The Prophet Joseph Smith’s Testimony (1981)

borai JOSEPH SMITH'S TESTIMONY

Published by The Church of Jesus Christ ot Latter-day Saints Salt Lake City, Utah

JOSEPH SMITH'S TESTIMONY The following narrative is extracted from the extensive and detailed history compiled

by Joseph Smith and recounts In his own words some of the important events that led to the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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w a s b o m in t h e y e a r of o u r L o r d o n e t h o u s a n d e i g h t h u n d r e d a n d f i v e , o n t h e t w e n t y - t h i r d d a y of D e c e m b e r , in t h e t o w n of S h a r o n , W i n d s o r c o u n t y , s t a t e of V e r m o n t . M y f a t h e r , J o s e p h S m i t h , S e n i o r , left t h e s t a t e of V e r m o n t , a n d m o v e d to P a l m y r a , O n t a r i o ( n o w W a y n e ) c o u n t y , in t h e s t a t e ot N e w Y o r k , w h e n I w a s in m y t e n t h y e a r , or t h e r e a b o u t s . In a b o u t f o u r y e a r s a f t e r m y f a t h e r ' s arrival in P a l m y r a he m o v e d w i t h his f a m i l y i n t o M a n c h e s t e r , in t h e s a m e c o u n t y of O n t a r i o .

S o m e t i m e in t h e s e c o n d y e a r a f t e r o u r r e m o v a l t o M a n c h e s t e r , t h e r e w a s in t h e p l a c e w h e r e w e lived a n u n u s u a l e x c i t e m e n t o n t h e s u b j e c t of r e l i g i o n . It c o m m e n c e d w i t h t h e M e t h o d i s t s , but s o o n b e c a m e g e n e r a l a m o n g all t h e s e c t s in that r e g i o n . I n d e e d , t h e w h o l e d i s t r i c t s e e m e d a f f e c t e d by it, a n d g r e a t m u l t i t u d e s u n i t e d t h e m s e l v e s to t h e d i f f e r e n t r e l i g i o u s p a r t i e s , w h i c h c r e a t e d n o small stir a n d division amongst the people, some crying, " L o , h e r e ! " and others, " L o , there!" Some were c o n t e n d i n g for t h e M e t h o d i s t f a i t h , s o m e for t h e Presbyterian, a n d s o m e for the Baptist.

F o r n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e g r e a t love w h i c h t h e c o n v e r t s t o t h e s e d i f f e r e n t f a i t h s e x p r e s s e d at t h e t i m e of t h e i r c o n v e r s i o n , a n d t h e g r e a t zeal m a n i f e s t e d by t h e r e s p e c t i v e c l e r g y , w h o w e r e a c t i v e in g e t t i n g u p a n d p r o m o t i n g t h i s e x t r a o r d i n a r y s c e n e of r e l i g i o u s f e e l i n g , in o r d e r t o h a v e e v e r y b o d y c o n v e r t e d , as t h e y w e r e p l e a s e d to call it, let t h e m j o i n w h a t s e c t t h e y p l e a s e d — y e t w h e n t h e c o n v e r t s b e g a n to file off, s o m e to o n e p a r t y a n d s o m e t o a n o t h e r , it w a s s e e n t h a t t h e s e e m i n g l y g o o d f e e l i n g s of b o t h t h e p r i e s t s a n d t h e c o n v e r t s

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w e r e m o r e p r e t e n d e d t t i a n real; for a s c e n e of g r e a t c o n f u s i o n a n d b a d f e e l i n g e n s u e d ; priest c o n t e n d i n g a g a i n s t priest, a n d c o n v e r t a g a i n s t c o n v e r t ; s o t f i a t all ttieir g o o d f e e l i n g s o n e f o r a n o t h e r , if t h e y e v e r h a d a n y , w e r e e n t i r e l y lost in a strife of w o r d s a n d a contest about opinions.

I w a s at t h i s t i m e in m y f i f t e e n t h year. M y f a t h e r ' s f a m i l y w a s p r o s e l y t e d to t h e P r e s b y t e r i a n f a i t h , a n d f o u r of t h e m j o i n e d t h a t c h u r c h , n a m e l y — m y m o t h e r , Lucy; my brothers Hyrum and Samuel Harrison; and m y sister S o p h r o n l a .

D u r i n g this t i m e of g r e a t e x c i t e m e n t , m y m i n d w a s called up to serious reflection a n d great u n e a s i n e s s ; but, t h o u g h m y f e e l i n g s w e r e d e e p a n d o f t e n p o i g n a n t , still I k e p t m y s e l f a l o o f f r o m all t h e s e p a r t i e s , t h o u g h I a t t e n d e d their s e v e r a l m e e t i n g s as o f t e n a s o c c a s i o n w o u l d p e r m i t . In p r o c e s s of t i m e m y m i n d b e c a m e s o m e w h a t partial to t h e M e t h o d i s t s e c t , a n d I felt s o m e d e s i r e t o be u n i t e d w i t h t h e m ; b u t so g r e a t w e r e t h e c o n f u s i o n a n d strife a m o n g t h e d i f f e r e n t d e n o m i n a t i o n s , that it w a s i m p o s s i b l e f o r a p e r s o n y o u n g as I w a s , a n d so u n a c q u a i n t e d w i t h m e n a n d t h i n g s , to c o m e t o a n y c e r t a i n c o n c l u s i o n w h o w a s right a n d w h o w a s w r o n g .

M y m i n d at t i m e s w a s g r e a t l y e x c i t e d , t h e c r y a n d tumult w e r e so great a n d incessant.

In t h e midst of t h i s w a r of w o r d s a n d t u m u l t of o p i n i o n s , I o f t e n s a i d t o m y s e l f . W h a t is t o be d o n e ?

W h o of all t h e s e p a r t i e s a r e right; or, a r e t h e y all w r o n g t o g e t h e r ? If a n y o n e of t h e m be right, w h i c h is it, a n d h o w shall I k n o w It? While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties c a u s e d by t h e c o n t e s t s of t h e s e p a r t i e s of r e l i g i o n i s t s , I w a s o n e d a y r e a d i n g t h e Epistle of J a m e s , first c h a p t e r a n d fifth v e r s e , w h i c h r e a d s : If any of you lack wisdom, let film ask of God, ttiat giveth to all men liberally, and upbraldetti not; and It shall be given him.

N e v e r d i d a n y p a s s a g e of s c r i p t u r e c o m e w i t h m o r e p o w e r t o t h e h e a r t of m a n t h a n this d i d at t h i s t i m e t o m i n e . It s e e m e d t o e n t e r w i t h g r e a t f o r c e into e v e r y f e e l i n g of my h e a r t . I r e f l e c t e d o n it a g a i n a n d a g a i n , k n o w i n g t h a t if a n y p e r s o n n e e d e d w i s d o m f r o m G o d , I d i d ; for h o w t o a c t I d i d not k n o w , a n d unless I c o u l d get more w i s d o m than I then had, I w o u l d never k n o w ; for t h e t e a c h e r s of r e l i g i o n of t h e different s e c t s u n d e r s t o o d t h e s a m e p a s s a g e of s c r i p t u r e so d i f f e r e n t l y a s t o d e s t r o y all c o n f i d e n c e In s e t t l i n g t h e q u e s t i o n by a n a p p e a l t o t h e Bible.

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His First Vision T l e n g t h I c a m e t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n that I m u s t e i t h e r r e m a i n in d a r k n e s s a n d c o n f u s i o n , or # » e l s e I m u s t d o as J a m e s d i r e c t s , that is, a s k of G o d . I at l e n g t h c a m e to t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o " a s k of G o d , " c o n c l u d i n g t h a t if He g a v e w i s d o m to t h e m t h a t l a c k e d w i s d o m , a n d w o u l d give liberally, a n d not upbraid, I might venture.

S o , in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h this, m y d e t e r m i n a t i o n to a s k of G o d , I r e t i r e d to t h e w o o d s to m a k e t h e a t t e m p t . It w a s o n t h e m o r n i n g of a b e a u t i f u l , clear d a y , e a r l y in t h e s p r i n g of e i g h t e e n h u n d r e d a n d t w e n t y . It w a s t h e first t i m e in my life t h a t I h a d m a d e s u c h a n a t t e m p t , for a m i d s t all m y a n x i e t i e s I h a d never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.

After I had retired to the place w h e r e I had previously designed to go, having looked around m e , a n d f i n d i n g myself a l o n e , I k n e e l e d d o w n a n d b e g a n t o offer u p t h e d e s i r e s of m y heart t o G o d . I had scarcely done so, w h e n immediately I was s e i z e d u p o n by s o m e p o w e r w h i c h e n t i r e l y o v e r c a m e me, and had s u c h an astonishing i n f l u e n c e o v e r m e as t o b i n d m y t o n g u e so that I c o u l d not speak. Thick darkness gathered around m e , a n d it s e e m e d to m e for a t i m e as if I w e r e d o o m e d to sudden destruction.

B u t , e x e r t i n g all m y p o w e r s t o call u p o n G o d to d e l i v e r m e o u t of t h e p o w e r of this e n e m y w h i c h h a d s e i z e d u p o n m e , a n d at t h e v e r y m o m e n t w h e n I w a s r e a d y t o sink i n t o d e s p a i r a n d a b a n d o n myself to d e s t r u c t i o n — n o t t o a n i m a g i n a r y r u i n , but to t h e p o w e r of s o m e a c t u a l b e i n g f r o m t h e u n s e e n w o r l d , w h o h a d s u c h m a r v e l o u s p o w e r as I h a d never b e f o r e felt in a n y b e i n g — j u s t at this m o m e n t of g r e a t a l a r m , I s a w a pillar of light e x a c t l y o v e r m y h e a d , a b o v e t h e b r i g h t n e s s of t h e s u n , w h i c h d e s c e n d e d g r a d u a l l y until it fell u p o n m e .

