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Oliver's History of the Church
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Letter
6. Gospel and gathering, fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. |
Letter
7. Proofs from scripture. Anciently the Lord used dreams to communicate
§, but Joseph had a vision (certain). Lord clearly
told Joseph he must have no other motive than to serve the glory of God,
but his family being poor §, he began to think
of how publication of the record could deliver him and his family from want.
Description of Cumorah and ancient significance §. |
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LETTER VI. |
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MA 1, no. 7 (Apr. l, 1835): 108112. |
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TO W. W. PHELPS, ESQ. |
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Dear Sir: |
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Gospel
[restoration] preparatory to and linked to gathering |
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[109] I gave, in my last,
a few words, on the subject of a few items, as spoken by the angel at the
time the knowledge of the record of the Nephites was communicated to our
brother, and in consequence of the subject of the gospel and that of the
gathering of Israel's being so connected, I found it difficult to speak
of the one without mentioning the other; and this may not be improper, as
it is evident, that the Lord has decreed to bring forth the fulness of the
gospel in the last days, previous to gathering Jacob, but a preparatory
work, and the other is to follow in quick succession. |
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This being of so much importance,
and of so deep interest to the saints, I have thought best to give a farther
detail of the heavenly message, and if I do not give it in the precise words,
shall strictly confine myself to the facts in substance. |
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Psalm
100 foresaw glory of God covering the earth |
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David said, (Ps. C.) make a joyful
noise unto the Lord, all ye lands, that is, all the earth. Serve the Lord
with gladness: Come before his presence with singing. This he said in view
of the glorious period for which he often prayed, and was anxious to behold,
which he knew could not take place until the knowledge of the glory of God
covered all lands, or all the earth. |
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Psalm
100 |
Lord
gathers people from the wilderness |
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Again he says, [Ps. 107] O give
thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: For his mercy endureth forever. Let
the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the
enemy; and gathered out of the lands from the east, and from the west; from
the north and from the south.They wandered in the wilderness in a
solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their
soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and
he delivered them out their distresses; and led them in the right way that
they might go to the city of habitation. |
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Bracketed
text in original. |
David
foresaw gathering |
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Most clearly was it shown to the
prophet, that the righteous should be gathered from all the earth: He knew
that the children of Israel were led from Egypt, by the right hand of the
Lord, and permitted to possess the land of Canaan, though they were rebellious
in the desert, but he farther knew, that they were not gathered from the
east, the west, the north and the south, at that time; for it was clearly
manifested that the Lord himself would prepare a habitation, even as he
said, when he would lead them to a city of refuge. |
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Bracketed
text in original. |
Deliverence |
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In that, David saw a promise for
the righteous, [see 144 Ps] when they should be delivered from those who
oppressed them, and from the hand of strange children, or the enemies of
the Lord; that their sons should be like plants grown up in their youth,
and their daughters like corner-stones, polished after the similitude of
a beautiful palace. |
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Bracketed
text in original. |
Prophesy,
dreams, visions |
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It is then that the sons and daughters
shall prophesy, old men dream dreams, and young men see visions. At that
time the garners of the righteous will be full, affording all manner of
store. It was while contemplating this time, and viewing this happy state
of the righteous, that he further says: The Lord shall reign forever, even
thy God, O Zion, unto all generationsPraise ye the Lord! |
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Isaiah
prophesies dispersion |
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Isaiah who was on the earth at
the time the ten tribes of Israel were led away captive from the land of
Canaan, was shown, not only their calamity and [110] affliction, but the
time when they were to be delivered. After reproving them for their corruption
and blindness, he prophesies of their dispersion. He says, Your country
is desolate, your cities are burnt with fire: Your land, strangers devour
it in your presence, and it is thus made desolate, being overthrown by strangers.
