Lesson 4
"Remember
the New Covenant, Even the Book of Mormon"
Joseph Smith--History
1:27-65; Doctrine and Covenants D&C 3; D&C 5; D&C
10; D&C 17; D&C 20:5-15; D&C 84:54-62.
by Taylor
D. Halverson
"O send out thy light and thy truth."
(Psalms 43:3)
"And righteousness will I send down
out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to
bear testimony of mine Only Begotten." (Moses 7:62)
The coming forth of the Book of Mormon in
the latter days is a fulfillment of the ancient promises that
the Lord would send forth his truth across the earth. Its story
is one of the most marvelous to be told involving both miracles
and obstacles. The Book of Mormon now stands as a token of the
new covenant that the Lord has established upon the earth in these
latter days.
Moroni's Visit
The years
following the first vision (1820-1823), the teenage Joseph Smith
returned to the normal routine of life, but not without trouble.
We learn from the Prophet's own record that along with unrelenting
persecution he often fell into foibles of human nature.
"I was hated and persecuted for saying
that I had seen a vision...and being of very tender years, and
persecuted by those who ought to have been my friends...I was
left to all kinds of temptation...I frequently fell into many
foolish errors." He explained, "In making this confession,
no one need suppose me guilty of any great or malignant sins.
A disposition to commit such was never in my nature."(JS-H
1:25, 28). Nevertheless, "I often felt condemned for my weaknesses
and imperfections" (JS-H 1:29)
It was under these circumstances that the
young Joseph sought the Lord in earnest prayer that he might know
of his standing before the Lord. Joseph explained, "I had
full confidence in obtaining a divine manifestation, as I previously
had one." (JS-H 1:29).
Oliver Cowdery added this insight. "On
the evening of the 21st of September, 1823, previous
to retiring to rest, our brother's mind was unusually wrought
up on the subject which had so long agitated his mind-his heart
was drawn out in fervent prayer, and his whole soul was so lost
to every thing of a temporal nature, that earth, to him had lost
its charms, and all he desired was to be prepared in heart to
commune with some kind messenger who could communicate to him
the desired information of his acceptance with God.
"At length the family retired, and
he, as usual, bent his way though in silence, where others might
have rested their weary frames 'locked fast in sleep's embrace;'
but repose had fled and accustomed slumber had spread her refreshing
hand over others beside him-he continued still to pray-his heart
though once hard and obdurate, was softened, and that mind which
had often flitted like the 'wild bird of passage,' had settled
upon a determined basis not to be decoyed or driven from its purpose.
"In this situation hours passed unnumbered-how
many or how few I know not, neither is he able to inform me; but
supposes it must have been eleven or twelve, and perhaps later,
as the noise and bustle of the family, in retiring, had long since
ceased.-While continuing in prayer for a manifestation in some
way that his sins were forgiven; endeavoring to exercise faith
in the scriptures, on a sudden a light like that of day, only
of a purer and far more glorious appearance and brightness, burst
into the room."(1)
The angel Moroni appeared to the boy prophet
and instructed him concerning the marvelous truths that would
soon be revealed to the world through the Book of Mormon that
lay buried not far from Joseph's home. Moroni explained to Joseph
that he would be responsible to obtain these records, guard them
safely and to translate them by means of the Urim and Thummim.
Warnings, prophecies and the explanation of ancient scriptures
accompanied this divine instruction. Joseph's interaction with
the angel Moroni lasted throughout the night and included another
visit the next day.
Significance of the Date
This angelic
visitation took place on the 21st - 22nd
of September 1823, and Moroni returned four more years on September
22. Perhaps there is some significance in the fact that at the
same time Moroni was instructing the Prophet, the Jews were celebrating
the autumn pilgrimage Festival of Ingathering. This festival celebrated
the beginning of the harvest season. In Hebrew this festival is
called hag ha'asiph (the holy day of gathering). It is
noteworthy that the word asiph and the name Joseph come
from similar Hebrew words. Joseph means "he who adds / he
who increases" in Hebrew. So just as the ancient Joseph increased
the gathering of grain from the harvest and added to the Pharaoh's
storehouse, so also the Prophet Joseph stood at the beginning
of a new season of ingathering and through his instrumentality
in bringing forth truth and light he increased the gathering of
God's children.