It n o s o o n e r a p p e a r e d t h a n I f o u n d myself delivered from the e n e m y w h i c h held me b o u n d .

W h e n t h e light r e s t e d u p o n m e I s a w t w o P e r s o n a g e s , w h o s e b r i g h t n e s s a n d g l o r y d e f y all d e s c r i p t i o n , s t a n d i n g a b o v e m e in t h e air. O n e of t h e m s p a k e u n t o m e , c a l l i n g m e by n a m e , a n d s a i d — p o i n t i n g to t h e o t h e r — 7 h / s is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! M y o b j e c t in g o i n g to i n q u i r e of t h e L o r d w a s to k n o w w h i c h of all t h e s e c t s w a s right, that I m i g h t k n o w w h i c h to j o i n . N o s o o n e r , t h e r e f o r e , d i d I get p o s s e s s i o n of m y s e l f , s o a s to b e a b l e t o s p e a k , t h a n

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I a s k e d t h e P e r s o n a g e s w h o s t o o d a b o v e m e in t h e light, w h i c h of all t h e s e c t s w a s r i g h t — a n d w h i c h I should join. i w a s a n s w e r e o that I m u s t j o i n n o n e of t h e m , for t h e y w e r e all w r o n g , a n d t h e P e r s o n a g e w h o a d d r e s s e d m e said t h a t all t h e i r c r e e d s w e r e a n a b o m i n a t i o n In h i s s i g h t ; t h a t t h o s e p r o t e s s o r s w e r e all c o r r u p t ; that " t h e y d r a w n e a r t o m e w i t h t h e i r Hps, but their h e a r t s a r e tar t r o m m e ; t h e y t e a c h t o r d o c t r i n e s t h e c o m m a n d m e n t s of m e n : h a v i n g a f o r m ot g o d l i n e s s , but t h e y o e n y t h e p o w e r t h e r e o f . " h e a g a i n r o r b a d e me ro j O i n w i t h a n y of t h e m ; a n d m a n y o t h e r t h i n g s o i o he say u n t o m e . w h i c h 1 c a n n o t w r i t e at this t i m e . W h e n I c a m e to m y s e l f a g a i n , I f o u n d myself l y i n g o n m y b a c k , l o o k i n g u p Into h e a v e n .

S o m e f e w d a y s after I h a d this v i s i o n , I h a p p e n e d t o b e in c o m p a n y w i t h o n e of t h e M e t h o d i s t p r e a c h e r s , w h o w a s v e r y a c t i v e in t h e b e f o r e mentioned religious excitement; and, conversing w i t h him o n t h e s u b j e c t of r e l i g i o n , I t o o k o c c a s i o n t o give h i m a n a c c o u n t of t h e v i s i o n w h i c h I h a d h a d . I w a s g r e a t l y s u r p r i s e d at his b e h a v i o r ; he t r e a t e d m y c o m m u n i c a t i o n not o n l y lightly, b u t w i t h g r e a t c o n t e m p t , s a y i n g , it w a s all of t h e d e v i l , that t h e r e w e r e no s u c h t h i n g s as v i s i o n s or r e v e l a t i o n s In t h e s e d a y s ; t h a t all s u c h t h i n g s h a d c e a s e d w i t h t h e a p o s t l e s , a n d t h a t t h e r e w o u l d n e v e r b e a n y m o r e of them.

I soon f o u n d , however, that m y telling the story h a d e x c i t e d a g r e a t d e a l of p r e j u d i c e a g a i n s t m e a m o n g p r o f e s s o r s of r e l i g i o n , a n d w a s t h e c a u s e of great persecution, w h i c h continued to increase; a n d though I was an obscure boy, only between fourteen a n d f i f t e e n y e a r s of a g e , a n d my c i r c u m s t a n c e s in life s u c h a s t o m a k e a b o y of n o c o n s e q u e n c e in t h e w o r l d , yet m e n of h i g h s t a n d i n g w o u l d t a k e n o t i c e sufficient to e x c i t e t h e p u b l i c m i n d a g a i n s t m e , a n d c r e a t e a bitter p e r s e c u t i o n ; a n d this w a s c o m m o n a m o n g all t h e s e c t s — a l l u n i t e d t o p e r s e c u t e m e .

It c a u s e d m e s e r i o u s r e f l e c t i o n t h e n , a n d o f t e n h a s s i n c e , h o w v e r y s t r a n g e it w a s t h a t an o b s c u r e b o y , of a little o v e r f o u r t e e n y e a r s of a g e , a n d o n e , t o o , w h o w a s d o o m e d to t h e n e c e s s i t y of o b t a i n i n g a s c a n t y m a i n t e n a n c e by his d a i l y l a b o r , s h o u l d b e t h o u g h t a c h a r a c t e r of s u f f i c i e n t i m p o r t a n c e to a t t r a c t t h e a t t e n t i o n of t h e g r e a t o n e s of t h e m o s t p o p u l a r s e c t s of t h e d a y , a n d in a m a n n e r t o c r e a t e in t h e m a spirit of t h e m o s t bitter p e r s e c u t i o n a n d r e v i l i n g . B u t s t r a n g e or not, s o it w a s , a n d it w a s o f t e n t h e c a u s e of g r e a t s o r r o w t o m y s e l f .

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n accordance with... my determination to ask ct God, I retired to the woods o make the attemnt" OG.i..r--^

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saw a pillar of light exactly over my head'

H o w e v e r , it w a s n e v e r t h e l e s s a f a c t t h a t I h a d b e h e l d a v i s i o n . I h a v e t h o u g h t s i n c e , that I felt m u c h like P a u l , w h e n he m a d e his d e f e n s e b e f o r e King A g r l p p a , a n d r e l a t e d t h e a c c o u n t of t h e v i s i o n he h a d w h e n he s a w a light, a n d h e a r d a v o i c e ; but still t h e r e w e r e but f e w w h o b e l i e v e d h i m ; s o m e s a i d he w a s d i s h o n e s t , o t h e r s s a i d h e w a s m a d ; a n d he w a s r i d i c u l e d a n d r e v i l e d . B u t all t h i s d i d not d e s t r o y t h e reality of his v i s i o n . He h a d s e e n a v i s i o n , he k n e w he h a d , a n d all t h e p e r s e c u t i o n u n d e r h e a v e n c o u l d n o t m a k e it o t h e r w i s e ; a n d t h o u g h t h e y s h o u l d persecute him unto death, yet he knew, and would k n o w t o his latest b r e a t h , t h a t h e h a d b o t h s e e n a l i g h t a n d h e a r d a v o i c e s p e a k i n g u n t o h i m , a n d all t h e w o r l d c o u l d not m a k e h i m t h i n k or b e l i e v e otherwise.

S o it w a s w i t h m e . I h a d a c t u a l l y s e e n a light, a n d in t h e midst of t h a t light I s a w t w o P e r s o n a g e s , a n d t h e y d i d in reality s p e a k t o m e ; a n d t h o u g h I w a s h a t e d a n d p e r s e c u t e d for s a y i n g t h a t I h a d s e e n a v i s i o n , yet it w a s t r u e ; a n d w h i l e t h e y w e r e p e r s e c u t i n g m e , r e v i l i n g m e , a n d s p e a k i n g all m a n n e r of evil a g a i n s t m e falsely f o r s o s a y i n g , I w a s l e d t o s a y in m y h e a r t : W h y p e r s e c u t e m e for t e l l i n g t h e truth? I have actually seen a vision; and w h o a m I t h a t I c a n w i t h s t a n d G o d , or w h y d o e s t h e w o r l d think to m a k e me d e n y what I have actually seen?

F o r I h a d s e e n a v i s i o n ; I k n e w it, a n d I k n e w that G o d k n e w it, a n d I c o u l d n o t d e n y it, n e i t h e r d a r e d I d o it; at least I k n e w t h a t by s o d o i n g I w o u l d o f f e n d God, and come under condemnation.

I h a d n o w g o t m y m i n d s a t i s f i e d s o far as t h e s e c t a r i a n w o r l d w a s c o n c e r n e d — t h a t it w a s not m y d u t y t o j o i n w i t h a n y of t h e m , but t o c o n t i n u e as I w a s until f u r t h e r d i r e c t e d . I h a d f o u n d t h e t e s t i m o n y of J a m e s to be t r u e — t h a t a m a n w h o l a c k e d w i s d o m m i g h t a s k of G o d , a n d o b t a i n , a n d not be u p b r a i d e d .

Moroni's Visit

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c o n t i n u e d t o p u r s u e m y c o m m o n v o c a t i o n s in life until t h e t w e n t y - f i r s t of S e p t e m b e r , o n e t h o u s a n d e i g h t h u n d r e d a n d t w e n t y - t h r e e , all t h e t i m e s u f f e r i n g s e v e r e p e r s e c u t i o n at t h e h a n d s of all c l a s s e s of m e n , b o t h r e l i g i o u s a n d i r r e l i g i o u s , b e c a u s e I c o n t i n u e d to a f f i r m t h a t I h a d s e e n a vision.

D u r i n g t h e s p a c e of t i m e w h i c h i n t e r v e n e d between the time I had the vision and the year eighteen h u n d r e d and twenty-three—having been f o r b i d d e n to join a n y ot t h e r e l i g i o u s s e c t s of t h e 7

^G personage Moroni] appeared at my bedside,...and said...that God hod a work for me to d o "

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d a y , a n d b e i n g of v e r y t e n d e r y e a r s , a n d p e r s e c u t e d by t h o s e w h o o u g h t t o h a v e b e e n my f r i e n d s a n d to h a v e t r e a t e d m e k i n d l y , a n d if t h e y s u p p o s e d m e to b e d e l u d e d to h a v e e n d e a v o r e d in a p r o p e r a n d a f f e c t i o n a t e m a n n e r t o h a v e r e c l a i m e d me—I w a s left t o all k i n d s of t e m p t a t i o n s ; a n d , m i n g l i n g w i t h all k i n d s of s o c i e t y , I f r e q u e n t l y fell Into m a n y f o o l i s h e r r o r s , a n d d i s p l a y e d t h e w e a k n e s s of y o u t h , a n d t h e f o i b l e s of h u m a n n a t u r e ; w h i c h , I a m s o r r y to s a y , l e d m e into d i v e r s t e m p t a t i o n s , o t f e n s i v e in t h e s i g h t of G o d . In m a k i n g t h i s c o n f e s s i o n , no o n e n e e d s u p p o s e m e g u i l t y of a n y g r e a t o r m a l i g n a n t sins. A d i s p o s i t i o n t o c o m m i t s u c h w a s n e v e r in my n a t u r e .

In c o n s e q u e n c e of t h e s e t h i n g s , I o f t e n felt c o n d e m n e d for my weakness a n d Imperfections; w h e n , o n t h e e v e n i n g of t h e a b o v e - m e n t i o n e d t w e n t y - t i r s t of S e p t e m b e r , a f t e r I h a d retired to m y b e d for t h e n i g h t , I b e t o o k m y s e l f to p r a y e r a n d s u p p l i c a t i o n to A l m i g h t y G o d for f o r g i v e n e s s of all m y s i n s a n d follies, a n d a l s o f o r a m a n i f e s t a t i o n t o m e , t h a t I m i g h t k n o w of m y s t a t e a n d s t a n d i n g b e f o r e h i m ; for I h a d full c o n f i d e n c e in o b t a i n i n g a divine manifestation, as I previously had done.

W h i l e I w a s t h u s in t h e a c t of c a l l i n g u p o n G o d , I d i s c o v e r e d a light a p p e a r i n g in my r o o m , , w h i c h c o n t i n u e d t o i n c r e a s e until t h e r o o m w a s lighter t h a n at n o o n d a y , w h e n Immediately a p e r s o n a g e a p p e a r e d at m y b e d s i d e , s t a n d i n g in t h e air, f o r his f e e t d i d not t o u c h t h e f l o o r .

H e h a d o n a l o o s e r o b e of m o s t e x q u i s i t e w h i t e n e s s . It w a s a w h i t e n e s s b e y o n d a n y t h i n g e a r t h l y I h a d e v e r s e e n ; n o r d o I b e l i e v e that a n y e a r t h l y t h i n g c o u l d be m a d e t o a p p e a r s o e x c e e d i n g l y w h i t e a n d brilliant. His h a n d s w e r e n a k e d , a n d his a r m s a l s o , a little a b o v e t h e w r i s t s ; s o , a l s o , w e r e his feet n a k e d , a s w e r e his l e g s , a little a b o v e t h e a n k l e s . His h e a d a n d n e c k w e r e a l s o b a r e .

I c o u l d discover that he had no other clothing on but t h i s r o b e , a s It w a s o p e n , s o t h a t I c o u l d s e e into his bosom.

N o t o n l y w a s his r o b e e x c e e d i n g l y w h i t e , b u t his whole person was glorious beyond description, and his c o u n t e n a n c e t r u l y like l i g h t n i n g . T h e r o o m w a s e x c e e d i n g l y light, but not s o v e r y b r i g h t a s i m m e d i a t e l y a r o u n d his p e r s o n . W h e n I first l o o k e d u p o n h i m , I w a s a f r a i d ; but t h e f e a r s o o n left m e .

He c a l l e d m e by n a m e , a n d s a i d u n t o m e t h a t he w a s a m e s s e n g e r s e n t f r o m t h e p r e s e n c e of G o d to m e , a n d t h a t his n a m e w a s M o r o n i ; t h a t G o d h a d a w o r k f o r m e t o d o ; a n d t h a t m y n a m e s h o u l d be h a d

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for g o o d a n d evil a m o n g all n a t i o n s , k i n d r e d s , a n d t o n g u e s , or tfiat it s h o u l d b e b o t h g o o d a n d evil s p o k e n of a m o n g all p e o p l e .

He s a i d t h e r e w a s a b o o k d e p o s i t e d , w r i t t e n u p o n g o l d plates, g i v i n g a n a c c o u n t of t h e f o r m e r i n h a b i t a n t s ot this c o n t i n e n t , a n d t h e s o u r c e f r o m w h e n c e t h e y s p r a n g . He a l s o s a i d t h a t t h e f u l n e s s of t h e e v e r l a s t i n g G o s p e l w a s c o n t a i n e d in it, a s d e l i v e r e d by t h e S a v i o r t o t h e a n c i e n t i n h a b i t a n t s .

A l s o , that t h e r e w e r e t w o s t o n e s in silver bows—and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, c o n s t i t u t e d w h a t is c a l l e d t h e U r i m a n d Thummim—deposited with the plates; and the p o s s e s s i o n a n d u s e of t h e s e s t o n e s w e r e w h a t c o n s t i t u t e d " s e e r s " in a n c i e n t or f o r m e r t i m e s ; a n d t h a t G o d h a d p r e p a r e d t h e m for t h e p u r p o s e of translating the book.

A f t e r t e l l i n g me t h e s e t h i n g s , he c o m m e n c e d q u o t i n g t h e p r o p h e c i e s of t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t . He first q u o t e d part of t h e t h i r d c h a p t e r of fi/lalachi; a n d he q u o t e d also t h e f o u r t h o r last c h a p t e r of t h e s a m e p r o p h e c y , t h o u g h w i t h a little v a r i a t i o n t r o m t h e w a y it r e a d s in o u r B i b l e s . I n s t e a d of q u o t i n g t h e first v e r s e a s it r e a d s in o u r b o o k s , he q u o t e d it t h u s : For behold, the day cometh that shall oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that shall burn as stubble; for they that come them, salth the Lord of Hosts, that It shall neither root nor branch.

burn as an do wickedly shall burn leave them

A n d a g a i n , he q u o t e d t h e fifth v e r s e t h u s : Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

He also q u o t e d t h e n e x t v e r s e d i f f e r e n t l y : And he shall plant In the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If It were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.

In a d d i t i o n to t h e s e , h e q u o t e d t h e e l e v e n t h c h a p t e r of I s a i a h , s a y i n g t h a t it w a s a b o u t to be fulfilled. He q u o t e d a l s o t h e t h i r d c h a p t e r of A c t s , t w e n t y - s e c o n d a n d twenty-third verses, precisely as t h e y s t a n d in o u r N e w T e s t a m e n t . He s a i d t h a t t h a t p r o p h e t w a s C h r i s t ; b u t t h e d a y h a d not yet c o m e w h e n " t h e y w h o w o u l d not h e a r his v o i c e s h o u l d b e c u t off f r o m a m o n g t h e p e o p l e , " but s o o n w o u l d come.

He also q u o t e d t h e s e c o n d c h a p t e r of J o e l , f r o m t h e t w e n t y - e i g h t h v e r s e t o t h e last. He a l s o s a i d t h a t this w a s not yet f u l f i l l e d , but w a s s o o n t o b e . A n d h e

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f u r t h e r s t a t e d t h a t t h e f u l n e s s of t h e G e n t i l e s w a s s o o n t o c o m e i n . H e q u o t e d m a n y o t h e r p a s s a g e s of scripture, and offered many explanations which c a n n o t be m e n t i o n e d h e r e .

A g a i n , he t o l d m e , t h a t w h e n I g o t t h o s e p l a t e s of w h i c h he had spoken—for the time that they should b e o b t a i n e d w a s not y e t fulfilled—I s h o u l d n o t s h o w t h e m to a n y p e r s o n ; n e i t h e r t h e b r e a s t p l a t e w i t h t h e UrIm a n d T h u m m i m ; only to those to w h o m I should b e c o m m a n d e d t o s h o w t h e m ; If I d i d I s h o u l d b e destroyed. While he was conversing with me about t h e p l a t e s , t h e v i s i o n w a s o p e n e d t o m y m i n d that I c o u l d see the place w h e r e the plates w e r e deposited, and that so clearly a n d distinctly that I k n e w t h e p l a c e a g a i n w h e n I v i s i t e d it.

A f t e r t h i s c o m m u n i c a t i o n , I s a w t h e light in t h e r o o m begin to gather immediately a r o u n d the person of h i m w h o h a d b e e n s p e a k i n g t o m e , a n d it c o n t i n u e d to d o s o until t h e r o o m w a s a g a i n left d a r k , e x c e p t just a r o u n d h i m ; w h e n , i n s t a n t l y I s a w , a s It w e r e , a c o n d u i t o p e n right u p into h e a v e n , a n d h e a s c e n d e d till he e n t i r e l y d i s a p p e a r e d , a n d t h e r o o m w a s left a s It h a d b e e n b e f o r e this h e a v e n l y l i g h t h a d m a d e its a p p e a r a n c e .

