in the Aaronic priesthood were confined in 
 their minisirations to the tabernacle service, and beyond that 
 they had no rights nor privileges. Of the Christians it is said, 
 "We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which 
 serve the tabernacle." Heb. 13: 10. Those who were clinging 
 to the Aaronic priesthood when the Hebrew epistle was written, 
 though according to the law of that priesthood they were in 
 
 50 
 
their legitimate service, could not, by virtue of that fact, have 
 any right to the altar in Christ. Why should a professed 
 Christian seek an interest in a priesthood that would debar him 
 from the privileges of a child of God? ! It is positively certain 
 that the angel of Mormonism was characterized by woeful 
 ignorance or fearful dishonesty. The Aaronic priesthood 
 having answered its purpose it was abolished by Jesus Christ, 
 and to ignore that fact by seeking to perpetuate that office is to 
 ignore the positive authority of God. 
 
 The next step, however, in order to restoring priesthood 
 Peter, James and John appeared in order to ordain these same 
 fellows to the Melchizedec priesthood ! ! Heaven did not 
 know that such a wonderful person as Joseph Smith was to 
 appear in the Latter days, who would bring to bear an 
 inspiration superior to that by which the ministry of Christ 
 spake and _^ wrote ? ! There are several facts that show the 
 statement of Mormon inspiration regarding the ordination of 
 Joseph and Oliver by Peter, James and John to be an 
 unmitigated falsehood! Peter gave his unqualified endorsement 
 of Paul as an inspired writer. Feeling assured that the 
 endorsement has never been withdrawn, we cite the following: 
 "For this Melchizedec, King of Salem, priest of the most high 
 God, ' who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the 
 kings, and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a 'tenth 
 part of all, ' — who is first by interpretation, KING OF 
 RIGHTEOUSNESS, and secondly King of Salem, which is 
 KING OF PEACE — without father, without mother, without 
 table of descent — having neither beginning of days nor end of 
 life, but made like unto the Son of God — remaineth a priest 
 forever." — Heb. 7: 1-3. Conybeare. Here is a priest, not of 
 the typical order, but of the anti-typical. As a priest he was 
 made like unto the Son of God. Our comments, however, upon 
 this language of Paul must be reserved for the next chapter. 
 
 51 
 
CHAPTER TEN. 
 
 Reverting to the quotation from the fore part of the seventh 
 chapter of Hebrews, we need to remember that in the language 
 of the apostle, in the third verse, he has reference solely to the 
 priesthood of Melchizedec. In his priesthood, hence, 
 Melchizedec was without pedigree, without table of descent. 
 Therefore, in his priesthood he had neither predecessor nor 
 successor — none in that priesthood before him, and none to 
 succeed him — with him it began, and with him it ended. He 
 was to his people, king, judge, leader and legislator. Being a 
 righteous man he reigned in peace, and in behalf of his people 
 he officiated as ths priest of God. Thus in him were combined 
 the priestly and the kingly functions. None before him did 
 this, and none after him did it, till the Son of God, the son of 
 man, having officiated as the prophet of Israel, became the 
 victim in order to man's redemption, and ascending to heaven 
 with the blood of atonement was consecrated priest by the oath 
 of God, and being seated on the right hand of the majesty in 
 the heavens he is a priest upon his throne. Zech. 6: 13. 
 None could be a priest after the order of Melchizedec unless he 
 was a king, and combined in himself the functions of a ruler 
 and judge of his people, as did Melchizedec, and the Son of 
 God now does. For such as Smith and Cowdery to claim to be 
 made priests like unto the Son of God is enough to make the 
 demons blush, if there could be blushes in hell ! Let us 
 remember the affirmation of Paul, that Melchizedec, in his 
 priesthood was without pedigree — neither predecessor nor 
 successor, and then read the following extract from a 
 "Revei-ation On Priesthood," 
 "a revei,ation of jesus christ unto 
 joseph smith." 
 
 ' 'And the sons of Moses according to the holy priesthood 
 which he received under the hand of his father-in-law, Jethro; 
 
 52 
 
and Jethro received it under the hand of Elihu; and Elihu 
 received it under the hand of Jeremy; and Jeremy received it 
 under the hand of Gad; and Gad received it under the hand of 
 Esaias, and Esaias received it under the hand of God. Esaias 
 lived in the days of Abraham and was blessed of him — which 
 Abraham received the priesthood from Melchizedec, who 
 received it through the lineage of his fathers, even till Noah; 
 and from Noah till Enoch through the lineage of their fathers; 
 and from Enoch to Abel, who was slain by the conspiracy of 
 his brother who received the priesthood by the commandment 
 of God, by the hand of his father Adam, who was the first man 
 — which priesthood continueth in the church of God in all 
 generations, and is without beginning of days or end of years. " 
 Doctrine and Covenants, Pages 223, 224. Wonderful revelation! 
 Truly, Mormon inspiration is a wofuUy ignorant something, or 
 a miserably lying something? Poor old Paul! He knew 
 nothing about priesthood? ! Look at the chronology in this 
 modern revelation. Caleb had been dead 281 years when he 
 was ordained by Elihu, and Elijah had been dead 542 years 
 when he was ordained by Jeremy and Gad ordained Jeremy 11 20 
 years before the latter was born. Gad had been dead 989 years 
 when he was ordained by Esaias, and Esaias was contemporary 
 with Abraham and Melchizedec ! 
 
 When we remember that ordination in Mormon theology is 
 by the imposition of hands we can readily see the ridiculousness 
 of this pretended revelation. Melchizedec could ordain 
 Abraham, but neither of them, nor the two together could 
 ordain Esaias ! God had to come and do that ! We invite 
 attention to Rev. 6: 9-1 1. "And when he had opened the fifth 
 seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for 
 the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And 
 they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy 
 and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them 
 that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto 
 
 53 
 
every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should 
 rest yet a little season, until their fellow servants also and their 
 brethren that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." 
 
 Here in the fifth period of the time covered in the 
 apocalyptic vision John saw the souls of those that were slain 
 for the testimony of Jesus. The apostles were certainly among 
 the number that were slain for that testimony. In the fifth 
 period of the gospel dispensation the period preceding the 
 present, the apostles were in the state of death. The book of 
 Revelations, we are assured, gives in symbol and prophecy a 
 history of the church of Christ from the commencement of his 
 reign to the conclusion — a history, hence, when John wrote, of 
 things past, things present, and things to come. Seven is a 
 perfect number, and includes the whole. Therefore, the seven 
 trumpets, the seven seals, and the seven vials give the complete 
 history of God 's people under Christ. We live, evidently, in 
 the sixth vial area, answering to the sixth seal, and the sixth 
 trumpet. The seventh will give the consummation. Remember- 
 ing that, in the division preceding this the apostles were in the 
 state of death, we call attention to the following: "I must work 
 the works of Him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometh, 
 when no man can work." — John 9: 4. That the Lord here 
 refers to the night of death no one that is informed will question. 
 
 Mormonism says the apostles are angels in heaven working 
 as messengers in Christ's kingdom, but Christ says they are in 
 the state of death, during which state they can do no work. 
 That the apostles will attain to the angelic state is a fact. 
 When will they attain that state? ' 'Ye do err, not knowing the 
 scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they 
 neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels 
 of God in heaven. " — Matt. 22: 29, 30. Not until after the 
 second coming of Christ will the apostles be angels in heaven. 
 Angels always behold the face of the Father in heaven. "Take 
 heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto 
 you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of 
 
 54 
 
my Father which is in heaven. " Matt. i8: lo. When do you 
 expect to see that face, John? "But we know that, when He 
 shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He 
 is. " — I. John 3: 2. John is not going to be an angel in heaven 
 till after Christ's second appearing. When will you attain 
 to that, Paul? "That I may know Him and the power of His 
 resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made 
 comfortable unto His death; if by any means I might attain 
 unto the resurrection of the dead." — Phil. 3: 10, 11. The 
 apostles cannot be ministering angels till after Christ's second 
 appearing. Thus it is shown that Mormonism is founded upon 
 a falsehood, in every point! 
 
 As we have seen, in the apostles' doctrine, we 
 have the fulness of the doctrine of Christ; in it, hence 
 we have the Father and the Son. It is, therefore, that 
 in the apostles' doctrine we have the faith for the people of 
 God. Jude says; "Beloved, when I give all diligence to write 
 unto you of the common salvation, it was, needful for me to 
 write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly 
 contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. ' ' 
 What words will we need to keep in memory in contending for 
 the faith? ' 'But, beloved, remember ye the words which were 
 spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ." vs. 17. 
 As the faith for the people of God gives the true knowledge of 
 God it could only be delivered by the Son. Paul says: "God, 
 who at sundry times and divers manners spake in times past 
 unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken 
 unto us by His Son. " — Heb. i: i, 2. "These last days" include 
 the days of this dispensation. Be it understood, therefore, that 
 there are no communications from God in this dispensation 
 except what we have through the Son — no divers manner of 
 communication in this dispensation. Such were pec'ular to 
 former times, times when God spake to man by prophets. The 
 typical age was a prophetic one, but this is the anti-typical age, 
 in which God speaks only by His Son. The prophets, hence, 
 
 55 
 
through Elijah as their representative, surrendered their 
 commission at the feet of Jesus. Since, hence, that inspired 
 class of prophets that the Lord gave as helps to the apostles in 
 their ministry passed away, there has not been a prophet of the 
 Lord. Therefore, as Paul declares, God does not in this 
 dispensation, speak in divers manners. As Christ gave, through 
 the inspired ministry ofjthe New Testament, the perfect will of 
 God, it is by the words that he has spoken that all are to be 
 judged at the last day. ' 'He that rejecteth me, and receiveth 
 not my words, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have 
 spoken, the same shall judge him at the last day." — ^John 12: 48. 
 God having given His perfect will through Christ, revelation 
 from Him closed with the completion of the New Testament, 
 and, as a consequence, miracles being for the purpose of 
 demonstrating and confirming his revelations, since the passing 
 away of the inspired ministry of the New Testament there has 
 not been a miracle nor vision from heaven. God having done 
 all things possible for His people; for, a^ we have seen. He is 
 limited within His own perfections, giving them His perfect 
 will, thoroughly demonstrated to be such, and giving them a 
 perfect institution that embodies his own fulness, assuring all 
 that it was an exhibition of His own manifold wisdom; 
 perfecting and thoroughly furnishing His people for the mission 
 to which they were called, pledging himself upon oath for the 
 present and eternal salvation of all who would accept of His 
 arrangement and be faithful to His will, as a matter of justice 
 permits a delusion to come upon all who persist in impeaching 
 His wisdom and honor. Hence the strong delusion and power 
 of which we read in Thessalonians and Revelations. There- 
 fore, if there be anything in the way of miraculous power, at the 
 present, or has been in the past, since the completion of the 
 work of the New Testament ministry, it has been by Satanic 
 power, and for the purpose of deception. If there be anything 
 in the visions and apparations of today, or in the past, since 
 the close of apostolic ministry, beyond a heated imagination, an 
 
 56 
 
epileptic afEeiftion, or animal magnetism, it is the working of 
 Satanic power. People see, or imagine that they see visions in 
 the air. Some see one kind, some another. All, however, 
 should remember that Satan is the prince of the power of the 
 air. In times past, when angelic visits, visions and revelations 
 were vouchsafed to the servants of God there was no mistaking 
 as to where they were from. And, we may safely say, God 
 guarded His servants against deception in those matters. God 
 having stated that miracles and prophecies would cease with 
 the perfection of the New Testament, and that divers manners 
 of communications would not be in this dispensation, but that 
 what he had for man was spoken by His Son, and having 
 pledged Himself upon oath to be with what His Son delivered 
 gives us to understand, if people would heed His word, as to the 
 source of all visions of modern times. All such, not only 
 positively contradict God's word, but would make the Almight}' 
 One a perjured being ! A proper respect for the utterances of 
 God demands respect for His silence, and if any are destitute of 
 the required reverence they are liable to the delusions of Satan 's 
 working. 
 
 57 
 
CHAPTER ELEVEN. 
 
 When the worlds and systems of worlds were made there 
 was perfection. There were no planets out of place nor out of 
 shape. God did not have to go over His work and make 
 improvements by additions, subtractions or alterations. The 
 smallest planet was just right, in its right place, and the 
 movements in all the parts exhibited perfection. When this 
 earth was peopled with living creatures and man appeared as lord 
 of creation, no creature could point to a single mistake, but on the 
 other hand God pronounced all very good. When Moses had 
 erected the tabernacle according to the pattern that God gave 
 there did not need to be patches here and there. No Israelite 
 could suggest an addition at any point, as an expedient, but 
 for the purpose in view the building was perfect. The Infinite 
 Being hds never made a mistake, neither can He go in anything 
 beyond His own perfections. The institution and the revelation 
 given through Christ being the embodiment of the perfection of 
 God there could be no addition to either unless there could be 
 demands, in view of man's spiritual welfare, beyond God's 
 perfection. Such could not be. Therefore, since the completion 
 of the New Testament there has been no revelation from God to 
 man. In view of man's eternal interest he must be found 
 within the perfection of God. "But whoso looketh into the 
 perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a 
 forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be 
 blessed in his deed." — ^Jas. i: 25. There is nothing clearer than 
 the fact that Christ represents His teaching as an embodiment 
 of perfection — the culmination of all inspiration and revelation 
 from God, and that the eternal interests of all depend upon its 
 reception. Christ says, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth 
 
 58 
 
not my words, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have 
 spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. " — John 12: 48. 
 But, tell me, gentle reader, what would you think of a 
 teacher that would appeal to you, and, in view of your eternal 
 interest, present a system of doctrine, induce you to 
 believe that your salvation here and hereafter depended upon 
 your receiving and abiding in that doctrine; and further, to 
 believe that the anathemas of heaven would rest upon you if 
 you received any other doctrine, then, after having you 
 confirmed in such belief, make sport of and ridicule you because 
 of your credulity? Just such a teacher Jesus of Nazareth is, if 
 the Book of Mormon be true ! ! The Book of Mormon represents 
 the Lord as pleading in behalf of that book in the following 
 language: "And my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of 
 the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the 
 house of Israel. And because my words shall hiss. forth, many 
 of the Gentiles shall say, A bible, a bible, we have got a bible, 
 and there can not be any more bible. But thus saith the Lord 
 God: O fools they shall have a bible; and it shall proceed forth 
 from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank 
 they the Jews for the bible which they receive from them? Yea, 
 what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travels 
 and the labors and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto 
 me m bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles? O ye Gentiles 
 have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? 
 Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have 
 not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these 
 things upon your own heads; for I, the Lord hath not forgotten 
 my people. Thou fool, that shall say, A bible, we have got a 
 bible, and we need no more bible." — B. of M. 93: 31-40. In 
 order to get the real gist of this pitiful, special pleading, one 
 would need to substitute the term gospel for the term bible in 
 the above. It did not take much inspiration to foresee that 
 people would argue the sufficiency of the gospel of Jesus Christ, 
 in opposition to the claims of the Book of Mormon. As we have 
 
 59 
 
seen, however, the New Testament contains the fulness of the 
 gospel of Christ, and by the authority of Christ God 's people 
 are commanded to contend just as the auther of the Book of 
 Mormon anticipated. If a people are a set of fools for pursuing 
 a certain course, the teacher who would direct them in such a 
 course would be a fool, worse than a fool. But Christ in 
 directing his people to contend for the sufficiency of His gospel 
 directs them in a course that none but fools would go ! ! 
 Therefore, Christ is a fool, or worse than a fool. Such is the 
 logic of the Book of Mormon. This demonstrates one fact, 
 namely, the spirit by which the author of that book was inspired 
 was a lying blasphemous spirit ! 
 
 We now submit the following emphasized proposition. 
 GOD DOES NOT FURNISH LIGHT OR LIFE TO ANY 
 OBJECT, EITHER IN THE SPIRITUAL OR MATERIAL 
 UNIVERSE EXCEPT , THROUGH MEDIATION. It is a 
 scientific fact that electricity is the source of light and heat, the 
 medium, hence, of life to all objects in the material universe, 
 whether animate or inanimate. God is the fountain of life and 
 light. Through the arrangements of God the necessary light 
 and heat, in order to animal and vegetable life are distributed. 
 While the universe of worlds constitute one grand system, there 
 are millions of systems of worlds, each having a common center 
 upon which all the members of the system are dependent. 
 These centers are the mediums through which the light and 
 heat, essential to each member are distributed. The sun is the 
 common center of this planetary system. It is what astronomers 
 call a luminous body. The planets, of which our earth is one, 
 are opaque bodies, having no light within themselves, but are 
 dependent upon the one luminous body for their light. Our sun 
 is, hence, in the light of a mediator between the members of its 
 system and the center of the universe. That man or set of men 
 who would think of bringing the light and heat essential to animal 
 and vegetable life direct from the seat of the universe 
 independent of the sun would be by all intelligent people, 
 considered insane, or, if possible, worse. 
 
 60 
 
As we have learned, Christ is the Alpha and Omega in the 
 spirit realm. It is, hence, that he could say: "I am the way, 
 the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by 
 me." As there is no approach unto the Father but through 
 the Son, there can be no blessings from the Father except they 
 come through the Son. The secret of this is given in the 
 statement of Paul; "For there is one God, and one mediator 
 between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." — I. Tim. 2: 5. 
 Christ being the one mediator, through whom man must be 
 reconciled to God, he could truthfully say: "All power is given 
 unto me in heaven and in earth." There is no power that 
 can effect reconciliation outside of the mediation of Christ. In 
 order to man 's reconciliation God 's arrangements are as fixed and 
 sure as the throne of the universe. 
 
 The great diiBculty has ever been for man to realize and 
 appreciate the importance of Christ's mediatorship. While the 
 arrangement in Christ has ever been a stumbling block to the 
 legalistic Jew and foolishness to the Grecian mind it is an 
 exhibition of the power and the wisdom of God. God cannot 
 be found out of His own wisdom and power. He cannot, 
 therefore, neither in behalf of the alien nor the saint, be 
 approached except through the mediation of Christ. The 
 approach of the alien in order to reconciliation to God, and 
 the devotions of the saint in order to the approval of God must 
 be governed by the authority of Christ. In order to this all 
 must be governed by the instructions of the apostles. As we 
 have seen, it would be evil in the sight of God for His professed 
 people to bid any God speed that would come to them with any 
 thing except the apostles' doctrine. See II. John 6-12. God, 
 in order to the redemption of man, is in Christ, and in order to 
 the end in view the apostles were commissioned as the 
 ambassadors of Christ to the human family. To them, hence, 
 was committed the word of reconciliation. II. Cor. 5: 18, 19. 
 That word being delivered by the inspiration of God, and 
 confirmed by miraculous attestation, to it God and Christ are 
 
 61 
 
pledged for all time. Matt. 28: 20. It is, hence, that John 
 could say: "He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath 
 both the Father and the Son. ' ' That word was from the Father, 
 by the Son to the apostles. John 17: 8. 
 
 Christ said to His apostles: "He that heareth you heareth 
 Me; and he that despiseth you despiseth Me; and he that 
 despiseth Me despiseth Him that sent Me. "—Luke 10: 16. If 
 we ask. For how long a time shall this be? The answer is: 
 "Unto the end of the world. " The word embodying the will 
 of God upon the subject of the reconciliation of the alien was to 
 be first proclaimed in Jerusalem. See Isaiah 2: 2, 3. Micah 4. 
 1,2. As it had been so prophesied when Christ gave the great 
 commission to the apostles he commanded them to tarry in 
 Jerusalem till they were endued with the necessary power. 
 That the word spoken of by Isaiah and Micah embodied the 
 will of God upon the subject of remission of sins is shown by 
 the following: "Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ 
 to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; and that 
 repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His 
 name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem. " Luke 24: 46, 
 47. Upon this word the Father and Son depend to accomplish 
 the desired end. Through Isaiah the Lord said: For as the 
 rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not 
 thither, but watereth the earth and maketh it bring forth and 
 bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; 
 So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth; it shall 
 not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I 
 please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. " — 
 Isa. 55: 10, II. Whatsoever it was God's will to accomplish by 
 words of inspiration was to be accomplished by the word delivered 
 by His Son. God had no pleasure beyond the purpose to be 
 accomplished in His Son. Therefore He had no words for man 
 beyond what was delivered by His Son. All other words tend 
 to lead away from the counsel of God. Concerning the salvation 
 to be enjoyed here, it is said of Christ; "Though He were a 
 
 62 
 
Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; 
 and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal 
 salvation unto all them that obey Him. " — Heb. 5: 8, 9. As the 
 obedience required in the proclamation that began at Jerusalem 
 is an obedience to the Son and brings into reconciliation with 
 God in Christ, it is the only way whereby the alien can 
 approach God through Christ. An effort, hence, on the part of 
 an alien to approach God in any other way, is an effort to 
 approach Him independent of the mediation of Christ. The 
 apostles, hence, were commissioned to bear that word to the 
 nations in order to the one end. To the Roman brethren Paul 
 wrote as follows: "By whom, " that is, by Christ, "we have 
 received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among 
 all nations, for His name." — Rom. i: 5. Again, "Now to Him 
 that is of power to establish you according to My gospel, and 
 the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the 
 mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now 
 is. made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, 
 according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made 
 known to all nations for the obedience of faith." — IB. 16: 25; 26. 
 This obedience is an obedience to the conditions stated in the 
 commission. In order to this obedience no revelation was 
 needed except what is given in the words of Christ. Therefore, 
 in order to the enjoying of eternal salvation no words are needed 
 except what we have in the apostolic proclamation. Another 
 revelation would necessarily ignore the mediatorship of Jesus. 
 
