Memoir of Mormons [pp. 641-655]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
PUBLISHED MONTHLY AT FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM-JNO. R. THOMPSON, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
RICHMOND, NOVEMBER, 1848.
NO. 11.
MEMOIR OF THE MORMONS.*
It may be thought by some that the subject of
the following article does not deserve the time and
labor bestowed upon it. A fanatical delusion begun
and carried on by inventions so preposterous and
yet so contmon-place, would at first sight appear
wholly unworthy of notice, in the present enlightened age. But, when we look at its extraordinary
success, its singular ascendancy over its devotees,
and the serious disorders it has produced in some
parts of the country, it assumes an importance,
greatly transcending its own intrinsic merit, as well
as that of its supporters. It becomes a prominent
feature in the history of the times; and might profitably employ an abler and mnore accomplished pen.
This sketch is undertaken, in the hope, that it may
attract the attention of others more competent to
the task, and thus lead to a more thorough development of this strange episode in our national annals.
A writer in the Dublin University Magazine once
characterized thlis faith very happily, as " Mohammedanism in the New World." And, except that
the Arabian prophet may, with some reason, complain of his company, the comparison is appropriate. The mean origin, the astonishing spread, the
shallow devices, the blind devotion, and the untiring perseverance, of the two sects, are all striking
points of resemblance: but, however mortifying to
our national pride, it must be admitted that the
eastern impostor far excelled his western imitator,
in character, in policy, and in achievement.
Joe Smith, the Mormon prophet, (or "Joseph,"
as his people called him, out of Scriptural simplicity,) was born in Sharon, Vermont, on the 23rd December, 1805. About ten years after, his parents
* 1. The Book of Mormon: an account written by the
hand of Mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of Nephi. Translated by Joseph Smith, Jutn. First European,
from the second American edition. Liverpool, England.
1841.
2. Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of the Latter
Day Saints: carefully selected from the revelations of God,
and compiled by Joseph Smith, Jun., Oliver Covdery, Sidney Riadon, and Frederick C. Williams, presiding elder of
said Church. Kirtland, Ohio. 1835.
3. A voice of Warning and Instruction to all people,
containing a declaration of the Faith and Doctrine of the
Chinch of the Latter Day Saints, commonly called Mormons. By P. P. Pratt, Minister of the Gospel. New
York. 1837.
VOL. XIV-81
removed to the neighborhood of Palmyra, in New
York, where they lived for several years. The
family were low: not merely poor, hut without the
respect of their neighbors. Joe himself grew up,
with the tastes and hlabits of what is now called a
"loafer." lie was an idle lounger at drinking
shops; ignorant, uneducated, coarse, and vicious.
Except the trifling jobs which fell in his way at
these haunts, he did no work: unless we dignify
with that name an occasional turn at "money digging," a searching for hidden treasure, the favorite
pursulit of vagabonds in every age. Hle is still
well remembered in that vicinity as he is here represented: and his disciples, unable to contradict
the facts, have sometimes had the effrontery to
build an argument upon them, by comparing his
origin with that of the fishermen of Galilee.
Near Palmyra, according to his story, the Spirit
of the Lord found him, at the age of fourteen or
fifteen, and awakened him to religious thoughts by
a miraculous vision. A subsequent revelation, in
1823, disclosed to him that he was chosen of God,
as the instrument of a new dispensation: a dispensation, which should fuilfil and complete those heretofore vouchsafed in the Old and New Testaments.
He was informed that the American Indians were
a remnant of Israel, a branch of the tribe of Joseph: that they had been conducted to this country a civilized people, possessed of the true religion, and favored of the Almighty: that they walked not in the ways of the Lord(, but fell into all
manner of wicked courses, and massacred one
another in endless wars: that, at last, they were
almost exterminated in a great battle, at a hill called
"Cummorah," 200 miles west of Albany, in the
State of New York, and not far from Joe's residence in Palmyra: and that the survivors degenerated into the savage tribes, whom the Europeans
found in possession of the country. It was further
revealed to him, that the ancient records of this
people, which had been kept from time to time
by their Seers and Prophets, were saved by divine providence, and " hid up" in the hill Cummorah, A. D. 420, by Moroni, the son of Mormon:
that, in due time these records should be entrusted
to him, and he should be enabled by inspiration to
translate and publish them to the world: and that,
through his agency, the kingdom of "The Latter
Day Saints"' should be established, the New Jertusalem built up, arid the whole earth prepared for
the final coming of Christ. Some parts of the
foregoing summary were probably made known in
later revelations, but the question of time is unimportant.
VOL. XIV.