Chapter VII: Preface (6)

"Modern science has given us very accurately drawn charts of the
course of the wind through the atmosphere surrounding us. We have
no reason to believe these wind currents have changed since the
creation. Now the prevailing current of wind over the central part
of North America is from the west, and possibly this was the course
followed by the tornado during the deluge. Now if the ark had been
built in Armenia, where the mountain Ararat is situated, and it is
found that the wind and currents have general eastern direction,
the ark would, during the one hundred and fifty days or five months
of the deluge (that is from the commencement until the waters
gained their greatest depth), have gone in an eastern course, say
at the rate of about forty miles a day, some six thousand miles,
or beyond China; or if it floated faster, it would have left the
ark somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. This would be an unreasonable
theory to adopt, being entirely inconsistent. But the ark being
built in America, somewhere, we may imagine in the latitude of
Missouri, when taken up by the eastern-borne current, and wafted
by the hurricane following the same course, it is not out of the
way to suppose it to have progressed as far as Ararat, some six or
seven thousand miles from America, even had it traveled at a more
rapid rate than forty or fifty miles a day. Over sixteen hundred
years had passed from the creation until the ark was finished.
In this time mankind had increased and multiplied and spread out
far beyond the country around Eden (the Mississippi Valley), as
signs of an antediluvian population indicate, and we may suppose
the ark was built some distance east of the Garden, between the
States of New York and Missouri. Couple this supposition with
the circumstances connected with the flood, the current flowing
from America, with the fact of the ark's resting in an easterly
direction from this country, and we can form no other reasonable
conclusion than that here the miraculous vessel was constructed and
freighted with its treasure of animal life, and the progenitors
designated and set apart to renew the human race. That the ancient
Americans knew of the deluge is beyond dispute, as we have
several versions of the story of the flood that have been handed
down as tradition by different nations, and in one instance we
have a picture-written description of it, an old Toltec record,
fortunately preserved from the wholesale destruction that followed
the conquest."

Suffice it to say that it is no longer considered an absurd theory that America was the cradle of man, and the home of Adam, Noah and the other antediluvian patriarchs, but it has {104} taken many years of patient study and thorough investigation of scientific problems for men of learning to come to the same conclusion that Joseph Smith did by revelation between fifty and sixty years ago. The following was published in the DESERET NEWS of Sept. 18, 1888:

"A CORROBORATIVE DISCOVERY.

"A short time ago the Washington _Post_ made a remarkable statement
regarding the location of the Garden of Eden. It announced that Dr.
Campbell of Versailles had lately discovered that it was on this
continent, and near where St. Louis now stands. That gentleman,
according to the _Post_, asserted that the Mississippi River is the
Euphrates of Scripture, and that the Bible furnishes evidence of
the correctness of his conclusions.

"It is probable that Dr. Campbell is not aware of the fact that he
is not the discoverer of what he now announces, the Prophet Joseph
Smith having many years ago stated that the Garden of Eden was
located in what is now known as the State of Missouri. The Prophet
also pointed out the precise spot where Adam offered sacrifice to
the Lord, and where, as the great patriarchal head of the race,
he blessed his children previous to his departure from the earth.
That sacred spot in Missouri was designated by the Prophet as
Adam-ondi-Aham, the meaning of which is--the land where Adam dwelt."

My conclusion is this: If scientific men, by the evidences produceable at this late day can indicate that the Garden of Eden was at or near the place where St. Louis, Mo., now stands, the Lord, who originally planted the garden himself, could designate the exact spot and tell His prophet that that first garden, the original paradise of man, was located in Jackson County, Mo., just 150 miles northwest of St. Louis.

In connection with this, I desire to relate a little experience of my own. About two years ago, in company with Elders Edward Stevenson and Joseph S. Black, I visited Adam-ondi-Ahman, in Missouri, and as we stood upon the site of the altar that I have referred to and looked over the beautiful valley lying south and east of us, I said to myself, "Can it be possible that these stones--fragments of which I held in my hand--were once parts of the altar upon which our first parent offered sacrifice to God?"

I had previously listened to the testimony of Presidents Wilford Woodruff, A. O. Smoot and other men of prominence and unimpeachable character, to the effect that they were present with the Prophet Joseph in 1838 when the glorious facts relating to that particular tract of country were revealed. But I desired a direct testimony from the Lord concerning the matter, and consequently made it a subject of prayer. And I desire, on this occasion, to bear my testimony that I received {105} an answer to my prayer sufficient to convince me that these things are true.

