16. CHAPTER XVI.
ALL men have heard of the Mormon Bible, but few except
the “elect” have seen it, or, at least, taken the trouble
to read it. I brought away a copy from Salt Lake. The book
is a curiosity to me, it is such a pretentious affair, and yet so
“slow,” so sleepy; such an insipid mess of inspiration. It
is chloroform in print. If Joseph Smith composed this book,
the act was a miracle—keeping awake while he did it was, at
any rate. If he, according to tradition, merely translated it
from certain ancient and mysteriously-engraved plates of copper,
which he declares he found under a stone, in an out-of-the-way
locality, the work of translating was equally a miracle,
for the same reason.
The book seems to be merely a prosy detail of imaginary
history, with the Old Testament for a model; followed by
a tedious plagiarism of the New Testament. The author
labored to give his words and phrases the quaint, old-fashioned
sound and structure of our King James's translation of the
Scriptures; and the result is a mongrel—half modern glibness,
and half ancient simplicity and gravity. The latter is
awkward and constrained; the former natural, but grotesque
by the contrast. Whenever he found his speech growing too
modern—which was about every sentence or two—he ladled in
a few such Scriptural phrases as “exceeding sore,” “and it came
to pass,” etc., and made things satisfactory again. “And it
came to pass” was his pet. If he had left that out, his Bible
would have been only a pamphlet.
The title-page reads as follows:
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, who are a remnant of
the House of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile; written by way of commandment,
and also by the spirit of prophecy 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 abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also; which is a
record of the people of Jared; who were scattered at the time the Lord
confounded the language of the people when they were building a tower to
get to Heaven.
“Hid up” is good. And so is “wherefore”—though why
“wherefore”? Any other word would have answered as well
—though in truth it would not have sounded so Seriptural.
Next comes
THE TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES.
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people unto whom
this work shall come, that we, through the grace of God the Father, and
our Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which
is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren,
and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which
hath been spoken; and we also know that they have been translated by the
gift and power of God, for His voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore
we know of a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we
have seen the engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been
shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with
words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he
brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and
the engravings thereon; and we know that it is by the grace of God the
Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that we beheld and bear record that
these things are true; and it is marvellous in our eyes; nevertheless the
voice of the Lord commanded us that we should bear record of it; wherefore,
to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of
these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid
our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the
judgment-seat of Christ, and shall dwell with Him eternally in the heavens.
And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,
which is one God. Amen.
Oliver Cowdery,
David Whitmer,
Martin Harris.
Some people have to have a world of evidence before they
can come anywhere in the neighborhood of believing anything;
but for me, when a man tells me that he has “seen the
engravings which are upon the plates,” and not only that, but
an angel was there at the time, and saw him see them, and
probably took his receipt for it, I am very far on the road to
conviction, no matter whether I ever heard of that man before
or not, and even if I do not know the name of the angel, or
his nationality either.
Next is this:
AND ALSO THE TESTIMONY OF EIGHT WITNESSES.
Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people unto whom
this work shall come, that Joseph Smith, Jr., the translator of this work,
has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the
appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has translated,
we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings
thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious
workmanship. And this we bear record with words of soberness, that the said
Smith has shown unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a
surety that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken.
And we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which
we have seen; and we lie not, God bearing witness of it.
Christian Whitmer,
Jacob Whitmer,
Peter Whitmer, Jr.,
John Whitmer,
Hiram Page,
Joseph Smith, Sr.,
Hyrum Smith,
Samuel H. Smith.
And when I am far on the road to conviction, and eight
men, be they grammatical or otherwise, come forward and tell
me that they have seen the plates too; and not only seen
those plates but “hefted” them, I
am convinced. I could not
feel more satisfied and at rest if the entire Whitmer family
had testified.
The Mormon Bible consists of fifteen “books”—being the
books of Jacob, Enos, Jarom, Omni, Mosiah, Zeniff, Alma,
Helaman, Ether, Moroni, two “books” of Mormon, and three
of Nephi.
In the first book of Nephi is a plagiarism of the Old Testament,
which gives an account of the exodus from Jerusalem
of the “children of Lehi”; and it goes on to tell of their
wanderings in the wilderness, during eight years, and their
supernatural protection by one of their number, a party by the
name of Nephi. They finally reached the land of “Bountiful,”
and camped by the sea. After they had remained there
“for the space of many days”—which is more Scriptural than
definite—Nephi was commanded from on high to build a ship
wherein to “carry the people across the waters.” He travestied
Noah's ark—but he obeyed orders in the matter of the
plan. He finished the ship in a single day, while his brethren
stood by and made fun of it—and of him, too—“saying,
our brother is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship.”