I lay m u s i n g o n t h e s i n g u l a r i t y of t h e s c e n e , a n d m a r v e l i n g g r e a t l y at w h a t h a d b e e n t o l d t o m e by t h i s e x t r a o r d i n a r y m e s s e n g e r ; w h e n . In t h e m i d s t of m y meditation, I suddenly discovered that my room was a g a i n b e g i n n i n g t o g e t l i g h t e d , a n d In a n Instant, a s It w e r e , t h e s a m e h e a v e n l y m e s s e n g e r w a s a g a i n by my bedside.

He c o m m e n c e d , and again related the very same t h i n g s w h i c h he h a d d o n e at his first visit, w i t h o u t t h e least v a r i a t i o n ; w h i c h h a v i n g d o n e , he i n f o r m e d me of g r e a t j u d g m e n t s w h i c h w e r e c o m i n g u p o n t h e e a r t h , w i t h g r e a t d e s o l a t i o n s by f a m i n e , s w o r d , a n d pestilence; and that these grievous judgments would c o m e o n t h e e a r t h in this g e n e r a t i o n . H a v i n g r e l a t e d t h e s e t h i n g s , he a g a i n a s c e n d e d a s h e h a d d o n e before.

By this time, so d e e p were the impressions m a d e o n my m i n d , that sleep had fled from my eyes, a n d I lay o v e r w h e l m e d in a s t o n i s h m e n t at w h a t I h a d b o t h seen a n d heard. But what was my surprise w h e n a g a i n I b e h e l d t h e s a m e m e s s e n g e r at m y b e d s i d e , a n d h e a r d h i m r e h e a r s e or r e p e a t o v e r a g a i n t o m e t h e s a m e t h i n g s as b e f o r e ; a n d a d d e d a c a u t i o n t o m e , t e l l i n g me t h a t S a t a n w o u l d t r y t o t e m p t m e (in c o n s e q u e n c e of t h e i n d i g e n t c i r c u m s t a n c e s of m y f a t h e r ' s f a m i l y ) , to get t h e p l a t e s f o r t h e p u r p o s e of

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g e t t i n g ricti. T h i s he f o r b a d e m e , s a y i n g t h a t I m u s t h a v e no o t h e r o b j e c t in v i e w in g e t t i n g t h e p l a t e s but t o glorify G o d , a n d m u s t not be i n f l u e n c e d by a n y o t h e r m o t i v e t h a n t h a t of b u i l d i n g his k i n g d o m ; otherwise I could not get them.

A f t e r this t h i r d visit, h e a g a i n a s c e n d e d i n t o h e a v e n as b e f o r e , a n d I w a s a g a i n left t o p o n d e r o n t h e s t r a n g e n e s s of w h a t I h a d just e x p e r i e n c e d ; w h e n a l m o s t i m m e d i a t e l y after t h e h e a v e n l y m e s s e n g e r h a d a s c e n d e d f r o m m e for t h e t h i r d t i m e , the c o c k c r o w e d , and I f o u n d that day w a s a p p r o a c h i n g , so that our interviews must have o c c u p i e d t h e w h o l e of t h a t n i g h t .

I s h o r t l y a f t e r a r o s e f r o m m y b e d , a n d , as u s u a l , w e n t to t h e n e c e s s a r y l a b o r s of t h e d a y ; but, in a t t e m p t i n g to w o r k as at o t h e r t i m e s , I f o u n d m y s t r e n g t h s o e x h a u s t e d as to r e n d e r m e e n t i r e l y u n a b l e . M y father, w h o w a s l a b o r i n g a l o n g w i t h m e , d i s c o v e r e d s o m e t h i n g t o be w r o n g w i t h m e , a n d t o l d m e to g o h o m e . I s t a r t e d w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n of g o i n g t o t h e h o u s e ; b u t , in a t t e m p t i n g t o c r o s s t h e f e n c e out of t h e tield w h e r e w e w e r e , m y s t r e n g t h e n t i r e l y failed m e , a n d I fell h e l p l e s s o n t h e g r o u n d , a n d f o r a time w a s q u i t e u n c o n s c i o u s of a n y t h i n g .

T h e first t h i n g t h a t I c a n r e c o l l e c t w a s a v o i c e s p e a k i n g u n t o m e , c a l l i n g m e by n a m e . I l o o k e d u p , and beheld the same messenger standing over my h e a d , s u r r o u n d e d by light a s b e f o r e . H e t h e n a g a i n related u n t o m e all t h a t he h a d r e l a t e d t o m e t h e p r e v i o u s night, a n d c o m m a n d e d m e t o g o to m y f a t h e r a n d tell h i m of t h e v i s i o n a n d c o m m a n d m e n t s which I had received.

I o b e y e d ; I r e t u r n e d t o m y f a t h e r in t h e f i e l d , a n d r e h e a r s e d t h e w h o l e m a t t e r t o h i m . He r e p l i e d to m e t h a t it w a s of G o d , a n d t o l d m e to g o a n d d o as c o m m a n d e d by t h e m e s s e n g e r . I left t h e f i e l d , a n d w e n t to t h e p l a c e w h e r e t h e m e s s e n g e r h a d t o l d m e t h e plates w e r e d e p o s i t e d ; a n d o w i n g to t h e d i s t i n c t n e s s of t h e v i s i o n w h i c h I h a d h a d c o n c e r n i n g it, I k n e w t h e p l a c e t h e i n s t a n t t h a t I arrived there.

The Sacred Record

C

""""^

O N V E N I E N T t o t h e v i l l a g e of M a n c h e s t e r , O n t a r i o c o u n t y . N e w Y o r k , s t a n d s a hill of c o n s i d e r a b l e size, a n d t h e m o s t e l e v a t e d of a n y in t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d . O n t h e w e s t s i d e of t h i s hill, not far f r o m t h e t o p , u n d e r a s t o n e of c o n s i d e r a b l e size, lay t h e p l a t e s , d e p o s i t e d in a s t o n e b o x . T h i s s t o n e w a s t h i c k a n d r o u n d i n g in t h e

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middle on the upper side, and thinner towards the e d g e s , s o t h a t t h e m i d d l e p a r t of it w a s visible a b o v e t h e g r o u n d , b u t t h e e d g e all a r o u n d w a s c o v e r e d with earth.

H a v i n g r e m o v e d t h e e a r t h , I o b t a i n e d a lever, w h i c h I g o t f i x e d u n d e r t h e e d g e of t h e s t o n e , a n d w i t h a little e x e r t i o n r a i s e d it u p . I l o o k e d in, a n d t h e r e i n d e e d d i d I b e h o l d t h e plates, t h e U r i m a n d T h u m m i m , a n d t h e b r e a s t p l a t e , a s s t a t e d by t h e m e s s e n g e r . T h e b o x In w h i c h t h e y lay w a s f o r m e d by l a y i n g s t o n e s t o g e t h e r in s o m e k i n d of c e m e n t . In t h e b o t t o m of t h e b o x w e r e laid t w o s t o n e s c r o s s w a y s of t h e b o x , a n d o n t h e s e s t o n e s lay t h e p l a t e s a n d t h e other things with them.

I m a d e a n a t t e m p t to t a k e t h e m o u t , but w a s f o r b i d d e n by t h e m e s s e n g e r , a n d w a s a g a i n i n f o r m e d t h a t t h e t i m e for b r i n g i n g t h e m f o r t h h a d not y e t a r r i v e d , n e i t h e r w o u l d it, until f o u r y e a r s f r o m t h a t t i m e ; but h e t o l d m e t h a t I s h o u l d c o m e t o t h a t p l a c e p r e c i s e l y in o n e y e a r f r o m that t i m e , a n d t h a t he w o u l d there meet with m e , a n d that I should c o n t i n u e t o d o s o until t h e t i m e s h o u l d c o m e f o r obtaining the plates.

A c c o r d i n g l y , as I h a d b e e n c o m m a n d e d , I w e n t at t h e e n d of e a c h y e a r , a n d at e a c h t i m e I f o u n d t h e same messenger there, and received instruction and i n t e l l i g e n c e f r o m h i m at e a c h of o u r i n t e r v i e w s , r e s p e c t i n g w h a t t h e L o r d w a s g o i n g to d o , a n d h o w a n d in w h a t m a n n e r his k i n g d o m w a s to be c o n d u c t e d in t h e last d a y s .

A s my father's worldly c i r c u m s t a n c e s w e r e very l i m i t e d , w e w e r e u n d e r t h e n e c e s s i t y of l a b o r i n g w i t h o u r h a n d s , h i r i n g o u t by d a y ' s w o r k a n d o t h e r w i s e , a s w e c o u l d g e t o p p o r t u n i t y . S o m e t i m e s w e w e r e at h o m e , a n d s o m e t i m e s a b r o a d , a n d by c o n t i n u o u s l a b o r w e r e e n a b l e d t o get a c o m f o r t a b l e maintenance. . . . In t h e m o n t h of O c t o b e r 1 8 2 5 , 1 h i r e d w i t h a n o l d g e n t l e m a n by t h e n a m e of J o s i a h S t o a l , w h o l i v e d in C h e n a n g o c o u n t y . State of N e w Y o r k .