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE PREDICTED.

On the 31st of October, 1838, Joseph and a number of his brethren, all prominent men in the Church, were betrayed by Col. George M. Hinkle into the hands of the mob militia who had surrounded Far West, Mo., determined to sack the town. Although Joseph had only been in Missouri a few months and had not done the least harm to a single soul there, nearly the whole population of that State, including its highest officers, both civil and military, had become so exasperated, through the stream of lies which had been circulated through the country concerning the Saints and their motives, that they had fully determined to kill the leaders of the Church; and there were scores in that mob militia camp to which Joseph and his brethren were brought that memorable day who would have considered it a great honor to put to death Joseph and his fellow-prisoners. They knew also that there would be no danger of them being brought to justice for such a deed, even if they should assassinate them without orders from any commander. It was on this occasion that the mobbers cursed and shouted like mad-men and swore that Joseph and those with him should never see their friends or families again alive; and to prove that this was not the boast and threat of the common soldier only, I will refer you to what John Clark, the head general and commander of the whole militia, said in his notorious speech which he delivered before the brethren at Far West, after he had made them prisoners of war. Referring to Joseph and his fellow prisoners, who then were on the road to Jackson County in the hands of Gen. Lucas and his army, General Clark said:

"As for your leaders, do not once think--do not imagine for
a moment--do not let it enter your minds, that they will be
delivered, or that you will see their faces again, for their _fate
is fixed_, THEIR DIE IS CAST, THEIR DOOM IS SEALED."

But while, from a human standpoint, it seemed absolutely impossible for Joseph and his brethren to escape from their enemies alive, Joseph rose up in the spirit of his prophetic calling, and prophesied that they ALL should be delivered alive. Parley P. Pratt, one of the prisoners with Joseph, writes the following:

"As we arose and commenced our march on the morning of the 3rd of
November, Joseph Smith spoke to me and the other prisoners {106}
in a low but cheerful and confidential tone. Said he: 'Be of good
cheer, brethren; the word of the Lord came to me last night that
our lives should be given us, and that whatever we may suffer
during this captivity, not one of our lives should be taken.'

"Of this prophecy I testify in the name of the Lord, and though
spoken in secret, its public fulfilment and the miraculous escape
of each one of us is too notorious to need my testimony."--Parley
P. Pratt's Aut., page 210.

Notwithstanding the fact that they were sentenced on two or three different occasions to be shot, that several attempts were made to poison them while incarcerated in filthy dungeons; that forty men at a certain time and place entered into a conspiracy that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed the "Mormon Prophet," all the brethren in due course of time, escaped from their persecutors and would-be murderers, and, although they suffered as only few men have suffered, they arrived safely, and all alive, among their friends in Illinois. This surely is another proof of Joseph Smith's prophetic gift, while General Clark at the same time is proven to be a false prophet.

PREDICTIONS ABOUT COMING TO THE MOUNTAINS.

Under date of Saturday, August 6, 1842, Joseph wrote:

"I passed over the river to Montrose, Iowa, in company with General
Adams, Col. Brewer and others and witnessed the installation of
the officers of the Rising Sun Lodge of Ancient York Masons at
Montrose, by General James Adams, deputy grand master of Illinois.
While the deputy grand master was engaged in giving the requisite
instructions to the master elect, I had a conversation with a
number of brethren in the shade of the building on the subject of
our persecution in Missouri and the constant annoyance which had
followed us since we were driven from that State. I prophesied
that the Saints would continue to suffer much affliction and would
be driven to the Rocky Mountains; many would apostatize, others
would be put to death by our persecutors or lose their lives in
consequence of exposure or disease, and some of you will live to
go and assist in making settlements and build cities and see the
Saints become a mighty people in the Rocky Mountains." (_Historical
Record_, page 487.)

I need spend no time to prove the fulfilment of this remarkable prophecy. All of you who are present in this hall tonight can testify to its literal fulfilment. The Latter-day Saints have indeed become a mighty people in these mountains, numbering as they do now about two hundred thousand souls, organized into thirty-two Stakes of Zion, or nearly five hundred wards and branches; and this does not include the Saints in Mexico and Canada. It is also a matter of history {107} that the Saints, for years after the prediction was uttered, continued to suffer persecution and affliction from their enemies; that many apostatized, while others, who proved faithful and true to their covenants, were put to death for conscience sake, and the remainder were driven by a ruthless mob from the beautiful city of Nauvoo into the western wilderness in the year 1846.