Four years elapsed between the time that
Moroni first commissioned Joseph with the task of bringing forth
the Book of Mormon and the time when he was able to retrieve it.
During those years, Joseph continued to have annual visits with
the angel Moroni at the spot where the plates lay buried. Finally,
on September 22, 1827 Joseph Smith retrieved the ancient record
that had been buried for over 1400 years.
Lucy Mack Smith wrote that Moroni told Joseph
when he received the plates, "Now you have got the record
into your own hands, and you are but a man, therefore you will
have to be watchful and faithful to your trust, or you will be
overpowered by wicked men, for they will lay every plan and scheme
that is possible to get them away from you. And if you do not
take heed continually, they will succeed. While they were in my
hands I could keep them, and no man had power to take them away,
but now I give them up to you. Beware, and look well to your ways,
and you shall have power to retain them until the time for them
to be translated."(2)
The Translation Process
Because
of the threat of persecution Joseph, together with his wife Emma,
left Palmyra for Harmony, Pennsylvania, and there began the translation
process. The Urim and Thummim, which in Hebrew translates as "lights
and perfections," aided him in his work. But this was not
the only form of help the Lord gave to Joseph so that he could
complete this mighty task. Soon thereafter a friend named Martin
Harris came to Harmony and acted as scribe for Joseph. By June
of 1828, 116 manuscript pages were completed.
At this time Martin Harris repeatedly asked
Joseph to allow him to show the manuscript to his wife and family,
apparently to appease their disbelief. The Lord instructed Joseph
to decline the request but after further persistence by both Martin
and Joseph the Lord relented. One can only imagine the pressure
Joseph was feeling at this time to gratify Martin Harris. Martin
was twenty-two years older than Joseph. He had liquidated Joseph
and Emma's debts. He had financed their move from Manchester to
Harmony. He was spending all of his time as a scribe on the work.
He was risking his good reputation to continue to associate with
Joseph. He was losing his wife's confidence and affections and
potentially losing his own place in his home. All these considerations
must have weighed heavily on Joseph's mind and heart. However,
the Lord established strict stipulations about how the manuscript
was to be handled. Joseph and Martin entered into a covenant with
the Lord to abide by those stipulations.
Nearly one month later Joseph learned to
his horror that Martin Harris had lost the manuscript. Joseph
feared for his soul because the oath that he had made with the
Lord was now broken. This transgression led the Lord to rebuke
both Joseph and Martin, recorded in D&C 3. In this section
the Lord chastised Joseph for fearing man more than God (vs. 7)
and treating lightly the most sacred of covenants (vs. 5, 6, 13-14).
However, God used the experience as an opportunity to teach mercy
and the fulfillment of ancient prophecy:
The words, and the designs, and the purposes
of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught...thou
art Joseph, and thou wast chosen to do the work of the Lord...remember,
God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which thou hast done
which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you, and thou
art still chosen, and art again called to the work. (D&C 3:1,
9-10)
As a consequence of his mistake the Lord
took away the Urim and Thummim and the plates. Joseph's gift to
translate was gone.
Later that summer of 1828 after much suffering
and penitence Joseph received the revelation contained in D&C
10. In this revelation God restored the gift of translation to
Joseph and encouraged him to:
Not run faster or labor more than you have
strength and means provided to enable you to translate; but be
diligent unto the end. Pray always, that you may come off conqueror;
yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands
of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work. (D&C 10:4-5)
Additionally, the Lord counseled the young
Prophet not to retranslate the lost manuscript because wicked
people would alter the first translation and then claim that he
had no ability to translate if he attempted to publish a second
version of the 116 pages. This plan was a manifestation of Satan's
desire to overthrow the work of God. We learn from the Book of
Mormon that God had foreseen this evil scheme many centuries prior.