He further says, while speaking of the iniquity of that people. Thy princes
are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loves gifts, and follows
after rewards: |
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Calamities |
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They judge not the fatherless, neither
does the cause of the widow come unto them. Therefore, says the Lord, the
Lord of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of my adversaries,
and avenge me of my enemies. But after this calamity has befallen Israel,
and the Lord has poured upon them his afflicting judgments, as he said by
the mouth of Moses |
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Destruction |
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I will heap mischiefs upon them;
I will spend my arrows upon them.They shall be afflicted with hunger,
and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also
send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the earth |
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Purge
dross
Restore judges, counselors |
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he will also fulfill this further
prediction uttered by the mouth of Isaiah. I will turn my hand upon thee,
and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: and I will restore
thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward
you shall be called, the city of righteousness, the faithful city. |
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Then will be fulfilled, also, the
saying of David: And he led them forth by the right way, that they might
go to a city of habitation. |
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Isaiah:
tops of the mountains; all nations flow unto it |
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Isaiah continues his prophecy concerning
Israel, and tells them what would be done for them in the last days; for
thus it is written: The word that Isaiah the son of Amos saw concerning
Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the
mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains,
and shall be exalted above the hills;and all nations shall flow unto
it. |
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Mountain
of the Lord's house
Law from Zion
Word from Jerusalem |
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And many people shall go and say,
Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the
God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his paths:
for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. |
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Judge,
rebuke the nations |
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And he shall judge among the nations,
and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plough
shares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nations shall not lift up the
sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. |
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Cloud
and fire defense |
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And the Lord will create upon every
dwelling place of his people in Zion, and upon their assemblies, a cloud
and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all
the glory shall be a defence, or above, shall be a covering and a defence. |
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Refuge |
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And there shall be a tabernacle
for a shadow in the day-time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and
for a covert from storm and from rain. |
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Everlasting
inheritance |
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And his people shall dwell safely,
they shall possess the land forever, even the land which was promised to
their fathers for an everlasting inheritance: for behold, says the Lord
by the mouth of the prophet: The day will come that I will sow the house
of Israel with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast. |
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Lord
breaks and builds |
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And it shall come to pass, that
like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to
throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to
build and to plant, says the Lord. |
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Prophets
saw all this
New covenant
Lord's people |
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For this happy situation and blessed
state of Israel, did the prophets look, and obtained a promise, that, though
the house of Israel and Judah, should violate the covenant, the Lord, in
the last days would make with them a new one: not according to the one which
he made with their fathers in the day that he took them by the hand to lead
them out of the land of Egypt; which, said the Lord, my covenant they broke,
although I was a husband and a father unto them: but this shall be the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, says the Lord.
I will put my law in their inward parts, and will write it in their hearts;
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. |
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Multiply
and glorify them
Punish enemies |
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For thus says the Lord, I will bring
again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places;
and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain
after the manner thereof. And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving, and
the voice of them that make merry:and I will multiply them and they
shall not be few; I will also glorify them and they shall not be small.
Their [111] children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation
shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.
Their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from
the midst of them. |
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God
gathers Israel |
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At the same time, says the Lord,
will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people;
I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts
of the earth; I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, keep not
back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth.
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Israel
and Judah to gather |
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And in those days, and at that time,
says the Lord, though Israel and Judah have been driven and scattered, they
shall come together, they shall even come weeping: for with supplications
will I lead them: they shall go and seek the Lord their God. |
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Gather
to Zion to hear the Lord |
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They shall ask the way to Zion,
with their faces thitherward, and say, Come, and let us join ourselves to
the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten; and watchmen
upon Mount Ephraim shall say, Arise, and let us go up to Zion, unto the
holy Mount of the Lord our God; for he will teach us of his ways, and instruct
us to walk in his paths. |
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Geographical
changes |
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That the way for this to be fully
accomplished, may be prepared, the Lord will utterly destroy the tongue
of the Egyptian sea, and with his mighty wind shake his hand over the river