 63 
 
CHAPTER TWELVE. 
 
 The mediatorship of Christ cannot be too closely and 
 thoroughly studied. In order to see, not only the falseness of 
 Mormonism, but also of every other false system of religion in 
 existence, we only need to take a proper view of the mediator- 
 ship of Christ. He being the mediator of the new covenant, 
 the one mediator between God and man, He is tlje power and 
 wisdom of God and His gospel is the power of God in order to 
 the salvation of man, His mediatorship cannot be ignored 
 without ignoring the infinite wisdom of God. So long as time 
 lasts the statement of Christ, "No man cometh unto the Father, 
 but by me, ' ' will hold good. As in the obedience of faith by which 
 the alien comes unto and is reconciled to God in Christ there is 
 a transition from the power of darkness into the kindom of God, 
 it is called a birth. Under this figure Jesus anticipating the 
 required obedience said: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 
 except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter 
 into the kingdom of God. " — ^John 3:5. This language of Christ 
 is a solemn affirmation, in any court equivalent to an oath. At 
 this point the oaths of the Father and Son meet. In the 
 commission the Son promises salvation to all who comply with 
 the conditions mentioned, or, which is the same, citizenship in 
 His kingdom. In the language quoted from John he testifies 
 that without such obedience no one can fee a citizen. His oath, 
 hence, stands between all aliens and the kingdom of God. Upon 
 the other hand. His oath is in behalf of all who comply with 
 the conditions specified. When God made promise to Abraham 
 He backed His promise by His oath. In making that promise 
 God contemplated certain ones as heirs thereto, and His oath is 
 in behalf of such. Christ's. promise in the commission could 
 not be otherwise than as contemplated by His Father when the 
 
 64 
 
promise was made to Abraham. For. surely, Christ's promise 
 in the commission gives what was contemplated by the Father 
 when he covenanted with Abraham. That such is the case is 
 affirmed in the following: "For ye are all the children of God 
 by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been 
 baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew 
 nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male 
 nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be 
 Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to 
 the promise. " — Gal. 3, 26-29, 
 
 Those that are the children of God by faith are those that 
 are baptized into Christ. Such being Christ's are Abraham's 
 seed, and are heirs according to the promise. This shows that 
 God, from the time the promise was made, that embodied the 
 new and everlating covenant, was pledged upon oath to the 
 mediatorship of Christ. This shows the utter impossibility 
 of any revelation coming between Christ and the human family 
 and is a demonstration of the truthfulness of the propositions in 
 the heading under which we write. The two oaths, that of the 
 Father, and that of the Son, meeting as they do, show that all 
 heaven, for all time is pledged to the mediatorship of Christ — 
 pledged, hence, forever to the will of God as revealed through 
 Christ. Not only is such the case so far as the alien is concerned 
 but equally so with the saint. They must in their devotions 
 approach the Father through the Son. No Israelite dare 
 approach the Almighty except through the mediation of the 
 priest. Saul in time of distress attempted to approach the 
 Almighty direct, but for his folly he lost his kingdom. See 
 I. Sam. 13: 8-13. Men, as Saul did, may force themselves, but 
 they will not force the Father to ignore the mediatorship of His 
 Son. The command designed to govern all saints in their 
 devotions is, "And whatsover ye do in word or deed, do all in 
 the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the 
 Father by Him. " — Col. 3: 17. Nothing can be done in the 
 name of the Lord Jesus except what He has commanded. The 
 
 6S 
 
apostle's injunction, however, anticipated no authority except 
 what we have through the apostles and recorded in the New 
 Testament. If we ask, What is essential in order to the saints 
 giving thanks to God through Christ the answer is in the 
 following: "Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding 
 abundantly, above all that we ask or think in the power of His 
 might which works within us — unto Him in Christ Jesus, be 
 glory in the church, even to all the generations of the age of 
 ages. Amen." — Eph. 3: 20, 21. — Conybeare. 
 
 To approach God through the mediation of Christ, we must 
 approach Him in the institution of which Christ is the. head, 
 and do so through the rules and regulation that Christ gave. 
 In order to the glory of God, and the eternal interests of humanity 
 no book is needed but the Bible, no institution but the church, 
 nor any rules, except what are contained in the New Testament. 
 The chiirch of Jesus Christ, as given through the ministry of 
 the apostles, gives, in man's behalf, the fulness of, and the 
 manifold wisdom of God. Eph. i: 22, 23, and 3: 8-10. Any 
 other institution, with other rules and regulations, would be 
 something outside of the fulness and wisdom of God — something 
 hence, in which we could not have the mediation of Christ. 
 This amounts to a positive prohibition of our accepting a 
 Mormon institution, the Book of Mormon, or any revelation 
 this side of the apostles of Christ. We are, hence, by the 
 authority of God prohibited from accepting the Book of 
 Mormon, or Smith's revelations. During our recent debate 
 with a -champion of Mormohism we asked: "Is it essential to 
 our salvation that we accept Joseph Smith and the Book of 
 Mormon? Answer yes or no. ' ' He would not answer. We 
 then turned to him and said: "In view of the eternal interests 
 of this people I demand that you tell us: "Is it essential to 
 our salvation that we accept Joseph Smith and the Book of 
 Mormon?"' Answer yes, or no. I pause for a reply." We 
 waited, all eyes were fixed upon him, the audience sat in silent 
 suspense, but not a word would he utter. We then handed him 
 the following syllogisms. 
 
 66 
 
1. God, in order to the salvation of man, does no work of 
 supererogation. 
 
 2. But Mormonism not being essential to the salvation of 
 man would be a work of supererogation. 
 
 3. Therefore God did not give Mormonism. 
 Again, 
 
 1. We need all that is essential to salvation. 
 
 2. But Mormonism is not essential to salvation. 
 
 3. Therefore, we do not need Mormonism. 
 
 As to the purpose of God in Christ Paul says: "Having 
 made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His 
 good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself; That in the 
 dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together 
 in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and 
 which are on earth; even in Him." — Eph. i: 9, 10. Again: 
 ' 'For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath 
 broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having 
 abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments 
 contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one 
 new man, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both 
 unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity 
 thereby." ib. 2: 14-16. This one body, under one head, 
 gathered by one gospel, is perfected for all that God requires by 
 the one book — the Bible. So far, hence, as the purpose of God 
 in Christ is concerned neither the Book of Mormon nor any of 
 the revelations of Joseph Smith are needed. We now purpose 
 to show that the Book of Mormon is not only an uninspired 
 document, but also that it is of modern origin — to demonstrate 
 hence, that it is a miserable falsehood, and as a consequence, a 
 miserable fraud. The first fact to which we call attention is. 
 If the Book of Mormon be true Jesus of Nazareth was an 
 ignoramus, unacquainted with the Jewish Scriptures? ! We 
 invite attention to the following: "As many were astonished 
 at thee; (his visage was so marred more than any man, and; his 
 form more than the sons of men) so shall he sprinkle, m&ny 
 
 67 
 
nations. " — B. of M. 411: 76. This language is in a speech that 
 the Christ is represented as making to his Nephite desciples 
 after his resurrection, and purports to be in a quotation made 
 from the prophecy of Isaiah. It certainly will be conceded that 
 the Christ knew what was in the Jewish Scriptures. The 
 Savoir and His apostles used, in the main, the Septuagint 
 version. It matters not, however, whether the above quotation 
 would claim to be from the Hebrew or the Greek version of the 
 Old Testament, we unhesitatingly affirm that no such passage 
 as the above is in either the Hebrew or the Greek version of the 
 Jewish Scriptures. Then what? The quotation is from the King 
 James' translation of the Bible! It is a little strange, is it not, 
 that the Nephite Christ should use none but the King James ' 
 translation of the Scriptures ? ! The fact is, the Book of 
 Mormon is a fabrication of late date, and its author knew no 
 Scripture except the common version ! This shows it to be a 
 miserable fraud ! 
 
 Another fact that proves the modern origin of the Book of 
 Mormon, is its use of modern terms. Take the term "Holy 
 Ghost. ' ' Where did those ancient Nephites get that? Such a 
 term was not known till the Anglo Saxon corruption of the 
 term Guest. It never appeared, hence, in Scripture until it 
 was adopted in Modern English translations as an equivalent 
 of the Greek agion pneumatos. This again shows that the 
 author of the Book of Mormon knew nothing of matters divine 
 except what was vaguely gathered from the King James ' version. 
 
 The use of the English abbreviation "etc.," shows the 
 Book of Mormon to be of modern origin. This abbreviation is 
 from the Latin et caetera, "and the rest." It was not used in 
 ancient manuscripts, but known only since the art of printing. 
 Such IS not God 's method of talking. He leaves nothing 
 unfinished. There is no vacuum in His counsel to be filled by 
 human wisdom. 
 
 Another demonstration that the Book of Mormon is a fraud 
 is in the fact that the Christ thereof was too ignorant to know 
 
 68 
 
the difference between an official title and a given name. He 
 did not, hence, know his own name. "Have they not read the 
 Scriptures, which say. Ye must take upon you the name of 
 Christ, which is my name?" P. 418: 16. Christ, is an official 
 title, and wherever used the definite article is expressed or 
 understood. He is not a Christ, but the Christ. His name 
 is Jesus. 
 
 He is hence, Jesus the Christ. I suppose however, that the 
 secret of this ignorance, and the necessary use of the English 
 abbreviation, etc., was because of the forgetfulness, and the 
 absent mindedness of the Spirit by which the Nephite Christ 
 and their prophets spake. This is illustrated, P. 414: 31 — . 
 There we are told of something that their inspired ones were 
 commanded to record, but they forgot to do so. Hence, it had 
 to be mentioned out of its place ! 
 
 69 
 
CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 
 
 According to the New Testament record after the resurrection 
 of Jesus He was with His disciples forty days. He then lead 
 them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and 
 blessed them. And it came to pass, while He blessed them. He 
 was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. " "And 
 while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, 
 behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also 
 said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? 
 This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so 
 come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." 
 Such is Luke's account of the ascension. As he approached 
 the throne of God the Father said: "Sit on my right hand, 
 until I make thine enemies thy footstool? ' ' Being seated at the 
 right hand of the majesty in the heavens, we are told that the 
 crown, for which he endured the cross, and despised the shame 
 was placed upon Him. Being thus glorified His appearance is 
 that of God, whom none in the flesh could see and live. When 
 He appeared, hence, to Saul it was as the glorious Shekina, the 
 brightness of which eclipsed the noonday's sun. Saul was 
 permitted to see Him, but from that time was totally blind, till 
 miraculously restored to sight. 
 
 On the day of Pentecost, ten days after the ascension of 
 Jesus the Holy Spirit came, and the apostles were endued with 
 the necessary power to qualifj' them as the witnesses for Jesus. 
 Upon that day by the inspiration of the Spirit, Peter said: 
 ' 'Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having 
 received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath 
 shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. ' ' The Holy Spirit 
 did not know that Jesus was just over here in America among 
 the Nephites ? ! And of course the appearance to Saul was all 
 
 70 
 
for show; for he could stand eight to ten hours at a time and let 
 the Nephite people thrust their hands into his side ! ! ! People 
 that can accept such stuff certainly do not reason, or they pride 
 in being duped. 
 
 Speaking of the day of Pentecost Luke says: "And there 
 were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every 
 nation under heaven. " 
 
 1 . All the nations under heaven where devout Jews lived 
 were represented at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. 
 
 2. But there were no Jews there from the American 
 continent. 
 
 3. Therefore no devout Jews lived on the American 
 continent. Again, 
 
 1 . The epistle of James was addressed to the twelve tribes 
 that were scatted abroad. 
 
 2. But the epistle of James was not addressed to the 
 Nephites. 
 
 3. Therefore, the Nephites were not of the twelve tribes. 
 We now call attention to the significant fact that the author 
 
 of the Book of Mormon was totally ignorant as to what it took 
 to constitute a conversion, either under the law or the gospel. 
 The Lamanites, it is claimed, in the commencement of 
 their existence went away from all that was right, 
 and became a wild, ferocious people, like the wild 
 tribes of American Aborigines. The Nephites, it is claimed, 
 were, when they were not heathen, strict observers of the law of 
 Moses, being Jews. At times, when they would become 
 exceeding good, they would make strenuous efforts to convert 
 the heathen. But when converts would be made, did they 
 comply with the requirements of the law? See Exodus 12: 48, 
 49. All knew that the Jews circumcised their converts. Where 
 is there an intimation in the history of the Nephites that they 
 kept this Jewish rite or observed any of the feasts as required 
 by the law? The fact is, that the author of the Book of Mormon 
 had no conceptions of conversion, only such as were vaguely 
 gathered at the exciting meetings that were common in Joseph 
 
 71 
 
Smith's boyhood days ! Those Nephite sermons were just such 
 as Smith, in his younger days, would hear. If the "Ah" had 
 been used as filling they would have passed as good old 
 orthodox Baptist sermons. The scenes that were common in 
 exciting meetings seventyfive to one hundred years ago are 
 represented as occurring under the labors of those Nephite 
 preachers. Those that would become concerned would go into 
 trances, and sometimes the preacher would pass under the 
 ! 'powers, ' ' and lay for hours in a prostrate condition ! The 
 exhortations and prayers used in modern revivals were uttered by 
 preachers and people then, and all were attributed to the working 
 of the Holy Ghost, which, be it understood, was enjoyed in its 
 fulness by these Nephites hundreds of years before the Babe of 
 Bethlehem was born ! ! In these Nephite meetings they 
 appealed to Jesus who was then known by His given name and 
 hence, known as the one mediator between God and man? ! As an 
 illustration take the words and actions of that imaginary 
 woman, represented as being a queen. "O blessed Jesus, who 
 has saved me from an awful hell ! O blessed God have mercy 
 upon this people. And when she had said this, she clasped her 
 hands, being filled with joy, speaking many words which were 
 not understood. " — P. 228: 105, 106. That some woman spoke 
 and acted just as here represented in some of the meetings that 
 Smith attended we can believe, but that any person ever so 
 spoke and acted as represented in the Book of Mormon we 
 cannot believe. 
 
 There are several facts that demonstrate this Nephite record 
 to be a falsehood of the deepest dye. 
 
 I. Christ was never known by His given name, JESUS, 
 till so named by the angel who appeared to Joseph, the 
 espoused husband of Mary. Said the angel, "And she shall 
 bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he 
 shall save his people from their sins." "Then Joseph being 
 raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, 
 and took unto him his wife; and knew her not till she had 
 
 72 
 
brought forth her firstborn son; and he called his name JESUS. ' ' 
 — Matt, i: 21, 24,25. "And when eight days were accomplished 
 for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, 
 which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the 
 womb. " — Luke 2:21 Poor Gabriel ! He evidently thought that 
 he had the honor of naming the Son that was to be heir to David 's 
 throne. But alas, angels are doomed to deception and 
 disappointment as well as men. Gabriel did not know that the 
 Nephite angels, over here in America, were so far ahead of him! 
 As we have seen, however, heaven is forgetful. The Lord, 
 hence, had forgotten that those Nephite plates were "hid up 
 inbumora. " Or, it may be, the Lord had forgotten what was 
 on those plates! "Mirabile dictu. " 
 
 2. The second fact that we cite to show the falsity of the 
 Book of Mormon is the fact that God utterly refused to afl'ord 
 those who had the Jewish Scriptures anything additional in 
 order to their conversion. When the rich man, spoken of in 
 the sixteenth chapter of Luke, realized that his eternal destiny 
 was hopelessly fixe'd, he thought of and desired the salvation of 
 his brothers, he is represented as saying to Abraham, "I pray 
 thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my 
 father's house; For I have five brethren; that he may testify 
 unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 
 Abraham saith unto him. They have Moses and the prophets; 
 let them hear them. And he said. Nay father Abraham; but if 
 one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he 
 said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither 
 will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. " — Luke 
 16: 27-31. The rich man was like those Mormon preachers. 
 He thought that God would afford man something outside of 
 the divine arrangement in order to conversion. Remember, those 
 Nephites claimed to have Moses and the prophets, then consider 
 the following: 
 
 The testimony of Christ being true God .did not afford those 
 who had the Jewish Scriptures anything additional in order to 
 
 73 
 
their conversion. But the testimony of Christ is true. There- 
 fore; the record in the Book of Mormon is false. Again, The 
 record in the Book of Mormon being true, the statement in the 
 Bible "God is no respecter of persons, " is not true. But that 
 statement in the Bible is true. Therefore, the record in the 
 Book of Mormon is not true. The trouble with those Nephite 
 preachers was, they did not know enough about Bible teaching 
 to distinguish between conversion and pardon. They 
 confounded the two. Christ and his apostles taught as did the 
 ancient prophets, that conversion is the condition of pardon. 
 Upon this point the Savoir gives the following from Isaiah "By 
 hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye 
 shall see, and shall not perceive; for this people's heart is waxed 
 gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they 
 have closed, lest at any time they should see with their eyes 
 and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and 
 should be converted, and I should heal them." — Matt. 13: 14, 
 15., Is. 6: 9. If one would understand the .subject of conversion 
 he will need to carefully study the quotation from Isaiah. The 
 language not only establishes the fact that conversion 
 is the condition of pardon, but gives the means upon which God 
 depends for the accomplishing of a conversion. It also gives 
 the process through which an individual passes in a Bible 
 conversion. When one is brought to see the beauty in the 
 counsel of God they open their ears and hear that counsel, and 
 thus seeing and hearing they understand that counsel. Being 
 thus brought to an understanding of that counsel they turn to 
 the Lord. In every instance where the term convert occurs in 
 the Bible it means to turn, and a conversion is a turning to the 
 Lord. Thus we have, in a Bible conversion, seeing with the 
 eyes, hearing with the ears, understanding with the heart, 
 turning to the Lord, then receiving pardon. The idea of a 
 trance state in order to salvation is of heathen origin. It has 
 been correctly said, "In heathen idolatry we have the vain 
 efforts of man to reach his Creator, but in Christianitj- we have 
 
 74 
 
the effort of God to reach humanity." To ask us to believe 
 that a set of preachers that would adopt the heathen idea in 
 salvation instead of the Bible teaching were inspired of God, is 
 asking too much. The Book of Mormon says that the American 
 Indians were the descendants of the Lamanites, the children of 
 Lehi, the father of the Nephites. I wonder if the advocates of 
 that book will say that the savages of America borrowed their 
 ideas of a trance state in religious exercises from those Nephite 
 preachers? Such an idea was not in America, according to their 
 own authority, until the Nephite preachers introduced it. With 
 those Indians in the West that still practice the ghost dance the 
 trance is very common. When in their religious exercises, the 
 chief of which is their ghost dance, they become excited to a 
 certain degree, they go into a trance, lay prostrate for hours, 
 then wake up full of joy; for they have been to the happy 
 hunting ground. 
 
 75 
 
CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 
 
 3. The third fact to which we call attention, which 
 demonstrates the falsity of the Book of Mormon is Repentance 
 and the remission of sins were never preached in the name of 
 Christ till the ■ first Pentecost after His crucifixion. It is 
 claimed by the Book of Mormon that those Nephite preachers 
 understood and preached repentance and remission of sins in the 
 name of Christ, centuries before Christ was born. To show the 
 utter falsity of such we call attention to the following Scriptures: 
 "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain 
 of the Lord's house .shall be established in the top of the 
 mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all 
 nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, 
 Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the I/ord, to the 
 house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and 
 we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, 
 and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. " — Isa. 2: 2, 3. "But 
 in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the 
 house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the 
 mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and people 
 shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say. 
 Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the 
 house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and 
 we will walk in his paths; for the law shall go forth of Zion, 
 and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." — Micah 4: i, 2. 
 That the word which was to go forth from Jerusalem was the 
 word that embodied repentance and remission of sins in the 
 name of Christ is af&rmed in the following: "Thus it is 
 written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from 
 the dead the third day; And that repentance and remission of 
 sins should be preached in his name among all nations beginning 
 
 76 
 
at Jerusalem. " — Luke 24: 46, 47. Previous to that time no 
 petition was offered in the name of Christ. "Hitherto have ye 
 asked nothing in my name: ask and ye shall receive, that your 
 joy may be full. " — John 16: 24. By the authority of Christ and 
 the prophets we pronounce the Book of Mormon a miserable 
 falsehood, and as a consequence, a miserable fraud. 
 
 4. The fourth fact to which we call attention, as a 
 demonstration of the falsity of the Book of Mormon is, The 
 Holy Spirit was not given; and hence not enjoyed by the people 
 of God till after Christ's ascension and glorification. "Never- 
 theless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go 
 away; for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto 
 you; but if I depart I will send Him unto you." — ^John 16: 7. 
 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come 
 upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem 
 and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts 
 of the earth. " — Acts i: 8. "But this spake he of the Spirit, 
 which they that believe on Him should receive; for the Holy 
 Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet 
 glorified." — ^John 7; 39. It is claimed by the Book of Mormon 
 that the Nephite churches received and enjoyed the Holy Spirit 
 long before Christ was born, just the same as the disciples of 
 Christ received and enjoyed it on and after the day of Pentecost. 
 