ESCAPE FROM ENEMIES PREDICTED.

Early in the year 1844, while the spirit of renewed persecution was brooding in Hancock County, Illinois, Joseph was inspired to make preparations for sending an expedition to the Rocky Mountains, to seek out a new location for the Saints, as it had been revealed to him that they would not be permitted to remain much longer in their Illinois homes. On Sunday, Feb. 25, 1844, while the Prophet was engaged in selecting brethren to go on this expedition, he gave them some important instructions, and prophesied, "that within five years the Saints should be out of the power of their old enemies, whether they were apostates or of the world;" and the Prophet also told the brethren to record it, that when it came to pass, they need not say they had forgotten the saying. (_Historical Record_, page 542.)

Five years after this prediction was uttered the Saints had been driven from Nauvoo; the noble band of Pioneers had, under the guidance of Jehovah, been led to these valleys in 1847, about three years after the prediction was made; and in 1849 (five years after) the bulk of the exiles from Nauvoo had gathered here, thirteen hundred miles from their Illinois persecutors.

STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.

I will now refer you to another most remarkable prophecy and its fulfilment. Among the prominent men of Illinois, who befriended the Saints when they were expelled from Missouri, was Stephen A. Douglas, afterwards known as the "Little Giant," and who became one of the great statesman of our nation. This man continued friendly to the Saints for many years, and especially to Joseph Smith, in whose case he, as an Illinois district judge, rendered a fair and impartial decision at Monmouth, June 10, 1841, at a time when the Missourians were endeavoring to get Joseph Smith into their power. After that he and the Prophet exchanged visits, and on one occasion when Joseph dined with him in Carthage, Illinois, May 18, 1843, {108} he listened to a lengthy explanation from the Prophet about the Missouri persecutions. Winding up the conversation, Joseph spoke of the dire effects that would flow to the nation if the United States should refuse to redress the wrongs of murder, arson and robbery committed against the Saints in Missouri and the crimes committed upon the Saints by the officers of the government. Turning to Judge Douglas he said:

"You will aspire to the presidency of the United States, and if ever you turn your hand against me or the Latter-day Saints, you will feel the weight of the hand of the Almighty upon you; and you will live to see and know that I have testified the truth to you, for the conversation of this day will stick to you through life."

This remarkable prophecy concerning Judge Douglas personally has had a literal fulfilment. Judge Douglas continued to rise in prominence in the nation as long as he remained a friend to the Saints. But, finally he turned against them, and at the time the excitement ran high against the "Mormons" in 1857, and preparations were being made to send an army against the people of Utah, Judge Douglas thought he would add a little to the great popularity he had already achieved by doing the most popular thing that could be done at the time, namely, denouncing the "Mormons." Hence, in a political speech which he delivered in Springfield, Ill., June 12th, 1857, and which was published in the _Missouri Republican_ of June 18th following and partly republished with comments in the DESERET NEWS of September 2nd, 1857, Senator Douglas attacked the Saints in Utah in a most fierce and unwarranted manner, and among many other bitter expressions which he made, he called "Mormonism, a loathsome, disgusting ulcer," to which he recommended that Congress apply the knife and cut it out. In the DESERET NEWS of the date mentioned, the prophecy of Joseph Smith was republished with warning remarks, directed to Mr. Douglas, who at that time, in fulfilment of Joseph's words, was already aspiring to the presidency of the United States. In the campaign of 1860 he became the candidate of the Independent Democratic party for that position. It is asserted that no man ever entered into a campaign with brighter prospects of success than did Senator Douglas on that occasion. His friends viewed him as sure to be seated in the Presidential chair, because of his great popularity. But, alas, he and his friends had reckoned without Divine interposition. He had lifted his hands against the Saints of the Most High God and denounced the people whom {109} he knew to be innocent and whom he ought to have defended. The result was that he was sadly defeated at the election, as he only received two electoral votes against seventeen cast for Abraham Lincoln (Republican) and eleven cast for J. C. Breckenridge (Democrat).

When the result of the election became known in Utah Apostle Orson Hyde published the following in the DESERET NEWS of December 12, 1860:

"EPHRAIM, Utah Ter., Nov. 27, 1860.

