New Witnesses for God (Volume 3 of 3)Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Religion
New Witnesses for God (Volume 3 of 3)
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Book of Mormon; Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
It will be recollected that a few months since an article appeared
in several of the papers, purporting to give an account of the
origin of the Book of Mormon. How far the writer of that piece has
effected his purposes, or what his purposes were in pursuing the
course he has, I shall not attempt to say at this time, but shall
call upon every candid man to judge in this matter for himself, and
shall content myself by presenting before the public the other side
of the question in the form of a letter, as follows:
Copy of a letter written by Mr. John Haven, of Holliston, Middlesex
Co., Massachusetts, to his daughter, Elizabeth Haven, of Quincy,
Adams Co., Illinois.
Your brother Jesse passed through Monson where he saw Mrs. Davison
and her daughter Mrs. McKenstry and also Dr. Ely and spent several
hours with them, during which time he asked them the following
questions, viz.:
"Question.--Did you, Mrs. Davison, write a letter to John Storrs,
giving an account of the origin of the Book of Mormon?
Answer.--I did not.
Q.--Did you sign your name to it?
A.--I did not, neither did I ever see the letter until I saw it in
the "Boston Recorder," the letter was never brought to me to sign.
Q.--What agency had you in having this letter sent to Mr. Storrs?
A.--D. R. Austin came to my house and asked me some questions, took
some minutes on paper, and from these minutes wrote that letter.
Q.--Is what is written in the letter true?
A.--In the main it is.
Q. Have you read the Book of Mormon?
A.--I have read some in it.
Q.--Does Mr. Spaulding's manuscript and the Book of Mormon agree?
A.--I think some few of the names are alike.
Q.--Does the manuscript describe an idolatrous or a religious
people?
A.--An idolatrous people?
Q.--Where is the manuscript?
A.--D. P. Hurlburt came here and took it, said he would get it
printed and let me have one-half the profits.
Q.--Has D. P. Hurlburt got the manuscript printed?
A.--I received a letter stating that it did not read as he
expected, and he should not print it.
Q.--How large is Mr. Spaulding's manuscript?
A.--About one-third as large as the Book of Mormon.
Q.--To Mrs. McKinstry: How old were you when your father wrote the
manuscript?
A.--About five years of age.
Q.--Did you ever read the manuscript?
A.--When I was about twelve years old I used to read it for
diversion.
Q.--Did the manuscript describe an idolatrous or a religious people?
A.--An idolatrous people.
Q.--Does the manuscript and the Book of Mormon agree?
A.--I think some of the names agree.
Q.--Are you certain that some of the names agree?
A.--I am not.
Q.--Have you read any in the Book of Mormon?
A.--I have not.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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