 It is plainly to be seen that the two books cannot be 
 reconciled. If the Book of Mormon be true the Bible is false. 
 But the Bible is true. Therefore the Book of Mormon is false. 
 
 5. The fifth fact to which we call attention, as a 
 demonstration of the falsity of the Book of Mormon is the 
 modern style of the sermons put into the mouths of those 
 Nephite preachers. Those Nephites be it remembered, claimed 
 to be genuine Jews. Till the time of the beginning of John 's 
 ministry, however, Moses was preached. The apostle James 
 said; ' 'For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach 
 him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day." Acts 
 15: 21. It mattered not whether the pious teacher in the 
 
synagogue read the lesson from the writings of Mo,ses or from 
 some one of the prophets, the necessity and importance of 
 observing the law was strictly enjoined. Such was not the 
 manner of those Nephite preachers. Their style was very 
 modern, and the Ashdodish language used shows their atithor 
 to be an ignoramus. One that knew little about either the law 
 or the gospel. 
 
 6. The sixth fact that we c ite, as a demonstration of the 
 falsity of the Book of Mormon is. Those Nephite preachers 
 claimed to understand the nature and design of the incarnation, 
 the nature and extent of the atonement. Something that neither 
 angel nor man knew till after Christ was glorified. 
 
 "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; 
 God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of 
 angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, 
 received up into glory. " — I. Tim. 3: i5. A mystery is a secret. 
 Here is something that was a great secret. When unfolded it 
 confounded the wise of earth. Of it Paul says, "Unto me, who 
 am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I 
 should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of 
 Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the 
 mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid 
 in God." — Eph. 3: 8, 9. "Now to him that is of power to 
 establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of 
 Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which 
 was kept secret since the world began. But now is made manfest, 
 and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the 
 commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all 
 nations for the obedience of faith." — ^Rom. 16: 25, 26. 
 
 These statements of Paul are as positive a contradiction of 
 the claims of those Nephite preachers as it would be possible to 
 give in language. As to men or angels possessing the 
 knowledge that those Nephites claimed, Peter testifies as follows: 
 ' 'Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched 
 diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto 
 
 7B 
 
you; Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ 
 which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the 
 sufferings of Christ, and the glorj' that should follow. Unto 
 whom it was revealed that not unto themselves, but unto us 
 they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you 
 by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy 
 Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire 
 to look into." — I. Peter i: T0-12. 
 
 Other quotations might be given that embody the same 
 affirmation. These, however, are sufficient. These show the 
 utter impossibility of reconciling the two books. If the New 
 Testament be true the Book of Mormon is false. 
 
 7. The seventh item to whtch we call attention, which 
 demonstrates the falsity of the Book of Mormon, is the record 
 concerning the churches, said to be established by those Nephite 
 preachers. That record says, "And he fastened on his head 
 plate, and his breast-plate and his shields and girded on his armor 
 about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end there- 
 of his rent coat (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed 
 himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the 
 blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren so long as there 
 should be a band of Christians remain to possess the land; for 
 thus were all the true believers of Christ, who belonged to the 
 church of God, by those who did not belong to the church, and 
 those who did belong to the church, were faithful; yea, all 
 those who were true believers in Christ, took upon them, gladly, 
 the name of Christ, or Chri-stians, as they were called, because of 
 their belief in Christ, who should come; and therefore, at this 
 time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the 
 freedom of the land might be favored." — P. 288: 31. In order 
 to believe this record in the Book of Mormon we would be forced 
 to pronounce the Bible record false. Long before Jesus of 
 Nazareth was born, if we are to credit this Nephite record, 
 churches of Christ were established, and the members thereof 
 were called christians! Christ said to His disciples: "Upon 
 
 79 
 
this rock I will build my church." — Matt. i6: i8. Evidently 
 Christ did not know that those Nephite preachers had established 
 that institution long before He was born! Surely, the Lord did 
 not know anything about those plates that were ' 'hid up ' ' for 
 Joseph Smith's use? ! We had been wont to credit the testimony 
 of Luke, "The beloved physician." This Nephite record, 
 however, being true, Luke is altogether unreliable. He says- 
 "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." — 
 Acts 1 1 : 26. This record is either true or false. If true, however 
 the Book of Mormon is false, from beginning to end. Gabriel, 
 Raphael, Michael, nor any of the angelic hosts that ministered 
 to God's ancient worthies could know what was embodied in 
 the Hebrew term MESSIAH. The holy seers searched and 
 diligently inquired, but it was not for them to know. 
 Cherubim and seraphim gazed with wondering admiration and 
 longed to penetrate the great secret represented by the mercy 
 seat around which the golden bells of Israel's high priests 
 jingled, as they ministered in the holiest of holies, and sprinkled 
 the blood of atonement. But the great secret was hid in God 
 through the former ages. Truly, it does seem, had the Book of 
 Mormon been written purposely to prove the Bible to be a huge 
 lie its claims would have been more honorable than what they 
 are ! 
 
 We had been wont to believe, from the New Testament 
 record, that When the church of Christ was established the 
 names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb were in its foundations. 
 Rev. 21: 14. From the Book of Mormon, however; we learn 
 that those Nephites established that institution long before 
 those apostles were born; and that regardless of any foundation! 
 
 What arrangement was there in the divine economy for 
 those Nephite institutions? Remember, the Nephites claimed 
 to be strict observers of the law of Moses. Are there provisions 
 in that law for such institutions ? No. They, though the 
 center of their religious interests, were a violation of the 
 command of God. "Ye shall not add unto the word which I 
 
 80 
 
command you, neither shall j'e diminish ought from it, that ye 
 may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I 
 command j'ou. " — Deut. 4: 2. "What thing sover I command 
 3'ou, observe to do it; thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish 
 from it." IB. 12: 32. "And it shall be our righteousness, if we 
 observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, 
 as he hath commanded us. " — ib. 6: 25. To be righteous under 
 the law they had to do just what was commanded, and just as 
 commanded. Measured by this standard those religious 
 Nephites were an unrighteous people; for they claimed to observe 
 the law, but their religious interests were in institutions 
 unavithorized by the law. These institutions that are so highl}- 
 commended by the Book of Mormon being without any 
 covenanted provisions of God, were without any authority from 
 God; and as a consequence were entirely outside of the 
 arrangements of God. We submit the following: 
 
 1 . All religious arrangements and institutions ou,tside of 
 the covenanted provisions of God are of the devil. 
 
 2. But those Nephite arrangements and institutions were 
 outside of the covenanted provisions of God. 
 
 3. Therefore, those Nephite arrangements and institutions 
 were of the devil. 
 
 Again: 
 
 1. All books written for the specific purpose of upholding 
 religious institutions and arrangements outside of the covenanted 
 provisions of God are of the devil. 
 
 2. But the Book of Mormon was written for the purpose 
 of upholding religious institutions and arrangements outside of 
 the covenanted provisions of God. 
 
 3. Therefore the Book of Mormon is of the devil. 
 
 The record in the Book of Mormon regarding these Nephite 
 churches gives the lie to the word of God in every particular. 
 When one attained to the position of a Christian he attained to 
 the liberty of a son that has reached his maturity. To this no 
 Jew could attain under the law. Upon this point Paul says; 
 
"Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, difEereth 
 nothing from a servant, though (prospectively) he be lord of all; 
 but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of 
 the Father; (Of course those Nephites just let the Father know 
 that they would pay no attention to his appointment, as to time.) 
 Even so, we when we were children, were in bondage under the 
 elements (rudiments or first principles) of the world; But when 
 the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, luade 
 of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that 
 were under the law that we might receive the adoption of 
 sons." — Gal. 4: 1-5. If we admit the existence of churches 
 among those Nephites, there being no provisions in the 
 divine arrangement for them, they would be human 
 founded in human wisdom, and governed by human authority. 
 We submit the following: 
 
 1 . All worship in religious institutions being governed by 
 human .wisdom is will worship. 
 
 2. But those Nephite churches, having no divine authority 
 for their existence were human and governed by human wisdom. 
 
 3. Therefore, all worship in the Nephite churches was will 
 worship. 
 
 Again: 
 
 1 . In human institutions, there being a substitution of 
 human wisdom for the divine, the worship therein is idolatrous. 
 
 2. But those Nephite churches were human, and in them 
 there was a substitution of human wisdom for the divine. 
 
 3. Therefore the worship in the Nephite churches was 
 idolatrous. 
 
 82 
 
CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 
 
 Assuming that the Bible is true, enough has been given to 
 demonstrate the falsity of the Book of Mormon. Yet, that the 
 strength of what has been presented may more readily be seen 
 we purpose to consider, to some extent, the claims of Christianity 
 as a system. This we need to do, if we would see the claims of 
 the New Testament in their true light. In the investigation, 
 hitherto, of theological positions, questions and systems, there 
 has been to a great extent, a mere grappling with particles, 
 rather than the handling of systems. 
 
 Theological discussions should be such as to bring before 
 the people the merits of systems. When such is not the case, 
 there is, as a rule, a contention over side issues. In such 
 contentions, there is, to a great extent, a mere war of words. 
 Those who are conscious of occupying the vantage ground -of 
 truth can well afford to avoid all appearances of hiding counsel 
 by a multitude of words. 
 
 If Christianity is not, as a system, perfect and complete, it 
 claims will have to be surrendered. Unhesitatingly we say. 
 If in Christianity, as a system, we do not have perfection, the 
 claims of the Bible will have to be surrendered. Perfection 
 cannot be supplemented. It cannot admit of addition, 
 subtraction, nor alteration. If in Christianity, as a system, we 
 do not have perfection, it is an imperfect system. God designed 
 the perfection of His people, and there is not a proposition more 
 clearly set forth in the New Testament than this proposition: 
 The divine arrangement was given in order to the perfection of 
 all who would accept of the offered salvation. Christ prayed 
 that His people might be made perfect in one, that is, in one 
 institution — ^the institution of which Christ is the head. John 
 17: 20-23. Paul says the scriptures of inspiration were given 
 
 83 
 
that God's people might be perfected. II. Tim. 3: 16, 17. 
 
 If however, God depended upon an imperfect system to 
 accomplish a perfect end, He did what no wise being would do. 
 We must, hence, admit the perfection of the remedial system, 
 as given "by Christ, or accuse the Almighty of folly ! We could 
 not expect the Almighty to admit the incompleteness of His 
 own perfection,, and the man that would argue such would be 
 guilty of fearful presumption. We could not think of Christ as 
 a perfect Savior, yet the author and head of an imperfect 
 institution? God is, in the absolute, perfection, and his 
 arrangements, in order to the end in view, are perfection. As 
 we have seen, in Christ, God's arrangement reached its 
 perfection. The institution of the Christ is a perfect institution 
 with a perfect law, giving to man the perfect will of God. In 
 order to man's redemption, we have in the institution of Christ, 
 the perfection of God's infinite wisdom, infinite goodness, 
 infinite love, infinite mercy and infinite power. What folly in 
 man to seek anything beyond this ! This perfection was not 
 reached, and could not be till the perfection of God's 
 arrangements in order to that end. Until the perfection, hence, 
 of those arrangements, the church of Christ did not exist. To 
 argue as Mormons do, and as the Book of Mormon teaches, the 
 existence of the church of Christ under the law, is to argue in 
 opposition to every truth and fact in the Bible, bearing upon 
 this point. None but a false sytem could demand such. The 
 reorganized branch of the Mormon family claim to oppose 
 polygamy. In our recent debate with them we asked: "Did 
 the true church of Christ exist with the Je-vys in the days of 
 David and Solomon?" The answer was: "Yes." "Then," 
 said I, "As the church of Christ anciently was a polygamous 
 church, polygamy is a tenet of the true church of Christ. 
 Therefore in opposing polygamy you oppose the principles of 
 the true church. This surrenders the claims of your reorganized 
 Church and admits the claims of the Utah branch. " From this 
 there was no escape. 
 
 84 
 
There are certain fundamentals, without which we cannot 
 have a system of religion. These fundamentals are, the priest, 
 the altar and the offering. From the beginning these have 
 been the essentials in order that man might approach unto God. 
 For an omission in these, Cain was rejected. The priests, altars, 
 and offerings of former times were only shadowy. As typical 
 institutions they answered this purpose. No type, however, 
 opuld ever answer the purpose nor take the place of the antitype. 
 With typical blood, a typical institution could be dedicated. 
 Hence, with the blood of animals Moses dedicated the first 
 Testament. With such blood, however, the perfect institution 
 of God could not be dedicated. If it could have been there 
 would have been no necessity for the death of Christ. Speaking 
 of the dedication of the first covenant, and the tabernacle 
 belonging thereto, Paul says: "It was, therefore, necessary 
 that the patterns of heavenly things should thus be purified, 
 but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than 
 these." — Heb. 9: 23. Again, "Having therefore, brethren, 
 boldness to enter the holy place through the blood of Jesus by a 
 new and living way which he hath opened for us, passing 
 through the veil (that is to say his flesh); and having an High 
 Priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true 
 heart, in full assurance of faith: as our hearts have been 
 'sprinkled' from the stain of an evil conscience, and our bodies 
 have been washed with pure water." — Heb. 10: 17-22. This 
 new and living way was opened through the offerings of Christ 
 — opened after Christ was consecrated High Priest over the 
 house of God. This was after his ascension to heaven. Heb. 
 8: 4. The perfecting of the arrangement in order to the opening 
 of the perfect-institution of God was through the sufferings of 
 Christ. ' 'And though he was a Son, yet learned he obedience 
 by suffering. And when his consecration was accomplished, he 
 became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey 
 Him."— Heb. 5:8, 9. 
 
 Christ being the antitype of all former altars, priests and 
 
 85 
 
offerings, that were by the authority of God, in Him we have 
 our altar, our priest, and our offering. It is, hence, that we 
 cannot come to God except through Him. To argue as the 
 Book of Mormon teaches, and a^ Mormon preachers contend, 
 that the perfect institution of God existed in the typical 
 arrangerhent is to show a woeful ignorance of the economy of 
 grace. To argue the claims of the Book of Mormon one must 
 be profoundly ignorant of or ignore the arrangement of God in 
 Christ! Having demonstrated the fact that the Bible and the 
 Book of Mormon can not be reconciled, we purpose a brief 
 inquiry as to the origin of the Book of Mormon. That book 
 claims to be, in the mam, the history of two peoples, the 
 Aborigine,se of America. They were, it is claimed, the 
 descendents of one Lehi, a Hebrew, who left Jerusalem about 
 B. C. 600. This history, it is claimed, was written on metal 
 plates, and in the Egyptian language. It is also claimed that 
 Lehi brought with him from Jerusalem the metal plates that 
 contained his family record written in the same language. It 
 is also claimed that he brought with him, from Jerusalem, 
 metal plates that contained the Jewish Scriptures and records 
 down to about the time of the Babylonish captivity. It is also 
 claimed that the northern portion of South America and Central 
 America, were densely populated by Lehi 's descendants, and 
 that a highly Christian civiltzation existed there 1500 to 2000 
 years ago. 
 
 Orsan Pratt says: "In the Book of Mormon are given the 
 names and locations of numerous cities of great magnitude, 
 which flourished among the ancient nations of America. The 
 northern portions of South America, and also Central America, 
 were the most densely populated. — D. A., p. 32. The Book of 
 Mormon claims that extensive records were kept by this people 
 in which their history was written. P. 340: 10. It is also 
 claimed by the Book of Mormon that these historical records 
 were in the Egyptian language. P. 444: 89. It is also claimed 
 by the Book of Mormon that the money of these ancient 
 
 86 
 
inhabitants of America was in gold and silver coins. P. 206 : 
 38, 39. These claims of Mormonism call for a consideration of 
 the following questions: 
 
 1. Did the Jews ^ver keep their records on metal plates? 
 
 2. Did the original inhabitants of Central America keep 
 their records on metal plates? 
 
 3. Did the ancient inhabitants of Central America have 
 a written language? 
 
 4. If any of those nations had a written language 1 500 to 
 2000 years ago, was it the Egyptian language? 
 
 5. Did any of those nations have mone}- in the shape of 
 gold and siver coins? 
 
 6. Is there any evidence that any of the ancient inhabitants 
 of Central America ever enjoyed a Christian civilization? 
 
 7. Were the engravings on those plates claimed to be 
 found by Joseph Smith in the Egyptian language? 
 
 We are prepared to give an answer to all of these questions, 
 but the answers demonstrate the falsity of the Book of Mormon. 
 The following questions were propounded to a number of 
 scholars of world-wide reputation: 
 
 r. Is it historically true that the Hebrews ever wrote on 
 tablets or ' 'plates of brass? ' ' 
 
 2. If so, did they ever write in the Egyptian language? 
 
 3. Were the "five books of Moses" ever written upon 
 such plates of brass? 
 
 4. Were the ' 'law and the prophets ' ' or any portion of them 
 ever written in Egyptian? 
 
 To these questions William R. Harper, President Chicago 
 University said: ' 'To your first three question I would give the 
 answer, No. With regard to the fourth, the Pentateuch was 
 transmitted in Coptic some time between the third and tenth 
 centuries, A. D., but was never written in Egyptian before that 
 time." Ira Maurice Price, Ph. D., of the University of Chicago, 
 said: "There is no such instance on record among the Hebrews 
 nor among other nations about the Hebrews. No evidence that 
 
 87 
 
they ever did write in the Egyptian language. ' ' President 
 James B. Angell, University of Michigan, said: "There is no 
 evidence that the Hebrews kept their records upon plates or 
 tablets of brass. There is no evidence whatever to show that 
 the Pentateuch was ever written on such plates of brass.'.' 
 (Copied from "Doctrines and Dogmas of Mormonism.") The 
 men who furnished the above answers represent the scholarship 
 of the world. Their testimony establishes certain facts, namely, 
 
 1 . The Hebrews never kept their records on tablets of 
 brass. 
 
 2. No Hebrew records were ever kept on tablets of brass, 
 nor any other substance, in the Egyptian language. 
 
 3. The Pentateuch was never written in the Egyptian 
 language before 300 A. D. 
 
 The Book of Mormon opens with the statement that the 
 language in which it was written was the Egyptian; and that 
 such was the language of Lehi. Who was Lehi? A Hebrew, 
 bred, born and reared in Jerusalem. The language of any man 
 is his native tongue. Lehi, being a Jew, born and reared in 
 Jerusalem, his language was the native tongue of the Jewish 
 nation. We are, hence, to understand that the native tongue 
 of the Hebrew nation was the Egyptian? ! There is evidenced 
 at the very threshold of Mormonism, either an ignorance 
 inexcusable, or a design to deceive that is damnable. 
 
 Our second and third questions are: "Did the original 
 inhabitants of Central America keep their records on metal 
 plate?" and "Did they have a written language?" These 
 questions we answer together. We are able to show the 
 characters used in the writings of the inhabitants of Central 
 America 1500 to 2000 years ago. They have been preserved in 
 marble and stone, and will stand till the end of time, an 
 inrefutable testimony to the falsity of the Book of Mormon. 
 In the ruins of the ancient cities of Copan and Palenque, of 
 Central America, we are told, "are found in abundance the 
 strange hieroglyphics, the written language of the people who 
 
 88 
 
once inhabited those old cities." Over ruined doorways, arches, 
 sides and backs of hideous idols, marble slabs and through the 
 ruins of heathen temples these characters are to be seen. Mr. 
 Short says: "The magnificent sculptured hieroglyphics which 
 cover the sides and backs of these huge idols no doubt could 
 tell the sealed story of Copan 's greatness and the attributes of 
 its many gods, were the keys once discovered. Everything is 
 covered with these significant symbols, differing slightly from 
 those at Palenque; but who will read them? In the court of 
 the temple a solid block of stone six feet square and four feet 
 high, resting on four globular stones, was sketched by 
 Catherwood and pronounced an altar by Stephens. Sixteen 
 figures in profile, with turbaned heads; breastplates and each 
 seated crosslegged on hieroglyphic-like cushions, are sculptured 
 in low relief, four figures being on each side of the block. 
 The top of the altar is covered with thirty-six squares of 
 hieroglyphics." American Ant. pp. 404, 405. 
 
CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 
 
 The ancient Mayas were the sole occupants of a portion of 
 Central America, and the most civilized of any of the ancient 
 inhabitants of that country. They lived there during the period 
 that the Book of Mormon claims to be the prosperous period of 
 the Nephites. In addition to their stone and stucco records 
 they had a written language, and had many books. Short, 
 Antiquities, p. 420, says, "In addition to these stone and stucco 
 records, the Mayas had books, which Bishop Landa (a Catholic 
 Bishop of 300 years a.gd), describes as written on a leaf doubled 
 in folds, and enclosed between two boards, which they 
 ornamented. They wrote on both sides of the paper, in columns 
 accommodated to the folds. The paper they made from the roots 
 of trees and coated with a white varnish on which one could 
 write well. Bishop Landa confesses to having burned a great 
 number of the Maya books because they contained nothing in 
 which were not superstitions and falsities of the devil . . . 
 Three of the Maya manuscripts are known to have escaped the 
 vandalism of the early fathers. " 
 
 One of these Maya books, called the Troano manuscript, is 
 described by Bancroft, as quoted by Short, p. 422. He says: 
 ' 'The original is written on a strip of Maguey paper about 
 fourteen feet long and nine inches wide, the surface of which is 
 covered with a whitish varnish, on which the figures are 
 painted in black, red, blue and brown. It is folded fan like in 
 thirty-five folds presenting when shut much the appearance of 
 a modern large octavo volume. The hieroglyphics cover both 
 sides the paper, and the writing is consequently divided into 
 seventy columns, each about five by nine inches, having been 
 apparently executed after it was folded, so that the folding does 
 not interfere with the written matter . . . The regular lines 
 
 90 
 
of written characters are uniformly in black, while the pictoral 
 portions of what may perhaps be considered representative 
 signs, are in red and blue, chiefly the former, and the blue 
 appears for the most part as a back ground in some of the 
 pages." From these testimonies we learn two facts, namely, 
 The Mayas of Central America had a written language, and, 
 they did not keep their records on Metal plates. The next 
 question that demands attention is. Was the alphabet of the 
 Mayas such as Joseph Smith represents? This question we 
 answer with an emphatic, No. We can show the Maya alphabet 
 and we defy any man to show a particle of resemblance between 
 those characters and Mr. Smith's so-called Egyptian ! No 
 resemblance whatever can be shown between the two sets of 
 characters. In order to see, hence, the utter falsity of the 
 Book of Mormon we only need to remember the fact that the 
 Maya alphabet was in use by the inhabitants of Central America 
 at the very time and place where the Book of Mormon says the 
 Nephites lived. And further, we need to remember that this 
 Maya alphabet was the only written alphabet used by the 
 ancient inhabitants of Central America. This being true a ten 
 year old child can see that the Book of Mormon is a miserable 
 fraud. The testimony of scholars and antiquarians is unanimous 
 that no evidence exists of any written language except the 
 Maya on either continent. 
 
 Short, page 419,. says: "No well authenticated mound 
 builder's hieroglyphics have as yet come to light. The "Grove 
 Creek mound tablet" we believe is now shown unquestionably 
 to be an archaeological fraud." Of Peru, from Baldwin's 
 Ancient America, pp. 254, 255, and Bancroft, vol. 4, p. 792, we 
 learn, "The art of writing in alphabetical characters, so far as 
 appears, was unknown to the Peruvians in the time of the 
 Incas. No Peruvian books existed at that time, and no 
 inscriptions have been found in any of the ruins. They had a 
 method of recording events, keeping accounts, and making 
 reports to the government by means of the quippd. This was 
 
 91 
 
made of cords of twisted wool fastened to a base prepared for 
 the purpose. These cords were of various sizes and colors, and 
 every size and color had its meaning. The record was made by 
 means of an elaborate system of knots and artificial 
 intertwinings. " The ancient Mexicans had no alphabet' nor 
 anything that approached a written language, but a kind of 
 picture writing, combined with symbolical representations. 
 
 5. The fifth and next question is. Did any of the aborigines 
 of America have as money gold or silver coins? 
 
 The Nahuas or Toltecs occupied a part of Central America 
 and Mexico at the time the Book of Mormon claims to have 
 been written. Of their monetary system Bancroft, vol. 2, p. 
 381, says: "Although no regular coined money was used, yet 
 several more or less convenient substitutes furnished a medium 
 of circulation. Chief among these were nibs or grains of cacao, 
 of a -species somewhat different from that employed in making 
 favored drink, chocolate. This money, known as pati,achte, 
 passed current everywhere, and payments of it would be made 
 by count up to 8,000 which constituted a xiquipii<w. In large 
 transactions sacks containing THREE xiquipili,! were used to 
 save labor in counting. Patolquachtli were small pieces of 
 cotton cloth used as money in purchase of articles of immediate 
 necessity or of little value. Another circulating medium was 
 GOLD DUST kept in translucent quills, that the quantity might be 
 readily seen. Copper was also cut into small pieces shaped 
 like a T, which constituted, perhaps, the nearest approach to 
 coined money. " The Mayas, as we haVe seen, were the most 
 enlightened of all the ancient inhabitants of Central America, 
 being the only people of that country that had a written 
 language, and living as they did at the very time and place 
 where the Book of Mormon claims to have been compiled, we 
 would expect them to have money in the shape of gold and 
 silver coins, if such had ever been used by any of the aborigines 
 of America. Of their monetary system Bancroft, vol. 2, pp. 736, 
 737, says: "The ordinary mercantile transactions were effected 
 
 92 
 
1 
 
 Jlt^ 
 
 "" 
 
 i, 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 ■■ "n 
 
 / 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1^^^^^ 
 
 ^^^9[ 
 
 ' 
 
 
 ^^^^g^ 
 
 
 i. 
 
 flHHHB'' 
 
 
by exchange of or barter of one commodity for another. But 
 where this was inconvenient cacao passed current as money 
 among all the nations . According to Cogoludo copper 
 
 bells and rattles of different sizes, red shells in strings, precious 
 stones and copper hatchets often served as money, especially in 
 foreign trade. " It is thus seen that the Book of Mormon is 
 false in every particular. 
 
 The next question that demands our attention is, Did any 
 of the ancient inhabitants of Central America ever enjoy . a 
 Christian civilization? The Mayas being the most enlightened 
 of all the ancient inhabitants of Central America and living at 
 the time and place where it is claimed that the.Neph'ites 
 enjoyed such advanced Christian civilization, we would expect, 
 if the Book of Mormon be true, that the antiquarians would 
 find evidences of such civilization- Unfortunately, however, 
 for the cause of Mormonism, those ancient Mayas were the 
 veriest idolaters ! There is not a vestige of anything Christian 
 in any part of their history. Bancroft, "Native races of 
 America," vol. 2, p. 704, says, "The gods of the Yucatecs (the 
 ancient Mayas of Yucatan) required far fewer human lives at the 
 hands of their worshipers than those of the Nahuas. The pages 
 of Yucatec history are not marred by the constant blood blots 
 that obscure the Nahua record. Nevertheless the Yucatec 
 religion was not free from human sacrifice; and although 
 captives taken in war were used for this purpose, yet it is said 
 that such was their devotion that should a victim be wanting 
 they would dedicate their children to the altar rather than let 
 the gods be deprived of their due." Again vol. 2, p. 725. "The 
 custom of eating the flesh of human victims who were sacrificed 
 to the gods was probably practiced more or less in all the Maya 
 regions, but neither this cannibalism nor the sacrifices that gave 
 rise to it were so extensively indulged in as by the Mexicans. 
 
 Of a certain ruler named Quilzokoalt, who undertook 
 various reforms in ancient Mexico, Bancroft, Vol. 5, p. 261, says: 
 "Most prominent among his peculiar reforms, and the one that 
 
 93 
 
is reported to have contibuted the most to his downfall, was his 
 unvarying opposition to human sacrifice. This sacrifice had 
 prevailed from pre Toltec times. " 
 
 In "Vestiges of the Mayas," b3' Dr. Augustus L,e Plongen, 
 p. 51, we are told, "The sun was worshipped by the ancient 
 Mayas, and the Indians of today preserve the dance as used by 
 their forefathers among the rites of the adoration of that 
 luminary." Again, p. 52, he says, "The blue color had 
 exactly the same significance in Maya, according to Landa 
 Cogolludo, who tell us that even at the time of the Spanish 
 Conquest the bodies of those who were to be sacrificed to the 
 gods were painted blue. The mural paintings in the funeral 
 chamber of Chaacmal at Chichen confirm this assertion. There 
 we see the figures of men and women painted blue, some 
 marching to the sacrifice with their hands tied behind their 
 backs." Again, p. 70, "We are told, and the bas reliefs of 
 Chaacmal 's Mausoleum prove it, that the Mayas devoured the 
 HE.'VRTS of their fallen enemies. It is said that on certain 
 grand occasions, after offering the hearts of their victims to the 
 idols, they abandoned the bodies to the people who feasted upon 
 them. But it must be noticed that these last mentioned 
 customs seem to have been introduced in the country by the 
 Nahauts and Aztecs, since as yet we have found nothing in the 
 mural paintings to cause us to believe that the Mayas indulged 
 in such barbaric repasts beyond the eating of their enemies' 
 hearts. ' ' 
 
 The ancient Mayas were idolatrous cannibals, with a history 
 extending back to a remote period, even antedating the call of 
 Abraham. Bancroft, vol. 5, p. 205, says: "So far as the 
 other so called primitive nations of New Spain are concerned 
 little can be said, except that they claim and have always been 
 credited with a very ancient residence in this land, dating 
 
 BACK FAR BEYOND THE BEGINNING OF THE HISTORIC PERIOD. 
 Of the Nahuas, Short, p. 240, says, "The date of the emigration 
 to Hue hue Tlapalan cannot be approximated from available 
 
 94 
 
data, but it is evident that Ixtlilxochitl fixes it at 520 years after 
 the flood, or 2236 after the creation — a period which must have 
 
 ANTEDATED THE CHRISTIAN ERA BY A SCORE OF CENTURIES OR 
 
 MORE." Baldwin's -Ancient America, p. 204, says, "Its method 
 (of computing time) was to count by equal periods of years, as 
 we count by centuries, and their chronology presents a series of 
 periods which carries back their history to a very remote time 
 
 IN THE PAST. ' ' 
 
 Of the Maya's Short p. 519, says, "The venerable civilization 
 of the Mayas, -whose forest grown cities and crumbling temples 
 hold entombed a history of vanished glory, no doubt belongs to 
 the remotest period of North American antiquity. It was old 
 when the Nahuas, then a comparatively rude people first came 
 in contact with it, adopted many of its features and grafted upon 
 it new life. " Again, p. 475, "I must speak of that language 
 which has survived unaltered through the vicissitudes of the 
 nations that spake it thousands of years ago, and is yet the 
 general tongue in Yucatan, the Maya. There can be no doubt 
 that this is one of the most ancient languages on earth. It was 
 used by a people that lived at least 6,000 years ago, as proved 
 by the Katuns, to record the history of their rulers, the dogmas 
 of their religion, on the walls of their palaces or the facades of 
 their temples. ' ' Thus we prove the Book of Mormon to be false, 
 just as much so as the father of lies. 
 
 95 
 
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 
 
 The next question that demands our attention is, Were the 
 engravings, or writings, on those plates,, claimed to be shown 
 to Joseph Smith, Egyptian characters? In other words, was 
 the writing on those plates in the Egyptian language? If they 
 were such, it would be evidence in favor of the truthfulness of 
 the Book of Mormon. On the other hand, if they were not true 
 Egyptian characters but one conclusion could be reached, namely 
 They were a miserable fraud. With the answer to this question 
 Mormonism must either stand or fall. In the discovery of 
 these plates and the inability of the learned to decipher them. 
 Mormons claim to fiti^ a fulfillment of a prophecy of Isaiah, 
 chapter 29. There, they claim, is a prophecy of "a voice 
 speaking out of the ground" — of "a sealed book being given to 
 a wise man who acknowledged his inability to read it. ' ' This 
 it is claimed found a fulfillment in the taking of those plates 
 out of the ground, and in presenting a copy of those characters 
 to Prof. Anthon, who acknowledged his inability to read them. 
 In answer to all that they have said, or may hereafter say, upon 
 this point it is sufficient to show that their inspiration, in order 
 to make their points in this, has been guilty of unmitigated 
 lying. Mr. Smith, the inspired prophet of Mormonism, 
 regarding the Anthon affair, says: "Some time in this month 
 of February the afore-mentioned Mr. Martin Harris came to our 
 place, got the characters which I had drawn off the plates and 
 started with them to New York. 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, which 
 was as follows: T went to the city of New York and presented 
 the characters, which had been translated, with the translation 
 thereof, to Professor Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his 
 
 96 
 
literary attainments. Professor Anthon stated that the 
 translation was correct, more so than anj- he had before seen 
 translated from the Egyptian. I then showed him those which 
 were not yet translated and he said they were Egytian, Chaldaic, 
 Assyrian and Arabic, and he said that they were true characters. 
 He gave me a certificate certifying to the people of Palmyra 
 that they were true characters, and that the transalation 
 of such of them as had been translated was also correct. . ,. 
 I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell, who sanctioned what 
 Professor Anthon had said respecting both the characters and 
 the translation. ' " 
 
 Let us remember this testimony of Martin Harris is fully 
 endorsed by the prophet of Mormonism, and is found in one of 
 their inspired books. Pearl of Great Price, Liverpool edition of 
 1851, p. 45. It is, hence, the testimony of Mormon inspiration. 
 Let us now hear this same inspiration, as it spake through one 
 of their chief apostles, Orson Pratt. In Divine Authenticity, 
 p. 295, Pratt says, "In the year 1841 Professor Anthon wrote a 
 letter to an Episcopal minister, in New Rochelle, Westchester 
 county, near New York, in answer to an inquiry made by the 
 minister in reference to the words and characters said to have 
 been presented to him. Professor Anthon 's letter was written 
 with permission to publish, its avowed object being, to put a 
 stop to the spread of the fulness of the gospel contained in the 
 Book of Mormon. We here give a short extract from it taken 
 from a periodical entitled, 'The Church Record,' Vol. i, No. 22: 
 "Many years ago, the precise date I do not recollect, a plain 
 looking country man called upon me with a letter from Dr. 
 Samuel L. Mitchell, requesting me to examine and give my 
 opinion upon a certain paper, marked with various characters, 
 which the Doctor confessed he could not decipher, and which 
 the bearer of the note was very anxious to have explained. 
 
 A brief examintion convinced me that it was a mere hoax, 
 and a very clumsy one, too. The characters were arranged in 
 columns, like the Chinese mode of writing, and presented the 
 
 97 
 
most, singular medley that I ever beheld. Greek, • Hebrew and 
 all sorts of letters, more or less distorted, either through 
 unskilfulness or from actual design, were' intermingled with 
 sundry delineations of half moons, stars and other natural 
 objects, and the whole ended in a rude representation of the 
 Mexican Zodiac. ' ' 
 
 Pratt accepts this as the true statement of facts, as all other 
 Mormon preachers must do who accept their argument based 
 upon the prophecy of Isaiah. Notwithstanding that in so doing 
 they admit that Smith and Harris positively lied. Smith and 
 Harris positively testify that Anthon was able to read the 
 characters, and to decide as to their genuineness, and hence, as 
 to the correctness of Smith 's translation. They further testify 
 that Harris, having obtained the testimony of Prof. Anthon as 
 to the genuineness of those characters, and the correctness of 
 Smith's translation, he went to Dr. Mitchell, who endorsed all 
 that Anthon said. Thus stating, positively, that Anthon and 
 Mitchell, both could read and translate the characters. If they 
 had not been able to read and translate those characters they 
 would not have been competent to decide as to the correctness of 
 Smith 's translation of them. 
 
 Bear this in mind, then hear the following from Orson Pratt. 
 ' 'After obtaining the Book of Mormon through the ministry of 
 the angel 'out of the 'ground, ' Mr. Smith transcribed some of 
 the original characters upon paper and sent them by the hands 
 of Martin Harris, a farmer, to the city of New York, where they 
 were presented to Professor Anthon, a man deeply learned in 
 both ancient and modern languages. Mr. Harris very anxiously 
 requested him to read it, but he replied that he could not. " 
 It can now be seen that somebody has lied. We leave it for 
 Mormons to say who it was. If they say that Smith and Harris 
 lied, they condemn Smith as a lying prophet and as a 
 consequence, an imposter. If they say Smith told the truth, 
 they condemn their apostles and elders from Dan to Beersheba. 
 They can take either horn of the dilemma they choose. A plate 
 
 98 
 
of these characters was recently sent to a number of Oriental 
 scholars, and professional judgment was asked with regard to 
 their genuineness. In answer to such request Chas. H. S. 
 Davis, M. D. Ph. D., of Meriden, Conn., author of "Ancient 
 Egypt in the light of Recent Discoveries, " and a member of the 
 American Oriental Society, American Philological Society, 
 Society of Biblical Archaeology of London, Royal Archaeological 
 Institute of Great Britian and Ireland, etc.. Said: "I am familiar 
 with Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyrian and Arabic, and have 
 considerable acquaintance with all of the Oriental languages, 
 and I can positively assert that there is not a letter to be 
 found in the fac-simile submitted that can be found in the < 
 alphabet of any Oriental language, particularly those you refer 
 to — namely, Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyrian and Arabic. A 
 careful study of the fac-simile shows that they are characters 
 put down at random by an ignorant person — with no 
 resemblance to anything, not even shorthand. " 
 
 President James B. Angell, of the University of Michigan, 
 at Ann Arbor, said, "I have submitted your letter and enclosure 
 to our Professor of Oriental languages, who is more ' familiar 
 with the subject raised by your questions than I am. He is a 
 man of large learning in Semitic languages and archaeology. 
 The substance of what he has to say is: The document which 
 you enclose raises a moral rather than a linguistic problem. 
 A few letters or signs are noticeable which correspond more or 
 less closely to the Aramaic, sometimes called Chaldee langiiage; 
 for example, s, h, g, t, 1, b, n. There are no Assyrian characters 
 in it; and the impression made is that the document is 
 fraudulent. ' ' 
 
 Dr. Charles E. Moldenke, of New York, of whom Dr. Davis 
 says, "He is probably the best Egyptian scholar in the country, ' ' 
 writing from Jerusalem said: "I believe the plates of the Book 
 of Mormon to be a fraud. In the first place it is impossible to 
 find in any old inscription, Egyptian, Arabic, Chaldee and 
 Assyrian characters mixed together. The simple idea of finding 
 
 99 
 
Egyptian and Arabic side be side is ridiculous and impossible. ' ' 
 Doctrine and Doomas. These testimonies represent the 
 scholarship of the world. They establish one fact: The 
 Mormon plates were a FRAUD. There was not an Egyptian 
 
 CHARACTER OlJ THEM. 
 
 The Old Testanient, it is claimed, was written in Hebrew. 
 Suppose that the testimony of scholars was unanimous that there 
 was not a Hebrew character in the manuscripts of which it was 
 claimed to be a translation. If such was the case it would be 
 the unanimous' decision, among the intelligent, that the whole 
 thing was a fraud; In that case no intelligent, conscientious' 
 person would want to appear before the public in its defense. 
 
 It is claimed that the New Testament was written in Greek. 
 Suppose, however, that the unanimous decision of scholars was 
 that there was not a Greek letter in the manuscripts of which it 
 was said to be a translation. In that event no intelligent, 
 conscientious man would want to appear before the public in 
 order to defend its claims as a revelation from God. If it was 
 as we have supposed with regard to the Bible he who 
 would undertake its defence would do so under circumstances 
 that would insure his defeat in the judgment of all intelligent 
 people. Under just such disadvantages all must labor who 
 undertake to defend the claims of the Book of Mormon. The 
 fact that people accept and undertake the defense of that book 
 is a demonstration of the gullibility of the human mind in 
 matters religious. 
 
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 
 
 We will now show that neither those plates nor the Urim 
 AND Thummim, prepared, they tell us, 2,500 years before, were 
 of any benefit to Smith in making the Book of Mormon. David 
 Whitmer testifies as follows: 
 
 "The tablets or plates were translated by Smith, who used 
 a small oval or kidney-shaped stone called Urim and Thummim 
 that seemed endowed with the marvelous power of converting 
 the characters on the plates, when used by Smith, into English, 
 who would then dictate to Cowdery what to write. Frequently 
 one character would make two lines of manuscript, while others- 
 made but a word or two words. " — M. of M. F. page 83. 
 
 Martin Harris says: 
 
 "By the aid of the seer stone sentences would appear and 
 were read by the prophet and written by Martiii, and,, when 
 finished he would say 'written'; and if correctly written that 
 sentence would disappear and another appear in its place; but if 
 not written correctly it rernained until corrected, so that the 
 translation was just as it was engraven on the plates', precisely 
 in the language then used. " 
 
 Again: 
 
 "The translation of the characters appeared oil the Urim 
 and Thummim, sentence by sentence, and as soon as one was 
 correctly translated the next appeared. '*— M. of M. F., page; 71. 
 
 In the Desert Evening News, Dec. 24, 1885, Whitmer says: 
 
 ' 'After affixing the rnagical spectacles to his eyes. Smith 
 would take the plates and translate the charcters one at a time. 
 The graven characters would appear in succession to the, seer, 
 and directly under the character, when viewed through the 
 glasses, would be the translation in English. ' ' 
 
If we credit these witnesses, there is one thing that is 
 clearly established, namely, Smith was not responsible for the 
 language of the Book of Mormon. No more so than a babe of 
 today. Smith would look at the characters on the plates and the 
 English of each would appear and would not leave till it was 
 correctly written. Therefore, if sentences were awkwardly ex- 
 pressed, grammatically incorrect, contained useless verbiage, un- 
 necessary repetitions or errors of any kind, none but the 
 inspiration that guided the SEER is to blame! The inspiration of 
 heaven is infallibly correct in all that it does. It would not, 
 hence palm off on any people a translation that was not infallibly 
 correct. None could give an infallibly correct translation unless 
 governed by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 
 
 One thing that we now ask, and ask it in behalf of truth, 
 and that is: How was it that thousands of sentences appeared 
 to Smith from our Bible, and appeared in the precise language 
 of the King James tranlation? One of two positions must here 
 be taken, namely: The King James' translation is infallibly 
 correct, the translators thereof being governed by the inspiration 
 of heaven, or the Book of Mormon is a fraud. 
 