"Will the Judge now acknowledge that Joseph Smith was a true
Prophet? If he will not, does he recollect a certain conversation
had with Mr. Smith at the house of Sheriff Backenstos, in Carthage,
Illinois, in the year 1843, in which Mr. Smith said to him: 'You
will yet aspire to the presidency of the United States. But if you
ever raise your hand, or your voice against the Latter-day Saints,
you shall never be President of the United States.'

"Does Judge Douglas recollect that in a public speech delivered
by him in the year 1857, at Springfield, Illinois, of comparing
the Mormon community, then constituting the inhabitants of Utah
Territory, to a 'loathsome ulcer on the body politic,' and of
recommending the knife to be applied to cut it out?

"Among other things the Judge will doubtless recollect that I was
present and heard the conversation between him and Joseph Smith, at
Mr. Backenstos' residence in Carthage, before alluded to.

"Now, Judge, what think you about Joseph Smith and Mormonism?

ORSON HYDE."

A few months later, or in June, 1861, Judge Douglas died in disappointment and grief. Never has the saying of any Prophet of God been more literally and minutely fulfilled than the prediction made by the Prophet Joseph Smith concerning this man.

CHRIST'S SECOND COMING.

Some have thought that Joseph Smith was an enthusiast or a religious fanatic, and that his prophetic utterances were the result of his impulsive nature or visionary mind. But such was not the case. When he was under the influence of the Spirit of God his mind was perfectly calm and collected, and his countenance beamed with heavenly intelligence.

While some of his contemporaries allowed their zeal and enthusiasm to lead them into erroneous expectations, he would reason with them calmly and endeavor to balance their minds. To illustrate this I will relate an incident that transpired shortly before he suffered martyrdom:

A man by the name of Miller, the founder of the sect known as Millerites, was preaching to the people in the Eastern States in 1844, that the Savior would make His appearance that {110} year. This caused considerable excitement at the time, and a number of people were quite alarmed about it. Joseph Smith hearing of these predictions, declared that they would not be fulfilled, and said he, "I will take the responsibility upon myself to prophesy in the name of the Lord, that Christ will not come this year, as Father Miller has prophesied, and I also prophesy that Christ will not come in forty years; and if God ever spoke by my mouth, he will not come in that length of time. Brethren, when you go home, write this down that it may be remembered."

More than forty years have passed since 1844; hence here we again have Joseph proven to be a true Prophet, while Father Miller missed it very much.

THE THREE WITNESSES.

When Joseph Smith was translating the Book of Mormon, with Oliver Cowdery as scribe, the following words of Moroni directed to the translator, occurred in the translation:

"Behold ye may be privileged that ye may show the plates unto
those who shall assist to bring forth this work (meaning the Book
of Mormon). And unto three shall they be shown by the power of
God; wherefore they shall know of a surety that these things are
true. And in the mouth of three witnesses shall these things be
established, and the testimony of three and this work * * * shall
stand as a testimony against the world at the last day."--Ether v:
2-4.

Here is a positive promise that the plates of the Book of Mormon should be shown to three "by the power of God." I will now read the testimony of three men who, as soon as this promise was made known, desired of the Lord to be chosen as these three special witnesses, and who, when their desire was granted, prepared and signed the following:

"Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and people unto
whom this work shall come, that we, through the grace of God the
Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which
contain this record--which is the record of the people of Nephi,
and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people
of Jared, who come from the tower of which hath been spoken; and we
also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of
God, for His voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of a
surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen
the engravings which are upon the plates, and they have been shown
unto us by the power of God, and not of man; and we declare with
words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and
he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the
plates and the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the
grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld
and bear record that these things are true; and it is marvelous
{111} in our eyes; nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us
that we should bear record of it: wherefore, to be obedient unto
the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we
know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments
of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment
seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens.
And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost, which is one God. Amen.

OLIVER COWDERY,

DAVID WHITMER,

MARTIN HARRIS."

This is plain, strong testimony. Joseph Smith or any other man could easily enough have made a promise like the one made in the 5th chapter of Ether, but he could not have called down an angel from heaven, nor caused the voice of God to be heard, in order to have the promise fulfilled. The Lord only could fulfill this prediction, and he did it, in his own way, time and place. But, says the skeptic, the three witnesses subsequently left the Church and deserted Joseph Smith. Yes, that is true, and this is what makes their testimony of ten-fold more weight. If their testimonies were not true, if any fraud or deception had been practiced in regard to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon they would undoubtedly have exposed the same as soon as the break occurred between Joseph Smith and themselves. But the facts are these: They always remained true to their testimony, even in their darkest hours. Then why did they leave the Church? They fell into transgression; they sinned against God and had to be dealt with the same as other transgressors; for although a man may have seen angels and had glorious visions, etc., he has no license to any more than those less favored.

