The Mormon Puzzle And How To Solve It

CHAPTER I.

Alleged origin of Mormonism--Joseph Smith's early life--Finding the
peek-stone--Visited by an angel--Received the golden plates--Was Smith
a swindler or an enthusiast?--"Book of Mormon" published, and Mormon
Church established--Smith's first alleged miracle--Rigdon joins the
Mormons--Mormonism compared to Mohammedanism.


It is acknowledged by all who have given careful thought to the subject,
that Mormonism presents us with a very extraordinary civilization and the
most peculiar religion under the sun; but _its history_ is as unique and
peculiar as the system itself, and is well worthy the attention of the
philosopher as well as the student of human nature and human history.

Its alleged origin was miraculous, and calculated to inspire its followers
with wonder, admiration, and awe. As Moses, the founder of Judaism,
received the two tables of the moral law, which constituted the brief
Bible of the Israelites, from the hand of God Himself, while the lightning
blazed around his head and the earth quaked beneath his feet, so Joseph
Smith (it is alleged) received his Golden Bible from the hand of an angel
on the Hill Cummorah near Palmyra, N. Y., amid thunder and lightning. He
is represented in an old picture as kneeling on the steep incline of that
hill, the wind blowing his long hair out in all directions, and his eyes
big with surprise. Above him in a cloud is the placid angel, gazing
intently upon the future prophet, who is eagerly taking his credentials
from a cemented stone chest which had been buried some 1400 years, while
out of the overshadowing cloud have come forth zigzags of lightning which
are playing around both Joseph and the angel.

The name of the angel was Moroni, and he informed Smith that the fate of
the early inhabitants of America was written on golden tablets within that
chest, and that these could be read only by the aid of some wonderful
stone spectacles called "Urim and Thummim," which were also in the chest.
Smith said that on opening the precious box he found six golden tablets
eighteen inches square held together by rings at the back, and also the
stone spectacles to decipher the tablets; and besides these, the sword of
Laban and a "breastplate" which had been brought from Jerusalem by the
early inhabitants of our land were inclosed in the chest.

The hill on which these sacred things were found is at present known as
Gold Bible Hill, and the true Mormon venerates it as a sacred spot, and
travels from afar to see its quiet but not remarkable beauty. It is a
conical elevation several hundred feet in height, and in its isolation and
peculiar form bears a certain resemblance to an extinct volcano. It is
smooth and green to the very top, from which there is a picturesque view
of hills and dales in all directions. It is situated in Wayne County, N.
Y., four miles from the village of Palmyra and three miles from the home
of the false prophet who has given it its present fame.

Like all other prophets, whether true or false, Joseph Smith was of very
humble origin. His father was a cooper by trade, and he dug wells and
worked on the neighboring farms when he could. His mother washed by the
day, but it is said that her employers were careful to have the clothes in
before dark, as experience had taught them they would disappear if left on
the lines over night. The whole family made baskets and maple sugar, and
raised and sold garden vegetables.

The youthful Joseph assisted generally, and (it is alleged) was an adept
in robbing hen-roosts and orchards. It seems that when quite young he
could read, but not write. His two standard volumes were "The Life of
Stephen Burroughs," the clerical scoundrel, and the autobiography of
Captain Kidd, the pirate. The latter work was eagerly and often perused.
At an early age he committed the following lines to memory, which seemed
to give him great pleasure: