REMINISCENCES OF JOSEPH, THE PROPHET, AND THE COMING FORTH OF THE BOOK OF MORMON. BY ELDER EDWARD STEVENSON, Of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ILLUSTRATED. SALT LAKE CITY: PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 1893. [Image: Edward Stevenson, Born May 1st, 1820, at Gibraltar, Spain.] PREFACE. In presenting this pamphlet of Reminiscences to the public, the Author desires to explain the circumstances that induced him to issue it. While delivering a series of illustrated lectures in the various tabernacles and public halls throughout the Territory--and which were repeated on more than 200 different occasions--the Author was earnestly solicited to publish the lectures, including engravings of the paintings, in the form in which they now appear. Having become convinced from the great interest taken in the lectures, that they were productive of much good, the Author finally determined to submit the lectures to the public. The Author having been personally acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith, and having been with him in many of his trying experiences, desires to add his testimony to the truth of the work inaugurated by him, under instructions from the Almighty, and hopes that the incidents herein related will induce many to investigate this great and important work; for he that judgeth without investigation is unwise. Respectfully, THE AUTHOR. REMINISCENCES OF JOSEPH THE PROPHET CHAPTER I. The Mighty Messenger of the Latter-day Dispensation.--A Brief Record of a Life fraught with Matchless Heroism, under all manner of Persecution, Trials, Imprisonment, Hardships and finally Martyrdom. [Image: Joseph Smith, the Prophet.] The picture herewith presented is one of the few produced of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It is here reproduced from one published in Harper's Pictorial many years ago and now makes its appearance for the second time. Although it is only a wood cut, there are in it some true lines and features of the Prophet when he was about the age of twenty-six. At this early period the science of photography was but in its infancy and pictures of prominent men were neither so correct nor plentiful as at the present time. It is, indeed, very proper and desirable to preserve the best pictures of those who have proven themselves the benefactors of our country, and more especially so of him who was chosen and ordained of God to give light and truth and eternal blessings to mankind. Of the few likenesses of our martyred Prophet placed before the public, there has been one presented by his son (Joseph Smith, Jr.), which purports to be a copy or fac simile of a painting which was evidently taken when he was quite young. It is a front view and, in some respects, bears a striking resemblance to the one we present to our readers, notwithstanding that ours is a side view.