 The witnesses that we have introduced certify that the 
 Book of Mormon was translated from the plates that were 
 shown to Smith by the angel, and such is the claim of all 
 Mormons; but the witnesses testify that the English of that 
 book is the language that appeared to Smith through magical 
 spectacles or the kidney shaped stone. Why is it that the 
 inspiration that guided Smith and worked so magically through 
 his Urim and Thummim was, in the translation of sentences 
 that had been copied from our Bible, limited to the language of 
 the Common Version? Did the angel that g;uided Smith have 
 to depend upon the king's translators for his English? Of 
 course, I suppose Joe's angel was "a pore, ignernt, unlarnt 
 criter. " Of course. Mormon inspiration will never tell us how 
 it was that Smith's angel translated the passages that had been 
 copied from the Jewish scripture in the precise language of the 
 
Common Version? And, as to the matter borrowed from the 
 New Testament those Nephite preachers knowing all about 
 JESUS long before he was named by the angel Gabriel, of course, 
 they knew all about the New Testament hundreds of years 
 before it was written! 
 
 If it be admitted that Smith turned from his plates to get a 
 single sentence it will be fatal to the claims of Mormonism. 
 They will escape the difficultj' at this point just as easy as a 
 man would dodge a stroke of lightning. Martin Harris says; 
 
 ' 'The prophet possessed a seer stone by which he was 
 enabled to translate as well as from the Urim and Thummim, 
 and for convenience he then used the seer stone." — M. o.f M. F. 
 page 91. 
 
 This informs us that the "interpreters" were somewhat 
 inconvenient. Smith did not need them; and of course would 
 never have used them at all, only out of respect for the feelings 
 of his god ! Of course the Lord did not know anything about 
 that seer stone that was "hid up " in Mr. Chase's premises, or 
 he could have saved the trouble of making those magical 
 spectacles. And evidently the Lord did not know the size and 
 shape of the Mormon prophet's head, for as those spectacles 
 were inconvenient we conclude that they were not a good fit! I 
 suppose that when Smith got a chance to slip that stone from 
 among the trinkets of those children he just took it to be used 
 as an expedient. And it does seem from the subsequent history 
 of this stone that the expedients of men may be superior to 
 the arrangemens of the Almighty, for this stone was superior 
 to the Urim and Thummim that the Lord prepared especially 
 for Smith's use twenty and a half centuries before ! Perhaps 
 the Lord ought to have waited till he saw the size and shape of 
 Smith's head before making those spectacles?! He evidently 
 forgot to examine the seer's head the time he brought his Son 
 to New York to introduce him to Smith ! If he had not he 
 certainly would have corrected the mistake before having them 
 delivered to the prophet ! However, as we have seen, according 
 to Mormonism, the Lord makes mistakes ! 
 
 103 
 
Mr. Hale, Smith's father-in-law, in whose house most of 
 the translation was done, says that the curiosity and sometimes 
 the, wrath of the outside world was often such that the prophet 
 would be obliged to, take the plates into the woods several 
 miles distant, and keep them hid for weeks at a time, but the 
 translation would go on in the house all the same. Therefore 
 Smith could translate just as well in the absence of the plates 
 as in their presence ! 
 
 David Whitmer, in Desert Evening News, Dec. 24, 1S85, 
 says that Smith offended the angel, and as a punishment the 
 angel left him and took the plates and interpreters to heaven, 
 and the work was stopped for awhile. He says: 
 
 ' 'The angel being in possession of the plates and spectacles, 
 finally when Smith had fully repented of his rash conduct, he 
 was forgiven. The plates, however, were not , returned; 
 but instead Smith was given by the angel a Urim and Thummim 
 of another pattern, it being shaped in oval or kidney form. 
 This seer stone he was instructed to place in his hat, and on 
 covering his face with the hat the character and translation 
 would appear on the stone. This worked just as satisfactorily 
 as the old method, but at no time thereafter was the backsliding 
 Joseph intrusted with the precious plates. However, the entire 
 portion of the golden volume which the angel said might be 
 translated was reduced by the nimble amanuensis to readable 
 manuscript. ' ' 
 
 It is now apparent to the reader, from the testimony of their 
 own witnesses, that neither the plates or interpreters were of 
 any use to Smith in making the Book of Mormon ! That oval 
 or kidney shaped stone did away with the necessity of plates 
 and spectacles ! Smith could, we are told, put that stone in his 
 hat, place the hat over his face and translate just as well as 
 when he had the plates and interpreters ! Translate what ? 
 He had nothing to translate, for the plates were gone. As we 
 are left to conjecture as to the workings of the Mormon prophet 
 and his angel, we suppose that the Lord took those plates to 
 
 104 
 
heaven because he had a curiosity to see what was on them, 
 and having found out something about Joe Smith he was afraid 
 to risk them in his hands any more, so he just deputized an 
 angel to bring those Egyptian characters one at a time, and 
 drop them in Smith 's old hat. Mormons talk about a second 
 Daniel, in the person of Joe Smith ! Reader, think of 
 Daniel when he was called to the palace of Belshazzar to 
 interpret the handwriting on the wall. See him stand before 
 the king and the mighty ones of that realm, while he boldly 
 tells the names of the characters, and gives the interpretation. 
 If Daniel had crouched in some corner, behind a sheet, his hat 
 over his face and a pebble in it that had been taken from some 
 well in Babylon, and that he had taken from among the trinkets 
 of some child — imagine him in that position, without anj' 
 reputation in point of wisdom, not known as a prophet, but 
 claiming to interpret by the magical power of that stone 
 characters that were on a plate that he had taken out of the 
 ground which he refused to let intelligent people examine. If 
 Daniel had been thus represented, there would have been a 
 parallel between him and Smith. As it is, however, there is 
 none. 
 
 Orson Pratt, speaking in behalf of their argument that is 
 based upon the agth chapter of Isaiah says: 
 
 "All this was fulfilled before Mr. Smith was aware that it 
 had been so clearly predicted by Isaiah. He sent the 'words 
 of a book' which he found as before stated, to Professor Anthon. 
 But it was a sealed writing to the learned professor — the 
 aboriginal language of ancient America could not be deciphered 
 by him. He was as much puzzled as the wise men of Babylon 
 were to interpret the unknown writing upon the wall. Human 
 wisdom and learning in this case, were altogether insufficient. 
 It required another Daniel who was found in the person of Mr. 
 Smith." 
 
 As this argument has been so elaborately given and relied 
 upon by both the Utah and Reorganized branches of the Mormon 
 
 105 
 
fraternity, and as with it Mornionism, in the eyes of all 
 intelligent and conscientious people, must stand or fall, we 
 again give the testimony of Smith and Harris, which be it 
 understood, forms a part of the inspired literature of all 
 Mormons. Smith say: 
 
 "Some time in this month of February the afore- 
 mentioned Mr. Martin Harris came to our place, got the 
 characters which I had drawn off the plates and started 
 with them to New York. 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, which 
 was as follows: 'I went to the city of New York and presented 
 the characters, which had been transcribed, with the translation 
 thereof, to Professor 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- they were Egytian, Chaldaic, 
 Assyrian and Arabic, and he said that they were true characters. 
 He gave me a certificate certifying to the people of Palmyra 
 that they were true characters, and that the transalation 
 of such of them as had been translated was also correct. 
 I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell, who sanctioned what 
 Professor Anthon had said respecting both the characters and 
 the translation. ' " 
 
 Now let us remember this is Mormon inspiration speaking 
 through the prophet of Mormonism. But, let us also remember 
 that the same inspiration speaking through the entire Mormon 
 family. Organized and Reorganized, says that the testimony 
 through Joe Smith is a lie. 
 
 If a witness be called onto the stand who, in giving his 
 testimony, stultifies himself, giving positive contradictory 
 testimony touching the most important points in the suit, all 
 intelligent jurors pronounce him a perjured being and reject his 
 testimony. We have called Mormon inspiratipn onto the stand, 
 
 io6 
 
but it has stultified itself, positively contradicted itself in the 
 more important points under consideration. Therefore, all 
 intelligent, conscientious people must reject the testimony 
 of Mormon inspiration, it being the testimony of a perjured 
 witness. If what Smith says regarding the testimony 
 of Anthon and Mitchell was true why did he not get a number 
 of such men to examine those plates and give to the world 
 some reliable testimony in their behalf? Why did they not 
 preserve that certificate that was given bj' Anthon and Mitchell? 
 What heaven does is not done in a dark corner, under suspicious 
 circumstances. The fact is, Mormonism is a humbug, the book 
 of Mormon being a fraud of the deepest dye. 
 
 The testimony that we have given regarding the Anthon 
 afFair has all been from Mormon sources, and altogether 
 unreliable, their inspiration being a perjured witness. Such 
 being the case we will now hear some testimony from another 
 and a reliable source. Remy and Brechesly, vol. i, p. 245, 
 gives the following: 
 
 "In a letter bearing date January 17, 1834, Professor Anthon 
 distinctly denies having seen a translation of any kind, and 
 asserts that the characters which Harris showed him WERE 
 ANVHING but Egyptian. Mr. Anthan says in this letter that 
 the copy exhibited by Harris contained characters arranged in 
 columns, imitating Greek and Hebrew letters, crosses, flourishes, 
 Roman letters inverted, and that these perpendicular columns 
 were terminated by a clumsily drawn circle, divided into several 
 compartments, decked with various strange marks, evidently 
 copied from the Mexican calendar given by Humboldt, but so 
 copied as to conceal the source from which it was taken." 
 MENE, TEKEL. 
 
 107 
 
CHAPTER NINETEEN. 
 
 Mormon inspiration, like the inspiration of Mahometanisni 
 labors much to gratify the curiosity of man, yet it leaves ns to 
 wonder and inquire about many things that it speaks of, and 
 that without any assurance of our curiosity being gratiiied. 
 One can but wonder why the angel should have taken those 
 old spectacles to heaven. It may be that the I/Ord wanted to 
 examine them in order to see what the deficiency was; or it may 
 be that he felt ashamed for any one to see them. — The reader 
 will please excuse this. The whole thing is so ridiculously- 
 absurd that it is not worthy of serious consideration. 
 
 We now turn our attention to the use of proper names, and 
 in examining them we will have a demonstration of the falsity 
 of the Book of Mormon. Proper names, the names of men, 
 cities, towns, countries, and rivers are not translatable. They 
 are only transferable, and the same sound, as near as possible 
 is given in each language. As an illustration take such as 
 Egypt, Palestine, Babylon, Ninevah, Damascus,- etc., or the 
 names of men, such as Adam, Enoch, Noah, Job, Daniel, etc. 
 The Mayas, as we have seeii, were among the most ancient 
 inhabitants of Central America, and the most enlightened of 
 any of its ancient inhabitants, being the only people there that 
 had a written language. That language has survived the 
 vicissitudes of time, and remains the same today; in the main, 
 that it was 2,000 or 2,500 years ago. 
 
 Dr. Agustus La Plongeon, in Vestiges of the Mayas, page 
 25, says; "The language of the ancient Mayas, strange as it 
 may appear, has servived the vicissitudes of time, wars, political 
 and religious convulsions. It has, of course, somewhat 
 degenerated by the mingling of so many races in such a limited 
 space as the peninsula of Yucatan is; but it is yet the vernacular 
 
 108 
 
» ■ ';" 
 
 ; '"'" -'^ "'"' 
 
 ,..-, .. ..-,..,-.,,„ , , 
 
 1 '^0^- 
 
 IflOl 
 
 • 4^/1? 
 
 s. 1^%, 
 
 1), ( if/} 
 
 'Jl)i| jfr 
 
 3. J'^- 
 
 )^fj)« 
 
 'i^r C''ii 
 
 h. r'^^H. 
 
 isjr-,. '^ 
 
 • n ^ii 
 
 5, fi 
 
 ik. /' ^ 
 
 I^X ' \u 
 
 (..^e 
 
 lijr , m 
 
 
 ^< c:'c 
 
 ik ;ri 
 
 uf u 
 
 r'-.-^C 
 
 I"?.'/ 'fl 
 
 1. 
 
 9 ^A-^a 
 
 ^ iy- 
 
 m, ;0 
 
 % f?;. ii 
 
 j) jmwlwm a. 
 
 ,-1 
 
 l jhmi'm^H, 
 
 t^'f'' 
 
 J m ■ 
 
 
 §/i)(rp| )id{»,uyi.is.v.i . 
 
 ■ t'^t'.iwRip 
 
 If'lki clCCP 
 
 rhmci \o LciiicVi'. 
 

of the people. The Spainards themselves, who strived so hard 
 to wipe out all vestiges of the ancient customs of the aborigines 
 were unable to destroy it; nay, they were obliged to learn it; 
 and now many of their descendants have forgotten the mother 
 tongue of their sires and speak Maya only. In some localities in 
 Central America it is still spoken in its' pristine purity, as, for 
 example, by the Chaacmules. " 
 
 Short, page 478, says: "What is most satisfactory to us is 
 the probability that the language is spoken today by the mass . 
 of the native population of Yucatan as it was anciently, for, 
 says Senor Pimentel, 'The Indians have preserved this idiom 
 with such tenacity that to this day they will speak no other. ' 
 Senor Oroyco j Berra furnishes us evidences that little change 
 has taken place in the language since the earliest times, in the 
 statement that all the geographical names of the peninsula are 
 Maya, which is considered proof in his judgment that the Mayas 
 were the first occupants of the country. ' ' 
 
 Reader, think of the fact now before us. The Mayas were 
 the first inhabitants of Central American. They are there now, 
 speaking the same language that they spake anciently, and 
 their history reaches back into the remotest antiquity. Their 
 alphabet we can give, and we challenge the entire Mormon 
 fraternity to show the remotest resemblance between that 
 alphabet and the characters that the Book of Mormon says were 
 used by the ancient inhabitants of that country. (We regret 
 our inability to give our readers the Maya alphabet in these 
 articles. We are, however, being urged, not simply by brethren 
 but by representative men in the denominations to pirt our 
 matter in permanent form. This will likely be done, and should 
 it be done our diagrams will all be given in the book; and 
 unhesitatingly do we say, it will give a thorough demonstration 
 that the Book of Mormon is one of the basest frauds that was 
 ever concocted by designing men.) 
 
 One can take the Bible and go into Bible lands, there they 
 find the names of men, countries, cities and rivers, just as given 
 
 109 
 
in that book, from the remotest antiquity down to the close of 
 the New Testament record; thus demonstrating the authenticity 
 of that book. But alas, how different it is with the Book of 
 Mormon! Take that book and go into Central America, where 
 it claims to have originated, and we fail to find a name that it 
 gives. Not one of theih was ever known there. The names 
 are there now that were there 2,000 years ago. 
 
 The Bible tells us that the Jews, with whom it claims to 
 have originated, were the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and 
 Jacob. Those names are there now. Towns and places they 
 talked of, where they lived, and wells they dug can be shown, 
 and wherever we find their descendants those names are 
 revered. Scores of centuries could not obliterate them. 
 
 The Book of Mormon tells us that Lehi, Nephi, and Lanian 
 were the progenitors of the aborigines of North and South 
 America. Why can we not go to the parts where they lived, 
 and where it is claimed that their descendants flourished most, 
 where they reached their highest civilization, and find their 
 names revered — find the places they talked about — find some 
 monument that marks their enterprise? Gentle reader, those 
 names are not there, and never were there ! Why is this? 
 Echo answers why ? Such men never lived ! The Book of 
 Mormon is a book of fiction — a falsehood of the deepest dye. 
 
 We now give in parallel columns the names of lands, cities 
 and countries of ancient America as given in the Book of 
 Mormon, and the actual names that were here, as ascertained 
 by the research of antiquarians. The left hand column will 
 give the actual names, and the right hand column will give the 
 names according to the Book of Mormon. 
 
 ANCIENT NAMES. MORMON NAMES. 
 
 Carchac Antionum 
 
 Champoton Amnion 
 
 Chichen Itza Ammonihah 
 
 Chimathuacan Antipara 
 
 Chiquimula Boaz 
 
Cholula 
 
 Bountiful 
 
 Colouacan 
 
 Cumeni 
 
 Hapallanconco 
 
 Desolation 
 
 Huchuetan 
 
 Gadiandi 
 
 Hueyxalan 
 
 Gad 
 
 Gualulco 
 
 Gadiomnah 
 
 Itzalane 
 
 Gilgal 
 
 Izamai 
 
 Gid 
 
 Mazalepec 
 
 Gideon 
 
 Mayapan 
 
 Gimgimno 
 
 Metlaltoyuca 
 
 Helam 
 
 Mazapan 
 
 Hermounts 
 
 Nachan 
 
 Ishmael 
 
 Nimxab 
 
 Jacob 
 
 Ococingo 
 
 Jacobugath 
 
 Olman 
 
 Jershon 
 
 Quiyahuiztlan 
 
 Jerusalem 
 
 Quemeda 
 
 Jordon 
 
 Quauhnahuac 
 
 Josh 
 
 Quauhatochco 
 
 Kishkumen 
 
 Tamoancan 
 
 Laman 
 
 Tepen 
 
 Lemuel 
 
 Tlaachicatzin 
 
 Manti 
 
 Tlapallanconco 
 
 Melek 
 
 Tlaxicoluican 
 
 Minon 
 
 Tepetla 
 
 Middoni 
 
 Tonacatepetl 
 
 Mocum 
 
 Tatzapan 
 
 Morianton 
 
 Teotihuacan 
 
 Moroni 
 
 Tlacopan 
 
 Moronihah 
 
 Tax pan 
 
 Mulek 
 
 Tulan 
 
 Nephihah 
 
 Tulancingo 
 
 Noah 
 
 Txintzurtzan 
 
 Omner 
 
 Tzequil 
 
 Onidah 
 
Xalisco 
 
 Xibalba 
 
 Xicalanco 
 
 Xochicalco 
 
 Xumiltepec 
 
 Yobaa 
 
 Zacatlan 
 
 Zinhcohuatl 
 
 Oniha 
 
 Sherrizah 
 
 Shilam 
 
 Shimlon 
 
 Sidom 
 
 Shem 
 
 Shemnilon 
 
 Teancuni 
 
 Zarahemla 
 
 Zuzrom 
 
 We now give a list of the names of men arranged as above: 
 
 ANCIENT NAMES 
 Igh 
 
 Iraox 
 
 Votan 
 
 Cipoctonal 
 
 Oxomoco 
 
 Tlalteteciii 
 
 Xuchicaoaca 
 
 Xelhua 
 
 Xicalancatl 
 
 Tenuch 
 
 Mixtecatl 
 
 Ulmecatl 
 
 Otomitl 
 
 Itzaob 
 
 Acapichtzin 
 
 Cabracau 
 
 Cecatzin 
 
 Chaac Mol 
 
 Chalcatzin 
 
 Cohnatzon 
 
 Cukiilcan 
 
 Htiematzin 
 
 MORMON NAMES 
 
 Aaron 
 
 Abinadi 
 
 Abinadom 
 
 Alma 
 
 Aniaron 
 
 Amaleki 
 
 Amalekiah 
 
 Aminadab 
 
 Ammon 
 
 Ammoran 
 
 Amlici 
 
 Amtilek 
 
 Amnion 
 
 Antipus 
 
 Archeantus 
 
 Benjamin 
 
 Boaz 
 
 Cezoram 
 
 Chemish 
 
 Corianton 
 
 Coiantunir 
 
 Emron 
 
Hunbatz Enos 
 
 Hunchouen Gadiandi 
 
 Hun-Came Gad 
 
 Hunahpu Gidgidotii 
 
 Melzotzin Gideon 
 
 Totzapantzin Gidianton 
 
 Tlapalmetzin Gidianhi 
 
 Tlacamihtzin Hagoth 
 
 Unkub-Came Helam 
 
 Unkub Hunahpu Heleman 
 
 Xbalanque Heloram 
 
 Xpiyacoc Isaiah 
 
 Xmucane Ishmael 
 
 Xquip Jacob 
 
 Zamna Jarom 
 
 Zipacna Jershon 
 
 This list gives the actual names that were here, with a 
 corresponding number of Mormon names. That the reader, 
 however, may see a full list of Mormon names, as given by the 
 Book of Mormon, we give the full list. Lemuel, Limhi, Luram, 
 Mathoni, Mathonihi, Melek, Mormon, Maroni, Monah,, Nehor, 
 Nephi, Noah, Omni, Paanchi, Pachus, Pacumeni, Pahoran, 
 Sam, Samuel, Seantum, Seezaran, Sham, Shemnon, Shiblon, 
 Timothy, Tubaloth, Zarahema, Zeezrom, Zedekiah, Zemnariah, 
 Zenephi, Zewiff, Zenos. 
 