Nephi explains that the Lord had inspired him to create a second
set of records:
I have received a commandment of the Lord
that I should make these plates, for the special purpose that
there should be an account engraven of the ministry of my people.
Upon the other plates should be engraven an account of the reign
of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my people; wherefore
these plates are for the more part of the ministry; and the other
plates are for the more part of the reign of the kings and the
wars and contentions of my people. Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded
me to make these plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose
I know not. But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning;
wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among
the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling
of all his words. (1 Nephi 9:3-5)
Furthermore, the Lord inspired Mormon to
include these plates of Nephi in the larger abridgement that Mormon
had created:
I shall take these plates, which contain
these prophesyings and revelations, and put them with the remainder
of my record, for they are choice unto me; and I know they will
be choice unto my brethren. And I do this for a wise purpose;
for thus it whispereth me according to the workings of the Sprit
of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things;
but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore,
he worketh in me to do according to his will. (Words of Mormon
1:6-7)
Oliver Cowdery
The next
spring (April 1829) a schoolteacher by the name of Oliver Cowdery
arrived in Harmony, Pennsylvania. Oliver had boarded with Joseph's
parents in Palmyra, New York, and had learned from them of the
marvelous events that were taking place.
Lucy Mack Smith writes of Oliver: "He
had not been in the place long until he began to hear about the
plates from all quarters and immediately commenced importuning
Mr. Smith upon the subject. He did not succeed in eliciting any
information from him for a long time. At length, however, he gained
my husband's confidence so far as to get a sketch of the facts
which related to the plates.
"One day, Oliver came home from school
in quite a lively manner. As soon as he had an opportunity of
conversing with Mr. Smith, he told him that he (Oliver) had been
in a deep study all day, and it had been put into his heart that
he would have the privilege of writing for Joseph. And when the
term of school which he was then teaching was closed, he would
go and pay Joseph a visit.
"The next day was so very stormy as
to render it almost impossible to travel the road between the
schoolhouse and our place. The rain fell in torrents all the evening,
so I supposed that Oliver would certainly stop with some neighbor
who lived nearer the schoolhouse than we did. But he was not to
be deterred from coming by any common difficulty, for his mind
was now fully set upon a subject which he could not converse upon
anywhere else.
"When he came in, he said, "I
have now resolved what I will do-for the thing which I told you
about yesterday seems working in my very bones, insomuch that
I cannot for a moment get rid of it. My plan is this: My term
of school will be out in March, and I want Hyrum, as he is one
of the trustees, to manage to have my school money ready for me
as soon as the school closes, that I may be able to set off for
Pennsylvania immediately upon making the necessary preparations...I
have made it a subject of prayer, and I firmly believe that if
it is the will of the Lord that I should go, and that there is
a work for me to do in this thing, I am determined to attend to
it."(3)
Soon after his arrival in Harmony, Oliver
and Joseph recommenced the divinely commissioned translation of
the Book of Mormon. Oliver acted as scribe while Joseph translated
using the Urim and Thummim.
Witnesses to the Work
It was
the Lord's desire that Joseph not stand alone as a witness to
the truth of the Book of Mormon for "in the mouth of two
or three witnesses shall every word be established" (2 Corinthians
13:1). Doubtless the prophecies of Nephi echoed in the souls of
those who assisted Joseph in this divine work:
Wherefore, at that day when the book shall
be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book shall
be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none shall
behold it, by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall
be delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book
and the things therein. (2 Nephi 27:12)
Accordingly, three individuals "Oliver
Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris were moved upon by an
inspired desire to be the three special witnesses" (D&C
17 Section Heading) and the Lord confirmed their request with
the counsel:
Behold, I say unto you, that you must rely
upon my word, which if you do with full purpose of heart, you
shall have a view of the plates...and it is by your faith that
you shall obtain a view of them, even by that faith which was
had by the prophets of old. And after that you have obtained faith,
and have seen them with your eyes, you shall testify of them,
by the power of God. (D&C 17:1-3)
Seeking a divine manifestation of the truthfulness
of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith retired to the woods to pray
with the three special witnesses. After much fervent prayer Martin
Harris decided to withdraw from the group, believing that he was
unworthy. David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery continued to pray with
Joseph and presently received an answer to their prayers. They
saw an angel display the plates to their view and command them
to go forth and testify of what they had both seen and heard.