We will now briefly allude to the individual witnesses:

Oliver Cowdery, after his excommunication in Far West, April 11, 1838, engaged in law business and practiced for some years as a lawyer in Michigan, but he never denied the truth of the Book of Mormon. On the contrary, he seems to have used every opportunity he had to bear testimony of its divine origin. While in Michigan, a gentleman, on a certain occasion, addressed him as follows: "Mr. Cowdery, I see your name attached to this book. If you believe it to be true, why are you in Michigan?" The gentleman then read the names of the Three Witnesses and asked: "Mr. Cowdery, do you believe this book?" "No, sir," was the reply. "Very well," continued the gentleman, "but your name is attached to it, and you declare here (pointing to the book) that you saw an angel, and also the plates, from which the book purports to be translated; {112}and now you say you don't believe it. Which time did you tell the truth?" Oliver Cowdery replied with emphasis, "My name is attached to that book, and what I there have said is true. I did see this; I know I saw it, and faith has nothing to do with it, as a perfect knowledge has swallowed up the faith which I had in the work, knowing, as I do, that it is true."

At a special conference held at Kanesville, Iowa, October 21, 1848, Oliver Cowdery was present and made the following remarks:

"Friends and Brethren.--My name is Cowdery, Oliver Cowdery. In the
early history of this Church I stood identified with her, and one
in her councils. True it is that the gifts and callings of God
are without repentance; not because I was better than the rest of
mankind was I called; but to fulfill the purposes of God, He called
me to a high and holy calling.

"I wrote, with my own pen, the entire Book of Mormon (save a few
pages) as it fell from the lips of the Prophet Joseph Smith, as
he translated it by the gift and power of God, by the means of
the Urim and Thummim, or, as it is called by that book, 'holy
interpreters.' I beheld with my eyes, and handled with my hands,
the gold plates from which it was transcribed. I also saw with
my eyes and handled with my hands the 'holy interpreters.' That
book is true. Sidney Rigdon did not write it; Mr. Spaulding did
not write it; I wrote it myself as it fell from the lips of the
Prophet. It contains the Everlasting Gospel, and came forth to the
children of men in fulfilment of the revelations of John, where he
says he saw an angel come with the Everlasting Gospel to preach to
every nation, kindred, tongue and people. It contains principles of
salvation; and if you, my hearers, will walk by its light and obey
its precepts, you will be saved with an everlasting salvation in
the kingdom of God on high. Brother Hyde has just said that it is
very important that we keep and walk in the true channel, in order
to avoid the sandbars. This is true. The channel is here. The holy
Priesthood is here.

"I was present with Joseph when an holy angel from God came down
from heaven and conferred on us, or restored, the lesser or Aaronic
Priesthood, and said to us, at the same time, that it should remain
upon the earth while the earth stands.

"I was also present with Joseph when the higher or Melchisedek
Priesthood was conferred by holy angels from on high. This
Priesthood we then conferred on each other, by the will and
commandment of God. This Priesthood, as was then declared, is also
to remain upon the earth until the last remnant of time. This holy
Priesthood, or authority, we then conferred upon many, and is just
as good and valid as though God had done it in person.

"I laid my hands upon that man--yes, I laid my right hand upon his
head (pointing to Brother Hyde), and I conferred upon him this
Priesthood, and he holds that Priesthood now. He was also called
through me, by the prayer of faith, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus
Christ."

{113}Soon afterwards Oliver Cowdery was rebaptized, but while making preparations to come to Utah, he was suddenly stricken with death in Richmond, Mo., March 3rd, 1850. Elder Phinehas H. Young, who was present when he died, testifies:

"His last moments were spent in bearing testimony of the truth of
the Gospel revealed through Joseph Smith, and the power of the Holy
Priesthood which he had received through his administration."

David Whitmer, who died in Richmond, Mo., Jan. 25th, 1888, was also true to his testimony until the last, although he never united himself with the Church after his excommunication in 1838. During the last few years of his life he was frequently visited by representatives of the press and many others, to whom he would always bear strong and faithful testimonies of the divinity of the Book of Mormon.