 We again challenge the entire Mormon fraternity to a 
 comparison of these names. There is not a name in the entire 
 Mormon list that bears the remotest resemblance to any of the 
 ancient names of Central America! ! Why is this ? The Book of 
 Mormon says that the Nephites faithfully keep a record of their 
 lineage, and as a consequence, a record of their proper names, 
 and a record of their wars, their religious and political 
 enterprises. Why then, we ask, is it that antiquarians fail to 
 find any trace of these records ? — fail to find a name that even 
 resembles a Mormon name? Names of ancient men can be 
 
 "3 
 
given, and their idolatrous worship, their cannibalistic customs 
 — the nature of their civilization can be gathered from their 
 stone and stucco carvings, and their picture writings. Not 
 only can antiquarians give the proper names that were in 
 ancient Central America, the nature of the civilization there, 
 but also the characters used in the only written language that 
 was ever there, but nothing can be found there that has any 
 resemblance to anything that the Book of Mormon gives ! ! ! 
 In view of these facts but one conclusion can be reached — the 
 Book of Mormon is a fraud — as fearful a falsehood as ever came 
 from the regions of his Satanic Majesty's dominions! 
 
 114 
 
CHAPTER TWENTY. 
 
 "Out of thine own nioutli will I judge thee, thou wicked 
 servant." Luke 19: 22. We now purpose to show by the Book 
 of Momion that the devil is the foundation of the Mormon 
 church. "And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of 
 the Gentiles the foundation of a great church. And the angel 
 said unto me, Behold, the foundation of a church, which is most 
 abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the saints 
 of God, yea, and tortureth them, and bindeth them down, and 
 yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into 
 captivity. And it came to pass that I beheld this great and 
 abominable church; and I saw the devil that he was the 
 foundation of it. And I also saw gold and silver, and silks and 
 scarlets, and fine twined linen, and all manner of precious 
 clothing; and I saw many harlots." — B. of M., pp. 20, 100-103. 
 
 All Mormons hold that this great and abominable church 
 is the Roman Catholic ecclesia. It is a fact however that the 
 Roman Catholic and the Mormon churches are built upon the 
 same foundation. To the church in Pergamos the Lord said, 
 ' 'So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, 
 which thing I hate. " Rev. 2: 15. In order to understand 
 what was in the Nicolaitan doctrine it is only necessary to 
 analyze the term. It is a compound term from nicho and 
 LAiTos. Nicho, from the root niche, means to get the 
 ascendency. Laitos is simply the people. We have, hence, 
 in that word or doctrine, what is known in the ecclesiastical 
 world as the ci,ERGY and laity. It is there alone that we find 
 a class that hold the ascendency, and talk of the people as the 
 laity. There were some in the apostles ' day that were seeking 
 in the spirit of Diotrophes, to get the ascendency, that they 
 
 115 
 
might be as lords over the masses. This is what the Lord hates, 
 and the reason is apparent. In the kingdom of the Christ we 
 have a kingdom in which each citizen is a member of the royal 
 family. They constitute, hence, a kingdom of priests, with 
 equal rights and privileges, in all that pertains to the worship 
 of God. In that kingdom there are no dignitaries to lord it 
 over the masses. See Rev. i: 6; I. Pet. 2; 9. Each member in 
 that family is born of royal parentage. They are all children of 
 God, and are hence, joint heirs with the King immortal. The 
 holy place of the tabernacle that was erected by Moses, under 
 the immediate directions of the Almighty, was given as a type 
 of the institution of God in Christ. In that holy place all met 
 as consecrated priests of God — all were sanctified to the same 
 service — all within that institution were equal, had equal 
 privileges in all the services therein. In Ezekiel's vision of the 
 temple of God the same lesson is taught that is given in the 
 tabernacle. In that vision is given a picture of a building 
 composed of many rooms, each room the same size, and each 
 room just the size of the entire building, and each worshipper in 
 that building filled the same measure. 
 
 In the institution of God the Nicolaitan doctrine is 
 positively prohibited, for that doctrine subverts the will of God, 
 enslaves the masses, and keeps them from the light of God. In 
 Rome we have a kingdom of the clergy. In that institution we 
 find, hence a self constituted priesthood that has the ascendency 
 over and rule of the people. In that institution, hence, we find 
 the Nicolaitan doctrine, that which the Lord hates. In the 
 Roman ecclesia there are ecclesiastical dignitaries of various 
 sizes, and a centralization of power on earth. There we see the 
 pope, the prelates, the cardinals, the arch-bishops, the diocesan 
 bishops, the priests, etc,, with a centralization of power at 
 Rome; and if we should call attention to her demoniacal features 
 we would mention the Hermits, the Dominican Friars, the 
 Inquisition, etc. 
 
 In Mormonism there is the first presidency, the patriarchs, 
 116 
 
the apostles, the seventies, the high priests, the bishops, the 
 elders, the priests and the deacons. And should we call attention 
 to its especial demoniacal features we would mention tlie 
 Whitling deacons, the Danite Bands, Celestial Marriages, etc., 
 etc., and all know that from its incipiency Mormonism 
 proposed a centralization of power on earth. Thus it is clearly 
 seen that Mormonism closely apes Romanisn, and has the 
 Nicoliatan doctrine in its fulness. We give the following; 
 
 1. Romanism being founded upon the devil, an3' church 
 modeled after the Roman pattern has the devil for its foundation. 
 
 2. But the Mormon church is modeled after the Roman 
 pattern. 
 
 3. Therefore the Mormon church has the devil for its 
 foundation. 
 
 Again, 
 
 1. A church built upon the Nicolaitan doctrine, the 
 doctrine of clergy and laity is something the Lord hates. 
 
 2. But the Mormon church, having the doctrine of clergy 
 and laity, is built upon the Nicolaitan doctrine. 
 
 3. Therefore, the Mormon church is something that the 
 Lord hates. 
 
 We will now show that genuine Mormonism is polygamous. 
 That Joseph Smith was the oracle of Mormenism — its true 
 representative and expounder will not be denied by any 
 representative of Mormonism. 
 
 We now give attention to the question. Was Joseph Smith, 
 the reputed prophet of latter day saints, the author of celestial 
 marriage.!" It will, it must be admitted that if Joseph Smith 
 was the author of celestial marriage, he was the author of 
 polygamy as practiced by the Utah church. This being so, 
 polygamy is a tenet of, and belongs to genuine Mormonism. 
 Such being the case, none can be genuine Mormons and reject 
 polygamy. Smith was highly favored by the inspiration that 
 guided him. He could hence, have a revelation granted him 
 for any and every emergency. It mattered not as to the nature 
 
 117 
 
of any project that he might have on hand, nor the moral 
 features of any practice that he wished to indulge in, he could 
 have a revelation that would justify his course. Notwithstand 
 iug the Book of Mormon condemned polygamy, when Smith 
 wanted to justify plural marriages, the same inspiration that 
 had condemned such could, at Smith's request, authorize, yea 
 command it, and threaten all who opposed it with eternal 
 damnation! Hence, the following wonderful revelation: 
 
 "I. Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant 
 Joseph, that inasmuch as you have enquired of my hand, to 
 know and understand wherein, I, the Lord, justified Abraham, 
 Isaac and Jacob, as also Moses, David and Solomon, my 
 servants, as touching the principle and doctrine of their having 
 many wives and concubines: Behold ! and lo, I am the Lord thy 
 God, and will answer thee as touching this matter: 
 Therefore prepare thy heart to receive and obey the instructions, 
 which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this 
 law revealed unto them must obey the same; for behold! I reveal 
 unto you a new and everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not in 
 that covenant, then are ye" dammed; for no one can reject this 
 covenant, and be permitted to enter into my glory; for all who 
 will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which 
 was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as 
 was instituted from before the foundation of the world; and as 
 pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant it was instituted 
 for the fulness of my glory, and he that receiveth a fulness thereof 
 must and shall abide the law or he shall be damned saith the Lord. 
 
 "2. And verily I say unto you that the conditions of this 
 law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, 
 oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or 
 expectations that are not made and entered into and sealed by 
 the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as 
 well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy by 
 revelation and commandment, through the medium of mine 
 
 ii8 
 
anointed whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this 
 power, (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold 
 this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the 
 earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this 
 priesthood are conferred) are of no efficacy, virtue or force in 
 and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that 
 are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead." 
 It may be well to take this document by sections, that we 
 may when we reach the end, have an understanding of the 
 whole; and enjoy the fulness thereof! It is evident that the 
 world never would have been favored with such a revelation 
 had not Joseph been directly concerned, and hence importuned 
 the Lord that he might know just how polygamy could be 
 justified! Mormons talk of a new and everlasting covenant, 
 and of Mormonism affording the fulness of the gospel. Thej- 
 have be.en challenged many times to give one idea pertaining 
 to the gospel of Christ that is not found in the New Testament, 
 and to show in what the fulness of the gospel consisted, as 
 exhibited in Mormonism. They will never be enabled to comply 
 with this request, nor to point to a law that embodies a new 
 covenant until they endorse this polygamous document! It 
 does claim to give a new and everlasting covenant to 
 give the law embodying that covenant. It is, however, 
 a law governing and justifying a plurality of wives ! 
 They are wont to say that the fulness of which the religious 
 world had been deprived consists in the miraculous endowments 
 that have been restored by the introduction of Mormonism. 
 They argue that the true saints of God are not found where 
 these miraculous endowments are wanting. In this, however, 
 they show the Book of Mormon to be false. It is a fact that is 
 conceded by all intelligent students of ecclesiastical history that 
 miraculous gifts disappeared with the ending of the apostles' min- 
 istry . Mormons have asserted, and yet say, that they disappeared 
 because of apostasy, and because, hence, the saints had ceased 
 to exist. The quotation, however, from the Book of Mormon, 
 with which we began this article, says that the Roman ecclesia, 
 
 119 
 
necessarily a few hundred years after the apostles, did slay and 
 torture the saints of God. Truly, the legs of the lame are not 
 equal. 
 
 This revelation answered Joseph's purpose in another 
 respect. It made Joseph dictator over the entire Mormon 
 fraternity. No contract, civil or religious, and, of course, that 
 included marriage vows, was binding without the seal of the 
 Holy Spirit affixed by him who had the key of that authority ! ! 
 We now know what the new and everlasting covenant is, as 
 revealed to Joseph. It was a law authorizing polygamy, and 
 establishing Smith's right as an absolute monarch ! We 
 understand now how Mormonism, through its oracle, gave the 
 fulness of the gospel ! I wonder by what blood this covenant 
 was dedicated? ! One is made to wonder whether the founders 
 of Mormonism ever saw a book that is called the New Testament? 
 Yet we know that they had, for otherwise they coiild not have 
 stolen the amount from it that they did in making the Book of 
 Mormon. But, gentle reader, they had about as much respect 
 for its authority as a true servant of Jesus Christ can have for 
 the authority of such a miserable blasphemer as Joseph Smith 
 was. That wonderful revelation continues: 
 
 "3. Behold! Mine house is a house of order, saith the 
 Lord God, and not a house of confusion. Will I accept an 
 offering, saith the Lord, that is not made in my name? Or, 
 will I receive at your hands that which I have not appointed ? 
 And will I appoint unto you, saith the Lord, except it be by 
 law, even as I and my Father ordained unto you before the 
 world was? I am the Lord thy God, and I give unto 
 you this commandment, that no man shall come unto the Father 
 but by me, or by my word which is my law, saith the Lord; 
 and everything that is in the world, whether it be ordained of 
 men, by thrones, or principalties, or powers, or things of name, 
 whatever they may be, that are not by me or my word, saith 
 the Lord, shall be thrown down and shall hot stand after men 
 are dead, neither in nor after the resurrection, saith the Lord 
 your God; for whatsoever things remaineth are by me; and 
 whatsoever things are not by me shall be shaken and destroyed. " 
 
 This will do for one mess, so we pause.' 
 
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE. 
 
 In section third of this blasphemous document, as the 
 careful reader will observe, there is a justification of that 
 sentiment in Mormonism, which manifested itself from the 
 beginning of their career, that the earth and the fulness thereof 
 belonged to the ' 'Saints, ' ' jure divino; that, hence, they had 
 a right to appropriate to their own use anything among the 
 Gentiles that they might desire, even to a Gentile's wife. 
 It was a sufficient justification just to conclude that "the Lord 
 needed such." This sentiment in its legitimate bearing has 
 been amply exemplified in the work of the Danite bands and 
 the "Mountain Meadow Massacre. " It was this sentiment that 
 involved them in troubles in Missouri, in Illinois, and in Utah, 
 which could only be checked by the strong arm of the 
 government of the United States. The constitution and laws of 
 the United States guarantee to all of its citizens inalienable 
 rights in the pursuit of happiness, and liberty of conscience, 
 and pledges protection to person and property. 
 
 But, be it understood, no contract, or pledge by any 
 legislative enactment, by any principality or power whatever is 
 of any binding force, unless sealed by the Holy Spirit; and, be 
 it understood, that seal cannot be affixed except by the hand of 
 Jo-seph Smith! Therefore, O ye saints, fear not, for no deed, 
 bond, or vow that simply has the seal of accursed Gentile powers 
 is to be regarded by the saints. Hence, know ye, O ye people 
 of the faith of Nephi, that neither in the resurrection, nor after 
 the resurrection, will there be penalty for disregarding what the 
 Gentiles call their rights! But 
 
 "4. Therefore, if any man marry him a wife in the world, 
 and he marry her not by me, nor by my word; and he covenant 
 
with her so long as he is in the world, and she with him, their 
 covenant and marriage is not in force when they are dead and 
 when they are out of the world; therefore, when they are out of 
 the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are 
 appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering ser- 
 vants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more and an 
 exceeding and an eternal weight of glory; for these ingels did 
 not abide my law, therefore they cannot be enlarged, but remain 
 separately and singly, without exaltation in their saVed 
 condition, to all eternity, and from henceforth are not gods, but 
 are angels of God forever and ever. " 
 
 If any marry without the approval of him who holds the 
 key of power over all contracts, of course, Joseph Smith and 
 his successors, their marriage will not be valid in the next 
 world. They cannot be enlarged, for even the wife they had- 
 here will be given to some faithful saint, who honored this" new 
 and everlasting covenant. The disobedient that get to heaven 
 will be doomed to a bachelor's life. Yea, worse, they will only 
 be servants to help take care of true Mormon's wives and 
 children. Too bad. Such can never aspire to the position of a 
 god. The thoughtful reader can see in this the foundation of 
 the Adam God theory, as held by the parent Mormon church. 
 That theory is that Adam is the only God that we have to, do 
 with ! Adam as our God came to earth and took to himself the 
 virgin Mary as a spiritual wife, and by virtue of that union 
 Jesus was born ! ! But hear: 
 
 "5. And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a 
 wife, and make a covenant with her for time and for all eternity, 
 if that covenant is not by me or by my word, which is my law, 
 and is not sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, through him ' 
 whom I have anointed and appointed unto this power, then it 
 is not valid, neither of course when they are out of the world, 
 because they are not joined by me, saith the Lord, neither by 
 my word; when they are out of the world, it cannot be received 
 there, because the angels and the gods are appointed there, by 
 
vvhom they cannot pass, they cannot therefore, inherit my glory, 
 for my house is a house of order, saith the Ivord God. ' ' 
 
 . A man may be ever so earnest, faithful and true to the 
 marriage vows here, and covenant with his wife to be her 
 husband in eternity, and she may covenant to cleave to him 
 through all eternity, but they not being married according to 
 the new and everlasting covenant dedicated by Jo. Smith, their 
 contract will be void. That: man can never be exalted but will 
 have to take his position among the servants without. His 
 wife, of course will have another chance. By becoming the 
 spiritual wife of some faithful Mormon she can pass, and inherit 
 eternal glory ! ! To talb about the inspiration of the author of 
 such God-dishonoring stuff is enough to make the demons of 
 hell hang their heads in shame, if there could be shame in the 
 infernal regions ! 
 
 ','6. And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a 
 wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and ever- 
 lasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of 
 promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed 
 this power, and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said 
 unto them, ye shall come forth in the first resurrection, and if 
 it be after the-first resurrection, in the next resurrection, and 
 shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, 
 dominions, all heights and depths — then, shall it be written in 
 the Lamb's book of life, that he shall commit no murder whereby 
 to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and 
 commit no murder, whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be 
 done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put 
 upon them, in time and through all eternity, and shall be of 
 full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by 
 the angels and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation 
 and glory, in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, 
 which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds 
 forever and ever.", 
 
 .One would .conclude that the spirit by which Smith was 
 123 
 
inspired had marrying on the brain. We are, however, in this 
 copious revelation, given an insight into the Mormon heaven, 
 and the importance of the Mormon priesthood. Their heaven is 
 a place with an inner and outer court. The inner court is the 
 place of eternal joys, the fulness of which will consist in 
 associations in the celestial marriage relation, and in the 
 propogation of their seeds, and thus increasing the number in 
 the families- of the god! ! ' This place will be guarded by 
 Mormons who have developed into gods and higher angels. 
 By these none can pass except those who have honored the 
 new and everlasting covenant, as it is revealed in this revelation. 
 The key of the priesthood, we are assured, is especially designed 
 to govern this covenant, 
 
 "7. Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; 
 therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because 
 they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things 
 are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they 
 have all power, and the angels are subject unto them. 
 
 "8. Verily, vferily, I say unto you, except ye abide my 
 law, ye cannot attain to this glory; for strait is the gate and 
 narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation 
 of the lives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me 
 not in the world, neither do ye know me. But if ye receive 
 me in the world, then ye shall know me, and shall receive your 
 exaltation, that where I am, ye shall be also. This is eternal 
 lives, to know the only wise and true God and Jesus Christ 
 whom he hath sent. I am He. Receive ye, therefore, my law. 
 Broad is the gate and wide is the way that leadeth to the death ; 
 and many there are that go in thereat; because they receive me 
 not, neither do they abide in my law. 
 
 ' '9. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man marry a wife 
 according to my word, and they are sealed by the Holy Spirit of 
 promise, according to mine appointment, and he or she shall 
 commit any sin or transgression of the new and everlasting 
 covenant whatever, and all manner of blasphemieSj and if they 
 
 124 
 
commit no murder, wherein they shed innocent blood — yet they 
 shall come forth in the first resurrection, and enter into their 
 exaltation; but they shall be destroyed in the flesh, and shall be 
 delivered unto the buffetings of Satan unto the day of 
 redemption, saith the I,ord God." 
 
 Such a law as this might well be dictated by the inspiration 
 of one who was himself a vile blasphemer. Gentile blood, in 
 the eyes of Mormon inspiration, and as intimated in the next 
 section of this vile document, is not innocent blood. "Innocent 
 blood" is the blood of faithful ".saints. " 
 
 "10. The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall 
 not be forgiven in the world, nor out of the wcrld is in that ye 
 commit murder, whereby ye shed innocent blood, and assent unto 
 my death after ye have received my new and everlasting covenant 
 saith the Lord God; and he that abideth not this law can in no wise 
 enter into my glory, but shall be damned saith the Lord. " 
 
 This shows that the "innocent blood" is, as we suggested, 
 the blood of "Saints. " In shedding that, hence, "Ye assent 
 unto my death. " This is, of course, upon the principle that, 
 "In as much as ye h^ve done it unto one of the least of these 
 my brethren, ye have done it upto me." This justifies all 
 such as the Mountain Meadow Massacre! The blood of those 
 women and children was not innocent blood, for they were not 
 in' ' 'the new and everlasting covenant. ' ' ! The language of this 
 section informs us that this unpardonable sin is in shedding inno- 
 cent blood after receiving this covenant. Before that, hence, one 
 is not liable to such sin. Mormons who are conscientiously op- 
 posed to polygamy can get a bit of comfort here. This however, is 
 over balanced by the fact that all are to be damned who reject this 
 covenant. There is no consolation in Mormonism except what 
 is to found in "celestial marriage." 
 
 "II. I am the Lord thy God and will give unto thee the 
 law of my Holy Priesthood, as was ordained by me and my 
 Father before the world was. Abraham received all things, 
 whatsoever he received by revelation and commandment, by 
 
 125 
 
my word saith the Lord, and hath entered into his exaltation, 
 and sitteth upon his throne. 
 
 "12. Abraham received promise concerning his seed, and 
 the fruit of his loins^from whose loins ye are, namely, my 
 servant Joseph — which were to continue so long as they were in 
 in the world; and as touching Abraham and his seed, out of the 
 world they should continue; both in the world and out of the 
 world they shall continue as innumerable as the stars; or, if ye 
 were to count the sand upon the seashore, ye could not number 
 them. This promise is yours, also, because ye are of Abraham, 
 and the promise was made unto Abraham; and by this law are 
 the continuation of the works of my Father, wherein he 
 glorifieth himself. Go ye, therefore, and do the works of 
 Abraham; enter ye into my law, and ye shall be saved. But if 
 ye enter not into my law 5'e cannot receive the promise of my 
 Father, which he made unto Abraham." 
 
 These sections introduce to us the gist of this revelation, 
 and show from whence Smith 's inspiration came ! Abraham 's 
 righteous work consisted in his concubinage, and Smith is clearly 
 commanded to enter into Abraham's works, and by so doing is to 
 enter into his exaltation, as Abraham did into his. If there was 
 nothing else in Mormonism to corroborate the fact, this one rev- 
 elation is enough to demonstrate that the whole thing is of the 
 devil! Do Mormons allow themselves to think, or do they pride 
 in being humbugged? ! 
 
 .126 
 
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO. 
 