and smite it in its seven streams, and make men go over dry-shod. And there
shall be a high way for the remnant of his people, which shall be left,
from Assyria; like as it was to Israel when they came up out of the land
of Egypt. |
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Gentiles
to be blessed as well if they repent
God no respecter of persons |
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But it is necessary that you should
understand, that what is to be fulfilled in the last days, Is not only for
the benefit of Israel, but the Gentiles, if they will repent and embrace
the gospel, for they are to be remembered also in the same covenant, and
are to be fellow heirs with the seed of Abraham, inasmuch as they are so
by faith for God is no respecter of persons. This was shown to Moses, when
he wrote Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people! |
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Jews
transgressed, so Gentiles are invited
First last, last first |
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In consequence of the transgression
of the Jews at the coming of the Lord, the Gentiles were called into the
kingdom, and for this obedience, are to be favored with the gospel in its
fulness first, in the last days; for it is written. The first shall be last,
and the last first. |
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Declare
to Gentiles first |
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Therefore, when the fulness of the
gospel, as was preached by the righteous, upon this land, shall come forth,
it shall be declared to the Gentiles first, and whoso will repent shall
be delivered, for they shall understand the plan of salvation and restoration
for Israel, as the Lord manifested to the ancients. |
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They
will be converted, will see house of Jacob come |
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They shall be baptized with water
and with the Spiritthey shall lift up their hearts with joy and gladness,
for the time of their redemption shall also roll on, and for their obedience
to the faith they shall see the house of Jacob come with great glory, even
with songs of everlasting joy, and with him partake of salvation. |
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End
of time draws near
Be prepared, gather, be caught up to meet the Lord in the cloud |
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Therefore, as the time draws near
when the sun is to be darkened, the moon turn to blood, and the stars fall
from heaven, the Lord will bring to the knowledge of his people his commandments
and statutes, that they may be prepared to stand when the earth shall reel
to and fro as a drunken man, earth-[112]quakes cause the nations to tremble,
and the destroying angel goes forth to waste the inhabitants at noon day:
for so great are to be the calamities which are to come upon the inhabitants
of the earth, before the coming of the Son of Man the second time, that
whoso is not prepared cannot abide; but such as are found faithful, and
remain, shall be gathered with his people and caught up to meet the Lord
in the cloud, and so shall they inherit eternal life. |
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Angel
told Joseph this (basically) |
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I have now given you a rehearsal
of what was communicated to our brother, when he was directed to go and
obtain the record of the Nephites. I may have missed in arrangement in some
instances, but the principle is preserved, and you will be able to bring
forward abundance of corroborating scripture upon the subject of the gospel
and of the gathering. |
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Hard
to report long discussion with an angel |
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You are aware of the fact, that
to give a minute rehearsal of a lengthy interview with a heavenly messenger,
is very difficult, unless one is assisted immediately with the gift of inspiration. |
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Visions |
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There is another item I wish to
notice on the subject of visions. |
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Lord
reveals by sudden inspiration
In a way others are disposed to reject |
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The Spirit you know, searches all
things, even the deep things of God. When God manifests to his servants
those things that are to come, or those which have been, he does it by unfolding
them by the power of that Spirit which comprehends all things, always; and
so much may be shown and made perfectly plain to the understanding in a
short time, that to the world, who are occupied all their life to learn
a little, look at the relation of it, and are disposed to call it false. |
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Joseph
understood perfectly |
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You will understand then, by this,
that while those glorious things were being rehearsed, the vision was also
opened, so that our brother was permitted to see and understand much more
full and perfect than I am able to communicate in writing. |
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Visionary
knowledge |
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I know much may be conveyed to the
understanding in writing, and many marvelous truths set forth with the pen,
but after all it is but a shadow, compared to an open vision of seeing,
hearing and realizing eternal things. And if the fact was known, it would
be found, that of all the heavenly communications to the ancients, we have
no more in comparison than the alphabet to a quarto vocabulary. |
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Brother
of Jared, Moses, Nephi, Moroni visions
God will give Saints line upon line |
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It is said,
and I believe the account, that the Lord showed the brother of Jared [Moriancumer]
all things which were to transpire from that day to the end of the earth,
as well as those which had taken place. I believe that Moses was permitted
to see the same, as the Lord caused them to pass, in vision before him as
he stood upon the mount; I believe that the Lord Jesus told many things
to his apostles which are not written, and after his ascension unfolded
all things unto them; I believe that Nephi, the son of Lehi, whom the Lord
brought out of Jerusalem, saw the same; I believe that the twelve upon this
continent, whom the Lord chose to preach his gospel, when he came down to
manifest to this branch of the house of Israel, that he had other sheep
who should hear his voice, were also permitted to behold the same mighty
things transpire in vision before their eyes; and I believe that the angel
Moroni, whose words I have been rehearsing, who communicated the knowledge
of the record of the Nephites, in this age, saw also, before he hid up the
same unto the Lord, great and marvelous things, which were to transpire
when the same should come forth; and I also believe, that God will give
line upon line, precept upon precept, to his saints, until all these things
will be unfolded to them, and they finally sanctified and brought into the
Celestial glory, where tears will be wiped from all faces, and sighing and
sorrowing flee away! |
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Bracketed
text in original.
