FROM

THE

MILLENNIAL HARBINGER.

NEW SERIES.

VOL. VI.	B E T H A N Y,   V A. SEPTEMBER, 1842.	NO. IX.

      THE following extracts are taken from a pamphlet printed in New York, A. D. 1842, entitled MORMONISM EXPOSED:--

      'This work is made up principally of quotations from the Mormon writings, some of which they are striving to keep from the public eye. It contains also copious extracts from a document published by order of the United States' Senate, showing the treasonable tendency of Mormonism; the whole arranged under appropriate heads, and giving a clear exhibition of the faith and conduct of that arch impostor, Joseph Smith, Jr., and those concerned with him in spreading that wicked system.

      Do not imagine that Mormonism is a subject too worthless for your attention.

      If any other religious sect should be CONVICTED from their own writings of TREASONABLE designs against the government of this nation, would you deem it unworthy of your notice? If the Methodists, or Baptists, or Presbyterians, or Episcopalians should be convicted of forming "secret societies," and binding their members, under the awful penalty of DEATH, to subvert the institutions of this country, would you not do all in your power to make such iniquitous proceedings known?

      It is now some eleven years since this singular delusion first began to attract attention in this country. During all this while we have been persuading ourselves that the imposture was too glaring to do any serious mischief. We have trusted to the good sense of the people, as presenting a sufficient barrier against the spread of notions so silly and so utterly opposed to reason, to scripture, and well known matters of fact. And what has been the result? While we have been sleeping the enemy has scattered his tares among us, and thousands have been duped by this insidious foe. And not only so, but these emissaries have visited Europe, and from the ignorant multitudes of that country hundreds have already been induced to emigrate to our shores for the purpose of swelling the ranks of Joseph Smith, who glories in comparing himself to Mahomet, and who has over and over again avowed his DESIGN of spreading his religion by the SWORD!

      And who has not heard of the use this Smith and his deluded followers have already made of the SWORD in the state of Missouri? A pamphlet has been printed the present year, by order of the United States' Senate, showing the bloody character of Mormonism, and proving by the testimonies of Mormons themselves, that it is a system of ignorance, blasphemy, falsehood, theft, and MURDER.

      From a number of years' acquaintance with this imposition, the writer is fully convinced that but very few persons have ever embraced what is called Mormonism, with a knowledge of its true character. Their book of 'Doctrines and Covenants' is usually kept out of sight; and, indeed, it is kept from the knowledge of all the Mormons themselves, except the leaders! We know of numbers who have joined them, who never heard of such a book till they had embraced that delusion. For years we have attempted to beg or buy one of these [418] books in vain. However, we have obtained the reading of a copy long enough to extract a sufficient portion of its contents to show the nature of this wicked system.

      As these pages will probably fall into the hands of many who would be glad of information on these subjects, and as it may promote the object we have in view, we shall first give an account of the origin of Mormonism. Secondly, its distinguishing doctrines, and show that Mormonism is, in itself, treason against the government of God and man.

      But, before we proceed, it may be proper to name the authorities on which we base these charges against Mormonism and its authors.--They are the following:--

      1. 'The Book of Mormon; by Joseph Smith, Jr., author and proprietor. Palmyra: printed by E. B. Grandin, for the author, 1836.'

      2. 'Doctrines and Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints; carefully selected and compiled from the Revelations of God, by Joseph Smith, Jr., Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, Fred. G. Williams, (Presiding Elders of said Church,) Proprietors. Kirtland, Ohio: printed by Williams & Co., 1835.'

      3. 'A Voice of Warning to all People, containing a declaration of the faith and doctrine of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, commonly called Mormons. By P. P. Pratt, Minister of the Gospel. New York: printed by W. Sandford, 1837.'

      The above are books written or published by Mormons themselves.

      4. 'Document (189) showing the testimony given before the Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of Missouri, on the trial of Joseph Smith, Jr., and others, for high treason, and other crimes against that State. Printed by order of the United States' Senate, Washington, D.C., 1841.'

      5. 'Mormonism Unveiled, by E. D. Howe: published at Painesville, Ohio, in 1834.'

      We need not mention our common English Bible in this list, not because we do not appeal to its authority, but because we do not design to enter upon the theological bearings of this subject. How utterly opposed Mormonism is, in some of its claims, to the gospel of Jesus Christ, will be readily seen when these preposterous claims are once viewed in the light of reason and the testimony of God's word.

            New York, July 1, 1841.

      Mormonism owes its origin to one Joseph Smith, Jun., and Martin Harris, and perhaps one or two more ignorant but designing persons, then resident in the western part of the state of New York.

      In the work entitled 'Mormonism Unveiled,' we find the testimonies of not less than eighty different persons, all residents of Wayne and Ontario counties, N. Y., which prove, beyond the possibility of doubt, that neither Joseph Smith, Jun., nor either of his witnesses are to be believed; and that Mormonism, from beginning to end, is a base delusion, which does not leave its originators even the credit of honesty or good intentions in its propagation. These witnesses are disinterested respectable citizens, many of whom have made solemn oath to [419] the following facts, and their characters are sufficiently vouched for by magistrates of the counties where they live. Among many other things which might be named to the eternal dishonor of the authors of the Mormon delusion, we notice the following:--

      That Joseph Smith, Jr., and his family, were, about the time he pretended to have discovered the book of Mormon, known as 'fortune-tellers' and 'money-diggers,' and that they often had recourse to tricks of juggling for the purpose of finding money which they said was hid in the earth.

      That the said Smith, up to that time, and after, was known as a wicked man; that he was a cheat, and a liar, and used profane language; that he was intemperate and quarrelsome.

      That his own father-in-law never had any confidence in him, and he was knowing to the manner in which Smith commenced his imposture in getting out what he called the book of Mormon.

      That Smith has, himself, confessed the cheat, and so has Martin Harris, one of his principal witnesses. Harris once said, 'What if it is a lie? If you will let me alone, I will make money out of it.'

      That Oliver Cowdery, another of the witnesses to Smith's book, was not a man of good character before he joined Smith in the cheat of Mormonism.

      That Smith and Martin Harris were in the habit of meeting together, often, just before the plates were said to be found, and were familiarly known in the neighborhood by the name of the 'Gold Bible Company;' and they were regarded by the community, generally, as a lying, indolent set of fellows, in whom no confidence could be placed; and Joseph Smith, Jr's, character for truth was so notoriously bad, that he could not and was not believed when under oath.

      The wife of Martin Harris testifies that he is both a cruel man and a liar, he having beat her and turned her out of his house.

      That Smith confessed his object in pretending to find the plates was to make money, saying, 'When it is completed my family will be placed on a level above the generality of mankind.'

      Such are some of the facts, which are proved beyond the possibility of confutation, by the affidavits of respectable witnesses, persons who were well acquainted with Joseph Smith, Jr., and his associates, both before and since the pretended discovery of his golden plates. And, perhaps, we cannot better close the investigation of this subject, than by quoting a specimen of those testimonies. It is numerously signed, as will be seen, and by persons well acquainted with the 'author and proprietor' of the book of Mormon:--

'PALMYRA, N. Y., December 4, 1833.      

      'We, the undersigned, have been acquainted with the Smith family for a number of years, while they resided near this place, and we have no hesitation in saying that, we consider them destitute of that moral character which ought to entitle them to the confidence of any community. They were particularly famous for visionary projects; spent much of their time in digging for money, which they pretended was hid in the earth; and to this day large excavations may be seen in the earth, not far from their residence, where they used to spend their time in digging for hidden treasures. Joseph Smith, Sen., and his son Joseph, were, in particular, considered entirely destitute of moral character, and addicted to vicious habits. [420]

      'Martin Harris was a man who had acquired a handsome property, and in matters of business his word was considered good; but on moral and religious subjects he was perfectly visionary--sometimes advocating one sentiment, and sometimes another. And in reference to all with whom we were acquainted, who have embraced Mormonism, from this neighborhood, we are compelled to say, they were very visionary, and most of them destitute of any moral character, and without influence in this community, and this may account why they were permitted to go on with their impositions undisturbed.

      'It was not supposed that any of them were possessed of sufficient character, or influence, to make any one believe their book or their sentiments; and we know not of a single individual in this vicinity, that puts the least confidence in their pretended revelations.

      [Signed by] G. N. Williams, H. Sinnell, Th. Rogers, 2d; Clark Robinson, Josiah Francis, Josiah Rice, H. P. Alger, G. A. Hathaway, R. D. Clark, G. W. Anderson, H. K. Jerome, H. P. Thayer, L. Williams, Lewis Foster, G. W. Crosby, Levi Thayer, P. Grandin, Philo Durfee, P. Sexton, Joel Thayer, R. W. Smith, S. P. Seymour, A. Millard, Henry Jessup, John Hurlbut, James Jenner, W. Parke, L. Durfee, S. Ackley, E. S. Townsend, Amos Hollister, Jesse Townsend, C. E. Thayer, D. G. Ely, Th. P. Baldwin, John Sothington, G. Beckwith, Durfy Chase, W. Anderson, H. Paine, A. H. Beckwith, R. S. Williams, L. Hurd, G. S. Ely, M. Butterfield, E. D. Robinson, Pelitian West, D. S. Jackways, E. Ensworth, Linus North, Israel F. Chilson.'

      Persons thus destitute of moral character, combined to usher into being a book purporting to be of equal authority with the Bible. And here is the story which one of its 'Apostles,' professing to act under the infallible inspiration of God, tells of this book:--

      'The book of Mormon was found in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, in Ontario county, New York; was translated and published in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty. It contains the history of the ancient inhabitants of America, who were a branch of the house of Israel, of the tribe of Joseph; of whom the Indians are still a remnant; but the principal nation of them having fallen in battle, in the fourth or fifth century, one of their Prophets, whose name was Mormon, saw fit to make an abridgment of their history, their prophecies, and their doctrine, which he engraved on plates; and afterwards, being slain, the record fell into the hands of his son, Moroni, who being hunted by his enemies, was directed to deposit the record safely in the earth, with a promise from God that it should be preserved, and should again be brought to light in the latter days by means of a Gentile nation who should possess the land. The deposit was made about the year four hundred and twenty, on a hill then called Cumora, now in Ontario county, where it was preserved in safety, until it was brought to light by no less than the ministry of angels; and translated by inspiration. And the great Jehovah bore record of the same to chosen witnesses, who declare it to the world.'--Voice of Warning, p. 129.

      Of course, they give us no evidence (except their own word) to prove what is here asserted!" [421]

[The Millennial Harbinger, New Series, 6 (September 1842): 418-421.]