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" — John Shaqi
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
Martin Harris took the transcript that had been made together with the
partial translation, and departed for New York. Just what his object
was, and what he had in mind, is not made clear. That he was led to do
so by inspiration was later shown. He first submitted the characters to
Professor Charles Anthon of Columbia College with the request that he
examine them. He then took them to Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell, also of New
York. When Martin returned he made the following report:
"I went to the city of New York, and presented the characters
which had been translated, with the translation thereof, to
Professor Charles Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his literary
attainments. Professor Anthon stated that the translation was
correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the
Egyptian. I then showed him those which were not yet translated,
and he said that they were Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyrian and Arabic;
and he said they were true characters. He gave me a certificate,
certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were true characters,
and that the translation of such of them as had been translated was
also correct. I took the certificate and put it into my pocket,
and was just leaving the house when Mr. Anthon called me back, and
asked me how the young man found out that there were gold plates in
the place where he found them. I answered that an angel of God had
revealed it unto him.
"He then said to me, 'Let me see that certificate.' I accordingly
took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and
tore it to pieces, saying, that there was no such thing now as
ministering of angels, and that if I would bring the plates to him,
he would translate them. I informed him that part of the plates
were sealed, and that I was forbidden to bring them. He replied, 'I
cannot read a sealed book.' I left him and went to Mr. Mitchell,
who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said respecting both the
characters and the translation."
A number of years later, when he discovered the use to which his
testimony had been given, Professor Anthon denied the statement of
Martin Harris, although he did confess that such a person called to see
him with such characters, but he treated it as a hoax. There may be
some slight errors in the account of Martin Harris, but in the main his
story must be true for it is the fulfilment of an ancient prophecy of
Isaiah[2] almost word for word. It is not likely that Martin Harris was
familiar with the prophecy of Isaiah at that time and without question
Professor Anthon had no intention of fulfilling prophecy in making his
answer, but nevertheless such proved to be the case.
The Lost Manuscript
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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