Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol III, No 13, 1851Various
General
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol III, No 13, 1851
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
But now, in the Book of Ether, which follows, Joe becomes more bold, and
goes back to the tower of Babel for another tribe of fair people, whom
he brings over and settles in America. At the confusion of the
languages, Ether and his brethren journeyed to the great sea, and, after
a sojourn of four years on the shore, built boats under the Divine
direction, water-tight, and covered over like walnuts, with a bright
stone in each end to give light! And when they had embarked in their
tight boats, a strong wind arose, blowing toward the promised land, and
for 344 days it blew them along the water, till they arrived safe at the
shore. Here, like the sons of Lehi, they increased and prospered, and
had kings and prophets and wars, and were split into parties, who fought
with each other. Finally, Shiz rose in rebellion against Coriantumr, the
last king, and they fought with alternate success, till two millions of
mighty men, with their wives and children, had been slain! And, after
this, all the people were gathered either on the one side or the other,
and fought for many days, till only Coriantumr alone remained alive!
This foolish history is written with the professedly religious purpose
of showing the punishment from the hand of God which wicked behavior
certainly entails; and, with some trifling moralities of Moroni,
completes the _Book of Mormon_.
Joseph Smith does not affect in this gospel of his to bring in any new
doctrine, or to supersede the Bible, but to restore "many plain and
precious things which have been taken away from the first book by the
abominable church, the Mother of Harlots." It is full of sillinesses,
follies, and anachronisms; but I have not discovered, in my cursory
review, any of the immoralities or positive licentiousness which he
himself practiced, directly inculcated. He teaches faith in Christ,
human depravity, the power of the Holy Ghost, the doctrine of the
Trinity, of the atonement, and of salvation only through Christ. He
recommends the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper; and,
whatever his own conduct and that of his people may be, certainly in his
book prohibits polygamy and priestcraft.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account