On one occasion when the report reached him that he was accused by a certain party of having denied his former testimony, he wrote the following, which was published in the Richmond (Mo.) _Conservator_ of March 25, 1881:

_Unto all Nations, Kindreds, Tongues and People, unto whom these
presents shall come_:

"It having been represented by one John Murphy, of Polo, Caldwell
County, Missouri, that I, in a conversation with him last summer,
denied my testimony as one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of
Mormon.

"To the end, therefore, that he may understand me now, if he did
not then; and that the world may know the truth, I wish now,
standing as it were, in the very sunset of life, and in the fear of
God, once for all to make this public statement:

"That I have never at any time denied that testimony or any part
thereof, which has so long since been published with that book, as
one of the Three Witnesses. Those who know me best, well know that
I have always adhered to that testimony. And that no man may be
misled or doubt my present views in regard to the same, I do again
affirm the truth of all my statements as then made and published.

"He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear; it was no delusion;
what is written is written, and he that readeth let him understand.
* * * * * *

"In the Spirit of Christ, who hath said: 'Follow thou me, for I am
the life, the light and the way,' I submit this statement to the
world; God in whom I trust being my judge as to the sincerity of my
motives and the faith and hope that is in me of eternal life.

"My sincere desire is that the world may be benefited by this plain
and simple statement of the truth.

"And all the honor to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,
which is one God. Amen!

DAVID WHITER, SEN. RICHMOND, Mo., March 19, 1881.

{114}Three days before his death Mr. Whitmer called his family and some friends to his bedside and addressing himself to the attending physician, said:

"'Dr. Buchanan, I want you to say whether or not I am in my right
mind, before I give my dying testimony.'

"The doctor answered: 'Yes, you are in your right mind, for I have
just had conversation with you.'

"He then addressed himself to all around his bedside in these
words: 'Now you must all be faithful in Christ, I want to say to
you all, the Bible and the record of the Nephites (Book of Mormon)
is true, so you can say that you have heard me bear my testimony on
my death-bed. All be faithful in Christ, and your reward will be
according to your works. God bless you all. My trust is in Christ
forever, worlds without end. Amen.'"

Martin Harris also absented himself from the Church for many years, but was always true to his testimony in regard to the Book of Mormon. He finally emigrated to Utah, arriving in Salt Lake City, August 30, 1870, in care of Elder Edward Stevenson. He located in Smithfield, Cache County, and later in Clarkson, where he died July 10, 1875, being nearly ninety-three years of age.

A few hours before his death, when prostrated with great weakness, Bishop Simon Smith came into his room; Martin Harris stretched forth his hands to salute him and said: "Bishop, I am going." The Bishop told him that he had something of importance to tell him in relation to the Book of Mormon, which was to be published in the Spanish language, by the request of Indians in Central America. Upon hearing this, Martin Harris brightened up, his pulsation improved, and, although very weak, he began to talk as he formerly had done previous to his sickness. He conversed for about two hours, and it seemed that the mere mention of the Book of Mormon put new life into him.

It will also be remembered that Martin Harris, soon after his arrival in Utah, spoke to a large congregation of Saints and strangers in the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, where he bore a faithful testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon.

Also the eight witnesses, whose testimony is published in the Book of Mormon after the testimony of the three witnesses, remained true to their testimonies until the last; they are all dead now.

THE SIGNS FOLLOWING THE BELIEVERS.

In December, 1830, a few months after the Church was {115} organized in Fayette, N.Y., with six members, the following predictions were made:

"I give unto thee a commandment, that thou shalt baptize by water,
and they shall receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands,
even as the Apostles of old. * * * For I am God, and mine arm is
not shortened; and I will show miracles, signs and wonders unto all
those who believe on my name. And whoso shall ask it in my name in
faith, they shall cast out devils; they shall heal the sick; they
shall cause the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear,
and the dumb to speak, and the lame to walk; and the time speedily
cometh that great things are to be shown forth unto the children of
men."--Doc. & Cov. xxxv: 6-10.

