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tower to get to Heaven。
〃Hid up〃 is good。 And so is 〃wherefore〃though why 〃wherefore〃？ Any
other word would have answered as wellthoughin truth it would not
have sounded so Scriptural。
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 definiteNephi
was commanded from on high to build a ship wherein to 〃carry the people
across the waters。〃 He travestied Noah's arkbut 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 itand 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 franknessthey 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 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 no suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old。
However； the project failedor at least the modern Mormon end of itfor
Brigham 〃suffers〃 it。 This verse is from the same chapter：
Behold； the Lamanites your brethren； whom ye hate； because of their
filt