During the time that I was thus employed, I was p u t to b o a r d w i t h a Mr. Isaac H a l e , of [ H a r m o n y , S u s q u e h a n n a C o u n t y , P e n n s y l v a n i a ] ; it w a s t h e r e I first s a w m y w i f e ( h i s d a u g h t e r ) , E m m a H a l e . C n t h e 1 8 t h of J a n u a r y 1 8 2 7 , w e w e r e m a r r i e d , w h i l e I w a s y e t e m p l o y e d In t h e s e r v i c e of Mr. S t o a l .

I m m e d i a t e l y after m y m a r r i a g e , I left Mr. S t o a l ' s , a n d w e n t to my f a t h e r ' s , a n d f a r m e d w i t h h i m that season.

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At l e n g t h t h e t i m e a r r i v e d f o r o b t a i n i n g t h e p l a t e s , t h e UrIm a n d T h u m m i m , a n d t h e b r e a s t p l a t e . O n t h e t w e n t y - s e c o n d d a y of S e p t e m b e r , o n e t h o u s a n d eight hundred a n d twenty-seven, having g o n e as u s u a l at t h e e n d of a n o t h e r y e a r t o t h e p l a c e w h e r e they were deposited, the same heavenly messenger d e l i v e r e d t h e m u p to m e w i t h this c h a r g e : t h a t I s h o u l d be r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e m ; t h a t if I s h o u l d let t h e m g o c a r e l e s s l y , or t h r o u g h a n y n e g l e c t of m i n e , I s h o u l d b e c u t off; but t h a t if I w o u l d use all m y e n d e a v o r s to p r e s e r v e t h e m , until h e , t h e m e s s e n g e r , s h o u l d call for t h e m , t h e y s h o u l d b e protected.

I soon f o u n d out the reason w h y I had received s u c h strict c h a r g e s t o k e e p t h e m s a f e , a n d w h y it w a s t h a t t h e m e s s e n g e r h a d said t h a t w h e n I h a d d o n e w h a t w a s r e q u i r e d a t m y h a n d , he w o u l d call for t h e m . For n o s o o n e r w a s it k n o w n t h a t I h a d t h e m , t h a n the most s t r e n u o u s exertions w e r e used t o get t h e m f r o m m e . E v e r y s t r a t a g e m t h a t c o u l d b e i n v e n t e d w a s r e s o r t e d t o for that p u r p o s e . T h e persecution b e c a m e more bitter and severe t h a n b e t o r e , a n d m u l t i t u d e s w e r e o n t h e alert c o n t i n u a l l y to get t h e m f r o m m e If p o s s i b l e . B u t b y t h e w i s d o m of G o d , t h e y r e m a i n e d safe in m y h a n d s , until I h a d a c c o m p l i s h e d by t h e m w h a t w a s r e q u i r e d at m y hand. W h e n , according to arrangements, the messenger called for t h e m , I delivered t h e m up to h i m ; a n d he h a s t h e m in his c h a r g e until this d a y , b e i n g t h e s e c o n d d a y of M a y , o n e t h o u s a n d e i g h t hundred and thirty-eight.

T h e e x c i t e m e n t , h o w e v e r , still c o n t i n u e d , a n d r u m o r w i t h her t h o u s a n d t o n g u e s w a s all t h e t i m e e m p l o y e d in c i r c u l a t i n g t a l s e h o o d s a b o u t m y f a t h e r ' s f a m i l y , a n d a b o u t m y s e l f . If I w e r e to relate a t h o u s a n d t h part of t h e m , it w o u l d fill u p v o l u m e s . T h e p e r s e c u t i o n , h o w e v e r , b e c a m e so i n t o l e r a b l e t h a t I w a s u n d e r t h e n e c e s s i t y of l e a v i n g M a n c h e s t e r , a n d g o i n g w i t h m y w i f e to S u s q u e h a n n a c o u n t y in t h e s t a t e of P e n n s y l v a n i a . W h i l e p r e p a r i n g to start—being very poor, a n d the persecution so heavy u p o n us that t h e r e w a s no p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t w e w o u l d e v e r b e o t h e r w i s e - i n t h e m i d s t of o u r a f f l i c t i o n s w e f o u n d a f r i e n d in a g e n t l e m a n b y t h e n a m e of M a r t i n Harris, w h o c a m e to us a n d g a v e m e fifty d o l l a r s t o assist us on o u r j o u r n e y . Mr. H a r r i s w a s a r e s i d e n t of P a l m y r a t o w n s h i p , W a y n e c o u n t y , in t h e s t a t e of N e w Y o r k , a n d a f a r m e r of r e s p e c t a b i l i t y .

B y this t i m e l y aid w a s I e n a b l e d to r e a c h t h e p l a c e of m y d e s t i n a t i o n in P e n n s y l v a n i a ; a n d

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"At length he time arrived tor obtaining he plates"

15

16

i m m e d i a t e l y after m y arrival t t i e r e I c o m m e n c e d c o p y i n g ttie c t i a r a c t e r s off ttie p l a t e s . I c o p i e d a c o n s i d e r a b l e n u m b e r of t t i e m , a n d by m e a n s of ttie U r i m a n d T t i u m m i m I t r a n s l a t e d s o m e of t t i e m , w t i i c h I d i d bet\A/een t t i e t i m e I a r r i v e d at tfie t i o u s e of m y w i f e ' s f a t t i e r , in tfie m o n t t i of D e c e m b e r , a n d ttie February following.

S o m e t i m e in ttiis m o n t t i of F e b r u a r y , t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d Mr, M a r t i n H a r r i s c a m e to our p l a c e , g o t t h e c h a r a c t e r s w h i c h I h a d d r a w n off t h e p l a t e s , a n d s t a r t e d w i t h t h e m to t h e c i t y of N e w Y o r k . For w h a t t o o k p l a c e relative t o h i m a n d t h e c h a r a c t e r s , I r e f e r to his o w n a c c o u n t of t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , as h e r e l a t e d t h e m to m e after his r e t u r n , w h i c h w a s as follows: " i w e n t to t h e c i t y of N e w Y o r k , a n d p r e s e n t e d the c h a r a c t e r s w h i c h had been translated, with the t r a n s l a t i o n t h e r e o f , to P r o f e s s o r C h a r l e s A n t h o n , a g e n t l e m a n c e l e b r a t e d f o r his literary a t t a i n m e n t s .

Professor A n t h o n stated that the translation was c o r r e c t , m o r e so t h a n a n y h e h a d b e f o r e s e e n translated f r o m Egyptian. I then s h o w e d him those w h i c h w e r e not y e t t r a n s l a t e d , a n d h e s a i d t h a t t h e y were Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyriac, and Arabic; and he said t h e y were true c h a r a c t e r s . He gave me a c e r t i t i c a t e , c e r t i f y i n g to t h e p e o p l e of P a l m y r a t h a t t h e y w e r e t r u e c h a r a c t e r s , a n d t h a t t h e t r a n s l a t i o n of s u c h of t h e m as h a d b e e n t r a n s l a t e d w a s a l s o c o r r e c t . I t o o k t h e c e r t i t i c a t e a n d put it into m y p o c k e t , a n d w a s just l e a v i n g t h e h o u s e , w h e n Mr. A n t h o n c a l l e d m e b a c k , a n d a s k e d me h o w t h e y o u n g m a n f o u n d o u t t h a t t h e r e w e r e g o l d p l a t e s in t h e p l a c e w h e r e he f o u n d t h e m . I a n s w e r e d t h a t a n a n g e l of G o d h a d r e v e a l e d it u n t o h i m . " H e t h e n s a i d to m e , ' L e t m e s e e t h a t c e r t i f i c a t e . ' I a c c o r d i n g l y t o o k it o u t of m y p o c k e t a n d g a v e it t o h i m , w h e n he t o o k it a n d t o r e it t o p i e c e s , s a y i n g t h a t t h e r e w a s n o s u c h t h i n g n o w as m i n i s t e r i n g of a n g e l s , a n d t h a t if I w o u l d b r i n g t h e p l a t e s to h i m he w o u l d t r a n s l a t e t h e m . I i n f o r m e d h i m that part of t h e p l a t e s w e r e s e a l e d , a n d t h a t I w a s f o r b i d d e n to b r i n g t h e m . H e r e p l i e d , 'I c a n n o t r e a d a s e a l e d b o o k . ' I left h i m a n d w e n t to Dr. M i t c h e l l , w h o s a n c t i o n e d w h a t Professor A n t h o n had said respecting both the characters and the translation."

O n t h e 5 t h d a y of A p r i l 1 8 2 9 , O l i v e r C o w d e r y c a m e t o m y h o u s e , until w h i c h t i m e I h a d n e v e r s e e n h i m . H e s t a t e d t o me t h a t h a v i n g b e e n t e a c h i n g s c h o o l in t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d w h e r e m y t a t h e r r e s i d e d , a n d m y f a t h e r b e i n g o n e of t h o s e w h o s e n t

17

t o t t i e s c t i o o l , he w e n t t o b o a r d f o r a s e a s o n at h i s house, and while there the family related to him the c i r c u m s t a n c e s of m y h a v i n g r e c e i v e d t h e p l a t e s , a n d a c c o r d i n g l y he h a d c o m e t o m a k e i n q u i r i e s of m e .