 It is not our purpose to notice all the absurdities and false- 
 hoods in this REVELATION, but just enough to see the true 
 inwardness of the thing. We notice, however, that "my 
 servant, Joseph, " is of the descendants of Abraham. Such is 
 the Book of Mormon. He was of the tribe of Joseph, and 
 Joseph was to be his name. B. of M., 52: 18, 19, 20. He was 
 to be of the descendants of Lehi, 53: 25. "My servant, Joseph, " 
 was, hence, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, of the tribe of Joseph, 
 and of the family of Lehi — no amalgamated concern, but reg- 
 istered stock. But the Nephites were annihilated. Joseph was, 
 hence, of the Lamanites. This is so, or the Book of Mormon is 
 false. To make its claims good Mormon inspiration must tell 
 us of which tribe of Indians Joseph was? And, not only tell 
 us, but demonstrate the fact. He must be, as said, registered 
 stock — a PULL blood. 
 
 "13. God commanded Abraham, and Sarah gave Hagar to 
 Abraham to wife. And why did she do it? Because this was' 
 the law, and from Hagar sprang many people. This, therefore, 
 fulfilling among other things, the promise. Was Abraham, 
 therefore, under condemnation? Verily, I say unto you, nay; 
 for I the Lord commanded it. Abraham was commanded to 
 offer his son Isaac, nevertheless, it is written, thou shalt not 
 kill. Abraham, however, did not refuse, and it was accounted 
 to him for righteousness. 
 
 "14. Abraham received concubines, and they baire him 
 children, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, 
 because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law, as 
 Isaac also, and Jacob did none other things than they were 
 commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according to 
 
 127 
 
the promise, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels, but are 
 gods. David also received manj' wives and concubines 
 also Solomon and Moses, my servants; as also many others of 
 my servants, from the beginning of creation until this time, 
 and in nothing did they sin, save in those things which they 
 received not of me. 
 
 '•15. David's wives and concubines were given unto him, 
 of me, by the hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the 
 prophets who had the keys of this power; and in none of these 
 things did he sin against me, save in the case of Uriah and his 
 wife; and therefore he hath fallen from his exaltation and 
 received his portion; and he shall not inherit them out of the 
 world; for I gave them unto another saith the Lord. 
 
 "16. I am the Lord thy God, and I give unto thee, my 
 servant Joseph, an appointment, and restore all things; ask 
 what ye will, and it shall be given unto you according to my 
 word; and as ye have asked concerning adultery — verily, verilj-, 
 I say unto you, if a man receive a wife in the new and ever- 
 lasting covenant, and if she be with another man, and I have 
 not appointed unto her by the holy anointing, she hath 
 committed adultery, and shall be destroyed. If she be with 
 another man, she has committed adulty; and if her husband be 
 with another woman, and he was under a vow he has broken 
 his vow and hath committed, adultery, and if she hath not 
 committed adultery, but knoweth it and I reveal it unto you 
 my servant Joseph, then shall you have power, by the power of 
 my holy pristhood, to take her, and give her unto him that 
 hath not committed adultery, but hath been faithful; for he 
 shall be ruler over many; for I have conferred upon you the 
 keys and power of the priesthood, wherein I restore all things, 
 and make known unto you all things in due time." 
 
 The punishment inflicted upon David for his great sin in 
 the case of Uriah was, his wives and concubines were taken 
 from him and given to another. Hence, being alone he could 
 not be exalted. What a punishment it must have been for 
 
 128 
 
David to stand aside, and see others blessed with wives and 
 concubines; passing, hence, to their exaltation — to have, hence, 
 eternal joys, which will consist in the propagation of their 
 seeds; to be hence, gods ruling over many. What an 
 important matter the Mormon priesthood is, for they have the 
 key of this power. It is theirs to decide in matters of adultery 
 — to take women from unworthy men and give them to worthy 
 ones — to decide, hence, who, and who shall not be exalted. For 
 be it remembered, their seal is the seal of heaven. 
 
 "17. And verily, verily, I say unto you, that whatsoever 
 you seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; whatsoever you 
 bind on earth, in my name, and by my word saith the Lord, it 
 shall be eternally bound in the heavens, and whatsoever sins 
 j'ou remit on earth, shall be remitted eternally in the heavens; 
 and whosesoever sins you retain on earth, shall be retained in 
 heaven. 
 
 18. And again, verily I say, whomsoever you bless, I will 
 bless, and whomsoever you curse, I will curse, saith the Lord; 
 for I the Lord, am thy God. And again, verily I say unto you, 
 my servant Joseph, that whatsoever you give on earth, and to 
 whomsoever you give any one on earth, by my word, and 
 according to my law, it shall be visited with blessings and not 
 cursings, and with ray power saith the Lord, and shall be 
 without condemnation on earth, and in heaven; for I am the 
 Lord thy God, and will be with thee even unto the end of the 
 world, and through all eternity; for verily I seal upon you your 
 exaltation, and prepare a throne for you in the kingdom of my 
 Father, with Abraham yovir father. Behold, I have seen your 
 sascrifices, and will forgive all your sins; I have seen your 
 sacrifices in obedience to that which I have told you; go, there- 
 fore, and I make a way for your escape, as I accepted the 
 offering of Abraham, of his son Isaac. 
 
 20. Verily, I say unto you, ,a commandment I give unto 
 my handmaid Emma Smith, your wife, whom I have given 
 unto you, that she stay herself and partake not of that which I 
 
 129 
 
command you to offer unto her; for I did it, Saith the Lord, to 
 prove you all, as I did Abraham; and that I might require an 
 offering at your hand, b3' my covenant and sacrifice; and let 
 mine handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those that have been 
 given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure 
 before me; and those who are not pure, and have said the5' were 
 pure, shall be destroi^ed, saith the Lord God; for I am the Lord 
 thy God, and ye shall obey my voice; and I give unto m}- 
 servant Joseph, that he shall be made ruler over many things, 
 for he hath been faithful over a few things, and from hence- 
 forth I will strengthen him. 
 
 21. And I command my handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide 
 and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if 
 she will not abide this commandment, she shall be destroyed, 
 saith the Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her, 
 if she abide not in my law; but if she will not abide this 
 commandment, then shall my servant Joseph do all things for 
 her, even as he hath said; and I will bless him and multiply 
 him, and give unto him an hundred fold in this world, of 
 fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, houses and lands, 
 wives and children, and crowns of eternal lives in the eternal 
 worlds. And again, verily I say, let mine handmaid forgive 
 my servant Joseph his trespasses; and then shall she be 
 forgiven her trespasses, wherein she hath trespassed against me 
 and I, the Lord thy God will bless her, and multiply her, and 
 make her heart to rejoice. ' ' 
 
 The reader will remember what we said about innocent 
 BLOOD and notice that should Emma Smith refuse to abide this 
 polygamous document, "my servant Joseph" would be justified 
 in destroying her! In that event no innocent blood would be 
 shed! How easy the transition from this to that abominable 
 doctrine of "blood atonement." Indeed, the foundation for 
 that doctrine is laid broad and deep. 
 
 "22. And again, I say, let not my servant put his propertj- 
 out of his hands, lest an enemy come and destroy him, for 
 
 130 
 
Satan seeketh to destroy; for I am the Lord thy God, and he is 
 my servant; and behold! and lo, I am with him as I was with 
 Abraham, thy father, even unto his exaltation and glory. 
 
 23. Now, as touching the law of the priesthood, there are 
 many things pertaining hereunto. Verily, if a man be called 
 of my Father, as was Aaron, by mine own voice, and by the 
 voice of him that sent me; and I have endowed him with the 
 keys of the power of this priesthood, if he do anything in my 
 name, and according to my law, and by my word, he will not 
 commit sin, and I will justify him. Let no one therefore, set 
 on my servant Joseph; for I will justify him; for he shall do the 
 sacrifice which I require at his hands, for his transgressions, 
 saith the Lord your God. 
 
 24. And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood; 
 If any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and 
 the first give her consent; and he espouse the second, and they 
 are virgins and have vowed to no other man, then he is justified, 
 he cannot commit adultery, for they are gjven unto him; for he 
 cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and 
 to no one else; and if he have ten virgins given unto him by this 
 law, he cannot commit adultery, for they beong to him and they 
 are given unto him, therefore he is justified. But if one or 
 either of the ten virgins, after she is espoused, shall be with 
 another man, she has committed idultery, and shall be destroyed; 
 for they are given unto him to multiply and replenish the earth, 
 according to my commandment and to fulfill the promise which 
 was given by my Father before the foundation of the world; and 
 for their exaltation in the eternal worlds, that they may bear 
 the souls of men; for herein is the work of my Father continued, 
 that he may be glorified. 
 
 25. And again, verily, verily I say unto you, if any man 
 have a wife who holds the keys of this power, and he teaches 
 unto her the law of my priesthood as pertaining to these things, 
 then shall she believe, aud administer unto him, or she shall be 
 destroyed, saith the Lord your God; for 1 will destroy her; for I 
 
 131 
 
will magnify my name upon all those who receive and abide in 
 my law. Therefore it shall be lawful in me, if she receive not 
 this law, for him to receive all things whatsoever I, the l^ord his 
 God, will give unto him, because she did not minister unto him 
 according to my word; and she then becomes the transgressor; 
 and he is exempt from the law of Sarah, who administered unto 
 Abraham according to the law, when I commanded Abraham to 
 take Hagar to wife. And now, as pertaining unto this law, 
 verily, verily I say unto you, I will reveal more unto you here- 
 after; therefore let this suffice for the present. Behold, I am 
 Alpha and Omega. Amen." — Millenial Star, Jan. 1853. 
 
 Gentle reader, you now have the vile, blasphemous 
 document in full, and I am sure that all whose eyes are not 
 beclouded by the mists from the infernal regions, will bear me 
 out in the conclusion, that a more vile, sickening, blasphemous 
 God-dishonoring and soul-destroying and woman-degrading 
 document could not have been penned. The question, was 
 Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, the author of that document, 
 next demands our attention. If he was, he must be viewed as 
 one of the most vile, lying blasphemers, that ever lived on earth. 
 
 132 
 
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE. 
 
 It was, we may safely say, an admitted fact, that Joseph 
 Smith, the reputed prophet, was the author of celestial marriage, 
 or in other words, polygamy as practiced by the Utah Mormons, 
 until it was denied by what is known as the Reorganized 
 Church. It will, it must be admitted, that if the Mormon 
 prophet was the author of the polygamous revelation that we 
 have given, he was the real author of that practice, and was 
 himself in such practice when that document was written, for 
 there is in it a labored effort to justify "My servant Joseph" in 
 such practice. If Smith was the author of that document, it 
 follows, as a consequence, that polygamy is a legitimate tenet 
 of and belongs to genuine Mormonism. Such being the case 
 polygamy rests upon the same foundation that the Book of 
 Mormon does, and is sustained by the same inspiration. Such 
 being so, Mormonism and polygamy must stand or fall together. 
 One cannot hold to the one and reject the other. President 
 Joseph Smith, son of the prophet, and president of the 
 Reorganized Church, makes an effort to account for tbe origin of 
 polygamy; and of course, does the best that can be done on the 
 negative of the question now before us. He says: 
 
 "I believe that during the last years of my father's life 
 there was a discussion among the elders, and possibly in 
 practice, a theory like the following: that persons who might 
 believe that there was a sufficient degree of spiritual affinity 
 between them as married companions to warrant the desire to 
 perpetuate that union in the world to come and after the 
 resurrection, could go before some high priest whom they 
 might choose, and there making known their desire, might be 
 MARRIED for eternity, pledging themselves while in the fiesh 
 unto each other for the observance of the rights of companion- 
 
 133 
 
ship in the spirit: that this was called spiritual marriage, and 
 upon the supposition that what was sealed by this priesthood, 
 before which this pledge was made on earth, was sealed in 
 heaven, the marriage relation then entered into would continue 
 in eternity. That this was not authorized by command of God 
 or rule of the church; but grew out of the' constant discussion 
 had among the elders, and that after a time it resulted in the 
 wish (father to the thought) that married companionship 
 rendered unpleasant here by inconipatablilities of different sorts, 
 might be 'cured for the world to come, by securing thrqugh this 
 means a congenial companion in the spirit; that there was but 
 brief hesitancy between the wish and an attempt to put it in 
 form and practice. That once started, the idea grew; spiritual 
 affinities were sought after, and in seeking them the hitherto 
 sacred precints of home were invaded; less and less restraint 
 was exercised; the lines between virtue and license, hitherto 
 sharply drawn, grew more and more indistinct; spiritual 
 companionship if sanctioned by a holy priesthood, to confer 
 favors and pleasures in the world to come, might be antedated 
 and put to actual test here — ^and so the enjoyment of a spiritual 
 companionship in eternity became a companionship here; a 
 wife a spiritual wife, if congenial; if not, one that wa^ congenial 
 was sotight, and a wife in fact was supplemented by one in 
 spirit, which in easj' transition became in essential earthly 
 relationship. From this, if one, why not two or more, and 
 plural marriage or plurality of wives, was the growth. " 
 
 Why should there have been much discussion among 
 Mormon officials, in the incipiency of that system, upon the 
 .subject of SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE? ' 'From the abundance of the 
 heart the mouth speaks. " That about which officials are 
 MUCHivY concerned they talk much, gives the secret of this 
 discussion. Christ put the Sadducees to silence when they 
 came to him with the question, 'Whose wife shall she be in the 
 "resurrection?" But neither the wisdom nor authority of 
 heaven can silence a self-constituted modern priesthood. If these 
 
 134 
 
o3S.cials in Nauvoo had consulted the Savior's answer to the 
 Sadducees' question, and had any respect for the great Teacher 
 they would not have been concerned about a wife in eternity! 
 President Smith further says: 
 
 ' 'That which in life they (Joseph and Hiram Smith) were 
 powerless to prevent, rapidly took the successive forms hereto- 
 fore stated and polygamy, after eight years of further fostering 
 in secret, rose in terrible malignity to essay the destruction of 
 the church. That my father may have been a party to the first 
 step in this strange development, I am perhaps prepared to 
 admit, though the evidence connecting him with it is vague 
 and uncertain; but that he was in any otherwise responsible for 
 plural marriage, plurality of wives, or polygamy, I do not 
 know, nor are the evidences so far produced to me conclusive to 
 force my belief." TuUige, pp. 798, 799, Soo. 
 
 Mt, Smith was very confident of his abil.it3' to vindicate 
 his father's character so far as polygamy was concerned, and in 
 this confidence he provoked a controversy with the Utah branch 
 of the Mormon family. The evidence on the other side will be 
 given. We are willing, however, for our readers to hear the 
 best that can be said in Smith's defense. As published in The 
 Saint's Herald, Lamoni, Iowa, Elder William Marks, a stanch 
 member of the Reorganized church, says: 
 
 "About the first of June, 1844, situated as I was at that 
 time, being the Presiding Elder of the stake at Nauvoo, and by 
 appointment, the presiding officer of the High Council , I had a 
 very good opportunity to know the affairs of the church, and 
 ray convictions at that time were that the church, in a great 
 measure had departed from the pure principles and doctrine of 
 Jesus Christ. I felt much troubled in mind about the condition 
 of the church. I prayed earnestly to my heavenly Father to 
 show me something in regard to it, when I was wrapped in 
 vision and it was shown me by the Spirit that the top or 
 branches had overcome the root in sin and wickedness, and 
 that the only way to cleanse and purify it was to disorganize it 
 
 135 
 
and in due time the Lord would reorganize it again. There 
 were many other things suggested to my mind, but the lapse of 
 time has erased them from ray memory. " 
 
 Mr. Marks saw, in his vision, jnst what he was grieving 
 over. These officials that were so much concerned about 
 CONGENIAL WIVES FOR ETERNITY had OVERCOME the member- 
 ship IN SIN AND wickedness! Tell me, gentle reader, what 
 are we to think of the inspiration of such a set of men? ! 
 These officials, by their corruption, were smothering whatever 
 good there might be in the body. All this was under the 
 superintendence of the prophet of Mormonism, whose inspiration 
 we are asked to accept and honor — -asked to believe that God 
 left the throne of the universe, took his son from the 
 mediatorial throne, and brought him to earth just to introduce 
 him to the one that was at the head of this corruption ! I Now, 
 under the supervision of this man, that institution he was 
 especially chosen to establish was so corrupt that the Lord 
 concluded he would have to destroj' the concern and try it 
 again!! Marks further says: 
 
 "A few days afterthis occurrence I met with Bro. Joseph. 
 He said that he wanted to converse with me on the affairs of 
 the church, and we retired to ourselves. I will give his words 
 verbatim, for they were indelibly stamped upon my mind. He 
 said that he had desired for a long time to talk with me on the 
 SUBJECT OF POLYGAMY. He Said it would eventually prove the 
 overthrow of the church, and we would have to leave the United 
 Stated unless it could be speedily put down. " 
 
 This conversation was in 1844. For a long time, we are 
 told. Smith had been wanting to talk with Marks on the subject 
 of polygamy. For A LONG TIME, therefore, polygamy had 
 been on hand in Nauvoo, and the Mormon prophet was aware 
 of the fact. At that time it had such a hold on the church 
 that Smith was alarmed, for fear they would have to leave the 
 United States! How came polygamy there? Smith could get 
 revelations whenever he called for them. Why could he not 
 
 136 
 
get one that would have stopped such practice? Instead of 
 seeking such he was discussing spiritual wifery! Why should 
 Smith have been alarmed for fear they would have to leave the 
 United States? It had been revealed to him, if we credit 
 Mormon inspiration, that he was to build God's Zion — the New 
 Jerusalem here. B. of M. p. 468: 3-6. Mormon inspiration is a 
 queer something, anyway. We can prove by it that 
 the militia of Missouri and Illinois were the power of God. 
 When they were to begin to build their Zion, under the directions 
 of, the promised seer, the power of God was to come upon them. 
 Under the directions of Joseph they began ^ to build at 
 Independence, Mo. But the Missouri militia came upon them. 
 Therefore the Missouri militia was the power of God. 
 
 Under the directions of Joseph they began to build at 
 Nauvoo, Illinois. But the Illinois militia came upon them. 
 Therefore the Illinois militia was the power of God. 
 
 The testimony of Smith and Marks shows , that polygamy 
 had been practiced for a long time previous to the time of their 
 conversation. 
 
 When the charter of Nauvoo was drafted, under the super- 
 vision of Smith, Gen. Bennett objected to certain clauses as 
 being too strong. Smith replied: 
 
 We must have that power in our courts, for this work will 
 gather of all mankind; the Turk, with his ten wives, will come 
 to Nauvoo, and we must have laws to protect him with these 
 wives.- Budle, p. 72. 
 
 Ebenezer Robinson, at one time editor of the Times and 
 Seasons, the official church organ at Nauvoo, and an especial 
 confident of Smith's, being opposed to polygamy, united with 
 the Reorganized church, in which he lived and died. Being 
 intimately acquainted with the condition of affairs in Nauvoo, 
 he considered it his duty, in behalf of truth to make a statement 
 of facts. This he and his wife did. That statement was as 
 follows: 
 
 137 
 
"To whom it may concern: 
 
 We, Ebenezer Robinson and Angeline Robinson, husband 
 and wife, hereby certify that in the fall of 1843 Hiram Smith, 
 brother of Joseph Smith, came to our house at Nauvoo, Illinois, 
 and taught us the doctrine of polygamy. And I, the said 
 Ebenezer Robinson, hereby further state that he gave me special 
 instructions how I could manage the matter so as not to have it 
 known to the public. He also said that while he had heretofore 
 opposed the doctrine, he was wrong and his brother Joseph was 
 right, referring to his teaching it. Ebenezer Robinson. 
 
 Angeline Robinson. 
 
 Sworn ^o and subscribed before me this 2gth day of 
 December, 1873. [i,. S.] James Sallee, Notary Public. " 
 
 Soon after this aifidavit was filed Mrs. Robinson died. Mr. 
 Robinson being questioned with regard to the matter, filed the 
 following: 
 
 "To whom it may concern: 
 
 This is to certify that in the latter part of November, or in 
 December, 1843, Hiram Smith (brother of Joseph Smith, Presi- 
 dent of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) came to 
 my house in Nauvoo, Illinois, and taught me the doctrine of 
 spiritual wives, or polygamy. He said he heard the voice of the 
 Lord give the revelation on spiritual wifery (polygamy) to his 
 brother Joseph, and that while he had heretofore opposed the 
 doctrine, he was wrong, and his brother Joseph was right all the 
 the time. He told me to make a selection of some young woman 
 and he would send, her to me, and take her to my home and if she 
 should have an heir, to give out word that she had a husband 
 who had gone on a mission to a foreign country. He seemed 
 disappointed when I declined to do so. E. Robinson. 
 
 Davis City, Iowa, Oct. 23, 1885. 
 
 Subscribed and sworn to before me, a Notary P ublic in and 
 for Decatur County, Iowa, this 24th day of October, A. D. 1885. 
 
 [L. S.] Z. H. Gurley, Notary Public. "' 
 
 These affidavits are recorded in the Biographical and 
 
 138 
 
Historical records of Ringold and Decatur counties, Iowa, pp. 
 543,544. ■ These founders of Mormonism had room to fear the 
 United States and it is well that there was an earthly power 
 they had to fear for it is evident that they did not have the fear 
 of God before their eyes. In the fact that the earth did not 
 open and let Nauvoo sink into the pit, nor the Lord cause fire 
 and brimstone to be poured upon it, gives a demonstration that 
 miraculous times are past. It does seem strange that such 
 wretches could make any pretence to fear God, or regard man. 
 