¶ Reynolds Cahoon |
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May the Lord preserve you from evil
and reward you richly for all your afflictions, and crown you in his kingdom.
Amen. |
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Accept, as ever, assurances of the
fellowship and esteem of your unworthy brother in the gospel. |
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Letter VII. |
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MA 1, no. 10 (July 1835): 155159. |
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TO W. W. PHELPS, ESQ. |
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Dear Brother: |
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Proofs
from scripture |
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as all men are deeply interested
on the great matter of revelation, I indulge a hope that you will present
such facts as are plain and uncontrovertible, both from our former scriptures
and the book of Mormon, to show that such is not only consistent with
the character of the Lord, but absolutely necessary to the fulfillment
of that sacred volume, so tenaciously admired by professors of religionI
mean that called the bible. |
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"Experimental"
faith
"Any tune can be played on the Bible" |
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You have, no doubt, as well as myself,
frequently heard those who do not pretend to an "experimental"
belief in the Lord Jesus, say, with those who do, that, (to use a familiar
phrase,) "any tune can be played upon the bible:" What is
here meant to be conveyed, I suppose, is, that proof can be adduced from
that volume, to support as many different systems as men please to choose:
one saying this is the way, and the other, this is the way, while the third
says, that it is all false, and that he can "play this tune
upon it." If this is so, alas for our condition: admit this to be the
case, and either wicked and designing men have taken from it those plain
and easy items, or it never came from Deity, if that Being is perfect and
consistent in his ways. |
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Precious
truths taken from Bible
But still consistent |
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But although I am ready to admit
that men, in previous generations, have, with polluted hands and corrupt
hearts, taken from the sacred oracles many precious items which were plain
of comprehension, for the main purpose of building themselves up in the
trifling things of this world, yet, when it is carefully examined, a straight
forward consistency will be found, sufficient to check the vicious heart
of man and teach him to revere a word so precious, handed down to us from
our fathers, teaching us that by faith we can approach the same benevolent
Being, and receive for ourselves a sure word of prophecy, which will serve
as a light in a dark place, to lead to those [156] things within the vail,
where peace, righteousness and harmony, in one uninterrupted round, feast
the inhabitants of those blissful regions in endless day.
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September
21, 1823 |
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You will remember
that in my last I brought my subject down to the evening, or night of the
21st of September, 1823, and gave an outline of the conversation of the
angel upon the important fact of the blessings, promises and covenants to
Israel, and the great manifestations of favor to the world, in the ushering
in of the fulness of the gospel, to prepare the way for the second advent
of the Messiah, when he comes in the glory of the Father with the holy angels. |
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¶
Oliver Cowdery's History of the Church (2) |
Anciently
the Lord used dreams to communicate |
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A remarkable
fact is to be noticed with regard to this vision. In ancient time the Lord
warned some of his servants in dreams: for instance, Joseph, the husband
of Mary, was warned in a dream to take the young child and his mother, and
flee into Egypt: also, the wise men were warned of the Lord in a dream not
to return to Herod; and when "out of Egypt the Son was called,"
the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph again: also he was warned
in a dream to turn aside into the parts of Galilee. Such were the manifestations
to Joseph, the favored descendant of the father of the faithful in dreams,
and in them the Lord fulfilled his purposes: |
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Joseph's vision not a dream |
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But the tone
of which I have been speaking is what would have been called an open vision.