T w o d a y s after t h e arrival of Mr. C o w d e r y ( b e i n g t h e 7 t h of A p r i l ) I c o m m e n c e d to t r a n s l a t e t h e B o o k of M o r m o n , a n d he b e g a n t o w r i t e for m e .

W

Priesthood Restored E still c o n t i n u e d t h e w o r k of t r a n s l a t i o n , w h e n , in t h e e n s u i n g m o n t h ( M a y 1 8 2 9 ) , w e o n a certain day w e n t into the w o o d s to p r a y a n d i n q u i r e of t h e L o r d r e s p e c t i n g b a p t i s m for t h e r e m i s s i o n of s i n s , t h a t w e f o u n d m e n t i o n e d in t h e t r a n s l a t i o n of t h e p l a t e s . W h i l e w e w e r e t h u s employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a m e s s e n g e r f r o m h e a v e n d e s c e n d e d in a c l o u d of light, a n d h a v i n g laid his h a n d s u p o n us, he o r d a i n e d us, s a y i n g : Upon you my fellow servants, In ttie name of Mlesslali, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering ot angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by Immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord In righteousness.

He said this A a r o n i c P r i e s t h o o d h a d n o t t h e p o w e r of l a y i n g o n h a n d s for t h e gift of t h e H o l y G h o s t , b u t that this s h o u l d be c o n f e r r e d o n us h e r e a f t e r ; a n d he c o m m a n d e d us t o g o a n d be b a p t i z e d , a n d g a v e us d i r e c t i o n s t h a t I s h o u l d b a p t i z e C i i v e r G o w d e r y , a n d t h a t a f t e r w a r d s he should baptize me.

Accordingly we went and were baptized. I b a p t i z e d h i m first, a n d a f t e r w a r d s h e b a p t i z e d m e — a f t e r w h i c h I laid m y h a n d s u p o n his h e a d a n d ordained him to the A a r o n i c Priesthood, a n d a f t e r w a r d s he laid his h a n d s o n m e a n d o r d a i n e d m e to the same Priesthood—for so we were commanded.

T h e m e s s e n g e r w h o visited us o n t h i s o c c a s i o n a n d c o n f e r r e d this P r i e s t h o o d u p o n us, said t h a t his n a m e w a s J o h n , t h e s a m e t h a t is c a l l e d J o h n t h e Baptist in t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t , a n d t h a t he a c t e d u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n of Peter, J a m e s a n d J o h n , w h o held t h e k e y s of t h e P r i e s t h o o d of M e i c h i z e d e k , w h i c h P r i e s t h o o d , he s a i d , w o u l d in d u e t i m e be c o n f e r r e d o n u s , a n d that I s h o u l d be c a l l e d t h e first Elder of t h e C h u r c h , a n d he ( C i i v e r C o w d e r y ) t h e

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s e c o n d . It w a s on thie f i f t e e n t f i d a y of M a y 1 8 2 9 , t h a t w e w e r e o r d a i n e d u n d e r t h e h a n d of t h i s m e s s e n g e r , and baptized.

I m m e d i a t e l y o n o u r c o m i n g u p o u t of t h e w a t e r after we had been baptized, we experienced great a n d g l o r i o u s b l e s s i n g s f r o m o u r H e a v e n l y Father. N o s o o n e r h a d I b a p t i z e d Oliver C o w d e r y , t h a n t h e H o l y G h o s t fell u p o n h i m , a n d h e s t o o d u p a n d prophesied many things which should shortly come t o p a s s . A n d a g a i n , so s o o n a s I h a d b e e n b a p t i z e d b y h i m , I a l s o h a d t h e spirit of p r o p h e c y , w h e n , s t a n d i n g u p , I p r o p h e s i e d c o n c e r n i n g t h e rise of this C h u r c h , and many other things c o n n e c t e d with the C h u r c h , a n d this g e n e r a t i o n of t h e c h i l d r e n of m e n .

W e w e r e filled w i t h t h e H o l y G h o s t , a n d r e j o i c e d in t h e G o d of o u r s a l v a t i o n .

C u r m i n d s b e i n g n o w e n l i g h t e n e d , w e b e g a n to h a v e t h e s c r i p t u r e s laid o p e n t o o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g s , a n d t h e t r u e m e a n i n g a n d i n t e n t i o n of their m o r e m y s t e r i o u s p a s s a g e s r e v e a l e d u n t o u s in a m a n n e r w h i c h w e n e v e r c o u l d a t t a i n t o p r e v i o u s l y , nor e v e r b e f o r e h a d t h o u g h t of. In t h e m e a n t i m e w e w e r e f o r c e d t o k e e p s e c r e t t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s of h a v i n g received the Priesthood a n d our having been b a p t i z e d , o w i n g t o a spirit of p e r s e c u t i o n w h i c h h a d a l r e a d y m a n i f e s t e d itself in t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d .

W e had been threatened with being m o b b e d , f r o m t i m e to t i m e , a n d t h i s , t o o , by p r o f e s s o r s of r e l i g i o n . A n d t h e i r i n t e n t i o n s of m o b b i n g us w e r e o n l y c o u n t e r a c t e d by t h e i n f l u e n c e ot m y w i f e ' s f a t h e r ' s family (under Divine providence), w h o had b e c o m e v e r y f r i e n d l y to m e , a n d w h o w e r e o p p o s e d to m o b s , and w e r e willing that I should be allowed to c o n t i n u e t h e w o r k of t r a n s l a t i o n w i t h o u t i n t e r r u p t i o n ; a n d t h e r e f o r e o f f e r e d a n d p r o m i s e d us p r o t e c t i o n f r o m all u n l a w f u l p r o c e e d i n g s , as far as in t h e m lay.

(Joseph Smith 2:3-75.)

Witnesses

I

N t h e c o u r s e of t h e w o r k of t r a n s l a t i o n , w e a s c e r t a i n e d that t h r e e s p e c i a l w i t n e s s e s w e r e to b e p r o v i d e d by t h e L o r d , to w h o m He w o u l d g r a n t t h a t t h e y s h o u l d s e e t h e plates f r o m w h i c h t h e B o o k of M o r m o n s h o u l d b e t r a n s l a t e d ; a n d t h a t t h e s e w i t n e s s e s s h o u l d b e a r r e c o r d of t h e s a m e , as will be f o u n d r e c o r d e d , in t h e B o o k of M o r m o n , Ether 5 : 2 - 4 a n d 2 N e p h i 2 7 : 1 2 . A l m o s t i m m e d i a t e l y after w e h a d m a d e t h i s d i s c o v e r y , it o c c u r r e d to C i i v e r C o w d e r y , D a v i d W h i t m e r , a n d M a r t i n H a r r i s that t h e y w o u l d h a v e m e i n q u i r e of t h e L o r d t o k n o w if t h e y m i g h t not

19

o b t a i n of H i m t t i e p r i v i l e g e t o b e t f i e s e t t i r e e s p e c i a l w i t n e s s e s . [ I n q u i r y w a s m a d e of t t i e L o r d a n d it w a s r e v e a l e d t t i a t t f i e s e t f i r e e s f i o u l d be t f i e s p e c i a l witnesses.]

N o t m a n y d a y s after, M a r t i n H a r r i s , D a v i d W f i i t m e r , Oliver C o w d e r y a n d myself a g r e e d t o r e t i r e into tfie w o o d s a n d try t o o b t a i n , by f e r v e n t a n d f i u m b l e p r a y e r , tfie f u l f i l l m e n t of t f i e p r o m i s e s g i v e n — t f i a t t f i e y s f i o u l d fiave a v i e w of t f i e p l a t e s .

W e a c c o r d i n g l y m a d e c f i o i c e of a p i e c e of w o o d s c o n v e n i e n t to Mr. W f i i t m e r ' s f i o u s e , to w f i i c f i w e r e t i r e d , a n d f i a v i n g knelt d o w n , w e b e g a n to p r a y in m u c h faith to A l m i g h t y G o d t o b e s t o w u p o n u s a r e a l i z a t i o n of t h e s e p r o m i s e s .

A c c o r d i n g to p r e v i o u s a r r a n g e m e n t , I c o m m e n c e d by v o c a l p r a y e r to o u r H e a v e n l y F a t h e r , a n d w a s f o l l o w e d by e a c h ot t h e o t h e r s In s u c c e s s i o n . W e d i d not at t h e first t r i a l , h o w e v e r , o b t a i n a n y a n s w e r o r m a n i f e s t a t i o n of d i v i n e f a v o r in o u r behalf. W e a g a i n o b s e r v e d t h e s a m e o r d e r of p r a y e r , e a c h c a l l i n g o n a n d p r a y i n g f e r v e n t l y to G o d in r o t a t i o n , but w i t h t h e s a m e result a s b e f o r e .

