Mormon History
Joseph Smith and His Golden Story - 1829
The Palmyra Freeman – August 11, 1829
"Golden Bible."
The greatest piece of
superstition that has ever come within the sphere of our knowledge is one which
has for sometime past, and still occupies the attention of a few superstitious
and bigoted individuals of this quarter. It is generally known and spoken of as
the "Golden Bible." Its proselytes give the following account of it: In
the fall of 1827, a person by the name of Joseph Smith, of Manchester,
Ontario county, reported that he had been visited in a dream by the spirit of
the Almighty, and informed that in a certain hill in that town, was deposited
this Golden Bible, containing an ancient record of a divine nature and origin.
After having been thrice thus visited, as he states, he proceeded to the spot,
and after having penetrating "mother earth" a short distance, the Bible was
found, together with a huge pair of spectacles! He had been directed, however,
not to let any mortal being examine them, "under no less penalty" than instant
death! They were therefore nicely wrapped up, and excluded from the "vulgar gaze
of poor wicked mortals!" It was said that the leaves of the Bible were
plates, of gold about eight inches long, six wide, and one eighth of an inch
thick, on which were engraved characters or hieroglyphics. By placing the
spectacles in a hat, and looking into it, Smith could (he said so, at least,)
interpret these characters.
An account of this discovery was soon circulated. The subject was almost
invariably treated as it should have been -- with contempt. A few
however, believed the "golden" story, among whom was Martin Harris,
an honest and industrious farmer of this town. So blindly enthusiastic was
Harris, that he took some of the characters interpreted by Smith, and went in
search of some one, besides the interpreter, who was learned enough to
English them; but all to whom he applied (among the number was Professor
Mitchell, of New York,) happened not to be possessed of sufficient knowledge to
give satisfaction! Harris returned, and set Smith to work at interpreting the
Bible. He has at length performed the task, and the work is soon to be put to
press in this village!! Its language and doctrines are said to be far superior
to those of the Book of Life!!!
Now it appears not a little strange that there should have been deposited in
this western world, and in the secluded town of Manchester, too, a record of
this description, and still more so, that a person like Smith (very illiterate)
should have been gifted by inspiration to read and interpret it. It should be
recorded as a "new thing under the sun." It is certainly a "new thing"
in the history of superstition, bigotry, inconsistency, and foolishness. -- It
should, and it doubtless will, be treated with the neglect it merits. The public
should not be imposed upon by this work, pronounced as it is, by its proselytes,
to be superior in style, and more advantageous to mankind, than the Holy Bible!
The following, it is said, will be the title page of the work:
"The Book of Mormon: an account written by the hand of Mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of Nephi:
"Wherefore it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi;
and also of the Lamanites, written to the Lamanites, which are a
remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile; written by
way the commandment, and also by the spirit of prophesy and of
revelation; written, and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they
might not be destroyed. -- to come forth by the gift and power of God;
unto the interpretation thereof -- sealed by the hand of Moroni, and
hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by the way of Gentile
-- the interpretation thereof by the gift of God: an abridgement taken
from the Book of Ether.
"Also, which is a Record of the people of Jared, which were scattered
at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people when they
were building a tower to get to Heaven; -- which is to shew unto the
remnant of the house of Israel how great things the Lord hath done for
their fathers: -- and that they may know the covenants of the Lord,
that they are not cast off forever; and also to the convincing of the
Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God; manifesting
himself unto all nations. And now if there be fault, it be the mistake
of men; wherefore condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found
spotless at the judgement seat of Christ. -- By JOSEPH SMITH, Junior,
Author and Proprietor."