And though it was in the night, yet it was not a dream. There is no room
for conjecture in this matter, and to talk of deception would be to sport
with the common sense of every man who knows when he is awake, when he sees
and when he does not see. |
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When
Joseph was unable to obtain the plates on the 22nd, he
wondered if it had been a dream. ¶ Joseph
Smith's 1832 History |
Could
not have been deceived
He was awake and calm |
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He could not have been deceived
in the fact that a being of some kind appeared to him; and that it was an
heavenly one, the fulfillment of his words, so minutely, up to this time,
in addition to the truth and word of salvation which has been developed
to this generation, in the book of Mormon, ought to be conclusive evidence
to the mind of every man who is privileged to hear of the same. He was awake,
and in solemn prayer, as you will bear in mind, when the angel made his
appearance; from that glory which surrounded him the room was lit up to
a perfect brilliancy, so that darkness wholly disappeared: he heard his
words with his ears, and received a joy and happiness indescribable by hearing
that his own sins were forgiven, and his former transgressions to be remembered
against him no more, if he then continued to walk before the Lord according
to his holy commandments. He also saw him depart, the light and glory withdraw,
leaving a calmness and peace of soul past the language of man to paintWas
he deceived? |
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Repeated
twice before morning
Visited again the next day
Told to go to the hill |
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Far from this; for the vision was
renewed twice before morning, unfolding farther and still farther the mysteries
of godliness and those things to come. In the morning he went to his labor
as usual, but soon the vision of the heavenly messenger was renewed, instructing
him to go immediately and view those things of which he had been informed,
with a promise that he should obtain them if he followed the directions
and went with an eye single to the glory of God. |
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Angel's
instructions regarding Joseph's motives |
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Accordingly he repaired to the place
which had thus been described. But it is necessary to give you more fully
the express instructions of the angel, with [157] regard to the object of
this work in which our brother had now engagedHe was to remember that
it was the work of the Lord, to fulfil certain promises previously made
to a branch of the house of Israel, of the tribe of Joseph, and when it
should be brought forth must be done expressly with an eye, as I said before,
single to the glory of God, and the welfare and restoration of the house
of Israel. |
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You will understand, then, that no
motive of a pecuniary, or earthly nature, was to be suffered to take the
lead of the heart of the man thus favored. The allurements of vice, the
contaminating influence of wealth, without the direct guidance of the Holy
Spirit, must have no place in the heart nor be suffered to take from it
that warm desire for the glory and kingdom of the Lord, or, instead of obtaining,
disappointment and reproof would most assuredly follow. Such was the instruction
and this the caution. |
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Natural
to be tempted |
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Alternately, as we could naturally
expect, the thought of the previous vision was ruminating in his mind, with
a reflection of the brightness and glory of the heavenly messenger; but
again a thought would start across the mind on the prospects of obtaining
so desirable a treasureone in all human probability sufficient
to raise him above a level with the common earthly fortunes of his fellow
men, and relieve his family from want, in which, by misfortune and sickness
they were placed. |
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Family
virtuous, poor, scorned |
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It is very natural
to suppose that the mind would revolve upon those scenes which had passed,
when those who had acquired a little of this world's goods, by industry
and economy, with the blessings of health or friends, or by art and intrigue,
from the pockets of the day-laborer, or the widow and the fatherless, had
passed by with a stiff neck and a cold heart, scorning the virtuous because
they were poor, and lording over those who were subjected to suffer the
miseries of this life. |
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Thoughts
go back and forth |
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Alternately did these, with a swift
reflection of the words of the holy messenger, "Remember, that
he who does this work, who is thus favored of the Lord, must do it with
his eye single to the glory of the same, and the welfare and restoration
of the scattered remnants of the house of Israel"rush upon his
mind with the quickness of electricity. |
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Arrives
at the spot thinking of relief from poverty |
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Here was a strugle indeed; for when
he calmly reflected upon his errand, he knew that if God did not give, he
could not obtain; and again, with the thought or hope of obtaining, his
mind would be carried back to its former reflection of poverty, abuse,wealth,
grandeur and ease, until before arriving at the place described, this wholly
occupied his desire; and when he thought upon the fact of what was previously
shown him, it was only with an assurance that he should obtain, and accomplish
his desire in relieving himself and friends from want. |
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Get
rich of sale of book |
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A history of the inhabitants who
peopled this continent, previous to its being discovered to Europeans by
Columbus, must be interesting to every man; and as it would develop the
important fact, that the present race were descendants of Abraham, and were
to be remembered in the immutable covenant of the Most High to that man,
and be restored to a knowledge of the gospel, that they, with all nations
might rejoice, seemed to inspire further thoughts of gain and income from
such a valuable history. Surely, thought he, every man will seize with eagerness,
this knowledge, and this incalculable income will be mine. Enough to raise
the expectations of any one of like inexperience, placed in similar circumstances. |
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Things
of this life insignificant compared to salvation |
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But the important point in this