 139 
 
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR. 
 
 The testimony that we have given from members of the 
 Reorganized church demonstrates the fact that Joseph Smith 
 was a polygamist. We purpose, however, to plac§ this matter 
 in such clear light that it can never be doubted by any who 
 desire the truth. In a discourse delivered by Brigham Young 
 in Salt Lake City, Aug. 29, 1852, he said: 
 
 "You heard Brother Pratt state this morning that a 
 revelation would be read this afternoon, which was given 
 previous to Joseph's death . . . The original copy of this 
 revelation was burned up. William Clayton was the man who 
 wrote it from the mouth of the prophet. In the meantime it 
 was in Bishop Whitney 's possession . He wished the privilege of 
 copying it, which Brother Joseph granted. Sister Emma burnt 
 the original . . This revelation has been in my possession 
 many years; and who has known it? I keep a patent lock on 
 my desk, and there does not anything leak out that should not." 
 Tullige, pp. 565, 566. 
 
 Joseph having shown by his conduct that he was determined, 
 on his own part, to carry out the principles of that polygamous 
 document to their fullest import, William and Wilson Law, one 
 a Major-General, the other a member of the First Presidency, 
 the highest quorum in the church, together with the Higbees, 
 Fosters and others, determined to expose the corruption of 
 Smith and his associates. In order to this they started a paper 
 called the Nauvoo Expositor. Of this enterprise Tullige, p. 476, 
 says: 
 
 ' 'These sought to establish in Nauvoo an incendiary paper 
 called the Nauvoo Expositor, the avowed purpose of which 
 was to stir up the people of Illinois to bring Joseph Smith to 
 
 140 
 
justice for his crimes and to expel the saints from the State. It 
 was like btiilding the magazine of the enemy in the city of 
 Refuge; and also after the iirst number of the Expositor the 
 city council declared the paper a public nuisance and dangerous'" 
 to the peace of the commonwea-lth; and they thereupon ordered 
 the office of the paper to be demolished by the marshal and his 
 posse. ' ' 
 
 This shows the moral character of the spirit by wljich the 
 Mormon prophet . was inspired! Why did not those leaders 
 challenge an open investigation? Smith's course in this matter 
 showed that he was possessed of the spirit of an unprincipled 
 tyrant; and could he have had his way there would have been 
 an end to free speech and liberty of the press. The Mormon 
 prophet showed that he was possessed of the same spirit and 
 made of the same material of the Mohammedan prophet. The 
 following shows the true spirit of this modern prophet. 
 
 "In the winter of 1843-1844, " says Governor Ford, of 
 Illinois, who was intimately acquainted with Smith and his 
 associates, "the Common Council passed some other ordinance 
 to protect their leaders from arrest, on demand from Missouri. 
 They enacted that no writ issued from any other place than 
 Nauvoo, for the arrest of any person in it, should be executed in 
 the city, without an approval thereon endorsed by the Mayor; 
 that if any public officer by virtue of any foreign writ, should 
 attempt to tnake any arrest in the city without such approval of 
 his process, he should be subject to imprisonment for life, and 
 that the Governor of the State should not have the power of 
 pardoning the offender without the consent of the Mayor, ' ' 
 
 Remember, gentle reader, Joseph Smith was the mayor. 
 This gives an insight to the spirit of the man. He purposed to 
 place himself above all civil authority, and live as he pleased in 
 defiance of all civil law! He was then living in adultery — 
 practicing polygamy in defiance of all civil law, iu opposition 
 to all principles of virtue and morality. He did not propose 
 that his licentious course should be interfered with. .The first 
 
number of the Nauvoo Expositor contained affidavits from 
 General Bennett and others, certifying that Smith was practicing 
 polygamy. Smith decreed that the paper and press should be 
 destroyed and it was done! But, says Governor Ford; 
 
 "To crown the whole folly of the Mormons, in the spring 
 of 1844, Joe Smith announced himself as a candidate for 
 the president of the United States. His followers were confident 
 that he would be elected. Two or three thousand missionaries 
 were immediately sent out to preach their religion and to 
 electioneer in favor of their prophet for the Presidency." 
 Beadle, p. 72. 
 
 Again: 
 
 "The Mormons openly denounced the government of the 
 United States as utterly corrupt and as being about tp pass 
 away, and be replaced by the government of God, to- be 
 administered by his servant Joseph. It is at this day certain 
 also, that about this time the prophet re-instituted an order in 
 the Church called the 'Danite band. ' These were to be a body 
 of police and guards about the person of their sovereign who 
 were sworn to obey his orders as the orders of God himself. 
 Soon after these institutions were established, Joe Smith began to 
 play the tyrant over several of his followers. The "first act of this 
 sort which excited attention, was an attempt to take the wife of 
 William Law, one of his most talented and principal disciples, 
 and ijiake her a spiritual wife. !' Beadle, p. 92. 
 
 The Governor further says: 
 
 "It must not be supposed that the pretended prophet 
 practiced, the tricks of a common imppster; that he was a dark 
 and gloomy person with a long beard, a grave and severe aspect, 
 and a reserved and saintly carriage of his person; on the 
 contrary he was full of levity, even to boyish romping; dressed 
 like a dandy, and at times drank like a sailor and swore like a 
 pirate." Beadle, p. 114. 
 
 The Manuscript History of Joseph Smith, as written by 
 himself, fell into the hands of the Mormon leaders, and was 
 
 142 
 
taken to Salt Lake. After the controversy between L. O. 
 Xittlefield of Utah, and Joseph Smith, of Lamoni, Iowa, Little- 
 field pulished a tract entitled, "Celestial Marriage; Positive 
 ..Proof that Joseph Smith Had Plural Wives." In that tract 
 Mr. Littlefield says: 
 
 "In the History qf Joseph Smith, under date of Octobers, 
 1843, can be found the following: 'Gave instructions to try 
 those persons who were preaching, teaching or practicing the 
 doctrine of plural wives; for according to the law I hold the 
 keys of this power in the last days; for there is never but one 
 on earth at a time on whom the power and its keys are conferred, 
 and I have constantly said that no man shall have but one wife 
 at a time unless the Lord direct otherwise. ' " 
 
 Of course, we are to understand that when Joe Smith 
 gave permission for a man to have a plurality of wives it was 
 the Lord "directing otherwise." For, of what benefit were the 
 "keys of this power, " without permission to use them. The 
 polygamy, hence, that was practiced in Nauvoo, was by 
 direction of Joe Smith. By what law did Smith hold the keys 
 of this power? By the law embodied in the Polygamous 
 Revelation ! In this we have the testimony of Smith that 
 polygamy was practiced by his approval, and that, hence, he 
 was the author of the polygamous revelation. The keys of that 
 power placed Smith over the entire marrying business. Gov- 
 ernor Ford says: 
 
 "By means of his Common Council without the authority 
 of law, he established a recorder's office in Nauvoo in which 
 alone the titles of property could be recorded. In the same 
 manner and with the same want of legal authority he established 
 an office for issuing marriage license to Mormons, so as to give 
 him absolute control of the marrying propensities of his people. ' ' 
 Beadle, p. 92. 
 
 The reader will remember the requirement in the polygamous 
 document, that "My servant Joseph" keep his property in his 
 own hands. Why this? No bond, deed, record, enactment, 
 
 143 
 
or contract in any court or office of the Gentiles is of any force ! 
 As we have said, Smith was determined to carry out the 
 principles of that polygamous document to their fullest import. 
 
 In the true spirit of Mohammed, Smith ignored all law, 
 placed himself above all authority and could he have had his 
 way there would have been an end to liberty in America. 
 
 We now give the testimony of David Fulmar, a member of 
 the High Council in Nauvoo as given in Li ttlefi eld's tract. 
 
 "Territory of Utah, 1 
 
 County of Salt Lake. J ®^ 
 Be it remembered that on this fifteenth day of June, A. D. 
 1869, personally appeared before me, James Jack, a notary 
 public in and for said county, David Fulmer. who was by me 
 sworn in due form of law and upon his oath saith, that on or about 
 the twelfth day of August, A. D. 1843, whije in meeting with the 
 High Council, (he being a member thereof), in Hiram Smith's 
 brick office, in the city of Nauvoo, county of Hancock, State of 
 Illinois, Dunbar Wilson made inquiry in relation to the subject 
 of a plurality of wives, as there were rumors about respecting 
 it, and he was satisfied there was something in those remarks 
 and he wanted to know what it was, upon which Hiram Smith 
 stepped across the road to his residence, and soon returned 
 bringing with him a copy of the revelation on celestial marriage, 
 given to Joseph Smith, July 12, A. D. 1843, and read the same 
 to the High Council, and bore testimony of its truth. The said 
 David Fulmer further saith that to the best of his memory and 
 belief, the following named persons were present: Wm. Marks, 
 Austin A. Cowles, Samuel Bent, Geo. W. Harris, Dunbar 
 Wilson, Wm. Huntington, Levi Jackman, Aaron Johnson, 
 Thomas Grover, David Fulmer, Phineas Richards, James 
 AUread and Leonard Soby. And the said David Fulmer further 
 saith that Wm. Marks, Austin A. Cowles and Leonard Soby 
 were the only persons present who did not receive the testimony 
 of Hiram Smith, and that all the others did receive it from the 
 testimony of the said Hiram Smith. And further, that the copy 
 of said revelation on Celestial Marriage, published in the Desert 
 
 144 
 
News extra of September fourteenth, A. D. 1852, is a true copy 
 of the same. 
 
 Subscribed and sworn to by the said David Fulmer the day 
 and year first above mentioned. 
 
 James Jack, Notary Public. 
 
 Extract from a letter written by Thomas Grover: 
 
 "The High Council, of Nauvoo, were called together by the 
 prophet Joseph Smith, to know whether they would accept the 
 revelation on celestial marriage or not, , 
 
 The presidency of the stake, Wm. Marks, Father Coles, 
 and the late Apostle, Charles C. Rich, were there present . .. 
 Brothsr Hiram Smith was called upon to read the revelation. 
 He did so, and after reading it said: 'Now, you that believe 
 this revelation and go forth and obey the same shall be saved, 
 and you that reject it shall be damned. ' " 
 
 145 
 
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE. 
 
 As positive proof that Joseph Smith had plural wives the 
 following testimonies were given: 
 
 "I, Lpvina Walker, hereby certify that while I was living 
 with Aunt Emma Smith, in Fulton City, Fulton county, Illinois, 
 in the year 1849, she told me that she, Emma Smith., was 
 present, and witnessed the marriage or sealing of Eliza Part- 
 rige, Emily Partrige, Maria Lawrence, and Sarah Lawren(;e to' 
 her~ husband Joseph Smith, and that she gave her consent 
 thereto. - Lovina Walker. " - 
 
 We hereby witness that Lovina Walker made and signed th^ 
 above statement on the 1 6th day 'of June, A. D. 1869, of her 
 own free will and accord. Hyrum Walker. 
 
 Sarah E. Smith. 
 Jos. F. Smith." 
 
 Territory of Utah, ) 
 
 County of Salt Lake. P ® 
 
 Be it remembered that on this first day of May, A. D. 1869, 
 personally appealed before me, Elias Smith, Judge of Probate 
 for said county, Emily Dow Partrige Youngp who was by me 
 sworn in due form of la,w, and upon her oath saith on the nth 
 day of May, A. D. 1843, at the city of Nauvoo, county of 
 Hancock, state of Illinois, she was married or sealed to Joseph 
 Smith, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day 
 Saints, by James Adams,, a High Priest in said church according 
 to the law of the same regulating marriage, in the presence of 
 Emma (Hale) Smith and Eliza Maria Partrige (Lyman). 
 
 Emily D. P. Young. 
 
 Subscribed and sworn to by the said Emily D. P. Young, 
 the day and year first above written. 
 
 E. Smith, Probate Judge." 
 146 
 
"State of New Jersey, ) „„ 
 County of Burlington, j 
 
 Be it remembered that on this fourteenth day of Novembe^, 
 A. D. 1883, personally, appeared before me, J. W. Roberts, a 
 Justice of the Peace, bounty and state aforesaid, Leonard Soby, 
 who was by me sworn in due form of law, and upon path saith, 
 that on or about the 12th day of August, 1843, in the city of 
 Nauvoo, in -the state of Illinois, inthecounty of Hancock, before 
 the High Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day 
 Saints, of which body and .Council aforesaid he was a member, 
 personally appeared one Hyrum Smith, of the iirst presidency 
 of said church, and brother to Joseph Smith, the president and 
 prophet of the same and presented to said council 
 the revelation on polygamy, enjoining its observance apd 
 declaring it came from God; unto which a large majority of the ' 
 council agreed and assented, believing it to be of a celestial 
 order, though no vote was taken upon it, for the reason that the 
 voice of the prophet in such matters, was understood by us to 
 be the voice of God to the church, arid that said revelation was 
 presented to said council as before stated, as coming from 
 Joseph Smith, the prophet of the Lord, and was" received by us 
 as other revelations had been. The said Leonard Soby further 
 saith that Elder Austin A. Cowles, a member' of the High ■ 
 Council aforesaid, did, subsequeritly to the 12th day of August, 
 1843, openly declare against said revelation on polygamy, and 
 the doctrines therein contained. Subscribed and sworn to by 
 the said Leonard Soby, the day and year first above written. 
 Joshua W. Roberts, Justice of Peace. " 
 ''Salt Lake City, January 31, 1886. 
 
 A. M. Miisser, Dear Brother: — Having noticed in the 
 Deseret News an enquiry for testimony concerning the revelation 
 on plural marriage, and having read the testimony of Brother 
 Grover, it came to my mind that perhaps it would be right for 
 me to add my testimony, to his on the subject of Brother Hyrum 
 reading it in the High Council. 
 
 H7 
 
I well remember the circumstances. I remember he told^ 
 me he had read it to the brethren in his oflSce. He put it into- 
 my hands and left it with me for several days. I had been 
 sealed to him by Brother Joseph a few weeks previously, and 
 was well acquainted with almost every member of the High 
 Council, and know Brother Grover's testimony to be correct. 
 Now if this testimony would be of any use to such as are weak 
 in the faith or tempted to doubt, I should be very thankful. 
 Please make use of this in any way you think best, as well as - 
 the copy of the letter addressed to Joseph Smith at Lamoni. 
 Your sister in the gospel, Mercy R. .Thompson. " 
 
 The following is a copy of the Iptter referred to in the 
 above communication: . 
 
 "Salt Lake City, Sept. s, iS86. 
 
 Mr. Joseph Smith, Lamoni, Iowa, Dear Sir: — After having 
 asked my Father in heaven to help me, I sit down to write a 
 few lines as dictated by the Holy Spirit. After reading the 
 correspondence between you and L. O. Littlefield, I concluded 
 it was the duty of some one to bear a testiteony which could 
 not be disputed. 
 
 Finding from your letters to Littlefield that no one of your 
 Father's friends had performed this duty while you were here, 
 now I -will begin at once and tell you my experience. 
 
 My beloved husband R. B. Thompson, your father's private 
 secretary to the end of his mortal life, died August 27, 1841. 
 (I presume you well remember him.) Nearly two years after his 
 death your father told me that my husband had appeared to, 
 him several times, telling him that he did not wish me to 
 request your Uncle Hyrum to have me sealed to him for life. 
 
 Hyrtim communicated this to his wife (my sister), who by . 
 request opened the subject to me, when everything within me 
 rose in opposition to such a step; but when your father called 
 and explained the subject to me I dared not refuse to obey the 
 counsel, lest preadventure I should be found fighting against 
 God, and especially when he told me the last time my husband 
 
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appeared to him he came with such power that it made, him 
 tremble. He then inquired of the Lord what he should do; 
 the answer was, "Go and do as my servant hath required. ' 
 
 He then took all opportunity to communicate this to your 
 uncle Hyrum, who told me that the Holy Spirit rested upon 
 him from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. The 
 time was appointed, with the consent of all parties, and you r 
 father sealed me to your Uncle Hyrum for time in my sister's 
 room with a covenant to deliyer me up in the morning of the 
 resurrection to Robert Blaskell Thompson with whatever 
 ofispring should be the result of the union, at the same time 
 counselling your uncle to build a room for me and move me 
 over as soon as convenient, which he did, and I re- 
 mained there as a wife the same as my sister to the day of his 
 death. All this I am ready to testify to in the presence of God, 
 angels and men. Now I assure you I have not been prompted 
 or dictated by any mortal living in writing to you; neither does 
 a living soul know it but my invalid daughter. God bless you, 
 is the sincere prayer ofyourtrue friend, Mercy R. Thompson. 
 
 P . S. — If you feel disposed to ask me any questions, I will 
 be pleased to answer concerning blessings which I received 
 under the hands of your late mother, by the direction of your 
 father. M. R. T." 
 
 Gentle readers, you now have an insight into the inner 
 temple of Mormonism. The stench is sickening. The view 
 shocks our moral sensibilities. Our task has not been a pleas- 
 ant one, but has been performed as a matter of duty — a duty 
 performed in behalf of truth. If a proposition can be est-ab- 
 . lished by the force of testimony the Mormon prophet was a 
 .polygamist, and one of the mgst corrupt imposters that jever 
 lived on earth. He was the author of- that God dishonoring, 
 heaven-defying, soul-destroying, moral-corrupting, woman- 
 degrading and heathenish document, called "The Revelation on 
 • Celestial Marriage," every sentiment and principle of which is 
 void of moral principle, and, hence, heathenish and degrading. 
 
To connect the name of the Holy One of Israel with such and 
 make him responsible for it places its author among, the most 
 I vile and lying blasphemers that ever lived on earth. The 
 testimony of Mrs. Thompson bears the impress of truth, 
 breathes the spirit of sincerity, and shows a conscientiousness 
 upon the part of the writer. Joor woman. , One _can have no 
 feeling toward, her but one of pityj such as we would have for 
 any conscientious; deluded mortal. But how different the case 
 of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, who persued the course they did in 
 order to accomplish their fie^ndish purpose! Joseph, , the 
 prophet is converted into a veritable witch of Endor, and , has 
 several visits from the unseen world, the Lord gives instructions 
 and the Holy Spirit overwhelms the prophet's brother. All 
 this in order to one end. In order to what end was all this 
 co-operation of heaven and hades with these two Mormon 
 officials? To gratify the lusts of Hyru'm Smith! ! ! We need 
 ^not however, express surprise at this; for be it remembered, 
 Joseph Smith w,as called, commissioned and inspired to restore 
 the Fu;«NESS OF THE GOSPEL. The revelation on celestial 
 marriage is the key to that fulness. It was to consist in 
 RESTORING ALL THINGS. And, SO Certain as there is meaning 
 in language, that restoration was to consist in restoring to 
 THE "Saints" the right exercised by David and Solomon, that 
 is, the right of taking to themselves a plurality of wives and 
 concubines! That same key of knowledge gives us to under- 
 stand that exaltation in the next world depends upon a faithful 
 practice of this right. All hence, who oppose this right are to 
 . be damned. 
 
 Such are the mbral principles that underlie the Mormon 
 system. Those principles must be accepted by all who accept 
 Joseph Smith, for he was the oracle of that system: If we 
 accept Smith as one called antj sent of Go'd- to reves-l' and 
 , establish that system we must accept the system as he gave it. 
 As we have seen, however, the polygamous revelation 
 embodies the true principles of the Mormon system. It follows, 
 
 150 
 
hence, that the polygamous Uta:h church is the true Mormon 
 church. All others, hence, are apostates, with the condemna- 
 tion of Smith 's inspiration resting upon them. If, therefore, 
 Smith was inspired of God the anathemas of heaven rest upon 
 all who reject polj'gamy: Such being true the NewTestament 
 is false ftom beginning to end. It is, hence, a matter of choice 
 between Christianity and Mormonism, between Jesus the Christ 
 and Joseph Smith. 
 
 The lessons we have learned demonstrate the fact that - 
 there is no safety for any soul except- in a strict' adherence to 
 the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Jesus made no mistakes. He ■ 
 was God manifest in the flesh. His teaching wa^ the teaching 
 of God. God is perfection, ' and his teaching is perfection, 
 designed to perfect all who will accept and abide in it. In that 
 teaching we have both the Father and the Son. "All things 
 that the Father hath are mine, " said Jesus. "All things that , 
 I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you, " said 
 Jesus to his apostles.^ In Christ we have all the treasures of 
 wisdom and knowledge. Hence, "In Him dwells all the 
 fullness of the Godhead bodily. " When, therefore, we need 
 something beyoud God's treasures of wisdom and knowledge, 
 and somethiug in addition to the fulness of the God and Christ 
 of the Bible, we will need an additional revelation to what we 
 have in the New Testament. When humanity needs an 
 additional Christ in order to salvation they will need an 
 additional institution to the New Testament church in order to 
 enable the people of God to work out their salvation. And 
 when the people of God need something in addition to the^^ 
 infinite wisdom of God, they will need addititiotial rules and 
 regulations to those given in the New Testament, in order to 
 glorify God. 
 
 To all who enquire for the way of salvation God commands 
 them to hear his Son. Christ says, I am the way, the truth and 
 the life. ' ' If any would know the way of life as it is revealed in 
 the truth of God, "Go to my apostles, " says Christ. 
 
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