Again, in September, 1832, in a revelation given to Joseph Smith and six Elders, "as they unveiled their hearts and lifted their voices on high," the following glorious promises were made:

"Therefore, as I said unto mine Apostles I say unto you again, that
every soul who believeth on your words, and is baptized by water
for the remission of sins, shall receive the Holy Ghost; and these
signs shall follow them that believe. In my name they shall do many
wonderful works; in my name they shall cast out devils; in my name
they shall heal the sick; in my name they shall open the eyes of
the blind, and unstop the ears of the deaf; and the tongue of the
dumb shall speak; and if any man shall administer poison unto them
it shall not hurt them; and the poison of a serpent shall not have
power to harm them." Doc. and Cov., 84, 64-72.

If Joseph Smith had been an impostor and his revelations consequently not genuine, would he have dared to make promises like those contained in the forgoing? Could anything have proven more disastrous to his schemes than to promise people gifts which were not in his power to give? If he was not a servant of God would he not studiously have avoided to connect the Lord with any of his schemes in such a way? Could he imagine that God would sanction his doings by pouring out his gifts and blessings upon people who were being deceived by a wicked impostor? Certainly not. If Joseph Smith was not called of God he would have had to re-echo the old, old sectarian song from the dark ages: These things (the gifts and blessings following the believer) have ceased, because they are no longer necessary. It is a well-known fact that the signs which were promised by the Savior and enumerated in St. Mark, 16th chapter, 17th and 18th verses, did follow the believers. The Acts of the Apostles are full of examples of this kind. It is also a known fact that when Christianity in the days of Constantine the Great, and later became mixed up with Paganism and was then made the State Religion of {116} the Roman empire, and the people were compelled at the edge of the sword to accept it, that these signs did not follow the members of this false church. But when the clergy, in order to blind the masses, told the people that the reason why the members did not enjoy these blessings, as in former years, was that they were no longer necessary, they told a deliberate falsehood. The real cause was that this apostate church had "transgressed the law, changed the ordinance and broken the everlasting covenant," and that Christ did not recognize this new form of so-called Christianity as His doctrines of salvation, nor accept of the order of their organization as anything akin to the Church organized by Himself and His Apostles. Hence, He withheld His gifts, signs and blessings from them, and for hundreds of years they were unknown so far as church gifts were concerned.

An anecdote that I heard a friend relate several years ago will illustrate the contrast between the true Church of Christ and fallen Christianity. A prominent cardinal of the Roman Catholic church, on a certain occasion, visited the Pope of Rome, and together with him examined the contents of the treasure chamber at the Vatican where gold, diamonds and other costly things were deposited. While gazing upon the costly treasures the Pope remarked. "We can not truthfully say now as Peter and John said anciently that we have no silver and gold." "No, that is true," answered the cardinal, "and there is something else we cannot say. We cannot command the lame in the name of Jesus Christ to arise and walk."

We all remember the beautiful story related in the third chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, of a certain man who had been lame from his mother's womb and who daily lay at the gate of the Temple of Jerusalem to ask alms of those who entered; and how he, seeing Peter and John about to go in, also asked them for alms. Peter, after fastening his eyes upon the cripple, together with John, said, being moved upon by the power of God: "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he, leaping up, stood and walked, and entered with them into the Temple, walking and leaping, and praising God.

The contrast is this: The Apostles of the true Church had no silver and gold, for they had been sent out to preach without purse or scrip; but they possessed the power of God to such an extent that they healed the sick, the lame, the blind, etc. The Catholic Church is wealthy, has plenty of silver and {117} gold, but not the power of God. Joseph Smith was also poor as regards this world's goods, but he was powerful in the Priesthood, and in the strength of the Lord, and hundreds were healed under his administrations. How then about the promises made in the revelations from which I have quoted? The answer is easily given and can be stated briefly. They have been fulfilled to the very letter. There are thousands in the Church who can testify and who do bear testimony continually to the effect that the gifts and blessings follow the believers, who have embraced the Gospel as restored through Joseph Smith. Not only in the United States, but in Europe, upon the islands of the sea, and in all parts of the world where the Gospel has been preached by our Elders, have the sick been healed under their administration, the lame have received their strength, the blind have been restored to their sight and the deaf to their hearing; evil spirits have been cast out; the gifts of prophecy, of tongues, the interpretation of tongues, and, in short, all the gifts and blessings enjoyed by the former-day Saints have been and are now being enjoyed by the Latter-day Saints. Our books, pamphlets, papers and periodicals are full of instances of this kind, and should an attempt be made to gather, compile and publish testimonies of this nature, we would have material enough for a book larger than the Bible and Book of Mormon combined. In the face of all these testimonies, what additional proofs do we need to establish the fact that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet.