Essentials in Church History: A History of the Church from the Birth of Joseph Smith to the Present Time (1922), with Introductory Chapters on the Antiquity of the Gospel and the "Falling Away"Smith, Joseph Fielding
History
Essentials in Church History: A History of the Church from the Birth of Joseph Smith to the Present Time (1922), with Introductory Chapters on the Antiquity of the Gospel and the "Falling Away"
Smith, Joseph Fielding
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- History
He had no difficulty in locating the spot where the records were
hidden.[1] It was the matter of but a moment to scrape away the grass
and dirt and with a lever pry loose the stone which served as a
covering to the box containing the sacred treasure. There before him,
lying on two stones which were crosswise of the box, he beheld the
record. With it were the Urim and Thummim, two transparent stones set
in bows of silver and attached to the breastplate--all as the angel had
described. He was enraptured. Putting forth his hand he attempted to
remove the plates, but received a shock, which in a measure deprived
him of his strength. After a moment's hesitation he made a second
attempt, but received a greater shock than at first. The cause of this
was unknown to him, for he had supposed that physical strength and
exertion were all that were necessary for him to obtain the record. The
third time he stretched forth his hand to take the plates and again
received a shock with considerable violence, which sapped his strength
and made him powerless. In his great excitement and without meditation
he exclaimed: "Why cannot I obtain the book?" "Because you have not
kept the commandments of the Lord," answered a voice near by him.
Looking up he was astonished to behold the heavenly messenger of his
former visits.
Powers of Good and Evil Shown
In humble repentance he sought the Lord in prayer. His vision was
opened and the glory of the Lord shone round about him, and he was
made to feel the sweet influence of the power of righteousness. While
he was beholding this vision the angel said, "Look!" Joseph beheld the
prince of darkness surrounded by his innumerable train of associates
in all their diabolical fury. As the visions of evil passed before him
the angel said: "All this is shown, the good and the evil, the holy
and impure, the glory of God and the power of darkness, that you may
know hereafter the two powers and never be influenced or overcome by
that wicked one. Behold, whatever entices and leads to good and to
do good, is of God, and whatever does not is of that wicked one. It
is he who fills the hearts of men with evil, to walk in darkness and
blaspheme God; and you may learn from henceforth, that his ways are to
destruction; but the way of holiness is peace and rest."[2]
Joseph was further informed that the record had been deposited for the
sake of the glory of the Lord, for they contained the fulness of the
Gospel as it was given to the ancient inhabitants of this American
continent, and was to be brought forth by the power of God; and
moreover that the translation would go forth to the Gentiles, many of
whom would believe--afterwards it should go to the house of Israel many
of whom should also be brought into the Church of Christ.
Value of the Prophet's Lesson
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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