They did not wait for the timbers to dry, but the whole tribe
or nation sailed the next day. Then a bit of genuine nature
cropped out, and is revealed by outspoken Nephi with Scriptural
frankness—they all got on a spree! They, “and also
their wives, began to make themselves merry, insomuch that
they began to dance, and to sing, and to speak with much
rudeness; yea, they were lifted up unto exceeding rudeness.”
Nephi tried to stop these scandalous proceedings; but they
tied him neck and heels, and went on with their lark. But
observe how Nephi the prophet circumvented them by the aid
of the invisible powers:
And it came to pass that after they had bound me, insomuch that I could
not move, the compass, which had been prepared of the Lord, did cease to
work; wherefore, they knew not whither they should steer the ship, insomuch
that there arose a great storm, yea, a great and terrible tempest, and
[ILLUSTRATION]
THE MIRACULOUS COMPASS.
[Description: 504EAF. Page 131. In-line image of a group of people in ancient clothing,
with long hair looking at a compass. They are on the deck of a ship.]
we were driven back upon the waters for the space of three days; and they
began to be frightened exceedingly, lest they should be drowned in the sea;
nevertheless they did not loose me. And on the fourth day, which we had
been driven back, the tempest began to be exceeding sore.
And it came to pass that we were about to be swallowed up in the
depths of the sea.
Then they untied him.
And it came to pass after they had loosed me, behold, I took the compass,
and it did work whither I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed
unto the Lord; and after I had prayed, the winds did cease, and the storm
did cease, and there was a great calm.
Equipped with their compass, these ancients appear to have
had the advantage of Noah.
Their voyage was toward a “promised land”—the only
name they give it. They reached it in safety.
Polygamy is a recent feature in the Mormon religion, and
was added by Brigham Young after Joseph Smith's death.
Before that, it was regarded as an “abomination.” This verse
from the Mormon Bible occurs in Chapter II. of the book of
Jacob:
For behold, thus saith the Lord, this people begin to wax in iniquity;
they understand not the Scriptures; for they seek to excuse themselves in
committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning
David, and Solomon his son. Behold, David and Solomon truly had
many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith
the Lord; wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out
of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up
unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph. Wherefore,
I the Lord God, will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them
of old.
However, the project failed—or at least the modern Mormon
end of it—for Brigham “suffers” it. This verse is from
the same chapter:
Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate, because of their
filthiness and the cursings which hath come upon their skins, are more
righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the
Lord, which was given unto our fathers, that they should have, save it were
one wife; and concubines they should have none.
The following verse (from Chapter IX. of the Book of
Nephi) appears to contain information not familiar to everybody:
And now it came to pass that when Jesus had ascended into heaven, the
multitude did disperse, and every man did take his wife and his children,
and did return to his own home.
And it came to pass that on the morrow, when the multitude was gathered
together, behold, Nephi and his brother whom he had raised from the
dead, whose name was Timothy, and also his son, whose name was Jonas,
and also Mathoni, and Mathonihah, his brother, and Kumen, and Kumenonhi,
and Jeremiah, and Shemnon, and Jonas, and Zedekiah, and Isaiah;
now these were the names of the disciples whom Jesus had chosen.
In order that the reader may observe how much more
grandeur and picturesqueness (as seen by these Mormon twelve)
accompanied one of the tenderest episodes in the life of our
Saviour than other eyes seem to have been aware of, I quote
the following from the same “book”—Nephi:
And it came to pass that Jesus spake unto them, and bade them arise.
And they arose from the earth, and He said unto them, Blessed are ye because
of your faith. And now behold, My joy is full. And when He had
said these words, He wept, and the multitude bear record of it, and He took
their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the
Father for them. And when He had done this He wept again, and He spake
unto the multitude, and saith unto them, Behold your little ones. And as
they looked to behold, they cast their eyes toward heaven, and they saw
the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were,
in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones
about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister
unto them, and the multitude did see and hear and bear record; and they
know that their record is true, for they all of them did see and hear, every
man for himself; and they were in number about two thousand and five
hundred souls; and they did consist of men, women, and children.
And what else would they be likely to consist of?