Later Joseph found Martin Harris alone in the woods praying. Together
the two of them prayed and Martin was blessed with a manifestation
not unlike what David and Oliver had experienced. These three
men faithfully fulfilled the commission to testify of the truthfulness
of the Book of Mormon and today their testimony appears in each
copy of the Book of Mormon for the entire world to see.
Oliver Cowdery witnessed: "I beheld
with my eyes, and handled with my hands, the gold plates...I also
saw with my eyes and handled with my hands the 'holy interpreters."
That book is true...It contains principles of salvation;
and if you, my hearers, will walk by its light and obey its precepts,
you will be saved with an everlasting salvation in the kingdom
of God on high."(4)
Martin Harris testified, "I know what
I know. I have seen what I have seen, and I have heard what I
have heard. I have seen the gold plates...An angel appeared tome
and others." He further testified: "I might as well
doubt my own existence as to doubt the divine authenticity of
the Book of Mormon or the divine calling of Joseph Smith."
David Whitmer boldly averred: "I have
been visited by thousands of people, believers and unbelievers,
men and ladies of all degrees, sometimes as many as 15 in one
day, and have never failed in my testimony. And they will know
some day that my testimony is true. I had a mob of from four to
five hundred surrounding me at one time, demanding that I should
deny my published statement in the Book of Mormon; but the testimony
I bore the mob made them tremble before me. I heard the voice
of the Angel just as stated in said Book, and the engravings on
the plates were shown to us, and we were commanded to bear record
of them; and if they are not true, then there is no truth, and
if there is no truth there is no God; if there is no God then
there is no existence. But there is a God, and I know it."(5)
An additional eight witnesses to whom Joseph
showed the plates supported these three witnesses. Nephi had also
prophesied of these additional witnesses, "and there is none
other which shall view it, save it be a few according to the will
of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men;
for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should
speak as if it were from the dead" (2 Nephi 27:13). Their
testimony is published unto the world along side that of the three
witnesses. In all there were twelve witnesses (a full quorum)
of the reality of the Book of Mormon.
Book of Mormon Published to the World
The Book
of Mormon was finally published to the world and available for
sale in March 1830. This remarkable witness of Jesus Christ stirred
many souls to repentance and brought hundreds into the fold of
the Church. Unfortunately, as the months went by the Book of Mormon
did not fully achieve the role that God had destined for it. Accordingly,
two and a half years after the Book of Mormon was published (September
1832), the Lord chastised the Church:
And your minds in times past have been darkened
because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the
things you have received-which vanity and unbelief have brought
the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation resteth
upon the children of Zion, even all. And they shall remain
under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new
covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments
which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according
to that which I have written. (D&C 84:54-57; emphasis added)
Thankfully this condemnation can be lifted
as we live according to the commandments found in the Book of
Mormon and fulfill the call to go "into all the world; and
unto whatsoever place ye cannot go ye shall send, that the testimony
may go from you into all the world unto every creature" (D&C
84:62).
May we keep the new covenant by remembering
the Book of Mormon. And may we treasure the eternal truths revealed
by the Book of Mormon that bear testimony of the Only Begotten
of the Father, even Jesus Christ our Savior (Moses 7:62).
1. Jessee, Dean C. ed. The Papers of Joseph
Smith, Volume 1, Autobiographical and Historical Writings
(Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1989) pp. 50-51.
2. Proctor, Scot Facer and Maurine Jensen eds.
The Revised and Enhanced History of Joseph Smith by His Mother
(Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1996) p. 145
3. Ibid. pp. 181-2.
4. Ibid. p. 205
5. Ibid. p. 206
