The Founder of Mormonism

The founder of a religion is one who gives it form and character among men merely, claiming always a divine right, or inspiration. Through all the ages of the world's history, in every land, there have arisen false prophets; and the United States of America and the nineteenth century form no exception.

Joseph Smith, the founder of the religious and social system of the Mormons, or, as they call themselves, "Latter-day Saints," was born in Sharon, Windsor County, Vt., Dec. 23, 1805. On Sept. 21, 1823, Smith claimed to have a revelation from heaven, informing him of various important particulars, as, "that his sins were forgiven, and his prayers heard; that the covenant which God made with ancient Israel was at hand, to be fulfilled; that the preparatory work for the Second Coming of the Messiah was speedily to commence; that the time was at hand for the gospel to be preached in its power and fulness to all nations; and that Smith was chosen to be an instrument, in the hands of God, to bring about some of His purposes in this glorious dispensation." Besides all this, he claimed that the angel gave him a brief sketch of the history of the aboriginal inhabitants of America,--"of their righteousness and of their iniquity, and of the blessing of God being finally withdrawn from them." He was also informed where to find certain gold plates containing an abridged record of the ancient prophets that had existed on the American continent. These records, he said, contained the primitive history of America, from its first settlement by a colony that came from the Tower of Babel, at the confusion of languages, to the beginning of the fifth century of the Christian era.

A prophet called Mormon had been commissioned by God to write an abridgement of all their prophecies, histories, etc., and to hide it in the earth until God should see fit to bring it forth, and "unite it with the Bible, for the accomplishment of His purposes in the last day."

At length, after due probation, the angel of the Lord, on Sept. 22, 1827, was said to have placed in Smith's hands the wonderful records.

This is the famous "Book of Mormon," or "Golden Book," believed by the followers of Smith (hence called Mormons) to be of equal authority with the Jewish and Christian Scriptures, and to be an indispensable supplement to them. In A.D. 420 the gold plates, eight inches long, and six inches wide, and forming a book six inches in thickness, bound together with three rings, were sealed up in a stone box, and secreted until found, as alleged, under divine guidance, by Mr. Smith.

The inscriptions on the plates were in the reformed Egyptian tongue, and were translated by means of a pair of mystical spectacles which accompanied the volume, called Urim and Thummim, so that Mr. Smith found no difficulty in deciphering the text. The "Book of Mormon" appeared before the public in print in 1830. Attention was soon drawn to the newly published work, and a controversy arose as to its real authorship. Evidence was soon brought forward to show, that, with the exception of certain illiterate inter polations, the so-called "Book of Mormon" was really borrowed or stolen nearly verbatim from a manuscript romance written by Solomon Spalding, who died in 1816.

Undeterred, however, by exposure, ridicule, and hostility, Smith, armed with this book as the basis of his teaching, began to preach in 1830, and soon found followers; so that on April 6, 1830, the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" was organized in the town of Manchester, N.Y. They were fiercely attacked by orthodox Christians, and were obliged to turn their steps westward.

In 1832 Brigham Young joined the society. They were driven from place to place, farther and farther west, but rapidly gaining in numbers, until finally, in 1844, Smith, who had been incarcerated in a jail in Illinois, was murdered by a mob. After this disaster to the new sect, Brigham Young was elected "prophet," and a new emigration was decided upon. Under his guidance, about sixteen thousand persons crossed the prairie desert to Salt-Lake valley, involving a journey of two years, and founded Salt-Lake City. This city has grown steadily in importance, and is now the capital of Utah Territory. It is estimated that the new sect now comprises two hundred thousand members, including about fifty thousand living in other countries; for their missionaries have traversed all lands, and received large accessions to their numbers in almost every country of Europe.

The Mormons are noted for their frugality and thrift. Polygamy was originally condemned by the "Book of Mormon," but in 1843 Smith claimed to have received a revelation recommending the adoption of the custom. Many Mormons, however, are not polygamists.