The Book of Ether is an incomprehensible medley of “history,”
much of it relating to battles and sieges among peoples
whom the reader has possibly never heard of; and who inhabited
a country which is not set down in the geography. There was
a King with the remarkable name of Coriantumr, and he
warred with Shared, and Lib, and Shiz, and others, in the
“plains of Heshlon”; and the “valley of Gilgal”; and the
“wilderness of Akish”; and the “land of Moran”; and the
“plains of Agosh”; and “Ogath,” and “Ramah,” and the
“land of Corihor,” and the “hill Comnor,” by “the waters
of Ripliancum,” etc., etc., etc. “And it came to pass,” after
a deal of fighting, that Coriantumr, upon making calculation
of his losses, found that “there had been slain two millions of
mighty men, and also their wives and their children”—say
5,000,000 or 6,000,000 in all—“and he began to sorrow in his
heart.” Unquestionably it was time. So he wrote to Shiz,
asking a cessation of hostilities, and offering to give up his
kingdom to save his people. Shiz declined, except upon condition
that Coriantumr would come and let him cut his head
off first—a thing which Coriantumr would not do. Then
there was more fighting for a season; then
four years were devoted
to gathering the forces for a final struggle—after which
ensued a battle, which, I take it, is the most remarkable set
forth in history,—except, perhaps, that of the Kilkenny cats,
which it resembles in some respects. This is the account of
the gathering and the battle:
7. And it came to pass that they did gather together all the people, upon
all the face of the land, who had not been slain, save it was Ether. And it
came to pass that Ether did behold all the doings of the people; and he beheld
that the people who were for Coriantumr, were gathered together to
the army of Coriantumr; and the people who were for Shiz, were gathered
together to the army of Shiz; wherefore they were for the space of four
years gathering together the people, that they might get all who were upon
the face of the land, and that they might receive all the strength which it
was possible that they could receive. And it came to pass that when they
were all gathered together, every one to the army which he would, with
their wives and their children; both men, women, and children being armed
with weapons of war, having shields, and breast-plates, and head-plates, and
being clothed after the manner of war, they did march forth one against
another, to battle; and they fought all that day, and conquered not. And it
came to pass that when it was night they were weary, and retired to their
camps; and after they had retired to their camps, they took up a howling
and a lamentation for the loss of the slain of their people; and so great
were their cries, their howlings and lamentations, that it did rend the air
exceedingly. And it came to pass that on the morrow they did go again to
battle, and great and terrible was that day; nevertheless they conquered not,
and when the night came again, they did rend the air with their cries, and
their howlings, and their mournings, for the loss of the slain of their
people.
8. And it came to pass that Coriantumr wrote again an epistle unto Shiz,
desiring that he would not come again to battle, but that he would take the
kingdom, and spare the lives of the people. But behold, the Spirit of the
Lord had ceased striving with them, and Satan had full power over the
hearts of the people, for they were given up unto the hardness of their
hearts, and the blindness of their minds that they might be destroyed;
wherefore they went again to battle. And it came to pass that they fought
all that day, and when the night came they slept upon their swords; and on
the morrow they fought even until the night came; and when the night
came they were drunken with anger, even as a man who is drunken with
wine; and they slept again upon their swords; and on the morrow they
fought again; and when the night came they had all fallen by the sword
save it were fifty and two of the people of Coriantumr, and sixty and nine
of the people of Shiz. And it came to pass that they slept upon their
swords that night, and on the morrow they fought again, and they contended
in their mights with their swords, and with their shields, all that day; and
when the night came there were thirty and two of the people of Shiz, and
twenty and seven of the people of Coriantumr.
9. And it came to pass that they ate and slept, and prepared for death on
the morrow. And they were large and mighty men, as to the strength of
men. And it came to pass that they fought for the space of three hours,
and they fainted with the loss of blood. And it came to pass that when
the men of Coriantumr had received sufficient strength, that they could
walk, they were about to flee for their lives, but behold, Shiz arose,
and also his men, and he swore in his wrath that he would slay Coriantumr,
or he would perish by the sword: wherefore he did pursue them, and on
the morrow he did overtake them; and they fought again with the sword.
And it came to pass that when they had all fallen by the sword, save it
were Coriantumr and Shiz, behold Shiz had fainted with loss of blood.
And it came to pass that when Coriantumr had leaned upon his sword, that
he rested a little, he smote off the head of Shiz. And it came to pass that
after he had smote off the head of Shiz, that Shiz raised upon his hands
and fell; and after that he had struggled for breath, he died. And it came
to pass that Coriantumr fell to the earth, and became as if he had no
life. And the Lord spake unto Ether, and said unto him, go forth. And he
went forth, and beheld that the words of the Lord had all been fulfilled;
and he finished his record; and the hundredth part I have not written.
It seems a pity he did not finish, for after all his dreary
former chapters of commonplace, he stopped just as he was in
danger of becoming interesting.
The Mormon Bible is rather stupid and tiresome to read,
but there is nothing vicious in its teachings. Its code of
morals is unobjectionable—it is “smouched”[1] from the New
Testament and no credit given.