matter is, that man does not see as the Lord, neither are his purposes like
his. The small things of this life are but dust in comparison with salvation
and eternal life. |
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2-
or 3-mile walk
Two invisible powers at work |
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It is sufficient to say that such
were his reflections during his walk of from two to three miles: the distance
from his father's house to the place pointed out. And to use his own words
it seemed as though two invisible powers were influencing, or striving to
influence his mindone with the reflection that if he obtained the
object of his pursuit, it would be through the mercy and condescension of
the Lord, and that every act or performance in relation to it, must be in
strict accordance with the instruction of that personage who communicated
the intelligence to him first; and the other with the tho'ts and reflections
like those previously mentionedcontrasting his former and present
circumstances in life with those to come. |
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Forgot
to pray, decidesd to go for the money |
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That precious instructions recorded
on the sacred pagepray alwayswhich was expressly impressed [158]
upon him, was at length entirely forgotten, and as I previously remarked,
a fixed determination to obtain and aggrandize himself, occupied his mind
when he arrived at the place where the record was found. |
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Description
of the place |
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I must now
give you some description of the place where, and the manner in which these
records were deposited. |
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Location
and description of the hill |
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You are acquainted with the mail
road from Palmyra, Wayne Co. to Canandaigua, Ontario Co. N. Y. and also,
as you pass from the former to the latter place, before arriving at the
little village of Manchester, say from three to four, or about four miles
from Palmyra, you pass a large hill on the east side of the road. Why I
say large, is, because it is as large perhaps, as any in that country. To
a person acquainted with this road, a description would be unnecessary,
as it is the largest and rises the highest of any on that route. The north
end rises quite sudden until it assumes a level with the more southerly
extremity, and I think I may say an elevation higher than at the south a
short distance, say half or three fourths of a mile. As you pass toward
Canandaigua it lessens gradually until the surface assumes its common level,
or is broken by other smaller hills or ridges, water courses and ravines.
I think I am justified in saying that this is the highest hill for some
distance round, and I am certain that its appearance, as it rises so suddenly
from a plain on the north, must attract the notice of the traveller as he
passes by. |
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Jaredite
and Nephite nations destroyed between these same two hills |
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At about one mile west rises another
ridge of less height, running parallel with the former, leaving a beautiful
vale between. The soil is of the first quality for the country, and under
a state of cultivation, which gives a prospect at once imposing, when one
reflects on the fact, that here, between these hills, the entire power and
national strength of both the Jaredites and Nephites were destroyed. |
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Cumorah
battleground
Believers hunted down and killed
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By turning to the 529th and 530th
pages of the book of Mormon you will read Mormon's account of the last great
struggle of his people, as they were encamped round this hill Cumorah. [It
is printed Camorah, which is an error.] In this valley fell the remaining
strength and pride of a once powerful people, the Nephitesonce so
highly favored of the Lord, but at that time in darkness, doomed to suffer
extermination by the hand of their barbarous and uncivilized brethren. From
the top of this hill, Mormon, with a few others, after the battle, gazed
with horror upon the mangled remains of those who, the day before, were
filled with anxiety, hope, or doubt. A few had fled to the South, who were
hunted down by the victorious party, and all who would not deny the Savior
and his religion, were put to death. Mormon himself, according to the record
of his son Moroni, was also slain. |
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Bracketed
text in the original. |
Abridgment |
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But a long time previous to this
national disaster it appears from his own account, he foresaw approaching
destruction. In fact, if he perused the records of his fathers, which were
in his possession, he could have learned that such would be the case. Alma,
who lived before the coming of the Messiah, prophesies this. He however,
by divine appointment, abridged from those records, in his own style and
language, a short account of the more important and prominent items, from
the days of Lehi to his own time, after which he deposited, as he says,
on the 529th page, all the records in this same hill, Cumorah, and after
gave his small record to his son Moroni, who, as appears from the same,
finished, after witnessing the extinction of his people as a nation. |
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Wicked
against the wicked
Intelligence only in warfare
No written records
Rude, wild, barbarous Indians |
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It was not the wicked who overcame
the righteous; far from this: it was the wicked against the wicked, and
by the wicked the wicked were punished. The Nephites who were once enlightened,
had fallen from a more elevated standing as to favor and privilege before
the Lord, in consequence of the righteousness of their fathers, and now
falling below, for such was actually the case, were suffered to be overcome,
and the land was left to the possession of the red men, who were without
intelligence, only in the affairs of their wars; and having no records,
only preserving their history by tradition from father to son, lost the
account of their true origin, and wandered from river to river, from hill
to hill, from mountain to mountain, and from sea to sea, till the land was
again peopled, in a measure, by a rude, wild, revengeful, warlike and barbarous
race.Such are our Indians. |
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Jaredites
called it Ramah |
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This hill, by
the Jaredites, was called Ramah: by it, or around it, pitched the famous
army of Coriantumr their tents. Coriantumr was the last king of the Jaredites.
