Divine Authority; Or, the Question: Was Joseph Smith Sent of God?Pratt, Orson
Religion
Divine Authority; Or, the Question: Was Joseph Smith Sent of God?
Pratt, Orson
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Doctrines; Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
In America there is a "_multitude of nations_," called by us
"_Indians_." These Indians evidently sprang from the same source as
is indicated by their color, features, customs, dialects, traditions,
&c.; that they are of Israelitish origin is also evident from their
religious ceremonies, their language, their traditions, and the
discovery of Hebrew inscriptions, &c. If America is not the land given
to a branch of Joseph, where, or in what part of the globe shall that
tribe receive the fulfillment of Jacob's prediction? where, if not
in America, has a land been peopled by a multitude of the nations of
Joseph? Can a multitude of the nations of Joseph be found in Europe,
Asia, or Africa, or in any of the adjoining islands? If not, then
America seems to be the only place where that great prediction could
receive its accomplishment. The Book of Mormon testifies that America
is "_the land of Joseph_," given to them by promise. Is not this an
additional evidence that _Mr. Smith was sent of God?_ If Mr. Smith was
an impostor, how came he to discover that the tribe of Joseph was to be
favored so much above all the other tribes of Israel? Perhaps it may
be replied, that it was easy to discover _that_ from the scriptures;
but, we ask, why did not Swedenborg, Wesley, Irving, or some of the
other impostors of former times, make this scriptural discovery, and
incorporate it in their pretended dispensations? It would be, at
first, thought far more natural to suppose the American Indians to be
the ten lost tribes of Israel; indeed, this is the opinion of many
of the learned at the present day. Why did not this modern prophet,
if a deceiver, form his deceptive scheme more in accordance with the
opinions of the learned? or why should he choose a remnant of the
tribe of Joseph to people ancient America? Out of the twelve tribes of
Israel, why did he select only a branch of one tribe to people this
vast continent? All can _now_ perceive why the Book of Mormon should
profess to be the history of a remnant of one tribe, instead of being
the history of the ten tribes. All can see, why America should be
represented as a promised land to Joseph, instead of being given to
Reuben, Simeon, or any of the other tribes. All can _now_ see, though
it was not seen at the first, that if the Book of Mormon was different
from what it now is; that is, if it professed to contain a history of
the ten lost tribes; or if it had given the great western continent
to any other people, or to any other tribe than that of Joseph, that
it would have proved itself false--it would not have been the book or
record which the prophets predicted should come forth to usher in the
great work of the last days. An impostor would be obliged to take into
consideration all these minute circumstances, many of which are in
direct opposition to the established traditions of the day; yet none of
them could be neglected without proving fatal to his scheme. But Mr.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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