Upon this, our s e c o n d failure, Martin Harris p r o p o s e d t h a t he s h o u l d w i t h d r a w himself f r o m us, b e l i e v i n g , as he e x p r e s s e d h i m s e l f , t h a t his p r e s e n c e w a s t h e c a u s e of o u r not o b t a i n i n g w h a t w e w i s h e d for. He a c c o r d i n g l y w i t h d r e w f r o m us, a n d w e knelt d o w n a g a i n , a n d h a d not b e e n m a n y m i n u t e s e n g a g e d in p r a y e r , w h e n p r e s e n t l y w e b e h e l d a light a b o v e us In t h e air, of e x c e e d i n g t i r i g h t n e s s ; a n d b e h o l d , a n a n g e l s t o o d b e f o r e us. In his h a n d s he h e l d t h e p l a t e s . He t u r n e d o v e r t h e l e a v e s o n e b y o n e , so t h a t w e c o u l d s e e t h e m , a n d d i s c e r n t h e e n g r a v i n g s t h e r e o n d i s t i n c t l y . He t h e n a d d r e s s e d himself to D a v i d W h i t m e r , a n d s a i d , " D a v i d , b l e s s e d is t h e L o r d , a n d h e t h a t k e e p s his c o m m a n d m e n t s " ; w h e n , immediately afterwards, we heard a voice t r o m out of t h e b r i g h t light a b o v e us, s a y i n g , " T h e s e plates h a v e b e e n r e v e a l e d by t h e p o w e r of G o d , a n d t h e y have b e e n t r a n s l a t e d by t h e p o w e r of G o d . T h e t r a n s l a t i o n of t h e m w h i c h y o u h a v e s e e n is c o r r e c t , a n d I c o m m a n d y o u t o b e a r r e c o r d of w h a t y o u n o w see and h e a r . " I n o w left D a v i d a n d Oliver a n d w e n t in p u r s u i t of M a r t i n Harris, w h o m I t o u n d at a c o n s i d e r a b l e d i s t a n c e f e r v e n t l y e n g a g e d in p r a y e r . He s o o n t o l d m e , h o w e v e r , t h a t he h a d n o t yet p r e v a i l e d w i t h t h e L o r d , a n d e a r n e s t l y r e q u e s t e d m e t o j o i n h i m in p r a y e r , t h a t h e also m i g h t realize t h e s a m e b l e s s i n g s w h i c h w e had just received. W e a c c o r d i n g l y j o i n e d in p r a y e r , a n d ultimately o b t a i n e d o u r d e s i r e s , f o r

20

On May 15, 1829, John the Baptist oonterred the Aaronic Priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery

(

"We beheld - and saw the plates... and bear record hot these things ore true

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before we had yet finished, the s a m e vision w a s o p e n e d t o o u r v i e w , at least It w a s a g a i n o p e n t o m e , a n d I o n c e more beheld and heard the same things; whilst at t h e same m o m e n t , Martin Harris cried out, a p p a r e n t l y in a n e c s t a s y of j o y , " T i s e n o u g h , 'tis e n o u g h l mine eyes have beheld; mine eyes have b e h e l d " ; a n d j u m p i n g up, he shouted, " H o s a n n a , " blessing G o d , and otherwise rejoicing exceedingly.

H a v i n g t h u s , t h r o u g h t h e m e r c y of G o d , o b t a i n e d t h e s e g l o r i o u s m a n i f e s t a t i o n s , it n o w r e m a i n e d f o r t h e s e t h r e e i n d i v i d u a l s t o fulfill t h e c o m m a n d m e n t w h i c h t h e y h a d r e c e i v e d , viz., to b e a r r e c o r d of t h e s e t h i n g s ; in o r d e r t o a c c o m p l i s h w h i c h , t h e y drew up and subscribed the following document:

The Testimony of Three Witnesses

B

E it k n o w n u n t o all n a t i o n s , k i n d r e d s , t o n g u e s , a n d p e o p l e , u n t o w h o m t h i s w o r k shall c o m e : T h a t w e , t h r o u g h t h e g r a c e of G o d t h e F a t h e r , a n d our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates w h i c h c o n t a i n t h i s r e c o r d , w h i c h is a r e c o r d o f T h e p e o p l e of N e p h I , a n d a l s o of t h e L a m a n i t e s , t h e i r b r e t h r e n , a n d a l s o of t h e p e o p l e of J a r e d , w h o c a m e f r o m t h e t o w e r of w h i c h h a t h b e e n s p o k e n . A n d w e a l s o k n o w t h a t t h e y h a v e b e e n t r a n s l a t e d b y t h e gift a n d p o w e r of G o d , f o r his v o i c e h a t h d e c l a r e d it u n t o u s ; w h e r e f o r e w e k n o w of a s u r e t y t h a t t h e w o r k is t r u e . A n d w e also testify t h a t w e h a v e s e e n t h e e n g r a v i n g s w h i c h are u p o n t h e p l a t e s ; a n d t h e y h a v e b e e n s h o w n u n t o u s by t h e p o w e r of G o d , a n d not of m a n . A n d w e d e c l a r e w i t h w o r d s of s o b e r n e s s , t h a t a n a n g e l of G o d c a m e d o w n f r o m h e a v e n , a n d he b r o u g h t a n d laid b e t o r e o u r e y e s , t h a t w e b e h e l d a n d s a w t h e plates, a n d t h e e n g r a v i n g s t h e r e o n ; a n d w e k n o w t h a t it is by t h e g r a c e of G o d t h e Father, a n d o u r L o r d J e s u s C h r i s t , that w e b e h e l d a n d bear r e c o r d t h a t t h e s e t h i n g s a r e t r u e . A n d it is m a r v e l o u s in o u r e y e s . N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e v o i c e of t h e L o r d c o m m a n d e d u s t h a t w e s h o u l d b e a r r e c o r d of it; w h e r e f o r e , to b e o b e d i e n t u n t o t h e c o m m a n d r r i e n t s of G o d , w e b e a r t e s t i m o n y of t h e s e t h i n g s . A n d w e k n o w t h a t if w e a r e f a i t h f u i in C h r i s t , w e shall rid o u r g a r m e n t s of t h e b l o o d of all m e n , a n d be f o u n d s p o t l e s s b e f o r e t h e j u d g m e n t s e a t of C h r i s t , a n d s h a l l d w e l l w i t h h i m e t e r n a l l y in t h e h e a v e n s . A n d t h e h o n o r be to t h e Father, a n d to t h e S o n , a n d to t h e H o l y G h o s t , w h i c h is o n e G o d . A m e n . " Oliver C o w d e r y David Whitmer Martin Harris 23

The Meichizedek ^riesthood was received under the hands cf Peter, James, and Jchn

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S o o n after t t i e s e t h i n g s h a d t r a n s p i r e d , t h e following additional testimony w a s obtained.

The Testimony of Eight Witnesses

B

E it k n o w n u n t o aii n a t i o n s , k i n d r e d s , t o n g u e s , a n d p e o p l e , u n t o w h o m this w o r k shall c o m e : T h a t J o s e p h S m i t h , J u n . , t h e t r a n s l a t o r ot t h i s w o r k , h a s s h o w n u n t o us t h e p l a t e s of w h i c h h a t h b e e n s p o k e n , w h i c h h a v e t h e a p p e a r a n c e ot g o l d ; a n d a s m a n y ot t h e l e a v e s as t h e s a i d S m i t h h a s translated w e did handle with our hands; and w e also s a w the e n g r a v i n g s t h e r e o n , all of w h i c h has t h e a p p e a r a n c e of a n c i e n t w o r k , a n d of c u r i o u s w o r k m a n s h i p A n a this w e b e a r r e c o r d w i t h w o r d s of s o b e r n e s s , t h a t t h e s a i d S m i t h h a s s h o w n u n t o us, f o r w e have s e e n a n d h e f t e d , a n d k n o w of a s u r e t y t h a t t h e said S m i t h h a s got t h e p l a t e s of w h i c h w e h a v e s p o k e n . A n d w e give o u r n a m e s u n t o t h e w o r l d , to w i t n e s s u n t o t h e w o r l d t h a t w h i c h w e h a v e s e e n . A n d w e lie n o t , G o d b e a r i n g w i t n e s s of i t . " Christian Whitmer Jacob Whitmer

Hiram Page Joseph Smith, Sen.

Peter Whitmer, Jun. John Whitmer

Hyrum Smith S a m u e l H. S m i t h

W e now became anxious to have that promise r e a l i z e d to us, w h i c h t h e a n g e l t h a t c o n f e r r e d u p o n u s t h e A a r o n i c P r i e s t h o o d h a d g i v e n us, viz., that p r o v i d e d w e c o n t i n u e d f a i t h f u l , w e s h o u l d also h a v e the Meichizedek Priesthood, which holds the a u t h o r i t y of t h e l a y i n g o n of h a n d s t o r t h e gift of t h e • Holy Ghost.

(The Prophet declared that the Meichizedek Priesthood was thereafter received under the hands of Peter, J a m e s a n d J o h n , at a p l a c e a l o n g t h e b a n k s of t h e S u s q u e h a n n a River, b e t w e e n H a r m o n y , S u s q u e h a n n a County, Pennsylvania, and Colesville, Broome County, New York.)

W

The Church Established H I L S T t h e B o o k of M o r m o n w a s in t h e h a n d s of t h e printer, w e still c o n t i n u e d t o b e a r t e s t i m o n y a n d give i n f o r m a t i o n , a s far as we had opportunity; and also made k n o w n to our b r e t h r e n that w e h a d r e c e i v e d a c o m m a n d m e n t to o r g a n i z e t h e C h u r c h ; a n d a c c o r d i n g l y w e met t o g e t h e r for t h a t p u r p o s e , at t h e h o u s e of Mr. P e t e r -• W h i t m e r , S e n . , ( b e i n g six in n u m b e r ) o n T u e s d a y ,

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t h e s i x t h d a y of A p r i l , A.D., o n e t h o u s a n d e i g h t hundred a n d thirty. Having o p e n e d the meeting by s o l e m n p r a y e r to o u r H e a v e n l y F a t h e r , w e proceeded, according to previous c o m m a n d m e n t , to call o n o u r b r e t h r e n t o k n o w w h e t h e r t h e y a c c e p t e d us as t h e i r t e a c h e r s in t h e t h i n g s of t h e K i n g d o m of G o d , and whether they w e r e satisfied that w e s h o u l d p r o c e e d a n d be o r g a n i z e d as a c h u r c h a c c o r d i n g to said c o m m a n d m e n t w h i c h w e h a d r e c e i v e d . T o t h e s e s e v e r a l p r o p o s i t i o n s t h e y c o n s e n t e d by a u n a n i m o u s v o t e . I t h e n laid m y h a n d s u p o n O l i v e r C o w d e r y , a n d o r d a i n e d h i m a n Elder of t h e " C h u r c h of J e s u s C h r i s t of L a t t e r - d a y S a i n t s " ; a f t e r w h i c h he o r d a i n e d me also to t h e o f f i c e of a n Elder of s a i d C h u r c h . W e t h e n t o o k b r e a d , b l e s s e d it, a n d b r a k e it w i t h t h e m ; also w i n e , b l e s s e d it, a n d d r a n k It w i t h t h e m . W e t h e n laid o u r h a n d s o n e a c h i n d i v i d u a l m e m b e r of t h e C h u r c h p r e s e n t , t h a t t h e y m i g h t r e c e i v e t h e gift of t h e H o l y G h o s t , a n d be c o n f i r m e d m e m b e r s of t h e C h u r c h of C h r i s t . T h e H o l y G h o s t w a s p o u r e d out u p o n us t o a v e r y g r e a t d e g r e e — s o m e p r o p h e s i e d , w h i l s t w e all p r a i s e d t h e Lord, and rejoiced exceedingly.

W e n o w p r o c e e d e d to call o u t a n d o r d a i n s o m e o t h e r s of t h e b r e t h r e n to d i f f e r e n t o f f i c e s of t h e P r i e s t h o o d , a c c o r d i n g as t h e Spirit m a n i f e s t e d u n t o us; a n d after a h a p p y t i m e s p e n t in w i t n e s s i n g a n d f e e l i n g for o u r s e l v e s t h e p o w e r a n d b l e s s i n g s of t h e Holy G h o s t , t h r o u g h t h e g r a c e of G o d b e s t o w e d u p o n us, w e d i s m i s s e d w i t h t h e p i e a s i n g k n o w l e d g e t h a t w e w e r e n o w i n d i v i d u a l l y m e m b e r s of, a n d a c k n o w l e d g e d of G o d , " T h e C h u r c h of J e s u s C h r i s t , " o r g a n i z e d in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h c o m m a n d m e n t s a n d r e v e l a t i o n s g i v e n by H i m to o u r s e l v e s in t h e s e last d a y s , as w e l l a s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e o r d e r of t h e C h u r c h a s r e c o r d e d in t h e N e w Testament.

•** T h i s is t h e s i m p l e , d i r e c t t e s t i m o n y of J o s e p h S m i t h , g i v i n g s o m e of t h o s e e v e n t s t h a t l e d t o t h e f o u n d i n g of T h e C h u r c h of J e s u s C h r i s t of L a t t e r - d a y Saints.

S h o r t l y after t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of t h e C h u r c h , h e w i t h his f o l l o w e r s m o v e d f r o m N e w Y o r k to K i r t l a n d , O h i o ( n e a r C l e v e l a n d ) . A b e a u t i f u l t e m p l e w a s built, extensive missionary w o r k w a s Instituted, and the C h u r c h m a d e s u b s t a n t i a l g a i n s in m e m b e r s h i p .

A m o n g t h e m i s s i o n s o p e n e d w a s o n e in M i s s o u r i , a n d t h e b o d y of t h e C h u r c h later m o v e d t o M i s s o u r i .

26

T h i s w a s a t i m e of r e l i g i o u s i n t o l e r a n c e .

A n t a g o n i s m w a s s o o n s t i r r e d up a g a i n s t t h e L a t t e r day Saints. Mobs dispossessed them. They were c o m p e l l e d to move, leaving behind their homes, w e l l - c u i t i v a t e d f a r m s , a n d t h e i r h o u s e s of w o r s h i p .

T h e y w e n t t o Illinois a n d in t h e i r d i s t r e s s w e r e received kindly. At a desolate spot o n the Mississippi River t h e y p u r c h a s e d a l a r g e t r a c t of s w a m p l a n d .

T h e y d r a i n e d this s w a m p y a r e a a n d built w h a t w a s at t h a t t i m e t h e l a r g e s t city in I l l i n o i s — N a u v o o , " t h e b e a u t i f u l . " M i s s i o n a r y efforts, b o t h in A m e r i c a a n d E n g l a n d , greatly increased their n u m b e r s , and they prospered for a season.

T h e p e a c e of N a u v o o w a s s h o r t - l i v e d . A g a i n bitter r e l i g i o u s i n t o l e r a n c e led t o p e r s e c u t i o n .

J o s e p h S m i t h a n d his b r o t h e r H y r u m w e r e i m p r i s o n e d u n d e r false c h a r g e s in C a r t h a g e , Illinois.

W h i l e a w a i t i n g trial u n d e r t h e g u a r a n t e e d p r o t e c t i o n of t h e s t a t e , t h e y w e r e s h o t a n d killed J u n e 2 7 , 1 8 4 4 , by an armed mob with painted faces.

B r i g h a m Y o u n g s u c c e e d e d to t h e l e a d e r s h i p of t h e C h u r c h . U n d e r his d i r e c t i o n t h e L a t t e r - d a y S a i n t s left Illinois a n d m a d e their h i s t o r i c t r e k to t h e R o c k y Mountains, w h e r e t h r o u g h struggle and faith they have b e c o m e a mighty people.

J o s e p h S m i t h is t o d a y h e l d in r e m e m b r a n c e as a p r o p h e t of G o d by h u n d r e d s of t h o u s a n d s in m a n y l a n d s . T h e v i r t u e s a n d a c h i e v e m e n t s of t h o s e w h o h a v e a c c e p t e d his t e s t i m o n y s t a n d as a m o n u m e n t t o his d i v i n e c a l l i n g . T h e C h u r c h of J e s u s C h r i s t of L a t t e r - d a y S a i n t s h a s its f o u n d a t i o n in t h e r e v e l a t i o n s he r e c e i v e d , t h e s a c r e d t r u t h s he t a u g h t , a n d t h e a u t h o r i t y of t h e p r i e s t h o o d r e s t o r e d t h r o u g h him. ( E x c e r p t e d f r o m J o s e p h S m i t h 2 : 3 - 7 5 a n d History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [ S a l t L a k e C i t y : D e s e r e t B o o k C o m p a n y , 1 9 6 7 ] 1:279.)

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Mission Addresses M i s s i o n o f f i c e s of T h e C h u r c h of J e s u s C h r i s t of L a t t e r d a y S a i n t s a r e l o c a t e d w o r l d w i d e . S o m e a r e listed b e l o w .

You c a n learn m o r e about the C h u r c h a n d about t h e g o s p e l ot J e s u s C h r i s t by c o n t a c t i n g t h e o f f i c e n e a r e s t you.

Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission Casilla de Correc ' 47 1832 Lomas de Z a m o r a Buenos Aires, Argentina Australia Sydney Mission 5 Russell Street, Wolistonecraft Sydney, N S.W., 2 0 6 5 , Australia Brazil Sao Paulo North Mission Gaixa Postal 2 0 8 0 9 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil 0 1 0 0 0 California Los Angeles Mission P C, Box 2 4 0 8 9 Los Angeles, California 9 0 0 2 4 Canada Toronto Mission 338 Queen Street East, Suite 214 Brampton, Ontario. C a n a d a L6V 1C5 Denmark C o p e n h a g e n Mission Priorvej 12 2000 Copenhagen F. Denmark England L o n d o n Mission 9 The Green Lower Edmonton London N-9, England France Paris Mission 23, rue du 11 novembre 1918 7 8 1 1 0 L e Vesinet, France Germany Frankfurt Mission 6 Frankfurt/Main 9 0 Ditmarstrasse 9. G e r m a n y Hong Kong Mission

Japan Tokyo Mission 5 - i O - 3 0 M i n a m Azabu, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 1 0 6 , Japan Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission 11764 South Harrell's Ferry Road Baton Rouge, Louisiana 7 0 8 1 6 Mexico Mexico City Mission Monte C a u c a s o 1110 Lomas d e Chapultepec M e x i c o 10, D,F, Missouri I n d e p e n d e n c e Mission 3 0 6 South Pleasant Street, Box 4 5 5 Independence, Missouri 6 4 0 5 1 Netherlands A m s t e r d a m Mission Waldecklaan 3 1213XV Hilversum, Netherlands New York N e w York Mission Two Lincoln Square New York. New York 10023 Philippines Manila Mission Commercial Center, P,0, Box 801 Makati. Metro Manila 3 1 1 7 Philippines Samoa Apia Mission P.O. Box 197 Apia. Western Samoa Spain Madrid Mission Calle San Telmo 26 Madrid 16, Spain

No. 2 Cornwall Street. Kowloon-Tong Kowloon, Hong K o n g Italy Rome Mission Via Cimone 95 00141 Rome, Italy

Missionary Department 50 East North Temple. 12th Floor Salt Lake City. Utah 8 4 1 5 0

â„¢CHURCHoF JESUS CHRIST Of LATTER-DAY SAINTS PTMI0013

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