The opposing army were to the west, and in this same valley, and near by,
from day to day, did that mighty race spill their blood, in wrath, contending,
as it were, brother against brother, and father, against son. |
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Two
mighty nations destroyed here |
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In this same spot, in full view
from the top of this same hill, one may gaze with astonishment upon the
ground which was twice covered with the dead and dying of our fellowmen.
Here may be seen where once sunk to nought the pride and strength of two
mighty nations; and here may be contemplated, in solitude, while nothing
but the faithful record of Mormon and Moroni is now extant to inform us
of the fact, scenes of misery and distressthe aged, whose silver locks
in other places and at other times would command reverence; the mother,
who in other circumstances would be spared from violence; the infant, whose
tender cries would be regarded and listened to with a feeling of compassion
and tenderness; and the virgin, whose grace, beauty and modesty, would be
esteemed and held inviolate by all good men and enlightened and civilized
nations, alike disregarded and treated with scorn!In vain did the
hoary head and man of gray hairs ask for mercy; in vain did the mother plead
for compassion; in vain did the helpless and harmless infant weep for very
anguish, and in vain did the virgin seek to escape the ruthless hand of
revengeful foes and demons in human formall alike were trampled down
by the feet of the strong, and crushed beneath the rage of battle and war! |
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Sorrowful
site
Calamity of war |
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Alas, who can reflect upon the
last struggles of great and populous nations, sinking to dust beneath the
hand of justice and retribution, without weeping over the corruption of
the human heart, and sighing for the hour when the clangor of arms shall
no more be heard, nor the calamities of contending armies no more experienced
for a thousand years? Alas, the calamity of war, the extinction of nations,
the ruin of kingdoms, the fall of empires and the dissolution of governments!
O the misery, distress and evil attendant on these! Who can contemplate
like scenes without sorrowing, and who so destitute of commiseration as
not to be pained that man has fallen so low, so far beneath the station
in which he was created? |
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In this vale lie commingled, in
one mass of ruin, the ashes of thousands, and in this vale was destined
to consume the fair forms and vigorous systems of tens of thousands of the
human race blood mixed with blood, flesh with flesh, bones with bones, and
dust with dust! When the vital spark which animated their clay had fled,
each lifeless lump lay on one common levelcold and inanimate. Those
bosoms which had burned with rage against each other for real or supposed
injury, had now ceased to heave with malice; those arms which were, a few
moments before nerved with strength, had alike become paralyzed, and those
hearts which had been fired with revenge, had now ceased to heave with malice;
those arms which were, a few moments before nerved with strength, had alike
become paralyzed, and those hearts which had been fired with revenge, had
now ceased to beat, and the head to thinkin silence, in solitude,
and in disgrace alike, they have long since turned to earth, to their mother
dust, to await the august, and to millions, awful hour, when the trump of
the Son of God shall echo and re-echo from the skies, and they come forth,
quickened and immortalized, to not only stand in each other's presence,
but before the bar of him who is Eternal! |
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With sentiments of pure respect,
I conclude by subscribing myself your brother in the gospel. |
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OLIVER COWDERY. |
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Oliver's History of the Church (1)
Oliver's History of the Church (2)
Oliver's 1834–1835 History
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