Mormon History
Urim and Thummim
Analyzed - 1879
The Salt Lake Daily Tribune – November 22, 1879
COMING DOWN TO LIMERICK.
________
The last
number of the Josephite organ, the Saints' Herald, published in Plano,
Illinois, contains further corrobortion of the correctness of the charge that
the pretensions of Mormonism have been foisted upon the credulity of the
simple-minded by the most unblushing effrontery and fraud. This Josephite
journal has, within the past year, been forced to the admission, (made some time
last spring) that there was "no written nor reliable oral account in the Church
history" of the holy and everlasting priesthood having been conferred by the
direct ministration of Peter, James and John -- which knocks the very
underpinning from the whole priestly assumption, and now it graciously announces
as a fact (have our Tribune articles on Mormonism had ought to do with this
discovery or its announcement?)
That the Urim and Thummim story has long been foisted upon the world as the true
account of the origin of the Book of Mormon, but the times demand, and the
interest of truth demands that the truth shall be told.
* * * The proofs are clear and positive that the story of the Urim and Thummim
translation does not date back for its origin further than 1833, or between that
date and 1835, for it is not found in any printed document of the Church of
Christ up to the latter part of the year 1833, or the year 1834. The Book of
Commandments to the Church of Christ, published in Independence, Mo., in 1833,
does not contain any allusion to Urim and Thummim. though the term was
inserted in some of the Revelations in their reprint in the Book of
Doctrine and Covenants in 1835.
The story was invented for the purpose of gaining prestige, in the minds of the
people, for ambitious leaders.
With the sanction of David Whitmer, and by this authority, I now state that he
does not say the Joseph Smith ever translated in his presence by aid of Urim and
Thummim, but by the means of one dark-colored opaque stone, called a "seerstone,"
which was placed in the crown of his hat, into which Joseph put his face, so as
to exclude the external light. Then a spiritual light would shine forth, and
parchment would appear before Joseph, upon which was a line of characters from
the plates, and under it the translation in English, at least so Joseph said.
Will those who hold the Urim and Thummim story to be correct, still continue to
give the lie to David Whitmer, Michael Morse (Smith's brother-in-law) and Mrs.
Emma Bidamon (the late widow)? Or will they have the courage to admit that those
who held high positions have been guilty of gross fabrication?
The above is taken from a communication in the Saints' Herald of the
15th inst. signed by J. L. Traughber, Jr., and inserted evidently with
editorial approval.
Said Oliver Cowdery:
I wrote, with my own pen, the entire Book of Mormon (save a few pages) as it
fell from the lips of the Prophet Joseph Smith, as he translated it by the gift
and power of God, by the means of the Urim and Thummim, or, as it is called by
that book, 'holy interpreters.' * * * That book is true. Sidney Rigdon did not
write it; Mr. Spaulding did not write it; I wrote it myself as it fell from the
lips of the Prophet.
And yet it now turns out there were no "holy interpreters," no Urim and Thummim
in the matter, only Chase's peep-stone, which
the prophet had previously used in looking for the money diggers. What a sham it
is, to be sure! Yet brother Pratt will get up before his Mormon audiences with
all the gravity in the world, and can still hold thousands listening to his
yarns. Still the man Cowdery, when he declares that neither Mr. Spaulding nor
Sidney Rigdon had aught to do with getting up the Book of Mormon, is claimed to
be an honest and truthful witness. Still brother Sharp spreads himself in the
columns of the News, airing archeologically, the flimsy pretense that the
Book of Mormon Is a genuine and reliable ancient record, while Granny
smiles approval. 'Tis pitiful, friends, such stupefaction. Or is it downright
and deliberate dishonesty?
But how are the children affected by this imposture? Mormon children are
instructed in their catechism (pp. 77-8,) that on the night of the 21st
September, 1823, Joseph Smith was informed by a heavenly angel
"that a record, written upon gold plates, an account of the ancient inhabitants
of America, was deposited in a particular place in the earth and with the Record
two stones in silver bows, which were anciently called the Urim and Thummim, and
by which God revelated intelligence to His people"
The young Saints are further instructed in their catechism that on the following
day
"Joseph went to the place where the plates were hid, and found them in a stone
box, covered with another stone, and hid in a hill, called Cumorah;" that "he
raised the stone, saw the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate, and
made an attempt to take them out, but the angel appeared again unto him, and
told him the time was not come, but would be four years longer," that "on the
22d of Sept. 1827, the angel placed in his hands the plates, the Urim and
Thummim, and the breastplate, charging him to keep them safe," and that "he
(Joseph) translated them, by the power of God, through the Urim and Thummim,
enduring much persecution at the time from religious people, who said he
was an impostor."
Mormon children are expected to have this stuff by heart, learned in their
Sabbath schools. Now, tell them that the story of the Urim and Thummim is not
true, but a made up thing, that the Urim and Thummim is a wicked and shameless
exaggeration from a mere "peepstone," such as they or some young friend of
theirs may chance to find, and amuse themselves with, think you it will not
shake to its centre their childish faith in father and mother and teacher?
Mark, in the above quotation, the vile fling at "religious people," "who said he
was an impostor." See how the animus -- the savage and clannish spirit --
against "religious people" is sought to be instiled in the minds even of
children, and from their very catechism!
This question, friends, Is Mormonism a fraud? is a pretty serious one, first and
last, and it behooveth you to know, (you can if you will, and are resoinsible,
if you do not endeavor to find out) whether, [in] spite of your towering
faith and overwhelming confidence you have not, after all, been following
cunningly devised fables.
Isaac Hale, the prophet's father-in-law,
in 1834, affirmed that
the manner in which he (joseph) pretended to read and interpret was the same as
he used when he looked for the money-diggers, with the stone in his hat and the
hat over his face, while the Book of Plates was at the same time hid in the
woods.
This "Seerstone" the prophet got from one Willard Chase, in Palmyra, New York,
in the year 1822, while helping to dig a well for Chase's father. Mr. Hale
concluded his sworn statement thus.
Joseph Smith Jr. resided near me for some time after his marriage (Jan. 1823,)
and I had a good opportunity of becoming acquainted with him, and somewhat
acquainted with his associates, and I conscientiously believe from the facts I
have detailed, and from many other circumstances, which I do not deem it
necessary to relate, that the whole "Book of Mormon" (so called,) is a silly
fabrication of falsehood and wickedness, got up for speculation, and with a
design to dupe the credulous and unwary, and in order that its fabricators may
live upon the spoils of those who swallow the deception.
Whatever may be thought of Mormonism in Utah, the Josephites have many clear
headed people among them and quite a sprinkling of brains; those who have no
disposition to be fooled or to stupify themselves in this very serious concern,
religion, but on the contrary those who are (as Mr. Z. H. Gurley says of himself
to this writer,) "willing to know the whole truth, cost what it may." Well, a
lying tongue is but for a moment (as Solomon says,) and the pen of the scribe is
in vain, who seek to perpetrate a fraud. Keep on, brethren, and you will strike
the very bedrock of this imposture yet.